By some great misfortune, I feel the cold very deeply. Simply going outside for a few minutes (or, in extreme cases, staying inside but making the mistake of not wearing a sweater) can give me a chill for hours. So it is not too peculiar that I have been quite cold during the past few months! Canada, especially my part of it, is never warm in wintertime, and this winter has been both unusually cold and unfairly long.
But the biting cold has an upside- like many other small and seemingly inconsequential things in my life, it reminds me of World War II and the Eastern Front. Late last evening while walking my dog in the -30° C cold, I could not help but think of how horrible the winters of Russia must have been for soldiers of all nationalities seventy years ago. Although they do not make me like the cold any better, such reminders help me to appreciate all that soldiers endured; in addition, if so many survived the Russian winter and the stresses of combat, then surely I can hold out until spring!
It is an indisputable fact that the strength of the Red Army was not the only thing underestimated by Adolf Hitler- he also underestimated the severity of the Russian winter. The significant German gains of June and July became a distant memory as the snow began to fall, slowing the invaders' advance and giving the defenders some much-needed hope. Accounts of the freezing temperatures vary, but the temperatures seemed to have ranged in November and December from about -10° C to -35° or even -40°. Such cold was painful even for the well-acclimatized Soviet troops, but for the Germans it was a cold, frozen hell.
Photo of Germans in snow near Moscow: from Wikimedia Commons. Attributed to Wilhelm Gierse.
No one in Wehrmacht command had prepared for such temperatures; indeed, many had believed in the early days of the invasion that Russia would be finished within two weeks. Winter, in the optimistic heat of late June, was not on anyone's mind. As a result, preparation for colder temperatures was nonexistent, and the German soldiers paid a heavy price for their leaders' arrogance and oversight.
Records show that 130,000 cases of frostbite occurred among the Wehrmacht troops involved in the Battle of Moscow, and just before Christmas Joseph Goebbels (Hitler's chief of propaganda) sent out an appeal for donations of warm clothing to the German nation. The need was evident to all levels of command; Heinz Guderian, the famous Panzer commander, wrote in his journal that it was fortunate he had stopped his troops in early December, "otherwise the catastrophe would have been unavoidable". But the greater catastrophe was unavoidable, and the Soviets drove the Germans back from the environs of Moscow on January 7, 1942.
Photo of Soviet winter counter-offensive: from Wikimedia Commons. Attributed to unknown employee of the United States Government.
The adverse effect of such severe cold on warfare in the 1940s, and indeed even today, cannot be understated. Bare skin freezes to metal in the cold, and the bolts of rifles are liable to freeze and become inoperable. Grease freezes and lubricants thicken, making machinery unusable. Vehicles must warm up for inconveniently long periods of time, and roads are often impassable after a heavy snowfall. But what is more, any prolonged exposure to cold is a mental hurdle as well. I find that being cold gets into one's mind and becomes a consuming distraction- much like a fierce hunger, the discomfort of cold distracts one from other matters and causes much suffering and frustration.
As previously mentioned, German troops facing their first Russian winter were painfully ill-prepared. Many men took to wearing their drill fatigues over their uniforms in an attempt to stay warm, and even padded their clothes with paper.
Soviet troops, on the other hand, were well ready for their bitter winter. Compressed felt boots called valenki were issued, as well as warm hats called ushanki, which were made out of a strange synthetic material known as "fish-fur". I can speak from experience and say that ushanki are wonderfully warm, and very practical, pieces of headgear! Padded clothing was also issued, and snipers were given special mitts with an uninsulated trigger finger.
Many Soviet troops had grown up in close proximity to nature, and were used to hunting or working outdoors year-round. Thus, fighting in the merciless winter was not too foreign to them, although the climate of Russia is notoriously cold- winters around Moscow can see temperatures from -10° C to -30°. Conversely, the Germans- coming as they did from a smaller and more developed country where the average wintertime temperature is not too far below 0° C- were not as used to being outside or to being in a frigid climate.
In contrast to Hitler's leadership, Soviet command prepared shrewdly for the winter, organizing ski battalions which found it easy to navigate through the snowy expanses of western Russia. Such ski battalions had actually been used to great effect against Soviet forces in the Winter War with Finland, and they had similar success against the beleaguered Germans in 1941. Also, the cold temperatures and snowy landscapes were better suited to defensive battles, favouring the Soviets and making it hard for the Germans to gain ground.
Photo of Soviet troops in winter camouflage: from Wikimedia Commons. Attributed to unknown author.
Ultimately, the unrelenting winter of Russia played a huge part in stopping the Germans short of Moscow. Coupled with the dogged defence of the Soviet troops, it humbled a once-arrogant army and handed the Wehrmacht its first taste of defeat. But this post is not meant to dwell on the results of the Battle of Moscow. Instead, I wished to focus on the struggle itself, and all the frigid hardships endured by the soldiers of both the Wehrmacht and the Red Army. This monumental struggle defined the Great Patriotic War, and must have been a true terror for all involved.
Fowler, W. (2004). Barbarossa: The First 7 Days. Havertown, PA: Casemate.
Bethell, N. (1977). Russia Besieged. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books.
There is no era in fashion that I love more than the 1940s. Military styling appeals to me immensely, and I adore the juxtaposition of masculine, military-inspired tailoring and ladylike accessories and hairstyles prevalent in '40s style. The following Polyvore set represents what I believe is the best of this fashionable era: sharp, tailored separates, restrained and tasteful accessories, and prominent touches of feminine charm.
Britain is a subject that is never far from my mind. I often feel more British than I do Canadian, and I love every eccentricity and memorable feature of Great Britain. I have been very blessed to have visited England and Wales many times, and as a result there are numerous things which remind me of Britain, even when I am not there.
Starbucks is one of the most evocative things to me. Although it is certainly not a British invention, the first Starbucks coffee I had was from a shop on Kensington High Street in July 2009, so it never ceases to remind me of London. On weekends here at home, I often visit the local Starbucks for a coffee or cappuccino. Both beverages bring chilly grey English mornings to mind, and make me feel as if I am there again.
Grey skies also remind me of Britain. But, unfortunately, grey skies in Britain are more beautiful than grey skies anywhere else, so a lack of sunshine in Canada makes me feel a little wistful. Wales comes to mind whenever a lot of fog and low cloud is about- refer to my earlier post My Best Days in Britain: Part One for more on that!
London City Hall, The Shard, and HMS Belfast seen through the rain, from Tower Bridge, in May 2012.
Watching football (proper football- not American, Superbowl stuff!) gives me great excitement, and must be of the most British things in existence. Every Saturday morning, after sleeping in for an extra hour or so, I watch Premier League football while eating my breakfast. It is a time of contented relaxation, and reminds me of how many football shirts and adverts I have seen while in Britain. Arsenal is my team, although I also like Swansea and Cardiff due to my Welsh heritage!
Something that I have done a lot of in England is shopping- from the high street chains like TK Maxx and Dorothy Perkins to Selfridges in central London, shopping in Britain is an experience in itself. It must be said that London is a fashion capital, and it always delights me to find London-born trends in the shops at home!
Louis Vuitton logo on outside of shop near Leadenhall Market.
Expensive, yet tasteful, motors are a hallmark of Britain for me. I have seen incredible things on the roads of Britain, such as a fabulous bright blue McLaren MP4-12C near Shrewsbury, a Phantom Drophead Coupe on Baker Street, and an original Ford GT40 parked outside a Sussex pub. One cannot go a day in London, especially, without seeing a dozen Bentleys, several Aston Martins, and probably a Ferrari or two. Elegant and powerful cars are a part of British history, and they remain a fact of life today. The affluence and atmosphere in Canada are not the same as that of central London, but the sight of any exclusive luxury car still takes me back to the streets of Britain.
Patriotic and perfect in every way- gorgeous Aston Martin in Union flag livery.
Finally, a pint of British ale never fails to evoke memories of the homeland. Of course, nothing beats a pint from the taps in a real English pub, but I still enjoy authentic beers at home. Fuller's London Pride, Guinness, and Lancaster Bomber are a few of my favourites, although in the summertime Pimm's with lemonade is refreshing and wonderful. In addition, pub grub is a comforting and happy reminder of Britain. Lovely, golden, thick-cut chips drowned in vinegar and ketchup are probably my favourite food of all time, but somehow everything tastes better in the cosy environs of a good English pub!
The Albion near Hampton Court Palace- my favourite Greater London pub.
As you may now realize, my life is full of things that remind me of Britain. I have so many fond memories of my time there, and so many things to appreciate when I inevitably visit again. Most of the time, I greatly miss this amazing nation of which I am a member; but thanks to these vivid memories, I never feel too far away.
I have never been an exceptionally adventurous individual, preferring instead comfortable and familiar things. Even now, after nearly two decades of life, I dislike anything that I am not prepared for, and the uncertain can be cause for great anxiety. However, the past few years have seen me try several extremely adventurous things, and I feel that by moving out of my comfort zone I am coming into my element.
Since 2011, I have discovered numerous new hobbies and pastimes, which have given me the basis for a great and exciting bucket list. Most of this list- as I now realize- involves either very expensive or exclusive things, and a recurring theme is the military- but what is a bucket list, if it is not something to strive for and dream of?
Ever since I began playing Medal of Honor: Airborne back in 2009, I have wanted to jump out of a C-47. I don't simply want to skydive; the plane has to be a C-47. I imagine that being a paratrooper would be quite terrifying, and it would be fascinating to experience a bit of what they went through.
Photo of Douglas C-47 Skytrain: from Wikimedia Commons. Attributed to unknown author.
I see a lot of C-130s in the skies around my house, so I have a great appreciation for this beautiful and utilitarian aircraft. And High Altitude Low Opening jumps, for some strange reason, are quite appealing to me- I think it would be amazing to fall so fast for so long, and to be able to look around at the landscape below.
Photo of parachutists on HALO jump: from Wikimedia Commons. Attributed to Davric.
The T-34 is a legend of the Eastern Front, and I have been obsessed with these tanks for several years. I have nothing but admiration for the T-34 tank- it is a magnificent piece of engineering and is, in my opinion, the best tank of WWII. T-34s were apparently quite difficult to drive, especially in the early days, and driving one is something that not many people have done. It also doesn't hurt, of course, that the main characters in the novel I'm currently writing are members of a T-34 crew!
My dream trip would be one to all major WWII sites in Europe and Russia- the fjords of Norway where the German battleship Tirpitz was moored, the Ardennes, the Atlantic Wall and D-Day beaches in Normandy, Smolensk, Kursk, and especially Stalingrad (now Volgograd), to name a few. It would be a very emotional experience for me to see such locales, and I hope very much that someday this will become a reality! In addition, someday I hope to attend both the Victory Day and November Red Army parades in Moscow's Red Square. Russia is so proud of her soldiers' sacrifices in WWII, and seeing these parades would be a memorable and touching experience.
Photo of Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery: from Wikimedia Commons. Attributed to Burtonpe.
Ice hockey is a massive part of my life- many of my most wonderful blessings have come about because of hockey. I am a goalie and have played for almost eight years; facts which have not contributed to the wellbeing of my knees! But I would never choose to give up playing hockey, and I hope to continue playing for many decades!
This may be very unlikely indeed, since civilians are never allowed to own suitably high-tech military equipment, but I still have hope. Flying is one of my greatest passions, and I deeply appreciate the incredible capabilities of modern, and recently retired, fighter jets. I have an idea of which aircraft I would most like to fly in, although I can't narrow it down to just one! The BAE Harrier is an obvious choice, due to its revolutionary VTOL capabilities. But I also love the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker, with its enviable manoeuvrability, impressive speed, and elegant looks. Although I have these two planes in mind, in reality any supersonic aircraft would provide more than enough excitement, and all military aircraft give me the same sense of awe and wonder.
Photo of Su-27 Flanker: from http://www.airliners.net/photo/Russia—Air/Sukhoi-Su-27SKM/101428/L/ via Wikimedia Commons. Attributed to Dmitriy Pichugin.
In 2005, when I was 11, a small stuffed orangutan named Pongo came into my life, and ever since then I have been very concerned about the welfare of primates and the destruction of the world's rainforests. It remains a wish of mine to visit an orangutan sanctuary someday, to marvel at these amazing animals in their near-natural habitat. Unfortunately, this may be the most impossible of all my bucket list dreams, given the distressing state of the Borneo rainforest and the eagerness of humanity to destroy the things that it is entrusted to care for.
I have a strong ambition when it comes to writing. Writing a bestselling novel would be a fantastic achievement, one that is almost too great to fathom. But my reasons for wanting this are not wholly selfish- although money would certainly be nice, I have no wish to be famous, and instead my goal is to educate and inspire people with my work. Especially when it comes to WWII, my subject of choice, I strive to enlighten people about subjects they might not know and possibilities they might not have imagined. Fortunately, WWII is a subject which offers me many such opportunities, from the Soviet Union's role in the conflict to the contribution of women to the war effort. I feel that WWII, as well as other conflicts, is often only remembered on Remembrance Day, and I hope that my writing will encourage people to consider it with more regularity.
I now realize that this is not even my entire bucket list- there are so many things that I am excited about and want to do in my lifetime. And I may never manage any of the things I've just written about, but at least the dream is there. Perhaps there will be a Bucket List 2.0 post sometime in the future, but for now, I hope you enjoyed this one!
Unlikely though it may seem given the unrelenting Arctic temperatures of late, February 16 in Barrie, Ontario has actually been a beautifully sunny day. It is almost enough to make me feel optimistic that summer is coming, and that the next Ice Age has not decided to come early. So it is with no hesitation that I post this Polyvore set- a charming 1940s style beach outfit. Perhaps, by July or maybe June, the temperatures will have caught up to the sunshine and the beleaguered inhabitants of North America will be able to enjoy a day at the beach!
It bothers me to know that the majority of American citizens views Russia as an unfriendly nation. But according to a recently conducted Gallup poll, 60% of American adults view Russia in an unfavourable light. In my opinion, this is deeply unfortunate and also a very negative influence in international affairs.
The 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union was difficult for many Russians to accept, but it also presented the rest of the world with a brilliant opportunity. Gone was the old, hard-line Soviet leadership with its isolationist principles and its distaste for all things Western. The elimination of such a government ended (in theory) the Cold War, and afforded the chance for all nations to forge new, positive relationships with Russia and the former Soviet states.
Regrettably, however, this chance does not seem to have been acknowledged or acted upon by the West. Russia and the West do, in many areas, have very different values, and between them there is a history of suspicion, rivalry, and bad blood. But simply being angry, holding onto old stereotypes, and refusing to move forward together is never going to create a positive result. Differences in opinion can never be solved with silence. Dialogue and respectful discussion is crucial if we ever wish to move past this uncertain state of post-Cold War hostility.
As I have acknowledged, there are numerous differences in opinion between Russia and (as an example) the majority of the United States. Russia tends to be much more conservative, whereas America is a champion of progression and civil rights in the world. In the modern world there are generally certain attitudes which are held by a majority, but opposition to these attitudes is not inherently wrong or evil. I believe that the world as a whole, as well as every individual living in it, needs to accept that there will always be someone who thinks differently than they do. What matters is that we do not try to force our opinions inconsiderately on others, and that we ensure that our own opinions are stated with thoughtfulness and precision.
The Cold War superpowers of Russia and America do, however, occupy common ground- a fact that perhaps we should consider more often. Both nations are combating terrorist powers and organizations which draw their inspiration from the same extremist principles, and as a result, both can work together to make the world a better place for all.
I feel that Russia has always been the beneficiary of some unfair stereotypes and attitudes, encouraged, for example, by many a Hollywood movie. I wish that the West would see Russia's many intricacies and strengths, instead of viewing it as an oppressive and backwards nation headed by a man who seems authoritarian and cruel.
Every society in history, and most likely every society to come, has its own innumerable problems- that is the mark of humanity. Corruption, individualism to a detrimental extreme, disregard for others- these are all problems which we will probably face for as long as we inhabit the earth. But what matters is that, instead of harping on others' problems, we actually address them with understanding and work through them together. No one likes to be preached to nor to be ignored, and it might do the leaders of every nation good to remember it.
In closing, I lament the current state of distrust that not only America, but also the collective West, has for Russia. I also lament the fact that no country seems to be making an exceptional effort to fix this distressing problem. But I still have hope, and I believe that although Cold War attitudes may prevail in the 21st century, the chance that 1991 provided also exists still. Furthermore, international cooperation is not solely up to the leaders of nations. It begins with every individual, and we all have the power and the ability to see things in a different light, or to look at an issue with careful contemplation rather than immediate judgement.
We should all realize that our opinions and choices will never be the same as those of other people, but that this doesn't mean that we cannot all coexist and enjoy productive and smooth relationships. We are all human. We all fail. We all inhabit this world together, and we should never allow our differences to open too great a void between us.
We are now one day closer to spring (in theory) and still, nothing has changed- it is around -20 degrees Celsius here in southern Ontario, and I am am still wishing for it to be summer. So here is another of my Polyvore creations, feminine and nostalgic, and perfect for the painfully distant summer!


text:
Os romanos estabeleceram uma cadeia de fortes ao longo da parte sul do País de Gales até Carmarthen (Maridunum). Existem provas de que progrediram até ainda mais para oeste. Também construíram a lendária fortaleza em Caerleon (Isca), cujo magnífico anfiteatro é o mais bem preservado em toda a Grã-Bretanha. Os romanos também chegaram ao norte de Gales e uma velha lenda diz que Magno Máximo, um dos últimos imperadores, casou-se com Elen ou Helen, a filha de um chefe galês de Segôncio, perto da actual Caernarfon.

Gales nunca foi conquistado pelos anglo-saxões devido à feroz resistência do seu povo e ao terreno montanhoso. Diz-se que um rei anglo-saxão, Offa de Mercia, construiu um grande muro de terra, ou um dique, ao longo da fronteira com o seu reino para separar uma grande parte de Powys que tinha conquistado aos galeses. Partes do dique de Offa ainda hoje podem ser vistas.

O País de Gales permaneceu céltico e o seu povo continuou a falar a língua galesa mesmo depois de os elementos célticos das vizinhas Inglaterra e Escócia terem desaparecido gradualmente. O nome Wales é disso prova, uma vez que provém de uma palavra de raiz germânica que significa estrangeiro e está, assim, relacionada com os nomes de várias outras regiões europeias onde os povos germânicos tomaram contacto com culturas não-germânicas, como a Valónia (Bélgica), o Valais (Suíça) e a Valáquia (Roménia), bem como com a terminação -wall do nome inglês da Cornualha (Cornwall).

Gales permaneceu cristão (ver o renascimento galês de 1904-1905 e o renascimento metodista galês) quando o seu vizinho, a Inglaterra, foi derrotado por tribos alemãs e escandinavas, embora tenham sobrevivido entre o seu povo muitos costumes e crenças mais antigas. Por esse motivo, São David foi em peregrinação a Roma durante o século VI e serviu como bispo em Gales muito antes da chegada de Santo Agostinho para converter o rei de Kent e da fundação da diocese de Cantuária Embora se diga que a religião druídica teve em Gales a sua praça-forte até à invasão romana, muitas das "tradições" druídicas, como o gorsedd, ou a assembleia de bardos, foram invenção de "historiadores" do século XVIII. O traje feminino tradicional de Gales, que inclui um chapéu negro e alto, foi criado no século XIX por Lady Llanover, uma proeminente defensora da língua e cultura galesas.

A conquista de Gales pela Inglaterra não aconteceu em 1066, quando a Inglaterra foi conquistada pelos normandos, mas foi gradual, prolongando-se até 1282, quando o rei Eduardo I de Inglaterra invadiu o país e derrotou em batalha Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, o último príncipe independente de Gales. Eduardo construiu uma série de grandes castelos de pedra a fim de manter os galeses sob controle. Os mais conhecidos estão em Caernarfon, Conwy e Harlech. Gales foi legalmente anexado pelo Decreto de União de 1536, durante o reinado de Henrique VIII de Inglaterra. O Decreto de Gales e Berwick 1746 determinou que todas as leis aplicáveis à Inglaterra também se aplicassem automaticamente a Gales (e a Berwick, uma cidade situada na fronteira anglo-escocesa), excepto se a lei especificamente determinasse o contrário. Este decreto foi revogado no que diz respeito a Gales em 1967.
Leidiane

Ver também
 Annales Cambriae

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Citizens Advice covers a range of consumer issues in its policy work, including energy, post and other consumer issues.
We all now have to behave as consumers in an increasing number of markets. Our consumer policy work looks at how people are treated in everything from telecoms and financial services, to housing and online marketplaces.


I have a theory about why Americans downplay their culture of hugging when living as expats in China.
In the US, it is customary for female friends who are close or who haven't seen each other for a long time to hug as greeting or farewell; the same is true between a male and a female friend. (Male friends shake hands.) Friends who are not close, will usually wave or say hi; in more formal situations they may just shake hands.
In the 2 years I've been in China, I've noticed that American expats whether in Beijing, Shanghai, or elsewhere have completely abandoned this cultural norm.
Americans have adopted the practice of kiss-kiss, or kissing the air while touching first the right cheek then the left cheek. Two girls, and a girl and a guy will do it. (Two males continue to shake hands.) They don't even need to be close friends, mere friends or familiar acquaintances are given over to the kiss-kiss greeting.
This kiss-kiss greeting is common in Latin American culture and European culture. Notably, French and Italians do 2 kisses, while Argentines and Dutch do 3.
I, as an American expat in Shanghai, have become accustomed to doing the kiss-kiss greeting and farewell to such an extent that when Americans who are in town visiting hug me I am shocked and feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Anyway, on to my theory… My theory is that, largely due to the current administration, because Americans are so hated abroad, we try to diminish our American-ness by adopting other cultural styles. We try to make ourselves seem less American by acting like Europeans or Latin Americans. We attempt to show that we are citizens of the world and embrace other cultures by adopting them as our own, rather than beating them down, much as has been done in Afghanistan or Iraq. Obviously, this more of a necessity and common practice in expat life since daily we seek to be accepted by associates and friends from around the world who are frequently not fond of America. As expats, we are attempting to minimize our American-ness in the presence of a global community and seek acceptance among our kiss-kiss-accustomed peers.
I'm curious to know, if this is just a phenomenon of expats in China, or if this happens among American expats elsewhere in the world. Comments on the expat experience elsewhere and agreements (or not) with my theory are welcome.
As far as whether I like the practice, in some ways I do, as it feels refreshing and somewhat less awkward than the standard American hug. However, sometimes I do miss the benefits and closeness of a hug.
Interesting sociological observation. Perhaps this is because there is a large contingent of Europeans in China and the Americans are forced to adapt to the cheek-kiss culture.
The double or single air kiss is a NYC thing too, at least between male and female friends. But New Yorkers also tend to play down their American-ness.
"The Tragic Kingdom or; Prisoner in a Chinese Theme Park", (found on most book dealer websites; Amazon, Barnes and Noble etc), is a behind-the-scenes look into the field of design and build in China. The book is a profile of the personalities, culture, and psychology of the world's most massive looming superpower as seen through the eyes of an ex-pat American.
"I have lived and worked in China for over ten years, competing within their system, making my way as everything from a freelance artist in small operations to a senior designer for large corporations. I have witnessed a formidable decade in which China has commanded a modern presence on the world stage. I have participated in the planning, designing, and building of mega-theme parks in Beijing, world-class aquariums in Shanghai, gigantic malls in the Pearl Delta, resorts in Tibet, and panda relocation projects in the foothills of the Himalayas".
The true stories and themes found in The Tragic Kingdom, spring from one man's journey. At the same time they disclose truths about a globalization that eventually will impact every economy, lifestyle, and person on the planet.
China, like the USA is a very large country with, perhaps different groups and local culture amongst minority groups (here in China that being westerners). I can say I have never seen two Americans kissing or "air-kissing" for a greeting here in Guangzhou in the last 3 years. One time a female European did that to me as a greeting, and I was literally stunned why someone was touching me (seemingly an American norm, at least where I am from in the Mid-west. Likely certain regions of the USA may be more apt to "touch" each other (I'm guessing more metro/cosmopolitan areas like NY, or CA) by hugging or whatnot, which may then carry over here into their expat culture. Ultimately I can only speak for myself of course, and same as in the USA, where I don't touch people except an occasional handshake, nor do I here and I just haven't seen it amongst other westerners other than those I know to be 2 Europeans. Perhaps it's a latitude thing more common with "Northerners" such as IN the Beijing/Shanghai region you mentioned.


text:
Canada says goodbye to Democracy?
Currently I am in Quebec, and I witnessed a thing on the Canadian national news (CBC) that really, really disturbed me.
Basically, the thing is this: The prime minister Steven Harper is the head of the conservative party, and he has about 42% of the seats in the parliament. The rest of the seats are taken by three parties, and these three parties obviously form a majority when they would be forming a coalition.
Harper, of whom I have heard he is called the but-licker of Bush, did not do enough to help the economy of Canada. At least, not in the eyes of the other parties in the parliament.
I do not know the details, the in's and out's, but I do know that my Euro is worth a lot of Canadian Dollars. Compared to the US Dollar, the Canadian Dollar is worth much less (Exchange Rates), and I enter a supermarket with a smile, so to speak.
Now, again, I do not know the in's and out's. Neither do I believe, that the democratic form of government is what it claims to be. However, there is a certain amount of reality in the system: after all, they have to keep up appearances. On top of that, most politicians do not have a clue as to whom they are really serving. It is from this [perspective, that I write my opinnion...
The opposition parties in theCanadian parliament didn't like what Harper was (not) doing concerning the Canadian Economy. I suspect that it has to do with what is happening everywhere: massive bail-outs, billions of dollars pumped into the indistries to "save jobs". But I could be wrong there.
In order to express their dissatisfaction with Harper, the opposition parties decided to form a coalition, making them de facto the rulers of parliament. Forming coalitions isn't tradition in this part of the world, but where I come from (the Netherlands), it is.
Mister Harper did not like this -completely democratic- move of the parties that simply do not like what he is (not) doing. Of course he diodn't, for as it turned out, the coalition had agreed to put a non-confidence vote against Harper. This means, that they factually were going to remove him from the office of prime minister.
Obviously, this all to the chagrin of Harper.
Now, watch this. As Harper sought his way out of this "crisis", he did a thing which you would expect in dictatorial regimes: he simply sent the parliament home.
Last monday, he would have been facing this non-confidence vote. What he did, he went to the representant of the english queen (Canada is part of the British Em[pire called the commonwealth) and basically asked her for permission to send the parliament home. The representant agreed, and so it went.
Harper went on national television, where he hailed up Canada as "the longest-lasting democracy of the earth" and claimed that he had gotten the confidence of the Canadian voters. Obviously, with his party not having the majority, this is a lie. He then went on and chastened the other parties for forming a coalition with the Bloc Quebecois, a party that seeks a souvereign status in North America rather than being part of the Canadian Entity.
This Bloc Quebeqois, even though I do not know the details so I go at my first level gut feeling, has my symphathy.
I am a member of the Frysian people, an ancient people with a 2500 year history on the land where I live, we were overtaken by the Dutch about 500 years ago, after which they made us part of their system and basically tried to eradicate us from our identity.
I symphatize with the Kurds, with the Tibetan people, with all people who are being taken over by others.
I symphatize with what they call in Canada "the first nation", the original inhabitants.
I also symphatize with the Quebec people, even though I know that they too live on land that did not belong to them in the first place. However, having said that, I feel symphathy for the Quebec people because they are struggling against the downpression of the rest of the country who identify themselves with England (note: not the UK as a whole) and try to eradicate the Frenmch identity of the Quebecois.
Whatever: one can not say that the Bloc Quebeqois is less democrativ than the other parties in the Canadian Parliament. Yes, there is actrually a quite large representation of the Bloc Quebecois in the Canadian parliament, showing the strong sentiment of the people here against the "english rule".
Mister Harper, on the other side, has called the Bloc Quebecois undemocratic. He said, that a democratic party should never allign themselves with what he calls "the seperatists", even though his own party has done the same in the past (as I heard).
He went on television and presented the coalition as "undemocratic". He then went on to explain his own undemocratic and outright dictatorial move to send the parliament home.
I was truly, truly shocked to see all of this at the CBC television. I was even more shocked to see, that many Canadians were buying into Harper's dictatorial rhetoric. I was shocked to see, how a coalition was presented as something undemocratic where in fact it is the most democratic form, in my opinion, and people buying into this...
Has Canada said goodbye to democracy, with mister Harper acting like a dictator? Is it not so, that the parliament is supposed to be the people's representants? To send parliament home because this parliament does not want the prime minister to continue his (non)policy, is a thing which you would expect from someone like Adolph Hitler, but not a so-called democratic prime minister.
Anyway, as said, I know democracy is just another lie. There is no real rule of the people. But there is, until a certain extend, since the matrix has to be in place. To see, that even this matrix is not respected, surely makes me wonder...
Topics: Colums and Articles, I Witness
Here we go: www.obamarasta.com
I came across a website that will surely illustrate just why I am so disgusted by "obama worship tunes".
The website is called www.obamarasta.com where you can be a real Obama Rasta by (ofcourse) buying material such as these:
It's "100% cotton", by the way. Remember where the cotton came from?
Anyway, we now know where to go for the right clothing when we want to visit concerts by certain artists.
Forget about Obama's plan to kill more people in Afghanistan. Forget about him talking about "amerika's purpose to lead the world". Forget how he keeps George Bush's choice of leader of the army and forget how he has Hilary Clinton and the rest of the Klintonites.
Just wear this "amerikan apperal" (sic) and you will be wearing the uniform needed for the contemporary verion of the Hitler-youth, who will surely chasten all conscious Rasta and Dreadlocks that DO make a stand against the madness.
I observe what happens, and it doesn't look good. Some people better wake up now.
As for me, I know that with Obama the Babylonians are making it clear just who are the real revolutionairies and who are the merchandaries.
There is a lot of work to do for Conscious Rasta's and Dreads, as this matter is more serious than we (including myself) realize.
Topics: I Witness, Rastafari

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Terhune, Patrick; Benowitz, Jeff; Bemis, Sean P.; Burkett, Corey; O'Sullivan, Paul B.
The Denali Fault is a major strike-slip fault extending from British Colombia, into western Alaska. Mount McKinley, at 6,114 m, is the highest peak in North America and is located to the south of a bend in the Denali Fault (Fig.1). To the north, at the apex of the bend in the fault, Peters Dome (3,221 m) is the highest peak and north-side peak elevations rapidly decrease moving away from the bend's apex.


text:
Age of Empires II HD
Article Type All PC Game News Features
Feature: Ghoastus has his say on EIII
Age of Empires 2's Definitive Edition shows that resurrection is more fun than remastery
By Ghoastus • 1 month ago • 35
Ave, citizens! It is I - Ghoastus, the famous Roman Ghost. This week, I have been haunting the streets of Los Angeles, in eager anticipation of all the thrilling Roman content soon to spill from the mouth of the games industry, like half-digested dormice from the maw of an overfed senator. And yet, alas: I have found little to stir the patriotic embers that smoulder…
Tagged with #JustGhoastusThoughts, Ave citizens, E3 2019, feature, Forgotten Empires, Ghoastus, Microsoft, the glory of rome, Age of Empires II, Age of Empires II HD, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition.
The 100 best-selling games on Steam in 2018 so far
By Alec Meer • 1 year ago • 21
We've just passed the half-way point of 2018, so Ian Gatekeeper and all his fabulously wealthy chums over at Valve have revealed which hundred games have sold best on Steam over the past six months. It's a list dominated by pre-2018 names, to be frank, a great many of which you'll be expected, but there are a few surprises in there. 2018 releases Jurassic World…
Tagged with 2018, arma iii, Bless Online, Call of Duty World War 2, Final Fantasy XIV Online, NBA 2K18, sales figures, Steam, Vamypr, A Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia, Age of Empires II HD, Ark: Survival Evolved, Assassin's Creed Origins, BattleTech, Black Desert Online, Borderlands 2, Call of Duty: WW2, Cities: Skylines, Conan Exiles, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Crusader Kings II, Cuphead, Dark Souls III, Dark Souls: Remastered, Darkest Dungeon, Dead by Daylight, Deep Rock Galactic, Divinity: Original Sin 2, Don't Starve Together, Dota 2, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Dying Light, Eco, Elite Dangerous, Euro Truck Simulator 2, Europa Universalis IV, Factorio, Fallout 4, Far Cry 5, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, Final Fantasy XV, Football Manager 2018, For Honor, Frostpunk, Garry's Mod, Grand Theft Auto V, H1Z1, Hearts of Iron IV, House Flipper, Human: Fall Flat, Hunt: Showdown, Jurassic World Evolution, Just Cause 3, Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, NieR: Automata, Nioh: Complete Edition, Northgard, Paladins, Path of Exile, Payday 2, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, Planet Coaster, Playerunknown's Battlegrounds, Raft, RimWorld, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Rocket League, Rust, Shadowverse CCG, Sid Meier's Civilization V, Slay the Spire, Smite, Sniper Elite 4, Squad, Stardew Valley, Stellaris, Subnautica, Surviving Mars, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, Team Fortress 2, Terraria, The Elder Scrolls Online, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR, The Forest, The Sims 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, theHunter: Call of the Wild, They Are Billions, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, Tom Clancy's The Division, Total War: Warhammer, Total War: Warhammer II, War Thunder, Warframe, Warhammer 40000: Inquisitor - Martyr, Warhammer: Vermintide 2, Watch Dogs 2, XCOM 2.
Feature: The biggest hits of the past 12 months
These are the top 100 Steam games of 2017
By Alec Meer • 2 years ago • 27
Another year over, a new one just begun, which means, impossibly, even more games. But what about last year? Which were the games that most people were buying and, more importantly, playing? As is now something of a tradition, Valve have let slip a big ol' breakdown of the most successful titles released on Steam over the past twelve months. Below is the full, hundred-strong…
Tagged with Call of Duty®: Black Ops II, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, feature, Final Fantasy XIV Online, NBA 2K17, NBA 2K18, Steam, The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, 7 Days To Die, Age of Empires II HD, Ark: Survival Evolved, Arma 3, Assassin's Creed Origins, Astroneer, Black Desert Online, Borderlands 2, Call of Duty: WW2, charts, Cities: Skylines, Conan Exiles, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Crusader Kings II, Cuphead, Dark Souls III, Darkest Dungeon, Dead by Daylight, Dishonored 2, Divinity: Original Sin 2, Don't Starve Together, Doom, Dota 2, Dying Light, Elite Dangerous, Endless Space 2, Euro Truck Simulator 2, Europa Universalis IV, Factorio, Fallout 4, Farming Simulator 17, Football Manager 2017, Football Manager 2018, For Honor, Friday the 13th: The Game, Garry's Mod, Grand Theft Auto V, Grim Dawn, H1Z1, Hearts of Iron IV, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Hitman, Hollow Knight, Just Cause 3, Killing Floor 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, NieR: Automata, Northgard, Oxygen Not Included, Paladins, Path of Exile, Payday 2, Planet Coaster, Playerunknown's Battlegrounds, Prey, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, RimWorld, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Rising Storm 2: Vietnam, Rocket League, Rust, Shadowverse CCG, Sid Meier's Civilization V, Sid Meier's Civilization VI, Smite, Sniper Elite 4, South Park: The Fractured but Whole, Stardew Valley, Stellaris, Subnautica, Tales of Berseria, Team Fortress 2, Tekken 7, Terraria, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, The Elder Scrolls Online, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Forest, The Sims 3, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, theHunter: Call of the Wild, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, Tom Clancy's The Division, Total War: Warhammer, Total War: Warhammer II, Wallpaper Engine, War Thunder, Warframe, Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War III, Watch Dogs 2, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, XCOM 2.
Age of Empires 2 HD: Rise of the Rajas expansion today
By Alice O'Connor • 3 years ago • 8
Here we are, almost in 2017, with official new expansions still coming out for a game from 1999. Age of Empires 2 HD [official site] today launches Rise of the Rajas, the third new expansion since the real-time strategy game was revamped and rereleased in 2013. Rise of the Rajas is off to Southeast Asia for historical warfare with four new civilisations, each with their…
Tagged with Forgotten Empires, Microsoft Studios, Skybox Labs, Age of Empires II HD, Age of Empires II HD: Rise of the Rajas.
A New Age: Empires Apart Coming 2017
By Adam Smith • 3 years ago • 7
Empires Apart [official site] is an upcoming RTS that "wants to be Age of Empires at heart", say Slitherine, who have just announced that they'll be publishing DESTINYbit's game when it's ready for release in the second half of 2017. I hadn't heard of the title until today, so I've been digging through old development video blogs like a digital archaeologist. You can see the…
Tagged with DESTINYbit, Slitherine, Age of Empires II, Age of Empires II HD, Age of Empires III, Empires Apart.
Feature: Meet the people making official expansions to an ancient game
How A Mod Team Helped Age Of Empires 2 Thrive
By Richard Moss • 4 years ago • 19
Scant few games stand the test of time and retain a large active player base sixteen years after release. But not only has Age of Empires II endured, it has thrived. It's gained new steam thanks in part to an official high-definition re-release but mostly due to the ragtag group of modders-turned-developers who made that release possible. Forgotten Empires filled the game with new stuff…
Tagged with feature, Forgotten Empires, Microsoft Studios, retrospective, Skybox Labs, Age of Empires II HD, Age of Empires II HD: The African Kingdoms, Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten.
Age Of Empires II HD Expands In The African Kingdoms
By Alice O'Connor • 4 years ago • 13
Many 'HD' re-releases of older games fix them to run easily on modern systems, tart them up a touch, then pop them onto (virtual) shop shelves, but Age of Empires II HD has actually brought the game back into active development. Sixteen years after AoE 2's initial release, AoE 2 HD has received its second new expansion. Age of Empires II HD: The African Kingdoms…
Tagged with Forgotten Empires, Hidden Path Entertainment, Skybox Labs, Age of Empires II HD, Age of Empires II HD: The African Kingdoms.
Age of Empires II Teases Upcoming Expansion, Camels
By Philippa Warr • 4 years ago • 12
"But how many camel archers should I put in a screenshot to make it look like they're an audience for another camel archer who is giving a rousing speech?" Microsoft Studios - in announcing a new expansion for strategy game Age of Empires II - suggest that perhaps the answer is five.
Tagged with Microsoft Studios, Age of Empires II, Age of Empires II HD.
Age Of Empires II HD Advancing To The Steam Age
By Nathan Grayson • 6 years ago • 101
The Age of Empires series has seen better days. Days like the year 1999, for instance. That's when Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings charged onto the itsy-bitsy adowwwwable killing fields, and oh what a grand thing it was. It even looked quite nice for the time, eschewing 3D razzle-dazzle in favor of goode ye-olde-fashioned sprites. Times, however, have changed, and monitors have…
Tagged with Hidden Path Entertainment, Microsoft, Steam, Valve, Age of Empires II HD.


text:
Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson Says UFC Bullied Him Into Fight With TJ Dillashaw
Alexander Gustafsson on Jon Jones – He's not a champion, not a good person
UFC 211 – Miocic vs dos Santos | Results & Play by Play
Alexander Gustafsson Hopes He Gets a Title Shot Next
UFC Fight Night 109: Gustafsson vs. Teixeira Gate and Attendance Figures
Germaine de Randamie refuses to fight Cris Cyborg, willing to let UFC strip title
MMAinstigator Stirring up the latest in MMA News (UFC, XFC, Bellator, & more)
MMA Social Wall
Kyle Crutchmer looking to exploit his advantages at Bellator 233
Since turning pro in June of 2018, it had been a pretty hectic first few months of welterweight Kyle Crutchmer's career.
Following his most recent win this past February, a unanimous decision over Josh Weston at XFN 356, Crutchmer had fought four times since his pro debut, with three finishes in his first four fights.
"It's been an experience," Crutchmer told MMAWeekly.com. "I've transitioned from wrestling right into MMA. Obviously I use a lot of my wrestling to win those fights.
"I've gotten a lot of experience and learned a lot of things about myself that I truly didn't know. I've enjoyed this whole process. I'm ready to get things going at the next level, and continue this road to becoming a world champion."
Since his win in February, Crutchmer has had some time off, and now with over a year's experience under his belt he feels like he can accurately gauge where he's at with his game.
"For me at first it was after the fight (I saw growth), but now that I've grown and learned a lot more things in this sport, I can see the progress in training," said Crutchmer. "I've been in a 12-week training camp for this (upcoming) fight with guys that are really high-level and I've held my own, so now I know where I stand, and I have a lot more confidence in what I'm able to do."
On Friday in Thackerville, Okla., Crutchmer (4-0) will look to close out his 2019 undefeated when he takes on Antonio Jones (7-3) in a Bellator 233 welterweight preliminary bout.
TRENDING > Dana White: MMA fans should appreciate that President Donald Trump attended UFC 244
"He's a big guy," Crutchmer said of Jones. "He has some experience. I don't want to share what we're going to do or anything to do or anything like that, but I think I have enough (advantage) in one category of the fight and I'm going to exploit it and use it to my advantage.
"I'm going to do whatever it takes to win then get back to work."
When it comes to 2020, Crutchmer is going to approach it as he has his career up to this point and let his team lead the way while he focuses on making sure he is ready for whatever fight comes his way.
"There's no roadmap, just fight by fight," said Crutchmer. "I let Bob Cook kind of manage all of that. He tells me when and where, and I get ready for it. I just listen to what my coaches and my management team tells me to do and that's what we do."
Read more here:: https://www.mmaweekly.com/kyle-crutchmer-looking-to-exploit-his-advantages-at-bellator-233
mma news	2019-11-06
MMA Instigator
Sports Instigator


Search for used knee mills. Find Bridgeport, Sharp, Kearney & Trecker, Cincinnati, Kent, Lagun, JET Tools, Clausing, Acer, GMC, Atrump for sale on Machinio.
Find used milling machine and lathes Industrial Machinery! Search Gumtree Free Online Classified Ads for used milling machine and lathes Industrial Machinery and more.
Find CNC Tree Milling Machines related suppliers, manufacturers, products and specifications on GlobalSpec - a trusted source of CNC Tree Milling Machines information.
About product and suppliers: offers 393 tree milling machine products. About 3% of these are wood router, 1% are milling machines, and 1% are grinding equipment.
Used Tree cnc machines for sale Premier Equipment houses the most-up-to-date used Tree cnc marketplace on the web. Since 1988, our goal has been to educate our customers as the largest used CNC machine tool dealer in the world.


Whether you have a school or two in mind, or are just deciding if private is the right choice, you won't find a greater concentration of expertise anywhere, or at any other time of year. The expo is also a unique opportunity to gain a sense of each school's personality and culture. Please RSVP for family admission.
What a great way to fully understand all your options!!
I think this is the perfect opportunity for parents to collect information and to make a well informed decision.
« 25 Halloween Cupcakes Your Friends Will Love!


text:
Home 2022 AFL Players Isiah Winder Eagles provide update on young forward Isiah Winder following alleged altercation
Eagles provide update on young forward Isiah Winder following alleged altercation
"We're an AFL club and we've got standards, but we've also got to look after the person."
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 04: Isiah Winder of the Eagles handpasses the ball from Will Hamill of the Crows during the 2022 AFL Round 12 match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles at the Adelaide Oval on June 04, 2022 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
West Coast senior coach Adam Simpson has acknowledged the difficult situation that surrounds young forward Isiah Winder, who was involved in an alleged altercation in Geelong over the weekend.
Winder, who is said to have been stood down by the club following the incident, is currently unable to train under Simpson, however still has access to the Eagles' facilities at Lathlain Park.
Police are continuing their investigation into the matter, which occurred after Winder took part in the AFL/AFLPA Indigenous and Multicultural Players Summit in Victoria last week.
The Eagles are looking to support the 20-year-old where possible, however understand the delicacy of the matter and the ongoing investigation.
Speaking to the media, Simpson said Winder has "a little bit of work to do", with the club "disappointed" in the young forward.
"Not much has changed since we released the statement," Simpson said on Wednesday.
"There's a police investigation, so we can't comment on what happened. Where he sits with the club and the playing group at the moment is that he's still part of the playing group. He just won't be training with the senior squad at the moment.
"He's still got use of the facilities and all those sorts of things.
"We're sorting of heading in this direction while we sort of transition our list and bring some youth in and some excitement, and he's got a little bit of work to do get that back.
"[We're] really disappointed... we still need to look after his health and wellbeing though, and make sure he's okay in that sense but there's a bit of work to do."
Winder was re-drafted by the Eagles just days before the alleged altercation took place, with West Coast delisting the Eaton product before adding him back to their list through the Rookie Draft.
Simpson said the club will likely further assess the situation surrounding their promising forward in the new year, with Winder likely to remain away from the senior group for the finals weeks of pre-season training in 2022.
"These things, obviously when they become so public, he's a young man, so obviously we have to look after both sides of the situation," Simpson added.
"We're an AFL club and we've got standards, but we've also got to look after the person. We'll get through Christmas and then see where we're at and see how he's going.
"...He's a rookie list player, he's 20 years old and he's made a mistake. He made his way back onto the list through his work ethic and dedication to getting fit.
"I know it's a big deal, and it is for him, but we've just got to try and respect the young man that he is."
Winder has played seven games under Simpson since making his debut last season against St Kilda, while he featured in six matches this year, including a three-goal haul against GWS.
AFL Coaches
Isiah Winder
Previous articleAFL reportedly decide on name for South Australian footy festival
Next articleAFL SuperCoach dual-position player changes revealed
Soccer Rumours
WTA Tennis
Supercars News
PGA Golf
NBA Trade News
Ice Hockey News


text:
in-the-studio
Written by: Michael Reed
Categories: IN THE STUDIO
Bike Commute Challenge: Pumped Up
I love to ride my bike. I commute every day, I've raced for years (and won) and so for me and a core group at Mayer/Reed every month is Bike Commute Challenge month. That's just how we roll. Sure, we do the official challenge, but I mainly use it as opportunity to send an unsolicited and over-the-top email about the virtues of cycling. That gentle reminder and a promise of cookies usually gets a few of the less inclined to pump up the old tires. And so out march all of the bikes with their proud owners. Some of us have carbon fiber bikes, others ride electric bikes or bikes with warn-out knobby tires. Other bikes are retro classic racers and there is one much-beloved yard sale "gem." All the different bikes at Mayer/Reed underscore the different personalities that play through the firm in a magically cohesive way.
Cycling is also a terrific way to see our city and region. I think it is the best way actually. Each of us at Mayer/Reed takes great personal pride in our work and cycling is a wonderful way to keep tabs our projects. This isn't just during construction mind you—we are invested for the long haul. For this reason many of us find cycling is the best way to go. That is just how we roll.
Written by: Ryan Carlson
COMMUNITY IN THE STUDIO
Categories: COMMUNITY IN THE STUDIO
Finding the Next Generation of Designers
When we were ready to expand our Visual Communications group earlier this year, we asked ourselves, "Where do we find the next generation of Environmental Graphic Designers?" — those individuals driven to explore the intersection of architectural space, public places, wayfinding and graphic design. Finding designers with this combination of interests and skills can be a challenge. We look for smart people with the capacity for critical design thinking, who also expand our collective skill set.
When Ryan Swedenborg and Margaret Drew joined the studio this year, group dynamics changed. Talents, interests and personalities interact in ways that compliment and inspire each other. Ryan and Margaret are graduates of graphic design programs at PSU and OSU, respectively. Their personalities add to the studio socially and creatively.
Working with young designers brings energy to the studio and stimulates the give-and-take relationship of learning and influence. As they learn more about designing for the built environment, they share with us their own passions in design and the next generation's perspective.
It was 2002 when we launched our first website. Trends in web design have come and gone over the past 11 years, but our site has remained, mostly, in its original design. Technology changes prompted the redesign, but after some serious introspection, we decided it was time for a big change and not a face-lift. The strategy then was to stay away from distracting bells and whistles and focus on a clear presentation of our studio, services and portfolio.
Our new website was created in collaboration with Brewhouse, who masterfully programmed the site to be responsive whether your portal is the desktop, tablet or smartphone. The minimalist aesthetic and navigation of our new website stays true to our approach to design—clean, efficient, and strategic.
The process of redesigning the website gave us the opportunity to look over 35 years of work as a summary of who we are as designers, our values, and the ways in which our community has grown. It became a process of asking, "who do we strive to be?" —and confirming that our work embodies these ideals.
There is a lot of depth, so please explore and tell us what you think. Check back for regular updates to the NEWS section, or subscribe for updates in the sidebar.


text:
Don't Shut Down Learning: Edgar Perez Bringing the Light for Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Machine and Deep Learning to Dubai, London, Singapore and New York
CEOs and executives in Dubai, London, Singapore and New York to get a comprehensive understanding and review of some of the most talked-about technology trends today and how these will impact business and society
Despite the countless articles we read in the press about the impending demise of millions of workers across all industries, the application of Artificial Intelligence (A) today is in its very early stages. Even the most optimistic supporters of this technology will agree that achieving singularity, the moment when a computer will be as smart as a human, is still many decades away.
Furthermore, studies have shown that firms tend to expect that AI's future effects on total head count will be minor or positive. For all the tremendous achievements we see today, though, these rely on very narrowly focused applications of AI, which cannot be considered general intelligence.
However, these technologies will have a great impact on businesses as we move along. Bringing the most instructive and inspiring programs in these subjects to Dubai, New York, London and Singapore is Edgar Perez, well-known author and speaker on cutting-edge technologies:
· The Ultimate Business Disruptor: Quantum Computing
Classical computing was invented in the 1940s; the advent of Quantum Computing (QC) will make these computers look painfully slow. Calculations that would take longer than a human's life span to work out on a classic computer can be completed in a matter of hours or minutes with QC. Furthermore, QC will enable solving a set of problems that couldn't be solved before. QC's benefits include efficiently simulating new drug molecules and dramatically reducing the time complex financial calculations take, among many others. For optimization, sampling or search problems, this promises dramatic speedups. Mr. Perez will entertain your audience while revealing why Quantum Computing will disrupt companies in every industry.
· The Artificial Intelligence Breakthroughs that are Changing the World (https://www.terrapinntraining.com/training/3-Day-Masterclass-Deep-Learning )
Artificial intelligence has been referred as the general ability of a computer or robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings. Through a comprehensive review of the latest artificial intelligence breakthroughs, Mr. Perez will offer his insights on how these advancements will impact businesses and the human race in general for years to come, and more specifically, how companies can leverage the plethora of available resources to start implementing solutions to problems that only a few years ago belonged to the realm of science fiction. Mr. Perez will reveal why artificial intelligence is the present and the future.
· Achieving Deep Impact with "State-of-the-art" Deep Learning
Deep learning has enabled many practical applications of artificial intelligence in today's organizations. Deep learning breaks down tasks in ways that makes all kinds of machine aids seem possible, even likely. Driverless cars, better image recognition, more effective medical diagnoses, even better movie recommendations, are all here today. Mr. Perez will identify what organizations need to do today to embrace the future, starting with the basics: empowering their employees and turbocharging the organization's data strategy. Once these two important tasks are accomplished, organizations can then launch pilots for the most promising opportunities, leveraging "state of the art" cases from today's global innovators such as Google, Facebook, Apple and Tesla. Mr. Perez will show organizations how to kick start their deep learning transformation.
· Social Engineering: The "Weakest Human Link" in Cybersecurity (https://www.terrapinntraining.com/training/826/3-Day-Masterclass-in-Cybersecurity )
Social engineering involves tricking your employees into breaching security protocols or giving away information, most often over the telephone or via email. Social engineering exploits human weaknesses rather than technology, preying upon people's propensity towards trust in particular. Often, these exploits are used to gather information to support a more targeted cyberattack, with the initial forays based on the premise of 'little and often' so as not to cause concern. Employees at all levels, including senior executives, are vulnerable. Mr. Perez will explain why by improving employee awareness and introducing simple technical measures, organizations can protect themselves against social engineering techniques and the risk of a cyberattack and its potential impact on business, customers and data.
· The Importance of the Cybersecurity Framework for Directors and CEOs
An email embedded with malware. Security systems hacked by thieves. Credit card numbers stolen from store purchases. There's certainly no shortage of examples when it comes to data security breaches and the havoc they wreak on business. No wonder then that nearly a third of CEOs in KPMG's latest global survey identified cyber security as the issue having the biggest impact on their companies today. Every organization should apply a Cybersecurity Framework for analyzing cyber security, and ideally it should be integrated into an organization's existing enterprise risk framework. The key is making it part of the mainstream of risk management within an organization. The most innovative companies today have recognized that cyber security is a customer experience and revenue opportunity, not just a risk that needs to be managed. Mr. Perez will explain why this must done across the entire organization and why the CEO and Board of Directors have the most important role to play.
ABOUT INSTRUCTOR EDGAR PEREZ
Edgar Perez is a great business speaker, a confident communicator and a world class motivator. Global executives have come to appreciate his wide-ranging insights on how they can better position their organizations for success through strong leadership and a comprehensive approach that links business strategy and disruptive technologies including artificial intelligence and deep learning, quantum computing and cyber security. A published author, keynote speaker and business consultant for private equity and hedge funds, he is Council Member at the Gerson Lehrman Group, Guidepoint Global Advisors and Internal Consulting Group.
Mr. Perez is author of The AI Breakthrough, How Artificial Intelligence is Advancing Deep Learning and Revolutionizing Your World (2018), Knightmare on Wall Street, The Rise and Fall of Knight Capital and the Biggest Risk for Financial Markets (2013), and The Speed Traders, An Insider's Look at the New High-Frequency Trading Phenomenon That is Transforming the Investing World, published in English by McGraw-Hill Inc. (2011), published in Mandarin by China Financial Publishing House (2012), and Investasi Super Kilat, published in Bahasa Indonesia by Kompas Gramedia (2012).
Mr. Perez has spoken at a number of global conferences, including Cyber Security World Conference (New York), Inside Market Data (Chicago), Emerging Markets Investments Summit (Warsaw), High-Frequency Trading Leaders Forum (New York, Chicago), MIT Sloan Investment Management Conference (Cambridge), CME Group's Global Financial Leadership Conference (Naples Beach, FL), Harvard Business School's Venture Capital & Private Equity Conference (Boston), Institutional Investor's Global Growth Markets Forum (London), TradeTech Asia (Singapore) and FIXGlobal Face2Face (Seoul). In addition, Mr. Perez has presented to the Council on Foreign Relations, Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University (Kiev), Quant Investment & HFT Summit APAC (Shanghai), U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Washington DC), CFA Singapore, Hong Kong Securities Institute, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University, University of International Business and Economics (Beijing) and Hult International Business School (Shanghai), among other public and private institutions.
Mr. Perez has been interviewed on CNN's Quest Means Business, CNBC's Squawk on the Street, Worldwide Exchange, Cash Flow, Street Signs and Squawk Box, FOX BUSINESS's Countdown to the Closing Bell and After the Bell, Bloomberg TV's Market Makers, CNN en Español's Dinero, Petersburg – Channel 5, Sina Finance, BNN's Business Day, CCTV China, Bankier.pl, TheStreet.com, Leaderonomics, GPW Media, Channel NewsAsia's Business Tonight and Cents & Sensibilities. In addition, Mr. Perez has been featured on Sohu, News.Sina.com, Caijing, ETF88.com, 360doc, AH Radio, CBNweek.com, Finance.Sina.com, The Korea Times, The Korea Herald, The Star, The Malaysian Insider, BMF 89.9, iMoney Hong Kong, Caixin, Futures Daily, Xinhua, CBN Newswire, Chinese Financial News, International Finance News, Finance.QQ.com, Bloomberg Hedge Fund Brief, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Dallas Morning News, Valor Econômico, FIXGlobal Trading, TODAY Online, Oriental Daily News and Business Times.
Mr. Perez has addressed thousands of top executives around the world through keynote speeches and corporate training programs on quantum computing, artificial intelligence, deep learning, cybersecurity and financial trading. He has presented in Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong, Kiev, Kuala Lumpur, Lima, London, Miami, Naples, New York, Santiago, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Taipei and Warsaw, among other global capitals. He contributes to The New York Times and China's Sina Finance.
Mr. Perez was a vice president at Citigroup, a senior consultant at IBM, and a strategy consultant at McKinsey & Co. in New York City. He managed Operations and Technology for Peruval Finance. Mr. Perez has an undergraduate degree in Systems Engineering from Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, Lima, Peru (1994), a Master of Administration from Universidad ESAN, Lima, Peru (1997) and an MBA from Columbia Business School, New York, majoring in Finance and Management (2002). He belongs to the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society. Mr. Perez is an accomplished salsa and hustle dancer and resides in the New York City area with wife Olga, son Edgar Felipe and daughters Svetlana Sofia and Mary Olympia.
MrEdgarPerez.com
Dubai, London, Singapore, New York, Kuala Lumpur, Abu Dhabi, Chicago, Warsaw, Kiev, Stockholm, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei]
Website: http://www.MrEdgarPerez.com