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Help us continue to fight human rights abuses. Please give now to support our work
July 29, 2014 9:00AM EDT
Venezuela before the UN Human Rights Committee
Submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee in advance of its Pre-Sessional Review of Venezuela
Human Rights Watch welcomes the upcoming review of Venezuela by the Human Rights Committee. This briefing provides an overview of our main concerns with regard to Venezuela's compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). We hope it will inform the Committee's pre-sessional review of Venezuela and that the areas of concern highlighted here will be reflected in the list of issues submitted to the Venezuelan government ahead of the review.
Excessive Use of Force against Demonstrators (Articles 7, 9, 10 and 21)
Beginning on February 12, 2014, members of the Bolivarian National Guard, the Bolivarian National Police, and state police forces routinely used unlawful force in response to anti-government protests, including the severe beating of unarmed protesters and bystanders. They fired live ammunition, rubber bullets, and teargas indiscriminately into crowds, and on occasion fired rubber bullets deliberately, at point blank range, at unarmed individuals already in custody.
They also allowed armed pro-government gangs to attack unarmed civilians, and in some cases openly collaborated with the gangs.
In instances involving both professional journalists and people who had been taking photographs or filming security force confrontations with protesters, the aim of the abuse appears to have been to prevent those individuals from documenting the security force tactics or to punish those attempting to do so.
Detainees were often held incommunicado on military bases for 48 hours or more, before being presented to a judge. Detainees routinely suffered a range of violations that included severe beatings, electric shocks or burns, and being forced to squat or kneel, without moving, for hours at a time. In some cases, the ill-treatment clearly constituted torture.
The fact that the abuses were carried out repeatedly, by multiple security forces, in multiple locations across three states and the capital—including in controlled environments such as military installations and other state institutions, and over a period of several weeks—supports the conclusion that the abuses were part of a systematic practice.
For additional information, please see: https://www.hrw.org/reports/2014/05/05/punished-protesting
Lack of Judicial Independence and Due Process Rights (Article 14)
President Hugo Chávez and his supporters in the National Assembly conducted a political takeover of the Supreme Court in 2004. Since then, the judiciary has largely ceased to function as an independent branch of government. Members of the Supreme Court have openly rejected the principle of separation of powers, publicly pledged their commitment to advancing the government's political agenda, and repeatedly ruled in favor of the government, validating the government's disregard for human rights.
The criminal prosecution of Venezuelan Judge María Lourdes Afiuni as a result of a 2009 ruling against the government has had an impact on the judicial independence of lower court judges. In December 2009, Afiuni was detained on the day she authorized the conditional release of a government critic who had spent nearly three years in prison awaiting trial on corruption charges. Although Afiuni's ruling complied with a recommendation by international human rights monitors—and was consistent with Venezuelan law—a provisional judge who had publicly pledged his loyalty to Chávez ordered her to stand trial on charges of corruption, abuse of authority, and "favoring the evasion of justice." Afiuni spent more than a year in deplorable conditions in a women's prison, and over two years under house arrest. In June 2013, she was granted conditional liberty but remains under criminal prosecution at this writing.
For additional information, please see: https://www.hrw.org/node/108883/section/3
During the protests that erupted since February 12, 2014, justice officials failed to fulfil their role as a safeguard against abuse of power and instead were party to serious due process violations. Human Rights Watch interviewed scores of victims who were denied access to a lawyer until minutes before judicial hearings, which were often scheduled in the middle of the night. Prosecutors and judges routinely turned a blind eye to evidence suggesting that detainees had been physically abused, or that evidence against them had been planted by security forces.
In addition, the government of Venezuela has repeatedly sought to blame its political opponents, or simply the opposition as a whole, for the violence that erupted during the demonstrations, without providing credible evidence. For example, the government accused Leopoldo López, an opposition leader, of being the "intellectual author" of the protest-related deaths on February 12. The Attorney General's Office promptly sought his arrest for several alleged crimes—initially including homicide, a charge it dropped when video footage appeared showing security force members shooting at unarmed protesters. In early June, a provisional judge (ie., who does not enjoy security of tenure) ruled López and two students accused of being the material authors of his alleged crimes would remain detained during their trial. (One of them was released on conditional liberty weeks later due to medical reasons.) After keeping López in a military prison for months without providing credible evidence to justify his detention, his trial began on July 23.
Similarly, the Attorney General's Office has also obtained an order to forbid opposition leader María Corina Machado to leave the country and arrest warrants for other opposition figures, while the Supreme Court has summarily tried and sentenced two opposition mayors to prison terms, in judicial proceedings that violated basic due process guarantees.
Freedom of Expression (Article 19)
Over the past decade, the government has expanded and abused its powers to regulate media. While sharp criticism of the government is still common in some newspapers and radio stations, fear of government reprisals has made self-censorship a serious problem.
In 2010, the National Assembly amended the telecommunications law to grant the government power to suspend or revoke concessions to private outlets if it is "convenient for the interests of the nation." It also expanded the scope of a restrictive broadcasting statute of 2004 to cover the Internet, allowing the arbitrary suspension of websites for the vaguely defined offense of "incitement." Previously, amendments to the criminal code in 2005 had expanded the scope and severity of defamation laws that criminalize disrespect of high government officials.
The government has taken aggressive steps to reduce the availability of media outlets that engage in critical programming. Venezuela's oldest private television channel, RCTV, which was arbitrarily removed from public airwaves in 2007, was then driven off cable TV in 2010.
The government subsequently pursued administrative sanctions against Globovisión, which was for years the only major channel that remained critical of Chávez. The broadcasting authority opened nine administrative investigations against the channel. In one case, it imposed a fine of US$2.1 million for allegedly violating the broadcasting statute when Globovisión aired images of a prison riot in 2011. In April 2013, Globovisión was sold to government supporters because, according to its owner, it had become politically, economically, and legally unviable. Since then, it has significantly reduced its critical programming.
The government has also targeted other media outlets for arbitrary sanction and censorship. For example, in a case brought by the ombudsman, a specialized court to protect children fined El Nacional newspaper in August 2013 for publishing on its front page a photograph of a dozen naked corpses in the Bello Monte morgue in Caracas. The image accompanied an article about illegal arms and violence, which are major public concerns in Venezuela. Since the picture was printed in 2010, the court forbade the paper from publishing "images, information and publicity of any type containing blood, arms, and messages of terror, physical aggression, images with contents of war and messages about deaths that could alter the psychological well-being of boys, girls, and adolescents in Venezuela."
In November 2013, the broadcasting authority opened an administrative investigation against eight Internet providers for allowing web sites that published information on unofficial exchange rates, and threatened to revoke their licenses if they did not immediately block the sites. Days later, it asked Twitter to suspend accounts related to such websites.
In January 2014, the president of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, filed a criminal defamation suit against a Venezuelan citizen who published an opinion piece in the newspaper Tal Cual, and against four members of the board of directors of the company that owns the paper, including a member who is also the paper's editor. The article, published on January 17, included information from unofficial sources regarding the number of people who had been killed in the country in 2013, and states that Cabello had said: "If you don't like insecurity, leave." It was accompanied by a caricature of Cabello, saying good-bye, with stacks of money in his pocket and hand, according to the suit. Cabello argues that he never said what he was quoted saying, and that the article undermines his reputation. A criminal court admitted the case, and ordered the five men to present themselves before the courts once a week and not to leave the country without judicial authorization until the case was resolved.
For additional information, please see: https://www.hrw.org/node/108883/section/4 .
Human Rights Defenders (Articles 2.1, 3, and 22)
The Venezuelan government has sought to marginalize the country's human rights defenders by repeatedly accusing them of seeking to undermine Venezuelan democracy with the support of the US government. In 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that individuals or organizations that receive foreign funding could be prosecuted for "treason." In addition, also in 2010 the National Assembly enacted legislation blocking organizations that "defend political rights" or "monitor the performance of public bodies" from receiving international assistance.
Prison Conditions (Article 10)
Despite the creation of the Ministry of People's Power for Penitentiary Service in 2011, referenced by the government of Venezuela in its 2012 report before the Human Rights Committee, Venezuelan prisons remain among the most violent in Latin America. Weak security, deteriorating infrastructure, overcrowding, insufficient and poorly trained guards, and corruption allow armed gangs to effectively control prisons. Hundreds of violent prison deaths occur every year. For example, in January 2013, at least 56 prisoners and one member of the National Guard were killed during a clash between members of the National Guard and inmates in which security forces used lethal force during a weapons search in the Uribana prison in Lara state. Forty-six prisoners were hospitalized with serious injuries.
Political Discrimination (Article 26)
Political discrimination has long plagued Venezuela. For decades, government patronage and spoils were divided along party lines at the expense of large sectors of Venezuelan society. Hugo Chávez assumed the presidency in 1998, in part on the promise to free Venezuela from its entrenched patterns of political exclusion. While his government managed to uproot the established system of political discrimination, it replaced it with new forms of discrimination against real and perceived political opponents.
The Chávez government proclaimed a commitment to political inclusion, but openly discriminated against those who did not share its views. Government officials removed scores of detractors from the career civil service, purged dissident employees from the national oil company, and denounced critics as subversives deserving of discriminatory treatment.
Political discrimination under Chávez was most pronounced in the aftermath of the 2004 recall referendum on Chávez's presidency. Citizens who exercised their right to call for the referendum-invoking one of the new participatory mechanisms championed by Chávez during the drafting of the 1999 Constitution-were threatened with retaliation and blacklisted from some government jobs and services. After denouncing the referendum effort as an act "against the country", Chávez requested that electoral authorities give legislator Luis Tascón a list of those who signed the referendum petition, which was made publicly available on the internet. The "Tascón list" and an even more detailed list of all Venezuelans' political affiliations —the "Maisanta program"— were then used by public authorities to target government opponents for political discrimination. (There were also reports that private sector employers utilized the lists to discriminate against Chávez supporters.)
Political discrimination against workers in state institutions remained a problem after the death of Hugo Chávez. In April 2013, Minister of Housing Ricardo Molina called on all ministry personnel who supported the opposition to resign, saying that he would fire anyone who criticized President Nicolás Maduro, Chávez, or the "revolution." The Human Rights Center of the Catholic University Andrés Bello received complaints involving hundreds of workers from public institutions —including the state oil company, the office in charge of customs and taxes, and state electrical companies— who were allegedly threatened with losing their positions for supporting the opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski, or for not openly supporting the government, after the April elections.
For additional information, please see: https://www.hrw.org/node/64174/section/3 .
Labor rights (Article 22)
For several years, the government has promised to reform the relevant labor and electoral laws to restrict state interference in union elections. In April 2012, former President Chávez adopted a new labor law by decree. Although the law states that unions are free to organize elections without interference, it lays down the voting system that unions must incorporate into their statutes, as well as the maximum length of tenure of union officers. These provisions limit the full freedom that unions should have under international norms to draw up their constitutions and rules and elect their representatives.
Your tax deductible gift can help stop human rights violations and save lives around the world.
July 17, 2012 Report
Tightening the Grip
July 15, 2019 Statement
Joint Statement: On the 10th Anniversary of Natalia Estemirova's Murder, Human Rights Groups Call for Justice That Is Long Overdue
Punished for Protesting
Rights Violations in Venezuela's Streets, Detention Centers, and Justice System
Crimean Tatars Face Unfounded Terrorism Charges
Raids, Arbitrary Arrests, Torture of Activists
July 10, 2019 News Release
UN: Unprecedented Joint Call for China to End Xinjiang Abuses
Written Testimony: "Kids in Cages: Inhumane Treatment at the Border"
June 21, 2017 Report
"Just Let Us Be"
July 11, 2019 Commentary
Beware the Trump Administration's Plans for 'Fresh Thinking' on Human Rights
Croatia: President Admits Unlawful Migrant Pushbacks
June 27, 2019 Interactive
Collateral Damage: The Children of Duterte's "War on Drugs"
Rigging the System
July 1, 2019 Dispatches
Three-Year-Old Girl Latest Philippines 'Drug War' Victim
June 27, 2019 News Release
Philippines: 'Drug War' Devastates Children's Lives


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La langue des signes britannique (, BSL), est la langue des signes utilisée par une partie des personnes sourdes et leurs proches au Royaume-Uni.

Caractéristiques

La BSL n'est pas fondamentalement intelligible pour les utilisateurs de la langue des signes américaine (ASL). La communauté sourde britannique est cohésive, malgré des différences régionales, ce qui assure une bonne communication.

Les signes utilisés varient entre ceux de l' (qui s'appuie sur le vocabulaire de la BSL mais utilise la structure grammaticale de l'anglais parlé) et ceux de la BSL, selon la connaissance de ces signes par le conversant.

Il y a beaucoup de similitudes structurelles entre la langue des signes britannique, australienne (Auslan) et néo-zélandaise (NZSL) et un degré élevé de compréhension mutuelle. Les linguistes utilisent parfois le nom BANZSL () pour appeler cette famille de langues, tout en reconnaissant chacune comme une langue distincte.

La BSL utilise les systèmes de notation WritingHamNoSys et de , ce dernier étant utilisé le plus couramment.

Utilisation
La BSL est utilisée par  personnes comme première langue en 2014 et, selon les sources, par  (2013) à  (2014) personnes en tant que seconde langue pour un total de  sourds en 2009

Il existe des organisations régionales et nationales pour les sourds, dont un Comité pour la langue des signes national. Des interprètes sont fournis dans les tribunaux et dans certaines autres situations.

Les premières écoles pour les sourds ont vu le jour à la fin du , il y a de nombreux cours de langue des signes pour les personnes malentendantes et l'instruction des parents d'enfants sourds est assurée.

Les chaines de télévision britanniques proposent des programmes adaptés aux sourds.

Reconnaissance légale
 Royaume Uni : La langue des signes britannique est reconnue officiellement comme une langue à part entière par la loi depuis le .
 Écosse : le , le Parlement écossais adopte à l'unanimité le projet de loi sur la langue des signes britannique.

Association des sourds britanniques

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Langue des signes nord-irlandaise
 Famille de la langue des signes britannique

Liens externes

Britannique

Signes
Surdité au Royaume-Uni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Feature Story: Donna Jackson
Issue #48 January 2023
CSS Board Member Donna Jackson is a former client and a resident at our first transitional housing property, Shields House.
Community Supported Shelters
CSS's Monthly eNewsletter for Volunteers, Advocates, & Donors
Dear CSS Supporters,
As we approach Community Supported Shelters (CSS) 10-year anniversary of incorporating as a nonprofit, we give thanks and sincere acknowledgement to all the people who have made this endeavor possible. With the help of those who believed in the CSS model for supporting the unhoused, CSS has grown to become larger than I ever dreamed it would be.
Kristin Fay and I began building and promoting the Conestoga Hut in 2011. Since the beginning, we've put one foot in front of the other, day after day, year after year to build CSS from the ground up. Kristin Fay left the organization last year to pursue other passions and now it is my turn to explore a new frontier.
These last 10 years have been some of the most memorable of my life…and some of the most difficult. I've learned that struggle can give life meaning and purpose. However, it can also wear down one's energy and spirit over the long haul if there are no real breaks. When Kristin Fay and I began this work we were living in our own Conestoga Hut behind our shop with our young son. At that time, it wasn't clear to me that we had just embarked on a journey that would grow this large. I honestly thought we'd build a few Conestoga Huts and we'd move on to something else, but life had its own plans.
When COVID hit and many people were stuck inside, CSS was growing. That's because we had already been doing non-congregate shelters for people and the demand for them increased rapidly. We always knew the importance of people having a space they could call their own for physical and mental health reasons. COVID was our big opportunity to grow CSS and test its scalability as a model.
I knew a few years ago that I was ready for a change. It was important to me to see the expansion that came along with COVID all the way through and that there was new leadership that the torch could be passed to. For a long time I acted as if this work was a sprint. It only recently dawned on me that no, this is no sprint…this is a marathon.
There are so many people to thank, it is impossible to do it in such a small letter. My plan is to be at the Annual Benefit Dinner on April 27th to give a more proper thank you to CSS supporters and to provide a reflective slideshow of the past decade.
Erik de Buhr
CSS co-Founder
Donna Jackson: "People Really Did Care"
Donna Jackson (at right, with Mark Douglass and Chris Plourde) started as a client at the Roosevelt Safe Spot Community. Now she has moved on to transitional housing and serves on the CSS Board of Directors.
In the winter of 2013/14, Donna Jackson and her 26-year-old daughter Melissa got kicked out of an apartment where they were staying. Their last source of income, donating plasma, had dried up because of health problems and other issues. They couldn't get into the Mission because they had been smoking pot and couldn't pass the drug test. They tried Opportunity Village (OVE) but were told the application process to get in took two weeks.
"We had nowhere to go and we were desperate," Donna says. "I was bawling, sitting on the side of the street. If that camp hadn't been there . . ."
"That camp" was the Roosevelt Safe Spot, the first CSS transitional community that had been started a few months earlier and was just around the corner from OVE. At that time, people looking for shelter could fill out applications at the camp itself. Donna and her daughter filled out an application and headed toward Springfield, where a friend had said they could crash for one night. But they got a call from CSS before they got there telling them they could move in to Roosevelt the next day.
The Roosevelt camp had just a few Huts then. Most residents slept in tents on platforms to keep them off the ground. Donna and Melissa moved into a shared tent. They had both come out of abusive relationships and were newly clean and sober former hard drug addicts.
Donna appreciated how quickly they got into a place where they had some stability and security. "It was a great place to be rather than being underneath the bridge," she says. But Donna couldn't avoid dwelling on some negative feelings: "I'm 60 years old," she said in an interview in 2014, "and I'm in a tent camp. I was very disappointed with myself, very unhappy with how my life turned out. It took me a month, month and a half, to finally realize that this is OK."
Nine years later, as CSS celebrates its 10th anniversary, Donna is living independently and paying rent at the CSS-owned Shields House. She became the volunteer coordinator at the Roosevelt Camp, mentored many of the members who came into and successfully left that community, provided office support at the CSS headquarters office, and helped establish the Shields House as a "next step" in the transition from the streets to stable housing—and in the fall of 2022, she was named to the CSS Board of Directors.
Click here to read the full feature story
Spotlight On Our Volunteers and Staff
Mark Story: Mr. Firewood
Mark Story in front of an impressive wood pile at the CSS Eugene Mission wood facility.
Mark Story is a busy guy. The kind of guy who will tell you that "he likes to get things done." The kind of guy who believes that everyone deserves to be treated with respect. Just the kind of guy who would eventually become an important CSS volunteer focused on developing a sustainable model for a critical CSS resource: firewood.
About ten years ago, Mark and his wife Judy were living in Oslo, Norway, where he managed a team of international software developers. They decided to move back to the U.S. and, having learned about Eugene from a co-worker, packed up and relocated sight unseen and continued his software career. The early morning phone meetings with international teams soon took its toll and eventually he decided to quit. His college degree from Vermont was in education, and he eventually began substitute teaching in local schools.
Having family members with mental illness makes Mark and Judy acutely aware of the fragility of that population, who constitute a significant portion of the unhoused community. In addition to his teaching, Mark and Judy began to visit various homeless camps in the West Eugene area, where they offered to pick up and haul trash in his pickup. He eventually acquired a dumping trailer and continued visiting camps during the weekends, picking up trash and even preparing and serving weekend brunch from the back of his truck.
When COVID emerged in 2020 everything changed. Schools closed and Mark lost his substitute job. And, due to potential COVID risks, he stopped visiting camps. But doing nothing was not an option. Mark had some experience in the firewood business from work he had done in Vermont, so he decided to start that line of work in Eugene. "When we first began, we were delivering cart loads of wood," Mark recalls. Over time, his production grew to hundreds of cords of wood.
The Huts that CSS provides to its community residents provide a dry, safe, and secure space. They are not wired for electricity and the heat source for each of the 14 sites is provided in the community areas by a wood burning stove. It is estimated that CSS sites require about 70-90 cords of firewood annually. Sourcing wood is a critical task.
Click here to read the full volunteer spotlight
Editor's Note: CSS is again building capacity to collect firewood from people's wood lots. We can once again get crews out to wood lots to collect downed wood to supply firewood for the camps.
If you have firewood for pickup (including downed wood for collection), please contact headquarters by calling 541-683-0836 Monday through Friday between 1 pm and 4 pm.
Giving Gratitude to Our Supporters
We recently invited folks to become recurring donors via our Facebook page. Thank you to everyone who pledged a monthly gift! We've also had a number of stellar supporters host fundraisers for us on their own Facebook page. Lauri Watkins, Deacon at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, held her second birthday fundraiser for CSS and raised $275. To everyone who has reached out to their social networks on behalf of CSS: thank you!
Hosting a fundraiser for your favorite charity on your personal page is a great way to celebrate your birthday, but you can also start one any time!
There are no transaction fees or processing charges for nonprofits, which means 100% of the donations you raise through your social network will go directly to fund our work. Just select Community Supported Shelters as your chosen nonprofit, set a $ goal, and share your fundraiser with your friends to invite them to donate.
Shout out to Ernest Packaging Solutions, whose employees and partners donated 100 pairs of underwear for our clients.
It takes a community! We'd like to thank Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Euphoria Chocolate, and Oregon Ice Cream Company for their recent in-kind and monetary gifts for our Ice Cream Social.
A warm and heartfelt thanks to local artist Sarah Finney who donated $1,615 from her recent First Friday Art Show. She also made tons of Snowman Soup (AKA hot chocolate) gift pack mugs for our Safe Spot Community members. Thank you to everyone who helped make these holiday treats!
Local artist Sarah Finney
CSS Annual Benefit Dinner
(In-person again!)
Volunteers needed for multiple roles (see below).
Contact Pujita at pujita.csseugene@gmail.com to learn more and volunteer.
Planned Giving: Leave a Legacy
Did you know that more than 80% of Americans donate to nonprofits but only 8% chose to continue their support through a bequest?
By making bequests and other "planned gifts," you can help your charity of choice and leave a legacy. There are many ways to make a planned gift: Bequests, Charitable Gift Annuity, Charitable Remainder Trust, Gift of Stock, Donor Advised Funds, and IRA Rollovers. Designate Community Supported Shelters as your beneficiary and continue to rebuild lives for years to come. Learn more about leaving a legacy by contacting Heather Quaas-Annsa, CSS Director of Philanthropy, at heather@cssoregon.org.
Community Supply Shed Shower Assistant
We're looking for a volunteer assistant to work with our Shower Steward during operating hours at our Reboot Station shower trailer. This person will help to organize the supply shed and distribute clean clothes, shoes, and hygiene products to clients. If interested, email css.community.eugene@gmail.com to learn more.
Annual Dinner Volunteers
Help make our annual fundraising dinner in April a success! We have multiple positions to fill, including a Volunteer Coordinator, Planning Team members, folks to organize a Silent Auction and Dessert Dash, Dinner Prep, and volunteers to help during the Dinner. There's something for everyone! Email Pujita at pujita.csseugene@gmail.com.
Grants Specialist
We are seeking a talented, forward-thinking individual with proven success in coordinating non-profit donation strategies to join our team in a part-time capacity. You will be responsible for researching and writing grant proposals on behalf of our non-profit and will also maintain a grants calendar to track deadlines and monitor the application and reporting process.
The Shop Manager serves the CSS mission by supervising the development and maintenance of critical CSS infrastructure. The Shop Manager reports to the Director of Operations and provides oversight to CSS shop employees, vendors, and volunteers as needed.
Support Worker
This position serves the CSS mission by routinely visiting CSS Safe Spot Communities, building trusting relationships, and modeling positive social skills with new/existing clients. The position's main purpose is to set a social tone that is aligned with organizational values and expectations, while helping program participants transition from street life to community life.
If interested in these positions, please email a resume and cover letter to our Personnel Manager, Caiti Morrell at careers@cssoregon.org.
Community Supported Shelters is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
(EIN #: 46-2377054). All donations made to CSS are tax-deductible.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
www.communitysupportedshelters.org

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I think I have already mentioned the facts that (a) I am a bit of a nerd and (b) I like Starwars and (c) I like Lego. I also think I have previously mentioned I work for Epiphany Solutions, but not many people know that they are behind my addiction to (c).
Early 2007 I kept going on about how amazing this Star Destroyer I had seen made out of Lego was. I knew I would never be allowed to spend £70 on a Lego kit and was resound to the fact I would never own one. So on March 5th 2007 (the day before my birthday) a random parcel arrived at work addressed to me and I thought nothing of it. At the time I was responsible for the various IT functions of Epiphany and was used to having random IT equipment arriving. When I got around to opening it I was genuinely stunned as it was a Lego Star Destroyer.
2007 was also the year Noah arrived which made this present even more special as to be honest I had no money to waste on myself.
Move forward to November 201o when I discovered the Ebay Android App. This little beauty opened my eyes to the world of Ebaying and over Xmas 2010 my collection grew from 1 piece to everything below.
I plan to feature other people's Lego Starwars collections on the site, so if you have a collection and are willing to answer a few simple questions like what's your fave etc. then please get in touch either via a comment here or @seomalc.


How Rally, Comrades! Explains Our Struggle - A reader shares experiences - Rally, Comrades!Rally, Comrades!
I also give people Rally articles as they refer to discussions we have had in the past. For instance, my acupuncturist and I were talking and she wanted more information on the Civil War, what were the economic questions behind it and so forth. I was able to give her the article "Analysis of Forces" (January 2016), with advice that this gives more depth to our discussion. This article I still use a lot. So I gave another person I know the article "European Union and Social Democracy" (May 2016), when they asked me about the socialism of Western Europe. Another was interested in Black Lives Matter and I gave her "Fascism, the US Presidential Elections," (which is also a very good article for many other questions). The articles on Flint (July 2016) are excellent for giving out after Flint, water or public health (single payer) meetings.
I try to carry a few Rally's with me to give to the people I work with, who have more questions or want to discuss matters more thoroughly.


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Home TV Shows Reviews	'The Upshaws' Series Review: Adapts the Reality of an African-American Family in Modern World
'The Upshaws' Series Review: Adapts the Reality of an African-American Family in Modern World
'The Upshaws' is a new sitcom on Netflix that tells the story of a working-class black family
Ritika Kispotta	- Thu, 13 May 2021 19:40:25 +0100	3116 Views
The Upshaws premiered on Netflix on 12th May 2021. It's created by Wanda Sykes and Regina Y. Hicks and they have also conjointly written the pilot episode of the show. The Upshaws tells the story of a working-class family in Indiana and their day-after-day lives. The cast of The Upshaws includes Wanda Sykes as Lucretia, Mike Epps, and Kim Fields as upper, and Regina Upshaw, severally. The opposite supporting cast of the show includes Page Kennedy, Diamond Lyons, Gabrielle Dennis, among others.
The new Netflix comedy seems to appear and sound sort of a multitude of different multi-cam sitcoms concerning families that crack platitudinal jokes and provides one another affectionate grief. There are lots of similar family comedy shows coming on Netflix, from "Fuller House" to Jamie Foxx's latest slapstick entry, "Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!" however "The Upshaws," finds the simplest way to even slightly twist the formula formed by broadcast networks. Just like the late "One Day at a Time" reboot before it, "The Upshaws" takes the chance to showcase a distinct quiet family than per program usual, albeit one that ought to resonate with lots of folks that might not are able to say a similar antecedently.
Bennie may be a mechanic who lives close to the state capital along with his married woman Regina (Kim Fields) and daughters Maya and Aaliyah (Khali Spraggins). They each work, and they're barely scraping by, however, there's much love within the family and also the children need for nothing. Bennie's a practical, however undeniably frustrating character to possess at the middle of a family show like this. He never entirely had to grow old, thus once he's making an attempt or acknowledges that he's tousled, his apologies tend to be egocentric and fully presumptive of Regina's forgiveness. To the show's credit, it doesn't withdraw from that, particularly not if Regina's wry sister Lucretia (Sykes) will facilitate it. She never fails to let Bennie hear the end of his several shortcomings (or pass up a straightforward punchline concerning them), and neither will the show.
There's conjointly the difficulty of Lucretia and upper hurling insults at one another, a program tradition that's as recent as TV itself. There's continually some meddler relative that produces comments concerning what proportion of clod the most character is, and there's continually a verbal back and forth. Can we discover out at some purpose that the two of them feel like family to every different and (gulp!) care for one another? That continually looks to be the manner this goes, wherever there's a touching scene between these two supposed enemies, then they are going back to the insults as nothing happened.
All The Upshaws' jokes would possibly rather be a few decades recent, however, there's conjointly a praiseworthy try here at a distinct quiet family program. Fields make a comeback because the Upshaws leans additional toward drama in its final episodes, and Regina is forced to study her reasons for excusing or sanctioning Bennie's paternal failures. The scenes dedicated to the embattled Upshaw matriarch provide welcome relief from the volley of taunts and put-downs — and at last, get at a desire for more.
Reviewed by – Ritika Kispotta
Follow her @KispottaRitika on Twitter (https://twitter.com/KispottaRitika)
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Art and Culture Center/Hollywood
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Volunteer Teams Needed to Respond to Texas Rio Conference
Volunteer teams are needed for rebuilding after cleanup from Hurricane Harvey. If you are available to respond, please go here for more information and to register your team. Don't forget to register for Domestic Insurance for your team here.
Zika in Texas
Zika is in Texas. Currently, there is no vaccine or treatment for the Zika virus once it is contracted. While being bitten by an infected mosquito is the most common way to contract Zika, the virus can also be spread from mother to child during pregnancy, via blood transfusions and through sexual contact. Since Zika is primarily spread via mosquito bites, your best protection to avoid infection is to prevent mosquito breeding and protect yourself from mosquito bites.
At last check (Sept. 21, a.d.2016), there have been 195 reported cases of Zika in Texas. And of those, 36 have been in the following Central Texas Conference counties.
Palo Pinto 1
Tarrant 21
Outbreaks of Zika are occurring in many countries and most Texas cases of Zika are related to travel. People were infected while visiting areas where Zika is being spread and then diagnosed after returning home. In response, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued travel notices for people traveling to areas where Zika is being spread. As such, if you are planning a mission trip outside the U.S. – especially to Central America, Brazil or the Caribbean, please read the travel notices carefully.
Please note that the CDC strongly recommends that women and men who are actively trying to get pregnant and women who are pregnant women should postpone travel to areas affected by Zika.
If you are travelling outside of the U.S. the Texas Department of State Health Services recommends the following to help prevent:
Travelers to areas affected by Zika should avoid mosquito exposure.
Use EPA-approved insect repellent for the entirety of your trip - even as you get on the plane in the U.S. because you'll want it as soon as you get off the plane in your destination. When used as directed, these insect repellents – including those that contain DEET – are proven safe and effective even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Wear pants and long-sleeve shirts.
Use screens or close windows and doors at hotel rooms or places you're staying.
Take precautions against sexual transmission.
Consider abstaining from sex or use condoms correctly.
All travelers returning to Texas from areas affected by Zika should avoid mosquito bites for 21 days following their return or following the onset of illness.
Call your doctor if you have concerns.
Use EPA-approved insect repellent for 21 days after you return to the United States. When used as directed, these insect repellents – including those that contain DEET – are proven safe and effective even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Take precautions against sexual transmission for at least eight weeks.
The state of Texas is being very proactive in its response to Zika, making every attempt to get out ahead of this disease and prevent its spread before it can become an overwhelming problem. One of the ways it is doing that is by calling on churches and other organizations that touch a large swath of the local communities throughout the state to share the most up-to-date information and prevention tips found on www.TexasZika.org. TexasZika.org is a very comprehensive and easy to navigate site that is updated daily and available in English and Spanish.
Besides the latest info, stats and tips, TexasZika.org also features a robust section of materials available to help local churches share how to prevent the spread of Zika – including Fact Sheets, Push Cards, Posters, video and radio PSAs, website and social media graphics and door hangers. All the materials are available in both Spanish and English. Visit TexasZika.org/materials to see all of the site's offerings and how to order. Here are a few information highlights from the site.
Most people infected with the virus have mild or no symptoms.
For those who do develop symptoms, illness is generally mild and typically lasts a few days to a week.
The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes).
While severe symptoms requiring hospitalization are uncommon and fatalities are rare, this disease should not be taken lightly.
An increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome was noted during an outbreak of Zika virus in French Polynesia in 2014.
An increase in microcephaly - a birth condition where an infant's head is much smaller than expected - was noted during an outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil in 2015.
Mosquito bites aren't the only way Zika can spread.
Zika can also be spread from mother to child during pregnancy, via blood transfusions and through sexual contact.
According to Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner, Texas Department of Health, the virus can remain active in the blood stream for up to 10 days. However, it remains active in men's seminal fluid for months if not longer. During that time, the disease can be spread from partner to partner via sexual contact and to the baby should pregnancy occur.
Not all mosquito types transmit the Zika virus.
It is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito (A. aegypti and possibly A. albopictus).
These mosquitoes are mainly found in South Texas and along the Texas coast, but are also present in other parts of Texas, especially urban environments. North Texas is a hot spot.
They typically lay eggs in and near standing water in things like buckets, bowls, animal dishes, flower pots and vases.
They live indoors and outdoors.
For much more on Zika and, more importantly the simple steps you can take to help prevent its spread here at home, visit TexasZika.org or contact your physician. While the CTC Center for Mission Support is happy to help you and your local church share the available information to your church and community, they are not Zika experts. Please do not contact them with questions specific to the disease, cause or treatment of the Zika virus.
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text:
package proxy

import (
	"bytes"
	"context"
	"encoding/json"
	"fmt"
	"log"
	"net/http"
	"sync"
	"time"

	"github.com/gorilla/websocket"

	"github.com/dh1tw/remoteRotator/hub"
	"github.com/dh1tw/remoteRotator/rotator"
)

const (
	// Time allowed to write a message to the peer.
	wsWriteWait = 5 * time.Second

	// Time allowed to read the next pong message from the peer.
	wsPongWait = 10 * time.Second

	// Send pings to peer with this period. Must be less than pongWait.
	wsPingPeriod = 3 * time.Second
)

// Proxy is a proxy object representing a remote rotator. It implements
// the rotator.Rotator interface. Behind the scenes it sychronizes itself
// with the real rotator through a websocket.
type Proxy struct {
	sync.RWMutex
	host           string
	port           int
	conn           *websocket.Conn
	wsTxTimeout    time.Duration
	wsRxTimeout    time.Duration
	eventHandler   func(rotator.Rotator, rotator.Heading)
	name           string
	azimuthMin     int
	azimuthMax     int
	azimuthStop    int
	azimuthOverlap bool
	elevationMin   int
	elevationMax   int
	hasAzimuth     bool
	hasElevation   bool
	azimuth        int
	azPreset       int
	elevation      int
	elPreset       int
	closeCh        chan struct{}
	doneCh         chan struct{}
}

// New returns the pointer to an initalized Rotator proxy object.
func New(opts ...func(*Proxy)) (*Proxy, error) {

	r := &Proxy{
		name:    "rotatorProxy",
		closeCh: make(chan struct{}),
	}

	for _, opt := range opts {
		opt(r)
	}

	if err := r.getObject(); err != nil {
		return nil, err
	}

	wsDialer := &websocket.Dialer{}

	wsURL := fmt.Sprintf("ws://%s:%d/ws", r.host, r.port)
	conn, _, err := wsDialer.Dial(wsURL, nil)
	if err != nil {
		return nil, err
	}

	conn.SetReadDeadline(time.Now().Add(wsPongWait))
	// Pong handler extends the read deadline by wsPongWait whenever a
	// pong has been received
	conn.SetPongHandler(func(string) error {
		conn.SetReadDeadline(time.Now().Add(wsPongWait))
		return nil
	})

	r.conn = conn

	// this function sends every wsPingPeriod a ping to the other side.
	// if this fails, the function terminates. No further signaling needed,
	// since the readTimeout will kick in eventually and start the object
	// disposal.
	go func() {
		ping := time.NewTicker(wsPingPeriod)
		for {
			<-ping.C
			r.conn.SetWriteDeadline(time.Now().Add(wsWriteWait))
			if err := r.conn.WriteMessage(websocket.PingMessage, []byte{}); err != nil {
				return
			}
		}
	}()

	// this function listen on the websocket for incoming messages or until
	// readTimeout kicks in. This shouldn't happen as long as the counterpart
	// responds to the pings.
	go func() {
		for {
			_, msg, err := conn.ReadMessage()
			if err != nil {
				if websocket.IsUnexpectedCloseError(err,
					websocket.CloseAbnormalClosure,
					websocket.CloseNormalClosure) {
					log.Println("websocket error:", err)
				}
				// Signal the object holder that we are going to shutdown so
				// that this object can be disposed.
				close(r.doneCh)
				return
			}

			data := hub.Event{}
			if err := json.Unmarshal(msg, &data); err != nil {
				log.Println(err)
			}

			switch data.Name {
			case "add":
				// pass
			case "remove":
				// pass
			case "heading":
				r.Lock()
				changed := false

				s := data.Heading
				if r.azimuth != s.Azimuth {
					r.azimuth = s.Azimuth
					changed = true
				}
				if r.azPreset != s.AzPreset {
					r.azPreset = s.AzPreset
					changed = true
				}
				if r.elevation != s.Elevation {
					r.elevation = s.Elevation
					changed = true
				}
				if r.elPreset != s.ElPreset {
					r.elPreset = s.ElPreset
					changed = true
				}

				if changed {
					if r.eventHandler != nil {
						go r.eventHandler(r, s)
					}
				}
				r.Unlock()
			}
		}
	}()

	return r, nil
}

func (r *Proxy) Close() {
	// if r.conn != nil {
	// 	r.conn.Close()
	// }
}

// get the serialized representation of the local rotator object and set the
// same parameters in our proxy Object
func (r *Proxy) getObject() error {

	url := fmt.Sprintf("http://%s:%d/api/rotators", r.host, r.port)

	c := &http.Client{Timeout: 3 * time.Second}
	resp, err := c.Get(url)
	if err != nil {
		return err
	}
	defer resp.Body.Close()

	rotators := rotator.Objects{}

	if err := json.NewDecoder(resp.Body).Decode(&rotators); err != nil {
		return err
	}

	if len(rotators) == 0 {
		return fmt.Errorf("incompatible rotator at %v:%v", r.host, r.port)
	}

	if len(rotators) > 1 {
		return fmt.Errorf("expected information of 1 rotator, but got %d", len(rotators))
	}

	// there is only one rotator in the dict
	for _, pr := range rotators {
		r.name = pr.Name
		r.hasAzimuth = pr.Config.HasAzimuth
		r.hasElevation = pr.Config.HasElevation
		r.azimuthMin = pr.Config.AzimuthMin
		r.azimuthMax = pr.Config.AzimuthMax
		r.azimuthStop = pr.Config.AzimuthStop
		r.elevationMin = pr.Config.ElevationMin
		r.elevationMax = pr.Config.ElevationMax
		r.azimuth = pr.Heading.Azimuth
		r.azPreset = pr.Heading.AzPreset
		r.elevation = pr.Heading.Elevation
		r.elPreset = pr.Heading.ElPreset
	}

	return nil
}

func (r *Proxy) Name() string {
	r.RLock()
	defer r.RUnlock()
	return r.name
}

func (r *Proxy) HasAzimuth() bool {
	r.RLock()
	defer r.RUnlock()
	return r.hasAzimuth
}

func (r *Proxy) HasElevation() bool {
	r.RLock()
	defer r.RUnlock()
	return r.hasElevation
}

func (r *Proxy) Azimuth() int {
	r.RLock()
	defer r.RUnlock()
	return r.azimuth
}

func (r *Proxy) AzPreset() int {
	r.RLock()
	defer r.RUnlock()
	return r.azPreset
}

func (r *Proxy) SetAzimuth(az int) error {

	azPut := rotator.AzimuthPut{
		Azimuth: &az,
	}

	url := fmt.Sprintf("http://%s:%d/api/rotator/%s/azimuth", r.host, r.port, r.name)

	return putRequest(url, &azPut)
}

func (r *Proxy) Elevation() int {
	r.RLock()
	defer r.RUnlock()
	return r.elevation
}

func (r *Proxy) ElPreset() int {
	r.RLock()
	defer r.RUnlock()
	return r.elPreset
}

func (r *Proxy) SetElevation(el int) error {

	elPut := rotator.ElevationPut{
		Elevation: &el,
	}

	url := fmt.Sprintf("http://%s:%d/api/rotator/%s/elevation", r.host, r.port, r.name)

	return putRequest(url, &elPut)
}

func (r *Proxy) StopAzimuth() error {

	url := fmt.Sprintf("http://%s:%d/api/rotator/%s/stop_azimuth", r.host, r.port, r.name)

	return putRequest(url, struct{}{})
}

func (r *Proxy) StopElevation() error {
	url := fmt.Sprintf("http://%s:%d/api/rotator/%s/stop_elevation", r.host, r.port, r.name)

	return putRequest(url, struct{}{})
}

func (r *Proxy) Stop() error {
	url := fmt.Sprintf("http://%s:%d/api/rotator/%s/stop", r.host, r.port, r.name)

	return putRequest(url, struct{}{})
}

// Serialize the data of the rotator
func (r *Proxy) Serialize() rotator.Object {
	r.RLock()
	defer r.RUnlock()
	return r.serialize()
}

func (r *Proxy) serialize() rotator.Object {

	obj := rotator.Object{
		Name: r.name,
		Heading: rotator.Heading{
			Azimuth:   int(r.azimuth),
			AzPreset:  int(r.azPreset),
			Elevation: int(r.elevation),
			ElPreset:  int(r.elPreset),
		},
		Config: rotator.Config{
			HasAzimuth:   r.hasAzimuth,
			HasElevation: r.hasElevation,
			AzimuthMax:   r.azimuthMax,
			AzimuthMin:   r.azimuthMin,
			AzimuthStop:  r.azimuthStop,
			ElevationMax: r.elevationMax,
			ElevationMin: r.elevationMin,
		},
	}

	return obj
}

// putRequest executes an HTTP put request.
func putRequest(url string, data interface{}) error {

	b := new(bytes.Buffer)
	json.NewEncoder(b).Encode(data)

	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Second*3)
	defer cancel()

	req, err := http.NewRequest("PUT", url, b)
	if err != nil {
		return err
	}

	req = req.WithContext(ctx)

	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")

	client := &http.Client{}
	resp, err := client.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		return (err)
	}
	defer resp.Body.Close()

	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusOK {
		return fmt.Errorf("unable to set azimuth. http error code is %v", resp.StatusCode)
	}

	return nil
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
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1st General Election of the Norfolk Empire
From MicroWiki, the micronational encyclopædia
Election Started
First Voting Round
House of Commons (3)
Announced Candidates
The 1st General Election of the Norfolk Empire is the first elections of the Norfolk Empire that started on 29 June 2019 and will end on 13 July 2019. Like a normal General Election, the 1st General Election of the Norfolk Empire has candidates running for the Office of the Prime Minister and seats in the House of Commons.
2.1 Royal Decree Signed to Start Elections
2.2 Candidates for Prime Minister Announced
2.3 First Debate for Prime Minister Occurs
2.4 First Round of Voting Begins
3 Announced Candidates
3.1 Prime Minsiter
3.2 House of Commons
3.2.1 Duchy of Bitty Ridge
3.2.2 Duchy of Dellfolk
3.2.3 District of New Tenochtitlan
Below is a list of the offices that can be run for in the 1st General Election of the Norfolk Empire.
1. Prime Minister (1)
2. House of Commons seats (3)
Royal Decree Signed to Start Elections
On 29 June 2019, HIM Emperor Jason Norfolk Isigned a Royal Decree to begin the 1st General Election of the Norfolk Empire. The 1st General Election was began to elect the Prime Minister of the Norfolk Empire and to elect each of the three seats of the House of Commons, as it should under the constitution. The Royal Decree that was signed by HIM Emperor Jason Norfolk I says that citizens of the Norfolk Empire can start announcing their candidacy for the multiple offices on 29 June 2019, today, through 1 July 2019. That leaves citizens with three days, including 29 June 2019, to announce their candidacy for either positions. So far, no one has announced candidacy for the Office of Prime Minister, but President Tammy Norfolk of the Republic of Tamcoop, who is also a part-time citizen of the Norfolk Empire due to the Line of Succession to the throne, has shown interest in running for the Office of Prime Minister. She is a member of the Green-Republican Party, an Environmentalist, and an advocate for the Republic of Tamcoop. People of Tamcoopese ethnicity living in the Norfolk Empire could support her if she chose to run, but natural born citizens of the Norfolk Empire that agree with the Royal Family are scared that she would attempt to take back the District of New Tenochtitlan to the Republic of Tamcoop. Besides the Prime Minster, the three seats of the House of Commons each have at least one candidate running. For the 1st District of Dellfolk, HRM Duke Roger Bluetoski I is running unopposed as a Green-Republican advocating for Environmentalism. For the 1st District of Bitty Ridge, HRM Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I is running unopposed as a Green-Republican also advocating for Environmentalism. In the 1st District of New Tenochtitlan, HIM Emperor Jason Norfolk I, an Independent advocating for Environmentalism, Basic Healthcare, a Small Government, and a more efficient Tax Code, is running against HRH Prince Cooper Norfolk I, a Green-Republican advocating for Environmentalism, Animal Protection, Equality, a 5 USD Monthly Tax, and Fiscal Centrism. The race for the 1st District of New Tenochtitlan is expected to be the most interesting race as two members of the Royal Family from different parties going against each other for a seat in a district where only about 33% of the population is not in the House of Norfolk. This means that one person will decide between who will be the representative of the 1st District of New Tenochtitlan, including each candidate who will vote for themself.[1]
Candidates for Prime Minister Announced
On 1 July 2019, two citizens of the Norfolk Empire announced their candidacy for the Office of the Prime Minister. The two candidates are both Green-Republicans and women and are expected to be the only candidates who will declare their candidacy for Prime Minister. The first candidate to officially announce her candidacy for Prime Minister was HRM Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I of the Duchy of Bitty Ridge. She announced her candidacy at 06:00 today. Her platform is composting and overall environmentalism. She says that she doesn't want to focus on economic issues and wants to focus on social and environmental issues. She is also running unopposed for a seat in the House of Commons, so that makes monthly PMQs, when the Prime Minister gets asked questions on the state of the Norfolk Empire, easier. The second candidate to officially announce her candidacy for Prime Minister was President Tammy Norfolk of the Republic of Tamcoop, who is a part-time citizen of the Norfolk Empire. She was considering the run yesterday and apparently decided to run. She announced her candidacy at 07:00 today. Her platform is environmentalism. She is the President of the Republic of Tamcoop, the micronation the Norfolk Empire is completely surrounded by and partially took over, so some supporters of the Royal Family are worried that she will try to take back the District of New Tenochtitlan if she wins. But ethnic Tamcoopese citizens of the Norfolk Empire are supporting her efforts to run for the Office of Prime Minister.[2]
First Debate for Prime Minister Occurs
On 2 July 2019, a debate for the Office of Prime Minister occurred in the District of New Tenochtitlan. President Tammy Norfolk proved herself to be more of a Socialist, Anti-Organization, Pro-Tamcoopese Environmentalist than anything while HRH Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I proved herself to be a Pro-Democracy, Anti-Labour Union Environmentalist. President Tammy Norfolk answered questions more fully than HRH Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I did but HRH Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I answered with more Centrist answers. Both are members of the Green-Republican Party, so they had about the same views.[3]
First Round of Voting Begins
On 5 July 2019, voting for the 1st General Election began with the District of New Tenochtitlan voting for their MP and the Prime Minister. There was nothing in the Royal Decree signed by HIM Emperor Jason Norfolk I about separate subdivisions voting on different days, that is just how HRH Prince Cooper Norfolk I, who is somewhat in charge of the 1st General Election, wanted to organize the election. The voting started at 06:00 GMT-4 today where about sixty-six percent of the District of New Tenochtitlan voted. At about 15:00 GMT-4, the rest of the subdivision voted. At the end of the day, the election results were released by HRH Prince Cooper Norfolk. In the District of New Tenochtitlan, one-hundred percent of the population, including the other candidate Tammy Norfolk, voted for HRM Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I for Prime Minister. In total, she has 42.86% of the votes in the Norfolk Empire, meaning she only needs one more vote, or 7.14% of the votes, to win the Office of the Prime Minister. Also, the Member of Parliament, MP, for the 1st District of New Tenochtitlan has become HRH Prince Cooper Norfolk I with 66.66% of the votes, meaning that the Green-Republican Party has a seat secured in the House of Commons.[4] On 9 July 2019, the 1st General Election of the Norfolk Empire came to an end with the final day of voting, which was 8 July 2019. That meant that that was the day that all winners of each election were be announced and the seating chart for the House of Commons was released. The first of those things to be released were the winners of each election. For the Office of the Prime Minister, the obvious winner is HRM Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I of the Duchy of Bitty Ridge. She won by a landslide with 85.7% of the votes in the Norfolk Empire against Tamcoopese President Tammy Norfolk, who only received 14.3% of the votes. HRM Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I, who will soon be considered HRM Prime Minister Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I, is very excited to work in the Office of the Prime Minister. She said that she will most likely not run again, but she will work as hard as possible to serve her country during the two-month term. In the House of Commons, all three seats have been filled with the same party, the Green-Republican Party. Some worry that the House of Commons being filled with the same party could cause some problems, such as being able to block or pass laws with more than all of the votes and be able to pass it on to the Prime Minister, a Green-Republican, to be automatically approved. Many citizens are dismissing problems like that because they believe that each Member of Parliament, MP, has their own views and is on a different place on the political spectrum. The MP of the 1st District of New Tenochtitlan is HRH Prince Cooper Norfolk I with 66.7% of the votes, the MP of the 1st District of Dellfolk is HRM Duke Roger Bluetoski I with 100% of the votes, and the MP of the 1st Distirct of Bitty Ridge is HRM Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I.[5]
Prime Minsiter
HRM Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I (GRP) (HRM Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I for Prime Minister 2019) (Success)
Tammy Norfolk (GRP) (Tammy Norfolk for Prime Minister 2019) (Failed)
Duchy of Bitty Ridge
HRM Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I (GRP) (HRM Duchess Dorothy Norfolk I for the 1st District of Bitty Ridge 2019) (Success)
Duchy of Dellfolk
HRM Duke Roger Bluetoski I (GRP) (HRM Duke Roger Bluetoski I for the 1st District of Dellfolk 2019) (Success)
District of New Tenochtitlan
HRH Prince Cooper Norfolk I (GRP) (HRH Prince Cooper Norfolk I for the 1st District of New Tenochtitlan 2019) (Success)
HIM Emperor Jason Norfolk I (I) (HIM Emperor Jason Norfolk I for the 1st District of New Tenochtitlan 2019) (Failed)[4]
↑ Norfolk I, HRH Prince Cooper. "1st General Elections Called in a Royal Decree". Imperial Gazette. Wordpress. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
↑ Norfolk I, HRH Prince Cooper. "Two Citizens Announce Candidacy for Prime Minister". Imperial Gazette. Wordpress. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
↑ Norfolk I, HRH Prince Cooper. "First Prime Ministerial Debate Occurs". Imperial Gazette. Wordpress. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
↑ 4.0 4.1 Norfolk I, HRH Prince Cooper. "Voting for the 1st General Election Begins, New Tenochtitlan Votes". Imperial Gazette. Wordpress. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
↑ Norfolk I, HRH Prince Cooper. "Election Ends, Winning Candidates Announced". Imperial Gazette. Wordpress. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
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Fly ash is a commercial waste for coal-fired power plants. From the material point of view, fly ash is a mixture of crystalline minerals and amorphous minerals. From the particle form, the fly ash is usually divided into bead-like particles and slag-like particles two categories. For the grinding, the traditional process is to fly ash or by sorting the coarse ash and cement clinker mixed grinding method to produce fly ash cement. This mixed grinding process due to the proportion of fly ash light, small size, in the mill will form a lining and hinder the grinding body on the impact of clinker and grinding capacity, two parts of the powder will not be fully ground Wind out of the mill, so that the fly ash activity and the quality of cement have an impact.
In order to achieve high-quality and highly efficient fly ash should, in line with the requirements of economic development of energy saving, Shanghai SBM development of ultrafine mill machine to become the key equipment of fly ash grinding process can be said that the performance of its direct impact and Improve the processing effect of fly ash and finished product quality. SBM SCM series ultrafine mill Sweden advanced technology and our many years of experience crystallized, it can be processed Mohs hardness non-explosive brittle material 9, such as: coal, mica, talc, graphite, Shi Ying stone , fluorite, calcite, limestone, dolomite, kaolin, bentonite, barite, feldspar, flint gangue, widely used in paints, paper, rubber, cosmetics and other industries.
SBM fly ash ultrafine mill of the larger advantage is its finished grain size between 325-2500 mesh, the production capacity of up to 12 tons per hour higher And because of its wear parts are made of special materials forging, equipment performance and stability, low operating costs. In addition, SBM strictly abide by the requirements of the green economy, in the ultra-fine milling machine using pulse dust and muffler, truly environmentally friendly pollution-free operations.
SBM ultrafine mill machine, let fly a finer product size, performance is superior, not only to create the conditions for the improvement and development of innovative grinding process of fly ash industry, more cement concrete Industry production and processing to make protection.
SBM Industrial Technology Group Co., Ltd. is specialized in producing large-scale ultrafine mill of the mining machinery manufacturers, T130X series of ultrafine mill is my company launched the limestone grinding line main equipment, good to meet the customer 200-33μm (80-425Mesh ) Fine powder production needs. At present, the power plant desulphurization technology is mainly based on the chemical reaction function of limestone after grinding. The fineness of limestone powder is of great significance to the desulphurization technology of power plant. It also has the structure and working performance of ultrafine mill With high standards. We through the analysis of T130X series of ultrafine mill of the four processing systems, to understand the more advanced limestone production process.
The main advantage of the T130X series of ultrafine mill feeding systems is that the graded limestone from the limestone material enters the stone silo from the mine. The uniform transport of the belt conveyor will have two grading processes to ensure that the material size meets the ultrafine mill feed size. The entire feeding system using interlocking device and centralized control, mechanized production mode not only reduce labor intensity, but also can greatly improve production efficiency.
Recirculating air flow is to ensure that T130X series of ultrafine mill of the basic factors of raw materials, the fan placed in the 5-meter platform, the duct from the kiln to the kiln at the bottom of the continuous supply of wind, play the role of calcination lime combustion. At the same time, the supply system can also speed up the cooling of limestone powder to accelerate the exchange of air between the indoor powder exchange, the two sides to ensure that the moisture content of limestone powder in the standard range, the other two can play the role of energy saving.
T130X series of ultrafine mill of the discharge system installed with a precipitator, can reduce the environmental pollution caused by limestone powder. The whole system machinery and equipment chain, cross the ash. By the composite grate guide, the furnace to adjust the amount of lime settlement, reciprocating ash machine two-way discharge into the hopper, the material system has a good structure of the seal, the material does not leak material and so on.
The powder in the flour production line is derived from the material running, the crushing and screening process. The SBM T130X series ultrafine mill adopts the filter type dust collector, and insists the prevention of the dust treatment mode. ultrafine mill through the speed limit, shock absorption, installed hood, set the soft curtain to reduce dust leakage, in the protection of the environment is not on the basis of pollution can reduce transportation costs and improve production efficiency.


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'Fast Five' Sequel Is Moving Forward Says Justin Lin
Fast Five Sequel Is Moving Forward Says Justin Lin
The director indicates they will be heading to a new location in the sixth installment of this high-octane series.
— May 3, 2011
After Fast Five's record-breaking $86.2 million opening weekend, it's no surprise to hear director Justin Lin discuss a sequel. He has essentially guaranteed that a sequel will happen, which means he will return to direct.
"After this big weekend, we're going forward. It's pretty much 100 percent. It's going to happen."
RELATED: Here's Why Vin Diesel Wanted John Cena as Dom's Brother in Fast & Furious 9
Last month we reported that Universal hired Fast & Furious and Fast Five screenwriter Chris Morgan to write a sixth movie in the franchise, although it isn't known what the title is quite yet. While Fast Five is set in Rio de Janeiro, Justin Lin says they plan to use another location for this untitled sequel.
"We'll be going elsewhere."
While it seems likely that Vin Diesel and Paul Walker will return for a sixth movie, it isn't clear if it will be a franchise ensemble like Fast Five, which featured cast members from the first four installments.
Topics: Fast and Furious
Fast & Furious 10 Is a Two-Part Finale That Ends the Main Franchise Confirms Vin Diesel
New F9 Images Reunite Dom, Letty and Han as Fast and Furious Races Into the Future
New F9 Image Arrives as Vin Diesel Stands Committed to Fast & Furious Theatrical Experience
John Cena Declares That Fast & Furious 9 Is a Reason to Go to the Cinema


Got a odd question: How many out there hates wearing wrist watches?
I have an AS friend who doesn't like wear a watch, but use his phone to tell time. I wonder if it's coincidence or something to do with sensitivity or something related of AS.
got one here - been keeping wristwatch in my pocket for, oh, since about 1983.
you feel a loss of energy, loss of power, a sense of spiritual deadness."
I don't like metal on my skin, so watches with metal bands I find intolerable. But with a fabric or leather band I can tolerate the metal watch back enough to wear. I still don't like it though, but I have a lousy sense of time and need to check the time a lot.
I think using the phone as a replacement for a wristwatch is a global phenomenon.
No. I like knowing the time. If i don't have it on my arm, i end up having to search for a clock.. When i first learned to "tell time" as a little kid my grandmother bought me a watch that i wore for years, so that kind of got me used to having something on my arm and wanting to look at the time. I was really picky with what clothes i found comfortable back then(especially with underwear and pants), but the watch wasn't something i ever really gave a second thought to. It gave me something to fiddle with, too. Plus, now it gives me something extra to look at in those awkward moments when someone's looking at me and i don't want to look back so i try to find anything else too look at(and then it just looks like i'm checking the time, even if i already know the time). And i don't carry a cell phone with me, because i hate talking on phones.
I think it's an NT thing too... effects both sides equally. Some people just cannot adjust if they haven't gotten used to wearing something like that over time.
I know women who refuse to wear their wedding bands simply because it's "too weird" and they cannot get used to it.
If I put on my watch, it drives me nuts for the first few weeks, or any piece of jewelry for that matter, and finally I'll get used to it and then cannot leave without it.
A wristwatch with a stainless steel band used to be my favorite public stim. It felt good, and made a cool rattling sound.
I still wear one in the wilderness (with a compass and altimeter) and I like it, but stopped wearing one every day when I got a cell phone (which I never answer <grin>).
"Yeah, I've always been myself, even when I was ill.
Only now I seem myself. And that's the important thing.
I have remembered how to seem."
ha-too funny. I have a cell phone that I let run out of minutes and keep it in my purse to check the time... now if only I could bother to grab my purse every time I leave the house. I try to leave with as little as possible usually, lol.
I haven't worn a watch in many years. The metal back on the watch was too irritating on my skin. And if I paid the extra to get a leather band (the kind that goes under the watch as well) then my skin got sweaty and I didn't like that either.
I've developed fairly good time sense. 60% of the time my guess on what time it is come within 15 minutes of accurate. 30% of the time I'm within 45 minutes. The other 10% .... um well, ah, I had my mind on something else, I was distracted by something, etc etc.
I hate not wearing my watch.
I didn't wear a watch for years because the sensory experience made it intolerable to have it on for more than a few minutes.
About two years ago however, I definitely wanted a watch which seemed to me like a reasonable idea, because not only do all of my friends have one (as well as other people who have one too), but also because I never knew the time before. I only wear those with a pure leather band, because metal just wouldn't work for my sensory issues. I still feel it all the time, but to know the time has become so essential to all areas of my life that I try to bear it. I like how I know the time of everything and everyone now.
A mobile bothers me too much, I do not like to be called wherever I am and I'd have to remember taking it with me in an extra bag and would have to pay attention that it isn't on silent so that people may not get worked up about that I do not answer their calls because it doesn't ring. Anyway, putting on my watch has also already become a routine which means I cannot possibly leave it off when I would usually wear it.
I find that the watchband chafes my wrist. So I keep my watch in my pocket. It has nothing to do with being or not being an Aspie.
I like having a watch. I prefer pocketwatches for style, but tend to have a wristwatch for practicality. I need any watch I wear to be light, and I avoid synthetic (plastic/nylon) bands because they make my wrist itch and sweat.
About the "light" thing... I love the look of aviator's chronographs, with the big metal bracelets and such. But they are distractingly, sometimes uncomfortably, heavy. My current watch is a very slim Skagen, which was a gift, and it's perfect. I sometimes (if I'm doing a lot of work with my hands, especially things like cooking or cleaning, or when I'm in the office) take my watch off so it doesn't chafe me or catch on things, though. If I'm at work and take my watch off, I leave it next to my keyboard, where I can see it.
I don't like wearing a watch, I haven't worn one for many years. Don't like the feel of it. When I did wear one, it was on the "wrong" arm, not sure why; I wasn't being deliberately contrary, just always wore it that way.
I used to have a wrist watch. Problem was, I couldn't help looking at it all the time. I was often asked if I was in a rush to something, and I often were. Now I don't wear a wrist watch, and use my cell phone instead. It's done wonders to reduce my stress. I also disliked that lack of symmetry than wrist watches bring.
I still like watching clocks. Digital clocks are worse than regular ones, since I often look at clocks a lot to see a desired pattern, like if the clock says 15:14 I've got to watch it until it says 15:15, and then I have to avoid looking at the clock. Suffice to say, it's been much better not having a clock literally at hand.
"Purity is for drinking water, not people" - Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
On what wrist do you wear your watch?
On what wrist do you wear your watch(es)?
Do you have your watch round your left or right wrist?
why does my watch make my wrist itch?


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UFC Fight Night 37: London
UFC Fight Night 37: London poster
So the UFC's huge push for world domination rumbles into London, and lands at the 02 Arena, Greenwich, the second biggest indoor arena in the UK and one of the busiest in Europe. It's a great venue, tailor-made for hosting big fights. In what could be a landmark achievement for the promotion, the 15,000 seats sold out in record time for a UK event, and the media hype has been unprecedented. This is the first time I recall seeing a main feature about UFC in a national tabloid (the Sun, 7th March). Proof, perhaps, that the British public are finally taking MMA seriously.
When Jimi 'Poster Boy' Manuwa was announced as the opponent for Number One contender and current UFC Golden Boy Alexander 'The Mauler' Gustafsson, many people responded with WTF? Not What the f**k, but WHO the f**k. Understandable, given that Manuwa has plied his trade mostly in the UCMMA (where he was light-heavyweight champion) and BAMMA promotions, and is therefore a largely unknown quantity outside the UK. Even so, a perfect record of 14 finishes from 14 fights, is not to be sniffed at. A couple of weeks ago I interviewed Manuwa for a magazine I write for, and I can tell you he is one intense dude. If we hadn't been in a controlled environment, I would have feared for my life. He's the first to admit that all the media attention makes him uncomfortable, and would much rather just beat the shit out of people. Gus is right when he describes the Londoner as being 'dangerous.' With knockout power and the vociferous home crowd on his side, anything can happen. Dismiss him at your peril. That said, his strengths are obvious. If Gus can make it a wrestling match he'll probably finish the fight. The thing is, the Swede is just ballsy enough to stand and bang. And if he does that, my money is on Manuwa to pull off the upset.
But there is a lot to get through before the hour of judgment. The undercard saw British loudmouth Luke Barnatt easily beat Mats Nilsson, and wins for Louis Gaudinot, Igor Araujo and Llir Latifi. The early-evening section was not without disappointment with Davey Grant, one of the great hopes of the UK MMA scene, being pulled from his fight with Roland Delorme due to a knee injury with less than 24-hours notice. With no time to organize a replacement, it left a small hole in the bill. The biggest talking point came when Claudio Silva was adjudged to have somehow beaten Bradley Scott on points. I might have to watch the fight again. I must have missed something, because on the night, it seemed the Brazilian spent most of the three rounds in escape and evasion mode.
On to the main card, and Icelandic welterweight Gunnar Nelson is another highly-rated European prospect boasting an unbeaten record of 12-0-1. Perhaps unusually for a European, he's also a world class jiu-jitsu competitor. Tonight he is up against the Russian Omari Akhmedov, who with only one previous UFC fight under his belt (a KO win over TUF: Brazil competitor Thiago Perpetuo last November), will be a new face to many. He has a background in freestyle wrestling, apparently. Interesting. Unfortunately, the Russian just wasn't up to par, and took a a serious beating before mercifully tapping out to a guillotine near the end of the first round. There was such a gulf in class between the two welterweights that it was hard to tell whether Nelson was really good or Akhmedov was really bad. I suspect a bit of both.
Next up is Brad 'One punch' Pickett taking on Neil 'Two Tap' Seery. I shit you not. The 34-year old Irishman, making his UFC debut tonight, is a slightly strange signing by the biggest promotion in the world as the veteran of the UK fight scene has lost nine of his 22 fights. The general consensus is that he is simply cannon fodder for local favourite Pickett, who has himself picked up two losses in his last three. The difference, however, is that Pickett's two losses came against Eddie Wineland and Michael McDonald. In his six UFC outings, Pickett has won Fight of the Night four times and Knockout of the Night once. He's an exciting fighter, and it's easy to see why he is one of Dana White's favourites.
Perhaps the biggest question of the night was how Pickett would deal with the drop to flyweight, and how he would finish his inexperienced opponent. The bookies had the Londoner 1/6 to win. However, it wasn't that clean cut. Pickett looked fresh, busy and lean, but Seery proved a more than capable adversary, and had his moments on the feet. He had no answer for Pickett's skill level and though there was no finish, the Londoner won a unanimous decision. Rather weirdly for a known striker, Pickett's wrestling won him this contest.
Melvin Guillard should have been fighting Ross Pearson tonight after their non-event in Manchester last October, but the TUF alumni is out injured so in steps Michael Johnson, straight from his knockout of Gleison Tibau at UFC 168. Guillard seems to have been around forever. In fighting terms he has, despite still only 30 he has been active since 2002 and built up a record of 31-12-2. There are signs, however, that the Young Assassin's powers may be waning. Before the No Contest ruling against Pearson in Manchester, he had lost four of his last six. Disappointingly, this fight was the first of the night to draw cat calls and boos from the crowd. These people pay a lot of money to be entertained, and if they are not they will let you know. That's always been the tricky thing with London crowds. On any given night there are a a dozen or more huge events. To be honest, though, I don't know why they were booing. The fight was entertaining enough. For the most part there were two guys going at it, with Johnson regularly getting the better of the exchanges on his way to a UD. The only person not willing to engage tonight was Claudio Silva… and he fucking won.
Alexander Gustafsson won legions of new fans in losing that brutal five-round war with Jon Jones last September. A fight many people thought he had won. Before I continue, I just want to be clear on something. Manuwa's record says his last two wins, against Cyrille Diabate and Ryan Jimmo, came due to some kind of freak injuries. That's bollocks. The truth is, Manuwa literally kicked their legs so hard they couldn't continue. Pitting Manuwa against Gus is either a very shrewd marketing move by the UFC or a disaster waiting to happen, as one of these fighters will leave the arena tonight with their reputation in tatters. Obviously, if you listen to most of the mainstream MMA media, especially in the US, Manuwa hasn't got a chance in hell of winning this fight. All that does is take some of the pressure off Manuwa, who literally has nothing to lose, and heaps yet more on the shoulders of Gus.
I have to be honest here. We all have loyalties. Anyone, journalist or otherwise, who claims to be completely impartial is full of shit. In MMA, you just can't help it. You pin your colours, and you live or die by your decisions, just like the fighters. I like Gus, a lot. But Jimi won me over. I'm a sucker for a rags to riches story. I even put a bet on him, something I rarely do. Sadly, when it came down to it, Jimi just fell short. He rocked Gus more than once in the first round, and it was obvious Gus was shocked by his brute power. But the Swede's superior skill set shone through, and in the second round he dropped his foe with a knee in the clinch followed by a lethal barrage of punches. At times Manuwa looked a bit static and overawed by the occasion. He didn't shock the world as many had hoped, but neither did he embarrass himself as many had predicted. In the post-fight press conference, Jimi claimed he didn't go out. Or at least, not to remember going out. Sorry mate, but you did.
This was a severe test for Gustafsson, and he came through it with flying colours. Strangely for a fighter from another country up against a local boy, the London crowd was at least split 50/50. If anything, Gus had the neutrals. Perhaps that's a sign of his mass appeal. In the post-fight interview he, of course, called for a rematch with Jon Jones. He's lived up to his end of the bargain, now Jones has to live up to his so the UFC can stage the fight everyone wants.
This entry was posted on Sunday, March 9th, 2014 at 8:34 pm and tagged with Alexander Gustafsson, Brad pickett, combat sports, Fight Night, Jimi manuwa, London, MMA, UFC and posted in MMA, Reviews, Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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The Fȇte-Dieu du Teche began today, and organizers hope to keep it going through Sunday.
The annual 100-hour non-stop public reading of the Bible happens in the Town Square of St. Martinville. This is the third time the event is taking place in the parish of St. Martin de Tours.
During the four days of continuous reading, 300 lectors from the various 121 church parishes in the Diocese of Lafayette as well as faith leaders from other denominations from across Acadiana are expected to participate. Organizers say the Bible Marathon will help to accentuate the rich cultural heritage of the region by including various nationalities and languages represented in the region. In addition to English, selections of the Bible will be read in French, Italian, German, Spanish, Vietnamese, Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.
Lectors will be reading from a very special, handmade Bible during the Marathon. The Bible measures 12″ x 18″ in its closed position and weighs nearly 25 lbs. The Bible was blessed by Pope Francis for the first Bible Marathon held during the Year of Mercy in 2016 and has since been used in other Bible Marathons hosted across Louisiana.


It's pretty clear advertisers are hellbent on getting into the stream. No doubt, earned media will be important to get there, but that's a long-term play. There are shortcuts. Web publishing software company Squarespace found one with a new contest to give away 30 iPhones in 30 days. It's pretty simple: it'll pick a winner each day from all Tweets including the #squarespace hash tag. People will pretty much do anything for free stuff -- or even a shot at free stuff. Sure enough, the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter is squarespace. (Since I started writing, 600 mentions have been posted.) I've seen it pop up in my stream many times. Is this effective? I'm not sure. No matter what, it's pretty low cost -- the 30 phones will cost it under $10,000 with no media or creative costs to speak of. It's clear that Twitter will need to crack down on this kind of hashtag gaming (hello, #spymaster) for people to become trending topics. This kind of thing, to me, quickly becomes spam.
The solution would be a Twitter filter to blog any Tweets with #hashtags or specific keywords -- all hashtags, or some picked by the user. I'd pay for such a service. What I wouldn't give to block all tweets in my stream with the phrase "spymaster".
Hello, developers -- profitable business idea just waiting for you.
I will admit I saw the words "tweet to win a free iPhone" and jumped on the bandwagon.
Then I read the fine print and realized that they're not buying me a new 3GS if I win: they're giving me $199 to spend at the Apple Store. Which, given that my current iPhone is about a year old, means I can buy half a 3GS.
It doesn't take much for the unscrupulous to suss out these sorts of schemes-- which, to your point, means Twitter has to do something about the hashtag thing.
I give up. I'm just going to unfollow anyone who shills products unrelated to their own mind on Twitter from now on. It's the only way to clean up the stream.
There is a right way and wrong way to get into the "Stream" and this is clearly the wrong way. The number is direct messages i got from people asking me to participate in spymaster was insane.
The other question this brings up is for the people who participate. It is an interesting social experiment, are the so interested in winning $199 that they will become spammers.