text:
Euglossa hyacinthina, is a species of the orchid bee tribe Euglossini in the family Apidae. With a tongue that can get up to as long as 4 cm, this orchid bee species is found in Central America. Living in a neotropical climate, E. hyacinthina has adapted to hot and humid weather. The bee has darkly shaded, translucent wings and a metallic, glossy blue skeleton.

"Medium sized, large body stature, long-tongued, and fast," E. hyacinthina is characterized by its eusociality and unique solitary life-style. Additionally, this species has no worker or queen bees and females dominate in an atypical social hierarchy. The many individual nests of E. hyacinthina reveal the sociality of the bees, and the origin of this can be discovered by studying these nests. E. hyacinthina may also be part of mimicry complexes within Euglossa.

Taxonomy and phylogeny
Euglossa is a genus of a larger tribe known as euglossine bees. Euglossini (orchid bees) is a tribe of Apinae and are mostly characterized as solitary as they display little social behavior. Named after their 4 cm long tongues, euglossines are commonly known as long-tongued bees. The tribe Euglossini is a diverse and very widespread neotropical taxon that comprises "5 genera and nearly 200 species," one of the genera being the Euglossa. It is the largest genus in the tribe with over 129 identified species including E. hyacinthina.

Among the distinct species of euglossine bees, the genus  Euglossa is known for its bright, metallic skeleton. In neotropical forests, euglossines make up to 25% of the total bee population. The Neotropical Euglossa bees are close relatives of Apini (honey bees) and Bombini (bumblebees).

Researchers have identified from four genes (16S, 28S, cytochrome b, LW Rh) that Bombini and Meliponini (stingless bees) form a clade, but there is uncertainty on whether Euglossini is a sister group to either Apini or Bombini/Meliponini.

There are five genera of Euglossini and five hypotheses have been formulated on the relationships of these genera (Aglae, Exaerete, Euglossa, Eufriesea, and Eulaema). No definite conclusion has been reached because of the incongruency at the root. The most strongly supported hypothesis is that Aglae is the base group with Eufriesea and Eulaema as the sister group to an Exaerete and Euglossa clade or to either of the latter genera.

Description and identification

The image above displays the glossy metallic blue that E. hyacinthina is known for. The wings are of a darker shade and translucent, with females having pollen baskets in their hind legs. A study done that was published in 2003 by Elizabeth Capaldi showed that females and males generally display monomorphism, with the exception of the thorax. In female bees the thorax was not only larger when compared to male bees but also had a small patch of elongated, plumous hair. Because this species is of the order Hymenoptera, there was a significant deviation from the 1:1 ratio; in fact, 82% of the population consisted of females. Female orchid bees can control their offspring's gender, which can skew the sex ratio.

Euglossine nests are usually dispersed across a wide range. E. hyacinthina construct nests only using resin on the side of secondary growth plants. Nests of a light orange color signify recent construction of the nest; as time passes, the light orange turns to a dark brown and the vertical ridges signify differences in age. The nests are about 6.0 cm long (0.7 cm variability) and 4.2 cm wide (0.8 cm variability). In the nest are cells that house larvae and store food to ensure its growth; this is commonly known as "brooding". As the number of cells increase, we can predict that the number of bees living in that particular hive will increase at a linear rate. Euglossini nests are found from sea level to about 1500–1600 m above sea level.

Distribution and habitat

E. hyacinthina is found in Neotropical habitats. While more Euglossini species are present in wet forests, some are found in savannas and forests along rivers. The range of E. hyacinthina is restricted to Central America, including Panama and Costa Rica.

Colony cycle

Colony initiation

The only tribe in the family Apidae that do not form large colonies are the Euglossini, because they tend to move independently. Because of this distinction, there are no worker bees or queen bees because there would not be a need for such roles in independent movement. This was proven through the analysis of the number of females in comparison to the number of cells in the hive. Because the number of females outweigh the number of cells, one can assume that there are some female bees who are reproductively inactive. When creating a new nest, a female bee will make foraging trips for resin in order to construct the hives and this process will last anywhere from 8 minutes to 15 minutes. The construction of the hive itself usually takes anywhere from 10 to 22 minutes. As a result, the process of foraging and constructing a nest takes a total of 18 minutes to 37 minutes for a female.

Colony growth

Nesting is a seasonal venture for E. hyacinthina. In a study done by Eberhard in 1988, the data clearly showed a skew in nest formation for certain seasons. In October 1985, 6 of 13 nests were new, and in October 1987, of five nests, one was new. No nests were formed in the months of April, May or June. As a result, E. hyacinthina grow in numbers during the fall season, while declining in the summer season. This is most likely due to the number of predators during each season and the amount of available resources. In the fall season, the rate of predator appearance was lower and an increase in resin availability was higher, while the summer season brought an increase in predators and decrease in resin availability.

Behavior

Before 2012, the structure of E. hyacinthina nests had been described, but the actual nesting behavior had never been studied. In 2012, a team of scientists documented this behavior for the first time. Video recordings of the bees constructing their nests were made using a GoPro HD camera mounted about 25 cm from the nest. The video is to the left of this paragraph.

Dominance hierarchy
The dominance hierarchy is different from traditional bee hierarchies, because Euglossini do not have worker bees or queen bees and the females are more dominant than males. Successful nests are usually founded by single, solitary females and these females stay until the emergence of brood. Once the original founder is done with the nest, nest reactivation occurs by associated females of the same generation and high relatedness. The origin of association of females along with various behavior patterns result in social patterns within nests. The term eusociality perfectly describes the hierarchy within E. hyacinthina because in a colony consisting of a mother and a group of daughters, the evolutionarily stable strategy is often for the mother to cheat and guard the new offspring while children forage for food. In this sense, the mother would be the "queen" and the daughters would be foraging for siblings rather than offspring and would be considered the "worker bees". This concept also gives rise to the concept of age-based dominance hierarchy as the older female bees seem to be in a position of power.

Communication
Male bees interact with female bees through their fragrances. After collecting various fragrances throughout its lifetime, the male is ready to unleash this resource to females when wanting to reproduce. Reproductive communication is accomplished through sharing of fragrances.

Reproduction suppression
Oftentimes, when a female leaves her nest, subsequent female bees eat the existing eggs for nutrients and to produce their own eggs. This allows for consumption of high quality nutrients, which improves fecundity and longevity of life and exploit the advantages of parasitism.

Mating behavior
This species follows a single mating policy, which is expected because of its taxonomy. Monandry within the Euglossini is consistent with the idea that females select a single mate with the best genes and best fitness based on male fragrance phenotypes. Males of many species of orchid bees establish display sites for fragrance signaling. These display sites are usually centered around perches – usually tree trunks – where males repeatedly hover over this perch to attract females. As a result, males invest much of their lives to stock up on fragrances so that they can mate. This process is very cumbersome because females mate only once; there is a lot of energy and risk taking in order for males to be successful. Males are constantly fighting over fragrances and the best perches to attract females. The ability for males to store fragrance is a direct reference to their genetic quality. Males, in combination with fragrance quality, hover around a selected perch to share their fragrance. The female bee then chooses a male bee to mate with.

Kin selection

Since there are no worker bees and queen bees, the most important relationships are between the mother and her children. This species is of the order Hymenoptera thus females arise from a fertilized egg while males develop from unfertilized eggs. Thus daughters of a brood will be 75% related to each other, and anywhere from 25–50% related to their brothers. This also supports the eusociality displayed by E. hyacinthina because the bees are trying to increase genetic relatedness in offspring and consequently increase efforts in caring for the young.

Fragrances

"Matings are very rarely observed, but reportedly occur in or around the small territories that males defend on vertical perches on tree trunks or stems in the forest understory. At these perches, the males perform a characteristic display during which they may buzz their wings or show brief hovering flights. The potential release of fragrances during the display may lure in receptive females, ostensibly over some distance." Male Euglossines are attracted to diverse sources of fragrance such as flowers and sap. They land and apply a mixture of lipids produced by their labial glands. Then, the nonpolar fragrance compounds, such as those containing aromatic rings, dissolve in the lipids and subsequently place in the male Euglossa. Then, using all three pairs of its leg, the bee transfers the mixture into its tibiae. The fragrances play an important role in courtship as these compounds are used to obtain mates. Although the use of fragrances during courtship has not been fully uncovered, many scientists believe the release of this compound before mating allows females to identify genetic quality. This may infer that Euglossa form leks to perform their displays; however, the lek hypothesis is weakened by the fact that many displays are performed solitarily.

Nesting

E. hyacinthina are the only species of the apine clade that do not aggregate in large groups or have queen and worker bees. As a result, we can trace back social behavior of bees through the examination of this specific species. Oftentimes, nests are inhabited by multiple females and there is always a trade-off between group-nesting and solitary nesting. E. hyacinthina must assess whether living in a group will lower chances of predation while having lower reproductive success due to multiple female habitation. An experiment done by Eberhard in 1988, showed that E. hyacinthina often live in groups with an average of 2.1 females (1.2 variability) and often consist of same generation (sister-sister) or different generation (mother-daughter) nesting. There is kin selection associated with this behavior and the method of reusing nests; usually the daughter will inherit a preexisting nest. Although the sex ratio of 1:1 suggests there are solely individually acting bees in nests, there is also evidence that suggests there is some form of communication between nest mates. When females seal the nest during the night or inclement weather, females will always wait until all inhabitants of the nest are safely back. Additionally, there has been very little noticeable aggression among nest mates.

Advantages to nesting include increased vigilance against predation due to the increased inhabitants. If nests are solely inhabited, there is a great chance that predators will prey on nests when the female bee is out foraging for food. In contrast, when nests are co-inhabited, other female bees are able to take care of the brood when one is foraging or if one dies unexpectedly.

Mimicry
Many taxonomic problems have arisen from various species resembling each other very closely. Müllerian mimicry arises when two or more poisonous species that are not closely related adapt to each other and start mimicking each other's warning signals. While Eulaema and Eufriesa mimic each other through color scheme and patterns, mimicry within Euglossa is much less obvious because there is less variation. Still, it is possible that many of the green species in any given area are, to some extent, Müllerian mimics. With very similar body structure, the easiest way to distinguish Euglossa species is by skeleton color. While green coloration is most common in Euglossa, bronze is the major color in Costa Rica, and in Panama, blue becomes much more frequent as altitude increases. The patterns found on these bees are thus suggestive of mimetic complexes.

Interaction with other species

Diet
E. hyacinthina forage for nectar and pollen.

Pollen sources
Listed below are some of the pollen sources for Euglossine bees.

1. Bixa (Bixaceae)
2. Cochlospermum (Cochlospermaceae)
3. Oncoba (Flacourtiaceae)
4. Clusia (Guttiferae)
5. Psidium (Myrtaceae)
6. Swartzia (Leguminosae)
7. Cassia (Leguminosae)
8. Sauvagesia (Ochnaceae)
9. Solanum (Solanaceae)
10. Xiphidium (Haemodoraceae)

Defense
Female euglossines have a powerful stinging apparatus. However, bee stings are rare as they are solitary and do not zealously protect their nests. Males, on the other hand, do not have stings. Stings give females an evolutionary advantage over males. As a defense mechanism, the stinging apparatus explains the sex ratio in favor of the females.

Human importance
For neotropical habitats, orchid bees are important in maintaining homeostasis through the pollination of various orchid flowers. With one Euglossa species pollinating near 74 different plant species belonging to 41 families, E. hyacinthina also pollinate various flowers within Costa Rica. As Euglossini can fly long distances, with Eufriesea surinamensis holding the record at 23 km, they are responsible for cross-pollinating, which fosters genetic diversity in flora.

References

External links
Ruhr Uni
Life.illinois.edu
Bucknell.edu
Ots.ac.cr

hyacinthina
Hymenoptera of North America
Insects of Central America
Articles containing video clips
Insects described in 1982
Orchid pollinators

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Brian Balestra is a 6'4" 270 lbs. offensive lineman for Jesuit High School in New Orleans, LA. With a bench press max of 270 and a squat max of 405, Balestra has the size and strength to match up with the best of them, but his skillset is the highlight of his game. Balestra has a quick first step and his footwork after contact is excellent. He moves extremely well at the center position, and has no trouble blocking in the open field. In pass-protection, Balestra makes great use of his hands and feet to complement his size, and I see this as one of the strong points of his game. We have Balestra graded as a 3-star offensive lineman, and he currently has offers from Nicholls State and Southeastern, among other schools.
I've been playing since I was five years old. I guess always watched football and that might be why I started.
Football has taught me to be self-motivated and that no goal is unachievable.
Where do you see football taking you in the next few years and later in life?
I think it will take me to college for free, and I don't know where after that. Wherever the connections from it take me.
I think that I am a lot more aggressive than everybody else.
Off the field, what will you bring to a college program that will make you special?
My academics are very strong.
Is there a college or professional player you would compare your game to?
Quenton Nelson (Indianapolis Colts). I like watching him play.
Do you have a game day ritual?
I listen to certain songs before the games, that's about it.
My dad. He's always pushed me to be better.


text:
BSE in sheep and goats?
By Tania Georgiopoulou - Kathimerini
January 4, 2002 04.01.2002 • 08:00
Despite the huge amount of publicity it has received, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or «mad cow disease» and the full extent of its effects are still largely an unknown quantity. It is not yet known whether some form of the disease may affect sheep and goats, so the European Union has decided on precautionary steps. Kathimerini spoke to some experts conducting research into BSE. 'The matter is not yet resolved' Theodoros Sklaviadis, assistant professor of pharmacology at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, is researching BSE. He says the disease is still a mystery: «Contagious spongiform encephalopathies affect the central nervous system. They affect man and animals, chiefly in the form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, scrapie and BSE. We don't know exactly how they are transmitted. Research shows that a protein common to all humans and animals is part of the pathogenic factor, but it has not been proved whether it is exclusively responsible for the infection. The matter hasn't been resolved yet.» Given the complexity of the problem, the emphasis in recent years has shifted to timely diagnosis and preventing the disease from spreading from one species to another, says Sklaviadis. «Consumption of animal products has dropped drastically in the EU since the Creutzfeldt-Jakob cases were diagnosed in France and Britain,» he adds. «Already there have been 111 cases and nobody can predict how many more will arise in the next 10 years. «The EU has adopted stricter measures to encourage consumer confidence. For example, it lowered the age of cattle destined for testing after the slaughters of July 1, 2001 from 30 to 24 months. And there are also systematic efforts to implement new sensitive molecular techniques for detecting the disease at a preclinical stage and keeping apparently healthy animals that are infected by it out of the food chain. «This will bring the age limit for testing down even lower.» Although the same methods are used in Greece as in the rest of Europe, the number of samples taken is far lower and must be increased, Sklaviadis believes. He would like to see the samples, which are currently the property of the veterinary authorities, become available to other public agencies and for research purposes. The EU has taken political and scientific measures to address the likelihood that BSE can spread from one species to another. «Since there are some 22 million sheep and goats in Greece,» says Sklaviadis, «the agencies involved must be ready to conduct the tests and request funding to cover at least part of the cost.» 'The disease is always fatal' Dr Ruth Gabizon works at the Hadassah Medical School in Israel and collaborated closely with Dr Stanley Prisner, who won a Nobel Prize for demonstrating the connection between BSE and prions. She spoke to Kathimerini about recent developments concerning BSE. Gabizon believes the EU is doing its best to prevent the spread of BSE. «There is no irrefutable proof,» she notes, «that cows developed a new form of BSE because their food contained sheep products contaminated with scrapie, though this is the dominant theory at the moment.» Asked about the likelihood that sheep have been infected with a new form of the disease that they might transmit to humans, Gabizon explains: «Scientists in England are conducting experiments to see if BSE can be transmitted to sheep that so far only have scrapie. There are no results as yet. But it is a very important question, because so far no human has been infected by sheep with scrapie, whereas BSE can be transmitted to humans.» Gabizon has discovered that prions, the proteins that carry BSE, can be detected in the urine of humans and animals infected with spongiform encephalopathies. «But so far,» she says, «we cannot measure the level of infection in the urine, which would allow us to detect the disease before the animal was slaughtered. We are continuing the experiments but it will be at least a year before we have any results.» It is not yet known for certain whether BSE can be passed on from mother to offspring among humans, mice, cattle or sheep. As Gabizon explains, the only method of transmission about which there is any certainty so far is that of feeding animals with products from diseased animals. «There may be other methods, but then the chances of infection decrease and the incubation period and appearance of the disease are very long. But it is important to point out that from what we know, regardless of the 'dose' and the incubation period, the disease is always fatal.» The evidence suggests that some individuals have a genetic predisposition to contract the disease, says Gabizon. «It seems that the infection factor is affected by other genes that have shown a particular permutation in all the people who have so far contracted the disease. But this permutation is common to many people, so it's hard to be certain that a genetic predisposition exists. It may eventually turn out that genetic predisposition has more to do with the incubation period and not with the emergence of the disease.» Even after many years of research, the nature of the disease remains unknown, says Gabizon. «We know that the protein prion plays an important part, but the way in which it causes infection is still unclear. We hope to get a fuller picture.» One case among 12,000 animals The statistics show that one animal in around 12,000 tested has been infected by spongiform encephalopathy. The first case in Greece was discovered after 6,000 inspections. The total number of cattle in Greece is around 650,000, of which 315,000 each year are destined for slaughter. Of these animals, 50-60 percent are aged 16-24 months, while the remaining 126,000 are older than 24 months. By September 2001, tests had been conducted on 11,518 animals aged over 30 months, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
Olympic sale still in the balance
Report: Israel can sell Greece EW systems
Small sculpture 'was once attached to King Midas's throne'
Stricter controls on party finances
Symbolizing change and adaptability…
Turkey limits sky lanes

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We have a shared responsibility to confront climate change, Gov. Terry McAuliffe said in ordering regulators to begin designing a state carbon cap-and-trade system.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe on Tuesday announced an ambitious plan to cut carbon pollution from the state's power plants, taking a stand against the Trump administration's continued efforts to dismantle carbon-cutting regulations.
McAuliffe issued an executive order directing state environmental regulators to begin creating a market-based carbon-trading program. The mandatory cap-and-trade program would become the third in the country, after California's statewide carbon compliance market and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-trade program consisting of nine states in the northeast. The Virginia program would likely be linked to either of these trading programs.
"The threat of climate change is real, and we have a shared responsibility to confront it," McAuliffe said.
"Once approved, this regulation will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the Commonwealth's power plants and give rise to the next generation of energy jobs," he said. "As the federal government abdicates its role on this important issue, it is critical for states to fill the void."
The order calls for state regulators to create a legal framework for emissions trading. A proposed rule with details of the plan is expected this December, shortly before McAuliffe's term ends, and a rulemaking process will follow.
"As with administrative rulemaking, he has the authority to regulate carbon, but he can't pre-dictate what the final results are going to be," explained Walton Shepherd, a staff attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "The standard he'd like to shoot for is to trade in existing markets, so presumably the stringency would have to be at or above those states in order to participate."
Last week, the state's attorney general issued an official opinion confirming that the State Air Pollution Control Board has the authority to regulate carbon emissions from existing power plants.
At a press conference Tuesday morning in Alexandria, McAuliffe, a Democrat, said he supported a national program to cut carbon emissions, including the Clean Power Plan, President Barack Obama's signature effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions and meet the targets of the Paris climate pledge. The plan, which was challenged by the power industry and 24 states, is currently under a stay from the Supreme Court, but the Trump administration is continuing its attempts to reverse it.
"Unfortunately, the news out of this White House is alarming," McAuliffe said, according to the Associated Press. "The citizens of our commonwealth want and expect us to confront this issue."
Virginia Republicans, who control both houses of the legislature, are already hinting at possible legal action.
"The governor is ignoring the legislative process by putting forward broadly expansive environmental regulations—a policy he never proposed to the General Assembly," Speaker of the House William J. Howell said in an emailed statement. "We are carefully reviewing today's announcement and will take every action necessary to ensure that the voices of Virginia's citizens are heard, and that major policy changes are adopted through the legislative process."
Environmental groups, meanwhile, applauded the announcement.
"This is a perfect example of how states and local governments can ensure our nation takes climate action even as Donald Trump buries his head in the sand while the seas are rising," Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune said in a statement.
Some urged more aggressive action.
"The governor can further cement a positive legacy on climate change by finally dropping his support for offshore oil drilling in Virginia and—most importantly—drop his support for two massive proposed pipelines to transport fracked gas from West Virginia to Virginia," said the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
Tuesday's executive order follows on another that called for a series of meetings where regulators and the industry weighed in on possible strategies the state could adopt to cut its emissions. Dominion Resources, the state's biggest utility and a rare supporter of the Clean Power Plan, was among them.
"Dominion Energy has been preparing for carbon regulation for some time now and appreciates being a part of the stakeholder engagement process," spokesman David Botkins said in an emailed statement, adding, "It still looks like the regulatory uncertainty around carbon continues."


text:
module Sidecloq
  # Runner encapsulates a locker and a scheduler, running scheduler when
  # "elected" leader
  class Runner
    include Utils

    attr_reader :locker, :scheduler

    def initialize(options = {})
      @locker = extract_locker(options)
      @scheduler = extract_scheduler(options)
    end

    def run
      @thread = Thread.new do
        logger.info('Runner starting')
        @locker.with_lock do
          # i am the leader
          logger.info('Obtained leader lock')
          @scheduler.run
        end
        logger.info('Runner ending')
      end
    end

    def stop(timeout = nil)
      logger.debug('Stopping runner')
      @scheduler.stop(timeout)
      @locker.stop(timeout)
      @thread.join(timeout) if @thread
      logger.debug('Stopped runner')
    end

    private unless $TESTING

    def extract_locker(options)
      return options[:locker] if options[:locker]
      Locker.new(options[:locker_options] || {})
    end

    def extract_scheduler(options)
      return options[:scheduler] if options[:scheduler]
      Scheduler.new(options[:schedule], options[:scheduler_options] || {})
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


It's Showtime Boys and Girls!!!
This was our last teaching day. I'll have to say with all the frustrations of the days...crazed kids who were ready for summer to start, locker clean-out to name a couple....that I realized I really, really liked this crop of 6th graders. I watch them sort through all their stuff.
Some of them look at the things in their locker and tell the stories behind each thing they take out. The half full bottle of water, the almost full Reading Journal, the torn-up lab worksheets. They have to figure out whether the stuff in their locker goes back home with them, whether it could be donated to community shelters, whether it can be recycled by our Green Team or if it's just trash. Amazing how many lost textbooks, overdue library books and missing assignments come pouring from the depths of these 14" x 38" boxes.
I look at each of them and sort of allow myself to remember what they were like last August. Their wide-eyes and respectful demeanor long gone. Now they tease me and let me tease them....they have grown up so much. We gotten used to each other quirks and have found ways to enjoy the uniqueness of each other.
This young man transferred into our school mid-year. The transferring school told he was pretty much hopeless..he had terrible acne, BO and I'm not sure how long it had been since he washed his hair or clothes. School was hard for him, no two ways about it. When our social studies teacher got to the Rome unit, he wanted to research gladiators. Figures, doesn't it. Well, he studied them alright and really got interested. He learned how they used their swords and blocks the blows of others. He also learned how they choreographed their moves....and he started working on imitating them for his presentation. And the rest is history. OK....he transferred that love to light sabers from Star Wars. But today he performed the most amazing set of moves in the dark with his light sabers blazing and everyone in the audience chanting his name. A freak turned a hero.
One of my most brilliant math students stepped to the piano and started playing a composition she had written. It was unbelievable that this 13 year old could even play the music she did, nevermind that she composed it.
Next was the AC/DC cover band. A couple of our little guys had their big amps and the most popular sevie singing some random song I don't know. The bass player in this is one of the most introverted kids I've ever met....you know the kind you have to get really close to hear him talk in class...and when he did that hop/jump thing that guitar players do across the stage....well, I thought I was going to bust my sides cheering for him.
The best part of all of it was that I saw kids that have evolved into new beings since I've had them. I could almost watch the passing of the guard happening in this show...the 8th graders doing their last performance for the school and the new rising 6th grader stars taking their place. I love and hate this time of year for that very reason.
It's showtime boys and girls.....time to cheer for each other, laugh and smile together before we have to say goodbye. Some for the just the summer and others until they come back and visit from HS..some I will never see again. I loved the day.


text:
extreme hardcore
laCasta to release debut full-length album "Æternvm" on February 28th 2020
Submitted by newseditor on Mon, 01/20/2020 - 15:07
Italian Black Metal Hardcore act laCasta have revealed the details of their upcoming album, set for a release on February 28th, 2020, with powerhouse label Argonauta Records.
Titled In "Æternvm", the band's first full-length unites the darkest art in metal with the traditions of all that is extreme in a furious way: Bleak, dissonant and black-eyed sounds filled with rage and disgust.
Read more about laCasta to release debut full-length album "Æternvm" on February 28th 2020
Loathe release official video for new single "Two Way Mirror"
Forward-thinking experimental metallers Loathe are set to release their long-awaited sophomore album "I Let It In and It Took Everything" on February 7th, 2020, via SharpTone Records.
Today the band release a new single from the album, titled "Two Way Mirror". The track is accompanied by an official video featuring the five piece and can be viewed below.
Read more about Loathe release official video for new single "Two Way Mirror"
Friendship announces March 2020 UK Headlining Tour
Japan's grinding hardcore unit Friendship are tearing across the UK in March 2020 for a run of dates in support of their latest, merciless album "Undercurrent". Support comes from Kurokuma.
For a taste of the brutality to come, we have a recording of their recent live show in Tokyo available to view in full here.
Read more about Friendship announces March 2020 UK Headlining Tour
Loathe announces February 2020 UK Headlining Tour
Loathe, who last week announced their long-awaited sophomore album "I Let It In and It Took Everything" (February 7th, via SharpTone Records), are pleased to reveal a nine date UK headline tour for February 2020, to celebrate the record's release.
Accompanying Loathe on the road will be God Complex, Phoxjaw (ex. Glasgow + Newcastle) and The Well Runs Red (Glasgow + Newcastle only).
Read more about Loathe announces February 2020 UK Headlining Tour
Agnostic Front release new music video for "Conquer and Divide"
Submitted by newseditor on Tue, 12/03/2019 - 15:47
Legendary New York Hardcore pioneers Agnostic Front unleashed their twelfth studio album "Get Loud!" last month via Nuclear Blast.
Today, the band are proud to release the official music video for "Conquer and Divide", which was directed by Punchdance Studios, who are the same team that created the video for "I Remember". Watch the video for "Conquer and Divide" below.
Read more about Agnostic Front release new music video for "Conquer and Divide"
Loathe to release new studio album "I Let It In and It Took Everything" on February 7th 2020
British experimental metal five piece, Loathe, are proud to announce their long-awaited sophomore album "I Let It In and It Took Everything", set to be released on February 7th, 2020, via SharpTone Records.
To give a glimmer of insight into the record, they have also today released new single "Aggressive Evolution", alongside a hypnotic visualiser/lyric video. Watch the visualiser below.
Read more about Loathe to release new studio album "I Let It In and It Took Everything" on February 7th 2020
Daughters debut new music video for "Guest House"
Daughters' return to the road is imminent, but before the band begins their Winter tour, the Providence-born outfit release their third video from the highly-praised album, "You Won't Get What You Want", debuting a clip for "Guest House" - watch the video below.
Read more about Daughters debut new music video for "Guest House"
Great American Ghost to release new studio album "Power Through Terror" on February 14th 2020
Boston's Great American Ghost has signed a worldwide record deal with Entertainment One ("eOne") with plans to release a new LP titled "Power Through Terror" on Friday, February 14th, 2019.
Read more about Great American Ghost to release new studio album "Power Through Terror" on February 14th 2020
Stepson sign to SharpTone Records and release music video for new single "The Entire History of You"
SharpTone Records is proud to announce the signing of rising post-hardcore / punk outfit Stepson! The band have also released a music video for brand new single "The Entire History of You" ahead of the tour supporting Ocean Sleeper.
Read more about Stepson sign to SharpTone Records and release music video for new single "The Entire History of You"
Agnostic Front release music video for new single "I Remember"
Legendary NYHC pioneers Agnostic Front are back on the scene with their twelfth studio album, "Get Loud!", which will be released on November 8th, via Nuclear Blast.
Today they release the music video for the second single entitled "I Remember", which showcases Roger and Vinnie's start with the band. Directed by Punchdance Studios, the song highlights their roots through a video montage and photos from the band's early days. Watch the video below.
Read more about Agnostic Front release music video for new single "I Remember"
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What I Love About the Great Outdoors: Children's Art Exhibition
26 July 2022 - 08 January 2023
What I love about the great outdoors!
Children's art exhibition
Until 8 January
Eva Gonzalès is what Dublin needs
Eva Gonzalès Is What Dublin Needs takes Édouard Manet's portrait of Eva Gonzalès (1870) as its focus, presenting a fresh perspective on women
Bones in the Attic
11 August 2022 - 30 October 2022
Sarah Jayne Booth, Myrid Carten, Dorothy Cross, Amanda Doran, Rita Duffy, Jesse Jones, Alice Maher, Eleanor McCaughey, Na Cailleacha, Kathy
Corot & Constable: Landscape Pioneers
09 April 2022 - 29 January 2023
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and John Constable were among the most significant landscape painters of the 19th century and influenced
Off-site Exhibition: Studio & State: The Laverys and the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Studio & State: The Laverys and the Anglo-Irish Treaty, is a co-curated exhibition by Hugh Lane Gallery and the National Museum of
Sunday Sketching
Sunday 11 September; 3-4pm, Hand gestures
During these free family-friendly
What I Love About the Great Outdoors Children's Art Exhibition
Online Art Activities
01 January 2022 - 31 December 2022
We hope you enjoy some of these digital art ideas, films and art resources to inspire your creativity
Sunday Public Tour
Sunday Public Tours
Our Sunday Public tours take place at 2.15pm and will explore artworks in the collection and our temporary
During these free family-friendly sketching workshops


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Q: Change label content in template using c# code doesn't work I have some XAML code template (style) where I couldn't change lable (labelName) text using c# code. Tryed google but cannot find something specific. Looks like there is some small detail that I overlooked.
<Style x:Key="ListBoxItemM" TargetType="{x:Type ListBoxItem}">
    <Setter Property="Template">
        <Setter.Value>
            <ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type ListBoxItem}">
                <Border x:Name="brd"  BorderBrush="{TemplateBinding BorderBrush}" BorderThickness="{TemplateBinding BorderThickness}">
                        <WrapPanel>
                            <Grid  Margin="0,0,0,0">
                                <Label x:Name="labelName" Content="12345" HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Top" Foreground="Black" Width="100" FontSize="20" Margin="40,25,0,0"/>
                                <Label Content="Price" HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Top" Foreground="Black" Width="60" Height="40" FontSize="12" Margin="180,5,0,0"/>
                            </Grid>
                        </WrapPanel>
                    </RadioButton>
                </Border>
                <ControlTemplate.Triggers>
                    <Trigger Property="IsSelected" Value="True">
                         <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="White"/>
                        <Setter Property="BorderThickness" Value="1"/>
                        <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="Black"/>
                    </Trigger>
                </ControlTemplate.Triggers>
            </ControlTemplate>
        </Setter.Value>
    </Setter>
</Style>

The c# code:
ListBoxItem item = new ListBoxItem();
item.Style = (Style)item.FindResource("ListBoxItemM");
/* Here the label is null, unfortunately */
Label nameLabel = (Label)item.Template.Resources.FindName("labelName");
nameLabel.Content = "98765";
MenuListBox.Items.Add(item);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


A resume is a brief description of your previous education, work experience, and relevant information.
Spell everything out. Do not use abbreviations or acronyms.
Professional. Use a typewriter or computer to print your resume, making sure copies are neat and clean. Mail your resume in good condition preferably in a large envelope.
Create your resume using Naviance's Resume Builder! On Naviance, click "About Me" then click "Resume".


We needed a new set of steps and a paver patio to replaced a ripped up concrete slab due to outside plumbing problems. Brandon and his company were not the least expensive of our contractor choices, but his rapid responses to us and his personality were major selling points. We are very glad we choose Coastal. Brandon listened to us and then devised a plan for our space, explaining everything every step of the way. We had to have the concrete broken up and taken away, a major pine tree removed and replaced with landscaping, pop up drains installed, a sump pump drain repaired, a door replaced, the paver patio and capstone work. The work started as scheduled and every phase of the work went as planned. Brandon's crew was excellent, and we cannot say enough about the professionalism, politeness and pleasantness they all displayed. They explained each step and why they were doing what they were doing. They were extremely respectful toward our property and our neighbors. We added work to the job, another door replacement and another drain pop up into the yard, which they completed just as easily as they did the original plan. They asked what else they could do for us before they left. They worked hard, they worked smart, they worked clean and neat. We would recommend Coastal Deck and Fence to anyone interested in clean, quality work. This Christmas Eve, with 70 degree weather, we had hamburgers – grilled on our brand new outdoor patio!


The fire was out in the wood furnace this morning and the basement was colder than usual. I gathered my fire starting materials and poked around in the dark ashes, mostly to transfer them to the ash pan below the grates. There in the corner securely nestled in the ash pile was one glowing ember about the size of my thumb. Insufficient heat to start a fire I reasoned, yet why not give it a shot and save a match or two? So I piled on my finest tinder, blew gently on the ember and settled down on my haunches to observe the outcome.
At first it was obvious that all the heat was being sucked from the ember because it darkened on contact with the fresh fuel I supplied, but I remained hopeful. After a moment or two, about the time my legs were beginning to scream at me in cramped protest, I noticed the slightest puff of smoke. With this encouragement I again blew on the ember and the puff of smoke became a steady column rising toward the back of the stove in the direction of the chimney. Shortly the flame erupted from the ember and I confidently added more fuel knowing that soon the house would again feel the warmth we so desire this time of year.


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Susan A. Berry, MD
Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism
Pediatric Specialty Care Discovery Clinic
Provider Referrals: 612‑365‑6777
Information: 612‑365‑6777
Hospital Privileges
University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital
University of Minnesota Medical Center
Dysmorphology
Genetic Diagnosis and consultation
University of Kansas, School of Medicine
Leadership and Recognition
Leadership Roles and Memberships
Director, Division of Genetics and Metabolism, University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics
Member, Long-Term Follow-Up Subcommittee for the US DHHS- Secretary's Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders and Genetic Diseases (2009-present)
Member and past president, Minnesota Chapter Board, American Academy of Pediatrics (2007-present)
Member, Minnesota Department of Health Newborn Screening Advisory Committee (2004-present, reappointed 2007)
Mpls.St.Paul Magazine "Top Doctor" (2007-2019)
Minnesota Monthly Magazine "Top Doctors" (2014-2018)
Best Doctors in America (2007-2015)
View Academic Biography


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Categories Uncategorized Romance Collections & Anthologies Contemporary Erotica Fantasy Gothic Historical Romance Multicultural & Interracial Mystery & Suspense Paranormal Romantic Comedy Science Fiction Time Travel Westerns
You are here: Products The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld by K.N. Lee
The Chronicles of Koa: Netherworld by K.N. Lee
What would you do if a demon threatened your mother's life? If you're like Koa, you'd sharpen your enchanted sword and go after him… Our world is threatened by the creatures of an alternate land called the Netherworld. Good thing Koa and the Netherworld division are there to keep the vampire population in check. Koa is a powerful half-blood with a mysterious past. Her best friend is her boss, she has a cursed mother, an enchanted sword, and an attractive human pet. Koa also has a problem. A Netherworld serial killer, with a taste for little girls, threatens everything Koa has worked hard to protect. Not even Koa's boss, Halston can stop him. But he knows one prisoner that can. Too bad that prison is in the Netherworld. Is Koa ready to journey to the Netherworld to release the one creature that can break her mother's curse and protect all that she holds dear?
SKU: B00CR0T5KW Category: Contemporary Tag: fantasy
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Thrones of Desire: Erotic Tales of Swords, Mist and Fire by Mitzi Szereto
Thrones of Desire is a place where lust and legend abound, and adventure, passion and danger entwine. Think mystical lands and creatures, kings and queens, knights and renegades, heroes and villains, warlords, maidens and princesses. Think battles and danger, honor and dishonor, good and evil. Most of all, think hearts filled with passion and secret desire. This is a place where romantic chivalry is alive and well, but so too is romantic wickedness. This is a place where the good do not always win, and the bad are often more captivating and desirable than their altruistic counterparts. In these lush and timeless landscapes, the battle for flesh can be as important as the battle for power. Intrigue, sorcery, revenge, lawlessness, dark secrets and mysterious elixirs; entanglements with supernatural beings — everything is possible in these magical mythical landscapes. Inspired by Game of Thrones these imaginative steamy tales transport the reader to fantastical realms. Featuring a special foreword from legendary fantasy author Piers Anthony.
Everville: The City of Worms by Roy Huff
College freshman Owen Sage has just started to understand the darkness trying to overtake Everville and the earthly realm. With the help of The Keeper and the Fron army, Owen has managed to buy some time, but new problems have already emerged, new secrets need to be revealed, and the race against time to stop Them from conquering both dimensions has only just begun. The Keeper, Owen Sage, and his friends at Easton Falls University must now battle threats from within. To do it, they must reunite with familiar creatures and join forces with new ones as they navigate their journey to the truth that awaits them in Everville.
The Atlantean Legacy by Paula Bates
The Atlantean Legacy is the story of Akana, a priestess of ancient Atlantis. Filled with the details of her daily life, her friends, and her loves, Akana shares with you a glimpse into the rituals and practices of her people. This tale of young love and ultimate sacrifice examines karmic bonds between lovers and friends, eventually revealing the crucial role Akana comes to play as the mythical island of Atlantis moves to the brink of destruction.
The Thornwood Plot by Daniel Wright
A fantasy spy thriller adventure, a cross between James Bond and epic fantasy. (Or if John Le Carre wrote Game of Thrones). Here's the blurb: "In an era of tension and turmoil, when the balance of power between kingdoms, duchies and empires is in constant flux, Omen Altier, Knight Paragon of the Ashenian Order, is sent forth on a mission of the gravest peril. The young knight's task: to infiltrate deep into a hostile nation, and kidnap a traitor to crown and country and see to his safe return. His compatriots for this assignment include the cynical but more experienced Sir Jav and the naive Lady-in-Waiting Adica, their mark's former servant. In an ancient city of secrets and shadows they must navigate a web of deceit that threatens to consume them. Alone and far from home, they are beset by dangers both from without … and within.THE THORNWOOD PLOT is a wicked adventure set in a world filled with danger, betrayal and temptation that takes the reader on wild ride until the very end! This book is definitely a must have!"
Outcall by Brittney Luv
The mind blowing sexual adventures of Phoenix Fantasy Consultant Brittney Luv. For the last twenty years I made the sexual fantasies of others come true. This is my collection of true sexy short stories. I invite you to live vicariously through me as you read what goes on behind closed doors in the underground sex scene in modern day Phoenix Arizona.
Warning, all fantasies are told in graphic detail.
So get ready to laugh, cry, get pissed off and pissed on.
Welcome to my world,
Welcome to Miami by Robert McCullough, C. M. Bratton, Taymika G. Byrd
This brand new feature from Write On Press is sure to stimulate and excite! Experience three tales of adult fantasy from three of the best new authors of the literary scene today. Robert McCullough brings you a tale of seduction in the temple with Church Music. Ms. Taymika G. Byrd is back with lust in the Big Easy. In the Vieux Carre' you'll experience the spiritual plane in a whole new way (bring a wet-nap!). C. M. Bratton brings it all together with a tale of passion and lust in the desert sands. You won't need three wishes after this one (but you might need a cigarette!).
DRAINED by Kristy Steward
Marianne leaves behind her family and friends in Connecticut to make a new start at a small college in New Orleans. Soon after her arrival Marianne senses something is very wrong on the university's campus. However, her thoughts of returning home vanish when she meets her charismatic literature professor Caleb Church. Convinced she wants to stay, Marianne sets out to find the source of her unease. Digging deeper and deeper into the college's dark history and secrets she discovers things that should not exist and soon finds herself in grave danger. Will Marianne and the love of her life survive?
Mea Culpa the Sins of Brother Lyons by Cheryl Angressani
Mea Culpa, The Sins of Brother Lyons is a lurid , lush BDSM novella containing maledom and femdom scenarios, as well as vivid imageries of bisexuality in an elegant writing style reminiscent of A.N. Roquelaure's Sleeping Beauty Chronicles.
In 1581 Brother Lyons dePauillac said good-bye to the clositered,celibate life he'd known for thirty years. Niether God or the Order of Surein could hold back pent up desires he'd denyed since the peak of their awakening. To live as a man and not a Monk would take him on a 200 mile journey from St Esthèphe, France to Paris. The raging hormones of a teenager had never been satisfied and the beautiful naievete of his body and his mind made him the object of lust for women and men of all ages and perversions. Lyons, the man, eagerly obliged his awakenings and their curiosity, but Lyons the servant of God lived in constant torment over his sinful acts. Somehow, he simply could not stop himself. Excitement mixed with guilt and repentance was a powerful aprodisiac for his starving libido. His sexual enthusiams rewarded him with many and various gifts. He arrived in Paris armed with a letter of introduction to the Court of King Henry and more importantly his powerful wife, Catherine DeMedici. Neither King Henry's court , France or Lyons would ever be the same.
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Captured by Conner Kincaid
Hidden Embers by Jane Burrelli
Driving the Billionaire Boss (An MFMM Menage) by Sienna Crane
Her Majesty's Harem by N.J. Adel
More Than Everything by Delphie Gray
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Read: Tablet on Persia
TABLET ON PERSIA
(Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Baha referred to in a letter dated 12 January 1923 to the NSA of the United States, written by Shoghi Effendi)
A thousand years must elapse before Persia can, by the aid of material power, rise to the height of the peoples and governments of Europe. Baha'u'llah, however has illumined that land, and will surely raise her high in the eyes of all the world. That country shall so advance and develop as to excite the envy and admiration of the East and the West.
The land of Hijaz, though deserted and sterile in its soil and its tribes ignorant and barborous, yet the power of the Cause of God has made of such a spot a Point of Adoration and the Focal-centre of world devotion.
How foolish are the people of the East to have incarcerated for well-nigh fifty years the like of this glorious personage! But for His chains and prison, Baha'u'llah by this time would have gained absolute ascendancy over the minds and thoughts of the peoples of Europe, would have made of Persia the Garden of Paradise, would have raised its sons in the esteem of mankind, nay He would have made it such that all peoples and governments would seek enlightment from its people.
Consider and reflect upon the result of my few days stay in London and the profound effect it has had here and in the surrounding regions. Ponder then in your heart, what the coming of Baha'u'llah would have achieved! Had He appeared in Europe, its people would have seized their opportunity, and His Cause, by virtue of the freedom of thought, would by this time have encompassed the earth. But alas! This Cause, though it first appeared in Persia, yet eventually it shall be seen how the peoples of Europe have wrestled it from its hands! Take note of this and remember it in future. Ultimately you shall see how it has come to pass. And yet behold! how the Baha'is are still persecuted by the people of Persia!


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Arrests: Friday, September 21
By The Owensboro Times
Updated September 22, 2018 | 2:32 am
Owensboro Police Department
Jaylan Crowe, 18, of the 600 block of W. 2nd St. was charged Thursday with second-degree robbery.
Emerita Moore, 19, of the 1600 block of Breckenridge St. was charged Thursday with second-degree robbery.
Freida Johnson, 51, of the 600 block of Maple St. was charged Thursday with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (meth), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
Phillis Dales, 38, of the 3900 block of Kipling Dr. was charged Thursday with third-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and third-degree burglary.
Daviess County Sheriff's Office
Benjamin K. Roby, 55, of the 1000 block of W. 7th St. was charged Friday with theft by unlawful taking or disposition of an automobile $10,000 or more and under $1,000,000.
Kiley Lee King, 38, of the 5400 block of Balimore Ct. was charged Thursday with a warrant for parole violation.
Joseph Leon Davis, 45, of the 100 block of Skylark was charged Thursday with driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, etc., driving on a suspended or revoked operating driver's license, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (meth) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Home » Records » Arrests » Arrests: Friday, September 21
Arrests: Tuesday, January 24
Arrests: Monday, January 23
Arrests: Friday, January 20
Valentine-themed Cork & Cuisine returns on Feb. 14
Annual wedding show returns to Convention Center this Sunday
Gray, Randolph earn weekly OT sports honors
Vote for Players of the Week (Winter 2022-23 Week 8)
Business Licenses: Jan. 23, 2023


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Good news for housing market: Fewer foreclosures and short sales
Dennis Rodkin
Friedman Brokerage Company
In this Edgewater building, a foreclosed two-bedroom condo that was missing all kitchen appliances sold in April.
Sales of foreclosures and short-sale homes have shrunk to a smaller piece of the Chicago-area real estate market than they've been at any time since the housing crisis began.
In April, 7.5 percent of all homes sold in the Chicago area were "lender-mediated," meaning they were foreclosures or short sales (where the lender cooperates with the homeowner on a sale at less than the amount owed on the mortgage). That's according to Midwest Real Estate Data statistics reported by the Chicago Association of Realtors in May.
The figure is lower than it's been in any month going back to at least January 2008, the earliest data available. That's when the real estate groups started breaking out distressed from conventional sales, reflecting the start of a big wave of distressed properties after the housing crash.
"It's a positive indicator of the ongoing recovery of the region's real estate market," said Geoff Smith, executive director of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University. Foreclosures and short sales "were a really negative component of the housing market for several years, and the faster we can get them out of the system, the sooner we have a normal real estate market again."
This report is about the eventual sale of a foreclosure or short sale, the latter end of the distressed-property pipeline. Activity at the near end of the pipeline, a foreclosure action or homeowners seeking permission to sell short on their mortgage, has been in decline for a few years as well.
In the first few months of 2008, distressed sales were at 8 percent and higher, but later in the year spiked to more than 30 percent of all the region's home sales. The figure peaked in February 2012 at more than 55 percent: more than of all home sales were distressed that month.
It wasn't until mid-2017 that distressed properties dropped below 10 percent of sales. For a few months in the summer of 2017, the figure dipped to 8.4 percent. April's 7.5 percent was the first time it got below 8 percent since the earliest data; in the summer months, it should dip further, if past years' patterns hold. The share of distressed home sales rises in the winter, when investor buyers stay busy but buyers looking for their own next home don't, and falls in the summer as more homeowner buyers complete deals in advance of the next school year.
At their peak six years ago, distressed sales were "putting a lot of pressure on the prices of everybody else's home, because they were discounted so much that you had to justify asking more for yours," said Naomi Campbell, a Coldwell Banker agent based in Libertyville who specialized in foreclosure sales for a few years at the height of the wave.
Real estate agents and appraisers working up a report on comparable properties often had no choice but to include distressed properties, as they were so numerous.
Now, with foreclosure sales diminished to pre-wave levels, Campbell said, "if there is one, the (bank or the appraiser) will usually say you can leave it out of the comps, because they're so not as relevant as they used to be."
While that's true in middle- and upper-income areas that have benefited from the economic recovery, high rates of distress still plague some struggling South Side neighborhoods and suburbs. In Englewood, distressed properties were 25 of the past 12 months' 52 home sales, nearly half the total, according to the real estate groups' data. In Avalon Park, distressed homes were 40 of 140 sales—about 29 percent.
In better-recovered areas, the infrequent appearance of a foreclosure or short sale on the market, "there's a frenzy of interest from buyers who are looking for a bargain price," said Torrey Lewis, who sells foreclosures for Friedman Brokerage Company.
A four-bedroom house on Ridge Road in Highland Park came on the market as a short sale in February at $550,000, after starting on the market in early 2016 with an asking price of $975,000. The house was under contract in five weeks, and the sale closed June 12 at the full $550,000 asking price—which is $200,000 less than the sellers paid for it 18 years ago.
Lewis listed a foreclosed condo on Glenwood Avenue in Edgewater for sale at $199,000 on March 8, received multiple offers and had it under contract to a buyer eight days later. The sale closed in April at $202,000. Alex Kruser, the Fulton Grace Realty agent who represented the buyer, said his client was looking for a low-priced property he could do some work on. The buyer was an owner-occupant homeowner, not an investor or flipper, he said.
After years of hearing of friends who bought foreclosures on the cheap and watching the same happen on flipper shows on television, Kruser said, "I get a lot of people asking about buying foreclosures, but I have to tell them there's no inventory anymore."
That's not to suggest that distressed properties' now-shrunken share of the real estate market will at some point drop to zero. "As long as there's divorce and death and people losing jobs, there'll be foreclosures," Campbell said.
Pabst Mansion takes a $6 million price cut
At $15 million, this might be the biggest price cut ever for a Chicago home
Here's how the housing market did in 2022 where you live
Keep up with our unrivaled coverage of Chicago's housing market. Sign up for the Residential Real Estate Report newsletter.


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Northern Cyprus ›
April 24, 2004 Held
Registered to Vote
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
Voters within the Turkish Cypriot community were asked to decide whether they wished to accept the provisions stipulated in the UN-sanctioned Annan plan, which would unify Northern Cyprus with the Greek-based Republic of Cyprus.
Chief of State: President Rauf Raif DENKTAS
Head of Government: Prime Minister Dr. Dervis EROGLU
Assembly: Northern Cyprus has a unicameral Legislative Assembly with 50 seats.
Main provisions in the Referendum:
On unification of the Turkish Republic of Cyprus with the Republic of Cyprus.
The Annan plan specified Cyprus as a confederation of two states, with separate republics handling domestic affairs and a central federal government that would manage international, legal and economic concerns.
Electoral Requirements
The referendum had to be approved by a majority of both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot voters in order for its provisions to take effect.
Population: 208,886 ( 2001 approx.)
Registered Voters: 143,636 ( 2004 )
Elections in Northern Cyprus
Northern Cyprus Assembly of the Republic 2022
Northern Cyprus President 2020


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Branding Basics
Show Your Pride
05/12/2020 seasonal
Show your brand's true colors. Celebrate the history of advocating for love, equality and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ community by supporting National Pride Month this June.
Throughout history, heroes in the LGBTQ+ community have fought for equality, inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about the history and significance of celebrating Pride Month and why it's important to support the LGBTQ+ community.
It all started June 28, 1969, in New York City with the Stonewall Riots when New York Police raided a gay club at the Stonewall Inn. This altercation sparked more protests and symbolized the beginning of the movement to end discrimination and demand equality for the LGBTQ+ community. Every year since, parades, marches and other gatherings are held worldwide to celebrate and advocate equality, inclusion and the victories of the movement, like the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015.
Pride month is an important time to look at the future. Celebrations will be a little different this year, but it's still important for brands to show they are allies. With several parades opting for digital experiences worldwide, providing a creative and memorable experience can make the audience feel connected, despite being unable to be there in person. Participating in social media trends, hosting online parties or distributing rainbow-themed swag are all great ways to show support.
Encouraging open discussion and creating safe spaces to support equality at the workplace is a great way for your brand to be an ally. Celebrate diversity and give employees the tools to feel comfortable sharing their point of view and show how much their hard work and dedication is appreciated.
Contact your Staples Representative for tools, ideas and inspiration when supporting Pride. Don't have a Staples Rep? Call 1.800.369.4669 or email scs@staples.com to get started!
Let's see more


Windows 8 has been with us for almost 18 months and it's been rumoured that it's successor will be announced at BUILD 2014 in April. Not everybody likes Windows 8, I'm personally still happy with Windows 7 but perhaps Windows 9, currently under the codename of "Threshold", may be more lovable.
That does seem to be the pattern. XP was great, Vista was horrid, Windows 7 was great and Windows 8 was met with more than a little disdain. So Windows 9 should another good one.
According to SuperSite for Windows, which specializes in posting everything public and secret regarding Microsoft products, the Windows-maker plans on releasing the new operating system in April 2015.
The pre-alpha build of "Threshold" will be made available to developers after BUILD 2014 with three milestone releases before it is put into production.
There is also a theory that "Threshold" has absolutely nothing to do with a possible Windows 9 but is rather an update for Windows 8 similar to Windows 8.1. We'll see what happens come April.


I have a forum that has been free for a few years. I want to begin charging for membership. I am going to activate the payment module, then set everyones account to expired so they have to go to the payment module.
I know I will have to set the user_payment_expiry field to expired but I see it does not take a date. Does anyone know what I should set this to?


School hours are from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm for all students. Students are encouraged to arrive for school 5-10 minutes before class begins and 10-15 minutes early if they are choosing to eat breakfast at school. Please do not arrive before 7:30AM, as students will not be able to enter the building prior to that time due to lack of supervision.
Students may arrive at school from 7:30-8:00. In order for our transportation system to run efficiently, everyone must follow the same procedures.
1. You will follow the signs for our morning drop off and make a large, patient loop at the main entrance of the school.
2. You will remain in a single file line and never pass another car unless directed by school officials.
3. All students will exit the car in the circle drive.
4. The greeters will open the car doors on the passenger side to ensure student safety.
5. Once your student has exited the car and is safely on the sidewalk, you will proceed around the circle drive and make your departure back to Dundee Avenue.
accompany your child to the front desk for a tardy pass. Students will need to present their tardy pass to their teacher to get into class. If a student does not have a tardy pass, they will be sent back to the front desk to get one.
At the end of the school day, children will be sent to their designated places for bus, car rider and Boys and Girls Club. Cars need to stay in a patient line and children will be loaded into the cars in the order in which the cars are lined up.
1. You will follow signs for drop off and pick up and make a large, patient loop at the main entrance of the school.
3. Staff members will open car doors on the passenger side only for efficiency and safety.
4. Once your child is safely in his/her seat, you can proceed back down the lane toward the exit while remaining in the single file line.
Please note, for staff and student safety, if your child is not outside when your car is in the pick-up zone, you will need to pull forward as directed by a school official until we can safely load your child into your car.
teacher or notify the office by phone. Children must have a permission note in their hands to go with a person not designated on the student's account.
academic dismissal on Fridays for Field Studies, Fridays after 1:30pm would be the optimal time for your student to leave early for an appointment or on a professional development day when there's no school if the appointment can only be made during school hours.


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Q: Filtering filenames in PHP I'm trying to group a bunch of files together based on RecipeID and StepID.  Instead of storing all of the filenames in a table I've decided to just use glob to get the images for the requested recipe. I feel like this will be more efficient and less data handling. Keeping in mind the directory will eventually contain many thousands of images. If I'm wrong about this then the below question is not necessary lol
So let's say I have RecipeID #5 (nachos, mmmm) and it has 3 preparation steps. The naming convention I've decided on would be as such:
5_1_getchips.jpg
5_2_laycheese.jpg
5_2_laytomatos.jpg
5_2_laysalsa.jpg
5_3_bake.jpg
5_finishednachos.jpg
5_morefinishedproduct.jpg

The files may be generated by a camera, so DSC###.jpg...or the person may have actually named each picture as I have above. Multiple images can exist per step. I'm not sure how I'll handle dupe filenames, but I feel that's out of scope.
I want to get all of the "5_" images...but filter them by all the ones that DON'T have any step # (grouped in one DIV), and then get all the ones that DO have a step (grouped in their respective DIVs).
I'm thinking of something like
foreach ( glob( $IMAGES_RECIPE .  $RecipeID . "-*.*") as $image)

and then using a substr to filter out the step# but I'm concerned about getting the logic right because what if the original filename already has _#_ in it for some reason.  Maybe I need to have a strict naming convention that always includes _0_ if it doesn't belong to a step.
Thoughts?

A: Globbing through 1000s of files will never being faster than having indexed those files in a database (of whatever type) and execute a database query for them. That's what databases are meant for.

A: I had a similar issue with 15,000 mp3 songs.
In the Win command line dir
dir *.mp3 /b /s > mp3.bat

Used a regex search and replace in NotePad++ that converted the the file names and prefixed and appended text creating a Rename statement and Ran the mp3.bat.

Something like this might work for you in PHP:

*

*Use regex to extract the digits using preg_replace to

*Create a logic table(s) to create the words for the new file names

*create the new filename with rename()

Here is some simplified and UNTESTED Example code to show what I am suggesting.
Example Logic Table:
 $translation[x][y][z] = "phrase";
 $translation[x][y][z] = "phrase";
 $translation[x][y][z] = "phrase";
 $translation[x][y][z] = "phrase";

  $folder = '/home/user/public_html/recipies/';
  $dir=opendir($folder);
  while (false !== ($found=readdir($dir))){
    if pathinfo($file,PATHINFO_EXTENSION) == '.jpg')
     {
       $files[]= pathinfo($file,PATHINFO_FILENAME);
     }
  }
  foreach($files as $key=> $filename){
    $digit1 = 'DSC(\d)\d\d\.jpg/',"$1", $filename);
    $digit2 = 'DSC\d(\d)\d\.jpg',"$1", $filename);
    $digit3 = 'DSC\d\d(\d)\.jpg',"$1", $filename);
    $newName = $translation[$digit1][$digit2][$digit3]
    ren($filename,$newfilename);
  }


text:
Celine Cousteau – Tribes on the Edge
A grant has been awarded towards the educational work of Celine Cousteau's 'Tribes on the Edge' – impact film and educational campaign.
On the border of Brazil and Peru, the Javari Valley is home to the largest concentration of vulnerable uncontacted tribes in the entire Amazon – at risk because of an encroaching developing world. The indigenous people Vale do Javari help protect an ecosystem that produces 20% of the oxygen WE ALL breathe every day. The film is a catalyst for advocacy and action and is a must-see!
TRIBES ON THE EDGE follows filmmaker Céline Cousteau as she returns to the Brazilian Amazon after a fateful email from Beto of the Marúbo tribe beckons her back to help tell his people's story. Céline ventures into the heart of the jungle to explore the health crises and the threats to land and human rights of the Indigenous Peoples of the Vale do Javari, expanding the view to how this is relevant to our own lives. From a history of invaders bringing devastating diseases all the more relevant in our current global pandemic, to the ongoing illegal activities including hunting, gold mining, and deforestation, to the alarming dismantling of all protection of their land and human rights by the Brazilian government. Much more than a narrative of tribal reality in the Amazon, the film provides a perspective on how our future is interwoven with theirs and with nature. The indigenous communities are fighting to protect their home, critical to the ecological balance of our planet, and as a result – they protect us.
The grant will help enable the continuation of video sessions into classrooms and also to other organisations through the support of the project's part-time Manager of Education. The programme has already hosted video lessons with more than 6,500 students (Year 1 – University level) in 41 countries.
Visit Website View All Projects


and guarantees boredom, resentment or misunderstanding.
composed of the particle 'to' plus the present stem of the verb.
The fact is that, to those who are uninformed, unpracticed or disconcerted, split infinitives don't matter—these individuals apparently haven't had a chance to know any better, they are unimformed of their detrimental effects on communication, or they just don't care.
Yet to those of us who do understand the problem, a split infinitive slams the door of perception, in what turn out to be flacid attempts at communication. The creator of a split infinitive comes across, suddenly and fatally, as one of those benighted, misguided, illogical or indolent; the message is garbled and ineffective, painful to many listeners/readers, and ultimately indicative of inept message-construction.
If you cannot structure your message logically, what makes you presume that we should expect you to have organized the thought behind that message logically?
Thus, if you want your message to be effective, never split an infinitive.
Don't split an infinitive. Ever.
Some may try to point to historical usage in literature of different periods to bolster their slap-dash use of split infinitives.
However, one must interrogate the three opera that are the best of Classical English prose. The first two—the King James translation of The Bible, and the 1559/1662 Book of Common Prayer—are completely free of split infinitives. The third opus is the works of Shakespeare, in which there are only two split infinitives: that single split infinitive within Shakespeare's plays, in Coriolanus, appears to be a printer's mistake (the play first appears in print only some five years after Shakespeare's death), and the single split infinitive in his poetry was done to meet the specific requirements of rhyme within that one verse. Thus we can say that the Best of English is achieved without ever splitting infinitives!
However, the need to refrain from splitting infinitives is not a mere historical exercise. Neither is it simply a pedantic concern. Indeed, it is less about the infinitive alone than it involves, eviscerates, two parts of speech!
This problematic, grammatical condition is a misuse that diminishes clarity, impedes communication, and makes the issuer of it sound like that one, perpetually inept, boring professor whose class we had to struggle seemingly eternally not to sleep through!


AMD will be launching a new remote game streaming / rendering service which will compete with NVIDIA's GeForce now streaming service. This service is being developed in partnership with LiquidSky, who will operate the service using AMD Radeon "Vega"-based remote GPUs.
This service will allow users of low-power notebooks, tablets, and handhelds to be able to play AAA games on devices that typically couldn't support them.
This new service will launch with prices that will be competitive with NVIDIA's GeForce Now service. Once we have more details we will let you know!


text:
SGPD to host national prescription drug take-back day
Casie Forbes
casie@thespectrum.com
ST. GEORGE – Washington County residents can safely dispose of their unwanted or expired prescription medications Saturday during the 8th annual U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Take-Back Day.
St. George police will be available in the Smith's parking lot, 20 N. Bluff St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accept the medications, which will then be given to the DEA to destroy.
"People do wonder what they can do with their prescriptions and how to safely dispose of them," SGPD Sgt. Sam Despain said. "That's why we support (the event), so that those pills don't end up in the wrong hands, so they're not stolen or abused in some way, and so that they're disposed of properly. We have the resources to properly dispose of those medications safely."
Despain said residents who store prescription medications in their homes can be at an increased risk of becoming a victim of a home burglary.
"How often does somebody go to the dentist and get a prescription for a narcotic that they don't use?" Despain said. "This just takes that temptation away, and it will lessen the chance of the (prescription) being abused in some way. If (the prescriptions) are not there, then there's nothing to steal."
According to an SGPD news release, a national study conducted by drugfree.org and the MetLife Foundation found that "49 percent of teens who misused or abused prescription medications got them from a family member or a friend."
Despain said prescription take-back is a "no questions asked" event where residents can bring any form of medication.
"We don't want people to feel it's a ploy to get somebody into trouble," Despain said. "That's not what this is about. It's about taking these medications and that's it."
Follow Casie Forbes on Twitter, @CasieAForbes.
• What: 8th Annual U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Take-Back Day.
• When: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Where: Smith's parking lot, 20 North Bluff Street.


text:
Eggtooth Productions
Summer Program for Children Experience Now: Gem of the Valley Past Experiences About Donate
Summer Program for ChildrenExperience Now: Gem of the ValleyPast ExperiencesAboutDonate
Gem of the Valley, a co pro with Chester Theater CO
What is "Gem of the Valley"?
Produced by Chester Theater Company with support from Eggtooth Productions, Gem of the Valley is a headphones-based immersive theater piece that puts you on a walk through the town of Chester, en route to CTC stage. Designed for small groups of no more than six people at a time, you are set on an hour-long adventure that blurs the borders between theater, dream, and real life.
With a storied town as a central character, Gem is a tribute to Chester and its home-grown theater that celebrates its 30th anniversary this summer. The show is directed by John Bechtold, whose previous immersive works around the Valley include Sam's Place, Deus Ex Machina, Before You Became Improbable and The Winter's Tale.
How Do I Purchase Tickets?
Tickets should be purchased directly from Chester Theatre Company.
What should I expect during the show?
Audience members will be asked to walk with a small group for a little under 1/2 a mile over the course of the hour-long show, with regular stops along the way. The route, while primarily on flat surfaces, contains indoor and outdoor stairs and some uneven terrain.
Audience members will be wearing headphones for the duration of the show as they encounter a cast of twenty performers who will engage directly with the audience.
Performers may occasionally invite a moment of light physical contact (taking someone's hand, for example); otherwise, there is little/no contact during the show.
Participants must be willing to follow physical directions provided from their headphones and participate within the bounds of the show.
There is no (live) talking by performers or audience during the performance.
Due to the nature of the show, it is not possible to take a break at any point during the performance.
The show will be performed in all weather, unless it creates dangerous conditions. Participants are welcome to bring umbrellas or other items for their comfort during the show.
Questions/Additional Info
Questions about Gem of the Valley can be directed to Angela Combest at Chester Theatre. Her email is angela@chestertheatre.org.
Announcing our partnership with Punchdrunk
Thanks to a grant from the Barr Foundation through the community foundation of western mass, eggtooth will share the US debut of:
A SMALL TALE, an education program from punchdrunk enrichment
So who is punchdrunk? Punchdrunk is an award-winning international theatre company with a reputation for ground-breaking productions that blend classic texts, physical performance and design installation in unexpected sites. You may know their long running immersive theater experience called sleep no more that has been running in NYC since 2011. https://mckittrickhotel.com/
Since 2008, Punchdrunk Enrichment has delivered magical projects with over 100 UK primary schools, taking Punchdrunk's immersive ethos and high production values into school settings, creating experiences to inspire and ignite pupils' imaginations and accelerate learning. https://www.punchdrunk.org.uk/enrichment
A Small Tale: A Teacher-led Adventure is a Punchdrunk Enrichment project, led by the teacher in the classroom. The project aims to inspire and develop imaginative teaching practices for literacy; placing the teacher at the centre of the creativity. https://www.punchdrunk.org.uk/a-teacher-led-adventure
Eggtooth will be engaging first and second grade classes from Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties to participate in this award winning project. We are in the planning stages right now and will have More information soon.
an image of a uk class engaging in "a small tale"
102 Highland Avenue, Greenfield, MA 01301
email: info@eggtooth.org


Getting Started with STM32 Nucleo and Mbed | Teach Me Microcontrollers!
The STM32 Nucleo boards by ST packs a lot more power than an Arduino UNO and has headers aligned the same way with the latter that makes it compatible with Arduino shields.
Download the driver for the STM32 board. If the driver installation is successful and the Nucleo board is connected to the desktop computer, it will act like a removable flash drive. Inside the "drive" is a link to the Mbed website and a text file containing some info about the board.
There are a couple of ways to program the STM32 Nucleo board but I found using Mbed is the easiest for beginners. It's an online compiler with a neat interface and follows Arduino coding standards. Go ahead and register now to use the online compiler.
Click the board, then the "Select Platform" button to get started.
Click "New" and a dialog opens up. The default program name is Nucleo_blink_led. Let's leave that program name as is.
DigitalOut is a class that assigns a pin as a digital output. Here, the class object is aliased myled and is attached to LED1, the name of the on-board LED on the Nucleo.
As with C/C++ programming, there must always be a main() function. Inside the main function is an infinite loop (while (1)) where myled is toggled on and off with time delays in between.
Note: the download dialog doesn't seem to appear after compilation when I used Chrome. That's why I am using Firefox here.
Your only choice in this case is to download the .bin file.
Once the binary file is downloaded, transfer it to the Nucleo "drive" just like how you would transfer any other file.


Garry Kasparov on Garry Kasparov, part 1 and 2 are the first and second books in a major new three-volume series. This series will be unique by the fact that it will record the greatest chess battles played by the greatest chess player of all-time.
Hailes to Almighty God for giving us Bobby Fisher. Now our positional advantage is converted into hard currency.


text:
Capitalist predicts the Singapore Major Wild Card
Austin "Cap" Walsh
March 26, 2021 #News
Dota 2 caster Austin "Capitalist" Walsh takes a look at ONE Esports Singapore Major Wild Card. 8K MMR but what about his prediction skills?
The ONE Esports Singapore Major is set to kick off on March 27 with the Wild Card Stage. The Singapore Major Wild Card stage features some of the best teams from the strongest regions.
Wild Card teams
The six teams in the Singapore Major Wild Card event are as follows:
Team Nigma
Vici Gaming
AS Monaco Gambit
The top three teams - originally two - from the Wild Card event move forward to the group stage. The Wild Card stage features a single-stage round-robin format where every team plays every other in the group. There are two European teams, two from China, one from Southeast Asia and one team from CIS.
Here's a quick rundown of the Singapore Major Wild Card section of the first Dota 2 LAN event in over a year.
The European representatives: Nigma and Team Liquid
Team Nigma will use its coach as a stand-in. Image Credit: Nigma.
The European region was the most competitive in the Dota Pro Circuit. While Team Secret cruised through the DPC and remained undefeated, the remaining slots saw intense competition. Alliance secured second place with a 5-2 score and Nigma barely made it to the third position with a 4-3 score.
Nigma won 10 games and lost eight for its third-place finish, a not-so-convincing statistic. Kuroky and co. will be playing the Dota 2 Major without their offlaner, Ivan Borislavov "MinD_ContRoL" Ivanov. The team will be using its coach, Roman "rmN-" Paley, as a stand-in. MinD_ContRoL's absence means a few role-changes within the roster which will inadvertently impact the overall performance. Nigma's slow start to tournaments does not bode well for the Wild card format where every match matters.
Team Liquid's Dota 2 roster. Image Credit: Team Liquid.
Team Liquid is the other team from Europe and they barely made it to the Wild Card stage. The competitiveness of the European DPC mentioned earlier in this article was on full display for the final EU Wild card slot. Team Liquid, OG and Tundra esports were tied for the final slot with a 3-4 score.
Team Liquid's matches are always interesting to watch because of the aggressive draft picks. The team's strategies are extremely innovative and often bring new heroes and playstyles into the mix. With flexible hero pools for most of its players, Team Liquid has a lot of options in its games. It is also the only team outside of Virtus.pro and Team Secret to win a big EU Dota 2 event during the pandemic.
PSG.LGD and Vici Gaming bring the Chinese meta to the Major
Europe is currently considered the best region in Dota 2. However, the past year has seen no international LAN events and there have generally been very few cross-region online tournaments. These factors give Chinese teams a big advantage when it comes to facing off against their European counterparts.
The Chinese Dota Pro Circuit leaderboards for Season 1. Screengrab via Liquipedia.net.
Vici Gaming is the favorite to make it out of the Wild Card Stage. Image Credit: Vici Gaming.
Vici Gaming has traditionally been one of the strongest organizations in Chinese Dota 2. The team finished the regular DPC season third behind Invictus Gaming and Team Aster. With a 5-2 score, that includes losses against PSG.LGD and Invictus Gaming, Vici won every other series with a 2-0 score. The dominant nature of its victories highlights the team's understanding of its own strategy as well as a good draft in most matches.
Three wild card teams move forward to the group stage. As one of the strongest Dota 2 teams in the world, Vici Gaming is the favorite to top the wild card segment.
PSG.LGD is one of two Chinese teams. Image Credit: PSG.LGD Twitter.
PSG.LGD has placed in the top four of the last three International events. As one of the biggest organizations in the Chinese region, this team has picked up the best players in the region and helped build strong team synergy.
PSG.LGD has been one of the most successful Chinese Dota 2 teams during the lockdown. The team has had multiple top two appearances in regional Chinese events. With more wins than losses, it is foolhardy to discount PSG.LGD, even against stronger opponents.
The Wild Card stage is extremely tough and PSG.LGD has is not popular for its consistency in its recent matches. The team finished with a 11-7 record in the DPC, but Walsh believes the team has a higher skill ceiling.
The Challengers: AS Monaco Gambit and T1 esports
While the European and Chinese teams are favorites to secure the three spots available, AS Monaco Gambit and T1 esports can play spoilers. The two teams have displayed exemplary skill in the regular season. While their chances to make it to the group stage seem slim, more so for T1 than Gambit, they can cause a few upsets in the Wild Card stage.
The Singapore Major dark horse: AS Monaco Gambit
AS Monaco Gambit and T1 esports are undoubtedly the two weakest teams in the wild card stage. But it would be foolhardy for Dota 2 fans to disregard their potential to cause upsets and maybe, even qualify to the group stage.
AS Monaco Gambit, formerly Live to Win, scraped through the CIS region of the Dota Pro Circuit. Screengrab via Liquipedia.net.
AS Monaco Gambit, formerly Live To Win, started the DPC season on a strong note winning two of its first three matches. The team lost to Virtus.pro but was that was along expected lines. The series against Team Spirit was a relatively close one that could have gone either way.
No[o]ne joined the team when AS Monaco picked up the former Live to Win roster. Image Credit: StarLadder.
The team's understanding of its drafts and excellent execution is what gives them an advantage. As Austin "Capitalist" Walsh mentions in the Esports.gg video, Vladimir "No[o]ne" Minenko's addition to the roster was a huge skill bump for AS Monaco Gambit. The team is still one of the underdogs in the Wild Card stage, but that is a testimony to the strength and depth of gameplay from other regions. But Dota 2 fans should not be quick to count out Gambit just yet. The team can throw up quite a few surprises at the Major, which could potentially hurt other team's chances of moving forward.
Southeast Asia's Wild Card Hope: T1 Esports
T1 esports will use ee "Forev" Sang-don as a stand-in. Image Credit: T1 esports.
T1 entered Dota 2 in 2019 and the organization has seen constant changes to its roster. The team's bid to become one of the strongest teams in the Southeast Asian region has seen a high churn rate of players. But it seems they have hit the sweet spot just ahead of the Dota 2 Major.
The Dota Pro Circuit Season 1: Southeast Asia was wide open till the very end. In fact, Fnatic secured its top spot only in the final wee. This was in contrast to most other regions where the top team was decided much earlier. T1 esports was tied with NEON in the group stage and the duo had to go to the tie-breaker segment.
T1 esports recently added Nuengnara "23savage" Teeramahanon to its roster. The first player to reach 12,000 MMR in Dota 2, has not had the most success in the professional landscape. There is no denying his skill and it will be interesting to see how he fits into the T1 roster.
The ONE Esports Singapore Major kicks off on March 27. Recently Netflix released DOTA: Dragon's Blood, a Dota lore-based animation series that dives deep into the lives of some characters. In a recent update, Valve released a new player experience that should ease the transition of new players into the game. Valve also promised a balance update patch and a new hero after the Singapore Major.
#cap#Featured#oneesports#pgl#singaporemajor
Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, Subscriber, SEO Manager, SEO Editor | Twitter @Capcasts
Professional esports broadcaster with over a decade of experience as well as extensive time spent in the competitive scene of Dota 2. Practiced in every aspect of commentating, from leading play-by-play calls, fulfilling the role of a expert analysis and color commentator, to hosting panels filled with the best talent in the scene.


Ever wanted to learn how arrow heads are made... well this is the person!
Flint knapping in Southern Ontario is one of those those lost arts that can still be learned.
Mike the Flintknapper makes the world of stone come alive. You can bring your found arrowheads and stone artifacts... let him tell you how they were made, where the rock came from, how old the point is and who made them!
Mike can be contacted directly at this email.
It is all in the swing... hitting the right spot for the right break... then snapping with pressure to make the final flint cutting edge.
Pending on Mike's schedule... he is available to come and speak to groups and do demonstrations on the art of flintnapping. For groups camping with Grand River Rafting he can come to the campsite and do flintknapping demonstrations in the evening while the light is good.
A flintknapper's best friends are safety glasses, tweezers for removing tiny pieces of quartz that come out of the rock, gloves and bandages. The assortment of tools used by the First Nations to knap would not include copper but antler, bone and stone.
A flintknapper just learning the art normally goes through about 50 pounds of rock before making their first arrowhead. It takes a good knapper about 90 minutes to make a high quality point. A 2.5-3 hr group learning session with Mike is $200.00.
Above are some completed stone points by Mike... as one handles these pieces of art... the capability of craftmanship is astonishing. The highlight for many is watching a chunk of rock being formed into an equiste point from the most simplest of tools.
If looking for a "one of a kind" unique learning adventure... suitable for all ages... then "Mike the Knapper" maybe your next guest speaker.
Below is a video of Mike the Knapper teaching Grand River Rafting staff the art of flint knapping...the art of making rope from wild plants... and the unique art of fire drills!


text:
Carjacking, High Speed Chase Near Lindale Mall – Cops Charge Two Suspects
Mike Ferris
Marion Police acted swiftly to stop an attempted armed carjacking, one which could have turned deadly on Thursday afternoon near Lindale Mall.
According to Marion police and Iowa's News Now, a suspect wanted on a parole violation is in custody Thursday night after allegedly firing a stolen gun while trying to steal a car.
On Thursday afternoon authorities were looking for 38 year old Christopher Daniel Taylor, who was wanted on a parole violation. Around 1:32 p.m. working with Linn County Sherriff's and Cedar Rapids police, Marion police were alerted that a red truck had been stolen from the 1200 block of A Avenue in Marion by a man matching Taylor's description.
A short time later Taylor picked up an acquaintance, 30 year old Courtney Marea Smith. After being spotted, Taylor and Smith led police on a high-speed chase westbound on Highway 100, eventually ending up going the wrong way into the eastbound lanes of Collins road near Lindale Mall.
Cops in vehicle pursuit then forced the pair to stop near the mall. As the car chase terminated, the two split up on foot, tearing off into opposite directions.
At this point Taylor then attempted to carjack a vehicle from a victim in the shopping area parking lot. Taylor allegedly was brandishing a weapon which police say was discharged during the carjacking. No one was injured by that shot.
Shortly after, still on foot with cops in pursuit, Taylor then attempted to carjack another vehicle, again by pointing the gun at the car's driver.
Police finally apprehended Taylor around 2:00 p.m. on Lindale Drive. Smith was picked up in the vicinity of Lindale Mall about five minutes later. The gun was also recovered.
Smith has been charged with theft first, interference with official acts, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Taylor was jailed on the parole violation.
Marion police would like to ask the public's help to identify the carjacking victim who was driving a dark colored car that Taylor attempted to steal. Police ask if you know who this individual is, to please contact the Marion police at 319-377-1511.
Source: Marion Police, Iowa's News Now
Filed Under: carjacking, Christopher Daniel Taylor, Courtney Marea Smith, Lindal Mall, Marion police, stolen car


House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) has announced that the House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on President Obama's trade policy agenda and the future of U.S. trade negotiations on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. Witnesses will include U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. The first hearing panel, including Ambassador Kirk, is expected to cover a wide variety of international trade issues such as: ensuring prompt implementation of the three free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea; (2) seeking to conclude a good Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement this year; (3) considering Russia's WTO accession; (4) improving our important trade relationship with China and addressing China's trade barriers; (5) addressing the Obama Administration's trade agency reorganization proposal and the National Export Initiative; and ensuring appropriate trade enforcement efforts. The hearing is also expected to address areas of potential future trade negotiations such as: (1) advancing WTO negotiations, including "post-Doha" issues at the WTO such as an international services agreement, Information Technology Agreement expansion, and a trade facilitation agreement; (2) completing Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with China and India, and exploring new BITs and investment opportunities; (3) deepening and expanding the trade and investment relationship with the European Union; and (4) establishing long-term, closer ties with important trading partners such as Latin America and India.
For further information, please continue to visit www.barnesrichardson.com or contact a Barnes/Richardson attorney.