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Artist of the Year:
Mitsuko Uchida
By Clive Paget
With a 50-year career behind her, Uchida combines diamantine precision with an appetite for risk. And when this deeply honest artist tells you she apologizes to her beloved composers every day for not doing them justice, you can imagine her doing just that.
Photo © Justin Pumfrey/Decca.
When her father was posted to Germany in 1964, 16-year-old Mitsuko Uchida opted to continue her studies in Vienna rather that accompany her family to Cologne. It was a big and typically self-reliant decision. "At that point I thought to myself, I'm not sure I have the talent to be a professional pianist, but I shall give it a try. And I'm still trying." The self-deprecating codicil to that sentence is accompanied by an eruption of the distinctive Uchida laugh, a full-throated chortle that punctuates a typical conversation with this endlessly engaging artist. It's spontaneous, disarmingly self-effacing, but honest and utterly her own.
In many ways it's a direct reflection of her music-making. As a pianist she can startle, her diamantine precision counterbalancing a healthy appetite for risk. Her technique is formidable, yet she's never showy. As both woman and musician, she's quietly focused, intense, and occasionally a little intimidating. In conversation you sense her brain interrogating each sentence before reemphasizing its newly discovered essential truth. So too, at the piano, each musical phrase is weighed afresh, even the most familiar, for Uchida never tires of the music she loves. With that comes a humility that in someone else might seem like false modesty. But when Uchida tells you that she apologizes to her cherished composers every day for not doing them justice, you can imagine her doing just that.
Born in Atami, a seaside town not far from Tokyo, the infant Mitsuko was taken along to her brother's piano lessons. After about six months, the teacher, whose own son shared the class, approached Uchida's mother, and said, "That baby you are bringing to the piano lessons, that one is more interested than the two boys put together. So, I want to teach that one."
Piano lessons commenced at the age of three with further tuition when the family moved to Tokyo, but then everything changed when her father was appointed Japan's ambassador to Austria. Enrolled at the Vienna Academy of Music, Uchida gave her first recital at the age of 14 at the hallowed Musikverein. "When I came back to my next lesson with my teacher [Richard] Hauser, he said, 'Now you know you want to be a pianist, don't you?' And I said, no. And he was livid!" she relates. "I said, I don't know what it means to be a pianist, and that was a very honest answer."
What was important to the teenage Uchida was opera. For much of her first four years in Vienna, Herbert von Karajan was intendant and music director of the Staatsoper. "That was my primary musical education, more than anything else in Vienna at that point," she reveals. "I remember operas—you don't know how wonderful they were! My first and second Mimìs were Mirella Freni; and Rosenkavalier with Schwarzkopf and Jurinac as Octavian and so on. Leontyne Price as Aida and Liù, and opposite her was Birgit Nilsson as Turandot. You name them, they were all there."
As for her chosen discipline: "I didn't like any of the pianists!" Again, the Uchida laugh. "And when I go back to these people now, I still dislike them. I learned much more about music-making from people like Pablo Casals, Josef Szigeti, Adolf Busch, and Wilhelm Furtwängler than I did from other pianists."
In 1969, the 21-year-old Uchida won the Vienna Beethoven prize and was placed second the following year in the VIII International Chopin Piano Competition. Soon after she decided to move to London, for typically self-challenging and Uchida-esque reasons. "I thought to myself, Vienna is a place where everybody knows how the music goes and that is a misunderstanding. Life isn't that simple," she recalls. "I speak a Viennese German, so that lilt in the language is in my blood. The way I conceive Schubert is very Viennese. And not only Schubert, I play Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern in a Viennese way. But I realized that I knew very little and so I wanted to get out of Vienna."
For Uchida, England was "a no man's land" but one that she knew had proved attractive to Handel, Haydn, and Mozart. She admired the Royal Philharmonic Society for commissioning Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and sending the ailing composer money with no strings attached. "So, England has a good track record about being open to foreigners," she declares. "In spite of the class society that's still existing, there was an intellectual tolerance and a musical tolerance. Since Brexit, no—that was a shocker! Brexit was one of the most shocking events that I have experienced. But England seemed more tolerant to ideas and so it was—and it is."
Britain, it seems, has enjoyed a mutual love affair with Uchida ever since. She was appointed an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2001 and promoted to a full Dame Commander in 2009 by which time she had become a British citizen. In 2012, her admired Royal Philharmonic Society awarded her its Gold Medal, one of classical music's top honors. Musically, it was Mozart who brought her fame and fortune. Performances of the piano sonatas at Wigmore Hall, and in Tokyo, and later on in New York, became hot tickets. In 1989 she won a Gramophone Award for her complete cycle recorded on the Philips label. However, despite her Mozart credentials she used to say that Schubert was her true kindred spirit. Today she's less certain.
"I can talk about what was and what is," she explains."Schubert's world of loneliness, I felt very close to, it's as simple as that, and Mozart's world is not lonely. It's one where the most precise and most amazing compositional genius is falling in love with every beautiful girl in the room. In Mozart's music, every note behaves as if it were a human being or a child. Every note is wishing to change its mind. It takes a different psychology to play him, I think. You don't know how much I worked and how bad I felt about not playing Mozart well enough—and I still do."
Despite having a 50-year career behind her, Uchida still aims to play at least four hours every day ("When I was younger, I practiced so much more because I didn't know how to," she laughs). Other passions include her beloved Marlboro Music School and Festival, the coveted Vermont retreat for musicians young and old that she's led in one form or another since 1999. "One of the things I admire about Mitsuko is her unbelievable conviction about, well, almost everything, really," says fellow pianist Jonathan Biss who has been her co-artistic director at Marlboro since 2018. "She has a natural authority."
"Out there, peculiarly, I love everybody. I am very choosy otherwise, but when I am in Marlboro I truly love and protect everybody. That is a fact," she says. "Jonathan and I share the deep conviction that you can never really know all there is to know about great music, and that it's worth spending your whole life trying to know a little more. What draws me to Marlboro is the possibility that I will never play this piece as well as I would like but I might come a little closer."
As we speak, she's just returned from Vermont and is keen to talk about the experience. "We made it very safe. Everybody was double vaccinated and was tested again, and again, and again," she says. "The joy of being together and making music together was infinitely stronger than I ever experienced in Marlboro before. And that was a gift."
In her downtime, Uchida unwinds by walking, listening to music, or spending time with her partner, a retired diplomat. "I do relax when I am facing the sea—salt water—and listen to the waves," she adds. "The sound I love, probably because for the first three years of my life I had a view of the sea and a little island in front of my nose."
Although she wouldn't describe any of her pleasures as secret, let alone guilty—"I don't feel guilty easily," she laughs—she does have a weakness for collecting porcelain as well as pianos. She also relishes dark Belgian chocolate and a really good red wine, in moderation. "And I love to drink a really good tea," she adds. "I like Darjeeling first flush, and that I can't buy in England—another of the disasters of Brexit."
Her modest discography is highly regarded—she won a Grammy Award in 2011 for her recording of Mozart Piano Concerti with the Cleveland Orchestra—but long ago she made a decision to limit her time in the studio. "It's not easy to make really, really good music," she admits. "I know that I'm not talented. I don't want to do things that I can't do, and I need more time than most people."
As for the future, she wants to play more Beethoven—"as if everybody hasn't played enough Beethoven in 2020," she laughs, this time hysterically—and at this stage in her career she's comfortable continuing to explore her favorite repertoire. "More and more I am playing as I see the score, face value," she explains. "I am not inventing something. I am not imagining something. I try to play as honestly as I can the music that the composer has written. That leads to a certain freedom of choice, so maybe I just stick to playing what the heck I want to!" •
Clive Paget is features editor for the Musical America Directory. A former editor of Australia's Limelight Magazine, he now writes and reviews for, among others, Musical America, Opera News, and BBC Music Magazine. Prior to his move to Australia, he directed and developed new music theater projects for London's National Theatre.
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Linda, from A Muse, posted pictures of me and my baby on her blog! Check it out here!!
We have made it home from the Northwest, and I am EX-hausted! We had so much fun, and accomplished our goal! We were in Seattle to pick up my 83 year-old grandmother and move her back here to KC! The move went very smoothly - Grandma was a trooper on the plane (she and Lily napped together!) and she is now getting settled in her new Assisted Living Facility here! She seems very happy! I hope that she will continue to adjust well! Leaving her there today felt like my son's first day of kindergarten or daycare! I know it's a great place, but I also know that Grandma will never really be able to tell me if something is wrong ... kind of scary!
Wait ... I know you're getting ready to run away ... isn't this supposed to be a stamping blog?? I did get to do a little bit of stamp shopping while I was in the Northwest! I went to Ikea in Portland and stocked up on a few storage options (pictures later!), then went to Craft Warehouse, where I was very disappointed that they no longer carry the long ruler with the piercing holes in it, but I did find a new yummy Basic Gray 6x6 pad! Then we went on to Seattle! I didn't have a ton of time, but I did run into Impress to pick up a couple packs of the clear boxes and then I went to The Mother Ship ... the A Muse store!! Again, it was an amazing experience! I just think that Linda is one of the best people around! She is so friendly, and so smart! She has some exciting things up her sleeve ... I can't wait to see them! I only had about an hour to spend in the shop - I could have stayed there all day!! Here are a couple of pics from A Muse! I will take pictures of my goodies and post them soon! Now, I am so flippin' tired! Must go to bed!
The Amazing Linda holding my baby - makes me think about Presidential campaigning when people want the candidates to kiss their babies - forget that - Linda held my baby!!
Me, Linda & Lily - Linda looks very tan next to us pale Kansas folks! I just love the color of the shop!
I made this little gift set as a Thank You present for my cousin Lauren. We will be visiting with her while we are in Seattle, and she gave me the most darling outfit for Miss Lily - so I wanted to do a bit more than just a card! The notebook, pen and chocolate tin were incredibly fast, but I could not get the layout on this card to look right! I must have messed around with it for an hour! I think I have gotten way stuck in the A Muse mindset - cards should not take more that half an hour, tops!! The paper is all from the Basic Gray Blush collection. The pen is just covered in pink microbeads - couldn't find any clear ones last night!
Stamps by SU and A Muse, CS & hardware by A Muse, paper by Basic Gray, flowers by Prima, ribbon by May Arts.
Have I mentioned that I will be in the Northwest later this week??? I am so excited, I could just about burst!! The main reason for my trip is to get my grandmother and move her here to Kansas, where I live ... but I can't go to the NW without doing lots of other things! So, we are flying into Portland where we will visit with my best friend from grade school (kind of weird to think about being friends with someone for 28 years - we played soccer together in Kindergarten!) and check out the new Ikea store!! I am very excited to see the new store! We will also get to see one of my Uncles and his wife that I haven't seen for years! Then we will drive up to Seattle and get everything together for the big move! I will of course be making time to visit the A Muse store (I am hearing beautiful music in my head, like when someone in a movie comes out of the dessert and finally reaches his destination). I just love it there - if you have never been to the store, you have to check it out! Linda and the girls are so incredibly friendly ... it just feels like home in there! Sometimes, I dream about it! Okay, I really am a junkie! I will take lots of pictures and share them with you when I get back next week!
How sad is it that I can stamp straight, but I can't take a straight picture to save my life! I really need to work on my photography skills! I would really like to find a frog - the little pointy thing that people used to use for floral arrangements- like Linda from A Muse uses to take her pictures! I need to start looking in antique stores for that!
This is just a super quick thank you card - seems like I am forever needing thank you cards, so this challenge is right up my alley! This one will go to some of my Grandmother's caregivers in Tacoma.
Stamps by A Muse, CS, ribbon by SU, punch by Marvy ... I am really diggin' the color combo - Wild Wasabi and Regal Rose! It works!
I finally got my hair cut and highlighted last week - and left my wallet at home ... oops! Pretty typical for me, unfortunately! My amazing hairstylist, Ty, was incredibly understanding! The poor guy has been putting up with me and my mom for 8 years - he knows I can be a flake! So I made him a quick card to go with his check! Can't really tell, but the super guy is colored with my SU Ruby Red marker, then the Versamarker and IIEP - he's super sparkly! I told Ty in the card that he brightens my hair and my life!
Stamps by A Muse and Stamping Bella, CS by SU (I used Ruby Red on 2 cards - I don't think I have used it in a year!), Punches by SU and Marvy, ribbon from May Arts.
This card was originally for last week's A Muse Addict's challenge (Use your words), but it also works for this week's Say Thanks challenge! Glad that worked out - now I don't feel so far behind! This was a quickie - again, minimal stamping!
Stamp by A Muse, CS, punches & paper by SU, ribbon by May Arts - can't really see it, but the bottom of the card has a scallop made with the SU small corner rounder!
This is the card that I made for Michelle's Crazystampchick's last AMAP swap! I can't wait to get mine back and see what everyone has done with the new A Muse stamps! This was a pretty easy card - thank goodness for the stamp-a-ma-jig!! Stamps by A Muse, CS, ink, brads, markers & twill tape by SU!, flower by Prima. Have a great day - thanks for looking!
Little Miss Lily is quite proud of herself ... she can sit up all by herself!! I can't believe how fast she is growing! Seven months already! We are having so much fun with her - she is such a happy baby and an amazing sleeper! Third time's a charm! Just couldn't resist sharing a recent pic of her ... more stamped stuff later!
I have had about a ka-jillion birthdays to celebrate in the last couple of weeks ... There are lots of people that I love who were born in August! I actually got some stamping done (not all the cards have made it to their destinations yet, but I did get them done!! Here are three of them! Thanks for looking - have a great Tuesday!
Some people do spring cleaning ... I tend to do my "big purge" in the fall! I think I will forever think of August and September as the start of the new year ... new schools, new school supplies (always my favorite part), a new calendar ... it just gets my purging juices flowing! So, yesterday I cleaned my van for hours (I was all ready to sell the sucker and get a new minivan, but the voice of reason, also known as my husband, Ben, talked me down - oh well, at least I have a clean van now!) and today I have been tackling my kitchen ... it feels kind of good to have organized cabinets - maybe it will last a week or so!! Blah, blah, blah - sorry for the rambling ... I do have a project to share!! This little notebook is one of a set of three that I made for me and the girls when we went to A*Muse*A*Palooza in St. Louis - just in case we needed to jot down any amazing ideas! I love the Basic Gray Lilykate collection, and this is one of my favorite A Muse stamps! I just love to make little notebooks like this! Thanks for looking - hope you are having a great weekend!
Details: Paper by Basic Gray Lilykate collection, CS by SU!, stamp by A Muse, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder by SU!, ribbon by SU!
Miss Julie over at The Ink Spot special ordered this amazing MFT set for me when I was there for A*Muse*A*Palooza (I get choked up just a little bit when I type that - I miss AMAP!)! I got it in the mail this week, and was so happy to get to play a bit last night!! My husband and I had a bit of a "date night" last night - dinner with grown-ups - no kids, whoo-hooo!! It was fun, and we got home early enough that I got to stamp while Ben watched the end of the Royals game. This is what I came up with! Looking at the girls this morning, I think I could have given them a bit more sparkle, but oh well - next time!
If you need this set, or any other MFT stamps - get on over there TODAY! They have 4 neat new releases, and FREE SHIPPING!!
Details: Stamps by My Favorite Things, CS (whisper white, kraft, pretty in pink, old olive) by SU!, Paper by My Mind's Eye, Ribbon from a Taylor share, punches by SU!, brads by Heidi Swap, bling from Archiver's.
I was lucky enough to win some blog candy (my first!) on Kristina Lewis' blog Balance!! It was a such a wonderful surprise to find my package in my mailbox!! Thanks so much, Kristina! I may have to plan a trip to Disney so I can fill up this great album!! Check out Kristina's blog - she is mucho talented!!
I am so excited to get my hands on some of the new A Muse ribbon! I was really wanting some, but can't quite justify spending lots of money to have more ribbon than I will really need! Anyone out there interested in doing an A Muse ribbon share?? If there is interest, I would be more than happy to order some and get it going! Let me know! Have a great Wednesday!
So, late last night I was feeling very "stamp-deprived"! It has been almost a week since I even set foot in my stamp room - so, I finally made it downstairs at 10:00 last night! My plan was to work on some of the Dare to Get Dirty challenges, but I got sidetracked by my pile of beautiful Basic Grey paper! This flower from the Urban Couture line just screamed to be cut out and made sparkly! I may have gone just a bit overboard with the Quickie Glue Pen (love that thing!) and the dazzling diamonds glitter - but overall I am pleased with the end result! I really wanted to put some ribbon on this, but I couldn't find a good place ... oh well ... maybe next time! Thanks for looking - have a great day!
Details - Stamps (one, lonely stamp) by A Muse, CS by SU!, punches by SU!, eyelets by Making Memories, holes punched with my new little Cutterbee piercer - jury is still out on this baby - I'll play some more and let you know what I think!


There is pain in my right testicle and i had inguinal hernia operation before ,and the testicle remain slightly above the left one.
I have 8 mm calcium oxalate stone in my left kidney can you refer me a medicine.
There is no medicine to dissolve it.
Feeling pain in abdomen. After USG dignosed scar endometriosis.utres removed before 2 yrs.
Hi Kindly once consult to Urologist.
Tonsillectomy is quite safe now a days there will be pain for two weeks and 1% chance of bleeding.


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Pretty full featured even on the free version. Easy to customize colors and layout/widigts. Our small non-profit is looking sharp! A question I had on the support forum was answered quickly too. All around great.
Thanks for your great review 🙂 !!


If you own an iOS device and you enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles, then I think we have news that could well be of interest to you. Independent developer Joe Pitto has just announced the recent release of Getting Jiggy, an addictive jigsaw puzzle game for iOS devices.
As noted over on the ipad-apps-review-online.com website, the Getting Jiggy 1.0 game is all about speed, and whether or not you are fast enough to spot which animal is hidden behind the jigsaw puzzle. The faster you are able to spot the animal, the higher your score will be.
However, taking too long will lose you points. Players can even lose points if their animal doesn't match. Users will begin the game with a blank canvas, which will slowly start filling up with missing jigsaw pieces. Their aim is to guess what's underneath in the quickest time.
As players progress through the levels, they will get less and less time to spot the animals. This of course means that the higher you go, the more challenging the puzzles will get. The puzzle pieces are revealed in no particular order, so no two games played will be the same.
The Getting Jiggy game also features an 'Online Scoreboard,' where players can record their name and progress. The Getting Jiggy 1.0 application is compatible with the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, but does require the device to be running iOS 3.2 or above.
Do you enjoy playing jigsaw puzzles?


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Q: Can you just multiply the framerate by movement speed in pygame? So I am coding a game in pygame, and Came across the problem, that the framerate can speed/slow things down at different parts of the game. I am well aware of the option to cap the frame rate, but I also have an idea that I am not quite sure if it would work.
Would it be possible, instead of caping the max. framerate, you let it go as high as it can and add a multiplier which changes according to the framerate?
For example: If you play with 100 fps and your character moves 10 pixels at a time, you would move 100*(1* 10) = 1000 pixels per second, and if the game runs on 200 fps, the character would still move with 200*(0.5*10) = 1000 pixels at a time.
Is this possible/ does this work?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Home » Entertainment
Yuk it Up
Dave Chappelle taps Joe Rogan for surprise 10-show Austin residency
Big-name stars buoy Ammonite, but its romance is a dud
Gamer Greetings
Texas Twitch star gives expert recs for his 5 favorite gamer gifts
YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch star Chase Mason. Photo courtesy of Samsung
If you're lucky, you'll find the Galaxy Note20 Ultra under the tree. Photo courtesy of Samsung
Whether you just discovered it during quarantine or have been an avid player for years, gaming is one of the hottest hobbies to have right now.
But in order to get the most fun of it, the right equipment is essential. And no one would know more about the best gadgets and gear than Chase Mason, aka Yo_Boy_Roy, aka the famous YouTuber, Twitch partner, and verified TikTok star with hundreds of thousands of followers.
The Dallas-Fort Worth-based gamer teamed up with Samsung to showcase some of his favorite gift ideas for the holiday season. You'll appreciate his advice, but whether you're buying them for yourself or someone else is entirely up to you.
When we were younger and going on long car trips, my brother and I would literally plug a 24-inch TV into the car and play Wii. We would go to these elaborate lengths to play the games we wanted to on the go — because our phones weren't offering the ones we were already playing at home — and now it's so easy to just play on my phone, anywhere and any time.
The processing power of this phone is so insane, with its sharp graphics and ability to adapt on the fly (you can even disable notifications so there are zero distractions while you're playing). It has 5G capabilities, and will adjust its processing power so that you're always running at peak power with no lag.
I know it can be intimidating to switch phones, but it was night and day when I tried the Galaxy and saw how much better it was for playing games. Plus, you get a really awesome camera.
For just $15 a month, you can get access to and play more than 100 of the most popular games instantly through the cloud. But when you purchase the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, your first three months are free.
New games are added all the time, and you also get exclusive member content and access to Xbox Live Gold, the most advanced multiplayer network.
Samsung MOGA XP5-X Plus bluetooth controller
You can actually plug this controller directly into your Note20 or set it up to run on Bluetooth — it's all about options.
I played in a PUBG tournament a few months ago, just on my phone and with a controller, and it was difficult to control everything. This controller lets you play on your phone like you're playing on a Xbox. Using it is way better for me than going without.
Logitech G Pro wireless gaming mouse
I've been using this mouse for two and a half years now, mainly because it's got such a long battery life. You might think a wireless mouse would be a disadvantage in gaming because of latency, but there's virtually no lag whatsoever and you can fully customize its sensitivity.
Its wireless design also plays to the cleanliness of what's on your desk (ie no wire snaking around). Here's my pro tip: Get two so you'll always have one charged up and ready to go.
Ducky One keyboard
This isn't your typical keyboard. It's 60 percent of what a normal keyboard is — a lot smaller — and has the outline of the QWERTY keys but that's where the similarity ends. When I was in college I didn't have room on my desk for an extravagant keyboard, I only needed the basics. This one has no number pad and is very compact.
You can also customize most of the buttons when you're ordering, like choosing colors other than black and white or setting the backlighting colors. It really stands out on your desk, and gives you exactly what you need without anything extra.
Bonus gift idea: A better router
I recently moved back in with my parents and the internet is terrible. I'm thinking of getting a gaming router so everyone can have an easier time online.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Georgetown Christmas Parade is a free, public event that brings the community together to spread Christmas cheer. Community members are encouraged to promote their organization, school or business to help celebrate the holiday. Spread Christmas cheer by dressing in holiday costume --- only participants in the holiday spirit will be allowed to take part in the procession.


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Q: Выходит ошибка в терминале когда ввожу pip "pip" не является внутренней или внешней
командой, исполняемой программой или пакетным файлом.
Помогите пожайлуста!

A: Если у вас Windows 10, то выполните следующее:
Открываем в панели управления пункт система далее нажимаем на Дополнительные параметры системы далее переменные среды, а после измените параметр Path и добавьте туда следующее:

*

*ваш путь к Python

*ваш путь к Python\Scripts\

(Это мой пример)

*

*C:\Users\PC\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39\

*C:\Users\PC\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39\Scripts\


The Dish is making its paywall stricter in its second month, Andrew Sullivan wrote Monday. He cited sales that "flat-lined once the meter reset for most people after March 8," and the fact that people were accessing the site from multiple devices and thus increasing their limit of free stories.
Sullivan, who will be speaking about pay models at paidContent Live on April 17 in New York, notes that The Dish has collected $644,000 in revenue since announcing its $19.99-per-year subscription in January. That's up $33,000 since February 25, when we suggested The Dish might need to tweak its paywall, and a little over two-thirds of the way to its $900,000 goal.
I don't think the issue is paying for content per se, but customer reticence in subscription models for content. One-off is a much easier to sell, as the value proposition is more clearly defined. Customers have two issues with subscriptions, in addition to the friction of setting them up. 1) that they're paying for stuff they don't want in addition to the stuff they do want. 2) that it's an open-ended commitment. A third issue is that a subscription service that is partially substituted by free content may feel like a waste of money. I certainly don't think Andrew's endeavour is a waste of money, but it's competing against the other media spend made by media consumers and the established culture of a 'free' internet for news. However, we have to recognise that good journalism, including commentary and curation costs in terms of the livelihood of those involved, and if all we are left with is media conglomerates bearing loss-leading online media outlets (to be last man standing) we will be culturally the poorer for it.
Andrew Sullivan is smart, as proven by the fact that he decided to try a paywall – he will undoubtedly make more money than just running ads. The problem is that he is actually charging too little. His content is worth more, but he needs to run more pricing and other optimization tests using MediaPass or another more sophisticated paywall as a service platform.
It amazes me that people expect to automatically get paid when you own a business. In a tough economy, you can only afford so many subscriptions. And somebody's opinions, even opinions that you might like…are the first thing to go when your cutting back.
The comment above saying that your not a real fan if you won't pay for The Dish is beyond absurd. It sounds like the emotional response of a 5-year old that doesn't get the last cookie. Everyone's personal economics are different and you can be a fan of someone's work without paying for it.
Now that pay walls are cropping up everywhere, Sullivan is going to have to stand out. He's competing even with services like Spotify because there is only so much money people will shell out every month. They will pick and choose the pay walls that appeal most to them.
Ultimately, my guess is niche sites with pay walls are going to be an uphill climb. A few will make it…very few.
It amazes me how many people get upset content owners expect compensation for their time, effort and thoughts. If people don't want to pay for specific content, that's fine, don't. But don't expect people to work for free unless you're willing to do so too.
Market forces will dictate if Dish (and others) can be successful. Time will tell.
Dish subscriber here. I've found Sullivan's commentary worth the money.
It's understandable that a generation raised on Free as a price would balk at paywalling. But there's no free lunch, really; "free" sites use advertising mechanisms that are far more insidious than the ones TV/radio/print used, which are probably gathering data about you right now.
Ever wondered how Buzzfeed knows you like Cole Haan shoes, or that you might be in the right demographic for some tees from Snorgs? Tech like this is what you get for "free", so it's worth reconsidering your stance if you have a problem with paywalls.
If that isn't enough, have a look at the "advertorials" on Atlantic, Gawker, Buzzfeed, HuffPo etc. Advertising wrapped up as legitimate-looking articles, with staffer by-lines. How do you feel about "free" now?
I understand why he wants a paywall but how many subscriptions are we gonn have? I'm ok with paying Spotify b/c I like listening to music but I'm not going to pay for some blogger to read his like opinion, man. I was a fan of his blog until he requested I pay for it. He's not that good.
Sullivan won't miss you at all….
This is a new era and these cats better figure out that their content isn't all that compelling…especially when people can click another site and get it free.
This Dish site got friends, family, and true fans right out of the gate but that's over now. It's going to be a struggle and this guy is going to find that his "brilliant" content isn't worth money to 99% of the population.
Let him find out the hard way.
Forcing people to pay because you need the money is a clash with the market that the Dish will likely lose.
Paywalls target loyal readers who, despite the many obvious ways to avoid paying, will still fork over the cash to their publisher of choice.
So … they've raised the number of stories on their site they don't want me to read?
OK, if that's what they want, they can have it. I'll begin ignoring virtually everything they write from now on.


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Closing Reception: Cuban Analogs
Friday, Aug 16, 2019, 6:00PM - 8:30PM
Atrium - SFAI Fort Mason Campus
Pier 2, 2 Marina Boulevard
RSVP Online »
Cuban Analogs
Friday, August 16 | 6–8:30pm
The Atrium + Scully Gray Box, SFAI—Fort Mason Campus
"The art of creating and interpreting images is akin to translating my spirit. My camera is the compass that guides me and I am grateful to it. Everywhere I have lived, I have delivered myself to light, shadows and to those details that, however minimal they may seem, have made me tremble and convert them into images." —Juan Carlos Alom
Join us for the closing reception of Cuban Analogs, including an exhibition walkthrough with Juan Carlos Alom and screening of films produced in the Cultural Cannibalism workshop.
6:00 - 7:00 PM | Atrium: Closing Reception + Exhibition walkthrough with Juan Carlos Alom
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | Scully Gray Box: Screening of films produced in the Cultural Cannibalism workshop, co-taught by artists Juan Carlos Alom, and Tony Labat.
Featuring films by Jason Brawdy, Imani Maryahm Harrington, Ariel Huang, Michael LaRocco, Sae Yong Lee, Christopher Williams aka The Black DaVinci, and Sam De Lemos.
Juan Carlos Alom was born in Cuba in 1964 and resides between Havana and New York City. He is a filmmaker and photographer who has exhibited throughout Cuba, North and South America, Europe, and South Africa. Starting his career as a photojournalist in 1990s Cuba, Juan Carlos Alom developed an artistic vision informed by the need for spontaneity demanded by that period of crisis. Alom's works are part of prestigious collections, including the IVAM - Institut Valencià d'Art Modern, Valencia, Spain; Ludwig Forum for International Art, Aachen, Germany; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; and the Walker Art Center, among others.
Image: Libia y José de la Caridad o El engaño de las razas, from the Periodo Especial series. Courtesy of the artist.
Fort Mason Campus
Chestnut Street Campus
PhotoAlliance
Visiting Artists and Scholars


If you want to save the world, start by saving yourself.
Personal boundaries are critical in life. And most of us have never learned the art of protecting ourselves. And what's worse, we have been wrongly programmed to think that if we give, give and give to others, it will flow back to us. Let's clear this up… of course what we give comes back to us, but only up to a point. There has to be a self-protecting measure in place that does not allow you to give beyond your comfort level. This is the key and where most problems begin. If you give and give and fully deplete yourself, it actually has the opposite effect – you end up losing in the end.
There is a simple relationship between the givers and the takers. The givers will always be giving and the takers will always take. Why you may ask? Because these patterns (life lessons) are ingrained in us and are set-up very early in life. The givers' lesson is to learn to give to themselves and the takers' lesson is to learn to be less selfish and more selfless. These are basic life lessons and they play out over and over again until we learn the lesson and find the balance in our personal relationships. For example, if you are a giver and are exhausted and broken and yet still running around trying to make everyone else happy, you will continually be met with takers who are lined up to keep taking from you. You get handed lesson after lesson and if you choose to accept those lessons, the lesson continues. Once you put your foot down and say "no, I need to focus on me right now," the lesson stops.
As a giver, it is critical that he/she learn to love themselves and start to set boundaries in all relationships. Givers need to realize that they are not supposed to save the world but save themselves so they have more to contribute successfully without running themselves ragged. A taker will always take if it is on offer. Givers who are exhausted with nothing to show for their giving will fall apart and become very resentful (rightfully so), but whose fault is it really? No one forced them to give anything to anyone. If it isn't serving you, JUST SAY NO. That energy is much better suited being given to yourself so you have more to give to those you love.
You cannot save anyone from themselves nor are you supposed to. If you want to save the world, start by saving yourself. Give to you, so you have much more to give in all aspects of your life.
Well said. I have started to say no & it is quite liberating. Thank you for the insight Donnalynn.
You are so welcome, John. Just like I told Julia - once you set those boundaries, things start to shift for you and then you do not feel so infringed upon. You have more quality of time for yourself and therefore you have more to give to others.


The Aye-voters reaffirmed their vote earlier in Division 135, which reaffirmed the vote in Division 131, which reaffirmed their vote the day before in Division 122, and took out the changes made to the Prevention of Terrorism Bill by the House of Lords to make is so that a court would issue all control orders, rather than the secretary of state.
I beg to move, That this House insists on its amendments 1A and 1B to Lords amendment 1, insists on its disagreement to Lords amendments 12, 13, 15, 17, 22, 28 and 37 and insists on its amendments 37A to 37C and 37E to 37O and 37X, insists on its disagreement to Lords amendments 37Q, 37S and 37T proposed in lieu of Lords amendment 8, insists on its amendments 17H to 17M to the words restored to the Bill by its insistence on its disagreement to Lords amendment 17 and disagrees with Lords amendment 37Y.
If there are compromises in there, I leave it to you to find them and make them legible.


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(3) The provisions of this Section 9 shall not apply with respect to our liability for guaranteed product specifications (within the meaning of Sec. 444 of the German Civil Code), personal injury or under the German Product Liability Act.
(2) If the Customer is a corporation, limited liability company or commercial partnership or otherwise operates a commercial business (Kaufmann within the meaning of Sec. 1 (1) of the German Commercial Code) or is a legal entity or special fund organized under public law, the courts in Pforzheim shall have exclusive jurisdiction in respect of all disputes arising out of or in connection with the relevant contract. In all other cases, we or the Customer may file suit before any court of competent jurisdiction under applicable law.


I don't usually do this, and it's doubtful I ever will again. But Asia is quickly becoming the center of global oil demand, and it's crucial that investors know how to profit. I recently showed my premium Energy Advantage members just how to do that – and they're already up almost 15%. But this shift is changing energy markets so fundamentally, I had to show this recommendation to you too.
Our entry back into a range of U.S. oil and natural gas investments is awaiting the sluggish return of a workable production balance.
High-yield (i.e. junk) energy bonds now yield more than 20%, which is simply unsustainable.
And with oil trading in the $50s per barrel in New York, there will be another round of bankruptcies and consolidations in the sector.
This shakeup will make for some explosive plays.
But the current action remains on the demand side – which right now means Asia, where demand is concentrating.
In fact, the consumption of both energy as a whole and crude oil in particular are moving strongly to the continent.
Consistent indicators and analyses point toward this remaining the dominant trend for at least 20 years, if not more.
By the time we reach the next decade, India will be Asia's main "energy dynamo." But for now, China remains the primary driver in the region's demand.
Today we're moving back into China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (SNP), also known as Sinopec Limited.
It's already up almost 10% in the last month alone, but this latest uptick signals more than simply an improving outlook.
As the largest refiner and oil product distributor in Asia, as well as a government favorite, the environment is much better than when we last held it.
For one thing, Sinopec has become more of a regional player. That not only buttresses the company's outlook as Asia as a whole spiking on the demand side, it also allows this central player the option of cross-border hedging.
For another, as a recipient of significant support from Beijing, Sinopec has the additional leverage (provided by the authorities) necessary to overcome local regulatory and pricing bumps.
The relationship between Sinopec's market cap, around $90 billion, and its roughly 1.2 billion outstanding shares.
The company's market cap is the single best reflection of its existing assets, working capital, and revenues.
And with both market cap and shares outstanding being high, individual shares end up being far less volatile.
Put simply, there are too many shares out there (and the company is too valuable) for any one event or trader to noticeably move the share price.
Given that stability, the stock should perform better than smaller companies that are not as well situated.
Economic expansion takes place in cycles; it's hardly a uniform acceleration.
In fact, if it was a straight line up, this heated rise would not be desirable, as it would quickly lead to inflation and downward pressure on the domestic currency.
Now, energy needs are an endemic part of economic life, especially in a country like China. Those needs dictate the foundation of government policy, and are a main force shaping Beijing's foreign posture.
Just look at China's recent acquisitions of fields and production in other countries, including a $1.3 billion deal for Texas oil fields and a $7.3 billion deal for Swiss oil explorer Addax Petroleum.
Or think about the "One Belt, One Road" plan (also known as the "New Silk Road"), which will see China spend an estimated $4 trillion to $8 trillion on transportation and energy infrastructure across Asia, and beyond.
One of the goals is to secure alternative energy supply lines in case China's ports ever come under a naval blockade.
And don't forget the broader flashpoints, such as China's contest with its neighbors over the South China Sea and the huge oil and gas reserves hidden underneath it.
In other words, energy dictates much more than simply percentage points in GDP. There, the Chinese picture remains quite positive.
If anything, energy is likely to expand its economic impact over the next several years.
And that makes Sinopec more important to the overall Chinese outlook than it has ever been.
Combine that with analyst market upgrades across the board, the prospect for protection of the stock price on the downside, and cash flow providing a healthy 4.33% dividend yield, and it's time for us to move back in.
Editor's Note: This isn't the only revolutionary change in world energy that Kent is tracking. He also just released a new set of briefings on a new super-fuel – one gallon of which could get you from New York to L.A. and back seven times. In fact, this "crystal fuel" is 1,693 times more powerful than the gasoline that runs your car. Now, the mainstream investment media aren't even talking about it yet, but it could make early investors huge short-term gains. Click here for details.
I am curious your opinion on BP Oil stock- I inherited and wonder if safe to keep portfolio with majority in it.


Snacks provided, so why not join us at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, February 20th at the Parkallen Community Centre, 6510 – 111 Street, to help plan and formalize upcoming events for another successful sports car driving season. Have an idea for fun run, exploratory cruise, scenic picnic outing or a unique event? We would love to hear from you. Your input and suggestions for new events are always welcome.
We're looking forward to some fresh ideas for our 2019 driving season.
At present we do not have an events coordinator, so if you have time to help us out let us know. The Events Coordinator assists members in the running of events, advertising of events and reporting of events at meetings and AGM. Bob last years Coordinator will help set up calendar and events list on web site.


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Bono To Play Golf For AIDS Charity Despite Youthful Pledge
November 29, 2017 November 29, 2017 by Noelle Talmon
When U2 formed in the mid-70s, image was very important to the band. They didn't want to get involved in anything that was counter to the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, such as playing golf. Decades later, Bono and his bandmates are reneging on that oath for his charity (RED) in order to raise money for HIV/AIDS.
"U2 made a pledge early on, as teenagers actually when we formed the band that the one thing we would never ever do — and it was a sacred pledge — was to play golf," Bono told The Associated Press. "We didn't think it was rock 'n' roll."
Omaze.com/RED is auctioning off celebrity experiences in honor of World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. One lucky winner will play a round of mini-golf with the Irish band, reports FOX News. Other experiences include working out with actress Charlize Theron, visiting Seoul, Korea, with K-Pop star Taeyeon, and attending a movie premiere with actress Reese Witherspoon.
Bono believes one of his fellow U2 band members is actually looking forward to the golf experience, despite the pledge they made about 40 years ago.
"Edge would say things like, 'There are some cool people who play golf, Bono. Like Iggy Pop or Willie Nelson or Jack Nicholson,'" Bono revealed. "So, some people might be very happy if the band is broken open in a major fight over crazy golf. We shall see."
Over the past 11 years, (RED) has raised $500 million to help several sub-Saharan African countries administer testing, prevention, treatment and other HIV/AIDS services to its citizens. Despite the progress that has been made with treatment and prevention, more needs to be done, according to Bono.
"There are more people now on anti-retroviral drugs that are newly infected," Bono explained. "Just as this is happening, right at this moment, defeat could be seized from the jaws of victory. People are talking about cutting budgets on Capitol Hill [in the United States] and other capitals around the world."
Bono has partnered with talk show host Jimmy Kimmel for his annual Shopathon special that airs Nov. 28. Kimmel and other celebrity guests act as home shopping channel hosts and ply their wares on Amazon.com/RED. Over the past two years, the Shopathon has raised $100 million for the charity.
Categories LifestyleTags bono, golf, hiv, u2, Word Aids Day	Post navigation
Health Canada Bans Hydrogenated Oils To Encourage Healthy Lifestyles
Why Being A Social Storyteller Is Better Than A Social Distributor


Shipping and Handling Charges within the U.S…U.S. Postal Service priority mail is $12.00 for one pair and $3.00 for each additional pair within the U.S. Please call for Canadian, overseas or expedited shipping fees which will be available at cost plus a small handling charge. NOTE: Shipping costs are subject to change.


In 2017, XL Displays became the UK's authorised distributor of Adder Retail and Event Communications – a premium Swedish brand specialising in deluxe retail and shop display solutions.
We have been working extremely hard since then and are proud to announce that we have just finished developing an exceptional website specifically for Adder Displays UK – and it is now live!
Adder retail displays utilise innovative Swedish design to create deluxe display solutions that coach customers into a purchase.
With over 15 years of industry experience, Adder has produced retail solutions for some of the world's biggest and most recognised brands, such as BMW, Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, Cartier and Britax.
Adder UK comprises of a comprehensive range of products, including Adder hanging retail displays, Adder retail floor displays, Adder wall displays, Adder counter retail displays and Adder fabric displays.
Adder UK stocks two product ranges; FineLine and InStore.
FineLine is Adder's core range. It comes fully assembled, meaning all you have to do is attach the base. The edges of the graphics are framed by contemporary aluminium, creating a polished and modern display. The range comprises of FineLine hanging displays, FineLine floor displays, FineLine wall displays and FineLine countertop displays.
InStore is a slightly more portable option to FineLine as it utilises a patented push and lock assembly, making it effortless to store and transport. InStore graphics are frameless, giving you an ultra-slim retail advertising solution that suits any space.
Adder is known globally for its stellar product quality. Adder media is a synthetic paper that is ultra-durable and hard wearing. It is thin in appearance but is weatherproof, waterproof, stain, tear and crease proof, and is suitable for use indoors or out.
Adder is an industry leader with regards to making environmentally friendly, biodegradable graphics. All media is free of PVC, wood and lamination. Good marketing displays do not have to cost the Earth.
A feature that is unique to Adder is that all graphics are replaceable. They are attached with magnetic strips, meaning that when your seasonal marketing campaign changes, your display can change with you. This eliminates the need to repurchase an entirely new display as the hardware will last you a lifetime, even if your marketing message does not.
Our new website has been engineered to deliver the customer with every piece of information they need to make an informed buying decision, whatever the product. This is why we have developed an interactive map showing a retail shop environment and a showroom. The map shows which Adder products are suitable in specific areas of both a store and a showroom, giving the consumer a better idea of what will work for them.
In addition, the website has been engineered to be responsive, meaning it automatically resizes to suit any screen. Whether it's a computer, a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone, Adder retains its user-friendly layout for an effortless browsing experience.
To find out more about our new Adder UK website and to browse the extensive range of products, click here.
If you find a product you like or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us or call us on 01733 511030.


text:
‧Front Page
Home / Front Page
Thu, Feb 16, 2017 - Page 1 News List
Hostesses apply to join KMT en masse
DAMAGE:While chairperson candidates Hau Lung-bin and Steve Chan criticized the spate of mass membership applications, Hu Wen-chi said: 'All professions are equal'
By Chen Wei-han / Staff reporter
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Vice Chairman Hau Lung-bin yesterday in Taipei speaks to a group of retired generals at the launch of a support group for his bid to be party chairperson.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
With the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) still reeling from a report alleging 307 membership applicants had backgrounds in organized crime, it was hit with a fresh blow yesterday, as local media outlets reported that it had received a bulk application from hostesses who work at a Taichung nightclub.
An unidentified KMT official had sought to influence the results of the party's election for KMT chairperson by securing memberships for hostesses of a major nightclub in Taichung, local media outlets reported.
The KMT said that applicants from all walks of life are welcome to join the party as long as the application is submitted in accordance with the party's regulations.
"All professions are equal. Everyone identifying with the KMT who does not have a criminal background is welcomed," KMT Culture and Communications Committee deputy director Hu Wen-chi (胡文琦) said.
The party has a rigorous system in place to screen applications submitted in support of individual chairperson candidates, Hu said.
However, some of the candidates criticized such applications.
Mass membership applications have done a great deal of damage to the KMT's image and the party should set up an investigative committee attended by delegates of the chairperson candidates to assess the purposes of such applications, KMT Vice Chairman Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said.
"It costs the party too much if we lose the public's trust by receiving 'nominal' members into the party. Do not harm the party if you love it," the former Taipei mayor said.
The applications "have greatly hurt the party's reputation," and the KMT should establish an application evaluation system to prevent ineligible people from joining the party, former KMT vice chairman Steve Chan (詹啟賢) said.
Applicants should have the same political beliefs as the KMT, Chan said, adding that mass applications ahead of the chairperson election might be politically motivated.
In related news, Hau also criticized an announcement by the KMT's Huang Fu-hsing (黃復興) military veterans' branch, which reportedly required its members planning to seek candidacy in party representative elections to collect 100 signatures in support of a chairperson candidate.
Although the party allows branch members to collect signatures for any of the chairperson candidates, the move was considered aimed at supporting KMT Chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱), who is said to have the broadest base of support among branch members.
"Party representatives express the opinions of party members. They are not subordinates of party headquarters. Hung should take immediate action to undo the requirement," Hau said.
"It is not only a test of the loyalty [of the branch members to Hung], but a step back from democracy," he said.
Some branch members yesterday launched an organization to campaign for Hau, led by former former branch director Wang Wen-hsieh (王文燮).
At the launch ceremony, Wang said that disunity and indifference among party members had twice cost the KMT presidential elections in which the KMT was defeated by itself, rather than by the Democratic Progressive Party.
The KMT's ultimate goal is to seek a unified China under the so-called "one China" framework, Wang said.
Hau has put forward proposals to reform the KMT so that it can return to power and bring about "one China," which would be the Republic of China (ROC), Wang said.


Early drop out of school among Roma girls in Bulgaria to large extent is due to the lack of adequate school sanitation facilities. While early drop out is valid for both boys and girls, girls suffer the most as with the beginning of puberty at the age of 11-12 they are forced to leave school and get married.
Though illegal, this is widely practiced and thus deprives the girls from adequate education and further in their lives they face lack of economic opportunities. This adds to the stigma of being of Roma origin and permanently deprives such girls and women of social justice.
Earth Forever believes that offering adequate sanitation according to their demands and traditions will keep the majority of the girls in school until graduation and give them the chance to have much higher economic and social opportunities and economic sustainability.
Founded in 1998 Earth Forever aims to promote sustainable development through proper environmental management, efficient economic practice and social justice, focusing on the specific needs of women and girls, and working closely with decision-makers to ensure sustainable operation.


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Dorothea Jordan (1761-1816), Iers actrice, maîtresse van koning Willem IV.
 Dorothy Jordan (1906-1988), Amerikaans filmactrice.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


I've got a fishing expedition lined up for this evening after work . 6.00pm should see me spinning off the rocks for bass,mackerel and pollack .
If I catch anything I'll try and get a picture and post it . Now I'm under pressure !
A guy on another site I post on, has caught a whole dustbin full of mackerel before. He says he has made a few circular slatted dividers for the bin, so as to prevent the fish in the bottom of the bin getting squashed in transit.He layered the fish between the slats.
He filled his freezer up!!
Half a dozen will do me fine ! I'll probably blank now that I've opened my mouth !
Hmm smoked mackerel .Lovely .
Not too sure about the petrol flavour though.................??
Hope I havent jinxed you.I am sure you'll catch plenty!
Some Holiday makers were in our favourite spot , so my son and I were perched like limpets in an uncomfortable place so it wasn't how I imagined it was going to be but we still managed to fill a carrier bag full !
I will have to get down there earlier on Sunday !


Staying away from social media is easier than I originally anticipated but I'm now noticing that it is becoming a slight inconvenience for me to keep in the loop regarding IRL community meet ups. So many of my friends and colleagues use social platforms for event coordination and communication that I don't know that staying off social media 100% will ever be a reality for me. I am still really enjoying my time away so when I do come back it'll be in a significantly decreased capacity.
I am also learning that I much prefer IRL connections vs connecting in virtual reality. The internet sure is an amazing tool that allows us to connect with people we may have never met otherwise but I personally prefer to meet and build relationships with people face to face and supplement those relationships with social instead of the other way around. I intend to take this learning and preferences into my business in more intentional ways going forward.
For me, my social break has been like I hit the master mute button. I can hear myself think again. And I like it.
I haven't experienced much anxiety throughout this experiment so far. I mean, I feel a bit of pressure and obligation to go into the groups I admin and approve the people that are waiting to get in but I'm getting over it. They can wait. It's not life or death. And when I do go back in, I've already decided to change the group settings and either make it public or auto approve all requests. Problem solved!
I do wonder if I will fall back into the habit of mindlessly scrolling social once I do rejoin and I guess that remains to be seen. I certainly hope that isn't the case but I suppose it's like anything else we have a tendency to overindulge in. Stay tuned.
What rewards am I looking forward to?
I sincerely believe, or strongly hope at the very least, that there will be a profound breakthrough for me as a result of this experiment. As you may or may not have noticed, it seems like I'm looking for something. I speculate that I'm looking for a way to make my life more meaningful, more productive, more profitable, more peaceful. And if I can achieve any of the above, I'll be pleased. Those are the rewards I'm looking forward to.
This experiment has touched on the challenge of productivity. Within that realm, I am beginning to experiment with how productive I am naturally vs how the "experts" say I should get things done.
Have you ever heard of the Kolbe A assessment? Long story short (and a huge oversimplification), it measures your natural productivity based on the strengths of your top competencies. We know that everyone has a different way of getting things done. We also know that people not only do things differently but also in a different order and in a different rhythm. The Kolbe A assessment begins to give insight into how you do things more efficiently than the rest of the population.
Shameless Plug: If you'd like to take the Kolbe and discuss your results, hit me up for a coaching session!
At any rate, I've been experiencing some resistance in certain areas of my life and frankly it has just been way too exhausting to try and police my behaviors (like waking every day at 5:30am) so I've given myself permission to do things as they come naturally instead of as the experts suggest. I wonder, what will my body do left to it's own devices? Will it turn into an unhealthy, overweight, drunken heathen? Or might I find a life and work rhythm that's in a sweet spot?
What about you? Are you experiencing any life or work resistance? What can you experiment with to find even greater freedom?


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The process of installation is the same as with the regular Plesk server. For instructions, refer to Installing Plesk on Amazon Web Services.


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Omicron variant of COVID threatens post-lockdown economic recovery
The recent Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) variant identified in South Africa appears to threaten the world's post-lockdown economic recovery.
Experts say the B11529 omicron strain, which is much more infectious than the earlier B16172 delta variant, could prolong the ongoing inflation in the United States.
Jerome Powell, chairman of the Federal Reserve, said the new variant "muddies the outlook on inflation" as prices could keep rising for a longer period than initially projected. In a Nov. 30 testimony to the U.S. Senate, he pointed out that the rise in COVID-19 cases and the omicron strain's emergence "pose downside risks to employment and economic activity, and increased uncertainty for inflation."
Powell also noted that health-related concerns could "reduce people's willingness to work in person." This, in turn, "would slow progress in the labor market and intensify supply chain disruptions."
Given the concerns about the purportedly more infectious variant, many companies have expressed fears that restrictions that crippled different industries in 2020 could return again. Nissan Motor Company spokeswoman Lloryn Love-Carter said of the omicron variant's rise: "This is new. We're monitoring, of course, but we still have a lot of pretty strict COVID protocols in place."
Meanwhile, credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings and Moody's investors service warned that the omicron strain "could hurt global growth prospects and push up prices." (Related: Ten OMICRON "variant" predictions for 2022 and beyond… globalist authoritarian playbook stripped naked.)
Fears over the vaccine-resistant variant sent shockwaves to different stock markets worldwide on Nov. 26. However, markets calmed on Nov. 29 following reports that the omicron strain might prove to be milder than initially reported.
WHO: Omicron variant carries "very high" infection risk
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Nov. 29 that the omicron variant carried a very high global risk of infection surges. The global health body advised its 194 member nations that any surge in infections could have severe consequences.
"[The omicron variant] has an unprecedented number of spike mutations, some of which are concerning for their potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic," it said.
According to the WHO, further research is needed to understand the new strain's potential to evade natural and vaccine-induced immunity.
South African infectious disease expert Salim Abdool Karim pointed out that the omicron variant appears to be more transmissible. The expert projected that following the discovery of the variant, COVID-19 cases in South Africa could likely go beyond 10,000 a day.
Karim added that it is too early to say whether symptoms arising from an omicron variant infection were more severe than earlier strains. Other scientists concurred with the expert, saying that it could take weeks to fully understand the severity of the new variant.
US moves to identify omicron variant
The U.S. and other countries have blocked entry for most travelers coming from eight African nations, including South Africa.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa denounced these travel bans as "unjustified and unscientific." He pointed out that such bans damage economies that rely on tourism. (Related: Black Americans should be OUTRAGED by white-guy Biden's RACIST ban on flights to USA from several African nations.)
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden called on Americans not to panic despite the omicron variant's emergence. He said during a White House press conference: "This variant is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic. We're going to fight and beat this new variant."
According to Biden, the travel restrictions would give the U.S. enough time to get more people vaccinated. Furthermore, he said that the federal government was working with pharmaceutical companies to make contingency plans in case new vaccines were required.
Biden also said the U.S. would not go back to lockdowns this winter, but called on people to get the COVID-19 vaccine and wear face masks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also acknowledged the omicron variant's discovery in a Nov. 26 press release. "We are working with other U.S. and global public health and industry partners to learn more about this variant, as we continue to monitor its path," it said.
According to the CDC, no cases of COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant have been identified in the U.S. to date. The CDC is "continuously monitoring variants," with the expectation that the omicron strain will be identified quickly the moment it emerges in the United States.
Pandemic.news has more articles about the threat of the new B11529 omicron variant.
Tagged Under: B11529 strain, Collapse, COVID-19 infections, covid-19 pandemic, economic recovery, infection risk, Inflation, omicron variant, SARS-CoV-2, South Africa, travel bans, travel restrictions, Wuhan coronavirus
Fed survey shows Americans expect inflation to get worse
The pandemic exposes vulnerabilities in global networks connecting manufacturers, suppliers and buyers
Austrian bureaucrat wants to financially punish unvaccinated citizens for non-compliance
DeSantis wants State of Florida to accept cryptocurrency payments for state fees
Inflation climbed to 6.8% in November – highest rate in nearly 40 years
Evergrande has officially defaulted: now what?
Ghislaine Maxwell's last alleged Reddit post was about Bitcoin: Report
Where are the billions of U.S. dollars supposedly backing Tether, the "stablecoin" behind the global cryptocurrency trade?
John Perez discusses the "crypto conspiracy" with Mike Adams – Brighteon.TV
Evergrande DEFAULTS – Contagion risk will spread to crypto, institutional investors, pension funds and more
Australia to overhaul payments system with digital currency issued by central bank
Chinese developer Evergrande misses bond payment, default "inevitable" (now officially declared)
Americans are hoarding cash in record numbers, but inflation is causing the value of savings to drop
China's Evergrande shares plummet as full-blown DEFAULT becomes inevitable


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Home / Shipping News / Shipping Law News / 'Beaching' of vessels for shipbreaking – legal, illegal or somewhere in between?
'Beaching' of vessels for shipbreaking – legal, illegal or somewhere in between?
in Shipping Law News 16/08/2018
Commercial vessels have a 'lifespan' and when they reach the end of it, they are recycled. The European Commission estimates that up to 1,000 ships are recycled each year world-wide.
In addition to valuable and re-useable products like steel, ships also contain hazardous waste and pollutants that are harmful to people and the environment. There has been increasing public and political concern over the practice of some shipbreaking facilities to ram vessels onto tidal flats where workers break down the vessels in ways that are dangerous for the workers and damaging to the environment. To address the hazards, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally sound Recycling of Ships.
The Hong Kong Convention provides a 'cradle-to-grave approach' – a system of control and enforcement over a ship's lifetime from design, through construction, operation and up to the recycling stage. The Convention establishes mandatory requirements on shipowners to ensure the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships. The Convention also applies to Ship Recycling Facilities. In general, the Convention requires Facilities "to establish management systems, procedures and techniques which do not pose health risks to workers or the population in the vicinity of the Facility and which will prevent, reduce, minimize and to the extent practicable eliminate adverse effects on the environment caused by Ship Recycling."
Adopted in 2009, the Hong Kong Convention is not yet in force. Entry into force will only occur 24 months after ratification by 15 States, representing 40 per cent of world merchant shipping by gross tonnage. Today the Hong Kong Convention has been ratified by only six nations – Belgium, the Congo, Denmark, France, Norway and Panama.
Shipping is global and the ideal way to ensure a uniform approach to ship recycling is by an international convention. Uniformity provides certainty and an even playing field, reducing the financial incentives for practices that endanger people and the environment. Yet the ratification process can be painfully slow. The European Union partially filled the gap by regulating ship recycling based on terms modeled on the Hong Kong Convention. The EU regulations apply to vessels that are flagged in the EU irrespective of where the recycling takes place.
The EU Ship Recycling Regulation entered into force in 2013. One of the principal components of the Regulation is the certification of facilities, the so-called "European List" of approved facilities which meet the requirements of the Regulation (and consequently would also meet the requirements of the Hong Kong Convention). The first "European List" of approved facilities was adopted by the Commission in December 2016. It then included 18 shipyards, all located in the EU. The list was updated in May 2018 and now includes 21 shipyards.
The European Commission has received applications from shipyards outside of the EU and the applications are pending.
As of 1 January 2019 all large sea-going vessels sailing under an EU Member State flag are required to use one of the approved ship recycling facilities. The majority of ships, however, are recycled at sites outside of the EU and mostly in South Asian sites where the vessels are 'beached' and broken up largely by hand.
Commonly, ships are sold to buyers who reflag and may then have the financial incentive to recycle at a site outside of the EU where the vessel is beached and dismantled in conditions that do not meet the EU standards. On the face of it, this seems to be legal because the vessel is not flagged in an EU country after sale – but beware. The Rotterdam District Court held a Dutch company responsible for breach of the EU Waste Shipment Regulation when the shipowner sold to a buyer who then sent the vessels for scrapping on beaches in South Asia.
The court found that when the ships left the ports of Rotterdam and Hamburg in 2012, the intention was already to demolish the ships which qualified the ships as "waste", even though they were still seaworthy, certified, insured and operational.
A shipowner who sells a vessel at the end of its lifespan to a buyer who then contracts for shipbreaking at a facility that beaches may not be breaking the law. Nonetheless, there can be reputational and even financial consequences. Ships can be easily tracked to their final destination and a non-governmental organisation (NGO) may 'name and shame' the vessel owner despite the fact that the recycling contract is made by the buyer. Media is quick to pick up such stories. Increasingly, investors are also shifting away from companies whose ships end up beached and dismantled in conditions that are harmful to workers and the environment.
So, to conclude, the practice of beaching vessels for recycling is illegal in parts of the world and for all European flagged ships. While the practice may not at this time be illegal in other circumstances, Owners who sell end of life ships to buyers knowing that such buyers are likely to dismantle the ship in an unsafe and environmentally unsound manner, may, at the least, face reputational risk. At the worst, such sellers may find themselves charged with violation of waste shipment regulations.
Source: Gard (http://www.gard.no/web/updates/content/26050185/beaching-of-vessels-for-shipbreaking-legal-illegal-or-somewhere-in-between)
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MONTI is a handmade, geometric lifestyle and homeware brand founded by Dee Monti. Each design is handmade by Dee in her home studio in London, using locally sourced materials and plants. Each shape has been named after notable geometrists who share her passion for shape, space and nature.
Copper and glass, handmade in London.


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Q: Chart.js Default value when displaying no chart data I'm using chart.Js to display my chart. I'm getting my chart data via ajax and graphically render it to display the data,
My question is, there are few cases when my Ajax returns nothing, and my Chart just display X axis and Y axis, with no data or no legend shown. Is there any option to show default text ?
PS: I know I can add some conditional statement and display "No chart Div" and hide my "chart div", but i was some clean method to do the same.

A: You can try this solution:
if(1 < chartData.labels.length) {
    chart = new Chart(options.ctx).Line(chartData, options.chartOptions);
} else {
    options.ctx.font = "20px " + Chart.defaults.global.tooltipTitleFontFamily;
    options.ctx.textAlign = "center";
    options.ctx.textBaseline = "middle";
    options.ctx.fillStyle = Chart.defaults.global.scaleFontColor;
    options.ctx.fillText("No data in chart.", options.ctx.canvas.clientWidth / 2, options.ctx.canvas.clientHeight / 2);
}

A: This works for me I hope it helps
Chart.pluginService.register({
afterDraw: function (chart) {
                if (chart.data.datasets[0].data.length === 0) {
                    // No data is present
                    var ctx = chart.chart.ctx;
                    var width = chart.chart.width;
                    var height = chart.chart.height
                    chart.clear();

                    ctx.save();
                    ctx.textAlign = 'center';
                    ctx.textBaseline = 'middle';
                    ctx.font = "20px normal 'Helvetica Nueue'";
                    ctx.fillText('No data to display', width / 2, height / 2);
                    ctx.restore();
                }

            }
});


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