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Two Grooms on a Cake: The Story of America's First Gay Wedding (Hardcover)
By Rob Sanders, Robbie Cathro (Illustrator)
As seen on The TODAY Show!
"Sanders tells the tale in easy-to-understand language, sweet as the frosting on the cake. . . . As beautiful as it is informative about this little-known battle in the fight for equality." -Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
"Their heartwarming story-accessible to young readers-demonstrates that the essential ingredient in a cake and a marriage is love. Cathro's affectionate illustrations-with vintage 1970s' colors and vibes-not only expand the text but also capture its sweet spirit exactly." -Booklist
This is the story of Jack Baker and Michael McConnell and their inspiring story becoming the first married gay couple in the US fifty years ago.
Long before marriage equality was the law of the land, two grooms stood on a wedding cake with their feet firmly planted in fluffy white frosting. That cake belonged to Jack Baker and Michael McConnell, who were wed on September 3, 1971, becoming the first same-sex couple in America to be legally married. Their struggle to obtain a marriage license in Minnesota and their subsequent appeals to the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of the United States is an under-told story of LGBT history. This beautiful book celebrates the love story of two pioneers of marriage equality for all through the baking of their wedding cake!
Rob Sanders is a picture book author, a writing teacher, a sometimes blogger, and a dog lover. He worked for fifteen years in religious educational publishing as a writer, editor, editorial manager, and product designer. These days, he teaches elementary school kids about books and words and reading and writing, and also writes books for those same kids.
Rob is the author of the nonfiction picture books The Fighting Infantryman: The Story of Albert D. J. Cashier, Transgender Civil War Soldier; Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag; Mayor Pete: The Story of Pete Buttigieg; Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights; and Stonewall: A Building. An Uprising. A Revolution. But he'll always write fiction too, including Rodzilla, Outer Space Bedtime Race, and Ball & Balloon.
Robbie Cathro is an illustrator and storyteller living in Bristol, UK, where he creates fun and lively work. He loves bright colors, limited palettes, atmospheric textures, and layered characters, all of which are inspired from the animation he loves, the folktales he reads, and the small stories you find in the corner of your day-to-day life. He loves nothing more than getting a brief that covers a subject from the other side of the world--whether that's the animals and inhabitants of Yosemite Park, Chinese inventors, Victorian ghosts, or girls being rescued from towers by giant owls.
The first legal gay marriage in the U.S. was held in... 1971.
The two groom figurines on the top of the cake at the first legal same-sex wedding celebration narrate the story of Jack and Michael, who met in 1966. The cake-topping grooms compare the creation of the cake they will stand on to the growing relationship of the couple and then to their struggle to get a marriage license, which includes law school, a name change (from Jack to the gender-neutral Pat), and a solo visit to City Hall for the license (for Michael). The cake is finished; the license is granted. Michael and Jack celebrate their wedding...but the battle for equality is far from over. Fifty years on, the couple is even more in love, and finally LGBTQ couples can marry in all 50 states. Sanders tells the tale in easy-to-understand language, sweet as the frosting on the cake, and leaves the bulk of the details for the comprehensive backmatter: author's note, marriage equality timeline, photographs of Jack and Michael as young and older men, and a well-rounded bibliography. Cathro's whimsical, retro-feeling illustrations on cream-colored paper show the cake toppers assisting in the creation of the cake as their human counterparts work for the right to marry. Both cake toppers and human grooms present White.
As beautiful as it is informative about this little-known battle in the fight for equality.
Their heartwarming story-accessible to young readers-demonstrates that the essential ingredient in a cake and a marriage is love. Cathro's affectionate illustrations-with vintage 1970s' colors and vibes-not only expand the text but also capture its sweet spirit exactly.
Publication Date: May 4th, 2021
Juvenile Nonfiction / LGBT
Juvenile Nonfiction / Family / Marriage & Divorce
Juvenile Nonfiction / Cooking & Food


Today (September 27th) is World Tourism Day. To link with the 2013 UN International Year of Water Cooperation, the theme chosen to celebrate the tourism industry this year is Tourism & Water: Protecting our Common Future. The aim is to spotlight the value of water as a resource not just for direct use by tourists (through hotel swimming pools, irrigated gardens and sports fields, and for showers and drinking) but as part of the environment that can attract visitors to an area – in lakes, wetlands and rivers.
Tourism creates high demand for water in often water-scarce destinations, from watering of hotel gardens and golf courses, provision of swimming pools, and higher demand for showers etc from tourists compared with local residents. Wastewater management in areas where tourist numbers greatly increase the local populations during tourism seasons is also an issue. Thus it is important to introduce measures to conserve and recycle water wherever possible. The protection of environments such as wetlands is also vital, and waste management in tourism must ensure that water resources, whether along coasts or freshwater environments, are not polluted as a result of tourist activities.
"With unsustainable consumption and climate change threatening global water resources, this year's World Tourism Day highlights the responsibility of the tourism industry to safeguard and intelligently manage water. In this International Year of Water Cooperation, I urge tourism establishments to cut consumption and improve waste management and I call on individuals to play their part by making environmentally conscious choices when they travel. By making water saving a priority we can all help to build the future we want."
"In 2013, World Tourism Day will be celebrated around the theme Tourism & Water: Protecting our Common Future. This offers a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on water both as an asset and as a resource and on the actions needed to face up to the water challenge.
Water is one of tourism's main assets. Each year, millions of people travel around the world to enjoy water destinations both inland and in coastal areas. Water is also one of tourism's most precious resources. Water powers all tourism industries, from hotels to restaurants, leisure activities and transport. As one of the largest economic sectors in the world, it is the responsibility of the tourism sector to take a leadership role and ensure companies and destinations invest in adequate water management throughout the value chain. If managed sustainably, tourism can bring benefits to the national and local communities and support water preservation."
For further information, see resources accessible through the World Tourism Day page from the UNWTO. See also the PDF file of the Tourism and Water Background Paper.
CABI's Leisure Tourism Database contains comprehensive coverage of the world literature on tourism, hospitality and related industries. See below for a few relevant references.


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Ratnapura
Home » Tours » Ratnapura
Welcome to Ratnapura
This is the place to go if you want to learn about gems. Your guide will show you the entire process – from digging in the gem pits to polishing and setting the stones. There's an excellent gem museum in town, too. Ratnapura produces sapphires, rubies, cat's eye, topaz, amethyst, garnet and several other glittering precious stones.
Ratnapura is a major city in Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of Sabaragamuwa Province, as well as the Ratnapura District, and is a traditional centre for the Sri Lankan gem trade. It is located on the Kalu Ganga in south-central Sri Lanka, some 101 km southeast of the country's capital, Colombo. Ratnapura is also spelled as Rathnapura. The name 'Ratnapura' is a Sanskrit word meaning "city of gems", from the Sanskrit words pura and ratna. Over 2000 years ago, when the first Buddhist monks arrived here from the north eastern provinces of India namely Bodh-Gaya, Varanasi and Pataliputra, they not only brought with them the Buddhist religion, but since their teachings were mainly in Sanskrit and Pali they also influenced the local language. While candy produced from the jaggery palm is traditionally known in this region as ratnapura, it is more likely that the candy was named for the locale rather than vice versa. It is the centre of a long-established industry of precious stone mining including rubies, sapphires, and other gems. Apart from gem mining, the city is known for the production of rice and fruit. Large plantations of tea and rubber surround the city
Ratnapura meaning City of Gems in Sinhalese is the main source of precious and semiprecious stones (including rubies, sapphires, and cat's-eyes) mined in the valleys by River "Kalu Ganga" and is located 103 km from Colombo in the Sabaragamuwa district belonging to the Wet Zone of Sri Lanka.
Reaching Ratnapura
Ratnapura can be reached via the A4 Highway which connects the capital Colombo to Kalmunai in the Eastern Province. The A8 Highway connects the town with Panadura which is along the western coast of Sri Lanka.
Ratnapura's Climate, Terrain and Vegetation
A higher annual rainfall in Ratnapura (4000 – 5000 mm) has resulted in rich vegetation and an environment of greenery interspersed with streams andwaterfalls. Ratnapura affords grand views of the surrounding countryside, in particular the famous and revered mountain, Adam's Peak (Sri Pada). The most visited waterfalls at Ratnapura are Bopath Ella Falls in the village of Kuruvita and Katugas Ella Falls in the village of Mahawelawatta and also the Kirindi Ella Falls.
Ratnapura is one of the most beautifully situated towns in Ceylon, except for its climate, which is aptly compared to a Turkish bath. Still, it is this hot moist temperature which makes all leafs and blossoms more luxuriant in Ratnapura than anywhere else in the island.
Gem Mining at Ratnapura
Mining of gems in Sri Lanka, (the island is also known by the name of Ratna Deepa) (Sinhala: The Island of Gems) in the ancient times, is woven in to the history of the island and goes back to at least 2000 years. The Mahavamsa, the ancient chronicle of Sri Lanka too mentioned about gems and jewellery on several occasions. A sizeable community at Ratnapura is engaged in the Gem Trade. Mechanized gem mining being banned in Sri Lanka, unearthing gemstones at Ratnapura is an unsophisticated and smallscale affair done using traditional methods.
Besides the villages surrounding Ratnapura and Pelmadulla towns, other areas that had become famous for their gem mines include the villages surrounding the towns of Kuruvita, Opanayake, Rakwana, Kahawatte and Eheliyagoda, all in Ratnapura district. One of the villages in Pelmadulla where gem mining is highly concentrated is Ganegama.
Ratnapura district has produced an incredible variety of gemstones, many of them outstanding in comparison with stones from other regions. Sapphire occurs in all hues of blue, as well as yellow, violet, green, pink, and the remarkable pinkish-orange "padparadsha."
Gems in Sri Lanka
Other gemstones include topaz in bright yellow with a reddish tinge; brownish yellow to cinnamoncoloured grossularite; orange-yellow spessartine; blood-red pyrope; red to brownish red almandine; the world's finest zircon in a broad spectrum including brown, yellow, orange, green, and colourless (known locally as 'Matara diamond'—a misnomer); green, yellow, and brown tourmaline; yellow, green, and brown chrysoberyl; yellow chrysoberyl cat's-eye; the unique white translucent variety of microcline with a blue sheen known as moonstone; and great quantities of spinel in brown, green, blue, purple, violet, yellow, pink, and red. Unusual and rare stones from the same area include sillimanite, andalusite, scapolite, enstatite, kornerupine and diopside.
Ratnapura is the source of some of the priceless gemstones in the world: Blue Giant of Orient (466 cts), Logan Blue Sapphire (423 cts), Blue Belle of Asia (400 cts), Rossar Reeves Star Ruby (138.7 cts), Star of Lanka (393 cts) and the Ray of Treasure (105 cts Cat's Eye). The Star of Lanka and Ray of Treasure are the proud possessions of the National Gem & Jewellery Authority of Sri Lanka.
Trading Precious Gems in the Streets of Ratnapura
Saviya Mawatha at the heart of the town of Ratnapura, 150 m east of the clock tower is the location the local traders haggle over uncut precious and semi precious gems. The street is lined with shops of small dealers. Located by the clock tower and main street are traditional jewellery shops.
Ratnapura Agriculture
Ratnapura is a village thriving in agriculture. Many delicious fruits like mango and papaya along with vegetables are grown as market products. The town's agricultural industry is also well developed: large plantations of tea and rubber surround the town.
Ratnapura's Tourism Industry
Ratnapura being a nature attraction that serves a myriad of trekking opportunities caters to a wellestablished tourism industry. Ratnapura is a convenient transit base to explore some of the popular attractions in the area including the Sinharaja Rain Forest, Uda Walawe National Park, Kitulgala, and Sri Pada.
Ratnapura National Museum
The Ratnapura National Museum is set up at the renovated building called "Ehelepola Walauwa" which once belonged to a minister by the name of "Ehelepola" of the last king of Sri Lanka. The beautiful building located along the Ratnapura – Colombo road was opened for the public as a museum in 1988. Among the exhibits are prehistoric archaeological inventions, geological, anthropological and zoological artefacts and models related to theSabaragamuwa Province. Portrayal of the folk life of the region including various forms of dresses, ornamentation, weaponry, musical instruments is an important aspect of the museum.
The weaponry on display include Sinhala swords of the late medieval era including a rare sword said to have belonged to Ehelepola himself; a fine collection of old guns including a Vicker machine gun used during the first World War.
The cooking utensils of the region include a tripod pan with three moulds for preparing those delectable cakes known as kiri roti made of rice flour, grated coconut and coconut milk and often consumed with treacle. Traditional Kandyan jewellery includes necklaces, bangles, anklets and earrings.
Ratnapura Gemmological Museum
The Gemmological Museum at Ratnapura houses an array of fabulous samples of precious and semiprecious gems: rubies; sapphires; amethyst. Among the other exhibits are the images, artefacts and tools that elaborate the history and the processes of the industry. The museum features a souvenir shop and a restaurant.
Ratnapura Maha Saman Devale
Maha Saman Devale is a shrine dedicated to God Saman – the tutelary deity of Adam's Peak constructed on the site of a Portuguese church and fort after the area was recaptured by the Kandyan Kingdom from the Portuguese.
"The Maha Saman Devale in Ratnapura is very impressive—the grandest in size and setting of all the devales I have seen. Approached up long stone steps flanked by dug out boats on either side (ready for the annual goods) one senses at once that one is entering a place of myths and legends and of fine style and historic Importance. Here a king at war must have been a king indeed and the palatial walauwas in the province seem a right and proper architectural support to the central place of worship of its people. The devale compound is bound by a low, tiled and windowed, wall within which its space is ordered and emphasized by pavilion roofs, culminating in a three tiered tower at one point, with two other deeply eaved shrine roofs for balance on the vast flat quadrangle. The impression is of triangular weight airborne on carved pillars on a flat sandy expanse, glimpsed through ever changing frames as one walks through the cloisters
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


You don't need a web designer to create online ads! There are many startups that may not have the budget to afford one anyway! That doesn't mean that you will not be able to create online ads and dip your beak into the stream of internet traffic. Google's Display Ad Builder is there for beginners who want to learn the ropes of creating eye-grabbing online ads.
To get started, select the 'New Ad' from the drop-down box on 'Ads'. The first task is, of course, to select the template. There are many templates that you can choose from. Select one depending upon the online brand that you have. The colors and the designing must match the brand that you are designing for. Because you are creating the online ad for your own brand, you must know (by instinct, if not anything else) what works and what doesn't.
Professional online ad designers suggest that you must not waste too much of time worrying about the template anyway. To gloss over a badly chosen template or an outright inappropriate one, you need some catchy message on the ad. Marketing messages don't work as ad copies anymore. You need something that moves the online user towards clicking your ad. Abused clichés like 'Click Here' or 'Know More' are steadily dying a much-deserved death.
A major mistake that online ad makers commit is that they go for too much emphasis. As an amateur online ad maker, you have to rein yourself in. There is always the temptation to pack in as much as you can, because you're paying dearly for the size of the ad! But such a strategy doesn't work well. White space is important to make the ad look spaced out. Get rid of the cluttered hangover on your ad by judiciously removing items that belong to the second tier of importance.
The call to action, or the words that mobilize the online user into clicking, has to be witty. And different! Like it was mentioned above, clichés are not going to work. You need to be playful and engage the attention of the user. Compel the user into clicking by stoking their curiosity. You have to keep testing your calls to action regularly. Play around with words and see what works for your online ad.


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Saint Gabriel Possenti
A one time "man of the world," Gabriel Possenti forsook the limelight of Italian society to dedicate his life to God as a Passionist. Adventure, however, followed him into the cloister, making his story and exciting example of holiness in action. Other...
Saint Germaine
Saint Germaine Cousin, the young shepherdess of France, is a victim of circumstances yet she defies all obstacles by turning loneliness into solitude; abuse into sacrifice and merit; hatred into love. She surmounts all excuses and energetically finds...
Saint John Bosco
Saint John Bosco was a revolutionary in the field of Education. This pedegogue revamped the system of his era with a timeless system based on joy and kindness. His unique life, dreams and prophecies distinguish him in the annals of the Church and make...
Saint John de Brebeuf
Saint John de Brebeuf, a professed Jesuit of towering stature, left his comfortable surroundings in France to evangelize the "Children of the Forest" in North America. His mission was urgent, his message had an eternal consequence. His zeal and...
Saint John Marie Vianney
The life of Saint John Marie Vianney is one of a priest in a lonely and obscure village in France, has left an unforgettable mark in the history of the Church. Declared "Patron of Parish Priests," his zealous example would be well imitated by today's...
Saint Joseph, Head of the Holy Family. Holy Scripture is somewhat silent about Saint Joseph, yet the little that is spoken is intrinsic to the plan of salvation. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit said, "Go to Joseph" when the people were starving and...
Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church
Chosen by God as the head of the Holy Family, Saint Joseph humbly took on the great responsibility of providing and caring for Jesus and Mary. Throughout his life he had complete trust and confidence in God, and perfect abandonment to His...
Saint Josephine Bakhita
Saint Josephine Bakhita ~ Flower of the African Desert The life of Saint Josephine Bakhita is a journey of incredible grace. She was kidnapped, abused, and sold into slavery. However, what could have been fuel for a deep and lasting hatred turned...
Saint Margaret of Cortona
This is the story of a young girl who through reparation and prayer recovered the virtue and beauty she lost through illicit and sinful relationship. She is a new Mary Magdalene, after having led a life of indulgence for years, once she found Christ she...
Saint Marguerite d'Youville
The life of Saint Marguerite d'Youville, the foundress of the Grey Nuns, is the story of a mother, widow, nurse and nun. Her life shows us that it is possible to be a child of God the Father – a Saint – in all walks of life. Marguerite...
The life of Saint Martin de Porres, miracle worker, father of the poor, and humble Dominican, is a source of inspiration to all those who aspire to be a true follower of Christ. Born in Lima, Peru, the son of a freed slave and a Spanish noble, Martin...
Saint Maximilian Kolbe
Saint Maximilian Kolbe lived only 47 years. His courageous endeavors to counteract evil and to save souls was rivaled only by his indomitable courage in the face of death. This strength he received from a divine source – our Crucified Saviour...


Our Dog Hotel is a home from home dog boarding service in London.
The Dog Service is just a call away!
Instead of separating them in kennels we share our house with the dogs where they can enjoy all the advantages a hotel may offer and where we let our guests run around and play with their new friends.
It is our priority that every boarding house of ours must have a spacious garden and a park in the neighborhood suitable for dog walking.
We can offer discount for a long term service for all of our clients please call to get a special quote.
Should your pets require special treatment or medication, we can still offer our home boarding service subject to prior discussion and agreement.
We pay a visit to all new clients in order to get to know each other before signing the contract.
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Counties across WBTV-viewing area declare State of Emergency
Potential record rainfall threatens homes
By Andrew Barnett | September 13, 2018 at 5:37 PM EDT - Updated September 15 at 11:08 PM
(WBTV) - Several cities and counties in the WBTV-viewing are have declared a State of Emergency due to Hurricane Florence.
The hurricane is expected to bring heavy rainfall and winds in the Carolinas over the weekend and into next week.
In response, North and South Carolina declared a State of Emergency.
Hurricane Warnings are in effect for the entire NC coast and portions of the SC coastline. Millions of people were evacuated inland, and many schools and businesses are closing ahead of the storm.
Mecklenburg County, Iredell County, Gaston County, Cabarrus County, Caldwell County, the City of Monroe, the City of Kannapolis and the City of Harrisburg have declared a State of Emergency ahead of the powerful hurricane.
In Mecklenburg County, the Chairperson of the Board of Commissioners and Mayor Vi Lyles issued a joint proclamation of a State of Emergency as they say it is necessary to maintain public order, protect lives and property during this emergency.
In Iredell County, the declaration was given following a big meeting held in Statesville involving emergency managers and representatives from hospitals, schools, power companies and many more.
In Gaston County, the Board of Commissioners said the State of Emergency goes into effect immediately.
In Monroe, the mayor said there is an imminent threat of, or existing conditions have caused or will cause, widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property, and public safety authorities will be unable to maintain public order or afford adequate protection for lives or property.
On Thursday, Flash Flood Watches were issued until 8 a.m. Tuesday for the following NC and SC counties in the WBTV viewing area: Alexander County, Avery County, Burke County, Cabarrus County, Caldwell County, Catawba County, Chester County, Chesterfield County, Cleveland County, Gaston County, Iredell County, Lancaster County, Lincoln County, McDowell County, Mecklenburg County, Rowan County, Union County, York County.
Andrew Barnett is a young writer from Alabama. A lifetime music lover and enthusiast. He has been writing for years and has published several places ranging from AllHipHop.com to Raycom Media's Digital Hub before joining WBTV. He writes about any and everything, from news and politics to music and sports, and is a lover of research and learning.
July weather expected to get hotter
Charlotte and most neighborhoods outside of the mountains managed the mid 90s both days of the weekend and we're headed right back there for the start of the workweek.
Al Conklin
Another round of storms, mainly south of I-40 Friday evening
As storms die down Friday evening, temperatures will fall back to the lower 70s with a few fog patches possible.
Lyndsay Tapases
Slow moving downpours Thursday evening
Published July 12, 2019 at 12:42 AM
Cold front approaches, storms possible Thursday
Eric Thomas
Temperatures remain below average with high humidity
Published July 10, 2019 at 6:42 AM
A cooler Tuesday is making way for more heat - and possible storms


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Dance Season: DISCO-TECA
19 - 21 Oct, 2018	 (19 & 20.10.2018) 8pm-9:15pm, (21.10.2018) 3pm-4:15pm
F Hall Studio, Block 17	Map
HKD 260
Er Gao (Mainland)
Fabrizio Massini (Italy)
Commissioned by
IBSEN International (Norway)
ErGao Dance Production Group
Once considered a "decadent" hobby during the Cultural Revolution, dance became popular again in the 1980s when China opened its doors to the world, where the disco movement infiltrated the country via Hong Kong with a hurricane of synthesisers, flirtatious moves, bright lipsticks, wild hairdos, and disco balls. Directed by one of the brightest stars of contemporary dance in China, Er Gao, Disco-Teca reflects upon Mainland's disco culture and raises questions about social status, the sense of belonging, and gender identity. Enjoyed by audiences the world over with its multiple international runs, the piece examines how disco clubs contributed to the construction of the self and changed Mainland's social landscape forever. Expect a surprising mix of retro flavours and refined bodily expressions that are as fun to look at as they are provoking.
Er Gao (He Qiwo)
He Qiwo (ErGao) is a multi-media dancer/choreographer whose works are presented through dance, film, installation and other creative mediums. A graduate of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Er Gao founded Er Gao Dance Production Group (EDPG) in 2007 in Guangzhou with a focus on dance theatre, dance film, community arts, and dance education. His productions continuously consider the body as the primary medium of work and the site of artistic investigation, using diverse strategies to explore China's social and cultural identities, sex and gender, along with other topics. His major works include Disco-Teca, Salty Roast Crane, Super Tight, Everyday Dance Movement, This is A Chicken Coop, and Lucy.
Between 2008 and 2012, Er Gao was invited to participate in collaborations with international dance companies and festivals including Rubatu Tanz Company (Germany), Angie Hiesl and Roland Kaiser (Germany), Limitrof Company (France), Emio Greco | PC (Holland). After 2012, Er Gao accepted commissions from numerous arts organisations and art festivals, including Ibsen International (Norway), Hong Kong Arts Festival, Hong Kong Jumping Frames Dance Film Festival, Guangdong Modern Dance Festival, Guangdong Modern Dance Company, DPAC Dance Company (Malaysia), Guangdong Times Museum, and Shanghai Ming Contemporary Art Museum. In recent years, Er Gao has presented dance education work, lectures, workshops, and other events in a number of countries, including China, France, and Malaysia. In 2015, German's Deutsche Welle named Er Gao "one of the brightest stars of contemporary dance in China".
The running time of each performance is approximately 75 minutes without intermissions. Latecomers may only be admitted at a suitable break.
Persons under the age of 6 will not be admitted.
15% off when purchasing DIARY VI. APPLAUSE… and DOLLHOUSE, or DISCO-TECA and KIDS at one time
20% off when purchasing any of the 3 different performances at one time.
Discount 1 and 2 are only applicable to standard tickets (not concessionary tickets for full-time students / senior citizens aged 60 or above / people with disabilities / wheelchair users).
50% off for full-time students / senior citizens aged 60 or above / people with disabilities / wheelchair users.
Pre-show exhibition
Before the performance, come over to Tai Kwun F Hall and learn more about this once-popular disco culture in the pre-show exhibition, where you will find yourself travelling back to 1980s dance floors.
19 / 20 Oct 2018 10am-4pm
21 Oct 2018 10am-12pm
Post-performance Talk
To deepen the audience's understanding of the work DISCO-TECA, the researcher Dr. Wang Qian and concept designer Fabrizio Massini will lead a post-performance talk after each performance
House Programme (Chinese)
House Programme (English)


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Decline of indus valley civilisation. How did the Indus Valley civilization decline? 2022-12-12
Decline of indus valley civilisation Rating: 5,1/10 1151 reviews
The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, was a complex and advanced civilization that flourished in the Indus Valley in present-day Pakistan and northwest India from about 2500 BCE to 1900 BCE. It is considered one of the world's earliest urban civilizations and is renowned for its sophisticated city planning, advanced drainage systems, and extensive trade networks. However, the Indus Valley Civilization eventually declined and was eventually abandoned.
There are several theories about the reasons for the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization. One theory is that the civilization was affected by a series of natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, and earthquakes, which disrupted the society and weakened its infrastructure. Another theory is that the Indus Valley Civilization was subjected to invasions and conflicts with other civilizations, which may have caused significant damage and destabilization.
Another theory is that the Indus Valley Civilization may have declined due to changes in the climate and environment. The Indus Valley region is known for its monsoon climate, which is characterized by heavy rainfall during certain times of the year. However, there is evidence to suggest that the climate in the region changed significantly around 1900 BCE, leading to a decrease in rainfall and an increase in aridity. This may have had a negative impact on the agriculture and water supply of the Indus Valley Civilization, leading to a decline in population and economic prosperity.
There is also evidence that the Indus Valley Civilization may have declined due to internal problems and conflicts. The Indus Valley Civilization was a complex society with a highly organized bureaucracy, but there is evidence to suggest that it was also marked by social inequalities and conflicts. Some scholars believe that these internal conflicts may have contributed to the decline of the civilization.
In conclusion, the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization is a complex and multifaceted process that likely involved a combination of natural disasters, invasions, environmental changes, and internal conflicts. Despite its eventual decline, the Indus Valley Civilization remains an important and influential part of human history and serves as a reminder of the resilience and ingenuity of early human societies.
Decline of the Indus River Valley Civilization (c. 3300
Many of the Post-Urban settlements seem to have been abandoned, and traces are found of temporary settlements that were probably associated with nomadic pastoral groups and distinguished by the poverty of their material culture. Lots of historians think it was a mixture of different reasons. There is a slope to the main drainage area which makes it easy to release the water. The Egyptians often constructed their cities close to the Nile as it provided irrigation for farming, fishing, and a rich supply of bathing and drinking water. Fuller of University College, London. Vijayanagar empire includes the Sangama Dynasty, Saluva Dynasty, Tuluva Dynasty and the Aravidu Dynasty.
What happened to the Indus civilisation?
India still continues to produce and export cotton. This can be easily seen in the streets of the urban areas where the houses are built in more or less grid like pattern, which is the important and the central characteristic of the Indus Valley civilisation. They could not produce agricultural surpluses to support large cities. It is said that weights discovered from these sites have shown remarkable accuracy. When archaeologists attempted to investigate the civilization, one key aspect that was never resolved was its mysterious disappearance. Due to these natural causes, there was a slow but inevitable collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization. There was a good agricultural system that allowed the cultivation of wheat, rye, and vegetables.
Ancient Indus Valley Civilization & Climate Change's Impact
As a result, storms in the region shifted southward into the Mediterranean Sea, increasing the intensity of winter monsoons in the Indus River Valley. We assess evidence for paleopathology to infer the biological consequences of climate change and socio-economic disruption in the post-urban period at Harappa, one of the largest urban centers in the Indus Civilization. Liviu Giosan, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. This theory is put forwarded as it is commonly believed that Aryans were the next settlers. Due to loss of aristocracy the Harappan culture collapsed.
Revealed: The Truth Behind the Indus Valley Civilization's 'Collapse'
This led to the creation of the Indo-Aryan culture. As the river system weakened they were not able to trade as easily with the other civilizations. Tectonic Phenomena Theory This theory is formulated for the cause to illustrate the water deposited coverings confronted at the Mohenjo-Daro city area. Urbanism flourished in the western region of the Indo-Gangetic Plain for approximately 600 y, but since approximately 3,900 y ago, the total settled area and settlement sizes declined, many sites were abandoned, and a significant shift in site numbers and density towards the east is recorded. Earlier some western historians denoted the Vedic people were barbarous and they devastated the earlier civilisation and built up their own. This theory would explain the dearth of physical signs of any The late 2nd millennium and the reemergence of urbanism Toward the end of the 2nd millennium there appears to have been a further deterioration in the environment throughout the Indus system.
The Decline of the Indus Valley Civilization
On the other hand, the theory strengthens because the Aryans were the amongst the first to make use of sophisticated weapons and horses as means of transport. Diamond's Collapse: Harappa The first factor is environmental damage. The collapse of the urban system does not necessarily imply a complete breakdown in the lifestyle of the population in all parts of the Indus region, but it seems to have involved the end of whatever system of social and political control had preceded it. He believed that they were people killed by invaders. They carted them off and continued to build the railway.
How did the Indus Valley civilization decline?
However, physical geography can also have negative effects, like the scenario above, droughts, and other natural disasters. Such major climatic changes created the devastating effect in economy and in the social life. What were they scared of? The settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization spread through what is now all of Pakistan, sections of Afghanistan, and some parts of India. It is believed that at the same time, the Ghagger Hakra River another river in the area dried up. The emphasis on providing water for bathing suggests that they were very particular about personal hygiene.
It created the political tension in the internal life of the Indus Valley civilisation. But all these theories hold only for certain settlement and so not explain the cultural collapse of the entire civilization. Egypt wealth came from the fullness of its agriculture. They were using potteries called the Lustrous Red Ware. But around 5000 years ago the monsoon sifts eastward thus reducing the rainfall in the Northwestern part of the subcontinent, where the important Harappan sites are present. These were the most significant elements of the Vedic religion.
Decline of the Indus Valley Civilization
While the tectonic changes caused the creation of a dam in the lower Indus, that created the frequent floods and disaster in the fertile the plains of the coastal part of Indus. Various scholars later contradicted this theory by stating that it could be skeletons of remains of hasty burials. Winter monsoon winds bring nutrients to the surface of the sea, leading to a surge in plant and animal life. Once agricultural production declined the influence of the cities declined and eventually the region went into a state of anarchy. These include Balochistan, According to the paper in Nature, many of these early Harappan sites flourished on the Ghaggar-Hakra mythical Saraswati River, which flowed from the Himalayas through what is today the Thar Desert of Rajasthan in India into the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat; these areas contain low populations today. Many Rural Decline in Indus Valley Civilisation The main livelihood of the inhabitants of Indus valley is agriculture. The first eight categories that describe how past societies damaged their environments are deforestation, soil problems, water management problems, over hunting, over fishing, effects of introduced species, human population growth and increased percapita impact of people.


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BuzzFeed Ben: Politico Taught Me Shameless Self-Promotion
Betsy Rothstein Gossip blogger
May 13, 2016 2:23 PM ET
When you're leaving a publication like Politico, best to keep your journalism comrades as close as possible just in case you need them for something in the near future.
On Friday Politico's Mike Allen turned over the reins of his beloved Playbook to BuzzFeed Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith, who formerly worked for Politico, a suburban publication that apparently has good kitchen snacks.
Announcing him as a "GUEST PLAYBOOKER," BuzzFeed Ben wrote about Politico as much as he could before he just couldn't stand it anymore. Then he gave the mic to BuzzFeed's national LGBT reporter to say that using the word "transgendered" is wrong and then turned the spotlight on — what else? — more BuzzFeed and himself.
"Two things I learned from my time at POLITICO: Reporting is the most important part; and shameless self-promotion doesn't hurt. So yes, here's some great journalism BuzzFeed News has done in just the last day."
And with that, he featured five BuzzFeed stories. Strangely he did not feature "17 Funny Tweets That'll Make You Say 'Wow, I'm Dumb'" or "I Took 10 Selfies Under Different Light Sources For Science." Also no mention of "15 Anal Sex Horror Stories That'll Make You Gag."
Finally, a note about a rumor Smith says has been floating around the world. Except strangely few in Washington media circles have heard it. Also…what's with the weird exclamation point after Jim VandeHei??!!!!
"Near-final self-reference: There is a media rumor abroad in the land that I am going back to POLITICO," Smith wrote in his Playbook takeover. "Weirdly, I heard it the other day from one … Jim VandeHei(!). Nope. But it is nice to visit with you all!"
Famous last words.
Tags : ben smith jim vandehei mike allen
Betsy Rothstein
Follow Betsy on Twitter


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EU strategy on the rights of the child (2021-24)
EU commission is preparing a comprehensive strategy on the rights of the child. Building upon the 2006 Communication: "Towards an EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child" and the 2011 EU Agenda for the Rights of the Child.
The EU strategy on children's rights will provide the framework for EU action to better promote and protect children's rights and mainstreaming children's rights across all relevant EU areas of work. It will contain a set of measures for the EU to implement, addressing among others:
the rights of the most vulnerable children
children's rights in the digital age
the prevention of and fight against violence
the promotion of child-friendly justice.
It will also include recommendations for action by other EU institutions, EU countries and stakeholders.
This is a so-called roadmap process which aims to inform citizens and stakeholders about the Commission's work in order to allow them to provide feedback and to participate effectively in future consultation activities. Citizens and stakeholders are in particular invited to provide views on the Commission's understanding of the problem and possible solutions and to make available any relevant information that they may have.
The public consultation phase is open until the End of December. Everybody is invited to participate in the process and give feedback on the strategy.
Read more about the strategy and give feedback
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Can standards yield undesirable results?
ndependence and objectivity are hallmarks of the auditing profession. However, auditors are subject to economic incentives to please clients that could lead them away from perfect independence and objectivity and potentially result in undesirable conduct, even if they comply with professional standards.
Auditors face two potential risks—failing to detect a material misstatement (a "type II" error) and incorrectly concluding that there is a material misstatement (a "type I" error). Under current standards, the auditor is required to achieve a low level of risk of a type II error, but there is no similar prescription for a type I error. In the study, researchers developed an economic model based on the basic assumptions that even though auditors aim to please clients, they also strive to maintain the costs of an audit as planned and to comply with standards. The study stated that the type II error related to an overstatement of company value, while the type I error related to an understatement.
The analysis showed that if the auditor concluded there was a misstatement (type I error) but the client knew or believed that there was none, then the client would encourage the auditor to do more work so that it was possible to render an unqualified opinion. Simply put, no client wants its company's value understated. As a result, the auditor worked to eliminate the understatement. However, in order to stay within the budget as planned, the auditor let the overstatement drift as high as possible based on the level considered tolerable by professional standards for a type II error. While this finding appeared counter intuitive, the model confirmed it.
Normally, risks of misstatements below materiality might not be of concern. However, the model showed that for investment portfolios of companies in similar industries these misstatements were not averaged out, as investors might expect. Further, the misstatements persisted even when investors diversified portfolios. This is because the misstatements were all likely to be in favor of the client—overstating the company's value—making the overall misstatement in the portfolios potentially very large. The researchers suggested that by prescribing the relationship between type I and type II errors in auditing standards, the misstatement can be adjusted. They also advocated specifying the level for type I error rates to encourage auditors to avoid the pitfalls revealed in the research.
For the full text of the research paper, see Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory, vol. 18, Supplement, 1999.
J. EFRIM BORITZ, PhD, FCA, CISA, is the Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting and Director of the Center for Information System Assurance, School of Accountancy, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. His e-mail address is jeboritz@uwaterloo.ca . PING ZHANG, PhD, is associate professor, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, Canada.
This series is based on work published in Auditing: A Journal of Practice & Theory. The intent is to bridge the gap between researchers and practitioners by offering concise practice summaries of cutting-edge research in the field of auditing.


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Stephanie Flanders
Former BBC News correspondent, and currently working as J.P Morgan Asset Management's chief market strategist for UK and Europe, Stephanie Flanders speaks with authority on all matters business and economic. An experienced key note speaker, and perceptive conference facilitator, Stephanie can break down both global and domestic issues to make them relatable to any audience.
Stephanie Flanders is a former BBC News Correspondent; she now works for the international investment bank JP Morgan. Stephanie is an experienced and charismatic conference facilitator and host.
Stephanie studied at PPE at Balliol College, Oxford University and graduated with a First Class Honours; she then went to study at Harvard University as a Kennedy Scholar. Stephanie's first job as an economist was with the London Business School and the Institute for Fiscal Studies. She then became a writer and columnist at the Financial Times.
Stephanie was able to offer us a unique informed overview of future economics
Hemming Group Ltd
In 1997, Stephanie left her job at the Financial Times to become a speech writer and special advisory to US Treasury Secretaries Robert Rubin and Lawrence Summers during the Clinton Administration. During this time she was involved in the management of emerging market crises in Asia, Russia and Latin America and the reform of global economic development policy.
Stephanie has also worked as a correspondent at the New York Times and she was principal editor of the United Nations' 2002 Human Development Report. Stephanie was the Economics Editor for BBC Newsnight before she became the BBC's Economics editor in 2008.
Stephanie has appeared on Panorama to investigate the state of the UK's economy and she was filmed touring the country by bicycle. She has also written for the comment and features pages of the Financial Times, The Sunday Times, the Sunday Telegraph, the Observer, the Guardian, The Daily Mail and Prospect.
She was named Political Journalist of the Year 2007 at the Women in Public Life Awards awards, and Broadcast Journalist of the Year at the Work Foundation's Workworld Awards for 2006.
In 2013 she took up a post as J.P. Morgan Asset Management's chief market strategist for the UK and Europe.
Stephanie is an experienced speaker on global and domestic economic issues and has the ability to speak to specialist and more general audiences. As an adept conference host, Stephanie has hosted at corporate events for companies such as CBI and Mckinsey & Associates. She is a regular host for the annual British Bus Industry Awards and the annual conference of the Institute for the Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.
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text:
using Ninject;
using TestApplication.Types;

namespace TestApplication.Ninject.KernelTestCases
{
    public class RebindGenericToGeneric
    {
        public RebindGenericToGeneric()
        {
            var kernel = new StandardKernel();
            kernel.Rebind<ICommon>().To<CommonImpl1>();
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Filipino World War II veterans have a chance to spend their last days with family members living overseas under a new federal parole program that would allow these family members temporary stay in the United States.
Filipino-American World War II veterans may have a chance to spend their last days with family members now living overseas under a new federal program that would grant these family members temporary stay in the United States.
The program by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which formally launched in June, allows eligible U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to request parole for eligible family members so they can enter the U.S. as they await an immigrant visa. It also would allow them to apply to work legally in this country.
There are up to 6,000 Filipino-American World War II veterans living in the United States today, according to USCIS. The program holds particular significance for Filipinos in San Diego, who for decades have maintained strong ties to the U.S. military.
Officials said they're not sure how many local veterans qualify, because people are just learning about the program and those who are eligible are still gathering information.
World War II veteran Roberto "Bert" Andrade, who enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1946, said the program will provide new — though temporary — avenues for people looking to immigrate.
"That's the aim for everybody in the Philippines. They want to come here (to the United States). That's why I joined the Navy," he said.
Andrade, now 89 and a member of the Filipino American Veterans Association, says he hopes the program will motivate more veterans to take advantage of federal and local resources available to them.
Filipino ties to the U.S. run deep; between 1898-1902, U.S. military forces governed the Philippines. In the years to follow, American civil government took over the administration. The Commonwealth of the Philippines was established in 1935 with U.S. approval, and full independence was granted in 1946.
For decades, Filipinos have been allowed to enlist in the U.S. military. Thousands of war veterans, including those from World War II, now live in the United States. Those who are citizens can petition for family members to immigrate.
Currently, the number of family-sponsored immigrant visas available by country of origin is limited by law, according to USCIS. That cap has led to long wait periods before family members can come to the United States. Some Filipino-Americans wait more than 20 years, according to the agency.
"We want to honor the sacrifices that those veterans made fighting with the United States during World War II. Unfortunately many of the World War II vets are elderly at this stage, that's really why we wanted to focus on their family members and bringing them over now, because we know unfortunately many have already passed away. We want to make sure that those that are left have their family with them for their final days," said Allison Kent, USCIS associate counsel for the Office of the Chief Counsel.
The agency also has parole programs for Cubans and Haitians.
USCIS officials hosted an informational meeting Tuesday at the Filipino American Veterans Association Hall on Market Street, along with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Other sessions are planned in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Manila.
Each case will be reviewed to determine whether parole is appropriate. Spouses of deceased Filipino WW II veterans are also qualified to request parole for eligible family members.
But some raised concerns about a lack of awareness on the program and about costly application fees. Filing an application for parole on what's known as an I-131 form costs $360, according to the USCIS website.
"The question is money. How are we going to get the money? That's the hard part. You can get this kind of information out but without the money, (the family members) are not going anywhere," said Vicente Prado, a U.S. Navy veteran.
USCIS has begun to receive applications for the parole program, officials said Tuesday.


text:
ShareEcard
Digitizing Business Cards: Share | Scan | Manage
Innovative and Sustainable Solution. Exchange data instead of paper.
"There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks when decades happen."
In recent months, several decades' worth of disruption and, frankly, obliteration has come to the printing industry as well as other industries. Indeed, it's hard to overstate the impact of coronavirus on the sector.
Many printing companies were operating under commercial models that simply cannot withstand 21st Century reality and most are unable to implement Digital Transformation to their existing business models.
Much of what was going to happen in any case will now happen very quickly: printing history is suddenly accelerated. The shift from print to digital will be radically sped up, as the Coronavirus crisis has driven a "digitalization" of human interaction.
Before the Corona virus, every business was focused on DIGITIZATION and now it will also have to focus on the HEALTH aspect. At ShareEcard we combine both needs.
Public figures such as Anthony Fauci, head of the USA's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Fauci, a key figure in the US response to the Corona virus, had this to say in April 2020 to the Wall Street Journal: "I don't think we should ever shake hands ever again, to be honest with you."
But in the midst of a global public health crisis in which hundreds of millions are avoiding physical contact to stop the spread of Covid-19, examining the need for something as ingrained as Paper Business Cards suddenly doesn't seem quite so outlandish.
When you swap paper business cards, you are sharing a piece of paper which is potentially infected and therefore dangerous. It is an "outmoded custom and it has no place in a culture that believes in germ theory," the idea that certain diseases are caused by microorganisms invading the body.
Most people will need to keep up some form of social distancing until a Corona virus Vaccine becomes available. So that means swapping paper business cards is no longer an option for the foreseeable future. Digital Cards are the way forward.
Would you take a paper business card from someone you just met?
For more information: www.shareEcard.com


By not including contemporary Native peoples into any discussion of Native experiences, we are doing these populations and our students a huge disservice.
Current K-12 teaching about Native Americans tends to focus solely on the past—the long-dead past. This gives students the impression that Native peoples no longer exist and the treatment of their cultural practices and symbols are fair game for misappropriation, disrespect and abuse. By not including real, living, contemporary Native peoples in discussion of Native experiences, we are doing these populations and our students a huge disservice. Our silence leads to ignorance.
I can say this with confidence because every non-Native student I have encountered in the teaching of Contemporary Indigenous Rhetorics at the college level has openly admitted that they know nothing beyond "pilgrims and Indians," a little bit of historical life practices for a random and minimal selection of nations (e.g., foods the Iroquois ate pre-contact and costumes worn by Inuit women for marriage ceremonies), that abhorrent Thanksgiving myth and Disney's Pocahontas. As educators, we are responsible for educating students and sharing with them the truth about the world. In doing so, they are better equipped to navigate it. But when it comes to discussing and representing Indigenous peoples, we fall woefully short of the mark.
The inclusion of contemporary Native American cultures matters. You may not have the luxury of spending an entire unit on contemporary Native peoples, but every little bit of new knowledge that you can incorporate will open your students' eyes a little wider to reality. And the widening of those eyes means that Indigenous peoples will become more visible. Everyone benefits, so consider using some of the information below as you develop and rethink your approach.
For K-12 books written by Indigenous authors, visit Birchbark Books' educators' page.
For titles and descriptions of movies written, directed and acted primarily by Native American practitioners and artists, visit the American Indian Film Festival.
For news and journalism from Indigenous perspectives, visit Indian Country Media Network.
For streaming music by current Native songwriters and musicians (both traditional powwow and contemporary offerings such as blues, country and rap), visit NativeRadio.
For Native American fashion trends and designers, visit Beyond Buckskin or read Native Max.
For current political and tribal governance information, pick a nation and visit its official website (e.g., the Osage Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee or Citizen Potawatomi Nation). Most nations have official websites, so a Google search with the tribe's name and "official website" should suffice.
For Native American stand-up comedy, check out JR Redwater, Jim Ruel and the Ladies of Native Comedy.
This open invitation to a group of critically engaged, energetic, caring students resulted in an Indigenous Awareness event during our campus Diversity Week. The conversation evolved from an idea to a tangible event attended by over 100 students; from a discussion-based class to a lively, collaborative act of public activism that grew spontaneously and holistically out of a simple plea.
This simple-yet-complex idea compelled my students to take action in a substantial way. King repeats this assertion—"The truth about stories is that's all we are"—throughout his book, and it prompted my students to ask, "Who is telling the story? How do our stories shape and define us? When do stories hurt and when do they help?" These are questions that reverberated throughout our early conversations. Three weeks into the semester, having started with next-to-zero knowledge about contemporary Indigenous peoples, they decided that this subject was important enough to share with the entire school.
The education landscape is riddled with severe budget cuts, the frustrating reality of mandated curricular objectives and the potentially devastating effects of standardized testing. But as my students have proven, if they are given the right environment for critical engagement with true stories of living Native peoples, the end result can be something that transcends conventional expectations and rises to the level of creating more accurate memories and planting more truthful seeds.
Morris teaches writing and Native American/Indigenous Rhetorics at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
The same limited stories about American Indians persist in textbooks. The National Museum of the American Indian's new program is looking to change that.
More states are including American Indians in their mainstream curricula.


text:
James Burton Robertson (b. in London 15 Nov., 1800; d. Dublin 14 Feb., 1877) was a historian. The son of Thomas Robertson, a landed proprietor in Grenada, West Indies, where he spent his boyhood. In 1809 his mother brought him to England, and placed him at St. Edmund's College, Old Hall (1810), where he remained for nine years. In 1819 he began his legal studies, and in 1825 was called to the bar, but did not practise. For a time he studied philosophy and theology in France under the influence of his friends Lamennais and Gerbet.

In 1835 he published his translation of Friedrich Schlegel's Philosophy of History, which passed through many editions. From 1837 to 1854 he lived in Germany and Belgium. During this time he translated Möhler's Symbolism, adding an introduction and a life of Möhler. This work considerably influenced some of the Oxford Tractarians. In 1855 John Henry Newman nominated Robertson as professor of geography and modern history in the Catholic University of Ireland. In this capacity he published two series of lectures (1859 and 1864), as well as Lectures on Edmund Burke (1869), and a translation of Dr. Hergenröther's Anti Janus (1870) to which he prefixed a history of Gallicanism. He also wrote a poem, The Prophet Enoch (1859), and contributed several articles to the Dublin Review. His services to literature obtained for him a pension from the Government in 1869, and the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Pius IX (1873). He is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery.

References

. Citation:
The Tablet (24 Feb., 1877);
Joseph Gillow in Bibl. Dict. Eng. Cath.;
The Edmundian, II, no. 8 (1895).

External links
History of the Robertson family

1800 births
1877 deaths
19th-century English historians

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Washington, DC – On Thursday, April 6, 2017, it was announced that Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) has been appointed Finance Chairman at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) for the 2018 election cycle, following Rep. Ann Wagner (R, MO-2) stepping down from the position.
Since January 2017, Congressman Zeldin has served as the NRCC's Deputy Vice Chairman for Finance. During the first three months of 2017, the NRCC shattered prior first quarter fundraising records, raising $35.9 million.


text:
Va. Senate committee approves marriage equality affirmation bill
State Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) introduced SB 1096
(Bigstock photo)
A Virginia Senate committee has approved a bill that would affirm marriage equality in state law.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 18 approved state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria)'s Senate Bill 1096 by a 10-4 vote margin. State Sens. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg), Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover County), Bill Stanley (R-Franklin County) and Mark Peake (R-Lynchburg) are the four lawmakers who voted against the measure.
SB 1096 now goes to the full Senate.
Ebbin, who is the only openly gay state senator, has also reintroduced a resolution to begin the process of repealing a Virginia constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The resolution is currently before the a Senate subcommittee.
Democrats have a 22-18 majority in the state Senate. Republicans control the Virginia House of Delegates by a 51-47 margin.
Related Topics:Adam EbbinfeaturedSenate Bill 1096Virginia Senate
Fairfax County School Board candidate targets LGBTQ health clinic
Analysis: Voters repudiate attacks on trans youth in midterms
Senate Democrats have pledged to block any anti-LGBTQ measures
Virginia Capitol Building (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Two anti-transgender bills advanced in the Virginia House of Delegates on Monday.
A House Education Subcommittee by a 5-3 margin voted to advance state Del. Dave LaRock (R-Loudoun County)'s House Bill 2432, which Equality Virginia notes "would require public school personnel to contact a student's parent if they believe that the student's self-identified gender does not align with their 'biological sex.'" The House Higher Education Subcommittee by a 6-4 margin advanced state Del. Karen Greenhalgh (R-Virginia Beach)'s House Bill 1387, which would ban transgender athletes from school sports teams that correspond with their gender identity.
Both bills will now go before the full House Education Committee.
The House Early Childhood/Innovation Subcommittee last week voted unanimously to kill state Del. Jason Ballard (R-Giles County)'s House Bill 1434, which would have required trans students to obtain a court order to update their name in school records. The Senate Public Education Subcommittee on Jan. 26 also tabled three measures that would have banned trans athletes from school teams corresponding with their gender identity.
Republicans currently control the House of Delegates by a 51-47 margin. Democrats, who have a 22-18 majority in the state Senate, have said they will oppose any anti-LGBTQ measure that reaches their chamber.
Measures would have banned trans athletes from school teams
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
A Virginia Senate subcommittee on Thursday tabled three bills that would ban transgender athletes from school teams corresponding with their gender identity.
The Senate Education and Health Committee's Public Education Committee tabled state Sen. John Cosgrove (R-Chesapeake)'s Senate Bill 911, state Sen. Bryce Reeves (R-Louisa County)'s Senate Bill 1186 and state Sen. Mark Peake (R-Lynchburg)'s Senate Bill 962.
"We're one step closer to these bills being gone for good," said Equality Virginia in a tweet.
GOOD NEWS: A Senate subcommittee voted to pass by indefinitely THREE transgender athlete bans. We're one step closer to these bills being gone for good!
Over 3,000 emails were sent to committee members opposing these harmful bills! #TransYouthBelongVA
— Equality Virginia (@EqualityVA) January 26, 2023
Committee members unanimously rejected HB 1434
A Virginia House of Delegates subcommittee on Wednesday killed a bill that would have required transgender students to obtain a court order to update their name in school records.
Equality Virginia in a tweet noted the House Early Childhood/Innovation Subcommittee voted unanimously to kill state Del. Jason Ballard (R-Giles County)'s House Bill 1434.
"This bill served no educational purpose and was entirely unnecessary," said Equality Virginia Executive Director Narissa Rahaman in a statement. "LGBTQ+ students thrive when they are provided safe, affirming and supportive learning spaces, which includes allowing them to go by their chosen name without jumping through legal hoops."
"HB 1434 would have run counter to that by creating a hostile school environment," added Rahaman. "By tabling this bill the subcommittee has sent a strong message that LGBTQ+ students belong in Virginia."
"Trans and nonbinary students should be able to go to school and be called by their chosen names, without fear of being outed," said the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia after the vote.
🎉WIN: HB1434, which would require a court order to update a student's name on ANY school record, died in subcommittee on a unanimous 9-0 vote.
Trans & nonbinary students should be able to go to school and be called by their chosen names, without fear of being outed. pic.twitter.com/2y65nUpZFh
— ACLU of Virginia (@ACLUVA) January 25, 2023


text:
Q: Can't use STREAM_VOICE_CALL to play audio via MediaPlayer in android java I have tried to play many audio (mp3) files through MediaPlayer's setAudioStreamType(AudioManager.STREAM_VOICE_CALL); but mp.start(); does not play nor does it throw an exception.
The setup works with SoundPool but it is limited to like 5 seconds, some files playing upto 8 seconds.
I am attaching the part of code here:
    String s = absolutepath.get(position);
    Uri u = Uri.parse(s);
    playing = (MediaPlayer) MediaPlayer.create(MainActivity.this, u);
    playing.setOnPreparedListener(this);

onPrepared includes this:
    @Override
public void onPrepared(MediaPlayer mp) {
    // TODO Auto-generated method stub
    spProgress.cancel();
    mp.setAudioStreamType(AudioManager.STREAM_VOICE_CALL);
    try {
    mp.start();
    } catch (IllegalStateException e) {
        Toast.makeText(this, "exception", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
    }
}

I have tried this without the try/catch and even without listener. The only time it plays is when I don't use the stream type STREAM_VOICE_CALL.
The same files can be played with SoundPool:
SoundPool sp = new SoundPool(1, AudioManager.STREAM_VOICE_CALL, 0);
sp.load(s, 1);
sp.setOnLoadCompleteListener(this);

Listener:
@Override
public void onLoadComplete(SoundPool soundPool, int sampleId, int status) {
    // TODO Auto-generated method stub
    if (status == 0) {
        spProgress.cancel();
        sp.play(sampleId, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1);
    } else {
        Toast.makeText(this, "failed to load", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
    }
}

A: I actually had the same problem, and Google's Guide is very bad here - it's indeed a bit tricky, but simple to explain:
As you need to change the STREAM, and then prepare() your MediaPlayer again, you'll get it working by doing this:
    Resources res = getResources();
    AssetFileDescriptor afd = res.openRawResourceFd(R.raw.tts_a);

    mp = new MediaPlayer();
    //mp.reset();
    mp.setAudioStreamType(AudioManager.STREAM_VOICE_CALL);
    mp.setLooping(false);
    try {
        mp.setDataSource(afd.getFileDescriptor(), afd.getStartOffset(), afd.getLength());
        mp.prepare();
    } catch (IOException e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }

    mp.start();

The actual trick is to NOT use the MediaPlayer.create, as it's calling the prepare itself! Therefore you're not able to set the Stream. By setting the File with AssetFileDescriptor, you can set the Stream and call your prepare() afterwards!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Great things take time to come to fruition. Are you the cress or the oak tree?
Some seeds are planted and within days you reap results; a small plant is it's end goal. Then, there are seeds which don't see the light of day for a long time. When these seeds finally shoot through the soil, the end results are far greater and worth the while; an oak tree, perhaps?


text:
catafalque (n.)
"stage erected in a church to support a coffin during a funeral," 1640s, from French catafalque (17c.), or directly from Italian catafalco "scaffold," which is of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Vulgar Latin *catafalicum, from Greek kata "down" (see cata-), used in Medieval Latin with a sense of "beside, alongside" + fala "scaffolding, wooden siege tower," a word said to be of Etruscan origin. The Medieval Latin word also yielded Old French chaffaut, chafaud (Modern French échafaud) "scaffold."
Entries linking to catafalque
cata-
word-forming element meaning "down, downward," but also "through, on, against, concerning," etc., from Latinized form of Greek kata-, before vowels kat-, from kata "down, downward, down from, down to," from PIE *kmt- "down, with, along" (source also of Hittite kattan (adv.) "below, underneath," katta "along with"). Occasionally in Greek it had senses of "against" (catapult) or "wrongly" (catachresis), also "along, through, over, across, concerning." Also sometimes used as an intensive or with a sense of completion of action (catalogue). Very active in ancient Greek, this prefix is found in English mostly in words borrowed through Latin after c. 1500.
Share catafalque
https://www.etymonline.com/word/catafalque
Etymology of catafalque by etymonline
Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of catafalque. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/catafalque
Harper Douglas, "Etymology of catafalque," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/catafalque.
Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of catafalque." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/catafalque. Accessed $(datetimeMla).
D. Harper. "Etymology of catafalque." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/catafalque (accessed $(datetime)).
Dictionary entries near catafalque
catachresis
cataclasm
cataclysmic
catafalque
catalectic
catalepsy
cataleptic


Built-in terminal of Commander One is a replacement for OS X Terminal.app.
Internal terminal is available in PRO Pack mode only!
To launch the terminal itself, click ctrl+o.
1. Commands can be run only locally, they do not take effect, for example, on an FTP server.
2. There's no visual feedback between the terminal and the interface. For example, if in terminal you change a directory, Commander One won't switch to this directory in the GUI.
3. You can open OS X Terminal.app through Commander One's interface.


text:
Falmouth Police Beat: Dec. 27
By The Forecaster
12/20 at 6:41 p.m. Robert P. Feeney, 51, of Falmouth Road, was arrested on Falmouth Road by Officer Alex Beaton on an outstanding warrant.
No criminal summonses were issued Dec. 14-21.
Fire calls
12/14 at 3:21 p.m. Accident on U.S. Route 1.
12/14 at 3:22 p.m. Gasoline spill on U.S. Route 1.
12/14 at 5:50 p.m. Accident on Maine Turnpike.
12/15 at 11:54 p.m. Unattended burn on Falmouth Road.
12/16 at 8:04 a.m. Carbon monoxide alarm on Waites Landing Road.
12/16 at 12:16 p.m. Alarm on Foreside Road.
12/16 at 4:51 p.m. Assist Cumberland.
12/17 at 7:46 a.m. Accident on U.S. Route 1.
12/17 at 9:30 a.m. Accident on Blackstrap Road.
12/17 at 10:01 a.m. Disabled motor vehicle on Longwoods Road.
12/17 at 10:07 a.m. Accident on Woods Road.
12/17 at 10:10 a.m. Disabled motor vehicle on Pleasant Hill Road.
12/17 at 5:06 p.m. Accident on Bucknam Road.
12/18 at 8:03 a.m. Shots fired on Pine Road.
12/18 at 10:11 a.m. Assist North Yarmouth.
12/18 at 2:14 p.m. Lines down on Allen Avenue Extension.
12/18 at 2:22 p.m. Lines down on Pleasant Hill Road.
12/18 at 5:10 p.m. Accident on Woodville Road.
12/18 at 7:25 p.m. Structural fire on Foreside Road.
12/19 at 4:46 a.m. Alarm on Rock Away Road.
12/19 at 7:11 a.m. Assist Vassalboro.
12/19 at 5:53 p.m. Accident on Blackstrap Road.
12/20 at 1:30 a.m. Alarm on Woodward Lane.
12/20 at 4:03 p.m. Accident on Mast Road.
12/20 at 6:21 p.m. Carbon monoxide alarm on Middle Road.
12/21 at 5:13 a.m. Assist Cumberland.
12/21 at 5:35 a.m. Accident on Mountain Road.
12/21 at 10:54 a.m. Assist Yarmouth.
12/21 at 2:49 p.m. Water rescue on Gray Road.
Falmouth emergency medical services responded to 28 calls Dec. 14-21.
Forecaster Police Beat


text:
A Raucous, Racy Diary - and Why We Still Read It 300 Years Later
Would you believe that a secret diary written in shorthand code 300 years ago makes an impact on my own modern-day life?
Could an aristocratic man of colonial Virginia show me anything about living today?
Why am I fascinated by a man whose private writings were truly scandalous?
William Byrd's diaries were decoded and published in the 1940's, two centuries after they were written. The pages of his life story show a man who is both delightfully and decadently human. Passages that he wrote in a secret shorthand reveal his actions, his thoughts, his overwhelming faults.
He's arrogant, intolerant, and callously disciplines his slaves.
He notes that he argues with his wife over the plucking of her eyebrows and the fact that she climbed the garden fence when she was "with child."
Byrd journals about dealings with the law and the courts, current-day politics, punishments of his servants, and problems with the school master "for being so great a sot."
He records his menus, noting his intake of boiled beef, pears, milk, bacon and potatoes. He describes his daily dose of readings in classical literature and foreign languages.
But that's not all.
Byrd Wrote in Secret Code for a Reason
No wonder Byrd wrote the diary in secret code. His contemporaries would have been scandalized by his "real" life if they had only known about it. In his journal, Byrd details his lecherous actions toward several of his house servants as well as his sister-in-law.
He also chronicles his fights and his reconciliations with his wife, being so bold to claim,
"in the afternoon my wife and I had a little quarrel which I reconciled with a
flourish. It is to be observed that the flourish was on the billiard table."
Now what, you may be asking, have I gotten from Byrd's journal - other than a chuckle - that has enriched my life?
Byrd has a closing statement at the end of each day's entry. It is a line I adore. I have no idea whether Byrd was sincere when he penned those words or whether he was just using them as a rote sentiment.
Maybe he as being sarcastic. Perhaps he was, like Benjamin Franklin, trying to evaluate and improve his character.
On occasion, Byrd is honest enough to admit, "I had good health, but wicked thoughts."
Sometimes he stated, "I had good health, good thoughts, but I was a little out of humor for which God forgive me."
But most of the time, Byrd ends his diary entries with a report that I want to echo:
"I had good health, good thoughts, and good humor, thanks be to God."
William Byrd summed up his life - and his daily activities - so neatly. His tone is lost to modern readers, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate phrase and apply my own attitude to it.
Good Health - Appreciated On a Daily Basis
Good health. How wonderful it is to have; how easy it is to take it for granted. Every October, I remember the anniversary of the accident of my friend's son, an accident which left a strong, handsome, young man in a comatose state for years before he died.
I think of the thousands of people diagnosed with serious illnesses every day.
I remember my Aunt Carol who died in the blink of an eye from a brain aneurysm when she was just fifty-eight.
People in good health have attacks or strokes without warning, and a state of good health is not guaranteed forever.
How right Byrd was to be thankful for his well-being on a daily basis.
Good Thoughts: Something to Strive For
Good thoughts. Is it a talent to think positively? Is it a habit that we cultivate? Can the idea behind the old Beach Boys' song, "good, good, good, good vibrations" change the world?
Surely William Byrd was on the right track.
Attitude is everything.
Good Humor: The Need to Smile At the World
Good humor. If laughter is truly the best medicine, would the world be cured of its ills after a good guffaw? If we learned to laugh at our own foibles, would the country be more tolerant of those who are different from us? Would our loved ones be happier if we smiled more often?
Even when Byrd behaved badly, he still recognized the importance of being in good spirits.
"... I was a little out of humor for which God forgive me."
Personally, I think he was "spot on."
Why Do Byrd's Words Matter Today?
Like William Byrd, we have our faults. We blunder through the daily activities of life making mistakes and having arguments and doing our jobs.
And like William Byrd, we would do well to contemplate daily "good health, good thoughts and good humor."
They still matter - even 300 years later.
Serendipitous Insight on the New Year from the Novel, Anxious People
What is a Picaro Novel and Why is This Tender Land One of Them?
Achieving a Nearly Impossible Task: Choosing the Top Ten Books of 2020