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Review: The Taming of the Shrew
By Daisy on	 February 12, 2018 Current reviews WOICT Blog
In Shakespeare's day, female roles were played by male actors. Recent times have seen many directors exploring the gender roles by giving female actors iconic male roles such Hamlet and Romeo. And now for the first time on a South African stage an all-female version of a Shakespeare play is being presented.
Both the cast and crew of the comedy The Taming the Shrew – currently running at the Maynardville open-air theatre – are female. With the #MeToo and equal rights movements getting much coverage over the past year, this is the ideal theatrical experience to highlight the serious gender issues currently faced by society.
The play tells the story of Baptista Minola (played by Lynita Crofford) who tries to find potential husbands for his two daughters Kate and Bianca, played respectively by Alicia McCormick and Buhle Ngaba. All good and well, but Kate is considered a shrew, a wild daughter who can't be tamed, and before Baptista will allow anybody to marry the much sought-after Bianca, Kate must first find a husband.
The Taming of the Shrew is a powerful battle of the sexes; it delves deep into gender issues with an ambiguity to its reading that has often proven controversial. Whether Shakespeare meant it as a satire or not we will never know for sure, but in 2018 it certainly makes sense to interpret this dark comedy as a critique on gender roles in society.
At just 31 years old Tara Notcutt is a celebrated director and the youngest person to direct a play at Maynardville. In its 62-year history Notcutt is only the fifth woman to direct a play at Maynardville. The message this sends chimes perfectly with that of the production itself: any spaces in society historically meant to be occupied by men, are now rightfully occupied by women.
The style of the show is very informal with off-beat, wacky and out-there elements, words one seldom uses to describe a Shakespeare production. This contemporary style smacks you in the face from the get-go and whilst modernisation has been part of many productions it certainly won't be aesthetically pleasing to all audience members. With references from Eminem to the Macarena, this version may shock anyone expecting a certain "decorum".
Is it functional though? Absolutely. It makes Shakespeare more accessible, and modern songs and dance moves certainly create an atmosphere that is not normally expected of a Shakespeare performance. Having said that, it did feel contrived at times and might benefit from being toned down a notch.
The bare stage with only a cupboard to indicate scene changes, worked marvellously. There was a sense of a magician's box, with décor being whipped up inside and magically appearing at the appropriate time. Besides some technical problems with the actors' microphones towards the end, the production was technically strong.
If you have been to previous Shakespeare plays at Maynardville, you won't want to miss this one. Seldom before has it felt more apt and relevant to stage a specific production.
Joshua Carstens
Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew is on at Maynardville Open-Air Theatre until 3 March 2018.
Review: Aunty Merle The Musical
Review: Shootopia
Review: SA International Ballet Competition
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Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood Review
On November 18, 2016 November 18, 2016 By Girish KumarIn Book Reviews
This is the four hundredth year of Shakespeare, and his plays are enjoyed, and loved, and relevant today, as they were in his time. The Hogarth Press was started by Virginia and her husband Leonard Woolf back in the early 20th Century. Virginia Woolf was a lover of Shakespeare, and that was reflected in her writings. Their goal was to publish new writing by new, up-and-coming writers. The Hogarth Press, famously, denied publishing James Joyce's Ulysses.
In 2012, Hogarth was started with the same mission, and recently they started The Hogarth Shakespeare Project where prominent authors would take up their favourite Shakespeare Plays and would re-tell it in a contemporary setting.
This is the latest to be released, with more on the way. Margaret Atwood is an amazing writer, though, I'm a bigger fan of her poetry than her fiction. She has taken up The Tempest, and has set it in a prison.
As we know, The Tempest is a play about revenge, and is a bit fantastical. It follows Prospero as he brings on a tempest that shipwrecks Antonio, his brother, and his companions. He, along with Alonzo, the King of Naples, had tricked him out of his Dukedom, and now he seeks his revenge. He is aided by Caliban, a deformed child of the witch Sycorax, and Ariel, a spirit that he has trapped and now reluctantly assists him in his nefarious deeds. Meanwhile, Miranda, Prospero's daughter, falls in love with Ferdinand,
In Hag-Seed, we meet artistic director Felix, who was fired from his position as he was directing a radical interpretation of The Tempest. Now, twelve years later, he is working at a Correctional Facility where he is teaching Shakespeare to the inmates. Here, he decides to put on a play based on The Tempest, because he learns that his former boss, and the person who was responsible for firing him, is coming to visit the Correctional Facility.
So, therein he finds the opportunity to enact his revenge, and what a novel way he takes it. This book works on two levels, putting on The Tempest as a play, and thereby taking his revenge, but also how pieces of The Tempest and the revenges are leaking into his life and re-fuelling his revenge.
The book is beautifully written, the characters work as themselves, separate from their Tempest counterparts, as well as re-interpretations of characters of The Tempest. I don't think I've read a re-telling quite like this before where the play is constantly referenced and is used a means of enacting the play in Felix's life, and as a means of revenge.
The Tempest is one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, and Margaret Atwood is the perfect author to re-tell it, and what a success it was. I absolutely loved the book, the language, the pacing, and the Shakespeare lessons one gets from it.
If you love Shakespeare, or you just love a good read, Margaret Atwood's Hag-Seed is the book for you!
Hyperion/The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Quantum Weirdness

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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CNN, MSNBC, NBC News: Obama to be next president
Joe Pelletier
Thoughts from news editor Matt Ciepielowski:
Glad to see McCain get crushed tonight. Maybe the GOP will finally open its eyes and return to fiscal conservatism and small government. If it continues running only big government or bible-thumping candidates, the party has no future, and I have to believe there are plenty of party officials that realize that.
Thoughts from sports editor Andrew McDermott:
I am glad to see that the nation has made up its mind in such strong fashion. It's great to see a record number of people taking action. However, I am against the way America leaned. I have been pro-McCain since McCain won the Republican primaries, and I am disappointed to see so many people feel otherwise. While record numbers of people have registered to vote and actually voted today, there is still a major problem. Many people voted without being educated voters. Maybe the results would have been different if more people had researched prior to voting. While Obama crushed McCain in the electoral college votes (333-146 as of 11:34 p.m.), he only won the popular vote by 2.5 million (41.5 million to 39 million). This raises the question, is it time to move past the electoral college voting system?
Good luck to President Obama. To my fellow Republicans, there's always the next election…
CNN, MSNBC, and NBC News have now declared that Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States after projecting his victory in California, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii.
Well, the party was wrapped up in Alumni Hall, as facilities needed to clean up and prepare for an event tomorrow.
But the show indeed goes on, as MSNBC predicted McCain to win Oklahoma. McCain is also projected to win Texas.
More than half of the national precincts are now reporting, with Obama winning 51 percent to McCain's 48 percent national.
Third parties have not had success this year. In Georgia, Libertarian Bob Barr has only 1 percent of his home state votes. Unwilling independent Ron Paul is coming in third in Louisiana with just under 7,000 votes.
Latest out of Massachusetts: The decriminalization of marijuana was passed, making possession of less than an ounce of marijuana punishable by only a fine of $100.
The Democratic party now has control of the Senate, with more than 50 of the 100 seats. To gain the filibuster block, they will need six more seats.
On the local front, Connecticut is currently 61 percent for Barack Obama with 48 percent of the vote reported.
The referendum question of a Constitutional Convention for Connecticut looks like it will fail with 60 percent of the vote going against it.
The other referendum question, to allow anyone who will be 18 at the time of the general election to vote in the primary, is currently on pace to pass with 64.5 percent of the vote.
Thoughts from managing editor Joe Pelletier:
It has been a long day. And a long night, for that matter. And as of the latest numbers, it seems that Barack Obama is going to be the next president. I may not be a Wolf Blitzer or Karl Rove, but I do know how to listen–and of late, all the voices are pushing Obama. The students, the political analysts–even some Republicans are conceding that it appears to be going Obama's way.
But anything can happen. Let's enjoy the ride.
In the pinnacle moment of the Alumni Hall event, the winner was…Blanka Balazs. We're speaking, of course, of the Guitar Hero raffle that occurred at 10:15 in Alumni Hall.
In the meanwhile, Obama has hit the 200 mark in projected electoral votes, while McCain is hovering around 95.
In the latest numbers, Obama has a slight lead in Arizona, McCain's home state.
Roberto Passaro, founder of Young Americans for Liberty's Quinnipiac chapter, stopped by the Alumni Hall Election Party, and gave his thoughts on the candidates:
"Barack Obama equals four more years of Bush. I disagree with him on healthcare, the education, and the economy. I actually agree with him on the War in Iraq though.
"I don't like John McCain's stance on Iraq. I don't believe that he will follow through with his economic promises. I don't like how he says he will eliminate porkbarrel spending even though he was guilty of it himself in Congress."
Obama projected to win New Mexico; applause from the Alumni Hall crowd.
McCain projected to win Louisiana; scattered boos fill the air.
A resounding round of applause for Obama in Alumni Hall as the Democrat is projected to win Ohio, giving him an additional 20 key electoral votes.
Meanwhile, McCain has a slight edge in Texas (34 electoral votes) as votes continue to trickle in.
As expected by many political analysts, Barack Obama's projected lead has grown larger and larger. CNN gives Obama 174 electoral votes to John McCain's 64.
Obama appears to have taken New Hampshire, a key state in many prior presidential elections.
The Chronicle set up shop at the Election Party in Alumni Hall, and received some thoughts from Mark Bouchard, president of the QU Democrats.
"We thought (this event) was a very good way to finish and capitalize on a very exciting political season, a season that has seen so much college involvement," he said. "We figured one last celebration–it's a great way to mark the end of the season, and hopefully celebrate a victory.
"I'm a junior, so over the years i've seen more and more politically interested students. There's more and more classes involved with politics, and there's a lot of signs that we are becoming more and more political. Also, I've seen the Democrats grow over the years and become more involved–they've become members outside of the meetings."
As for the turnout tonight, Bouchard knew that many students had homework and classes to deal with, but hoped they could take a break to see history happen.
"We're hoping for a decent turnout. I know a lot of people have been bogged down with work, but hopefully we can get some people to show up and learn something. One minute into the event, we're seeing a great turnout."
Q&A with QU sophomore Alex Birsh:
Q: So Alex, if you could sum up the past few months of politics in America in one word, what wouid it be:
A: Enigmatic. You just don't know who stands for what sometimes. You don't know the facts–when you see all these fact-checkers, it makes you really nervous. It makes you question the validity of anything the candidates say. I laughed so hard when I saw the fact-checker after the debate. Not only that, we're in such a different age today than a few months, it almost turned the election on its ear. Right now, the one thing that people are voting for the fact that the future will be different. They're voting for change.
Q: How has Quinnipiac seemed politically, to you, over the past few days?
A: Frankly, it hasn't been that much different. We get knocked as an apathetic campus, and to me it isn't inaccurate. You don't see any demonstrations or anything on campus. You see it on Facebook, and you could say that a semi-okay swap to the Internet in political interest. It's tricky.
Words from campus news editor Matt Ciepielowski on the election:
Over the course of this campaign season, we've seen both candidates go more and more negative. I view this as an acknowledgement that neither candidate sees eye to eye with the average American enough to actually appeal to a large portion on the electorate.
The McCain campaign hasn't been so much a pro-McCain campaign as it has been an anti-Obama campaign, and the same goes for Obama's campaign.
The projected votes now give Barack Obama 103 electoral votes to John McCain's 34. McCain is the projected winner of South Carolina, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
Obama, however, is expected to take most of the Northeast region, as he is expected to take the District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, among others.
The latest numbers from CNN project that Democratic candidate Barack Obama will win Vermont, which carries three electoral votes. John McCain is projected to win the eight electoral votes of Kentucky.
On the Quinnipiac front, an Election Night Party will be held in Alumni Hall at 9 p.m. This event is sponsored by the QU Democrats.
Quinnipiac Athletics introduces 'Bobcat Rewards' to incentivize attending sporting events
Making the season bright
QU medical school allows people to donate bodies after death
Quinnipiac installs energy-efficient LEDs at M&T Bank Arena
Quinnipiac women's soccer set to play Penn State in opening round of NCAA Tournament
Why Fetterman is the better man
Bobcats' Cooke, Scott dominate in 5-1 win over Manhattan
PHOTOS: Quinnipiac celebrates Rec Center progress, Hartford HealthCare partnership


+ATK: Caineghis has a variety of tools available to him that can drastically increase his damage output, so taking a +ATK Asset will only increase this further.
+RES: 30 base Resistance is solid, but increasing this further with a +RES Asset will make Caineghis a much better mixed tank. This is particularly strong if utilizing him as a superunit in Aether Raids.
+DEF: Increasing Caineghis's base 37 Defense will make him an even stronger physical tank.
-SPD: 23 base Speed is pretty unimpressive, and Caineghis can safely take a flaw here without hampering his performance much.
It's worth noting that Caineghis's weapon does give him +4 Speed on Enemy Phase, so it may be worth considering keeping his Speed neutral if possible so that he can avoid getting doubled by slower units (especially with team support). However, this can also be accomplished with a single merge, so an unmerged -SPD Caineghis is still very strong.
-HP: A -HP Flaw impacts Caineghis the least since he can get boosts to all other stats from his weapon.
Any of these Assets will be fantastic for Caineghis, as they are each optimal in different scenarios. +ATK and +DEF emphasize Caineghis's strengths, while +RES is extremely useful if using him as a superunit tank in Aether Raids due to the high prevalence of magic damage on defense teams. -HP is slightly better than -SPD since Caineghis gets +4 Speed from his weapon (and can get more Speed from team support), but ultimately either one will work just fine.
Since this weapon grants Caineghis +4 to all stats when initiated on, he is best suited toward an Enemy Phase-oriented build.
This is further emphasized by the fact that he gains Distant Counter while transformed.
While remarkably powerful, this places a very heavy emphasis on maintaining Caineghis's transformation as he loses Distant Counter while not transformed.
Caineghis's Special is highly dependent on the game mode and his B skill. If he has access to Special Fighter, then a 2 charge Special like Moonbow will be fantastic to let him to easily activate it while counterattacking. Alternatively, Noontime will greatly increase his survivability for Aether Raids.
Ignis and Aether are both higher damage options - Ignis will do incredibly high damage thanks to Caineghis's strong Defense stat, while Aether will simultaneously grant him more sustain and damage output (though a bit risker in terms of sustain compared to Noontime since he'll often heal less if activating Aether on his second counterattack).
These are generally better choices than Moonbow or Noontime if using Caineghis's base Vengeful Fighter due to being more efficient with his Special charge generation.
While Distant Def 4 is a formidable skill (particularly in Aether Raids), Caineghis is currently capable of neutralizing his biggest weakness to armor effective weapons with Svalinn Shield. This is arguably more useful than Distant Def because at the time of writing, beast effective weapons do not exist; this means that as a colorless unit, Caineghis has almost no weaknesses (aside from Raven tomes, which are a comparatively weaker threat than armor effective weapons).
Neutralizing his armor weakness also makes him highly effective in the upper tiers of Arena and Arena Assault, where armor effective weapons are very common. However, this does have a major downside in that Svalinn Shield a poor choice for scoring purposes.
Distant Def 4 is otherwise a fantastic choice for Caineghis as it makes him nearly invulnerable to ranged threats (including Blade tome mages, who would otherwise be a big threat, thanks to the buff neutralization).
Special Fighter is a significant improvement over Vengeful Fighter for Caineghis as it improves both his tankiness as well as his damage output simultaneously thanks to accelerating his Special charge generation as well as lowering enemy Special charge generation. This is vital because it allows him to repeatedly activate low cooldown Specials like Moonbow or Noontime while also preventing him from getting hit hard by enemies charging their Specials.
If Special Fighter is unavailable, then Caineghis's base Vengeful Fighter is acceptable. It limits his choices for his Special, but it is still worth using since it's strictly better than Quick Riposte.
Distant Guard is a great C skill, but it can easily be replaced to suit the team. Note that Armor March is generally important to have for armor units like Caineghis, but it's less important for him specifically when utilizing a purely Enemy Phase-oriented build since he doesn't really need high mobility. This is also convenient since pairing Caineghis with human armor units with Armor March will prevent him from transforming.
If using Special Fighter, then the Quick Riposte Seal is a must to ensure that Caineghis can double as otherwise his Speed is too low to consistently double.
If using Vengeful Fighter, then Caineghis can use a wide variety of Sacred Seals; Distant Def or Close Def are both good options to increase his overall tankiness, but there are many more options that will work.
Since mixed phase setups have a heavy emphasis on damage output, a +ATK Asset is ideal for Caineghis. -HP is preferable over -SPD because there may be cases where he needs those few points of Speed to break through slow units that would otherwise prevent him from doubling with skills like Wary Fighter.
Thanks to the increased Special charge gain from Bold Fighter, Caineghis is capable of activating a 3 cooldown Special like Bonfire on either phase (assuming he gets doubled on Enemy Phase, which is likely considering his low Speed). Bonfire is deal to take advantage of his strong Defense.
Fort Def/Res is generally a strong pick since it works on both phases, but it slightly lowers his overall damage output and doesn't provide much utility.
Death Blow 4 grants a massive damage boost on Player Phase, but also provides no utility in addition to being ineffective on Enemy Phase.
Steady Stance 4 makes Caineghis extremely tanky on Enemy Phase, but doesn't help him on Player Phase.
Distant Def 4 makes Caineghis nearly invulnerable to ranged threats on Enemy Phase, but doesn't help him on Player Phase nor against melee threats.
Fierce/Steady/Warding Breath all work well for boosting Caineghis's Enemy Phase potential, particularly when combined with a higher cooldown Special (like Aether) and team support.
Outside of premium skills, Fury (3 or 4) is always a strong option for a skill that works in all scenarios, though it carries its own downside of recoil damage after combat.
Bold Fighter is the key component to Caineghis being a threat on Player Phase, as otherwise his poor Speed makes him a very poor combatant there. It doesn't synergize particularly well with his weapon since Lion King Fang is heavily Enemy Phase-oriented, but Bold Fighter and Caineghis's stats alone are enough to make him a significant powerhouse on Player Phase.
Armor March is very important to have for a mixed phase setup, as otherwise the 1 tile movement of armors can severely hamper their ability to engage enemies on Player Phase. This can be particularly problematic for Caineghis because he will lose his ability to transform if he starts adjacent to a human ally; this means that an ideal team setup for Caineghis will have at least one armored dragon or beast ally, which will severely limit team-building considerations.
If an ally unit has Armor March or opting to go without it, then Caineghis can use pretty much any C skill based on what the team needs.
The Quick Riposte Seal is essential to ensure that Caineghis can double on Enemy Phase.
As the first armored beast hero, Caineghis definitely does not disappoint. With a strong, min-maxed statline and kit, Caineghis really doesn't need a whole lot of investment to shine (though he can be greatly improved by doing so). His status as a colorless hero as well as the lack of beast effective weapons at the time of his release means that he can use Svalinn Shield as his A skill and effectively neutralize his only major weakness - and he doesn't even need to make a massive sacrifice in order to do so thanks to his weapon having Distant Counter while he is transformed.
Caineghis isn't without fault, however. His status as an armored unit means that he probably wants Armor March support, but he is severely limited in teammates that can properly help provide this support as any human ally will prevent him from transforming (which will significantly reduce his effectiveness). Furthermore, his weapon is almost entirely Enemy Phase-oriented; this means that while he's certainly capable of a mixed phase setup, he's far better suited to focusing entirely on Enemy Phase.
Ultimately, Caineghis is a powerhouse unit that is easily one of the best tanks in the game thanks to the lack of beast effective weapons at the time of his release, making him very well suited for all content.
In addition to providing a huge amount of stats to Caineghis on Enemy Phase, Lion King Fang also grants him Distant Counter while transformed, granting him access to a wide assortment of A skills that greatly enhance his prowess.
Being both an armored unit and a beast unit means that Caineghis gets to enjoy the benefits of both, namely access to the powerful Fighter skills of armors as well as the fantastic transformation bonuses of beasts (particularly significant because this transformation grants him Distant Counter).
The current lack of beast effective weapons means that Caineghis can run Svalinn Shield and neutralize all effective damage against him, negating arguably one of the biggest weaknesses of most armors.
Unsurprisingly, Caineghis's status as an armor unit means that he has very high BST, which means that he has very high stats across the board. His Speed is unimpressive, but this can easily be worked around thanks to his access to unique armor skills.
Caineghis's status as an armor unit means that he shares their poor mobility. Typically this can be fixed with Armor March, but even this is additionally complicated by Caineghis's reliance on transforming for his full potential. This means that in order to mitigate his mobility weakness, Caineghis will need a very specific ally (armored dragon or beast) on his team to activate Armor March, which severely limits team-building considerations.
It's worth noting that because Caineghis is a beast unit, he can work well outside of armor teams by having beast/dragon allies instead. This has the benefit of making it easy for him to access mobility support in the form of Guidance thanks to the flying beast/dragon units.
While currently Caineghis can entirely prevent effective damage with just Svalinn Shield, this is subject the change the moment beast effective weapons arrive. This is a very important consideration if deciding whether to summon for Caineghis, as his current level of power is unlikely to remain indefinitely.
Lion King FangGrants Atk+3 . If foe initiates combat, grants Atk/Spd/Def/Res+4 during combat. At start of turn, if unit is adjacent to only beast or dragon allies or if unit is not adjacent to any ally unit, unit transforms (otherwise, unit reverts). If unit transforms grants Atk+2, and unit can counterattack regardless of foe's range.
BonfireBoosts damage dealt by 50% of unit's Def.
Distant Def 1If unit is attacked by foe using bow, daggers, magic, or staff, unit receives Def/Res+2 during combat.
Distant Def 2If unit is attacked by foe using bow, daggers, magic, or staff, unit receives Def/Res+4 during combat.
Distant Def 3If unit is attacked by foe using bow, daggers, magic, or staff, unit receives Def/Res+6 during combat.
Distant Def 4If foe initiates combat and uses bow, dagger, magic, or staff, grants Def/Res+8 and neutralizes foe's bonuses (from skills like Fortify, Rally, Etc.) during combat.
Distant Guard 1Allies within 2 spaces gain: "If foe uses bow, dagger, magic, or staff, grants Def/Res+2 during combat."
Distant Guard 2Allies within 2 spaces gain: "If foe uses bow, dagger, magic, or staff, grants Def/Res+3 during combat."
Distant Guard 3Allies within 2 spaces gain: "If foe uses bow, dagger, magic, or staff, grants Def/Res+4 during combat."


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Home ► News ► This Is Nonsense, Says the Watchman: Transgender Figure Skater's Performance in the European Championship Is an Embarrassment to God's Creation
This Is Nonsense, Says the Watchman: Transgender Figure Skater's Performance in the European Championship Is an Embarrassment to God's Creation
Genesis 1:27 says God made them "male and female." No matter how hard some people try, they can't wish away this fundamental physical reality—and that's a good thing.
HNewsWire:
A 59-year-old male Finnish farmer, Markku-Pekka Antikainen, took up figure skating at age 50, declared himself trans, and has now performed under the female name "Minna-Maaria" at the opening ceremony of the European Figure Skating Championship. Finland was proud to announce that they would be including the world's "first transgender figure skater" at the proceedings, only to discover Markku could not skate.
Previous warnings that the transgender "athlete" may not be qualified for the event were present, but strangely, ignored. Markku has competed before with similar results. However, he received higher marks from judges for his routines anyway, likely due to his transgender status. Take a look at this routine, in which Markku dresses up as a Gisha, stumbles about and yet still gets a 2nd place score
This Is a Transgender Man Pretended To Be a Woman
Similar to the way in which children competitors are sometimes given special treatment because judges are afraid to hurt their feelings, the culture of participation trophies and special allowances for transgender participants is slowly erasing competitive environments and turning athletics into a joke.
The debate over male athletes competing in female sports while claiming to be women is often more about the inherent genetic differences between the sexes and the clear advantages men have. In this case, the debate is about transgender participants being given chances they don't deserve simply because they say they are trans.
At bottom, the greater conflict is over what constitutes reality. Though Markku is a non-athlete given license to pretend he belongs in an arena with champions, other men with biological advantages are given license to pretend they are women while destroying women's sports and dominating in every field.
One ultimately has to wonder if any of this is about social "dignity" or so-called equity? Perhaps it is actually meant to be nothing more than a mockery of human excellence and truth; an attempt to tear down all notions of merit while forcing the public to act as if they believe men can be women or that the mediocre can be extraordinary? Perhaps all of this is an exercise in forcing the populace to see something that is not really there and to participate in the big lie?
Watchman believes that if we do not teach our children about gender and sexuality, our unbiblical culture will. Disobedient culture-makers are persuasive, powerful, and eager to indoctrinate our youngsters. Fathers and mothers must recommit to teaching their children the scriptural worldview so that they do not adopt the cultural one.
We must provide compassion and urge for repentance. We must reach out to people who have been cursed by Adam's Fall in the same way that we have. We may have a visceral reaction to sin and its consequences, but this reaction must never silence our impulse to provide mercy to the lost. Transgender people will become more common in our neighborhoods and communities. We have a choice: sinfully avoid them, or reach out to them in love and conviction and evangelize them (see Matthew 9:10–13).
Conversion for transgender people will not be sleek and tidy. It will be a shambles. It will entail admitting that sin has corrupted us in every fiber of our existence (Isaiah 64:6). But the gospel is more powerful than sin. Christ's death cleanses us, and Christ's resurrection provides us new life. The Resurrection both elevated Christ's spirit and regenerated His body.
Pastors should speak about how the Resurrection affects everyone, including transgender persons. Faith has far-reaching repercussions for our bodies. Repentance for transgender people will entail embracing their God-given gender and abandoning whatever wicked identity they have chosen. 6
Many of us have been enchanted by the talking animals of Walt Disney (Groomers) films and cultural culture. However, a Disneyfied concept of narcissistic self-determination has not served us well. The culture has presented us with a false gospel, one that approves of everything we do and allows us to pursue whatever we choose.
The biblical gospel is substantially superior. It explains our humanity. It restores our honor. It calls us to be men and women who see our bodies as a gift, a vessel through which we might glorify our Creator and Redeemer. This may appear to be too good to be true, but the church exists to emphasize one point: this is not a fairy tale.
Transgender Definition: Someone That Is Completely Void of God's Plan in Their Life, Another Explanation, Monkeypox "Transgender Evil"
By StevieRay Hansen
WHAT THE BIBLE SPECIFICALLY SAYS ABOUT TRANSGENDER BEHAVIOR—THAT IT IS AN "ABOMINATION." Transgenderism's embrace by popular culture presents Christians with difficult choices. Among those is the issue of personal pronouns: words such as he, him, his, or she, her, and hers. In some situations, those who wish to identify as the opposite of their biological sex prefer to be spoken of using…
Sources: ZeroHedge HNewsWire HNewsWire
Will Putin Fulfill Biblical Prophecy and Attack Israel?
Watchman: Daily Devotional, And He Said, I Will Hide My Face From Them, I Will See What Their End Shall Be: For They Are a Very Froward Generation, Children in Whom Is No Faith
Watchman See Big Trouble: Another Fire Destroys Commercial Egg Farm Belonging to Top USA Supplier, Dozens of Food Processing Plants Were Destroyed And/or Damaged Last Year– Evil Elitist and There Plandemic Fires!
Watchman Warning: Denying God's Truth When Claiming to Be a Christian Can Be a Deadly Mistake
Why Jesus' Sacrifice on the Cross Matters!
By James
Watchman Warning: Daily Devotional, Denying God's Truth When Claiming to Be a Christian Can Be a Deadly Mistake
Mandatory Kill Shot Vaccines Are on Their Way, Says the Watchman. Do You Intend to Accept or Refuse the Kill Shot COVID-19 Vaccine When It Becomes Available, as 39% of Those Polled Say? If You Refuse the Kill Shot, You Will Be Breaking the Law,Tribulation In play
This New Global Economic System Is What the Politicians Mean by "Build Back Broker." It Is the Essence of the World Economic Forum's Great Reset — In Other Words "Yoked"
Evil Elites Double-Talk: UN Wants A Global
Update: Being Biblically Bankrupt Does Not Preclude the Elitist, as Well as the So-Called Dr.Birx and Dr. Little Big Mouth Fauci From the People's Relentless "Fury" They Murdered Innocent Believers,Intentional
Watchman: The Plandemic: The UN Has Positioned Itself At The Forefront Of The NWO's Most Serious Global Issue, NWO (90%) Complete, Enjoy 4 More Yrs Of Hell On Earth People
The post This Is Nonsense, Says the Watchman: Transgender Figure Skater's Performance in the European Championship Is an Embarrassment to God's Creation appeared first on www.HNewsWire.com.
Author: StevieRay Hansen
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I take a taxi to Armenian Street in Penang, Malaysia. I have been on this beautiful island for almost two weeks now, and for the first time I have at least three hours without any appointments. I have heard about Armenian Street and the close neighbourhood. It is a quarter of the city well worth visiting for any peace loving person. I regard myself as a peace loving person and I look forward to the visit. The driver lets me out around a corner and points out a beautiful Buddhist Temple. I head into the overwhelming and very humid heat and immediately smell the strong smoke coming from the Temple.
Colourful dragonheads with wide, open mouths spit out dark smoke, it comes in waves and makes the humid heat almost intolerable. But I find it fascinating. Especially when an employee of the Temple comes out and tends to the fire in a very relaxed, business like way. This is every day for him, first time for me.
I walk down the street, and maybe 50 metres from the Buddhist Temple I walk straight in to a Hindu Temple. Here the smoke is coming from huge sticks being carried by people and then placed in big holders so that the smoke from one stick joins the smoke from the others and makes life really difficult if the wind is not going away from you.
I sneak inside and make my camera work discretely without flash, I am not sure that I should be on the inside at all.
People are far too busy with their own activities to notice just another tourist. So I get a unique (at least for me!) glimpse into the inside of a Hindu reality on a Monday morning.
I turn around the corner and walk onto a beautiful, white Mosque with a high minaret. Even on a Monday morning the Mosque is quite busy, people coming and going.
A sign outside tells me the history of the Mosque, how it was built in the 18th century to serve Muslim soldiers in the British army. It also tells how the Mosque quickly became too small and needed to be extended. I have visited many Mosques in my time, and spoken with imams in Albania, in Kosovo, in Turkey. It was always interesting; it was good to talk with colleagues from another faith. In Skodra, Albania, I met with both the Imam, a Catholic priest and an Orthodox priest at the same time, and they shared with me how they had kept in close contact over many years under communist rule. They helped one another, supported one another, they were friends and colleagues.
The sun was merciless in Penang, shining over sinners and saints, making the streets like bake ovens. From the Mosque I turned around the next corner and went in to the beautiful Anglican Church of St. George. The Church was not busy at all on a Monday morning, but a lady was working there, and she received me with Malaysian hospitality and asked where I came from. I told her I came from a small country up north, which is refrigerated all year. As much as I enjoyed the beauty of the church, I enjoyed the fans above even more.
The Anglican Church was without smoke and sound, but helped me to cool down a bit. So much that my brain slowly started to work again and produced a couple of modest observations.
These Temples and the Mosque and the Church were all built around 200 years ago in Penang, Malaysia, and they were built in the same quarter of the city, less than a block away from one another. From the Church I saw the smoke from the Hindu Temple. For more than two hundred years there had been no clashes of cultures. There had been peaceful coexistence, living together, being neighbours.
In my next post I shall introduce Max Erdinger to you. Max is a Christian from Kansas, USA, in fact a Mennonite, who stayed in Viet Nam from 1971-76 without being a soldier. Since then he has lived in different countries of Asia. He is running a School of Peace. One of his students is a young Muslim lady from Thailand. You will meet her next week.
Interesting Blog. Say Hi to Max. I had met and interacted with him Bangkok sometime in 1983 when I was part of a leadership orientation program of the WSCF Asia Pacific.


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Lethality Assessment Program
Purpose, Vision & Values
Staff and Trainers
About LAP
How LAP Works
Celebrating the Legacy
Statistics & Research
Other Allied Professionals
Domestic Violence Programs
Home › Uncategorized › LAP TED Talk!
LAP TED Talk!
Posted on October 19, 2018 by jstaskal
Retired police officer, Dave Sargent, discusses community responsibility as an answer to the pervasive problem of domestic violence. After graduating from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, Dave Sargent served more than 21 years with the Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, D.C., from 1970 to 1991. Since 1992 he has coordinated, taught, and presented domestic violence-related sessions for law enforcement officers and other community partners in more than 32 states and the District of Columbia. Working with the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, in 2003 he began, led the development of, coordinated, and trained on the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) which has reached 36 states nationwide. He is now retired and serves in a volunteer capacity with the LAP.
‹ Lethality Assessment Program Releases Guidance on the Use of Body-Worn Cameras
Lethality Assessment Program Releases Guidance on the Use of Body-Worn Cameras
© Lethality Assessment Program, a project of MNADV
This project was supported by Grant No. 2011-TA-AX-K111 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.
© 2020 Lethality Assessment Program


You are called to become holy. But what is "holiness" and how do you obtain it? The path to holiness centers on the virtues of humility and trust. By embracing those virtues you will begin to see God transform your life in such a way that you begin to live the very sacrificial love of Christ. Furthermore, living a life of sacrificial love requires you to become a beacon of mercy in this world. Unfortunately, we live in a world that is in many ways void of mercy. It is a world in which harshness and judgment are the norm. However, one of the primary reasons so many people lack mercy in our day and age is because they lack humility and trust. We also live in a world filled with suffering. But sadly, suffering is rarely understood as an opportunity to achieve the highest level of holiness. Suffering is rarely transformed into sacrificial living. Instead, it is often experienced only as a burden to be avoided.
The goal of this book is to offer you an invitation to look more deeply at the path to holiness and to discover the way in which you can travel it in your own life. This invitation is not simply given to help you grasp the theology of holiness; rather, it is an invitation to live it.


Make your summer vacation last all year long by creating my "Up North" scene, using simple piecing, quilting as you go, and raw-edge fusible web appliqué.
With 4 scenes in one pattern, you'll have the option to make four different wall hangings. Make the scene as shown here, OR you may make one of the top smaller scenes; "Deer Island", "Lakeside Retreat", or "Chick & Dee".
All patterns include clear, step by step directions, "how to" pages, quilting suggestions, and full sized, ready to trace or copy appliqué patterns!
Finished size of quilt as shown is 50"w x 43"h.


Periodontal or gum disease is a fairly widespread health problem affecting the gums and bone supporting the teeth. The bacteria which cause the disease, make the bone dissolve over a period of time, resulting in loose teeth and eventually loss of teeth. Gum disease can also increase the risk of other health problems like heart disease, stroke, and respiratory disease. At DrHomeDoctorsPerth send our Doctor's medical report to have an easier assessment when you want to treat your medical problems.
Before the laser treatment begins, the dentist will identify the gum area which has been infected with bacteria. Then the high energy laser beam will be used to remove the diseased gum tissue and bacteria, trim the damaged bone. The laser can also be used to remove the plaque which has built up and also any other infection in the gum area. The debris is cleaned after the diseased tissue is removed, the gum area sealed to prevent further infection. Over a period of time, since there is no further infection, the bone and gum tissue will regenerate itself naturally to support the teeth.


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Vertical masts
By Euan Youdale10 September 2019
AI looks into the latest trends in the expanding vertical mast lift sector.
The use of vertical masts is becoming more commonplace, partly thanks to:
a growth in the types of applications that suit it most, for example in industrial and warehouse settings.
new products to fit this wider range of needs.
greater flexiblity compared to other product types
growth potential in North America
Manitou launched its 90 V'Air back in 2014, specially developed for the aircraft industry. At the end of 2018 and beginning of 2019, the company launched phase 2, with the 100 VJRs and 80 VJRs for more general use. Upgrades were also made, including adding fork pockets to aid transport.
The 8m and 10m working height models are essentially the same, equipped with a jib to offer the operator outreach of more than 3m. The third 9m working height model, for the aircraft industry, has a design that allows the sides of the basket to be lowered, providing the operator easy access to plane components. All have non-marking tyres and very low ground clearance and turret rotation.
Manitou updates
Samuel Viaud, Manitou product manager AWP, Manitou, says, "Historically, the vertical mast lift was launched in France. France is the largest market for vertical lifts in the world. Today, France and Germany represent our main markets on this type of platform.
"We realised that many manufacturers were asking for a small compact machine that takes up less space than scissors, we had to find a solution that would meet these requirements."
Viaud adds that transportability of machines is becoming a major concern for customers. "For this, we improved our 80 & 100 VJR - our range is now equipped of fork pockets to facilitate the transport of the machine. We also redesigned the lashing points of the machine so the transportability has been improved in terms of safety."
And there are great opportunities for the mast lift, geographically. "The US can accommodate a much greater population for these machines." Viaud says. And, in addition, "Today, we see a growth potential for this type of machine for emerging markets that are increasingly structured in terms of worker safety.
"Moreover, the vertical mast lift has the advantage of more flexibility, thanks to its compactness. That's also why this type of platform is well appreciated in Europe."
Another French manufacturer, Haulotte, has been very active in this product area in recent times. The Star 8S was launched at the beginning of this year. "Vertical masts are clearly growing in popularity in access the industry, the demand for this product range is booming, growing at a strong +10% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) on the past five years," says a company spokesperson.
Haulotte adds agility
As mentioned, one of the main points is their compactness, providing workers the ability to fit through standard doorway in most cases, and greater manoeuvrability, with a very tight turning radius and zero tail swing.
Haulotte machines are equipped with such features and include a dedicated forklift pocket, 25% gradeability, direct electric drive with maintenance-free AC motors and the Activ'Screen onboard diagnostic that are standard across the range. Most of them can be used indoor and outdoor on slab floors. Both the pre-existing Star 6 and new Star 8S, are supplied without a jib and include, for example, anti-slip step, basket load capacity of 230kg and platform extension deck of 0.4m, as an option. Both are chain-free. The two swing out trays means it leads to minimal maintenance and downtime.
For industrial maintenance, the Star 8 and Star 10 come with a jib and zero tail swing. Their working envelope provides 3m outreach. "Falls from height from ladders, podiums or folding and rolling scaffolds are still the most common cause of injuries and fatalities at work. Vertical masts have become a safer alternative, helping companies to minimise the risk of injuries or fatalities associated with falls from height," says Haulotte.
For this reason vertical masts are highly concentrated in mature markets where safety at height increasingly becomes a key driver. "One other reason for the increasing demand of vertical mast is in industrial maintenance, for example production equipment in manufacturing environments, thanks to their compactness and jib. A final reason is the increasing demand for picking applications," confirms the spokesperson.
Skyjack sees growth
The challenge for Vertical masts will be to provide more platform lift capacity while offering lighter overall products, especially on low level access segment, adds the company. Kristopher Schmidt, product manager at Skyjack says he has seen high level growth in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) vertical mast market over the past three years. "There was a slight decline from 2017-2018, but the market for these machines is picking up again with significant growth throughout the start of 2019."
Skyjack has two vertical masts in its line up with working heights ranging from 5.65m to 6.75m. He says more companies are seeing the benefit in using a low level access machine over traditional ways of working at height and Skyjack specially saw the market opening up when more companies started choosing access machines over scaffolding and ladders.
Driveable at full height, Skyjack's SJ12 and SJ16 provide a zero-inside turning radius for maximum manoeuvrability, 30% gradeability, and rated load lift times from 16 to 20 seconds respectively. A key differentiator of Skyjack vertical mast lifts is that the design keeps the masts at the rear of the platform, providing maximum visibility for the operator.
The CE-compliant SJ16 model is also rated for outdoor use with a wind rating feature that, once lifted over 3.65m, alerts the operator to remind them that the machine shouldn't be lifted any higher while outdoors. Lastly, Skyjack vertical masts have a traversing platform that provides an easy access to drop ceilings for indoor work.
Snorkel electric drive
In February 2017, Snorkel launched the TM12E, which offers a working height of up to 5.65m and can lift up to 227kg, Weighing in at just 840kg. A year later, in February 2018, Snorkel showcased the TM16E, the third model in its line. Offering a working height of up to 6.87m, the TM16E can lift up to 227kg and weighs in at just 1,105kg.
The original Snorkel TM12 hydraulic drive mast lift remains popular, says the company, but is now offered as the TM12E and TM16E with a new electric drive system for increased efficiency on the jobsites.
Ideal for working in confined spaces, the Snorkel TM16E can be driven through a standard interior doorway and is lightweight enough to be carried in elevators. Capable of lifting 227kg up to 6.87m, the unit weighs just 1,105kg. The new electric drive system draws 50% less amps than most hydraulic mast lifts, says Snorkel, and offers a zero inside turning radius.
Snorkel telescopic mast lifts include a fixed upper control box with a power to platform outlet as standard, saloon-door style entry gates, plus a built-in step in the chassis to ease access in and out of the stowed platform.
Following the launch of the TM16E, the company is continuing to explore other model variations for this family. "Most rental operators are reporting increased demand from job sites and end users for these machines. Vertical mast lifts are typically used by mechanical and electrical contractors, as well as in facilities management situations," says Matthew Elvin, CEO of Snorkel.
"Small volumes will be purchased outright by facilities for maintenance applications. Contractors who require volume have been known to purchase or lease, but this may alter as more low level access becomes available through the rental channel."
Genie line
Genie has a full line of GR, GRC and QS products, all with zero degree turning radius and compact base. The proportional controls make these machines easy to manoeuvre and accurately position for work in finished spaces.
With their compact size, more machines can fit within the same jobsite area explains Molly Frank, Genie product manager, Terex AWP, and with new technology in construction materials and processes, larger platforms, extension decks and capacities founds on scissor lifts are not necessary for what are increasingly becoming one-person tasks.
One issue is the upcoming ANSI/CSA standards in North America, adds Frank. It will drive changes across all vertical mast manufacturers. For example, they will now distinguish between indoor and outdoor capable machines. "This has not been the case in the past and will require collaboration between the manufacturer, rental businesses and end users to fully understand the change. We have been engaging these groups, both online and in person, this year in order to smooth the transition to the new standards."
Expanding on the advantages of mast lifts, Frank adds, "Vertical masts are often more compact and lower weight than a comparable scissor lift. Additionally, lower platform heights provide for a better match between machine capabilities and jobsite demands, improving rental return on invested capital.
"With their compact size, more machines can fit within the same jobsite, and with new technology, larger platforms, extension decks and capacities on scissors are not necessary for what are becoming one person tasks.
Practical picking from Faraone
Faraone recently launched the 5.15m working height Elevah 5 move picking.
The most compact of its category, with a footprint of 70cm x 98cm, it can move easily in a space of only 95cm. Another advantage is that it can turn 360 degrees within its own footprint and is easy to drive. The basket has a 200kg capacity, while the picking plate has a capacity of 100kg and is electrically adjustable.
The basket is wide at 115cm and has side handles, making it more practical and safe. There is also a range of safety features, including an automatic door block, a tilt device and three proximity sensors that can be integrated with Faraone's Blu Spot accessory.
The company says the product represents the main trends in the vertical mast sector, those being a move to more sensors and secondary guarding, as well as an increase in picking activities. "Compactness, light weights and, at the same time, great height and strength are also the main features of our machines. To share the culture of safety, and make people understand what it really means to work safely, we organise many activities to raise awareness on this issue," adds a Faraone spokesperson.
Global Interviews & Profiles Access Crane & Specialized Transport Rental
ERA estimates 10.4% rental drop in 2020
The European Rental Association is forecasting a 4.8% rebound in 2021, according to its new ERA Market Report 2020


You've probably heard it a thousand times by now.
The average order value of an email is at least 3 times higher than that of social media.
Email marketing has the highest conversion rate (66%) when it comes to purchases made as a result of receiving a marketing message (when compare with social, direct mail, and other methods).
Data aside, email marketing makes sense for business because it allows you to build a better connection with your subscribers.
On top of that, there's no middleman when you're emailing, and you own your email list. Compare that with social media, where an algorithm change could have a devastating effect on your engagement, and it's easy to understand why email marketing is essential.
But, as with any marketing tactic, you have to approach building your email list with a clear strategy in mind if you want amazing results.
Let's look at a few of the best email list growth strategies for small businesses.
Offer incentives in your blog content.
An opt-in call-to-action like "Sign up for updates" isn't going to skyrocket your email list growth.
It's too vague and doesn't state a clear benefit for the user.
So, how can you make signing up for your email list irresistible?
One of the best email list growth strategies is to offer free incentives within your blog content. These incentives should be made available to download in exchange for the customer's email address.
But don't just throw the same incentive in every blog post. To get the most from this strategy, to make the incentive closely related to the blog post topic.
That way, you know that anyone who reads the post is likely to be interested in downloading the incentive too!
It makes perfect sense for the blog post's audience because it allows them to take action on what they learned from reading the blog post.
So every time you create an opt-in incentive, try to offer something that allows your readers to take action on what they learned or learn even more about the same topic.
Because increasing your email sign-ups in a big way is all about offering your target audience something they can't resist.
Use email list building tools.
There are tons of tools out there that can help you build an email list, regardless of your budget, technical ability, or the industry you're in.
Let's talk about a few of your options, starting with one of my favorites: HelloBar.
HelloBar places a small bar across the top of your website. Within the bar, you can include a call-to-action that entices people to sign up for your email list.
You can see that they used the HelloBar to advertise their opt-in incentive – a free eBook. But you could ask people to subscribe to your newsletter, send them to a landing page, or ask them to take some other action – it's up to you.
If you're looking for something a little more robust, consider Opt-in Monster.
Not only does it offer floating bars similar to HelloBar – it allows you to create sidebar forms, pop-ups, and more.
Now, let's talk about one more option: Leadpages.
This is one of my favorite tools for creating landing pages. You can also use it to build LeadBoxes, which are small pop-up boxes designed specifically with conversion in mind.
This is a great way to offer your opt-in incentives in exchange for an email address, and you can use it as a linked pop-up or a timed pop-up depending on your preferences.
Tip: Want to learn about even more tools you can use to build your list? Check out this KISSMetrics list – it includes 67 of them!
If you're not familiar with webinars, they're simply seminars conducted over the internet. You ask people to sign up with their email address, and just like that, you've got a new lead.
When you host a webinar, make sure you're ready to offer your target audience valuable information.
Seriously – you want the topic to be so relevant that they can't help but sign up.
Because CoSchedule is a marketing calendar provider, they picked a "marketing planning" topic they knew their audience would likely be interested in learning about.
And they were right. 566 subscribers attended that webinar.
Wondering what kind of results this tactic might produce for your business?
Marketing software company Hubspot used this strategy to draw in 25,000 sign-ups, 3,500 of which were totally new leads.
So consider using webinars as part of your marketing strategy. Not only will you be able to grow your list – you'll build trust with your potential customers by positioning yourself as the authority on your chosen topic.
Regardless of which of these email list growth strategies you choose, you can't think of building your list as a marketing strategy on its own. Instead, think of it as one piece of your overall marketing strategy.
For example, if you're offering an opt-in incentive, you have to promote it – whether that's on social media, in your blog posts, or elsewhere.
And if you're using a tool to create a pop-up, you better make sure you create the pop-up with your target audience in mind.
Because the truth is, while the methods in this post could skyrocket your list, they might not work at all. Success with list building is all about the strategy behind the tactics and how you implement them.
Which email list growth strategies are you going to try? Share in the comments section below!


A box full of 15-18 lbs. of fresh vegetables such as: greens, tomatoes, broccoli, bell peppers, celery, onions, and more! This healthy option delivers high-quality veggies at a great price. As a side, or a main course, these vegetables will be the perfect addition to all of your favorite dishes.
Items in image are representational. Produce is seasonal and can change each month. To find out the contents in the box for this month, call us at (312) 527-7890.


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In California state elections, 2014 was the first year in which the top statewide offices were elected under the nonpartisan blanket primary, pursuant to Proposition 14, which passed with 53% voter approval in June 2010. Under this system, which first went into effect during the 2012 election year, all candidates will appear on the same ballot, regardless of party. In the primary, voters may vote for any candidate, regardless of their party affiliation. The top two finishers, regardless of party, then advance to face each other in the general election in November.

The 2014 elections for statewide offices also coincided with those for all of California's seats to the House of Representatives, all of the seats of the State Assembly, all even-numbered seats of the State Senate, and statewide ballot propositions.

The primary election was held on June 3, and the general election on November 4. Although the general election saw the California Republican Party lose every statewide election (including the gubernatorial race), the party did make gains in both houses of the California State Legislature, with a net gain of four seats in the Assembly and two seats in the Senate. In both cases, the Republican gains ended the supermajorities of the California Democratic Party in those chambers.

Congressional

All 53 U.S. Representatives from California were up for election in 2014, but neither of the state's two U.S. Senate seats.

Constitutional officers

Overview

Governor

Incumbent Democratic Governor Jerry Brown won re-election to a second consecutive and fourth overall term in office. Although governors are limited to lifetime service of two terms in office, Brown previously served as governor from 1975 to 1983, and the law only affects terms served after 1990.

Lieutenant Governor

Incumbent Democratic Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom won re-election to a second term in office.

Attorney General

Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Kamala Harris won re-election to a second term in office.

Secretary of State

Incumbent Democratic Secretary of State Debra Bowen was term-limited out of office.

Treasurer

Incumbent Democratic State Treasurer Bill Lockyer was term-limited out of office.

Controller

Incumbent Democratic State Controller John Chiang was term-limited out of office.

Insurance Commissioner

Incumbent Democratic Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones won re-election to a second term in office.

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson won reelection to a second term in office. The office is nonpartisan.

Board of Equalization
Incumbent Board of Equalization members Republican George Runner and Democrat Jerome Horton ran for re-election, while Republican Michelle Steel and Democrat Betty T. Yee were term-limited out of office.

District 1

District 2

District 3

District 4

State legislature

State Senate

Voters in the 20 even-numbered districts of the California State Senate elected their representatives.

State Assembly

Voters in all 80 of California's state assembly districts elected their representatives.

Statewide ballot propositions

June primary election
The following propositions were on the June ballot:
 Proposition 41 - Passed
The Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention Bond Act Of 2014 is a legislatively referred statute that authorizes $600 million in bonds for affordable multifamily housing for veterans and their families. Supporters argued that this would fund such housing for low income and homeless veterans, while opponents were concerned that it would divert funds from the bonds previously approved under Proposition 12 on 2008 to assist veterans in general who are purchasing properties.
 Proposition 42 - Passed
This initiative constitutional amendment requires local governments to comply with laws that provide public access to their body meetings and records of government officials. It also eliminates the reimbursement for the costs of such compliance. Supporters argued for the need for such open public access, while opponents disagreed with provisions that would impose the costs of compliance upon the local governments involved instead of the state.

November general election
The following propositions have qualified for the November ballot:

 Proposition 1 - Passed
 The Safe, Clean, and Reliable Water Supply Act is a legislatively referred statute that authorizes bonds to upgrade California's water system. The original bill was going to be appear on the November 2010 ballot, but the California Legislature postponed the vote until now. This measure was then originally numbered as Proposition 43, but on August 13, the legislature passed a revised version of the proposal for the 2014 ballot to address issues of the ongoing statewide drought, and numbered this new one as Proposition 1. This updated proposal authorizes $7.12 billion in general obligation bonds, and reallocates $425 million of unused bond authority from prior water bond acts, for various state water supply infrastructure projects. Supporters believed that this will help provide safe and reliable supplies of water to farms, businesses and communities, especially during the current drought. Opponents argued that the proposed specific projects in the initiative are misplaced, saying that there is too much emphasis on building new dams, which does not really help to relieve the drought.
 Proposition 2 - Passed
This legislative constitutional amendment makes several changes relating to state's reserve policy. It, among others, establishes a replacement version of the Budget Stabilization Account (first enacted per Proposition 58 in 2004), in which it will annually receive 1.5% of the estimated amount of General Fund revenues for each respective fiscal year. The Act also creates another reserve fund for public schools funding (as mandated per Proposition 98 in 1988) called the Public School System Stabilization Account. This measure was then originally numbered as Proposition 44, but was then re-numbered as Proposition 2. Supporters argued that this provides a strong rainy day fund, while opponents disagreed (among others) with provisions setting a maximum amount of reserves that school districts could keep at the local level.
 Proposition 45 - Failed
Under this initiative, any health insurance rate change will need to be approved by the state's Insurance Commissioner before it can take effect. Any health insurer requesting such approval will need to provide information to justify their rate changes. The measure also provides procedures for public notice, disclosure, hearing, and subsequent judicial review for this approval process; it was different from similar states in allowing members of the public to sue the commissioner over approved rate hikes. Supporters believed that this will stop price gouging. Opponents were concerned about giving that much power to the Insurance Commissioner, who as an elected politician could be easily influenced be special interest groups.
 Proposition 46 - Failed
This initiative will require the regular drug and alcohol testing of doctors. Administration of this will be given to the California Medical Board. Doctors will also be required to report any other doctor suspected of being under the influence while on duty. In addition, doctors will be required to check the state's CURES (Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System) prescription drug history database before prescribing certain controlled substances to patients. Furthermore, the $250,000 cap on pain and suffering damages in medical negligence lawsuits will be increased to account for inflation. Supporters argued that this will reduce medical negligence, while opponents were concerned that the cap increase in medical negligence lawsuits will eventually lead to higher health care costs.
 Proposition 47 - Passed
This initiative downgrades the sentencing classification, from felonies to misdemeanors, for the crimes of petty theft, receiving stolen property, and forging/writing bad checks when the value or amount involved is $950 or less. However, a person who has a previous conviction for crimes such as rape, murder or child molestation or is a registered sex offender will still get a felony sentence. In addition, people currently serving felony sentences for these crimes will be re-sentenced unless a court determines that they are an unreasonable public safety risk. The resulting net savings in the state's criminal justice system will then be applied to a new "Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund" for mental health and drug treatment programs, K-12 schools, and crime victims. Supporters argued that this will reduce spending and government waste in the state's overcrowded prisons; opponents argued that this could potentially release over 10,000 prisoners, reduce penalties for stealing guns and sex crimes, and overburden the state justice system.
 Proposition 48 - Failed
This was a referendum on Assembly Bill 277. Passed by the legislature and signed by the governor in July 2013, it ratified gaming compacts with the Northfork Rancheria of Mono Indians and the Wiyot Tribe. Under the compacts, the Northfork tribe were permitted to build a casino with 2000 slot machines in Madera County on land that was accepted into federal trust for gaming, instead of building one on their reservation near Yosemite. The Wiyot Tribe would have then receive a percentage of the revenue from the Northfork's casino, in exchange for not building one of their own on their land near the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The tribes were also given exemptions to the California Environmental Quality Act "in deference to tribal sovereignty". Supporters of the compacts argued that the proposed casino will bring jobs and tax money, as well as avoid potentially negative environmental impact in both Yosemite and Humboldt Bay; opponents said that this would have paved the way for massive off-reservation casinos.
 Proposition 49 - 'Removed from the ballot by order of the California Supreme Court
Originally put on the ballot by the state legislature, Proposition 49 would have been non-binding advisory question presented to voters, asking if the U.S. Congress should propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court's 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission''. In that case, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government is prohibited from restricting campaign contributions and other political independent expenditures by corporations, associations, or labor unions. This proposition alone would have no binding legal effect, and it will only be submitted to Congress as a formal request; under Article Five of the U.S. Constitution, the process for amending the Constitution can only be initiated by either Congress or a national convention assembled at the request of the legislatures of at least two-thirds (at present 34) of the states. On August 11, the California Supreme Court ordered that the measure be pulled from the November ballot pending further state constitutional review: at issue is that the state legislature has no defined specific power to place such advisory measures on the ballot.

Local races
Local races included:

 A runoff in the San Diego mayoral special election was held on February 11. The special election was necessary following the resignation of Bob Filner on August 30, 2013. A primary election was held on November 19, 2013. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote in the first round, a runoff election was held between the top two vote-getters on February 11. In the runoff, Republican Kevin Faulconer defeated Democratic candidate David Alvarez.
 The San Jose mayoral election will determine the successor to incumbent Democratic Mayor Chuck Reed, who is term-limited out of office. A primary election was held on June 3. As no candidate received a majority of the vote, a runoff election will be held between the top two vote-getters, Dave Cortese and Sam Liccardo, on November 4.

References

External links
California Elections and Voter Information from the California Secretary of State

California

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Beki had a baby girl at 8:28 this morning!
She weighed 9 lbs 0.7 oz. and was 21 1/2" long.
Beki and baby are both fine. Name announcement coming soon . .
2005-2013 by Rebeka Lambert, artsy-crafty babe. Please do not use any photos or content from this site without asking me first. Thanks!


text:
American Exceptionalism Won't Save the U.S. Empire from Itself, or Stop China's Rise
Danny Haiphong, BAR Contributing Editor
China's rise reflects a bourgeoning global movement away from U.S. imperialism and toward self-determination.
"China has already closed the gap in many economic sectors and has surpassed the U.S. in others."
Much of the 2020 presidential election between Joe Biden and Donald Trump was spent bashing China. Trump repeatedly called Biden "soft" on China while Biden claimed the same about Trump. In the last debate before votes were cast, Biden stated that Trump "cozies up to thugs" such as China's president Xi Jinping. Although U.S.-China relations have sunk to their lowest point since normalization under Trump, Biden has made no indication that he wants to reverse course. American exceptionalism will be the ruling ideology of the U.S. state and the preservation of U.S. dominance the primary goal of the ruling class no matter who is elected president in November.
American exceptionalism, however, cannot save the U.S. empire from itself. Hurling slander at China does not change the existing reality of U.S. imperial decline. For one, neither Biden nor Trump can rescue the U.S.' battered capitalist economy. Negative growth, mass unemployment, and the eventual expiration of moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures are likely to keep U.S. capitalism on a path of slow to no growth for years to come. China, on the other hand, has no such problem. After mobilizing for three months to contain COVID-19, China's economy grew at a rate of nearly five percent from July to September despite the decrepit condition of its largest trading partner and the world economy at large.
Many economists have predicted that China will overtake the U.S. in economic scale by 2030 in GDP terms. The pandemic is likely to accelerate this trend. China has already closed the gap in many economic sectors and has surpassed the U.S. in others. Market analysts predict that China's leadership in electric vehicle production and consumption will dominate the global market in the coming years. China is already a global leader in renewable energy production. Furthermore, in the much-heralded arena of 5G technology, China is also well ahead of the United States. China possesses twelve times more 5G base stations than the U.S. and the gap grows wider in sectors such as high-speed rail.
'Hurling slander at China does not change the existing reality of U.S. imperial decline."
The key factor that separates the U.S. and China is austerity. China's planned economy and socialist governance system allows for the subsidization of the needs of the people to exist simultaneously with investments in high-tech industries. Upgrades in telecommunications technology and e-commerce, for example, have played important roles in the rising incomes of rural families and therefore have contributed to the overall policy of poverty alleviation in China. Technology under late stage U.S. capitalism serves as a weapon against the broad masses of people by raising their rate of exploitation as contending tech corporations battle over which can dominate the market faster. Technological development receives no assistance from the state unless in the form of military contracts for the production of weapons, bases, and other installations of war.
U.S. attempts to isolate Chinese technology and trade across the world have failed time and time again, from Trump's trade war midway through his first term to the more current policy of sanctions against corporations such as Huawei. The U.S. has thus needed to rely upon military aggression to enforce its containment policy toward China. Nearly half of all U.S. military assets and over sixty percent of naval forces reside in the Asia-Pacific. The U.S. is not satisfied with its influence in the region, however, and has attempted to create an "Asian NATO" comprised of India, Japan, and Australia. Enhanced military aggression fits with the larger U.S. military strategy of "Great Power Competition" which targets Russia and China as the primary threats to U.S. hegemony abroad.
"Nearly half of all U.S. military assets and over sixty percent of naval forces reside in the Asia-Pacific."
American exceptionalism is the ideological framework for the United States' anti-China policy. Donald Trump used his first term to increase hostilities with China on the basis that its biggest economic competitor was unfairly undercutting U.S. supremacy in all areas of international relations. China has been singled out as the principle threat to American "greatness" and "exceptionalism. The War on Terror utilized racist imagery of a white civilization under siege from Arab and Muslim savages. "Great Power Competition" depicts the United States as a white civilization under siege by a modern form of Yellow Peril.
However, American exceptionalism and the imperialist ambitions behind the ideology have been a staple of U.S. relations with China since the Chinese Revolution of 1949. U.S. diplomatic, military, and economic strangulation of the People's Republic in the first two-plus following the Chinese Revolution was justified on the basis that China was a "lost" possession in need of recovery. As Qiao Collective noted, normalization did not necessarily change the U.S. attitude that China's social system must be overthrown in favor of U.S.-style "democracy." Debates over China's Most Favored Nation (MFN) trade status within Congress and the White House consistently focused on utilizing the U.S. capitalist economy as an engine of privatization in China that would force its social system to adopt a Western-style model of government.
The case of China bursts asunder the illusion that the U.S. can force nations into political submission simply by exposing the people to the U.S. capitalist economy. China's political and economic trajectory should be clear to anyone paying attention. Capitalist mechanisms in China act as a springboard for the achievement of poverty alleviation and an elevation of the standard of living of the Chinese people. China's adherence to an international governance system based in the U.N. Charter is popular both with capitalist countries seeking to do business in China and Global South nations in need of breathing room from imperialist treachery. China's economic and political development model is especially popular in China. The Chinese government sports an approval rating of 80-90 percent depending on the poll.
"China has been singled out as the principle threat to American "greatness" and "exceptionalism."
Too often Western and American eyes are fixated on their isolated hatred of non-white peoples to consider the global implications of China's rise. China's rise reflects a bourgeoning global movement away from U.S. imperialism and toward self-determination. The more that the U.S. attempts to impose its so-called exceptionalist values on the world, the more that the world's nations harden their struggle for self-determination out of necessity and survival. The re-election of MAS in Bolivia, the continued struggle of the Syrian governmentagainst U.S. sanctions and war, and the DPRK's commitment to the reunification and sovereignty of the Korean Peninsula despite constant U.S. threats all fall within a larger resistance movement to U.S. empire. And it should not surprise anyone that these countries also happen to be China's closest allies in their respective regions.
U.S. imperialism is a social order coming apart at the seams. For nearly half of the 20th century, economic stability and growth allowed the U.S. political establishment to boast about the exceptionalism of its society even as it used every means at the disposal of the state to repress liberation movements at home and abroad. The War on Terror soiled the U.S.' image in the world and further sent capitalism into a tailspin of decline. A New Cold War has been launched against China and its strongest ally, Russia, to reinvent the political terrain of 20th century U.S. dominance. It won't work. American exceptionalism cannot save the U.S. empire from itself, nor can the ideology find sufficient traction to thwart China's rise. What the U.S. empire will accomplish in the coming months and years is the further spread of mass death and economic misery all over the world. The Left's task is not to fear or challenge China's rise but to stop the U.S. empire from bringing the world to the precipice of a humanity-defeating World War in a ceaseless bid to preserve global hegemony.
Danny Haiphong is co-coordinator of the Black Alliance for Peace Supporter Network and organizer with No Cold War. He and Roberto Sirvent are co-authors of the book entitled American Exceptionalism and American Innocence: A People's History of Fake News--From the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror (Skyhorse Publishing). His articles are re-published widely as well as on Patreon at patreon.com/dannyhaiphong. He is also the co-host with BAR Editor Margaret Kimberley of the Youtube show BAR Presents: The Left Lens and can be reached on Twitter @spiritofho, and email at [email protected]
Danny Haiphong , BAR contributor
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Rajasthan Travel on Spencer sums up his conclusion in these words:1 There is no exception then. Using the phrase ancestor-worship in its broadest sense as comprehending all worship of the dead, be they of the same blood or not, we reach the conclusion that ancestor-worship is the root of every religion. From this source he derives all other forms of religion, enumerated as idol-worship and fetish-worship, animal-worship, plant-worship, nature-worship, and finally the worship of deities in the accepted sense. It is a striking revival of the theory of Euhemeros at the end of the fourth century B.C., that the gods were famous men of old, forgotten days; for as Spencer says just before the passage quoted above: Behind the supernatural being of this order, as behind supernatural beings of all other orders, we thus find that there has in every case been a human personality. In Tylor we have no universal philosopher, whose views on the origin of religion had to be made to square with a general preconception of society or the world as a whole. Rajasthan Travel 2016.


Zamboanga City - The leadership of Police Regional Office 9 condemns the killing of a policeman, a member of the 9th Maritime Group, on Wednesday morning, May 13, 2015. He was shot to death at CDCP, Barangay Sta. Catalina by an unidentified assailant with the use of caliber .45 Pistol.
The victim was identified as PO1 Jerome Habibon Alpa, 31, assigned at 9th Maritime Group, stationed in Barangay Baliwasan seaside, a resident of New Settlement, Barangay Sta. Catalina. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds on the different parts of the body which caused his untimely death.
Responding policemen from Zamboanga City Police Station 11 and Scene of the Crime Operatives from the Regional Crime Laboratory Office 9 have recovered seven caliber .45 empty shells and two slugs at the crime scene.
The City Director of Zamboanga City Police Office was directed to a conduct thorough investigation in coordination with the Regional Chief, 9th Maritime Group for the early solution of the case and to place the perpetrator and the mastermind, if there is any, behind bars.
The 9th Maritime Group is actively involved in the campaign against smuggling and kidnapping by consistently patrolling the high seas and shorelines of Zamboanga Peninsula especially in Zamboanga City. Their presence in the area has restrictcted the kidnappers in their nefarious and also led to the interception of several motor vessels loaded with smuggled rice and cigarettes. Intercepted contraband items as well as the motor boats were impounded.
The murder of PO1 Alpa, who actively participated in the campaign against smugglers, will not prevent the authorities from enforcing the laws against all forms of criminalities in Zamboanga Peninsula, most specially on smuggling and kidnapping. PRO 9, in tandem with the 9th Maritime Group, is continuously guarding the high seas and shorelines of the region against these unscrupulous groups of smugglers and kidnappers.