text:
How to Be Mindful at Work Without Meditation
Before we get into how to be mindful without meditation, let's see how mindful you currently are with a little test. The below comes from Matthew E. May, the author of Winning the Brain Game: Fixing the 7 Fatal Flaws of Thinking. May, whose new book will be available at the end of May, recently wrote an enlightening New York Times piece on the subject of mindfulness in advance of Winning the Brain Game's release.
… imagine that the numbers in the incorrect Roman numeral equation below are movable sticks. Leaving the plus and equals signs as they are, what is the least number of sticks you would have to move to correct the equation?
XI + I = X
Most people react immediately with an answer of "one." But that is a mindless answer, based on knowledge acquired long ago. The optimal answer would be "zero," arrived at by looking at the problem from an alternative perspective. By looking at the problem upside down, you could read the equation literally right to left, so that X (10) = I (one) plus IX (nine). Or you might recognize the visual symmetry, and reflect it in a mirror. By noticing different ways to view the problem, you move from mindless to mindful.
I confess: my answer to the above was mindless; I immediately thought "one," as May notes. In any case, what May wants to get across is that mindfulness at work does not mean we have to go to India and learn how to fold our legs into lotus position and enjoin our index fingertips to the tips of our thumbs and chant Om until we empty out our monkey minds of all thoughts. Quite the contrary. Here is how May describes mindfulness (a description which I rather like) and compares it to mediation (which is a practice of, defined simply by May, "quieting the mind and suspending thought"):
Mindfulness is a higher-order attention that involves noticing changes around us and fully experiencing them in real time. This puts us in the present, aware and responsive, making everything fresh and new again.
Meditation is simply one of several tools for achieving mindfulness, and in the context of work it may not be the most suitable for many people. For those who, like me, can't seem to get the hang of meditation, there is good news: You don't have to meditate to become more mindful.
This is indeed good news for those who find it difficult to meditate, or for those who don't like the word or idea of meditation. Because while meditation isn't essential to succeeding at work, being mindful (not being mindless) is.
As for how, specifically, to be mindful without sitting in zazen, that is, how to be in the present, how to look at problems in a new way, here is what May suggests:
The most effective technique I've found for moving from mindless to mindful without meditation involves a form of self-distancing, and talking to yourself as an objective adviser would. It is achievable in a few simple steps.
Suppose you're facing a situation that's causing you stress—perhaps a change at work, a tough problem or an important decision. The first step is to realize that you've already made two unwarranted assumptions: that something will happen, and it will be bad. Next, give yourself three reasons the issue you're worried about might not happen. Notice that it immediately becomes less stressful, because you just went from "it's going to happen" to "maybe it will happen, maybe it won't."
Now give yourself three reasons that, if the situation does turn out bad, good things will happen. Those reasons are easy to find once you ask the question. Now you've gone from thinking "there's this terrible thing that's going to happen" to thinking "there's this thing that may or may not happen, but if it does, it could have both good and bad outcomes."
A concrete example comes to mind. A few years ago, a friend who works at a major women's magazine was asked out to lunch by a very high-ranking editor at the magazine. My friend had been working for the magazine for about six months, had been sort of struggling to keep up with the workload (or so she told me) and had been doing not the best job (or so she said) and so she assumed that this high-ranking editor was asking her to lunch to let her go. That is, to fire her.
My friend called me in a panic to tell me all this. And, after hearing her out, I asked her: "Do you think it's possible that lunch could just be lunch?" That is, I wondered if the editor had no other motive than to get to know my friend, to go out to lunch with her. My friend and I also spoke about the (outside) possibility that the editor was really asking her to lunch to tell her she wasn't doing a great job and/or to fire her. "You'll find another job," I told my friend, "which might not be so bad because you're not loving this one."
In the end, lunch was indeed just lunch, nothing more. But my friend had stressed herself out for nearly all of her waking 72 hours between the time of the invitation and the lunch. (And now, of course, "lunch is lunch" is a running joke between us whenever either of us begins to make unwarranted assumptions about something, causing unnecessary stress.)
The point is, as May notes, most of our stress comes from making assumptions. We think we know, we think we've seen this situation before, we think we know what the outcome will look like. And so we get all worked up, focusing on the past and on the future, while forgetting that the present situation and challenge is unique and we might not have any clue how it will go. In other words, being mindful is making sure we're looking at each situation anew, from a new angle. It doesn't mean having no thoughts, or a clear mind (though that can't hurt). The truth is every problem that faces us, every work (or other) challenge is unique. Similarities exist, sure. But nothing is exactly the same.
What also comes to mind is that, although meditation is not necessary to be mindful, I wouldn't go throwing out the idea altogether just yet. It's still one of the better exercises (I like to think of meditation as an exercise, not unlike running or lifting weights) for getting to a mindful state. And if the word meditation is not to your liking, try one of these: "sitting" (this is basically what you're doing when you "meditate"; you sit quietly and just follow your breathing) or "sensing" (what you're also doing mainly when "meditating" is engaging many of your five senses and this engaging of your senses prevents the imaginary voices in our heads from talking as frequently or loudly as they typically do).
There's also this: just because you're not good at something shouldn't prevent you from doing that something; in fact, it should encourage you to do the opposite and engage in that something (back to the comparison of running and lifting weights, you engage in these exercises not because you're good at them but to improve in them: to run further, to get stronger).
Lastly, what comes to mind is the late Prince Rogers Nelson, the man more commonly known as Prince, who died this past Thursday (and who now, posthumously, has the No. 1 and No. 2 records on the Billboard 200 Album Chart). According to Jimmy Jam, "a longtime associate of Prince and a former chairman of ... the organization that presents the Grammy Awards," Prince (who was nominated for 37 Grammys and won 7) always looked at musical problems and music business-related problems from, to use May's words, an alternative perspective. In other words, mindfully.
"If you ever gave him an answer that had anything to do with 'because that's the way we have always done it,' that was absolutely the wrong answer to give to Prince," Jimmy Jam said. "It was, 'Why can't we do it a different way? Why can't we do it better?'"
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text:
Federal Appeals Court Hears Arguments in Historic Chicago Police Torture Case
Posted on January 25, 2013 by Flint Taylor
On January 22, 2013, a three judge panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in the Chicago police torture case of Darrell Cannon versus the City of Chicago, Jon Burge et al. Cannon, who was tortured into giving a false murder confession in 1983 and served 24 years in prison as a result, had settled his civil rights brutality case in 1988 for the paltry sum of $3000. Over the next 20 years, the massive cover-up of the police torture scandal was dismantled, piece by piece, Cannon's criminal case was dismissed in 2004, and he brought a new suit, alleging that the original settlement was void due to the police defendants' fraud and conspiracy to cover-up. The suit was based on a 1984 Seventh Circuit decision, Bell v. Milwaukee, a police killing case in which the Court voided another unconscionably small settlement after an extensive police cover up was exposed by the partner of the police shooter 20 years after the shooting.
The City of Chicago aggressively contested Cannon's suit, pouring more than $1.8 million into Burge and his confederates' defense. After several years of pretrial discovery, the trial judge, in 2011, granted judgment for Burge, his police co-conspirators, and the City, holding that Cannon had not sufficiently proven fraud to overcome the prior settlement. Cannon appealed, briefs were filed, and the historic argument followed.
Cannon's lawyer, G. Flint Taylor of the People's Law Office, set the stage for the argument with his opening remarks, asserting that, almost 30 years after deciding Bell, the Court was again presented with an "extraordinary" police violence case where the victim had been deprived of a "meaningful" and "effective" day in court by a "massive," "racially motivated" police conspiracy to fraudulently cover-up. He then proceeded to lay out the compelling proof that supported Cannon's claims of conspiracy and cover-up and explained how his case was therefore clearly controlled by the Bell decision. The Court appeared receptive, but, led by Judge Ilana Rovner, its tenor quickly changed as soon as the City's lawyer began to argue in opposition:
Judge Rovner: Before you introduce yourself, it seems to me that the City has misread Bell. In both Bell and this case, the determinative fact is not what the Plaintiff knew but what he could not prove because of the cover-up. In each case the extensive cover-ups prevented them from proving it.
After the City's lawyer offered a response, Judge Rovner continued her pointed inquiry:
Look, if a defendant destroys evidence of wrongdoing and the Plaintiff knows it, does that mean that the more you lie, you cheat, you commit fraud in litigation, the greater your reward for forcing a small settlement?
Judge Rovner then rebutted the City lawyer's assertion that the police defendants simply denied that they tortured Cannon, stating with an interspersed sigh that "they didn't just deny, they lied, they cheated, they committed fraud, they committed cover-ups and they did it together, they did it as a group."
Calling the City's argument of "no fraud" as "unavailing, to be kind," Judge Rovner summarized the facts in the record:
They take a man with a prior murder conviction, then they lie, then they torture him into making a statement that leads to a second murder conviction, then they lie about it, then they destroy evidence, then they engage in this incredibly lengthy cover-up with other city officials. . . On what planet does he have meaningful redress in the courts under those circumstances? I mean, of course he was forced to settle unfavorably because the officers and perhaps the City have made it virtually impossible for him to prove his case. You would have us force a settlement procured by defendants that rigged the deck [so] that no Plaintiff could have proven a legitimate claim?
Judge Rovner then dismantled the City's argument that Cannon was required to ask the defendants during his initial case if they had tortured other suspects:
That astonishes me, that argument [that] he was supposed to ask in discovery "by the way, have these officers tortured anyone else? Is the City helping these officers cover-up other criminal acts?" Was he obliged to ask if they were committing other criminal acts? How do you suppose they would have answered – — "yes, yes we're criminals?"
Answer (by Counsel for the City): I don't know . . .
Judge Rovner: Of course you know.
Judge Sarah Barker then suggested that it was not a "question of impossibility" but rather of "complete" "futility" because "police corruption" "basically . . . deprived [Cannon] of access to the courts." Judge Rovner, then returned to the City's argument that Cannon should have further questioned the police conspirators:
So why is Burge in prison now, bottom line, why do you think he is in prison now? What was it that put him in prison?
Answer (by Counsel for the City): He was convicted of committing perjury for denying acts of torture, yes.
Judge Rovner: Exactly.
Judge Rovner then addressed the question of the settlement's unconscionability:
Look, at the time he settled, there was no way for him to begin to prove his case for torture, much less prove the cover-up. He was in prison for murder, based on the confession he . . . has alleged from the beginning was the result of torture, his bargaining position was absolutely non- existent under the circumstances.
Judge Rovner then returned to the symmetry between Cannon's case and Bell decision:
Under Bell [Cannon], it seems to me, has shown exactly what he needs to show and any other result would mean that defendants could engage in a decade long cover-up with impunity. [Cannon] might "know" . . . that the police are lying but that is a great distance from being able to prove that that's the case. . . I'm one of three, but it seems to me that if the defendants successfully suppress the truth in an effort to force an unfavorable settlement, they should not be rewarded for the success of their scheme when the truth eventually comes out. . . [N]o matter what the Plaintiffs knew in each of the cases, there were extensive criminal cover-ups that made it virtually impossible for them to prove their cases. . . . I think it's a miracle that it was ever proved, a miracle.
Perhaps reflecting on the multi-million dollar settlements that a number of Burge victims have recently obtained from the City, Judge Barker returned to the paltry settlement given to Cannon in 1988:
Don't you think, given all the things you know now and all the corruption that came to light . . . don't you think it's a thin reed on which you're attempting to hang resolution to say, given all of that, $3000 is a fair settlement – — don't you think that's sort of a thin reed?
After the City's lawyer attempted to minimize the value of Cannon's case, Judge Barker capped the City lawyer's 20 minute ordeal with this wry commentary:
Judge Barker: So you think there's a chance he might settle for $3000 again?
Counsel for the City: (Stammering a response)
Judge Barker: Rhetorical. Rhetorical.
The Court took the case under advisement and is expected to issue a written decision within the next few months.
Taylor is one of Darrell Cannon's lawyers and argued the case on his behalf in the Seventh Circuit. He is a founding partner of the People's Law Office, which is a Chicago civil rights law firm, whose attorneys have been fighting for victims of police torture, brutality, wrongful convictions, false arrest and other government abuses for over 40 years. For more information on police torture and other topics, visit peopleslawoffice.com.
This entry was posted in featured-news, news by Flint Taylor. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Q: Set input value with Javascript on outside click i want to set a max value to a number input. I used the "max" HTML attribute but the user can write a number over the max value anyway. Is there any way to reset the value of that input to the maximum value I set it, after the user sets it beyond the maximum value? Maybe when the user clicks outside that input?
Here is my code
<input type="number" name="days" id="days" min="1" max="365" value="<?php echo $ipq[0]['valueParam']?>">

A: You might want to consider using a range control along with the value of the range being shown in a span element next to it. This way only the value range you specify is allowed (which is really what the range control is for).

const output = document.getElementById("output");
document.getElementById("days").addEventListener("input", function(){
  output.textContent = this.value;
});
<input type="range" name="days" id="days" min="1" max="365" value="1">1

A: The max attribute is validated on form submit. AS you can see in the snippet below the user will get a message when he tries to submit the form.

<form>
<input type="number" name="days" id="days" min="1" max="365" value="366">
<input type='submit'>
</form>

If you want to prevent the user for inputting a value over 365 you can use js to do that. The snippet below shows how to prevent values over 365 for all number inputs.

document.querySelectorAll('input[type="number"]').forEach((el) => el.addEventListener('input', (e) => {
  let inputEl = e.currentTarget;
  if(parseFloat(inputEl.value) > parseFloat(inputEl.max)) {
    inputEl.value = inputEl.max;
  }
}));
<form>
<input type="number" name="days" id="days" min="1" max="365" value="366">
<input type='submit'>
</form>

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Edinburgh rock band DMS and Argyll Cèilidh Trail have won a slot at Argyll's biggest outdoor live music concert Oban Live.
The View Oban kicks off the season with a packed calendar of events starting on Easter weekend with a Mamma Mia sing-along for the entire family.
Early bird tickets for Oban Live 2019, Argyll's biggest outdoor music concert, are to go on sale on Saturday November 10, the event team has announced today.


text:
Q: How do I cherry pick packages from a PPA? Is there a way to cherry pick packages from a ppa repository you add? That is, to exclude some from updating while including others?
For example, I want just the chromium-browser package from this repository but not the others. So I don't want my sudo apt-get upgrade to have that ppa's other (besides chromium-browser) packages install over my existing ones, just that one.
I realize this is a license to shoot myself in the foot if I misread dependencies and exclude ones that are needed to ones that I included, but I know for a fact in this case that the other packages are not dependencies for that one.
Is this at all possible? Maybe there is some whitelist/blacklist file or something?

A: Found one way to do it.
The trick is using two pinning clauses. The first to disallow ALL packages from the PPA and the second to select the ones you want.
So for the example above, I first add the ppa as usual:
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:webapps/preview
...
$ sudo apt-get update
...

Now if i run apt-cache policy, it will show me that there's a newer version of chromium-browser available and that it will install with an upgrade because it's in the same priority (500) as my current chromium-browser.
$ sudo apt-cache policy chromium-browser
chromium-browser:
  Installed: 18.0.1025.168~r134367-0ubuntu0.12.04.1
  Candidate: 20.0.1132.47~r144678-0precise1+webapps3
  Version table:
     20.0.1132.47~r144678-0precise1+webapps3 0
        500 http://ppa.launchpad.net/webapps/preview/ubuntu/ precise/main amd64 Packages
 *** 18.0.1025.168~r134367-0ubuntu0.12.04.1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates/universe amd64 Packages
        500 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security/universe amd64 Packages
        500 http://ppa.launchpad.net/chromium-daily/beta/ubuntu/ precise/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     18.0.1025.151~r130497-0ubuntu1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/universe amd64 Packages
E: Unable to parse package file /etc/apt/preferences.d/webapps-preview-pin-400 (1)
$

That's great as far as that package but I don't want the others in this ppa (which also have a 500 priority) to install. Right now if I try to upgrade, I'll get more than just the chromium packages I want from that repository:
$ sudo apt-get upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages have been kept back:
  bamfdaemon gwibber gwibber-service gwibber-service-facebook gwibber-service-twitter indicator-appmenu libbamf0 libbamf3-0 shotwell
The following packages will be upgraded:
  chromium-browser chromium-browser-l10n chromium-codecs-ffmpeg gwibber-service-identica indicator-messages indicator-status-provider-mc5
  indicator-status-provider-pidgin libindicator-messages-status-provider1
8 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 9 not upgraded.
Need to get 25.3 MB of archives.
After this operation, 5,034 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]?

So what I can do is tell  apt that I want all the packages in that ppa, webapps-preview in this case, to have a lower priority except the ones with "chromium" in their name. The mechanism for this is pinning a package
I create a file in /etc/apt/preferences.d/ with two clauses. The first one says give all the packages in the webapps-preview ppa a lower priority than the regular one (so that they are not preferred even if they have a higher version number. The second clause partly overrides the first by saying give the packages in that ppa  with "chromium" in their name the same priority as other packages so that it will get installed (by it having a higher version number).
$ cat /etc/apt/preferences.d/webapps-preview-pin-400
Package:  *
Pin: release o=LP-PPA-webapps-preview
Pin-Priority: 400

Package:  *chromium*
Pin: release o=LP-PPA-webapps-preview
Pin-Priority: 500

To identify the correct string for "Pin: release" option we can use apt-cache policy again.
$ apt-cache policy
...
500 http://ppa.launchpad.net/webapps/preview/ubuntu/ precise/main i386 Packages
    release v=12.04,o=LP-PPA-webapps-preview,a=precise,n=precise,l=preview,c=main
    origin ppa.launchpad.net
...

For apt versions < 0.8.14 pinned packages have to be specified explicitly as wildcards do not work:
$ cat /etc/apt/preferences.d/webapps-preview-pin-400
Package:  *
Pin: release o=LP-PPA-webapps-preview
Pin-Priority: 400

Package:  chromium-browser chromium-codecs-ffmpeg chromium-browser-l10n chromium-codecs-ffmpeg-extra
Pin: release o=LP-PPA-webapps-preview
Pin-Priority: 500

And now, when i try to upgrade I get only the packages I want from that ppa and not the other ones.  All nicely cherry picked for me:
$ sudo apt-get upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
The following packages will be upgraded:
  chromium-browser chromium-browser-l10n chromium-codecs-ffmpeg
3 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 25.1 MB of archives.
After this operation, 5,026 kB of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]?

A: You can actually "cherry pick" certain packages via Synaptic and it's very easy. It works like this:

*

*If you want to do that for certain PPAs only, chose "Origin" (lower left corner) in the Synaptic-window and then choose the PPA you want to change

*choose all the packages you don't want to upgrade automatically any more.

*choose menu "Package/Lock Version". All the packages you chose won't be upgraded automatically anymore until you unlock them again.

A: You can also select the release you want to install from with the ?origin selector:

Matches package versions whose origin matches the regular expression origin. For instance, "!?origin(debian)" will find any unofficial packages on your system (packages not from the Debian archive).

So, in your specific case you can use:
sudo aptitude install !?origin(LP-PPA-webapps-preview) chromium

Or you can specify the version using <packagename>=<version>:
sudo apt-get install chromium=20.0.1132.47~r144678-0precise1+webapps3


text:
DAIMLERCHRYSLER POETRY FINALISTS (article first published : 2004-09-8)
The finalists have been announced for the prestigious DaimlerChrysler Award for South African Poetry 2005, an annual initiative developed to raise awareness of the world-class standard of South African artists both locally and internationally.
This year's honoured wordsmiths are Gabeba Baderoon, Bernat Kruger, Maakomele 'Mac' Manaka, Daniel Marais, Napo Masheane, Lebogang Mashile, Vonani Bila and Ilse van Staden – all of whom have track records of published work that challenge the boundaries of society. There are no finalists from KwaZulu-Natal.
The overall winner of the award will be selected in November once each poet has had a 'live-performance' opportunity to present his or her work before the public and adjudication panel made up of renowned poets and critics from within the industry.
As one of the richest arts awards in South Africa, the winner of the DaimlerChrysler Award will receive a cash prize of R30,000, a published journal of works and the opportunity to showcase their work overseas and locally during 2005. Sponsoring a different discipline of the Arts every year, the DaimlerChrysler Arts Award has over the past five years recognised artists within the fields of contemporary art, jazz, sculpture, choreography and creative photography.


Selling a second home can increase your tax bill.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act bill changed the rules on property tax and mortgage interest deductions, but it did not change the treatment of capital gains on a second home. The tax implications of selling a second home never included a capital gains tax exclusion, as this perk has only been available for primary homes. The TCJA did not change the amounts for a capital gains tax exclusion on a primary home, which remains $250,000 for a single owner and $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly. Eligibility requires owning and using the property as the primary home for at least two out of the five years before the sale date.
If you sell your second home, you'll likely pay a capital gains tax of 15 percent as long as you owned the second home for more than one year. That makes it a long-term capital gain. Some people may pay less in capital gains tax or even no capital gains tax at all if they are in the 10 to 15 percent tax bracket, while those in the 39.6 percent tax bracket may pay 20 percent in capital gains taxes. The 39.6 percent tax bracket begins at $418,400 for single people in 2018 and $470,700 for married couples.
If you owned the second home for less than one year, any gains are taxed as ordinary income and depend on your tax bracket. The IRS considers a second home a personal capital asset, so the tax on the sale of the home is the same as if you sold stock or mutual funds. Report the sale of a capital asset on Schedule D of your income tax form.
While you may have capital gains on your second home, you may also experience a capital loss, especially if you did not own the property for a long time. While the IRS considers a second home a personal capital asset, it doesn't extend the loss provision to a second home the way that it does for stocks and other assets. The IRS considers the second home a personal use property when it comes to losses. Just as you can't claim a loss if you sell your car for less than you paid for it, you can't claim a loss if you sell your second home for less than you paid for it. That particular tax implication also extends to primary homes.


Colorblocking might be the new law of the fashion land, but sometimes, the effect can be a little less glamorous than intended. Roksanda Ilincic's pre-fall collection was chock-a-block with great colorblocked pieces, including quirky-cool dresses and separates in color-drenched primary tones.
However, one dress gave us pause… was that the Hot Dog On A Stick uniform? The white, red, yellow, and navy stripes, the boxy shape, the less-than-enthused grin… the only thing she's missing is the '60s-style puff hat and funnel-cake sticks. Stick to this video, folks.


Alphas: "The Quick and the Dead"
It's refreshing to see Alphas roll back into a character-driven show this week. Stanton Parish and his band of super villains are still driving the serial arc, but the team dynamics take center stage. Even the "Alpha of the week" receives limited attention compared to the group relationships. This week's threat is Eli (C. Thomas Howell), an Alpha who can move with lightning speed. He's like the Flash, but with more personal issues. The major subplot is Nina's progression from a valued team member towards a possible foe. Her ability to "push" anyone towards her will could be a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands. Is all the angst an act to convince them she's a legitimate ally? While reverting from that progression might offer good short-term drama, it could ultimately be disappointing for the show on the whole. For more details, check out my review of "The Quick and the Dead" for Sound on Sight.


In 2008 Congress passed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) which included amendments under Regulation Z, which implements the Truth-in-Lending Act. The recent revisions implement the Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act (MDIA) which becomes effective for all closed-end consumer mortgage loan applications taken on or after July 30, 2009.
The Automatic Extension of Closing to Accommodate Regulation Z Form includes the following agreement. "The parties agree that in the event the Annual Percentage Rate of Buyer's loan(s) pursuant to Form 22A differs from the APR previously disclosed to Buyer in the Good Faith Estimate by .125% or more in the case of a fixed rate loan .250% in an adjustable rate loan, the Closing Date shall be extended for up to four days as necessary to accommodate the requirements of Regulation Z of the Truth and Lending Act.


Willa knew the tire hadn't gone flat by accident. She would bet her pension that the spare had been punctured on purpose too.
Swearing, she opened the trunk's lid and tossed in the bag of peanut butter, tampons and laundry detergent, wondering what other things her stepdaughter had left a mark upon.
She slammed the trunk closed. For a moment she stood with both hands on the back of the VW and tried, for the ninety-millionth time, to understand why things with Alicia had turned so ugly. The truth was Willa understood. She'd accepted it was as it was. Nothing would change Alicia's single-mindedness. After a time, it no longer seemed to matter. It made no sense to care. Frankly, she was used to it now. A person could get used to all kinds of things.
But there were times she wished her stepdaughter's ire and misguided sense of vengeance didn't have to include the car.
Willa shook off the snow in her hair. There was a positive thing that came with living in Los Alamos again. Alicia and her hostility would be safely contained to the campus of the University of New Mexico, two hours away in Albuquerque.
The impatient SUV driver honked again. Willa held up a hand. "I'm going, I'm going. Just give me one second." She turned away from the trunk and the SUV was gone. In its place was a Subaru. The bearded, boyish smirk peering out the rolled-down window was handsome and full of mischief, like Bruce Willis in his Moonlighting days.
"So this is where you had to rush off to. Of all the supermarkets in Los Alamos, is this a coincidence or what?" he said.
A thrill bounced around Willa's brain. Then it shot lower. A lot lower.
There was that one instance three months after Miles had died, but that night with the Interpol guy hadn't been about desire for either one of them, and since that occasion guys had registered a big fat zero on her lust-o-meter. Being human and alive, she had urges that she took care of herself, but the men she'd met, the dates she'd gone on, nothing had ever happened, nothing had registered.
This guy was one big gasping breath of fresh, lusty air.
"Are you trying to turn this into an I'll-show-you-mine-if-you-show-me-yours thing?" She put her hands on her hips.
"Now do I look like the kind of idiot who'd do that?" His chin settled on the back of the hand he had resting on the window ledge.
The rush of heat nearly made her knees buckle and Willa actually considered the idea of a cheap motel. An hour, yes, an hour with those electric hands and that warm body on top of me, pushing me up against the wall, pushing inside me instead of a ghost or a faded memory or my own hands.
Then she remembered why she'd said yes to Oscar about the job.
Cold dread edged out the warmth that had begun to spread though her body. The fantasy of a dirty sixty minutes of carnal pleasure dissolved like the snowflakes falling on her coat.
John watched her climb into her car. "Yeah. An hour wouldn't have been enough for me either," he muttered to himself as she shut the door.
« Taboos, Radio, Pimpin' and PhDs.


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Texas officials plan to execute a Mexican national convicted of killing a Houston police officer, despite pleas from Washington—and threats from Mexico—urging them to stop.
The focus of the legal and diplomatic controversy is Edgar Tamayo Arias, 46, who shot and killed 24-year-old officer Guy Gaddis on January 31, 1994, while being escorted to jail following a robbery.
Tamayo was in the U.S. illegally, but still had the right to contact the Mexican Consulate after being arrested. But Texas never informed him of this right, which put the U.S. in violation of an international agreement: the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
In a letter to Texas Governor Rick Perry and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, Secretary of State John Kerry warned that Tamayo's execution would impact the United States' international legal standing and potentially leave Americans abroad vulnerable to overseas punishment by foreign governments.
Tamayo's lawyers also weighed in, asking Perry to grant a 30-day reprieve and petition the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to commute his death sentence to life in prison.
To date, Texas still plans to go through with the execution, which is scheduled to occur on January 22.
In 2004, the World Court ordered the United States to review the convictions of Tamayo and 50 other Mexican nationals on death row, whose Vienna Convention rights, it said, had been violated. A lawyer representing Tamayo claims that the U.S. has never complied with that order in the case of his client.


The Seventh Circuit threw out the lower court's decision in the Rhone case, ruling that the FDCPA does not require multiple debts owed to the same creditor to be aggregated when reported to a consumer reporting agency.
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals handed the accounts receivable management industry a significant win Feb. 7 when it ruled unanimously that ACA International member Medical Business Bureau, LLC did not misrepresent the "character" of the consumer's debt when it reported to consumer reporting agencies that a consumer owed a single medical provider nine unpaid bills of $60 each rather than a single aggregate debt of $540. Holding that the statutory reference to the "amount" of a debt is the attribute of a debt that governs reporting a debt's size, the appellate court concluded that Medical Business Bureau was not liable under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for how it treated the consumer's indebtedness for credit-reporting purposes because the credit report was factually correct.
ACA supported its member's initiative to obtain this important, precedent-setting FDCPA decision positively impacting ACA's members and the accounts receivable management industry by providing Industry Advancement Funds to help defray the cost of litigation. ACA also filed an amicus (friend of the court) brief with the Seventh Circuit April 27, 2018, urging it to reverse the district court's erroneous decision.
In the case Rhone v. Medical Business Bureau, LLC, No. 17-3408, 2019 WL ------- (7th Cir. Feb. 7, 2019), the consumer asserted FDCPA class claims against the collection agency related to medical debt credit reporting. The consumer alleged she received medical services from a medical provider between October 2012 and December 2013. She visited the medical provider no less than nine times during this period. Insurance covered some but not all of the charges therefore leaving an outstanding balance. According to the consumer, these charges resulted in a "single debt, owed to a single medical provider, under a single account number." The FDCPA violation allegedly occurred when the collection agency reported the consumer's debt as nine separate accounts. The consumer alleged that by breaking down the single debt into nine separate debts it caused a drop in their credit score. [The consumer never produced any evidence as to her credit score before or after the collection agency reported her debts.] The consumer alleged that this inaccurate duplicative credit reporting constituted false, deceptive, or misleading representation in violation of the FDCPA.
It is undisputed that MBB notified Rhone of the amount owed for the nine therapy sessions in a single letter long before MBB reported to Equifax. If Rhone truly owed nine debts, it would not have been improper [for] MBB to send a letter for each debt. In fact combining information concerning nine separate and distinct debts in one collection letter could result in consumer confusion and run afoul of the FDCPA. Yet, MBB's representative indicated at his deposition that he did not send nine letters because MBB would be sued "for harassment for doing something like that." MBB would not have violated the FDCPA by consolidating the therapy session charges into one debt. Rhone correctly points out that MBB would not have filed nine separate legal actions to collect the Debt. MBB would have filed a single action for a single debt.
On appeal, the Seventh Circuit reversed the district court's decision that the collection agency was required to "report the aggregate debt of $540 rather than nine $60 debts." In doing so, the appellate court held that "arithmetic does not affect a debt's 'character.' The statutory word 'amount' rather than the word 'character' is what governs reporting the debt's size." The appellate court explained that while the statutory word "character" references "the kind of obligation" such as "a secured auto loan, . . . an unsecured credit-card debt . . . a judgment debt, . . . [or] a subordinated debenture," the "character" of a debt does not concern "the number of transactions" between a consumer and a creditor. Therefore, the appellate court reasoned that the collection agency did not misstate the "character" of the consumer's debt when it accurately reported the "amount" of the consumer's debt as $60 for each of nine medical treatments.
ACA is pleased it was able to help stop the consumer's effort to create unfavorable precedent for the accounts receivable management industry by aiding its member agency as it fought an uphill battle against yet another aggressive consumer attorney. And as a result of the effort, the Seventh Circuit's decision in Rhone created exactly what the appellate court said it needed – "a rule of law" for "a court (or for that matter a debt collector)" . . . to apply. As such, ACA appreciates the Seventh Circuit's thoughtful review of the arguments, and its ruling in favor of sound legal principles that support legitimate, law-abiding collection agencies, providing them with compliance clarity on this issue. Finally, ACA is likewise delighted that the Rhone decision raises the industry-favorable decisions (wins) ACA has helped to achieve for its members through the Industry Advancement Program to 46 in five years.
ACA International's efforts to proactively support the credit and collection industry are part of the association's Industry Advancement Program and are made possible by funding through ACA's Industry Advancement Fund.
If you missed any of the articles previously published in ACA Daily that provided more detailed information about Industry Advancement Program supported cases, like the Rhone case, you can always see the archived articles on the Industry Advancement Program website. Watch for updates when decisions are issued in these cases and learn more about new cases supported by the Industry Advancement Program in the future by reading ACA Daily and logging onto the Industry Advancement Program website throughout the year.


Our Shores beaded bracelets were inspired by the elements found on the beaches of the west coast, a place we've called home all of our lives. The speckled jasper beads represent the subtle colors found in the sand, while the hints of red, turquoise and brass are a reflection of the many different treasures found among the sand, rocks and cliffs that border the Pacific Ocean. Each bracelet features a unique leather accent and are made to stretch for an easy and comfortable fit. These unisex bead bracelets are the perfect accent piece for formal or casual occasions and can be "stacked" with others of different colors for a custom look.
An ancient gem stone, jasper is known for grounding and stability.


text:
436th Maintenance Squadron mission continues despite COVID-19
Airman 1st Class Robert Moody, 436th Maintenance Squadron C-5 regional isochronal apprentice, uses a stand-up drill to place stands close to the side of a C-5 Super Galaxy engine at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, April 9, 2020. The stands are guided close to the Super Galaxy to allow maintenance personnel to work on the aircraft at all levels. Despite the threat of COVID-19, Dover AFB Airmen continue to support heavy airlift operations while observing safety precautions such as wearing cloth masks, social distancing, and washing or sanitizing hands frequently. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail)
A C-5C Space Cargo Modified Galaxy from Travis Air Force Base, California, is parked on the flight line at Dover AFB, Delaware, April 8, 2020. The C-5C SCM has the troop compartment removed and a modification to the rear loading doors. It is specially modified to carry satellites and other large cargo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail)
A C-5M Super Galaxy undergoes a major isochronal inspection by 436th Maintenance Squadron aircraft maintenance personnel at the Isochronal Inspection Dock on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, April 9, 2020. Personnel wore cloth masks and practiced social distancing as much as possible while performing maintenance on the Super Galaxy to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail)
Five 436th Maintenance Squadron aircraft maintenance personnel pose for a group photo in the Isochronal Inspection Dock on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, April 10, 2020. Dover AFB maintenance personnel continue to support operations despite significantly reduced manning and increased health protection measures such as wearing cloth masks, social distancing, and wash or sanitizing hands frequently to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail)
Airman 1st Class Robert Moody, 436th Maintenance Squadron C-5 regional isochronal apprentice, uses a stand-up drill to place stands close to the side of a C-5 Super Galaxy engine at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, April 9, 2020. Moody wears a cloth mask in accordance with Department of Defense instruction to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail)
Airman 1st Class Robert Moody (left), 436th Maintenance Squadron C-5 regional isochronal apprentice, uses a stand-up drill while Senior Airman Nicholas Gardiner (right), C-5 regional isochronal journeyman, directs him April 9, 2020, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Despite the threat of COVID-19, Dover AFB Airmen continue to support heavy airlift operations while observing safety precautions such as wearing cloth masks, social distancing, and washing or sanitizing hands frequently. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail)
Airman 1st Class Robert Moody, 436th Maintenance Squadron C-5 regional isochronal apprentice, places a guardrail on the side of stands at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, April 9, 2020. Guardrails are placed around all the stands as a safety measure to protect Airmen. Despite the threat of COVID-19, Dover AFB Airmen continue to support heavy airlift operations while observing safety precautions such as wearing cloth masks, social distancing, and washing or sanitizing hands frequently. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail)
436th Maintenance Squadron aircraft maintenance personnel place guardrails along the edges of the stands in the Isochronal Inspection Dock on Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, April 9, 2020. Maintenance personnel wear cloth masks and try to maintain social distance from one another to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 while performing their duties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail)
Senior Airman Raynard Ruiz-Sepulveda, 436th Maintenance Squadron C-5 regional isochronal journeyman, operates auxiliary power units April 8, 2020, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Ruiz-Sepulveda monitors APUs and fuel gauges to ensure the C-5 is running properly while being worked on by maintenance and electrical personnel. Despite the threat of COVID-19, Dover AFB Airmen continue to support heavy airlift operations while observing safety precautions such as wearing cloth masks, social distancing, and washing or sanitizing hands frequently. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Quail)
190924-F-LU725-0025
Mannequins lie in position prior to the aeromedical evacuation demonstration for media day at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Sept. 24, 2019, in support of exercise Mobility Guardian 2019. Exercise Mobility Guardian is Air Mobility Command's premier large-scale mobility exercise. Through robust and relevant training, Mobility Guardian improves the readiness and capabilities of Mobility Airmen to deliver rapid global mobility and builds a more lethal and ready Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Esteban Esquivel).
Capt. Robert Day, 3rd Airlift Squadron pilot, maneuvers a C-17 Globemaster III at low altitudes, Oct. 16, 2019, at Laguna Army Airfield in Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. Pilots from the 3AS, Dover Air Force Base, Del., and 21st Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., conducted low-altitude training during Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-20. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech Sgt. Esteban Esquivel)
Capt. Christopher Stewart, 3rd Airlift Squadron pilot, maneuvers a C-17 Globemaster III at low altitudes, Oct. 16, 2019, at Laguna Army Airfield in Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. Pilots from the 3AS, Dover Air Force Base, Del., and 21st Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., conducted low-altitude training during Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-20. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech Sgt. Esteban Esquivel)
A C-17 Globemaster III from the 21st Airlift Squadron, descends to begin low-altitude training Oct. 16, 2019, at Laguna Army Airfield in Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. Pilots from the 3AS, Dover Air Force Base, Del., and 21st Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., conducted low-altitude training during Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-20. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech Sgt. Esteban Esquivel)
Capt. Kyle Evans, 3rd Airlift Squadron pilot, reviews his flight instruments during a training flight aboard a C-17 Globemaster III Oct. 16, 2019, at Laguna Army Airfield in Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. Pilots from the 3AS, Dover Air Force Base, Del., and 21st Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., conducted low altitude training during Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-20. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech Sgt. Esteban Esquivel)
Pilots from the 3rd Airlift Squadron, Dover Air Force Base, Del., and pilots from the 21st Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., discuss preflight coordination prior to flying Oct. 16, 2019, at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. Pilots from the 3AS, and 21AS, conducted low altitude training during Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-20. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One, which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech Sgt. Esteban Esquivel)
Airmen from the 3rd Airlift Squadron pose for a photo with other exercise participants Sept. 24, 2019, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., during Mobility Guardian 2019. Exercise Mobility Guardian is Air Mobility Command's premier, large-scale mobility exercise. Through robust and relevant training, Mobility Guardian improves the readiness and capabilities of Mobility Airmen to deliver rapid global mobility and builds a more lethal and ready Air Force.(U.S. Air Force video by Tech. Sgt. Esteban Esquivel).


Here at Access Realty we are happy to accommodate large groups and have the beautiful Topsail Island accommodations to do it. Your wedding party will feel right at home and be right nearby when you need them. We have several duplex properties in which we manage both sides and single family homes that are side-by-side and can accommodate up to 45 guests. We also have a number of condos, townhomes, and private homes within the same communities. We can help you explore your options and get everyone settled in and ready for your Topsail Island wedding.
Take at look at our Large Group Topsail Vacation Rentals to get started or select one of our "Wedding Friendly" vacation rental homes below.
Please note that many of our Wedding Friendly homes require an Event Fee or may have an on-site rental facility located within the complex. Please read the bottom of the description on the property page for more information or contact one of our reservationists to learn more.
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text:
Sachin Tendulkar Makes Big Predictions For World Cup 2021
Will experienced the horrific knee injury as he ready to dance the jive with Janette, plus in video footage gotten by The Sun, the ping pong winner is visible screaming in agony after dropping towards the floor. Two women and a person are noticed walking through main London wearing black face masks. They today face a Wazzu squad this is certainly looking to show enhancement in Year 2 under coach Nick Rolovich. Janette included that it was 'devastating' for the pair whenever Will was forced to bow from the show as he was in fact working so difficult. Will arrived regarding the show to make a statement, that everything can be done. Then arrived another break through the game, before Pardew changed tack at the end of 2019 and chose to reduce his teeth from the glare of this news spotlight in The united kingdomt. Alas, it was a difficult spell for Pardew as he took cost of simply eight league games before the coronavirus pandemic brought the summer season to a crashing halt.
February saw one midweek education session taken over by the club's ultras, so distraught with regards to manager's tactics that they smashed into the facilities, hijacked their whiteboard and provided Pardew an idea of whatever they wished to see. Overall, the Dodgers tend to be one of the greatest franchises in most of expert sports. Maldon & Tiptree stunned many to attain the FA Cup second round in 2010, upsetting League Two's Leyton Orient in round one before their particular run ended up being halted by a home beat against Newport County in November. No. 8 Davis County (15-18), 1:30 p.m. Denver Broncos at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. Buffalo Bills at brand new York Jets, 1 p.m. Embarrassing images emerged of him standing beside his players as if he also was a member associated with the squad listening to his employers. This is actually the cost that is purchased becoming a member for the elite.
I've liked being area of the show, and was therefore grateful when it comes to remarkable assistance we have received. With such small pitching found in an elimination online game, Maryland is initiated along with it could have wished to try out East Carolina really tonight. A specialist microbiologist warned the dangerous coronavirus outbreak could peak at Easter and continue for six months — with millions set is contaminated. Groups in the seventh, eight and ninth tiers of English baseball had been kept in total surprise following the Football Association declared their particular seasons null and void due to the coronavirus outbreak. Microbiologist Peter Piot — called the 'Mick Jagger of microbiology' — said the coronavirus hazard will not be overhyped. Microbiologist Peter Piot — called the 'Mick Jagger of microbiology' — said the coronavirus hazard is not overhyped and that you can find most likely currently a couple of thousand individuals within the UNITED KINGDOM infected, as cases appear to about double every week.
We'd simply had the oppertunity to accomplish this amazing modern program the week before, it absolutely was their greatest rating, it was remarkable. He launched this week he wouldn't make the £100,000 bonus he had been promised for keeping Den Haag in the unit, because of the conditions in which he makes all of them. The table tennis player, 31, had been forced to bow out of the BBC series after he experienced a knee damage during rehearsals for Halloween week. Will learnt to relax and play ping pong when his grandmother purchased him a table following his cancer tumors analysis. Before you decide to can choose the most useful playing tennis racket for the amount of play, it is essential to comprehend two elements of racket construction: mind dimensions and body weight. «i did so learn coming from juniors into professional that it is clearly lots faster,» he told 41NBC. «The people remain equivalent.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Col legno (do italiano "batida na madeira") ou battuto col legno , é um efeito sonoro realizado em instrumentos de arco e cordas como a viola e o violino onde o músico golpeia a corda com a vara do arco, ao invés de deslizar o fio do arco sobre as cordas.

Variedades
Duas variedades fundamentais de col legno co-existiram no século XX: Tratto (retirada), durante o qual o arco é retirao através da corda, e Battuto (batida), normalmente indicado por uma cunha acima da nota, o arco é batido sobre a corda e depende do ponto de contato entre a corda e o arco.

Palavras, frases e expressões em italiano

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Subvrt Mag
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health, Lifestyle
Depersonalisation: Understanding Why You're Numb, and What Can Be Done
"How do you feel?" "I don't know." "What does that mean?" "I don't know." "Does that mean you don't love me anymore?" "I don't know how to answer that. I just don't know." Sound familiar? If so, then you may have found yourself as a subject of depersonalisation disorder. Depersonalisation disorder, or DPD, is one […]
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Honeymoon Syndrome Explores the Regressiveness of 'Straight Culture'
The Way Social Media Makes Me Feel
INTER-terrestrial Combines Emerging Geniuses With Underground Culture
Womunsual: Removing Gendered Association with Clothing
Bushwick Nights Painting the Town Pink with Queer Artist ShocKAYaw
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2 Post By ALIPAC
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Thread: ALIPAC Renews Endorsement for Jeff Sessions of Alabama
Gheen, Minnesota, United States
ALIPAC Renews Endorsement for Jeff Sessions of Alabama
For National Release | March 11, 2020
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Americans for Legal Immigration PAC is renewing the organization's endorsement for Jeff Sessions for US Senate in Alabama now that Sessions is in a primary run-off because Sessions has been a top voice against illegal immigration and Amnesty in America for more than 15 years!
ALIPAC endorsed Sessions for more than a decade before he left his Senate seat to join the Trump administration as Attorney General. Sessions endorsed candidate Trump at a time when Trump needed credibility on immigration issues and maintains his support for President Trump today.
For many years, Jeff Sessions has been one of the strongest voices in America against illegal immigration and Amnesty legislation for illegals in DC.
"Jeff Session led the charge in DC again and again to stop terrible open-borders Amnesty bills supported by both Democrats and many RINO Republicans," explained William Gheen, President of ALIPAC. "Without Jeff Sessions, Amnesty for millions of illegals would have passed and we would have a Democrat in the White House today backed by Democrats in control of both chambers due to the millions of new voters they would have gained from illegal aliens turned into US citizens. That is why we are renewing our support for Jeff Sessions today."
Jeff Sessions led the charge against Amnesty bills back in 2006 and 2007 when so many angry Americans were calling senators that the Capitol phone system collapsed. He again led the charge against illegal immigration and Amnesty under the Obama administration and, while many Republican lawmakers kept silent or aligned themselves with the open-borders Soros groups, banks, and Chambers of Commerce on immigration issues, Sessions remained loyal to his American constituents in Alabama.
ALIPAC had previously endorsed the US Senate campaigns of Rep. Moe Brooks and then Judge Roy Moore in Alabama, but today returns full support to Jeff Sessions now that those candidates are no longer in the race.
American citizens who oppose illegal immigration and any form of Amnesty for illegals are encouraged to donate to, volunteer for, and vote for Jeff Sessions in the GOP Primary run-off election to be held on March 31.
Sessions is being added to ALIPAC's list of standing endorsements. (View Here)
For more information about Jeff Sessions and ALIPAC's mission to stop and reverse illegal immigration and de facto Amnesty in America, please visit www.ALIPAC.us.
Last edited by ALIPAC; 03-11-2020 at 10:11 AM.
imblest and MW like this.
Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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Session has never wavered from his commitment to fight against open borders and illegal immigration! He has always been consistent ... steady as a rock if you will.
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National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council endorses Jeff Sessions in Alabam
Hope it is ok to also add this endorsement also here, William, from a couple weeks ago.
National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council endorses Jeff Sessions in Alabama's U.S. Senate race
Friday, the National Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Council announced its endorsement of former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in Alabama's U.S. Senate race.
The National ICE Council represents approximately 7,600 officers, agents and employees who work for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) throughout the United States and its territories and possessions.
The National ICE Council endorsement comes just days before Alabama Republicans are set to vote in the party's primary on Tuesday.
"On behalf of the men and women of the National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council, we're proud to endorse Jeff Sessions for Senate in the State of Alabama," Chris Crane, president of the ICE Council, said in a statement. "We know Jeff Sessions and we know what he stands for. As the United States Attorney General, Jeff Sessions led the fight against sanctuary cities and illegal immigration, and was an unwavering champion of law enforcement officers across the nation. As a U.S. Senator, Jeff Sessions was the strongest supporter in the U.S. Congress of ICE, its mission, and its employees. We have no doubt that Senator Sessions will pick up right where he left off – standing up for law enforcement and the enforcement of our laws. We know he will continue to lead the fight against sanctuary cities that threaten our communities and endanger our law enforcement personnel across the country. And we know that he will keep fighting against radical open border policies that threaten our national security."
"Jeff Sessions has always stood up to The Swamp and always worked to hold Washington accountable," he added. "We need him now more than ever to stand up for what's right and stand with President Trump to keep America safe."
Sessions applauded the endorsement in a statement of his own, and warned of the threat sanctuary cities, open borders and illegal immigration pose to the nation.
"The men and women who serve with the National Immigration and Customs Enforcement are honorable law enforcement officers who serve at the center of this nation's effort to end illegal immigration," Sessions said. 'I am honored beyond words to have the ICE Council's strong endorsement. We have fought side by side against the powerful, special interest forces that constantly work to further the lawlessness that is occurring at the border. We stood side by side in the effort to elect President Trump. Sanctuary cities and open borders are a threat to our nation. They encourage illegal immigration, protect dangerous criminal gangs, and undermine the rule of law."
"I am extremely proud of this endorsement," he added. "No organization has been more committed to law and our national sovereignty than the ICE officers. Their endorsement is therefore extremely valuable. I believe the people of Alabama should recognize how important this endorsement is in understanding who can be most effective in the Senate. I have fought to stop sanctuary cities and I will not rest until our immigration laws are enforced and dangerous aliens are taken off the streets."
https://yellowhammernews.com/nationa...s-senate-race/
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Support our FIGHT AGAINST illegal immigration & Amnesty by joining our E-mail Alerts at https://eepurl.com/cktGTn
This is why we need Jeff Sessions back in the US Senate!
Exclusive–Jeff Sessions: Why Bring Foreign Workers to U.S. When 30,000,000 Americans Are Jobless?
https://www.alipac.us/f9/exclusive%9...ricans-378098/
Sessions hits back at Trump days ahead of Alabama Senate runoff
https://www.alipac.us/f9/sessions-hi...runoff-378959/
Jeff Sessions to announce campaign for Alabama Senate seat
By JohnDoe2 in forum Other Topics News and Issues
Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions warns GOP to get on 'Trump train,' voters already aboard
By Jean in forum General Discussion
Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions stands firm as roadblock to immig
By Jean in forum illegal immigration News Stories & Reports
Jeff Sessions headlines endorsement ALIPAC on his website
By DHolmes7 in forum Other Topics News and Issues
America Needs to KEEP Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama !
By LegalUSCitizen in forum General Discussion
alabama, alipac endorsements, amnesty, donald trump, gop primary, illegal immigration, jeff sessions, tommy tuberville, william gheen


Even with all the incredible advancements of medical technology and research, cancer remains one of the leading problems of modern health. Melanoma is one of the most common types of skin cancer and is the most dangerous, especially when victims overlook the early symptoms.
It is accountable for more than ¾ of all skin cancer related deaths. More than 76,000 cases are expected to develop in the United States in the following year alongside almost 10,000 melanoma related deaths. Melanoma rates have consistently risen in previous years, but learning how to spot it early can save your life.
Detecting melanoma in its earliest stages can significantly increase your likeliness for survival. People who began treatment in the earliest stage have a five year survival rate of almost 100 percent and a ten year survival rate of about 95 percent. In the worsened stages those numbers drop to about 15 and 20 percent.
Overall melanoma is much more commonly developed with older people. However this doesn't mean younger people are exempt. It is one of the most common types of cancer to affect people under the age of 30, particularly women.
According to the American Cancer Society, before the age of 40, the risk is higher for women, while after this age the risk is higher in men. It is more likely for a young female to get melanoma, probably because of tanning, but overall men have a worse outcome when compared with females. The reasons for this difference is yet to be understood.
Moles are small brown clusters of pigment cells that group together on the skin and are fairly common among the average adult. The majority of moles pose no risk to your health but melanoma can develop in a once healthy mole. There is also a type of mole called a dysplastic nevi which is a benign mole, but people who have these moles are at increased risk of developing melanoma.
This is believed to be one of the most common contributors of skin cancer. Exposure to UV rays from tanning salons and direct sunlight can lead to damage in the genetic makeup cells of your skin. If the rays damage the DNA regulating the growth of skin cells, it can quickly lead to cancer. There are several types of UV rays but none of them are safe for the skin.
Caucasians with light skin tones are much more vulnerable to the effects of melanoma. Red and blond hair as well as freckled pale skin are indicators that you may face a higher risk.
Approximately one tenth of patients diagnosed with melanoma have some sort of genetic history. The hereditary condition can easily be passed down to younger relatives. Ask around to find out if members of your family have dealt with melanoma.
With any type of cancer acting sooner than later has favorable results. This holds especially true for Melanoma.
B – border irregularity – black skin spots, dark patches, moles, or large freckles that have an irregular border or blurred outline.
The best way to keep this dangerous form of cancer out of your future is to know the sources and take small preventative measures. Some age groups and genetic factors might make someone more susceptible but nobody is completely immune to melanoma skin cancer.
Curb Your Tanning – If you tan often, whether in a booth or outdoors, it's a dangerous hobby and it will cause dark skin spots. Your skin isn't prepared to absorb solar radiation for prolonged periods of time.
Use Sunscreen – Regular application of high factor sunscreen will make staying outdoors all day a safe experience. As for sun exposure to get more vitamin D, read my article about vitamin D deficiency.
Outdoor Timing – As the sun shifts from East to West throughout the day, the intensity of its rays differ based on the angle it hits the earth. The hours between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. experience the most intense sunlight and are best to be avoided to ensure safer skin.
Grab Some Shades – A pair of UV blocking sunglasses can be more than a slick accessory. They also help block out the UV light and protect your eyes.
Seek Shade – areas of shade are like nature's sun shield and offer a great protection from sun exposure. If you must be outdoors, cover up with a T-shirt and a hat.
Sadly some people are still unaware that the sun is a lifeline as well as a deathline. There are plenty of organizations like the American Cancer Society that fund cancer treatment and preventative education. Knowing the dangers now and making a few small changes could lead to a brighter and longer future.
Below you can find images of melanoma by the National Cancer Institute, USA. They can give you an impression of moles that have color change, asymmetry, border irregularity and elevation.
When Thomas Leveritt, a photographer and videographer, took photos of passers-by with his special ultraviolet camera, most people were shocked by what they saw. Their seemingly intact skin was all of a sudden exposed as being full of freckles, age spots, and uneven pigmentation. And of course excessive sun exposure can also cause melanoma.
The video was called How the Sun Sees You. Some people looked on in horror, and they could hardly believe this was really their face. As a contrast, the skin of young children appeared unchanged when filmed with a UV camera.
This showed how we are all born with a perfect skin, but we then let it deteriorate. The video also tried to demonstrate that sunscreen blocks UV rays, and creates a safety barrier. The message was clear: wear sunscreen!
Very helpful, have treated several areas of skin cancer with "Indian Herb-Black Salve" with success. None were melanoma. Is good to be able to identify them as they change in appearance and treat quickly.
Hi..Im 25 year old n I was diagnosed with fixed drug eruption since im allergic to antibiotics..so without knowing that once I had ofloxicin and the very next day I got a round inflammed rash on my right side of the angle of mandible which after 2 days turned brownish black mark.wen I visited a dermatologist he prescribed me topical steroids and also underwent 8 siitings of Nd-yag laser treatment.but stil the mark dint fade oof.now im scared if wether its a type of skin cancer..plz do help if u can..im tired of visting dermatologists..
Unfortunately I am not the right person to diagnose skin cancer and to give you a medical advice, especially not via the internet. If you are still worried, you will need to search for a second opinion or find another recommended dermatologist that you trust. I don't see any other way.
I am a single mother of 3 children, and my youngest daughter Savannah was born with a mole on the back of her neck below her hairline, I'm a bit worried about it, I haven't noticed any changes in it, or discoloration……I have gone to my family doctor and she's supposed to be referring to the IWK Children's hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but haven't heard anything back……If anyone would love to see pictures of it, please feel free to contact me and I will for sure pass them along…..
Hi Tanya, if you haven't heard back then you need to follow it up with a phone call to your doctor or the medical center. Sometimes with all the medical procedure paperwork can get lost so don't hesitate and follow it up.


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Bittersweet night for NDP, Finnis
Wayne Moore - May 2, 2011 / 10:00 pm | Story: 61796
For Okanagan-Coquihalla NDP candidate, David Finnis, there were more positives than negatives to be taken from Monday's federal election.
Photo: Contributed
NDP's David Finnis finished a strong second in Okanagan-Coquihalla
Finnis, a first time candidate, pulled in nearly 25 per cent of the popular vote -- about eight percentage points higher than in 2008 and close to six per cent better than the 2006 and 2004.
"We had obviously hoped to poll higher, everyone does, but we did well, we maintained our second place position and that part is good," says Finnis.
"We fought a good campaign. We got a lot of important messages out there."
Finnis says increasing the popular vote was one of his goals going into the campaign.
With 103 seats nationally and Official Opposition status, Finnis says, in his wildest imagination, it's not a scenario he would have predicted.
"We've obviously always campaigned to be Prime Minister and we have finally maintained status of her majesties loyal opposition and that's a great thing," says Finnis.
"I know Jack will be a strong and forceful leader."
Finnis adds obtaining Official Opposition status means the party will have to be taken more seriously.
"That's a significant thing. Where you sit in the House of Commons does raise our ability to mention things that we feel matters to the country."
More Federal Election articles


Is there a better alternative to Paste-it?
Is Paste-it really the best app in System category?
Will Paste-it work good on macOS 10.13.4?
Paste-it is a multiple clipboard utility that significantly extends your Mac's copy and paste functionality.
For every item that you copy, Paste-it creates a so-called Paste-it, a persistent representation of the copied item. Paste-it manages a complete history of Paste-its and presents them to you in an easy-to-navigate list.
You can conveniently reuse any of the Paste-its via global keyboard shortcuts, drag and drop or via a list that is integrated into the upper right menu bar (3rd screenshot).
This is especially handy in situations where you have to copy and paste several items repeatedly and in an interleaved fashion. Additionally, as Paste-its are persistent, they can be conveniently reused even after a system restart.
Currently Paste-it supports the creation of Paste-its from text and images.


If there was a picture in the dictionary next to words, this bride would be the definition of the word sweet! Our first venue shut down on us mid planning, but she handled it with such grace, and her wedding turned out beautiful. From the beer donkey to the dueling pianos, to the fireworks no detail was left untouched. I also need to mention that I have never worked with such a well behaved dog, and believe me I have seen a lot. Jen and Ryan I truly wish you nothing but the best!!!


They commonly wear light blue colored robes, sometimes dyed with patches of white to make it look like a sky with clouds. Priestesses frequently wear a sliver tiara with the symbol of Tor upon it. And men frequently wear a necklace with the same symbol.
The Priests and Priestesses commonly wear orange robes while the acolytes typically wear brown. Both Priests and Priestesses of Jhalla often have his symbol made from wood or bone on a necklace worn outside the robes.
Priests and Priestesses wear gray robes and have polished slate shoulder pads strapped to the outside of their robes with leather. The shoulder pads (called Lapalasis) are a symbol of their station in the order of Volai.
Priests and Priestesses of Matrim wear black robes and a black circlet. The circlet identifies them as a Priests and Priestesses of their order.
Priests and Priestesses typically wear ocean blue or turquoise colored robes. They also wear a heavy silver necklace - that is only a chain with no adornment. This chain identifies them as 'bound' into the service of their God.
Priests and Priestesses commonly wear green robes and a necklace made of woven grass fiber with a wooden ring in the middle. This represents the circle of life that they strive to keep going on Vola.
Priests and Priestesses commonly wear blood red robes with black trim. Upon their wrists they have steel bracers of good quality. These bracers and the black trim on their robes help identify their station in the order.


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by Simon Youel
A new report from the House of Lords on central bank digital currency (CBDC) shows that politicians still don't understand the problems with our monetary system.
On Thursday the House of Lords' Economic Affairs Committee published the report from their inquiry into central bank digital currencies (CBDC), titled 'Central bank digital currencies: a solution in search of a problem?'
The Chair of the Committee, Lord Forsysth of Drumlean summarised: "We took evidence from a variety of witnesses and none of them were able to give us a compelling reason for why the UK needed a central bank digital currency".
This conclusion is unsurprising, given that the Committee did not hear from any witnesses that are actively advocating for the benefits a CBDC offers to society. Indeed, many of those who gave evidence have vested interests in opposing a CBDC, such as HSBC and Visa, whose profit margins would be disrupted by democratising the money and payments system. It is also worth noting that many Committee members, including the Chair, have interests in financial sector firms.
Positive Money submitted written evidence, and were pleased to see our contribution cited on more than one occasion in the report. In spite of this, the report as a whole seems to demonstrate a lack of understanding of the monetary system, and the issues a CBDC would help address. This is perhaps not surprising, given that there is a very poor understanding of money among Parliamentarians.
The report identifies "risks of private money creation", as a future issue CBDC may pre-emptively address, referring to concerns that big tech companies could start creating their own money. However this fails to consider that the current system is already dominated by the private money created by commercial banks in the form of deposits – a crucial fact which is absent from discussion in the report.
A CBDC would provide universal access to a secure, digital form of public money. As the Lords report notes, citing our evidence, public money (money issued by a public institution such as the Bank of England) provides the anchor of trust and final means of settlement which all private forms of money (such as bank deposits) rely on. Currently the only forms of public money which exist are physical cash, and central bank reserves. Central bank reserves exist digitally, but they are only available to commercial banks, which means the rest of us have to rely on these banks to make digital payments.
Currently the public good of a payments system is entangled with banks' risky profit-maximising activities. Not only does our reliance on private banks and card companies mean they are able to extract huge economic rents from us, but it also means we are forced to bail them out to prevent the whole economy collapsing, as we saw in the 2008 financial crisis.
As a risk-free form of money which is separated from banks' risky credit creating activities, CBDC has the power to address the inherent instability of our current financial system. Yet the Lords on the Committee are more concerned that CBDC could be a risk to the stability of the banks. The Committee's report has been influenced by critics who argue that introducing a CBDC would itself cause instability as people move their money from bank deposits into risk-free CBDC, leading to runs on the banks. However, as both our work and the Bank of England's own research has shown, there is no reason why CBDC couldn't be introduced in a way which preserves financial stability.
Many of the claims that a CBDC threatens financial stability come from those who fear that competition from a CBDC would make private banks obsolete. But as even former Bank of England governor Mark Carney has recognised, "Banks are a means to an end—not ends in themselves—and they will have to adapt to a much more competitive environment."
A CBDC, if designed with the public interest in mind, would address the fundamental fragility at the heart of our economy, and offer a more resilient system to replace the multi-layered and inefficient arrangement we have at present. It would open up the privileged access to safe accounts at the Bank of England enjoyed by private banks, allowing all households and businesses to save money and make peer to peer payments directly, without needing to rely on middlemen such as banks and card companies, who extract profits from the money we are forced to lend them, and the payments we are forced to make through them.
This would not only mean cheaper and more efficient payments, but also more effective and fairer monetary policy. Rather than relying on private banks to pass on changes in interest rates or increase their lending, the Bank of England would be able to pay interest directly on people's CBDC accounts or channel new money directly to the real economy through drops of 'helicopter money'.
The Committee is right to take seriously the privacy implications of a CBDC, but CBDCs in themselves shouldn't pose a threat to privacy. Focusing only on the risks of state surveillance misses the very real privacy threats generated by the privatisation of our payments system. It is important to recognise that the state does not need a CBDC to monitor the transactions of its citizens – banks already share data with security agencies upon request. Whether we have the option to make digital payments without being subject to state surveillance does not rest primarily on the decision of whether to launch a CBDC. In reality, our payments privacy relies much more on whether high standards of data protection are enforced across the public and private sectors, and the ease at which branches of the state are able to access this data.
Positive Money's submission urged for a CBDC to be designed with strongest possible protections for privacy to be built in, and emphasised that a CBDC could actually offer increased protection against private sector interests exploiting our data (especially if the profit models of private sector payment firms increasingly rely on exploiting the personal data they collect from users). We have also proposed that CBDC accounts be complemented with an anonymous token form of CBDC for small transactions, which would replicate the decentralised benefits of cash.
Other objections, such as the increased risk of a single point of failure being exploited by cyberterrorists, are also not specific to a CBDC, and demonstrate the importance of maintaining a diversity of payment methods, including cash.
Despite these shortcomings the report has made some welcome points. For instance, the Committee recommends that the CBDC engagement forum should include a greater number of representative consumer groups, rather than being dominated by commercial interests.
Furthermore, the report recognises that a CBDC could mean an increase in central bank power without sufficient scrutiny. The Bank of England is already one of the most powerful economic institutions in the country, and Positive Money has long-advocated for enhanced accountability. Regardless of whether a CBDC is implemented, we are already seeing a shift away from the role of traditional banking and towards market based financing (such as bond and share issuances), which will likely mean an increased role for central banks in using their powers (including the creation of new public money) to backstop financial markets. The Bank of England's executive director for markets, Andrew Hauser has already spoken about how the central bank is evolving from not only a lender of last resort, but also a market maker of last resort. This extended role, as well as the design of toolkits, has profound implications for the financial system and wider economy and requires enhanced scrutiny.
Regardless of the concerns we've raised about oversights in the report, we welcome the greater scrutiny provided by the Committee. It is right that more questions are asked about the design and implementation of a CBDC, as well as the role of the Bank of England in our economy, and we look forward to being part of more debate in the coming year.
Simon Youel
Policy and Media Officer, Positive Money
Simon works on Positive Money's influencing programme, focusing on media engagement and policy research.
Before joining Positive Money, Simon handled media outreach for a number of technology companies and campaigns, and worked in a variety of roles in local government. He has a Masters in History from the University of Manchester, for which he specialised in the financialisation of the British economy.


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T20 WC: It was day that didn't go as per plan, says Temba Bavuma
Abu Dhabi [UAE], October 23 (ANI): South African skipper Temba Bavuma expressed his disappointment as his team was defeated by Australia in the first Super 12s match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Batting first, South Africa were restricted to 118/9 with Josh Hazelwood shinning with the ball.
"We always talk about us being resilient and there was an opportunity. Big effort from the guys to get us to the last over. We just didn't get enough with the bat and it was always going to be tough for the bowlers, and it was a good effort from them to get it to this stage," said Bavuma in a post-match presentation.
"Australia bowled well. They assessed the length well and hit that back of a length. Their spinners too bowled tight. Aiden held the innings and got us to a decent total. As much as it was a day that didn't go to plan, we can take positives. We showed fight. We spoke during the halftime that we won't give up," he added.
Chasing 119, Australia started off at a low pace with skipper Aaron Finch being sent back by Anrich Nortje without scoring a single run. Following Finch, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh also lost their wickets and by the end of the 7.5 overs, Australia was 38/3.
Steve Smith played an innings of 35 runs in 34 balls and kept the hopes for his side alive. But at the end of the 15.2 overs, Smith and Glenn Maxwell were also sent back, leaving the team's total to 81/5. It was Stoinis, who in partnership with wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, ended the match with a boundary and took Australia home.
Earlier in the match, South Africa lost early wickets, with Australia's Josh Hazelwood and Adam Zampa scalping two wickets each.
Australia will now be facing Sri Lanka in their next ICC Men's T20 World Cup clash on October 28 in Dubai, while South Africa will take on West Indies on October 26. (ANI)