text:
AUS/NZ/SA
Sheldon JacksonSteven Hirst2022-08-10T16:42:53+01:00
Download PDF Enquire About This Player
Domestic Statistics
Overseas Statistics
Player Status Available
Playing Role Wicket-Keeper
Bowling Style N/A
Batting Style RH Top Order Bat
Entry Route International Sportsperson Visa
Major Teams India A, India Blue, India B, Rest of India, West Zone, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Saurashtra, Puducherry
** Available for the UK/EU 2023 season **
Sheldon Jackson is an explosive batter who has dominated Indian domestic cricket since his debut during the 2011/12 season. To date, the wicket-keeper batter has played almost 200 matches across the three formats, particularly excelling in both first-class (5,946 runs at 50.38) and List-A (2,346 runs at 37.23) cricket.
Courtesy of his domestic exploits, the Saurashtra run machine has represented India A (against the touring South African A side in August 2015), India B (against India A in January 2016), and India Blue, who won the 2016/17 Duldeep Trophy.
Jackson was an influential figure throughout India Blue's campaign, finishing third to fellow Blue team-mates Cheteshwar Pujara and Mayank Agarwal, on the Duldeep Trophy run charts (368 runs at 122.66). In his 3 outings, he scored 48* vs India Red, 105 and 79* vs India Green in the Semi-Final, then struck 134 and 2 in the Final against India Red to take out the Trophy.
His career though started with his maiden first-class match back in 2011/12. He followed up with an outstanding 2012/13 season, where he announced himself on the domestic stage hitting 756 runs at 58.15, including three centuries. His run-scoring exploits were integral to Saurashtra's run to the Ranji Trophy Final. He struck a match-winning 118* against Bengal, then followed up with fifties against Rajasthan (54) and Madhya Pradesh (53). Jackson then proceeds to score 83 and 117 in the quarter-final against Karnataka then 107 and 44* in Saurashtra's semi-final win over Punjab.
He enjoyed another solid Ranji Trophy season in 2013/14 (448 runs at 40.72), before a barnstorming 2014/15 season that generated national interest. He finished fifth on the Ranji run charts with 819 runs at 68.25, only behind Indian stars Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik, Anubhav Mukund, and KL Rahul. He scored 3 centuries including a career-best 181*.
The trend has continued since – 634 runs at 42.26 (2015/16), 837 runs at 49.23 (2016/17), 400 runs at 44.44 (2017/18), 835 runs at 47.38 (2018/19), 809 runs at 50.56 (2019/20), and 313 runs at 78.25 (2021/22). During this period, he has scored 12 centuries and 20 fifties.
In 2019/20, he was instrumental in Saurashtra's Ranji Trophy title, hitting notable centuries against Karnataka (161), Madhya Pradesh (186), and Gujurat (103) en-route to the final, where the side won on first innings.
Jackson is an incredible run churner who has targeted his maiden UK / European season in 2023. Jackson will be a sought-after signing, someone with one of the most enviable records in first-class cricket, who is looking to showcase his skills abroad next summer.
CricInfo Cricket Archive
There are no overseas stats available for this player.
Back to Player List
TweetLikeLinkedInEmailShares0
Profile Last Updated: 10/08/2022
sjhirst@cricx.com
Copyright © 2021 CricX.com - All Rights Reserved
Player List UK/EU


Name of Applicant : Fill name of Applicant as mentioned on the Aadhaar Card.
PAN : Fill 10 Digit PAN Number in case of Limited Liability Partnership / Partnership Firm/ Co-operative Society / Private Limited / Public Limited. PAN Number is optional in case of Proprietorship Firm / Hindu Undivided Family / Self Help Group .
Date of Incorporation/ Date of Birth as on PAN : Fill the date of Incorporation/ Date of Birth as mentioned on the PAN Card.
Entity Address : Please fill the address properly.
Business Activity of Enterprise : Select the Business activity from the given options.
Additional details about Business : Fill Additional details about business.
Bank Account Number : Fill the Applicant's bank account number.
Account Holder Name : Fill the account holder name.
Bank Name : Fill the Bank Name.
Branch Name : Fill the Branch Name.
Bank IFS Code : Fill the Applicant Bank IFS Code. The IFS code is printed on the Cheque Books.
CIN : Fill CIN in case of Limited Liability Partnership / Private Limited / Public Limited.
Date of Birth : Fill the date of Birth as mentioned on the PAN Card.


The suspect's Filipino driver, Handel Sarabosing, was also arrested on Wednesday, Philippine Lifestyle News reported.
The two denied the allegations. Tarakjian said he only gave gifts to children before sending them home. Sarabosing said he was just asked to transport the children.
Oliva said the arrest was made after parents of three children filed a complaint against the suspects. The parents said Sarabosing told them that the Lebanese man was looking for children to help him at his house.
"The parents were misled to think the intention of the foreigner was genuine, all the while there was a hidden agenda," Oliva said.
The NBI obtained security footage that showed Sarabosing coming out of Tarakjian's rented room at a city resort. When he returned, he was in the company of the three children. After the three children got home, they told their parents that they had been molested by Tarakjian.
Oliva alleged that one of the children was molested.
The two suspects face charges for violating the Expanded Anti-Trafficking In Persons Act of 2012 and the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.


text:
Q: Installing Mleap spark when I use spark shell with --packages ml.combust.mleap:mleap-spark_2.11:0.8.1
I got the errors as below

:::: ERRORS   unknown resolver null
unknown resolver null
unknown resolver null
unknown resolver null
:: USE VERBOSE OR DEBUG MESSAGE LEVEL FOR MORE DETAILS Exception in
  thread "main" java.lang.RuntimeException: [download failed:
  org.scalanlp#breeze_2.11;0.13.1!breeze_2.11.jar, download failed:
  net.sourceforge.f2j#arpack_combined_all;0.1!arpack_combined_all.jar]
    at
  org.apache.spark.deploy.SparkSubmitUtils$.resolveMavenCoordinates(SparkSubmit.scala:1078)
    at
  org.apache.spark.deploy.SparkSubmit$.prepareSubmitEnvironment(SparkSubmit.scala:296)
    at org.apache.spark.deploy.SparkSubmit$.submit(SparkSubmit.scala:160)
    at org.apache.spark.deploy.SparkSubmit$.main(SparkSubmit.scala:126)
    at org.apache.spark.deploy.SparkSubmit.main(SparkSubmit.scala)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


should I sell my XLT and buy a NEL snake coil for G2?
I have been addicted to the hobby since 2003, all I have owned so far was a whites XLT.
I am mainly a coinshooter at Sardinian salty beaches. Most of the time I hunt near bars in front of the sea. I must say those areas are super rich in all sort of trash, especially bottle cap and aluminum junk.
After first 15 hours of usage and, more than 60 euros in coin already collected, I have started mastering the sounds of this G2 machine.
Much lighter than my back up XLT, super quiet and stable, even on nasty wet sand pools ( very salty because strong evaporation occurs). No need to sweep like crazy, I have noticed even moving the coil very slowly, it looks the target and get a tight ID.
I own a Whites XLT rigged with a 6-inch coil, should I sell it and buy a NEL snake coil for G2? Would the Snake coil better a rejecting bottle caps? is there on the market any concentric small coil for G2?
I am not after depth at all costs, rather discrimination and stability are important for me.
Would the two machine complement each other?
Today, with the XLT and BLM600, I went back to the ground I hunted yesterday with G2 and found no coin left behind, found them only in tight spots where the G2's 11 coil could not fit.....so snake would be worth buying?
when searching the pile of trash discarded by beach cleaner,...with G2 is like a machine gun, simply not bearable(!? even at disc 59...) Would NEL coil Snake or Sharp help to solve the issue? XLT performed great at cherry picking coins from pile of trash, I wonder if I can rig the g2 in the same way with the same performance.
Re: should I sell my XLT and buy a NEL snake coil for G2?
I have an F19 which is pretty much the same as your G2. I've had numerous coils on it (NEL Thunder, Detech Ultimate, stock 11 DD, Detech SEF 5 X 10, 5 inch round, Mars Tiger and Mars Discovery). Personally I've never had a coil that could discriminate bottle caps better than another one. Concentric coils will do it but the G2 is not compatible with any concentric coil. You can still try any concentric that is available for the Greek series or the F5 and it will work but with unpredictable and sometimes strange results. I tried it myself and I didn't like it. I lost the F19's reliability. That being said, there is a way to know if there is a bottle cap under the coil with the G2. Dave J has a post on that right here or on the Teknetics forum. You have to slow down a bit, start swinging the coil over a potentially good target and when the heel of the coil passes on top of the target, the high conductor numbers should drop. The drop can be as low as a ten count or it can get way down to the lower mid conductors or even iron. Typically bottle caps are between 80 and 83 for me (sometimes in the 70's). When I do this the numbers drop to the lower 70's and sometimes much lower in the 50's or iron range. It will do this just before the number disappears because the coil is too far from the target. Sometimes you will get a distorted audio signal just before the target ID number fades out.
Any smaller coil than your 11 DD would give you better separation. If the places you like to hunt are heavily littered with trash, you can start with the 11 DD and then clean house with a smaller coil. By the way, NEL is not the only option. Fisher/Tek has the excellent 5 X 10 closed coil and the 5 inch round. Detech has the 5 X 10 and Mars has the Sniper coil.
I can't speak for the XLT. I never had one.
Mike, noted your advice on considering other coil brands as well, I suppose Fisher coils should be more compatible with G2 as they made by same company.
I applied all Dave's suggested technics to discriminate Bottlecaps and they work most of the time, unfortunately, bottlecaps VID is just like 1 euro coin VID (79), so to be sure I dig them just to confirm my guess and improve understanding of the machine.
Results: if VDI drops or I hear Iron grunt...they are 100% BC, but if the test is negative.... still I dig more BC than coins.
I can say the 11DD coil is super effective even in moderate littered areas, I am confident where I swept the coil no coins have been left behind...and no Bottle Caps too!
I set my mind I will buy a smaller coil maybe the snake ( because is cheaper than original ones),,,, and I will keep the XLT as the lending machine or just in case as back up.
I have just received the new coil NEL snake (bought because it was on cheap offer), tested right away.... the first impression really stable ( gain max 75) and light.
I Gone back to a place I had hunted before full of bottle caps, I managed to find other coins ( 5.20 euros). But most important all VDI numbers are 2 digits lower respect 11dd coil, and the majority of BC VDI dropped from 81/79 to 54/57, so I was able to easily reject BC and focus on coins. Can't speak about dept, as all coins were superficial I have just dug out some deeper soda cans maybe at 7/8 inches.
I did also another test in the backyard, which is completely littered with rust scales and I could pull out some high VDI targets (a broken yale key, aluminum door hinge, a decorative keyhole) and no rusty junk sounded in high VDIs.
Has anyone else observed a drop in VDI numbers and better rejection of Bottle caps with small coils?
Updates: Snake coil almost paid by itself after 10 days of ownership. It let G2 lock on coins no matter how much junk is there with surgical precision. Bottle caps are rejected easily.
I went back to places that I had thoroughly combed with XLT/Bluemax 6 inch coil couple of weeks ago, still, I managed to pull out more coins from what I thought it was an empty ground.
The other day, hunting side by side with a guy running a Notka Impact (11' coil), I was able to stay ahead in terms of value and number of found coins .


text:
{% extends 'flask_user/emails/base_message.html' %}

{% block message %}

Thank you for registering with Try41.

{% endblock %}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Weekly Trade
Delivered every Monday by 10 a.m., Weekly Trade examines the latest news in global trade politics and policy.
Next U.S.-China trade round on April 30
By ADAM BEHSUDI
With help from Megan Cassella and Doug Palmer
Editor's Note: This edition of Morning Trade is published weekdays at 10 a.m. POLITICO Pro Trade subscribers hold exclusive early access to the newsletter each morning at 6 a.m. To learn more about POLITICO Pro's comprehensive policy intelligence coverage, policy tools and services, click here
— U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin head back to Beijing for another round of trade talks starting on April 30.
— India wants another 90 days to try to sort out problems related to its participation in the Generalized System of Preferences, but has yet to get an answer from the Trump administration.
— Vice President Mike Pence is headed to Motor City where he will promote the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada deal during a tour of a Ford plant.
IT'S WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24! Welcome to Morning Trade, where we wondered how many people recognize White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow's references to China as "Peck's Bad Boy" of international trade. The mischievous prankster was popular in books of the late 1800s and movies in the first half of last century. But he hasn't been seen much in popular culture since then — at least by that name. Got any "bad boys" for the trade team? Send them to [email protected] or @abehsudi.
NEXT U.S.-CHINA TRADE ROUND ON APR 30: A team led by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will travel to Beijing for the next round of trade talks beginning on April 30, the White House said Tuesday evening. A team led by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will come to Washington on May 8 to continue the talks.
There is still no date for a summit meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to sign off on any deal. However, Trump currently has what appears to be an opening in his schedule between a trip to Japan on May 25-28 and a trip to the United Kingdom and France on June 3-6. Next week's talks in Beijing will cover forced technology transfer, non-tariff barriers, enforcement and purchases, in addition to other topics.
INDIA WANTS BREATHING ROOM ON GSP DECISION: The Indian government wants the Trump administration to provide a 90-day "breather" period to allow India to get through its election cycle before New Delhi's tariff benefits under the GSP are halted. The U.S. is expected to finalize by May 4 a decision to end India's participation in the decades-old program, which allows developing countries to export thousands of goods to the United States without paying duties.
Indian officials, in a briefing with reporters on Tuesday, said the U.S. Trade Representative's office, which administers the program, has continued to fault India for not addressing U.S. concerns on market access for dairy products, medical devices and information technology goods. The officials said USTR's response to India's request for an extension was that the ultimate decision on the fate of India's GSP benefits lies at a higher level. New Delhi has stressed that due to the elections the government cannot make any major policy decisions right now to further address U.S. concerns.
The officials also reiterated that they submitted what they thought was an "attractive" package responding to U.S. complaints but got no response — until the U.S. announced GSP termination two days later on March 4.
"It was a bit of a surprise to us," said one official.
A shrinking trade deficit: One of New Delhi's main talking points against GSP termination is the fact that U.S. exports to India have grown dramatically in recent years, increasing nearly 30 percent between 2017 and 2018. The U.S. decided to terminate India's GSP participation after it determined the country was not providing "equitable and reasonable" access to numerous sectors of its market. But Indian officials said India has provided major export opportunities for U.S. oil and gas, commercial aircraft and poultry. "You don't have a market access issue, the data shows that," said one official.
The growth in U.S. exports to India corresponds with a decrease in India's exports to the U.S., which means the U.S.' current $21.3 billion trade deficit is expected to decrease even more in 2019, the official said.
A 'knock-down' effect: India exported $5.6 billion worth of GSP-eligible goods to the U.S. last year, representing more than a quarter of the $21.7 billion in goods the U.S. imported under the program in 2018. Another Indian official said ending the program would have a "knock-down" effect on the country's economy, affecting employment primarily in small- and medium-sized businesses. Many U.S. companies and business groups also oppose terminating India's GSP benefits, arguing that most of what is imported is intermediate goods that support U.S. jobs.
PENCE HITS THE RUST BELT: For the second time in two weeks, Vice President Mike Pence is hitting the road today to tout the benefits of the USMCA in a state that stands to gain from the deal's updated provisions. During a day trip to Detroit and Dearborn, Mich., Pence will tour a Ford Motor Company plant and then deliver remarks on the USMCA during an auto industry discussion, the White House announced Tuesday.
The trip comes just a week after the vice president traveled to Texas for a visit that was also focused in part on the USMCA.
White House ramps up its USMCA sales pitch: Pence's trip also comes as the White House is riding high from last week's economic impact report. Kevin Hassett, the chairman of the White House's Council of Economic Advisers, told POLITICO's Ben White this week that the administration was "prepared for a really bad number" in the U.S. International Trade Commission's report.
So, Hassett said, when administration officials saw last week's report — which estimated the USMCA would boost GDP by 0.35 percent by the sixth year after implementation and add 176,000 jobs — "We were like, 'Wow, this is fantastic. They really improved their model.'" He added that he feels the report "increases the odds of the thing passing."
ESTIMATING USMCA'S IMPACT: White House National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said during a National Press Club speech Tuesday that the ITC estimated the deal would produce "7 or 800,000 jobs. I'll call it a million just to round it up." But in an email, Susan Varga, NEC chief of staff, said Kudlow recognized he misspoke. "He meant to say 'between 170,000 and 180,000 new jobs' (not 7 or 800,000 jobs). He stands corrected," Varga wrote.
Earlier in the day, a White House official said Kudlow was referring to a high-range estimate contained in one section of the ITC report. The report's Table 2.7 shows the agreement could produce as many as 588,900 jobs when extra weight is given in the forecasting model to the benefits of certain provisions affecting data transfers, cross-border services and investment that would prevent trade-restricting regulations in those areas. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner appeared to refer to that estimate when he said at a TIME 100 event on Tuesday that USMCA would create about 500,000 jobs.
The same table shows the USMCA eliminating 53,000 jobs when no weight is given to those factors and generating 176,000 jobs when a "conservative" weight of 0.25 is used in the formula. Doug has more here.
SCRAP INDUSTRY SQUEEZED: Exports of scrap material to China, including plastic and paper, have plummeted by 38 percent in value last year, exposing yet another side of the strained U.S.-China trading relationship. Now China is looking to impose new import restrictions July 1 on imports of scrap aluminum, steel and copper.
That could be bad news for the metal segment of the scrap industry, as China seems to be ramping up its own scrap metal production.
"Because of the investments being made in China and the strong push from the government to generate domestic demand, they are going to become a net exporter at one point," Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries President Robin Wiener said in an interview. "They're going to flood markets. Just like they did with steel." Doug has the full story here.
— China's belt and road initiative could accelerate the relocation of manufacturing to India and Vietnam, the South China Morning Post reports.
— A new study finds tomato prices could rise 40 percent or more if the U.S. terminates a tariff suspension deal with Mexico, POLITICO Pro reports.
— AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka said union workers need proof that Mexico will eliminate "sham" labor contracts as part of USMCA, POLITICO Pro reports.
— Trump is considering waiving the Jones Act to transport natural gas to Puerto Rico, Bloomberg reports.
THAT'S ALL FOR MORNING TRADE! See you again soon! In the meantime, drop the team a line: [email protected] and@abehsudi; [email protected] and@mmcassella; [email protected] and@tradereporter; [email protected] and @sabrod123; [email protected] and@jmlauinger; and [email protected] and@pjoshiny. Also follow us@POLITICOPro and@Morning_Trade.
John Yearwood @john_yearwood
Doug Palmer @tradereporter
Gavin Bade @GavinBade
Steven Overly @StevenOverly
About The Author : Adam Behsudi
Adam Behsudi is an economics and finance news editor for POLITICO.
Weekly Trade - POLITICO Archive
View the Full Weekly Trade Archives »

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
877-307-7403vip@mikerayburn.com
Book Rayburn
Virtuoso In Progress
Mike Rayburn's Virtuoso Community
A Nerd Like Me
Fidgety Digits
Mike Rayburn Live at Carnegie Hall
Romantical
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagramYouTubeRss
Mike Rayburn's Online Store
What IF? Challenge
Take The "What IF?" Challenge!
The "What If?" Challenge is 16 powerful sessions with Mike Rayburn, each a fun 3 – 4 1/2 minute video with a carefully chosen "What If?" question Mike designed to transform your mindset, open up your possibilities, give you more time, and supercharge your performance.
2020 Price: $997
What IF…? Action Pack
"Mike Rayburn at Carnegie Hall" Live CD
A Nerd Like Me CD
"Fidgety Digits" CD
The What IF? Keynote Experience DVD
What If…? Book
What IF…? The Book
This is the content to Mike's award-winning "What If…?" keynote presentation, with Foreword by Jack Canfield ("Chicken Soup For The Soul," writer of "The Secret).
You'll learn…
The MOST powerful motivational force on this planet (hint: it's not power, money, or fame)
Three simple, powerful ways to access your gold mine of unrealized potential and become a possibility thinker.
How to set goals which propel you to unimagined success.
The power of your sense of purpose and how to harness it of exponential change.
The most basic human brain function and how to use it to for positive change.
How to stop majoring in minor things.
That managing change is not only stupid, it's dangerous; the only way to manage change is tocreate change.
A 10-minute exercise that will show you how to become a virtuoso… a master of the things that matter.
"What If Keynote Experience" – DVD
What If Keynote Experience: In 'The What If Keynote Experience' Rayburn teaches real tools for innovation and performance, but he teaches with wild guitar and comedy (rather than PowerPoint) so it's a lot of fun!
Classically Trained, Comically Derailed: Mike's critically acclaimed odyssey of masterful guitar, clean, wonderfully-warped comedy, and musical combinations God never intended.
A Nerd Like Me – CD
Parody CD by Mike Rayburn
"A Nerd Like Me" is a CD of 9 parodies and a bonus track*. The title track is a (mis?)treatment of Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me." Other tracks include the jazzy, "My Favorite Things: NOT!" from Sound of Music about the little things that just bug you.
At Mike's satirical hand, The Clash's "Rockin' The Casbah" becomes a diatribe about every bad guitar gig Mike's done (and there have been many), called "Rockin' The Snack Bar."
Also included is an indictment of Bruno Mars' whiny, "Grenade," Tai Cruz' "Dynamite" becomes a fun, family romp called "Hamster Bite," Justin Bieber's "Baby" is now an itch-fest called "Scabies," (yeah, Mike actually raps) and if you remember Mike from the 90's, he included his "Male Response To Alanis Morissette." There is one live recording, Mike's instrumental parody (huh? yeah) of Dueling Banjos called "Dueling Banj-arabia."
* Bonus Track… It's Mike's solo guitar version of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." This piece regularly gets standing ovations in the middle of Mike's presentations.
A Nerd Like Me – Digital
Parody Album by Mike Rayburn
Access streaming digital delivery and downloadable MP3s when purchasing this product.
"A Nerd Like Me" is an album of 9 parodies and a bonus track*. The title track is a (mis?)treatment of Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me." Other tracks include the jazzy, "My Favorite Things: NOT!" from Sound of Music about the little things that just bug you.
At Mike's satirical hand, The Clash's "Rockin' The Casbah" becomes a diatribe about every bad guitar gig Mike's done (and there have been many), called "Rockin' The Snack Bar."
Also included is an indictment of Bruno Mars' whiny, "Grenade," Tai Cruz' "Dynamite" becomes a fun, family romp called "Hamster Bite," Justin Bieber's "Baby" is now an itch-fest called "Scabies," (yeah, Mike actually raps) and if you remember Mike from the 90's, he included his "Male Response To Alanis Morissette." There is one live recording, Mike's instrumental parody (huh? yeah) of Dueling Banjos called "Dueling Banj-arabia."
* Bonus Track… It's Mike's solo guitar version of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." This piece regularly gets standing ovations in the middle of Mike's presentations.
Fidgety Digits – CD
Up-tempo, experimental, finger-style solo acoustic guitar, featuring some of Mike's long-time favorites – Quicksilver, Bele Chere, Hot Lizard, and the studio version of Hang The Jury.
Fidgety Digits – Digital
Mike Rayburn at Carnegie Hall – CD
One unforgettable night with Mike at Carnegie Hall! This is Mike is at his comedic and musical best. Includes Led Zeppelin sings Dr. Seuss; Dan Fogelberg sings AC/DC (and reverse); Quicksilver, Tattoo, Scarlet O'Hara, Hang The Jury, Devil Went Down To Georgia, Bad Luck, and many more. Over 1 hour!
Mike Rayburn at Carnegie Hall – Digital
Romantical – CD
Beautiful, soft instrumental guitar, both classical and Rayburn originals. Includes "Pachelbel's Canon," 3 Bach pieces, the Cabo San Lucas inspired "Dos Mares," and Robin Crow co-write, "Hope and Fear."
Romantical – Digital
The Classics – 3 CDs
You get Mike's first 3 CDs, studio recordings of Mike and his band doing his acoustic rock/folk/rural songs. Lots of great acoustic and electric guitar work, infectious vibes, strong songs.
"Unstoppable" CD
"Better Days" CD
"Eleven" CD
The Classics – Digital
Mike's first big CD! Recorded with all-star studio players Jerry Douglas, Ray Flacke, Paul Franklin (Dire Straits), David Hungate (Toto, Boz Scaggs), Larrie Londin (Journey, Elvis, Beach Boys), and a host of others.
Features "Scarlet O'hara," "One Bad Decision," "Sunshine," and "Country Cool" (the song that got Mike his Sony publishing deal).
Rootsy, raw, acoustic ROCK; Produced by Dave Perkins. Great electric and acoustic guitar work on energetic, relationship reckoning, celebratory and soul-searching songs.
Features the sweet, Willy Porter co-write, "Watercolor," the haunting "Black Horses" (the skillfully worded child-like dream of a sex-abused sister), "Under The Sunset Moon" – a rock rendering of a wild story south of the border, and the one Mike performs most often today, "I Find My Strength In You."
Acoustic rock with an R&B back beat. Produced by Dave Huff. Songs ranging from existential ponderings like "That's Up To Me" and "Truth In Contradiction" – to real love celebrated in "I Love You Like That" – to love betrayed "I Kinda Like The Rain," to a bluesy rendition of the Box Tops' "The Letter," where Mike is joined by original Box Tops guitarist, Gary Talley. It also features "Valentine," a hit for Renee Stewart in Australia. Better Days and Unstoppable contain many co-writes with hit song crafter, Tom Kimmel.
The Symphony
The Full Rayburn Collection
Includes streaming and downloadable access to all of Mike's music, and shipping of the CDs, a DVD and a book to your doorstep.
"Unstoppable" "Better Days" and "Eleven"
Copyright © [wpsos_year] Wheneverly Endeavors. All Rights Reserved.
MIKE RAYBURN CSP, CPAE Keynote Artist
To visit Rayburn's non-VIP website, click here.


text:
Sports boss "delighted" with start to the season
Aug 23, 2017 | Headlines
Mickleover Sports manager John McGrath has been hailing his side's start to the new EVO-STIK League campaign.
In a statement on Tuesday before the arrival of Stafford Rangers at the Don Amott Arena in one of the night's 11 top flight fixtures, McGrath also congratulated everyone from midfielder Andy Dales on his milestone appearance at Lancaster City on Saturday to his touchline team and the club's next generation of stars coming through the NPL Football Academy.
McGrath, who also manages the club's champions of the EVO-STIK League's ground-breaking league wide academy, told fans via the clubs's website and social media channels that he was enjoying planning for a brighter future after the success they've enjoyed and recently signing a new two year contract.
The Sports boss said "I am delighted with how pre-season has gone. All the lads are looking fit and I am especially delighted with our start to the new season with five points taken from our first three games.
"I am delighted with the impact of my backroom staff as well. Liam Walshe and Clinton Morrison have really taken to their roles and as a manager it is nice to have people behind me who I can 100 per cent trust.
"Congratulations to Andy Dales who on his 150th competitive appearance for Sports scored against Lancaster City at the weekend. We have added some good quality over the summer with new additions Bradley Grayson, Evan Garnett, Ben Morris and Danny Gordon all having positive affects on the team."
He added "The academy boys have started their pre-season as well ahead of the new campaign which starts again in September. The boys have been working hard with myself and my fellow academy coach Andy Dales. The next generation to hopefully following in the footsteps of Lewis Belgrave, Jordan Gilhooly, Jake Dickinson and Morgan Williams."


TETRADIAP'ASON, n. [Gr. four, and diapason.] Quadruple diapason or octave; a musical chord, otherwise called a quadruple eighth or twenty ninth.
Quadruple diapason or octave; a musical chord, otherwise called a quadruple eighth or twenty-ninth. Cyc.
TETRADIAP'ASON, noun [Gr. four, and diapason.] Quadruple diapason or octave; a musical chord, otherwise called a quadruple eighth or twenty ninth.
1. The act of recording or writing in a register.
2. The place where a register is kept.
3. A series of facts recorded.


text:
Orna Raz
The Visit Of The {Not So} Old Couple: Aharon And Ida Megged
Not many Israelis have heard about Iowa city, an oasis at the heart of the corn fields of Iowa. The University of Iowa is the home to the famous Writers' Workshop and the unique International Writers' Workshop. For me, as a graduate student specializing in literature, spending several years in IC was a dream comes true.
Every fall a group of writers from all over the world came to Iowa City to attend the International Writers' Program for one semester. Most of the writers, novelists, poets, and playwrights came on their own, and stayed as a group, a kind of summer camp, in one of the residence halls on campus very close to the river.
Before the beginning of each academic year, our small Israeli community (of about 30) would get all excited about the new upcoming Israeli writers. Once the group arrived we usually invited the Israelis to one of our gatherings, and attended their literary readings.
But one year was different, we heard that the writers were a couple, a husband and wife, and they asked to live on their own outside the campus. Shortly afterward we met Aharon Megged, who passed away yesterday at the age of 95, and his wife Ida Zorit Megged.
Although they came to town for a short period, to attend a structured program, staying too close to the group didn't suit them, they had their their own idea about the visit in Iowa City.
While previous Israeli writers spent most of their time socializing with the other writers and did not show a special interest in the town or in the Israeli community, Aharon and Ida loved to explore the town, and, for the duration of their stay, they did not mind being part of the Israeli community. They attended our parties and gathering, and while Aharon was shy Ida was more outgoing and was interested in everyone and everything. We all warmed up to her, and because she liked to listen, within minutes she heard everything about everyone. We were all young and far away from home, so it was good to talk to that wise and experienced couple.
Aharon and Ida were in their 60s when they came to Iowa City and they seemed old. But I admired the wisdom and freedom that seemed to come with age. They were true to themselves and acted the way they saw fit. They did not get involved in the details of the relationships that naturally evolved within the members of the group. Although they showed consideration and respect to their peers, they chose to stay outside and do their own thing.
That visit in Iowa City remained a happy memory in my family's biography. Moreover, in that visit I saw, for the first time, people, my parents' generation, who acted exactly as they wished, and it made a huge impression on me.
I am now almost as old as they were when they came to town, and with time I am even more convinced that this is how I would like to conduct myself in later years.
I have a PhD in English literature from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and I usually write about issues concerning women, literature, culture and society. I lived in the US for 15 years (between 1979-1994). I am widow and in March 2016 started a support/growth Facebook group for widows: "Widows Move On." In October 2017 I started a Facebook group for Older and Experienced Feminists. I am also an active member of Women Wage Peace and believe that women can succeed where men have failed.
Death and Mourning
Book review — The Legends of Rabbah Bar Bar Hannah
Ben Rothke
Someone Said Something – Resulting In The Imminent Launch of Of The Iron D(omar) Mitzvah Missile Project
Tzemach Yehudah Richter
Ex-minister, Arab MKs slam Trump for 'go back' tweets, but Israeli officials mum
Epstein lawyers claim fake passport was needed to hide Jewishness


Small, quirky and cute but special of course!
Pick up this lantern arrangement in a variety of colours.
The vintage style lanterns measure approx. 14cm tall.
Style of lantern container may vary. Please call us for more details.


An award pin is a great way to give recognition!
We specialize in quality award pins for school, business, church, clubs, contests, and events. Commercial Award Pin Company has hundreds of stock pins or we can manufacture a custom design pin for you.
If you have any questions or would like to speak with a company representative, please feel free to call, fax or e-mail us.We look forward to working with you!


text:
Contact, Directions and Map
Innovate Maryland
Invention of the Year Awards
FOR INVENTORS
Inventor Disclosure Responsibility
University System of Maryland Policies
When to Contact OTC
DISCLOSE INVENTION
Faculty and Graduate Student Startup Support
UMD Startups
Business Fundamentals Workshops
Startup Mentors
BROWSE & SEARCH TECHNOLOGIES
Browse Technologies
Issued Patents
Archived Patents
Laura Neuman
Laura Neuman is a leader with a record of delivering results in both the public and private sectors. She is a change agent in all aspects of building and managing organizations. Her experience includes financing and building/motivating great teams, and combines an entrepreneurial focus with a wide range of experience in corporate development, strategic planning, operations and government.
Neuman has held public office and was CEO and company-builder in the private sector, ranging from venture-backed start-up to established national organizations. She has mentored, consulted or evaluated hundreds of early stage or start-up companies. Most notable achievement in business was to build technology startup Matrics, raising $17 million in venture capital; sold for $230 million.
MBA from Loyola University in Maryland without a high school diploma or college degree and completed Executive Program at Stanford Business School.
Frequent speaker and guest lecturer on leadership, entrepreneurship, government, and advocating for women. Subject of numerous business and human interest articles/news programs for overcoming significant challenges and achieving success.
To schedule a meeting with Laura or to learn more about resources and support offered to campus startups, contact Alla McCoy, the director of the Startup Support program.
Contact, Directions & Map
Invention of the Year
PDF about Technology Transfer
Disclose to OTC
Intellectual Property Policies
Find a Technology
For Corporate Partners
Contact OTC
Office of Technology Commercialization
2130 Mitchell Building
7999 Regents Dr.
Email: umdtechtransfer@umd.edu
© Copyright 2013 University of Maryland
UMD's Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility, which simulates weightlessness, is one of only two such facilities in the U.S.


text:
Trade Associations & Chambers
SBF works with Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) in Singapore for a comprehensive representation of the business community. Some of the key collaborations between SBF and the TACs include representing businesses on SME advocacy and providing Budget recommendations through the SBF-led SME Committee, outreach activities and joint consultations.
Below is the list of TACs that are members of SBF.
Constituent Members
Association of Small & Medium Enterprises
China Enterprises Association (Singapore)
European Chamber of Commerce (Singapore)
Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Singapore
Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore
Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Singapore International Chamber of Commerce
Singapore Manufacturing Federation
Singapore Retailers Association
The American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore
The Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Association of Catering Professional Singapore
Association of Certified Security Agencies
Australian Chamber of Commerce, Singapore
British Chamber of Commerce
Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore
Institute for Mergers, Acquisitions and Alliances (IMAA) (Singapore)
Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants
Italian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore
Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS)
Security Association (Singapore) (SAS)
SGTech
Singapore Association for Private Education (SAPE)
Singapore Cocktail Bar Association Ltd
Singapore National Employers Federation
Singapore Shipping Association
Textile and Fashion Federation (Singapore)
The Association of Banks in Singapore
The French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore
The Korean Chamber of Commerce in Singapore
The Law Society of Singapore
The Singapore Contractors Association Limited
The Singapore Hotel Association
UAE Singapore Business Council


text:
'Occupy' protests being shut down
in Canada, Economics, Law, Politics, The environment, Toronto
Various 'Occupy' protests around North America are being shut down on the orders of city governments, and apparently by means of police driving everyone out in the middle of the night and arresting those who remain. Regardless of the politics of the protestors, this is objectionable. While it is fair enough for cities to try to maintain safe conditions in the encampments, it doesn't seem necessary to use such heavy-handed tactics to do so. They could correct potential fire hazards one at a time, clean the parks in segments without evicting everyone, and so on. The current approach seems unnecessarily violent and not respectful of the right of the protestors to speak and assemble – rights that trump superficial concerns like grass getting trampled.
An incoherent movement
While I object to the manner of these evictions, I continue to see limited value in the 'Occupy' protests themselves. There are definitely reasons to be concerned about things like the regulation of the financial sector and social justice issues generally. The way in which those in extreme poverty are treated by our society is deeply objectionable. At the same time, I think it is fair to say that the 'Occupy' movement lacks coherence and political savvy. While the particular democratic approach being employed seems to be gratifying for participants, it prevents the movement from articulating clear demands that can penetrate into the political system or even into the wider public discussion in a discrete way.
I also think the protestors have an inflated sense about their level of public support. They claim to represent 99% of the population, but it seems clear that 99% of the population does not want what they want – at least in terms of radical redistribution of income, or the wholesale modification of the corporate capitalist system that predominates in North America today. Most people are reasonably happy with the status quo, which is why the 'Occupy' movement is marginalized and confined to a few parks.
Part of the reason for that inflated sense of popularity probably comes from the ease with which the media can be captivated by the sort of stories the 'Occupy' movement produces: clashes between protestors and police, heated arguments within municipal politics, colourful signs and soundbites, and pundits arguing energetically. 'Occupy' has been all over the news, despite how there doesn't seem to be a great deal of intellectual substance behind it.
The political situation
The political situation in North America is certainly discouraging for those who favour redistribution of wealth (a group that includes many traditionally identified as part of the political 'left'). In Canada, the Liberal Party have been in disarray for years. It has performed poorly in successive elections and lacks an inspiring candidate for leadership or a clear sense of how to restore itself as a plausible government. The right is united and the left is a mess, which is the major reason why right-leaning governments have endured and strengthened in recent years.
In the United States, a left-leaning president has become quite unpopular, largely as a result of ongoing economic problems that are basically an accident as far as he is concerned. He inherited a big mess and has been fixated on trying to sort it out, fully aware that his re-election prospects depend more on that than on anything else. His efforts to produce growth and reduce unemployment have not been terribly successful (though you can argue that things would have been far worse without them) and he has sacrificed most of his other priorities to achieve what little he has on the economy. (Health is the only other area where he has devoted substantial effort, and it remains to be seen whether that will be picked apart.)
The state of the right-leaning party in the United States might be the most depressing thing about North American politics. The leadership candidates are mostly clowns, and the one who is most credible (Romney) has been driven to say some awfully discouraging things by his more populist rivals. It is deeply worrisome to see how little American Republicans care about empirical evidence and science, and frightening to think what policies would come out of a new Republican administration, regardless of which specific candidate leads it.
'Occupy' in context
The political left is a mess, so the prospects for more redistribution through the ordinary political system are poor. That may explain the effort to sidestep politics as usual through encampments and attempts to engage with the population directly.
And yet, I don't think the general population is being convinced by the arguments the occupiers are making. They recognize that there are important problems being identified, but 'Occupy' doesn't seem capable of managing and sustaining itself as a movement, much less of being the source for major political or economic changes in society as a whole. Their criticisms are more convincing than their proposed solutions, insofar as a clear set of proposals can even be discerned.
Eventually, some combination of official pressure, bad weather, and sheer exhaustion will probably lead to the end of the encampments. It is not clear to me that they will have any legacy worth pointing to. They demonstrate that people are unhappy with the state of politics and the economic order of society, but they do not seem like the start of an effective movement to alter either of those things.
For those who want to reduce economic inequality in society – a project that I do not fully endorse personally – I think the task that needs to be undertaken is the rebuilding of the left within conventional politics. The Liberals the the NDP need to be brought together in Canada, and they need to craft a set of policies that can appeal to a majority of the population. The same is true in the United States, in that the Democrats need to find their way after the disappointments of Obama.
Redistribution versus decarbonization
What worries me most is that the most necessary political project is not one that really has any popular support to speak of. I am talking about the preservation of the habitability of the planet. It is a task that is essential to the welfare of future generations, but which primarily requires sacrifice from the generation that is making decisions now. It may be that when you rank all the human beings who will ever live, including those in the past and those yet to be born, virtually everyone alive today is part of the 1% who are the wealthiest and most privileged.
George Monbiot captures this well, in saying: "[Decarbonization] is a campaign not for abundance but for austerity. It is a campaign not for more freedom but for less. Strangest of all, it is a campaign not just against other people, but against ourselves."
The way I see it, extreme poverty and the treatment of mentally ill are major moral failings in North American society which ought to be prioritized within the political system. The simple redistribution of income from the wealthy to the poor and/or the middle class is a less important project, and one that is more morally questionable. The decarbonization of the global economy, by contrast, is a critically important project of enormous moral importance. It is more important than preventing future banking crises, and certainly more important than reducing the gap between those who travel by private jet and those who travel by Greyhound. Preventing future banking crises may be a precondition for decarbonization – since economic turmoil sucks the air out of politics and effectively forbids politicians from working on anything else – but that is an instrumental rather than a fundamental argument for increasing financial stability. Decarbonization also cannot survive as exclusively a movement of the left. It must become post-partisan. As such, the linkages between the movement to fight climate change and the 'Occupy' movement may be counterproductive in the long run.
Ultimately, I think our generation will be judged on how quickly we move beyond fossil fuels and how effectively we develop and deploy zero-carbon energy options. Decarbonization is the means by which we can reduce the terrifying risks associated with climate change, and zero carbon energy will be the basis for whatever level of prosperity is actually sustainable for the indefinite future of human life.
OWS: Occupiers return to Zuccotti Park in force, watch it here
Protesters are returning to re-occupy Zuccotti Park in New York City. Mayor Bloomberg's administration maintains that the occupiers will not be allowed to stay overnight. Watch the live video stream here. At the time of this blog post, a GA is taking place. NY Daily News is one of a number of news organizations live-blogging from the park tonight.
It goes without saying that politics is a dirty system. It's so dirty that I believe there are only three reasonable approaches to politics: apathy/despair, overthrowing the system, or playing dirty to win. I'll assume that the apathetics either aren't reading this or will soon stop reading to go watch cat videos on YouTube. The second option, revolution, is growing more plausible, and the climate movement should fully support those efforts. The occupations of Wall Street and D.C. have found a weak spot in the wall of corporate power that keeps people out of the halls of influence. Everyone needs to push that spot until we break through the wall and have a new constitutional convention to establish a democracy in this country.
oleh November 16, 2011 at 12:54 am
The POUS is the most influential person in the world. Obama holds that position and foreseeably will be re-elected. Providing health care coverage for the majority of uncovered Americans is a major accomplishment. He has been constrained by a Republican Congress and generally a downturn in the American economy. 5 more years of his administration would take us further down a progressive road. I maintain hope.
I have mostly been following the Occupy Vancouver event. I have probably been to the site a dozen times and a total of 5 to 8 hours. I have attended 4 general assemblies. I have also been following media coverage.
"Heavy handed police action" does not apply to this location. The police did step in to protect fire officials who were putting out a barrrel fire which the protesters described as a "sacred fire". I heard that two police officers were bitten and one kicked in the groin. I cannot recall if any participant of Occupy Vancouver was injured, arrested or removed from the site during that event. That is as "heavy handed" as has occured to date.
The article on the subject in the Globe and Mail yesterday by Elizabeth Church reports that Vancouver has gone further than Toronto
The city has applied for an injunction. about 13 days ago. The application will be heard over the next three days before the Associate Chief Justice. That will likely govern what will occur.
I no longer see Occupy Vancouver as primarily a protest. It is an encampment on public space. In the general assemblies which last about one to two hours there is discussion, which is consistent with protest. I also see a waning of protest or concern with the original goals of freedom of expression in these assemblies.
These assemblies can continue without the encampment. At this point there are about 75 to 100 people in attendance. The original rally on the first day had 4000. I expect that if Occupy Vancouver wanted to continue thto meet daily at the Art Gallery they would be allowed to do so for the hour or two that it occur.
. November 16, 2011 at 12:58 pm
The protesters have few small problems. What they have is one big problem. Even if the cops don't crack down, and the city lets them stay—and that's where things were at on Tuesday—then what's to gain from continuing the occupation? Why stay in the parks?
That's the discussion that the Occupy intelligentsia (no, I'm not inventing that phrase) is having right now. On Monday night, right before the New York raid, a new "tactical briefing" went up at AdBusters. The Canadian consumerism-smashing magazine, whose editors had dreamed up the Occupation way back in February, raised two possibilities for the movement's future.
"STRATEGY #1: We summon our strength, grit our teeth and hang in there through winter," wrote the magazine's Culture Jammers.
"STRATEGY #2: We declare "victory" and throw a party … a festival … a potlatch … a jubilee … a grand gesture to celebrate, commemorate, rejoice in how far we've come, the comrades we've made, the glorious days ahead."
Choose Door No. 2, and most of the movement goes to the "high ground."
Bloomberg and [Police Commissioner Ray] Kelly have breathed new life into what had been a struggling political movement. First, their brief eviction helped split the occupiers from Zuccotti Park itself, which had become a sometimes shady, frequently overpacked and unpleasant place. The park that was supposed to be a model society — and had become the star around which other cities' occupations rotated — had become a burden to many of the organizers. Even the culture jammers at Adbusters, credited with calling for a day of action, which in turn sparked the occupation, argued on Monday it was time to move on from the parks.
The one-two punch of the police eviction and court decision gave purpose back to a broader movement that has lately seemed adrift.
alena November 16, 2011 at 2:16 pm
At the onset, Occupy Vancouver provided a nice contrast to the hockey riots that we had here last year. There was something quite innocent about the assemblies and the general spirit of the place. I attended some of the assemblies and had lunch at their kitchen with some of my students. when David Suzuki came to speak there, he provided a definite boost of energy to the movement. Lately it has really started to decline and it feels more like a slum. Even so, I think that the movement has succeeded if only to raise awareness. There is not much that this group could have achieved in terms of change in policy.
. November 17, 2011 at 9:33 am
In yet another midnight police raid, Occupy Dallas eviction under way
"Dozens of Dallas Police officers holding shields, batons and wearing helmets about to enter the #Occupy camp," tweets WFAA (Dallas, TX) reporter Jason Whitely.
By various reports, about 50 Occupy Dallas protestors are gathered. Police are in riot gear.
Media were ordered by police to move away from the camp (at a distance that would make direct observation impossible), or face arrest along with protesters, according to various sources.
America has swiftly soured on the Occupy Wall Street movement. OWS is now even less loved than the positively ancient tea-party movement. David Weigel plumbs the trends from the last two surveys from Public Policy Polling:
Do you support or oppose the goals of the Occupy Wall Street movement?
Support: 33% (-2) Oppose: 45% (+9)
Do you have a higher opinion of the Occupy Wall Street movement or the Tea Party movement?
Occupy: 37% (-3)Tea Party: 43% (+3)
Mr Weigel suggests that OWS's fall from favour is "a reflection of a steady thrum-thrum of viral Internet articles and local news reports about the dark side of Occupation…"
Violence and Vandalism Don't Threaten the System, Occupy's Positive Image Does
We were confronted on Wednesday by two images of violence on college campuses.
On the one hand, there were the students at UC Berkeley who had to do nothing more than link arms and chant in order to incur repeated thrusts of police batons to the gut. The campus police's unprovoked violence against the peacefully protesting students, who were part of an Occupy Cal protest, elicited chants of "Stop beating students!" from the comrades of those being beaten.
On the other hand, there were the students at Penn State, who rioted, tearing down lampposts and overturning a news van, in retaliation for their school's decision to fire their football coach who, however successful his record on the gridiron, had concealed child rape for years. One of the lampposts fell into a crowd of students. A number of the rioters threw rocks and fireworks at police.
The takeaway was obvious: rioting requires no courage, no moral righteousness, no intelligence and no revolutionary spirit – just rage.
"The Feds helped break up the Occupy protests by providing advice and assistance from the FBI and DHS. From the article: 'Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said on Monday that her city and others across the country coordinated their crackdowns of Occupy Wall Street camps. Rick Ellis, a Minneapolis-based journalist for Examiner.com, reports that these cities also had the help of the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
dp November 17, 2011 at 10:59 pm
Follow along. If the vaguely defined "1 percent" have all the power, then no amount of sign-waving, slogan-chanting or locale-occupation will have any influence. It'd be like trying to get the Pope to let someone else be infallible once in a while. So if the protests end in any status other than quo, then the 1 percent is a myth, normal people have plenty of influence, and the protestors were just wasting everyone's time.
However, if the Occupy movement dies without inspiring any substantial changes in the U.S. political scene, then it will prove that they were right all along.
In other words, the Occupy movement can only succeed by failing completely.
Tristan November 18, 2011 at 10:40 am
Rather than comment here, I wrote my own post on some of these questions on my blog – http://northernsong.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/but-what-are-there-demands-or-a-response-to-a-standard-story-about-occupy/
anon November 18, 2011 at 2:07 pm
If you want to talk about solutions, there is a worthwhile talk going on today….
http://www.meetview.com/OccupiedEconomies/
A few days ago the philosopher Slavoj Zizek showed up at Zuccotti Park and addressed the protesters. In his thick Slovenian accent he spoke about the grave importance of the protest, beyond just being some vague symbol of populist anger. He said, "I don't want you to remember these days as 'oh, we were young and it was beautiful.' Remember that our basic message is: 'We are allowed to think about alternatives.' A taboo is broken, we do not live in the best possible world." We are allowed, according to Zizek, to not only imagine a better world. We are allowed to expect it, to demand it. Only then would it be possible. Dare to struggle, dare to win.
oleh November 19, 2011 at 6:25 am
I went to the Occupy Vancouver site on about 15 occasions, watched 4 general assemblies for about one hour each and was there for a total of about 8 to 10 hours. I found it quite interesting. At first I was struck by the process and then the idealism. As the weeks passed, the effectiveness seemed to run its course. The 50 or so occupants seemed to spend a lot of time just well passing the time. It became more of community for homeless people, and some remaining die hard idealists. One overreach was to claim representation of the 99%. Actually in Canada I expect over 99% of people are not homeless. I think two weeks would have been enough to have made the point and left with some greater sense of accomplishment. The Occupy movement did succeed in raising awareness and discussion. I wonder what its legacy will be.
alena November 19, 2011 at 10:49 am
I think that Occupy Vancouver is a lot more significant than I initially thought. At first I was excited by the young people and their hope that in our society change could be achieved . Their in-your-face approach was great and provided a sharp contrast to our affluent city core. I think that many people were quite startled and shaken up by their action. As time went by, much energy was devoted to criticism and humoring of their effort. I would like to think that it is just the beginning of something larger as more and more people realize that our world order is unjust, immoral and unsustainable. In my eyes it was a brilliant idea and it will come back perhaps in a different form.
How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the OWS Protests
Much more than a movement against big banks, they're a rejection of what our society has become.
I have a confession to make. At first, I misunderstood Occupy Wall Street.
The first few times I went down to Zuccotti Park, I came away with mixed feelings. I loved the energy and was amazed by the obvious organic appeal of the movement, the way it was growing on its own. But my initial impression was that it would not be taken very seriously by the Citibanks and Goldman Sachs of the world. You could put 50,000 angry protesters on Wall Street, 100,000 even, and Lloyd Blankfein is probably not going to break a sweat. He knows he's not going to wake up tomorrow and see Cornel West or Richard Trumka running the Federal Reserve. He knows modern finance is a giant mechanical parasite that only an expert surgeon can remove. Yell and scream all you want, but he and his fellow financial Frankensteins are the only ones who know how to turn the machine off.
That's what I was thinking during the first few weeks of the protests. But I'm beginning to see another angle. Occupy Wall Street was always about something much bigger than a movement against big banks and modern finance. It's about providing a forum for people to show how tired they are not just of Wall Street, but everything. This is a visceral, impassioned, deep-seated rejection of the entire direction of our society, a refusal to take even one more step forward into the shallow commercial abyss of phoniness, short-term calculation, withered idealism and intellectual bankruptcy that American mass society has become. If there is such a thing as going on strike from one's own culture, this is it. And by being so broad in scope and so elemental in its motivation, it's flown over the heads of many on both the right and the left.
The police in their own way are symbols of the problem. All over the country, thousands of armed cops have been deployed to stand around and surveil and even assault the polite crowds of Occupy protesters. This deployment of law-enforcement resources already dwarfs the amount of money and manpower that the government "committed" to fighting crime and corruption during the financial crisis. One OWS protester steps in the wrong place, and she immediately has police roping her off like wayward cattle. But in the skyscrapers above the protests, anything goes.
This is a profound statement about who law enforcement works for in this country. What happened on Wall Street over the past decade was an unparalleled crime wave. Yet at most, maybe 1,500 federal agents were policing that beat – and that little group of financial cops barely made any cases at all. Yet when thousands of ordinary people hit the streets with the express purpose of obeying the law and demonstrating their patriotism through peaceful protest, the police response is immediate and massive. There have already been hundreds of arrests, which is hundreds more than we ever saw during the years when Wall Street bankers were stealing billions of dollars from retirees and mutual-fund holders and carpenters unions through the mass sales of fraudulent mortgage-backed securities.
. December 9, 2011 at 12:45 pm
99 Percenters, Meet the Fearsome 40
OWS's next goal should be to end the filibuster.
By Eliot Spitzer
. December 14, 2011 at 5:42 pm
The 1 percent is vastly more politically active. In the Chicago sample, 99 percent reported voting in 2008; in the 2008 American National Election Study, only 78 percent of a nationally representative sample reported voting. Both numbers are probably inflated – nowhere near 78 percent of Americans actually voted in 2008 — but it seems unlikely that misleading survey responses would fully account for the gap between the 1 percent and Americans as a whole. Other measures of participation show even larger gaps. For example, 41 percent of the very wealthy reported attending a political meeting. Only 9 percent of Americans did so in 2008. And 68 percent of the very wealthy reported giving money to a political candidate, party, or cause in the last four years. In 2008–a year in which "small donors" were numerous–only 13 percent of Americans donated to a political candidate or party. Again, there are small differences in the wording of the questions between the two surveys, but they are not likely responsible for the 55-point gap.
It is hard to imagine a more thorough rebuke of these arguments than that delivered by Jed Rakoff, a New York district judge, in rejecting a $285m settlement between Citigroup and the SEC.
The case involved a fund that, it is alleged, the bank had designed to fail. The subsequent implosion cost investors $700m while earning Citi $160m. Mr Rakoff called the settlement not just a betrayal of the public interest, but the product of an approach "hallowed by history but not by reason" that provided the SEC with little beyond a "quick headline". Settling without establishing the facts "is worse than mindless, it is inherently dangerous," Mr Rakoff wrote.
If the unproven allegations were correct, they constituted a violation of core principles of securities laws. Citi, said the SEC in its complaint, created a billion-dollar fund half-full of wretched mortgages. It then bet against it, earning fees on both ends of the transaction. Investors were not told of Citi's role in choosing securities, nor how it stood to benefit if defaults ensued.
. January 25, 2012 at 10:45 pm
Occupy Davos? Leaders greeted by doubts about capitalism
The deep snow in Davos this year is no surprise — but the deep doubts about capitalism certainly are. What is Stephen Harper getting himself into?
For decades, this ritzy Swiss resort has hosted an annual celebration of capitalism where luxurious Audis ferry potentates and presidents between lavish hotels so they can bemoan the perils of socialism, high taxes and debt. And yet, this year, the veteran founder and Chairman of the Davos World Economic Forum, Professor Klaus Schwab, declares that "Capitalism, in its current form, no longer fits the world around us."
But these books are more or less boosterish. None examines the movement's basic goals in depth; instead, they exemplify its unwieldy belief in letting every voice be heard. This pluralism makes the Occupiers very good at talking to themselves, but less good at making themselves understood to outsiders, even sympathetic ones. This may be one reason why a movement that claims to represent 99% of the population has managed to mobilise only a small fraction of its constituents.
. December 7, 2012 at 12:05 am
NYPD (Quietly) Credits Occupy For Helping Fight Post-Sandy Crime
As my colleague Katherine Goldstein reported last month, Occupy Wall Street was quick to set up shop to help people recover in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, collecting and handing out donations in New York City for those impacted by the superstorm. She closed her dispatch with this line: "I imagine both concerned New Yorkers and storm victims alike will remember who was out on the front lines." Turns out, they have. And, perhaps even more surprisingly, it looks like we can count NYPD officers among that group.
. November 7, 2017 at 9:05 pm
If you think protest is finished in Hong Kong, think again
The next stand-off could be uglier
Nothing, apparently, to show for all that youthful energy, then. Three of Occupy's student organisers are serving prison terms of six to eight months for unlawful assembly. The three who conceived of Occupy face charges too. Half a dozen pro-democracy legislators have been turfed out of office on trumped-up technicalities. And the pan-democratic camp is riven between traditional democrats calling for the autonomy promised in the Basic Law, China's mini-constitution for Hong Kong, and more radical "localists", some of whom espouse outright independence.
Chinese officials urge Hong Kong to return to being an "economic" city. Whatever that means: the idea of an apathetic populace interested only in material gain is fanciful. A long and admirable history shows Hong Kongers persistently demanding more say in their affairs—starting under colonial rule in the 1960s and 1970s when they organised against poor living conditions, inferior education and rampant corruption. Stephen Vines, a local commentator, speaks of a "golden thread" that runs through these early protests to the more recent ones. Mr Xi hasn't heard the last of Hong Kong. Those who were politically baptised during the Occupy movement will be around longer than he will.
Tax wealth instead of income?
Designated whistleblowers on corporate boards
Previous post: Getting past inaction
Next post: Dwolla


text:
Exclusive 1st Look At RZA's 'Man With The Iron Fists' Tomorrow Night On MTV Presented By RZA
This morning, MTV announced that their scheduled "Hip-Hop Homecoming" movie marathon, airing tomorrow, Saturday, October 13, beginning at 4pm et/pt, will feature an exclusive first look at the highly-anticipated action-adventure movie and directorial debut of RZA, The Man With The Iron Fists.
The exclusive look will include never-before-seen footage from the new film presented by writer/director RZA, and will air in primetime during a broadcast of 50 Cents' Get Rich Or Die Trying'.
Also scheduled to air are the Method Man and Redman comedy How High, and the Notorious B.I.G. biopic Notorious – featuring a special deleted scene – and Eminem's 8 Mile.
The movie marathon will also celebrate the recently announced new series The Week in Jams that will premiere on Sunday, October 28, at 11am et/pt on MTV2.


... asking you to follow on Bloglovin' but since I've just hit 700 GFC followers (which is crazy), I just wanted to remind you all that you can also follow me on Bloglovin' too.
I also just wanted to mention that as far as I've heard, it's only Google Reader that will be leaving us on Monday. Google Reader is an RSS feed which allows people to follow blogs they like, it is not the same as following a blog through GFC. Based on this, I don't think that the GFC widget, in the sidebar of most of our favourite blogs, will be disappearing - so do not fear.
However, I am not certain whether the Reading List present on your Blogger dashboard is powered by, or linked to, Google Reader. So we'll have to see on Monday whether that's still there! That is the only downside for me (if it happens) of Google Reader closing. You will still have followers, but they may not be able to see your posts through the traditional reading list any more.
If this does happen then you can just import the blogs you follow through GFC onto Bloglovin'. Just go to your settings on Bloglovin', scroll all the way to the bottom and click 'import blogs'. I have already done this and I'm getting to grips with reading blogs through there... just in case!
HD Brows have been long known for their professional brow treatments and products but I have to admit that I wasn't familiar with the rest of their products. HD Brows actually create a range of other products, from foundations and blushers like above to bronzers, makeup brushes and more.
I received the powder foundation in the lightest shade (01), because I am pale as the moon, but the range provides 6 shades in total. The product is a very fine powder that is completely soft and smooth to the touch. I have chosen to wear this as a setting powder over BB cream, however it could easily be used on it's own. Being a compact mineral foundation, the product can be built and built on the skin until you've achieved the desired coverage. This is a great multi-use product, as a light setting powder or a heavier coverage on it's own and it's so easy to blend onto the skin using a brush.
The blusher is the perfect dusty/burnt rose shade, my first choice colour for daytime wear. My MAC mineralise blusher in 'Dainty' has just run out, so I think this HD Brows product will quickly become it's replacement! Same as the foundation, it is an incredibly smooth and soft product making it so easy to seamlessly blend on top of the foundation. The colour can again be built up gradually, until you reach your preferred shade. The blusher comes with a round sponge applicator which I find slightly odd, but it's my personal preference to use brushes for my makeup rather than sponges, so this might be a great bonus for the product for some people.
HD Brows have proven that they're not just good at eyebrows with these products, I'm really impressed with the quality and also the lasting power. The powder keeps my skin looking matte all day long and the blusher stays put just as long. Have you ever tried any of the HD Brows products? Did you know they had branched out from eyebrows?
Confessions of A Blogger - I saw this little tag on Michelle's blog the other day and thought I would have a go myself. My blog has been very focused on reviews, swatches and recipes etc recently, so I wanted to get back to the personal style of writing I used when I first started my blog. I'm not a serious beauty or fashion writer, so I don't want to feel like I have to write my blog in that style!
I started my current blog back on the 9th March 2012, so it's a little over 1 year old :) I didn't really know what I wanted to write about, I just wanted another little space on the internet to write my thoughts, experiences and get involved with a new community.
I've been on many different online platforms in the past. I started off with using the internet for MSN, but quickly moved onto MySpace, Bebo, Piczo and of course Facebook (even though I was a die-hard MySpace fan, I never thought I'd fall into the Facebook trap... but look at me now). I have also had a tumblr account, which I attempted to use as a blog like this, but quickly fell into reblogging everything and anything. I did also have a previous blogspot blog when I was around 16, however I'm not sure why but I didn't really get into it like I have with this blog. Maybe it's because I'm older now and do more interesting things? Or the fact that the only blogs I followed were high end, more professional style blogs - who knows! I wish I'd stuck at it as a 16 year old though and fallen into the blogging community back then.
This time around, I had just started working in a digital marketing agency in a job role that dealt directly with bloggers, so being exposed to so many gorgeous blogs every day made me want to start my own up again. Bloggers were all so lovely to email too, that I wanted to get involved myself!
You have the joy of being able to read my first post here. As I had read so many blogs prior to starting my own, I had a fairly good idea that I wanted to start off with a small introduction... but then the following posts just fell into a cringey mess haha.
My biggest challenge has been keeping up with posting. I went through one manically busy stage of life and my posts went down to one per week, if that. That is something that I find difficult, but I also sometimes struggle with what to post. I find that sometimes I'm posting things (usually reviews) just for the sake of posting, rather than that I enjoy it or think my readers would be interested in it. I really do struggle to judge what I think people want to see and that's quite challenging sometimes.
Things could be very different in one year's time, however I hope that my blog has a strong direction and I've still managed to interest my readers enough to stick with me! I also hope that I can branch out from fashion and beauty slightly, I'm not sure what to yet though. Any ideas on a postcard, thanks!
I get discouraged when a post I've worked hard on, or I think looks good, doesn't get as many views or comments as a 'regular' post of mine. I know this is probably silly, but hopefully some people can relate!
I'm mainly inspired by my interest in online/digital media and marketing. Having a blog and following a variety of different styles of blogs, allows me to keep up with what's happening. I don't think you can have a career in an industry, unless you're involved in it in every way you possibly can.
It's crazy to think that I finished University over a year ago now. The whole 3 years at Uni absolutely flew by, let alone the time I've been working since finishing!
I know lots of people are starting to think about graduation and what to wear, so I thought I'd share some styles that were popular with my class, in case anyone is wondering what type of dress to go for, or how smart you should be. My uni was weird and only held graduation in November, despite my course finishing uni in early May, so last year I featured another graduation wishlist here.
With graduation, you need to consider how your dress is going to look with your gown - find out what colour your gown will be in advance and make sure there's no clashing colours there! Graduation is a relatively smart occasion, but you can get away with wearing the slightly more casual skater style dresses. However, I would recommend going with a skater style made from a slightly heavier material, or with added embellishment or detailing to make it stand out for the occasion.
Dresses similar to the skater style dresses above were popular at my graduation in November, as were the V-neck, wrap style dresses like number 7. However, this year I feel that midi-dresses like number 8 will be popular at graduations, the shape of the dress will work really well with the gown and they always look effortlessly glamorous and smart!
I wanted to include a 'naked' pancake picture to prove I didn't burn them (I definitely burnt the first batch I made) ha!
I have never made or eaten American style pancakes before, I'm more of a tradition lemon and sugar thin pancake kinda girl, so this was something new to me. Since I've become addicted to Pinterest, I'm constantly seeing amazing food images including some amazing looking pancakes so I thought I'd give it a try!
This recipe makes about 10 pancakes and I topped them with low fat natural yoghurt, some defrosted frozen summer fruits and a drizzle of honey.
Combine the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and oats) in a bowl, then combine the wet ingredients (milk and egg) in a separate bowl or jug. Slowly add the milk and egg mixture into the dry ingredients, mixing with a whisk.
Add a tiny amount of oil to a frying pan (I used a few sprays of fry-light), then drop a large tablespoon of the batter into the pan. You should be able to fit around 4 pancakes in one pan. Fry on a medium - high heat for 2/3 minutes, on one side. You should be able to see small bubbles form and burst on the top of the batter, once you can see this happening after about 2 minutes they're ready to turn. Then fry for a further 2 mins on the other side.
Let me know if you try this recipe! Do you prefer American style or English pancakes?
I know I'm on a massive festival blogging spree at the moment, but it's currently sunny while I'm writing this and I have lots of exciting festivals coming up so it's all I'm thinking about at the moment! I previously blogged about my festival hairstyle #1, and #2 will be coming up in the near future too, so I thought I'd post an outfit to match.
I absolutely love this kimono from Boohoo, it's only £15 which I think is an absolute bargain! Kimonos are so in fashion at the moment, but I don't feel like they're that wearable with the English weather, so it might be worth picking up a cheaper one in case I don't wear it much. Pairing this kimono with denim shorts and a plain black top is one of my favourite festivals looks. Adding a vintage inspired leather rucksack, a straw hat and some big sunglasses would finish the outfit off nicely.
UK festivals aren't always sunshine and warm weather, they're more often than not overcast and rainy (anyone who experienced creamfields last year will know what I mean). So baring this in mind, I will also be featuring a more practical festival outfit very soon, with more layers and probably some wellies too.
I'm on a bit of a festival theme at the moment - apologies if you don't like this topic, but it's on my mind as I recently attended the first festival of this season yay!
Festivals can be a pretty tricky place to have nice hair, especially towards the end when you've slept in a tent for 2 nights without access to a shower or straighteners! I'm quite lucky that my hair doesn't really get greasy quickly, but I'm still never without a large can of Batiste at a festival.
My hair is naturally curly, so for festivals I tend to wash it before I go and leave it to dry naturally with some curl cream or salt spray. I take the salt spray product along with me and in the mornings refresh my curls with a bit of water and some more spray to give them some more bounce. Batiste is also essential for roots, along with grips for any stray fringes and, of course, some floral accessories to get in the festival mood!
I love fashion and beauty, but I also absolutely love camping for a weekend and standing in muddy fields so I'm able to see a band I love, or even a band I've never heard of. Sometimes I feel this blog is too focused on one area of my life, so I'm trying to incorporate other elements too.
As it's now June and technically summer is here, I thought I'd start with my favourite summer pastime - festivals. Josh and I have a frame full of our wristbands at home, a combination of festivals we've been to alone and ones we've been to together. Some of them are really tatty and gross, so it's not the most beautiful of frames but it holds so many memories for us.
We might need to get another frame this year, or do some rearranging, to fit this years wristbands in too. With Josh's business we're lucky enough to get access to loads of festivals through Headphone Disco, which often means AAA/backstage/crew passes too which is always exciting.
Just a reminder that my Warehouse denim jacket giveaway is still going on! You could win this one-of-a-kind denim jacket from Warehouse, size 12, open to UK readers only. You can see more details on the original jacket (without the customisation) here.


text:
http://binaryresearchinstitute.com/bri/4.0/wp-content/themes/smartbox/
http://binaryresearchinstitute.com/bri/
Binary Companion Theory
Precession of the Equinox
A Natural Consequence of Curvature
The Lunar Cycle
Sheer Edge
Distribution of Comets
Binary Star Prevalence
VLBI Commentary
Simplicity of a Binary Model
Ties With Milankovitch Cycles
Size / Distance
Precession Data Analysis
100 Year Test
Precession Measurement Paradox
Finding It
Virtual Observatories
KX76-KB0
Gravity Probe B
Wide binaries
There has been a great observational study done recently by Hernandez et al. (see: http://arxiv.org/abs/1105.1873). They have looked at wide binary stars and found that when they are separated by 7000AU or more, so that their accelerations decrease below 2*10^-10 m/s^2, then their behaviour becomes non-Newtonian, in that their orbital speeds are so large that…
Binary Research Institute
The recordings and sample sounds of the planets, moons and rings of planets in our Solar System
When we look at images or video or think of outer space scenery most of us imagine and sense of feeling of total void, of darkness, and most of all, of silence. But is this really the case? Celestial Music Although space is a virtual vacuum, this does not mean there is no…
0 No comments
Outer Space, Solar system, Sound of the planets
Search for the 9th planet
Finally, the astrophysics community is officially looking for a large mass! We published our first paper and book over ten years ago suggesting there had to be something very big out there exerting a gravitational influence on our solar system. Considered a fringe idea at the time, we saw the sheer edge of the…
9th Planet
Learn from the Best: Notable Professors at Top Research Universities
Academic research is a driving force behind innovation in science, technology, and culture. The studies being conducted at the top universities today have the potential to yield new knowledge that could influence the day to day lives of millions or billions of people. While doctoral and post-doctoral studies can be a long, difficult path, the…
Astronomers Discover Impossible Binary Systems
Bibliographic information: Nefs SV et al. 2012. Four ultra-short period eclipsing M-dwarf binaries in the WFCAM Transit Survey. Accepted for publication in Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc.; arXiv:1206.1200v1 Astronomers working with the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope on Hawaii have discovered four pairs of stars that orbit each other in less than 4 hours. …
Predicting Changes in Earth Orientation – Dynamic Versus Static Solar System Model
Long term predictions of changes in the earth's orientation to VLBI sources have been historically unreliable. The IAU has found that current methods are "not consistent with dynamical theory". Part of the problem appears to be that measurements of the precession observable are made to points outside the moving frame of the solar system yet…
Interstellar Space Beyond Our Solar System Stranger Than Expected
– From Dave McComas, IBEX Principal Investigator Back in October 2009, we announced IBEX's first major science results, including the observation of what has become known as the "IBEX Ribbon." Since that time, IBEX has been detecting energetic neutral atoms coming from the boundary of our Solar System and from regions of our Earth's magnetosphere,…
Response to The Precession Dialogues – BAUT Forum post
Several posters on the Bad Astronomy and Universe Today Forum (BAUT) have expressed doubts about the non-conventional "binary model" of precession. The main critic is a poster that goes by the name of "Celestial Mechanic" (CM) who has called the binary model "rubbish, pure and simple". While this is not the most constructive way to…
Walter Cruttenden
Asymmetrical Shape of Heliosphere Raises Questions
Ever since the Voyager 2 data confirmed the nonsymmetrical shape of the solar system scientists have pondered its cause (i). In summary, the edge of the heliosphere (the place where the solar wind slows to sub sonic speeds) appears to be 1.2 billion kilometers shorter on the south side of the solar system (and in…
NASA Baffled by Unexplained Force Acting on Space Probes
Mysteriously, four spacecraft that flew past the Earth have each displayed unexpected anomalies in their motions. These newfound enigmas join the so-called "Pioneer anomaly" as hints that unexplained forces may appear to act on spacecraft. A decade ago, after rigorous analyses, anomalies were seen with the identical Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft as they hurtled…
There has been a great observational study done recently by Hernandez et al. (see: http://arxiv.org/... Read More ⇒
When we look at images or video or think of outer space scenery most of us imagine and sense of feel... Read More ⇒
Finally, the astrophysics community is officially looking for a large mass! We publishe... Read More ⇒
Academic research is a driving force behind innovation in science, technology, and culture. The ... Read More ⇒
Bibliographic information: Nefs SV et al. 2012. Four ultra-short period eclipsing M-dwarf binari... Read More ⇒
Copyright©2015 | Binary Research Institute
http://binaryresearchinstitute.com/bri/papers-articles/page/2/
link_magnifier
fadeInDown


Heathen Brewing's Feral Public House is located on Washington Street in downtown Vancouver, Washington.
I went here with two of my good friends on a scorching August day. Fortunately Heathen Brewing has over three dozen taps, with a good number of them sporting their own brews.
I actually started with their lone non-alcoholic option, the "Nameless Awesomeness" root beer. If I drink any soda these days, it's likely going to be a craft root beer. It took on more of a licorice and anise quality, from what I gathered. A solid choice.
My friends and I got a flight of seven different beers.
#15 was Heathen's "Son of Malice," a Double IPA. Good malt backbone to it and a nice, bitter finish.
#11 was Heathen's "Vantucky," a Strong Pale Ale. It had some hops in there and bitterness (43 IBU) akin to a Session IPA, so I drank the rest with no complaints.
#14 was Heathen's "Easy Money," a Session IPA. At 50 IBU, another easygoing beer that I could drink more of on a hot day.
#13 was Heathen's "Transcend," an IPA. Probably my favorite of the seven beers we got. More citrus and grapefruit, and right around the ABV mark that I like for single IPAs.
#24 was Heathen's Raspberry Sour. Easily the most attractive beer -- and very tart. I'm not the biggest sour fan, so this one was a puckerfest.
#10 was Heathen's Saison d'Brette, a sour saison with Brettanomyces. Yup, another sour, but easier to get down than the raspberry.
Naturally, we also got food. Their Margherita pizza had large tomato slices, with basil (cut chiffonade-style) and lots of cheese. Pizzas are cooked inside a stone oven. It looked great and tasted wonderful.
For fun, I tried Heathen's "Tribal Heat" sauce. To me, it was a standard (and tasty) wing sauce. Nothing extremely hot here.


Here's your chance to pick up a few souvenirs from your visit to Evansville, Rikki's hometown in the Smoky Mountains. Get a Touch of Smoke bookmark and your own novelty shot glass and bar coaster from Moon Runners, the local moonshine bar and distillery featured in Touch of Smoke.
Submit a proof of purchase or pre-order (upload a screen shot image of purchase verification or copy of purchase verification email from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Google Play Store, iTunes, or Kobo) of TOUCH OF SMOKE by Karissa Laurel to receive a free thank-you gift which includes a "Moon Runners" drink coaster, shot glass, and a book mark. **U.S. Postal addresses only** (Unfortunately shipping overseas is too expensive). However, anyone who provides an international shipping address will receive a free book mark--no proof of purchase required. Offer open to anyone over the age of 18, until supplies run-out (supplies are limited) or until February 13, 2019, whichever occurs first.


I appreciate your in depth analysis and information provided on your platform.
Keep the good work on.
Thank you for your nice words. I appreciate.
Thank you for the in-depth overview of the South Sudan situation. I have just come your LinkedIn Profile.


text:
I'm trying to avoid a topical political statement today, despite the recent news. Rest assured, the Greatest Show On Earth will be ongoing in DC, and everyone (on both sides of the aisle and beyond) will be piling out of their little clown cars, and lo a vast amount of stupidity such as can be seen in few other places in the world shall be committed before and for the amusement, bemusment and vast distraction and befuddlement of the American viewing public. And We The People shall be sent the bill for it. Which reminds me...
I did income taxes this past weekend. I wait until the last minute because I never get a refund. There's really no point in sending them monies that are mine until the very last second. However, I do do my taxes before hand so there are no surprises.
This year there was a surprise! I came across some through the letters and notes that my grandfather had compiled. What do you know? Stashed in there was a income tax form 1040 Grandpa filled out for the year 1920. Are you ready for this?
The form and instruction sheet was FOUR FUCKING PAGES LONG!
Let me get back to that, but first...
In 1920, Grandpa earned $1,023.32 (that is $11,692.32 in 2010 dollars). He got a $1,000 personal exemption, which means his taxable income was $23.32. At a tax rate of 4%, he owed a whopping 93 cents to the government.
Now, keep in mind, he's a young man, barely 19, living at home, paying no rent.
The actual form, for the return was a mere one page in length. It contains 18 line items. Two pages for instructions. One page for Schedule A. The two pages of instructions are a miracle in brevity and clarity. I daresay a six-year-old could read them (not suprising as we would consider the average citizen of 1920 barely literate and feeble-minded today).
Hang on, it gets better. Fast forward to another 1040 Grandpa filled out, this one from the year 1942. (For those of you who are not history buffs, the year 1942 counts as one of the darkest periods in our nation's history - outside the Civil War. I'm sorry, but if you think the past two years were tough... you really need to get a grip). The 1040 form is now four pages long. The instruction book is separate. There is one page for tax calculation, containing 33 line items. The other three pages are devoted to Schedules A - J, at basically about a paragraph's size each, and perhaps at most 6 line items per schedule.
In 1942, Grandpa earned $10,158.96 (that's $141,536.50 in 2010 dollars, way to go Gramps! or maybe not, he is listed as a Division Chief in a large corporation, so the equivalent VP position today would include a seven figure income with stock options and a really swell health and pension package).
His taxable income, after 5 line items of deductions, including personal exemptions, is $6,198.59 ($86,359.96 in 2010 dollars). The normal tax, at 6% comes to $371.92. There is also a surtax of $1,234.29, bringing his total tax to $1,606.21 ($22,378.03 in 2010 dollars). A quick comparison using the 2010 tax tables shows Grandpa would have paid $16,446.00 as head of household.
Oh, but with all of the current tax preferences, all the credits, exemptions, exclusions, accelerations, carryovers, and other provisions that are listed in an instruction book the size of a fucking fashion magazine, Grandpa would have paid considerably less. If his accountant was good at hiding things, he'd pay nothing at all!
So, what the fuck? Why are things so goddamn convoluted and complicated, and why are some of us taxpayers - *cough*rich assholes*cough* - paying SO LITTLE in taxes?
Well, obviously the tax code has all this shit because Congress, or the executive branch, or somebody who lobbied for it, wants to promote certain types of behavior. They wish to influence the American public to do things, such as own homes, have families, invest in savings, provide employer health care, promote corporate investment in R&D and other well-meaning stuff.
(And guess what about this well-meaning shit? It Ain't Working).
There were, are, obviously, lots of breaks for special interest groups that we should take out, subsidies for rich people, or at least anyone who had enough money and influence to hire an imaginative lawyer and effective lobbyist - which is, yeah, I'd say they're probably rich.
So, we lose, how much? The IRS estimates all the fancy tax breaks amount to about a trillion dollars in lost revenue. That's a million million dollars. That's one million stacks of bills with one million dollars in each stack.
Is that fair? I don't think so. What would I call that?
I'd call that rich people fucking We The People up the ass with a chain mail gauntlet that's embellished with barbed-wire knuckles.
Health care reform? Fuck! I'd say it's time for a little tax reform!
Bastards should pay!
Judy March 22, 2010 at 12:42 PM
I understand that we can thank Reaganomics for the decline of the middle class and the rise of the upper class...
John Kurman March 22, 2010 at 1:27 PM
The Republicans certainly carry the larger share of blame, but we cannot ignore the role of private enterprise, which moved a huge numberof jobs overseas.
Actually, the two tax reform acts by Congress while Reagan was in office did simplify the tax codes. They also cut rates to the top tiers, and have been used to support the Big Lie that tax cuts create more revenues. Was is conveniently not mentioned is that both acts eliminated loopholes to the rich. Revenues did increase when the rich started paying taxes, but only because of a combination of lower rates and elimination of loopholes(making the cost of avoidance of paying tax greater than the actual act of payment of tax). Both rates and complexity have been creeping up since then, leading to our current situation the government receives more revenue from payroll taxes than from income taxes. It appears that the upper tiers pay the lion's share of income tax (top 2% contributes 69% of income tax), but the current tax codes are such that the lower and middle classes are subsidizing the rich. This is unacceptable.
Judy March 24, 2010 at 8:19 AM
Any idea what percent of the income the top 2% have?
John Kurman March 25, 2010 at 6:50 AM
Judy, a quick google search says the top 2% accure 15-20% of income (depending upon the website). For annual income, I'd say that's about right. How wealthy they are as a percent, difficult to say as they are kind of touchy about who knows, but if Pareto's Law holds, bet on about owening 80% of the country's assets.
Stupid Asshole
A Fun Outing
The Flesh is willing, but the Spirit is weak
Name Calling
Madoff Beaten
Time to learn Mandarin?
RIP, WSJ. Murdoch, you suck.
Inner Taste
Kittens, Puppies, Rainbows, Sunshine
A short interlude between everyday annoyances
An Enormous Waste of Time