Stone demons are pouring out of the portal! Build obelisks to capture them before they escape in this compact tower defense game.
Obelisk is a cooperative tower defense game for 1 to 4 players, ages 12 and up, and takes about 20–30 minutes to play. It's published by Tessellation Games via The Game Crafter, and there's a Crowd Sale this coming week (April 15–22). The normal price for Obelisk is $24.99, but will be $19.99 (or as low as $14.99) during the Crowd Sale.
Not familiar with The Game Crafter's Crowd Sale concept? Read about it here.
Note: My review is based on an earlier version; some of the artwork has changed from the version you'll see in my photos.
The game comes in a small two-piece box, which also serves as the "Dark Realm" and "Supply." All of the cards, from the map tiles to the player aids, are small square cards. The map tiles feature watercolor illustrations by Anca Hariton and are a little impressionistic, which is a fun change from most games and a little unexpected for a game that's about monsters rampaging across a landscape, but I like it.
The other components are fairly simple: small transparent plastic cubes for the monsters, little clear chips for the rotation markers, and some six-sided dice. I do wish that the monster colors and dice colors did not overlap—as in most games, it can be confusing when player colors overlap with resources or other components but there's no actual connection between the two. Also, it may seem odd that there are only 2 black dice and 3 each of the others—in actuality, it wouldn't really matter if all the dice were the same color because it's a fully cooperative game and you just get a certain number of dice per player. It just happens that the black dice are only used in a 4-player game, in which case each player only gets 2 dice.
There are also optional tiles for the stone demons, in case you'd prefer something with illustrations on it or if you have trouble distinguishing the colors of the cubes. They're small square tiles, illustrated on one side. You can add them to your order here.
Overall, I think the component quality isn't quite as polished as most traditionally published games and is more like a lot of the Kickstarter prototypes I see—not surprising since many publishers use The Game Crafter as a way to create their prototypes. At the same time, the quality of prototypes (and different components available from The Game Crafter) has improved over the years, so it's not bad, either.
The goal of the game is to capture all of the stone demons before any of them escape.
Shuffle the map cards and lay them out in a 5×5 grid, being sure to randomize both the order and the orientation of the cards. Once laid out, remove the 4 mountain cards, leaving gaps. Place a rotation marker on each card.
Create the pool of stone demons according to the setup card, placing them in the Dark Realm. Basically, you'll have 36 stone demons total, a mix of the three colors based on the difficulty level. The rest of the stone demons are placed in the supply. Set the quarry card nearby—depending on the number of players, you may draw some random stone demons from the supply and place them on this card.
Each player gets a player aid card according to the player count—the player aid card tells you how many actions you get per turn, how many dice you start with, and the various actions available to you.
During the Day phase, players will take actions to build and upgrade obelisks, mine for stone, or rotate tiles. During the Night phase, the stone demons spawn from the portal and march across the map.
Players may take turns in any order, and the number of actions you get each turn is shown on your player aid card. To build an obelisk, you simply place one of your dice (with the value set to 1) on a free intersection: the obelisk covers the four cards that it's next to.
To upgrade an obelisk, you must spend 4 green, 3 yellow, or 2 blue monsters. (Blue monsters are wild and can also be used in combination with the other colors.) Discard the required monsters from the quarry card into the supply, and then increase the value of a die on the map. You may also upgrade an obelisk by discarding one of your unbuilt dice into the supply.
Finally, you can rotate tiles to direct the monsters along a particular route. When you rotate a tile, you may rotate it to any orientation, but each tile may only be rotated once during the game! After rotating it, remove the rotation marker.
During the Night phase, the stone demons come out of the portal. Draw 6 cubes at random from the Dark Realm, and place them on the portal. Then, they start to move. Green monsters move 4 spaces, yellow monsters move 3 spaces, and blue monsters move 2 spaces, following the trail markers on the map cards.
Along the way, if they pass through a space with an obelisk on the corner, the obelisk can capture the monster. The obelisk must meet or exceed the monster's strength: green monsters have 1 strength, yellow monsters have 3 strength, and blue monsters have 5 strength. In addition, some of the map cards make the obelisk less effective: a forest subtracts one from an obelisk's strength, and crystals subtract 2. In those cases, the obelisk must be even stronger in order to capture a monster.
Each obelisk may only capture one monster per Night. The monster is placed on top of the obelisk to show that the obelisk has already been used.
Once all of the monsters have marched, the captured monsters are placed onto the quarry card, and then the next Day phase begins.
The game ends in two ways: if any monster ever moves off the map, or if a monster ever steps on a card that it has been through already, then you lose.
If you capture all of the monsters, then you win.
There's also an advanced variant that adds scrolls. In this version, you leave the mountains on the map. Monsters still may not travel onto the mountains, but some of the scrolls may be used on obelisks bordering mountains.
Add 2 more of each monster into the Dark Realm, and make a stack of 6 randomly chosen scroll cards, face-down. Set the "Broken Earth" scroll card face-up near the stack.
During each Day phase, reveal the next scroll card in the stack. You may use the upgrade action to install these scrolls under existing obelisks (paying the usual upgrade costs). The background shows which terrains must be adjacent to the obelisk in order to install the upgrade. The scrolls have various effects: capture more monsters per turn, randomize your obelisk's strength, and even move map tiles around.
On each Night phase, you spawn 7 monsters instead of 6. The rest of the game is the same.
With the popularity of digital tower defense games, it's no surprise that tabletop game designers are trying to tackle the genre, too. Some simplify the monster paths by simply having monsters be a certain distance away from your tower, and your goal is to kill them off before they knock down your tower. Others try to replicate the way that monsters travel along paths, taking damage as they walk past your towers—but in most cases that I've seen so far, this involves a lot of upkeep as you move monsters, check for damage, and so on. It can be a lot of fun playing a tower defense game on the tabletop, but manually resolving effects that are usually automatically taken care of by a computer can be tedious and time-consuming.
Obelisk caught my attention because it's a cooperative tower defense game with monster paths that advertised a play time of half an hour. I was really curious how that was possible, but I can confirm that a game of Obelisk does play pretty quickly. Some of that is because of the way the towers and monsters are both simplified. All of the towers have the same range (the four cards they're touching), a strength, and are limited to one monster per turn. There are only three types of monsters—the faster it moves, the weaker it is. As soon as each tower has captured one monster, then you just move all the rest of the monsters, and the night phase is over. Done!
The monster-spawning is also much simpler: you just pull six cubes out of the box and place them on the portal. The player turns are also quick, because your actions are limited, both in number and in scope. All of that adds up to a game that keeps some aspects of tower defense games like directing monsters along a path and upgrading towers to handle stronger monsters, while cutting down the upkeep time for tabletop purposes.
Okay, so it's quick. But is it fun? Is it challenging?
For me, those two questions are connected: a cooperative game has to present at least some challenge, or it becomes boring. Too challenging, and it gets discouraging. Obelisk feels like the difficulty level can be somewhat swingy: I've played some games where it seemed like it was going to be impossible from the start, and some where it seemed like a matter of just letting everything play out. The two main factors in that random chance are the board layout and the monsters that are drawn each night.
Depending on where the mountains wind up, you may not be able to draw a single continuous path that covers all of the terrain. Chances are, you'll just end up bypassing a few cards here and there. If those cards happen to be crystals, well, those are harder to capture monsters on anyway. But if they're grass cards, then you've lost access to one important space where you might be able to catch a monster with a weaker tower.
If you draw a pile of blue monsters at the beginning of the game, you can really feel stuck. They're slow, so you have some time, but it means that you're not capturing the green monsters that you can pick off with level 1 obelisks. And because you haven't captured anything, then you don't have the resources to spend to upgrade your towers so that you can go after the blue monsters. A couple of bad draws near the beginning of the game can really make it impossible, even if you do everything else right. In most tower defense videogames, you get easier monsters up front so that you're more likely to survive them, and then you earn money, which upgrades your towers in time for the harder waves. In Obelisk, the difficulty level determines the overall mix of monsters, but not the order in which they arrive.
That said, I do like the puzzle of figuring out what path to set for the monsters, where to place the towers to have the best coverage, and how to spend our precious few actions each day to prepare for the night. One of the biggest challenges is knowing when it's appropriate to spend a die to upgrade a tower. Sometimes you don't have time to wait until you capture (or mine) enough monsters to afford an upgrade, but spending a die means one fewer tower you'll have. On the other hand, at some point, you'll need enough strong towers to deal with the blue monsters, because having a lot of weak towers won't do any good.
The nature of the game does mean that if you've got an alpha player they can take over the direction of the game and tell people what to do since there's no hidden information between players. If your gaming group is susceptible to that, then you probably need to figure out ways to ensure that each player gets to make their own choices—and that may be true for other games as well.
The scrolls add another layer of possibilities, and I like the way that they make the towers more individualized. Using the scrolls means that you add more monsters to the pool and draw 7 each day instead of 6, but I think the trade-off is worth it (even with the additional sources of chance) because it does make the game a bit more dynamic. You start each game with the Broken Earth scroll, which allows you to rearrange the map around an obelisk, so that might help you reconnect those map tiles that would otherwise be orphaned and wasted. But then each subsequent round you'll get access to another random scroll, and you can decide whether it's worth the upgrade to use them.
The other significant feature of Obelisk is its small size and price, particularly compared to other tower defense games I've seen so far. It may not have the attention-grabbing draw of a sprawling game, but it's pretty cool to have a tower defense game that fits in your pocket: the box is even smaller than the Tiny Epic series.
Overall, I think Obelisk would be a good fit for those wanting a streamlined tower defense experience. It doesn't include a lot of special abilities or unique monsters, but it's a game that you can set up and get going without too much preparation. For those who are curious, this week's Crowd Sale gives you a chance to save a few bucks, too.
For more information or to make a pledge, visit the Obelisk Crowd Sale page!


Abstract(s): This class is very informal and welcomes feedback and interaction between attendees and the instructors. The subjects are a combination of hands-on and class room presentations but will always leave you sharper than when you arrived. This tutorial is for anyone wanting to learn more about the metrology sciences and hone your skill sets. The class is presented by multiple instructors through out the day. Whether you are a seasoned measurement professional, an admin, engineer, or just beginning in this industry, there is something for everyone in the Metrology 101 Back to Basics tutorial.
Uncertainty Measurement 101– this session will teach you how and why we use measurement uncertainty. You will learn in a relaxed atmosphere where all questions are welcome. Presented by Dennis Jackson, one the premier metrology engineers in the industry. He is able to take a complicated subject and teach so that everyone can learn. This is a must attend session if your "uncertain" about measurement uncertainty or if you want to up your skills and take this session from the one of the industry's leader on this subject.
What Quality Standard Do I Need? Wondering what this ISO 17025 is? or ISO 9002? or many others? This session presented by Howard Zion will focus on the various quality standards that the industry offers.
Under Pressure – Just Pressure from the terminology to how to calibrate a pressure gauge.This session is hands-on. Presented by Doug Larson, owner of Wilmington Instruments and Jim Pronge of Ametek.
Process Calibration– this session will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about "in-process" calibrations, including transmitters, 4-20 milliamp sources and how to use the instrumentation. All this is taught from the novice level. Presented by John Bowman.
Preventative Maintenance– or also known as Predictive Maintenance. This edition of the Back to Basics class will show you about an industry standard of how to extend the life of your equipment. Also, could you predict when failures or remedial(s) will occur? Come find out in this very informative class where the information can be applied to work or home. Presented by Larry Newman.


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Prosecutors Drop 1993 Cop Murder Case
BOSTON, MA (WBZ-AM) — Sean Ellis was once convicted of killing a Boston Police Detective, but today after The Suffolk County District officials announced that they are dropping the case, saying they don't have enough evidence to
The Suffolk County District Attorney District Attorney Jon Pappas announced plans to not prosecute Sean Ellis again for killing Boston Police Detective John Mulligan in 1993 because of the amount of time that has passed since the crime.
Mulligan's death, he was assigned to a security detail outside a pharmacy.
In 1995 Ellis was sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted for Mulligan's death. In 2015 a Judge released Ellis from prison, ruling that he didn't receive a fair trial. He was released from prison in 2015 after a judge ruled he didn't get a fair trial.
Sean Ellis, with his attorney Rosemary Scapicchio, says he's relieved that after a quarter of a century the cloud of prosecution is no longer hanging over his head.
WBZ NewsRadio's Carl Stevens (@carlwbz) reports

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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LA Daily Journal Publishes Article Co-Authored by CCL President
CCL President Robert S. Peck and California lawyer Bruce Brusavich argued that the Supreme Court's decision last week in Timbs v. Indiana renders application of the Seventh Amendment's right to trial by jury a foregone conclusion in a front-page opinion piece published today in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, the premier legal newspaper of Southern California.
In Timbs, the Supreme Court held, for the first time, that the Eighth Amendment's Excessive Fines Clause applies to the states. In that case, a person arrested on drug dealing charges challenged the seizure of a new $42,000 Land Rover he bought from money he inherited constituted an excessive fine, because the highest penalty he could be assessed was $10,000. The Indiana Supreme Court rejected the argument because the Excessive Fines Clause had never been "incorporated" through the Fourteenth Amendment to apply to the states. The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reversed, finding the clause so fundamental that it had to be applied to the states.
After Timbs, the only parts of the Bill of Rights that have not yet applied to the states are the Third Amendment's prohibition on quartering of troops, the Fifth Amendment's grand jury requirements, and the Seventh Amendment's right to a jury trial. Of these, Peck and Brusavich argue, the Seventh Amendment qualifies for incorporation under the criteria utilized by the Supreme Court. In fact, the article points out that the Seventh Amendment's credentials for incorporation outshine those of the Excessive Fines Clause or the previously incorporated Second Amendment.
The article points out the significance of incorporation, which would apply federal precedent on jury trials to the state, which the authors contend will invalidate damage caps in common-law based causes of action, such as medical malpractice. Since 1975, California has limited non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases to $250,000. Brusavich, a past president of the Consumer Attorneys of California, is counsel in Hernandez v. Cardin, a medical malpractice case that goes to trial April 8 in which the judge has authorized a hearing on the constitutionality of the cap if liability is assessed above the cap.


Great battles in theology faced by the church over the centuries have been caused by the introduction of unbiblical categories about the nature of people and the nature of God, and the imprecise language that emerges from this. Are we justified by faith or are we justified by faith alone? Does the Bible contain the word of God or is the Bible the word of God? Should we refuse to bake cakes for gay weddings because marriage is a creation-mandated institution and not a social privilege that can be re-packaged as the world whims? Or should we bake two cakes because sexual orientation as a category of personhood erases sexual sin without the blood of Christ?
The issue is not primarily homosexuality; it's Scripture.
Conversion to Christ did not initially change my sexual attraction for women. What conversion did change immediately was my heart and mind. My mind was on fire for the Bible and I could not read enough of it or enough about it. The gospel gave me a light that was ruinous. It ruined me for the life I had loved. The Lord's light illumined my sin through the law and illumined my hope through Jesus and the gospel. The gospel destroyed me before the Lord built me back up. In saying "yes" to Jesus and "no" to the desires of my flesh, I learned that the only way to peace with my God was through the Cross—the one that Jesus died on and the one that I was called, with the help of Jesus, to carry.
In this crucible I wondered how this could be so. How could that which I loved be sin? How could I hate my sin without hating myself? How could I both hate my sin and feel drawn into it simultaneously?
I learned that sin does not lose its character as sin because I loved it. I learned that my homosexuality was a logical consequence of the fall of man, the thumbprint of original sin on some of us. It is true that some of us are born this way. It is also true that we are all born in sin, in one way or another. We can hate our sin without hating ourselves because we who have committed our lives to Christ stand in his righteousness and not our own. Our real identity is not in the sin we battle but in the savior we embrace.
Christ's salvation is definitive and decisive. Christ rescues his people, growing us in union with Christ, establishing us in God's family, the church, and setting us apart to bear the image of God in knowledge (of God's word), holiness (in God's justification of his people), and righteousness (through sanctification, also called growth in Christ).
We gain more than we lose when we pick up our cross and follow Jesus. But pick up our cross we must. And for many of us, our cross demands forsaking the sexual sin that calls us by name.
We live now in a world that has no use for the God of the Bible, for Jesus, the savior of His people and of the world. The terms are shifting quickly. Calling people like me to forsake sexual sin is no longer considered a first step toward walking with Jesus in liberty and in new life. Today, some influential people who claim to know Christ no longer believe that God hates sin. Sin is in the eyes of the beholder, they say.
Just a few years ago, these people blamed sin on the devil, saying "the devil made me do it." Now these same people—some of them leaders in the church—blame sin on the Holy Spirit, declaring that He is blessing what the Bible condemns. In a few short years, blame shifting has morphed into blasphemy. And this blasphemy is coming from people who claim to have Christ's salvation and from the pulpits and blogs that they wield.
When blasphemy comes from the church, the Bible gives us ways to understand how prophets become lions and wolves. First Peter 5:8 issues the warning for today's church climate: "Be sober-minded. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." Matthew 7:15 shows us what to do: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits." Christian fruit grows you in holiness, like Christ. Christian fruit grows you in grace—which is bought by the blood of Christ, the ransom price for my sin and yours. Grace leads you to love and desire the moral law of God, and not to despise it. Christian fruit has no measure but the word of God.
I signed the Nashville Statement because I stand with Biblical orthodoxy, which is inseparable from God's creation mandate and definition of gendered personhood found in Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female, he created them". The soul is God's fingerprint on humanity, but the gendered body—essentially and ontologically male or female—will also, for the believer in Jesus Christ, be glorified and resurrected in the New Jerusalem.
I signed the Nashville Statement because my conscience compels me so, because the promises of liberty on the world's terms are false and deceptive, and because many who currently claim to have Christ's forgiveness and salvation must be called to account for leading good people astray with false promises and filthy lies.
I signed the Nashville Statement because the wolves are prowling, and the lions are roaring, and because they are bold and proud of their heresy, and because you must be warned.
By God through the merit and power of Jesus Christ, here I stand.
Editor's Note: This is the second in a series in which signatories offer their own perspectives on The Nashville Statement.


Of all plant food, peanuts are one of those with the highest magnesium content. They provide us with essential amino acids, vitamins, mineral nutrients, and secondary plant substances. Peanuts contain no cholesterol but are rich in unsaturated fatty acids. ZIELER & CO. offer shelled peanuts in different sizes, with or without skin.


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Class of 2024 Celebrates Long-Awaited White Coat Ceremony In-Person with Family and Friends
Annual Primary Care Advocacy Town Hall Seeks to Inspire More Medical Students to Pursue Careers in Primary Care
Town hall spotlights the urgency to train more primary care physicians for Arizona...
A Second-Year Medical Student Gets Coated at the Class of 2024 White Coat Ceremony
Kimberly A. Nichols, MLA
First Class to Have Patient and Clinical Experience Before the Formal Ceremony, as well as to Feature a Student White Coat Speaker
Scenes from the Class of 2024 White Coat Ceremony
Before more than 300 family and friends — who cheered and congratulated them — the 100-member Class of 2024 publicly received their white coats and recited their oath in a White Coat Ceremony long overdue. Unlike most medical students, who receive their white coat in a ceremony within the first two weeks of course instruction, the Class of 2024 voted to postpone this cherished tradition and rite of passage until they could gather safely in-person with family and friends. Their first year of medical school was conducted virtually.
"We recognized these students were special during the interview process, and they have exceeded our expectations over this past year. We are so proud of each of them," said Glen Fogerty, PhD, MBA, associate dean of Admissions and Recruitment. "I can tell you [family, friends and loved ones], it was truly important for these students to have you here to celebrate this moment. They didn't want to be 'white coated' without you in attendance, and that is a testament to the important place you hold in their hearts."
Each medical student wore the personalized white coat they received when they began their medical studies. At that time, the students also received a 3M™ Littmann® Cardiology IV™ Stethoscope and The Patient History: Evidence-Based Approach to Differential Diagnosis textbook. In Friday's ceremony, the Class of 2024 also received a set of scrubs — which completes their full uniform as medical students — and a framed class photo.
Meher Rakkar Delivering the Student Address
Meher Rakkar was nominated to deliver a student address, becoming the first student to speak at a White Coat Ceremony. Rakkar reflected on how much the class has grown together and learned from each other over the past year.
"I have watched my classmates draw from their own diverse backgrounds to identify problems within health care," said Rakkar. "I have seen them use these insights to implement positive change within our institution and within our communities. I have seen them educate one another and our incoming class about these inequities to ensure that these changes are long-lasting and impactful. It has been my privilege to learn from them."
Guy Reed, MD, MS, dean of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, noted the class has already distinguished itself by having both patient and clinical experience.
"You must be able to meet patients where they are; to earn their trust and provide healing. This is a promise to walk with them through seasons of health, illness, recovery and even death," said Dean Reed. "At the same time, the tragedies and upheaval of the last year have shown us that our medical profession must do more to address structural inequities that exist in our society. We must work to remove impediments that prevent everyone from achieving a life of health, free from the scourge of chronic illness."
The Class of 2024 Reciting Their Class Oath
Developing their oath is one of the first things the medical students do together as a class. It signifies the students' commitment to demonstrating and maintaining the core values of the College of Medicine – Phoenix — including collaboration, community, diversity, excellence, innovation, integrity and servant leadership. Like so many events from last year, the Class of 2024 initially recited their oath over Zoom. "We pledge to respect your diverse values and contributions. We will embrace the spirit of collaboration, unafraid to seek help when we do not know the answer. We vow to honor the legacy that preceded us and to cultivate future innovation." They publicly declared their commitments by reciting their oath during the ceremony.
Class of 2015 Alumni Guest Speaker David Reeder, MD — an allergist/immunologist, as well as a board-certified internist — spoke about how character impacts the type of physician they will ultimately become. Dr. Reeder practices at Arizona Allergy Associates, specializing in managing allergic and immune deficiency diseases in both adults and children. He also serves as a faculty physician at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix.
Dean Guy Reed, MD, MS, with Alumni Speaker David Reeder, MD
"Everyone has a place or a moment where their resolve is tested," said Dr. Reeder. "For some, it only comes once. I would suggest that, for a doctor, it comes often."
Dr. Reeder also pointed out the promises made in the Class Oath. "You made many promises and I'd like to reciprocate and promise something, as well. If you keep to your oath, you will find that it changes and shapes you in ways that will be beautiful to see. Your white coat symbolizes an ideal, something that unites all physicians. It is a part of my story, and now it's a part of yours."
The Class of 2024 marks the first cohort of 100 students, which was a key part of the college's growth plan since welcoming the first class in 2007. Not only has the class size grown, increasing by 20 percent, so has the diversity. About 55 percent are Arizona natives and the other 45 percent are from 17 other states. Of the Class of 2024, about 57 percent are female and 43 percent male. Sixty percent come from socially disadvantaged, educationally under-resourced, underrepresented areas in medicine or rural upbringings.
Videos, Photos and More
Class of 2024 White Coat Ceremony (Full ceremony).
Class of 2024 White Coat Ceremony Highlights.
Photos from the event.
Class of 2024 Admissions Summary (PDF).
Meet Members of the Class of 2024
Carleen Cuevas – Pursues medicine to influence change and improve the lives of her community.
John Lin – Student with doctorate in chemistry pursues medicine to bridge gap between bench and bedside.
Elen Mendoza – Commits to primary care to address systematic inequities.
Meher Rakkar – Hopes to combine passion for health humanities and patient care.
Jordan Santos – Honored to join the College of Medicine – Phoenix during pandemic.
Sean Youn – First-year medical student comes from a family of physicians and fueled by his passion for helping underserved communities.
Miranda Yousif – Compassionate care enthusiast thrilled to learn and ready to serve her hometown.


As an entrepreneur, I'm continually bombarded by the message that we have to network to get ahead. Make friends and influence people, they say. It's not what you know, it's who you know. The faster you can spin yourself round a networking event, the better. You should sling out business cards with the attitude of a smoke-machine operator at a Megadeath concert.
I used to be a networker. I was called one of the top fifty networked people in the UK, for all the good that it did me.
Yet I didn't feel as though my network was particularly rich, or that I could actually ask many of my contacts for real help, unless they got something back in return. More of a 'net of work', given the need to stay in touch, rather than a valuable group of people.
I've always wondered when these highly networked people actually did something. Many claimed to be 'entrepreneurs', but as far as I could tell, none ever did anything other than becoming experts at knowing who was doing what and which events were most likely to serve palatable booze.
If in doubt, don't go to the event.
Better to meet one person properly than twenty improperly.
If you have to pay to attend, triple the cost of the event (which might roughly be the value of your time used up), then determine whether it is still worth going.
Don't just try to get things from the other person, like a card or a contract. Be human.
Speak the truth, rather than what people want to hear.
If you feel uncomfortable, don't ignore the discomfort, and barrel in and meet people anyway, as most networkers would have you do – realize the discomfort is because something isn't right.
Meet people through personal or one-to-one connections, rather than trying to find useful people in the lucky-dip of conferences.
I love meeting those business people, often the most successful, who focus on getting things done, rather than meeting as many people as possible in the hope that it might help them get something done in the future.
My sense is that the more you enjoy what you're doing, the more you simplify your work and your life to focus on what is more important, and the more you reduce the clutter, both physical and in terms of your 'activities' – then the richer the connections you make. Better to have ten people you know well and who can vouch for you, than hundreds who know of you and have seen you on the circuit.
From a business perspective, there definitely is value in networking. I've managed to win a few wonderful contracts by pressing the flesh. But what about the time wasted? Is it worth it?
I've been to many international development conferences, normally on climate change, in some hugely inaccessible part of the world like New Zealand, only to be met by a group of the same practitioners that I saw in Washington DC a month earlier.
Do we need to see one another on the other side of the world, and thousands of carbon 'miscredits' later, to go drinking together merely to remind one another that we're working on climate change? If we spent more time, at home, reading, ringing people and actually doing the work we'd set out to do, would we achieve more than zooming around expensive conference halls and eating coelacanth sashimi when at a marine conservation conference?
People's networks have become so wide, so international and are spread across so many platforms that almost all their contacts are weak, or useless. It's often neither what you know, nor who you know, but how well you know.


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Q: TypeError: Cannot read property 'path' of undefined issue while doing unit test in angular 5 I am trying to do unit test on my angular5 application.Each time when I type the 'ng test' command it shows some errors and I solve it.But now it returns a new error.
Chrome 64.0.3282 (Linux 0.0.0) ChannelsComponent should create FAILED
    TypeError: Cannot read property 'path' of undefined
        at new ChannelsComponent src/app/rcyc-components/rcyc-channels/rcyc-channels.component.ts:71:53)

I am using activatedRoute in my component for retreiving the current url
this.currentUrlPathAsArray= this.activatedRoute.snapshot.url;
this.currentUrlKey= this.currentUrlPathAsArray[0].path;

in the above code using the path property of activated route I am storing the current url.when doing unit test on my app  it retuns  'path' of undefined error.
spec.ts
import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
import { CUSTOM_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA } from '@angular/core';
import { ChannelsComponent } from './rcyc-channels.component';
import { RouterModule } from "@angular/router";
import { NgxCarouselModule } from "ngx-carousel";
import { RcycDecodeHtmlPipe } from '../../rcyc-pipes/rcyc-decode-html/rcyc-decode-html.pipe';
import { RcycLimitPipe } from "../../rcyc-pipes/rcyc-limit/rcyc-limit.pipe";
import { RcycDefaultImagePipe } from '../../rcyc-pipes/rcyc-default-image/rcyc-default-image.pipe';
import { HttpClientModule } from '@angular/common/http';
import { RouterTestingModule } from '@angular/router/testing';
import { RcycCommonService } from '../../rcyc-services/rcyc-common/rcyc-common.service';
import { RcycChannelsService } from "./rcyc-channels.service";
describe('ChannelsComponent', () => {
  let component: ChannelsComponent;
  let fixture: ComponentFixture<ChannelsComponent>;

  beforeEach(async(() => {
    TestBed.configureTestingModule({
      imports:[RouterModule,NgxCarouselModule,HttpClientModule,RouterTestingModule],
      declarations: [ ChannelsComponent,RcycDecodeHtmlPipe,RcycLimitPipe,RcycDefaultImagePipe ],
      schemas:[CUSTOM_ELEMENTS_SCHEMA],
      providers:[RcycCommonService,RcycChannelsService]
    })
    .compileComponents();
  }));

  beforeEach(() => {
    fixture = TestBed.createComponent(ChannelsComponent);
    component = fixture.componentInstance;
    fixture.detectChanges();
  });

  it('should create', () => {
    expect(component).toBeTruthy();
  });
});

component.ts
import { Component, OnInit, ViewEncapsulation } from "@angular/core";
// import { NgxCarousel , NgxCarouselStore} from "ngx-carousel";
import { Router, NavigationEnd, ActivatedRoute } from "@angular/router";
import { RcycChannelsService } from "./rcyc-channels.service";
import { AppConfig } from "../../rcyc-config/config";
import { RcycCommonService } from '../../rcyc-services/rcyc-common/rcyc-common.service';
import { NguCarousel,NguCarouselStore } from '@ngu/carousel';

@Component({
  selector: "app-channels",
  templateUrl: "./rcyc-channels.component.html",
  styleUrls: ["./rcyc-channels.component.css"],
  encapsulation: ViewEncapsulation.None,
  providers: [RcycChannelsService]
})
export class ChannelsComponent implements OnInit {

  public carouselOne: NguCarousel;
  deckTabObject: any;

  API_BASE_URL: any =   AppConfig.API_BASE_URL;
    IMG_BASE_URL: any =   AppConfig.IMG_BASE_URL;
    ELASTIC_API_BASE_URL: any =   AppConfig.ELASTIC_API_BASE_URL;

  tabcontent: any;
  basepath: any;
  apiResponseA: any;
  apiResponseB: any;
  apiResponseC: any;
  apiResponseD: any;
  apiResponseE: any;

  apiResponseATemp: any=[];
  apiResponseBTemp: any=[];
  apiResponseCTemp: any=[];
  apiResponseDTemp: any=[];
  apiResponseETemp: any=[];

  apiResponseAStatus: any = false;
  apiResponseBStatus: any = false;
  apiResponseCStatus: any = false;
  apiResponseDStatus: any = false;
  apiResponseEStatus: any = false;

  apiUrlA: any;
  apiUrlB: any;
  apiUrlC: any;
  apiUrlD: any;
  apiUrlE: any;
  apiUrlMetatag: any;

  currentUrlPathAsArray: any;
  currentUrlKey: any;
  currentComponentName: any;
  currentSlide:number = 0;

  constructor(

    private router: Router,
    private rcycChannelsService: RcycChannelsService,
    private rcycCommonService: RcycCommonService,
    private activatedRoute: ActivatedRoute,
  ) {

        // this.currentComponentName =  this.activatedRoute.routeConfig.component.name;
        this.currentComponentName = "RcycChannelsComponent";
        // Current subHeader Status
        this.rcycCommonService.changeSubHeaderStatus(true);

        this.currentUrlPathAsArray= this.activatedRoute.snapshot.url;
        this.currentUrlKey= this.currentUrlPathAsArray[0].path;

        // To scroll up page
        this.router.events.subscribe(evt => {
      if (!(evt instanceof NavigationEnd)) {
        return;
      }
      window.scrollTo(0, 0);
    });

        var switchKey= this.currentUrlKey;
        switch(switchKey) {

            case "cruise-ports":

                    // change changeCurrentComponent
                    this.rcycCommonService.changeCurrentComponent(this.currentComponentName);

                    // Call get Metatag function
                    this.apiUrlMetatag= "/api/v1/meta/destinations?_format=json";
                    this.rcycCommonService.getMetaTags(this.apiUrlMetatag);

                    this.rcycDestinationsContent();
            break;

            case "experience":

                    // Call get Metatag function
                    this.apiUrlMetatag= "/api/v1/meta/experience?_format=json";
                    this.rcycCommonService.getMetaTags(this.apiUrlMetatag);

                    this.rcycExperienceContent();
            break;

            case "presailing":

                    // Call get Metatag function
                    this.apiUrlMetatag= "/api/v1/meta/presailing?_format=json";
                    this.rcycCommonService.getMetaTags(this.apiUrlMetatag);

                    this.rcycPresailingContent();
            break;

            default:

            break;

        }
    }

  ngOnInit() {

        // split url and redirection
    /*if(this.currentUrlKey == "cruise-ports") {

            this.rcycDestinationsContent();
        } else {

            this.rcycExperienceContent();
        }*/
        //Carousel settings
    this.carouselOne = {
      grid: { xs: 1, sm: 1, md: 1, lg: 1, all: 0 },
      slide: 1,
      speed: 500,
      interval: 300000,
      point: {
        visible: false
      },
      load: 3,
      touch: true,
      loop: true,
      custom: "banner"
    };

    //Tab options
    this.deckTabObject = [
      {
        name: "Onboard",
        class: "tab-link tab-link_suites is-active",
        contentClass: "tab-pane is-visible",
        active: true
      },
      {
        name: "Ashore",
        class: "tab-link",
        contentClass: "tab-pane",
        active: false
      }
    ];

  }

/* =============================================================================================================================================
        Function to display Full Api Urls of Destination
 =============================================================================================================================================== */
  rcycDestinationsContent() {

    this.apiUrlA = "/api/v1/destinations/header/a?_format=json";
    this.apiUrlB = "/api/v1/destinations/content/b?_format=json";
    this.apiUrlC = "/api/v1/destinations/content/c?_format=json";
    this.apiUrlD = "/api/v1/regions?_format=json";

    this.rcycChannelContent();

  }

/* =============================================================================================================================================
        Function to display Full Api Urls of Experience
 =============================================================================================================================================== */
  rcycExperienceContent() {

        this.apiUrlA = "/api/v1/experience/header/a?_format=json";
        this.apiUrlB = "/api/v1/experience/content/b?_format=json";
    this.apiUrlC = "/api/v1/experience/content/c?_format=json";
    this.apiUrlD = "/api/v1/experience/content/d?_format=json";

    this.rcycChannelContent();

  }

/* =============================================================================================================================================
        Function to display Full Api Urls of Presailing
 =============================================================================================================================================== */
  rcycPresailingContent() {

        this.apiUrlA = "/api/v1/presailing/header/a?_format=json";
        this.apiUrlB = "/api/v1/presailing/content/b?_format=json";
    this.apiUrlC = "/api/v1/presailing/content/c?_format=json";
    this.apiUrlD = "/api/v1/presailing/content/d?_format=json";

    this.rcycChannelContent();

  }

/* =============================================================================================================================================
        Function to display Full Apis Channels
 =============================================================================================================================================== */
  rcycChannelContent() {

        /****************** Section A********************/

    this.rcycChannelsService.channels(this.apiUrlA).subscribe(
      response => {

                this.apiResponseATemp = response;
                if(this.apiResponseATemp.length) {

                    // var res= Object.values(response);
                    var res= Object.keys(response).map(function(key) {
                                                return response[key];
                                        });
                    if(res.length) {

                        this.apiResponseAStatus = true;
                        this.apiResponseA = response[0];

                        // Changing subheader A value
                        this.rcycCommonService.changeSubHeaderDataArray_A(this.apiResponseA);

                    } else {

                        // Changing subheader A value
                        this.rcycCommonService.changeSubHeaderDataArray_A([]);
                    }
                } else {

                    // Changing subheader A value
                    this.rcycCommonService.changeSubHeaderDataArray_A([]);
                }

            },
            err => {
                console.log(err);
            }
        );

    /******************Header  Section B********************/

        this.rcycChannelsService.channels(this.apiUrlB).subscribe(
      response => {

                this.apiResponseBTemp = response;
                if(this.apiResponseBTemp.length) {

                    // var res= Object.values(response);
                    var res= Object.keys(response).map(function(key) {
                                                return response[key];
                                        });
                    if(res.length) {

                        var resArray=[];
                        for(let index in res) {

                            var factor= res[index];
                            if(factor.field_image) {

                                factor.field_image= this.IMG_BASE_URL+factor.field_image;

                                let imgTitle= this.rcycCommonService.imageNameAltSplit(factor.field_image);

                                factor.altTextBannerImg= factor.title+ " "+ imgTitle;
                                factor.titleTextBannerImg= factor.title+ " "+ imgTitle;
                            }else {

                                factor.altTextBannerImg= factor.title;
                                factor.titleTextBannerImg= factor.title;
                            }
                            resArray.push(factor);
                            if( parseInt(index)+1 == res.length ) {

                                this.apiResponseBStatus = true;
                                this.apiResponseB = resArray;

                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
      },
      err => {
        console.log(err);
      }
    );

    /****************** Section C********************/

    this.rcycChannelsService.channels(this.apiUrlC).subscribe(
      response => {

                this.apiResponseCTemp = response;
                if(this.apiResponseCTemp.length) {

                    // var res= Object.values(response);
                    var res= Object.keys(response).map(function(key) {
                                                return response[key];
                                        });
                    if(res.length) {

                        this.apiResponseCStatus = true;
                        this.apiResponseC = response[0];
                    }
                }

      },
      err => {
        console.log(err);
      }
    );

    /****************** Section D********************/

    this.rcycChannelsService.channels(this.apiUrlD).subscribe(
      response => {

                this.apiResponseDTemp = response;
                if(this.apiResponseDTemp.length) {

                    // var res= Object.values(response);
                    var res= Object.keys(response).map(function(key) {
                                            return response[key];
                                    });
                    if(res.length) {

                        var resArray= [];
                        for(let index in res) {

                            var factor= res[index];

                            if(factor.field_image) {

                                factor.field_image= this.IMG_BASE_URL+factor.field_image;

                                let imgTitle= this.rcycCommonService.imageNameAltSplit(factor.field_image);

                                factor.altTextOnBoardImg= factor.title+ " "+ imgTitle;
                                factor.titleTextOnBoardImg= factor.title+ " "+ imgTitle;
                            }else {

                                factor.altTextOnBoardImg= factor.title;
                                factor.titleTextOnBoardImg= factor.title;
                            }

                            if(this.currentUrlKey == 'cruise-ports') {

                                let field_group_url_keyNew= factor.field_group_url_key.toLowerCase();
                                factor.channelUrl="/luxury-"+field_group_url_keyNew+"-cruises";
                            } else if(this.currentUrlKey == 'experience') {

                                let field_url_keyNew= factor.field_url_key.toLowerCase();
                                factor.channelUrl="/experience/"+field_url_keyNew;
                            }

                            resArray.push(factor);
                            if( parseInt(index)+1 == res.length ) {

                                this.apiResponseDStatus = true;
                                this.apiResponseD = resArray;
                            }
                        }

                    }
                }

      },
      err => {
        console.log(err);
      }
    );

  }

  // Function on Learn more click
  learnMoreClick(event, item) {
        /****************** Section E********************/

    }

    nextCarouselload(ev) {
    // console.log(ev);
  }

   onmoveFn(data: NguCarouselStore) {
    this.currentSlide = data.currentSlide;
  }

  clickFn(data: NguCarouselStore){
this.currentSlide = data.currentSlide-1;
  }
}

how can I solve this issue?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


What to do about a Jack in the Box at bed time?
At the Tot Center today, in the nap room with the two year-olds, I had a little Jack in the Box. A child who gets out of bed every two minutes. This is challenging in any circumstance, but has some extra challenges in group care. For one they are all in the room together, only a few feet apart on cots on the floor. Also, this is not home, with their favorite bear in their cozy bed with their Mommy.
Napping is a good thing. It helps if you approach it like it's a treat. If it seems like a punishment, "Now you have to nap!" you'll get more resistance. Instead try, "You are so lucky, it's nap time. Your body will feel so good." Sleep is one of our basic needs. It recharges us, and it feels good to sleep when we are tired.
Keep your cool. I know it can be frustrating the 555th time your child gets out of bed. Especially when it's your child. For some reason the kids at the tot center don't get under my skin the way my own are capable of. However, if they see that they're having ANY kind of affect on you that will just make them do it all the more. Calmly and Confidently put them back to bed.
A consistent naptime/bedtime ritual is tremendously helpful. I read a book, I sing two songs. The last song is always the same and when they hear that song they know the next thing is rest.
No more talking. I keep my talking to an absolute minimum. I let the children know I will answer questions or talk about things at snack after rest time. But at naptime I am pretty much silent.
Let them find their own way. Some kids flop some kids hum quietly, some need a stuffed animal to snuggle. As long as it doesn't disturb the others then it is fine. Sometimes we put kids to bed and expect them to be asleep in 2 minutes. How long does it take you to fall asleep? Give them some time.
So with these directions in mind, when my little Jack in the Box popped off her cot this is what I did: I put her right back. Now, how you do this is important. First, don't rush. Go very slowly. Again, be calm, unaffected, very matter-of-fact. Do not let this seem like a burden or difficulty for you. Keep your mood as light as possible -- remember naptime is a good thing. Also as little talking as possible.
When she did it again, I did the same thing. No talking. Slowly and calmly, I walked her back. Several times she was back up before I even go back to my chair. I turned around slowly and calmly walked her back. I sat down next to her cot. I half-closed my eyes and lowered my head. I did not engage with her when she tried to talk with me. I felt at one point that it was disrespectful not to answer at all, so I told her we could talk at snack. And that I would sit here for a bit before I would go to my chair, but now I was going to be silent. I did nothing else to sooth her. I just sat nearby. When I could tell she was very sleepy, but not asleep, I moved back to my chair. She did not get up again, and in about ten minutes she was asleep.
I know helping children find their way to good sleep habits can be frustrating, but hopefully these pointers can help. You may very well find that an extra 30 minutes of calm conviction, on occasion, may help build a foundation of healthy sleep habits that could last a lifetime.


Discerning drivers will appreciate the 2019 Hyundai Sonata. This 4 door, 5 passenger sedan leads among competitors in its segment. Smooth gearshifts are achieved thanks to the 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine, and for added security, dynamic Stability Control supplements the drivetrain. Both high fuel economy and flexible performance are assured by the 6 speed automatic transmission. It distinguishes itself from the competition with features such as: a tachometer, speed sensitive wipers, a trip computer, fully automatic headlights, cruise control, an overhead console, and a blind spot monitoring system. Audio features include an AM/FM radio, steering wheel mounted audio controls, and 6 well positioned speakers. Hyundai also prioritized safety and security by including: dual front impact airbags, head curtain airbags, traction control, brake assist, a panic alarm, and 4 wheel disc brakes with ABS. This car was designed with safety in mind, allowing you to drive with even greater assurance. We pride ourselves in consistently exceeding our customer's expectations. Please don't hesitate to give us a call.


text:
Home » Blog » Who Is Michael Holston AKA "The Real Tarzann"
Who Is Michael Holston AKA "The Real Tarzann"
0.1 Who Is Michael Holsten?
0.2 A Love For Miami
1.1 Becoming An Instagram Star
1.2 Dealing With Life As A Social Media Celebrity
1.3 Why Animal Education Matters To Holston
1.4 International Travel, From Brazil To Bora-Bora
1.5 Types of Animals The Real Tarzann Works With
1.6 What Does The Future Look Like For Michael Holsten
1.6.1 More Blog Articles You May Enjoy…
Who Is Michael Holsten?
Some people label him as a modern-day animal whisperer, capable of communicating and interacting with exotic breeds better than almost anyone else in the world.
Don't miss the sale happening NOW for Alpha Paw's #1 Vet-Recommended, patented dog ramp – CLICK HERE!
Others see him as a social media star with a strong passion for animal conservation. Some people might just think of him as a huge risk taker (if a friend sends them a link to a video of Holsten swimming with sharks).
No matter what label a person puts on Holston, they probably know the online persona "The Real Tarzann," more. The Floridian has turned his passion for building schools and educating the public about exotic animals into a full-time career.
From celebrity collaborations to exploring remote parts of rural Australia, to working on Miami Beach cleanup projects, there is no telling where he might be next.
Holston travels quite a bit, but there are also plenty of interesting animals to interact with within South Florida as well. In the last few years, most people have come across Mike Holston (also known as The Real Tarzann) online. Countless video clips have gone viral, and he continuous to shares his life on social media.
He has amassed over 6.2 million followers on Instagram, and 750,000+ subscribers on YouTube. With up-close encounters involving all sorts of animals and a focus on wildlife conservation in general, The Real Tarzann has created one of the most exotic niches, online. What is the story behind Holston and this unique path in life?
A Love For Miami
Most people have some strong connection to where they grew up. Holston is no different, he continues to call the Miami area home and has put roots down in South Florida. The animal conservationist continues to work with many of the organizations he started his career helping.
Holston treats Miami like his hometown, but he did not move down to South Florida until he was a teenager. He made the move with his mother. It was at this time that he was able to make connections in the animal world, first starting as a volunteer at a local pet store.
Without receiving any pay and even spending some nights sleeping in a car, he made it work. Holsten fell in love with the wildlife in Florida and he was able to parlay that experience into many other opportunities in the South Florida area.
Miami has a unique climate that makes it different from anywhere else in the United States. Some species can only survive there. The Everglades alone offer a bit of a playground for someone like Holston. There is no place like Miami in the world, and Holston has stated in videos how much he loves his adopted home.
Holston works with many different animal organizations in the South Florida area, and he helps out with charities on occasion as well. He uses his stardom to leverage the local animal shelters and charities' online presence. By reaching out to his millions of followers on Instagram, money can be raised for certain causes, and overall awareness can be heightened when necessary.
Becoming An Instagram Star
Just a few years ago, no one could have imagined the type of celebrity status one could achieve simply based on social media. What began as a hobby and a way to share interesting pictures with friends and family evolved into an online persona that has taken on a life of its own.
Holston received recognition when he was interviewed by WSVN-7 in January 2018 for helping rescue iguanas from freezing temperatures in the Miami area. This became a viral hit, which boosted the charismatic animal helper's social media following.
It's important to note that social media posts showing him and animals are carefully planned. When Holston plans to interact with an animal, there is a team that ensures that all safety protocol is met. A lot more work and preparation goes into the actual setup for animal encounters, but the final results are authentic.
Whether it is working with DJ Khaled or Will Smith, he has evolved into one of the most well-known animal handlers in the world.
Dealing With Life As A Social Media Celebrity
A lot of people could only dream of having a following as large as The Real Tarzann. It seems like he has the opportunity to go places that a few others can, and he gets to make a living doing what he thoroughly enjoys. With that said, dealing with being a social media celeb is not always as glamorous as it might sound.
Holston's primary focus is making sure that the animals he does work with are in a safe environment at all times. There have been countless animal handlers and zookeepers in the past who have faced severe backlash for not handling certain animals properly. Education is a huge part of the behind-the-scenes process for Holston, and 100% necessary for him to have success in this field.
Despite all the negatives, Holston believes that he is in a very fortunate situation to be working with animals and making money doing exactly that. There will always be some negative aspects of social media, but without it, he would not have nearly the following that he does.
Why Animal Education Matters To Holston
A large following requires being more than just an entertainer. This is especially true when dealing with animals that the vast majority of people know very little about. Education is the key to growing the platform and overall interest.
One of the biggest reasons why Holston is so focused on animal education is that he remains inspired by the late Steve Irwin. This was a man who captured attention around the world because he was willing to take risks and do so in an entertaining way.
Once people looked past the crazier side of him, they were able to learn about different animals and information about conservation that they were not found anywhere else. He inspired many who work with animals, including Holston.
Beyond social media, Holston has a strong background in education with different types of animals. He has served as a manager at an exotic reptile farm, and as a zookeeper at an organization in Miami, Florida. This is where he learned how to deal with some of the most dangerous wildlife animals in the world, such as tigers, cougars, and lemurs. His confidence around animals started growing, and what he found is that he wanted to fully dive into this field.
International Travel, From Brazil To Bora-Bora
Becoming an online celebrity has its perks, and one way Holston's content has changed over the years is by filming in different locations. Whether it is collaborating with other people or organizations, or spending his own money to visit unique sites, he has been able to go places he never thought possible in the past.
Some of the more highly-viewed and rated videos have been when he is on location. The places include Bora-Bora, Brazil, Mexico, and Costa Rica. He has been able to go to places like Australia and Africa as well, which has notably taken him out of his comfort zone a bit.
Holston even goes as far as asking viewers for suggestions on where to visit next. It seems like his ultimate goal is to see virtually every corner of the globe and interact with as many unique animals as possible.
It also allows him to work with people who are very familiar with animals he might be interacting with for the first time. This increases his safety and enables him to take a few more risks while also educating viewers.
There is a major benefit for Holston in that he lives in an area with plenty of access to exotic animals. The South Florida area has plenty of opportunities to explore in the Everglades alone, but there are also local zoos, conservations, and more for Holston to explore.
Types of Animals The Real Tarzann Works With
Does The Real Tarzann have a favorite animal? Many can probably guess that he has a strong passion for his collection of dogs that is now over 20, but he has posted pictures and videos with just about any animal out there. As one might expect, the animals that capture the most views online are the most exotic and/or feared in the animal kingdom.
He gained mass notoriety for being around sharks, rhinos, tigers, and other deadly animals. There is no doubt that his viewers enjoy seeing the risk involved with the wild animals. The vast majority of people never see these animals in the wild in the first place, let alone get up close and personal with them.
A lot of discussions online have centered around just how much of a risk Michael Holston takes every time he is with a deadly animal. A lot of his work these days is very centered around keeping animals in their natural environment and allowing them to go away freely if they wish.
There are animal handlers out there who are more worried about getting the best shot than the overall health of an animal, and that is not helpful in the long run. Holston wants to make sure they are comfortable, which keeps him more comfortable.
What Does The Future Look Like For Michael Holsten
All in all, Holston is evolving as an educator, conservationist, and content creator. He continues to push boundaries and go where others will not!
More Blog Articles You May Enjoy…
If you enjoyed reading this article, head over to our blog section where more stories can be found.
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text:
Accidental and intentional successes in baking
"We keep it messy."
Started in August 2016, Casual Confections was born out of Crystal sharing recipes she was baking on social media. Instead of sharing recipes or discussing techniques in individual comments, a baking blog allows her to share this information to a wider audience.
Currently, the recipes on Casual Confections are experiments. These are recipes found on other websites and blogs or shared by other bakers. The intent of experimenting with other people's recipes is to learn new techniques and try new desserts. Some experiments do involve combining several existing recipes. Not all of the experiments work out whether due to the recipe itself or due to baker error. Casual Confections captures the successes and failures of these adventures to show that everything takes practice, bakes don't have to be flawless, and, above all, baking is fun no matter the outcome.
The goods Crystal bakes for Casual Confections are shared with friends, family, and anyone who would like a taste. In 2018, several bakes were donated to fund raising events in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area: The Geek Gala, which raises funds for The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and Cavendish Brewery's Yule Ball, which raises funds for The Harry Potter Alliance.
In early 2019, Casual Confections officially became a custom online bakery.
About the Baker
Crystal Davidson enjoys baking. For most of her life, she mostly baked cakes from a box mix and a shortlist of cookie types including Nestle Toll House chocolate chip cookies. She learned to bake from her mom who made the majority of desserts that were in the house growing up. Crystal's mom loved collecting recipes from friends, coworkers, magazines, and newspapers. In late 2015, her mom had bought a candy thermometer with the intention of learning to make hard candies as some of her coworkers would bring in some very tasty ones. Sadly, her mom passed away suddenly and never got to try her hand at the candies. It took nearly a year before Crystal took her mom's brand new candy thermometer out of its box and decided to use it to try new confections. She started the baking blog, Casual Confections, and shared her baking experiments and lessons as she took on new challenges. Crystal's bakes now include cakes from scratch, biscotti, fudge, ganache, glazes, donuts, bars, sandwich cookies, different types of frosting, and more!


text:
Home Soccer
How Many Career Goals Does Sergio Ramos Have?
by Alicia McLaughlin on October 4, 2019
Real Madrid has had the pleasure of being Sergio Ramos' home for years now. Over the course of his career, he has now scored over 100 career goals. The majority of those goals have come during his time with Real Madrid.
He is making quite the statement in Europe and he continues on to add more goals to his career tally. With 61 in LaLiga and 12 in the Championship League. This is only the icing on the Sergio Ramos cake, as his career has been packed full of accomplishments, especially for his position as a defender according to Marca. Below are the career highlights that pinpoint growth and achievement in Ramos's career.
Sergio Ramos' early career
🙏 ⚽ Para mi hermano. / Dedicated to my brother. #JAReyes #DEP #VamosEspaña 🇪🇦 📸 UEFA / Getty
A post shared by Sergio Ramos (@sergioramos) on Jun 7, 2019 at 2:47pm PDT
Sergio Ramos' professional career started at Sevilla. After netting goals for Sevilla and proving his defensive prowess he received an offer from Real Madrid.
At the time, there were very few teenagers in the game, the deal that Sergio Ramos went on to sign with Real Madrid one of the highest contracts for younger players, making him the most expensive teenager at that time. Real Madrid took him to be the right investment, as he would prove to be beneficial to the team in the coming years. He has continued to stay true to the team that invested in him, despite other offers that have come his way.
Success with Real Madrid
📸 @RealMadrid official photo day! 👊 Our 2019/20 captains with president Florentino Pérez. #HalaMadrid
A post shared by Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) on Sep 20, 2019 at 5:30am PDT
It was not long until Sergio Ramos would begin to make a name for himself. After being with Real Madrid for two years, Ramos was proving to be the investment that the team was counting on.
His ability to score despite his position as the defender made him a player to watch across Europe. The success that both he and Real Madrid have had in his years there are unmatched. The team has won the Champions League four times and captured many La Liga titles.
Sergio Ramos' total career goals
Sergio Ramos is a true force of nature when on the field. With 105 goals at the young age of 32, Ramos is showing no signs of slowing down as he moves forward in his career.
In fact, Ramos has suggested that there is more to accomplish in his career with Real Madrid. This season alone he has already scored a goal in Champions League play. With all of his career accomplishments, he is an athlete that Spain should be proud of and continue to watch for years to come.
Tags: Cristiano Ronaldo Lionel Messi


"Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell", Order of Merit (Commonwealth)/OM, Fellow of the Royal Society/FRS (; 18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970) was a British philosopher, mathematical logic/logician, mathematician, historian, writer, social critic and political activist. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these in any profound sense. He was born in Monmouthshire (historic)/Monmouthshire, into one of the most prominent aristocratic families in Britain.
In the early 20th century, Russell led the British "revolt against idealism". He is considered one of the founders of analytic philosophy along with his predecessor Gottlob Frege, colleague G. E. Moore, and his protégé Ludwig Wittgenstein. He is widely held to be one of the 20th century's premier logicians. With A. N. Whitehead he wrote Principia Mathematica, an attempt to create a logical basis for mathematics. His philosophical essay "On Denoting" has been considered a "paradigm of philosophy". His work has had a considerable influence on logic, mathematics, set theory, linguistics, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, computer science (see type theory and type system), and philosophy, especially philosophy of language, epistemology, and metaphysics.
If you enjoy these quotes, be sure to check out other famous philosophers! More Bertrand Russell on Wikipedia.
Even in civilized mankind faint traces of monogamous instincts can be perceived.
The wise man thinks about his troubles only when there is some purpose in doing so; at other times he thinks about others things.
This is one of those views which are so absolutely absurd that only very learned men could possibly adopt them.
In all things it is a good idea to hang a question mark now and then on the things we have taken for granted.
Every living thing is a sort of imperialist, seeking to transform as much as possible of its environment into itself.


As the international community focuses resources in fragile and conflict-affected states, the role of human rights in development and state-building efforts in these contexts arises as an important issue.
A key question is whether and how, even in contexts where it may be legally and politically difficult to enforce human rights, a human rights perspective can contribute to identifying both developmental blockages that inhibit transitions from fragility and conflict towards more inclusive and resilient state-society relations, and opportunities to support such transformative change.
This report examines the interface between human rights, fragility and development. The study aims to inform development partners on the merits and challenges of working with human rights in these challenging contexts, and to provide practical guidance on how they can do so more effectively. A key finding is the importance of taking context-specifity and the politics of conflict and fragility seriously .
Will Kenya's 2010 Constitution work for women and children?


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January 17, 2017 | By Karen Kroll
Tags: Food Logistics, Specialized Logistics, Logistics, Supply Chain
Healthful food—organic, vegan, non-GMO, local, sustainably or humanely raised, and allergen free, or any other variety—has whet consumers' appetites. Satisfying that growing demand, however, poses unique supply chain challenges.
Ugly Juice Whittles its Waste
In 2003, Julie Tilt and her husband purchased Hummingbird Wholesale, an organic bulk foods distributor based in Eugene, Ore. Since then, revenue has grown 20 to 30 percent annually, as organic foods take up more room in more consumer shopping carts. "The organic market is growing, well, organically," Tilt says. "It will continue to grow as people learn more about health and nutrition."
At the same time, ensuring a viable organic food supply chain can be a challenge. The organic food market now tops $43 billion and accounts for nearly 5 percent of total food sales, yet just 1 percent of U.S. cropland is geared to organic agriculture, according to the Organic Trade Association. Moreover, farmers who want to convert from conventional to organic farming practices face a 3-year investment of time, energy, and money. Any land used to produce raw organic commodities can't have had prohibited substances, such as many pesticides, applied to it during these 36 months, and the farmers can't sell their products as organic. That means they're unable to capture the premium prices most organic foods command.
To respond to these challenges, Hummingbird contracts with farmers who grow organic grains, seeds, nuts, and other products, ensuring a steady market. The company started with a few hundred acres of organic production under contract, and now has about 10,000. "Farmers are savvy, and tuned in to what's happening in the market," Tilt says, adding they're willing to do what they can to meet demand.
One San Francisco-based startup is developing a new use for fruits and vegetables, many of them organic, that otherwise would go to waste. Ugly Juice sources misshapen produce that otherwise would be thrown away and turns it into juice.
Every year, American consumers, businesses, and farmers spend $218 billion growing, processing, transporting, and disposing food that is never eaten, according to ReFED, a collaboration of business, nonprofit, foundation, and government leaders committed to reducing food waste in the United States.
One reason is consumers' perceived preference for Instagram-perfect fruit and vegetables. That means a lot of good, but less-attractive produce is thrown away. "We try to source those ugly, misshapen fruits and vegetables," says Slava Chupryna, the founder of Ugly Juice. The company then uses a cold press to wring every last nutrient from the produce and turn it into juice.
Chupryna located the company's kitchen five minutes from San Francisco's main wholesale market, and has developed relationships with many of the vendors, as well as management. He and his team make the rounds of the market each morning, picking up produce that is in good shape, but about to be thrown out, often because of the way it looks. This relieves farmers and growers of the need to dispose of the products. Ugly Juice employees make the juice each night, starting between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. Several hours later, contract employees riding scooters deliver the juice to the many offices within San Francisco. The company initially tried to use a car to make deliveries, but racked up about $1,000 in parking tickets its first month in business. "Parking is impossible," Chupryna notes.
The juices are delivered in glass jars designed with flat tops, so they're stackable, and wide bodies, so they're easy to wash. "We try to be as efficient as possible in everything we do," Chupryna says. Ugly Juice picks up the jars the following day. The juices typically need to be consumed within a few days.
The firm doesn't take food headed to a food bank or other service, but focuses on products that otherwise would go to waste. The long-term goal is "to change the way food and produce is perceived in the United States," Chupryna says. Helping others realize the value of misshapen, less-than-perfect produce would cut waste, save money, help farmers, and encourage more nutritious eating.
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SUPERVALU INC announced it has selected the Oracle Cloud as its new technology platform
IT, MediaSoftware engineering
OREANDA-NEWS. SUPERVALU INC. (NYSE: SVU), one of the largest grocery wholesalers and retailers in the United States, today announced it has selected the Oracle Cloud as its new technology platform that will enable the company to deliver more robust business management and data analytics capabilities to its customers. With Oracle Cloud, SUPERVALU will be able to provide an integrated portfolio of enterprise-grade cloud services to enhance the performance of its Human Resources and Finance functions.
"We have a terrific opportunity to deliver more professional services and back-end support to our existing wholesale customers, as well as leverage our scale and expertise to reach new customers," said Randy Burdick, SUPERVALU's Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer. "The Oracle Cloud provides us with a more robust infrastructure and a comprehensive solution that we believe will help us drive increased efficiencies, speed decision-making, and enhance the overall customer experience. We're excited to offer this solution to our customers as another example of how we're using technology to further enhance their businesses for the future."
Initially, SUPERVALU will implement Oracle ERP Cloud and Oracle HCM Cloud, part of a broad suite of modern Oracle Cloud applications that are integrated with social, mobile and analytic capabilities, resulting in improved process integration and more complete and impactful reporting. The Oracle Cloud provides an enhanced user experience via a simple, scalable and intuitive design that can be delivered to users on desktop, tablet and mobile applications. SUPERVALU will use Oracle HCM Cloud's suite of talent and workforce management offerings designed to provide an engaging and collaborative HR experience to find and retain quality employees.
Загитова в белом и с открытой грудью сведёт с ума любого. ФОТО26.01.2023 19:32:23
Microsoft will forcibly update Windows 11
There was a failure in the work of the App Store in Russia
Russian companies have been subjected to a new type of attacks with mass mailing of SMS messages
Russians admitted to actively monitoring news feeds
Three thousand websites selling fake documents have been blocked in Russia
Russia has come up with a way to combat phishing sites
Volozh announced his departure from Yandex
The Ministry of Figures has signed a contract for the provision of media monitoring services for more than 200 million rubles
Microsoft is not going to return to Russia yet, the expert believes
VK appoints three new vice presidents
In Moldova, they proposed to ban the .RU domain
In Russia, more than 3.5 thousand sites with false information about the special operation were blocked
Russian correspondent detained on the border with Kosovo
Media: Lithuania May Allow Transit of Goods to Kaliningrad Under German Pressure
Nvidia Stopped Selling and Renewing Licenses for Proprietary Software in Russia
Killnet Hackers Launch DDoS Attack on U.S. Federal Tax Payment System Website
Russians Resell Branded Items Due to the Withdrawal of Foreign Brands from the Country
Lavrov Said That the Candidacies of Ukraine and Moldova in the EU do Not Threaten Russia
Western Сountries Delivered Howitzers without GPS Systems to Kyiv
Media: There is a Shortage of iPhone Parts in Russia
The Daily Telegraph Website Was Blocked in Russia
Microsoft Will Forever Shut Down Internet Explorer Browser
The Head of the Crimea Aksyonov Called Zelensky's Words to Regain Control over the Peninsula an Antics
Zelensky Gave Scholz an Ultimatum
Apple Decides to Abandon Passwords