text:
By AMFS June 25, 2019
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate that was widely used in the past for commercial applications because of its heat-resistance properties. Asbestos exists in several forms. The 2 primary groups of asbestos comprise amphibole and serpentine fibers. Chrysotile (white asbestos) is serpentine and the only form of asbestos that is used commercially at this time, and it accounts for more than 90% of asbestos used in the United States.
For the most part, asbestos exposure has been industrial or occupational and primarily affects workers involved in mining or processing asbestos or those involved in the use of asbestos in the shipbuilding, construction, and textile- and insulation-manufacturing industries. About 2-6 million people in the United States are estimated to have had significant levels of exposure. High exposures ceased in the United States in the late 1970s because of governmental legislation passed after the adverse effects became recognized. However, because the latency period between an initial exposure and the development of most asbestos- related disease is 20 years or longer, asbestos-related disease remains an important public health issue.
The spectrum of asbestos-related thoracic diseases includes benign pleural effusion, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening, rounded atelectasis, asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Asbestosis is defined as diffuse lung fibrosis due to the inhalation of asbestos fibers, and it is one of the major causes of occupationally related lung damage. Mesothelioma is a malignant pleural or peritoneal tumor that rarely occurs in patients who have not been exposed to asbestos.
The diagnostic approach to asbestos-related intrathoracic disease is different from that of other diffuse lung diseases because of the medico-legal implications. The likelihood of asbestos-related disease should be determined, and other possible causes should be eliminated. An assessment of the extent of disease is used to calculate compensation. Therefore, imaging plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and management of asbestos-related disease.
Pathophysiology/Pathogenesis:
Fiber size matters. Fibers of 5 μm or more in diameter tend to become deposited in larger airways, in which they are effectively cleared through mucociliary action. In comparison, fibers that are more slender tend to be deposited in small airways or airspaces, from which only a proportion of them are cleared. The effect of fiber length is less certain, but straight fibers that are approximately 5-20 μm long, such as crocidolite fibers, are not cleared as effectively as others are, and they can cause intense inflammation and fibrogenic changes within the interstitium. Crocidolite fibers are the most carcinogenic of all asbestos fibers and had been used in construction prior to the 70's.
The pleura (outside lining of the lungs) are more sensitive than pulmonary parenchyma (internal lung tissue) to the effects of the fibers. Thus, pleural plaques develop after low, intermittent exposure, whereas asbestosis is associated with cumulative, high-level, long-term, continuous exposure in association with a definite dose-effect relationship. Nonmanual workers in industries involving asbestos, inhabitants of areas immediately surrounding asbestos mills, and families of asbestos workers have an increased incidence of mesothelioma. However, even with significant industrial exposure, asbestosis is unusual.
Pleural plaques are the most common manifestation of asbestos exposure, occurring after a latent period of approximately 20-40 years. A history of exposure can be elicited in more than 80% of patients. The precise pathogenesis of pleural plaques remains undetermined. That they were caused by the mechanical effect of asbestos fibers piercing the visceral pleura (the scratching theory) was assumed. Currently, however, the fibers are believed to be transported to the parietal pleura via lymphatic channels, where they incite an inflammatory response. Plaques slowly grow over time, even after cessation of exposure, but they are not considered premalignant. Asbestosis is rarely seen in the absence of plaques.
Benign asbestos-related pleural effusions are often the earliest manifestation of asbestos-related disease, typically occurring within 10 years of exposure. The effusions are exudative. Occasionally, they are hemorrhagic, but otherwise, their features are nonspecific. Effusions tend to be self-limiting, with a duration of a few months, but they can be chronic or recurrent. The presence of the effusion has been postulated to cause passive atelectasis, with in-folding of the lung resulting in invagination of the adjacent pleura. This process causes tethering, which prevents re-expansion of the lung upon resolution of the effusion and which causes round atelectasis.
Asbestosis is usually seen when levels reach 10 million asbestos fibers per gram of pulmonary tissue. Asbestosis characteristically occurs following a latent period of 15-20 years, with a progression of disease even after exposure has ceased. Fibrosis first arises in and around the respiratory bronchioles, predominating in the subpleural portions of the lung in the lower lobes. This progresses to involve the alveolar walls, eventually causing honeycombing in a minority of patients.
Folded lung (also termed round atelectasis, pulmonary pseudotumor, or Blesovsky syndrome) specifically refers to an area of atelectatic lung adjacent to pleural thickening, with characteristic in-drawing of bronchi and vessels. Blesovsky first reported folded lung in 1966. Although folded lung is strongly associated with asbestos exposure, it may also be seen as a consequence of any inflammatory or infective organizing pleural exudate.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm, accounting for less than 5% of pleural malignancies. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is strongly associated with asbestos exposure, particularly crocidolite exposure, although the association does not appear to be dose- related because significant numbers of cases occur after trivial environmental or household exposure. No relevant history of any asbestos exposure is found in 20% of patients. The disease is frequently seen in the absence of any other manifestations of asbestos exposure and usually develops after a long latent period of 35-40 years.
Mesothelioma is 80% pleural and 20% peritoneal in origin. Pleural effusions are not a precursor of mesothelioma, but they often antedate development of malignancy. A confident diagnosis is often difficult to make and usually requires ultrastructural analysis and histochemical and immunohistochemical tests. Histologically, 3 forms of malignant mesothelioma are recognized: epithelial, mixed, and sarcomatous or mesenchymal. These must be differentiated from mesothelial hyperplasia and metastatic adenocarcinoma. The most common histologic subtype is epithelial, accounting for 50% of cases.
Bronchogenic carcinoma is estimated to develop in 20-25% of heavily exposed asbestos workers. Smoking has a cumulative effect, further increasing the risk of lung cancer to a factor of 90 versus a factor of 5 in exposed nonsmokers. Often, asbestos-related interstitial disease is associated; however, no correlation exists between the severity of asbestosis and the development of lung cancer. Furthermore, lung cancer has been reported in individuals without interstitial lung disease who are exposed to asbestos. A latency period of 25-35 years is usual. Histologically, the predominant subtype is bronchoalveolar cell carcinoma, but adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma also occur.
Associations between asbestos exposure and other cancers have been reported anecdotally but have not been conclusively determined to be causative. Carcinomas of the larynx, esophagus, stomach, colon, and a variety of lymphoid malignancies have been described.
Frequency/Morbidity/Mortality:
The number of individuals affected by asbestos- related disease is slowly increasing. However, whether this is secondary to a true increase in incidence or due to increased recognition is debated. The prevalence of benign pleural plaques in the non-asbestos-exposed general population is extremely low. The prevalence in environmentally exposed general populations in industrial societies is approximately 0.5-8%. Frequencies in exposed individuals are 3- 58%, depending on occupation. The development of plaques depends on the length of exposure or the time from first exposure, as opposed to a threshold dose, which is the case for asbestosis. The prevalence of pleural plaques is 10% in exposed individuals 20 years after exposure, rising to 50% after 40 years.
The frequency of benign asbestos-related pleural effusions in exposed individuals is reported to be 3-7%. However, this number may be an underestimate because most patients are asymptomatic; therefore, effusions are subclinical and undetected. The incidence rises with increasing levels of asbestos exposure. Asbestosis is reported to develop in 49-52% of adults with industrial asbestos exposure, after a latency period of 40-45 years. A minimum latency period of 8-10 years is required for an asbestos-related pleural effusion to develop; this is usually the earliest manifestation of asbestos-related disease. Similarly, a latency period of more than 20 years is required for the development of asbestosis. As a result, most patients with asbestos- related disease are older than 40 years. Mesothelioma usually is seen after a longer latency period, with most patients in the sixth-to-eighth decades of life.
Approximately 2000-3000 cases of malignant mesothelioma are diagnosed annually in the United States, or 7-13 cases per million general population. Lung cancer develops in as many as 25% of asbestos workers. In asbestos- exposed nonsmokers, the incidence of lung cancer is 5 times that of the general population. In exposed individuals, smoking further increases the risk of bronchogenic carcinoma by 80-90 fold.
Regarding mortality and morbidity, after the onset of symptoms, severe asbestosis may lead to respiratory failure and death over 12-24 years. Respiratory failure may be accelerated by the development of pulmonary hypertension or malignancy, including lung cancer or mesothelioma. No treatment for asbestosis is effective. The primary strategy is prevention, with the worldwide elimination of asbestos use and with the replacement of asbestos by safe synthetic products. Mesothelioma tends to appear late and is usually associated with an extremely poor prognosis. The median survival is 10 months or less, and most patients die within 2 years.
History/Physical:
The clinical picture in benign asbestos-related pleural effusion varies from asymptomatic patients to patients with an acute episode of pleuritic chest pain and pyrexia. Pleural plaques do not cause symptoms per se. However, asbestosis may cause an insidious onset of progressive dyspnea in addition to a dry cough. Clinical findings of basal inspiratory crackles associated with reduction in vital capacity and diffusion capacity are also seen.
Asbestosis is usually diagnosed on the basis of certain clinical, functional, and radiographic findings outlined by the American Thoracic Society (ATS). However, these guidelines have not been updated since the routine clinical use of high- resolution CT (HRCT) scanning began in the early 1990s. Findings based on the ATS criteria include the following: reliable history of nontrivial asbestos exposure; Appropriate interval between exposure and detection (usually >10 y); abnormal chest radiographic findings; restrictive lung disease as indicated by pulmonary function test results; abnormal diffusing capacity; bilateral crackles at the lung bases that are not cleared by coughing. Regarding malignant mesothelioma, clinical symptoms are frequently present 6-8 months prior to diagnosis. Symptoms include localized chest wall pain and weight loss. Cough and dyspnea may also be present.
Staging of Malignant Mesothelioma:
Stage Ia – T1a, N0, M0
Stage Ib – T1b, N0, M0
Stage II – T2, N0, M0
Stage III – Any T3, M0; any N1, M0, any N2, M0
Stage IV – Any T4, any N3, any M1
T means tumor location and degree of tissue involvement.
N means lymph node involvement, which ones, how many.
M means metastases or not.
Imaging and Other Testing:
HRCT (high resolution CT of the chest) plays an increasingly important role in the diagnosis of diffuse interstitial lung disease. CT is now established as the criterion standard in the evaluation of pleural disease. Recent developments in HRCT have made it an invaluable tool in the assessment of asbestosis. Scanning the patient in both the prone and supine positions increases sensitivity and specificity.
Plain chest radiography, however, is the initial modality for the detection and characterization of pleural and parenchymal disease. The limitations of chest radiography in the diagnosis and evaluation of asbestos-related disease are well recognized. The quality of the radiograph and the size, shape, position, and degree of calcification determine whether the radiologist can detect pleural plaques on the image. While the identification of bilateral scattered calcified costal and diaphragmatic pleural plaques is virtually diagnostic of asbestos exposure, studies have shown an 11% false-positive rate with chest radiographs. In particular, extrapleural fat mimics pleural thickening and is a significant cause of false-positive readings. Conversely, a high false-negative rate has also been reported. CT scans has long been known to be more sensitive and specific than chest radiographs for the diagnosis of asbestos-related pleural disease.
Medical Care:
Control of asbestos in the workplace is the most effective method for preventing asbestos-related diseases. Cessation of further exposure to asbestos once the diagnosis of asbestosis is made is imperative because further exposure increases the rate of progression. A small minority of people (10-20%) have progressive disease after cessation of exposure. Smokers should be advised to quit smoking. Patients should be informed on the work-related causation of the disease (potentially compensable) and report it to appropriate state or federal agencies.
Assessment of disease severity and functional impairment are important in tailoring a treatment and follow-up plan (i.e.: frequency of clinic visits, chest radiographs, pulmonary function testing). Treatment requires prompt attention to respiratory infections and immunizations against influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia. Antibiotics should be used when appropriate and supplemental oxygen should be added as needed. In advanced cases palliative care should be provided for the relief of distressing symptoms. Because of the likelihood of bronchogenic carcinoma, the patient should consult a thoracic surgeon if a solitary pulmonary nodule develops in a patient with asbestosis.
Complications of include: pulmonary hypertension, cor pulmonale, right heart failure, progressive respiratory insufficiency, and malignancy. It is important to keep in mind that there is a higher risk of lung carcinoma in patients with asbestosis. Patients with asbestosis are also at higher risk for malignant mesothelioma and carcinomas of upper respiratory tract, esophagus, biliary system, and kidney.
Medical/Legal Concerns:
The association between exposure and disease is the essential factor in establishing causation. Diagnosis, causation, and impairment are the major issues with regard to establishing medical negligence.
Determining the cause depends on assessment of the levels and duration of exposure and on knowledge of occupational epidemiologic studies. Assessment of impairment, which is a key ingredient in determining disability, is based mainly on pulmonary function studies. One important caveat is that no evidence exists to confirm that small airway disease, which is detected by flow volume curves, progresses to asbestosis. Also, pleural plaques may coexist with asbestosis, but pleural plaques alone are usually not associated with impaired pulmonary function. Nonetheless, pleural plaques are a reliable indicator of asbestos exposure.
Physicians often make the diagnosis without histopathologic confirmation. Errors may occur because other more common interstitial diseases (e.g.: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) mimic the clinical, radiologic, and pulmonary functional features of asbestosis. Bear in mind the long latency period between patient exposure and the manifestation of symptoms and signs of asbestosis. When lung tissue is available for histopathologic examination, confirmation of diagnosis requires both fibrosis and accumulation of asbestos bodies or fibers.
Compensation for asbestos-related diseases is frequently awarded for bilateral diffuse pleural thickening, asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma, and bronchogenic carcinoma in the presence of asbestosis.


text:
Forum » Videos » Videos en DVD » VV.AA. - Rock Aid Armenia. Smoke On The Water. DVD (The Metropolis Sessions. 2010. DVD-Decrypter-ISO-Covers.)
VV.AA. - Rock Aid Armenia. Smoke On The Water. DVD
jarpomarx Fecha: Lunes, 2015-02-16, 2:51 AM | Mensaje # 1
VV.AA - Smoke On The Water. The Metropolis Sessions
Rock Aid Armenia
Edición en CD+DVD de la reunión de varios músicos de primer nivel dentro del mundo del Rock y el Heavy Metal para ayudar a los damnificados por el terremoto que sacudió a Armenia en 1988. La primera edición del tema fue publicada en 1989 y un par de años después una cinta VHS con un documental del como se hizo.
Unos 20 años después el tema fue publicado de nuevo con diversas remezclas. Éste es el DVD que acompaña a dicho lanzamiento con el documental del como se hizo, así como una explicación sobre el proyecto y el vídeo clip promocional del tema.
El CD se puede encontrar aquí.
1 The Making of Smoke on the Water (Documentary)
2 Videoclip
3 Where the Money's Going: Rock Aid Armenia's Visit to the Octet Music School in Gyumri
Codec: DVD-Decrypter
Tamaño archivo: 2.94 GB
Portadas: Todas a 400 dpi.
I 20:20:41 DVD Decrypter Version 3.5.4.0 started!
I 20:20:41 Home Edition (6.1, Build 7601 : Service Pack 1)
I 20:20:41 Initialising SPTI...
I 20:20:41 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices...
I 20:20:41 Found 2 DVD-RAM/±RWs!
I 20:34:49 Operation Started!
I 20:34:49 Source Device: [0:0:0] HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS70 EX03 (F:) (ATA)
I 20:34:49 Source Media Type: DVD-ROM
I 20:34:49 Source Media Region Code: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8
I 20:34:49 Source Media Copyright Protection System Type: None
I 20:34:49 Source Media Implementation Identifier: Adobe Encore DVD
I 20:34:49 Destination File: E:\Música\EAC\Rock Aid Armenia\SMOKE ON THE WATER.ISO
I 20:34:49 File Splitting: Auto
I 20:34:49 Detect Mastering Errors: No
I 20:34:49 Remove Macrovision Protection: Yes
I 20:34:49 Extracting Sectors... (LBA: 0 - 1542175)
I 20:34:51 Found IFO File: VIDEO_TS.IFO - (LBA: 292 - 300)
I 20:34:51 Found VOB File: VIDEO_TS.VOB - (LBA: 301 - 305) - KEY: N/A
I 20:34:51 Found BUP File: VIDEO_TS.BUP - (LBA: 322 - 330)
I 20:34:51 Found IFO File: VTS_01_0.IFO - (LBA: 331 - 339)
I 20:34:51 Found VOB File: VTS_01_0.VOB - (LBA: 340 - 445) - KEY: N/A
I 20:34:51 Found VOB File: VTS_01_1.VOB - (LBA: 446 - 4511) - KEY: N/A
I 20:34:54 Found BUP File: VTS_01_0.BUP - (LBA: 4528 - 4536)
I 20:34:54 Found IFO File: VTS_02_0.IFO - (LBA: 4537 - 4545)
I 20:34:54 Found VOB File: VTS_02_0.VOB - (LBA: 4546 - 4550) - KEY: N/A
I 20:34:54 Found VOB File: VTS_02_1.VOB - (LBA: 4551 - 188293) - KEY: N/A
I 20:35:37 Found BUP File: VTS_02_0.BUP - (LBA: 188310 - 188318)
I 20:35:37 Found IFO File: VTS_03_0.IFO - (LBA: 188319 - 188327)
I 20:35:37 Found VOB File: VTS_03_0.VOB - (LBA: 188328 - 188332) - KEY: N/A
I 20:37:06 Found VOB File: VTS_04_2.VOB - (LBA: 766966 - 1291237) - KEY: N/A
I 20:38:10 Found VOB File: VTS_04_3.VOB - (LBA: 1291238 - 1541089) - KEY: N/A
I 20:38:37 Found BUP File: VTS_04_0.BUP - (LBA: 1541106 - 1541121)
I 20:38:37 Found IFO File: VTS_05_0.IFO - (LBA: 1541122 - 1541130)
I 20:38:37 Operation Successfully Completed! - Duration: 00:03:48
I 20:38:37 Average Read Rate: 13.527 KB/s (9.8x) - Maximum Read Rate: 19.334 KB/s (14.0x)
2010 edition, 20 years later, of the cover of Smoke On The Water played by a lot of Rock and Metal musicians for getting money to help those affected by the 1988 Armenian earthquake.
The CD (which can be found here) includes some alternate mixes of the song and this DVD with a documentary about the project as well as a video clip with the record sessions.
Rock Aid Armenia, also known in earlier stages as Live Aid Armenia, was a humanitarian effort by the British music industry to raise money to help those affected by the 1988 Armenian earthquake.
Initiated by the international charity campaigner Jon Dee, the project comprised a number of singles, compilations and a documentary. A special record label Life-Aid Armenia Records was established for producing and distributing the releases by Rock Aid Armenia.
All of the Rock Aid Armenia projects were coordinated by international charity campaigner Jon Dee. Dee started the project after overseeing the satellite transmission of footage from the Armenian earthquake zone which he distributed to TV newsrooms worldwide. Other key members of the team included film producer Paul Lovell (who produced and edited the Smoke on the Water documentary and who was co-executive producer of "Smoke on the Water"), Phil Banfield (manager of Ian Gillan who assisted on the track and Rock Aid Armenia's Peter Welles-Thorpe, David Highton, Isobel Sarkissian and Sarah Kaye.
The project is most remembered for a re-recording of one of Deep Purple's famous hit songs, "Smoke on the Water", with different vocalists singing each verse. The single made it to the UK Top 40 Singles Chart. The track was recorded by an elite group of contemporary hard rock and heavy metal musicians who gathered at the historic Metropolis Studios in Chiswick, London. Recording began on July 8, 1989 and was completed over 5 different sessions.
The rock musicians involved in the recording of the song included Bryan Adams, Geoff Beauchamp, Ritchie Blackmore, Bruce Dickinson, Geoff Downes, Keith Emerson, Ian Gillan, David Gilmour, Tony Iommi, Alex Lifeson, Brian May, Paul Rodgers, Chris Squire and Roger Taylor. John Paul Jones and Jon Lord were credited as "helping" behind the scenes with the track. The track's producers were Gary Langan and Geoff Downes. Talent co-ordination for the record was overseen by Jon Dee, with David Gilmour being the first to join up after a call from Dee. Ian Gillan's manager Phil Banfield also helped out with talent recruitment. Paranoid by Black Sabbath was used as a B-Side for the releases.
The recording sessions for the re-recording of "Smoke on the Water" were filmed and released in the same year on video as Rock Aid Armenia: The Making of Smoke on the Water, along with interviews and a video clip for the single. Film producer Paul Lovell produced and edited the final extended version of the documentary which was released on Laser Disc and VHS in Japan in 1991.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Views and announcements
Andrew Jenkins: 'Now more than ever, fintech is crucial for NI economy'
May 4, 2020 Posted by Sync NI Team
Oracle Cloud ERPM Solution Architect
Written by Andrew Jenkins, Fintech Envoy for Northern Ireland
COVID-19 has changed everything, and Fintech is not immune. Last week we should have been coming together to celebrate and acknowledge the role that Fintech plays in the economy across the UK with a range of events throughout Northern Ireland. Our focus has rightly shifted, and the global Fintech community is gathering virtually to hear experts cover a myriad of topics through a series of online events.
I am proud that Northern Ireland will feature prominently throughout this in showcasing how the industry is empowering resilience during this current crisis and supporting eventual recovery. Last week I hosted a webinar with senior industry leaders including John Healy OBE, Rose Mary Stalker, Richard Kirk, Alex Lee and William Smyth as we look to the future of Fintech in Northern Ireland. However, there is no doubt the industry is being impacted by today's crisis - most notably our start-up community.
The analysis from leading economists does not make for pretty reading with many predicting a deep recession. The IMF have predicted the worst global downturn since the Great Depression in 1929. Locally, Ulster Bank's economist Richard Ramsey has forecast that Northern Ireland's economy could contract by eight to ten percent in 2020 and described the recovery as "an escalator back up".
RELATED: FinTrU's Richard McGuinness: Focusing on the 'tech' in 'fintech'
Despite the uncertainty and challenges which many in the industry and wider society will face, there is an opportunity for Fintech to do what it does best and play its part in the economic recovery, speeding the escalator up. Afterall, it's worth remembering that the rise of Fintech can be traced back to the global financial crisis of 2008.
It is this resiliency, adaptability and innovation that helped to solidify Northern Ireland's place as a leading global location for Fintech development investment and made it a key driver of the economy. In the times ahead, they will be at the forefront once again.
I have spoken previously of my optimism for the Fintech sector in Northern Ireland. This optimism remains unchanged. Our industry is brimming with talented individuals and companies who are making a difference across the globe. You only have to look at the work which Allstate, Citi, Liberty IT, The CME Group, FSCOM and Datactics are doing to see that we are working and succeeding on the world stage.
Riskonnect is creating 100 software engineer and developer jobs with a new fintech (financial technology) centre in Belfast.
By sustaining and even creating jobs, the Fintech sector will remain a crucial tenet of the Northern Ireland economy. It is important that our Minister's speak confidently about Fintech in Northern Ireland as they seek to attract investment. Indeed, in March, Economy Minister Diane Dodds announced the establishment of a new Fintech centre in Belfast by Atlanta-headquartered risk management firm Riskonnect and the creation of 100 jobs. The Northern Ireland Executive has also pledged its commitment to further supporting cyber security and artificial intelligence (AI).
RELATED: Fintech envoy says NI loses 1/3 graduates every year to rest of UK
These are welcome and positive announcements, and ultimately a further vote of confidence in our global reputation as a centre of excellence for financial technology.
Right now, the number one priority is the health and wellbeing of our local communities; but we must also be prepared to address the economic health of Northern Ireland which may not be in the best shape, at the appropriate time. As Fintech Envoy, I will continue to work with the UK Government, the NI Executive and industry to embed Fintech in economic development programmes and ensure that Northern Ireland is the best place in the world to start and build a Fintech company.


This 1935 home was ready to replace the original historic Flat Slab, slushed surface, Shingle tile. The new tile selected closely matched an addition and garage which had been added to the home. The 14″ Lanai weathered surface tile was natural clay red, with full-range ebony mist, to blend with the existing tile. The home ws trimmed with V-Hip/Ridge, copper flashing and window dormers.
The home's original roof was done in Historic Flat Slab Single tile with a hand slushed surface.
A view of the back of the residence with the original tile.
32 Square of 14" Lanai weathered surface tile was used to upgrade the value and overall appearance of this private residence.


text:
home characters
What Next #1
This story was written (almost) entirely by fans.
BZZZZZZT! The alarm went off. Jack Renard groaned and smashed his hand on the "sleep" button. But suddenly he realized... 1 His crush was siting next to him! AHHHHHHH! Jack was married. 2 Jack stared blankly at her, then at the wall as he tried to recall the events of the previous night. 3 He remebered that he was in a battle last night... but was it really just last night? It felt like it had lasted forever... no matter how or what he thew at the guy... he just would'nt go away.. what did he look like... for the life of him, Jack could'nt remember- just a black shawdow. How did he get out of it... he could'nt remember defeating the villian. Had someone saved him...? He turned and lightly shook Arden, hopeing she might know something. Jack thought he saw her eyes twich, but that was about it. "Hey! Het Arden, wake up!" Jack said, shaking her just a bit rougher than before. He eyebrows knit slightly, but she still was'nt waking up. A feavor of panic arose in Jack. He clamored to stand up, but it seems that his legs would'nt only let him sit up. "Arden! Arden! This'nt is'nt funny! We're not safe here!" There was a draf of cold air coming from somewhere... but the windows we'rnt opened... and it seemed so dark out despite being seven in the morning. Jack looked about. Something was definately not right. 4 Then, the realisation struck him, with painful clarity -- THEIR ROOM HAD NO FIRE ESCAPE!! "Quick, we need to get out of here," he said! "Our home isn't as fire-safe as it should be!" When he rolled back over, however, he saw that the woman next to her wasn't actually Arden, it was 5 Arden's evil twin from the mirror dimension! 6 "Wait a minute, what is Nedra doing here?" (What else would you name someone from another dimension?) 7 Poor Jack was very confused. Suddnely, Nedra sat up and looked at him. She grinned evilly and said, 8 "Moooooooooooooooooo!!!" 9 As you might guess, that is about the last thing Jack was expecting to hear from an evil twin of his heart throb, so it certainly didn't make him any less confused. That started to change when Nedra flung the covers off the bed and stood up. He found that from about the waist down, he was duct taped to the bed! From downstairs came the sound of some large, hoofed creature and Jack stared at Nedra in open horror. In that special way that evil people seem to have, she smiled and explained, "Yes, the sound I just made is the mating call of the man-eating cow of my world. When the bull arrives and finds you instead of a mate, he'll eat you." "So what's going to save you?" asked Jack. Nedra rolled her eyes. "Dummy. I said it was a man-eating cow. Do I look like a man?" "Oh..." The hooves could be heard clattering up the stairs now, and suddenly 10 he realised he'd gotten one leg free from the bed! Then he realised how much ripping duct tape off hurts when you're covered in fur. "AAAAAAAAUGH!" he yelled, grabbing at his leg. This sudden yell came just in time, however, as the Man-Eating Cow 11 ...started dancing about. Turns out Jack's scream sounded akin to the newests dance song from the cows world. The man eating cow pranced about, across the room, over the table, and into the closet. Jack just blinked. Minus and hours passed...Jack and Nedra stared at the door, waiting for it to open... to hear even a sound... 12 Suddenly, the door burst open! Jack shrank back in horror, fot he Man-Eating Cow had somehow transformed into... 15 a telemarketer, already breathlessly into the spiel:"Yes, friends, when I found out how time-sensitive this great offer was I just knew I had to share it with you at once, while you still had time to act! Think of all you could do with enhanced transdimensional portal access! We've got all the latest technology, high-speed vroadband, nifty jelly colors, (puff! Wheeeeze!) multi-dimensional linking, all you could want! Imagine yourself or your friend here transported instantly to the dimension of your choice! But you have to act now! The price is only 50 easy payments of 100 gold each (plus shipping and handling) but that will soon be a thing of the past! I can take your plastic now! What do you say?" Jack looked slyly out of the corner of his eye at his unwanted companion. He didn't do mental math very well, and this looked like a great time to ship this "friend" to a dimension he, Jack, would choose. Evil possibilities loomed. But then... 16 the telemarketer went back into his speech. "Act now and receive these limited edition Ginsu Spoons! Great for slicing through the thickest soups. *not responsible for damage to face or mouth*. And if you buy within the next ten minutes we'll even throw in this handy dandy Flowbee! The only device for cutting your hair that connects directly to your vacuum cleaner!" 17 Jack stared at the telemarketer, and then he realized...he didn't have any money or plastic on him...DAMN! 18 Of course, that really didn't matter because that's when Nedra chose to make her move. "Free limited edition Ginsu Spoons? I'll take it!" she exclaimed jumping off the bed and whipping out her Asiv card. (What else would a mirror dimension's credit card be called?) One quick transaction later and the telemarketer disappeared, but now Nedra had a transdimensional portal and what was worse - a set of Ginsu Spoons and a Flowbee! She spun back to face the bed and menace Jack with a really bad fur day when... 19 a certain talk show hostess poked here head through the door from the stairs and exclaimed: "Oh, yessss!!! An Involuntary makeover! Just what we need for our latest venture: a cross over of day talk shows with reality TV! Just hold on while I get the lawyers and waivers; I'll make you both stars!" Nedra was briefly perplexed by this opportunity to make profit from her evildoing, and Jack saw his chance. Quickly, he... 20 grabbed the Flowbee and shaved his remaining leg free (how fortunate that it was battery-operated!). then he danced around the bed and taunted Nedra: "neener, neener, can't get me!" She rushed around in a frenzy but could not catch him. "chortle, chortle", he chortled; "chortle, ch-heh?ack!" for Nedra had vaulted through the air in a perfect 360 flip and landed on his head. "who's got the last chortle now? chortle, ch--eeep!yiii!" as Jack desperately grasped her ankles and tumbled them both through the portal, where they found themselves in... 21 a bamboo forest! The sounds of the leaves rustling echoed through their ears. The ground was dusty, and it was dark. What to do? The rustling grew louder. Jack looked cautiously at the leaves as they covered the ground like water. Nedra jumped into his arms. "I'm scared!! Save me!" she exclaimed as Jack dropped her on the leaves. "Not likely, Duct-tape lady!!" he called out as he walked through the leaves, which seemed to claw at his feet. Nedra sat there half confused and up to her waist in leaves... "why won't he help...?" she thought as the leaves opened up a hole and who else should appear but... 22 the real Arden! "Nedra... He seems to be playing hard to get... Let's go show him how to really treat a lady!" she said, then helped her mirror-twin to her feet. Arden whispered the plan into Nedra's ear as a grin creeped across her face. Jack wandered through the bamboo forest. "HEEEELLLLLPPP!!!!!" suddenly echoed through the leaves so loud that he had to cover his ears. "Arden!!" he called out as he ran through the forest in search of her. As he stepped into a clearing, he saw... 23 a tour group driving through the Aisan Jungle Tour portion of Yensid's Animal Kingdom. Several mothers gasped and put their hands over the children's eyes because Jack was only wearing a shirt and undies to go with his recently shaved legs. The driver stopped the vehicle and spoke into his walkie talkie, "We've got another weirdo in the dragon exhibit again. Why is it always on my shift?" 24 Thinking quickly, Jack pulled the driver out of the tour group and into some bushes. "Here's my leg hair I just shaved off. If I give it to you, can you give me your suit?" "Can I?? Wow, I'd kill for leg shavings like these! They're so soft and silky and--" "Enough with the small talk. I need some clothes!!" The driver gave Jack his uniform and drove off wearing a pair of heart-spotted boxers as the rest of the tour group stared. Jack dressed quickly and headed through the forest in search of Arden, but as he stepped between a pair of bushes, "HEEEEEEELLLLLPPPP!!!" echoed so loud that he lost his balance and fell into... 25 The steaming soap pot of a hungry Chinese dragon (it is a Dragon exhibit!). The dragon was amazed "Aiyah! Fox and sour soup! You need to be barbequed." With that the dragon took in a breath and breathed fire! However Jack's new suit was made of titanium neo-weave primuim norplex (don't ask I have no idea) and therefore immune to fire. Jack leaped from pot. Taking the queue the dragon grabbed the seam on his body and removed the plastic suit revealing an Asian fox samurai who then proceeded to try to ginzu Jack. Dancing through the flurry of slashes, Jack stumbled upon an Ancient Chinese magic bag of items. He needed a something to defend himself. Just then the Fox samurai scored a lucky hit cutting through Jack's side. "Yeeow!" He exclaimed and stuck his hand into the bag and pulled out a... 26 The steaming soap pot of a hungry Chinese dragon (it is a Dragon exhibit!). The dragon was amazed "Aiyah! Fox and sour soup! You need to be barbequed." With that the dragon took in a breath and breathed fire! However Jack's new suit was made of titanium neo-weave primuim norplex (don't ask I have no idea) and therefore immune to fire. Jack leaped from pot. Taking the queue the dragon grabbed the seam on his body and removed the plastic suit revealing an Asian fox samurai who then proceeded to try to ginzu Jack. Dancing through the flurry of slashes, Jack stumbled upon an Ancient Chinese magic bag of items. He needed a something to defend himself. Just then the Fox samurai scored a lucky hit cutting through Jack's side. "Yeeow!" He exclaimed and stuck his hand into the bag and pulled out a... 27 beanbag pony doll! "What the heck am I s'posed to do with this?" Jack thought to himself as he dropped it on the ground and searched for another item to use. The pony beanbag fell to the ground and burst open, scattering marbles everywhere! Each marble exploded with a tiny "Poh!" sound, and a circle of fire came from several of the marbles. Jack looked around at the other marbles scattered everywhere. When the Fox samurai stepped on one, it exploded and knocked him back. Unaware of what he was doing, Jack popped one of the marbles into his mouth and the wound on his side healed. Next, Jack gathered up as many marbles as he could and threw them at the Fox samurai! The marbles... 28 smashed against a darkly glowing jewel on the helmet of the fox samurai and exploded shattering the jewel. Instantly the samurai was transformed back into an ordinary teenage fox in school clothes. "Thanks for freeing me, Jack," he said. "How'd you know my name?" asked Jack. "Huh? Oh, um...I didn't. Its just an expression." "Oh yeah," murmurred Jack. "Yeah, look, the name's Corey, but I'm also secretly known as Foxfire, Samurai of the Red Dragon." Jack looked at him quizzically. "Not much of a secret..." "Yeah, well, ever since the evil Lord Meeney put the Beast Jewels on us so he could control us, he's pretty much known our identities." Jack snickered, "Lord Meanie? Who the heck calls themselves that?" "No, MEENEY - he's really sensitive about that. Anyway, I've gotta free my friends and then we can help rescue Arden from Lord Meeney." "Um, sure, but how do you know Lord Meeney has her?" Corey rolled his eyes. "Because Lord Meeney has a complete monopoly on evil deeds in this realm - he ruthlessly squashes anyone that might try to oppose him. I wasn't wearing that Beast Jewel as a fashion statement after all." "Riiight. Okay, well, I think there's still a few of those weird exploding marbles left..." "Exploding marbles? Where?" "Look down. That's also where that weird Chinese bag is." Corey looked at the ground around them and snatched up the bean bag pony and the Chinese bag as well. "Great! All of our magic talismans are still here!" Interestingly enough, the pony seemed to be intact and full again. Corey held it aloft and shouted, "Firebrand, come to me!" A little flame symbol on the pony beanie's flank glowed and suddenly Corey and the beanie were transformed. Once again Jack was facing the Fox samurai, but this time, the Fox was on the back of a firey maned horse. "Mount up behind me," said the samurai. Jack shrruged and climbed up behind him. "Ready when you are, Corey." "I'm in my armor now - the name's Foxfire." "Um...yeah. Sorry. Just a sec..." Jack turned his head aside and quickly slipped on his Midnight Fox Mask. "There, that's better." Foxfire looked back and gasped. "Who are you? What have you done with Jack?" he growled prepared to knock Jack back off. "Relax! Its still me!" He lifted the mask to let Foxfire get a look at the real him again. "You can call me Midnight Fox." "Whoa, cool name dude! Good mask too. Sorry about the misunderstanding." "No problem," grinned Jack and lowered his mask again. The two set off traveling through the other dragon exhibits freeing Stacy aka. Airedale, Samurai of the White Dragon who rides Thunderbird, Deidra aka. Water Tiger, Samurai of the Blue Dragon who rides Wave Runner, and Brad aka. Stone Marten, Samurai of the Black Dragon who rides Rocket. Together, they and Midnight Fox thundered out of the zoo headed for the evil Lord Meeney's Fortress of Much Unpleasantness! As they approached... 29 the floor beneath them began to crumble. The whole group fell down deep into the ground and landed on a large haystack. A rotting smell surrounded them and the sights of skeletons and dead bodies were everywhere. Above the stone brick wall was a sign: "PLAYROOM" Midnight Fox shuddered. "Yuck, this smells worse than Iggy's sweatsocks!" The group stepped through the main big door and into a plain room. It was solid white. There was no furniture anywhere! Suddenly, from the ceiling appeared... 30 Nothing... All that suspense for nothing... Yet, Arden's voice still echoed through the halls... The plain white room started to melt away, so Midnight Fox and the others dashed toward the door. Unfortunately, the moment Midnight stepped through the door, it shut tight, sealing off everybody else. As he stood facing the door, Midnight Fox could hear "Go on!" "We'll be fine!" "Go save Arden!" and "I like cheese!" from behind. Midnight Fox turned around to see where he was. To his disbelief, he saw... 31 a ten foot tall plush teddy bear! That wouldn't be bad if it weren't stomping towards the Midnight Fox and growling. 32 Midnight Fox looked up at the teddy bear searching for a weakness... A broken seam, or a tear, or anything... but saw nothing. What would happen to our hero? The bear inched forward a bit closer and swiped a giant plush paw at him, knocking him several feet away toward the door. That's when Midnight Fox saw the zipper on the back! Thinking quickly, he dashed around the bear and jumped for the zipper. Too late! Another paw swiped at him again, knocking him into the door he came in from. Voices could be heard from the next room: "Don't give up!" "trust your instincts!" "You can do it!!" From beneath the door, a small envelope slid under. Midnight opened it up and saw one of the marbles from earlier. A note inside said "eat me." Midnight Fox wasn't sure what to do, but when he looked up at the giant bear, he swallowed the marble. When the marble released its power, it made him... 33 incredibly fast! Jack ran around behind the bear and jumped up onto its back, latching onto the zipper as the power wore off. Back to his regular speed, he pulled the zipper as hard as he could, and inside the bear was Arden standing on top of her mirror-twin's shoulders! "What did you do this time, Arden?" was all that Jack could say. Nedra grinned. "Silly boy! This isn't her fault! This will be my triumph!" Then she pulled off her 'face' to reveal that she was a lawn flamingo! Jack got confused. "Right... I thought you already owned the world..." The flamingo just chuckled. "Who cares about owning the world when I can own Paraguay? Wa ha ha ha ha!!" Jack reached into his back pocket and pulled out a deed entitled "Paraguay" and handed it to the pink one. "Can we go home now?" The flamingo took the paper and ran off. "Sure! Later, suckers!" 34 Jack glared after the new Emperor of Paraguay. "Stupid lawn flamingos, always causing trouble." He looked at Arden, "So how do we get home, anyway?" Arden rolled her eyes, "It's obvious, if you think about it, silly." At that moment... BZZZZZZZZZT!!! The alarm went off again! Jack sat up in bed and stared around him. No lawn flamingos, no Man-Eating cows, no Arden. Only an odd sensation coming from his stomache. He grunted. That's the LAST time I have artichoke pizza and chocolate milk before bed." He smacked the snooze button again, and went back to sleep. THE END 35


text:
Shell Sells Off Its Oil And Gas Business In Texas' Permian Basin, Seeking To Reduce Its Reliance On Fossil Fuels
Texas-based ConocoPhillips bought Shell's Permian Basin assets for $9.5 billion, its second major purchase in the oil-rich area over the last year.
Mitchell Ferman, Texas Tribune
| Posted on September 21, 2021, 7:42 AM
A drilling rig at sunset operates on the north side of Midland.
Energy giant Royal Dutch Shell sold its oil and gas business in the Permian Basin, the country's largest oilfield, to ConocoPhillips for $9.5 billion cash on Monday.
The deal is a major move for Shell, which produces more than 175,000 barrels of oil per day in the Permian Basin, as it faces pressure to reduce its oil and gas production and produce more clean energy in response to concerns from investors and the public about climate change.
For Houston-based ConocoPhillips, Monday's announcement furthers the company's investment in the Permian Basin. Last year, the company bought large oil driller Concho Resources for $9.7 billion.
Acquiring Shell's land makes ConocoPhillips a top Permian producer alongside Chevron, Exxon Mobil and Pioneer Natural Resources, which bought DoublePoint Energy for $6.4 billion earlier this year.
"The Permian Basin is not going anywhere," Ed Longanecker, president of the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association, said in an interview Monday. "And that's going to continue to be the most prolific and highest [oil] producing region in the country."
But Shell and other major energy companies have faced growing scrutiny for their role in climate change and their public messaging about how fossil fuels contribute to it.
Last week, the U.S. House Oversight Committee widened its inquiry into what it characterized as the oil and gas industry's "longrunning, industry-wide campaign to spread disinformation about the role of fossil fuels in causing global warming." The committee called on top executives from Shell, BP, Chevron and Exxon Mobil to testify before Congress next month.
Ryan Lance, ConocoPhillips chair and chief executive, called the Shell deal a "unique opportunity" in a news release announcing the acquisition. Lance also said "we are very excited to enhance our position in one of the best basins in the world with the addition of Shell's high-quality assets and talented workforce."
The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Jerod Foster for The Texas Tribune
Business Energy & Environment National News Texasconcho resources ConocoPhillips oil and gas oilfield Permian Basin Royal Dutch Shell sale
Texas oil and gas pulled in nearly $16 billion in taxes and royalties last year as the industry recovers from pandemic downturn
Oil prices are stable for now, but Houston's oil and gas industry could face other challenges in 2022
Biden is tapping oil reserves to try to bring down high gas prices
Dealing With Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells, And Helping Artists Of Color (Sept. 30, 2021)
Some Texas Power Plants Unexpectedly Went Offline Last Week. The Grid Operator Says It Still Doesn't Know Why
Texas Legislature Approves Bills To Require Power Plants To 'Weatherize,' Among Other Measures To Overhaul Electric Grid
CEO Of Texas Power Grid Operator 'Terminated' In Aftermath Of Winter Storm


Original Bali-style living with lush gardens, elegant interiors and lashings of space is the promise of Villa Waru. This seven-bedroom two-swimming pool estate rests on a hilltop in an exclusive gated community above Nusa Dua in southern Bali; the beach is less than 15 minutes away, as is the airport. The multiple living spaces and bedroom suites occupy a series of thatched pavilions spread across mature gardens and grouped into the three-bedroom Pond Residence and four-bedroom Garden Residence; book one or both, according to the size of your party. A capable and friendly staff, including private chef, attend to your every need.
Cozy 1 Bedroom Apt for 2 in Kuta!


First Arab States Regional South-South Development EXPO in Doha, Qatar.
Founded in 1995 as a non-governmental organization, JoFoE's volunteers are Jordanians seeking to educate and build capacities of the younger generations on environmental issues thus encouraging them to take a more pro active role in the conservation and improvement of their natural surroundings.
Copyright © 2013 JoFoE. All rights reserved.


text:
Malcolm Bush: A look at Woodstock Institute's leader
Malcolm Bush may best be known of late as a credit union critic, but his work in economic development goes back even farther. Prior to joining Woodstock in 1992, Bush served as assistant professor of social policy at the University of Chicago, and as assistant professor of urban policy and...
By Staff Writer | July 02, 2002 at 08:00 PM | The original version of this story was published on Credit Union Times Magazine
Malcolm Bush may best be known of late as a credit union critic, but his work in economic development goes back even farther. Prior to joining Woodstock in 1992, Bush served as assistant professor of social policy at the University of Chicago, and as assistant professor of urban policy and education and chairperson of the program in social policy and human development at Northwestern University. He has authored a book, Families in Distress: Public, Private, and Civic Responsibilities, and published more than 35 articles on economic development, social issues, and public policy in various professional journals. He is the Board Chair for the Financial Markets Center and on the Board of Directors of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. He is also co-chair of the Steering Committee of the Chicago Federal Reserve Board's Mortgage Credit Partnership Project and the Advisory Board of the Reserve Bank's Assessing the Midwest Economy Project.


text:
Q: C++ - SDL: For loop and strings for (unsigned int i = 0; i < text.length(); i++)
    {
        if (text.at(i) != '$')
        {
            currentLine += text.substr(i, 1);
            // replacing it with currentLine="blabla"; still gives errors
        }
        else
        {
            // currentLine = "blabla"; -- no errors
            drawText(currentLine, x, y + lineID * 10);
            lineID++;
            currentLine = "";
        }
    }

The function is to draw a string multi-line, $ stands for break line.
Unless currentLine is set right before drawing, I receive an error that my screen.format.palette.ncolors and colors cannot be evaluated.
Let's assume drawText function works right. Then what causes this error? Nothing ever changes currentLine apart from this code.
EDIT:
currentLine (which is an std::string) appears to be empty. currentLine+" " however returns the proper string plus the space. What could cause it?
EDIT #2:
Fixed. Somehow... Magic.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Henry Louis Gates Jr. on his timely black history PBS series: 'We have to be vigilant'
By Bethonie Butler
November 22, 2016 at 1:25 p.m. EST
The Rev. Ralph Abernathy, right, and Bishop Julian Smith, left, flank Martin Luther King Jr., during a civil rights march in Memphis, on March 28, 1968. (Jack Thornell/AP)
This year has seen a number of race-focused documentaries that seem especially relevant following a historically contentious election. The most comprehensive of the bunch — "Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise" — concludes Tuesday night on PBS. In the four-hour series, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. reflects on the last 50 years of black history and the stark racial divide that emerged following the election of the country's first African American president.
With so much ground to cover, "Black America Since MLK" is less exacting than Ava DuVernay's "13th," which examines mass incarceration's disturbing legacy (and features Gates as an expert), or as detailed as Ezra Edelman's "O.J.: Made in America," which explored the role of race in O.J. Simpson's rise to fame and the conflicting reactions to the former football star's acquittal in the murder of his ex-wife. But "Black America Since MLK" benefits from airing just after Donald Trump was elected president, and it helps put some of the fears many African Americans have as a result into historical context.
Ava DuVernay's Netflix film '13th' reveals how mass incarceration is an extension of slavery
Part one of "Black America Since MLK," (which aired last week, but is free to stream on PBS's website) reminds us that "Make America Great Again" is a spin on a campaign slogan Ronald Reagan used in 1980. In the documentary, Gates notes that Reagan's message was a cause of concern for many African Americans, who feared policies that would reverse progress achieved during the civil rights era. "Black America Since MLK" also recalls voter suppression efforts and the backlash against affirmative action in late '7os.
In an interview, Gates said the series, which began production two years ago and finished earlier this year, seems "eerily prophetic." Like many in the media and television landscape, Gates expected Clinton to win the election.
"Instead, it's Donald Trump and so many of us are concerned about sustaining the rights that our people have accrued with great pain and effort over the last 65 years," Gates said.
In 2013, Gates examined a longer period in African American history with "The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross." The six-part series traced the journey of African Americans from slavery to President Obama's historic election and won a News and Documentary Emmy Award for outstanding long form historical program. Following that success, Gates said PBS asked him to plan three more series and he came up with a list of 10 ideas. "Black America Since MLK" wasn't even on it — Gates said he got the idea from his friend, American Express chief executive Kenneth Chenault, who encouraged him to look at the last 50 years.
"He said that's the most pivotal time in the history of race in America, and the most pivotal time in the history of African Americans in America," Gates recalled. It also reflects Gates's own lifetime — he was born in 1950.
"Black America Since MLK" doesn't just reflect on politics and social policies — it also recalls the contributions of black Americans to pop culture. The first half recalls shows such as "Soul Train," "The Jeffersons" and "Good Times." The series also describes how James Brown captured the spirit of black empowerment movement with his 1968 funk anthem "Say It Loud — I'm Black and I'm Proud," and the late soul legend's controversial endorsement of Richard M. Nixon for president. DuVernay appears to talk about the significance of Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" and the emergence of so-called gangsta rap. Tuesday's installment features Gates interviewing Shonda Rhimes.
"No one can talk about American popular culture without thinking about black culture," Gates said. "The impact has been so grand and transcendent — the way we talk, the slang we use, the music that we listen to. … I wanted to remind people of how thoroughly integrated our culture is."
Tuesday's installment, titled "Keep Your Head Up/Touch the Sky," recalls the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and features footage of then-Sen. Barack Obama visiting New Orleans with former president Bill Clinton. It also explores Obama's historic 2008 election and the racial divide that followed his reelection. The last segment looks at Black Lives Matter and draws a parallel between that movement and the civil rights era.
"No one thought that when we would be celebrating the reelection of the first black president, we would also see the rise and the necessity of a new civil rights movement under the banner of Black Lives Matter," Gates said.
The series features a sequence of police violence against unarmed black men and women, after which Gates declares that "black Americans have come together, united by a shared sense that despite all the progress we've made we remain vulnerable in our own country."
But "Black America Since MLK" ends on a hopeful note. "What stands out to me most is the strength, the willingness seen time and time again to fight against the odds, to stand and be counted no matter the risk," Gates says in the series. "Looking back, seeing how hard we've fought, how far we've come, it fills me with hope."
The last image sees Gates standing on the Edmund Pettis Bridge, the site of brutal 1965 attacks on nonviolent civil rights protesters that led to a historic march in Alabama from Selma to Montgomery, and galvanized the passage of the Voting Rights Act.
Gates told The Washington Post that he remains optimistic. "I'm hopeful, but I'm also aware that we have to be vigilant."
Part 2 of "Black America Since MLK: And Still I Rise" (two hours) airs Tuesday at 8 p.m. on PBS (check your local listings).
Review: Ava DuVernay's '13th' explores the intersection of racism and criminal justice
Both Trump and Clinton have baggage on race. Ava DuVernay's Netflix film '13th' exposes it.
ESPN's 'O.J.: Made in America' is nothing short of a towering achievement
Essential reporting and analysis from correspondents around the world.
Trudeau appoints first representative for fighting Islamophobia
China, speeding through phases of covid, gets on with living with virus
After deadly Israeli raid in Jenin, fears of escalation in West Bank


Every sea glass mosaic is an original, one of a kind piece made with real sea glass that I've hand picked along the Pacific coastline. All sea glass is entirely authentic from the beach, and has never been machine tumbled or cut.
I use all repurposed wood for my backgrounds - mostly old fencing reclaimed from yards around my Southern California home.
Once I've prepped the wood, I hand paint the piece, then mosaic over the painting using mainly clear sea glass, and in some cases green sea glass and brown sea glass as well. It's like putting together a jigsaw puzzle - I sift through my vast collection of beach glass to pick out just the right shard to build the final picture.
After the mosaic is complete I coat the front of the piece to seal and protect the sea glass. This gives the sea glass a shiny finish. Each piece of wood soaks up the seal differently, so many pieces will have a uniformly shiny finish in the background, while others have a more rustic, patchy finish. Please see my shop policies for more details about these variations.


text:
The Weeknd Closes Out Coachella 2018 With Triumphant Set [VIDEO]
The Weeknd delivered a memorable performance at the 2018 Coachella Music & Arts Festival in Indio, Calif., on Friday night (April 13). Making his third Coachella appearance, the R&B superstar captured the audience with his stage presence as he performed songs from his expansive catalog.
According to Billboard, the Weeknd performed several tracks from his previously released efforts Kiss Land, Beauty Behind the Madness and Starboy. As well as from his mixtape trilogy -- House of Balloons, Thursdays and Echoes of Silence.
The Weeknd kicked off his performance with the Black Panther collab "Pray for Me" (sans Kendrick Lamar), and then segueing into "Starboy" and "Can't Feel My Face."
After an hour and half into his set, the Weeknd gave the fans what they really want to hear -- selections from his current No. 1 EP My Dear Melancholy. The crooner delivered an emotional acoustic version of "Call Out My Name." With just only a guitarist backing him up, his lovelorn lyrics ranged out in the sky as the crowd sung along to his every word.
The Weeknd closed out his set with his 2015 hit single, "The Hills" with shooting flames behind him.
Although he didn't bring out any surprise guests, it wasn't needed as the Weekend conquered the Coachella stage all by himself. He might have some surprises for fans when he performs next Friday (April 20).
Overall, the Weeknd delivered a near-flawless performance and as Billboard pointed out -- he proved to the fans in Indio, Calif., that he is indeed a motherfucking Starboy.
20 Best R&B Albums of 1997
Filed Under: coachella, The Weeknd
Categories: Hip-Hop, Tours and Concerts, Videos


How can I help stop the tendancy to normalize?
Not that you asked but I certainly thought about it after my post on normalizing martyrs.
It is easier to stop normalizing in our own speech. We become aware of normalizing and we stop doing it so much. How do you get every one else to stop?
Well there are easy ways and hard ways. This is a short post about one easy way.
Now I don't always have the time to blurt out a whole long speech on why someone was wrong, so sometimes I just use the quick soundbite "gay is not a synonym for stupid" and move on. Still the soundbite is a short, quick, universal defense of gayness. It doesn't sacrifice the "flaming" gays for the defense of the "quiet" gays. It defends gays period.
It isn't perfect and if you are being shamed for being something that you are it may be hard to speak up while feeling the cold hard sting of their words. Allies however should find it an easy tactic to use and should use it liberally.
I recommend leaving suggestions on other ways we can help stop this.


text:
The Texe Marrs Saga: Part III
Home » Blog » The Texe Marrs Saga: Part III
James White, April 28, 2008 August 27, 2011 , King James Onlyism
Shabir Ally on the Deity of Christ, John 1:1, Greek Grammar, Robert Truelove and the Abandonment of Context
James White, August 18, 2015 August 18, 2015 , Exegesis, General Apologetics, Islam, Jehovah's Witnesses, King James Onlyism, Reformed Baptist Issues, Textual Issues, The Dividing Line
What is between a jumbo DL and a mega DL? I don't know either, but here it is…right at...
Refuting Jeffrey Riddle on Ephesians 3:9
James White, December 8, 2019 December 8, 2019 , King James Onlyism, Textual Issues, TROnlyism
I would rather post this as a blog article but I have found our software is very averse to...
Radical, Unbiblical, Out of Control KJV Onlyists Bring Disgrace on the Gospel
James White, October 27, 2003 August 17, 2018 , King James Onlyism
We have already warned folks about these men (click here). For our efforts in speaking the truth we ended...
Does God Forgive the Unrepentant? – The Dubious Textual Variant, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing'
Alan E. Kurschner, April 11, 2017 April 11, 2017 , Christian Worldview, Godly Disciplines, King James Onlyism, Textual Issues, Theology Matters, Uncategorized
A few years back I posted an article explaining the weak textual evidence of Luke 23:34a, "Father, forgive them,...
King James Onlyism on YouTube
James White, February 8, 2008 August 27, 2011 , King James Onlyism
I was sent a link to this gentleman's videos attacking me. It is a classic example of the mindset...
Revelation 5:9-10 1st Person ("us") or 3rd Person ("them")?
Alan E. Kurschner, June 16, 2007 August 27, 2011 , King James Onlyism
In the past, I have been asked more than once what the correct readings are in Revelation 5:9-10. Once...
A Multi-Faceted Program
James White, July 13, 2021 December 7, 2021 , Christian Worldview, General Apologetics, Homosexuality, King James Onlyism, Offense, Open Theism, Pastoral Theology, Personal, Post-Evangelicalism, Provisionism, Reformed Apologetics, Resources, The Dividing Line, Theology Matters
Covered a ton of topics from Doug Stauffer's claim that I changed the text of The King James Only...
Ah, the Glories of Ruckmanism
James White, August 1, 2009 August 27, 2011 , King James Onlyism
From Sam Gipp's site (ht DC): First, James White, the famous Bible-hater, put a video on claiming it was...
Comparison/ContrastTim Staples the Bible Scholar
Archives Select Month January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002 February 2002 January 2002 December 2001 November 2001 October 2001 September 2001 August 2001 July 2001 June 2001 May 2001 April 2001 March 2001 February 2001 January 2001 December 2000 November 2000 October 2000 September 2000 August 2000 July 2000 June 2000 May 2000 April 2000 March 2000 February 2000 January 2000 December 1999 November 1999 October 1999 September 1999 August 1999 June 1999 May 1999 April 1999 March 1999 February 1999 January 1999 December 1998 November 1998 October 1998 September 1998 July 1998 June 1998 May 1998 April 1998 January 1998 October 1997 September 1997 July 1997 June 1997 May 1997 April 1997 February 1997 January 1997 November 1996 September 1996 August 1996 July 1996 June 1996 May 1996 February 1996 January 1996 November 1995 July 1995 June 1995 April 1995 March 1995 November 1994 July 1994 March 1994 November 1993 September 1993 August 1993 May 1993 April 1993 March 1993 January 1993 November 1992 January 1992 December 1991 May 1991 January 1991 December 1990 March 1990 January 1990 October 1989 March 1989 January 1989 December 1988 February 1988 January 1988 January 1987 September 1986 January 1986 July 1985 January 1985 March 1984 October 1983
Two Responses, More Than Two Hours	January 4, 2022
Starting of 2022 on the Right Foot: John 6 and Acts 4	January 3, 2022
Two Responses, More Than Two Hours
Starting of 2022 on the Right Foot: John 6 and Acts 4


Got an idea for an app but not sure what to do next?
Read on to learn about how to approach your app development and plan a phased release.
Last January one of our esteemed designers, Dave, penned this blog article where he discussed the merits of launching a website - or bike - as an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), as opposed to building every bell and whistle of functionality for launch.
12 months on, this is still how we advise many of our clients to approach their digital projects. Particularly in relation to app development, in our experience, this has proven to be the smartest approach. Let me explain why.
When Facebook launched in February 2004, its functionality was… uh… simple to say the least.
Initially launched as a small social network for undergraduates, it quickly grew to enable anyone with a valid email address to become a member. Facebook's complexity and functionality have continued to grow beyond Mark Zuckerberg's original expectations and it now bears very little resemblance to the initial release.
Lesson #1: Decide on the simplest version possible of your app to launch (the MVP) and plan phased releases of additional functionality.
According to Dropbox CEO and founder Drew Houston, deciding on an MVP and launching it was a critical step. His view was to put something in users' hands and get real feedback ASAP. According to Drew, waiting to launch a "perfect" product and relying on focus groups for market research would not have enabled him to learn as much about his market as real users.
Lesson #2: User testing is the best way to learn about your market because they sign up and have a vested interest in using your app.
Internal instant messaging service Slack grew from a $0 to US$1 billion company in two years. You don't get that kind of growth without some marketing know-how. It launched with an impressive public relations campaign and followed that up with continuous audience engagement on social networks. Using a hook at launch – like a celebrity endorsement, a clear USP (Unique Selling Point), well-respected user or prestigious investor – and encouraging social media interaction will help your app gain traction amongst users.
Lesson #3: Develop a marketing campaign to launch your app and commit resources to continuing that campaign well after the launch date.
If you're unsure about your MVP, we can help. Our UX design and development teams are highly experienced and have refined a process to not only deliver you with an MVP, but analyse every aspect of your project to maximise user adoption and gain feedback.
Our MVP workshops are designed to enable us to work collaboratively with you and build a phased release plan to ensure we incorporate user feedback.
If you have an idea for a new app, please contact us for a confidential discussion on how we can help you.


Borderlands 2 > General Discussions > Topic Details. KunFryTucky About half an hour to change from the usual 'middle of the day' to 'dead of night' #4. The dood. Sep 1, 2014 @ 1:38pm Originally posted by TG MapleSnowman: Well I can see it on my desktop but my laptop doesn't have it. The only difference in settings are the resolution and physx... Borderlands 2 Speed Demo's Archive Forum This is the Speed Demo's Archive forum for Borderlands 2. Please do not use any of the files uploaded to this site as they are out of date.
But I agree with them that the game day is on a 12 hour cycle. With my measurement of 83 seconds for 1 hour in the game, it would take close to 17 minutes real time for a day to pass. With my measurement of 83 seconds for 1 hour in the game, it would take close to 17 minutes real time for a day to pass. how to become financial advisor philippines Bredgen 1 point 2 points 3 points 1 year ago As a note, when you warp to town to turn in the quest, the game will auto save. It's faster at this point to make your save file Read only.
Borderlands 2 Speed Demo's Archive Forum This is the Speed Demo's Archive forum for Borderlands 2. Please do not use any of the files uploaded to this site as they are out of date. how to change language in audition cs6 mac "How Marcus Saved Mercenary Day" features only one location and a handful of new enemies. It's bite-sized DLC, the kind that I expect to see for more games like "Borderlands 2" in the future.
Borderlands 2 Speed Demo's Archive Forum This is the Speed Demo's Archive forum for Borderlands 2. Please do not use any of the files uploaded to this site as they are out of date.
18/09/2012 · The game automatically cycles between day and night to show the passage of time. You just need to wait. Also, night is brighter then you'd think, so periodically check the sky and headlights.
[guides.gamepressure.com] Sir Hammerlock is studying the Bullymongs and needs four hair samples from the big, blue gorillas. Collecting the actual samples relatively simple, but the method in which Hammerlock wants you to acquire the fur is a bit tricky.
"How Marcus Saved Mercenary Day" features only one location and a handful of new enemies. It's bite-sized DLC, the kind that I expect to see for more games like "Borderlands 2" in the future.


text:
Protein-protein interactions within the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes
Richards, Susan Diane (1999) Protein-protein interactions within the 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.
The 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase complexes; pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDC), 2- oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDC) and branch-chain 2-oxoacid dehydrogenase (BCOADC), are mitochondrial multienzyme complexes which comprise of multiple copies of three different enzymes; El, E2 and E3, that catalyse the oxidative decarboxylation of 2-oxoacids to their respective acyl CoA derivatives. The E2 enzyme forms the structural core, to which several copies of both El and E3 are non-covalently bound. Despite being three of the largest known proteins, relatively little is known regarding the interactions between the constituent components. This is due primarily to the flexibility within the complex which makes the generation of large quantities of material difficult. In this thesis, we have demonstrated the ability to overexpress various subgenes of the complexes in E. coli. The first is a sub-gene of the E2-PDC enzyme from various sources and also the corresponding sub-gene of protein X, termed the di-domain. These di-domains, are comprised of the peripheral subunit binding domain and adjacent lipoyl domain. We have shown that the di-domains have retained their ability to fold correctly, by studying their lipoylation state. Their function to bind the E3 enzyme has been demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance. By binding purified E3 enzymes to the surface of a dextran-coated chip and passing crude extracts containing the overexpressed di-domains over the E3, we have determined that the strongest binding affinities were between human E3 and the protein X di-domain, further substantiating the hypothesis that protein X has evolved to bind E3. The binding affinities between E2-PDC and E3 are sufficiently high to suggest that in the absence of competition from El, E3 may be able to form a stable complex with E2. The sequences surrounding the lipoylation site, a conserved DKA motif within the lipoyl domain, have been investigated using a monoclonal Ab specific for the lipoylated form of the domain, to determine residues critical for recognition by the lipoylating enzymes. To date, there has been some ambiguity with regard to the requirements of the lipoylating enzymes to enable lipoylation to occur. We have shown, with the use of lipoyl domain point mutants that the levels of lipoylation can be altered by mutating residues close to the critical lipoyl lysine. The structure of OGDC has evolved with significant structural differences to PDC and BCOADC. In particular, the El component has the ability to interact directly with E3 as well as the E2 core. The N-terminal region of El is thought to be important in these interactions. Subsequently we have overexpressed, in E. coli, three N-terminal fragments for use as competitive inhibitors of OGDC reconstitution. Despite failing to bind E3, these fragments display inhibition following MgCl2 dissociation, suggesting interference with El binding to the E2 core. Future work is planned to further investigate the divergent structure and protein-protein interactions of OGDC, along with interactions within the other two complexes. The overexpression and subsequent purification of each individual component should allow progress in this area.
Adviser: Gordon Lindsay
Enlighten Team
glathesis:1999-71579
http://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/71579


text:
Q: HTML encoding/decoding issue, when using JS to get from JSON data sample I have a website and want to display text. The text is in German and comes from a JSON data set I have. This is retrieved from a localhost API URL for now. The German words have the special characters replaced with HTML encoded ones. For example, erzählt is saved in the JSON data as  erz&#228hlt. When I make the textContent of my paragraph tag to the JSON German text, the HTML encoding does not work. It does work however if I just copy and paste it manually in. How can I trigger the encoding to work and have it show correctly?
Code:
Gets random German word from JSON API, puts text into paragraph. Encoding issue.
erz&#228hlt is shown instead of erzählt .
JSON example:
 { "id": "32", "ename": "Smile.", "gname": "L&#228cheln!" }

  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html" charset="utf-8"/>

German:

Any help or advice appreciated. If anything needs explaining please let me know.

A: If your string contains HTML entities like &#228 then it isn't text, it is HTML.
textContent expects you to pass plain text to it, not HTML source code.
Use innerHTML instead.

const value = "erz&#228hlt";
text.textContent = value;
html.innerHTML = value;

A: use innerHTML instead of innetText to solve your problem

function getData() {
  const data =  { "id": "32", "ename": "Smile.", "gname": "L&#228cheln!" };
  document.getElementById('gname').innerHTML = data.gname;
  document.getElementById('ename').innerHTML = data.ename;
}

getData();

  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html" charset="utf-8"/>

German:


text:
Q: Generic Relational to Composite C# Object Mapper I have following code that's capable of mapping Reader to  simple objects. The trouble is in case the object is composite it fails to map. I am not able to perform recursion by checking the property if it is a class itself
prop.PropertyType.IsClass
 as Type is required to call DataReaderMapper().  Any idea on how this may be achieved or some other approach? Also, currently I am not wishing to use any ORM.
public static class MapperHelper
{

    /// <summary>
    /// extension Method for Reader :Maps reader to type defined
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="T">Generic type:Model Class Type</typeparam>
    /// <param name="dataReader">this :current Reader</param>
    /// <returns>List of Objects</returns>
    public static IEnumerable<T> DataReaderMapper<T>(this IDataReader dataReader)where T : class, new()
    {
        T obj = default(T);

        //optimized taken out of both foreach and while loop
        PropertyInfo[] PropertyInfo;
        var temp = typeof(T);
        PropertyInfo = temp.GetProperties();

        while (dataReader.Read())
        {
            obj = new T();

            foreach (PropertyInfo prop in PropertyInfo)
            {
                if (DataConverterHelper.ColumnExists(dataReader,prop.Name) && !dataReader.IsDBNull(prop.Name))
                {
                    prop.SetValue(obj, dataReader[prop.Name], null);
                }
            }
            yield return obj;

        }
    }
}

A: Don't make DataReaderMapper recursive. Just make the mapping part recursive:
static void Assign(IDataReader reader, object instance) {
        foreach (PropertyInfo prop in PropertyInfo)
        {
            if (IsValue(prop))
            {
                prop.SetValue(obj, dataReader[prop.Name], null);
            }
            else if (IsClass(prop)) {
               var subInstance = Activator.CreateInstance(prop.PropertyType);
                prop.SetValue(obj, subInstance, null);
               Assign(subInstance, dataReader);
            }
        }
}

Like that. This recursively initializes all class type properties with default constructed instances and assigns data reader values to them.
The code is clearly simplified. I elided some of your stuff and IsValue/IsClass are left to implement to your liking. Also, you probably want to use a naming scheme so that a.b.c as a column name maps to that property. That's doable by passing the current name prefix as a parameter to Assign.
Further note, that DataReaderMapper being generic isn't required. I'm saying this because you struggled with that. Replace typeof(T) with a Type parameter and return an IEnumerable<object>. Then call Cast<T>() on the result of your method. So you see that this algorithm can in principle work without generics.

A: My preference would be to leave the heavy lifting to the calling code. This avoids relatively slow recursion, and allows you to build objects where the field names don't line up exactly or that don't have default constructors:
public static class MapperHelper
{
    public static IEnumerable<T> DataReaderMapper<T>(this IDataReader dataReader, Func<IDataRecord, T> map)
    {
        while (dataReader.Read())
        {
            yield return map(dataReader);
        }
    }

Then I would move your existing property code to a method that could be passed here as a default implementation:
    public static T DefaultMapper<T>(IDataRecord record) where T : class, new()
    {
        //This is now effectively inside the while loop,
        // but .Net caches the expensive recursive calls for you
        PropertyInfo[] PropertyInfo;
        var temp = typeof(T);
        PropertyInfo = temp.GetProperties();

        obj = new T();
        foreach (PropertyInfo prop in PropertyInfo)
        {
            if (DataConverterHelper.ColumnExists(dataReader,prop.Name) && !dataReader.IsDBNull(prop.Name))
            {
                prop.SetValue(obj, dataReader[prop.Name], null);
            }
        }
        return obj;
    }
}

You could call it with the default mapper like this:
foreach (var record in myDataReader.DataReaderMapper<SomeType>(MapperHelper.DefaultMapper) )
{
    //...
}

Of course this will still fail on complex composite types, but I don't see how you can expect any generic mapper to succeed in that scenario... if your inner type itself has properties to fill, there's no good way to get specify the matching name. This allows you quickly write your own mapper, if you need to:
foreach (var record in myDataRecord.DataReaderMapper<SomeType>(r => {
    //complex mapping goes here
    SomeType result = new SomeType() {
        field1 = r["field1"],
        field2 = new OtherType() {
           subField = r["subField"],
           otherField = r["otherField"]
        }
    }
    return result;
})
{
    //...
}

And of course you can always build the logic for that conversion into a method that could instead pass by name.


text:
Plastic Progress Report
The latest progress report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation report contains some reasons to be cheerful about the war on plastic. However, Richard Woodard asks, is the packaging industry pushing in the right direction?
irgin plastic use in packaging appears to have peaked among signatories to the 'Global Commitment' from circular economy pressure group the Ellen MacArthur Foundation – and the decline in its use is set to accelerate by 2025.
However, the charity warns that this is mostly being driven by the use of recycled content in packaging, rather than by reducing the need for single-use plastic in the first place – and it notes growing calls for a binding global agreement on plastic pollution, rather than relying on voluntary industry initiatives and government action.
The foundation's third annual progress report updates the actions taken by more than 500 organisations that have signed up to the 'Global Commitment', drawn up by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in association with the UN Environment Programme. The brands and retailers involved, including major packaging producers such as Amcor and Berry Global, as well as leading consumer businesses such as Unilever, The Coca-Cola Co, Nestlé and retailer WalMart, are responsible for 20% of all plastic packaging produced worldwide, and have signed up to ambitious 2025 targets.
According to the report, these companies collectively reduced their virgin plastic consumption by 1.2% last year, building on the 0.6% reduction recorded in 2019 - following decades of exponential growth that saw the global plastics market mushroom from 2m tonnes in 1950 to more than 300m tonnes in 2015. Furthermore, says the foundation, this trend of declining use is set to accelerate in the coming years, since a commitment to an absolute reduction in virgin or total plastic use by 2025 is now a mandatory requirement for businesses wanting to sign up to the Global Commitment.
"These targets are expected to lead to a total reduction in virgin plastic used by brand and retail signatories of around 19% between 2018 and 2025," the report says. "This sustained and significant fall would mark, for the first time, a decoupling of business growth from the consumption of virgin plastic among leading brand and retail companies."
When combined with the recycled content targets of plastic and packaging manufacturer signatories, it adds, this would reduce virgin plastic production by 8m tonnes a year – equivalent to 40m barrels of oil. However, there is a substantial problem with the way that virgin plastic use is being reduced, in that it is largely being driven by the growing use of recycled content in packaging – mainly rigid PET packaging.
The report notes that retail and brand signatories "substantially" increased post-consumer recycled content in their plastic packaging between 2018 and 2020 - a 60% rise, from 5.2% to 8.2% - meaning that if current trends continue and targets are met, about 80% of the planned virgin plastic reduction for 2025 will be accounted for by increasing recycled content.
"Most current efforts to eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging involve substitution to other plastics or paper, not solutions that reduce the need for single-use packaging in the first place," the report says, highlighting the fact that less than 2% of the packaging from Global Commitment signatories is reusable – with more than half of signatories admitting that none of their plastic packaging can be used again.
"While these changes take time," the report says, "more concerning is that levels of ambition to explore and scale reuse appear very low. Just 11% of signatories launched more than three pilots in the last year, while 56% launched none at all."
It continues: "We won't recycle or dispose our way out of plastic pollution. Demand for plastic packaging is predicted to double over the coming two decades … To achieve a circular economy for plastic, substantially more effort must go into preventing waste from being created in the first place - using elimination and reuse solutions to curb growth in the total amount of packaging that needs to be circulated."
The slow and inconsistent rate of progress - bearing in mind that 80% of the plastic packaging market is not covered by the Global Commitment - means that voluntary industry initiatives and isolated governmental interventions are unlikely to drive meaningful change.Instead, there is growing support among businesses and nations for a global agreement on plastic pollution - and the Foundation believes that 2022 offers a "unique opportunity" to build on the current momentum and to take action on a global scale.
With about 80 leading companies from across the plastics value chain backing calls from the Foundation, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) for a binding UN treaty on plastics, the report points to the next session of the UN Environment Assembly in February 2022. Noting that about 100 countries have also explicitly expressed support for starting negotiations on a global agreement on plastics in 2022, it says: "This is a unique opportunity to drive ambitious global action on plastics pollution that the international community must seize."
At the same time, industry support for extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy is now substantial. The report says that 150-plus organisations have now recognised that EPR policy is "the only proven way" to ensure sufficient funds for the collection, sorting and recycling of packaging. Without this, the Foundation argues, recycling is "unlikely to ever scale".
The report concludes: "Governments can build on this strong and constructive signal from industry to accelerate the implementation of EPR policy for packaging. Eight out of nine national governments reporting to the Global Commitment have already indicated that they have set or are planning to implement EPR policies by 2025."


text:
Pine Tree Hill Wildlife
Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation in Camden, South Carolina
To Rescue or Not To Rescue
What We Do And Don't Do
Venomous Snakes in South Carolina – A Crash Course
Pine Tree Hill Wildlife Care & Exotic Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered with the South Carolina Secretary of State located in Kershaw County, SC. We are SCDNR Registered & permitted for all species allowed per SC law. We are sub-permitted for birds. PTH Wildlife is a home based organization whose mission is to rehabilitate orphaned, injured and displaced wildlife and release it back into its natural habitat in a timely manner. At this time we are the only SC DNR permitted and US Fish & Wildlife sub-permitted wildlife rehab located in Kershaw County. We are an all volunteer organization.
Our mission is to rehabilitate orphaned, injured and displaced wildlife for release back into its natural habitat in a timely manner, and provide wildlife education programs to the public.
Wildlife Emergency?
Phone is the best way to contact us in an emergency situation. (803) 427-1350
Copyright © 2022 · Atmosphere Pro On Genesis Framework · Theme modification & site maintained by Sherra Scott
This function has been disabled for Pine Tree Hill Wildlife.


Rote Rote Hasna Sikho Hindi lyrics from movie Andhaa Kaanoon, sung by Kishore Kumar, music composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal, lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Rajnikant, Reena Roy, Madhavi.
Music Label: Saregama India Ltd.


text:
Tyler Perry Defends Casting Kim Kardashian
By: 105.9 Kiss
Filmmaker Tyler Perry has been criticized for casting Kim Kardashian in an upcoming film, and Movieline reports he's taken to his blog to explain why the 31-year-old reality star landed the role.
After news broke last month that Perry had cast non-actor Kardashian in his new project, "The Marriage Counselor," he says the outcry poured into his inbox.
But Perry explains that he cast Kardashian because she has the potential to be a role model, and asks fans to hear out his reasoning.
"I thought and still do think, that it would be very responsible of her to be a part of this film," Perry writes on his blog. "To have the young people that look up to her, see her in a film that is about what happens in life when you make the wrong choices."
"The Marriage Counselor" has a younger cast, and tackles issues like marital relationships and faith.
Perry says that he was looking to cast someone that young people look up to "long before I even heard about Kim's marriage or divorce," and a producer told him about Kardashian and her "millions" of fans. (He also notes she has a fairly small role in the film.)
"If one of those young people see this film and find the strength to live a better life and not go through what these characters went through in this movie, then we have all done what I feel I'm being led to do here," Perry explains. "I hope you understand. I really do!"
The filmmaker ends his entry on a spiritual note, asking, "why wouldn't Kim Kardashian be invited into a film about Faith, Forgiveness and the healing power of God? What is wrong with that??"
Kardashian's part on "The Marriage Counselor" has wrapped; the movie is due to hit theaters sometime next year.
Kim Kardashian	, movie	, Tune Up Man	, Tyler Perry
More By 105.9 Kiss


I am writing my journal for myself. This is my conversation with myself about where I am and what I am doing and what I have done and what I am learning and where I find the courage and the confidence to create the stage and excite interest and creative conversation around the idea of creating theatre for a new world to create a world which contributes to our common human interests in creating a world that works for everyone.
I am exploring how we can create a stage and what we can do to explore and create stories and how creating stories that contribute to our common interests could contribute to creating community and why we might care to explore the idea of creating theatre of a new world. And just as I turn to the arts community and the creative expression of our artists for creative ideas and creative inspiration for my exploration of what we can do and how we can do things, for the creative story, for the script, and the staging, and the possibilities of exciting our creative community in imagining and exploring how we create community, how we create an environment of caring to explore how we create a future for our world as a community, and how we draw our attention to the opportunity we have and our ability to use our technology revolution and our world without borders created by our communication systems, and our creative communities to elevate the conversation and make a quantum leap in our creative and cultural evolution as a community. I need to keep the idea that this could actually happen at bay.
How do we create a stage to create theatre to create an environment of appreciation and caring for our world, for one another, for our community, and for our relationships with our world and for the world we are creating. How do we create an environment of caring to create community around creating a future for our natural environment, our natural resources, our creative resources, and our cultural resources?
This is a process and I am feeling and working my way through the process of how we create our stage with our arts community exploring the creative experience and the art of creative entrepreneurship, creative leadership, and creative contribution in increasing our knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of our world, in contributing to how we see, think, and feel about our experience of life, and in imagining creative possibilities for our future.
I am reminded of Live Aid, a global concert to raise funds for people suffering from the Ethiopian famine one of the world's largest-scale satellite linkups and television broadcasts of all time with an estimated audience of 1.9 billion across 150 nations, – nearly 40% of the world's population according to Wikipedia.
Creating an environment for exploring our environment and caring for our environment that contributes to our possibilities and ability to create a new world that works for and contributes to everyone's ability to create a better future for themselves can move us to thinking about an ongoing performance with contributions from our arts community to draw community contribution to "Creating an environment for our future" – to creating the experience and to exciting our creative community in exploring how we create theatre for a new world to create theatre of a new world that contributes to our creative interests as a community.
What communities of common interest and common enterprise could benefit from creating community and being part of the experience of creating an environment of caring about the future of our environment, the future of our experience of the world we are contributing to creating? We need to elevate the conversation to creative community enterprise around our overarching common human interests with our creative resources, our creative abilities, and our creative ideas. We can begin by creating an environment for creative exploration of opportunities to create connections and create a stage in creative British Columbia for creative contribution and creative conversation around our most valuable and most essential resource, – our natural environment.
We need to explore how we excite creative community enterprise with the creative resources and creative imperative of creating the future for and with our cities, our creative centres. We need to elevate the conversation to explore and create a communication system and a way of doing things that respects our borders as sovereign estates established by governments entrusted with creating and defending borders and our different circumstances and with the constraints of our reality gives us the ability to create communities without borders around our creative interests and common enterprise in determining what we can do to move from where we are now in our creative journey to create a new world for our future to create a better future for our world.