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If need be, Dublin rule changes should be made without unanimity
We need to look seriously into having EU-run and EU-funded disembarkation locations in safe third countries outside the union, with EU standards and safeguards
Roberta Metsola 24 June 2018, 7:55am
The Nationalist Party has been clear in pushing forward holistic, European, approaches to migration challenges
It is difficult not to be angry, when we find ourselves in another summer facing a situation that we warned would come.
It is difficult not to be angry when we know that the EU can introduce laws on plastics and litter and end roaming, but on migration the European Council remains stuck.
The Nationalist Party has been clear in pushing forward holistic, European, approaches to migration challenges.
Adrian Delia has proposed having a strategy based on human dignity and human rights, with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) having a role in overseeing EU-funded locations outside of Europe while tackling the inherent poverty in many nations in Africa.
Immigration and asylum are not issues that Malta, Italy, Greece or Spain should be left alone to deal with. They are fundamentally European in nature and countries not in the Mediterranean cannot continue trying to use geography as an excuse to exonerate themselves from responsibility.
The message to EU prime ministers from the European Parliament is clear: it is time for action on migration. At this month's summit, prime ministers have a unique opportunity to finally reform the EU's Dublin system. The European Parliament has put legislation on their table that ensures a fair sharing of responsibility based on solidarity between States and with the most vulnerable. It can be done, even without unanimity in the EU Council.
However, that is the first step. In the medium term, we need to look seriously into having EU-run and EU-funded disembarkation locations in safe third countries outside the union, with EU standards and safeguards, where anyone saved from the sea can be disembarked immediately, rescued, security vetted and processed.
This must be done in full recognition of migrants' rights by an EU agency like EASO and migrants not in need of protection will be returned, while others will be resettled.
We can couple this with processes to apply for asylum even outside the EU territory. That way we create a system that allows for people who need protection to have a legal route to Europe without the need to succumb to traffickers and risk their lives on rickety boats while drawing necessary distinctions between those people fleeing famine and war and those people seeking a job.
It is not a system that is uncontroversial or some sort of magic silver bullet but it could go a long way and I hope we see a sign from prime ministers on this too.
For the longer term we need to ensure we move from a system of aid to a system of investment in Africa fuelling jobs and growth.
Europe can be the example to everyone on this issue but we have to see real political will to move away from fiery rhetoric to taking tough decisions. The ball is in the prime ministers' court now.


BALTIMORE -- Michael Trout joined a prestigious club on Saturday night at Camden Yards, all while keeping the Angels in the heart of the American League Wild Card chase.
Trout hit two more homers, and the Angels hit four overall, en route to a 5-1 victory over the Orioles. His first homer, which came in the first inning, was his 25th of the season season and made him the third player in Major League history to hit 25 homers in a season six times before his age-26 season.
The other two? Hall of Famers Eddie Mathews and Frank Robinson.
"To be grouped up with [those] guys, it's an unbelievable feeling," Trout said. "It's pretty cool."
Trout did not know of the feat until being told after the game. During the game, he kept doing what many of the Angels have been doing in recent days: hitting home runs.
Through the first two games of their series in Baltimore, the Angels have hit nine home runs. Over their last four games, all 16 runs have come via the home run. The Angels have banged out 17 homers in the first eight games of this road trip, which finishes with Sunday's finale against the Orioles.
What makes the numbers even more interesting is that the Angels entered this series in Baltimore ranked second-to-last in the AL in home runs.
"We're barrelling up baseballs, and they're going over the fence," Trout said. "The whole lineup is [hitting with power]. It's fun to watch. You keep passing the baton and go from there."
Manager Mike Scioscia is also glad to see this surge, because the team's lack of power made creating offense even more difficult at times this season.
"We've hit them out, " Scioscia said. "We haven't hit many all year. We've tried to be creative and try to get men on base. We haven't had the slugging percentage to the level we need it. It's good to see it come alive."
Luis Valbuena hit the other two home runs in this game. Valbuena is batting .197 on the season, but he has nine homers since the All-Star break and said he's past his earlier struggles.
"I feel so good, looking for a good pitch," Valbuena said. "I go to home plate, I do my best [and] I'm looking for my pitch. I come here and play my game. Tomorrow's a new day."
Jeff Seidel is a contributor to MLB.com based in Baltimore who covered the Angels on Saturday.


Mühlbauer has been given the go-ahead by the government of Serbia to produce smart card security documents–vehicle registrations, identity cards, and driver's licenses–that will include biometrics. The company's Serbian smart card production plant is secured by biometrical access control.
Roding–Mühlbauer, a leading manufacturer of turnkey automation solutions for smart card and smart label production, announces the successful acceptance of an overall solution for the production of security documents with high security electronic smart cards by the Government of Serbia. Serbia will be one of the first countries to produce security documents e.g. identity cards, vehicle registration certificates and driver's licenses for e-government functionality with biometric features included.
The representative of Ministry of Interior Republic of Serbia deputy minister Mrs. Suzana Šuleji? uses the opportunity of the factory system acceptance test to visit Mühlbauer AG in Roding. As a designated specialist for logistics and security matters she will satisfy herself on site of the Mühlbauer technology know-how.
The complete Smart Card Production Line for the plant in Serbia was built up and already approved by the Ministery of Interior Republic of Serbia in the new Security- and Training Center of Mühlbauer AG in Roding, which is secured by biometrical access control. Government officials were satisfied of the provided technology as well as of the outset proven and established full service of Mühlbauer.
During the last years Mühlbauer was already able to gain experience as a prime contractor for government projects. "We've contacted many governments worldwide to offer and realize ID projects", comments Josef Mühlbauer (CEO). These projects are far in excess of manufacturing and delivery of machines. It is important to implement the relevant know-how transfer and the conceptual design and turnkey supply of overall solutions for the production of high secured pieces of identification.
In the course of aggravated security and entry requirements in many countries, Mühlbauer AG will focus their strategic orientation towards enhanced cooperations with international governments and government near organizations.
Mühlbauer is a global, independent consultant and manufacturer of turnkey automation solutions for the smart card, smart label, semiconductor backend and vision industries. In addition, the company is active in the areas of data enrollement and verification, precision parts and OEM production. With about 1,400 employees in 22 locations on five continents, Mühlbauer is a leading supplier of production equipment for the smart card industry. Mühlbauer solutions enable the manufacture of any type of chip card, including ID cards, contact and contactless cards, dual interface as well as multimedia cards and smart labels for access control, supply chain management, tracking of textiles and applications for the retail industry. Information on Mühlbauer is available at www.muehlbauer.de.


Don Bradman Cricket 2014 review - SKOAR!
India might have recaptured the Cricket World Cup back in 2011, but it can be argued fans of the game's virtual avatar haven't been served a true masterclass since Brian Lara Cricket '96 (courtesy of Codemasters, of course). Two decades is too long a wait for any self-respecting cricket gaming fan to endure. But unlike followers of Duke Nukem who were bitterly disappointed with Duke Nukem Forever, a sequel that took 16 years in the making, Bradman Cricket only promises to impress and satiate long-standing expectations of the uncompromising cricket gaming enthusiast who's had to contend with substandard EA Cricket episodes and Codemasters' diminished glory over the years.
Wait a minute — it's a cricket game after all, how different can it really be? And your reservations are totally valid. This game doesn't have licensed players or stadiums, its graphics are alright (nothing great), and the in-game commentary and crowd animations are jarringly repetitive and unrealistic. To strike a direct comparison, this game can't hold a candle up to FIFA 15 in terms of its complete package. But Don Bradman Cricket 14 does enough on one crucial aspect of the game that makes you fall in love with it immediately.
What Don Bradman Cricket offers is a totally refined, remodelled set of controls and game mechanics that heightens your immersion into the game experience and ultimately its sense of entertainment. For this reason alone, the game is a must-play, must-have title. It is to cricket gaming what Grand Slam Tennis 2 was to tennis — absolutely no repetition whatsoever because of the learning curve involved in coming to grips with a slick, overhauled control scheme.
Whether it's batting, bowling or fielding, the PS4 (or Xbox One) controller's various buttons are generously exploited to offer minute control over everything. Right from selecting the pitch of the ball to the nature of the delivery, even where your feet lands in the crease, several of these key decisions will take some time to master; but once you know what you're doing, subsequent deliveries are bowled with a combination of swishes and flicks of your respective controller's analog stick that the whole action is completed without unnecessary inhibitions. There is no zone (on the pitch) to precisely aim towards, for a bowler, which is a pleasant. The same is true for batting — front foot cover drive or back foot cut? — Or fielding, where unique camera angles and control schemes help you react to unique situations on the fly.
Going through the motions feels a lot more fluid, more wholesome and organic in Bradman Cricket than any game I can remember.
The controls are so exhaustive that they require you to go practice in the nets, but not irritating in the way that combination moves can be in some games. The developers of Bradman Cricket understand this fine balance between refreshingly innovative and repetitively boring when it comes to the game's fine control scheme, and they deserve great credit for achieving this milestone. Within a day, the controls become part of muscle memory and tend to take a backseat, letting you truly enjoy the game more than ever — and that's another testimony to the developers. For this reason alone, experiencing how Bradman Cricket reimagines cricketing controls in a game, your decision to purchase a PS4 or Xbox One is fully justified.
Who cares if the game's team rosters are full of gibberish? The game lets you tap into its community and download custom rosters. The latest, real-life cricket game features like DRS are also present as is Don Bradman Academy, a feature in the game, lets you create your own dream team (and share with others).
Don Bradman Cricket is undoubtedly the most refreshingly original cricket game we've played in over a decade, and it's all thanks to its stellar control scheme.
Don't expect this to be what EA's FIFA is to football games, EA's NBA is to basketball or Madden is to NFL titles, and you won't be disappointed. In fact, cricket gaming enthusiasts starving to play a worthwhile title for years can look forward to countless hours of virtual bat and ball fun with this title.
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Sermons /
The Rev. Canon Michael Wyatt, Ph.D.
Sunday Holy Eucharist
This Sunday falls between the birth and the naming of Jesus; like all Jewish boys, he would be named at his circumcision, seven days after this birth. Every family knows these times. The anticipated baby is finally here, and the exhausted reactions are a mixture of joy, relief, jealousy, disappointment, gratitude, concern, and awe. Those involved are suspended between an event and a name, between experience and meaning. All one can do is live forward, trembling that even what we are about to call this new presence may shape the days to come prematurely.
This year particularly this sense of being in a time in which something has begun that we are incapable of interpreting might set off a shuddering resonance within us. Our nation and our culture this Christmas are also in a period between birth and naming–though it is more like a death–because we are in a fight we may not know how to win and do not know how to name. What we have given birth to we do not know and what we might call it takes our breath away. Our righteous indignation is not enough, nor our humanitarian commitment, nor the paradox of our power and our terror, nor our just cause–none is enough to grasp and name where we find ourselves.
It is simply too soon for us to know what to call what we have done in response to the devilish attacks of last September. We responded with courage and self-sacrifice on September 11th and in the days that followed. We entered a struggle to eradicate one of the sources of recurring acts of terrorism. We will mourn and honor those we lost for a long time. Our appearance is that of a nation at war. However, that is too simple a conclusion. It leaves us ignorant of the sources of this conflict, blinds us to the potential abuses in our response, and may even allow us to push with self-satisfaction towards an outcome in which we could crown ourselves as victors and urge a return to normalcy with self-blinding impatience.
Also, naming is never up to one voice alone. The child his parents called Jesus came to be called Christ by his followers. He gave one of his more hardheaded disciples the nickname "Rock"–a good name for a man who tried to walk on water and sank. Another, who called himself the last and least of Christ's apostles, gave up his Jewish name "Saul" in favor of its Hellenistic equivalent when his missionary work took him to the Gentiles. Now we know them as Peter and Paul.
Accurate naming requires a humility that acknowledges that no single partner in a conversation can set all the terms. As we talk together, we find what terms best identify what we are talking about. In that sense, we almost discover what something is named, as we agree in practice on what to call it.
For that reason also, this complex conflict that we are in cannot yet be named, because we are still struggling to hear all the voices that are raised. Whether or not this is a war on terrorism will be known over time, as those involved around the world come to find out what it is for them. However, it is clear, reading the prayers of the attackers, listening to the gloating pieties of Osama Bin Laden, receiving accounts of the ambivalence in the madrasas, the Islamic schools, in Pakistan and Afghanistan, that they find religious significance in this conflict. It is equally clear that our country, rooted in modernity, has little wish to accept those terms. We say we are not at war with Islam, but we will not understand where we are, and we will stumble over this confusion repeatedly, if we fail to listen to what others are calling this pervasive systemic collision of cultures. With the collapse of modernity, religious authority has surged into the gap–the very voice our neoliberal society preferred to have banned from the conversation.
Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University, says succinctly, almost bluntly, "there is no division between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Caesar in the Islamic perspective. Rather, all belongs to God and must therefore be regulated by Divine Law…" This is the marriage Western Europe took to divorce court in the Enlightenment. Islam sees in a society ordered by Islamic law the full expression of God's will. Mohammad was a political as well as a religious leader–a striking contrast with Christ. Instead of the Christian account of twelve apostles that disappear into tradition, itinerant founders of small cell groups, the story of Islam is of the succession of caliphs, clearly identified religious leaders, who also served in military and political roles and who were each seen as the head of a growing empire. Living in Dar al-Islam, the Abode of Islam, is to be the first sipping of the honey-milk of Paradise.
God's will for Muslim society, the principal site of God's self-manifestation for Islam, is the radical equality of the faithful, their commitment to each other, and the care of all its members by the community, providing for the most needy by legalized alms-giving. What we call political fundamentalism can also be understood as the struggle to bring this holy vision to birth in time. Whatever its violent and repugnant manifestations, nestled in it is the legitimate call that God's injunctions be followed faithfully and demonstrably and the legitimate acknowledgment that the Creator of all, to whom we are accountable, cares about all. We tend to judge ourselves by our ideals and others by their failings, of course.
When Islam looks at our society and sees materialism, indifference to each other, viciousness, and violence, and when Islam looks at its own countries and sees the callous stretch of Western colonialism, its global rapacity, its convenient, coercive, impermanent alliances, it is no wonder that Islam finds conclusive proof that our culture is either atheist or demonic, because to Muslims a society's culture is where its guiding spirit is known. Christianity and the West moved with deliberation to become increasingly secularized, but in that uprooted the safe-guards that insured social stability and cohesion. Jesus' call to radical personal commitment and the freedom to rejoice in God's creation bloated into defiant self-will and greedy self-indulgence. Divine calls to justice in the present, to love those you see in order to show that you love the God you cannot see, mutated into pretty poems or vague promises of a congenial and cheerful hear-after, or were dismissed as an option for those guilt-ridden by stern upbringing.
You see, in our clarity that Scripture must be interpreted through historical and critical lenses, understood as a product of its time, seen without supernatural accretions–a worthy effort, true to the thrust of Western civilization's commitment to this world, into which Christ was incarnate, which we love for God's sake–in that clarity, we somehow became very adept at spiritualizing, and therefore spiriting away, the message of the Gospel. Healing a blind man is only about presumed spiritual insight; Incarnation is our detecting a pervasive subcurrent Claims that palpably could have no scientific viability–after all, seas don't open to let escaping slaves through, bread doesn't multiply to feed thousands, dead men don't come back to life–were seen initially as having primarily spiritual content, and later as fantastic supernatural stories to comfort the gullible, and now considered not necessary for those capable of abstract thought. If the message of Scripture has been spiritualized, then it has been removed from history. If the mooring of faith in history has slipped, then its relationship with the evening news, with office politics, with family tensions, becomes tenuous–merely an interpretation, with which others might not agree, not a revelation of truth.
Ironically, our interest in this world has led us to dismiss it. Our affirmation that all have access to God, and that therefore no single vision ought to be imposed, has curiously led us into laws by which no one can talk of God. Our insistence that the writers of Scripture were ordinary folk seems to lead us to despise ordinary folk. Our determination to manipulate matter to impose our will seems to lead us to deny that God can inhabit matter to accomplish God's will. We seem to move, as a culture, through a fundamentalism of our own, if by that we mean the assertion that certain beliefs are not to be compromised or questioned, and where resisted to be imposed. But those areas in which our culture holds to fundamentals do seem to have evacuated God, and the Islamic suspicion that we are atheists seems oddly plausible. We who are embedded in this culture take on, whether we will or not, its characteristics, and we need to address how we are perceived if we are to arrive at a fruitful mutual spiritual understanding.
So during this in-between time, wondering what to name where we find ourselves, wondering if other accounts can help us, however troubling their depiction of us, I find myself moved by the massive courage of John's Prologue. John states that the Word, the ordering principle of all things, has become accessible to us, who are enfleshed, limited, bound by space and time; and he claims that because in knowing Christ, who orders all things, he has seen life become ordered for salvation–the Word was made flesh.
This was no less difficult a message in his own day. In that spiritually hyperactive age, it was easy enough to believe that lesser divinities popped in and out of human skins to amuse themselves and to reward those who feared them or to punish those who did not, while a host of hovering snickering spirits nudged matter this way and that. Even so no one from beggar to philosopher would have claimed that the Godhead, the primal eternal unmoved One, would or even could become involved in the derivative mutable fragments of our life. In our spiritually atrophied age, as much as we scratch the shadow itch of our amputated spiritual limbs with crystals and wander in circles across labyrinths, we also would agree that whatever we mean by God, whether the coherence of astrophysics and genetics or the swirling confluences of Gaia, that abstraction or that energy is not something that could or even would invest in us personally.
And yet, here is this author, saying, "the Word became flesh," and it matters to know what this means, particularly now, because it was "the light that enlightens all" that was "coming into the world." Huddled as we are on either side of distrust, with a record of violence erupting between Islam and Christianity throughout our common history and still savage in parts of our world today, it matters to know what that light is that enlightens all. We need urgently an understanding of Christ, of this Incarnate Light, that allows us to reach across that boundary, not to prove our opinions right, but to discover the fullness of the God that was pleased to dwell among us. So the naming that we wait for, in these between times, is not only the naming of the conflict, but also the naming of the hope we share.
John wrote his Gospel for this purpose, not to bar the door, but to open it as wide as possible, not to limit God's activity to Jesus Christ, but to show that what is, in Norman Pittenger's terms, "focused" in Jesus was already "diffuse" throughout the world. John does not reinforce exclusivity, but proclaims that in Christ we in truth know the all-pervading God. So Justin Martyr, expounding Christianity for second century pagans, states, "Christ is the Word in whom the whole human race shares. Those who live according to the light of their knowledge are Christians, even though they be considered godless." Archbishop Temple put it this way, "there is only one divine light; and every man in his measure is enlightened by it." Kenneth Cracknell, Executive Secretary of the Committee for Relations with People of Other Faiths of the British Council of Churches for ten years, affirms that there have been, are, and will be "men and women whose prayers and actions are molded by other religious traditions, who are not only illumined by [the Word], but who in their response actually 'come to the Father' through the One who is risen and ascended and fills all things…."
My concern is not whether or not you will find God at work among the Muslim faithful–I know we will–but whether or not you will recognize God there, whether you will be able to pray together. A "laissez faire" spirituality, in which we toss off that we all have different ways of seeing things, won't work. True shared prayer cannot grow out of disinterest in each other. An "entitlement" spirituality, in which we insist on our right to our theology, won't work. True shared prayer cannot grow out of insistence and self-promotion. If we are to speak to those who appear fundamentalist to us, we must be as clear as they about what we believe, respond from as deep a place, and understand their fear and our answer to it. If we are to overcome Christian triumphalism, which sees us as providing all answers, we must admit our ignorance of the lived reality of other faiths, be willing to give up what is not essential in our religion, and consider humbly what it is to share a historic moment, a planet, and our God. We must trust what has been transmitted over time in Christianity, flawed as it is, and rediscover it. Especially in speaking to Muslims, we must relearn the importance of service and community. So let me recommend some things to you. These same things may go some way towards restoring your own sense of God present and active, ordering your daily life, the Word in your flesh, as well.
First, read Scripture and ask how it is already true for all people, by God's saving grace in Christ. If Christ indeed died for all, how is that already accomplished in all? Read and ask yourself where in other faiths God's promises are fulfilled. Scripture has for a long time been used to reinforce division. We must learn to read it to encourage and affirm unity.
Second, learn to look for signs of the Spirit active in the world around you. This is learning to trust that God is greater than we grasp, and that our life is safe in God's hands. We claim that Christ walked among us for healing and reconciliation, so look for evidence of healing and reconciliation in the world and practice calling that the hand of God at work. Do not look for right believers to find right behavior; coming to church might have cured you of that. Look for right behavior first, and trust that God is active there, because, whether they appear to be so or not, you will have found right believers. Then join them in their work.
Finally, work to set up ongoing multifaith prayers for peace. This is the hardest to do, but the most important. True peace is not achieved along parallel tracks. You know someone who is not Christian; open yourself to them and ask them to help you learn to pray together. Any actual vulnerable gathering can relocate our life. Remember that you are not inviting others to your prayers, but asking them to help you look for a way to pray together.
God willing, if we are faithful in our own search to name truly what we are involved in, we will be gathered into the Truth on that day, when we are all gathered up to God, and where we will join those we could not have anticipated, except by God's grace, to praise, as we do this day, the One God, Eternal Source, Only-begotten Word, Life-giving Spirit, forever.
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Cases and Materials in Juvenile Law, Second Edition, provides teachers of juvenile law and process with a comprehensive set of course materials to examine both the delinquency and child welfare systems. Arranged in sixteen chapters, the book is roughly divided equally between delinquency and child welfare. There are separate chapters on children's rights in public schools, special advocacy for children, mental health commitment of children, and alternative systems of dispute resolution in children's cases. Each chapter contains notes and questions intended to supplement the material and stimulate discussion. Some chapters contain problems, which put the student in a practical setting to analyze possible legal solutions. The first and last chapters of the book contain material which encourages an examination of the history and philosophical underpinnings of the juvenile court and a critical analysis of the future of the juvenile court. No attempt is made to advocate a blueprint for the juvenile court; rather various possibilities are offered for discussion at the end of term.


...I had the honor of marrying the love of my life.
When you start dating as two love-struck fifteen year olds, you end up spending a bulk of your day-to-day life proving people wrong. On May 23rd, 2009, we proved everyone wrong who guessed we wouldn't make it past junior year of high school, because young love never lasts. Not only can young love last, but it can flourish and turn into the most beautiful life I could ever imagine living. Every shred of adolescent hurt, every good fight we ever put up against the world, every bit of planning in our two-year engagement -- it was all worth it. I'd do it all over again if given the chance.
Today I'm busy celebrating the marriage that I dreamed of since I was fifteen years old and first made eye contact with the tall boy in argyle socks. I just want to say happy 4th wedding anniversary to the love of my life and here's to many more wonderful years in our wonderful life together -- and here's a true wedding photo overload for good measure.
Photographs by the fabulous Debra Weisheit Photography of Jupiter, Florida.
Happy Anniversary!!! Your wedding dress is hands down the BEST dress I have ever seen. Better than my own. You two had a beautiful wedding and you have an even more beautiful story. What a gift it is to be married to someone who knows you for who you were and who you are today. I wish you MANY more years of love and happiness.
Happy Anniversary!!! You look gorgeous and I looove your venue and details! What a fairy tale day!
Happy Anniversary. That cake looks AMAZING!!
Your dress is gorgeous! And the venue looked amazing!


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Dish vs DIRECTV: How Do They Compare?
Compare the different packages, prices, and features offered by Dish & DIRECTV
Compare Satellite TV & Cable Providers by ZIP
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DIRECTV vs Dish Network
By Rob Webber
Last Updated: January 7th, 2020
If you're looking for the best satellite TV provider, the choices mainly boil down to Dish vs DIRECTV.
These two companies are considered the best satellite TV service providers overall and are available virtually anywhere you live. Between the two providers, there are about 34 million subscribers nationwide.
So who's the better service provider? Who should you side within the battle between the satellite dishes?
We have you covered with this guide. Inside this guide, you'll find all there is to know about Dish and DIRECTV, including the television service packages, the DVR services of DIRECTV Genie and Dish Hopper, the pricing, the TV equipment, streaming, and more.
Hopefully, by the end of this article, you'll decide whether Dish or DIRECTV wins your heart.
TV Package & Price Comparison - Dish vs DIRECTV
TV Channel Comparison - Dish vs DIRECTV
DVR & Equipment Comparison - Dish vs DIRECTV
Streaming Service Comparison
Satellite television works just the way it sounds - the signal is beamed to your satellite dish from a geostationary satellite in space.
It's a great option for those who live in rural areas without access to cable TV service, or for those who simply want the same quality programming but prefer not to get cable.
Dish TV Packages & Prices
Provider/Package TV Channels Monthly Price
Dish America's Top 120 190 $59.99
Dish America's Top 120 Plus 190 $69.99
Both providers offer a wide selection of popular programming, and each provider has its own exclusive options. DIRECTV offers more package choices, while Dish gives you more flexibility.
DIRECTV TV Packages & Prices
DIRECTV Select 155 $35.00
DIRECTV Entertainment 160 $40.00
DIRECTV Choice 185 $45.00
DIRECTV Xtra 235 $55.00
DIRECTV Ultimate 250 $60.00
DIRECTV Premier 330 $110.00
There are four Dish Network packages to choose from, though you can learn more about the packages with our Dish Channel Lineup guide:
Flex Pack: Dish introduced this option in 2015, and it appears to have replaced their lowest-tier offering (previously America's Top 120). Flex Pack gives you a base package of 67+ channels, with optional add-on packs in themes like Sports, Kids, or News. Flex Pack is an innovative way to avoid paying for hundreds of channels you don't watch.
America's Top 120+: This package comes with 190+ channels including favorites like ESPN, Disney, and USA. It also includes local stations and regional sports programming (for example, if you live in New York City, you will receive programming only available to your location in New York City). You also get 70+ Sirius XM music channels, free HD channels, and free HBO for a year (at the time of this writing).
America's Top 200: This level is perfect for sports fans. You get 240+ channels including the NHL, MLB, NBA, and SEC networks. You also get expanded options like Disney XD and A&E, in addition to everything that comes with the Top 120+ package.
America's Top 250: Dish's top tier gives you everything from the Top 200 package, plus 17 movie networks and a host of additional channels like Nat Geo Wild and Nicktoons. There are 290+ channels in all at this level.
All Dish TV packages also give you access to on-demand programming, Dish ANYWHERE streaming, and three free months of premium channels (with the current promotion).
DIRECTV Channels
In the battle between Dish Network vs DIRECTV, the latter comes out on top in terms of the number of package offerings. You can learn more about DIRECTV's channel lineup here.
Select: This is DIRECTV's basic tier, and includes 145+ channels with staples like Disney, HGTV, TNT, and Cartoon Network. You also get local channels and three months of free premium movie channels. Note, though, that ESPN and regional sports are not included in DIRECTV's Select package.
Entertainment: This is where you'll get your regional sports network, in addition to everything in the Select package. There are 150+ channels in the Entertainment package.
Choice: In addition to all of the above, Choice adds Nicktoons, The Weather Channel, OWN, and most notably - NFL Sunday Ticket, for a total of 175+ channels.
Xtra: This is DIRECTV's most popular package, with 220+ channels. It includes everything that Choice (even the HD service) has plus more. You'll get FXX, Nat Geo Wild, Oxygen, and the NHL Network among others.
Ultimate: At this level, you'll get additional niche channels like Starz Encore, Chiller, and Esquire. Ultimate is also the lowest tier at which you get a 4K channel. Ultimate comes with 240+ channels.
Premier: The top tier gives you all of the channels you get in the lower tiers, plus premium channels like HBO, Cinemax, and Showtime. DIRECTV Premier includes 315+ channels in all.
It's worth noting that if you enjoy listening to music through your television, all of DIRECTV's packages lack the music channel options that Dish offers. For sports fans, however, NFL Sunday Ticket is a big draw and is only available through DIRECTV. However, both DIRECTV and Dish offer sports packages like NBA League Pass and NHL Center Ice. However, both NHL Center Ice and NBA League Pass can be a bit on the expensive side (when it's in season).
While satellite TV service providers do offer local channels in most markets, according to the FCC, they are not required to do so. In addition, your provider may charge a nominal fee for rebroadcasting the local stations to your home.
Each provider has its own method for delivering services within your home. These devices allow DVR services in addition to other convenient features.
Dish Equipment
Dish uses a system of devices designed to provide signal reception and recording functionality to your entire home:
Regular DVRs - Dish offers the option of renting a normal DVR for $10/month, as opposed to their more advanced equipment. Their DVR options allow you to record two shows at once.
The Dish Hopper - if you opt for this system, the Hopper acts as the main receiver and the DVR. It allows you to record up to six shows at a time. The Hopper sends the TV signal to the other devices in your home. Price - $15/month.
The Dish Hopper 3 - this whole-home HD DVR receiver allows you to record up to 16 shows at one time. You can also get it with Sling, Dish's streaming service. Price - $15/month.
The Joey - Joeys are receivers that allow you to get all of your channels on other TVs in your house. The Joey also allows you to record programming even if you aren't in the room with the Hopper. Price - $7/month for each Joey (one per TV).
The Super Joey - this device is unique because it adds an additional two tuners to the main Hopper. It will run you an extra $10 per month, but if you like to use Dish's PrimeTime Anytime feature the fee could be worth it. You see, PrimeTime Anytime eats up four of the six tuners on the Hopper during evening Prime Time hours. So if you want to record more than two additional shows in that time frame, the Super Joey lets you do so.
HopperGO - if you're looking for the ability to view your content anywhere, even without high-speed internet service, the HopperGO is the answer. It holds 100 hours of recorded programming and can connect to up to five devices simultaneously. The HopperGO features an upfront fee of $99.
All of the Hoppers give you 2TB (terabytes) of storage, for up to 500 hours of HD channel recording or 2000 hours in SD. There are non-DVR options as well, for households who don't need the ability to record shows.
You get a little less flexibility with DIRECTV, although the systems are very similar.
The DIRECTV Genie - the DIRECTV Genie is DIRECTV's whole-home DVR equivalent of the Hopper, although it offers less storage at 1TB (200 hours of HD service or 1000 hours of SD recording).
The Genie Mini - like the Joey, the Genie Mini allows you to record and access content on other TVs throughout your home. The Genie system can service eight TVs in total.
The GenieGO - this device is the HopperGO's counterpart and allows you to download content to your mobile devices so you can view it anywhere. The GenieGO costs a one-time, upfront fee of $99.
Just like Dish, DIRECTV offers multiple options for normal HD DVR receivers as well as other receivers. The Genie is their most advanced system. One of the best things about DIRECTV is that all of the packages I listed above are "all included" - that means that the price includes enough equipment for four rooms. If you want service for anything over four TVs you'll pay $7 per Genie Mini.
As you probably guessed, there is an array of regulatory and other fees and taxes associated with satellite TV, just as with cable. Because a contract is required, there are also early termination fees:
Dish: The early termination fee is $20 per month for each month remaining in your contract, up to a maximum of $420.
DIRECTV: The early termination fee is $20 per month for each month remaining in your contract, up to a maximum of $480, plus a $15 disconnection fee.
Both providers also charge a variety of fees if you fail to return your equipment. Additionally, there are specific taxes assessed by some localities, so you will need to check the provider websites to see whether these apply to you.
Internet viewing is becoming increasingly important, even for pay TV providers. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reported on a Nielsen survey which found that many people are adding streaming services to supplement their television subscriptions, rather than cutting the cord completely.
It comes as no surprise, then, that between DIRECTV and Dish, you will enjoy mobile streaming options in addition to your regular programming.
Dish Anywhere is Dish Network's streaming content program. Here are some of the best features of Dish Anywhere:
You can access live or recorded content anytime, on any internet-connected mobile device.
All of the functionality of the feature is combined into one easy app.
You can control your home DVR from the Anywhere app - schedule recordings, manage your DVR library and download recorded content to your mobile device for later viewing.
You can use Dish Anywhere on up to 16 devices.
You do need a Hopper with Sling in order to access all of the Dish Anywhere features.
DIRECTV Everywhere
Everywhere is DIRECTV's answer to Dish Anywhere. With this satellite streaming option you can enjoy the following features:
Access your DVR playlist from your mobile devices.
DIRECTV Everywhere can be used on up to five devices.
You can watch live or recorded content using the app.
There are multiple apps for different needs, including one for kids and an NFL Sunday Ticket app.
One thing that puts DIRECTV's mobile streaming option at a slight disadvantage is that licensing issues prevent mobile viewing of certain channels. These include the NFL and MLB networks, MSNBC, Animal Planet, and a few others.
There are no additional fees for using either Dish Anywhere or DIRECTV Everywhere.
Satellite TV has come a long way. Between streaming, recording, and virtually any channel you could want, both services give even the best cable providers a solid run for their money.
One concern you may have is whether or not you can take advantage of internet and TV bundles if you subscribe to DIRECTV or Dish.
Whichever provider wins the battle of Dish vs DIRECTV in your household, you'll never run out of things to watch.
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Swap the schlep to Amsterdam with a weekend getaway much closer to home. | Visit Pella, Iowa
This Midwest Town Feels Like a Trip to Old Europe
Dutch windmills, holiday markets, and tulip festivals—right in America's heartland.
By Jacqueline Kehoe
Updated on 12/6/2022 at 1:35 PM
When you see the rows of rainbow-hued tulips, gigantic swirling windmills, winding canals, and streets overtaken by cyclists, you'll immediately think you've landed somewhere in the Netherlands. And despite the stacks of warm pastries lining the shelves of Dutch bakeries, no, you're not in Amsterdam—you haven't even left the US.
Less than an hour southeast of Des Moines, Pella, Iowa, is one of the best slices of Europe you'll find stateside. (And the flight is a lot cheaper and shorter than its Dutch counterpart.) Everything here from the historic architecture to the food and festivals all take on a Dutch theme, making the city a true "Pella," a name that refers to a biblical city of refuge. Walk around here and you'll have a hard time arguing otherwise.
Pella's Historical Village goes all out for Christmas. | Visit Pella, Iowa
This mini Dutch outpost hidden away in the Midwest has all the elements to feel nearly identical to the Netherlands—down to a December holiday market and flower festival. Like the Danish hygge, take a look at how this 10,000-person town packs in some serious gezellig comfort—and not just during Tulip Time.
The History of the McRib
Indulging in banketletter should be your first order of business. | Jaarsma Bakery
Wander enchanting canals while eating every Dutch pastry possible
When you get into Pella, grab a banketletter (S-shaped pastry filled with almond paste that's traditionally eaten in December) at Vander Ploeg Bakery or Jaarsma Bakery, both Dutchin' it up since the 1800s. (You could also go for a strudel or a four-dozen sampler, delivered to wherever you're staying.) Then, ask around about how the town came to be so itself. The locals all know: In the 1840s, around 700–800 Dutch immigrants made their way to central Iowa in an attempt to escape religious persecution. You'll probably get the lowdown and then some, and maybe even in Pella Dutch, a dialect based on South Guelderish. Many descendants of the original townspeople still live in Pella, and they wear their heritage with pride.
The Dutch-built Vermeer Windmill is the pride of Pella, Iowa. | Pella Historical Museum and Tulip Time
After your Dutch letter is long gone, stroll down Franklin Street to the Vermeer Windmill, the tallest working grain windmill in the US, brought in directly from The Netherlands. Take the guided tour and you'll learn about how some old-school windmills grind grain or spices, while others drain water to keep land from flooding. When you're done, climb up to the observation deck for a bird's-eye view of Little Holland.
The Historical Village is made up of 22 buildings, including the Werkplaats, where wooden shoes are made; a pioneer-replica sod house and log cabin; and, somehow, the boyhood home of Wild West gunfighter Wyatt Earp.
It's like Disneyland, but make it Dutch. | Visit Pella, Iowa
Then, set off and wander the canals. On Molengracht Plaza—an authentic Dutch square or amazing imitation, you decide—you'll find a shop-lined canal and promenade fit for Amsterdam. Make time for The Wijn House, a shop dedicated to Iowa's wines with many free tastings. Leave lots of room for Dutchfix, probably the only Dutch drive-thru restaurant in the country. Try the poffertjes (Dutch pancakes), stroopwafels, and oliebollen (Dutch beignets), at the very least; and eye the Dutch taco (Pella bologna and Doritos) or raw herring, if you're feeling gutsy. Dutchfix also offers goodies from nearby Ulrich's Meat Market and Frisian Farms Cheese. If you're Dutched out by now, head to Smokey Row Coffee for a caffeinated pick-me-up or cheeseburger chowder in a bread bowl.
Come for the soup and cocoa, stay for the gezellig. | Kerstmarkt Pella
Indulge in traditional treats at the holiday market
If waiting until May to get your Dutch fix is too long, Pella also knows how to throw a European holiday celebration. Kerstmarkt, on pretty Molengracht Plaza, is a traditional Dutch winter market that runs for three days in early December. Come for the Christmas Tour of Homes (which coincides with the market) or just to grab some cocoa and scope out the vendors, wandering beneath the soft glow of holiday lights. Expect plenty of Dutch goodies, like pannekoeken (puff pancakes), fresh gouda cheese, live music, decorations, arts and crafts, and—most importantly—an excuse to get bundled up for some serious Dutch gezellig.
Get Into the Holiday Spirit with These Christmas Markets Around the World
So merry, so bright.
There's nothing like Tulip Time. | Visit Pella, Iowa
And come spring, get your flower fix at a tulip festival
There's no better time to be in Pella than Tulip Time. Held in early May, the town erupts in hundreds of thousands of tulips throughout the super-strollable gardens (the town also erupts in thousands of tourists, so come early). The flowers are known to bloom for a week or so both before and after the three-day festival, if you're looking for the blooms without the crowds.
But come during Tulip Time, and you'll see that Pella was holding out on just how Dutch they can get. The streets are filled with bonnets, klompen (wooden shoes), dancers, and concerts. Don't miss the Volks Parade and the crowning of the year's Tulip Queen.
Tulip Time has been bringing the people of Pella, Iowa together since the town's beginnings. | Pella Historical Museum and Tulip Time
Scout out some Instagrammable blooms in the city's Central Park on "Tulip Avenue." There's also a great display at Klokkenspel Plaza (check out the musical carillon clock, of course) and the nearby, shoe-shaped Sunken Gardens, which comes with its own cute windmill overlooking the water. Fair Haven Memorial Garden clocks in another 13,000-some blooms to take in, but it's a tiny slice of what the town plants every year—300,000 tulips in every shade Mother Nature could dream.
This Storybook Town Will Transport You Straight to Europe
A pastry-filled splash of Scandinavian culture awaits in California's wine country.
Jacqueline Kehoe is a writer, photographer, and geology geek. See her work on Instagram at @j.kehoe.


Termites look a lot like ants.
They have been much hated because of the damage they can do to structures such as wooden homes, however they also have a very high ecological value, due to their being able to break down such things as fallen logs and return them to the ecosystems.
Termites are about an inch long, and live in large social groups called colonies. The average colony can range from just several hundred to several million termites and can contain several queens at one time.
Termites, like ants, have several different kinds of members of the colony. There are soldiers, workers, reproducing members, and queens, but one big difference is that they also have a king termite, and sometimes more than one.
Termites also differ from ants in many other ways.
Generally they live in very dark tunnels and do not venture out except to eat and to reproduce. Since they primarily eat from rotted wood or dead wood, when they do eat it is usually in a darker area such as under a home or porch.
Female termites that have flown from the nest been mated and are now making eggs are called queens.
A male that has mated with her and stays close to her is called the King.
Each termite mound can have several pairs of king and queens, rather than just one. Each hive has usually just one primary queen, who will be able to lay two or three thousand eggs in a single day.
She may have several sets of ovaries which help her to produce even more eggs, and her size is a bit larger than the normal termite. Her tummy will become enlarged due to the multiple reproductive organs and sometimes make her unable to travel any distance.
The termites will gather to move her if she finds it necessary to move to a new chamber in the termite colony. Depending on her size she will take the help of several hundred members of the termite colony to move.
The king is only a little larger than the regular termite and he will stay with the queen and continue to mate with her for his entire life.
Males in ant colonies will die soon after mating while in a termite colony they will become kings and live for several years beside the queen.
Only reproducing termites have good eyes and good vision while the others are able to see only minimally.
Workers do most of the foraging and food gathering as well as storing of the foods in the colony, while soldiers are able to defend against attack by other termites and sometimes by foraging ant colonies. They also feed and care for the juvenile termites which the queen and king have produced.
They Soldiers have greatly enlarged jaws, and use these to defend the colony against oncoming attacks.
Sometimes the soldier's jaws become so large from continuing defense of the colony that they can't eat by themselves.
When this happens they need to be fed, like a juvenile termite by the workers, who take care of them.
Termites in some areas such as dry savannahs will build extremely large termite mounts which may be as tall as many feet. They are intricate well built structures which will last for many years and continue to grow in size as the group grows.
In the case of the cathedral termite, the colonies house may grow to more than ten feet.


I always wanted to be an astronaut, recently I've come to the conclusion that it's probably not going to happen. I'll just have to settle for drawing them instead.
This is a 1980s NASA spacesuit, drawn with a Pentel Pocket Brush, little details added with a Copic Multiliner.


How Much Will Solar Really Cost For Your Home?
Are you looking to finance a home solar system?
Does your roof get decent sunlight through out the day?
Are you the property owner, or do you have permission to add solar to residence?
Solar power for homes and businesses is the way of the future. A bold statement, but one that is backed by Federal and most state governments. A Solar array offers huge cost-savings benefits, but even just ten years ago, there were few homes operating under solar power. Thanks to incentives by some states and the federal government, more homeowners are switching to solar in 2017.
The success of the green movement is based on one undeniable premise — people are good. Threats of pollution and climate change have us all wanting to do our part to build a better, cleaner world that will benefit generations to come.
That inherent selflessness we all feel has put tremendous force of will behind the solar energy industry to get us off the grid. People everywhere want to move from fossil-based products to clean, sustainable forms of energy.
If you are like most people, you want to save money on your electric bill. In fact, you have probably already tried options like switching to CFL bulbs and adjusting the setting on your thermostat in an effort to reduce energy costs.


A virus known as HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) is responsible for the cause of this liver disease. When this virus is entered into the cells of liver it starts replicating itself and increases the damage by many folds. If this virus is not treated in the start, it badly damages the liver within few years and condition becomes chronic. The final and most dangerous stage of this disease is cancer of liver.
The HCV virus can be transmitted to human body from another human through sexual contact or blood. It is highly recommended to use properly sterilized instruments and equipments while doing blood transfusion process, Intravenous drug use or piercing your body.
Patients feels tiredness most of the time.
If you feel that you have few or all of above mentioned symptoms then don't delay and get your blood tests. The 2 main tests used to diagnose this condition are HCV RNA tests and HCV Antibody tests.
How Treatment of Hepatitis C is Done in Homeopathy?
1) The underlying immune system is changed due to which human liver can fight virus more effectively.
2) The virus causing this disease are neutralized and detoxified. This results in prevention of further spread of this disease and lowering its intensity.
3) The healthy liver cells are stimulated and their growth is increased. This results in the increase in number of healthy liver cells and also increases their capability to fight Hepatitis creating virus.
There are more than 350 different homeopathic medicines that can be used to treat different cases of Hepatitis C. What works best for one patient may not work effectively for another patient. Only a wise and experienced Homeopathic doctor knows what medicines should be given to which patient.
See how Miss Rafinat was cured from Hepatitis C by the treatment of Dr. Sabeel using homeopathic medicines.
Checkout how Munawwar Hussain is Progressing From Hepatitis C by homeopathic treatment of Dr. Sabeel.
I have sent you message on your Facebook account, please reply me soon.
We had sent you a reply on facebook. Please make a phone call to discuss your case with Dr. Sabeel. Here is the phone number: 0300-5125394 Thanks.
Dr sb mere beti jis ki age 8 saal hy uss ko hepatitis c hy pcr main viral load boht ziada hy genotype 4 hy. Ab dr kah rhy hn uss ko sovaldi start kr wa dain mgr main aap sy mashvara krna cha rhi hon.iss sy qabl b homeo path dr waqar basra sy medicine li mgr reports same hi rhi hn.
Please contact Dr Sabeel for detailed advice and treatment. Here is the phone number: 0300-5125394.
Dr Sahib im suffering from vitiligo from past 24 years.
My age is 28. Will you please help me.
Yes, we can definitely help you in this matter. Please call Dr. Sabeel on this number 0300-5125394 to discuss your problem in detail. Your problem will be cured Inshah Allah.
Above mentioned 3 problems are permanent. During winter season these problems become severs and I am almost abnormal. Please provide me some medicines to treat my issues. I will be really thankful to you.
i need to discuss my mother case and my case with you she is also in rawalpindi but i,m not or esle i would have come to you straight and discuss face to face.
usman0321 is my skype address add me if not possible send me your skype id i will add you and discuss the cases.
I am suffering from Cervical Spondylitis for the last four to five years.
I get extreme pain when sleeping under fan, while studying infront of computer and in cold weather.
Please tell me the remedy as I have to study for my MSc Program .
I am living in Rawalpindi Saddar.
I had Hepatitis C around 11-12 years ago. I had got Allopathic treatment and problem was resolved. Now I want to go some foreign country and they took my medical test. There are antibodies of Hepatitis C present in my blood although Hepatitis C is negative.
Please let me know how to remove these anti-bodies of Hepatitis C from my body, because it is essential to visit abroad.
We will get back to you ASAP. Please note that by homeopathic medicines, all antibodies of Hepatitis C can be removed from body within 2-3 months.
what will be the your cost of treatment for antibodies of hepitites c.
Im sarwat and i want to get help in case of my mother disease. She is patient of heptatis c since last year. Her health is deteriorating day by day. She is already having treatment of homeopathic as she has a believe on it. I dont know where ur clinic is situated. Kindly help me out . I want my mother visit to ur clinic.
My brother is suffer from hepatitis B & Pcr RNA detected.The ultrasound & blood reports show CLD( cirrhosis of liver disease) also now v take Alleopathy treatment from Karachi for one month and what u say about that.
Asalam o Alaikum,My wife is suffering from hepatitis C (PCR detected) By Agha Khan Lab .We have started the Homeopathic Drop-52 (BM) .
Kindly advise regarding the complete procedure in this regard.
Waiting your swift & prompt response.
Assalam o Alaikum! I am suffering from HCV test reporte is 33.8 (re_active). I am wery much distracted. Kindly advice a best and rapid action medicine.
I m sufferring from Hepatitis C I have treated helopatic medicines my PC is Alhamdulillah negative but I want the JCC antibodies test to be negative Is it possible sir?
Can you please send me updated contact number. I want to contact you regarding hepatitis C for my mother.


SMN1 has a high rate of de novo deletion mutations. There is a high frequency of recombination and crossover events at 5q13, presumably secondary to the presence of the large inverted repeat as well as smaller repeats around the SMN1 and SMN2 loci. The high rate of de novo mutations in SMN1 likely underlies the high carrier frequency for SMA in the general population despite the high genetic lethality of the disease. De novo mutations of paternal origin are much more frequent (with a mutation rate of ~ 1.6 x 10"4) than those of maternal origin.


text:
Q: ggplot in shiny app: return a blank line I am trying to add conditional trend lines to a plot. The code below works when 1 or 2 checkboxes are selected, but not when 0 checkboxes are selected. How do I return a blank or null line that still satisfies the arguments? I've tried returning geom_blank() and returning NULL.
When 0 checkboxes are selected, the code below returns the error:
Warning in is.na(e2) :
  is.na() applied to non-(list or vector) of type 'NULL'
Warning: Error in eval: incorrect length (0), expecting: 100

I should add that my real app has many different checkbox groups, so adding conditionals to the actual plot creation is not feasible.
app.R
library(shiny)
library(ggplot2)
library(plotly)

df1 <- as.data.frame(list('user'=c(rep('A',50),rep('B',50)),'x'=1:100,'y'=rnorm(100)))

ui <- fluidPage(
  sidebarLayout(
    # select a user
    sidebarPanel(
      checkboxGroupInput("userInput","User",
                  choices=sort(unique(df1$user)),
                  selected='A')
    ),
    # plot selected user in plotly
    mainPanel(
      plotlyOutput("mainPlot")
    )
  )
)

server <- function(input, output, session) {

  output$mainPlot <- renderPlotly({

    # filter based on selected user
    filteredForUser <- reactive({
      df1 %>%
        filter(
          user == input$userInput
        )
    })
    # add a trend line based on user
    addTrendLine <- reactive({
      if (is.null(filteredForUser())) {
        return(geom_blank())
        }
      g <- geom_smooth(data=filteredForUser(), aes(x=x,y=y), method='lm')
      return(g)
    })

    # create a plot
    g <- ggplot(data=df1, aes(x=x,y=y)) + geom_line() + addTrendLine()
    ggplotly(p=g)
  })
}

shinyApp(ui, server)

A: Here's another way to go about it since you don't want to use conditionals on the reactive inputs. In this example when none of the checkboxes are ticked, df1 %>% filter(user == input$unserInput) returns an error.
I simply changed the is.null() part of your code to check for the class of filteredForUser.
Output is similar to @Gopala's solution. Hopefully this works for you?
Server function
server <- function(input, output, session) {

  output$mainPlot <- renderPlotly({

    # filter based on selected user
    filteredForUser <- reactive({
      try(
      df1 %>%
        filter(
          user == input$userInput
        ), silent = T)
    })

    # add a trend line based on user
    addTrendLine <- reactive({
      if (class(filteredForUser()) == "try-error") {
        return(geom_blank())
      }else{
      g <- geom_smooth(data=filteredForUser(), aes(x=x,y=y), method='lm')
      return(g)
      }
    })

    # create a plot
    g <- ggplot(data=df1, aes(x=x,y=y)) + geom_line() + addTrendLine()
    ggplotly(p=g)
  })
}

A: The problem is that the reactive for filteredForUser is not handling the null case. Also, you need to add conditionally to the ggplot object. Try this code instead, or some variation of it:
server <- function(input, output, session) {
  output$mainPlot <- renderPlotly({
    # filter based on selected user
    filteredForUser <- reactive({
      if (is.null(input$userInput)) {return(df1)}
      df1 %>%
        filter(
          user == input$userInput
        )
    })
    # add a trend line based on user
    getPlot <- reactive({
      g <- ggplot(data = df1, aes(x=x, y=y)) + geom_line()
      if (nrow(filteredForUser()) == nrow(df1)) {
        return(g)
      }
      g <- g + geom_smooth(data=filteredForUser(), aes(x=x, y=y), method='lm')
      return(g)
    })

    # create a plot
    g <- getPlot()
    ggplotly(p=g)
  })
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Running your first 5K is an exciting goal for brand new runners, or those who have never toed the line of a race before. A 5K race is 5 kilometers long (or 3.1 miles) and a popular distance for first-timers. It's the perfect way to get in shape and have some fun while exercising.
Even if you don't consider yourself a runner (yet), almost anyone can be ready to run a 5K by starting slowly, learning the basics, and following a smart training plan.
If you're feeling nervous or hesitant about running a race, you're not alone. More experienced runners get nervous for big races too, but many new runners worry they're "too slow to run a race" or that they will come in last or not being able to finish at all. Facing your fears and overcoming them will give you a big confidence boost as a runner. It may even inspire you to set new fitness goals or take on challenges in other areas of your life.
The running community is an incredibly supportive group of people and it's not likely you'll feel alone in the race, no matter what your speed.
Become a better runner: Picking a goal like a 5K race can help you improve your efficiency as a runner. Keep these tips for proper running form handy as you start training for the big race.
Stay accountable: There's nothing like a deadline to get you moving! Having a race date circled on your calendar will help you run more consistently and get out there on days you just don't feel like running.
Stick to a schedule: If you're the type of person who likes to follow a specific schedule, you'll love training for a race. We can help you find the training plan that's fits into your life—even if you think you don't have time to train.
Find a community: Not a fan of running on your own? Races are a great way to connect with other runners in your area—and learn about more events, group runs, and clubs where you live. Or, if you already have some running friends, find a race you can all take on together!
Support a good cause: Many races benefit charities and worthwhile causes and are a way for runners to give back. Running for a cause can make your races even more meaningful and fulfilling.
Get free stuff: From post-race bananas and snacks to finisher T-shirts and medals, it's nice to get a little reward and recognition for your efforts. Go ahead, show off that victory with your race swag.
Feel proud of yourself: Crossing the finish line of your first race will be something you'll remember for a long time. And improving a PR (personal record or your personal best time) is a goal that can continue to stay with you as a runner. But be warned, those feelings of accomplishment and excitement can be be very addicting.
Pick out the right clothes and gear: From choosing the best running shoes and sport bras to knowing what to wear in any temperature or weather, look to this guide for beginner-friendly running clothes and gear to help you look good and feel even better.
Choose a training plan that motivates you: There are so many overwhelming 5K training programs available. We'll help you build a simplified program and learn how to incorporate strength training, stretching, and more so you stay injury-free.
Set an appropriate goal: A 5K can take as little as 15 or 20 minutes for fast runners and as much as an hour for walkers. Because there's such a wide range of abilities, it's important to keep in mind that you're only competing against yourself. For your first 5K, we recommend setting a goal to do your best, avoid injuries, and have fun.
Answer your most common questions: It's normal to have a ton of questions when taking on the challenge of a 5K race. We'll answer them all—even the ones that may feel too embarrassing to ask!
Avoid pre-race jitters: To help calm nervousness before the race, review our favorite race day tips so you're focused only on what's most important—enjoying yourself through all the miles.
Setting the goal to run a 5K race is an exciting first step, but can often feel intimidating for new runners. We're here to help you out with the best advice and tips that will get you fully prepared to take on the challenge and make sure you run 3.1 healthy and happy miles on race day.


text:
Rebels look to make the top 25 as they face off against Arkansas
byJames Minzesheimer
After coming off of a surprisingly close game against the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Ole Miss Rebels will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., this weekend to face a Razorback team that has had equally shocking upsets — or almost upsets.
Both teams have had a similar trajectory this fall. Arkansas lost without much of a fight against Georgia in week one, and Ole Miss had a similar experience with Florida. Then in week two, the teams won games as underdogs. The Rebels took down Kentucky for their first win, and the Razorbacks took down the Mississippi State Bulldogs, who beat defending national champions the LSU Tigers a week prior.
Last week, the Rebels and the Razorbacks put up strong performances against highly ranked opponents, with Ole Miss putting up 48 points against Alabama and Arkansas losing to Auburn on a controversial call at the end of the game.
This week, The Daily Mississippian sports desk spoke with Robert Stewart, sports editor of the Arkansas Traveler, about this week's upcoming matchup between the Ole Miss Rebels and the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Coming off of the close loss against Auburn, Stewart said he thinks the Razorbacks are eager and ready to take home a solid win, predicting a final score of 45-41.
"Obviously with the controversial call at the end of the game, the Auburn loss is hard to swallow, but if it has any impact at all on the matchup with Ole Miss, it will only add fuel to the fire," Stewart said. "Sam Pittman made it clear that the Hogs are going right back to work."
While the backwards spike is still on the minds of most Razorbacks fans, Stewart said he is hoping that the team will move past it and focus on improving the other areas of play where the team is lacking.
"While the Arkansas defense has been strong so far, I worry about its ability to keep up with a unit like the Rebel offense that just hung 647 yards and 48 points on Alabama," Stewart said. "Last week was the worst game the Razorbacks have played defensively to this point. They missed tackles left and right and conceded a season-high 446 yards. For the first time this season, it looks like the Hogs are headed for a shootout."
Even with the concerns about the Arkansas defense being able to keep up with the UM offense, Stewart said he and the rest of the Razorbacks' fan base have been stunned by the defense's performance as a whole this season.
"The Razorback defense has been the most pleasant surprise of 2020," he said. "You wouldn't necessarily guess that if you haven't watched Arkansas play yet since Georgia posted 37 in the opener and Auburn dropped 30 last week, but the consensus is that Barry Odom has proven to be a strong hire through three weeks."
Offensively, though, Stewart said he thinks the team needs to work more cohesively, and he saw improvements in the most recent game against Auburn.
"The offense has felt inefficient at times, but Feleipe Franks has thrown seven touchdowns this season and just two interceptions, both of which came in the first game," he said. "Franks and the offense are definitely trending in the right direction, and after a 318-yard, four-touchdown performance, they have to be feeling confident ahead of this game."
For the Rebels, the plan seems to be to stay the course, maximize the offensive time on the field and just hope that the defense can make enough stops to get the offense back on the field.
This will be a key game for the Rebels. If they do win, they have a chance to jump into the AP coaches poll top 25, which would be the first time since 2016 that the Rebels break the top 25 and would be another boost to Kiffin's already upward trending season.


The Director General of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Maj. Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, has warned corps members participating as INEC ad-hoc staff in the general election that they would be jailed if they break any electoral law in the course of their assignment.
Kazaure gave the warning Thursday in Yola while addressing corps members trained to participate in the exercise.
Represented by Mr Sadiq Ipaku, Chief Inspector of NYSC, Abuja, Kazaure said it was mandatory for corps members to know the Electoral Act and discharge their assignment inline with the law, and the training provided to avoid falling into trouble.
Kazaure said over the years, corps members have distinguished themselves during elections and should continue to do so.
"Your predecessors, right from year 2008 when the collaboration started, have proven their mettle and made each succeeding election more credible and acceptable than the proceeding one.
"It is against this background that the nation is once again calling on you for this very important assignment," Kazaure said.
In his remarks, the Adamawa Coordinator of NYSC, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed tasked the corps members to be confident and take full responsibility during the assignment so as not to be messed up by any politician.
Mohammed tasked also tasked them to be security conscious, adding that there was an agreement with INEC not to post corps member to crisis areas.
He also said that special numbers would be provided them to make quick contact in the case of any difficulty or emergency.
In his speech, the Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Kassim Gaidam, who described corps members as "the core of INEC ad-hoc staff", said the commission has confidence full confidence in their ability to deliver.
Gaidam assured them of adequate security and welfare, adding that their training allowances would be paid on Friday, while other allowances would be paid as at when due.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlights of the interactive session was the distribution of relevant pamphlets on election guidelines, and lecture on security tips by officials from Department of State Security.


I had an experience like this a few years ago in the Sierra Nevada. All day we watched a storm system move in bringing blustery conditions. I set up in a nice spot near camp to try and capture the sunset but it quickly became apparent that there were just too many clouds and we wouldn't get a sunset that evening, at which point I crawled into the tent to read for a bit before dinner. About 10 minutes later I noticed the entire tent was glowing red. Curious – I poked my head out of the tent and caught the tail end of the most spectacular sunset I've seen in my life.
I didn't have time to properly set up my gear, or put on pants for that matter. I ended up with some okay photos of the sunset reflecting in a lake by our camp. I'm still disappointed I didn't have more patience in my first spot.


Take the Kids On An Adventure With Sam This Easter!
There is so much to do this Easter!
My diary for days out with LO is brimming to the full and I seem to find myself being constantly double-booked! I have always been interested in the arts and theatre is a brilliant way for kids to experience something live, exciting and interactive. Greenwich Theatre has a wide range of shows this Spring/Summer but the one we are going to see is called 'Adventures With Sam: Outer Space'.
The show is on for two days in April (3rd-4th) and the Friday show will follow Sam on his adventures to the farm where he'll need help to solve the mystery of the missing golden egg. Saturday's show follows Sam on his journey to outer space where he will need help with his missing to blast off!
I think the outer space one would be amazing for LO as we have done a lot of stuff with farm animals and I just want to expose him to all different things really. 🙂 If you are around in Greenwich on 3rd or 4th April and want to treat the kids to something different, head to the theatre. Tickets for Adventures with Sam online are £11 adult, £8.50 child.
Next Just Ordered My Classic Box On HelloFresh!


Contact us at (908) 359-8211 ext. 227, M-F 8 AM – 4:30 PM.
To report a health emergency after hours, contact the Montgomery Township Police at 9-1-1.
– MTHD's nursing staff and partner agencies are on the front lines of fighting disease. Public Health Nurses investigate outbreaks of infectious disease, intervene to stop the spread of disease, and assure that all children are appropriately vaccinated. Public Health Nurses also screen and educate people at risk for chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, to help people live healthier lives.
—The Health Department inspects food service and general sanitation at day care centers. Each year, the Public Health Nurse reviews school immunization records to make sure that all children attending are appropriately vaccinated. The nurse also investigates outbreaks of illnesses in these facilities to make sure control measures are in place.
— Health Care providers are required to report cases of certain communicable diseases to the local Health Department where the patient lives.
— MTHD partners with Hillsborough Township and the Community Visiting Nurses to provide this service. To schedule an appointment, call (908) 725-9355 and ask for the "Child Health Conference".
Having trouble finding affordable, high quality care?
— Each Fall, MTHD offers numerous flu vaccination clinics at convenient locations throughout its service area. For locations and hours, call 908-359-8211 x227 or CLICK HERE for our clinic list (September through December).
— An evidence-based Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) offered in your area. The workshops are self-management education for adults with chronic health conditions like arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, asthma etc. CDSMP is a series of weekly 2.5 hour long classes for 6 weeks. Participants learn techniques for coping with the physical and psychological effects of chronic disease, and strategies for reducing symptoms. To learn about upcoming program dates, CLICK HERE. To register for an upcoming series, or to bring this series to your location, call Health Educator Devangi Patel at 908-533-9331.


Ultra clean and super fresh, here we have a closer look at the new Nike Air Max 270 Triple White Women's Shoe in an all white colourway and details. It showcases Nike's best shoe Air unit to date, also featuring the ultra-cool Nike Air Max 270 upper that allows you to stay cool when the conditions hot up.
Super slick styling brings back memories of iconic Air Max models of years gone by, providing an up to date, sleek look that's grounded in Nike trainer history. The Nike Air Max 270 Triple White has strong street style credentials and is very popular and fashionable amongst younger athletes and influencers.
The upper part of the Nike shoe is made with technical material, which hugs to your foot for a secure, sock like feel. It's light and breathable, and delivers a perfect combination of flexibility and protection.
A double density foam outer sole and prominent Max Air heel unit provide luxury cushioning for casual and performance use.
This shoe is primarily designed for running, but can also be used for a host of activities including HIIT, gym workouts, spinning, stretching and fitness classes.
It is a fashionable shoe that can be worn with more formal clothing but is styled particularly well with streetwear outfits – such as skinny jeans or tracksuits.


The inaugural E-League season launched in style on Thursday night as Australia's finest FIFA 18 exponents showcased their skills in an entertaining opening round.
Streamed live on Twitch and Fox Sports, each Hyundai A-League club was represented by one player on Xbox and another on PlayStation 4.
The two-legged format saw the Sky Blues claim a first round win with a 5-4 aggregate victory over Melbourne City to join a host of teams at the summit after the first of nine competition weeks.
Read on for how the first taste of E-League action played out and view the ladder at the bottom of the page.
Mark Brijeski came up big for Sydney FC as his heart-stopping PS4 success made the difference in a 5-4 aggregate victory against Melbourne City.
Billed as the tournament's standout star, City's Marcus Gomes was forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Sydney FC representative Samer Elbadar.
Gomes appeared on track when he broke the deadlock at the end of a cagey first half, Ronaldo firing home from the edge of the area for City.
Elbadar proved he was up to the contest, though, with Cristiano Ronaldo earning Sydney FC a surprise draw by finding space in the area and levelling matters soon after the restart.
Samer 'Samer96_' Elbadar in action for the Sky Blues on Xbox.
Sydney FC's Mark Brijeski survived a stunning fightback from Josh Wood to hold on for a nail-biting 4-3 triumph.
After the first tie left the clubs level, Brijeski fired the Sky Blues into the ascendancy with a dominant three-goal first half.
He looked to be cruising to victory until Wood launched an incredible Messi-inspired comeback, levelling the score out of nowhere.
But the City man was left heartbroken in his efforts to secure a share of the points as Brijeski recovered to grab a decisive 86th-minute winner.


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Princess: The Early Life of Queen Elizabeth II
by Jane Dismore
# UT2422 Paperback, 308 pages; 2020 (2018)
You don't need to be a monarchist—or even British—to respect the devotion to duty and country that Queen Elizabeth II has exhibited over the course of her long life. Yet it can be difficult to remember that the unflappable gray-haired queen, in her colorful hats and sensible shoes, was once just a child. This thoughtful biography focuses on the queen as Princess Elizabeth, from her parents' courtship and marriage, through her (surprisingly ordinary) early years and the abdication crisis to World War II, her marriage to Prince Philip, and her ascension to the throne at the tender age of twenty-five. Peppered with political insight as well as amusing anecdotes and heartwarming family stories—after the birth of her sister, Margaret Rose, Elizabeth announced she would call her "'Bud', because 'she's not a real rose, is she, yet? She's only a bud.'"—Princess is an engaging portrait of a remarkable woman. (KG)


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Boy, 6, dies, 11 others injured in church bus crash in Indiana apparently caused by suspended-licensed driver's error: police
By Tobias Salinger
Jul 29, 2015 | 3:43 AM
A 6-year-old boy riding in a church bus died on Tuesday afternoon when the vehicle swerved off the road and rolled over off eastbound I-70 highway in Indiana, police said.
The crash threw Jacob Williams from the vehicle at around 4:10 p.m., and the careening bus fell over on top of him, according to the Indiana State Police. Officials with the Hancock County Coroner's Office pronounced the boy dead at the scene roughly 20 miles east of Indianapolis, police say.
The driver of the bus, Charles Goodman, 53, has an active warrant on his record and was allegedly operating with a suspended license, cops said. Eleven other passengers suffered injuries in the accident, which police said "appears to be a result of driver error" rather than any mechanical failure.
Charles Goodman (pictured in a previous mugshot), 53, was allegedly operating with a suspended license, cops said. (Lake County Sheriff's Department)
Goodman, a Gary man who is wanted for a failure to appear in court for a traffic offense, also wound up pinned underneath the bus, according to the police. Goodman was conscious and alert at the scene and a helicopter flew him to an Indianapolis hospital.
Four of the passengers, including two children, were in fair condition Tuesday night at Indiana University Health hospitals elsewhere in Indianapolis, IU Health spokesman Gene Ford said. The other seven injured people received treatment for non-life threatening injuries at Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield, according to spokesman Rob Matt.
Jacob Williams' mom says he was sleeping at the time of the crash. He would have turned 7 next month. @rtv6 pic.twitter.com/kbHYbtUkGM
— Ebone Monet (@EboneMonet26) July 29, 2015
Members of the St. Jude Family Worship Center in Gary were traveling to the Dayton area for a youth convention in the bus, WTHR-TV reported.
"I seen that the bus had flipped over, so I instantly rushed to help as many people as I could," Terrance Gardner, a congregant who was in a car behind the bus at the time of the crash, told the TV station. "Smoke came up, they quickly put it out, so we proceeded with trying to get as many people out as we could. Everyone made it except one."
He added, "I don't know what to say, I was just dumbfounded. I don't believe there's no word to describe it."
Fellow St. Jude members gathered at the church in Gary Tuesday night, according to the TV station.
"We just ask for the people just to pray for the families who went on the trip, and just a safe return for the survivors of the accident," chuch member Dione Lane told WTHR.
The state police are investigating, and its commercial motor vehicle division will inspect the bus. Investigators plan to question Goodman, a fellow member of St. Jude, after he recovers from his injuries, the TV station reported.
Follow on Twitter @tobysalkc
ON A MOBILE DEVICE? WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.
With NEWS WIRE REPORTS
tsalinger@nydailynews.com


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Home Asia India-Japan alliance: A Game Changer in Asian Geopolitics
The Alliance of Democracies
India-Japan alliance: A Game Changer in Asian Geopolitics
Rohit K V
2008 is the year I graduated and entered the job market. Those were dark days for job seekers due to the global economic recession, triggered by US financial crisis – Lehmann Brothers fell and the vulnerability of the Western economy got exposed. Many developed nations implemented austerity measures as millions lost their jobs and those who sustained their jobs took pay cuts. Despite these tough times, India and China were the two countries which withstood the global financial meltdown and continued to grow impressively. Therefore, in my view, 2008 is the year when the political and economic center of gravity started formally shifting from West to East. This development brought in a sense of nervousness in the West. Western nations, with a glorious economic past and ageing populations, troubled by crippling economies, saw the rise of China as a threat. While China's growth story started in the 1970s, it is around 2008 that China started getting increasingly assertive and expansionist in her motives. Most territorial disputes in East and South China Sea escalated between 2004 and 2010. This was the time when the world started looking at India as an economic giant who can balance the power in Asia and keep China under check.
Chinese aggression strained the US-Japan alliance. Japan, after World War 2, entered into a defense agreement with the US wherein the US would protect Japan from any external aggression or threat. After decades of relative calm, tensions between China and Japan peaked due to China's increased activity in the East and South China Seas. At the same time, US, having burnt its hands in 2 back-to-back wars in Iraq and Afghanistan started getting worried about its obligation to defend Japan in the case of a conflict with China. Japan sensed America's unwillingness to get drawn into Sino-Japan conflict and that's when Tokyo started thinking of reducing its dependency on Washington.
The 2008 global economic crisis impacted Japan badly. Economic stagnation, ageing population, a confrontational China, and an indifferent America – all these factors lead Tokyo's think-tank to revisit their foreign policy and forge new alliances, especially in Asia. However, political instability in Tokyo delayed the process. Between 2006 and 2012, Japan saw 6 Prime Ministers! In the elections that were held in 2012, Japan's Liberal Democrat Party got a decisive mandate and its leader Shinzo Abe became the Prime Minister for the second time. Abe earlier served as PM between 2006 and 2007. Prime Minister Abe, known to be an astute strategist, started taking China head-on. He saw a great ally in India.
Shinzo Abe, in his earlier stint as the Prime Minister of Japan, proposed the famous "Security Diamond" concept during his historic address to the Indian Parliament in 2007. He envisioned a security alliance between India, US, Australia, and Japan to uphold the international law. The then Indian government, led by Dr. Manmohan Singh was cold to this proposal by Abe, fearing backlash from China. Also, Shinzo Abe resigned due to health grounds just two months after his address to the Indian parliament. That only meant that his pet proposal of "Security Diamond" went into a cold storage. When Abe returned to power in 2012, he didn't waste time in pursuing his "Security Diamond" project from where he left off during his earlier stint. He made his intent clear in this article, published just 24 hours after he came to power. He appointed Nobukatsu Kanehara and Tomohiko Taniguchi as his key advisors, who not only strengthened his India-centric vision but also gave a long-term direction to Japan's policy towards India. Abe then had a tough time convincing Manmohan Singh government in India to boldly counter China by becoming a part of the "Security Diamond" project. Here's where Abe pulled off a masterstroke! Abe rightly predicted that India would vote for a leadership change in 2014 and he saw the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the potential next Prime Minister of India. Abe invited Gujarat CM Modi to Tokyo and developed great trade relations with Gujarat. That's when the bonhomie between Abe and Modi began.
Three months after taking oath as India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi visited Japan. When Modi landed at Kyoto, Shinzo Abe, diverting from the usual protocol, travelled from Tokyo to Kyoto to receive his friend Modi at the airport. In a strictly protocol-adhering country like Japan, this gesture was seen by many as a sign of fostering friendship between India and Japan. The message was clear – Japan became the fulcrum of Modi's "Act East" policy and India became a sharp edge of Abe's "Security Diamond". "Collective defense", "Freedom of navigation", "Upholding international rule of law" became the buzzwords in Indo-Japan diplomatic statements.
To understand the bonhomie between Modi and Abe, one needs to look at their personalities. These two leaders are mirror images of each other, except for the fact that Abe comes from a strong political family (Abe's maternal grandfather Nobusuke Kishi served as Japan's Prime Minister twice) whereas Modi rose from a humble family of a tea seller. Both Modi and Abe are seen as right wing ultra-nationalist leaders. Both these leaders have strong backing of the conservative groups in their respective countries. While Modi and his party BJP are products of Hindu Nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Abe is affiliated to Japanese Nationalist group Nippon Kaigi, a strong right-wing Japanese group which advocates State Shinto. In fact, two-thirds of Abe's Cabinet Colleagues are members of the Nippon Kaigi group. Both Abe and Modi are attacked viciously by the Left-Liberal media, and on more than one occasion, both these leaders have been unfairly branded as "Fascist" by commentators. Naturally, birds of same feather flock together!
Modi and Abe have made steadfast moves in enhancing Indo-Japan relations. India chose Japan over China for its ambitious bullet train project and Japan reciprocated by loaning One Lakh Crore Rupees at a nominal 0.1% interest and a 50-year tenure. Also, Japan is selling defense equipment to India at very competitive prices, drawing angry reactions from Beijing. Above all, Japan has over-turned its self-imposed regulation of not signing civilian nuclear agreements with non-signatories of CTBT/NPT and inked the nuclear deal with India. Japan is now a permanent participant in the annual Malabar Naval Exercises. Japan joined India in the Chabahar Port project in Iran, which will play a crucial role in boosting the Indian Ocean trade corridor. This is an impressive list of bilateral achievements in a span of just 2.5 years! Abe's "Security Diamond" and Modi's "Act East" policies complemented each other and cemented a formidable geopolitical alliance in Asia.
It is true that Modi and Abe have taken Indo-Japan relations to new heights. It is also true that both these countries need each other. But, is this relation just based on the China factor? No! It is not. India and Japan have so much in common. Both are ancient civilizations, linked by Buddhism. There are so many beliefs which are common between Indian and Japanese cultures. India and Japan have no contentious issues culturally, historically, economically, or geographically. Most Japanese people respect India as Buddhism was born there. For Indians, Japanese brands like Honda, (Maruti) Suzuki, Sony, Toyota, Yamaha, etc are household names. Politically, both India and Japan are democracies and are part of the "G4 Nations", supporting each other's membership in the United Nations Security Council. Considering these factors and also the pace at which Indo-Japan relations have strengthened in the recent years, it is only a matter of time before a formal military alliance is forged. The strengthening of Indo-Japan relations will contribute greatly to peace and stability in Asia and the World by acting as a deterrent against expansionist forces and bring economic prosperity to the region by upholding the rule of international law and freedom of navigation in the region's high seas.
Alliance of Democracies
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Rohit KV is a practicing IT Consultant and is a member of Bharatiya Janata Party. He is a geopolitical enthusiast and with specific interest in Japanese political history and Indo-Japanese ties. He can be contacted on his Twitter Handle @RohitBJP
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Sudha January 12, 2017 at 4:31 pm
Good one Rohit .. gives insight into how Modi is trying to seal the India- Japan relationship.
pankaj karnwal June 6, 2017 at 9:42 pm
Dinesh June 20, 2017 at 12:35 pm
The strengthening of Indo-Japan relations will contribute greatly to peace and stability in Asia and the World by acting as a deterrent against expansionist forces, terrorism and bring economic prosperity to the region.
Trade Wars: The Road To Ruin


L'Oréal, the world's largest beauty company, has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices, as one of the 2018 World's Most Ethical Companies.
The recognition was the ninth for L'Oréal, which is one of only three companies in the Health and Beauty industry, underscoring their commitment to leading with integrity and prioritizing ethical business practices.
"A company's value is not measured by its sole economic performance. Because L'Oréal has always strived to be a virtuous and responsible company, we have placed ethics at the heart of our strategy and daily practices. It is this approach that is recognized today by Ethisphere, and it is a source of pride for all of us," said Jean-Paul Agon, chairman and chief executive officer of L'Oréal.
"Companies' culture of ethics and integrity has become a substantial part of their assessment. The currency of ethics is trust and our sustainable development is based on L'Oréal's core ethical principles: Integrity, Respect, Courage and Transparency," said Emmanuel Lulin, senior vice president and chief ethics officer of L'Oréal.
In 2018, 135 honorees were recognized, spanning 24 countries and 57 industries. This year's honorees had record levels of involvement with their stakeholders and their communities around the world. Measuring and improving culture, leading authentically and committing to transparency, diversity and inclusion were all priorities for honorees.
"While the discourse around the world changed profoundly in 2017, a stronger voice emerged. Global corporations operating with a common rule of law are now society's strongest force to improve the human condition. This year we saw companies increasingly finding their voice. The World's Most Ethical Companies in particular continued to show exemplary leadership," explained Ethisphere's CEO, Timothy Erblich. "I congratulate everyone at L'Oréal for being recognized for the ninth time as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. This is a great achievement."