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George Benjamin Luks (American, 1867-1933). Pony Ride, n.d. Black Conté crayon on beige, moderately thick, smooth wove paper, Sheet: 10 1/8 x 7 3/4 in. (25.7 x 19.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 58.43.5 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 58.43.5_IMLS_PS3.jpg)
George Benjamin Luks (American, 1867-1933). Pony Ride, n.d. Black Conté crayon on beige, moderately thick, smooth wove paper, Sheet: 10 1/8 x 7 3/4 in. (25.7 x 19.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 58.43.5 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 58.43.5_bw.jpg)
George Benjamin Luks
Luks was prone to taking long walks through the city with his sketchbook and capturing simple yet candid scenes like that of this pony ride or of the man seated on a park bench reading a newspaper. Luks was a gregarious, hard-drinking, straight-talking man who had enjoyed an early career as a vaudeville comic with his younger brother Will. As an artist, he was inspired by the works of the seventeenth-century Dutch painter Frans Hals to seek out vivid urban characters such as beggars, market women, and flower sellers.
ARTIST George Benjamin Luks, American, 1867-1933
MEDIUM Black Conté crayon on beige, moderately thick, smooth wove paper
DATES n.d.
DIMENSIONS Sheet: 10 1/8 x 7 3/4 in. (25.7 x 19.7 cm) (show scale)
SIGNATURE Unsigned
COLLECTIONS American Art
Fine Lines: American Drawings from the Brooklyn Museum
CREDIT LINE Dick S. Ramsay Fund
RIGHTS STATEMENT Orphaned work
After diligent research, the Museum is unable to locate contact information for the artist or artist's estate, or there are no known living heirs. Copyright for this work may be controlled by the artist, the artist's estate, or other rights holders. A more detailed analysis of its rights history may, however, place it in the public domain. The Museum does not warrant that the use of this work will not infringe on the rights of third parties. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy copyright or other use restrictions before copying, transmitting, or making other use of protected items beyond that allowed by "fair use," as such term is understood under the United States Copyright Act. For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
CAPTION George Benjamin Luks (American, 1867-1933). Pony Ride, n.d. Black Conté crayon on beige, moderately thick, smooth wove paper, Sheet: 10 1/8 x 7 3/4 in. (25.7 x 19.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Dick S. Ramsay Fund, 58.43.5 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 58.43.5_IMLS_PS3.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 58.43.5_IMLS_PS3.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
IMLS


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Reliable identification of crayfish plague is vital for Finland's crayfish populations
July 2/2019
The Finnish Food Authority has discovered a previously unknown species of water mould in noble crayfish in a small Finnish lake, similar to that which causes crayfish plague. This water mould resembles crayfish plague, an invasive species in Finland, so closely that it may compromise the reliability of crayfish plague studies. The discovery of this new species shows that disease identification methods must be continuously improved to guarantee their reliability.
A Finnish species of water mould, Aphanomyces fennicus sp. nov., is so closely related in its genome to the water mould that causes crayfish plague, Aphanomyces astaci, that several of the molecular biology based methods developed for identifying crayfish plague are unable to tell the two apart.
"In this case, the diagnostics problem that was discovered by accident has already been solved, as a research method developed in Norway was improved further on the basis of this new information. The revised method is currently being tested in both Norway and Finland. The Kuopio unit of the Finnish Food Authority is the World Organisation for Animal Health's (OIE) reference laboratory for crayfish plague. Reference laboratories secure the reliability of disease diagnostics and assist other laboratories in identifying diseases", says Chief Specialist, DVM (PhD) Satu Viljamaa-Dirks of the Finnish Food Authority.
Crayfish plague is an insidious disease
Crayfish plague grows in the crayfish cuticle, and an infection is usually fatal for the European crayfish.The disease infects crayfish and makes them ill in all seasons. The transmission risk is particularly great during crayfish fishing and crayfish relocation. Even noble crayfish may carry crayfish plague in a latent form, and in such a case the population will not recover even with restoration stocking.
Samples are important for crayfish research
Without samples, diagnostic methods cannot be developed and reliability assessments cannot be carried out.
The Finnish Food Authority examines all submitted samples of dead crayfish free of charge and offers crayfish plague carrier detection for a fee. This summer an acute infection has been detected in two populations of noble crayfish, both from Eastern Finland.
"When there is a plan to restock a population of crayfish after it has been devastated by crayfish plague, the status of the waterway should always be surveyed in advance using test fishing and test caging. Carrier testings performed on 60 crayfish using a molecular method. It is a good idea to contact the crayfish plague experts at the Finnish Food Authority when the stocking is being planned, so that the survey will be as reliable as possible", says Viljamaa-Dirks.
The research findings on the new species were published in a peer-reviewed scientific article:
Viljamaa-Dirks, S., Heinikainen, S.
A tentative new species Aphanomyces fennicus sp. nov. interferes with molecular diagnostic methods for crayfish plague. Journal of Fish Diseases 2019: Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 413 - 422.
Read a dissertation Epidemiology of crayfish plague.
Crayfish plague reference laboratory
Chief Specialist Viljamaa-Dirks
Scientific research outline

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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This week on Talk Learn Connect, writer Yvonne Reddin asked Poet, Author and Professor in Epidemiology Mona Lydon–Rochelle to share some TLC (Talk Learn Connect)
Could you give a summary of your career to date and what you are passionate about in your profession?
I hold a BS from the University of New Mexico, MS from Case Western Reserve University, and MPH and PhD from the University of Washington. My academic career spanned nearly 30 years, in which I researched maternal and child health, with a specific focus on the prevention and outcomes of Caesarean Section. During those years I served as a consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO), National Institute of Health, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on both national and international research projects.
However, my mission with Médecins Sans Frontières(MSF), investigating the epidemic of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in Abkhazian and Georgia was the most rewarding by far.
Notably, I finished my epidemiology tenure at the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre in Cork, which I loved. I am passionate about motherhood and assuring the health of newborns.
Do you have another connection to Ireland other than as a Professor in epidemiology and high-risk obstetrics at University College Cork?
I grew up in the small coastal town of Scituate, Massachusetts—coined the Irish Riviera because almost everyone was an Irish émigré or first-generation offspring. As children we were steeped in Irish songs, fairy tales, food and superstitions. We still have family in Cork and while at UCC, they were a tremendous support. It is more than sentimentality, I am proud of my Irish ancestry, family name and the remarkable poetic and Christian traditions. Notably, when missioned by Médecins Sans Frontières(MSF) out of the New York City office, MSF requested that I obtain Irish Citizenship (which I did) because placement of Irish Citizens in volatile countries was more straightforward than placing Americans!
You are also a poet. This seems like a diverse career change or did it feel like a more natural path to progress to? Tell us what you like to write about in your poems.
Transitioning from epidemiology to poetry was somewhat seamless—the rigours of research, the discipline of scientific writing (publish or perish) and the ability to accept rejection—all are required in being a good poet. I owe a special debt to Paul FittererSJ, a Pacific Northwest Jesuit, who encouraged me to write poetry despite the seeming insanity of giving up tenure and a great salary!
Also, I believe I was born with a natural inclination toward the poetic-my father, James Kelleher Lydon, who passed when I was only one year old was a solicitor and poet. I read his tattered poems repeatedly.
"Because of COVID, performances and readings have all been cancelled but interviews such as yours and Jeremy Murphy's have promoted book sales thankfully"
As a contemporary poet-epidemiologist-midwife, I am attracted to the grandeur of the sea, the innocence of childhood, the beauty of birth and the power of testimony. Like epidemiology, I'm concerned with truth and experiences that are deepest and truest in life.
In my most recent book On the Brink of the Sea, I write about love in our time of constant war and rising hate. It crosses over neat American borders into 21st-century wars and epidemics and plumbs a harsh (and humorous) childhood
Given my own childhood poverty as well as my work with MSF and Catholic Relief Services, all author royalties are donated to these two stellar humanitarian aid organizations.
A number of the poems were written while I was living in Cork, Ireland and travelling the countryside for work.
Your expertise is in epidemiology, can I ask what your thoughts are on how the pandemic has been handled in America currently?
If you'll forgive me, I hope to turn the question upside down. I would like to speak about America and Europe's actions regarding the COVID pandemic in Africa. How have we as affluent countries dealt with COVID in Africa?
So far Africa has been the continent least affected by Covid-19, however, now it's spreading beyond capital cities and lack of tests and other supplies are hampering responses.
"One of the most meaningful projects for me was WHO's development of survey tools to assess maternal and infant health in eight African countries"
Importantly, epidemiologists warn of the catastrophic shortage of health care professionals and the drastic reduction of medical supplies because of border closures, price increases and restrictions on exports imposed during the pandemic.
The good news is aid organizations such as MSF Ireland are at the forefront of intervening in Africa and taking action.
A love of learning and desire for the common good inspired my career. My words of wisdom? Avoid pessimism as it lacks vision. Choose hope as it sets ones heart on fire. And do not go into deep debt! Apply for internships, residencies, fellowships—think out of the box. Simply be the best that you can be.
Author royalties for the book are donated to MSF and Catholic Relief Services, which is critical in this time of COVID. Please contact Mona Lydon-Rochelle at minot@uw.edu if you have any questions. On the Brink of the Sea can be purchased through Amazon UK.


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Le dolmen dit l'Autel du Loup ou hôtel du Loup est un monument funéraire néolithique situé sur la commune de Sault dans le Vaucluse (France). Avec le dolmen de l'Ubac à Goult, et le Dolmen de la Pichone, à Ménerbes, il est l'un des trois seuls dolmens connus en Vaucluse et l'un des rares en Provence.

Description

Localisation
Le dolmen dit l'Autel du Loup est situé sur les hauteurs du village de Sault, dans les bois du Défends, à l'est de l'Hippodrome de Deffends.

Historique

Le dolmen est déjà connu et mentionné à la fin du

Annexes

Articles connexes
 Sites mégalithiques de Vaucluse

Références

Pichone de Menerbes
Sault (Vaucluse)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Update your status with the Mini Lauren crossbody foldover bag. She's the mini version of the original Lauren crossbody bag and she's been pretty popular to say the least. Being six bags in one, she's still just as functional. She's just a little bit more light weight, making it way easier to leave all that extra baggage at home where it belongs.


ZOMBIE FORUMS • View topic - I'm full of alcohol, my boyfriend's asleep, and I'm bored.
Post subject: I'm full of alcohol, my boyfriend's asleep, and I'm bored.
P.S. wtf is up with all these smileys that aren't smileys?
Post subject: Re: I'm full of alcohol, my boyfriend's asleep, and I'm bored.
Sadly that line has never worked.
Except that one time it did. And we've been trying to luck our way into that scenario again for almost nine years now.
Also the old random icons are awesome.
Also some of the old random icons are awesome.


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50 more new flights to Egypt to be added
Another 50 regular flights to Egyptian resorts have been agreed at the state level. This number includes also flights of tour operator's air carriers.
According to the press service of the Egyptian Tourism Development Council, the airlines Alrosa, Ural Airlines and Azur Air are appointed to carry out regular international air transportation from the regions.
Alrosa received permission to fly from Zhukovsky airport near Moscow to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh - one flight per week to each resort.
Azur Air is scheduled three flights a week on the following routes:
From Anapa - to Cairo, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh;
From Magadan to Cairo, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh
From Pskov - to Cairo, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh
From Chita - to Cairo, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh.
Ural Airlines received permission for the route from Sochi to Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada twice a week to each resort, and also - similar flights from Lipetsk.
In total, 50 new flights were added to Egypt. Experts believe that if such a number of flights really take off, then prices for tours to Egypt will inevitably decrease. And this despite the fact that prices for Egypt have already dropped significantly.
Tui Russia announced expansion of the flight program to Egypt
The largest tour operator in Europe, or rather, its Russian division, Tui Russia, announced the expansion…
Anex Tour to expand its program of flights to the resort cities of Egypt
Yesterday, the flight program to the resorts of Egypt was presented by the carrier of the tour operator…
Aeroflot starts flying from Moscow to Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada
Aeroflot Airlines announced the start of a flight program from Moscow to Egyptian resorts since October…


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Jazz in the Park Kicks Off it's 25th Season!
Posted: Jun 2, 2016 10:04 AM CST | Updated: Jun 2, 2016 10:08 AM CST
Jazz in the Park returns tonight for its 25th season!
The outdoor summer concert series takes place every Thursday evening in Milwaukee's Cathedral Square Park. This year's schedule features a variety of music styles, everything from the blues and big band, to R&B and reggae.
"It started out really small, where it was just pure jazz and a few people sitting on some blankets. Now we've got food vendors down here, we've got great beverage tents, and we got all kinds of great pockets of community within the park itself so its really really grown to a huge extent," says East Town Association's Executive Director Kim Morris.
A local band, Milwaukee Soul, kicks off the series tonight. Music is from 6 to 9.
It's free to attend.


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All Egypt
Universal Florida
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USA holidays
From the sparse natural scenery of the Mojave Desert to the bustling metropolis of New York, the USA is a vast land where the people are as diverse as the landscape. Whether you want sun-kissed golden beaches, ultra chic nightspots or exhilarating family attractions; USA holidays have got it all and more.
The dazzling lights of Las Vegas are in the south-western part of the USA. The Strip is where you'll find the glamorous hotel resorts that have made Las Vegas the iconic city it is today. On the USA's south-eastern tip, Florida offers pristine beaches, trendy nightspots and rich tropical scenery. Orlando's outstanding theme parks make it one of the best family destinations in the world. Head to the west coast and southern California for the glamorous Los Angeles, home of red carpets and golden sands. Further south of LA is sunny San Diego. Delight the kids with nature theme parks such as SeaWorld and San Diego Zoo, and enjoy its lively cultural hub; Balboa Park.
If you're going away with the family, there's everything from magical theme parks to golden beaches, water parks and incredible natural attractions. From manatee-spotting in the Florida Everglades to the vast Balboa Park in California, the USA is a treasure-trove of family-friendly activities just waiting to be explored.
If you're looking for cosmopolitan charm, New York has it in bucketloads. Among the soaring skyscrapers you'll discover family-run eateries, designer shops and thriving theatres, all within easy reach on the Subway. From the hip Greenwich Village to the beautiful Central Park, New York is a vibrant cultural city that never sleeps.
There's endless fun to be had in the USA if you love adventure. Hire a classic car and take on Route 66, explore the Grand Canyon by helicopter, or take a sunset hike through the dry landscapes of Death Valley. No matter what time of year you're visiting the States, you won't be far from a festival, like Austin's South by Southwest, California's Coachella and the statewide Independence Day celebrations on the 4th of July.
If you like to party, you'll be spoiled for choice on your holiday to the USA. Miami has glamorous nightclubs, while the bright lights of Las Vegas keep the city partying until sunrise. If you prefer a more laid back evening, head to San Francisco to sample freshly-caught seafood in Fisherman's Wharf, or watch live jazz music in Union Square.
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Spring or autumn when temperatures are usually comfortably warm.
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The main airport near Orlando is Orlando International Airport (MCO) which is 19km south-east of Orlando. The main airport near Las Vegas is McCarran International Airport (LAS) which is 8km south of downtown Las Vegas.
Weather and climate in USA
Temperature: 30-40 (°C) during the summer months in destinations like Florida and Las Vegas.
Best time to visit USA: Spring or autumn when temperatures are usually comfortably warm.
From sun-drenched California to the snowy peaks of Montana, the weather in the USA can differ greatly from state to state. In Florida, you can expect year-round sunshine with temperatures averaging in the early 30s (°C) during the summer months. Las Vegas weather is hot and dry throughout the year and temperatures often exceed 40 °C in July/August.
Weather in USA
Jan, Feb, March, April, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec
USA is best for...
Adventurers: Hire a classic car and live your dream of a great American road trip.
Families: Florida's world-class theme parks and pristine sandy beaches.
Party animals: Dance 'til dawn at one of Las Vegas' coolest nightclubs.
Nature lovers: Explore the raw beauty of the Grand Canyon and the wild alligators and manatees of the Florida Everglades.
Fast facts for USA
Language: The language spoken in the USA is English.
Currency: The currency used in the USA is the American Dollar ($).
Local time: The USA is 5–8 hours behind GMT/UK time.
Fly to: JFK International Airport, Newark Airport, Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport, LAX or San Francisco International Airport. Transfers take between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours.
Flight time from UK: The flight time to the USA is 7–12 hours.
Tourist Information: Further USA tourist information can be found at https://www.visittheusa.com/.
Visa / Health: Before you travel, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa for recommendations and general advice on visas and health for your holiday to the USA. For information on the Visa Waiver Program for international travellers looking to travel to the United States please visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/.
Holiday destinations related to Usa:
Getting around USA
By hire car: Hire a rental car to explore the USA's rich and varied landscape at your own pace. Be aware that you'll find toll booths across the country, so keep a few dollars to hand when you're driving.
By monorail: The Las Vegas Monorail serves the major resorts along the Strip.
By trolley bus: In Florida, Orlando's I-Drive trolley bus is a handy way to get around the restaurants and attractions of International Drive.
By cable car: The quaint cable cars of San Francisco offer a fantastic way to see the city.
By plane or boat: Hop between the Hawaiian islands with the inter-island airlines, or take the ferry which leaves from Maui's Lahaina Harbour.
Events in USA
Brand USA: Download your guide to amazing destinations and experiences here.
Super Bowl: The biggest sporting event in the USA is Super Bowl Sunday, which takes place at the end of February. The two most successful teams in the NFL battle it out for the prestigious Super Bowl trophy in a different American city each year.
4th July: American Independence Day on the 4th of July celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Parades, barbeques and fireworks are traditional around this time, and you'll see American flags on every corner.
Ringing the changes: New Year's Eve in Las Vegas is the ultimate night out. Crowds of thousands descend on the Las Vegas Strip and the party doesn't stop until the sun comes up.
Film festivals: On the must-see list are the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January, and September's SoCal Independent Film Festival, in Orange County's Huntington Beach.
Music and Culture: Austin, Texas is famous for its festivals: South by Southwest (SXSW) is an extravaganza of film and music held every March, and there's also Austin City Limits Festival (October).
Foodie Fun: In July, indulge your senses at the Taste of Chicago, the world's largest food festival. Three million visitors descend on Grant Park to taste the city's diverse cuisine, from traditional deep-dish Chicago pizza to spicy African stews.
USA safety and security
For up to date advice on travelling to the USA, please visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/safety-and-security
Top destinations in USA
The world made technicolour in one city
Lakeside living in the Windy City
Take in the charming towns and villages
North East Corridor
Charm and history in this historic region
The city that never sleeps
Head out of the city into spectacular countryside
Breathtaking landscapes in this adventure playground
Explore the proud all-American Deep South
The Sunshine State with fun baked in
Explore the mountains and lakes of American's Pacific coast
Pacific paradise with an American flavour
Laidback cool in this West Coast state
Wild plains and action-packed cities in Lone Star State
Stunning beaches, iconic cities and spectacular scenery
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United States, Nevada, Las Vegas
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Sitting on the eastern edge of Walt Disney World Resort, and just a short drive from Universal Orlando®, is Lake Buena Vista. Beyond the magical parades and thrilling theme parks, this lakeside resort in Florida is also perfect for lazy ...
Kissimmee is a great place to stay if you're after the full Florida experience. Explore everything from world-renowned theme parks to the natural beauty of Florida in a single trip. Conveniently located just minutes from Walt Disney ...
Blue skies, golden sands, swaying palms and turquoise waters. Feel the welcoming vibe in Greater Fort Lauderdale, where the sun never stops shining and the average temperature is a balmy 25'C year-round. Enjoy 23 miles of Blue Wave ...
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Welcome to the world-famous Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, where holidays are anything but ordinary, and awesome experiences await you at every turn. With three amazing theme parks, immersive hotels plus incredible dining and ...
It's the place where dreams come true. Imagine four Disney Parks and two Water Parks, two exciting night-time entertainment districts, and a state-of-the-art sports complex. Now add in over 25 themed Disney Resort Hotels, plus countless ...
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Go behind the scenes of the world-famous Studio Tour to explore real film sets where Hollywood movies are made. Plus, hold on tight for the Studio Tour's all-new grand finale, Fast / Furious - Supercharged.
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Derek Albion Smalls es un personaje ficticio interpretado por el actor Harry Shearer en la película This is Spinal Tap. Es el bajista de la banda de rock Spinal Tap, la cual está compuesta por el guitarrista Nigel Tufnel (Christopher Guest) y David St. Hubbins (Michael McKean).

El personaje está basado en parte en el vocalista y bajista de la banda Motorhead, Lemmy Kilmister, aunque en escenario presenta algunas semejanzas con Steve Dawson de la agrupación Saxon.

Dicho personaje apareció en el proyecto Hear n' Aid, acompañado de músicos famosos de la escena Hard Rock y Heavy Metal, como Ronnie James Dio, Rob Halford, Geoff Tate y los guitarristas de la agrupación británica Iron Maiden, además de David St. Hubbins, vocalista de la mencionada banda ficticia Spinal Tap.

Referencias
Karl French et al. (2001). This is Spinal Tap – The Official Companion, Bloomsbury ISBN 0-7475-5284-3.

Músicos ficticios
Ingleses ficticios
Músicos de rock ficticios


If you've ever been to Disneyland, which is supposed to be the "Happiest Place on Earth," you know this isn't true for everyone! Christmas is supposed to be a season of joy, but if we pay close attention to the story, there is darkness mixed in with the light. The story of the incarnation speaks to our experiences of darkness, offering the promise that the light of God is present in its midst. With planning for Christmas Eve fully underway, David Ackerman, in his Beyond the Lectionary: A Year of Alternatives to the Revised Common Lectionary, offers us a set of texts that speak to the need for hope when hope seems lost. I'll be preaching this Christmas Eve from Habakkuk 3, expecting to hear a new word for the season. As you'll notice the Gospel reading remains Luke 2 -- there really isn't another appropriate reading for Christmas Eve, but perhaps we can hear it a new in the context of the texts David has chosen for the night. So I invite you to consider these readings.
One: Sing, O barren one who did not bear; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her that is married, says the Lord.
Many: Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.
One: For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns.
Many: Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace; for you will forget the shame of your youth; and the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more.
One: For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.
Many: For the Lord has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, like the wife of a man's youth when she is cast off, says your God.
One: For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you.
Many: In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer.
One: This is like the days of Noah to me: Just as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you.
Many: For the mountains may depart and the hills may be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Gathering Prayer: We come tonight to celebrate your coming to us and becoming one of us. You have entered our world of flesh and bone, and by coming to us you lead us to you. Thank you, Jesus, for the miracle of your birth this night.
Confession: Your birth, O Christ, should change everything, yet our minds and hearts are still far away from you. We have been distracted by the trappings of this season, and it has been a time of busywork for us instead of a season of holiness. Forgive us, God, and help us to join with shepherds and angels to announce to our world that you have been born to us this night.
Assurance: God has forgiven us and made us new. Let us thank and praise the Christ who has arrived not as a terrifying despot but as a humble child, born in poverty, to save us from the world's oppression.
· What do you think tonight's selection from Habakkuk 3 has to say to us when we are feeling hopeless?
· Both Habakkuk 3 and Isaiah 54 speak about barrenness, and Isaiah is explicit in offering hope for women who are barren or widows. How might Christmas Eve be a difficult time for women who are childless? How about for those who have lost loved ones? What hope do these verses give to everyone who may be having a "blue Christmas"?
· How do Paul's words in Philippians 3 offer hope to those who are facing bleak circumstances? What does it mean to you to think about Paul writing "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (v 13) from his cell in a first century prison? What does Jesus' coming have to do with sharing in our distress?
· *Luke 2:1-20 is the only Revised Common Lectionary scripture to also be used in Beyond the Lectionary (intentionally, see Corrections). As familiar as this reading may be, how does it sound different to you when connected to tonight's other scriptures? Do they draw out any insights for you about Jesus' birth?
Prayer of Thanksgiving: God, we glorify and thank you for teaching us that you show your authority not through strength of force but through humble love.
Benediction: In the poorest of circumstances, God has come into the world to give us hope in our barrenness and misery. Let us go forth this night as a people transformed by the love of God, who has indeed come to change everything and give us new life. Amen.


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Home Campaigns Khader Adnan Alert: Khader Adnan re-arrested by occupation forces
Khader Adnan
Alert: Khader Adnan re-arrested by occupation forces
Palestinian media reported that Khader Adnan, former long-term hunger striker and freed former administrative detainee, was re-arrested by occupation forces in Jenin on July 8.
Occupation forces have not laid any formal charges against him, but said he was arrested for "activities that threaten regional security," according to Palestine News Network. Adnan, a baker from Jenin, launched his hunger strike in February 2012, garnering international support and attention that led to his release from administrative detention, where he had been held without charge or trial. The iconic graphic image of Adnan by Palestinian artist Hafez Omar covered the streets of Palestine and appeared in protests around the world.
Since his release, he has been a leading figure in supporting Palestinian prisoners' struggle for freedom and justice, including various hunger strike campaigns.
This arrest came amid 31 arrests of Palestinians in Jerusalem, and following the arrests of over 830 Palestinian political prisoners since June 12. Al-Mayadeen TV reported on the afternoon of June 8 that it is an Israeli official decision to round up the cadres of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
While occupation forces are sweeping the West Bank with violent raids and arrests, they have announced "Operation Protective Edge" in Gaza, which has so far taken the lives of at least 23 Palestinians, 9 on July 7 and 14 so far on July 8, including children killed when a massive bomb was dropped on the Qaware' family home in Beit Hanoun.
TAKE ACTION:
1. Join one of the many protests around the world for Palestine. Click here for a list – or organize your own! Email samidoun@samidoun.ca to add your protest to the list.
2. Click here to sign a petition demanding an end to the mass arrest raids.
Previous articleRaja Ighbarieh of Abna'a el-Balad among 110 arrested in raids in Occupied Palestine '48
Next articleOver 200 prisoners transferred from Ashkelon due to "security situation"


South Carolina does not have a state False Claims Act. However, those who witness fraud, waste or abuse affecting either the state or federal government can file a whistleblower lawsuit under the qui tam provisions of the federal False Claims Act. Whistleblower provisions in the False Claims Act also protect relators from workplace retaliation resulting from their report. Contact us to learn more about your rights as a whistleblower.
June 22, 2015 – A Charleston, S.C., high school teacher is suing the Charleston County School District under the state's whistleblower retaliation protection law alleging she was wrongfully reprimanded and held back from new employment opportunities in retaliation for reporting her concerns the school was facilitating graduation for failing students. Valerie Paquette, a computer and business teacher at North Charleston High, filed the lawsuit May 27 in the Court of Common Pleas, claiming that school administrators retaliated after she went to the superintendent with concerns about questionable advantages the school gave some failing seniors, allowing them to graduate.
March 6, 2015 – A federal judge in South Carolina has approved a settlement in the False Claims Act lawsuit filed by the U.S. government and two whistleblowers against Covan World-Wide Moving Services Inc., and its affiliate, Coleman American Moving Services Inc. The lawsuit, which alleged that Covan and Coleman engaged in fraudulent billing practices, was scheduled to go to trial on March 9. The terms of the settlement, reached on Monday, March 2, have not been made public. The whistleblowers, a father and son, who worked in Coleman's Augusta, Ga., warehouse, allege that they were instructed to "get weights up." Warehouse manager Mario Figueroa and his son, warehouse assistant Elmer Figueroa, claim they were ordered to falsify weight certificates in a scheme to overbill the U.S. Armed Forces for the shipping costs associated with deploying U.S. service personnel at home and abroad.
December 17, 2014 – A federal agency has blocked the firing of a Transportation Security Administration dog handler at Charleston International Airport over a whistle-blower incident. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel on Tuesday obtained an order from the Merit Systems Protection Board to stop the removal of Kimberly Barnett for 45 days while OSC investigates her claim of being fired for alleging her supervisor violated agency safety rules and inaccurately recorded the time he worked. Barnett said she was told by a TSA management official she was not "being a team player" and was throwing her supervisor "under the bus," according to a statement from the Office of Special Counsel.
February 28, 2014 – COLUMBIA, S.C. — A U.S. District Judge in South Carolina said Tuesday a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act against a global trucking firm may proceed to trial. The lawsuit seeks millions of dollars from Covan Worldwide Moving, a Midland City, Ala.-based company that ships the household belongings of military and civilian personnel around the world. In a Tuesday hearing, Judge Joe Anderson dismissed part of the lawsuit that accuses Covan of engaging "in an intracorporate conspiracy" to defraud the U.S. government, citing insufficient evidence that the company conspired with other businesses to carry out its scheme on a broad scale. Five additional counts, however, have been allowed to stand based on allegations in the lawsuit that Covan partnered with Coleman-American Moving Services to "systematically falsify weight certificates, shipping records and invoices by increasing shipment weights." This fraud scheme amounted to the submission of false claims to U.S. agencies for reimbursement, the lawsuit asserts.


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Artvoice
Keith Raniere has fled the United States; may be seeking to avoid imminent arrest in NY!
For several years Frank Parlato has been publishing article after article about the manipulative NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere and the scandals of sex, money, fraud, and intimidation that surround him. Anyone who read these articles was left wondering "why hasn't this guy been arrested, yet?" (you can find a plethora of archived articles on Artvoice or at frankrerport.com) Parlato's most recent series on the hot branding of Keith Raniere's initials in the pubic area of a select and wealthy group female followers caught the attention of the New York Times. The Times published an extensive story on Raniere and his cult and this seems to have finally gotten the attention of law enforcement. Could it be the net is closing in on guru Keith Raniere?
Keith Raniere is in Mexico.
Salinas claims he will not meet with Raniere in Mexico;
By Frank Parlato
Kieth Raniere has fled the United States, and is living near Monterrey, Mexico, as his NXIVM cult continues to collapse. It is believed Mr. Raniere left the United States earlier this week on a private plane. It is not known who traveled with him, or whether he informed followers in suburban Albany, New York, where he was residing.
US law enforcement agencies are reportedly investigating crimes Mr. Raniere and his cult may have committed. In recent weeks, Mr. Raniere and his cult have come under worldwide media scrutiny after a New York Times expose [following an earlier story in Frank Report] revealed he leads a group that blackmails and brands women with his initials using a hot iron on their pubic region.
Mr. Raniere was photographed in San Pedro Garza Garcia, an affluent suburb of Monterrey, with Jimena Garza, co-leader of the Monterrey center of NXIVM, and a branded slave of Mr. Raniere.
Initially, Mr. Raniere was provided with a rented home in an exclusive private community of San Pedro Garza Garcia where another of his branded slaves, Carola Garza, and her husband, Hector Cortes reside.
Mr. Raniere lived at first incognito, wearing, uncharacteristically, a baseball cap, when he went outdoors. Neighbors however identified him, as he was walking with Jimena Garza, the well known wife of Omar Boone, scion of one of Monterrey's wealthiest families.
Alarmed neighbors in this largely Catholic and affluent community convened a homeowners meeting, (Asociacion Colonos) on Wednesday, Nov. 22 where an overwhelming majority of members voted that Mr. Raniere must leave the community at once.
Branded slave, Jimena Garza, and her husband, Omar Boone, vacated their own home, at the Torres Horizonte [Horizon Tower] and moved in with Jimena's sister, Carola Garza and her husband, Hector Cortes.
Mr. Raniere's current address is: Torres Horizonte, Boulevard Diaz Ordaz 26, Col. San Jeronimo, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, CP 64660.
Sources are uncertain if Nancy Salzman, Mr. Raniere's longtime assistant, also left the USA. At least five followers have left Clifton Park where many of Mr. Raniere students live.
According to a spokesperson for Nxivm, Emiliano Salinas, son of former Mexican President Carlos Salinas, does not intend to meet with Mr. Raniere. Emiliano Salinas is Mr. Raniere's top deputy in Mexico.
The official statement is that "Mr. Raniere makes periodic visits to Mexico," but a spokesperson expressed surprise when told about Mr. Raniere's arrival in Monterrey.
Mr. Raniere has never been known to travel to Mexico before, according to multiple sources familiar with his travels.
Emiliano Salinas was recently seen by observers as front runner for the RPI party's candidate for president next year. The enormous pillorying he has taken in the past month in Mexico for his association with a cult that brands women like cattle, has most political observers saying his candidacy is DOA.
Meanwhile Mr. Raniere's sudden departure from the US has left local observers shocked. Over the years, many of Mr. Raniere's followers have relocated to Clifton Park from cities across the USA, Canada and Mexico, in order to live close to Mr. Raniere and follow his teachings.
Mr. Raniere has frequently told followers he would never leave Clifton Park out of respect for the people who uprooted their lives to relocate and follow him.
One former follower, addressing the remaining Raniere loyalists in Clifton Park, told Frank Report: "He left you. He promised he would always stay. Your Vanguard has abandoned you in your hour of doubt and need. He assured you his principles of staying put were stronger than anything. Well…. turns out that was a lie. One of thousands lies."
Unknown at this time – and looming large in the shadows – is the role of Mr. Raniere's longtime accomplices, the wealthy heiresses, Clare and Sara Bronfman, daughters of the late billionaire, Edgar Bronfman Sr., former chairman of Seagrams. The two sisters fund most of Mr. Raniere's operations and he has 'swallowed up' more than $150 million of their fortune in litigation and failed investment schemes.
On August 11, 2016, Clare Bronfman [Ack Group] purchased 80 percent of Wakaya Island, a 2,200 acre, 8 square mile island in Fiji. It has long been anticipated that Mr. Raniere would flee to Fiji if law enforcement threatened to indict him.
It is believed that Clare Bronfman, as well as Mr. Raniere, are facing the possibility of criminal indictments. That he has not fled to Fiji may be indicative of a break between them, or based on legal advice by Ms. Bronfman's lawyers.
The decision of Emiliano Salinas to distance himself from Mr. Raniere comes as no surprise to observers.
"There are too many factions in Mexico City, where the Salinas family is battling for control. for it to be safe for Emiliano to meet with Keith Raniere' a source told Frank Report. "It would be a national news story if the two were seen together."
Mr. Raniere's decision to flee to Monterrey also made sense to several observers. Mr. Raniere has more slaves, both single and married women, who will serve him round the clock, sources say.
Complicating matters further is that another of Mr. Raniere's branded slaves, Rosa Laura Junco, is the daughter of Alejandro Junco, who owns the largest newspaper chain in Mexico and also the largest newspaper in Monterrey, El Norte, and supports the opposite political party as Mr. Salinas.
Rosa Laura relocated to Clifton Park several years ago to be near Mr. Raniere. It is not known if she remains in New York or has followed her master to Monterrey.
Ironically, possibly the two most powerful men in Mexico, Carlos Salinas, the former president, and Alejandro Junco, the nation's largest newspaper publisher, both have children in the cult of Keith Raniere.
In turn, the cult leader is holed up in Monterrey, possibly seeking avoidance of an imminent arrest in the USA, and standing now as potentially an outcast to the rest of world for his horrific and abusive practices against women.
Keith Raniere is now living in this high rise tower near Monterrey.
The two children of former Mexican President Carlos Salinas: Emiliano and Cecilia Salinas. Both are deeply committed to the cult of Keith Raniere.
Present location of Keith Raniere in Monterrey Mexico.
News and art, national and local. Began as alternative weekly in 1990 in Buffalo, NY. Publishing content online since 1996.
JERUSALEM & TRUMP • GUNS: SENSIBLE VIEW OF THE SAFE ACT
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's 'out your pig but don't touch my pig'; out front on DC sex harassment: silent on Raniere in hometown Albany


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import React from 'react';
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
import { shallow } from 'enzyme';
import RolesListNotifs from '../RolesListNotifs';

it('renders without crashing', () => {
	const props = {};

	shallow(
		<RolesListNotifs {...props} />,
		{context: {}}
	);
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Home News and Analysis Firms & Funds After planting a flag in NYC, BCI private equity sets its sights...
After planting a flag in NYC, BCI private equity sets its sights on Europe
US and European bases of operation will "give us runway to continue doing what we've been doing," PE chief Jim Pittman told Buyouts, including "growing our book of directs."
Kirk Falconer
Jim Pittman, BCI
As many investors brace for more volatility in 2023, British Columbia Investment Management Corp's private equity group is preparing for global expansion.
The C$211 billion ($157 billion) BCI took a big step in this direction last year, opening an office in New York City, the pension system's first outside of Canada. A priority this year will be to beef up that office's team, Jim Pittman, global head of private equity, told Buyouts.
"The US will in 2023 be a much more active market," he said. "There are already some green shoots that we can see. With the New York location, we get closer to the action."
BCI is thinking similarly about its next move "onwards to Europe," Pittman said. The plan is to set up shop in London by the end of 2023. A staff of a dozen will be hired to run the office, which, together with fresh recruits in New York and the Victoria headquarters, will up the PE group's size to 65 professionals.
US and European bases of operation will "give us runway to continue doing what we've been doing," Pittman said. "That means growing our book of directs and finding more strategic partners along the way."
BCI's global initiative follows a spell of prodigious PE growth, culminating in 2021's C$6.8 billion deployed in the market, a record amount. In addition, the portfolio performed strongly, earning a one-year net return of 29.6 percent and a five-year return of 21.5 percent.
Boost in directs
A major contributing factor to these results was a sharp pivot toward direct investing.
In 2016, a decision was made to allocate a larger portion of capital to co-sponsorships and co-investments. Pittman, who joined BCI that year, and CEO Gordon Fyfe agreed that a boost in directs, combined with enhanced in-house resources, was key to accelerating a then slow-growth exposure to private markets.
Pittman moved quickly, doubling his team within months of taking the job. Just as quickly, BCI began doing more direct deals: the first, the 2016 acquisition with ATL Partners of Pilot Freight Services, a transportation and logistics provider. Others soon followed, such as the 2018 acquisition with PAI Partners of beverages bottler Refresco.
Both portfolio companies were sold last year. Pilot went to Maersk for $1.7 billion, while Refresco was snapped up by KKR, reportedly for $7.5 billion-plus. The first sale generated a multiple of more than 3.5x, and the second, over 3x, sources told Buyouts. Pittman declined to comment.
Thanks to the ramp-up in directs, their share of PE portfolio assets grew to 39 percent from 21 percent over 2016-21. This, along with increased fund commitments, pushed total assets to C$24.8 billion in 2021 from $7.3 billion six years earlier, doubling private equity's share of all BCI assets to 11.8 percent.
Investing in dislocation
BCI's PE strategy targets mostly buyout and growth equity opportunities in North America and Europe. Sectors of interest are business services, consumer, financial services, healthcare, industrials, and technology, media and telecommunications, around which the in-house team is organized.
This focus aligns with fund preferences, which are of two types: high-performance GPs and GPs who are solid performers but also need capital as well as deal partners. Alongside the second type, BCI seeks to build its directs book, usually taking ownership stakes in companies of 30 percent to 50 percent.
"We want governance over the assets we're buying," Pittman said, for the purposes of driving returns and implementing ESG criteria.
Sponsors who are deal partners account for 70 percent of fund commitments. Working with them and other like-minded investors, BCI was a vigorous dealmaker in 2022, the influence of economic uncertainty notwithstanding.
New transactions included a $1 billion investment in Advent International's take-private acquisition of Maxar Technologies, a space technology provider. Announced in December, the deal had a $6.4 billion value.
Earlier in the year, BCI agreed to buy a minority interest in Authority Brands, a home services franchisor majority owned by Apax Partners. It also invested in Zedra, a corporate, fund and wealth solutions specialist owned by Corsair.
Pittman expects BCI to be just as active in 2023. In a market characterized by "more volatility and more risk," not to mention the prospect of a recession, the aim is to "take advantage of dislocation" and an eventual "pick-up in deal levels," he said. A priority will be "investing in portfolio companies that need liquidity."
Flush with cash
BCI's PE group is well-positioned for forthcoming opportunities because, unlike many peers, it is flush with cash. This "prized possession," Pittman said, owes to selling assets when "markets were on fire."
Since 2017, C$4.2 billion of fund stakes "no longer core to the strategy" were sold in secondaries deals, he said. The third and biggest of these closed in 2021, helping to lift combined distribution flows to C$8.5 billion.
BCI's private equity target, which is 15 percent of assets, affords further room to maneuver. To meet the target and reach up to C$35 billion of portfolio assets over the next few years, the plan is to split investing more-or-less evenly between directs and funds.
Arriving at a 50:50 directs-funds ratio is "not an absolute, hard goal, but an aspirational goal," Pittman said. What is more important is for the strategy "to stay on track."
"We've been diligent in pacing and selling our investments and we have C$2.5 billion in highly flexible capital to deploy this coming year, in an environment where money is no longer cheap," he said. "We're optimistic that we can achieve risk-adjusted returns in this market."
Before joining BCI, Pittman worked for more than a decade as a managing director, private equity, at Public Sector Pension Investment Board.


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Women-Led Spekit Raises $45 Million To Help Remote Teams Train Employees
Dec 31, 2021, 10:10am EST
Meet The 30 Under 30 MIT Aerospace Engineer Whose Trucking Company Raised $50 Million In Series B
Meet The Cofounders Of The Berlin-Based Healthcare Startup That Just Raised €23.5 Million
Meet The Pet Food Entrepreneur Who Just Raised $19 Million
Dec 30, 2021, 06:45pm EST
Mental Support Startup Virtually Connecting People With Custom-Matched Strangers Has Raised $18M
Meet The Entrepreneur Whose Startup Offering Medication For Quitting Opioids Just Raised $50 Million
Health And Wellness Platform Sequel Cofounded By Two Stanford Engineers Raises $5 Million
Inside Jack Harlow's Meteoric Rise, Manufacturing QA Startup Gets A $30 Million: This Week In Under 30
Miley Cyrus Is A Rebel For Her Own Cause
Nov 24, 2018, 01:01am EST |
Beyond Cryptotrading: 6 Ways Blockchain Is Changing The Face Of Investing
Andrew Arnold
Blockchain and investment.
https://Pexels.com
Time was, anyone who wanted to invest in the stock market used a broker. That broker provided investment advice and handled all trades. The reason, of course, was that brokers did the research and had access to information that the average individual investor did not have.
All of this changed as technology provided individuals access to the same information that the "big boys" have always had. Now, individual investors go through discount brokerages for specific trades. They still engage in institutional investing, though, through their 401K's and through investments in large funds and such products as annuities.
Enter cryptocurrency and its backbone blockchain technology. At first, digital currencies were viewed by institutional investors as an "exotic fad" – one to be avoided. They have sat up and taken notice, however, as Bitcoin and Ethereum climbed in value and, during 2018, seemed to reach an equilibrium that is more stable. Now, institutional investors, such as Goldman Sachs, are developing cryptocurrency investment products. This trend will infuse much more capital into the digital currency markets, as well as provide greater "legitimacy" and transparency.
It is not just the growth of digital currencies that is disrupting traditional financial and investment industries. The technology itself is changing the entire face of investing altogether. And here's how:
1. Trading Cost Can Decrease
A recent report by Oliver Wyman, an international financial services consulting firm, has estimated that IT and operations costs in capital markets is close to $100-$150 billion a year, as well as an additional $100 billion in post-trade and securities servicing fees. These fees are passed on to customers in the form of such things as front-end loads and yearly administrative costs. Blockchain technology, with its transparent and immutable recording and storage of investment transactions, holds the promise of greatly reducing these costs by capitalizing on public blockchains.
2. Reduction in Settlement Times
Traditional trading processes can take up to three days for settlement. Blockchain technology has a potential to speed thing up and reduce the processing times to one day, or even a few hours. Though, public blockchains can become congested as well due to certain technological limitations coded into this technology – and that's an issue developers will need to solve before we'll witness wider adoption.
3. 24/7 Trading for Global Markets Can Be Made Possible
Currently, exchanges in every country have hours of operation. The U.S. Stock Exchange, for example, is open from 9AM to 4PM, Eastern time. Blockchain can "open" global markets to 24/7 trading, eliminating the need to wait until a market opens to consummate a trade.
4. Reduced Fraud
The transparent ledger system, along with the immutability of any contract, document, trade that has been recorded in a block, drastically reduces fraud or other illegal activity in the investment sector. This is now being further reinforced by digital currency investment groups and exchanges getting on board with KYC (Know Your Customer) compliance. Compliance has long been a requirement for traditional investing, but the verification process in crypto markets has lagged behind.
This is no longer the case. An advanced KYC verification service is offered by Cryptonomica – it's already used by Stex.com for legal cryptocurrency trading in Estonia. Malta will also soon begin licensing crypto projects, and Cryptonomica is already partnering with exchanges that plan to launch on Malta. "Compliance that mirrors that of traditional investing will add far greater transparency and trust within the crypto trading markets," said Vadym Kurylovych, founder of Stex.
5. Tokenization of Assets Can Enable New Types of Investments
Suppose an individual held a baseball card that had a value of $250,000 (yes, there are such cards). He could sell partial investments in that card through a blockchain tokenization process, all of which would be recorded and stored in an immutable blockchain environment.
Basically, with the help of blockchain technology private equity trading can be "simplified" to P2P exchanges of respective coins that can be traded without any intermediary.
6. Private Equity and Real Estate Investment Will Change
Currently, private equity funds hold huge amounts of money from individual investors. These monies are invested in startups, small companies looking to scale, buyouts of struggling companies, and in real estate. Investors place their trust in fund managers and pay for that trust. Blockchain has the potential to eliminate these middlemen and provide for a trusted means to invest individually and directly.
These six disruptions are just the "tip of the iceberg" relative to how blockchain will be transforming the world of investing in the near future. Will it mean the eventual demise of institutional investing? Probably not. But the "big boys" will have to embrace blockchain and use it to provide products and services that will keep ever-more savvy investors happy.


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Machetes / Weapons At A Glance
Machete Scabbards
Machete scabbards is another point of authenticity for the Vietnam reenactor / collector. There are three types of scabbards from the Vietnam war that I am aware of. The first is the "WWII Style" with a heavy, dark OD rubber body and a metal collar at the top stamped "US". The latest example of this style that I have is dated 1966. In 1967, a new model was introduced that looks almost exactly like the "modern" carrier you can buy today. It has the swivel attachment and built in sharpener. The difference is that the finish on the body is smooth and not textured. The example below is 67' dated.
Finally there is the "modern" carrier made by Marmac that is current military contract. It is exactly the same as the 68' dated carrier below. The only difference is that it says "1968" beneath Marmac instead of "2002". The example below is dated 68 and has all of the features, color, texture of the new ones. So for reenacting, if you obscure the date or hang it from your rucksack through the pocket where it can't be read, it will look identical.
How do you know when a machete was made? The easiest way for Ontario Knife Co. Machetes (the most prevalent manufacturer), is the location of the stampings on the bade. Holding the machete in your hand with the blade tip facing up, all have "US" stamped straight across. Vietnam Era Machetes then have the "Ontario" stampings running perpendicular to the "US" while current manufacture have the "US" and "Ontario" running parallel.
Weapons At A Glance
* note, the purpose of this section is to provide a quick visual reference, not an in-depth history.
U.S. Rifle M-14
The M-14 was the natural progression of the M1 Garand. The M-14 was used in the mid sixties with some of the first Army units that deployed to Vietnam. The XM-16E1 quickly replaced it in Army use as a line infantry weapon (it continued on in sniper roles evolving into the XM21), but the US Marine Corps continued to issue the rifle for another 2 years.
The first M-16 was issued on an Air Force contract and had several distinctive features. The most obvious is the lack of a forward assist. Other features included a solid buttstock (no trap-door), triangle handguards, three-prong flash suppressor, standard contour "pencil" barrel and straight pistol grip (no finger groove).
U.S. Rifle XM16-E1 and M16-A1
There were several improvements made in the M-16A1 Rifle over the course of it's use. There seems to be much confusion on the subject, so we will attempt to address some of the most common. While it is true that the M-16A1 was officially introduced in 1967, the US Army did not issue the "straight" M-16 to line infantry units. The First Cav was sent to Vietnam in 1965 with the "experimental" XM-16E1 which had the addition of the tear drop forward assist. This is important to note when putting together a rifle for your impression as a forward assist will be more correct.
The primary difference from the XM-16E1 from the M-16A1 was the addition of a chrome bore. The three prong flash hider was changed to a full birdcage later based on the fact that the three prong was prone to snagging. The M-16A1 also incorporated "fencing" on the lower receiver around the magazine release button. Another late 60's addition was a buttstock that incorporated a trap door to hold the cleaning rod. This addition was in conjunction with the 4 piece cleaning rod as the 3 piece rod made through 67' / early 68' was too long to fit in the stock.
CAR-15 Commando, XM-177 and XM17E2
The CAR-15 Commando was the first attempt at making a compact version of the M-16 (see first two photos). It was quite simply a "chopped" down rifle consisting of a 10" barrel with shortened triangular handguards and a first generation non-vented "moderator". In addition the collapsible stock was based on the design of the full size buttstock. The project was refined leading to the XM-177 Series (3rd Photo). The rifle was essentially an M-16A1 with a re-designed two position collapsible aluminum stock and shortened upper receiver. The XM-177 (third and fourth pictures) featured a 10.5" barrel with a 4" moderator while the XM-17E2 (fifth picture) introduced in 67' featured an 11.5" barrel with a 4" moderator. ATF has ruled these moderators as suppressors, but it is important to note that the moderator is not a true suppressor in the classical "Hollywood" sense. It was not designed to make the rifle inaudible, it was designed to reduce the "bark" of a short barrel to that of a standard M-16A1 while also providing more control for the short barreled weapon.
U.S. Grenade Launchers M-79, XM-148 and M-203
All of the grenade launchers fielded by the US military in Vietnam were 40mm, single shot launchers. The M-79 Grenade Launcher (1st. Photo) saw use throughout the entire Vietnam War and was never fully replaced by the "over and under" systems mounted in conjunction with the M16 series of rifles. The first of the combination systems was the XM-148 (second photo) which was designed in 1965 and began issue in 1966. The XM-148 had several flaws, the most of glaring of which was the complication of its use and the fragility of its cocking and firing arms. The XM-148 was replaced in 1969 by the XM-203 (not pictured) which was adopted as standard in 1970 as the M-203 Grenade Launcher.
U.S. Machinegun M-60
XM-21 Sniper System
By the late 1960's the US Army had formalized the XM-21 Sniper System. The system was based on the M-14 Rifle in conjunction with the AR-TEL range-finding scope (based on the Redfield 3x-9x).
M40 Sniper Rifle System
In 1966 the Marine Corps adopted the M40 Sniper Rifle System to replace the Winchester Model 70. The system was built around a Remington M700 Short Action in 7.62 and fitted with a green anodized Redfield 3x-9x Accu-Range Scope.


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Chapter 16: Emerald Inferno
For Chelsea, all the chaos of the battle had come to a standstill.
How many Hollows were around her? How desperate was the fight?
Chelsea didn't know. For her, all she saw, and all she knew, was one thing.
Caleb had fallen.
It was worse than just falling. Caleb's entire body was translucent. She could see straight through him.
It took her several moments to realize she was screaming his name.
One of the monstrous Howlers was looming over Caleb's unconscious form, fangs dripping with saliva. Slowly, so slowly, it began to lower its vicious maw towards his body.
One word, sounding like a cannon blast in Chelsea's mind. She held up her twin lighters and let loose. An emerald inferno burst to life, surging over the monster's form in a ferocious blaze.
Chelsea would hold nothing back. Isabelle had urged her not to burn the trees, and the girl probably had her reasons, but…
Too bad. Nothing hurts Caleb.
Fire Magic was wild and dangerous. Just like how Caleb had been heavily warned not to practice Time Magic, Chelsea had had dozens of mentors, teachers, and family members urge her not to pursue the power of the flames.
"Magical fire is a living thing."
"Nearly all of your focus will be on learning to tame it."
"You won't be able to learn any other magic."
"You won't be able to control it."
"You can't let it burn freely."
"It's impractical."
"It's useless."
"Don't do it."
She'd shut out all the cries, all the warnings. All because of her grandmother, who'd raised her after Chelsea's parents had died.
"Fire Magic is a powerful and dangerous thing," her grandmother had said when Chelsea asked her about all the people telling her not to study it. "It is indeed a living thing, and not like a Summon. Fire is wild, willful, and demands to be free."
"So I shouldn't learn it?" Chelsea had asked.
Her grandmother had smiled at her, ruffled her hair, and said words that Chelsea would never forget.
"Fire Magic is just like you, my dear. So be free. And when you need it most, let your flames be free, too."
Here, on Hollow Island, in her desperate moment of need, Chelsea let the flames run free.
Everything turned to green. Chelsea called out to the magical inferno, singled out Delilah, Lorelei, and Isabelle.
And she singled out Caleb most of all.
Nothing touches them, she said to the flames. Everything else, you burn.
A rush, a high, filled Chelsea's entire being. She felt alive, weightless, euphoric, the emotions of the fire – her fire – melding with her own, sharing with her their utter joy at being free.
Hollows turned to ash instantly. Trees, grass, flowers, birds, bugs, everything was ash. Nothing was spared beyond Chelsea and her friends. Her eyes went to Caleb, still unconscious on the jungle floor, still translucent and pale and looking like death itself.
You will not die, she urged silently. You will not. I won't allow it. I can't… because you…
You are everything.
Suffocating heat and smoke threatened to choke off Chelsea's own breath, but instead, it only added to her rush of emotions. Joy, terror, anguish, and – drowning out the rest – rage.
No one harms Caleb. I will…
"Chelsea!"
The cry was faint. A whisper on the wind. Was it real?
Louder this time. Was that…
Lorelei?
"You have to stop this!"
Stop? Why would I stop? Can't you see Caleb? Can't you see he's in danger? Can't you see…
"You'll… you'll burn us, too!"
No. I told the flames not to touch you. They listen to me. Nothing will touch you. Nothing will harm you. I'll make sure of it.
Pained, choking coughing rose to Chelsea's ears. "Please!" Lorelei called out, her voice weaker now. "Make it stop!"
I don't… I don't want to. This rush. This exhilaration. Everything burns. Isn't it amazing? This is what I can do. This is power – my power. My power to protect those I love, and to destroy all else.
It was barely a whisper. Chelsea blinked. She pulled her gaze away from Caleb's body, away from the blaze spreading so brilliantly and beautifully around her.
Lorelei was kneeling at Chelsea's feet. Coughing, gasping, she was barely conscious.
Beyond her was Delilah. The girl had already collapsed. She'd lay spread out, and her hand, even in unconsciousness, was reaching out for the form of her older brother.
And Isabelle…
Isabelle was fine.
She stood between Lorelei and Delilah, watching the fire and smoke roar and rage, consuming more and more.
Physically, she was fine, but…
She was crying.
Chelsea had never seen such anguish, such pain.
No. She had. More than once.
The day she found out her mother died.
When she came home from her funeral.
Years later, when she found video tapes from her mother's younger days.
Every time she gripped her lighters, Talismans left to her from her mother.
All that pain, the pain Chelsea never let the world see, she saw reflected in the little girl's face.
Don't burn the trees!
That's what Isabelle had said, with such frantic desperation.
Where were the trees?
Stop, Chelsea called out. The euphoria, the rush, died out so suddenly that Chelsea nearly collapsed at the sudden burden of reality. An emerald inferno that had spread out and out, suddenly and swiftly was extinguished.
Chelsea stood in the smoldering waste of Hollow Island, and was astonished at what she saw.
How far had her flames burned?
She turned around, looking back the way the group had come. Across the blackened, charred waste, she could see the beach where they'd arrived, and the ocean beyond. Before her, in the direction they'd been running, Chelsea could finally see the massive mountain that was their goal. And, around it, and far, far, far away to her right and left, Chelsea could just barely see the green of trees.
She'd burned away entire miles of jungle, of Hollows, of flowers and birds and trees and all living things.
And finally, in the stunning silence left behind with the fires gone, Chelsea could hear Isabelle's wailing. And all the pain she'd seen written on the girl's face hit her with that voice, penetrated to her heart, and struck Chelsea to her knees.
They're just trees, Chelsea wanted to say. Why are you so upset?
But she couldn't. She couldn't throw that in the girl's face. Such raw emotion couldn't answer to reason.
Chelsea knew that better than most.
"You…" Isabelle said, staring at Chelsea with horror and sadness. "Why? Why did you… I told you not to. Don't burn the trees. Don't… they…"
Chelsea could feel it, then. There was more than just Isabelle's desperate anguish. There was raw emotion echoing across the devastation Chelsea had wrought. It was coming from the land itself.
The Enchanted Domain. That's what she called this world. A land of magic. So magic infuses everything. Even the trees, the grass, the flowers, everything. All of it, alive and calling out for anyone who cares to listen.
Isabelle clearly had a stronger attunement to magic than any human. If Chelsea could grasp just the tiniest echoes of the pain and despair crying out from the destruction around her, what must Isabelle be feeling? What must she be hearing?
Chelsea stood, shaky on her feet. She pocketed her lighters. One step. Then another. She crossed the short distance between her and the child, knelt down, and wrapped her arms around Isabelle.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, barely getting the words out. "I just wanted to…"
I just wanted to protect Caleb.
I can't lose him.
Isabelle's wailing ceased, and she hugged Chelsea back. This girl was so small, so utterly fragile in Chelsea's arms. She could summon Piper's Flutes from thin air. She could use magic without a Talisman. She played music that pierced straight to Chelsea's soul and brought up emotions that tore her to pieces.
Isabelle wasn't human. Of that Chelsea was certain.
And yet, she really was just a child.
So Chelsea hugged her, held her, and the two of them cried. Soon, Lorelei was on her feet, and she helped Delilah regain consciousness and stand as well.
Chelsea didn't want to look back at them. She heard Lorelei and Delilah talking, very quietly. She heard Caleb's name several times. She heard the telltale low, hollow whistling tone that accompanied Lorelei's Healing Magic.
It went on for far too long. Nothing ever took this long to heal.
So Chelsea couldn't look. Because that must mean…
"Chelsea," Lorelei said softly. Chelsea felt her friend's hand on her shoulder. Dread mounted within her. She closed herself off, tried her hardest not to hear Lorelei's next words, the words she couldn't hear, the words that would tear her world to pieces.
But the words didn't come.
Instead, came a small light of hope.
"Caleb's alive," Lorelei said.
Chelsea let go of Isabelle and looked up at her friend. Lorelei's expression didn't look hopeful, but she had led with that for a reason.
"I don't know what's wrong with him," Lorelei continued. "Magic doesn't seem to touch him. I can't heal him. He isn't hurt, or sick, but… I don't know." She shook her head. "I have no idea what's wrong with him. He's breathing. His heart's beating. But…"
Chelsea stood up and raced over to Caleb, dropping to her knees at his side. Reaching out, afraid her hand would pass straight through his body like smoke, she was astonished when her skin contacted his. Her hand held his face.
But there was no warmth. He wasn't cold, either. He just… was. He didn't feel alive, but Chelsea had also held the dead before, and Caleb didn't feel like that, either. There was no temperature. There was barely any sensation at all. His skin was like glass. His breathing came so softly, she almost didn't notice at first.
He's so pale, she realized, staring at his face. He looks so weak. So pained. What… what's wrong?
"Caleb," she said softly, tears flowing down her cheeks. "Caleb, please. What's wrong? Tell us… tell us how to fix you. Why are you…"
"I think it's his Time Magic," Delilah said. Chelsea looked at her. She and Delilah hadn't spent much time together, so it was hard for Chelsea to read her expression. "He… I've seen him use it a few times before, and his body gets like this, just for that small moment when he's slowing down time."
That's right. Chelsea recognized it now. She'd seen Caleb use his Time Magic countless times, but it always lasted for a second, sometimes less. She hadn't realized the similarities, but Caleb's body had that blurred, intangible appearance to it. Touching him like this was so strange. He didn't look real.
"So he's… stuck in time?" Chelsea asked.
"I don't know," Delilah said, running her fingers through her brother's hair. Her free hand wiped away her tears. "That would be my best guess. But this has never happened before."
"And none of us knows enough about Time Magic to be sure," Lorelei said. "No one ever talks about it, except to say how it's impossible to use, and that…"
"It comes with a terrible price," Chelsea finished, staring in horror at Caleb.
That warning was always thrown around about Time Magic. People talked about how it was impossible to master, but even more than that, they talked about the price that came with it.
Caleb had brushed it off in his usual carefree fashion. He smiled, dropped a joke about it, and went on slowing down time. A few times, he'd told Chelsea how it felt when he used his Time Magic too much in one night.
A tightness in his chest. Shortness of breath. Pressure, bearing down on his body.
But he liked pushing his limits. So did most Hunters, Chelsea included. Magic was exhausting, and fighting Hollows every night was even more so. Caleb's symptoms sounded close enough to someone who had overexerted themselves that Chelsea hadn't worried. Good rest and eating well would take care of it.
Caleb acted so strong. How much had using Time Magic actually harmed him? How much did it really hurt?
Had Caleb seen this coming all along?
Nothing. That was the answer, and Chelsea hated it. She couldn't bear it.
Nothing? Really? I can't do anything to save him, after all the times he's saved me? I can't do anything to help him, after all the ways he's helped me?
I can't…
Chelsea's mind filled with images of Caleb, with memories. The way he teased her and joked with her, but always became serious when she asked him to.
The constant strength he showed, constant and determined no matter the danger.
The way he made small contact with her all the time. Holding her pinky with his, bumping lightly against her shoulder, brushing against her hand.
The way he looked at her. So full of love, so full of joy, so full of warm emotions that Chelsea never felt she deserved.
The patience, the insane, impossible patience, as he could clearly see all the pain in Chelsea's heart, and yet never pushed, despite how unfairly she held back with him, how unfairly she kept secrets from him.
The way he smiled.
All the time, smiling.
How could one person smile so much?
And how could it always seem completely genuine?
"Chelsea," Lorelei said softly, wrapping her arms around Chelsea's shoulders and pulling her into a hug.
"I can't do this," Chelsea said, letting her tears fall freely. "I can't. He… he has to get better. He has to be okay. This isn't right. This isn't…"
Lorelei started to say something, but Chelsea stood up abruptly, pulling away and walking across the desolation. Charred remains of so many things, more than Chelsea could grasp, crunched and cracked beneath her feet.
"Hey," Lorelei said calmly, following her. Chelsea came to a stop after a few paces, staring out across the wasteland.
"He's everything," Chelsea said, shaking her head. "I can't lose him."
Lorelei stopped, her shoulder against Chelsea's. "I know," she said.
"There's so much I need to tell him," she said. Some tears flowed over her lips, and Chelsea didn't bother to wipe them away, tasting their salty bitterness. "I kept so much… I always thought there would be time."
"And there is," Lorelei said. "He's alive. Somehow, he'll come back to you. Either we'll find a solution, or whatever's happening to him will wear off somehow."
"You think so?" Chelsea asked, looking into her friend's eyes. True to her name and her magic, Lorelei's eyes were an icy blue. So many people, especially boys, had teased her over the years, calling her "Ice Queen" and saying she didn't have a heart.
To many, it was hard to see emotions on Lorelei's eyes. But Chelsea knew her better than anyone, and she could see the mixed hope, sadness, fear, and determination in those eyes.
Lorelei was afraid. But she hadn't given up.
"Lorelei, if he doesn't…" Chelsea said, choking back a sob. "If he doesn't get better… if he doesn't come back… what do I… what do I do?"
"You don't think about that," Lorelei said. "You hold out hope for him. You don't give up on him."
"I need to tell him everything," Chelsea said. "But… I'm afraid it will destroy him. I'm afraid it'll push him away."
"Don't be," Lorelei said. "He loves you. You've told me everything, and I haven't gone anywhere."
"But these are things that –"
"I know. It's still not going to push him away. I'm sure of it."
Chelsea leaned into Lorelei, who wrapped her up in a hug.
He's everything. He's everything, and I can't do anything.
If he comes back, I'll tell him everything. I'll tell him all I've held back. All that I've locked away.
And then, when he hears it all, I'll watch as his love for me disappears. I'll watch as he walks away from me. I'll stand there and take it as my world falls to pieces.
"What do we do now?" Chelsea asked.
"We get off this island," Lorelei said, looking towards the mountain looming in the distance. "And we take Caleb with us. You watch over him. Don't let him go. Don't give up on him."
Chelsea nodded.
"Let's go," she said, returning to the group and scooping Caleb's glassy form into her arms. He was so light, Chelsea could scarcely believe it. She didn't need to use any Enhancement Magic to reinforce her strength. As light as feathers, Chelsea was even more struck by how unreal he seemed. How, even as he breathed slowly and steadily, he seemed so heartbreakingly lifeless.
Turning towards the mountain, determination in her heart, Chelsea led the way.
Caleb… don't you dare die. Come back to me. Just long enough for me to tell you what you've been waiting so patiently for me to say.
Even if it costs me your love.
Even if it costs me my everything.
You deserve the truth.