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As a composer for games, film and other media, I am often asked about sound effects and where to find some for various projects. I myself specialise in music only (see more about me!) and so I don't create sound effects - however, there are many resources online which offer great audio clips for various uses. Many of these are free to use, some requiring creator attribution and some not at all. Others do charge for the sound effects but they don't charge much, so they're worth exploring too. I've attempted to list some of these sound effect libraries in the hope that this is a helpful reference for you.
This site is dedicated purely to offering free sound effects and samples. It's a great resource for game developers and others in need of various sound effects. The site is easy to navigate and the sounds are categorised well.
The site may look sparse but that's because it's a search engine for audio clips rather than a site listing lots of sound effects. Simply type in whatever types of sound effects you are looking for, and let the search begin. It's very easy to use and the site searches its own database of sounds - which does appear to be fairly large, and so this is a good site to bookmark and explore for your sound clips.
This site offers a large collaborative database of audio sounds available to use under the Creative Commons License (i.e. you can use it for free as long as you include attribution to the creator). There is a large community of contributors, so here you will find a good range of free samples, recordings, bleeps, audio snippets and more. To download a file you will need to register/login. Freesound also have an API that enables researchers and developers to access metadata, analysis files & the sounds.
Just as the name suggests, here you will find lots of sound clips all free for you to use. The site is dedicated to providing free sound effects for various uses – so take a look around – just be careful to make sure you check the licenses as some require attribution and some don't.
There are many great free sound effects on this website which are worth taking a look at but don't be fooled by the name of the site. They also have some pro sound effects and so don't be alarmed by this but they're quite reasonably priced starting at $1.99 upwards.
With over 1 million users and 200k sound effects and loops, Soundsnap is an excellent platform to use when searching for sound effects for your game or film. The audio sounds aren't free to use but the pricing is reasonable at $15 for 5 sounds or $29 for 20 sounds. Or if you prefer there's a monthly and annual subscription option for regular users.
This is an indie sound design label with high quality free sound effects and sample libraries. Everything is royalty free for both commercial and non-commercial use. Many sound designers have come together to make their sound effects available to download and use in game development projects, video production, music projects and other media uses.
Here you will find both sound effects and royalty free music in .wav and .mp3 formats. Some require attribution but all are free to use. It's a great place to find sound effects like fight or machine sounds as well as laughter, funny voices and animal sounds!
This site claims to be the fastest growing free sound effect and royalty free music library online, and so it's definitely one to watch. The sound effects can be downloaded as .wav or .mp3 files and attribution may be required for the various sounds.
Over 2000 sound effects can be found via this stock music site. Whether you're looking for electronic sounds, clips from animals, crowds, industrial sounds or anything else – take a look around this sound effects library.
This isn't the most modern website around but there are a variety of sound effects to be found here. The main categories are ambiance, domestic, interfaces, machines, mechanical, people, transportation and voices.
You may already know this website and be exploring it for free graphics and artwork for your game, however, it is also a source for free sound effects. There are also some useful forums where you can meet other game developers, share experiences and ask for help.
I hope that you've found these resources useful. If you're looking for some help with the music to your game, feel free to drop me a line. I'd be happy to explore this with you.
About the author: Ninichi is a game and film music composer. She works on a range of freelance composing projects supporting talented game developers and film makers with their music.
Want some great custom music for your game? Listen to Ninichi's game music and contact her now to discuss your game music needs.
Ninichi is an indie game music composer | film music composer | composer for media | music arranger | game musician available for commissions: ninichimusic (@) gmail.com.
Ninichi is based in London, UK, and works on a freelance basis with indie game studios, indie game developers, filmmakers & other media makers all across the globe. If you need a freelance composer for your project, contact her now.
Copyright ©Ⓟ 2019 Ninichi Music. All Rights Reserved.


Have the Paul Terry Comics with MM and H&J be vetted as PD?
Re: Comics not to be uploaded to the site.
Thanks for pointing these out Narf. No, they aren't in the PD - people no Mighty Mouse or Heckle & Jeckle please.
The important thing to remember is that copyrights are independent of publisher and title. They're on an issue to issue basis and issued (and renewed) by year. So if someone needs one of us to check, be absolutely sure to get the title right and the year of publication.
from United Features' Tip Top: Mirror Man; Triple Terror; Iron Vic?
from King Comics: Jimmy Thompson's Redmen?
None of these look like strip reprints.
I'm sure this has been discussed somewhere, but what's the status of Classics Illustrated comics? I see none at DCM, so I assume they are a no-no, but I couldn't find Gilberton on the list of prohibited publishers.
I believe they were renewed and that's why there not here Poztron.
Right, I've added them to the list.
Ah well. I did have a CI David Copperfield with art by Kiefer, but I'll save myself the bother of pointlessly scanning it.
I did seem to recall reading somewhere that some of the CI's were being reprinted.
All CI are already scanned. Most have been reprinted.
Little Orphan Annie is added the list on characters not safe for DCM.
Any uploads with her in them will be removed - if you want to share it remove her pages first.
Pretty much any King Features that you have heard of, and some you have not, have been renewed.
I can not find a copyright renewal on this. Is there a reason I never scanned and uploaded my copy of #1?
None that I can see Narf.


text:
HomeCSRCisco trains students, civil servants on new IT and digital skills via Ajira Digital platform
Cisco trains students, civil servants on new IT and digital skills via Ajira Digital platform
February 24, 2021 admin CSR, News 0
At a virtual ceremony, the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs of the Republic of Kenya and Cisco celebrated the graduation of 650 students and civil servants who completed various Cisco Networking Academy courses over the last few months. The 650 fresh graduates join a large group of Kenyan students and professionals who have gained state-of-the-art digital and IT skills with the help of Networking Academy over the past years. Since the start of the program, more than 65,000 people attended Cisco Networking Academy courses in Kenya.
Thanks to the close cooperation between the Ministry of ICT and technology company Cisco, content and courses of Networking Academy have been made available on the Ministry's Ajira Digital Programme free of charge. Approximately 7,000 people took part in the self-enroll courses and benefitted from the program.
In addition to providing digital content, Cisco also offered scholarships to 50 students and in collaboration with the ICT Authority trained 600 civil servants from various Ministries and Government organisations.
"The ICT Policy 2020 is a key pillar in realising Kenya's Vision 2030 of becoming a globally competitive, knowledge-based economy. To do this, the Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs has a mission of facilitating universal access to ICT infrastructure and services to all, in Kenya. Therefore, we welcome the close cooperation with Cisco and Cisco Networking Academy to foster digital skills in Kenya," said Jerome Ochieng, the PS, Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs.
The civil servants and students in this cohort took part in multiple courses, including Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cyber operations and DevNet Associate. CCNA courses provide fundamental knowledge and skills for designing and building computer networks, whilst Cyber Operations focuses on cyber security concepts, monitoring, host-based analysis, network intrusion analysis, and security policies and procedures. DevNet Associate is a brand-new offering from Cisco Networking Academy and introduces students to the world of software development, APIs (application programming interfaces) and infrastructure automation.
"Cisco Networking Academy is our global platform that provides education in IT and digital skills. We partner with learning institutions and Government agencies around the globe, to empower people with tech-savvy career opportunities," said Sally Kimeu, country manager for Cisco in Kenya. "The story of our Networking Academy started more than 20 years ago. Over the years, this learning platform has become the world's largest classroom with more than 12.6 million participants since its inception. Given the need for digital skills in Africa, Cisco Networking Academy is a key pillar of our commitment to the continent," Sally Kimeu added.
To help during the global pandemic, Cisco brought its collective resources, technologies, and experience to deliver Networking Academy courses and to enable continuous connections and collaboration with education partners. Dimension Data, a Cisco Gold Partner in Kenya, has supported the training of civil servants by providing the trainers whilst Cisco enabled remote teaching via WebEx.
"Ensuring our educators were able to connect with their students so they could continue their studies at home without disruption was our number one priority. Through Cisco's collaboration technologies we can provide our education partners the right technology to set up study spaces and host lectures using Networking Academy courses from anywhere", said Hital Muraj, in charge of Cisco Networking Academy program in Kenya.
Ajira Digital
Civil servants
ICT skills
58% of workforce will need new skill sets to do their jobs successfully
Hack The Normal online hackathon to explore how tech can spur sustainable living, economic development in Africa
Events Noticeboard
MultiChoice, Asikhule Training Partners host 3-day workshop in Nairobi
June 17, 2016 admin Events Noticeboard 0
MultiChoice through SuperSport and Mnet, Africa's producers and broadcasters of television content, has partnered with South Africa's Asikhule Training Partners to host Kenya's first broadcast-audio workshop that will help standardize the quality of audio-visual content [c]
Infinix shoots mini 'Survivor Series' in Kenya ahead of new device launch
August 9, 2016 admin News 0
Infinix Mobility over the weekend treated its fans to a thrilling experience in the filming and production of a mini survivor series that will premier during the launch of the latest Infinix device on August [c]
Kshs 3 million prize money for Kalasha International Film and TV award winners
December 24, 2020 admin CSR, News 0
Kenya Film Commission will award a total of Kshs 3 Million prize money to the winners of the 10th edition of Kalasha International Film and TV Awards. Each category winner will receive Kshs 100,000 prize [c]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Well i''m done learning C++, the language I mean, that wasn''t all to hard. The trouble is this, I can read C++ and understand it but I''m having trouble with writing it. Now I learned C first and its true that your have to un-learn some things, what makes it even harder is not knowing what things you have to forget. The way C++ programs fit together confuses me (the OOP type). After reading my C++ book, I was glad i learned about the the languege but disappointed that I didn''t learn the structure and style of C++ (or rather the book did not teach it). So anyway, what i''m wondering is where can i find some good info on this stuff? Free tuts on the web would be very helpful. Thank you.


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Building record MDR23272 - Old School House, Holmesfield
TEACHERS HOUSE (Built, Hanoverian to Unknown - 1834 AD (approximately))
A building attached to the present building served as the village school from c.1831 until 1894. Sometime around 1834 the building standing in 2019 was built as a schoolmaster's house. In 1894 the school moved into a new, larger building immediately to the northwest (where it still remained in 2020). This building continued to have served as the schoolmaster's home, but the school was subsequently demolished. (1) The provision of free school education had a long history in Holmesfield. In 1717 William Mower, a villager, donated a holding to west of the village to the church in his will. Mower specified that the rent from this land was in order that the curate and church warden clould provide an education for 10 poor children. In 1729 Matthew Webster, another villager, donated further land and specified that rents should be used to build a school and employ a teacher [The source is confused as to the the location of the orginal school building, but cartographic evidence indicates that the original school was built off Horsleygate Lane, probably just to the southeast of the Old School House.]. The result was the establishment of a charitable trust to run the Free School. Sometime around 1811 the charitable trust was merged with the National Society for Promoting Religious Eductaion. In 1820, when the Enclosure Act was passed for Holmesfield, the parcel of land on which the Old School House now stands was set aside for the church school. In 1831 the lord of the manor, the Duke of Rutland, had a small school, erected on the western part of the land set aside for the school and c.1834 the school teachers was built attached to it. After (1)
<1> SDR24706 Unpublished document: Brown, A & Grange, E (ARS). 2019. The Old Schoolhouse Holmesfield: Heritage Impact Assessment.
Centred SK 3170 7753 (8m by 9m)
HOLMESFIELD, NORTH EAST DERBYSHIRE, DERBYSHIRE
EDR5155
Please contact the HER for details.
Nov 11 2020 11:29AM


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California poised to hike film tax credits to stem runaway production
This scene from 2013's "Gangster Squad" was filmed at Los Angeles City Hall. The production of feature films in Los Angeles County has fallen by half since 1996, according to FilmL.A. Inc.
(Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
By Richard Verrier
Moving to slow the exodus of filming to other states and countries, California lawmakers are poised to quadruple tax subsidies for location shooting to $400 million a year.
Legislation approved on a 5-0 vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday also would eliminate a controversial system in which film and TV productions won tax credits based on a lottery system, regardless of the economic effect of the production.
The bill, AB 1839, must still be approved by the full Senate and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown. But legislative backers say they are confident the measure will clear all remaining hurdles, saying there is widespread recognition that California is losing one of its signature homegrown industries to other states.
Feature film production in Los Angeles County has fallen by half since 1996, and the region's share of TV pilot production has fallen 73% since its peak in 2007, according to FilmL.A. Inc.
"There is no question this will make a difference," said Bill Mechanic, a veteran film producer and former chief executive of Fox Filmed Entertainment. "This is good for California."
Most states now offer lucrative incentives for filming, awardinig about $1.5 billion in film-related tax credits, rebates and grants in 2012, up from $2 million a decade ago.
"To halt that steady outward march of jobs and creativity, California must have a robust, smart, and efficient tax incentive program of our own — a tax incentive program that guarantees job growth and economic expansion, coupled with strong accountability and transparency measures," said Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Just about every major movie filmed on location gets a tax incentive. Film tax credits have been so integral to the filmmaking process that they often determine not only where but if a movie gets made.
Studios factor them into budgets; producers use the promise of credits to secure bank loans or private investment capital to hire crews and build sets.
AB 1839, sponsored by Assemblymen Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) and Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima), expands a program enacted in 2009 that was intended to address the problem of so-called runaway production.
Although the existing credit has kept some lower-budget movies from leaving the state, it hasn't stemmed the exodus of production.
The bill would broaden eligibility to include big movie productions (those with budgets above $75 million), all new television series and provide an additional 5% credit for shooting outside of the L.A. area.
What's more, it would also dismantle the controversial lottery used to allocate funds and replace it with a system that awards credits based on their economic impact, including how many jobs a movie or TV show would create.
The California Film Commission developed an annual lottery — the only one of its kind in the nation — as a way to randomly distribute funds. The commission contended that it was the fairest and most efficient way to divide the money, so it wouldn't be consumed by a few big movies.
But studios and producers have complained that the system doesn't take into account the economic impact of their projects and makes it impossible to plan ahead for productions.
"The lottery makes it untenable because you don't know if you're getting it or not," said Mechanic, who is planning to shoot his new film, a thriller set in San Francisco, in Georgia to take advantage of its tax breaks.
"If you're making an independent film, you can't wait to see if it will make it in the lottery," he said. "You need certitude."
De León, who is Senate President Pro Tem-elect, had raised concerns that the current lottery was flawed because it treated all productions alike, regardless of how many jobs they created.
"When it comes to fueling an engine of job creation with taxpayer dollars, we have an obligation to ensure we are doing everything in our power to maximize their return on investment," De León said. "This way we can finally be assured — clearly and transparently — that California's taxpayers are receiving the maximum possible economic return on this investment."
Hollywood's production community hailed the news.
The bill "underscores a commitment to the hardworking men and women of California's film and television production community and to putting an end to the loss of these middle class jobs," said a statement from the California Alliance, a coalition of entertainment unions, vendors and studios.
The program provides filmmakers with a tax credit of up to 25% of costs for specific production-related expenses, including set construction and crew salaries.
Studios and producers use those credits to offset their state tax obligations.
Kevin Klowden, managing economist with the Milken Institute, says little economic rationale exists for sustaining the current system, given the higher funding.
"If you're stuck in a situation where you have to choose, what you want is a production that is going to create the most primary and secondary jobs relative to the amount of tax dollars spent," Klowden said. "You want to have a large economic impact and return more money back to the community and the state."
Eliminating the lottery could create a backlash with some independent filmmakers.
Senior studio executives have privately expressed frustration with California's lottery, but were reluctant to air their views Thursday. All six major film studios declined to comment or did not respond to requests for comment.
Thursday's Senate committee approval came after heavy lobbying by a coalition of entertainment industry unions, studio representatives and city officials, including L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Garcetti, who has made fighting runaway production one of his priorities, flew to Sacramento this week. He and several other mayors met with the governor Wednesday to make their case for more funding.
"This represents a responsible and significant investment in the future of California's middle-class," Garcetti said. "We need an enhanced tax credit program to compete and win against the other states and countries that are siphoning jobs and revenues away from California."
Times staff writer Daniel Miller contributed to this report.
Richard Verrier
Richard Verrier is the Company Town editor of the Los Angeles Times. Previously, he covered the film and television industry, with a focus on production trends, labor, the exhibition sector and Hollywood's expanding relationship with China. He also covered Warner Bros. He joined The Times in 2001 to cover the Walt Disney Co. and Vivendi Universal after working as a business reporter at the Orlando Sentinel and the St. Petersburg Times in Florida. He is a native of Montreal, Canada, and graduated from the University of Toronto and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.
'Big Little Lies' is missing from the Emmy nominations. Blame the rules
Your favorite TV shows weren't snubbed. They just weren't eligible.
Commentary: From 'Chernobyl' to 'When They See Us,' how best limited series became the Emmys' strongest category
Rhea Seehorn is the best thing about 'Better Call Saul.' So where's her Emmy nomination?
The 2019 Emmy nominations have been revealed in Los Angeles
The biggest snubs and surprises from the 2019 Emmy nominations
Gold Standard: Emmy nominations 2019: Five things to watch for ahead of Tuesday's announcement
Emmy nominations arrive Tuesday, roughly nine weeks ahead of the September show and a year out from Meryl Streep unfurling another acceptance speech — this time for her supporting turn on the second season of "Big Little Lies."
Watch the Emmy nominations live
Predicting the Emmy nominations
Q&A: For Kyle Chandler and 'Catch-22,' it's about finding humanity in the absurdity
Know why executive producer George Clooney wanted Kyle Chandler to play the obsessive Col.
Christopher Abbott brings an old-school vibe to his 'Catch-22' hero
If Christopher Abbott looks like he's acting, then he's not doing it right.
Q&A: Ruth Wilson relives her grandmother's shocking discovery for Masterpiece
American audiences know Ruth Wilson through her ongoing role on TV shows like "Luther" and "The Affair," but her latest project, Masterpiece's "Mrs.
Moral quandaries on TV reflect a real-world interest in doing the right thing
Of all the topics TV series may cover, philosophy doesn't get a whole lot of traction.
Justin Hartley on Kevin Pearson's long and winding road on 'This Is Us'
In only three seasons, it has already been a long, strange trip for Kevin Pearson.


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Flora Stewart was 117 years old when this photo was taken in New Hampshire in 1867 January 17, 2021
Siafu Ant Even though these guys are small, they are powerful and deadly in numbers. Don't mess with these dangerous creatures. Siafu ants aka driver ants respond aggressively when they feel threatened or attacked.
This post has already been read 1255 times!
Siafu Ant
Even though these guys are small, they are powerful and deadly in numbers. Don't mess with these dangerous creatures. Siafu ants aka driver ants respond aggressively when they feel threatened or attacked. The entire swarm will come together to attack when they perceive danger. An entire swarm of Siafu ants can amount to around 50 million! When these little guys bite, they bite hard and don't let up. Sometimes, even after their prey dies, the ant's jaws stay clamped on the carcass.
science Siafu Ant
GLENN DALE HOSPITAL, GLENN DALE – The Glenn Dale Hospital in Maryland opened its doors in the 1930s to treat and house people who suffered from tuberculosis. Adults and children called the hospital home for decades. The adults and children were located in different areas of the hospital. There are also narrow tunnels under the hospital. Stories say that when Glenn Dale was a functioning facility the patients endured torture and experimental treatments. Eventually in 1984 the hospital was closed. People brave enough to investigate the hospital have reported hearing strange noises, yelling, banging, and even laughter. Others have reported smelling burning flesh. The ghosts of patients as well as dogs have been seen. One of the saddest stories is attached to a man seen in a straightjacket in one of the rooms. It is believed he killed himself after being unable to live with the guilt of not saving the family he watched get murdered.
Inland Taipan snake to watch out for is the Inland Taipan. These snakes are the most poisonous snakes in the whole world. Their deadly venom and their tendency to hunt warm-blooded mammals is a dangerous combination for humans.
French girl abandoned in Cerisy-la-salle, 1944.


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Lectio Praecursoria: In Search of Scientific and Artistic Landscape
March 27, 2020 January 8, 2021 Anne-Maria Pennonen
An Introductory Lecture at the Public Examination of Anne-Maria Pennonen's Dissertation, In Search of Scientific and Artistic Landscape – Düsseldorf Landscape Painting and Reflections of the Natural Sciences as Seen in the Artworks of Finnish, Norwegian and German Artists, University of Helsinki, 21 February 2020
Anne-Maria Pennonen, PhD, Curator, Finnish National Gallery / Ateneum Art Museum
Opponent Prof Bettina Gockel, University of Zürich, Custos Prof Ville Lukkarinen, University of Helsinki
Landscape painting is a rather new phenomenon in Finland. Apart from a few examples from preceding centuries, it started to develop properly only in the course of the 19th century. In its early stage, landscape graphics and illustrated travelogues played an important role. Moreover, Düsseldorf had a great influence on how artists' interests – and later the public interest – were directed towards landscape painting.
In Finland and Sweden, the public gaze was focused on Düsseldorf as a result of the 'Nordic Art Exhibition', which took place at the Royal Academy in Stockholm in 1850. The exhibition presented works by artists who had studied or were working in Düsseldorf, and it was the landscapes by the Norwegian artists, Hans Gude and August Cappelen, that attracted the most attention. Inspired by the exhibition, Werner Holmberg became the first prominent Finnish artist to travel to Düsseldorf to study landscape painting, in the summer of 1853. Victoria Åberg, Magnus von Wright and Fanny Churberg were among others who travelled to Düsseldorf following Holmberg's lead.
As for the role of the Art Academy in Düsseldorf, it was actually the work of individual artists and their activities outside the Kunstakademie that built up the city's reputation in landscape painting. One of these was Johann Wilhelm Schirmer, who is regarded as the founder and pioneer of the landscape painting of the Düsseldorf School. At the beginning of his career, Schirmer was nominated to teach the landscape painting class in 1830, and later he continued as a professor. In Düsseldorf, Schirmer had a great impact on the activities outside the Kunstakademie, and he introduced a new approach to landscape, according to which it was essential to look at the landscape in a 'proper fashion', and expressions like 'the new naturalism' and 'the truth of nature' were widely used. As a part of Schirmer's teaching practice, it was essential to study landscape in the open air, and accordingly compose sketches and studies from nature – only from nature. Schirmer's ideas and teachings were conveyed to Finnish and Norwegian artists by the Norwegian artist Hans Gude.
Featured image: Hjalmar Munsterhjelm, Brook (a copy after Johann Wilhelm Schirmer's Parthie an der Düsselmit Pestwurz), undated, 48.5cm x 55.5cm, Gösta and Bertha Stenman Donation, Finnish National Gallery / Ateneum Art Museum
Read more — Download Lecture at the Public Examination of Anne-Maria Pennonen's Dissertation as a PDF
Editorial: European Revivals Ten Years On
European Revivals in 2020 and beyond


****Fancy grade dates are smaller than the extra fancy grade and also have some skin imperfections. Any of these grades of dates can be used for cooking,baking stuffing or eating. ****The X -Fancy Medjool Date varies in size and will have some loose or broken skins and will be a drier than the Jumbo Medjool Date . The X - Fancy Medjool Date is still of good quality, but didn't make the Jumbo or Large grade. ****Jumbo Medjool Dates are the largest, sweetest, juiciest and are the cream of the crop. Only 5% of the entire crop makes this grade. ****Large Medjool Dates grade are the same quality, wonderfully sweet and less moist as the jumbos, only smaller size. **** Soft - Wet ( Rutab ) grade dates are much more moist and sweet than the previous dates mentioned, these dates are not for cooking and are a delicate date that we only ship in cooler weather.


This year, as with every New Year, I resolve to try to live my life a little more fully. To stretch my wings a little more, and so grow into new areas. This year I hope my new camera will help me stretch my photography and creative skills further.
To be a little more awake as I walk through the world, keeping my senses open to what is unfolding around me. This also involves trying to live a little more from within my senses, rather than from within my thinking mind. Feeling the soft green earth beneath my toes, the warm sun upon my face and the fresh clear air around me.
To laugh, run and love a little more, and my dogs are the perfect teachers for this. Enjoying inhabiting and using my body, rather than just my mind.
To grow towards the light a little more, reaching up into the sunlight, while keeping my roots curled firmly into the deep nourishing earth.
To reflect a little more. I find that the more time I give myself to reflect, the happier and more settled I feel. I find my emotions are less volatile, and that life is richer and more supportive. However as usual for me, when life is going smoothly its easy to reflect and be happy, but when the challenges come along and disturb the calm waters I am easily swept away from reflection and into the drama!
To rest and relax a little more when I need to, which involves listening to my body a little more than my mind. Again the dogs, and of course the cats, are my best teachers for this endeavour.
See others ideas on Resolve here.
This entry was posted in change, mindfulness, photos, spiritual, thoughts and tagged change, life, mindfulness, philosophy, photography, postaday, resolutions, spiritual. Bookmark the permalink.
Your 2013 sounds like it's going to be a great year. And beautiful shots.
Hope you have a fantastic 2013!
You have got everything right – and also using your lovely dogs to show us your resolutions. Good luck and thank you!
Wonderful photos and words. 🙂 Happy New Year to you.


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Q: node AJV validation schema Using version 6.5
My issue is I have a request object that must contain one attribute and should contain one and only one other attribute from a list of attributes OR None of those specified attributes. I have done some digging around and have been unable to find a solution for this issue.
Possible valid requests:
{ 'query': {...}, 'limit': 1 }
{ 'query': {...}, 'count': true }
{ 'query': {...}, 'max': 'my_string' }

An invalid request would be:
{ 'query': {...}, 'limit': 1, 'count': true }

or
{ 'query': {...}, 'max': 'my_string', limit: 1 }

etc.
The best ajv validator object I have come up with is the following:
{
    "type": "object",
    "required": ["query"],
    "maxProperties": 2,
    "properties": {
        "query": {
            "type": "object"
        },
        "limit": {
            "type": "integer"
        },
        "count": {
            "type": "boolean"
        },
                "max": {
                        "type": "string"
                }
    }
}

But I know this won't scale as our application grows. I was wondering if there was a way to specify that the object requires "query" and ONE or NONE of "limit", "count", "max.

A: Found a way to accomplish what I am looking for. This can be done using the "dependency" validator:
"dependencies": {
    "limit": { "properties":
        {
            "count": { "not": {} },
            "max": { "not": {} }
        }
    },
    "count": { "properties":
        {
            "limit": { "not": {} },
            "max": { "not": {} }
        }
    },
    "max": { "properties":
        {
            "limit": { "not": {} },
            "count": { "not": {} }
        }
    }
}

If anyone knows a better way I would love to know!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Cant add links to homepage short codes?
Its ok i worked out how to fix it, button href in your shortcode no longer works from the imported content.
I had to use [button link="
Many want to update imported content?


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Budget 2010: Reaction and Expert Analysis - Spear's Magazine
Happy Budget Day!
A Budget, in theory
Budget 2010: Reaction and Expert...
Budget 2010: Reaction and Expert Analysis
24th March 2010 by Spear's
Hear what wise heads have to say about the Budget here
Highlights: Stamp duty up to 5% for houses over £1m. Borrowing £167bn this year instead of PBR's £178bn. 50p tax rate stands for >£150,000. Relief for entrepreneurs raised to £2m. More tax information exchange agreements – including with Belize… No great economic shakes, but very political.
From Chris Groves, Withers:
The Chancellor acted today to bring the UK in line with recent European court rulings on charitable donations. Mr Darling confirmed that all UK tax reliefs will be extended to donations to any charity in the European Union – subject to satisfying various conditions.
This is very welcome news for philanthropists and will certainly facilitate increased charitable giving throughout the EU. Cross-border philanthropic donations had previously been mired in uncertainty and red tape.
For UK-based charities, this development cuts both ways. It means that donors from across the EU can give tax-efficiently to UK charities – giving charities access to a much broader range of potential backers. On the flip side, UK charities must now compete with their EU counterparts for funds as there is no longer a tax incentive for UK philanthropists to direct their giving to UK-based charities.
From Sophie Dworetzsky, Withers:
Yes, the Budget was unexciting, but in some ways that's good: it heralds a return to stabiility, an end to tinkering around the edges.
The increase in stamp duty [up to 5% for houses over £1m] doesn't come into effect until next April, so in the short-term it will stimulate the upper end of the market. It only applies to residential properties, so it will be interesting to see how people allocate their costs and such.
What I'm surprised by is the freezing of Capital Gains Tax [at 18%], giving a differential [from the higher rate] of 32%/ There's nothing in the documents which I've seen to indicate any anti-avoidance rules for those trying to turn their income into gains.
From Ronnie Ludwig, Saffery Champness:
What is most notable for Spear's readers is that 60% of the tax rises are going to be paid for by the top 5% of earners. It's clearly driven by ideology.
There was nothing in it of massive consequence. The most significant changes related to businesses – the £2.5bn for business to invest in its skills is entirely paid for by the bank payroll tax (they say).
The doubling of the tax threshold for entrepreneurs (to £2m) will encourage investment in trading businesses, but I'm surprised he didn't tinker with CGT.
I thought it was a very political Budget, designed to try to win votes – it's window-dressing.
From David Kilshaw, Private Client Division, KPMG:
It's quite clear that most of your readers are going to take the brunt of the hit. It's not a good time to be a wealthy home owner. We've calculated that a wealthy house owner who earns £110,000 could be as much as £20,000 worse off. Keeping the nil rate of inheritance tax at its existing level will have particular problems for lots of estates. The pain is going where we'd expect it to go.
Regarding freezing capital gains tax: tax alchemy is back on the agenda. People are trying to get their returns as capital now – nobody wants income anymore.
It's not really a budget, it's a political statement.
From Andrew Whelan, Ermitage Group:
Chancellor Darling had the opportunity to present a fiscal budget that would have been prudent in its structure, however I think unfortunately he has bowed down to pressure from Gordon Brown and pushed the envelope too far in terms of trying to appease the electorate with an impending election on the horizon.
If the UK economy meets his deficit target this year I will be very surprised given how spectacularly they have got this wrong in the recent past! In truth, regardless of his comments and actions Ermitage believe that there is a high probability of a double dip in the UK economy given the fact that the current fragile recovery is heavily reliant on both consumer spending and earnings coming through as anticipated.
Consumer spending is reliant upon a strong feel-good factor and given the current stresses in the employment market job security is perceived to be fragile and thus consumers are focussing on savings rather than spending!
Earnings have rebounded strongly in 2009 on the back of the significant cost cutting and inventory de-stocking that took place in 2008. If demand fails to exceed this re-build of inventories then earnings will disappoint and with equity markets already having priced in such a recovery the risk are only to the downside. Finally, statistically 8 out of the past 10 recessions have double dipped!
From Louise Somerset, RBC Wealth Management
The last Budget before an Election has often been seen as an opportunity for the Chancellor to 'woo' voters with their own money. When times are hard, Chancellors sometimes take the opposite approach using an austerity Budget to demonstrate their toughness. Mr Darling appears to have taken a middle path – there are no significant giveaways, but no tough new measures either. In the short term at least it will come as a relief for many who have been worried about capital gains tax and inheritance tax, in particular.
The limited nature of today's announcement immediately raises the question of when the real changes will be made. Wealthy taxpayers are unlikely to look at this Budget as being as bad as it gets, and I expect to see plenty more clients wanting to act in the next few months to lock in current tax rates before things possibly get worse.
The current difference between income tax rates of up to 50% and capital gains tax at 18% is now so significant that many people will be putting a great deal of energy into ensuring they realise capital gains rather than income. It isn't easy to do this, but if you can, the savings are obvious.
The doubling to £2 million in the amount of capital gains that can benefit from entrepreneur's relief from CGT (taxed at 10% only) will be very welcome to the business community, although the cynics might say that the benefits will be limited in the current economic climate.
As the 50% tax rate now begins to bite, we will see whether the gamble on high earners will pay off. My clients are sending mixed signals about leaving the UK, but the combination of higher taxes and the annual £30k remittance charge is certainly sending some of the higher earning non-doms out of the country. Recent reports show a 25% reduction in the number of non-doms moving to the UK. This is not wholly tax driven, but a fear of high taxes is certainly a factor. It was not surprising that there are no announcements about residence or domicile in the Budget, but it is disappointing.
The concept of residence in particular is currently so confused that it is very difficult for anyone entering or leaving the UK to know where they stand. This goes against the basic principle that taxpayers should have certainty about their affairs. The problem with the current situation is not that a few super rich entrepreneurs may have to pay UK tax even though they have moved overseas, but that many ordinary workers with connections to the UK no longer know where they stand.
The freezing of the IHT nil rate band is disappointing, but was anticipated. However, even with stable house prices, the taxation of the family home on death remains a concern for many, and it is a pity that yet another year has passed without this issue being addressed. That said, it was never likely that IHT cuts would be seen as a good area for spending money, even just before an election.
Every year the issue of tax avoidance is discussed. A good first step would be to make legislation genuinely simple. Legislation that's easy to understand is usually easier to implement, as well as often being more difficult to avoid.
It has already been announced that, from April, tax evaders will be "named and shamed" on a Government website. This feels like a gimmick to me. Tax evasion is illegal, and should be prosecuted. If that doesn't put offenders off, will they really care about having their names published?
From Lee Robertson, CEO, Investment Quorum:
A budget from the Chancellor which lived up to its billing as 'sensible'.
Of particular interest to high net worth investors will be the increases in ISA allowances as these can now be used to accumulate very decent capital sums alongside pensions which are continually tampered with. Stamp Duty Land Tax increasing on properties over £1m but parents may wish to explore methods of property purchase for children of values under £250,000 where it does not apply.
Inheritance tax allowances frozen for next four years so careful planning required. Some interesting reliefs for entrepreneurs but the 50% top tax rate is going ahead so there's scope for exploring the various tax mitigation strategies.
From Tim Gregory, Saffery Champness:
Notable changes include:
A doubling for two years of the amount below which Stamp Duty Land Tax is not charged on residential property purchases to £250,000 for first time buyers, and an increase of the tax rate to 5% on the purchase of residential properties costing more than £1 million.
The risk here is that the currently slow property market at the higher end will slow down further, and that this will work its way down the market – making properties at the lower end of the market more expensive. That clearly would defeat the purpose of the Chancellor's plans to help first time buyers.
ISA limits to increase annually in line with inflation. This change is long overdue, and arguably is a slight nod towards the need to encourage long term saving by the better-off who may have been hit by the changes to tax relief on pension contributions.
From Josh Spero, senior editor, Spear's:
The political posturing here was shameless, and Spear's readers will see through it – right into their bank accounts. Darling has persisted in his soak-the-rich strategy: 50p tax rate above £150,000 is staying and stamp duty for houses over £1m goes up from 4% to 5%. Spear's readers who have been following our leaders will be well aware that Brown has been taking this tack for some years now, despite understanding how HNWs contribute to the economy, yet now they're making Britain a lot more hostile.
However: there was a very welcome measure targeted at those soon to become rich: capital gains relief on the profits of entrepreneurs has been doubled to £2m, now taxable at 10%. Spear's has been a constant cheerleader for entrepreneurs in all fields, and so we welcome this.
From Freddy Barker, head of the Spear's Research Unit:
73.6% of the governments tax take comes from three sources: income tax, national insurance contributions and VAT. Yet in another gratuitous political move, Darling (read Brown) has failed to change any of the headline measures.
HNWs should rejoice that within 43 days, Britain may have a new leadership with the courage to tackle our structural problems. With national debt standing at 56% of GDP (ignoring off balance sheet liabilities that would make the Greeks chuckle) and more spent every year on debt interest payments than on the national transport system, we need reconstructive surgery fast.
What's most disturbing is that the Scottish mafia have failed to cut government spending. The 20th century's slow crawl towards a welfare state – motivated by buying votes, not a moral crusade – rumbles on. It is a sure sign that we have lost perspective on what "the system" is for. To give but one example, the public have become used to paying ever higher taxes but to what end? How many of our 60 million citizens know that income tax was brought in to defeat Napoleon or that inflation, via fiscal drag, is a tax.
Today's budget shows that we are in serious danger of wasting the financial crisis. Whilst the public remain sceptical of power structures – be they the Houses of Parliament or the big name banks – politicians should grab the opportunity to reshape the nation, not sidestep difficult decisions and postpone Armageddon till the winter.
Balls to Stress Tests!
It's Not Just the Ultra Wealthy Who Will Be Tempted by Stamp Duty Loopholes
Booze Control


My name is Siphesihle Ndamase a 19yr old girl from Soweto. I once was amongst some kids who camped at JR in 2006 and `07. I was from a church called Africa Outreach Ministries and i still carry out the memories and the lessons i learnt there in such a way that i aspired to be a sunday school teacher specifically, teenagers as young as i am.
I would really love to work there at JR, even if it may be voluntary work under your training just to give back to the community.
It would really please my heart if the kids at my current church(All for Jesus Ministries) would get the experience i got. I remember a lady who was good to us "Juicy Julia"
and a guy called "Tom". The staff was so kind.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. May the good God of Israel bless you abundantly. I love you all.


Not a real update, but just wanted to remind people that I haven't dropped dead, and I am still working on the project. Been very busy in my personal and professional life, so I don't have time to write the blog post that you all deserve :( For what it is worth, i'm done prototyping all the GUI code that I was going to do and I have started re-implementing the humbug UI with my new stuff.
If I do recall, I saw you streaming a few times recently.


One key innovation long awaited by the DSpace community is a more intuitive and unified search and browse experience. NESCent and @mire NV have collaborated to create a new Faceted Search and Browse experience for NESCent's DSpace repository, Dryad. DSpace Discovery is a modular Add-on for DSpace XMLUI that replaces DSpace search and browse with Solr. The implementation of Discovery's Services utilize the DSpace Services API originally developed for DSpace 2.0 and back-ported for use within the recent release of DSpace 1.6.0. Thus, DSpace Discovery represents the next stage in @mire's DSpace 2.0 development initiative.


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jlong@briggs.com
Jay Schlosser
jschlosser@briggs.com
Antitrust, Franchise and Distribution
Distribution/Dealer Law
Franchise Counseling
Over the past three decades, attorneys in our Franchise, Antitrust and Distribution Practice Group have been providing litigation and arbitration services to franchisors with respect to all aspects of the franchising operations. While our attorneys primarily represent franchisors, from time-to-time we will represent franchisees as to various claims. Handling claims on both sides gives our attorneys a beneficial and unique perspective regarding the needs of franchisees and franchisors.
Franchising is a specialized method for the distribution of goods and services that is widely regulated by state and federal law. These unique and expansive federal and state statutes can impose stringent disclosure, registration and relationship obligations on franchisors. If not monitored closely, failure to comply with these obligations can put franchisors in time consuming and expensive litigation.
Briggs and Morgan is a nationally recognized leader in the full-service representation and counseling of franchisors. Our experience includes representing franchisors in connection with: counseling as to contract drafting and negotiation, disclosure obligations, pre-termination and pre-nonrenewal procedures and general franchisee relationship issues. On the litigation side, our attorneys have a significant amount of experience handling claims pertaining to: wrongful termination or non-renewal; enforcement of non-compete provisions; enforcement of post-termination obligations; collection of outstanding royalties/fees; protection of trademark rights; enforcement of contractual provisions; breach of contract; breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; violations of statutory provisions; unfair competition; trade secrets; earnings claims; misrepresentation/fraud; antitrust and encroachment.
Our attorneys are very knowledgeable about the demands and requirements of the various franchise statutes around the nation and stay current with the changes in those statutes which may radically impact the potential actions of a franchisor. One of the leaders of our practice group developed and taught a franchise law course at the Hamline Law School. We provide extensive counseling to our clients to ensure preventive measures are taken to try to avoid unnecessary, extensive and prolonged litigation. However, when litigation and/or arbitration situations arise, our team is experienced and ready to handle any claim regardless of how small or how complex. We have extensive experience enforcing arbitration clauses and successfully arguing in a number of cases FAA preemption of state statutes voiding arbitration and arbitration venue clauses.
Our attorneys have handled litigations and arbitrations throughout the United States and internationally, including cases in Minnesota, California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Over the years, attorneys in our group have represented franchisors in industries such as hair care, bath and body products, ice cream, fitness centers/weight loss clinics, hotels, used sporting goods equipment, delivery services, fast food, pizza and home purchasing.
Defeated claims by three largest regional franchisors that franchisor material breached franchise agreement by losing trademark protection of franchise name. Convenient Foods Mart Inc. v. C.F. Mrts of California, Inc., 1990 WL 115797, Bus Franchise Guide (CCH) 9599.
Defended company in franchise investigation conducted by Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Defended non-compete action in which plaintiff sought injunction preventing continued employment by competitor through enforcement of non-compete clause contained in employment agreement. Ecolab, Inc. v. Gartland, 537 N.W.3d 291
Enforced a post term franchise non-compete against former franchisee who left for a competing system. Economou v. Physicians Weight Loss Centers of America, 756 F.Supp. 1026.
Enforced arbitration clause in franchise agreement. Sweet Dreams Unlimited Inc. v. Dial-a-Mattress International Ltd., 1 F.3d 639.
Handled, defeated and resolved claims under the Minnesota Franchise Act, the California Franchise Investment Law, the Connecticut Franchise Act, the Illinois Franchise Disclosure Act, the Iowa Franchise Investment Act, the New Jersey Franchise Practices Act and the Wisconsin Franchise Investment Law.
Numerous arbitrations on a variety of claims of violations of the Minnesota Franchise Act.
Obtained AAA arbitration award dismissing franchisee's claims of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment and violations of the California Franchise Investment Law and Unfair Business Practices Act. Also obtained award of incurred costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees, for franchisor. XOMSA Corp. And Alex Kohani v. Great Clips, Inc.
Obtained dismissal of claimants' charges of discrimination based on sex/pregnancy under Massachusetts and federal law. (Houle v. Great Clips, Inc. et. al – 16C-2014-00670; Richey vs. Great Clips, Inc., et. al – 16C 2014-00673)
Obtained dismissal of plaintiff's claims of sexual harassment, retaliatory harassment and constructive discharge under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. Reader v. Great Clips, Inc. et al
Obtained dismissal on summary judgment of franchisee's claims of breach of contract, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, interference with prospective business advantage, interference with contractual relations and violations of the Minnesota Franchise Act.
Obtained full summary judgment on claims under the Minnesota and Wisconsin Franchise Act of selling an unregistered/undisclosed franchise based upon estoppel and summary judgment on earning claims for lack of reliance. U-Bake Rochester, LLC et al v. Utecht Bakeries, Civ. No. 12-1738 (ADM/SER), 2014 WL 223439.
Obtained preliminary injunction enforcing non-compete provision and a final arbitration award dismissing franchisee's counterclaims for violations of Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska franchise laws, common law fraud, negligent fraud and breach of contract. Also obtained award of unpaid royalties/fees, plus incurred costs and expenses, including attorneys' fees, for franchisor.
Obtained summary judgment in arbitration dismissing claims under the Michigan Franchise Investment Law. Grand Bay Marine v. Four Winns Boats, L.L.C.
Obtained summary judgment on claims under the Minnesota and Wisconsin Franchise Acts on statute of limitations grounds on action in Scott County.
Obtained summary judgment on vast majority of claims brought by former franchisee, including earnings claims, fraud claims, RICO claims arising out of franchise relationship. Physicians Weight Loss Centers of America v. Creighton, 1992 WL 176992, Bus. Franchise Guide (CCH) 9980.
Obtained TRO enforcing post-term non-compete provision against franchisee.
Obtained TRO, preliminary injunction and ultimately a stipulation for entry of permanent injuctive relief against former employee enforcing post-term contractual obligations, including non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disclosure provisions. Commodities Specialists Company v. Brummet
Represented Master Franchisee in litigation and ongoing disputes with national franchisor.
Jim Long Published in The Franchise Lawyer
Jim Long to Discuss Bundled Pricing and Loyalty Discounts
Franchise, Antitrust, Distribution and Dealer Newsletter
Alert: NLRB Decides to Prosecute Franchisor McDonald's
"Evidentiary Requirements To Recover Lost Future Royalties," LJN's Franchising Business & Law Alert
"Assessing a Franchisor's Obligations to Preserve Electronically Stored Information," LJN's Franchising Business & Law Alert
"Finding Bright Spots in Franchising," LJN's Franchising Business & Law Alert
"Fighting Encroachment Claim with Clear Contract Language," LJN's Franchising Business & Law Alert
"Key Trends in Franchise Law in 2011," LJN's Franchising Business & Law Alert
"Summary Judgment: A Tool in Franchise Arbitrations," LJN's Franchising Business & Law Alert


The Maker Market applicants have been selected for 2016! We are looking forward to having a Maker Market that is better than ever.
We do have a wait list – if you'd like to be contacted if room opens up, please full out our application and ALSO email makermarket@penguicon.org requesting to be put on the wait list. We'll get back to you as soon as we can!
If you know that you were accepted and have paid, and are not on this list, please email makermarket@penguicon.org with a copy of your PayPal receipt, and we'll get it squared away.
Crystal Mielcarek is a contemporary painter and illustrator from Detroit, Michigan. Her work has a sense of unconventional beauty, using childlike colors and pop culture themes alongside the sometimes darker and grotesque imagery. Original pieces, prints and trinkets available.
My name is Chris. I have been obsessed with art my entire life. I have 15 years experience airbrushing. I airbrush on anything that will hold paint. I will have original paintings,custom shoes and other miscellaneous airbrushed items. I will also offer airbrushed tattoos and body painting.
An animator from Michigan, Fil Romero brings you a wide selection of prints, buttons, and stickers from both your favourite fandoms and her own original creations. She also takes on-site sketch commissions if you want some more unique!
Everyday Gear for the Everyday Geek. Wallets, skirts, notepads, tribbles.
Alex Heberling draws comics and puts them on the internet! She's the creator of The Hues, a series about a group of magical girls fighting against an alien invasion.
OffWorld Designs has original t-shirt designs including the 2016 Penguicon t-shirts and souvenirs. Stop by for great shirts designed for fans of SF, Fantasy, Gaming, Comics and more.
Pipperillo Studios was born in 2014 with a laser cutter and way too many un-utitilzed Illustrator skills. We have laser cut coasters, keychains, wooden journals and lights. Many of these products feature comic book and pop culture themes adorned with bright colors and, in some cases, technology.
QuietNova Studios has your recommended daily dose of cute! Come by and pick up an army of tiny octopuses. Fulfill your need for squishy dragons!
Steampunked, by polymer clay Artist Brian Goins. One of a kind Art that is unique, and humorist from steampunk wall mask, robots, turtles,rats, fish,wearable art,and much more.
Ties that Bynde specializes in high quality steel boned Corsetry. Owner and designer Jessica, has personally drafted every pattern and stitched every corset. Her corsets are designed to fit a large variety of body types, most shows feature at least 8 different corset styles in a variety of sizes.
Upcycled and/or sparkly crafts like floppy disk boxes, meditation bottles, sassy cross-stitched movie quotes, glow-in-the-dark stick-ons, whimsical mini-paintings, & Zentangle notecards and hand-sculpted ceramic creatures, totems, and vessels. Available for custom sculpting or pottery, e.g. one-of-a-kind wedding cake toppers, character mashup figurines, or carved-relief bowls/trays on any theme.
Mr. Stolpin is a printmaker from Holly, Michigan. He is known for his dragon portraits (well over 100 to date). He also has a selection of large dragon posters (collected in his book "Here There Be Dragons") and a number of fantasy images. He teaches printmaking at the Flint Institute of Arts.
Featuring whimsical works inspired by pop culture, Kimchi Zerbe is your one stop shop for original artisan creations and illustrations of the nerdy variety. No matter what your fandom of choice may be, there is something clever, quirky, and fun here for you.
ActFigPhotog features loose and framed original photos of action figures taken by Terence Cover.
Specializing in herbal Ancient (indigenous) Science for the 21st. Century. Since 1992 we have provided herbal products to help Repair, Restore & Rejuvenate the outer and inner Chi balance. Get "SERIOUS" solutions for Hi/Lo Blood Pressure, Eczema/Psoriasis, Pain Management, Anti-Aging, etc.
boymonsta is a collection of Yhasmin Wilder's Original Art, Crafts, Apparel and Fanworks. From colorful prints to black and white apparel, Yhasmin's work will suit all the monstas out there.
Handcrafted writing instruments, including fountain pens, dip pens, ballpoints, rollerballs, mechanical pencils, and sketching pencils. Shaving sets, magnifiers, salt/pepper mills, sewing tools, and multi-tools. I strive to make pleasing individual pieces of art that can be enjoyed every day.
Handmade wire wrapped jewelry and miniature trees also made from wire, and semi precious stones and jewelry made by a new media called silver clay.
I make bags of various sizes for unnamed purposes, often out of repurposed t-shirts and other fabrics.
I make geek accessories from lego jewelry to dice necklaces, cute hair bows, lanyards, and handmade comic book compact mirrors. I offer quality work and affordable prices!
Come see our wares at Dragon Booty Workshop. We make a variety of wood gaming accessories, custom made for the table top gamer. Products include dice boxes, DM and player side tables, and battle daises. Plus for a limited time we will have dragon eggs and dragon claw necklaces.
Earthenwood Studio's Melanie Brooks creates quirky, hand painted kiln-fired ceramic pottery in her Metro Detroit, Michigan home studio. Kawaii inspired sugar skulls, robots, monsters, and other silly critters dance around her functional wares, shouting out sassy quotes and random geekery.
Fine art photography from the CatPad… Specializing in Lego ® minifigure and vintage Fisher Price Little People images for your home and some fine art prints of landscapes, flowers and more!
I enjoy making jewelry out of stones, bones, thread, and beads.
Using only safe, handmade henna paste, I offer a variety of designs to be applied to the skin. Henna leaves a stain that lasts 1-3 weeks. I also translate beautiful henna style designs onto mugs and more!
Handknitted objects like pillows and scarves.
Penguin Attack Studios specializes in custom chibi sketches – so adorable they'll make you're head pop! We also have amazing prints, stickers, custom playmats, and mini coin purses to boot.
If you like the cute and fuzzy, you will like this. Pocket Demon Creations offers hand-drawn prints and buttons of furries and fandoms. If you don't see anything you'd like, you can always have the artist draw you a custom piece of your own.
Solid Sterling Silver wire wrapped and steampunk jewelry and accessories for both women and men with a fantastical flare.
Cute and cuddly animals share pages with desserts and drinks for your amusement.
We have handmade soaps and beard care products made from all natural ingredients. We will also be sharing info on our newest venture building interactive natural environments to develop interest in science and nature among urban populations in Pontiac, MI.
I make leather book covers and other accessories for today's nerd.
All items that I make start out as a spool of wire. I cut my own rings and weave my art into beautiful works of art. I create many one of a kind things and will make things while you wait.
Total Geekdom is the leading designer of Lego-based computer systems in the world. With Micro-sized Lego Computers that fit in the palm of your hand to powerful Lego Servers and a high-performance Lego Gaming Computer, Total Geekdom is the premier source for custom and specialty Lego Computers.
Emily is a comic book illustrator and creator. Many of her comics are slightly fantastical /si-fi, standalone stories that deal with quirky adventure, a bit of reflection and hopefully growth. Apart from comics, Emily creates paintings focused on storytelling and characters.


At Gapuma we recognise that the trickiest part of any deal can be the financial arrangements.
While we place due diligence at the heart of every transaction, we never lose sight of how important a flexible and friendly approach can be in securing business now and in the future.
Therefore while all of the traditional credit instruments are offered, they are applied in a sensible and sensitive manner. Our approach is ever mindful of the unique nature of each market and the bespoke requirements of every client.
Secure your Roots. Contract Gapuma.


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Home » State of Origin dynasties
State of Origin dynasties
by Elliott Richardson May 5, 2021 June 27, 2021
Leave a Comment on State of Origin dynasties
State of Origin has experienced long periods of dominance, interspersed with regular sharing of the shield.
If you missed last year's in-depth look at the launch of State of Origin, click here. You can also read about the launch of Women's Origin and a State of Origin timeline.
State of Origin. The biggest rivalry in rugby league. The largest event on the NRL calendar. An exhibition of state pride and bragging rights.
Since its inception in 1980, each state has enjoyed periods of dominance. An era they can call their own. Queensland enjoyed the longest stretch of dominance from 2006-2013.
Across the past 40 years, both states have had strong dynasties, generally lasting three years before the Origin cycle hits and the enemy rises from the ashes to stake their claim.
Queensland 1982-1984
Queensland established its dominance early with NSW not experiencing its first series win until 1985. 1980 and 1981 are not counted in the record books as State of Origin series though, as only one match in each year was played under Origin selection criteria, with the other two played under residency rules.
From 1982-1984 it was the Wally Lewis led Queensland dominating a NSW team that despite having a fairly impressive roster, was being outplayed. That being said, each series finished 2-1 Queensland, indicating NSW did have a way through the Maroons.
Queensland's grip was finally broken in 1985 and scenes of Steve Mortimer collapsing to the turf following the Blues' historic win now etched into the history books. Interestingly enough, in 1986 the Blues would complete the first clean sweep in Origin history, taking the series 3-0.
The Maroons wouldn't be allowing the Blues a threepeat though, with Queensland order restored in 1987.
Queensland would then go on an unprecedented winning run, collecting eight consecutive victories from game two of the 1987 series until the end of 1989.
1989 was a tough series for the Blues with coach Jack Gibson making his representative debut while overseeing a squad severely lacking in Origin experienced following the retirements of the likes of Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny and Wayne Pearce from representative football.
The seeds for future Blues dominance would be sewn here as Gibson handed debuts to the likes of Laurie Daley and Brad Clyde.
NSW 1992-1994
There was a false Blues dawn in 1990 after they won that series but dropped the 1991 edition. However, with an experienced group of State of Origin players and the coaching debut of Phil Gould, 1992 signalled the start of Blues dominance.
With no Wally Lewis for the Maroons to call on, NSW claimed all three series by a 2-1 margin.
And despite 1990 being a false dawn, the Blues would lose only 4 of 16 series from 1990-2005, with Queensland managing to draw two series to retain the shield on two separate occasions.
An unlikely 1995 series win by Queensland prevented a six peat for the Blues as the famous Neville Nobodies coached by Paul Vautin upset their more fancied Blues opponents.
The Blues enjoyed their next threepeat towards the end of the golden generation which had debuted through the 1990s.
In 2003 Andrew Johns put on perhaps his greatest overall series to that point of his career, leading the Blues to a 2-1 series win.
The following year Phil Gould managed to coax Brad Fittler out of representative retirement as the Blues faced a halves injury crisis. 2004 is also famous for a Shaun Timmins field goal that won game one of the series.
In 2005, Gould once again lured a legend from retirement, this time managing to drag Andrew Johns back into the Origin arena despite Joey hardly playing due to injury.
Johns put on a masterclass in games two and three of the series to lead NSW to one of the most memorable series victories in history and the last for nearly a decade.
The Maroons then set the record for eight consecutive series wins. Many of the nucleus players that would feature had the misfortune of facing the 2004 and 2005 Blues and used it as a motivation to make their own history.
Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Greg Inglis all set about etching Queensland's name at the top of the tree.
Such a collection of players had never been seen before in rugby league and they tightened Queensland's iron grip on the shield.
NSW desperately searched for answers, blooding and casting aside countless halfbacks because they weren't Andrew Johns as they endured series defeat after series defeat.
The drought would eventually be broken by a Jarryd Hayne-led Blues team in 2014 which secured the shield in game two of that series at Stadium Australia.
Normal service quickly resumed with the Maroons waltzing to another three consecutive series wins to round out the most dominant Origin period in history.
The retirements of Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith eventually saw the two sides enter some form of equal footing once again.
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Travelers is struggling to offer quotes for every solicitors' professional indemnity (PI) insurance after a flood of late enquiries from brokers trying to beat the 1 October deadline.
Travelers sent an email to its brokers last week, warning them it "could not guarantee" turning all enquiries into quotes from 15 September onwards. The insurer said that in just one week it had received 1,000 enquiries.
An agreement was recently struck with Lloyd's broker Prime Professions to selectively underwrite the Quinn book following Quinn's departure from the market.
The email said: "While we are working very hard to get quotes to customers, please note we will not necessarily be able to deal with all the cases that we have already received, but we will do our best to get to them.
Travelers declined to comment on the matter.
Elsewhere, London-based St Mary Underwriting entered the PI market this week, with the launch of cover for small- to medium-sized solicitor firms.
Coverage will be offered to firms with up to 20 partners, and the scheme provides up to £3m for any one claim per policy.
The company said its coverage limit is "over and above" the minimum indemnity limits as set out in the Solicitors' Indemnity Rules 2010.
St Mary joins Giles-owned Ink Underwriting and Danish-based Alpha Group insurer as late entrants into the solicitors' PI market.
Ink has teamed up with specialist broker St Giles Legal and Professional Risks to launch a new solicitors' professional indemnity insurance facility.
The new entrants are scooping up some of the 2,900 solicitors cut adrift when Quinn announced it was pulling out of the market.
Will its professional indemnity facility provide some much-needed capacity?


Double ended Hegar Sound kit with 8 pieces in leather case. Each sound has two sides with a different diameter. The diameter changes in the middle. Made of high polished stainless steel.
The sizes are stamped in the middle.


text:
namespace Synthesis.FieldTypes.Interfaces
{
	public interface IDictionaryField : IFieldType
	{
		/// <summary>
		/// Gets the set of IDs that make up the relationships
		/// </summary>
		string this[string key] { get; set; }

		int Count { get; }

		void Add(string key, string value);
		bool Remove(string key);
		void Clear();
		bool ContainsKey(string key);
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Advertising - Keystone Information Sales and Services Inc.
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text:
using ForSerial.Json;
using ForSerial.Objects;

namespace ForSerial.JsonObjects
{
    public class PreDeserializeAttribute : PreBuildAttribute
    {
        public PreDeserializeAttribute() : base(typeof(JsonReader), typeof(JsonMap)) { }

        public override Writer GetWriter()
        {
            return new JsonObjectWriter();
        }

        public override object GetContextValue(Writer writer)
        {
            return ((JsonObjectWriter)writer).Result;
        }

        public override void ReadPreBuildResult(object preBuildResult, Writer writer)
        {
            JsonObjectReader.Read((JsonMap)preBuildResult, writer);
        }
    }
}


text:
Q: Prove that the expression has infinitely many solutions
Does $m = \dfrac{1}{72}\left(\sqrt{48r^2+1}+1\right)$ have infinitely many solutions in positive integers $(m,r)$?
Does  $m = \dfrac{1}{18}\left(\sqrt{48r^2+1}-1\right)$ have infinitely many solutions in positive integers $(m,r)$ where $m \equiv 3 \pmod{4}$?

I wasn't sure how to prove that there are infinitely many solutions, but for both of them we need $48r^2$ to be one less than a perfect square. Thus we need $48r^2 = x^2-1$ and so $x^2-48r^2 = 1$, which has infinitely many solutions, but we also need $m$ to be an integer. How do we ensure that in both cases?

A: The first has no solutions with positive integer $m$. However, the second case,
$$\begin{aligned}
m&=\dfrac{1}{18}\left(\sqrt{48r^2+1}-1\right)\\
&=\dfrac{1}{18}\left(x-1\right)\\
&\equiv {3\pmod{4}}
\end{aligned}$$
has infinitely many given by,
$$x= \frac{ (7+\sqrt{48})^{6k+3}+(7-\sqrt{48})^{6k+3}}{2}=1351,\; 9863382151,\; 72010600134783751\dots$$
$$r = \frac{ (7+\sqrt{48})^{6k+3}-(7-\sqrt{48})^{6k+3}}{2\sqrt{48}}=195,\; 1423656585,\; 10393834843080975\dots$$

A: As for the first equation, rearranging and squaring both sides we get $$72^2m^2-144m=48r^2,$$ which simplifies to $$108m^2-3m=3m(36m-1)=r^2.$$ Then $r^2=9k^2$ and $m=3n$ for some $k,n$, which yields $$n(108n-1)=k^2.$$ Since the factors of the LHS are coprime, both must be squares: say $n=y^2, 108n-1=x^2;$ therefore, $$x^2-108y^2=-1.$$ But $108$ is divisible by $4$, and this excludes the existence of any solution $(x,y)$, hence the original equation itself has no solutions.


text:
Cardinals Should Pursue Chris Archer, Sign Greg Holland
Offseason, Opinions & Predictions, St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals have already acquired Miami Marlins left fielder Marcell Ozuna this offseason, but in order to be legitimate National League contenders, they need more firepower. How about trading for Tampa Bay Rays righty Chris Archer and signing former Colorado Rockies closer Greg Holland?
Last season, the 83-win Cardinals owned one of the better pitching staffs in baseball. Finishing with the 10th-best ERA in MLB (4.01), they were able to keep their offense in the game. At the same time, righty Lance Lynn remains on the open market and there hasn't been much talk regarding St. Louis going all-out to retain the homegrown arm. And with Yu Darvish inking a six-year deal with the Chicago Cubs over the weekend, the free agent dominos on the pitching market may begin to fall. If St. Louis isn't going to spend big on starting pitching in free agency, then they're going to have to go the trade route.
The Rays have already traded Evan Longoria, who manned the hot corner in Tampa Bay for the last ten years, and with the team missing the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season, a full-on rebuild appears to be taking place. The next player to be traded could be Archer.
Over the last two seasons, Archer has pitched to an ERA of just over four (4.02 in 2016, 4.07 in 2017), but for his career has pitched to a 3.63 ERA. He has also recorded 230-plus strikeouts and pitched 200-plus innings in each of the last three seasons. To add onto the benefits of acquiring him, Archer is also under contract through 2021 at less than nine million per year. For the Cardinals, it's worth running the risk to see whether the righty can regain his ace status. A rotation consisting of Archer, Carlos Martinez, Michael Wacha, and whatever Adam Wainwright has left in the tank is one the Cardinals can win with. When it comes to what they should offer Tampa Bay in a potential trade for Archer, righty Dakota Hudson and outfielder Tyler O'Neill would be a strong package to center a deal around.
Inserting Archer into Mike Matheny's rotation would replace the void created by Lynn's likely departure and new pitching coach Mike Maddux — who's held in high-esteem around the league — could help get him back to pitching with consistency.
Source: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images North America
Another potential area of need for the Cardinals is in the backend of their bullpen. While their pen did post the seventh-best ERA in the majors (3.81) last season, the departure of Trevor Rosenthal and improved versions of the Milwaukee Brewers (who have added outfielders Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain) and even the Cubs (who have signed Darvish and righty Tyler Chatwood to potentially replace Jake Arrieta) make upgrading in any way possible a must for the Cardinals. With desperation kicking in on a number of big-name free agents, the Cardinals should pounce on Holland.
After not pitching in 2016, Holland bounced back last season. Converting 41-of-45 save opportunities, he was able to overcome adversity and finish off games in the ninth inning for the Rockies. At the same time, he pitched to a shaky 3.61 ERA and surrendered a career-high seven home runs — which gives reason to doubt Holland's ability to be lights-out in the ninth.
But if you're Cardinals, Holland is a proven commodity, and based on not pitching in a year, held himself together well in 2017. And with uncertainty in the late innings on the Cardinals' end, taking a chance on Holland wouldn't kill them. A two-year, $30 million deal would be fair for both parties with all factors taken into account.
Adding Ozuna will certainly give the Cardinals a boost in the middle of the order. Coming off a career year in which he hit .312 with 37 home runs and 124 RBIs, Ozuna has come into his own as one of the better hitting outfielders in baseball. Ozuna hitting alongside Yadier Molina, Tommy Pham, Matt Carpenter, Paul DeJong, Dexter Fowler, and Jedd Gyorko will give the Cardinals an electric offense in 2018. But if their pitching staff can't keep that lineup in the game, it'll be an unfortunate waste — making it even more imperative that they snatch a top of the rotation arm (Archer).
Holland remains the best closer on the free agent market, and in an era where you can't have enough bullpen ammunition and/or rotation depth, his addition can't hurt the Cardinals. But, more importantly, the fit is there. Fresh off a year in which he won the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award, Holland can continue working on becoming the stellar closer he once was; granting him a two-year deal is more than fair, considering the money and risk that potentially comes with doing so.
The Brewers and Cubs have each improved, as have the Cardinals. But the Cardinals need more in order to contend. Trading for Archer gives them a much-needed top of the rotation arm and Holland helps shore up the ninth inning.
BaseballFeaturedMLBMLB RumorsNational LeagueSt. Louis Cardinals
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Benchmark Research, founded in 1997 by Mr. Mark Lacy and Mr. Scott Barrett, began with the simple yet fundamental goal of providing exceptional service in clinical research. Benchmark's basic philosophy is that quality is paramount, and integrity, professionalism, dedication, and old-fashioned hard work should be applied to the burgeoning clinical trial industry. Starting in the Fort Worth, Texas metro area with just one doctor, the firm began providing services in a variety of therapeutic areas. As Benchmark rapidly grew, in 1998 the firm opened a second facility in Austin, Texas. The Austin operations were similar to Fort Worth in that the site was an internal medicine group. However, the Austin location – adjacent to the University of Texas, one of the country's largest university populations – led quickly to tremendous growth. The Austin office's proximity to the University benefited the site by providing Benchmark with a vast pool of potential patients for acute condition studies. Also in 1998, Benchmark recognized and capitalized upon emerging industry opportunities by creating a centralized recruiting department to facilitate aggressive, seamless, and appropriate advertising, as well as for pre-qualification of prospective patients. Thus, the Benchmark Research Support Center was opened in Miles, Texas to handle toll-free patient recruiting calls, print advertising/marketing, general administrative, and financial aspects of the young firm. The following year (1999), Benchmark began operations in San Angelo, Texas. San Angelo was an ideal site to serve an extensive region and population ignored by our competitors, and to utilize the large and prestigious West Texas Medical Associates (WTMA) facility. Association with the WTMA encourages doctor referrals and broadens Benchmark's scope of therapeutic capability.