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Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus revives an age of raw, unfiltered 2D fighting (review)
Chris Hoadley	 November 2, 2012 12:00 PM
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Imagine creating your own fighting game. You hate having boring karate guys as your main characters, so instead you make them a gritty bounty hunter and a holy knight whose superattack comes from a Metallica song. In fact, everyone is named after rock artists, and they all fight with shadows, living hair, giant keys, and other crazy weapons. And your game is going to have every mechanic possible: Air dashes, double jumps, combo escapes, parries, and much more. These fights will award aggressive players and those who have the skill to defend everything that's thrown at them. And forget about blocky 3D graphics – your game will look like you're playing a 1990s anime.
Now imagine that you game isn't a train wreck that should have stayed in the margins of your high school notebook and instead becomes arguably the most influential fighting game franchise of the 2000s. That's Guilty Gear.
BlazBlue and Persona 4 Arena developer Arc System Works earned their reputation on this series, and the company got the rights to it back in 2011 after spending years in a legal quagmire. Now it's releasing this port of 2008's Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus, the most recent version before a new rebalance that's now in Japanese arcades, on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. But can this unabashedly hardcore title connect with today's players?
What you'll like
Unrestrained originality
Guilty Gear is essentially the cover of a heavy metal album come to life. After a war between humans and the bioweapon Gears, warriors search for the remaining Gears as well as That Man who created them. Among the combatants are assassins, a seductive guitar player, an airship pirate who battles with an anchor, and a giant doctor with a paper bag on his head. You know – the usual suspects.
Accent Core features one of the most original rosters you'll find in any game. The British punk Axl Low is the game's Dhalsim, but he also wields counters, long-range grabs, and other moves you'll never see the Street Fighter monk do. Then you have oddballs like the possessed Zappa, whose spine has the flexibility of a bendy straw and fights with various summon attacks. While Arc System Works's later efforts are based off this game's basic engine, few of its later characters have matched the weirdness of this cast, and the game popularized the creation of quirky warriors with unique mechanics like Super Street Fighter IV's Hakan and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3's Phoenix Wright.
Much credit for Guilty Gear's bizarre world goes to series creator Daisuke Ishiwatari, who both designed the characters and composed the excellent soundtrack. This makes Accent Core feel like someone's cohesive vision.
Complex, high-octane gameplay
Guilty Gear rewards aggression — just walking towards your foe builds your supermeter — and punishes "dishonorable" tactics like running away too much or even taunting after a round is over. Your superbar is very important as you use it not only for Overdrive supercombos but also for techniques like Faultless Defense, an advance version of blocking, and Roman Cancels, a way to cancel attacks that has inspired similar mechanics like Street Fighter IV's Focus Attack Dash Cancel. Protecting yourself is very important, but even if you get hit you can use the Burst technique to escape a combo.
Many of these mechanics will be familiar to BlazBlue and Persona 4 Arena veterans. Newcomers will feel overwhelmed, but having a lot of universal abilities promotes parity between characters, and the basic chain combos and flashy moves provide fun for those playing at a basic level as well.
Accent Core contains all of the single-player modes from the game's PlayStation 2 version. Medal of Millionaire (Score Attack), Survival, and Mission offer a unique spin on these normally throwaway features. You score points in Medal by beating the tar out of opponents and collecting the items that fall out, while in Survival you gain levels and periodically fight powered-up opponents. Training Mode is robust, and small things like the input display "flash" that shows you when to time the difficult False Roman Cancels should be incorporated into more games with strict execution requirements. Story Mode doesn't have the same production values as ASW's later efforts, but I prefer it. It's nice to have a narrative that doesn't stuff 10 minutes of text in between battles.
What you won't like
Accent Core is fast and technical, which means it can be difficult for newcomers or even those who played previous versions casually to get used to. This is basically the same game it was in 2008, a time when the fighting genre had hardcore arcade junkies, casual brawlers, and little middle ground. A new tutorial or combo-training mode along the lines of Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition would have helped mid-level players. Be prepared to bookmark pages like BrokenTier's simple character guide and the Dustloop forums if you're going to take this game seriously.
Bare minimum online mode
While I experienced a lot of online lag in some matches — something my shoddy Internet connection may have contributed to — Guilty Gear's netcode is decent if not as good as other Arc System Works games. The offerings are very basic, however, with just Ranked Match and a lobby-less Player Match. Ranked Match is also unusually punitive, as you'll quickly lose progress if you go on a losing streak. Online leaderboards have never reflected actual skill level, but it can be frustrating to feel like you're not progressing.
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus is both a welcome return and a missed opportunity. While one can argue that an old-school title wasn't going to have staying power with so many newer fighting games around anyway, the port is more a direct rip of the original disc instead of something to attract modern fans to a classic franchise. Even an online mode menu that didn't look like it was from 1998 would have been nice. The new arcade rebalance shows that the developers want to do more with the series than capitalize on nostalgia, and this would have been a good place to start.
Still, watching a classic NBA game would be enjoyable even if no one added modern features and special effects on top of the footage. The game's cast and gameplay are just as inventive as they were in the past, and I had trouble controlling that "one more match" urge while playing. The content available is comparable to most modern games, and this should be required playing for any fan of the genre.
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus was released for the Xbox Live Arcade on Oct. 24 and Dec. 4 for the PlayStation Network. I reviewed the Xbox Live Arcade version, which I paid for myself.


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Vale - Ron Crawford OAM
It was very sad news to hear that Ron Crawford, 3 times Olympian and our club President for 17 years, died at age 82.
Ron was one of the kind, practically dedicated his whole life to sport, first as a competitor and later as sport administrator. His passing is a huge loss to our club.
Ron worked tirelessly to help our club in any possible way. He was very connected person and could always find a way to financially support athletes, buy equipment for a club or organize social function. In his younger days he tried himself in few athletic disciplines but eventually settled to become a race walker. He represented Australia in 20k and 50k walks at three Olympic Games; 1956 in Melbourne, 1960 in Rome and 1964 in Tokyo. He was 11th in 20k walk in 1960 Olympics and also 11th in 50k walk in 1964 Olympics. He also won national title in 10000m walk on the track back in 1961. As a sport administrator he held many important positions including member of the board of Athletics Australia, Director of Athletics New South Wales, President of Regal Race Walkers and President of Randwick Botany Harriers Athletic Club. Also, for many years he was involved with timing and finish control of City to Surf, Sydney Half Marathon and other road races.
David Tarbotton and Ron Bendall from Athletics NSW wrote this wonderful Ron's biography with some details that truly highlight his character and above all passion for sport and people.
Ron will be missed very much. Rest in peace.
From our club's history collection: Ron Crawford competing for Randwick-Kensington
Ron speaking at Club's 2010 Annual General Meeting
Ron presenting Hergenhan's trophy to 2007 2-mile handicap race winner Daniel Hazan

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Spotlight on Young Researchers: Understanding our immune system
Stemming from Italy, Indonesia, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain, the members of the Experimental & Molecular Immunology Group truly are an international team. In the group of FNR ATTRACT Fellow Prof Dr Dirk Brenner at the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), the team of young researchers investigates different aspects of the immune system with one common goal: Understanding how our immune system is regulated by different mechanisms – and how this knowledge can be used to combat disease.
The immune system is our main defence against infections and disease – yet diseases related to the immune system are some of the most common in the world: asthma, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and cancer, just to name a few.
Comprised of a complex and vast network of cells that interact with each other and other cell types in the body, the immune system's cells respond to pathogens (seen as 'strangers') – such as bacteria and virus. To keep us healthy, it also needs to respond to altered cells, for example a cancer cell. However, if our immune system does not work the way it should – when it is not regulated correctly – it can do the opposite and cause illness.
On one hand, if the immune system is compromised, infections or tumour cells can take advantage and grow without being perceived as a threat. On the other hand, if it is too reactive, it can falsely flag our own cells as strangers and start attacking them. This causes autoimmune diseases such as lupus or multiple sclerosis.
This is where the Experimental & Molecular Immunology Group at the LIH comes in: they want to understand the intricate system that regulates the immune response in health and disease. A particular focus is put on the regulation of the metabolism of immune cells: it is essential for their function.
"In other words, different immune cells, under different conditions, use energy sources in distinct ways", the group explains:
"The metabolic (energetic) specificity of each cell type and situation might give us insights on how to manipulate the immune system in a therapeutic way for a better disease outcome."
An international team of PhD researchers – left to right: Luana Guerra (Portugal); Henry Kurniawan (Indonesia); Leticia Soriano Baguet (Spain); Davide Franchina (Italy); Lynn Bonetti (Luxembourg). The team is part of the Experimental & Molecular Immunology Group at the LIH and led by FNR ATTRACT Fellow Prof Dr Dirk Brenner
The team has a hypothesis that a group of chemical species containing oxygen called reactive oxygen species (ROS) – produced as metabolic by-products – are involved in the regulation of the immune system. The group's research has already uncovered that these molecules play a key role in regulating the cells of the immune system and that they impact the function of those cells.
To this end, each group member investigates a different aspect of the immune system and its regulation: Henry looks at what role ROS plays in immune tolerance; Leticia investigates how changes in the system's metabolism can impact its ability to protect. Lynn looks at which role ROS plays in gastro-intestinal bacterial infection; Luana investigates Lymphoma – that arises from uncontrolled proliferation of immune cells; Davide is focused on how ROS influences a type of white blood cell called the B cell.
Below we take a closer look at the five team members and the role they play in the group's quest to fully understand how the body's main defender truly works and how this knowledge can be used to treat and prevent disease:
AFR Bilateral (RIKEN)
"My main goal as a researcher would be to give useful or meaningful knowledge to the scientific community"
– Henry Kurniawan
Henry Kurniawan, PhD candidate
Nationality: Indonesia
Your work in the group revolves around a specific type of immune cell, can you go in to more detail?
"The focus of my project is on determining the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in immune tolerance.
"This mechanism is extremely important to prevent over-activation of the immune system as well as having pathogenic role in compromised immune system).
"ROS is constantly produced in our body, therefore knowing what effect ROS have on our immune cells might help us to find ways to regulate our immune system to mitigate disease consequences."
Did you always want to be a researcher?
"Since I was a child, I have always been interested in the medical field. Initially I wanted to become a medical doctor, however having the image of an opened human body was a little bit overwhelming for me. Therefore I decided to l pursue my interest in the medical field from another direction by becoming a researcher.
"To work on this project in Dirk Brenner's group was pure luck. When I finished my education in the Netherlands, I always thought that big research in Europe is mainly done in Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium or UK. However after reading about research in Luxembourg and more importantly the project in the group which sounds very exciting, I was convinced that I could do something interesting and new."
Do you have any particular aims as a researcher?
"My main goal as a researcher would be to give useful or meaningful knowledge to the scientific community through my work. Contributing to the discovery of new therapy to improve someone's life would always be a plus."
"Doing research is as frustrating as rewarding – it teaches you patience, perseverance and how to enjoy the small victories."
– Luana Guerra
Luana Guerra, PhD candidate
Nationality: Portugal
Your immunology research is focussed on cancer, can you tell us more?
"My PhD project focuses on lymphoma, which is a type of cancer that is characterised by the uncontrolled growth of an immune cell. Due to their high activity and expansion, tumour cells consume high amounts of energy and produce reactive oxygen species (let's call it the "toxic waste" of the cell).
"I am particularly interested in how these lymphoma cells can modulate the high amounts of toxic waste they produce without dying. Being able to crack this narrow balance can not only bring new therapies for lymphoma treatment, but also elucidate mechanisms of how these immune cells function in normal conditions."
What inspired you to pursue a career in research, and why Luxembourg?
"For me, curiosity is the essence of the human mind. Research slowly came in my life as the answer for asking too many questions.
"The beauty of being a scientist is that you will never get tired of asking "why" and "how" and "when" – and seek the logical solutions for these questions in a logical environment. You are allowed to make an educated guess, fail, take a major risk and maybe succeed… or try again. Doing research is as frustrating as rewarding – it teaches you patience, perseverance and how to enjoy the small victories.
"The complexity and efficiency of the human body always fascinated me and, in particular, the immune system. It is still astonishing how we have a network of cells that are so tightly balanced, protecting us against several diseases and how a small change in this stability can cause infections, cancer or multiple sclerosis, for example.
"Choosing Luxembourg (and our group in particular) was an "educated guess" of a scientist-to-be. I was aware that this country was not the "hot spot" for research in Europe. Nevertheless, I saw great efforts being made by the government (financing) and great scientific potential. Our group was working on the specific field I was interested in, doing high-end research using state-of-the-art facilities and models."
Do you have an overall aim, or question, you hope to answer with your research?
"In basic research, we tend to focus on the curiosity of 'how things work'. However, overall, I would like to know that these small answers will have an impact on the well-being of someone, that they will be translated to a therapy. I am mostly interested in how we can "trick" the immune system to fight cancer.
"Nevertheless, I see "bench to bed side" research as a network as complex as our own immune system. We will only find innovative and efficient therapies when we tackle the disease from several perspectives. Otherwise, it will escape."
"I would like the research I am working on to help the development of new therapies to treat diseases that are still poorly understood."
– Leticia Soriano Baguet
Leticia Soriano Baguet, PhD candidate
Nationality: Spain
Your focus is on the immune system's metabolism, can you tell us more?
"I study how changes in the metabolism of the immune system can alter the functionality and its capacity to protect us against diseases. It has been described that our immune system needs to adapt its metabolism to fight pathogens and infections. To that end, immune cells consume more nutrients and tailor their metabolism to the function needed.
"In diseases such as cancer and autoimmunity, immune cell metabolism is altered, which further increases the complexity of these diseases. Therefore targeting regulatory metabolic circuits of the immune system is promising for treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases."
What was your inspiration for becoming a researcher, and how did you join your current research group?
"I decided to become a researcher because I like the challenge of finding answers to complicated questions. Especially if those answers could help for a better understanding of the human body's function and the development of new therapies to treat patients.
"I wanted to work in the Experimental & Molecular Immunology group at LIH because the projects are focused on improving the knowledge of relevant questions in the field of immunology which is what I specialized in during my Masters' studies in Barcelona, Spain."
What do you hope to achieve with your research?
"I would like the research I am working on to help the development of new therapies to treat diseases that are still poorly understood. I also hope that the research I do adds to the knowledge of the immune system – its function is a main pillar of our health."
"The most satisfying feeling for a researcher is to see that the work we do actually improves the lives of patients and all those close to them."
– Lynn Bonetti
Lynn Bonetti, PhD candidate
Nationality: Luxembourg
Your work involves reactive oxygen species (ROS), similar to Henry's work, but you look at ROS in a different connection, can you elaborate?
"My project focusses on the role of ROS in the pathogenesis of a gastro-intestinal bacterial infection. We aim to elucidate the effects of ROS on the immune response during this infection. A better understanding on how ROS influence immune cells in the gut could provide knowledge for new therapeutic strategies, not only for treating bacterial infections but also inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn's disease.
"Gastro-intestinal infections are still a main cause of mortality especially in children in developing countries, while IBD become more and more prevalent in industrialised countries."
You have always been a big fan of biology – how did you decide to become a researcher, and in why the immune system?
"I have always been fascinated by the field of biology. As a child, it seemed to me like this mysterious science, which could explain all the secrets of life. I decided that I wanted to become a researcher after I realized that despite everything we know, we still remain powerless against a lot of diseases and medical conditions.
"As a researcher, I can satisfy my curiosity for the field and may even contribute to the wellbeing of people and their families. I discovered the principle of immunotherapy during my bachelor in general biology. The idea of treating diseases by the use of our own immune system sounded like the most logical solution against a variety of diseases. That's why I absolutely wanted to work in the field of immunology, which is the straight focus of the group I am currently working in."
Do you have any particular goals you hope to achieve with your research?
"Of course I would like my research to contribute to developing new therapies against diseases. If we fully understand the basic functioning of our body's own defence system against diseases, we might one day be able to manipulate it in a controlled way in order to fight diseases to this day are. I guess the most satisfying feeling for a researcher is to see that the work we do actually improves the lives of patients and all those close to them."
"Discovering new phenomena and creating new knowledge is the ultimate goal of research."
– Davide Franchina
Davide Franchina, PhD candidate
Your work also relates to the reactive oxygen species (ROS), specifically how it affects a certain type of white blood cell. Can you tell us more?
"During my PhD, I try to understand how reactive oxygen species (ROS) influence B cell (a type of white blood cell) physiology and activation. B cell biology has peculiar features that are not found in any other immune cell: One of the main function of a B cell is to produce and release antibodies, proteins that have a variety of functions in the process of the body's defence.
"Understanding how these processes are regulated by antioxidants would provide an extra layer of complexity in the regulation of the B cell response, which is important to tackle immune-mediated diseases, e.g. lupus."
Why did you choose research – and why this topic?
"Research is driven by passion and curiosity, and I like solving puzzles. Becoming a scientist is a process that requires flexible thinking. This intellectual flexibility is acquired over time and the study of different areas of your field of interest is of help to stretch out new networks. This is why I became interested in B cells, a cell population with several subsets, which play an important role in the adaptive immune response, yet they respond very quickly to pathogens at the beginning of the immune response."
You are passionate about understanding B cells, which impact could this generated knowledge have, and are there other science questions you want to answer?
"The interaction between ROS and antioxidant systems is implicated in pathological processes. Disentangling these interactions in B cells might lead to new mechanisms linked to the regulation of B cell functions, such as antibody production. In the long run, novel mechanisms can pave the way for drug development and drug-mediated modulation of diseases.
"I am driven by my curiosity for science and I think that discovering new phenomena and creating new knowledge is the ultimate goal of research."
About Spotlight on Young Researchers
Spotlight on Young Researchers is an FNR initiative to highlight early career researchers across the world who have a connection to Luxembourg. The campaign is now in its 4th year, with 45+ researchers already featured. Discover more young researcher stories below.


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Unlabelled
A HOF Game Preview Without Irony
By John Morgan
Stochastic Football
Plans and Gambles Among Former Etruscan Pirates
By team efficiency Miami finished on the low-end of average in both offense and defense. Any other year, rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill's performance would have been thought promising. He wasn't good, but typically rookie quarterbacks are not good, and he wasn't so bad as to seem unsalvageable. Rummaging through the last 13 years of data: Carson Palmer, Eli Manning, Jay Cutler, Joe Flacco and Matthew Stafford all performed comparably or worse than Tannehill. Two things work against Tannehill: he was bad in a season when three other rookie quarterbacks were very good to excellent, but that's more a matter of perception. And he's old. At 25, he's but months younger than Stafford and Josh Freeman. He's not comparing brands of glucosamine chondroitin with Brandon Weeden, but he's not a baby face still growing into his body. As an athlete, Tannehill's arrived.
Tannehill won't see significant snaps in the preseason, and what snaps he sees will not tell us much, but his risk and potential personify the Dolphins franchise. They want to be an up-and-comer, on the verge of building a contender. If Tannehill fails, they'll likely fall back among the gravediggers digging their own graves.
Miami emphasized skill position talent in free agency, signing Mike Wallace, Dustin Keller and Brandon Gibson, but allowing left tackle Jake Long to sign with St. Louis. Gibson and Keller are interesting as players whose individual EPA/P significantly outperformed their team's passing EPA/P.
Year Keller EPA/P Jets EPA/P
2008 0.25 0.06
2009 0.15 -0.06
Year Gibson EPA/P Rams EPA/P
2009 -0.11 -0.16
2010 0.1 -0.01
There's an undoubted sense of untapped potential there, and should Wallace bounce back to his level from 2009-2011 in which (passes to, from a very good quarterback, and in a consistently successful passing offense) Wallace averaged 59.8 EPA a season, and with Lamar Miller at running back, Miami has the makings of a top-ten collection of skill-position talent.
That could work should the corresponding gamble work, because at left tackle, the Dolphins are interesting in the pejorative and terrifying in the hyperbolic. Jonathan Martin allowed 8.75 sacks as a rookie, playing mostly right tackle, and right tackle is where many thought he fit best. He's what coaches affectionately call a "technician," but now playing at a position of exceptional athletes. If you squint, you can see someone like Rodger Saffold--the exact player St. Louis signed Jake Long to displace to right tackle. But former longtime Packers offensive coordinator has experience with limited left tackles.
The preseason is where this mini-drama begins to play out. Despite the buzz around the position, teams regularly succeed without great left tackle play. As there are multiple antidotes to the weakness. Keller is strictly a move tight end and shouldn't be counted on for more than a chip block, but fourth-round pick Dion Sims has the tackle-lite build of a blocking tight end, and Mike Mayock described him as "one of the best in-line, blocking tight ends in 2013 draft." Playing Keller out of the slot, and pairing Sims with Martin could work against elite pass rushers. So that personnel package, whoever populates the respective positions, and specifically Sims performance as a pass blocker, should be interesting to watch through the preseason. Conversely, Philbin could chose to flood the field with receivers, preferring the "touchdown or checkdown" style he perfected in Green Bay, and, like with Aaron Rodgers, accept the sack toll in service of an explosive offense. For that to work, Tannehill will have to prove to be that rare cat that can take the sacks without suffering the injuries. He's got the athleticism. Knowing how to work that athleticism in the service of self-preservation is a rare skill.
The preseason is the ultimate in process over results. There's much to see for the savvy viewer, but that requires a little foreknowledge, and a saint's patience for the boredom, bellyaching and smugness of the men and women paid to announce, report and provide commentary. After five exhibitions, it will not be clear whether Martin is sinking or swimming, how Tannehill has developed or whether Miami's emphasis on adding skill position talent will work. But we'll know a little more about each, and we should know a lot more about the Dolphins approach to maximizing what they can do, and minimizing what they can't.
The Planet of Inexperience
I had thought the Ravens were trapped in mediocrity. The two previous years, the Baltimore offense had finished 14 and 13 in EPA/A. That ticked up to 12 in 2012. That is, presumably, not the kind of consistency people without insight forever harp on players and teams lacking. The defense was a bad mix of old and injured, and young and not promising enough. The Ravens were ranked 19 in team efficiency, besting only the young, romanticized Colts among playoff teams. Football Outsidersrated them a bit better but mostly because of special teams. I'll leave you to decide if that were prescient or a nice coincidence. Expected W-L pegged them as 9.4-6.6—or about as remarkable as SPAM musubi. The team seemed playoff fodder for the bigger and better. Plus, like many, I didn't think Joe Flacco was a particularly good quarterback.
That Baltimore won, that by winning Baltimore became the third mediocre-seeming team to win in the last six years (joining the 2011 and 2007 Giants), is either a radical shift in the NFL or the exact kind of fluke you would expect in a competition that combines high variance and small sample size, and maybe both.
When I was wee and hated the Cowboys and was just learning football but hated the Cowboys, I hated the Cowboys because they seemed nigh unbeatable. Through the 80's and into the mid-90's, the NFL seemed to be dominated by a small set of warring dynasties. And when one of the Cowboys, 49ers or Redskins made it to the Super Bowl, you could expect a laugher. I learned football is great but the Super Bowl sucks. By halftime I yearned for the drama of the Bud Bowl.
The current Cowboys seem equally stuck in mediocrity. Over the last three years Dallas has finished 16, 11 and 16 by team efficiency. Like Flacco, it isn't clear Tony Romo is a good quarterback. It is possible he is an average quarterback with elite surrounding talent. It is yet impossible to disentangle quarterback from surrounding talent, but one can't ignore the comparable performances of Romo and Jon Kitna in 2010, and over a reasonably large sample (Romo: 213 pass attempts; Kitna: 318), or that Kitna today teaches Math at a Tacoma high school. Globally speaking, it is not a quarterback's job to amass EPA. It is, through his own skills and talents, to make plays that add EPA. If we could pair a bad but not ruinously bad quarterback with an All-Pro collection of offensive talent, we would expect that quarterback to post good statistics while hurting his team's chances of winning. That is sort of what happened to Romo's backup, Kyle Orton, after he was traded from the Bears to Broncos. Orton easily bested Jay Cutler by EPA in 2009, having inherited a supercharged offense, but he was a shadow of what Cutler had been in 2008 with largely that same offense. For years now, Romo's statistical performances have been fringe elite, but how much does Romo contribute to those performances?
It's yet impossible to say, and it is yet impossible to know if this recent trend of mediocre teams getting hot in the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl is a sure signal of change, or a blip, not to be learned from or patterned after. The Cowboys were cast into a rebuilding mode following a third straight season of not making the playoffs and not finishing with a winning record. Romo, Jason Witten and DeMarcus Ware are staring down their respective ages of decline. Any team, even the Cowboys, would be happy to win a Super Bowl, one Super Bowl, even if it means a subsequent offseason of dumping contracts, amassing dead money and going young. So what's to do be done for the mediocre and old, but rationally hopeful and not yet dead? Be prudent, or appear to seem prudent in the eyes of media and fans: be bit players in free agency, trade down and acquire picks, rebuild without admitting a rebuild? Or take one crazy shot at it all while there's still has a crazy shot to take?
Reading the tea leaves, it seems Dallas is playing it safe. The move to a 4-3 isn't quite so dramatic as it might otherwise seem, and in reality is really more in line with what former coach Wade Phillips did schematically. Phillips ran single-gap, 4-3 concepts through 3-4 alignments. Father of the Tampa-2, Monte Kiffin, cuts out the middle man, and runs a traditional 4-3 through 4-3 alignments. This might seem … more elegant, but messing with the routines and methods of one of the great defenders of his generation seems … risky, both in how Ware plays and the perception of how he plays. People are superstitious and more than a little guarded in the presence of change. Change that appears to fail is a hobnail to be pounded down by fans, media and sometimes even players. Even a slow start, or a perceived slow start, could start tongues a-clackin'. It doesn't help that prior to the 2005 draft, Ware was dinged for "[lacking a] quick first step out of a three point stance," and being"[e]ngulfed by larger opponents." That all said, hiring a legendary coach out of semi-retirement and pairing him with a well-respected former head coach turned coordinator, Rod Marinelli, is a deflecting move. Things might not work out. People are unlikely to say much worse about Kiffin than "the game's passed him by."
Unlike the Dolphins, there isn't that same sense of intrigue about the Cowboys preseason. They didn't go big in free agency. Their draft, roundly criticized, focused on filling holes. I ignore after-draft opinion mongering—who knows what farts get into the echo chamber. Rookie center Travis Fredericks is expected to start, and seeing if he can withstand NFL-caliber defensive tackles should be instructive. Rookie safety J.J. Wilcox, as a one-year starter at safety following a conversion from running back, could develop very quickly and push for snaps. But, mostly, this is a roster of old men, and the preseason is anything but about old men. Given the strength of their passing offense, Dallas has a peculiar window of contention. From now until September, there isn't much for the Cowboys to accomplish but survival.
2 Responses to "A HOF Game Preview Without Irony"
Sidney Mussburger says:
Overall, I enjoyed this post, but have to quibble about the "supercharged offense" that you say Orton inherited. Yes, Brandon Marshall is quite good, as was their offensive line (as far as I can recall). Then you come to the not so mighty Knowshon Moreno, leading the rushing attack while averaging 3.8 yard per carry that year, and the second leading receiver who was the lowly Jabar Gaffney. Maybe Orton deserves a little more respect/credit. The same probably applies to an unheralded bozo like Matt Moore, who should probably get a shot somewhere.
John Morgan says:
Not for nothing, Sidney, but thank you for the comment. Discussion, intelligent disagreement--this is why I write.
As for Orton: Marshall and an excellent offensive line are six of ten, right there. Gaffney's middling, but he knew the system ... Moreno and Buckhalter are good-average receivers for RBs, same could be said about the TEs Scheffler and Graham--though, iirc, by 2009 Graham was kind of at his end and primarily a blocking tight end. I never underestimate Slot Machine (Stokley). To me that's one position short of a supercharged offense.
Just for rhetorical purposes I would contrast that with Aaron Rodgers' surrounding talent in 2011.
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The 2nd Lithuanian Vanguard Regiment () was a military unit of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The full name was 2nd Advance Guard Regiment Grand Hetman of Lithuania Josef Jelenski.

History

Origins
Formed in 1776 from light cavalry.

Great Sejm 1788-1792
The regiment was stationed in Barysaw & Mazyr (1789), Marijampolė (1790), Ukmergė, Anykščiai (1792 October).

Kościuszko Uprising
The regiment fought in the battle of Praga.

Uniforms

1776-1789
The officers had red konfederatka with white cockade and plume, in addition to silver epaulettes. The towarzyszy had red belts. The ordinary soldier had no shoulder straps in contrast to all other ranks.

References

Military units and formations established in 1776
Cavalry regiments of Lithuania

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Safety: Conforms to European Safety Standard EN71. All dyes paints or stains are certified non-toxic and not hazardous to children.
A six piece stacking toy in the shape of waves.
One of the four Element puzzles by Grimm's.
A very versatile toy to be used as a tunnel or house or just as a stacking toy!


Establishing itself as an unmissable family event on the festival calendar, Rewind is adding an array of 80s-themed fun activities especially for their younger audiences, ranging from costume design and crafts, to kids discos, family yoga and so much more!
Come down to the Family Area and re-create the magic of the 80s – literally – with hands-on arts and crafts. Here you can decorate your own Rewind tote bags, customise your own big badges and key rings with iconic 80s designs and slogans. Not disco ready? No problem! Get down here in the afternoon to design your 80s costumes with an array of vibrantly coloured tutus, giant bows, boomboxes, gold chains, and plenty of glitter and face paint to complete the look.
Feeling active? Why not go on a scavenger hunt? Put your heads together to solve puzzles and hunt for clues across the beautiful festival sites with extra-special rewards for those who complete all of the challenges! Party the day away at The Youngertones Disco, a lively space designed for young Rewinders to get into the classic hits, with prizes and inflatable props to complete the scene. Put away the smartphones and say 'cheese' to a classic 80s Polaroid camera to treasure your Rewind memories forever! There are also giant group games for everyone to get involved in, as well as crazy golf. And when you need a chill out moment – join in the family yoga sessions in the tranquil, leafy surrounds of the Family Camping area.


Freelance artist. Illustrator, concept art, comic and 3D modeling. Nowadays I'm preparing a webcomic.
Welcome to my online porfolio where I will share all my artwork. I hope you enjoy it!
You can also visit my social media: Artstation, Facebook, Twitter for news and weekly updating.


text:
Got Squirrels? We can Help!
Pest Identifier > Rodents > Squirrels
Body length9-12 in
Tail length7-10 in
Weight12-28 oz
HabitatAbove ground (attics and chimneys), but spends much of it's time on the ground
CallChattering and piercing scream
Lifespan3-4 years
Everything You Wanted To Know About Squirrels
Two species of squirrel found on the West Coast are the native Douglas Squirrel (or Red Squirrel family) and the Eastern Grey Squirrel. The grey squirrel is the most common of the two species found locally in the Lower Mainland. The grey squirrel population remained relatively contained until the late 1980's. That is when rapid growth in their population spread throughout the entire Lower Mainland into the Fraser Valley due to trapping and relocation practices of many homeowners and pest control companies. The following are some more squirrel facts for GVA homeowners:
Urban: Although the grey squirrel is found in parks and woodland areas, they adapt quite easily to urban environments, taking up residence in and around buildings. They become very accustomed to utilizing attics and chimneys for nesting sites.
Squirrels mate Twice per year: Female squirrels can mate only twice a year, but males can mate at any time. Often, several males will attempt to mate with the same female. They try to attract her attention by slapping the bark of trees with their paws and chattering loudly. After the mating the males play no part in the rearing of the young. Birth occurs six weeks after mating.
When Do Squirrels Have Babies?
Squirrels have two breeding periods per year, one in mid-summer and another in early spring. In the GVA area,
Litter size: Female squirrels produce litters between 1 and 7 offspring (typically 5 or 6).
Rearing: The naked, blind and deaf young are fed every two to four hours for several weeks. At seven – eight weeks, they start to follow their mother around within the den site. The young squirrels gradually begin to eat solid food and are weaned at ten – eleven weeks of age. A month later, they start to leave the den. If there are not too many squirrels in the area, the young will build nests nearby. Otherwise, they will be chased away to less crowded feeding areas. Typically some of the squirrels will remain actively using the birthing den.
Sexual maturity: Squirrels are sexually mature and able to reproduce at 11 months.
Food and Feeding
Frequency: The Grey Squirrel feeds every day, even in the winter. It does not hibernate and is unable to conserve enough energy to survive for long periods without food.
Time of day: It is most active at dawn and dusk, when it searches for whatever fruits, shoots, and seeds that are in season. Small thumbs on it's front paws allow it to hold food securely as it feeds.
Diet: The squirrel's diet varies according to season. It eats mainly tree bark and fungi in the winter and buds in the summer. In September squirrel's eat nuts and acorns. A hungry grey squirrel will also raid a bird's nest for eggs, steal food from bird feeders and dig up plants. In urban environments the grey squirrels also come across free handouts from people (namely peanuts in the shell). The squirrel buries extra food just below the soils surface, which it later locates by smell.
RainCity Pest Control will solve your Squirrels problem!
The squirrel's front teeth continue to grow throughout it's life
Squirrels must continue to gnaw to wear down their teeth.
Super smellers
A male squirrel can smell a female that is ready to mate.
Amazing Jumpers
The grey squirrel can leap more than 20 feet.
Brave Defenders
Although usually frightened of people, a mother squirrel can be quite aggressive if she perceives danger or is separated from her babies. Squirrels are very swift and can move or attack quickly if threatened.
There can be 25 or more squirrels per square kilometre in urban areas with mature trees.
Squirrels are more adaptable than you might think.
Squirrels can fit through a hole the size of a baseball (black/grey squirrels) or a golf ball (red squirrels). And smaller holes can easily be chewed open.


Panda Ears are perfect for every kid (or adult!) and for every single day of the week! Wear your Ears every day so you're ready when imagination strikes, when creativity sparks or when adventure calls! The NEW Ears Collection is for the kiddos who don't love wearing a mask, but still want to pretend to be an animal! Ears fit EVERYONE so parents can join in on the playtime fun too!


In an ever-changing economic and technological environment, setting up an academy to train our team in the latest practices seemed obvious to us. Creating Minotore Academy addressed two key issues : on the one hand, it was to enrich the know-how of our talents allowing them to benefit from a dual expertise unique in the market. On the other hand, we wanted to develop a strong integration policy, promoting exchange and synergy between employees.
Our trainers are internal experts who perfectly understand our learners' environment and are able to adapt the training program to the needs of our team. In-house training and tailor-made to adapt to constant changes.
Our training contributes to a better internal flow of information while increasing the sense of belonging and value.
Our training allows us to transfer our homemade know-how within our teams. The academy creates more synergy and a more trusting environment for our employees.
The academy is an excellent motivator, meeting our staffs' needs.
It makes it possible to evolve jobs, positions and to integrate new technologies in order to remain efficient.
Our training fosters new, inspiring and innovative ideas.
Previously an index and equity derivatives trader (dispersion then basket trading), IT solutions developer for Front Office and Global Trade Management, 9 years at the Société Générale.


Technological advances in modern day cameras has revolutionized the way we can preserve our lives. Digital Storytelling through Videography or Cinematography is the best way to preserve your wedding day. Your family will treasure their heritage as they see the excitement and love the couple has for one another, hear the laughter and watch your love story unfold as you experienced the joy of uniting your lives and families on this very special day.


Crochet Kit to make this beautiful Falling Leaves Poncho! Kit Includes PDF download, 4-6 skeins of Sugar Bush Yarns Canoe, and 3-5 gorgeous wooden buttons.
Canoe is stylish blend of wool and alpaca. This bulky weight yarn and it's earthy tweed effects gives any garment that fashion forward flair.
61% wool, 26% alpaca, 13% nylon.


text:
Вади́м Лео́нтьевич Скуратовский (5 октября 1941, Бакланова Муравейка) — советский и украинский литературовед, культуролог, киновед. Профессор кафедры Киевского национального университета театра, кино и телевидения имени И. К. Карпенко-Карого. Академик Национальной академии искусств Украины (2004, чл.-кор. с 2001) по отделению киноискусства.

Заслуженный деятель искусств Украины (24 марта 2011 года) Доктор искусствоведения (1997), кандидат филологических наук (1971), профессор (2001).

Биография
Кандидатская диссертация: «Проблемы искусства в немецком романе критического реализма XX века» (Киев, 1970),
Докторская диссертация: «Экранные искусства в социокультурных процессах XX века: Генезис. Структура. Функция» (Киев, 1997).

Окончил с красным дипломом факультет романо-германской филологии государственного университета им. Т. Г. Шевченко (1965), аспирант кафедры зарубежной литературы 1965-1969), рядовой Советской армии (1966), преподаватель-почасовик КНУ им. Шевченко (1969—1971), старший редактор отдела критики журнала «Всесвіт» (1971—1978), младший научный сотрудник Института психологии НАН Украины (1980—1982), научный сотрудник, заместитель директора по научной работе Литературно-мемориального музея Леси Украинки (1983—1985), старший преподаватель Киевского национального университета театра, кино и телевидения имени И. К. Карпенко-Карого (1985—1986) и Киевского института культуры (1986—1988), старший преподаватель, доцент, профессор Киевского национального университета театра, кино и телевидения имени И. К. Карпенко-Карого (с 1988), редактор отдела науки и культуры журнала «Сучасність» (с 1992), преподаватель спецкурса по украинской истории и истории украинской культуры в Женевском университете (1995), автор-ведущий цикла телепередач «Свежий взгляд на историю» (УТ-2, 1996), «Монологи: Надежды и потери» («1+1», 1997—1998), «Вижу землю» (УТ-1, УТ-2, 2002—2004).

«Меня очень интересовал спорт, я занимался боксом. К сожалению, в этом деле у меня ничего толком не получалось, я оказался довольно бездарен. Начинаешь думать, и вдруг уже лежишь на ринге. Тренер наклоняется надо мной с воплем: "Думать будешь в библиотеке!". Что ж, пришлось перекочевать в библиотеку» .

Книги
 Мистецькі проблеми в німецькому романі ХХ ст. (На матеріалах критичного реалізму). — К.: Вид-во Київс. ун-та, 1972. — 196 с.
 Поет-патріот Шандор Пефеті. — К.: Знання, 1972. — 30 с.
 Етюди з світової літератури: Матеріали до уроків у старших класах у курсі «Зарубіжна література». — К.: Навч. посібники, 1995. — 72 с.
 Історія і культура. — К.: Укр. бюро захисту прав людини, 1996. — 297 с.
 Екранні мистецтва у соціокультурних процесах ХХ століття: Генеза. Структура. Функція: У 2 ч. — К.: КМЦ «Поезія», 1997. — Ч. 1. — 224 с.; Ч. 2. — 229 с.
 Проблема авторства «Протоколов сионских мудрецов». — К.: Дух і Літера, 2001. — 242 с.
 З кінознавчого записника: Статті в журналі "Кіно-Театр". — К.: Арт Книга, 2017. — 184 с. (Сер.: Кінематографічні студії, вип. 7)

Фильмография
 «Родинка» (1991, к/м, Киностудия имени А. Довженко)
 «Певица Жозефина и мышиный народ» (1994, по произведениям Франца Кафки, Киностудия имени А. Довженко), В. Л. Скуратовский отмечен Гран-при фестиваля «Стожары» за исполнение лучшей мужской роли непрофессионалом
 «Посмішка звіра» (1997—1999, 4 серии, студия «Укртелефильм»)
 «Шум ветра» (2001, Киностудия имени А. Довженко)
 «Мой Гоголь» (2004, к/м, Киностудия Киевского национального университета театра, кино и телевидения имени И. К. Карпенко-Карого)

Литература
 Вадим Леонтійович Скуратівський: Біобібліографічний покажчик / Упорядник та авт. вступ. ст. І. Панченко. — К., 2004.

Примечания

Ссылки
 Скуратівський Вадим Леонтійович

Литературоведы СССР
Литературоведы Украины
Преподаватели театрального института имени Карпенко-Карого
Протоколы сионских мудрецов


text:
How Important?
General Privacy Policy of Immunity
HomeImmunity Initiative – General Privacy Policy of Immunity
The purpose of this General Privacy Policy of "IMMUNITY" ("Privacy Policy") is to inform you, the user of the IMMUNITY platform ("User" or "You"), as well as any other persons who may visit or interact with the digital platform ("Platform" or "Site") maintained by IMMUNITY (IMMUNITY SOLUÇÕES EM SAÚDE LTD.), registered with the CNPJ No. 29.426.682/0001-80, located at Avenida Nova Cantareira, 1389, cj. 22 – CEP 02331-002, about the collection, treatment and use of your information spontaneously provided or automatically collected through the Platform, being certain that this information identifies or may reasonably identify You ("Personal Information").
Careful reading is imperative, especially because You, from the moment you click on the option "I accept the Privacy Policy", will show full, clear and unchangeable understanding and acceptance of how the Platform will collect and process your data, in this way, You will show your free, express and informed consent, based on the most diligent and enlightened exercise of the economic freedom to contract, agreeing and authorizing access to your data by using the Platform. If you do not agree with the Privacy Policy, please leave the Site and refrain from using the Platform.
The User and/or Partner may access this Privacy Policy at any time through the Platform and https://www.immunityinitiative.com.br/politica-de-privacidade. Furthermore, all the provisions contained in the General Terms and Conditions of Use of the "IMMUNITY" Site (in this Privacy Policy simply referred to as the "Terms of Use"), available for access on the Platform and at https://www.immunityinitiative.com.br/termos-de-uso, apply to this Privacy Policy. Furthermore, all contracts entered into through the Platform, as set forth in the Terms of Use, apply to this Privacy Policy.
The changes, however, will not be valid in relation to each step of negotiations or Advertisements already started before the date on which the new version became valid. These cases will be regulated by the previous version of this Privacy Policy. However, once you have completed one step of the search process for Experiences with IMMUNITY, the next step will be governed by the new provisions. Failure to comply with the new practices will result in immediate termination of the use of the Platform.
I – DATA AND INFORMATION COLLECTION
1. As part of the dynamic operation and maintenance of the Platform, IMMUNITY collects personal data and information. To provide You with a better understanding, we collect personal information when You participate in any interactive features of our Services, fill out a form, connect with us on social media sites, request support for customers, partners or when You contact us. The types of personal information that we may collect when You provide it to us include your name, email or physical address, company information, payment information, photos, property descriptions, and other information that You may choose to provide.
1. The Platform is not intended for children or persons under the age of 18. If You are under the age of 18, please do not use or provide personal information about Yourself in any way, and You must absolutely comply with the terms and conditions set forth in the Terms of Use.
1. When You access or use the Platform, we automatically collect personal and other information which may include:
1. Registration Information: When You sign up on our Platform, we record personal information during the use of our services, including browser information, page views, IP addresses, and the site you visited before navigating to our site to help us improve our site and services.
2. Hardware Information: Information about the device You use to access our Platform, including the hardware model, operating system type and version, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information, which may help improve our site and services.
3. Location Information: Information about the location of your device each time you access or use one of our mobile applications or otherwise consent to the collection of this information because our services are location-based.
4. Information Collected by Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies: We may use various technologies to collect information, including cookies. Cookies are small data files stored in your device's memory that help us improve our users' experience with our Site and Services, identify popular features and count visits. We may also collect information using web beacons (also known as "tracking pixels"). Web beacons are electronic images that may be used in our Services or emails to help with delivering cookies, counting visits, understanding campaign usage and effectiveness, and determining whether an email has been opened and applied. If your browser is set to not accept cookies, you may not be able to use the Site or Services.
1.4.4. Information may also be collected from other sources and may be combined with information we collect through our Platform. For example, when you create or access your account through a social media site, we will have access to certain information from that site, such as your name, account information, and list of friends and connections, in accordance with the authorization procedures determined by such social media sites, except to the extent that the social media Platform you choose allows you to disable this functionality. We may use publicly available tools, such as Google Analytics, to better understand User preferences. Collection of data by third party tools is subject to their respective privacy policies.
1.4.5. Remember, the collection of data and personal information, as exposed above, will occur with your express, full, clear and unchangeable authorization, from the moment you click on the option "I accept the Privacy Policy".
II – GUARANTEES FOR CHOICES AND CONTROL BY THE USER
1.4.1. The General Personal Data Protection Law of Brazil (LGPD) guarantees Brazilian citizens respect for the privacy and personal data of natural persons. In attention to such provisions, the Platform seeks to ensure transparency and access controls in order to allow Users to benefit from the rights mentioned.
1.4.2. The rights granted to You, as a natural person, without prejudice of the limitations provided by the applicable legislation, are the following:
1. Right of access: the right to be informed and to request access to the personal data processed by the Platform;
2. Right to rectification: the right to request, through the communication channels, the amendment or modification of your personal data when they are incorrect or incomplete;
3. Right to erasure: the right to request the removal of your personal data;
4. Right to restriction: the right to request that the Platform cease, temporarily or permanently, to process all or some of your personal data;
5. Right to object: the right, at any time, to object to the processing of your personal data for reasons relating to your particular situation; the right to object to the handling of your personal data for direct marketing purposes;
6. Right to data portability: the right to request a copy of your personal data in electronic format and the right to transmit said personal data for use in the service of a third party; and
7. Right not to be subject to automated decision-making: the right not to be subject to decisions made solely in an automated manner, including with respect to profiling, if the decision has a legal effect on You or has an equally significant effect.
1.7.3. To learn more about these rights, and to exercise them easily and record your preferences regarding how the Platform uses your personal data, we have provided the following resources:
1. "Settings"(which you can access through your account page): allows you to access your account settings and there you will find the "Privacy" option, where you can choose the type of processing of certain personal data and the automated function "Access your data" enables you to download basic information about your account and usage, and it is also possible to request data rectification and erasure.
2. "Contact Us": We have several customer service pages on our website which provide additional guidance on personal data protection and may include answers to "frequently asked questions" about the processing of personal data on the Platform.
1.2.4.The Platform may also anonymize or pseudonymize to remove any identifying attributes or aggregate personal information with a sufficiently large number of other pieces of information so that it cannot be reasonably linked to You ("Anonymity"). We may use this anonymized data for internal or public analysis or reports, but we will not identify You in the anonymized data without Your consent.
1.2.5 At any time, a User registered at IMMUNITY may request the permanent erasure of their data or the cancellation of their registration, except in the case of maintenance provided by law.
1.2.6. If you still have questions about your options, choices, and the control of your data, please contact the Platform through the Contact Us Channel or by email: contato@immunityinitiative.com.br.
III – USE AND TREATMENT OF DATA AND INFORMATION
1.2.1. IMMUNITY considers the personal data and information collected by the Platform as confidential, thus ensuring that they will be treated and stored under the terms of this Privacy Policy by adopting the appropriate security measures. Thus, the information collected will be used by IMMUNITY to provide the Services related to the Platform, as well as to develop the Platform and improve the Users' browsing experience.
1.2.2. The User authorizes the use of the collected data, whether they are registration, personal, credit, or communication data for the validation, consultation, and other appropriate operations with financial and credit institutions, as well as the provision and use of such data to the Partner, IMMUNITY and/or IMMUNITY's partner companies, including but not limited to those involved in matters of financial, economic, contractual, business or dealing with the User's credit.
1.2.3. In accordance with this Privacy Policy, the User freely, expressly, and knowingly consents that IMMUNITY and its Partners, as described herein, may use the data collected through the Platform for the development of promotional campaigns, product offerings and targeted marketing, as well as for the execution of IMMUNITY's business activities.
1.2.4. Under this Privacy Policy, IMMUNITY may use personal data and information provided to the Platform to:
1. monitor and analyze trends, usage and activities in connection with our Services;
2. customize and improve our Services and provide content or features through the Service that match Users' profiles or interests, link to or combine with information that the Platform receives from others to help understand your needs and provide You with better service; and
3. perform any other purpose for which the information was collected.
1.3.5. Furthermore, the User agrees to receive promotional emails from IMMUNITY and its partners, as well as communications about the Services provided by means of text messages or WhatsApp, if it is used and is solely responsible for carefully and fully reading the Privacy Policy implemented by IMMUNITY. However, if the User chooses to stop receiving such communications, they may communicate their decision by email to contato@immunityinitiative.com.br.
1.3.6. Through the Platform, links may be presented that lead the User to other electronic pages, including those made available by third parties, which may present Privacy Policies that differ from the provisions of this document. IMMUNITY is not liable for the collection, use, sharing and storage of User data by those in charge of such sites.
IV – INFORMATION SHARING
1.3.1. The Platform may share personal information as follows or as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy:
1. With suppliers, Partners, and other Service providers who need access to such information to perform work on behalf of the Platform as required by the Services;
2. With third parties to provide marketing and promotional purposes on behalf of the Platform, provided that they have agreed to handle personal information in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy;
3. In response to a request for information if we believe disclosure is required by applicable law, regulation or rule; or administrative, court or other governmental order;
4. If we believe that your actions are inconsistent with the spirit or language of our agreements or User policies, including our Community Guidelines, or to protect the rights, property, and safety of IMMUNITY, Users and others; In connection with or during negotiations of any merger, sale of company assets, financing or acquisition of all or part of our business for another company, as well as any corporate change of IMMUNITY or the companies comprising the group to which it belongs, in consideration of the need for continuity of the Services;
5. With your consent or at your direction; and
6. With the competent authorities and with third parties that are supported by the need for strict compliance with laws, court orders and related requirements.
V – INFORMATION STORAGE
1.6.1. IMMUNITY may store information collected through the Platform on its own servers or on servers of third parties contracted by it, located in Brazil or abroad. All reasonable efforts are made in order to preserve the security of its systems in the storage of such data.
1.6.2. IMMUNITY uses its best efforts to protect the information of the Users of its Platform. However, due to the inherent nature of the Internet, there is no way to ensure that unauthorized third parties will not succeed in improperly accessing the information stored by IMMUNITY.
1.6.3. The responsibility for the protection and safekeeping of data relating to payment information, such as credit card number, billing address, are the sole responsibility of the company responsible for making the payment, which is a company that is not IMMUNITY.
VI – CONFLICT RESOLUTION, LEGISLATION AND JURISDICTION COURT
1.6.1. If any disputes, conflicts, issues or discrepancies of any nature relating to: (i) the existence and/or the exercise of any right arising from this Privacy Policy; and/or (ii) the existence and/or the occurrence of any damage; and/or (iii) the interpretation of the terms (hereinafter jointly referred to as a "Conflict") arise in relation to this Privacy Policy, coming from any relations between Users or between Users and the Platform, the Parties shall use their best efforts to resolve the Conflict amicably. To this end, any Party may notify the other of its intention to initiate the procedure described in this Clause, by which the Parties shall meet to attempt to resolve such Conflict through amicable discussions, of good faith and negotiations held directly between the parties ("Conflict Notification").
1.6.2. Except as otherwise provided in this Term, in case the Parties fail to reach a resolution in accordance with the provisions above, within thirty (30) days, counted from the receipt of the Notice of Conflict by any of the Parties, the Conflict will be legally resolved under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil, being elected the Jurisdiction Court of the District of São Paulo, State of São Paulo, with express waiver of any other, however privileged it may be.
VII – INFORMATION AND CONTACT
1.6.1. Please email us at contato@immunityinitiative.com.br with any questions or comments about this Privacy Policy.
We wish you an amazing experience at IMMUNITY!
R&B TD Research Institute


The M1A Active Acoustic Guitar Pickup from LR Baggs is the perfect solution to the problem of trying to amplify your acoustic guitar without sacrificing tone. This pickup utilizes the lower and upper coils to capture your guitar's natural high frequencies, but you'll never get that brittle, thin and piercing sound that plagues even some of the best acoustic guitars. Rather than simply sensing the string vibrations, the M1 senses the vibrations of the whole guitar. The result is a much broader and more honest tonal palette. Along with the high feedback resistance, this is the perfect way to amplify your acoustic guitar when playing live. This active version eliminates the need for a preamp.


text:
Could this be the end of "Big Media"?
Media moguls like Rupert Murdoch suffered a blow yesterday in their bid to take over the nation's news media. The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit struck down an FCC rule that allowed companies to own both a newspaper and a broadcast station in the same market. Back in 1997 – the FCC relaxed laws regarding cross-ownership in the media.
Is wealth inequality in America hurdling our nation toward civil unrest?
Is wealth inequality in America hurdling our nation toward civil unrest? In a television interview this morning – former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski warned that the growing wealth imbalance in America – now reaching levels not seen since the Great Depression – could lead to civil unrest in the streets. As the middle-class in America falls deeper and deeper into desperation – Brzezisnki said, "we're
Let's not erode our legal system with Murdoch-style sensationalized infotainment
Yesterday – 12 jurors in Florida found Casey Anthony not guilty of murdering her daughter. With it's twists and turns – the trial gained nationwide notoriety – and dominated mainstream news reports for the better part of 3 years. Many were shocked by the verdict – as Anthony's guilt was a foregone conclusion in most of the media.
If we're going to put illegal immigrants in a "tent city" prison w/ a temp of 145 degrees - shouldn't the CEOs that hired them be there too?
You need to know this. Inhumane conditions plague Sherriff Joe Arpaio's AZ's "tent-city" prison. On Saturday – temperatures at the outdoor prison housing 1,400 non-violent inmates shot up to 145 degrees – the hottest recorded so far this year.
Treasury Tim Geithner leaving...are the rats fleeing the sinking ship or will there be change we can believe in?
Is Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner on his way out? According to senior White House officials – Geithner is considering leaving his post after the debt-limit fiasco is resolved. Geithner denied the reports, saying he plans to stay in his job for the "foreseeable future" – but a source at the White House says that Geithner has been discussing plans to leave since early this year. Secretary of Defense Robert Gate
Does President Obama's have a secret weapon to force Republicans to come to the table?
Jun. 30, 2011 8:22 am
A group of 248 economist, six of whom are Nobel Prize winners, sent a letter to Congressional leaders yesterday demanding a clean vote to raise the debt-ceiling – arguing that failure to do so could have, "a substantial negative impact on economic growth." The IMF issued a similar warning too. But as President Obama drew a line in the sand yesterday in debt-limit negotiations demanding that tax loopholes for millionaires,
Governor Rick Scott may have just won the race to the bottom
The jobless are screwed in Florida. Governor Rick Scott may have just won the race to the bottom when it comes to unemployment insurance. Scott – one of America's most disliked Governors – signed into law yesterday a huge reduction in Florida's unemployment benefit system – cutting the number of weeks someone is eligible to collect unemployment from 26 down to just 12. The cut falls in line with Governor Scott's prom
Another day – another Supreme Court decision in favor of big money in our politics...
Another day – another Supreme Court decision in favor of big money in our politics. Yesterday – in another 5-4 ruling – the right-wing of the Supreme Court struck down an Arizona law that provides public financing of elections. The law was intended to level the playing field between people with huge fortunes and rich friends – and just average folks running for office, by supplying matching public funds to candidates who a
The nuclear disaster in Nebraska just got worse
You need to know this. The impending nuclear disaster in Nebraska just got worse. Over the weekend – a floodwall protecting the nuclear plant from the overflowing Missouri River gave way – inundating the facility in floodwater. The plant is less than 20 miles away from Omaha – Nebraska's largest city – and is now cooling its reactors and spent fuel pools with back-up diesel powered generators.
Is it only a matter of time before Republican Governors get a rude awakening at the polls?
You need to know this. The New Jersey State House passed a harsh anti-union bill yesterday – that shreds public employee benefits – cuts off cost-of-living increases for their pensions – and kills their collective bargaining rights. The bill includes the deepest cuts to public employee benefits in the state's history – and will affect more than 750,000 public workers like teachers, firefighters, and police officers.


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Germany convicts Syrian refugee of preparing Denmark attack
BERLIN (AP) — A Syrian refugee has been convicted by a German court of collecting components to make bombs with the intent of carrying out attacks in Denmark.
The dpa news agency reported the 21-year-old, whose name wasn't released, was convicted in Ravensburg state court of preparing an act of violence and sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison.
The man was arrested in November with 17,000 matches, a package of fireworks, 17 batteries, six walkie-talkies and two kitchen knives and was trying to make his way into Denmark.
The court said he had come to Germany in 2015 and become radicalized after his arrival, and was strongly influenced by Islamic State propaganda.
It said he planned an attack involving many bombs in Copenhagen that he hoped would cause multiple casualties.
Russia says it won't start a war as Ukraine tensions mount
US puts 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid Russia tension


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← Back to Insights & Engagements
2017 India Beyond the Pipe Forum
The 2017 Forum focused on urban small water enterprises (USWEs) and how they can bring affordable safe water to the urban poor.
Safe Water Network hosted its fifth Beyond the Pipe Forum in New Delhi's India Habitat Center on September 14, 2017. The event, which focused on how Safe Water Network and others can help to ensure universal access to safe water (consistent with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 6.1) by: employing small water enterprises (SWEs) in urban slums that function complementary to piped water supply; and creating the policy and enabling environment for such enterprises to thrive. Safe Water Network seeks to influence government policies, plans, and incentives to create a conducive enabling environment—one that allows for the expansion of an urban water policy framework beyond piped water, recognizes SWEs in formal city water plans, and ensures tenders that consider sustainability and incentives for entrepreneurs. The Forum was a part of an ongoing effort to convene and initiate the advancement of sector knowledge and engagement of sector participants to chart a roadmap and advance the scaling of SWEs.
Safe Water Network CEO Kurt Soderlund inaugurated the ceremony with an address that: highlighted the organization's journey; pointed to the capabilities, expertise, and competencies the water sector has to offer in India; and championed SWEs as the decentralized, market-based solution with the potential to resolve the alarming unavailability of safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water for the poor. He stressed that the development of tools and resources are integral to achieving cost-effective and sustainable replication and scale of the SWE model.
Safe Water Network's Vice President of Knowledge and Partnerships, Poonam Sewak, shared the findings of a three-year partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that aimed to explore and develop solutions for affordable and safe drinking water to the poor, as a means of guiding policy reform that includes SWEs in India's Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) program and SWE adoption by the municipality of Hyderabad (Telangana's capital city). The partnership also mapped current drinking water supply for the urban poor in four cities (Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, New Delhi, and Mumbai), and outlined the findings in four separate city assessment reports.
Poonam proposed that, in addition to building infrastructure, the water sector must also focus on maintenance and comprehensive, continuous evaluation of SWEs. The development of three digital tools built in partnership with USAID—a Technology Selection Tool, a Plant Assessment Tool, and a Financial Viability Tool—help Safe Water Network and others assess the feasibility and performance of SWEs. Poonam also noted that collaboration with various players in the water sector led to the development of a set of performance standards that assess social, operational, financial, institutional, and environmental criteria (collectively referred to as SOFIE).
SPECIAL ADDRESS
In a special address to attendees, Ramona El Hamzaoui, the Deputy Mission Director at USAID, stated that USAID is proud to have supported Safe Water Network in this SWE project. The partnership was able to leverage support from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for the installation of 50 Water ATMs that will provide safe water access to 150,000 people in the city's urban slums. The Water ATMs (or Any Time Water kiosks) dispense clean drinking water at a nominal cost, using a pre-paid card. USAID is pleased that the SWE models promoted under the joint project have been adopted as a policy by India's Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for implementation under the AMRUT program.
SESSION 1 | Scaling Urban Small Water Enterprises: Policies, Plans, Funding Models and Incentives
The event's first session featured panelists Prof. Jagan Shah, Director of the National Institute of Urban Affairs, H. Subramaniam, Co-founder of Earth Water Group, and Ravindra Sewak, a Founding Trustee of Safe Water Network India. Amanda Gimble, Safe Water Network's Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, served as moderator. This session touched upon the policy measures that must be implemented in order to allow for the replication of small water enterprises.
Prof. Jagan Shah offered insight on hurdles Ssafe Water Network and the broader sector faces in scaling the USWE model across the country. He reckoned that a hybrid model of piped water supply and USWEs may be a more efficient solution than either of them in isolation. Ravindra Sewak emphasized that a partnership among the various stakeholders in the sector was imperative to reap the benefits of the advanced technologies, capabilities, and competencies available in the country today. Subramaniam stressed that, considering the downward trend in availability of drinking water for the urban poor, scalability can only be achieved through a confluence of government action and the creation of an enabling environment.
The session concluded with Prof. Shah addressing the issue of capacity building by suggesting the creation of a unified strategy with the government's housing program. He also believes that the use of best-practice documentation and the exchange of innovative solutions will help scale the knowledge base. Subramaniam, meanwhile, suggested that hub-and-spoke delivery could provide a solution to the distribution challenge in urban slums.
SESSION 2 | Sustainable and Reliable Safe Drinking Water: Frameworks, Benchmarks & Tools for SWEs
Panelists for the second session included Dana Kishore, Indian Administrative Service, Chairman and Managing Director, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewage Board, Government of Telangana, Dr. P. Somasekhar Rao, Director of the Advanced Center for Integrated Water Resource Management, Anuj Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of Sarvajal and Manish Wasuja, a Water Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist with UNICEF. Nilachal Mishra, a Partner with Human and Social Services at KPMG India, moderated the event.
Kishore began by arguing that the pricing mechanism adopted by SWEs and the metrics used to control the quality of water are integral to the success of such enterprises, and that the market for SWEs is demand-driven, which the government tends to fund accordingly. Sharma brought to light the pricing philosophy that must be followed and stressed that it is imperative to understand the target market while setting prices. Dr. Rao focused on the staggering quantities of waste water from treatment plants and the lack of innovative solutions to deal with it. He agreed that tools and performance standards are essential for maintaining and evaluating the success of SWEs.
The session closed with Kishore addressing the issue of spreading awareness amongst the consumers of Water ATMs about recontamination, due to the reuse of plastic. Dr. Rao spoke about the challenge of reject water treatment and the innovations and solutions that are emerging. Sharma stated that the crux of recontamination must be viewed in a holistic manner and resolved simultaneously.
Attendees discussed the policies, plans, funding models and incentives needed to scale urban small water enterprises
Ideas were shared on the frameworks, benchmarks, and tools required for small water enterprises to provide sustainable and reliable safe drinking water
Several reports were released during the event, including: Policy & Enabling Environment for Urban Small Water Enterprises and Recommended Small Water Enterprise Performance Standards (see Related Documents)
Policy & Enabling Environment for Urban Small Water Enterprises Recommended Small Water Enterprise Performance Standards 2017 Forum Proceedings
Dana Kishore | Indian Administrative Service, Chairman and Managing Director, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewage Board, Government of Telangana
Nilachal Mishra | Partner, Human and Social Services, KPMG India
Dr. P. Somasekhar Rao | Director, Advanced Center for Integrated Water Resource Management
Prof. Jagan Shah | Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs
Anuj Sharma | Chief Executive Officer, Sarvajal
H. Subramaniam | Co-founder, Earth Water Group
Manish Wasuja | Water Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist, UNICEF


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Government commends China for support
Accra, Dec. 30, GNA - Dr Kwabena Duffour, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning on Wednesday, commended China for its continuous support to Ghana's developmental agenda.
Dr Duffour also appealed to the Chinese government to consider and approve Ghana's applications for concessionary loans for the implementation of projects in critical areas of the economy, including, health, roads railways, water and agriculture.
He was speaking at the signing of two different agreements; a grant and an interest-free loan, between Ghana and the People's Republic of China in Accra.
The agreements, which consist of a grant of 60 million Yuen and an interest-free loan of 40 million Yuen, are to enhance the Technical Co-operation between the two countries.
Dr Duffour initialled the agreements for Ghana whiles the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Yu Wenzhe signed for his country.
Dr Duffour said the agreement symbolizes a further deepening of the cordial bilateral relations between the two nations.
He said the agreement also reflects the growing bilateral co-operation between the two countries, based on mutual respect and the increasing economic and political influence of China in global affairs.
He said economic and bilateral relations between the two nations date back to the early 60s and have ever since, grown from strength to strength, adding that, development assistance to Ghana had also increased tremendously in the past few years.
Dr Duffour said the provision of grants and interest-free loans to Ghana by China has become an annual ritual, since Ghana has continuously received these facilities for the past fifteen years.
He said earlier in May this year, China extended an amount of 20 million Yuen and 10 million Yuen as a grant and interest-free loans respectively to Ghana.
He said China's development assistance to Ghana since 2006, including those disbursed and those in respect of which agreements have been signed, total around $ 650 million.
Mr Yu Wenzhe pledged his country's continuous assistance to Ghana for her development agenda.


It still stuns me when people of great privilege and position choose to behave like spoiled children. You've seen it a million times, as have I - the boss going out of his way to humiliate an employee with a public criticism; the teacher who purposely degrades a little kid in class; the politician who arrogantly dismisses the opinions of his dedicated staff and the very people he is supposed to represent.
Sadly, this week we saw two of sports' greatest stars display the worst of behavior while the whole world watched. When Michael Jordan was given basketball's highest honor and was celebrated with a tribute worthy of a king, he berated and belittled person after person in his acceptance speech. When Serena Williams suffered a bad call from a line judge, she lost both the match and her dignity as she pitched a fit, complete with the "f" word and threats of bodily harm.
While the nation is now abuzz with the latest demonstration of a "star" behaving badly, it's probably a good idea to examine our own lives, too. We all have some level of influence and authority. How are we using - or misusing it? When anyone in a position of authority - including parents - behaves unseemly, how can we expect our children to do otherwise?
If you're "the boss," we already know you are in charge. "Flexing your muscle" to remind us just makes you look inept. We know you worked hard to get where you are. And we also know that you probably had a fewhttps://www.washingtontimes.com/admin/news/story/394701/# lucky breaks and are blessed with talents that many others don't have. No one makes it to the top without a lot of help along the way. When you treat those "below" you with disdain or are less than respectful, it reeks of arrogance and reduces your effectiveness - and you. It also creates a domino effect: Others begin to treat their subordinates poorly. A culture of crassness is cultivated.
And for those of us who are parents, we should consider - and cringe - over what our ill-behaved moments are doing to our family.
As much as we like to blame ill-mannered icons for their negative influence on our children, the fact is that parents still hold the power. Poll after poll of teenagers reveals that mom and dad have the greatest impact on the lives of their sons and daughters.
This is very, very good news - if we respond correctly. It means that no matter how crass or rude our culture becomes, we can raise children of virtue. It means that our own children can learn to be gracious and kind in any circumstance - and to everyone around them.
Graciousness is not to be confused with wimpiness. The truly effective boss, teacher, politician - or parent - is quick to uphold truth and standards and to challenge injustice. It's the manner in which we do so that reveals our heart and attitude toward others, and that will have the greatest influence. Long after the incident is over, what people will remember is the way they were treated. And that is the behavior they are most likely to emulate.
Serena was in her right to be upset about the call made by the line referee. But when she lost her cool and revealed a heart filled with profanity and pride, we saw that she seems to value her stardom and herself far more than anyone or anything. And what she ended up losing was far more than the match.
As we shepherd the precious lives God entrusted into our care, may we daily seek to mold them into people of courage, grace and thoughtfulness - and to remember that it all starts with the way in which we live.