The Christmas tree is among the must-have decorations for the festive season. While people love the appeal and merry it brings, many don't like the setup and removal. You have to move a bulky tree, wrap wires with light bulbs around it and also take extra care not to damage them when removing them.
More often than not, the wires get entangled, and the bulbs burn out. We also can't ignore the energy consuming lighting. Fortunately, the fiber optic tree has made things not only more colorful and merry but also simple. The accessory is slowly becoming the more proffered option and is evident from the increased sales, reviews, and availability.
Why Go For A Fiber Optic Christmas Tree?
In this fiber optic Christmas tree, you will find two working modes. Either it gets turned off after 8 hours or after 24 hours. This is very simple to turn on as you will only have to plug and play. It also comes with pre-strung lights on its branches and will optimize the brightness. Moreover, this has different color changing modes, and everything can be done with the help of the foot switch control.
This will create a festive glow in your home, and it is available in a length of 6 feet. This is 38 inches in diameter and includes PVC tips. Furthermore, this tree is flame resistant, fire resistant and non-allergic. This comes with a metal stand and is also very easy to assemble. You can use it for both indoor and outdoor purpose.
Your Christmas will be colorful and joyful with this Snowy white Christmas tree. It is 4 feet tall and can be placed in many areas including the office, home, patio, balcony and other places. The base has a diameter of 25 inches and keeps the tree firm to prevent falling and toppling over.
Besides, the steadiness is improved by the four legs that are made of plastic. It emits cool white light and has a star topper to bring out the celebratory experience. And if you are concerned about regularly replacing the lights because of burning out, then you should take note that this item has Worry-Free UL-approved lights.
This is a tall fiber optic Christmas tree which has an approximate height of 8 feet. This premium tree has fiber optic lights which make it look very attractive. The LED lights are energy saving and will look great. You can set it up conveniently, and it is also easy to store. Moreover, this has a tree topper and comes with all the assorted ornaments. This will save your time to look out for the ornaments.
Furthermore, it will look great anywhere you place it and will bring a festive environment. This is very suitable for bringing family and friends together and will fill your room with magical colors. This is made up of flame retardant material and also includes the sturdy base. This has dense foliage PVC needles and certainly one of the best fiber optic Christmas trees to opt for.
If you want a memorable Christmas celebration, then this fiber optic tree will make this wish a reality. It is made from microfiber which contributes to its lightweight and smooth texture. The fiber optics has seven different colors which keep changing to suit the mood. It is small enough to be placed on the desk, floor, and other places and will use minimal space.
Moreover, this suits it even for a small apartment. It runs via a USB which is connected to computers, power banks, wall chargers, laptops and other devices. The lightweight unit can be carried, moved or stored easily.
Measuring 4 feet high, this fiber optics Led tree is ideal for Christmas. It weighs about 6 pounds and moving or storing it is stress-free. It has a hinged construction and all the branches attached to the trunk. Setting up the X-mass accessory takes a few minutes.
Furthermore, like other top items from the brand, this one also boasts of the latest color changing technology that showcases seven different colors. This effect together with the "Star Topper" provides a nice mood for the season and also stirs the festive spirit. The Worry-Free LED lights have been approved by CUL and consume minimal energy and are also long-lasting.
This is among the best fiber optic tree from Northwoods TM Collections. It is 3 feet (36 inches) high and can be placed in a home, office, and many other places. The item is made of high-grade plastic and wires to last through many Christmas seasons. Using the tree is simple, and all that's required is plugging to a power point and turning it on.
Additionally, the 5.25-inch square stand keeps the tree steady and also stops it from falling because of a gush of wind or slight knock. To create excitement and joyous experience, the colors keep changing, and it produces musical tunes. It includes 18 ornaments that are permanently attached to the branches.
This Fiber Optic Christmas tree from Goplus stands 7 feet tall and is best installed in areas with a high ceiling. The unit has a sturdy iron base to prevent accidental falls and improve its appeal. The Pre-lit design saves a consumer from installing lights and other decorations. It features 42 LEDs that provide seven different colors (orange, red, white, blue, pink, green, and purple) for a merrier effect.
Moreover, the 270 branch tips contribute to its real-like nature and improve the appeal and lighting. Moving or adjusting the tree's position is easy because of the lightweight and simple design. It also doesn't use up lots of energy since the bulbs are energy saving.
Here is a fiber optic Christmas tree which has a total of 225 branches. This is ideal for indoor decoration and will fill your home with a festive mood. This can also be used in offices, and it comes to a height of 5 feet. The Christmas tree has low energy consumption LED lights and includes PVC leaves. This is made of flame retardant material and is very easy to use.
Moreover, the LED lights will have the same light frequency, and there is also a fireproof iron stand. It does not also require any assembling as it is pre-installed and comes in green color which makes it look like a real Christmas tree. The stand is very sturdy and will keep the tree in the proper position.
This 3 feet tall tree from DAK is a top seller in the market. The fiber optic product is 3 feet (36 inches) high and can be placed on the floor or a raised platform or a desk. It is lightweight and won't cause any harm on the countertop and is also easy to move. The tree is pre-lit and comes with candle ascents for a better appearance. It emits differently colored light and stands firm due to the solid base.
Furthermore, the power cord is 6 feet (72 inches) long and black in color to suit the tree as well as the interior décor. For extra beauty and Christmas spirit, a Star Tree Topper also comes with the product. Assembling the tree is simple, and it takes a short while.
This is a cute looking fiber optic Christmas tree which comes in a size of 36 inches. In this, you will find adjustable branches where you can shape it according to your preference. This is easy to use and will rotate automatically. Moreover, this comes with an LED lighter star placed on the top.
Furthermore, the fiber optics are in multi-color and will create a perfect festive atmosphere. In this, even the colors will change and give it a dazzling look. This includes a strong metal stand which is better than plastic and will also add stability to its structure. You can set it on the floor and as well as on the the table. It comes with an AC adapter and is recommended only for indoor use.
Branches are not fixed. You can customize the shape freely.
Ideal for indoor display, this fiber optic Christmas tree measures 4 feet. This is 26 inches in diameter and is very suitable for display at home. It is very bright, and the lights keep on changing. This is a perfect thing for the festive season, and you can also store it conveniently. Moreover, on the base, you find a bulb which is very bright. This also consumes low energy as there is only one bulb. Furthermore, this is very decorative as the gold column base makes it look very attractive.
This is lightweight and will also rotate the colors. It is sturdy and has good stability. The tree is ideal for home, and you can also place it in the office or other dorm rooms. The product is excellent and has a natural green color which makes it look real. This also has a multi-color light and is a perfect item to celebrate with your family.
The Ziburry Fiber Optic tree is designed for use at Christmas and is 5 feet tall. It's best placed on the floor and has a solid base for improved support and balance. The synchronous fiber optics enhances the tree's colorful nature and will boost the appeal and mood in the room. It can be installed in the office, home, lobby, and other locations.
In addition to that, the pre-installed lights work just like the normal lights but are more energy efficient. It should take a few minutes to setup and disassemble it is also as simple. Once disbanded, it will fit inside a box, and this will protect it from damage until the next season.
Here is an amazing fiber optic Christmas tree that will make you cherish with its brightening lights. You can select from many different sizes, and it has different flash modes. This is made of eco-friendly PVC material and has a realistic look. The tree is anti-crush and is very strong. This one comes with eight colorful flash modes and also has an adjusting bottom which will assist you in changing it. In this, even the optical fiber will change its color.
Moreover, this has electrode-less LED lights and comes pre-lit. It uses low voltage and is energy efficient. This will save your time in decorating the tree and is a perfect thing for home. This is easy to set up and requires only a few steps to install. You will only have to straighten the branches to get the best effect. Furthermore, there is also a sold metal stand which will provide stability to the tree. This is one of the best fiber optic Christmas trees to opt for.
This fiber optic Christmas tree includes a total of 83 optic tips. All the tips will light up and change its color generously. This will look great in your home and is also suitable for other places like dorm rooms or office. Moreover, this is just 32 inches tall, and you can place it anywhere you want. Furthermore, it has double use power, and you can use it either with a standard plug or with the help of USB. This is 17 inches wide and is very lightweight.
This tree will bring a wonderful atmosphere during the festive season. It will bring your friends and family together and will also save your time. This will brighten your home, and it comes pre-lit. It comes in a full shape and does not require assembling. This requires two AA batteries to operate and is very simple to use.
Can use either USB or standard plug.
With a fiber optic tree, you don't need to spend lots of time fitting lights and other decorations. It comes pre-installed with the lights and all you simply hook it to a power outlet. It requires a few minutes to have a tree up and running. The good choices feature advanced color changing technology for a good experience and will run automatically.
Decorating a Christmas tree isn't an easy choice. First, you need to pick the right decorations or else it won't look very nice. Secondly, you may need ladders and chairs to stand on as you place the lights, balloons, ribbons, and of course, the "Star Topper." Thirdly, you will go through the same stressful situations when pulling it down after Christmas. We know that the decorations and tree may get damaged during storage or removal. But with a fiber optic tree, it is simple and has the decorations and lights pre-installed. This saves you the hassle, effort and time.
This X-mass tree is more colorful and exciting compared to the ordinary type. One, it uses fiber optics which has good lighting properties. Two, they have been designed by experts who know how best to decorate the tree. Three, they include the best color-changing technology that will enlighten the festive season. Finally, the LEDs last longer and don't burn as often as the normal bulbs.
Operating a Christmas tree for the full season can increase the power bills. This mostly affects the normal bulbs. Fiber optics use more energy efficient bulbs like LED which also have a longer lifespan.
Artificial or fake trees have been used for Christmas in many decades. And just like other things, people will always want the latest style and fashion. Fiber optic trees are the in thing at the moment, and people want to be part of it. The popularity of this accessory is further influenced by easy availability.
There are as two heights that you need to think of when buying a tree; ceiling and tree height. Just because your ceiling is 7 ft high, it doesn't mean you should go for a 7 feet tree. You need to balance the space and appearance. The best look is when you leave an allowance of about 1 ft between the tree top and the ceiling. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 feet are the common tree heights. Before picking an item, you should ascertain the available space.
Fiber optic trees come in many styles. There is the frosty type, multicolored/flocked, white, traditional, modern, pre-lit, thin, thick and more. Trees taller than 4 feet serve as good primary trees and are placed on the floor while short trees, 3 feet and below, act as secondary decorations and can be placed on a desk or countertop.
An artificial Christmas tree needs to resemble the real thing. The main area of focus is the branch designs which also influence ease of assembly and disassembly. Hinged and hooked branches are the commonest. Hinged branches are pre-attached and are easy to assemble and disassemble while the hooked type needs to be individually attached to the tree and can be modified for a more realistic look.
A multicolored / flocked tree may look good in a certain setting but not very amazing in another location. This also applies to a white mono-colored tree. Try imagining the target tree in the environment or seek assistance from a more experienced person. You don't wish to be the laughing stock because the tree undermines the ambiance or mood in the room.
Consumers place emphasis on the price of the tree during the search and buying process. Many would like the biggest and most colorful tree but are normally discouraged by the hefty price. With a little bit of research and price comparison, you will discover a high quality but affordable tree. This is clear from the above products.
The fiber optic X-mass tree comes in either modern or traditional styling. They also very gently concerning price, brightness, color, setup, reliability and more. Failing to understand the product, as well as your needs, may influence a wrong decision.
Artificial trees are commonly used during the Xmas celebrations. The fiber Optic type of tree is among the loved choices. It is easy to setup, comes pre-lit and doesn't need extra decorations, is energy efficient, and lasts for long. However, not every item will deliver a desirable service. The bulbs may burn out too often, the colors may be limited, or will use lots of energy.
This review shows the best fiber optic Christmas trees that are worth buying. We went for the most elegant, easiest to operate, affordable, durable and high quality. Now, you can make Christmas merrier and more fun.
I have some of them at home. All of them are 5ft with lighting effect. Great for Christmas. Thanks!
Fiber Christmas trees as the best for decoration. We always have them around for Christmas. Really recommended to go for Goplus brand for people have't got one yet.


text:
Матиаш Кек () е бивш словенски футболист, защитник, и настоящ старши-треньор на хърватския отбор Риека.

Кариера

Кариера като футболист
Професионалната си кариера започва в Марибор през 1980 г.

През 1985 г. преминава в Австрия и заиграва за Шпитал/Драу, а след три сезона става футболист на ГАК, където играе до 1995 година.

След това се завръща във вече независиата Словения и отново подписва договор с Марибор, където играе за четири сезона, преди да завърши кариерата си през 1999 г.

Кариера като треньор

Марибор
Година след като спира с футбола, Кек става помощник в треньорския щаб на Марибор, а след сезон 2000/01 става старши-треньор. Води отбора в продължение на три сезона, като през 2003 става шампион на Словения.

Словения
Две години след като напуска Марибор поема младежкия национален отбор на Словения до 15 и 16 години, а година след това става треньор и на мъжкия национален отбор. Именно с него са свързани най-големите му успехи като треньор. В квалификациите за Световното първенство през 2010 г. Словения попада в група с , , ,  и . Въпреки че удържа четири домакински победи, словенския отбор губи борбата със Словакия за първото място, с което се озовава на бараж, където се изправя срещу . В гостуването отстъпва с 1 – 2, но на реванша в Марибор печели минимална победа с 1 – 0, което се оказва достатъчно, за да изхвърли "Сборная" от световните финали. На Мондиала в ЮАР попада в една група с ,  и . На старта побеждава африканския отбор с 1 – 0. Във втория мач се изправя срещу САЩ, като до края на първото полувреме води с 2 – 0, но впоследствие допуска изравняване в последните минути на мача, който завършва с резултат 2 – 2. В последната среща губи с 0 – 1 от Англия, с което отпада. След като претърпява провал провал в квалификациите за Евро 2012, Кек напуска.

Ал-Итихад
Между 2011 и 2012 г. за кратко е треньор на Ал-Итихад (Саудитска Арабия).

Риека
На 27 февруари 2013 г. подписва договор с хърватския Риека. В първите си три сезона извежда отбора до второто място в хърватското първенство, а през сезони 2013/14 и 2014/15 до групите на Лига Европа. Печели и Купата и Суперкупата на Хърватия през 2014 г. През сезон 2016/17 извежда отбора до първата шампионска титла в историята му.

Успехи

Като футболист
 Марибор
 Шампион на Словения (3): 1996/97, 1997/98, 1998/99
 Носител на Купата на Словения (2): 1996/97, 1998/99

Като треньор
 Марибор
 Шампион на Словения (3): 1999/2000, 2001/02, 2002/03

 Участник на Световно първенство (1): 2010
 Риека
 Носител на Купата на Хърватия (1): 2013/14
 Носител на Суперкупата на Хърватия (1): 2014
 Участник в Груповата фаза на Лига Европа (2): 2013/14, 2014/15
 Шампион на Хърватия (1): 2016/17

Външни препратки
 Профил в transfermarkt.com

Словенски футболисти
Родени в Марибор

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Meeting called to order at 7:07 pm. Paul commented that he would be chairing the meeting, as Jim will be late. Paul asked that everyone sign the attendance sheet for administration protocol. Introductions followed. Paul asked for changes or additions to agenda. Kevin moved to accept agenda, seconded by Darrel. Called to question, all in favor, none opposed, so moved. Paul asked that everyone read over minutes for changes or additions. Floyd moved to accept minutes, Darrel seconded, called to question, all in favor, none opposed, so moved. Paul updated everyone on the status of the new invoice from Northwest Hydraulics. Darrel moved to pay new invoice. Chris seconded. Called to question, all in favor, none opposed, so moved.
Paul talked about the cuts from the email list of previous members who have not been in good standing for sometime now. Paul commented on the TD banking fees as told to him by Jim. Apparently that is the lowest fee we can expect. Paul discussed Jim's comments on the E Team and similar programs that we had discussed previously and how Jim cannot find out anything on these programs. Kevin stated that John McPherson was the coordinator for the E Team a couple of years ago or more. Paul updated everyone on the status of the Dunlop Creek Coho fence. Kevin commented that we should be looking at using sandbags that won't disintegrate at the end of the project. Chris feels that the burlap bags are the best for the environment and that the sand won't wash away too far anyways.
Chris stated that we should create a calendar to identify the people who will monitor the fence so there is no confusion or gaps. Some discussion followed on when to install it and issues around safety, maintenance etc. Paul talked about the concerns from Stewart at the last meeting on the creek crossing on Bolton Mainline. Domenico of Western Forest Products addressed the two creeks that cross the mainline and the materials used. Western did not observe any sediment during the last two days. Paul commented that the concerns were there was no BMP's in place to stop the sediment from entering the creeks from the road. Domenico stated that Western has shut down for the last two days due to heavy rain events. He went on to say that due diligence is being taken. Chris asked about another creek that is depositing sediment into the Conuma River just below the Hydro line crossing. Domenico will look into this and get back to Paul via email. Paul thanked Domenico for attending the meeting on behalf of Western to address our concerns. Paul said that he had talked to Deb about the potential funding that Floyd had brought up at the last meeting and there was none. Floyd commented that it was a misunderstanding. Jim talked about his letters to various parties looking for funding to the office for three months. He added that council tabled the discussions on the letter until next meeting because one councilor had some concerns that needed to be addressed by one of the directors. Some discussion followed around the risks involved with taking on the office liabilities. Paul commented that unless we can find $750 annually to pay for insurance we would have to return all assets to WCVI Aquatic Management Society (AMS). Should we pay property insurance for assets we don't own and never will? Decision was made to send all assets back to AMS and to try and start over. Jim asked Paul if we had copies of all the assessments, data etc. for G.R. Stream Keepers and the G.R. Watershed Committee. Paul replied yes. As Paul is chairing this meeting Jim moved that the president be allowed to move towards securing funding to keep the office open. Chris seconded. Called to question: Chris asked what this would cover. Jim replied that it would cover the rent, phone/fax, Internet etc. Kevin stated that we re-visit this in two months to determine the status and progress or lack thereof. All in favor, none opposed, so moved. Action Items: Paul will contact John McPherson about E Team. Paul will take inventory for materials on hand and needed for Coho Fence. Chris and Jim will create calendar for monitoring fence. Domenico will look into other creek deposition into Conuma and get back to Paul. Jim will look into councils concerns for office. Darrel and Floyd will look at potential off channel project by Gold River. Paul will try and resolve the web server issues. Correspondence followed with letters from Northwest Hydraulics, Steve Baillie, Dave Davies, and the Pacific Stream Keepers Federation. Under new business it was decided to postpone the special resolution to change the bylaws at this time. Darrel talked about a potential project next to the Gold River below the Rod and Gun Club property. Darrel and Floyd will look at this and report back to the society. Paul talked about the web server (Pow Web) and how they have allowed another society to use our secure server address without our permission. Discussion followed on whether we should cancel our account or try and resolve this issue. Paul gave the financial report. Chris moved to accept financial report, Floyd seconded. Called to question, all in favor, none opposed, so moved. Kevin moved to adjourn at 8:34 pm. Next meeting is April 15/03 at 7:00 pm.


Our solutions are designed for, by, and with clinicians.
We collaborate and co-create solutions with customers to ensure that we are solving their pain and empowering their clinical teams. Through rapid cycle development and continuous learning, we design, test and refine our capabilities in real clinical settings with real clinical resources.
We go to unreasonable lengths to make sure our customers are successful.
We build technology. But what we really sell is outcomes. As a result, we go above and beyond to make sure we deliver. At the end of the day, success for our customers means that they can create a safer environment for patients and positively impact the lives of real people. That truth drives us to do better, every day.
We cut out middleware and middlemen.
You get solutions and service straight from the source. There's no complicated web of disparate technologies or hard to reach third parties with Amplion. We make it easy for you to purchase, implement and maintain the technology you need to care better.
Our Clinical Integration and Outcomes (CIAO) Team is ready for action.
Our CIAO team collaborates closely with nursing leadership to ensure total team adoption and to guarantee that hospitals receive the maximum value the system can provide.


text:
All Entries Tagged With: "LORRI"
Unique view of Jupiter
A New Horizons spacecraft Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) image of Jupiter and two of its moons, taken on June 24 when the spacecraft was 2.4 billion kilometres from the giant planet.
New Horizons spacecraft bound for Pluto
Has taken images of Jupiter and Neptune
Pluto rendezvous set for July 14, 2015
NASA's Pluto-bound spacecraft, New Horizons—which in December 2009 passed the halfway mark in its 10-year journey to the distant world—has turned around to take a look back into the middle part of the Solar System.
On June 24, the spacecraft's Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) was trained on Jupiter, the largest planet in the Solar System.
Artist's impression of how the New Horizons spacecraft will look during its fly-by of Pluto in July 2015.
A little over three years ago, New Horizons made a close fly-by of Jupiter to pick up speed using a "gravitational slingshot". Now, in July 2010, the spacecraft is 2.4 billion kilometres from the planet—1,000 times further than it was at the moment of closest approach during that fly-by.
"The picture is a dramatic reminder of just how far New Horizons, moving about a million miles [1.6 million kilometres] a day, has travelled," says mission Principal Investigator Alan Stern, of the Southwest Research Institute.
Despite the huge distance, the disc of Jupiter is readily apparent due to the planet's large size. And because from LORRI's perspective there was a good angle between Jupiter and the Sun, the planet looks a bit like a half full Moon.
And speaking of moons, two of Jupiter's can faintly be seen—Ganymede on the left and Europa on the right.
Calibration image
The main aim of the Jupiter image was to test LORRI's susceptibility to sunlight. LORRI is designed to operate in the distant, pitch black environment of Pluto, where sunlight is hundreds of times dimmer than it is here on Earth. So the camera is very sensitive; too much light would damage it. Which is why the Jupiter image was made with an exposure of only 0.009 second, and why the two moons appear so faint.
"We wanted to see how much stray sunlight would creep into these Jupiter pictures, especially since we'll make observations of the Pluto system in a similar geometry after the spacecraft passes Pluto in 2015," says Project Scientist Hal Weaver, of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.
"We generally prefer to look at targets in the opposite direction from the Sun. In fact, LORRI is calibrated for the low light we'll see in the Pluto system and Kuiper belt. Pointing too close to the Sun could damage the camera, but we decided it was safe to try to observe Jupiter."
"The observations were successfully executed and the images look great."
Neptune as seen by New Horizons from a distance of around 3.4 billion kilometres.
A glance at Neptune
LORRI also was pointed toward another of the Solar System's planets, Neptune. The huge blue world is around six times further from the Sun than Jupiter, so in the LORRI image it looks just like a fuzzy star.
The 100-millisecond exposure, made on June 23 when New Horizons was still 23 astronomical units from Neptune (one astronomical unit is the distance between the Sun and the Earth), was part of a navigation system test. New Horizons is equipped with "optical navigation", a fancy term that means trajectory corrections during the final stages of its approach to Pluto will be aided by taking pictures of the planet and comparing its apparent position with its calculated position.
Even though no detail can be made out on Neptune's disc, scientists can still use the images to learn more about the planet's atmosphere, by seeing how sunlight scatters off the molecules.
On course for Pluto
At the beginning of July, the New Horizons team instructed the spacecraft to make a 35.6-second burn of its thruster. Calculations had shown the craft drifting slightly off course, due to a tiny amount of force applied by heat coming from the spacecraft's radioisotope power source and reflecting off the main antenna!
With the burn correctly executed, New Horizons is on target for its closest approach to Pluto at 7:49am US EDT on July 14, 2005.
Due to mass constraints, the craft is not equipped with a braking rocket, so it will not be able to stop. Instead, it will go sailing straight past the tiny dwarf planet at a great rate of knots, and then head out into deep space. Mission planners are hoping they can find one or more candidate Kuiper Belt Objects—the small, icy worlds that inhabit the outer Solar System—and steer New Horizons to another rendezvous.
Our very best views of Pluto's surface, made from multiple Hubble Space Telescope images taken in 2002-03. From 200 days out, New Horizons will begin to take better photos than these.
Even though New Horizons will be unable to stop at Pluto, that doesn't mean it won't get a good look at the small planet and its three known moons. From roughly 200 days before the encounter right through until many days after, the spacecraft will take images that are better than the Hubble Space Telescope can produce.
Story by Jonathan Nally, Editor, SpaceInfo.com.au
Images courtesy of NASA / Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory / Southwest Research Institute / ESA/ M. Buie.
Jonathan Nally | Jul 28, 2010 | Comments 0

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Why Curcumin Can Be Your Secret Tool To Reduce Inflammation, But Only In This Form!
Pacing Strategies For The Marathon - Why Going Too Fast At The Start Never Pays Off?
Should You Stretch Before Or After Running?
Will Two Hours Ever Be Broken For The Marathon?
Why Are Marathon times Getting Slower Since The 80s?
How To Keep Getting Faster As You Get Older?
The Midnight Sun Marathon, Why Its the Best Marathon for 2019!
The Radisson Blu Larnaka International Marathon reached the top of the competition for quality of the event, and is awarded with two prizes.
A new event record in the Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon.
SOLO, DOUBLE OR TRIPLE DISTANCES AT THE GHENT MARATHON 28TH OF OCTOBER 2018.
THE PAUWELS CONSULTING GHENT MARATHON WILL BECOME ONE BIG NEIGHBOURHOOD PARTY ON SUNDAY THE 28TH OF OCTOBER 2018!
The Great Races Of Belgium…Haven't Considered Them? Well Get On It!
RUN LGT ALPINE MARATHON - CROSS NEARLY THE ENTIRE COUNTRY!
Races in Germany and Austria…These Simply Shouldn't be Missed!
Brrrr…Seven More Enjoyable Ways to Brave Your Cold Winter Runs!
Electrolytes Are Electricity For The Body… How's Your Circuit Running?
Not weak on hell week!
Limassol Marathon - Running my First Marathon!
Why Are East African Runners So Dominant?
Does Compression Body Wear Really Work To Keep You Injury Free?
Are Supplements A Good Supplement?
Heading to a Work Conference? See these Cities in Less Than an Hour by Taking a 5k or Less Running Tour!


Turn off the Contact Us & Info section.
6. Click on SAVE & Go Live button.
Please note : We fetch the contact us details from Shopify > Settings > General section. Also, these changes are real time & do not need an app update.


text:
Reading an Ancient Practice
Tazria, Leviticus 12:1−13:59
D'Var Torah By: William Cutter
Is Tazria a parashah that indexes Jewish connections between purity and community health? Jackie Mason might say that the Jewish fixation with health originated in this parashah: You begin with a spot on your skin, and you wind up with a bad back! Imagine what the Israeli comic Gil Kopetch could do with this weekly Torah commentary: skin afflictions and our political dilemmas!
We squirm in the wake of such history, looking for spiritual aggadah-especially when our portion is yoked with its common partner M'tzora (in this leap year, next week's portion, and seen as the prohibition against gossip). Surely, as commentators like Hallo, Fields, and Plaut suggest, our portion is less about medicine than ritual. What is true is that the parashah comes in the middle of our religious year and beckons us to bridge between Genesis and Deuteronomy with spiritual significance. But one meaning is plain: This portion, with or without our aggadic exegesis, reminds us that we are a very old tradition, composed of practices and beliefs that have been sublimated, distilled, and recombined beyond recognition. Once each year we must read about them even if we have given them up (as we also expect our sister religions to do with some of their ancient material).
The haftarot have often helped us elaborate Torah. But this haftarah (II Kings 4:42 - 5:19) was stymied, and the best it could do was tell of an ancient but later instance of skin affliction. A certain Na'aman defies Elisha's medical counsel to bathe in a certain river, but his servants reprove him with a simple a fortiori argument: "If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. In this case, he has only asked a simple thing of you. Follow his prescription."
This is a surreptitious window on our tradition. It seems that we, too, respond easily to complex demands; the most elaborate narratives delight our mental processes; complex economic and social demands at least challenge our ingenuity. But now we are faced with an issueless Torah portion. It sows only our determination to continue the quiet act of reading, of coming to terms with our past, and of learning the components that make us what we are today, however sublimated those components have been.
I tell my students not to indulge in ruminations about how difficult it is to speak about certain Torah portions. Now I have violated that rule. But this I can say: If we can issue dazzling thoughts about complicated demands, if we can see ourselves in the ancient stories of tradition, then surely we can respond to the simple demand to honor tradition-keep on reading!
Rabbi William Cutter is Steinberg Emeritus Professor of Human Relations at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where he held the Paul and Trudy Steinberg Chair in Human Relations, and was Professor of Modern Hebrew Literature and Education. HUC-JIR, Los Angeles, California.
Daver Acher By: Debbie Niederman
As my partner and teacher Dr. Bill Cutter said, "There is probably no other parashah that really makes us aware of how ancient our tradition is." Parashat Tazria is concerned with ailments of the skin that, at the time of revelation and compilation and even to this day, can appear somewhat mysteriously. When such a skin ailment appeared on someone in our ancient community, the priest was called in. The priest served not as diagnostician and provider of medicine but as religious leader, prescribing ritual action. The skin diseases described in the text may be as simple as eczema or psoriasis, but they were unexplainable to the premodern individual and thus appeared through mystery. Also tzaraat (the affliction addressed in our parashah) was considered negah, smiting or being struck with, indicating extreme divine displeasure. So, what are we to do with this seemingly primitive text? Can we merely dismiss it as folklore and hocus-pocus? We cannot. Rather, we must go beyond the actual text in order to garner meaning for our day.
For me, the striking particularity of this text is not the issue of diagnosis but that of impurity. What does it mean to be impure, and how does it affect us and our community? When the priest is called to examine someone with a skin affection, it is the duty of the priest to pronounce the person clean or unclean / pure or impure. The text tells us, "He [the patient] shall be unclean as long as the disease is on him. Being unclean, he shall dwell apart; his dwelling shall be outside the camp." (Lev. 13:46) It is assumed that a problem with one individual affects the whole community. What we must question here is when we send someone outside of the community, are we doing it to protect ourselves or to protect the individual?
There are two important ethical teachings in Judaism that relate to the above question:
Do not separate yourself from the community. (Pirke Avot 2:4)
All Israel is responsible one for the other. (Babylonian Talmud, Shevuot 39a)
For Family Discussion
Discuss why you think these texts relate to the parashah.
If we remove someone from the community, are we fulfilling our responsibility?
What responsibility do you think we have to protect against impurity in our community?
How can we best fulfill that responsibility?
A Torah Commentary for Our Times, Harvey J. Fields (UAHC Press 1991).|
The Torah: A Modern Commentary, edited by Rabbi W Gunther Plaut (UAHC Press 1981).
Deborah Niederman, R.J.E, is the Coordinator of Career Services for the HUC-JIR Schools of Education, all campuses.
Tazria, Leviticus 12:1-13:59
The Torah: A Modern Commentary, pp. 826-838; Revised Edition, pp. 734-745;
The Torah: A Women's Commentary, pp. 637-656
When do we read Tazria
April 13, 2024 / 5 Nisan 5784
D'var Torah Author
William Cutter
Daver Acher Author
Debbie Niederman
Debbie Niederman, RJE, is the associate director of the Union for Reform Judaism's Leadership Institute.
Tazria Commentaries
When a Hallway is Sacred: Priests and Purity
Power to the People: Relying on a Collective Authority
On Illness and Separation from the Community
The Skin (Deep) Disease
Healing is More Than Skin Deep
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Tazria: Healing the Spirit
English Translation of Tazria


text:
Jakub (Piotr Jakub) Brzeski z Brzezia herbu Oksza (zm. przed 1662) – łowczy sandomierski w latach 1654-1655, burgrabia opoczyński w 1640 roku, dworzanin królewski w 1652 roku.

Deputat z województwa sandomierskiego na Trybunał Główny Koronny w 1644/1645 roku. Poseł na  sejm elekcyjny 1632 roku z województwa sandomierskiego. Poseł na sejmy 1639, 1640, 1641, 1642, 1643. Poseł sejmiku opatowskiego na sejmy 1650, 1652 (I), 1652 (II), 1655 roku. Był elektorem Władysława IV Wazy w 1632 roku i Jana II Kazimierza Wazy w 1648 roku.

Bibliografia
 Олексій Вінниченко, Депутати Коронного трибуналу 1632–1647 рр. // Вісник Львівського університету. Серія історична. Львів, 2009. Вип. 44, s. 293.
 Urzędnicy województwa sandomierskiego XVI-XVIII wieku. Spisy". Oprac. Krzysztof Chłapowski i Alicja Falniowska-Grabowska. Kórnik 1993, s. 172.

Przypisy

Burgrabiowie grodzcy (województwo sandomierskie)
Członkowie stanu rycerskiego I Rzeczypospolitej
Deputaci świeccy Trybunału Głównego Koronnego (województwo sandomierskie)
Dworzanie Jana II Kazimierza Wazy
Elektorzy Jana II Kazimierza Wazy
Elektorzy Władysława IV Wazy
Łowczowie sandomierscy
Polska szlachta
Posłowie na sejm elekcyjny 1632
Posłowie na sejm zwyczajny 1639
Posłowie na sejm zwyczajny 1640
Posłowie na sejm zwyczajny 1641
Posłowie na sejm nadzwyczajny 1642
Posłowie na sejm zwyczajny 1643
Posłowie na sejm zwyczajny 1652
Posłowie na sejm nadzwyczajny 1652
Posłowie na sejm nadzwyczajny 1655
Posłowie na Sejm I Rzeczypospolitej (województwo sandomierskie)
Urzędnicy ziemscy I Rzeczypospolitej


text:
Edel Brosnan
About / Bio
Screenwriter, radio playwright, script development and editing. My work has been broadcast on ITV, BBC1, BBC Radio 4, C5 and RTE1. I've written thrillers, fantasy, crime drama, medical drama, black comedy and two well-received radio plays based on real events and people in Irish history. I was script consultant on several award-winning independent films, including the first Croatian film to win an award at Cannes.
I am a huge fan of Neil Gaiman and Ben Aaranovich, and the way they drag the stories of the past into the present and use old myths to tell new stories about the way that we live now.
Image of work
London (Greater London)
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0112485/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Writer's credits
The Clinic: Series 5, episode 5, 60 mins. Broadcast Nov 2007 – RTE1
Walking at Ringsend, original 60-minute radio drama, Saturday Play, BBC Radio 4, Jun 2004, for Bloomsday centenary season
The First Witch 5 x 15 minute radio drama serial for Woman's Hour, on the Kilkenny witchcraft trial, March 2004 – BBC Radio 4
Dalziel & Pascoe: Project Aphrodite: original thriller 2 x 60 min. Broadcast June 2007 – BBC1
Casualty Series 18: episode 6. Broadcast Oct 2003 – BBC1
Series 17: episode 11. Broadcast Nov 2002 – BBC1
Series 17: episode 22. Broadcast Feb 2003 – BBC1
Series 16, episode 32. Broadcast Apr 2002 – BBC1
Series 16, episode 22. Broadcast Feb 2002 – BBC1
Series 16, episode 11. Broadcast Nov 2001 – BBC1
Eastenders Episode 1072, BBC. Broadcast Dec 2000 – BBC1
A & E Series 2: Episode 3: Granada TV. Broadcast Apr 2000 – ITV
A & E Series 1: Episode 4: Granada TV. Broadcast Jun 1999 – ITV
Film, Radio, Television


text:
War Drags the Dollar Down
by Ann Berg Posted on March 15, 2007 August 7, 2009
See the faint jet plumes overhead? Once soaring high through the celestial sphere of finance, the dollar is starting to lose orbit – tugged by the drag of war.
But this time it's different. It's different because war is being waged in a monetary climate that has no precedent: an inflationary fiat monetary system, a derivatives bubble, a pesky PATRIOT Act, and a bulging trade deficit with China. The confluence of the four spells trouble for the dollarized system, a system that broke away from the gold-backed Bretton Woods arrangement in 1973.
The fiat monetary system, managed by a committee called the Federal Reserve, is at the root of the growing trouble. As others note, the Fed pumps money into the system while declaring inflation tame. The Fed determines inflation (not to be confused with the cost of living) from a narrow measure called core CPI (Consumer Price Index). Core CPI excludes food and energy and calculates housing prices based on a survey, asking, "At what price could you rent your house?" Core CPI reveals no inflation because it tracks manufactured goods that have cheapened over time, the result of the entrance of a billion third world workers since 1990. These workers compete with Middle America and give absolute dominion to global CEOs.
So, the Fed's ginned-up money supply (which must go somewhere) has flowed into the housing, stock, bond, and commodities bubbles and larded the pay packets of upper management and "brand-worthy" celebrities. Middle Americans that reside in $160,000 dwellings and live paycheck to paycheck have been sidelined as the upper stratum rides the largest asset/pay wave in history. This suits the Fed fine; as a quasi-government organization composed of private member banks, its policy has helped the banking industry rake in record profits. The U.S. government is also grateful because low bond yields (low yields are caused by high bond prices – the result of inflated dollars chasing limited investment returns) allow it to service its $8.8 trillion debt at a bargain rate – a mere $406 billion last year, instead of raising taxes.
The flip side of the money supply surge is the astonishing growth of financial innovation that started with the changeover to the fiat monetary system. This growth, commonly referred to as derivatives trading, has had a profound impact on society in terms of wealth distribution, leverage and debt levels. It is hotly debated among prominent financial gurus. Derivatives, according to Allan Greenspan, help distribute risk; for Warren Buffet they are financial "weapons of mass destruction."
Formally, derivatives are instruments "derived" from an underlying asset. Most readers are familiar with gold or corn futures which are contracts to buy and sell a standardized quantity of the metal or grain. But they probably don't realize that their flexible mortgages, pocket full of credit cards and indexed stock funds would not be possible without the "risk transfer" or "hedging" effect of the financial side of these instruments. Risk transfer is largely beneficial – it promotes competition and product choices among lenders and brokerage houses and allows businesses to reduce their exposure to wild price gyrations in currencies, interest rates, and commodities.
There is, however, a downside, which we're seeing now. Because lenders, drooling over loan origination fees, could transfer mortgage risks to others, they signed on all comers for "interest only" loans. Then they bundled up the mortgages into "asset-backed securities" (or collateralized debt obligations – CDOs) and sold them to other financial intermediaries, which in turn could hedge these holdings with derivatives protection.
But "asset backed" is only as good as the asset. The highly leveraged housing market has begun to turn south and is roiling the subprime mortgage market (a trillion-dollar "poor man's" market), and potentially millions of American homes are heading for foreclosure. The disconnect between low wages and high home prices is finally rippling through the credit market and is threatening to prick holes in the rest of the financial froth. As Ludwig von Mises wrote in The Causes of the Economic Crisis 80 years ago about the credit cycle, "every boom one day must come to an end."
Derivatives numbers are staggering. The Bank for International Settlements estimates that the notional amount of derivatives traded on regulated exchanges topped a quadrillion dollars last year and that the outstanding unregulated off-exchange (called over-the-counter – OTC) amount stood at $370 trillion in June 2006. Because the OTC market is composed of endless strings of bilateral transactions – the systemic risk is unknown. But that uncertainty has engendered a whole new practice of layering new products over the old. Got junk bonds? Buy a credit derivatives default swap and wash your worries away. Buy more junk and repeat.
This trend of layering protection over risky assets has resulted in a practically boundless expansion of money and credit in the hands of hedge funds and private equity (yesteryear's corporate raiders), which have a competitive advantage over regulation-hobbled banks.
While poverty grows and record numbers of homeless pile up in shelters, hedge funds and private equity huddle together each week to leverage another multi-billion dollar takeover. The profits from these deals exceed anything known in the history of capitalism – a double shot of assets (2 percent) followed by a chaser ( percent) on profits.
When Mises described credit financing, he explained that inflation would surface in areas where credit was plied. If used for a new factory, the funds would push up raw material prices and then wages. But deal financing today works in the opposite direction – private equity partners acquire public companies using cheap loans. Then they oust management, fire workers and, after a few years, lavishly pay investment bankers to dress up the deal for relisting as a public offering. Is this capitalism? It's a little like an old story of a taxi driver staring at the dime tip from a dollar fare and the woman passenger asking "is that correct?" And he says, "It may be correct, but it ain't right."
The innovative and opaque financing behind multi-billion dollar deal-making has caused the Federal Reserve to discontinue its broadest measure of money supply (M3); it has simply lost control over the numbers and the process. In truth, no one knows what money means anymore as capital is becoming increasingly "dark" and channeled into the hands of the mega-rich. Recent wanderers from the current and past administrations – e.g., John Snow, Paul O'Neill, Larry Summers, and James Baker – have found a new pew and are now devout hedge fund and private equity practitioners.
The world has cracked into two orders – a swirling galaxy of exotic finance and a trodden planet of labor. But the yawning gap between the two bodes ill for the whole bargain. Extreme wealth of the very few has always depended upon the continued hard slog of the masses.
Meanwhile, the PATRIOT Act is doing its best to make global business in dollars a thing of the past. (Sarbanes Oxley – a piece of legislation intended to prevent future Enron scandals – is another regulatory nuisance to capital formation.) U.S. red tape has pushed London ahead of New York as the premier issuer of initial public offerings (IPOs). Also, debt issuance (both corporate and government) in euros has exceeded that of dollars. And while the U.S. is gloating about the success of placing sanctions on banks doing dollar business with Iran (success is measured by the harm to the Iranian economy), some banks are simply switching transactions to euros – reminiscent of the switch from British pounds to dollars in 1956. Now that Iran has opened up bidding for 17 blocks of oil to the world, why shouldn't this switch accelerate?
The Dragon Makes a Hedge Fund
Enamored with its "successful" policy, the U.S. could multiply it over the rest of the oil-rich instability arc, pushing the dollar out of reserve status. Due to the massive dollar holdings of other countries (the result of the record U.S. trade deficit), the fallout could be vicious. Take China, a prime U.S. lender. Where the dollar would end up if the gang of three Xiaos decided to reduce its $700 billion-plus dollar exposure by 20 or 30 percent by selling dollars and buying euros or Japanese yen (the latter waking from its long slumber) is beyond this writer's guess. The Chinese government, dissatisfied with the meager returns on its U.S. Treasury debt, has recently announced the formation of a new investment vehicle – promised to be the first trillion-dollar hedge fund, working entirely in secret. Bush's third Treasury secretary, Hank Paulson, who urges China to let the dollar slide against the yuan, says not to worry.
Money expansion is financing the U.S. warfront. Both the Fed's sleight of hand and the credit creation of the derivatives industry have worked magic for the government and the elite. However, the PATRIOT Act is making dollarized business overseas a pain in the neck, and China has announced currency diversification. The shaky housing and mortgage markets threaten to spark more panic on Wall Street and pierce the credit bubble. The orbital ship of the dollar may still be cruising, but through a dark space heretofore unknown.
Previous Previous post: Wednesday: 60 Iraqis, 4 GIs Killed; 37 Iraqis Wounded
Next Next post: Taiwan, a Spark Plug for War
Ann Berg's Latest Posts
Down the Road to Serfdom
Turkey: From Bloody Birth to Power Broker
Crackpot Realists and Permanent War
The Colonial Stag
in Rutting Season
When Sterling Bowed
to the Dollar


text:
CRG Enters Phoenix With 5.5 MSF Project
Beyond Meat Inks 281 KSF Lease in Los Angeles
JBG Smith Properties to Begin Potomac Yard Development
Mixed Use 18 January 2021 13:00
Brookfield Properties Breaks Ground on Inland Empire Project
Industrial 18 January 2021 12:25
Unico Properties JV Tops Out Seattle Project
Office 18 January 2021 11:27
The Power of Rooftop Solar
Solving the Split Incentive Dilemma in Energy Retrofits
Meeting the Carbon Challenge: How a San Diego Standout Cut Its Footprint
Corporate Real Estate
Brokers' Corner
Where Was the Tallest New Building in 2020?
Amazon's Record Renewables Offtake
Brighter Outlook for Solar Installations
Sustainability 16 January 2021 19:35
EverWest JV Pays $20M for Northern New Jersey Warehouse
G2 Capital Sells Phoenix Office Campus
Where to Find 2021's Best Markets for CRE Development: CBRE
Development 15 January 2021 14:32
Virtus JV Sells San Diego MOB for $37M
Healthcare 15 January 2021 14:15
Distinguished Achievement
Executive of the Year
Podcast: Accelerating Businesses Through Data-Driven Efficiency
Snap Session: How 2020 Changed Multifamily Housing
Podcast: Committing to Net Zero
Matrix Takes 82-Acre New Jersey Site
Matrix Development Group has acquired an 82-acre site in New Jersey that includes a total of some 342,000 square feet across 13 office and labratory buildings. The site has 2,000 feet of frontage on the New Jersey Turnpike near exit 8A. The price for the property has not yet
Subscribe to CPE
Matrix Development Group has acquired an 82-acre site in New Jersey that includes a total of some 342,000 square feet across 13 office and labratory buildings. The site has 2,000 feet of frontage on the New Jersey Turnpike near exit 8A. The price for the property has not yet been revealed. Steven Tolkach, managing principal of Newmark Knight Frank's Princeton, N.J., office, represented Matrix in the deal. NAI Fennelly and Larry Doyle of Preferred Unlimited represented the seller. The 82-acre property includes 13 buildings that range from 5,000 square feet to almost 100,000 square feet, and the total property including park area adds up to a sum of 342,000 square feet. Currently the property includes partially rented offices, and laboratories as well as other spaces not yet designated. In addition, there is more space in the park for more buildings to be built. Exit 8A of the Turnpike serves both Cranbury and Monroe Townships. The New Jersey Turnpike is reported to be the fifth most heavily traveled highway in the United States.Matrix, a 25-year old real estate development company, was the first to buy into the Exit 8A market. Matrix Residential Properties has some $200 million in development; Matrix Golf & Hospitality has more than six properties throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the country.
Connect with CPE
© 2021 - Commercial Property Executive - Privacy Statement


Ready to research SAQ and discover 10,000 other top national sponsors?
The Société des alcools du Québec (English: Quebec Alcohol Corporation), often abbreviated and referred to as SAQ, is a provincial Crown corporation in Quebec responsible for the trade of alcoholic beverages within the province.
This SponsorPitch page is about SAQ and contains information about this organization's sponsorship activity, sponsorship decision makers and sponsorship preferences. This page is not endorsed by or affiliated with SAQ, though it may be actively managed and updated by company representatives. If you currently work at this organization, click the Manage Sponsor button to request management privileges. . All trademarks, service marks and copyrights are property of their respective owners.


FGG-201 - Gray Goose Call - $20.99 Ea.
This call was made to produce the high pitched sound of the Paradise Duck. This duck is highly hunted in New Zealand. The call is made out of walnut and displays the DJ Calls logo.
IR-NZD22 - Paradise Duck Call - $39.99 Ea.
This call is made to produce the high pitched sound of the Pinkfooted Goose. These geese are popular in the United Kingdom. The internal parts are made of cedar for moisture resistance. The call is made of cherry wood. The cherry wood shell has the DJ Calls logo and the call name lasered into the shell.
Here is a new addition to the DJ Call line. This Bean Goose cal was requested by the country of Finland. This call design duplicated the sound of the Bean Goose and is very easy to operate. The call is made out of cherry wood and is 6-3/8" long.
IR-BG21 - Bean Goose Call - $39.99 Ea.
This goose call is made to produce the higher pitched sound of the Greylag Goose. These are very popular geese in the United Kingdom. The internal parts are made of walnut. The shell has the DJ Calls logo and the call name lasered into it.
IR-GLG16 - Greylag Goose Call - $39.99 Ea.


text:
Tag Archives: rambo
October 18, 2014 by exMarineTeacher
He looks the part–but can you trust him?
We return to this series, as we often do in October, to devote a little analysis to the better understanding of commonly seen (and often misinterpreted) figures and events in storytelling. Or, as I prefer to call it, our cultural mythology.
Entire blogs and books are devoted to the subject of witches, so I'm treating them here in a special circumstance: when appearing as half of two lesser-known figures that function together as a pair. Other examples, beyond the familiar Oz universe, of this pairing include:
-the Oracle and the Architect from The Matrix films
-Morgan Le Fey and Merlin of Arthurian legend
-Eve and Adam
-Pandora and Prometheus
Sometimes the witch-figure is masculinized, though the specific male-witch character will often exhibit feminine traits of nurturing and guidance:
-Gilliam and Wilford from Joon-ho Bong's Snowpiercer
-Gandalf and Saruman from Tolkien's Middle-Earth
-Arioch and Donblas from Michael Moorcock's Elric saga
-Even Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader function this way.
The fact that these two figures often covertly conspire together, or at least operate with a tacit understanding of the need for the other's existence, signals their true nature at the archetypal level. On the surface, the two might be bitter enemies–"Bring me the broomstick of the Witch of the West," commands Oz–but perhaps "rivals" might be more accurate.
Beneath the local storytelling level, the couple are really two parts of a whole: the "witch" is an agent of the primal, universal force of Chaos, and the Wizard a custodian and operative of Order. This fundamental addiction to dualism in storytelling results from the inability of mortal human beings to reconcile existence into its transcendent reality as One, as Joseph Campbell once told Bill Moyers. However, this working together for balance, a yang-and-yin harmony, is the storyteller's acknowledgement of the need for both. One without the other? You may as well ask for an ebb without a tideflow, a moon without a sun, female without male.
For westerners, this primal level can be hard to penetrate because of our cultural bias against Chaotic forces, identifying them as "wicked" or "evil." The original inhabitants of our American continent held no such biases. Whatever was useful was good; otherwise, try to avoid it. For example, in Lakota mythology, Iya (the Eater) and Iktomi (the Spider) are siblings. The Native Americans instead prefer a "Trickster" figure (a la Hermes among the ancient Greeks, as opposed to brother Apollo,) who sows disorder in a Boethian way–through ignorance, selfishness,stupidity, and accident, but without intent to harm.
(By the way, this shift in emphasis is not be taken as a philosophical argument that evil never exists. Clearly, Hitler stood for fascistic order, and the Allied forces opposing him stood for a more tolerant, democratic order.)
How, then, to spot these figures in a story, and recognize that the story of "good vs. evil" is often really our cultural shorthand for a tension that exists in each human being, even at the biological level–every pump of the bellows of the heart, inhalation/exhalation of the lungs, every emotion and countering bit of logic?
Science and Technology are manifestations of Order as a force; Magic/"Powers" are manifestations of Chaos as a force–wherein the laws of physics, biology, mathematics, are voided. Characters with command of magic don't "play by the rules." A spell or enchantment violates space, or gravity, or free will; a prophecy violates Time. But when a machine is built to accomplish these same feats? Everybody wants one. As old as the antagonism between reason and mysticism, is this divide.
There's a complicating factor in the West: gender. Cries of "Witch" at first glance signal acknowledgement of the presence of a powerful woman, but really mean a woman beyond control–and the use of the slur is a final desperate attempt to regain that power, to call in the force of the collective against the relatively vulnerable individual. The parallel gender slur "Bitch" is a variant, defining the woman as merely a female, at the animal level.
Women have been villainized because they are unconsciously identified with Chaos–lack of control, emotion, a lure to sexuality, even insanity. "She" embodies the human inability to understand ("Weird," we say–as in Macbeth's Weird Sisters–as a placeholder for that which we have yet to comprehend.) Recall that Circe–the most powerful female antagonist of Homer's Odyssey–was denigrated from her proper status of goddess to a mere "witch."
Often, agents of Chaos appear as Oracles–a brilliant trick, as it appears to sort things out–reveal the future. But prophecies are riddles that are subject to, and often are, misinterpreted, a storyteller's way of warning us against too-slavish devotion to Order.
And the Wizard?–well, let us not forget one thing: he's a fraud. Oz hides behind a bombastic projection of technology, Vader is half a robot, the Architect retreats to his room of computer screens. Order is at least as artificial a construct as Chaos, and as tenuous–as anyone who has ever experienced the danger of over-reliance upon technology–a flat tire, a dead cell phone battery, a corrupted hard drive–can attest. We crave order, routine, solidity beneath our feet, and we resist change, dynamism, and unpredictability–and yet these are catalysts of growth. The struggle of losing control, regaining it, and losing again are the very rhythms of life.
Agents of Order often appear as policemen and soldiers (the Sheriff of Nottingham or Sherriff Will Teasle or Javert) versus the intrusive elements and undesirables (Robin Hood or Rambo or Valjean) that threaten the community's authoritarian stability. Thus we arrive at another of the tacit recognitions that Chaos is not inherently evil: the Western tradition of the rebel-hero (beginning with Prometheus versus Zeus). Only relatively recently have women been gaining access to these non-stygmatized roles, appropriately enough as adolescents (Bella Swan of Twilight, Beatrice Prior of Divergent.) Here, age prejudice intersects with gender prejudice in a kind of double-double standard. It remains largely to be seen if adult and mature women of Chaos can gain heroic acceptance as anarchistic rebels, and cease being dismissed as crazy old crones.
Scary, yes. But wicked?
Tagged archetypes, bill moyers, chaos and order, clotho's loom, divergent, fiction, glas daggre, halloween, joseph campbell, Jung, les miserables, literature, mailificent, michaelmoorcock, mythology, oz, rambo, robin hood, shawn stjean, twilight, women's issues


It started with the idea that there was too much space on the landing at the halfway point going up to our second floor. It was the perfect place for a bookcase or two, or so I thought. Part one of the story can be found HERE , part two can be found HERE and part three can be found HERE.
In a nutshell, the six foot high bookcases we bought did not work on the landing, which resulted in a massive shakeup of the bookcases throughout the house. The transition pretty much sucked up my whole vacation and I still have to put my office back together.
The thing is, I really have only myself to blame. It was my idea in the first place, I talked the hubby into buying the bookcases. All the measuring in the world can't beat seeing the real thing in place, so we had no clue those bookcases just weren't going to work. The rest of it just kind of snowballed from there.
And while using the tall, square bookcase for DVDs made sense, it didn't really have to be switched over right away. It held an eclectic mix of books - hardback, paperback, really old cloth bound - and knick knacks, all of which needed to find new homes.
When all is said and done, it looks like in the long line of reasons for putting off my writing, I pretty much came up with the ultimate one. All that's left is putting my office back together and that's something I can peck away at over the coming week. It's not like I get a lot of writing done in there anyway.
But once that is done, no more excuses!


text:
Jarita Greyeyes
Jarita Greyeyes is an accomplished scholar and has worked tirelessly to support others' learning journeys. She is nēhiyaw of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and the Red Pheasant Cree Nation, both located in Treaty Six territory. Greyeyes moved to Winnipeg to attend the University of Winnipeg, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in 2006. Before moving to California to pursue a PhD in Race, Inequality, and Language in Education with a full scholarship at Stanford University, she worked as manager of the Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre and Community Learning (2013) and as acting associate vice president of Indigenous Affairs at The University of Winnipeg.
As director of Community Learning and Engagement at the Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre (2016), she built bridges to families in the inner city through the centre's weekly Pow Wow Club, Sacred Seven Hoop Dancing and after-school homework and computer clubs. Greyeyes helped those living near UWinnipeg to connect with each other and participate in meaningful learning opportunities.
Under her leadership, the centre provided innovative programming to community members each year, culminating in thousands of visits including after-school youth programs focusing on culturally appropriate activities and Indigenous language programs in Cree and Ojibwe. Indigenous and core community members viewing these programs as a celebration of First Nations, Métis and Inuit accomplishments and contributions and a chance to transfer knowledge between generations.
Greyeye's programs and skilled facilitation supported others as they progressed along their learning journeys. She helped create the first land-based Anishinaabemowin course, which saw students learn an Indigenous language on the land from both academics and traditional knowledge-keepers.
During her time as acting associate vice president of Indigenous Affairs, Greyeyes championed the ongoing efforts towards reconciliation and indigenization at the University of Winnipeg. Here, she collaborated with and advised other members of the executive to develop and implement initiatives that supported Indigenous education and culture.
Greyeyes mentors at the Stanford Native American Cultural Center and is a member of the Winnipeg Art Gallery's Indigenous Circle. She has received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowship and she is a 2019 Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Scholar. She received the inaugural University of Winnipeg's Weweni Future Scholar Award and was also the first Rawlco Aboriginal Saskatchewan Legislative Intern.
Photo credit Alan Greyeyes


Meet innovators and explore tomorrow's tech at Microsoft Ignite. Access 1,000+ hours of content 700+ sessions, insights and roadmaps from industry leaders, and deep dives and live demos on the products you use every day. Connect with techies Learn from peers tackling similar challenges. Share best practices and come home with new ideas. Explore the expo Get your questions answered from the people who built the products you use everyday. Talk with partners and get free swag!
Meet with technicians from around the world, engineers that built the products you use everyday, and Microsoft partners. Learn where tech is headed, what partners are doing, and how you can move your company forward.


text:
All-Time T20 Blast XI: Picking The Best Domestic T20 Side Ever
By: Daniel Clubbe | August 16, 2020
Picking An All-Time T20 Blast XI
Following the announcement of this summers T20 Blast schedule what better time to take a look back through the years and pick an all-time T20 Blast best XI. This is made up of players who have represented their counties with excellent results. Taking a combination of the longevity of performance and success into account, no one year wonders to be seen.
Please note this all-time T20 blast best XI is made up of players from all of English county crickets T20 guises. Stemming all the way back to start in 2003 when the completion was simply known as the Twenty20 Cup.
As the rules prior to this year dictate this team will be allowed two overseas players and even a Kolpak inclusion, difficult picks given the collection of stars that have traveled to the UK to spend a few weeks bullying young English spinners.
Something we, unfortunately, will not see this year due to the travel restrictions in place, however, it will be interesting to see some of the young county stars on TV, stars we mightn't normally get to watch live.
So, with all that in mind who makes it into our Best English Domestic Twenty20 XI Of All Time?
The Openers
Luke Wright and Alex Hales
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Luke Wright of Sussex batting during the Vitality Blast Final match between Worcestershire Rapids and Sussex Sharks at Edgbaston on September 15, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Luke Wright (Sussex Sharks) – A domestic Twenty20 career spanning fifteen years, his excellent form in the English completion has seen Wright play in multiple franchises around the world with great levels of success. The dangerous all-rounder was initially promoted to the top of the order as a bit of a pinch-hitter, a role he also fulfilled for England on occasions. As the leading run-scorer in English domestic T20, as well as a more than useful bowler, Wright, was a must pick. Matches: 150 Runs: 4087 Highest Score: 152* Strike Rate: 150.31 Wickets: 43 Economy: 7.99
Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire Outlaws) – Hales bludgeoning style at the top of the order has seen him become a must-buy for numerous franchises worldwide. Although his interatrial career has taken a controversial dip, he has previously delivered at the top level. Matches: 115 Runs: 3301 Highest Score: 101 Strike Rate: 146.71
Also, Read – Picking England's All-Time ODI XI
The Middle Order
Colin Ingram, Joe Denly and Ryan Ten Doeschate
CARDIFF, WALES – JUNE 03: Glamorgan batsman Colin Ingram hits out during the NatWest T20 Blast match between Glamorgan and Hampshire at SWALEC Stadium on June 3, 2016 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Colin Ingram (Glamorgan Dragons) – The first overseas in the side, South-African import Ingram has been outstanding in his four years for the Welsh county, often leading the way in the sixes table. Has captained the side and bowls handy leg-spinners. Matches: 65 Runs: 2031 Highest Score: 114 Strike Rate: 159.29 Wickets: 25 Economy: 7.75
Joe Denly (Kent Spitfires, Middlesex Panthers) – Another with worldwide recognition for his short format exploits, despite being associated with his exquisite cover drive in Test matches. Denly has enjoyed a stellar county cricket all round as lit up many a Twenty20 match down the years. Could be another bowling option in a team full of them. Matches: 151 Runs: 3927 Highest Score: 127 Strike Rate: 124.50
Ryan ten Doeschate* (Essex Eagles) – The Dutchman who qualifies as a Kolpak player is captain and leader in all facets of the game. Excellent batsman, fielder, and more so in his early days' bowler. In 2010, ten Doeschate led the batting averages for Essex, making 296 runs in six matches at an average of 59.20. The talisman in our all-time T20 Blast best XI. Matches: 171 Runs: 3143 Highest Score: 102 Strike Rate: 136.94 Wickets: 57 Economy: 8.02
The All-Rounders
Ravi Bopara and Steven Croft
CHELMSFORD, ENGLAND – MAY 20: Ravi Bopara of Essex during the NatWest T20 Blast match between Essex and Surrey at the Ford County Ground on May 20, 2016 in Chelmsford, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
Steven Croft (Lancashire Lightning) – As is crucial in the fastest format of the game Croft is an asset in every capacity, an unbelievable fielder, destructive batsman, and effective bowler. His 102 catches is the highest for an individual player in English Twenty20 cricket. He has played an integral part in Lancashire's many successful spells in this competition down the years. Matches: 168 Runs: 3408 Highest Score: 94* Strike Rate: 123.43 Wickets: 64 Economy: 7.33
Ravi Bopara (Essex Eagles) – Can consider himself very unlucky to be so far down the order, runs, and wickets year in year out made him a must pick. Also played his way around the world in T20 cricket, as well as representing England on numerous occasions in all formats. Matches: 156 Runs: 3405 Highest Score: 105* Strike Rate: 28.85 Wickets: 126 Economy: 7.57
The Wicket Keeper
Phil Mustard (WK)
CANTERBURY, ENGLAND – JULY 18: Phil Mustard of Gloucestershire gathers the ball during the NatWest T20 Blast South Group match at The Spitfire Ground on July 18, 2017 in Canterbury, England. (Photo by Sarah Ansell/Getty Images).
Phil Mustard (wk) (Durham Dynamos) – Although he spent much of his T20 career at the top of the order, including internationally, Mustard bats seven in this packed side. The Durham keeper was a serious ball-striker with the ability to take matches away from the opposition. Matches: 140 Runs: 3207 Highest Score: 91 Strike Rate: 122.03 Catches: 80 Stumpings: 30
Also, Read – The debate between Jos Buttler and Ben Foakes
All-Time T20 Blast XI – The Bowlers
Darren Stevens, Graham Napier and Jeetan Patel
BECKENHAM, ENGLAND – JULY 09: Darren Stevens of Kent in bowling action during the Kent Spitfires v Essex Eagles – NatWest T20 Blast (G) cricket match at the County Ground on July 09, 2017 in Beckenham, England. (Photo by Nick Wood/Getty Images)
Darren Stevens (Kent Spitfires) – Still going in first-class cricket aged 44, Stevens has been a stalwart on the county circuit for years. Producing some memorable moments with both bat and ball along the way, none less so than in T20. Matches: 139 Runs: 3070 Highest Score: 90 Strike Rate: 142.65 Wickets: 99 Economy: 7.80
Graham Napier (Essex Eagles) – Often one for the big occasion. Despite being a bowler first and foremost Napier broke all kinds of records with his brutal 152* in 2008 as well as opening the bowling with pace before closing out the dying overs with his Exocet yorkers. Napier was the first man on the Essex teamsheet for many years. Matches: 109 Runs: 995 Highest Score: 152* Strike Rate: 150,98 Wickets: 123 Economy: 8.02
Jeetan Patel (Birmingham Bears) – The second of our overseas allocation. A wonderful servant to the Birmingham Bears and Warwickshire more generally, the wiley Kiwi off-spinner has been an integral part of the Edgbaston setup. Picking up regular wickets and will offer valuable runs from number 11. An easy choice in our best T20 Blast XI. Matches: 130 Wickets: 135 Economy: 6.89 Best Bowling: 4/19
All-Time T20 Blast XI Summary
Think everybody can agree that is some T20 team assembled from the best the English domestic game has had to offer. There are a couple of notable absentees who can count themselves unlucky not to have made the cut.
Slow-left arm bowler Danny Briggs has been more than successful in the short format, his name is one which would not look out of place in the all-time T20 Blast XI.
Another man and one of the greats of the game who spent seven years tormenting batsmen in English Twenty20 was Pakistani leg-spinner, Mushtaq Ahmed. The Sussex man was one of the best going and in his 29 matches picked up a remarkable 42 wickets with an economy of just 5.88.
Perhaps the most noticeable admission, however, is Nottinghamshire all-rounder Samit Patel. Appearing in the top five of both the highest run-scorers and wicket-takers should in truth be enough to get him in the side. However, with such competition for places and a wealth of spinning options and a host of electric fielders keeping him out, Patel, seemingly the regular fall-guy, will have to settle for a place in the squad for this all-time T20 Blast XI.
Best T20 Blast XI
Luke Wright, Alex Hales, Colin Ingram, Joe Denly, Ryan Ten Doeschate (C), Ravi Bopara, Steven Croft, Phil Mustard (WK), Darren Stevens, Graham Napier, Jeetan Patel.
Posted in County Cricket, Featured, IT20, Other DomesticTagged Alex Hales, Colin Ingram, Darren Stevens, graham napier, Jeetan Patel, Joe denly, Luke Wright, phil mustard, ravi bopara, ryan ten doescharte
Pingback: Vitality T20 Blast Finals Day Preview And Quarter-Finals Results - Last Word on Cricket
Pingback: Notts Outlaws Claim Trophy In The Vitality T20 Blast 2020 After Beating Surrey By Six Wickets - Last Word on Cricket


Home > Posts > OnePlanet Summit: Unconscious Uncoupling?
World leaders, both political and commercial, gathered in Paris on December 11 and 12 for two days of typically stylish Gallic razzamatazz. Intended to celebrate the second anniversary of the Paris agreement, and inject urgency into raising the money to implement it, President Emmanuel Macron's OnePlanet Summit was preceded by the third "Climate Finance Day", an initiative launched in the run-up to COP21 and primarily corporate in its target audience. A raft of side-events surrounded the two main shows.
Macron had called the OnePlanet Summit, he told the 4,000 launch attendees, because "we are losing the battle" on climate change, and he stressed the need for more urgency in the global approach. What followed – from UN and World Bank chiefs, Presidents and Prime Ministers, heads of global corporations, city mayors and state governors (and the occasional actor for added glitz) – was essentially a recitation of the thesaurus entries for "action" and "fast" and "now".
Highlight of the Summit were 12 "commitments" made by various groups of actors. As a series of headings for where progress needs to be made, these constitute an excellent agenda. As for the actual commitments, you can judge for yourselves by reading them both how new some of them are and how likely they are to materialise. I can assist you in one respect, though, with a bit of maths: though multiples more are of course targeted over time, the actual money on the table to support these commitments as of the date of the Summit was $5 billion.
There were two notable absentees from the OnePlanet Summit. One, perhaps not surprisingly, was Donald Trump (apparently not invited, and the subject of quite some vitriol from US politicians that were present, including John Kerry and Arnold Schwarzenegger alongside the ubiquitous Michael Bloomberg). The other, perhaps more surprisingly, was the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that underpin the Paris agreement. These were never once mentioned, at least as far as I heard. Although UN head Antonio Gutierres was a co-host of the Summit, the UNFCCC didn't have a prominent role in proceedings – indeed was barely mentioned. Nor, except for a sideways mention in the DFI pledge, were the NDCs mentioned in any of the 12 Summit commitments.
What seems to have happened since Paris is a kind of unconscious uncoupling of the NDCs from global climate action. Many leaders spoke of Paris as giving a "signal" or helping them to get "permission" from their stakeholders to pursue new paths. But the action they are pursuing is based around talk of "transitions" and "trajectories" towards this or that date, usually some distance into the future. That there's a global agreement based on some very specific (though not yet ambitious enough) undertakings – the NDCs – seems to have been almost entirely forgotten.
The reasons for this are not hard to divine, the key one probably being the lack of any substantive financial capability at the UNFCCC, commensurate with its negotiation capability and speaking a language that could have communicated both the challenges and the opportunities contained in the NDCs to both the business and the donor communities.
The harder question is: does it matter? Since just 250 companies and half a dozen large economies are responsible for ¾ of the emissions problem, as long as the really dirty sectors of the economy, like coal, get closed down, and the big polluting countries clean up their acts by revving up renewables, all will be well, won't it? This certainly appears to be the theory of change adopted by a number of prominent philanthropies and think-tanks, and you can see its attraction to a "think big" habit of mind.
We would argue, however, that there are at least five important reasons why simply forgetting about the NDCs in favour of sweeping theories and largely "freeform" activity is dangerous and should be of concern to those engaged on Paris implementation.
First, the genius of the Paris agreement was that it was bottom-up, not top-down. The decision to move to country-level commitments, which made the agreement possible, was the epitome of the axiom to "think global, act local", and the distributed nature of the agreement has helped it weather the top-down shock of the threatened US withdrawal. Abandoning the NDCs as the bedrock for action would thus go against the spirit of the agreement.
Second, the NDCs are the only way we can measure actual progress against the agreement, and encourage ambition. Most of the initiatives launched at the OnePlanet Summit – and indeed at COPs before it – are loosely structured and voluntary, and although President Macron said that "we will be following up to see what happens," it won't be the first time that high-octane pledges delivered in a hothouse atmosphere rapidly dissolve into a puffs of smoke. The NDCs themselves aren't ultimately enforceable, but they are systematic and can be monitored. This is not to say, of course, that non-state actors don't have a massive role – just that what they do needs to be kept track of on some basis. Hard though this may be to achieve – and probably needing quite a bit of guesstimation – the need to keep track means there needs to be a link of some kind back to the NDCs.
Third, undoing the link to the NDCs increases the likelihood that only the "low-hanging fruit" of climate action will be pursued. Huge advances can, of course, be made by global corporations in new technologies and the efficiency of existing technologies, and these will have important effects in reducing GHGs. Those effects and their benefits, however, are likely to be concentrated in already developed economies.
Such an outcome would create, fourth, a lack of trust in the Paris agreement at the emerging economy level. Many developing countries laboured mightily over their NDCs, and signed up to them on the basis that they would receive external assistance for implementation. That assistance is already painfully slow to materialise, but the fact that it materialises at all is a result of the creation of mutual undertakings as specified in the NDCs. If the promised finance – not just aid, but de-risked private finance too – is not flowing to the "higher-hanging fruit" in these countries, then it won't be surprising – or a matter for censure – if developing countries start to abandon the Paris agreement in their turn. If that happens, you can be sure that fossil fuel interests fleeing prohibition in the global north will soon be setting up speakeasies in the south.
And finally, abandoning the NDCs will likely mean abandoning any structured approach to climate adaptation. There was much beating of breasts and furrowing of brows in Paris over disappearing islands and ice-caps, but very little presence of civil society and no mention of any specifics on progress towards the $100 billion. Again, this is a matter of trust. As low emitters themselves, the GHG reductions embedded in the NDCs of poorer and smaller nations are minimal at a global level, but the NDCs contain the best snapshot we have of actual adaptation needs on the ground.
With the right help for countries and governments at different levels, the NDCs could be linked to other national low-carbon and sustainable development strategies and become the basis for investment plans in both mitigation and adaptation, taking into account the actions of non-state actors such as cities. With the right donor finance and finance for de-risking private investment, these investment plans could be funded in a systematic fashion, ensuring both decarbonisation and "climate justice" ambitions are realised with transparency across the world. Put simply the NDC's offer the chance for a 'million flowers to bloom', in terms of the set of local, national and international actors who can implement them.
For sure, NDC implementation will be a painstaking business, levering stone on stone like the builders of pyramids. Much easier to mount a magic carpet and sweep off into transitions and trajectories. Pyramids, on the other hand, last.


text:
Title XVII
MILITARY AFFAIRS AND RELATED MATTERS Chapter 250
MILITARY AFFAIRS View Entire Chapter
250.37 Expenses of courts-martial.—
(1) All expenses incurred in a court-martial proceeding, including the payment of court reporters, sheriff's fees for service of warrants, summons, subpoenas, and all other necessary and lawful fees to civil officers for service, and witness fees at the same rate allowed by law in criminal cases, together with the pay, subsistence, and necessary expenses of the members of the court, shall, except as provided in subsection (4), be paid by the state in the usual manner upon the approval of the Governor. Members of the court are entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061. Courts-martial may subpoena any witness residing within the state to appear and testify before it, and the sheriff of any county upon receiving any subpoena issued by direction of a court-martial, and signed by the military judge or president thereof, shall make service and return of service as provided by law in criminal cases.
(2) The employment of a court reporter shall be authorized by the convening authority for all general courts-martial, and may be authorized by the convening authority for special courts-martial. When a court reporter is employed, he or she shall be paid upon the certificate of the military judge or president of the court and the approval of the Adjutant General from the military appropriation, such fees as are provided for official reporters.
(3) Fees for the service of all process issuing out of military courts and for the attendance of witnesses to attend such courts shall be the same as provided by law for the service of similar process issued by the civil courts of the state.
(4) In trials by summary court, the sheriff's costs and fees, including costs of subsistence of the soldier, if sentenced to confinement, shall be paid by the county in which the summary court convenes and exercises its jurisdiction and powers. Such costs, fees, and subsistence charges to be made from the fine and forfeiture fund of any such county.
History.—ss. 48, 51, 54, 55, ch. 8502, 1921; ss. 8, 10, ch. 9337, 1923; ss. 7, 9, ch. 10185, 1925; CGL 2061, 2064, 2067, 2068; s. 1, ch. 25112, 1949; s. 10, ch. 26484, 1951; s. 19, ch. 63-400; s. 4, ch. 85-168; s. 112, ch. 95-148; s. 34, ch. 2003-68.
Note.—Former ss. 250.55, 250.58, 250.61, 250.62.


text:
This list of city nicknames in Illinois compiles the aliases, sobriquets and slogans that Illinois cities are known by (or have been known by historically), officially and unofficially, to municipal governments, local people, outsiders, or their tourism boards or chambers of commerce. City nicknames can help in establishing a civic identity, helping outsiders recognize a community or attracting people to a community because of its nickname; promote civic pride; and build community unity. Nicknames and slogans that successfully create a new community "ideology or myth" are also believed to have economic value. Their economic value is difficult to measure, but there are anecdotal reports of cities that have achieved substantial economic benefits by "branding" themselves by adopting new slogans.

Some unofficial nicknames are positive, while others are derisive. The unofficial nicknames listed here have been in use for a long time or have gained wide currency.

Nicknames by city
Algonquin – Gem of the Fox River Valley
Arlington Heights – Action Heights
Aurora – City of Lights
Batavia
The Windmill City
City of Energy
Beardstown – Watermelon Capital
Belleville – Belle-Vegas
Bloomington – The Evergreen City
Bloomington–Normal together
Blo-No
The Twin Cities
Buffalo Grove – The Gymnastics Capital of Illinois
Canton – Plow City
Champaign–Urbana
Chambana
Twin Cities
Charleston – Chucktown
Chester – The Home of Popeye
Chicago (A to Z)
Chi-Town
Chiraq
City in a Garden (literal translation of city motto, Urbs in horto)
The City of the Big Shoulders (from Chicago, a Carl Sandburg poem)
The City That Works (by Mayor Daley, for example)
Mud City
The Second City
The White City (referencing the World's Columbian Exposition)
The Windy City

Collinsville – Horseradish Capital of the World
Crystal Lake – A Good Place to Live
Decatur
D-Town
Soybean Capital of the World
Soy City
DeKalb – Barbed Wire Capital of the World
Des Plaines – City of Destiny
East St. Louis
City of Champions
East Boogie
East Side
ESL
Effingham – The Ham
Elgin
The City in the Suburbs
The City to Watch
Evanston – Heavenston
Freeport – Pretzel City, USA
Griggsville – Purple Martin Capital of the WorldClaims to Fame - Birds, ePodunk, accessed April 16, 2007.
Glen Ellyn – Babcock's Grove
Huntley – The Friendly Village with Country Charm
Joliet
City of Champions
City of "Snap and Progress"
City of Steel (or City of Steel and Stone)Joliet, Illinois, Encyclopedia of Chicago
City of Stone
Prison City (or Prison Town)Joliet Central High School History , Joliet Township High School District 204 website, accessed October 28, 2011. Before 1935, the school's sports teams were known as "The Prison City Boys."
J-Town
Kankakee – Key City
Kewanee – Hog Capital of the World
Lombard – The Lilac Village
Lisle – The Arboretum Village
Marion – Hub City of the Universe
Marseilles
Martucky
Best Little Town by a Dam Site
Mattoon – Bagel Capital of the World
Maywood – Village of Eternal Light
Melrose Park – Corporate King of the Suburbs
Metropolis – The Home of Superman
Moline – Plow Capital of the World
Monmouth – The Maple City
Morton – Pumpkin Capital of the World
Olney – Home of the White Squirrels
Park Ridge – Home of the Hawks
Pana – City of Roses
Pekin
Celestial City
Marigold Capital of the World
Peoria – P-Town
Quincy – Gem City
Rantoul – Rantucky
Rockford
The Forest City
Screw City
Springfield
Flower City
Springpatch
St. Charles – The Pride of the Fox
Teutopolis – T-Town
Thomson – The Melon Capital of the World
Warrenville – For a Visit, Or a Lifetime
Wilmington – The Island City

See also
 List of municipalities in Illinois
 List of city nicknames in the United States

References

External links
 a list of American and a few Canadian nicknames
 U.S. cities list

City nicknames
Illinois


text:
Tax State taxes
Kansas credit unions prevail in latest state-level tax fight
By Michael Bartlett October 30, 2019, 11:03 a.m. EDT 2 Min Read
Kansas credit unions are claiming victory after two bills that would change the tax status for some financial institutions failed to make it through a committee in the state Senate.
On Oct. 3, the Senate's Special Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance met to consider Senate Bill 238 — which would decrease the privilege tax, a state income tax banks pay — and SB 239, which would tax credit unions with $100 million or more in assets. Both bills were reportedly written and endorsed by the Kansas Bankers Association.
On Tuesday, the 11-member committee voted to "not recommend" SB 239, and decided to make "no recommendation" on SB 238. Instead, the Kansas Legislative Research Department staff will continue to gather data on the topic.
Stephanie Mullholland, director of Kansas legislative and political affairs at the Heartland Credit Union Association, said lawmakers' decision on the credit union taxation bill was a win for the industry.
"The bottom line is this: the banks want a double standard," she said in a statement. "They want a special loophole created so they can be taxed like not-for-profits without having to play by the same rules as not-for-profits. Legislators and taxpayers can see right through that."
Mullholland was among those to testify at the hearing earlier this month. Her remarks focused primarily on economic factors, including that banks control 99% of the commercial market in the Sunflower State.
"Credit unions may only account for 1% of the commercial market, but that often includes small businesses and farmers that banks weren't willing to take a chance on," Mullholland said Tuesday. "What the big banks are really saying is that 99% isn't enough for them. Any reasonable person can see that neither of these bills stand to benefit consumers, but certainly stand to benefit banks and their shareholders."
The Heartland Credit Union Association also argued that Kansas has lost 244 credit union charters in the past five decades, declining from 322 credit unions in 1969 to 78 credit unions today.
"The fact is this is the beginning, not the end, of this important policy discussion in Kansas," KBA President and CEO Doug Wareham said in an email to Credit Union Journal, adding, "We now have both in-state and out-of-state credit unions competing with tax-paying Kansas banks on multimillion-dollar commercial loans and we are confident the more light we shine on this fact the more momentum we will build for a level playing field."
Earlier this year, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed into law legislation modernizing the state's credit union statute.
The battle in Kansas is just the latest attempt by bankers to impose taxes or restrictions on credit unions. In February, the Nebraska Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee considered a bill that would have required state regulators to notify banks whenever a CU applied to expand its field of membership.
In 2018, an effort to tax Iowa credit unions ultimately failed, but two credit unions were forced to change their names to comply with legislation that prohibits Iowa credit unions from using the name of state universities in their own name.
This story was updated at 3:26 P.M. ET on Oct. 30, 2019.
Tax State taxes Tax exemptions Finance, investment and tax-related legislation Commercial lending Kansas


Since I've been unable to do anything too strenuous lately and since I've had my heartbreak a couple of months ago, I've been trying to fill my time with things I've always wanted to do but didn't because I had no one to go with me or because I was too busy training (or at least thinking about training, not doing it and then feeling guilty about it). So in a whole bid to seek this independence that I seem to have lost over the years, I went off and got myself a ticket for Jeremy Monteiro (one of Singapore's more famous local Jazz talents) to see his solo piano recital. Right after I did that though, a friend, Ed, and his wife decided to join me - okay, so I didn't go solo in the end, but the thought was there! The three of us also got tickets to watch Natalie Cole at the Sun Festival and did that just last Sunday.
I have to say, I've really been enjoying these recitals/concerts . Previously I would kind of wait around for my man (now, ex) before I could do anything...not because I really needed to have him around, but just as a whole 'if I enjoyed the moment, I would really want to share that moment with the person I loved'. So I would always wait for my man to be free and he wasn't free a lot for me somehow, which meant I didn't end up doing a lot of things I wanted to. I guess it is a blessing in disguise that I now have the opportunity to do all these things now. I've been reading a lot, going for blue-sky holidays and attending more jazz concerts - things I could never seem to make time for. Also tonight I'm off to watch Jose Carreras in concert - I'm not sure I'll fully enjoy it, but who knows? Mainly I'm once more starting to get out there and be curious about the world again.
Along with this life change, an old friend has also reappeared in my life. A very good friend and a friend who I've shared certain important moments in my life with. It's been weird because in the last week I've seen more of him than I have in the last 2 years. For 2 years, we've had, at most, a handful of half-hearted calls; if we met up, it was because we ran into each other and nothing more - then all of a sudden he rings up one day, we meet up and magically we're the best of friends again. And it is nice. And I realise I do actually miss our little chats and that bizarre chemistry we share as friends. We've met up about a good 4 times last week - as if to cram in 2 years worth of yapping - and we'll play crosswords over a glass/bottle of vino till late into the night. Did I mention I've become a huge crossword buff as well lately? Really really love doing them! So, a good friend, some vino and crosswords - what more could one ask for?
Side note - I've not been doing much by way of exercise. I did 10 lunges on each side on Sunday and my hamstrings were aching the next day (I'm totally in fighting shape). Also did a 3k walk with my folks and a bunch of crunches. I think I need to watch an episode of Tomb Raider for inspiration again!
"So, a good friend, some vino and crosswords - what more could one ask for?"
Me enjoying the simplicity of life too!