text:
package io.gravitee.rest.api.service.impl;

import io.gravitee.common.service.AbstractService;
import io.gravitee.rest.api.service.InitializerService;
import io.gravitee.rest.api.service.Upgrader;
import java.util.Comparator;
import java.util.Map;
import org.slf4j.Logger;
import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
import org.springframework.stereotype.Component;

/**
 * @author David BRASSELY (david.brassely at graviteesource.com)
 * @author GraviteeSource Team
 */
@Component
public class UpgraderServiceImpl extends AbstractService<UpgraderServiceImpl> implements InitializerService<UpgraderServiceImpl> {

    /**
     * Logger.
     */
    private final Logger logger = LoggerFactory.getLogger(UpgraderServiceImpl.class);

    @Override
    protected String name() {
        return "Upgrader service";
    }

    @Override
    protected void doStart() throws Exception {
        super.doStart();

        Map<String, Upgrader> upgraderBeans = applicationContext.getBeansOfType(Upgrader.class);
        upgraderBeans
            .values()
            .stream()
            .sorted(Comparator.comparing(Upgrader::getOrder))
            .forEach(
                upgrader -> {
                    logger.info("Running upgrader {}", upgrader.getClass().getName());
                    upgrader.upgrade();
                }
            );
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


This embroidery kit is of great beauty with beautiful flowers pattern and its colors. With Chinese element, then you can experience and enjoy the traditional culture of China in the process of embroidering the cross stitch.
Beautiful flowers pattern, beautiful visual perception.


If your fashion aesthetic is all ruffles all the time, have we got the perfect top for you! Stretchy asymmetrical crop top features a one-shoulder design with double ruffles along the neckline that lead to a completely ruffled three-quarter sleeve. No closures are included.


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Never underestimate the power of innovation. Only a year ago I said there were "no-payment mortgages" in our future. I predicted the Federal Reserve would create them. But I was wrong. It wasn't necessary for the Federal Reserve to create them. They already existed!
Who knew? I didn't. I was thinking about them the wrong way. The no-payment mortgage was becoming a done deal, available to all. Indeed, Texas became the last state in the union to allow home purchase reverse mortgages when the proposition was approved on Nov. 6.
Now, anywhere in the country, you can sell your house, use the equity for a large down payment on a new house, and never make a mortgage payment. In fact, you don't even need to sell a house; all you need is a big hunk of equity. The only limit is that you have to be at least 62 years old.
So please, take my predictions seriously. Even when they are wrong, they are right.
— Virtuous Inflation. Our new Federal Reserve chairperson will call for "virtuous inflation." The phrase will go viral. People will chant in the streets for virtuous inflation. Economists will explain that the growth and strength of the middle class would not exist without it. It will turn out to be one of those things that "seemed like a good idea at the time."
— Sen. Ted Cruz Will Not Win a Nobel Peace Prize. I'm going to stick my neck out here, but I'm pretty sure the Texas senator won't be winning the prize in 2014. Maybe not in 2015, either.
— Wall Street Will Plead for a Continuing Crisis in Washington. A group of market analysts will notice that stock prices have risen handsomely since the first budget crisis. Hoping to continue market gains, they will lobby Congress to continue doing what they have been doing to keep the angst and new highs coming.
— The First Congressional Reading Test. A public referendum will pass in all 50 states requiring all sitting or aspirant members of Congress to pass a biennial reading test. Not to be too much of a burden, the test will be based on only 1,000 randomly selected pages of the Affordable Care Act. A broad coalition of Democrats and Republicans — the first in years — will defeat the measure, claiming it is a violation of their civil rights.
— The Last Legitimate Child Will Be Born in America. An anthropologist/demographer will predict that the last American child born in wedlock will arrive no later than 2060, citing the accelerating trend of births out of wedlock over the last half-century. A descendant of the late President Richard Nixon, running for office in that year, will paraphrase his great-great-grandfather and gleefully say, "We're all Keynesians now," only he will use a popular expletive rather than the word "Keynesians."
— The Great Marijuana Roll-Up. Noting that 20 states have legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes and two states have legalized it for recreational purposes, a Wall Street investment banker will start "Puff-Away," an Internet-based firm with the goal of vertical integration for the production and distribution of cannabis. He'll do this by doing a "roll-up," buying and integrating hundreds of smaller stores and farms.
After the highly successful public offering, however, the chief financial officer will be arrested for improprieties with, err, inventory and cash. His first statement before the judge will be, "Wow, man, far out," a phrasing that will identify him as a very senior citizen.
— The Limit of Tax Credits Will Be Discovered. Our friends in Washington love to cut taxes with twitchy little deductions here and there. Doing this has built an enormous karma bank for them, with more than 200 "tax expenditures" that reduce federal tax revenue by billions each year while providing them with a rich source of campaign funds. In 2013, for instance, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the 10 largest tax expenditures were worth some $900 billion.
The new Affordable Care Act, which is laden with tax credits to subsidize health insurance premiums, might break the karma bank. While the Congressional Budget Office estimate of this cost is small, it will also turn out to be wildly wrong. By 2015, pundits will be talking about how health care reform hijacked the federal income tax.
— The March of the Plug-Ins. The success of hybrid plug-ins, reducing gasoline consumption by nearly 75 percent, will cause the greatest re-identification of states since they were labeled "red" or "blue" for their political preferences. In the future, states will be divided between "utility" states and "gasoline" states.
In the gasoline states, legislatures will increase gas taxes to offset the revenue decline from decreased gasoline consumption. In the utility states, legislatures will increase taxes on electricity, betting on higher electric demand to offset what they lose in gasoline taxes.


My favorite season is fall. But, my favorite time of the academic year is spring. Spring arrives with a mixed blessing for me. With over 20 years of spring experiences, I have come to a point where I simply accept the rhythm of departures that are about to take place knowing we await the arrival of a new cohort of first-year students next fall. Nonetheless, I will miss many of our graduating seniors! It is exciting for me to see students moving forward toward their goals and at the same hearing and seeing them reflect on their experiences. Their love and passion for Luther abound.
One of the springtime Luther traditions is to invite seniors to share their reflections at the April all-college staff meetings. The meetings are offered at two times and thus I had the opportunity to hear six seniors offer their reflections. Whether students are from a distance away (California, Florida), a greater distance away (China, Zimbabwe), or just a short drive away (Dover, Iowa; St. Cloud, Minnesota), it was clear Luther became "home" for them. This does not happen by accident —either on the part of Luther or on the part of the students.
Each spoke of the community at Luther and how important and powerful the community is. As some of the students spoke, they fought back tears. I did too. The students shared of their work-study experiences in dining and catering, custodial, admissions, residence life, the Diversity Center, and more. In each experience students spoke of the influence their work-study supervisor had.
Sandra spoke of how Barb advised her to not lose focus on her goals: "Sometimes days don't work out and it's important to come back the next day and to keep working!" Tyler shared that he learned two key lessons from Aaron, which he is carrying forward—you can control two things: your effort and your attitude. For Taku, it was the opportunity to learn how staff makes the stay at Luther pleasant for students. He directly observed the care and consideration his work-study supervisors offered in their everyday work.
Raleigh was effusive in his praise for Julie, who he said taught him that you become stronger after each punch life throws at you. His admiration for her courage and her willingness to stop in the middle of something to help someone else illuminated how critical it is to put others before self. Tayva learned that differences matter in people's lives and that we can develop an appreciation for one another and each other's humanity. Her view of the broader world was shaped by her experiences that affirmed how important honesty, work ethic, and being true to oneself is. Finally, Landi spoke of keeping an open mind and heart and that while college students can be hard to please, it is important to remain open and to meet and make a variety of friends.
Tyler is leaving the winter of his youth and college experience and venturing south to Charleston, S.C., for his next step. Leaving his geographical home will bring him deepened opportunities to build relationships and to slow down and value the time he spends with others. As he discovered at Luther, relationships matter! Sandra, who was involved in many different programs across campus noted how there are pockets of community everywhere at Luther. She stated there is a sense of community here and that you can find it—in the wide open or in the pockets.
Tayva will miss one of the more simple things of Luther life, the Sunnyside Café cinnamon rolls! But she also will miss the caring people who are passionate about student learning and their well-being. She shared how her experience as a nursing major, especially her junior year in Rochester with clinicals at Mayo, gave her the confidence in her future as a nurse but also in her self. She noted it was a challenging and rewarding year. She values the communication, time management, and critical thinking skills she brings to her new position at Mayo in the thoracic trauma progressive care unit.
Raleigh will be spending an intense nine months as a fellow at a Presbyterian church in Charlottesville, Virginia. He brings to this experience his deep sense of self and the importance of personal values and ethics and how they can inform important decisions. He came to Luther with a deep focus as a varsity basketball player, but came to realize there was more to his Luther experience and transitioned from a lifetime of basketball to track and field. With that transition, he thrived at Luther and became involved in the Luther College Hearing Board. This was a challenging, demanding experience but one that confirmed for him the importance of upholding community values and restoring community after some form of harm has been done.
Landi was effusive in sharing how glad she was to have spent four of the most valuable years of her life at Luther. She will miss the people she has worked with every day but carries forward wonderful memories of her experience. She is looking forward to her masters in business analytics program at Rutgers.
Sandra was inspired by her work in the Diversity Center and the mentoring she received to pursue a doctoral program in order to be a college professor. She is weighing program options and discerning which direction she will pursue.
Taku learned much working in human resources at Luther, and he will be pursuing a master's degree in human resources or organizational behavior. For Taku, one of the instrumental aspects of his experience at Luther was taking the StrengthsFinder assessment. He said, "I did not know who I was," but the assessment helped him to focus and get to know himself at a deeper level and to focus on what he is good at.
These six students made the most of their Luther experience. They embraced what was offered and seized the opportunities presented to them. In many cases, they made their own opportunities. When you hear from soon-to-be college graduates such as Sandra, Taku, Tyler, Tayva, Raleigh, and Landi, you must have a deep hope for the future of our society. Perhaps we should not be surprised to see that they will carry the Luther mission forward with them as they seek to serve with distinction for the common good.


text:
Even Tesco feels the squeeze
Another decent rise in UK sales for Tesco last quarter - but the retailer says times are getting tougher...
Tesco said this morning that like-for-like sales (not including petrol) were up 3.5% in the 13 weeks to 24 May. That was just about in line with the lower end of market expectations, but a noticeable drop from the 'over 4 per cent' growth recorded at its full-year results back in April. Apparently food sales have been holding up well, but non-food sales have been slowing as shoppers start to tighten their belts, postponing expensive purchases like TVs and homewear. Since these have been big profit drivers for Tesco in recent years, this is bad news for boss Sir Terry Leahy.
With John Lewis also reporting disappointing figures at the weekend – apparently sales have now fallen for the last four weeks in a row – it just goes to show that even the biggest beasts in the retail jungle are starting to feel the squeeze from the consumer spending slowdown. Since Tesco accounts for such a sizeable proportion of all the money spent on the high street these days, it was never going to escape the general ordure completely.
On the other hand, it's all relative. Once you add in new UK retail space and petrol sales, Tesco still enjoyed a 9.4% boost in overall UK sales. And with so much of its business now coming from its overseas operations – which account for two-fifths of revenues – it's not quite as exposed as some to the woes on the UK high street. International sales were up nearly 27% during the quarter, meaning that overall group sales rose almost 14%. Not exactly a crisis, then…
And there was more good news for the high street today, as the British Retail Consortium said like-for-like sales in May were nearly 2% up on last year. Meanwhile Alliance Boots appears to be thriving under private equity ownership. Executive chairman Stefano Pessina, who teamed up with buyout firm KKR for the controversial take-private deal last year, will have enjoyed cocking a snook at his critics today as he reported a 20% surge in group profits. As well as cost savings (including those from the merger of Boots and Alliance Unichem the previous year), it also saw a 20% rise in the sale of health and beauty products, like its famous No7 make-up range.
Just goes to show: the prospects for our economy might not look terribly good, but that's no reason why anyone should say the same about us...
Strategy Retail
Why Aldi and Lidl will keep on growing
The five big challenges facing M&S boss Steve Rowe
Dave Lewis's lose-lose dilemma at Tesco
Most British retail bosses not 'fit for purpose'
Has Dave Lewis finally dragged Tesco back into the black?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Blog Tour: The Bicycle Waltz #review
Date Published: November 20, 2014
Haunted by a traumatic incident in his past, Alan Christiansen desperately wants to learn how to dance. After several failed attempts, he stumbles onto Choreographed Ballroom Dance (Round Dance), and begins to make progress. His instructors, Ray and Shelly Tenrio, are famous in the Round Dance world, popular choreographers and featured teachers on the festival circuit. Once married, they are now divorced, but Ray seeks a reconciliation. Shelly's world is turned upside down when one of her nephews is diagnosed with a rare case of thyroid cancer. As his parents fly around the country searching for answers, it falls to Shelly to care for his twin brother. Uncomfortable with children in general and boys in particular, she turns to Alan for help. Thrown together with the sort of man she used to disparage, she discovers hitherto unsuspected talents and depth in Alan, and unsuspected and somewhat unwelcome feelings in herself. In the end, Shelly must choose between the sort of life she's always known with Ray and a life she's only glimpsed with Alan. Along the way, we learn about round dance, romance, thyroid cancer, Silicon Valley startups, the wit and wisdom of Bill Watterson, and what sort of vegetable goes best with tuna-chip casserole
This is a sweet novel. There is not a lot of guts to it, but it is a great light read. I enjoyed learning about Round Dancing, I think the authors did a great service to the world of Round Dancing by writing this novel. The writing was easy to follow, the plot was well developed, and the pacing was spot on. Wonderful characterization as well.
Paul and Jean Zimmer are first time authors. "The Bicycle Waltz" began with casual remark by Jean that it would be great if somebody were to write a book featuring their favorite pastime, Choreographed Ballroom Dance (Round Dance). That is, somebody else should write such a book.
But then a story began to form around a germ of an idea Paul had while watching some instructors at a dance festival. Pretty soon, the story had taken on a life of its own. Scenes played out across the kitchen table and the characters became like old friends, crying out to have their story told. Before they knew it, the book had practically written itself.
Paul is, by training, a computer chip designer. He has worked at several large companies, including Hewlett Packard and Cisco, as well as several start-ups, so he had the knowledge to describe this world to readers. He has written many award-winning technical papers, but these are (or are intended to be!) non-fiction. Writing fiction required something of a leap of faith.
Jean trained as a speech therapist, but left the working world to become a full-time mom when their twin sons were born. She is an avid reader, and she knows what makes a story flow. Her detail-oriented approach was the perfect balance to Paul's impatience to get on with the story, and she thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to help craft a story herself.
In addition to their twin sons, the Zimmers have a daughter. It is her thyroid cancer story that Matthew lives in "The Bicycle Waltz".
The Zimmers have traveled far and wide, and lived in Germany and England. They currently live in Roseville, CA, near Sacramento, where they are active in the local Round Dance community.
Labels: Blog Tour, Book Review, women's fiction
Release Blitz: Crossing Danger by @ColleenHelme #giveaway #excerpt
Shelby Nichols isn't your average soccer-mom turned private investigator. She's more on the quirky side with a little wild thrown in. That's because a near-fatal gunshot wound to the head left her with the ability to read minds. This lands her in all kinds of trouble, and this time is no exception. Helping a reporter, Billie Jo, get the low-down on a case is just the tip of the iceberg. When her best friend's niece goes missing, Shelby is pulled into a conspiracy that involves the police and the leader of a violent drug ring. Add to that a stranger in town with ties to the mob-boss she works for, along with a known assassin out to kill him, and Shelby is crossing danger at every turn. Will she find the answers in time? Or will this be her last adventure?
I stood inside the small women's locker room dressed in white drawstring pants that ended several inches above my ankles, and a robe-like top that crisscrossed to close in front. Luckily, I wore a black tank top underneath, since there wasn't anything besides a white belt to hold it together.
I tied the belt in a knot and let out a breath, hoping I'd done it right. The white training uniform was a bit stiff, and worse, felt like a poufy marshmallow around me. I let out a disgusted huff, knowing that I looked like the womanly version of the Pillsbury dough-boy.
Billie Jo waited just outside the door, but it was hard to step out there dressed like this. Did I really need to do this? Especially since I'd know what everyone was thinking about me? Reading minds often came in handy, but not in situations like this.
Of course, the fact that a serial killer had recently taken me hostage and nearly killed me certainly helped. It was time to learn some self-defense, so nothing like that could ever happen to me again.
So what if I looked silly, and that with my 'superpower' of reading minds I'd know what everyone thought of me. I could take it. Besides, I had to start somewhere, right?
I took a calming breath and opened the door.
Billie smiled encouragingly before glancing down at the way I'd tied my belt. Her brows drew sharply together, and she was thinking it looked like a disaster. No way did she want me out on the mat looking like that. "Here…let me help you with that. Tie it this way…" She demonstrated how to do it, then pulled it tight. "Okay. Now you're good to go."
"Um…thanks," I said.
She didn't miss the embarrassed flush creeping up my neck and was thinking I should just suck it up and be grateful she was there to keep me from looking like a dork. With an indulgent smile that contradicted her thoughts, she turned and led the way to the mat.
Swallowing my pride, I followed behind, noting that her black skirt-like pants with the waist-high belt looked ten times better than my outfit. Compared to her, I looked like I was still in my underwear and had forgotten to put my pants on.
A vision of getting out there and everyone laughing at me crossed my mind but, given how Billie made sure my belt was right, I didn't think she'd let me embarrass her like that. Still, once we got to the mat, I let out a relieved breath to find I wasn't the only one wearing white training pants.
Billie did a quick bow before stepping onto the mat, so I bowed as well. I followed her to stand in a line before the teacher, or Sensei, as everyone called him. He wore the same black pants as Billie but, on him, they seemed more dignified and masterful. He was also a big, tall and brawny kind of guy. With his long, gray-black hair pulled back into a ponytail, he intimidated the crap out of me.
He caught my gaze and nodded a cool greeting while I tried to hide my jittering nerves. After he introduced me to the rest of the class, we began with a few stretches and warm-ups. Then he taught us that the most important part of Aikido was learning how to fall safely and then roll around to get back up.
Besides Billie, there was only one other woman in the class. Her name was Melissa, and she was a second-degree black belt like Billie. With the two of them paying special attention to me, I began to relax and actually started to enjoy myself. Even the rolling-around part didn't seem so bad. They showed me some basic techniques, and my confidence grew.
Near the end of class, Sensei asked if I had any questions, so I blurted out the one thing I'd been thinking about all night. "Yeah. I was just wondering…if someone was to get me in a choke hold with his elbow around my neck and started dragging me backwards, would I be able to get away?"
His gaze caught mine, and his eyes narrowed. He was thinking that, from the fear in my eyes and the tone of my voice, it probably wasn't a rhetorical question. No. I had the look of someone who'd been there, and a spike of anger rushed over him. He'd seen it more times than he liked, and it always made him furious.
"Yes you can. I'll show you how." He turned his gaze to Melissa and asked her to help him demonstrate the technique. Since she was about my size, and he was huge, I was interested to see how she could possibly take him on and come out on top.
He stood behind her and clamped his elbow around her neck beneath her chin. "The first thing you do is tuck your chin down so they can't choke you." She did this, and Sensei proceeded to explain how she needed to pull down on his elbow and step back, then grab his wrist and forcefully push outward with his elbow still bent. "At this point, you will break his arm."
Whoa! That sounded pretty awesome, and I couldn't help smiling with wicked delight. He demonstrated the technique a few more times, adding different variations to the attack, and then asked me to practice with him. Him! The biggest guy in the class!
I nervously licked my lips and, as he put his arm around my neck, that feeling of helplessness washed over me. But he patiently talked me through the moves and, after breaking his hold a few times, confidence replaced my fear. I even forced him to the mat once. Who would have thought? By the end of class, I was pumped. This was the right place for me, and I could hardly wait to come back and learn more.
As the author of the Shelby Nichols Adventure Series, Colleen is often asked if Shelby Nichols is her alter-ego. "Definitely," she says. "Shelby is the epitome of everything I wish I dared to be." Known for her laugh since she was a kid, Colleen has always tried to find the humor in every situation and continues to enjoy writing about Shelby's adventures. "I love getting Shelby into trouble...I just don't always know how to get her out of it!" Colleen lives in the Rocky Mountains with her family. Besides writing, she loves a good book, biking, hiking, and playing board and card games with family and friends. She loves to connect with readers and admits that fans of the series keep her writing.
Twitter: @ColleenHelme
Labels: Excerpt, Giveaway, mystery, PROMO, Release, release day
PROMO: For the Love of a Gypsy by @AuthorMaddyHill
Can she betray the Gypsy clan who saved her for the love of a stranger?
Martine Petrulengo is stifled by the traditions of her adopted Gypsy clan. They gave her new life when she was left all alone. And now she is expected to marry in order to forge clan allegiances. When she nurses handsome and charming Lord Declan Forrester back to health, she is lured by the seductive idea of life outside of the clan—and the prospect of love with the Irishman.
Can he prove his innocence in order to claim his Gypsy?
Lord Declan Forrester trades prison bars for a loveless marriage in order to save his soul. And now he's trying to prove his innocence not only as a traitor, but that of his wife's murder. When the lovely and beguiling Martine saves him, he falls in love for the first time. Yet, the obstacles of his past seem insurmountable.
Martine and Declan must fight tradition, prejudice and the haunting ghosts of their past in order to fight for their love and ensure their future.
A rider urged his horse forward. He wore a leather doublet of a quality she'd never seen. The black hide was pierced with metal and thick stitching formed elaborate Celtic designs. Regal and rich. His breeches hugged his thighs so closely 'twas indecent, but that didn't stop her gaze from venturing along the hard expanse of his legs. Heat crept up her neck and flushed her face like a flame.
He tipped his head in her brother's direction. Martine gasped.
The stranger from the glen.
"We've business," was all he said.
Rafe nodded, but didn't twitch a muscle. Martine wanted to run from the confrontation, hide in her grandmother's berth safe from the bewitching blue eyes of the intruder. But her feet stayed rooted to the ground.
Och, this man was handsome. Strong jaw, brilliant eyes, and a broad mouth composed a man so striking. His face was a composite of hard planes of granite that matched the intense glare of his eyes.
The man sighed and his comrades inched closer to his side. They dressed as he did, except their clothing lacked the obvious quality she could see stitched in the leather of his.
"The villagers are concerned with your presence, Gypsy."
She could feel the tension in the tight line of her brother's shoulders, taste the anger in the air that hummed about him and the stranger. His jaw clenched and he remained silent.
"I've come to ask you to leave. Gypsies bring foul memories to Riverton." His voice was rough, husky, as he commanded her brother.
Rafe stepped forward. She knew he wished to throttle the tactless man. "We're Tinkers. Men and women with skills and trade."
"And itchy fingers if Lady Bannon's sheep have say of it," the man behind the stranger spouted. The other men chortled and slapped the man on the back.
The stranger held up his hand and was rewarded with instant silence.
Her brother shrugged, a harmless action unless you were Rafe Petrulengo. "My clan has no need of other people's sheep."
Martine took a step forward.
The stranger's head snapped in her direction.
He leaned forward in his saddle. "You'll leave my land, or pay the consequences." His tone brooked no room for argument.
"We're people of the land, trainers of dogs, and masters of horses."
Her brother's words seemed to befuddle the stranger's friends. They looked to one another, smirks creasing their faces. If only they knew her brother's genius.
"I'm Lord Declan Forrester, Earl of Riverton," the stranger pompously said. "This is my land—and you are to leave."
Rafe bowed deep at the waist, his extended arm almost grazing the dirt before him. "As you wish."
"Be gone by morning. 'Tis all the time I'll give you."
A shiver ran up her spine at the cold gruffness of his voice. He clucked his horse forward, a magnificent animal, well-muscled with a gleaming coat of black.
Martine was so aware of the lord's presence, her skin tingled. And she knew without looking up that trouble was about to ensue. He stopped the horse before her and just sat. When her gaze met his, the lord nodded his head and gave a mocking salute.
She sighed, not knowing why she was reacting so unlike herself, why she was enthralled with the stranger.
With a nudge to his horse's side, he was off without a backward glance at her or her brother.
One look at Rafe and she knew he'd witnessed what had transpired. Rage boiled in his dark eyes and tension pulsed his jaw. He tapped a pointy leather boot against the packed earth. The women of the clan weren't to be appraised by Gajos. Especially a Gajo who'd ordered the Kapo to leave.
No matter, she thought with a smile of satisfaction. Lord Forrester had acknowledged her, and the realization swept through her with unparalleled warmth.
Madelyn Hill has always loved the written word. From the time she could read and all through her school years, she'd sneak books into her textbooks during school. And she devoured books daily. At the age of 10 she proclaimed she wanted to be a writer. After being a "closet" writer for several years, she sent her manuscripts out there and is now published with Soul Mate Publishing. And she couldn't be happier! A resident of Western New York, she moved from one Rochester to another Rochester to be with the love of her life. They now have 3 children and keep busy cooking, watching their children's sporting events, and of course reading!
3 ebook copies
Labels: Excerpt, Giveaway, Historical Romance, PROMO
Blog Tour: Occult .45 by @carcanobooks #review
Date Published: June 1, 2014
Preston Cobb is always looking to make a quick buck selling any kind of gun he can get his hands on, but when the denizens of the weird west get in the way, Preston's his own best customer. Now collected in one omnibus, join Preston as he faces an ancient evil in the snowy Sierra Nevadas in ABOMINABLE, finds romance and bloody mystery in Nevada mining country in SILVER MOON, and squares off with the undead south of the border in DEAD TO RITES. Finally, Cobb finds retirement more exciting than he'd like in an exclusive bonus short story: GUNRUNNER TO THE STARS.
Amazon (Available on Kindle, paperback, and as an audiobook)
This is great for someone who is looking for short stories to wet their appetite. Nick Carcano has compiled a collection of stories about Preston Cobb that are both Paranormal and a little darker. Great for someone looking for quick little reads and any fan of Horror and the Wild West.
Nick Carcano spent his childhood pulling cactus out of his feet and listening to coyotes howl in the California high desert. He speaks rusty Mandarin and Spanish. When he's not writing his day job involves literally saving the world, which sometimes involves shooting zombies, but usually involves a lot of e-mail. If you like dim sum, RPGs, sci-fi, or corgis, you should be his friend. He's currently working on The Big Weird One a series of sci-fi/horror short stories set during WWII and will release his first novel, Boom: A Wild West Heist, in fall 2015.
Labels: Blog Tour, Book Review, Horror
Blog Tour: The Dead Room by @sm_erickson #excerpt
322 years after the apocalypse, the world has changed, but her people have not. Secrets, lies, and manipulations endure among a small group of survivors taking refuge on an island in the Northern Pacific.
No one knows what claimed so many lives over three centuries ago, and no one asks, except Ashley Wortham. She can feel the secrets all around her, begging to be uncovered.
But the nine elders who govern the island guard their secrets jealously. They believe the islanders know what they need to, and they hide their secrets behind a ruse of peace. But when Ashley, and her best friend Mason, go down the rabbit hole, no one is prepared for truths they uncover. What will they do when they discover the downfall of humanity lies within their own island, deep inside the dead room?
The body lay on a two-piece metal pyre in the center of the clearing.
than the skeleton of a table, the pyre was simply used for the display and
transport of the bodies. Burning the dead was a custom from the time before.
The corpse's blue cotton, long-sleeved shirt was buttoned all the way to
the top to
hide his injuries, and the matching navy slacks had recently been pressed.
With his
hands folded over his abdomen, Wesley looked rather dashing. Ashley wished
her match
had actually been dashing in life.
She wondered who would wear that outfit next. Nothing was ever wasted on
the island.
Not even the clothes of a dead man. She herself had worn the clothes off a
woman's back. Squeamishness was a luxury no one could afford.
Although "new" clothes were made on the island, from animal skins and the
grown in the farmlands, they were typically reserved for the higher
ups—elders,
doctors, and the like. Cotton was difficult to grow in the cold climate,
clothes were made entirely by hand. Once it had been worn and patched a
few times by
those with power, new clothing was eventually passed down to the lower
branches of
society,
But, it wasn't just clothing that moved on after an islander died. All of
belongings were redistributed among those in need. The dead's family
wasn't allowed
to keep anything they didn' tneed. Sentimentality was a lost emotion to the
islanders. Reusing everything was essential, even if the previous owner
was a dead
It had only bothered her once—the first time she'd seen one of her
father's outfits
on another man. Even then, at the tender age of ten, she'd understood it
was bound to
happen eventually. She just hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. Only
after his funeral, she'd spotted one of her neighbors walking down the
road in her
father's clothes. She ran to him, hoping her father's scent might still
linger on his
shirt. But the man neither embraced her nor offered her any sympathy. He
only looked
at her with wide eyes,the horror and disgust plain on his face.
Death on the island was such a strange thing. She'd lost track of how many
she'd been to in her lifetime—at least one a month. Unexpected deaths,
like that of
her match, added to the average.
Only three of the losses had actually meant something to her—her mother,
her father,
and now Wesley. Her father's funeral was, of course, devastating, made
more so by the
fact that they'd shared the same first name. Everything the elders said
could have also been applied to her. How they were thankful for "Ashley's
life," how
they wished "Ashley peace."It sent shivers down her spine.
Once, she'd asked him why they shared a name. His mother's name had been
Ashley, he'd
explained, as had her mother, and her father before that. On and on, down
the name had traveled, until it had reached Ashley. And one day, as was their
tradition, it would go to her own child.
The funeral for her mother, who had been taken by a simple cold that
escalated into
something much worse, was nothing more than a hazy memory. Still, Ashley
missed her
mother terribly and felt incomplete without her. She searched for her
whenever the
jasmine got caught on the wind, because her mother had loved to wear the
behind her ear.
Wesley's funeral was a problem. She wasn't entirely sure how she felt
about it. The
loss of her parents had left her feeling completely alone. She'd hoped to
find love
again with her match, but he'd left her terribly disappointed.
Now that he was gone, her emotions warred with themselves. Relief was the
player fighting for space in her mind. Relief to have escaped the abuse
pressures of being the next elder's wife. Guilt came in at a close second,
because she regretted killing her match.
It was because her best friend was being blamed for it.
Stephanie Erickson has always had a passion for the written word. She pursued her love of literature at Flagler College, in St. Augustine, FL, where she graduated with a BA in English. She has received several honors in her writing career, including recognition in the 72nd Annual Writer's Digest Competition.
After graduation, she married and followed her husband in pursuit of his dream. The Cure and The Blackout were written to reignite Stephanie's passion, when she found the time. Now that he is settled in his career, it's her turn to devote more time and energy into writing.
Stephanie currently has 4 projects planned for 2015. Her latest release, The Dead Room, is a post apocalyptic set on a lonely island 300 years in the future.
Stephanie, of course, loves to read and write. She also enjoys living on the beach on the Florida's Treasure Coast. Most of all, she and her husband are in love with their baby girl.
Labels: Blog Tour, Dystopian, Excerpt
PROMO: A New Dawn by J.A. Pierre #giveaway
Endings always lead to new beginnings.
Dawn Delaney must forge ahead when her marriage crumbles. But for this formerly rich Mrs., entering the working world, and possibly dating again, makes her feel like a fish out of water.
Bradford Shaw has a soft spot for curvaceous Dawn from the moment he sees her. Brad senses she's scared of a romantic relationship after all she's been through. But he's going to show her that after a dark period in one's life, there's always a new dawn.
Two Years Earlier
"You're wearing my favorite lingerie."
Dawn Delaney cringed at her husband's words. There was no awe in Gary's voice. The words fled his lips as if he were reading the weather report.
She tried to fight the panic demanding to take over. She had to contain her emotions if she wanted to seduce her husband of over eighteen years. She wore an expensive white La Perla bra and panty set that framed her curvy shape nicely. Her skin glowed from a generous rubdown of mango and papaya body butter. Dawn could smell the vanilla fragrance she'd spritzed at key spots on her body. If Gary walked a bit closer, he'd be able to smell it too. But so far, Dawn's efforts had no effect.
She wasn't a size six, seven, or eight for that matter. And after years of marriage, Dawn wasn't too keen on wearing the revealing lingerie when one of her regular nightshirts was more comfortable. Still, she made the effort.
Gary strolled over to the La-Z-Boy recliner in their bedroom and picked up the Clarks shoebox. He'd asked Dawn to buy the black leather shoes for him earlier that day. She'd called him while shopping at Pentagon City Mall. It'd save him the trouble of driving there later in the week. As usual, Dawn obliged his request.
She watched as he examined the Clarks, turning them upside down to take a look at the soles. New shoes held Gary's interest more than their marriage—their old marriage.
Dawn stood waiting. She recoiled further because she knew she deserved better treatment from Gary despite being a stay-at-home mother and a housewife. But what was she to do? She wanted for nothing because of him.
She sighed and rested both hands on full hips. Another man would devour me right now, she thought. Dawn tried to squelch the desire she still had for Reginald. The fling with the contractor, though physically satisfying, only made her more confused about her marriage.
Dawn thought about the good times she and Gary'd had in the past. How he used to make love to her two and three times a day. She thought of the grand way he'd proposed to her and the utter feeling of bliss that had consumed her when she'd said yes. She thought of their daughter, Sherine, whose simple existence comforted Dawn. Gary and Dawn had raised a great kid together, who'd soon be off to college when summer ended.
They had to get their marriage back on track. It was one thing to miss Gary, who often travelled, while Sherine had lived at home. But Dawn couldn't imagine being alone in the family's spacious house with no one to talk to.
It was the memories of the good times that made her hang on.
She cleared her throat. Gary finally put down the shoes. He sighed and put his hands in the pockets of his Armani pants. His jacket wasn't on. Dawn knew that it was downstairs, hanging on the back of a kitchen chair. Gary always took off his jacket and placed it on a chair as soon as he got home. It was a constant in an otherwise impulsive man.
"Why don't you go take a quick shower and then let's have some fun?" Dawn rested most of her weight on her right foot, tilted her head, and smiled seductively.
Gary exhaled and adjusted his tie. "I don't think this is working for me anymore."
"Excuse me?" Dawn straightened her posture. She couldn't have heard Gary correctly.
"Us." Gary moved his hands back and forth in the air. "I want a divorce."
Gary, please. But the words didn't come out. Anger temporarily muzzled Dawn. She felt it surge. "You've chosen your mistress over me," she spat.
Gary shook his head. "It's not that."
"That WASN'T a question." Dawn's chest heaved up and down. She felt like she couldn't breathe under the pain pounding down on her. "You told me…promised me, that you'd end things with her."
"We're different people now, Dawn."
She shook her head. "You're the one who changed."
Gary shrugged. "I guess money can do that to you."
Author Link
Labels: Contemporary, Excerpt, Giveaway, PROMO, Romance
Blog Tour: Odin's Shadow by @erinsriley1 #interview
Date Published: April 2, 2015
Obsession. Treachery. Revenge. Redemption. Certain themes resonate across the centuries.
Selia is a girl on the verge of womanhood, frustrated by the confines of her gender and resentful of the freedom her brother boasts of. Intelligent and resourceful in a time when neither is valued in a female, she longs for an escape from her sheltered existence. Fascinated by the tales of Viking raids told by her maidservant, her hunger for independence is fed through the stories of heathen ferocity she hears at the woman's knee.
A decision to sneak to the city's harbor to view the Viking longships leads to an encounter with Alrik Ragnarson, a charismatic Viking warlord whose outward beauty masks a dark and tortured mind. With the knowledge that her father is about to announce her betrothal to a man she doesn't love, Selia marries Alrik and within a day is on the longship bound for Norway and a new life.
While Selia's relationship with her new husband grows, her friendship with his brother Ulfrik grows as well. And as Alrik's character flaws come to light and tension mounts between the two brothers, Selia begins to have misgivings about her hasty marriage . . . especially when a secret from the past is revealed, one that threatens to destroy them all.
Oh, I like this question! I love depth and symbolism, but I don't want to insult my readers' intelligence by putting it all out there at the beginning. I think a lot of readers enjoy the process of discovering the heart of a character the way I do. The ultimate message in my novel, and in the Sons of Odin series, is one of redemption, forgiveness, and being willing to risk everything for love.
The hardest part of writing has always been finding the time to write. I have a full time job and a busy family, so I had to get creative to carve out writing time. I've learned the best time for me is early in the morning while everyone else is still asleep! I set my alarm two hours before I need to get up for work to get some serious writing time in.
There are three books in the Sons of Odin series: Odin's Shadow, A Flame Put Out, and Oath Breaker. They're all the continuation of the same story line so I'd like to say they are all my favorite!
There are three main characters in the series: Selia, Alrik and Ulfrik. I think Ariane Grande would do a good job as Selia. She's tiny, feisty, and she can sing. I would want Alexander Skarsgard as Alrik and Charlie Hunnam as Ulfrik. They would be fantastic as my rival Viking brothers!
I've written books in my head for years but never had the time to sit down to put the words on paper. In 2010, I was recovering from a significant surgery. After I accidently ripped some stitches out from running the vacuum cleaner, I received a stern warning from my surgeon: rest means rest. So I used those remaining weeks to write what would become the first draft of Odin's Shadow.
The first draft took eight weeks. But it was terrible! I continued to edit it for a year before I thought it was good enough to publish.
No, not a specific author, although I have many favorites. I've always been a voracious reader and I have a very eclectic taste in books. I love a well-written story of any genre, so I think that helped inspire me to write books that cross genres.
Reading the completed book. It's an amazing experience to read a book you wrote yourself and actually liking it!
Intense. Passionate. Multi-layered. Thrilling.
There are three books in the Sons of Odin Series: Odin's Shadow, A Flame Put Out, and Oath Breaker. A Flame Put Out will be released this summer and Oath Breaker before the end of the year. I'm currently a third of the way through my first draft of Oath Breaker.
Erin S. Riley has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a graduate degree in clinical counseling. She is also a board certified lactation consultant and has had extensive training in maternal-child health. Since Erin was a child, she has been fascinated with human nature and what motivates behavior. She enjoys writing stories that reflect real life: Erin's books feature complicated, imperfect characters who love deeply, make reckless decisions, and try again until they get it right.
A lifelong lover of books, Erin taught herself to read at the age of four and hasn't been without a book since. She is an equal-opportunity reader of fiction and non-fiction, and her shelves are filled with books on psychology, archaeology, anthropology, and general history. The social history of women and their place in society across the ages is a favorite reading topic of Erin's.
Erin is drawn to any creative pursuit, from making hand-stitched quilts to producing mini-movies for family and friends from home videos. But writing has always been her passion. When Erin isn't writing, she enjoys spending time with her two wonderful children, reading anything she can get her hands on, watching football, and renovating her house with her husband of 17 years who just happens to look like a Viking!
Twitter:@erinsriley1
Labels: Blog Tour, Historical Romance, Interview
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text:
static int verbose_flag;
static int fast_flag;

static void file_encode(packedobjectsContext *pc, const char *infile, const char *outfile, int loop);
static void file_decode(packedobjectsContext *pc, const char *infile, const char *outfile, int loop);
static void print_usage(void);
static void exit_with_message(char *message);
static const char *get_filename_ext(const char *filename);

static void file_encode(packedobjectsContext *pc, const char *infile, const char *outfile, int loop)
{
  xmlDocPtr doc = NULL;
  char *pdu = NULL;
  FILE *fp = NULL;
  int i;

  // looping all file handling
  for (i=0; i<loop; i++) {
    if ((doc = packedobjects_new_doc(infile)) == NULL) {
      exit_with_message("did not find .xml file");
    }
    pdu = packedobjects_encode(pc, doc);
    if (pc->bytes == -1) {
      fprintf(stderr, "Failed to encode with error %d.\n", pc->encode_error);
      exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }
    fp = fopen(outfile, "w");
    fwrite(pdu, 1, pc->bytes, fp);
    fclose(fp);
    xmlFreeDoc(doc);
  }
}

static void file_decode(packedobjectsContext *pc, const char *infile, const char *outfile, int loop)
{
  xmlDocPtr doc = NULL;
  char pdu[MAX_PDU];
  FILE *fp = NULL;
  int i;
  size_t bytes;

  // looping all file handling
  for (i=0; i<loop; i++) {
    if ((fp = fopen(infile, "r")) == NULL) {
      exit_with_message("did not find .po file");
    }
    bytes = fread(pdu, 1, MAX_PDU, fp);
    if (bytes==MAX_PDU) {
      exit_with_message(".po too large for MAX_PDU");
    }
    doc = packedobjects_decode(pc, pdu);
    if (pc->decode_error) {
      fprintf(stderr, "Failed to decode with error %d.\n", pc->decode_error);
      exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
    }
    xmlSaveFormatFileEnc(outfile, doc, "UTF-8", 1);
    fclose(fp);
    xmlFreeDoc(doc);
    //xmlCleanupParser();
  }
}

static void print_usage(void)
{
  printf("usage: packedobjects --schema <file> --in <file> --out <file>\n");
  exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
}

static void exit_with_message(char *message)
{
  printf("Failed to run: %s\n", message);
  exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
}

static const char *get_filename_ext(const char *filename)
{
  const char *dot = strrchr(filename, '.');
  if(!dot || dot == filename) return "";
  return dot + 1;
}

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
  int c;
  packedobjectsContext *pc = NULL;
  const char *schema_file = NULL;
  const char *in_file = NULL;
  const char *out_file = NULL;
  const char *in_file_ext = NULL;
  const char *out_file_ext = NULL;
  int loop = 1;

  while(1) {
    static struct option long_options[] =
      {
        {"verbose", no_argument,       &verbose_flag, 1},
        {"fast", no_argument,       &fast_flag, 1},
        {"help",  no_argument, 0, 'h'},
        {"schema",  required_argument, 0, 's'},
        {"in",  required_argument, 0, 'i'},
        {"out",  required_argument, 0, 'o'},
        {"loop",  required_argument, 0, 'l'},
        {0, 0, 0, 0}
      };
    int option_index = 0;

    c = getopt_long (argc, argv, "hs:i:o:l:?", long_options, &option_index);

    if (c == -1) break;

    switch (c)
      {
      case 0:
        if (long_options[option_index].flag != 0) break;
        printf ("option %s", long_options[option_index].name);
        if (optarg) printf (" with arg %s", optarg);
        printf ("\n");
        break;

      case 'h':
        print_usage();
        break;

      case 's':
        schema_file = optarg;
        break;

      case 'i':
        in_file = optarg;
        break;

      case 'o':
        out_file = optarg;
        break;

      case 'l':
        loop = atoi(optarg);
        break;

      case '?':
        print_usage();
        break;

      default:
        abort ();
      }
  }

  // do some simple checking
  if (!schema_file) exit_with_message("did not specify --schema file");
  if (!in_file) exit_with_message("did not specify --in file");
  if (!out_file) exit_with_message("did not specify --out file");

  // initialise packedobjects
  if (fast_flag) {
    if (verbose_flag) printf("running without any validation.\n");
    pc = init_packedobjects(schema_file, 0, NO_SCHEMA_VALIDATION | NO_DATA_VALIDATION);
  } else {
    pc = init_packedobjects(schema_file, 0, 0);
  }

  if (pc == NULL) {
    exit_with_message("failed to initialise libpackedobjects");
  }

  // check file endings to determine if encode or decode
  in_file_ext = get_filename_ext(in_file);
  out_file_ext = get_filename_ext(out_file);
  if (!(strcmp(in_file_ext, "xml")) && !(strcmp(out_file_ext, "po"))) {
    file_encode(pc, in_file, out_file, loop);
  } else if (!(strcmp(in_file_ext, "po")) && !(strcmp(out_file_ext, "xml"))) {
    file_decode(pc, in_file, out_file, loop);
  } else {
    exit_with_message("did not specify the correct file endings");
  }

  // free packedobjects
  free_packedobjects(pc);
  return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}


text:
Proposed law tells airlines: We need our seat space
By Robert Reed
To create more revenue, United is adding one additional seat per row in economy class on some Boeing 777s. Other carriers are making similar moves.
Every time I have to squeeze into a super-tight airline seat or twist and turn my way down a jam-packed passenger row, I think: There ought to be a law against cramming us together like peas in a flying pod.
Obviously, I am not alone in my frustration. But now there's a possibility — albeit a remote one — that Congress will pass a measure mandating how big airline seats have to be, as well as how much space there is between rows.
The bill, introduced this month in the House and Senate, uses the snappy title of SEAT, which stands for Seat Egress in Air Travel. A powerful Washington, D.C.-based airline lobbying group whose roster includes the Chicago area's largest carriers — United, American and Southwest — is against this legislation, arguing it's unnecessary, interferes with consumer choice and limits competition.
That's what you call a false equivalency.
The issue raised by the SEAT bill is not a quintessential free market vs. government regulation tussle. While the airline industry has its own reasons for framing it that way, it's a pretty disingenuous argument.
Aside from validating the flying public's continuing concern about comfort and convenience, the SEAT legislation also raises significant public safety and health issues on behalf of passengers — issues airlines and regulators should be eager to address and solve.
Undoubtedly, onboard space has gotten tighter over the years just as many travelers have gotten larger.
For Caterpillar, charity begins at new home
When Caterpillar opens its new Chicago-area headquarters later this year, it will bring along millions of dollars dedicated to charitable contributions.
In the 1970s, before airline industry deregulation took off, the average width of a passenger seat was 18 inches, according to government data. It is now about 16½ inches. During that span, the average distance between rows of seats went from 35 inches to 31 inches.
The motivation for airlines putting the squeeze on passengers is higher revenues and earnings. Yet there's another consequence of all this rejiggering of cabin space: It's turned out to be a pretty rough ride for many U.S. airline customers.
Uncomfortable seats and limited legroom consistently rank among the very top complaints of annual air passenger surveys sponsored by TripAdvisor, the online travel site.
In addition, social media and travel boards are rife with tales of unpleasant plane rides, arguments between fellow passengers and the obnoxious use of guerrilla-travel tactics.
Remember the Knee Defender? A gadget designed a while back that prevents the passenger in front of you from fully reclining their seat into your lap.
Then there are concerns that such tense and cramped air travel is not an especially healthy or safe way to traverse the world.
Backers of the proposed SEAT legislation — which is sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., and has bipartisan support including Downstate Illinois Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger — are worried about those side effects.
Ricketts played the long game, and Cubs fans have won
Chicago Cubs chairman and co-owner Tom Ricketts may be the happiest business executive in town these days.
They contend cramped air cabin spaces hinder rapid emergency evacuations.
[Most read] Mayor Lori Lightfoot pushing for Chicago bars and restaurants to reopen for indoor dining 'as quickly as possible' »
What's more, fliers sitting too long in a tight space can suffer deep vein thrombosis, blood clots that can lead to serious illness like a heart attack, especially if passengers are so restricted they can't walk around a little during a prolonged flight.
(By the way, the Mayo Clinic agrees that sitting for a long time in a car or airplane is a leading cause of deep vein thrombosis.)
"The safety and health of passengers must come before airline profits," Cohen said in a March 10 statement introducing the SEAT measure, which is attached to a congressional reauthorization for the Federal Aviation Administration.
Well, not so fast there, congressman.
The powerful Airlines for America lobbying group doesn't see it your way.
Chicago law firm focuses on legal aspects of ride-sharing
The ride-sharing industry is picking up a new local passenger: LegalRideshare, a law firm that only handles ride-sharing cases.
The group stresses that airline safety is their members' top priority. Still, it intends to fight this measure, which also was introduced in 2016, but died in Congress. The lobbying group takes comfort in stressing that a consumer advisory panel to the U.S. Department of Transportation recently decided not to make seat size recommendations.
The lobbying group's defiance is buttressed by a school of thought that says passengers and lawmakers should stop their whining. It's no secret that airlines are out to make a buck, so if you want to spread out, then go fly first class or pay a bonus for upfront coach seats.
Seaway banking on new credit union owner
Seaway Bank on Chicago's South Side is poised to enjoy better days.
While I sympathize with a profit motive argument — and airlines have been enjoying healthy earnings lately — there's got to be a better way than running the faulty system now being thrust upon the flying public.
After passengers go through security lines, schedule delays and whatever other air-travel-related snafus can occur, is it too much to sit down in a comfortable airline seat and enjoy a little more personal space?
If the airline industry, which is still a federally regulated business, refuses to recognize the value of upgrading its basic treatment of paying passengers, then let Congress do its thing.
[Most read] Biden unveils $1.9 trillion plan — including $1,400 checks for most Americans — to stem COVID-19 and steady the economy »
I'm not sure how far any new regulatory attempt goes in the anti-regulation era of President Donald Trump. At least it will send a powerful message to the airlines that we're onto them and don't like what they are doing.
Like I said, there ought to be a law.
roreed@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @reedtribbiz
Adam Kinzinger
As Austin loses one of its only grocery stores, community looks to transform food desert on West Side's 'Soul City Corridor'


ASD Service Learning: Tackling Waste... One Re-usable Container at a Time.
Tackling Waste... One Re-usable Container at a Time.
The ES Roots & Shoots Club has been working away. A small but diligent group they have been involved in the change of behaviors and culture at ASD. How does one do that? Emboldened by last year's K1 service learning project that led to the elimination of plastic utensils in the ES cafeteria, the Roots & Shoots club wanted to address single-use cups. Working in conjunction with the school's administration the final product - water dispensers in seven locations around the ES - was kicked off this morning!
Today dawned a new day, both literally and figuratively, for our ES. This morning the Roots & Shoots students were the focus of a small, yet very meaningful, "ribbon cutting ceremony" that served as the opening act of a new era. Short speeches by Mr. Advento (ES Principal), Ms. Griffith (Roots & Shoots advisor) were a preface to the grand opening. Dr. Mutch also addressed the necessity for change makers before cutting the ribbon. Finally, the members of the Roots & Shoots club participated in a "first water bottle filling" to signify a key shift in the way ASD provides water to its community.
What can we expect moving forward? Along with the elimination of the water bottle vending machines back in December, the introduction of the water dispensers forms a bold step in the "war on waste" (as they are calling it at the Sustainability Action Team meetings) for our school. As time ticks on, armed with our water bottles and reusable mugs, we expect to see our students being examples of sustainable practices and role models in their own right.


text:
package com.alphalog.geocoder.local.services;

import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.Optional;

import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
import org.springframework.stereotype.Service;
import org.springframework.web.client.RestTemplate;

import com.alphalog.geocoder.local.model.Address;
import com.alphalog.geocoder.local.repository.AddressRepository;
import com.netflix.hystrix.contrib.javanica.annotation.HystrixCommand;

@Service
public class GeocoderServiceImpl implements GeocoderService{

	@Autowired
	private AddressRepository  addressRepository;

	@Override
	@HystrixCommand(fallbackMethod = "showDefaultAdress")
	public Optional<Address> getAdresseInfomation(Address address) {
		Address AddressFound = addressRepository.findAddress(address);
		if(AddressFound!=null){
			return Optional.of( AddressFound);
		}
		else{
			Map<String, String> param = new HashMap<>(); param.put("address", address.toString());
			@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
			//FIXME
			Map<String,String> coord = ( new RestTemplate()).getForObject("http://localhost:4000/geocoderRemote/geocoder?address="+address, Map.class, address);
			address.setLatitude(coord.get("lat"));
			address.setLongitude(coord.get("lng"));
			addressRepository.save(address);
			return Optional.of(address);
		}

	}
	 private Optional<Address> showDefaultAdress(Address address) {
	        return  Optional.of(address);
	    }

	@Override
	public void saveAdress(Address address) {
		addressRepository.save(address);
	}

}


Warp Academy's Ian Gallagher brings you our most successful production templates and pack to date: Run Thy Trap Vol.1! 5 totally unique production templates!
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Ben Thomas is a public relations consultant with Exceltium. He is a former National government press secretary and political editor of the National Business Review.
Simon Bridges' big conference speech: did he drum up a new National vision?
The jungle drums are beating for a change at the top of the National Party. But, predicts Ben Thomas, a former advisor to a National minister, it's not Bill English who should be worried.
A brute force barrage of questions on a new and under-staffed coalition is 'not uniquely awful', argues Ben Thomas, 'but nor is it defensible'.
Ben Thomas watched the Stuff Leader Debate and, unlike The Spinoff's editor, calls an emphatic win for English.
The Winston Peters superannuation affair has put National's 'no surprises' rules for government ministries and departments in the spotlight. Good, says Ben Thomas: everyone should know just how rotten the policy has become.
Dismayed by the press gallery's failure to interrogate the prime minister's epistemological framework in the Todd Barclay scandal? Undismay yourself: New Zealand's leading craft beer enthusiast and philosopher king Ben Thomas is here.
After a year of taking heavy shots from the opposition, National responded with a 1-2 of their own with today's budget announcements, writes Ben Thomas.
Yes, 'white, middle class' Rohan Lord would have lost the election. So?
Labour candidate Rohan Lord announced yesterday that he was withdrawing from the East Coast Bays race, blaming his low placing on the party list and the barrier to progress which is being a white middle class man. So much for party loyalty, writes Ben Thomas.
Just like his spaghetti pizza, Bill English has served up another predictable-but-surprising cabinet reshuffle, writes Ben Thomas.
Ben Thomas clasps his silver ticket and braves the Washington throngs to watch the inauguration, those watching it, and the squirrels. Complete with data analysis via Grindr.
Just how great was the incoming president's Make American Great Again concert? Let's cross to Ben Thomas in Washington DC, and pray for him.
He understands middle New Zealand in a way that is unparalleled.' Leftwing political commentator Ben Thomas looks back at John Key's prime minsterial career.
The government is trumpeting the fact that the Auditor-General's report into the Saudi sheep fiasco did not find its mastermind guilty of criminal corruption. Good for McCully, says Ben Thomas - now let's look at what the report did say about New Zealand's most bizarre ovine scheme.
Ben Thomas studies and salutes the newly minted coat of arms for the mighty former governor-general.
Former New Zealand Herald editor Gavin Ellis claims New Zealanders are sleepwalking through an all-out assault on their democratic rights. Ben Thomas claims Gavin Ellis should chill out a bit.
Opinion: Publishing the names of thousands of people who have dealt with Mossack Fonseca irrespective of wrongdoing is reckless, unfair, and worthy of Kafka's The Trial, argues Ben Thomas.
Morgan Godfery's collection of new progressive thinking is weighed down by a lot of ageing left ideas, writes Ben Thomas from the other side of the political divide.


Please view this video about Churning (excessive trading) from our securities fraud practices informational series.
Brokers have a fiduciary duty to make investment recommendations that are consistent with the clients net worth, investment experience and objectives. Risk tolerance, age, and liquidity needs also need to be considered. Furthermore, brokers are prohibited from engaging in underhanded businesses practice, like churning, that violate securities laws and regulations.
If you believe that you have been the victim of churning, please call the securities attorneys of The White Law Group at 888- 637-5510 for a free consultation.


text:
by Nathaniel Philbrick
"Vivid and remarkably fresh...Philbrick has recast the Pilgrims for the ages."—The New York Times Book Review
Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History
New York Times Book Review Top Ten books of the Year
How did America begin? That simple question launches the acclaimed author of In the Hurricane's Eye and Valiant Ambition on an extraordinary journey to understand the truth behind our most sacred national myth: the voyage of the Mayflower and the settlement of Plymouth Colony. As Philbrick reveals in this electrifying history of the Pilgrims, the story of Plymouth Colony was a fifty-five year epic that began in peril and ended in war. New England erupted into a bloody conflict that nearly wiped out the English colonists and natives alike. These events shaped the existing communites and the country that would grow from them.
History Nonfiction
Lexile® Measure:1170
Nathaniel Philbrick - Author
Lexile® Measure: 1170


The oxidation number of rhenium in dirhenium heptasulphide is 7.
The table shows element percentages for Re2S7 (dirhenium heptasulphide).
The chart below shows the calculated isotope pattern for the formula Re2S7 with the most intense ion set to 100%.


24 Hours Activity Tracking, Accurate Records Of Each Action, Including The Movement Distance, Time, Calories Burned, Activity, A Complete Record Of Your Daily Activities.
Watch With Push Calls, SMS Push, And All Kinds Of Social Application Push, Whenever There Is A Push Reminder, The Corresponding Icon Will Flash And Beep.
This Watch Does Not Have Regular Charging, Endurance, Use More Convenient.
When The Phone Is Connected With The Watch, Open The "Camera" In The Phone, Press The Watch S1 Key, You Can Remote Control Camera.
50m Waterproof. No Need To Take Off The Watch While Washing Hands, Rain, Shower Or Swimming.
CALL & APP REMIND: Watch With Push Calls, SMS Push, And All Kind Of Social Application Push, Whenever There Is A Push Reminder, The Corresponding Icon Will Flash And Beep.
REMOTE CAMERA: When The Phone Is Connected With The Watch, Open The "Camera" In The Phone; Press The Watch S1 Key, You Can Remote Control Camera.
NO CHARGING, ENDURANCE ABILITY: Compared With The Previous General Bracelet, Ordinary Bracelet Needs Time Charging. This Watch Does Not Have Regular Charging, Endurance, And Use More Convenient.
EL LIGHT DISPLAY MODE : Use EL Lamp, Press "LIGHT" Button To See The Time Clearly In The Light.
COLORS CHOICES Available in Blue, Black and Gold Colors.
PACKAGE: Includes 1 Watch and 1 English Manual Instruction.


Looking for a handsome, functional project that won't overtax your woodworking skills?Here's one, and it makes a wonderful storage or hope chest. You'll find the construction of this piece strictly straightforward, with groove-and-tenon joints you cut with only a tablesaw. Blankets, toys, or family keepsakes will never have a more beautiful home.
Chest measures approximately 44" wide, 22" tall, and 24" deep.


text:
« A "Royal Jam" in The Queen City
Dave Brubeck – A Video Memorial »
Obscure Trumpet Masters #11 – Richard Williams
Richard Williams (1931 – 1985)
"Richard Williams was a strong soloist with a big sound and a wide range, so it seems odd that his career did not go much further…He seemed poised for stardom when he recorded his one album as a leader… but there were no encores." – Scott Yanow in Trumpet Kings
When I completed the first ten in the Obscure Trumpet Masters series last year, I always intended to return to it to make a few additions when necessary. Though it took me a bit longer than intended, I'm back with the first of a few more great jazz trumpeters who somehow escaped public acclaim.
Though he had a common sounding name, Richard Gene Williams' trumpet sound was anything but common. Williams was born in Galveston, TX. He started on the tenor sax in high school before turning to the trumpet. He earned a degree in music from Wiley College, an HBCU in Marshall, TX. After graduating from Wiley, Williams served in the US Air Force from 1952 – 1956. Upon his discharge he joined Lionel Hampton's Big Band for a European Tour. Once the tour ended, Williams earned his Master's Degree at the Manhattan School of Music and then hit the bricks to try his luck on the tough NYC Jazz Scene.
He met with some success in New York. Williams was hired in 1959 by Charles Mingus for the band that the bass legend was forming for the Newport Festival that year. He appeared on some of Mingus' greatest recordings, including Mingus Ah Um; Mingus Dynasty and The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady. Williams would continue to work sporadically with Mingus over the years. Another very fruitful relationship began in 1960, when Williams was hired by Gigi Gryce. You'll hear Richard on Gryce's classics, Rat Race Blues and The Hap'nin's, where Williams solos unforgettably, on one of Gryce's best known compositions, "Minority".
It was also 1960 when Richard Williams recorded his first and only album as a leader New Horn in Town, for Candid Records, with support from the fine altoist, Leo Wright, his Gryce band mate Richard Wyands on piano, Reggie Workman on bass and Bobby Thomas on drums. It was (and still is) a terrific album, with strong solos and great writing from Williams and first-rate support from Wright, Wyands and the others. In spite of the quality of the playing and the "thumbs up" from the critics, New Horn in Town went nowhere and Williams never helmed another date.
This does not mean that Williams lacked for work. Because he was musically educated and technically proficient, he remained quite busy over the years, landing in the trumpet sections of the bands of Duke Ellington, Gil Evans, Oliver Nelson and Thad Jones-Mel Lewis, among others. He also did some work in the classical field and in Broadway show pits, most notably for The Wiz. During his later years, Richard Williams led his own group on a European Tour and joined the Mingus tribute group Mingus Dynasty.
Richard Gene Williams succumbed to Renal Cancer in 1985, at just 54 years old. Though he inexplicably never led another session after New Horn in Town, we can can still enjoy his stellar work on that record and his impressive works as a sideman.
Recommended Recordings:
New Horn in Town (Candid) – CD in print; mp3 available
The Rat Race Blues [Gigi Gryce] (Prestige/OJC) – CD in print
The Hap'nin's [Gigi Gryce] (Prestige/OJC) – CD OOP but available (and pricey)
Blues Shout [Leo Wright] (Atlantic Records) – CD available as import
This entry was posted on December 2, 2012 at 9:56 pm and is filed under Obscure Trumpet Masters with tags Charles Mingus; new horn in town, gigi gryce, jazz, richard williams jazz.	You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
6 Responses to "Obscure Trumpet Masters #11 – Richard Williams"
fascinating read – and Trumpet Kings is such a good
Trumpet Kings is such a good book!
Ken Wootton Says:
I was a good friend of Richard,though 15 years younger.Unfortunately he was a heavy drinker and because of this I ended up driving him to many of his gigs.Richard played at my brother's wedding in '69,and at my mother's retirement party in'83-two years later he died. I still have an invitation to his 40th birthday party, and have several recordings we did in his living room and at some local clubs.He hated working with the Wiz. He was a great guy and my musical career wouldn't have been the same without him.
Eric Davis Says:
Do you know where Mr. Williams is buried?
Check out his playing on Yusef Lateef's "Live at Peps", one of the great live recordings
Check out his playing on Yusef Lateef's "Live at Peps" with the marvellous James Black on drums


text:
Research Network on Mental Health & the Law
This Network was established to build an empirical foundation for the next generation of mental health laws — laws that will assure the rights and the safety of individuals and of society. The Network had two primary mandates: to develop new knowledge about the relationships between mental health and the law, and to turn that understanding into improved tools and criteria for evaluating individuals and making decisions that affect their lives.
www.macarthur.virginia.edu/mentalhome.html
Supported by MacArthur from 1988 to 1997
Mental health law has undergone major developments in recent years, including landmark judicial decisions, dramatic legislative initiatives, and the publication of professional standards and guidelines. All of these developments, however, have been predicated on untested assumptions about the mentally ill, the service delivery system, and the law.
The Network on Mental Health and the Law was established to build an empirical foundation for the next generation of mental health laws — laws that will assure the rights and the safety of individuals and of society. The Network had two primary mandates: to develop new knowledge about the relationships between mental health and the law, and to turn that understanding into improved tools and criteria for evaluating individuals and making decisions that affect their lives.
The Network included experts from the fields of clinical, developmental, and social psychology; sociology; psychiatry; law; and mental health administration and policy. Members also worked with legal and mental health scholars and practitioners, national and state policymakers, and lay groups of former mental patients and family members.
The Network's studies focused primarily on three pivotal issues: the competence of mentally disordered people to make autonomous decisions in civil law (treatment competence) and criminal law (adjudicative competence); the violence risk that sometimes accompanies mental disorder; and the coercion that often characterizes interventions to redress incompetence or reduce risk.
Competence. Society has come to realize that mental disorder does not necessarily lead to incompetence. Even when it does, the ability to make some decisions — regarding one's own treatment, or in the criminal process — may remain intact. But which disordered individuals are competent to make what kinds of decisions? The Network developed conceptual frameworks and instruments for measuring the competence of mentally disordered individuals to understand information presented to them, appreciate its implications, and use this information to make rational decisions.
Risk. Although assessing the risk of violence plays a central role in mental health law, we don't yet have the knowledge to make accurate risk assessments. The Network sought to improve the ability to assess risk and, ultimately, to enhance risk management. Research included a prospective, multi-site study of potential markers for increased risk of violence by released mental patients.
Coercion. The state's use of its coercive power to assure that disordered people are hospitalized and treated has long been controversial. The Network's research focused not only on what is done to an individual (for example, the use of force or persuasion in involuntary hospitalization) but on the process by which the decision is reached and the action is carried out — including the importance of the prospective patient's role in the process and his or her perception of its fairness.
Major Findings and Implications
Treatment competence. The Network found that mental illness alone — even serious mental illness — does not necessarily impair a person's ability to make treatment decisions; most impairments are partial, temporary, and improve with treatment. On the other hand, a substantial percentage of hospitalized patients do show high levels of impairment. Future policy must take both findings into account. The Network developed a simple interview that can identify patients who need help with decision making.
Adjudicative competence. The findings here closely paralleled those for treatment competence — including the development of a user-friendly assessment tool. In addition, the Network found that several different capacities are necessary to competently participate in criminal proceedings, and that competence in one capacity doesn't imply full adjudicative competence. Furthermore, a person may be competent for some legal purposes but not for others. Most importantly, the empirical evidence is now available to inform judges and legislators in setting standards for adjudicative competence.
Risk assessment. The Network developed a new, significantly more accurate approach to assessing the risk of violence among patients hospitalized in acute care psychiatric facilities. This software-based instrument measures a wide variety of factors, from prior violence and antisocial behavior to substance abuse, anger, and childhood experience of abuse. It is currently being validated in studies throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Overall, the Network found that people discharged from a psychiatric hospital are generally at the same risk of violence as others in their community, but that substance abuse greatly increases their risk of violent behavior.
Coercion. The Network found that "voluntary" and "involuntary" hospitalization often did not correlate with whether or not a patient experienced the process as coercive. The researchers developed valid instruments for measuring the experience of coercion, and found that it is strongly associated with the patient's beliefs about the justice of the process: Those who believe they had a voice in the process and were treated with respect and good faith are less likely to feel coerced, even if they were involuntarily hospitalized. These instruments have been translated into many languages and are now being used by other researchers in studies of coercion around the world.
ENewsletter: Mental Health in America
Network Chair
John Monahan, Ph.D.
580 Massie Road
[email protected]edu


Have you followed your beloved one to Finland? Join the Spouse community and get networking, mentoring and professional support in your integration to Tampere.
The Hidden Gems project, facilitated by the Tampere Universities promotes the growth and international activities of the regional industries and businesses by enabling them to tap into the "hidden" expertise of expatriates' spouse. If your partner, wife or husband is a researcher in one of the three Tampere universities you are eligible to participate in one of the pilot groups. Click here to watch Hidden Gems in a Nutshell on Youtube.
Tampere Universities offer a set of relocation services to their international staff, including the family members. Hidden Gems is the first initiative to support dual-career couples in Finland.
In today's competitive world companies need to seek for talents from abroad to answer the bourgeoning foreign operations and increasing innovation shortage. Talents are often attracted to conduct international assignment and 80 percent of today's expatriate relocate with their families. When relocating, spouses are often falling under the radar or organizational support, while they genuinely need the most psychological and career care. The successful adjustment of newcomers largely depends on their ability to integrate into the new system. Tampere universities wish to maximize the opportunities for personal and professional growth by improving language skills, building a social network, establishing a social identity as well as providing a set of cultural knowledge as an essential foundation for the spouses integration and career development.
Hidden Gems promotes the utilization of immigrant professionals' expertise and human capital to meet the needs of industry and business, so that the participants find employment that corresponds to their qualifications and ensures them fair compensation. By participating in several activities related to networking, mentoring and professional development, we wish to equip the spouses to become the actors of their own success in Finland.
Discover the unique Hidden Gems program Become the actor of your own success in Finland!
Hidden Gems is an initiative of the Tampere3 community. The project is part of the Talent Boost agenda of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and funded by the European Social Fund. In two years' time, we wish to expand our services to all the International Talents of Tampere region. For more information, do not hesitate to contact the project team.


What went right: Freshmen running backs continue to impress with a combined 212 yards and four touchdowns in the first three quarters.
What went wrong: Vanderbilt didn't up much of a fight so it's hard to get an accurate gauge.
Bottom line: When Georgia runs as well as it did most of the game, this is a really tough team to beat.
What went right: Aaron Murray hit his first 12 passes and wasn't even breathing hard.
What went wrong: Arthur Lynch had a bad drop in the first half.
Bottom line: Murray looked sharp all night even when he threw into a crowd.
What went right: Georgia stuffed the Commodores for a 3.3-yard average in the first three quarters.
What went wrong: Vanderbilt converted an early first down but that's about all there is to complain about.
Bottom line: Stopping the run is an integral part of winning defense and Georgia was a step away from bullet-proof.
What went right: After stumbling through the much of the first half last week, Georgia's defense only allowed one third-down conversion in the first half.
What went wrong: Vanderbilt's two-minute offense produced a field goal late in the first half.
Bottom line: Georgia had a much stronger start than last week and didn't seem to miss still-suspended Bacarri Rambo and Alec Ogletree.
What went right: A 24-yard punt return by Malcolm Mitchell set up Georgia's first touchdown.
What went wrong: A botched snap cost Georgia an extra-point kick after its second touchdown.
Bottom line: The play continues to be a little up-and-down which could cause problems down the road.
What went right: Although it could, Georgia's play-calling didn't stagnate when it reeled successive 5-yard gains on the ground.
Bottom line: For the first time all year, Georgia looked like the No. 5-ranked team in the country.


Sam Harris.org Reader Forum | Is NoGrowth-ism possible?
One possible problem with nogrowthism is that it creates a zero-sum situation in terms of opportunity. If the economy grows at three percent, then in theory everyone can make three percent more. If the economy is stagnant, then in order for me to make more, other people will have to make less. My gain can only come at someone else's expense.
There are good counterarguments to this, but nevertheless: at best, the illusion of opportunity-for-everyone is ruined without growth.
While we forget it sometimes, we all live on the same spaceship. So yes, ultimately it is zero-sum.
Which is why much growth depends on exploitation of the third world (or past generations) in some regard or another.
It has in the past. But the OP is meant to be forward looking. When we get to ZPG, we'll have to find a no-growth solution, correct?
It is happening right now. In major industries that provide goods for people right now.
So all those corporations that are making use of exploitive low labor costs to provide inexpensive or price-reduced gear to first-worlders would have to change their product pricing models, and those first-worlders would have to absorb a general across-the-board costs increase on a wide variety of day-to-day items.
I don't think that reducing low-cost labour exploitation is necessarily a bad thing, but I do think the general public won't appreciate such cost increases. It's a hard sell - especially in an austerity economy.
I completely agree. The broad public doesn't go for any price increase. But I think it all boils down to people being misinformed or not informed enough.
No doubt shifting economic models is a hard problem. What I'm wondering is whether a non-socialistic economic model is theoretically possible in a zero growth environment. What I'm skeptical of is arguments (false dilemmas?), that it's EITHER "perpetual-growth-capitalism" or it's "state controlled, big brother, socialism".
My intuition is that there is a middle path.
humans are social animals, and so need a way to determine their order in the pack. What that metric is is pretty flexible: land, mates, titles, kills, slaves, record sales, trophies, medals, ... or money.
I see no way this is going to change.
However, most problems arise from restrictions on who gets to accumulate said metric and how. And if it is lost or gained too quickly, it causes social upheaval.
The metrics themselves are interchangeable, though.
That's true for some people, but not all. I would agree with the statement that there will always be some competitive people, but I would not agree that all people are competitive. It's not just personal opinion either, there's a strong scientific body of evidence that indicates how cooperative of a species we are, and we don't just cooperate in order to be competitive against others of our species. The question then becomes as a society do we encourage competition over cooperation? Or the reverse?
For a system to put breaks on growth, there has to be a method of applying control to prevent that growth. If you don't want the state to do it, who do you think should?
People are always competitive if they feel that their perceived order in the pack is in jeopardy - which explains most Trump supporters.
It's a sign of luxury when you don't have to worry constantly about drifting down the ladder.
That fails to explain such a wide-range of human behaviors, many of which have been studied through experiment, that I have difficulty even taking it seriously as a possible explanation for human behavior or social structure. It strikes me as obviously reflective of an ideology and nothing to do with actual study of humans.
I believe so. I think there are small communities that serve as proof of concept.
There are practical impediments but I think the big obstacle is psychological. We need a level of self reflection and personal responsibility that we don't yet possess collectively. We need to cultivate better motives.
There is some upper limit to how many humans can live a decent life in a sustainable way on the planet. We might disagree about terms and numbers, but there is a limit. At some point we're going to have to get to ZPG, and personally I hope it's not via an apocalypse. So, while the solutions aren't easy, they seem essential. How about rewarding women who make it to menopause having had 0 or 1 children?
When you put these factors in place, not even all of them, but just some, you see dramatic drops in the number of children. Already, 80% of the world's population lives in countries where the average number of babies per woman is around 2 to 2.5, which is about replacement rate.
Even beyond that, my question is more foundational. If we are going to encourage or discourage specific behaviors from people, who is going to be in charge of doing that? You seem to not want to empower the State to make these decisions, so I'm curious who you imagine will be doing it.
We've strayed far from the OP, but I guess my general take is to set up systems that incentivize the behaviors we want.
But back to the OP: Imagine we're at ZPG. The question is this: is there a form of free market system that can be sustained in such an enviroment?
I don't think I've strayed at all.
For there to exist a free market with no growth, there needs to be artificial controls put in place in order to prevent growth. Who will have the authority and power to enact those controls?
Fair enough. How about if we use the same mechanisms we already have? Tax regulations, banking regulations, corporate regs. and so on, and we just tweak them a bit?
You would also have to eliminate the tax havens, lobby groups, corporation 'rights', graft and such…..
...all in direct opposition of those who favour these mechanisms.
Not impossible, but possibly an entire paradigm shift….
You're probably correct. But that path seems better than shifting to communism. I'm open to other ideas..


The hexadecimal color code #8f8680 is a shade of orange. In the RGB color model #8f8680 is comprised of 56.08% red, 52.55% green and 50.2% blue. In the HSL color space #8f8680 has a hue of 24° (degrees), 6% saturation and 53% lightness. This color has an approximate wavelength of 583.52 nm.