There are a lot of challenges organizations are facing in the globalised era. Innovative management strategies can play a very distinctive role in bringing about effective changes in the field of Marketing, Finance, Human Resource, and General Management practices so that organizations can successfully cope with these challenges. One of the key objectives of management research should be its usability and application. The SIT Journal of Management has been very productive as authors from diverse backgrounds have contributed articles that glimmer a debate on the research focused on innovative management practices. We are really overwhelmed by the enthusiasm with which the contributors from across the length and breadth of the country have expressed their desire to submit papers on various contemporary issues from different fields of management. In recent years, research on management related fields has augmented, and it has become a basic prerequisite for academicians and practitioners to suggest ways through contemporary research to suggest proactive strategies to cope up with the changes in both micro and macro environment. This is the age of performance. Organizations are becoming very careful in enhancing their performance in all spheres - may be customer satisfaction or their responsibilities towards the society. Numerous studies are being conducted to receive feedbacks from customers on the services and products offered by the organizations. Such information enables them to enhance their performance in improving their product and service quality.


text:
More Diverse Movie Leads in 2018 Than Ever, Study Finds
Releases like "Black Panther" and "Crazy Rich Asians" were among those praised for increasing representation on the big screen
Published Feb 12, 2019 at 11:36 AM
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File
In this Jan. 27, 2019, file photo, Angela Bassett, left, and Chadwick Boseman, nominated for outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture, introduce a clip from their film "Black Panther" at the 25th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall in Los Angeles.
The top films in 2018 featured more female and people of color in lead roles than ever before, according to a new study from the University of Southern California's Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.
In a report released Tuesday, researchers found that women were the lead or co-lead in 40 of the 100 highest-grossing films of 2018. That's an increase of eight movies from 2017 and 20 movies from 2007, when the annual study was begun.
There were 28 films with leads or co-leads from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group in 2018. That, too, was a substantial increase from the year prior and the highest mark on record.
Those numbers still fall short of reflecting demographics. Women make up about 51 percent of the U.S. population. Underrepresented groups make up about 39 percent of the population.
'Late Night': Ken Jeong Wants to Host the Oscars
Ken Jeong talk about interviewing Santas in "Ken Jeong Cracks Christmas," the success of "Crazy Rich Asians" and the possibility of him hosting the Oscars.
(Published Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018)
The gains came in a year that saw record box-office returns, thanks in part to releases like "Black Panther," the top-selling film in North American theaters, and the breakout romantic comedy, "Crazy Rich Asians."
Stacy L. Smith, director of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, called the results "a step in the right direction."
"2018 offers hope that industry members have taken action to create content that better reflects the world in which we live, and the box office seems to have rewarded them for it," said Smith. "This data shows us that it is possible for change to be achieved — companies must not grow complacent but continue the progress they have made in 2019 and in the years to come."
Some of the largest increases came in more narrow demographics. Eleven of the top 100 films starred a woman of color. In 2017, there were four. The same number of films, 11, featured female leads aged 45 years or older. In 2017, there were five.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Abstract: Changes in linkages between growth in the USA, Euro area and China are investigated utilising an iterative procedure for detecting structural breaks in VAR coefficients and disturbance covariance matrix. We find dynamics to be unchanged and, accounting for volatility changes, cross-country correlations are constant until the end of 2007. Although largely isolated from the other large economies until 2007, growth in China is subsequently strongly related to that of the US and the Euro area. The effects are illustrated using generalised impulse responses and forecast error variance decompositions. The increased international synchronisation found may be associated with the effects of the Great Recession on the US and Euro area together with China's extraordinary export growth since joining the World Trade Organisation in 2001.


text:
<title>Kendrick Lamar</title>
<link rel="stylesheet"
    href="Bootstrap/css/bootstrap.min.css">

Kendrick Lamar

Welcome to Kendrick Lamar's page on Interscope Records

To Pimp a Butterfly

Click here to take a look at Kendrick's newest album realease

    <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/to-pimp-a-butterfly/id974187289"<button type="button" class="btn btn-default"> Click here </button>

Good Kid Maad City

Click here to take a look at one of Kendrick's albums

    <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/good-kid-m.a.a.d-city-deluxe/id622710488"<button type="button" class="btn btn-default"> Click here </button>

Section 80

Click here to take a look at one of Kendrick's albums

    <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/section.80/id447516359"<button type="button" class="btn btn-default"> Click here </button>

Sign Up

Click here to sign up for all the newest information about Kendrick Lamar

    <a href="file:///N:/Year%2013/ICT/Mr%20Reid/Unit%2028/Brackets/Sign%20up.html"<button type="button" class="btn btn-default"> Click here </button>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
President Biden Unveils Sweeping Six-Part Action Plan to Combat COVID-19
Wednesday, September 15, 2021 1:30 PM | ABC News, Regulations, Safety, GA - Compliance
On Sept. 9, President Biden unveiled a six-pronged national strategy to combat the spread of COVID-19, which will impact large private employers and federal contractors. Our current information comes from the White House and U.S. Department of Labor briefings as well as information posted on the White House website—Path Out of the Pandemic – President Biden's COVID-19 Action Plan.
Two issues of concern for ABC members are:
Requiring All Employers With 100+ Employees to Ensure Their Workers are Vaccinated or Tested Weekly
The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is developing a rule that will require all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require any workers who remain unvaccinated to produce a negative test result on at least a weekly basis before coming to work. OSHA will issue an Emergency Temporary Standard to implement this requirement.
Also, OSHA is developing a rule that will require employers with more than 100 employees to provide paid time off for the time it takes for workers to get vaccinated or to recover if they are under the weather post-vaccination. This requirement will be implemented through the ETS.
NOTE: OSHA indicated that the ETS will be issued in the coming weeks.
Requiring Vaccinations for All Federal Workers and for Millions of Contractors That Do Business With the Federal Government
Building on his announcement in July, President Biden has signed an executive order to require all federal executive branch workers to be vaccinated. The president also signed an executive order directing that this standard be extended to employees of contractors that do business with the federal government.
NOTE: According to the EO, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force is required to provide guidance outlining what is required of federal contractors by Sept. 24. Until the guidance is issued, it is unclear what will be required.
On Sept. 10, ABC participated in a conference call with OSHA officials and the below ETS FAQs reflect the latest information. Please note this information could change once the ETS is officially issued.
When does this policy affecting companies with more than 100 employees take effect, and will ABC be engaging with OSHA on the forthcoming ETS?
OSHA officials indicated that the ETS will be issued in the coming weeks. When the ETS is published in the federal register as an interim final rule, it will be effective immediately in states where OSHA has direct jurisdiction. The public will only have an opportunity to submit comments on the ETS after it is published. (Generally, the comment period is 30 to 60 days.) The comments will then be used by OSHA to draft a final rule, which OSHA is expected to issue six months after the ETS is published in the federal register. Because this new policy will create uncertainty and additional burdens on ABC members, ABC plans to engage with OSHA before the ETS is issued and submit comments when possible to express our concerns.
How will the ETS impact State OSHA plans?
The 22 states with State OSHA plans will have 30 days to implement the ETS from the date the interim final rule is published in the federal register. OSHA will work with the states to get their plans into compliance.
How is the 100+ employee threshold measured?
OSHA indicated that the 100+ threshold for coverage will be measured by company, not worksite.
Will the ETS testing/vaccination requirement extend to all employees?
No. OSHA indicated that employees who work remotely and are never present at the worksite do not fall under the vaccination or testing requirements.
Will the ETS require employers with 100+ employees to provide paid time off for the time it takes workers to get vaccinated or to recover from post-vaccination side effects?
If an employer has 100+ employees and is also a federal contractor, will it be expected to comply with both the ETS and federal contractor rules?
Yes. It is expected that OSHA and federal agencies will work to ensure the ETS and vaccination mandates imposed on federal contractors are consistent.
What other issues is the ETS expected to cover?
Who will pay for weekly testing of unvaccinated employees, how employers can verify vaccination status and/or test results, and what level of vaccination is sufficient (i.e., one shot, two, boosters?) and possible exemptions. Additionally, OSHA said enforcement of the new requirements/disciplinary policies for workers who refuse to prove vaccination status and/or test will be up to the employer.
When does the vaccination policy affecting federal contractors take effect, and will ABC be commenting on the rule?
The EO affecting federal contractors directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to approve the Sept. 24 Safer Federal Workforce Task Force guidance if it will "promote economy and efficiency in Federal contracting." If the guidance is approved by the OMB, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council shall amend the Federal Acquisition Regulations and shall take initial steps by Oct. 8 to "implement appropriate policy direction to acquisition offices" for federal contracts. The new policy will apply to federal contracts issued on or after Oct. 15. However, it is possible this implementation date will be delayed due to legal challenges or delays in the regulatory process.
Because this new policy will create uncertainty and additional burdens on ABC federal contractors, ABC plans to engage with the task force before the guidance is issued and express our concerns. Additionally, ABC plans to participate in the FAR rulemaking process.
Does the EO apply to all employees of a federal contractor or just federal contractor employees on a covered jobsite?
This is unclear and will likely remain so until the task force guidance is issued. However, the EO says that the policy will apply to federal contractors and subcontractors at "…any workplace locations (as specified by the Task Force Guidance) in which an individual is working on or in connection with a Federal Government contract or contract-like instrument (as described in section 5(a) of this order)."
Will these polices be challenged in the courts?
Both policies will almost certainly be challenged in the courts by a variety of government, private and business stakeholders, which may affect the regulatory process, rollout and effective date of the new policies. It is unclear at this time what role ABC will play in any legal proceedings.
Roundup of Resources on the President's Action Plan:
ABC's general counsel, Littler Mendelson's analysis: Biden Announces Vaccine Mandates for Employees of Large Private Employers, Federal Contractors, and Most Healthcare Employers
Path Out of the Pandemic – President Biden's COVID-19 Action Plan
Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors
OSHA-approved State Plans
Additionally, see ABC's general counsel, Littler Mendelson's article "President Biden's COVID-19 Action Plan—What Employers Want to Know."
In light of changing guidance regarding vaccine policies, ABC has updated resources on the COVID-19 Vaccine Toolkit as part of the Coronavirus Update webpage to help inform and educate members about the latest available resources and information on the COVID-19 vaccine.
ABC is closely monitoring the president's action plan and will provide additional guidance as soon as significant details are made available.
« EPA, Corps Halt Implementation of Trump-era WOTUS Rule
Take Action: Democrats' Budget Reconciliation Package Contains ABC-Opposed Tax and Labor Provisions »
ABC Wins Key Nationwide Challenge Against Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandate
New Guidance on Federal Contractor COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate; What's Next for the OSHA ETS and CMS Mandate
Safer Federal Workforce Task Force Issues COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance for Federal Contractors


text:
News On 6 Noon Newscast (Dec. 17)
Thursday, December 17th 2020, 4:18 pm
Watch News On 6's noon newscast for De. 17, 2020.
News On 6 Watch News On 6's noon newscast for De. 17, 2020.
News On 6 at 6 Newscast (Jan. 21)
News On 6 News On 6 at 6 Newscast (Jan. 21)
News On 6 At Noon Newscast (January 21)
News On 6 News On 6 At Noon Newscast (January 21)
News On 6 6 a.m. Newscast (Jan. 21)
News On 6 News On 6 6 a.m. Newscast (Jan. 21)
News On 6 10 p.m. Newscast (Jan. 20)
News On 6 News On 6 10 p.m. Newscast (Jan. 20)


text:
Clan Forbes Society Newsletter
Callendar House
Callendar House is a stately home purchased at government auction by William "Copperbottom" Forbes (1756–1823). Forbes was a cadet of the first Newe family and made an enormous fortune from the contract to sheathe the hulls of the Royal Navy's battleships with copper, hence his nickname. Forbes made significant alterations to the house and developed magnificent gardens. Later in the 19th century, the house was redesigned and extended in the style of a French Renaissance château fused with elements of Scottish baronial architecture. In 1873, the Forbeses of Callendar were the richest branch of the Forbes family, owning 57,000 acres and a rental income of £25,000. While the town of Falkirk bought the house and its park in 1963, the family still owns most of the estate. Learn more here.
Alexander Forbes, 4th Lord Pitsligo: Jacobite who went on the run for 16 years
Alexander Forbes, 4th Lord Pitsligo, was a member of the Scottish Parliament and a staunch opponent of the union who retired from his seat after 1707. He was a lifelong Jacobite supporter and fought in the 1715 at Sherrifmuir. Forbes was 67 when he fought at the Battle of Culloden - and spent the rest of his long life on the run. Learn more here.
Join Clan Forbes Society Today!
Join new Active Member James R. Forbes of Quebec, Canada, and Lisa Lynn Forbes of Buffalo, New York, USA! Your financial support of $25 will help the Society research the history and heritage of the House of Forbes; develop resources for tracing your genealogy with your cousins around the world; connect with other members in the Clan Forbes Community; and encourage more members to join us in events, tours and gatherings. See: Active Membership
If you know your genealogy, you can join new House of Forbes Member Nancy A. Forbes of Fairfax, Virginia, USA!
Society Clan Forbes Society, Inc., offers three types of membership:
Affiliate Membership (Free)
Active Membership ($25)
House of Forbes Membership ($100)
Registration Now Open: 2020 Clan Forbes Tour
The Clan Forbes Society is pleased to announce that the 2020 Clan Forbes Tour has been confirmed and registration is now open! Developed with Jamie, Lord Sempill, of Clan Chief Tours and Thistle Dubh Enterprises, this six-day tour includes visits to Castle Forbes, Druminnor Castle, Tolquhon Castle Pitsligo Castle, Culloden House and more. Of the 20 maximum reservations, we have already received six confirmations. The deadline for the first deposit of $500 is due by September 10 – but the trip may be closed by then! Learn more here.
Forbes, Whisky & Robert Burns
As a result of Jacobite damages to his estates in 1689, Duncan Forbes, 3rd Lord Culloden, received an exemption from whisky duties. This made his Ferintosh whisky operation the first legal distillery in Scotland. His grandson John Forbes, 6th Lord of Culloden, expanded the whisky operations to the point that two-thirds of all whisky in Scotland was from Forbes Ferintosh! Disgruntled competitors successfully lobbied the government to cease the exemption and without that competitive advantage, Forbes closed the Ferintosh distillery in 1785. In the poem "Scotch Drink," Robert Burns lamented "Thee, Ferintosh! O sadly lost! Scotland lament frae coast to coast! Now colic grips, an' barkin hoast / May kill us a'; / For loyal Forbes' charter'd boast /Is ta'en awa?" Learn more here.
Clan Forbes was well represented at recent Highland games and gatherings on both American coasts! Convener Valerie Walters Edwards hosted the Society tent at the Woodland Celtic Games & Festival in California.
President Bart Forbes and member Antonio Uribe hosted the tent at the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival.
May 4 to 5, 2019: Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival, New Mexico. Clan Forbes Convener: None
May 4, 2019: Savannah (Georgia) Scottish Games, Georgia. Clan Forbes Convener: None
May 10 to 12, 2019: Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games, Texas. Clan Forbes Convener: Rick Forbes
May 18, 2019: Fair Hill (Delaware) Scottish Games, Delaware. Clan Forbes Convener: None
May 18 to 19, 2019: Smoky Mountain Highland Games, Tennessee. Clan Forbes Convener: None
May 18, 2019, Northern Nevada Celtic Celebration, Nevada. Clan Forbes Convener: Dwayne Edwards.
June 1, 2019: Maine Scottish Festival at Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Clan Forbes Convener: Leslie Furbish Ingram
June 1, 2019: Garrett County Celtic Festival, Maryland. Clan Forbes Convener: None.
June 1, 2019 (?): Milwaukee Highland Games, Wisconsin. Clan Forbes Convener: None.
June 1 & 2, 2019 (?): Allegany County Celtic Festival, New York. Clan Forbes Convener: None.
June 14 & 15, 2019: Chicago Scottish Festival & Highland Games, Illinois. Clan Forbes Convener: None.
June 15, 2019: Mid-Maryland Celtic Festival, Maryland. Clan Forbes Convener: None.
June 29, 2019: Alaska Scottish Highland Games, Alaska. Clan Forbes Convener: None
July 11-14, 2019: Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, North Carolina. Clan Forbes Convener: Ron Pearson and Bart Forbes
July 13, 2019: Dundee Scottish Festival, Central New York State. Clan Forbes Convener: None.
July 20 & 21, 2019: Arizona Highland Celtic Festival, Flagstaff, Arizona.
Clan Forbes Convener: None.
Want to be a Clan Convener at your local Scottish Festival and Highland Games? Download the Clan Forbes Convener's Guide, make your tent reservation, and we'll send you a Convener's Kit with banners and educational materials!


School Management PHP Script is a software comes with CSRF protection, admin can add assignments, new study material, students group and invoices made with PayPal gateway.
Pro School Management PHP Script helps you to create a website for the school management system in which admin can create classes for students, and library sections with reserve books in advanced and powerful & clean dashboard.
In this School Management, PHP Script admin can create new classes and track or view the previous classes details with the ease. you can add new assignments and timetable.
This PHP script allows you to upload the files of lessons and notes, So the students can easily download the study material. Admin can view or delete in the dashboard.
Admin can track and manage all financial transactions in the dashboard, also view the transactions title with the amount in categories and edit/delete all the details with ease.
Pro School Management PHP Script allows the admin to track the collections of books with the remaining stock quantity. Books are categories with the subject and title.
In this Php script school management, admin can manage and track the hostel address and type, the capacity of the hostel.
There is a Student dashboard in this PHP script for creating new student groups and manage them and you assign the teacher to a particular group.
All the codes are using in this script clean and commented, So there is a security of your website.
This Pro School Management PHP Script has easily converted to any preferable languages that admin wants in their website.
All the documents come with this PHP script is easy to understand, no technical knowledge is required to install and creating a website.


GrubhHub vs DoorDash: Review + Promo Codes that Actually Work!
GrubHub and Doordash are two popular food delivery services. Many cities have both, and hundreds of restaurants (a big example being Taco Bell) offer delivery through both companies.
So you might be wondering how DoorDash and Grubhub stack up against each other when it comes to getting a tasty meal delivered. There are some key differences in how they set prices and how they operate. We'll go over them all in this post.
99 cents to $7.99 plus a service fee of 7% to 15% on every order.
Reviews, key partnerships, size, outside U.S., acquisitions -- biggest other than dominos?
Despite growing competition, GrubHub is the biggest food delivery service on the planet, partnering with over 80,000 restaurants in more than 1,600 cities across the U.S. and London.
It was founded back in 2004 by two college students who were tired of collecting paper restaurant menus and placing delivery orders over the phone.
A big difference between Grubhub vs DoorDash (and most other food delivery services) is, in many cases, GrubHub simply acts as an online ordering platform, letting the individual restaurants handle the actual delivery of their food.
It wasn't until 2014 that GrubHub started hiring their own delivery drivers, making the service an option for restaurants who didn't already have a delivery system in place.
Interested to learn more about GrubHub's history? Read our full Grubhub review here.
Today, many of GrubHub's restaurant partners still handle their own delivery — and set their own prices. For this reason, GrubHub does not offer a flat rate delivery fee or even a set range of fees, like several other food delivery services. And unlike DoorDash, which never has a minimum order, GrubHub lets each restaurant decide if they want to set a minimum amount.
One great thing about GrubHub's pricing structure is, unlike DoorDash, they don't use surge pricing (a system of raising delivery prices, sometimes exponentially, during busy hours).
Many GrubHub restaurants deliver alcohol — in the cities where alcohol delivery is allowed. This is also true of DoorDash but not true of UberEats, another popular food delivery service.
Like DoorDash, GrubHub is a very well reviewed food delivery service. It has 4.5 stars on Google Play and 4.7 stars on iTunes.
In 2013, Grubhub merged with rival company Seamless. Grubhub has also purchased a number of smaller services, including OrderUp, AllMenus, MenuPages, Restaurants on the Run, DiningIn, Delivered Dish, and LAbite. Recently, Grubhub bought Eat24 from Yelp for a reported $288 million.
Taco Bell and KFC have recently inked a new deal that will result in nationwide delivery through GrubHub. This represents a new chapter in the GrubHub vs DoorDash saga because DoorDash made a deal to deliver from 200 Taco Bell locations back in 2015.
DoorDash was founded in 2013, nine years after Grubhub.
It's well funded, and growing rapidly (available in Canada!), but not as big as GrubHub or UberEats.
In an attempt to catch up, DoorDash has talked about merging with Postmates, another food delivery service, although nothing has come of that so far. This would be similar to the strategy Grubhub took, when they merged with rival company Seamless, the same year DoorDash was founded.
Similar to Grubhub, DoorDash was also created by college students — Andy Fang, Stanley Tang and Tony Xu of Stanford University.
The three founders built the business using artificial intelligence to manage the thousands of deliveries. Because, unlike Grubhub, DoorDash has always relied on its own army of drivers, which they call "Dashers," to deliver food. To better understand how to train these Dashers, the three founders personally delivered DoorDash's first 200 orders.
Another unique trait about DoorDash vs Grubhub is DoorDash has been known to deliver food from restaurants that haven't given them explicit permission to do so. This strategy gives diners more options but has angered some restaurants, such as In-N-Out Burger, resulting in lawsuits.
DoorDash suffers from no shortage of ambition, with an aggressive strategy for growth and the goal of branching into new areas of delivery (other than food), like fellow delivery service Postmates.
According to Quartz, Doordash charges between 99 cents to $7.99 per order for delivery — along with a service fee of 7% - 15%.
Unlike GrubHub, DoorDash does not enforce minimum order amounts.
They do have surge pricing, which GrubHub does not. The goal behind surge pricing is well intentioned. Much like Uber drivers, Dashers don't work specific hours. They decide when to come online. Surge pricing is meant to speed up delivery times by incentivizing more Dashers to work during busy hours (by offering them the higher pay). One way to avoid surge pricing is to schedule your orders in advance, before the price hike happens. DoorDash will wait to deliver them until the time you specify.
DoorDash does deliver alcohol from many of its restaurants.
Similar to Grubhub, DoorDash is also a very well reviewed food delivery service, with 4.4 stars on iTunes and 4.5 stars on Google Play.
DoorDash has special partnerships with a number of popular restaurants, including Jack in the Box, Cheesecake Factory, IHOP, and Taco Bell. DoorDash recently started working with Wendy's, shortly after UberEats (another food delivery service) began its partnership with McDonald's.
DoorDash vs Grubhub: So which food delivery service is right for you?
DoorDash is great for cheap orders because they don't have minimums.
DoorDash might also be faster during buys hours, thanks to surge pricing. But this will also make your order more expensive.
Grubhub partners with more restaurants.
It will also often cheaper than DoorDash for large orders, since it doesn't have the service fee of 7% - 15%.
Both services are very well reviewed. No matter which you choose, you'll be in great hands.


Epistemology, Evolution, God, and Barefoot Running.
This whole experiment in barefoot running has for me been a revelation. Before two years ago I'd never heard of the concept save for a few vague references to those crazy Kenyans winning marathons. Nor had I heard of ultras or super-athletes or anything like it before this "new fad" started to hit locally. My first knowledge of barefoot running came with the advent of vibram five fingers in my local REI store and then with my own first experimentation with running barefoot with the Vibrams. For me it was a novel experience, although as I'm learning and increasingly believing there is nothing novel about it.


text:
Thomas Friedman
The "six month" (Friedman Unit) predictions on Iraq:
From Wikiquotes:
That will become clear in the next few months as we see just what kind of minority the Sunnis in Iraq intend to be. If they come around, a decent outcome in Iraq is still possible, and we should stay to help build it. If they won't, then we are wasting our time. We should arm the Shiites and Kurds and leave the Sunnis of Iraq to reap the wind. [1]
We need to send the message that anyone who orders suicide bombings against Americans, or protects those who do, commits suicide himself. And U.S. marines will search every cave in Afghanistan to make that principle stick. You order, you die—absolutely, positively, you die. - New York Times, January 6, 2002
"The next six months in Iraq—which will determine the prospects for democracy-building there—are the most important six months in U.S. foreign policy in a long, long time."
(New York Times, 11/30/03)
"What I absolutely don't understand is just at the moment when we finally have a UN-approved Iraqi-caretaker government made up of—I know a lot of these guys—reasonably decent people and more than reasonably decent people, everyone wants to declare it's over. I don't get it. It might be over in a week, it might be over in a month, it might be over in six months, but what's the rush? Can we let this play out, please?"
(NPR's Fresh Air, 6/3/04)
"What we're gonna find out, Bob, in the next six to nine months is whether we have liberated a country or uncorked a civil war."
(CBS's Face the Nation, 10/3/04)
"Improv time is over. This is crunch time. Iraq will be won or lost in the next few months. But it won't be won with high rhetoric. It will be won on the ground in a war over the last mile."
"I think we're in the end game now…. I think we're in a six-month window here where it's going to become very clear and this is all going to pre-empt I think the next congressional election—that's my own feeling— let alone the presidential one."
(NBC's Meet the Press, 9/25/05)
"Maybe the cynical Europeans were right. Maybe this neighborhood is just beyond transformation. That will become clear in the next few months as we see just what kind of minority the Sunnis in Iraq intend to be. If they come around, a decent outcome in Iraq is still possible, and we should stay to help build it. If they won't, then we are wasting our time."
(New York Times, 9/28/05)
"We've teed up this situation for Iraqis, and I think the next six months really are going to determine whether this country is going to collapse into three parts or more or whether it's going to come together."
(CBS's Face the Nation, 12/18/05)
"We're at the beginning of I think the decisive I would say six months in Iraq, OK, because I feel like this election—you know, I felt from the beginning Iraq was going to be ultimately, Charlie, what Iraqis make of it."
(PBS's Charlie Rose Show, 12/20/05)
"The only thing I am certain of is that in the wake of this election, Iraq will be what Iraqis make of it—and the next six months will tell us a lot. I remain guardedly hopeful."
"I think that we're going to know after six to nine months whether this project has any chance of succeeding. In which case, I think the American people as a whole will want to play it out or whether it really is a fool's errand."
(Oprah Winfrey Show, 1/23/06)
"I think we're in the end game there, in the next three to six months, Bob. We've got for the first time an Iraqi government elected on the basis of an Iraqi constitution. Either they're going to produce the kind of inclusive consensual government that we aspire to in the near term, in which case America will stick with it, or they're not, in which case I think the bottom's going to fall out."
(CBS, 1/31/06)
"I think we are in the end game. The next six to nine months are going to tell whether we can produce a decent outcome in Iraq."
(NBC's Today, 3/2/06)
"Can Iraqis get this government together? If they do, I think the American public will continue to want to support the effort there to try to produce a decent, stable Iraq. But if they don't, then I think the bottom is going to fall out of public support here for the whole Iraq endeavor. So one way or another, I think we're in the end game in the sense it's going to be decided in the next weeks or months whether there's an Iraq there worth investing in. And that is something only Iraqis can tell us."
(CNN, 4/23/06)
"Well, I think that we're going to find out, Chris, in the next year to six months—probably sooner—whether a decent outcome is possible there, and I think we're going to have to just let this play out."
(MSNBC's Hardball, 5/11/06)
At first, these predictions seemed to show that Friedman believed Iraq was in a highly path-dependent situation, and that the near-term was critical in determining the eventual outcome. Now, with the "six month" predictions going on for multiple years, it appears that actually no real predictions are being made.
Retrieved from "http://localhost../../../t/h/o/Thomas_Friedman_9ada.html"
This page was last modified 16:19, 27 April 2007 by The Cunctator. Based on work by Bjorn Cole. Content is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.


text:
Wall Street Strip
Is Paulson's bailout bill unconstitutional?
By Rod Smolla
Sept 24, 20081:43 PM
Read more about Wall Street's ongoing crisis.
Henry Paulson
Does the Constitution have any role in the intense debate and blowback surrounding Secretary Henry Paulson's $700 billion bailout proposal? There is nothing in our founding document that prohibits taxing Peter (us) to pay Paul (Wall Street). There are constitutional principles, however, that speak to values such as oversight and transparency. Our system of checks and balances abhors a blank check.
And yet Secretary Paulson's proposal contains a sweeping provision that utterly strips the courts of any power to review his decisions. Section 8 of the Paulson proposal reads: "Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency."
In contrast, an alternative bailout bill, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, has a very different clause. The Dodd proposal reads: "Any determination by the Secretary with regard to any particular troubled asset pursuant to this Act … shall not be set aside unless such determination is found to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or not in accordance with the law." In other words, the Treasury secretary's determinations can be challenged on legal grounds. The Dodd version goes on to recite that "the terms of a residential mortgage loan that is part of any purchase by the Secretary under this Act shall remain subject to all claims and defenses that would otherwise apply notwithstanding the exercise of authority by the Secretary or Corporation under this Act."
How do these two alternatives stack up, constitutionally speaking? In Paulson's defense, there is no absolute constitutional prohibition on so-called "court-stripping" laws—provisions that bar judicial review of decisions by executive-branch officials. To the contrary, there is explicit language in the text of the Constitution that appears to grant Congress authority to control the jurisdiction of federal courts. The Constitution's Exceptions Clause describes the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, with the trailing language, "with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make." And the lower federal courts are entirely creatures of Congress: The Constitution only created the Supreme Court, leaving to the legislature the option to create lower courts as it deemed wise. The greater power to bring lower federal courts into existence implies the lesser power to place limits on the scope of cases they may hear. Finally, the Supremacy Clause, which makes federal law the supreme law of the land, trumping state laws, presumably gives Congress the power to insulate from state-court scrutiny the actions of federal officials who are enforcing laws passed by Congress.
It's relatively rare for Congress to pass laws stripping courts of all power to review actions of administrative agencies. But it does happen from time to time, and courts have upheld some of these laws. On the other hand, courts are especially skeptical of laws that preclude judicial review of claimed violations of constitutional rights. For example, the Supreme Court's decision this summer involving the Guantanamo Bay detainees, Boumediene v. Bush, held that the Bush administration's effort to deny the detainees access to federal court by taking away their right to the writ of habeas corpus was unconstitutional. In Boumediene, the court could rely on specific language in the Constitution's Suspension Clause, which forbids suspension of the writ except when "in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it."
Secretary Paulson's proposal doesn't mess with habeas corpus. But its breathtaking sweep would prevent a litigant from raising constitutional objections to his actions. You could imagine, for example, a suit claiming that the Treasury Department had engaged in a taking of property without just compensation or had deprived people of property without due process of law (neither is allowed under the Fifth Amendment). Or a litigant could sue Treasury for acting so arbitrarily or irrationally that his actions violated the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.
In contrast, Sen. Dodd's proposal includes a well-balanced provision for judicial review. His proposal would subject the Treasury secretary to the normal standards customary in American administrative law. Courts would not be permitted to substitute their judgment for that of the secretary—that's the part about how Treasury would only be on the hook for a decision that was arbitrary, capricious, or an abuse of discretion. But courts could be called upon to police such an abuse or a departure from the rule of law. That, of course, is their traditional role.
Those who advocate for a bailout this week often conjure the dismal economic history of the Great Depression. There's an apt legal parallel here as well. Many of the early laws passed at the behest of the Roosevelt administration during the New Deal were struck down by the Supreme Court precisely because they violated norms of checks and balances. While we have come to caricature those Supreme Court decisions as the shortsighted backlash of nine old curmudgeons who reflexively opposed the socialistic tendencies of the New Deal, perhaps it is worth remembering that the constitutional principles they invoked were grounded in the elemental balance struck by the framers. These principles are that Congress should pass laws based on intelligible policy judgments and not (literally) pass the buck to the executive branch, that executive-branch officials should administer laws subject to the guidance of Congress, and that courts exist to review the legitimacy of both.
I do not suggest that it is by any means certain that a court would strike down the Paulson bill as it's now written. But it is certain that this bill is in powerful tension with our system of checks and balances and that its constitutionality would be subject to grave doubt. Why take a chance? It was a lack of transparency and accountability that created the crisis in credit markets. That was itself a departure from the wisdom of the framers. Let's not depart again.


Student Help: How do I access a Moodle course?
First time logging into Moodle? Make sure to log in to the Student Information Web Service and change your temporary password to a personalized password or you will not be able to log in to Moodle.
If you do not see the course you are looking for it is possible that the instructor has not yet made the site available to students or the instructor might not be using a Moodle site. Please contact your instructor for more information.


text:
Asian Indexes Mixed; Aussie Shares Hit Record High Led by Mining Stocks
The major Asia Pacific stock indexes are trading mixed early Tuesday as investors appetite for risk continued to improve ahead of the signing of the Phase One trade deal between the United States and China on Wednesday. Investor optimism was enhanced before the opening after Washington said late Monday that Beijing was no longer a currency manipulator.
At 04:07 GMT, Japan's Nikkei 225 Index is trading 23970.30, up 119.73 or +0.50%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index is at 28899.90, down 55.04 or -0.19% and South Korea's KOSPI Index is trading 2235.55, up 6.29 or +0.28%.
In China, the Shanghai Index is trading 3113.96, down 1.61 or -0.05% and in Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 Index is at 6947.30, up 43.60 or +0.63%.
US Removes China from Currency Manipulator List Ahead of Trade Deal Signing
The United States removed China from a list of countries considered currency manipulators just two days before top trade negotiators for Washington and Beijing sign a key "phase one" trade deal, the Treasury Department announced Monday.
The decision to strike China from the currency manipulator list comes more than five months after the Treasury Department formally made the designation. China is now on a "monitoring list" for currency practices along with nine other countries, including Germany, Italy and Japan.
"The Treasury Department has helped secure a significant Phase One agreement with China that will lead to greater economic growth and opportunity for American workers and businesses," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. "China has made enforceable commitments to refrain from competitive devaluation, while promoting transparency and accountability."
China's Dollar-Denominated Exports and Imports Beat Expectations in December
China's dollar-denominated exports and imports were both higher in December, Reuters reported citing data from the General Administration of Customs.
In December, dollar-denominated exports rose 7.6% on-year, against a 1.3% drop in November.
December imports were 16.3% higher from a year ago, Reuters reported citing data from the Chinese customs.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected dollar-denominated exports to rise 3.2% on-year and imports to rise 9.6% in the same period.
December trade surplus was $46.79 billion, against an expected $48 billion.
In December, China's trade surplus with the U.S. was $23.18 billion – down from $24.6 billion in November.
Australian Shares Hit Record Highs Ahead of Sino-US Trade Deal
Australian shares hit record highs on Tuesday, powered by gains in financial and mining sectors, as optimism over a planned signing of a preliminary Sino-U.S. trade deal lifted investor spirits.
Mining stocks climbed 1%, with iron ore miners dominating gains in the sector. Australian iron ore miners count China as a key destination for the export of the steelmaking commodity.
Australian financial stocks climbed 0.7% to their highest since December 17, 2019. The 'Big Four' banks gained between 0.1% and 1.1%.
S&P Global Ratings on Monday said it expects a modest increase in credit losses for larger Australian banks after damaging bushfires in the country, which have led analysts to downgrade growth forecasts for the year.
EUR/USD is Going for W H3 and Higher Camarillas
China Imports and Exports Surge ahead of Tomorrow's Signing…
U.S. Dollar Index Futures (DX) Technical Analysis – Strengthens Over 97.300, Weakens Under 97.005
Market News Report: January 13, 2020 – January 17, 2020
USD/JPY Forex Technical Analysis – Sustained Rally Over 109.930 Means Buying is Real
GBP/USD – Soft GDP Sends Pound Below 1.30
Tesla beats profit estimates, expects strong 2020 production


text: Drop list supporting morphs in list.


cookies or are they being stored anywhere else? Thanks.
Responses to "Deleted Temp Folder"
>I sent my temporary internet folder to the recycle bin and deleted it.
> cookies or are they being stored anywhere else? Thanks.
Take a look in C:\Users\username\Cookies\Low.
>>I sent my temporary internet folder to the recycle bin and deleted it.
>> cookies or are they being stored anywhere else? Thanks.
Thanks for geting back to me. It says no items match my search.
> Take a look in C:\Users\username\Cookies\Low.
> >>I sent my temporary internet folder to the recycle bin and deleted it.
> >> cookies or are they being stored anywhere else? Thanks.
> >I sent my temporary internet folder to the recycle bin and deleted it.
> > cookies or are they being stored anywhere else? Thanks.
Hi. I don't get any error messages.
> Browsing History - Settings. Then you can see them or move them around.
If create a new folder location and move them back this should do it.
>> >I sent my temporary internet folder to the recycle bin and deleted it.
>> > cookies or are they being stored anywhere else? Thanks.
> Hi. I don't get any error messages.
cookies, but that didn't help.
> > Browsing History - Settings. Then you can see them or move them around.
> If create a new folder location and move them back this should do it.
> >> >I sent my temporary internet folder to the recycle bin and deleted it.
> >> > cookies or are they being stored anywhere else? Thanks.
> > Hi. I don't get any error messages.
Did you navigate to the folder?
> Thanks for geting back to me. It says no items match my search.
>> Take a look in C:\Users\username\Cookies\Low.
>> >>I sent my temporary internet folder to the recycle bin and deleted it.
>> >> cookies or are they being stored anywhere else? Thanks.
Have you rebooted your system yet?
> cookies, but that didn't help.
>> If create a new folder location and move them back this should do it.
>> >> > cookies or are they being stored anywhere else? Thanks.
>> > Hi. I don't get any error messages.


On the corporate part, on another hand, competition is quite strong at the airports since that portion is below limited supervision by Hertz. Because the underwent an enormous financial problem recently, it has upgraded the range of competition within the majority of the companies that survived. Competitively talking, the hire vehicle industry is just a war-zone as most rental agencies including Enterprise, Hertz and Avis one of the significant participants participate in a challenge of the fittest.
Within the last few years the hire vehicle market has produced a great deal of development to aid it circulation processes. Today, there are approximately 19,000 rental places containing about 1.9 million rental cars in the US. Because of the increasingly considerable number of vehicle rental locations in the US, strategic and tactical approaches are taken into consideration to be able to insure appropriate circulation through the entire industry. Circulation happens within two interrelated segments. On the corporate market, the cars are distributed to airports and resort surroundings. On the leisure segment, on another hand, vehicles are spread to firm owned services which are conveniently found within many Car Rental Dubai roads and urban areas.
Before, managers of rental vehicle businesses applied to depend on gut-feelings or spontaneous guesses to create conclusions about exactly how many vehicles to possess in a certain fleet or the operation level and performance requirements of maintaining specific cars in one fleet. With that technique, it was extremely tough to keep up a degree of harmony that will meet customer demand and the desired level of profitability. The distribution method is pretty easy through the industry.
In the first place, managers must establish the number of cars that must definitely be on inventory on a daily basis. Because a really visible problem arises when too many or not enough cars are available, most vehicle hire organizations including Hertz, Enterprise and Avis, work with a "pool" which is really a number of independent hire services that share a fleet of vehicles. Generally, with the pools in place, rental locations work more proficiently simply because they minimize the risk of minimal supply if not eliminate hire car shortages.


text:
Regency Mahogany Pedestal Sideboard
This monumental sideboard is a remarkable example of early 19th-century English cabinetmaking
Crafted of mahogany, the Regency era piece features a grand Neoclassical design
Its ample storage and extensive serving surface makes it the perfect piece for the dining room
This monumental English mahogany sideboard captures the luxury of the Regency era in grand style. Crafted in the Neoclassical taste, the sideboard evokes the stately forms of ancient Greek and Roman architecture in its beautifully proportioned form and expertly carved details. Its pedestal form would have ensured the smooth execution of even the most opulent dinner party. Extra bottles of wine were easily at hand in the cabinets, while drawers solved storage issues for dirtied plates and utensils. The extensive surface held large pieces of silver, providing a convenient serving place for formal or informal entertaining.
The Regency era historically refers to the nine-year period when King George III's son, the Prince of Wales, ruled as his proxy from 1811 until 1820. Culturally, however, the distinctive style and romance of the Regency era lasted through to the Victorian era thanks to the influence of the future King George IV. Known for his extravagant lifestyle, he took an interest in fashion and design, becoming a ruler of taste and artistic influence. Thus, the Regency period was one of the most creative, inventive and expensive periods of English design, fueled and paid for by the rapid growth of industrialization in Western Europe. Wealthy patrons in England delighted in following the Prince's eclectic taste for neoclassical design and a range of revival styles, including Gothic and Indian. The Regency era is considered by many to be the zenith of English cabinetmaking, and this sideboard is certainly a triumph of early 19th-century inventiveness.
42 1/2" high x 73 1/2" wide x 28" deep
Type: Sideboards
Style: Regency


text:
'Global warming is a greater threat than COVID-19'
A very current topic for the Lower School Public Speaking competition which generated some excellent presentations and lively debate.
The ability to connect and motivate an audience is a valuable skill and one which is nurtured through the regular opportunities that girls have to speak and present complex ideas to an audience. The Lower School Public Speaking competition in the Murray Centre was one such opportunity in which ten girls from Remove and Lower Fourth had just three minutes to present their case for or against the premise that 'Global warming is a greater threat than COVID-19'. They were allowed to use their notes and each girl had a Lower Sixth Mentor who had supported and guided them to research and prepare their arguments. One of our on-line learners joined the competition live over teams from her home in Lagos.
The competition was judged by actress and alumna, Georgina Rylance (DH 1994) who said,
I was so impressed with all the girls and the confidence they displayed and very much hope that they will keep going with speaking in front of people as it's a wonderful skill to be able to stand up and give your opinions with confidence and authority whether it be in a classroom, a debate, a competition, in school, later in the work place. For me all the girls were winners!
At the end of the evening, Pippa was crowned the winner out of the Remove girls with Sophia as runner up, and Niamh was the winner for Lower Fourth closely followed by Maria as runner up. Congratulations to all the girls who took part and our thanks to all the Sixth Form girls who were such great mentors.
Deputy Head's Blog
AI: a teacher's friend or foe?
In his latest blog, Deputy Head, Mr Matthew Godfrey, explores the impact of the sophisticated online 'help' now available to pupils in the form of artificial intelligence systems like ChatGTP.
Discover 20/01/23
Maths for all until age 18? No problem, Prime Minister!
In his latest blog, Deputy Head, Mr Matthew Godfrey, explores how, contrary to the PM's suggestion, a resurgence of the humanities is likely in the coming years, as the core skills involved in these subjects – not least independence of thought, communication and imagination – become more and more valuable in modern society.
Beautiful performance of Cinderella
On the last day of the Michaelmas term, the dancers of Downe House presented an exciting and contemporary performance of Cinderella. Showcasing the pupils' talents with an amalgamation of dance styles including Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet and Street Dance to a delighted audience.
Christmas Carol Services
This year's Carol Services were a spectacular celebration of the festive season with a service created by our Chaplain, Rev'd Platt, along with the Music department and based upon the traditional order of Nine Lessons and Carols.
The Pioneer – Peacock
The extravagant fantail of the male peacock is a thing of beauty. In this article for The Pioneer, Rebecca (Upper Fifth/Year 11 pupil) explores the reasons why peacock show off their impressive plumage.
The Pioneer – Silence
Have you ever been in a place that is completely void of any noise? In this article for The Pioneer STEM magazine, Millie explores the benefits to health of being in a space that is completely silent.
The Pioneer – Fashionably Detected
In this article for The Pioneer STEM magazine, Upper Fifth pupil Sage explores emerging technologies and breakthroughs in the field of bioengineering that have proved exciting in the past few decades.
Best Festive Reads 2022
The Murray Centre Library team put together an in depth list for the best books to read this festive season. From Christmas classics to 'must reads' for any time of the year.
Lord Heseltine Medley Lecture
It was a great privilege for us to welcome The Rt Hon. the Lord Heseltine CH to School to give what was the first of the Downe House Senior Medley Lectures this academic year.
Innovative STEM Shorts Initiative
A group of our Upper Sixth STEM students treated their fellow sixth formers, Scholars from across the School and members of the STEM subjects staff to an inspiring evening of short talks on the topic: "Modern-day problems that can be solved through inspiration from nature."
Wellbeing Through Philanthropy
In recent years, Downe and many other schools have placed the 'wellbeing' of their pupils at the heart of all they do. Our Deputy Head explores the positive impact philanthropy can have on the self-esteem and confidence of young people and why the best wellbeing programmes come from 'within'.
Remembrance Tribute
Downe House paid tribute to the brave men and women who served in the armed forces or who worked for the war effort during the first and second world wars.


Soil tests can be no better than the sample. Therefore, proper collection of the soil sample is extremely important. To obtain a good soil sample, follow the directions below.
Soil samples may be taken at any time during the year when soil conditions permit. It usually takes the Laboratory three to five days to process your samples.
If the area is fairly level and the soil appears to be uniform, collect a composite (mixed) sample.
If your lawn or garden has large areas which differ in fertility, take one sample from each area. For example, you may want to sample the front lawn and the back lawn separately (see diagram below).
Do not include soil from the lawn area and a garden in the same composite sample. Sample separately or avoid trouble spots or small areas such as borders, low spots, near trees or buildings, etc.
Use a garden trowel, spade, sampling tube, or soil auger. Scrape away or discard any surface mat of grass or litter. Sample the lawn or garden area to the sampling depth indicated below.
existing grass - sample 0-3"
new grass - sample 0-6"
Place the soil sample in a clean bucket or pan. Repeat sampling in five (5) scattered spots within the chosen area. Mix soil well to make a composite sample and send in about a pint of the sample to the Laboratory. Sample boxes are free on request, but any clean container may be used.
Label the sample container with your name, address, and your sample identification.


Four of each of the following full-ride scholarships are awarded each year, based on a competitive selection process, to students who show academic excellence, leadership, service, and character.
Laker Distinction, President's All tuition and fees at Mid Michigan College for up to 62* attempted credit hours. This scholarship is renewable for a second year, provided the student maintains a 3.0 cumulative GPA (including any dual enrolled classes completed, if applicable) their first complete academic year at Mid. The eligible time frame for receiving free tuition begins the spring semester after the recipient graduates from high school; it elapses two spring semesters thereafter. The Laker Distinction President's Scholarship also provides a $500 books and supplies stipend for every fall and winter semester of eligibility, this stipend must be used at one of Mid's Bookstores.
Laker Distinction All tuition and fees at Mid Michigan College for up to 31* attempted credit hours. It is non-renewable and must be used during the academic year immediately following the recipient's high school graduation.
*Tuition and fees at the in-state tuition rate for the enrollment year. Both in and out-district students receive all tuition and fees covered fully for one or two years, depending on the LDS Scholarship they receive. Award is not applicable for fees and other expenses related to study abroad. Award may be used toward the classroom tuition related to a study abroad experience.
Eligibility Graduating Michigan high school seniors with cumulative GPA's of 3.5 or above. Early College students are not eligible.
Applicants will participate in a selective process that involves attending an event in late October or early November. Finalists will then be notified, and participate in another round of competition in February. Seats are very limited, and will be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis.
RSVP to participate in the first round of application.
The applicant and one guest may attend the event. Seats are limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants are encouraged to RSVP as early as possible. The 2018 contest will begin with the first round competition on NOVEMBER 10th at 11:00 AM. The event will occur on Mid's Mt. Pleasant campus. Participants must RSVP ahead of time.
Complete and Submit the Enhanced Resume. This enhanced resume will be scored by Mid judges, so make sure you are detailed and grammatically correct. This document needs to be completed before November 10, 2018.
Access the RESUME FORM HERE (form will open in a new tab).
Submissions should be brief and should capture and convey the individual qualities of the applicant that best reflect his/her character and attributes.
Written responses that can be creative or direct essay responses (1500 words or less).
Other—if you have another idea about what you would like to submit outside of this list, please contact admissions at admissions@midmich.edu or (989) 386-6661 and the selection panel will review your concept.
*Feel free to include a short description or explanation about why/how your submission responds to the prompt "I have something distinct to contribute to Mid" if you feel it would be beneficial.
Submissions Deadline: You can submit your project as soon as it's complete. Simply drop it off at either Mid campus (Harrison or Mt. Pleasant) Admissions office. You can also email your final project to the email listed above. Should you not hand it in early, ALL submissions are due on competition day. Please bring them with you to the competition.
Attend the First Selection Event and complete the scholarship application in person. The event will include lunch, information about these and other scholarships, college presenters, and tours. Attendance is required to move forward in the selection process. On rare, limited occasions, Mid may allow a student to compete on a different day. This will be handled on a case-by-case basis and is reserved for extreme situations. Please contact the Admissions department if a student is unable to compete on the first round of competition scheduled day: admissions@midmich.edu.
Final Selection will be based on a second visit to Mid in February. A limited number of scholarship Finalists will be invited to this event, where they will complete the final portions of application.


text:
Lackeys from Lacrimosa
Posted by Nicolas von Schatz in Gothic, Red lackeys
2008, bitch, commie, dark scene, dignity, genocide, Gothic, henchman, honor, jester, lackeys, lacrimosa, neo-communist, neo-soviet, russia, scumbag, show, sold out, tilo wolff, treachery, untermensch
"Just because you do not take an interest in politics
doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you"
-Pericles
This article was inspired by friend's question about "Gothic" band named Lacrimosa. Knowing about lack of awareness at the dark scene, I've decided to make public some things known to me.
It's damn convenient to be uninterested in politics living in some (still) civilized country. But it can be cozy not only for brainslackers who don't bother themselves with extra thoughts. Vacancy is a chance to take at the first glance, so the new trend of untermensch praising is taking over quickly, started by sold-out lackeys of Kremlin and puffed up by politically correct dummies. The world dark scene isn't an exception here.
I don't care about self-induced pseudo-limits of those who are about to criticize me for being "too political for a Goth". To have a free Spirit and wide area of interests can't be incompatible with Gothic or any other nature (except maybe the nature of russian serf). The rebuking ones must get themselves out of clubs, sober up and look around to deal with their own ignorance which is definitely not bliss. Especially in the modern world where the red threat is rising back from grave.
There are things obligatory for everyone regardless of cultural and political preferences. Things such as Honor and Dignity. There are also limits which can never be exceeded by human being in his own mind.
No matter of ethnic origin and reasons of choosing to become russian bitch, hard self-besmearing with russian dirt and untermensch praising can turn anyone into red russian subhuman – as it happened with Lacrimosa.
"During last several years this legendary band became almost native to Russia. Tilo and his company are likely grown to bears and balalaikas with their souls. In this year, the "offering of hand and heart" happened: thanks to the voice of unchanging maestro, the Krasnodar star shined from the scene, and russian flag was placed in a cozy manner near the official banner with a white clown". (RIP No. 27, Oct/Nov 2009 – translation from russian)
This time I was seriously surprised, but not by the deeds of despicable russian lackey Wolff and his sidekicks. Each nation has enough of its own scum ready to join the red horde and spit on their own dignity for some miserable sop. The sensation was, russian masters of commie bullshit finally said the truth!
Here's a couple of photos from their 2009 show in Moscow.
Maybe russian police and street thugs were bashing somebody for being Gothic right at this moment. But this poor somebody wasn't Wolff, so the latter one feels damn jolly and happy to wave the flag of cattleland. The land where neo-bolshevik "police" thugs torture, murder and rape people for being just different from lowlife chavs. The symbol of eternal genocide of "others" – both at war and in "peaceful" life of that neo-soviet hellhole. The one which BTW was on tanks of russian thugs who invaded Georgia to pillage, rape and destroy not so long ago.
Trying to preserve European political correctness, russian bitch Wolff is desperately trying to fake his neutrality (as his pro-russian bitch attitude hasn't been proudly demonstrated to entire world). Even being directly asked about Pussy Riot, he tries to slip between the rock and a hard place, talking like he's one of those non-violence-obsessed junkies who gladly put their cheeks under repeated bashing (Dark City No 70, Sep/Oct 2012) and how music bands shouldn't be too politicized. Yeah yeah, blah blah, "peace", "neutrality" and "non-violence" bullshit is as old as commie doctrine. Speaking of commies and especially politicization…
The cover of that "NON-POLITICAL" special russian edition single was designed by ruskies and gladly accepted by their lackeys from Lacrimosa.
In its feature song "I lost my star in Krasnodar", comrade Wolff was trying to sing in russian himself, assisted by russian fake-Cossack "Krinitsa" band (personal asslicking squad of russian kingpin) with balalaikas. The result was far from perfection, but Wolff promised his masters to improve – as genuine russian bitch.
For a commie-loving fag, what can be more "Gothic" than bolshevist star? Only the mausoleum with a stuffed commie corpse. It's unknown did comrade Wolff ever visit the mentioned place – but the eternal gas burner nearby was to his liking. As well as commie scrap all over the cattleland.
A wannabe commie never misses an opportunity to bow down in front of bolshevik legacy – "relics" of red subhuman rapists, looters and murderers, to prove the allegiance to his new masters. Da, tovarisch Wolff?
Don't know about the lost star, but somebody definitely lost the miserable remains of dignity and conscience in red hellhole named Krasnodar. If there were any… Looking into more of Wolff's interviews, I've found that:
"Since my visit of Russia in 2005, I was under impression. Afterwards, I was reading only russian writers, and a lot of [things] about russian culture" (Rock Oracle magazine). Hey commie bitches! How about changing logo and name to something more suitable for ya, just like that?
All of that might seem to be strange for a civilized mind unfamiliar with the red nightmare. But I know what Russia is and who praises it.
I encountered enough of red lackeys abroad. Young and old, poor and rich, white and black ones… But all united by the single feature: sense of impunity and mania for bragging with it far and wide, which they inherited from their thug masters as some kind of bonus.
The year of 2008 was marked not only by russian atrocities in Georgia. In that same year, neo-bolshevik russian subhumans declared Goths, Metalheads and other Dark Scene youth cultures a contemporary equivalent of "vrag naroda" ("enemies of the people") – extremists, starting the nationwide genocidal campaign of wiping out the independent young people, which resulted in almost total extermination of thinking youths in Russia.
Comrade Wolff, who became the jester of cattlleland with no conscience and no Honor just chose the most suitable moment for his perverted buffoonery, singing unholy anthems to his new masters under shining red Kremlin stars of war and genocide, bringing the miserable tribute to his masters' deeds. Just like true russian subhuman who finds a pleasure in suffering of others and destruction of civilized culture. Or at least cheering the mob of ape-like chavs with screaming and wiggling – either on the stage or at the street with some cheap slogans.
It might seem "cool" for someone to praise the red brute at this troubled time, but the impunity has always been an illusion. Especially for sold-out lackeys, regardless of their asslicking efforts. I could've said about the Justice, but that would have been too epic for some small-time russian asslicker like Wolff. The fate of such expendable bitches has always been and will be the same: to be disposed of by their own untermensch master when he gets bored of same-style asslicking.
2008 is the new 1937
Posted by Nicolas von Schatz in Gothic, Neo-soviet rampage
1937, 2008, atrocities, commie, concept, crime, dark scene, evidence, genocide, Gothic, Goths, neo-bolshevik, neo-communist, neo-soviet, persecution, police brutality, red subhumans, red terror, repressions, russia, russian character, russian crimes, russian soul, subculture, subhuman, untermensch, ussr, youth cultures
So-called "mysterious national character" of russians is a riddle to many naive Westerners, but its answer is short and clear for those who know the true History or at least possess some common sense.
Its first feature is congenital hatred towards anyone different from their horde of drunken lowlife thugs and whores. Neither ideology nor politics are forcing russians to destroy and harass "others" – it is the essential part of modern russian genotype, created by centuries of serfdom and subsequent 5 generations of Soviet anti-selection.
Eternal genocide of those who are "enemies of the nation", "extremists", "too smart", "too rich", "too different" "just not like us" etc. is common on all social levels from government to the last shitty village. The exception is possible only for those who get in trouble – most of russians pity unfortunate neighbor, but as soon as he will deal with problems he will become an "enemy" again.
The second feature of russian character is inability (and lack of slightest will) to use the Freedom and have Dignity. The undead tyrannical regime is being restored again and again under different COAs, despite all the efforts of the West to enforce the civil society in Russia. The Voodoo magic for this zombified red monster is nothing but that very "mysterious russian soul", unable to exist without a tyrant's whip and Gulag barbed wire at the perimeter. More than 70% of those slaves consider commie thug Stalin "a great leader" and would like to live under his red tyranny for ever.
Demise of USSR was only temporary and Western thoughts about "liberated" russians turned to to be a terrible mistake. Deprived of their commie dictators, reds were feeling neither thankful nor relived. Instead of finally starting to live like people, regret their crimes and protect the Freedom (which they, unlike others, got absolutely for free), red cattle went mad about "evil and sly West" that deprived them "of great and mighty country". The short period of half-criminal anarchy of 1990s was followed by the hectic restoration of neo-soviet mafia state by its own nation that finally and ultimately proved itself as incurable bolshevik scum.
But contrary to wandering slave masses deprived from ideology and waiting for new USSR to come, different individual representatives of youth generation begun to stand out – the people who decided to choose their own lifestyle. (As far as I knew, most of them were of civilized nations, or "vrag naroda" descent at least partly.) Feeling sick from common similarity of soviet minds and appearances, they chose to join some of youth cultures mostly new to Russia at this time. That was enough to cause the nationwide uproar of russian orcs who went into red psychotic frenzy, seeing there a serious threat to their neo-Soviet state and responding with humiliation, constant harassment, threats and physical elimination of "enemies".
2008 was the new 1937. The genocide that no one of official "human right" windbags talks about – because it's not trendy.
At this year, neo-commie "united russia" brutes, together with their neo-komsomol "nashi", "molodaja gvardija", "rossija molodaya" and other bitches legislated the nationwide persecution of independent youths, turning the congenital rage of untermensch horde into ordered neo-communist repressions, labeled as "raising up of patriotic and healthy youths".
Those murderous thugs and terrorists created so-called "law" named "Concept of state politics in the area of spiritual and moral education of Russian Federation youth and protection of their morality" (Original name in Russian: "Концепция государственной политики в области духовно-нравственного воспитания детей в Российской Федерации и защиты их нравственности").
The wide variety of youth cultures had been proclaimed extremist, outlaw and danger to society. The word "extremist" is most favored by russian uniformed thugs cause in Russia this is the resurrection of "vrag naroda" label (enemy of the nation) from times of Red Terror that allowed to arrest, brutalize, interrogate, jail and execute anyone labeled with it. Just because he (or she) is not a "true soviet/russian" or "doesn't like the happy socialist paradise". And amongst the most "dangerous" categories of new "public enemies", there of course were Goths.
Being a young and newly Embraced Goth at the time of 2008, I felt the unholy power of repressions very soon, by the twist of fate situated at the very center of neo-bolshevist lair – Moscow state university named after Bauman (the breeding house for neo-bolshevik scum). While I am NOT russian by my blood and spirit, this meant "double enemy" for russian untermenschen.
I went through expelling from university, arrests, assaults and deprivation of citizenship. Despite everything, I survived and got my freedom. I did not betray my ideals and beliefs.
Someone met the fate much more dreadful and was mutilated by russian subhumans in police uniform or without it. Many fake convictions were made to jail innocent ones – or just brutalize them to death during torture "interrogations".
Getting their subhuman dreams legislated, horde of russian thugs rushed towards satisfaction of their low perverted instincts, murdering, raping, mutilating, robbing and taunting, entirely supported by dictator's regime, their police thugs, officials and the most of nation.
The countless number of younger individuals was forced to suicide by neo-bolshevik scum, whose activists were enforcing the persecution in each and every place. When the new terror started the schoolkids had almost no chance. I was already at the university with enough force and experience to resist, but younger ones had suffered the overwhelming blow of repressions before they could become into personalities firmly standing at their ground.
Blood of all those people is on corrupt hands of KGB pervert dictator Putin, his eternal-commie goons and the nation of russian subhumans.
All those atrocities of neo-bolshevik horde went mostly unnoticed by the most of the world obsessed with political correctness, attempts to improve relations with commie thugs and promotion of always-whacked useless ragdoll russian opposition. There were a few exceptions, of course non-mainstream ones like the news of Alterophobia and Gothic Liberation front. It's very sad to see both of those good Websites abandoned now.
Commies always have been the masters of forgery and fake. Even being a citizen of Russia you can't just go and read your own laws and regulations, let alone be updated.
As a true criminal, ruskies often conceal the legislation of new laws. Those abominations cannot even be called laws (recently-legislated hostage "law" is the apotheosis of russian "justice"). But it works on politically correct dummies who believe everything said by ruskies and consider their horde of subhumans "civilized people" just because they said so. Even if they do things completely opposite. There are plenty of mindless fools who neither know their own History nor want to see the evident reality, but ready to believe any word of russian orc chieftans.
Rumors are being spread far and wide about the "concept", like it was "just an unfortunate attempt of youth politics" and now the entire project is cancelled. It's just neo-communist bullshit of sold-out kremlin henchmen. Here, their mantras won't work – I managed to get those almost-secret documents that my good friend spotted on some unofficial pro-government site. It turned out russian slackers just forgot to stop the leak…
The "concept" itself says it's the long-term multi-stage project planned for 2008-2020 years. The uproar of 2008 that was heard by civilized world was caused only by the initial representation, after which all set of contained laws has been legislated one by one, discreetly from outer world and even russian citizens. After several thuggish raids on youth activists and their Web resources (read about it HERE) and dismembering the structure of resistance, it was much easier than taking the risk of nationwide repressions being noticed by the world community. Though… what this "civilized" community can do even when it knows? Show its another deep concern?
Here are the links to original text of this odious perverted neo-soviet so-called "law project".
Part 1(.PDF)
The short annotation (.DOC) is not hard to find but it has only essentials.
Maybe one day I will publish the translations of those materials to demonstrate the evidence of russian neo-soviet crimes against youth generation to all Western world that considers itself civilized, but with each new day is doing more and more favors to embodiment of inborn evil – der rote untermensch.
It has become trendy to love red thugs; russophiles worldwide are singing anthems to "mysterious russian soul" guessing its origins, while in reality the entire "mysterious" russian essence is in own words of ruskies: "Wanna live better than us? Ya too clever? Won't drink vodka with us? We beat ya!"
Times do change. But if there are unresolved troubles from the past, they must be dealt with the methods that proved their reliability long time ago. Like the hot lead and roadside gallows for the horde of red thugs who went mad from impunity and going to drown the entire world in their bloody neo-communist nightmare after completing the butchery at their place.
There is no forgiveness for those who help russian thugs to conceal their foul deeds.
Crimes of past and present must not be forgotten!
The criminal subhuman horde of bolshevik spawn must be brought to Justice!
Common sense abnormality
Posted by Nicolas von Schatz in Hands off!
2008, Georgia, Georgian-russian war, invasion, neo-soviet, resistance, russian occupation, Saakashvili, speech, struggle
During the recent lecture in Prinstone university, U.S.A., the President of Georgia Mikhel Saakashvili was mostly speaking about democratic improvements in his country, but the 2008 war against russian aggressors was discussed also. Mr. Saakashvili said particularly this:
"My little country was attacked by a state 100 times bigger. Good that we have no map here, it is even scary to look at. They wanted full demise of my country but after 4 years I'm still here".
Speaking of success, he pointed at "anomaly" of his own existence, in contrary to mad barking of russian schweinehund S. Lavrov (head of russian MID), who told about a year ago: "President (of Georgia) Saakashvili is pathology and anomaly of entire Gerogian nation, and in addition to this he got bad upbringing." (sources: Regnum, RIA novisti)
The pot calls the kettle black again. Speaking about upbringing and morality, Lavrov has none of it at all, as well as his fellow russian "politicians" who have manners no more than feral mad bears drunk with vodka – and continue their favourite commie traditions of Molotov in our days.
But they are sure that their brutality and loutishness will be respected by spineless politically correct "power" of modern Europe and U.S.A. Unfortunately, commies are right here – many countries even much more powerful than post-Soviet Georgia have no guts to stand up against the red horde with occupant "wannabe-Stalin" ambitions of KGB dictator Putin.
Anyone who shows even a slightest disagreement is called by those neo-communist bastards names like "Nazi" (if from Europe) or "pathology" (if from other world regions), while their young sidekicks ("nashi", "rumol", "molodaya gvardija") start nationwide uproar, swearing and insulting of their "enemies".
In this world the healthy common sense of independence is truly becoming uncommon and kind of "anomalous" in the middle of spiritless political correctness and liberalism.
But together with gutless politicians and nations enjoying their humiliation, exclusions do exist and will be. Despite russian brutality, threats, History falsifications, invasion attempts and murders (Remember the Poland Government and President Lech Kazsinsky!) they resist against the red neo-soviet horde.
For victorious resistance, one doesn't need to be a politician or official. In modern times of Internet and open borders, russian neo-soviet nightmare is spreading to get inside each and every home. The front in this war depends on each and every man who values the freedom, dignity and personality.
No matter how "abnormal" the modern trend calls it.


Presented by by Rhonda Thompson.
Colorado Technical University, Room 260-A at 7:00 p.m.
You don't need to be a hippie with a composting toilet to practice Permaculture! Permanent Agriculture is a design system using the logic and balance of nature that can (and should!) be integrated into anyone's yard or property. Learn more about the ethics and principles of this earth/people friendly system of sustainable living and land use.
Free to all at the Colorado Technical University, 4435 North Chestnut (exit Garden of the Gods Road).
Presented by Leslie Holzmann, Master Gardener and Black Forest resident.
February's gardening talk will be on "Starting Your Garden From Seed" on February 11, in room 256 at Colorado Technical University. Why start your garden from seed? You'll have more varieties to choose from than from nursery selections. You'll have healthy seedlings, ready when you want them. Best of all, you'll have the satisfaction of starting your garden from the very first step. Some seeds can't wait to grow, while others need some specific coaxing. We'll learn about them all in this class on the ABCs of seed starting.
Come get ideas and inspiration for the many ways to use the space now occupied by lawn.
and replace them with rock. That seems such a shame, because you can do so many other things with that space that still saves water! You could create a landscape that invites you to enjoy it. Thinking about your pets or your children? There will be ideas for that, too. Topics will also include meditation/exercise spaces, entertaining areas, really impact, and artificial turf pro's & cons.
Pat Sullivan has a degree in Horticulture from Texas A&M, and has been in the industry since the 1970's. She has been a garden designer in Colorado Springs for over ten years, and has a landscape design course for homeowners given in the spring.