A bipartisan group of Virginia House delegates wants to place a $250 limit on gifts to lawmakers from lobbyists and others who do business with the commonwealth while also creating a new commission to advise and train elected officials about ethics laws.
The proposals, lawmakers said at a news conference Tuesday, are needed to help repair the state's image following a gift scandal involving outgoing Gov. Bob McDonnell.
The governor came under state and federal investigation after he and his family accepted thousands of dollars' worth of gifts from former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams. McDonnell has apologized for his actions but has denied breaking any laws. He has not been charged with a crime.
House Minority Leader David Toscano, D-Charlottesville, said he was approached several months ago by House Majority Leader Kirk Cox, R-Colonial Heights, to begin working on an ethics reform bill.
"We Democrats felt that this was one area where we could join together with Republicans and come forth with some proposals that are going to help restore some of the faith that's been lost, frankly, among the public in their elected officials," Toscano said.
The General Assembly is set to convene Wednesday, with ethics reform likely to be a key issue during the 2014 session.
House lawmakers said Tuesday that Virginia's laws allowing limitless giving to lawmakers are insufficient.
"Under current law, a lobbyist could give you a car," said Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, who was part of a bipartisan group of delegates that helped craft the proposals.
The $250 gift limit would not apply to travel, food, or other items routinely given in association with a lawmaker's official duties.
The House proposals would also establish a new ethics commission tasked with posting financial disclosure forms online, advising elected officials on conflict of interest matters, and offering ethics training. As envisioned by the current plan, the commission would be advisory in nature and not have the ability to conduct investigations or issue subpoenas.
The proposals also are also aimed at increasing transparency, lawmakers said. The House plan would require lobbyists and lawmakers to file financial disclosure forms twice a year, instead of once.
And all elected officials would also be required to undergo "intensive" and "mandatory" ethics training, according to a distributed summary of the House proposals.
Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe plans on signing an executive order when he is sworn-in on Saturday placing a $100 gift limit on himself, his family and members of his administration, according to his spokesman Brian Coy.
"He feels this is important to beginning an administration based on transparency and accountability," said Coy, who added that McAuliffe is "encouraged" by the House proposals.


It's Halloween tonight. Enjoy yourselves!
I wouldn't want to mess with this guy!
Floating along on the breeze.
Hallowe'en as it ought to be.
Hallowe'en is coming and the scary stuff is appearing along our road. This little lady showed up about a week ago.
I'm not all that scared.


text:
Picardo briefs Parliament as Brexit is delayed and EU election looms
Parliament in session
By Brian Reyes Share
Gibraltar will be asked to vote in an EU election on May 23 if this becomes necessary while the UK Parliament decides the future of Brexit.
Prime Minister Theresa May has said the UK Government hopes to reach agreement on a Brexit deal in time to avoid having to participate in elections to the European Parliament.
Unless it reaches agreement, the UK must hold the election as a key condition of the EU's decision to grant an extension to the Brexit deadline.
The EU has agreed to delay Brexit by up to six months to October 31 while Mrs May seeks an agreement with Labour that she hopes will help get her three-times rejected exit deal approved by parliament.
But with Westminster divided on all Brexit options except ruling out 'no deal', it is increasingly likely that the UK and Gibraltar will have to vote to elect MEPs next May.
Yesterday, that prospect was welcomed by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo during a statement summing up the latest development, including legislation passed by the UK Parliament to prevent a hard Brexit.
"The holding of those elections is a condition of the long extension, but it is not one we would find objectionable," Mr Picardo said.
"In this latter respect, the UK has already legislated to hold the EU Elections, as have we in Gibraltar."
"Not since our first opportunity to vote in these European Elections will our votes have been so important."
Mr Picardo said the extension to the deadline and the removal of 'no deal' as a viable option meant the pressure to revoke Article 50 had eased.
He said the Gibraltar Government would continue to support Prime Minister Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement as a means of leaving the EU in managed, orderly way.
But he insisted too that his government believed the best option for both the UK and Gibraltar was to remain in the EU.
In that respect, he supported calls for a "confirmatory referendum", adding that the long extension provided a window of opportunity that should not be wasted.
And he acknowledged too that even though the UK had legislated to avoid a hard Brexit, this required a parallel move in the EU and that, as things stood, 'no deal' could still happen "by accident".
He said the Gibraltar Government continued to prepare for that eventuality, even while hoping that the work would be in vain.
"We plan for everything, ignore nothing and prepare for everything and hope that we shall be able to look back and consider all of that wasted time if we ultimately remain in the EU," he said.
"Although even if we were to remain in the EU, we would now do so in much better shape in some respects."
Mr Picardo said that in course of preparing for a hard Brexit, his government had "looked over the cliff edge" to understand what it would man for this community.
"We would easily survive such a Brexit, but it would be unpleasant," he said.
"It would undoubtedly bring difficulties to some aspects of people's lives, despite our greatest efforts."
"And it is ultimately unnecessary."
"For those reasons, I am very happy that it is an outcome that is at least for now avoided and which we should seek to continue to avoid going forward."
£46m Brexit information campaign had little impact, says spending watchdog
UK and EU will 'always be friends', minister says ahead of looming trade talks
Gibraltar and UK hold last JMC before Brexit
Varadkar warns Johnson that EU will have upper hand in post-Brexit trade talks

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
HOME / News / Saint Paul Port Authority eyes redevelopment of Hillcrest Golf Club site
Saint Paul Port Authority eyes redevelopment of Hillcrest Golf Club site
Once developed into an industrial hub, the site could generate 1,000 new jobs
The property "now lays fallow with no activity of any nature," according to the port authority.
Dan Niepow
The Saint Paul Port Authority is considering buying and redeveloping the defunct Hillcrest Golf Club site on St. Paul's east side.
At a May 28 meeting, the authority's credit committee will vote on a resolution to create an "industrial development district" for the site. The designation would enable the agency to one day purchase the former golf club, according to port authority president Lee Krueger.
"It's a great opportunity site that has some remediation needed," Krueger tells TCB. "The private sector typically doesn't like to have to deal with some of the things we have to deal with, and that's why it makes sense for us to jump in on it."
Shuttered in 2017, the 112-acre course has been designated as a brownfield site due to mercury contamination and maintenance-related petroleum releases. Once redeveloped, the site could create 1,000 jobs and generate $4.5 million in annual property tax revenue, senior vice president of real estate development Monte Hilleman wrote in a memo to the authority's credit committee.
But the required remediation work could scare away private developers, port leader's believe.
"The amount of risk to the private sector associated with acquiring a brownfield site this large, without infrastructure, an approved master plan, zoning, or other entitlements, is evidently too significant for buyers to absorb," Hilleman wrote.
The Steamfitters Pipefitters Local 455 purchased the course for $4.3 million in 2011. The union closed the course in 2017.
"The site now lays fallow with no activity of any nature," Hilleman wrote. "The development of the property and its continuing use are public uses, public purposes, and governmental functions that justify spending public money and acquiring private property to provide the means to develop the Hillcrest site."
The property could eventually house hundreds of industrial and manufacturing jobs, Krueger says.
"There's very little, if any, areas for ground-up development for industrial and light manufacturing within the city," he says. "We look at that site as having the potential for job creation. We believe the neighborhood will appreciate that. … We've done some preliminary market studies that [suggest] there's a demand for industrial and manufacturing facilities that will create those jobs."
If the purchase is approved, Krueger believes it would be money well spent. According to the authority's initial analysis, the community could see a return of five to seven times the purchase cost, according to Krueger.
The site's estimated market value is more than $8.5 million, according to data from Ramsey County's assessor's office.
Map of Hillcrest Golf Course site, which spans more than 100 acres in east St. Paul.
(Image courtesy of Saint Paul Port Authority)
RSM Renews Lease in Namesake Skyscraper
California-based CommonGrounds Opens Minneapolis Co-Working Space
ApartCondOtel?
Minnesota Vikings' Brooks Bollinger Named Senior Wealth Advisor at Bell Bank


text:
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namespace Messenger {

    public partial class index {

        /// <summary>
        /// loginForm control.
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        /// Auto-generated field.
        /// To modify move field declaration from designer file to code-behind file.
        /// </remarks>
        protected global::System.Web.UI.HtmlControls.HtmlForm loginForm;

        /// <summary>
        /// txtFName control.
        /// </summary>
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        /// Auto-generated field.
        /// To modify move field declaration from designer file to code-behind file.
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        protected global::System.Web.UI.WebControls.TextBox txtFName;

        /// <summary>
        /// txtLName control.
        /// </summary>
        /// <remarks>
        /// Auto-generated field.
        /// To modify move field declaration from designer file to code-behind file.
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        protected global::System.Web.UI.WebControls.TextBox txtLName;

        /// <summary>
        /// txtBDay control.
        /// </summary>
        /// <remarks>
        /// Auto-generated field.
        /// To modify move field declaration from designer file to code-behind file.
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        /// <summary>
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        protected global::System.Web.UI.WebControls.Button btnLogin;

        /// <summary>
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
JUNE IS NATIONAL DEAFBLIND AWARENESS MONTH
Organizations providing services for Canadians who are deafblind seek to raise awareness
Toronto, Ontario – MAY 25, 2020 – Many of us receive information through our eyes and ears. Whether it's from television news, conversations with neighbours, headlines on a mobile device, or weather reports on an app. These seemingly minor bits of information, which most of us take for granted, can present many barriers for a person who is deafblind.
June is celebrated as National Deafblind Awareness Month, marking the birth month of Helen Keller, unquestionably the most famous person who was deafblind. Helen Keller's journey is an inspiring story, which took her from no communication with the world around her to a life of vision and advocacy. Thanks to the support of her intervenor who served as her communication partner, she engaged in a seemingly impossible battle to participate and break down barriers in a world some might consider she had lost. Through her actions and achievements, Helen Keller is recognized as one of the most powerful symbols of triumph over adversity.
Many people are familiar with the story of Helen Keller, but are unaware that her experience as an individual who is deafblind is all too real for over 1% of Canadians (460,000). In a recent report, Canadians who are deafblind identified many gaps in services across the country. These gaps included variations in services between provinces; limited funding available for Intervenor Services, limited intervenor hours and choice; and lack of diversity in services required by individuals with deafblindness.[1]
"National Deafblind Awareness Month presents an opportunity to build awareness about the distinct experience of Canadians who are deafblind. Intervenor Services help open up a world of opportunity for individuals who are deafblind so that they can thrive," explains the Chair of the National Deafblind Awareness Month Working Group, Karen Madho.
With the assistance of intervenors, who act as the eyes and ears of people who are deafblind, Canadians who are deafblind are able to live more independent lives, accessing their communities in more fulfilling ways.
Take for instance Canadian Helen Keller Centre staff member Elio Riggillo, who is deafblind. Elio lives in Toronto with his wife of over 20 years and their three children. He is also a faculty member at George Brown College teaching American Sign Language (ASL).
Not satisfied with this already demanding and rewarding role, Elio was recently hired as the Community Relations Coordinator at CHKC. His new position is responsible for promoting CHKC services and programs, introducing new people who are deafblind to the community, providing peer-to-peer support to individuals who are deafblind and advocating for the needs of the deafblind community. With the help of his intervenors, Elio is able to be as independent as he wants to be.
Nadine Anderson has been working as the part-time Light Duty Cleaner at the Canadian Helen Keller Centre since 2017. She has been a resident of Rotary Cheshire Homes for over a decade. Nadine is also deafblind, and through Intervenor Services she is able to enjoy life to the fullest. A prolific Facebook user with a passion for photography, she can be seen enjoying Toronto's finest attractions and events, demonstrating that there is nothing that she can't do!
NOTE TO MEDIA: The experience for someone who is deafblind, which may include all types and degrees of dual hearing and vision loss, can be isolating and restrictive. Consumers are available to tell their stories to the media and explain how having the support of Intervenor Services helps people who are deafblind achieve their full potential.
The experience of being deafblind for an individual can mean that he or she has a substantial degree of both hearing and vision loss, the combination of which results in significant difficulties in accessing information and in pursuing educational, vocational, recreational and social goals. A person who is deafblind experiences life in a unique way, separate from the way a person who is only blind or only deaf may experience. An individual who is deafblind requires specialized services, including adapted communication methods.
ABOUT INTERVENORS Intevenors are professionally trained to provide auditory and visual information to people who are deafblind. Acting as the eyes and ears, an intervenor provides complete information about the environment and surrounding circumstances to the person who is deafblind who is unable to obtain this information for him or herself because of a dual sensory loss. By using various methods of communication, they provide opportunities for people who are deafblind to gain independence, pursue goals, have control over their lives/make choices and interact with the environment. Additional information is available on this website.
For more information, contact Franco Cignelli, Marketing & Communications Specialist at fcignelli@chkc.org.
[1] https://deafblindontario.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019_Stakeholders_Consultation_Report_FINAL-s_1022047.pdf


text:
Represented by: Mark van Egmond
Based just outside of London, Telomic AKA Elliot Berger has already proven himself in the realms of Dance Music, racking up tens of millions of streams under his own name, before shifting to the deeper side of Drum & Bass.
Telomic gained his major break in 2018 with a two-track EP released on Liquicity's sister label Galacy, featuring Laura Brehm and Notelle, hitting over 1 million streams. Signing with Liquicity in 2020, Telomic went on to release both the Gravity Within EP, and the Window Light EP, reaching widespread support from artists such as Sub Focus, Rene Levice, Maduk, Etherwood, Keeno & more.
As a DJ Telomic has toured across Europe from dark underground clubs to sunny rooftop venues. His versatility is such that he has always been able to switch his style and tear down a big festival or keep the crowd bubbling in a smaller intimate venue; because of this Telomic has featured on many Radio shows and podcasts, including: BBC Radio 1, UKF, Liquicity, Fokuz Recordings, SINE Series, Whitepark Music, Rough Tempo, Data Transmission and many more.
Telomic has released on labels such as Liquicity, Hospital Records, Galacy, Celsius Recordings, Breach Audio, Terra Firma and more. Telomic has also had major support from Liquicity, SkankandBass, Drum&BassArena and Ninja Ninja. Dubbed 'artist to watch' and with many releases lined up, it's clear that he means business.


What Would You Do For Several Million Dollars?
With the Powerball jackpot reaching over 500 million dollars, many people plan on going out and buying tickets.
But how far would you go for several millions of dollars? Buzzfeed recently asked in a survey and the results are crazy!!
1. 55% of people say they could quit the internet for 15 years!
4. Only 7% of people said they would give up showering and bathing for the rest of their lives.
5. 42% would have all their teeth removed!
So, how far would you go?
Source: What Would You Do For Several Million Dollars?


Breast Cancer, Occurs In Both Men As Well As Women.
Women in the United States get this cancer more than any other type of cancer except skin cancer. The number of new cases has increased every year over the last 30 years.
It is second to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in American women.
However, the good news is deaths have decreased a little bit every year for the past several years.
But, male breast cancer can and does occur.
Age: The chance of getting it goes up as a woman ages.
Family History:Risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives have this disease. The relatives can be from either the mother's or father's side of the family. Having a mother, sister, or daughter with it about doubles a woman's risk. Just as it increases the risk for prostate cancer in men.
Menstrual periods: Women who began having periods before age 12 or who went through menopause after the age of 55 have a slightly increased risk.
Earlier Breast Radiation: Women who have had radiation treatment to the chest area (as treatment for another cancer) earlier in life have a greatly increased risk of the disease.
It's not necessary to have a lump, to have cancer!
This is an uncommon form of rapidly advancing cancer that usually accounts for approximately 1% to 3% of all breast cancer diagnoses.
This cancer causes the breast to appear swollen and inflamed. It will also often cause considerable breast pain.
This inflamed appearance is often caused when cancer cells block the lymphatic vessels in the skin of the breast, preventing the normal flow of lymph fluid and leading to reddened, swollen and infected looking breast skin, that's why it's called inflammatory breast cancer.
It is now believed it is not caused by infection or inflammation as was once thought.
IBC, An Advanced And Accelerated Form Of Breast Cancer Is Usually Not Detected By Mammograms Or Ultrasounds.
It requires immediate aggressive treatment with chemotherapy prior to surgery and is treated differently than more common types.
This cancer usually grows in nests or sheets, rather than as a confined, solid tumor and therefore can be diffuse throughout the breast with no palpable mass.
The cancer cells clog the lymphatic system just below the skin.
Lymph node involvement is assumed. Increased breast density compared to prior mammograms should be considered suspicious.
Women who have IBC may remain undiagnosed for long periods, even while seeing their doctor to learn the cause of her symptoms.
The Symptoms of IBC Are Similar To Mastitis, a breast infection, or breast cysts. Symptoms include breast pain, and some doctors, not recognizing IBC, will prescribe antibiotics.
If a response to antibiotics is not apparent after a week, a biopsy should be performed or a referral to a breast specialist is warranted.
A large portion of young women with inflammatory breast cancer have their first symptoms during pregnancy or lactation.
The misconception that these young women are at lower risk for cancer, and the fact that IBC is the most aggressive form of breast cancer may result in metastases when the diagnosis is finally made.
Just be there. It is hard on you to be around a sick person; but, your care and concern really does help make the sick person feel better.
If the sick person can be in a support group where there are long term survivors, it will help a great deal!
Follow An Inflammation Free Diet, high in omega 3 fatty acids.
Omega 3 fatty acids are found mostly in fatty fish such as salmon, trout, and sardines.
Take a pharmaceutical grade Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplement. It's impossible to get enough from diet alone.
Try to avoid junk foods and processed foods such as chips, crackers, and cookies.
Stay away from white bread, pasta, rice and sugar as much as possible.
Do not use Vegetable oil, Canola oil, or Margarine.
All Of The Above Cause Chronic Inflammation.
Use pure manuka honey which is proven to be an anti inflammatory.
which is high in omega 3s.
Breast Cancer Can Strike At Any Age. Be Informed, So If It Does Happen, You Can Be A Survivor Like I Am.
Researchers speculate that omega 3 fatty acids in combination with other nutrients, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, and Coenzyme Q10) may prove to be of particular value for preventing and treating breast cancer, and also breast cysts.
Researchers at Marshall University School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia, found that lab mice bred to develop breast cancer had a significantly lower risk of the disease if fed the human equivalent of a handful of walnuts a day.
"It is clear that walnuts contribute to a healthy diet that can reduce breast cancer."
Studies show that omega 3 fish oil can provide a range of health benefits, from preventing heart disease to lowering male breast cancer risks.
Chronic Inflammation Is Believed To Contribute To The Development And Spread Of Breast Cancer, And Cancer Survivors With Chronic Inflammation May Be At A Higher Risk Of Recurrence.
A study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has identified two proteins in the blood that could become important prognostic markers for long-term survival in breast cancer patients.
The proteins are associated with chronic inflammation, which is known to contribute to cancer development and progression.
Cornelia Ulrich, Ph.D., and colleagues measured the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) in 734 cancer patients at 31 months after diagnosis.
They found that elevated levels of CRP and SAA are associated with reduced overall survival, regardless of patient age, tumor stage, race and body mass index.
These associations are strong and they suggest that, in the long-term, elevated levels of inflammatory markers predict a woman's chances of surviving after breast cancer," said Ulrich, a member in the Hutchinson Center's Cancer Prevention Program.
"It also appears that there may be a threshold effect in that only women in the highest third of inflammation markers had increased mortality."
Likewise, clinical and experimental data suggest that chronic inflammation promotes mammary tumor development.
Breast cancer patients have elevated concentrations of CRP before surgery, more so in women with advanced disease, which suggests that CRP may be related to tumor burden or progression.
A high CRP level is also a marker for heart disease and other diseases caused by chronic inflammation.
Cancer survivors with chronic inflammation may have an elevated risk of recurrence as a result of the effects of inflammatory processes on cell growth ,or the presence of cancer cells that induce inflammation, according to the study.
Medical College of Wisconsin ties breast cancer to inflammation.
"We know that inflammation can be triggered in response to a number of factors including environmental, hormonal, genetic or infections," Khanna said.
Other studies have shown that vitamin D stops cancer cells from dividing and promotes cancer cell death.
Sufficient amounts of vitamin D, and exposure to sunlight has been shown to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.
The body produces its own vitamin D in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. The vitamin is also found in certain foods, including eggs and fatty fish.
To reduce your cancer risk. Have your CRP checked, your vitamin D levels checked and follow an anti inflammation diet.
Do You Have Tips On Surviving Breast Cancer That Could Help Somebody?
You don't have to register and, no Username or Password needed.
Just Tell Your Story, Offer Tips, Ask Questions, And Offer Comments To Help Others.


text:
Q: Hexadecimal doubts and C + + My question is: why is there a "--p", from what I understand the "++p"function serves to climb a number of imaginary array pointer, but the "--p" is for that? I realized that without it the code letters are not shown but did not understand how this works. thanks and even more
code :
#include <stdio.h>

using namespace std;

int main()
{
    char* p = new char [12];
    *p=0x48;
    ++p;
    *p=0x65;
    ++p;
    *p=0x6c;
    ++p;
    *p=0x6c;
    ++p;
    *p=0x6f;
    ++p;
    *p=0x20;
    ++p;
    *p=0x57;
    ++p;
    *p=0x6f;
    ++p;
    *p=0x72;
    ++p;
    *p=0x6c;
    ++p;
    *p=0x64;
    ++p;
    *p=0x0;
    ++p;

    --p;
    --p;
    --p;
    --p;
    --p;
    --p;
    --p;
    --p;
    --p;
    --p;
    --p;
    --p;

    printf(p);
    delete p;

    return 0 ;

}

A: char *p = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
         /\

Initially p points to the beginning of the array as shown
p++ == ++p == (p = p+1)

So this moves the pointer forward one place to the right.
p-- == --p == (p = p-1)

So this moves the pointer back one place to the left.

A: Those are there to make p point to the beginning of the string that was just written.
There are several ways to improve all this, such as:
p -= 12;  // instead of all the --p

or
strcpy (p, "\x48\x65\x6c\x6c\x6f\x20\x57\x6f\x72\x6c\x64");

or
p = new string ("\x48\x65\x6c\x6c\x6f\x20\x57\x6f\x72\x6c\x64");

or even:
*p++ =0x48;
*p++ =0x65;
*p++ =0x6c;
*p++ =0x6c;
*p++ =0x6f;
*p++ =0x20;
*p++ =0x57;
*p++ =0x6f;
*p++ =0x72;
*p++ =0x6c;
*p++ =0x64;
*p    =0x0;

p -= 11;

or, to be direct and intuitive:
int main ()
{
     printf ("Hello World");
     return 0;
}

A: I would very much prefer to do this:
char *p = new char[13];
char *q = p;
*p=0x48;
++p;
*p=0x65;
++p;
*p=0x6c;
++p;
*p=0x6c;
++p;
*p=0x6f;
++p;
*p=0x20;
++p;
*p=0x57;
++p;
*p=0x6f;
++p;
*p=0x72;
++p;
*p=0x6c;
++p;
*p=0x64;
++p;
*p=0x0;
++p;

printf(q);

But the essence is that since it moves --p is needed to "reverse back up to the beginning", as a counter for the ++p that has been done to set the string.
[And without running it, I can see it prints Hello World]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
<?php

namespace RedisClient\Exception;

class ConnectionException extends \Exception {

}


text:
module Less
  module Rails
    module Bootstrap
      VERSION = '3.3.5.0'
    end
  end
end


Ive played duo and we got killed. i spectate someone other and want back to the lobby.
and also i did have some crashes.
Another Question i have is. Why i cant set up the Priority from this game for my cpu ?
Ive got the error message from my task manager : Access not allowed and im asking me : WTF ?! Whats wrong here ^^?
I do not understand why i have only 25-60 FPS. can you check it pls ?
Well, I would say the start and the whole beta was mild a disaster.
I think most of us did expect that the frezze bug was fixed and the server performance would be better but we still have the same problems with fps drops and lags. In place to fix the main bugs what didnt happend, happen something different.
My oppinion is that they need to fix the freeze bug and server performance asap. this is the only thing how many player come back to test the game find out other issue and give feedback over new content what will be updatet. I hope they not gonna move on for an EA soon.
And also the first day with a mega disaster start with heavy reload bug and grow granates that explode in your hand and many more did scared a lot of people and they stop playing immediately.
So this beta stage was not only a disaster for me it was disappointing.
I think also to that first when the server works fine and the freeze bug is solved a lot of players will return to test the next stage give feedback about new content.
The Game need immediately for duo/triple/squad a compass. It is very hard when a mate say " wooooaaah left left of me there is some one i need help " and you think only aaargh some coordinate would be nice to help faster.
Further the game need for duo/triple/squad more loot rather more weapons.
Further the bug jump out of chopper and get a freeze screen need to fix immediately!! Or let me say : It need to be fixed NOW !
It reduced heavly the game experience and you will get to much negative feedback because of this bug and also to much negative ratings by steam, i guess.
Further the wolves are little bit bugged to. They come from nothing and disappear as they come.
Further the drops from randrom anomaly is now to much in normal areas.
the weather system is nice i love it ^^ looking forward for some more features. this weather system was a great idea.


The Colorado Department of Transportation begins repaving work on a 7-mile stretch along Colorado Highway 9 and U.S. Highway 6 in Dillon this week.
The work zone for the project will extend on CO 9 from mile points 101 to 107, and points 208 to 211 on US 6. Safety benefits from the resurfacing include new sidewalk ramps, drainage improvements and traffic detection systems.
For the next six months, daytime working hours will run Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Fridays from 7 a.m. to noon. No work is planned on weekends or holidays, but night work will be required at the intersection of Interstate 70 and CO 9 at a time in the future.
CDOT expects the project to be completed by mid October of this year.


text:
5 Things That Can Increase the Cost of Car Insurance by as Much as 93%
Car insurance is a necessary evil, but it doesn't have to be as expensive as it often is. Here are five things that can increase the cost of car insurance by as much as 93%:
1. Driving history
Your driving history, specifically your history of traffic infractions, has the potential to exert the biggest influence on the size of your car insurance premiums.
Not all infractions are created equal. From the perspective of an insurance company, as well as the authorities, certain moving violations are more serious than others.
A recent study by Quadrant Information Services found that a ticket for driving under the influence or driving while impaired increases a driver's premiums by an average of 93%. This is followed by reckless driving, which ups one's rates by an average of 83%. Finally, speeding tickets and other less serious offenses lead to average increases of 20% to 30%.
While your claims history isn't as harmful as your driving history, making just one claim can hike your premiums by up to 76%.
2. Claims history
A separate study by Quadrant Information Services found that a single auto insurance claim of at least $2,000 causes an average premium increase of 41%. A second claim in the same year generates an average premium increase of 93%.
The significance of the increase depends in part on where you live. In Massachusetts, a single claim increases a driver's premiums by an average of 76%. But in Maryland, which is on the other side of the spectrum, the average jump is only 22%.
In addition to things you do, certain immutable traits also play a role in the size of your car insurance premiums. First and foremost is your age.
Generally speaking, younger people pay more for car insurance than do older people. This follows from the fact that beginning drivers have less experience than seasoned drivers and, not surprisingly, account for an outsized percentage of car accidents.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people aged 15-24 make up only 14% of the U.S. population, but they account for 30% of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among males and 28% of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries among females.
It's for this reason that the typical 20-year-old driver pays 41% more for car insurance than does a 25-year-old, according to another analysis by Quadrant Information Services. These costs decline by an average of 18% over the next 35 years until a person reaches age 60, at which point the trend reverses and insurance costs begin to climb again.
A second largely immutable trait that factors into the size of your car insurance premiums is your gender.
4. Gender
Early on, this favors females. An average 20-year-old male, for instance, pays an estimated 23% more in premiums than an average 20-year-old female, according to Quadrant Information Services.
But not only does this level off with age, it actually reverses, leading to lower premiums for male drivers between the ages of 30 and 60 relative to their female counterparts.
Last but not least is one's marital status, which is effectively just as important as age and gender when it comes to car insurance premiums.
5. Marital status
"Marriage really does make people more careful and responsible," said Eli Lehrer, president the R Street Institute. Thus, "it isn't at all surprising that this translates into better driving behavior."
As shown in the chart below, irrespective of age, married men (and the same is true of women) pay less for car insurance than single men (and women).
The takeaway on car insurance
Your car insurance premiums are a function of both controllable and uncontrollable factors. Thus, if you want to decrease them, then you'll have to focus on the former.
There is no magic bullet. The key is simply to eradicate all traffic infractions and eliminate any claims. Beyond that, shopping around and comparing rates and coverage options is the only sure step you can take to minimize the cost of car insurance.
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Discussion in 'Trainee and student teachers' started by Emmacl, Feb 2, 2011.
I've seen a position which I am interested in applying for. I'd really like to visit the school before handing in an application however to ensure it is the right school for me. Is this common practice? Anyone got any advice?
Quite common, indeed most schools welcome potential applicants to visit the school with appointment, or a special day/time may be set aside.
First thing to remember is that even if it's informal, treat it as the first part of your selection process and be on your guard, so that your body language, comments, dress etc don't give the wrong impression to the school. Also it's a two-way process: if the school doesn't seem right for you, you save yourself the bother of applying.
Some tips. Ask questions for which you can't find answers on official sources like school website, prospectus, Ofsted and job advert, like support for induction. Get a feel for the place - does it seem friendly, do children look happy and motivated, are teachers keen and professional? Does the ethos of the school, esp if it's a church school, agree with you? Can you see yourself working there and be happy? Don't get into school politics and offer unguarded opinions on current education policy, government initiatives etc. Sound keen and enthusiastic. Dress as a teacher, at least a jacket and tie for men and smart outfit for women.
I went on my first school visit on Friday, I was shocked that it turned into a sort of mini interview! The head showed me around after sitting me in his office and asking me about myself, why I want the post, why the school would be suitable for me etc. I was caught off guard a little bit as I expected to be shown around by a secretary/children. Be prepared to answer questions like that.
I would definately go on a visit before applying for a school. It gives you an insite into the school that looking at their website doesn't. When I visited the school I am working now I knew immediately that it was where I wanted to work. I think that this helped me to get the post because I worked extra hard on my written application and the head has since said that a positive from my interview was my enthusiasm for the school. I would not have done this had I not looked around the school first.
I visited 4 school while I was applying for jobs last year and each one was very different. In one school I was shown around by the head with 20 other NQTs but in another school 2 children showed me around and then I had a 45 minute individual talk with the head about how the school runs and what I want out of my NQT year, so be really do be prepared from anything!


This month we interviewed Vicky, a talented Private PA with an international background supporting high net worth individuals. All of her roles have been very intense assisting high profile clients in a variety of sectors managing international properties, renovations, organising impressive events, and much more! Working under pressure is second nature to her and she wouldn't have it any other way.
What is a typical day as a Private PA?
I wouldn't say there are "typical" days. Each day is different, filled with lots of changes, surprises and are completely varied. However regular tasks would include going over the day with my principal, shuffling and re-shuffling meetings as everything changes usually, (re-)booking flights, hotels, sourcing items, researching gifts, properties, liaising with household staff about an upcoming event, checking-in with the driver(s), updating the principal with some feedback on anything important that has come in during the day, etc!
To be able to anticipate your principal's needs before he/she even thinks of them and always having a plan B and C ready. And of course to keep smiling!
What advice would you give to our candidates who want to become a Private PA and what are the key skills you need to secure this type of role?
Key skills are being able to see the whole puzzle, to be able to think outside of the box and do good networking. Being on good terms with other EA's & PA's is also important as there will come a time when you have a favor to ask.
Have you always wanted to be a Private PA?
Haha no! I actually wanted to become a lawyer with a minor in Sports Science. Like many others, I found myself down the line with things having gone differently and asking myself what to become. I wanted a role where I wouldn't have to decide on the industry. Being a Private PA allows me to work in all kinds of sectors.
What is the funniest/most unusual situation you have found yourself in at work?
I was travelling with the principals and we had just arrived at the hotel. I stayed behind to grab a few things out of the car. As I turned around to walk into the hotel, there was this paparazzi who started taking pictures of me. I was so surprised I didn't even know how to react.
What is the most exciting thing about your job, or what is the thing you love the most about being a private PA?
That no two days are the same and that I constantly have to keep on my toes to stay three steps ahead. I meet a lot of interesting people and get to see a different "world".
If you are looking for a Private PA role or looking to hire do get in touch!


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You are here: Home > Story Shelf > All Authors > Cynus > Lonely Pride | Chapter 23 | Cynus
Lonely Pride
by Cynus
Grim walked through the streets of Pentalus with as much ease as he had ever walked the streets of Ultaka. Despite having never lived in the former, for more than a few months at a time, he had visited it often enough over the past eight centuries to know it just as well as the city of his birth. Now his mind raced back through conversations held over the past few years with an unusually well-mannered bounty hunter, to find a specific building.
He hadn't expected he would ever have a need to visit this place, nor to seek the help of its occupants, but had retained the details of its location all the same. The home of the resistance, those who opposed the rule of Neredos and his Knights of the Firmament, would be unlikely to welcome the brother of their most hated enemy. However, he had to try, for the good of everyone.
The guards saw him approaching from a long way off. He hadn't tried to conceal his approach, and because of the troubles in the city they were already on edge and aware of threats at every moment. As he neared them, he could feel the distrust and see almost hatred in their eyes, but he did not slow. Hesitation at a time like this would only make it more difficult for everyone involved.
"That's far enough, Fedain!" One of the men standing guard at the door said, as Grim came within five paces of them. The man leveled a cudgel into his hand, his eyes narrowed menacingly. "We don't want any trouble with your kind, why don't you just move on out of here before someone gets hurt?"
Grim remained still, keeping his hands at his side as he smiled politely at the guard. "I wish an audience with The Mother, and I come as an ally."
The guard scoffed, sharing an incredulous look with his companion. "What use do we have for an ally like you?"
"I can tell you exactly where Veil is, for starters," Grim replied smoothly. "And I can help make sure your resistance survives this battle."
The guard arched an eyebrow. "You would sell out a member of your own kind?"
"I only wish an audience," Grim said. "Is it really such a bad trade?"
The guards shared another look, this one contemplative, and then one knocked on the door behind him. A small window in the door opened, and the guard exchanged brief words with someone inside. After the window was shut again, the guard returned his attention to Grim and said, "Wait here. We will see what The Mother says."
Grim remained exactly where he was, his eyes fixed on the guards in front of him. Over his long life, he had played enough political games to know how this would go. He would get an audience, and they would hear him out until he had said all he had to say. He had arrived promising what they wanted most.
Within a minute of his arrival, the guards ushered Grim into the building. An escort of four led him through the halls to an audience chamber where two women waited for him. One old and one young, though both regarded him with a contempt that seemed to have been stewing for ages.
Before either one could speak, he addressed the older woman. "Nal Maya Godani, I am Grim, friend of Dogo. I know what happened to you, and I know the revenge you seek. I can lead you directly to Veil and ensure that she faces the judgment that you require. I will do this regardless of your answer, but I also have a request to make."
To the two women's credit, neither reacted with more than a slight widening of their eyes. Their faces remained as stony as when he arrived. After a moment, the younger one spoke. "You may leave us now, guards. This man is no threat to us."
Grim expected protest from his escort, but instead the four bowed and left without complaint. As soon as the door closed, the older woman spoke. "You know my name, my identity, and I have heard your name before as well. Dogo has spoken of you in the past, and that is the only reason why I will hear you out."
"I don't believe I will disappoint you," Grim said, suppressing an amused smile. "As I said, I am prepared to deliver Veil into your hands for her to receive your judgment."
"What makes you think I need you for that?" Nal Maya replied. "I have already sent someone to deal with her. With the chaos happening above, I'm sure he succeeded."
"Oh?" Grim replied. "Well, unless your assassin is still in Pentalus, I'm afraid he has missed his mark. She is currently in the Plaza of Ibrix, aiding a rather odd group assembled to defend the city from the army at the borders."
"He failed," the younger woman hissed. "I knew we shouldn't have sent him. We should not have entrusted such an important mission to him."
"Quiet, Laris," Nal Maya replied. She placed a hand on the younger woman's arm and gave her a stern look. "Styx needed healing, and it was the only way. The others probably wouldn't have gotten close."
It was Grim's turn to be surprised. "Styx? You sent Styx to assassinate someone?" Unable to control himself, he started to laugh.
"You forget yourself, pale one," Laris said, her eyes shooting daggers at him. "You are surrounded by enemies who are willing to kill you for offending The Mother."
"I meant no disrespect," Grim said, raising a hand to stall her as he attempted to get his laughter under control. "I'm only surprised is all. Styx is not exactly known for his . . . Combat capabilities. I was a gladiator with him, as I was with Dogo. I'm sure Styx is capable of many things but entrusting him to assassinate one of the most powerful people in the entire world is extreme negligence."
Nal Maya nodded, accepting Grim's words. "Yes, I'm not surprised by that, though I knew he could get close to her, and I'd hoped that would be enough."
"It wasn't," Grim replied. "I have it on good authority that Veil sent Styx to assassinate Neredos after she spoke to him."
"Good authority?" Laris scoffed. "Whose?"
Grim met her eyes. "Hers. Veil's."
"I believe you," Nal Maya said, before Laris could reply. "So you say that Veil is in Ibrix Plaza. Is she really in a position where we can just assassinate her? You mentioned she was aiding others, which means she has allies. Our resources may be extensive, but we have already failed to kill her many times in similar situations."
Grim reached into one of the folds of his clothing and drew out a large and ancient book. He tossed it to Nal Maya and said, "You will find many different ways to kill a person in this book. I know you can read Gor, being a former High Mistress of the Inkblades as you are. I have met your sister on two occasions, and I know her to be a capable magi, as much from my observations then as from what Dogo has told me. I also know that you are her twin, and I know something of sibling rivalries. I'm sure you are every bit as capable with magic as your sister."
Nal Maya turned the book in her hands, her eyes widening with shock as she opened the pages and looked within. "This is . . . The level of the spells in here are beyond my understanding."
Grim sighed. He was tired, ready to put an end to this entire ordeal, and he was sick of having the fate of the world rest on his shoulders alone. "Then give me the book, and I will find someone else to entrust it to."
"I fail to see why you would trust us with something this powerful to begin with," Nal Maya said, regarding Grim with renewed interest. "Why would you want us to kill Veil, anyway? As I recall, you are her brother, aren't you?"
Grim bowed, and when he straightened again his eyes were hard. "Yes, and I know the weight of her sins more than anyone else living. I bear some of my own, though my tasks are not yet completed. Veil was consumed by a need to serve as a check against Neredos, but soon she will not be needed in that capacity. It is time she receives judgment for the pain she has caused to you and others. Soon, I will atone as well."
"So, this is about redemption?" Laris asked venomously. "You betrayed your sister out of guilt?"
Grim shook his head. "Somewhere in her own mind, she wants to be brought to judgment just as much as you want to bring her to it. I do this for her. So that she can finally rest."
"Are you not just as old is she?" Nal Maya asked. "How can a person live for eight centuries and retain any amount of perspective on what it's like to be mortal? Why should we trust your motives?"
Grim smirked at that. "Unlike my sister, my immortality was never selfishly motivated. She has wanted to live for eight centuries, I have wanted to die since the moment when I first took another's life. She kept herself apart and above, to live with the God King himself, surrounded by the comforts of nobility and prestige. I have walked every road this world has to offer, have lived my life among the poor, the sick, the dying. I know better than anyone that all things end. I have faced death a thousand times, and I have ended more lives than any demon. You ask if I understand what it means to be mortal? I don't think anyone understands mortality better than the man who wants to die but cannot."
By the time he finished speaking, Nal Maya's eyes had moistened, and her cheeks were wet with tears. She approached Grim, extending the grimoire back to him. "I, too, understand this sentiment. You have a mission to fulfill, something you must accomplish before you can rest. It doesn't matter how old you get, or how many obstacles are in your way, you will see it through. I wanted to hate you when you came in here today, despite the good things Dogo said about you. But I find that I cannot. What is it you would have us do?"
Grim held her gaze and nodded solemnly. "I only asked that you help us defend Pentalus. We need to save as many lives as we can, the best way I can see to do that is to make the army see that we cannot be easily beaten. If we can gather a large enough force, they will hesitate to attack us, and we will have a chance to end this with diplomacy."
Nal Maya nodded. "We will help you, Grim, friend of my dead love. Laris, summon the other leaders of the resistance. Tell them to spread the word; today we fight for Pentalus."
"Lady Veil, are you all right?" Clasean said, rushing from his position with the Elroks and city watch. He had agreed to fight alongside them, lending his sword to the front lines once the enemy decided to move against them. After seeing the assassin attack Maxthane, however, he had left his post without hesitation.
Veil ignored him, all her attention focused on the boy lying on the cobblestones next to her. Maxthane thulu'Khant had already bled enough to kill a man, and from the sheen of sweat on Veil's face, it wasn't clear if the boy had already died or not.
"Is he going to be all right?" Kirra asked, leaning over Maxthane, opposite Veil. "You can heal him, can't you?"
Veil did her best to push all the voices around her from her awareness. None of them were conducive to the focus that she needed. Her son lay before her, unconscious and bleeding out. No, dead . . . Maxthane was dead, but it was fresh enough that she still had a chance.
There was more than just a missing limb to contend with. Whatever strange weapon had removed his arm had also left behind a quick-acting poison that had stilled Maxthane's heart in seconds. In order to save him, Veil needed to force the poison from him and seal the wound on his arm simultaneously. Only then could she work on reviving him.
She began the process, painstakingly working every trace of poison out of Maxthane system that she could manage as quickly as possible. Despite her skill, she wasn't sure it would be enough. There were limits to how long a person could still be brought back from death. She needed speed, not just technique.
Kirra moved out of the way and a pair of pale hands rested on Maxthane's opposite arm. Veil felt the poison dissipate faster, and Maxthane's wounds began to close. She risked a glance upward and nearly sighed in relief. Grim had returned from wherever he'd gone just in time to save her son.
Their energies worked in concert, dividing the labor between them. Meticulously thorough, both Fedain made sure that every trace of the poison was gone before they set to work at reviving Maxthane. Drawing on their extensive wells of energy, Grim and Veil poured their life force into the dead king.
Maxthane's body convulsed, energy coursing through him. His heart began pumping again, his brain flaring to life and sending signals to every nerve. He was missing an arm from the shoulder down now, but the stump twitched just as much as the rest of him, aching to move fingers that were no longer there. In a matter of seconds, it was done, and Maxthane lay gasping on the cobblestones.
"What happened?" He said hoarsely, looking between Grim and Veil. "I felt . . . So much pain, then nothing. Then light, so much light . . ."
"You died," Veil said, pushing back the hair that had fallen on Maxthane's face. "But you are back now, you're safe."
Maxthane attempted to raise the arm that was no longer attached to him then stared at the place the limb should be. He closed his eyes, fighting back tears. "It's gone, he's gone . . ."
"Yes, the golem . . ." Kirra began, looking out to the Plaza. "I couldn't stop them from taking it, didn't even have a chance. He was too fast, and he . . . Maxthane I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault, Kirra," Maxthane replied. "What is the golem doing?"
"It's still chasing after the last two assassins. It's chasing them away from the Plaza," Kirra reported. "It looks like the army is getting ready to advance on our position now that it's out of the way."
"It will follow the last order I gave it," Maxthane said. "The last one was kill those four assassins, so I assume it will chase them until they're dead, unless someone else takes command of it before then."
"I don't want to think about what will happen once the golem is under their control," Kirra said. "Either way, it's time we get off the front lines. Now that you don't have the golem, there's no reason to be up here."
Veil and Grim helped Maxthane to his feet. Both put a consoling hand on his shoulder nearest to them. "I agree with Kirra," Veil said. "There is no sense in waiting here to be killed again."
Before any of them could move, a large form approach them from a nearby building. Gobrak rushed to Maxthane's side, his face grim and his eyes frantic. Upon seeing Maxthane standing and healthy—at least as healthy as he could be, now missing an arm— he sighed in relief and bowed in greeting. "What happened? Why is the golem running off?"
"Did you see the assassin who surprised us?" Kirra asked.
"Yes, Bradeth is tracking his movements through the ground with a spell," Gobrak replied. "By her best guess when I left, he was headed straight for the enemy army."
"That means Krythe has decided to side with the invaders," Maxthane said. "It's what my father would've done, so I'm not surprised. We need to try to stop him. It's the only chance we have."
Gobrak nodded. "As I said, Bradeth is tracking him. This isn't over yet, King Maxthane. No matter how grim it may seem."
"Speaking of Grim," Veil said, eyeing her brother, "where have you been?"
"Securing more allies," Grim replied. "They will be here shortly, and hopefully they'll bring an army." Veil didn't like the pity in his eyes. It was like looking at the executioner before the axe fell.
Lord Hount readied his soldiers for another attack. Whatever Flax and his assassins had done, the golem was no longer a problem. On top of that, the infantry had finally arrived. He would be able to seize the city before the morning came, if he was lucky.
Above him a bird sounded, an owl by his best bet. It was an odd bird to hear in Pentalus, but these were strange times with stranger omens. In the lands of his rule, the owl symbolized coming change, often negative but just as often positive. He would not rule out either until the change occurred.
The cavalry would charge in first, to act as a distraction before the infantry followed. The streets ahead were not wide enough for him to use his cavalry effectively, but in the Plaza they could still be of use.
Hount eyed the Plaza skeptically, giving particular notice to the large hole left by the fight with Ibrix. Large cracks spread across the entire Plaza now, the result of the golem's heavy attacks and movements. He wondered if he could truly afford to send his soldiers in there now. Would hundreds of men flooding the Plaza weaken the ground structure further and send it all crumbling to The Shade below?
A low rumbling nearby made him wonder if the collapse had already begun. To his surprise, the ground gave way upward rather than down, and Flax emerged from the ground several feet away from Hount. Hount reached for his sword, caught off guard by the assassin's sudden appearance, and only relaxed a little when he recognized the man's identity.
"I have a gift for you, Lord Hount," Flax said, tossing a small arm bracer to Hount. "The key to destroying all of our enemies."
Hount quirked an eyebrow as he stared at the bracer. It was made of a material he could not identify, and its surface was etched with a few dozen small symbols he didn't recognize. "What is this?" He asked testily. "I have a war to fight and you bring me a trinket?"
"I believe this is used to control the large being currently chasing after my associates," Flax said with a flourish of a bow. "With it I'm sure you can send their weapon against the forces assembled on the other side of the Plaza."
Hount nodded in acceptance of the explanation, though he doubted Flax's motives. "And why wouldn't you keep such a powerful weapon for yourself? We may be temporary allies, but I would think you'd want to use this."
Flax raised his chitinous arms by way of explanation and said, "I don't think it would stay on, and I'm much more comfortable with the weapons I already have. I trust that you will put it to effective use. After all, we are alli—" a loud shriek from the owl sounded, and a large arrow sailed across the entire length of the Plaza, arcing perfectly to take flax in the neck from behind. He collapsed forward into Hount, his words stolen from him, along with his breath.
"Pull back!" Hount shouted to his troops. "They have an archer that can reach us!" He then moved to follow his own orders, taking shelter in the shadow of a building. Glancing upward, he caught sight of the owl, still hovering over Flax's position. They lined up the shot with the owl's help. Clever.
As his troops moved to comply with his orders, Hount looked over the bracer once again and decided to put it on. The moment it clamped shut around his wrist, he felt a presence in his mind. The presence didn't feel living, per se, but had a sense of intelligence all the same. He knew what the presence was, and he knew it was under his control.
Before it got too far away, Hount mentally ordered the golem to stop. It had already left the Plaza far behind in its pursuit of the two remaining assassins. He considered calling it back to do exactly as Flax had suggested. He had come to seize control of the city, and the forces before him were all that stood in his way. With the golem he could destroy them in seconds.
But he had intended to destroy them to make a statement, not because he wanted them dead. He was not a sadist, he had no hatred for the citizens of Pentalus nor even the Knights of the Firmament, though he disagreed with their ethics. He even liked Lady Alsha, and regretted the thought of having to kill her. Did he have to, now that the golem answered to him? Would control of the weapon be leverage enough to ensure their surrender, without needing to make an example of their officers?
No, he still needed a power move, something so grand that his enemies would see surrender as the only option. Possession of the weapon wouldn't be enough, he would have to use it. He had come to defeat Neredos, to destroy his rule once and for all and free the world from the mad King. It was time to end this.
"Whatever you are, strange giant, you will heed my will," Hount said, reaching out to the golem. "It is time to destroy."
Maxthane tried to force his missing arm from his mind. It would do no good to fret about it now, not while he was still in danger. He wondered if his Fedain heritage would allow him to regrow the limb, given enough time and effort. No! He shouted in his mind, no . . . No time for that. We are in the middle of a war. I am alive, and for now that will have to be enough.
They had rendezvoused with Alsha and Bradeth as well as the other commanders on the same rooftop where Bradeth and Gobrak had watched the battlefield. After Bradeth's shot had killed the assassin, the enemy had yet to advance on their position. Eager to keep such pressure on their enemy, Alsha had directed Bradeth and Gobrak to remain in position as long as possible. Since they could not leave, it seemed the only logical place to discuss their next move.
"What are we going to do now?" Commander Belthin asked, looking out to where the golem had stopped moving. It was easy to spot amidst the rubble; in its attempt to kill the two remaining assassins it had demolished several buildings. It had yet to move again, however, which put everyone on the rooftop on edge. "We can't possibly stand against that thing, even with these allies that Grim has promised us."
"Don't worry, they'll be here. They are rallying the forces of Pentalus as we speak, and it takes time to gather an army," Grim replied. He smiled reassuringly at Belthin, then swept the rest of the group with his gaze. "As for what we should do . . . we should rethink our defensive positions in anticipation of the golem's attack, then wait for our reinforcements to arrive."
"Tell us again who these reinforcements are, and this time don't say they're simply 'allies you have in Pentalus' like you did last time," Alsha said.
Grim's eyes twitched toward Veil for a moment, lingered briefly on Madame Godani, and then finally returned to Alsha. "They serve someone called the Dark Mother," Grim continued on, but Veil visibly stiffened at the name, "and have an organized resistance group in the city. It's a wonder that they're not allied with the invaders, but I assume this is simply because neither group is truly aware of the other. The invaders likely assumed rumors of an organized resistance unfounded, and if the resistance inside Pentalus had any knowledge of the rebellion outside, they certainly would've made their move by now."
"I need to go now," Veil said. "I think it's time I saw to the survivors and made sure they—"
"Are you trying to escape your crimes, sister?" Grim asked, ignoring the confused glances from the others. "Don't worry, I have already made arrangements for your safety. In a moment, Bradeth will be taking you and me to The Shade, where we will contain that plague you're partially responsible for."
"Wait, what crimes?" Belthin asked. "Do you dare insult the Oracle?" Her sword inched out of its sheath until Alsha put a hand on her arm.
"At ease, Commander," Alsha said. "This council has no need to turn on itself." Belthin hesitated, but eventually she released her sword and moved back, though her eyes remained on Grim. Alsha didn't give her a second glance as she, too, regarded the Fedain. "Can't you stay? We need healers here as well. And Bradeth especially . . . Right now we need all the allies we can get."
"Our powers are useless against the golem, and nothing lives that fights it," Grim replied with a sigh. "I have already done what I can for you by recruiting allies for you. It will be up to you to win them over, though I have absolute faith in your ability, Lady Alsha. I have already spoken with Bradeth, and she has agreed to leave the remaining Elrok forces with you, under Gobrak's command. Bradeth will return as soon as she has helped us cleanse the river. I hope you don't mind, Maxthane, but we'll be borrowing your grimoire a little longer."
Maxthane nodded, though he felt an immediate twinge of pain at the words. He felt useless, unneeded. This wasn't his war, not really, and he'd already lost control of the one weapon he had at his disposal. Plus, there was something more, a connection he realized was missing. His place was in The Shade, not here.
"Fasha is free again," he said, startling everyone but Grim, who merely nodded in resignation. "I lost my connection to his prison when I . . ."
Veil caught on immediately after those words. "When you died . . . Just as all the demons would be set free up here if Neredos would somehow be killed."
"Then all the more reason for us to be in The Shade," Grim replied. "Fasha fears only two forces; fire, and a Fedain who is willing to kill. If Veil and I are both there, we will be able to disrupt his plans."
"I'm coming with you," Maxthane said. "Provided there is room for one more."
Kirra followed immediately after Maxthane. "Then I will also go, to watch your back as I promised."
"No, your place is here," Maxthane said. He reached to stroke Kirra's cheek, then lifted his remaining arm to do what his ghost limb could not. "These are your people. Just as I must go to mine, yours need you here. But, I do want to thank you for all your protection." He leaned in and kissed Kirra on the lips, just deeply enough to imply a bond stronger than friendship.
Kirra nodded in appreciation and turned to Alsha. "I will remain whether we stand our ground or surrender. My sword is yours as long as you'll have me."
"If the golem attacks before our reinforcements arrive, we will surrender," Alsha said, meeting the eyes of everyone gathered to gauge their agreement. "Otherwise, we do our best to stand."
"In that case," Bradeth said, pulling away from the wall. She pulled her teleportation mat from her backpack and laid it on the rooftop beside her. "It's time for me to get you all down there. Parril has arrived."
Grim regarded both Veil and Maxthane with the same calculating smile. "Shall we go on our family picnic?"
Veil looked like she was going to be sick, but Maxthane merely chuckled. It was good to see some warmth in someone's eyes. How long had it been since he'd seen any of that? "Let's go."
The three climbed into the teleportation circle with Bradeth, who focused her energies into the symbols at her feet. She did not need the blood component, for the three who stood with her had instinctively connected their wills to hers. As seamlessly as any teleportation she'd ever performed, the four disappeared from sight, reemerging in the depths of The Lower Shade.
To those remaining on the rooftop, the world exploded in light and fire.
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Books > Language and Literature > Fiction > A Word Thrice Uttered Stories on Life's Realities
A Word Thrice Uttered Stories on Life's Realities
by Praveen Talha
A Word Thrice Uttered: Stories on Life's Realities is a collection of short stories portraying the diverse realities of life through the protagonists — children, women, men, animals, even some supernatural beings.
Readers meet fascinating women confronted with irresponsible men and downright evil ones too. But nothing stops these women from taking the first step to a leap into liberation and self-empowerment.
While Ratan's story is one of irreparable damage to a child's psyche, through callous handling, spilling onto his adult life, Ram Khilawan's is a contrast where familial love inspires a child to put aside his trauma and attain the impossible despite poverty.
Where children are not spared, what would the plight of animals be? But here the author infuses hope through stories where animals return in equal measure the love and trust they receive from humans who treat them as family.
There are gentle touches into sensitive areas, through the thought processes of little Aslam and the experiences of Hafizji and his family. Panditayin, wrapped in the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, makes readers long to turn the clock back into that golden era.
Parveen Talha's earlier book Fida -e- Lucknow (a collection of short stories published by Niyogi Books), steeped in the textures and flavours of Lucknow, brought alive the city and its people for her readers.
In the current volume she has widened her canvas and made it more colourful, with characters from Lucknow and its adjoining towns and villages, playing vibrant roles on a stage shifting through time and space, portraying the rich history of the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb. In this book her stories open many unknown pages of history, and bring back forgotten memories of folklore, of not only Lucknow but the whole of Awadh. With the bygone era, the present times also come alive.
Parveen Talha belongs to an old family of Awadh. After retiring from the Civil Services as Director General of Customs she was Member of the Union Public Service Commission for five years. She lives now in Lucknow and spends time writing about her beloved city. Parveen Talha is involved with social service which includes working for animal rights. In the year 2000 she was given the President's Award for Specially Distinguished Record of Service. In 2014, she was honoured with the Padma Shri for her contribution to the Civil Services.
find stories everywhere around me, as I have said in my earlier book. And I cannot keep them to myself. I want to share them, those observations, sketched on the canvas of my mind, refusing to be erased, left behind at times unknown, by -both humans and animals. So here I am, again, ready with a collection of stories woven around facts I have observed over the years
. My earlier collection of short stories Fida-e-Lucknow (published by Niyogi Books) had the citizens of Lucknow as the protagonists. For it was they who had created, over time, a cuIture which gave Lucknow a legendary character. Through those stories the real character of the Lucknow-wala was revealed, for he had more to himself than just the hyperbole in his language; his days were not ruled by cockfights or nights by tawaifs. He played exemplary roles, in the two wars of Independence, during floods and droughts and during the horrible days of the Partition which played havoc with his emotions. It had separated his dear ones from him and with them had gone his property too. After the annexation of Awadh and in the in the Post-mutiny and post-Zamindari period, he found himself reduced to penury and yet did not lose his poise and dignity or self-respect. Fida-e-Lucknow introduced us not only to the beauty of romantic love but also unveiled the personalities of some highly empowered women from Lucknow.
And now when I browse through the stories of the present collection, I realise that the characters in most of the stories are from Lucknow again, but the canvas has expanded and spread over time and space, introducing the reader to a variety of dimensions and not just a single view. The readers' gaze is not limited to one direction. There are profiles and profiles and many angles from which he can look at the protagonist to assess for himself his or her persona.
The characters in this collection have walked through time and shown their willingness and ability to adjust to the demands of a culture which has not merely evolved but acquired an altogether new face. They have shifted to Metros and foreign capitals, faced challenges and difficult times, made success of their lives or lived patiently through failures.
My stories are not only about good men and women. Cruelty and greed rules the minds of some who make life impossible for those dealing or living with them, like the two husbands of Kausar in 'A Word Thrice Uttered'. One, a downright fraud, the other cruelty personified, one using his right to Talaq to get rid of her and their retarded son; and the other keeping his right intact as ammunition to threaten her into submission and slavery. There is the cruel wife of Masterji who has made it her life's motive to 'teach little Ram Khilawan a lesson' in `Gangaji Is Not Far Bappa'. Manorama's husband and her three sons in 'Amma Come Back', Chaudhry the tea vendor in 'Trial and Punishment', and the Proprietor and Manager of the shoe exporting company, to which Hafizji was supplying his wares, in let Sleeping Dogs Lie' are all negative characters.
In the story let Me Have a Love Affair' there is this young man who is desperate to know what it is to have a love affair. That's Prashant. All he does is to concentrate on making plans and strategies to attract a girl, make her fall for him, as though he is on a shikar. He proposes and discusses marriage with her when, all the while, he is married and the father of a four-year-old child. Not once does he pause to think of the consequences, from the point of view of the girl. No doubt the girl is shattered -when she discovers the facts. But she throws him out of her life and moves on. Then there is in 'Thanks For Ditching Me' a similar irresponsible young man, Imran, who had walked away from a girl's life without so much as an 'Excuse me'! But the girl, who makes a fantastic success of her life and also gets married to a good and successful man, rightly ticks him off by thanking him for ditching her, for if he hadn't, she would never have reached that pinnacle of success and happiness. It was in a fairly advanced age, discovering about her high status, that the man had dared to reach her with the excuse to 'apologise' for what he had done.
Talking about the black characters I have here touched upon two love stories that failed. But this is my way of women empowerment, warning and educating through the art of storytelling.
It is difficult at this juncture not to mention a love story which had no black characters. Love which did not sour though it did not end in marriage. That is the 'The Magic Wand', the unusual but refreshing story of a woman who admits that she had, as a young girl, been swept off her feet by a boy. There are similar indications from the boy's side too, but no expressions of love from either of them. Perhaps, because, for some reason, both had felt that their lives could only run like parallel lines, that there were no chances of them ever meeting. That could have been the reason for there being no demands and no expectations and only restraint ruling their lives. The magic which surrounded her universe in her youth keeps her spellbound at every subsequent meeting and even when they meet, when they are much older, forty-six years later.
Among the good characters Panditayin, Hafizji and Ram Khilawan and his entire family stand out most prominently. Begum Ilahi Bukhsh, Ghausia's mother, Christopher, Akbari, Aslam's father Fazlur Rehman and his grandmother will also endear themselves to the readers.
The collection does not only have black and white characters; there are grey ones too like Masterji's mother in `Gangaji Is Not Far, Bappa,' Aunty Manorama in 'Arnim Come Back', Amina, Kausar's stepmother, in 'A Word Thrice Uttered'. Marian Barret's, (Christopher's mother) character, too, certainly had shades of grey, in 'A String of Bela flowers'.
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Two species of ants discovered in Papua New Guinea are look-alikes of the fabled dragons in Game of Thrones. These ants have tiny barbs on their backs and shoulders.
This resemblance made scientists name the insects after the dragons of Khaleesi. It's much like the wild beasts coming to life in the form of an insect.
Taxonomy represents the identification, documentation, and classification of new species being discovered. It is an old and basic process in biology. Some of the more traditional methods involve descriptions made with drawings, photographs, or even verbal descriptions.
Researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology made a new survey, using state of the art technology such as 3d imaging, together with more conventional methods.
These technologies helped them discover a couple of new ant species in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea.
By using a method called X-ray microtomography, which is a lot like a hospital CT scan, experts observed smaller animals, like ants, at a very high picture quality.
Professor Economy points out that this is a pioneering study, which uses micro-CT for studying ants. This way, people around the world can download pictures of virtual ants, make their own observations and compare it to the species they want to study.
Experts put 3d imaging to work, to produce galleries and describe the features of the two groups of ants. They also looked at the spines of worker ants to fully understand their role.
Researchers say the ants look dragon-like because they have those unique spines, which are not encountered in other similar species.
At first, everyone thought these spines act as a defense mechanism against other dangerous predators; it turned out the barbs contain muscle, which makes the ants pack more of a punch than other ants without spines.
The muscles in the spines point to the conclusion that these barbs had an essential role in holding up the ants' huge heads.
The discovery and documentation of new species of animals are something modern people have done, even before Charles Darwin and it is an important part of understanding biology. The new technologies allow a virtual dissection of the specimen, for examining on your computer.


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using FluentValidation;
using FatturaElettronica.Ordinaria.FatturaElettronicaBody.DatiGenerali;

namespace FatturaElettronica.Validators
{
    public class DatiBolloValidator : AbstractValidator<DatiBollo>
    {
        public DatiBolloValidator()
        {
            RuleFor(x => x.BolloVirtuale)
                .NotEmpty()
                .Equal("SI");
            RuleFor(x => x.ImportoBollo)
                .NotNull();
        }
    }
}


Getting worse day by day .
It's so unfair that the only person that I really like in the whole school is moving to another city.
I don't even know how to react. I don't really like the other girls in my class, they're not really the kind of people that I'm used to.
By my own I guess.
But as my mama says to me: do your own thing and don't mind the others hon.


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Home > Aviation > As Atlanta's airport grows, smaller airports lose passengers
by Jack Smith - October 15, 2017 October 15, 2017 02247
Hartsfield Jackson-Atlanta International Airport Atlanta
ATLANTA (AP) — Airports in large cities are gaining passengers — and smaller towns are losing them, a new report shows.
Some smaller airports are shrinking in passenger traffic as large airports grow even larger, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported , citing a new industry report by Airlines Council International.
The world's airport "mega-hubs" such as Hartsfield Jackson-Atlanta International Airport grew 5.5 percent year-over-year in 2016, the World Airport Traffic Report shows.
Atlanta's airport, the world's busiest in terms of passengers, continues to grow — though not as fast as hubs in Asia and other places around the globe.
At the same time, the report found that 27.4 percent of small airports lost traffic over the last 10 years. That includes airports that started with fewer than 1 million passengers 10 years ago.
In Atlanta, Hartsfield-Jackson's passenger traffic has grown from 84.8 million passengers in 2006 — the year it opened its fifth runway to boost the airport's capacity — to more than 104 million passengers in 2016. That's a nearly 30 percent increase over the 10-year period.
Despite gains for major city hubs, "the downside of airline capacity shifts is that a proportion of smaller regional airports have either stagnated or experienced a reduction in nonstop destinations between cities," Angela Gittens, director general of ACI World and a former Hartsfield-Jackson general manager, said in a statement.
Smaller airports have lost ground as carriers like Delta Air Lines reduce their fleet of smaller regional planes often used to serve smaller towns. Those efforts are aimed to increase efficiency by operating larger, more fuel-efficient jets that can handle more passengers per flight.
Southwest Airlines, which acquired AirTran Airways in 2011, discontinued service on some of AirTran's routes, including some of the smaller markets it served. Southwest operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, and does not fly smaller planes or contract with regional carriers often used to serve smaller cities.
"It is important to highlight that the reason smaller airports remain in operation hinges on the fact that they contribute to the local, social and economic development of their surrounding communities," Gittens said. "Strategies to ensure their sustainability are important if we are to have a robust aviation system."
Hartsfield-Jackson retained its status as the world's busiest airport last year, but some of the fastest-growing airports are in other regions of the world, the new report shows.
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New Delhi; Seoul; Kunming, China; Barcelona; Mumbai, Taipei; Shanghai; Amsterdam; Chengdu and Guangzhou were the fastest-growing large airports in 2016, according to ACI.
So far this year, Hartsfield-Jackson's passenger traffic is growing by 1 percent through August.
As Delta continues to move toward larger airplanes to replace smaller ones, reducing the number of flights needed to carry the same number of passengers, the Atlanta airport's flight count is shrinking by about 1.5 percent for the year through August.
Rival Chicago O'Hare has also seen a nearly 1.5 percent decline in flights for the year through August.
Looking at passenger counts, Beijing was the world's second-busiest airport last year with 94 million passengers and 5 percent growth, followed by Dubai with 84 million passengers and 7.2 percent growth.
Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
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Shane Warne has been buoyed by D'Arcy Short's improvement with the ball.
Spin king's warning on SuperCoach big guns
by Tim Michell
15th Dec 2019 3:10 PM
Spin king Shane Warne says he expects the two most expensive SuperCoach BBL players to justify their high price tags.
Melbourne Stars all-rounder Marcus Stoinis ($278,900, BAT-BWL) and Hobart Hurricanes star D'Arcy Short ($262,800) cost a combined $541,000, more than a quarter of SuperCoach's $2 million budget.
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Short has been the leading run scorer in the past two Big Bash League seasons, amassing 572 runs in BBL07 and 637 in BBL08.
However, it is the powerful left-hander's improvement with the ball which has Warne most excited.
Short increased his output from three wickets in BBL07 to 10 last season and will be expected to shoulder a greater bowling load with Jofra Archer (England) unavailable and off-season signing Scott Boland injured.
"I think his left-arm wrist spin is underrated. I think he will take a lot of wickets this year," Warne said.
Short also impressed with the ball in England's Vitality Blast, snaring 13 wickets in 12 matches.
Warne said he expected Stoinis would be out to prove a point with the Stars, having lost his Australian spot after a disappointing World Cup which yielded only 87 runs and seven wickets.
Marcus Stoinis will be out to bounce back after a disappointing World Cup campaign.
WARNE'S VERDICT ON
Mitchell Marsh (Perth Scorchers) BAT-BWL $179,700
Marsh is in danger of missing the start of the BBL as he recovers from a broken hand. However, Warne expects him to figure prominently for the Scorchers when he returns.
"I think he is going to make a huge announcement this summer with the bat and the ball too," he said.
Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars) BAT-BWL $278,900
Stoinis had the best average of player last season with 96.9 SuperCoach points a game. He'll need to replicate those sort of numbers to hold his starting price. "I think they have put him back to domestic cricket with Big Bash to perform and if he does, he'll be back in Australian colours very soon," Warne said.
Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers) BWL $203,300
Khan is too expensive to pick for his Round 1 SuperCoach bye, but he should be a priority trade target. The tricky leg-spinner bamboozles batsmen in the BBL. "Probably the best T20 player in the business. His batting has improved as well so watch out for some big sixes," Warne said.
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Mir Castle
Mir Castle in Grodno region is one of the most important tourist attractions in Belarus, an outstanding 16th-century fortification and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
See video about Mir Castle
UNESCO heritage sites in Belarus, Mir Castle and Nesvizh Palace
History of Mir Castle
The Mir Castle complex (Mirsky zamok) is an outstanding example of 16th-century fortification art. It's located in the town of Mir in the Grodno region of Belarus.
The construction of this Belarus' Gothic style castle was started in the 1520s by Duke Ilinich.
In 1568 the castle came into the hands of Mikolay Radziwil, who completed it in Renaissance style.
A three-storey palace was built along the eastern and northern walls of the castle which had forty fretted rooms. Earth walls were built around the castle with bastions at the corners, surrounded by a water moat.
An Italian garden was laid to the north of the walls and an artificial lake was established to the south. The Radziwills owned the castle for several centuries.
During the Napoleonic wars the castle was severely damaged.
In 1891, the castle is bought by Nikolai Svyatopolk-Mirsky who started bringing order to his new property. His son continued his father's work, led by renowned architect Teodor Bursze.
A subsidiary of the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus was located in the castle in 1992.
Mir Castle today
In 2000 UNESCO designated Mir Castle a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site.
The successful blend of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture makes Mir Castle one of the most impressive castles in Europe.
Following intensive restoration works, Mir Castle was reopened to the public in December 2010.
Renovation works on the Mir Castle Complex, however, are still underway. The plans are to repair the Italian Renaissance Park, the English Park and the pond, to restore the Svyatopolk-Mirsky Castle. The restoration works on this historic landmark was completed in 2013.
Getting to Mir Castle and where to stay
Mir Castle is situated 90km south-west of Minsk.
It is easily accessible by road, just 15 minutes off the main Minsk to Brest M1 motorway.
By bus, Mir is on the Minsk-Novogrudok route. The journey takes around two hours.
It is easy to stay in a Minsk hotel and take a day trip to Mir. Or you can stay in one of the hotels in Novogrudok, about 40km from Mir.
At present Mir Castle can host conferences, receive guests and tourists. The castle boasts a conference hall, a hotel, a restaurant.
Things to see near Mir Castle
If you are visiting Mir Castle, other sights of interest include:
Jewish war memorial and burial site
Mir town square and market
Roman Catholic Church of Saint Nicholas (16th–17th centuries)
Orthodox Trinity Church (16th century)


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The East Bulgarian is a Bulgarian breed of warmblood horse. It developed from the warmblood section established in about 1894, at the Kabiuk State Stud and Stallion Depot in Shumen Province in eastern Bulgaria. A stud-book was started in either 1951 or 1959.

References

Horse breeds
Horse breeds originating in Bulgaria

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia