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GALLERY: The buzz about pollinators
Steve Yasgur/ Lower Phalen Creek Project
A trip around the world
GALLERY: A trip around the world
photos courtesy of Tom Rudquist
Attendees of the 10th annual St. George Middle Eastern Festival, which ran July 14-16 at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, were able to experience the sites, sounds and smells of another culture without having to buy a plane ticket or leave West St. Paul. From traditional food to a market place, there was plenty to check out during the three-day festival, including camel rides. Fun for the kids included face painting and colorful masks. Visitors to the festival were treated to performances by Middle Eastern dance groups.
GALLERY: Run for the Roses - Rosefest 2017
The Run for the Roses and the Roll for the Roses drew hundreds of people to take part in the Rosefest tradition June 24. Set to be a junior at Roseville Area High School next year, Acer Iverson, posted the fastest time in the 5K run — he said he ran about a 17:20.
- Mike Munzenrider photos
GALLERY: South St. Paul comes out to celebrate with Kaposia Days 2017
South St. Paul Secondary school parking lot was filled with classic cars on Saturday, June 24.
The 2017 Kaposia Days celebration kicked off on Friday, June 23 with the ever-popular Grande Parade and featured a variety of groups like the commemorative Air Force.
Emma enjoyed the inflatables at Kaposia Kids Stuff on June 24.
Kristen Oster, 2017 Klondike Kate and a West St. Paul resident, blew kisses to parade spectators and entertained the crowd on the Vulcan fire truck.
South St. Paul celebrated its annual Kaposia Days from June 23 to 25. The weekend was full of activities from the Grand Parade Friday night to fireworks closing out the celebration on Sunday night. The 2017 Kid Parade was full of "Breakfast Champions" decked out in their best cereal costumes on Saturday, June 24.
GALLERY: Philando Castile Memorial, June 22, 2017
The morning of June 22, about 20 students from Fairview Alternative High School in Roseville walked down to the area of Larpenteur Avenue and Fry Street in Falcon Heights, where Philando Castile was shot and killed during a traffic stop last July 6. The students visited a memorial site commemorating Castile, and brought along painted kindness rocks to contribute to the memorial's many flowers and signs.
The morning of June 22, about 20 students from Fairview Alternative High School in Roseville walked down to the area of Larpenteur Avenue and Fry Street in Falcon Heights, where Philando Castile was shot and killed during a traffic stop last July 6. The students visited a memorial site commemorating Castile, and brought along painted kindness rocks to contribute to the memorial's many flowers and signs. Laura Freer, the school's principal, was there with the students and said they were there "to process the verdict." She said other Roseville schools were also working on ways for students to process the June 16 news that police officer Jeronimo Yanez was acquitted of all charges related to killing Castile. Photos by Jesse Poole
GALLERY: The Ted Bearth Grand Parade marches through Oakdale
The parade is one of the most well-attended events of Oakdale's Summerfest celebration. Photos by Aundrea Kinney
Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 06/04/2012 - 9:00am


Summer tryouts will be February 24th at WBL High School North Campus.
This is mandatory for all players at 10U level and above planning on playing on a summer team.
Arrive 30 Minutes early for check in and uniform sizing.
Upon signing in at her age appropriate time on Sunday, each girl will be assigned a number. She will then go into the gym to be evaluated. Parents are not allowed inside the gym during the process. All evaluations are recorded based on the numbers assigned at registration. Each girl will be evaluated in five general skill areas: Infield, Outfield, Throw & Catch, Hitting and Base Running. The girls (based on numbers assigned at the beginning of the process) are ranked based on their evaluations. This ranking is used as a guide and it is not an absolute determination of team placement.
What is the purpose of the team tryouts?
Tryouts can be intimidating for players and parents, but in actuality our "tryouts" are an evaluation to decide the appropriate level for each player. We need to be able to evaluate players so we can make up teams that have a chance to succeed. If for an unavoidable reason (e.g. a weekend tournament in another sport or an illness) a player cannot attend the primary evaluation night, the player must notify the association in advance.


text:
Photo Essay: The Ismaili Centre – "Peace Through Prayer" and "A Splendid Reality"
Editor's note: Almost four weeks ago, on Friday September 12, 2014, the Prime Minister of Canada and His Highness the Aga Khan performed the official opening of the Ismaili Centre in Toronto. Simerg is pleased to present a selection of photos from a media kit that was made available to members of the media on the opening day. In addition we have incorporated additional photos as well as a short video pertinent to the opening day released by the Prime Minister's Office.
Charles Correa has revisited and reinterpreted the traditional notions of a dome by playing with light, colour and symmetry to give the Ismaili Centre a unique glass crystalline dome. Photo: Copyright Gary Otte.
Visible from the Don Valley Parkway, the crystalline frosted glass dome of the Ismaili Centre Jamatkhana radiates light at night from the highest point of the site. Photo: Copyright Gary Otte.
THE JAMATKHANA
The "Muqarnas" is a finely crafted corbelled ceiling whose skylight provides a subtle transition from the outside to the serene Jamatkhana inside. Photo: Copyright Gary Otte.
A screen made from ribbons of steel separates the anteroom from the prayer hall. It repeats an 8 sided pattern exhibiting a geometric tool used by Muslim artists to create order and rhythm for contemplation. Photo: Copyright Gary Otte.
The walls of the Jamatkhana are lined with Canadian maple paneling repeating the word Allah (Arabic for God) in stylized Kufic calligraphy. Photo: Copyright Shai Gil.
Inside the Jamatkhana, the central skylight panel descends to a white translucent onyx block. Photo: Copyright Shai Gil.
The library hosts reading and story time sessions for children and acts as a welcoming space for the community. Photo: Copyright Gary Otte.
THE SOCIAL HALL
The social hall is a commanding space that is evocative of the elements seen throughout the building. This space is the primary social area for cultural performances, concerts, lectures, book launches, film screenings and weddings. The preceding photo and the next photo were taken in this social hall. The design in the background of the stage at left is based on an Ottoman textile. Photo: Copyright Gary Otte.
A number of exquisite art pieces are displayed in the social hall foyer, including a lattice work in a geometric pattern depicting the words Allah (Arabic for God), Muhammad and Ali intertwined and a medallion made of semi-precious stone. Photo: Copyright Gary Otte.
The Ismaili Centre has classrooms and meeting rooms designed for flexible programmatic activities such as committee meetings, educational programs and seminars. Photo: Copyright Gary Otte.
The Council Chamber, under its own skylight, is where the community's institutions meet. Photo: Copyright Gary Otte.
THE BASMALLAH
The Basmallah is repeated four times in this iconic piece designed by German Muslim artist Karl Schlamminger. The calligraphy is the first artwork that members will see as they enter the building from the indoor parking garage. Photo: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
PHOTOS AND VIDEO FROM THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
Photo: The website of the Prime Minister of Canada, pm.gc.ca
Photo: The website of the Prime Minster of Canada, pm.gc.ca
24 SEVEN EXCLUSIVE VIDEO FROM THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
Date posted: Thursday, October 9, 2014.
Please also see this blog's posts:
Photos and Videos: Simerg Captures the Spirit of the Jamat on the Opening Day of the Ismaili Centre in Toronto, Canada
September 18, 2014: Opening Day of the Majestic new Aga Khan Museum
For a complete list as well as links to photo essays published on this blog please click on Table of Contents. Please also visit this photoblog's companion literary website, http://www.simerg.com.
Category : Aga Khan Museum, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, Ismaili Jamatkhanas
Tags : 24/7, His Highness the Aga Khan, Ismaili Centre, Jamatkhana, Prime Minsiter Stephen Harper, Toronto
← Photos and Videos: Simerg Captures the Spirit of the Jamat on the Opening Day of the Ismaili Centre in Toronto, Canada
Photo Essay: Two Great Canadian Prime Ministers, Mackenzie King and Lester B. Pearson, Feature in Simerg's Peep into Gatineau Park's Autumn Foliage →
6 thoughts on "Photo Essay: The Ismaili Centre – "Peace Through Prayer" and "A Splendid Reality""
zarinaspeaks on October 23, 2014 at 7:53 pm said:
Thank you for taking me on this tour.
Qamar Valliani on October 20, 2014 at 10:17 am said:
BASMALLAH is wrongly spelled. In arabic written four times is perfect. In English it should be BISMALLAH ( B ism Allah) meaning IN THE NAME OF ALLAH.
Posted by Malik Merchant, Simergphotos on October 21, 2014 at 7:33 pm said:
The Basmala (Arabic: بسملة basmala), also known by its opening utterance Bismillah (Arabic: بسم الله, "In the name of God") is the collective noun for the Islamic phrase "b-ismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīmi".
Minaz on October 26, 2014 at 4:47 pm said:
Thank you for the clarification Malik. I like the way you wrote down the actual transliteration off bismillahir rahamanir rahim. How do you do the same for inna lillahi wa inna lillahi rajeon?
Pingback: Simerg | Photo Essay: The Ismaili Centre – "Peace Through Prayer" and "A Splendid Reality" | Ismailimail
Ismail Awan on October 9, 2014 at 9:43 am said:
A mesmerizing beautiful project. Well done.
Leave a Reply to zarinaspeaks Cancel reply

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
TV Show Episode Scripts > Supernatural > Season 1 > Shadow
Meredith.
Hello ? Meredith.
System disarmed.
System armed.
Hey, Meredith, it's Kristin.
You have to tell me what happened last night.
Call me.
Hey Meredith, it's Dereck.
Where have you been ? I've tried to get you all day 'cause I got maybe something's gonna please you.
Guess what.
Call me when you come back, ok ? So if you wanna solve that mystery, call me.
Hey, Meredith.
Listen, All right, Dean, this is the place.
I've got to say dad and me did just fine without these stupid costumes.
I feel like a high-school-drama dork.
What was that play that you did ? What was it "Our Town".
Yeah, you were good.
It was cute.
Look, you want to pull this off or not ? I'm just saying these outfits cost hard-earned money.
- Whose ? - Ours.
You think credit-card fraud is easy ? Thanks for letting us look around.
The police said they were done with the place, so You guys said you were with the alarm company ? That's right.
Well, no offense, but your alarm is about as useful as boobs on a man.
Well, that's why we're here, to see what went wrong, to stop it from happening again.
Now, ma'am, you found the body ? Yeah.
Right after it happened ? No, a few days later.
Meredith's work called.
She hadn't showed up.
I knocked on her door.
That's when I noticed the smell.
Any windows open ? Any sign of break-in ? Windows were locked.
Front door was bolted.
Chain was on the door.
We had to cut it to get in.
And the alarm was still on ? Like I said.
Bang-up job your company is doing.
Did you see any overturned furniture, broken glass, signs of struggle ? Everything was in perfect condition except Meredith.
Well, what condition was Meredith in ? Meredith was all over, in pieces.
The guy who killed her must have been a whack job.
But I tell you, if I didn't know any better, I'd have said a wild animal did it.
Ma'am, you mind if we take some time, give this place a once-over ? Go right ahead.
So the killer walks in and out of the apartment - no weapons, no prints, nothing.
- I'm telling you, the minute I found that article, I knew this was our kind of gig.
I think I agree with you.
So, you talked to the cops ? Uh, yeah, I spoke to Amy a, uh, charming, perky officer of the law.
- What did you find out ? - Well, she's a sagittarius.
She loves tequila.
I mean Oh, and she's got this little tattoo.
- Dean ! - What ? Yeah.
Nothing we don't already know, except for one thing they're keeping out of the papers.
Meredith's heart was missing.
Her heart ? Yeah, her heart.
So, what do you think did it to her ? The landlady said it looked like an animal attack.
Maybe it was.
- Werewolf ? - Not a werewolf.
The lunar cycle's not right.
Plus, if it was a creature, it would've left some kind of trace.
It was probably a spirit.
See if you can find any masking tape around.
Ever see that symbol before ? Never.
Me, neither.
I want to step on your hands and cut the rope and the twine tangled up on your mind, love On the outside.
On the hillside.
We can play with the paste all night.
I talked to the bartender.
Did you get anything besides her number ? Dude, I'm a professional.
I'm offended that you would think that.
You mind doing a little bit of thinking with your upstairs brain, Dean ? Hmm ? There's nothing to find out.
Meredith worked here.
She waited tables.
Everyone here is her friends.
Everyone says she's normal.
She didn't do or say anything weird before she died.
So What about that symbol ? Did you find anything ? Nope.
It wasn't in dad's journal or in any of the usual books.
I just have to dig a little deeper, I guess.
There was a first victim, right, before Meredith? Right, yeah.
His name was, uh his name was Ben Swardstrom.
Last month he was found mutilated in his town house.
Same deal.
The alarm was on.
- Is there any connection between them ? - Nothing I could tell.
I mean not yet, at least.
Ben was a banker.
Meredith was a waitress.
They never met, never knew anyone in common.
They were practically from different worlds.
So, to recap, the only successful intel we've scored so far is the bartender's phone number.
What ? Sam ! Well, we talked about you and we've heard about you Meg.
Sam ! Sam, is that you ? Oh, my gosh ! What are you doing here ? I'm just in town visiting friends.
Where are they ? Well, they're not here right now, but what about you, Meg ? I thought you were going to California.
I came.
I saw.
I conquered.
Oh, and I met what's his name something Michael Murray, at a bar.
Who ? It doesn't matter.
Anyway, the whole scene got old, so I'm living here for a while.
- You're from Chicago ? - No, Massachusetts.
Andover.
Gosh, Sam, what are the odds we'd run into each other ? I know.
I thought I'd never see you again.
Well, I'm glad you were wrong.
Dude, cover your mouth.
Yeah, I'm sorry, Meg.
This is, um This is my brother, Dean.
- This is Dean ? - Yeah.
So you've heard of me ? Oh, yeah, I've heard of you.
Nice, the way you treat your brother like luggage.
- Sorry ? - Why don't you let him do what he wants to do ? Stop dragging him over god's green earth.
Meg it's all right.
I'm gonna get a drink now.
Sam, I'm sorry.
It's just, the way you told me he treats you, - if it were me, I'd kill him.
- It's all right.
He means well.
- We should hook up while you're in town.
- Yeah.
- I could show you a hell of a time.
- That sounds great.
Why don't you give me your number ? You know what ? I never got your last name.
- Masters.
- Masters ? So you better call.
Scout's honor.
I hope to see you around, Sam.
Who the hell was she ? I don't really know.
I only met her once.
Meeting up with her again ? I don't know, man.
It's weird.
What was she saying I treat you like luggage ? Were you bitching about me to some chick ? Look, I'm sorry, Dean.
It was when we had that huge fight when I was in the bus stop in Indiana.
But that's not important.
Is there any truth to what she's saying ? Am I keeping you against your will, Sam ? No, of course not.
Now, would you listen ? What ?! I think there's something strange going on here, Dean.
Tell me about it.
She wasn't even into me.
No, man, I mean, like our kind of strange.
- Like maybe even a lead.
- Why do you say that ? I met Meg weeks ago literally on the side of the road.
Now I run into her in some random Chicago bar the same bar where a waitress was slaughtered by something supernatural.
You don't think that's a little weird ? I don't know, random coincidence, it happens.
Well, yeah, it happens, but not to us.
Look, I could be wrong.
I'm just saying that there's something about this girl that I can't quite put my finger on.
But I bet you'd like to.
But maybe she's not a suspect.
Maybe you got a thing for her, huh ? Maybe you're thinking too much with your upstairs brain, huh ? Do me a favor.
Check and see if there's really a Meg Masters from Andover, Massachusetts and see if you can't dig anything up on that symbol on Meredith's floor.
What are you gonna do ? I'm gonna watch Meg.
I just want to see what's what.
Better safe than sorry.
All right, you little pervert.
I'm going.
Let me guess.
You're lurking outside that poor girl's apartment, aren't you ? No.
You've got a funny way of showing your affection.
You find anything on her or what ? Sorry man, I should check this out.
There's a Meg Masters in the Andover phone book.
I even pulled up her high-school photo.
Now, look, why don't you go knock on her door and invite her to a poetry reading or whatever it is you do.
What about the symbol ? Any luck ? Yeah, that I did have some luck with.
Turns out it's zoroastrian.
Very, very old-school, like 2,000 years before Christ.
It's a sigil for a Daeva.
- What's a Daeva ? - It translates to "demon of darkness" zoroastrian demons, and they're savage, animalistic, nasty attitudes; kind of like demonic pit bulls.
- How did you figure that out ? - Give me some credit, man.
You don't have a corner on paper chasing around here.
Name the last book you read.
I called dad's friend, Caleb.
He told me, all right.
Anyway, here's the thing.
These Daevas, they have to be summoned.
Conjured.
So someone's controlling it ? Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
And from what I gather, it's pretty risky business, too.
These suckers tend to bite the hand that feeds them and the arm and the torsos.
- So what do they look like ? - Nobody knows.
Nobody's seen them for a couple of millennia.
Summoning a demon that ancient, someone really knows their stuff.
I think we've got a major player in town.
Why don't you go give that girl a private strip-o-gram ? - Bite me.
- Bite her.
Don't leave teeth marks, though.
It's not Sam ? - No, no, I'm just - Pervert ! I don't think you should come because the brothers, they're in town.
I didn't know that Yes, sir.
Yes, I'll be here waiting for you.
What the hell ? Dude, I've got to talk to you.
So, hot little Meg is summoning the Daeva ? It looks like she was using that black altar to control the thing.
So Sammy's got a thing for the bad girl.
- And what's the deal with that bowl again ? - She was talking into it the way witches used to scry into crystal balls or animal entrails.
She was communicating with someone.
- With who ? With the Daeva ? - No, you said those things were savages.
No, this was someone different, someone who's giving her orders, someone who's coming to that warehouse.
Holy crap.
What ? What I was gonna tell you earlier.
I pulled a favor with my friend Amy, over at the police department.
The complete records of the two victims.
We missed something the first time.
What ? The first victim, the old man ? He spent his whole life in Chicago, but he wasn't born here.
Look where he was born.
Lawrence, Kansas.
Meredith, the second victim ? It turns out she was adopted.
And guess where she's from ? Holy crap.
I mean, that is where the demon killed mom.
That's where everything started.
You think Meg's tied up with the demon ? I think it's a definite possibility.
But I don't understand ! What's the significance of Lawrence ? And how do these Daeva things fit in ? I say we trash that black altar, grab Meg, and have ourselves a friendly little interrogation.
No, we can't.
We shouldn't tip her off.
We've got to stake out that warehouse.
We've got to see who or what, is showing up to meet her.
I'll tell you one thing.
I don't think we should do this alone.
We think we've got a serious lead on the thing that killed mom.
So, uh, this warehouse it's Dad, if you get this, get to Chicago as soon as you can.
Voice mail ? Yeah.
What'd you get ? I ransacked that trunk holy water, every weapon that I could think of.
Exorcism rituals from about a half-dozen religions.
I'm not sure what to expect, so I guess we should just expect everything, huh ? It's a big night.
You nervous ? No.
Are you ? No.
God, could you imagine if we actually found that damn thing, that demon ? Let's not get ahead of ourselves, all right ? I know.
I'm just saying what if we did ? What if this whole thing was over tonight ? Man, I'd sleep for a month, go back to school, just be a person again.
- You want to go back to school ? - Yeah, once we're done hunting the thing.
Why ? Is there something wrong with that ? No, no, it's great.
Good for you.
I mean, - what are you gonna do when it's all over ? - It's never gonna be over.
There's gonna be others.
There's always gonna be something to hunt.
But there's got to be something that you want for yourself.
Yeah, I don't want you to leave the second this is over, Sam.
Dude, what's your problem ? Why do you think I drag you everywhere ? Why do you think I came and got you at Stanford in the first place? 'Cause dad was in trouble.
'Cause you wanted to find the thing that killed mom.
Yes, that, but it's more than that, man.
You and me and dad I want us to to be together again.
I want us to be a family again.
Dean, we are a family.
I'd do anything for you.
But things will never be the way they were before.
They could be.
I don't want them to be.
I'm not gonna live this life forever.
Dean, when this is all over, you're gonna have to let me go my own way.
Hiding is a little bit childish, don't you think ? That didn't work out like I'd planned.
Why don't you come out ? Sam, I have to say, this puts a real crimp in our relationship.
Yeah, tell me about it.
So, where's your little Daeva friend ? Around.
And that shotgun's not gonna do much good.
Oh, don't worry, sweetheart.
The shotgun's not for the demon.
So, who is it, Meg ? Who's coming ? Who are you waiting for ? You.
Hey, Sam, don't take this the wrong way, but your girlfriend is a bitch.
This, the whole thing, was a trap.
Running into you at the bar, following you here, hearing what you had to say it was all a set up, wasn't it ? And that the victims were from Lawrence.
It doesn't mean anything.
It was just to draw you in, that's all.
- You killed those two people for nothing.
- Baby, I've killed a lot more for a lot less.
You trapped us.
It's miller time.
Why don't you kill us already ? Not very quick on the up take, are we ? This trap isn't for you.
It's a trap for dad.
Oh, sweetheart, you're dumber than you look.
'Cause even if dad was in town, which he is not, he wouldn't walk into something like this.
He's too good.
He is pretty good, I'll give you that.
But you see he has one weakness.
What's that ? You.
He lets his guard down around his boys, lets his emotions cloud his judgment.
I happen to know he is in town, and he'll come and try to save you.
And then the Daevas will kill everybody nice and slow and messy.
Well, I've got news for you.
It's gonna take a lot more than some shadow to kill him.
Oh, the Daevas are in the room here.
They're invisible.
Their shadows are just the only part you can see.
Why are you doing this, Meg ? What kind of deal you got worked out here, huh - and with who ? - I'm doing this for the same reasons you do what you do.
Loyalty, love.
Like the love you had for mommy and Jess.
Go to hell.
Baby, I'm already there.
Come on, Sam.
There's no need to be nasty.
I think we both know how you really feel about me.
You know I saw you watching me changing in my apartment.
It turned you on, didn't it ? - Get a room, you two.
- I didn't mind.
I liked that you were watching me.
Come on, Sammy, you and I can still have a little dirty fun.
You want to have fun ? Go ahead, then.
I'm a little tied up right now.
Now, were you just trying to distract me while your brother cuts free ? No.
It was because I have a knife of my own.
Sam ! Get the altar ! So, I guess the Daevas didn't like being bossed around.
I guess not.
Hey, Sam ? The next time you want to get laid, find a girl that's not so buckets of crazy, huh ? Why don't you just leave that stuff in the car ? I said it before, and I'll say it again better safe than sorry.
Hey ! Dad.
Hey, boys.
Hi, Sam.
Hi, dad.
Dad, it was a trap.
I didn't know.
I thought it might have been.
Were you there ? I got there just in time to see the girl take the swan dive.
She was the bad guy, right ? - Yes, sir.
- Good.
Well, it doesn't surprise me.
It's tried to stop me before.
- The demon has ? - It knows I'm close.
It knows I'm gonna kill it.
Not just exorcise it or send it back to Hell, actually kill it.
How ? I'm working on that.
Let us come with you.
We'll help.
No, Sam.
Listen, try to understand.
This demon is a scary son of a bitch.
I don't want you caught in the crossfire.
- I don't want you hurt.
- You don't have to worry about us.
Of course I do.
I'm your father.
Listen, Sammy, the last time we were together, we had one hell of a fight.
Yes, sir.
It's been a long time.
Too long.
No ! Shot your ass ! These things are shadow demons, so let's light 'em up ! Dad ! Over here ! Come on ! All right, come on.
We don't have much time.
As soon as the flare's out, they'll be back.
Wait, wait ! Sam, wait.
- Dad, you can't come with us.
- What ? What are you talking about ? You boys - you're beat to hell.
- We'll be all right.
Dean, we should stick together ! - We'll go after those - Sam, listen to me ! We almost got dad killed in there.
Don't you understand ? They're not gonna stop.
They're gonna try again.
They're gonna use us to get to him.
I mean, Meg was right.
Dad's vulnerable when he's with us.
He he's stronger without us around.
Dad no.
After everything, after all the time we spent looking for you, please.
- I've got to be a part of this fight.
- Sammy, this fight is just starting, and we are all gonna have a part to play.
For now, you've got to trust me, son.
Okay ? You've got to let me go.
Be careful, boys.


Bharti Airtel and Vodafone-Idea have decded to switch off the connection of its subscribers with low Average Realisation Per User (ARPU).
It is said so because these users generate nearly Rs 10 ARPU,that inturn generates about Rs 100 crores in monthly revenue for Airtel.
If the same was raised to Rs 35, then the overall monthly revenue would go up tp Rs. 175 crores said the reports.
This inturn means that there is a possibility that nearly 250 million 2G connections might be switched off if the users don't opt for these higher priced plans.
From these connections, Airtel is said to have about 100 million users that spend lower than Rs 35 per month, while around 150 million VodafoneIdea subscribers are said to fall under the same category.
The telcos have reportedly scrapped their older plans that were below the ARPU and both, Vodafone Idea and Airtel, have released 5 and 7 plans starting at Rs 35 per month respectively and these packs are available pan India.
The users those use Vodafone Idea SIM or Airtel as the secondary mobile connection happen to recharge with less than Rs. 35 per month.
The second connection is used for the incoming calls and the base recharge is of Rs 10 would ensure that the connection stayed active for the validity of the recharge.
If at all the above plan is practiced then the subscribers must either move to higher priced plans i.e. Rs 35 per month or else switch to their primary SIM operator.


text:
#RedForEd seeks action on per-pupil funding and other demands not met last year
Lisa Irish/ Arizona Education News Service
A year after tens of thousands of teachers and education advocates marched through Phoenix streets demanding action on low teacher pay and per student funding that remains below pre-recession levels, #RedForEd supporters and Arizona Educators United are seeking progress on demands not addressed last year.
This year, #RedForEd is encouraging educators to pack the gallery at the Arizona Legislature when legislators are working on the budget, and Save Our Schools Arizona is encouraging education supporters to wear red and attend legislative Committee of the Whole and floor sessions.
Teachers and education advocates are seeking legislative action this year on Arizona Educators United's four demands that were not addressed last year: Restoration of per-pupil funding for public schools to 2008 levels, competitive pay for all education support professionals, a salary plan that provides an annual raise and a halt to tax cuts until Arizona's per-pupil funding reaches the national average.
In a Facebook video last week, Rebecca Garelli, a teacher and Arizona Educators United member, said, "We had five demands. Only a tiny bit of one was met. We still have a job to do, and our job is to remind our legislators that we are still watching. We are watching the budget. We are organizing ourselves and we are ready to turn up the heat if we need to."
Education advocates and #RedForEd supporters take part in the Arizona House and Senate Democrats town hall on budget priorities at the Capitol in Phoenix on Saturday, April 27, 2019. Photo courtesy Kelley Wndland Fisher/Arizona Educators United
Last week, teachers rallied in downtown Tucson for more funding, and talked about the ongoing challenges they face in their classrooms, according to an Arizona Public Media article.
"A year ago, we asked for five demands, and they met the teacher pay partially, but they haven't really provided the adequate funding we need for the schools," said John Upston, a teacher at Rincon High School in the Tucson Unified School District at the rally during an Arizona 360 video interview.
Katie Rogers, a teacher at Cavett Elementary School in Tucson Unified School District, said at the rally that at her school there were two classrooms without a permanent teacher two months into the school year, "There were days we were forced to keep our kids in at lunch because there was nobody outside to be monitoring the playground during lunch."
Last week, teachers rallied in downtown Tucson for more funding, and talked about the ongoing challenges they face in their classrooms. Photo courtesy of Invest in Education Arizona
Educators attend town hall on budget priorities
Educators wearing red packed the Town Hall to discuss budget priorities hosted by the Arizona Legislature's House and Senate Democrats on Saturday, April 27th.
"Our goal here is to get your input to get your participation so that we can be advocates for you down at the capitol when we put together this fiscal year 2020 budget," said Rep. Martin Quezada. "As we all know, a budget is a reflection of our values and a reflection of our priorities, so we want to hear what your values and priorities are."
Video: Arizona House Democrats host a town hall to discuss budget priorities
"We want to make sure our schools have the resources they need to make sure that our kids that they flourish in schools, that our teachers are well-paid," said House Minority Leader Rep. Charlene Fernandez.
When teachers walked to the Capitol last year, "you weren't just talking about raises for yourselves, you said you cared about your schools, you cared about support staff, you cared about nurses and cafeteria workers and groundskeepers and speech pathologists and special education teachers," Rep. Fernandez said.
"But most of all you cared about the kids, that's because it comes right down to that," Rep. Fernandez said. "Whenever we do our edits, whenever we think about the budget, we keep your stories in mind."
Rep. Fernandez also took aim at the governor's results-based funding plan.
"That's $140 million going to schools that are already doing well. That is not equity, and that is not fairness," Rep. Fernandez said. "We need to make sure that all our kids succeed that all our schools are well-funded."
Jeanne Casteen, a teacher in Isaac School District and governing board president of Creighton School District and attended the town hall, said "What is already an inequitable system, with the way that our tax money is distributed, then we have those tax credits. When you look at the comparison, you see that some districts are able to generate a lot of funds that way. So what is the Democratic party's position on that and what would you like to see done to be able to at least improve it, make it equitable or do away with it all together."
Sen. Juan Mendez said "I personally would do away with the whole program. I never went to a school where we had the families to support that or do anything worthwhile. It's definitely not good for children growing up in these kinds of systems to know that they're doing better because of that it's still part of this problem that your zip code is what kind of future you have."
"This is the bleak picture of K-12 funding for our school system in Arizona," said Rep. Kelli Butler. "You can see from the height of funding in 2008 to today we are still about $670 million per-pupil below where we were at the height of funding before the recession, and I don't need to tell anyone in this room what that means. We are still – as a whole – for our public schools, we are still $800 million short in where we were pre-recession. Everyone who's a teacher in this room knows what that means to our students, to our teachers and to our public schools."
"This is the bleak picture of K-12 funding for our school system in Arizona," said Rep. Kelli Butler on April 27, 2019. "You can see from the height of funding in 2008 to today we are still about $670 million per-pupil below where we were at the height of funding before the recession." Photo courtesy video of the House and Senate Democrats Town Hall on budget priorities. Photo courtesy of Arizona House Democrats
"There's so much more that we need to do," Butler said. "Remember when we're looking at this picture, this includes the funding from Prop. 123, which was that measure that took more money from the state land trust that's designed to be in perpetuity to fund our schools and also includes the first installment on the Governor's 20 by 2020 plan."
How the teacher pay increase worked out
Last year, Arizona Legislators and the Governor approved the 20 by 2020 plan last session in response, which raises teacher pay 20 percent over three years and includes a 5 percent raise in this year's budget.
Data shows that helped teacher pay increase pretty close to 10 percent, said Dr. Anabel Aportela, research director for Arizona Association of School Business Officials and Arizona School Boards Association.
According to Public School District Employee reports submitted to the Arizona Department of Education, the average full-time equivalent teacher salary statewide rose from $46,911 in fiscal year 2018 to $50,973 in fiscal year 2019, which in an increase of about $4,062, or 8.65 percent, Dr. Aportela said. The data does not include charter schools except for a handful that happen to report it.
Why did teacher salaries not increase exactly 10 percent? Because the 10 percent that was promised by the Governor's office used fiscal year 2017 as the base and included the 1 percent increase from 2017 to 2018, Dr. Aportela said.
When you calculate the change in teacher salaries to include that, then teacher salaries rose from $46,694 in fiscal year 2017 to $50,973 in fiscal year 2019, which is a difference of $4,279 or 9.16 percent, Dr. Aportela said.
"This is pretty close to the 10 percent, considering that it was always going to be more challenging for some of the higher-paying districts to reach 10 percent," Dr. Aportela said. "The funding went out on a per-pupil basis, regardless of existing teacher salary levels."
That means raising teacher salaries 10 percent in a district already paying $50,000 required an additional $5,000 per teacher, while raising teacher salaries 10 percent for a district paying $40,000 required an additional $4,000 per teacher.
Many school districts also provided raises for non-teaching support staff, and all school districts are still implementing the phase-in of the minimum wage increases with no additional funding for either, Dr. Aportela said.
What's next with the budget
Right now, Arizona Legislators are still negotiating and working on the $11.4 billion budget for the State of Arizona. Usually, a budget is passed in April or May, but this year the budget process could stretch into June.
This year, legislators face several challenges in crafting a budget.
Gov. Doug Ducey would like to put $150 million in revenue from changes in federal tax policy into the state's rainy day fund, while Republican and Democratic legislators approved legislation sponsored by Sen. J.D. Mesnard earlier this session that would have returned that money to Arizona taxpayers, but Gov. Ducey vetoed it.
In addition, some legislators are trying to repeal the new $32 a vehicle registration fee that would pay for Highway Patrol, but Gov. Ducey said the $200 million is needed. Last session, legislators approved the fee thinking it would be no more than $18 a vehicle, according to a Capitol Media Services article.
Lastly, the State of Arizona may bring significantly more than it forecast earlier this year, which means there may be more available for one-time spending this legislative session.
Connecting learning to real world makes Tartesso an A+ School
Arizona schools strive to bridge digital opportunity gap
School Choice Week highlights Arizonans' options


It's time to Reserve Your Discovery Visit.
Nothing compares to the quietness of a cool evening spent gazing out across the majestic mountain landscape, set aglow by golden rays peering down upon the signature Jack Nicklaus golf course. But what makes Elk River truly special is the warm camaraderie our members enjoy with each other every day. Elk River is now accepting requests for an exclusive opportunity to enjoy all the club has to offer in Banner Elk, N.C.
500 FEET OF ELEVATION CHANGE.
1 MILE OF ELK RIVER.
Nestled in a majestic mountain valley, the Jack Nicklaus course has everything a golfer could ask for: challenging and unique holes, great views and elevations, the Elk River running through it, and spectacular landscaping—all meticulously maintained.
FAMILY MEMORIES ARE MADE HERE.
Elk River's Har-Tru courts delight every level and age of tennis enthusiast. With private or group lessons and pro exhibitions, there are many ways to challenge your game. Well-designed summer camps keep the kids entertained while teaching tennis fundamentals.
"H" and his staff host weekly mixers and themed social events for members to enjoy.
WE HAVE MILES OF TRAILS JUST WAITING TO BE EXPLORED.
Situated at 4,500 feet, the magnificent 22-stall equestrian center and 40 acres of highland pastures and paddocks are horse heaven! Adjacent are the diverse mountain trail systems that provide an outlet for every outdoor enthusiast, with 140 acres of riding preserve and miles of beautiful nature trails for riders, hikers and bikers to explore.
YOUR HIGH COUNTRY HOME IS ONLY A SHORT HOP AWAY.
Elk River may feel like a secluded mountain retreat, but it is easily accessible by air or by car. Our well-maintained, on-site airport includes a 4,600 foot runway. Private hangars can easily accommodate personal or corporate aircraft.
The airport is a convenience that puts Elk River in a class of its own.
This covered outdoor patio will boast a full bar, grille, pizza oven and a casual sports bar atmosphere.


The human body is amazing, 'the most incredible machine on Earth' says this book, which explains exactly how it works, from the inside out. Over colourful, clearly designed pages, featuring detailed illustrations, it peels back the layers of the human body to examine the individual body systems, from the integumentary system (skin, hair and nails), through the muscular system, skeletal system, digestive system, right up to and including DNA, in a chapter What makes me who I am? Questions are asked throughout in fact, making it highly interactive and engaging, and some of them provoke the response, 'Yuk' (Is it true you can drink your own urine). With a neat reference guide to the body tucked inside the front cover, and useful glossary at the back, this book is well thought out and informative from beginning to end.
As much an atlas as a language learning book Hello World is a clever way to stimulate children's interest in the world and the many different peoples who share it and if they read it from start to finish, children will be able to say hello to people in every country in the world! Stylish and clearly designed pages illustrate the continents and outline the different countries highlighting not cities or landscape features but the people who live there and their word for hello. Under neat little flaps are pronunciation guides and facts about the language. There are some mind-boggling pieces of information, for example there are over 1,300 different languages in Australia and the isles of the Pacific, almost a fifth of the world's total among a tiny population. An unusual and very rewarding information book. Click here to download a brilliant free teaching resource linked to this book.
A world of wonder surrounds us. Let's take a closer look.
In this fast-paced world, there is great value to be had in pausing for a fresh look at your surroundings. 360 Degrees illuminates a multitude of curiosities, from the inner workings of a spacesuit to the physiology of a penguin, and from the life-cycle of lemmings to the intricacies of Chinese characters.
From the everyday to the extraordinary, our authors and illustrators have crafted interactive books to intrigue and delight.


You want a bill, not a ransom note. The Better Business Bureau says it received more than 9,300 complaints about movers in the U.S. in 2013. Common among them: a bait-and-switch scheme in which a mover quotes a price and then holds your possessions hostage unless you pay an unexpected fee, says Katherine Hutt, a spokeswoman for the BBB.
Get it in writing. Start by asking for estimates from at least three movers, and be skeptical if one company quotes a much lower rate than the others. Movers should offer to visit your home to assess the job. The cost estimate for an in-state move is usually based on the number of hours it will take. For interstate moves, the cost is likely to be calculated based on weight and distance.
"When you contact movers, you want them to seem attentive and fastidious," says Matt Wixon, president of Bookstore Movers, in Arlington, Va. A mover that doesn't seem interested in the details could be careless with your stuff, says Wixon. Be wary if the mover requires a large deposit or accepts only cash, which leaves no record of the transaction.
Check out the mover's rep. Don't rely solely on word of mouth. Go to the BBB's Web site to see whether there are complaints against the company and whether they've been resolved. Interstate movers should be licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
To search for movers registered with the Department of Transportation, go to www.protectyourmove.gov. Or use the ProMovers search page to get quotes from companies that have passed the American Moving and Storage Association's background checks and licensing and insurance requirements.
Make sure you're covered. Call your homeowners or renters insurance provider to see whether your policy covers your belongings while they're in transit. You'll likely find that your plan covers the same perils during the move as it does at home, says Jeanne Salvatore, a spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute. If your moving truck bursts into flames, your policy may reimburse you, but it won't cover your belongings if they are broken or damaged by the mover. Interstate movers must offer two kinds of supplementary liability insurance.
Released value coverage, at no extra cost, insures your belongings at a rate of 60 cents per pound. So if a mover shatters your 30-pound flat-screen TV, you'll be compensated a measly $18. Or you can buy full value insurance, which will cover repairs or replacement of damaged goods. Rates typically start at about $200 for $100,000 worth of coverage, says Linda Darr, of the American Moving and Storage Associatio n. If you discover while unpacking that something's broken or scratched, you have nine months to file a claim. The FMCSA requires interstate movers to offer arbitration to help settle disputes.
Who you gonna call? If the mover is holding your items hostage, call the FMCSA at 888-368-7238. For all other complaints, contact the National Consumer Complaint Database of the FMCSA. If you have a problem with a local or in-state move, go to www.protectyourmove.gov to find local consumer protection offices.


text:
Tall order for GOP in '16
WASHINGTON – It is the most important development so far in the 2016 presidential race, at least on the Republican side: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is evidently not a total meathead. Which he would have needed to be to have anything to do with the politically motivated lane closures of the George Washington Bridge – a dirty trick oddly and aimlessly directed at the public. According to recent reports, nine months of federal investigation into emails and text messages have produced nothing implicating Christie.
The Ford Gran Torino of GOP politics – a bit ungainly, but a V-8 under the hood – emerges with some dents. The proof Christie offers that he is not a bully is an admission that he surrounded himself with bullies. But the problem of picking the wrong people can be solved by picking better ones. And the attacks of Democrats and MSNBC commentators can now be worn as a badge of honor in the Republican primaries. While relatively moderate, Christie could appeal to conservatives who want to see a fight, which his opponents have helpfully provided.
Christie's apparent victory in the juridical primary clarifies the Republican contest without doing anything to resolve it. According to GOP money types I've surveyed, many large donors are currently frozen in the choice between Christie and Jeb Bush, who are considered the most serious competitors to Hillary Clinton. Contributors are unlikely to jump to one until the intentions of both are clear.
Talk of another Mitt Romney run is idle. He is an almost unnaturally decent man. He has been vindicated in many of his campaign criticisms of President Obama. Since his loss, he has been fluent, funny and at peace with himself. But Romney's choice as the Republican nominee in 2012 will be remembered as an act of political self-harm. How could Republicans, as the effects of massive financial panic still lingered, have chosen a specialist in leveraged buyouts as their nominee? Romney managed to depress the enthusiasm of white working- and middle-class voters in key states while also actively alienating Hispanic and Asian voters (with talk of "self-deportation"). And still, alarmingly, he was the best Republican candidate of the 2012 field.
The next GOP presidential nominee cannot be the richest and whitest person in the room, prone to Reagan-era rhetoric about tax rates and regulatory burdens. Though I oppose literacy tests for voting, I would support a requirement that Republican primary voters read the RNC's 100-page "Growth and Opportunity Project" report issued in 2013, also known as the Republican autopsy. The short version: Republicans have a class problem – a disconnect with "middle-class workers [who] have not had a meaningful raise in years." They also have a demographic problem, which requires Republicans to make a major shift in policy and attitude toward new Americans. "If we do not," declares the autopsy, "our party's appeal will continue to shrink to its core constituencies only."
The typical argument between the Republican establishment and the conservative movement is pretty much irrelevant here. An establishment candidate who reinforces the perception of an elitist, out-of-touch, ethnically homogeneous party is not the answer. Neither is a candidate of conservative purification who has little appeal beyond core constituencies. The RNC autopsy is an establishment document calling for a revolution against the image and message of an establishment party – a plea to reach beyond the base before the GOP is overwhelmed by economic, cultural and demographic change.
Christie, with serious blue-collar appeal, might address the Republican class problem – unless he is out of his class. So far, his presidential indecision has allowed him to avoid comment on topics from immigration to the Islamic State. And it is an open question how his regional vividness will play in other regions of the country. (Recall Rudy Giuliani.) Jeb Bush, who has been called an "honorary Hispanic," might address the Republican demographic problem – unless his support for comprehensive immigration reform and the Common Core educational standards provoke too much unfavorable conservative enthusiasm. And Republicans might, at some point, realize that Sen. Marco Rubio (who is doing serious policy speeches while others play Hamlet) manages to address both the class and demographic problems at once – unless it is a political problem to be confused for a very bright and earnest college student.
Predicting anything about the eventual shape of this race is premature. But this much is clear: The task of the next Republican nominee is not only to motivate his or her party but to transform its appeal.
Michael Gerson's email address is michaelgerson@washpost.com.
©2014, Washington Post Writers Group


Be the Fashionista of the bunch. The Honey Express matches its unique untamed hood with its beautiful rear end.
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Baboosha is a luxury lifestyle brand whose role is to improve the way people enjoy their leisure time at home in a fun and stylish manner. Baboosha first collection consists of Suri Alpaca Fur Slippers. Designed in Paris, France. Handmade by artisans in the Andes Mountains region of Perú. The brand makes products that make you feel good in every sense and is committed to strict sourcing standards. Baboosha slippers use only the highest quality and finest cruelty-free Alpaca fur available only in the highest altitudes of the Andes Mountain region. Baboosha brings you style, warmth, and glamour to the comfort of your own home.


A Heat Meter Is A Bank Account – Make It Work.
Meets the design criteria for high performance biomass boilers and ensures low maintenance, low ash and optimal heat output.
The Boiler will require more maintenance and manual intervention as well as using around 25% more fuel and is unlikely to generate the same RHI earnings.
Requires around twice as much wood fuel and may not achieve the same RHI earnings.
The costs below are shown as both 'input' prices – i.e. the cost of the fuel before the inefficiency of the boiler, and the output price.
Most correctly commissioned wood fuel boilers are typically 85-90% ef cient, however its vital that correct fuel is used to attain such high boiler performance. The cost of heat 'on the meter' (after the inef ciencies of the boiler) will be the cost shown below divided by the ef ciency of the boiler.
50% wet fuel at 3.13p per kWh, equivalent to £70 a tonne, with a caloric value of 2240kWhrs/t.
Based on 55% ef ciency – real price of 5.7p per kWh.
35% wet and or contaminated fuel at 3.4p per kWh, equivalent to £105 a tonne, with a calori c value of 3100kWhrs/t.
Based on 65% efficiency – real price of 5.2p per kWh.
20% of clean virgin wood chip at 3.62p per kWh, equivalent to £145 a tonne, with a caloric value of 4000kWhrs/t.
Based on 90% efficiency – real price of 4.02p per kWh.
Note: prices can vary from supplier to supplier. Quantities and nal purchase price may be effected by regional market forces. Please ask Chip Chip for a speci c quotation.


text:
While living in "Man's World" for a century following World War I tempered some of Diana's more blindly held beliefs, she still held true to her core values of kindness and compassion, and further grew into an exceptionally considerate, diplomatic, and empathetic woman. This can be seen when she silently emphasizes with Lois Lane after the death of Superman had been killed (recalling her own pain after Steve Trevor's sacrifice), smiling knowingly when Aquaman accidentally sat on the Lasso of Hestia and confessed his fears about their upcoming mission and how attractive he found her. With all of her experiences, Diana is also the most diplomatic member of the Justice League, as evidenced by her treatment of the Flash with compassion and patience, despite his tendency to somewhat annoy her and the other Justice Leaguers with his humorous attitude, and the kindness and support she showed to Cyborg while he continued to grapple with his powers.[10] Indeed, through her compassion and unbreakable spirit, Diana has given renewed hope to many of her teammates throughout the years. For example, she motivated and inspired the Wonder Men into looking past purely monetary interests, with Chief resolving to no longer be neutral in the war, Sameer finally admitting his passion for acting, and even the depressed Charlie struggling with PTSD finally beginning to sing again for the first time in years. Likewise, during the Justice League's battle against Steppenwolf's forces, Wonder Woman was able to inspire confidence in the inexperienced Flash and Cyborg, assuring them that they wouldn't need to fight the Apokoliptan invasion alone. Furthermore, she was the most understanding of Superman's confusion upon his ressurrection and remained ambivalent about fighting the newly-resurrected Superman and even implored him not to force her to, showing him compassion and persistence while attempting to get him to remember who he is (even calling him by his birth name). In addition to her general willingness for empathy, however, Diana is also extremely friendly and can step back enjoy the smaller moments in life, as seen in her utter delight in experiencing ice cream and agreement with Superman (who, up until this point she had not spoken to much) about him not missing out on the positive results of their victory over Steppenwolf.
At the time of her debut, Wonder Woman sported a red top with a golden eagle emblem, a white belt, blue star-spangled culottes, and red and golden go-go boots. She originally wore a skirt; however according to Elizabeth Martson, "It was too hard to draw and would have been over her head most of the time."[189] This outfit was entirely based on the American flag, because Wonder Woman was purely an American icon as she debuted during World War II.[194] Later in 1942, Wonder Woman's outfit received a slight change – the culottes were converted entirely into skin-tight shorts and she wore sandals.[194] While earlier most of her back was exposed, during the imposition of the Comics Code Authority in the mid-1950s, Wonder Woman's outfit was rectified to make her back substantially covered, in order to comply with the Authority's rule of minimum exposure.[194] During Mike Sekowsky's run in the late 1960s, Diana surrendered her powers and started using her own skills to fight crime. She wore a series of jumpsuits as her attire; the most popular of these was a white one.[194]
Bracelets of Submission: Like all Amazons, Wonder Woman wears two nigh-indestructible gauntlets as part of her armor. They are incredibly durable, capable of deflecting even Ares' massive bolts of lightning and Doomsday's tremendously powerful and destructive thermal attack. Due to her powers as a demigoddess, she also has the ability to create a massive wave of energy outwards when she clashes them together.
The sister of Hippolyta, general of the Amazonian army, Diana's aunt and mentor.[17] On being cast for the film, Wright said, "It's two-fold because when Patty Jenkins called me, the director, it was a three-minute long conversation. She said, 'I'm doing a movie about Wonder Woman. Do you want to be her trainer?' And I was like, 'Yes. Of course.' And the general of the Amazonian army. That was pretty cool."[25] Describing her character mentoring and training Diana to be a warrior, Wright said, "It's a sixth sense that it is coming and I think that's also in the mythological story behind Antiope and Queen Hippolyta. They know it's coming and it's her duty as the aunt to her young niece to make sure she is the fiercest warrior of all time." On the Amazons fighting style, Wright said, "It's hand combat. Yes, swords and knives and arrows, but the precision that they have, right, as these warrior women; it's so nice to see that disparity between what we had in the day of just raw fighting materials and the guns and how easy that is in comparison." The message of the film, Wright stated, "is not just female empowerment. It's about love and justice. That's what the film's about. And what a great message to spread to our little ones."[26][27] Commenting about training for the film, Wright said, "The most empowering was to get into that physical shape. So we were doing horseback riding training, weight training, martial arts, and 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day".[28]
Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility, blessed Diana with strength drawn from the Earth spirit Gaea, making her one of the physically strongest heroes in the DC Universe and the strongest female hero in the DC Universe. This strength has allowed her to easily overwhelm Superman and Supergirl. She has also held her own against Darkseid. Her strength has no measurable limits and she can break the Chronus Scepter, which is universal in its destructive power. However, now Diana is the daughter of Zeus, king of the Greek Gods, so it is unclear as to how much of her power and strength is a direct result of her divine heritage.[180] Her connection to the earth allows her to heal at an accelerated rate so long as she is in contact with the planet. However, as mentioned earlier, now that she is a demigoddess, it has been suggested that she heals extremely quickly also due to her divine heritage. In rare cases where she has been gravely injured, Diana showed the ability to physically merge with the earth, causing whatever injuries or poisons to be expelled from her body; such an act is considered sacred, and can only be used in extreme cases.[181]
Following the events of the Darkseid War, Wonder Woman is told by the dying Myrina Black that on the night of Diana's birth, Hippolyta gave birth to a twin child. This child was revealed to be male, known as Jason, and is said to be incredibly powerful. Wonder Woman makes it her mission to find him.[160] At the same time, she finds the truth behind her origin and history is now cluttered, as she remembers two versions: the pre-Flashpoint one, and the New 52 rendition. She cannot locate Themiscyra or her fellow Amazons and the Lasso of Truth does not work for her anymore.
She also had an array of mental and psychic abilities, as corresponding to Marston's interest in parapsychology and metaphysics. Such an array included ESP, astral projection, telepathy (with or without the Mental Radio), mental control over the electricity in her body, the Amazonian ability to turn brain energy into muscle power, etc.[173] Wonder Woman first became immune to electric shocks after having her spirit stripped from her atoms by Dr. Psycho's Electro Atomizer; it was also discovered that she was unable to send a mental radio message without her body.[174]
Wonder Woman is a 2017 American superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, produced by DC Entertainment in association with RatPac Entertainment and Chinese company Tencent Pictures, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is the fourth installment in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).[6] Directed by Patty Jenkins from a screenplay by Allan Heinberg and a story by Heinberg, Zack Snyder, and Jason Fuchs, Wonder Woman stars Gal Gadot in the title role, alongside Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen, and Elena Anaya. It is the second live action theatrical film featuring Wonder Woman following her debut in 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.[7] In Wonder Woman, the Amazon princess Diana sets out to stop World War I, believing the conflict was started by the longtime enemy of the Amazons, Ares, after American pilot and spy Steve Trevor crash-lands on their island Themyscira and informs her about it.
Superhuman Agility: Wonder Woman naturally possesses superhuman agility, dexterity, balance and body coordination, allowing her to jump up immense distances and come down in elaborate somersaults, to swiftly and easily take down many World War I soldiers, while dodging and weaving around their attacks, and to even dodge quite a few attacks from the equally fast Ares and Doomsday.
for a long time, people didn't know how to approach the story. When Patty and I had our creative conversations about the character, we realized that Diana can still be a normal woman, one with very high values, but still a woman. She can be sensitive. She is smart and independent and emotional. She can be confused. She can lose her confidence. She can have confidence. She is everything. She has a human heart.[7]
As the daughter of Zeus, Wonder Woman has incredible control over the supernatural divine energy of the Olympian Gods, which she usually emits through her Bracelets of Submission. When she clashes her bracelets together, she releases a large spherical blast of orange (or sometimes white-hot) energy, with it being powerful enough to accidentally injure Antiope, send the mighty gods Ares and Steppenwolf flying back, and even push back the gigantic monster Doomsday. At full power, Wonder Woman could generate these shock waves from her body, notably to destroy the restrains Ares put her in and knock down a small German battalion with a very powerful omni-directional shock wave. She was also capable of using the energy to shield herself, as the debris Ares sent flying at her disintegrated against the invisible field as she built up her attack. She could also freeze the momentum of targets in front of her, causing Ares to be forcibly suspending in the air when he tried flying into her before she blasted him away. Wonder Woman can also transmit this energy through her shield. By striking one of her bracelets with her shield, she generated an energy wave that knocked down a bridge, and Cyborg and Steppenwolf with it.
The Invisible Plane appeared in the very first comic stories, including All-Star Comics #8, where it is shown as being able to fly at over 2,000 mph (3,200 km/h) and to send out rainbow rays that penetrate the mist around Paradise Island, as well as landing stealthily and having a built-in radio. Wonder Woman is seen storing the plane at an abandoned farm near Washington, D.C., in the barn; she goes there as Lt. Prince and changes clothes in some of the earliest tales. Though never explicitly stated, the Plane is presumably stored there when not in use for the rest of the Pre-Crisis era. In a story published shortly after, it flies at 40 miles (64 km) a second.[citation needed]
In August 2010 (issue #600), J. Michael Straczynski took over the series' writing duties and introduced Wonder Woman to an alternate timeline created by the Gods in which Paradise Island had been destroyed and the Amazons scattered around the world.[42] In this timeline, Diana is an orphan raised in New York. The entire world has forgotten Wonder Woman's existence and the main story of this run was of Diana trying to restore reality even though she does not properly remember it herself. A trio of Death Goddesses called The Morrigan acted as the main enemy of Wonder Woman.[43][44] In this run, Wonder Woman wears a new costume designed by Jim Lee.[45] Straczynski determined the plot and continued writing duties until Wonder Woman #605; writer Phil Hester then continued his run, which ultimately concluded in Wonder Woman #614.[46]
The events of Crisis on Infinite Earths greatly changed and altered the history of the DC Universe. Wonder Woman's history and origin were considerably revamped by the event. Wonder Woman was now an emissary and ambassador from Themyscira (the new name for Paradise Island) to Patriarch's World, charged with the mission of bringing peace to the outside world. Various deities and concepts from Greek mythology were blended and incorporated into Wonder Woman's stories and origin. Diana was formed out of clay of the shores of Themyscira by Hippolyta, who wished for a child; the clay figure was then brought to life by the Greek deities. The Gods then blessed and granted her unique powers and abilities – beauty from Aphrodite, strength from Demeter, wisdom from Athena, speed and flight from Hermes, Eyes of the Hunter and unity with beasts from Artemis and sisterhood with fire and the ability to discern the truth from Hestia.[101] Due to the reboot, Diana's operating methods were made distinctive from Superman and Batman's with her willingness to use deadly force when she judges it necessary. In addition, her previous history and her marriage to Steve Trevor were erased. Trevor was introduced as a man much older than Diana who would later on marry Etta Candy.[102] Instead, Perez created Julia and Vanessa Kapatelis, a Greek-American scholar and her teenage daughter whom Diana would live with when she was in Man's world and would be major supporting characters in the series for years.
Her tiara's signature star symbol is now an eight pointed starburst. According to designer Lindy Hemming and director Patty Jenkins, every design decision made for Themyscira came down to the same question: "How would I want to live that's badass?"[197] "To me, they shouldn't be dressed in armor like men. It should be different. It should be authentic and real ... and appealing to women." When asked about the decision to give the Amazons heeled sandals, Jenkins explained that they also have flats for fighting, adding "It's total wish-fulfillment ... I, as a woman, want Wonder Woman to be sexy, hot as hell, fight badass, and look great at the same time ... the same way men want Superman to have ridiculously huge pecs and an impractically big body. That makes them feel like the hero they want to be. And my hero, in my head, has really long legs."[198] This corresponds to the original intent by William Moulton Marston, who wanted his character to be alluringly feminine.
In present-day Paris, Diana receives a photographic plate from Wayne Enterprises of herself and four men taken during World War I, prompting her to recall her past. The daughter of Queen Hippolyta, Diana is raised on the hidden island of Themyscira, home to the Amazonian women warriors created by Zeus to protect mankind. Hippolyta explains the Amazonian history to Diana, including how Ares became jealous of humanity and orchestrated its destruction. When the other gods attempted to stop him, Ares killed all but Zeus, who used the last of his power to wound Ares and force his retreat. Before dying, Zeus left the Amazons the island and a weapon, the "Godkiller", to prepare them for Ares's return.
The Parademons attack the Batmobile, ripping of one on the guns that it has and opening up the car before Wonder Woman and the reason the League saves Batman, Arthur jumps on the Batmobile before getting attacked by Parademons which leads Cyborg to save him and throwing him to the other Parademons. The Batmobile gets destroyed after Batman ejected from the vehicle and used his grapple, he swings across to take out the Parademons.
In May 2017, early tracking had Wonder Woman opening with $65–75 million, and possibly as high as $105 million.[177][178][179][180][174] The film opened Friday, June 2, 2017, across 4,165 theaters and made $38.7 million on its opening day, including $3.7 million in IMAX. It was the biggest single-day gross for a woman-directed film, ahead of the $35.9 million opening Friday of Catherine Hardwicke's Twilight in 2008 and the biggest opening day for a woman-led comic book superhero film, ahead of Ghost in the Shell ($7 million).[181] This included $11 million it made from Thursday previews, also the best start for a film directed by a woman, surpassing Fifty Shades of Grey's $8.6 million which was directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, and the third-biggest of the year, behind Beauty and the Beast and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Of that, $1.5 million came from IMAX screenings.[182][183]
As you know, I'm a total Wonder Woman newbie – my reading limited to G. Willow Wilson's run and then (following your recommendations 🙂 ) I've begun sampling George Perez and just a hint of Greg Rucka. But what intrigues me most when I read your posts on these issues is this Jason cat doesn't appear anywhere in G. Willow Wilson's run. At least not yet. So I will be super interested for you to get to the end of this run so I know if she, like you, just didn't like him and chose to write him out OR if there was some narrative twist that explains his absence.