text:
Verily
Verily, formerly Google Life Sciences, has become an incubator of sorts for a variety of experimental health initiatives, including a smart contact lens that might someday monitor blood sugar levels and a stabilizing spoon for people with Parkinson's disease. The company, which is a division of Alphabet, describes its unifying mission as "to make the world's health data useful." In 2016, Verily announced a variety of projects: a data management platform for people with diabetes called Onduo, in partnership with biotech giant Sanofi; Debug, which aims to alleviate mosquito-borne disease; Galvani, to create bioelectronic medicines with GSK; and Verb Surgical, which focuses on robotic surgery in partnership with Ethicon. One of Verily's most advanced projects, Liftware, announced a second product alongside its tremor-stabilizing spoon: The Level, which is designed to help people with cerebral palsy and spinal cord injuries eat independently. Liftware's devices have been used by more than 10,000 people in the past year.
2017: Health
staff: 400
Verily On The Web
https://verily.com/
Stories about Verily
Google's Verily may make smart shoes that track your weight
Michael J. Fox's Foundation Is Using This Alphabet Smartwatch To Research Parkinson's
The collaboration between the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Verily will help gather constant data on people's symptoms in the hopes of adding more understanding to the disease–and accelerating a cure.
Why This Van In Fresno Is Releasing A Million Bacteria-Infected Mosquitoes Every Week
Verily (Alphabet's life sciences division) is using robots and AI to mass-breed sterile mosquitoes and set them free to eliminate the wild population.
Exclusive: Interbrand Announces Its Breakthrough Brands Of 2017
The company's annual list looks at start-ups and early players in emerging markets like mobility tech, AI, the future of work, and more.
Alphabet's Stealthy Smartwatch Has One Killer Feature
Stand aside, Apple Watch. Verily's new smartwatch, which is optimized for medical research, can last for a week on one charge.
What self-driving cars will really do to cities
What if we just made sure the air was clean in schools?
These bamboo houses are designed to stay standing during earthquakes
How Dry January became a gateway drug for non-alcoholic booze marketing
This data visualization reveals the 18 most-hated TV show finales ever
Can beer-style advertising sell hard seltzer? Bud Light thinks so
This moving film will make you rethink your use of fossil fuels
All of Australia is burning? How maps can mislead
What indigenous design could teach us about surviving climate change
Here's why being likable may make you a less effective leader


FREE Online Bible, King James Version in HTML Proverbs Chapter 8:1-36.
PROV 8:1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
PROV 8:2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
PROV 8:3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
PROV 8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
PROV 8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
PROV 8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
PROV 8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
PROV 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
PROV 8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
PROV 8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
PROV 8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
PROV 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
PROV 8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
PROV 8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
PROV 8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
PROV 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
PROV 8:18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
PROV 8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
PROV 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
PROV 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
PROV 8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
PROV 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
PROV 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
PROV 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
PROV 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.


text:
Excerpt from: Leadership Manual for Association Leaders in Higher Education Units Technology Bargaining, Policy and Cost
Back to: Excerpt from: Leadership Manual for Association Leaders in Higher Education Units Technology Bargaining, Policy and Cost
The creation of the Internet, and the World Wide Web in 1990, was but another step in an information technology evolution that began with the written word over 5,000 years ago and continued with the Gutenberg press in 1455, the Remington typewriter in 1874 and the personal computer in 1975. This evolution in technology has increased in speed in recent decades and has had an impact on every aspect of society.
In the Post-Capitalist Society, Peter Drucker noted the following:
As recently as the 1960s, almost one-half of all workers in the industrialized countries were involved in making (or helping to make) things.
By 2000, no developed country will have more than one-sixth or one-eighth of its workforce in the traditional roles of making and moving goods.
Already an estimated two-thirds of U.S. employees work in the services sector, and "knowledge" is becoming our most important "product."
This trend calls for different organizations a well as different kinds of workers.
This economy is dependent upon a new class of workers, knowledge workers, who earn their living sharing information and solving problems, often as part of teams working with only general outside guidance. Clearly higher education and its faculty are crucial to this new information economy. Faculty themselves are knowledge workers who are simultaneously striving to adapt their work lives to the demands of the new economy while preparing others for their roles as knowledge workers.
Knowledge workers will need to update their skills and knowledge repeatedly throughout their lifetimes; therefore higher education will have to deal with the concept of lifelong learning for most Americans. Dolance and Norris in Transforming Higher Education: A Vision for Learning in the 21st Century project the need for 672 more college campuses nationwide just to handle the increased demands for lifelong learning. Between 1998 and 2008, eighteen states will have an increase in their numbers of high school graduates from 16% to over 35%. This leads to the question—does higher education have the capacity to educate these adult students in the workforce in addition to the traditional 18- to 22-year-old students?
Consider California as an example. The October 1, 1999 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education noted that the California Postsecondary Education Commission is predicting a 36% increase in enrollment by 2010. This projected increase in enrollment will mean that the state will need to accommodate an additional 715,000 more students. The report notes that the cost of accommodating these new students by building new campuses would be "staggering." The report instead recommends increasing the use of distance education and operating the current campuses year round.
Despite the predicted need to serve many more numbers of college-age and adult learners, few new campuses are being built and few full-time faculty are being hired. In response to very modest increases in government funding, institutions have often chosen to limit personnel costs by hiring large numbers of part-time faculty, most of whom are paid less on a pro-rata basis than full-time faculty and receive few benefits.
In 1997, part-time faculty accounted for 41% of all faculty in higher education. This is nearly double the 23% of workers in the U.S. labor force as a whole who were employed part time. Furthermore, in the Fall of 1997, 51% of the newly hired full-time faculty were in temporary positions. Thus higher education has become a major employer in the contingent economy.
Many administrators think that they can solve the growing enrollment challenge by using the new technology. One of the myths about distance education is that courses can be taped or put on a website and used repeatedly with no need for a permanent faculty. One of the challenges for faculty bargainers is to disabuse their administrators of this myth.
Many faculty members use technology daily for teaching, to communicate with students and colleagues, and for research. In May 1998, NEA sponsored a phone survey of its members in higher education. Virtually all faculty reported that they had access to a personal computer, e-mail and the Internet on campus. About 70% of the faculty had a computer at home. About two-thirds of the faculty reported using e-mail to communicate with students.
One-fourth of the faculty in the NEA study reported teaching via distance education and 27% reported using a website for their classes. Senior faculty members and full professors were more likely than junior faculty to teach a class using distance education. However, 67% of the faculty reported that keeping up with the use of information technology was the most stressful aspect of their work.2 The HERI 1998–99 study argues that stress levels are a reflection of the time faculty invest in using technology.
NEA Policy on Distance Learning
NEA has been concerned with the attitude of some administrators that distance education is the cheap answer to the enrollment challenges ahead. Therefore, in 1999, NEA developed and formally adopted a distance education policy to guide members who were concerned that quality was giving way to expediency in the introduction of distance education on campuses and in school districts. The NEA distance education policy (B62) includes the following:
The National Education Association believes that quality distance education can create or extend learning opportunities not otherwise available to all students.
The Association also believes that, to ensure quality, distance education courses must–
Be at least as rigorous as similar courses delivered by more traditional means
Meet accreditation standards
Have content that is relevant, accurate, meets state and local standards, and is subject to the normal processes of collegial decision making
Meet the objectives and requirements outlined in the official course description
Have the student/faculty ratios that ensure the active engagement of students and high academic achievement
Have appropriate procedures mutually agreed upon by the instructor and the institution for evaluation and verification that the student is submitting his/her own work
Have instructors whose qualifications are the same as those of instructors teaching in traditional classes and who are prepared specifically and comprehensively to teach in this environment
Be integrated into the mission and consistent with the overall offerings of the institution
Provide fair use exemptions for participants' access to copyrighted materials for educational purposes
The Association further believes that the institution offering the course must provide–
Adequate infrastructure
Appropriate facilities and equipment
Libraries and laboratories as needed
Adequate support and technical personnel on or off campus
The Association believes that the rights of the education employees delivering and monitoring the courses must be protected through the normal process of collegial decision making and, when relevant, collective bargaining. The intellectual property rights of instructors should be protected and should include the introduction, use, and impact of distance education as well as the revenue, revisions, reuse, and duration of the courses.
The Association also believes that the rights of students taking the courses must be protected. These rights must include, but not be limited to—
Appropriate equipment, technical support, libraries and laboratories
Appropriate student services
Accurate course descriptions and expectations prior to enrollment
Individualized interaction with their instructor
Opportunities for appropriate student-to-student interaction".
Impact of Technological Changes
Over the past twenty years computers have moved from only being used by select scientists and engineers into everyday use by nearly all faculty members. Today we speak less about computing and more often about information technology (IT), the latter now understood in the language of campuses and corporations to be far more encompassing than the former.
The NEA publication, Information Technology: A Road to the Future, describes one of the earliest impacts of portable computers on education, namely the replacement of the slide rule by the programmable calculator. The transition decision was easy: a newer, more effective technology was available to replace an older, less useful, tool. It was not necessary to do extensive cost-benefit analyses or learning outcome evaluations to make this transition. Everyone would agree that the new technology helped its users to become "more productive." The personal productivity value of the calculator was readily apparent. However this technology changed only a small part of what was taught and how it was taught, and the changes applied only to specific disciplines and not to the entire academic enterprise. Advocates do not claim that higher education as a whole became more productive because faculty and student were using calculators. This example illustrates that even compelling technological improvements may—or may not—have dramatic consequences for the curriculum. Clearly the programmable calculator has contributed to some important changes in mathematics, engineering and scientific education over the past two decades and not all of these changes were initially identified or anticipated.
The experience with the calculator is unusual. The slide rule, like the book, blackboard and lecture, was an acceptable standard. But, unlike the book, blackboard and lecture, the slide rule was quickly replaced by an obviously superior technology—the calculator. By comparison, despite great claims for computers, video, and IT, the book, blackboard and lecture continue to dominate education.
Another technological innovation, the videocassette recorder (VCR), did not achieve nearly the goals that some predicted for it. In the 1980s, significant expenditures were made by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Annenberg Foundation to develop a four-year college curriculum that could be taught entirely via television. The home VCR was the innovation to make it possible to take an entire four-year college curriculum via television at home. The VCR allowed a student to tape a lecture aired at an inconvenient time, which could then be viewed later, and it also allowed a student to borrow a lecture on videotape, study using a VCR, and then return it. While the courses prepared for television presentation were of high quality, they never achieved the widespread adoption that would have had a serious impact on higher education generally. Thus one could conclude that the VCR never achieved the full "promise" of its technology.
To understand the difference between the "promise" and the "performance" of IT, one needs to refer to the implementation cycle research, also described in Information Technology: A Road to the Future. IT integration in corporations and not-for-profit organizations have to pass through four stages that take place over a period of years, not weeks or months.
Stage 1. Some planning, investigation and experimentation takes place. There is recognition that leading competitors have already started to use information technology.
Stage 2. Next come a few years of marked increase in capital investment for individual workers/professionals and surprising increases in operating expenses with little reduction in other expenses. The organization also slowly begins to accomplish some tasks never before attempted and experiences a modest increase in the scale or scope of new activities.
Stage 3. A few years of readjustment ensue, where costs and annual investments in technology stabilize while capacity continues to grow and new functions are developed and implemented.
Stage 4. Finally, there are several years where the organization achieves new levels of efficiency, but the organization itself has changed substantially. The organization no longer pursues the old objectives and no longer works in the same way. No one seriously considers abandoning the new technology, because it has become inconceivable to accomplish what is now being done without it.
In academic administration, financial management, and some other areas where educational institutions engage in functions highly similar to corporations, institutions can adopt techniques already well developed for business and move rapidly through the early stages of an implementation cycle. In instructional areas, however, the IT decisions of colleges and universities are more decentralized than in business, and the core functions are not similar to business. Consequently, the organizational implementation cycle is even more complex than in private industry, and the implementation process will likely take longer than for an industrial organization of the same size.
Higher education has much to learn about how to move quickly (and painlessly) into Stages 3 and 4. Institutions must not continue to underestimate the real costs, complexity, and duration of the successful implementation process. Without understanding these cycles and their costs, institutions are not likely to attain the full benefits that technology has to offer. Consequently, these campuses will be mired down in stages 1 and 2 and will never achieve the gains available in stages 3 and 4.
An example of this is the cost of installing a campus computer network. The initial cost estimate is the cost of running wires into offices, dorms, libraries and classrooms. But the full costs include additional equipment, additional initial user support training, continuing user support, and software licenses. Over a few years these recurring costs can easily dwarf the initial capital investment. These additional annual costs must be built into the institution's annual budget.
There is an additional lesson from the corporate experience: the successful integration of information technologies is almost always associated with significant structural changes. It is well known that structural changes in higher education occur more slowly than in business and take many years. Yet today the financial pressures on higher education to accept ever increasing numbers of students may force colleges and universities to accommodate change quickly.
The arguments that information technology can enhance student learning have been well described in an article, "The Computer Revolution Comes to the Classroom," (Change, January-February, 1991, by Robert Kozma and Jerome Johnston). Their arguments include:
Students will no longer be the passive recipients of knowledge. Instead they will become actively engaged in the discovery of knowledge.
The technology will move the students from the classroom to the "real world."
Information technology will expand communication beyond simple text or oral presentation into other symbolic systems.
Computers can allow students to master a subject through drill and practice.
Technology allows students to move from individual to collaborative learning, from "the consideration of ideas in isolation to an examination of their meaning" in a global context.
Students will learn to use the tools of scholarship.
Limitations to IT
Why are institutions not making dramatic progress moving IT towards stages 3 and 4 described above? Perhaps because colleges do not have the resources to provide adequate user support such as constantly upgraded computers and telecommunication links, adequate technical support staff, and release time for faculty to learn new skills. These requirements become important when bargaining on the issue of technology. All too often, user support in fact declines at the same time that faculty and student interest in information technology is increasing and the administration is demanding that expensive capital investments in networks and hardware have a financial "payoff."
Information Technology: A Road to the Future included the warning that "the IT implementation effort now underway at colleges and universities across the country poses two great risks:
Many institutions will focus on technology, with inadequate attention to other components of the process. This will lead to marginal (if any) gains, great individual and organizational frustration, and, ultimately, to unrealized potential.
Only a few institutions will have the financial and personnel resources and the commitment necessary to achieve the educational potential of information technology—providing access to superior learning options for students and new levels of faculty productivity."
Collective bargaining is one tool to make an administration realize that very different outcomes are possible from the use of information technology.
2 The American College Teacher: National Norms for 1998–99, Higher Education Research Institute Faculty Survey.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Bachman Looks At Forgiveness
"Always forgive your enemies," said Oscar Wilde. "Nothing annoys them so much."
The Irish playwright may have been on to something according to Communication Studies' Guy Bachman, a member of the university since 2002.
Bachman is an expert on the dark side of relationships with an interest in forgiveness who has been publishing since 2000 in such forums as the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships with co-author Laura Guerrero of Arizona State University. He received his B.A. from the University of Hawaii, his M.A. from New Mexico State University and his Ph.D. in 2002 from Arizona State University.
Forgiveness can appear in different guises. Bachman's research shows five forms of communicative forgiveness: non-verbal displays, implicit forgiveness, conditional forgiveness, discussion, and minimization where the forgiver might say "Oh, forget about it. It's not a big deal." People are typically motivated to avoid and/or seek revenge after a relational transgression.
Avoidance can begin when a romantic partner or friend says or does something that is hurtful. Bachman believes there are two possibilities when that happens. The first is that the person who is upset will not be in a forgiving mood. "That person will do things to make sure she or he has no contact with the offender," he said. "You may live under the same roof but there are still ways to avoid communicating or showing affection and warmth to that other person, including the cold shoulder."
The second possibility is revenge. "When provoked, one person may wish the other to suffer in some way too. Movies about revenge are big. But until the offended party loses the wish for revenge there is no forgiveness," said Bachman. "Say a girlfriend flirts with someone else. 'I want her to feel like I do' says the boyfriend. Our research shows that revenge and forgiveness and forgiving communication associate negatively."
Somehow, there must be an apology. "The other person cannot merely say 'I am sorry.' They must be sincere," he said. "There was that film 'A Fish Called Wanda' where an offending party was hung out a window until a sincere apology was forthcoming. We can forgive with words and still wish the other person to suffer in some way."
Forgiveness is handy when longtime partners begin to take each other for granted. "When couples first meet, they are on guard for the first several months," Bachman said. "They want to make sure their feelings don't get hurt. I'm constantly amazed by the horrible things that long term dating couples say and do to each other. But I'm equally amazed at the things they forgive each other for."
Bachman is working on a study with Communication Studies colleague San Bolkan looking at factors linked to forgiveness including "perceived partner mattering" and "relational tone." Perceived mattering involves the degree which one feels important to their partner and relational tone involves how much hurt and drama is experienced in a relationship. "We don't know exactly why people come to feel unimportant to their partners," Bachman explained. "There seems to be a lot of relational drama in some dating relationships and many people don't feel important to their partner.
"In our recent study, students read a scenario where their partner was caught flirting with someone at a bar. They were asked what they would do if this situation happened to them. Prior to reading the scenario, the respondents rated their level of emotional tone, perceived mattering, and relational satisfaction. Individuals who experience a lot of up-and-downs in the relationship and often say hurtful things to each other's (emotional tone) reported low levels of perceived mattering, and relational satisfaction."
Guy Bachman
In a nutshell, those with the lower scores on perceived mattering, relational tone, and relational satisfaction indicated they would be least likely to forgive their partner and most likely to engage in destructive communication of avoidance and seeking revenge. Respondents who reported feeling important to their partner, were satisfied, and didn't hurt each other's feelings indicated they would be upset if they found their partner flirting, but they would probably be much more forgiving and engage in behaviors that would help repair the damage.
"It's true some relationships can be negative in tone but forgiving in practice," said Bachman. "Despite hitting each other over the head with negativity, some manage to be happy. Just because there is drama in the relationship doesn't mean the couple will break up."
Perceived mattering is important to partners. Those who do not perceive their worth do not feel needed by their partner.
"It is the little things like paying attention when they talk or answering their texts quickly that can make a partner feel important," he said. "They can be included in an activity. They can be told about aspects of your day. Make future plans together and express your feelings to him or her. Have them help you do things. Let them know they're needed. If you fail to answer your partner's calls, e-mail or text, but you answer friend's calls this could lead one to think he or she is not very important in your life.
"In many cases one member of the relationship seems to care or be clingier than the other. Sometimes caring more hints at desperation. The key there is to back off. Stop calling so much. Stop being so needy. See what happens. Independence is hard to practice but important to do. Typically, the other person will come around."
The key to forgiveness can be as simple as being nice.
"You want to put insurance into any relationship, long-term or short. Being nice and fighting fair is one way to do it," Bachman said. "Be nice all the way through. Let the other person know they are special just like on that first or second date. If your partner does things that annoy you, talk about it in a way that doesn't make them feel bad."


In the 1980s MTV ran a series of concerts on the weekends (or it could have been Night Flight on USA, I can't remember).  Back to back on the same night they showed Eric Clapton and Dire Straits.  As a big Dire Straits fan, it was slightly disillusioning.  It seemed like Mark Knopfler was playing the guitar while Clapton was telling you a story with it.  I had a similar moment when Echo and Bunnymen released People are Strange and I realized that Ian McCulloch was not the reincarnation of Jim Morrison after all.
I don't often get to buy music, but for holidays my son sometimes gives me an iTunes card so I can make a CD to play in the car.  Invariably I find myself getting either a Clash or Big Audio Dynamite song for the CD.  Then I get a weird feeling because even though I always picture Joe Strummer when I think of the Clash, I usually download a song on which Mick Jones is singing.


Is This Drunk Driving Or Stupid Driving?
Get ready to get pissed off. Here's a video of female driver pulling right in front of another car like an idiot and causing an accident. When the other driver approaches her vehicle, she can be seen turning away and putting a gum in her mouth. Was she drunk driving?
She goes on to claim it wasn't her fault and accuses the guy for speeding. Then after she realizes he's calling 911, she says they should just exchange information, meaning they don't need to involve the police.
Sadly, no sobriety test was performed once police came, and her male passenger took off before they arrived. Either way, she was found to be at fault, and OP's car was determined to be a total loss. It's a good thing this guy had it all on camera.
Porsche 918 Spyder Hilariously Rolls Backwards Into A Porsche 911!


text:
Vieux Port, Marseille, France. The city, the oldest in France, was founded 600 AD. Photo credit: Wilfried Vowoto on Unsplash
Portraits of Marseille Part 1. Samia's lens
by Amanda Agyei
Under the dynamic cultural medley of Marseille, the oldest city in France, are social and political tensions that spill out into violence and discrimination. This two-part series looks at Marseille through race and class.
"You can see Algeria from here on a clear day," my friend and I are told as we stand looking out at the sea. We are in Marseille, just outside of a huge civic museum called Le Mucem. As we admire the rich blue waves kissing the shores, the atmosphere is effortlessly dynamic and cool.
Although this is my first day, the human landscape feels familiar. When I scan the sea of people going to-and-fro, many faces reflect histories from across the globe. But clearly we are all here, rooted together. Outsiders call Marseille the other France. Looking at the passersby, I instinctively understand why. Marseille is the most diverse city in Europe with a significant concentration of Muslims, Jews, Armenians and Africans.
On my third day, I start talking to Samia, a 29-year-old manager of an Egyptian eatery who quickly becomes part of my morning breakfast routine. She is friendly, charming and patient with the fact that I do not speak French. Fired up by an earlier conversation about Marseille and its salacious history, I ask her what she thinks of Le Mucem.
| Read: Portraits of Marseille Pt. 2. Samia's Lens
"It's for tourists. People from Marseille do not frequent it much." Built in 2013, Le Mucem's imposing structure deals with themes of France's colonial past. Its focus on collecting materials and curating exhibitions centering colonial empires, still causes much controversy with locals. Constructed near Marseille's famous old port, it was thrown in the midst of a working class community; one arm of a wider gentrification project.
"Many people have boycotted Le Mucem," I am told by another Marseille resident.
Unique in its structure as compared to other cities in France, the blue collar communities situated around Le Mucem are in the heart of the city. Similar working class districts sit on Marseille's periphery. Though Le Mucem brings tourist traffic, which feeds into local businesses, the resident's resistance remains fresh.
When the museum was built, there was a significant fallout. Residents rejected the city's efforts in furthering cultural and structural destabilization. Since 2018, the Marseillais have protested how Le Mucem ushered in more gentrification developments that forced locals to move. In turn, some of their protests were met with police abuses such as being tear gassed and beaten.
| Read: From Atlanta to Nigeria: A conversation on gentrification
Noting this sordid history, I turn my attention back to Le Mucem. Inside, it is filled with the usual suspects: young white families, couples and tourists. I walk into the museum's clothes shop as loud hip-hop is being played by a DJ. The prices are eye-watering with many items marketed as "ethnic." I feel uncomfortable as the DJ rocks out to hip-hop and looks at me, as though sensing my feelings of being out-of-place. Once out of the huge space and into the outside air, I observe the locals. I hear laughter, smell what I think are nuts being roasted, and hear conversation in French and Arabic.
Samia speaks briefly of the Corsican and Italian presence in Marseille, their gated communities, and the influence of public officials in making them happen.
"The Italian and Corsican community have been here for a very long time." The first wave of Italian immigration happened in the late 1800's. "Their history in Marseille is linked to drug crime and now they live in some of the wealthiest areas."
I ask her if she is speaking about the notorious gated communities outside the city center, "Yes, in Colline Perrier [an area of Marseille] they were able to build their own private communities, with shops, swimming pools and the rest. In order to get in, you need to be on a list or know a resident. Just outside is one of the poorest communities in Marseille."
She goes on to tell me of how Corsican immigration's restructuring of thoroughfares in the areas have affected the local population.
"Before, children could cut through this area to get to school. Now they have to go around, which adds 20 minutes to their journey." As she described the situation further, it started to sound like the Italian migrants formed an illegal settlement.
I ask how it was possible to make parts of the city inaccessible. She describes the established Mafia presence and the historical support of local politicians. "They have enough power in high places to get whatever they want done," Samia explains.
It all sounds rather brazen, but experiencing firsthand how quickly city landscapes can change — with families being pushed out of their own communities — though scandalous, it was unsurprising.
| Read: 'We're hurting.' Italian businesses closing down rapidly in a shaken economy
Samia Kadiri captures a part of Marseille that makes up its diverse communities of immigrants and working class. Photos courtesy of Samia's IG.
Samia tells me that Marseille is also known for its dilapidated buildings, rented majorly to its most marginalized. Her facts trigger the memory of the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire disaster, the British disgrace that happened in London. A flat in the ill-repaired, state-funded high rise caught fire during Ramadan that year. The blaze quickly ripped through the building killing dozens of people. At the thought of Grenfell, I feel myself become emotional as she recounts a similar incident that occurred only a stone's throw from where we are standing, in the area of Noailles.
For years, Noailles' inhabitants complained about the dangerous living conditions. The neighborhood has dealt with issues of security for decades. Guns, drugs and violence have spiked while political officials look away. Years ago, an older Arab woman was shot on her balcony by police. Domestic violence has peaked. But, at the center of the insecurity is how the people are grossly exploited in the residential quarters.
Privately owned ramshackle housing was continuously rented out by by slumlords. These property owners knew that their buildings are in ill-repair. Yet and still, they refused to do any renovations or regulate the number of people living in a home because no one holds them accountable. The inevitable collapse occurred when several unsafe buildings fell onto each other in 2018, killing approximately eight people while displacing thousands. In the investigation, it was discovered that one of the deteriorating buildings was owned by the municipality.
Reflecting on this injustice, I thought about how the flagrant and deliberate disregard of the poor is often masqueraded as innocent mistakes by governing bodies. Samia and I grew silent for what felt like a long time.
In explaining how the city resisted in protest, Samia also spoke of the many people who took to the streets. I mention a New York Times article framed the protest as mainly being attended by the bourgeoisie. Samia laughs and says that though the bourgeoisie were present, to the surprise of many, the white people there were mainly poor.
"There were other ethnicities there too, for sure, but the issue is access. Many poorer areas of Marseille are on the periphery of the city. The transport is terrible. You need three buses to get even close to the center. Many people from the outskirts could not get in. This is deliberate," said Samia.
In describing the transport plans of the city, she was acutely aware that it favored certain sections of France. In international discourse, pertinent facts about the Marseillais' fight against gentrification, were omitted in the press. Across the board, mainstream news painted the poor and immigrant communities as unmoved by the dire situations that directly affect them. She says the attacks in the media on immigrants, especially Muslims, is strongly felt in France.
| Read: Artists: The last disruptors of Oakland
We speak again of Le Mucem and the fact that Samia was once employed there as a tour guide.
"Yeah, they are really racist," she says in that refreshingly frank way you do when there is no need to mince your words, "but this is Marseille." She goes on to tell me of the trouble she and her boyfriend had renting a house.
"Landlords would agree to meet when we spoke on the phone and we would turn up to appointments with comments, 'Oh! Is it you both… uh, okay. Buonjour.'"
It was clear that the owners did not want to rent to Blacks or Arabs. She told me of how one potential landlord called her workplace to see if she was actually employed there. "That is not legal, surely!?," I hear myself almost shout. "Of course not, but this is Marseille."
I am annoyed at just how cookie cutter the expressions of racism can be across Europe. We look at each other and laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Next, I speak to Samia's colleague, Sophie, who tells me more about Italian and Corsican life in Marseille. In her details, she explains how they established themselves as a notable presence over many decades. I ask her how she knows so much about the history, "My grandfather is Italian and lived through a lot of the change."
Having to leave before Sophie could get into more detail, I tell them that I will be back and I am glad to have met them. Though this was all true, the conversation remained a cruel reminder that there is nothing new under the sun when it comes to our old foes racism, classism and the subjugation of those othered. However, the beauty of it was the resistance I saw very much in bloom in the formidable character of the women I spoke to that day.
Get out. 'I stood naked with my shotgun.' Black ranchers say white residents terrorize their Colorado farm to push them off of their land
Get out. Black Colorado ranchers face domestic terrorism by local whites who they say are trying to steal their land
Birmingham mayor pardons thousands of residents who had marijuana cases
Gas shortage in North Carolina, $5 a gallon in Los Angeles from Cyberattack
Latest from Race and Ethnicity
Hollywood backed a 'city-engineered holocaust.' Black, Latino, Indigenous families evicted during Palm Springs' urban renewal demand reparations
Seventy years after Hollywood elites, real estate magnates and federal government operatives forcibly removed low-income residents
Harriet Tubman monument replacing Christopher Columbus statue in Newark reignites racial tug of war around city's history
Two communities clash between the statues of a brutal colonizer and a revered freedom-fighter.
Black + Italian. 'The long road to permanency for African descendants.'
Over the years, thousands of Africans migrated to Italy for better lives. What they often experience
When green goes bad. Buyers of Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation homes agree to $20.5 million settlement
On the surface, Brad Pitt's Make It Right Foundation appeared to be pure goodwill. The lawsuit
Overnight, the predominantly African American district in Buffalo marred by gun violence, must deal with a


Verizon will decide in the next three months whether or not to put its data centers on the chopping block.
Speaking to investors during the Bank of America Merrill Lynch conference, Fran Shammo, CFO of Verizon, said the company's sales process was initially delayed because many buyers wanted to see financial statements per data center, and the company didn't have that information available.
He added that in the next three months the company will report on whether it will move forward with a sale.
Shammo confirmed a report from Reuters earlier this year that said Verizon was considering a possible sale of its 48 data centers, which the company acquired when it purchased Terremark in 2011 for $1.4 billion. The Reuters story said that the company priced its data centers at about $2.5 billion.
Verizon's purchase of Terremark was a way for the company to enter the cloud services business and compete with larger cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS). However, few telcos have been successful with their cloud strategies and many are now moving away from that business model.
Verizon isn't the only telco to put its data center business on the chopping block. CenturyLink is also considering selling its data center business. And last October, Windstream sold its data center business to TierPoint for $575 million.


Posted bystephanie hanley May 31, 2007 Posted incatsLeave a comment on New baby!!!
Just had to post these… too funny Makes me want to tipe bad.
Posted bystephanie hanley May 29, 2007 Posted inFun stuff, randomLeave a comment on LOL!


text:
Von Miller named second-team All-Pro at two positions
Von Miller after his record-setting sack. Credit: Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports.
Von Miller has earned second-team All-Pro honors at both the edge rusher and linebacker positions, the Associated Press announced Friday.
Miller now has earned second-team honors four times (2011, 2014, 2017 and 2018) and has been named to the first-team three times (2012, 2015 and 2016) in his illustrious career.
In a full 16 games this season, Miller recorded 14.5 sacks, forced four fumbles and recovered three of them. In his career, Miller has 450 combined tackles and is Denver's all-time leader in sacks with 98.
The seven-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl 50 MVP told the media on Monday that he hopes to take his game an even higher level in 2019.
"I hate feeling like I could've done more, but that's definitely the truth," Miller said. "I could've always done more and it's a good thing because I've got another shot at it next year to do more — not only on the football field but in the locker room and as a leader."


text:
Doug Reviews: Spectre (2015)
The most recent James Bond films, starting with 2006's Casino Royale, have been serious, character-driven affairs. The latest, Spectre, attempts to go back to the old James Bond tropes and formula, but the filmmakers seemed to forget all the elements that have made the last few films so great. Okay, maybe not Quantum of Solace, but the other two for sure.
Spectre picks up after Skyfall with Bond (Daniel Craig) in Mexico City looking for a terrorist, Sciarra (Alessandro Cremona). After the operation goes…sideways, M (Ralph Fiennes) suspends Bond for not telling him why he was in Mexico. Bond reveals to Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) that he was fulfilling a final wish of the previous M (Judi Dench). He attends Sciarra's funeral and meets his wife, Lucia (Monica Bellucci). He also sees someone he thought was dead, Franz Oberhauser (Christoph Waltz). Bond saves Lucia's life and she tells him that her husband was to attend a meeting. Bond goes in his stead and finds that Oberhauser is the head of some sort of criminal syndicate. Oberhauser siccs Mr. Hinx (Dave Bautista) on Bond, who escapes and tracks down Mr. White (Jesper Christensen) from the previous films. White cuts a deal with Bond in order to protect his daughter, Madeleine Swann (Lea Seydoux), who eventually reveals that the criminal organization is called Spectre. Bond goes to deal with Oberhauser, while back home in England, M is staving off MI6's extinction at the hands of C (Andrew Scott), a hard-charging bureaucrat who is more invested in a surveillance state as opposed to human intelligence like the 00 Program.
Spectre is most definitely the most fun entry in Daniel Craig's run as James Bond, but you wouldn't know it from Craig's stoic demeanor. Though there's a lot of action, the film feels its two and a half hour length at times. The biggest issue that I had with it, though, was that it felt like the script wasn't really servicing the characters or story, but simply setting up the next action set piece. There was a lot of speculation as to who Christoph Waltz was really playing and all I'll say is that the basic theory that was floating around online is true and Oberhauser is not his true, or at least current, identity. The problem is, his true identity only means something to the audience, not to Bond. This is very reminiscent of the Khan reveal in Star Trek: Into Darkness – none of the characters in the rebooted Star Trek knew who Khan was, so when Benedict Cumberbatch makes his reveal, Kirk and Spock should have just said, "So?" The only difference with Spectre is that Oberhauser himself does mean something to James Bond, but you'd be hard-pressed to know that from Bond's reaction to finding him alive. Without completely spoiling everything, this film should have been the most personal yet for James Bond, but Director Sam Mendes and his screenwriters completely dropped the ball. In Goldeneye, the villain was also a figure from James Bond's past and the filmmakers actually told the story of their relationship, so that there was some actual character development for both the villain and Bond. With Spectre, the connection between Bond and Oberhauser is treated like an afterthought by Bond, but forms the entire basis of Oberhauser's scheme. That imbalance weakens the story considerably, especially since–as Oberhauser reveals in the trailer–he "is the author of all of [James Bond's] pain." Of course, he never really proves it. The shoddy screenwriting continues in the case of a twist involving another character that is so obvious, I figured it out from the moment he stepped on screen.
Craig is great as always as Bond, but his approach to the character doesn't really fit with the direction Mendes and his team went with this one. Craig is perfectly built for the stripped-down approach that the Bond producers took with Casino Royale, but as they've crept closer to finally and fully embracing all the extraordinary elements of Bond's past, Craig looks completely bored at times. I liked Waltz as usual, but his character was poorly written. He claims that he's behind all the events of the last few Bond films, but honestly, considering his master plan, he could have learned about what happened to Bond and just taken credit for it. He doesn't really do anything, which I guess fits for the head of a criminal organization, but he just felt underwritten. Bautista does well as the tight-lipped Mr. Hinx, but while he shows up in several action set pieces, he too felt underutilized. Like Oddjob and Jaws, he has his own physical quirk, but he uses it exactly once. Fiennes, Harris, and Ben Whishaw as Q all do good jobs and it was interesting to see them have their own subplot, but for the most part, it just makes an already long movie that much longer. Seydoux is fine in her role, but to be honest, I think it would have been far better if the filmmakers had made Bellucci the main love interest. At fifty years of age at the time of filming, Bellucci is the oldest "Bond Girl," and would have been a much more inspired choice to be Bond's main female companion. Unfortunately, while I liked both of these women, the producers have been hard-pressed to find a Bond Girl to match Vesper Lynd from Casino Royale.
Overall, while the classic Bond elements are nice to see again, Spectre felt like a step back from the character-driven stories that have marked Craig's tenure as James Bond. In what should have been the most personal of all the films for Bond, Craig feels like a detached spectator. The villains are under-written and the whole endeavor felt like a deliberate push back against the "heavy" James Bond films of the last few years. The problem for the producers is, Casino Royale is the best Bond film in decades and Skyfall is a very close second, so why go backwards?
Rating: B-
This entry was posted in Movies, Reviews and tagged 2015, Ben Whishaw, Blofeld, Bond 24, Casino Royale, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Craig, Dave Bautista, Film Reviews, Films, Hodgepodge, James Bond, Lea Seydoux, Monica Bellucci, Movie Reviews, Movies, Naomie Harris, Podcast, Ralph Fiennes, Skyfall, Spectre. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
61 Sensational Seasons. We're Just Getting Started
Turf Paradise has just wrapped up its 61st season, marking another milestone and serving as the Valley's only horseracing track. When Turf Paradise opened its doors in 1956, we were the state's first professional sports franchise. A lot has changed since then, but we believe competition breeds innovation.
Turf Paradise's races are viewed at Off Track Betting locations from London to Dubai and from Flagstaff to Yuma. Wagering and attendance remain brisk. This past season more than 1,800 horses were stabled at our facility as trainers, jockeys, and horse owners continue to come to Turf Paradise for a chance to compete. They come from 18 states and three Canadian provinces. That's about 150 more horses than last year and a tribute to the outreach efforts by so many.
Our purses have been about $11 million, an amount we hope to maintain or increase next year as a key part of one of the largest horseracing meets in the country.
Our contribution to the sport of horseracing merited a visit from Triple Crown winning jockey Victor Espinoza, who spoke with local reporters and state leaders about the vital role horseracing plays in Arizona's economy.
Turf Paradise was once again honored to host its annual Wine, Women, and Horses Charity event in April which raised $53,000 for Child Crisis Arizona. Turf Paradise was also proud to host a Relay for Life event benefitting the American Cancer Society.
Nearly 8,000 people attended the annual Wiener Dog races which raised $15,000 for Arizona-Adopt-a- Greyhound. Turf Paradise also worked with the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (AzHBPA) to entertain nearly 8,000 fans with the track's annual Camel, Ostrich, and Zebra races.
That's in addition to special events such as Thanksgiving weekend, Super Saturday, and our Anniversary celebration marked by the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile. Once again the widow of the legendary Phoenix Suns Coach was on hand to commemorate the event.
Betting on the Kentucky Derby from Turf Paradise was up from the previous year.
Turf continues to bring new fans to the sport. Off Track Betting, wagering via smart phones, and social media are just some of the ways our sport reaches out to a new fan base. The track holds 'Fiesta Sundays' as horseracing becomes more popular with our state's growing Hispanic population.
The impact Turf Paradise has on the Arizona economy can't be understated, it's $91 million a year according to a recent economic impact study.
With one of the longest racing seasons in the country, Turf Paradise gives fans more opportunities to see live, local horse races. It also gives those in the horseracing industry an opportunity to settle in for a long season as opposed to bouncing from city to city. It gives the backside a sense of community, that's why there is a permanent place of worship and a full-time chaplain at the backside.
This is not to say there aren't any challenges. Due to a changing sport, many tracks around the country have gone from five days a week to four. Here at Turf, we have kept five, affording horsemen more opportunities to race. Additionally, a southern Arizona tribe recently opened a massive casino not too far from us, despite opposition from Arizona's Governor, congressional delegation, and state legislature. National and local challenges are very real. Why, for example, should this tribe be allowed massive gaming rights, and Turf Paradise be allowed none? Why should hundreds of thousands of fantasy sports players in Arizona be some of the few people in America that can't play because many tribes don't want to allow this?
Through all of the changes and challenges, there remains one constant, the thrill of watching thoroughbreds and quarter horses race to the finish line. It was compelling entertainment in 1956 and it remains so today.
Our 62nd season starts October 14th. We hope you can join us for season 62 and for many years to come. Ownership and management led by Jerry Simms and Vince Francia will continue to do its very best to do right by you. And as always, please let us know your thoughts and suggestions by writing us at vfrancia@turfparadise.net
GO MAX - Hasta La Vista Handicap
GO MAX
Doug Blair, Owner
Debbie O'Brien, Trainer
Scott Stevens, Jockey
Blue Bomber (2nd)
Sir Searsucker (3rd)
SQUEEZE ME - Turf Paradise Open Spring Futurity
SQUEEZE ME
Kevin Eikleberry, Owner
Kevin Eikleberry, Trainer
Ry Eikleberry, Jockey
Rocky Rogue (2nd)
Primo Touch (3rd)
Hasta La Vista Brings Turf Paradise Meet to a Close
With 11-1 outsider Go Max winning the $30,000 Hasta La Vista Handicap Sunday, Turf Paradise brought its 61st season to a close.
Go Max and Scott Stevens got up in the final strides of the one mile and seven-eights turf marathon to best 2-5 defending champion Blue Bomber with Sir Searsucker finishing third in the field of eight older horses.
Owned by Doug Blair and trained by Debbie O'Brien, Go Max covered the distance over firm going in 3:11.42 and returned $25.80 for a $2 win wager.
In the co-featured $74,000 Open Spring Futurity, 1-9 favorite Squeeze Me ($2.20) with Ry Eikleberry up was an easy 6 ¼ length winner over Rocky Rogue with Primo Touch third in the field of ten 2-year-olds.
Owned and trained by Kevin Eikleberry, Squeeze Me, one of six fillies in the race, covered the 5-furlongs in :59.09. Now a perfect two-for-two, Squeeze Me earned $43,236 for her victory.
Leading rider honors went to Andrew Ramgeet with 107 wins. It was the Jamaican-born rider's first title in his second season at the track. David Lopez finished second with 98 wins and eight-time leading rider Scott Stevens third with 96 wins
Robertino Diodoro won his fourth consecutive trainer's title with 84 victories. One of Diodoro's mainstays, Charles Garvey, won the owner's title with 22 victories, one more than Silva Racing with 21 tallies.
Turf Paradise will conduct summer simulcasting from major race tracks, seven-days a week. Live racing will return in mid-October.
Turf Paradise Race Meet Comes to a Close This Weekend
Turf Paradise brings its 61st season to a close this three-day weekend, highlighted by Saturday's simulcast of the 143rd running of the $2,000,000 Kentucky Derby. Closing day Sunday will feature the marathon, traditional closing day marquee stakes, the one mile and seven-eights Hasta La Vista Handicap.
There will be special live racing Friday plus a simulcast of the $1,000,000 Kentucky Oaks. Live race post time will be 1:25 pm. Advanced wagering on the Kentucky Derby will be available.
Saturday starts early, with gates opening at 7:00 am and the first simulcast from Churchill Downs set for 7:30 am. Live race post is 11:35 am. Kentucky Derby post time is 3:25 pm.
Sunday's closing day's will offer free Grandstand admission and a first post of 1:25 pm.
Derby Day Saturday
America's most famous horse race, the Kentucky Derby, will be simulcast live at Turf Paradise on to all its 60 in-state Off Tracks Betting sites.
On track, the first 5,000 fans will receive a free commemorative Kentucky Derby glass, listing all the previous Derby winners. A free Family Fun Park for the kids will feature multiple bounce inflatables and face painters.
Mint Juleps, the traditional Derby beverage, will be offered.
Sunday's $30,000 Hasta La Vista
At one and seven-eights miles, the Hasta La Vista, is one of the longest turf races in America. A field of eight will line up, including last year's winner Blue Bomber and race runnerup Pacific Nights.
Blue Bomber, who will be ridden by regular rider Natasha Coddington, is coming off a win and a new stakes record in the one mile and three-eights Wildcat Handicap. The 6-year-old's strength is to go to the front and make others tire trying to catch him. The tactic resulted in a neck victory last year. Blue Bomber is the only entrant to have won at the distance.
Pacific Nights has not won since February 28 of 2016 when he defeated Blue Bomber at 7 ½ furlongs on the turf.
$30,000 Spring Futurity
The co-featured stakes has attracted a full field of 12 2-year-olds, divided among seven fillies and five colts and geldings, for the 5-furlong sprint. All 12 have made their maiden start with three of those winning their debuts.
The most impressive winner of the three was the Kevin Eikleberry-trained filly Squeeze Me, who won her maiden race by 6 ½ lengths over eight rivals.


No updates for this at the moment: the next Housing Delivery Committee meeting will be Wednesday 18 September!
Note: The next step should be planning application (which should include the appropriation). Depending on what kind of planning application it is (if it's just with outline planning) there could even be another one (with detailed plans) but as it's just for a few houses, it's most likely going to be a detailed one straightaway.
Last time at the surgery we talked about the footpath opposite of the allotments and I was wondering why this should be part of the mitigation for the housing development in Abbotts Barton when it's clearly used by many people on a daily basis and we already get more people in the area due to the Abbotts Walk development. A lot of young children don't like to go along there when using scooters as the surface has become very bumpy; this means these families will walk on the road past the rugby club which is not quite as safe without a proper pavement away from the cars. The path is also getting narrower as the edges are crumbling away and at some places it's only wide enough for one person these days. I was assured that a while back Jim Maynard took some photos of the path and that he sent them to the council to show them the bad state of the path. He has asked for an update but there was none at this time.
I wanted to know if there was any movement on the MUGA / skate park plans for the North Walls Play Area but there is no news. As I had recently read that the council had got a donation in shape of an inheritance I was wondering if any of that money (it's meant for homes for the elderly) could at least indirectly help the skate park project along which seems to be slightly short of funding. Jim Maynard promised to ask about that.
Again, there are no news on the planned play area in the Abbotts Walk development.
In previous conversations with the councillors Jane was talking about the dilapidated goal post in the Abbotts Barton park and we were promised that a replacement would be requested, if at all possible two of them to allow for a proper game of football: according to Jim Maynard these are on the council list of things to be done, however, they seem to be pushed down again and again. I also asked about adding some benches/picnic benches for outside of the fenced-in play area, it would be very nice to have those and whether or not the new houses are going to be built this is something we should insist on getting!
A while ago I was reading that the Winchester Town Forum wanted to hold some public meetings for some issues (for example the River Park Leisure Centre). As all council meetings are normally public I was wondering what would be different here. It turns out these would be bigger meetings with the public invited that are normally held in the main hall of the Guildhall and they would serve two purposes, a) to inform and b) to get an insight in the public's opinion.
Again, no news, and this is something that Dominic Hiscock is dealing with. Unfortunately he wasn't at the surgery.
Lynne had forwarded this question to me, to find out what the council knows about a fracking license being issued in King's Worthy (see this article in Hampshire Chronicle). As the council has no say on this anymore (decisions have been moved to other departments to make it harder to stop plans) there was no answer at this time. I requested to find out whether the council has any position at all as people have concerns about the groundwater getting polluted.
Don't forget: The next Councillor's Surgery will be Thursday 5 September!


Some very good reasons to gift your business partners!
When you are looking for high quality gift boxes and gift baskets for your business needs you have come to the right place. Wether you are in need for a corporate gift for the holidays or a closing deal gift our gifts and gift baskets are perfect for any business purpose.
Klick on the picture for bulk order form download (exel).
, France Austria and Poland, Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Companies ordering from other EU countries than Germany holding a valid VAT number can be excluded from VAT.
no extra costs when all cards are exactly the same, or 1,20 Euro incl. VAT per card if names are provided on cards.
We offer corporate gift baskets for delivery in the EU and to Switzerland. You'll find a great range of of beautiful gift baskets that fit for your corporate needs. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any questions.
More than 10 gift recipients?
We send corporate gifts to Europe since 2002, located in Germany we have fastest access to all EU countries and Switzerland. We also provide low shipping costs. Our corporate gifts are high quality food gifts with wine, champagne, chocolate, snacks and gourmet food from Europe and around the world. We make sure your gift baskets, hampers and gift boxes arrive in perfect condition!
The gifts and gift baskets you find on our website are created by us, we design them with love, make them with care and we provide delivery across the European Union and Switzerland.
Smaller orders will be shipped the same or the next day. Please make sure orders with more than 50 gift baskets are ordered earlier, depending on the volume. If you have questions please contact our sales team.
Shipping times and costs can be checked in the product details.
Why order with Gift Baskets Europe?
We belong to the leading gift basket companies in Europe.
Est. in 2002 we have over 10 years of experience with corporate gifting.
Unique gift boxes and gift baskets, you won't find them anywhere else.
We offer high quality products combined with exclusive designs.
More than 150 standard gifts and gift baskets serve most of your needs.
Our returning customers are the best proof for our work.
We can offer ribbon printing, personalize sleeves on gift boxes and can also choose from various gift boxes. Be aware that most brandings do need extra handling time.
Once your order is shipped you can track all your parcels. You will get your login with your order confirmation.
, there you will find our new Christmas hampers for corporate clients, as well as exclusive gift baskets for Christmas when someone needs a special treatment. Of course, we also supply private customers. Make sure you order in time. You can order early and provide us with your desired delivery date, you are given this option when we ask for the delivery adress. We will make sure to ship your present in time. This way you make a reservation on the Christmas gift you want as some of our gifts will be sold out the closer to Christmas time comes.
Sending Christmas Gifts to corporations you have to consider that they might be closed for the Holidays, often days before Christmas. Shipping them in time is mandatory. We do have lots of corporate clients who send their gifts for the New Year instead of Christmas. For a couple of reasons we think this is a very good idea. First, your gifts won't arrive with all the other Christmas Gifts, second, some are not celebrating Christmas, third, your clients are probably on long vacations during Christmas which is not unusual for Europeans.


Designing, writing and/or producing presentations, press releases, articles, leaflets, "˜in-house' journals, reports, publicity brochures, information for web sites and promotional videos.
Ability to build and maintain relationships and work well with others as part of a team.
Superior written and verbal communications skills, including public speaking skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
Working knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet computer applications (Excel/Microsoft Word skills required).


text:
Montana StationsKTVQ
MSU Billings soccer teams release 2019 slates
By: Scott Breen
(Editor's note: MSUB Athletics release)
BILLINGS – It will be a busy fall for the Montana State University Billings men's soccer team, which unveiled its 2019 schedule on Friday.
The Yellowjackets have 23 total dates scheduled, including 19 regular-season contests and 12 Great Northwest Athletic Conference matches. "We are all excited for the fall of 2019," commented interim head coach Thomas Chameraud, who will begin his seventh season overall on the coaching staff and first as the lead man. "We built a competitive schedule, and we will have to be up for it right from the get-go."
The 'Jackets play exhibition matches at Rocky Mountain College on August 23, at Carroll College on August 30, and at home against the University of Providence on September 1. MSUB will also host its annual alumni game at Yellowjacket Field on August 25.
The regular season gets underway on September 5-7, with matches against Cal State San Bernardino and Cal Poly Pomona hosted by Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. MSUB then makes its 2019 regular-season home debut with the Sixth Annual Rimrock Classic in Memory of Trevor Wildberger, running September 13-15. The 'Jackets will host Humboldt State on September 13, and South Dakota School of Mines two days later. "This will be our last year playing Cal Poly and CSUSB, and it is time for us to get a positive result," Chameraud commented on facing a pair of strong west region teams for the fourth consecutive season. "Then we will be back home for the Rimrock Classic, which is a very special tournament for us. We will look forward to having Trevor's parents, Jon and Tammy, on the bench with us."
MSUB's final non-conference road trip will run September 21-23, when the 'Jackets play Eastern New Mexico and the University of Mary in a pair of games in Bismarck, North Dakota. The Marauders will then turn around and drive to Billings the following weekend, to take on MSUB and close out the non-conference season.
"Our trip to Bismarck will be another challenging one, and once again we will have to bring back positive results in order for us to have a successful season," Chameraud commented on the team's final non-conference matches. "We will look to compete right away against the tough teams in our conference, and in order for us to be in the hunt for the GNAC title, we will have to find consistency in our performances."
The Yellowjackets start their GNAC slate with four straight road matches consuming October 3-12 on the calendar. The team's longest road stretch of the year will be immediately followed by a lengthy five-game home stand, which will run October 19-November 2. The 'Jackets begin the set of games at Yellowjacket Field against reigning conference champion Simon Fraser on October 19, before playing last year's conference runner-up Western Washington on October 24.
The final road trip of the year will feature matches against the same two teams, as MSUB plays at SFU on November 7 and at Western Washington two nights later. The final regular-season game is scheduled for November 14, with MSUB hosting Seattle Pacific University.
The GNAC regular-season champion earns an automatic berth into the 2019 NCAA D2 West Region Championships, which are scheduled for November 21-24 at the site of the top-seeded teams.
MSUB went 7-10-2 overall and 4-7-1 in conference play last year, earning 13 points and finishing in fifth place among the seven-team GNAC standings.
The Yellowjacket women also released their slate of 17 matches.
"We are all looking forward to getting back on the field together for this upcoming fall season," said head coach Stephen Cavallo, who will begin his third season in charge of the Yellowjackets. "We enter the 2019 season with a strong group of players returning, and I am excited to see everything the incoming players will add to our program. It will be up to everyone now to work hard over the summer so we can hit the ground running in August."
The Yellowjackets have four exhibition contests on their schedule, in addition to the 17-game regular season set of games. Action starts on August 23 at Rocky Mountain College, and the 'Jackets will play their first home scrimmage with the annual alumni game on August 25 at Yellowjacket Field. MSUB also plays at Carroll College on August 30 and at home against the University of Providence on September 1 to close out the preseason.
The first regular-season weekend is September 6-8, when the 'Jackets play a pair of games in Salt Lake City, Utah, against California State University Dominguez Hills and at Westminster. It will be the first-ever meeting between MSUB and both CSUDH and Westminster. The Griffins are coming off a stellar 2018 season, going 14-4-2 overall before falling to Dallas Baptist 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
MSUB will then make its regular-season home debut on September 12-14 with the Sixth Annual Rimrock Classic in Memory of Trevor Wildberger. This year's weekend tournament will feature games against Carroll on September 12 and the University of Mary on September 14, while each of those teams will face Black Hills State University as well.
The 'Jackets will also have their inaugural meeting against Minot State University on September 17. The game against the Beavers will be MSUB's final non-conference affair before the 12-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule begins. Minot State poses a tough opponent for the 'Jackets, after going 13-6-3 last year and falling to Bemidji State 3-1 in the opening round of the NCAA Championships.
"Our non-conference schedule will really prepare us for the rigors of the GNAC season," Cavallo said. "We will face two NCAA tournament opponents in Westminster and Minot State, both on the road, which will be a stern test for our group. Our goal is to compete in the GNAC playoffs in November, and we know we will only get there through improvement in each passing practice and game."
MSUB will begin its pursuit of a GNAC Championships berth at home, with matches against Western Oregon on September 26 and Concordia on September 28. The Wolves and Cavaliers are among four GNAC teams that MSUB will play both at home and on the road, with the 'Jackets also facing Northwest Nazarene and Saint Martin's twice in the 2019 season.
The Yellowjackets will get one crack at reigning GNAC champion Western Washington University, on the road in Bellingham, Washington, on October 5. MSUB's only games against Seattle Pacific University and Central Washington University will be at home on October 26 and 31, respectively, and the only regular-season affair against Simon Fraser will be the penultimate date of the year on November 7 in Burnaby, British Columbia.
MSUB's longest home stand during the 2019 fall season will be from October 24-31 for a stretch of three straight conference games. The 'Jackets have no more than two consecutive road contests at any point during the season.
The top-four teams in the GNAC standings earn a berth into the conference tournament, which is scheduled for November 14-16 at Interbay Stadium at Seattle Pacific University. The winner of the conference tournament earns an automatic berth into the NCAA D2 West Region Championships, which will run November 21-24 at the site of the top seeded teams.
All women's and men's home games during the 2019 season will feature live video and live statistics, available through the MSUB Stretch Internet portal online. Ticket to attend are $5 for the general public, $3 for seniors (ages 65 and up) and students in grades 7-through-12, and free admission for all MSUB students and faculty, and children in grades six and under. Season ticket packages will also be available, and more information on Yellowjacket tickets can be found online. Live coverage links and ticket information for all road matches can be accessed through the men's soccer schedule page at msubsports.com.


There's been some discussion on the blogosphere on Romans 6:3,4 -- Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
A question surrounding this text is, what did Paul mean with "baptism"? Recently I preached on Romans 6:1-4. Here's a little clip from that sermon.
Some explainers of scripture do not quite know what to do with this reference to baptism. They are uncomfortable with what Paul says: that every person baptized has been baptized into the death of Christ. They are afraid of the teaching of a baptismal regeneration; or a teaching that you are saved, just because you've been baptized. And so a common way of explaining this text is that Paul is not speaking of (water) baptism. No, they say, Paul must be speaking about a baptism by the Holy Spirit. Paul is referring, say they, to when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, and is then given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Baptism by the Holy Spirit!
The trouble with that is you need to add stuff to what Paul is saying. That's always dangerous. Don't take away from the Word, and don't add!
Paul is just simply referring to (water) baptism. That's not a problem. For baptism needs to be met with faith. An infant child of believers is baptized, even into the death of Christ, but as he grows older, he needs to embrace his baptism, and the promises of his baptism, by faith. (Our baptismal form is very clear on those things.) Paul asks at the beginning of v. 3, "Do you not know….?" He is appealing to the knowledge of faith. Adult converts to the Christian faith are first instructed in the faith, and then receive baptism. They first need to have a knowledge of the Christian faith and know what they believe. Covenant children receive baptism, because God has a covenant with believers and their children, and are then instructed in the Christian faith. They are taught to know what their baptism means. What it means that they are baptized people.
When parents present a child for baptism, then they are asked to promise that they will teach their children to know these things. To pass on to them faith-knowledge.
The Christian school has a role to play in this, too. The mandate of the Christian school is not to evangelize the children. Some people think that. That the mandate of the Christian school is to lead our children to Jesus. No. The mandate of the Christian school must be to help the children understand, know, and appreciate their place as children of God's covenant. To see the world with all its facets and beauty as the wonderful place in which God has placed them. A place for them to develop, grow and mature in the knowledge of God, his creation, and his revelation.
And so, by the grace of God, baptism meets with faith. If one's baptism meets with unbelief, then things work out very differently and poorly. If someone says, "Christ death? Oh, that means nothing to me. Sins forgiven by the death of Christ on the cross? Couldn't care less." Such a person is a covenant breaker. And for him the warning that the wages of sin is death will, indeed, lead to eternal death.
"The Christian school has a role to play in this, too." I agree, George. The big challenge for parents and teachers is, (and I am both) in my experience, to remain clued in to each other. Evangelizing covenant children, no need. But what message does a teacher get from a parent when a Grade 4 'daughter of the covenant' takes off her Ipod phones upon walking in to school, and continues singing loudly about 'a Barbie girl in a Barbie world'? Are our homes as 'mission driven' as our schools? Regardless the context, we can drown in our baptism water both at home - and at school.
Good point, HS. Even though our schools are not evangelistic outlets, we need always need to be intentionally missional in our walk and talk. I believe that being a teacher in a Christian school is one of most difficult professions there is. You and your colleagues see a lot of stuff about our homes that is discouraging. Hopefully, you see and hear many encouraging things, too.
Thanks for what you are doing. May God give you much strength and wisdom.


text:
Browsing: Rose Byrne
Rose Byrne Tapped to Star in "Something" from Universal
The Aussie could star in the space comedy.
ANNIE — TRAILER #2 (Quvenzhané Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz)
An orphan girl who dreams of life outside her dreary orphanage is given the chance, when she is chosen to stay with a billionaire whom she teaches how to love and see happiness in life once again.
THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU — TRAILER (Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, Jane Fonda)
An emotionally distant radio producer is called home for his father's death and spends a week in his childhood home with his dysfunctional family.
ANNIE — TRAILER (Quvenzhané Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz)
An orphan girl who dreams of life outside her dreary orphanage, is given the chance, when she is chosen to stay with a billionaire who she teaches how to love, and see happiness in life once again.
ANNIE (REMAKE) — ET TEASER TRAILER (Quvenzhané Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz)
X-MEN: APOCALYPSE (SALES)
Logline: Kept under wraps, but will follow the Future Past team fighting an ancient and powerful mutant in the 1980s.
ADULT BEGINNERS (SALES)
Logline: A young, narcissistic entrepreneur crashes and burns on the eve of the company's launch. He leaves Manhattan to move in with his estranged, pregnant sister and his brother-in-law and his 3-year-old nephew, only to end up becoming their nanny.
Rose Byrne Enlists For More Melissa McCarthy Shenanigans In "Susan Cooper"
"Bridesmaids" star would re-team with McCarthy and director Peter Feig.
THE TURNING — TRAILER (Rose Byrne, Hugo Weaving, Mirando Otto)
Various people face a turning point in their life that will forever change them.
INSIDIOUS CHAPTER 2 – INTERNATIONAL TRAILER (Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye)
THe Lambert family seeks to uncover the mysterious childhood secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world.
Rose Byrne Adopts An Orphan Named "Annie"
She's only in talks though.
THE TURNING — TEASER TRAILER (Rose Byrne, Hugo Weaving, Mirando Otto)
SPY (SALES)
Logline: Susan Cooper is an unassuming, deskbound CIA analyst, and the unsung hero behind the Agency's most dangerous missions. But when her partner falls off the grid and another top agent is compromised, she volunteers to go deep undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent a global disaster.
INSIDIOUS CHAPTER 2 — TRAILER (Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye)
Kept under wraps.
THE INTERNSHIP — TRAILER #2 (Rose Byrne, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson)
When their careers begin to sink due to the digital age, two salesmen land an internship at Google where they must compete against brilliant college students for a shot at employment.
THE INTERNSHIP — INTERNATIONAL TRAILER (Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Jessica Szohr)
Two middle-aged men are laid off from their jobs, so they become interns at Google.
Rose Byrne Says "This Is Where I Leave You" To The "Townies"
Actress in talks for two pics.
THE INTERNSHIP — TRAILER (Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Daniel Radcliffe)
Two middle-aged men are laid off from their jobs, so they become interns at a cutting-edge tech company.
THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES — TRAILER (Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes)
Story centers on a professional motorcycle rider who turns to bank robberies to support his newborn son, but when he crosses paths with a rookie police officer, their confrontation spirals into a generational feud.
I GIVE IT A YEAR — TRAILER #2 (Rose Byrne, Rafe Spall, Simon Baker)
Story follows a couple — complete opposites — who marry after knowing one another for six months, and what happens during their first year of marriage.
I GIVE IT A YEAR — NSFW TRAILER (Rose Bryne, Anna Faris, Stephen Merchant)
"Insidious" Haunts Patrick Wilson And Rose Byrne
Lin Shaye and Ty Simpkins reprise roles as well.
Rose Byrne, Hugo Weaving and Mirando Otto Experience "The Turning"
Aussie anthology pic begins casting.
JULIET, NAKED (SALES)
Logline: A woman writes a review of an album released by a has-been musician, causing him to become interested in her despite her loser boyfriend.
THE TURNING (SALES)
Logline: Various people face a turning point in their life that will forever change them.
THE INTERNSHIP (SALES)
Logline: Two middle-aged men are laid off from their jobs, so they become interns at Google.
INSIDIOUS CHAPTER 2 (SALES)
Logline: Kept under wraps.
UNTOGETHER (SALES)
Logline: While visiting Los Angeles, two competitive sisters vie for the affections of a writer, a fading rock star, and a faithless rabbi.
As Greta Gerwig exits, Rose Byrne searches for "The Place Beyond The Pines"
"Damages" star joins the Derek Cianfrance-directed cop drama!
NEIGHBORS (SALES)
Logline: In the tone of "Old School," story follows a guy who lives next door to to a raucous fraternity house, and is forced to take matters into his own hands in order to put an end to it once and for all.
Comedy TB Talks TV Horror entertainment careers Sci-Fi ENTERTAINMENT careers UTA Action Adventure entertainment jobs APA ICM Partners Based on Book TV Reviews JOBS Thriller Paradigm job WME career Drama Gersh Agency CAA