text:
Basement Bridge
Welcome to Basement Bridge
Weekly updates from Kit Jackson offering hints and tips for the modern Bridge player. Enjoy!
INTERGALACTIC RESPONSES
"There are situations," said Spock, "where you may want to make exactly the same bid, but each time you want that bid to have different meanings."
"But this cannot be possible," said the Romulan, "It is , as you would say - illogical."
"Precisely so. But let us look at a possible scenario. Partner deals and opens 1NT (12 - 14) and the opponent on your right (RHO) makes an overcall of 2S. (5+ Spades. Less than 15 HCP). you hold this:"
KJx
AQxxxx
"You want to be in game," said Spock, "but which one? So what do you bid?
"Um, 3N, 4H or 5C all look possible contracts," said the Romulan. "So I must bid a game forcing 3C and see what partner does."
"Exactly so. But what if you hold a hand like this?"
QJxxxxx
"Now" said Spock, "You do NOT want to be in game. On the other hand you don't want to sell out to a measly 2S do you?"
"No way Jose!" thundered the Romulan. "So I bid a non-forcing 3C..... Er, uh-oh. Molto Problemo, huh?"
"Oh yes indeed. How is partner supposed to be able tell when you bid 3C that it's either (1) forcing to game, or (2) just a mild competitive bid with no further ambition?
The Romulan frowned. "I hope partner is psychic? Or maybe I cough when I am weak?"
"That is called cheating and I hope you never consider such a thing. Also, partner is never psychic and can be guaranteed to get it wrong. However there is a little wrinkle that can iron out these situations. What you can do is use the bid of 2NT as a TRANSFER to Clubs when you are weak, and a direct bid of 3C when you are strong. This leaves you with DOUBLE for the invitational hand that would have bid 2NT without the overcall. Be aware that this is NON - standard and must be agreed with partner before the game commences."
You can use this with any suit, but make sure you discuss it beforehand!
Posted by Kit Jackson at 15:04 No comments:
RESPONDING (2)
0 - 9 with a 4+ card fit:
Inspector Mainwaring was teaching the platoon bridge for the annual match against the ARP.
"Now look here, men. This a very big thing I am going to put in front of you - Wilson - take that man's name."
"But you know his name."
"Yes of course I know his name, what I meant was - oh never mind. Now pay attention. Partner opens one of a suit, but the dastardly swine on your right makes an overcall. What's the drill, Corporal?"
"Don't panic!"
"Absolutely correct. We will: number 1: look at our hand. Number 2: evaluate said hand. Number 3 make requisite bid according to instructions. What're you doing Pike?"
"Looking for my instructions, Sir."
"Well you won't find them in there, will he Wilson?"
"Ah but you see, Sir , he just might.."
"Stupid boy. This lesson is about what to do when partner opens, RHO overcalls and we have support but a weakness."
"How weak is weak? You see I've got a weakness..."
"I don't think we need to know that Godfrey. Anyway, weak is anything less than 10 points. The general principle is to make life as difficult as possible for the opposition. So we set a trap; a minefield. What do we do Walker?"
"Bugger about a bit Sir."
"Exactly so - Oh I say.. Quieten down now men. This is serious stuff. Righty-ho - partner opens 1S, opponent overcalls 2H and we hold this motley collection:
Kxxxx
What do we do? No no no. 2S won't win us any match points. And no, nor will 3S. No, the answer here is to bid 4S! They'll jolly well find it jolly hard to bid 4H now won't they eh?"
"They don't like it up 'em do they Sir?"
"That's the ticket, men. When you're weak with a fit, bid like a tiger, stiffen the sinews etc and all that malarkey. Remember - weak hands pre-empt!"
RESPONDING. (1)
Responding with 10 - 12, 4 card fits:
"Responding to partner's opening is not always a straightforward issue" said Bond James Bond.
"And how, James, would you like me to respond to you?" pouted the delectable Ritzi Cream. "Don't you want always for me to respond in the same way?" she breathed breathlessly.
"Not at all, no way. It depends what happens between us. Especially if there's a good fit..."
"Oh James..."
"You see, when partner opens there are three things that can happen before responder gets to bid."
"Three things? But does that matter?"
"Oh yes. Indeed it does my little angel. When partner opens there is an opponent on your right who will get to bid before you do. And that Right Hand Opponent (RHO) will possibly do one of three things: they will Pass, Double or Overcall. And what you as responder will do is dependent on RHO's action. Take this hand where you have a good fit for partner:
KQxx
Qxx
"Partner opens 1 H. Depending on what RHO does you can make 3 different bids. If they Pass you will bid 3H (10 - 12, 4 card support - the Limit Raise.) If they Double you will bid 2NT (the Limit Raise after a double!)) and if they overcall you will cue-bid their suit (10+, 4 card support). The same hand: three different bids depending on which of the three things RHO bids."
"You mean... it's not just what's in your hand," sighed Ritzi, "but what the opposition do as well?"
"Perfectly right, shweetheart..."
IT'S ONLY A GAME...
Mr Brown was regretting the punishment meted out to William. Having eaten the prize pork pie his mother baked for the WI, William's punishment was to make up a 4 for bridge instead of playing with the Outlaws. He responded by surreptitiously underbidding his hand at every opportunity. William knew this infuriated his father, as it does every bridge player. During the tea break Mr Brown took his recalcitrant son aside.
"William..."
"Yes that's me."
"Will you listen?"
"I have a choice?"
"Stop it! Now, when you are dealt a hand at bridge your first instinct should be for you and partner to bid - and make - a Game."
"Oh Right. Why's that then, father?"
"The reason is a game attracts a bonus score of of 300 or 500. All you have to do is make 3NT, 4H, 4S, 5C or 5D. The toughest games to make are 5C and 5D (11 tricks) so most of the time you try to constrict yourself to 3NT (9 tricks) or 4 of a major (10 tricks)"
"Oh I seee. You want the bonus?
"Yes William I do."
"Isn't that a bit greedy? It's not really fair goin roun biddin and makin games all the time. Shouldn we jus bid a bit an play a bit?"
"Bridge, William, is a competitive game. The idea is to outscore the opponents as often as possible. To beat them. To win. The best way to do that is to bid the games you can make. Occasionally it gets even better than that and you bid (and make) a slam. Occasionally it gets worse and all you can make is a part score. But Game is your primary goal. It follows therefore that when you and partner start to have a bidding conversation your initial notion is simply to try to discover whether or not you can in fact make one of these game contracts. That is your ambition between you. Slowly you gather together the pieces of the intellectual jigsaw and there comes a point when one of you - it is usually only one of you - knows for certain that game is or is not on. Whichever one of you that is must make now THE DECISION. You must, William, become more decisive. Bid up. Bid the games. Is that clear?"
"Oh yes father. Very clear..."
For the rest of the afternoon William resolutely bid slams as often as possible. When they failed William remarked "I thought you wanted the bonus father..."
Kit Jackson
Ned Paul
Bridge Mates


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All Episodes 1300
Behavior 84 Systems 60 Voice 117 Community 40
The Magic of Possibility with Michael Grandinetti
In this episode of the podcast, illusionist and magician Michael Grandinetti talks about bringing a larger than life vision to your work, the power of not knowing what you can't do and the magic of possibility. HIGHLIGHTS: The p
In this episode of the podcast, illusionist and magician Michael Grandinetti talks about bringing a larger than life vision to your work, the power of not knowing what you can't do and the magic of possibility.
The power of not knowing what you can't do
Navigating a career that has no map
The values that comes from paying your dues
Learning to adjusting to feedback you receive from your audience
The power of infusing stories into the work that we do
Why there are no barriers that are truly insurmountable
Shifting our internal dialogue to one of possibility
Why we never know how close to are to what we want
Bringing a larger than life vision to your work
The fun of not knowing how the magic works
With performances on national and international television, in stadiums, arenas, casinos, and theaters around the country, with symphony orchestras, for NFL halftime shows and major sporting events, in large-scale parades, for Fortune 500 companies, and at The White House, Michael Grandinetti has made a name for himself around the world as a talented entertainer with a unique style, a compelling creative vision, and an engaging personality.
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Maximize Your Output With Mem
The knowledge generation course for coaches, consultants, content creators, and small business owners who want to access and use their knowledge to create content, build a body of work, and grow their business. Enrollment for October Cohort is Now Open.
The Unmistakable Book of Wisdom
The Unmistakable Book of Wisdom is a free custom illustrated guide that we've put together for our podcast listeners. It's full of timeless lessons on creativity, love, and success from 2022 Unmistakable Creative Podcast Guests. Each page is packed with words of wisdom and beautiful illustrations to help you live a more creative, fulfilled life. Whether you're looking for guidance on your creative journey or just need a little inspiration, this book is for you. So dive in and unlock the wisdom of the ages!
Unmistakable Classics: Cal Newport | The Link Between Attention, Elite Performance and Happiness
Unmistakable Classics: Greg Hartle | How to Live Well and Die Well With Greg Hartle Pt. 2
Unmistakable Classics: Greg Hartle | How to Live Well and Die Well - Part 1
Unmistakable Classics: Danielle Laporte | Love as Your Bottom Line
Austin Kleon | How to Keep Going When You're Tempted to Quit
Seth Godin | The Emotional Journey of Shipping Creative Work
Voice Episodes
Will Day | Letting Go of Expectations to Discover Your True Calling
Maria Brito | How to Use Creativity to Futureproof Your Career
New to the Show?
Feeling lost? You're not alone! There are over 1000 episodes in our back catalog, so it can be hard to know where you should start. That's why we've put together this list of some favorite moments from the past few years - these ones really stood out among all others and made listeners want more when they were done listening.
Our listeners say, "If TEDTalks met Oprah you'd have the Unmistakable Creative." Eliminate the feeling of being stuck in your life, blocked in your creativity, and discover higher levels of meaning and purpose in your life and career. Listen to deeply personal, insightful, and thought-provoking stories from the world's leading thinkers and doers including best-selling authors, artists, peak performance psychologists, happiness researchers, entrepreneurs, startup founders, artists, venture capitalists, and even former bank robbers. Former guests have included Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin, Justine Musk, Scott Adams, Rob Bell, David Heinemeier Hansson, Elle Luna, Jordan Harbinger Brett Mckay, and Simon Sinek.
© 2023 The Unmistakable Creative Podcast

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This Los Altos home is listed for $4.8 million.
Silicon Valley has one of the most in-demand real estate markets in the country, thanks in part to the prevalence of tech workers and their disproportionately high salaries.
Homes in Santa Clara County often sell for more than $1,000 per square foot. It's not uncommon for small homes that would be tear-downs anywhere else to sell for more than $1 million here.
Our friends at real estate listings site Point2Homes helped us compile a list of Silicon Valley homes that are not exactly aesthetically pleasing, but that are listed for startlingly high prices nonetheless.
You may be surprised to see just how little your money will get you.
In Los Gatos, a 780-square-foot home costs more than $1 million.
This charming, tiny home has two bedrooms and one bathroom. It was built in 1915.
This home only has two bedrooms, but it'll cost you nearly $2 million.
This home dates back to 1925 and costs a whopping $1,549 per square foot. It's located in Cupertino, not far from Apple headquarters.
An adorably small home in downtown Mountain View costs almost $2 million.
This 2,702-square-foot home near the Googleplex dates back to 1947. It has five bedrooms and five bathrooms.
This $2-million country home was built in 1959.
The listing declares this house a "hidden gem" with "room to roam for children, dogs, or chickens."
This one is a bit of a fixer-upper, but it's a relative steal at only $747 per square foot.
It has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and 3,012 square feet of space.
This 2,642-square-foot home will set you back nearly $3 million.
The listing photos don't give a great view of the front, but the pool in the backyard looks pretty nice.
$3.5 million will get you four bedrooms in Los Altos Hills.
Built in 1975, this 2,600-square-foot home is "ready for move in, remodeling or replacement with your dream home."
This $3.75-million home has a koi pond and a Zen ambience.
Located in the Crescent Park section of Palo Alto, it'll cost you $1,221 per square foot.
This Los Altos home has a really long driveway.
According to the listing, "inside this captivating home surprising details abound." Highlights include high ceilings, large great room, and a full-size chef's kitchen.
This four-bedroom Mediterranean home "weaves a spell of enchantment."
Built in 1927, the Spanish-style home has four bedrooms and a pleasant garden area. With a listing price of $4.99 million, it will cost you $1,186 per square foot of space.
This three-bedroom home was built in 1936.
The listing for this 3,779-square-foot home claims that it has "lots of flat land" where you can "create your dream estate."
This Palo Alto home will cost you an insane $2,086 per square foot.
The home boasts five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a private garden, and built-in barbecue pit and jacuzzi. There's also a detached guest house.
This English Tudor dates back to the 1930s and costs nearly $7 million.
The home has four bedrooms and six bathrooms, and it's located in the desirable Crescent Park neighborhood of Palo Alto.
$8 million will get you five bedrooms on one level.
Built in 1980, this 6,400-square-foot home has an "abundance of light" and an "excellent floor plan." The backyard area is quite nice, with a large swimming pool and an area to screen movies.
Now see a home that isn't so modest.


text:
COVID-19: All Travellers Arriving Nigeria Must Provide Evidence Of Vaccination – FG
Remi Ibikunle
Federal government of Nigeria has ordered that all travellers arriving in the country must now provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccination.
Gatekeepers News reports that Director of Port Health Services, Geoffrey Okatubo disclosed this during a media briefing at the Ministry of Health in Abuja on Monday.
The federal government relaxed COVID rules in the country in December 2022.
It had also said pre-departure and post-arrival PCR test requirements for all persons who are not fully vaccinated have been suspended, adding that passengers will no longer be required to upload evidence of vaccination on the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP).
However, on Monday, Okatubo said port health services had heightened surveillance at points of entry following the reported surge in the cases of COVID in countries like China, Japan, and the United States.
He said, "Port health services has resumed checks of passengers' vaccination status and will provide traffic data on inbound passengers from all over the world.
"All international travellers arriving Nigeria are now to provide evidence of vaccination at point of entry and it was agreed that unvaccinated passengers arriving from other countries may have to be vaccinated at the airport.
"The minister of health also recently approved that port health services should meet with other stakeholders such as the NCDC, and the ministry of aviation over the use of rapid diagnostic testing at points of entry."
Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib further revealed that as of January 20, 2023, Nigeria has fully vaccinated 65,176,784 persons with the vaccine, while 77,070,988 eligible persons have taken at least one dose of the vaccine.
Shuaib said a total of 10,390,911 persons have received booster doses.
In this article:Five Things You Need To Know This Morning, Gatekeepers News, Newspaper Headlines
Find below, Dollar to Naira exchange rate for today, 27 January 2023. Gatekeepers News has obtained the official dollar to the naira exchange rate in Nigeria...
Fehintola Ambali1 hour ago
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in Abuja on Thursday, said the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) produced more than 1.7 million passports in 2022....
Remi Ibikunle12 hours ago
Ministry of Interior has revealed that no fewer than 159 Nigerians renounced their citizenship in 2022 alone. Gatekeepers News reports that the Permanent Secretary...
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has explained why a former registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dibu...


"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."
A ring of sterling silver reflects the wholeness you experience when you claim God's promises for your life. Wear this pendant to remind yourself that as your world turns, God is with you. His beauty and love surround you.
The quote comes from Psalms 23:6. The 23rd Psalm is one of the most popular chapters in the Bible. It brims with hope, love, and optimism. When you wear this necklace, you will remember that even when you're in "the valley of the shadow of death," you have nothing to fear.


text:
War in Ukraine. Daily update. Day 237-238 [10.00 am, 18-19.10.2022🇯🇵]
marinabkn
Prepared by Sofia Oliynyk, Maryana Zaviyska, Anna Dovha
Photo: Zelenskiy Official telegram channel
Cities under attack.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reported that since October 10, 30% of Ukraine's power stations have been damaged, causing massive blackouts across the country. As a result of the attack on the energy sector of Ukraine on October 17, hundreds of settlements were cut off from electricity. Therefore, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal called on Ukrainians to use electricity sparingly in order to stabilize the energy system.
Kyiv region. As a result of the Monday drone attack on Kyiv, 5 people were killed including a pregnant woman. The next day on October 18, the Russian military shelled the critical infrastructure facility of the city. Currently, the provision of electricity and water supply services is partially limited in many houses close to the place of the attack.
Kharkiv region. On October 17, the Russian invaders shelled the settlements located close to the border with Russia. As a result, 3 people were injured. On the morning of October 18, the Russian military launched 8 missile attacks from Belgorod on the city of Kharkiv.
Mykolaiv region. At night on October 17, as a result of the attack, the Russian invaders damaged oil containers of one of Ukraine's leading exporters of sunflower oil. 17% of the global export of these products passed through this terminal in the city of Mykolaiv. Also, oil was leaking into the street next to the enterprise. On the same day, Russian invaders fired at villages located on the demarcation line. In addition, the agricultural enterprise of Bashtansk district was damaged due to the Russian shelling. At night on October 18, the Russian military launched missile attacks on Mykolaiv. As a result, a 2-story building was damaged where one person was killed. Also, in the central part of the city, multi-story residential buildings, a square, and nearby shopping pavilions were damaged. The Russian invaders shelled Bashtansk district of the region. As a result of the shelling, 4 private houses, a house of culture and a children's playground were damaged.
Dnipropetrovsk region. On October 17, the Russian invaders launched a missile attack on the region. As a result, one missile hit the energy facility of the region. Also, private houses were damaged in the region. At night on October 18, the Russian military shelled Nikopol district. Due to the shelling, agricultural enterprises, power lines and a communication tower were damaged. 1000 families were left without electricity. In the morning, the Russian occupied attacked the energy facility of Dnipro. As a result, some areas of the Dnipro were cut off from electricity.
Foreign policy.
Ukraine recognized the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria as occupied by the Russian Federation and condemned the genocide of the Chechen people. The Parliament of Estonia adopted a Statement in which it condemned the annexation of the territories of Ukraine and declared Russia a terrorist regime.
Ukraine condemned Iran's provision of weapons for waging a war of aggression in Ukraine and the killing of Ukrainian citizens, and called for an immediate end to the supply of any weapons to Russia. 'Providing weapons to wage a war of aggression in Ukraine and kill Ukrainian citizens makes Iran complicit in the crime of aggression, war crimes and terrorist acts of Russia against Ukraine,' is reported in the statement of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. At the same time, several European Union foreign ministers called for sanctions against Iran over the transfer of Iranian drones to Russia, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, Josep Borrell said that the European Union is looking for concrete evidence of any Iranian involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine.
Human rights.
The UN Commission has found an array of war crimes, violations of human rights and international humanitarian law have been committed in Ukraine and reported it to the UN General Assembly. The Commission visited 27 towns and settlements and has interviewed 191 victims and witnesses. The UN Commission documented summary executions, unlawful confinement, torture, ill-treatment, unlawfully deportation, rape and other sexual violence committed in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kyiv, and Kharkiv regions occupied by Russian armed forces in February.
In the de-occupied territories of the Kharkiv region, Ukrainian law enforcement officers have already exhumed more than 600 bodies of dead civilians, Minister of Internal Affairs Denys Monastyrskyi reported.
Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross did not arrive at the border with the temporarily occupied territory, where the Ukrainian delegation was waiting for them. Before that, Ukraine appealed to the ICRC and announced its readiness to provide the trip.
On October 17, another prisoners of war exchange took place. 108 Ukrainian women were released from Russian captivity. Among those released were women illegally imprisoned even before the full-scale invasion.
Energy security.
Japan has announced its readiness to help with the restoration of critical infrastructure facilities of Ukraine damaged or destroyed by hostilities, in particular, by providing the necessary equipment and facilities.
After the Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Herman Halushchenko called for the protection of the sky above his energy facilities in Ukraine.
Economic security.
On October 17, the International Monetary Fund's Ukraine mission began its work in Vienna. During the working meetings, the current state of Ukraine's economy, macro forecasts, parameters of the state budget for 2023 and sources of covering its deficit will be considered.
Culture.
Ukraine asked UNESCO about the termination by international institutions of any cooperation with the museums of the Russian Federation. Also, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine has already appealed to UNESCO to record these attempts to evacuate Crimean museums.
Recent polls.
The Sociological Group 'Rating' conducted a survey among Ukrainian citizens as a part of the 'Ukraine during the war' project. The results show that 85% of those who were forced to leave the places of permanent residence express their intention to return home. Only 6% of respondents said they will not return home.
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the total estimated losses of the Russian military as of 10 a.m., October 19, 2022: personnel – around 66280, tanks ‒ 2554, APV ‒ 5235, artillery systems – 1637, MLRS – 372, anti-aircraft warfare systems – 189, fixed-wing aircraft – 269, helicopters – 242, operational-tactical level UAV – 1286, cruise missiles –323, boats and light speed boats – 16, soft-skinned vehicles and fuel tankers – 3999, special equipment – 146.
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War in Ukraine. Daily update. Day 248-250 [29-31.10.2022, 10.00 am 🇯🇵🇩🇪🇫🇷🇬🇧]
War in Ukraine. Daily update. Day 251-252 [01-02.11.2022, 10.00 am]
War in Ukraine. Daily update. Day 241-243 [22-24.10.2022, 10.00 am 🇬🇧🇯🇵🇪🇸🇫🇷🇩🇪]
Tags: Daily updates


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How Facebook let my father open up
I panicked when I got his friend request, but the distance of online communication has actually brought us closer
By Michael Franco
April 1, 2011 8:01PM (UTC)
My dad and I are Facebook friends. That sounds completely ridiculous. I mean, we're friends in the real world, so why wouldn't we be Facebook friends? But that's not the reason it sounds ridiculous. No, it sounds ridiculous because I see my dad practically every single day of my life, but I'm closer to the virtual him than the actual him. Strange, right?
My father comes from a generation of men -- perhaps the last -- for whom expressing affection towards their children, particularly children of the same sex, can be awkward. I'm sure this has something to do with evolving gender roles and what it means to "be a man." For my dad's generation -- the early baby boomers -- being a man meant providing a family with essentials, not emoting all over the place. Men were to be sturdy and stoic, not soft and sensitive.
I also get the impression that my dad wasn't too close to his parents. His mother seemed distant, his father eccentric -- neither the personification of affection. When I think back to my father's interactions with his parents before they passed, words like "cordial" and "businesslike" come to mind. He was kind to them because he's a kind person, but I never got the impression that he was maintaining fulfilling relationships. In light of that, I'm surprised he even knew how to express affection to my brother and me.
That doesn't mean my dad never showed his love for us when we were growing up. I can recall countless acts he performed to express his affection. When he would take a day off from work, for example, he would spend it ironing our clothes and cooking dinner. My brother and I didn't care if our clothes were ironed, but I knew that was my dad's way of saying that he loved us. Who, after all, takes off from work to iron Nike T-shirts and prepare roast chicken in garlic gravy?
But I could probably count the number of times my father has told me he loves me on my 20 digits, and that's simply no big deal to me. I've never once thought that he doesn't; I've just always known that some things are easy to feel but harder to say. There have been many times, in fact, when I have wanted to tell my dad I love him but have felt that it would be too awkward to do so. Guys can be funny that way.
So when I received a Facebook friend request from my dad, I was, frankly, weirded out. I've been accustomed to keeping my dad close, but not too close. Sunday night dinner? Sure. Friday night pub crawl? No, thanks. By accepting his request, I would give my dad insight into my entire life: my interactions with friends, my comings and goings, my random thoughts, my likes, my dislikes, what I "like" and "unlike," the random compliments I give my girlfriend. This simple request felt more like an invasion.
And yet, I knew I had no option but to "friend" my dad. What conceivable excuse could I have to not? Before I clicked "accept," though, I scrolled through my posts and photos to "clean up" my profile. I even thought about starting a whole new profile for friends and keeping the one I had for people like my dad and my boss -- people for whom I reserve the persona that, otherwise, only comes out when I attend Mass every few years.
In the end, I let my dad simply be like any other Facebook friend because, well, he's my dad. But at first I wasn't sure how to virtually interact with him. I was even scared to look at his profile. Would he post creepy photos of him and my mom drinking martinis and standing too close to one another at creepy parties for creepy people of their age? Would he have bizarre, unacceptable interests like scrap-booking or watching "American Idol"? Would he be socially awkward, posting head-scratching comments on other people's posts?
All the worrying was for naught. My dad, as it turns out, is completely normal. What's more, accepting his friend request has allowed us to communicate more than we ever have before. While I've always talked to my mother on a daily basis, neither my dad nor I have ever felt comfortable just picking up the phone and diving into conversation.
But, on my Facebook page, my dad suddenly started showing interest in my life: complimenting me on accomplishments, posting comments on my posts, taking notice of the things that make up my life. Somehow, the inherent distance of online communication allowed him to express affection in ways that are too awkward in person, and has given us things to talk about in our face-to-face interactions.
One day, for example, he commented about my blog; he hadn't previously realized that I spend many evenings in front of the computer. "I like your blog," he told me. "I didn't know you blogged. Is there a way for me to add it to my favorites? I really like your articles." And just yesterday he complimented me about a piece I wrote for an online magazine. No matter how old you are, hearing your father express interest in your interests is flattering. And if he weren't my Facebook friend, he might never have known about my writing pursuits.
I've also learned a lot about my dad because of our newfound "friendship." Through his Facebook page, he has revealed an astute sense of humor I never knew he possessed. One night, my girlfriend and I couldn't stop cracking up at his profile picture: a shot of him sitting on a toilet in the middle of a driveway, scarf wrapped around his neck and stocking cap on his head, posed like Rodin's "The Thinker." Why was a toilet in the middle of a driveway? What was my dad doing sitting on it on an obviously cold day? Most importantly, why would my dad make this his profile picture, his way of greeting the online world? It was genius, that's why, and it turns out my dad has a genius wit.
The best part of having my dad as a Facebook friend, though, is that it keeps the family in constant contact with one another. If I post a picture of my son that's particularly funny or charming, my parents will comment on it or call to hear the full story. If I comment about an exciting happening during my day, my parents will ask me about it the next time we talk. We wouldn't share these relatively small but still meaningful moments if it weren't for Facebook.
I don't necessarily buy into the notion that the Internet has made the world smaller in every single circumstance, bringing everyone closer together in every conceivable way. In many ways, it has done just the opposite, by giving people the means to seclude themselves in their virtual lives rather than engaging in their actual lives.
But for all the ridiculous, overblown assertions that the Internet can erase divisions and bring people together, sometimes it actually does. Some people join couch-surfing groups and travel around the world, staying with complete strangers who share their love of travel. Others join online communities and talk to people from foreign countries, learning about cultures that, without the Internet, they'd never have the chance to experience.
And then there's me: I accepted my dad's friend request and found out that in addition to being a great dad, he's also pretty damn cool. Maybe that Friday night pub crawl is in our future yet. Well, perhaps a virtual beer first.
Michael Franco
MORE FROM Michael Franco
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There has been a long held myth on release clauses in professional football. As modern football continues to surprise us, this myth seems to have lost its revered relevance in contract talks. Neymar's move from Barcelona to PSG affected football in so any ways. It doubled the cost of star players and moved the game closer to the £1 billion player mark that a few analysts have predicted.
Clubs no longer have the buyout fee protection in deals with players as there are numerous sources or tricks competitors can employ in funding such expensive transfers. Barcelona are still far from learning their lessons, going by revelations that their star player Lionel Messi would still have a far lesser expected release clause when he agrees to extend his deal with the club.
Messi's buyout clause has been revealed to be just £267 million, meaning nine other star players in the La Liga have higher release clauses. The Spanish employment laws require clubs to have release clauses in players' deal, hence the French giants knew they'd get their target when they met Neymar's £196 million clause.
At his age, Messi is still doing great things. With the commercial interest and shocking club change, a top side can easily meet the £267 release clause of the Argentine.
Real Madrid have taken a cue from current happenings and they seem insured in that regard. Their star man Cristiano Ronaldo has a release clause of £886 million, Karim Benzema has the same clause, Isco's new deal reportedly has £620 million while that of Welsh star Gareth Bale is £443 million. Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Dani Ceballos and Ousmane Dembele all have higher clauses that Messi. Interesting times ahead!
WHY DID MESSI'S NEW DEAL TAKE SO LONG?


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Corniglia (prononcé  en italien, Curnigia en dialecte local, Corniggia en ligure) est un hameau de la commune de Vernazza en Ligurie, en Italie. Il s'agit de l'une des localités qui constituent les Cinque Terre.

Géographie

Corniglia est située sur la côte de Ligurie, dans la province de La Spezia, à une dizaine de kilomètres à l'ouest de La Spezia et environ 70 km au sud-est de Gênes. C'est le village le plus central des Cinque Terre, entre Vernazza au nord-ouest et Manarola au sud-est. Administrativement, Corniglia est un hameau de Vernazza.

Caractéristiques
Corniglia se distingue des autres villages des Cinque Terre, car il est le seul qui ne descende pas directement sur la mer : la partie principale du village est située au sommet d'un promontoire surplombant la mer Méditerranée à environ  d'altitude, entouré sur trois côtés par des vignobles en terrasse tandis que le quatrième donne abruptement sur la mer. Pour atteindre le village, il est nécessaire de gravir la Lardarina, un escalier composé de 33 volées de marches totalisant 384 marches, ou d'emprunter la route qui le relie à la gare ferroviaire.

Le village s'étend le long de sa rue principale, la via Fieschi, et de nombreuses maisons possèdent une façade donnant sur la rue et une autre sur la mer. Corniglia est caractérisée par des rues étroites et par une terrasse depuis laquelle les quatre autres villages des Cinque Terre peuvent être aperçus, deux d'un côté et deux de l'autre.

Histoire
Les origines du village datent de l'époque romaine ; son nom pourrait provenir de la gens Cornelia, la famille romaine à laquelle appartient alors le terrain.

Au Moyen Âge, le village est le domaine des comtes de Lavagna et des seigneurs de Carpena et de Luni. En 1254, le pape Innocent IV le donne à Nicolò Fieschi ; il le conserve jusqu'en 1276, date à laquelle le village est acquis par la république de Gênes.

Quelques documents de 1276-77 mentionnent l'existence d'un château, dont aucun reste n'a été retrouvé. La seule ruine subsistante de fortifications est un fortin génois datant de 1556. Une église à l'angle de la terrasse Santa Maria, surplombant la mer, s'effondre au .

Lieux

Le village se développe le long de la rue principale, la via Fieschi, qui relie l'église paroissiale San Pietro à la terrasse panoramique Santa Maria. Le long de la via Fieschi, on rencontre tout d'abord la piazza Ciapara (ou Ciapa dans le dialecte local) sur laquelle débouche la voie carrossable. La rue se poursuit ensuite de façon piétonne et étroite et mène à la place principale, largo Taragio (er Taragiu) sur laquelle est placé le monument aux morts et qui est dominée par l'oratoire Santa Caterina. Derrière cette église se situe une petite place permettant une vue sur la côte sud des Cinque Terre et située au pied de la tour restant des fortifications génoises de 1556.

Après le largo Taragio, la via Fieschi conduit à la terrasse Santa Maria. En face du largo Taragio, un escalier abrupt permet de descendre jusqu'à la mer.

Architecture religieuse

L'église paroissiale San Pietro, dans la partie haute de Corniglia, est un édifice construit au  sur une chapelle du  dans un style gothique ligure et dont l'intérieur présente des éléments baroques.

L'oratoire Santa Caterina est situé au milieu du village et date du .

Économie

Culture

Manifestations
L'église San Pietro héberge chaque année le festival d'orgue des Cinque Terre.

Fêtes
La saint patron du village, saint Pierre, est fêté le 29 juin. La célébration religieuse prend la forme d'une procession qui part de l'église San Pietro et se termine à la terrasse Santa Maria. La spécialité gastronomique typique de la fête est le gâteau de riz, préparé avec du riz, du fromage et des œufs, et cuit au four.

Comme dans d'autres villages italiens, le vendredi saint donne également lieu à une procession de la statue du Christ mort, le long de la rue principale.

Le 8 septembre a lieu le pèlerinage au sanctuaire de San Bernardino, surplombant Corniglia.

Littérature
Corniglia est mentionnée dans le Décaméron de Boccace. Dans la deuxième nouvelle du dixième jour, le brigand Ghino di Tacco enlève l'abbé de Cluny et soigne les maux d'estomac de son prisonnier avec « deux tranches de pain rôti et un grand verre de vin blanc de Corniglia ».

Transports

Transport routier
Comme les autres villages des Cinque Terre, Corniglia est accessible depuis La Spezia par la route provinciale SP 32, puis par les routes SP 51 et SP 30.

Transport ferroviaire

Corniglia possède une gare ferroviaire sur la ligne Gênes-Rome. Celle-ci est située en contrebas du village.

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Ligurie
 Province de La Spezia
 Vernazza
 Cinque Terre
 Parc national des Cinque Terre

Liens externes
  Comunità Montana della Riviera Spezzina
  Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre

Hameau dans la province de La Spezia
Localité des Cinque Terre

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Нагим-Бек Нурмухаммедов (6 ноября 1924, Сайтанды, Семипалатинская губерния — 16 декабря 1986, Алма-Ата, Казахстан) — советский художник, кандидат искусствоведения (1961), народный художник Казахской ССР (1974). Работал преимущественно в направлении реализма, импрессионизма.

Биография
Родился в 1924 году в местечке Сайтанды современной Павлодарской области. В 1931 году умер его отец, поэтому с семилетнего возраста мальчик воспитывался в детском доме.

В 1940 году Нурмухаммедов стал студентом Алма-Атинского художественного училища, окончил его в 1942 году и поступил в Московский авиационный институт, но в том же году, после гибели брата на войне, ушёл добровольцем на фронт, приняв участие в битве за Кавказ. После войны окончил сначала Военно-морское артиллерийское училище, затем среднюю художественную школу при Всероссийской Академии художеств.

В 1947—1953 годах учился в Институте живописи, скульптуры и архитектуры им. И. Е. Репина в Ленинграде под руководством профессора Р. Р. Френца, специализируясь на батальной живописи. В 1955 году стал аспирантом творческой мастерской А. М. Герасимова при Академии художеств, которую окончил в 1961 году. В 1959 году переехал в Алма-Ату.

Нурмухаммедов работал в различных жанрах живописи: преимущественно в жанровых картинах, однако также является автором целого ряда портретов, пейзажей, картин на историческую тематику. К числу его наиболее известных картин относят портреты адмиралов флота СССР Исакова и Горшкова, писавшиеся с натуры, а также картины «Предгорья Алатау» (1966), «Папа идёт» (1960), «Тургайские степи. 1919» (1971—1972), «Бригада И.Жахаева» (1972) и другие.

Нурмухаммедов посетил множество зарубежных стран: Франция, Англия, Бразилия, Япония, США, Канада, Мексика, Индия и прочие, оставив зарисовки о каждом из своих путешествий. Работы художника экспонировались на выставках в Канаде, Бельгии, Югославии и других странах. Нурмухаммедов также является автором ряда научных работ по искусствоведению и нескольких альбомов.

Награждён Государственной премией Казахской ССР им. Ч. Валиханова (1978), двумя орденами «Знак Почёта» (1959, 1971), Орденом Отечественной войны II степени (1985).

Книги
 Научись рисовать. — А., 1962.
 Искусство Казахстана. Альбом. — М., 1970.
 Мавзолей Ходжи Ахмеда Ясави. Альбом. — А., 1980.

Библиография
 И. А. Рыбакова. Советские художники. Живопись. Нагим-Бек Нурмухаммедов ''. - М.: «Советский Художник», 1979.

Примечания

Художники СССР
Художники-реалисты
Выпускники Алматинского колледжа декоративно-прикладного искусства
Выпускники Санкт-Петербургской академии художеств имени Ильи Репина


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De Cahiers de doléances zijn de klaagbrieven van Franse burgers uit maart en april 1789, meegenomen door de afgevaardigden uit iedere kieskring naar de Staten-Generaal. De bezwaren zouden worden besproken op de eerste vergadering na 175 jaar op 5 mei 1789 in Versailles.

Cahiers de doléances bestonden al in de 15e eeuw in Frankrijk en vormden een onderdeel van de rechten van de afgevaardigden, maar in het revolutiejaar kregen ze extra betekenis. In januari 1789 waren door de koning verkiezingen uitgeschreven. Elk van de drie standen had het recht requesten in te dienen en klachten op te voeren van hun achterban.

In deze klaagbrieven aan koning Lodewijk XVI, 60.000 stuks zijn bewaard gebleven, beschreven leden van de gilden en parochiegenoten van de afgevaardigden alles wat volgens hen mis was met betrekking tot de feodale rechten, de onvrede over het recht van de adel de maten en gewichten te bepalen en de periodieke verhoging waarmee de pacht werd gemeten.

Het schrijven van de Cahiers na de mis op zondagochtend zorgde voor grote opwinding onder de Franse bevolking. Vaak is in de Cahiers de aanbeveling terug te vinden een eenheidsstelsel in te voeren, zodat fraude kon worden tegengegaan. Ook werd een nieuw Kadaster geëist op basis van een eenheidsmaat.

Gevolg
Eind maart 1790 werd het monopolie van de landadel op maten en gewichten afgeschaft en in april deed Talleyrand als eerste een voorstel tot "metrologische" hervormingen. Vervolgens ontstond er een chaos in de maten en gewichten, waarmee nog meer fraude en speculatie in de hand werd gewerkt. Op 1 augustus 1793 werd de "provisorische meter" ingevoerd, gebaseerd op oude metingen. De naamgeving zou pas in 1795 worden aangepast; deci, centi en milli zijn Latijnse, hecto, kilo, mega en giga griekse prefixen.

Literatuur
Serna, Pierre (2019) Que demande le peuple? Les cahiers de doléances de 1789. ISBN 284597793X
Shapiro, Gilbert en John Markoff (1998) Revolutionary Demands. A Content Analysis of the Cahiers de Doléances of 1789. ISBN 0804726698

Bronnen

 Cobb, R. (1988) The French Revolution. Voices from a momentous epoch. 1789-1795, p. 29.
 Glorieux, I. (1989) De Juiste Maat, de Ware Inhoud, p. 157-182. In: De opstand van de intellectuelen. De Franse revolutie als avant-premiere van de moderne cultuur.

Franse Revolutie
1789


text:
Tags: Aaron Jones, Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, Josh McDaniels, Matt LaFleur, Mike McCarthy, NFC North
Josh McDaniels And The Green Bay Packers: Marriage Made In Heaven?
Ed Rooney February 5, 2019
Josh McDaniels against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the AFC Championship at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Just day-dreaming out loud here, but wouldn't it be nice if the Josh McDaniels joined LaFleur's coaching staff?
With Mike McCarthy now out of the Lambeau Field exit door, Matt LaFleur now has the task of assembling a proper coaching staff to help him win. The NFC North giants failed to inspire confidence under their former boss in 2018 and he paid the price – McCarthy was on the verge of losing his job for some time.
So, how do you replace a Super Bowl-winning head coach with someone with less experience like LaFleur? In an ideal world, you bring in another Super Bowl-winning head coach. However, those are hard to come by these days. Instead, the Packers could turn to a man with plenty of Super Bowl experience to join the assistant coaching staff in support of LaFleur. That man is Josh McDaniels.
McDaniels has plenty of experience. The New England Patriots offensive coordinator has five Super Bowl wins to his name and that winning mentality would certainly go down well with the Lambeau Field faithful. Getting back to the top of the NFC North is the top priority for the Packers in 2019 and McDaniels fits the bill to succeed.
Josh McDaniels and Adam Gase could be the safest options for the Packers, as they have previous head coaching experience and a background on the offensive side of the ball. https://t.co/ruand0CMxX
— Packers News (@PGPackersNews) January 7, 2019
Who would be the biggest beneficiary with McDaniels by LaFleur's side? A certain Aaron Rodgers could flourish. Working with a coach of McDaniels' caliber would help Rodgers to get back to his best – and that is all Packers fans want. McDaniels and Brady have put the best defensive units to the sword over the years and his wisdom and smart play-calling would appeal much more to Rodgers than McCarthy's approach.
The Packers organisation will be wary of putting all their eggs in one basket though. With a deal struck for McDaniels to take over as the Indianapolis Colts head coach last year, he pulled out at the eleventh hour. Green Bay must be wary of a similar scenario occurring here; New England owner Robert Kraft may offer McDaniels the guarantee of taking over from Bill Belichick when he retires.
The NFC North is one of the most competitive divisions in football and plenty of fans would like to see the Packers win the NFC North title next year. With the Chicago Bears falling at the first hurdle in the 2018 playoffs, the division is there for the taking and Green Bay may open up as market principles in bet365 NFL odds ahead of 2019.
An offensive-minded coach on staff suits the Packers down to the ground. When you have a quarterback like Rodgers on your roster, failure is unforgivable. The Green Bay job isn't the easiest one in the NFL but it is one of the most rewarding. This is a high risk, high reward role and McDaniels looks ready to make the step up.
McDaniels is the ideal fit to help out the Packers ahead of a huge 2019 campaign. Taking a chance on McDaniels, despite his failed year in charge of the Denver Broncos, is the way to go – Green Bay will reap the rewards. With Rodgers complemented by capable running back Aaron Jones, the talent is already there. I know this is a long shot(read: impossible) but I sure would like to see it happen.
I'll put the whiskey down now and come back to reality. I think what I really want to say is I wish we got McDaniels instead of LaFleur…
Matt LaFleur
Ed Rooney
Just a guy with too much free time trying to help out.
The Gurley Mystery Hangs Over Rams' Super Bowl Futility
Packers Draft Prospects to Improve Edge Rushing
Kellen February 11, 2019
What is this talking about? McDaniels as HC or OC?
Cheese February 11, 2019
I'm not sure what you're suggesting here. Are you saying that McDaniels should be an offensive coordinator under LaFleur? You would think that those roles should be flipped. LaFleur is a first year HC after not staying in any role for more than two years other than three with the Redskins. McDaniels has HC experience and has been to the Super Bowl more than a lot of organizations have, combined.
LaFleur is regarded highly because of the Rams offense, the ONE year he was there despite not calling plays. People still try to associate the Rams success with LaFleur though he isn't even there anymore. Yet, no one ever mentions the Titans offense. On the other hand, McDaniels and the Patriots offense has been consistent at the highest of levels for a long time. These two guys resumes are incomparable. Am I saying the Packers got the wrong guy? I don't know, we'll have to wait and see, but on paper I know who the obvious choice would be.
Maybe LaFleur has a chip on his shoulder to try and prove himself which will work out well. Maybe McDaniels can't make it outside of New England, which sounds silly based off of the one stint in Denver. What I do know is that sidestepping a job with the Super Bowl Champs to be an offensive coordinator for the current Packers regime would be completely ridiculous. We can all dream I guess..
Kato February 11, 2019
I am not sure where this is coming from myself. Why would McDaniels leave NE for anything that wasn't a head coaching position?
McDaniels also had an unsuccessful stint with the Rams as OC. Granted that offense had next to nothing besides a worn down Steven Jackson. They still had Sam Bradford I believe.
Trace February 11, 2019
I honestly think that not hiring McDaniels was still the correct decision. As good as it could have been, the Packers would take longer to get to a competitive level. Yes, the Pack have Arod. But, for the past 27 years, the Packers have used the West Coast offense. A lot of quick throw and timing reads. Now the Pats don't use the West Coast offense. They use a offense that was designed by Belichick and Parcells. And with Rodgers having to learn a new system, it might have taken longer for the team to become competitive. And Arod doesn't have to much time left. It could have taken 1-3 years to get everyone used to the new system. And a Rodgers most likely only has another 3-5 left in the tank. I feel that getting a more updated system that is close to what Rodgers has used his whole career is the more logical choice rather than scrapping the playbook and starting over completely with a system that will take time for Rodgers to learn.
Howard February 11, 2019
When I read something that doesn't make sense the first thing I look for is a coded message hidden inside the article such as the first letter in each paragraph or sentence making a statement. In this case it would of said something like WE BE FUCKED.
I guess the message was just Whiskey and daydreaming don't mix.
I remember an article with some quotes from Michael Lombardi, right after MM was fired, about Daniels and the Packers not being a marriage made in heaven. A portion of the quotes as follows:
What people need to pay attention to and especially Packer fans is: their drafts have not been very good," Lombardi said. "Their player talent on that team is not very good. It's just not a job you hire Josh McDaniels or some offensive guru and he just sprinkles his pixie dust over the (Packers) and Lambeau Field and they turn this thing around. Lombardi also questions whether or not Packers president Mark Murphy would let McDaniels and general manager Brian Gutekunst do things the way they want.
Now that is reality brought to you by a Lombardi. Same things as some have said on this site.
Jason Parker February 11, 2019
HAHA Going to run that by Ed at the next writer's meeting. Maybe too much of that cheap knockoff whiskey
PF4L February 12, 2019
Alcoholism can kill. I've saved one life on here, but now i'm off duty, it's a thankless job with very little credit.
Anywhere else i'm a hero. Here, i'm just another fan drinking loudmouth soup.
The last time i was at a writers meeting, they put onions on my whopper. I distinctly said..no onions.
Have it your way….my ass.
I am sorry. There is zero possibility McDaniels is doing a lateral move to the Packers. Zero. I don't even know where this idea is coming from. Unless they throw more money at him and give him an assistant head coach title? To my understanding, he is the highest paid coordinator in the league as it is, and his pay is comparable to a lot of head coaches.
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Here we go again 🙂 Happy Wedding Wednesday!
I've decided to link up with Macy from To Travel and Beyond and Meg from Borrowed Heaven for Wedding Wednesday! What does this mean? I'm going to start sharing small details from our big day each Wednesday.
Ben and I are not very traditional and we wanted our wedding to represent us, so that means our wedding could not by the books! As I shared last week, our guestbook wasn't very traditional. We're unique and wouldn't let our wedding being anything but!
This means we decided instead of a cake, we wanted a cookie bar!
I spent all summer collecting jars from TJ Maxx. I had my eye on the apothecary jars. The collection had to be just perfect!
We included our favorite cookies from a local pizza place, Uncle Joe's and some pastries from Savoia! We also included a few teal M&Ms.
How was your cake or desserts displayed? Let me know! Do you see that "Wickham" art work? I'll be sharing how to make your own soon!
Check out my other Wedding Wednesday post here – Unique Wedding Guest Book!
Love the displays of desserts, just beautiful!
Thanks! I still have all of the jars and plates, which are so nice to use and remind me of this wonderful day!
Agreed! I love going to weddings that are unique to the couple. I hate the cookie cutter days that have no significance.
Love this! I so agree in having a wedding that works for the Bride & Groom. Cake is not the favorite dessert of my husband or I, so we choose to go with an ice-cream bar, banana pudding, and strawberry shortcakes for the dessert choices at our wedding and I wouldn't have done anything differently! Love the idea of a cookie bar as well!
Ice cream – YUM! My sister-in-law had an ice cream truck come to her wedding for a late night snack. It was epic!
Such a great idea, those cookies look divine!


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Pregnant Giraffe in Live Stream Doing Well as Birth of Calf Nears
Labor for giraffes can last up to a few days
Published February 27, 2017 • Updated on March 7, 2017 at 3:22 pm
Millions of people have been watching the stream in anticipation of the birth of "April" the giraffe's fourth calf
Her story was vaulted into global headlines after activists complaining of "nudity" got the livestream yanked from YouTube
The livestream was back online about an hour and a half after the brouhaha started
STATUS CHECK: April the Giraffe Has 'Active Night,' Not Pleased by Vet Visit
The 15-year-old giraffe named "April," who has captivated millions of people across the world in a live stream as she prepares for the birth of her fourth calf at an upstate New York zoo, is still pregnant and doing well.
Veterinarians with the Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, outside Binghamton, said Sunday night April was experiencing increased belly movement and was not wanting to be touched.
"April was notably less tolerant of veterinary examination today...but always a lady, she kept her manners," the vets said.
We visited April the giraffe at Animal Adventure Park to see how she and her keepers were getting on ahead of the birth of her new calf.
Despite that spirits were high, with the zoo joking that April had been nominated by the president for Secretary of Labor, "as she was rather experienced," however she had to decline the appointment due to her "hooves being full".
The happy and healthy mother-to-be has also started to produce milk and shed a few droplets during a Saturday evening examination.
New York's Pregnant Giraffe April Captured on Camera in the Final Throes of Pregnancy
April's pregnancy was catapulted into global headlines earlier Thursday after YouTube briefly yanked the zoo's live stream following complaints by animal activists that it violated the site's policies concerning "nudity and sexual content." Thousands upon thousands of commenters voiced their frustration on Facebook and YouTube, and the stream was restored within an hour or so.
More than 30 million people across the globe have tuned in over the last few days to watch it. You can check out the live stream below.
Giraffe pregnancies can take 15 months, and labor can last up to a few days.
The spotted beauty was up early Monday morning eating a late night snack and circling her pen. On Sunday morning, she had gazed into the camera, wiggling her ears as she chewed her breakfast. The zoo said the giraffes will stay inside due to the extreme temperature drop and wet or frozen conditions.
"Rest assured, they receive extra enrichment and extra attention on days they do not venture out," the zoo said. "A little extra bonding time!"
April has been slinking gracefully around her hay-laden home in no apparent distress. Once she goes into active labor, zoo officials say the keepers will go in to help her.
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She and the first-time father, 5-year-old Oliver, had to be separated from each other while they frolicked outside Saturday afternoon because he got aggressive and wanted to rough house. According to vets, bullish behavior is common for male giraffes during the final stages of pregnancy.
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"He does not want to play house -- he wants to ROUGH house," the park wrote in a Facebook post Saturday morning. "That is natural behavior as males take no part in rearing their young, nor have a need for a female once she is pregnant. Sad but true."
Viewers were concerned about the long-necked lovers' separation and questioned the vet's intentions until the zoo offered reassurance and told animal lovers to trust them.
Not much changed over the weekend: April alternated between standing still, swinging her tail, drinking water and slowly circling her pen. At one point Saturday afternoon, the calf could be seen kicking around in her belly.
Giraffe pregnancies last for 15 months. Labor lasts anywhere from a few hours to a few days. The calf will be about 150 pounds and 6 feet tall at birth and up and walking in about an hour.
The zoo said it will hold an online competition to name the baby giraffe once it's born.
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text:
UNO May 2016
A citizen-conscious digital agenda
IDEASUNO MagazineA citizen-conscious digital agenda
Many intellectuals, entrepreneurs and business representatives have talked about what the "new" digital economy means. At the recent Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, we heard several talks and presentations, all very interesting, on the Internet of Things, terabyte society and how mobility and super-speed connections will change the world. However, we did not hear much about citizens.
Ever since we began our work in Subtel, we have wanted to put the focus on people, leaving behind the vision of consumers in order to focus on the user; on that minor, or elderly person, who is using our telecommunications services without necessarily having signed a contract as a subscriber.
We hope that 90 percent of households and 100 percent of public schools will have a broadband connection
A few weeks ago, President Michelle Bachelet gave the go-ahead for the Digital Agenda 2020 and signed the decree that establishes the Committee of Ministers for Digital Development. This committee will be the authority that defines the National Policy for Digital Development. In this context, the president gave us a clear mandate: "We want Chile to increase its use of technology in order to reduce inequality, open up more and better opportunities and contribute to the transparency of public affairs. And we want this digital world to not only have an economic effect, but also to revolutionize our political and social realities."
We know that the commercial, client/company approach does not solve the problem of inequality and technological gaps, and we have a long road ahead before the benefits of the new digital economy reach us all. From the perspective of telecommunications, the goals are very ambitious: "We hope that 90 percent of households and 100 percent of public schools will have a broadband connection. We also want 90 percent of towns to have public Wi-Fi areas (wifichilegob), and we hope to take the average Internet access speed to at least 10 megabits per second."
In early 2015, according to data from Subtel's sixth survey on Internet access and use, the average percentage of households with Internet access was 67 percent. However, the highest income quintile showed that 88 percent of households had Internet access, contrasting with the lowest income quintile, with only 57 percent of households connected. Currently there are "1.5 million Chilean households that do not have regular Internet access, and they are precisely those who need it the most, the most vulnerable, those living in remote regions and the elderly." This is why we created Citizen-Conscious Telecommunications.
This year we will reach a new milestone. Chile will be the first country in the region to start the implementation of a network of high-speed mobile Internet services through the 700 MHz bandwidth project, called 4G, with national coverage; alongside the progress of the 2600 MHz bandwidth project, Chile will have a telecommunications service coverage equal to 98 percent of the country's inhabited territory. It will be one of the highest in the world, with coverage reaching more than 1,800 isolated locations, more than 500 schools and over 850 kilometers of roads. And all of this has been achieved despite harsh weather conditions and the diverse and difficult geographical conditions of our country. There will be telecommunications services from the remote areas of the southern tip of Chile to locations that are 3,000 meters above sea level in the region of Arica and Parinacota.
To connect the entire south of Chile, Subtel is developing the fiber optic austral project (FOA), which will be tendered in the first quarter of 2016. This project will connect Puerto Montt to Puerto Williams via more than 3000 km of fiber optic underwater and land cable, with intermediate connections in Palena, Aysen and Magallanes. This project aims to close the digital divide in an area that represents more than 20 percent of the national territory, given that currently the only option for interconnectedness is through Argentina, involving high costs and poor quality.
We want to invite you to view this digital revolution from a perspective that goes beyond business and technology, observing the inequalities that, as a society and country, we must overcome
We want to invite you to view this digital revolution from a perspective that goes beyond business and technology, observing the inequalities that, as a society and country, we must overcome.
We believe that we are on the right track and that we have an exceptional opportunity to promote and leverage the strategic benefits that the society of information and knowledge represents for Chile. Our main focus is citizens, people –especially those who are part of offline households– so that together, in a public-private partnership, we will create a fairer digital society.
Pedro Huichalaf
Undersecretary of Telecommunications of the Government of Chile / Chile
He is undersecretary of Telecommunications of the Government of Chile. Pedro is a lawyer with a master's degree in Computer Law and Telecommunications from the University of Chile. In parliament, he served as legal counsel for Technology and Telecommunications. He also worked as a lawyer for the legal division of the Undersecretary of Telecommunications. Specializing in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), he is experienced in the national and international regulation of intellectual property, personal data, cybercrime and e-commerce. He promotes and actively participates in citizen technology-related movements, where he has met key players from the industry, government and parliament. He is an expert adviser to both the public and legislative sector on ICT-related issues. [Chile] @huichalaf


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Right now, let it be said, this diversity of opinion is a good thing. In recent years a few troublemakers have tried to set litmus tests to determine "who's a real patriot" and "who isn't" by asserting, for example, that if you believe children were actually killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012 you may be a government agent or that you have been bought off, blackmailed or bullied by government agents.
Seriously. It's gotten that bad.
Even those who believe Adam Lanza was a mind-controlled patsy and that children were killed have been accused of having fallen for a great big hoax. In reality, they argue, no kids died and Lanza never existed in the first place.
However, if truth be told, a lot of these troublemakers who've been setting up these phony litmus tests are probably government agents themselves, trying to stir up trouble between real patriots.
The pattern of their behavior (and some most unusual behind-the-scenes connections) suggests they are working on behalf of a carefully crafted scheme laid out by Cass Sunstein and other high-level crisis management planners to infiltrate and disrupt communication within the truth movement by planting false stories and ridiculous claims making serious research into 9-11, the JFK assassination and other very real conspiracies look silly. Right now some good people are watching these "Sunsteiners" and hopefully, some day soon, they'll be able to name the names of these infiltrators.
But, in the meantime, we need to open debate among patriots, just as we saw in last week's AFP.
Dr. Adrian Krieg, one of the most respected voices in the truth movement, wrote in support of AFP's article about the abuse to which "truthers" have subjected families of those who say they lost children at Sandy Hook. Krieg recognizes — as AFP said from the beginning — that a lot of questions remain about this tragedy and that what Krieg described as "goofy conspiracy theories" don't help resolve the matter.
Tom Stahl's letter took issue with an AFP article "In Defense of the Death Penalty." Stahl made the point that "given some bad luck and some crooked cops and prosecutors, anyone . . . could wind up on death row." While some hardliners say, "put the criminals to death and if a few innocent folks get lost in the shuffle, so be it," there are a lot of AFP readers concerned about the growing police state and untrammeled misbehavior by law enforcement at all levels. So, in my opinion, Mr. Stahl has a very good point, though you may disagree with him.
And there was the thought-provoking letter from Ann Peters who took issue with a story citing criticisms of Barack Obama that, in her view, sounded like neoconservative propaganda out of Fox News and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, a front man for the Rothschild dynasty.
Irrational hatred of Obama — who has by no means been an exemplary president — might lead patriots down some paths into traps laid by Fox News and that's the implicit point made.
Good patriots will continue to disagree on many issues, ranging from taxes to what constitutes "real" money and what doesn't to matters such as the legalization of marijuana. Patriots will argue over religion and over social issues, too. Some patriots still believe the media's claim that Adolf Hitler killed 6 million Jews; others say that's nonsense.
The areas of disagreement (real and potential) are endless. But setting litmus tests for what is the "right" thing to believe and trying to enforce political correctness within the truth movement is a big mistake.