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CSE: Reimagining Sri Lanka's Capital Markets
Monday January 9, 2023 3:52 pm
Colombo Stock Exchange Chief Executive Rajeeva Bandaranaike discusses the outlook for equities in 2023 amidst the unfolding economic crisis and the impacts of the reforms programme the debt restructuring process would unleash. He also highlights the CSE's ongoing efforts to develop the market with robust rules, product diversification, technology and enhancing governance structures for a modern, more accessible, investor and stakeholder-friendly, best-in-class capital market.
How did the CSE perform in 2022?
The All Share Price Index declined by 30.6% as of December 31, and the S&P SL20, which includes the largest, most liquid, and most traded stocks, showed a decline of 37.7% in the same period. Most equity markets globally declined during the same period, but the stock market in Sri Lanka has some redeeming factors.
One is that the market activity levels were quite favourable, though not at the same level as in 2021. The total market turnover was approximately Rs638 billion, averaging around Rs3 billion daily, which is satisfactory. The market also saw a net foreign inflow of about Rs51 billion, a reversal of the net outflows we have seen in the last few years. So, these are a couple of the encouraging highlights of the market during the year.
What factors contributed to the net foreign inflows, and do you believe it will continue into 2023?
We believe foreign investors were attracted by market valuations, with selective buying of stocks with strong fundamentals and growth potential despite the unfolding economic challenges. The trend may continue if there is an improvement in the economic climate in 2023 which will then attract more foreign inflows into the capital market.
We believe that 2023 will be a better year for equities despite the downturn in 2022, for several reseasons. With improvements on the macroeconomic side and once the economic reform process gets going, with external funding lines getting activated, we may see improved investor sentiment, resulting in better performance in the equity market. A lot will also depend on how the listed companies perform: their financial results at the end of the year and their earning projections for 2023, and we are hopeful of improved performance in the coming year.
Market valuations are attractive because our market PE is lower than some of our peers, particularly when compared with other emerging and frontier markets, which makes the Sri Lankan capital market attractive. However, the country's sovereign credit rating is holding back investors to a degree. If we can persist with the economic reforms agenda, we believe foreign investors would be ready to take on the opportunities offered by the low valuations.
Can you take us through the ongoing capital market development agenda spearheaded by the CSE?
It is important to mention some of the challenges we faced while recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic: we faced severe economic challenges with galloping inflation, crippling fuel shortages, power cuts, unsettled conditions in the country, declining dollar reserves, supply chain interruptions, import restrictions, and other factors.
From a business perspective, the high-interest rate regime and dampened investor sentiment are some of the negatives. During the latter part of this year, the country stabilized with the new President taking over. With all these challenges, we still achieved good headway during the year in terms of development.
At the CSE we managed to put into motion two major developments that are scheduled to go live in 2023. One is the commencement of the project to introduce a central counterparty system, or a CCP, which is the second logical step following the DVP that we implemented last year. This will strengthen the profile of the CSE, minimize settlement risk, improve risk ratings globally and also act as a catalyst for introducing new products.
The necessary regulatory approvals for the framework to establish a CCP are already in place, and we have awarded the system development contract to the London Stock Exchange Group, and they have commenced the development work. Meanwhile, we have already begun the stakeholder awareness process and also the development of the rules has begun. So, the project is well underway. We are hopeful that we can go live next year.
The second major development that we initiated in 2022 is the introduction of a new capital market product. That is Stock Borrowing and Lending (SBL), and Regulated Short Selling (RSS). Once again, the regulatory approvals are in place, and the system developments and rules development are happening as we speak. We conducted several rounds of stakeholder sessions for SBL and RSS. Further, we will commence an investor awareness campaign, and we are confident that this product will have good traction in the market, and we are hoping to go live before the end of the first half of 2023.
Another landmark project was the completion of the entire set of Stock Exchange Rules and CDS Rules to be in line or conformity with the new SEC Act. We are awaiting the final approval from the regulator to implement those rules.
On the technology side, we completed a critical piece of infrastructure, namely the migration from a legacy data centre to the new data centre both at the production site and the backup site without any loss to trading. This will help us to continue to provide best-of-class trading, clearing and settlement services for stakeholders. Incidentally, we also completed our third and final phase of digitalization of the CSE in 2022.
What are your plans for 2023?
Firstly, we are looking into product diversification. That is going to be a key focus area during the year. We are focusing on expanding the number of new products. There has been a joint committee between the SEC and the CSE that has been set up under the purview of the SEC to fast-track some of the new products to the market and at the CSE we are also looking to strengthen our resources in that area.
The second development plan is about market expansion by further digitalizing the market for greater accessibility and convenience to stakeholders.
Over the last two years, the number of active investors has tripled, and we are continuing to work to broaden the market's base; we have plans to open more regional branches during the year.
On the capital raising side, we have expanded the listing criteria and the listing rules to enable separate boards for small and medium companies. As for local companies raising foreign currency-denominated capital for their overseas expansion, we are working with investment banks to encourage those companies to make use of these opportunities.
Certain regulatory approvals have already been got and we are continuing to work on the regulatory front to close any other gaps that exist in potential dollar-denominated capital raisings.
To accommodate state-owned enterprises to list, we are amending and changing our rules to facilitate such listing.
We are also looking at strengthening the governance structure of the CSE through a process of Demutualisation of the stock exchange, converting it from a guarantee company to a company limited by shares. The primary objective of this is to separate ownership from management. We are working with the 15 member firms to assist the regulator in demutualizing the exchange, and we are hopeful that this will be completed during 2023.


Michelle Rodriguez was sentenced Wednesday to six months in jail for violating probation in a DUI case.
"[She] admitted violating her probation by failing to provide proof of completion of her community service and for consuming alcohol three times while wearing an alcohol-monitoring device," said the L.A. City Attorney's office in a statement.
The Lost star must report to a Los Angeles County jail by Dec. 24.
Superior Court Judge Daviann L. Mitchell also ruled that the actress is not to be granted an early release, despite L.A.'s jail overcrowding. She was also ordered to complete 30 days of road clean-up duty.
The City Attorney's office had alleged that Rodriguez turned in a false document showing that she completed one day of service on Sept. 25, court filings show. The actress later stated that she was in New York on that date.
Her attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Rodriguez, 29, had been serving an extended probation term for numerous driving infractions.
In May 2006, she served only four hours and 20 minutes of a two-month sentence at the Lynwood, Calif., jail for violating probation, stemming from a DUI arrest in Hawaii in December 2005.
She served, however, just over two days in a Honolulu jail in that case.
In June 2004, Rodriguez had been placed on three years' probation after pleading no contest to DUI and driving with a suspended license from two separate incidents in the Hollywood area in 2003.


Beading is such a fun and affordable way to design with colour and texture. Our evening class is a great way to develop your skills either for making for yourself or for a business.
On this 5-week evening course, suitable for beginners or those with some experience, you will learn skills including correct use of tools, creating various profiles of jewellery such as earrings, rings, bracelets and even a statement necklace or two.
Students usually make 10 or more finished pieces to take home over the course.
You don't need to bring anything but yourself as everything is provided. However, if you have any ideas of what you would like to make, feel free to bring pictures, sketches or ideas.
This class runs from 6.30pm-9pm once a week from the start date for five consecutive weeks. Please note: we don't close for bank holidays.


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By A Pop Life (Erwin Barendregt) in Review
Neil Young – Live 1982
You see, my son is severely handicapped, and at that time was simply trying to find a way to talk, to communicate with other people. That's what Trans is all about. And that's why, on that record, you know I'm saying something but you can't understand what it is. Well, that's the exact same feeling I was getting from my son.
Neil Young at 50, interview by Nick Kent, Mojo magazine, December 1995
One of Neil Young's most underestimated albums is also one of his most sincere. The story of attempting to communicate with a seriously handicapped son and an angry record company.
During the inception of Reprise Records the record company was synonymous to its founder Frank Sinatra, but from 1968 onwards, and especially in the early 1970s, the Reprise Records label was linked to Neil Young. In 1976 all label operations were transferred to main label Warner Bros., with the exception of Frank Sinatra (because he regarded his recordings as his personal property) and Neil Young (at his personal request).
Following the release of the Re·ac·tor album on November 2, 1981, Neil Young signed a deal with the recently founded Geffen Records. Besides his wish for "creative freedom" being granted, Young would receive $1 million per album.
Neil Young – Trans – Ad
In 1972 Young became a father for the first time when his son, Zeke, was born. Zeke had a mild form of Cerebral Palsy (CP), which is a group of movement disorders that appear in early childhood caused by abnormal development or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and posture. Parts of the brain don't work or work differently with people with CP.
Zeke's mother, Carrie Snodgress, decided to take care of her son when her relationship with Young ended in 1975. Young met Pegi Morton and they married in 1978 and the same year their son Ben was born. Ben had the same syndrome as his older brother, yet his symptoms were far more severe. From 1980 to half 1982 Young spent almost every minute of his free time on a therapy program for his son, who was unable to speak.
The world didn't know of Young's private issues, but noticed something was different. The music became more repetitive (representing the exercises he did with his son), which was also apparent on his latest Reprise Records album.
By the end of 1981 Young started work on the successor to Re·ac·tor. Songs for the next album were recorded with Crazy Horse. As time went on the influence of Crazy Horse changed and synthesizers and a vocoder entered the music. The music was inspired by Kraftwerk, which represented a completely new influence for Young. However, the main reason for the songs and the new approach weren't born from a new musical challenge, but to give a voice to the effort Young put in trying to communicate with his son. But, by this time, the music wasn't intended for immediate release.
In May 1982 Young recorded a number of in Hawaii, entitled Island In The Sun, which Young described as "a tropical thing all about sailing, ancient civilizations, islands and water". The songs were rejected by David Geffen (founder of Geffen Records). Anyone remember the promise of "creative freedom"?
Young returned to the synthesizer/vocoder songs and compiled an album under the moniker Trans: 3 songs off the rejected Island In The Sun project , supplemented with 6 synthesizer/vocoder songs.
By then, Young had been home for quite a while and was eager to go out on tour. From July 13 to October 19, 1982, the so-called Neil Young & The Trans Band Tour was organized, which brought Neil Young and band to the US and Europe, where Young debuted songs off the upcoming album to a, at times, stupefied audience. Due to the tour, time was scarse and the new album was rush-mixed and rush-finalized. So swift even, that the cover and lyric sheet contained the existence of a 10th song, named If You Got Love, which didn't make it to the eventual album. A unique feat for Young, who was known for his meticulousness.
Neil Young – Trans
On January 10, 1983, Neil Young's 12th studio album, Trans, his first for record company Geffen Records, was released. Both fans and critics didn't know what to do with the album. At the time, no-one knew of the illness of Young's zoon Ben, and the cause for the album, never mind the message Young tried to convey. The shock of the use of electronics and the fact that Young's voice was practically unrecognizable on 6 of the 9 songs, due to the vocoder use, was too great for many, especially when compared to the previous Re·ac·tor album, which was heavily influenced by guitar, post-punk and krautrock. Besides, the combination of synthesizer/vocoder songs with the 3 regular Island In The Sun songs seemed illogical. With Mr. Soul, the album contains a (beautiful) update of the 1967 Buffalo Springfield original.
Geffen Records didn't believe in the album, and the supporting film Young wanted to make, was scrapped. The film was meant to provide background information to the album's storyline, which would probably have helped the press and audience's appreciation for the album's messages, and could have helped album sales. With promotion at an absolute low, bad reviews and an audience that didn't get the album at all, Trans was the worst selling Neil Young album ever (to date).
Neil Young's vision
So, what's Neil Young's take on Trans? Neil Young talks about the album on his website neilyoungarchives.
TRANS is one of my best records, from a standpoint of being misunderstood. Trans was made with the idea of supporting it with a series of videos that went with the story.
Bots of all kinds, with their digital voices sang the words and melodies of a tale of communication for the disabled, those of us who cannot speak. Here, these folks, especially my son Ben Young, were cared for by robots trying to help them learn how to communicate. The story (not the same as HARVEST) was never understood by GEFFEN records and they cancelled funding for the videos, eventually suing me for making 'music uncharacteristic of Neil Young.'
© neilyoungarchives, June 12, 2019
The neilyoungarchives website sites December 29, 1982, as the release date for Trans, even though Neil Young, when answering a question of a fan, mentioned the release date as being January 10, 1983:
I have read that TRANS was actually released in early January 1983, after being pushed back by Geffen from its original release date. Everywhere else I have seen the December 29 release, so I was wondering if there was truth to this, or if it's nothing but a rumor.
Release date was 1 10 83
© neilyoungarchives, February 16, 2022
Despite neilyoungarchives citing the 'old' date on the Trans information page, I stick with January 10, 1983, as the official date of release.
I realize I have the advantage of hindsight. At the time I didn't know the album. I purchased it much, much later, after the release of 1993's Unplugged album. That album contained both Mr. Soul and Transformer Man, two songs off the Trans album. Two beautiful songs to be exact. Transformer Man in particular, possesses a moving beauty.
Trans indeed sounds like no other Neil Young album, and with its electronics and vocoder holds a unique position in his entire body of work. Yet, songs like Computer Age, We R In Control, Sample And Hold and Mr. Soul are truly magnificent. To me (again with the advantages of hindsight) it's inconceivable that people were unable to look past the presentation. That's particularly true for the stunning Transformer Man, which is part of the best work Young ever recorded. The lyrics are tear inducingly gorgeous and moving.
Transformer man, transformer man
Sooner or later you'll have to see
The cause and effect
So many things still left to do
But we haven't made it yet
Every morning when I look in your eyes
I feel electrified by you.
Oh yes.
© Neil Young 1982
The closing Like An Inca is a classic Young song with some great lyrics ("I feel sad but I feel happy as I'm coming back to home / There's a bridge across the river that I have to cross alone").
Neil Young – Trans – Singles
Despite the lack of faith in the album, Geffen Records still released 4 singles off the album.
(released in 1982)
Little Thing Called Love
(released in December 1982)
Mr. Soul
(released on March 14, 1983)
Computer Age
(released in June 1983)
Neil Young – Trans – Back cover (including If You Got Love mention)
All songs written by Neil Young.
We R In Control
Transformer Man
Computer Cowboy (AKA Syscrusher)
Hold On To Your Love
Like An Inca
Neil Young – vocals, vocoder, guitar, bass, Synclavier, electric piano
Nils Lofgren – guitar, piano, organ, electric piano, Synclavier, background vocals, vocoder
Ben Keith – pedal steel guitar, slide guitar, background vocals
Frank Sampedro – guitar, synthesizer
Bruce Palmer, Billy Talbot – bass
Ralph Molina – drums, background vocals
Joe Lala – percussion, background vocals
Neil Young – In Berlin
After Trans
From July 13 to October 19, 1982, the Neil Young & The Trans Band Tour was organized in the US and Europe. Five days before the Trans album's release, Neil Young went on tour again, using the moniker Solo Trans Tour. He played in the US and Canada from January 5 to March 4, 1983. In 1986 the laserdisc Neil Young In Berlin was released, containing the last show of the Neil Young & The Trans Band Tour on October 19, 1982.
Following the release of Trans David Geffen apparently more or less demanded a rock 'n' roll album from Young. True of false, in 1983 Young released the 25 minute rockabilly album Everybody's Rockin', which sold even worse than Trans. David Geffen had had it: in 1984 he claimed $3 million in a lawsuit, because Young didn't make typical "Neil Young-albums". The reply (predictably) was: "By definition, Neil Young makes Neil Young-albums". Young counter-sued Geffen for $21 million for breach of contract and for limiting his artistic freedom. Both lawsuits were dropped and David Geffen apologized to Young in person.
In 1985 the country album Old Ways was released, which sold slightly better than its both predecessors. In 1986 Young released Landing On Water, on which, 5 years later, Young himself commented he considered it to be "a piece of crap". In 1987 the live album Life saw the light of day, which wasn't a real success.
In the summer of 1987 Warner Bros. announced it would reinstate Reprise Records again. In October 1987 the label paid $4 million to Geffen Records: Young was back home. After the bluesy This Note's For You (1988), which sold more than all Geffen Records albums, Young's commercial status was completely restored in 1989 with the release of Freedom. The album sold over 2 million copies.
For years Neil Young has stated that Island In The Sun will be released, as would be the case with the Trans movie, in the way it was originally intended in 1982. To this day, both remain unreleased.
Neil Young – Soundcheck Birmingham 1982
In 1984 daughter Amber Jean was born. In 1986 Neil and Pegi Young organized a (acoustic) concert to fund a new school in California, especially equipped for children with physical and speech problems. This concert became an annual event up to 2016 (called the Bridge School Benefit Concert). Over the years the Youngs were helped by artists like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Don Henley, Willie Nelson, Elton John, Simon & Garfunkel and the former colleagues of Crosby, Stills, Nash (& Young).
Pegi often accompanied her husband on the road, bringing their son Ben with them. In August 2014 the divorce of Neil and Pegi Young was announced. Neil had met actress Daryl Hannah while working on an Amnesty documentary. In 2018 Young married Hannah. That same year Pegi was diagnosed with cancer, to which she succumbed on January 1, 2019.
Trans is a special album in Neil Young's body of work and within the history of (pop)music. What's your opinion? Let me know!
This story contains an accompanying video. Click on the following link to see it: Video: Neil Young schocks with the release of Trans.
N.B.:
Because Neil Young has deleted all his music from Spotify in February 2022, the A Pop Life play list hasn't been updated.
All article content: apoplife.nl / en.apoplife.nl, except:
Non credited quotes coming from Neil Young at 50, interview by Nick Kent: Mojo magazine, December 1995
Neil Young – Live 1982 image: ultimateclassicrock.com
Neil Young – Trans – Ad image: invaluable.com
Neil Young – Trans image: songssmiths.wordpress.com
Neil Young – Live 1982 image: yahoo.com
Neil Young – Trans – Singles & Neil Young – In Berlin images: discogs.com
Neil Young – Trans – Back cover (including If You Got Love mention) image: twitter.com
Neil Young – Soundcheck Birmingham 1982 image: weartemutants.com
Daily Stoopid on 01/11/2023 at 6:41 AM
A Pop Life (Erwin Barendregt) on 01/11/2023 at 1:04 PM
In 1972 Roxy Music gave off their first impression
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds debut with the exquisite From Her To Eternity
Prince is alone for Christmas, Another Lonely Christmas

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Army War Truck Driving has stunning graphics & HD environment with breathtaking visuals. Military cargo truck commando transporter games have real-time physics simulation based controls of the helicopters &vehicles. There are multiple challenging & adventuring military survival missions in the off road us army transport sim. Drive the powerful military truck carefully on the different twisted tracks & mountain terrains to save the commandos. Avoid bumping and crashing; follow the map and drive as highway truck driver. Feel free to drive a real us army transport like as pro transporter. Simulate the military helicopter, go to the base camp where oil tanker has been a blast and save the gorilla commandos. Save commandos to clear the level and unlock more levels.


When country baby shower invites time come you ll need idea to attract people with awesome invitation. This populer country baby shower invites contain 15 fantastic ideas for your DIY Baby Shower creation.
You can find many catchy country baby shower invites in this album. May all of this country baby shower invites will inspire for you. Our site always able to provide you with inspiration for your country baby shower invites .


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Battery thefts in Kidderminster and Stourport caused broadband bills rise
'Higher bills' after gang stole batteries from Openreach
By James Connell
Dean Davies
Editor's note: After publication, R Davies Metals & Sons contacted the newspaper to say that it had no connection to Dean Davies or Maurice Davies or their crimes and the waste transfer documents in the name of Dean Davies, which were registered to R Davies Metals & Sons, related only to car batteries.
A GANG of thieves stole batteries from Openreach boxes to sell for scrap, costing the company "millions" and resulting in higher bills for broadband customers.
Dean Davies, 32, was jailed after he admitted three counts of theft, each containing multiple acts of stealing the batteries, including in Kidderminster, Stourport, Droitwich, Bromsgrove and Redditch.
His co-defendants, Maurice Davies, 33, and Michael Nelson Smith, 21, admitted a single count of theft which also involved multiple batteries being stolen.
Nicholas Berry, prosecuting, said the thefts were motivated by the scrap value of the lead contained in the batteries in the green Openreach fibre optic broadband boxes located at the side of footpaths and roads which provide high speed broadband services to businesses and homes.
The barrister said £3 million of these batteries were stolen nationwide last year and £131,000 in the West Mercia Police force area alone. Each locked box contains four back-up batteries in the event of a power cut and each full set of batteries costs £500 to replace.
However, a business impact statement released by Openreach, a subsidiary of BT, also revealed other costs including inconvenience to customers, disruption of infrastructure and the loss of staff time.
Each theft took about one hour to deal with by specialist engineers, some of whom had to be drafted in from Manchester to deal with the faults and diverted from other jobs.
The company has also had to fund IT systems to better identify when such thefts occur.
Mr Berry said it was a cost "measured in millions of pounds each year" which was passed on in higher bills to customers.
Mr Berry said the focus of the police investigation was a white Renault Master van linked to a theft on April 24 last year, a theft captured on CCTV which showed four batteries being placed in the back.
He said the same van was used to ram a police vehicle in Maypole Road, Stourbridge on May 1 last year which resulted in a pursuit. When the van was stopped two males ran from it.
Police found 43 batteries in the back of the van which was not registered with the DVLA and was being driven on false plates.
Inside they found waste transfer documents in the name of Dean Davies, one concerning 32 batteries dating back to October 28, 2018 and another for 148 batteries from January 22 last year.
The documents were registered to R Davies Metals & Sons in Kingswinford. The van was examined by a scenes of crime officer and DNA linking Dean Davies to the vehicle was found.
On June 5 last year, a red Ford Transit van was stopped containing all three defendants and 36 batteries.
"All were arrested and all answered no comment in interview," said Mr Berry.
Because each battery had a unique reference number, Openreach could establish the timing and location of the thefts.
One count of theft involved 13 separate thefts in Kidderminster and Stourport (£6,500), another count involved 12 in Redditch (£6,000) and the final count involved five thefts from Droitwich and Bromsgrove (£2,500).
Dean Davies admitted all counts while Maurice Davies and Smith only admitted the final count. They sold the batteries for cash in Kidderminster, the court heard.
All defendants in the case had no previous convictions. Another count will be allowed to lie on file.
Jason Aris, for Dean Davies and Michael Smith, said both his clients had pleaded guilty at the plea and trial preparation hearing and urged the judge to bear in mind their lack of previous convictions and that both were deemed by probation to be at a low risk of reoffending.
"Both were extremely silly in what they did," he said.
The advocate described Dean Davies as a father-of-two and a carer for his dad who suffers from terminal cancer and COPD, arguing that he was "dedicated to his family".
Amanda O'Mara, for Maurice Davies, said the boxing coach had lost a baby and his partner was about to be induced. A reference from another boxing coach referred to him as an "undeniably good man who went down the wrong path".
Judge Cartwright, sentencing, said: "All of these thefts were professional and planned. The motivation was purely greed."
He said there was sophistication in that they had acquired keys to the boxes and they wore high visibility clothing to make anyone who saw them think they were carrying out legitimate work.
He jailed Dean Davies of Mullet Street, Brierley Hill for 27 months. Maurice Davies of Mullet Street, Brierley Hill and Michael Nelson Smith of Tiled House Lane, Brierley Hill, were both sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Tell us about your: Lockdown Heroes New Year babies


Ozzie, a goose from South Africa, is back on his feet thanks to a 3D-printed leg and foot designed just for him.
Ozzie spent a month hanging in a hammock after having his broken leg amputated. A group of 3D-printing professionals helped to kit him out with a new plastic leg.
Ozzie the goose and his human friend Sue Burger went to the BunnyCorp office in South Africa to have the feathered fellow's stump measured and photographed. BunnyCorp, a South African digital design firm, volunteered to design a new leg and foot for the disabled waterfowl.
Designers at BunnyCorp created drawings during the process of building a new leg for Ozzie the goose. These concepts play off the natural mechanics of a goose's leg. The designers measured Ozzie in person to ensure a good fit.
Ozzie the goose received a new 3D-printed leg thanks to the work of several volunteer sponsors. Design firm BunnyCorp created this concept for a leg prosthesis. It was then printed out and fitted to Ozzie so he could walk again.
BunnyCorp, a South African digital design firm, has experience working with human prostheses and used that knowledge to help create the goose leg and foot design. This test prosthesis is a starting point and changes may be made once Ozzie the goose wears the beta model for a while.
This test print of a new leg for amputee goose Ozzie was created with a 3D printer. The lightweight prosthetic limb is designed to fit on Ozzie's stump and replicate the movement of a regular leg.
This prosthetic leg and foot designed for a disabled goose bends in the same locations as a real goose leg. Ozzie the goose, whose broken leg had to be amputated, is the recipient of the 3D-printed leg, which is helping him to walk again.
BunnyCorp, which designed this goose prosthesis, reports that Ozzie was initially confused about his new leg, but is adapting and learning to walk with the 3D-printed appendage.


This new monthly workshop offers secondary teachers a free training session on the last Thursday of the month, held in French, with tools and resources for their class.
This first workshop will show you how to use TV5 video resources in your S1-S6 class.
Register by Friday 23 January 2015.


Official at Qatar Chamber today discussed with a Swiss business delegation means to promote trade exchange, especially in the fields of banking and healthcare.
QC Vice Chairman Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Twar said that the Chamber encourages the private sectors in qatar to engage in effective partnerships for the interest of the two economies, especially with the growing role of the Qatari private sector in development and economic diversification.
It is a favorable opportunity for growth for joint investments between the Qatari businessmen and their Swiss counterparts, he said affirming QC readiness to provide data and statistics, and to arrange for business visits, to reach positive results in the interest of the two countries's bilateral relations.
Geneva Chamber's Deputy Director Vincent Subilia voiced his country's interest to establish investment partnerships between businesses in the two countries. Geneva is known for being the home to many prestigious industries such as high-tech watchmaking as well as heavy mechanical and engineering equipment.
Subilia invited Qatari businessmen to visit Geneva, study investment opportunities, and discuss partnerships.


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To Brexit or not to Brexit: uncut interviews with Tony Blair and Nigel Farage
By Daniel Cohn-Bendit • Updated: 12/07/2018
The entire European project needs to be rethought, says Nigel Farage.
Brexit is not a done deal, says Tony Blair.
The Franco-German politician Daniel Cohn-Bendit spoke to the former British heavyweights on Uncut, Euronews' new political current affairs programme.
Bad project
Farage, the hero of Brexit, says there is no point in having democracy if the European Commission runs your country.
He says the European Union is a "bad project and needs to end completely".
The EU must accept that its attempt to "impose upon people a sense of European nationhood and identity doesn't work", he says.
"If you ask me about Europe, do I love Europe as the continent, do I love all the different European peoples, do I think they should trade together, cooperate together, be friends together, yes, yes, yes and yes I do.
"I want European cooperation, but I think this model that we've now got of centralised government in Brussels, remote from people [and] away from the voters, just isn't working.
"And I think even people like you [Daniel], who have believed in this project for 50 years, you know … it's time actually, not for Brexit to be rethought, but the whole European project."
Brexit vote part II
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says all is not doomed when it comes to Britain's exit from the European bloc. He believes there is scope for a Brexit vote Part II.
Blair says Theresa May's tenuous position in the House of Commons – having lost her majority – could leave her exposed.
"When she finally decides what her negotiating position is," Blair says, "I don't think there's a majority for either of the two propositions parliament is currently debating, and those two propositions are: stay close to Europe, in which case you abide by Europe's rules, in which case a lot of people say well why are we leaving; or a clean break from Europe, in which case there's big economic damage, in which case people say, well, what's the price?"
Blair says it's possible that Parliament could end up gridlocked.
And the only way to resolve this, he believes, would be to say to the British people: you took the original decision, we've had two years of negotiation, you now know what the options are, you've got to decide: do you really want to go ahead in these circumstances?
'Devastating': EU student numbers in UK drop by half since Brexit
Post-Brexit: Chances of EU and UK changing deal 'slim', report claims
NIGEL FARAGE BREXIT TONY BLAIR UNITED KINGDOM EUROPEAN UNION BRITISH POLITICS


Daquan Wheeler was arrested for the murder of Lisa Marie Velasquez.
She was killed by her best friend's boyfriend.
Lisa Marie Velasquez, the woman whose body parts were found stuffed in plastic trash bags in two Bronx parks, was last seen rushing to the rescue of her pal Ciara Martinez, but, cops say, she ran into Daquan Wheeler, who beat her to death then butchered her to conceal his crime.
In yet another bizarre twist of an already horrific case, Velasquez saw her own pregnant mother murdered in front of her 12 years ago.
She was just 12 years old when she and her two younger siblings, David and Vanessa, saw their mom's ex-boyfriend drag her into her bedroom and stab her to death as his current girlfriend held her down.
On Friday, police found two bags of body parts in Crotona Park belonging to Velasquez. Cops found three more bags at Barretto Point Park in Hunts Point on Tuesday night and soon determined the remains belonged to the 24-year-old Velasquez, who died from multiple blows to the head.
Cops on Wednesday arrested Martinez, 30, for helping her boyfriend Wheeler, 31, kill Velasquez and hide the corpse, police sources said.
Body parts of victim Lisa Marie Velasquez were found in two Bronx parks.
Velasquez was still alive as of Aug. 21, when she last left her apartment in the Melrose Houses and never returned, police sources said.
"She came to my mother's house. She grabbed her bag. She left in a rush. She said she had to help a friend who was in danger. And then she ran out," her aunt Jacqueline Perez, said.
Another aunt living in her building reported her missing a day later, sources said.
"I'm trying to find a way to tell her grandmother. It's not been easy for us," Perez told the Daily News on Wednesday.
Velasquez's grandmother, Iris Ginel, took custody of Velasquez and her siblings after their mom, Marilyn Ginel, was stabbed, strangled and beaten to death in her apartment. Ginel, 37, was nine months pregnant, and the killer, Robert Coakley, warned the children, "If you tell anybody I killed your mother, I'll kill you," police sources said at the time.
Coakley was convicted of murder and is serving 25 years to life in prison. Coakley's wife, Maria, pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to five years in prison.
As for Velasquez's death, the family is at a loss for why anyone might have killed her.
Her family posted frantic messages on Facebook, asking one another to check the airports to see if she'd left town, and repeatedly posting her photo.
Cops on Wednesday zeroed in on a home on Longfellow Ave. in Longwood, where it's believed the victim was cut apart. The home is less than a mile-and-a-half from Crotona Park, where her head and torso were found.
On Aug. 8, police responded to several 911 calls from that address, including one from Martinez's sister, saying that the slain woman's boyfriend was attacking him in a first-floor apartment, police sources said.
A next-door neighbor on Longfellow Ave. said she saw a man climbing through a window, then heard a woman's desperate screams the same day.
She didn't see the man's face but said he was about 30 years old and had light brown skin.
Wheeler served time in prison for a 2008 attempted murder conviction in the Bronx and a 2015 attempted burglary conviction in Brooklyn. He was released to parole in April 2017.
He's charged with murder, manslaughter, concealment of a human corpse, tampering with physical evidence and criminal possession of a weapon.
Martinez, who served three-and-a-half years for a 2010 Queens robbery conviction, faces charges of murder, criminal facilitation, hindering prosecution, concealment of a human corpse, tampering with physical evidence and conspiracy.
Wednesday night, as Martinez was led out of the 42nd Precinct stationhouse into an awaiting car, she gave no explanation for what happened but professed her loyalty to Velasquez.
"She was my friend and I loved her," Martinez said.
The city medical examiner's office determined Wednesday that Velasquez's death was a homicide — hours after her arms and legs were found in trash bags on the rocks near the Tiffany St. pier at Barretto Point Park.
A Parks Department worker found the body parts outside Crotona Park about 2 p.m. on Friday near Franklin Ave.
Cops released a composite sketch of the victim last week and identified her as Velasquez on Tuesday.
The Tiffany St. pier is about two-and-a-half miles from where the first set of remains was found.


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Menasha Ridge Press :: Authors :: Jennifer Pharr Davis
Jennifer Pharr Davis
Jennifer Pharr Davis grew up in the North Carolina Mountains, where she developed a love for hiking from childhood. She has trekked more than 8,000 miles of trails in North America, including the Pacific Crest Trail, Vermont's Long Trail, and the Colorado Trail, and completed two thru-hikes on the Appalachian Trail. On many international trips, she has tred iconic paths that include Mount Kilimanjaro, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, and the 600-mile Bibbulmun Track in Australia.
Jennifer holds endurance records on three long-distance trails. In 2008 she became the fastest woman to hike the Appalachian Trail, averaging 38 miles a day and completing the trail in 57 days.
An accomplished book author with two other outdoor guides--Best Easy Day Hikes Charlotte and Best Hikes Near Charlotte--to her credit, Jennifer completed her memoir, Becoming Odyssa: Epic Adventures on the Appalachian Trail, for its debut from Beaufort Books in 2010.
In addition, Jennifer has written for Trail Runner magazine, Away.com, and is a frequent contributor to Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, and is the owner and founder of Blue Ridge Hiking Co.
See details Five-Star Trails: Asheville, 2nd edition
The definitive guide to hiking in Asheville.
Five-Star Trails: Asheville by accomplished hiker and writer Jennifer Pharr Davis covers 35 hikes in the greater Asheville region, from area nature preserves to treks along the Blue Ridge Parkway and in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Asheville resident has sought out her favorite hikes, as well as a cross section of adventures on foot that exhibit the variety of hikes found in the greater Asheville region. Hikes include treks along the famed Appalachian Trail to waterfalls of the Pisgah National Forest. Other walks take you to the rhododendron blooms atop Craggy Gardens. Solitude can be found on remote Hickey Fork. And then there's the granite domes and crashing cataracts of Dupont State Forest. Mix hiking and history at the Cradle of Forest or Mount Pisgah via Buck Springs Lodge. Soak in inspiring panoramas from Shining Rock Wilderness or Looking Glass Rock.
These fantastic hikes are laid out in an organized fashion by a professional hiker and speaker who exemplifies the heart and spirit of Asheville. Hikes range widely in elevation, distance, and difficulty, providing a variety of experiences for everyone. The guide provides in-depth trail descriptions, directions, and commentary on what to expect along the way. Each hike features an individual trail map, elevation profile, and at-a-glance information, helping readers quickly find the perfect trip.
Quantity 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32


At the age of 12, Alice is quite possibly one of the youngest characters I've written . She's traveling with her 16 year old super religious vagabond boyfriend (a bit of an oxymoron there) all while trying to hide from the authorities. See, she was born with psychic abilities that are highly unpredictable, so she may or may not have killed a few dozen people. Somehow she still remains naive and plucky and fairly shy.
When I opened up her file, I was expecting worse. (Some of you are probably rolling your eyes and begging for mercy at this point. Or maybe you're on the same page with me.) The idea of a runaway child with a dark past is pretty cliche, but I'd be interested in working with a mutant child character again. Alice is the result of a brief spurt of inspiration that died after the song started to bore me. I tend to abandon my children, and anyone who is a more experienced writer than myself might die a little on the inside upon hearing that.
First things first though…I should fix her not-so-subtle last name. Is it a literary allusion that makes no sense in this context? Is it pure laziness smart enough to avoid plagiarism? Did I truly think that was a creative last name? The world may never know.
Alice is one of my favourite also ….
There's a lot of work here, but I think you can make her one of those characters who is like Rue from Hunger Games or something.
Thanks for the comment! I'm actually playing around with her now and seeing what aspects I can tweak to keep her from becoming too angsty or too unbelievable.
I sometimes get inspiration from the strangest things. I don't listen to a lot of popular music, but this song is just nice all around.
This is what is great about the #Challenge. Discovering other writers and what interest them. You're off to a good start with your letter A. Come and visit me if you have time.
Of course! Thank you for visiting my blog!
I'm always impressed by those who can Imagine characters and develop a story around them. I love reading fiction but can't imagine writing it.
I've never finished a story myself. (Maybe that's why I have so many failed concepts.) But I'm obsessed with creativity, so maybe one of these days I'll get there. Thanks for the visit!


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Why do so many people seem to think that you can`t beleive in GOD and the theory of evolution at the same time?
by kat 3 hours ago
Greekgod
Something to do with the fact they are contradictory to one another.
Angel of Music
If you believe in God you believe that He created everything, but if you believe in Evolution you believe that all living things just exist in and out of itself. Thus contradicting that you believe that God made everything.
Phillis - Zacks little sister
I happen to believe both! I'm serious! What a concept, huh?
I belive that God created the universe, and the worlds in it. I also believe that evolution is part of God's plan to further development of his creation. Every person has the right to their own believes. You should not let other peoples opinion to change your basic values, the things that makes you the person that you are.
Hyperion is back in China
It's possible to believe in a god if you also believe in evolution but it's not really possible to believe in the Yahweh/God/Allah figure of Judaism/Christianity/Islam. . For example, pretty much everything in the Bible/Koran relating to the time before Abraham is immediately repudiated by evolution. So if the entity that you believe in didn't actually create us you have to ask in what sense he/it is a 'god'. . The concept of original sin from Genesis vanishes, as does Satan. So then what does Jesus come to earth for ? As Jesus himself clearly believes in Satan he can't really be divine himself - unless the entity that you believe in is not omniscient, which leads you again back to the question - in what sense is this being a 'god'. . You also have to then consider the Bible in it's entirety. If huge and important chunks of it are simply made up, why would anyone believe that the rest of it is any different. . It's a bit like pulling at a loose thread on a piece of clothing - pretty soon the whole thing falls apart. You can believe in a 'god' and in evolution but the 'god' in question is either limited in power or has a very limited interest or involvement with the human race.
ThePrognosticAgnostic
I meet people who claim they believe in both all of the time. It's just an effective straw man argument. The majority of people (at least in this country)claim to not fully believe in evolution. Of course such things tell you nothing about whether the two are ACTUALLY compatible or not. I don't know, however, whether this is intentional fallacy or not. It works on people because most Christians claim not to believe in Evolution, it's just a number game, people think it's probably true based off of the people they've met. I say it's a straw man argument, because what will happen however the debate turns out, is that Christians, like many Christian scientists I know will just say, "we know THAT God created everything, we just don't know HOW." This is the strongest position on the topic that I've heard from Christians, but when trying to refute "Christianity", non-believers when talking to no one in particular will attack the weakest argument possible on the topic, and then follow it with something like, "That's how I know religion/Christianity isn't true". When the argument is used to knockdown Christianity, which it can't, it is a straw man argument. It's possible that some of these people who say this just don't know any better, they just go off what they've heard. Sometimes, they will even hear that the two are incompatible from religious people themselves, further complicating the matter, whether the religious person happens to know much about it or not. However, some other non-religious people are just as bad about wanting "converts" to their side as the religious are, perhaps for political or social reasons. For people who do not have many facts to go off of or do not use logic well, this is an extremely effective tactic to use, whether it's intentional or not.
god is a concept for followers. evolution is a concept for people who need evidence and not myths. you see?
People have a black or white mentality. For many, there is no such thing as grey.
yeroco
I think it's because they think that to allow any sort of evolution idea diminishes God's role in the Universe. They want to believe that God is the Alpha and the Omega... the beginning and the end of all things. If God wasn't directly involved in evolution, what role does he play? Did he just create the Universe and sit back and watch it evolve on its own? Did he shape evolution? To what extent? It just opens up too many uncomfortable questions for them. Personally, I think the people who believe both in God and evolution are desperately seeking to avoid an argument (including with themselves). They want a solution that no one will complain about, but it simply is not possible. These are two diametrically opposed, irreconcilable ideas.
How do you know? Probably more likely that MOST people don't give this any thought at all. ------------- "That was some '24' episode last night!" "Oh man...Jack Bauer is really in a jam now." "Can't wait to see how they resolve this. So, how are you coming along with your position on God and the theory of evolution?" ------------- Yeah...we've all heard THAT conversation.
Jewels Vern
5-14-2017 Because God is the God of rightness, and evolution is clearly wrong. It is commanded by some bunch of people who claim that authority and people are forced to pretend to believe. Every bit of evidence to support the theory has been exposed as a hoax.
Linda Joy
Many people believe that others shouldn't believe something if they don't believe it. You can choose to believe whatever you want, it doesn't even have to be true or sensible!
Do you think sexual dimorphism in humans will change or stay the same over time?
Why is it so hard for people to grasp the concept that evolution is a major possiblity?
If you put your two fingers of different hand under a ruler (on the edge) like a bridge, why can't you try to put your hands together at the same time? I tried it many times but my hands always took turns coming together.
Can you be a scientist and believe in the big bang at the same time?
I understand that Science is the study of the natural world, and God is supernatural, thus, many call Him 'unscientific', but is it not scientific to say that the Universe was created by a Higher Power or Being? Wouldn't you say so?
Do people who don't believe in evolution, not believe that dinosaurs existed?
Due to the theory we originated from africa, does this prove blacks are behind others in evolution, (within this question no racism is implied)
Why is it that many people seem to beleive that Atheists are not capable of being moral people? Do you think Atheists can be moral? Why or why not?
Why don't people seem to be able to believe in both evolution and creationism? How hard is it to believe that god created evolution?
Many people believe there wasn't lunar landing but to prove there was can't they just direct a telescope to the moon and find the flag and the remains of the space craft that are still on the moon?


Sue Blackmore on the one thing everyone should have in their cognitive toolkit that they don't currently…..CINAC (Correlation is not a Cause).
The point is that once you greet any new correlation with "CINAC" your imagination is let loose. Once you listen to every new science story Cinacally (which conveniently sounds like "cynically") you find yourself thinking: OK, if A doesn't cause B, could B cause A? Could something else cause them both or could they both be the same thing even though they don't appear to be? What's going on? Can I imagine other possibilities? Could I test them? Could I find out which is true? Then you can be critical of the science stories you hear. Then you are thinking like a scientist.


You are here: Home / Opera / Orchestra / Festivals / Schools / The Canton Symphony Chorus will be holding auditions for the 2015-2016 season at the Birk Center for the Arts on Walsh University campus on August 9th, and 16th from 1:00-5 p.m.
The Canton Symphony Chorus will be holding auditions for the 2015-2016 season at the Birk Center for the Arts on Walsh University campus on August 9th, and 16th from 1:00-5 p.m.
CANTON, OH (July 7, 2015) – The Canton Symphony Chorus will be holding auditions for the 2015-2016 season at the Birk Center for the Arts on Walsh University campus on August 9th, and 16th from 1:00-5 p.m. The Canton Symphony Chorus is under the direction of Dr. Britt Cooper, Director of Fine and Performing Arts and Director of Choral Activities at Walsh University.
The Canton Symphony Chorus, founded in 1984, is a volunteer adult ensemble. The Chorus rehearses weekly from September through April at Birk Center for the Arts. The ensemble performs major choral works with the Canton Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and its music director Gerhardt Zimmermann. This season's performances will include a men's chorus on Franz Liszt's Mephistofeles on the CSO's MasterWorks concert November 1, holiday favorites during the Holiday Pops concert in December, a chorus-only concert on March 4, 2016, and Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna and Borodin's Polovtsian Dances on the CSO's season finale concert April 23, 2016 with Dr. Britt Cooper conducting.
New members into the chorus are required to audition, and singers from all backgrounds and levels of experience are encouraged to audition. Singers may, but are not required, to bring a prepared classical piece to their audition. Anyone auditioning should expect to be vocalized for range and should be prepared to sing through several pitch memory and sight-singing drills. To schedule an audition time, call the Canton Symphony Orchestra Office at 330-452-2094. Additional information is available online at www.cantonsymphony.org/people/chorus-auditions.


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March 23, 2016 – Greatest Hits – Maid to Harvard PHD Dr. Jin Robertson & Emmy Winner Natalie MacNeil
23 Mar March 23, 2016 – Greatest Hits – Maid to Harvard PHD Dr. Jin Robertson & Emmy Winner Natalie MacNeil
This is a Greatest Hits Show, hope you enjoy.
Dr. Jin Robertson – International Motivational/Inspirational Speaker and Bestselling Author of Major Dream: From Immigrant Housemaid to Harvard Ph.D.
Dr. Jin Robertson
Dr. Jin Robertson was born and raised in Korea, where she worked as a factory girl, waitress, and housemaid. After moving to the US, she became a major in the U.S. Army, and went on to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard. She is now Korea's most popular inspirational and motivational speaker and she has delivered over 600 speeches and is the bestselling author of a memoir that's sold over a half million copies. As a single mother, she raised a daughter, Jasmin, who was selected as a Presidential Scholar and who also graduated from Harvard, became a U.S. Army officer, and received a master's degree from Princeton. Currently a host of radio talk show "American Dreams: The Sky Is the Limit" on the Voice America/World Talk Radio, Dr. Robertson lives in Fayetteville, North Carolina and Seoul, Korea.
Natalie MacNeil – Emmy Award-Winning Media Producer, CEO at She Takes on the World and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of The Conquer Kit: A Creative Business Planner for Women Entrepreneurs
Natalie MacNeil
Natalie MacNeil is an Emmy Award-winning media entrepreneur and the bestselling author of "She Takes on the World: A Guide to Being Your Own Boss, Working Happy, and Living on Purpose." She is the Creator of SheTakesOnTheWorld.com which was recognized by Forbes as one of the "Top 100 Websites for Women." Her expertise has also been featured in the pages of Glamour, People StyleWatch, Inc., Forbes, ForbesWoman,Wall Street Journal, CNN, Entrepreneur.com, Globe and Mail, Mashable, and more. Natalie won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, the Stevie Award for Women in Business 2014, the Website of the Year award, and the Stevie Award for Women in Business 2013. She was recognized as a 40 Under 40 Recipient and a Forbes 20 Women to Follow on Twitter. She won her Emmy Award Winner for Out My Window which came out in 2011.
Emmy Winner, Jin Robertson, Natalie MacNeil
March 22, 2016 – Greatest Hits – Presentation Guru Kenny Nguyen & Email Expert Ben Settle
March 24, 2016 – Greatest Hits – $650,000 Buffett Lunch w Guy Spier & Business Buyer Ace Chapman


Livermore Valley's dog friendly wineries host a day of fun for dogs and their owners across the region. Bring your friendly four legged friends (on a leash, of course!), and enjoy a day in beautiful Wine Country. Local animal rescues (including us!) will be partnered with wineries, promoting adoptions of their furry friends that need a home.
There's a fantastic raffle, and when you purchase tickets through us, we get 50% of the proceeds! Learn more below.
You'll pick up your glass at the starting winery of your choice, along with a wrist band that grants you access throughout the wineries. Learn more.
Support Copper's Dream in the Raffle!
1) Ama Waterways Cruise for 2 - good for a wine themed sailing in March, November, or December of 2019.
5) Pet Food Express "My Mutt" Program- photo shoot with your dog and a poster in their stores for 6 months!


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10The Hunger Games
The most lucrative and controversial story of teens killing each other under controlled conditions for public consumption, The Hunger Games has the world's attention by the eyeballs. While many have criticized Suzanne Collins's prose and certain contrivances in the story, many think the premise and characters transcend the limitations of the writing.
Film it's uncannily similar to: Slashers
Thought we were going to say Battle Royale, didn't you?
Slashers is a 2001 B movie about game show contestants having to kill serial killers or be killed themselves. Its acting may be dodgy, and its satirical point against reality television feels a bit dated today, but it features many story points and elements later shown in The Hunger Games, such as an ironically pleasant and flamboyant host for the event and trackers on contestants that will kill them if they break rules.
The Hunger Games also apes other earlier stories of regular people placed in an arena, but one specific factor sets this connection apart: the way Slashers deals with the interaction between the audience and the contestants. Early on, a major female contestant learns that she needs to achieve audience sympathy (or enticement in the form of removing clothing) to get special advantages.
9The Blair Witch Project
For about 10 years, this 1999 movie about an students filming a documentary in the woods (and dying horribly) was the most profitable theatrically distributed film ever. It's also often credited with launching the found-footage horror subgenre.
Film it's uncannily similar to: The Last Broadcast
The Last Broadcast is an indie mockumentary released one year before Blair Witch. In it, the creators of a public access show go camping and go missing, leaving only footage from the woods to indicate the cause of their deaths. It was popular enough in the independent horror circuit despite a $900 budget. The creators of The Blair Witch Project saw it and admitted that it influenced them.
The Blair Witch Project would have been far more similar to The Last Broadcast if directors Eduardo Sanchez and Daniel Myrick had stuck to their original plan and made The Blair Witch Project a pseudo-documentary in the style of Unsolved Mysteries. Not until after the three actors went out into the woods and provided enough quality footage for a feature-length movie did they restrict the movie to rough, handheld footage. Originally, Blair Witch was promoted as a broadcast of pseudo-documentary content. This was later repackaged as The Curse of the Blair Witch.
8Star Wars
This science fiction epic has gone from being a megahit that critics hated to the crux of a creative empire. It was part of a one-two punch with Jaws in changing the way that motion pictures are released in America. In so doing, it was also accused of infantilizing American cinema.
Film it's uncannily similar to: Silent Running
In 1977, the Universal Studios science-fiction series Battlestar Galactica looked suspiciously similar to Star Wars in terms of production design, particularly the spaceship models. Time magazine, for one, called it a "blatant rip-off." This was not too surprising, as John Dykstra supervised special effects for both Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica.
Fox sued Universal in June 1978. Universal countersued on the grounds that Star Wars had plagiarized Universal's own film Silent Running, about an environmental extremist in space who kills his crewmates. The focus of the countersuit was on the extremist's robot assistants, to which the famous robot R2-D2 bore a supposedly infringing resemblance. Allegedly, designer Ralph McQuarrie had based R2-D2 on the Silent Running bot. In the end, neither side was found guilty of infringement.
7Aladdin
Aladdin is one of the films of Disney's 1990s animated film renaissance. It's also been panned for introducing excessive anachronisms and random pop culture references as humor, which would become increasingly common in animated films in 2000s.
Film it's uncannily similar to: The Thief and The Cobbler
The Thief and the Cobbler has become a legend in animation fan circles if not among the general moviegoing public. Writer-director Richard Williams spent 28 years working on this cartoon and on projects that allowed him to finance its production. Not until he won an Oscar for Who Framed Roger Rabbit? did he get official production support from Warner Brothers. The studio worked on the film whenever Williams and company were available, and some of the crew moved on to other projects during production. One of those projects was Aladdin, which would ultimately come out a year before Williams's movie.
The resemblances are specific and numerous. Both films are set in a desert city, and both are about poor young men who infiltrate royal families with liberated princesses. Both feature a Sultan character who is a heavy old fellow in white clothing. The Thief counterpart to Aladdin's Jafar is the royal vizier Zig-Zag, who is designed similarly to Aladdin's Genie. It's surprising that Warner Brothers didn't try to hit Disney with a cease and desist order just to slow their movie's production.
6Barb Wire
Back when Pamela Anderson was one of the biggest performers in America, this 1996 comic book vehicle for her bombed horribly. It did so poorly that it wasn't even capable of winning a Golden Raspberry award, although this may have been due more to the new public distaste for Pamela Anderson than due to the movie's intrinsic faults. For example, Roger Ebert gave it 2.5 stars out of 4 before the hype backlash began.
Film it's uncannily similar to: Casablanca
The greatest love story in film history and probably the most famous film made during World War II inspired this movie on a nearly shot-for-shot basis. The eponymous Barb Wire owns a bar like Rick's Cafe, her ex-boyfriend shows up during a scheme to sneak out of enemy territory to safety (in this case, into Canada), and so on. The film even completely restages the plane departure scene at the end of Casablanca. The movie doesn't seem to be trying to sneak this in, since the villains of the movie are dressed in uniforms modeled off the SS officers in the earlier film.
It's unclear why this approach was taken. It's not played as a parody. And most '90s comic book fans weren't chomping at the bit for an homage to the classic film.
5Disturbia
This 2007 Shia LaBeouf film is about a teenager who witnesses his neighbor committing murder. He takes it upon himself to put the suspect under intense surveillance. Fortunately, he has plenty of free time for this because he's under house arrest.
Film it's uncannily similar to: Rear Window
The 1954 Alfred Hitchcock classic features the same setup of a suspected murder and a witness who is stuck at home. Since James Stewart's character is confined to a wheelchair instead of just having an ankle bracelet, the situation is inherently more tense and suspenseful for him and the audience since he has less agency.
In 2008, a lawsuit was filed against DreamWorks Studios by the Sheldon Abend Revocable Trust, which owned the rights to the short story on which Rear Window was based. In 1990, Sheldon Abend had won a landmark copyright case over this short story, but his heirs had less luck with this suit. In 2010, the case was thrown out of court by Judge Laura Taylor Swan on the grounds that the two stories were alike only in highly general ways.
The court of critical consensus wasn't nearly so kind to Disturbia, with many reviews claiming that it was just "a limp teenage by-the-numbers version of Rear Window."
4Oz: The Great And Powerful
This prequel to The Wizard of Oz features James Franco as the Wizard. He rides a tornado into a fantasy world where he becomes the hero of a collection of backward, well-meaning folk after unleashing the evil of the villain through his own weakness.
Film it's uncannily similar to: Army Of Darkness
The two stories share a very similar structure in terms of how the hero is introduced to an alien environment. They share plot elements, such as books from the hero's time enabling him to design devices that defeat the villains. The Wizard gets a magically outfitted carriage; Ash from Army outfits a 1973 Oldsmobile with swinging blades that obliterate skeletons. Plus, both films feature Bruce Campbell getting hit for no relevant reason.
There presumably won't be too many lawsuits over this since Sam Raimi directed both films. Raimi expressed concerns over taking the assignment because he felt Great and Powerful couldn't compare to the original Wizard of Oz. Falling back on the structure and gags from one of his beloved old fantasy films must surely have felt like a safe bet.
3Plan 9 From Outer Space
Celebrated as one of the worst movies ever made, Plan 9 tells the story of aliens reanimating the dead to intimidate humanity. It's notorious for featuring a zombie army of literally only three people. One of them has his hand over his face the whole time to hide that's he's played by a double, rather than by film icon Bela Lugosi.
Film it's uncannily similar to: Invisible Invaders
A sci-fi horror film from the same year as Plan 9 from Outer Space, this is also the story of aliens reanimating the dead to intimidate humanity. The living dead even have an invincibility to bullets that is shared by their counterparts in Ed Wood's film, and they're returned to death by ray guns.
Curiously, the larger-budgeted, generally better-made movie is the one that slipped into obscurity in this case. Indeed, film critics like Leonard Maltin seemed to rate Invisible Invaders as worse than Plan 9 because its incompetence was less entertainingly extreme. This just goes to show that even ineptitude should not be done in half measures.
2The Purge
This 2013 horror film about all laws being suspended is probably as well known for how absurd its premise is (and how unexplored its themes are) as it is for its supposed scares and suspense. Nevertheless, it's well on its way to a second sequel at the time of writing.
Film it's uncannily similar to: Settlers Day
Settlers Day is an unproduced screenplay by Douglas Jordan-Benel that was submitted to Universal through United Talented Agency. It shares a premise with The Purge, leading Jordan-Benel to sue Universal Pictures for $5 million. In both films, murder is legal for one night, and killers lay siege to one family's fortified home.
In the course of the lawsuit, UCLA film professor Richard Walter submitted expert testimony stating that the similarity of the screenplays was so striking that it would be "virtually impossible" for it to be just a coincidence.
1The Island
Michael Bay's 2005 film The Island features a community of clones isolated for organ-harvesting. One man escapes and meets the person he is cloned from while on the run. DreamWorks paid $1.5 million for the movie's script.
Film it's uncannily similar to: Parts: The Clonus Horror
This 1979 film features a community of clones isolated for organ-harvesting. One man escapes and meets the person he is cloned from while on the run. That's only part of 90 similarities identified between the two films.
DreamWorks seemed to concede that The Island had copied elements. They gave the creators of Clonus a seven-figure settlement.
Caspian Tredwell-Owen, who wrote the script, didn't work again for seven years. This may make him the only person in Hollywood history punished for being unoriginal.
Read more: http://listverse.com/2014/12/05/10-movies-that-look-suspiciously-like-ripoffs/
10 Movies That Look Suspiciously Like Rip-Offs
Many films popular today for their supposed originality really just rework well-used tropes. With a little digging, you can uncover predecessors that are coincidentally extremely similar in plot. Occasionally, the overlap even extends beyond coincidence into outright plagiarism, and the original filmmakers sue to get the credit they're owed.
in Movies and TV 0
Top 10 Movie Sequels You Have...
This Is What It's Like To...


VIDEO: You should get the Fall Creators Update doing a clean install of Windows 10 — Here's why and how to do it.
Windows 10's Fall Creators Update (version 1709) is available to every compatible device starting October 17, 2017, and to speed up the install process, most users will use the in-place upgrade method, just because is quicker, and they can keep their personal files, apps, and settings.
The only problem going through the upgrade path is that many times you may come across errors and other issues, as a result of compatibility issues with software and hardware, configuration problems, or a bug with the OS.
However, if you do a clean installation of Windows 10 with the Fall Creators Update, you can avoid many of the problems using the in-place upgrade process, because a clean installation wipes out the drive deleting everything, and you then start again with a fresh copy of Windows 10.
Also, if you've been using the same installation for a long time, doing a clean installation of Windows 10 with the Fall Creators Update will help to improve performance, memory usage, and it might fix existing problems.
The process to start fresh with a new copy of Windows 10 hasn't changed much in a lot of years, but recently Microsoft has updated the finishing process adding Cortana assistance to the mix and new privacy settings to help anyone, no matter their technical level, to complete the setup.
Important: You'll be wiping out everything on your device, as such make sure to make a full backup of your PC and files before proceeding.
This hands-on video will walk you through the steps to successfully do a clean installation of the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.
If you prefer the written instructions, you can use this guide that outlines every step to start fresh with a copy of Windows 10. In the case you want to speed up the install process, you can also do an in-place upgrade using these instructions.
Installing the new version of Windows 10 should be an easy process, but if you experience any errors, bugs, or any other issue that you can't figure out, you can submit your questions in the PUREinfoTech forums to get help.


Sitting on a fifteen-acre green hill, just outside Presque Isle is a dream house built with generosity and love. This story is the tale of how many people with various talents, much work and dedication, and sometimes-miraculous timing, built this house over nine long years.
And I will be home.
And this alone gives me strength and hope.
And this is my quiet freedom—my peace.
the simplest joys are most glorious and true.
My friends and family nearby—this is my place.
And one day leave—as my home.
Our lives are woven together for a reason, each a vital thread in the Aroostook House of Comfort tapestry. Hopefully, our collective experiences will make someone else's journey easier.
Back row: Nancy Cronkite (Recording Secretary), Michael Thibodeau, Joseph Lallande, Michael MacPherson (Vice Chair), Rick Duncan (Chair), Nancy Duncan, Ray Hews, Larry LaPlante (Past Treasurer), Lise Collins.
"Each life is a miracle that changes the world and leaves it a better place than it was before." Bill and Peggy passed while serving on the board of directors. Their love and compassion for family, friends and community was their inspiration for helping to bring a hospice house to Aroostook County.
Photo of Bill and Peggy Smyth - past directors passed away during journey.


Are Yummi Bear vitamins gluten-free? Wheat free? Dairy Free?
Why is there some color variation in my gummies?
Hero products are made with natural colors from fruits and vegetables. It is possible to see a slight variation in the color of our gummies. Natural colors can darken over time. Changes in color do not affect the potency or taste of the finished product.
Can I give Yummi Bears to my child if he/she is under three years of age?
Please contact your physicians before giving your child gummy vitamins. We normally recommend children two and up, as long as they can chew and swallow easily.
How many Yummi Bears gummy vitamins should my child take?
Serving sizes vary by product. Check your product's supplement facts to find the daily dosage for your child's age range. Daily dosage is based on age, not weight, so we highly suggest following the serving size recommendations for each product.
Please contact your child's physician to discuss your concern. While most vitamins are easily eliminated from the body without causing any side effects, high doses of fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamins A, D and E are stored by the body.
Does it matter when I take my gummies?
You can take your supplements at any time of day. For maximum benefits, we recommend taking them around the same time each day.
The gelatin in our Gummies is entirely Non-GMO and extracted from pork skin.
What kind of Pectin do you use?
Our pectin is Non-GMO, plant-based and derived from lemons and limes.
Our vegetarian Approved Products are?
Yummi Bears Organics for Kids and Slice of Life Organics for Adults our Yummi Bears Calcium+ D3 and our Yummi Bears Fish Free Omega-3 with Chia Seed are Vegetarian approved.
Which of your products are Non-GMO?
All our Organic products (Yummi Bears Organics for Kids and Slice of Life Organics for Adults), as well as our Yummi Bears Calcium+ D3 and our Yummi Bears Fish Free Omega-3 with Chia Seed are GMO-Free.
Do you offer a sugar-free option?
Yes, we do! We use natural chicory root to sweeten our gummies. While this product is formulated for children adults can adjust the serving size as needed. Please contact your Dr. for recommended serving. Our sugar-free line consists of Yummi Bears Sugar-Free Vitamin C, Yummi Bears Sugar-Free Complete Multi-Vitamin and Yummi Bears Sugar-Free Vitamin D3 1000IU.
Yes! We conduct extensive testing to ensure we meet the standards of California's Prop 65.
Are your products Kosher and/or Halal?
No, we are not certified Kosher/Halal at this time.
***I'D like Hero Nutritionals to Sponsor an Event or Donate Items, Who should I contact?
You can submit your request to our Marketing department by filling out the link below. We will review your request and determine if it is something we are able to sponsor.


Lesson Plans For The Homestead Act With The Homestead Act Politics, Legislation, And Government Fo 20946 was posted in August 17, 2018 at 8:56 am and has been viewed by 35 users. this image is available in size 551x528 Pixel, If you want to use this image click the download image link below to go to the download page. Right click the image and select "Save Image As" to download the Lesson Plans For The Homestead Act With The Homestead Act Politics, Legislation, And Government Fo 20946 to your computer or select "Set Desktop Background As" if your browser has that capability.


The Phoenix Lights (sometimes referred to as the lights over Phoenix) were a series of widely sighted optical phenomena (generally unidentified flying objects) that occurred in the skies over the U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada, and the Mexican state of Sonora on March 13, 1997. A repeat of the lights occurred February 6, 2007, and was filmed by the local Fox News TV station. A similar incident occurred April 21, 2008. This incident was later revealed to be prank–flares attached to helium balloons. Lights of varying descriptions were seen by thousands of people between 19:30 and 22:30 MST, in a space of about 300 miles, from the Nevada line, through Phoenix, to the edge of Tucson. There were two distinct events involved in the incident: a triangular formation of lights seen to pass over the state, and a series of stationary lights seen in the Phoenix area. The United States Air Force (USAF) identified the second group of lights as flares dropped by A-10 Warthog aircraft which were on training exercises at the Barry Goldwater Range in southwest Arizona. Witnesses claim to have observed a huge carpenter's square-shaped UFO, containing lights or possibly light-emitting engines. Fife Symington, the governor at the time, was one witness to this incident.
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This is a variation of an unofficial 1996 rainbow bottle ad titled "Absolut Pride."
One of the most venerable brands in the gay market, Absolut has had a consistent presence for over 25 years gracing the back covers of gay magazines years before any other major advertiser. Yet for all its recognition in the gay market and longterm presence, Absolut has only done a handful of truly gay-specific ads. But the company has been very involved in gay events, such as the GLAAD Media Awards (sponsored since 1989) and in 2000 it sponsored Absolut Tom, the fall collection of Tom of Finland, a clothing extension of the homerotic gay artist.


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Books, arts and culture
Cecil Beaton's photographs
In a good light
A new exhibition about his career in America brings his singular sensibility into sharp focus
by J.M. | NEW YORK
CECIL BEATON, an English photographer, found happy hunting in New York City for more than 40 years, both behind the camera and in the world of the theatre. When he arrived in America after the second world war, Beaton wrote that it was "time to settle down and relish to the full the infinite delights that New York has to offer." A new exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York aims to chronicle his engagement with those delights, from his early Vogue photos of the mid-1930s—their figures highly stylised in poses and shadows reminiscent of German Expressionism—to a 1970 portrait of Mick Jagger, as casual and unaffected as a snapshot.
Over the course of his career, Beaton photographed everyone from the English royal family to socialites to film icons, such as Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich. One remarkable portrait from 1948 shows a very young Marlon Brando, straddling a chair and holding an open book. He looks into the camera with the contempt and beauty of a schoolboy who knows he can get away with anything. Such distinguished characters gave Beaton exceptional source material, but these photographs reveal that he was more than the sum of his subjects.
He lived in a style worthy of those he photographed, in suites of rooms at fine hotels, the Plaza and the Sherry-Netherland, among others. These rooms are featured in the show, shot in rich colour. Beaton decorated the rooms as a way to illustrate his flair for interior décor, but at least in the case of the Plaza, he stayed at a greatly reduced rate, thanks to the largess of his friend Serge Obolensky, who ran the hotel at the time.
It was from the Plaza that he wooed the infamously reclusive Greta Garbo, one of the few women Beaton, who was gay, pursued in a romantic fashion. He photographed her in those same rooms, unforgettable images which ran in a 1946 issue of Vogue. A pair of particularly memorable shots from that sitting is included in the exhibition. One features Garbo lying on the floor with her knees drawn up to her chest, her lips parted in a smile. Another sees her standing next to a window, her expression reflective and composed. "Sometimes photographs are more like people than they are themselves," Beaton observed after an outing with the actress. His portraits of her capture some essential aspect of her character. They are rare unguarded moments in the life of a very private individual.
But the exhibition ranges far beyond Beaton's familiar pictures. An array of sketches and photos is devoted to each of several key figures in Beaton's American life, beginning with Elsie de Wolfe, an early mentor, all the way through Diana Vreeland, who championed Beaton's work during her time as editor at Harper's Bazaar and then Vogue. An unexpected highlight is Beaton's work designing sets and costumes for the theatre. A dark and otherworldly sketch for the 1951 New York Ballet staging of Swan Lake is particularly striking, and costumes he designed for productions of "Turandot" and "La Traviata" are displayed to fine effect.
The sum of these images and items is the sense of Beaton as a singular talent, a prolific artist with a sensibility all his own. And though that sensibility can seem overly mannered at times, the product of another era, Beaton recognised very early the primacy of fame in American life. He understood the public's desire to see the figures they so adored in all weathers and lights, in roles other than those that made them famous. Like any good portraitist, he knew the value of artifice in presenting his subjects, and that flattering images would guarantee continued access. For that, he remains relevant today and should for years to come.
Cecil Beaton: The New York Years is at the Museum of the City of New York until February 20th. A companion book was edited by Donald Albrechy and features an essay by Susan Henshaw Jones. It is available from Skira Rizzoli Books.
More from Prospero
An American musical about mental health takes off in China
The legacy of apartheid
Sue Williamson's art of resistance
Lost, found and lost again
What happened to the "Salvator Mundi"?
Writers' lives
Ernest Hemingway: the man, the myth, the legend
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Inside HYMAG, the world's largest collection of magazines
The protagonist of "Next to Normal" has bipolar disorder. The show is encouraging audiences to open up about their own well-being
Aesthetics and politics are powerfully entwined in the 50-year career of the South African artist
The recently rediscovered painting made headlines in 2017 when it fetched $450m at auction. Then it vanished again
A new documentary by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick explores the writer's own image-making
Its founder hopes to digitise the 150,000 volumes for the benefit of future generations


The Asthma Self-Management Education (ASME) Program was implemented by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) to recognize and certify asthma education programs that adhere to high standards of quality. Organizations that conduct asthma disease management programs are invited to apply for AARC certification.
Why should our program seek certification?
Certification indicates that the content of your educational training program and the qualifications of nonphysician healthcare professionals employed by the program are consistent with the standards established by the American Association for Respiratory Care. This is an important indicator of quality recognized by patients, referring health care providers, and third party payors and can be a valuable addition to your marketing and reimbursement efforts.
What are those standards of quality?
How does certification apply to reimbursement?
New CPT Codes were released by the American Medical Association in 2006 in the category of Education and Training for Patient Self-Management.
98960: Education and training for patient self-management by a qualified, nonphysician health care professional using a standardized curriculum, face-to-face with the patient (could include caregiver/family) each 30 minutes, individual patient.
The curriculum used in patient education must be recognized by a physician society or by a nonphysician healthcare professional society/association such as the AARC.
While recognition of your program does not guarantee reimbursement from third party payors, some type of recognition such as this AARC formal certification is needed to apply for reimbursement under these CPT codes.
What are the minimum requirements to apply for the program?
Any asthma disease management program that has accepted patients for at least 6 months may apply.
Certification is awarded for a 3-year period.
The review process is thorough and takes about 60 days. Initial certification for 3 years is $500 for the first training facility and $250 for each additional site. At renewal after 3 years, fees are lower.
After reviewing the ASME Program Certification Standards to see if your program may qualify, you will download the application from this web site, complete it, and return it via e-mail with payment. A reviewer will evaluate the application and make a recommendation for certification. The entire review process takes about 60-90 days depending on the completeness of the application. For more information, see How It Works.


Many Mercedes/ Dodge Sprinter Van owners choose this 600 Amp hour lithium-ion battery for their van conversions, yacht or other applications. This lithium-ion battery is priced with the special DIN connector with 1 foot of cable. Please inform us of the intended orientation of the battery before ordering.
This Lithionics lithium-ion high performance battery is also available WITH 400 Amp NeverDie BMS built-in with the new Version 8 Advanced BMS with 8 pin Ampseal for $10,885.90 USD. Use Part # GTR 12V600A-FP39-DIN-CTRL400-Amp8.
This Lithionics lithium-ion high performance battery is also available WITH 400 Amp NeverDie BMS built-in with the new Version 8 Advanced BMS with 23 pin Ampseal for $11,260.09 USD. Use Part # GTR 12V600A-FP39-DIN-CTRL400-Amp23. This option also includes the sending unit for the SOC gauge option.
This lithium-ion battery is also available WITHOUT the NeverDie BMS in a standard 8DR case from $9,633.70 USD. This lithium-ion battery is priced with the special DIN connector with 1 foot of cable. For some installations we can provide this battery with conventional stud post terminals.
Click here for the spec sheet for the GT 12V 600A-8DR-Module in a new window.
A great, lightweight lithium ion battery with 600 Lithium Amp Hours Reserve Capacity and 7,680 Total Watt Hours capacity. CTRL400 NeverDie means this lithium-ion battery is is available with internal 400 continuous Amps draw BMS. comes with 1 foot of cabling and connector - longer cable available at extra cost.


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Tag: Free Speech
Debate Protesters Forced To Walk Miles To 'Free Speech Zone' Across A Highway From Clinton & Trump
Jill stein talks to the media after being escorted out of the debate. September 26, 2016. (Facebook / Jill Stein)
Protesters at the first presidential debate last night found themselves forced into a "free speech zone" about a quarter mile away and separated from the actual event site by a 6-lane highway.
Many others had difficulty even making it that far, thanks to extensive police roadblocks and "an absurd level of security," according to journalist Abby Martin, the host of "The Empire Files" on teleSUR English, who spoke with MintPress News on Tuesday after covering Monday's protests.
Martin continued:
Read moreDebate Protesters Forced To Walk Miles To 'Free Speech Zone' Across A Highway From Clinton & Trump
Hundreds Gather To 'Wall Off Trump' & Police Arrest 18 In Flag-Burning Demonstration At RNC 2016
July 19, 2016. An activist holds up a fist behind a "Wall Off Trump" banner, painted with a brick wall pattern and inscried "No human being is illegal." RNC 2016. (MintPress News / Desiree Kane)
In response to a proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall that Donald Trump's turned into a hallmark of his presidential campaign, activists at the Republican National Convention built a wall of their own on Wednesday.
Using a combination of banners and brick wall-patterned costumes, activists surrounded the Quicken Loans Arena for about two-and-a-half hours to highlight the harm caused by the GOP nominee's immigration policies.
Hundreds of people took part in the Wall Off Trump action, including many undocumented immigrants as well as a group of veterans who protected the demonstrators from interference. About 150 people came together to create the wall, which stretched for about 2,000 feet around the arena.
Read moreHundreds Gather To 'Wall Off Trump' & Police Arrest 18 In Flag-Burning Demonstration At RNC 2016
ACLU & Anti-Poverty Campaign Sue Philadelphia Over The Right To Protest At DNC
Protest signs hang on a fence blocking access to the site of the Democratic National Convention in Boston. July 28, 2004. (Flickr / Tom Marshall)
The ACLU of Pennsylvania is suing the City of Philadelphia after anti-poverty activists were denied the right to protest during next month's Democratic National Convention.
The NGO is suing on behalf of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign. The interracial, intergenerational movement to end poverty is led by activist Cheri Honkala, who served as Green Party candidate Jill Stein's running mate in the 2012 presidential election.
"We are filing the lawsuit today because the last thing that poor people have is their voice, and we can't allow our voice to be taken away," Honkala said in a press release issued on Thursday.
Read moreACLU & Anti-Poverty Campaign Sue Philadelphia Over The Right To Protest At DNC
Amid Anti-BDS Pressure, Facebook Israel Appoints Long-Time Netanyahu Advisor To Policy Post
File: A Muslim woman wearing a hijab uses a tablet computer to photograph a fence in Israel. January 6, 2016. (Flickr / U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv)
An advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking a top post at Facebook amid calls for increased censorship on the social network.
Facebook recently announced that Jordana Cutler would head policy and communications at the social media giant's Israel office. Cutler currently works as the chief of staff for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, and is a long-time advisor to the prime minister.
"The appointment comes amidst growing Israeli government frenzy concerning incitement allegations and BDS, the global non-violent movement against the Israeli occupation of Palestine, whose often viral presence online exposes Israeli human rights violations," wrote Dorgham Abusalim, a foreign policy analyst at Mondoweiss, on Monday.
Read moreAmid Anti-BDS Pressure, Facebook Israel Appoints Long-Time Netanyahu Advisor To Policy Post
Social Media Ban Could Curb Free Speech Behind Bars
Outside the walls of Huntsville prison. January 26, 2008. (Flickr / Mark)
Posted in Journalism, and The Texas Observer
Prison reform activists are concerned that a new state social media policy could be used to infringe on the free speech rights of both incarcerated people and and those who support them by sharing their stories, thoughts and experiences online.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's (TDCJ) "Offender Orientation Manual," updated in early April, "Offenders are prohibited from maintaining active social media accounts for the purposes of soliciting, updating, or engaging others, through a third party or otherwise."
Under the updated manual, prisoners can be penalized for infractions in a number of ways, including by receiving extra work duties or being confined to their cells.
Read moreSocial Media Ban Could Curb Free Speech Behind Bars
Protesting Gentrification & Blue Cat Cafe At #SXSW
A young girl with a rainbow stick smashes a piñata shaped like a mixed-used condominium, topped with a dollar sign, at an anti-gentrification protest in front of the Austin Convention Center,in this March 13, 2016 photograph. (Kit O'Connell)
Posted in Creative Commons, Journalism, and SXSW
Yesterday I was sitting outside the Austin Convention Center eating some macaroni and cheese when I heard the sounds of a protest.
Strangely (for me), my initial reaction was mild annoyance. Usually I love a good protest, but just a few minutes before I'd witnesses a few dozen SXSW badgeholders march past while chanting about sheep and dreams. It wasn't real activism, but actually a promotional event for a movie premiering at the film festival.
So when I heard another group of marchers, I assumed it was more corporate faux-grassroots astro turf.
Then, as the group drew nearer, I realized it was the genuine article, a small march organized by Defend Our Hoodz – Defiende El Barrio, a local group struggling against gentrification and inequality in east side Austin.
Read moreProtesting Gentrification & Blue Cat Cafe At #SXSW


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Classic cars for sale / Rolls-Royce /
1985 ROLLS ROYCE CAMARGUE, with 37,000 Miles available now!
Make: Rolls-Royce
Model: CAMARGUE
Type: --
VIN: SCAYJ42AXFCX10082
Color: --
Engine: --
Transmission: --
Drive type: --
Interior color: --
Item location: Miami, Florida, United States
1985 Rolls-Royce CAMARGUE Additional Info:
The Rolls Royce Camargue once was the most expensive car in the world, costing more than $150,000 when new (roughly adjusted for inflation, $460,833 today)! But today at Auto Cafe of Florida, you can experience this classic beauty for a fraction of the original MSRP. This particular example has a unique history as it has traveled around the world with its owner since 1990. This is one of the best examples to be found on the market today. With only 36,854 original miles, the car has been meticulously maintained and it shows! All records and manuals available.
A grand total of 80 Camargues were built between 1980 - 1986 built by the infamous coachbuilders, Pininfarina - how's that for an exclusive model? This model was delivered in California and was 1 of only 80 delivered to the United States.
The original paint is an off-white color called Fenland Sedge and the cabin you'll find blue leather with off-white piping, both in remarkable original condition. a 6.5-liter V-8 engine paired with a 3 speed automatic transmission by GM.
This 1985 Rolls Royce Camargue is a collector's dream as it is moderately priced, in remarkable condition and will continue to appreciate.
Call, click or stop by Auto Cafe located in North Miami Beach, FL to experience a piece of history. We welcome out of state buyers and can arrange shipping and financing. Don't let this opportunity pass you by!
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ROLLS ROYCE BENTLEY CAMARGUE ONE OF HARD TO FIND COLLECTORS DREAM TO OWN
1983 Rolls-Royce Camargue Two Door Coupe | 1 of 19 built in 1983
1974 Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce Leather Seats 103000 Miles Blue Sedan V 8 Automatic
1979 Rolls-Royce Rolls Royce Silver Wraith Collector Car 12k Original Miles Rare
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