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Jessica Hayden, middle, prepares to block a defender during a Boston Renegades game last season. © 2019 Mitzi Velez Lorenzana
Maine native making impact in women's football league (Morning Sentinel)
Jessica Hayden of Madison embraces her competitive side as a key member of the Boston Renegades
Travis Lazarczyk | Morning Sentinel
Jessica Hayden was the one chastised for playing too rough in a coed flag football league. Hayden was the one who never shied away from contact, no matter the game, when she played with other children. Hayden was the one constantly searching for something to scratch the competitive itch she often sensed she alone felt.
Hayden found it. As a key member of the Boston Renegades, who play in the Women's Football Alliance, Hayden found exactly what she's missed.
"I instantly fell in love. It was the level of competitiveness I was looking for," said Hayden, 30, and a 2008 graduate of Madison Area Memorial High School.
The Renegades — who won championships in 2018 and 2019 — were recently featured in a documentary that aired on ESPN. Hayden joined a good team and helped make it better, becoming a starter on the Renegades offensive line at left guard. In Boston's 52-24 win over the Cali War in the WFA championship game a year ago in Golden, Colorado, Hayden saw time on defense as a third down rush specialist. Hayden's third quarter fumble recovery set up a Renegades touchdown, expanding Boston's lead to 21 points.
Hayden's commitment to playing the game a certain way, moving opponents out of the way with the force of a snowplow, still occasionally raises eyebrows, but Boston coach John Johnson loves it.
"(Hayden's) pancaking everybody, even in practice. It got testy at times," Johnson said. "Her energy is what draws you to her right away."
Like Hayden, Alison Gauvin, a Whitefield native and Erskine Academy graduate, was a Renegades rookie in 2019. A running back, Gauvin quickly figured out the best path on the field usually was behind a Hayden lead block.
"I love when it's her side pulling. I know she's going to make the block and get to the next level. She's very athletic, very smart," Gauvin said.
Hayden family lore states Jessica, the oldest of four children, was born to play football because she came out of the womb kicking. Hayden spent her childhood around the game. Her father, Joe Hayden, spent time as Madison football coach. Her younger brother, Chris, represented Madison in the 2014 Maine Shrine Lobster Bowl.
Hayden played football in Madison youth leagues and through her freshman year of high school. By that age, boys who once had been smaller than Hayden suddenly became bigger. That, and the hassle of having to constantly change in a portable restroom before and after games, led Hayden to switch to soccer. It wasn't the best fit.
"In soccer, I definitely was more aggressive than I should've been," said Hayden, who also played basketball and was a four-year starter on Madison's softball team.
Hayden played softball at the University of Southern Maine, where she was an all-Little East Conference catcher in 2013. She hit .321 that season, with two home runs, 20 RBIs and 20 runs scored. A catcher, Hayden's name appears in the Huskies' record book among the top 25 all-time in home runs (five), doubles (21), and RBI (54).
After graduating from USM, Hayden moved to Boston. She tried a few things to stay active, including flag football leagues. Those left Hayden feeling unsatisfied.
"I wasn't getting much out of them. People don't take them seriously, I guess," said Hayden, who was recently laid off from her graphic design job, a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hayden joined the Renegades after attending a meet-and greet-session, in which perspective players are introduced to players and coaches, and take part in non-contact drills. It instantly felt right, for both sides.
"My first game was everything I needed and wanted it to be," Hayden said. "On my first play, I pulled around the end. The feeling of making that block was incredible."
"It's a veterans' league. Usually it takes a couple years to get acclimated and understand all we do. From day one, she was focused. She was intense," Johnson added.
Hayden tends to leave her intensity on the field, Gauvin said.
"Her personality in general is more charismatic. She's the fun one in the group," Gauvin said.
With Hayden's speed and tenacity, Johnson and his coaching staff put her at left guard, where she could pull and be a dominant lead blocker or protect the quarterback from a rush up the middle on pass plays.
"She could play tight end. She could probably play running back. Putting her at guard for style of play we like. We like athletic players who can move," Johnson said. "She gave us some great flexibility. In the screen (pass) game, she can get out there. She has a defensive mentality on offense, flying after everything."
The championship game victory is a perfect example of what Hayden brought to the Renegades offensive line. Boston gained 465 yards of offense. Quarterback Allison Cahill threw for 289 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Ruth Matta, the game's MVP, ran for 174 yards and two touchdowns, and caught three passes for 95 yards and a touchdown.
Cahill had the best season of her 16-year career, throwing for 2,664 yards and 46 touchdowns while completing 64.2 percent of her passes.
"Our line was probably the best line in women's football, and (Hayden) was a big part of that," Johnson said.
In the championship game, Johnson used Hayden on defense as an edge rusher on third down. Hayden's fumble recovery in the third quarter set up a 2-yard Matta touchdown run.
"I hadn't practiced D all year. They had put me here and there, but nothing big," Hayden said. "They hiked, and I ran as fast as I could. When I fell on the ball I went into armadillo mode."
It was a bad snap, Hayden recalled, and she outran everybody to the ball. After the officials pulled apart the pile, Hayden's teammates asked her, you have the ball? 'I have the ball,' she said, a few times to convince herself she did have the ball.
"It was like a movie. It kind of happened in slow motion," Hayden said.
The championship game's start was delayed by lightning, giving Hayden, Gauvin, and other rookies time to overthink the impending contest.
"We're sitting in the locker room, and all of us rookies are like 'What are we gonna do?' The veterans are like 'Don't worry. We know what to do,'" Gauvin said.
Between the delayed start, the thinner mountain air, and the exhaustion that comes from playing in a championship game, Hayden said she's never been as tired as she was when the game was over. Still, the Renegades celebrated their championship together at the hotel, but many had to get up early for flights back to Boston.
That's the thing about playing in the Women's Football Alliance. Nobody is making any money. Each player pays $750 before the season to offset the costs of things like officials and fields, but that accounts for just one-third of the money needed, Hayden said. The rest is raised through fundraising.
A portion of the dues pays for hotel rooms for road games, but players are required to get themselves to those road games. In 2019, the Renegades played regular season games in Tampa, Washington, D.C., New York, and Baltimore. Late night and early morning flights are the cheapest, Hayden said.
The Renegades were three weeks from the 2020 scheduled season opener against the New York Wolves on April 11 when the season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. They had gone to Baltimore to hold a training camp with the Baltimore Nighthawks just before coronavirus restrictions swept the nation. Boston will go for the threepeat in 2021.
"Nobody's done that in women's football. We have a big target on our back," Hayden said.
Hayden will play a big role in whatever the team does. Johnson is already scheming.
"We're going to expand her role a bit. She can run and catch," Johnson said. "She's a freak of nature athlete. In the championship game, she had two quarterback pressures. She hunts the ball. (Offensively,) A lot of those big runs were behind her."
Playing for the Renegades gives Hayden's competitive fire a release. She's ready to pancake block anybody who gets in her way.
2020, Morning Sentinel, Travis Lazarczyk
PrevPreviousWomen's football team takes the field in rousing doc Born to Play (Entertainment Weekly)
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Q: Waiting for a file to be downloaded using async/await I'm creating a game using Firebase cloud storage for user data. If the user does not have a local file the cloud storage should download a save file from their user profile (determined by a unique id). The issue is that this code stops Unity from running and will cause it to get stuck during the Application.onbeginplay phase. (Load is called on awake). Part of the issue here is mostly my lack of experience working with async.
private async Task TryDownloadData(string filepath)
{
    //find location of the users save file
    _storage = FirebaseStorage.DefaultInstance;
    _dbUrl = _storage.GetReferenceFromUrl(URL);
    _saveFileLocation = _dbUrl.Child(ID + "/test.sav");

    //Wait for the file to be downloaded (or failed). If failed a blank save is used
    await _saveFileLocation.GetFileAsync(filepath);

    return;
}

public async void Load(string filepath)
{
    //If local file does not exist... then try to download from cloud storage
    if (!File.Exists(GetPathFromSaveFile("moneyStackSave")))
    {
        await TryDownloadData(GetPathFromSaveFile(filepath));
    }

    //Load the objects from the file that exists or not
    LoadObjects(LoadFile(filepath));
}

Not shown in the code block above is the insides of the LoadObjects method which if a local file is not found then it will start the user from a fresh save (catches the event that no local or cloud data exists).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


February 2018 – Why that Swiss flag?
Not quite there, the artists got the dimensions all wrong. Better luck next time, Epic games!
The screenshot above was shamelessly stolen from a clip the gamers at Wizzite Games published. The false schnegg comes from a recipe written by the heathen German calling themselves ZwergTomate.
This can only mean that in the universe of Just Cause 2, Switzerland managed to score an arms deal providing armor plates for Panau's vehicles, even though they pleaded neutrality and shouldn't really support any wars through arms exports. But maybe Panau is just a terribly peaceful dictatorship and all the killing and dying there doesn't involve a war. Those sneaky Swiss bastards.
Real desolation would mean having to eat your fellow survivors. But chocolate? Come on.
This character has five bottles of the stuff, and at 22% ABV he'll be completely pissed in no time if he tries to drink that for healing. Oh, and the sugar will make him a diabetic long-term.
Do better than Dauntless did, kids. No alcohol on the battlefield!


Roger Federer continued his mastery over Stan Wawrinka, but not before getting a fright en route to a 6-7(2), 7-6(6), 6-2 quarter-final victory at the Cincinnati Masters on Friday.
Federer upped his career record against his Swiss compatriot to 21-3.
A match that started with a low key atmosphere developed into a cracking affair when Federer took the second set tiebreak as lightning reverberated near the stadium.
Play was finally halted two points into the third set. Federer was in a different class once the match resumed after a short delay.
While Federer narrowly avoided an early exit, another high seed was sent packing, as No. 4 Juan Martin del Potro fell to diminutive Belgian David Goffin 7-6(5), 7-6(4).
Goffin closed out a tight match with a backhand winner down the baseline.
His reward is a Saturday evening semifinal against Federer, while the other last four clash will match former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia against Croatia's Marin Cilic.
It was a busy day for 10th seeded Djokovic, who came from behind to oust defending champion Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the conclusion of a third round match carried over from Thursday.
Only a couple of hours later, Djokovic stopped Milos Raonic 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, improving his career record to a perfect 9-0 against the Canadian.
"I'm very pleased with my fighting spirit and staying mentally tough to overcome deficits in both matches," Djokovic said.
"Obviously the match against Dimitrov yesterday didn't start so well for me. He started tremendously well. We were not the only ones [dealing with interruptions], but it just makes it harder, because you're warming up, you're cooling down.
"We went home around 10:30, came back this morning again to play him, and then [had a] couple hours of rest.
Former champion Cilic made his way to the semifinals with a 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4 third-round win over Russia's Karen Khachanov before toppling Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 7-6(7), 6-4.
Earlier Friday, World No. 2 Federer, bidding for his eighth Cincinnati title, outlasted Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 6-1, 7-6(6) in the third round.
Playing in his first tournament since Wimbledon, Federer lost just four first-serve points and did not face a break point in the match.
Mayer had a chance to force a third set, but Federer held on to win his third consecutive meeting with the Argentine as players double up in matches in the rain-delayed tournament.
Wawrinka beat Marton Fucsovics of Hungary 6-4, 6-3 in their third-round match.
Fourth seed Del Potro overcame Australian Nick Kyrgios 7-6(4), 6-7(6), 6-2.
Goffin did not face a break point in defeating sixth seed Kevin Anderson of South Africa 6-2, 6-4 in 76 minutes.


MLB - Who are some of the teams that have made the most moves this offseason?
While many of the more high-profile free agents still remain unsigned, there are some clubs that have stayed busy in the Offseason trying to make improvements to their ball club. Here are five Teams that have made moves in the offseason to try to help their fortunes in 2018. While they have remained active, remember being active in the offseason doesn't always pan out (ex. Padres' offseason heading into the 2015 season). While the Marlins [VIDEO] can actually be considered one of the busiest teams, they are not included as their moves obviously haven't been to make the team better for 2018.
The Cubs recently made one of the biggest offseason free-agent splashes when they signed starting pitcher Yu Darvish. He is one of two new faces in their rotation as they earlier signed Tyler Chatwood, previously of the Rockies. Also new to the club are relievers Brandon Morrow (perhaps the early favorite to begin the season as the closer) and Steve Cishek.
The Angels will have two new starting infielders this season in second baseman Ian Kinsler (acquired via trade from Detroit) and third baseman Zach Cozart (signed as a Free Agent).
Of course, they signed the most talked-about free agent in the offseason in starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani. They received Jim Johnson in a trade with the Braves who will add bullpen depth.
The Rangers likely will have three new starters in their rotation after signing Mike Minor and Doug Fister while also trading with the Giants to acquire Matt Moore. Texas hopes the moves help to improve the 4.66 ERA they received from their starters last season. They also signed former Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh.
Two-thirds of the starting Brewers outfield will be different as the team signed center fielder Lorenzo Cain to a five-year deal and traded with the Marlins to get left fielder Christian Yelich. They added Jhoulys Chacin to their rotation and will have a couple new bullpen pieces in Matt Albers and Boone Logan.
The Giants made two of the more noteworthy trades this offseason as they acquired former National League MVP outfielder Andrew McCutchen [VIDEO] from the Pirates and three-time All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria from the Rays.
They are hoping the moves jump-start an offense that ranked second-to-last averaging 3.94 runs per game in 2017. They also signed Austin Jackson to play center field for them.


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Darwin's Childhood
Born on 12th February 1809 into a wealthy family, Charles Robert Darwin had a pretty ordinary childhood. He didn't enjoy or do well at school but he had, from an early age, a passion for nature – both collecting it and shooting it.
Darwin's Origins
life_themount.jpg
Charles Darwin was born on the 12th February 1809 at The Mount, the estate home on the edge of Shrewsbury of his very wealthy father, the famed doctor Robert Darwin. He was the fifth of six children – Marianne, Caroline, Susan, Erasmus, Charles and Catherine and was adored by his older sisters, especially after the death of his mother when he was eight. The Darwin household was part of an extended family with the Wedgwoods, his mother's family who lived nearby at Maer, and young Charles grew up in a very protected and happy environment. His father encouraged his son's interest in his own hobby, botany, but also made sure that he had a traditional education in Latin and Greek at the boarding school attended by his brother.
darwin10ish.jpg
Darwin hated his time at school, in his Autobiography he wrote:
'Nothing could have been worse for the development of my mind… the school as a means of education to me was simply a blank'
So naturally Charles did the minimum work possible, preferring to spend his time bird-watching and collecting beetles. Darwin was born a naturalist. Large chunks of his youth were spent rummaging through his father's gardens and land looking for interesting critters. Darwin himself reflected on his early habits in his Autobiography, he wrote that the 'passion for collecting, which leads a man to be a systematic naturalist, a virtuoso or a miser, was very strong in me, and was clearly innate'.
Charles had a go with experimental chemistry too. He and his elder brother Erasmus had their own chemistry laboratory built for them in their garden shed. Here the two brothers conducted numerous chemical and mineralogical experiments, working from popular 'recipe' books. These experiments must have been quite pungent, as his activities in his shed earned him the nickname 'Gas' at school.
Shooting To Success
As a teenager he became obsessed with shooting and would often go out to shoot with his Uncle Jos (Josiah Wedgwood) and William Owen, the head of the other household that the family were close to. His father was worried that the boy would become one of the idle rich, prompting him to tell Charles that 'you care for nothing but shooting, dogs and rat-catching; and you will be a disgrace to yourself and all your family'. Shooting birds was then a very acceptable sport which the young Darwin clearly enjoyed and was very good at. But his passion for shooting eventually faded, one story states that he once came across a bird that was shot the day before but was still alive; another tells of a beetle that was sent to him as an old man, alive but clearly suffering, Darwin gently put both of these creatures out of their suffering. It is also clear that Darwin's zeal for shooting on the Beagle Voyage started to diminish, and he often hired men to do the shooting for him.
His passion for collecting never stalled. As a university student at Christ's College, Cambridge Darwin was an avid beetle collector, eventually amassing one of the best beetle collections he knew of. His beetle collecting also got his name in print for the first time, J. F. Stephen lists Darwin as a collector in his Illustrations of British Entomology. Throughout his life Darwin continued to collect; on the Beagle voyage it was his main occupation, he later (by post) collected enough barnacles to write the authoritative account of the group, his next project saw him collect the bones and measurements of many domestic animals, and of course the greatest hallmark of Darwin's work was his collecting of facts which he used so well to outline and support his theories!
Better To Have Loved And Lost
Like most young men Darwin had eyes for more than just beetles and birds. When he was 18 the young Charles set his eye on a different sort of bird, Fanny Owen, the daughter of a family friend. She was dark eyed, petite and apparently quite striking, and a bit of a flirt. Darwin, the young romantic, took her shooting and for walks in the Owen country estate and they exchanged flirtaceous letters referring to one another as Mr. Postillion and the dutiful housemaid; Darwin even had thoughts of marriage!
When he went off to university there was a possibility she might have waited for him, but when he decided to go on a round the world trip she did not. Whilst on the other side of the world Darwin got letters saying Fanny had married another, he was devastated! Especially when she continued to send flirty letters…
Written by Sarah Gardner
by Charles Darwin (Edited by Francis Darwin), The Thinker's Library : 1929
by Cyril Aydon, Robinson : 2003
by John van Wyhe, Andre Deutsch : 2009
by Adrian Desmond & James Moore, Penguin : 1991
by Francis Darwin, Senate : 1995 (1902)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The 2017 Land Rover Discovery is going to be launched in India in October. The company's plans were revealed by Rohit Suri, MD, Jaguar Land Rover India during an interview with ET Auto.
The Land Rover Discovery will be one of the 10 Jaguar and Land Rover cars to be launched in India, this year. While the Discovery has traditionally been the utilitarian sibling of the Range Rover, things have taken a turn with this new third generation model. Gone are the boxy looks, it now gets a slightly rounded design in line with the Land Rover's new design philosophy.
The new Discovery is built around a new aluminium-infused platform. This has helped the Discovery shed weight, making it lighter than its predecessor, despite the bigger dimensions. Powering the Discovery would be the new Ingenium series of four-cylinder engines, with a six-cylinder unit thrown in for those looking for better performance. Needless to say, driving modes and a four-wheel drive system with crawl function, hill descent and hill hold will be standard.
The Discovery will be imported as a completely built unit, with a price tag on the range of Rs 1 crore. The launch of the new Discovery will be followed by the Range Rover Velar. It will rival the likes of the Mercedes-Benz GLS, BMW X5, Volvo XC90 and the Audi Q7.


Finding a couples/ marriage counselor can be the first big step toward healing one of the most important relationships you can ever have. When couples seek out therapy, they tend to reach a point in their relationship or marriage where they recognize that what they have been doing is not working. Whether the relational challenges surround communication, parenting, or lack of trust, continuing an unhealthy pattern in a relationship will produce the same results over and over again.
There is hope! When couples step into counseling, it is a sign of becoming intentional in improving their relationship. Counseling provides couples an opportunity to get a professional perspective on how to navigate a difficult time in your life. It is an opportunity for a couple to learn new tools and meet each other's needs with the goal of finding happiness and a healthy relational balance for both partners.
Having a healthy and supportive relationship can be one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have.
Whether you are married, engaged, considering marriage, or in a committed relationship, consider investing in your relationship through counseling. You will find my approach to be balanced, easy going, and directive. If you are intentional in making your relationship work, I can help you meet your goals.
Spending time working on your marriage or relationship can produce great results and can help in dealing with the other pressures of life. Those who are committed to working on their relationship have a much better chance of finding happiness and avoiding separation or divorce. It is never too late to consider marriage counseling. Call today for a free phone consultation to see if couples therapy or marriage counseling is right for you.


As the price of crude oil nears $50 a barrel for the first time this year, traders are split over whether the near 80 per cent rally since prices bottomed in January can keep going.
Here are five things to watch that could dictate the next move in the price of Brent crude, currently trading near $49 a barrel, and US benchmark West Texas Intermediate which is more than $48.
The latest leg up in prices comes as output in what was Africa's largest producer has fallen to the lowest level in more than 20 years.
Militant attacks on oil-producing facilities, pipelines and terminals in the Niger Delta have slashed the Opec member's output to less than 1.4m barrels a day — a drop of more than 40 per cent from its recent peak — and reignited fears of prolonged unrest reminiscent of the uprising between 2006-2009.
A group calling itself the Niger Delta Avengers has claimed responsibility for many of the attacks which come as President Muhammadu Buhari has cut payments to groups in the oil-rich but economically disadvantaged state, which were first instigated as part of an amnesty in 2009.
The group has threatened to keep targeting facilities, leading companies like Shell and Chevron to evacuate some of their staff.
The pick-up in violence is arguably an indirect consequence of the two-year oil price crash, which has roiled the budgets and politics of many weaker producers.
Libya's output remains depressed, despite a provisional agreement between competing governments in the west and east of the country to restart shipments from the port of Hariga.
In Venezuela, another Opec member, President Nicolás Maduro has declared a 60-day state of emergency.
Supply disruptions are not isolated to weak Opec countries. Wildfires in Canada's oil-producing Alberta province have knocked out about 1m b/d or more than a fifth of the country's production.
After the fires looked to be coming under control in recent days, oil sands producers Suncor and Syncrude were forced to evacuate staff overnight on Tuesday as fires spread. While most Canadian supplies are expected to recover in the coming weeks, there is still uncertainty about how fast that can happen.
Supplies are also falling due to the lower price. Output in the US, which drove the creation of the glut in the years preceding the price crash, has already fallen more than 500,000 b/d from its 9.7m b/d peak 13 months ago.
China, a top-five producer and still a major centre of demand growth, is expected to see output slip by more than 3 per cent or 140,000 b/d this year, according to Opec's monthly report. In April it slipped to just 4.05m b/d, the lowest since August 2012.
All told, analysts put total supply disruptions at more than 3m b/d, helping to put the market into or close to deficit for the first time in more than two years.
That has led Goldman Sachs, one of the most bearish banks on commodities over the past two years, to raise its price forecasts for the second quarter.
Is Opec kingpin Saudi Arabia going to raise output? That is perhaps the biggest question dogging oil markets in the medium term. With the replacement of veteran oil minister Ali al Naimi earlier this month cementing Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's control over the oil sector, traders are nervously watching for any sign of higher output from the desert kingdom.
Saudi Arabia is the only country with significant spare capacity and has made clear it believes the lowest cost producers should be the ones to pump most.
But after raising output from 9.6m b/d in late 2014 to a record 10.6m b/d last June, its output has been remarkably steady. Since August 2015 production has averaged 10.2m b/d, barely wavering by more than a few thousand barrels each month.
Energy Aspects, a London-based consultancy, argues that Saudi Arabia is in no rush to swamp the market. Raising output closer to 11m b/d would require additional cost and drilling rigs.
"While it would like to be prepared for a higher call on its crude as non-Opec supplies fall fast, increasing capacity takes time," Energy Aspects said in a note.
Complicating the picture, the country's crude output normally rises in the summer months anyway to meet peak electricity demand. The market may need to wait a few months to get a clearer idea whether Saudi Arabia will scale back its summer output as it did last year or keep the taps open.
With the public listing of a small stake in state oil company Saudi Aramco as early as next year, new oil minister Khalid al-Falih has promised "stability" in policymaking, but also emphasised the country's ability to use its "maximum sustainable capacity" to meet customer demand.
US average annual crude oil output is forecast to fall from a peak of 9.4m b/d last year to 8.2m b/d in 2017, according to the EIA.
But higher prices have already seen the agency trim the size of the drop by 100,000 b/d since prices were languishing below $40 a barrel. Closer to $50, the outlook is less clear.
During the two-year price rout companies have been squeezing down costs. Some have said they could start drilling again above $50 a barrel. But the impact on the broader market may come even quicker through the futures market.
After many experienced a near-death experience, banks will be asking companies to hedge as soon as the price is high enough to keep their operations (and debt repayments) going.
That will probably contribute to slowing the price's upward ascent as companies sell forward their production.
When oil prices bottomed below $30 a barrel in January, hedge funds started buying. In the first 19 weeks of the year, money managers were net buyers of Brent crude oil, accumulating a near record position equivalent to 420m barrels of crude. The move was largely replicated in US benchmark WTI where net longs — the difference between bets on rising and falling prices — rose to almost 250m barrels of crude.
This record combined bullish position, however, has been trimmed in both of the last two weeks. Some funds have been taking profits after the huge run-up. That has sparked some caution in case a trickle of profit-taking should turn into a flood, exerting selling pressure on the market.
Others see the potential for more funds to buy in. While the number of speculative barrels has surpassed peaks last seen in mid-2014 - when oil was still well above $100 a barrel - the amount of cash funds have at play in the market is far lower because of the drop in price.


Canon Inc. manufactures and sells office multifunction devices (MFDs), plain paper copying machines, laser and inkjet printers, cameras, diagnostic equipment, and lithography equipment. The last earnings update was 27 days ago. More info.
CNN1 underperformed the Tech industry which returned 1.5% over the past year.
CNN1 underperformed the Market in Germany which returned -5.6% over the past year.
Is Canon undervalued based on future cash flows and its price relative to the stock market?
Here we compare the current share price of Canon to its discounted cash flow analysis.value.
Below are the data sources, inputs and calculation used to determine the intrinsic value for Canon.
The calculations below outline how an intrinsic value for Canon is arrived at by discounting future cash flows to their present value using the 2 stage method. We try to start with analysts estimates of free cash flow, however if these are not available we use the most recent financial results. In the 1st stage we continue to grow the free cash flow over a 10 year period, with the growth rate trending towards the perpetual growth rate used in the 2nd stage. The 2nd stage assumes the company grows at a stable rate into perpetuity.
The current share price of Canon is above its future cash flow value.
The amount the stock market is willing to pay for Canon's earnings, growth and assets is considered below, and whether this is a fair price.
Are Canon's earnings available for a low price, and how does this compare to other companies in the same industry?
** Primary Listing of Canon.
Canon is overvalued based on earnings compared to the Europe Tech industry average.
Canon is good value based on earnings compared to the Germany market.
Does Canon's expected growth come at a high price?
Canon earnings are not expected to grow next year, we can't assess if its growth is good value.
What value do investors place on Canon's assets?
* Primary Listing of Canon.
Canon is good value based on assets compared to the Europe Tech industry average.
Canon has a total score of 2/6, see the detailed checks below.
How is Canon expected to perform in the next 1 to 3 years based on estimates from 18 analysts?
Is Canon expected to grow at an attractive rate?
Canon's earnings are expected to decrease over the next 1-3 years, this is below the low risk savings rate of 0.2%.
Canon's earnings are expected to decrease over the next 1-3 years, this is below the Germany market average.
Canon's revenue growth is positive but not above the Germany market average.
Canon's earnings are expected to decrease over the next 1-3 years, this is not considered high growth.
Canon's revenue is expected to grow by 0.7% yearly, however this is not considered high growth (20% yearly).
All data from Canon Company Filings, last reported 3 months ago, and in Trailing twelve months (TTM) annual period rather than quarterly.
Canon is not expected to efficiently use shareholders' funds in the future (Return on Equity less than 20%).
Canon has a total score of 0/6, see the detailed checks below.
How has Canon performed over the past 5 years?
Below we compare Canon's growth in the last year to its industry (Tech).
Canon's year on year earnings growth rate was negative over the past 5 years, however the most recent earnings are above average.
Canon's earnings growth has not exceeded the Europe Tech industry average in the past year (4.5% vs 12.3%).
Canon's revenue and profit over the past 5 years is shown below, any years where they have experienced a loss will show up in red.
Canon has not efficiently used shareholders' funds last year (Return on Equity less than 20%).
Canon used its assets less efficiently than the Europe Tech industry average last year based on Return on Assets.
Canon's use of capital deteriorated last year versus 3 years ago (Return on Capital Employed).
Canon has a total score of 1/6, see the detailed checks below.
How is Canon's financial health and their level of debt?
The boxes below represent the relative size of what makes up Canon's finances.
Canon is able to meet its short term (1 year) commitments with its holdings of cash and other short term assets.
Canon's cash and other short term assets cover its long term commitments.
This treemap shows a more detailed breakdown of Canon's finances. If any of them are yellow this indicates they may be out of proportion and red means they relate to one of the checks below.
All data from Canon Company Filings, last reported 3 months ago.
Canon's level of debt (13.3%) compared to net worth is satisfactory (less than 40%).
The level of debt compared to net worth has increased over the past 5 years (0.1% vs 13.3% today).
Debt is well covered by operating cash flow (91.2%, greater than 20% of total debt).
Canon earns more interest than it pays, coverage of interest payments is not a concern.
Canon has a total score of 5/6, see the detailed checks below.
What is Canon's current dividend yield, its reliability and sustainability?
Current annual income from Canon dividends. Estimated to be 5.13% next year.
If you bought €2,000 of Canon shares you are expected to receive €101 in your first year as a dividend.
Canon's pays a higher dividend yield than the bottom 25% of dividend payers in Germany (1.44%).
Canon's dividend is above the markets top 25% of dividend payers in Germany (3.7%).
Purchase Canon before the 'Buy Limit' to receive their next dividend payment.
What portion of Canon's earnings are paid to the shareholders as a dividend.
What is the CEO of Canon's salary, the management and board of directors tenure and is there insider trading?
Mr. Fujio Mitarai has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canon Inc. since March 31, 2006 and September 1995 respectively. Mr. Mitarai served as the President of Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd. since 1995. He joined Canon Inc. in April 1961 and served as its President from September 1995 to May 23, 2006. He served as the President of canon U.S.A. Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. since January 1979 and served as Canon Inc.'s Managing Director since March 1985 and served as In charge of HQ Administration since January 1989 and served as senior managing Director since March 1989 and served as Executive Vice President since March 1993. He served as the Chairman of Nippon Keidanren. He has been a Representative Director of Canon Inc. since March 1981. Mr. Mitarai served as an Outside Director of Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. since June 2013 until June 28, 2016. He served as Corporate Auditor of The Dai-Ichi Life Insurance Company, Limited.
Fujio's compensation has been consistent with company performance over the past year.
Fujio's remuneration is lower than average for companies of similar size in Germany.
The average tenure for the Canon management team is over 5 years, this suggests they are a seasoned and experienced team.
The tenure for the Canon board of directors is about average.
Canon has a total score of 0/6, this is not included on the snowflake, see the detailed checks below.


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Grey to Green Phase 1
Future project phases
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)
Public art themes
Grey to Green, Sheffield – An Introduction
Sheffield is a green city. It's home to 2 million trees, beautiful ancient woodlands, and stunning expanses of parks and gardens. Grey to Green is bringing more of this colour into the city centre, turning once dull streets into vibrant public spaces.
With phase 1 completed, a significant area of wild flowers, trees and shrubs has replaced redundant carriageway from West Bar to Lady's Bridge. The area is dotted with benches, offering space to sit awhile and enjoy the sights and scents of the plant life, as well as the wildlife it attracts. Through the creation of Sustainable Urban Drainage, Grey to Green's new public space doubles up as a rain garden, moderating the flow of water and creating innovative sustainable drainage in a part of Sheffield that has twice been ravaged by floods. Along the new streetscene, five works of public art, made from steel and stone, share insight into the former lives of this significant part of the city centre.
The scheme has received national recognition and a number of awards in 2016. It was voted 'Best Open Space' and overall 'Outstanding' project at the Sheffield Design Awards.
The project also obtained a 'Gold Standard' and 'Best Environmental project' at the Yorkshire in Bloom awards.
It was the winner of the 'National Green Champion, Construction Category Award' at the International Green Apple Awards.
In November 2016 it also received three awards at the CEEQUAL awards winning the landscape category, water environment category and the overall 'Eric Hughes Award 2016 for Outstanding Contribution to Improving Sustainability'.
All content © Copyright Sheffield City Council 2016


A small robotic device used by doctors for less-invasive surgery was able to reattach part of a grape skin in a painstakingly delicate operation.
The Da Vinci surgery system, which has recently begun to assist surgeons in hysterectomies and gall bladder removals, was filmed as it sutured the tiny berry back together.
The robot, which uses miniature instruments is remotely operated by a surgeon, performs complicated tasks such as tying knots and perfectly placing the skin on the grape during the stitching process.
A video of the procedure shows the remarkable precision, though it is not until the end that viewers see that all of the action is taking place inside a small bottle.
Grape skins are only fractions of a centimeter thick.
Surgeons use the device to be able to work effectively inside patients' bodies using keyhole surgery rather than creating bigger incisions that leave scars.
The Da Vinci robot, where the surgeon looks at a 3D video of the area being operated on at a large console, is able to complete procedures where the surgical hole is less than two centimeters.


text:
Cornell Research
Cornell's Research
Serves the Region and Beyond
Criteria for Inclusion
Small Business Development
Within Tompkins County
Outside Tompkins County, Within New York State
Beyond New York State
Cornell Organizations
Agriculture and Food Technology Park
BR Venture Fund
Cornell Business and Technology Park
Cornell Center for Advanced Technology in Life Science Enterprise
Cornell Center for Technology Licensing
Entrepreneurship at Cornell
Kevin M. McGovern Family Center for Venture Development in the Life Sciences
Praxis Center for Venture Development
Bodi Energy
A Cornell Business and Technology Park Company
R&D: Nanomaterials
Bodi Energy (previously Axium Nanofibers LLC) is a material science company with offices in Los Angeles and R&D and manufacturing capabilities in Austin, Texas. The company has developed a breakthrough process that enables large-scale manufacturing of novel nanomaterials for a broad range of applications. Its lead commercial program is focused on a lithium ion battery platform that delivers energy densities of roughly 600 Wh/kg. These lithium ion battery materials are very thin and flexible, facilitating unique configurations for small mobile and wearable devices.
Cornell Connection
Bodi Energy's foundational technology is licensed from Cornell University. The company's breakthrough process was developed at Cornell by a professor in the Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
www.bodienergy.com
Bodi Energy 95 Brown Road, Room 252, M/S 1012 Ithaca, NY 14850
edonsky@me.com
CEO:
Eric Donsky
Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation
222 Day Hall, Cornell University
vp_research@cornell.edu
© 2022. All Rights Reserved Cornell University. (Last Updated: 10/05/2021)
Site by: Zanzinato


The visuals are deeply effective: entire sections are wordless, propelling the reader through dramatic scenes and inviting reflection during quiet, contemplative spots…Pencil, ink, and watercolor illustrations break out of loose panel structuring; sharp lines and shadow heighten tension and expanses of open white space sometimes draw the eye to a specific scene. This graphic novel will find a welcome home with fairy-tale fans who have outgrown the Disney version (or, less likely, the Grimm version) but still find the tale compelling.
Phelan (Bluffton) delivers a spectacular 20th-century update of "Snow White," transplanting the story to Jazz Age and Depression-era New York City, where themes of jealousy, beauty, and power find a comfortable home…Moody gray and sepia panels carry the story forward, punctuated by splashes of lurid red—for an animal heart, procured at a butcher's shop, or an apple tainted with a syringe. Snow's affectionate relationship with "the Seven," a group of street children, is among this adaptation's most potent elements. The boys are hesitant to tell Snow their names, but readers will want tissues on hand when they finally do.
Spanning the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression, Phelan's noir-esque adaption of the classic fairy tale is atmospheric, clever, and touching…Especially resonant are the relationships that the heroine builds with her young protectors. The last few colorful pages will tug at heartstrings as Snow, the Seven, and an intrepid Detective Prince get their happy endings. A stunning, genre-bending graphic novel for all middle grade and middle school collections.
In a series of silent-movie-like vignettes, Phelan puts a Jazz Age spin on the classic tale of Snow White…Readers hungry for graphic adaptations of fairy tales will find their appetites slaked here.
Fans of Snow White will enjoy this new take on the beloved tale—a graphic novel set in Depression-era New York…All of the illustrations are full of emotion, propelling the story forward quickly with minimal dialogue.
Phelan's wonderfully expressive and realistic faces do most of the storytelling, and readers will linger on the dynamic structure of each page, as the artist's characteristic soft edges contrast with interesting page layouts…Fans of Brian Selznik's books will enjoy this one.
Nowhere is Phelan's combination of drawing prowess and storytelling ability more on display than in his 2016 graphic novel Snow White, which is sparing in its use of text, conveying most of the story solely through its artwork.


text:
Q: Web forms inline syntax highlighting I work on an application that reads JavaScript code as input. The code is entered using an HTML form.
Is there a way to dynamically syntax-highlight the code to improve readability?

A: No.  You'll have to use a JavaScript library to provide a code editor.  We recently used EditArea and it worked pretty well.


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Miles O'Keeffe
by Stu
June 1, 2019 July 21, 2020
Miles O'Keeffe is an actor born on June 20th, 1954 in Ripley, Tennessee.
After attending college in Tennessee and Mississippi, playing football and studying psychology and political science, he became a prison counselor in Tennessee. He moved to California after a couple years, in order to play for a semi-pro rugby team, but ended up getting involved in the film industry.
He appeared in the Ator movies in the 80s, and in a string of other films throughout the end of the 90s. His last appearance was in The Unknown in 2005. He is known to be a fan of parodies and ripoffs of the early Ator movies, embracing their cult classic theme.
Miles O'Keeffe Filmography
Tarzan the Ape Man (1981)
Ator, the Fighting Eagle (1982)
Sword of the Valiant (1984)
The Blade Master (1984)
The Lone Runner (1986)
Iron Warrior (1987)
Hell's Heroes (1987)
Waxwork (1988)
Film Gallery
Miles O'Keeffe in Waxwork (1988)
Miles O'Keeffe in Ator, the Fighting Eagle (1982)
Miles O'Keeffe and Bo Derek in Tarzan the Ape Man (1981)
Miles O'Keeffe in The Lone Runner (1986)
Miles O'Keeffe in Iron Warrior (1987)
Miles O'Keeffe and Sabrina Siani in Ator, the Fighting Eagle (1982)
Miles O'Keeffe in The Blade Master (1984)
Red Scorpion (1988)
Chuck Wagner
When I was in high school I would actually sign up for junk mail. It didn't matter what it was: newspapers, magazines, anything. I'd get at least three free newspapers every day that I would never read. I'd just collect them and store them in boxes. I loved getting junk mail. It made me feel…important.
And then a couple of years later I discovered aromatherapy and things got better for me.
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"After 6 months of dating, Cody and I have decided that we are going to move on from our relationship. I feel very blessed and fortunate to have shared such beautiful memories with such an incredible guy. Bachelor in Paradise was more then I could have imagined. Cody truly has blessed my life and the life of my daughter in more ways than he will ever know. His positive impact on Brielle is something I will forever be grateful for.
I am so grateful I followed my heart and that it lead me to Cody. He has made me feel so loved and so appreciated. I only wish that it could have ended up the way we had hoped. I wish nothing but happiness and love for Cody! Brielle and I look forward to a life long friendship with him and will always love and support him in all he does. Thanks to everyone, again, for all the love and support!"


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Oakville team chases FireFit victory
Aug. 14, 2012, Oakville, Ont. – With one FireFit competition remaining before the national championship in Baie-Comeau, Que., on Labour Day weekend, the frontrunners have emerged and the team from Oakville, Ont., is among those hoping to grab the top spot.
Oakville firefighter Shaun Henderson, who placed first in the individual competition in Brampton, Ont., was second in Kitchener earlier this summer and won an event in Sandusky, Ohio, says that while the competition in all categories – individual, team, tandem and relay – is tough, he hopes the combination of youth and experience on the Oakville team will make the difference.
"The team is by far the strongest we've had," Henderson said in an interview Monday afternoon, following the team's strong showing at the GTA regional competition in Brampton, Ont., on the weekend.
The Oakville Fire Department's FireFit team of Dave Walker (left), Josh Gowaniock, Shaun Henderson and Darren Van Zandbergen is poised to vie for top spot in the national competition in Baie-Comeau in September.
Photo by Laura King.
Henderson's individual time of 1:19:35 in Brampton was half a second better than rival Claude Belanger of Longueuil, Que. – next weekend's competition is in Longueuil. Oakville teammates Darren Van Zandbergen (1:24:90), Dave Walker (1:33:14), Josh Gowanlock (1:41:87) and Jeff Yee (2:27:95) placed fifth, 14th, 34th and 97th in a field of 120. The top three times are counted towards the total score.
"By far the guy who's made the most strides is Darren," Henderson said.
Van Zandbergen, a former DND firefighter, joined the Oakville department four years ago as a training officer and at 39, is the senior member of the team.
The Oakville team was first overall in Brampton in both the team and the relay events; it was first in the tandem in Sandusky, first in the team event in Kitchener and third in the relay.
The Hamilton, Ont., team of Justin Couperus, Louis Bouteau, Dean Morrow, Michael Jones and Danny Folino, which placed second in Brampton, and the Longueuil team anchored by Belanger with Jean-Sebastien Goyette, Jean-Francois Doucette, Stephane Deschenes and Adam Wyatt – third in Brampton – are both contenders for top spot at the national championship. Brampton's team of Ian Pringle, Sean Romanek, Drew Hueter, Brad Welsh and Peter Gatto, which placed forth on the weekend, is also in the mix.
Henderson, meanwhile, is enjoying his best times and hopes to knock a few seconds off the 1:19 mark in the next couple of weeks while practicing at Oakville's training centre.
"I've never had a fast start like this," Henderson said. "Typically as we've competed over the years you start out a little bit slower and as get to nationals you drop your time. I'm kind of looking at my season now and a wondering if I have 1:19 now, can I be in the 1:15 range? I feel it's my strongest year so far."
The 2010 and 2011 FireFit champion, Graham MacKenzie from Kamloops, ran 1:18:64 in the Pacific regionals this summer, while Jamie McGarva of Team Westshore Terminals clocked 1:17:56. The two west-coast competitors, along with Belanger, Sudbury's Trevor Fera (1:19:38 in Kitchener) and Hamilton's Couperus (1:20:62), along with Henderson, are at the top of the depth chart heading into the final weeks.
"Right now looks like it's among six or eight guys," Henderson said.
Kamloops' MacKenzie ran 1:15:66 in last year's Firefit championship to lead his team to first place with an overall time of 4:01:11; Oakville was second at 4:08:51, with Henderson clocking 1:19:04.
In the women's division, Central York's Amber Bowman has run consistent times this season (2:11:96 in Kitchener and 2:11:52 in Brampton) while newcomer Britany Holmberg with the County of Brant fire Department is improving with times in the 3:30 range.
Ottawa house fire sends elderly man to hospital
Ontario department fundraises to buy hydraulic cutters
Rooftop renovations complicated fight against deadly blaze
Massive fire destroys greenhouse complex
Size-up
Keybo launches medical glove warmers for first responders


Sash Windows Leicestershire will clean the window joints, taking away any rotten wood and insert new resin or wood into the sash frame. Before Sash Windows Leicestershire reinstate the sash into its frame, we will install new hardware, replace weather-strips, chains and cords, and easily counterbalance and smoothen the pulleys. If you chose to ask Sash Windows Leicestershire to expertly repair your current sash window, you may see a great improvement in their overall efficiency, which includes significant noise or draught reduction and soundproofing.
By allowing Sash Windows Leicestershire to perform small-scale repair work in your home, we can almost certainly rectify any usual difficulties associated with sash windows. Some of the benefits of Sash Windows Leicestershire repairing your window can include a decrease in draught and rattling, raised property worth and reduced energy bills. To reduce draught from your sash windows and increase their general efficiency, Sash Windows Leicestershire offer fantastic draught proofing services that will be of crucial value .
Complete or partial window replacement by Sash Windows Leicestershire may be a possibility to mull over if contending resolute hardship or decay to your sash windows. By removing the current sash from your window frame, Sash Windows Leicestershire can later on begin the repair job that is needed. The sash itself will be industriously sanded and primed by the Sash Windows Leicestershire craftsman In preparation for the window to be reinstated and pained.
During Sash Windows Leicestershire repair services we choose to apply a specialist sealant that significantly decreases both draught and air leakage. A repair to your sash windows also carried out by Sash Windows Leicestershire allows that you can decide on any new decorative adjustments to their outward appearance. The majority of repair work that we encourage at Sash Windows Leicestershire results in your windows looking as if they were not the same ones or as though they were brand new.


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Explosive Stock- Xunlei Limited (NASDAQ:XNET)'s E-P-S strolling at -0.54
On Monday, shares of Xunlei Limited (NASDAQ:XNET) reached at $3.02 price level during last trade its distance from 20 days simple moving average was 2.08%, and its distance from 50 days simple moving average was 5.34% while it has a distance of -9.45% from the 200 days simple moving average.
Past 5 years growth of XNET observed at 18.80%, and for the next five years the analysts that follow this company are expecting its growth at 19.00%. The average true range (ATR) is a measure of volatility introduced by Welles Wilder in his book, "New Concepts in Technical Trading Systems." The true range indicator is the greatest of the following: current high less the current low, the absolute value of the current high less the previous close and the absolute value of the current low less the previous close. The average true range is a moving average, generally 14 days, of the true ranges.
The stock has a market cap of $199.29M with 67.27M shares outstanding, of which the float was 65.50M shares. Analysts consider this stock active, since it switched Trading volume reached 2,297,178 shares as compared to its average volume of 1.46M shares. The Average Daily Trading Volume (ADTV) demonstrates trading activity related to the liquidity of the security. When Ave Volume tends to increase, it shows enhanced liquidity.
But when Ave Volume is lower, the security will tend to be cheap as people are not as keen to purchase it. Hence, it might have an effect on the worth of the security. XNET's relative volume was 6.16. Relative volume is a great indicator to keep a close eye on, but like most indicators it works best in conjunction with other indicators and on different time frames. Higher relative volume you will have more liquidity in the stock which will tighten spreads and allow you to trade with more size without a ton of slippage.
A beta of 1 indicates that the security's price moves with the market. A beta of less than 1 means that the security is theoretically less volatile than the market. A beta of greater than 1 indicates that the security's price is theoretically more volatile than the market. After a recent check, beta value for this stock comes out to be 1.73. A statistical measure of the dispersion of returns (volatility) for XNET producing salvation in Investors mouth, it has week volatility of 7.33% and for the month booked as 6.75%. Regardless of which metric you utilize, a firm understanding of the concept of volatility and how it is measured is essential to successful investing. A stock that maintains a relatively stable price has low volatility. When investing in a volatile security, the risk of success is increased just as much as the risk of failure.
The volatility value is used by the investors for various reasons and purposes in measuring the fundamental price change and the rate of variation in XNET's price. The ART is a specific type of indicator, which is capable of weighing up stock volatility in the financial markets effectively.
Xunlei Limited has an average true range (ATR) of 0.22. Other technical indicators are worth considering in assessing the prospects for EQT. XNET's price to sales ratio for trailing twelve months was 1.08 and price to book ratio for most recent quarter was 0.69, whereas price to cash per share for the most recent quarter was 0.81. The Company's price to free cash flow for trailing twelve months was 0. Its quick ratio for most recent quarter was 3.00. Analysts mean recommendation for the stock was 0. This number is based on a 1 to 5 scale where 1 indicates a Strong Buy recommendation while 5 represents a Strong Sell.
Xunlei Limited's shares owned by insiders remained 0, whereas shares owned by institutional owners are 22.90%.
Meanwhile, XNET traded under umbrella of Communication Services sector, the stock was traded -49.16% ahead of its 52-week high and 26.89% beyond its 52-week low. So, both the price and 52-week high indicators would give you a clear-cut picture to evaluate the price direction.
TaggedNASDAQ:XNETXNETXNET NEWSXNET STOCKXunlei Limited
Do Beta Hits Key Level? Bionano Genomics, Inc. (NASDAQ:BNGO)'s E-P-S strolling at -0.75
Investor's Alert (ATR Analysis)- Ocugen, Inc. (NASDAQ:OCGN)'s E-P-S strolling at -0.02
Top RSI Trades for the day- Sundial Growers Inc. (NASDAQ:SNDL)'s E-P-S strolling at -1.50
Previous Article Impulsive Stock- Exela Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:XELA)'s E-P-S strolling at -2.68
Next Article Sector Percentage Losers- Inpixon (NASDAQ:INPX)'s E-P-S strolling at -9.69
ATR Oversold/Overbought Signals to Track- Check-Cap Ltd. (NASDAQ:CHEK)'s E-P-S strolling at -1.01
What Historical Figures Say About This Stock? Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)'s E-P-S strolling at 3.27


text:
BASSIFONDI
Storie di confini/Backwater's Stories
Chi sono-Link
About Me-Link
The dregs of society come and go. They are like an elusive search for adventure: they exist in the imagination of the traveller and, as soon as you think you've found them, they disappear before popping up somewhere else, in a different form, at the limits of the imagination.
The Rime of the Esmeralda
06/09/10 16:27 Archiviato in: Stories
About ten years ago, I was on my way out of a hotel in Santiago de Chile, when an old man asked me if I wanted to buy a model ship. It was a beautiful, four-masted schooner. Sleek and completely white. "Her name is Esmeralda. We called her the White Lady", said the old man, who went on to boast that he had served on her crew. He was not charging much so I bought it. And carried it with me on my travels to Patagonia. "I'm on a voyage with Esmeralda", I'd chuckle to myself.
Once I got back to Italy I set the model ship on my bookshelf. Then, when I moved to a smaller apartment, I had to store it under my bed, but I always meant to let her unfurl her sails again once I'd eventually got a bigger place. My umpteenth move took me and Esmeralda to the home of another former sailor, who, like any old sailor would, began searching for Esmeralda's history.
And unfortunately he found it.
Esmeralda, a training ship for the Chilean Navy, entered service in 1954 and between 1973 and 1980, under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, was used as a floating jail and torture chamber. According to reports by Amnesty International, the US Senate and the Chilean Truth and Reconciliation Commission, at least one hundred people became victims of the death cruises. It's a story that came to be known as "the dark side of the White Lady".
Esmeralda is still used today as a training ship. She also takes part in regattas and shows. She is much admired, but also contested as symbolising the impunity still enjoyed by many criminals of Pinochet's regime.
After making this discovery I didn't know what to do with my model Esmeralda. She seemed to be the materialisation of the vessel in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel T. Coleridge, a symbol of fear and disaster.
I wondered who the old sailor that sold it to me could have been or, worse, could have done. I began to think that evil could be passed on, like an infection, from men to ships, ships to men, men to model ships. And, finally, to me.
Should I keep it, as a personal object of meditation, a sign of the attention that should be paid in our every action, of the vital curiosity that leads us to search for the meaning of everything?
Or should I get rid of it, as a way of exorcising any evil it may hold within?
In the end I decided to let it go in the sea. I would swim far away from the shore and leave it out there, in the hope that that would somehow atone for the victims. That would also be in keeping with the spirit of the ship and purify it of the evil it had witnessed and been contaminated by.
And that's what I did one beautiful September morning. The water was still warm but a sharp north-east wind was whipping up two-foot waves that broke against a barrier of rocks thirty or so yards off the shore. I swam beyond those rocks, pushing Esmeralda out in front of me as I went. When I thought I was far enough out, I let her go. She tipped to the left, showing her green keel, a little darker than the water. She was still beautiful, and quite at ease on the water. I watched as the current carried her quickly away from me. I turned back to shore and started swimming faster than usual, keeping my head underwater and trying to imagine the sea bed and its ghosts. When I stopped, she had disappeared from view behind the crest of the nearest wave.
As soon as I got back to the shore a kid came up to me. "Where's your ship?" he asked.
"I let it go".
"Why?".
"Because it was a bad ship".
"But bad ships are black and have the skull and crossbones. Yours was all white".
"It was still bad though".
I didn't think a kid with Captain Hook on his mind would understand the concept of karma or of cosmic order. Then I wondered whether I understood it myself. Whether, in the end, Esmeralda was innocent and I hadn't been trying to get rid of something inside me, to wash it away in the sea water.
On a lookout above the sea the old sailor who had revealed the history of the Esmeralda was waiting for me. He had watched the model ship drift and eventually smash against a rock. I looked up the exact coordinates: 43°37'05.01" N and 13°32'02.73" E.
Sooner or later, in a few months maybe, when the water is cold and the sea calm, I might dive down to look for her. Perhaps I'll find the answer to the voices troubling the Coleridge's Ancient Mariner:
But tell me, tell me! speak again,
Thy soft response renewing –
What makes that ship drive on so fast?
What is the ocean doing?
© 2009 Massimo Morello Contattami/Contact
Bassifondi >


text:
"Every Exit is an Entrance" Exhibition at Nailya Alexander Gallery, NY
MAY 24 – JULY 23, 2021
At 514 Gallery, NYC
From MoMA photography series by Jurek Wajdowicz.
Book Review: "67/11" by Jurek Wajdowicz
by Gerhard Clausing
Letting go of one's remaining parent and of one's parental home is a formidable task. Suddenly feelings of abandonment may emerge, and childhood memories become conscious again. When combined with making arrangements for the funeral and gazing upon what remains in that home of moments now past, and from the perspective of another country which has become a second home, we are prepared to sense multiple layers of memory and recollections, as well as cultural and personal perspectives in glancing back on so much detail of a shared life.
Jurek Wajdowicz is up to that task and then some. A highly regarded designer and fine-art photographer based in the US, he traveled back to Lodz, Poland, to pay final respects to his mother, and now allows us to participate in that process through his eyes, his mind, and his emotions.
by Cary Benbow
67/11 is a new monograph by Jurek Wajdowicz which focuses on a series of photographs he made in his mother's home in Lodz, Poland, when he returned there for the last time following her death to make the funeral arrangements and say goodbye. 67/11 is an artistic response to a deep sense of personal loss and the painful void it has left behind. It is an emotionally charged work that is at once starkly simple and richly layered, and an expression of sadness and poetry.
"Luminescence" Exhibition at the Book Art Museum, Lodz
The Book Art Museum presents large format fine art photographs by Jurek Wajdowicz (New York) and handmade papers by Ewa Latkowska-Żychska (Warsaw), two artist friends, in their first joint exhibition called "Światła i Światy"/ "Luminescence" at the Lodz Book Art Museum at ul. Tymienieckiego 24. This is the first exhbition by Wajdowicz in his original home city.
"67/11" – New book of photography
Published by EWS Press. New York. FEBRUARY 2018
"In his new, intimate, limited-edition book of photography, 67/11, Jurek Wajdowicz, internationally acclaimed designer and fine art photographer, explores the universal experience of death and the meaning of home. Drawn from personal experience, this emotionally expressive work is at once starkly simple and richly layered. Wajdowicz's response to a deep sense of personal loss and the painful void it has left is to create images of beauty, sadness and poetry." – CLAIRE LEWIS, Editor. North American Media Group.
New York – Primary Forces @ Nailya Alexander Gallery
JUNE – JULY 2016
Jurek Wajdowicz and his abstract photographs from the "Liminal Spaces" series are among the several artists featured in the group show "Primary Forces" at the Nailya Alexander Gallery at 595 Madison Ave, Suite 704. Other artists represented include Denis Brihat, Irina Nakhova and Alexey Titarenko. The exhibition runs till July 22nd.
"Pride & Joy: Taking the Streets of New York City" – photobook by Jurek Wajdowicz.
Published by The New Press. New York, JUNE 2016
"…For anyone with a passion for freedom and for vivid, thoughtful photography, Pride & Joy—by noted photographer and artist Jurek Wajdowicz with an introduction by the nationally known satirist and activist Kate Clinton and published in the wake of the historic U.S. Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage—is an ode to this New York institution. Energetic, colorful, and irreverent, these images are a playful confirmation of equality. Incorporating portraits of marchers and bystanders and leading figures in the LGBT community, these photographs revel in the rich diversity of the parade. Exquisitely presented, the book includes interviews with members of the queer community about their relationship to the march, offering a startling variety of responses to this integral part of New York life. Pride & Joy is an inspiration not only to the queer community but to all those still fighting for their basic human rights. The fourth in a major new series of LGBT-themed photography books, Pride & Joy is a visual treat for photography lovers, an inspiration for the global queer community, and a singular tribute to New York City."
Pride & Joy was designed by Emerson, Wajdowicz Studios (EWS).
RMH Collection
Four of Jurek Wajdowicz's works (2013-2015) are now part of the art collection of the RMH Foundation in California.
Shown here are three photographs (above, left to right):
Untitled I 81B_1973 I Gadolinium I © 2015
and Untitled I 75C_1401 I © 2015.
Varsovie : Solace de Jurek Wajdowicz
Solace / Wyciszenie – Exhibition at Kasia Michalski Gallery. Warsaw
"Presented in Poland for the first time at the Kasia Michalski Gallery, Jurek Wajdowicz presents large scale, abstract photographs, which bring to mind a vision of an urban environment seen from a distance: dazzling with light and color, vibrating in constant, yet imperceptible movement. Although seemingly conflicting, both activities aim at achieving the same effect. The emotional work of memory and imagination is involved to build awareness, and bring a sense of peace and consolation both on an individual as well as on the global level. In both cases, the viewer is forced to ask and assess what he or she is looking at. Wajdowicz's works thus open our eyes not only to the world surrounding us, but also the one we should cherish inside ourselves".
The London Book Fair 2014
"Contemporary artist photographer Jurek Wajdowicz creates minimalist abstract meditative spaces — evoking dreams, sublime music and intimate transience. Making the mundane extraordinary, leaving poetry in the viewer's mind."
Lars Müller Publishers releases Jurek Wajdowicz: Liminal Spaces. Fotografie_75
NEW YORK, NY.- The dual emotions of aloneness and melancholy seem to be a relevant concept when grasping the minimalist abstracts of Jurek Wajdowicz's pictures. To say photographs at once defies the visual impact that is experienced when first viewing one of his oversized artworks that blend his subject matter into the intimate and then strips it of any mundaneness. Indeed his pictures are at most times hard pressed to be labeled photography as the viewer walks away with something intimate, sad, melancholic and surprisingly ethereal while striving to believe he has actually viewed a photograph and not a painting. Wajdowicz's limited palette conveys an emotional darkness in the lightest of his artworks while the darker subject matter is paired both with beauty and a brightness of hope, each claiming an enigma. Rarely are human forms present in this collection, yet you immediately sense the emotional yet self-contained impact of this artist letting you into his world. Wajdowicz appears simultaneously present and yet completely silent, removed and waiting. The beauty of Wajdowicz's seemingly silent images manage to both haunt and perversely soothe. In an era when artists regularly use computer adjustments Wajdowicz's work is captured and contained solely through his lens.
There is an undeniable technical photographical expertise that becomes secondary as the viewer loses the sense of viewing photography and is washed in the context of art alone. The book initially opens with a light minimal expanse of the silent ethereal in both tone and palette while the artist's selection ends with a sense of desolation that manages to exude a hopefulness within the darkness.
A haunting ethereal calm that collides with a somber brooding joy. –Jennifer Sterling
Fred Ritchin in his introduction writes "…Seeing and looking are hardly the same. The riches reside as well in the parallel universes, those which conventional photography, quoting from appearance, hardly seem to take into account. In the hints of shape in Wajdowicz's own images, in his embrace of negative space, appearance manages to conceal itself, implying the gaps of the forever in-between. The engaged viewer can then infer ways to re-imagine, while Jurek's lens argues for a less traveled space. It is no wonder that his imagery reads like jazz…"
Light…shadow.
Life…death.
Passing…existence.
A luminous form in space…hovering between a photograph and a painting. I want my work to float between representation and abstraction…perceived and imagined… an emotional freedom to the viewer. A suggestion rather than a description. I'm concerned with the issues of space…light…tone. And unpredictability.
Ambiguity…so critical to my work has a transcending effect of making the mundane beautiful…which in turn (hopefully) makes you wonder what you are looking at and why. I am probably most satisfied by my images when I can hear the music in them and the longer I manage to suspend this tension of not being able to resolve what you're looking at the more successful my work feels.
Jurek Wajdowicz's design and art photography work resides in the permanent collections of the U.S. Library of Congress (Washington, DC), the National September 11 Memorial & Museum (New York), the United Nations Headquarters (Geneva and New York), the Warsaw Museum of Posters in Wilanow (Poland), the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris), American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), Lodz Museum of Modern Art (Poland) and Hamburg's Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, among others.
Art photographer and designer Jurek Wajdowicz is, together with Lisa LaRochelle, the principal of the award-winning Emerson, Wajdowicz Studios (EWS) located in New York. Jurek Wajdowicz is acknowledged as one of the leading graphic designers internationally and is known for his photojournalistic, creative approach to design. Recently, in the 50th Anniversary Survey of the Graphic Design: USA magazine, Wajdowicz was selected among the "Most Influential Graphic Designers of the Past 50 Years."
Liminal Spaces: The Photography of Jurek Wajdowicz
Liminal Spaces, a collection of photographer Jurek Wajdowicz's minimalist, abstract images, is quite the book. The oversized publication, produced by Lars Müller, lends itself to the photographer's work, and the heavy, matte paper stock beautifully carries the depth of (or often lack of) color Wajdowicz uses to envelope viewers.
Surprisingly, the artist has only been exploring fine art photography for the past few years, but his experience and long career as a leading international graphic artist has clearly informed his grasp of visual impact as it relates to emotion.
The dual emotions of aloneness and melancholy seem to be a relevant concept when grasping the minimalist abstracts of Jurek Wajdowicz's pictures. To say photographs at once defies the visual impact that is experienced when first viewing one of his oversized artworks that blend his subject matter into the intimate and then strips it of any mundaneness. Indeed his pictures are at most times hard pressed to be labeled photography as the viewer walks away with something intimate, sad, melancholic and surprisingly ethereal while striving to believe he has actually viewed a photograph and not a painting. Wajdowicz's limited palette conveys an emotional darkness in the lightest of his artworks while the darker subject matter is paired both with beauty and a brightness of hope, each claiming an enigma. Rarely are human forms present in this collection, yet you immediately sense the emotional yet self-contained impact of this artist letting you into his world. Wajdowicz appears simultaneously present and yet completely silent, removed and waiting. The beauty of Wajdowicz's seemingly silent images manage to both haunt and perversely soothe. In an era when artists regularly use computer adjustments Wajdowicz's work is captured and contained solely through his lens.
A haunting ethereal calm that collides with a somber brooding joy.
Jennifer Sterling
A luminous form in space…hovering between a photograph and a painting. I want my work to float between representation and abstraction…perceived and imagined…an emotional freedom to the viewer. A suggestion rather than a description. I'm concerned with the issues of space…light…tone. And unpredictability. Ambiguity…so critical to my work has a transcending effect of making the mundane beautiful…which in turn (hopefully) makes you wonder what you are looking at and why. I am probably most satisfied by my images when I can hear the music in them and the longer I manage to suspend this tension of not being able to resolve what you're looking at the more successful my work feels.
Las abstracciones de Jurek Wajdowicz
El fotógrafo polaco, Jurek Wajdowicz publicó el libro Liminal Spaces. Un título que se viene a sumar al catálogo de la casa editorial Lars Müller Publishers. Las imágenes del libro obligan al lector a imaginar las historias que esconden. "Notarás que estás viendo algo capturado en su pureza, en su estado mínimo, intenso y autónomo", explica la editorial. Fotografías fuera de foco sólo permiten conocer destellos de que lo que muestra la foto, a medio camino entre la abstracción y la realidad. El trabajo de esta edición limitada fue ordenado por la diseñadora gráfica Jennifer Sterling.
Fine Art Photography: Jurek Wajdowicz
by Jennifer Sterling
The dual emotions of aloneness and melancholy seem to be a relevant concept when grasping the minimalist abstractions that are Jurek Wajdowicz's photographs. To say "photographs" at once defies the visual impact that is experienced when first viewing one of his oversized artworks, which blend his subject matter into the intimate and then strip it of any mundaneness. Indeed, his pictures are—at most times—hard pressed to be labeled photography, as the viewer walks away with something intimate, sad, melancholy and surprisingly ethereal while striving to believe he has actually viewed a photograph and not a painting.
Wajdowicz has stated that he treats his recent photography "as a deeply personal way to express his own, poetic visual language, more lyrical and complex side, and almost musical sensibilities."
When researching the background of this gifted artist, I discovered he has explored fine art photography for only the last four to five years. Polish art critic and philosopher Krystyna Zwolińska has said of Jurek's work, "The power of Wajdowicz's art comes from the tension between this impulse to turn things beautiful and the more haunting stuff, even pain, that remains."
Born in Poland, Wajdowicz is also the principal of the renowned design firm of Emerson, Wajdowicz Studios (EWS), which he runs together with his design partner, Lisa LaRochelle. They specialize in creative work for prominent nonprofit clients around the world. Wajdowicz is recognized internationally as a leader in the photojournalistic approach to graphic design, and he lectures on issue-driven design and photography. In the 50th Anniversary Survey of Graphic Design USA, Wajdowicz was selected among the "Most Influential Graphic Designers of the Past 50 Years."
Jurek Wajdowicz – Liminal Spaces Jurek Wajdowicz. Fotografie_75
Polish-born photographer Jurek Wajdowicz's new art book luxuriates the viewer with both saturated and minimalist images that float between abstraction and reality of both the perceived and the imagined. The largeness of this limited-edition publication, reminiscent of a gallery space, envelops the reader and creates a pause for each image. You realize at once you are seeing something captured in its purity—in its minimal, intense and separate state.
Fred Ritchin in his introduction writes "…Seeing and looking are hardly the same. The riches reside as well in the parallel universes, those which conventional photography, quoting from appearance, hardly seem to take into account. In the hints of shape in Wajdowicz's own images, in his embrace of negative space, appearance manages to conceal itself, implying the gaps of the forever in-between. The engaged viewer can then infer ways to re-imagine, while Jurek's lens argues for a less traveled space. It is no wonder that his imagery reads like jazz…" (from the publisher)


This might be a tough one! I dare say several other more qualified persons have discussed this. But I thought I would write down some thoughts anyway.
Who knows they might have meaning for someone? Why is it that this becomes an issue predominately for the over fifty crowd, or for someone who has had a loved one die or had a brush with death themselves? Do we need to be reminded about how tenuous our lives really are? Maybe…. Maybe a gentle reminder is in order periodically to shake up our routine and help us to make more of the time we have. We don't have time to think about mortality or the meaning of life while we are so busy getting somewhere! But where are we going? I think all too often, life is a day to day struggle that leaves little time for thoughts of larger issues. Some of us really don't take the time to think about such things, some of us don't want to or we put off thinking about them until it's to late.
I'm not suggesting that we sit down and think about death once a day. But perhaps thinking about life every day might be of value. Life is what happens to us while we are busy living! I believe the meaning of life is in a child's first step, in a gentle moment spent with someone you care about, or even in that sunset that is unique in itself and will never happen again! We can often be so preoccupied with the struggle to find meaning in our lives that we miss it while struggling so hard to grasp it.
If you can give, give, it will be returned a hundred-fold!
If you have loved ones, somehow manage to let them know every day!
If you have friends don't let them go!
Learn to be happy and to find happiness in small things!
Life is this "MOMENT", not yesterday or tomorrow. Try to have some of these moments have meaning for you and for others.
Search for meaning in life's journey. Along the way, not in the destination!
The only real measure of success in life is if somehow along the way you have managed to be happy!


What is the scope of the bond?
The second question ($24,420,000) is for a new school south of town. It would be a kindergarten through sixth-grade building.
Click here for more detailed information about the bond scope.
How will the district pay for this work?
Part of any school district's bond is paid for by the district's taxpayers, but currently 28% of new bonds will be paid for through state aid.
NOTE: Existing bond debt is supported by 53% state aid – this is the result of a change in state-level funding.
What is the impact to homeowners and businesses in the district?
Why is this bond more expensive?
The board of education and community vision team spent a long time debating the needs of the district. The overarching reason the cost of the bond didn't go down is because the need didn't go down. Instead of putting a bandaid on the problem, they wanted to create a long-term solution.
Additionally, the need for storm shelters at some of our elementary schools was identified after the previous bond attempt. Originally, the team believed they could refit the doors and do other minor work, but instead they will have to build the storm shelters to be up to current FEMA standards.
We also added the deferred maintenance for the HVAC. This was in response to the chiller breaking at NHS. We had to pay for it out of our capital outlay which means less money available to our teachers and classrooms.
Lastly, inflation and other construction costs are increasing by approximately four percent a year, meaning less scope is possible for the same amount of dollars.
Aren't we still paying for the 1997 bond?
No, the district actually paid off the 1997-98 bond early (September 2017). Additionally, by refinancing to lower interest rates twice over the term (once in 2007, and again in 2014), the actions of the Board of Education saved district patrons $199,730.00 in interest costs.
What is our bond debt compared to other districts our size?
We have the lowest bond debt when compared to districts our size in our region.
Click here to view the 2016-2017 regional rates.
Due to funding, we will not be able to apply or run a bond issue before July 2019, when we will be competing against other districts for funds. If we are accepted, we plan to have an election on September 3, 2019, but we will not be certain of this until approval from the State Board of Education.
Why does the date of the election keep moving?
The main reason is the state bond cap. Due to recent changes in state law, there is an annual limit to the funding available for building construction (the "cap" is equal to the amount of bond obligations that roll off the state books each year). We were hoping we could apply for a bond in November and have an election this spring, but because so many school districts passed their bond election, there was no funding available.
Since November, a line in the state statute has been brought to our attention. It provides that a district that has been denied access to funds could move up in the list of districts that would be approved in the next school year. The hope is that when everyone applies for funds in July, it would move USD 373 toward the front. Additionally, it would show lawmakers that districts may need more funding.
On February 22, 2019, the district made its case to the State Board of Education and requested an Attorney General's opinion on the statutory interpretation. We're currently awaiting word on whether this will happen.
How does the two-question ballot work?
There will be two different questions on the ballot. The first question can pass by itself, but the second question needs the first to pass for it to be able to move forward. This was a decision made by the Board of Education.
Why do we need new buildings when we shut down other schools like Washington, Roosevelt, and Lincoln?
These schools were single-section schools, meaning we could only have one class per grade level. They also were not ADA accessible. We could have maintained those buildings, but they wouldn't have met today's educational standards.
So, is it really true that nothing has been done in the science rooms at the high school?
The old science rooms haven't had any work done. We did add a few science classrooms with the previous bond, but the original science rooms haven't had any work done since the high school was constructed, aside from occasional maintenance and repairs. For example, the flooring has been changed – probably multiple times since 1973 – but nothing to change or improve the learning environment.
The science wing will have six classrooms, but we have eight instructors; how will that work?
There is no plan to reduce the science department. The goal is to get the entire department into the same area, and there are options to reconfigure the existing space to accomplish that.
Why is there work being done at Walton if Walton will eventually close if question two passes?
The district will need to use the Walton space until the new school is built, which will take two to three years. In the meantime, minimal dollars will need to be spent to keep students and staff safe and in a quality learning environment.
What will happen to the program at the Walton Rural Life Center?
The plan is to keep the program in place and move it to the new school south of town.
Does the new elementary school cost include land?
Land acquisition is not included. The plan is to use capital outlay for that.
How many "rural" students does Walton serve?
As of the last school year, there were thirty-four students coming from within Walton city limits (and the surrounding rural areas). The remaining balance of students come from the city of Newton.
How would this impact South Breeze?
Since the Walton program will be moved to the new school, students (and their parents) who are currently enrolled or choose to be enrolled at the new school will have the opportunity to attend there. South Breeze's boundaries currently include areas south of Highway 50. With a new school in that area, the district will begin the process of realigning boundaries to ensure more even enrollments throughout the district.
Why do we need another gym at the high school?
We only have one regulation-sized gym at the high school right now. Willis Gym is not regulation-sized, which keeps us from hosting certain sporting events or tournaments. Additionally, Willis Gym is not easily accessible and far away from bathrooms and concessions. We also have a growing need for space for our physical education classes during the day. Our gyms are extremely crowded during those times.
More importantly, the new gym is not just a gym; it will also serve as a storm shelter. This was one of the most cost-effective ways to build a storm shelter for the high school while addressing an additional need.
Will the new gym and storm shelter at Newton High impact parking?
Right now, just the drive will need to be relocated, and the goal is to not lose any parking spaces.
What will happen to Willis Gym?
The teachers and building administrators will decide how Willis Gym will be repurposed to best address the needs of the students and teachers. It could be used as a collaborative space for different classrooms. It could be used as additional physical education space. It is best if the people who work in the building every day design how that space will be used. The design process will begin after the election.
I've heard about the possibility of using glass walls in some locations. Will that be safe and are we going to actually use these glass walls?
There have been no decisions made about how walls will be constructed. Using glass is a design feature that many schools use for supervision purposes, particularly in areas used for collaboration. These decisions will be part of the design phase which will take place after the election. Student and staff safety is our number one priority. The architects will work with local law enforcement to ensure that every appropriate measure is in place.
Will we be adding any student collaboration space?
Yes, providing collaborative learning and working spaces for students is one of the driving educational elements to be considered when designing the reconfigured space at Newton High School. Emphasis will be placed on spaces for large and small groups, as well as individual learning spaces, for students to work collaboratively.
Will staff be able to talk to you before you come up with plans?
Staff will be involved from the beginning of the actual design process (upon bond passage). There will be many months of design and collaboration between the architects and the staff at USD 373, to create the best final product for our students and teachers.
When we talk about safety and security, how does it impact the non-original place (i.e. Brooks Trade Center)?
The Community Vision Team looked at travel time to get from one area of campus to another. The new shelter would be within the estimated travel time needed for students to reach the shelter from anywhere on campus.
Why are we spending so much money on deferred maintenance for our HVAC units? Did the district just not take care of them?
Air conditioning and heat was added to our buildings as a part of the 1997 bond projects. Because of this, all of our HVAC units are toward the end of their life. We've been properly maintaining these units; they are just old. This bond will allow us to spread out the replacement of these units so we can avoid this situation in the future.


Greek flutist Eftihia V. Arkoudis is a performer and educator who recently joined the faculty of Frostburg State University in Maryland, while still pursuing her doctorate on a full scholarship at West Virginia University. She is a winner of West Virginia University's Young Artist Competition and International Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition (2016), an alternate winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society and National Flute Association Convention 'Into the Music' Masterclass (2018), and an alternate finalist of Byron Hester Competition (2015).
As an orchestral and chamber musician, she has served as the principal flutist of the Orpheus Kammerochester Wien, Junges Tonkünstler Orchester, Greek-Turkish Youth Symphony Orchestra, the WVU Symphony Orchestra, and several other ensembles, giving her the opportunity to perform and record in prestigious venues of Greece, Austria, Germany, and Turkey. Currently, she performs nationally and regionally as a founding member of the award-winning BETA Quartet, who released their debut album after making it as semifinalists in Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and winning the Flute Society of Kentucky Flute Quartet Competition (2017).
As an advocate for new music and integrative arts, Arkoudis has given the world premiere of several new works, including newly commissioned projects, and has a passion for adding a theatrical element to her interpretations. Her musical activities have been supported by grants from West Virginia University and Friends of Flutes Foundation, and the Susan B. Hardesty, Eleana T. Donley, and Valerie Canady scholarships. She has performed in the masterclasses of Alberto Almarza, Krzysztof Kaczka, Lorna McGhee, Franscesca Arnorne, Erwin Klambauer, and Caroline Debonne, and was selected as a performer for the Jasmine Choi International Masterclass in Austria (2013) and the William Bennett Flute Academy in the US (2017).
Arkoudis has graduated with her Master's in Music Performance from West Virginia University and holds artistic diplomas with honors and awards from the Prayner Konservatorium Wien and the Athens Conservatoire. She has a Bachelor's in Science from the Technological Institute of Athens and has also studied Music Business and Entrepreneurship. Her primary teachers are Nina Assimakopoulos, Reza Najfar, Urs Ruttiman, Panagioti Drakos, and Danae Kioupouroglou.