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Journalists Held in Libyan 'Detention Camp'
Jeff Neumann
Filed to: Reporters in peril
Reporters in peril
Muammar Qaddafi
Appic
Ever since the uprising in eastern Libya spiraled into nationwide armed conflict, reporters there have been abducted, assaulted and killed by forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi.
Four New York Times Staffers Missing in Libya
Two New York Times reporters and two photographers have been missing in Libya for more than 24…
Among them, four foreign journalists—reporters Clare Morgana Gillis and James Wright Foley, and photographers Anton Lazarus Hammerl and Manuel Varela de Seijas Brabo—have been in Qaddafi's custody since early last week. According to The Washington Post, three of them have been spotted in a "detention camp" somewhere in Tripoli.
James Bennet, editor of The Atlantic, for which Gillis was reporting, said yesterday, "We're hoping they're released soon, but there hasn't been an update for two days." Also missing is American freelancer Matthew VanDyke, who has not been heard from since mid-March.
For a better idea of the clearly coordinated campaign against journalists, check out the Committee to Protect Journalists' disturbing tally of attacks on the press in Libya over the past month.
[Photo via AP]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


You can contact Mount Lebanon Cemetery via mail, phone, email, or by filling out our contact form below. Please make sure to review our hours of operations and holiday schedule.
Please provide us with as much detail as possible about your request.


Fleet Management // Princip a.s.
Do you want to have your fleet fully under control? There's nothing easier then installing our Vetronics units into your vehicles and to start monitoring many vehicle parameters via Webdispatching online service right away.
Webdispatching is an online service for monitoring vehicles fitted with a Vetronics unit. It allows us to analyze various data the unit sends. It does not matter whether you want to monitor one vehicle or a thousand. Webdispatching can handle fleet of any size.
The service creates a travel log automatically, it can identify drivers and enables to switch between private and business trips. You might be surprised to see what we are able to monitor.
Freight transport is a large portion of our sales. The unit can be connected to FMS bus and get a huge amount of information on a vehicle every second. It is possible to monitor construction or agriculture machinery, or shipping containers.
Princip Vetronics has very competitive price with respect to functions provided.
The FMS buffer gives us information from recording speedometer and allows driver identification. All information is online at your disposal.
Freight transport business drives a large portion of our sales. The unit can be connected to vehicle's FMS bus and get a huge amount of information on the vehicle every second. It is possible to monitor construction or agriculture machinery, or shipping containers too.
Princip Vetronics has very competitive price with respect to provided functions.
The FMS buffer gives us information from recording speedometer and allows driver identification. All the information is online at your disposal.
Why you should choose our product?
Vetronics units are manufactured using high quality components and all their functions are carefully tested. As a result, they are much more reliable than any competition – Vetronics do suffer almost no malfunctions. The units also have sophisticated self-diagnostics, so even if an error or malfunction occurs, we're always able to find out when and what happened.
You can monitor fuel level, consumption and sudden fuel level changes in a tank.
The data collected by the unit can show driving styles of individual drivers, pointing to unnecessary wear and tear – dangerous braking, speeding, aggressive moving off, etc.


The Deluxe Group: bespoke joinery manufacturer, interiors refurbishment and visitor center contractor.
The Deluxe Group are a Leading International Bespoke Joinery / Interiors and Theme Park Contractor.
Keep up to date with developments at The Deluxe Group: bespoke joinery manufacturer, interior refurbishment and visitor attraction contractor.
21 Young St Kensington – Craftmanship at it's best!


text:
André Hekking, Frans cellist
Anton Hekking, Nederlands cellist
Gérard Hekking, Nederlands cellist
Tjolk Hekking,  typetje van Van Kooten en De Bie

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Epstein's Buried Treasure Tunnel: FBI Prep Work, Ground Penetrating Radar and Jeff's Shady Suicide
by Johnny Vedmore 5 months ago in controversies
FBI prep work may have identified subterranean tunnels
Jeffrey Epstein's officially dead, or so it seems. It has been a long decade for the people who have been following the case on the independent media. For those who only watch the old mainstream news, it must feel like a sort of ephemeral dream-state. Most people had only just heard the name Jeffrey Epstein, and now he's gone, but he is far from being forgotten.
This is not a story that will go away. Already the events have been compared to the Kennedy assassination, or that occasion when the World Trade Centre buildings were turned into dust before the eyes of the entire world. This is a major point in history that will never be forgotten.
The question that has been repeating in my mind, since the news of Epstein's untimely demise, is if this was an assassination of a publicly marked man, then why would they have waited an entire decade before doing this? What had recently changed about the case that would force their hidden hand, or cause Epstein to end his own life? It may seem like there would be obvious answers for that. He had been rearrested and recharged, legal documents from the original trial had been unsealed and made public for the first time, and his accusers were now empowered adults existing in the "me too" era.
Epstein was actually jailed this time, where before he had been put in a cell with the door left open and allowed out whenever he wanted. His destiny was a lifetime in prison, rather than the trans-humanist Epstein utopia that had once been his vision. There were plenty of reasons for Jeff to feel like suicide was the only way out. I'm not sure if any of us can really relate to losing as much as Jeffrey Epstein had lost. He had gone from three "massages" a day, private jets, and complete control to being the public face of child rape. That's a long way to fall.
Flight of the Navigator - Rusty Shackleford
However much Jeffrey Epstein wanted to kill himself, everyone knew that his selfish nature would probably never allow it. The associates of Jeffrey Epstein would have been extremely nervous whilst watching the news over the last official month of Epstein's life. The people who Epstein had done any shady business with were all left exposed. Intelligence operatives could've been outed if Epstein had flipped. Many believe that powerful people such as Tony Blair were about to be named as child rapists. The Israeli intelligence connections had been all but confirmed and Ehud Barak was under serious pressure for his close ties to the billionaire child abuser. These famous and powerful people all had a motive for murder. But this had also been true over the last decade, so why act now?
I believe there may be something very obvious that had recently changed which almost every part of the mainstream and independent media had missed. A change in circumstances which led to Epstein suicide. I only thought about it when I saw the literal lines in the dirt from a drone above Epstein's island of Little St James.
Many of you would never have heard of the name Rusty Shackleford before now. Rusty was a pseudonym used by a character called Dale Gribble in Mike Judge's "King of the Hill." Dale's alter ego is a reflection of his paranoia of the US federal government. Since then Rusty Shackleford has been used by various people when posting sensitive information. The Rusty Shackleford account on YouTube was setup by a very brave drone owner. This video enthusiast has been flying his drone over Jeffrey Epstein's private Island of Little St James in the US Virgin Islands. The drones 4K footage has documented the land from a bird's eye perspective and allowed everyone to see the infamous islands in great detail.
Every short clip that has been uploaded gives a clearer idea of the high flying lifestyle which Epstein enjoyed. From the enormous ornate sundial to his undomed freaky sex temple, all of the island is laid bare for everybody to see.
Lines in the Dirt
From the drone footage, there were so many things to take in and process. When I first watched them, I had been putting pen to paper on my Nicole Junkermann article, FBI documents were being unsealed, and the news was full of Epstein information. There were so many other issues which needed to be given a higher priority before Epstein's death. Now that's different, partly because the FBI have officially begun "raiding" the dead Epstein's once secretive island.
When somebody is arrested and investigated by the legal authorities, there is a process which the investigating parties must adhere to. One part of that process includes the searching of property and this sounds easier in theory than in reality. Epstein's islands are over 100 acres in size, and those islands contain just a few of his many known properties. Another nuance in the Epstein case is that he is believed to have kept extremely compromising information on famous figures. Recovering such information would be of a high priority.
Rusty Shackleford's drone footage repeatedly showed straight and circular patterns in the gravel on Little St James, track marks similar to those left by ground penetrating radar or GPR for short. Ground penetrating radar has been used in many famous murder cases to locate corpses or underground rooms and tunnels, but there are complications with using GPR successfully on Epstein's private island. The most significant performance limitation of GPR is when it is used on high-conductivity materials such as clay soils and soils that are contaminated with salt. As a small island, Little St James would be full of salt rich soils which would seriously limit conductivity and may only allow the user to penetrate 10-20 centimetres of earth.
It is likely that the FBI had already done preliminary search of the islands, to help them prioritise the search areas and tools required for uncovering hidden structures. GPR would be a necessary tool for the federal agents in mapping out the coming search. There is one part of the island that appears to have evidence of a very specific technique of GPR mapping. On the very first 11 second video released by Rusty Shackleford we can see a gravel mound with circular track marks on the top. I had only ever seen GPR used in straight lines so I contacted Dan Bigman, an expert in GPR and founder of LearnGPR.com, and I asked about the use of circular search patterns. The fantastically helpful Mr Bigman's videos on his LearnGPR YouTube channel are a must watch for any investigative journalist wishing to learn the fine art of Ground Penetrating Radar. Mr Bigman got back to me very quickly and told me "There is a great short paper about data acquisition in circular transects for tree root mapping." Mr Bigman went on to say, "Also there are some structural folks that would use it in a circular collection in the interior of a tunnel or some other cylindrical structure. The data would have to be warped to accurately place each 1D trace in its proper location and orientation." Were the tracks evidence of the FBI mapping out a tunnel or another kind of subterranean storage space?
The activity on the island was not limited to vague tracks in salty earth. As only a regular reader of VirginIslandDailyNews.com might be aware, on 25th July 2019, they reported that the EPA (the US Environmental Protection Agency) was on Great St James to conduct a "site visit". It would be relatively easy for the FBI investigators to map out excavation sites, but any digging would have to wait for the EPA to arrive. You can be sure that if there is any compromising materials buried on the island of Little or Great St James, it is just a matter of time before it is recovered by the FBI. Which may be a reasonable motive for Epstein to commit suicide, as his continued concealed possession of such information would have been his only bargaining chip. Epstein would be aware that the full truth would be too much to fight.
Epstein's Unfortunate Fate
The circumstances surrounding the death of Jeffrey Epstein are very suspicious. There are many people who believe that he is still alive, smuggled out of the jail the night before and now living the high life in Israel. But I don't believe that the powerful people who could have managed such a risky operation have the same respect for the sanctity of life as the proponents of that theory. Jeffrey Epstein was a disposable asset and his time was up.
I believe Jeffrey Epstein was "suicided" in a sense. I believe that he would have been told that he would be given a chance to end it all. He was taken off suicide watch and a window of opportunity was created for him to do it before others did it for him. He tied his recently returned standard prison issue clothing around his neck and succeeded in hanging himself. His nostrils flared and his face turned purple as the body kicked and eventually he was dead.
But this story is not over. Be sure that hundreds of thousands of people will be examining all the evidence and pushing for more action. We can only hope that the victims of Jeffrey Epstein can still get the justice they seek. Whether it's through Epstein's death, or more incriminating evidence of his high power bribery, I believe that justice will be found buried in the dirt.
Johnny Vedmore
Read next: New Mexico—It's like a State, like All the Others!
Follow me @JohnnyVedmore. I'm a UK based Singer, Songwriter, Political Investigative Journalist, Legalise Cannabis Advocate and Leader of UWIP The United Wales Independence Party. FREE WALES!!! Host of Proper Gander.
www.JohnnyVedmore.com
See all posts by Johnny Vedmore →
Hitler and Trump
Johann Hollar
I know that there are many comparisons of Hitler and Trump out there, with them promoting mass deportations, using racism to come to power, and can't handle being told no or even the reality of critical situations. But have you wondered what the differences between the two of them are? Granted Hitler had Jews wear special badges and Trump wants Muslims to be forced into doing the same, but where do two of history's worst people not have in common? This is what I wish to promote here.
2018: A Time for the People of the United States
Josh Contreras
The arrival of 2018 has the nation at a crucial position in politics as issues from 2017 have yet to be resolved. Additionally, an opportunity has arisen for Americans to flex their power of the vote by turning their eyes towards gubernatorial elections as well as the seats in Congress that are up for re-election in 2018.
Genocide Is a Cheese Sandwich
Grant Patterson
Genocide. The word is loaded with portent, carries tremendous emotional weight, and, the way it is bandied about now, has become almost meaningless.
Best Political Documentaries to Watch
Patricia Sarkar
In teaching us about their chosen subjects, documentaries prompt us to look within and draw conclusions about ourselves. With stories spanning from Los Angeles, California to Chengdu, China, these political documentaries are essential to watch in the face of an uncertain global future.
10 Pieces of Fake News and Their Sources from Before 1978
Anthony Gramuglia
This current election has brought the idea of fake news from the dusty racks along supermarkets to the mainstream. For many growing up in the 80s and 90s, when one heard "fake news," they thought of the National Enquirer, with articles "confirming" not only Elvis' continued survival into the present, but also that he, in actuality, was an alien from Alpha Centauri. Obviously, a ridiculous story.
Voter ID Laws Are Disenfranchisement Politics As Usual
Rich Monetti
Three to five million illegal votes and Jeff Sessions our new attorney general, the voter fraud issue is going on full alert in the Trump Administration. But the concern amounts to nothing more than the Republicans taking out their playbook and putting disenfranchising politics in full gear. Their constituency eager to engage and vilify, historical facts demonstrate that political parties do not steal elections by getting random people to vote twice.


Mansfield Town v Port Vale. 'Alex MacDonald in second half action.
Mansfield Town midfield star Alex MacDonald warned against complacency on Saturday away to a Yeovil Town side that made themselves safe from relegation in midweek.
Stags head there desperate for a win to keep their play-off hopes alive in the penultimate game of the season, but MacDonald warned that teams can be dangerous when the pressure is finally off them.
"It's not going to be as straightforward on Saturday as it looks on paper," he said.
"Yeovil haven't really got much to play for when you look at the league table, but I've been in a relegation battle before with Plymouth and it's tough.
"When you know you're safe, it's a big weight off your shoulders and they can be dangerous at times when you're playing against these teams.
"You are still playing for contracts, you're playing for your future, you're playing for your family.
Stags are chasing Coventry and Luton who are three and six points ahead of them respectively.
"You'd rather be in their shoes, as you know it's in your own hands," he said.
"But we have to make sure we take care of our own business, which is Yeovil away on Saturday, to go into the last game of the season full of confidence.
"We know what's at stake and we're not deluded enough to not know we have two very tough games. But we know the prize at the end of it.
MacDonald has enjoyed his first full season with the club, particularly playing his current central midfield role, and believes his success is down to keeping his weight down with a better diet away from the club.
"Personally it's been a good season and I think I've played well," he said.
"I don't feel I've played as well as what I had done for three or four months over the past month or so.
On the various positions he has been employed in, he said: "It's been a mad one. I've played all across the midfield, as a number 10 and as a striker. But as long as I'm out on that pitch I'm a happy man.
"I can't lie – I do like playing in central midfield. Since I've made the transition there early on in the season I have really enjoyed being in there.
"You're always part of the game and it's great to always be involved.
"Sometimes in League Two games, as a winger, you don't always see much action or be involved in the games as much as you'd like to be.
He added: "I feel I have come on this season and that it's all down to my physical condition. I have really looked after myself like I've never done in my whole career and slimmed down.
"When I come into the club I know I will always give 100 per cent in games and training. But when I'm away from it, that's when I've probably let myself down a little bit in previous years.
MacDonald concluded: "It's frustrating to see where we are now, having been in the driving seat most of the season.
"But we've still got a chance to put that right. Until that's taken out of our hands, we are going to fight until the very end.


We will be at our first event, Bastille Days Greenville, July 14th and 18th! The series of events are fund raisers for Black Sheep Farm, an equine-assisted educational non-profit. We'll be there making the air smell like French lavender fields and selling lavender products, buds, and plants! We'll also be giving short talks on lavender on the 18th.


Grand Circus Detroit joined Code2040 and Google for Entrepreneurs to announce Javier Evelyn as Detroit's second Code2040 Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR). Evelyn is the CEO and Founder of Alerje.
Code2040's residency program, facilitated through the Google for Entrepreneurs Tech Hub Network, is focused on empowering Black and Latino entrepreneurs with unique opportunities to grow their tech companies, while cultivating the diversity in their own communities.
"The Code2040 EIR program will enable our company the resources and network needed to grow our business and move the needle forward from a product-development standpoint. This includes direct links to key healthcare-industry executives, among other stakeholders," said Evelyn.
In Grand Circus's efforts to grow diversity and inclusion, it is hosting its first Detroit in Tech:Neighborhood Talk event on June 20 at Grace Community Church in the Cody Rouge Neighborhood.
This event will host a panel of black entrepreneurs in the city of Detroit who will dive into the opportunities of the tech world and the importance of diversifying the field. The Detroit in Tech Panel will be a monthly event that will be led by Grand Circus. Grand Circus will also release a monthly blog highlighting entrepreneurs of color in Detroit.
Alerje is creating an epinephrine auto-injector sized to fit into a smartphone case, which communicates with a mobile app. During an anaphylactic medical emergency, the mobile app sends alerts to a user's "CareCircle" (family, friends, caregivers, medical professional, etc.) that will include their current location, among other features.
Evelyn began his six-month residency at Grand Circus Detroit on April 1. He will succeed Grand Circus Detroit's first EIR, Tara Reed, CEO of Apps Without Code.
"We're so excited to have Javier! His background and experience in the tech industry will be a great fit with our team and our mission. The Code2040 program has been an awesome initiative for Grand Circus to be a part of over the past two years. Stay tuned for an event series and other programming coming soon," said Celena Mancina, Director of Operations at Grand Circus.
Grand Circus is passionate about training people for amazing careers in tech and helping local businesses grow by hiring local tech superstars. In addition to our bootcamps, we're here for the tech community more broadly. We host 50+ entrepreneurs in our coworking space, put on evening courses and workshops, and host events. We value Detroit's entrepreneurial mindset and look to foster and grow it through multiple programs, partnerships and initiatives including the Code2040 EIR program.
Code2040 is a nonprofit organization that creates pathways to educational, professional, and entrepreneurial success in technology for Blacks and Latino. We currently accomplish this through our Fellows Program, Technical Applicant Prep (TAP) Program, and the Code2040 Residency. Learn more about Code2040 at code2040.org.


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Safety Firstthe Benefits Of Construction Robotics
Safety First-The Benefits of Construction Robotics
Aconstruction site can be a hazardous place; from slips and falls to material exposure, human workers undertake a certain amount of risk. It is the responsibility of construction site managers to take every precaution available to protect their workers. With the advent of new technologies such as robots, drones, and increasingly sophisticated data management platforms, ensuring the safety of human construction workers has never been more achievable. Construction robots can improve accessibility and visibility tremendously across construction sites by capturing standardized data even in dangerous conditions, enabling teams to use that data to inform safety monitoring processes.
CDC to move into Ignite Denison building in May
Final fundraising push is underway "We are finally nearing the finish line," said Evan Blakley, executive director of the Chamber & Development Council (CDC) of Crawford County. "We're on track to be moved in sometime in May, based on current estimates." The CDC's project to refurbish the former Community Room building is calle...Continue Reading
Home Base Iowa asks for more local support
Helping veterans, military personnel, and their families Jathan Chicoine, a state program manager for Home Base Iowa (HBI), visited with the Crawford County Board of Supervisors on April 19 to seek more local support for the program. HBI is a state program designed to assist veterans as they return to civilian life. Th...Continue Reading
Tourism award to Deal's Orchard
Deal's Orchard was awarded the Outstanding Retail Experience Award in the rural category at the Iowa Tourism Conference held last week in Des Moines. The Iowa Tourism Office presented 26 awards recognizing excellence in 13 categories, with a recipient in metro and rural businesses. Read full article.Continue Reading


Recently, I had a major episode of broken trust that I want to share with you… and offer some lessons from. I was traveling in Bali, because Michelle was going to see old friends in western Massachusetts, so I took off for warmer, tropical climes, which are not really Michelle's cup of tea. So this trust-breaking happened with my traveling companion. I'll call her G.
First, I made the foolhardy move of renting a car in Bali. Most travelers here hire a car and driver, which doesn't cost much, but I'm an independent sort, and the idea of exploring the island for days with a driver in tow – or, a driver towing me around – just didn't appeal. So instead, I chose to brave the perilously narrow roads, the swarms of helmetless motorbikers and the crazy traffic, all while driving on the "wrong" side of the road… on my own, trusting G. to help.
And for the first couple of hours, it went swimmingly. I was so grateful! G. navigated me right through the crazy traffic in Ubud and through a tricky series of roads all the way to what's considered a highway in Bali, and then to the first major tourist stop on my route, a town called Candidasa. I considered spending the night there, but the town I wanted to get to, Amed, was only an hour further, so even though it was getting dark, I decided to press on. After all, I had G. with me, and she didn't seem the least bit worried.
So I turned around. It's okay, anyone can make a mistake, right? G. recovered quickly. "Faster route available!" she told me excitedly. So again, I did as she said. And then, after a little over an hour of extremely challenging driving, on roads so narrow there was literally no place to pull over, in traffic so heavy and erratic my legs were shaking… I found myself right back in Candidasa again.
I know we talk about how important it is to develop the ability to handle your emotions without blowing up or shutting down, but I have to admit, that night with G., I did both. "I don't trust you any more, lady," I told her curtly. Then I turned off my phone.
You'd think I would have learned my lesson, but the next morning, after a good night's rest, G. and I set out again. I wasn't sure how to talk with her about the night before, so I did exactly what we advise people not to do: I pretended it hadn't happened, and hoped everything would just work out.
This time I'd had a hotel employee glance at the route G. had prepared for me, and she thought it looked right (mind you, it was only a glance.) So when G. told me to turn left, I did.
The scenery was absolutely breathtaking. I pushed my poor little rental car up roads so steep and skinny that in the U.S. they would only be traveled by mountain goats. Every now and then I caught a glimpse of the view, but there was no safe place to stop and enjoy it. I felt elated by getting to see "the real Bali," and frustrated by not getting to actually see it at the same time.
G. was silent. She's not much for scenery.
I climbed and climbed. Some of the time, it was so steep I could only use first gear. Finally, at long last, I reached a tiny Balinese convenience store perched on the side of the road, with just enough room (barely) to stop. I bought a bottle of cold water, admired the proprietor's rooster, waved at her little boy, and tried to ask her the name of her town, but she couldn't understand me.
But I had no choice but to keep going. Any minute now, I thought, I'll reach the crest of the mountain, and then the driving will get easier. I didn't. It didn't. Finally, after a unbelievably long, gorgeous and utterly terrifying drive, the road flattened out and a real town appeared. I pulled over as soon as I could and got out, shaking.
And then, when we were ready to talk like Conscious Girlfriends, here's what happened.
Me: G., I need to tell you that I have this really scared feeling in my chest when I think about listening to your directions again. That was an incredibly stressful drive.
G.: I understand. I have a really sick feeling in my techno-stomach when I think about it, myself. I get so much of my sense of self-worth from being right, and being helpful, and I know that I was neither. I feel really badly, and I'm also really scared that you'll leave me.
Me: Well, I really appreciate you acknowledging that you weren't right or helpful. It helps me to hear that.
G.: Yeah, I'm so good at giving directions so much of the time, but the truth is, I'm way out of my element in rural Bali. It's beyond my capacity. I thought I could do it, but I was wrong. I'm sorry.
Me: Thank you for saying that. And you know, I need to take some responsibility here, because of course, deep down I knew that Google navigation might not work well in rural Bali. I guess I just wanted it to work so much that I ignored all the red flags. That's not your fault.
G: I really appreciate you acknowledging that, too. (Taking a deep techno-breath.) It makes me feel less alone. I'm so glad we could have this talk.
Then we held each other for awhile…and the sense of love and trust came back.
OK, I'm making this funny, but the truth is, situations like this happen all the time between partners. Google Navigation was out of her element here and got confused and triggered, and that happens to people, too. I could easily fall into a story in which G. betrayed me and was completely untrustworthy. I could break up with her, blame her, and never use her directions again. But if I did that, I'd be missing out on all the times our relationship really does work well. So, doesn't it make more sense to acknowledge my shared responsibility for our "folie a deux," creating a climate in which she can do the same, and then proceed forward with greater self-awareness instead? Most of the time, when breaches of trust happen between people, both have good intentions – but they're traversing terrain they don't know how to navigate skillfully. Relationships are full of that kind of terrain, and just like rural Bali, they're not well-mapped.
So, to get out of the victim-villain story, we've got to acknowledge our own and each other's human (or technological) limitations – and that's when the healing can start.


Founded by Dennis Boudreau, in 1975, 4ElectronicWarehouse is a your great electronics warehouse, where you can find Bose Speakers, home electronics, Home Theater System, whole house audio solutions, custom installation, headphones, HDMI cable, Monster Cable, Niles Audio, outdoor grills, Pioneer, Yamaha, Shure, TV and video and mosquito magnets and more. Featuring top name brand accessories like Bose, Pioneer and Yamaha, 4ElectronicWarehouse has everything you need for car and home audio, home theater, accessories and custom installation services. Customers are very satisfied with the large selection of accessories, quick shipping and friendly customer service team offered at 4ElectronicWarehouse. Cheaperseeker.com helps gather the most current 4ElectronicWarehouse coupons and discount coupon codes for maximum savings. Please click on our coupon button and you will definitely save money and time!


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'Blessed': Katie Holmes shares sweet new photos of Suri
Sept. 12, 2016, 1:20 PM UTC / Source: TODAY
By Ree Hines
Katie Holmes celebrated her mother's birthday with a surprise party over the weekend, but photos from the big event prove she also celebrated the joys of motherhood.
Holmes shared several party pics on Instagram, including a couple sweet shots that show her and daughter Suri Cruise cuddled up close together.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKOl8bsgZfa
The "Ray Donovan" star let hashtags do the talking in the captions that accompanied the black-and-white photos, such as "#blessed," "#gratitude," "#family" and "#love."
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKOlnROg5P7
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKOUUHoA3VM
RELATED: Katie Holmes shares rare pic of 10-year-old daughter Suri on Instagram
While Suri's face is obscured in the photos, a recent pic Holmes shared revealed just how much mother and daughter look alike these days.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGulwQ7xWZe
RELATED: Katie Holmes to Matt Lauer: I never look back
And a throwback photo of Suri's grandmother, birthday girl Kathleen Holmes, shows that you can add her name to the look-alike list, too.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKD8Yc9A3ui
Katie Holmes collects gifts for TODAY Toy Drive, talks Suri and giving
Follow Ree Hines on Twitter.


Where is PFTH's International District Community Garden?
Project Feed the Hood's gardeners are at the International District Community Garden most afternoons during the week and in the mornings on weekends. The garden is on the corner of Ross & Wellesley. From Gibson, go north on Carlisle, and turn west on Ross. At the end of the street, the community garden will be on your right.
One Response to Where is PFTH's International District Community Garden?


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Q: How can appSettings.{environment}.json be loaded before environment is known? (AspNetCore) According to microsoft blog the ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT variable is loaded in order:

*

*appsettings.json file

*appsettings.{env.EnvironmentName}.json file

*The local User Secrets File

*Environment Variables

*Command Line Arguments (or equivalently launchSettings.json)

and "The last key loaded wins".
Questions:
But how can the file appsettings.{env.EnvironmentName}.json be loaded before the final Environment is known?
Can it happen that I set 'Staging' environment through command-line and appSettings.Development.json is loaded because during step 2 it is not yet known?

A: There are two sets of configuration for an ASP.NET Core application:

*

*The configuration for the WebHost.

*The configuration for the application itself.

First the WebHost configuration is built (source):
_config = new ConfigurationBuilder()
    .AddEnvironmentVariables(prefix: "ASPNETCORE_")
    .Build();

As the source code shows, the configuration for the WebHost uses only environment variables and only those that are prefixed with ASPNETCORE_. One of those environment variables is, unsurprisingly, ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT.
A little later down the line, an implementation of IHostingEnvironment is instantiated. This ends up using _config to retrieve a configuration setting named environment, which comes from the ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT variable. If there is no such value, it defaults to Production.
Next up, the configuration for the application itself gets built. At step 2 in your question, the value of env.EnvironmentName is from the IHostingEnvironment I've already mentioned. If you were to set an environment value of e.g. Staging as a command-line argument, it would not change the value used in the WebHost configuration, as this applies only to the application configuration.
Andew Lock goes into more detail about how this all works and also demonstrates how to configure the WebHost to use additional configuration sources.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Il Grand Prix de la Somme 2015, trentesima edizione della corsa, valido come evento dell'UCI Europe Tour 2015 categoria 1.1, si svolse il 3 maggio 2015 su un percorso di 189,4 km. Fu vinto dal francese Quentin Jauregui, che terminò la gara in 4h37'26", alla media di 40,96 km/h, davanti all'altro francese Anthony Delaplace e a chiudere il podio l'estone Alo Jakin.

Partenza con 114 ciclisti, dei quali 94 portarono a termine la gara.

Squadre partecipanti

Ordine d'arrivo (Top 10)

Collegamenti esterni

Grand Prix de la Somme
Ciclismo nel 2015


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Women for Justice Blog
Alumnus & Partners
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Happy New Year! In 2018 We #FlipTheSenate
Go to Our Revolution and Brand New Congress
and support their endorsed candidates!
#PowerToThePolls Get involved here.
Go to Fight for the Future to Save the Internet.
#HelpPuertoRico
For more info on Bernie's Medicare For All plan: http://bit.ly/2xpEY6r
We must restore and #DefendDACA.
Source: http://bit.ly/2x4a5F2
#45's budget priorities are wrong and dangerous.
Sources: http://ti.me/2xJr2Rl http://bit.ly/2jFPps6
We are ready to be Women for Bernie 2020
Nina Turner speaks for millions of Americans.
We want to know who will stand with The People
to work for and demand #MedicareForAll.
Source: http://bit.ly/2vMv7aK
Women For Justice remembers Heather Heyer, Sister in Justice.
Source: http://bit.ly/2wKPmD4
#ThePeopleWantPeace
Please share the latest report on Medicare For All
via National Nurses United and Sanders Institute.
http://bit.ly/2ugjyor
CODEPINK: Women For Peace and Women For Justice
salute Senator Tammy Duckworth for calling out Bradbury as
unqualified for ANY government job.
Source: http://bit.ly/2s6QVIF
Bernie Sanders reviews Trump's Infrastructure plan.
To read the complete report: http://bit.ly/2rX5n8N
Check out Women for Justice's new
Water is Life video celebrating World Water Day 2017.
Please contact us if you would like to submit an original blog.
Families Belong Together: Compassion, Not Criminalization
Justice DENIED for Anthony Lamar Smith
A Southern Woman Shares Her Story of Statues, Lies, and Listening
August 20, 2017 · 35
My Response to Charlottesville
The Straw That Broke The Camel's Back: Why I Can't Quit Healthcare Advocacy Even If I Wanted To
Black Lives Matter. I'm Not Shutting Up About It Anymore
Why I Support Single Payer Healthcare for All
My Political Journey: To Run or Not
Thank You, Bernie Sanders
Women for Justice began as Women for Bernie Sanders 2016.
We're an all-volunteer, grassroots group committed to work so that
women of all ages, races, classes and backgrounds
are included in the dialogue and the action.
We believe that profound social and political change can only happen when women take a central role in creating the change.
We want women to take a strong role in the political revolution,
from prioritizing and articulating women-centric issues that are
often ignored by the political elite,
to defining successful outcomes.
This is OUR Revolution.
Why Justice?
"Finally, let's understand that when we stand together, we will always win.
When men and women stand together for justice, we win.
When black, white and Hispanic people stand together for justice, we win." -- Bernie Sanders
Women For Justice goes beyond Revolution.
It's not just a call to action. It's a demand for results.
It's not just in the streets and at the ballot boxes, it's in the laws our representatives create and the truth we expect to be reflected in our media.
It's not just on the picket lines, it's in the living wages and pay equity we mandate.
It's not just in the petitions and protest marches, it's in the clean energy jobs created by fair taxing of the financial elite.
What is the goal of this, OUR revolution? Justice.
Justice in our jails, our workplaces, our schools, our healthcare. Justice for our planet, our sisters and brothers beyond our borders.
We aim to get women informed and engaged in social and political change
to realize real results: JUSTICE.
Informing & Influencing
Using our social media channels and graphic arts team, we provide thought-provoking coverage of political and social stories that impact women.
We focus on issues related to justice - reproductive justice, pay equity, criminal justice, environment, civil rights and human rights.
We offer content in English and Spanish.
Promoting Progressive Candidates
& Policy
We encourage women to run as candidates at all levels of governmental offices, municipal to national, and offer them campaign and reelection support via social media and graphic arts resources.
We push candidates, both men and women, to articulate stronger pro-women policy and platforms.
After decades of work by generations of women and allies, ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment should be top priority for ALL legislators.
Partnering with ALL Who Work for Justice
We will partner with other progressive grassroots groups to achieve 'big wins' for women.
We will maintain close partnerships with organizations like Our Revolution and Brand New Congress, helping them to achieve their goals and giving them regular input on outreach and policy platforms that benefit all women.
We hope to build an organization that lives up to our name,
Women For Justice.
Choosing this name and mission challenges us to dig deeper, take stronger stands and go beyond our comfort zones.
We will always be 'under construction'.
We strive to be diverse and inclusive.
If you're interested in joining us, please contact us.
Note: Women for Justice has no paid staff. We are all volunteers and peers.
Millicent Bolden
Women for Justice Founder
Social Media Editor at WfJ Southeast Region
I am a retired professor of Spanish American Literature, Latin American Studies and Humanities.
I remain committed to Bernie Sanders' platform of Social, Racial, Economic and Environmental Justice.
Cathy Borges
Social Media Editor at WfJ Northeast Region
I'm a single mom of two grown children. My daughter has an MBA and my son is a Wounded Warrior. Although I come from a strong, proud military family, I was loudly against the Iraq war.
Then I saw Bernie and he put into words what was wrong with the Iraq war and he has been on my radar ever since. There is much to learn from this great man and I happily volunteered to
help spread that word.
Jenni Chang
Social Media Editor at WfJ Pacific Region
Copywriter, photo producer.
I believe in the willpower of women.
We are nurturers, providers, hell-raisers, mediators.
We can be as
visible and solid as mountains,
as fluid and sweeping as the
undercurrents of the sea.
Currently, I am organizing to help pass the Healthy California Act aka SB 562
to guarantee healthcare for everyone
in this great state.
Health Care is a Human Right!
Carissa Alexandra Daniels
WfJ Blogger
I spent 7 years in broadcast journalism--horrified to see what has happened in my old line of work.
My own experience with domestic violence led to pioneering work in online domestic violence advocacy and from that into my current love as co-director of Safe and Silent No More.
I fell in love with Bernie's brand of social democracy early in the process of researching presidential candidates and knew I wanted to be a part of supporting him.
I'm a senior at Seattle University (majoring in Communications and film), and a single parent.
Bernie and the people I work with give me hope even at the darkest of times.
De La Garza
Social Media Editor at WfJ Midwest Region
After years of exposing corruption in our government and organizing communities to stand against the fossil fuel industries, I knew the only step left to take is to be a part of a revolution.
My Mantra:
Action=
Momentum=
Movement=
Nicole DiStefano
Southeast Region Twitter
I volunteer because I believe we can and should do much better
for each other.
Bernie's message gives me hope for
our future.
Also, working in health care, I see first hand how our system works and has made me even more geared towards fighting for universal healthcare for all.
Pat Downs
Women for Bernie & Women for Justice Founder
Administrator Main WfJ FB
I'm a retired librarian from a
working class background.
Bernie says his first filter for issues is economic justice. Mine, too.
I used to have hobbies.
Now all that's over.
I spend my days working for
justice in our country,
legislation for the people,
and a future president named
Bernie Sanders.
Esparza Wehler
Social Media Editor at Main
Western Region Twitter
I will never forget the day I heard that Bernie Sanders was going to announce his candidacy for president in April 2015. It was one of the happiest surprises of my adult life!
Working with Texas Women for Bernie was a wonderful experience, and I am proud to continue working with Women for Justice.
Introducing our message to mainstream thinking was the hard part of this journey.
I truly feel we are just getting started.
Melissa García
I'm an aspiring social worker trying to earn her MSW, all while serving my constituents as an elected assembly district delegate.
My undergraduate degree is in political science, and I've been involved in political activism since I was a teenager. I am an ardent Bernie supporter and identify as a progressive.
I'm here to advocate and empower!
Laura Harrington
YouTube Manager
Midwest Region Twitter
After 35 years as an IT professional at HP, I retired to volunteering as a Webmaster & Social Media Coordinator for several non profits, like LCI (Lions Clubs) and HFH (Habitat for Humanity).
I was drawn to this work by the emergence of Bernie Sanders who I believed was a once in a lifetime candidate.
By continuing this work I hope to be a part of furthering the causes of
Equal Rights and Human Rights.
Hernández Peraza
Twitter Lead
Spanish-Language Social Media Editor at WfJ En Español, and Main WfJ FB
I joined this community because I felt compelled by Bernie´s message about justice.
I believe that we can pursue a fair, inclusive and peaceful society.
Suzanne Horrocks
Social Media Editor at Main and WfJ Western Region
When I needed the social safety net for my young daughter, I vowed to pay it forward someday.
Being an activist is my way of doing that.
Denise Kelly
Administrator at Main WfJ FB & WfJ Western Region
I have always believed it true that knowledge is power and that if you organize enough knowledgeable people, you will become unstoppable.
I love being a part of Women for Justice because we are doing just that. We're working to create a better world, not just for our children and grandchildren, but also for our sisters and brothers that we have never met.
I'm very proud to part of this organization.
Lisa Levsen
I am a Women for Justice because I believe that every citizen deserves the right to healthcare, housing, food, clean water and a non-polluted planet to live on. Beyond these basic human rights are the freedoms of religion, sexual orientation and gender identification.
I will fight to make these rights forever available to every American.
Polly Malcolm
Social Media Editor at Main WfJ FB & WfJ Western Region
There are so many reasons why I volunteer. I can't sit back and ignore the injustice and suffering around us all. A few years ago, I watched my eldest brother die of cancer while begging for the little care he received. This was after the ACA. I was horrified that this was happening in a country I'm so proud to belong to.
I have to fight for a better world for my children and for everyone!
Monica Marie
In today's political climate, standing by and opting out are privileges. Democracy only works with active participation - so I volunteer to help raise those grassroots efforts and make our voices heard.
I want to work towards justice.
I'm happy to be part of a group that helps people learn more about the issues.
Amy Markwood
During the campaign, I worked on
PA Women for Bernie on both
Facebook and Twitter.
I attended the DNC Convention and witnessed the madness.
I passionately stand up for what I believe is right, and I will always #FeelTheBern!
Annabelle Márquez
Spanish-Language Social Media Editor at WfJ En Español and Main WfJ FB
I regard myself as a problem-solver. Through my social media work, I would like to inspire others to take individual and collective action for a more just society and a better world.
Joyce McDonald
I am here to help, to work together towards a better future for our planet and our children. I want healthcare, higher education for all, clean energy and freedom from discrimination.
I am a Woman for Justice.
Ben Moss
I contribute visuals for social media posts around W4J topics. W4J is an important part of the continuing and the much needed 'Bernie' revolution.
To me nothing is more important than to connect with like minded people and help guide them to information and resources around social, political and environmental justice.
Maranda Mulroney
Instagram Manager
My life's passion is to be an advocate for people. As an RN, I have built my practice on a foundation of advocacy, but I don't want to stop there.
I have had experience within the healthcare system as a Case Manager in the acute care setting and currently with Hospice. I also have experience as an advocate for my special needs son within the public school system.
I am excited to extend my outreach with Women For Justice. I was inspired by Senator Bernie Sanders to get involved during the primaries, and worked with Women For Bernie Sanders as well as a local group during the primaries.
I am excited to be working with this dynamic group again!
Poindexter-White
Moderator at Main WfJ FB
I am a dancer, writer, observer, spouse, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, expatriated New Yorker turned Maine-iac, and warrior for a saner world.
I have my own business providing graphic design and other communications services for writers, artists, nonprofits and small businesses - especially those working for health, education, social justice and the arts.
Teresa Puente
Writer, editor, educator. I'm a Chicana born and raised in Chicago, now living on the Left Coast.
Now more than ever we must use our voices to hold government officials accountable to speak out against all forms of injustice and racism.
Rosemari Roast
Social Media Editor at WfJ Northeast Region and Northeast Region Twitter
I am a Woman for Justice because Nona Gaia and All her children need the Medicine of Women and the Medicine of Justice.
Now more than ever.
Lissa Squiers
Brand New Congress Liaison
I love volunteering with Women for Justice because it allows me to share Civic Engagement information with people. We know that civic engagement leads to volunteering, community organizing and voting. Without it, we have no say in our lives.
With it, we can do anything!
Helena Sorus
I was raised in the North Bay of California and have recently returned after many years of travel.
I am a mother of two young children, one with special needs.
In addition to advocating for equality,
I am passionate about the healing power of art and will be returning to school to be an art therapist.
Krista Stewart
I volunteer because I care about the environment and ensuring everyone has healthcare.
My outside interests are animals, traveling, and knitting.
Brandy Stowe
Social Media Editor at Main WfJ FB & WfJ Northeast Region
Photobucket Manager
I am an activist to give a voice for those who can't speak for themselves.
I am an activist to fight against the injustices of the world.
This is the rent I pay to live on this planet.
We stand on strong shoulders and draw the circle wider.
Many of the people who helped create Women for Bernie Sanders 2016
have gone on to work on other progressive projects.
We celebrate and support them and the dozens of other women and men
who have helped us since we began in May 2015.
If you're an alumnus with progressive work to promote or
an organization interested in partnering, please contact us.
Vote Pro Choice
Partner for Justice
We are committed prochoice voters electing representatives who reflect our values.
We value prochoice leadership, practical action and partnership.
We are a prochoice nation.
Let's vote like one.
Real Talk: WOC & Allies for Racial Justice and Anti-Oppression
Real Talk is a space specifically centered on WOC leadership, where WOC and allies can come to ask questions, find resources and have discussions. We welcome cis women, transgender women or anyone self-identifying as a woman. The group strives to be diverse in every way and to embrace and support the fact that we are all connected through the intersectionality of our unique backgrounds.
Intersectionality:
The interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.
"Through an awareness of intersectionality, we can better acknowledge and ground the differences among us."
People's Climate Movement
The Peoples Climate Movement is a project of dozens of organizations working together to solve the climate crisis. It started with the historic Peoples Climate March on the eve of the UN Climate Summit in September 2014 when 400,000 people from every walk of life marched through the streets of New York City demanding climate action.
DivestLA
DivestLA was launched in partnership between RevolutionLA and Fight Climate Denial. RevolutionLA is a (mostly) millennial driven organization made up of 1500 activists seeking to fight for social, racial, gender, economic and environmental justice. It has three current focus points for Los Angeles: responsible banking and divestment, 100% renewable energy by 2030, and passing an anti-corruption act. Fight Climate Denial is an organization committed to fighting against the misinformation campaigns from the fossil fuel industry and their network of politicians and climate denial organizations, and protecting our shared environment.
Town Hall Project
Allies for Justice
We are a volunteer-powered, grassroots effort that empowers constituents across the country to have face-to-face conversations with their elected representatives. We are campaign veterans and first time volunteers. We come from a diversity of backgrounds and live across the country. We share progressive values and believe strongly in civic engagement. We research every district and state for public events with Members of Congress. Then we share our findings far and wide to promote participation in the democratic process and make it as accessible as possible for everyone.
The Town Hall Project offers our town hall event list to everyone, across the entire political spectrum. Our founders are dedicated to progressive values and actively encourage progressive allies to use our town hall data, but we are independent of any political party or organization.
This movement is diverse, open source, and powered by citizens. We are proud to be a part of it.
She Should Run
Over 100K women from all walks of life have been encouraged to consider public office through She Should Run's Ask a Woman to Run program. Our multi-platform ongoing awareness and action campaigns continue to make the case for women's representation in elected leadership. And our content exclusively developed for our community of women poised for future leadership has garnered thousands of downloads. The She Should Run Incubator is our online program to help more women envision themselves in public leadership, and our way of providing thoughtful guidance and support for women considering a future run.
Badass Teachers Association
Badass Teachers Association Vision
"This is for every teacher who refuses to be blamed for the failure of our society to erase poverty and inequality, and refuses to accept assessments, tests and evaluations imposed by those who have contempt for real teaching and learning."
Badass Teacher Association Mission
We, the members of the Badass Teachers Association, reject profit-driven education reform and through our advocacy demand:
• Student driven policies and systems that are equitably funded to meet the needs of the students and schools,,,
Also please subscribe to our blog for updates on our initiatives.
CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end U.S. funded wars and occupations, to challenge militarism globally, and to redirect our resources into health care, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities. The name CODEPINK satirized the Bush Administration's color-coded, fear-mongering "security" alert system that has since been phased out. CODEPINK is a lively call for the people of the world to "wage peace."
Local Berniecrats
We are singularly focused on electing Berniecrats. The rest is up to you of course, including party choices. We don't want to put anyone in a political straight jacket. We as a page need to stick to advocating for Berniecrats to run for office and support those who do.
Women's March on Washington
Can't get to Washington D.C.?
Find a Sister March near you: http://bit.ly/2ioI3Kx
Event page: http://bit.ly/2eKDgj2
Webpage: www.womensmarch.com
The Rise of The Women * The Rise of The Nation
ERA Action
ERA Action is dedicated to ratifying the ERA in the timeliest manner possible—to finish what Dr. Alice Paul started nearly a century ago.
We Are The Media
Giving you the tools you need to find your truths! We are a collective of artists, activists, media producers and truth seekers. Together we work hard to explore personal stories, uncover even the darkest secrets, expose corruption and connect revolutionaries with each other to create some noise and make a change for the better in the United States of America.
California for Bernie Sanders 2020
California's largest Bernie page, we're growing progressive values, promoting grassroots actions, and getting ready to vote Bernie Sanders into the White House in 2020.
Jenni Siri
Women for Bernie Sanders 2016 Co-founder, Graphic Artist
Jenni has gone on to found Our Revolution New Mexico and Frack Free Four Corners. She also works with Frack off Greater Chaco and The People for Bernie Sanders.
With her serious graphic art skills, Jenni has created some of the finest progressive messaging on the planet.
Brenda Bierens
WfB & WfJ Founding Member,
Tumblr, Instagram, Midwest Region FB
Brenda is a long-time advocate for those with Autism and other developmental disabilities. Her focus is to ensure all disabled Children and adults receive the services and programs to help them reach their fullest potential. She is committed to make sure that all are given opportunities to become as independent as possible and families can find services and programs to help their loved ones succeed.
Portia Boulger
Women for Bernie Sanders 2016 Founding Member, Twitter
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Molly Grover
Molly led our very successful nationwide meet-ups during Bernie's primary race. She continues to work for progressive causes in her new home state, New Hampshire.
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Western Region FB
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New shoe collection at ComegetFashion!
ah links boven is heel leuk!
Exactly what do you think regarding white men's shoes and boots? In fact, Now i am certainly not speaking something specific regarding white adult males, nevertheless I would like one to realize any time to put on white men's shoes and boots. In the event most of us acquire white shade, it is usually deemed as a new shade with a one of a kind quality.


Un Très Bon Tour – Run. Ride. Roam.
Yes, today was indeed a very good ride. Très bon! The wind was still blowing, but not as hard as usual, so it was more of an annoyance than the real opponent that it has been. It was a chilly day and the wind was quite cold, so it was a "5 layer ride" for me (two thermals, a cycling vest and two jackets) and a "four layer ride" for Steve. We left Capendu and headed to the canal to ride towards today's pit-stop in Carcassonne. It was just lovely along the river, the path was perfect, the canal meandered around corners, with trees and fields either side, I kept taking deep breaths just to breathe in the smell of the trees and the countryside. It was delightful. The only other thing that would have made the picture complete was if Ratty or Mole had appeared along the bank, because the scene reminded me so much of Wind in the Willows.
Looking for Ratty and Mole!
We passed walkers, runners and cyclists and waved to the people on the passing boats and exchanged "Bonjours" with all. We saw another canal bridge, the second one we've seen and it is pretty cool to see a bridge with water running over the top of it. We stopped for elevenses beside a lock, sat on a small wooden jetty, had a snack and watched the lock open and a boat motor through.
As we continued on and approached the outskirts of Carcassonne, we came across another confusing sign. This was right on the bike path and had those circles and pictures, but this time it had crosses through them. No cars, no motorbikes and what looked like no bicycles. "What!" exclaimed Steve in frustration and bewilderment. I mean, the sign was on the bike path, how could it be saying no bikes. We stared at it for a while, then we stared at it a little closer. When we looked at the picture that appeared to be a bicycle, we couldn't see any pedals on the picture. Hmmmm, the brain went into overdrive, the visual literacy skills kicked in and we decided it must mean a motorised scooter, not a bicycle. At least that was what we were going to say to any official looking person who may have stopped us, because we rode past that confusing little sign and continued along the obviously meant for bicycles, canal path. We're sure that's what the picture meant, scooters or some such thing because the picture definitely didn't have pedals. Anyway, no one stopped us or shouted anything to us or gave us dirty looks, so I reckon we were right. Nevertheless, we have had a right ol' time of it trying to read signs. You'd think reading pictures would be easy, but nooooo! Well, at least not easy for these two foreign tourists who obviously need to go back to Kindergarten for a crash course in picture reading!
We rode into the city of Carcassonne and the bike path went straight up to a pedestrian crossing, so we waited to cross the busy road and continue on to our cheap and cheerful hotel. We waited…and waited…waited…waited…the traffic zipped past in both directions…still waiting…traffic still zipping past in front of us…waiting…not a single car stopped! Not one! We took note – cars do not stop at pedestrian crossings! Those black and white lines on the road may as well be paisley swirls because they mean not a thing, so we will remember that from here on and never assume that an approaching car will slow down, let alone stop, because they just don't! Mind you, we were the only ones at the pedestrian crossing, so maybe it was just the sight of us, in our fashionable layers of cycling chic, that caused the drivers to create a rapidly moving and continuous barrier to our entry into the city. Maybe the motorists took one look at us in our socks and sandals and instantly thought, "Très désagréable! Our beautiful city does not want riff-raff such as this! Begone! We are repulsed by such crimes against fashion and all things civilised! We shall not permit entry to such offensive tragic travellers!" So then, like one intelligent organism, the traffic acted as one and created a zipping, zooming barricade, preventing us crossing into the city. Maybe that was the problem? Anyway, the traffic eventually backed up and we nipped across, dodging bumpers and just like that, we had penetrated the defenses and were in!
We found our hotel, checked in, squeezed the bikes and all their gear one at a time, into the very teeny tiny elevator and wheeled ourselves up to our room. A quick shower and snack later and we headed back out on the bikes to have a look around the historic fortress and castle. This looked like a fairytale castle and was amazing to walk around. It's a fortified town, not just a single castle, with cobbled streets and narrow passageways. It dates back to the 6th century and was fortified by the Romans and then various battles over the centuries saw different armies take control and new fortifications were added. It looks spectacular and is beautiful to walk through (if you ignore all the tourist shops). We spent a leisurely time wheeling the bikes around and walking through the cobbled streets and then sitting and having a drink in the sun.
I also have another nice memory of the day. As we rode across the bridge towards the castle, an elderly lady was walking towards us. She was small and round and stooped, with multiple cardigans, a head scarf and a slow and careful walk. As she approached me I smiled and said, "Bonjour" and she gave me the most beautiful toothless grin. Not a pearly white lay behind those lips, but she was beautiful and the smile was dazzling.
I am loving the sense of history I feel here, we see mediaeval history, such as in a place like the fortified castle and we see signs of war history and even just everyday scenes in the countryside, create mental images of decades past. There was a scene today along the cycle path where I looked over the fields to a large stone building and instantly thought of this region being occupied during WWII and could picture a group of soldiers walking across that field, with the building in the distance, hoping for refuge and rest within its walls. Everywhere just has a real sense of story. I love that.
I'll tell you something else I love…such a small thing…I love seeing people walk around with their baguettes under their arm! No it is not a cliche, it is real life here in France. People walk along carrying their baguettes, or have them poking out of their bicycle baskets. It looks such a picture. A few days ago as we were leaving Narbonne, we had stopped for a quick snack and were sitting on a bench beside the canal and a group of three girls, who looked about 15 years old, walked past us and sat on another bench. They had obviously just been to the bakery, because two had bags of pastries and one was carrying a long baguette. They sat down to have their snack and the girl with the baguette began tearing pieces off it and chewing happily on her bread. I loved seeing that. If that scene were replayed at home, those girls would have sat down and inhaled a couple of Big Macs, or something like that, so to see a teen carrying her baguette under her arm and chewing away on her torn pieces of bread, while the three friends chatted, it was a lovely scene.
So today was a really nice ride, with a slight drop in the wind and with delightful scenery. I am absolutely loving the canal paths, not just for the nice flat riding they give us, but for the idyllic picture they create. It's a real highlight and has been a really special place to ride. From my point of view, it was a nice ride and a lovely stroll around the historic walled town. I'm just sorry if we offended any of the locals with our questionable fashion and tragic traveller appearance! Sorry France, the victims of feral fashion have arrived and we're approaching a town near you!
A Very Good, Good Friday!


text:
>Presidents, Vice Presidents & First Ladies
>Show Bills
PRESIDENT JAMES MADISON - WHALING SHIPS PAPERS SIGNED 12/16/1813 WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 285763
THE MONTH AFTER THE BRITISH BLOCKADED THE EASTERN SEABOARD SOUTH OF NARRAGANSETT DURING THE WAR OF 1812, SHIP'S PAPERS ARE ISSUED TO A VESSEL FROM GLOUSTER, MASSACHUSETTS JAMES MADISON, JAMES MONROE and JOHN KITTREDGE Partly Printed DS: "James Madison" as fourth U.S. President and "Jas Monroe" as Secretary of State, 1p, 10x15, irregularly cut. Washington, D.C., 1813 December 8. Ship's passport on vellum signed in Washington but issued out of "State of Massachusetts, District of Glouster". Cosigned: "John Kittredge Coll." as Collector for that port.In part: "By the President of the United States of America SUFFER the Schoner (sic) Dolphin Samuel Grace master or commander of the burthen of Sixty nine tons or thereabouts mounted with No guns navigated with Six men TO PASS with her Company Passengers Goods and Merchandize without any hinderance seizure or molestation the said Schooner appearing by good testimoney to belong to one or more of the Citizens of the United States and to him or them only...." On vellum. 2¼-inch white paper seal affixed at lower left margin.
FIRST LADY JACQUELINE B. KENNEDY - AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT UNSIGNED - HFSID 285922 - HFSID 285922
JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSISShe has penned (but not signed) this very moving reminiscence of "happy summer evenings at the Cape … eating Mathilda's fish chowder" with JFK and his father, when "touched by destiny" was thought to mean "only happy things." Autograph Manuscript unsigned but with "Kennedy" twice in text, 1 page, 8x12½. No place, no date but written in the 1960s. In full: "4. Now Mr Kennedy is sick and Jack is gone. Mr Kennedy had seen Jack nearly die so many times. He used to say that Jack was touched by destiny. But those were happy summer evenings at the Cape when he came there, when we were all eating Mathilda's fish chowder - and you thought that meant only happy things - to be touched by destiny. Dear Grandpa - you brought all the joy to my life - more than one should dare to hope to have - and because of that - all the pain. I will remember you - and I will love you until I die." Born Jacqueline Bouvier in 1929, Jackie married John F. Kennedy in 1953.
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. "BILL" CLINTON - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 02/20/1997 - HFSID 286042 - HFSID 286042
BILL CLINTON Bill Clinton sends a typed letter of thanks. Typed Letter Signed: "Bill" as President, 1p, 6¾x8¾. The White House, Washington, 1997 February 20.To Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Washington, D.C. In full: "Thank you for writing to describe how the Medal of Freedom was revitalized during the Kennedy Administration - it's a fascinating story. I am proud to bestow this high honor on several exemplary citizens each year. It was altogether fitting to have you in attendance at Senator Dole's ceremony and I enjoyed our brief chat. I will keep in mind your thoughts about the original intent of announcing 'the list' once each year on July 4th." On January 17, 1997, a month earlier, President CLINTON presented BOB DOLE with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for Dole's service in World War II and Congress. Clinton had defeated Dole in the 1996 presidential election and would be inaugurated for his second term three days after the ceremony. Dole was clearly touched by the award, but nevertheless he began his remarks with: "I, Robert J. Dole, do solemnly swear..." as laughter erupted in the room.
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 04/02/1991 - HFSID 292104 - HFSID 292104
RONALD REAGANHandwritten letter to Lydia "Hup" MacArthur, the widow of Peter MacArthur, who gave Reagan his first job as a 21 year old Sports Announcer in Davenport, Iowa, signed "Dutch". Autograph Letter signed: "Dutch", 1 page, 6½x4¼. No place, 1991 April 2. To "Dear Hup" [Lydia MacArthur] on card printed with his name and Presidential seal. In full: "Thank you for sending the news story. Nancy & I both enjoyed it very much. Yes we would like to have been there but our travels and chores had us elsewhere. By the way if you are writing again sometime how about sending me Myrtles address? I've somehow lost it. Again thanks and out love to you." Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) had two careers: actor and politician. His first movie was Love is on the Air (1937) and his 53rd and last film was The Killers (1964). In 1965, he wrote his autobiography, Where's the Rest of Me?, a line from his role as Drake McHugh in King's Row (1942). Reagan left his job hosting television's Death Valley Days during the 1965-1966 season, when he entered politics.
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED CIRCA 1946 - HFSID 285833 - HFSID 285833
JOHN F. KENNEDY During his first campaign for a seat in Congress (1946), he signed this handwritten letter to a former Harvard classmate, discussing measures to secure the Italian-American vote. Rare Political Autograph Letter Signed: "Jack", 2 pages, 6x9, front and verso. To Tony (former Harvard classmate Tony Galluccio). No place, no date but during his first race for Congress in 1946. In full: "Thanks very much for your letter. It sounds like you and Joe did a good deal. It is fine with me if you and Joe take the trip in August. Just give me your schedule before you go and I will pay expenses. Be sure & let Frank know when you are going & keep him informed in a general way. I agree with you that Peter Gay would be a good man. I think it would be a good idea if you would get to know the Italian members of the legislature as well as possible. Should I write Gay or Demarco or anyone else thanking them? I hope to talk with you this weekend. Will call your house." Joe was Cambridge Councilman JOSEPH A. deGUGLIELMO,
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. "BILL" CLINTON - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 04/27/1995 - HFSID 285933 - HFSID 285933
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. "BILL" CLINTON The 42nd U.S. President pens a letter to a friend who had been profiled in an Arkansas newspaper, thanking him for his friendship Autograph Letter Signed: "Bill". One page. 6¾x9. Place: The White House, Washington, District of Columbia. Date: April 27, 1995. In full: "Dear David: I loved the High Profile article - It was richly deserved. I hope it gives your work a boost too - Thanks for being a true friend." "High Profile" is a feature in the Sunday edition of Little Rock's "Arkansas Democrat-Gazette". On the morning of the day the President wrote this letter, he met with Russian Foreign Minister Andrey Kozyrev in the White House. Following the meeting, he had a telephone conversation with President Boris Yeltsin of Russia. On the afternoon of May 8, 1995, President and Mrs. Clinton left for Moscow, arriving the next morning. President Clinton met with President Yeltsin on May 9th. The visit coincided with the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe.
PRESIDENT WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 07/14/1840 - HFSID 288294 - HFSID 288294
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON As the Whig Party candidate for President, Harrison devotes 3 pages to defending his conduct at the Battle of the Thames (War of 1812). He is so anxious to vindicate his military record that he is traveling to Cincinnati to have copies of depositions made and published! Harrison's signature is rare, especially so close to the date of his brief Presidency! Autograph Letter signed: "W. H. Harrison", 3 pages with integral address leaf, 7¼x12½. North Bend (Ohio), 1840 February 14. To Moses B. Corwin, House of Representatives of Ohio. In full: "Your letter of the 10th was brought to me yesterday from Cincinnati. I had seen an article in the journal that Flood was charged with having written in his place, an assertion that I was not in the sortie of the Thames. I immediately addressed a note to him which I enclosed to General [Joseph] Vance demanding to know whether he had made such an assertion and the ground upon which it was made. In answer to my letter
PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN - AUTOGRAPH DOCUMENT UNSIGNED WITH J. L. SPRINGGATE - HFSID 286009 - HFSID 286009
ABRAHAM LINCOLNWhile defending a woman accused of murdering her husband (1857), the future President added six lines of text in his own hand to the written deposition of a witness.Autograph Statement unsigned at the conclusion of Manuscript Document Signed: "J.L. Springgate", 2 pages, 7¾x12¼. Woodford County, [Metamora, Illinois], c. 1845-1857.AT THE CONCLUSION, SIX LINES IN THE HAND OF LINCOLN DIRECTLY ABOVE SPRINGGATE'S SIGNATURE, NOT SIGNED BY LINCOLN WHO WROTE,IN FULL: "Re-cross examination by defendants- The morning of the sale, Laws said that he wanted to go and buy horses, and wanted Vandike to go with him and be his security, and then they both, and this witness went to the sale together (The plaintiff objects to the last piece of evidence)". The names of the plaintiff and defendants are spelled differently throughout the document. Headed: "Deposition of Witness to be used in evidence on the trial of the case now pending in the Circuit Court of Woodford County where John A. Minahan is Plff & J J Lass & Wm G Vandike are defts pursuant to agreement representative of the parties.
PRESIDENT THEODORE ROOSEVELT - AUTOGRAPH LETTER UNSIGNED 05/30/1911 - HFSID 286035 - HFSID 286035
THEODORE ROOSEVELT This typed 1911 letter, addressed to a New York newspaper, contains numerous corrections in Roosevelt's hand. It's a scathing letter regarding a court decision and the newspaper's support for that decision - a decision that Roosevelt said violated one of the core philosophies of the Republican Party. This was written one year before Roosevelt tried to wrest the Republican presidential nomination from William Howard Taft - and, failing that, embarked on a third-party run under the Progressive banner. Public figures rarely commit such strong sentiments to writing, which makes this letter especially rare and significant. Superb content draftTyped Letter, heavily corrected with 216 words in Roosevelt's hand, not signed, on his personal letterhead, "The Outlook", "Office of Theodore Roosevelt", 2p, 7¾x9½, separate sheets. New York, May 30, 1911.To Mr. C.H. Betts, The Lyons Republican, 41 Williams Street, Lyons, N ew York. Most probably the final draft. In part: "Really it is hard to believe that
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. "BILL" CLINTON - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED 09/28/1999 - HFSID 286043 - HFSID 286043
PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. "BILL" CLINTON The 42nd U.S. President pens this encouraging note to Senator Daniel Moynihan referring to some social and economic aspects, signed in black ink Autograph Note Signed: "Bill" in black ink as President. One page. 6¼x4¼ card. Embossed with gilt Presidential Seal and words"The President". Place: Washington, District of Columbia. Date: September 28, 1999. Addressed to: Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. In full: "Senator, If we persevere we'll get this done! - I will help in any way I can, in or out of office. Best." A day earlier, after getting the news of a higher than expected $115 billion budget surplus, President Clinton said, in part: "This triple digit surplus is larger than projected, larger than last year's and, in fact, larger than any surplus in the history of the United States…We can give the American people an
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RICHARD NIXON and CELESTE HOLM Richard Nixon and Celeste Holm sign a playbill for the play Peter Pan. Playbill Signed: "Richard Nixon" and "Celeste Holm", 48p, 6½x9. Playbill for the Winter Garden's production of Peter Pan.
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This Master's course combines the fields of medicine and engineering. It builds on Bachelor's degrees in which students have already obtained technical, medical and economic knowledge/ skills. The students build their capacity to think and act in a technology-oriented and interdisciplinary manner, as well as to work scientifically. To ensure this, the students will acquire comprehensive knowledge of several fields, including medicine and society, rehabilitation, Smart-Home technology and information management. This program teaches scientifically sound, applied, practice-oriented knowledge and methods to solve demanding tasks within the fields of engineering, medicine and health. By means of various projects, the students will also improve their social skills, learning to communicate better and to work more successfully in teams. As a result, the graduates will be able to work in an executive or leading position within the planning and implementation of projects, as well as in the integration of medical and information-processing systems. They will be well-prepared for working in healthcare or research institutions or similar industries (or for being self-employed), since they are qualified to work at the intersection of engineering, informatics and applied healthcare.


• The high-speed cavity back design features a lower, deeper center of gravity and enhanced perimeter weighting.
• NexCOR technology, variable face thickness that provides faster ball speed at impact.
• Thinner, no-weld sole promotes greater distance and accuracy.
• X3X groove technology features grooves that are close together and deeper on the clubface for maximum spin.
• Progressive sole design for an optimum look at address and performance through the turf.


The Kyoto Takaragaike Prince Hotel is situated in the heart of Kyoto city.
The unique, curved form of the Kyoto Takaragaike Prince Hotel blends harmoniously with the surrounding beauty of the Kyoto Mountains . Reflecting the creative genius of famed architect Togo Murano, the hotel offers spacious accommodations to both international and domestic guests in an atmosphere of total relaxation. This rustic resort features an authentic Sukiya-style teahouse in a sculptured Japanese garden, reflecting the very essence of Kyoto elegance. Kyoto Takaragaike Prince Hotel is perfect for entertaining clients and holding special meetings. With its abundance of hills, trees and rivers, fall is the best season to visit the Kyoto Takaragaike Prince. Plan early.


text:
Truce broken as Syria troops bomb rebels
posted December 27, 2013 at 09:01 pm by AFP
BEIRUT—A day-old truce in a besieged rebel-held town near Damascus broke down Thursday as Syrian warplanes bombed the divided northern city of Aleppo for a 12th straight day, activists said.
By Wednesday, the Aleppo air blitz that began on December 15 had killed at least 422 people, mostly civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group relying on activists and other sources inside the war-torn country.
In Moadamiyet al-Sham, near the capital, clashes broke out on Thursday afternoon, a day after opposition and regime sources announced a truce for the town, which had been under a suffocating army siege for a year.
The opposition blamed President Bashar al-Assad's troops for breaking the truce.
"They opened heavy machine-gun fire without any reason. It means there are people from the regime who don't want the siege on our town to be lifted. They are trying to end the truce in any way possible," Ahmad, a local activist, told AFP via the Internet.
The Syrian Revolution General Commission, a network of activists on the ground, confirmed the fighting, and said the army was sending "heavy reinforcements" towards the town.
On Wednesday rebels raised the national flag above the town in accordance with a ceasefire deal that was supposed to allow food in, but Ahmad said none had arrived.
Negotiations were under way for another truce in Barzeh, northern Damascus, according to activist Emad al-Barzawi, but he said "there has been no decision yet."
Barzeh has come under frequent bombardment in recent months, forcing hundreds of residents to flee.
In Aleppo, the country's second city and onetime commercial hub, the airforce kept up its offensive a day after 12 people were killed in aerial attacks in and around the city, said the Observatory.
Regime aircraft launched a fresh attack using TNT-packed barrels against the city's Hanano district, and another air strike against Daret Ezza in the surrounding province, according to the Observatory.
The European Union, the United States and the Arab League have condemned the air force's use of barrel bombs, and the US-based Human Rights Watch has described their use as "unlawful" because they do not discriminate between civilians and fighters.
Harm reduction seen to stem Asia's smoking epidemic
The Voice Kids in concert plus album


text:
Warnbro Community High School is a co-educational secondary public school comprised of 1000 students from Year 7 to 12. Located in the growing suburb of Warnbro, the school has access to many of the educational facilities the City of Rockingham provides such as Challenger TAFE. Warnbro Community High School is a local intake school, however all enrolment applications are considered when possible. The school is recognised by the Department of Education as having approved specialist programs in Adventure Recreation and Creative Art.
The school motto "I am because we are" is written by Fatima Dike, a South African playwright. It epitomises the concept that the individual cannot exist without the community they live in – each individual is inter-dependent on the other.
To become a complete person there must be a recognition that the community is essential to the shaping of the person and the community is dependent on the growth of the people they encourage. Students are encouraged to reflect on this as they progress through their years at school.
Our logo is a reflection of the school motto.
A school of fish is similar to a community, each surviving and prospering with the support of those around them. One of these fish, represented with an eye, is the individual, supported by its community and swimming together with its school.
The star represents technology, an area of focus within the school.


text:
The Division 2's first raid won't have matchmaking, to the community's dismay
Matt Daniel
It seems that the The Division 2 community is in a bit of an uproar the news came out that the game's first raid, which is slated to open its gates today, will not provide matchmaking, instead requiring players to form a premade group of eight if they want to try to tackle the challenge. This might not be a problem in and of itself. After all, The Division's fellow MMO-ish shooter Destiny provides no matchmaking for its raids, and players have gotten along fine (even if an in-game group-finder has been one of the most-requested — and neglected — features throughout its lifespan). The real problem is that an earlier promotional image for The Division 2 claimed, "Matchmaking is provided for every game activity and difficulty level," which is obviously no longer the case.
Content Lead Hamish Bode addressed the community's consternation in today's weekly State of the Game stream, saying, "We do understand people have pulled up things we've said in the past about this subject, so here's where it's at in front of me right now, verbatim," before reading the studio's official statement: "We decided to not include matchmaking, a we don't think this would make a good gameplay experience for random groups. The Raid will test your ability to communicate well, have a good build set up and will require great teamwork to beat encounters."
True though that may be, players nevertheless feel that Ubisoft has reneged on its earlier promise. Although the devs don't seem keen to change their decision anytime soon, Live Content Manager Yannick Banchereau has said, "We're happy to keep the conversation going and see how it goes and how people like it and whatever […] and then depending on how the conversation goes, we will make adaptations."
Meanwhile, for players not currently busy trying to gather up a group to take on the raid recently received two new missions to play through — provided they've purchased the game's year-one season pass, that is. The two so-called Classified Assignments provide more narrative than loot, but players who want to learn more about the post-apocalyptic world of The Division 2 should find plenty to sink their teeth into.
Source: Kotaku (1, 2). Thanks, Bryan!
b2p
buy to play
online shooter
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Grave Knight
So a game mode that few will participate because there isn't a matchmaking system. Cool.
Fred Douglas
Odd decision. It's basically an open world lobby game, not having lobbies in the most significant content is peculiar. And if it's too hard for PUGs, you need to make it easier, and offer difficulty tiers.
Mewmew
Oh The Division 2 – you were doing so well up until now. You were the standout of the recently released co-op shooters. I guess that couldn't last forever. You had to do some backwards thing to tick a bunch of people off and go directly against your own word for what the game was.
Auto matchmaking is a promise you guys made for all game activities.
"We decided to not include matchmaking, a we don't think this would make a good gameplay experience for random groups. The Raid will test your ability to communicate well, have a good build set up and will require great teamwork to beat encounters."
Too bad, that's up for the players to decide. People who want to set up their own groups can't if matchmaking is there? Oh no wait, they can! So leave matchmaking in for the people who care to use it, which is most of the player base. Going against your own promise and marketing materials, well Anthem and Fallout 76 are happy you are doing that anyway. They've got a seat saved for you next to them in the club. Enjoy.
Veldara
https://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/2055383-Operation-Dark-Hours-matchmaking
Godnaz
The Division 2 crowd is so socially awkward. I'm is a large clan and most of the members don't even use voice comms. So many people just want to solo or pair up that it's difficult to LFG for content where you can get enough to commit and trust it'll get completed without issue.
ihatevnecks
Yep, but they knew this going into it and this is the exact kind of thing they built the game around. Every activity you can do (except side missions, sort of) has a matchmaking queue associated with it. That's the game they built, so it makes no sense for the raid to come out and suddenly break that paradigm.
You're a social master because you use voice comms, the same way PvP players are tough guys because they go against other players in games.
Sorry, but I take offense to calling people "socially awkward" just because they prefer not to use voice comms. It spoils my experience. I don't want to talk nor do I want to hear other people talking when playing games from home. And yeah, part of that comes from some horrible experiences on console voice chat growing up, but part of it is that it just spoils my gameplay and isn't fun for me to hear or partake in.
I think that even if I hadn't had horrible experiences on games voice communications that I wouldn't want to partake in voice chat. To me it's not a social thing, it's just the way I prefer to play.
They should've just made two difficulty modes. One for random matchmaking and one for coordinated teams. Instead, they opted for false advertisement.
Anstalt
I don't know where I stand on this one.
On the one hand, they're following typical MMO design and making the raid both the largest group size AND the hardest content. It stands to reason that PUGs will have a hard time, if not impossible, completing the content and so it makes sense that it won't be included in the matchmaking system because they don't want lots of people having a bad time dying over and over.
On the other hand, TD2 is not an MMO. The heavy instancing means you don't naturally bump into the same people whilst you're playing the game. You don't have that repeated contact that you get in proper MMOs and so you don't form social bonds with other players. This means the average TD2 player won't be playing this content because they don't have 7 other reliable friends playing the game. If they do get to play the content, it'll probably be a pug that was put together in the white house and so it's just as likely to fail as if they'd been put together in a matchmaking system.
I personally won't be playing the content. I stopped playing once I hit GS500 because I couldn't be bothered with a long gear grind. I'd already completed all the content, why bother grinding out gear?! I was going to come back for the raid to see what it was like but as I played the game casually, I'm not in a clan and don't have friends playing the game so I'd have to join pugs, or commit to a clan just to try out this one bit of content.
By design and this is the designers own words is to make the raid so punishing and requiring coordination that voice and mic are required. It's also to avoid people from being kicked in the end which happens very often with pugs.
That said they do plan a solution to make those that like pugging experience the raid. This tells me they'll have a dumbed down version of it with lower gearscore loot.
Hikari Kenzaki
On the surface, I can see why it would be a lose-lose to not include matchmaking.
Though, me personally, I dislike group finders that the game then has to spend a huge portion of its time incentivizing people to queue up.
It's actually not that hard to find a group of 8 like-minded individuals who actually talk to each other. City of Heroes Task Forces are teams of 8 and those pop off faster than you can say "Still got room for a Brute and a kin Def?"
I don't really think the two are comparable.
City of Heroes was a PC MMO with open zones, various zone and world based text chat channels, and individual servers. The same players you saw running around (and played with) today were the players you saw tomorrow, next week, etc.
Div2 is none of that. The open zones are single player unless you've done some kind of matchmaking activity. There's no zone chat, no text chat at all. Unless you're playing with a group of friends, all of the social play happens with completely random PUGs. You only ever see those people once, because you're in a global pool of players rather than on a single server with a limited population.
Even the big clans are primarily comprised of people joining for clan features and weekly rewards rather than the social play aspect.
The whole game is built around and hyped itself on supporting matchmaking activities with a group of strangers, so it shouldn't be any different with raids. They're taking the Bungie/Destiny way out by forcing you to use third-party/outside-game apps to find a team for part of the game's content, as if the people you find in those apps are some higher caliber of player than the ones you'd find with in-game tools.
Odd because I see all sorts of people in the safe zones who can talk to each other anytime.
But as I said, it's a lose-lose for them, so they might have well just put it in to get one win.
Indigo Salma
They are already getting torn apart by the community cause of this.
Really fun to look at since i really hate the absence of matchmaking.
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WHAT seemed like a good idea after five pints down the pub around 10.30pm on Saturday night was rebounding on Durham county golfer Bryan Ross by lunchtime on Bank Holiday Monday, when he had completed the first round of the 36-hole Westerhope Open.
What was that bright idea suggested at The Green, just down the road from Heworth Golf Club? The 40-year-old Ross had allowed a pal to talk him into taking up a last-minute spot in the Great North Bike Ride from Seahouses to Tynemouth Priory the following day.
A Sunday event in aid of the Chris Lucas Trust billed as lasting 50 miles, Ross and the other participants found they had 56 miles clocked up on their bikes by the time they had finished.
Tuesday night brought victory in the semi-final of a mixed competition at Heworth for Ross, an IT manager with Newcastle City Council who lives in Wardley, Gateshead.
This weekend he's playing foursomes and singles for County Durham against Lancashire at South Shields on Saturday and on Sunday he will attempt to win the 36-hole Heworth club championship for the sixth time in seven years. Victory at Heworth would surely make Ross the fittest man in The Journal Champion of Champions field and he says: "People outside the sport laugh when I say it, but it's golf that keeps me fit.
"You hear pro golfers moaning about their schedules, but it is nothing unusual for us amateurs to be playing 72 holes in two days as we shall be doing this weekend. That means walking 20 miles and more. There are also a lot of dynamics in a golf swing and Tiger Woods has set a trend which has filtered all the way down. The vast majority of young golfers work out these days to keep up with the competition.
IT was six of the best yesterday for a village bursting with blooms.