Whether you need to do some photo editing for a project or for fun, there's no need to pay for a program to get what you want!
Online Photoshop Free – no sign up required. Upload a photo, or multiple photos, and you can use this site in the same way that you'd use a paid-for photoshop program.
Foto Flexer – no sign up required. Similar to Online Photoshop, best site for using a magnetic lasso.
Fotor – no sign up required. Edit existing photos, or make a collage.
Canva – sign up for free and pick from a range of templates to design your poster from.
Poster My Wall – no sign up required. Design your own poster or pick from their selection of templates.
Poster Razor – no sign up required. This site allows you to print your poster onto multiple A4 papers to make one big poster. This means you can use a regular printer to print A3 or bigger posters.
Fotor – no sign up required. Has templates for posters and you can also make your own.
Printing these posters will cost money if you don't have access to a printer at home or at school. To print in colour or print paper sizes bigger than A4, go to your local Officeworks and print it there. For information on pricing, click here. Otherwise, you can also print A4 at your local library.
The English language can be very confusing, just look to this poem to see how!


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In case you are doing some planning for 2011, I thought you might find this quick summary of some of our SpaFinder 2011 Spa Trend predictions helpful.
As you may know, you can find the full report at: https://www.spafinder.com/about/press_release.jsp?relId=205.
In the New Year we'll examine the trends more closely and look at additional examples that I hope you will contribute to!
In addition, I plan to include a "Counter Trend" aspect that I think might be fun.


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Senegal: protesters denounce violence against women
6 months ago 3176
Dozens of feminist demonstrators on Saturday in Dakar, Senegal's capital denounced the justice system and the excessive tolerance towards violence against women in Senegal.
Aissatou Sène, spokeswoman at the protest held at the Place de la Nation, said "We expect the state to provide structures, shelters, and everything needed to support victims. What we want from the state today is for women, who make up more than half the population, to feel safe."
"We are here for all the "Louise", we are especially here for a "Louise" who was raped, filmed and this pornographic film of a minor was shared and the author did not worry until we, the feminists, denounced it. The trigger is this violence that Senegalese women are subjected to. If justice and the law were applied and rapists received the sentences they deserved, we wouldn't be here today." Sène stressed.
in January 2020, Senegal passed a law that criminalises rape and paedophilia after active campaigns by civil society, particularly organizations advocating for women's rights. The law aimed at tightening the noose on sexual violence against women and children, prescribes a maximum punishment of life imprisonment for perpetrators and 10-year imprisonment as a minimum sentence.
Before now, rape was only considered a minor offence in the West African nation, with offenders getting little to no punishment. However, the massive campaign that followed the rape and murder of two women in 2019 propelled the government into drafting the newly adopted law.
Earlier this year, tensions broke out in the country after popular opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was arrested over an alleged rape case. The days of clashes and protests left at least five people dead but depsite the case being meshed with politics, it brought to the fore yet again the subject of rape in Senegal.
The allegations against Sonko first emerged in February after a salon attendant accused him of rape. He was reported to have frequented the salon for massages.
The accuser, a young woman by the name Adji Sarr, in a rare, bold and unprecendented move in Senegal came forward and granted interviews.
"If Ousmane Sonko has never slept with me, let him swear on the Koran," said Sarr in the interview, which was broadcast by a number of private television channels. She stressed that Sonko had forced her to have sex on several occasions and threatened reprisals if she did not comply.
Sonko, 46, a devout Muslim who has a considerable following amongst the country's youth, has repeatedly denied the allegations.
He was detained by police and charged with public disorder after fights with his supporters broke out as he went to court. He would later be released.
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Description: World Party Day (also known as "P-Day") is celebrated every year on April 3 as a synchronized global mass celebration of a better world and the active creation of desirable reality. A basic premises is that the opposite of war is not passive action or peace, but party.
This day is also the peak of World Party Week, which runs Sunday through Saturday.


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Make a statement with a pair of oversized dangle earrings. Bold yet elegant, these large rose gold dangle earrings will shimmer and sparkle through any occasion.


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frightened him. He claimed that all Hungarians did the same on New Year's Eve.
I had my hand extended, key ready, reaching for my doorknob, when I noticed. There was no doorknob. A square hole had been neatly cut out of my front door. The door swung freely, and I glimpsed the kitchen cabinets standing wide open. That's when my mind finally connected with reality.
Afraid to enter alone, I raced next door to Agota and Gezá'sflat and pounded on their door. Gezá opened up, and I blurted out what had happened. He quickly telephoned the police.
Agota made us coffee, and I waited in their kitchen. My grandmother's diamond ring filled my thoughts. Before moving, my parents had given me my inheritance from their safe deposit box, thinking the ring would be safer with me in Budapest than inside their RV during their cross-country travels. The engagement ring reminded me of my sweet grandmother. Made about 1925, the diamonds sat up tall in their platinum setting. Grandmom had never owned anything lovelier.
I proudly wore it everyday, except for this day. The ring had begun to catch on my gloves, and I feared the prongs had loosened. I needed my gloves in the chilly night air, so I took my ring off before I left, setting it on my dresser. It would have been the first thing any thief would notice.
Still, it didn't hurt to pray. As I sipped the coffee, I repeated in my mind, "God, please cause Grandmom's ring to still be there.
The police didn't arrive for almost an hour, about 2:00 in the morning. Gezá explained the situation to the two officers and translated for me. They told us to stand outside as they entered the apartment to check each room. Even if the thieves had somehow missed the ring, the policemen could easily have scooped it into a pocket. I had to trust the officers.
After several minutes, the detective arrived. He beckoned to us to follow him inside. He led me into each room and asked me what was missing. Grandmom's ring was not there. In fact, my entire jewelry box had been taken. My laptop computer and printer belonging to the office, my CD player, microwave, camera, television, and video player were all gone.
orderly line. Department stores and gas companies that didn't exist in Eastern Europe had been passed up. Luckily, my Visa card remained safe inside my purse.
The officers dusted the entire house for fingerprints, while the detective motioned to us to sit at the kitchen table. He wrote a few notes and then looked up, studying me.
"How do you know?" I asked through Gezá.
I had noticed that the patio door stood wide open.
"Do you know anyone in the Mafia?" he asked me.
"No, of course not," I said. Gezá assured him I was a good, quiet girl, and I did not run in those circles.
After almost three hours, the police officers left as the new day began to break. Gezá, who had stayed up all night to help, instructed me to push my hutch against the door after he left. I could no longer lock myself in. I couldn't warm up in my flat either. All night, both doors had remained open. I cranked up the heat, put on my warmest layers, and burrowed under my down comforter.
that He had protected me and my neighbors from harm, glad I hadn't come home early from the party. I thanked Him by faith, remembering that I am to express gratitude in all things, affirming that He somehow allowed this to enter my life through the filter of His great hands of love. I cried as I thanked the Lord for the gift of letting me borrow Grandmom's beautiful ring for all those months, thanking Him especially for having been blessed with such a sweet grandmother.
I recited words of comfort that dwelled deep inside, as my eyes refused to close. "Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10).
His Word calmed my heart. I rehearsed the well-worn promises of Psalm 23, scrunching lower under my comforter, wrapping myself in God's love.
As sleep eluded me, hot tears escaped from my eyes, and my body convulsed in silent sobs.
I walked around in shock all day, never once thinking about eating. I was sure the burglary had been a nightmare. I only had to look at the hole in my front door or the black smear of fingerprint goop on every surface to realize that wasn't true.
I thought surely God would prove Himself mighty by returning my ring to me. Maybe the thieves would be apprehended and dramatically turn from crime, giving their lives to Christ. That's how I would write that script. Perhaps one day I would spot the ring glistening along the side of the road as I walked to the bus. I had read of people finding a family heirloom washed up on the sands of the beach. God would do the same for me, I just knew it.
of a certain person or a distinct time in my life. The Mafia hadn't just taken my jewelry; they had taken pieces of my heart. Each memory stabbed me afresh.
Agota stopped by to check on me. I told her that I had hope that the ring would turn up. Maybe the thieves had a hole in their bag, and it fell out in our yard. Later I stood at the window and saw her four little girls combing the yard with a rake and a flashlight. They were looking for my ring. The girls did find my useless can of pepper spray, a joke left behind by my burglars.
The police asked me to come in to file an official report and bring a complete list of every missing object—but not today or tomorrow because of the New Year's holiday. They wouldn't start searching until after I filed the report. When we arrived, the police told Gezá and me that the Mafia works quickly, and since my robbery happened three days before, they were sure my things had been sold. My frustration mounted. So why did they make me wait? They suggested I search pawn shops myself. The detective asked me again if I had any connections to the Mafia.
I did. I had forgotten. Eszter, the Hungarian secretary in our office, had recently separated from a man involved in the Mafia. Janos had served as a liaison to get our cars fixed. I had turned over my Passat to him to work on the electric windows. When he brought it back, along with a hefty bill, I noticed that it had been driven hundreds of kilometers.
exposed and lose the income. I told Janos I didn't appreciate his language and asked him to leave. As I held the door open for him, Grandmom's ring caught his eye.
"That is a beautiful ring. How much is it worth?" he asked.
Eszter begged me not to turn in Janos. I relented, against my better judgment. Janos's disgruntled clients had thrown rocks, covered in death threats, through her window. I didn't want to add to the difficulties for her and the children.
The police suspected the Mafia had been watching me for weeks. Once again I had been stalked and violated. Something had been taken from me by force, against my will.
I couldn't sleep for weeks. Even after my landlord finally replaced the lock and installed an alarm, I still didn't feel safe. I couldn't let down my guard at home, still shaken from the trauma and saddened by the loss.
I knew I had lost things and not people. I knew there is no comparison between a robbery and a death. But I still felt legitimately sad and uneasy.
Teammates invited me to their homes for dinner, trying to coax me away from the scene of the crime. I didn't know why, but I didn't want to go. One family came to my place with a fondue pot and all the fixings. We had a wonderful evening together. They asked me all about the robbery. Their son played my piano as the cheese bubbled. We laughed together and had a delightful conversation. They truly ministered to me.
Afterwards, I thought about what they had done for me. They helped me feel like my home was a good place to be. I enjoyed being at home that evening. They brought laughter back. I needed to talk about what had happened, and they helped me process it. I realized the reason I didn't want to go out is that I didn't want to come home alone again, after dark. Logical or not, I feared a repeat of the other night.
My friends knew what I needed, because they had been robbed themselves. I tucked this away in my heart to be able to pull it out someday myself, to comfort someone else in need.
About six weeks after the break-in, I had a break-through time alone with God. I forgave everyone with whom I felt angry. I absolved the thieves, the police who didn't work very hard on my case, my landlord who took his time fixing my lock, my teammates who didn't demonstrate care for me, people who made stupid and hurtful comments, and myself for taking the ring off that night. I even forgave God for allowing my precious things to be taken when He knew I would have to deal with it alone. I released healing tears and felt a burden removed from my shoulders.
I had moved through most of the stages of grief: denial, depression, anger, and now acceptance. I had skipped the bargaining phase. I guess I knew I could never be good enough to live up to a bargain with God, so I didn't try.
As I traveled the next few months, the staff I visited ministered to me in practical ways. Krystyna helped me buy my first new earrings in Poland, a crystal pair that cost about five dollars. Velislava and I went shopping in Bulgaria for a marcasite ring. Nikki helped me pick out a handmade silver bracelet in Albania. My new jewelry meant almost as much to me as the pieces I had lost. It represented these new friends and their countries which I dearly loved.
I had wept with the staff for a few years now as they poured out the struggles of their hearts to me. This year they cried with me.


Discussion in 'iPhone' started by MultiMediaWill, Sep 18, 2014.
Since each Apple store has 20 or less iPhone 6 Plus's, if you are not in line or haven't preorder you won't get the 6+ Friday. Supplies are extremely limited. I know some ATT stores confirmed that they will be lucky to get more than 5 gray, 5 silver, and no gold, with most of the 10 iPhones being 16gb. How many of you are actually getting the phone on Friday?


Do you have a love/hate relationship with spreadsheets? Come take a closer look at Microsoft Excel 2013 and explore the possibilities of PivotTables.
A PivotTable is a powerful data analysis tool that allows you to easily analyze a large amount of data. You can also pivot – manipulate the data – of the PivotTable to see different views and results.
It is best to begin by converting your spreadsheet data into a Table.
Select the data columns/rows you want to include in the Table. Next, on the Insert tab, choose the Table option. A pop-up window will appear. The data equation will be based on the spreadsheet cells you selected. Make sure the My table has headers option is checked and press OK.
For best results using your Table to create a PivotTable, you should Convert to Range.
To do this, select the Design tab and choose the Convert to Range option. Press Yes in the pop-up window that appears.
Now you are ready to create a PivotTable.
Begin by selecting a cell within the table that will be the source data for your PivotTable.
On the Insert tab view, select the PivotTable option. Fill in the information in the pop-up window and press OK.
Excel will create a blank PivotTable and displays the Fields List.
Select a field to drag-and-drop into an area. Each time you drop a field in an area, the PivotTable is automatically updated to include the new data. You can add as many fields as you like to each area and move them from one area to another area – this allows you to view the data from a variety of perspectives, increasing the analysis of the data.
To change the type of graph your PivotTable results are viewed in, select the Insert tab and choose one of the Charts buttons.
If you are creating multiple PivotTables and have several spreadsheets, you may want to Rename the spreadsheet tabs. Simply double click on the tab and enter the new name, or right click on the tab and select Rename from the menu.


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Measure of America summer research interns explore human well-being
6/12/2017 A&S Communications
This summer, two interns from the College of Arts & Sciences, Lala Xu '18 and Emily Bramhall '19, will assist in researching, writing and producing papers and reports on human well-being, freedom and opportunity for the Measure of America project.
They will benefit from an Engaged Cornell grant, which will provide them with stipends to assist with the costs of living in Brooklyn over the summer.
"This internship gives students who are minors in Inequality Studies the opportunity to develop their quantitative analytic skills, apply what they learned about inequality in their courses, and work for an organization that's bringing social scientific evidence into the public debate about inequality and poverty in America" said Kim Weeden, the Jan Rock Zubrow '77 Professor of the Social Sciences and director of Cornell's Center for the Study of Inequality.
Measure of America is an initiative of the Social Science Research Council, an independent, not-for-profit research organization founded in 1923 and based in Brooklyn that nurtures new generations of social scientists, fosters innovative research and mobilizes necessary knowledge on important public issues. Cornell's Center for the Study of Inequality partnered with the Research Council to arrange the internships.
"I absolutely adored my internship experience last summer," said Xu, "so much so that I am returning again this summer."
Much of Measure of America's work centers on the American Human Development Index, a supplement to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other money metrics, which tells the story of how ordinary Americans are faring. The index — made up of health, education and income indicators — is modeled after the United Nations Human Development Index.
"I had little idea as to how to best apply my skills to public service," Xu said. "Working at Measure of America showed me how I could use my quantitative skills to create data tools that can be used by government and community organizations to improve their efficacy."
Measure of America releases reports and interactive mapping tools such as Data2Go.NYC that explore well-being by state, congressional district, county, metro area and census tract, as well as by gender, race and ethnicity and nativity. Measure of America published the first-ever human development report for an affluent country in 2008
"Measure of America is doing great work in shifting from money-centered measure for well-being to human centered ones," Bramhall said. "These are measures that can give a more in-depth view of how people are actually doing in the United States."
The work the two interns will be doing will include conducting literature reviews on diverse topics in the social sciences and public policy, writing short texts and longer policy briefs that inform, and may be included in, published reports, participating in statistical research and data collection and contributing to the project's online communications efforts.
"I look forward to putting my research to work in ways that can help policy makers and community members alike enact real informed change," Bramhall said.


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Roundtable: When Idols Should Call It Quits
Seoulbeats
In the last couple of years, the boom in idol lawsuits and group break-ups has been difficult for many fans to cope with. Not only is it hard to lose a favorite group, it's hard to acknowledge that there is so much wrong with an industry we support.
Recently, SM Entertainment has been at the top of the list with Sulli officially leaving f(x), Jessica officially leaving SM and Tao finally dishing on all that went down with Exo. But they're not the only ones in trouble — Stardom Entertainment is living up to their reputation of being shady with both Evol and Topp Dogg members filing lawsuits.
And on the flip side, we have B.A.P returning to their company, despite months of conflict. I think we all expected them to pull a Block B, so the quiet re-integration into TS Entertainment was a bit shocking.
In lieu of these events, our question this week is: When should an idol just call it quits with K-pop? How much is "too much" when it comes to this industry? And do you think here's hope for group's like B.A.P and ZE:A who have "worked things out" with their companies?
Cjontai: Despite the illusion of glamour most people have in regards to celebrity, it is a cesspool of daily B.S. I'm not even talking about just Korean idols; American celebrities deal with crazy situations also. The difference is how each culture handles scandals.
In K-pop, the smallest infraction, like dating openly, can result in a loss of fans and revenue. That's why they have these dating bans, which would've been enough for me to quit personally. You're telling me I'm going to be surrounded by these hot guys backstage, and I'm not allowed to flirt for a number? They are adults with hormones! Why not tell just them to stop eating while you're at it?
Oh wait, they do tell them that ALL THE TIME. I've seen these idols up close in person, and they're skinny! And what scares the crap out of me is they basically brag about skipping meals, not realizing how dangerous it is to put your body through intense stress.
Then there's the sasaeng culture that gives offenses, such as poisoning idols or breaking into their dorms, a slap on the wrist. At least in the U.S., celebrities are protected by anti-stalking laws and can file restraining orders. Absolutely no one finds it normal to stalk someone here.
But the ones most responsible for a majority of the illogical crap idols must endure are their companies. They control everything from who they date to what they eat. They trick them into signing these unfair contracts, and if anyone has the nerve to request nullification, they act as if the idols blindsided them. It's so maddening that I'm shocked anyone still wants to even become an idol.
Camiele: I agree 100% with Cjontai's assessment of the idol industry. Unfortunately, as "modern" as the imagery tries to be, the idol industry is part of South Korea's pop culture, with heavy emphasis on the "culture" aspect. I think it goes doubly for idols because, as is part in parcel with this idea of celebrity, most people believe no matter what happens to said celebrity, he/she/they should be grateful, should expect to suffer any type of infraction against general human decency, and pretty much has it coming to them. Anyone who dares to so much as question any of this for the sake of preserving their health, their ability to do what they actually do, and just for the sake of human decency and self-respect, they're basically blackballed. I, too, like Cjontai wonder why I persist in this genre when the industry is so riddled with hypocrisy.
Because of the general griminess of the industry, including recruiting kids who are 11, 12, 13 years old and basically conning them into essentially sign over their lives, idols should basically start getting their own legal representation when they hit the legal age to do so, and then if (and inevitably when) they do find out just how murky these contracts are, they should demand changes. If those demands aren't even considered or a compromise can't be reached they should split. However, because of the fear of never being able to appear on broadcasts in their own damn country simply because they did stand up for their rights, or being sued by their own company because they've managed to become successful, or even being kicked out of your group for pursuing a fallback plan, doing so is certainly too much of a risk than simply riding it out. It's not a question of should, really. It's more a question of if the idol is able to call it quits without fear of serious repercussion.
People still want to become idols for the same exact reason people stay in the music industry in general: the appeal of that stardom, the money, the ability to do what you love and get paid for it. To some extent, there could even be pressure from home to make something of themselves in a big way… It leads kids to seek out the companies they know make the biggest impact and will give them the biggest opportunity at all the things they want. In their mind, and from what I can see just from netizen reaction, a "little sacrifice" (food, sleep, human interaction with anyone besides fans and bandmates, etc.) is well worth it in the end. Kids, no matter what the warning signs are, always believe they're invincible and can handle anything. It's not until they realize what's being asked of them that they're forced to make the choice between leaving and facing the repercussions, or going on until there's nothing left of them.
Mark: I think it's easy to look at it from a personal perspective where I'm sure most of us would have never even considered entering the industry based on what we know. But that's why we aren't idols. In fact, idols represent a very small percentage of the even the Korean population. They are the few and the strong who have the mental and physical prowess to endure the trainee process and the predicament of living life as an idol. Who are we to tell these few determined individuals that what they've worked for their whole life isn't right or isn't worth the effort?
I think idols should call it quits when they feel that the time is right without the ridicule of fans and their company convincing them otherwise. Furthermore, I don't see the harm of groups like B.A.P or Kara who return to their company after filing a lawsuit. If whatever they worked out was disagreeable, I'm sure the members would have preferred to walk since they were already in the situation to do so anyways. We as fans should be supportive of idols whether they elect to leave or stay with their company. We should trust that they as individuals have the common sense to do what's right for them.
I like how this discussion is evolving into one about how we as consumers live with ourselves given all that we know about the less than spectacular working conditions of the industry. The reason we put up with these injustices may simply be because we enjoy the finished product too much. Similarly, we know it's bad for our long term health to eat meat, not to mention the inhumane treatment of animals and the environmental harm, but we eat it anyways because it tastes so good! Personally, I find no contradiction in this framework of thought as long as we acknowledge that our consumer preferences don't always align with our moral foundation. It's just a part of the world we live in.
Andy: Perhaps the internal contradiction as fans come from some sort of partially true delusion that our money and support goes toward the artists themselves. From lawsuits, we know that multiple (if not most) companies take the largest chunk of our money. However, fans hold on to the little sliver of hope that the artists get at least a little bit (B.A.P being an example where this doesn't happen).
As to artists rejoining a label after filing a lawsuit, it's fine as long as they are getting a better deal. I would think the artists are smart enough to not go back to the same bad treatment as before. And agencies would be stupid to not offer some mollification and betterment since they've already faced public backlash. With of course the exception of agencies like SM Entertainment, which seem to get away with most things unless it's the holy beings that are JYJ dragging them into court.
As Mark said, we look at these things from a personal perspective. That being said, if an artist feels they are being malnourished, abused, humiliated, truly held back and/or impoverished by an agency that promised them something different, then the artist should leave. They should do so without the masses belittling their decisions, as well. After all, as K-pop fans, aren't we supposed to stanning the artists and not their agencies?
Camiele: To respond in part to Mark, it isn't about telling them what they want or what they've worked for is wrong. Actually it's quite the contrary. What they've worked so hard for, given up their lives for, is absolutely right. The problem is they're not getting it and have sacrificed so much of themselves to either sit around and fester until they're needed to make the company look good, or they're finally able to make music only to either disband or be reshaped because of any number of reasons (mostly not making the company enough of a profit) or not get anything out of it.
In the end we all know companies rarely care about music. It's about profit. And if the music's good, both the company and most importantly the artists should absolutely reap the monetary benefits and accolades. However, there's a gross disproportion of those benefits going to the company as opposed to the artist who's suffered to get what they deserve. And as human beings who are interested in the music and the artists, to see them suffer and still put up with it because circumstances dictate they have no better options is difficult to stomach.
I agree any artist, idol or otherwise, should only call it quits if they don't want to do it anymore. But in a situation in which there's obvious abuse from a company to its artists, it's pertinent the idol leave for their health and sanity. If they want to stay and tough it out for whatever reason, that's certainly their choice, and we'll never know even a fraction of their reasoning for staying or leaving. We as fans see less than half of what actually goes on unless an artist decides to open up about it. So we absolutely have no room to judge the artist, which I don't believe is what's happening here. But we can be concerned for them because of the inevitability of their bodies and/or their minds breaking down. On the surface it may seem they have some mythical strength that we don't. But anyone has strength to endure something if they believe in the end they'll get what's promised to them. But even with the mental fortitude of a mountain, the body will and does break down. They're just young enough now where it will take a couple more years than someone not trained for it.
Cjontai: In my earlier statement, I wasn't questioning why we as fans support K-pop. I was addressing why idols continue putting themselves through this rigorous process in the first place, but that's where I give extra side eye to these companies.
While Mark brought up good points about granting the idols the freedom to quit if things get too hard, we've also seen the ugly consequences of what happens when they do. The ideal situation would be what happened with U-kiss, in which the members who wished to quit were relieved from their contracts with little opposition. No one was labeled a traitor through media play, and fans accepted the departures of the former members because of how quietly things were resolved.
Unfortunately, things didn't run so smoothly for Kris, Luhan, Tao and Jessica. Jessica got lucky because she was already booted from SNSD before officially ending things with SM. Technically, SM dumped her first, so they didn't have any reason to drag out the nullification process.
As for Kris, Luhan and Tao, they couldn't take the harsh conditions any more and chose to jump ship before it sank. Now their lawyers are going through these endless negotiations, and SM is not budging an inch. Just like with JYJ, they intend to make an example of them through the law and media play.
That's where I take the most issue in this matter. Ideally, if these companies could hear out the idols fairly and give them respect, then less of these instances would occur. You'd have more quitting because they were simply tired of idol life as opposed to leaving due to mistreatment by their companies.
(YouTube, Images via SM Entertainment, C-JeS Entertainment, Beauty +, NH Media, DSP Media and Twitter)
Tags: SB Roundtable, SM Entertainment, TS Entertainment
The Time We Were Not In Love, Episodes 7-16: Finding Their Voice
SNSD Bring the Power in "You Think"
Roundtable: Favorite Articles of 2020
SB Decade in Review: Favorite Summer Tracks
SNSD, Fearless and Forever: The Avengers of K-pop Make a Jubilant Comeback
SMTown Live Culture Humanity: A Polished and Packed Virtual Concert
Let the Fight Begin: Interactive Media in Exo's "Obsession" Comeback Promotion
GOT the Beat: A Disastrous Attempt at Girl Power That Instead Exemplifies K-pop's Misogyny Problem
SM Station: Four Years Later
In Defense of Noise: SM Future Sound and Red Velvet


Police officers have allegedly stolen several items which were put on display at the international aviation forum which was hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre last week.
Crime Chief and Deputy Commissioner of Police Lyndon Alves confirmed to the News Room that the items, including expensive model planes, were reported missing on the evening of November 22, 2018.
The report of the missing items was made after a cocktail reception which was hosted to honour the many international guests who attended the Air Transport Meeting 2018.
News Room understands that ranks of the Guyana Police Force's band are the prime suspects.
He was unable to say how many officers are being investigated and the value of the items missing.
This incident comes on the heels of firefighters being accused of stealing from the passengers who were onboard the Fly Jamaica aircraft that crashed on an emergency landing at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on November 9, 2018.


Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 05, 2018 (SKNIS): A number of stakeholders representing a wide range of sectors in St. Kitts were made more aware of the principles underpinning the Nagoya Protocol and the importance of St. Kitts and Nevis becoming a party to the Protocol, thanks to an Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) workshop, which convened on Wednesday, September 05, at the Ocean Terrace Inn (OTI).
Alistair Edwards, Permanent Secretary, who has responsibility for Environment, welcomed the participants and noted that St. Kitts and Nevis views the Nagoya Protocol as extremely important.
The permanent secretary said that it is important for each and every one to contribute in some way to the development of legislative provisions to implement the Nagoya Protocol that is anticipated to be enacted by Parliament in due course.
"One of the core requirements of the Nagoya Protocol calls for countries to develop domestic ABS legislation in order to effectively implement the Nagoya Protocol. Our deliberations would therefore be in accordance with this fundamental requirement that would enable St. Kitts and Nevis to fulfil its obligations under the Protocol upon ratification," he said.
Environmental Scientist in the Department of Environment and National Focal Point for the project, Eavin Parry, said that St. Kitts and Nevis has been a participating member state in the Global Environment Fund (GEF) Advancing the Nagoya Protocol in countries of the Caribbean" for the past two years and has reaped many benefits.
The September 5-7 workshop is hosted by the Department of Environment and facilitated by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with funding from the United Nations Environment (UNE) and the Global Environment Fund (GEF).


text:
The Sweetest Burn
By Jeaniene Frost
Read by Tavia Gilbert
Jeaniene Frost Blackstone Publishing 9780373789412
The Broken Destiny Series: Book 2
The second novel in New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost's Broken Destiny series finds Ivy and Adrian rekindling their alliance—and passion—as the struggle for the fate of the world begins. Conquering a supernatural realm turned out to be easier than getting over a broken heart. But her initial victory has made Ivy a target for revenge, forcing her to reunite with the dangerous—and dangerously sexy—Adrian. Ivy isn't sure which will be harder: finding the hallowed weapon that will repair the crumbling walls between the demon and human realms or resisting Adrian, who's decided that, come hell or high water, he will make Ivy his. At first Adrian tried to resist his feelings for Ivy. Now, determined to break the curse that dooms their love, he's vowed to save her and to have her. If only he can persuade her to forgive his past sins. But defying destiny—and surrendering to the smoldering desire between them—will bring consequences and sacrifices they never imagined.
The second novel in New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost's Broken Destiny series finds Ivy and Adrian rekindling their alliance—and passion—as the struggle for the fate of the world begins.
Conquering a supernatural realm turned out to be easier than getting over a broken heart. But her initial victory has made Ivy a target for revenge, forcing her to reunite with the dangerous—and dangerously sexy—Adrian. Ivy isn't sure which will be harder: finding the hallowed weapon that will repair the crumbling walls between the demon and human realms or resisting Adrian, who's decided that, come hell or high water, he will make Ivy his.
At first Adrian tried to resist his feelings for Ivy. Now, determined to break the curse that dooms their love, he's vowed to save her and to have her. If only he can persuade her to forgive his past sins. But defying destiny—and surrendering to the smoldering desire between them—will bring consequences and sacrifices they never imagined.
"The plotting is quite clever, the hero and heroine are multifaceted and fallible and there's nothing wilting about Ivy." —RT Book Reviews
"Frost scores another win with the mesmerizing second Broken Destiny supernatural contemporary…The novel thrums with energy, its pacing breakneck from the very start, and piles on the sexual tension." —Publishers Weekly
Author Bio: Jeaniene Frost
Jeaniene Frost is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of several series of paranormal and romance novels, including the Night Huntress series, Night Prince series, and the Broken Destiny series, among others. Foreign rights for her novels have sold to nineteen different countries. She lives in North Carolina with her husband Matthew, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Aside from writing, she enjoys reading, poetry, watching movies with her husband, exploring old cemeteries, spelunking and traveling—by car. Airplanes, children, and cookbooks frighten her.
Category: Fiction/Romance
Audience: New Adult (18–25)


ABSTRACT: Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) is an epigenome-modifying enzyme that is required for normal mouse development and tissue-specific functions. In vitro, HDAC3 protein itself has minimal enzyme activity, but gains its histone deacetylation function from stable association with the conserved deacetylase activation domain (DAD) contained in nuclear receptor corepressors NCOR1 and SMRT. Here we show that HDAC3 enzyme activity is undetectable in mice bearing point mutations in the DAD of both NCOR1 and SMRT (NS-DADm), despite normal levels of HDAC3 protein. Local histone acetylation is increased, and genomic HDAC3 recruitment is reduced though not abrogated. Remarkably, the NS-DADm mice are born and live to adulthood, whereas genetic deletion of HDAC3 is embryonic lethal. These findings demonstrate that nuclear receptor corepressors are required for HDAC3 enzyme activity in vivo, and suggest that a deacetylase-independent function of HDAC3 may be required for life. This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below. Refer to individual Series.
Project description:Changing the somatic cell transcriptome to a pluripotent state using exogenous reprogramming factors needs transcriptional co-regulators that help activate or suppress gene expression and rewrite the epigenome. Here, we show that reprogramming-specific engagement of the NCoR/SMRT co-repressor complex at key pluripotency loci creates an epigenetic block to reprogramming. HDAC3 executes the repressive function of NCoR/SMRT in reprogramming by inducing histone deacetylation at these loci. Recruitment of NCoR/SMRT-HDAC3 to pluripotency genes is facilitated by all 4 Yamanaka factors (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC) but mostly by c-MYC. Class IIa HDACs further potentiate this recruitment by interacting with both the reprogramming factors and NCoR/SMRT. Consequently, depleting NCoR/SMRT-HDAC3 function enables high efficiency of reprogramming, while elevating NCoR/SMRT-HDAC3 recruitment at pluripotency loci by over-expressing constitutively active class IIa HDACs derails it. Our findings thus uncover an unexpected epigenetic mechanism involving c-MYC, whose manipulation greatly enhances reprogramming efficiency. Overall design: RNA-seq data consisting of Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc (OSKM) transfected mouse embryonic fibroblasts co-transfected with one of shRNA targetting Luciferase (control), Ncor1 (NCoR) or Ncor2 (SMRT). Cells were assayd for total RNA on days 5 and day 9.
Project description:BCL6 is crucial for B-cell activation and lymphomagenesis. We used integrative genomics to explore BCL6 mechanism in normal and malignant B-cells. Surprisingly, BCL6 assembled distinct complexes at enhancers vs. promoters. At enhancers BCL6 preferentially recruited SMRT, which mediated H3K27 deacetylation through HDAC3, antagonized p300 activity and repressed transcription, but without decommissioning enhancers. This provides a biochemical basis for toggling enhancers from the active to poised state. Virtually all SMRT was bound with BCL6 suggesting that in B-cells BCL6 uniquely sequesters SMRT from other factors. In promoters BCL6 preferentially recruited BCOR, but most potently repressed promoters where it formed a distinctive ternary complex with SMRT and BCOR. Promoter repression was associated with decreased H3K36me3, H3K79me2 and Pol II elongation, linking BCL6 to transcriptional pausing. We identified the binding patterns of BCL6, SMRT, NCOR and BCOR corepressors in normal germinal center B cells and a DLBCL cell line (OCI-Ly1) using ChIP-seq. Additionally we treated lymphoma cells with siRNA against BCL6 and a non-targeted siRNA (NT control) and performed RNA-seq to identify the genes bound and repressed by BCL6. RNA-seq experiments were performed at 24h and 48h after siRNA treatments. Additional biological triplicate RNA-seq experiments were performed at 48h after BCL6 knockdown. Furthermore, a series of histone mark ChIP-seq and RNA polymerase ChIP-seq (total, Ser5-P and Ser2-P) were preformed to capture the chromatin states associated with the formation of BCL6 corepressor complexes.
Project description:Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) is the catalytic component of NCoR/SMRT corepressor complexes that mediate the actions of transcription factors implicated in the regulation of B cell development and function. We crossed Hdac3 conditional knockout mice with Mb1-Cre knockin animals to delete Hdac3 in early progenitor B cells. The spleens of Hdac3F/-Mb1-Cre+/- mice were virtually devoid of mature B cells, and B220+CD43+ B cell progenitors accumulated within the bone marrow. Quantitative deep sequencing of the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus from B220+CD43+ populations identified a defect in VHDJH recombination with a severe reduction in productive rearrangements, which directly corresponded to the loss of pre-B cells from Hdac3D/- bone marrow. For Hdac3D/- B cells that did show productive VDJ rearrangement, there was significant skewing toward the incorporation of proximal VH gene segments and a corresponding reduction in distal VH gene segment usage. While transcriptional effects within these loci were modest, Hdac3D/- progenitor cells displayed global changes in chromatin structure that likely hindered effective distal V-DJ recombination. Re-introduction of wild type Hdac3 restored normal B cell development, whereas an Hdac3 point mutant lacking deacetylase activity failed to complement this defect. Thus, the deacetylase activity of Hdac3 is required for the generation of mature B cells. Overall design: Bone marrow was isolated from Hdac3+/+ controls or Hdac3 deleted mice at 8 weeks of age. B220+CD43+ B cells were isolated from marrow by FACS and cells. 5% drosophila S2 cells were spiked into 50,000 sorted cells prior to initiation of ATAC protocol.
Project description:Histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) is the catalytic component of NCoR/SMRT corepressor complexes that mediate the actions of transcription factors implicated in the regulation of B cell development and function. We crossed Hdac3 conditional knockout mice with Mb1-Cre knockin animals to delete Hdac3 in early progenitor B cells. The spleens of Hdac3F/-Mb1-Cre+/- mice were virtually devoid of mature B cells, and B220+CD43+ B cell progenitors accumulated within the bone marrow. Quantitative deep sequencing of the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus from B220+CD43+ populations identified a defect in VHDJH recombination with a severe reduction in productive rearrangements, which directly corresponded to the loss of pre-B cells from Hdac3D/- bone marrow. For Hdac3D/- B cells that did show productive VDJ rearrangement, there was significant skewing toward the incorporation of proximal VH gene segments and a corresponding reduction in distal VH gene segment usage. While transcriptional effects within these loci were modest, Hdac3D/- progenitor cells displayed global changes in chromatin structure that likely hindered effective distal V-DJ recombination. Re-introduction of wild type Hdac3 restored normal B cell development, whereas an Hdac3 point mutant lacking deacetylase activity failed to complement this defect. Thus, the deacetylase activity of Hdac3 is required for the generation of mature B cells. Overall design: Bone marrow was isolated from Hdac3+/+Mb1cre+/- or Hdac3F/-Mb1cre+/- mice at 8 weeks of age. B220+CD43+ B cells were isolated from marrow by FACS and cells from two mice were pooled per sample. Total RNA isolated by Trizol extraction.
Project description:BCL6 is crucial for B-cell activation and lymphomagenesis. We used integrative genomics to explore BCL6 mechanism in normal and malignant B-cells. Surprisingly, BCL6 assembled distinct complexes at enhancers vs. promoters. At enhancers BCL6 preferentially recruited SMRT, which mediated H3K27 deacetylation through HDAC3, antagonized p300 activity and repressed transcription, but without decommissioning enhancers. This provides a biochemical basis for toggling enhancers from the active to poised state. Virtually all SMRT was bound with BCL6 suggesting that in B-cells BCL6 uniquely sequesters SMRT from other factors. In promoters BCL6 preferentially recruited BCOR, but most potently repressed promoters where it formed a distinctive ternary complex with SMRT and BCOR. Promoter repression was associated with decreased H3K36me3, H3K79me2 and Pol II elongation, linking BCL6 to transcriptional pausing. Overall design: We identified the binding patterns of BCL6, SMRT, NCOR and BCOR corepressors in normal germinal center B cells and a DLBCL cell line (OCI-Ly1) using ChIP-seq. Additionally we treated lymphoma cells with siRNA against BCL6 and a non-targeted siRNA (NT control) and performed RNA-seq to identify the genes bound and repressed by BCL6. RNA-seq experiments were performed at 24h and 48h after siRNA treatments. Additional biological triplicate RNA-seq experiments were performed at 48h after BCL6 knockdown. Furthermore, a series of histone mark ChIP-seq and RNA polymerase ChIP-seq (total, Ser5-P and Ser2-P) were preformed to capture the chromatin states associated with the formation of BCL6 corepressor complexes.
Histone modifications in primary intestinal epithelial cells from wild type (F/FUN) and intesinal NCoR1 deletion (ΔIECUN) neonates.
Project description:ChIP-seq analyses were carried out in intestinanl epithelial cells (IECs) isolated from F/FUN and ΔIECUN mice to assess histone modifications across the genome, an event that links the actions of corepressors with molecular insight towards a mechanism. Overall design: Examination of 6 different histone modifications in IECs with or without the presence of NCoR1.


At @MASS_MoCA today and saw the Turrell exhibit—beautiful and trippy as hell.
iRFR is a real boy now!
Was troubleshooting MarsEdit 4's download preview template function today. It hadn't been working, but @danielpunkass pointed me to a potential solution. I changed the "Home Page URL" to the https version and voilà, my beautiful blog now previews.
About to head out of town and spent the day troubleshooting screen sharing and other traveling necessities. LogMeIn was already working, but I like the keyboard/mac conveniences of Screens. Seems some macOS update to the firewall sent things on the fritz.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The theme for Song Lyric Sunday this week is "phone calls/calling".
See the Song Lyric Sunday selection on Nesie's Place.
Written and produced by Ray Parker, Jr.
Just one more time if you can?
Feel old yet…yes. I turned 34 yesterday and songs can definitely do that. What a flashback with this one.
Yes, I've been feeling pretty old lately.
I'm thinking this poor guy just needs to take the hint? Who wouldn't keep calling, though, right? This one takes me back. Thanks so much for sharing!
Eeee! LOL Not only is this a classic, but nostalgic in that way when music videos used to actually follow the script provided by the lyrics! 😀 Thanks, Fle!


text:
Main Events Calendar
Warrior Wednesday
"Rent" with book, music, and lyrics by Jonathan Larson. Presented by Theatre & Dance at Wayne | OCTOBER 1, 2022
2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Show | Map | Repeating Custom
Set in the East Village of New York City, "Rent" is about falling in love, finding your voice and living for today. This Tony Award and...
Transfer Tuesdays: Drop-in transfer advising (in-person and virtual options) | OCTOBER 4, 2022
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Recruiting | Map | Repeating Weekly
Connect with a transfer advisor! Are you interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree at WSU? Drop in to one of our in-person or...
September 30, 2022|October 02, 2022
Showing 3 events for October 1, 2022.
SAT | OCTOBER 1, 2022
Fall 2022 - Course Evaluations
All Day | Student Activity | Repeating Daily
8:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. | Show | Map | Repeating Custom


Perfect for boys and girls in 2nd – 6th grade. Girls and boys will learn how to bring animated characters to life, make video games and learn the fundamentals of computer science (sequencing, branching, looping, variables and more).
Jan 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19 NOTE: 7:1 student to instructor ratio. USB required. Laptops optional. Space is limited 20 student maximum.


On Saturday, October 12, enjoy a relaxing and fun round of golf at the Saratoga Lake Golf Course with your colleagues at the Fred Hack Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament.
The new clubhouse is done!!!
All proceeds go directly to the Fred Hack Memorial Scholarship Program to help defray the increasing education costs for NYSSFA active and affiliate members' dependent children.
• Four-person scramble in which all team members hit from the best shot until the ball is holed.
• If a group attains a bogey, they then pick up their ball and move to the next tee to keep the play moving.
• If a group is short player(s), please rotate the extra shot.
• There is a Men's and Women's Closest to the Pin contest and one Longest Drive contest.
• Mulligans and 50/50 tickets can be purchased at registration.


text:
Review: Destroy All Humans! (PS4)
Playing the Destroy All Humans remake is like reuniting with an old friend. He's stayed the same, but he's changed for the better. I first learned of Destroy All Humans as a teenager and loved the premise. An open-world game where you play as the alien terrorizing the humans instead of the other way around? Sign me up! I adored the games during those awkward teenage years, even if the later entries weren't quite up to par with the first two. Despite my fanaticism, I moved on as I got older. It also didn't help I discovered the franchise two years after the last game Path of the Furon released and bombed, killing any chances of the series continuing.
Years passed and nothing was heard of the franchise, even after Nordic Games bought the rights. That changed in 2019. Nordic Games, now known as THQ Nordic, revealed three titles over the span of E3 2019, and with the final reveal, I almost fainted. They showed a trailer featuring a grey alien hypnotizing throngs of humans through the power of Rammstein's "Ich Will" before vaporizing them. Crypto was back, and I couldn't be happier. While I told people my most anticipated game of 2020 was Doom Eternal, it was really Destroy All Humans. With brand-new graphics and redone gameplay, the Destroy All Humans remake aims to re-introduce old and new players to the series starring an alien who sounds like the guy from The Shining.
Furons are in a predicament. Eons of waging war with unregulated atomic weaponry has mutated their genes to the point they are not able to reproduce. They resorted to cloning to keep their race alive, but the DNA used to do so is running low, making the threat of extinction larger than ever. Orthopox-13 learns there is aa planet brimming with pure Furon DNA as a result of Furons stopping for R&R after the Martian War. This planet is Earth. A Furon scout named Cryptosporidium-136 is sent to survey the planet, but he gets captured after his saucer collides with a rocket. Orthopox orders Crypto-137 to prepare the mothership for invasion. As Crypto gather DNA, he discovers his predecessor's disappearance has connections to an agency called Majestic.
Join the IFP: Insane Furon Posse.
Destroy All Humans preserves the story, characters, and dialogue of the original game, and few titles make the Red Scare and cow abuse as funny as Destroy All Humans does. The game is a tribute to 1950's science-fiction cinema and apes a lot of tropes from films of the time. Locations include rural farmland, a quiet small town, a government research base, and a bustling metropolis, all settings one would find in movies of this kind. The eerie theremin music on the title screen further accentuates the game's B-movie roots. As much as Destroy All Humans pays tribute, it spends as much time poking fun at the decade it's set in. The 1950's was the decade of Communist paranoia and the rise of the nuclear family. Politicians like Joseph McCarthy spread false propaganda that the Red Menace could be right next door, and the game satirizes such paranoia.
Crypto's mayhem is perceived as the work of Communists by everyday civilians and military officials alike, and Majestic aims to use said paranoia as a tactic to help garner the public's trust. Moments like this is what helped Destroy All Humans stand the test of time. It may be funny, but it keeps one foot in reality and never becomes too absurd, unlike Big Willy Unleashed and Path of the Furon, which went too far into camp territory and relied on obvious references instead of clever send-ups. At the heart of Destroy All Humans is Pox and Crypto.
Pox is a scheming mastermind, always coming up with plans to try and conquer the world, even if it means hijacking Majestic's plans for their own use. On the flip side, Crypto is an anarchist who cares little for humans and would rather destroy everything than research it. Crypto is more aggressive and temperamental than in the sequels, where his time on Earth softened his stance on humanity. His short temper faux-Jack Nicholson voice are what make Crypto the character he is, and it's why he's remained one of my favorite characters after all these years.
While Destroy All Humans preserves the story, the gameplay and visuals received an overhaul. It borrows ideas from the sequels and current gaming trends to create an experience that feels modern and up to date. Over the course of 23 missions, Crypto probes and vaporizes humans, occasionally donning a disguise to blend in. The controls are simplified to the Nth degree. Taking a page from Path of the Furon, Crypto is able to use his mental abilities and weapons at the same time, but the remake goes further by assigning abilities to various places on the controller instead of having to rely on a lock-on followed by button presses to do so.
PK is activated by tapping the right bumper and to throw an item you hold and release the right bumper or tap it to drop whatever is in Crypto's grasp. Other powers like mind-read, the holobob, and distraction are located on the d-pad or face buttons. The amount of freedom with his arsenal and abilities seems daunting, but soon you will be lifting cops into the air with PK while zapping and extracting brains like it's no problem. The game encourages experimentation and rewards creative players for doing so. Abilities include PK, mind-read, holobob, extraction, distract, follow/protect, and forget, those particular two powers are pulled from Destroy All Humans 2.
Destroying humans has never looked so good.
The original Destroy All Humans was a weird mishmash of linear and open-world game design, while the environments were explorable, you progressed through the story in linear fashion. The remake keeps this progression flow but makes quality-of-life adjustments where needed. Once you beat the first mission of a new area, you are given the option to explore the place or continue the story. There are no longer abrupt stopgaps where Crypto must collect a certain amount of DNA before continuing either, but there is incentive to collect DNA in the form of upgrades. Missions are varied and range from simple to complicated. One sees Crypto hypnotizing a beauty queen and luring her to the saucer for probing, and a later level involves escorting an atomic bomb to an airfield.
Missions now feature optional objectives to complete. Doing them unlocks concept art and results in more DNA being rewarded at the end of a mission. If you miss an objective, fear not, as the mission replay option lets you revisit previous missions. Series veterans might recall the original Destroy All Humans had 22 missions. In a surprise move, developer Black Forest Games resurrected a cut level called "The Wrong Stuff." It bridges the gap between Missions 13 and 14 and explains how the flying saucer prototype shown off in the opening of the latter level went haywire. Some missions even received new objectives. For example, "It's a Wonderful Armageddon" now begins with Crypto protecting a surveyor probe before hopping in the saucer to level Santa Modesta.
Objectives are varied and contain a good mixture of action and stealth. The stealth-oriented ones do show their age since if you are caught trying to holobob someone, it is an instant mission failure. In the 2005 game, one of the troubling aspects was sneaking by Majestic agents. If you got too close, the disguise glowed red before disabling. For the remake, agents sport a radius to determine how close you are. Using forget or distraction on them lets you get by without breaking disguise. EMP mines will also disable the holobob and weapons, but Crypto can remotely detonate them without having to use PK or his weapons to attract attention.
This game is called Destroy All Humans, and destroying things is great fun. Over the course of the campaign, Crypto gets the zap-o-matic, the disintegrator ray, the ion detonator, and the anal probe. The zap-o-matic fires arcs of electricity which zap nearby humans. The disintegrator ray fires bolts of hot plasma which reduce people to ash and makes destroying vehicles and emplacements easier to do than by using the zap-o-matic. The ion detonator is a high-tech grenade launcher, and you are now able to PK launched ions at targets. Then, there's the anal probe. By holding the trigger and releasing it when the reticule glows white, a probe is launched, penetrating the butt of some poor sod before ripping their brains out through their butts.
Patriotic fellow, isn't he?
Weapons, abilities, and the shields are upgraded at the mothership. That's right, there are shield upgrades for Crypto and the saucer, which makes withstanding punishment from tougher foes a lot easier knowing they are no longer glass cannons. To buy upgrades, you need DNA. DNA is earned from beating missions, challenges, collecting probes, or through humans via the extraction ability or the anal probe. Upgrades include standard fare such as increased ammo capacity and damage, but each upgrade tree is capped off by a quirky perk, like adding a rapid-fire option to the disintegrator ray or modifying extraction to where humans affected by it defend Crypto before their brains are pulled out.
Alien invasions aren't complete without a flying saucer, and like Crypto it has received some tweaks. Taking a page from the sequels, the saucer is able to change altitude, and it's outfitted with a deflector that deflects missiles and other projectiles when timed right. The saucer comes with the death ray, sonic boom, and quantum deconstructor. The abduction beam lets you hurl objects caught in its vortex and is a great alternative for destroying buildings when you run out of ammo for the sonic boom or quantum deconstructor. Regarding the weapons, the death ray shoots a beam of energy which damages buildings and scars terrain. The sonic boom fires spheres emitting shockwaves to damage stuff, and the quantum deconstructor is the BFG of the roster, capable of annihilating anything caught in the radius of its gigantic green sphere.
Crypto feels unstoppable, and little things like extracted brains speeding up the recharge rate of the shields or being able to drain energy from vehicles and humans to refill the saucer's shields highlight the combat's depth. A rampaging alien will attract the law enforccement, and the cops, soldiers and agents Crypto encounters have some special tricks. Soldiers will thrown grenades and use rocket launchers in addition to rifles. Early on, Majestic agents wield pistols and Thompson machine guns, but as the story continues, they equip plasma pistols and rapid-firing energy rifles, plus they'll throw EMP grenades to temporarily disable Crypto's weapons. Robots, once a comically easy enemy to defeat, are able to pack a puncch with their autocannons and grenade launchers.
With newer hardware, no longer are players able to evade foes by letting the PS2-era draw distance consume them. They will search high and low for Crypto, which where the jetpack and dash come in. The jetpack lets Crypto fly but doesn't run out of fuel within seconds like the original. Dash lets him quickly side-step projectiles, but holding dash triggers SKATE, a virtual hoverboard which makes getting around a lot faster than with the jetpack. If they add the ability to ollie and grind rails, then Crypto has a shot at being in the next Pro Skater. Speaking of high scores, the challenges have been improved. No longer are they disposable. They're split into four categories and the better Crypto does, the higher the ranking and overall DNA reward.
Boss fights are much more challenging than before. This is good.
When you know a game inside and out, the redone visuals are a wake-up call. No longer is the world cut off by a short draw distance, nor are the environments populated with repeated character models. The locations might be small by today's standards, but they pack a ton of detail and feel more lived in. Civilians actually do stuff instead of walking around or driving aimlessly. Suburbanites chill at the pool or paint their house, while homeless people sift through trash cans looking for something edible. Little things like that give the world personality. Plus, the visual effects for the weapons, abilities, and destruction look great.
Audio is another story. Taking a page from the Battle from Bikini Bottom remake, Destroy All Humans utilizes the original voice recordings, with some new lines peppered in. However, the quality is uneven. The 2005 voices sound echoey and grainy, which is odd because I replayed the original a few weeks before release and the voices sounded fine. Players will notice the discrepancy with how crisp the new voice lines sound. Also, get ready to hear the same handful of lines over and over when reading minds. There are some new lines peppered throughout, but not many.
I will say this, it felt great hearing new dialogue from Richard Horvitz and Grant Albrecht, the voices of Pox and Crypto, after all these years. They didn't miss a single beat and it leaves me hopeful that one day we'll get a brand new adventure featuring the alien duo. Whereas the re-used voice lines sound rough, the stellar soundtrack sounds amazing. Garry Schyman's score captures the music of the movies Destroy All Humans homages perfectly and it remains a great soundtrack.
Let me just say I am glad THQ Nordic decided to resurrect the series and props to Black Forest Games for doing a stellar job. Destroy All Humans' tale of alien havoc in the 1950's is funny, satirical, and surprisingly deep. This isn't yet another alien race wanting to take over Earth just because. Their race is dying and if they don't do something, they go kaput. The gameplay is solid and though the missions show their age, they get the job done, but it's the combat that holds it together. It's fast and flexible, letting players manage weapons and abilities on the fly without having to worry about obtrusive button inputs. Probing humans and decimating cityscapes is satisfying, and one only wonders what way Black Forest Games might be able to expand upon it in a potential sequel. I'm glad Crypto is back, and I hope here's to stay.
Posted by William Lowery at 11:00 AM
Art of the Furon: An Interview with Artist Bryan Lee


A Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) gives you access to a set amount of funds you can reuse as you pay down your balance. You can use your HELOC to pay for home improvements, tuition, even purchase a vehicle. It may be the last loan you'll ever need!


Tickets for North City Jazz Walk are now available at local businesses as well as online.
Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 on the day of the event.
Jazz Walk will be held Tuesday evening, August 14, 2018 from 6pm to around 10pm. 15th NE will be closed to vehicle traffic from 5pm to 11pm, from NE 175th to NE 180th. Jazz Bite booths will be open for business starting at 6pm and the music starts at 6:30pm.
Two out of three of the (outdoor) venues at the Walk are open to the public; tickets will allow you full access to all 10 venues.
Your ticket purchase helps support the artists and the event.


Provide quality customer service, information regarding products, and assistance to external and/or internal customers.
Collects on delinquent accounts of customers while providing quality customer service on inbound and outbound calls, while training for future consideration for collection management positions.
Responsible for the development, maintenance, performance, and monitoring of Oracle production databases.
Resolve delinquent accounts of customers while providing quality customer service on inbound and outbound calls.
Provide Clerical Support in the Human Resources offices.
Responsible for providing administrative support at various superior court client facilities by performing the following duties.
Responsible for providing administrative support at superior court client facilities.
Provides quality service and information regarding various available products to inbound callers.
Supports company operations by performing installation, maintenance, and repairs of/to company personal computer PC systems and software.
Provides quality service and information regarding various available products to inbound callers (both in English and Spanish).
Performs call monitoring activities to review and critique 3rd party collections calls based on standards set forth by GC Services and its clients. Provides feedback to Account Representatives and management for coaching purposes. Analyzes account activity to ensure proper handling.


Eric Cantona is the bookies' favourite to take over as Manchester United's director of football, despite not being involved in the game for more than two decades.
Iconic Manchester United forward Eric Cantona has emerged as the bookies' surprise favourite to be installed as the club's first director of football.
The Red Devils intend to incorporate the new position in time for the summer window following their poor transfer activity in 2018.
Roma chief Monchi, ex-United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and former Tottenham Hotspur transfer guru Paul Mitchell have all been touted as possible candidates for the position.
According to Oddschecker, however, Cantona is the even-money favourite to take over at Old Trafford in the coming months, despite being out of the game since retiring in 1997.
The 52-year-old won four Premier League titles and two FA Cups during a memorable spell with United in the 1990s, earning him a place in club folklore.
Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek said: "Manchester United's need for some direction at board room level has never been clearer, so it would be a brave decision to hire Cantona despite his legendary status.
"With Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton in the Old Trafford director's box already, it would be a perplexing decision to bring the Frenchman into the role."
Fabio Paratici, Andrea Berta and Gary Neville have also been tipped to take the reins.
United keen to appoint Atletico's Berta?


Beautifully furnished condominium in the highly prized New Villagers area at the heart of Sun Valley. Pleasant streams and walkways weave between the wood-clad structures of this quaint alpine-inspired village. Recreational amenities are included.
We are a nice family (non-smokers, non-drinkers) that treats our hosts' places well, plus we spend most of our time out and about.
Matthew aide à héberger des voyageurs.


text:
7:34 PM ET Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators have signed forward Luke Kunin to a two-year, $4.6 million contract, general manager David Poile said Wednesday. The Predators acquired Kunin, 23, on Oct. 7 in a trade with Minnesota. Kunin just finished his third professional season, and he played 63 games for the
Sabres' Girgensons out 6 months after surgery
12:02 PM ET ESPN News Services Buffalo Sabres center Zemgus Girgensons is expected to miss the regular season after undergoing surgery for a hamstring injury, the team announced Wednesday. Girgensons suffered the injury during a scrimmage Monday. The Sabres said he is expected to miss about six months, which would keep him out well into
NHL Rank: Predicting this season's top 100 players
7:00 AM ET The 2020-21 NHL season is finally almost here, with the puck set to drop in one week. So we look ahead to the 56-game slate and projecting who will be among the 100 top players. We asked a panel of 11 ESPN NHL experts to grade players based on how good they
U.S. stuns Canada to capture world juniors gold
12:09 AM ET The United States upset heavily favored and undefeated Canada 2-0 in Edmonton to win the gold medal in the first ever World Junior Championship played in a bubble. In a defensive special, Boston College goaltender and Florida Panthers prospect Spencer Knight stopped all 34 shots he faced to secure USA's first gold
Who will be the 2021 NHL draft's top pick? Owen Power, Matt Beniers and the race for No. 1
7:15 AM ET Three months ago, Alexis Lafreniere completed his run as "hockey's next big thing" by being drafted at No. 1 in the 2020 NHL draft by the New York Rangers. But now, with the 2020-21 season upon us and the 2021 NHL draft just under seven months away, we're turning the page to
Which 56-game records could fall in the shortened 2020-21 NHL season?
7:00 AM ET An NHL player can get a lot done in 56 games. Pittsburgh Penguins rookie defenseman John Marino earned a long-term contract extension in 56 games last season. Anaheim Ducks star Ryan Getzlaf tallied 61 points in 56 games in the 2017-18 season. The NHL's 2020-21 regular season has been shortened to 56
Bounceback candidates for 2020-21
10:00 AM ET To bounce back a player has to fall off. So any discussion around players that may or may not return to form in the 2020-21 (should we just call it 2021?) season has to begin with identifying who fell off in 2019-20. The new default scoring system for ESPN.com makes comparing statistics
2020 Fantasy Hockey: Centers to target in your draft
Dec 8, 2020 If given the option, you should not differentiate between centers, left wings and rights wings in your fantasy league. Grouping all forwards into one position is the default option for ESPN leagues, and it's the better way to play the game. There, I said it. Why? The line has become too blurred.
Blackhawks, Strome reach 2-year, $6M extension
5:47 PM ET The Chicago Blackhawks and center Dylan Strome have agreed to a two-year, $6 million contract extension, the team announced Sunday. Strome, 23, had 12 goals and 26 assists for the Blackhawks last season, a drop from career highs of 20 goals and 37 assists in 2018-19, when he was traded from the
Canucks get provincial approval to play at home
5:26 PM ET Associated Press VANCOUVER, British Columbia — The Canucks received provincial approval Sunday to play in British Columbia this season. British Columbia Premier John Horgan announced the decision on Twitter, saying he had spoken to team owner Francesco Aquilini about the NHL's return-to-play plans and believes the enhanced health measures mean games can
Penguins sign D Marino to six-year extension
10:15 AM ET The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed defenseman John Marino to a six-year contract extension, general manager Jim Rutherford announced Sunday. The deal has an average annual value of $4.4 million and ties Marino, who is entering the final year of his entry-level contract, to the Penguins through the 2026-27 season. "We are very
Sources: NHL plans outdoor games at Lake Tahoe
12:06 PM ET The NHL is planning to have a set of outdoor. games in Lake Tahoe in February. The Vegas Golden Knights, Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers will each play games in a two-day event hosted by Edgewood Tahoe Resort, league sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday. Sportsnet was the first to
Blue Jackets extend Dubois with 2-year deal
4:12 PM ET Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ohio — Center Pierre-Luc Dubois, who led Columbus in goals, assists and points during the playoffs, signed a two-year, $10 million contract extension Thursday that keeps him with the Blue Jackets through the 2021-22 season. Dubois, who was a restricted free agent, will earn $3.35 million during the upcoming
December 31, 2020 by admin 0 Comments
Canada OK's NHL camps; games up to provinces
11:50 AM ET Associated Press The Canadian government, citing "national interest grounds," gave its approval Thursday for the start of NHL training camps. It issued an exemption to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for NHL players and team staff to return to the country. The five provinces with NHL franchises, however, must give their approval
Caps' Chara didn't want reduced role in Boston
1:46 PM ET Zdeno Chara isn't ready to retire, doesn't want to play a reserve role, and that's why he's no longer the Boston Bruins captain. After 14 seasons with the Bruins, Chara, 43, signed a one-year, $795,000 contract with the Washington Capitals as a free-agent defenseman on Wednesday. He captained three Boston teams that
Ranking all 31 NHL prospect pipelines: Kings leapfrog Rangers for No. 1 spot
7:25 AM ET It has been an extremely weird year for NHL prospects, with many playing shortened seasons and/or taking long hiatuses between competitive gameplay. That takes a toll on player development. But while it is a bit more difficult to do so than in normal years, we're ranking every pool and identifying each franchise's
What's in, what's out in the hockey world for 2021
7:00 AM ET Trends change fast in the NHL. One year's boom is the next year's bust. But enough about the San Jose Sharks … As is tradition, we now present "what's in and what's out for hockey in 2021," a look at old trends being superseded by new ones. Feel free to disagree with
Fehr expects NHL to follow 2022 Olympics plan
3:04 PM ET NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr doesn't believe the NHL will back out of its plan to allow players to return to the Olympics in 2022. "Assuming the Olympics go forward in the ordinary course, you can always envision scenarios in which something would happen that would change the equation," Fehr told ESPN


text:
font-rsrc
=========

Small library based on FreeType2 (http://www.freetype.org/) that provides a
minimalist API to load a font resource.

License
=======
This library is released under the BSD license (see the LICENSE file). The
files 6x12-iso8859-1.fon and 8x13-iso8859-1.fon are public domain fonts while
Tower\_Print.ttf is released under the following license.

Tower\_Print.ttf MIT License
----------------------------

Copyright (c) 2011 Franco Galizia

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of
this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in
the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to
use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies
of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do
so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.


text:
Njegoš Works
Digital Collection "Petar II Petrović Njegoš"
The Literature About Njegoš
Performances and Adaptations
The project of the National Library of Montenegro "Đurđe Crnojevic" Digital Collection Petar II Petrović Njegoš has been realized on the occasion of 200 years since the birth of the most important Montenegrin poet, ruler and thinker Petar II Petrovića Njegoš.
Digital collection is intended to represent the most important Njegoš"s works, and works on Njegoš from the collections of the National Library of Montenegro "Đurđe Crnojevic" to wider scientific and cultural public.
So far, tens of thousands of articles, studies, monographs on the Njegoš's life, work and art creations has been published. The development and presentation of digital collection Petar II Petrović Njegoš involves forming a collection which includes first editions of Njegoš's works ("The Mountain Wreath", "The Ray of the Microcosm", "The False Tsar Šćepan Mali", "Svobodijada" – "Song of Freedom"), manuscripts of "The Mountain Wreath" and "Njegoš's Accords", selected translations of Njegoš's works, selection of literature on Njegoš, selected correspondence, biography, posters for plays and movies that had been made by Njegoš's works, and adaptations of Njegoš's works. On this way, for example, two important posters for the film "False Emperor", created by renowned painters Aleksandar Aco Prijić and Anton Lukateli had been digitized, and a large number of playbills that were announcing the performances of many acclaimed directors who in the second half of the twentieth century dealt primarily with "The Mountain Wreath" and the "False Emperor Šćepan Mali". Among other things, works that had been digitized are the works of Lavrov - from 1887, Rovinski - 1889, Alois Schmaus – 1927, then works dealing with Njegoš's genius, and Encyclopedia Njegoš which was published seven years ago.
Njegoše's time, measured by literary, philosophical, and spiritual clock, lasts for two full centuries. It's like Njegoš's name long ago became synonymous for wisdom and his works an emblem of inspiring literature of universal significance, in Montenegro and beyond its borders.
List of books, papers, dissertations, essays and articles on Njegoš increases every day, so all bibliographic researches are limited to a certain period. Bibliography on Njegoš so far contains more than 34,000 bibliographic items, of which about 700 monographs is on South Slavic languages and around 1800 units in foreign languages.


text:
Q: What causes circled ! in Sencha ExtJS Example? I'm trying to mimic the behavior of the Sencha ExtJS example at this URL:
http://examples.sencha.com/extjs/6.0.2/examples/kitchensink/#form-contact
Specifically, they show the code but I don't see any place that cause the circled red exclamation point to be drawn whent he field is required.
I'm also wondering if there is a better way to get the red "*" after each field label.  It looks like they repeat the code on every field definition which feels like an anti-pattern to me.

***UPDATE
Per @CD, this is how to get the red icon
       defaults: {
            anchor: '100%',
            labelStyle: 'font-weight:bold;padding:0;',
            msgTarget: 'side'
        },

A: For the error icon have a look at msgTarget: 'side':

The location where the error message text should display. Must be one
  of the following values:

*

*qtip Display a quick tip containing the message when the user hovers
  over the field. This is the default.
Ext.tip.QuickTipManager.init must have been called for this setting to
  work.

*title Display the message in a default browser title attribute popup.

*under Add a block div beneath the field containing the error message.

*side Add an error icon to the right of the field, displaying the message in a popup on hover.

*none Don't display any error message. This might be useful if you are implementing custom error display.

*[element id] Add the error message directly to the innerHTML of the specified element.

For adding the red "*" try this override:
Ext.define('Overrides.form.field.Base', {
    override: 'Ext.form.field.Base',

    initLabelable: function () {
        this.callParent(arguments);

        if (!this.allowBlank) {
          this.labelSeparator += '*';
        }
    }

});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


BC voters: on October 20, you went to the polls and made your voices heard.
Thank you for voting for arts, culture and heritage.
the need for an increase to municipal capital spending on cultural infrastructure.
To help customize the case you make to your candidates, we've created this document which compares municipal investment in grants, infrastructure and libraries in regions around BC. Take a look to get an idea of what kind of cultural investment your municipal government is making (or, if you want to add information about your community, email Joyce Wan at joyce@allianceforarts.com).


text:
Золль (від ) — невеликі ночвоподібні западини глибиною в декілька метрів і діаметром в декілька десятків метрів. Зустрічаються у покривних шарах плейстоценовго заледеніння Європи. Походження пов'язане з термокарстом.

Джерела

 Geology of Ice Age National Scientific Reserve of Wisconsin NPS Scientific Monograph No. 2
 The genesis of the northern Kettle Moraine, Wisconsin - PDF
 Geology of the Adirondack Park

Форми рельєфу

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Safety and plant managers are bombarded with super safe, productivity-boosting solutions they can't always afford. So what's the alternative?
Then your most dependable worker, whose been hauling for you for several years throws his back out while attempting to move a one-ton cart. So you go online to price automated lift trucks and realize that the upfront investment, which has a few too many zeroes at the end, is just too much right now.
The Power Pusher gives one person the ability to safely push or pull wheeled loads up to 50,000 lbs.
And unlike with lift trucks, any employee can operate them.The signature Power Pusher, energized by a 24-vdc, 400-w motor, allows workers to push or pull loads ranging from 500 to 50,000 lb. So even for an aging workforce not as spry as it used to be, the job will get done sans the back spasms and $90,000 surgery.
"Power Pushers fall under different classification, so you don't need a certification or driver equipment like you do a forklift," Blesi says.
Training shall consist of a combination of formal instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, interactive computer learning, video tape, written material), practical training (demonstrations performed by the trainer and practical exercises performed by the trainee), and evaluation of the operator's performance in the workplace.
"Safety has always been a concern and it's probably more of a concern these days," Blesi says of Nu-Star's primary modus operandi.
Please see all products at www.powerpusher.com.


During my most recent trip to Confession, the priest gave me a penance that I had never had before. He told me to pray for my family, in my own words, for five minutes. I exited the confessional, headed to a pew in the back of the church, and began to pray.
As a former Protestant who is very used to extemporaneous prayer, I am embarrassed to say that it was really difficult to pray for five minutes, non-stop. My mind kept wandering, I became distracted by anyone who came in or went out of the church, my body was fidgety. Those five minutes of prayer were becoming exhausting!
There's no wiggle room when it comes to interpreting this parable. Jesus spells it out up front. We need to pray, all the time, without becoming weary.
But do we actually do it?
I always thought I had a pretty good prayer life. But my experience after Confession last week was a bit of a rude awakening. It got me thinking, how often do I really sit before God and just pray? Honestly?
And when I compare what little time I do spend in prayer with the amount of time I spend scrolling through Facebook, texting my friends, or watching Netflix EACH DAY, I feel sick inside.
So here's a challenge for me and for you, my sisters in Christ. If you haven't already formed a habit of daily prayer, start with just five minutes. Silence your phone, set a timer, and just pray.
There is nothing more important than time with Our Lord. Jesus even calls it a necessity. We need Him, just like we need sustenance for our bodies and breath for our lungs.
There is nothing more important than time with Our Lord.
So what are you waiting for? Start praying.
I totally agree..talking to God is called prayer and we must do that everyday…a specific time set apart for him ,the first thing in the morning means He is above all things in our lives…that puts Him first and that pleases God too…i am glad to have found this post…. 🙂 bless u sister in christ!