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Never Fear: 3 Ways To Stay Innovative Without Fear
David K. Williams Contributor
Using the soft skills for organizational success
CEOs must trust their employees' inherent powers and strengths.
Job descriptions that pigeonhole employees into their assigned job duties, and don't allow them to explore other departments or invite cross-training, can hamper their innovative abilities.
Fear can be a debilitating, even crippling, emotion. When fear creeps into the workplace, whether it's fear of making a mistake, fear of being fired or fear of conflict, it leads to decreased productivity and a lack of innovation.
Luckily, as CEOs and managers, we can help employees conquer their fears and push their innovation forward. By establishing a strong sense of trust in your employees, broadening employee job descriptions and encouraging experimentation, you can help timid employees discover a new sense of confidence in the workplace. One of my most valued employees, Kendrick Hair, is a good example of someone who has excelled in this type of environment.
Kendrick Hair (pictured far right), Vice President of development at Fishbowl, lead his team to make a better product at four times the speed. (Image courtesy of Fishbowl)
Reinforce trust. Kendrick joined our company about 12 years ago. At that time, this newly married 24-year-old was ambitious and wanted to learn the software business, but he had no experience. We were expanding quickly, and I was impressed by his intelligence, ability, charisma and great attitude—so I decided to give him a chance. I placed him in the software support department, and he quickly became the go-to guy among the people in his department. He was the first person I trusted to do an on-site implementation with a customer. Today, Kendrick has the confidence to go to clients all over the world and help them set up a more efficient workflow. Software support is now the largest department in the company, and it all began with my trust in his innate abilities.
CEOs must trust their employees' inherent powers and strengths. When CEOs regard and treat their employees as fully creative and capable, those employees shed the cloud of fear, deliver their finest ideas and care about each other and their customers.
"The innovation process requires considerable amounts of trust. Without it, the process is unlikely to produce much more than incremental innovation," said Jeffrey Baumgartner, author of the book, The Way of the Innovation Master. "Worse, great ideas devised by employees are likely to be taken elsewhere for implementation. Indeed, in an innovation survey published by PriceWaterhouseCoopers in the early 2000s, trust was identified as a key characteristic of innovative companies. It is not hard to see why."
Leaders who genuinely trust their people believe that employees already have all of the power they need within them. They communicate that they trust them to use their power honorably and well.
Broaden job descriptions. Kendrick brought vitality and growth to the software support department. Then, a few years ago, he came to me and said he wanted to join the development team. He had no software development experience, but he felt he could benefit the development process by communicating the issues that the support department repeatedly handled. While the developers initially pushed back on Kendrick's ideas, he patiently yet persistently showed them how to build exactly what clients needed.
"Job descriptions … reduce the role of people to a narrowly defined set of activities and small goals," said innovation expert Jim Carroll. "I've encountered few organizations where innovation success is actually enshrined into the job description, let alone the HR reward system."
By allowing employees to learn about every department in the company, collaborate across departments, and invite discussions and even workgroups to evaluate overall company practices, you ensure your employees will be more apt to vocalize their innovative ideas. Kendrick did this, and Fishbowl benefited. Today, because of Kendrick's leadership, the development team is making a better product at four times the speed.
Allow for experimentation. Fearful employees will never experiment. In an environment of trust, however, where individuals and teams are encouraged to explore, create, and try new approaches, that freedom will lead to new opportunities for innovation while eliminating chastisement when mistakes are made.
Amazon's Jeff Bezos, who characterizes his company as an "invention machine," has noted that organizations weaken themselves most through sins of omission, primarily their failure to experiment. Why do they not experiment? Yet again, the fear of making mistakes. Experiments—and failures—are vital.
It's a remarkable experience to watch how one individual can change an entire organization. Kendrick Hair did this for Fishbowl. I've never seen another individual so fearlessly make such a significant difference to an organization. Like Kendrick, employees who feel supported and appreciated with encouragement to experiment will feel sufficiently secure to devote their full energy, creativity, and passion to the company and its goals. They will naturally innovate in every area within their influence. And great results will follow.
Gallery: 10 Most Innovative Companies In The U.S. 2016
David K. Williams
I am the founder and chairman of DKW Ventures. I am a serial entrepreneur, have led divisions and companies and a C-level executive for companies ranging from startups t...


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St. Jude Shrine
St. Ann Melkite Catholic Church
Tag: Pascha
Pascha Homily of Saint John Chrysostom
May 2, 2022 Editor 0 Comments
Traditionally this homily of the great bishop of Constantinople, St. John Chrysostom is read at the Easter Vigil. In fact, the Church asks that the priest make this homily his own in the sense that the theology St. John speaks is the authentic, orthodox teaching of the Church. The experience of the saint of the …
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Blessed Pascha 2022
April 17, 2022 Editor 0 Comments
Cover image is that of the Gospel of Tsaishi, 17th century, silver foil, 24 x 20 x 4.5 cm, Georgia Cultural History Museum, T'bilisi, Georgia.
The Journey to Holy Pascha 2022
February 6, 2022 Editor 0 Comments
Sunday of the Man Born Blind
May 17, 2020 Editor 0 Comments
Today we hear the proclamation of the Gospel narrative of the man born blind. The story of the Man Born Blind is the third Sunday Gospel in Pascha about the mystery of baptism. This gospel is very clear, "Jesus spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his …
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Sunday of the Samaritan Woman
The theme of baptism continues in this Sunday's Gospel, re-affirming that Pascha is a feast of resurrection and of baptism, being born into eternal life. The center of Jesus' conversation with this unnamed woman (the Church later gave her the name Photine, the "enlightened woman") is about water. They met at Jacob's well, a place …
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Midway to Pentecost 2020
Today, May 6, in the Byzantine Church following the Gregorian calendar, it is the feast of half-Pentecost (half of the Pascal Time). Let's attend to the Gospel text of today (John 7: 14-30): verse: 14: We were already in the middle of the week of the feast when Jesus went up to the Temple; and …
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Sunday of the Paralytic Man
There are six Sundays in the forty day celebration of the Resurrection (corresponding to the forty days until the Ascension as recorded in the Gospel of Luke). The first three Sundays have a gospel of the Resurrection and the second three a gospel with a baptismal theme. In our day the baptismal theme of the …
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St. Ann Melkite Greek-Catholic Church
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History of St. Ann's Church
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2021 JUNIOR COUNTY CLOSED
New County Champions for 2021
Christmas came early to East Anglia Tennis and Squash Club at Limetree Avenue, with not only the commencement of the Norfolk Closed Junior Squash competition, but also the return in the County to competitive junior squash after an enforced COVID break exceeding 20 months.
Although numbers were fewer than in previous years, it afforded an opportunity for many to experience their first competition and will hopefully generate increased interest in junior squash throughout the County giving clubs an opportunity to showcase their up-and-coming stars on the county platform.
The competition offered age groups from under 9's (mixed) to under 19's in both boys and girls categories, with entrants being able to enter two applicable age ranges.
EAT&SC youngest star, Ada Brown, contested the finals of both the mixed U9 and Girls U11 finals, winning in the first to Connor Jeary in his first competition, and missing out to his older sister Codie in the U11 final in a close fought match.
Codie went on to also play in the girls U13 final against her Broadland Sports Club compatriot Elise Ball, which also saw Codie take the honours and become the champion in both the under 11 and 13 girls age groups.
With the Girls U15's being the only section uncontested, the U17 and U19 age groups both resulted in Jasmin Thirst and Ava Fox qualifying for both finals. These were played as two separate matches with the Jasmin Thirst taking both age groups.
The boys competition similarly featured numerous dual finalists, with Henry Smith playing in the U11 and U13 finals. Henry won first against newcomer Monty Gedge, and losing 3-2 in a close fought final with Alex Harrison, who crowned a successful day with a further win in the U15 final against Archie Lynch.
Archie also played in the U17 final, but had to settle again for the runner up position after being beaten by Jacob Grimmer who won the age group.
In the final game of the day, Brady Mackenzie overcame Joe Henden to win the Boys U19 age group, and cap a successful day for the youth of Norfolk Squash.
With the resumption of competitive junior squash in Norfolk, it is hoped that further interest and traction can be generated in the junior section of the sport, with many local clubs rejuvenating their coaching programs and reaching out in to local schools in an attempt to kick-start the county age group teams and being Norfolk Squash to the forefront of regional squash again.
Norfolk Junior Squash in enjoying some success at present with eight participants at the Norfolk Closed event represented in the England Squash age group rankings, and now is a great time to get along to your local club and see if you have what it takes to be in the next Norfolk Closed age group
finals!
Thank you to East Anglia Tennis & Squash Club for hosting the event and the staff who helped out on the day. Also a big thanks to Stuart Makenzie and Marie Smith for organising and running the competition on the day, this couldn't have gone ahead without them!
Keep an eye out for the next Junior Grand Prix event which will be taking place in February.


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The Milwaukee Bucks lost a tie-breaking coin toss to the Miami Heat on Friday, but benefited. Menu. FOX Sports. FOX Sports Wisconsin Apr 13, 2018 at 5:54p ET. Steel with galvanic coating, 20.2 mm in diameter, weights 4.0 g, reeded edge.
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Incidental hotel expenses (porters, chambermaids, mini-bar, Wi-Fi, laundry.Niagara Falls Comic Con is set to take place over three days on June 1, 2 and 3, 2018.Are you thinking about adding Wi Coin (WIC) to your cryptocurrency portfolio.December 1-2, 2018 Milwaukee, WI MSDA Milwaukee Show Midwest Stamp Dealers Assoc.
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This product is the second of five for 2018 and the forty-second overall in the. Suites Regente Oaxaca is a 3-star property situated at about 7 km distance from Monte Alban.
Friday, May 25, 2018 Dance and Food Event, folkloric dances and tamales at the Agencia Municipal in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca.


Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin gave the keynote at the Milken Institute School of Public Health's second annual Public Health Summit.
Climate change is a public health issue with little time left to reverse course, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) told an audience Monday at the George Washington University.
The keynote speaker at the Milken Institute School of Public Health's second annual Public Health Summit, Mr. Cardin discussed the reality of climate change and the obstacles that stand in the way of effectively addressing it.
"There is not a lot of time left for us to reverse human impact on climate change," Mr. Cardin said. He cited President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and the recent withdrawal of EPA scientists from a talk on climate change as examples of the way "[American] leadership has been challenged" on the issue.
Mr. Cardin said he has seen the effects of climate change firsthand in his home state of Maryland, from the the submerging of small islands in the Chesapeake Bay to increased flooding in the state capital of Annapolis.
One way forward, Mr. Cardin said, could be to reframe the conversation around climate change into one that incorporates issues of public health, economic growth and national security. A clean energy infrastructure would create domestic jobs and would loosen American dependence on fossil fuel-rich foreign interests.
"An energy policy that can help us deal with the realities of climate change as a public health issue will also help us grow our economy and deal with our national security interests," Mr. Cardin said.
Mr. Cardin also acknowledged the difficulty of focusing on any single issue, even one as important as climate change, in the moment's crowded news cycle.
The keynote led into a panel discussion moderated by School of Media and Public Affairs Director Frank Sesno. Panelists Sabrina McCormick, associate professor of sociology and of environmental and occupational health at the Milken Institute SPH, and Bob Perkowitz, ecoAmerica founder and president, discussed ways storytelling can help audiences understand and take action against climate change.
Audiences who do not believe they have a personal stake in climate change action often re-evaluate when they learn about ways it could affect their health and the health of their loved ones, Dr. McCormick said.
Moderating the day's final panel on drug-resistant superbugs, Milken Institute Chair Mike Milken pointed out that overuse of antibiotics may lead back to health outcomes that have been unthinkable for a century.
"One in five Americans lost their life before their fifth birthday at the start of the 20th century," he said, and major causes of death included infection.
The final panel also included Lance Price, Director of the Antibiotic Resistance Action Center at Milken Institute SPH. Dr. Price's research is focused on finding solutions to slow the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Legislators and experts at GW event discussed current implementation of a chemical safety law passed last year.
The school is the only school of public health in D.C. and is recognized as one of the top public health graduate programs in the country.


Colin Kaepernick is Nike's spokesman for the 30th Anniversary of the Just Do It campaign.
I didn't live through it, but it feels like we're setting up for 1968 again. A year so revolutionary in the dynamics of our nation's politics that it stands alone.
As a creative, an immigrant and US Citizen, having moved here at the age of six from Iran, I recognize the value of being able to protest. My parents left behind a country where protesting was not tolerated for a place where those values were etched in the constitution. I am lucky that they sacrificed everything to bring me here. And it is because of the positive, optimistic values of America that I've had opportunities, it's essential to Beam, businesses in Georgia and me that others have that same shot – whether they are black, immigrants, LGBTQ, women or any other historically underrepresented group.
This is a critical moment and what creatives do right now matters. Cause marketing for social injustice is critical to the millennial audience, not to mention, to humanity's march toward progress. Brands that embrace authentic cause marketing begin reflecting those same policies internally because they become glass houses (read the book in the link if you're unfamiliar with the concept).
We've witnessed the weight of the work created by Nike and W+K with their Dream Crazy spot over the last week in response to NFL players' protests during the national anthem. The result? Sales up immediately, stocks take a slight dip, and $43 million in buzz generated off one photo. An anthemic broadcast spot that followed up a photo firmly placed their foot on the cause-marketing pedal. And Nike, which has had its own recent controversies, took actions that will have a direct positive impact on society.
We've watched a champion and queen of sports like Serena be denigrated and held back for what she's worn or her outspokenness. She grew up in Compton, she's 37, she gave birth to a child a year ago, and most of the men who've decided to inexplicably pass judgment on her couldn't perform 1/1000th of the feats she has.
Sports, as it was with Ali, Robinson, Aaron, and others, is yet again a gauge of social progress. But today sports is more than simple cultural influence; Athletes, themselves, backed by big brands are driving change. Lebron put his money and power to use as he opened up a school and guaranteed college tuition for graduates. Who is he serving? At risk third and fourth-graders who need an opportunity in his hometown.
Muhammed Ali protested against the Vietnam War. He refused to be inducted into the Army, was stripped of his heavyweight title, and ultimately sent to prison for five years.
In Atlanta, we've been able to witness Atlanta United grow a fanbase selling out an NFL size stadium because of the message and (more importantly) actions toward progress and unity in the community. The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has managed to connect their brands with social programs in a persevering way for the community.
Today Adair Park, where our studio is based, saw another Soccer In The Streets/MARTA partnership kick off designed to help provide ladders of opportunity. By embracing commitment to the community as part of their DNA, they reinforce how social impact is overwhelmingly part of their younger fans' decision-making process.
Take a look at the search trends over the weekend of Nike's decision versus the keywords of 'Adidas' and 'Trump' – it's not any day that a company can outweigh the president of any country. But times are different, the millennial demographic demands that every company mind what matters. To that end, Nike's message wasn't empty, it came with charitable backing, it came with impact. Today, America has the highest levels of foreign-born residency, the city of Atlanta's shifting demographics and increasing visibility putting us on the map in a big way and this exponentially growing audience is going to vote with their dollars. They will expect their brands to reflect their values.
Tracking Google's searches for Nike, their competitor Adidas and Donald Trump revealed some telling insights into the impact this campaign could have for Nike.
Whether that is correcting social injustice, minimizing environmental impact, investing in communities, today's audiences expect brands to deliver on their core competency but to do so in a way that is mindful of people, planet, and profit. It will be remembered that Nike fell on the right side of this conversation. The progress of humans is inevitable, even if part of one generation resists it the next group will bring forth progress built upon the shoulders of the giants we see kneeling, speaking out and standing apart today.
What we do requires a passion for our craft and care for our clients; and to align our interests and dedication, we strive to partner with like-minded companies. We're inspired by brands that move the world while responsibly improving society with a unique point of view. If you mind what matters and emphasize social good for better, we'd be honored to craft the message to tell your story.
Custom solution for a live 360 view from a standard Major League Baseball base. The system provides a 60 fps view in all directions around the base, a logical solution for replay officials who often need to have a base's perspective to accurately call close plays.


Three awesome adventures in one big day! If you're seeking a BIG adventure – rating, biking, and hiking – then BIG DAY OUT is definitely for you. Begin your day with a hearty breakfast to charge you up at the Broken Paddle Bar & Grill. Following breakfast, you'll hop on a Trek bike and embark on a 23 mile bike ride between the 1000 foot walls of the Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail. Once you reach Glen Onoko, you will relax by the river and enjoy a tasty lunch. After lunch your BIG DAY OUT continues with a scenic hike to an old railroad tunnel with beautiful views of the Lehigh River. You will descend back to the Lehigh River, where whitewater rafts and equipment will be ready as you begin the final leg of your adventure! A delicious dinner and roaring bonfire at the Pocono Whitewater Adventure Center await your return, complete with a victory drink filled with a frothy beverage of your choice. Your day is complete and you can hang out around the bonfire and brag that you survived Pocono Whitewater's BIG DAY OUT! See website for complete details. Adventures available on select dates April through October.


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Dekel Berenson
Dekel Berenson is an award winning Israeli writer, director, and member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Drawing inspiration from traveling to more than sixty countries, Dekel explores real-world social and humanitarian issues. His short film Anna premiered in Competition at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival, won the Best British Short award at the 22nd BIFA awards and was shortlisted for a BAFTA. His short film Ashmina won numerous prizes, including Best Short Film at the 59th Krakow Film Festival and Best Live Action Short at the 36th Jerusalem Film Festival, qualifying the film for Academy Awards consideration twice. The two films screened in more than 600 festivals. Dekel is currently working on his first feature – Aliya. The project was recently awarded twice at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival industry days, was presented at Marche Du Film, and took part of a number of other labs and markets. The film is produced by veteran producers Marek Rozenbaum, Alexander Rodnyansky, and Dekel's producing partner Paul Wesley.
At YBCA
Screenings & Films
Diaspora: Identity and the Pathos of Global Labor
SF Urban Film Fest
Films and a panel discussion explore personal experiences of diaspora within the global labor market.
SF Urban Film Fest 2020
Exploring Place and the Populist Revolt, investigating how cities are ground zero for the struggle to find or hold on to a place, for both incumbents and newly arrived.
← all artists


2 sets with 8 decorative floral vector abstract design elements for your cards and backgrounds. Format: EPS stock vector clip art. Free for download.
Posted on 02/10/2011, in Free Vector Graphics | Tags: abstract, decorative, floral.


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Nuts-Inspection Won't Improve Food Safety
By Thomas Pyzdekin Inspection 0 Comment
First peanuts, now pistachios. Not to mention spinach, almonds and host of other vegetables. Major salmonella outbreaks have been in the news a lot in recent years. The government and the food industry are working overtime to beef up guidelines on what companies need to do to keep consumers safe. USA Today reports that the salmonella outbreak in peanut products has sickened 691 and may have contributed to the deaths of nine in 46 states. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the last illness was reported on Feb. 24, products are still being sporadically recalled. The proposed solution is, usually, more regulation and more inspection.
I have some bad news: 100% inspection is not 100% effective. If you doubt this, set a timer for 60 seconds and try counting the Fs in this paragraph:
Count the Fs. Often unrealized, feature films are the result of years of scientific study combined with the experience of over fifty years.
Did you count 10 Fs? If so, you are in the minority. I've administered the "F-test" to students for many years and usually only 10%-20% find them all (even allowing for the trick F in the first sentence!) And this includes classes of inspectors. The effectiveness of inspection in real-world situations is much worse. An article in Test and Measurement World documented a very detailed study of inspection effectiveness on solder quality defects and found
Manual or automated optical inspection found only about 24% of all defects in these nine studies. In-circuit test covered about 26%. But the biggest eye opener came from functional test. If functional test were our only step, it would have caught no more than about 20% of the defects on those boards—and in most cases only around 10%. It couldn't find solder problems or missing pull-up resistors, for example, because the boards usually still worked.
The truth is, it's a lot easier to count Fs than it is to spot problems in a food processing facility. Inspection won't get it done, and regulation will merely result in more paperwork and jobs for people who keep track of such things. So, what do I recommend? For starters, how about using a technology proven to help with such things? Specifically, food irradiation.
According to Idaho State University:
Irradiation of food has been approved in 37 countries for more than 40 products. The largest marketers of irradiated food are Belgium and France (each country irradiates about 10,000 tons of food per year), and the Netherlands (which irradiates bout 20,000 tons per year).
The Center for Disease control confirms that Irradiation could also eliminate bacteria like Shigella and Salmonella from fresh produce, as well as a wide variety of other bacteria from other foods.
We know what to do. Others have proven that it is safe and effective. Let's drop all of this feel-good chatter about inspecting and regulating quality and safety into our food supply and do what works.


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Where Are the Positive Stories?
July 31, 2006 at 12:36 am · Filed under Grand Rapids Biz Journal
Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, July 24, 2006.
Google Michigan
Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, July 17, 2006
Tom Otterness Statues
The American Buyout Dream
Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, July 3, 2006
What Ever Happened to Furniture City?
July 3, 2006 at 12:48 am · Filed under Grand Rapids Biz Journal
Originally published in the Grand Rapids Business Journal, June 26, 2006
Be Careful of What You Say to a Working Parent….
July 1, 2006 at 1:07 am · Filed under Grand Rapids Family
Originally published in the Grand Rapids Family magazine, June 2006


Our newly ordained Fr. Peter Mottola will preach.
Reception and refreshments will follow.
True to the spirit of St. Irenaeus, tireless champion of the Catholic faith, we have been laboring here to build a community of orthodox renewal and witness, and we are beginning to see more and more fruit from these efforts. We are looking forward to brighter prospects ahead!
This year's feast, 2013, in this "Year of Faith", marks the completion of 20 years of fruitful ministry in the Rochester area and beyond and 10 years at the Center on Blossom Rd. Now as we begin our third decade, we invite all our friends and those concerned with true spiritual renewal and orthodox mission to join with us in giving thanks and praying for an even greater harvest.


Residents here enjoy a wide selection of farmers' markets, book stores and nightlife driven by the area's university population. Real estate tends to be more spacious than elsewhere in Manhattan. Combined with the neighborhood's ample green spaces, it makes for a rather unique atmosphere in New York City.
Morningside Heights real estate options, dominated by prewar co-ops and modern condominiums, share blocks with student and faculty housing. The spacious and elegant co-ops, many of which line Riverside Drive and offer glimpses of the Hudson, drop in cost as you move away from the waterfront and often come with recent renovations. Interior brick walls and hardwood floors are common characteristics.
If you're looking for perks such as vaulted ceilings, stainless steel appliances and open floor plans with ample window coverage, the neighborhood's available condos give Morningside Heights real estate shoppers more spacious options than similar choices elsewhere in the city. Many condos also include live-in managers and valuable amenities like fitness centers, media lounges and rooftop decks.
The history of Morningside Heights is a story of delayed development in an otherwise crowded Manhattan. Until the late 1800s, the peaceful riverside neighborhood was sparse—home to just two institutional asylums and a handful of mansions. Famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed much of the city's green space, then drew up plans for two parks serving as Morningside's east and west boundaries. One of the parks, Morningside, became attached to the entire neighborhood.
A flurry of activity soon followed, with Columbia University and the Episcopal Church purchasing land in Morningside Heights. The IRT subway line's extension to the neighborhood in 1904 promised easy access for both new residents and visitors. By World War I, the neighborhood had flourished with an eclectic number of architectural styles, becoming Manhattan's first destination for low-rise, middle-class apartment homes.
The Morningside Heights of today took shape in the middle of the 20th century with single-family row houses and towering apartment buildings joining the neighborhood's landscape. Dominated by residential properties, expansive parks, and renowned institutions for education, science and religion, the neighborhood remains a hidden gem in New York City.
Pisticci restaurant's quirky, bookshelf-lined wallpaper and unassuming atmosphere treats patrons to authentic Italian fare, with a healthy menu including dishes like whole wheat penne and free range chicken grilled in sage. Its green-powered kitchen and 100% carbon neutral footprint provides eco-conscious residents a perfect choice for dining in or taking advantage of the restaurant's easy online ordering system.
For a trip to the South without ever leaving New York City, the Kitchenette restaurant dishes up large portions of fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits and other comfort food considered by locals as the best spot for home-style cooking. This casual restaurant serves its cuisine atop colorful polka-dotted tabletops and displays mouth-watering, freshly-baked desserts along the matching countertop.
Fans of the hit sitcom Seinfeld can't miss Tom's Restaurant. The bustling diner, an ever-present backdrop on the television show, is open 24-hours on weekends and draws locals and students alike. Its iconic, glowing fluorescent sign wraps around the block, while its all-day breakfast menu boasts a mind-boggling amount of egg and omelette options.
St. John the Divine, one of New York City's most instantly recognizable buildings, sits on the southern edges of Morningside Heights and towers over nearby apartment buildings. Considered one of the biggest Christian churches in the world, the cathedral hosts workshops for children, choir concerts and a weekly Sunday service.
For family-friendly time outdoors and a chance to purchase fresh local food, make sure to visit Morningside Park's collection of playgrounds and its weekly Down to Earth farmers' market. Meandering tree-lined paths take visitors through 13 blocks of green space highlighted by a cascading waterfall and bubbling fountains.
Manhattan's sprawling Riverside Park, which stretches for four miles along the Hudson River, takes up the western border of Morningside Heights and offers residents a great starting point for runs or socializing outside. Basketball courts, baseball fields and expansive views across the river bring people together on weekends for day-long fun.
Universities in Morningside Heights are a significant influence on its shopping scene. Book Culture on Broadway, a mainstay for Columbia students, stocks an impressive selection of books focused on the arts and humanities. The store's events, readings and book clubs bring the community together to enjoy both local and international authors, while a large selection of publications for kids and academic material for the neighborhood's schools ensures everyone finds their read of choice.
Columbia University Greenmarket, another popular shopping locale, opens twice a week for two distinct purposes: on Thursdays, it provides busy workers and students with quick meals, while Sunday it's down to business with locally-sourced fruits, vegetables and cheeses.
Bernheim and Schwartz Hall's expansive communal wooden tables, set under dim lighting, give local residents a great place to gather together and meet their neighbors. The historic beer hall combines exclusive craft beers with modern takes on pub food like sashimi tuna tacos and steak frites. A daily happy hour on weekdays, specials for sporting events and trivia nights provide countless chances to grab a pint and enjoy a night out in Morningside Heights.
For nightlife brimming with student crowds, you'll want to visit the Heights Bar and Grill, where a rooftop bar, daily happy hours and late night specials make it a local favorite. Not to be outdone, Lion's Head Tavern boasts dollar beers in a homey atmosphere decked out in sports paraphernalia and locally bought trinkets.


Visalia Times-Delta/Tulare Advance-Register readers now can vote for their favorite fall prep athletes of the week at the newspaper's website www.visaliatimesdelta.com. The poll closes at noon on Thursday (Nov. 29).
Here are the choices for the week of Nov. 19-23.
David Dailey, football, Tulare Union. Dailey saved one of his best performances of the season for the biggest game of the year. The senior rushed for a career-high 208 yards and scored a touchdown to lead Tulare Union to back-to-back Central Section Division II championships. He averaged 13.9 yards per carry.
Eric Dragt, football, Central Valley Christian. Dragt turned in one of the finest performances for a CVC quarterback in a section championship game. In a Division IV title win over Golden West, he accounted for six total touchdowns (four passing, one receiving, one rushing) while registering 279 yards of total offense (230 passing, 49 rushing).
Week 14 winner: Golden West High senior Christian Ortiz (he received 1,341 votes, or a 73 percent majority, of the 1,837 responses).
You voted. This Golden West running back won.


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Prevents the loading of trailers on defective hitches on intermodal freight cars.
Deters catastrophic incidents occurring from loading trailers onto defective hitches.
A.A.R approved for use under A.A.R spec. M985-99.
Can be applied to both raised and retracted trailer hitches.
Fits all known hitch designs.
– Part #7739 is orange vinyl coated polyester scrim with galvanized steel eyelets around the reinforced seam and high visual yellow reflective panels.
– Part #20497 is galvanized aircraft cable with a locking seal.


Pasadena Carpet and Air Duct Cleaning is hopeful that you will give us the chance to prove ourselves to you. We speak the truth, and when we say we are the best, this isn't an empty claim. Just ask around about us whether you are looking for carpet cleaning in Pasadena or anything else. You will like what you hear. We are sure of it!


The good news for the UK is that business aviation movements are picking up – they are up 2% for the year, gaining 130 flights per month, and turboprop flying is up 7% year-on-year.* However, this recovery is still relatively fragile and as such it is ever important that regulators setting policy in the UK fully appreciate the impact of their decisions.
Unfortunately, there is still an ongoing perception (by regulators and government agencies) that our community is all about providing luxury travel for a privileged few. We have seen little recognition that our offering is corporate stimulation for inward investment to the UK and one that supports growing our exports of goods and services from the UK.
We applaud the USA's No Plane No Gain campaign, launched and funded by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), which focused on the corporate jet as a valued business tool. No other mode of transport can enable a time-poor executive to visit three or four European cities in one day and be home in time for dinner. The fact is that 97% of our clients are flying for business. We are not about selling luxury; rather we are providing agile, time efficient services to optimize time in a business environment. The onboard facilities of the jets provided in most cases are no different to the majority of business class scheduled flights. Compared with the First Class offerings provided by Middle Eastern operators our facilities could be viewed as quite ordinary.
There are countless reports highlighting the direct and indirect investment associated with our industry. However, what is not shared is the induced value, which more than doubles the direct and indirect values. Even the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) paper produced in 2007 shows a European GVA (Gross Value Added) of €18.7bn (US$20.4bn). These activities help stimulate growth and create jobs and at a national level this is vital to the UK GDP as an enabler.
It is vital for us to lobby hard at every opportunity to push forward the value and benefits offered by business aviation – to local MPs, MEPs, government agencies and the NGOs established to support our sector. Our sector is business aviation and we are about just that, business. Our industry supports business development, which encourages growth for the UK. This not only increases GDP and employment it also helps to retain our position as a key hub in the European market. We want to see future government policies being carefully considered in order to understand the potential impact that short-term decisions could have.
We have seen recent examples of poor decision making by government departments. The latest air passenger duty (APD) changes due to be implemented to our sector in April this year (coined the luxury or Learjet tax) is a decision based not on the impact it might have on GDP, nor the impact it may have on corporate activity, but on what will be perceived in a political context.
The reduction in APD on scheduled airlines is, of course, a positive decision to encourage travel for the travelling public and the additional removal of APD for 12-year-olds from May and then 16-year-olds from next year is a further boost for family holidays. Yet the significant increase in charges for business aviation is seen as acceptable because we carry high net worth individuals and charging APD is a way to target the ultra-wealthy. Using business aviation as a political tool to counter favor with the public at large is not an acceptable approach. So we need to be bold like our American colleagues and fight for business aviation to be recognized for the prosperity it brings into the community. We also need to recognize that the vast majority of people using our services do so to be more effective in generating new opportunities and generating employment.
As well as the anomaly with APD we find ourselves on the receiving end of a cost recovery program associated with the management of UK borders. Border Force once provided point of entry services without charge but is now looking to charge for providing these services for business aviation users – unless they use a main passenger terminal. Mainstay terminals do not meet the service expectations of our clients in terms of service delivery. But what is really concerning about this change in approach is the way in which we have been consulted, or not been consulted, as to how such a change could be implemented.
Currently we are faced with an approach that is just focused on five airports (London Luton, London Stansted, London City, London Biggin Hill and TAG Farnborough) that will leave some users paying nothing per arrival, where others could pay £300 (US$447) per arrival. This is wrong on two levels – firstly because it creates an unnecessary market distortion, and secondly because if you keep adding charges to those entering the UK for the benefit of bringing in business we will reach a tipping point. The Italian government found that out to its cost with an ill-informed business aviation taxation policy that they had to rescind very quickly. Unfortunately, the market quickly changed its decision making process and avoided Italy. That market never recovered and is still down some 17% years later.
This is why we are pressing for government departments and their agencies to make joined up decisions. An economic impact assessment should have been made on these two issues together in light of the current market. We will shortly see the publication of a report we commissioned by DfT as a consequence of the GA Red Tape Challenge. If initial thoughts are to be believed it could show a reduction in the size of the GA market from its value seven years ago.
In a market that is struggling to recover, would you really choose to increase taxation or instigate charges on that sector that is still so fragile?


The exhibit titled 'Urban Riders' by artist Mohamad Bourassia, revolves around the movie 'Horse Day' filmed in Strawberry Mansion, Philadelphia. For 8 months, Bourassia was profoundly interested in the non-profit riding club founded by Afro-American riders in the early 1900's. It is a place for young adults to express themselves, and a refuge for horses saved from harm and slaughter.
Bourassia's aim was to produce a platform to produce a 'Contemporary Western' within the city that Strawberry Mansion is in. After his stay for 8 months, he decided to create an event called 'HorseDay' which was inspired by the act of car tuning. He invited artists to take part in this event and produce costumes for the horses.
He therefore create a condition for sharing and exchange, which what the film is about.
The film was set up on two sides, on a 90 degree wall angle in a dark room. There were very few seats facing a side, and opposed to another.
On the left side was the preparation aspect of the vent 'HorseDay' put in place my Bourassia and other artists. However, on the right side was the actual day in which the event took place: Riders jumping through obstacles and the horse's costume were on display.
Personally, I thought the idea of projecting the movie similarly to how Bourassia did was very fascinating, yet confusing. Therefore, I would keep the idea of the two movies (1-Proces and making of the event; 2- The event itself) split into two. However, I would have them projected onto the same wall, yet opposite to one another, for the audience to better grasp the difference between the two projections.
Attached below are photographs that demonstrate in a clear way the setting in which the two Films were projected.


PAYPAL is the only payment option for International Customers.
When we receive your order, we will determine the addition shipping cost, and forward the information. After we receive the additional shipping fee, your order will be processed. You will not pay more than we pay to ship your order.
SHIPPING DETAILS: Most Items will ship within 5-25 days. Purses are hand-made and may take 4-6 weeks depending on time of year.
RETURN POLICY: You may return any item, you are dissatisfied with within 30 days of shipment, for a full refund minus shipping fees and up to a 10% return processing fee. (This policy is not valid for damaged items.) Please contact us for information on returning a product prior to doing so.
DEFECTIVE ITEM RETURN / EXCHANGE: Please contact us. At that point, we will contact the manufacturer as to the next step. You will receive a refund for the shipping costs from us, or in some cases, a return postage label from the manufacturer. Each situation is different.
BACKORDER POLICY: Our purchasing department is second to none in the industry. Our systems control back orders and keep them to a minimum for your convenience. Customer satisfaction is our primary goal. If an item you purchased is backordered, we will contact you with further instructions.
DAMAGED GOODS POLICY: Please contact the package carrier (UPS or USPS) and file a claim using the package tracking number. All claims must be filed with the carrier.


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text:
▼Car (104)
▼Public transportation (296)
A visit to Morgantown…
On October 8, I went out to Morgantown for the day with Elyse, Brian, and Trent. This was a fun little trip, with the intention of exploring the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system and also seeing a few elevators, as the three of them are very much into elevators. I'm not as much into elevators as they are, but I've learned a lot from them.
It's a long drive to Morgantown, that's for sure. From Montgomery Village to Morgantown took us about four hours, with stops in Frederick, Sideling Hill, Cumberland, and La Vale for various (mostly restroom) needs. I was amazed about how mountainous Interstate 68 was, particularly west of Cumberland. It felt like we were constantly going up a mountain, but the HR-V was killing the hills like a champ. This trip also brought out the roadgeek in all of us. We took I-68 from its eastern terminus in Hancock, and, since we were practically there already, rode 68 to its western terminus at I-79.
Sideling Hill was known territory to everyone. We had all been there before, but the view was still worth a look. However, it was foggy on this particular day:
Not a whole lot to see, but you could still make out the various rock formations on the highway cut. It always brings me back to ninth grade Earth Science class whenever I see that stuff.
The HR-V at the Sideling Hill overlook after conquering South Mountain and Sideling Hill.
We eventually made it to Morgantown, and parked in the garage near Health Sciences Center station. I was in "new transit system" mode, and I was thoroughly enjoying myself, looking at everything around. This system is definitely not like the Metro-type systems that I was used to, since the vehicles were small, and there were no operators on board. This was also my first time riding a system that used rubber tire wheels. From what I could tell, the vehicles operated on a fixed guideway, and received all of their power and such from rails along the side of the guideway. There was a noticeable sideways shift whenever the vehicles switched from the power on one side to the other.
The roadway on the PRT system, at the Health Sciences Center station. What looks like a guardrail is actually the "third rail".
We rode the whole system from end to end before doing anything else. The ride is about twenty minutes. I photographed out the front of the vehicle as we rode.
Departing from Towers station.
Berthed at Engineering station.
A section where the two directions were at different elevations, approaching the maintenance facility.
Another vehicle passes us going the other direction. The maintenance facility is visible in the distance.
Approaching Beechurst station.
Our vehicle departs after we alighted at Walnut station.
Then we explored downtown Morgantown for a bit. That area was certainly older, and had a certain level of charm to it, as it still felt vintage, and had not gone through a period of gentrification.
The first thing that caught my eye was this sign:
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, lodge number 10. Kind of neat.
This awning on a window over the Dollar General store demonstrated the vintage quality of downtown. It was clear, with the green growth on it, that this awning had been there for many years.
Sign for The Cue, which is a Christianity-focused meeting space. I don't think that the sign is necessarily vintage, but the wood backdrop and fonts definitely threw back to an older period.
Street sign for Court and High Streets.
At the Citizens Bank building, meanwhile, Elyse, Brian, and Trent all filmed the elevator. While they were doing that, I found some fire alarms to amuse myself:
You know, Simplex doesn't usually inspire me to great fire alarm photography, but I think that these came out pretty well.
Then I also photographed this clock:
I appreciated the vintage quality of this clock. From what I could tell, Lilly's Crown Jewelers was a business that was once in Morgantown, but no longer is.
Later, we rode the PRT to campus, and explored over there. One thing that Elyse was excited to show me was the foot-activated toilets and urinals in Armstrong Hall. Check these out:
It's interesting what you sometimes find in pre-ADA fixtures. This was that case with the floor flushers. It's the same flush mechanism as on a modern toilet, but it's mounted at foot height, and the flush bar is designed to be stepped on. You wouldn't find this today, of course, because a person who couldn't use their legs would be unable to flush. I wonder how difficult it would be to flush that toilet from a seated position, though. Who knows.
Then my favorite thing at WVU was the Mountainlair, which is the student union on campus. They have a bowling alley, pool tables, and this:
They had me at "hello". When it comes to Namco games, Elyse and I have it cornered. She's good at Galaga, while I can kill it with Pacman. We pumped a few quarters into both machines. Brian and Elyse also played H2Overdrive, and Elyse apparently played so well that she killed her side of the game. It crashed, and had to restart:
And in case anyone was wondering, that game runs on Windows XP.
Then from there, we headed back to the PRT to return to our car. As we got back to the PRT, we saw this spider web in a lamppost:
Kind of cool, if you ask me.
We learned a bit about how the PRT communicates with riders as we headed back to the car. Because Elyse has somewhat limited use of her legs, we took the elevator up to the platform. You have to call to the dispatchers for the elevator via a courtesy phone located near the elevator. There is no call button for the elevators outside of fare control (even though there is no fare). The elevator bypasses the turnstiles, which is where you tell the system what station you're going to. Elyse, recognizing this, went over to the turnstiles, selected a selection, and then spun a turnstile. She did this multiple times – once for each of us – in order to register the ridership. A voice came over the PA system telling us that turning the turnstiles will not make a vehicle come any faster. Elyse started looking up at the speakers and said something to us out of frustration, and the voice came back saying that they can't hear us, but if we wanted to talk to them, to pick up one of the courtesy phones on the platform. I understand where they were coming from, in that the dispatchers were trying to be helpful, but the whole thing came off as a bit creepy, since they were watching our every move, and then talking to us from afar via loudspeaker. I don't like being micromanaged by remote. But other than that, a fun time was had by all.
Our vehicle as we left the system at Health Sciences Center station.
Returning to the car, we started making moves towards home. The first stop, however, was at a Tim Hortons:
I think that we were all a bit surprised to see a Tim Hortons this far south. I knew that they were in more northern states, but I didn't expect one in West Virginia. My first Tim Hortons experience was definitely a good one, though.
Then we got gas, and we were off, killing those hills once again. We stopped for dinner at Sheetz in Cumberland, and then made a restroom stop at a Pennsylvania welcome center on I-70. Why Pennsylvania? Because we wanted to touch Pennsylvania, and we knew that the welcome center was there and easy to turn around at. So we did. And then from there, we deadheaded it back to Montgomery Village, and that was that.
All in all, a fun time was had by all. I definitely want to explore Morgantown further in the future.
Categories: Honda HR-V, Public transportation, West Virginia


text:
US reportedly has no timeline for Syria pullout
By Yaron Steinbuch
January 4, 2019 | 4:23pm	| Updated January 4, 2019 | 7:11pm
High-ranking pro-Iran militia commander reportedly shot dead in Iraq
Iran identifies 35 US targets in Soleimani revenge plot
Iran-backed Iraqi militia vows revenge after US airstrikes
Iranian militia leader vows 'tough' response to Iraq, Syria airstrikes
The US has no timetable for withdrawing its troops from Syria — but has no plans to remain indefinitely, a senior State Department official said Friday.
American-backed forces are still retaking territory from ISIS in Syria, Pentagon officials said, two weeks after Washington announced it would withdraw the roughly 2,000 US troops in Syria.
Trump initially declared that the US has "defeated ISIS in Syria" but subsequently pulled back from the claim, tweeting that the terror group is "largely defeated."
He ignored the advice of his top national security aides and did not consult US allies in the fight against ISIS as he announced the pullout, a decision that prompted Jim Mattis to resign as secretary of defense.
The State Department official, briefing reporters before Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to the Middle East next week, apparently sought to allay concerns that ISIS could mount a comeback.
"We have no timeline for our military forces to withdraw from Syria," said the official, who asked not to be identified, according to Reuters.
"It will be done in such a way that we and our allies and partners maintain pressure on ISIS throughout and we do not open up any vacuums for terrorists."
The US did not intend to have an indefinite military presence in the country, the official added.
US officials have said it could take several more months to carry out a withdrawal, potentially giving time for US-backed forces to strike parting blows to the militant group, which once held large chunks of territory in Iraq and Syria.
On Wednesday, Trump said the US would get out of Syria slowly "over a period of time" as it protects the American-backed Kurdish fighters in the country.
He also declared it was up to other countries to fight ISIS, including Russia and Iran.
"We're hitting the hell out of them, the ISIS people," Trump said, adding "we're down to final blows."
In a separate statement, the US-led coalition on Friday said it carried out 469 strikes in Syria between Dec. 16 and Dec. 29, which destroyed nearly 300 fighting positions, more than 150 staging areas, and several supply routes.
Aaron Stein, the Middle East program director at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said ISIS retained control of just a "sprinkle of villages" near the Euphrates river.
"(ISIS) will simply revert to a diffused rural insurgency where it could use just the tyranny of space, the desert is very big, to sort of hideout and be able to launch raiding attacks," Stein said.
Filed under donald trump , foreign policy , isis , military , state department , syria , troops
Mission to clean up ocean pollution put on hold


text:
Q: Encoding any file type with python I am trying to go through all files within a folder, read the file data encoded using utf-8, then rewriting that data to a new file which should create a copy of that file. However when doing so the new copy of the file gets corrupted.
-Should i be using utf-8 text encoding to encode all file types (.py, .txt, .docx, .jpg)?
-Is there one standard text encoding format that works for all file types?
def read_files():
    files = ["program.py", "letter.docx", "cat.jpg", "hello_world.py"]
    for file in files:
        #open exsting file
        f = open(file, encoding="utf-8")
        file_content = f.read()

        #get file name info
        file_extension = file.split(".")[1]
        file_name = file.split(".")[0]

        #write encoded data to new file
        f = open(file_name + "_converted." + file_extension , "wb")
        f.write(bytes(file_content, encoding="utf-8"))
        f.close()

read_files()

A: proper way to copy files with shutil:
import shutil
source = file
destination = file_name + "_converted." + file_extension
shutil.copy(source, destination)

bad and slow way to copy files:
def read_files():
    files = ["program.py", "letter.docx", "cat.jpg", "hello_world.py"]
    for file in files:
        #open exsting file
        f = open(file,'rb')  # read file in binary mode
        file_content = f.read()
        f.close()  # don't forget to close the file !

        #get file name info
        file_extension = file.split(".")[1]
        file_name = file.split(".")[0]

        #write raw data to new file
        f = open(file_name + "_converted." + file_extension , "wb")
        f.write(file_content)
        f.close()

read_files()

if you don't need to decode them to text then you should only open them in binary mode, as things like jpg and docx will break in text mode and should be opened in binary mode.
alternatively if you actually need to do some work on the docx or jpg files then you should use the proper modules to do so like Pillow for jpg and docx module for docx files.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Bluepaw Games
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Welcome to Bluepaw Games, a mobile web application software development company. We are responsible for the creation of Knights Reforged, with many upcoming games planned for the near future through popular demand. In our current games, we work to correct problems, actively monitor for and remove cheaters as well as improve on the games with user submitted feedback.
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Bluesonic1
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Game Username(s): Brokenstar
KR Game Guide & Rules Mar 19, 2017 9:07:48 GMT camdave likes this
Post by Bluesonic1 on Mar 19, 2017 9:07:48 GMT
>> Knights Reforged Game Guide <<
Knights Reforged Game Rules:
(A copy of these rules can be found in-game via Help/FAQ)
Any communications that allude to real-life violence or threats against other users in any way, directly or indirectly (including the support and promotion of such comments made by others) will not be tolerated in the game. This also extends to, but is not limited by, the posting of real-life personally identifying material that is shared without consent. Violation of this rule will incur a temporary suspension, and repeat offenders will have their account(s) terminated.
Any communications that allude to hatred or discrimination against other users related to any protected class in any way, directly or indirectly (including the support and promotion of such comments made by others), will not be tolerated in the game. Protected classes include but are not limited to: race, ethnicity, religion, sect, color, national origin, age, gender, familial status, sexual orientation or disability status. Violation of this rule will incur a temporary suspension, and repeat offenders will have their account(s) terminated.
Any communications involving strongly obscene and vulgar language, including but not limited to extreme sexuality and violence, whether directly or indirectly (including the support and promotion of such comments made by others), will not be tolerated in the game. This extends to the discussion and/or sharing of inappropriate, objectionable and illegal material(s). Violation of this rule will incur a temporary suspension, and repeat offenders will have their account(s) terminated.
Any communications involving mildly obscene, vulgar or inappropriate language or material of any kind, whether direct or indirect (including the support and promotion of such comments made by others), will not be tolerated in the game. This also extends to, but is not limited by, direct or indirect communications designed to harass users. Violation of this rule ranges between receiving a warning to temporary suspension; repeat offenders will have their account(s) terminated.
Any disputes with other users or players (whether met through Bluepaw Games' apps or other Bluepaw Games' services) that do not violate any of Bluepaw Games' rules, are the responsibility of the users involved. Bluepaw Games reserves the right, but has no obligation, to monitor and/or manage these types of user disputes, and any users involved in such disputes release Bluepaw Games and its employees from any kind of demands, claims and damages (whether actual and/or consequential) that arise, or are connected in any way, to such disputes. Disputes with Bluepaw Games staff regarding moderator actions are not permitted- should an issue arise, users or players can email support directly for assistance.
Bluepaw Games and its employees will never contact users from within the game as a user, and especially not to request any personal or account information. Impersonating a Bluepaw Games employee, as well as the posting of defamatory material related to Bluepaw Games and/or any Bluepaw Games employee(s), in any manner, will not be tolerated. Violations of this rule range between temporary suspensions to immediate account terminations.
The acts of spamming, trolling and flaming via any communications, whether directly or indirectly, are prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: excessive communications of the same, similar or nonsensical phrases, creating unwarranted discontent and/or disturbances among other players, abusing multiple accounts to by-pass user-initiated blocks of communication and abusing the report content function. Violations of this rule range between receiving a warning to temporary suspension; repeat offenders will have their account(s) terminated.
Circumvention of suspensions and bans, including but not limited to the creation of additional accounts (sockpuppeting), will result in account termination. If you feel there has been a mistake with regards to a suspension or ban issued, please email support directly instead.
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real estate ·malls
The shopping mall apocalypse continues as two large operators file for bankruptcy
BYPhil Wahba
November 2, 2020, 4:23 PM UTC
The ongoing shopper exodus from malls has landed another two companies in bankruptcy court protection.
CBL Properties, a large Tennessee-based developer, and Philadelphia's Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) have each filed for Chapter 11 protection since Sunday as they look to fix their finances and make a go of it in an increasingly tough climate for their properties.
Mall owners have been slammed by a one-two punch as many tenants, notably Gap Inc., have stopped paying rent or negotiated reductions as the pandemic forced them to shutter stores in the spring, and a number of large tenants, including J.C. Penney and Macy's, have left some malls for good.
Those trends have been tough for all mall operators, but even more so for companies like CBL, whose 107-property portfolio is made up primarily of so-called B-malls and C-malls—lower-quality malls as measured by sales per square foot. Those properties are typically occupied by weak tenants and haven't been remodeled in years. Even the biggest mall operator, Simon Property Group, whose malls are mostly higher-end, is struggling amid the same forces.
Even as shoppers have resumed spending—just look at the stellar results at big-box stores like Walmart and Target—they are consolidating shopping trips and patronizing stores where they can focus on the essentials and tick off most of their errands in one place. Indeed, a recent survey by Coresight Research found that 55% of consumers were avoiding malls in favor of strip centers, where shoppers can park in front of the store of their choice and be quick about their errands.
More pain could be heading mall operators' way: Gap Inc., long a core tenant of many malls, announced last month that it would be closing hundreds of its Gap and Banana Republic stores in the coming years, with the aim of having only 20% of outposts in mall locations by 2023.
Earlier this year, Coresight forecast that as many as 25,000 retail locations would close across the U.S., many more than in 2019 and primarily in malls. This year has seen many retailer bankruptcy filings, including J.C. Penney, J.Crew, Ann Taylor parent Ascena, Neiman Marcus, and Men's Wearhouse.
The case of PREIT, a regional operator best known for the Fashion District center in downtown Philadelphia, offers sobering lessons for other mall developers: The operator of 19 malls had shed many of its weakest properties in recent years and opened more movie theaters, restaurants, and other non-store businesses to diversify its tenant base. Yet such businesses have also been hammered by the pandemic and failed to help the company make up for the loss of shoppers.
More must-read retail coverage from Fortune:
The Fortune 500 gains female CEO as Coach owner Tapestry gives its interim chief the top job
Chobani's radical plan to take care of its hourly workers: Pay them more
Target's CEO says its mask-wearing requirement is about safety, not politics
How Saks Fifth Avenue is providing luxury shoppers with "comfort food" during the pandemic
Gap CEO: We're not leaving all malls


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Weekend Jams: "What's BADGE?!?"
We've always enjoyed the classic Clapton/Cream tune "Badge", with its nasty bass line, cathartic vocals and guitar ripping by God.
A recent perusal of the Wikipedia entry reveals a pretty funny story behind this number:
It was originally an untitled track. During the production transfer for the album Goodbye, the original music sheet was used to produce the liner notes and track listing. The only discernible word on the page was "Bridge" — a notation intended to identify the transitional moment in the song. Clapton's handwriting, however, was so bad, that Ringo Starr looked at it and thought it said "Badge" — so the band named it Badge.
Harrison told the story differently, however: "I helped Eric write 'Badge' you know. Each of them had to come up with a song for that Goodbye Cream album and Eric didn't have his written. We were working across from each other and I was writing the lyrics down and we came to the middle part so I wrote 'Bridge.' Eric read it upside down and cracked up laughing– 'What's BADGE?' he said. After that Ringo walked in drunk and gave us that line about the swans living in the park."
A common legend or misconception is that the name came about because its chord progression is B-A-D-G-E (it is not)[2], or simply because an anagram of a guitar's string tuning (E-A-D-G-B-E) can spell "Badge".
Badge represents perhaps the apex of Felix Pappalardi's skills as both a producer, instrumentalist, and arranger. Note Pappalardi's piano backup coming in at 0:09 of the song and following throughout, offering flawless counterpoint to Clapton and Harrison, two of the most prodigious guitar talents of the century.
The arpeggiated guitar part in the song's bridge is similar to some of Harrison contemporary efforts with the Beatles, including, "Here Comes the Sun", "You Never Give Me Your Money" and "Carry That Weight".
Now, isn't the one of the most succinct, eye-opening and entertaining Wikipedia articles you've ever read?
Our musical consultant DJ Walls of Sound says, "The kind of drunk that Ringo was when he offered up swans living in the park is the kind of drunk I aspire to every time. What a genius."
The song doesn't appear to be on Youtube in its original studio incarnation, but here is a nice 80s version by Clapton with sweet bass playing by Dave Bronze…
Filed under Jams, Smiles Tagged with BADGE, CREAM, DAVE BRONZE, DJ WALLS OF SOUND, ERIC CLAPTON, GEORGE HARRISON


The following work draws from the philosophical hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer to form an inquiry into the moral vision of the Gospel of Mark. The metaphor of slavery is identified as a central component of the moral instruction of Jesus to his disciples. Following a brief analysis of the metaphor in Greco-Roman literature to identify its basic import in Mark's Gospel, a dialogue is developed between the second Gospel and the moral philosophy of Zygmunt Bauman. Three lines of thought are isolated in the work of Bauman and utilized to illuminate and elaborate the moral vision of Mark that emerges from the metaphor of slavery: the conceptualization of morality as responsibility for others; the rooting of moral action in emotion; and the location of morality at the center of what it means to be human.
본 소논문은 한스-게오르그 가다머의 철학적 해석학을 사용하여 마가복음의 도덕적 비전에 대한 연구를 시도한다.
노예의 은유는 예수께서 제자들에게 도덕적 가르침을 하실 때에 중심적 요소로 인식되고 있다. 마가복음 안에서 그리스-로마 문학의 은유가 사용된 것을 기초적으로 분석하기 위해서 그리스-로마 문학에서의 은유에 대한 간략한 분석이 하고, 그 후에 마가복음과 지그문트 바우만의 도덕 철학 사이에 대화를 발전시키고 있다.
바우만의 작품에서 세 가지 개념을 추려내어 노예 비유에서 나온 마가복음의 도덕적 비유를 분석하고 상술하는데 사용한다: (1) 타자를 위한 책임으로서의 도덕을 개념화하는 것; (2) 도덕적 행동을 감정에 뿌리내리기; (3) 인간됨이 의미하는 것의 중심에 도덕을 위치시키기.


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Riverdale's
Westchester Parks Foundation Elects New Chairperson: Westchester Parks Foundation (WPF), the only organization dedicated exclusively to promoting and supporting Westchester County Parks, announced Seth M. Mandelbaum, Esq., managing partner with McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, LLP in White Plains, as its new Chairperson of the Board of
Yonkers Police Offer Free Citizen Training Program: The Yonkers Police Department Training Unit is now accepting applications for the next Citizen's Police Academy class. This informative and exciting 12 week program will meet on Monday nights from 6:30 to 9:30 PM at the Training Division, located at the
Cousins Maine Lobster at Gun Hill Brewing Company!: Cousins Maine Lobster is coming to the Bronx! On February 15th, Cousins Maine Lobster is excited to be back at the Gun Hill Brewing Company Enjoy an entire day, between 12pm to 8pm, snacking on your favorite lobster delights, as you
White Plains Performing Arts Center presents Rita Harvey's Heart Like A Wheel – A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt: Rita Harvey's Heart Like A Wheel – A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt at WPPAC on January 25 at 8pm Rita Harvey's 'Heart Like A Wheel' - A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt celebrates one of the most beloved and versatile pop singers of the past
Nation's Only Sustainable Seafood Festival Returns to New York on January 25: The nation's only sustainable seafood festival, Aquarius, will return to The Foundry in Long Island City on Saturday, January 25th from 8pm - 1am. Guests will be invited to partake in a boundless journey of sensory and visual imagination at
New York Public Library Releases Top Checkouts of All Time: Classic Children's Story The Snowy Day tops The New York Public Library's All-Time Checkouts List The top 10 list kicks off the Library's year-long 125th-anniversary celebration The beloved, innovative, award-winning children's story—written and illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats—is the most checked out
Let NY Vote Celebrates as NYS Senate Passes Automatic Voter Registration: Let NY Vote Celebrates as NYS Senate Passes Automatic Voter Registration - Coalition urges Assembly to follow suit Today, the New York State Senate passed Automatic Voter Registration (AVR): a process that would register or pre-register eligible New Yorkers to vote when
Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts Appoints Ed Domingo as President & COO: Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts ("Empire City") has announced gaming and hospitality veteran Ed Domingo as President and Chief Operating Officer. Domingo is being promoted from his position as Empire City's Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He will be
New York Botanical Gardens Hosts A Gathering of Stones: Dan Snow on Jan. 20: New York Botanical Gardens hosts A Gathering of Stones: Dan Snow on Tuesday, January 21, 2020 from 1 PM – 3 PM Stone underlies all earthly life. It is grist for loam and the bedrock of megacities. But because it's so ubiquitous,
Kathy Zamechansky Receives Special Honor From Rev. Jerome A. Greene Democratic Club
Published on Thursday, 10 January 2019 12:53
Written by Michael Dardano
At a recent banquet, the Rev. Jerome A. Greene Democratic Club Awards Dinner honored Kathy Zamechansky, president of KZA Realty Group, along with several other Bronx residents for their commitment and determination to create a better life for the people of the Bronx.
Club Awards Dinner Committee members included Hon. Latoya Joyner, New York Assembly; Hon. Vanessa Gibson, New York City Council; Hon. Aurelia Greene, Bronx Deputy Borough President; Heath Wade, founder of TruHawk, LLC, and Venancio "Benny" Catala, President, Rev. Jerome A. Greene Democratic Club.
"This is a special honor to be recognized along with so many other prominent people who make the Bronx a better place," said Zamechansky, who has received numerous awards during her distinguished real estate career.
Other key supporters recognized for their lasting commitment to the community by the prominent political organization included Jack Doyle (Executive Director, New Settlement Apartments), Bervin Harris (President and CEO, Renaissance Youth Center), Rev. Albert Sutton, Sr. (Pastor, The Friendly Baptist Church) and Hon. Jeffery Dinowitz (New York State Assembly).
Established in 1979, the Rev. Jerome A. Greene Democratic Club supports the election of local candidates "who represent our community and our values."
Founded in 1998 by Kathy Zamechansky, KZA Realty Group (www.kzarealty.com) is a New York City-based commercial real estate brokerage and development consulting firm specializing in commercial planning, project management, community and government relations, finance, marketing and communications. KZA Realty recently entered into an affiliation agreement with commercial real estate brokerage firm RM Friedland to provide enhanced client services. Ms. Zamechansky has won many awards, including the Bronx Chamber of Commerce 2018 Businesswoman of the Year. In addition to serving as Vice Chair of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation and President of the Bronx Manhattan North Association of Realtors, she sits on the Board of Governors of the Bronx along with the Board of Directors of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce and the Harlem Business Alliance.
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Abstract: Laboratory experiments were carried out to assess the quality of jute seeds collected from two different seed sources viz. Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) while the other was farmer`s seed. Each source consisted of two species, namely Corchorus olitorius and Corchorus capsularis. Two varieties of olitorius viz. O-9897 and O-4 and two varieties of capsularis viz. CVL-1 and CVE-3 were included in the experiments. Quality of jute seed was better in BJRI source than farmer`s source. Quality of farmer`s seeds deteriorated mostly during processing and storing period. Poor quality of farmer`s seed was associated with higher content of inert matter and higher initial moisture content. Higher initial moisture content subsequently reduced germination and vigour of farmer`s seed. Due to accelerated ageing, olitorius seed deteriorated completely by three days and capsularis seed by seven days. Earlier deterioration of olitorius seed indicated its more vulnerability to poor storage environment. The varietal difference with in species was not remarkable in quality of jute seed.
A. F. Mollah , M. M. Haque , S.M. M. Ali , A.T.M.M. Alam , A.B. Siddique and M.G. Mostofa , 2002. Quality Evaluation of Jute Seeds Collected from Different Sources . Journal of Biological Sciences, 2: 477-480.


Once again we are sooooo late in presenting the collection for the month of November, but thanks for hanging in there. The top contenders are in and we've tallied up the top 31 mobile photographs and artistry images for November 2013!
Our lead image evokes such raw intensity from both the figure and stark contrast in colors. Paula Gardener totally captures a powerful roar in her image entitled, "Can you hear me!" Over the past year Gardener has become known for captivating us with her emotional portraits. Well done Paula!
This collection features a plethora of portraits, landscapes, mobile art, and a few multiexposures. Artists include Joel Adam, Erika Brothers, Susan Blase, Sarah Jarrett, and many more!
congrats to all the artist selected for this week's showcase. A lot of great images.