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Historical events in the European integration process (1945–2014)
> 1945–1949 The pioneering phase
> 1950–1954 The formation of the community of Europe
> 1955–1957 The European revival and the Rome Treaties
> 1958–1968 Successes and crises
> 1969–1979 Completion, deepening and widening
> Reform of the CAP
> Political cooperation
> Economic and monetary cooperation
> Monetary cooperation
> Monetary disturbances in Europe
> The European currency snake
> The European Monetary System
> Franco-German rapprochement
> The creation of the EMS
> The creation of the ECU
> The pivotal rates
> The operation of the EMS
> The first enlargement
> The new European Parliament
> Institutional reform
> The EEC as a major player in international relations
> Relations between the two blocs
> 1980–1986 Enlargement to the south and the Single European Act
> 1987–1997 The European Union in a Europe in the throes of change
> 1998–2009 The unification of Europe
> 2010-2014 European integration in a time of global challenges
The creation of the EMS
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The introduction of the EMS
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and Helmut Schmidt (Copenhagen, 7 and 8 April 1978)
During the Copenhagen European Council of 7 and 8 April 1978, German Chancellor, Helmut Schmidt, and French President, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, submit plans for the European monetary system to their partners.
Roy Jenkins, A Life at the Centre: extract concerning the establishment of the EMS
In his memoirs, Roy Jenkins, President of the European Commission from 1977 to 1981, recalls the proposal submitted by the German Chancellor, Helmut Schmidt, to the Copenhagen European Council, held on 7 and 8 April 1978, with a view to the establishment of a new European Monetary System.
Cartoon by Lang on the end of the European currency snake (1978)
In 1978, the "European currency snake" is moribund, obliging the German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt to work for the launching of a new European Monetary System (EMS) open to all the States in the Community, including the United Kingdom.
Statement by Pierre Werner on the European Monetary System (1978)
In 1978, during the debates on the issue of monetary stability in Europe, Pierre Werner, Honorary Minister of State of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, sets out the objectives and implications of the future European Monetary System (EMS).
'Can the Nine revive economic and monetary union?', from 30 jours d'Europe
In June 1978, the monthly publication 30 jours d'Europe underlines the importance of the Bremen European Council, to be held on 6 and 7 July, for the revival of economic and monetary union (EMU).
'Plans for a European Monetary Fund', from Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (5 July 1978)
On 5 July 1978, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung focuses on the joint initiative of the German Chancellor, Helmut Schmidt, and the French President, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, to draw up a plan establishing a European monetary fund, designed to maintain monetary stability in Europe.
Conclusions of the Bremen European Council: excerpt on monetary policy (6 and 7 July 1978)
On 7 July 1978, meeting at the Bremen European Council, the Nine propose giving fresh impetus to monetary cooperation through the establishment of a European Monetary System (EMS).
Press conference held by Helmut Schmidt on the Bremen European Council (7 July 1978)
On 7 July 1978, following the Bremen European Council, Helmut Schmidt, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Communities, holds a press conference during which he confirms the Nine's decision to establish a European Monetary System (EMS).
'Europe in two stages', from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (13 July 1978)
On 13 July 1978, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung analyses the economic and political consequences of a new monetary system in Europe.
'A European currency unit?', from Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (11 August 1978)
On 11 August 1978, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung sets out the various reactions of the Nine regarding the decision to introduce a new European Monetary System (EMS).
"Le corset européen" dans Le Monde (1er décembre 1978)
Le 1er décembre 1978, le quotidien français Le Monde analyse les enjeux du Conseil européen de Bruxelles des 4 et 5 décembre en pointant particulièrement les risques pour la République fédérale allemande (RFA) d'une participation au Système monétaire européen (SME) et les effets du SME sur la Politique agricole commune (PAC).
Resolution of the Brussels European Council on the establishment of the EMS (Brussels, 5 December 1978)
At the Brussels European Council meeting on 5 December 1978, the Nine adopt a resolution on the establishment and the rules on the functioning of the European Monetary System (EMS).
Press conference held by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing following the Brussels European Council (5 December 1978)
On 5 December 1978, following the Brussels European Council, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, French President, holds a press conference during which he announces the Nine's decision to establish, on 1 January 1979, the European Monetary System (EMS).
Demonstration for a single European currency (Brussels, 5 December 1978)
On 5 December 1978, the Brussels European Council adopts a resolution concerning the establishment and rules for the operation of the European Monetary System (EMS). The photo shows a demonstration for a single European currency.
'European Monetary System clarified', from Luxemburger Wort (6 December 1978)
On 6 December 1978, the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort reports on the outcome of the Brussels European Council of 4 and 5 December 1978 at the end of which the Nine decide to implement the European Monetary System (EMS) as of 1 January 1979.
'All's well that appears to finish badly' from Le Figaro (6 December 1978)
On 6 December 1978, commenting on the outcome of the Brussels European Council held on 4 and 5 December 1978, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro welcomes the decision taken by the Heads of State or Government of the Nine to introduce a European Monetary System (EMS) on 1 January 1979.
'The mark empire' from Le Monde (6 December 1978)
On 6 December 1978, commenting on the outcome of the Brussels European Council of 4 and 5 December, Pierre Dabezies and René-Victor Pilhes, chairmen of the Association pour une nouvelle politique étrangère ('Association for a new foreign policy'), publish an opinion piece in the French daily newspaper Le Monde warning against the risks of German monetary domination in Europe following the decision by the Nine to establish a European Monetary System (EMS) with effect from 1 January 1979.
'Birth pangs of the EMS', from La Libre Belgique (6 December 1978)
On 6 December 1978, following the Brussels European Council, the Conservative daily newspaper La Libre Belgique gives an account of the difficulties involved in the European Monetary System (EMS) and expresses concern over its future.
"Le risque de la monnaie européenne" dans Süddeutsche Zeitung (6 décembre 1978)
Le 6 décembre 1978, commentant les résultats du Conseil européen de Bruxelles des 4 et 5 décembre, le quotidien allemand Süddeutsche Zeitung évoque les risques qu'encourt la création du Système monétaire européen (SME) compte tenu des politiques différentes que mènent les Neuf en ce qui concerne l'inflation et la dévaluation monétaire.
'A Europe that has lost its path' from The Guardian (7 December 1978)
On 7 December 1978, commenting on the outcome of the Brussels European Council of 4 and 5 December, British daily newspaper The Guardian highlights the lack of solidarity that led to a division within the Nine over their participation in the European Monetary System (EMS) from 1 January 1979.
"Les prix d'entrée sont dorénavant connus" dans Süddeutsche Zeitung (7 décembre 1978)
Le 7 décembre 1978, commentant les résultats du Conseil européen de Bruxelles des 4 et 5 décembre, le quotidien allemand Süddeutsche Zeitung insiste sur la nécessité de lancer le Système monétaire européen (SME) sans l'Italie, sans l'Irlande et sans le Royaume-Uni afin de garantir une meilleure stabilité monétaire entre les six pays participants au SME.
Cartoon by Leger on the establishment of the European Monetary System (8 December 1978)
On 8 December 1978, German cartoonist Peter Leger illustrates the establishment of the European Monetary System (EMS) and the choice of Italy, Ireland and the United Kingdom not to take part. The Franco-German duo Giscard and Schmidt are the central pillars holding up the structure.
Speech by Helmut Schmidt on the outcomes of the Brussels European Council (Bonn, 21 December 1978)
On 21 December 1978, German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt delivers a speech to the Bundestag concerning the outcomes of the last European Council meeting, held in Brussels. This meeting was marked by the decision by the Nine to introduce a European Monetary System (EMS) by 1 January 1979.
Debates at the Irish Parliament Ireland's on participation in the European Monetary System (13 December 1978)
On 13 December 1978, Irish MPs, meeting in the Dáil, debate the issue of Ireland's participation in the European Monetary System (EMS).
Irish White Paper on the European Monetary System (December 1978)
Hôtel Matignon press release on the European Monetary System (29 December 1978)
On 29 December 1978, French Prime Minister, Raymond Barre, declares himself to be in favour of the gradual withdrawal of monetary compensatory amounts (MCAs) in the context of the implementation of the European monetary system (EMS).
'Italy and the European Monetary System' from Affari Esteri (January 1979)
In its January 1979 editorial, the Italian journal Affari Esteri comments on Italy's decision to join the European Monetary System in order to provide the country with greater economic stability.
Agreement between the central banks of the Member States of the EEC setting terms of operation for the European Monetary System (Basel, 13 March 1979)
On 13 March 1979, the European monetary system (EMS) and the European Currency Unit (ECU), which had been adopted by the Nine, enter into force.
François-Xavier Ortoli, La mise en oeuvre du système monétaire européen
En mars 1979, François-Xavier Ortoli, vice-président de la Commission des Communautés européennes, énonce dans la revue fédéraliste L'Europe en formation les trois objectifs de la mise en oeuvre du Système monétaire européen (SME).
'The European Monetary System enters into force today' from the Luxemburger Wort (13 March 1979)
On 13 March 1979, the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort announces the entry into force of the European Monetary System (EMS) and the introduction of the European Currency Unit (ECU).
'Foreign exchange markets welcome the start of the EMS' from Le Monde (14 March 1979)
On 14 March 1979, the day after the implementation of the European Monetary System (EMS), the French daily newspaper Le Monde describes the operation of the EMS and highlights its impact on the European currency exchange market.
'Does the European Monetary System have a future?', from Europe (20 September 1979)
In his editorial of 20 September 1979, Emanuele Gazzo, Editor-in-Chief of Agence Europe, ponders on the conditions for the political and economic success of the EMS.
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, Power and Life
In his memoirs, former French President, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, looks back at the chaotic negotiations which led to the implementation of the European monetary system (EMS) and the ECU (European Currency Unit).
Interview with Jacques F. Poos: the introduction of the European Monetary System (Sanem, 16 April 2004)
In this interview, Jacques F. Poos, former Luxembourg Finance Minister, recalls the objectives of and the stakes involved in the European Monetary System (EMS) and points to its influence on monetary discipline in Europe before and after the adoption of the euro.
Interview with Jacques Santer: the implications and the creation of the European Monetary System (Sanem, 6 April 2006)
In this interview, Jacques Santer, former Luxembourg Finance Minister, recalls the implications of and the challenges posed by the establishment of the European Monetary System (EMS) in 1979.
Interview with Jean François-Poncet (Paris, 3 July 2008) — Excerpt: the establishment of the EMS
In this interview, Jean François-Poncet, former Secretary-General of the Presidency of the French Republic and former French Foreign Minister, discusses the establishment of the European Monetary System (EMS) in 1979 on the joint initiative of the French President, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, and the German Chancellor, Helmut Schmidt.
Interview with Jacques de Larosière: the creation of the European Monetary System (EMS) (Paris, 22 May 2008)
Audio extract
In this interview, Jacques de Larosière, former Director of the Treasury in the French Finance Ministry and former Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), explains why the European Monetary System (EMS) was set up and analyses its impact in the process leading to the establishment of European Economic and Monetary Union.
The United Kingdom and the EMS
Roy Jenkins, A Life at the Centre: extract on the United Kingdom and the EMS
In his memoirs, Roy Jenkins, former President of the European Commission, recalls the concerns raised by successive British Prime Ministers James Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher over the United Kingdom's participation in the European Monetary System (EMS).
Point of view of the Labour Committee for Europe (October 1978)
In October 1978, during the debates in the British Parliament on the European Monetary System (EMS), John Roper, Chairman of the Labour Committee for Europe, argues strongly in favour of the United Kingdom joining the EMS.
Point of view of Hugh Dykes (3 November 1978)
On 3 November 1978, Hugh Dykes, member of the British Conservative Party, outlines the consequences of the European Monetary System (EMS) for the United Kingdom and for international monetary policy.
Paper submitted by the Trades Union Congress (3 October 1978)
On 3 October 1978, the British Trades Union Congress sets out its position on the implementation of a European Monetary System (EMS).
'Britain rejects both the snake and the apple' from The Guardian (23 November 1978)
Memorandum by Christopher Johnson (3 November 1978)
On 3 November 1978, Christopher Johnson, economic adviser to Lloyds Bank Limited, submits a report in which he rejects all the arguments put forward in the United Kingdom by opponents of the European Monetary System (EMS).
Conference given by Roy Jenkins (Bruxelles, 6 November 1978)
On 6 November 1978, Roy Jenkins, President of the European Commission, speaks to the Belgian Royal Society for Political Economy on the key events in the development of European monetary affairs and welcomes the recent establishment of the European Monetary System (EMS).
'Giscard-a new tune or just the old French fiddle?' from The Guardian (7 December 1978)
On 7 December 1978, the British daily newspaper The Guardian outlines the grounds put forward by the United Kingdom to justify its decision not to participate in the European Monetary System (EMS) and is surprised at the understanding demonstrated in this regard by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, President of the French Republic.


text:
Here comes the sun — and trouble
Low stocks may boost sunflowers
U.S. ethanol future tied to bumper crop of D.C. politics
U.S. soy glut could take three years to eliminate
Feb 21, 2019 Crops
Familiar markets player starts organic consultancy firm
By Sean Pratt
The expected impact from the Earth entering into the first trough of a grand solar minimum phase of the sun's sunspot cycle varies, depending on who's asked. | Getty Images
Analyst says a looming solar cycle will bring volatile weather and disrupt markets, but Environment Canada disagrees
Hold onto your hats because the Earth is about to enter a weather cycle that will rock grain markets for years to come, says an analyst.
Shawn Hackett, owner of Hackett Financial Advisors, said the Earth is entering into the first trough of a grand solar minimum phase of the sun's sunspot cycle.
He said every 200 years or so the sun's magnetic fields cancel each other out and sunspots are unable to form the way they usually would.
That is going to lead to extreme weather volatility and reduced yields around the globe.
Hackett said 2019 will be the last year of decent growing conditions and then it is going to turn ugly … real ugly.
"We expect the next three years to be very, very disruptive and expect food prices to absolutely go nuts to the upside," he said.
Environment Canada has a different take on the solar cycle. It says the radiant energy from the sun fluctuates by a small amount over the 11-year solar cycle.
"These fluctuations can explain global temperature variations of up to approximately 0.1 C between the strongest and weakest parts of the cycle," spokesperson Veronica Petro said in an e-mail.
"At present, there is very low confidence concerning future solar forcing irradiance estimates, including changes to the duration of the solar minimum."
Even if there is a decrease in solar activity it would have a much smaller effect on global temperatures than the projected increases in greenhouse gases, she said.
But Hackett expects a major cooling pattern when the weather pattern transitions from El Nino to La Nina during the trough of a grand solar minimum. And that will likely occur during the 2020 to 2022 period.
Weather effects, like those in this Ohio corn crop in 2012, will become the norm through 2022, say some in the grain industry. | File photo
"This kind of weird, strange, kind of odd weather we've been seeing in the last 12 to 18 months is just the beginning of what's going to become a far more severe pattern over time," he said.
The usual west-to-east flow of the northern and southern jet streams will switch to a more north-to-south flow. The recent polar vortex is one example of what will happen far more frequently.
There will be more cosmic rays reaching the Earth's atmosphere and that is going to result in increased cloud cover and more earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, he said.
All of those changes will result in reduced U.S. grain output along the lines of 2012 and 2006, according to Hackett.
"I don't want to sound like there's no hope for the future with this new weather pattern," he said.
"I'm not saying that at all. In fact, there's tremendous opportunity because markets will start moving like crazy."
Hackett said that is far more preferable than today's corn market, where price volatility is at a 50-year low.
He said farmers will do better in the next five years than they have in the past five as long as they are prepared for what's coming.
Hackett advises his clients to store as much grain as possible and wait for prices to move higher.
"You cannot miss this," he said.
They should buy futures and options that keep them "open to the upside" in grain markets rather than selling production two or three years out at today's prices.
He is also advising clients to start growing shorter-season varieties because the growing season is going to be truncated by late-spring frosts and early fall frosts.
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It was just after the Run Through Redlands in the spring of 2013, roughly my third half marathon and my first attempt at this particularly challenging course, that I realized I had been coughing for months and that the breathlessness I was experiencing and the resulting post-race exhaustion indicated something I would likely need antibiotics to clear-up. But then the pulmonologist found something on my chest x-ray. Something, the doctor said, he anticipated would be resolved upon review of a second x-ray. We reviewed it together before he sent me home that day. But, it was still there. Initially termed a "coin lesion" by the radiologist, the doctors, over the next year, began the extensive assessment algorithm for a "single pulmonary nodule". With each minimally invasive step we passed through I became more and more concerned, despite the sighs of relief among the few whom I kept regularly updated. Even though we were ruling out the more common and obvious diseases, the procedures for diagnosis were becoming more invasive and as I understood it, leading to more and more menacing possibilities.
When my pulmonologist grew concerned due to the development of additional nodules but still had not reached a diagnosis, he made a referral to the Women's Oncology Center at Loma Linda University Hospital for further evaluation. There was not much factual information at this point to be concerned about. No one had told me I had cancer but it loomed over my head like Edger Allen Poe's, "Black Cat" ready to devour my last breath. I didn't respond the way I imagined I might. Despite what those around me at the time saw, I completely fell apart. My head hurt. My joints were stiff. My muscles ached. I pushed myself to run, cycle and swim whenever possible, telling myself that since we didn't know what it was, it was probably nothing.
I feared that my head was playing tricks on me, making me believe I was sick and didn't feel good because I was afraid of being sick and not feeling good, when in fact everything was fine. "Am I depressed because I'm sick or am I sick because I am depressed," I journaled in the Spring of 2013. Despite how I felt, I worked hard in the final months prior to my tenure review at the University of Redlands. But during the quiet hours after my boys were dropped off at school in the morning and my husband Matt at work, I carefully reviewed doctor notes and obsessed over test and imaging results. I researched terms like "ground glass opacity" and "speculated margins" and studied the correlations between malignancy and tumor diameter. And, I wept.
The testing continued and as we neared the end of the diagnostic algorithm, including two bronchoscopies and a lung biopsy, I could tell that my emotional withdraw was taking its toll on my family. It took me months to find the time and energy to call the insurance company to figure out what I would need to do to receive counseling. When I called Aetna, they explained that I did not have mental health coverage. My human resources office explained that I had a different carrier for mental health. Several weeks passed before I found time to explore the long list of certified professionals covered by my mental health insurance and seek the appropriate approval. After carefully selecting someone that I thought would be a good fit, I felt discouraged to learn that the co-pay was more than I could reasonably pay on a weekly basis. And I knew I would need to attend weekly to move through this experience successfully. Matt suggested that I use my Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefit which allows for 8 free sessions. Several more weeks went by before I called the EAP number and reviewed another list of counselors in the area before making an initial appointment.
I was relieved the day I walked into the counselor's office. I knew I wouldn't have to feel so alone, that I would get support, be reminded of the strength I had inside of me to manage even the most challenging of life circumstances and learn new skills for managing the intense and unexpected emotions. The session was scattered. I had a lot to talk about and I didn't know how or where to start. Everything seemed so overwhelming, there was so much to explain; important things I needed to get to right away that would only make sense if I started from the beginning. It tumbled out almost nonsensically to the rhythm of choked sobs. I had explained who I was…wouldn't that be important in any counseling relationship? Perhaps I was a bit straightforward since I felt pressure to get the important issues covered. I explained that I am a counselor educator at the University of Redlands and that I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor along with a brief list of my current academic responsibilities, when his assessment required that he ask questions about what I do for a living. I thought I could see him shift in his seat and his rate of breathing increase. As a counselor I understand the physiological response that comes with feeling like you are under pressure to do strong work. I had hoped he could manage his reaction while providing for me that which most other clients require, a safe contained environment, a holder of the intensity and emotion.
The two sessions I attended are a blur. I couldn't tell you whether a specific incident or conversation occurred during the first appointment or the second. But here are a few of the highlights. I could immediately see his need for me to know who he was; who he knew professionally and how. "I used to teach at Loma Linda in the Marriage and Family Therapy program". As he described the women whom he co-taught with I vaguely remembered being in their class. Perhaps he wanted me to remember him. He talked at length about the courses he taught and his clinical experience. Perhaps he wanted me to feel confident in his abilities. He described his break-up with said co-instructor and the night he "drunk dialed" her. He directly challenged the fear, loneliness, sadness and emotional withdraw surrounding my health status by discussing his client who was reportedly dying of breast cancer and how strong she and her family were being. Was I whining too much? Was I just weak? Catastrophizing?
Probably most disturbing was when he simultaneously explained that he needed a tissue as he lunged from his chair across the room to where I was sitting to grab one from the box beside me. It played out in slow motion. It was awkward and uncomfortable. "Sorry," he said as he sat back down, "I've learned to warn women when I'm going to do that because I've had some freak out on me." He then went on to describe in detail the complaint made by a previous female client that sent him to court fighting for his license and the stress that had caused him. There were 15 or 20 minutes left in our second session. Psychologically and emotionally, I had completely closed down. I stared at him but could hear nothing he was saying. I fought the powerful urge to stand up and walk out. My heart raced and I wanted to escape and despite all the warning signs, I remained seated…and respectful in a near child-like state until the session had officially ended. I knew long before I walked out the door that I would never come back.
Immediately following this appointment I met Matt in my office for lunch. I was as depressed, tired and withdrawn as ever. The story eventually came out, slowly building to a tearful crescendo and concluding in the all-important question, "am I just being resistant"? This is a word I advocate against my counseling students using to describe their clients, preferring the word reactance instead; insinuating that guarded responses are purposeful and should be honored and respected as opposed to labeled and pathologized. Was he trying to bring up important issues because there was something there for me to learn or discover? Perhaps I needed to sit with the awkward discomfort because it was a reflection of my own issues? Frankly, challenging myself around these questions was the only motivation I had for returning a second time. It wasn't until I saw and heard Matt's reaction that I could see more clearly, how inappropriate the counselor had been. I immediately wondered what this experience would mean for women less assertive than me, for those not trained in the art and science of counseling or who speak a language other than English as their primary form of communication? Despite being at a new low, worse than before I had initiated counseling and attended a couple sessions, it was nearly a year and a half before I could muster the courage and then gain the emotional momentum to seek counseling services again.
This time was very different. A friend, also a counselor, suggested I not tell the women I had an appointment with what I do for a living but I couldn't imagine doing that since my professional training and career in academia is at the very core of who I am as a person and what drives and motivates me. In addition, the point of the EAP benefit is to look at symptoms through the lens of employment. I figured I could make a case for how my health issues were impacting my work. I was also preparing to begin my first sabbatical which frankly, freaked me out a little bit. I shared with my new counselor details about my current job and training and explained too about my delay in seeking services after the negative experience I'd had prior. I explained that I didn't feel I needed anything different than the rest of her clients, a contained safe environment to feel and express my feelings and gain insights and self-awareness about who I was as a wife, mother, teacher, colleague and clinician. She immediately created a safe environment where she respected my training and knowledge without compromising professional boundaries. I found our work together to be extremely helpful. In fact, at the end of eight sessions, she thought I may have enough going on that I could request additional sessions from EAP.
After 16 sessions we had covered a lot of ground and now, in addition, I began processing the near loss of my mother and her ongoing challenging recovery. I wasn't done with the work we were doing, we both knew that. She suggested that I contact my insurance company to see about a one-time contract that would cover her as a provider. She said that in a few situations they had done that. She explained that she had wanted to be a mental health provider for Aetna for years but was regularly denied reporting that they had sufficient providers. Given her high private pay fee, I figured it was worth a try.
Again, and despite feeling much better, there was a delay in my finding the time, energy and motivation just to make the calls, ask the right questions and act as a self-advocate. The first number I called reached someone unable to help and they transferred me somewhere else. I left a message with the next contact person who contacted me back within a day or so stating there was a third number I would need to call. That person took fairly extensive information and given what I had to say, requested to put me on hold to see if she could expedite my request. When she returned she apologized that there was nothing she could do and that I would need to go through the regular process. Several weeks later I received a letter that my request had been denied. Instead, I was given referrals to therapists in Moreno Valley, Rialto and Riverside (surrounding cities outside my hometown where my counselor is located) along with information about the appeal process.
Most concerning about this series of events is the fact that I am intimately familiar with the processes of insurance authorization, clinical criteria and well, my personal mental health and family history. Intrusive thoughts are just that, they are intrusive. They are there; sometimes seemingly out of nowhere despite not wanting them, precisely as if you have no say. I explained that I had been having these types of disturbing thoughts. I fought the shame that came up even as I said it. I had shared details about my own professional training and challenge in finding a well-qualified provider whom I didn't know in some capacity. Unfortunately, I think a lot of people believe that counselors are exempt from needing mental health support. Sometimes, even the counselors themselves. I described using eight EAP sessions and having it renewed for another eight believing this would bring credibility to my self-reported struggle and validity to my sense of knowing what I need. I discussed openly the 1.5 year delay in care after my encounter with a terribly unsafe and unethical provider and having felt so relieved to build a healing relationship over 16 sessions with a provider with whom I felt connected.
The thought of starting over or even navigating the appeal process is overwhelming. It feels at a minimum disrespectful and oddly abusive; at worst, perhaps a violation of the Mental Health Parity Act. So the time passes and when I think about it (even when it is intrusive and I don't want to) and recognize the potential benefits of counseling in my life, I wonder about what I should do next and what steps I should take and the ambiguity sends me in a circle leaving me where I started; questioning who I should find, what training, specialty, gender, location none of which ensures a skillset that would be a good fit for me as a person, a clinician, professor, mother, survivor. Lack of clarity, confusion and indecisiveness gives way to another week of meeting student's needs, class prep, faculty meetings, clinic supervision, parenting, laundry, piano, soccer and karate lessons, baths, homework and bedtime before a brief couple of minutes to spend with my partner to relax while trying to hold the to do list for the next several days at bay.
I am choosing to tell this story as we head into May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, because it represents within it, multiple obstacles and barriers, both to seeking and accessing services. Some are structural, some practical and others perceived. And so, I wonder how the details of this story would shift or change if English was my second language, if my cognitive functioning was severely impaired, if I wasn't able to manage basic tasks of daily living, if I didn't have health insurance or transportation, if I weren't trained as a mental health professional, a counselor educator and community mental health advocate. This is why communities disengage from the topic of mental health, families suffer and individuals stop functioning and even die.
For many, the counseling relationship literally is their lifeline. A relationship, when done right, that should be honored, respected and deeply appreciated. That is how I feel about my relationship with Tracey Covington. I hope it is one I will be able to continue engaging in over the years as life happens and challenges arise. I haven't heard many counselors talk about their own experiences with seeking and accessing counseling services. Personally, it is not information I've typically freely volunteered nor do I particularly want to. However, it seems to me a potentially powerful way to draw attention to the inequities and discrimination deeply imbedded within our medical insurance system designed in stark contrast to actively discourage access and utilization by our most vulnerable. Transformation in the form of healing or improved functioning is a process, and as life happens there are tons of ups and downs. It's a journey of discovery – there are moments on mountaintops and moments in deep valleys of despair. Access to professional assistance during these darkest of times is a basic human right that prevents suffering and death.
In the end, I was diagnosed with "probable aspergillus". Statistically I was more likely to have cancer, but there it is and I am grateful none-the-less. Nearly a year on an antifungal medication has given way to periodic chest imaging to insure that nothing in the lung is changing. Still, I've been assured by my infectious disease doctor at Loma Linda University Hospital that, at any sign of returning symptoms I am free to contact him to arrange for additional assessment. Parity means that I should have equivalent care and coverage for my mental health as I do for my physical health. Anything less is DISCRIMINATION and is ILLEGAL.
Thank you for your courage to be vulnerable in order to shed light on this important issue. And for standing up for all those folks who will never see a mental health professional, let alone stand up for themselves to the insurance companies. While more folks are covered today, access will continue to be a problem as long as insurance companies run the show. Insurance companies do not value our clients or our dedication to education, training and experience. I have never read a better explanation of our current problem of access to mental health. Well done.
Powerful experience. We have much to learn listening to the stories of others. Thank you for sharing.


Would a bankrupt Saudi Arabia be good for America?
If the Ku Klux Klan or Aryan Nation obtained total control of Texas and had at its disposal all the oil revenues, and used this money to establish a network of well-endowed schools and colleges all over Christendom peddling their particular brand of Christianity. This is what the Saudis have done with Wahhabism. The oil money has enabled them to spread this fanatical, destructive form of Islam all over the Muslim world and among Muslims in the west. Without oil and the creation of the Saudi kingdom, Wahhabism would have remained a lunatic fringe in a marginal country.
It is easy to forget how quickly Saudi Arabia transformed. During my first visit to the Kingdom in 1994, remnants of Riyadh's old mud-brick city walls were still visible. The grandfathers of those running the country today lived in a place without modern amenities or much infrastructure. While oil money gave Saudi society the physical trappings of modernity, the Saudi mindset has been far slower to change.
Ahmed Zaki Yamani, Saudi Arabia's widely-regarded oil minister from 1962 to 1986, famously reminded Saudis that the Stone Age did not end because of a shortage of stones. His successors, however, have often prioritized market share over diversification. The problem with overdependence on oil for budgeting and subsidizing society is that what goes up must come down.
The Kingdom gambled by keeping prices artificially low over the past few years, calculating that they could undercut Iran's financial health while also collapsing the shale industry not only in the United States but also in China. They did not count on President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry effectively rescuing the Islamic Republic from the economic precipice or getting bogged down in a costly war in Yemen with no easy exit strategy.
Most recently, Congress overrode Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, allowing US citizens to sue Saudi Arabia for the complicity of its citizens and perhaps some officials in the 9/11 attacks. Whether or not that results in liens against Saudi property in the United States, it does shake Saudi financial stability at a time when the Saudi economy is already stressed.
Now, some financial analysts say that there are warning signs in the futures market and among other indicators that Saudi Arabia may be heading for a devaluation of its currency (which is pegged to the US dollar). For years, the Kingdom has been able to keep the peg steady but with its hard currency reserves shrinking, it may be near the breaking point. If ordinary Saudis wake up one day to learn that their currency is worth 15 or 25 or 35% less than it was the night before, the ramifications may be severe and lead to political instability.
But is Saudi Arabia merely getting what it deserves? Certainly, the victims of 9/11 would say so. Many Iraqis would agree, as they have been on the receiving end of Saudi- (and Qatar- and Turkish-) funded terror for well over a decade. Many inclined toward the Islamic Republic of Iran would also cheer a real Saudi currency and financial crisis out of sheer partisan spite.
But would a struggling or even bankrupt Saudi Arabia be good for America? The answer to that is no. What happens in Riyadh doesn't stay in Riyadh. Other Gulf Cooperation Council states also peg their currencies to the dollar and the precedent of Saudi devaluation would immediately reverberate in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Nor would political instability in Saudi Arabia necessarily be a good thing: Decades of conservative, Islamist education and indoctrination have made their mark. Unemployed Saudi youth would probably not embrace liberalism and tolerance if suddenly put in desperate straits.
During the 2000 election campaign between Vice President Al Gore and Gov. George W. Bush, few across the aisle would have imagined 9/11 or the U.S. becoming involved in a war in Afghanistan, let alone Iraq. The nature of international crises, however, is that they surprise. It is now fashionable in election years to ask what crises might be on the horizon that no candidate is now discussing. Threats from Russia, China, and North Korea are obvious concerns. Increasingly, however, we may need to look more closely at Saudi stability, for it looks like Saudi authorities may not be able to manage suppressed oil prices as well as they thought.


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Stunned By Congressional Losses, Democrats Debate The Future
Nov. 23, 2020, 4 p.m. CT
Democrats went into the election expecting to gain seats in the House. Instead, they lost at least eight of them.
Virginia Rep. Abigail Spanberger speculated about why in a Nov. 5 conference call, audio of which was obtained by The Washington Post.
NPR's Juana Summers reports that the young, activist coalition that voted for Joe Biden plans to pressure his administration to deliver on bold, progressive policies.
Outgoing Democratic Sen. Doug Jones tells NPR that bold action in Washington won't be possible without appealing to a broad swath of voters.


text:
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Dimapur, April 13 (EMN): Electricity consumers under Sub-Division No. 1 will to undergo load shedding of 2-3 hours alternately beginning from April 14. The load shedding has been necessitated for maintenance work of 10 MVA x 2 power transformer at Metha Colony.
Er. Imsenkaba, Executive Engineer, informed that the affected colonies would included Lhomthi, Sechu, Zeliangrong, Westyard, Army supply, Old Daily market, Kalibari road, Sematilla, Hongkong market, MP Road, Naga Bazaar, New Market, GS Road, Church Road, Circular Road (Chishi Marketing complex line), NST colony, Station road, Erose lane, MST Colony, Church colony, Notun Bosti Ao Khel, LRC Colony, Lake View, Naga Cemetery, Island colony, Khermahal, Golaghat road, Niesatuo colony. River belt, Notun Bosti, Supply colony, Nepali Bosti, Fellowship colony, Circular road (Holy cross line), Circular road (LIC Building line), SIB, Nagaland post, Forest colony, PWD colony, Residency colony, Land mark, Midland.
Er. Imsenkaba has sought cooperation from all the concerned.


We are called to be disciple-making disciples, and have created this Discipleship Journey tool to help us in this process.
We have a daily reading plan that follows along with what we're currently studying in the Scriptures from our weekly sermons. Find time with the Lord every day to read His Word.
If you are a new believer or looking for a simple resource to help you read the Bible check out this 21 Day Devotional.
Study on your own or with a disciple group, search previous sermon-based curriculum by date or sermon series.
This is a huge video Bible study library of faith-based videos that you can access whenever and wherever you want—on your phone, iPad, computer, or at home on your TV. RightNow Media has videos for everyone—kids, youth, parents, married couples, college students, single adults, working professionals—all aimed at helping you grow.
Not sure where to serve or curious about your spiritual gifts? LifeThrive's Spiritual Gifts Assessment was designed to help you understand how God has gifted you for service to the Body of Christ.


growing up, Sunday lunch was a big deal. you couldn't miss it, nor would you want to.
here, we've turned it into a Sunday night dinner. it can be held at any one of the houses on the Hill, and extra people are always welcome. but the core of Sunday night dinner is delicious, home-cooked food and good company.
last night, we hosted. J smoked meatloaf on the green egg all afternoon, sauteed asparagus and steamed broccoli. Lee brought a fresh-from-the-garden-salad, and I made leek mashed potatoes, brownies, homemade whipped cream, and served it all with strawberries and fresh tomatoes & mozzarella. the cherry blossoms, snowballs, and bridal spirea are in bloom (and in vases), and the flickering of a tea light centered the bunch.


Posted October 29th, 2018 & filed under City Council.
Posted October 24th, 2018 & filed under City Council.
Posted October 10th, 2018 & filed under City Council.
Posted September 26th, 2018 & filed under City Council.


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Chelsea Handler Recalls Run-In With Bill Cosby
Sonya Eskridge
Sonya Eskridge is a writer from Maryland, who started her news career in radio at the age of 17. After graduating from Virginia Tech, she went on to write for a national publication where she was able to mold her personal voice. Always looking for ways to inform on important issues—or share her love of nerdy and girly things—Sonya thoroughly enjoys writing about a wide range of subjects.
If You Can't Talk About Race, Interracial Relationships Are Not For You
Is Rihanna Moving To Paris For Love?
Danai Gurira Won't Contour, But She Loves A Good Lip
Source: Bobby Bank / Getty
Comedian Chelsea Handler is pretty sure that she narrowly escaped getting sexually assaulted by Bill Cosby a few years ago.
Bill's public rep has been in shambles ever since old allegations of sexual assault popped back up last year and captured the nation's attention. Many refuse to believe that Bill could ever have taken advantage of women he supposedly drugged, but Chelsea told Esquire magazine recently, "Yeah, he's guilty."
Chelsea draws her verdict from her meeting with him a decade ago. Looking back, the "Chelsea Lately" host thinks that the now-infamous funnyman had plans for her when he invited her to his hotel room.
"Oh, I was in Atlantic City playing, doing stand-up, and he was doing stand-up in Atlantic City in the same hotel," she recalled. "Someone from the hotel came down and said, 'Oh, you know, Mr. Cosby would really like to meet you up in his hotel suite.'"
MUST READ: Bill Cosby Releases A Message 'Filled With Laughter' & We're Like, Too Soon [VIDEO]
At the time, most people would have been flatted if Bill asked to meet them in person, but something about the invite seemed fishy to Chelsea. She brought backup just to make sure nothing bad happened.
"I said, 'That's really weird. I don't want to go alone,'" she told Esquire, adding that she brought three men she was working with along with her to Bill's room. "I brought them up with me to his room and thank God I did, because now I know what would've happened if I went up there alone."
The crazy thing is that Chelsea didn't even remember the time that she met Bill until one of her friends reminded her about it during a conversation via text message. "He said, 'Hello! You could've been one of his victims if we weren't there.' And I went, 'Oh, my gosh,'" Chelsea shared. "So yeah, he's guilty. I think it's pretty obvious now."
She added, "He tried to Cosby me!" Apparently that's a verb now.
More than 20 women have come forward since last year claiming that Bill sexually assaulted them. He has yet to directly address the allegations himself.
New Accuser Comes Forward With Sexual Assault Accusations Against Bill Cosby
Beverly Johnson Reveals New Details Of Bill Cosby Drugging Allegations (VIDEO)
Bill Cosby Jokes At His Show: 'Be Careful About Drinking Around Me' & We're Like That's Not Funny [VIDEO]
Bill Cosby	, chelsea handler
Also On HelloBeautiful:
Top 50 Natural Hair Products For Black Hair


The Seagull to create a new, looping script that resonates powerfully with the present. This is a unique chance to experience this brand new work in the museum's breathtaking atrium.
Drop into the Harris Museum to meet artists from The Birley artist studios in Preston and talk to them about their work. There will be peformances by Martin Hamblen, Tao Lashley-Burnley and Rachel Pursglove and a talk by Benedict Rutherford. New video work by Mat Birchall will be on display all day and you can take part in artist's boardgames by Steph Fletcher.
Due to popular demand this exhibition has been extended - final day is Sunday 27 September, 11am - 4pm.
Idyllic scenery, derelict barns, farmers toiling the land? We explore how artists have been inspired by our rural heritage, from the romantic to the real. Images from our collection include Preston landscapes and work by Anthony Devis, Thomas Wade, Adrian Stokes and Norman Stevens. We also include artists working today like Georgina Barney and Andrew Cross and, in partnership with In Certain Places, we are pleased to show work by Rebecca Chesney, Abigail Townsend and Joanne Lee.
Families can enjoy a trail focusing on the seasons of the farming year. Don't miss our Fantastic Farming event on Thursday 27 Augsut when real farm animals will be visiting!
Experience The Varieties - inspired by Preston's Will Onda and artist Harold Offeh's work and featuring work from 10 regional and national artists.


I create unique, utilitarian and artistic potteries made in stoneware, which are fired at 1280° and are resistant and not porous.
I throw various small or medium series (bowls, mugs, plates, …).
My style is characterised by simple shapes and warm colours which are made from glazes that I create myself.


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> Happy Mondays, Charlie Simpson and Scouting for Girls will be Singing in the Rainforest
Happy Mondays, Charlie Simpson and Scouting for Girls will be Singing in the Rainforest
UKTV's premium entertainment channel Watch today revealed more musical names signed for its new series, Singing in the Rainforest, which sees musicians leave their creature comforts behind and embrace life with remote tribes from all around the world.
The new names who will embark on a once in a lifetime trip are, nineties indie band Happy Mondays, former Busted singer Charlie Simpson and pop-rock band Scouting for Girls.
In this brand new formatted documentary, Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches band, Happy Mondays visit the Embera Drua people of the Upper Chagres River in Panama. Known as the keepers of the rainforest this indigenous tribe have lived a subsistent life in the interior of Panama for centuries. The aim of the trip is for the Happy Mondays and the Embera to write a piece of music together that reflects both cultures, but the Happy Mondays haven't written anything new in over 20 years so they need to get their own house in order first. Can they put aside creative differences and perform a piece of music or will old habits die hard?
Former Busted singer Charlie Simpson visits the home of the San Bushmen in the Grashoek Village in Southern Africa, a tribe widely believed to be the first humans on the planet. Charlie learns about the San people's ancient traditions and their modern struggles, which inspires his creativity. But when he gets to work with the San singers he quickly discovers that a collaboration with the outside world has never been attempted before and they are worlds apart, as he struggles to find common musical ground.
Pop-rock band Scouting for Girls visited Hetmali Village, home of the Huli Wigmen in Papua New Guinea. Lifelong friends Roy Stride, Greg Churchouse and Pete Ellard embark on a life changing journey as they perform their track She's So Lovely, to an audience unlike any other they've performed to before. After a few days of living together the group learn about the Wigmen traditions and after a Huli 'jam session' writer Roy gets to work on a track. But collaborating with a tribe that had never even written music before Roy struggles to get them to work to his exacting standards.
The three acts join previously announced stars Myleene Klass and Glasvegas. Myleene visits the Ulithians of the remote Pacific Island of Mog in Micronesia where her grand piano is shipped on to the tiny island  reachable only by boat and with no running water or electricity  to create a desert island recording studio. And Glasvegas visit the Waorani of Bameno, Ecuador where the group taste the local homemade alcohol and experience the extreme weather of the wild rainforest.
About Singing in the Rainforest
Each episode of Singing in the Rainforest (5x60'), produced by Gogglebox Entertainment, a joint venture with Sony Pictures Television, takes well-known artists and bands out of their natural environment and challenges them to immerse themselves in tribal life for one week, with no creature comforts to fall back on. They will be exposed to rituals, customs and above all the tribe¹s musical culture and, in turn, the artists will present their style of music to the tribe.
The visiting musicians have only one week to battle bugs, sleep deprivation and bridge cultural differences to develop original music that can be played in a concert with the tribe. Their mission is to record a track, blending two musical cultures, which can be sold to raise money for the tribe they have been visiting. Can these successful acts operate entirely out of their comfort zone and compose a unique piece of music  or will tropical illnesses, insect bites and exhaustion get in their way?
UKTV is the multi-award winning media company that reaches over 42 million viewers every month.
UKTV's eleven imaginative brands - UKTV Play, Dave, Watch, Gold, Alibi, Yesterday, Drama, Really, Home, Eden and Good Food - include the most popular non-PSB channel in the UK and account for 9% of the British commercial TV market. The company's most recent financial results showed record-breaking year-end revenue of £278m, and EBITDA of £67.4m. It invested a record £125m in programming and related launches last year, and is becoming an increasingly significant investor in UK creativity.
UKTV has a truly innovative model, curating brand-defining commissions, high-profile acquisitions and the very best of BBC, alongside programmes originally shown on ITV and Channel 4. The network embraces technology to deliver inspired channels to audiences through Freeview, Sky, Virgin Media, BT, TalkTalk, YouView and UKTV Play, and distributes its highly valued original programmes to 200 territories.
Now celebrating its 22nd year at the forefront of digital television, UKTV - an independent commercial joint venture between BBC Worldwide and Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. (SNI) - is proud to be the only British television broadcaster to be recognised by Best Companies.
corporate.uktv.co.uk / pressoffice.uktv.co.uk / @uktv_press


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Q: Two factor authentication with trusted locations I am investigating two factor authentication for my Rails app. There are many solutions available, like devise-two-factor, a more do it yourself approach or with phone codes.
They all look fine, but what I am really looking for is the approach Whatsapp is using, where you have to authenticate on a device just one time and the device is trusted and you don't have to do it again, unless you clear the browser. If you try to login from another device, then you have to authenticate with a code again.
Is there a solution like this available? Or is it easy to create a solution  for this?
I can imagine you create a table with for every user trusted IP addresses and the last login timestamp to see if two factor authentication is needed when a user tries to login, but I'm not sure that is everything to it?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


It's 2081 and the day has come. Humanity is faced with its own annihilation. However, while the death and destruction reign over all of mankind, our salvation may rest on the shoulders of brave ninjas called Moon Divers. Allies Seyfert, Hitori, Tolby, Ourion are summoned by their Shogun to embark on a quest to save humanity from a demonic devil named Faust whose sole purpose is to ensure the death and destruction of planet Earth and everything and everyone on it. It is time to sharpen your swords, hone your magic abilities, trust in your brethren, and complete the mission from your Shogun for the hope of mankind rests but on the edge of your blade. From the creator of the iconic video games of the Strider series, follow us now as we lead you through Square Enix's latest Xbox Live Arcade hit Moon Diver.
Saving humanity will not be easy, or quick, but it is a task for which you will not fail. Moon Diver offers us a wealth of content and focuses on the strength of your brothers instead of rewarding lone wolves. To start our journey we focus on the story mode which could be best described as very long and involved. The story mode however is unfolded through cryptic messages in between stages which does very little to help educate gamers as to what exactly is going on. This proves to be a major setback as you spend most of your time trying to figure out "who is that person?", "why is this going on?", "what am I doing here?? The story mode however isn't lost completely as you traverse over 10 levels of intense, action packed stages. Each stage however is broken up into multiple stages and some with more than one exit which provides gamers different paths to choose. Another great feature of Moon Diver is that you have the ability to upgrade your character and in such, upgrade three different stats for your player (HP, MP, and Power). This adds a complete customization element that allows gamers to develop a character their way, instead of being locked into company decided presets. Throughout the story mode you will also come across various spells which all have multiple levels as well to progress through. With over 40 different spells that range from invisibility, healing, shooting fireballs, and more, each player can chose their own 4 spells to bring into battle with them, and having the right magic can mean the difference between saving the human race and game over. There are other modes as well such as keeping your kill chain high, survival modes, and even four player multiplayer both online and off. Remember that you are stronger together than apart.
Throughout the years we have all seen Xbox Live Arcade titles that offer some impressive graphics. Granted they are few and far between but Moon Diver is the next entry on that prestigious list. The 2D side scrolling levels seem to fly by in such a fluid pace as you are dodging enemy fire, jumping crevices, hanging and climbing up walls and ceilings. The enemies are well detailed however leave little inspiration. You will witness the basic progression as you have a regular grey enemy, a more powerful yellow enemy, and an even more powerful red version of the same enemy. In essence, the color of your enemy determines their strengths, abilities, and xp. The main graphical focus of Moon Diver rests solely on its fluid combat, multiplayer, and magic. The fluid combat acts as a way to deliver tons of beautiful explosions and flying enemies all over your screen like a violent play. The multiplayer and magic tie in hand in hand but one of the innovations that are spectacular to witness is the new multiplayer MoonSault combos. These special attacks take two to four players to execute, are easy to pull off by pushing the B button, and fill the screen with graphical combat beauty.
In the realm of music, Moon Diver is surprisingly bland and annoying. The menu music is your basic mix of electronic rock/techno tunes that are blended together to try to create an exciting and adrenaline filled 5.1 surround sound experience. The saving grace to the music is that it ties in beautifully when you are neck deep in hundreds of enemies, fighting your way to salvation; or when you are going toe to toe with a boss that towers over you. While there are moments where the music fits, most of the time the music becomes repetitive and unfortunately does very little to support the game itself.
Ultimately you have to ask yourself if this is worth your 1200 MS Points. If you are looking for a great 4 player side scrolling adventure then look no further. Sure it may not be as iconic as a Castlevania game, but Moon Diver delivers a lot for only 1200 MS points, and once purchased they even offer some free DLC and more DLC for only 80 MS points each! Great character structure, classic upgrade scheme mixed with a wide variety of spells and all blended in a fluid combat system make Moon Diver a must have in any Xbox Live Arcade library.


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Q: Start / stop init.d script without root access I am setting up an ubuntu-server in order to host the virtuoso server.
I want to setup a simple user (without sudo) account that will (only) be able to run
/etc/init.d/virtuoso-opensource-6.1   [start|stop|restart]
(to be able to administer the virtuoso server, but not other system resources)
i guess this is similar/equivalent to any service e.g. apache2, mysql, etc
is there an option to limit access to only the virtuoso service, or an option to access to all the init.d scripts, but not the rest of the system?

A: Your question seems to assume that sudo is an all or nothing grant of root privilege because that is how it is often used.
With configuration you can arrange for very tight control over what sudoers can and can't do.

A: You can customize which commands the user can run via sudo in /etc/sudoers (using visudo):
username: ALL = /etc/init.d/virtuoso


simultaneous existing, occurring, or done at the same general time or at the same moment.
simultaneously at the very same time.
sin2 the name of the twenty-first letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
sincerely with sincere feelings. Often used as a closing in a letter.
sincerity a thorough and genuine honesty; candor; earnestness.
sine die (Latin) having no set day or date for the next meeting or future business.
sine qua non (Latin) something necessary; indispensable item or condition.
sine wave a smooth, periodic oscillation that is the graphical representation of a sine function.


Tons and tons at Ideas Matter.
One on longevity and the coming fountain of youth.
One on anemic concepts of human nature.
One on the implications for a partial Obamacare strikedown.
One on Government as God.
One on The Liberal Gene.
One on locking arms with athiests.
Imported ideas for Republicans? Find them here.
The rent-seekers have come to infest Peter Jackson's The Hobbit.
There's a gap between rich and poor. And it's growing. So what?
Douglass North on complementary institutions.
Bruce Yandle on Bootleggers, Baptists and Bureaucrats.
Ideas Matter and The Long Tail.
The first post is on the strength of the Texas economy. Texans largely weathered the recession and I explore why here.
In the most recent post, I analyze a rare piece from National Geographic - one that seems to concede a lot more about the issue of global warming than most MSM outlets have been willing to.
The folks at the John Locke Foundation were kind enough to let me talk about one of my pet ideas: panarchy. Find a clip and full talk here.
Here's a post on the idea that won't die.
Here's a post on the strange world of auto nationalization and dealership licensing.
What if Carter had Destroyed 1970 GTOs?
When I look at a 1970 Pontiac GTO, I don't think of old metal. I think of sideburns, sexuality, and back seats that ensured Gen X got here just fine. I see my parents riding to FM radio on a summer night, racing beneath boulevard lights, or taking on the world. With 455 cubic inches of V8, the GTO is the quintessential muscle car. But it has creases and lines that suggest the curves of a woman. To look at that car is to see a time machine that travels to a place where long-haired gods and goddesses rumble over the earth dazed and confused, longing to be free.
By 1973, muscle cars were still cool. But stagflation had set in after embargoes by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, price controls, and wacky monetary policy. Oil and energy prices rose. A few years after that, Shi'ite fundamentalists overthrew the Shah in Iran. Energy prices rose again. Before we knew it, it was 1980. The Carter administration did a lot of backward things, like make people queue for gas. But here's a thought experiment: What if at the height of the energy crisis the president had decided to pay Americans to destroy ten-year-old cars so they would go out and buy new Datsuns? How many of those Pontiac GTOs would be around today? Or Ford Mustangs, or Dodge Challengers? Despite the fact that a 1970 GTO was still considered a pretty cool car in 1980, it had not yet been infused with 40 years of romance. Now, that essence lives in every part—in its "originality."
If you like, read the whole thing.
I am honored to have this month's column at the Library of Economics and Liberty. In "The Relentless Subjectivity of Value" I go from ultra-statist to subtler "free-market" versions of an error -- that is, the slide between subjective and objective value.
[T]he circumstances of time, context and perspective are like delicate filaments that connect the economic actor to the world. We risk destroying these filaments with too many aggregates, abstractions and models divorced from reality. And when we make concessions to a collective good that doesn't exist, we may win the argument, but lose the individual.
I may be the first non-economist, non-PhD to write this column. I don't know if that represents falling standards of quality over there or a thumbing of noses at the credentialization of everything... But one thing I do know is it's an honor to have even been asked to write the column. I hope you find the piece interesting. I'm certainly in the company of some tremendous thinkers who've written that column. I hope I can do more for them.
We're still Recycling. Crazy, huh?
Here's my Earth Day recycling post for the Examiner. Believe it or not, I had recycled it from other pieces, like this one. I wanted to do my part.
Read my review of Tooley's The Beautiful Tree over at The Freeman. If ever there were a living argument for greater educational freedom, it's made by the actions of real people in the developing world.
This looks more to me like a shameless attempt to repeat the mistakes of 2009 in order to curry the favor of a different sector: small business owners and constituent groups hostile to Wall Street. Whether this is Obama's atonement for Obama's bailout sins, a calculated means of buying votes, or a genuine means of helping the 'little guy' -- it's not likely to resuscitate the economy.


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Home » Towards a radical Black Love
Thought by Ms. Nozizwe Vundla/ 11th July 2016
Towards a radical Black Love
In the face of prominent black voices advancing the global agenda to do physical, psychological and spiritual harm on the black body, through collusion, denial or silence, MS. NOZIZWE VUNDLA reminds us that Radical Black Love demands that we love those – among our people – with whom we most disagree.
Even while we recognise that Judge Thokozile Masipa's judgement indicates that she is steeped in White Supremacy, Patriarchy, and Misogyny. Even while it was black police officers who shot and killed the Marikana miners and Mr Andries Tatane (acting on orders from elsewhere, yes, but they still pulled the triggers).
Even though Stacey Dash insists on trashing Jesse Williams and other woke black people, while supporting Mr Donald Trump. Even while President Barack Obama authorises the dropping of bombs on other Brown and Black people around the world in the name of the entirely discredited "War on Terror".
Even while Mr Tumisho Masha and Ms. Lorna Maseko condoned the patent White Supremacy, Historic Revisionism and Historic Denialism of Pastor Andre Olivier. Even while Mr Mmusi Maimane, Ms. Patricia De Lille, Mr Herman Mashaba and others are members of a patently anti-Black, anti-poor political party that is vested in maintaining the race based unequal status quo. Even while most black men we know recognise the reality of White Supremacy and Racism, but are inexplicably either steeped in Patriarchy, Homophobia and Misogynoir; or are woke to these issues, but are too silent and /or inactive in the face of other Black men in their midst who aren't. I still know this:
Even while these problematic black people frustrate me to no end, if I am serious about doing my own inner work towards Consciousness, I must love them still, even while I critique their complicity in these various systems and structures of oppression.
The television personality, Ms. Lorna Maseko.
The actor, Mr Tumisho Masha.
Consciousness, and specifically, Black Consciousness, demands nothing less than an all-encompassing, unconditional, radical Black Love – love of self, and love of other black people, 'even' or especially when we/they are hard to love. A tall order? Yes, of course it is. But no one said Black Consciousness was easy. Striving towards any kind of Consciousness is always tough, painful work. Therefore striving towards Black Consciousness in a White Supremacist world will inevitably be excruciatingly hard, gruelling work.
Consciousness, and specifically, Black Consciousness, demands nothing less than an all-encompassing, unconditional, radical Black Love – love of self, and love of other black people, 'even' or especially when we/they are hard to love.
So let's critique the actions of problematic black people. Yes, let's challenge, and ultimately dismantle the systems of oppression that they have bought into, that they uphold. But for goodness' sake, let us understand that the only antidote to the actions and omissions of our brothers and sisters who uphold the violence (physical, psychological, spiritual) of White Supremacy and other forms of oppression, can only ever be a radical Black Love. A Black Love that questions, challenges and rages against the oppression that they have internalised; but comes out on the other end loving them still.
If Black Consciousness is not about black people unlearning White Supremacy and hatred of Blackness in all its manifestations, not only in problematic Black people but within ourselves – because even the most woke among us carries residues of that poison – then what is it about?
Mr Mmusi Maimane, leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA).
The actor, Ms. Stacey Dash.
Mayor of Cape Town, Ms. Patricia De Lille.
We can't take issue with our black brothers and sisters who have internalised all forms of oppression, while we ourselves harbour hatred or ill-will towards them. Because all we are doing is replicating the pattern, and sticking to the script of White Supremacy and anti-Blackness ourselves. In fact, loving problematic black people is possibly the single biggest blow we could ever inflict on White Supremacy and anti-Blackness. Because if we love even problematic black people, imagine how much more we will love not only ourselves, but other woke black people who are infinitely easier to love; and how all of that will manifest as Black Consciousness (which is ultimately Black Love) in the most authentic, powerful way imaginable?
So let's love them, in spite of everything. And who knows, one day maybe, they'll see the Light, and love themselves and other Black and Brown people in a radical Black Love kind of way.
A version of this piece was originally published on Ms. Vundla's Facebook page. Used with permission.
Images: Politique Economique Afrique; Twitter; AFP; IMDB.
Ms. Nozizwe Vundla
Nozizwe Vundla is a Soweto-born Black intersectional feminist, who works towards achieving her own consciousness every day. She's an eternal optimist and humanist who loves her family and her continent, and considers herself a world citizen.
A comrade, unifier and true patriot
A deconstructed consciousness
Ungovernable: Nandi Dlepu
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NH10 First Day Collection : NH10 starts off on a slow note at Box Office with opening day collection of 3.35 crores.
Anushka Sharma starer NH10 was released yesterday amidst a lot of expectations. Directed by Navdeep Singh, NH10 is a dark thriller which also stars Neil Bhoopalam (playing Anushka's Husband) and Darshan Kumar (playing lead antagonist).
Despite receiving rave reviews from critics and celebrities, the movie opened to a below average occupancy of 10-15% in morning shows. However, with positive WOM the movie saw decent growth in evening and late night shows. We were expecting a decent opening day with collection of around 5 crores.
The reviews from critics has been good. The response from audience is positive and the movie is expected to grow on coming days.
NH10 needs to have decent opening weekend in order to have any chance at domestic Box Office. The movie needs to have a lifetime collection of around 30 to 35 crores to become a clean hit at Box Office.


text:
using FlatRedBall.Glue.Plugins.ExportedImplementations;
using FlatRedBall.IO;
using Newtonsoft.Json;
using OfficialPlugins.TreeViewPlugin.Models;
using OfficialPlugins.TreeViewPlugin.ViewModels;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;

namespace OfficialPlugins.TreeViewPlugin.Logic
{
    internal static class TreeViewPluginSettingsManager
    {
        public const string RelativePath = "GlueSettings/TreeViewPlugin.settings.user.json";

        static FilePath SettingsFullFile => GlueState.Self.CurrentGlueProject == null
            ? null
            : GlueState.Self.CurrentGlueProjectDirectory + RelativePath;

        public static TreeViewPluginSettings LoadSettings()
        {
            try
            {
                if(SettingsFullFile?.Exists() == true)
                {
                    var json = System.IO.File.ReadAllText(SettingsFullFile.FullPath);

                    return JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<TreeViewPluginSettings>(json);
                }

            }
            catch(Exception ex)
            {
                GlueCommands.Self.PrintError($"Error loading TreeView settings:\n{ex}");
            }
            return null;
        }

        public static void SaveSettings(TreeViewPluginSettings settings)
        {
            try
            {
                if(SettingsFullFile != null && settings != null)
                {
                    var serialized = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(settings);

                    GlueCommands.Self.TryMultipleTimes(() =>
                    {
                        System.IO.Directory.CreateDirectory(SettingsFullFile.GetDirectoryContainingThis().FullPath);
                        System.IO.File.WriteAllText(SettingsFullFile.FullPath, serialized);
                    });
                }
            }
            catch(Exception ex)
            {
                GlueCommands.Self.PrintError($"Error saving TreeView settings:\n{ex}");
            }
        }

        internal static TreeViewPluginSettings CreateSettingsFrom(MainTreeViewViewModel mainViewModel)
        {
            var settings = new TreeViewPluginSettings();

            settings.TreeNodeStates.Add(CreateTreeNodeStateFor(mainViewModel.EntityRootNode));
            settings.TreeNodeStates.Add(CreateTreeNodeStateFor(mainViewModel.ScreenRootNode));
            settings.TreeNodeStates.Add(CreateTreeNodeStateFor(mainViewModel.GlobalContentRootNode));

            return settings;
        }

        private static TreeNodeState CreateTreeNodeStateFor(NodeViewModel nodeViewModel)
        {
            var treeNodeState = new TreeNodeState();
            treeNodeState.IsExpanded = nodeViewModel.IsExpanded;
            treeNodeState.Text = nodeViewModel.Text;

            foreach(var viewModelChild in nodeViewModel.Children)
            {
                treeNodeState.Children.Add(CreateTreeNodeStateFor(viewModelChild));
            }

            return treeNodeState;
        }

        internal static void ApplySettingsToViewModel(TreeViewPluginSettings settings, MainTreeViewViewModel viewModel)
        {
            var entitiesSettings = settings.TreeNodeStates.Find(item => item.Text == viewModel.EntityRootNode.Text);
            if(entitiesSettings != null)
            {
                ApplySettingsToNodeViewModel(entitiesSettings, viewModel.EntityRootNode);
            }

            var screenSettings = settings.TreeNodeStates.Find(item => item.Text == viewModel.ScreenRootNode.Text);
            if(screenSettings != null)
            {
                ApplySettingsToNodeViewModel(screenSettings, viewModel.ScreenRootNode);
            }

            var globalContentSettings = settings.TreeNodeStates.Find(item => item.Text == viewModel.GlobalContentRootNode.Text);
            if(globalContentSettings != null)
            {
                ApplySettingsToNodeViewModel(globalContentSettings, viewModel.GlobalContentRootNode);
            }

        }

        private static void ApplySettingsToNodeViewModel(TreeNodeState treeNodeState, NodeViewModel nodeViewModel)
        {
            nodeViewModel.IsExpanded = treeNodeState.IsExpanded;

            foreach(var childState in treeNodeState.Children)
            {
                var matchingVm = nodeViewModel.Children.FirstOrDefault(item => item.Text == childState.Text);

                if(matchingVm != null)
                {
                    ApplySettingsToNodeViewModel(childState, matchingVm);
                }
            }
        }
    }
}


text:
NGC 3066 é uma galáxia espiral barrada (SBb/P) localizada na direcção da constelação de Ursa Major. Possui uma declinação de +72° 07' 32" e uma ascensão recta de 10 horas, 02 minutos e 10,0 segundos.

A galáxia NGC 3066 foi descoberta em 30 de Setembro de 1802 por William Herschel.

Ver também
Astronomia extragaláctica
Lista de galáxias
Lista de objectos NGC
New General Catalogue

Ligações externas

NGC 3066
Constelação de Ursa Major
Galáxias espirais barradas

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
24th August, 2017, 8:57 am
Corbyn's office loses communications chief
Emma Bean
A key adviser in the leader's office is to leave after just seven months in the role.
Steve Howell, who was hired as deputy director of communications and strategy earlier in February, is standing down.
His appointment was "always for a limited period", a source said. Yesterday Howell wrote on Twitter: "Heading back to Cardiff feeling very privileged to have worked for Jeremy Corbyn & looking forward to continuing to play a role part-time."
Howell took an indefinite leave of absence from his lobby agency, Freshwater, that he set up in Cardiff in 1997, to work for the opposition leader.
He had previously worked as a news reporter and producer for BBC Wales. It had been rumoured that Howell had fallen out with key Corbyn strategist Seamus Milne, but this has been rejected by sources, according to PoliticsHome.
The leader's office has seen significant turnover of staff in recent months, with March seeing three staffers leave.
Head of stakeholder engagement Jayne Fisher, who joined Jeremy Corbyn's team in January after working for Sinn Féin's London office for ten years, Matt Zarb-Cousin, media spokesperson, stepped down to return to his previous work at the campaign for fairer gambling, and Nancy Platts, a former PPC for Brighton Kemptown, left the role of the trade union liaison manager.
Simon Fletcher resigned his role as campaign's chief for the leader in February, and economic policy lead Mike Hatchett left earlier in March to return to the civil service.
Tags: Nancy Platts / Jeremy Corbyn / Simon Fletcher / Steve Howell / Freshwater / Matt Zarb-Cousin / Jayne Fisher / Leader's office / Mike Hatchett /
View all articles by Emma Bean


The Loft is located in the historic market town of Belper, towards the top of King Street, above Motostop and next door but one to the Ritz Cinema. Formerly used as an office, the light and breezy, yet cosy and intimate first floor room offered a perfect pairing for the opportunity of an upmarket bistro style restaurant in an 18th Century building. Months of planning, designing and development finally lead to The Loft restaurant opening its doors in late November 2016.
Craig Tyrrell, Head Chef and owner, who was born in Belper's own Babington hospital, uses locally sourced ingredients wherever possible in his traditional British dishes, served in a modern style, for his continuously updating menus. Belper is a town located in Derbyshire, England on the River Derwent. The town's name is thought to have been adopted from an old hunting lodge, Beaurepaire, meaning beautiful retreat. Originally associated with the nail making industry since the 13th Century, Belper expanded greatly during the early Industrial Revolution. Jedediah Strutt and Richard Arkwright transformed Belper into a leading mill town when they built one of the first water powered cotton mills in the late 18th Century. The East Mill was constructed in the early 20th Century where it remains today, although it no longer produces textiles. Because of Belper's rich history, it now forms part of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.
Craig knew he wanted to become a Chef when helping out in his Mothers pub kitchen at the early age of thirteen. He joined the Lion Hotel, Belper in his early teens learning how to be a waiter and chef before later spending two years in Spain. Here Craig developed his culinary skills, learning new dishes, a new language and new life lessons he would take back with him to the U.K. When returning home Craig found employment with Breadsall Priory Marriott Hotel, starting off in the pastry kitchen before working his way up to Sous Chef three years on. Craig gained his first AA rosette as Head Chef at the Three Queens Hotel, Burton-on-Trent and then his second at Hellaby Hall, South Yorkshire. He spent over seven years as Head Chef in reputable establishments such as Kedleston Country House before embarking on his first adventure as proprietor and Head Chef at The Loft Restaurant in Belper. Craig hopes to bring his years of experience, passion and knowledge into his home town and offer something a little different for his diners.
We hope to see you at The Loft soon!
The Loft can be located at the top of King street Belper. It is within walking distance from the market place.
The Loft makes use of Belper's free car park, The Coppice which is located just off the market place.


Quebec's ready-to-camp formula is hard to resist! Do you love camping but don't have the gear, or don't know where to stay? Camp with one of our outfitters, or in a Huttopia rental tent in 17 of Quebec's 24 national parks. Come experience the many joys of camping ? without worrying about the gear! Ideal for nature lovers who prefer the hands-free approach, turnkey camping includes heat, beds and an equipped kitchen. From spring to fall, take off on your very own turnkey camping trip, in Quebec.
Canoe, kayak, SUP and rafting on the crystal clear Bonaventure river, in the Gaspe. Our resort offers unusual accommodations: campsites, cottages, ecolodges, tipis. Enjoy our pools and hot tubs and the riverside patio of our restaurant.
Cime Aventures and the Bonaventure river are a must do during your family vacation or romantic tour in Gaspesie. Plan your trip in the Gaspe. Paddle one of the world's clearest rivers with trips for beginners to expert paddlers. Spend an unusual night in an ecolodge at tree top. Our family entreprise team is waiting for you!
Just 30 minutes from Trois-Rivières, the Batiscan River Park will charm you whether you are a thrill-seeker or want to relax in nature.
This park, divided into 3 sectors, offers several activities such as Via Ferrata, tree climbing, canoe rentals, kayaks and paddle boards, swimming, fishing, hiking and even nature interpretation activities guided by biologists.
To enhance your stay, camp on one of our intimate and wooded sites or discover our new private refuges ready-to-camp formula!
The Parc régional de la rivière Gentilly offers quality accommodations in the heart of nature. It has a campground, chalets, as well as ready-to-camp units.
Activities: hiking, moutain biking and family activities. Open during the winter season! Trails for snowhoeing, Ski Hok (rental) and fatbike (bicycle for rental) are available.
The Parc régional de la rivière Gentilly is a go-to destination to discover Bécancour and its region, just a few minutes from Trois-Rivières. Close to Moulin Michel, Centre de la Biodiversité du Québec and Musée des Religions du monde.
Faire découvrir la culture autochtone par diverses activités authentiques et sensibilisation à la spiritualité autochtone. Au fil des saisons, faire vivre l'expérience du mode de vie des Pekuakamiulnuatsh dans un site naturel qui allie calme, simplicité et beauté. Coucher sous le tipi ou en tente prospecteur. Divers forfaits offerts à la clientèle scolaire, corporative ou touristique.
We are located practically in a breath taking part of Quebec, Canada. Practicaly at the top of the Gaspesian Peninsula on 132 road at Anse-Au-Griffon, beside national Forillon Park a few miles afert Rivières-aux-Renard. In the upper northeast part of Québec. Our 10 acres base camp will cham you with panoramic view on the sea, quiet environment and different camping possibilities. Many acitivies offered at Griffon; canoe-canyoning and more.


Confident Cannabis CEO & Co-Founder Steve Albarran speaking at craft cannabis competition Cultivation Classic in Portland, Oregon.
You can't fault me for wanting to write about high-end cannabis either. It's just what makes me feel comfortable. So when Confident Cannabis VP of Growth & Marketing Brad Bogus and I got on the phone recently, we talked about Confident Cannabis' new wholesale platform and what it means for Oregon's cannabis industry. And, we chatted about Connect, their application that helps enthusiasts explore cannabis flower by their terpenes and cannabinoids. But mostly, we discussed the Texas Rosé of Syrah wines that I had tasted several years ago, and coveted ever since as a hidden secret. It wasn't until that moment that I realized that I wasn't the only one who was passionate about terroir and especially Texas Rose' Wine. I'm a geek about this stuff— rocks, dry farming, organics and biodynamics in the growing cycle. Cannabis is the same way. There exists a really high end of the cannabis spectrum, in places like Oregon and Humboldt/Mendocino, California, where growing cannabis via the planet brings the end user to a higher level and people like Confident Cannabis help us understand the plant even better. But I digress, there is only so much space to tell this intriguing story. Brad kept me on task, introduced me to his colleague Steve Albarran, and this interview is the result. Cheers!
Steve Albarran, co-founder Tony Lewis & Lead Data Scientist Amos Elberg at the Confident Cannabis HQ.
Forbes: Why Cannabis? What was your first introduction to the plant? How has that informed your path? What made you decide to get involved in the cannabis industry?
Steve Albarran: Hi, I'm Steve Albarran. I'm CEO/Co-Founder of Confident Cannabis. I grew up in Mexico City, went to college in Boston, worked in New York for nine years and moved to the Bay Area California four years ago. I decided to start a cannabis company because I've been a recreational consumer for a long time and I loved the idea of legal ethical businesses taking money from bad guys with guns in Mexico. Our company's vision statement is to foster a vibrant and sustainable ecosystem in which every ethical cannabis business thrives. The drug cartels in Mexico have been ruining the country for decades, so this is one small way I can give back.
Brad Bogus: I'm Brad, and I grew up in the southern United States. Born in Florida, but raised in Texas, although I'm loathe to call myself a Texan. I've always been a contrarian, an artist, and a punk rocker, yet somehow found my way into entrepreneurship and marketing. After 11 years of working in digital content marketing in Austin, I chose to escape Texas to join an industry that compelled and inspired me. I love proving people wrong, especially when it's grounded in undoing propaganda and stigma. Too many are in prisons. Too many are prescribed medications. Our industry can actually repair that, if we fight for it.
After several years of research and development, working to intimately understand the market complexities in Oregon, Confident Cannabis launched their new platform, Confident Cannabis Wholesale.
Forbes: Please tell Forbes readers about where you see your company, and the cannabis industry in six months, one year. Five years? How will Confident Cannabis' Connect application and your new wholesale platform inform the future of the industry?
SA: Six months: Confident Cannabis: Presence in 18 U.S. states and Canada, 50 employees, thousands of happy customers. Industry: MA rec live, CA and MI on Metric, Canada mostly mature. One year: Confident Cannabis: Presence in 3-5 countries, 75 employees, tens of thousands of happy customers. Industry: US federal lifting of banking restrictions, Mexico and rest of EU legalize medical and/or rec. Five years: Confident Cannabis: Be the rails upon which the global cannabis industry runs. Industry: Full repeal of prohibition in the US, thriving global commerce. Together, Confident Cannabis Connect and Wholesale will (a) help consumers know what to buy, (b) enable retailers to actually buy it, (c) empower cultivators and manufacturers to stand out from the crowd, and (d) inform all operators about what they should make and buy next.
BB: Steve said it pretty well, but I'll add a little different color on my answer: In the next six months, we could see a real sea change in Congress. Pete Sessions just lost his seat, which means he's no longer going to block every single federal cannabis bill through the Ways & Means Committee. Hopefully, we'll see new bills introduced in six months. In one year, we'll continue to see more consumer adoption among seniors and "soccer parents," particularly in newly regulated states. In five years, we'll see some of the states we never thought we'd see legalize cannabis join the party, including Texas. More products will offer micro-dosing. Some states will secure exports out of state to others, like Oregon exporting to Nevada or Utah, providing one of the first glimpses into true cannabis appellation being adopted nationwide.
Brad Bogus hard at work at the Confident Cannabis HQ.
Forbes: Do you cook? What is your favorite food memory from childhood? Who taught you if you do cook? TV? Mom? Dad? Grandparents?
SA: Yes, love it. I learned from my chef wife and watching Food Network in high school, mostly Iron Chef. My favorite thing to cook: anything that minimizes the number of ingredients and uses only the grill or one skillet, usually this is vegetables with rice or potatoes and maybe chicken or fish. I like the challenge of making minimalist dishes taste great. My favorite thing to eat: my wife's Ukrainian chicken buckwheat soup with toast and harissa. Love wine, really like Italian, especially Valpolicella, plus California cab and syrah.
BB: As a vegetarian in Texas, learning to cook was paramount to living well. I learned in the dark. Later, my partner Stephanie and I would learn our mutual love of it, and she honestly took off ahead of me skills-wise. She watches a lot of cooking shows (Chopped, The Kitchen, Barefoot Contessa) and takes inspiration from them that blows me away. Lately, of all things, I've gotten really into breakfast. We'll have from scratch pumpkin pancakes, avocado toast on sourdough, hash-browns with homemade Caribbean hot sauce, fresh figs from our garden, and French press coffee. We eat it on our back patio among the roses and marvel at the wonderful Cali weather. We got married at Becker Vineyards in Stonewall Texas, and their '08 Cabernet Reserve is a much coveted favorite (coincidentally, the year we married).
Photo courtesy of Confident Cannabis.
SA: Tears? Not really. Ultimate joy? Absolutely. I don't really eat mammals anymore, but nothing beats a Wolfgang's steak and a Pride Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. I also absolutely love Huckleberry Hill Farms' Fruit Loopz flower. I wish I could get a rosin of that.
BB: I recently ate a nine course vegan dinner at a fine dining restaurant in Aruba called Senses, prepared by a molecular chef in the school of cooking like you see at Noma. I teared up in that meal, whether the popped quinoa with dill oil, or the house made tempeh over cucumber salad with micro cucumbers and fermented cucumber foam; I've eaten nothing finer. Steve and I share the same favorite cannabis, as we discovered it together. That Fruit Loopz by Huckleberry Hill Farms is the best weed I've ever experienced worldwide. I would buy that weed at $100/eighth.
Forbes: If you could be anywhere in the world, right now, where would that be? Doing what? With whom?
BB: Stephanie and I just returned from the most perfect trip to Aruba, where we could zero out on the beach smoking fine cannabis, or see my best friend who lives there. Now, I'll amend my answer to say I would love to be with her in the British Isles, exploring history, theater, art and beautiful landscapes.