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Andy Worthington on the Mess That's Afghanistan
Posted on February 28, 2008 by RagBlog
Afghanistan: The Brutal and Unnecessary War the Media Aren't Telling You About
By Joshua Holland
27/02/08 "AlterNet" — – They say journalists provide the first draft of history. With the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan, that draft led to an almost universal consensus, at least among Americans, that the attack was a justifiable act of self-defense. The Afghanistan action is commonly viewed as a "clean" conflict as well — a war prosecuted with minimal loss of life, and one that didn't bring the kind of international opprobrium onto the United States that the invasion of Iraq would lead to a year later.
Those views are also held by many Americans who are critical of the excesses of the Bush administration's "War on Terror." But there's a disconnect there. Everything that followed — secret detentions, torture, the invasion of Iraq, the assault on domestic dissent — flowed inevitably from the failure to challenge Bush's claim that an act of terror required a military response. The United States has a rich history of abandoning its purported liberal values during times of war, and it was our acceptance of Bush's war narrative that led to the abuses that have shattered America's moral standing before the world.
In his book, The Guantánamo Files, historian and journalist Andy Worthington offers a much-needed corrective to the draft of the Afghanistan conflict that most Americans saw on their nightly newscasts. Worthington is the first to detail the histories of all 774 prisoners who have passed through the Bush administration's "legal black hole" at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. But his history starts in Afghanistan, and makes it abundantly clear that the road to Guantánamo — not to mention Abu Ghraib — began in places like Kandahar.
AlterNet recently asked Worthington what that road looked like at its point of origin.
Joshua Holland: I think most Americans believe that we went into Afghanistan to rout anti-American or anti-Western "jihadi," but your book captures the fact that the U.S. entered on one side of a long-standing civil war that had nothing to do with any sort of "clash of civilizations" between East and West. Can you give us some sense of what that conflict was about?
Andy Worthington: Sure, it's a very good question, actually. Briefly, the roots of the conflict lie in the Afghan resistance to the Soviet invasion in the 1980s, when the United States, via Pakistani intermediaries, and the Saudis vied to fund the mujahideen — Afghan warlords and their soldiers, backed up by a rather smaller number of Arab recruits.
At the end of the 1980s, when the Soviet Union withdrew, the country was plunged into a civil war, as the various warlords, pumped up with billions of dollars of U.S. and Saudi aid, fought each other to gain control of the country. Tens of thousands of civilians died, and crime and human rights abuses were rife.
Largely in response to this lawlessness, the Taliban — initially a group of ultraorthodox religious students from the south of the country — rose up to cleanse the country by creating a pure Islamic state. Their project, too, was soon derailed by brutality and by a religious fundamentalism that shocked the West, but it was the struggle between the Taliban and the warlords of the Northern Alliance that attracted thousands of foreign foot soldiers to Afghanistan in the 1990s, summoned by fatwas issued by radical sheikhs in their homelands, which required them to help the Taliban in their struggle against the Northern Alliance.
Osama Bin Laden, who had been living in Saudi Arabia and Sudan in the post-Soviet period, returned to Afghanistan in 1996 and became involved in funding military training camps and building up his plans for a global, anti-American jihad, but — although there was some overlap between Al Qaeda and parts of the Taliban leadership — the vast majority of the recruits, as I've indicated, were involved not in a grand "clash of civilizations" but in a provincial inter-Muslim civil war.
Holland: That's an important point. There's a common belief that a seamless integration existed between the Taliban and Bin Laden's group, and that integration justified our attacking Afghanistan, a nation-state, in "self-defense." But in reality, the Taliban was busy fighting this inter-Muslim civil war and had little or no role in Al Qaeda. Let's go a bit further: just how much overlap was there?
Worthington: According to a senior intelligence official interviewed by the journalist David Rose in 2004, the overlap was very small. Rose was told, "In 1996 it was nonexistent, and by 2001, no more than 50 people." Now this official was referring to an overlap of fairly high-level people in both organizations, and certain commentators have pointed out that Al Qaeda's "Arab Brigade" of around 500 soldiers contributed to the Taliban's military strength, but, to return to what we discussed before, this was in the context of an inter-Muslim civil war, and not a war against the United States.
There were certainly major divisions within the Taliban leadership regarding Bin Laden, and even Mullah Omar, the Taliban leader, was apparently unimpressed by Bin Laden in the years after his return to Afghanistan. In 1998, Omar had even been planning to betray Bin Laden to the Saudis, but when Al Qaeda attacked the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the U.S. retaliated by launching cruise missile attacks on training camps in Afghanistan, Omar drew closer to Bin laden. Even so, the Taliban offered to hand over Bin laden after 9/11 if proof was offered of his involvement in the 9/11 attacks.
Holland: They were so close in 1998 — the deal had been done, and two jets carrying Saudi Prince Turki and a group of Saudi commandos had actually landed in Afghanistan and were waiting to pick up Bin Laden when the deal soured.
Worthington: That's right. And another clear sign of the lies involved in the "seamless integration" you refer to happened on Oct. 7, 2001, the first night of "Operation Enduring Freedom," when the U.S. military announced that it had bombed 23 Al Qaeda training camps. As I mention in the book, of the dozens of training camps established in Afghanistan from the 1980s onwards, most were funded by Pakistan and wealthy donors in the Gulf countries. Some were run by Afghan warlords, others by Pakistani groups and others by militant groups from other countries. Although bin Laden had a few camps of his own, it was inappropriate to describe all the training camps in Afghanistan as "Al Qaeda camps."
Holland: OK, let me go back briefly to an earlier point. Supporters of Bush's global network of "black" prisons say that those who ended up in them were "unlawful combatants." And you said that a lot of people from around the Muslim world were drawn to serve as foot soldiers in Afghanistan's civil war, but in the book, you also make it clear that many were not even foot soldiers — not combatants at all — but religious students, aid workers and other adventurous young people, and many of them would later get caught up in the chaos that followed the invasion and ended up at Gitmo.
Worthington: Yes, that's right. I'd say that between 70 and 100 of the foreign — non-Afghan — detainees had traveled to Afghanistan to provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people, to teach or study the Koran, as economic migrants, or even because they were curious about the "pure Islamic state" that, in some quarters, the Taliban was alleged to have established. A similar number were captured in Pakistan. Charity workers were captured near the border, where they had traveled to provide assistance at refugee camps, and others — including missionaries, entrepreneurs, economic migrants, refugees and students — were actually captured elsewhere in Pakistan, in towns and cities far from the "battlefields" of Afghanistan.
And then, of course, there are the Afghan detainees, who made up over a quarter of Guantánamo's total population. Many of these were unwilling conscripts, who were forced to serve the Taliban, and most of the rest were picked up either on the basis of false intelligence — because the U.S. forces did not know who to trust — or were handed over by their rivals, in business or in politics, who told false stories to the Americans.
Read the entire interview here.


I was surprised how enjoyable I found this unusual science fiction/MI5 adventure. It defied the genres and the plot kept me on edge to the very end.
The science fiction part is pretty straightforward if not a bit unusual. A research laboratory attached to MI5 is working on replicating animals and humans where the replica is under the command of the original - a really great idea because you can send a replica soldier into battle and the original is never killed. An absent minded Professor has successfully tested this kind of replication on animals and believes he is ready for a human test. Being impatient he asks his Secretary, Beth, to be the first human experiment. Things go wrong when the Beth's replica is a complete independent replica/clone (same genes, same fingerprints and same memories), who is not under the control of the original. When MI5 find this out they want to terminate the replica but Beth 2 realises this and goes on the run.
The story is cleverly written as it moves from Beth 1 (the original, written in the third person) to Beth 2 (the replica, written in the first person). While they remain identical, Beth 2's character develops differently because she has to endure great hardship and becomes extremely self-sufficient to survive. Beth 1 is protected by the security service and unbelievably starts a relationship with her MI5 protector.
These are great ingredients for an enjoyable, if somewhat unbelievable romp of a story. Well done Lexi Revellian, I will certainly read more of your books.


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Tales of a Family
Barnhill Family Tree
Margeret McDonald
Birth ABT 1848 • Ohio
Death 1932 • Fenwich, Michigan
Wilson Gaylord Reeder (1885–1964)
Birth ABT 1885 • Michigan
Death OCT 1964 • Michigan
1900 United States Federal Census
Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952
Harold LeRoy Reeder (1932–2004)
Birth 08 JUL 1932 • Plymouth, Wayne, Michigan
Death 14 JUN 2004 • Ilwaco, Pacific, Washington
Florence Katherine Knacker (1895–1943)
Harold LeRoy Reeder
8 Jul 1932 – Plymouth, Wayne, Michigan
14 Jun 2004 – Ilwaco, Pacific, Washington
My father, Harold LeRoy Reeder, was born on July 8, 1932 in Plymouth, Michigan. His parents were Florence (Katherine) Knacker and Wilson Gaylord Reeder. He had three sisters and two brothers: Margaret (1919), Billy (1921), Hazel (1924), Betty (1928), and Ralph (1935).
In 1935 when he was about three, my father and his family lived in Plymouth, Michigan with his parents. In 1940 at the age of seven, he and his family lived in Superior, Michigan. In 1943 when Harold was 11, he lost his mother. Catherine died from leukemia in Redford, Michigan.
In 1950, Harold joined the United States Navy. After his honorable discharge in 1954, he joined the Corps of Engineers and served as a bridge painter. He painted The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge in California. He also signed up with The United States Army and fought in the Korean War.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
/**
 *
 */
package querqy.model;

/**
 * @author René Kriegler, @renekrie
 *
 */
public interface BooleanParent extends Node {

    void removeClauseAndTraverseTree(BooleanQuery booleanQuery);

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Say hello to our baby donkey print, assured to delight any room, nursery or office! Our wall art is easily customisable to 20+ frame sizes and instantly accessible as a digital download file for you to print at home, take to your local print shop or upload to a printing service such as Officeworks or Staples and have them delivered to your door!
The perfect touch for my baby's farmhouse nursery. Bought frames at Hobby Lobby and used Office Depot for 16x20 prints. They look AMAZING!
It's so cute and easy to have the perfect size printed.


It often occurs that real estate companies are confronted with contaminated soil in a property, creating a legal and financial problem for transfer of ownership.
An ISTD project normally takes only a few months, from installation to de-mobilization, with actual heating times of 4 to 6 weeks, dependent on the type of contaminants.
Next to this, Smart Burners can be applied even on locations that are difficult to reach: under buildings, in cellars etc. That is possible as the thermal installation consists in fact of individual heating elements, that are put in the soil.
Contaminants are fully recycled (either as combustible or as chemical).
No nuisances for local people. An ISTD project normally takes only a few months, from installation to de-mobilization, with actual heating times of 4 to 6 weeks, dependent on the type of contaminants.
Measurements in projects that have been executed show that the thermal treatment has no impact on building construction and stability. This is also supported by third party theoretical and practical research. (see also FAQ and documentations).
If we can drill, we can treat!
The elements of the thermal installation are easy to handle, and the design of the complete installation can be adapted to local circumstances. We have been treating soil in the cellar of an apartments building, while the occupants of the building did not even notice a remediation project was ongoing.
The placement of the heating tubes does not have to be horizontally, but can be done in every direction: vertically or inclined the system works equally well.
Soil remediation projects in urban environment often have undesired environmental impact (trucks transporting excavated contaminated soil; smell and the like) and create other nuisances like blocked roads, noise. The capability to work in situ, in an almost closed system (only off gas after treatment).
at mi, facilisis amet, nec Donec justo elit.


In Which We Start Anew: Defeated? Not today.
No one likes to encounter it. Personally, I like to admit it even less than I like encountering it. There is something about admitting that I've lost or failed that grates on every single nerve in my body and soul. Admitting that I wasn't good enough is a hard thing to do. It hurts my self-esteem, my confidence, and my pride (which is, perhaps, not always a bad thing). But, I'm not sure it's possible to get through life without encountering a defeat or two or hundred. It's part of life. They say it's the hard things that build our character and help us become bigger, stronger people.
Last year, two of my daughters were in track for school. The eldest of my two participants wasn't the fastest person in track. Just entering her preteen years, she was very cognizant and self-conscious of this fact. We'd already had a couple meets that she placed near the end to tears of embarrassment. There was much talk of just doing her best and trying hard, all the good maternal peptalks you're supposed to have.
It was the 75-meter dash. The other 4th graders were all lined up. I was at the finish line, waiting with an appropriately-proud smile. The gun sounded and the children were off. I don't know the cause. Was her shoe too big? Did she forget to tie it? Whatever the case, about halfway down the length of the track, her shoe came off and she fell. That spring inside my heart tightened as she watched the crowd of racers speed off down the track without her, knowing full well that there was no way she could catch them.
She did something I didn't expect. She stood up. She slipped her shoe back on. She ran the rest of the race. She KNEW there was no way she would win. She knew she would encounter defeat, but she got up and she finished the race.
I learned something that day. I learned that defeat isn't really defeat if we refuse to let it defeat us. She didn't win the race that day. But she didn't let that defeat KEEP her down. She got up. She finished the race. I like to think that, even if my girl didn't win what she had intended and hoped to win, she found something more important to take from that day than a ribbon.
She didn't get up and finish the race. Her coach led her off the track and into my arms, and we sat on a curb while she nursed her tears ("I'm okay, Mom.... I'm just disappointed I couldn't finish") and her older sister finished the events she was signed up for. Lots of Alicia's friends hovered around us, wanting to make sure she was okay, as they waited for their races as well. I don't remember which ones they were, but I will always remember one little girl. She came over and sat next to Alicia. After a few minutes, she put something into Alicia's hands and said, "Here... I want you to have one of mine."
It was one of the ribbons she had won during the day, and I was really glad I was wearing sunglasses that day. It's sort of embarrassing to cry in front of 10-year-olds. But, I couldn't help it. It was such a sweet thing to do, and it was my second lesson on defeat for the day. Conquering defeat doesn't mean that we have to conquer it on our own. I'm a constant "I can do it myself"-er, so this was a big thing for me to see. Sometimes, people come alongside us. For a time, they are our rocks, they are our strengths. They lend us their courage and their kindness so that we can summon the strength to look Defeat in the face and say "Today is not your day."
We will encounter defeat, each one of us. But encountering it doesn't mean that we have to let it win. Get back up. Gather those that love you around and draw from their love and courage until you can stand upright, look squarely in the eyes of Defeat, and live to fight another day.
Encountering defeat and BEING defeated are not the same thing. The former we can hardly avoid, but the latter is something we can fight.
Kind of cool when our kids teach us those life lessons, huh?
Can I just tell you that your blogs have really been speaking to me lately. Sometimes I think you are in my head somehow. Thank you. Your thoughts have been very helpful. Love you!
Unless there's coffee and cookies in there, in which case I'm not leaving.


June's Question of the Month is brought to you by Luna from GamersUnited GG Blog: one of the friendliest bloggers in the WordPress community who always has a positive outlook on life. To find out more about her and her site, as well as how you can get involved, take a look at this post.
How on earth is a villain meant to successfully take over the Mushroom Kingdom, Green Hill Zone and Hyrule? Each are protected by some of the most well-known and loved heroes, feared by their enemies and adored by their fans: Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog and Link. If you were a boss who was planning on taking over the world, you may decide to revise your plan when it came to these locations or even give up on it altogether.
However, this is the challenge set for the community by the lovely Luna and it's one we must therefore see through bravely. I have to admit it stumped me for quite a while and at one point, I was going to opt out of this month's entry; but while browsing through Instagram recently, inspiration hit and I think I've now formulated the perfect scheme. And it's one that doesn't involve any violence or bloodshed, just plenty of calories.
What do Mario, Sonic and Link all have in common besides being courageous defenders of their realms and sometimes incredibly unlucky? That's right: each member of this trio is male. And what's the thing they say is the way to a man's heart? Apparently, it's food. To be honest, it's one of the ways to many women's hearts also – including my own – so this answer is intended to be tongue-in-cheek and not in any way discriminatory!
First let's head to the Mushroom Kingdom. Watching The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! in the late 1980s taught me that Mario's favourite meal is spaghetti but we also know he's partial to a slice of cake: Princess Peach usually bakes her Italian plumber a sweet treat upon her rescue. So he'd clearly love a homemade carrot cake and Peach would be thankful that someone had given her a break from the kitchen. No mushrooms harmed in its making and plenty for all the Kingdom's inhabitants.
Next up we have the Green Hill Zone. Continuing my education from cartoons, it's obvious from the Sonic the Hedgehog show that the blue hero's preferred food is chili dogs (apologies for the poor quality of the video opposite). After speaking to him about the poor nutritional value of such a meal, someone would be able to persuade him to try a spicy meat skewer instead; and he'd then declare that everyone in the Zone, particularly Robotnik, should switch to a healthy diet.
Hyrule is last on our list. Although not something learned through watching The Legend of Zelda cartoon (well excuse me princess!), Breath of the Wild revealed how well Link could cook. But the last thing you want to do after completing a bunch of quests is make dinner and it must be really difficult getting a takeaway delivered by horse in the kingdom; so if someone was to step in and offer to make this green-suited saviour a three-course meal while he put his feet up, how could he say no?
And who would this someone be? Why, none other than the gorgeous Teri Mae from Sheikah Plate. She's the hostess with the mostess and has been putting out her interpretations of recipes from the latest instalment of The Legend of Zelda series since May last year. While scrolling through Instagram recently, I came across her photograph of Wildberry Crepes and note about her first blogging anniversary – and then it struck me how she'd be the perfect villain for June's QotM answer!
The thing is though, this blogger isn't the sort of person who has it in her heart to be villainous. She could easily sneak a little something extra into any of the meals mentioned above and knock out the heroic trio in an instant but this isn't a deed I ever could imagine her doing. She'd be more likely to invite the residents of the Mushroom Kingdom, Green Hill Zone and Hyrule to a dinner party and win them over with her kindness and charm.
Awesome post! Yea, I was talking a friend recently about how Sonic always loved chilli dogs and how it has disappeared from newer Sonic cartoons. I love that you would us Teri Mae, I've tried 2 of her receipes and they're scrumptious! If she were ever thinking of becoming a villain, she'd most certainly get the job done! Thanks for participating!
It took me a while to come up with an answer this month and then I realised that Teri Mae would be able to cook her way to everybody's heart. I can highly recommend the carrot cake recipe above if you haven't already tried it.


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To create our standards, we assembled some of the profession and industry's top experts in their fields. Dental CSR standards are designed to be accessible and applicable for everyone to use to help grow their business. These experts have recognised qualifications and years of experience in their area of expertise, and have developed the standards from decades of working with clients and partners.
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BEd (Hons)
Mark has over 20 years experience in the charity sector, 13 of them in dentistry. He was CEO of the dental charity Bridge2Aid for 7 years, during which time he worked extensively with companies from international corporates to individual dental practices in designing and implementing CSR projects. Mark is the Director of The CSR Coach and plays an active role in the Dental CSR business.
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Alison specialises in HR for SMEs and dentistry in particular. She runs her own company – Bespoke HR – which she founded in October 2005 after many years working for others in senior HR functions. Alison acts in an advisory capacity.
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A Chartered Environmentalist, Andy Lester has a background in ecology, economics and the corporate sector. Andy acts in an advisory capacity.
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Brett is Associate Professor in Dental Public Health, Trinity College Dublin, and a collaborator with the Centre for Sustainable Health Care. He has a Masters in Management in Health (University of Newcastle, Australia), a Masters in Public Health (University of Glasgow) and a PhD in Dentistry (Finland). Brett acts in an advisory capacity.
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Police release video showing officers being lied to after Sam Caulfield had been stabbed to death in Crawley flat
During the video, an agitated Macauley Lawless is being held back by a police officer
Sam Truelove
Police have released a video showing young dad Sam Caulfield running up to a flat in West Green just moments before he was fatally stabbed last year.
Macauley Lawless, 22, stabbed his friend to death at a flat on Spencers Road and was jailed for 11 years yesterday (Wednesday, October 11) after being found guilty of manslaughter and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice earlier in the week.
Lawless, of Ifield Road, West Green, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court.
In the dock with him were John Mitchell, 21, of Mowbray Drive, Gossops Green, Jessica Roberts, 25, from Spencers Road, West Green, and Leah Delgado, 24, from Ifield Road, who were all charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
More Crawley news
Gang hunt
Fight victim
A video released by Crawley Police today (Thursday, October 12) shows 20-year-old Sam, of St Leonard's Lane, Mayfield running up flights of stairs as he made his way to Roberts' flat in Spencers Road in the early hours of Saturday, June 18, 2016.
It then cuts to after the stabbing and shows police officers inside the flat speaking to both Mitchell and Roberts, who claim Sam left the house but came back after being "jumped", before he "just dropped" to the floor after 10 minutes of being in the kitchen.
Sam Caulfield was just 20 when he was stabbed to death with this knife. Also pictured is the T-shirt he had on at the time (Image: Sussex Police)
The pair tell the officers that they have "no idea" where he might have gone and that he seemed "perfectly fine" when he came back.
This was later proven in court to be untrue, with Sam found to be stabbed inside the flat.
While Mitchell and Roberts speak to the officers, a seemingly agitated Lawless is held back by another officer while Delgado calmly sits on the sofa.
First photos released of all four Crawley men and women jailed after young dad Sam Caulfield killed
Sam Caulfield's young daughter Millie-Mae, pictured at her father's funeral last July (Image: David Cook)
The jury at Hove Crown Court were shown CTV which showed Sam arriving at the entrance to the block of flats and making his way up several flights of stairs to the home.
While he appeared to have a minor hand injury, he seemed otherwise unharmed, but at 2.43am a call was made to emergency services reporting that he had been stabbed.
Mitchell and Roberts, who spoke to the ambulance controller, were keen to stress that the stabbing had occurred outside the flat.
Macauley Lawless has been jailed for 11 years (Image: Sussex Police)
Police officers who were first to arrive at the scene discovered Sam on the floor of the kitchen with a single stab wound to his abdomen. While he was still alive at this time, he was unresponsive and stopped breathing a few minutes later.
As the officers commenced chest compressions, paramedics arrived and carried out emergency surgical intervention in a bid to save his life.
He was transferred to Royal Sussex County Hospital, in Brighton, where he sadly died at 6.45am.
As paramedics fought to save Sam, police spoke to the four people in the flat, including Lawless who was in an agitated and hostile state threatening to kill whoever had attacked his friend.
John Mitchell has been jailed for three years (Image: Sussex Police)
Man waiting for taxi in Crawley town centre knocked unconscious in shocking attack
A post mortem showed that Sam died as a result of a single stab wound to the abdominal aorta and in the opinion of the Home Office pathologist who carried it out, he would have collapsed almost immediately after being stabbed.
Lawless was jailed for eight years for manslaughter and a further three years for the conspiracy charge to run consecutively - a total of 11 years.
Mitchell, Roberts and Delgado were all found guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice with Mitchell jailed for three years and the two women both receiving two-year sentences.
It was at Jessica Roberts' flat where Sam Caulfield was stabbed to death (Image: Sussex Police)
Following the verdict, Sam Caufield's family issued a statement. It read: "Sam was a loving son and brother. He was besotted with his young daughter and nothing was too much trouble when it came to her.
"Sam was 20 years old when he was killed and he had his whole life ahead of him. He is going to miss his young daughter growing up and he won't see her fall in love, get married or experience the joy of grandchildren.
"We as a family have tried to come to terms with Sam's death but we miss him so much every day, especially on anniversaries, birthdays and Christmases as they are so painful without him.
Leah Delgado has been jailed for two years (Image: Sussex Police)
This is why the Nuffield Health gym at Crawley Leisure Park was evacuated tonight
"The defendants have all been tried in a court of law and justice has been served. We would like to thank the investigation team for all their hard work and diligence during the investigation at this very difficult time for us.
"We will never get over the loss of Sam and we hope that time will possibly help.
"Now the trial is complete we would like to mourn our beloved Sam in private."
Sussex Police released the video footage with the family's knowledge.


text:
#ifndef SQLITE_HWTIME_H
#define SQLITE_HWTIME_H

/*
** The following routine only works on pentium-class (or newer) processors.
** It uses the RDTSC opcode to read the cycle count value out of the
** processor and returns that value.  This can be used for high-res
** profiling.
*/
#if (defined(__GNUC__) || defined(_MSC_VER)) && \
      (defined(i386) || defined(__i386__) || defined(_M_IX86))

  #if defined(__GNUC__)

  __inline__ sqlite_uint64 sqlite3Hwtime(void){
     unsigned int lo, hi;
     __asm__ __volatile__ ("rdtsc" : "=a" (lo), "=d" (hi));
     return (sqlite_uint64)hi << 32 | lo;
  }

  #elif defined(_MSC_VER)

  __declspec(naked) __inline sqlite_uint64 __cdecl sqlite3Hwtime(void){
     __asm {
        rdtsc
        ret       ; return value at EDX:EAX
     }
  }

  #endif

#elif (defined(__GNUC__) && defined(__x86_64__))

  __inline__ sqlite_uint64 sqlite3Hwtime(void){
      unsigned long val;
      __asm__ __volatile__ ("rdtsc" : "=A" (val));
      return val;
  }

#elif (defined(__GNUC__) && defined(__ppc__))

  __inline__ sqlite_uint64 sqlite3Hwtime(void){
      unsigned long long retval;
      unsigned long junk;
      __asm__ __volatile__ ("\n\
          1:      mftbu   %1\n\
                  mftb    %L0\n\
                  mftbu   %0\n\
                  cmpw    %0,%1\n\
                  bne     1b"
                  : "=r" (retval), "=r" (junk));
      return retval;
  }

#else

  #error Need implementation of sqlite3Hwtime() for your platform.

  /*
  ** To compile without implementing sqlite3Hwtime() for your platform,
  ** you can remove the above #error and use the following
  ** stub function.  You will lose timing support for many
  ** of the debugging and testing utilities, but it should at
  ** least compile and run.
  */
  sqlite_uint64 sqlite3Hwtime(void){ return ((sqlite_uint64)0); }

#endif

#endif /* !defined(SQLITE_HWTIME_H) */


The Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) Limited has announced its participation at the 10th edition of West Africa Convergence Conference (WACC) holding this Thursday, 28th of March 2019 at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
NIGCOMSAT continues to deliver satellite and connectivity services and solutions across its coverage areas even as it continues to firm up its presence in Nigeria and across Africa.
WACC 2019 already enjoys a heavy subscription by attendees that cut across different industry verticals.
"WACC 2019 will be looking at some of the technology trends, and their impacts on how we do business, engage government, foster entrepreneurship and interact in the new work and social spaces," said Co-Chairman, WACC 2019 Planning Committee, Dr Sola Afolabi.
WACC 2019 is the 10th edition of the West Africa's only forum on technology convergence and the impact on industries, people and environment. WACC since inception has enjoyed a very rich participation from industry stakeholders and policy makers.
Organized as an industry sponsored event by Knowhow Media and Market Intelligence International Limited (KMMIIL) publishers of IT Edge News, WACC 2019 already enjoys tremendous support from public and private institutions including the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), SmartWeb, NigComSat, Galaxy Backbone Ltd., Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), and Medallion Limited. Others are Rack Centre, BSSL Limited, PFS Limited, ICS Limited, Backbone Connectivity Network (BCN) and Plateau State Information & Communication Technology Development Agency (PICTDA) among others.
The 2019 WACC will also feature the NextTech + Convergence Award Ceremony. The NextTech + Convergence Award is an offshoot of the Top 50 Award first initiated in 2006 as part of the indices to measure the: Industry's most profound influencers; Most Impactful tech solution providers/organisations; and Best dynamic survivors in Nigeria's highly tempestuous market. WACC starts at 8AM Nigerian time. To register: www.thewacc.net.


Neillemons - How to deep clean couches at home hunker. Clean a couch labeled w using water based upholstery shampoo or foam for general spot cleaning or basic stain removal, use a soft bristled brush, but to deep clean stubborn marks, use a stiff bristled brush and only as much pressure as needed, working from the outside in. How to deep clean your couch chas' crazy creations. If you don't have a steam cleaner you can use a very warm damp wash cloth and blot at your couch's spot steam the couch and use the microfiber cloth to clean up the spots the steam and heat allows for the stain to release. How to deep clean a couch practically spotless. Couches endure a lot of use which is why they need to be deep cleaned learn how to deep clean a couch from the cleaning experts, molly maid. How to deep clean your couch hometalk. If you don't have a steam cleaner you can use a very warm damp wash cloth and blot at your couch's spot steam the couch and use the microfiber cloth to clean up the spots the steam and heat allows for the stain to release. How to deep clean a microfiber couch hometalk youtube. Does your couch need a deep clean? safely clean your microfiber couch with these 6 simple steps this incredible process will leave your couch looking fresh and good as new!. How to deep clean your couch. Share on facebook easy ways to deep clean sofa sets couches share on facebook here are the 4 ways to easily clean your sofa here are the 4 ways to easily clean your sofa you should be proud because save the environment by not throwing your old stuff. How to deep clean your leather couch chas' crazy creations. I follow that up with drying it off with a chamois that is the basics for cleaning your leather couch bonus leather needs to be conditioned. How to deep clean your couch easily and naturally bestoftips. Wondering what cleaning products to use to clean your sofa and remove any stains? we can help! most couches have a tag that identifies it as: w: ok to use water for cleaning. How to deep clean natural fabric couch? sofa cleaning. Coming home after a packed and tough day from the office, the most desirable thing you want is your dear "couch" it's not that you want sofa when you are completely worn out, but you want it when you have planned to spend a lazy weekend around your home. How to deep clean a used couch the spruce. There are many circumstances that you might need to know how to deep clean a couch if you are a fan of thrift shops and garage sales, any upholstered furniture you buy should be sanitized and cleaned before you bring it inside.


text:
Ferdinando Nelli Feroci (* 18. Dezember 1946 in Pisa) ist ein italienischer Diplomat und EU-Beamter. Er war 2014 kurzzeitig Kommissar für Industrie und Unternehmen.

Ferdinando Nelli Feroci studierte Internationales Recht an der Universität Pisa mit Abschluss 1970 und schloss eine Spezialisierung auf internationale Beziehungen an. Er trat 1972 in den italienischen diplomatischen Dienst ein. Zunächst war er in den italienischen Vertretungen bei den Vereinten Nationen, in Algerien, Frankreich und China eingesetzt. Ab 1998 übernahm er Aufgaben im italienischen Außenministerium, zuletzt als Kabinettschef des Außenministers von 2006 bis 2008. Danach war er bis 2013 ständiger Vertreter Italiens bei der Europäischen Union. In der Kommission Barroso II übernahm er 2014 kurzzeitig das Amt des Kommissars für Industrie und Unternehmen.

Weblinks

 Offizieller Lebenslauf auf den Seiten der EU (englisch)

Einzelnachweise

Mitglied der Europäischen Kommission
Italienischer Diplomat
Jurist im auswärtigen Dienst
Ständiger Vertreter Italiens bei der Europäischen Union
Träger des Verdienstordens der Italienischen Republik (Großkreuz)
Italiener
Geboren 1946
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'void android.widget.Spinner.setSelection(int)' on a null object reference Hello There I'm a beginner to Android development.
I'm facing null pointer exception in my MainActivity. (I know there are many questions asked on this topic but nothing helps me specifically)
> 07-05 05:23:00.407 3229-3229/package.name E/AndroidRuntime: FATAL EXCEPTION: main
    Process: my.package.name, PID: 3229
    java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{my.package.name/my.package.name.MainActivity}: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'void android.widget.Spinner.setSelection(int)' on a null object reference
        at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2817)
        at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2892)
        at android.app.ActivityThread.-wrap11(Unknown Source:0)
        at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1593)
        at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:105)
        at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:164)
        at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:6541)
        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
        at com.android.internal.os.Zygote$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(Zygote.java:240)
        at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:767)
     Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'void android.widget.Spinner.setSelection(int)' on a null object reference
        at graphicstool.battlegrounnd.gfx.MainActivity.revertConfig(MainActivity.java:235)
        at graphicstool.battlegrounnd.gfx.MainActivity.onCreate(MainActivity.java:377)
        at android.app.Activity.performCreate(Activity.java:6975)
        at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1213)
        at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2770)
        at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2892)
        at android.app.ActivityThread.-wrap11(Unknown Source:0)
        at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1593)
        at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:105)
        at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:164)
        at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:6541)
        at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
        at com.android.internal.os.Zygote$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(Zygote.java:240)
        at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:767)

See above error.
Here is my code for specific error
private void revertConfig() {
        SharedPreferences sharedPreferences = getSharedPreferences(getPackageName(), 0);
        this.sprGraphicsQuality.setSelection(sharedPreferences.getInt("sprGraphicsQuality", 0));

    }
protected void onCreate(Bundle bundle) {
        super.onCreate(bundle);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
        verifyStoragePermissions(this);
        Spinner sprGraphicsQuality =(Spinner) findViewById(R.id.sprGraphicsQuality);

            ArrayAdapter adapter = createFromResource(this, R.array.qualitysetting, R.layout.activity_main);

            adapter.setDropDownViewResource(R.layout.activity_main);

            sprGraphicsQuality.setAdapter(adapter);
            revertConfig();

Please help me in this matter.
Let me know if you need more details.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
UDPClient *client;

void robot_callback(ConstPosesStampedPtr &msg)
{
    float robot_time, robot_pose[7];
    uint8_t udp_msg[7 * sizeof(float)];

    for (int index = 0; index < msg->pose_size(); index++) {
        if (msg->pose(index).name() == "robot") {
            robot_time = msg->time().sec() + msg->time().nsec() / 1e9;

            robot_pose[0] = msg->pose(index).position().x();
            robot_pose[1] = msg->pose(index).position().y();
            robot_pose[2] = msg->pose(index).position().z();

            robot_pose[3] = msg->pose(index).orientation().x();
            robot_pose[4] = msg->pose(index).orientation().y();
            robot_pose[5] = msg->pose(index).orientation().z();
            robot_pose[6] = msg->pose(index).orientation().w();

            std::cout << "[" << robot_time << "] Robot pose" << std::endl;

            memcpy(udp_msg, robot_pose, 7 * sizeof(float));
            client->send(udp_msg, 7 * sizeof(float));
        }
    }
}

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
    // UDP client
    boost::asio::io_service io_service;
    client = new UDPClient(io_service, "localhost", "9998");

    // Gazebo client
#if GAZEBO_MAJOR_VERSION >= 6
    gazebo::client::setup(argc, argv);
#else
    gazebo::setupClient(argc, argv);
#endif

    gazebo::transport::NodePtr node(new gazebo::transport::Node());
    node->Init();

    gazebo::transport::SubscriberPtr robot_sub = node->Subscribe("~/pose/local/info", robot_callback);

    while (true) {
        gazebo::common::Time::MSleep(10);
    }

#if GAZEBO_MAJOR_VERSION >= 6
    gazebo::client::shutdown();
#else
    gazebo::shutdown();
#endif

    return 0;
}


Here is the cover reveal highlights from all of MAY! Click the author to hop on over to their GoodReads page to add it to you're TBR!
Sefia is determined to keep Archer out of the Guard's clutches and their plans for war between the Five Kingdoms. The Book, the ancient, infinite codex of the past, present and future, tells of a prophecy that will plunge Kelanna in that bloody war, but it requires a boy—Archer—and Sefia will stop at nothing to ensure his safety. The Guard has already stolen her mother, her father, and her Aunt Nin. Sefia would sooner die than let them take anymore from her—especially the boy she loves.
But escaping the Guard and the Book's prophecy is no easy task. After all, what is written always comes to pass. As Sefia and Archer watch Kelanna start to crumble to the Guard's will, they will have to choose between their love and joining a war that just might tear them apart.
Full of magic, suspense, and mystery, Traci Chee brings her Sea of Ink and Gold trilogy to a close in this spellbinding final installment.
Then August moves in next door. A quiet guy with a magnetic smile, August seems determined to keep everyone at arm's length. Sophie in particular.
Ivy is the shy artist type and keeps a low profile—so low that she's practically invisible to everyone at Belfry High School except for her best friend, Harold. As sophomore year begins, Harold takes up a hundred activities, leaving Ivy on her own. Luckily she's found a distraction: the new anonymous art-sharing app, VEIL.
Soon Ivy realizes that one of her classmates is the VEIL user who needs new paintbrushes … and another is the one visiting the hospital every week … and another is the one dealing with their parents' messy divorce. While she's too scared to put her own creations on the app, Ivy thinks of an even better way to contribute—by making gifts for the artists she's discovered. The acts of kindness give her such a rush that, when Ivy suspects Harold is keeping a secret, she decides to go all in. Forget gifts—Ivy wants to throw Harold a major party.
But when all those good intentions thrust her into the spotlight, Ivy's carefully curated world is thrown into chaos. Now she has to find the courage to come out of the shadows—about her art, her secrets, and her mistakes—or risk losing everything and everyone she loves the most.
This entry was posted in Cover Reveal Recap and tagged Books, Contemporary, Cover Reveal Recap, Fantasy, LGBT, May, Sci-fi, Thriller, YA, Young Adult. Bookmark the permalink.
I knew about many of the covers at the top but I didn't know that they released the cover for Wildcard, which I think is gorgeous.
OH yeah?? Not many people like it (me included). I wish they chose better colors.
I find that it's very different from the previous books cover, which I liked as well.


March 23: West End Seedy Saturday from 10am - 3pm at the Bonar-Parkdale Church at 250 Dunn Avenue. Do you want interesting seeds? Do you want to save seeds? Do you want to talk to people who want seeds or who save seeds? Check out the activities at Seeds of Diversity Canada.


text:
Acanthocephala declivis (Giant Leaf-footed Bug) - imm.
Size: approx. 6 mm. Photo: 06/16/14, 7 pm.
A nymph. Once it's grown up, it will be an impressive leaf-footed bug with extra wide "shoulders" or as the bug guide puts it "Humeral angles of pronotum broadly expanded, extending laterally well beyond maximum lateral abdominal margin." The small photos (08/10/14) show an earlier instar of Acanthocephala sp.
Acanthocephala terminalis.
About three weeks after spotting the nymph, I found this grown-up version. It is rather large and the apical segments of the antenna have a striking orange color whereas the rest of the antennae is very dark.
Euthochtha galeator (Helmeted Squash Bug) ♂.
Size: approx. 15 mm. Photo: 06/28/12, noon.
This Helmeted Squash Bug (Euthochtha galeator) is widespread from the Texas/Dakota line eastwards. It feeds on various plants and can become a pest damaging roses, citrus, as well as other fruits and ornamentals. This specimen is a male with a characteristic white spur or flap on the side of its thorax.
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/flowers/euthochtha_galeator.htm
Leptoglossus corculus (Leaf-footed Pine Seed Bug).
This bug is less common in Florida and closely associated with pine trees. Eggs are found in rows on pine needles. The second-stage nymphs feed on conelets, whereas older nymphs and adults feed the seed in cones. The second link notes that adults of this species can invade homes during the colder months (in NJ) but cause no damage to food, people, or the house structure. I found this specimen over the running (exterior) fan of our HVAC system.
Barbara J. Bromley:
http://www.mgofmc.org/pinebug.html
Leptoglossus fulvicornis - imm.
Size: approx. 10 and 20 mm. Photo: 08/20/11, 10 am.
Nymphs of a Leaf-Footed Bug; most likely Leptoglossus fulvicornis. The species is highly specialized to magnolia trees and feeds on their (mature and developing) fruits. The big gray one is the fifth instar. The small photos show other stages. These bugs are highly gregarious and hang out in groups of 5-20.
Leptoglossus fulvicornis.
Size: approx. 20-25 mm. Photo: 08/25/11, 10 am.
For one week I've been waiting to see an adult Leaf-Footed Bug (Leptoglossus fulvicornis) on this magnolia tree. Here it is. It differs from the similar species L. oppositus by the lack of three white spots across the back. The small photo shows the same specimen and a fifth instar which is still rather pale and might have "emerged" very recently.
Leptoglossus oppositus.
This nearly uniformly dark leaf-footed bug is Leptoglossus oppositus. Three or four of them were attracted to our porch lights. The species can be found from Texas to New York. The three white spots (as opposed to a horizontal line in other species) are distinctive. In this specimen the spots are slightly yellowish.
Leptoglossus phyllopus (Leaf-footed Bug).
Size: approx. 20-25 mm. Photo: 04/21/12, 3 pm.
Leptoglossus phyllopus is a widespread species in the Southeastern US. Its distinguishing mark is the straight white to pale yellow bar on the back (corium). It is a minor pest in citrus groves. Florida is home to nine species of Leptoglossus. The UF document states that L. phyllopus is the only species in this family for which the common name Leaf-Footed is accepted.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN22900.pdf


Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone! I am having an all Mexican food themed appetizer, dinner, and dessert meal this evening. Our neighbors will join us, in addition to, bringing some Mexican themed beverages and side dishes. In the spirit of today I figured I would share what I am making for dinner, tonight, as well as one of my favorite Mexican dishes to make and eat. That dish would have to be, Verde Enchiladas. To be more specific, the "verde enchiladas con pollo" from La Unica, on the north-side of Chicago. The first time I went to La Unica, was for my friend, Brittany's birthday, I believe sophomore year of college. It was a surprise when we arrived at the location, I knew it was a grocery store, but had no clue there was a restaurant in the back. A restaurant that serves multiple Hispanic culture types of food. And you know the food is legit when the entire menu is in Spanish too.
In a bowl, clean your chicken with vinegar, rinse and drain all liquid. You will now season your chicken with your desired seasonings. I don't measure my seasonings for the most part, but if I had to estimate how much of each to use, I would say use at least one teaspoon of each seasoning on your chicken breasts. I highly recommend using Adobo as one of your seasonings.
Now, you will heat your 2 Tbsps of grapeseed oil, in a pan over medium high heat, and brown your chicken breasts on both sides until both sides are golden brown. Once both sides have been browned, turn the heat down to medium-low heat and let the chicken breasts cook on the lower heat for about 20 minutes.
While your chicken is cooking, peel the husks off of your tomatillos and clean them in a bowl with warm water and vinegar until all of the stickiness from the husks has been cleaned off. Fill a medium sized pot a little over half way full with water, add your teaspoon of garlic to the water, and bring to a boil. Once the water is bubbling up to begin to boil, add your tomatillos to the water and let them boil until they are a pale green color. I usually let them cook for about 10-15 minutes.
Once the tomatillos are finished cooking add them to a blender along with half of your white onion, jalapeno pepper, and cilantro. Blend all of these ingredients together until they are smooth like a verde sauce. If you want your sauce to be a little thinner, add some of the water from the pot you boiled your tomatillos in to the blender. Add salt and/or pepper to taste. I prefer to use sea salt for my verde sauce.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Your chicken should be done cooking by now. Take the chicken breasts out of the pan and put them on a large plate. Since they are still hot, take two forks or a fork and a knife, and shred the chicken on the plate until all chicken breast pieces have been shredded. Sit your shredded chicken to the side and let it cool off a little bit. While you are waiting for the chicken to cool off, in a separate pan on medium high heat, put a tablespoon of the corn oil in the pan, and let it heat up. Once the oil is hot, you are going to quickly put your tortilla in the oil on both sides for about 10-15 seconds. You want to be sure you aren't cooking them until they are hard, because you won't be able to roll the tortillas up without them breaking them if you do.
After you have done this for all 12 tortillas, stack them on a plate and set to the side next to your chicken. You will not shred your queso fresco, and cut your remaining white onion into pieces. Place both items in separate bowls and place next to your shredded chicken and shredded queso freso.
Get a 9×9 baking dish and wipe the inside of it with corn oil using a paper towel to help prevent any unnecessary sticking. Take a tortilla, place the desired amount of shredded chicken inside, roll it tightly, and lay the enchilada in the baking dish with the open end of the tortilla face down. Repeat and do the same for all of the tortillas. If your 9×9 baking dish is like mine, you will need to cut your last enchilada in half and place the two pieces in the corner of the baking dish.


MOLOT/FIME – Vepr 12 Magazine 8 Round, 12 Ga.
VPR-12-02 12 Gauge shotgun, This semi auto shotgun is featured original and added features configuration from Molot. Original Molot: Polymer Pistol Grip, Polymer Lower Handguard and Upper Handguard, Self-Regulating Gas System, Metal Folding ButtStock (Strong welded in open position) with cheek Rest and Sling loop, Competition Magazine Well, Factory 5 round Magazine, AK adjustable rear sight, Picatinny rail on top cover; (no side scope rail), Original AK enhanced safety lever (extended right-side lever) for single finger operation, Factory chrome lined barrel, chamber, receiver shaft and gas chamber, Factory last round bolt hold open, Factory threaded barrel (thread pattern is the same as Saiga), Factory machined bolt assembly, gas blocks etc. Removable thread protector.
MOLOT/FIME – Vepr 12 Magazine 5 Round, 12 Ga.
VPR-12-03 Side Folding Shotgun, 12-gauge. This semi-auto folding stock shotgun is imported from the Molot factory in Russia. The Vepr 12 is a semi-automatic shotgun designed for self-defense, hunting, and 3-gun competitions. Based on the RPK standard, the Vepr 12 shares the same legendary characteristics of extreme reliability in harsh conditions as the RPK. The fire control group allows for semi-automatic shooting and the safety is an improved version of the standard AK safety selector, which has levers on both sides of the receiver to operate the safety. Additional features include: The ability to insert magazines straight into the magazine well (AR style) without the need to cant the magazine (AK style); RPK style Windage adjustable rear sights; Windage and elevation adjustable front sights integrated to the gas block; Picatinny rail incorporated into the hinged dust cover (allows optics mounting); and chrome lined chamber, barrel, gas block, and bolt carrier operation rod for increased corrosion and wear resistance.
Pro Mag – Pro Mag – SAIGA 12 Magazine 10 Round, 12 Ga.


text:
Yan Anthea Zhang
PhD Area Advisor, Fayez Sarofim Vanguard Professor of Management - Strategic Management
Yan Anthea Zhang is a Fayez Sarofim Vanguard Professor of Management at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business, Rice University. Dr. Zhang's areas of specialization include CEO succession and dismissal, and foreign direct investment and technology entrepreneurship in emerging markets. Her research on these topics has been published in top-tier management journals including the Academy of Management Journal, Strategic Management Journal, and Journal of International Business Studies, among others. As evidence of the significance of her work in the management profession, her research has been written about in the business press on numerous occasions – including Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Business Week, The Economist, Investor's Business Daily, CNBC, and USA Today. She is an associate editor of the Academy of Management Journal and a consulting editor of Management and Organization Review. She also serves on the editorial review board of Strategic Management Journal and is the representative-at-large of the Corporate Strategy and Corporate Governance Interest Group of Strategic Management Society (SMS). She is the recipient of the 2010 Strategic Management Society (SMS) Emerging Scholar Award.
Dr. Zhang has taught Strategic Issues in Global Business, and International Strategic Alliances in the MBA, the MBA for Executives, and the MBA for Professionals programs of the Jones School. She received a B.A. and a M.A. in Economics from Nanjing University, China; a Master of Philosophy degree in International Business from City University of Hong Kong; and a Ph.D. in strategic management from the University of Southern California.
To read more about Prof. Zhang's work, please visit Rice Business Wisdom.
-Strategic issues in global business
-International strategic alliances
-CEO succession and dismissal
-Foreign direct investment
-Technology entrepreneurship in emerging markets


The Vilistus Mind Mirror 6 software offers sophisticated features, innovative user controls, and advanced data analysis. The at-home self-training program helps new and seasoned meditators attain the four ideal brainwave patterns historically found in highly developed and spiritually conscious people.
Self-trainers simply hook up (watch a 3-minute video), select the pattern to be trained, press record, and relax while the brain adjusts itself to win the provided musical rewards. These helpful cues enable the self-optimizing brain to access and condition the brainwave pattern being trained.
With the help of written manuals and online videos, anyone can use the software's advanced data analysis tools to improve health and enliven the mind.
"feeds back" a composite brainwave pattern, like a moving picture, showing your changing states of consciousness, which you can read like a visual language, adjust, and optimize.
comes with comprehensive user manuals, instructional videos, almost 24/7 customer support (we have to sleep), free lifetime software updates, a two-year warranty on all hardware, and access to IAM's monthly webinars and periodic newsletter.
Classic and extended views. The classic Mind Mirror pattern (above left) consists of 14 frequency bars inclusive of 0.5-44 hertz, or cycles per second. This range can be extended with a keystroke command to either 64Hz or to 100Hz (above right). The display can be changed to any color or combination of colors or appear in an outline with or without the frequency bars.
The white numbers below the brainwave display show the amplitude, or power, of the frequencies. This attenuation setting is easily adjusted with a keystroke command or can auto-attenuate. The green surface electromyography (sEMG) bar below the microvoltage settings measures muscle tension in the head, neck, and shoulders to alert the user to frequency-distorting muscle artifact. Various data display windows are shown below.
Amplitude windows for all categories.
Neurofeedback instrument windows: amplitude, vertical displays, or bar graphs.
Spectrograms show changes over time.
The Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) and Blood Volume Pulse (BVP) sensors respectively monitor sweat gland and heart-rate activity for self-regulation of the body and mind. Using them with EEG provides insights into the body-mind connection for quicker self-regulation of both. Clicking on data peaks or valleys in the GSR and BVP summary windows (above, at right) reveals the timing of events for correlation with Mind Mirror patterns.
The Vilistus GSR can be used alone for training physiology due to a table which correlates GSR readings to Mind Mirror patterns and the descent into meditation.
The BVP sensor maps pulse rate, heart-rate variability, and stress index. With the add-on Mind Mirror Features Pack, the BVP sensor and the software's Pacer identify the best HRV Resonant Frequency for the heart and breath. Resonant frequency breathing reduces stress, optimizes consciousness, and improves health.
The self-training program provides direct audio and visual feedback for the four Meditation, Awakened Mind, Evolved Mind, and Gamma Synchrony patterns and for patterns self-designed with the Pattern Editor in the Features Pack.
(At right) The colored bars show that the left brain attained the pattern ratios for the Awakened Mind. The greyed-out right brain is out of compliance due to retracted alpha (in green). The Enforce Symmetry setting rewards only dual-hemisphere patterns in ratio compliance.
Mind Mirror Summary. Pattern attainment statistics for 10 challenge levels (top left) correlate with the averaged summary brainwave pattern (top right). Clicking on the Summary Plot (bottom) identifies the exact time each pattern was attained. Self-trainers use the percentages or counts in the Training Summary to identify their training level for the next session.
The Segmented Mind Mirror Summary shows averaged brainwave displays for selected segments of time. Segment statistics are also available for the amplitude minimum, maximum, mean, variation, and standard deviation, and for the BVP's heart rate, HRV, and stress index.
Pattern Editor. Simply move the lever in the instrument panel to define the shape of your self-designed training pattern. Musical cues sound when the pattern ratios are met.
Includes options to augment or inhibit (increase or decrease) the amplitude of the pattern. Auto-augment and auto-inhibit take a two-minute measurement and comfortably bring you up to 70% pattern reward levels.
In addition to the individual post-session summary windows for beta, alpha, theta, delta, and low, mid, and upper gamma amplitudes, as well as Dominant Frequency, Signal Quality, and sEMG Artifact, there are Composite Summary windows for each side of the brain. Composite Summaries provide an overview of brainwave activity: the vertical scale displays amplitude; the horizontal, a time record of the session.
(Above) The user elected to see all bandwidths in this left-brain Composite Summary. The three data lines at bottom are low, mid, and upper gamma. Also shown are alpha, theta, beta, and delta.
(Above) The amplitude scale is changed to zoom into the data.
Note the 3, 4, and 8-minute simultaneous surges of low gamma (fuchsia) and delta (purple).
of brainwave production throughout the session.
and keystroke commands increase or decrease the viewing range.
(Above) Person 2 (EEG 2-6) mind-walked with Person 1 (EEG 1-5) during a healing meditation.
The Correlation Coefficient windows, part of the add-on Features Pack, show their brainwaves connected at 5-10Hz, the frequencies of alpha and low theta, where neuroplasticity occurs.
High coherence at 0.7 and above shows brainwave symmetry moving toward synchronization.
The Coherence Summary shows a time record at the bottom of the window.
This meditator's Mid Gamma steadily increased as he listened to gamma beat frequencies.
This meditator shows a 20% right-brain preference in this Hemisphere Symmetry window, part of Coherence Reports in the add-on Mind Mirror Features Pack.
Asymmetry at or below 20% is of little concern. Measurements above 30% may need attention, if the meditation does not relate to a higher level of consciousness such as psi awareness.
The greatest density of yellow dots in the adjustible COSPAR plot (Coherence Spectral Array) shows at a glance the frequencies with the highest coherence -- 60Hz at 95% coherence here.
The Mind Mirror 6 software includes many other ways to view and analyze data recorded in real time and in post-session summary windows. These features and tools are intuitive and easy to use. Contact us to ask questions or to order your Mind Mirror 6.
The Mind Mirror 6 accommodates group brainwave trainings with a new level of affordability and ease. Previously, only a few Awakened Mind trainers with specialized equipment could hook up more than one person at a time. Today, the four inputs in the Vilistus digital sampling unit accommodate up to four EEG sensors or a mix of EEG and physiology meters.
(Below) Four people are monitored simultaneously on one Vilistus encoder. Instrument windows include the Mind Mirror, signal quality (the optimal 1.00), and sEMG artifact. Each of the four Mind Mirror windows can be adjusted in the many ways explained here and on the User Controls page.
(Above) The red arrows in the left- and right-brain alpha-theta windows indicate whether or not the client's brainwaves are in compliance with the selected ratios. The most commonly used neurofeedback protocols are programmed into the software and can be adjusted easily with the Quick Protocol feature. The Clinical Q, an add-on feature, is a mini-QEEG.
Neurofeedback therapists can substitute single-channel EEG sensors for the Mind Mirror's dual-channel EEG leads. Direct audio-visual feedback is available in the free Vilistus Pro software. Raw trace, vertical bars, and bar graph data windows are available for 2-45 Hz, Gamma, Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta Amplitude, SMR, Alpha-Theta (meditation) and Theta-Beta (peak performance).
The Mind Mirror 6 is continually evolving. Vilistus software engineer Stephen Clark works closely with co-developer Judith Pennington and IAM's worldwide self-trainers, awakened mind practitioners, and consciousness researchers to develop new features that advance and enhance the software and the experiences of its users.
Software updates are provided free of charge. Software support includes comprehensive manuals and online help.


Teaser Chair Massages from the White Orchid Spa TOMORROW at SL's V-DAY Pop Up Shop!
Suga Lifestyle presents The White Orchid Salon & Spa!
The White Orchid Salon & Spa at The Jamaica Pegasus is Suga's favourite Spa in Kingston. They give the best massages! Come to Suga Lifestyle's V-Day Pop Up Shop tomorrow and get your Teaser Chair Massage! Follow it up with booking a Spa Day!
The White Orchid Salon and Spa will be presenting specials on various services they have to offer leading up to Valentine's Day.
There's no waiting at this Spa. Experience their gentle touch topped off by attention to detail and service with a smile.
Stay tuned and follow this website or the @sugalifestyle Instagram/Facebook page to see who else will be at Suga's V-Day Pop Up Shop TOMORROW at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel from 12 to 6pm in the Rio Bueno room by the Hotel's lobby.
Previous PostShop Nutsies Treats this Saturday at SL's V-Day Pop Up Shop!Next PostShop Handmade Leather Products for the Ladies TOMORROW at SL's V-Day Pop Up Shop!


ASSOCIATED PAVING and Materials LTD.
We take pride in our customer service and attention to detail and have achieved a great reputation in both the commercial and public sectors.
I want you to know "at least from me . . . that I believe you did an excellent job, in a timely and professional manner and our Village looks so beautiful as a result of your hard work and dedications.


text:
Marcelo Josemir Saracchi Pinto (born 23 April 1998) is a Uruguayan professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Spanish club Levante.

Club career

Early career
Born in Paysandú, Saracchi joined hometown club Progreso Paysandú at the age of ten, spending five years in their youth system. Saracchi then joined the youth ranks of Danubio.

Danubio
In July 2015, Saracchi was moved to the Danubio first team. He was included in the matchday squad for the first time on 12 August for Danubio's Copa Sudamericana match against Universidad Católica. During that match, Saracchi was subbed on for Ignacio González in the 77th minute, but his competitive debut for the club was cut short when he was subbed off five minutes later following Alejandro Peña's second yellow card and subsequent sending off. The following weekend, Saracchi made his Primera División debut, making another substitute appearance, this time replacing Leandro Sosa in the 63rd minute of a 2-0 away victory over Juventud. A month later, Saracchi made his first start for the club in a 1-1 draw against Sud América in league play. After breaking into the first team throughout the 2015–16 season, Saracchi scored his first goal for the club, in the 77th minute of a 4-1 defeat to Montevideo Wanderers late in the Clausura tournament. It would be his only goal of the season. Saracchi would go on to make 57 appearances for the club, 54 in the league and three in the Copa Sudamericana, alongside netting against El Tanque Sisley and Montevideo Wanderers again for a total of three goals with Danubio.

River Plate
In August 2017, alterations of foreign player requirements in the Argentine Primera División paved the way for Saracchi to sign with River Plate, with the Argentine club paying around €2 million for his services. Saracchi made his debut for the club on 10 September 2017, playing the entirety of a 3-1 league victory over Banfield. Despite spending only one season with the club, Saracchi won several trophies, appearing against Defensa y Justicia, Atlanta, and Atlético Tucumán as River Plate won the Copa Argentina, and then against Boca Juniors in the Supercopa Argentina. In March 2018, interest in Saracchi was reported from Italian clubs Inter Milan and Juventus, although no formal bid was submitted from either club. Throughout 31 appearances in all competitions for River Plate, Saracchi scored once, the opener in River Plate's 4-1 victory over Atlanta.

RB Leipzig
In the summer of 2018, Saracchi moved to German club RB Leipzig for a transfer fee of around €12 million. He made his competitive debut for the club on 26 July 2018, registering 88 minutes before being replaced by Nordi Mukiele in a 4-0 victory over BK Häcken during Europa League qualification. During his first two seasons with Leipzig, Saracchi was mainly a fringe player, making 13 league appearances, eight of which were starts. He scored his first goal for the club on 21 September 2019, netting in the 83rd minute of a 3-0 away victory over Werder Bremen. His contract was terminated on 19 December 2021 by mutual consent.

Galatasaray
In January 2020, Saracchi moved on a year-and-a-half long loan to Turkish club Galatasaray, arriving alongside Henry Onyekuru. Saracchi made his debut for the club on 10 January 2020 in a friendly against Altay. He made his competitive debut for the club a little over a week later, playing the entirety of a 2-1 home victory over Denizlispor. Saracchi registered his first assist for the club in that match, providing the pass for Emre Akbaba's 26th-minute opener.

Levante
On 22 February 2022, Saracchi signed with Levante in Spain until 2024, with an option to extend for three more seasons.

International career
Saracchi is a former Uruguay youth international and was part of under-20 team which won 2017 South American U-20 Championship.

Saracchi made his senior international debut on 12 October 2018, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute for Diego Laxalt in a 2-1 friendly defeat against South Korea. Saracchi was included in Uruguay's squad for the 2019 Copa América tournament, but failed to make an appearance across Uruguay's four matches.

Personal life
Born in Uruguay, Saracchi is of Italian descent.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours

Club
River Plate
Copa Argentina Champion: 2016–17
Supercopa Argentina Champions" 2017

RB Leipzig
DFB-Pokal Runner-Up: 2018–19

International
Uruguay U20
Sudamericano U20 Champion: 2017

References

External links

 Marcelo Saracchi at FOX Sports

1998 births
Living people
Footballers from Paysandú
Association football defenders
Uruguayan footballers
Uruguay international footballers
Uruguay youth international footballers
Uruguay under-20 international footballers
Uruguayan people of Italian descent
Danubio F.C. players
Club Atlético River Plate footballers
RB Leipzig players
Galatasaray S.K. footballers
Levante UD footballers
Uruguayan Primera División players
Argentine Primera División players
Bundesliga players
Süper Lig players
Uruguayan expatriate footballers
Expatriate footballers in Argentina
Expatriate footballers in Germany
Expatriate footballers in Turkey
Expatriate footballers in Spain
Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Argentina
Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Turkey
Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Spain
2019 Copa América players


Underfloor heating and cooling can be installed in any type of floor construction and with most floor coverings. From offices, schools and residential blocks, to sports .... Systems. There are generally two types of suspended timber floors: standard timber joists and engineered timber joists. Warmafloor can provide a system.
Thermoplane revolutionises the traditional use of timber suspended floors by laying a highly conductive and flexible heated screed with acoustic properties over the timber decking, resulting in high fuel efficiencies and associated carbon reduction.
To a large extent, suspended timber ground floors gave way to solid slab concrete floors throughout much the 20th century and then, from around 1976 onwards, following a ... All in all, if underfloor heating is going to be specified, it is probably best to veer away from a suspended timber ground floor.
Suspended timber floors are probably the most common form of construction for ground floors in existing British housing, although they exist in only a small proportion of ... These can be alleviated by increasing the ventilation, but the increased flow of cool outside air beneath the floor leads to higher heat losses in winter.
the distance between the top of the floor insulation surface, or perimeter insulation upstand, and the bottom of the wall insulation must be 150 / 225* mm min. for a concrete floor. (Figures 1 & 2) and 200 mm min. for a suspended timber floor. (Figure 3). * 150 mm applies to the UK and 225 mm to the Republic of Ireland.
Though it is generally recommended that piping is installed over a structural deck, it is perfectly feasible to retrofit underfloor heating between the existing joists in suspended timber ground and upper floors. Piping can be, and commonly is, installed within a concrete screed but this can lead to the slowest response times.


text:
<?php

namespace Fousky\Component\iDoklad\Model\CashVoucher;

use Doctrine\Common\Collections\ArrayCollection;
use Fousky\Component\iDoklad\Model\iDokladAbstractModel;

/**
 * @method null|ArrayCollection|CashVoucherApiModelExpand[] getData()
 * @method null|int getTotalItems()
 * @method null|int getTotalPages()
 *
 * @author Lukáš Brzák <brzak@fousky.cz>
 */
class CashVoucherApiCollectionModelExpand extends iDokladAbstractModel
{
    public $Data;

    public $TotalItems;

    public $TotalPages;

    /**
     * @return array
     */
    public static function getModelMap(): array
    {
        return [
            'Data' => CashVoucherApiModelExpand::class,
        ];
    }
}


text:
1 Historic Roots
2 Firearms Included in the NFA
3 How it Was Supposed to Work
3.1 What Really Happened
3.2 The U.S. Government Reacts – Title II of the Gun Control Act of 1968
3.3 The Noose Gets Tighter – The Firearm Owners' Protection Act of 1986
4 Where We Are Today – Can I Legally Own a Machine Gun?
4.1 How Do I Get a Tax Stamp?
5 Are Machine Guns Still Available?
6 What Happens If I Have an Unregistered Machine Gun?
6.1 A Word of Caution
7 What Has Been the Overall Effect of the National Firearms Act?
8 Looking Ahead – The Gun Control Issue in the United States
8.1 The Call for Gun Control – Louder and More Insistent
8.2 Is History Repeating Itself?
9 The National Firearms Act and the Future
In order to fully understand the National Firearms Act, we must go back to the decade preceding the enactment of the legislation by the US Congress. Understanding the context in which the legislation was proposed and enacted can give us a much better grasp of what drove this legislation and, not unsurprisingly, why the same issues and circumstances may be relevant today.
Historic Roots
The NFA (National Firearms Act) came out of the era known now as the Roaring Twenties. This era had its roots in the economic boom that occurred shortly after the end of World War I and the ratification of the 18th Amendment, which banned the sale, possession, and consumption of intoxicating liquor.
The effect of these three confluences, a booming economy, a period of relative peace, and a national movement to totally prohibit alcohol, led to a black market economy that grew to rival the legitimate economy. This black market economy in illegally imported and manufactured alcoholic beverages became the domain of criminals of all kinds.
With millions of dollars at stake in black market revenues, gang warfare became an everyday affair in many major cities in the U.S. As the level of violence escalated, the public began to demand action.
When the criminal gangs adopted military-style weapons, most notably the Thompson submachine gun, cries for control began to be heard. The result was the National Firearm Act of 1934.
Firearms Included in the NFA
Contrary to popular belief, the National Firearms Act never set out to ban any weapons. The National Firearms Act intended to impose a tax on certain classes of firearms. It targeted a few key things:
Machine Guns – Machine guns are defined in the National Firearms Act as "any firearm which can fire repeatedly, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger."
Short Barreled Rifles – This category includes any rifle with a barrel less than 16" long and an overall length of less than twenty-six inches.
Short Barreled Shotguns – Similar to the short-barreled rifle category, short-barreled shotguns must have a barrel no shorter than 18" and an overall length of 26".
Suppressors – Silencers were targeted as well and included any portable device designed to muffle or disguise the report of a firearm.
Destructive Devices – This category was added in 1968 as part of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. This restricted the sale of any type of explosive material or device and any gun with a bore over .5 inches except for shotguns, which were deemed to have legitimate sporting purposes.
How it Was Supposed to Work
In theory, the National Firearms Act did not prohibit the manufacture, sale, or transfer of any of the weapons categorized in the original bill. The requirement was that a tax stamp and proper paperwork had to accompany each sale or transfer. At the time the act was written into law, the tax was $200.
The concept was that the tax would be so heavy that it would make the manufacture, sale, or transfer of these weapons financially impossible. In effect, this created a new level of bureaucracy in the Federal government and did little or nothing to stop the criminal trade in the firearms covered by the National Firearms Act.
What really happened is that for several years, both gun manufacturers and the public largely ignored the act. The Department of the Treasury, who was charged with enforcing the National Firearms Act, simply didn't have the administrative or field forces necessary to effectively enforce the new law.
When enforcement did begin in earnest, the usual method was for the Treasury Department to gather enough evidence to pass to the State judicial officials who would then prosecute the case in state courts. This was effectively destroyed in 1968 when the Supreme Court nullified this practice as unconstitutional under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution. This ruling made the National Firearms Act virtually unenforceable the way the Treasury Department had been administering the law.
The U.S. Government Reacts – Title II of the Gun Control Act of 1968
In 1968 Congress passed into law a series of amendments to the 1934 National Firearms Act. The object was to cure the problem in the enforcement and prosecution of the controls. The single most important part of this amendment process was the removal of any mechanism for the owner of an unregistered and untaxed National Firearm Act weapon to legally register that firearm.
The Noose Gets Tighter – The Firearm Owners' Protection Act of 1986
Congress further tightened the restriction on the ownership, manufacture, or sale of firearms under the amended National Firearms Act. This included:
Broadening the definition of a silencer or suppressor to include parts or items that are intended for the assembly or fabrication of a silencer
Prohibitions on the transfer or possession of machine guns except for government agencies.
Exemptions for National Firearms Act weapons possessed before May 19, 1986.
The effect of these changes was to virtually freeze the manufacturer of National Firearm Act covered weapons. Since no new NFA covered guns could be sold or transferred except to governmental agencies, the supply of existing NFA registered weapons became static. Prices began to climb on the legal weapons still available and continue to escalate today.
Where We Are Today – Can I Legally Own a Machine Gun?
The simple answer is that you absolutely can. There is no real legal prohibition on the individual ownership of a machine gun, or any other weapon or device listed in the National Firearms Act and its subsequent amendments. However, there are some legal hurdles to cross and financial considerations.
As an individual, you do not have to hold a Federal Firearms License. If you are in the business of reselling or trading National Firearms Act weapons or devices, however, you must hold a Federal Firearms License and pay the Special Occupancy Tax required. As an individual, member of an LLC or other corporate entity, you may still possess and use such weapons provided you hold the required tax stamp.
How Do I Get a Tax Stamp?
You fill out the required application and the supporting documentation and submit it to the BATF. If everything meets their requirements and you pay the $200 tax fee, you will be issued a tax stamp for the National Firearms Act gun you want to own.
Typically, there are three means of getting a tax stamp from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, giving you the privilege of possessing that weapon. Surprisingly, the tax stamp fee has not gone up since the original National Firearms Act was imposed. The Tax stamp still requires a $200 fee. The three ways most people approach applying for a tax stamp are:
As an individual (which can be quite problematic)
Through a family trust (we highly recommend establishing a NFA Gun Trust. Gun Trust NFA makes this process extremely simple and hassle-free)
By forming an LLC to own the firearm and hold the tax stamp
Most people in the US choose either a family trust or an LLC as the entity that will hold ownership of the National Firearms Act weapon and the tax stamp that accompanies it.
Are Machine Guns Still Available?
Absolutely. There is a healthy market around NFA identified weapons. All these guns have been manufactured, with a few small exceptions, after the 1986 amendments were put into place. Any time you create a growing market where the supply is fixed or limited, the result is an escalation of prices.
Since 1986, the market prices of those legally registered National Firearm Act guns has skyrocketed. Yes, you can still purchase a legally registered machine gun. The tax stamp to do the transfer is still only $200. However, the financial demands have put the ownership of a machine gun well out of reach – put simply, the supply is far smaller than the demand, thus the price has risen greatly.
What Happens If I Have an Unregistered Machine Gun?
You have several options and face some serious trouble at the same time. If you come into possession of a machine gun, or any other NFA covered firearm, you are legally obligated to tell the BATF. There are then several options open to you.
You are protected by the Fifth Amendment if you report finding or coming into possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act weapon within some exceptions.
If you can prove that the firearm was manufactured before May 19, 1986, you may be able to pay the tax stamp fee and register the weapon and keep it.
If you prove unable to meet the requirements of the National Firearms Act to possess the weapon or you can't prove the manufacture date, you must surrender the firearm to the BATF.
Under some circumstances, you can choose to render the firearms inoperable, making it a museum or collectible. This usually involves cutting or filling the barrel, cutting the receiver so that the action will no longer operate, or other methods of rendering the gun unshootable.
Being found in possession of a National Firearms Act weapon with no registration or tax stamp opens you to some serious legal problems.
Being caught with an unregistered National Firearms Act weapon strips you of your Fifth Amendment protections. You are open to the full fury of the Federal judiciary.
You have become subject to being prosecuted for a Federal offense that can include punishments such as:
Spending up to 10 years in a federal penitentiary
Forfeiture of firearms that are in violation of the National Firearms Act
Revocation of your right to own firearms in the future
Financial penalties of $10,000 for some violations of the tax act
Further fines of up to $500,000 dollars for tax evasion
Obviously, the BATF and the Federal judiciary take these matters seriously. You can be vigorously prosecuted if you are caught in possession of a National Firearms Act covered device illegally.
What Has Been the Overall Effect of the National Firearms Act?
Since its inception, there have been court challenges to the constitutionality of the National Firearms Act and its subsequent amendments and additions. To date, all these challenges have been defeated, mostly at the US Supreme Court level, which has upheld the constitutionality of the amended National Firearms Act.
The overall effect of the National Firearms Act and the changes that have been made have:
Increased federal government bureaucracy
Effectively eliminated the manufacture of fully automatic firearms in the United States
Imposed registration and sometimes overbearing demands on otherwise legal owners to keep their National Firearms Act devices
Led to the inflation of prices on fully automatic weapons in the marketplace
Had no appreciable effect on gun violence or the possession of machine guns and other National Firearms Act devices by the criminal element
Looking Ahead – The Gun Control Issue in the United States
The National Firearms Act was the US Government's first attempt at gun control. The stated objective in the arguments that led up to the passage of the National Firearms Act in 1934 was to stem the growing violence in the streets of American cities by using the power of the tax to control the ownership and transfer of these firearms.
If this was the goal, then the passage of the National Firearms Act has been a dismal failure. This realization brings some sobering truths about the current social and political landscape in the United States.
The Call for Gun Control – Louder and More Insistent
Calls for more gun control, tighter restrictions, and more government oversight grow each year in the United States. Advocates for gun control seem to ignore the realities of any sort of legal method for stemming the growing violence seen in many urban areas. The historical truth that prohibition doesn't work and is unenforceable has no bearing on those who want to see the Second Amendment stripped of its power.
Looking back, it was the violence perpetrated openly in American cities that triggered the National Firearms Act. The final tipping point seems to have been the terrible slaughter that occurred in Chicago on February 14th, 1929. Six mobsters were brutally murdered on Chicago's Northside and the calls for an end to the gangster violence escalated.
We face a similar situation today. Many large urban centers are plagued with unprecedented levels of street violence despite some of the most draconian gun control measures being put into place.
Is History Repeating Itself?
The intense street violence in many urban areas over the past few years has driven more and more calls for restrictions on the rights every American enjoys under the Second Amendment of the Constitution. These calls seem to ignore historical evidence that such legalistic maneuvers have no effect on the violence or the elements perpetrating that violence.
The truth is that only law-abiding citizens comply with these laws. The criminal element simply ignores them, and our law enforcement officials have no effective way of policing or stopping these elements. The criminal will continue to be a criminal and will get the guns that they desire to further their ambitions.
The National Firearms Act and the Future
More legislation, more laws, and more prosecutions will not, in the estimation of many experts, have any appreciable effect on the street violence plaguing our cities. The problem is not the gun. The problem is rooted much deeper in our culture and our society.
The National Firearms Act served as the springboard for governmental restrictions on basic rights guaranteed in the Constitution. Without vigilance and proactive involvement by law-abiding Americans, the National Firearms Act and its amendments may prove to be the springboard from which gun control advocates launch even more ambitious assaults on our rights.If you have any NFA items or would like to in the future, we highly encourage you to establish a NFA Gun Trust. At Gun Trust NFA, we make this simple and straightforward, and help you every step of the way when setting up your Trust. We encourage all Americans to exercise their Amendment rights, in order to be as safe and secure as they deem necessary.


text:
Your City. Your Business.
BizSense Pro
Pro Overview
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Florida firm buys three-building midtown office portfolio for $19.2M
Mike Platania January 13, 2021 1
The Vistas, located near I-64's interchange with West Broad Street, were part of a recent office deal. (Mike Platania photos)
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported the sale price of the deal. It has been updated.
Less than a year after spending $15 million on a West End office complex, a South Florida firm has netted another hat trick of office deals as it further bolsters its local presence.
Douglas Management & Realty last week purchased the Midtown Office Portfolio, a three-building assemblage consisting of One Holland Place and the Vistas I and II, for $19.2 million.
The seller in the deal was local real estate investment firm Allegiancy, which had owned the properties since 2013 when it paid $13.1 million.
One Holland Place, which sits across from Libbie Mill, was also included in the deal.
The three buildings are 92 percent leased and total 155,000 square feet. One Holland Place sits right across from Libbie Mill at 2235 Staples Mill Road, and the Vistas, located at 5516 and 5540 Falmouth St., are about a mile to the southeast.
The Vistas were most recently assessed by the county at $7.4 million, and One Holland Place was assessed at $8.3 million.
It's the second local deal in less than a year for Douglas Management & Realty, which bought into the Richmond market last March when it purchased three office buildings near the intersection of Forest Avenue and Glenside Drive for $15 million.
Douglas is not to be confused with D.C.-based Douglas Development, which owns dozens of downtown buildings and sought to redevelop the Coliseum.
Allegiancy's founders and brothers Chris and Steve Sadler were not available for comment, nor were Douglas representatives. Colliers International's Will Bradley and Mark Williford represented Allegiancy in the deal.
The Henrico office market is off to a fast start in 2021. Further west in Short Pump, a medical office building in GreenGate recently fetched $18 million as it was sold to another out-of-town investor.
POSTED IN Commercial Real Estate, News, Top News
About the Author: Mike Platania
Mike Platania joined BizSense in December 2016. He covers commercial real estate, restaurants and breweries. He graduated from Virginia Tech. Reach him at [email protected] or (804) 554-6872.
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samuel nelson
Purchased well-below replacement cost. Well done.
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