Welcome to my brain depository! I have many plans for this page. I hope to start writing a feminist column that incorporates my academic interests with my own life experience. I also plan on writing about pop culture and other nerdy things. This is very much a work in progress so stay tuned!


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Home » About the Library » Art in the Library » Artist in Residence Program » "The City is a Body" by Farah Hamade 2020 Artist in Residence
"The City is a Body" by Farah Hamade 2020 Artist in Residence
This past year I had the wonderful opportunity to be the inaugural UCSF Library Artist in Residence, working on my project "The City is a Body" and several other workshops and collaborations. As a medical illustrator/scientific communicator by training, I was drawn to this residency because it provided the space to explore the intersection between the arts, sciences, and humanities through the support of the UCSF Archives and Special Collections, and Makers Lab.
2020 UCSF Library Artist in Residence timeline
The City is a Body
When I first proposed my project idea in February of 2020, COVID-19 infections had just started popping up in the USA, and wouldn't reach the city of San Francisco until one month later. The initial idea of "The City is a Body" was to look at San Francisco as a singular entity, "diagnosing" the systemic issues that have plagued the city and workshopping a "prognosis" using visual storytelling during an in-person exhibit. However, when I began my residency later that summer, San Francisco had exceeded 4000 COVID-19 infections and 50 deaths. The residency shifted to accommodate a remote project, and I decided to examine the same theme through the lens of COVID-19 disparities in the city. I was interviewed in June 2020 and shared information about my residency on the UCSF Library website. As a whole, the city has been successful in reducing the impact of the virus, however taking a closer look at the communities that make up the city, vastly different stories emerge.
"The City is a Body" is an audio-visual project that aims to highlight some of the disparities in COVID-19 outcomes experienced by different communities in San Francisco, and to explore what existing disparities may have played a role. For the final project, I incorporated audio from an interview I conducted with Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, Professor and Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Vice Dean for Population Health and Health Equity in the UCSF School of Medicine, discussing COVID-19 disparities, and visualizations I created from public data on infections, deaths and other socioeconomic variables. The resulting animation is an introduction to a much more complex story of how systemic racism, access to education, housing, medical care, types of jobs, and other factors all play a role in why certain communities and neighborhoods in San Francisco were hit so much harder during the pandemic.
"The City is a Body" by Farah Hamade
The first few months of the project involved brainstorming, ideation and flexibility to the ever-evolving pandemic landscape. New data was constantly emerging, but what was clear was the disproportionate effect of the pandemic on communities of color, especially Black, Latinx and Pacific Islander communities. The decision to examine the city of San Francisco as "a body" emerged from the idea that health is measured by the most vulnerable aspect of the whole. Highlighting concerns in communities that are the most vulnerable is crucial to improving the health and outcomes of the whole city.
Early ideation of "The City is a Body"
In March 2021, I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo. We discussed many themes related to COVID-19 disparities in San Francisco, including some of the underlying health and socioeconomic disparities affecting different communities, and how that has shaped their experiences during the pandemic. During the interview, Dr. Bibbins-Domingo discussed a key point in "the fact that we [San Francisco] are so good on average that makes it even harder to see the disparities" and that in the end "the response has to be hyper-local and has to be focused on individual needs in particular communities."
Farah Hamade's interview with Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo
Building off of the topics discussed during the interview, I compiled data gathered from public sources on existing disparities across different communities in San Francisco, as well as COVID-19 data. Breaking down the city by neighborhood and zip code, clear patterns emerged correlating many of the systemic disparities experienced by Black, Latinx and other communities of color in San Francisco with the data on COVID-19 cases and deaths in the city. For example, as of June 13th, 2021 the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood (zip code 94124) had the highest rate of COVID-19 infections. This is also the neighborhood that has the highest Black and Pacific Islander populations, one of the highest Latinx populations, and the lowest income per capita ($19,770). Many of the individuals in these communities are front-line workers who live in homes with higher average household sizes. As Dr. Bibbins-Domingo stated, the response to these disparities has to be localized and there has been some success in targeting these vulnerable communities. For example, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) had the highest rate of vaccines administered in Bayview-Hunters Point.
Screenshot of some of the data collected for "The City is a Body." Click image to view all data collected.
The final production phase involved finalizing a script, storyboard, illustrating the individual components, animating, and compositing all the final pieces together. The script was a combination of snippets of my interview with Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo and my own narration to add context to the story. It was difficult cutting down the interview to a few key points, and I hope I can expand on the other topics discussed in the future. Once a script was finalized, I began roughly storyboarding the visual metaphors and main data visualizations I wanted to include. Each visual element was then illustrated digitally by hand in Procreate and Photoshop to be later animated in After Effects.
Rough storyboard still of "The City is a Body." Image by Farah Hamade.
One of the key components of the animation was the visualization of the map of San Francisco by neighborhood. In order to create a single map that could be used to visualize different o data sets, each neighborhood was individually illustrated so that its color opacity could reflect a value from 0 – 100 %. This allowed me the flexibility to create multiple maps that could then be compared across different variables, such as demographic breakdown by neighborhood in contrast to COVID-19 cases. The clear visual similarities in the maps across different variables reiterated the point that many socioeconomic and health disparities are interconnected and compound each other, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Map layout by neighborhood and zip code
Still frame from final animation "The City is a Body"
The final project was animated in After Effects and presented on July 1st 2020 as part of the UCSF Library and Makers Lab where I also reflected on the Artist in Residence experience as a whole. Overall, I hope the project is part of a greater push to continue understanding the short and long term effects of the pandemic on San Francisco's most vulnerable communities.
Other projects and collaborations
During my residency, I also hosted workshops that allowed me to introduce others to the field of medical and scientific illustration, as well as collaborating on other projects as part of the UCSF community.
Workshop images, designed by Farah Hamade
In the fall of 2020, I hosted my first workshop "Storytelling During a Pandemic," where I discussed various storytelling mediums and how they pushed the discussion on COVID-19.
In February 2021, I hosted my second workshop "Maquetting for Science Visualization" which explored how maquettes have been utilized by scientific illustrators to help bring to life that which is not easily observed.
In the spring of 2021, I was invited to be part of the "Intrinsic Value" art series, a series celebrating BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists in the Bay Area with the theme of "unlikely connections." I moderated the first event which screened the original documentary "Inside Hotel Iroquois (2019), followed by a conversation with the members of Skywatchers. I also co-presented for the third event "Gift of Grief/Jedo's Unknown: Healing through Graphic Medicine" with Eki Shola, where we discussed healing grief through the creation of music and art.
In April 2021, I illustrated a graphic recording visual to accompany the event "Pause, Breathe, and Re-Connect: Poetry and Discussion (2021)" hosted by UCSF physician and poet Michelle-Linh Nguyen which explored the theme of humanity in medicine.
I created editorial illustrations/animations for the UCSF magazine myth buster series, for their articles "Probiotics: Health Hack or Hype?" and "Brain Boosters: Can Puzzles and Pills Make US Sharper?".
In September 2020, I was also interviewed by KQED on the "City is a Body" project.
Overall this residency was a year of ideation, creation and collaboration where I was able to explore my own craft of scientific/medical visualization while working with other creatives, physicians, and researchers at UCSF. I deeply appreciate the support I received from the UCSF Library Artist in Residence Committee, notably Polina Ilieva, head of the UCSF Archives and Special Collections, and Dylan Romero, head of the UCSF Makers Lab who provided yearlong feedback and assistance. I look forward to the upcoming Artist in Residence projects, the next of which is Pantea Karimi's UCSF Library Artist in Residence 2021 project exploring medicinal botany and art.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


On November 17, 2016 the French Defender of Rights, Jacques Toubon made a statement « for France to recognize filiation for the intended parent" meaning to give official recognition as "parent" to individuals who used surrogacy abroad to have a child.
Jacques Toubon made this statement during a "scientific symposium" considered highly controversial due to the lack of diversity for the speakers and to the absence of questioning about surrogacy practises. Currently surrogacy is banned in France, although some couples or individuals have gone abroad to circumvent the law.
But the "Taubira directive", as well as recent case law has resulted in facilitating the recognition of French civil status for the sponsoring biological parent. Since July 2015 and after the Court of Cassation's decision, a child born abroad to a surrogate mother is entitled to French civil registration.
The Defender of Rights does not make it a secret that he wants filiation of the intended parent(s) to be recognized. In his opinion "This will most assuredly be the next issue filed at the court of Cassation and the European Court of Human Rights".
Ultimately, the end result would be to register on the child's birth certificate any individual who had recourse to a surrogate mother as being the parent whether they are single, heterosexual or homosexual couples, etc without requiring any biological relationship whatsoever.
Mr. Toubon's statement comes as a follow-up to a series of talks on the same topic.
In October 2014, only a few days after Manuel Valls' declaration, which ultimately fell on deaf ears, Jacque Toubon contradicted him: "We think, representing the Defender of Rights, it is indeed the government's responsibility to recognize parent-child relationships by allowing civil registration in France".
Having a conflict of interest with his lawyer did nothing to dissuade Mr. Toubon from appealing for his help. Indeed, M. Spinosi is also the lawyer of Mr. and Mrs. Mennesson, who obtained a conviction for France in June 2014 from the European Court of Human Rights. He is also the legal representative for the activist association "CLARA" (the committee for legalizing surrogacy in someone's place, and for assisted reproduction), and in this role, he intervened for them before the Council of State.


Christopher Fischer is probably the man responsible for making cashmere what it is today. From his start in Scotland to now owning operations in Inner Mongolia (he was exploring China before the rest of you), his eponymous collection is what got us at HipGuide through Detroit winters during our work there. So this store, one of his several, carries all the best cashmere he has to offer, as well as a range of cotton separates and an absurdly cute baby collection (including a stuffed bunny and a tiny camo cardigan). He also sources and stocks wooden bowls from Africa, pieces from Schumacher, select denim from DL1961 (a line we can't get enough of), Yoanna Baraschi's cocktail dresses and a range of perfume Histoires de Parfums, making this a lifestyle store, long before the idea of such shops became en vogue.


Succulent planter for the modern home or office, durably constructed from naturally moisture resistant recycled cedar.
The minimalist overall appearance and occasional rustic character mark will accent nicely in modern as well as semi rustic themes.
Because it's built from old-growth wood assembled with waterproof wood glue and finished and beeswax and linseed oil it will hold up for many years.
Comes ready to plant, no liner needed.
Fitted with four grippy rubber pads to keep it from sliding.
Because we use reclaimed wood, the occasional old nail hole may be seen in some cuts. To have us exclude these character marks for a perfect appearance, please leave us a message "Smooth" at checkout or "Rustic" to include character.


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Q: modernizr not working with IE9 and lower When I click links in my site it works in major browsers, but IE9 and lower do not work. I click the links and nothing happens! Console says: "event.returnValue is deprecated. Please use the standard event.preventDefault() instead."
I'm using this method from this website: http://sudojesse.github.io/dynamic-page/index.html
when I use this website in IE9 and lower it works (with refreshing the page, but it works!).
What am I doing wrong?
EDIT: When putting everything in a subfolder it works! Could it be something with htacess?
  <script src="http://html5shiv.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/html5.js"></script>

<script type='text/javascript' src='js/modernizr.js'></script>
<script>$(function() {

if(Modernizr.history){

var newHash      = "",
    $mainContent = $("#main-content"),
    $pageWrap    = $("#page-wrap"),
    baseHeight   = 0,
    $el;

$pageWrap.height($pageWrap.height());
baseHeight = $pageWrap.height() - $mainContent.height();

$( "a" ).on("click", function() {
    _link = $(this).attr("href");
    history.pushState(null, null, _link);
    loadContent(_link);
    return false;
});

function loadContent(href){
    $mainContent
            .find("#guts")
            .fadeOut(200, function() {
                $mainContent.hide().load(href + " #guts", function() {
                    $mainContent.fadeIn(200, function() {
                        $pageWrap.animate({
                            height: baseHeight + $mainContent.height() + "px"
                        });
                    });

                });
            });
}

$(window).bind('popstate', function(){
   _link = location.pathname.replace(/^.*[\\\/]/, ''); //get filename only
   loadContent(_link);
});
} // otherwise, history is not supported, so nothing fancy here.
});</script>

A: Try:
$( "a" ).on("click", function(e) {
    _link = $(this).attr("href");
    history.pushState(null, null, _link);
    loadContent(_link);
    e.preventDefault();
});

A: It now works!
Turns out a script (jquery lavalamp) was blocking it, but only in IE!
The NSA should delete that browser!!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Power Video Chat is a completely free software. You can free download and use it as long as you like.
GET Video Chat allows you to join real streaming video chat rooms where you can hear, see, and chat with many people at a time.
GET Video Chat allows you to join real streaming video chat rooms where you can hear, see, and chat with many people at a time. Instant message a user to get to know them before you Webcam chat, and add them to your contact list. This videoconferencing software also works behind most firewalls and routers. GET Video Chat allows multi-user videoconferencing where you can join a room with up to 1000 users and just click a user name to begin seeing someone. Press the 'talk' button to talk to the entire room with audio. The video chat rooms are hosted by broadband users who are running the GET Video Chat Room Server software so any user can set up their own multi-user video conference for other users to join. If you're sick of hopping from one chatware program to another, looking for the perfect mix of video, audio, and text socializing, GET Video Chat might be what you're looking for. The chat rooms feature everything from music lessons to sign language to non-English chatting, and integrating video, audio, and text components are a great leap forward for chat communities since a Webcam is not a requirement. Be warned, though: There's also a slew of X-rated chat rooms--this is not a program that kids should use without supervision. The interface should be familiar to anyone who has used any messaging software. You can create your own chat room and password-protect it, and the Contacts list has a section for favorite rooms and one-click contact adding, user searching, and profile management. New in Version 5 is high-resolution video support, interface tweaks, and the ability to send little "virtual gifts" to both friends and anonymous recipients that borders on the annoying. Cautious users should note that the install includes several toolbars and a Weather Channel widget, which you can opt out of. Despite those drawbacks, if you're looking for a well-trafficked video chat program that serves a diverse community, GET Video Chat is cool place to land.
WebcamMax 7 7.9.9.8 WecamMax enables you to add thousands of effects or doodling to webcam video for live video chats, streaming or recording. As a virtual webcam, it also enables you to show videos, pictures, desktop screen or even multiple webcam videos to others.
WebcamMax 8.0.7.6 WecamMax enables you to add thousands of effects or doodling to webcam video for live video chats, streaming or recording. As a virtual webcam, it also enables you to show videos, pictures, desktop screen or even multiple webcam videos to others.
WebcamMax 8 8.0.7.8 WecamMax enables you to add thousands of effects or doodling to webcam video for live video chats, streaming or recording. As a virtual webcam, it also enables you to show videos, pictures, desktop screen or even multiple webcam videos to others.
Super Webcam Recorder 7.62 Super Webcam Recorder is a simple, yet fully-featured software tool designed to help you capture streaming video and snapshots. You can save video to avi, wmv, mp4, divx, xvid format.
PicMaster 4.0.4 Image Editing, Filtering, Digital Camera, WebCam, Slide Shows, Morphing, 3D Images, Video Capturing, Scanning, Catalog, Poster Printing and ...Thousands of Photoshop® compatible filters from Internet includable. Over 300 Filters already included.
Camstreams Media Encoder 3.0.0.12 Camstreams Media Encoder is a scaled-down version of Microsoft's own Encoder which includes all the features you need to get broadcasting without confusing you with options and a cluttered user interface.
FlashPioneer Video Chat 1.7 FlashPioneer Video Chat is a non-client,audio&video chat solution based on FMS. It helps you deploy an online community. It is a white brand system which can be customized at your requirements in the appearance of chat client, even the functions.
Camfrog Video Chat 2.5 Join live streaming video chat rooms where you can see, hear, and chat with many users at once. Camfrog Video Chat also has a live photo webcam directory where you can find a partner for one on one video chat.
Video Chat Recorder 2.1 Video Chat Recorder is designed to record/save/capture any video chat and group video chat (video conference) with ease. Using a software you can record Skype, Google Chat Video, Facebook Video Chat, MSN or any video chats.
VZOchat Video Chat 6.3.2005 Easy-to-use, small software application for free video chat, communications and instant messaging via the Internet on any broadband or even dial-up connection. It works with most PCs and web cameras and does not require special skills to use.
Random Video Chat for Linux 1.0 6point7 is a safe and fun social video chat room for Facebook users. when you enter the chat room, you will meet a random user and you can interact using a webcam, a microphone and text chat. "Add as Friend" if you like the new friend .
P2P 2 Way Webcam Video Chat Script 3.15 VideoWhisper 2 Way Video Chat is a P2P high definition web video communication software designed for instant 1 on 1 online video conferencing. It's a solution for conducting easy to setup face to face meetings without leaving your office or home.
LiveCyberCash Video Chat Software 4.9 Cross platform Video Chat Software that includes payment processers, numerous fully brandable customizable template website. Adaptable for virtually any niche or industry incl Adult. Powerful management & statistical analysis functions.
ZoneVideo Chat 6 60 Zonevideo chat sytem is an integration chat system with instant messenger and video chat which allows you to easily see, hear, and chat with people all over the world through internet.
ENat for MSN Messenger 2.0 Have you ever met this problem when you're using MSN Messenger: Cannot voice chat or video chat with your friend, can't send a file to your friend when you or your friend are behind NATs.


It's been quite some time since I've last written and it has nothing to do with lack of blog fodder.
I guess I could say that I've fallen off the face of the blogging earth and landed into real life. I just haven't had the "oomph" to write anything lately. The late fall and winter is always the busiest time of the year for me because I study German four nights a week and often travel during the weekends. Around the holidays, there were plenty of visits to Christmas markets.
I even ended up on a German tv show. I kid you not. It was embarrassing but not as bad as it could've been; they cut out most of the segments of me fumbling around in German. However, can I just say that this is pretty much the highest level of integration, to end up on German tv and speak the language?
That's pretty cool. What tv show was it?
It was a local news station.


Announcing the 2010 Poster and Coloring Contest Winners!
The goal of Clean Hands Month is to decrease the spread of infectious diseases by empowering individuals to educate and help protect their communities. The simple act of hand washing is the single most important action that one can take to prevent the onset of illness and the spread of infection.
More than 272 participants from Washoe County submitted posters and coloring sheets and jingles to raise awareness of the importance of Hand Washing.
The posters and coloring contest submission were great; we had a hard time picking just one winner.
Thank you to all of the participants in the poster/coloring and jingle contest and for becoming more Hand Aware!
Pictured - Front row from left to right: Matthias Everson, Eloisa Ribbing, Lucy Orenstein, Julianna Hollenback. Back row from left to right: Isabella Anderson, Victoria Frost, Dr. Mary Anderson, Chandelle Garcia, Josiah Everson.


Listing for some collectible Land Rover memorabilia. The item "Land Rover 88 Series 3 III 1974 Tax Exempt V5 Log Book V5C & Chassis Tag Plate" is in sale since Monday, July 16, 2018. This item is in the category "Vehicle Parts & Accessories\Car Parts\Other Car Parts". The seller is "jolly-rasta" and is located in Leicester. This item can be shipped to United Kingdom.


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Ukraine's EU Accession Plan Is a Suicide Pill for Desperate EU
Will the EU even be around, by the time the Ukraine fulfils the strict criteria to join the Brussels club?
Pushed strongly by Macron, the Ukraine'sfirst steps to become an EU member state kick off soon in Brussels. But will the EU even be around, by the time the Ukraine fulfils the strict criteria to join the Brussels club?
It might take a decade for Ukraine to even join the EU club, but Macron and others are upbeat about Ukraine becoming an EU member state, ahead of a key vote by all 27-member states in Brussels. In reality, the grandiose, if not desperate move pushed by the French president, won't go through as at least three member states have said already that they won't back it. But what's the real story behind this somewhat banal plan to make Ukraine a member of the European Union? Is there a hidden agenda?
Well of course there is. It is simply that in 2028 Macron is hotly tipped to be running the EU. In this year, two top jobs will become vacant in Brussels – European Commission President and European Council of Ministers chief – and he is an obvious choice to take one of them. Macron's dream is that before then, France takes a leading role – if not the leading role – within the EU and that the bloc's so-called 'foreign policy' is more or less run by him and his team. So what's the link?
In a nutshell, federalists like Macron dream of an EU which punches above its weight and despite the Maastricht treaty in 1992 and the Lisbon Treaty in 2007, the EU's efforts to garner more power away from member states towards Brussels haven't amounted to much in practical terms. On paper, the EU has a considerable amount of clout on the international circuit in terms of peacekeeping and humanitarian stuff. You know the sort of thing.
But in real terms whenever the EU wants to actually soldier ahead with something big, right at the last moment member states themselves hold back from pressing the button and block the move. This explains why only a couple of weeks into the Ukraine war, Macron himself went in person to visit Putin while the EU's top diplo wonk, Josep incredibly-boring Borrell went to Washington to give a joint press conference with his left-wing US president. That tells you all you need to know about the EU's real powers when it comes to the international stage. The EU's top foreign policy chief didn't go to Moscow as probably Putin wouldn't have received him as, to be fair, Borrell hasn't really much to say and no real power to do anything.
But all that could change if Macron could convince a handful of leaders of EU governments – and even a few not in the EU itself like the UK and Turkey – to sign up to his new bold plan of a security pact which would more or less be an EU venture but run by him and which would certainly have at its heart an EU army. Federalist-minded leaders like Macron strongly believe that the way for a failed project like the EU to gain more power is not via the ballot box through having in place an impressive model of governance. Oh no. What they believe is the only way to have more power is to take it. And this is at the heart of what the whole EU army is all about. Take more power, be seen to be more relevant, dominate the front pages of newspapers – and certainly those who are in your pocket anyway like the FT and the Economist – and act like a real player, a contender.
What's wrong with that? Quite a lot in fact. The EU has not experience whatsoever in such a role and it would be very risky for it to endeavour to play at being a superpower especially when it is so accident prone and likely to hit a number of obstacles to getting involved with international conflicts to feed its almost sexual fascination for war. Given the track record of the euro, Brexit, Covid and a number of other failed policies, should it really be allowed to go ahead and have an army which Macron would command and send to places to further France's, er sorry, the EU's interests? Of course, this would absolute madness and could lead to a world war if one of these operations backfires.
And here's where Ukraine comes in. The West's policy to date is not thought through and cannot sustain the mileage involved in a war of attrition would could last a couple of years. More and more money is wasted on arms, inflation sours in EU countries, fuel costs double while economies spiral. And all this as a direct result of sanctions against Russia. Someone didn't have any long-term planning or a contingency plan. If the EU itself were to have taken control of it, assume the thinking and strategizing to be even more ill-conceived but on a much bigger scale. From Russia's perspective an EU army, which would be considerable in size and well-equipped would be a bigger threat than today's shambles of the West just sending hardware, which in reality is probably being sold on the black market which in turn fuels Putin's military machine. The West is not only losing on all levels, but at a considerable speed and it is only a matter of months before the realities of their foolhardy ruse to strike at Putin will be universally seen by their electorates before the whole shambolic scam is seen for what it is. Ironically, Macron is thinking big. And he's thinking long-term. But the idea that he runs the EU and has an army made up of a good number of EU countries, along with their equipment, should keep you awake at night. Would you give your four year-old alone in the house with a gallon jerry can full of gasoline, a box of matches and expect your house to still be standing? This, in a nutshell, is really what the Ukraine vote for accession is all about. It's utter madness.
By Martin Jay
Source: Strategic Culture Foundation
Post Tags: #Emmanuel Macron#EU#France#Ukraine
NATO Failure Illustrated by Growing Turkish-Syrian Tensions
Chinese-Iranian Overland Connectivity Is Slowly But Surely Being Streamlined
Asia's Future Takes Shape in Vladivostok, The Russian Pacific
The Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok is one of the indispensable annual milestones for keeping up not only with the complex development process of the Russian Far East but major plays for Eurasia integration. Mirroring an immensely turbulent 2022, the current theme in Vladivostok is 'On the Path to a Multipolar World.' Russian President…
Read More Asia's Future Takes Shape in Vladivostok, The Russian PacificContinue
The Surveillance Society Is Here, and What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
George Orwell's 1984 featured a dystopian England, and indeed, a world, of three superstates that all ran according to the same principles. Eternal war, eternal ignorance, and eternal subservience, whether realized or not. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU was this book's addition to the American lexicon for many, many people. The means of surveillance were…
Read More The Surveillance Society Is Here, and What You Can Do to Protect YourselfContinue
Syrian Army Closing in on Oil-Rich Region the US Wants for Itself
As Anti-Media predicted in June of this year, ISIS' last stand in Syria will take place in a strategic oil-rich region known as Deir ez-Zor, and this confrontation will pit the American military and its allied forces directly against the Syrian Arab Army and its backers, including Russia. Over the last few days, this potential clash has been brought ever…
Read More Syrian Army Closing in on Oil-Rich Region the US Wants for ItselfContinue
International System, Its Origins and Rules
The Genesis of the International System When continents began to interact between themselves, from approximately five centuries ago, slowly, they started to form, what is now called the "international system". It is an attempt to break the Islamic fence – which threatened to strangle strategically the small and divided Christian kingdoms of Europe -, Portugal…
Read More International System, Its Origins and RulesContinue
Are the US and Israel Preparing for War in the Middle East? II
Despite the lack of visible preparation for war, the Lebanese authorities consider it important to take all necessary precautions for a possible Israeli attack on Lebanon. Israel is not alone; this time its forces enjoy unlimited military support from the US administration through the US forces stationed in Israel and in various bases in the…
Read More Are the US and Israel Preparing for War in the Middle East? IIContinue
We've Spent a TRILLION Dollars on Statins to Lower Cholesterol, Yet Cardiovascular Deaths Have Gone UP
New research shows that the most widely prescribed type of drug in the history of medicine is a waste of money. One major study found that the more 'bad' cholesterol was lowered, the greater the risk of heart attacks and strokes. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, almost every other medical condition has been…
Read More We've Spent a TRILLION Dollars on Statins to Lower Cholesterol, Yet Cardiovascular Deaths Have Gone UPContinue


What feeling would you like to experience more of?
Choose a feeling or request the inner-self to indicate a feeling that is beneficial for you. We are using love as an examaple.
As you breathe feel like yo uare having a love affair with your breath.
Exhale the feeling of love.
Slow down into each breath.
Feel the air enter and leave the nostrils.
Breathe the love in through the nostrils with attraction, receptivity and openenss.
Breathe love out through the nostrils with joy and gratitude, sharing love with the world!
Rather than rushing there is a slowing down.
Observe where the feeling of love sits in the body, it may move but will most likely eventually stay in the one place, maybe th heart?
Add this in if you feel up to it!
Inhale: focus on the feeling and visualise white light flow into this space.
Exhale: maintain the feeling and visualise white light flow from this space into the air around you Repeat for two more breaths.
Practice for 12 breaths: Feel of love and whit light flowing into body to heart: feeling of love and white light flowing out into surrounding space.
Well done! During the day feelings and experienes of love will arise. Enjoy! Practice this breath whenever you feel like it!
If you have an questions or insights, please comment below, thanks!


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Home Tech TFT League of Legends and Your Choices Now
Paul Petersen, January 4, 2020
League of Legends is 10 years old. It all started with two people. Then there were 100 million, 125 days, almost 11 million seconds or 3000 hours. The average is 832 hours. The number of hours of all matches is already catching up with the length of the universe. That's over 160 billion hours. So much time is spent on virtual battles in League of Legends. While you play and think about the boosting, the tft boosting happens to be the best choice now.
The Game Creation
Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill have created a game that has been attracting tens of millions of players for years. Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill have created a game that has been attracting tens of millions of players for years. League of Legends is a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game. In the classic edition of the "Summoner's Rift" closed map, two teams of five players meet. Each of them chooses one specific hero who will serve as his combat tool. The goal is simple: destroy the enemy base.
Usually it takes about 30-45 minutes to reach this simple goal. However, it doesn't sound so easy. During this time, the heroes fight, die and are reborn to return to the battlefield. That's all in a nutshell, because you can explain the rules of this game for hours.
Story like a fairy tale, two friends created a game for minorities, and attracted millions
At first there were only two of them. Brandon "Ryze" Beck and Marc "Tryndamere" Merrill met during the summer school in Switzerland, just before they went to college. They both came from the same city – Los Angeles, and loved games. At the time, they did not know where this knowledge would take them, or how they would change the lives of millions, hundreds of millions, very young people.
They both loved "DOTA". This is a once-popular version of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, which has launched a completely new game genre. MOBA, i.e. Multiplayer Online Battle Arena ( explanation here ). However, this was still far away. But it was these two who were supposed to change it.
A huge community gathered around MOBA games, a genre that did not yet exist. However, no one controlled her. It was a completely free market. DOTA was free, full of errors, complicated even in installation, and in addition it lacked the key segregation of players in terms of skills, i.e. "Matchmaking".
Brandon and Marc felt that none of the producers were interested in this group of players. They belonged to her alone. Do you know what this group is? People whose day is not limited to 24 hours and personal life does not matter. These are those who want to enter and remain in the virtual world. No, a game with an interesting story for 30 hours is not enough.
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This survey dovetails with our High Holy Day theme. As you can see, we agree on many things, disagree on some things, and share an overwhelming consensus that the synagogue and the Jewish community must be open to hearing the expression of a diversity of viewpoints on Israel/Palestine issues.
From the very beginning of our congregation, we have affirmed the importance of the land of Israel/Palestine as a home of both the Jewish and Palestinian people. Although our synagogue's expressions about Israel/Palestine have taken different forms over the years, the essential values we have brought to the issue have remained consistent.
In 2014-15/5775, our Middle East Peace Committee (MEPC) surveyed our congregation about our members' attitudes, thoughts and strategies in relationship to Israel in general and more specifically, to Israel's occupation and control of territories it captured in 1967. Well over 200 responses were received. We found areas of near unanimity and areas of diversity as well.
Equal Dignity: Kehilla people affirm that Israelis and Palestinians are equally worthy of security, justice, civil and human rights, self-determination, and a recognition of their dignity as human beings created in the divine image.
Ending the Occupation: An overwhelming majority in Kehilla feel that the Israeli occupation of or control over Palestinian people and territories in the West Bank and Gaza Strip must come to an end. Comments expressed that the building of settlements in the West Bank and areas around Jerusalem sends a signal that the occupation is intended to be permanent. The congregants overwhelmingly affirmed that the occupation must not be permanent. Members' comments expressed that it is an intolerable, dehumanizing and violent reality for those under occupation, and that this state of affairs needs to end peacefully for the sake of both the Israelis, as well as the Palestinians. Respondents affirmed that violence against non-combatants is unacceptable.
One State/Two States: Kehilla members include those who favor a two-state resolution to the conflict and those who favor a single secular state. The survey comments show a unity within this diversity because, whether one-state or two-states, each approach was expressed as a concern for self-determination and full civil and human rights for all who live in Israel/Palestine. The differences only reflected what each respondent believed to be the best way to achieve these ends. No one supported a single-Jewish-state outcome.
Differences About Opposition: Some members of Kehilla feel that it is not our congregation's role to express our disagreement with Israeli policies inasmuch as we are removed from the arena of conflict. Many expressed to the contrary that it is our responsibility to speak up either because of the Jewish value to not stand idly by when people are being oppressed, and/or because we are involved as fellow-Jews, and/or as world citizens affected by global instability, and/or as U.S. taxpayers.
Some of us favor personal or institutional adherence to some form of boycotting, divesting or sanctioning ("BDS") in some degree in regard to Israel or to its settlement policies. Some of us oppose such tactics as ineffective or counter-effective in ending the occupation. Thus, there is near-unanimity against perpetual occupation, and clear disagreement over strategies to oppose it.
Open Synagogue: In 2010, the Jewish Community Relations Council of San Francisco passed guidelines which excluded funding for organizations or activities that "advocate for, or endorse, undermining the legitimacy of Israel" especially any activity that included programming that could be interpreted as promoting BDS whether whole or in part, or programming co-sponsored by groups that favored BDS. Our survey revealed a consensus in the congregation to the contrary. While Kehilla members are divided over BDS as a tactic, the survey indicates a strong consensus that Kehilla should not exclude the expression of opinions that advocate non-violent tactics in opposition to the occupation. The survey answers revealed that in Kehilla, we are in full agreement that our synagogue, and the Jewish community, must be places of open dialogue. The responses and comments support the idea that community cohesiveness does not depend on full agreement on these issues, but that such cohesiveness depends upon safety to express one's thoughts respectfully, and upon each person taking responsibility to listen compassionately to the thoughts of others.
Religious Freedom: Responses generally reflected support for religious freedom in Israel and Palestine for Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, atheists and all others. The responses were consistent in support of a separation of state authority from religious authority, e.g., that rabbinic interpretations of halakha should have no authority over one's civil or marital status. The responses affirmed the freedom to engage in one's religious or spiritual practice, at least to the extent that such practice does not limit the civil rights of others.
Rabbi David J. Cooper's quest is to integrate spirituality and politics, theistic and atheistic, ritual and daily life, all within a spiritually diverse loving community. Serving as Community Rabbi since 1999, he was part of the original group that founded Kehilla with Rabbi Burt in the early 80's.


Google will be rolling out a security update for the Stagefright vulnerability, a critical security bug which was highlighted earlier this week, for its Nexus devices starting next week.
To recall, cyber-security firm Zimperium on Monday warned of a flaw in the world's most popular smartphone operating system that let hackers take control of Android smartphones with an MMS message. According to the report, attackers could remotely execute code via a specially crafted media file delivered via an MMS message to the customer's Android handset. The bug can affect the device even if the message has not been opened. The malicious codes would let them take control of the device without the owner's knowledge.
However, Google has now promised for a fix, meant for the company's own Nexus devices. Google also says it has already provided a fix to partners for them to roll out fixes for their devices, and will be releasing the additional safeguards it is rolling out for Nexus devices in open source. A company spokesperson is quoted by Android Police to say, this vulnerability was identified in a laboratory setting on older Android devices, and as far as we know, no one has been affected. As soon as we were made aware of the vulnerability we took immediate action and sent a fix to our partners to protect users [..] As part of a regularly scheduled security update, we plan to push further safeguards to Nexus devices starting next week. And, we'll be releasing it in open source when the details are made public by the researcher at BlackHat." The Black Hat computer security conference will be taking place in Las Vegas early in August.
While the Nexus handsets would receive the fix, it still leaves majority of the Android-powered smartphones exposed to the vulnerability. It is worth mentioning that CyanogenMod has already started issuing patches for the Stagefright bug to its users. The Stagefright flaw imperils some 95 percent, or an estimated 950 million Android phones, according to Zimperium.


text:
Niyireth Torres
Merchandise Operations Leader Unleashed
I am a professional with a background in urban planning and architecture, who has an interest in alternative energy. My focus is on how to plan to implement renewable energy to cities around the...
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Biogas Development in Colombia: Phase 2 Plastic Free Pledge
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Aug 25, 2019 10:19 pm GMT
We live in a society where a linear economy is a norm. Where there is the extraction of resources, products are produced and then disposed of as waste. The linear economy is a broken form. This throwaway system has caused significant environmental and health issues, such as:
The toxic waste buildup can contaminate groundwater, damage crops, and cause serious health problems.
Landfills produce methane gas that can cause significant damage to our ecosystem and chronic and terminal diseases.
Dust, pollution, and particulate matter are causing respiratory problems to residents nearby.
Nearby residents have to deal with bad odors and insect infestations.
Colombia is in a waste crisis, where 7.5% of the country's 158 landfills are in full capacity, and 15% only have three more years. The National Department of Planning estimates that in 10 years there will be a 20% increase in waste generation. As a result, the government has responded with steps to align the public and private sector with a circular economy, where waste rotate in a productive cycle. The Ministry of Environment has demonstrated that reducing the waste sent to landfills and using the biogas generated can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A circular economy has a 3R approach of "reduce, reuse and recycle." It starts by:
Using less material where possible reducing material extraction.
Products are made from reused parts and materials.
And after discarding a product, materials and parts are recycled.
If the goal is to use biogas, the 3R approach is not enough, three more R's need to be added "review, refuse and regenerate."
That is where the Plastic Free Pledge comes into play. The reduction of waste sent to the landfill aligns with the decline in the use of plastic. The reduction facilitates separating biodegradable waste from non-biodegradable waste. According to the National Department of Planning, only 17% of plastic recycled due to poor management and the overwhelming increase in waste.
The Pledge is to hold everyone accountable for the reduction and the utilization of biodegradable waste. The purpose is to measure progress, face the challenges of removing single-use plastic off the market, and to create marketable products from existing recycled or upcycled products from single-use plastics. It consists of 6 steps:
1. Review: This step includes doing a more thorough audit of plastic use to use as a baseline. At the moment, the Ministry of Environment has generic numbers such as:
1,250,000 tonnes of plastic consumed per year.
74% of packaging ends up in landfills.
Each Colombian disposes of 53 lbs of plastic every year.
The objective is to breakdown plastic use into city and town usage, industry, and residential. That way, it is easier to hit measurable goals and answer the following questions:
What industries produce and consume single plastics?
How much does it cost the city to dispose of these plastics? Buried, incinerate, or recycle.
What companies have the best sustainable practices?
What is the real cost of a product? (Life cycle cost analysis)
2. Refuse: This step consists of using legislation to refuse the usage of single-use plastics. At the moment, the law available for plastic use reduction is the 668 Resolution, passed April 28, 2016. It forbids the circulation of plastic bags smaller than 30x30 cm, and the use of any bag bigger are taxed to discourage use.
Colombia has the goal to forbid the fabrication, importation, sale, and distribution of single-use plastics by 2030. By January 1, 2030, there will be no single-use plastics. Only plastics for medical use, to conserve hazardous chemicals and balloons for industrial use. At the moment, it has reduced plastic bag consumption by 53% by implementing a plastic bag tax, but still has a long way to go to hit their goals.
3. Reduce: For the reduction of plastic use, companies must be incentivized by the government. Give tax reductions to companies that use biodegradable packaging other than plastics, and promote sustainable single-use products.
4. Reuse: Reusing packaging is nothing new in Colombia. A liter of Soda is sold and distributed in glass bottles and returned to the vender after use. It saves time, energy, and resources and does away with the need for waste disposal or recycling. This system needs to expand into daily household products. An example of this is Loop, an e-commerce solution, where you can shop for leading brands, with reimagined reusable packaging.
5. Recycle: Recycling consists of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. It is not financially feasible to recycle all plastics. In this case, instead of making more containers or another packaging, why not use it for construction materials to build homes or to build roads. There are various companies around the world with innovative ideas on how to use these plastics:
Conceptos Plasticos: A Colombian company founded by Oscar Mendez, uses recycled plastics to make lego-like blocks to build affordable housing. Calculating the cost of a house is done by kilo of processed plastic, where a 40 m2 home (430 sqft) costs $5,000 US. It has calculated that the daily plastic sent to landfill, can produce 100 houses. Also, if only 2% of the plastic produced in the world were to be recycled into housing, Latin America's Housing deficit will disappear in 10 years.
MacRebur: This start-up in Scotland replaces the bitumen, that binds an asphalt mixture with pellets made with household, commercial, and agricultural plastic waste.
Plastic Roads: KWS, a VolkerWessels company, Wavin and Total are working on the development of a prefabricated modular and hollow road structure based on recycled plastics. Where the space in the modular can be used for the transit of cables and pipes, preventing excavation damage, this design makes the construction and maintenance faster, simpler, and efficient.
In Colombia, more than 20% of the city's urban land are informal settlements, and there is an extreme housing deficit. Recycling plastics into construction materials are an ideal solution. Not only does it promote the circular economy, but it reduces substantially construction costs for new development.
6. Regenerate: Biodegradable material can be converted into biogas to feed the Colombian electrical grid or gas infrastructure, diversifying the energy architecture. Cities and towns, instead of struggling to manage its waste, can have access to affordable, secure, and sustainable energy. A reliable source of energy is a crucial component of economic growth and development.
Currently, biogas is produced by using the decomposition of urban waste for the production of electrical energy in the landfill Doña Juana, reducing 800,000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) per year.
Thank Niyireth for the Post!
Development of Biogas in Colombia: Phase 3 Prototype Biogas
Development of Biogas in Colombia: Phase 1 Legislation
Using Informal Settlements as Urban Laboratories for the Perfection of Biogas
Matt Chester on Aug 26, 2019 1:32 pm GMT
Really informative, thanks Niyireth. I wouldn't have thought to connect the plastics crisis with biogas, but it looks like there's a lot of opportunity here.
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Vermont Gas sees growing demand and potential for renewable natural gas
Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) plays a major part in plans by Vermont Gas Systems, Inc., to reduce its carbon footprint significantly within 10 years. Based on its track record of pioneering customer service options, Vermont Gas appears poised to..
Collaborating with US farmers to help the environment
Across the US, dairy farmers are working with renewable energy companies to make use of what would otherwise go to waste. Dairy, food, animal and other organic waste is being converted into biogas with the help of companies like Brightmark..
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We analyzed 108 Advanced Waste-to-Energy Solutions. Agilyx, Frontline BioEnergy, Renewlogy and Rays Enserv develop 4 top solutions to watch out for. Learn more in our Global Startup Heat Map!
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Bible is taught daily and includes Bible stories, memory verses, songs, and prayer. Students also attend Chapel once a week with guest speakers, movies, musical presentations, and class presentations. It is our desire for our students to grow spiritually as well as academically.
The kindergarten reading curriculum is phonetically based. Students begin by reviewing the sounds of vowels and consonants and progress to reading blends and words. The class is divided into groups in which students read a series of books that are suitable to their age level. Each time a student finishes a book they are able to take it home. Stories are also read to the class on a regular basis. Students will experience language through creating individual and group stories and books.
The writing curriculum makes writing easy for the children to learn. Students learn to make letter and number formations on special writing paper. The concept of "writing houses" helps in assisting the student to write. Knowing where each letter lives in the houses helps them to print correctly.
Students will learn to count by 1's, 2's, 5's and 10's to 100. They learn the value of numbers 1 to 100 and how to recognize them. Addition, subtraction, measurement, money, and time are taught using flash cards, visual aids, counters, clocks, coins, and many other hands-on manipulatives.
Spelling begins in the second semester of the school year. Spelling words consist of words that have phonetic rules that are being taught, as well as sight words and some number words.
Basic community roles and activities are explored during History class. Students learn what it is to be a part of and serve their community.
The science curriculum consists of lessons relating to the four seasons, weather, temperature, and much more. Students will learn how to appreciate God's world.
The main objective for the kindergarten computer classes is to familiarize the students with the terms, proper care, and use of the computer. The five year old curriculum begins the students' involvement in the integrating of technology into their curriculum through our School of Technology program. They use KidPix to work through several projects throughout the school year.
All kindergarten students attend art and music classes. In art, students are allowed to be creative with their cutting, pasting, coloring, and painting. These art experiences help in developing good eye-hand coordination. In music, the children express themselves with movement, rhythm instruments and the special songs they sing. They will learn songs that bring praise and worship to the Lord.
Students will have an opportunity to participate in fun physical activities. They will learn the basics of playing team sports while working on improving physical fitness. Special attention is given to proper stretching, warm-up, teamwork and good sportsmanship.
The main purpose of Spanish class is to familiarize students with listening and understanding basic conversational Spanish. Students are also told interactive stories and learn the basics of library procedures.


Read some key facts about Gateshead.
Background information on what a census is and an overview of the 2011 census.
Explore the characteristics of Gateshead's population.
Information on the Index of Multiple Deprivation in Gateshead.
See the latest and projected population estimates for Gateshead.
Find out about each ward's education, health, employment, deprivation and more.


text:
Q: Why can my unit test project not see a single method from another project? [.NET Framework] I am trying to unit test a public method from my project, but am receiving the following error:
Code project:
public class Example
{
     private static object InstanceLock { get; } = new object();

     private static Example _instance = null;
     public static Example Instance
     {
          get
          {
              lock (InstanceLock)
              {
                   if (_instance == null) _instance = new Example();
              }
              return _instance;
          }
     }

     public void Foo(obj param)
     {
          // do some stuff
     }
}

Test Project:
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
using CodeProject.Example;

[TestClass]
public class TestExample
{
     [TestMethod]
     public void FooTest()
     {
         Example example = Example.Instance;
         Object obj = new Object();

         example.Foo(obj);

         // assert to make sure it worked
     }
}

The error is coming from the example.Foo(obj) call in the test project. Intellisense does not detect it at all, and when I try to build I receive the following:

'Example' does not contain a definition for 'Foo' and no accessible extension method 'Foo' accepting a first argument of type 'Example' could be found (are you missing a using directive or assembly reference?)

Both projects are in the same solution and I am able to use other methods from the Example class. The strange thing is, when I build it without running, I receive the error, but when I run the test, it hits the method call correctly, enters it as it should, and the test passes.
Things I have tried:

*

*Rebuilding both projects

*Attempting to use other methods from the Example class

*Double check all the using and access specifiers

A: Make sure that the test project .csproj file contains a "ProjectReference" XML element pointing at the code project, and not a "Reference" XML element. In the "Add Reference..." window in Visual Studio, this is the difference between adding a project reference or an assembly reference. If you add an assembly reference by mistake, dependencies may not get built or may be built in the wrong order because the relationship between the projects is unknown.
Also, right click the root node of your solution and click "Configuration Manager..." to verify that both projects get built in your active solution configuration.


text:
Chies d'Alpago (vènet Chies d'Alpago) és un municipi italià, dins de la província de Belluno. L'any 2007 tenia 1.569 habitants. Limita amb els municipis de Barcis (PN), Claut (PN), Pieve d'Alpago, Puos d'Alpago i Tambre.

Administració

Municipis de Belluno

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


And We Have a Winner…Susan Koehs!
Good Food, Friends, Company and Prizes!
Great Lakes Radio and Mathews Floor Fashions Gave Away $5,000 worth of Hunter Douglas Window Treatments!
Susan Koehs of Marquette is our Grand Prize Winner!
Ishpeming, Michigan — I don't think I'll ever get tired of Mama Russo's delicious Lasagna, Salads, and Sausage! It was a great time had by all at the New Year New View Giveaway Party with Mathews Floor Fashions and Great Lakes Radio! From the fun games of Bingo, to all the awesome prizes given away–you couldn't find one person that DID NOT have a smile on their face.
We celebrated the big Giveaway Party at the Country Lanes and Entertainment Center in the Country Village in Ishpeming on Thursday night. Most of the staff at Great Lakes Radio made it out! We also can't thank Joe Burdick and the gang at Mathews Floor Fashions for the $5,000 of Hunter Douglas Window Treatments! The Giveaway wouldn't have been possible without Mathews Floor Fashions.
Dawn Johnson and Dennis Harold of Great Lakes Radio did a fantastic job calling out Bingo! Can't thank Dennis enough for his quirky sense of humor during Bingo. Way to go, guys! You kept the crowd entertained and happy!
There was also plenty of Autographed Elmer Aho license plates that were on sale during the Giveaway. Many folks couldn't wait to get their hands on the legends' personalized license plates!
….OH YEAH….and a BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRAND PRIZE WINNER, SUSAN KOEHS OF MARQUETTE!


text:
Joyce C. McAtee
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Obituary for Joyce C. McAtee
Joyce C. McAtee, 86, of Stuart passed away at her home on April 3, 2016. Cremation has taken place at the Johnson Family Funeral Home Crematory and no services are scheduled. Cards of condolences may be directed to the family and sent in care of Johnson Family Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Stuart, Iowa 50250. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
Joyce was born on December 16, 1929 to Mayne and Crystal (Smith) DeVinney in Huron, South Dakota. She was united in marriage to Bob McAtee on December 26, 1949 in Huron, South Dakota. They became the proud parents to seven children. After their marriage, they lived in Huron and Mitchell, South Dakota; then moved to DeSoto before making their home in Stuart in 1973. Together they owned and operated The New Edgetowner Motel in Stuart before retiring.
In Joyce's early years she loved to bowl, raise animals from dogs to Zebra Finches, and reading; especially James Patterson. Later on in life when she was no longer able to bowl she continued with her love of reading and walking her dog, Tinker. Throughout her years in Stuart, Joyce was an avid supporter of the Stuart Public Library.
Joyce leaves behind to cherish her memory, her children: Susan (Bill) Mauermann, Vickie (Bill) Parton, Todd (Denise) McAtee, Cathy (Shane) Tiernan, Jeff (Janet) McAtee, Andy (Sheryl) McAtee, and Jill (Steve) Lafrentz; brother, Wallace; 19 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and three nephews.
Joyce will be remembered by those that knew her for her wonderful sense of humor and quick wit. Mom will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. May she rest in peace.
(Professional arrangements entrusted to Johnson Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service – Stuart Chapel).
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Cremation has taken place at the Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory.
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text:
Physical Sciences & Engineering (PSE)
Materials Science and Engineering Program
AuthorSchwingenschlögl, Udo (194)Alshareef, Husam N. (149)Bakr, Osman (106)Zhang, Xixiang (101)Amassian, Aram (97)View MoreDepartmentMaterials Science and Engineering Program (1108)Physical Sciences and Engineering (PSE) Division (1060)KAUST Solar Center (KSC) (400)KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC) (141)Chemical Science Program (137)View MoreJournalAdvanced Materials (63)Advanced Functional Materials (42)Advanced Energy Materials (35)Chemistry of Materials (35)Nanoscale (32)View MoreKAUST Acknowledged Support UnitCenter for Advanced Molecular Photovoltaics (CAMP) (9)Competitive Research Funds (9)Baseline Research Funding (8)Office of Competitive Research Funds (OCRF) (6)Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) (6)View MoreKAUST Grant NumberKUS-11-009-21 (24)KUS-C1-015-21 (13)CRG_R2_13_BEAU_KAUST_1 (5)FIC/2010/02 (5)FIC/2010/04 (5)View MorePublisherAmerican Chemical Society (ACS) (255)Wiley (248)Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) (146)Elsevier BV (142)Springer Nature (64)View MoreSubjectCell Parameters (47)Crystal Structure (47)Crystal System (47)Crystallography (47)Experimental 3D Coordinates (47)View MoreTypeArticle (992)Conference Paper (59)Dataset (48)Book Chapter (8)Book (1)View MoreYear (Issue Date)2019 (73)2018 (112)2017 (134)2016 (184)2015 (131)View MoreItem Availability
Metadata Only (1109)
The influence of metal interlayers on the structural and optical properties of nano-crystalline TiO 2 films
Yang, Yong; Zhang, Qiang; Zhang, Bei; Mi, Wenbo; Chen, Long; Li, Lin; Zhao, Chao; Diallo, Elhadj; Zhang, Xixiang (Applied Surface Science, Elsevier BV, 2012-03) [Article]
TiO 2-M-TiO 2 (M = W, Co and Ag) multilayer films have been deposited on glass substrates using reactive magnetron sputtering, then annealed in air for 2 h at 500°C. The structure, surface morphology and optical properties of the films have been studied using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. The TiO 2-W-TiO 2 and TiO 2-Co-TiO 2 films showed crystalline phases, whereas the TiO 2-Ag-TiO 2 films remained in the amorphous state. The crystallization temperature for the TiO 2-M-TiO 2 films decreased significantly compared with pure TiO 2 film deposited on quartz. Detailed analysis of the Raman spectra suggested that the crystallization of TiO 2-M-TiO 2 films was associated with the large structural deformation imposed by the oxidation of intermediate metal layers. Moreover, the optical band gap of the films narrowed due to the appearance of impurity levels as the metal ions migrated into the TiO 2 matrix. These results indicate that the insertion of intermediate metal layers provides a feasible access to improve the structural and optical properties of anatase TiO 2 films, leading to promising applications in the field of photocatalysis. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Anomalous Hall effect in polycrystalline Ni films
Guo, Zaibing; Mi, Wenbo; Zhang, Qiang; Zhang, Bei; Aboljadayel, Razan; Zhang, Xixiang (Solid State Communications, Elsevier BV, 2012-02) [Article]
We systematically studied the anomalous Hall effect in a series of polycrystalline Ni films with thickness ranging from 4 to 200 nm. It is found that both the longitudinal and anomalous Hall resistivity increased greatly as film thickness decreased. This enhancement should be related to the surface scattering. In the ultrathin films (46 nm thick), weak localization corrections to anomalous Hall conductivity were studied. The granular model, taking into account the dominated intergranular tunneling, has been employed to explain this phenomenon, which can explain the weak dependence of anomalous Hall resistivity on longitudinal resistivity as well. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Low-Temperature Deposition of Layered SnSe2 for Heterojunction Diodes
Serna, Martha I.; Hasan, Syed M. N.; Nam, S.; El Bouanani, Lidia; Moreno, Salvador; Choi, Hyunjoo; Alshareef, Husam N.; Minary-Jolandan, Majid; Quevedo-Lopez, Manuel A. (Advanced Materials Interfaces, Wiley, 2018-04-27) [Article]
Tin diselenide (SnSe) has been recently investigated as an alternative layered metal dichalcogenide due to its unique electrical and optoelectronics properties. Although there are several reports on the deposition of layered crystalline SnSe films by chemical and physical methods, synthesis methods like pulsed laser deposition (PLD) are not reported. An attractive feature of PLD is that it can be used to grow 2D films over large areas. In this report, a deposition process to grow stoichiometric SnSe on different substrates such as single crystals (Sapphire) and amorphous oxides (SiO and HfO) is reported. A detailed process flow for the growth of 2D SnSe at temperatures of 300 °C is presented, which is substantially lower than temperatures used in chemical vapor deposition and molecular beam epitaxy. The 2D SnSe films exhibit a mobility of ≈4.0 cm V s, and are successfully used to demonstrate SnSe/p-Si heterojunction diodes. The diodes show I /I ratios of 10-10 with a turn on voltage of <0.5 V, and ideality factors of 1.2-1.4, depending on the SnSe film growth conditions.
The effect of cerium valence states at cerium oxide nanoparticle surfaces on cell proliferation
Naganuma, Tamaki; Traversa, Enrico (Biomaterials, Elsevier BV, 2014-05) [Article]
Understanding and controlling cell proliferation on biomaterial surfaces is critical for scaffold/artificial-niche design in tissue engineering. The mechanism by which underlying integrin ligates with functionalized biomaterials to induce cell proliferation is still not completely understood. In this study, poly-l-lactide (PL) scaffold surfaces were functionalized using layers of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs), which have recently attracted attention for use in therapeutic application due to their catalytic ability of Ce4+ and Ce3+ sites. To isolate the influence of Ce valance states of CNPs on cell proliferation, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and osteoblast-like cells (MG63) were cultured on the PL/CNP surfaces with dominant Ce4+ and Ce3+ regions. Despite cell type (hMSCs and MG63 cells), different surface features of Ce4+ and Ce3+ regions clearly promoted and inhibited cell spreading, migration and adhesion behavior, resulting in rapid and slow cell proliferation, respectively. Cell proliferation results of various modified CNPs with different surface charge and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, indicate that Ce valence states closely correlated with the specific cell morphologies and cell-material interactions that trigger cell proliferation. This finding suggests that the cell-material interactions, which influence cell proliferation, may be controlled by introduction of metal elements with different valence states onto the biomaterial surface. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
Effect of pH-induced chemical modification of hydrothermally reduced graphene oxide on supercapacitor performance
Bai, Yaocai; Baby, Rakhi Raghavan; Chen, Wei; Alshareef, Husam N. (Journal of Power Sources, Elsevier BV, 2013-07) [Article]
Three kinds of reduced graphene oxides are prepared by hydrothermal reduction under different pH conditions and their pseudocapacitive performances are evaluated using full-cell supercapacitor devices. The pH values are found to have great influence on the performance of the supercapacitors, achieving the highest specific capacitance value reported for hydrothermal reduced graphene oxide supercapacitors. Acidic and neutral media yield reduced graphene oxides with more oxygen-functional groups and lower surface areas but with broader pore size distributions than those in basic medium. The graphene produced in the basic solution (nitrogen-doped graphene) presents mainly electrochemical double layer (ECDL) behavior with specific capacitance of 185 F g-1, while the graphene produced under neutral or acidic conditions show both ECDL and pseudocapacitive behavior with specific capacitance of 225 F g-1 (acidic) and 230 F g-1 (neutral), respectively, at a constant current density of 1 A g-1. The influence of pH on cycling performance and electrochemical impedance of the supercapacitive devices is also presented. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Pseudo Dirac dispersion in Mn-intercalated graphene on SiC
Kahaly, M. Upadhyay; Kaloni, Thaneshwor P.; Schwingenschlögl, Udo (Chemical Physics Letters, Elsevier BV, 2013-07) [Article]
The atomic and electronic structures of bulk C6Mn, bulk C 8Mn, and Mn-intercalated graphene on SiC(0 0 0 1) and SiC(0001̄) are investigated by density functional theory. We find for both configurations of Mn-intercalated graphene a nonmagnetic state, in agreement with the experimental situation for SiC(0 0 0 1), and explain this property. The electronic structures around the Fermi energy are dominated by Dirac-like cones at energies consistent with data from angular resolved photoelectron spectroscopy [Gao et al., ACS Nano. 6 (2012) 6562]. However, our results demonstrate that the corresponding states trace back to hybridized Mn d orbitals, and not to the graphene. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Time-resolved GISAXS and cryo-microscopy characterization of block copolymer membrane formation
Marques, Debora S.; Dorin, Rachel Mika; Wiesner, Ulrich B.; Smilgies, Detlef Matthias; Behzad, Ali Reza; Vainio, Ulla; Peinemann, Klaus-Viktor; Nunes, Suzana Pereira (Polymer, Elsevier BV, 2014-03) [Article]
Time-resolved grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) and cryo-microscopy were used for the first time to understand the pore evolution by copolymer assembly, leading to the formation of isoporous membranes with exceptional porosity and regularity. The formation of copolymer micelle strings in solution (in DMF/DOX/THF and DMF/DOX) was confirmed by cryo field emission scanning electron microscopy (cryo-FESEM) with a distance of 72 nm between centers of micelles placed in different strings. SAXS measurement of block copolymer solutions in DMF/DOX indicated hexagonal assembly with micelle-to-micelle distance of 84-87 nm for 14-20 wt% copolymer solutions. GISAXS in-plane peaks were detected, revealing order close to hexagonal. The d-spacing corresponding to the first peak in this case was 100-130 nm (lattice constant 115-150 nm) for 17 wt% copolymer solutions evaporating up to 100 s. Time-resolved cryo-FESEM showed the formation of incipient pores on the film surface after 4 s copolymer solution casting with distances between void centers of 125 nm. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Photoelectrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of thermally oxidized copper oxide for efficient solar fuel production
Garcia Esparza, Angel T.; Limkrailassiri, Kevin; Leroy, Frédéric; Rasul, Shahid; Yu, Weili; Lin, Liwei; Takanabe, Kazuhiro (Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), 2014) [Article]
We report the use of a facile and highly scalable synthesis process to control growth products of earth-abundant Cu-based oxides and their application in relevant photoelectrochemical and electrochemical solar fuel generation systems. Characterization of the synthesized Cu(I)/Cu(II) oxides indicates that their surface morphology and chemical composition can be simply tuned by varying two synthesis parameters (time and temperature). UV-Vis spectroscopy and impedance spectroscopy studies are performed to estimate the band structures and electronic properties of these p-type semiconductor materials. Photoelectrodes made of Cu oxides possess favorable energy band structures for production of hydrogen from water; the position of their conduction band is ≈1 V more negative than the water-reduction potential. High acceptor concentrations on the order of 1018-1019 cm-3 are obtained, producing large electric fields at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface and thereby enhancing charge separation. The highly crystalline pristine samples used as photocathodes in photoelectrochemical cells exhibit high photocurrents under AM 1.5G simulated illumination. When the samples are electrochemically reduced under galvanostatic conditions, the co-existence of the oxide with metallic Cu on the surface seems to function as an effective catalyst for the selective electrochemical reduction of CO2. © the Partner Organisations 2014.
Interplay of alternative conjugated pathways and steric interactions on the electronic and optical properties of donor-acceptor conjugated polymers
Lima, Igo T.; Risko, Chad; Aziz, Saadullah Gary; Da Silva Filho, Demétrio A Da Silva; Bredas, Jean-Luc (J. Mater. Chem. C, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), 2014) [Article]
Donor-acceptor π-conjugated copolymers are of interest for a wide range of electronic applications, including field-effect transistors and solar cells. Here, we present a density functional theory (DFT) study of the impact of varying the conjugation pathway on the geometric, electronic, and optical properties of donor-acceptor systems. We consider both linear ("in series"), traditional conjugation among the donor-acceptor moieties versus structures where the acceptor units are appended orthogonally to the linear, donor-only conjugated backbone. Long-range-corrected hybrid functionals are used in the investigation with the values of the tuned long-range separation parameters providing an estimate of the extent of conjugation as a function of the oligomer architecture. Considerable differences in the electronic and optical properties are determined as a function of the nature of the conjugation pathway, features that should be taken into account in the design of donor-acceptor copolymers.
Thermoelectric performance enhancement of SrTiO3 by Pr doping
Kahaly, M. Upadhyay; Schwingenschlögl, Udo (Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), 2014) [Article]
We investigate Pr doping at the Sr site as a possible route to enhance the thermoelectric behavior of SrTiO3-based materials, using first principles calculations in full-potential density functional theory. The effects of the Pr dopant on the local electronic structure and resulting transport properties are compared to common Nb doping. We demonstrate a substantial enhancement of the thermoelectric figure of merit and develop an explanation for the positive effects, which opens new ways for materials optimization by substitutional doping at the perovskite B site. © 2014 the Partner Organisations.


Which movie about the life of Christ is this from? This song is so beautiful. To know Jesus is the most wonderful thing in the world. It is a shame that there are those who reject him and will end up in hell. Hebrews 2:3 "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation......" Repentance of sin must accompany one's belief in Jesus for one to truly be born again.


Agglomeration is fundamental to the strategies of amendment of powders, creation of composites and production of latest fabrics that are required in prescription drugs, meals, chemical substances, fertilizers and agrochemicals, minerals, ceramics, metallurgy and all fabric generating industries. The binding mechanisms and the particle habit in addition to the features of the techniques and the ensuing agglomerates are an identical whether or not they are taking place within the 'ultra-clean' pharmaceutical or nutrition industries or in 'dirty' minerals or waste processing plants.
The paintings is a whole and up to date functional consultant describing a number of the agglomeration phenomena and commercial ideas for dimension growth. as well as introducing the houses of agglomerates and the features of the several tools, descriptions of the equipment and discussions of particular apparatus beneficial properties are the most themes. in addition, the ebook emphasizes contemporary advancements on the point of unmarried debris and purposes of agglomeration phenomena in nanotechnology.
The particular evaluate of the topic relies at the authors event as scholar, researcher, instructor, developer, dressmaker, seller, and person in addition to specialist and advisor within the box of agglomeration, its applied sciences and items, and is complemented via the knowledge of work-mates who're lively in particular parts and knowledge from proprietors. it truly is meant for everyone operating in industries that technique and deal with particulate solids because it goals to assist comprehend and keep an eye on undesirable agglomeration in addition to use, enhance, and increase equipment for the priceless dimension expansion through agglomeration.
This publication examines the character of protest and how within which the police and kingdom reply to the actions linked to this time period. Protest is explored in the context of the perceived decline in public engagement with contemporary common election contests. it is usually proposal that protest is considered an alternative choice to, or as an alternative for, formal political engagement with electoral politics, and this ebook offers a considerate overview of where of protest within the modern behavior of political views.
Overseas advertising and marketing: eating Globally, considering in the neighborhood has been written for college kids taking a modular or one semester path in foreign advertising and marketing. during this booklet, Andrew McAuley examines key facets of overseas advertising from the viewpoint of SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises), in addition to MNCs (multinational companies).
The quantity includes chosen contributions from the clinical programme of the fifth foreign assembly of younger machine Scientists (IMYCS '88) held at Smolenice fort (Czechoslovakia), November 14-18, 1988. it truly is divided into 5 chapters which strategy the 3 the most important notions of up to date theoretical laptop technology - machines, languages, and complexity - from varied views.
Ultrafast Phenomena XVI provides the newest advances in ultrafast technology, together with either ultrafast optical expertise and the examine of ultrafast phenomena. It covers picosecond, femtosecond and attosecond methods suitable to purposes in physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Ultrafast expertise has a profound influence in quite a lot of functions, among them biomedical imaging, chemical dynamics, frequency criteria, fabric processing, and ultrahigh pace communications.


Norwegian producer Alan Walker has gone and bagged himself another ginormous big hit. The scale of which should see it become his fourth track to reach 100,000,000 Spotify streams or more (after 'Faded', 'Sing Me To Sleep', and 'Alone' – all of which you can find here). It's new single 'All Falls Down', on which he's joined on production duties by Digital Farm Animals, and on vocal duties by Noah Cyrus (who is currently lending her vocals to another Norwegian tune, 'Slow' by Matoma) and new Swedish artist Juliander (whom you can hear more from right here). One of Alan's brighter and bubblier tunes, it's an instant keeper that sees him branch out into a slightly new sound and style. Over the weekend, the trio of Alan, Noah, and Juliander dropped by YouTube's Space venue in NYC to perform a special live performance of the song, which you can have a gander at below.
You can find 'All Falls Down' on our Best New Dance playlist.


John Coleman, who played 98 Victorian Football League (VFL) games for Essendon between 1949 and 1954, was the third sportsperson after cricketer Shane Warne and six-time Melbourne Football Club premiership coach Norm Smith to feature in the Australia Post Avenue of Legends.
During an amazing career, Coleman kicked 537 goals (including 12 on debut), was his club's leading goalkicker each of the six years he played and led the VFL goals tally on four occasions.
Before his career was cut short by a knee injury, the high-flying Coleman had played in two VFL premierships (1949 and 1950) and his achievements subsequently earned him selection in the AFL Team of the Century and induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
He later coached Essendon for seven seasons, including premierships in 1962 and 1965, before passing away aged 44 in 1973. Since 1955, the year after Coleman retired, the John Coleman Medal has been presented to the VFL/AFL's leading goalkicker.


text:
Latest Status Update
I retired three years ago and moved to rural New Zealand. About two years ago my old boss offered two days work a week on a series of six month contracts. To be honest, the commute has been gruelling, entailing three hours of travel by public transport- O deep joy. My current contract runs out in November and I had already decided that this was going to be the end of my employment. For the past two weeks I have been off work due to the latest COVID lockdown infesting NZ.
On Monday evening, whilst contemplating my fate, I had an epiphany. I seriously asked myself the following question: do I need to work at this stage of my life? Of course not. I'm getting too old for 16 hour Mondays and sitting on cramped trains for hours next to an accountant from Carterton.
As if on cue my boss phoned to discuss my status. I explained that I don't want to continue regardless of contractual obligations. I'm done. Work no more. My boss is an old friend from way back when we both worked together in England. He is sympathetic and understands my current medical status. And so after discussing the situation with the family and explaining my intention to the section leader, I irrevocably decided to resign and hand in my resignation without notice.
As for the future. As my regulars know, I set up an archery business with my son (Saxon Archery). I envisaged the enterprise as an extension of my passion without any pretence of turning a profit. Obviously I didn't take into account my son's drive and business acumen. Although he has a demanding full time job he has managed to market the brand with deft ability. His effort and hard work have paid dividends and orders have started to flood in. We have reached the break even stage and with further determination, and effort, we are on course to earn a modest profit.
My break from the daily grind will allow me to devote quality time for the business. At the moment I deal with selection, packaging and despatch. With more time on the my hands I hope to takeover some of the technical and marketing aspects of the business. The aim is shift some of the burden from my overworked but highly talented son.
I'm going to leave it there. There are several posts in the pipeline and September will prove to be a time of bounty. My intuitive creativity is bursting through the dura pouring forth unto an unsuspecting blank tableau. Arse.
Go whiteys!
I've commented many times on this blog concerning the toxicity of society's emerging 'woke culture' driven by a few left wing-nuts obsessing over censoring/cauterising the best we have in our Western culture. Time and time again, the 'wokey pokey' brigade are shown to be divorced from reality and the aspirations and opinions of the reasonable majority. The masses are starting to revolt and are expressing disaffection with forced attempts of societal engineering by 'voting with their feet'. In other words, withholding their endorsement (gelt) and expressing frank disdain. Just look at instances where companies think they are tapping into the buying population's minds (read=pockets) by producing excruciating and cringe worthy adverts supposedly pandering unto the 'woke mindset'. Ill thought out campaigns of this ilk have seriously backfired in nearly all occasions resulting in a serious loss in revenue. Check out the debacle at Gillette after airing a series of bewildering 'woke ads' for the Gillette razor. The ads were blatantly insulting to men, particularly white men, and strayed into other world lands. Who can forget where the father is teaching his trans son how to shave. The backlash was swift and severe ultimately costing the company 12 billion dollars in lost revenue, overall. Advertising execs with their lattes and pony tails are so blinkered, arrogant and out of touch with the population they are trying, so unsuccessfully, to influence it borders on the insane.
The main narrative of today's post concentrates on New Zealand's sports governing body decision to seriously consider 'removing' the informal, unofficial name for the nation's football team, 'The All Whites'. This affectionate moniker is long standing and is in accord with Kiwi tradition where national sport teams have been colourised and branded with the likes of: 'Black Sticks' (Hockey); 'Black Caps' (Cricket); 'Silver Ferns' (Netball); 'All Blacks' (Rugby); and of course, the infamous and irrepressible/irascible 'Taupe Ferrets' (National Ferret wobbling Team).
The NZ Football Chief, Andrew Pregnell, stated that discussions were ongoing with a view to change the name of the nation's footy team. He was quoted as saying: "we are on a journey around cultural inclusivity." The implication, of course, is that the current name can be seen as excluding non-white ethnic groups. What a sensitive bunch of snowflakes we have become. When the name 'All Whites' was first introduced forty years ago it was seen as a slight whimsy to contrast with the more popular and more famous 'All Black' rugby team. Only a moron, or more to the point someone with a political agenda, could seriously impute racist connotations to this rather bland nickname.
But let us expand the nature of the debate for the sake of consistency and inclusivity. Notable for its absence from the discussion is the mention or inclusion (what happened to inclusivity?) of the iconic, NZ rugby team, 'All Blacks'. Surely, this is racist, highly inflammatory and deeply offensive to melanin depleted folk. Mayhap we should raise a petition demanding a change in the derogatory appellation? I'm sure the good folk of New Zealand will prove highly receptive to a proposed name change. After all, what's in a name?
Let me know in the comments your suggested alternative designations. To get the ball rolling, I'll add a couple of suggestions of my own: 'The Fluffy Pink Bunny Rabbits'; 'The 18 decillion varieties of colours'. You can see the fans in the stands, shouting- "Go 18 followed by 33 zeros". And my personal favourite. 'The frolicking ferrets of indeterminate hue'. Go ferrets.
Bugger!
O bugger. And so New Zealand joins the 'Merry Go Round' that is COVID. A single individual from Aus is responsible for the whole country being forced into lockdown with all its implications. For the past week we have wallowed at level 4 and the Auckland region will remain thusly for the next 7 days while the remainder of the country is so blessed until Friday, with the option for an extension.
This is NZ's second COVID wave after the prompt implementation of control measures (level 4 implemented 25th May 2020) which effectively eradicated the virus, give or take a couple of cases. This all changed just over week ago after a visitor from Australia was shown to be positive for the highly contagious delta variant. COVID started to disseminate in the Auckland community and to date (24th August) 148 people have tested positive. With alarmist predictions suggesting that this outbreak might culminate with a 1000 cases, the country, once again, is in the grip of draconian measures. It appears that the majority of Kiwis are in accord with the swift government action however, there have been dissenting opinions. Many business owners and in particular, restaurants/cafes, are struggling with this second lockdown with the attendant loss in revenue. And of course, the average New Zealander, denied work, and in spite of government subsidies, will experience varying degrees of hardship.
The main criticism levelled at the government concerns the 'open borders' policy with Australia, especially after the recent outbreak of the delta variant in New South Wales. Of course, economic factors determined our exchange with our closest neighbour. This has to be balanced against current losses within the economy estimated to run into billions of groats, er dollars. To be fair, hindsight is a delightful distraction of absolutely no help in our current dilemma.
On a sobering note, it appears that supermarkets are starting to run out of beer. What a cruel virus, indeed. It robs us of our health and the best anodyne for treatment. How can folk believe in a benevolent deity under such heinous restraints? Makes my heart bleed.
Oscar Wild
Let's be honest, the Oscars this year were a travesty and completely pointless. And yes, I'm well aware that I'm a little late in my critical appraisal, as the Oscars were screened in April- did anyone notice?
Not only the Oscars, but other 'Entertainment Extravaganzas', such as the Golden Globes, are starting to merge into a political rally for the far left. Privileged, often white actors, seize their opportunity onstage to rail against the establishment and white male societal dominance. What formally used to be light entertainment has now become a rallying event for the 'Woke Brigade'. The only glimmer of hope was last year's Golden Globe awards hosted by the irrepressible Ricky Gervaise. He pulled no punches and gave the self absorbed, self important celebs, a right royal roasting. His caustic invective caused verbal ripples and consternation among the stars. They were none too pleased to have their egos viciously pricked; he was relentless and totally merciless. And the viewing public loved it. Sadly, as Mr Gervoise predicted, it is unlikely that he will be allowed to run rampant at an awards ceremony, ever again, which is a bloody shame.
Gone are the days when award ceremonies were perceived as entertainment watched by the masses. Over recent years the 'events' have become an arena for highly paid, so called stars, to berate the audience for a host of perceived ills in society. Folks at home are not impressed and expressed their disenchantment by tuning out. They argue: what right have a bunch of 'lovies' to lecture the public? Why should we listen to a gaggle/rabble of millionaires who have found fame and fortune on the basis of good looks and luck. How are they qualified to berate the populous concerning complex issues of which they have absolutely no understanding? As Mr Gervoise so wisely expostulated: "why don't you shut the fuck up and get pissed". Wise words indeed.
Disaffection with this year's Oscars was palpable. In 2015, the Oscars pulled in over 37 million viewing punters. This in itself was a major decline from the 1990s, when the Oscars were watched by 58 million. This year not so much. Only 9.5 million folk could be bothered to tune in. Some of the smarter celebs are seeing the 'way of the wind' and express disdain with the proceedings by not showing up to the debacle. Sir Anthony Hopkins, although receiving the Oscar for, 'Actor in a Leading Role' category, for his performance in 'The Father' couldn't be arsed to show up. Apparently, Sir Anthony's agent stated that his esteemed client was fast asleep at home.
The ceremonies have trailed away from their prime directive and are no more than a sounding board and a finger wagging exercise for a bunch of twats totally out of tune with the viewing public that they are supposed to serve. Award events have become increasingly irrelevant over recent years and deserve to wither away as befits their futile status. Will anyone notice? Gone are the days when celebs could command public awe and unjustified adoration. Our critical age has revealed their true worth. No one gives a shit. So called celebs and screen stars need to adapt to their new found, lowly status and take on board a good dose of well deserved humility, if they can. Arse.