Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor took the unusual step of adding a personal statement to the Court's denial to hear a case on appeal Monday.
The appeal was denied for procedural issues, but Sotomayor, joined by Justice Stephen Breyer, called out a federal prosecutor from Texas for his "racially charged" remarks to African-American defendant Bongani Calhoun during cross examination in the trial.
According to CNN, Calhoun was convicted and is serving 15 years in prison for his role in a federal drug conspiracy case.
It is deeply disappointing to see a representative of the United States resort to this base tactic more than a decade into the 21st century. Such conduct diminishes the dignity of our criminal justice system and undermines respect for the rule of law. We expect the Government to seek justice, not to fan the flames of fear and prejudice.
"The justices in rejecting Calhoun's appeal apparently accepted the lower appeals court's conclusion that the inmate never established that the insensitive comments necessarily prejudiced the outcome of the criminal trial," CNN explained.
I write to dispel any doubt whether the Court's denial of certiorari should be understood to signal our tolerance of a federal prosecutor's racially charged remark. It should not.
Read Justice Sotomayor's written opinion here.


text:
Book John Martin
John Martin is available to book for your special event – we work in direct association with John Martin's representative as a booking agent for John Martin. John Martin is best known for his collaborations with the Swedish House Mafia. Since 2010, John's career has risen collaborating with the likes of Tinie Tempah and releasing his debut single "Anywhere For You", written alongside music partner Michel Zitron. Johns vocal tracks are a list of hits including "Anywhere For You", "Reload", "Save The World" & "Dont You Worry Child" all the way down to an in progress track, "Love Louder" with David Guetta.
John Martin also released an acoustic track Just Drive in which a remix by DJ Clock House (Now: 2live) has proven more successful. April 3, 2014 saw John have his first spell into the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge covering Haims "If I Could Change Your Mind". John Martin released his debut lead single 'Anywhere for You' in 2014, also releasing 'Love Louder' a rumoured collaboration with David Guetta. More recently, in 2015, he co-wrote the song 'Together' with Ella Eyre.
Contraband is the UK's top booking agent, with outgoing, skilled account managers who guarantee you the best deal possible. Contact us today if you would like to book John Martin to be the headline of your event! We as your booking agent are more than happy to help you create the most memorable moments with John Martin.
John Martin : Book for your event

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Your search for 'The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environmen' returned 31 results
VCCCC026
Explain how groups express their identities, including religious and cultural identity, and how this expression can influence their perceptions of others and others' perception of them
investigating how and why different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are maintaining and strengthening their identities and how this contributes to Australia's national identity
investigating how and why the visible aspects of people's cultural identity (for example dress, gestures, traditions/customs, accent/language) can influence interactions between people
considering how Australia's location in the Asian region influences interactions between Australians an those living in the region
VCCCC026 | The Humanities | Civics and Citizenship | Levels 7 and 8 | Citizenship, Diversity and Identity
VCEBE019
Identify relationships and trends, and generate a range of alternatives for an economic or business issue or event, evaluating the potential costs and benefits of each alternative and the consequences of proposed actions
interpreting tables, charts and graphs containing economic or business data to identify trends and using the data to make predictions about future trends, for example, trends in online shopping
examining the trade-offs involved in making choices
investigating how businesses identify opportunities in the market
undertaking a cost-benefit analysis of alternatives proposed and making a decision about which one to recommend
discussing the consequences of an economic or business decision, and reflecting on whether this was the 'best' decision and what might be the effect of alternative actions
developing skills to contest and debate ideas and to express opinions on economics and business issues that interest and/or affect them or society
VCEBE019 | The Humanities | Economics and Business | Levels 7 and 8 | Economic and Business Reasoning and Interpretation
VCEBW016
Consider the ways in which work can contribute to individual and societal wellbeing
exploring ways that work can affect an individual's self-esteem, material and non-material living standards and happiness
investigating the ways work affects the economy such as avoiding poverty (relative and absolute), productivity, and generating income
VCEBW016 | The Humanities | Economics and Business | Levels 7 and 8 | Work and Work Futures
VCGGC103
Select and represent data and information in different forms, including by constructing appropriate maps at different scales that conform to cartographic conventions, using digital and spatial technologies as appropriate
creating an annotated diagram to demonstrate how water flows through the environment and connects places, or the influence of environmental quality on the liveability of places
constructing tables and graphs of demographic or economic data for Australia or China
creating annotated diagrams to show a landscape and its landforms
creating a map to show the spatial distribution and patterns of liveability, using computer mapping software
using a satellite image to construct a map to show the areas affected by a hydrological hazard, in Australia and another region of the world
VCGGC103 | The Humanities | Geography | Levels 7 and 8 | Geographical Concepts and Skills | Data and information
Identify, analyse and explain interconnections within places and between places and identify and explain changes resulting from these interconnections
describing how water is an available resource when it is groundwater, soil moisture (green water), and surface water in dams, rivers and lakes (blue water), and a potential resource when it exists as salt water, ice, water vapour or waste water, and using the concept of the water cycle to show the connections between the different forms
explaining how the movement of water through the environment connects places. For example, the melting of snow in spring feeding rivers and dams downstream
comparing student access to and use of places and spaces in their local area and evaluating how this affects perceptions of liveability
analysing the role of landforms and landscapes in tourism. For example, Uluru in Australia or the Grand Canyon in the USA
examining how urbanisation can affect environmental quality and analysing the effects of erosion and sedimentation produced by human activities on landscape quality
VCGGC101 | The Humanities | Geography | Levels 7 and 8 | Geographical Concepts and Skills | Place, space and interconnection
Explain processes that influence the characteristics of places
explaining the physical causes and the temporal and spatial patterns of an atmospheric or hydrological hazard through a study of either droughts, storms, tropical cyclones or floods
exploring the geomorphology of the land and how this affects the liveability of a place
contrasting the effects of geomorphic processes that lower the land surface (weathering and erosion) and those that raise the land surface (transportation and deposition)
discussing urbanisation as a shift in where, how and why people live where they do
Collect and record relevant geographical data and information from useful primary and secondary sources, using ethical protocols
gathering from a range of primary and digital sources, for example, from GIS layers, observation, annotated field sketches, surveys and interviews, or photographs, relevant data about the impacts of and responses to a hydrological hazard, or the factors influencing decisions people make about where to live
collecting geographical information from secondary sources, such as digital sources, thematic maps, weather maps, climate graphs, compound column graphs and population pyramids, reports, census data and the media
applying ethical research methods, including the use of protocols for consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
considering the usefulness of primary and secondary data by finding out when it was collected and for what purpose, and comparing this to the purpose of research
gathering relevant data about the ways to protect significant landscapes from a range of primary and digital sources, such as from observation, annotated field sketches, surveys and interviews, or photographs
VCGGK111
Factors that influence the decisions people make about where to live and their perceptions of the liveability of places
investigating their and others' interpretations of the concept of liveability and why what makes a place liveable may vary from person to person according to age, education, income, cultural background and other variables
discussing why many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples live on their Country/Place or might prefer to if they had the choice
VCGGK111 | The Humanities | Geography | Levels 7 and 8 | Geographical Knowledge | Place and liveability
Human causes of landscape degradation, the effects on landscape quality and the implications for places
analysing the effects of erosion and sedimentation produced by human activities on landscape quality, including farming and recreation
examining the effects of mining and quarrying, and urban development, on landscape quality and how this affects places
describing the effects of river regulation, including dams, locks, channel straightening and drains, on riverine and wetland landscape quality
investigating the effects on coastal landscape quality of the built elements of places. For example, urban development, marinas and sea walls
investigating the ways introduced plants or animals or activities such as mining affect landscape quality and examining the effects on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
VCGGK119 | The Humanities | Geography | Levels 7 and 8 | Geographical Knowledge | Landforms and landscapes
The reasons for and effects of internal migration in Australia and China
identifying and explaining the main types, patterns and trends of internal migration in Australia. For example, employment, lifestyle and retirement migration
examining the effects of resource development in Australia on employment growth in both the resource regions and the cities, and on internal migration
explaining why changes in the spatial distribution of population are a good indicator of economic and social change in a country
examining the role of labour migration in the urban development of China. For example, the growth of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province
exploring the issues relating to China's 'floating population'
VCGGK125 | The Humanities | Geography | Levels 7 and 8 | Geographical Knowledge | Changing nations
Influence of social connectedness and community identity on the liveability of places
discussing the different types of places where people and groups can feel included or excluded, safe or threatened, and evaluating how this affects perceptions about liveability of places
investigating the extent to which people in their place are socially connected or socially isolated and its effect on liveability
Causes of a geomorphological hazard and its impacts on places and human responses to it to minimise harmful effects on places in the future
investigating the natural causes and spatial distribution of a geomorphological hazard. For example, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides and avalanches
discussing the extent to which human alteration of environments has contributed to the occurrence of the geomorphological hazard
describing how the effects caused by geomorphological hazards are influenced by social, cultural and economic factors. For example, where people choose to live, poverty, and lack of infrastructure and resources to prepare and respond
researching how the application of principles of prevention, mitigation and preparedness minimises the harmful effects of geomorphological hazards
investigating the negative and positive impacts of bushfires on Australian landscapes and ways of responding to the risk and events of bushfires
Ways that flows of water connect places as they move through the environment and the ways this affects places
investigating the environmental, economic and social effects of water as it connects people and places. For example, the effects of water in the Snowy Mountains, or of upstream irrigation on downstream water quality
VCGGK106 | The Humanities | Geography | Levels 7 and 8 | Geographical Knowledge | Water in the world
Environmental, economic and social measures used to evaluate places for their liveability, comparing two different places
comparing objective measures of liveability such as transportation infrastructure, with subjective measures such as people's perceptions
comparing two liveability surveys and how this affects ranking places
evaluating surveys of liveability and the measures they use
Nature of water scarcity and the role of humans in creating and overcoming it, including studies drawn from Australia and West Asia and/or North Africa
investigating the causes of water scarcity. For example, an absolute shortage of water (physical), inadequate development of water resources (economics), or the way water is used
comparing the effectiveness in reducing water scarcity of methods that increase the supply of water (such as recycling waste water, stormwater harvesting and re-use, desalination and inter-regional transfer of water) with methods that reduce the demand for water (such as pricing, changing the use of water and water restrictions)
examining why water is a difficult resource to manage. For example, difficulties in accounting for its economic value, its competing uses and variability of supply over time and space
explaining why some land use management practices such as land cleaning and some farming practices have adversely affected water supply
The causes and consequences of urbanisation, drawing on a study from Indonesia
exploring the connections between urbanisation and economic and social opportunities
examining how urbanisation can affect environmental quality. For example, carbon emissions and water consumption
Influence of accessibility to services and facilities; and environmental quality, on the liveability of places
comparing accessibility to and availability of a range of services and facilities between different types of settlements (urban, rural and remote) in Australia and other countries. For example, shops, access to clean water, sanitation, education and health services
examining the role transport plays in people's ability to access services and participate in activities in the local area
explaining the importance of water quality to the liveability of places
investigating the concept of environmental quality and surveying the environmental quality of their local area and its effect on liveability
The challenges of managing and planning Australia's urban future
examining the forecasts for the size of Australia's major cities and regional urban centres, and discussing the implications for their environmental sustainability and liveability
investigating ways of managing the projected growth of Australia's cities and regional urban centres
exploring the arguments for and against a more balanced distribution of the urban population
examining how Canberra can be used as an example of urban decentralisation
proposing action to respond to geographical issues related to urbanisation
Causes of an atmospheric or hydrological hazard and its impacts on places, and human responses to it to minimise harmful effects on places in the future
explaining the economic, environmental and social impacts of a selected atmospheric or hydrological hazard on people and places, and investigating community responses to the hazard
VCHHC102
Identify and explain patterns of continuity and change in society to the way of life
listing the changes to everyday life in Ancient Egypt and rank in order of the most to the least significant. Justifying the argument using sources of evidence
creating a timeline that identifies changes and continuities in Japan under the Shoguns. Observe patterns of the influence of ideas, events, movements and individuals on these changes
using chronologies to observe and identify patterns where changes or continuities have occurred in Medieval Europe
organising changes in Early China into conditional factors and/or rank them according to the significance of the change
develop language to describe and explain change
VCHHC102 | The Humanities | History | Levels 7 and 8 | Historical Concepts and Skills | Continuity and change
Economics and Business (2)
Level 3 (13)
Level 10 (28)
All types (31)
Curriculum content (30)


To recover your password, please enter the code you see below and click the "Submit" button. We will then ask you for your email address.
If you cannot read the code below, please refresh the page to begin again. Or, if you require further assistance, please contact us.


Dress code Casual attire. No denims/football shirts.
Most fairways on the course are very open and forgiving to the high-handicap player, except in summer when the dry ground is hard and the rough attracts wayward carries. The greens are quite tricky as they are generally not flat and the grass on them is cut really short. There are plenty of mature trees about but its easy to avoid them most of the time. It's a pleasure to play on a course not plagued by road noise.
The club has an informal atmosphere and in several months playing there I have never encountered anyone, staff or member, who has not been friendly and helpful. Club facilities are basic, e.g. no practice greens or driving range, but this is reflected in the relatively low cost of membership.
I've been a member here for a few years and have been very happy to see continuing improvements made to both the club and the course itself under the current management.
The course has always had a good layout but is now fulfilling its potential under people who have a clear direction of where they want the club to go.
Also looking forward to having new practice facilities and putting green in the coming months.


Hi! Sign in to let us know how Shear Forte was?
Tiki L. Sep 14 .
I go here on a regular basis, I have Debbie cut my hair and she does exactly what I want. I am very picky and she is just wonderful. Whenever I get a haircut there, people always ask me where I go & how great my hair looks. I always tell them you get the best haircuts at Shear Forte. And the staff is just awesome.
Best Salon in the Area!
Kim Z. Aug 18 .
Very friendly atmosphere - I highly recommend this salon.
Amanda W. Sep 12 .
I have been going there for about 2 years. Within the past 9 months they have moved locations to a much nicer place. It is modern and has lots of space. Teri A. cuts my hair and she is very up to date on styles. This isn't the cheapest place, bu certainly not the most expensive. They offer many services, like nails and facials, but no tanning. I have had good luck getting in for appointments when I want to. I really like it!
If you've been to or used Shear Forte, leave a review.


You are a courier that has to deliver orders. Just click on the order, place it to it's point of destination and collect the money. There is only one problem - you have to do it really fast. Use your mouse to control the game. Left click on the order followed by a click on the respective station to deliver.
You are testing cars from ATV series, so you have to test their speed, abilities to make maneuvers and other parameters. The only problem is that you are given only one car, so don't spend all resources and try to avoid tires on slippery surface.
In this crazy ABC game you will train your skill to press the keys fastly. When you see a letter on the screen, you have to press it on the keyboard. Don't press the red letters. If you see a heart, press spacebar.
This game is quite similar to Morhoon - you have to shoot down reindeers with snowballs. You get more points if you shoot a reindeer that is placed far away. You can also also knock down tangerines from the Christmas tree.
You are riding this cool jeep on a competition at an iced place. Try to get to the finish line as fast as you can. Use the arrow keys to move your car. UP arrow – move forward, DOWN – backward, RIGHT, LEFT – balancing. Press P key for pause.


Ensuring the safe storage and handling of your raw materials and waste chemicals is always a concern, and Mech-Chem does this through complete, integrated primary storage equipment and piping systems which use the proper materials of construction.
Both single and double-walled pipes (secondary containment) are constructed using the proper materials of construction for your application and include leak detection in the interstitial space of double-wall pipes. All piping installed by Mech-Chem is fabricated, welded and installed according to ASME codes.
Click here for more information on piping systems from Mech-Chem Associates, Inc.


text:
Group Schedule
Teaching Staff Schedule
Room Assignment
Exams for group B18-302
Autumn semester of 2018/2019 academic year
B18-302
Odd week
Even week
Fri, 30 Nov, 12:45 — 14:20
Principles of the Humanities Novohatko I.M.
Tue, 11 Dec, 16:15 — 17:50
Culture and History of Religions Beglov A.L., Pyka T.V.
The History of Christian Thought Shmaliy V.V.
Foreign Language Subgroup 1 Arhipova L.S., Ovsyannikova O.N., Hachaturova E.G.
Sat, 22 Dec, 09:00 — 12:00
Informatics Getmanov V.G.
General Physics (Mechanics) Grishkov V.E.
Mon, 24 Dec, 09:00 — 12:00
Analytical Geometry Prostokishin V.M.
Numerical Analysis Goryachev A.P.
Chemistry Nagovitsyna O.A., Mesyats E.A., Glagoleva M.A.
Wed, 26 Dec, 09:00 — 12:00
History Makedonskaya V.A.
Fri, 28 Dec, 09:00 — 12:00
Fri, 11 Jan, 09:00 — 13:00
Informatics Gustun O.N.
Tue, 15 Jan, 09:00 — 13:00
Analytical Geometry Prostokishin V.M., Ivanova T.M.
Wed, 23 Jan, 09:00 — 13:00
Numerical Analysis Goryachev A.P., Fedoseev E.P.
Sun, 27 Jan, 09:00 — 13:00
General Physics (Mechanics) Matyatina A.N., Grishkov V.E., Zagaynov V.A.
© NRNU MEPhI, 2015–2019
Developed by NRNU MEPhI


Stage Right Productions and 2nd Street Theater present Picasso at The Lapin Agile by Steve Martin and directed by David DaCosta. Funny, irreverent and thought provoking, Picasso runs January 17 through February 1.
The production features the characters of Albert Einstein, played by John Page (Spamalot) and Pablo Picasso played by Alex Elmaleh (Working), who meet at a bar called the Lapin Agile (Nimble Rabbit) in Montmartre, Paris.
It is set on October 8, 1904 and both men are on the verge of an amazing idea (Einstein will publish his special theory of relativity in 1905 and Picasso will paint Les Demoiselles d'Avignon in 1907) when they find themselves at the Lapin Agile, where they have a lengthy debate about the value of genius and talent while interacting with a host of other characters.
Also Starring Gary Fulkerson (Spamalot), Ken McClintock, Trey Hinkle (Spamalot) and Kara Davison (Company, Spamalot, Evil Dead).
Funny, irreverent and thought provoking, Picasso at the Lapin Agile runs January 17 through February 1, 2014 at 2nd Street Theater. Performances are Thursday through Saturday 7:30pm with two Sunday matinees at 3pm. Tickets are $19 adults, $16 student/seniors.
There will be a champagne reception beginning at 6:30pm on opening night. Stage Right Productions will be donating a portion of the proceeds from that night's performance to the director, David DaCosta's family, who recently experienced astronomical medical expenses due to complications with the birth of their new son, Lincoln.


I have a lot of young mothers in my life right now--sister, sisters-in-law, best friends, ward members, and a few co-workers. It's amazing listening to them talk about how busy their days are--I can only imagine. They are (you are) the sole caretakers of one or more little adults! Of course that is going to keep you busy.
But in addition to caring for those darling diaper draggers, we all know it is important, even vital, to take care of ourselves. If we aren't taking care of ourselves, it's going to be pretty difficult to do everything else we willingly sign ourselves up for.
My research gathering skills were put to the test for this post. I pulled out my phone and sent a text message (intense, I know) to a handful of these mothers in my life, and asked for their thoughts on how they find a few relaxing moments for themselves in the midst of laundry, making breakfast, lunch and dinner, cleaning, baths, naps, and wiping away tears.
1. Grab a yummy snack and peruse through some favorite blogs for 30 minutes…now get back to work.
3. Take a quick power nap while the kid(s) are down taking their own naps.
4. Take a walk outside with the kids.
5. Sit in your favorite chair and read a couple chapters out of a book, in the scriptures, the Ensign, or a magazine, instead of doing more chores.
You take care of everyone else around you, so remember to take a few minutes for yourself--it's okay to do! And you absolutely deserve it.
Ashley Jones practices public relations for Deseret Book. She loves writing, emailing her missionary sister, and making/ eating home-made popcorn.


Bishop Wright ordained six individuals to the Sacred Order of Deacons. Being ordained as a Transitional Deacon is the initial step toward ordination as a priest, usually about six months later. The ordination service was held at the Cathedral of St. Philip on December 16, 2017.
Two of the new transitional deacons, Gregoria Betances and Irma Nohemi Guerra, are "home grown," the first to be educated in the Diocese Centro de Educación Teológica para Latinos (CETLA), the Theological Education Center for Latinos. The CETLA program provides foundational education for lay leaders in our Hispanic worshiping communities. Further information on the Diocese's Hispanic Ministries can be found here.


Router Stats - Netgear DG834 | Router Statistics | uno Communications Ltd.
On the Netgear DG834, they're very easily to find within the web interface.
Firstly, login to your router via the web-browser. The default IP for the router is 192.168.0.1 unless changed in which case you'll need to use the IP address configured.
Once logged in, go to Router Status on the left hand menu followed by the Show Statistics button.


A glorious example of design and urban green space.
To address a popular question over the last couple of days, a pocket park or mini-park is a small park/green space open to the public. In some areas they are called parkettes or vest-pocket parks, which I hadn't heard until reading the wikipedia article. Due to their smaller size, they avoid large scale redevelopment and usually don't include active recreation options.
In the case of an all-time favorite pocket park, Paley Park in NYC, pocket parks can be sandwiched between development on multiple sides, enclosing the area and aidng in the respite experience for the users. The combination of the honeylocust, the green covered side walls, and the waterwall in the back are brilliant. Huge impact with a minimal amount of materials. Beautifully simple.
So tomorrow, bright and early, Keep South Bend Beautiful will generate our own pocket park. Inspired by Rebar's Park(ing) Day original parking space take-over in 2005, KSBB hopes to generate buzz for the green spaces we do have in South Bend. The rebel, guerilla landscape architecture approach is so satisfying; especially when getting folks to discuss their green spaces and landscape architecture. Hope to see you all sometime between 8:00am and 3:00pm outside Fiddler's Hearth for a beautifully simple way to raise awareness.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged City of South Bend, Fiddler's Hearth, Foegley Landcape, keep south bend beautiful, Paley Park, pocket parks, Project for Public Spaces, Red Hen Turf Farm. Bookmark the permalink.


This morning on my podcast I read a poem by a friend of mine titled Dandelion. It is a very deep poem and I asked that each one of you who listens to give me your interpretation of the poem. I give mine on the podcast. I want to apologize in advance for the rudeness of my little Maltease who decided to bark throughout the entire podcast. He was barking at his imaginary buggers. I guess you could say he was listening to the voices in his head! Anyway, my friend's name is Marten Hoyle he can be found on facebook. He is an author and will soon be releasing his new work. So friend him, get to know him. Also if you have not yet checked out all of my podcast please do, leave comments, they are very important to me. And if you are an aspiring artist and would like to see your work out there, I will be happy to promote for you- read some of your work on my podcast and just generally help you get started. The same for those of you who are already out there. We are only as successful as we allow others to be.
So check out my podcast on Sound Cloud, Yvonne Mason I am alos on itunes under podcast under Author Yvonne Mason and I can be found on stitcher some of thoe podcast are messed up as the developers screwed them up when they uploaded them. Apparently Stitcher is still in beta- you can download the app to your phone. Soon it will be on Sirus Radio.


text:
Q: Question on Resistors for use with 5050 LED Strips I bought a set of red and yellow 5050 waterproof LED strips for my motorcycle.  I'm looking to add them to my topcase so it has running, brake and directional lights on it.  Right now, there are no lights on the topcase and I feel like it's hard for people to see the bike's lights below the topcase.
These are the ones I ordered - they are the typical strips with 3 LEDs per segment, that you  can cut every 3 LEds.
http://www.amazon.com/SUPERNIGHT-16-4ft-Waterproof-Flexible-Multifunctional/dp/B00BMHP960/ref=pd_bia_nav_t_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0T7N95KYJ4TASS7Y4CC4
I want to connect about 54 LEDs in 6 separate strips to my topcase (see attached).  Each side of the topcase will have a set of 3 strips:  1x12 LEDs, 1x9 LEDs, and 1x6 Leds.
I was thinking of wiring them up via a serial-parallel framework, using resistors to both my brake light and running light so the LED strips will be dim for running light purposes, and then go very bright when the brake is engaged.
For each strip (+), I was planning to have it connected both:

*

*the brake line with a directional diode

*the running light with a resistor and directional diode

I've been researching LEDs for a couple days now but am finding most of the stuff on the internet is for individual LED diodes - not for strips.  I'm confused because I believe the strip segments have resistors built into them already - hence why they can take a full 12v input.  If they didn't have resistors, they would overheat, no?
My big question is - what resistance resistor should I use to dim the LED strips.  From looking around the net, it seems like 1/4 W would maybe work - but I have no math to back that up.
Furthermore, I'm confused by how LEDs react at their forward voltage rates. For example, I believe the forward voltage rate for red 5050 LEDs is 2.0v.  If supplied that voltage, does the LED light up but just barely?  IE:  Is that the dimmest?  And is that for one LED or for the one segment of the strip (3 LEds)?
Any help on this front would be appreciated.  THank you all.

A: Yes, LED strips have resistors built in.
Resistors are primarily rated by ohms (Ω), and secondarily by power dissipation.  Standard component resistors are rated at 1/4W dissipation.  That just means that you can't put more power through them without burning them out.
To figure out what to put in the resistor block of your circuit we'll just use Ohm's law (V = I R):

*

*You should measure with an ammeter to be sure, but 5050 LED strips are typically assembled with resistors to draw 1 amp per meter at 12V, which means that the strips have built-in resistance of 12Ω.

*Decide how much "dimming" you want.  If you want them at quarter brightness, and noting that luminosity is proportional to current, then quadruple the resistance by adding a 36Ω resistor, which will bring total resistance to 48Ω and reduce current to .25A/m.

*But you can't just pop any 36Ω resistor in front of the load.  Suppose you have 1 meter of strips on your helmet: That would mean that you have to dissipate .25A*12V ≈ 3W of power.  Therefore, either find a ≥ 36 Ω 3W resistor, or else use twelve standard 3 Ω 1/4W resistors in series, or twelve standard 432 Ω 1/4W resistors in parallel, in order to dissipate the power used by a meter of those LEDs.

A: Data provided does not say how much current per LED or group of 3.
5050 LEDs usually have 3 dies and these are usually run in parallel. They MAY have got clever - you can check.
You can measure current per group of 3 - I will assume 60 mA and you can adjust.
I will assume 6V across 3 LEDS and 6V across a resistor - you can measure Vresistpr and adjust.
1 die = 20 m max usually.
3 in parallel = 60 mA
1 red LED = 2V
3 inparallel = 2V still
3 x 5050in series = 6V.
At 12V, 609 mA R = V/_ = (12-6)/60 mA = 6/0.06 = 100 Ohms = 100R
To get half current you need R = V_res/I = 6V / 0.03 = 200 R
So add 100R / N for half brightness for N x 3 LED strip.
In general Rseries effective
=(Vsupply - V_3_LEDS_series) / I
= (12-6)/I  = 6/I
Rseries effective = 6 / (I_per_3_LEDS x N)  ..... [A}
(where  N = sections of 3.)
Reduce current to any lesser value by increasing Vseries by adding
Rnew = Rseries_effective x (1-P)/P  [B]
where P is the fraction of old current you want
eg for I = 40% of old current P=0.4
Rnew = Rseries_effective x (1-0.4) / 0.4 = 1.5 x Rse
So for eg 3 sections where  I=180 mA and Rse = 6/.18 =~ 33R
Adding 1.5 x 33 = 49.5 ~= 47 R (std value) in series will reduce current t o 40%
You can check V_3_LEDS_series with a meter with 12v feed.
You can measure I per section of 3
You can then design as desired using [A] & [B] above
==

A:
Furthermore, I'm confused by how LEDs react at their forward voltage
  rates. For example, I believe the forward voltage rate for red 5050
  LEDs is 2.0v. If supplied that voltage, does the LED light up but just
  barely? IE: Is that the dimmest? And is that for one LED or for the
  one segment of the strip (3 LEds)?

Here's a typical normal red LED forward voltage-current characteristic: -

Look at the left graph first. With 1.9 volts across the LED the current will be about 30mA. Now look at the right hand graph - at 30mA the luminous intensity is 1.5 times greater than it would be with 20mA flowing (about 1.85 volts across it).
For this generic LED above you decide what luminous intensity you wish to have, see what current it needs and that tells you what voltage you can expect across the LED. Then, if your power supply is 5V you can roughly work out what resistor value you need.
Let's say you want to power it at 20mA; the forward volt drop is 1.85 volts and a series resistor connected to 5V would need to drop 3.15 volts (at 20mA).
The resistor value to choose is simply derived by ohms law 3.15/0.02 = 157.5 ohms. You'd probably choose a 150 ohm or 160 ohm resistor.
The problem with your LEDs is that they don't appear to have a data sheet and therefore aren't able to tell you what you fully need to know. I've said this many times on many questions but I'll repeat here: -
Read the data sheet first AND if there is no data sheet try and find one and if no luck then don't buy the device or be prepared to experiment with resistor values and expect potential disappointment. I never buy any electronic component that doesn't have a sensible data sheet.

A:
simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
Figure 1. A section of a typical LED light strip. Resistors in this case were for white LEDs.
The problem with resistors is that the voltage drop will vary with the number of LEDs connected. Diodes, on the other hand, give a reasonably constant voltage drop of about 0.7 V. We can use this feature.

simulate this circuit
Figure 2. Using diodes to drop the voltage in tail-light mode.

*

*Add as many diodes in series with the tail light to get the required voltage drop.

*Add one for the brake light to prevent backfeed.

*Check your diodes are rated for the expected / measured current.

The beauty of this configuration is that the brightness of the individual LEDs will be (pretty well) independent of the number connected.

I believe the forward voltage rate for red 5050 LEDs is 2.0v. If supplied that voltage, does the LED light up but just barely? i.e., Is that the dimmest? And is that for one LED or for the one segment of the strip (3 LEDs)?

As you can see from Figure 1, to get the LEDs to glow at all you have to supply enough voltage to overcome the forward voltage of three LEDs in series and the voltage drop (at that current) of the two resistors. I would expect that you might make out a dim glow at 5 V or so.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Teaching Personnel provides both teachers and support staff to state and independent schools as well as other educational establishments. Every year thousands of primary, secondary and special needs schools benefit from our quality, carefully selected candidates and as a business we feel privileged to have helped so many schools in the learning and development of their pupils.
Ongoing investment and maintenance of our candidate database in every location across England and Wales establishes Teaching Personnel as the agency with the UK's largest workforce of flexible education professionals. This ensures we can satisfy a full range of staffing requirements from daily supply cover to longer term needs. We also provide staff for pupil intervention programmes using one-to-one and small group tuition to positively impact pupil attainment.
The essence of what we do as a supply agency is straightforward and our company values of passion for education, championing quality, team spirit and always improving, support our mission of being the right workforce partner for schools.


text:
Saeed Ghasseminejad, Contributor
Finance, Foreign Policy, Economics, Iran, Middle East
The Obama Administration Gambled On Tehran's Moderation -- And Failed
07/18/2016 01:09 pm ET Updated Jul 19, 2017
By Saeed Ghasseminejad and Emanuele Ottolenghi
A year ago, the Obama administration made a gamble, striking a nuclear accord with Tehran that it hoped would transform its behavior, leading to a thaw in bilateral relations and a more stable Middle East. In the administration's telling, the agreement would help loosen hardliners' grip on power in favor of more moderate forces. Now, one year after the nuclear deal, the sad truth is unavoidable: the very opposite has occurred, and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei continues to consolidate his hold over Iranian politics.
Those in Washington charmed by the hope of a new Iran believed that its parliamentary elections this year, the first after the nuclear deal, would turn the tables on Khamenei and strengthen the hand of the relatively more pragmatic president Hassan Rouhani. However, when Ali Larijani and Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati were selected speaker of parliament and chairman of the Assembly of Experts respectively, this optimism quickly morphed into disappointment.
These same optimists should have known that in the Islamic Republic, the ballot box cannot deliver substantive change. In the past, the regime reacted to popular discontent with violence, undermining any chance for reform. But since 2009, when the regime nearly lost control of popular protests against fraudulent presidential elections, it has conducted its political maneuverings with heightened sophistication.
This year's ballots for parliament and the Assembly of Experts are a prime example. The regime confronted an inconvenient choice: either let reformists sweep back into power or face a repetition of the 2009 unrest. It cleverly chose a third course, disqualifying the most inconvenient candidates for both bodies in advance of voting.
Western commentators cheered the relative electoral success of groups loosely linked to Rouhani without realizing that the only way they could even field candidates was by coopting hardliners to their own ticket. When viewed in that light, the results become a clear disappointment for those who believed change was possible in Tehran through the ballot box.
Instead, the government took further measures to ensure that future elections are effectively meaningless. First, it strengthened the Guardian Council - which vets all political candidates and laws for ideological purity - by granting it the ability to disqualify sitting parliamentarians. Half of the Council's members are chosen by the supreme leader, and the other half chosen by the leader's appointed judiciary chief, so bolstering its power effectively ensured that parliament will fall into line with the leader's diktats. Soon after the elections, the Council used this new power to disqualify a newly elected member of the pro-Rouhani coalition because her hijab was deemed insufficiently modest.
Both Rouhani and parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani challenged her disqualification, but to no avail. Instead, Khamenei seized the opportunity to test a newly created body, the Supreme Council for Dispute Resolution, bypassing the Expediency Council - the institution that for decades has resolved conflicts between the Guardian Council and parliament. The Expediency Council is headed by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the relatively pragmatic politician and ex-president who is a Khamenei rival. Predictably, the new council affirmed the decision to disqualify the MP. In one fell swoop, Khamenei weakened his adversaries and neutralized parliament - one of the two elected branches of government that, as a semi-democratic state organ, could theoretically act as a vehicle for peaceful reform.
Time and again, Khamenei has modified Iran's political system to strengthen his own power. In theory, he welcomes the public's participation in elections. In practice, he manipulates the system to forestall any effort at substantive change. His latest maneuvers illustrate an uncomfortable but unavoidable fact: after the nuclear deal, even more than before, the Islamic Republic remains firmly in the hands of the hardliners.
Emanuele Ottolenghi is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where Saeed Ghasseminejad is an Associate Fellow.
Hassan Rouhani Islam Iran Nuclear Deal Iran


Established by mother–daughter duo Usha Mirchandani and Ranjana Steinruecke, this charming gallery has been fostering a small portfolio of young and mid-career artists for the past few years.
Established by mother–daughter duo Usha Mirchandani and Ranjana Steinruecke, this charming gallery located behind the Taj Mahal hotel has been fostering a small portfolio of young and mid-career artists for the past few years. Among them are Abir Karmakar, who challenges notions of private and public with snapshot-like portraits of himself; Sosa Joseph, a painter whose canvases often depict coastal Kerala state; and Manish Nai, who works with jute and tracing paper. Steinruecke, who previously ran a contemporary Indian art gallery in Berlin, resists the tendency of some international curators to focus on socio-political issues when it comes to India. "It doesn't always have to be about a issue; it could be about the handling of the medium, the reaction from the viewer," she says.


Risk Integrated received US government FISMA compliance for its Specialized Finance System. The system, for risk management of complex commercial real estate loan portfolios, adhered to the strict guidelines of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The Basel Committee for Banking Supervision has published two papers recently to clarify the important area of operational risk. Both Risk Integrated CEO, Chris Marrison, and the chairman of the Basel Committee and president of the Netherlands Bank, Nout Wellink provide their commentary in Project Finance International.
For the second year running, Risk Integrated's Specialized Finance System has been recognized in as the 'best spreadsheet product' for taming spreadsheets within an enterprise-level system from OpRisk & Compliance magazine. They compile their 2008 compliance software rankings from responses among key global, financial institutions.
Risk Integrated features prominently in a lengthy article appearing in the operational risk section of Risk magazine this month discussing the installation of its ESP technology at a large CRE lender in Europe.
ComplianceExecutive.com featured an article today written by Risk Integrated CEO, Dr. Chris Marrison, discussing the hazards associated with elevating spreadsheets to use for a company's material decision-making.
Risk Integrated CTO Yusuf Jafry discusses the difficulty and possible solutions to ensuring accurate spreadsheets, enterprise-wide, for all businesses.
Spreadsheets: A Tool You Can Trust?
For more than two decades, spreadsheets have been the tool of choice for financial services firms. But do they contain hidden dangers? The November issue of Oprisk & Compliance magazine reports on the Enterprise Spreadsheet Platform (ESP) product from Risk Integrated. ESP helps firms transform these common business tools into actual applications, eliminating a major source of spreadsheet risk.
Spreadsheet risk has become a worldwide epidemic not only for applications in the financial services industries but also in government and medicine. In the online magazine, Financial Places, Dr. Yusuf Jafry clarifies that with their supreme flexibility, spreadsheets are no longer viewed as prototypes to be displaced as soon as proper systems are rolled out. Appropriate management products provided by software technology firms are elevating spreadsheets to solid enterprise-level applications.
In the article appearing in the 11 July 2006 issue of FX&MM, CEO Chris Marrison speaks about the increases in regulatory pressure forcing companies to more closely examine the internal use of spreadsheets.


Frankly, I don't give a hoot about his opinion on politics.
I don't give a hoot about what she thinks of my housekeeping abilities.
Give a hoot and donate a dollar to the children's hospital.
She doesn't really seem to give a hoot about it. I don't think she cares.
Have you seen him? He doesn't give a hoot about recycling. He puts all of his trash in the same bag.
I don't give a hoot about all this gossip. I'm not interested.
His boss doesn't give a hoot about his vacation time. Technically he has three weeks, but he hardly takes three days in fear of him.


text:
US soldiers gather for a brief during a combined joint patrol rehearsal in Manbij Syria
"We are confident we can achieve an outcome that achieves both of those", Pompeo told journalists in Abu Dhabi, his latest stop in a regional tour.
Any Turkish assault on the Kurdish-held territories in Syria liberated from the Islamic State while American forces are still there may entail a potential conflict between the two North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies. In a televised speech in December, he said Turkey's army would be ready "neutralize terrorist organizations" in upcoming months, according to the Financial Times.
The Kurds have sought Russian meditation for the talks with President Bashar al-Assad's government, part of their strategy to fill a vacuum that will be left when USA forces withdraw from the country, as instructed by President Donald Trump.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan labeled Bolton's comments unacceptable and a "grave mistake".
"It is important that we do everything we can to make sure that those folks that fought with us are protected and Erdogan has made commitments, he understands that", Pompeo said during a Wednesday visit to the Kurdistan Region capital Erbil.
Several weeks later, national security adviser John Bolton said the withdrawal will have a longer timeline, and will not be undertaken until Kurdish fighters are protected and ISIS is defeated in the war-torn country.
He said such statements were "unacceptable".
He added, "If there are other terrorists who would attempt to intervene in our intervention, then it is our duty to eliminate them as well".
Ayman Soussan, an assistant to the Syrian Foreign Minister, confirmed on Sunday that talks between Damascus and the Kurdish forces in Syria's northeast have intensified due to a possible Turkish military operation. Syria's assistance has allowed 400 fighters from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) to withdraw from the area. The YPG denies any direct organisational links to the PKK.
"The withdrawal is based on operational conditions on the ground, including conversation with our allies and partners, and is not be subject to an arbitrary timeline", he said.
"We hope we can turn the corner here", Mr Pompeo added. He is calling for a united Arab front against what he describes as its destabilising activity and Saudi Arabia is key to that. A senior United States official said the Americans wanted the Saudis to give a more credible explanation of what happened and do more to punish the killers, and Mr Pompeo would press them on both points.
The official also would not say what part of Syria the equipment was in, although it's widely expected the drawdown will begin in northern Syria.
However, the defeat of IS is far from final.
The decision sent shockwaves through the White House, causing Defense Secretary James Mattis to resign in protest.
Mr Trump's decision to withdraw the troops hinges on Turkey's cooperation to secure the northern border.
Russian Federation said on Friday it was important for Syria's Kurds and government to start talking in light of US plans.
There are 2,000 American troops in Syria.
Sarah Thomas will be first woman to officiate NFL playoff game
But she stressed that her focus was on "being the best official I can be". Thomas's career has been an ongoing blitz against sexism in the NFL.
FINAL DESTINATION To Receive More Final Entries
New Line is reviving its " Final Destination " franchise, which has been dormant since 2011, says reports. The original premise of Final Destination features a young student by the name of Alex Browning .
Forced marriages: US approved thousands of child bride requests over past decade
Although her parents eventually sent her to live with her first cousin in Pakistan, the USCIS approved her petition in 2004. And these petitions generally put weight on whether the marriage would be legal in the country of origin.
Lin-Manuel Miranda brought to tears as 'Hamilton' premieres in Puerto Rico
Add Puerto Rico as an interest to stay up to date on the latest Puerto Rico news, video, and analysis from ABC News. The Tony victor teared up on Friday as he brought his father, Luis, onstage at the Luis A.
Celtics' Brown, Morris downplay shoving incident
The Celtics have won seven out of 10 and are 25-16, but that still falls below the lofty expectations they had before the season. He continued: "These are the things I don't think some of my teammates have faced just every single day.
Royal Family celebrates Kate's birthday with lovely photos of the Duchess
The charity, which delivers a trauma team to critically injured people in London, is close to William's heart. The palace wished Middleton a happy birthday on the palace and the royal family's official Twitter accounts.
The 34-year-old Swiss won the first two sets 6-4 and 7-5, forcing an injured and struggling Djokovic to retire in the third. If she's at her best, then she'll make it to the final and if she performs on the day the title will be hers.
Pompeo is now on a Mideast tour, bringing the Trump administration's anti-Iran message to the region. The Polish foreign ministry could not be reached for comment, Reuters news agency said.
DRC's Fayulu to release church's vote results
Protests in the western city of Kikwit on Thursday turned violent, killing at least four demonstrators and two police officers. In the election, Kabila backed his former interior minister, Emmanuel Shadary, who finished a distant third.
Bafana Bafana legend Phil Masinga has passed away
He also managed to net a hat-trick in an FA Cup clash with Walsall in 1995. Our legend is gone. 'He is no ordinary legend, he was an global legend'.
Morris, Tatum help Celtics rout tired Pacers 135-108 | AP sports
Model With Down Syndrome Is the New Face of Benefit Cosmetics
Quarter UK growth 'may be boosted by Brexit stockpiling'
Duchess Meghan gives fashion tips to unemployed and vulnerable women
Leeds United in talks to sign Real Madrid keeper Kiko Casilla?
Tamilrockers leaks 'The Accidental Prime Minister' online after Rajinikanth's 'Petta'
Merkel says Germany recognises responsibilty for Nazi crimes in Greece
Huawei says sacks employee in Poland that was arrested on spying charges


text:
Source; ANOKHI MEDIA
5 South Asian Shows On Netflix That Are A Must Watch!
Subscription based online streaming sites have completely revolutionized the way we interact with media artifacts in the 21st century. Netflix has become this absolute necessity in today's day and age and has become an iconic pop culture symbol.
From seeping into our dating culture to deciding hoe we now view content, Netflix has taken over our digital airwaves and the demand for original, new and exciting content is increasing everyday. That is why we were extremely excited when we started seeing more and more brown people on Netflix, living their true authentic South Asian experience.
Although there are several Pakistani movies and countless Pakistani drama serials currently on Netflix, India's collaborations with the global streaming platform are a true gift to all of us desi folks regardless of what side of the border we're on.
With phenomenal performances, outstanding story lines and gripping suspense and drama, these shows are setting a precedent for other to follow. Without further ado, here are our top 5 picks of the best shows starring South Asian faces.
Hasan Minhaj has got to be our top pick for this list because he has two entries because of his outstanding take on both political and socio-cultural issues of what it means to be Indian or more importantly a brown individual.
The Patriot Act
His first show very aptly titled, The Patriot Act was sure to turn a few head and even led to one episode being taken off Netflix for being too controversial! With each episode, the Peabody Award winning comic breaks down large concepts and issues relevant in today's world and tries to use his interactive story telling method to explain them as well. From the U.S education system to the dynamics of Indian elections, The Patriot Act is a truly diverse and engaging show.
Homecoming King
Another one for Minhaj, this one is the comedian's first stand-up comedy special but is slightly more on the personal and anecdotal side as he shares his harrowing ordeals related to racism, discrimination and the hilarious trial of having immigrant parents. The best part of this critically acclaimed show is how darn relatable this is for us brown folks.
Delhi Crime
This harrowing crime drama is based of off the Indian rape case that shook the entire nation and follows the aftermath of this unfortunate story as the police investigate and eventually bring the perpetrators to justice. A shocking, gut wrenching and strong tale which brought about a wide array of mixed reviews from audiences but has been hailed as one of the best shows on Netflix in a while.
This ones for all the diasporic audiences who finally get to see a strong, funny, successful and intelligent brown woman make it up the ladder for once. Chronicling the life of quirky and confident Mindy Kaling as a professional woman, The Mindy Kaling Project is the romantic comedy we've all been waiting for. Kaling is rash, unapologetic and inherently flawed but that's what makes her character so loveable and relatable.
Love Per Square Foot
While us brown people literally live and breathe off of love stories and overdone tales of romance and desire, this Netflix original is definitely something unique. It follows the trials of a young couple who are forced to marry so they can afford housing, a privilege they are otherwise not privy to as just a co-habiting couple. This different take on modern day relationships and how they fall into our part of the world are definitely the new stories that we need to view and is surprisingly refreshing and enjoying to view.
10 Stinky Things To Think About Before Joining Pakistan's Music Industry
The Halfling
Pakistani Film-Maker Iram Parveen's Film 'Wakhri' Makes It To Cannes'19
Scottish Pakistani Poet, Imtiaz Dharker To Be Next Royal Poet Laureate


text:
Home/Business & Defence/6th and The Final Scorpene Submarine Will Be Launched Next Week
Business & DefenceIndian NavyPrivate Sector
6th and The Final Scorpene Submarine Will Be Launched Next Week
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Tumblr Pinterest Reddit Messenger Messenger WhatsApp
Vagsheer, the sixth and final submarine in the Scorpene class, will be launched on April 20 from Mumbai's Mazagon Dock. The submarine is part of Project-75, which includes the MDL's Scorpene or Kalvari-class diesel-electric attack submarines, as well as French involvement.
So date, four submarines of this type have been commissioned: the INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, and INS Vela.
Vela and Vagsheer, the two remaining submarines, are scheduled to be commissioned in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
INS Kalvari was commissioned on December 14, 2017, after being launched on October 27, 2015.
Introducing The Navy's New Guided Missile Destroyer, INS Mormugao
Rajnath Singh Provides Indian Navy The Missile Destroyer INS Mormugao
INS Khanderi was commissioned on September 28, 2019, after being started on January 12, 2017.
INS Karanj was commissioned on March 10, 2021, after being launched on January 31, 2018.
INS Vela was commissioned on November 25, 2021, after being launched on May 6, 2019.
On November 12, 2020, Vagir was launched.
The Scorpene or Kalvari-class submarines are among the world's most technologically advanced conventional submarines. These platforms are outfitted with the most cutting-edge technology available. These submarines are outfitted with powerful weaponry and sensors to neutralise any threat above or below the sea surface, making them more deadly and stealthy than their predecessors.
The Scorpene submarines are exceptionally powerful vessels that are equipped with both long-range guided torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. They also have superior stealth features.
These submarines contain a cutting-edge SONAR and sensor package, allowing for exceptional operational capabilities. Their propulsion motor is an improved Permanent Magnetic Synchronous Motor (PERMASYN).
Indian Navy Mazagon Dock Submarines
US Military Showcased Updated Defence Equipment For Rajnath Singh
India And France Are Looking Ways To Bolster Defence Ties
Indian Navy's Project 15B: Rajnath Singh Will Commission The Stealth Destroyer Ship INS Mormugao On Sunday
Admiral R Hari Kumar, Head Of The Indian Navy, Arrives In Sri Lanka For Four-Day Official Visit
Rajnath Singh Says That The Country Is Building Its Second Aircraft Carrier After INS Vikrant


Hamilton Commission President Todd Portune hit the nail on the head when he called for the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County to hold another public hearing about the potential sale of the North Building. To say the hearing held on Monday was a farce is being too kind. The meeting was moderated by an outside facilitator who forbade the audience from clapping or cheering and explained the library's board would not be answering any questions. We understand the library board might not want to face hostile opposition to this transaction, but they are obligated to listen to the voices of taxpayers nonetheless. Too many politicians are ducking the public these days on contentious issues. That's why it was good to see Portune stand up and demand a re-do. Let's hope next time the library board has the courage to face the public, let them express themselves and be accountable by answering questions. Let's make sure the public has ample and adequate notice of the future hearing too.
Skeptics contend the Queen City lacks the cool factor to score, say, an Amazon HQ. That is open to debate. And besides, coolness comes in a variety of means: the U.S. Hipster Index for example, which just ranked Cincinnati as the third "most hipster city in America." That makes for a great T-shirts and maybe even a tattoo, which would be appropriate given Cincinnati was awarded the designation because it has the second-highest number of tattoo parlors per 100,000 residents. No matter the measure, it's good to see the Queen City getting recognized for all of its unique offerings.
Memorial services were held Wednesday for former Cincinnati mayor Bobbie Sterne and many got the opportunity to pay their respects to this political trailblazer. It's only appropriate that we acknowledge Sterne here as well. She not only was the first female to be elected mayor, but she was a tremendous public health advocate and champion of the disenfranchised. Cincinnati has lost a treasure, but Sterne's legacy will endure.
Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police president Dan Hils was elected to represent the interest of all members of the police union, but his actions and rhetoric that border on racist have disenfranchised African-Americans on the police department. The fractious environment created by Hils has even triggered a no-confidence vote by The Sentinels, an advocacy group comprised of 230 African-American police officers, stunting a new, more promising relationship before it had time to grow. That's a shame for the department and the people it serves and protects. Hils, who is white, is the subject of an internal equal employment opportunity (EEO) filed by African-American police lieutenant, Danita Pettis, who accuses Hils of undermining her authority by speaking to the third-shift roll call supervised by Pettis during her night off. During the roll-call, Hils complained about the difficulty of doing their jobs in an "urban ghetto." Pettis' EEO complaint also mentions that Hils bragged about "kicking her a--" 25 years ago during an arrest when Pettis was a civilian. Hils and Sentinels president Sgt. Eddie Hawkins were elected months apart and promised a new day of collaboration. That day, apparently, has passed. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Police Department is rich in talent and diversity, and it serves and protects a diverse city. Its union deserves a collaborative leader for all. Hils is not such a leader.
University of Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin not only should have known better, he should have done better. Cronin lost his cool following a beatdown by Xavier University in this year's annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. The coach was angered by XU player J.P. Macura, who, according to Cronin, told him to "eff off" three times during the game. Cronin yelled at Macura as the postgame handshake line ran its course. We're certainly not condoning Macura speaking to Cronin so disrespectfully, but Cronin is the adult in this situation and should have conducted himself as such. Cronin had a chance to set an example for all the players on the court last Saturday, including Macura, by taking the high road, not by letting a college kid push him to act embarrassingly out of character.
What was former University of Cincinnati Police Chief Anthony Carter thinking? Carter resigned on Thanksgiving, apparently after being investigated for improperly injecting himself into an investigation of threats involving married faculty members, according to a report released by UC. The disgraced former chief repeatedly asked out the female faculty member involved in the case, the report says, sending her 171 texts, some "inherently flirtatious," and calling her 11 times over 36 days. Poor judgment seems to be a qualification for being chief at the university's police department, and one might question UC's decision not to immediately terminate Carter for such an abuse of power. Here's hoping UC's next chief hire exhibits more self-control and willingness to play within the rules.


The eye catching outfit introduce from famous actor Charlie Hunnam. Legend of the Sword King Arthur Jacket is perfect outfit for every time. This apparel style is decent from another. The jacket is available in cotton and leather material. This is attractive outfit the collar is different style and two inside pockets. This Legend of the Sword Jacket is best for parties. Just click on add to cart & get now!!
King Arthur Legend of the Sword Shearling CoatLooking like the kings of the old times is something ..


Since starting Financial Finesse in 1999, I have never understood why companies negotiate salaries for new hires, and so we never have. Salaries are set, and candidates can choose to take the job or pursue other opportunities that may be more lucrative or appealing in other ways. In our 19-year history, we have lost potential employees early in the process seeking higher compensation, but I can only think of one candidate who specifically declined a position because we refused to negotiate, and it later became obvious she would not have been a cultural fit regardless. This candidate was looking for anything she could get above and beyond our offer - down to extra PTO, better parking, a nicer computer. We are not a culture that indulges this sort of bargaining behavior so the dynamic would have inevitably failed if she had actually become an employee.
1. If you are committed to fair pay, and assign an accurate monetary value to the position that fully compensates the quality of candidate you are looking to attract, then aren't you contradicting yourself by negotiating? I've talked endlessly with friends going through this process and have yet to find anyone who feels good about this dynamic.
Think about it. When a company is open to negotiating, they are implicitly acknowledging that they are trying to pay less than what the position is actually worth, potentially as little as they can possibly get by with. This means the burden to collect the full salary owed is dependent on your willingness as a candidate to push the envelope and advocate for as much as you can get, regardless if you deserve it or not. Back when I was seeking employment and encountered the dreaded negotiation, I always felt the company was trying to get one over on me, so I had to "flip the script" and make sure I over-compensated in the other direction. If the ultimate outcome of a "good" negotiation is both parties feeling equally dissatisfied, then why would we opt to establish a new professional relationship on such destructive terms?
2. Take that one step further. You hire this person who you have negotiated with. What precedent have you set? You've let a presumably talented person you believe is an excellent fit for a position and ideally has a long-term future with your company, know they can't trust you, and further, that the ONLY way for them to get what they want is to always negotiate.
You didn't end the negotiation when the hiring paperwork was signed. You actually started a much bigger, more dangerous negotiation dripping in mistrust. You establish a relationship where your gain is your employees' loss and vice versa - rather than a reciprocal partnership defined by mutual goals.
3. If you genuinely seek to eliminate the gender pay gap and acknowledge that a diverse workforce is much more productive, successful and lucrative, then ceasing salary negotiations should be a cultural imperative. Studies shows that a good portion of this gap is based on the fact that women aren't as comfortable negotiating as men are. Even for women who have MBAs and presumably more sophistication navigating these discussions, one study found that half of men had negotiated their job offers vs. an eighth of women. Other studies show women are more likely to negotiate less assertively and have their negotiations rejected.
Think of the impact of this over the course of a career. It starts small, with the first job, then compounds over time as the first job leads to the first raise, first higher-paying job elsewhere, etc. One of the fastest ways to close this gap would be for all companies to pre-set salaries for positions and simply hire the best candidate at that salary.
Imagine what an impact this would have — and how this could change the career trajectory of women everywhere who now can focus on increasing compensation based on their work, not their negotiating skills. Would a blanket non-negotiation policy across all companies close the gender pay gap by a third, half, two thirds, or even more over time? It's impossible to know, but at our company, there is no pay gap for similar positions based on this policy and we have a workforce that is gender balanced—so if that's any indication, it would go a long way. From an employer perspective, it actually takes more time, effort, and resources to indulge negotiations than pivoting your recruiting strategy to implement and endorse a "no-negotiating" policy.
Question 1: If there is a difference in quality of candidates for a similar position, shouldn't we account for that in negotiations?
You are doing what we are all guilty of during the interview process - falling in love with potential and ignoring the reality of what the job actually requires and what type of candidate would be a strong long-term fit.
Question 2: Won't we lose a lot of good candidates if we didn't negotiate? Our industry is highly competitive with a shortage of talent, and if we aren't willing to accommodate candidates' compensation needs or at least meet them part way, how are we going to attract the best talent?
My answer: We are in one of the most competitive industries there is, with a shortage of financial advisors who are rapidly aging out of the business and a lack of interest among younger employees in pursuing the profession - and this doesn't happen to us. Instead, our no-negotiation policy has had the opposite effect. It has forced us to create a very strong value proposition as an employer, build a great culture, and make recruiting a central part of what we do because we know full well that if we don't, there's no fallback position where we can throw more money or extra perks at the candidate. Without this pressure to create exceptional "take it or leave it" job opportunities and an equally compelling work environment, I don't think we'd be nearly as strong as a company.
Question 3: Won't this insult candidates who expect you to negotiate?
My answer: If you make this clear at the front end and reiterate it throughout the process, you'd be surprised how many candidates not only accept a no-negotiation policy but actually feel relieved they don't have to enter into negotiations and instead evaluate the job based on the parameters you set.
Question 4: How can this possibly work at a large company? I can see how this works for small companies that have a lot of growth potential, but it's just not practical at large companies, especially not at the executive level.
My answer: You got me here. I haven't run a large company. Financial Finesse is growing rapidly, but it's still small by number of employees and medium by revenue.
However, I have hired executives using this strategy. What I've done in this instance is surveyed the market, reaching out to people in my network who have similar skill sets and experience to gauge the market value of the position, and gone from there. I do acknowledge that the growth potential of a small company does make salary less relevant and that when you have positions which only a single person can fill (in other words, there aren't multiple people within the company or on a team performing essentially the same job) then it does become more subjective and at least front-end discussions around compensation make more sense.
But I also feel that this is a slippery slope. Executive pay is larger than it should be, especially in cases where the company is not performing well, and there's a very strong case to be made for holding firm on at least the base salary, with strong performance incentives. I've found that executives that are intrinsically motivated to challenge themselves, make an impact, and build something great as opposed to extrinsically motivated to get a lot of money and recognition tend to perform better.
While negotiating salaries is a non-negotiable for us, I acknowledge outliers and exceptions will always exist. That said, the idea is to rewrite the rule of thumb, where negotiating becomes the anomaly and best and final becomes best and first. For the same reasons why we maintain a strict price parity policy, I believe making a prospect aware from day one that they are committing themselves to a mutually beneficial relationship that is founded on trust, transparency, and the understanding that no one got a better or worse deal before you and no one will get a better or worse deal after you, allows new relationships and partnerships alike to commence with confidence and completely avoid the tedious and time-consuming negotiations that inevitably leave one side feeling compromised or with a bad case of buyer's remorse.
This is exactly why I recently bought my husband a Tesla - not because I felt better about saving the environment or the fact it can literally drive itself, but because I knew there was no hassle involved. I could order a car with the same confidence I order a pizza, knowing there was no negotiating necessary, time wasted, or better deal for the exact same product. At the end of the day, peace of mind is priceless, which ultimately renders negotiating pointless.


Spring is upon us and one of Wisconsins best bowhunting clubs is having their Spring Traditional Shoot-April 20th and 21st. Come shoot our beautiful wooded acreage and experience one of the best courses in the Midwest. Realistic shooting yardages with markers placed by traditional bowhunters, and 28 3-D shooting stations featuring 56 Rinehart targets, plus a broadhead range with Glen Del Bucks, and a goliath shooting platform on our practice range, Novelty shoots,including a motorized "running deer" Visit our clubhouse for Breakfast and Lunch. We offer camping with electricity. All Traditional vendors are welcome. Dinner provided for any vendors staying into the evening. This promises to be one of the best shoots this year. Email Mark Wissler for a scanned copy of our flyer.
Looks like, for now, that the weather is gonna be great for the weekend, 50's and SUNNY!!!!!!
I think I will bring boots.
I'm turkey hunting so won't make it. Got a shot yesterday while on my knees shooting from the base of the ridge upwards. Turkey flew up into the tree after the shot and gobbled at me. Guess I need more practice at Gregs 'turkey on the stump" shot at Sherwood. My first shot at a turkey without a blind.


If you used an image of a leaf on your card, you are eliminated.
Good job, ladies. Both cards are SAFE today!!
...WTG.. you must be just all sweating it out now!
There are lots of similarities in the 2 cards left. I wonder who will win? Good luck to you both.
and you survive for another day!


text:
El distrito de San Pedro es uno de los veintiún distritos que conforman la provincia de Lucanas, ubicada en el departamento de Ayacucho, en el Perú.

Historia
El distrito de San Pedro fue creado mediante Ley No.701 del 16 de diciembre de 1907. Su capital es el centro poblado de San Pedro.

Geografía
El Distrito de San Pedro es muy accidentado por estar situado en un área ondulada y sobre una laguna, por el Norte Limita con la demarcación del río San Pedro Santa Cruz y Pamparque, por el Sur con el Centro Poblado de San Antonio, por el Este con abismo de Patahuasi, por el Oeste con el Anexo de Santa Ana.

Centro Poblado San Antonio
San Antonio fundado el 25 de abril de 1908 y creado el 14 de julio del año 1919 siendo a cargo como teniente Gobernador el señor Griseldo Tirado Soto, como diputado nacional por Ayacucho Nicasio Arangoitia, como presidente de la República Augusto B Leguía y el reverendo padre Mariano M Salas vicario general de la Provincia Lucanas y Parinacochas, los pueblos que participaron en la creación del Centro Poblado San Antonio fueron Chiripampa hoy (Santa Isabel), Cceñuayzo hoy (Unión Palaycca), Puncuhuacca, Salahua y Ccechccapampa y por primera vez se conmemoró la fiesta Patronal de San Antonio a Santo Patrón San Antonio de Padua el 15 de julio de 1925 procedente de la Ciudad arqueológica de Cusco; hoy San Antonio es una localidad que cuenta con abundante agua potable las 24 horas, desagüe, luz, instituciones de educación, salud, seguridad, comunal, Ong, programas sociales, etc y su visión es llegar a ser el capital del Distrito de San Pedro porque día a día su crecimiento poblacional, tanto humano y vivienda aumenta en mayor cantidad, superando a todos los anexos y centros poblados dentro de la jurisdicción del distrito de San Pedro en el eje de crecimiento y desarrollo social, económico, religión y cultural.

Está situado en una superficie plana y con abundantes aguas manantiales que agrupan alrededor de la localidad y limita de la siguiente manera:
por el Norte con la localidad de San Pedro.
por el este con el caserío de Ccechcca Pampa.
por el Oeste con el Centro Poblado de Santa Ana y fundo Matara.
por el sur limita con la localidad de Santa Isabel.

División administrativa

Centros poblados
 San Pedro, con 517 hab.
 Puncuhuacca, con 307 hab.
 San Antonio, con 1.759 hab.
 San Pablo, con 348 hab.
 Santa Ana, con 297 hab.
 Santa Isabel, con 241 hab.
 Yuraccancha, con 236 hab.

Caseríos
Unión Palaycca 79 hab.
Pacc Cha 59 hab.
Ccechccapampa 48 hab.
Marcona Alta 24 hab.
Marcona Baja 48 hab.
Pampa Redonda Alta 72 hab.
Pampa Redonda Baja 83 hab.
total habitantes mujeres: 1,896
total habitantes varones: 1,693
habitantes en total: 3,589

Autoridades

Alcaldes
 2019 - 2022
 Alcalde: Richard Betto Llamocca Moriano, de Qatun Tarpuy.
 Regidores:
 Vicente Pino Atoccsa (Qatun Tarpuy)
 Yuri Salcedo Salas (Qatun Tarpuy)
 Saturnino Atoccsa Colorado (Qatun Tarpuy)
 Roxana Llamocca Meza (Qatun Tarpuy)
 Victor Azurza Salcedo (Acción Popular)

Alcaldes anteriores

 1964 - 1966: Esther Prada De García, de la Alianza Acción Popular - Democracia Cristiana.
 1967 - 1969: Migdonio García De la Rosa, de Lista N° 4.
 1969 - 1980: Gobierno militar.
 1981 - 1983: Marcos Ninapaita Flores, del Partido Aprista Peruano.
 1984 - 1986: Luis Altamirano Mendívil, del Partido Aprista Peruano.
 1987 - 1989: Marcos Ninapayta Flores, del Partido Aprista Peruano.
 1990 - 1992: Irineo Jiménez Mallqui, de Izquierda Unida.
 1996 - 1998: Alcides García De la Rosa, de L.I. Nro  3 de Jóvenes en Acción y Desarrollo.
 1999 - 2002: Mariano Taipe Huamaní, de Frente Desarrollo de Lucanas.
 2003 - 2006: Victor Diego Atoccsa Huamaní, de Acción Popular.
 2007 - 2010: Mariano Taipe Huamaní, de Acción Popular.
 2011 - 2014: Francisco Ramírez Ccahuay, de Acción Popular.
 2015 - 2018: Tomás Quispe Cruz, de Alianza Renace Ayacucho.

Festividades
13 al 17 de agosto en San Pedro,"virgen de la Asunción" y "Reina de los Ángeles"
13 al 17 de julio en San Antonio  "Virgen del Carmen" y " Patrón San Antonio"
1 de noviembre fiesta del agua o Sequia Tusuy (Ayla) en San Pedro, San Antonio, Santa Isabel, etc.
25 de diciembre y 1 de enero Navidad en San Antonio, Santa Isabel y San Pedro

Galería de imágenes

Referencias

Distritos de Lucanas

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The basic focus of the Federal Trade Commission's franchise rule is to provide prospective franchisees with pre-sale disclosure about the contract they would be entering into, and about the company that's franchising the concept.
Proposed changes to the FTC rule, which have been in the works for more than a decade now, aim to benefit franchisees and franchisors alike. Franchisees will receive more information during the disclosure process, while franchisors will face less of a burden in navigating through a tangle of complicated laws.
Smart Business spoke with Grueneberg about proposed amendments to the rule, how both franchisees and franchisors can take advantage of the changes, and what some of the common legal disputes between the two parties are.
When will the new FTC franchise rule become effective?
That's a question we've all been asking for quite some time now. The rule-making process began in 1995 — the original rule was actually first effective in 1979 — and for the past 10 years, there have been a series of comment periods, drafts of changes to the rule and hearings. It culminated with the Staff Report to the FTC in August, 2004. Since then, we've been waiting for the final rule to be issued.
What are some of the rule's proposed amendments?
The one that jumps out at people is a change to the disclosure format. The current FTC rule has its own format for disclosure to franchisees, but the states — through a group called NASAA (North American Securities Administrators Association) — had adopted a format called Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) Guidelines. The FTC had previously decided that this format would be acceptable as well, so the new rule adopts many of the elements of the UFOC format.
The new rule also would provide some additional exemptions from the disclosure requirements, and it takes the element of business opportunities out of the franchise rule. The FTC will be promulgating a separate rule to cover business opportunities.
In regard to disclosure requirements, what are some of the additional proposed changes?
One of the exciting things that the new rule would provide for is electronic disclosure. Since the early 1980s, there have been extremely dramatic developments in the way that people communicate information, and the new rule would provide for that. It also would eliminate the requirement that disclosure be provided at the first personal meeting. Then there are some specific disclosure additions, including franchisor-initiated litigation and, under certain circumstances, disclosure about franchisee associations.
What were some of the old rules that caused a point of contention between franchisors and franchisees?
There is some tension in the area of earnings claims and whether or not information about how much a franchisee will be able to earn from a franchise opportunity should be mandated. The FTC does not require that this information be disclosed. Another point of contention is whether the FTC should regulate the relationship itself. In other words, when and under what circumstances a franchisor can terminate or refuse to renew a franchisee's contract.
What are some of the legal disputes that can arise between franchisors and franchisees?
Termination and nonrenewal often cause disputes between the two. The concepts of the market area in which the franchisee is operating and territorial protection are other areas where franchisor and franchisee disputes tend to arise.
How can both a franchisor and franchisee take advantage of the looming revisions?
From a prospective franchisee's perspective, the changes are positive, because prospective franchisees like to have electronic access to documents, and this would make that possible. There is also more information in the disclosure that they will be receiving, which is a positive development for them.
Franchisors, meanwhile, will have the advantage of additional exemptions available when dealing with sophisticated or experienced franchisees. Also, the changes tend to promote uniformity, although the states will have to make some changes along the way, too, in order to increase the uniformity once the changes to the FTC rule are adopted.
SUSAN GRUENEBERG is a partner in Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan LLP's Transactional Department. Reach her at [email protected].


text:
Balancing Student Privacy With Benefits of Edtech
Sign up for our newsletter →
column | Data Privacy
By Kerry Gallagher (Columnist) May 8, 2015
Flickr user ssoosay
There is momentum building behind education policy in Washington these days. And with good reason. It has been nearly 15 years since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act and a lot has changed in our nation's classrooms.
In addition to considering issues like accountability and teacher quality, federal policymakers are now thinking about the role of technology in school. One bill would add new regulations to the collection and use of student data. Another contemplates updates to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).
Protecting student privacy is, of course, a paramount concern for teachers like me. Because the role of technology is essential in all of our lives, it is also increasing in our children's classrooms. This means we are creating more data and we must ensure that data is safeguarded. We must remember, though, that technology plays a critical role in helping teachers prepare students to intelligently consume and contribute now and as professionals.
As lawmakers consider the next generation of education policy priorities, I hope they will consider not just the risks, but the ways that teachers are using technology in the classroom to improve student results, to engage their students in new ways of thinking, and to reduce time spent on administrative tasks so that they can provide more, personalized attention to students.
If policy makers don't know how teachers in their states and districts are using technology and data, they should ask. Teachers have valuable insights, and getting their perspective will lead to more thoughtful and meaningful legislation.
As a history teacher, technology plays an integral role in my classroom and curriculum. Not only are my students using lesson-enhancing technology to engage more deeply with content, but they are also learning a "digital fluency" that will prepare them for today's increasingly tech-driven job market. The everyday use of technology in the classroom and at home is teaching students to be critical consumers and thoughtful producers, skills that both colleges and employers expect from today's generation of students.
Over the past year, face-to-face video chats have provided my students with multiple opportunities to consult with and question experts from around the country and across an ocean. They've explored science and industry at a museum in the UK, chatted virtually with experts in the tech industry, and used simple online tools like video hangouts to collaborate with each other on homework assignments.
Technology helps to encourage and inspire my students – it gives me the tools to bring otherwise abstract concepts to life to deepen their understanding of history. It allows students to become creators – building a narrative through statistics and then designing an infographic, or pulling multimedia sources together to create videos that bring history to life, and sharing those videos with the class.
Technology has also made my work easier by simplifying how I communicate with my students and their parents. For example, I can use one app to send out text message reminders about approaching assignment deadlines and another to create vocabulary study decks students can access on their smart phones from anywhere. These seemingly small enhancements have saved significant amounts of time.
Education technology has also allowed me to take my classes paperless. Long gone are the days of "my dog ate my homework"; now students can access and store everything digitally. Notes aren't lost and students are no longer carrying around heavy backpacks bursting with folders and crumpled paper. And, given the rich primary source and multimedia resources available to educators, I've been able to go "textbook-free" too. Rather than read a single book by only one or two authors, my students are consuming content from leading scholars across the field they are studying.
Student privacy matters to educators and parents. Protecting and supporting my students and children is incredibly important to me. But the use of technology developed by experts for the classroom allows me to assess my student's understanding, to provide feedback, and to create opportunities for my students to collaborate with one another in ways that were previously impossible.
I'm not arguing that there shouldn't be strong measures in place to protect student data, but any changes to federal law and any new regulations that follow must ensure that teachers can still access the tools they need to help their students succeed. It's an important balance to get right and I hope Congress and state legislators do it with much-needed teacher input.
Kerry is a middle and high school history teacher in Massachusetts. This post was originally published on The Hill.
EdSurge Podcast
Sal Khan: Test Prep Is 'the Last Thing We Want to Be'
By Stephen Noonoo
Pearson Signals Major Shift From Print by Making All Textbook Updates 'Digital First'
By Tony Wan
Reaching the Quiet Kids in Class
By Stacey Roshan
Minerva Project Raises $57M to Support Its Tech Platform—and Spin Off Its School


The Tenyaka Memorial of Vegreville: An Interactive Kazka (Roger Carbol; 2003; TADS 2).
Download SpeedIF_Jacket_2.zip from the IF Archive. All the games entered in Speed-IF Jacket 2. The story file for this game is vegrevil.gam.
The Tenyaka Memorial of Vegreville (archived) - at Baf's Guide.
The Tenyaka Memorial of Vegreville - at IFDB.
The Tenyaka Memorial of Vegreville - at IF Ratings.
This page was last modified on 1 June 2018, at 11:32.


text:
Home.. Perilous Pinups.. A Demonic Sacrifice
"Even now, I still don't know why I purchased it. I was at an estate auction in Bucharest that featured an extensive collection of rare medieval and early enlightenment scientific journals that would be an interesting addition to the museum's collection, when I noticed it in the auction's listing, a late medieval era sacrificial dagger of unknown origins. All I can remember was desperately longing to possess it. Ironically, after arranging for my purchases at the auction to be shipped back to London, I never gave the dagger another thought."
Arriving back in England after a summer spent visiting estate sales on the continent, I was surprised to find a box waiting for me on the table in the foyer of my family's ancestral country manor. Inside the box I found a note from the museum's curator of antiquities.
Gwyneth,
Nice find at that estate auction in Bucharest, two of the Arabic texts you keenly purchased carbon dated from around 490 AD, our linguistic expert believes these are original Arabic copies of texts thought lost with the burning of the library of Alexandria in 642 AD.
Also, and although it wasn't listed on the invoice of the museum's purchases, I did take the liberty of running a metallurgical analysis on your dagger. The blade's carbon dating and metallurgy make it historically consistent with other samples from central Romania in the late 1400's. Congratulations Gwyneth, you're now the proud owner of what might be Vlad Tepes demonically inspired sacrificial dagger.
Removing the heavy dagger from the box, I admired the pummel's demonically erotic carvings as I carried it down the hall to my study and placed it on the window shelf behind my desk. Perhaps next summer I'll return to Romania and do some further research into its origins in the area of central Romania once known as Transylvania.
Months later, Gwyneth paused to stare out into the rain swept night, throwing another log into the fireplace before continuing to write in her journal, "It was on a particularly stormy night, that the nightmares started, horrifying nightmares of ritual human sacrifice, covens of witches and warlocks sacrificing countless beautiful women to their demonic masters. Nightmares, that always end with that same sacrificial dagger, the one that's sitting on the shelf in my office, plunging fatally deep into those dying women's bosoms."
Gwyneth felt a sudden cold chill on ominous foreboding as she continued, "It's been almost six months since I returned from my summer trip to the continent, and yet, on every stormy night those horrifying nightmares reoccur, each time becoming more vivid, steadily more brutal and obscene. However, I never imagined my nightmares could grow even worse, that was until last night. In last night's nightmare, I dreamt that I'm the woman chained down upon that satanic blood-soaked altar. That I'm the women helplessly staring up at the ancient sacrificial dagger held high above my chest, the women destined to be its final sacrifice, the women whose agonizing death unleashes the demons of Hell."
The sound of breaking window glass somewhere downstairs in the manor house caused an almost delightful sensation of pure terror to course through her as she wrote, "Oh, and before that sacrificial dagger plunges into my heart, did I mention, it happens on a stormy night just like tonight, and when they come they find me alone in my study, dressed in revealing lingerie and enjoying this glass of rather excellent wine as I write this final journal entry?"
Knowing they would be upon her in mere moments, Gwyneth smiled as she heard the sound of violent pounding on the locked door to her study and wrote the words that would conclude her journal's final entry, "I find when it comes to nightmares, especially obscene and darkly erotic nightmares, one should never leave even the smallest details to chance..."