Last month the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued an arrest warrant for the former ambassador to the United States, Husain Haqqani, after he failed to appear in court for a hearing on "Memogate." The "memo" in question had allegedly been sent by Haqqani to a high-ranking US official in May 2011 – days after the operation that killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan – exposing clashes between the civilian government then led by the Pakistan Peoples Party and the army.
Fifteen years of war have turned Iraqi cities such as Ramadi, Fallujah, and Mosul into ruins. Iraq remains as divided as ever along sectarian lines, despite the deaths of more than 4,500 U.S. troops and untold numbers of Iraqis. U.S. troops remain in Iraq to help advise and assist Iraqi forces as they try to prevent ISIS from launching yet another insurgency. Meanwhile, Iran has flooded the country with thousands of proxy fighters, giving it a large say in what the government of Iraq does post-ISIS. This wasn't the Iraq that was supposed to emerge when U.S. troops crossed the berm from Kuwait to Iraq in March 2003. Nor is this the Iraq that troops who trounced al Qaeda during the surge bled for. There are few tangible signs of success, and Iraq's future is still unclear.
China has transformed the Indo-Pacific region's strategic landscape in just five years. If other powers do not step in to counter further challenges to the territorial and maritime status quo, the next five years could entrench China's strategic advantages. Security dynamics are changing rapidly in the Indo-Pacific. The region is home not only to the world's fastest-growing economies, but also to the fastest-increasing military expenditures and naval capabilities, the fiercest competition over natural resources, and the most dangerous strategic hot spots. One might even say that it holds the key to global security. The increasing use of the term "Indo-Pacific" – which refers to all countries bordering the Indian and Pacific oceans – rather than "Asia-Pacific," underscores the maritime dimension of today's tensions. Asia's oceans have increasingly become an arena of competition for resources and influence. It now seems likely that future regional crises will be triggered and/or settled at sea.
A suspected Chinse APT group has been spotted raiding a UK government contractor for military and other sensitive documents. APT15 is also known as Ke3chang, Mirage, Vixen Panda GREF and Playful Dragon – a group operating for several years from servers registered in China and with Chinese language infrastructure. NCC Group claimed at the weekend that it spotted the group stealing sensitive documents from one of its clients, a government contractor, back in May. It appeared to be using a blend of old and new tools: previous backdoor BS2005 now appearing alongside new versions RoyalCli and RoyalDNS.
Chinese premier Li Keqiang recently delivered a remarkably revealing speech. Addressing the National People's Congress for two full hours early in March, he stressed the county's determination to rely on broad industrial policies as a means to development. The objective, to use Li's words, is to "speed up work to build China into a leader in manufacturing." Li doubtless wanted his audience and the world to hear his remarks as a challenge to Western economic power. Many no doubt did. What Li failed to note, and assuredly does not realize, is how his blueprint for progress, rather than ensure Chinese dominance, will instead keep that country indefinitely dependent on the West, doom it to repeat its already well-established pattern of wasteful overbuilding, and ensure that its economy will always remain just a bit behind the West technologically.
For nearly sixty years since it opened in 1959, the Great Hall of the People has been the public focus of Chinese politics, a monumental granite block that extends 1,200 feet along the west side of Tiananmen Square. It is where the country's leaders appear in public to display their power: a platform for state banquets, receptions of foreign dignitaries, and symbolic political meetings. It is their throne room, their sacred space. It is the outward manifestation of decisions made in other, darker realms.
Wang Qishan has been described as cold, calculating and combative by his enemies. Just the sort of skill set his small, select circle of political allies are counting on, including his old comrade, the Chinese President Xi Jinping. At 69, Wang was forced to step down from the all-powerful seven-man Politburo Standing Committee in October because of his age during a reshuffle at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing. For the past five years, he had been feared and loathed as the anti-corruption tzar in President Xi's centerpiece "clean up" campaign before he "retired". But now, he is back after being elected to the National People's Congress last month.
In August, a petrochemical company with a plant in Saudi Arabia was hit by a new kind of cyberassault. The attack was not designed to simply destroy data or shut down the plant, investigators believe. It was meant to sabotage the firm's operations and trigger an explosion. The attack was a dangerous escalation in international hacking, as faceless enemies demonstrated both the drive and the ability to inflict serious physical damage. And United States government officials, their allies and cybersecurity researchers worry that the culprits could replicate it in other countries, since thousands of industrial plants all over the world rely on the same American-engineered computer systems that were compromised.
An Air Force cargo jet in 2016 at a base in the Persian Gulf where drones were launched against the Islamic State. With drone technology just one area open to advances in artificial intelligence, a task force will explore how the government can work better with tech leaders to develop its A.I. There is little doubt that the Defense Department needs help from Silicon Valley's biggest companies as it pursues work on artificial intelligence. The question is whether the people who work at those companies are willing to cooperate.
The first time I met Christopher Wylie, he didn't yet have pink hair. That comes later. As does his mission to rewind time. To put the genie back in the bottle. By the time I met him in person, I'd already been talking to him on a daily basis for hours at a time. On the phone, he was clever, funny, bitchy, profound, intellectually ravenous, compelling. A master storyteller. A politicker. A data science nerd.
Israeli forces on Sunday knocked out a tunnel in the Gaza Strip dug by Hamas militants to mount cross-border attacks, the military said. The tunnel had been cut off during the 2014 Gaza war and Hamas had tried to put it back into operation, a military spokesman said. It had been dug inside the Hamas-ruled enclave several hundred meters away from Israel's border fence. The Israeli forces did not cross the border to render the tunnel inoperable but used a new technique, Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus told reporters. "We did not use explosives. It (the tunnel) was filled with a certain material, with a certain compound," Conricus said.
The growing expectation that President Donald Trump is going to force out Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster as national security adviser raises a quandary: would the Army take him back? Like his precarious position in the White House over the past year, McMaster's stormy relationship with the Army leadership is nearly legendary due to his questioning of orthodoxy and brusque manner. Now, the Pentagon is grappling with what to do with the military's leading warrior-intellectual should he become the latest Trump aide to be replaced, according to multiple current and former officers and administration officials — a predicament that even McMaster himself hinted at on Friday, when he told a reporter that "everybody has got to leave the White House at some point."
The Trump administration imposed new sanctions against Russia on Thursday, slapping punitive measures on 19 people and five entities over their alleged role in Moscow's interference in the 2016 election and other "destructive" cyberattacks. The sanctions mark the most significant move against Russia since President Trump took office more than a year ago. They arrived as Washington's closest ally, Britain, is locked in a diplomatic struggle with Moscow after accusing the Kremlin of using a nerve agent to poison a former Russian intelligence officer living in the United Kingdom.Trump also joined the leaders of the U.K., France and Germany on Thursday in issuing a statement that condemned the poisoning attack.
Last night, the U.N. Panel of Experts published its latest report. There is sufficient material in it for several posts, but some of the most alarming facts in it have to do with North Korea's assistance to Syria with its ballistic missiles and chemical weapons, so that's where I'll begin.
Vladimir Putin is not one to accept criticism from the West, even when his country stands accused of attempted murder using military-grade nerve agents. Russian responses to the accusations have been dismissive, even suggesting that British intelligence was really responsible for the attempted murder on 4 March of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, combined with knowing observations that their fate should be a warning to other traitors.
A joint research project between the Department of Energy and a geographic analytics company is mapping just how far the repercussions could spread. "On a scale of 1 to 10," the threat of a cyber attack on U.S.critical infrastructure is "a 7 or an 8," the Department of Homeland Security warned lawmakers last week. And indeed, someone has been probing the defenses of utilities, key manufacturers, and others. So what happens if hackers launch a network attack that, say, causes a rolling blackout in the Midwest?
The Trump administration has accused Russia of a coordinated "multi-stage intrusion campaign" to hack into critical U.S. infrastructure networks and conduct "network reconnaissance" while attempting to delete evidence of their intrusions. Homeland Security officials say they have helped the affected companies remove the Russian hackers from their compromised networks, but the Russians keep trying to hack into these critical systems.
Russian cyber operatives are attacking critical American infrastructure such as energy grids, nuclear facilities, aviation systems, and water processing plants, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The report details numerous attempts, since at least March of 2016, where Russian cyber operatives targeted government entities and multiple US critical infrastructure sectors.
The Pentagon is working with industry to accelerate migration to cloud technology to enable faster decision making The Pentagon is working with industry to accelerate widespread migration to cloud technology to enable faster decision-making, AI implementation, rapid data organization and improved IT security, Pentagon leaders said. The multi-faceted initiative includes data consolidation, reducing the hardware footprint and efforts to connect satellite ground terminals more seamlessly with one another; the key concept, of course, is to increase access to otherwise disparate pools of information, share information quickly and give combat commanders more options on a faster time frame.
The military depends on a constant flow of volunteers every year. According to 2017 Pentagon data, 71 percent of young Americans between 17 and 24 are ineligible to serve in the United States military. Put another way: Over 24 million of the 34 million people of that age group cannot join the armed forces—even if they wanted to. This is an alarming situation that threatens the country's fundamental national security. If only 29 percent of the nation's young adults are qualified to serve, and if this trend continues, it is inevitable that the U.S. military will suffer from a lack of manpower. A manpower shortage in the United States Armed Forces directly compromises national security.
Combating insurgencies with conventional forces has long been regarded as being, to paraphrase T.E Lawrence's colorful formulation, comparable to eating soup with a knife (Lawrence, 1922, 53). Indeed, the inutility of force with regards to combating a phenomenon that primarily exists in the minds of a target population has been noted by figures from General Rupert Smith to General David Petraeus, the latter articulating this principle as a central premise upon which he built his population centric theory of counterinsurgency in FM-3-24 (Petraeus, 2006, 60-100) (Smith, 2005, 40). Within the context of this argument, any effort to destroy an insurgent militarily by a policy of attrition or annihilation ignores the insurgents innate capacity to trade space for time, avoiding the strengths of a conventional force and eroding both its domestic will and its control over the target populace (over which the insurgent and counterinsurgent force are fighting) by policies of assassination, intimidation of the counterinsurgency's local supporters and dispersed attacks on occupying troops. The ability of an insurgency, even one which has held territory for a significant period to revert to what T.X. Hammes dubs phase I of an insurgent strategy (whereby it resorts to asymmetrical warfare) is central to the argument regarding the inutility of an enemy-centric Clausewitzian approach to combating insurgencies (Hammes, 2006, 50).
The first phase of the Synthetic Training Environment initiative replaces existing simulators for vehicles. The second phase aims to create — in just two years — something the Army's never had before: an "immersive" virtual training environment for troops on foot. UPDATED Lockheed Wins Contract To Maintain 100+ Legacy Training Systems After years of toying with the technology, the Army is now racing to replace its clunky 1980s and '90s-vintage training simulators with virtual reality, massive multiplayer networks and other innovations straight from the commercial gaming industry.


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Is 'Teen Mom 2' Star Leah Messer Pregnant? See Her Epic Response to Fans Who Pointed out Her "Baby Bump"
Aug 15, 2018 5:28 pm·
By Emy LaCroix
Here we go again! Teen Mom 2's Leah Messer posted an inspirational new photo of herself on Aug. 14, but fans couldn't stop looking at her stomach and accusing her of being pregnant! Watch the video below to see the photo that has everyone talking.
"Once you start to believe in yourself, magic starts happening!" Leah captioned a beautiful new photo on Aug. 14. "Self confidence is a super power! #aaa #love #liveyourstandard." It didn't take long for the pregnancy comments to start flooding in!
"Leah's pregnant," wrote one convinced fan, while another chimed in, "Is that a baby bump???? You're sooo beautiful!!"
And they weren't the only ones. Another fan said, "That's definitely a baby bump," while several others wrote, "I see a baby bump too!"
But don't get too excited, because Leah insists it's not true (at least, not yet.)"You guys are sweet and NOOOO I'm not pregnant. What the!" She also recently said in an Insta Q&A that she's "happy" with the way life is right now.
Leah's friend and co-star Kailyn Lowry even poked fun at the situation, commenting, "I see you lil baby!" with a laughing emoji.
Leah didn't seem amused, responding, "SHUT UPPP!" with several laughing emojis. She also called the comments from fans "rude," saying, "Like dang. My weight has always been up and down. Annoying."
So for now, it looks like Leah's three daughters are plenty for her! See the photos here!
Leah Messer
Teen Mom 2

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Since 2006, the original ChokeFree™ has not put pressure on the pet's trachea or windpipe. There are similar step-in designs that claim to be non-choking or choke-free but they may still place pressure on the pet's windpipe and cause choking and gagging. The center portion of our soft smooth one-piece patented ChokeFree™ design touches the pet in-between the pet's front legs, whereas the other Step-In harnesses touch the pet's forechest area rather than in between the pet's front legs. Please see the above picture to see how the original ChokeFree™ fits.
This is the measurement directly behind the front legs around the whole body.


Capsticks, with NHS Employers, has produced a suite of resources designed to support the NHS workforce, including podcasts and guidance. Also, see below for latest news updates and upcoming events.
The Capsticks team will talk delegates through all the latest employment law news, including a round up of case law and legislative developments and employment law horizon scanning for 2019 and beyond.
Registration is open for this workshop on flexible working. Capsticks employment lawyers will be joined by Caroline Waterfield, assistant director at NHS Employers, and Kate Jarman, director of corporate affairs at Milton Keynes University Hospital and co-founder of the Flex NHS Campaign.
The workshop will look at the case for flexible working for all staff, the part it has to play in attraction and retention and its impact on diversity and the gender pay gap. Delegates will also be discussing what HR teams can do to promote flexible working and support culture change within organisations.
Mental health - Sean Duggan - Chief Executive of the Mental Health Network discusses the key workforce issues for the mental health sector with Rachael Heenan, senior partner at Capsticks.
Workforce of 2020 - In this series, Kelvin Cheatle, consultant at Capsticks, interviews key workforce leaders to discuss their thoughts on the NHS Workforce of 2020, including the possible impact of devolution and recruitment supply.
Dean Royles - HR director at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
Lord Norman Warner - Member of the House of Lords and former Minister of State at the Department of Health.
Danny Mortimer - Chief executive at NHS Employers.
Deborah Tarrant - Director of people and organisational development at Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Positive action: separating fact from fiction - Take a look at Capsticks' resource which looks at some common diversity and equality misconceptions.
Key issues for healthcare organisations - Read Capsticks' key thoughts and commentaries in response to recent health stories in the press.
GDPR frequently asked questions - The FAQs feature an explanation of key GDPR terms, what should be included in a privacy notice, how long data should be kept on file and other key questions and tips.
Getting to grips with GDPR - Everything you need to know on GDPR from data protection to contracts and training.
Major changes have been introduced to the intermediaries legislation (commonly known as IR35) which apply where the services of an individual are provided through an intermediary to a "public authority" which includes all NHS organisations.
The Agenda for Change pay scales poster has been updated, following the government's announcement of the NHS pay award for 2016/17.
Care homes - How can we help you?
Find out more on how Capsticks can support you with legislation on care homes.


Dan Abrams is the CEO of Abrams Media and the Chief Legal Affairs anchor for ABC News. David Fisher is the author of more than 20 New York Times bestsellers.
The two worked together to produce Lincoln's Last Trial: The murder case that propelled him to the presidency.
David and Dan drew from the transcript of a case reported to have changed everything for an attorney from Illinois named Abraham Lincoln. David will tell us how they drew from a transcript of the case – The State of Illinois versus "Peachy" Quinn Harrison. The transcript was discovered in 1989 in a garage that once belonged to Peachy Harrison's great grandson.
In this conversation we talk about Abraham Lincoln's skills as a litigator, and get a glimpse of Lincoln's interactions with witnesses and how he honed those skills as he shaped himself into an iconic leader.
Lincoln learned the law by working with other attorneys. By 1859, he had handled 27 murder cases. He also handled civil and commerce cases, and was reported to have handled Springfield, Illinois' first "slip and fall" case.
1859 murder trial captivated the region and the country.
Nine months before the Republican convention.
Political insiders were watching him on the heels of the Lincoln-Douglas debates.
Two men from local families who scuffled in a local drugstore. Peachy Quinn Harrison slashed Greek Crafton with a knife when Crafton and his buddies grabbed Harrison with intent to "stomp his face" over vague insults.
Lincoln effectively defended Harrison after he was indicted by a grand jury for the murder.
Lincoln argued self-defense, not murder.
Lincoln introduced his own personal relationship with the Harrison family.
Crafton was mortally wounded in the abdomen and died three days later. But apparently, he forgave Peachy in a deathbed admission, according to Peter Cartwright, a revered evangelical leader.
Harrison was acquitted at the end of the case, largely due to the judge's decision to allow his grandfather – Peter Cartwright – to testify that Crafton gave a deathbed absolution of Harrison.
The story of this trial is not only that Lincoln won it so close to the presidential campaign of 1860, but that he leveraged this trial and the relationships he formed outside of the courtroom to put him on the path to the White House.
David Fisher is the author of more than twenty New York Times bestsellers. He lives in New York.
Dan Abrams is the CEO and Founder of Abrams Media and the Chief Legal Affairs Anchor for ABC News. He is also the host of both Sixty Days In and Live PD on the A&E network. A graduate of Columbia University Law School, he has written for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, among many others. He lives in New York.


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Catholic church in japan
Is Christianity allowed in Japan?
Christianity in Japan is among the nation's minority religions. Between less than 1 percent and 1.5% of the population claims Christian belief or affiliation. Most large Christian denominations, including Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Orthodox Christianity , are represented in Japan today.
Why was Christianity banned in Japan?
However in 1587, in an era of European conquest and colonization, including in the Philippines near Japan , Toyotomi Hideyoshi issued an edict banning missionaries from the country due to the religion's political ambitions, intolerant behavior towards Shinto and Buddhism, and connections to the sale of Japanese people
What percentage of Japan is Catholic?
When did Japan legalize Christianity?
Are Japanese Hindu?
Hinduism is practiced mainly by the Indian migrants, although there are others. As of 2016, there are 30,048 Indians in Japan . Most of them are Hindus . Hindu gods are still revered by many Japanese particularly in Shingon Buddhism.
What is Japan's major religion?
Shinto and Buddhism are Japan's two major religions. Shinto is as old as the Japanese culture, while Buddhism was imported from the mainland in the 6th century. Since then, the two religions have been co-existing relatively harmoniously and have even complemented each other to a certain degree.
What do Japanese think about Christianity?
At the same time, most Japanese people have little or no interest in the Christian faith per se. Again, they do not critically reject Christian teachings after thorough study; they are simply not interested and never bother to find out. Japan is home to numerous schools founded by missionaries and other Christians .
You might be interested: Catholic feast day today
Does Japan celebrate Christmas?
In Japan , however, Christmas is known more as a day to spread happiness, rather than being viewed as a religious celebration . As a result, Christmas Eve is often celebrated more than Christmas Day.
Who brought Christianity to Japan?
Is Japan a Catholic country?
The Catholic Church in Japan is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the pope in Rome. In 2005, there were approximately 509,000 Catholics in Japan —just under 0.5% of the total population, and by 2014, there were around 440,000 Japanese Catholics .
What is the oldest religion?
The word Hindu is an exonym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, many practitioners refer to their religion as Sanātana Dharma (Sanskrit: सनातन धर्म: "the Eternal Way "), which refers to the idea that its origins lie beyond human history, as revealed in the Hindu texts.
Is Japan an atheist country?
Between 30 and 39 per cent of the people on the Japanese islands say they are "convinced atheists ". Religion in Japan has historically been centred around Shintoism, which is based on ritual and a mythology surrounding the ancient past of Japan , rather than an all-seeing god.
Does Japan have religious freedom?
The constitution guarantees freedom of religion and requires the state to refrain from religious education or any other religious activity. It prohibits religious organizations from exercising any political authority or receiving privileges from the state.
Catholic bibles for sale
Which aspect of the roman catholic church established in the 300s remains today?
Catholic medical mission trips
What do you do on a medical mission trip? What is a medical missions trip ? Medical missions trips give medical professionals and medical students the chance to travel and apply their knowledge to help those who otherwise might not receive essential medical services – including in the event of natural disasters like Hurricanes Irma […]
Symbols of the catholic church
What are the most important symbols of the Catholic Church? 1.1 Cross and crucifix. 1.2 Ichthys. 1.3 Alpha and Omega. 1.4 Staurogram. 1.5 Chi Rho. 1.6 IH Monogram. 1.7 IX Monogram. What are the symbols of marriage in the Catholic Church? Christian Wedding Traditions Candles . Lighted candles are a sign of faith in a […]


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Politics|Escape His Caricature? Donald Trump Passes Up the Chance
Escape His Caricature? Donald Trump Passes Up the Chance
Donald J. Trump vowed on Thursday night to make America "bigger, and better and stronger."CreditCreditDamon Winter/The New York Times
By Michael Barbaro
CLEVELAND — It was Donald J. Trump's best chance to escape his own caricature.
After 40 years in the public eye, Mr. Trump decided on Thursday night that he was not interested in revealing himself to America with disarming tales of his upbringing, hard-earned lessons from his tumultuous career or the inner struggles masked by his outward pomposity.
In the most consequential speech of his life, delivered 401 days into his improbable run for the White House, Mr. Trump sounded much like the unreflective man who had started it with an escalator ride in the lobby of Trump Tower: He conjured up chaos and promised overnight solutions.
To an electorate that remains anxious about his demeanor, his honesty and his character, Mr. Trump offered no acknowledgment, no rebuttal, no explanation.
It was a speech that might be remembered, ultimately, as much for what it lacked as for what it contained — and for the message those absences seemed to convey: He is content with the angry voters he has won, who thunderously cheered him on here, and indifferent about wooing those he has not.
Donald J. Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination in Cleveland on Thursday, presenting himself as the savior needed for a doomed nation.CreditCreditDoug Mills/The New York Times
For those grasping for new signs of humility, generosity and depth, Mr. Trump offered the thinnest of reeds.
Inside the Quicken Loans Arena, a thicket of American flags behind him, he portrayed himself, over and over, as an almost messianic figure prepared to rescue the country from the ills of urban crime, illegal immigration and global terrorism.
"I alone," he said, "can fix it."
But Mr. Trump made no real case for his qualifications to lead the world's largest economy and strongest military. He is, he said, a very successful man who knows how to make it all better.
Campaign speechwriters from both parties were stupefied.
"It's a lost opportunity," said Matt Latimer, who wrote speeches for President George W. Bush. He said he had expected Mr. Trump to plumb his personal life and career for the kind of anecdotes that would turn him, in the eyes of his doubters, from a cartoon into a flesh-and-blood human being.
Republican Convention Night 4: Analysis
How we analyzed the last night of the Republican National Convention, which featured Ivanka Trump, Peter Thiel, Donald J. Trump and more.
"A little humanity and self-reflection," Mr. Latimer said, "is usually very powerful in a speech."
After reading the speech, Paul Begala, a longtime Democratic strategist and speechwriter, called the missing personal details "an enormous mistake."
"The American people," he said, "need to know their president's mythic arc."
But Mr. Trump, even at 70, seems constitutionally incapable of, or stubbornly averse to, capturing and conveying the complexities of his existence.
At every turn on Thursday night, he avoided turning a colorful and remarkable biography — populated by a volcanic father, a self-destructive brother, his own dizzying career highs and mortifying lows — into vivid, poignant storytelling.
His childhood? He learned "to respect the dignity of work," he said.
His parents? His father liked the company of the carpenters and electricians he employed. His mother was a "great judge of character."
Photographs From the Final Day of the Republican Convention
His storied career? "I have had a truly great life in business," he said. And that was that.
His wife, Melania? "Lucky to have at my side," he said.
The most powerful convention speeches have long relied on verbal Polaroids from the past, intimate glimpses into an unseen and unknowable personal journey.
In 2012, Mitt Romney defied his reputation for stultifying oratory by extolling the romantic bond between his parents, recalling the rose his father, George, left on the pillow every morning for his wife, Lenore.
"That's how she found out what happened on the day my father died," Mr. Romney recalled. "She went looking for him, because that morning, there was no rose."
In his speech, Mr. Trump conjured up chaos and promised overnight solutions.CreditDoug Mills/The New York Times
The elder George Bush undertook an earnest examination of his best-known vulnerabilities, confronting his reputation for out-of-touch elitism and a lack of charisma and casting them as strengths.
"I am a quiet man," he said in 1988, "but I hear the quiet people others don't."
Richard M. Nixon pleaded with voters who knew him as a bitter political outcast in 1968 to think of him instead as the boy who had grown up poor on a lemon ranch and dreamed "of faraway places where he'd like to go."
Mr. Trump, aides said, took inspiration from that famous Nixon speech. But he left out Nixon's uplifting message and sentimental tone, said David Gergen, an adviser to four presidents, including three Republicans.
"Trump puts forward the same iron fist as Nixon," Mr. Gergen said after the speech, "but Nixon clothed his in a velvet glove."
As Donald J. Trump seeks to position himself as a "law and order" candidate, there are echoes of Richard Nixon, a candidate who sought to do the same in 1968.CreditCreditEddie Hausner/The New York Times
"Trump," he said, "threw away the glove."
Instead, Mr. Trump projected unbending self-confidence, authority and strength. He lacerated his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, as thoroughly untrustworthy and unethical.
He did not present an entirely unfeeling figure: He promised to give a voice to laid-off factory workers, "the forgotten men and women of our country."
And he offered compassion for the parents of people killed by undocumented immigrants — and outrage on their behalf.
"These families have no special interests to represent them," he said. "There are no demonstrators to protest on their behalf. My opponent will never meet with them, or share in their pain."
"These wounded American families have been alone," he added. "But they are alone no longer."
He had enlisted his children to make him three-dimensional, a task they carried out with just a handful of personal memories: of the encouraging notes he scribbled across their report cards, and of playing at the foot of his desk with Legos or Erector Sets while their father worked in concrete and steel.
Of course, turning a polarizing candidate into a likable leader is not Mrs. Clinton's talent, either. For much of the past two years, she has emerged as an awkward and reluctant storyteller of her life, more comfortable with 10-point plans than with providing fresh glimpses into her formative years or candid accounts of her professional struggles.
But Mrs. Clinton, whose convention next week will extensively mine her biography, has started to undertake the humbling repair work that many Republicans had hoped Mr. Trump would begin on Thursday.
She has admitted some mistakes, conceded that many Americans do not trust her, and acknowledged her role in the partisan warfare that has alienated many voters.
On Thursday night, Mr. Trump reveled in that warfare, made no concessions and admitted no mistakes.
His America, he said, would be "bigger, and better and stronger than ever before."
Just like him.
Find out what you need to know about the 2016 presidential race today, and get politics news updates via Facebook, Twitter and the First Draft newsletter.
A version of this article appears in print on , Section A, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: Failed Chance to Humanize Outsize Image. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe
His Tone Dark, Donald Trump Takes G.O.P. Mantle
Fact-Checking the Truth That Donald Trump Promised
Republican Convention Night 4: What You Missed
Envisioning Donald Trump's Foreign Policy: The U.S. Steps Back


If the IRS has satisfied the pre-levy requirements according to federal statutes for a tax liability assessed against you, the IRS can levy any property belonging to you, including bank accounts.
In United States v. Nat'l Bank of Commerce, 472 U.S. 713, 719-20, 105 S. Ct. 2919, 2924-2925 (1985), the Supreme Court held that the statutory language "all property and rights to property" appearing in Section 6331 "is broad and reveals on its face that Congress meant to reach every interest in property that a taxpayer might have." Indeed, the Court has long held the view that "[s]tronger language could hardly have been selected to reveal a purpose to assure the collection of taxes." Glass City Bank v. United States, 326 U.S. 265, 267, 66 S. Ct. 108, 110 (1945).
Any person who fails or refuses to surrender any property or rights to property, subject to levy, upon demand by the Secretary, shall be liable in his own person and estate to the United States in a sum equal to the value of the property or rights not so surrendered, but not exceeding the amount of taxes for the collection of which such levy has been made, together with costs and interest on such sum at the underpayment rate established under section 6621 from the date of such levy… .
Subsection (c) of 26 U.S.C. § 6332 provides a special rule with respect to banks. "Any bank… shall surrender (subject to an attachment or execution under judicial process) any deposits (including interest thereon) in such bank only after 21 days after service of levy." As explained by the House Conference Report for the 1988 act which added this subsection, this special rule "[p]ermits the Secretary to demand surrender of bank accounts only after 21 days in escrow have passed since service of the notice of levy on the accounts." H. Rept. 100-1104, October 21, 1988, Bill Summary & Status, 100th Congress (1987-1988), H.R. 4333. Thus, while service of the notice of IRS levy under the general rule creates a "custodial relationship" between the person holding the property and the United States until the property is turned over to the government (Nat'l Bank, 417 U.S. at 720), the special rule with respect to banks under Section 6332(c) extends that custodial escrow period to a minimum of 21 days. The Treasury Regulations also emphasize the custodial escrow relationship during this period, explaining that "[n]o withdrawals may be made on levied upon deposits during the 21-day holding period, or any extension thereof." 26 C.F.R. 301.6332-3(c)(3). This 21 day period allows the IRS and the taxpayer or another individual named on the account to resolve issues regarding ownership of the account while the money is held by the bank, a practical measure the IRS was already seeking to address by asking the banks to place such a hold on accounts with two names by the time Section 6332(c) was enacted in 1988. See IR 87-87 (IRS News Release), 1987 WL 448126.
The language "any deposits (including interest thereon)" in Section 6332(c) requires the bank to "include any interest that has accrued on the deposits prior to and during the holding period, and any extension thereof, under the terms of the bank's agreement with its depositor" when it surrenders the levied deposits. 26 C.F.R. 301-6332-3(c)(2).


Parenting is wonderful for the most part. The smiles, the 'firsts' and the cuddles are all moments we cherish and embrace. But it's not all like the fuzzy, warm baby adverts. In amongst the joy, there's a fair amount of frustration, monotony and a ton of boredom.
Days parenting young babies or toddlers can feel endless. The repetitive structure and routine means days feel very groundhog. From the minute your eyes open you go into auto pilot – making meal after meal, getting out a variety of toys and just generally trying to fill the day.
There's no way to truly conquer the boredom that can come with parenting little ones. But there are ways which can help. Here are some that are worth a try.
Meeting up with other mums is a good way to break up the day. It's nice to feel comfort in the knowledge that you're not alone on this parenting rollercoaster.
Comparing notes and frustrations can provide relief and having a laugh is good for the soul.
It's amazing how much better you feel when you get out of the house.
While toddler classes and the park aren't necessarily the most exciting places in the world, it can feel less suffocating than your own four walls. An hour also passes a lot quicker when you're not purposely looking at the clock.
Pre-children it was hard to associate the gym with 'down time'. However, this changes once you become a parent. Finding a gym that has a good crèche can be a lifeline for both your sanity and catching a break. Plus, it doesn't do your little one any harm to learn to be without you for a bit.
Not everyone wants or needs to work when their baby comes along. But if you do start to struggle with the boredom of parenting, it can be a relief to have an outlet for your brain. Even one day a week or finding a work from home position can help.
Alternatively, a hobby that you can fit in around sleep times can keep insanity at bay.
It's not easy to find time for yourself when you're a parent. But, if you can, there's nothing better to break the monotony. Just a day in daycare means you get time to use your brain in a different capacity – even if it's going to the shops, booking a massage or catching up on Netflix in peace.
It's true that most babies and toddlers respond best to routine. But mixing up your schedule a bit doesn't destroy this. Organising different activities or social outings can give you something different to look forward to and help kick that groundhog to the curb.
Do you have any tricks that help on those really boring days?


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SES' MX-1 Support Sky's FTA SatBroadcasting™ Efforts In Germany
SES S.A. (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) has announced that their wholly-owned subsidiary, MX1, will assist pay TV provider Sky in taking their first steps into free-to-air TV in Germany and Austria, by introducing Sky Sport News to audiences in these two markets.
On December 1st, the 24-hour HD sport news channel "Sky Sport News HD" became free-to-air via satellite. In addition, Sky has contracted additional SES satellite capacity to also broadcast the channel in SD. This provides Sky with access to more than 20 million households in Germany and Austria through ASTRA satellites. Global media services provider MX1 delivers the technical services, including uplink, signal encoding, and the transmission via ASTRA 19.2 degrees east.
Artistic rendition of SES ASTRA 19.2 degrees east.
According to Christoph Muehleib, the Vice President Sales and Marketing at SES and also responsible for the marketing of MX1 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the company is pleased to seal the deal with Sky. The free reception of Sky Sport News in HD as well as in SD is—considering the current state of German households—a groundbreaking decision, as SD TV is still of great importance in German. By activating both signals, MX1 has the opportunity to reach every household in Germany and Austria which receives their TV signal via satellite.


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Cohousing: could it be the answer to Britain's housing woes?
Cohousing, the Scandinavian collective living concept, could provide a solution to the housing crisis
(Image credit: UK Cohousing Network 2019)
By Anna Cottrell 2019-06-11T05:05:06Z
There's a bit of a buzz about cohousing at the moment. But what is it, and how could it benefit you if you're looking to take a step on to the property ladder or are even considering downsizing? We look into it in this report.
As the UK housing crisis deepens, it looks unlikely that the government will be able to meet the target of 300,000 new homes per year needed to close the housing supply gap. And, with the supply of existing housing dwindling every year, buying an old home is out of reach for a great many. Self-building has been steadily gaining popularity as a result, with as many as one million Britons planning on buying land and building their own modular home.
Yet self-building can be expensive too, depending on where in the UK you are. Relocating to the Scottish Highlands, where land is cheaper, is not feasible for everyone. Could the Scandinavian model of co-housing provide a solution, in particular for the more expensive areas of England?
What is cohousing?
Cohousing has been around in Scandinavian countries since the 1960s, and originates from Denmark. There are many descriptions for what cohousing is, such as 'intentional living' and 'living apart together'.
Typically, cohousing is organised by a group of people who share values and a vision for the kind of neighbourhood they want to live in. But the practice of cohousing is very different from communal living (which also was popular in the late 1960s and 1970s): cohousing allows individuals and families their privacy, with separate entrances. There is usually a number of shared facilities, such as a laundry, a communal garden, and a kitchen or canteen. However, this doesn't mean that you do each other's washing up, although some cohousing communities may choose to help each other out with cooking and other chores on a regular basis.
How does cohousing work?
Cohousing groups buy land together and then self-build modular homes on that land. Some cohousing communities choose to convert old buildings instead. Establishing a cohousing community can be a long process, requiring planning permission, which will often stipulates that there needs to be a certain level of guaranteed interest in a particular cohousing project and that the homes will sell.
Some groups can get guidance on funding and legal issues from the Nationwide Foundation. Current successful cohousing projects include Forgebank in Halton, Lancaster, which consists of eco-homes for around 80 people; Thundercliffe Grange, in Yorkshire, which converted a manor house for the area's civil servants and their families; and Cannock Mill in Colchester, which is an eco-friendly cohousing community for over 50s.
Could co-housing be for you? You will need to be prepared for a sociable and involved lifestyle where you'll get to see your neighbours quite a bit more than in private housing. And, unless you are purchasing a house in an existing community, you'll need to be prepared for a lengthy and complex application and building process. To get a sense of the kinds of co-housing groups currently operating, visit the UK Cohousing website.
Find the best mortgage deal with our free, unbiased comparison tool
Editor's picks: 5 items to add to your shopping basket this week
Editor's Picks: UK Shopping Editor, Annie Collyer, rounds up her 5 top buys for this week
By Annie Collyer • 2021-01-21T15:39:28Z
How to clean a bathtub – the best ways to tackle stains, the bath drain and more
This is how to clean a bathtub using baking soda, bleach, vinegar and more to make it gleam white once more. Great if your bath is badly stained, has jets, or a scummy bath drain...
By Jessica Brown • 2021-01-21T12:44:07Z
Cloud Nine Wide Iron review: why this is the best wide hair straightener ever made
We put the Cloud Nine Wide Iron to the test – here are the (five-star) results
Best soundbar: 5 soundbars to instantly improve your home theater set-up
We test some of the leading soundbars to determine which offer the best sound quality, style and more
By Dan Sung • 2021-01-21T12:22:30Z
Which coffee machine type is cheapest? We work out the initial and long term running costs
With the suite of coffee machine types which are available to buy, it can be tricky to figure out which offers you the best value for money. We're here to help...


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Technology Stocks : KMI- a fallen high dividend yielder - for how long? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?
To: robert b furman who wrote (122) 1/18/2021 1:04:16 PM
From: E_K_S Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 145
I stumbled on some research plots out in those Oil Sands where they convert that messy oil directly into hydrogen. Probably the reason why I still hold on to my investment there.
Oil Sands Producer Eyes Hydrogen Exports
Canada has the potential to become a top hydrogen exporter and shake off a reputation of global warming offender. That this vision is beginning to gain traction in the heart of the country's oil patch goes to show how the world's energy transition is taking center stage with growing pressure from consumers and investors — even if it's still unclear how long it will take until cleaner sources will have enough scale to displace crude and other fossil fuels.
Proton is testing its zero-emissions technology on a well in Saskatchewan that could reach output of as much as 20 tons of hydrogen a day this fall, Chief Executive Officer Grant Strem said in an interview. A facility the company aims to build in the next two years could produce 500 tons per day at a cost of about 10 Canadian cents (7.6 cents) a kilogram, compared with $1 to $3 per kilogram for the currently cheapest method, he said.
"As far as I know, it's the only path that can lead to hydrogen production on a gigajoule basis that's less expensive than natural gas," Strem said.


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Tag: sustainable economics
Making a Difference Through Environmental Impact Investing: An Interview with Miika Korja
Kyra Ward sits down with Miika Korja to discuss environmental impact investing and sustainability policy.
Prosperity without Growth: A Conversation with Tim Jackson
Editor-in-Chief Adam Stromme talks with Tim Jackson, ecological economist, author of Prosperity Without Growth, and University of St Andrews alum. Adam Stromme: How did you first become interested in sustainability? Tim Jackson: I would say it began in April 1986. I was living in London, having just finished a PhD in Physics from St Andrews but actually…
A 'Missguided' Marketing Stunt
He Wasn't Always Like This: Erdoğan's Populism Explained
An Interview with Former Azerbaijani Prime Minister Hasan Hasanov: The Role of the UN Security Council in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
An Interview with Former Azerbaijani Prime Minister Hasan Hasanov: Unfolding Key Questions of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
The Price of the World's Longest Embargo
Fight for a Fair Fut… on Fight for a Fair Future: Suppo…
Alex on Chinese Aid and Investment: Ai…
Helen on "The Invisible Heart: An Econo…
The Beginning of the… on The Beginning of the End for t…
Green versus Gr€€n:… on Green versus Gr€€n: The Energy…


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MBESFL
Referee Guidance
Full Time Support
Downloading Squad Lists
FA Full Time FAQ
FA Matchday App
Player Registration and Email
Registering a player
SMS Text Set up
WGS Login
SHFA Support
Coaching Development
Referees Support
See it, Hear it, Report It
Meadowhall & Bud Evans DB Sports Sheffield & District Sunday Football League Privacy Policy
Created : 6th May 2018
Meadowhall & Bud Evans DB Sports Sheffield & District Sunday Football League take your privacy very seriously.
This Privacy Notice sets out how we use and look after the personal information we collect from you. We are the data controller, responsible for the processing of any personal data you give us. We take reasonable care to keep your information secure and to prevent any unauthorised access to or use of it.
What personal data we hold on you
Personal data means any information about an individual from which that individual can be identified. We collect, use, store and transfer some personal data of our participants [and their parents or guardians], and other League members.
You provide information about yourself and your members when you register with the League, and by filling in forms at an event or online, or by corresponding with us by phone, e-mail or otherwise.
The information you give us may include name, date of birth, address, e-mail address, phone number, gender, and the contact details of a third party in the case of emergency. We may also ask for relevant health information, which is classed as special category personal data, for the purposes of health, wellbeing, welfare and safeguarding. Where we hold this data it will be with the explicit consent of the participant or, if applicable, the participant's parent or guardian.
Where we need to collect personal data to fulfil League responsibilities and you do not provide that data, we may not be able to honour or administer your registration.
Why we need your personal data
We will only use personal data for any purpose for which it has been specifically provided.
The reason we need participants' and members' personal data is to be able to run the football league and arrange matches; to administer registration, and provide the league services you are signing up to when you register with the League as a club or participant. Our lawful basis for processing this personal data is that we have a contractual obligation to anyone as a participant or member to provide the services they are registering for.
We have set out below, in a table format, a description of all the ways we plan to use personal data, and which of the legal bases we rely on to do so. We have also identified what our legitimate interests are where appropriate.
Purpose/ Processing Activity
Lawful Basis for processing under Article 6 of the GDPR.
Processing registration forms Performance of a contract
Organising matches Performance of a contract
Sending out match or League information and updates Performance of a contract
Sending out League Fines/Charges Performance of a contract
To check compliance with our League criteria to participate in the League Performance of a contract and Legitimate Interests. Our Legitimate Interests are that we need to ensure that participants meet the appropriate criteria to ensure that the matches that are organised are fair.
Sharing data with referees Performance of a contract
Sharing data with the club you are a member of, county football associations and the FA Performance of a contract
Sharing data with committee members to provide information about league activities, registration renewals or invitation to social events The League has a legitimate interest to maintain participant correspondence for league community purposes.
Sharing data with third party service or facility providers The League has a legitimate interest to run the organisation efficiently and as it sees fit. Provision of some third party services is for the benefit of the League and participants.
Sharing anonymised data with a funding partner as condition of grant funding e.g. Local Authority The League has a legitimate interest to run the organisation efficiently and as it sees fit. Application for funding is a purpose that benefits the League and participants.
Publishing match and league results Consent. We will only publish personal data in a public domain, including images and names, if we have your consent for us to do so. In the case of children under the age of 13 then only with written consent of parent/guardian
Contact details for club officials will be collected and then displayed on the League website to enable league officials/public to communicate with other clubs. Performance of a contract
Contact details for team managers will be collected and then displayed on the League website to enable league officials and other team managers to contact teams regarding arrangements for games (along with location of grounds and team colours). 2 contact numbers per team will be used by the FA Fulltime website to SMS teams to submit results of games. Performance of a contract
Sending out marketing information such as newsletters and information about promotions and offers from sponsors Consent. We will only send direct marketing if you are an existing member, participant or other associated individual and you have not previously objected to this marketing, or, you have actively provided your consent.
To ensure we understand possible health risks Consent. We will only process details on anyone medical history with their consent.
When you register with the League, your information, if you are a coach or volunteer will be or if you are another participant may be entered onto the Whole Game System database, which is administered by the FA. We also pass your information to the County FA/FA for affiliation purposes.
We may share personal data with selected third parties, suppliers and sub-contractors such as, coaches or match organisers. Third-party service providers will only process your personal data for specified purposes and in accordance with our instructions.
We may disclose personal information to third parties to comply with a legal obligation; or to protect the rights, property, or safety of our participants, members or affiliates, or others.
The League's data processing may require personal data to be transferred outside of the UK. Where the League does transfer personal data overseas it is with the sufficient appropriate safeguards in place to ensure the security of that personal data.
Protection of your personal data
We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent personal data from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way, altered or disclosed.
How long we hold your personal data
We keep personal data on our participants while they continue to be a participant or are otherwise actively involved with the League. We will delete this data 2 months after a participant has left or otherwise ended their registration or affiliation, or sooner if specifically requested and we are able to do so. We may need to retain some personal data for longer for legal or regulatory purposes. The personal data that is stored on Whole Game System is subject to the FA's privacy policy so we advise you review that policy together with this notice. If anyone would like their personal data to be deleted from Whole Game System then please contact the County FA.
Data on club personnel and team contacts can be updated at any time through the clubs secure admin area accessible by the appropriate registered club secretary.
As a data subject participants may have the right at any time to request access to, rectification or erasure of their personal data; to restrict or object to certain kinds of processing of their personal data, including direct marketing; to the portability of their personal data and to complain to the UK's data protection supervisory authority, the Information Commissioner's Office about the processing of their personal data.
As a data subject participants are not obliged to share their personal data with the League. If they choose not to share their personal data with us we may not be able to register them with the League.
We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time, and will inform you to any changes in how we handle personal data.
If participants have any questions about this Privacy Notice then please contact the League Secretary, John Stainrod secretary@sheffieldleague.helpwithit.co.uk
Meadowhall & Bud Evans DB Sports Sheffield & District Sunday Football League 2022 | Privacy Policy


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U.S. FERC approves Marathon's proposed Alaska LNG import project
(Reuters) - U.S. energy regulators approved a plan by Marathon Petroleum Corp's Trans-Foreland Pipeline Co LLC unit to convert the Kenai liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plant in Alaska into an import terminal.
The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) said Trans-Foreland has two years to put the proposed project into service.
FERC Commissioner Richard Glick, meanwhile, said he dissented as he has done in other recent cases because "the Commission is again refusing to consider the consequences its actions have for climate change."
Trans-Foreland said the facility would import up to four tanker loads of LNG per year and use its boil-off gas management system to deliver imported gas to the adjacent Kenai Refinery.
The Kenai LNG export plant entered service in 1969. It has not exported LNG since 2015.
The plant was the only big LNG export facility in North America until Cheniere Energy Inc's Sabine Pass export terminal in Louisiana entered service in February 2016. Nearly all of the LNG from Kenai went to Japan.
ConocoPhillips, the operator of Kenai, mothballed the facility in 2015 before selling it to a unit of Andeavor in February 2018.
Marathon Petroleum completed its purchase of Andeavor in October 2018.
Reporting by Scott DiSavino


There has been some discussion on URL Shorteners at work and some individuals just don't get it… So, I decided to create a list of the ones that I've used or have been exposed to and a brief explanation to what they are.
Q: What is a URL shortener?
A: A URL shortener is an application/service that will take a long URL (Example: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/oprahs-first-words-on-twitter-hi-twitters/ ) and will shorten it (Example: http://tinyurl.com/ca2q2p ).
Q: Why should I use a URL shortener?
A: To keep your URLs short and neat when posting to blogs, twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc. Some applications, such as twitter, only allow a certain number of characters to be typed. A standard URL might be too long.
Q: How long are the shortened URLs good for?
A: Some services will redirect the shortened URL to the longer one forever and some services will not. Depending on what you're using the shortened URL for I would double-check with the service to verify the longevity of the URL.
To streamline your use of shortened URLs most of the above examples have browser plugins for Firefox or even a drag and drop feature to create shortened URLs. You might even notice that some applications have a URL shortener bulit in.
Play around, have fun, and I hope this helped.


The Mason community went through a roller coaster of emotions this week as they waited on the powers that be to decide whether or not to cancel classes amid snow on Monday evening going into Tuesday morning. Some students took to Twitter to discuss their thoughts on the snow and how Mason was handling it.
Does #GMU maintenance not have to abide by quite hours when shoveling snow? And why shovel during the storm?
We literally missed ONE day due to snow and Mason is taking away a reading day. Mason makes me so mad!!!!!!!


Michael J. Cardamone, D.C., left, of Cardamone Chiropractic, and Douglas E. Mooradian, of Pine Pharmaceuticals, have been named the 2017 Niagara Cup Classic Golf Tournament co-chairs.
Now in its 26th year, the Niagara Cup Classic will take place Monday, June 5, at both the Niagara Falls Country Club and Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course.
Regarded as one of Niagara County's premier charity golf events, the Niagara Cup offers a mix of competition and camaraderie. It will support Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center women's services.
Sponsorship opportunities and registration are now available by contacting Andrea Gray at 716-278-4605 or [email protected].


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Le Kenya Pipeline est un ancien club kenyan de football basé à Nairobi.

Palmarès
Coupe du Kenya (1)
Vainqueur : 2002

Notes et références

Club de football disparu au Kenya
Club de football à Nairobi
Club de football fondé en 1978
Club de football disparu en 2005

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Home » MOSQUE
AIMPLB didn't fight for mosque but to reap political benefits from Ayodhya dispute: Manoj Tiwari
On November 9, a five-judge bench ordered the construction of Ram Temple while directing the government to give five acres of land to build a mosque in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
Ayodhya verdict: Key observations of Supreme Court (Read Full Judgement)
Saturday November 9, 2019
SC cleared the way for the construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya and directed the Centre to allot 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque.
SC issues notice on plea seeking entry of women into mosques
The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Centre, National Commission for Women (NCW), Central Waqf Council, and AIMPLB on a plea seeking entry of women into mosques in order to offer prayers.
Don't see white nationalism a rising threat, says Donald Trump
Saturday March 16, 2019
The 28-year-old suspect, identified as Brenton Harrison Tarrant appeared before a Christchurch court on Saturday on murder charges connected with Friday's terror attacks in Christchurch, which left at least 49 people dead. He was remanded in custody without plea until April 5.
PM Modi writes to New Zealand PM, condemns Christchurch attack
"Prime Minister has expressed his deep shock and sadness at the loss of scores of innocent lives in the heinous terrorist attack at the places of worship in Christchurch today," stated a press release.
Terror funding: NIA finds mosque in Palwal built by LeT
New Delhi: In a big reveal on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) trying to expand its base and operations in India albeit using...
SC refuses to review 1994 judgment that said 'mosque is not integral to Islam'
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to refer to a five-judge bench, the issue of 1994 ruling, holding...
Is mosque essential for namaz?: SC declines to refer the matter to five-judge bench
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to refer to a five-judge Constitution bench, the issue of reconsideration of...
Ayodhya case: Is mosque integral to Islam? SC likely to deliver verdict on Thursday
New Delhi: The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict on a case related to the Ayodhya matter on...
#EidMubarak: Festival of sacrifice Eid-ul-Azha being celebrated today
New Delhi: Eid-ul-Azha, the festival of sacrifice is being celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across the country today. Across...


It's one thing to be optimistic about a stock, but activist investor Carl Icahn's letter to Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) CEO Tim Cook tries to make the case that Apple stock is worth double its current price today.
The letter, released today (Thursday) following a teaser tweet the night before, is Icahn's second push to get Apple to use a major portion of its $133 billion in cash for stock buybacks.
But there's more to Icahn's game this time than simply increasing stock buybacks.
I have long said that the Fed has never met a printing press it didn't like nor a dove that it didn't want to set free in the name of higher stock prices. And, yesterday, yet again, Yellen proved it.
Within minutes of releasing its latest set of notes hinting that the Fed will keep rates near zero, the S&P 500 took off on a 34-point gain that is the biggest so far this year. Moving first 45 points from its low of 1,925 to its peak of 1,970 in less than five hours (it later settled slightly lower), the index shrugged off the prior day's losses amidst global growth concerns and weaker European economic data.
This is manipulation of the highest order. It's also proof positive we NEED a correction. Now, more than ever.
A lot of investors will take issue with me on this and I don't blame them one bit - corrections are scary. But, they are also essential when it comes to big returns.
"Price fixing" or "fix" are Wall Street terms used to describe how benchmarks are priced on hundreds of instruments, from the Libor and other foreign currency exchange rates to gold, silver, and swaps.
While the methodologies used to determine fixes are different, in all cases where benchmarks are fixed by panels, the input of the bankers is what results in the output.
But here's where things get a little… funny.
But, it's also benefiting Peyton Manning...?
Most investors haven't got a clue about what Hong Kong's riots represent, let alone the investment potential that's being unleashed there. As a result, they're going to miss out on some really terrific profit opportunities.
Hong Kong is like an onion. Returned from a century of British rule to Beijing on June 30, 1997, there are layers and layers of subtleties. For most westerners, the place is a complete enigma.
For me, though, it's an economic playground. I've been very fortunate to have spent almost my entire career in global markets including a lot of time on the ground in Asia, so I am intimately familiar with both the culture and the perspective that can't be obtained by watching only Western news feeds.
It's this background that provides the ability to peer through the government and market filters, and find what I believe are solid niches for profit, even in the midst... and dangers... of the turmoil.
There are a number of factors that point toward why silver prices are down today (Friday), but the most plausible explanation comes from positive economic data released this morning.
But we're still bullish on the white metal given the easily identifiable factors undergirding the price slide.
Stock market crash talk often picks up in October – the month has a reputation of having the worst performance of the year.
October has an ominous reputation on Wall Street for delivering a stock market crash for good reason; six of the top 11 worst market declines have happened during the month.
That's right: Investors made a 780% profit over their original position, and it looked like the price per share (PPS) was destined to climb considerably higher.
In fact, analysts had set their average first-year target for the stock at about $23. And there was every reason to believe Keryx would reach and break through that target after the FDA approved it for marketing in the United States on its PDUFA date, set for September 7.
The FDA rendered its decision early, on September 5, and although the news was good - KERX's drug had been approved - the stock fell more than 11% by the session opening the following Monday and continued falling over the next few weeks - giving traders today an opportunity to take advantage of the situation and make huge profits.


10 Summer Gardening Tips To Prolong Flowers And Plants New England With Garden Prepare 5 is one of pictures thet are related with the picture before in the collection gallery. If you would like to see the 10 Summer Gardening Tips To Prolong Flowers And Plants New England With Garden Prepare 5 in High Resolution [HD Resolution] version, please press the right click on picures/image then choose "Save as Image" option, and done. You will get 10 Summer Gardening Tips To Prolong Flowers And Plants New England With Garden Prepare 5 pictures that you want. The exactly dimension of 10 Summer Gardening Tips To Prolong Flowers And Plants New England With Garden Prepare 5 was 678x435 pixels. You can also look for some pictures by collection on below this picture. Find the other picture or article about Garden Plants And Flowers here. We hope it can help you to get information of the picture.


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Trump 100 Days: Who are the top White House influencers on China?
Sean Callebs
Published April 29, 2017 at 5:07 PM
Updated April 29, 2017 at 6:00 PM
There are quite a few key players in the White House that help shape President Donald Trump's policies on China.
CGTN's Sean Callebs introduces us to some of those people.
There are quite a few key players in the White House that help shape Trump's policies on China. Sean Callebs introduces us to some of those people.
For much of the world, Ivanka Trump has emerged as the favorite daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump. He values her judgment, insight, and opinion on everything from Syria to the environment to the ongoing debate on U.S. family leave.
"He has been a tremendous champion of supporting families and enabling them to thrive," Ivanka Trump said, right before she was booed by an audience at a W20 summit in Berlin. She later said "politics is politics" and added that she is getting used to it.
Working in the background and increasingly in the forefront is Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner. He's a 30-something real-estate tycoon who has emerged as one of Donald Trump's closest advisors.
It was Kushner who encouraged Trump to reach out and call President Xi Jinping when the U.S.-China relationship was at its most fraught.
It was Kushner who encouraged Trump to support the "One-China" policy after the newly elected president waffled on an issue China considers non-negotiable.
China's Ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, reached out to the Kushners, inviting them, and the couple's daughter Arabella to the Chinese Embassy in February.
In an administration that has sent mixed messages on China, U.S.-media reports say Kushner favors diplomacy and win-win solutions. That has put him at odds with other Trump insiders.
Since entering the White House, Trump has spent many weekends at his lush private resort, Mar-A-Lago in south Florida.
It's here that he routinely talks to a handful of trusted, close advisors who helped him become president.
Among his top aides is Steve Bannon, who last year predicted the U.S. and China would go to war over issues surrounding the South China Sea.
Before joining Trump's team, Bannon served as a media executive for the right-wing Breitbart News Network. Part of Bannon's winding path to the White House also included time as an investment banker and a stint in the U.S. military.
"Having worked with him and known him, Steve Bannon, in this particular campaign in general, he was much more than a Goldman Sacs managing partner, and much more than the naval officer than people realize," Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to Trump said.
China has downplayed Bannon's predictions of war. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that any "sober-minded politician" could see both sides would end up losing in such a conflict.
"We attach importance to the position of the new U.S. Defense Minister Mattis has stressed, which is through diplomatic efforts to resolve the South China dispute," Wang said.
But the administration appears split on this and on trade.
Another top advisor, Peter Navarro, is the head of the U.S. National Trade Council — and is a staunch China critic.
Navarro rose to fame with a book called "Death by China" on the massive U.S. trade deficit with China.
Despite all the public posturing, China continues to respond in a controlled fashion. Something Jared Kushner appears to support.
The big unknown, though, is how Trump and his hawkish advisers will respond.
Douglas Smith, formerly of DHS, on Trump's 100 days
CGTN America's Susan Roberts interviewed Douglas Smith, the former assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security on how President Donald Trump has fared in his first 100 days.
Chinese football team hopes to improve skills by training in Brazil »


text:
Q: Low RMS value when calibrating single camera, while high RMS value in stereoCalibrate I am trying to calibrate a stereo setup consisiting of two identical Canon EOS60D's, which i will be using to do Photogrammetry.
To calibrate cameras i am using a high precision circlegrid pattern plate. I was able to detect centre points of circles using cv2.findCirclesGrid, and was able to calibrate a single camera just fine. The problem comes when i try to calibrate both cameras using cv2.stereoCalibrate function in OpenCV.
I will elucidate the steps taken and also post some code snippets with outputs i have got. I would be grateful if someone can point out where i am doing wrong.
Steps
1) First step is to detect circlegrid pattern using cv2.findCirclesGrid function in OpenCV.
2) Then using the detected grid pattern from each camera, i am using cv2.calibrateCamera to get camera matrices, and distortion coefficients of both cameras.
3) After getting camera matrices and distortion coefficients of both cameras, i am passing them to cv2.stereoCalibrate function.
Output
output after calibrating Left Camera is as follows
Left Camera Return Value :  0.202690712694
Left Camera Camera Matrix :  [[  2.42046647e+04   0.00000000e+00       1.78281995e+03]
[  0.00000000e+00   2.42115121e+04   2.51720578e+03]
[  0.00000000e+00   0.00000000e+00   1.00000000e+00]]
Left Camera Dist Coeff :  [[-0.09448288 -1.38934436  0.00951455 -0.00568115  0.11248399]]

output after calibrating Right camera is as follows
Right Camera Return value :  0.258429588138
Right Camera Camera Matrix :  [[  2.69094574e+04   0.00000000e+00   1.70580157e+03]
[  0.00000000e+00   2.69534209e+04   2.55185400e+03]
[  0.00000000e+00   0.00000000e+00   1.00000000e+00]]
Right Camera Dist Coeff :  [[-0.1854594   1.89124255  0.00592814 -0.00377697  0.05715002]]

As you can see from the output above, both the return values from cv2.calibrateCamera are reasonable.
output after calibrating stereo setup is as follows
StereoCalib Return Value :  278.98818985
Rotation Vector :  [[ 0.72415334  0.13289823  0.67671265]
[ 0.68078781  0.018949   -0.73223554]
[-0.11013584  0.99094853 -0.07675351]]
Translation Vector  [[-1.20860215]
[ 1.23017549]
[ 2.08116679]]
Essential Matrix :  [[-1.55231939  1.17960457  1.42948401]
[ 1.37397347  1.47424592  1.31558743]
[-1.7136373  -0.18638995  0.05250614]]
Fundamental Matrix :  [[ -3.15554184e-07   2.39721211e-07   6.99264445e-03]
[  2.78844610e-07   2.99110045e-07   5.21248054e-03]
[ -9.54712002e-03  -2.19149124e-03   1.00000000e+00]]

But the return value from stereo calibration is too high.
Params
The flags and criteria i am using in cv2.stereoCalibrate are as follows
flags = cv2.CALIB_FIX_INTRINSIC
criteria = cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_MAX_ITER + cv2.TERM_CRITERIA_EPS, 1000, 1e-6
I would be grateful if somebody can point me where i am doing wrong.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Death toll rises to 104 amid anti-government protests in Iraq
October 7, 2019 by The New Mail	in Middle East
Iraqi officials said at least seven people died in Baghdad Sunday, raising the death toll from clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces to 104.
In six days of protests, 104 people have died in Iraq and another 6,000 have been injured, officials said. Photo by Murtaja Lateef
"As many as 104 people, including eight security members, were killed and at least 6,000 others injured in ongoing protests in Iraq," Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Saad Maan said during a press conference.
Maan said that demonstrators on Sunday set fire to 51 public facilities and eight political party headquarters.
Protests erupted in the Middle Eastern country on Tuesday in demand of jobs, economic reform and an end to government corruption. However, protesters were confronted in Baghdad by security forces who opened fire with live rounds and tear gas.
Authorities have since instituted a curfew and cut Internet access. On Sunday, Netblock reported that Internet to most of the country had been down for over 100 hours.
Update: It has now been 100 hours since #Iraq imposed a near-total internet shutdown amid widespread protests; the disruption comes at a critical time when Iraqis most need a voice
In a move to appease protestors, Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi announced on Saturday a 17-point plan that consisted of promises to construct more houses and offer aid to the unemployed.
However, protesters took to the streets again Sunday when they said they were again met with live fire from security forces, who also raided several news outlets that reported on the unrest.
U.N. secretary-general for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, condemned the attacks by "masked gunmen" on TV studios, calling on the government to protect journalists.
Hennis-Plasschaert has called the protesters' demands "legitimate" and action is required by the government to "revive public trust."
On Friday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on both sides to start a dialogue and U.N. High Commission for Human Rights spokeswoman Marta Hurtado told the Iraq government that the protesters have a right to demonstrate.
"We call on the Iraqi Government to allow people to freely exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," she said. "The use of force should be exceptional, and assemblies should ordinarily be managed without resort to force."
ByDarryl Coote
BreakingFeaturedNEWSPoliticsworld news
Trump draws backlash for move to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria
Louvre opens new facility to protect stored art from Paris flooding


NFC and contactless chip provider INSIDE Secure will acquire the embedded security systems division of AuthenTec, the fingerprint, identity management and secure solutions provider Apple bought earlier this year.
The transaction, valued at up to US $48M is for AuthenTec's Embedded Security Solutions (ESS) division which designs develops and sells a range of embedded security solutions using complex encryption algorithms for protection. ESS offers three product lines: Content Protection, Security Toolkit and Semiconductor IP, NFC World reports.
According to TechCrunch, this sale suggests Apple's interest lies more in the company's other products, including tools for fingerprint sensors and identity management that work with NFC, and use of its patent portfolio.
"The sell-off of non-essential parts of AuthenTec's business today probably helps Apple accomplish a couple of things. If the initial Reuters report of the acquisition remains accurate (and it should, according to government records), it recoups investment on parts of the business which aren't essential to Apple's plans," the TechCrunch article continues.
Along with the Embedded Security Solutions division being sold off, AuthenTec also has a TouchChip division, a Smart Sensors division and an Identity Management division. BiometricUpdate has previously identified the Smart Sensors division as a possible gem in the Apple/AuthenTec acquisition, based on its advanced fingerprint recognition and touchpad options.
As we reported back in July, Apple purchased AuthenTec for approximately $365M.
Wow! This cool! This is great for iphone users. Thanks for sharing!


text:
Q: Select drop down not showing (jquery-chosen) Pretty straightforward i'm using the chosen plugin with jquery steps, and I can't see the dropdown. When I click on it nothing happens. I'm not sure why maybe css conflict?
http://jsfiddle.net/y7BT7/18/

First Step

<select data-placeholder="Your Favorite Football Team" style="width:350px;" class="chosen-select" tabindex="5">
            <option value=""></option>
            <optgroup label="NFC EAST">
              <option>Dallas Cowboys</option>
              <option>New York Giants</option>
              <option>Philadelphia Eagles</option>
              <option>Washington Redskins</option>
            </optgroup>
            <optgroup label="NFC NORTH">
              <option>Chicago Bears</option>
              <option>Detroit Lions</option>
              <option>Green Bay Packers</option>
              <option>Minnesota Vikings</option>
            </optgroup>
            <optgroup label="NFC SOUTH">
              <option>Atlanta Falcons</option>
              <option>Carolina Panthers</option>
              <option>New Orleans Saints</option>
              <option>Tampa Bay Buccaneers</option>
            </optgroup>
            <optgroup label="NFC WEST">
              <option>Arizona Cardinals</option>
              <option>St. Louis Rams</option>
              <option>San Francisco 49ers</option>
              <option>Seattle Seahawks</option>
            </optgroup>
            <optgroup label="AFC EAST">
              <option>Buffalo Bills</option>
              <option>Miami Dolphins</option>
              <option>New England Patriots</option>
              <option>New York Jets</option>
            </optgroup>
            <optgroup label="AFC NORTH">
              <option>Baltimore Ravens</option>
              <option>Cincinnati Bengals</option>
              <option>Cleveland Browns</option>
              <option>Pittsburgh Steelers</option>
            </optgroup>
            <optgroup label="AFC SOUTH">
              <option>Houston Texans</option>
              <option>Indianapolis Colts</option>
              <option>Jacksonville Jaguars</option>
              <option>Tennessee Titans</option>
            </optgroup>
            <optgroup label="AFC WEST">
              <option>Denver Broncos</option>
              <option>Kansas City Chiefs</option>
              <option>Oakland Raiders</option>
              <option>San Diego Chargers</option>
            </optgroup>
          </select>

Second Step

Second Content

A: check this working fiddle, I had found a solution for you,
http://jsfiddle.net/y7BT7/20/
execute the steps() first before chosen()
$("#wizard").steps();
$(".chosen-select").chosen();


Learning to code is more than just a passing trend right now. Because of that, there's been a small explosion of startups teaching people essential digital skills; especially ones aimed at women. With options galore, where is it safe to start? As always, with the why.
Why would you want to learn how to code?
Technology is everywhere. Nearly everyone has a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop. Soon, lots of people will be wearing smartwatches while driving their smart cars around their smart cities.
Lots of people's jobs already depend on technology, and that number is only increasing. Even if yours doesn't, it's important for everyone to reclaim their right to have mastery over the technology that governs our lives.
Learning to code can open previously closed doors. This is especially helpful for those seeking to balance their work with family life, or others who are returning to the working world after time away.
To build my professional confidence, I learned to code for free with a non-profit, UK-based organization called Code First: Girls. During these courses, I also gained experience in collaborating with others to build websites. Even when the work was very difficult, our shared goal motivated each of us to complete our project.
The new knowledge gained gave me a strong dose of confidence and helped me to understand the tech and startup industry for the first time. Because of that, I picked tech as my blogging niche, and have since been learning as much as I can about the industry. I was able take blogging, which I had been doing for free for years, and make a career out of it.
As a result, I recently quit my job to take the plunge as a full-time freelance tech blogger. So, let's overcome one of society's most ridiculous stereotypes, which is that only white male 'nerds' can understand computers, and all start learning to code!
"Learn how to code." That's a lofty goal, no doubt, and it can be overwhelming to consider all your different options - especially if you don't know which language you want to learn.
Many people find it helpful to start with HTML and CSS, which are the front-end coding languages of websites. They are probably the simplest ones to pick up as they're responsible for styling the visual elements of webpages, and require little-to-no understanding of programming.
As a solopreneur, learning HTML and CSS will give you a lot more confidence when you're trying to set up your own website, because even if you use a website platform like WordPress or pay a developer to build your site, you'll still be able to make small edits yourself.
You'll also be empowered to understand what's possible in terms of web design. This can be anything from the importance of responsive design (when a website resizes across different devices such smartphones or desktop computers), or when to use bits of code such as H2 tags (the subheadings that break up your page text on your website).
There are a huge variety of languages used to build different types of websites. To start, Google the purpose of each language to see which might be most applicable for you.
Most people who want to get really serious about learning to code end up paying for a service. This is really useful as it enables you to have that contact with experienced professional developers who can advance your learning and kickstart your career.
This is really useful as it enables you to have that contact with experienced professional developers who can advance your learning and kickstart your career.
Skillcrush is one such resource where you can join a thriving community of like-minded individuals and target your learning with tailored Blueprints. All courses are taken online and they offer a free introductory bootcamp. Amanda has chronicled her Skillcrush journey on the OWS blog in several parts, starting here.
Likewise, you can take singular courses like Sarah Eggers' HTML & CSS Crash Course.
Many, many other groups exist, like Decoded, which teaches you to code in a day in HTML, or Mums in Technology, which specifically caters to women with children who are looking to advance their careers.
If you don't have much money to play around with, or just want to dip your toe in the water, there are some free options available. I've created a fully comprehensive list of free UK coding groups on my website.
Groups like Rails Girls offer free day coding bootcamps to teach any women the coding language Ruby on Rails. Another great group aimed at university students and recent graduates is Code First: Girls, which I took part in, myself.
In addition, there are lots and lots of online resources available, including CodeAcademy, General Assembly, and Coursera, to name a few.
A stigma has sprung up in the web development community among some hiring managers against coding bootcamps. This term refers to full-time intensive courses that you pay for. This option is typically for aspiring web developers, rather than the amateur coder.
If you want to become a web developer and are considering a bootcamp, remember they will vary in quality, so do your research and always make sure you have a genuine enthusiasm for building your own portfolio. Maker's Academy is a good place to start looking at bootcamps.
Unless you want to become a professional web developer, you don't need to invest large amounts of time and money in learning to code.
Think about key factors like financial cost, difficulty level, distance to travel, comprehensiveness of the course, contact with experienced developers, and fitting it in around commitments like work and childcare.
Aim for a basic understanding of and curiosity about the nature of technology. Learning to code helps push you past the fear and mystery around technology and empowers you to make the most of it.
Learning to code opens the door to taking control over the digital aspects of your business, and often comes with unintended side benefits, like being able to build your own digital products, launch a startup, become a better designer, or take the plunge as a full-time blogger specializing in tech (like me!), among other things.
If nothing else, dipping your toe into the coding world may help you realize how beneficial hiring a professional developer can be. One Woman Shop published this super handy post about what to ask as you interview a professional developer before you jump into a relationship with them.
I hope this post has shown you some of the ways you can dive in and learn to code -- no matter your situation.
Don't let negative self beliefs hold you back. Just like learning to write, anyone can learn to code. The aim is not necessarily to become a professional programmer or developer, but simply to enter a whole new world of opportunities.
We are affiliates of and may receive commission from sales of courses mentioned above. As always, we only promote products and services that we love and/or think you might benefit from.
Catherine is a B2B freelance tech blogger and content writer. She has a thing for psychology, diversity, tech and startups, and is learning to code. She gives valuable insight into the women in tech scene on her website, Away With Words, and shares tips for success and self-development.
Really enjoyed your post. When I started blogging a few years back I remember asking a friend if I should learn a bit of code too. Her response was that there would always be someone there to do it for you (her husband is in IT security, so).
But I've still always been interested in learning to up my tech skills. We are living in a digital age now and learning even the basics like you mentioned can give us the confidence to do things we may not necessarily have been confident to do before.
I think I will definitely dip my toes in now!
I definitely agree you should learn to code, Jennee.
I think it can help a little bit with your confidence in blogging because you'll understand how your website is constructed, but also it can open more doors by helping you to develop your interests and skills.
There will always be someone there to do it for you, but that someone could be you!


We understand the power of email marketing, and will craft a campaign that fosters a genuine relationship between your customer and your brand. Because we specialize in creating brand loyalty, by the time your customers get your email, they'll want to hear your message, and we have the tools to ensure the message reaches their inbox.
Are you ready to start capturing an audience and get your message out? Lets talk over Email.


The email servers of several legitimate businesses have been compromised, meaning phishing emails are being sent with links to fake invoices, receipts or insurance documents.
An Italian restaurant, an osteopath and homeware retailers are among the authentic businesses caught up in the scam.
The emails are likely trying to steal personal information or install malicious software.
The affected businesses have released warnings via social media and have taken steps to secure their mail servers.
Consumers should always alert about unexpected emails, particularly if they contain a link or attachment.
If necessary, contact the business via its legitimate telephone number to confirm if the correspondence is genuine.
If you have clicked the link, run your antivirus and/or have your computer checked by a technician.
If you have logged into any important accounts, change the passwords on a separate device.
Report scams or ask for further advice by contacting WA ScamNet.
See our pages on phishing and similar scams involving fake infringements and fines for more information.
Businesses are often targeted by scammers hoping that busy firms may sign invoices without checking their authenticity. Sometimes these fake invoices are for a listing in a publication which the business hasn't ordered.
The scammers are often banking on admin workers, who process invoices, being unfamiliar with all of the company's financial transactions and letting a false invoice go through the system. Bosses may simply have a stack of papers to sign and be too busy to check all the details.
Chances are these invoices will have the name of a current and relevant member of staff. This has usually been obtained by a phone call where the receiver may have been asked to provide business details for a supposedly free trial of some sort or under the guise of business survey.
As well as being addressed to an employee, the bill is likely to look authentic in terms of document layout and formatting. The amounts can vary from $300-$1,000, which may go unnoticed by a business, however, if paid by multiple businesses amounts to a hefty profit for the operators of the dodgy scheme.
Sometimes the people behind these false billing schemes threaten a non-paying business with legal action. Experience tells us they will not achieve an outcome in Court because they have deceived the business and broken the law themselves by making a demand for payment under false pretences e.g. for services or goods you didn't want, order, need or perhaps even receive.
Consumer Protection handled some 142 enquiries between March 2011 and February 2012 about unsolicited invoices. That's an increase on the previous 12 months – there were 90 enquiries from March 2010 to February 2011.
It's not just a problem in Western Australia though. We know that in Victoria, for example, there were almost 300 reports of this kind of scam in 2010-11. It led to Consumer Affairs Victoria producing a six-part series of one minute YouTube videos called 'Stevie's Scam School' to benefit businesses across Australia.
You can view these videos and also find a number of other new online tools to help businesses protect themselves from false billing and unauthorised advertising scams on our Tools for small businesses page.
Never pay anything that has not been authorised or fully understood.


It sounds to me like you have all the symptoms of a rib problem. It has been hanging around rather a long time though, as you say.
I'd need a lot more information before I could comment much more so I'd suggest that you go and a chiro near you for a proper assessment of your case and possibly x-rays of the area as well.


I've never really been overly friendly (shocker) or outgoing. I'm sort of (ha) opinionated and stubborn. I own it. I can list all of the people that I introduced myself to first on one hand and it takes me a while to warm up to new people. It's been a strange experience for me to go from a mom of one to a mom of two in the sense that my second child didn't make it. Instead of adapting to a new normal with new routines, less sleep and more chaos, I had to adapt to learning how to function again for the one child who still needed me. I had to learn how to leave the house again, see people again and somehow walk down the hallway in my house again past Wylie's closed nursery door. Introducing myself became even more awkward. The first question anyone asks a mother is "so how many kids do you have?" I had to learn how to answer that. Actually, I'm still learning how.
Yet, once I began existing in the outside world as a mom of two, with a second child who is deceased, the strangest thing started happening. People began opening up. "I had this happen to me." "I lost my child to SIDS." "I had a miscarriage." "I had a stillbirth." "My mother had a stillbirth." "My sister lost her ten year old." People began talking. And whether or not we had anything else in common, whether or not our musical tastes or sense of humor were the same or worlds apart, we had a connection. Friendship ensued. Whereas meeting someone new would cause me to shy up and tense up, someone could tell me "I lost my child, too" and suddenly the words would flow. Suddenly, the time would pass in conversation. Suddenly, a stranger on the internet would become a source of support that I don't know how I would get through a day without.
And, somehow, when you're faced with an isolating type of loss, this sense of community helps. We are all the same, no matter the type of loss. We are all parents who have survived the unimaginable. And we are all using our own losses and experience to raise up others.
On that note, I'm happy to introduce the 3rd giveaway from The Printed Palette!
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The Printed Palette offer goods for the home as well as clothing for men, women, children and babies. They also offer beautiful paper goods and accessories, too!