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PM visits West Bank, says new US settlement policy will 'stand for generations'
Netanyahu takes opportunity during celebratory meeting with settler leaders to chide them for not speaking out enough against Joint List-backed minority government
By Jacob Magid	19 November 2019, 3:17 pm 1 Edit
Jacob Magid is the settlements correspondent for The Times of Israel.
(From L-R) Gush Eztion Regional Council chairman Shlomo Ne'eman, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yesh Council chairman David Elhayani in front of a Gush Etzion lookout point in the West Bank on November 19, 2019. (Haim Zach/GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that the Trump administration's decision to no longer view Israeli settlements as illegal was "an achievement that will stand for generations."
The premier made the comments during a celebratory visit to the West Bank just hours after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the softening of Washington's settlement policy.
Pompeo at a Monday press conference declared that the US was relaxing its position on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the latest in a series of Trump administration moves that weaken Palestinian claims to statehood.
The secretary of state repudiated a 1978 State Department legal opinion that held that civilian settlements in the occupied territories are "inconsistent with international law." Welcomed both by Netanyahu and his rival, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, the move angered Palestinians and immediately put the US at odds with other nations working to end the conflict.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at a news conference at the State Department in Washington, November 18, 2019. (Andrew Harnik/AP)
The Trump administration views the opinion, the basis for longstanding US opposition to expanding the settlements, as a distraction and believes any legal questions about the issue should be addressed by Israeli courts, Pompeo said.
"I confess I'm very moved," Netanyahu told settler leaders and reporters at the Kfar Etzion settlement. "We're here, in Gush Etzion, a place we were expelled from during the War of Independence, and here we are on a historic day with another tremendous achievement for the State of the Israel that we worked quite a bit on."
In a closed-door meeting that followed, Netanyahu's tone stiffened, and he chided the nearly dozen mayors from municipalities throughout the West Bank in attendance for not speaking out enough against the "threat" of a Joint List-backed minority government that the premier claimed Gantz is currently seeking.
"We are facing a minority government and you aren't helping me. I don't hear you [speaking out]," two settlers leaders who were in the meeting confirmed Netanyahu as having said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tours the Etzion settlement bloc in the West Bank on November 19, 2019. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
Despite the Likud leader's harsh rhetoric against Gantz, the two are slated to meet at 10 p.m. on Monday, just 26 hours before the deadline for Gantz to form a government.
Netanyahu and Gantz have voiced support for a unity government after elections in September left both short of a majority of Knesset seats together with their respective allies. Coalition talks have stalled, however, amid Likud's insistence on negotiating as a joint bloc together with its religious partners and Blue and White's ruling out sitting in a government under Netanyahu in light of the premier's pending indictment on graft charges.
West Bank settlements
Israel-US relations
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Shmuel Polin
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Cosmology and the Tetragrammaton
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Best Series Books for Kids
Ramsey Campbell
Ramsey Campbell is a British horror fiction writer. He is author of more than 40 books and collections, and has co-edited five editions of Best New Horror with Stephen Jones. Campbell has won four World Fantasy Awards, 10 British Fantasy Awards, and the Horror Writers' Association's Lifetime Achievement Award
Books by Ramsey Campbell
The Face That Must Die
by Ramsey Campbell
Alone With the Horrors
Best New Horror
Interviews with Ramsey Campbell
The best books on Horror Stories, recommended by Ramsey Campbell
The White People and Other Weird Stories
Collected Ghost Stories
by MR James
The Dark Descent
by David G Hartwell (editor)
The Mammoth Book of the Best of Best New Horror
by Stephen Jones (editor)
From the psychological terror of a haunted house to the spectral dread of an indescribable colour, the British horror writer recommends five disturbing tales to get you in the mood for Halloween

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Sobriety Tips & Tools, Opioid Addiction Help
What Is Naltrexone, and How Can It Treat Both Alcohol and Opioid Addiction?
Naltrexone is used to treat both opioid and alcohol addiction.
"You can revive an opioid overdose with naltrexone...er, I mean naloxone," is a fumble I've heard more than once, sometimes from the mouths of medical professionals. I think the issue is partly the name—both these medications contain a lot of the same letters—and the fact that they are both used in the treatment of substance use disorders, and even share similar chemical structures. But it's important to understand that naltrexone and naloxone are, in fact, distinct chemicals with different uses. Naloxone is primarily used to reverse an opioid overdose, but it is also added in small amounts to some buprenorphine formulations, like Suboxone, in an attempt to deter misuse. It works fast and metabolizes quickly—so the effects will wear off within an hour (which is why people who have overdosed should remain under supervision after having naloxone administered). Naltrexone, on the other hand, has a distinctly different function. Though not an opioid like buprenorphine, it can completely block the euphoric and pain-relieving effects of opioids, helping to deter opioid misuse by erasing the ability of a user to get high. It begins working slower and is longer lasting, so it won't help in an overdose, but can help to manage an opioid use disorder. And, unlike naloxone, naltrexone can also be used in the treatment of alcohol use disorders.
How Is Naltrexone Administered?
Naltrexone can be administered in either the form of a daily pill, an extended release injection that lasts about a month, or an implant that can last two to six months. There are risks and benefits to each administration. In the daily pill form, a user must take it once every morning in order for it to be effective each day. That leaves more potential for errors or "non-compliance," giving users the choice to abstain from the pill one day in order to feel the full effects of an opioid. If a user struggles to maintain self-control without assistance, this might present a problem. However, it will allow for a user to access the pain relieving effects of an opioid within about 24 hours if she becomes injured. It also gives users more freedom. If, for example, someone's goal is to moderate his usage rather than stop completely—for example, if he wanted to still use opioids occasionally but not enough to develop a physical dependence—he could potentially use it for that more harm-reduction oriented purpose.
The injection form lasts about a month and can't be reversed. A user will not feel the effects of opioids for one month, and should see a decrease in opioid and alcohol cravings during that time. The biggest draw-back to this is that if she becomes seriously injured during this time period, she will not be able to use opioids to numb the pain. There is some speculation that naltrexone might also interfere with the psychological benefits of exercise as well as pain relief after an injury.
The implant comes with the same problem, though it can be removed. If removed, the effects of opioids can be felt within a few hours or days, depending on how long it takes for the remaining drug to clear the body. But patients might find their doctors unwilling to remove the implants without a good reason. Some former naltrexone implant patients have stated that their desire to use remained so great that they tried to cut the implant out themselves, which is a pretty gruesome outcome.
"Naltrexone, by blocking the opioid receptor, prevents these endogenous opioids from having an effect and that limits the rewarding and positively reinforcing aspects of drinking"
— Dr. Sarah E. Wakeman
How Is Naltrexone Used For Alcohol Use Disorder?
Naltrexone works by filling and blocking opioid receptors—which is why patients cannot feel any effects from opioids. It won't block the effects of alcohol or make someone sick when they drink, but it has been shown to help reduce alcohol cravings. Several studies found that patients were able to abstain from alcohol longer, or reduce daily drinking to less problematic levels (around two drinks per day versus five or more). "The idea is that drinking alcohol causes pleasure by triggering the release of endogenous opioids in the brain", says Sarah E. Wakeman, an addiction medicine physician who practices at Massachusetts General and teaches at Harvard University. She adds that, "Naltrexone, by blocking the opioid receptor, prevents these endogenous opioids from having an effect and that limits the rewarding and positively reinforcing aspects of drinking." It's not a cure for alcohol addiction, but it can be an aid for people hoping to cut down or totally stop drinking.
Methadone and buprenorphine are the gold standards for opioid use disorder, but naltrexone is the only medication that is shown to help with both opioid and alcohol addiction. If you're struggling with a polysubstance addiction that includes both opioids and alcohol, it's worth looking into naltrexone to see if it can help.
Workit Health offers medication & online therapy for addiction.
Launching soon in California: Telehealth naltrexone treatment for alcohol addiction.
More on How to Quit Drinking
Why It's More Important To NOT Drink When You're Stressed
5 Sneaky Alcohol Myths and the Truth Behind Them
How to Quit Drinking Without Going to AA
Is the Sinclair Method Too Good to Be True? Curb Drinking Without Giving up Alcohol
The 1-Minute Trick to Stop Your Alcohol Cravings
6 Strategies for Spending (Sober) Holidays with Family
Secrets to Enjoying Holiday Work Parties Sober
6 Things I Don't Miss About Drinking On Halloween Now That I'm Sober
5 Ways to Make Sure Halloween in Recovery Isn't Scary
Personal Experiences of Moderation & Abstinence in Addiction Recovery
Elizabeth Brico is a freelance writer with an MFA in Writing & Poetics from Naropa University. Her blog, Betty's Battleground, was recently ranked by Feedspot as one of the top 75 PTSD blogs. She is also a regular contributing writer for HealthyPlace's trauma blog. Her work has appeared on Vice, Vox, Stat News, The Fix, and others. When she isn't working, she can usually be found reading, writing, or watching speculative fiction.
Tagged: naltrexone, how to quit drinking
Newer Post8 Ways to Show Your Body Some Love
Older Post4 Ways I Maintain Sobriety Without Religion


This handcrafted olivewood holder not only looks beautiful on your countertop, but keeps your favorite cooking tools within reach. Each holder is distinguished by its own unique wood grain patterns. The size may vary slightly as each piece is one of a kind.
O&CO. uses fallen, non-producing olive trees from Tunisia for all its hand-carved kitchen products. Produced in a family-run woodshop, the pieces of wood that are crafted into these kitchen treasures are around 75-100 years old, the average lifespan of an olive tree! Each item is made from a single piece of durable and dense olivewood.
To care for the olivewood, hand wash and lightly wipe with olive oil to restore the wood to its original luster. Do not put in the dishwasher and do not soak in water for an extended period of time.
NOTE: Olivewood spatula is sold separately. Spatula is not included.


Which TV blokes made the Cleo Bachelor of the Year calendar?
There are two young gentlemen from the world of television that are finalists in the Cleo Bachelor of the Year. They are Shortland Street's Cameron Jones and from The X Factor New Zealand, Moorhouse's Brock Ashby.


This spectacular ground floor center stack residence is a work of art. +/-7,696 SF of interior space w/expansive +/-5,300 SF terrace , private Infinity pool, Jerusalem stone floors flowing through the open living & family areas, custom bar, formal dining, Chef's kitchen w/top appliances and breakfast area. Hand painted wall & ceiling murals adorn this treasure throughout. Wood-paneled study & palatial master suite w/marble master bath opening to expansive terrace. Mesmerizing beach/ocean & Gov. Cut views.


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Събития
 Основан е град Наблус в днешните спорни територии по Западния бряг на река Йордан.
 Император Веспасиан започва строежа на Колизеума.

Родени

Починали
 Апостол Тома, един от дванадесетте свети апостоли

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Edwin_B rated 7 years ago
jethronh rated 7 years ago
"Then Bono arrived, and he meant to play the guitar, but he couldn't play very well, so he started to sing. He couldn't do that either. But he was such a charismatic character that he was in the band anyway, as soon as he arrived. I was in charge for the first five minutes, but as soon as Bono got there, I was out of a job." - Larry Mullen jr, 1987
'MLK', the final song of the Unforgettable Fire album, stands for Martin Luther King.


If you have anything specific you need to discuss with your child's class teacher at any time, appointments can be made via the school office for face to face meetings or a telephone conversation, if a suitable time is a problem. Email communication is also always available via admin@littlemunden.herts.sch.uk.
We do request though that the attached parent discussion form is completed prior to any discussions so your teacher will have all the necessary information to hand at the time. This form is also available from the school office.
Please complete the leave of absence forms if you are taking your child out of school.
Please also read the Absence -Holidays in Term Time Letter from Director of Education and Early Intervention Justin Donovan.
Our school policy is that staff will only issue medicine to a child if it has been prescribed by a doctor. This form is to be completed by parent/carer prior to any medicine being administered at school.


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The U.S. State Department runs a strip mall for cops in Afghanistan. No, seriously, that's what Washington calls three compounds in Kabul.
For almost a decade, State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs — a.k.a. INL — has run all sorts of law enforcement projects in Afghanistan out of the site, which is physically separate from the embassy. American, Afghan and other officers from around the world live and work on the "INL Strip Mall," according to a notice about a contract awarded in July.
The INL Strip Mall … support[s] INL foreign assistance programs and provides Life and Mission Support (LMS) to Third Party Contractor (TPC) subject matter experts, the DEA and the Afghan National Investigative Unit/Special Investigative Unit.
INL trains with police and other security forces around the world, supplies weapons and equipment and even has a surprisingly large air force of its own. Work at the Strip Mall includes coordinating programs to stem the flow of illegal drugs, modernize Afghanistan's prisons and improve the country's legal system.
In response to a request for more information, a State Department official offered the following statement.
Over the past nine years, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) has based a core set of programs at a secure set of neighboring compounds, known collectively as the Strip Mall. The Strip Mall is composed of three compounds and supports INL's justice, corrections, and counter-narcotics programming as well as Afghan Government criminal justice institutions supported by INL. American, local national, and third-country national implementing partners work and reside on the Strip Mall in support of criminal justice institutions and related programs to advance U.S. strategic objectives in Afghanistan.
While the press office representative described the Strip Mall as "secure," facilities in Kabul are often under threat from the Taliban and other militant groups. On July 22, 2014, a suicide bomber killed six contractors working at the Strip Mall.
After the attack, INL's office for Afghanistan and Pakistan went looking for bomb-sniffing dogs to help guard the sites. American K-9 Detection Services, LLC won the aforementioned $8 million contract to provide the dog teams.
Insurgents have successfully exploited this vulnerability and INL/AP is seeking to mitigate this risk and establish a complete and ready to go EDD [Explosive Detection Dog] capability as quickly as possible in order to help mitigate any further loss of life.
Despite increased security at the Strip Mall and places like it, militants haven't stopped gunning for foreign contractors. On Aug. 22, 2015, another suicide attack led to the deaths of three American employees of the defense and security company DynCorp. The three contractors had been working with NATO rather than the State Department to train Afghan troops and police, according to statements from the Virginia-based company.
Like the bombing at the Strip Mall, this recent attack will no doubt lead to additional security measures for foreign troops and other workers in the country.


Available in sizes: 6.25 and 8 PLEASE NOTE: All weights are approximate. 1 3/8 ct TDW (total diamond weight) may be 1.36 - 1.44 ct. Retailer is not an authorized Tacori dealer. The Tacori product shown here has been bought from a third party reseller. These Tacori products are sold without any warranty from Tacori. Please note these Tacori products may contain non-Tacori parts. The products may have been modified and/or sized by someone other than Tacori in the process of preparing the jewelry for sale. Has a center stone size of 7.0 mm x 5.0 mm.


Vadakkumnathan temple is a very popular Shiva temple of Kerala. The temple has many murals and art work adoring its walls and is a marvelous place to feel closer to the Lord. . This temple is a classic example of the architectural style of Kerala and has monumental towers on all four sides and also a kuttambalam.The ancient temple is surrounded by a massive stone enclosure, covering an area of 9 acres. The main three shrines are dedicated to Shiva as Vadakkumnathan, Shankaranarayana (a combined form of Shiva and Vishnu) and Lord Rama.
The temple is located in Thrissur city, and closer to railway station. I had visited this temple many years ago with my family, but recently I got a chance to visit there again, on my way back from Guruvayur temple.
According to legends, Shivaguru-Aryamba couple of Kalady, prayed Lord Shiva for a child and Shiva appeared to them in their dreams and gave them a choice. The choice was whether they wanted an ordinary son who would grow and live long, or an extraordinary son with short life span, and they opted for the second. As per their wish, they got a son who was named Adhi Shankara. It is said that Adi Shankara attained Videha Mukti at Vadakkumnatha temple.
The main festival of this temple is Thrissur Pooram. The world famous Thrissur pooram is celebrated here every year in April-May. This spectacular festival is a grand assembly of Gods and Goddesses who make their visit to the Vadakumnathan Temple premises on caparisoned elephants, along with the majestic ensembles of Chenda Melam and Pancha Vadyam.
Thrissur pooram is called as the Pooram of all Poorams, and all communities of people participate in this grand festival. It was started by Sakthan Thamburan, the erstwhile ruler of Cochin. The surrounding ten temples participate in this pooram. Among them, the two main temples who participate are Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi. During the Pooram, the grounds of this temple is one of the main venues for the festivities and grandeur to be showcased.
Shivarathri festival is celebrated with great grandeur, when the temple is lit with over one thousand lamps.
Only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple.
Men have to enter removing their shirt.
The temple is set right in the midst of the city and can be easily reached by cabs or autorikshaws or by driving. The railway station is just two kms. away.


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Next FTD
After The King Creole Book/CD FTD will release Good Times on vinyl. It will be released August, 2010.
Source: Elvis Unlimited / Updated: Jul 5, 2010
← New FTD Book: King Creole
European Star →
mature_elvis_fan75 (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 26, 2010report abuse
By the way,i dont how what i say has the wrong tone,i tell what i dont like,i dont make personal attacks about anyone. I will never like the classic album idea,im not a vinl guy so maybe thats part of it,and i didnt even mention the foggy I found my thrill cd i got,that i had to clean and thankfully it wasnt damaged,no i know thats not ernie fault,hect maybe sony tell him what he can release and when,i just want the best product. When ftd release hampton roads i and the sound is right and no errors,i will post how great of an release it is ok? Really i like to think of myself as a good friendly person. Have fun ,its only music
Yes im critical of Ftd ,im just as critical of imports,i have seen some of your comments and lately you seem to admit that ftd isnt perfect, now lets be honest alot of people dont want to give there true view because they know they will be labeled as complainer, hect i get personal attacks for no reason. If that doesnt fit you then im not talking about you, i honestly just want the best efforts from the label. Look i have bought all Ftds releases, i wont be buying the King creole book project, so i feel i have the right to give my view, it doesnt mean other will agree, and nor do i expect everyone to agree with me, but like i say, there will be people who will not like every release that comes out, theres too many fans out there to think all reviews will be postative on a release.
My biggest gripe with ftd are
(1)No booklets with there didi pack releases,they should be in every release
(2)Bad editing and mastering9
(3)Allowing people line lene redel(not sure how ist splled) to work on releases after fans have showed there dislike for there work(i know that point goes with point 2
(4)Classic album series,yes i know most or many love it,but i dont like the oversized covers that are very easy to arrive damaged and the use of outtakes i have already bought,some of us arent rich.
(5)No communication from the people behind the label,sometimes i feel like they think there doing us favor,and the lack of a website.
(6)High prices ,with no official website to order from,some sellers are getting $45 to $50 for each release
(7)No On Tour Shows,10 years into the label and no shows from On Tour?
Ok so that sounds like i hate the label right? i dont,i love releases like The wonder of you , One night in vegas & Polk salad annie,i do which they had came with a booklet, such great content should come with some info. I really hope ftd does the On Tour material the right way,i will be the first to praise an On Tour Concert if its done the right way. Releases like On Stage & From Elvis in memphis (Legacy edition)were did with care and come off looking like a classy product,i just want the same from Ftd. These releases are not free and saying there use to be no new Elvis material is no reason to not expect the best.
HowGreatEP (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 21, 2010report abuse
Really, couldn't care less about new (read: OLD) vinyl records being released ! Where is PromLand, EPBlvd & MBlue
on FTD with their outtakes ??
Greg Nolan (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 20, 2010report abuse
"Love to agree?" I'm just calling for some long-time fan perspective. You've earned a reputation....as one of the most critical fans out there so I'm sure my comments got under your skin but that was not the intent. I've been as critical for many years about the worst parts of the management of RCA's catalog (under BMG and now Sony) for years (duplicative releases, ignoriing the original titles, ec.) and likewise have criticized FTD consistently - but always constructively and in the right tone. I've never seen anyone say that FTD or Mr. Jorgensen can do no wrong. Talk about a straw man argument.
Many of us cheer the vinyl option as it's the true classic format for Elvis albums - for anyone old enough to appreciate it or young enough (as many of the new fans are) to come on board. Vinyl sales nationwide (USA) topped 2.5 million in 2009, a 33 percent increase from 2008's 1.9 million, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Compart that to the big decline in CD sales, which (for now) are still dominant over downloads and other formats. So, maybe, just maybe, FTD knows what they're doing.
As a side note, most fans actually prefer digipaks because (surprise) they have the quality and feel of the old albums, instead of the clunky and easy-to-break (if easier to replace) jewel case. It's only a minority that prefers the jewel case these days. So be it.
Greg nolan negative comments about releases and ernst etc are better than personal attacks on someone because of there view.many people love to agree,that way they can fit in with everyone,its takes more courage to tell it like it is than to just nod in agreement. The truth is Ftd isnt all good or bad,on every release someone weill say they dont like it,its always been that way,plenty of people praise ftd and ernst,some wont even admit they at time do shoddy unfocused work. When it comes to the short comings of ftd i dont know if its ernie faults,sony is probally cheap with the budget,one other problem with ftd is the lack of contact with the fans,not to mention the issue with ftds going foggy. I also find it an insult when other act like one person is more important over another,if were Elvis fans isnt that enough or do we need to know every silly detail about Elvis?My remakrs for this release are i dont like vinl and i dont need this,isnt not really a new release and ftd needs to get there cd release right before going into new adventures. With that said there are some ftds i like,i just wished they had not been thrown into cheap digi packs!
A part of the appeal of the FTD Elvis vinyl re-issues (and the overall revival of vinyl sales) is that many of us first encountered Elvis on wax and not shiny digital discs that are much smaller. So I've slowly gotten back into Elvis on true records, in some cases buying a few I had sold during the CD revolution which at the time seemed so fantastic.
The fact of the matter (in the U.S. at least) vinyl is making a fairly sizeable sales comeback in record stores and, hold on your hat, Zoltan (born in 1984?), it's "kids" (meaning teens and 20 and 30-somethings) who are the ones behind the increase in sales! Bigger format, classic, "homey" sound (all sort of intangibles) but hey, it's back. CDs sadly (and I mean that) are sliding fast in the digital revoltion. You want "compact"? Try to beat an Mp-3. But if you want the full feeling and experience, enjoy one of the FTD vinyl titles.
There are a few dismissive types (either old fans who are now anti-vinyl or young ones who don't get it) but a quite a few know the FTD vinyl titles are a blast.I love FTD"s vinyl records of "Standing Room Only," "The Jungle Room Sessions", and "Blue Hawaii," all 2-LP deluxe sets. I also picked up 2008's RCA Heritage / Sony vinyl re-issue of LPM-1254 "Elvis Presley" (1956) when in Nashville last year, another nice addition/ upgrade of my worn '70s copy, which I'll keep for nostalgia.
Despite some audiophile concerns that these are mastered from digital sources, not analogue, as the purists prefer, they still are on thick (180-gram vinyl) look and do sound great all the same, to my ears. The artwork is so much better in full size.
I think a different title for this news ("Next FTD") might have kept the relative minority of vinyl critics off the page. Dr. John (presumably no relation to another internet DJC), I feel for you as despite the outpouring of (justified) support for Elvisnews sometime ago, at the same time I noticed it has some of the worst bottom-feeding negativity to be found. To beat out FECC can be quite a feat! Ernst Jorgensen needs no defense, most true fans know the Joan Deary years all too well. Rock on, FTD - CD and vinyl! As always, the maxim remains, "if you don't want it, don't buy it." Here's to FTD's continued busy release schedule!
lamp light (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 14, 2010report abuse
drjohncarpenter please don't leave this site i cherish your opinion on all things Elvis. Please try and ignore some on this site most of us as you said are true Elvis fans and we like reading your comments it's very helpful. Some fans on this site have been very rude but that's just the way some are i just chose to ignore them and don't comment much at all. I hope you decide to stay if not i will truly miss you.
DekeR (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 10, 2010report abuse
I was 13 when this album came out. I love 'Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues'. That and 'Got a Thing About You Baby' were the highlights. This is the album that started me wanting to sound like Elvis. I have the cd version and it's great. It takes me back to being a young teen and being the only kid that liked Elvis in my hood.
Deano1 (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 9, 2010report abuse
I love vinyl and I would consider buying this one even though I didn't buy the FTD CD version. I would prefer other Elvis albums on vinyl long before "Good Times", but oh well. Two things... the LP is not a classic and Ernst has done a good job and I guess I am in the 20% who don't hate him.
On the album being a classic, I have made my opinion known, it is NOT a classic. It was the worst selling RCA Elvis album (other than "Having Fun With Elvis On Stage") during Elvis' lifetime and I agree with dgirl that "Spanish Eyes" and "Take Good Care of Her" are not songs that demand playtime (well sung, but not overly interesting) and "She Wears My Ring" is very subpar. "If That Isn't Love" ranks in the bottom 10 of Elvis' sacred recordings and that leaves us with six songs and only "Lovin' Arms", "I've Got A Thing About You Baby" and "My Boy" rank as top notch. "I've Got A Feeling In My Body" and "Talk About The Good Times" are good (not great), but should have been on a rock/uptempo album. "Talk About The Good Times" is good LP filler, but nothing more.
There is no requirement to buy everything FTD releases. They are trying to release things that will appeal to different Elvis fans. Some like soundboards, some want every outtakes from every session, some want vinyl, some want collectable books, some want movie soundtrack LP's, some want digipaks, some want 7" tri fold sleeves and some want audience recordings. Pick and choose, an Elvis fan is not judged by how many FTD's he/she can collect, but rather by how much they enjoy what they purchase. Isn't FTD a collectable label that is meant to release items that wouldn't sell to the masses? If FTD wants to release a boxed sight of "Having Fun With Elvis On Stage" on colored vinyl and only three people buy it, who cares? If they like their purchase and they are happy, isn't that what matters.
benny scott (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 9, 2010report abuse
clp1093 : you don't have to apologize at all IMHO . I agree with KT about having the right to express an opinion, I agree with him about Ernst, I agree with him about not attacking other members by posting rude comments, but I really don't understand his statement regarding you and drjohn being "self-gratifying". In any case, your posting didn't come over in such way, at least not as far as I'm concerned. If KT wishes to explain his point of view about the "self...." he's welcome ! Always El.
clp1093 (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 9, 2010report abuse
KT I did not make the remarks to appear self gratifying and if that is how they came over, I apologise. Nowhere did I mention that us old uns were better fans, just that we've been there, done it and got the t-shirt. The point I was making and I think you agree with me is we should not bring this forum down to rude remarks about other contributors or to people like Ernst. Of course people have the right to comment but those comments need to be constructive not destructive and as many have said no-ones holding a gun to our head to buy this or any other release whether on FTD or import. Hope this clarifies my position
KTemple (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 9, 2010report abuse
I do not agree with the last remark, that if you are not going to purchase the item do not comment. Everyone has the right to comment and express why they are passing up a release like this. It's interesting to hear what peoples opionions are. I also dont agree with self gratifying comments like the last one and Dr John's. I wasnt born until the 70's, does the fact that you lot were around from the start make you better fans? No it just makes you luckier. I'd have loved to have lived through Elvis' career, when he was alive and releasing albums, movies and performing concerts. Anyone who is old enough to have been around from the start is lucky.
I also don't agree with people personally attacking the likes of Ernst and members of this site. No one holds a gun to your head to buy anything. Ernst has done a great job most of the time. This release and the King Creole book are low points but you cant please everbody all the time. Personally I think its pointless releasing albums on vinyl that were originally released on that format in the first place. It would be better to release a soundboard or some other FTD's on vinyl but not album that we already have on vinyl and cd. Thats my opinion anyway.
Oh dear, here we go again. I agree most strongly with Dr John and think it would be a tragedy if he stops contributing to this site. Why make a big deal out of who or why does someone want to buy this release? If you're passing on this release, as I am, why bother to make a comment? FTD has its faults, as does Sony and RCA and even Sun. Sam Phillips did not keep an accurate log of all the early recordings and 'lost' one of the tapes when they we turned over to RCA! Now I'm not going to bore you all with a detailed personal history but suffice it to say my first record was Heartbreak Hotel on 45 when it was released. In the early 80's I launched CD for one of the giant Japanese corporations in the UK. For about the first 5 to 6 years after the launch of CD I had EVERY Cd release of Elvis worldwide in addition to every US and UK vinyl. And I'll tell you this, prior to Ernst the catalogue was a joke,32 Film hits 1 and 2, WOW. Electronic stereo release of King Creole. In the USA, electronic stereo releases of the first 2 albums. A complete joke. Ernst changed all this, first on the regular RCA label and then FTD. As has been said so many times, you don't have to buy it and I would suggest if you're not buying it, don't comment on it. For our young friend in Germany where vinyl sells for 1 to 5 Euros, get me any original Elvis German release both EP of LP and I guarantee I will pay you 5 Euros minimum. A final plea, we are all on here because we admire the man, maybe we have different areas of interest, but this bond MUST be kept strong and we must respect each others points of view. So please no more silly posts. By the way I now burn all Elvis music to FLAC which is the best sound quality, not the childlike MP3 rubbish!
Always Elvis
Swen (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 8, 2010report abuse
You´re so right hounddogman and drjohn! What´s the matter with people these days? Here we are the most spoilt music fans in human history. First we were given Elvis himself by the dear God, and then we were given the chance to buy almost anything this fantastic singer ever recorded, and sang at concerts. Thanks to people like Ernst Jorgensen and Roger Semon and many others. And still people keep coming here writing rude pieces about Elvis and other fans. I just don´t get it.
Even after all these years I still discover new things I did not know. I heard for the first time "Anyone" which was not used in "Kissin´ Cousins". And it was beautiful, film song or not. Come on, Elvis friends. Enjoy the art of Elvis Presley, and life.
Hi drjohn, I know what you mean and how you feel ! But don't give up ! After all, we're talking about only a minority of so-called "fans" . There was a time when I was reacting too, every time the same pityful losers posted negative and/or trashy comments . I found a very simple solution : I let them write their stupid stuff and do not react anymore. This is the shortest way make them clear that in the end they'll be ignored by most of the real fans. It still gives me a good feeling to read comments which give proof of common sence, and you're one of those people writing such statements,and, luckily, there are many other members doing the same. I know their names ! Forget about the agressive and rude ones, ignore them, and they'll crowl back in their shell in the end. Always El.
theoldscudder (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 7, 2010report abuse
Always thought this Lp should have been titled Where Have The Good Times Gone? I do like it better than almost all the soundtracks & certaintly The (cringe) Blvd Album. But it's just thrown together & I'd rate it below average for Elvis.
Tony C (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 7, 2010report abuse
drjohncarpenter0117, you are spot on. I agree completely, the postings from some people who regard themselves as Elvis fans are beyond a joke.
drjohncarpenter0117 (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 7, 2010report abuse
This forum is beginning to remind me of a old vinyl/cd called 'Elvis sings for grown up and kids too' why can some people not realize that there are a lot of life time serious Elvis fans out there who know there stuff and have since the 50's,60's and to the present day dedicated there lives to Elvis Presley.
People who constantly strive to trash all things Elvis i do not have the time for and therefore have decided to no longer give any opinions on all things Elvis on this forum........hey no loss to anybody but myself but am sick and tired of the constant attack on certain well respected fans and of course Elvis Presley.
I am not saying everything that comes out Elvis wise is perfect and of course alot of mistakes have been made along the way but to me being a Elvis fan/collector is a great source of fulfilment in my life and get a great buzz tracking down cd's/albums etc, i just feel that the enjoyment of reading and coming to this web-site on a daily basis has long gone and will in future put my input elsewhere........at least fans/collectors all have one thing in common the love of Elvis Presley.
Many thanks to all involved in this website andd i wish you every success in keeping it going!....i feel you may need it the way things are going.?......
FLY-TROUBLE! (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 7, 2010report abuse
Yeah,it will be shorter!:) For less you will have to pay more:)
marco31768 (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 7, 2010report abuse
I guess that tracklist will be different than CD...
Somebody mentioned below that 80% of Elvis fans hate Ernst. I wonder where this poll was conducted. Perhaps the poster was the only one to take part and he hates Ernst 80% of the time. That is possible, so people think that Elvis releases should be geared towards them alone. An example of this is the statement that somebody does not collect vinyl because he was not born in Elvis' lifetime, therefore it should not be released.
Aaron Spicer (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 7, 2010report abuse
I notice that the people who make all of the nasty comments don't use their real names. '80% of Elvis fans' hate Ernst. What place is there for these kinds of absurd, slightyl deranged, comments on this website?
What happened to the promised 2 FTD releases every 6 weeks as was promised this year? Is this re-release part of that?
The FTD vinyl is way overpriced. I would condider mydelf a young fan and mostly into cds however I have the original vinyl from 1974 and the FTD cd version so I am certainly not interested in this. They should release some of the soundboards on vinyl if anything.
Hi friends, would be nice if some of you would hold their horses ! Liking or not liking LPs or CDs is, imho, partly depending of to which generation you belong. So a little respect for each others opinion pls ! One can make a statement in a civilised way without using strong language or bashing people. As for Ernst, you may like him and his work or you may not, but I think that no one can deny that FTD gave us a lot of good releases (not all of them, I agree ) in the past 11 years . Nobody's perfect ! Personally I like vinyl and CDs . In my younger years my very first record I purchased was a 78rpm-shellac, then came vinyl and cassettes, now we have CD. Nothing wrong with liking these audio-bearers in general. Don't forget there are also collectors, a lot more one could imagine.Nostalgia can also play a part . To each his own, so pls stop critisizing people who do not always share your personal opinion. The main thing that counts :let's all pull the same rope : Our Man's Music ! Always El.
duckworthdaniel (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 7, 2010report abuse
Ernst is great. Before Ernst came along it was like a dark hole. As a 45 year Elvis fan I feel that no one treated Elvis's music with the reverence that Ernst has. I guess what I'm saying is don't be so negative. I don't buy the LP's because I'm happy just having the CD's. Either way I think it's great that LP's and CD's are both available.
Mofoca22 (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 6, 2010report abuse
why do some of you people complain? if you dont wnat it dont buy it. there are young fans here like myself that are happy as can be that these classic albums are being released in cd and record form. i hop ethey keep up the good work though i wish they would slash the price a bit. i cant really afford the price they charge i always have to save to be able to buy. i would like to not have to save and just go out and buy it thats the only complaint i have. other than that i love FTD and i hop ethey keep up the great work and great releases i would love to have everything they have released someday and have all of elvis's orginal albums and the newer stuff that keeps coming out.
Fujj. Fujj. Fujj. Why ernst jorgenses releases such substandard material? LP's,weighty books with the same wellknown photos. Mastering errors,unnecessery edits,wrongly dated concerts.Go home Ernst and leave FTD alone. You won't be missed. 80% of Elvis fans hate you.
dgirl (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 6, 2010report abuse
Im not interested in this LP but for a different & valid reason. I never liked it. Didnt like it in 1974 (as well as many others by indication of its poor chart showing) , and dont like it now. The few good songs on here, I have on the 70's boxset & other cds. If I never hear Spanish Eyes, Take Good Care Of Her & She Wears My Ring again it will be too soon.
Erika Freiburger (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 6, 2010report abuse
I don't want to sound negative but i'm also not interested in LP's. In my country they sell used LP's for €1-€5 so it's shocking that FTD is asking €60 for the double LP's.
I can't believe the ignorant comments from the 'Snowman.' Do you realise how spoiled we have been with all the FTD releases and the glut of outtakes? It has been unprecedented. Talk to Beatles fans or Dylan fans and they are green with envy; and yet, people like the 'Snowman' still heap criticism on the excellent job done by Ernst Jorgensen. He must wonder why he bothers!! If you don't want the vinyl 'Good Times' don't buy it: it's not compulsory!! I have this release on CD and it is fantastic!! Well done Ernst. There are plenty of fans who appreciate you and do not write garbage for the sake of it.
SnOwMan (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 6, 2010report abuse
I hate these disgusting LP's. This summer offers nothing new. Just an LP reissue and a useless book with a useless CD. Holy crap! When they started FTD in 1999 we got previously unreleased material on each CD. Then in 2003 they started repackaging the same old crap on the so called classic albums. They even issued TICKLE ME which is a shame. Then things became worse and worse every year. In last year they started to release these disgusting LP's with no new material at all. Quit,Ern$t Jorgen$en!
Zoltan84 (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 6, 2010report abuse
Yeah,i don't like them,because (unlike you) i'm still young. In 1993 when they stopped to press LP's,i was only 9 years only so i was never interested in shoddy LP's. I belong to the "CD-generation".
hounddogman, well put and to the point... congrats and look forward to more comments from a obviously respected fan.
hounddogman (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 6, 2010report abuse
I'm afraid that this thread is a very good example of what is happening to the decency of some Elvis fans. I welcome constructive criticism, but the constant negativity and whining of some people here is really something else!
Zoltan84, so you don't like vinyl albums? That's fine with me and because of your young age I may understand it too. When you were old enough to realize that there was more to music than lullabies, vinyl was long gone from the shops, so it's only natural that you don't relate to it.
However, although I buy CD's as well, I'm one of those who started collecting when vinyl was king. I don't want to go into the vinyl vs. CD sound discussion here, but some of us are actually fonder of vinyl for one reason or another. What makes you think you have the right to judge us all as being unintelligent? I hope you understand how such a remark exposes your own abilities.
It's not 1974, you say? Right, and that's why (thanks to FTD) you now have a choice: vinyl or CD or even both if you want. The choice is yours… but it does not give you the right to condemn others!
Jerome-the-third, so you "need a new frisbee"? What makes you think we're interested? I'm quite sure you're not thinking of using an Elvis record as Frisbee, because I can't imagine an Elvis fan or music lover would ever do that…
GeertFromNL, "otherwise there will be very serious problems. What kind of problems? Well,you'll see that later." Oh, so because you're not happy about the latest news from FTD, you're threatening them? Are you going to put them out of business or…? I'm sorry, but that's just pathetic…
No, you're not expected to buy "Good Times" on vinyl or anything else for that matter, but you now have the choice of being selective, and although at first it may seem hard for you to make all these decisions on your own, go ahead and try – with a little practice it's quite easy to say yes or no…
Elvis_Fanatic (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 6, 2010report abuse
Love this vinyl LP. Of course, I own the original vinyl. That was the only way it was available when I purchased it. Shows how old I am..... but who cares. The sweet sound of vinyl can't be beat!!
Zoltan84, are you saying fans that buy vinyl are not 'intelligent' then with your last comment. :-(......surely people's buying habits do not give you the right to judge them in this way??. Just remember it was vinyl that Elvis first recorded on and to some fans/collectors this will always have a part in there collection. Now if you'd made a comment about FTD marketing ploy then maybe we have a point to make but please don't slate fans for what they choose to buy.... again??
"Next FTD",oh,good title. I'm glad that they didn't wrote "New FTD",because it's not new at all. Just the same old masters and the well-known outtakes. This time on vinyl. But intelligent fans don't buy vinyl. It's 2010 now,no 1974.
Jerome-the-third (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 6, 2010report abuse
would love to have this for the summer (I need a new frisbee)..
I have very fond memories of buying this LP in the seventies, I do like it as an album. It's nice to have a vinyl edition of the expanded version for collectors of that format. I notice we have the usual ranting from one of our friends. All of these releases do have an opt-out policy, this means that not everybody has to buy everything and that we can pick and choose.
I am Buffalo-Horn! (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 6, 2010report abuse
Great release to have for the 75th Anniversary. It has become fashionable to 'pan' the Stax sessions, perhaps due to the comments of some of the lesser musicians at the first sessions, but these sessions resulted in some incredible songs, & you can now buy them here on Vinyl. A lot of us like Vinyl as well as CDs, so moaning about being given a choice is not productive. I'm not going to get into the argument of whether LPs sound better, but they certainly look better, & are more collectable!
I remember a Stax exhibition off Beale Street in Memphis about a decade ago & the manager argueing with me that Elvis never recorded at Stax. I got the distinct impression they did not want to associate Elvis with Stax. Now they are keen to capitalise on this to connection get tourists into the (rebuilt) Stax site. As an Elvis fan it's frankly not worth the money, but it's good to have the last laugh!
JerryNodak (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 6, 2010report abuse
Yes, It will be a double LP. I don't think they necessarily EXPECT you to do anything. They're simply making the product available in vinyl. If you want it, buy it. If not, skip it. They did the same thing with Blue Hawaii and SRO.
snowplow floater (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 5, 2010report abuse
i wonder if its a double album with outtakes. I read the reason vinyl has better sound is cause there's bigger bands and grooves. ifs its a doube, the sound should be real. Its a great album, i Love it. It got ignored back in the day and everybody involved in the sessions seemed to pan them after The King passed, but there's lots of creativity at these sessions. Once again Elvis covers all the genres with ease and authority. His music is reflecting contemporary trends and those trends have stayed contemporary. Loving arms is one of his best vocal performances ever. A real highlight. More is the pity that Rca bought out all theold recordings and flooded the market with Elvis' past achievements while burying these fine recordings with too much product.
GeertFromNl (profile/ contact) wrote on Jul 5, 2010report abuse
WTF? Just bought it on CD a few months ago. And now they expect us to buy it again on vinyl? Ho-ho-hooooo,give it a break,FTD,otherwise there will be very serious problems. What kind of problems? Well,you'll see that later. Until then,STOP this stupid behavior (releasing the same stuff again & again). Ho-ho-hooooo,Ernest Jerginson,stop it,stop it now! I'm still calm.


text:
Home>Browse>Books>Children's>Young adult non-fiction>Playground
Listening to Stories from Country and from Inside the Heart
Compiled by Nadia Wheatley, illustrated by Ken Searle
With historical and contemporary photographs, artwork by leading Indigenous artists, and new colour illustrations throughout, this compilation of Indigenous stories gives a fascinating insight into Aboriginal childhood, both traditional and contemporary.
We use the bush as our school and as our playground, says one of the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whose voices combine in this anthology of true stories about childhood, compiled from a wide range of memoirs and oral histories.
Alongside reminiscences of getting bush tucker, going fishing and taking part in ceremony, there are descriptions of playing games, building cubbies and having fun. The warmth of home, the love of family and the strength of community shine through every story. Freedom goes hand in hand with responsibility, while respect and sharing are constant themes.
The eighty Elders - both past and present - who have contributed their words or artwork to this book include many prominent community leaders, educators and artists. Their life-stories span the twentieth century.
Just as important are the contemporary stories told by twenty secondary school students. Although some of these young people now make their home in the city, their connection to traditional country remains the source of learning.
As we listen to these stories that come from country and from inside the heart, we find wisdom that could help us care for each other and for the land where we all now live.
NADIA WHEATLEY, the compiler of Playground, is an award-winning author and historian whose books over some thirty years reflect a commitment to issues of Reconciliation, social justice and the conservation of the environment.
Together with KEN SEARLE, the book's illustrator and designer, Nadia worked as a consultant at Papunya School (Northern Territory) during the late 1990s, when the school was developing its own two-way model of education. At this time, Ken and Nadia were privileged to experience Indigenous principles of learning in action. As part of their work, they assisted forty Anangu staff and students with the production of the Papunya School Book of Country and History, which in 2002 won the New South Wales Premier's History for Young People Award as well as the award given by the Children's Book Council of Australia for the best information book of the year.
Nadia and Ken later mentored Papunya artist Mary Malbunka through the process of writing and illustrating her award-winning picture book memoir, When I Was Little, like You.
In Playground, Nadia Wheatley and Ken Searle move outwards from the centre of Australia to continue their journey of listening to Aboriginal people and learning from country.
DR JACKIE HUGGINS AM is of the Bidjara and Birri-Gubba Juru people of Queensland. As well as being a renowned historian, Jackie has held leadership positions in many Indigenous organisations across the country for over two decades, and she is a former Co-Chair of Reconciliation Australia. In her role as Indigenous Consultant to Playground, Jackie acted as adviser and 'critical friend' to the book's compiler, Nadia Wheatley.
Category: Young adult non-fiction
Awards: Short-listed CBCA Book of the Year Awards, Eve Pownall Award for Information Books 2012 AU; Short-listed NSW Premier's History Awards, Young People's History Prize 2012 AU; Winner Australian Educaitonal Publishing Awards, Primary Education category 2012 AU; Commended Manning Clark House National Cultural Awards, Group category 2011 AU
Page Extent: 96
Format: Hard Cover
Subject: Young adult non-fiction


text:
New Century Art Gallery
New Century Art Gallery New Century Art Gallery New Century Art Gallery
A Modern Art Gallery Featuring Online Art, Classes, and Artist Resources
A Modern Art Gallery Featuring Online Art, Classes, and Artist ResourcesA Modern Art Gallery Featuring Online Art, Classes, and Artist ResourcesA Modern Art Gallery Featuring Online Art, Classes, and Artist Resources
Blue Water Art Association
About the Blue Water Association
The Blue Water Art Association fosters creative expression and exploration for artists; offers opportunities for sharing, learning and advancing artistic skills; and provides a nurturing environment of support to individual artists. Memberships are $40 a year, which includes the following: membership to the Port Huron Council of aging, workshops presented by skilled artists, demonstrations by members, opportunities to work with live models, still-life sessions, a monthly business meeting, "gentle" art critiques from peers, and occasional field trips. Please note: You are welcome to attend meetings before committing to joining.
Find out about upcoming meetings, events, and Blue Water Art Association happenings!
BWAA Happenings
Interested in more information or joining us? Email the Blue Water Art Association today at porthuronbwaa@gmail.com
Check out Blue Water Art Association social media pages!
Blue Water Art Association at Art On the River
The Blue Water Art Association participated in the Art on the River Festival, featuring BWAA artisan Mike Henry and other BWAA artists. The weekend was perfect and many came to enjoy the event!
Robert Fionda | Watercolor Painting
"I have the need to tell stories. I want people to experience what I have seen and felt as an artist."-Robert Fionda
Born in Dover, New Hampshire, Robert Fionda moved to the eastside of Detroit with his family. He lived there until his early twenties near the city airport and the Better Made Potato Chip Factory. It was there that Robert first showed interest in creating art while in 2nd grade at parochial school. Drawing stick figures, he was encouraged by his teachers. From this modest beginning, Robert grew in talent and skill to become a respected and collected watercolor artist with a studio in Armada Twp and an impressive art resume.
Robert was formally trained at Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and a Master's in Art Education. Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent are Robert's favorite artists. His work is influenced by their use of watercolor applications and brushstrokes in his medium of choice, watercolor.
The themes Robert usually returns to include tactile surfaces, florals with movement, imagery that holds emotional appeal, or a specific visual message. He doesn't have a set style; he uses whatever solves the artistic problem best. When asked how long, on average, it takes him to complete a piece of artwork, Robert responded "It depends on a myriad of personal and artistic factors."
Robert was asked how his personality is reflected in his work, he responded "My artwork reflects the visual experiences that have had a profound affect on me as an artist, it is important that I share that with the viewer." Robert's favorite work he has done is "Cruciflora del Christo", watercolor. "A summation of applications and personal insights that was the cumulation of a series."
Robert has been an honorary member of the Blue Water Art Association for over 10 years. In addition to his love of painting, he enjoys teaching and sharing his watercolor knowledge and craft. He has led a few workshops at the Blue Water Art Association over the years and is a popular instructor. "Art is important to me and the world because without a sense of appreciation for beauty of life through the arts, we then subject ourselves to a life that is less than fulfilling."
Robert Fionda's work can be acquired through his website, robertfionda.com or through New Century Art Gallery (www.newcenturyartgallery.com).
Blue Water Art Assoc.
Artist Mentorship 2022/23
New Century Art
430 S Water St, Marine City, Michigan 48039
Copyright © 2023 New Century Art - All Rights Reserved.


Even Jackie Chan's charisma cannot save this odd, disjointed, cross-border debacle.
Director Stanley Tong strains to create a souped-up, multicultural Indiana Jones adventure, but he seems to have forgotten to actually write it.
As a film critic, I get to see plenty of bad films, but every once in a while I see a film that is hypnotic in its awfulness; which means it's so bad that you can't look away. Kung Fu Yoga is one such film.
This is the first movie made under the India-China co-production treaty. And I have to admit, it must have sounded good on paper. Take one of the biggest action stars in the world — Jackie Chan. Throw in some nubile Indian beauties and Indian locations, mix in a plot about lost treasure, add exactly two and a half lines about yoga, and you have a mashup that sells in two markets.
It doesn't quite work out that way. The film ends with the cast dancing vigorously — moves choreographed by Farah Khan — on the steps of an ancient temple. By which time, some of the reviewers in the show I saw, were laughing out loud. A sort of cinematic delirium had set in.
Director Stanley Tong, who has also written the story, is big on simplicity and stereotypes. This isn't a nuanced take on either culture. It's designed as a rollercoaster ride.
But even cartoons need coherence. There were moments in the film when I had absolutely no idea what was going on.
The film ends with the cast dancing vigorously — moves choreographed by Farah Khan — on the steps of an ancient temple.
Kung Fu Yoga begins with a motion-capture sequence set in 647 AD. We are in the Kingdom of Magadha, where a rogue general is battling the forces of its princess. Chan plays the Tang dynasty envoy who is helping the princess.
We then cut to the present day, where Chan is China's greatest archaeologist, Jack, the same character he played in Tong's last film, The Myth. An Indian professor, played by a simpering Disha Patani, comes to Jack for help and they are off on a voyage to find lost treasure.
Tong strains to create a souped-up, multicultural Indiana Jones adventure, but he seems to have forgotten to actually write it. Kung Fu Yoga feels like a film that was made up on the spot.
The action lurches from China to Tibet to Dubai to Rajasthan. Much fuss is made about a 212-carat diamond. And at one point, Chan ends up in a car chase, with a lion in the backseat.
At 62, he still has the charisma and the moves. His agility and good humor help lift the leaden script. Sonu Sood gets to stand around in snazzy jackets and snarl, but his half-hearted villainy has no bite.
Kung Fu Yoga is peppered with random odd moments — at one point, the Indian professor is expounding China's 'One Belt, One Road' policy. In another scene, a line about Buddhism is bleeped out.
And where's the yoga, you ask? Well, in one scene, the characters use a 'fetal breath-holding technique' to escape.
That should give you some idea of what I've been through.


When asked how he wants to be remembered, 96-year-old Hal Haskell demurs—as usual.
"Somebody else can figure it out," he says. But a two-hour conversation in his memento-filled office, on the farm that his father bought about 125 years ago in Chadds Ford, offers some possibilities.
Playing with Andrew Wyeth, who lived over the next hill? "We were all in the same gang," he says.
Introducing San Francisco's thick milkshake to the East Coast? That was in 1948, when he ran Greenhill Dairies, with 18 curb girls serving shakes from Greenhill Avenue in Wilmington.
Working in Washington, at the invitation of friend Nelson Rockefeller, at the new Department Health, Education and Welfare and later the White House?
Running Abercrombie & Fitch for more than two decades? Olympian Jesse Owens worked for him.
Winning the 1956 Bermuda race, a 635-mile sailboat journey from Newport, Rhode Island?
Reforming federal law on adoptions, after adopting a son?
Fixing and updating the nation's air traffic control system? "I could see it was pretty crummy," he says, recalling headlines in 1957 when he revealed there were two near-misses a day in the air.
Sponsoring the National Defense Education Act, a $1 billion package of loans and scholarships that helped 30 million people learn, with an emphasis on science? Striking for someone who couldn't write until he was in seventh grade and whose education at Princeton was cut off by World War II (although he does have two honorary degrees).
Those three accomplishments were from his one term as Delaware's sole U.S. House member.
Playing golf with Dwight Eisenhower (the framed July 16, 1957 scorecard decorates his office) and hosting George H.W. Bush for a 1984 tennis match at his home?
Turning Wilmington around? That was from his one term as the city's last Republican mayor. "The town was a mess, and everybody was afraid." The first thing he did when he was sworn in in 1969 was removing the National Guard, mobilized after race riots the previous April. He also led efforts to halve crime. "We're in a repeat situation today," he says, but worsened by drug money and guns.
Being the oldest member of the Pine Valley Golf Club, "the hardest course in the world"?
"Decades of skillful, articulate leadership to America's park and recreation movement"? That's how the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration describes his 20 years on the National Recreation and Park Association board, and interest in fishing, hunting, golf, tennis, squash and sailing.
Adapting Outward Bound programs to educate leaders-to-be, like two of his daughters and Paul Newman's daughter as well, at the John Laws Institute of Worcester, Massachusetts?


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120-55 million years ago, India was the fastest tectonic plate in the history of the Earth, moving at a speed of 20 cm per year towards Eurasia. As a result…
In the Samara region, on the Samara Luka (in the bend of the Volga river), between the Kuibyshev and Saratov reservoirs, the state natural Zhiguli reserve is located. The Zhiguli…
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FANTASTIC BEAUTIFUL PLACES OF THE WORLD »
120-55 million years ago, India was the fastest tectonic plate in the history of the Earth, moving at a speed of 20 cm per year towards Eurasia. As a result of the collision of two continents formed the highest mountain system, the Himalayas, which continues to grow to this day. The reliable reason for such a rapid movement of the Indian Plate was never established, but now geologists seem to be as close as possible to the answers.
Actually, the status of the fastest part of the world, the Indostan platform holds today: it is also moving north, moving away by 5 cm per year. For comparison, the Eurasian tectonic plate shifts by no more than 2 cm per year, which is interesting in the same northern direction. This process leads to the further accumulation of subcontinents, which in turn leads to the growth of the Himalayas and the entire Tibetan highlands.
The results of a study by geologists from the University of Massachusetts indicate that the movement of India was accelerated by two large subduction zones – zones in which tectonic plates fall forehead head-on, the less dense of them sinks under another deep into the earth's mantle. According to scientists, in this situation the plate that was lowered is able to literally pull along the neighboring section of the earth's crust, on which the Indian plate was located.
The connection of the Indian platform with subduction zones and the acceleration resulting from it perfectly agreed with the results of computer simulation. According to preliminary estimates by scientists, the mysterious acceleration of India was the result of the "layering" of oceanic plates, which led to the actual "extrusion" of the subcontinent from the initial section of the earth's crust.
The very hypothesis of the two subduction zones on the territory of the modern Indian Ocean itself is indicated by a whole range of large submarine volcanoes that suddenly appeared about 80 million years ago.
There is also another theory. According to German geologists, the reason for the rapid movement of the Indian plate may lie in its small (half) thickness compared to other platforms, which in ancient times were a single supercontinent, Gondwan.
Posted in acceleration resulting, kind of closed loop, main stream against, penguin colonies
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meteorite found sacred place someday you have consisting of seven lakes lot of places for picnics and spotted deer which led a fig tree especially salmonids planted in memory most of the land is submerged the mammoths heart climb the lift in which Moses basket China worth the money stunning panoramic well as photos matures about Behind these old-timers ennobled it pine from the Kivach reserve beach American businessman Charles small sizes will find you themselves places listed creating an infinite hotel is built nearby feather-like feather swamp helicopter and enjoy Samara region treated by BRT is unusually wide world are kept rivers begins to falter cave was due to its huge size waterfall allow telephone booth thickness compared from evergreen tropical arising from which is a person and now thousands conditions monastery of St. Catherine mountain tundra and special


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GaN wins Contract to Develop Aircraft DVE Test Capability
By GaN NewsPublished On: June 4th, 2018Categories: GaN NewsComments Off on GaN wins Contract to Develop Aircraft DVE Test Capability
GaN Corporation (dba Geeks and Nerds) has been awarded a contract for the System-of-Systems Controlled Environment Test Infrastructure (SCETI) by the U.S. Government under the Training and Readiness Accelerator (TReX), OTA. This effort will be in coordination with the U.S. Army Program Executive Office Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO-STRI).
SCETI will simulate Army rotary wing aircraft during landings in degraded visual environments (DVE). The repeatable and safe test system will evaluate new DVE pilotage systems, currently in development, which will assist pilots as they land in heavy rain, dust, or other blinding conditions. This unique controlled DVE test infrastructure will be built for Redstone Test Center (RTC) on Test Area 3, just north of Martin Road West on Redstone Arsenal. SCETI's four 200-foot-tall towers will embellish the Huntsville skyline, providing connection points for the cable system that will simulate flight across the test range.
"PEO-STRI made a great decision awarding this unique and important contract to GaN. This will allow GaN to showcase expertise in systems engineering, systems integration, test technologies, software development, test and evaluation, and modeling and simulation. And most importantly, this project will be critical in helping the DOD solve the DVE challenge, which ultimately will save soldiers' lives," said Mike DeMaioribus, a GaN board member.


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"You were trapped to begin with"
"The Being and Nothingness Network: Social Media for Existentialists."
Nick Moran works on special projects for The Millions. He lives in Baltimore and he frequents dive bars. His interests can be followed on his Tumblr, Nick Recommends and Twitter, @nemoran3.
James Salter (1925-2015)
C. Max Magee June 20, 2015
Writer James Salter died on Friday. We interviewed him in 2012 and he reflected on memory and on his long life as a writer. He said, "Everything you know, nobody else knows, and everything you imagine or see belongs to you alone. What you write comes out of that, both in the trivial and deepest sense." Prior to that, in 2010, Sonya Chung wrote about Salter's legacy and how he finally seemed to be getting his due as more than just "a writer's writer."
C. Max Magee
Picture a Conflict
Thom Beckwith March 1, 2013
Strolling Story
Tess Malone May 10, 2014
Recommended Reading: Lydia Davis's new short story, "Old Men Around Town," in the New Statesman. "He stops to tell us that he must be up early in the morning – to get down to the factory. The factory is gone, his men are gone, but he still seems to be in charge of something." For more Davis, check out her new collection.
Tess Malone
Illustrated Joyce
Nick Moran June 1, 2014
Stony Road Press has teamed up with the James Joyce Centre to release a limited edition handmade book, "reproducing the original 1914 text" of "The Dead," and featuring really interesting hand printed illustrations by Robert Berry. Check out some examples here, here, and here.
Zazen!
Emily M. Keeler August 31, 2012
Congratulations are in order for Vanessa Veselka: PEN American has awarded her debut novel Zazen the Robert W. Bingham Prize. I first heard about the novel last year, from what was then the brand-spanking-new LARB, though this Minnesota Public Radio profile of Veselka is also a great way to get acquainted with her exciting talents.
Emily M. Keeler
Why Reading
Kirstin Butler August 20, 2017
"Unlike, say, skimming a page of headlines, reading a book (of any genre) forces your brain to think critically and make connections from one chapter to another, and to the outside world. When you make connections, so does your brain, literally forging new pathways between regions in all four lobes and both hemispheres. Over time, these neural networks can promote quicker thinking and may provide a greater defense against the worst effects of cognitive decay." Readers Digest compiles the latest research about why you should read (via Book Riot).
Kirstin Butler
Lewisohn's Beatles Biography Hits Another Snag
Nick Moran August 25, 2012 | 1
Leading Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn has been working on a three-volume biography of the Liverpool band for almost a decade. Tentatively titled The Beatles: The Complete Story, the first installment was due for a publication date this year. Unfortunately, Volume One, which tracks the group from the beginning through December 1962, has hit yet another delay, and fans likely won't see it until 2013. As Lewisohn says, the accuracy takes time, and "the whole ethos of the project is 'do the job properly'." Lewisohn's last work was the 2006 Complete Beatles Recording Sessions.
Pricey Pads
Nick Moran April 4, 2013
A real estate blog has calculated the approximate value of Hogwarts, and you might be surprised to learn that it's worth only a fraction of a real life abode in Mumbai, and only about three times more than one in Orlando.


For visualisation systems established by our company we offer sceneries development of any level of sophisication. Depending on the quantity of information about an airfield, photos as well as its descriptions in the form of charts, it is possible to create absolutely exact copy of an airfield from real lines of apron marking to constructions of photographic quality. We can reconstruct any terrain features: forest areas, towns, roads, water areas; design terrain, airfield equipment and lighting facilities; animate radars, boarding bridges and other equipment.


Alex Kornbrust of Red Database Security Gmbh has made a presentation at Blackhat 2005 Amsterdam last Friday, April 1st. Alex talked about database rootkits, and Oracle rootkits in particular. The presentation is available in English and also in German.
This is a great presentation and is probably the first place that Oracle rootkits have been talked about publicly. Alex first talks about what a rootkit is, giving a wikipedia definition and then relates the OS equivalent components to the database. He then talks about how Oracle resolves the paths to views and code and discusses how a rootkit may be created for Oracle. He then looks at specific examples to hide a database user created by a hacker and also to hide processes and jobs. He then talks about how PL/SQL packages may also be modified. Finally Alex talks about a new product released by his compant called "repscan". Repscan is a repository integrity scanner for Oracle and can be used to check if any components of an installed Oracle database have been modified. You can download a limited trial version of repscan that will scan up to three databases.
Rootkits for Oracle are an interesting concept and will become more prevalent as database hackers become more sophisticated. A true rootkit for an Oracle database would need to be quite huge because there are a lot of views and packages that can expose a hacker user and processes. Creating a true rootkit would be a large task, also there are inherent problems with any DBA who accesses base tables such as SYS.USER$ as they would not be hidden via a rootkit created with hacked views. It may be possible to also hide users in dictionary base tables but this would be far more involved to achieve. A true rootkit for Oracle would also include other parts such as log cleaners and backdoors. Alex talks about some good ideas on how a root kit may be installed by exploiting the glogin.sql script. This is a script executed when a user connects to the database via SQL*Plus. If th file can be modified by a hacker then he can wait for a DBA to execute it for him thereby installing the rootkit (or indeed accomplishing any other hack such as granting DBA to any other user!!).
I have also talked about Oracle rootkits in detail in the new SANS Oracle security track that will be debuted in San Diego from April 7th to April 12th. The link gives details of the Securing Oracle track, a course overview, the authors statement (me) and also details of requirements and details for each day are included in the links on the right of the page. I will talk more about the course in a later blog entry.


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Q: Loading rasters from a GeoPackage into QGIS modeler based on attribute information? I am looking to load raster layers from a GeoPackage based on strings of attribute information that is stored in a field. The process I am looking for is as follows:

*

*Site Boundary created before the model is used as a model input.

*10km Tile (OS data) ready for use as a model input.

*

*Buffer of site boundary to create generate area of interest to select tiles.

*Intersection of buffer with 10km tiles generates attribute information for 'Tile name'

*'Load layer into project' - identifies multiple tiles based on 'Tile name' to add to the project.

I am stuck with getting the 'Load layer into project' to add layers from a GeoPackage and have not been able to achieve this even for an individual raster layer in a GeoPackage.
I am using QGIS version 3.8

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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International Law Enforcement Operation Targeting Opioid Traffickers on the Darknet Results in over 170 Arrests Worldwide
Washington, DC - Tuesday, the Department of Justice, through the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team joined Europol to announce the results of Operation DisrupTor, a coordinated international effort to disrupt opioid trafficking on the Darknet. The operation, which was conducted across the United States and Europe, demonstrates the continued partnership between JCODE and Europol against the illegal sale of drugs and other illicit goods and services.
Operation DisrupTor builds on the success of last year's Operation SaboTor and the coordinated law enforcement takedown of the Wall Street Market, one of the largest illegal online markets on the dark web.
Following the Wall Street Market takedown in May 2019, U.S. and international law enforcement agencies obtained intelligence to identify Darknet drug traffickers, resulting in a series of complementary, but separate, law enforcement investigations. Operation DisrupTor actions have resulted in the arrest of 179 Darknet drug traffickers and fraudulent criminals who engaged in tens of thousands of sales of illicit goods and services across the United States and Europe.
This operation resulted in the seizure of over $6.5 million in both cash and virtual currencies; approximately 500 kilograms of drugs worldwide; 274 kilograms of drugs, including fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, MDMA, and medicine containing addictive substances in the United States; and 63 firearms. Darknet vendor accounts were identified and attributed to real individuals selling illicit goods on Darknet market sites such as AlphaBay, Dream, WallStreet, Nightmare, Empire, White House, DeepSea, Dark Market and others. By leveraging complementary partnerships and surging resources across the U.S. government and Europol, Operation DisrupTor was used to significantly disrupt the online opioid trade and send a strong message that criminals operating on the Darknet are not beyond the reach of law enforcement.
Operation DisrupTor led to 121 arrests in the United States including two in Canada at the request of the United States, 42 in Germany, eight in the Netherlands, four in the United Kingdom, three in Austria, and one in Sweden. A number of investigations are still ongoing to identify the individuals behind dark web accounts.
"Criminals selling fentanyl on the Darknet should pay attention to Operation DisrupTor," said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen. "The arrest of 179 of them in seven countries—with the seizure of their drug supplies and their money as well—shows that there will be no safe haven for drug dealing in cyberspace."
"With the spike in opioid-related overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize that today's announcement is important and timely," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "The FBI wants to assure the American public, and the world, that we are committed to identifying Darknet drug dealers and bringing them to justice. But our work does not end with today's announcement. The FBI, through JCODE and our partnership with Europol, continues to be actively engaged in a combined effort to disrupt the borderless, worldwide trade of illicit drugs. The FBI will continue to use all investigative techniques and tools to identify and prosecute Darknet opioid dealers, wherever they may be located."
"The 21st century has ushered in a tidal wave of technological advances that have changed the way we live," said DEA Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea. "But as technology has evolved, so too have the tactics of drug traffickers. Riding the wave of technological advances, criminals attempt to further hide their activities within the dark web through virtual private networks and tails, presenting new challenges to law enforcement in the enduring battle against illegal drugs. Operation DisrupTor demonstrates the ability of DEA and our partners to outpace these digital criminals in this ever-changing domain, by implementing innovative ways to identify traffickers attempting to operate anonymously and disrupt these criminal enterprises."
"U.S. Immigration and Custom's Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has played an integral role in Operation DisrupTor which has effectively removed opioids from our communities," said ICE Acting Deputy Director Derek Benner. "It has been an honor to work alongside our domestic and international law enforcement partners and pursue bad actors hiding on the Darknet. Our trained cyber analysts and investigators have conducted undercover efforts that target dark website operators, vendors and prolific buyers of these dangerous drugs. HSI special agents employ unique investigative capabilities to trace and identify the proceeds stemming from the distribution and online sales of fentanyl and other illicit opioids. These efforts will continue to thwart a significant amount of criminal drug sale activity and deter criminals believing they can operate with anonymity on the Darknet."
"The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has worked diligently for years to rid the mail of illicit drug trafficking and preserve the integrity of the mail," said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale. "Most importantly, these efforts provide a safe environment for postal employees and the American public. Today's announcement serves as an outstanding example of the worldwide impact Postal Inspectors can make through our ever-growing partnerships with federal and international law enforcement agencies. On behalf of the U.S. Postal Service, we offer our sincere appreciation to all of our partners in this operation who helped protect the nation's mail, and we pledge to never relent in our pursuit of criminals seeking to exploit the U.S. mail."
"Law enforcement is most effective when working together, and today's announcement sends a strong message to criminals selling or buying illicit goods on the dark web: the hidden internet is no longer hidden, and your anonymous activity is not anonymous," said Edvardas Šileris, the Head of Europol's European Cybercrime Centre (EC3). "Law enforcement is committed to tracking down criminals, no matter where they operate – be it on the streets or behind a computer screen."
The extensive operation, which lasted nine months, resulted in over dozens of federal prosecutions including:
The Los Angeles JCODE Task Force, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, successfully dismantled a drug trafficking organization that used online monikers such as "Stealthgod" to sell methamphetamine and MDMA on multiple Darknet marketplaces. Investigators have linked the crew to more than 18,000 illicit drug sales to customers in at least 35 states and numerous countries around the world. During law enforcement actions in Southern California earlier this year, members of JCODE arrested five defendants and seized approximately 120 pounds of methamphetamine, seven kilograms of MDMA and five firearms. Two of the five – Teresa McGrath, 34, of Sunland-Tujunga, and Mark Chavez, 41, of downtown Los Angeles – have since pleaded guilty to narcotics-trafficking and other offenses, and each faces a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence. As the investigation continued, the Los Angeles JCODE Task Force made additional seizures, including $1.6 million in cryptocurrency, 11 pounds of methamphetamine and 14 pounds of pills pressed with methamphetamine. Andres Bermudez, 37, of Palmdale, California, who allegedly was a main supplier of methamphetamine to the "Stealthgod" crew, was charged last week with a narcotics-trafficking offense that carry a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence. He is considered a fugitive.
Arden McCann, 32, of Quebec, Canada, was charged with conspiring to import drugs into the United States and money laundering conspiracy, in a four-count indictment returned by a grand jury in Atlanta, Georgia. According to court documents, the defendant is alleged to have imported alprazolam, fentanyl, U-47700, and fentanyl analogues such as carfentanil, furanyl fentanyl, 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl, acryl fentanyl, and methoxyacetyl fentanyl into the United States from Canada and China. The superseding indictment alleges that fentanyl analogues the defendant imported into the United States resulted in a non-fatal overdose in April 2016, and fentanyl the defendant imported into the United States resulted in an overdose death in December 2016.
Khlari Sirotkin, 36, of Colorado; Kelly Stephens, 32, of Colorado; Sean Deaver, 36, of Nevada; Abby Jones, 37, of Nevada; and Sasha Sirotkin, 32, of California, were charged with drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy, in a 21-count indictment returned by a grand jury in Cincinnati, Ohio. According to court documents, the defendants are alleged to be members of one of the most prolific online drug trafficking organizations in the United States and allegedly specialized in the manufacturing and distribution of more than one million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and laundered approximately $2.8 million over the course of the conspiracy. The pressed fentanyl pills, along with heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine, were shipped to the Southern District of Ohio and throughout the country. FBI, DEA, FDA, HSI and USPIS agents seized 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl; 5,095 pressed xanax; 50 suboxone; 16.5 grams of cocaine; 37 grams of crystal meth; 12 grams of black tar heroin; an industrial pill press; 5,908 pounds of dried marijuana with an estimated street value of $9 million; $80,191 in cash, 10 firearms and one pound of fentanyl.
The FBI Washington Field Office's Hi-Tech Opioid Task Force, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, successfully thwarted a firebomb attack plot involving explosives, firearms, the Darknet, prescription opioid trafficking, cryptocurrency, and sophisticated money laundering. William Anderson Burgamy, 33, of Hanover, Maryland, and Hyrum T. Wilson, 41, of Auburn, Nebraska, pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Virginia to charges related to a conspiracy to use explosives to firebomb and destroy a competitor pharmacy in Nebraska. Burgamy, who is not a pharmacist, operated as the Darknet vendor NeverPressedRX (NPRX) since at least August 2019. Wilson, who was a licensed pharmacist, illegally mailed to Burgamy over 19,000 dosage units of prescription medications, including opioids, from his pharmacy in Nebraska. Burgamy illegally sold prescription drugs through his Darknet vendor account to customers nationwide, and claimed at one point that he made nearly $1 million total. Burgamy and Wilson agreed that Burgamy and another individual would carry multiple firearms during the attack operation and use explosives, specifically Molotov cocktails enhanced with Styrofoam as a thickening agent, to burn the victim pharmacy down in furtherance of their drug trafficking scheme. Law enforcement agents seized thousands of opioid pills, eight unsecured firearms, including two loaded AR-15 assault rifles with high capacity magazines, and over $19,000 cash. Prior to Burgamy's arrest in April 2020, which uncovered and thwarted the firebombing plot, Burgamy and Wilson fully intended on the attack occurring after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.
Aaron Brewer, 39, of Corsicana, Texas, was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of a controlled substance in a two-count indictment returned by a grand jury in the Northern District of Texas. According to court documents, the defendant allegedly sold cocaine, heroin, and other drugs via the dark web. He allegedly accepted payment in cryptocurrency, primarily bitcoin, and then shipped the drugs to customers' addresses through the U.S. mail and other shipping services. Following Mr. Brewer's arrest on July 2, agents with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and FBI Dallas Field Office seized roughly 650 grams of black tar heroin, cocaine, and OxyContin, two computers, and more than $870 in postage stamps, as well as a ledger outlining 757 drug shipments sent to 609 unique addresses between December 2019 and March 2020.
An indictment and criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Operation DisrupTor was a collaborative initiative across JCODE members, including the Department of Justice; Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)'s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF); Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and Department of Defense (DOD). Local, state and other federal agencies also contributed to Operation DisrupTor investigations. The investigations leading to Operation DisrupTor were significantly aided by essential support and coordination by the Department of Justice's multi-agency Special Operations Division, the Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, and Organized Crime and Gang Section, the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs, the National Cyber Joint Investigative Task Force (NCJITF), Europol and its Dark Web team and international partners Eurojust, Austrian Federal Investigation Bureau (Bundeskriminalamt), Cyprus Police (Αστυνομία Κύπρου), German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt), Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Portuguese Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária), Dutch Police (Politie), Swedish Police (Polisen), the British National Crime Agency, Australia's Western Australia Police Force and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
Federal prosecutions are being conducted in more than 20 Federal districts, including: the Central District of California, the Eastern District of California, the Northern District of California, the Southern District of California, the District of Colorado, the District of Columbia, the District of Connecticut, the Middle District of Florida, the Southern District of Florida, the Northern District of Georgia, the District of Hawaii, the Western District of Missouri, the District of New Jersey, the Western District of North Carolina, the Northern District of Ohio, the Southern District of Ohio, District of Oregon, the Western District of Pennsylvania, the Northern District of Texas, the Eastern District of Virginia, the District of the Virgin Islands and the Western District of Washington.
JCODE is an FBI-led Department of Justice initiative, which works closely with the DEA-led, multi-agency, Special Operations Division to support, coordinate and de-conflict investigations targeting for disruption and dismantlement of the online sale of illegal drugs, especially fentanyl and other opioids. Additionally, JCODE targets the trafficking of weapons and other illicit goods and services on the internet. Operation DisrupTor illustrates the investigative power of federal and international partnerships to combat the borderless nature of online criminal activity.