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Hardy's Revenge to kick off on home track
Following an encouraging preparation at the end of last year, Hardy's Revenge will be resuming on his home track (Matamata) today in the maiden event for three-year-olds over 1200m with gun jockey Rory Hutchings in the saddle.
He would have kicked off his campaign earlier this preparation, although has played victim to a run of horrendous barrier draws, and today was not too far off either.
"He just couldn't draw an alley," co-trainer Chad Ormsby stated.
"We didn't want to give him a hard run first up, and needed a to draw a decent gate, but it is what it is and I think in his fresh up state he can be competitive."
Hardy's Revenge was able to produce two trial victories before producing gallant debut performance last year at Ruakaka which saw him run third to the eventual Group 1 placed Levin Classic winner Sardaaj.
To Thursday and Unknown Pleasures will be hoping to cap off some consistent performances of late as she heads down to Hastings for the Rating 75 event over 1600m.
"Ideally we wanted to step her up over ground after her last start, but we couldn't find anything suitable so we have kept her at the mile," said Ormsby.
"It has been a while between runs, although she's fit and I would be disappointed if she didn't give this field a decent shake."
Unknown Pleasures will be partnered by inform jockey Danielle Johnson and will be searching for her third career win to date.
[06 May 15]


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Copper and the World
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You have requested to access Oyu Tolgoi's Procurement information.
Oyu Tolgoi has a requirement that any business we do, we do with Integrity, this is outlined in a document called "The way We Work".
This means no facilitation payments, no bribes, no favors or payment in kind. It also means that all Conflicts of Interest should be declared before doing business with Oyu Tolgoi.
Therefore if you wish to progress to review procurement information please confirm your commitment that you and your company will comply with Oyu Tolgoi's The Way We Work. A copy of this can be found on our web site.
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After travelling on the overland conveyer from the primary crusher, the ore arrives at the concentrator which uses a series of complex mechanical and chemical processes to turn it into the final product, ready for export. This product is called concentrate, a fine powder, containing between 25 and 30 per cent copper and smaller amounts of gold and other minerals.
The concentrator can process up to 100,000 tonnes of ore each day.
About the concentrator
Oyu_Tolgoi_3D_animation_EN.mp4 The Oyu Tolgoi concentrator is the biggest industrial unit ever built in Mongolia. It contains enough steel to construct the Eiffel Tower three times, and took more than 15.7 million individual work hours to build.
Construction of the concentrator required the excavation of 6,068,286 cubic metres of earth and the laying of 171,055 cubic metres of concrete. A total of 20,927 tonnes of steel and 688,727 meters of electric cables were used in the construction of the concentrator plant.
The concentrator covers an area 255 metres long and 144 metres wide. The concentrator was commissioned on 27 December 2012, produced its first copper concentrate on 1 February 2013, and commenced shipments to customers on 9 July 2013. In February 2015, the one millionth tonne of copper concentrate was produced and shipped.
About copper concentrate
Oyu Tolgoi LLC Head Office
Monnis Tower, Chinggis Avenue 15
Sukhbaatar District - 14240
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Tel: +(976) - (11) - 331880, Ext: 3800
Fax:+(976) - (11) - 331890
All rights reserved © 2019. Oyu Tolgoi LLC

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Global Agenda
Education, Skills and Learning
It's not too late to learn a new language. Here's why
There's no reason why adults can't learn a new language just as well. It's a question of adjusting your mindset.
Image: REUTERS/Mike Segar
This article is published in collaboration with Education First
Erin Walton Writer, Education First
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It's well-documented that children with all their intrinsic learning capabilities have a headstart on the rest of us, so it's only natural to bemoan the fact that you weren't brought up by a Italian father and Chinese mother in Germany (the trilingual start to life would have been nice, right?).
But it's untrue that adults should shelve their goals to learn a new language. While you won't wake up spouting Italian, Chinese or German tomorrow, with the right approach and with a lot of dedication, there's no reason why adults can't learn a new language just as well. It's a question of adjusting your mindset.
1. You can change your expectations
If you start learning after childhood it's unlikely you'll achieve a native accent. But who cares? Fluency means different things to different people, and anyway, who said learning a foreign language has to be about passing as a native? The point of language learning is communicating with other human beings, so dial down the pressure.
Change "I want to camouflage myself amongst the Italians and never be – gasp! – discovered as a foreigner," to "I'd like to speak as well as I did in highschool," "I want to read intermediate level books in Italian," or "I want to converse with locals in a plaza while on vacation." These are all very reasonable goals for adult learners.
2. You're free to do what you want
Now we've adjusted our idea of what success means for you, let's consider two students: a six-year-old whose parents have signed him up for weekend English classes, and an adult studying after work. Who do you think will fare better after a year? Most, knowing that children possess "sponge-like" brains, would choose the six-year-old. He's learning without even trying, right?
Others, knowing from life experience that motivation and grit are valuable markers for success, would hedge their bets on the adult. And they'd have a point. Think about it: she's in class because she wants to be. She's paid with her own money and taken the time out of her day or or holiday do study. She has a clear goal in mind (see point 1) and knows the steps necessary to help achieve it. Because she has a goal, she applies herself both in and out of classroom and surprises herself when the year's over.
While it's not a given that an adult will improve more than a child, it's highly likely. Kids, however young and flexible of mind, are easily distracted, need regular snack breaks and are not known for actively applying themselves in the classroom. Motivated adults on the other hand? Definitely.
3. You are more financially stable
More mature adult learners are likely to have the increased freedom of choice which comes with being financially-established. It's no secret that spending time abroad immersed in a new culture and a new language supercharges your learning, and adult learners can often gift themselves this experience.
Whether retired, on vacation or on a sabbatical, adult learners benefit hugely from periods of overseas study, travel or expatry. And again – just like in the classroom example before – this experience is their personal choice rather than their parents' goal and therefore very likely to be fruitful.
4. You have the benefit of previous experience
Adult learners have already achieved fluency in at least one language: their own. Through years of chatting, writing and eavesdropping in their mother tongue, they've amassed a vast amount of knowledge (though perhaps unconscious) about how their language works. This knowledge base becomes extremely valuable when learning an additional language, especially if it shares a root with their mother tongue (like Spanish/Italian or English/German).
Adult learners can actively use their native tongue as a jumping off point, considering the connections between the two languages' grammar patterns or vocabulary. The differences between contrasting languages, on the other hand, are more easily analysed by adult minds. This in itself is another positive way to actively engage with language learning.
5. You have years of study experience
Your previous experience doesn't end there – as an adult, you have previous "learning experience" in buckets. Think about it: at school and university you probably became a pretty proficient learner overall, and later picked up a whole host of skills like changing a tyre, gardening, running a small business, arguing with a boss, raising children etc. You could easily write an essay entitled "I learn best when…" in no time.
This awareness of your own learning and thinking strategies is called metacognition and it's an awesome tool to use when approaching a new language. Thankfully, there are handfuls of ways to learn a language, ranging from weekly classes to language courses abroad (and yes, it's possible to learn a new language in a year). While a child is yet to learn how they'd prefer to approach a new subject, you have the benefit of past experience and can choose a method that suits you.
6. You have perspective
Not only can you muster up the kind of motivation and study skills a child can't, but you also have perspective. You know life is a journey and that learning a new language is just one way – perhaps one of the best ways – to get to know the world and make that journey a little more interesting. It's a window to a new culture, a new perspective on life and gives you the chance to connect with entirely new people, from all kinds of fascinating corners of our world. Learning a language is a tool to that end and your skills don't have to be perfect before you can start reaping those benefits.
License and Republishing
World Economic Forum Type may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.
Erin Walton, Writer, Education First
This article is published in collaboration with Education First.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.
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(Nanowerk News) Professors Frederick Gosselin and Daniel Therriault, along with their master's student Renaud Passieux, are not related to Spiderman, nor do they have Spiderman gloves. Nevertheless, these Polytechnique Montreal researchers have produced an ultra-tough polymer fibre directly inspired by spider silk! They recently published an article about the project in the journal Advanced Materials ("Instability-Assisted Direct Writing of Microstructured Fibers Featuring Sacrificial Bonds").
Three to eight microns in diameter but five to ten times tougher than steel or Kevlar: despite its lightness, spider silk has such remarkable elongation and stretch-resistance properties that humans have long sought to replicate it, in order to make products with those same characteristics.
In large part, spider silk owes its exceptional strength - meaning its ability to absorb a large amount of energy before failing - to the particular molecular structure of the protein chain of which it's composed. The mechanical origin of its strength drew the interest of researchers at the Laboratory for Multiscale Mechanics in Polytechnique Montreal's Department of Mechanical Engineering.
"The silk protein coils upon itself like a spring. Each loop of the spring is attached to its neighbours with sacrificial bonds, chemical connections that break before the main molecular structural chain tears," explained Professor Gosselin, who, along with his colleague Daniel Therriault, is co-supervising Renaud Passieux's master's research work. He added: "To break the protein by stretching it, you need to uncoil the spring and break each of the sacrificial bonds one by one, which takes a lot of energy. This is the mechanism we're seeking to reproduce in laboratory,"
Their project involves making micrometric-sized microstructured fibres that have mechanical properties similar to those of spider silk. "It consists in pouring a filament of viscous polymeric solution toward a sub-layer that moves at a certain speed. So we create an instability," said Renaud Passieux. "The filament forms a series of loops or coils, kind of like when you pour a thread of honey onto a piece of toast. Depending on the instability determined by the way the fluid runs, the fibre presents a particular geometry. It forms regular periodic patterns, which we call instability patterns."
The fibre then solidifies as the solvent evaporates. Some instability patterns feature the formation of sacrificial bonds when the filament makes a loop and bonds to itself. At that point, it takes a pull with a strong energy output on the resulting fibre to succeed in breaking the sacrificial bonds, as they behave like protein-based spider silk.
"This project aims to understand how the instability used in making the substance influences the loops' geometry and, as a result, the mechanical properties of the fibres we obtain," explained Professor Therriault. "Our challenge is that the manufacturing process is multiphysical. It draws on concepts from numerous fields: fluid mechanics, microfabrication, strength of materials, polymer rheology and more."
These researchers think that one day, there will certainly be composites obtained by weaving together tough fibres of the type they're currently developing. Such composites could, for example, make it possible to manufacture new safer and lighter casings for aircraft engines, which would prevent debris from dispersing in case of explosion. Many other applications can be foreseen, from surgical devices to bulletproof clothing to vehicle parts.


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Woman dies while examining crash damage on I-70
New 'Dateline' delves into high profile murder case of Florida law professor
(NBC News) — Tonight on "Dateline," when Florida law professor Dan Markel is found murdered in his garage, the investigation draws national attention and is featured in the podcast "Over My Dead Body."
Tonight's two-hour episode reveals the latest developments in the case and an inside look at the trial for the suspects accused of murdering Markel, including the newly released evidence and the bombshell testimony.
'Dateline: Death In The Driveway' on NBC4
Here's a preview of Dennis Murphy's report:
It's the story of a brazen shooting that would stump a team of law enforcement agencies. A saga that "Dateline" has been covering for five years.
JASON NEWLIN: It started as a true whodunit or a why did they do it.
GEORGIA CAPPLEMAN: It's as cold-blooded a killing as you can get.
It would expose the secrets of a bitter, messy divorce.
JEREMY COHEN: It just didn't make any sense to me. It seemed totally random.
And ignite a family's search for justice.
RUTH MARKEL: First shot. Then death. Then murder. You don't repair from that.
And tonight we have the latest developments in the case, with newly revealed evidence, new details and bombshell testimony.
JEFF LACASSE: After My stomach kind of flipped. It was like a chilling statement.
All of it forming the latest chapter in this explosive tale.
TARA KAWASS: Do you know who killed Dan Markel?
WENDI ADELSON: No.
Catch tonight's all-new "Dateline" at 9 p.m. on NBC4
About 'Dateline'
"Dateline NBC" is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history and is in its 31st season. Dateline is anchored by Lester Holt and features correspondents Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Natalie Morales, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy.
Dateline is the #1 Friday newsmagazine and reaches more than 17 million people every week through its broadcast, and millions more through its social media platforms and podcasts.
The stories range from compelling mysteries to powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. When major news breaks, they go to the scene, putting the pieces together to bring the viewer the full picture. And in every story they tell, they help the real people who lived the events share their journeys with the viewer.


Wear this NAAFI Pin with pride at any time of the year not just Remembrance Week.
The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI /ˈnæfiː/) is an organisation created by the British government in 1921 to run recreational establishments needed by the British Armed Forces, and to sell goods to servicemen and their families. It runs clubs, bars, shops, supermarkets, launderettes, restaurants, cafés and other facilities on most British military bases and also canteens on board Royal Navy ships. Commissioned officers are not usually supposed to use the NAAFI clubs and bars, since their messes provide these facilities and their entry, except on official business, is considered to be an intrusion into junior ranks' private lives.
NAAFI personnel serving aboard ship are part of the Naval Canteen Service (NCS), wear naval uniform and have action stations, but remain ordinary civilians. NAAFI personnel can also join the Expeditionary Force Institutes (EFI), which provides NAAFI facilities in war zones. EFI personnel are members of the Territorial Army serving on special engagements, bear ranks and wear uniform. NCS personnel can similarly volunteer to join the Royal Navy when it goes on active service. Petty Officer John Leake, NCS canteen manager in HMS Ardent, was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) in the 1982 Falklands War for his courage while manning a machine gun.


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Dial it Down a Little: Disney Lets You Shape Actors' Performances with New Face Director Software
The director Ruben Östlund shoots wide in 4K, composing the individual shots for films like Force Majeure by, in post-production, pushing in and moving from side to side. Now, Disney Research has developed a new tool, Face Director, that offers directors even greater possibilities; it crosses the final frontier in post-production manipulation: actors' performances. Whereas, previously, directors would shape a performance by using multiple takes or, in post, skillful editing and music, with Face Director directors can alter performance by modulating them between two extremes. From Disney's page: We present a method to continuously blend between multiple facial performances of […]
by Scott Macaulay on Dec 13, 2015
Offload Review – Red Giant Securely Transfers Your Media
There's a lot less to worry about when transferring footage off your camera than during the days of film (light leaks, scratches, unspooling, developing errors). But the copying of 1s and 0s from one form of media to another isn't always flawless, and with the amount of files generated, organization is key. To help with the process, Red Giant has released Offload – a very basic piece of software that serves one purpose – get the footage off your media cards and onto hard drives quickly and securely. Now, this isn't the first piece of software to do this. I've been […]
by Joey Daoud on Apr 12, 2015
Fractured Atlas's Artful.ly Software to Streamline Outreach
Aiming to give independent artists and arts organizations the same marketing power as their bigwig counterparts, the non-profit Fractured Atlas recently unveiled Artful.ly, a web-based software system that streamlines audience interactions. Among the service's offerings is a MailChimp integration that directly manages and catalogues email outreach, and a ticketing and fundraising apparatus that can be embedded onto websites. There are no sign-up fees or contracts, however, in the interest of an event, ticket buyers will be charged $2 per purchase in addition to credit card processing. Filmmaker spoke with Selena Juneau-Vogel, program director for Artful.ly, about how filmmakers can make […]
by Sarah Salovaara on Oct 29, 2013
Review: Audio Scanning Tool Boris Soundbite
Boris Soundbite is a handy tool that scans the audio in your media files and lets you search for words or phrases. Useful for documentary filmmakers, supercut editors, and anyone needing to search an archive of media. Best of all – it actually works. This is an idea that's been around for a while. I was skeptical at first as I've tried other solutions like this before with less than favorable results (like Premiere's transcribe feature), but where Soundbite succeeds is it only returns hits for a search, not a verbatim transcription. It matches the audio based on words or […]
by Joey Daoud on Oct 10, 2013
Paper Co-Creator Andrew Allen about his Award-Winning iPad App of the Year
Back in April I published this interview with Andrew Allen, filmmaker and developer with the software company 53, about his newly launched Paper app. This week the app was named by Apple as its #1 app of the year for iPad. Our original conversation about Paper's development, and Allen's journey from filmmaker to developer, is detailed below. — SM Andrew Allen, one of Filmmaker's "25 New Faces of 2011," had a big premiere this month, but it's not a film. Allen is part of FiftyThree, the company behind Paper, an iPad drawing app that made Apple's App Store "App of […]
Lightworks Revamp Just Around the Corner
Postproduction is in a state of flux. As is well known by now, Apple's latest Final Cut Pro iteration left a lot to be desired for professional editors, and competitors Avid and Adobe were quick to step in and lure away Final Cut users. And now the newest competitor is also the oldest. Lightworks, one of the first viable nonlinear editing systems when it was first released in 1989, has been used by luminaries like Thelma Schoonmaker and has racked up a number of Oscars and other awards, including a technical Oscar and Emmy for the system itself. It couldn't […]
by Randy Astle on Nov 29, 2011
Script Supervising Goes Digital
When I started out script supervising almost 20 years ago, the tools of the trade were a stopwatch, a pen or pencil, paper, a Polaroid camera and that all important bible, the script. Each script supervisor had his or her own idiosyncratic system for "maintaining continuity" of a film or a TV show, but walk on any set and the basic tools were all the same. Maybe you typed up your notes at the end of the night on, yes, a typewriter; maybe you didn't. Well the tools have now gone digital, thanks in large part to script supervisor Anthony […]
by Shari Carpenter on Jan 20, 2010


The insurance company Geico is seeking college graduates to enter a new three-year Technology Development Program based at the company's headquarters in suburban Washington, D.C. The full-time program is designed to give participants a "well-rounded experience within IT at Geico," it says.
"Our technology development program is designed to provide a foundation for success by providing our program candidates with a comprehensive set of experiences in mobile and Web development as well as IT operations," said CIO Greg Kalinsky in a statement.
Participants in the program will rotate through Geico's Information Services, Systems Operations and Internet Business divisions and work on individual and team projects, and develop technical, project management, communication and leadership skills as they go along. They'll work in programming, networking and architecture, software engineering and database management. After completing the program, participants will move into positions on Geico technical teams.
Applicants need a bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related technical field, an overall GPA of at least 3.2, and coursework or other experience using Java, .NET, iOS, Android and/or C#. Candidates more interested in IT Infrastructure can also apply.
Meanwhile, the company's just kicked off its fall college recruiting program.
If you're interested in the program, go to Geico's technology careers site, here.


text:
Q: onchange and onclick not work consistantly I'm trying to scrape data from a webpage. In this process, I need to change one of
the dropdown of that web page. I was able to do that. But when I manually change the
dropdown, webpage changes it's content like images and some other text. But when I do that
using VBA it doesn't do that. I tested my code several times. So if I run the program 10
times it will change the content 1 or 2 times. So I'm confused about what happening
This is the HTML of that dropdown area.

Product
<select id="pa_product" name="attribute_pa_product" data-attribute_name="attribute_pa_product">
<option value="">Choose an option…</option>
<option value="air-xs-2-octo-16-inch" class="attached enabled">AIR XS 2 Octo 16 Inch</option>
<option value="air-xs-2-octo-18-inch" class="attached enabled">AIR XS 2 Octo 18 Inch</option>
<option value="air-xs-2-octo-20-inch" class="attached enabled">AIR XS 2 Octo 20 Inch</option>
</select> Clear selection

And this is the code I have developed. I think onchange and onclick work rarely.
    Do
    DoEvents
    Loop Until objIE.readystate = 4

    'Body(HTML)
    'MsgBox objIE.document.getElementById("tab-description").outerHTML, , "OHTML"
    'MsgBox objIE.document.getElementById("tab-description").innerHTML, , "IHTML"
    'MsgBox objIE.document.getElementById("tab-description").innerText, , "ITex"
    WS.Range("D" & i).Value = objIE.document.getElementById("tab-description").outerHTML

    'Option 1 value
    'MsgBox objIE.document.getElementById("pa_product").outerHTML
    'MsgBox objIE.document.getElementById("pa_product").innerHTML
    'MsgBox objIE.document.getElementById("pa_product").innerText

    objIE.document.getElementById("pa_product").selectedindex = 1
    Application.Wait (Now + TimeValue("0:00:01"))
    'modify the web page for that selected item
    'For x = 1 To 5
    'objIE.document.getElementById("pa_product").selectedindex = 1
    Application.Wait (Now + TimeValue("0:00:03"))
    objIE.document.getElementById("pa_product").FireEvent ("onchange")
    objIE.document.getElementById("pa_product").FireEvent ("Onclick")
    objIE.document.getElementById("pa_product").FireEvent ("onmousedown")
    'Next x

    Application.Wait (Now + TimeValue("0:00:03"))

    WS.Range("J" & i).Value = objIE.document.getElementById("pa_product").Item(1).innerText

onchange and onclick not work consistantly
First I used one event. But no success. So I tried using all the events I found like this.                                                                                FireAllEvents (objIE.document.getElementById("pa_product"))                                                                                Function FireAllEvents(ByRef objHTML)
Function FireAllEvents(ByRef objHTML)
With objHTML
    .FireEvent ("onblur")
    .FireEvent ("onchange")
    .FireEvent ("oncontextmenu")
    .FireEvent ("onfocus")
    .FireEvent ("oninput")
    .FireEvent ("onreset")
    '.FireEvent ("onsearch")
    .FireEvent ("onkeydown")
    .FireEvent ("onkeypress")
    .FireEvent ("onkeyup")
    .FireEvent ("onclick")
End With
End Function

then i called this function like this
    FireAllEvents (objIE.document.getElementById("pa_product"))

    Application.Wait (Now + TimeValue("0:00:03"))

    WS_Oceanic.Range("J" & i).Value = objIE.document.getElementById("pa_product").Item(1).innerText
    objIE.document.getElementById("pa_product").Click

But it didn't work too.
Thank you very much.

A: This is dead easy with selenium basic wrapper for VBA. After installing selenium basic you add a reference to Selenium Type Library via  VBE > Tools > References
Option Explicit
Public Sub MakeSelection()
    Dim d As WebDriver
    Set d = New ChromeDriver
    Const URL = "https://oceanicaus.com.au/products/oceanic-airxs-2-octopus/"

    With d
        .Start "Chrome"
        .get URL
        .FindElementById("pa_product").AsSelect.SelectByIndex 1   'You can also use  .SelectByText

        Stop
        .Quit
    End With
End Sub

A: Sometimes you need to focus and unfocus an element in order for it pick up some events, or so I have found. The code below has been working reliably for me, albeit with only a few tests.
Instead of using the selected index, you can also use the value of the option to set the select value, which is what I've done below.
Public Sub SOTest()
    Dim ie      As Object: Set ie = CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application")
    Dim ele     As Object
    Const url   As String = "https://oceanicaus.com.au/products/oceanic-airxs-2-octopus"

    With ie
        .Navigate url
        .Visible = True

        Do Until .readystate = 4 And Not .busy
            DoEvents
        Loop

        Set ele = .document.getElementByID("pa_product")

        With ele
            .Focus
            .Value = "air-xs-2-octo-16-inch"
            .fireEvent ("onChange")
            .document.getElementsByTagName("button")(0).Focus
        End With

    End With
End Sub

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


John Hutchings has worked at UV wavelengths since the first space observations were made. His interests include hot stars, X-ray binaries, interstellar extinction, active galactic nuclei, and galaxy evolution. He has been on science and instrument teams for the IUE, HST GHRS and STIS instruments, FUSE, Astrosat-UVIT, and JWST. He has acted in advisory groups for most of these, as well as several X-ray astronomy missions. He has been based at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Canada throughout this time.


Regret Comes in all shapes and sizes. Some are small like when we do a bad thing for a good reason.
One of these days you're gonna wake up and have that same ache in your heart and realize how much I love you and whenever that day is I'll still be waiting for you and you'll come home to me.
Sometimes it seems like you are the only one in the world who's struggling, who's frustrated, unsatisfied, barely getting by. But that feeling's a lie. And if you just hold on, just find the courage to face it all for another day, someone or something will find you and make it all okay. Because we all need a little help sometimes – someone to help us hear the music in their world, to remind us that it won't always be this way. That someone is out there. And that someone will find you.
Regret comes in all shapes and sizes. Some are small like when we do a bad thing for a good reason. Some are bigger like when you let down a friend. Some of us escape the pain of regret by making the right choice. Some of us have little time for regret because we're looking forward to the future. Sometimes we have to fight to come to terms with the past, and sometimes we bury our regret by promising to change your own ways.
But, our biggest regrets are not for the things we did -- but, for the things we didn't do. Things we didn't say that could've save someone that we care about. Especially when we can see the dark storm that's headed their way.
It's always gonna be there, isn't it? You and me.
Does this darkness have a name? This cruelty this hatred. How did it find us, did it steal into our lives or did we seek it out and embrace it? What happened to us that we now send our children into the world like we send young men to war, hoping for their safe return but knowing some will be lost along the way. When did we lose our way? Consumed by the shadows swallowed whole by the darkness. Does this darkness have a name...is it your name?
If you could go back and change just one thing about your life, would you? and if you did, would that change make your life better? Or would that change ultimately break your heart? or break the heart of another? would you choose an entirely different path? or would you change just one thing? just one moment. one moment that you always wanted back..
in the feeling you get when you make someone else's dreams come true,or in a promise of hope renewed.
because you never know how great that happiness might be.
because you can't remember a time in your life when it wasn't.
But then one day you feel something else.
and in that moment you realize you're happy.
Have you ever wondered what marks our time here? If one life can really make an impact on the world? Or if the choices we make matter? I believe they do. And I believe that one man can change many lives... for better or worse!
Sometimes it's easy to feel like you're the only one in the world who's struggling, who's frustrated, or unsatisfied at barely getting by. But, that feeling is a lie and if you just hold on; just find the courage to face it all for another day, someone or something will find the way and make it all okay. Because we all need a little help sometimes, someone to help us hear the music in the world. To remind us that it won't always be this way. That someone is out there, and that someone will find you.
What's more important? What we become, or how we become it?
Sometimes I wonder if anything is absolute anymore. Is there still right and wrong, good and bad, truth and lies? Or is everything negotiable? Left to interpretation. Gray?
Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swaps of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists. It is real. It is possible. It is yours.
But if you're always looking for reasons not to be with somebody, and you always find 'em, then I guess at some point maybe you should let go and give your heart what it deserves.
It's you. When all my dreams come true, the one I want next to me is you.
Perhaps we all give the best of our hearts uncritically…to those who hardly think about us in return.
Peyton: You're always saving me.
We now send our children out into the world like we send young men to war, hoping for their safe return but knowing that some will be lost along the way.
…we all need a little help sometimes. Someone to help us hear the music in the world, to remind us that it won't always be this way. That someone is out there. And that someone will find you.


text:
Jacqueline Boyd
Animal Scientist, Nottingham Trent University
Profile Articles Activity
Jacqueline is an animal scientist now working in the commercial sector, previously employed as a lecturer in Animal Science at Nottingham Trent University. Jacqueline has a passion for domestic species, most notably dogs and horses. Her academic and research interests are broad ranging, from applied animal science relating the the health and welfare of dogs especially, the human-animal interaction, humane education and human behaviour change for animal welfare, the molecular biology of parasitic nematodes, the genetic basis of cryptobiosis and kinematics in sporting dogs. Jacqueline is very much an academic practitioner and recognises the value of science that has direct application and potential to improve animal health and welfare and how we interact with other species.
Lecturer in Animal Science, Nottingham Trent University
Southwell, Notts
@clonameg
Joined July 8, 2015


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Running a successful business in a recession requires an appreciation of two distinct roles, managing the day to day operations and building for the future. Every business person needs to know the importance of both 'hats'- and when they are wearing each one.
Some companies do well, both in good times and bad. They not only withstand the onslaught of economic recession, but they emerge stronger and fitter. Unsurprisingly, they also make the right choices when economies are growing.
Irrespective of the state of the economy, companies which regularly beat the competition have an ingrained ability to do two conflicting things at the same time. They run the day job effectively and efficiently and they make the right choices on how to grow. These require different, conflicting management styles: relentless detailed operational control, as well as having an eye for the main opportunity. Being great at both things is essential to long-term managed success.
Without clear growth management, companies often end up doing the urgent and forgetting the important. This is most true in a recession, when the extra focus on cash drives aggressive cost control and revenue chasing. But while there is a major focus on running the day job, successful companies also know how to build for the future.
Retaining an eye for the opportunity in the good times is relatively easy; keeping it when it gets tough is vastly more difficult.
Successful companies operate with two 'hats'. One hat – the operational hat- focuses on delivering immediate needs, driving revenues, costs and margins to meet cash and profit targets. The focus is on the known- we know what the market is, what customers want, what competitors offer. The other hat – the strategic hat– focuses on growth, driving long term sustainable business that predicts and responds to customer trends and opportunities. Here the management style tends to be openness and analysis of opportunities.
Critically, running the day job and delivering sustainable growth requires that both these different styles of capability and approach co-exist in the same organisation. In essence a succesful business must be able to wear these 2 hats comfortably.
The challenge comes when you are a small business and you are the sole owner/director and have the skills & aptitude of one of the 'hats' but not necessarily the other- this is when the input of a professional adviser is vital to help give you the perspective of the other 'hat'.


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Our mission, at Grupo Texo, is to establishing business areas to explore the real estate market in search for opportunities of investment that are compatibles and complementary to the different business trajectories of the group.
We try to extend the geographic diversification of the group, looking always for the maximization of the service and satisfaction we provide to our clients, and to the best interest, both, of the group members (employees and stock-holders), and that of the community.
At Grupo Texo, we promote the development of our clients' businesses by introducing concepts of high quality in the design.
Management of processes to attain a high quality project results.


text:
Pikovaja dama (Пиковая дама) è un film del 1960 diretto da Roman Irinarchovič Tichomirov.

Trama

Note

Collegamenti esterni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


School uniform can be purchased from School Time (please see details of how to order in the letter attached on the right hand side of this page).
Please read our uniform letter and the changes that will take place from September 2017.
© 2019 Maundene Primary School.


text:
Can't Get Any Respect! A Lectionary Reflection
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
Mark 6:1-13
Can't Get Any Respect!
Rodney Dangerfield is well known for his claim to "get no respect." Now Dangerfield has made a fortune with this persona, but respect is hard to get. It's especially difficult to get respect in your own home or home town. It's probably a case of being too well known. People know your foibles and your faults, especially if you're young and inexperienced. It's always best to get away from home and make a new life. That was true, at least, for me. Moving to California to go to seminary was the best move I ever made. I was able to escape from perceptions of who I was and what I was capable of doing. So, what does it take to get respect? Do you have to be a war hero like David? Despite all his exploits, Paul seems to struggle to get the respect of the Corinthians, and as for Jesus, his visit to Nazareth didn't go so well. Perhaps there's a more pertinent question to be asked and that has to do with the nature of respect we desire. Is it from the neighborhood or from God?
Our reading from 2 Samuel describes David's ascent to the throne of All Israel. The shepherd boy from Bethlehem has grown up and now reigns supreme in Israel, though it took time for him to consolidate his power. He had become king of Judah at the age of thirty, but it took nearly eight more years for him to gain control of the entire country. In this case, his own tribe was open to his leadership, but the rest of the nation wasn't as sure. Eventually, they came around and he would reign for another thirty-three years from Jerusalem. And as Mel Brooks said: "It's Good to be the King!"
It's interesting how the writer speaks of David's reign. Although most certainly he had gained control through military conquest and marriage alliances, we're told that after he took control of Jerusalem, "he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty (YHWH El-Shaddai) was with him" (vs. 10). In this reading, it wasn't his fortress or military prowess that gained him his power; it was God who enabled this growth in power. Of course, as we read further we discover that there are two sides to the story. There is blessing, but there is great suffering and sorrow. There are coups by his sons, and there was that affair with Bathsheba, all of which shined a light on David's darker side. And then as the story continues beyond his death into the reign of his son, Solomon, the nation goes to its greatest heights of power, but then in a moment of time, the empire crumbled. It goes back to the original arrangement, before David is acclaimed king of all Israel at Hebron. Was YHWH no longer with the nation? What kind of respect was there at that point? How does one come to be seen as a person whom God stands with?
Our image of David is defined in many ways by the stories we learned in Sunday school. We love to hear the stories of David and Goliath or David the Shepherd or maybe the David who sings soothing songs. We have this image of David being a man of great spiritual depth. But, like I said, there's that darker side as well. What does that say to us? Who is this David who reigns in Israel, the one who will be the shepherd of the people and rule over them? Yes, to shepherd is to rule, and are we ready for that?
If David got some respect in his home town (though maybe not always in his household – consider Absalom's revolt), Paul wasn't always able to garner support for his work. The Corinthian letters continually raise this issue. Paul was the founder of the church, but there were forces present who constantly challenged his leadership. They seem to have embraced a different gospel, one that defined spirituality in hierarchical ways. In 1 Corinthians 12-14, we see the debate over spiritual gifts unfold. Some in the community seemed to have highly valued the ecstatic nature of speaking in tongues. Paul answers by noting he can speak with the best of them, but ultimately that ecstatic expression of faith is of little value without there being present the love of God (1 Cor. 13). The debate emerges again in this second letter, and there are those who claim to be especially spiritual, and want to hold this over Paul. If Paul is an Apostle, then certainly they're "Super-Apostles." As you read the letters you discover that this isn't about the work of God, it's about power. Power politics is a constant dilemma, and it has nothing to do with external partisan politics (though that can enter in). This is "spiritual politics."
In his response, Paul makes it clear, though he starts by telling his own story in the third person ("I know a man in Christ . . .), that he's had his share of ecstatic experiences in the Spirit. He's seen things, whether in body or spirit, that are too unspeakable to even put in to words. But all of that is of no value. No, if he's going to brag it'll be about his weaknesses. He could brag about his spiritual experiences, but by doing that he would only make a fool of himself. Having spent time among Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians, I know the temptation to glory in ecstatic experiences. I remember the stress some placed on speaking in tongues, an emphasis that did little for my own spiritual development. But, it's not just in charismatic circles that this temptation is present. People can place bible memorization or the eloquence of prayers at such a premium that they come to believe they are especially holy. Whenever I hear people using "thee" and "thou" in their prayers, I stop to wonder whether this is from the heart or for effect.
As for Paul, well, he's had some outstanding revelations, but he's also been humbled by what he calls a "messenger from Satan sent to torment so that I wouldn't be conceited" (12:7 CEB). You hear echoes of Job's experience – though in this case Satan sends the messenger, rather than God sending Satan. This thorn in the flesh – whatever it might be, and scholars have been speculating for centuries -- won't go away, despite Paul's requests of God. So, since it won't go away, he will see in it a reminder that God can work through and in our own weaknesses. Indeed, he closes – "When I'm weak then I'm strong." Why? Because if he's weak in his own power, then he can be empowered by God. That takes humility, something the "Super-Apostles" know little about.
David seems to have been welcomed home – though it took time to bring the entire nation under his rule – but Paul struggled to maintain his leading role in Corinth. He's not concerned about his own power, but rather about the Gospel that he had planted there. Starting in the first letter we see that the church is constantly under threat by outside forces, including social ones, which divide the community along socio-cultural lines. Then there's Jesus. He goes home and the people don't know what to make of him. He goes to the synagogue and tries to teach, but they're "amazed," and the amazement isn't necessarily a positive response. Who does he think he is? We know his family. We know his father. He's but a carpenter, a common laborer. We know his mother and his brothers, whom Mark names – James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon, as well as sisters. We know this family, and knowledge of the family doesn't seem to put Jesus in good stead with the people.
The town takes offense, and Jesus seems to throw his hands up, saying "a prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives, and in his own home." How true is that?! So, since he couldn't do any miracles, other than the ordinary ones like healing few sick, he moves on. As he does so, he sends off his disciples in pairs, telling them to take nothing with them except their staff. They couldn't pack a lunch, a back pack, or even take along money. They had to live by faith, which meant, living on the benefice of the people. That was much more possible then than now. We're not nearly as hospitable, especially in the west. Whenever they entered a home they were to stay there until moving on to the next town – don't wear out your welcome. If you're not welcomed, well, move on, shake the dust off your feet, and leave their fate in the hands of God. And so they go, preaching and healing, and making the Gospel known! Are we able to do the same?
What does it take to get some respect? Perhaps we're asking the question of the wrong person!
2 Corinthians 2 Samuel David Gospel of Mark Jesus Lectionary Paul Power Pride Reflections Respect Spirituality Weakness
Jews in "The Economist" -- Sightings (Martin Mart...
Faith in the Public Square -- A Conversation
Is It Okay to Build Communities of Power?
What is Shari'a Law in The Contemporary World?
THE PRAYER OF THE APOSTLE -- Reflections on Ephesi...
Sharing God's Bounty -- Lectionary Meditation (Ord...
Dancing with Diana 7 – Intelligence on Ice or Igno...
Episcopal Church Adapting to Culture -- Sightings ...
A Woman Called by Sara Barton-- Review
What makes a document sacred? Thoughts on Visit t...
Another "Senseless Act of Violence"
Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society...
Tearing Down the Dividing Walls
Dancing with Diana – 6 – Glorious Multiplicity (B...
The Irony of War -- Thoughts from Antietam
New York Jews -- Sightings (Martin Marty)
Are You Really Human?
Did You Get Want you Wanted? -- A Sermon
What is Socio-Moral Disgust?
The Liberalization of Judaism: Redefining Religion...
The Emperor has no clothes? -- A Lectionary Refle...
Dancing with Diana – 5 – Multiplicity in God, Mult...
What are the Possibilities of Marriage?
Marrying in the New York Times -- Sightings (Mart...
Dealing with Thorns - A Sermon
I KNEW JESUS BEFORE HE WAS A CHRISTIAN -- A Revie...
Purity or Fellowship -- Which Way?
Dancing with Diana -- 4 -- A Multifaceted God 2 (B...
Faith in the Public Square and Political Season Sa...
The Year 2000? -- Sightings (Martin Marty)
Talking with the Mormons -- A Review
Great is Thy Faithfulness -- A Sermon


The 2009 champion was 14th fastest, 1.529 off the pace, and completed 35 trouble-free laps in a solid performance for a driver who has not been in a Formula One car since last November. Red Bull's Max.
The aftermath of a truck bomb in the centre of Mogadishu, Somali. The bomb exploded outside a hotel at a busy junction in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on 14 October 2017. Picture: AFP PRETORIA – The So.
We've done all the legwork and found the best of what's on in Hong Kong! Theatre, art, music, comedy, health & wellness, food and drink, shopping and markets & more!
From hot new chefs and go-to favourites to hip tapas spots and ramen joints, the range of restaurants in Cape Town seem to grow year on year. To make it a little easier, here's our guide of the best restaurants in the Mother City in every category.
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A New Dawn for Political Islam?
The political landscape of the Arab world has been dramatically transformed by the events of 2011. After decades of sterile politics and engrained authoritarianism Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Syria have embarked on a courageous journey aimed at fostering inclusive societies based on the rule of law and accountable governance. While we are only at the beginnings of what will be a long and arduous process, it is hard to believe that things will ever go back to the way they were. From Morocco to Bahrain the Arab public is on the march, and representation through elections is what they demand.


text:
Enlightenment From Voltaire
Voltaire's Deism
"It is then apparent that, if there are great crimes on the earth, there are as many virtues; and that, if superstition produces horrible sufferings, philosophy redresses them."
"We hold the Jews in horror, and we insist that all which has been written by them, and collected by us, bears the stamp of Divinity. There never was so palpable a contradiction."
"Let each of us boldly and honestly say: How little it is that I really know!"
"What is faith? Is it to believe that which is evident? No. It is perfectly evident to my mind that there exists a necessary, eternal, supreme, and intelligent being. This is no matter of faith, but of reason."
"The most beautiful of all emblems is that of God, whom Timaeus of Locris describes under the image of 'A circle whose center is everywhere and circumference nowhere.'"
"An almost infallible means of saving yourself from the desire of self-destruction is always to have something to do."
"A good action is preferable to an argument."
"Our wretched species is so made that those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are opening a new road."
"Only because a host of experiences belied predictions, did men at last perceive that the art (astrology) is illusory; but, before being undeceived, they were long credulous."
So much has been said and so much written concerning Adam, his wife, the pre-Adamites, etc., and the rabbis have put forth so many idle stories respecting Adam, and it is so dull to repeat what others have said before, that I shall here hazard a new idea, or one, at least, which is not to found in any ancient author, father of the church, preacher, theologian, critic, or scholar with whom I am acquainted. I mean the profound secrecy with respect to Adam which was observed throughout the habitable earth, Palestine only excepted, until the time when the Jewish books began to be known in Alexandria, and were translated into Greek under one of the Ptolemies. Even then they were very little known; for large books were very rare and very dear. Besides, the Jews in Jerusalem were so incensed against those of Alexandria, loaded them with so many reproaches for having translated their Bible into a profane tongue, called them so many ill names, and cried so loudly to the Lord, that the Alexandrian Jews concealed their translation as much as possible. It was so secret that no Greek or Roman author speaks of it before the time of the Emperor Aurelian.
The historian Josephus confesses, in his answer to Appian, that the Jews had only recently had any intercourse with other nations: "We inhabit," says he, "a country distant from the sea; we do not apply ourselves to commerce, nor have we any communications with other peoples. Is it to be wondered at that our nation, dwelling so far from the sea, and affecting never to write, have been so little known?"
Here it will probably be asked how Josephus could say that his nation affected never to write anything, when they had twenty-two canonical books, without reckoning the Targum by Onkelos. But it must be considered that twenty-two small volumes were not much when compared with the multitude of books preserved in the library of Alexandria, half of which were burned in Caesar's war.
It is certain that the Jews had written and read very little; that they were profoundly ignorant of astronomy, geometry, geography, and physics; that they knew nothing of the history of other nations; and that it was only in Alexandria that they at last began to acquire some learning. Their language was a barbarous mixture of ancient Phoenician and corrupted Chaldee; it was so poor that several moods were wanting in the conjugation of their verbs.
Moreover, as they communicated neither their books nor the titles of them to any foreigner, no one on earth except themselves had ever heard of Adam, or Eve, or Abel, or Cain, or Noah. Abraham alone was, in course of time, known to the Oriental nations; but no ancient people admitted Abraham, or Ibrahim, was the root of the Jewish nation.
Such are the secrets of Providence, that the father and mother of the human race have ever been totally unknown to their descendants; so that the names of Adam and Eve are to be found in no ancient author, either of Greece, of Rome, of Persia, or of Syria, nor even among the Arabs, until near the time of Mohammed. It was God's pleasure that the origin of the great family of the world should be concealed from all but the smallest and most unfortunate part of that family.
How is it that Adam and Eve have been unknown to all their children? How could it be that neither in Egypt nor in Babylon was any trace - any tradition - of our first parents to be found? Why were they not mentioned by Orpheus, by Linus, or by Thamyris? For if they had said but one word of them, it would undoubtedly have been caught by Hesiod and even more surely by Homer, who speak of everything except the authors of the human race. Clement of Alexandria, who collected so many ancient records, would not have failed to quote any passage in which mention had been made of Adam and Eve. Eusebius, in his Universal History, has examined even the most doubtful testimonies, and would assuredly have made the most of the smallest allusion, or appearance of an allusion, to our first parents. It is, then, established that they were always utterly unknown to the nations.
We do not see the name of Noah or of Adam in any of the ancient dynasties of Egypt; they are not to be found among the Chaldeans; in a word, the whole earth has been silent respecting them. It must be owned that such a silence is unparalleled. Every people has attributed to itself some imaginary origin, yet none has approached the true one. We cannot comprehend how the father of all nations has so long been unknown, while in the natural course of things his name should have been carried from mouth to mouth to the farthest corners of the earth.
Let us humble ourselves to the decrees of that Providence which has permitted so astonishing an oblivion. All was mysterious and concealed in the nation guided by God Himself, which prepared the way for Christianity, and was the wild olive on which the fruitful one has been grafted. That the names of the authors of mankind should be unknown to mankind is a mystery of the highest order.
I will venture to affirm that it has required a miracle thus to shut the eyes and ears of all nations - to destroy every monument, every memorial of their first father. What would Caesar, Antony, Crassus, Pompey, Cicero, Marcellus, or Metellus have thought, if a poor Jew, while selling them balm, had said, "We all descend from one father, named Adam." All the Roman senate would have cried, "Show us our genealogical tree." Then the Jew would have displayed his ten generations, down to the time of Noah, and the secret of the universal deluge. The senate would have asked him how many persons were in the ark to feed all the animals for ten whole months, and during the following year in which no food would be produced? The peddler would have said, "We were eight - Noah and his wife, their three sons, Shem, Ham, and Jauphet, and their wives. All this family descended in a direct line from Adam.
Cicero, would, doubtless, have inquired for the great monuments, the indisputable testimonies which Noah and his children had left of our common father. "After the deluge," he would have said, "the whole world would have resounded with the names of Adam and Noah, one the father, the other the restorer of every race. These names would have been in every mouth as soon as men could speak, on every parchment as soon as they could write, on the door of every house as soon as they could build, on every temple, on every statue. You mean to tell us that you knew so great a secret, yet concealed it from us?" The Jew would have answered: "It is because we are pure and you are impure." The Roman senate would have laughed and the Jew would have been whipped. So much are men attached to their prejudices!
World Union of Deists, L.L.C.


On Tuesday 8th May, Sixth Form and Duke of Edinburgh students were lucky to have Ben Saunders visit the academy and speak to them about his many expeditions around the world. As a record beating British polar explorer, endurance athlete, and motivational speaker he beguiled them with stories of surviving in the world's most hostile places. From the difficulties of going to the toilet when its -48C, his posh pot noodles packing in over 6000 calories a day to scaring of 1,000kg polar bears, his story is quite unique. As remarkable as Ben's feats might be, they still resonated strongly with our students story. That is the story and importance of resilience; that no success is without failure along the way and whether it is your GCSEs or a solo trek across the Antarctic, one must never give up to achieve one's goal.


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On the Front Line: A Night With Afghan Commandos
June 26, 2021 Current News Articles
Photographs and Text by Jim Huylebroek
On a recent night raid, a Times photographer captured Afghanistan's elite forces as they disrupted Taliban operations in one of the country's most volatile provinces.
SOMEWHERE OVER HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan — As the city lights faded and the Soviet-era military helicopter banked over the fields and canals of southern Afghanistan one night in May, the Afghan commandos on board made their final checks, looking at maps and adjusting their weapons before turning on their night-vision goggles.
Their objective: to dismantle a bomb-making factory inside a squat mud-brick house in Chah Anjir, a village in Nadali, a district in Helmand Province that is completely under Taliban control.
Just days earlier, the Taliban had opened an offensive on Helmand's capital, Lashkar Gah. Afghan government forces had lost ground. The city was under siege. Frantic to relieve some of the pressure on the capital, security officials committed their most elite of the Afghan special operations forces to the province.
The flight of three Mi-17 transport helicopters, backed by small bubble-shaped helicopter gunships, landed in a grassy field beside the target house. Overhead, Afghan and American drones watched for movement. The commandos disembarked, their weapons readied.
Afghan commandos at Camp Bastion before a night operation.
The cockpit of an Afghan Mi-17 helicopter.
Afghan commandos making last adjustments before being dropped by helicopter behind Taliban lines in Helmand Province.
The efficiency and professionalism of the operation, carried out by one of the commando corps' smaller and more elite tiers, was a far cry from most units within the Afghan security forces, who often try to hold the line with dwindling supplies, unsteady pay checks and constant attacks.
In 2017, there were roughly 21,000 Afghans in the commando forces, with hopes to greatly expand the program.
But these specialized units are, more often than not, used as firefighters in a war without end: rushed to hot spots to retake territory and hold districts. And now to areas trying to stave a Taliban offensive that has taken dozens of districts in recent days in the country's north. The commandos' importance has increased dramatically as international forces prepare to leave by September, meaning their overuse and attrition could spell a drastic reduction of their effectiveness.
The night missions, witnessed by a photojournalist with The New York Times, are seen by Afghan military officials as key to hitting the Taliban when the insurgents are not expecting it, or at the least disrupting future attacks on government forces.
But these tactics — perfected by the United States over its long wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq — have had arguable if little success, as insurgencies in both countries continue to adapt and endure.
Night raids in Afghanistan especially have turned people, particularly those in the country's rural areas, against the government and international forces. But the presence of these units helped government forces hold Lashkar Gah last month. For now, it is one of their best and limited ways of striking the insurgents in this two-decade-long war as government-held territory shrinks and units are stretched thin.
But even going on the offensive has deadly consequences, especially as Taliban forces have become even more emboldened with the departure of international forces. Earlier this month, more than 20 Afghan commandos were killed when their offensive operation to retake a district in the country's northwest was derailed by a vicious Taliban counterattack.
Afghan commandos on standby as a quick reaction force in Bost Airport as another team makes a night raid behind Taliban lines in Helmand.
A convoy of Afghan commandos riding through Lashkar Gah.
An Afghan commando standing on top of a Humvee in Lashkar Gah.
The outcome of the May raid, documented on the special forces team leader's cellphone, was considered a success: bomb-making materials were seized and destroyed. Four Taliban members were killed while his men took no casualties. How much that changed the broader battle's outcome in Lashkar Gah is questionable, but it kept one of the Taliban's deadliest tactics — roadside bombs and homemade mines — off the battlefield for a brief time.
The commandos returned to Bost Airfield, a civilian airport. But that night it turned into a temporary command center for the unit. Officials had set up television displays and radios atop its small terminal, under a starry sky as fighting echoed in the distance.
Inside the helicopters as the city came back into view, some commandos joked among themselves, others took forceful drags from cigarettes.
Their mission was over. For now.
An Afghan commando re-boarding the helicopter after a night operation in Helmand.
On the Front Line: A Night With Afghan Commandos 06.26.2021


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Der Jokhang ist das bedeutendste Heiligtum innerhalb des Lhasa Tsuglagkhang und liegt inmitten der Altstadt von Lhasa, der Hauptstadt des Autonomen Gebiets Tibet der Volksrepublik China. Für die Tibeter bildet er eine Art Zentralheiligtum, zu dem man nach Möglichkeit mindestens einmal im Leben gepilgert sein sollte.

Legenden und Geschichte

Der Legende nach wurde der Jokhang im Jahre 639 von König Songtsen Gampos nepalesischer Gemahlin, der Prinzessin Bhrikuti (tib.: khri btsun) errichtet, nachdem der ehemals an dieser Stelle gelegene Milchsee (tib. 'o thang gi mtsho) mit Hilfe der Divination von Songtsen Gampos chinesischer Gemahlin Wen Cheng trockengelegt worden war. Der zwischen 642 und 653 fertiggestellte Bau wurde von den in Begleitung Bhrikutis in das Schneeland gekommenen nepalesischen Künstlern vollendet. Ursprünglich dürfte es sich um ein relativ kleines Gebäude gehandelt haben. Indem die Anlage des Jokhang später – vermutlich insbesondere zur Zeit Tsongkhapas (1357–1419) – um zahlreiche Nebengebäude und weitere Stockwerke erweitert wurde, erhielt sie den Namen Lhasa Tsuglagkhang. Die Gesamtanlage besaß damit eine Fläche von etwa 21.500 m². und bildete von dieser Zeit an die Stätte zur Abhaltung des "Großen Gebetes" des sogenannten Mönlam Chenmo (tib.: smon lam chen mo).

Während des Aufstandes von 1959 achtete die Volksbefreiungsarmee peinlich darauf, den Tempel nicht zu beschädigen, doch während der Kulturrevolution von 1966 bis 1976 wurde der Jokhang unter Beteiligung der Bevölkerung von Lhasa geplündert und schließlich als Hauptquartier der Roten Garden sowie als Gästehaus und Filmtheater genutzt.

Im Jahr 1981 wurde der Jokhang unter nationalen Denkmalschutz gestellt. Im Jahr 2000 wurde er zusammen mit dem Potala-Palast als "Historisches Ensemble Potala-Palast in Lhasa" zum UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe erklärt. 2001 kam noch der Norbulingka dazu.

Am 17. Februar 2018 brach einen Tag nach Beginn der traditionellen tibetischen Neujahrsfeiern in den Abendstunden ein Feuer im Tempel aus. Über die konkreten Schäden machten die ersten offiziellen Berichte in China keine Angaben.

Architektur
Das mit vergoldeten Bronzeziegeln gedeckte Dach ist mit einem von Gazellen flankierten Dharma-Rad geschmückt. In der Haupthalle befinden sich unter anderem die vergoldete Statue des Jovo Rinpoche Shakyamuni, einer speziellen, mit dem Bodhisattva-Schmuck versehenen Form des Buddha Shakyamuni, sowie Statuen des Avalokiteshvara, Maitreya und Padmasambhava sowie von Songtsen Gampo und seinen beiden Gemahlinnen, der chinesischen Wen Cheng und der nepalesischen Bhrikuti.

Der im Zentrum gelegene Jokhang wird von einem Wandelgang mit Gebetsmühlen umgeben, Nangkhor ('Innerer Weg') genannt – der 'mittlere' Weg ist der Pilgerweg der Barkhor rund um das Kloster, der äußere Weg der Lingkhor rund um die Altstadt.

Die Anlage ist ein Musterbeispiel der tibetischen Architektur und wurde mehrfach ausführlich beschrieben.

Literatur

 Andre Alexander: The Temples of Lhasa. Tibetan Buddhist Architecture from the 7th to the 21st Century. Serindia, Chicago 2005.
 F. Spencer Chapman: Lhasa the Holy City. R.&R. Clark, London 1940, Nachdruck ISBN 0-8369-6712-7; chinesische Übersetzung (2004) ISBN 7-80057-460-1.
 Karl-Heinz Everding: Tibet. Lamaistische Klosterkultur, nomadische Lebensweise und bäuerlicher Alltag auf dem "Dach der Welt". DuMont-Kunstreiseführer, Ostfildern 2009.
 Michael Henss: Tibet. Die Kulturdenkmäler. O. O.(1981).
 Knut Larsen, Amund Sinding-Larsen: The Lhasa Atlas. Traditional Tibetan Architecture and Townscape. Shambala, Boston 2001.
 Rong Ma: Han and Tibetan Residential Patterns in Lhasa. In: The China Quarterly, 128, Dezember 1991, S. 814–835.
 Ernst Schäfer: Fest der Weißen Schleier. Braunschweig 1949.
 Vladimir Sis, Josef Vaniš: Der Weg nach Lhasa. Bilder aus Tibet. Verlag Artia, Prag 1956.
 Roberto Vitali: Early Tempels of Central Tibet. Serindia, London 1990.
 L. Austine Waddell: Lhasa ad its Mysteris. London 1905.
 Nyi ma tshe ring ཉི་མ་ཚེ་རིང: lha ldan gtsug lag khang gi gnas bshad mdor bsdus bzhugs so ལྷ་ལྡན་གཙུག་ལག་ཁང་གི་གནས་བཤད་མདོར་བསྡུས་བཞུགས་སོ. ('Überblick über den Jokhang'). Lhasa 2005, ISBN 7-223-01747-3; Chinesische Ausgabe: Dàzhāo Sì jiǎnjiè 大昭寺简介, Lhasa, Xīzàng rénmín chūbǎnshè 西藏人民出版社 2004, ISBN 7-223-00042-2.
 Ài'ěrjídì 艾尔极地 (Hrsg.): Dài nǐ yóu Dàzhāo Sì 带你游大昭寺 / Follow Me to the Jokhang Temple. Lhasa, Xīzàng rénmín chūbǎnshè 西藏人民出版社, 2001, ISBN 7-223-01353-2.

Weblinks

Einzelnachweise

Lhasa
Bestandteil einer Welterbestätte in Asien
Bestandteil einer Welterbestätte in der Volksrepublik China
Nationales Kulturdenkmal der Volksrepublik China
Buddhistisches Kloster in Tibet
Buddhistischer Wallfahrtsort


This is a first entry to the page which I hope can be used to share FIELDGUIDES happenings. And, I hope to hear back from you !
Today is our manager's birthday, so Happy Birthday to James Camp, FIELDGUIDES manager for over 25 years! Some history on that: FIELDGUIDES INC. was incorporated in 1983 by Jessie and James, and Jessie was "Director" for the first few years. Once they started a family, James took over as the "General Manager", and he has been the main administrator and site manager ever since. As someone once called him, he is "the Mr. Rogers of the wilderness", father to us all.


September 4, 1994 is a historic date. At least for me. In the town of New Albany, Indiana, I met my birth family for the first time- uncles, aunts, a cousin, even a grandmother. We agreed to meet at my childhood home where my adoptive parents still lived. This might not sound exciting to you. I'm sure most every reader has spoken to their mother, father, brother or sister. Unfortunately, that first reunion did not include my birthmother, Betty Price. She had already died, and carried a dark secret to her grave- that I was stillborn. No one ever tried to look for me because they assumed I didn't exist.
No words can explain my joy of seeing humans who had similar features as myself. I could see, hear and touch others who shared my bloodline. We compared eyes, noses, hair, and the way we talked with our hands. My birth family had brought a welcome cake especially for me. We exchanged stories of graduations, victories, and tribulations. We shared family photos and memories. I accepted the fact my birthmother had died, and the hole in my soul was filled in knowing my bloodroots.
More than a third of my life had already passed. I earned a degree, married, divorced, and began my own business. After believing I was an only child for the past 36 years I learned I was the middle-born of five siblings. The only problem was one sister was missing- Deborah Kay. She was born December 6, 1955 in Indianapolis. My birth family said she disappeared. Everyone had interrogated my birthmother. Did a social worker take her? Did a babysitter steal her? Did her ex husband kidnap her? Betty could never give a plausible explanation.
No police report was ever filed.
As a small infant, Deborah Kay vanished from the face of the Earth.
I didn't want to ruin the party. I didn't want to spoil everyone's newfound joy. We were having such a good time! Should I have left well enough alone? Should I not dig up the past? Did something horrible happen?
Don't worry, Deborah Kay. I have a lot of friends who are willing to help me. If you are still out there, we are going to find you.
Please share this. This is the last picture I was told was taken of Deborah Kay sitting on my birthmother's lap. More details are on my blog or in my new book, "Moon Over Mountains- the Search for Mom" on Amazon. For an autographed copy go to whymomdeservesadiamond.com/books.html.
If you have any leads please contact me. Thank you.


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DURBAN in the 1920's and 1930's
A unique look at Durban during the period between the two world wars.Durban in the 1920's and 1930's is a fascinating overview of Durban during a remarkable period of time.It consists of a varied collection of photographs, postcard images and
SANS Jun 25, 2021 Jun 28, 2021 Book Reviews, Current Items of Interest Read more
Lindfield Victorian House Museum
This weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the Lindfield Victorian House Museum in Aukland Park, Johannesburg. This gem was built in the early 1900's and is a Provincial Monument near the University of Johannesburg. The current owner, Katherine Love,
SANS Jun 20, 2021 Jun 21, 2021 Architecture Read more
Sunderland Flying Boat crash – Durban, 1950.
On Monday 17 April 1950, this Sunderland Flying Boat crashed in the Durban Harbour in the Maydon Channel. The channel was used as a landing point for these aircraft that were used on the route up through Africa.
SANS Mar 17, 2021 Jun 16, 2021 Historical - Stories and Papers, Transportation Read more
Muslim Cemetery – Durban North – Steward Shaik Hassan – HMS Trent.
To the south of the Pick n Pay Hyper in Durban North is the Muslim Cemetery. Within the cemetery is the sole and lonely military grave of Steward Belal Hassan. Hassan was a crew member of HMS Trent who died
SANS Jan 15, 2021 Jan 15, 2021 Militaria Read more
Natal Command and Mary Stainbank.
All that remains of the Natal Command HQ is the deteriorating front façade. The ownership of this site has been under dispute for nearly 20 years, after it was sold in dubious circumstances by the City. The concrete sculptures were
SANS Dec 18, 2020 Militaria, Other Heritage, Tourism Read more
Durban North's first home – 35 Northway.
Durban North's first official home as a recognized suburb is at 35 Northway. The original home has been replaced, however the newer house recognizes its legacy with a foundation stone. The Architect was Albert J Thompson, builders, Nicholls and Coombe
SANS Oct 27, 2020 Oct 27, 2020 Monuments & Cemeteries, Other Heritage Read more
Durban North – Journeys End Shellhole 1939.
The Journeys End Shellhole's original home in Durban North is now occupied by the Durban North Post Office. The hall with its foundation stones can be seen from Kensington Avenue. The Moths moved to Sunfield Place in 2009 after having
SANS Oct 27, 2020 Jun 18, 2021 Historical - Stories and Papers, Militaria Read more
Commemorating Victoria Cross Recipients from Natal
Both of these courageous men, Lance Corporal William Hewitt VC and Lt Reginald Hayward VC , were from Natal. Hewitt ( 2 Batt SA Light Infantry)won his VC for gallantry at Zevenkote at the 3rd Battle of Ypres in 1917
SANS Sep 17, 2020 Sep 17, 2020 Militaria Read more
Naval Display – Spithead – July 1914
A postcard showing The Great Fleet assembled at Spithead for the King's Review. A notation says "9 Miles of Ships" and is dated July 1914, just prior to the start of WWI. Britannia certainly 'Ruled The Waves'. This amazing image
SANS May 28, 2020 May 28, 2020 Militaria Read more
Selbourne – Lynton Hall
Lynton Hall was built in 1895 for Charles Partridge Reynolds, near Pennington. The building was designed by architect, William Street-Wilson and Fyfe's partners, James W Paton & Wishart. Sadly, the original drawings for the house have been lost. The castellated
SANS May 28, 2020 May 28, 2020 Architecture Read more


Over the last number of years, we've been quite congratulatory in our missives in relation to the City of New Westminster. The City has pushed through some very progressive policies to help incentivize large-scale new rental buildings, knowing they're desperately needed. As a result, percentage-wise, New West has probably seen the largest increase in new rental supply in the region.
However, in the life of every city, there are always missteps, and New West's mayor, council and staff are about to make some serious ones. The mayor, now in his second term and having initially earned kudos for his rental housing policies, is at risk of squandering this legacy.
We urge you to pay attention, as these moves have potential negative repercussions for other areas in Metro Vancouver.
6 multifamily properties being downzoned and devalued by the City now: is one of them yours?
City is worried about demolition of buildings although no buildings are being demolished. What's the deal?
City hires consultant, receives findings, then appears to disregard advice.
Ironically, these missteps will result in politically indulgent policies and bylaws that will ensure the continuation of affordability challenges.
Let's start with the most alarming possibility, which goes to Council for Third and Fourth Reading on January 28 (3 days from now). This has been rammed through with no consultation and no warning to owners.
Background: on January 14 – with no process, meetings or communication with the owners – the City hosted First and Second Reading to downzone (and thereby devalue) 6 privately owned multifamily properties, along with 12 City-owned ones. These are existing stratified residential buildings leased to individual occupants. The City is proposing that these long-term owners, who are reputable landlords leasing their units to tenants, will be the first to receive the brush of the magic "rental-only zone" wand, immediately reducing the value of their property rights.
You would guess that a wide-ranging sell-off of rented strata units must be happening in order to justify such a heavy-handed approach, right? Nope. No such massive sell-offs.
This City's fast-tracking tactic … that is clearly intended to catch landlords off guard and unprepared is detrimental to the City's relationships with landlords, developers and the general business community. First and Second Reading of the proposed bylaw was held without advance notice or consultation. … The security of property rights is fundamental to the business of real-estate ownership and development. Once property rights can be stripped away without compensation and in such a prejudicial and inequitable manner, the confidence and stability of real-estate ownership and development will be shaken. Lenders will either, in a best-case scenario, become more stringent with their underwriting criteria, making projects more difficult to finance, or, in a worst-case scenario, cease to finance buildings and projects in New Westminster altogether. Bottom line: development and construction in New Westminster will slow to a trickle at a time when more housing is desperately needed for supply and affordability reasons.
Stratified buildings that are owned by one group and rented out to multiple tenants provide good and safe rental accommodation. Owners should be celebrated for renting their properties out, not penalized!
Finally, it is not clear from a legal standpoint whether these measures can even prevent the selling of individual units. Watch January 28th for what will likely be a contentious Public Hearing on this issue.
For some unknown reason, as existing rental buildings aren't being demolished in New West, the City is coming in with aggressive requirements for replacement of rental. There are some areas in Metro Vancouver where significant up-zoning has occurred and where displacement of tenants would be an issue, but this isn't the experience in New West as it relates to new development. Recent sales of existing apartment buildings have proven that the highest and best use is indeed the existing use. This begs the question: why fix it if it ain't broke?
Additionally, as part of its rental housing strategy, the City is suggesting that New West would like to require below-market units as a condition of rezoning under its Secured Market Rental Housing Policy. While this sounds well-intentioned, it will surely push many projects into the "non-feasible" category. As in the City of Vancouver, the result will follow that no new market rental and no new below-market rental will be constructed if and when these are introduced and without sufficient density increases to account for the change.
3. Why retain consultants you're going to ignore?
As part of their rental housing review, Council and staff retained Coriolis Consulting to complete some analyses. Portions of their report were released by the City of New West as attachments to the Council Meeting Report dated January 14, 2019. One could argue that the answers that came back may not have been what they wanted to hear, as despite their findings, Council and staff have pressed forward with "solutions" for problems that don't exist.
Here are excerpts from Coriolis's report, commissioned by the City and attached to the report to the mayor and Council regarding the Rental Housing Revitalization Initiative.
Significant increases in construction costs, particularly concrete buildings.
Increasing financing costs (interest rates).
The recent changes to the rent regulations in the Residential Tenancy Act which reduced the permitted maximum annual rent increases (until unit turnover).
Ignoring the math and economics while playing political head games with residents and owners alike is unlikely to lead to success. The City of New West is potentially causing a myriad of future problems with this whack-a-mole approach to imagined issues. With a low vacancy rate to contend with, these missteps could lead to a furthering of affordability issues.
We urge you to email City Council and the mayor to call for a standstill, especially to # 1. You can also sign up to speak at the public hearing on Monday, January 28 at 6:00 pm in Council Chambers at City Hall, 511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster. To register to speak, email clerks@newwestcity.ca or call 604-527-4523.


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Activist investigating Ivanka Trump shoe supplier is detained in China
by Alec Macfarlane and Steven Jiang @CNNMoney June 1, 2017: 12:01 AM ET
Activist probing Ivanka Trump shoe supplier detained
An activist investigating a company that manufactures shoes for Ivanka Trump and other Western brands has been detained by police in China -- and two of his colleagues remain unaccounted for.
The activists were working undercover at two factories in southern China, according to China Labor Watch, the New York-based advocacy group for which they were carrying out the investigation. It lost contact with them on Saturday.
The news comes amid a broader crackdown in China on independent groups pushing for better labor rights in the world's second-largest economy.
One of the activists, Hua Haifeng, was detained by local police in Jiangxi province for "illegal surveillance," said Li Qiang, the head of China Labor Watch. The other two activists, Li Zhao and Su Heng, are missing, he said.
The activists took jobs between March and May at two factories run by Chinese shoe manufacturer Huajian Group -- one in Jiangxi and the other in Guangdong -- in order to investigate labor practices at the company, Li said.
Su, who was working at the factory in Jiangxi, found evidence of violations of workers' rights during the production of Ivanka Trump shoes, according to Li. They included employees working for as many as 18 hours a day for pay below the minimum wage, he said.
In a statement, Huajian denied the allegations of excessively long hours and low pay, but said it would look into another accusation by China Labor Watch that the company was illegally hiring students as interns.
Related: Chinese shoe manufacturer: Ivanka Trump 'is a very good client'
A spokeswoman for Marc Fisher Footwear, which licenses the Ivanka Trump brand for shoes, said the firm was unaware of the allegations and would look into them immediately. Two other shoe brands under the company's umbrella -- Marc Fisher and Kylie + Kendall -- were also being made at the Huajian factories, according to China Labor Watch.
Huajian makes millions of shoes for Western brands every year.
Other customers supplied by the two factories under investigation by China Labor Watch include Coach, Alain Delon, Nine West and Karl Lagerfeld, the advocacy group said. The companies didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
Li said he is sending video footage shot by Su at the Jiangxi factory to Ivanka Trump's company.
"We appeal to President Trump, Ivanka Trump herself, and to her related brand company to advocate and press for the release our activists," he said.
There's nothing to suggest that Ivanka Trump has any connection to what happened to the China Labor Watch investigators. She resigned from her management role at the clothing and accessories company when she took a job in her father's administration, but she still owns part of the business.
A spokeswoman for Ivanka Trump's company declined to comment on the activists' case.
Related: China OKs trademarks for Ivanka Trump's company
Hua's wife, Deng Guilian, told CNN that she received a call Tuesday from police in Jiangxi telling her that her husband has been detained for conducting illegal surveillance and that she should expect to receive a formal notice in the mail soon.
Deng said the news came as a shock. And with family's only breadwinner now in police detention, she said she's worried about their financial situation.
Hua Haifeng, 36, has been detained by police in Jiangxi province since Saturday, his wife said.
The families of Li and Su couldn't be reached for comment.
Officials at the local police department in Jiangxi said they weren't aware of any cases involving China Labor Watch activists.
The detention and disappearances of the activists were first reported by The Associated Press.
The Chinese government has stepped up its clamping down on independent labor groups in recent years. Since 2015, dozens of activists and lawyers have been detained, arrested and harassed.
Related: On the front lines of China's record-level labor unrest
"The government is taking a harsher line towards activists, especially those working for overseas organizations," said William Nee, China researcher at Amnesty International. "With the tightening economic situation, authorities could be looking to protect local manufacturing industries at all costs, even if that includes detaining activists bringing up labor issues."
But Li said it's the first time in 17 years of investigating labor rights violations in China that any of China Labor Watch's investigators had been detained by police.
"The accusation from Jiangxi police has no factual basis," he said.
-- Serenitie Wang, Serena Dong, Juila Horowitz, Yazhou Sun, Jethro Mullen and Felicia Wong contributed to this report.
CNNMoney (Hong Kong) First published May 31, 2017: 3:27 AM ET


Saint JHN has quickly built a reputation for anthemic and high-tempo releases. The rising talent has enjoyed a massive year following a string of successful singles and eventually resulting in the enticing debut album from the enigmatic artist. The artist's latest track, "White Parents Are Gonna Hate This" is a head-banging new offering that begs the question of how many drugs some of his contemporaries are on. JHN pointing an obvious finger at America's opioid crisis. The track's poignant question isn't lost on listeners despite the surrounding chaotic production.


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Here's How Dogs Could Help Detect The Coronavirus
Claudio Cruz/Getty Images
By A. C. Grimes/May 21, 2020 12:11 am EST
According to emeritus professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Dr. Marc Bekoff, a dog's schnoz contains 300 million receptors, roughly 60 times as many as a human, making their sense of smell an estimated 100,000 to 100 million times as powerful as their owner's. With all the butt-sniff that dogs do, it almost seems like an evolutionary prank that they have super noses. Unless canine flatulence has the mouth-watering aroma of a delicious brisket, why would Fido want an extra-strong whiff of the hole it comes from? Nature sure is strange.
A dog's natural willingness to brave a world devoid of joyous brisket farts is part of what makes these animals man's best friend and possibly man's even better medical test. You might assume that dogs are best-suited for some sort of proctology examination. But you know what happens when you assume: a dog sniffs the first three letters of your assumption. Dogs are great at sniffing out all sorts of maladies, whether it's the bag of cocaine you accidentally shoved too far up your backside or cancer of the non-butt. Their otherworldly olfactory senses might even be useful in detecting COVID-19.
A COVID-19 smell test
Joel Saget/Getty Images
Humans have known since the 1980s that dogs can smell cancer, according to Live Science. That's because the sensitive receptors in their noses can pick up volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by cells. VOCs emit their own distinct stink in bodily fluids when someone falls ill. Research indicates that most dogs could learn to give you a cancer test with about six months of practice, so in theory, one could train a dog to sniff out COVID-19 the same way.
Much like a pair of dogs greeting each other, the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine is trying to get to the bottom of the issue. The Penn vet program selected eight canines to serve as guinea pigs. Their training entails sniffing the spit and pee of COVID-19 patients. But this might be an ethically dubious undertaking. Would humans be endangering canines by having them intentionally inhale an airborne pathogen? There's at least limited evidence of canines contracting COVID-19 from their owners. If that's at all a possibility, perhaps mankind is barking up the wrong tree.


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New Felony Charges For Minneapolis Man Charged 3 Times Since October
Filed Under:Crime, Hennepin County Attorney's Office
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A Minneapolis man thrice charged and twice bailed out since October faces a fresh set of charges from the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.
The three new charges against 29-year-old Thomas Moseley stem from a search of the man's truck after an October arrest.
Police picked up Moseley during a protest at the Hennepin County Government Center on Oct. 15, 2020. According to the criminal complaint, he was wanted, and later charged, in relation to the damage of the Minneapolis Police Department's Fifth Precinct in August.
While arresting Moseley, police found a handgun in his waistband, the attorney's office said. He was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon.
After towing and searching Moseley's pickup truck, which was parked nearby on the day of the protest, police found "three handguns, a shotgun and a semi-automatic rifle as well as a panel for stopping bullets in a bullet-proof vest, a gas mask and about 50 bullets," the attorney's office said. They also found marijuana, cocaine and psychotropic mushrooms, which spurred the latest charges: three felony counts of fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm.
The Minnesota Freedom Fund posted bail for Moseley for his property damage and weapon charges, as well as for a second-degree riot charge incurred on New Year's Eve, according to the attorney's office.
The Freedom Fund released the following statement:
"Freedom Fund believes that every individual who has been arrested by the police is innocent until proven guilty, and should not have to wait in jail simply because they do not have the same income or resources as others with more financial privilege. We do not make determinations of bail support based on the crimes that individuals are alleged to have committed. Additionally, we do not subscribe to the county attorney's agenda to keep in place a racist and classist system that uses bail as a means to hold individuals before their trial, regardless of community support and ability to make their court dates. As Thomas Moseley's attorney has stated, 'this is a persecution of a political activist with prosecutors using an organization that helps pay people's bail as an excuse to raise their bail'. Rather than moving toward the progressive pre-trial detention reform that is truly needed and seen in Cook County/Illinois this month – the Hennepin County Attorney's Office is moving in the complete opposite direction. Minnesota Freedom Fund whole-heartedly agrees with Washington County Attorney Peter Orput quoted in Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman's announcement last month about a weak gesture posing as bail reform in Hennepin County: that 'Cash bail and public safety have nothing to do with each other.' We will eagerly be watching to see how the conversation of cash bail reform started by the Hennepin County Attorney's Office in December continues into the new year and is reflected in how the system treats this individual."


The i360, Brighton's seafront observation tower, has asked Brighton & Hove City Council if it can reschedule its loan repayments.
The business currently pays the council £570,000 in interest repayments but the attraction is asking to reduce these payments to £25,000 until 2024.
The council said the proposal would mean it would still receive the full amount agreed and in the same timescale.
Howard Barden, head of Brighton & Hove City Council's tourism & venues said: 'The i360 is a new business and it isn't unusual for a business to reschedule loan repayments in the short term to sustain profitability in the long term; it's a sensible and pragmatic business approach.


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News, articles and reviews!
Valve Are Working on an Auto-Mute feature for Toxic Players
Valve are one of the most well-known video game developers of all time. Every gamer will no doubt have played a Valve title in their time (and if they haven't they damn well should have). Their highest rated games come in the form of Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, Portal and most notably, Counter Strike. They are also responsible for the Steam software, in which most PC gamers will find them on a daily basis either loading up games, or searching the store for those sweet deals.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is one of the most played games around the world. Millions of gamers play it on a daily basis, and hundreds of thousands watch it either as a live-steam or as a YouTube video. It's fair to say it has one of the largest, most loyal following of any game on the market, ever. CS:GO also boasts a healthy Esports community, with millions tuning in to watch several major events throughout the year to watch their favourite teams compete for huge amounts of prize money.
On the flip side, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is one of the most toxic games I have ever come across. Players are so intent on winning that they are comfortable enough to take to the mic and use profanities they wouldn't utter in front of their mother, to tell you how bad you are at CS:GO. The levels of trolling and toxicity in this game are up there with the worst games and in all honesty it can be a little off-putting. Valve cleary realise this though, and have announced that they are working on an in-game feature that will auto-mute abusive players. The system is based on an algorithm that analyses how often a player is being reported for abusive play/verbal behaviour, and will start auto-muting players. The feature will rely on players reporting others who they deem offensive, which shouldn't be an issue as most players will gladly report someone to shut them up!
This is a feature which will be welcomed by 95% of the Counter Strike community, but also the rest of the gaming world. There's nothing worse than having a toxic player shout at you in any game, especially when they're just as guilty for making mistakes as you. I'm sure you'd all agree with me that this feature would be brilliant if added to a number of other games including Overwatch, Fortnite, Apex Legends...any multiplayer game in honesty!
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