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Review: Being John Malkovich
Lowly, loser puppeteer Craig (John Cusack) gets a gig as a filing clerk working for eccentric Dr. Lester (Orson Bean), operating out of the 7 ½ floor of a building (!) because the original owner's wife was a dwarf. Anyway, the married Craig finds himself getting the hots for the office bitch Maxine (Catherine Keener) who wants nothing to do with him. That is until Craig discovers a hidden portal in the building. A portal that appears to lead inside the head of actor John Malkovich (!). You can only stay there for 15 minutes, but once Craig shows this to Maxine, she starts to soften up to him a bit. Hell, even Craig's frumpy wife Lotte (Cameron Diaz) likes Maxine…a lot. A real lot. Meanwhile, John Malkovich himself starts to suspect something is going on, and isn't remotely happy about his mind being manipulated like it's an amusement park ride.
Unquestionably one of the cleverest, most original, and weirdest films of the last 25 years, it's only unlikeable characters that hold me back…
Review: Extraordinary Measures
An earnest Brendan Fraser stars as a businessman, husband to Keri Russell, and father to their three kids, two of whom suffer from Pompe disease, a rare genetic disorder in the vicinity of muscular dystrophy. The disease severely limits their life-span, with them not expected to live past the age of 9 (In real-life, however, it's apparently much earlier than that, as dramatic license has been taken here). One of the kids' 9th birthday is not too far away, Fraser is fed up with doctors unable to give him answers or his kids miracle cures, and decides to take a more pro-active approach. He attempts to approach prickly medical researcher Harrison Ford, who apparently has a new perspective that the establishment aren't keen on, but might just be what Fraser is looking for. Hermit-like Ford isn't an easy man to get a hold of, and not very likeable or optimistic when Fraser does reach him, but Fraser manages to form a business partnership with him (through some financial fudging on Fraser's…
Review: Elegy
Sir Ben Kingsley plays David Kepesh, author, literature professor, and although in his early sixties, he's quite the pants man, too. Divorced, he's had an on-and-off sexual relationship with his mistress (Patricia Clarkson), and at the end of every school year he throws a big party that is basically a hunting ground for his next young conquest. This time around, it's the lovely Consuela (Penelope Cruz). However, Consuela proves to be quite unlike any other girl...David actually develops real feelings for her, and isn't quite sure what he's meant to do with those feelings, which include jealousy, mistrust, and insecurity. Is this narcissistic commitment-phobe (who probably has more years behind him than ahead of him) going to become his own worst enemy and blow something potentially enriching? Things certainly seem doom-laden. Dennis Hopper plays a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and David's best friend (and fellow philanderer), who warns David not to get too close before it ends embarrass…
Review: The Mummy
Soldiers of fortune Tom Cruise and Jake Johnson are recruited by Annabelle Wallis to exhume the tomb of mummified Egyptian pharaoh Ahmanet (Sofia Boutella). She gets reawakened and all hell goes loose. Russell Crowe turns up briefly as Dr. Henry Jekyll, who has a particular interest in monsters.
They've seemingly been trying for a modern-day Universal Horror cycle franchise for years now, and it hasn't worked. Mostly because the films have been largely awful. This 2017 flick from director Alex Kurtzman (best known as a J.J. Abrams associate and screenwriter of "The Island" among other films) and screenwriters Christopher McQuarrie ("The Usual Suspects", "Valkyrie") and Jon Spaihts ("Prometheus", "Doctor Strange") isn't as bad as say "Van Helsing", but still very, very weak. There's the bare bones of something here…the bare bones of about 12 different undernourished scripts with little or no sense made, particularly on a tonal level (I should add that a few other writers apparently had…
Review: Hancock
Will Smith is the title superhero, who ain't no Superman. He's an alcoholic jerk, who dresses like a bum, doesn't give a damn, and when he does help out humanity, he gets little thanks in return. Basically men, women, and children all call him an a-hole, rather deservedly. Actually, the reason why he gets no thanks in return (aside from his surly demeanour) is because he tends to be a little rough and clumsy in carrying out his heroic pursuits. In fact, he's run up a pretty sizeable damages bill with the city (one particularly mishap- one!- causes damages around $9 million!), and the DA wants to put Hancock in prison, somewhat ironically. Enter failing PR man Jason Bateman who wants the drug companies that employ him to do rightby people less fortunate, and whose life Hancock has just saved. He has an idea to give Hancock a PR makeover. But in order for Hancock to be once again considered the city's saviour against criminals, Bateman has the radical idea of having Hancock volunteer to…


Kyle Gibbs, 13, is a clean-cut student at Churchdown Academy in Gloucestershire, United Kingdom. However, his fashion savvy has gotten him into trouble.
Kyle recently came to school with a new haircut that was short in the back and on the sides. That didn't sit well with school officials who promptly punished him.
Kyle's father, Colin, was outraged that this would even be an issue.
"I was shocked," he told Gloucestershire Citizen. "I cut his hair, and he has a neat, short back and sides. It is grade 0.5 at the back and longer on top in an old-fashioned style. I couldn't believe it."
Kyle is being taught in isolation until his hair grows back to an acceptable length. He's learning alone in a classroom from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.
"It is not like he has a [mohawk] or strips shaved into the sides," Colin said. "I can understand that may be a distraction to other pupils in class, but this haircut is neat and tidy."
"Kyle doesn't feel comfortable in school, and I'm not going to let the teachers dictate my son's hairstyle," he added.
Churchdown Academy has declined to comment on its wardrobe policies.
The Academy's website encourages students to maintain a relentless focus on high standards and to believe there are no barriers to learning or achievement. It also states that all students should take pride in themselves and always be considerate of others.


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The Dutch graphic artist M. C. Escher achieved fame with graphic creations that often combined his observations of the physical world with the products of his own imagination to create masterly deceptions of the human eye. This 100% silk tie design is adapted from Escher's design for a painted concrete pillar in the building of the Bureau of Water Management in Haarlem, Netherlands (1962). The design incorporates three water related motifs (Symmetry Nos. 111, 112, 113) that flow into one another to create a vertical metamorphosis from bird and flying fish into boat and flying fish and finally into boat and fish. Authorized by the M.C. Escher Foundation.


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Home/Obituaries/Dale Easterly, 96, Charles City
Dale Easterly, 96, Charles City
Dale Easterly, 96, of Charles City, died on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at the MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City with his family by his side.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 25, 2021 at Colwell United Church of Christ in Colwell with Pastor Victoria Mead officiating. Burial will follow at Sunnyside Memory Gardens in rural Charles City with military honors.
A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 24, 2021 at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home in Charles City and continue one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church.
Dale Easterly, the son of J.T. and Nettie (Duncan) Easterly, was born on April 12, 1925 in the Colwell area. He graduated from Colwell High School in 1942.
Dale served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1943 to 1946. He was in the 47th Engineer Construction Battalion in the Pacific Theatre of Action. He was on the Islands of Saipan and Okinawa and was honorably discharged as a Technical Sergeant.
After being discharged, he returned back home and went to Mason City Junior College for one year. He later went into business with his dad, J.T. Easterly, in the Case Farm Equipment business in Colwell. On October 8, 1948 he was united in marriage to Judith Ackerson at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Dale continued in the Case Equipment business and in 1950 took over the business with his dad. In 1974 his son, Greg, entered into the business with Dale until he retired in 1993.
He was a member of the Colwell United Church of Christ at Colwell of which he held several offices, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, on the council and mayor of the town of Colwell. He was the dealer representative for the north east quarter of Iowa for J. I. Case Dealer Council, on the board of directors of the Alta Vista State Bank for several years, on the Charles City School Board from 1968 – 1973, on the Floyd County Veterans Memorial Hospital Board of Charles City for 5 years.
After retirement, Dale enjoyed restoring old Case Tractors and enjoyed Sunday drives with a 12 passenger van he purchased so the whole family, children and great-grandchildren, were included. Dale and Judy enjoyed spending the last several years in Florida for the winter months.
Living family members include his son, Gregory (Barb) Easterly of Charles City; daughter, Pamela (Tom) Freiberg of Fort Dodge; five grandchildren: Stephanie (Ryan) Freiberg, Matthew Easterly, Jana Woodruff, Deena (Casey) McCaulley, and Tanya Freiberg; ten great-grandchildren; along with many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Judith; parents; and sister, Lois DeLacy.
Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.
Henry "Hank" Rosauer, 91, Charles City
Positive COVID Cases Down for Most North Iowa Counties During Latest Reporting Period

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Parents' Guide to Internet Pornography.
Billie Eilish Gives Porn Industry a Black Eye
Simon Bailey: porn drives violence against women and girls
Rape and Porn
Brainwashed Kids!
Problematic Porn Use: Legal and Health Policy Considerations
Bravo Apple
Click Here for More News Blogs
"Of all activities on the internet, porn has the most potential to become addictive," say Dutch neuroscientists Meerkerk et al. 2006
The Reward Foundation is a pioneering relationship and sex education charity. The name comes from the fact that the reward system of the brain is responsible for our drive towards love and sex as well as other natural rewards like food, novelty and attainment. The reward system can be hijacked by artificially strong rewards such as drugs, alcohol, nicotine and the internet.
The Reward Foundation is a key source of evidence-based information about love relationships and the impact of internet pornography on mental and physical health, relationships, attainment and legal liability.
The Royal College of General Practitioners has accredited our training workshop for healthcare and other professionals about the impact of internet pornography on mental and physical health, including sexual dysfunctions. In support of this, we make the research about love, sex and internet pornography accessible to a wide public. See our free lesson plans for schools now available both at this website and on the Times Educational Supplement website, also for free. See too our Parents' guide to internet pornography. It is almost impossible to talk about love and sexual relationships today without acknowledging the role of internet pornography. It influences expectations and behaviour, especially amongst adolescents.
Research by the British Board of Film Classification has found that in the UK 1.4 million children a month watch pornography. Fourteen years or younger was the age 60 per cent of children first saw online porn. Most, 62 per cent, said they accidentally stumbled on it and were not expecting to see pornography. Most parents, 83 per cent, would like to see age verification introduced for these harmful sites. And 56 percent of 11 to 13-year-olds would like to be protected from 'over-18's' material online.
Short Overview
We recommend this 2-minute animation as a primer. For a good explanation of porn's effects on the brain, watch this 5 minute excerpt from a TV documentary. It features a neurosurgeon, research from the University of Cambridge and the lived experience of some young users.
Here are some simple self-assessment exercises designed by neuroscientists and clinicians to see if porn is affecting you or someone close to you.
Internet pornography is not like porn of the past. It is a 'supernormal' stimulus. It can impact the brain in a similar way to cocaine or heroin when binged upon regularly. Pornography is particularly unsuitable for children who make up 20-30% of users on adult sites. This alone justifies the UK government's age verification legislation to restrict access by children and protect their health.
Children as young as seven are being exposed to hardcore pornography because of a lack of effective age checks according to research commissioned by the British Board of Film Classification. Pornography is made for profit, it is a multi-billion dollar industry. It is not made to teach children about sex and relationships.
Largest Unregulated Social Experiment
Never before in history has so much hyper-stimulating sexual material been so freely available as now. It is the largest, unregulated social experiment in the history of humankind. In the past hardcore pornography was hard to access. It mainly came from licensed adult shops that barred entry to anyone under 18. Today, most pornography is accessed for free via smartphones and tablets. Effective age verification for visitors is missing. Overuse is producing a wide range of mental and physical health issues such as social anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunction and addiction to name a few. This is happening across all age groups.
Research shows that bingeing on internet pornography can reduce interest in, and satisfaction from, real life sexual relationships. Increasing numbers of young to middle-aged men are unable to perform sexually with their partners. Young people are becoming more aggressive and violent in their sexual behaviour too.
Our aim is to help adults and professionals access the evidence they need to feel confident enough to take appropriate action to help their patients, clients and own children. Temporarily eliminating masturbation, or reducing one's frequency, is all about recovering from an addiction and porn-induced sexual problems – nothing else. The Reward Foundation does not advocate abstinence as a permanent lifestyle.
'Industrial Strength' Internet Porn
Bingeing on porn can have a negative effect on sexual health, mental state, behaviour, relationships, attainment, productivity and criminality. For as long as a user continues to binge, the brain changes become more entrenched and harder to reverse. Occasional use is unlikely to cause lasting harm. Impairing functional brain changes have been recorded with as little as 3 hours use of pornography per week.
Our brains have not adapted to cope with so much hyper-stimulation. Children are particularly vulnerable to the endless supply of free, streaming hardcore internet pornography. This is due to its powerful impact on their sensitive brains at a key stage of psychosexual development and learning.
Most internet pornography today does not model intimacy and trust, but rather unsafe sex, coercion and violence, particularly towards women and ethnic minorities. Children are programming their brains to need constant novelty and high levels of contrived arousal that real life partners cannot match. It trains them too to be voyeurs.
At the same many are feeling sexually inadequate and are failing to learn the interpersonal skills they need to develop healthy, intimate relationships for the long term. This is leading to loneliness, social anxiety and depression in increasing numbers.
The majority of young people's first time watching pornography was accidental, with over 60% of children 11-13 who had seen pornography saying their viewing of pornography is unintentional according to recent research. Children described feeling "grossed out" and "confused". This particularly applied when they saw pornography under the age of 10.
This might be a surprise for many parents. If you want to learn more, see our Parents' Guide to Internet Pornography . It aims to help equip parents and caregivers for those challenging conversations with your children and to coordinate support with schools if required. Kent police warn that parents may be prosecuted for their children's 'sexting' if they are responsible for the phone contract. See our page about sexting and the law in Scotland And for sexting in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We have just launched a series of FREE lesson plans for teachers that will deal with "Introduction to Sexting"; "Sexting and the Adolescent Brain"; "Sexting, the Law and You"; "Pornography on Trial"; "Love, Sex & Pornography"; "Pornography and Mental Health", and "The Great Porn Experiment" . They comprise a variety of enriching, fun and interactive exercises and resources that provide a safe space for pupils to discuss these all important issues. There is no blame or shame, just the facts, so people can make informed choices.
The current lessons are suitable too for faith-based schools. No pornography is shown. Any language that might be contrary to religious doctrine can be modified.
Reward Foundation Monitors Research
The Reward Foundation monitors new research on a daily basis and incorporates developments into our materials. We also produce our own research, in particular reviews of the latest research so that others can stay up-to-date with new developments.
There are now six studies that demonstrate a causal link between porn use and harms arising from that use.
At The Reward Foundation we report stories from thousands of men and women who have developed problematic use of internet pornography. This informal research is valuable in taking account of current trends which can take a longer while to be reflected in the formal academic research. Many have experimented with quitting porn and have experienced a variety of mental and physical benefits as a result. See this young man's story.
Pornography companies have been at the forefront of internet development and design. Constant overstimulation by internet pornography causes the brain to produce powerful cravings for more. These cravings influence a porn user's thoughts and behaviour over time. For increasing numbers of users this can lead to compulsive sexual behaviour disorder. This diagnosis recently produced by the eleventh revision of the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) includes compulsive porn and masturbation use. Out of control porn and masturbation can also be classified as an addictive disorder otherwise unspecified using the ICD-11.
According to the latest research, more than 80% of people seeking medical help for compulsive sexual behaviour report they have a porn-related problem. Watch this excellent TEDx talk (9 mins) from January 2020 by Cambridge University-trained neuroscientist Casper Schmidt to learn about "Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder".
Pornography today is 'industrial strength' in terms of quantity available and levels of stimulation, compared to pornography of even 10 or 15 years ago. Its use is a personal choice, we are not out to ban legal pornography for adults, but children have to be protected. Excessive masturbation stimulated by pornography can lead to mental and physical health issues for some. We want to help users be in a position to make an 'informed' choice based on the best evidence from the research currently available and signpost recovery options, if required. Temporarily eliminating masturbation, or reducing frequency, is all about recovering from an addiction, sexual conditioning to hard core material and porn-induced sexual problems – nothing else. The Reward Foundation does not advocate abstinence as a permanent lifestyle.
We campaign to reduce children's easy access to internet pornography. Dozens of research papers indicate that it is damaging to children at their vulnerable stage of brain development. There has been a dramatic rise in child-on-child sexual abuse in the past 8 years and in porn-related sexual injuries according to healthcare professionals who have attended our workshops and possibly even deaths. It is linked to domestic violence, perpetrated primarily by men against women.
We are in favour of the UK government's initiatives to enforce effective age verification for commercial porn sites and social media sites so that children cannot stumble across it so easily. It will not replace the need for education about risks. And who benefits if we do nothing? The multi-billion dollar porn industry. The UK government plans to deal with the porn available through social media in the proposed White Paper On Online Harms. It is not likely to be law until 2024 at the earliest.
The information on this website can help people improve their chances of enjoying a successful, loving sexual relationship. We are planning new sections for the website in the second half of 2020. If you would like any related topic added, please us know by contacting us at info@rewardfoundation.org.
The Reward Foundation does not offer therapy nor provide legal advice. However, we do signpost routes to recovery for people whose use has become problematic. Our aim is to help adults and professionals access the evidence and support to allow them to take appropriate action.
The Reward Foundation does not offer therapy.


Christopher Balding is an associate professor of business and economics at the HSBC Business School in Shenzhen and author of Sovereign Wealth Funds: The New Intersection of Money and Power.
The Venezuelan and Chinese economies seem like they could hardly have less in common. The Venezuelan government of Nicolás Maduro has looted the state-run oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) to pay for the "Bolivarian revolution," the socialist movement begun under the late leader Hugo Chávez. With oil prices down, the country is unable even to repair rigs or pay workers to generate income, and the government now faces the prospect of a mass uprising. Meanwhile, half a globe away, China's gleaming malls stand in stark contrast to Venezuela's empty shelves.
But Venezuela's ruinous state has more to do with China than one might think — specifically, with Chinese President Xi Jinping's plan for expanding China's global influence through financial diplomacy. Venezuela's collapse is about to serve as an object lesson on that plan's high costs for China's erstwhile partners — and ultimately for China itself.
Officially, lending from Beijing comes without strings or concerns about nonfinancial matters. The reality is more nuanced. No one doubts Beijing cares little for niceties such as human rights, environmental protection, and anti-corruption when working abroad. Until recently, even geopolitical flag planting was relatively unimportant to Chinese technocrats.
But there was still a hard-edged focus on Chinese interests. The driving motivation of Chinese investment and lending since 2000 has been an obsession with opening up new export markets and securing access to natural resources. China's interests in gaining friends in the Western Hemisphere while securing access to oil overlapped with Venezuela's interest in diversifying its customer base away from the United States. But that overlap of interests doesn't mean China has ever offered any sort of discount on its loans. China lent at exorbitant rates to Venezuela. Now, China refuses to renegotiate those debts, even as the South American country's economy and oil industry crater.
From 2007 to 2014, China lent Venezuela $63 billion — 53 percent of all its lending to Latin America during this time. There was an important catch to this largesse; to guarantee repayment, Beijing insisted on being repaid in oil.
From 2007 to 2014, China lent Venezuela $63 billion — 53 percent of all its lending to Latin America during this time. There was an important catch to this largesse; to guarantee repayment, Beijing insisted on being repaid in oil. With most lending agreed to when oil hovered at more than $100 a barrel, as it did for most of 2007-2014, it seemed a good deal for both sides. However, when oil dropped to close to $30 a barrel in January 2016, this caused Venezuela's price tag for serving its debt to explode. To repay Beijing today, Venezuela must now ship two barrels of oil for every one it originally agreed to.
If Venezuela collapses and Maduro departs unceremoniously, China faces a large risk of diplomatic and financial blowback. Opposition politicians are well aware that China propped up the ruinous Maduro rule. A new Venezuelan government could well refuse to honor the Maduro-era obligations entirely and look to Washington for support instead. That would be both economically and politically embarrassing for China, which in the past has been a vigorous supporter of the right to default — as long as the debts were owed to the West.
But a Venezuelan default could have consequences far beyond Caracas and Beijing. As part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China is planning to extend the same kind of deal it made with Venezuela to many more countries around the world. By leveraging its financial strength and expertise in infrastructure, China saw an opportunity to push its influence farther afield, winning friends and securing assets at the same time.
America's abdication of its historical leadership role under Donald Trump has made it easier for China to push this grand geostrategic vision, especially after the Barack Obama's administration's failure to follow up the much-hyped "pivot to Asia" with real substance. Many Asian countries talk quietly, and some openly, about craving greater U.S. engagement in the region rather than quiet surrender to Beijing's dominance. But if the choice is a risky deal with Beijing or no deal at all with the West, many have shown that they will choose the former.
Venezuela collapsed thanks to a malevolent dictatorship pushing disastrous economic policies aided by a benefactor willing to extend near bottomless credit. This same toxic mix is present throughout many of the countries receiving large amounts of Chinese lending under the BRI. Worried about stagnating economies, autocrats around the world see an opportunity to drive growth by borrowing from China to fund white elephant projects regardless of the long-term consequences.
While China may argue that it makes investment decisions on a purely commercial basis, its history with Venezuela argues otherwise. That has been confirmed by the problems that have already cropped up in BRI-related projects. In the short time since 2016, we've already seen major debt problems from Chinese infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. China negotiated a swap of its debt for a 99-year leasehold in a Sri Lankan port project along with surrounding business park development interests. China provided emergency funding to Pakistan over the past year to stave off a potential currency crisis but still plans to invest $52 billion over the next few years in infrastructure projects.
Beijing likes to cite the Marshall Plan when talking about the BRI, but its deals are far more shrewd and self-serving. The BRI scheme isn't offering concessionary lending or international aid but market-based lending rates with high-interest loans. The borrower countries then have to use Chinese firms, inputs, and workers to build out their railways and ports. China is making the loans not out of a long-sighted vision of a better global order, as its boosters like to claim, but from a calculation of the financial incentives it needs to keep its own over-indebted firms afloat and their workers working.
That's going to come with hard costs for China. Reports indicate that Chinese officials expect to incur significant losses from their loans to South and Central Asian countries that can't necessarily pay them back. Consider Sri Lanka, which effectively defaulted on a $2 billion loan from China but subsequently received an offer for an additional $32 billion from Beijing to fund infrastructure projects. There are also good reasons to think Pakistan won't be able to absorb China's large investment inflows without triggering inflation, thus undermining its ability to repay the loans.
Officially, China plans to invest $5 trillion over the next 10-15 years in the BRI. If this amount actually materializes in practice, it represents a major sum, even for China, whether in absolute terms or relative to GDP. That means that even relatively small defaults could have a serious cost, economically and politically.
There's no surer way for China to lose goodwill worldwide than to provide large amounts of ruinous lending that pushes developing countries to financial ruin. Sri Lanka has seen widespread protests and riots over Chinese debt. Meanwhile, Beijing has been leaning on the Venezuelan opposition not to default on the existing debts. All this is already having reputational costs for China. Having witnessed the consequences of Beijing's lending in Venezuela, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, other potential borrowers seem to have cooled on the possibility of borrowing from Beijing — or at least to be more discerning of the risks.
Large-scale lending projects without a focus on their economic viability and the repayment capacity of the borrowers are hardly the soundest basis for financial diplomacy of the sort China is attempting to practice. At best, it will lead to mutual suspicions and tensions between lender and borrower. At worst, it will prove financially ruinous for countries burdened with debts they cannot repay in foreign currency they do not possess. Unless China's lending gets smarter, it may find that nobody's interested in the money it has to offer.


Is the Peak of Home Price Growth Behind Us?
Home prices in August grew at the fastest year-over-year pace since February 2006, but the real price pulse of the housing market may be slowing, according to the latest data from Standard & Poor's.
The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index jumped 12.8 percent in August from the year before. Las Vegas led the nation with a yearly price appreciation of 29.2 percent. Denver and Dallas also saw record price levels.
Yet, take a look at the monthly figures and the picture changes. Compared with July, prices were up just 1.3 percent. In July, prices had risen 1.8 percent from the previous month. San Francisco, for example, saw prices grow 0.9 percent in August, down from July's price increase of 2.2 percent. Things may well be slowing down for the foreseeable future.
"The monthly percentage changes for the 20-City composite show the peak rate of gain in home prices was last April," said David Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices, in a release. "Since then home prices continued to rise, but at a slower pace each month. This month 16 cities reported smaller gains in August compared to July."
Earlier this year, record low mortgage interest rates and a shorter supply of distressed properties helped increase sales and push home prices upward quickly. In the hotter markets, sellers even saw bidding wars again. In the middle of the summer, however, mortgage interest rates jumped enough to scare off many potential homebuyers, but inventory remained tight enough to keep prices moving higher.
So what happens next? Analysts say prices will continue to grow but at a moderated pace. As of the end of October, the Federal Reserve pledged to continue its current pace of mortgage-backed securities purchases for the next six weeks, which should keep mortgage interest rates fairly low through the end of the year. Low rates means more buyers can afford to jump into the market, keeping prices high if inventory doesn't increase much. But when the economy starts to show real improvement again, the Fed will be forced to raise rates to subdue inflation. Higher rates will definitely slow sales and the rate of price appreciation.
Plus, the number of foreclosures and short-sales on the market is still down dramatically from last year, making up just 24.6 percent of inventory, a four-year low. Without those discounted distressed properties bringing down the overall median home price, things could remain fairly stable going forward. Especially if no new waves of foreclosures hit the market.
While home prices will likely not fall again anytime soon, the pace of increases will probably continue to taper. Mortgage rates are predicted to rise in 2014, but forecasts for the jobs market are still sketchy. Unemployment remains too high and incomes have seen little to no increase in the past year. And let's not forget the recent government shutdown. That is bound to pull prices down for October. These factors combined will prevent prices from rising out of control as they did during the housing boom and help balance the supply of homes with the demand.


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Maria z Paflagonii (ur. ok. 790, zm. po 823) – cesarzowa bizantyńska.

Życiorys
Pochodziła z miasta Amni w Paflagonii. W listopadzie 788 w wyniku konkursu piękności została żoną Konstantyna VI. Małżeństwo okazało się nieudane. W 795 roku cesarz zmusił ją do rozwodu i wstąpienia do klasztoru. Maria i Konstantyn mieli dwie córki: Eufrozynę, żonę cesarza Michała II oraz Irenę.

Bibliografia
 Maciej Salamon, Maria z Paflagonii [w:] Encyklopedia kultury bizantyńskiej, red. Oktawiusz Jurewicz, Warszawa: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego 2002, s. 331.

Cesarzowe bizantyńskie
Dynastia izauryjska
Urodzeni w VIII wieku
Zmarli w IX wieku

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds; For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,read more.
The lambs will be for your clothing, And the goats will bring the price of a field, And there will be goats' milk enough for your food, For the food of your household, And sustenance for your maidens.
"At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. "The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
"As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them."
So he gathered all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and placed the food in the cities; he placed in every city the food from its own surrounding fields.
"It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do. "Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt; and after them seven years of famine will come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will ravage the land.read more.
"So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe. "Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about. "Now let Pharaoh look for a man discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. "Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers in charge of the land, and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. "Then let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh's authority, and let them guard it. "Let the food become as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish during the famine."
So Solomon rebuilt Gezer and the lower Beth-horon and Baalath and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land of Judah, and all the storage cities which Solomon had, even the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and all that it pleased Solomon to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule.
He built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the storage cities which he had built in Hamath. He also built upper Beth-horon and lower Beth-horon, fortified cities with walls, gates and bars; and Baalath and all the storage cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots and cities for his horsemen, and all that it pleased Solomon to build in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land under his rule.
Now Hezekiah had immense riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuable articles, storehouses also for the produce of grain, wine and oil, pens for all kinds of cattle and sheepfolds for the flocks. He made cities for himself and acquired flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great wealth.
She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight. She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar. She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens.read more.
When they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost." So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?" Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.
But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, "Why this waste? "For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor."
But some were indignantly remarking to one another, "Why has this perfume been wasted? "For this perfume might have been sold for over three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they were scolding her.
Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, Or desire his delicacies; For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, "Eat and drink!" But his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, And waste your compliments.
And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive. "And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?' "Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.read more.
"And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life's span? "If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. "But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?read more.
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek,read more.


Macadamia, coconut, banana & blueberry loaf. Grain, Lactose & refined Sugar free. by Carls 83. A Thermomix ® recipe in the category Baking - sweet on www.recipecommunity.com.au, the Thermomix ® Community.
Macadamia, coconut, banana & blueberry loaf. Grain, Lactose & refined Sugar free.
1 Macadamia, coconut, banana & blueberry loaf. Grain, Lactose & refined Sugar free.
50 grams Shredded coconut, sprinkling on top.
Pre heat oven 180c line bread tin with baking paper.
Mil Buckwheat speed 8, 15 second.
Add Maccadamias speed 8, 5 seconds.
mix in Cinnamon, baking powder and salt speed 4, 3 seconds.
Add Bananas, Rice malt syrup, coconut oil, eggs and Apple Cider Vinigar to TM bowl mix Speed 5, for 5-10 seconds.
Add dry ingredients back into bowl and mix Speed 5, 5 seconds till combined.
Add 3/4 Blueberries and mix on speed 4 for 4 seconds.
Pour into bread tin place sliced banana on top, sprinkle with remaining blueberries and shredded coconut.


text:
Aluminum - EagleCraft
Soundings Editors
EagleCraft puts the shine on aluminum boats
Pondering the looks of the EagleCraft 31, Polaris, brings to mind the legendary series of German racecars called Mercedes Silberpfeil. The boat's unpainted aluminum hull sports exactly the color of these rockets on wheels, which set new standards for performance and endurance more than 70 years ago.
Read the other story in this package: Aluminum – Material Difference
Like other nicknames, the Silberpfeil — or silver arrow — has a quirky origin. The first such car, introduced in 1934 and painted white, was 2 pounds over the limit at the weigh-in for its first race, so the crew simply sanded off all the paint, thus fixing the weight problem by exposing the shiny aluminum body. Because the car won, a legend was born.
Since aluminum boats aren't always painted, silver has become their trademark color, too. Once pigeonholed as utilitarian workhorses, these vessels have enjoyed a renaissance as recreational boats in recent years. Today, the rugged workboat exterior is accepted, and builders are hustling to meet the demand for vessels that outwardly look like they are taking a logging crew to camp, but have comfortable interiors and amenities below deck.
One such example is Polaris, an EagleCraft Coastal Cruiser custom-built by Daigle Welding & Marine Ltd. in Campbell River, British Columbia, and owned by Chris Davis, a physician who lives on Vashon Island in Puget Sound. Davis has owned the boat for a half-dozen years and still loves it like he did on the first day.
"It's the best toy I have owned so far," he says.
For a while he and his son, Scott, commuted to Seattle together, where the younger Davis attended high school and played varsity football. That meant long days and late return trips, dodging driftwood and other floating hazards while flying down Puget Sound in the dark.
"Imagine you are doing 30 knots and hit a log or any other hard object," Davis says. "A fiberglass boat gets pulverized by the sheer force of the impact. Aluminum, on the other hand, will sustain a dent that you can hammer out during the next inspection."
He considers a hull made from impact-resistant aluminum alloy good insurance that offers better protection than wood or most common composite construction materials. And it is much lighter than steel, and strong (see main story). Another advantage is aluminum's low maintenance. "All I do is clean windows and hose her off with fresh water," he says.
Polaris is the civilized version of a patrol boat used by the marine department of the Vancouver City Police. But to call her a commuter vessel would ignore the entertainment value she offers for weekend and day cruising, fishing and diving, as well as her suitability as a rescue vessel.
"Past age 50, one begins to view the purpose of boats differently," Davis muses. "I wanted a boat that combines pleasure and utility."
Rugged look, stout construction
The short bow, angular lines of the pilothouse and forward cabin trunk, stout rubrails, and shiny aluminum are part of Polaris' understated charm and workboat heritage. EagleCrafts are so-called pull-up boats, meaning the hull shape is built before all the transverse frames — on 24-inch centers — and six 4-by-2-by-3/16-inch scantlings are installed.
The hull plates are 5086 aluminum alloy, the most common one in boatbuilding (also used in dump-truck boxes). The thickness of the bottom and the stern is 1/4 inch, while the sides are 3/16 inch. The keel consists of a 3/8-by-3-inch flat bar for the keelson and a 1/4-by-8-inch doubler plate on the outside to minimize potential impact damage. Two skegs protect the twin counter-rotating props. The stepping areas on the narrow side decks are covered with an industrial-grade non-skid, and to preserve that trademark metallic shine above the waterline, EagleCrafts are finished with a polyurethane clear coat.
The modified-vee hull has 19 degrees of deadrise at the transom and nearly 25 degrees at the entry. An inspection of the hull's interior shows smooth plating, which indicates proper fit and stress-free construction, and no evidence of water in the bilge, which indicates tight seams. The Daigle yard is certified to the 47.2 standard by the Canadian Welding Bureau to ensure complete weld penetration where required — e.g. on the chines.
"All our boats have proper cathodic protection with sacrificial anodes attached at critical points, so electrolysis is not a problem," says company president Steve Daigle. "Upon request we even install meters for owners to check the effectiveness of the anodes."
Yacht-like performance and details
Polaris' engine room houses twin 260-hp Volvo Penta KAD 44 EDC supercharged turbo diesels that propel the 17,000-pound vessel to a cruising speed of about 30 knots at 3,300 rpm, topping out at 35 knots at wide-open throttle. At cruising speed, fuel consumption averages 12 gallons per hour. All cables and hydraulic lines are properly harnessed and fastened to prevent chafe, and lead forward to the boat's steering station.
A dewatering system for the air-intakes helps keep the engines dry, and the engine compartment is easily accessible through a massive hatch that runs the width of the cockpit. Forward of the engines are two deep-storage areas, also accessible by heavy aluminum hatches. A layer of mineral wool between the hull and interior provides temperature insulation, critical on aluminum boats.
On the flybridge, just forward of the radar arch, a life raft is ready for emergency deployment and a storage box to help keep the area clutter-free. To port of the flybridge ladder are the throttle and hydraulic lift for the stern-mounted 25-hp 4-stroke outboard, used for trolling or to get home in case of main engine failure.
The deck-level saloon is bright, roomy and multifunctional, with an additional steering station and a dinette that converts into a double bunk. The helm station is to starboard and offers good all-around visibility and access to the engine controls and electronics. Abaft the helm and also to starboard is the galley, with storage, counter space and appliances. A step down from the saloon is a forward V-berth and an enclosed head with shower. The setup is functional, with little room to spare.
At home in all conditions
Sitting on the flybridge, Davis plays the throttles to nudge the boat out of her slip at Elliott Bay Marina and into open water. As he opens the throttles, the diesels come to life, but if you go below the noise level in the cabin remains surprisingly low, due to the effectiveness of the sound insulation. The centerline flybridge helm seat has a million-dollar view and unobstructed visibility in all directions. Passengers squeezed into the rotating seats on both sides of the helm sometimes wish for hand-holds.
On a morning run from Vashon to Seattle, Polaris shows her seaworthiness in bumpy conditions that stem from an ebb running into a brisk northerly. She cruises comfortably at 3,300 rpm, making anywhere from 27 to 30 knots over ground, according to the GPS. At the entrance to Elliott Bay, just off Alki Point, where currents and ferry wakes converge, she easily handles the steeper swells under slightly reduced speed. Overall, Polaris impresses with good handling, lively performance, and solid craftsmanship — three reasons rugged aluminum workboats have morphed into recreational use.
Scott Davis now is a junior in college and no longer commutes by boat with his father, who works as an emergency medicine physician at Jefferson General Hospital in Port Townsend, Wash., on the northern tip of the Olympic Peninsula. It's a 70-mile commute by car from Vashon Island, which includes a short hop by ferry, so Davis likes his alternative.
"Except in extremely bad weather, I like to take Polaris to and from work," he says. "A night-vision scope enables me to run safely at cruising speeds at night. In bad weather on Puget Sound, it has been my observation that the majority of non-commercial powerboats on the water are aluminum."
Sometimes Davis' son takes the boat to the San Juan Islands for weekend trips with friends. But it looks like the bulk of Polaris' future will be spent serving the public. Davis says he will be training with Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 33 in Tacoma, Wash., a unit that has a large number of pilots and aircraft to back up the Coast Guard's air mission.
"The unit wants to build its on-the-water program," says Davis. "I envision Polaris to be useful for security patrols, public safety and search and rescue jobs."
By happenstance, Polaris is following the example of Silver Charm, another EagleCraft 31 that has been used as a patrol and rescue vessel. Her owners — Linda Vetter, chief operations officer of a Silicon Valley software company, and husband, Terry Blanchard, an accountant — are members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary on San Francisco Bay. Silver Charm is more utilitarian than Polaris, powered by twin outboards and equipped with a cockpit door on the starboard side to make retrieving victims easier.
"The boat is about 6-1/2 years old now, and we've done almost 300 patrols," Vetter says.
She says Silver Charm's large and uncluttered cockpit helps with rescue operations and practicing helicopter basket hoists. "We love the boat. She is strong and fits our needs," Vetter says. "But if I had to do it over, I'd probably opt for two inboard diesels."
Regardless, Polaris and Silver Charm are aluminum boats that offer versatility, speed and strength, which — like the color — are the very attributes that helped build the legacy of Mercedes Silberpfeil racecars.
Though EagleCraft still offers the 31 Coastal Cruiser, it says the 32 has become a more popular choice among its customers. Starting price for a single-inboard 32 is $215,000, with twin inboards $255,000. For more information, call (250) 286-6749 or visit www.eaglecraft.bc.ca .
Aluminum – Material Difference
A new aluminum trawler
Sportsman 20: built like a small yacht
Nothin' finer
When price matters
Bay Tripper - A 45-foot boat in a 40-foot shed
Simply irresistible
Bay Tripper October 2007


text:
THE SMALL STAGE
An Intimate Two-Brother Drama
Cory Jefferson Hagen and Jared McDaris in THIS PRISON WHERE I LIVE with Theater Red. Photo: Traveling Lemur Productions
This past weekend, Theater Red opened Writer/Director Angela Iannone's historical drama This Prison Where I Live. The lovingly-researched drama focuses on a late 19th century actor who survives an attempt on his life while performing onstage. It's a briskly-paced drama with two men at the center of a small ensemble on an intimate stage.
Think of it as a Historical Buddy Drama
Because of the nature of the people involved, it's easy to get bogged-down in the weightiness of the history behind the play. Strip it of everything else and it's the story of an actor haunted by the uninvited ghost of his late brother...who was also an actor. Iannone's script works really, really well as a family drama centered on two people. That one of them happens to be dead gives the story a bit of intriguing depth. The ghost is, among other things, trying to keep his living, breathing sibling alive and well. The living brother would far rather be spared the presence of his late brother...partially because he's annoying but mostly because he killed President Lincoln.
Cory Jefferson Hagen is a delight as John Wilkes Booth. He radiates gentlemanly southern charm in the role of a very passionate man. Corey Jefferson Hagen plays with clever intricacies of characterization in the role of an actor who might have been far too self-confident to ever become truly great, but possessed a magnetic charm that awarded him great adulation. There's a gentlemanly lack of restraint in him that edges on the sociopathic, but he cares deeply for his brother. Corey Jefferson Hagen does a brilliant job of rendering all the subtleties of one of U.S. history's greatest villains.
Jared McDaris deftly wields precision and perfection in his portrayal of the brother haunted by the ghost of an assassin. Edwin Booth was a legendary actor in his own right with tremendous and heroic dedication to a life in the theatre. McDaris plays a haunted man with relentless focus tempered by passion. McDaris and Hagen have a quick chemistry about them that propels the dialogue. The two actors manage to render a great familiarity between the two actors they are portraying. There's clever wit to their verbal dueling that expresses a great affection through constant tension. It's great fun to watch.
Marcee Doherty-Elst lends support to the family dynamic as Edwin's wife Mary. She's haunted too, but not by any visible ghosts. Trauma has left her something of an earthbound ghost herself...just another figure to haunt Edwin. Doherty-Elst glides across the stage in an affectionate haze that feels disturbingly lifeless at the core. There is some suggestion of deeper darkness in the script as John strongly suggests that Edwin distance himself from her. There's a kind of dormant menace in Doherty-Elst's portrayal of Mary's love for Edwin. It adds a great deal to the dramatic dynamic of relations between the two brothers.
Brandon Haut makes a single appearance onstage as an admirer of Edwin's who wishes to engage him in conversation. Plagued as he is by the ghost of his brother, Edwin is scarcely in the frame of mind to entertain conversation from a stranger. Things get rather conversational without ever being entirely uncivil. That there is tension at all in the scene shows a great deal of finesse on Haut's part. He's a very calm man, but there is a machinery beneath it all fueled by a passion that Haut wields quite well.
Andrea Burkholder rounds-out the cast as the vision of Edwin's first wife. There's sweetness and concern in her presence, but she is elusive.
Iannone keeps the pacing of the drama slow and soulful throughout. There are a few moments of slightly stiff dialogue here and there, but the overriding presence of the drama feels quite authentic. Where there is unintended stiffness, it might be due to a dizzying amount of detail and symbolism Iannone has carved into the drama. Iannone crafted this thing like a Swiss clock, which sometimes runs the risk of approaching a kind of unintended soullessness. Thankfully (and no doubt by design) the thematic and historical intricacies of the script are largely ticking around in the background of an otherwise thoroughly satisfying fraternal drama. There are A LOT of things moving around in the script thematically that would be far too easy to get lost in, but at its heart, this is a really engrossing drama about a man and the ghost of his late brother.
Theater Red's This Prison Where I Live runs through Sep. 9 at the Tenth Street Theatre on 628 N. 10th St. For ticket reservations and more, visit Theater Red online.
Russ Bickerstaff


"Seventeen artists, six days, one incredible album full of new music." That was the description used by Def Jam Records to introduce the label's "Rap Camp" concept, which yielded the compilation album "Undisputed" designed to introduce the roster's slate of hip-hop newcomers.
Def Jam is, of course, home to some of the biggest names in rap and pop, including Kanye West, YG and Justin Bieber, but under the still relatively new leadership of CEO Paul Rosenberg and EVP Steven Victor, this experimental undertaking is among the label's most ambitious yet.
The talent was hand-picked by EVP and A&R veteran Victor, who describes the project as "making the kind of music I want to listen to now." The lineup includes 18-year-old YK Osiris from Jacksonville, Sneakk from the Bay Area, Fetty Luciano from Brooklyn and YFL Kelvin from Cleveland, among many others, who converged on Paramount Studios in West Hollywood to collaborate.
The Rap Camp recording sessions were produced by Victor, Def Jam VP of A&R Anthony "AE" Edwards and in-house producer Rico Beats. An eight-part documentary film series is also planned for the near future.


text:
Q: How to update a dropdownlist inside an Ajax modal popup panel I have a girdview in side an update panel, the girdview allows to edit, delete the data in my database, I have button named Insert, when the insert button is clicked, an ajax model popup panel will show up, inside that pop up panel, there is a dropdownlist.
My question is that how can I update the dropdownlist inside the popup panel every time there is a change in my girdview panel.
I tried changing some data in the girdview, then I have to refresh the whole paper(thing which I don't want to do) to update the dropdownlist.
<%@ Page Title="Home Page" Language="C#" MasterPageFile="~/Site.master"  AutoEventWireup="true"
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                     <asp:TableCell><asp:DropDownList ID="TProjectMID" runat="server">  </asp:DropDownList></asp:TableCell>
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                <asp:Button ID="OkButton" runat="server" Text="OK" UseSubmitBehavior="false" OnClick="OkButton_Click" />
                <asp:Button ID="CancelButton" runat="server" Text="Cancel" />

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                AutoGenerateColumns="False" DataKeyNames="ProjectID" DataSourceID="DataSource"
                Width="921px">
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A: Dynamically populate your dropdown list with AJAX. Or does .net have anyway you can bind a dropdown to a gridview. Last time i used it was 2.0. :)

A: Why can't you bind the DropDownlist to it's DataSource every time the user clicks on the Insert-Button? You should also wrap the content of the popup in its own UpdatePanel and only Update it when the popup is shown ot ensure that only the popup will be reloaded and not the whole page.
Edit:
The reason for the missing postback could be that any Validator is blocking it. Set CausesValidation=false to your Register-Button that opens the Popup. Another point: because the button is outside of the UpdatePanel UpdatePane, i would consider to create an AsyncPostBacktrigger with the RegisterButton as ControlID.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


My website really took of, when I realised that you needed to submit your website to search engines. I started with Yahoo! and then found some "submiter" sites. I started geting hits. However the hits were very few and far between, Wondering if anything could be done I read some articles on how to get more. This involved, making meta tags, adding keywords to your pages etc. None of this was very successful, then I stumbled across the most important aspect of all. In order for people to find your site you need something that they will be looking for. So I started writing stuff, I wrote the Project X.16 page, and a short look at evolution. This increased hit significantly. Then the webpromotion world went nuts as google apeared on the scene. I was amazed how easily I found pages using google and investigated into how it worked. As you probably know google ranks sites according to how many links are pointing to it. Armed with this knowlege I started to find people to exchange links with, this definately increases the hits you get! Anyway I think I was side tracked there :) if you want to read more about promoting your site of want to exchange links the best thing to do is to go to my web promotion page (which needs an update) and read it.
Thats one of your questions answered.
If you have question you would like to ask me, please email me and I will do my best to answer it.
And I love it when people sign my guestbook so if you enjoyed any part of my site please go here and sign it.


We want to make the process of finding the right trim for our customer's needs as painless and convenient as possible. This is why Flannery has a special page on our website known as the "SHAPEFINDER" which gives our web visitors streamlined access to the various aluminum reveals and steel products that we offer.Flannery's Shapefinder page is broken down by section and category so that narrowing one's search to a specific wall system is made convenient for the user. The Shapefinder tool is also available by section throughout the website for each category of Flannery's trim product lines.
Using the Shapefinder page is one of the easiest ways that architects and contractors alike can pick out the exterior or interior trim products that might be integrated into their upcoming project. When it comes to an architect looking to specify a product, the Shapefinder lays each trim out in a way that helps nurture the creative and practical aspect of architectural design. As for the contractor, the Shapefinder lays our products out in a way that allows them to match a trim shape found in the architectural plans to the corresponding trim that we manufacture.
Once the correct shape is selected on the Shapefinder, the browser simply has to click on that shape and they are automatically directed to the product information for that trim including product name, description, availablibe sizes, CAD drawings and installation instructions. By selecting the right shape and the right style of trim components our customers can quickly pick out what they will want to specify or need to order and have all the information about that product at their fingertips.
Both architects and contractors will enjoy the convenience and "user-friendly" nature of Flannery's Shapefinder tool. Our staff members are more than happy to help explain the many ways of finding and disseminating our trim products for anyone who may need additional assistance in finding just the right reveal or trim!


The objective of FISCAREG is to serve local clients while maintaining an overview of services and international law and regulations to provide specific advice on Swiss and international taxation.
Our main activity consists of individual taxation, legal entities and tax returns on wealth & estate planning.
Jann Regenass has had 20 years in private banking in Basel, Geneva and Zurich, mostly in the banking law, central file, compliance and taxation sectors. He has decided to specialize and develop an independent office consultancy, international tax and bank compliance.in the Vaud region of Switzerland.
Jann Regenass is a holder of a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the Business School of Lausanne, a Diploma of Specialized Higher Studies (DESS) in Business Management and a degree in International Compliance (degree in law) awarded by the University of Manchester in collaboration with the international Association of compliances officers. Throughout his career, Mr Regenass has followed continuous training courses in, financial planning, management risks, management trusts, taxation and wealth management.
* Creation and administration of companies and / or foundation under Swiss law or other juridictions.
All our compliance activities are now done via C- Agency Sàrl in Versoix.


Clerevale welcomes you through a grand entrance to a formal and luxurious lounge room with an open fireplace where you can relax and unwind. Adjoining the lounge room is the dining room able to seat 8 people.
The open plan kitchen and living room enjoys tranquil views to the farm and the grazing cows as well as wildlife. The living room opens directly onto a small manicured dam and has full height windows to let in the light and allows uninterrupted views of the escarpment.
There is a combustion fireplace that radiates great heat and is an ideal place to relax read a book or watch some TV or movies on an inclement day. The kitchen has a 900mm oven and 5 burner gas cook top to help cater for gourmet meals. There is a dishwasher, microwave and all the dining and cooking utensils youd have on hand at home.
There is a master bedroom with en-suite that opens on to the lawn and overlooks the dam. The other 3 bedrooms are all off the long hallway sharing a main bathroom with shower and bath and theres a separate toilet. Each of the bedrooms has been tastefully decorated . The bed configeration consists of 3 queen bedrooms and 2 single beds.
At the front of the house there is a large games room with a ping pong table, dart board, Foos ball, keyboard, stereo and many board games that will keep you entertained for hours.
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Enjoy that family time in the warmer months by relaxing around the pool that is conveniently located next to the house and has an undercover dining table and a separate undercover BBQ area.
This home is perfect for creating memories.
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Odenton Bus Crash Injures One. Anne Arundel County officials said a man has been seriously injured in a crash involving a school bus and car in Odenton.County Fire Department spokesman Lt. Keith Hamilton said the crash happened about 6:40 a.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Telegraph Road and Betson Avenue. Authorities said no students were on the bus at the time. A 25-year-old man was taken to Shock Trauma in Baltimore with life-threatening injuries, officials said.
BBB Shred Day Offers Defense Against Identity Theft. Maryland ranks third in the nation for complaints filed for fraud, and ninth for identity theft complaints, according to the Federal Trade Commission. For that reason, WBAL-TV 11 is proud to join the Greater Maryland Better Business Bureau for its third annual BBB Shred Day. Local residents and businesses can bring up to three boxes of personally identifiable documents for free on-site shredding.
Anne Arundel Schools Name 2012 Teacher Of The Year. An elementary school teacher known for following up with her students years later received a special honor Monday night in Anne Arundel County. Martha Gardner, a fifth-grade teacher at Belvedere Elementary School in Arnold, was named as the 2011-2012 Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the Year.
More 'No Confidence' Votes For Arundel Police Chief Teare. The Anne Arundel County Council can be added to the growing list of voices expressing no-confidence in county Police Chief James Teare. On Monday night, the council voted 4-3, voicing its concerns over Teare's ability to lead the department in the wake of the indictment of County Executive John Leopold.


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Signs of the Time
The Myth, The Mystery, The Legend of Baseball's Greatest Innovation
Archive for the 'Film News' Category
and the Emmy® goes to…
…Signs of the Time for Best Documentary at the 56th Annual New York Emmy® Awards gala held on Sunday, April 14th in New York City. In a night full of glitz and glamour, we settled in to enjoy the evening with hopes running high, but with determination to savor the moment regardless of the outcome. What a thrill it was to then hear our name be called by the presenter, singer/songwriter Judy Collins, in the Documentary category. Caroline Manard, Ray Manard, Don Casper and Jim Hughes walked up to the stage in a bit of a daze to accept the award. Truly it is an honor to see our film be recognized by others in the industry. This film has been a labor of love for everyone involved and this is the icing on the cake. But the excitement of the night did not end there as our film won two more Emmy® Awards. Ray Manard won in the category of Editor: Program and Rob LaVaque won in the category of Musical Composition/Arrangement. A big congratulations goes out to the entire Crystal Pix, Inc. team for their dedication and hard work, and to our talented partners, including Eric McMaster, Jim Hughes and Rob LaVaque, who joined forces with us to make this film a success. For the past year, Signs of the Time has been airing on public television stations across the US, distributed by American Public Television and presented by WXXI-TV right here in Rochester, NY. Let's raise a glass!
Written by cjmanard
Posted in Film News
Signs of the Time To Be Broadcast Around The Country
Signs of the Time makes its North American broadcast premiere starting this spring on public television stations across the country. Produced in high-definition by Crystal Pix, Inc. of Fairport, New York, the film has enjoyed critical acclaim at film festivals across North America and has received "Best Documentary" awards five times. Signs of the Time is presented by WXXI Public Broadcasting in Rochester, New York, and distributed nationally by American Public Television.
Narrated by Academy Award® winning actor Richard Dreyfuss, Signs of the Time, reveals the myth and mystery behind one of the greatest innovations of baseball – umpire hand signals.
The film illustrates stories of inspiration that transcend sports. At the heart of the story are two fascinating characters from baseball's past – the 19th century deaf ballplayer William "Dummy" Hoy and the father of modern umpires, Bill Klem. The film offers dramatic re-enactments of early baseball and interviews from baseball legends such as Bob Feller, Brooks Robinson, Fred Lynn, and Earl Weaver. It also provides a compelling look into the silent and often misunderstood world of the deaf community. Legendary deaf author Robert Panara commented, "The film's message of breaking the barriers of communication is what we Deaf people have done throughout life, and the struggle is never-ending. This film, much like its central character Dummy Hoy, is an inspiration to deaf and hearing people alike."
The television broadcast of the film is closed captioned for the accessibility of all audiences. To find where to watch in your area, contact your local public broadcasting station or click here for more information
Written by Signs of the Time
Tagged with broadcast, deaf, film, premiere, public television, television
Here is a three part series of Behind the Scenes mini-docs posted to youtube!
PART 1: Making "Signs of the Time"
PART 2: Bringing History to Life
PART 3: The Journey
Coming soon! A new site featuring research into the origins of hand signals. You will be able to browse through actual articles found from the 19th and early 20th century surrounding the creation of hand signals.
Posted in Film News, Production Stories
Signs of the Time DVD now available!
For the first time we are offering Signs of the Time for purchase on DVD Home Video.
SPECIAL FEATURES: The DVD is packed with special features including filmmaker commentary, many additional interviews with ballplayers that did not make the final film, a production slideshow and 3 Behind the Scenes documentaries.
DVD is exclusively available only through the Signs of the Time webstore.
New Teaser Trailer
So it's been awhile since my last post. We've been busy organizing festival screenings and developing some new promotional material. Here is the world premiere of the new 60 second Teaser Trailer:
I plan to update the blog from every festival as we start to screen the film this summer and into the fall. In addition we are hard at work editing special features and deleted scenes in preparation for a Home Video Release hopefully by the end of the year.. we'll see… Stay tuned to the email list and facebook for more festival announcements coming in the near future. As always all up-to-date screening information is at http://www.signsofthetimemovie.com/screenings.html
Written by Don Casper
West Coast Screening 9/19
SoCal Independent Film Festival
SATURDAY 9/19: Rev up for our PURE SPORTS CINEMA TRIPLE FEATURE PREMIERES Expected start time: 11:00AM Exact time TBA.
THE MIND OF THE DEMON: THE LARRY LINKOGLE STORY is the long awaited story of Metal Mulisha co-founder and motocross pioneer, Larry Linkogle. Special guests, action sports industry pros and motocross legends are expected to be in attendance on this day filled with sports related movies, exhibitions, guests and more! SOCAL RATING: PG
BOARDHEADS celebrates those that board — from surfboards to skateboards to kiteboards to snowboards to alternative board sports. BoardHeads is narrated by Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs) and features the biggest names from the respective board sports including Kelly Slater and Sunny Garcia. Special Guests expected. SOCAL RATING: PG
SIGNS OF THE TIME is the story and history of the development and use of "signs" in baseball and features hall-of-fame interviews with players and umpires. This documentary is narrated by Richard Dreyfuss. Special Guests will be in attendance.
The SoCal Independent Film Festival is organized by experienced industry professionals and takes place in Southern California's beautiful Huntington Beach. Named as one of MovieMaker Magazine's 20 Festivals worth the entry fee, the SoCal has award winning movies and screenplays; industry speakers; professional workshops; Q&As with directors and actors; special guests; a professional panel of jury members and screeners; volunteer opportunities; and scores of film watching attendees.
MIDWESTERN PREMIERE
Signs of the Time has been selected to be screened during the Hardacre Film and Cinema Festival August 7 & 8 in Tipton, Iowa. The festival showcases films from around the world including features, short subjects, documentaries, experimental films, and animated films. The festival also often features live entertainment and takes place during Tipton's Ridiculous Days event. The festival is held annually in Tipton's historic Hardacre Theater, a locally operated movie palace that has been in operation since 1917 and continues to showcase first-run films daily.
Visit www.signsofthetimemovie.com/screenings.html for all current information on screening venues, times and ticket information.
Baseball documentary selected for Erie premiere
Erie, PA – (6/16/2009)
The feature-length documentary, Signs of the Time has been selected for its Erie premiere on Saturday September 5th as part of the Spirit Quest Film Festival. The screening will be held at the Erie Playhouse on 13 W. 10th Street at 7:00pm. The filmmakers will be in attendance immediately following the screening to answer questions. Portions of the film were shot at Erie's Ainsworth Field during the summer of 2007 and feature many Erie residents as actors and extras.
On Location at Ainsworth Field in Erie, PA
Where did baseball hand signals come from? In exploring this seemingly simple question, the feature-length documentary, Signs of the Time, unveils stories of inspiration and controversy that transcend sports. Narrated by Richard Dreyfuss, and featuring numerous baseball personalities, the film unravels the mystery surrounding baseball's greatest innovation discovering our need to interact with those around us even in the face of adversity. For more information and to view a trailer online visit: www.signsofthetimemovie.com
The Spirit Quest Film Festival was founded in order to bring thought provoking, entertaining and uplifting works of cinema to audiences. The festival's mission is to inspire, enlighten and challenge audiences by showcasing films that explore the best (and sometimes the worst) of the human experience. For scheduling and ticketing information visit: www.spiritquestfilmfest.com
Posted in Film News, Press Articles
Rochester High Falls Film Festival
We are proud to announce that Signs of the Time has been selected to be screened at the 2009 Rochester High Falls International Film Festival. It is scheduled for Friday May 15th 9:15pm at RIT.
For more info and to purchase tickets online visit http://www.rochestersmoviefest.com
Thanks Matt for writing an article about Klem and our project. Matt interns for the John DiTullio radio program and writes for the SUNY Brockport newspaper. You can read his article via blog at.. http://rocsports.blogspot.com/2009/04/part-of-allure-of-major-league-baseball.html
Looking forward to the opening day of baseball in Rochester.. this weekend! Go wings.
BLOG CATEGORIES Select Category Film Festivals Film News Press Articles Production Stories
Annie Mills
Temecula Valley Welcomes Signs of the Time
cjmanard
Ray Manard
World Class Film Festival with a Small Town Charm
Signs of the Time Twitter Feed
The gift of baseball at its best! Enjoy 30% off savings today. fb.me/3VltgQkst 7 years ago
All of us at Signs of the Time mourn the loss of a great man, Robert F. Panara who passed away on July 20th. His... fb.me/2VcBYcez5 7 years ago
BIG "Signs of the Time" Holiday Sale! fb.me/6xWpx1ZDx 8 years ago
20% off "Signs of the Time" Holiday Sale! - eepurl.com/JPT9D 8 years ago
wxxi.org/about/press/20… fb.me/167ZWUy9s 8 years ago


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HomeAnalysisBiden Held Hostage … Day 34
Biden Held Hostage … Day 34
February 22, 2021 This article was posted by TLB Staff Analysis, COMMENTARY, FREEDOM, GOVERNMENT, Tyranny 1
Joe Biden Held Hostage — Day 34
By: John Green
Joe Biden conducted the most anemic presidential campaign in history. Using COVID-19 as an excuse, he stayed off the campaign trail for months, limited press access, and held strange rallies with no voters in attendance. When he called a voter "fat", and challenged Donald Trump to a fist-fight, we knew he was past his prime and his prime was never very impressive. Nobody has ever admired Joe for his intelligence, wisdom, statesmanship, or creativity. No, it was obvious he was merely a transport mechanism to deliver the White House to the political left — rather like a political Trojan horse — with a "coexist" bumper sticker.
While we expected that a Biden presidency would have nothing to do with Joe Biden, I certainly didn't expect it to look like this. Is it just me, or do his executive order signing ceremonies look like creepy hostage situation videos?
Prisoner sitting at a desk — check
Prisoner appears disoriented and confused — check
Prisoner reading a statement clearly written by someone else — check
Masked captors flanking the prisoner to keep him on script — check
It's important to note that in these situations the power doesn't reside in the guy seated behind the desk — regardless of his title or any trappings of importance. The power is held by the masked captors lurking the background. The power brokers in the Harris/Biden administration are San Fran Nan and Not-Mrs. Brown Harris. The most liberal former senator, and the most unhinged current congresswoman are the real shot callers in the executive branch now.
This raises another question, why would two people from the legislative branch be so anxious to circumvent the legislature? Joe has signed something like 50 executive orders in his first month in office. This puts him on pace for the most executive orders of any president in history. This is an affront to representative governance.
A quick read of these executive orders reveals why the Speaker and the VP are using executive orders in lieu of congressional legislation. Most of the orders being signed could not possibly withstand public scrutiny. The American electorate still has a substantial helping of divinely issued common sense — even if Washington doesn't. If these measures were debated in congress, the citizenry would be screaming at their representatives to "knock it off." A reading of the executive orders reveals that ambitious radicalism is hiding behind some very innocuous titles.
"Ensuring a Lawful and Accurate Enumeration and Apportionment Pursuant to the Decennial Census," is an order to count illegal aliens when determining how many congressional districts each state will be allotted.
"Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation," is an order to ensure that transgendered people may use any restroom they choose.
"Protecting Worker Health and Safety," is an order expanding the authority of OSHA to include measures like mask wearing and social distancing in private businesses.
"Protecting the Federal Workforce," is an order to unionize federal employees and protect bad performers from termination.
"Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad," is an order to re-enter the Paris Climate Accords, restrict fuel exploration and designate climate change as a national security issue. Does that mean that the Patriot Act may be brought to bear against "climate deniers"? After the "Russia collusion" hoax and "FISAgate", who can say?
"Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans," is an order to ensure aliens (even those of the illegal variety) have access to government programs and benefits. It also changes the "public charge" calculation so that visa applications are not denied merely because the applicant would depend on government assistance to live in this country.
"Establishment of the White House Office of Faith- Based and Neighborhood Partnerships," is an order to expand policy making with regards to community faith-based programs. To an operator of a church outreach program, can there be anything scarier than a federal employee telling you they're going to "partner" with you?
Rather than debate these matters in the House and Senate, the power brokers have decided to just have the old guy in the blue suit declare them to be so. They achieve their goals, and Joe gets all the blame.
I still have one question — Why the rush? Joe is signing executive orders at a pace of almost one per day. The administration is behaving as if they're working to a deadline. Could it be that they're trying to get as much done as possible before Joe inevitably blows up his own presidency? Joe being Joe, it is only a matter of time before he does or says something so socially unacceptable that he becomes unsuitable as a delivery mechanism.
What happens when the "useful idiot" is no longer useful? That's where section 4 of the 25th amendment comes in. It allows the vice president, working with the cabinet and the Senate, to remove a president who is no longer able to discharge the duties of office. Given that Joe wasn't able to discharge the duties while running for the office, making this declaration after he's in office seems rather straightforward.
With Joe Biden out of the way, what will the new administration look like? It will be the Harris/Pelosi administration — with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez serving as the new Speaker of the House. I only wish "buyer's remorse" were a company I could buy shares in. Republican prospects for the 2022 and 2024 elections are looking better all the time.
The above article (Joe Biden Held Hostage — Day 34) is republished here under "Fair Use" (see disclaimer below article) with attribution to the articles author John Green and website americanthinker.com.
TLB Project recommends that you visit the American Thinker website for more great articles and information.
Read more articles and blog-posts by John Green.
About the author: John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Star Idaho. He is a retired engineer with over 40 years of experience in the areas of product development, quality assurance, organizational development, and corporate strategic planning. He can be reached at greenjeg@gmail.com
Read more articles about Joe Biden
Stay tuned to …
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congressional legislation
Harris/Biden administration
political Trojan horse
public scrutiny
radicalism
representative governance
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1 Comment on Biden Held Hostage … Day 34
Mike February 23, 2021 at 8:14 am
The problem with stating, "Republican prospects for the 2022 and 2024 elections are looking better all the time" (the last sentence in your article), is that it assumes the 2022 and 2024 elections are going to be held legally and fairly. There is no reason whatsoever to believe that they will be.