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2017 Cubs Season Preview
The 2016 Chicago Cubs will forever be remembered as the team that finally broke the longest championship drought in professional sports history, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to topple the Cleveland Indians. During last year's run to victory, stars were born and legends were made; the big guns performed when it mattered, and role players stepped up to bring the team their first title in 108 years. Now, the "Lovable Losers" have to prepare to defend their title. Their core is still in place, but some little changes around the edges could ultimately make or break how successful they are in accomplishing their goal. Will they be able to reign supreme for a second straight season, or will another club manage to topple them from their throne? Here's my outlook for what the Cubs will look like in this coming year:
LF- Kyle Schwarber
CF- Jason Heyward
RF- Ben Zobrist
In this roster configuration, I'm attempting to maximize the line-up potential that Joe Maddon has at his disposal. It'll be interesting to see what the manager ultimately does with Zobrist, the hero of Game 7 of the World Series; he started at second base for most of last season, but if we're trying to maximize offense here, it'll be tough to keep a guy with as much firepower as Javy Baez out of the line-up (more on that later). So Zobrist will have to find his way to right, a position that will force the team's most expensive player, Heyward, over to center, at what could be a defensive detriment to the team. The former Cardinal's contract looks more and more like an albatross every time he steps into a batter's box—he still seems to be struggling mightily with his swing, and moving him to center is not only a misuse of his talents, but prevents one of the team's best remaining prospects, Albert Almora, from getting reasonable playing time. There's a high chance, though, that Maddon looks at how Baez's production fell off in the World Series and sticks Zobrist back in the infield, allowing Heyward to play his regular spot; there's really no certainty in that regard. The only thing that is certain is that Heyward, despite his huge contract, really needs to pick it up if he wants to assure himself of regular playing time on this incredibly deep and talented roster.
The only outfield spot that's really locked down is one that, six months ago, nobody could have ever anticipated. Kyle Schwarber's remarkable comeback from his knee injury early last season, his presence in the World Series, and the impact that he made in his limited time made it clear that he deserves a spot in this line-up. With a full off-season to continue his rehab, and to prepare for what could be his first full season as a full-time starter in both the majors and the outfield, the former Indiana man should continue his development into a power-hitting superstar.
3B- Kris Bryant
SS- Addison Russell
2B- Javier Baez
1B- Anthony Rizzo
C- Willson Contreras
Arguably the two biggest position players in the entire National League will man the corners for the Cubs this year. Bryant, who won the NL MVP award last year, didn't have incredibly mind-blowing statistics, but the third baseman's combination of solid contact, strong power, and nifty fielding make him one of the most valuable players in the game. Rizzo, meanwhile, had himself a career year at the dish last season, batting .292 and knocking in 109 runs, and while his performance in the post-season wasn't exactly up to scratch, it was his leadership abilities that really took center stage, as his enthusiasm helped buoy his team, especially when they seemed down-and-out following the Cleveland Indians' win in Game 4 of the Series. Both men will be essential if the Cubs are to have any chance of repeating.
The two youngsters up the middle are models of consistency and inconsistency, steadiness and streakiness. The consistent one, Russell, might never be a star at the bat—he batted .238 last season, and he struck out (135) more times than he got a hit (125)—but he still managed to come up big when it mattered, as he knocked in 95 runs from a spot low in the batting order, and his defense saved many a base hit for the team's pitching staff. He'll never be elite, but you know what you'll get from him. His double play partner, Baez, has the potential to be one of the greatest hitters at his position in baseball history. He's a freaky athlete with quick hands and top-level power, as evidenced by his many moonshots, but his aggressiveness has made him even more prone to strikeouts than Russell, and he's fairly error-prone, having not fully mastered playing second base yet. He should put up enough power numbers to hold down most of the playing time at second, but if Albert Almora or prospect Ian Happ find their strokes, and the back end of the rotation proves to be a problem for the team, expect Baez's name to be floated in some trade rumors.
The man behind the plate, Contreras, was a mid-season call-up that caught fire as the regular season came to a close and essentially won the starting role based on that performance. I worry about his transition to being a true full-time guy, especially with David Ross no longer present to give day-to-day guidance, so I don't think he'll see as much time as many expect, but in a couple years I reckon he'll be one of the most complete catchers in baseball.
C- Miguel Montero
2B- Tommy La Stella
OF- Jon Jay
OF- Matt Szczur
Montero won't be happy playing in a reserve role for another season—he made that abundantly clear—but with David Ross retired and the man in front of him, Contreras, preparing to play in his first full he's guaranteed to get more playing time than last season. Playing for what could be his last good contract, I actually expect Montero to get the most playing time behind the dish this year.
There's actually a pretty high chance that La Stella doesn't end up on the roster—as I mentioned earlier, it's likely that Jason Heyward will start the season in right, which would force Ben Zobrist to second base, Javier Baez to the bench, and… La Stella to the minors. In this scenario, though, the versatile infielder is kept around to provide a veteran presence off the bench.
Jay was signed to help fill the void left when Dexter Fowler departed for St. Louis, and he'll do just that—help fill the void. A lefty, he actually hit better against lefthanders last year, so he's capable of taking at-bats in any situation. For that reason, he figures to have an important role somewhere down the line.
There's a chance that Szczur could end up not being on the big club this spring, but there's a couple reasons that I see him beating out Almora for a roster spot—the former multi-sport star at Villanova is out of options, and since Almora hasn't quite demonstrated that he's capable of hitting major league pitching yet, I think that the gritty veteran makes the team. If he struggles, though, or if Almora rakes in the minors, expect the team to gauge what interest there would be in him on the trade market.
Jon Lester- LHP
Jake Arrieta- RHP
Kyle Hendricks- RHP
John Lackey- RHP
Brett Anderson- LHP
You know that your team has a strong rotation if a guy that figures to be the long-term third starter, Hendricks, led the league in ERA last season (Hendricks will open the season as the 5th starter, due to the team's desire to thrown John Lackey against his old team, St. Louis). Jon Lester recovered his mojo in his second year in Chicago, finishing with a career-low 2.44 ERA, and earning the right to be the ace of this deep staff. Arrieta, the bearded warrior, struggled in the second half of last season, but on a contract year, I expect the big righty to try to pick it up a notch in search of a big new deal. Then there's Hendricks, a man whose pinpoint control brought him to new heights last season. I'm sure that he's due to fall off a little bit, but if it's only a little, the 27-year-old has a chance to be the future ace in Chicago in the vein of what the legendary Greg Maddux once was.
The back end of the rotation will be filled out by a couple of veterans looking to show that they're still worthy of being members of a championship team. Lackey is known to be a great leader (not to mention incredibly fiery) for this squad, and his 3.36 ERA last year proves he's still got it, but I'm a tad worried about how long he can continue to be effective, especially as his innings decrease. The best older pitchers rely on their ability to control their pitches and eat innings, and his 188.1 innings last year were his least since his horrendous 2011 season in Boston. Behind him will be Anderson, who is coming off an injury-filled season with the Dodgers but has the stuff to be a solid mid-rotation option. At this point, though, I can't see him making it through the whole season unscathed; he'll pitch well when he's available, but if he tops 20 starts I'll be incredibly surprised.
Carl Edwards Jr.- RHP
Justin Grimm- RHP
Mike Montgomery- LHP
Brian Duensing- LHP
Pedro Strop- RHP
Hector Rondon- RHP
Koji Uehara- RHP
Wade Davis- RHP (closer)
When it became clear that the Cubs weren't front-runners to bring back Aroldis Chapman, and that it was unlikely they could sign the other two big-name free agent closers, Kenley Jansen and Mark Melancon, the team's front office worked fast. They flipped Jorge Soler, who has star potential but has struggled for consistency in his two full years with the big club, to Kansas City in exchange for Davis, who was the best closer on the trade market. He may not have the power pitch that Chapman had, but the former Royal might actually be more consistent, and his presence will keep the 9th inning in good hands for this year's team.
Jed Hoyer also made a couple of shrewd free agent pick-ups to fill some needs. With former closer Hector Rondon figuring to move back to his hybrid set-up/middle relief role, a true set-up man was needed, so Hoyer signed former Red Sox reliever Koji Uehara, who, at 42, is still capable of being incredibly effective. Travis Wood's departure also left a hole for a left-handed reliever in the 'pen, so Hoyer inked veteran Brian Duensing, who has great splits against lefties, to a deal. He won't see as much action as Wood, but he could yet prove to be a useful piece.
The hold-overs from last year's roster will complete what could be one of the most underrated bullpens in all of baseball. There's a couple fire-ballers (Edwards Jr. and Grimm), a couple of guys with great control (Montgomery and Strop), and Rondon, whose arsenal doesn't have anything that particularly stands out but is very effective in high-leverage situations. The best of the bunch is probably the man who finished off last year's championship victory, Montgomery, who could see some time as a starter if Brett Anderson struggles.
3B- Jeimer Candelario
CF- Albert Almora
LHP- Zac Rosscup
Candelario didn't get much playing time after being added to the 40-man roster this past July, and while it's evident that he still needs to work on figuring out major league pitching, he's fared well in the minors, as he hit .333 in Iowa before being called up. His versatility—he can play any infield spot except first—and speed could also make him a valuable reserve at some point during the year.
Almora is certainly talented enough to start the season in Chicago, and I wouldn't be surprised if he did, but I still think that he needs to have better control of the strike zone before I think he really deserves to get real playing time for the duration of the season. He'll get called up at the first sign of injury or struggles for any of the outfielders, and he'll surely be an important part of the team down the stretch, but I just feel he should start the year in Iowa.
Rosscup hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2015, owing to the poor spring he had last year that caused him to start the year in Iowa and the shoulder surgery he had last May that forced him to miss the season. As a lefty specialist that has pitched in parts of three seasons in the Show, though, Rosscup could find a role at the back end of the team's 'pen, especially if Brian Duensing struggles.
Dylan Cease- RHP
2B- Ian Happ
Most of the Cubs' big prospects have cracked the big leagues, but that doesn't mean that the cupboard is bare; far from it. We'll start with Cease, a flame-throwing righty that can hit triple digits with every pitch. As with all high-speed pitchers, though, he's had some issues with locating his pitches, and the organization is still working out if he would be better suited as a starter or reliever. Either way, as long as he can figure out how to reign in his heater, he'll be a big arm to have when he finally makes it to the Show.
Happ has been absolutely on fire in spring training, batting a robust .407 as of this writing, but has yet to play a single professional game above AA. That being said, his progress at the plate is really turning heads, and his ability to play multiple positions—he played mostly outfield in college, but spent most of his time last season at second—makes him a very valuable asset. If he continues to see the ball well, he could well work his way into playing time with the big club, especially if Matt Szczur ends up leaving the organization, before many could have anticipated he would.
Of course, his path to outfield playing time might be slowed a little bit by Jimenez, the team's top prospect. Jimenez seems to be what many people hoped Jorge Soler would be—a big, solid athlete with impressive defensive instincts and upper-deck power. Jimenez is still a little bit too aggressive at the plate, and breaking pitches seem to give him a decent amount of trouble, but the talent is there, and if he can continue to improve—his average in the minors went from .227 in his first season to .329 last year—the 20-year-old outfielder is sure to have a great career in Cubbie blue.
IF- Jemile Weeks
OF- Jacob Hannemann
Weeks, the younger brother of former Brewer, and Cub tormenter, Rickie Weeks, is a do-it-all type player that can play virtually every position on the field and has some speed to burn. There's still a lot of good prospects that should see the bigs before Weeks ever would, but everyone knows how much Joe Maddon values guys that are able to fill gaps all over the field, and Weeks fits that bill.
Hannemann doesn't rate among the team's top 15 prospects—perhaps because the 25-year-old former third round pick has really struggled with minor league pitching, still not proving that he can handle moving to a level above AA. That being said, there's a reason that the Hawaiian was such a highly regarded draft pick. He's a good athlete and has shown that, despite his general struggles at the plate, he's not all that bad at putting the bat on the ball. If he's able to figure out his swing, he could end up being a Shane Victorino-lite, a late-bloomer from the Island State that's quick and makes good contact.
CF Heyward
LF Schwarber
3B Bryant
1B Rizzo
2B Baez
RF Zobrist
SS Russell
C Contreras
P Lester
The Cubs have what is arguably the most talented team in all of baseball, and coming off their first title in a very, very long time, they'll be anxious to prove that they can go above and beyond last year's miracle. Ultimately, though, I don't think they'll win it all this year. I'm worried about the drop-off that Kyle Hendricks will almost certainly face, as well struggles Jake Arrieta had last year, and what could happen to the team if both aren't always on their groove. I worry about the back of the rotation and their ability to maintain consistency. I worry about the outfield, and the uncertainty about who is going to get playing time, and if those players are going to be deserving of that time. Besides, with the parity that baseball has, it's near impossible to repeat. This team is excellent, and they'll certainly challenge for the World Series, but I think that the small weaknesses that the roster does have will compound on themselves just enough to prevent the Cubbies from repeating as champions.
Please note that rosters have not yet been finalized, and that the 25-man roster, and the other sections listed, are just predictions.
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The Week that Was: 2017 NFL Free Agency


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Your Kid Has a Gift for the Arts. How Do We Foster Confidence and Creativity?
By Michael Finnegan in Parenting on February 25, 2019 March 20, 2019
I'm not sure how people "make it" in the arts. I've been an artist all my life, not to mention a musician, carpenter, stair-builder, laborer, landscaper, cab driver, security guard, short order cook, waiter, bus boy, dishwasher, and parent to two teenagers. Pretty much everything I know in life I've picked up by trial and error.
Both my kids are creative. They play a variety of instruments, write music, and draw. Like so many talented children today, they could play all the parts in a band, record a bunch of songs, and then design the album cover. When they perform on stage they play with confidence and skill. My wife and I have spent many years enjoying their music. Hearing and seeing them play makes us very proud and happy. And sometimes it makes me uncomfortable. What if someday they want to become professional musicians?
Today, I consider myself lucky to be a working artist, but I remain painfully aware that there is no clear linear path to what my mom would call "securing your earthly existence." I'm not sure how one finds a balance between creative success and financial stability. My kids have been fortunate to enjoy privileges and opportunities that many don't. My daughter is thinking about going to New York to give music a shot after college. I think she should go for it and that's scary. She'll have to find her way and make mistakes and work day jobs and learn new life lessons. Hopefully, she'll find a way to creatively balance her personal responsibilities with her musical growth. Maybe I should tell her again that Philip Glass was a plumber into his 40's, and the 20th century composer Charles Ives was an insurance salesman.
Defining artistic success in America is difficult. It can be a never-ending soul drain. It's a topic that can overwhelm both parents and kids. Maybe it's obvious to some, but it helps me to see creative success as something different than financial success. If they need advice, I can help my kids become creatively successful. And of course, as parents, my wife and I work together with them so they can also find a way to secure their earthly existence.
Photo by Nathan Keay
I'm happy to share my experiences exploring the mysterious, painful and thrilling life-long pursuit of art making. I tell my daughter, a drummer, that when she has a show or a gig she should show everyone how much she loves it. When my son played bass in a high school rock and roll band, the advice was the same. Why? It's not just because the audience enjoys the enthusiasm and wants to connect to the creative experience. It's because an artist's source of power and strength comes from accepting and demonstrating how much they love making art.
Their are zillions of reasons not to make art, but if you are going to push forward and go for it, you have got to throw it down and find a way to completely commit to your discipline. Great art connects people and especially these days, people want to connect. I certainly want to feel connected to something meaningful, so I'm trying to engage with what I find compelling and hope others connect, too.
If you have a creative child, you already know no one can guarantee financial success. All any serious artist can do – be it through music, painting, writing, acting or whatever – is honor, nurture and respect the need to create. It's important for artists to think about how they want to define success for themselves. In fact, it might just be that success is measured in ways we did not imagine. I like the John Cage idea that art is not about trying to make order out of the chaos; it's about waking up to the life we are living.
Being an artist can be hard and scary. Hell, being alive can be hard and scary, but there is a lot of power and strength in connecting to others by standing up for what you love. Like I said, I'm not sure how to "make it" in the arts but I love my family and I love making art.
Michael Finnegan is a visual artist who majored in Guitar and Composition at Berklee College of Music. He was raised in Annapolis on the Chesapeake Bay and in Hawaii, and has worked and lived in Deer Isle, Maine and commuted by boat to work on Bainbridge Island in the Puget Sound. He pays close attention to ideas inspired by waves, water, fluid motion, light and color. His exposure to the works of various musicians also influences his art and he sometimes arranges and composes the visual motifs in his work using concepts borrowed from his understanding of music theory and rhythm.
Michael's work is currently on display through September at Metropolitan Capital, Chicago. You can also learn more about him at https://www.michaelfinneganart.com, and follow him on Instagram @michaelfinneganart
Tags: Kids, Parenting, Teens
Published by Michael Finnegan
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3 comments on "Your Kid Has a Gift for the Arts. How Do We Foster Confidence and Creativity?"
Emilia says:
"It's because an artist's source of power and strength comes from accepting and demonstrating how much they love making art"
I am moved. Thanks for sharing.
Michael Finnegan says:
Thanks Emilia, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Carey says:
when supporting an artist whether yours or someone else's give them the motivation to continue to seek unique results

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Pak Pong-ju (* 10. April 1939 in Sŏngjin, damaliges Japanisches Kaiserreich, heutiges Nordkorea) ist ein nordkoreanischer Politiker und Wirtschaftsfunktionär. Er amtierte von 2004 bis 2007 und erneut von 2013 bis 2019 als Regierungschef von Nordkorea.

Leben
Pak wurde 1962 Direktor des Lebensmittelwerks in Ryongchŏn (Provinz P'yŏngan-pukto). Im Oktober 1980 wurde er Kandidat des Zentralkomitees der Partei der Arbeit Koreas (PdAK). Ab Mai 1983 war er Vizevorsitzender des PdAK-Ausschusses für Leichtindustrie und ab März 1994 Vizevorsitzender des Ausschusses für die Überwachung der Wirtschaftspolitik. Im selben Jahr nahm er an den Vorbereitungen der Trauerfeierlichkeiten für den verstorbenen Staatspräsidenten Kim Il-sung teil. Unter den 273 offiziell mit dieser Aufgabe betrauten Personen nahm er Rang 188 ein, was darauf hindeutet, dass Pak zu dieser Zeit in der Führungselite Nordkoreas eine eher untergeordnete Stellung einnahm. Trotzdem wurde er im September 1998 unter Ministerpräsident Hong Sŏng-nam zum Minister für chemische Industrie ernannt. Seit dem 3. September 2003 war er selbst Ministerpräsident von Nordkorea. Die Oberste Volksversammlung setzte ihn am 11. April 2007 ab und wählte Verkehrsminister Kim Yong-il als Nachfolger. Der Absetzung Pak Pong-jus soll ein Konflikt über die Wirtschaftspolitik vorangegangen sein. Der von Pak Pong-ju verfolgte Kurs soll dabei als zu marktwirtschaftlich bzw. kapitalistisch in der Kritik gestanden haben. Während seiner Zeit als Regierungschef begleitete Pak Pong-ju den nordkoreanischen Machthaber Kim Jong-il auf Reisen durch Nordkorea und in die Volksrepublik China.

Am 1. April 2013 wurde er während der siebenten Sitzung der 12. Obersten Volksversammlung erneut zum Vorsitzenden des Ministerrats ernannt und legte vor dem Parlament den Amtseid ab. Die Ernennung des engen Vertrauten von Kim Jong-uns Tante Kim Kyŏng-hŭi wird als Schritt gedeutet, die Macht der Kims nach dem Tod von Kim Jong-il weiter zu festigen.

Einzelnachweise

Ministerratsvorsitzender (Nordkorea)
Minister (Nordkorea)
PdAK-Mitglied
Nordkoreaner
Geboren 1939
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


South Dakota's unique history makes it a fascinating place to study; much of the history of South Dakota parallels that of North Dakota. The land that became South Dakota changed hands many times. In its early history it was inhabited by Sioux Indians. After white explorers entered the area, it belonged to France, Spain, and England at various times. Following the Louisiana Purchase, land that would become South Dakota came under American control. Settlers in the area came first for furs and later for the lure of gold and other precious metals. Homesteading, cattle ranching, farming and railroads also affected population growth.
The South Dakota Genealogy Legacy QuickGuide™ contains valuable research strategy to help you find your Mount Rushmore State ancestors This handy 6-page PDF guide can be used on your computer or mobile device for anytime access.


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Why Would a Snake Bite Itself?
Categories Snakes
As snake owners, we know that snakes can sometimes do strange behaviors. These concerning mannerisms often indicate that the snake is feeling ill or that something is not quite right about its environment.
As alarming or unheard of as a snake biting itself may seem, this is indeed possible, and it may mean that there is something terribly wrong with the snake itself or its habitat.
To learn more about why a snake may bite itself and how to deal with a self-biting snake, continue to read.
I) The Most Common Reasons Why a Snake May Bite Itself
II) A Snake That Bites Itself May Be Hungry or Shedding
III) What to Do If a Snake Bites Itself
IV) Can a Venomous Snake Do Harm by Biting Itself?
The Most Common Reasons Why a Snake May Bite Itself
When a snake bites itself, this can be its way of responding to an upsetting or high-stress situation, but this is not always the case. Sometimes, even a healthy and well-kept snake can unintentionally bite itself.
While it may seem strange to us that a snake would either accidentally or intentionally harm itself, this is sometimes an observed behavior for a variety of underlying reasons related to how the snake is kept.
Here are some of the major explanations of why a snake may sink its fangs into itself:
The Snake May Have Missed While Striking at Food
Some of the more common scenarios in which a snake will bite itself will be during its feeding time.
When snakes are fed live prey, the chances of the snake injuring itself increases, as the snake will potentially need to strike at a moving animal.
If the prey animal is too fast for the snake to keep track of, it may confuse the snake and get it to strike itself.
However, pre-killed or frozen-thawed prey can still carry a risk of its own. If the snake is being fed from a hook, it may have a hard time distinguishing where the prey is in relation to its own body.
This may lead the snake to strike itself while attempting to latch onto a food item that has been leveled at an odd angle or elevation.
The Snake May Have Been Frightened by a Predator
One of the more stressful situations for a snake to be in is one where they are facing a potential predator.
Snakes will usually try to move away from anything they perceive as a threat, but if they are cornered or unable to escape after being startled, they may panic and behave in extremely strange ways.
A startled snake with no means of escape may flail around wildly with its mouth open, leaving it in various odd positions, including one where it is biting itself.
The Snake May Be Overheating
If a snake's basking or overall enclosure temperature is not where it needs to be, this may cause them to become stressed.
In addition, overheating may damage a snake's neurological system, meaning that it may not realize when something is harming it.
Interesting READ Can Snakes Hear And See Well?
This disruption of the snake's brain functions can cause the reptile to do odd, self-harming behaviors such as biting itself.
An Attacking Snake Will be More Prone to Biting
An agitated snake may inadvertently harm itself by biting when it had originally intended to swipe at a potential threat.
To ward away an intruder or a predatory animal that has entered its domain, a snake may make many defensive strike attempts and accidentally wind up digging its teeth into its own flesh.
A Snake That Bites Itself May Be Hungry or Shedding
A snake biting itself is a sign of it not getting the proper nutrients needed to survive.
In addition, a starving snake will often be desperate enough to go for almost anything in its path, and it will likely not be alert enough to tell apart food from its own body.
A Hungry Snake Might Try to Bite or Eat Itself
In rare cases, a snake that is on the lookout for food may mistake part of itself for a prey animal.
This is especially true for colubrids such as kingsnakes, which are very opportunistic and food-motivated reptiles that occasionally eat other snakes.
As crazy as it may seem, starving or agitated snakes will sometimes even try to swallow themselves just as they would with another snake.
A snake swallowing itself will often require the assistance of an owner to dislodge the snake from its own throat.
Sometimes this can be fixed with the help of applying foul-smelling substances such as diluted hand sanitizer to override the snake's senses and encourage it to let go.
Otherwise, the snake will eventually choke on itself, so it is important to assist the animal as soon as it is found in such a state.
Snakes with Poor Eyesight May Bite Themselves
A snake with impaired vision will be more likely to bite itself accidentally.
As we have learned by now, some species are simply more prone to mistaking their tails for prey, especially if they feed on earthworms or other snakes as kingsnakes and other colubrids do.
Snakes do not tend to rely solely on sight to locate food, but any damage to the senses can quickly make feeding situations a hazardous task.
Suppose a snake has poor vision due to underlying illness or is currently shedding over its eyes.
In that case, it will be more likely to injure itself by accidentally striking in the wrong direction and hitting itself in the process.
As previously discussed, this is especially true if the snake is being fed live, moving prey.
What to Do If a Snake Bites Itself
If you find that your snake has bitten itself, try not to panic. The snake will usually let go eventually after it has figured out that it has latched on to itself, but this may take a long time.
However, this kind of self-injury can become a larger issue for smaller snakes with sizeable teeth, as it will be easier for them to puncture major blood vessels or organs accidentally.
Interesting READ How Do You Know If Your Ball Python Is Happy?
As with any deep puncture, keeping the bite clean and seeking veterinary help for persistent bleeding is important.
After the wound has been secured, applying petroleum jelly to the bite can help keep it protected from contaminants while it heals.
Assess the Snake's Environment
If your snake has made a habit out of biting itself that cannot be explained away because of a feeding time error, make sure that its enclosure is in good shape.
First and foremost, this means ensuring that the heat bulb wattages and temperatures inside the habitat are correct.
It is also good to double-check other husbandry standards for the snake, such as its feeding routine.
If your snake is shedding, make sure that its eye caps are not stuck to the eye and that it is able to see properly.
Giving the snake a warm soak can help hurry this process and lessen the chances of the shed getting stuck over its sensory areas.
Take It to a Vet If Nothing Improves
Suppose you observe that the snake continues to bite itself unprovoked after fixing any shedding or enclosure-related problems.
In that case, there may be more serious health issues going on that are not immediately obvious.
Bringing the animal to a licensed reptile veterinarian as soon as possible to get them checked out will be the best way to deal with this situation.
A reptile vet will be able to tell if the snake has either a mild or severe neurological disease that may be causing it to bite itself.
Can a Venomous Snake Do Harm by Biting Itself?
After learning about the many reasons a snake may bite itself, some may also wonder if a venomous snake can envenomate itself if it bites through its own skin.
How Venomous Snakes Protect Themselves Against Bites
Thankfully for many snakes that produce venom, they are also armed with a natural immunity to their own potent toxins.
The snake's immune system creates proteins similar to those found in anti-venom, so the reptile suffering a death due to a self-bite is highly unlikely.
On the off chance that a snake does bite itself, the only harm done will be from the bite's puncture, which could potentially be life-threatening depending on the size of the animal.
As resilient as snakes are, they can still become easily disoriented or confused given certain circumstances. As such, snakes bite themselves more frequently than people may realize.
Nonetheless, as odd as the behavior is, there is often a reason it is occurring, and it is largely due to feeding time issues, stress, or medical problems.
Snakes are hardy reptiles that can usually recover from any issues that a self-bite may pose to them. However, it is still important that these animals get proper care after any injury involving a break to the skin.
If a snake bites itself regularly, it must be taken to a veterinarian to assess whether the animal has neurological damage or other medical problems causing it to do this unsafe behavior.
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OUR WORK IN ACTION
Ford College Community Challenge
Launched in: 2017
Application Timing: Jan. - March
In partnership with global nonprofit Enactus, Ford Fund invites student teams to develop ideas for innovative projects that address an unmet social need or problem in the local community—ranging from safety to workforce development to access to mobility, and more. Each year, up to four Enactus student teams are selected to receive a $3,750 USD grant to implement their project. Through this program, students use entrepreneurial action to make people's lives better and help their community become a more sustainable place to work and live.
2019 Ford College Community Challenge Winning Projects
University of Puerto Rico at Humacao: Luquillo
The stray dog situation in Puerto Rico is a health, social and moral crisis. Paws Ahead is a three-prong project that provides education, qualifications and access to resources for unemployed or underemployed volunteer dog rescuers in Puerto Rico. The program empowers volunteers to become Certified Dog Trainers that will allow them to gain financial independence in an innovative new career of increasing promise: Animal Assisted Interventions. The project will contribute to public health by training rescued dogs as therapy dogs to serve in hospitals, retirement homes, physical therapy centers, schools, and homes of people diagnosed with physical, cognitive, behavioral and socio-emotional challenges. Upon certification, trainers can work with their dogs or sell them as trained, certified emotional support or therapy dogs. By positively impacting animal rescuers and stray dogs to improve their livelihoods and acquire social mobility, they, in turn, contribute to society's increased wellbeing.
University of Puerto Rico at Bayamon: Loiza
Bottle of Hope is a project designed and developed to build a sustainable future for a community living in extreme poverty. University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón Enactus offers an ecological and intelligent technique of construction using plastic bottles as the raw material. The team is currently building a structure by reusing more than 150,000 plastic bottles that have been diverted from landfills. The project promotes the appreciation of community work through the construction of different structures, for example, community centers. This year, the Enactus team is empowering local artisans from a forgotten community in Loiza, to come together and build a structure that serves as a sales center for nearby communities. This center will help increase their economic situation, their truism status and help families gain a more sustainable income.
Ana G. Mendez- Carolina (University of the East): Carolina
The School Orchard project focuses on conducting agricultural workshops with the purpose of educating people about the importance of orchards. East University Enactus has developed an innovative idea of promoting agriculture workshops in schools that plant orchards as part of their academic curriculum. The Enactus team will provide grafting workshops with the necessary materials to create a school orchard. Their goal is to establish an alliance with the school and create awareness about agriculture. The project represents an innovative approach in providing new solutions to solve the problems that affect schools and communities in Puerto Rico.
Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico: San Juan
Little Engineers is an educational project for high school students. Hydroponic systems are constructed from reusable materials. These systems serve as a source of food and produce energy through the growth of plants. When the plants go through photosynthesis, they move excess energy towards their roots. Microorganisms then break down glucose and liberate electrons that can be harvested for energy. This energy can be stored in a 12V battery. The system uses less than 10 gallons of water for up to five days. The Enactus team plans to learn how to purify the leftover water from each cycle and find a way to create a motor-like system for vehicles that could be powered by the same plant-based energy.
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Shortlink to this content: http://bit.ly/2ksmqtc
Friday, January 27, 2017 5:22am ET	by Newsdesk
music, news, pressparty, music news, london, united kingdom, uk, missy, elliott, missy elliott, i'm better, 2017
Missy Elliott drops surprise single 'I'm Better,' with music video
Missy Elliott delighted fans overnight by dropping a brand new track and accompanying music video.
The song is entitled 'I'm Better' and features Lamb, and the music video was directed by Dave Meyers and Missy Elliott. Meyers is known for his collaborative work with Missy and won a GRAMMY for her 'Lose Control' video back in 2005.
She also teased the release of a new documentary and in the trailer, which can be seen below, she says: "It's never just a record for me. It's never just making a hot record. I can do that in my sleep. But visually I have to see what I'm going to do with that record when I perform it."
Follow us: @Pressparty on Twitter / Pressparty on Facebook.
Watch the music video for her hot new track below:
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The technologies of VR and AR can power real estate companies and agents to deliver better services to customers and save huge time. Imagine you, as a property agent, are able to provide customers with an open house tour of a home for sale without even driving to there. Imagine if you are able to show a fully constructed apartment along with its interior and exterior on a location while there is actually nothing on that location.
Many real estate companies and agents have provided these kinds of experience and, they have been successful not only in providing better customers experience but also saving huge time that they need to spend in taking each and every customer to the property sites.
This is how the mobile app development technologies of virtual reality and augmented reality are advancing real estate industry, too. As of an IDC report prediction, the global revenue generated for VR/AR will reach $13.9 billion by the end of 2017. If it happens, it would clearly be an increase of 130.5 percent from last year's spending. IDC also expects that market will in fact explode in coming years with reaching $143.3 billion by 2020.
Of course, a big portion of this growth will be contributed by real estate industry in which several businesses are adopting the mobile versions of VR and AR technologies to make buying-selling more interesting as well as to control cost.
The technology of virtual reality has now evolved to such simplicity as ordinary device can also support 3D VR tours of real estates. All realtors need is an app having the VR content of the properties-on- the-sold. At the other end, customers or app-users need VR headset and smartphone. VR headsets having motion sensors can also deliver a realistic 360-degree tour of apartments.
With these virtual 360 tours of real estate properties, agents are able to save time that they have to spend in taking customers for property tours and entertain more inquires in a single day.
Open houses often have furniture of previous owners where buyers will walk through. A purposely designed AR app allows potential buyers to see the home with a furniture-style in their mind.
There are in fact companies and apps that allow buyers to visualize an apartment or room in house in a way they want to style it. All they will need to do is to see through app using the camera of the device.
Virtual reality can also help realtors to present a walkthrough of properties or apartments which are either under-constructions or un-built at all. The 3D models implemented to VR app technologies can facilitate realtors to offer customers with 3D tours of properties. Customers, by wearing VR headset, can access property and have its external and internal walkthroughs on their own.
Sofia Coppol is a digital marketing expert in Rapidsoft Technologies, a prominent software product development company offering magento development company,mobile app development and product development services across the global. She loves to write on latest web and mobile technology trends, startups and enterprises.


"Black Orchard is in business to shift cargo and lots of it. The port provides amenities for visitors and passengers alike, but its primary bread and butter is heavy cargo. This Destination is a fully described spaceport providing a location for refueling, diagnosis and refitting of any vessel. This technological center bustles as it serves and services ships from all over. A long flat strip with five enormous towers, it offers repairs for obscure nanotech infestations or sensor diagnostics for the most delicate of damage systems. Characters can transfer cargo, take on additional munitions or take time out for a ground-based adventure; all are possibilities here.
The Destinations series by Tabletop Adventures is your gateway to the universe, providing flexible, creative, stat-free settings that you can use to bring life and adventure to virtually any game system.
Spaceport Black Orchard is described in three sections: an Introduction, including background information and a description of what the port looks like from the air; Spaceport Layout, with details about each individual tower; and Bringing Black Orchard to Life, which gives adventure seeds and plot hooks that could be useful in nearly any science fiction campaign. Text is provided to read aloud directly to your players if desired, giving descriptions of the various areas of the port. Also featured is an artist's rendering of the location by Gillian Pearce."


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Home headline Man gets suspended sentence for sharing 'Dictator Erdoğan' story on Facebook
Man gets suspended sentence for sharing 'Dictator Erdoğan' story on Facebook
A Turkish court has convicted a man of insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan by posting a news story on social media by the German Bild daily that called Erdoğan a dictator, handing down a suspended sentence of one year, three months to him, the Mezopotamya news agency reported on Monday.
Mehmet Şah Tekiner, 62, shared on Facebook the Diken news website's story covering Bild's headline story "Diktator Erdoğan: Wo Sall Das Noch Alles Enden?" (Dictator Erdoğan: What is Next?) dated Nov. 5, 2016.
Bild's original story was covered by many other news websites, and no access ban on those sites were introduced at the time.
In his defense at a court in southeastern Turkey, Tekiner said he did not have a social media account and that the account containing the post might have been opened by his children or grandchildren.
Citing judgments by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), his lawyer Resul Tamur argued the post in question cannot taken as an insult, but as harsh criticism.
The court, however, handed down the suspended sentence.
Critics of Erdoğan argue that insult cases demonstrate efforts by Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) government to intimidate the public and opposition parties into not criticizing the government.
Insult cases generally originate from social media posts shared by Erdoğan opponents. The Turkish police and judiciary perceive even the most minor criticism of Erdoğan or his government as an insult.
Insulting the president is a crime in Turkey, according to the controversial Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Whoever insults the president can face up to four years in prison, a sentence that can be increased if the crime was committed through the mass media.
Erdoğan has brought legal action on insult charges against 38,581 people during his time in office as president, according to a report released in August main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairwoman Gülizar Biçer Karaca.
insulting Erdoğan
Mehmet Şah Tekiner
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You work hard and you deserve to be paid fairly for your work. We understand that most workers want to be team players and to put their best foot forward for advancement; however, an employer is not permitted to take advantage of your work ethic in order to skirt the law.
The complexity of law and workplace dynamics are among the reasons why wage and hour violations can be so frustrating. And while knowing what to do can be confusing, we're here to help you. Our experienced Columbus wage attorney understands the law and empathizes with the realities of having a job, keeping that job, and providing for your loved ones and families. That's why we want to meet with you.
At Nilges Draher LLC in Columbus, our legal team has been helping people just like you successfully demand the financial compensation they deserve for the hours they worked. Our case results speak for themselves – more than $26 million recovered for Columbus workers and other employees across the country.
You only have a limited amount of time to take legal action in Ohio if you believe you were not paid at the lawful minimum wage for each hour worked, or not paid for all overtime earned. The applicable statutes of limitations (that is, the deadline to file a lawsuit or join an existing collective action) can vary depending on the violation and location of work performed. Accordingly, as with any legal concern, you should promptly act.
Not being paid minimum wage for each hour worked. Ohio's minimum wage is currently $8.55 per hour.
Overtime paid at a lower rate; for example, when certain bonuses or shift-differentials are not included into the overtime calculation.
Not being paid for hours worked, which then result in minimum wage or overtime violations.
Employees being misclassified as non-exempt or as an independent contractor.
Unlawful tip-pooling schemes; for example, letting management share tips.
Requiring employees to clock out for lunch, but then having the employee perform work tasks during the unpaid lunch.
Requiring employees to perform work before they clock in or after they clock out, resulting in unpaid work. Such work includes donning and doffing protective or sanitary clothing/equipment, hand washing, or line/machine prep, to name a few common instances.
You deserve to be paid at least the minimum wage for each and every hour worked, and to be paid not less than one and one-half times your regular rate for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek. Your wages should be yours, and no one else's; you should not be required to share your tips with supervisors or managers who typically do not help generate those tips. You should not be required to clock out for lunch, yet continue answering phones or doing other work. You shouldn't have to perform compensable work before you clock in or after you clock out.
If the employer wants you to work or even lets you work, you should be paid. Plus, employers who do not abide by the minimum and overtime requirements unlawfully obtain an economic advantage over competing companies that do follow the law, so your sacrifices for the employer potentially have effects that reach farther than a lower level manager's opinion of you.
Whatever the circumstances of your case, contact our law firm right away. Our Columbus legal team wants to help you get the money you deserve.
The U.S. Department of Labor, Division of Wages and Hours investigates these types of claims; so does the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Labor and Worker Safety. As a result, you might wonder why you even a need a lawyer if your employer didn't pay you.
One reason is that these agencies are often overworked and understaffed. Other times, they are underfunded. Sometimes they simply aren't as motivated to advance workers' rights, especially depending on composition of leadership.
Furthermore, these cases often turn out to be extremely complicated, and chances are, your employer already has an attorney. That attorney may be engaged to defend your claim for unpaid wages, or it might be the attorney who helped engineer the scheme that resulted in you and your co-workers getting underpaid. Sometimes these schemes are lawful and sometimes they're not, but the dollars missing from your paycheck significantly impact you and your family.
Moreover, the employer's attorney or team of attorneys could be expected to do everything they can to discredit you and your claim. Sometimes they even try to obtain irrelevant, and sometimes very personal, information during discovery. They might even threaten you with legal action against you for issues that weren't even on their radar until you demanded the lawful payment for the work you performed. So, we think you should have an attorney as well.
We can help you level the playing field. We also make sure your case receives the attention it rightfully deserves. Sometimes, claims get lost amid the sea of complaints that state and federal agencies receive each year.
And if you're not the only employee dealing with the same issue at your company, we can represent all of you in a class and/or collective action lawsuit. Your rights matter at our law firm. That's why we're eager to meet with you. Schedule your free consultation in our Columbus office today with a wage and hour attorney who cares. We're on your side.


2018 Academy Awards Nominees on Home Video (Release Calendar) - ReDVDit!
The 2018 Academy Awards Nominees were announced Tuesday. Lucky for you, most of them are quite easy to find and add to your collection before Oscar Night on March 4. We've assembled this list of all the feature length Oscar nominees either available now or soon to be available on home video (4K, Blu-ray, DVD, VoD, and Streaming) in the US. Links to our 4K and Blu-ray reviews for these movies have also been included so you have an idea on what to expect. We'll have more updates concerning these releases as we get closer to the Oscars.


Former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown finally broke the silence about his relationship with 2020 presidential hopeful and Democratic senator Kamala Harris on Saturday. He admitted in his weekly column that he used his power to elevate her career when they dated when she was very young.
Even though Brown was in an openly extramarital relationship with Harris when he was speaker of the California State Assembly and also running for mayor. Since she just announced she was running for president a week ago he avoided commenting on his relationship with Harris. Harris has also avoided commenting on the situation regarding Brown giving her career a push in its early stages.
He even took things a step further and admitted that he appointed her to two well-paid posts on California state commissions and later helped her with her first election when she was fresh out of law school.
The two ended their relationship in December of 1995 just before he became mayor, but after that he still remained as a political ally.
Also, there have been reports that Brown gave Harris, who is 31 years younger than him, a BMW in 1994.
Brown said that the biggest challenge for Harris is packing the streets for her campaign launch in Oakland's Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland. He believes that she needs to pack the streets like former President Barack Obama did before his first campaign back in 2007.


As a freelancer, your work skills are the primary considerations for employers to hire you. When you bid for a project, the employer will check on your skills list to see if they've found the right match for the job they posted.
Although it's easy to just enter these in your profile, wouldn't it be better if you have something to back your skills up or prove your expertise level? You can do that by testing your skills.
The Skills Lab, formerly known as "Exams," gives you an entirely new experience for testing your skills. The "Skills tests" will define your credentials and will help improve your chances of getting more jobs.
It has just been released to 100% of users, and you might want to take a look at the page. It looks refreshingly good!
The Skills Lab offers tests for basic and complex skills commonly needed in online freelancing. You can test your aptitude on various categories like languages, writing, translation, HTML, programming, software architecture, and a lot more.
If you choose to buy a skills test, you will be directed to its page which displays details such as the number of questions, test duration, passing percentage, instructions, fee, and more.
Each time you complete a test, your profile and bids will display a Skills Lab Badge. You know that badges can help you attract more work opportunities, right? Plus, aside from earning a badge, you'll also get a chance to polish your abilities.
Furthermore, you can also rate the tests to let us know how we can continue improving the system for you.
Ready to test your skills? Enter the Skills Lab now!


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Comedian Kevin James Returning to Hershey Theatre
Tickets on Sale Friday, May 20 at 10 AM
Comedian Kevin James returns to Hershey Theatre on Sunday, September 25th at 7:30 PM.
Tickets for this show are $45.00, $59.50 & $75.00 (processing fees apply). They are available at Hershey Theatre Box Office. They can be charged by phone at 717-534-3405 or 800-745-3000, and online at www.HersheyEntertainment.com or www.TicketMaster.com.
Kevin James, producer, co-writer, and star of the hit comedies Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Zookeeper and the upcoming Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, can also be seen in next year's ensemble sci-fi comedy Pixels.
The King of Queens, which premiered in 1998, ran for nine seasons on CBS with James starring and executive producing, and it garnered him an Emmy nomination in 2006 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The show concluded its run in 2007 but continues to air daily in syndication across the country and around the world.
In 2001, James brought his stand-up act to TV with Sweat the Small Stuff, a one-hour special for Comedy Central. In 2005, Kevin James and Ray Romano executive produced and starred in the HBO Sports Special Making the Cut: The Road to Pebble Beach; a documentary about the Pebble Beach Pro Am Golf Tournament that was nominated for a Sports Emmy.
James made his feature film debut in 2005 in Columbia Pictures' Hitch starring opposite Will Smith. Since, James headlined Here Comes The Boom, and starred alongside Adam Sandler in Grown Ups, Grown Ups 2, and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.
For more on Kevin visit www.KevinJames.com.
The wristband policy will be in effect for this concert. Fans are permitted on the property beginning at 7 a.m. on Friday, May 20. Two hours prior to the on-sale, fans will be directed in front of Hershey Theatre Box Office, where they will be issued a numbered wristband. Wristbands are available for one hour, and at the conclusion of that hour, a selected fan will randomly choose a wristband that will determine the line order. For example: If 1,000 wristbands are issued during that hour and the number 500 is selected, the person wearing wristband 500 will be the first person in line. Numbers 501 to 1,000 will proceed in line behind, followed by numbers 1 through 499. Once the line is in place, fans arriving after the wristbands were issued will be escorted to the end of the numbered line.
Follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Theatre and on Twitter @HersheyTheatre. Find more sweet news on our blog, The Sweet Escape. Words in boldface are used under license. Ticket prices are subject to change. Hershey Entertainment & Resorts is proud to help fulfill the dream of our mutual founder, Milton S. Hershey, by supporting Milton Hershey School, the largest home and school in the world, as it continues to provide opportunities for children in need. www.mhskids.org
Kaylee Dugan
KRDugan@HersheyPA.com
Kathleen McGraw
Director of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility
KMMcGraw@HersheyPA.com
Melissa Stradnick
Lindsay Oparowski
Reilly Fies
Resorts, The Spa At The Hotel Hershey, MeltSpa by Hershey, Dining in Hershey
REFies@HersheyPA.com


I wrote an essay on work for The High Calling, which you can read here. The High Calling turns out encouraging and theologically informed essays on work every week. I was turned onto it by Bob Robinson, who happens to live in my hometown village of Hartville, Ohio. It's unusual to find someone who has even heard of Hartville, but this semester one of our student's wives is from there, and two weeks ago at a conference in Lansing I ran into a pastor's wife from there. So maybe it's time to put us on the map.
In my essay I referred to Jordan, because that's his real name. He's probably distracted with his new girlfriend, but I'd like to see how long it takes him to find this essay about him. I'm preaching at his church the next two Sundays, so Jordan, if you don't find it by then, I may penalize you from the pulpit.
One of the points of the essay is our need for patience. I bring this up as an excuse to mention the little joke I thought of yesterday. When you pray, "Dear God, give me patience but not yet," does that mean he already has?
I read the essay and would like to say thank you to Jordan.
A word of wisdom (not in the charismatic sense) to Jordan would be to consider a Bluetooth headset. I developed a major persistent neckache from that shoulder-pinch trick. In fact, a Bluetooth headset may be an idea for a yuletide gift from a thankful professor who not only benefited in a technological way, but a literary as well due to the efforts of the technician known only as Jordan. There are not very many good illustrations, sermon, devotional or otherwise when everything is working as it was designed to do.
Thanks for the wonderful essay, Mike.
It is really really weird to me that you are from Hartville, too. I read your "Heaven is a Place on Earth," decided it was one of my all-time favorite books, and lo and behold – there you are in Hartville.
I shared your essay with my IT colleagues as we often find ourselves in similar situations…I pray God grants us the wisdom and patience to be his messengers. Thanks for being a wonderful example Jordan.


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China and global oil: vulnerability and opportunity
Dannreuther, R. 2011. China and global oil: vulnerability and opportunity. International Affairs. 87 (6), pp. 1345-1364. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2346.2011.01040.x
Dannreuther, R.
China has grown increasingly dependent on imports of oil and, as a consequence, has become a major and very visible player in the international energy markets. For a country which has traditionally been strongly committed to the principle of self-reliance, this dependence on foreign oil has been a source of vulnerability and anxiety. But it has also been a strategic opportunity for China to chart its own ambitions and objectives as a global economic and political actor. This article addresses the various ways in which China has incorporated its energy import needs within its foreign policy. There are, it is argued, three dimensions to this. There is, first, integration and cooperation with the West and other large oil-importing countries and a shift away from neo-mercantilism to a growing reliance on international markets. Second, there is a complementary strategy of balancing, which seeks to develop the energy resources close to its borders, in Russia and Central Asia, which are not so vulnerable to western intervention. And third, there is the construction, though preliminary and nascent at the moment, of a hegemonic order which challenges the US and the West in the critical maritime routes from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean and through to the Persian Gulf region.
87 (6), pp. 1345-1364
doi:10.1111/j.1468-2346.2011.01040.x
Russia, China and the Middle East
Dannreuther, R. 2019. Russia, China and the Middle East. in: Fawcett, L. (ed.) International Relations of the Middle East Oxford Oxford University Press. pp. 394-414
Understanding Russia's return to the Middle East
Dannreuther, R. 2019. Understanding Russia's return to the Middle East. International Politics. 56 (6), pp. 726-742. doi:10.1057/s41311-018-0165-x
Energy security in Central and Eastern Europe: An IR theoretical framework
Dannreuther, R. 2018. Energy security in Central and Eastern Europe: An IR theoretical framework. in: Ostrowski , W. and Butler, E. (ed.) Understanding Energy Security in Central and Eastern Europe Abingdon Routledge. pp. 17-31
Dannreuther, R. 2017. Energy Security. Cambridge Polity Press.
EU-Russia Energy Relations in Context
Dannreuther, R. 2016. EU-Russia Energy Relations in Context. Geopolitics. 21 (4), pp. 913-921. doi:10.1080/14650045.2016.1222521
Energy security and shifting modes of governance
Dannreuther, R. 2015. Energy security and shifting modes of governance. International Politics. 52 (4), pp. 466-483. doi:10.1057/ip.2015.4
Russia and the Arab Spring: supporting the counter-revolution
Dannreuther, R. 2015. Russia and the Arab Spring: supporting the counter-revolution. Journal of European Integration. 37 (1), pp. 77-94. doi:10.1080/07036337.2014.975990
Shifting dynamics of the insurgency and counter-insurgency in the North Caucasus
Dannreuther, R. 2014. Shifting dynamics of the insurgency and counter-insurgency in the North Caucasus. Ethnopolitics. 13 (4), pp. 377-395. doi:10.1080/17449057.2014.896571
International security: the contemporary agenda (2nd edition)
Dannreuther, R. 2013. International security: the contemporary agenda (2nd edition). Cambridge Polity.
Geopolitics and international relations of resources
Dannreuther, R. 2013. Geopolitics and international relations of resources. in: Dannreuther, R. and Ostrowksi, W. (ed.) Global resources: conflict and cooperation Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 79-97
Russia and the Middle East: a Cold War paradigm?
Dannreuther, R. 2012. Russia and the Middle East: a Cold War paradigm? Europe-Asia Studies. 64 (3), pp. 543-560. doi:10.1080/09668136.2012.661922
Understanding the Middle East peace process: a historical institutionalist approach
Dannreuther, R. 2011. Understanding the Middle East peace process: a historical institutionalist approach. European Journal of International Relations. 17 (2), pp. 187-208. doi:10.1177/1354066110366045
China, oil and global politics
Andrews-Speed, P. and Dannreuther, R. 2011. China, oil and global politics. London Routledge.
Russian discourses and approaches to Islam and Islamism
Dannreuther, R. 2010. Russian discourses and approaches to Islam and Islamism. in: Dannreuther, R. and March, L. (ed.) Russia and Islam: state, society and radicalism London Routledge.
Dannreuther, R. 2010. Energy security. in: Burgess, J.P. (ed.) Handbook of new security studies Abingdon Routledge. pp. 144-153
Islamic radicalization in Russia: an assessment
Dannreuther, R. 2010. Islamic radicalization in Russia: an assessment. International Affairs. 86 (1), pp. 109-126. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2346.2010.00871.x
Europe and the Middle East: attempting to bridge the divide
Dannreuther, R. 2009. Europe and the Middle East: attempting to bridge the divide. in: Tardy, T. (ed.) European security in a global context: internal and external dynamics London Routledge. pp. 135-153
Chechnya: has Moscow won?
Dannreuther, R. and March, L. 2008. Chechnya: has Moscow won? Survival. 50 (4), pp. 97-112. doi:10.1080/00396330802329030
European neighbourhood policy - Selling the brand strategically
Dannreuther, R. 2008. European neighbourhood policy - Selling the brand strategically. Studia Diplomatica. 61 (3), pp. 47-58.
Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/8zq3z/china-and-global-oil-vulnerability-and-opportunity


Halloween has passed, and that means it's time to start posting some daytime pictures again. This photo from magnificent Cars Land was taken just this past Sunday, as I was passing through and noticing the very pleasant and soft quality of light. As the sun starts to get lower in the sky around this time of year, the light starts to become less harsh, resulting in better photographic conditions. And what better scene to photographic than California Adventure's most spectacular? It sure makes for a wonderful vista!
The Cadillac Range sets a beautiful backdrop on a Radiator Springs racing day!


Description VI, 46 Bl. : graph. Darst.
This work discusses two principal ways to produce biomass based methane for natural gas grid applications based on the available biomass feedstock and local conditions in Styria. The result of this work provides the basis for the pre-selection of the most promising biomass conversion concept and a mid term scheduled project with the aim to develop a detailed technical realization concept for biomass based methane production in Styria. The two conversion paths investigated were the biological conversion of organic feedstock like organic fertilizer, renewable energy crops and residues from communities and agro industries and the thermochemical conversion of woody biomass. Therefore feedstock availability, state of technology and cost affects was investigated. Methane production based on agricultural feedstock achieves the largest theoretical potential for the biological conversion path of approximately 2,600,000 MWh in total. The most interesting feedstock in this field is liquid manure with a biomass based methane potential of approx. 800,000 MWh/a. Compared to the potential of agricultural feedstock non agricultural feedstock have a rather low biomass based methane potential with nearly 70,000 MWh/a from agro industry, 77,000 MWh/a from organic residues from households and communities and approx. 56,000 MWh/a for sewage sludge. For thermochemical produced biomass based methane a secured and adequate supply of woody biomass in Styria could not be predicted seriously due the existing challenge in lot of other energy areas in particular to provide the recourses for the existing and planed power plants based on biomass. Under consideration of the mobilisation of 10% of available not utilized forest increase in Styria (100,000 solid cubic metres) a theoretical biomass based methane potential of approximately 245,000GMWh/a. could be achieved. From the technical point of view the production of biomass based methane along the biological chain is state of the art technology. Biomass based methane production based on thermo chemical conversion respectively SNG (Synthetic Natural Gas) production seems to be not available under commercial conditions at the market within the next 10 to 15 years. From the economical point of view most effecting parameter for production costs of biomass based methane along the biological conversion path are the feedstock costs and costs for feedstock upgrading demands. Therefore the utilization of liquid manure and bio waste seems to be auspicious Thermochemical produced biomass based methane needs high capacities (>6,250 m/h) to achieve production costs in the same range as stated at the biological conversion path. The most cost affecting parameter are investment and operating costs for gas upgrading devices. Compared to an average energy price for natural gas of 2.1 - 2.6 EUR-Cent/kWh it can be pointed out, that in the case of feeding the biomass based methane into the natural gas grid both conversion paths needs different amounts of subsidies to be competitive to the current energy market at the moment in Austria! Based on the results mentioned before and under consideration of short term realization the process based on the biological conversion was selected to be investigated more detailed to be able to develop a concept for realisation.


Dr. Ribeiro asks whether the marked left ventricular remodeling we described in elite athletes may have been partially determined by anabolic steroid use. This intriguing question also suggests that the substantial left ventricular cavity dilatation present in some highly trained athletes may be not an entirely physiologic phenomenon and possibly an expression of a pathologic condition. Athletes examined as a part of our medical program at the Institute of Sports Science in Rome have denied the use of all illicit drugs, including anabolic steroid hormones; however, actual testing for these drugs is not a routine part of our program. Although we cannot exclude the possibility that some athletes may have been taking steroid hormones, it seems unlikely that a substantial proportion of cyclists, cross-country skiers, and rowers/canoeists (the athletes with the most marked left ventricular cavity enlargement) have been using anabolic steroids over the long term to enhance performance. Excellence in these disciplines primarily requires high aerobic power and anaerobic threshold, which are not likely to be enhanced by long-term use of anabolic steroid hormones.


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2) Delete hidden file .skype in the user home directory.
3) Make sure you have installed libpng12-0 package. Install it by YaST if needed.
4) Grab the current Skype version from http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-skype/on-your-computer/linux/ and install it. You can also install it directly, e.g.
3) Reboot your PC. If you still don't have a WLAN connection go to the YaST and configure WLAN in network devices. You should see at least your drivers.
I often see many different implementations for methods equals(), hashCode() and toString(). There is a good and simple approach in Apache Commons Lang which I always use for this purpose. Classes EqualsBuilder, HashCodeBuilder and ToStringBuilder from the package org.apache.commons.lang.builder provide methods to build consistent and good equals() hashCode() and toString() methods of any class.
In the second case we have more control and can decide which fields we want to compare and which not. And don't care about data types. They can be primitive, Collection, Map or something else.


text:
Mono Puff è un gruppo nato a New York come progetto collaterale di John Flansburgh, membro fondatore del gruppo They Might Be Giants.

La storia
Il gruppo è composto da Flansburgh, voce, chitarra, tastiere e autore dei testi, dal bassista Hal Cragin e dal batterista  Steve Calhoon che ha suonato anche con Skeleton Key, Enon e Pretendo.

Altri importanti musicisti hanno affiancato il trio, come Mark Feldman, Yuval Gabay (dei Soul Coughing), Ghost Krabb, Mary Birdsong (con lo pseudonimo "Sugar Puff"), Elina Löwensohn, la moglie di Flansburgh Robin Goldwasser (con lo pseudonimo di "Sister Puff"), Kate Flannery (con lo pseudonimo di "Lady Puff"), Ammonia D, Trini Lopez, Jay Sherman-Godfrey, Jim O'Connor, Phil Hernandez, Frank London, Eric Schermerhorn, e Mike Viola.

La grafica delle copertine degli album del gruppo è realizzata dallo stesso John Flansburgh.

A causa dell'abbandono di alcuni membri fondatori, il gruppo Mono Puff è rimasto inattivo dal 1998. A metà del 2020 è stata annunciata la ricomposizione del gruppo e la pubblicazione di un EP nel 2021, inizialmente distribuito tramite il They Might Be Giants Instant Fan Club.

Discografia

EP
1993 - Hello the band EP
1995 - John Flansburgh's Mono Puff EP
1996 - The Devil Went Down To Newport EP
1996 - The Hal Cragin Years EP
1996 - The Steve Calhoon Years EP

Album
1996 - Unsupervised
1998 - It's Fun to Steal

Note

Voci correlate
They Might Be Giants (gruppo musicale)

Collegamenti esterni


text:
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