text:
worldAll Sections
Settlement in Abdel Hakim Belhaj rendition case to be announced
Ian Cobain and Owen Bowcott
# Abdel Hakim Belhaj
# CIA
# Libya
# MI6
# Muammar Gaddafi
# Rendition
# UK security and counter-terrorism
Opposition leader who was kidnapped and sent to Libyan prison had insisted on an apology
The British government is understood to be about to settle a long-running compensation claim brought by a husband and wife who were the victims of a so-called rendition operation mounted with the help of MI6.
Abdel Hakim Belhaj and his wife, Fatima Boudchar, have battled for compensation and an apology for more than six years, after papers that came to light during the Libyan revolution revealed the role that British intelligence officers played in their 2004 kidnap in Thailand.
The couple were hooded and shackled and flown to one of Muammar Gaddafi's prisons, where Belhaj was tortured and sentenced to death.
The attorney general, Jeremy Wright, is expected to make a statement to MPs on Thursday, and Belhaj, now a military commander in Libya, will make a statement in Istanbul shortly afterwards.
It is unclear what the agreed terms are, although Belhaj has in the past said he would settle for just £3 – £1 from each of the defendants, as long as he and his wife also received an apology from the British government.
The couple had been suing the former foreign secretary Jack Straw, and Sir Mark Allen, the former head of counter-terrorism at MI6, as well as the agency itself and the Foreign Office.
The couple's lawyers have also brought judicial review proceedings against the Crown Prosecution Service after prosecutors concluded that there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against Allen following a four-year Scotland Yard investigation.
Among the evidence obtained by Yard detectives was a faxed letter from Allen to Gaddafi's intelligence chief, Moussa Koussa in which he made clear that MI6 had tipped off the Libyans about the couple's whereabouts prior to their kidnap.
In the letter, Allen congratulated Koussa on the "safe arrival" of Belhaj. "This was the least we could do for you and for Libya to demonstrate the remarkable relationship we have built over recent years." He added that "amusingly", the CIA – which had provided the aircraft for the rendition operation – had asked that MI6 channel all requests for information from Belhaj through them.
"I have no intention of doing any such thing. The intelligence … was British. I know I did not pay for the air cargo. But I feel I have the right to deal with you direct on this."
In an interview with the Guardian, Boudchar described how she had been taped head-to-toe to a stretcher for the 17-hour flight to Tripoli. "My left eye was closed when the tape was applied. But my right eye was open, and it stayed open throughout the journey. It was agony." Nearby, she could hear the grunts of pain of her husband, who had been shackled into a stressful position.
Boudchar was four-and-a-half months pregnant at the time that she was kidnapped. She was set free shortly before giving birth.
Two weeks after the couple were renditioned to Libya, Tony Blair paid his first visit to the country, embracing Gaddafi and declaring that Libya had recognised "a common cause, with us, in the fight against al-Qaida extremism and terrorism". Simultaneously, in London, the Anglo-Dutch oil company Shell announced it had signed a lucrative deal for gas exploration rights off the Libyan coast.
Three days after that, a second opponent of Gaddafi, Sami al-Saadi, was bundled onboard a plane in Hong Kong and taken to Tripoli in a joint British-Libyan rendition operation. Saadi's wife and four children were also kidnapped and taken to Libya. The youngest was a girl aged six. The family was incarcerated at Tajoura for more than two months before being released. Saadi and Belhaj were held for more than six years, however, and say they were subjected to torture throughout this time.
Al-Saadi settled his claim against the British government in 2012, receiving £2.2m in an out-of-court payment.
Other documents discovered during the Libyan revolution make clear that information extracted from Belhaj was then used to justify the detention in Britain of members of his Islamist opposition group, the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, some of whom had settled in the UK as refugees many years earlier.
Before the two families had been kidnapped, the UK and US governments had been pressing Gaddafi to abandon his nuclear and chemical weapons programmes, which he pledged to do in December 2003.
A spokesperson for the attorney general's office confirmed that: "[Wright] will make a statement tomorrow in parliament in the matter of Abdul Hakim Belhaj and Fatima Boudchar."
It is not yet clear whether the settlement will also terminate the judicial review challenge of the CPS decision not to prosecute Allen. Both the former MI6 officer and Straw deny any wrongdoing.
Ian Cobain
Ian Cobain was a senior reporter for the Guardian
Owen Bowcott
Owen Bowcott is the Guardian's legal affairs correspondent. He was formerly the Guardian's Ireland correspondent and is the co-author of Beating the System, about the criminalisation of computer hacking
Abdel Hakim Belhaj: Jack Straw fails to explain role in Libyan dissident seizure
Ex-foreign secretary does not deny being involved in rendering Belhaj to Libyan secret police but says he did nothing unlawful
Richard Norton-Taylor and Ian Cobain
CPS decision in Abdel Hakim Belhaj rendition case faces legal challenge
Human rights group claims DPP 'erred in law' in declining to prosecute ex-MI6 official over abduction of Libyan dissident
Owen Bowcott Legal affairs correspondent
Abdel Hakim Belhaj torture case may be heard in secret court
Claim against Jack Straw, brought by Gaddafi victim and his wife, may be heard in secret under new Justice and Security Act
UK supreme court to rule on government responsibility for alleged rendition
Judgments on alleged treatment of jihadi suspects could define extent of human rights protections overseas
Owen Bowcott and Ian Cobain
CPS upholds decision not to charge over MI6 role in Libyans' rendition
Families' lawyers claim 'stitch-up' after failure to overturn decision not to bring charges over abduction of dissidents
Britain apologises for 'appalling treatment' of Abdel Hakim Belhaj
Theresa May apologises unreservedly for UK role in rendition of Libyan, who was jailed and tortured, and his wife
Ian Cobain, Owen Bowcott and Pippa Crerar in London, and Kareem Shaheen in Istanbul
Libyan politician to fight UK attempt to keep role in his rendition secret
Lawyers for Abdel Hakim Belhaj to challenge government's efforts to have his case thrown out or tried in secret
Special report: Rendition ordeal that raises new questions about secret trials
In 2004, Fatima Bouchar and her husband, Abdel Hakim Belhaj, were detained en route to the UK, and rendered to Libya. This is the story of their imprisonment, and the trail of evidence that reveals the involvement of the British government
Rendition victim gets £500,000 compensation as May apologises 'unreservedly' for UK's conduct - Politics live
Rolling coverage of the day's political developments as they happen
MI5 says rendition of Libyan opposition leaders strengthened al-Qaida
Intelligence assessment concludes abduction of Abdel Hakim Belhaj and Sami al-Saadi allowed dissident group to be taken over by exponents of al-Qaida


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text:
Visitors' Choice Delta
Ethics law forbids ex-minister Philpott from paid work for First Nation
Jane Philpott's new job runs afoul of the Conflict of Interest Act
The federal ethics law has put a crimp in Jane Philpott's plan to put her experience as a former minister of health and Indigenous services to work for the benefit of a northern Ontario First Nation.
Just two weeks ago, Philpott announced that she was taking on a new role as special health adviser to the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which comprises 49 remote communities in northwestern Ontario.
But now she says her work for NAN will have to be strictly voluntary.
That's because her new job ran afoul of the Conflict of Interest Act, which stipulates that former ministers must adhere to a two-year "cooling off period," in which they must not work for, contract with or serve on the board of directors of any entity with which they had "direct and significant dealings" during their last year as a minister.
Philpott, who failed in her bid to win re-election as an Independent on Oct. 21, resigned from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet last March over the SNC-Lavalin affair. In the previous 12 months, she had served as Indigenous services minister and, briefly, as president of the Treasury Board.
Prior to that, she also served as Trudeau's health minister.
Throughout her time as a minister, she had extensive dealings with NAN, including signing onto a charter committing the federal government to work with the First Nation and the province on transforming the way health care is delivered in NAN communities.
The Conflict of Interest Act allows ethics commissioner Mario Dion to waive or shorten a former minister's cooling off period if he deems it to be in the public interest but Philpott says he refused her request for a waiver.
Dion's office declined to comment.
"Ultimately, it was my decision in the end to say, because of my role as both minister health and minister of Indigenous services, that I had been acquainted enough with Nishnawbe Aski Nation in those roles that … it would not be appropriate at this stage for me to take any remuneration from them," Philpott said in an interview.
Volunteering her services "allows me to continue to work with them and not to worry about the conflict issue."
ALSO READ: Jane Philpott resigns from Trudeau cabinet
Philpott said she's not sure the cooling off period, imposed with the creation of the Act in 2006, was intended to apply in situations like her planned work for NAN.
"I think it was probably thinking more of for-profit corporations benefiting from the participation or the future work of a previous office holder. So, this is a little bit different circumstance."
NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler is also not convinced that the cooling-off provision — aimed at ensuring a former minister doesn't profit from, or help an outside entity to profit from, inside knowledge about government operations and policy — was meant to apply in a case like this.
"She was never planning to profit from this venture," he said in an interview.
"I think it's just recognizing the severe conditions and the challenges that exist in the Nishnawbe Aski Nation when it comes to access to quality health care and it's her commitment to follow through on the work we started when she was a minister.
"We're not in this to make any money. We're just trying to fix some long-standing problems."
Fiddler said NAN would have preferred to hire Philpott's services full time and will now have to develop a new work plan for her that will involve a more limited time commitment.
Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press
B.C. plane crash victim identified; witnesses describe 'explosion'
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Angeline Splockton uncovered 11 words on her Luxury Crossword Scratch & Win ticket
16 new COVID-19 cases, one death, in Delta care facilities
Ministry releasing weekly report on long-term care, assisted and independent living facility cases
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Got To Break Free
Posted on Sep 28, 2019 @ 7:47pm	by Captain Kassandra Thytos
"Got to break free"
(Cont. "Logic dictates")
* * *=(/\)=* * *
Stardate: 2.19.0928.1115
Scene: Captain's Ready Room
"We can't just waltz in there and force the Klingons to let us search for the crew of the Satet," Kassandra said with a frown creasing her brow. She and Jasmine were sitting in front of Kane's desk in his ready room as the Captain stood behind it staring into the starfield. Along the side of the room, Jake sat on a couch, watching the proceedings. "Even asking nicely would tip our hand, they'd know they have valuable prisoners, and then there is absolutely no way they would let assets go. While it would be more fun'n a barrel a monkeys, a straight out hostile takeover is *definitely* out as that could be construed as taking sides in the Kling-Orion Conflict."
"... I think we can all agree we are not calling it The Kling-Orion Conflict," Kane deadpanned, turning back from the window. He leaned both his hands on the back of his chair. "You raise some excellent points, Major. What about a small extraction team?"
Kass and Jasmine exchanged a glance.
"We have nowhere near enough intelligence to plan something like that. We don't know anything about the layout, the security, it would be suicide," Jasmine said with a shake of her head.
"Even if we did get in, we have no idea where to even start lookin' and no team, no matter how good they are is gonna be able to stay hidden long enough ta search a whole prison, an' as soon as they catch us it's galactic political nightmare," Kassandra agreed.
"I need solutions and you're just giving me problems," Kane said gruffly. "We've got enough of those, without you two giving me more."
Kassandra raised an eyebrow at the Captain, and pursed her lips to convey that she was unimpressed. He sighed, and returned to the window. Evidently the caginess of the secret squirrels was putting him on edge. There was a few minutes of silence as everyone sat, lost in thought.
"Weeeelllll," Kassandra said finally. "I gotta idea, but you most likely won't like it sir. We can't break in, but mayhap we kin break out, or near enough to it, anyway, sos y'all can get us. All we gotta do is find a way to get us taken into the prison. That's the only part I can't figure out. I mean, I know plenty well how to make a Klingon mad, but really only punch ya in the face mad, not throw ya in prison mad."
"That actually isn't the hard part, I think," Jasmine said, snapping her fingers. "Crime is high here, we should be able to find some plausible petty crime to pin on our extraction team, something serious enough for the Klingons to be annoyed about, but not so serious they'd feel the need to execute them to save face. We could contact the Klingons, and say we have some criminals to give them as a token of goodwill in hopes that they will let us search for our stolen ship."
"Surely that's an obvious trap," Jake interjected. "Any Klingon with half a brain will smell something fishy."
"Nah, I think Yu's onto somethin'." Kassandra leaned back in her chair and laced her fingers behind her back. Out of force of habit she started to swing her booted feet up to rest on the edge of the desk but was stopped by Kane's unamused gaze. She quickly dropped them back to the carpet. "We might have trouble if it weren't for Masters. She's been kickin' round this area fer a while, and not in the most legal of ways, neither. She's probably on someone's radar, heck, might even have her own file with the Klingons, for all we know. Anyways, if we couch her as the leader of the group, and they do a little diggin' they'll find fire for the smoke."
"You can't seriously be suggesting that we send a civilian into what is liable to be a highly volatile and dangerous situation," Jake was sitting up straight now, looking slightly indignant. "That's against at *least* several regulations, as well as-"
"Not a civilian, a mercenary," Kassandra pointed out. "Remember we're buying her help with your ill gotten lucre. It ain't like it's compulsory, neither. It's not like I'm gonna beat her into doing it if she doesn't wanna. Plus, we're a long way from Kansas, Toto. Ain't no rules out here where we're skirtin' dangerously close to antagonizin' two nascent powers."
"The Major does have a point," Jasmine interjected, sensing that both parties were starting to get a little prickly. "Masters would be an asset in regards to adding credibility to an extraction team's cover, but since we're doing this under the auspices of Starfleet Intelligence, we do also have quite a bit more tools at our disposal than we would normally. They have whole departments which specialize in making cover stories and plausible identies, that's something we could utilize. They don't know us, of course, but if Eve worked with them, I think they could put together something that our extraction team could convincingly play, and would pass more than basic scrutiny. I'm sure the Klingon's already have put together their own intelligence operations, but it most certainly ain't up to snuff with ours, so I'm bettin' we could fake up somethin' that will last as long as it needs ta."
"But Masters is key to this working," Jasmine stressed. "And we need to get together a team that will be believable, and fly under the radar."
"Counts me right out," Kassandra said, sounding disappointed. "Too close to my home patch, an' most of the Human criminals round here are from Sherman's. Can't risk some I know or who knows my family seein' me and ruinin' my cover." She brightened a bit. "You'll be needin' an extraction team fer the extraction team anyhow, someone to scout from the outside an' figure out where the team inside will likely exit. But back to the team to go into the prison, Yu obviously, Masters, an' the new doctor-"
"Why the doctor? She doesn't have field experience, and certainly doesn't have any undercover skills," Kane asked, crossing his arms.
"We ain't got any idea of the condition of the Satet's crew. You ever tried to jailbreak sick or injured people?" Kassandra scoffed.
"Alright, so Yu, Masters if she agrees, the doctor, who else?"
"I'd say Solozar- he knows Masters, and the real life history will make the group dynamic seem more 'real," Jasmine interjected. " But I think we may be too Human heavy, it might arouse suspicions, plus I need someone else who specializes in fighting in case things get nasty, and preferably one big enough to make even a Klingon think twice about messing with them. I have an Orion in Security by the name of Harrad-Tor whom I think will fit the bill. We should probably present him as the employer, the Klingons are likely to have a kneejerk reaction to seeing an Orion, that they might not even dig too deeply into the rest of us."
"Alright, you, the Doctor, Masters, Solozar, and Harrad-Tor. Mr Thytos, do you want to talk to Masters?"
"Nope," Kassandra said, then elucidated as she saw Kane's eyes narrow. "I don't think I'm the best pick. She's already pegged me as pragmatic, and liable to be perfectly willin' to sacrifice her if I gotta. Na, you, sir, or the Commander's be a better choice. Perfect 10 there will make her feel safe and be pretty convincin' in the whole 'we'd never let you be in danger' arena, tho he's not sold on this, an' she might sense that. You, on the other hand, Sir, got the weight of Authority behind ya. She's more likely to believe you'll be able to deliver what you promise her."
"Fine, then you come up with a plan to get your people on the planet without the Klingons noticing, and a plan to get our people out once they find the crew of the Satet. Mr. Crichton, stay after, if you will? Dismissed."
Scene: Marine Barracks
"We'll have to do a dead drop," Sargeant McQueen was saying. "Otherwise, we'll show up on the scanners."
She was referring to an old technique of hiding small craft as junk by having the crew enter wearing EVA suits, turning off the shuttle power completely, opening the doors, and having the mothership jettison the shuttle into space in the general direction of its intended target. The shuttle would settle into orbit, and you'd bide your time until you were in a sensor blind spot, or at least a place with iffy reception like the other side of the planet, then the pilot would ininitiate a series of propulsion microbursts to bring yourself down to the upper atmosphere. Then, just as things started to sizzle, the pilot would turn on power, seal the shuttle, and plummet through the atmosphere, waiting until they were under the radar to slam on the brakes. Sensors evaded, you'd then proceed to your desired drop point, shrubs and treetops gently brushing the belly of your ship.
It worked (if you had a good pilot). The only problem was it was uncomfortable as hell for the people on the shuttle. Warm bodies in space are like a beacon, so the hapless crew would have to keep their body temperatures barely above hypothermic levels until you got close to the atmosphere, when things suddenly became unbearably hot. Woe betide the idiot who ate food before doing a dead drop, because after the heat came several minutes of belly churning free fall, before a short, sharp stop.
Kassandra groaned.
"I understand completely, Sir. I would only use it as a last resort," McQueen said dryly, her lilting Caribbean accented voice sounding amused.
"I know. Only thing is, they're makin' me eat healthy, so lunch was bad enough the first time around…" Kassandra quipped. McQueen flashed her a smile full of preternaturally white, even teeth and chuckled lightly.
"If you're going to be puking, I definitely won't be sending PFC Kathethawukon with you. She's a sympathy vomiter. I'm leaning towards Corporal Honda."
"Midori?" Kassandra tried hard to keep the skepticism out of her voice. Honda Midori was a brash young woman with a pleasingly rotund shape, that, when covered in the green Marine uniform had earned her the affectionate, if slightly cruel nickname 'Melon Ball.' Physique aside, she was one of the stronger Marines, landing somewhere in the upper quarter in the unofficial arm wrestling rankings. She also possessed a booming voice and laugh that reminded Kassandra of the old earth actor Brian Blessed.
"Trust me. You'd never know it from the way she gets on in the barracks, but there have been times during training that I know exactly where she's hiding, and it still takes me a few minutes to actually see her. She'll do you proud," McQueen, said, shaking her head firmly, setting her tight curls and golden hair bands bouncing.
"I trust your judgement. We got communications for this shindig?"
"Going old school, Ma'am. Low frequency radio bursts, using Morse code. It worked for the Satet's crew, and if they have a transponder, they might have a receiver. That would make things much easier for the main extraction team. Anything more advanced than that and I'd worry the Klingons might pick it up, anyway. Suarez will stay on the bridge with Mr. Byte to help monitor so that we know if you guys need backup."
"Pretty sure Byte can handle it solo," Kassandra offered. McQueen wrinkled her nose, dark eyes disapproving.
"Sorry, Ma'am, but I don't want a machine in charge of the safety of our team. They glitch, they get corrupted, and I don't trust them to make the right decision instead of the most logical one."
"Don't let the Space Cadets hear ya say that," Kassandra warned. "Do we got anythin on conditions where we're goin'? I'd sure hate to plan for the beach and find a blizzard."
"The Klingons don't have a very large empire anymore, do you really think they'd waste a planet with lovely, temperate environs on a prison?" McQueen snorted eloquently.
"So, no tropical paradise or beautiful mountains, then?" Kassandra sighed.
"Alas. We don't know exactly, but based on the configuration of the planets and the size of the star, and what they can glean from the atmosphere, the eggheads down in science think it's probably a desert planet."
"Are we talkin' Vulcan desert planet, or are we talking 'Death Valley in August' desert planet?" Kassandra was beginning to regret not sending someone else to the planet. At least the light camouflage armor they'd be wearing would have some environmental controls, but she knew from experience that that didn't exactly prevent swamp crotch once conditions got over a hundred.
"No idea, boss. You'll have to report back and let me know. We'll send you down with some extra moisture vaporators just in case. Wouldn't want you two to turn into beef jerky out there. Now, once you get the team, and hopefully the Satet's crew, we obviously don't want them to catch you on the way out, so we've gotten the shuttled fitted with a false registry transponder, and the engineers have altered the fuel balances and alignments so the energy signal doesn't scream Starfleet. You'll have to clear the atmosphere, then go to warp, and we'll rendezvous with you later."
"Right. I'll get suited up and go up top and talk to Solorzano and Sotaar about the best drop points. You get that shuttle ready and scramble Honda. We're going to have to be ready to go as soon as we drop from warp." Kassandra stood up. "Impeccable work as always, Sergeant."
"Thanks, sir. I'll make sure everything is shipshape."
NRPG: Finally, a post! Anyone up for a jailbreak? ;)
Alix Fowler
writing as:
Captain Kassandra Thytos


text:
Kaeng Krachan () es el parque nacional más grande de Tailandia. Se encuentra en Tailandia Central, en la frontera con Birmania, contiguo a la reserva natural Tanintharyi. Se extiende por 2.914,70 kilómetros cuadrados y fue declarado en 1981, como el 28.º parque del país. Es un parque popular ya que se encuentra en cercanías del pueblo turístico de Hua Hin.

Geografía
El parque abarca parte de los distritos de Nong Ya Plong, Kaeng Krachan, y Tha Yang en la provincia de Phetchaburi, y Hua Hin en la provincia de Prachuap Khiri Khan. Se compone principalmente de selva en la pendiente oriental de los Montes Tenasserim. El punto más elevado se encuentra a 1,200

Los ríos Pranburi y Phetchaburi tienen sus nacientes dentro del parque. El Phetchaburi se encuentra embalsado por la represa Kaeng Krachan construida en 1966 sobre el lateral este del parque.  La misma crea un lago que abarca 46.5 km².

Historia
El parque fue creado en 1981 siendo el parque nacional número 28 de Tailandia. Originalmente abarcaba una superficie de  2,478 km², pero en diciembre de 1984 fue ampliado para incluir la zona vecina entre las provincias de Phetchaburi y Prachuap Khiri Khan.

La matanza de elefantes es un problema importante en el parque, y las autoridades no han podido controlar a los cazadores furtivos. Se ha indicado que algunas personas relacionadas con la administración del parque están involucradas en el comercio de marfil.

A pesar de su estatus como parque nacional, el parque aloja varias granjas privadas. Algunas de las cuales poseen cercas electrificadas, y en junio del 2013, un elefante joven murió electrocutado por una cerca electrificada.

Flora y fauna
Las selvas alojan una gran biodiversidad de vegetación tropical, incluidas especies de árboles tropicales y subtropicales de hoja grande y palmeras. En el parque se han contabilizado cincuenta y siete especies de mamíferos y más de 400 especies de aves.

Referencias

Enlaces externos

National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department
Vida salvaje, atracciones y mapas del parque nacional Kaeng Krachan
thaibirding.com on parque nacional Kaeng Krachan
Visita al parque nacional Kaeng Krachan

Kaeng Krachan
Áreas protegidas establecidas en 1981
Tailandia en 1981

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We're looking for a diverse group of staff/teachers, students, parents, and community members to participate in a weekend-long workshop to have an active voice in re-imagining Mohawk's pathways to graduation. This opportunity is possible through mini-grant funding by Mass IDEAS, an initiative of Next Generational Learning Challenges at EDUCAUSE, with generous support from the Barr Foundation and the Nellie Mae Education Foundation.
The Mohawk Weekend Design Institute provides our community stakeholders with an opportunity to participate in reviewing and re-imagining Mohawk's graduation requirements. The two-day workshop will be on Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
We need you! We are seeking a diverse group of 20 stakeholders to help us with this important work! We will give each participant (including students) a $200 stipend, providing they attend both workshop days. Following this institute, participants also will attend two follow-up evening meetings where our group will draft a new graduation requirements proposal. Later, we will present this proposal to our community for feedback before the school committee receives it for final approval.
Interested? We are now accepting applications! Visit our website. The Mohawk Mass IDEAS Design Team will review applications and select 20 participants. We ask that staff/teachers, parents, and community members fill out an application. Students, please fill out our student application.
Hard copies of the application will be available in the Mohawk main office. Deadline to apply is Monday, January 7.
Need more information? Contact Mohawk Trail Regional School Co-Principal Marisa Mendonsa via email or phone at (413) 625.9811 x1303.


Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) spend $3.3 billion a year on psychiatric medications and therapy for US veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) without any proof that their efforts are "successfully treating" our military.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report stating that psychiatrists and psychicians at the VA and DoD do not communicate with each other when dealing with patients diagnosed with PTSD.
Phase 1 of this study looks at the "psychiatric consequences" of soldiers who served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
However, these figures do not take into account "new patients at the Atlanta VA hospital waited about an average of 44 days for an appointment in April" and the average waiting time was 66 days.


Imogeena has made a special request for grading information for the Gil Brandao Conjunto Pratico. This design has turned out to be very popular as a self-draft pattern but you can understand how the simple shape may make it confusing to grade for different sizes. This post has all the grade rules and specific locations (with notes) for growing the pattern.
The first diagram has all the grading areas of the pattern identified and the location of the grade is marked and explained. Mark these lines on your original pattern draft. The original measurements were for a small size10 or large size 8.
Work out the number of sizes you would like to grade (example - if I'm a size14, I'll need to add double the grade increment on the diagram because I am grading two sizes from 10 to 14). Multiply number of sizes to grade by each of the measurements on the diagram below. Cut open your pattern and leave the correct amount of space between the pieces to grade to your size. Then make a copy of the pattern using a ruler to clean up the straight lines and toile (sample) in calico.
It is also possible to use the following diagram to work out your grade. Simply add the total grade for each section of the pattern to the drafting measurements supplied below in the self-draft and you'll be able to draft to size. For example the 27cm measurement, that was used to build the original square, will grow by 2cm (¾") per size. The 85cm measurement will grow by 4.5cm (1 ¾") per size, plus any extra length grade you may use through the bodice.
For the first-time grader may I suggest you make a copy of the original pattern, then cut through the locations/lines suggested above and open up the pattern for the desired amount. The measurements supplied above and in the original post would suit a large size 8 or small size 10. Please add or subtract increments according to the number of sizes you need to grade. For example if you would like to grade to a size 14, multiply the grade rules above x 2 to reach the correct size.
For all new patterns I recommend you sew a woven fabric toile to make sure the grade has not adversely affected the shape of the garment. If you make this pattern for knitted fabric then the original measurements would most like suit a generous size 10 or size 12. So much can vary according to the knit you select. Allow fabric and time for testing and perfecting the fit.


Last week I had a chance to visit with Nancy Badillo for a quick interview where we discussed some of her business blogging successes. In addition to blogging, Nancy has a strong background in pay per click (PPC) search marketing and search engine optimization (SEO). When you visit her site NancyBadillo.com you'll have a chance to stay updated with her most recent posts about the latest changes and trends in online search marketing.
Now for the interview . . .
Question: How long have you been blogging? What triggered your interest in blogging?
Nancy Badillo: I started blogging in August 2010. My interested in blogging began when I lost my job. I went ahead and Googled different ways to make money online. I found this company called, "Site Sell." The company charged thirty bucks a month but provided you tutorials, coaching, and step by step on how to create a successful website the correct way. I built my first website and it became successful about a year later. Afterwards I decided to start building my own sites using WordPress.
Q: What are your favorite topics to blog about and why?
NB: My favorite topics to blog about are how to increase traffic and how to build a website. The reason why I like writing about how to increase traffic is because I have done it without spending a dollar. I also like to write about building a successful website because too many people think this will happen overnight. I am dedicated in teaching others how to build a successful website that I even created a website blueprint.
Q: Are you a social person by nature? Do you enjoy reading?
NB: I do consider myself a social person. I am constantly trying to meet new people in the online marketing industry. If you want to be in the industry of blogging or online marketing you have to be a social person. I have become good friends with other bloggers that have helped me grow and even made partnerships. I do enjoy reading. I have always used reading as an activity for relaxation. I use reading now to keep myself updated with all the new changes that blogging undertakes.
Q: When did you realize that your blog had become a business?
NB: I realized that my blog had become a business when I started making money. I remember checking my email and receiving a notification from an affiliate company letting me know of my first sale.
Q: What is your biggest challenge related to blogging?
NB: My biggest challenge is creating new content.
Q: Do you ever get writer's block or run out of topics? If so, how do you respond?
NB: I do struggle and run out of topics. A great way I get over the hurdle of writers block is asking my readers for new topics or questions they want me to address. By asking my readers, I am able to create engaging content and socialize with my blog community.
Q: Have you altered anything about your blog due to search engine changes?
NB: No, I have not altered anything from my blog due to search engine changes.
Q: What are your three favorite websites, apps, or tools you use for blogging?
1. Matt Cutts Blog is a great way to stay up-to-date with any of Google's changes.
2. SEM Rush is a great way to stay updated with the keywords your website is ranked for and the number of searches done for those keyword per month. You can also see your competitor's keywords.
3. Pat Flynn — He teaches others how to build online passive income. The great thing about Pat is he gives you exclusive content that you can't find anywhere.
Q: Please share one piece of advice for someone new to blogging?
NB: Before starting a new blog it's essential that you define your goals for it. The blog has a greater chance of success if you define your long-term goals for your blog. Setting up goals will also help you to determine your level of progress.
Thank you for interviewing me for your blog!
I must say this is a big interview, i love Nancy Badillo, as she's one female blogger that writes what she thinks about any blogging issue, and she's always correct.
Thank you, Isaiah. I enjoyed the opportunity to visit with Nancy and learn from her.
Thank you, David. I enjoyed conducting this interview with Nancy and appreciate her willingness to share her insights.


Had a short walk by the Itchen today. Joined it behind the Travelodge on Twyford Road and walked downstream to Withymead Lock where a fallen tree blocks the path and the path itself disappears beneath the water.
Upstream as far as a railway bridge near Highbridge Road.
There a spillway is proving inadequate and water crosses the towpath. Passable in wellies but only had boots.
I came to Southampton University on the day England won the World Cup, 1966.
I worked in the University and Southampton General Hospital and became Professor in Clinical Neurophysiology (Brain waves, epilepsy and stuff).
I moved to Chandler's Ford in 1993 with my wife Brenda. Five children between us and now five grandchildren.
Hobbies: Reading, Writing, Gliding, Gardening.
Ambition: Keep the grey matter working as long as possible. Achieve a 500km glide.
This picture below was taken by co-pilot who held camera with UV filter out of the window. At 8500 feet, Pyrenees near Jaca, Spain.
Gliding: Enjoying great views in the Pyrenees.
Thanks for sharing your discoveries alongside the Itchen River. Did you take any photos that you can post on here? Would be interesting to see the extent of the flooding and tree damage.
Perhaps it's easier to take photographs while gliding than walking?
Interesting chap! I have walked this bit of the Itchen often in the past but would not attempt it at the moment.
A few weeks ago I walked (with welllies) from Bishopstoke Road to Withymead Lock. The week before I aborted a walk downstream from Bishopstoke Road as I was wearing only walking boots.
Janet – I'll send you some photos.
Look forward to your photos — are they dramatic?
I can almost see, taste and hear Sri Lanka when I read Mike Sedgwick's blog. It has a thrilling immediacy. Well done Mike!
Mike is now almost unstoppable. He has written nearly 30 posts since February and I know there are many more fascinating stories to come. Aren't we lucky to have been taken to Spain on a gliding adventure, and now a rather exotic trip to Sri Lanka? What a great storyteller.


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Nom de famille

 Andrew Johns (né en 1974), joueur australien de rugby à XIII
 Andrew Johns (né en 1973), triathlète anglais
 Dave Johns (-), humoriste et acteur britannique ;
 Emmett Johns (1928-2018), intervenant social au Canada
 Glyn Johns (né en 1942) ingénieur du son britannique pour des chanteurs
 Glynis Johns (née en 1923) actrice dans des films américains (et britanniques)
 Gord Johns (né en 1969), homme politique canadien de Colombie-Britannique

 Jasper Johns (né en 1930), peintre américain
 Mervyn Johns (1899-1992), acteur britannique
 Paddy Johns (né en 1968), joueur irlandais de rugby à XV
 Sammy Johns (1946-2013), chanteur et compositeur américain
 William Earl Johns (1893-1968), pilote de chasse et romancier britannique

Prénom
 Digby Johns McLaren (1919-2004) géologue et paléontologue canadien
Johns Hopkins

Film
 Johns, film de 1996

Bâtiment
 L'hôtel Johns, ancien hôtel américain dans le comté de Keweenaw, au Michigan.

Articles connexes

 Université Johns-Hopkins
 St John's College (Cambridge)

Homophones
 Jones

Patronyme anglais


Ask the questions, and start the conversation, but never hide from truth and defend it. Mia San Mia.
Go After the Shysters in Suits.
We cannot allow two justice systems in this country Continue reading Go After the Shysters in Suits.


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Q: Can't access Polygon coordinates after drag with React-Leaflet I need to access the new coordinates of a Polygon after I have successfully dragged it somewhere else on the map. I am using Leaflet and React-Leaflet.
This is my Polygon component:
 <Map
  // ...
 >
   <TileLayer
     attribution='© OpenStreetMap contributors'
     url="http://{s}.tile.osm.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png"
   />
     <Polygon
        positions={this.state.polygonCoordinates}
        ref={this._polygon}
        draggable={true}
     />
 </Map>

I have tried:

*

*To access the coordinates either in the draggable prop or onChange. Needless to say, this didn't work:

 <Polygon
    positions={this.state.polygonCoordinates}
    ref={this._polygon}
    onChange={(event) => {
      console.log(event);
      console.log(this._polygon.current.leafletElement);
    }}
    draggable={(event) => {
      console.log(event);
      console.log(this._polygon.current.leafletElement);
      return true;
    }}
 />

*To use componentDidUpdate as I have the state that changes when the polygon is created (I am using lodash). I am usign mousedown and not onmousedown
componentDidUpdate(prevProps, prevState) {
  if (
    !_.isEqual(prevState.closePolygon, this.state.closePolygon) &&
    this.state.closePolygon
  ) {
    // the polygon is created and closed
    const leafletPolygon = this._polygon.current.leafletElement;
    leafletPolygon.addEventListener("onmousedown", this.movePolygon(event));
  }
}

movePolygon = (event) => {
    console.log(event, this._polygon);
  };

This last approach does not work because it fires the event only once, right after I create the Polygon, and then doesn't fire again when I drag it around and then release the mouse.
TL;DR: the Polygon is correctly moved inside the map, but I can't figure out how to access its new coordinates (positions).
Thank you for your help!

A: I found the solution! I changed a bit the part inside the componentDidUpdate method:
componentDidUpdate(prevProps, prevState) {
    if (
        !_.isEqual(prevState.closePolygon, this.state.closePolygon) &&
        this.state.closePolygon
    ) {
      // the polygon is created and closed
      let element = document.getElementsByClassName("geo-polygon")[0];
      // necessary to access the this keyword inside the callback
      const that = this;
      element.addEventListener("mouseup", function () {
        const newLatLangs = [...that._polygon.current.leafletElement._latlngs];
        that.setState({ polygonCoordinatesAfterMoving: [...newLatLangs] });
      });
  }
}

Now the polygon gets correctly dragged inside the map (as it did before), but I can also save the new coordinates. I am saving them in a new variable as I have yet to optimize this solution, and I don't need to redraw a new polygon on the map with the new coordinates - the draggable={true} Polygon prop works just fine for me.
So, it seemed like I was almost there.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Posted by Just Another Film Buff under All Posts, Cinema of France, Cinema of the UK, Marathon | Tags: 31 Days of Godard, British Sounds, Cahiers du Cinema, Cinema of France, For Ever Godard, French cinema, French New Wave, Godard, Jean Luc Godard, New Wave, Nouvelle Vague, See you at Mao |
British Sounds
(See You At Mao)
Though Godard has made longer and more significant films in the same period, I chose British Sounds because it is here that we see Godard's masterful use of dynamics and stillness of images that stands quite in contrast to the verbose nature of the previous film. In British Sounds, Godard goes out and out political without any compromise, sugar-coating or skeletal narratives that support his views. What remains intact is Godard's instinct to experiment and shock, his urge to make his audience think and his sensitivity as a filmmaker towards the events around him. As a result, (not only this film but all his films of the period) what we get isn't a film with a message, but a message in the form of cinema.
British Sounds (1970)
It is refreshing to see Godard's experimentation employed in this transformed style of working that is based on his strong ideologies. He still sticks to the Brechtian theory as he continuously reminds us that this isn't a propaganda film from the 20s' USSR, but his own revolutionary filmmaking that is as rooted in cinema as it is in politics. This occurs in the form of verbal mistakes in the narration, complete mismatch of sound and image each of which has multiple instances carrying forward a different thread and the occasional dormancy of camera movement while capturing images dispassionately.
But I will remember the film for just two things. The first is the extended tracking shot of the conveyor in an automobile factory where the workers are seen assembling cars at a rapid pace. Running to almost the same length and as irritatingly noisy, the shot reminds us instantly of the traffic jam scene from Weekend, in a sense providing stark contrast between the bourgeoisie and the working class situations using similar imagery. The second would be the final few images of a fist tearing through the flag of Britain, occurring multiple times. They look as if Godard is asserting "Behold, the Revolution!"


As well as cleaning carpets, Careclean also has 35 years' professional experience of Upholstery Cleaning in Essex. Read today's blog to find out about our professional 6-step cleaning process.
Preparing the area – Before we start cleaning, we will place the furniture which is to be cleaned on a protective sheet. This will help to protect your carpets and other furniture during the cleaning process. We will also give the upholstery a high filtration vacuum if required.
Eco-friendly pre spray – Next, we will pre-spot your upholstery with our eco-friendly pre-spray. We will also use a specially adapted brush to work the pre-spray into the fibres. As a result, any tough ground in particles and/or stains will be lifted ready for the main clean.
Hot water extraction machine – We use leading cleaning technology to ensure a premium clean. With the help of a specially adapted cleaning tool, our van mounted machine heats and shoots our cleaning solution into your upholstery at high pressure to break up dirt and stains.
Residue rinse – Our machine then produces a large vacuum to draw the dirt and chemicals out of your upholstery. It also lifts the fibres to leave your upholstery with that 'brand new' finish.
Grooming – Where appropriate we will groom your furniture to leave it in the best possible condition. For example (dependent on fabric/material), we usually run a grooming bush over the fibres to ensure they are as tangle-free and fluffy as possible.
Protection treatment (optional) – To help your furniture stay cleaner for longer, we can add a protection treatment to your upholstery. This treatment is sprayed on and then brushed in.
Yes – we do also clean leather! Click here to read all about our leather cleaning process.
"No matter what type of upholstery fabric the consumer chooses, at some time in its eventful life, it will require cleaning, some more frequently than others.
Soft furnishings are perhaps one of the largest cash investments in most households, ranking certainly within the top 5 items (also including: the family car, carpets, new kitchen, and new bathroom fittings). Regular cleaning by an NCCA qualified cleaning technician and regular consumer maintenance will extend the life of the delicate upholstery fabrics significantly, as well as keeping them looking good.
Thanks NCCA… and just in case you are wondering, yes we are an NCCA approved cleaning technician!
Are you looking for Upholstery Cleaning in Essex? Call Careclean today on 01245 323989 to book your free upholstery cleaning quote!


Do you know what is Sapa? Have you ever been there? I visited Sapa yesterday, and I don't mean Swedish-based aluminium company nor the national agency of South Africa nor the frontier town and capital of Sa Pa District in the Lao Cai province in northwest Vietnam. With the last choice we are closest, but still more than 5000 miles away.
The Sapa we will talk about today is Vietnamese Town in Prague. Sapa is a commercial center of Asian business for the whole Europe, everyday 25 of containers full of fishes go through its gates. You can visit this town in the city on your own, but also you can take a guide. I visited Sapa with the Chef of SaSaZu restaurant, one of the most fancy restaurants and clubs in Prague.
Our tour started in the salon, where we chose to take a massage or get manicure, as we wanted to enjoy the visit Asian way. Our tour went through the culinary street, decoration's street (the small lights glittered and everything was prepared for Christmas Season), business street for air plane tickets and all other kinds of business, shops with dresses etc.
In family restaurant we saw handmade preparation of rice paper and also taste it with explanations, what to use, how to flavor it and eat it.
Our next stop in this labyrinth was in the main shop with fresh Asian herbs, where we bought coriander, banana leaves, some root, which looks like ginger but it is not a ginger. Shahaf (the Chef) taught us some recipes and we were buying ingredients for our dinner. We left another shop selling Asian specialties with Durian chips, Coconut and Jackfruit juices and rice noodles in our bags.
The last tastes we had in the market was a Pho bo, special Vietnamese soup that you finish on your own with the spices and herbs according to your taste. The closer was a sweet special kind of drink with small tapioca balls, unexpected taste, but nice.
Pho bo - spoon or chopsticks?
And our dinner? Yes, we prepared it accordingly to Shahaf advice and I have to admit it was very good, exotic but tasty. Chicken with banana leaves and coconut juice, that's what I can only recommend.
Tapioca balls in Pearl Tea is very popular here also. Those little balls can be added to smoothies also…which is my favorite way to enjoy them.


text:
MOZART, W.A.: Symphonies Nos. 39-41 (Bruggen)
Orchestra: Orchestra of the 18th Century
Conductor: Bruggen, Frans
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus - Composer
Symphony No. 39 in E flat major, K. 543
Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551, "Jupiter"
Venue: De Doelen, Rotterdam
Date of Concert: 04-03-2010
Television Director: Berg, Rob van den
Catalogue Number: CM9822
Frans Brüggen and his Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century reinvent the classical masterpieces of Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and other 18th-century composers by playing them on period instruments and interpreting the music as if it were written yesterday. After almost 30 years of traveling all around the globe they now, in their 99th world tour, play Mozart with the spirit, freshness and eagerness of their first concert. On the programme are Mozart's final three symphonies, including No. 40, the first symphony ever played by Frans Brüggen and his band.
I. Adagio - Allegro
III. Menuetto: Allegretto
IV. Finale: Allegro
I. Molto allegro
II. Andante
IV. Allegro assai
I. Allegro vivace
II. Andante cantabile
IV. Molto allegro


ALERT! The Dem Philistines Want Your Guns!
SB978 is on the verge of taking away your gun rights!
What was a two-paragraph bill has been gutted and stuffed, and is now a 40 page full blown attack on your freedom! A hearing on the bill is scheduled in the Oregon Senate Tuesday, April 2 at 8 AM. Please consider attending!
Call Sen. Peter Courtney to voice your strong opposition now! His phone number is 503-986-1600. Go to Oregon Firearms Federation's webpage for all the gory details.
In the history of God's people, there have been continual attempts to prevent them from being able to defend their life, liberty and property. Opponents of liberty have historically retarded it by the removal of the means to defend it from oppressors. The founders of our country knew this and adopted what has become known as the Bill of Rights. The first of these rights ensured freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition of the government. They followed this immediately with the Second Amendment, establishing the right to bear arms. The purpose was to ensure the means whereby the freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment could be defended from an oppressive government. They knew their bibles, and they knew of the iron monopoly by which the Philistines and other oppressors intended to control a freedom-loving people.
In Luke 22:36, Jesus told his disciples to sell some of their possessions so they could buy weapons of self-defense. In Exodus 22:2,3, God permits the defense of one's property, if necessary, with lethal force. This is part of God's law which in Deuteronomy 6 is commended to the nations of the world, and which is spoken of in the book of Hebrews as exhibiting true justice (see Heb. 2:2). Many more verses could be cited. There are restrictions in the Bible as to when such lethal force is allowed. But God certainly commends weapons of self-defense and weapons to be used in defense of freedom from tyrants. The various New Zealand style gun laws now working their way through Oregon's Legislature are, regardless of intent, threats to liberty. They are in opposition to the clear teaching of God's Word and our own national Constitution's guarantee of rights and the means to protect them. They should be opposed by people of faith and freedom.
We need your help to fight the modern-day Philistines.. Would you consider sending us your political action tax credit donation now? Because it's a tax credit not a deduction, It costs taxpayers nothing, whether or not you itemize.
And for any gift of $25 or more, we'll send you our new book "The Bible and Oregon Politics"!
Go to peapac.org and click on the donate button, or mail your gift to PEAPAC, P.O. Box 847, Canby, OR 97013. Please do it now!


Hello I'm Darren, for the last 4 years I have represented Chasetown on the Town Council. In this time I have worked tirelessly on making Chasetown & Burntwood a better place, working with the Police/PCSO's and getting Community Defibs installed throughout the whole town. I have raised money for local charities like St Giles and CASS and also launched a bid that led to the saving our Sankey's Corner Post Office.
In my day to day life I am a father of 4 (17, 12, 6, 4) which is something that drives me to make Burntwood a great place to bring up Children. I also run Haywoods Blinds in Burntwood that employs lots of local residents. I do a few other things in the community such as Treasurer of the Grangemoor WMC, School Governor, Treasurer of the Burntwood Business Community.
When I do get time to relax, I Captain the Grangemoor Crib team (something I've done for 15 years) and play in the Grangemoor Pool League. Most importantly I love spending time with my family, taking walks around our town amazing landmarks such as Chasewater and Gentleshaw Common.
My name is Carolyn Gittings, I moved to Burntwood 28 ago. At present I am the chef manager at Hammerwich Hall and have been there for the past year. I volunteer at Sparks, cooking for Sparky's Den when I'm not at work. I help out with a local Hammerwich resident keeping an eye on public rights of way and keeping paths clear for walkers. At Hammerwich Hall we hold drop-in days for local residents to pop in for afternoon tea and a chat.
I have been on Hammerwich Parish council for the past two years, and been a member of the local Labour party for the last three years. I became the Women's Officer at the last AGM. I am extremely proud to have had the opportunity to have worked and helped some amazing women in our area, the young and not so young women up at Sparks who do a wonderful job helping the local community, Hammerwich cricket club and Hammerwich's unsung hero's who do and give so much to Burntwood.


The inaugural Dubai World Cup was held in 1996 at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates. Worth $5 million, the race was won by the U.S. horse Cigar, contributing to his retirement later that year as the leading money earner among U.S. Thoroughbreds. In a four-year career, he raced 33 times and won $9,999,815.
Twenty-two years later, another U.S. horse won the Dubai World Cup en route to breaking Cigar's earnings record. By 1998, the race's value had doubled, to $10 million; in a 16-race career that spanned two years, Curlin won $10,501,800.
This year, three U.S.-based horses shipped to Dubai to try to become the first North Americans to win the World Cup since Curlin. Though none will threaten Curlin's earnings record even with a victory, serious bragging rights are on the line, given that no U.S. horse has won the race since Well Armed in 2009.


text:
RISKS RELATED TO REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS 1.3.3.
NON-COMPLIANCE, BREACHES OF ETHICS ❙
Transparency and integrity are core values of the Sopra Steria Group. Like any international group with a large number of employees across many different countries, Sopra Steria could be exposed to risks in the event of violation or breaches of laws, regulations and internal rules by its employees or third parties with which the Group works. Breaches of this kind may expose the Group, its senior executives or its employees to criminal or administrative sanctions, and could also expose the Group to liability depending on the situation and damage its reputation. In addition, the Group remains subject, like any company, to regular audits by various authorities and regulators with regard to the completeness of compliance and prevention programmes. Moreover, the Group is a multinational company that operates in many countries, subject to a range of constantly changing laws and regulations. The Group's activities and operating profit might be affected by significant changes in laws or regulations, or by decisions taken by authorities.
Building on the Group's ethical foundation based on its values of transparency and integrity, and in order to accompany the Group's expansion while satisfying new regulatory requirements, Executive Management has placed emphasis on reiterating the rules and procedures applicable to all employees across the Group so as to provide a common foundation for all processes and entities. A new department was created, with responsibility for issues of compliance, internal control and risk management, in order to coordinate the Group's efforts in these areas. This department is supported in its work by the Compliance Officers (who are also responsible for internal control) throughout the Group's various geographical operations, the network of local representatives and local teams. The Group has adopted a Code of Ethics, an Anti-corruption Code of Conduct, a Suppliers' Charter and a Code of Conduct for Stock Market Transactions. In 2019, the Group continued the rollout of its programme to prevent and combat corruption. This programme benefits from a high degree of executive involvement. This entire programme and its dedicated organisational structure are described in Section 5, "Ethics and Compliance" of Chapter 4, "Corporate responsibility", on pages 128 to 132 of this Universal Registration Document. Developments in laws and regulations are monitored on a regular basis so as to plan ahead for any upcoming changes by the relevant departments (Legal Department, Finance Department) and make the corresponding adjustments to rules and procedures.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH RETIREMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS ❙
Sopra Steria Group provides its employees with pension plans in several countries, including the United Kingdom (which accounts for 40% of the Group's retirement benefit obligations). The Group's financial statements may be affected by provisions for obligations under defined-benefit pension plans and the associated liabilities. Within the framework of commitments made, the employer is obliged to cover any difference (deficit) between the value of the fund assets and the pension obligations to be paid. The evaluation of pension fund liabilities can be impacted by regulatory developments, changes in long-term interest rates, life expectancy and more generally any changes in the financial markets, as well as any changes in macroeconomic parameters. These parameters, which are external to the company, can have a non-neutral impact on the valuation of both assets and liabilities. As regards the United Kingdom, the Group may also be required toto meet calls for additonal contributions to meet pension fund liabilities in the framework of the triennial negotiations with the UK pension Trustees or as a result of regulatory developments. Furthermore, assets are managed by fund trustees and invested in different asset classes (including shares) that are subject to the risk of fluctuations in financial markets.
Since 2010, defined-benefit plans in the United Kingdom have been replaced by defined-contribution plans (pension benefits are based on the performance of the fund's investments over the contribution period), although benefits vested prior to this decision remain in effect. The defined benefit plans are exceptionally maintained in connection with small number of public-sector outsourcing projects, to comply with the legislation and commitments made to clients. All elements relating in particular to the management and review of assets and liabilities, as well as the three-yearly negotiations, are monitored by the Group's Finance Department. The Finance Department takes part in the regular exchanges with the trusts managing pension fund assets in the United Kingdom, and also participates in the three-yearly negotiations. For more information, see Note 5.3, "Retirement benefits and similar obligations" to the consolidated financial statements in Chapter 5 of this Universal Registration Document (pages 170 to 175).


Can any one say what if these #buildings were in #black & #white #camera #days?
Your strategy can be good but If your execution (action) is not up to the mark then even the best strategy would fail. Execution & Action is everything. Follow #retailritesh for retail and marketing insights.


text:
Q: Using psutil to monitor memory usage of single prosess in python I'm sitting with a script, the n-body script. I've modified it to calculate another way of calculating acceleration for n bodies. Now i need to check and compare the two using psutil (I'm open to better ways if there is).
So i guess what I'm asking is:
How do i, or what is the best way, to check memory usage of a single process within a script in bytes?
I've tied to use psutil.cpu_time but i need the memory usage to be in bytes.
I'm new to using this platform, so if more information is needed i will provide if i can.


Adventures In Consulting | Blue Tiger, Inc.
By: Dr. Darla Calvet, CEO, Blue Tiger Inc.
There is a certain mystique to being a consultant. Technically, consultants are hired because they are experts within a professional field. While this is a Google-style definition of consulting, our real-life experience has shown that consulting requires a renaissance man or woman type of personality. For years, people have poked fun at consultants by claiming that we make money off other people's insecurities. Perhaps some real-life examples from the field will provide evidence to the contrary.
Consultants provide immediate emotional support during crisis. My team has been honored to work along- side of high level officials ranging from Admirals to College Presidents to CEOs. These folks put their pants on one leg at a time like everyone else. Want to see the most human side of someone? How about convincing them that they don't look like a burned lobster before they deliver a commencement speech to 5,000 people? Some of our finest bonding moments with clients come when they are in a pinch and we need to deliver assurance.
Consultants will stand next to you when everyone else deserts you. One of our clients made a very unpopular decision that prompted her college leadership to fire her. She was barely given enough time to pack up her things and leave while security huffed by the door. During these times, it helps to have a level-headed person at your side to take care of logistics and post-mortem clean up. We extended pro-bono services to this former Dean even after she lost her position while she waiting to land at her next job. She told us in retrospect that our support meant the world to her during a very difficult time.
Consultants will tell you the truth…even when it hurts. As CEO, I spend a lot of time mentoring our younger consultants with the need to be honest with clients. In bureaucracies and political work arenas, there can be an "emperor's new clothes" effect around people with tremendous amounts of power. One Chancellor boasted to us in a private conversation that he could tell his staff the world was flat and they would agree with him. This creates a dangers cult of personality that has no place in a healthy organization. Consultants, when they are honest, bring a fresh approach and will often address the elephant in the room since they have the luxury of a fixed-term assignment. When our team was working for a highly-ranked female Admiral, she asked us why people were not following her directives. After some client meetings, it became apparent to us that her superiors had no intention of keeping her in her role beyond the first year. Although she was upset at learning this information, it allowed her to plan accordingly and to deal emotionally with her succession plan.
Do you think you have what it takes to become a consultant? If you can be honest, direct and loyal, the answer is most likely a "yes." If you have difficulty with those attributes, it might be best to keep your day job.


PORAC Mayor Mylyn Pineda-Cayabyab hosted one more medical mission as medical volunteers strove to cover more indigents needing medical attention.
The recent medical mission was held at Babo Sacan Covered court last week catering to the central barangays of Porac.
Another medical mission scheduled for March 26 will cater to western barangays of the town.
Early this March, the mayor hosted a medical mission for the eastern barangays of Porac at the Santa Cruz covered court in Barangay Santa Cruz.
Pineda-Cayabyab, who is running unopposed for second district board member, took it upon herself to cater to the needs of the people of Porac who are part of her constituency.
Pineda-Cayabyab, along with Kabilan party re-electionist board members Tonton Torres and Fritzie David-Dizon, are all unopposed.
The medical mission featured free check-ups and medicines from doctors and health providers.
Vice-Mayor Dexter David hailed the medical mission as a timely event as his constituents need regular medical attention, particularly, the poorest sectors of the town.


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text:
U.S. flies spy plane over Korean Peninsula to monitor N. Korea
A U.S. surveillance aircraft flew over South Korea, an aviation tracker said Monday, on an apparent mission to monitor North Korea amid stepped-up military moves by the communist regime in recent weeks.
The U.S. Air Force's RC-135W Rivet Joint was spotted in the skies above the city of Incheon, just west of Seoul, and the adjacent Gyeonggi Province, Aircraft Spots tweeted without specifying the exact time of the operation.
The U.S. has deployed several types of spy planes here more often than before in recent months, such as the Navy's EP-3E, after Pyongyang has moved to beef up its defense capabilities amid stalled denuclearisation talks with Washington.
As the latest in a series of muscle-flexing maneuvres, North Korea fired what appeared to be cruise missiles off its east coast and air-to-ground missiles from fighter jets into the East Sea last Tuesday, one day before the birthday anniversary of late national founder Kim Il-sung.
READ ALSO: Conspiracy theories spark attacks on 5G masts in Britain, Netherlands
The deployment of such reconnaissance aircraft by the U.S. is part of its regular operations, but it might have let some of them be spotted "intentionally" to send a message of pressure to the North, according to sources and experts.
An increase in surveillance activity could also suggest unusual moves may be under way in the communist nation, such as preparations for missile launches.
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'They have eyes but cannot see, pity!'


one hand carrying a bouquet of stargazers.
A gray night in June.
I came here eleven summers ago.
can pass each other in opposite directions.
No, I don't mind contradiction at all.
I walk home from the Castro station; I take 17th street as usual. I appreciate the outside air – windless and calm. There is a young woman, a high school girl in uniform, who starts singing once she gets off the train. She starts singing like an opera singer and walks energetically. I follow behind her, to get a feel of her world – vibrating, loud, confident.
You can see the rest of Nani's photo shoot here.
San Francisco was the first American city my father landed in from China in the late 1970s. After swimming from mainland China to Hong Kong, he earned enough money to make it to the United States; he came here on a mission to provide a better life for his growing family. San Francisco was just one piece of the journey, but it was the first place where he was able to experience American life, albeit in Chinatown.
I could have been born in San Francisco, but I wasn't. After my father left San Francisco, he traveled around the United States a little more until he found a place to call home: Virginia. I was born there in Virginia, but perhaps my pull to move to San Francisco had always been in my blood. When I initially decided to move to San Francisco, I was drawn more by a promised job than anything else—my father had a friend here who was willing to give me a job straight after university. Although that offer ended up falling through, I still felt determined to move to San Francisco after graduation. At that point in time, I thought of San Francisco as just a different place to wait out the years—but, as time has shown me, the city has definitely been more than that.
What I've discovered over the course of these past two years is a lot, including most importantly, my passion for writing. I guess you can say I had my own kind of "coming out" in the sense that I let my hidden passion for writing become part of my public, professional life. I had buried my love for writing over the years—throughout school, I thought that people would look down on me when I said I wanted to be an artist or a writer. So I covered up these thoughts of mine and went on studying other subjects in order to feel accepted by others.
I stopped writing creatively for a long time until I moved out to San Francisco. Here, somehow, I have found myself drawn to writing more than anywhere else I've been—in the past two years since living in San Francisco, I have written three novels and am currently working on my fourth. Some of these novels were completed during the month of November, for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), which I have to thank for helping me find my passion once again.
Although I have yet to officially publish my novels, just being in San Francisco has helped me re-awaken that looming giant within me. The city, the area, screams of the artistic vibe that infuses into my soul and mind. Everywhere I turn, there's something to appreciate, something to perhaps tack onto a future storyline.
Living in San Francisco has also heightened my sense of culture and diversity by enjoying the different foods and languages that surround me on a daily basis. I have met some amazing people here from all walks of life whom I would have never met if I hadn't moved here. Perhaps my journey to San Francisco has been more or less similar to my father's: trying to find a better life for myself and my future.
You can see the rest of Helene's photo shoot here.
Mills College in Oakland was the only college located outside the Midwest I applied to, so naturally I chose it above all others. I left my hometown of Minneapolis in 1996 at the age of seventeen, arriving to pursue my degree and the ultimate education: living in the Bay Area. During those four years I interned with the Harvey Milk Institute on Castro Street under the guidance of the organization's executive director, Kevin Schaub.
One July afternoon while we were out for a smoke on the steps, Kevin pointed out a mural of Harvey Milk I hadn't noticed before, though it was directly across the street from our office. The portrait (by Josef Norris, 1998) is partially shadowed by a luscious tree. It is as though Harvey is looking down on the shop, bemused, checking in on business. The mural also includes Milk's message, You've gotta give 'em hope! "That was Harvey's camera shop right down there," Kevin told me, pointing to the storefront below. Less than a week later I finished reading the biography of Harvey Milk in tears on the 22.
The following spring on Easter Sunday morning, my interning duties led me to a street fair hosted by HMI and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. I arrived thinking I'd be manning the HMI booth, but first Kevin tasked me with providing general support to the Sisters in their dressing room. All morning I mixed cocktails, zipped dresses, pinned hats, buckled shoes, and fetched accessories. I was harshly, and quite fairly, admonished by several Sisters after I mistakenly referred to one as a "he" – even though the Sister in question was dressed as the Pope. "We're all 'she' when we're in drag, honey." They were gossipy and bossy, and I was becoming increasingly cranky from the task of perpetually indulging the Sisters rather than the other way around. But after all the fuss was over, each Sister emerged quite suddenly, full of grace, into the sunshine, beautiful with their painted faces, hats adorned with butterflies and silk roses, and delighted the gathering crowds the way they do.
I returned to Minneapolis in 2000 and stayed for years. I visited the Bay Area a couple of times a year, and missed it dearly. But there in Minneapolis, a wintry city of fortitude, I fell in love, got married, went back to school, learned how to cook, sang in a band, gardened, made lifelong friends, loved my work.
And still, after all that, when the opportunity arose to move back to the Bay Area, the answer was yes.
Rediscovering the city now is resonating. One can never be nineteen again, so it must be the city itself, ringing.
Today I pursue the education in experience that is doing research with ISKME, and living here in the deep of the Mission.
You can see the rest of Clare's photo shoot here.
When I twelve I made a plan. I was going to be a writer and I was going to live in San Francisco. As far as plans for twelve year old girls who love books go, it was not an especially original sort of plan. I didn't really know much about San Francisco literary culture or history, but I had a sense and I made the plan and, in theory, this plan has sort of worked out. I live in San Francisco, now, and I study creative writing and when I go home and my best friend reminds me, hey, you're doing what you always said you were doing! I go with it. It feels good to have that sense of accomplishment, that sense that twelve year old me was really onto something, despite her poofy hair and leggings.
Only, it turns out that living in San Francisco and trying to be a writer is not nearly as romantic as it sounds. First of all, the muse doesn't automatically show up just because I settle myself into a chair at a coffee shop with my laptop, even though I'm pretty sure that before I came, I secretly believed this would happen. Also, it turns out that even when you are living the life your youthful self imagined, you still have bad hair days, you still miss your family and you don't great a break on the crazy rent your youthful self conveniently never factored into the equation.
Which is all to say, sometimes I don't feel as though I live in San Francisco. Even in quintessential San Francisco moments I can be caught off guard, wondering suddenly if it is really me there on Muni, if this really is San Francisco or if I will, at some point, wake up and walk out of my apartment and find the city I imagined I knew before I got here.
And the cool thing about all of this? I don't think I'm alone in this experience, or that any two people really know the same San Francisco. In a city of transplants, almost everyone has this story. It becomes a ritual, a familiar moment in every introduction. We trade our San Francisco origin stories along with our names and neighborhoods. We draw out the paths that led us here. Even the ones who have been here all along, the ones born near the bay, can tell a story about leaving and returning, or the moment they knew they couldn't go.
You can see the rest of Margaret's photo shoot here.
Living on an edge is a must for me. Something to do with my Viking ancestry, no doubt. I was born and raised in Florida, lucky to have a warm beach to walk every day after school or work. When I moved to San Francisco 20 years ago, I fell in love with the Marina at first sight. A lot of people live in The Marina; I live IN the marina.
My piece of San Francisco is 39' long by 15' wide. In this slip lies my sailboat, a 1968 Islander 37, designed by renowned yacht designer and naval architect Bruce King. Though she's a fiberglass sloop, her classic exterior lines, swoopy stern, ample beam and teak bits give her the air of a more traditional wooden boat. Down below, her salon is warm and cozy. I sleep here, lulled by the foghorn and the rhythmic thrumming of the halyards against the masts. It's best when raindrops join these to create a hypnotic symphony. The salon also serves as a reading room, home office, and when friends come to visit, an intimate wine bar.
On sunny days, the view from the boat's cockpit rivals that of any of my land-loving neighbors. Look left, there's the Golden Gate Bridge. Swivel right and the sky is filled with kites above Marina Green. Gaze across Marina Boulevard at the barrel tile roofs against the sharp blue sky, it's easy to imagine being in my beloved south of France.
While the boat herself gives me as much pleasure as I can stand, my little marina 'neighborhood' has its own tempo, which changes depending on the day of the week. Weekdays are special to me since they are typically quiet—there are boat owners who go out during the week, but they are few. Most Monday-through-Friday action comes from the intrepid guys who don a wet suit and tank and brave the murky harbor waters to scrub boat bottoms, or the occasional marine electrician or refinisher out to fix bad wiring or refinish someone's teak.
Weekends, though, the marina is a Happening. Boats wander in and out all day. Friends bring their friends to share an afternoon on the bay, a trip to Angel Island or maybe sail over to Sausalito to dock at Sam's for lunch. Kids learning to sail brave the distinct possibility of capsizing to work on their mastery of this most enthralling sport. We have periodic festivals or exhibitions or film crews on Marina Green-and those ubiquitous kites. Volleyball games here, regattas there, those funny little yellow rent-a-scooters navigating the traffic—it's an extravaganza starring all of us who love being by the Bay.
Marina Boulevard, our very own parade route, draws tourists and locals looking for views, views and views. And maybe a flat place to run, walk or bike. The runners run, from sun up long into the evening, weather be damned.. The wide sidewalk that extends all along the waterfront lures locals to pedal and tourists to rent bikes—Blazing Saddles must be doing box office, since every rental bike in the Marina sports its signature Blazing Saddles handlebar bag, complete with a trusty map. Segway tours pass often-I shouldn't but I have to giggle every time I see these clots of peoplemovers, since they do look kind of silly and the mandatory helmets and vests are so matchy-matchy, and I still don't understand how those things stay up anyway, so I watch and wait, expecting a brutal Segway pile up at any time.
Park, who works in the Harbor Master's office, pops out every few hours to check on the boats, or to get some fresh air—he has worked in the office at least as long as I have. Park is a wealth of local knowledge. He told me about the weekly emergency alert signal one day when I was passing by him, it blared, and I shot several feet straight up. He gives me the skinny on the jumper situation when there are emergency rescue personnel at the marina. Most importantly, he knows who belongs in the marina and who does not: our one-man security force and guardian angel.
I love to walk to Greens for a cup of soup or a cookie, up to Chestnut for coffee, down to Crissy Field, along the beach and the warming hut at the end of the path. I belong to a boating club that is close by also; I've made so many good friends here. There's something special about people joined by a mutual passion. Walking from the boat, I can be alone or with friends, in the middle of urban or at the end of the world within minutes. Where else can you do that?
What I notice most is how kind everyone is here. I attribute it to the gestalt of the marina: the soothing feeling inherent in being on the edge, knowing there's an exit just there, within spitting distance, if you should need one. Add to that the views worth crossing the globe to see, the scent of the sea, the wail of the seagulls, the gentle to gale force breeze, and the warm kiss of the sweet sun—or as we learn to love in San Francisco, the caress of the kitten-gray fog—and I can't help but smile and be grateful.
You can see the rest of Medea's photo shoot here.
I had my first ride on the back of a motorcycle at age 15. I was immediately hooked, but it wasn't till I'd been living in San Francisco for almost a year that a friend of mine at work happened to mention the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) class. Until then, I had no idea there was a class one could take to learn how to ride; I assumed I'd have to find a patient biker friend. I cut the conversation short, RAN upstairs to my desk, and phoned to reserve a spot in the class.
A few months later, I had a license and a bike of my own, and it was then that I began to really love San Francisco. The freedom and mobility opened up the city, the Bay Area, and the whole state to me—I saw a lot of gorgeous places in my pursuit of curvy roads. I was so excited about riding that I would get up earlier on the weekends to hit the twisties than I did during the week to go to work. I explored the coast north and south of the city, the East Bay hills, the Santa Cruz mountains, and the back roads of Marin and Sonoma, including many places I would never have thought to visit in a car.
Often riding alone, I met a lot of people in my travels, including some who are good friends at least a decade later.
I can't omit mention of my awful accident; I was hit by a reckless driver on November 26th, 1999, suffering a compound fracture of my right tibia, and breaking both bones in both my wrists. That happened on 14th Street and South Van Ness. I was taken to SF General, which fortunately has the best trauma unit in the city, though it's not the best place to recuperate. I was subsequently transferred to Saint Mary's—by two incredibly hot, butch, tattooed, lesbian EMTs. Only in SF!
I really didn't think I'd keep riding after that, but at the end of a 6-month convalescence, I found that my passion for riding was still with me, and I bought another bike.
Almost exactly a year after my accident, a friend of mine invited me to head to the annual motorcycle expo with a group of her friends. We met at Seal Rock Inn at Point Lobos. My friend brought a passenger—a friend of a friend who'd just moved to town and wanted to learn to ride. He sat next to me at breakfast, and we engaged in polite chit chat. At the time, I had no inkling whatsoever that I would be married to him a few years later, living in a house in the Excelsior with a garage full of motorcycles.
You can see the rest of Iran's photo shoot here.
And her Flickr stream can be seen here.
I met Lee in 1997. He squatted at the bus stop shelter by my house in San Francisco's Lower Haight.
Lee was a tall, exceptionally fit brother, mid-to-late forties, with natty shoulder-length dreads and a long, scraggly beard to match. He was missing most of his top and bottom front teeth.
I was 18 and living in a sectioned off hallway of an old Victorian. The hallway was nicknamed "The Taco" because the walls were so narrow that my hand-me-down futon mattress folded up on both sides resembling a taco shell. The space cost me $150 a month, utilities included.
The living situation was suitable for me back then. I worked only part-time at a bagel shop downtown, making just enough to get by. I was broke, but content. I had ample time to skate with my friends, plenty of bagels to keep my stomach full and a running tab at the corner store.
Lee was without question one of the hardest working recyclers in town. He had Upper and Lower Haight, Hayes Valley and the Upper Market/Castro area on lockdown, scavenging the recycling from these neighborhoods hours before the garbage men arrived. Afterwards, he cashed his collection in at the buy-back center on Market and Church streets. He then spent his evenings lounging at the bus stop shelter by my house, smoking rollie cigs and weed and listening to the classic soul and R&B station on his portable radio.
One evening, while waiting for the bus to Upper Haight, Lee told me that he'd been living on the streets of S.F. for over fifteen years. I know he made decent money recycling, probably as much or more than I was making at the bagel shop, so why he remained homeless, I don't know. I guess he preferred it. During this same conversation, Lee said the only three things he ever spent money on were tobacco, weed and batteries for his radio. That's it. Everything else, including food, he scavenged out of the trash.
In the summer of 2000, my landlord sold the old Victorian to a real-estate developer who wasted no time giving me, my roommates and the other tenants the boot.
I ended up couch surfing for a month before finding an affordable room in a skate house in The City's Richmond District.
Close to four months went by before I saw Lee again. It was a Thursday afternoon. I had just finished eating lunch by myself in Upper Haight. Lee was posted up on the corner of Haight and Masonic. He had five large, heavy-duty garbage bags overflowing with recycling tied down to his cart.
I was feeling down this particular day because I had just received word two days earlier that my old friend, Rubin "Peanuts" Grimes, died of a heroin overdose. The news didn't come as much of a surprise. It was only a matter of time, really. He overdosed twice before. I was scheduled to leave town early the following morning to attend his funeral on Sunday.
Rubin and I were the same age. We actually started skating together in the sixth grade. His nickname was "Peanuts" because he was obsessed with the Charles Schulz Peanuts comics. He even had a tattoo on his right-shoulder of Snoopy (as "Joe Cool") doing a wheelie on a skateboard. The tattoo was corny as hell, yet fitting.
Rubin was a natural on the skateboard, definitely good enough in the mid-90s be sponsored, but quit senior year of high school to shoot junk fulltime. He started dabbling with the drug junior year, snorting a little here, smoking a little there. By mid-senior year, he was shooting it. It was all down hill from there. He never did graduate.
Pretty much everyone had long since given up on Rubin, his family included.
Although Rubin and I lived in different states, we talked on the phone every so often. We'd reminisce about the old days, and he would always tell me that he was going to start skating again, maybe even come visit me in S.F. That obviously never happened.
Given the circumstances, I wasn't in the mood to socialize with anyone, but decided I would at least say Hi to Lee before heading home to pack for my trip.
"What up, Lee?" I said as I approached.
An immense smile came over Lee's face, revealing his missing front teeth. "How the hell are you, my man?" he replied.
"Where've you been hiding?" Lee asked.
Lee dug deep into the bottom of his cart and pulled out an old beat-up skateboard.
"I found it in the trash over on McAllister Street," he said handing me the board.
All at once, I felt extremely emotional. The skateboard was a Peanuts-themed Nash from the mid-80s. The faded, scratched and peeling graphics were of Snoopy (as "Joe Cool") sporting shades, a Hawaiian shirt, jam shorts and full pads, busting an ollie off the side of his doghouse. The die-cut griptape read "Joe Cool" in bubble letters. The trucks, bearing and bolts were rusty; the yellow and green swirled wheels coned.
You can see the rest of Travis' photo shoot here.
Growing up in Tennessee in the 70s with a single mom, we had an "npr/food co-op/flea market life". I used to go up and visit Frieda our attic neighbor. All sorts of Technicolor groovy posters hung in her tiny wood paneled apartment. She wore cool bellbottoms and fed me peanut butter sandwiches on homemade whole wheat bread. We had a lot of neighbors like Frieda back in those days. When the 80s happened, big hair and bad fashions grabbed me by the bolo tie and didn't let go until about 1987. My young heart pined for the typical suburban life like that of most people I knew in the catholic school I was sent to due to my 'assimilation troubles'. Somewhere along the way something snapped in me. I began to see my childhood days of warm wood paneling, friends living in communal houses, flea markets and swimming in creeks as the best times of my life. I vowed to never, ever live in a suburb after all.
After putting myself through college working a series of lowly positions in sometimes humiliating menial jobs, in 1997 I was invited in the form of an employment offer to be part of the dotcom boom in San Francisco. I decided pretty quickly to do it, and said goodbye to my family and the fireflies of Tennessee. I became part of the reviled wave of newcomers to the bay area known as 'dotcommers'. Sadly, I was never one of the overpaid ones that typified the cliché. Those dotcom days were grand, filled with lavish parties and a general running wild about my new city. Even the dotcom bust of 2000, while stressful, was mostly a barrel of fun. Everyone was laid off and we all suffered through it together. I was quite happy with my creative projects, stock options and severance packages. I mostly thought about design and art and what I might be doing after work. Sometime around my 35th birthday I started to sing 'is that all there is' irony free and most likely out of key. One day, I was in my doorway on Bush street just about to go out for a wander. "Since my friend the internet had given me so much already in life, why not see if it can find a special someone for me?", I questioned myself. In those days there was still a stigma attached [there might be still, I don't know] to using 'dating sites' so I had no interest in doing that. What I did was pull up a profile on Friendster. I kept it open and told myself that if, post-exercise session, I still felt like it, I would send a message.
I came back and wrote a witty [I thought] little intro to the guy who was smiling up at the coffeemaker as if it was a Buddha on a mountain. A day or so later, I got a reply. We traded banter back and forth for a couple of months. I went to a party at his office/warehouse and later he invited me to his birthday party at Zeitgeist, and this is when we hit it off. He proposed to me on my birthday in May of 2005 on Telegraph Hill with parrots swooping and squawking all around us. We got married at the Log Cabin in the Presidio in December.
On my birthday in 2008, Lili Bean was born. This seemingly conventional life that I've found in San Francisco is one that I never expected after a lifetime pretty close to unconventionality. I never pictured myself settling down like this and being happy with it. But I did and I am. We hope to raise our little native San Franciscan in the city of her birth, with generous visits to Tennessee thrown in. She must see fireflies and swim in a few creeks. She'll definitely be going to flea markets and having pbj's on homemade bread, too.
You can see the rest of Rachael's and Lili's photo shoot here.