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Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity begins first complete rehab project in Washington Park
By The Milwaukee Courier
For the last 29 years, Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity has been building homes with low-income families.
This month, the organization takes on a new challenge: renovating a dilapidated foreclosed property into a decent home.
On Thursday, Nov 14, Mayor Tom Barrett signed the deed to the home at 1321 North 36th Street over to Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity, and the organization began demolition work on its first rehab project in over a decade.
This property is located across from five homes Habitat built in 2005 on the same street.
Habitat's goal is to help bring additional stabilization to the block.
Milwaukee Habitat will convert the duplex property into a single-family home, with complete exterior and interior renovation of the structure's five bedrooms, kitchen and two bathrooms.
Some of the work includes removing upper porch, installing new siding, insulation, furnace, windows, electrical, sewer laterals, fixtures and appliances, as well as landscaping and pouring a new parking pad.
Milwaukee Habitat estimates that the total project cost will be approximately $125,000.
While Milwaukee Habitat will continue to build new homes, it is transitioning the focus of its construction work to include rehab and repair projects.
This year, the organization introduced a new Home Preservation program to help low-income homeowners make affordable home repairs, and this rehab is the first of six they hope in complete in the next 18 months.
"It's about meeting the needs of the community," said Brian Sonderman, executive director of Milwaukee Habitat.
"This house has been vacant for 11 months and boarded up since February of this year and deemed uninhabitable by the City, and it's just one of hundreds of foreclosures in the Washington Park neighborhood.
We can build new houses around the foreclosures, but if they continue to attract crime and bring down property values, that's not a solution and it's not a safe situation for our partner families.
This new rehab program is another step in our effort to help transform Washington Park into a safe, vibrant community."
In recent years, Milwaukee Habitat has found it more cost-efficient to construct new homes from the ground up, but now, with the support of the City of Milwaukee, the organization will be able to purchase city-owned foreclosures and utilize Community Development Grants Administration funding to help restore the property.
The arrangement has benefits for both entities.
"Milwaukee Habitat is breathing new life into this house, and that is a far better outcome than demolition or continued decay," said Mayor Barrett.
"This is not just about one house; it's about a neighborhood and the people who live nearby. It is an investment in the strength of the City."
Barrett sees tremendous potential in the City's new partnership with Milwaukee Habitat.
"It provides a way to take these properties and turn them into good homes that will give hardworking families the chance to become homeowners."
"This is a great transition for Habitat and for Washington Park," agreed Alderman Willie Hines. "In Milwaukee, we unfortunately have an abundance of vacant houses.
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Hamilton Announces Fight Against Crime and Abandoned Buildings
Congresswoman Moore, Wasserman Schultz discuss strategy to improve female voter turnout
Public weighs in on youth and poverty


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PHOTOS: Mexican Artists Create Fantastical Masks To Show The Many Faces Of COVID
by Cathy Newman 30 Aug 2021 9:50 AM
Two professors invited indigenous artisans to make masks portraying the agent of the pandemic — the coronavirus — through the lens of their cultural traditions.
Writer Cathy Newman reports on two ethnology professors who invited indigenous artisans in Mexico to create masks, drawings and other works of art to portray the coronavirus through the lens of their traditions.
Blanca Cardenas, professor of ethnology at the National School of Anthropology and History, wears the mask "COVID Tiger," by Nahua artisan Armando Pascualeño from Zitlala, Guerrero, Mexico.
Photo: Toya Sarno Jordan for NPR
Masks are the emblem of the mystery man hero — think Zorro and Batman, the centerpiece of theatrical costume as in Japanese Noh plays and Phantom of the Opera. In their cultural context, masks are powerful ceremonial artifacts that obliterate the wearer's personality and change him or her into another being entirely.
The age of COVID adds yet another layer of meaning. When breath, the embodiment of life, becomes the carrier of death, a mask becomes literally a matter of life and death.
In April 2020, Blanca Cárdenas and Carlos Dávila, professors of ethnology at the National School of Anthropology and History (ENAH) in Mexico City, invited indigenous artisans in their country to create masks, drawings and other works of art to portray the agent of the pandemic — the coronavirus — through the lens of their traditions. The project, as its title suggests, aims at "Putting a Face on the Virus." So far, their collection includes 14 masks of wood and other materials, numerous painted cloth masks, drawings and special cut-out figures made of paper. We spoke to Cárdenas and Dávila by Zoom. The interview is edited for length and clarity.
"COVID Skull," Melky Argüelles, Naolico, Veracruz, México.
Tell us about the origin of the project and its purpose.
Carlos Dávila: We wanted to know how indigenous people understand the virus and the pandemic, and the solutions they find — not medical solutions — but how they live with it and how they picture it.
Carlos Dávila, subdirector of bachelor degrees at the National School of Anthropology and History, poses with the mask "The Devil of Teloloapan," by Fidel Puente from Teloloapan, Guerrero, Mexico. Photo: Toya Sarno Jordan for NPR
How did you recruit these artisans?
Blanca Cárdenas: Artists sell their creations in plazas and open-air markets, but because of the pandemic these venues were closed. They had to find another way of selling.
Carlos noticed pictures of them offering their masks on Facebook. He contacted them and would commission a work. Then, when it was safe, he would go to their community to pick it up and interview the artist.
"Evil Jaguar Mask," Mixteco artisan Yonny Calixto, Ahuehuetitla, Puebla, Mexico. Photo: Toya Sarno Jordan for NPR
What's the creative process like?
Dávila: The artisans work with different strategies. When we asked one why was he taking so long, he said: "Sorry I haven't been able to dream." This artist had to dream his mask, because that is how he could enter into the supernatural world.
Explain the importance of the supernatural in how the world is understood by these communities.
Dávila: In many indigenous cultures, time is perceived differently. It's circular, not linear. Many believe the world gets destroyed every now and then, then regenerates. These masks show the other entities around us—gods, devils, the dead, animals. For us many things are inanimate. But for these cultures, water, mountains, stars and stones have their own spirit. The dead are more alive than we think. Everybody is going to die someday. But a death caused by human consequences, like the virus, is a bad death. They believe that when someone dies of natural causes, they are transformed into a star. When one dies unnaturally they become infected air. Some think the origin of the virus is the continued aggression to our planet and destruction of nature. They say the earth is crying.
"Cocoliztli," Nahua artisan Juan Hernández González, Atlapexco, Hidalgo, Mexico. Photo: Toya Sarno Jordan for NPR
Cárdenas: So the pandemic represents a period of destruction, but we can be sure that the world will regenerate with a new order — maybe without humans or with other dramatic changes, but the world will continue.
You indicate there is a historical subtext to these masks?
Dávila: This year marks the 500th anniversary of the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Pandemics erupted in those indigenous communities with the arrival of Europeans. So the idea of pandemics and sickness coming from the outside is ingrained in their culture.
"Mestizo Man," Nahua artisan Zeferino Baltasar Basilio, San Francisco Ozomatlán, Guerrero, Mexico. Photo: Toya Sarno Jordan for NPR
Let's talk about those masks that reflect that perspective of the infectious "outside world." One powerful example is a mask of man with pale skin, a mustache, blue eyes and a half dozen coronaviruses attached to his face.
Dávila: The blue eyes, mustache and pale skin represent mestizo man, an outsider. It's the linking of past and present and the idea that disease is of foreign origin. Many communities were sure the only way to control the virus was to close their borders. There were many months when you couldn't get in.
"COVID Pig," Nahua artisan Zeferino Baltasar Basilio, San Francisco Ozomatlán, Guerrero, Mexico. Photo: Toya Sarno Jordan for NPR
The same artist, Zeferino Baltasar Basilio who created mestizo man also made a mask representing a black boar covered with viruses. What's the message there?
Dávila: That is a COVID pig mask. Pork also suggests illness. If you don't cook it in the correct way, you get sick. Indigenous people associate COVID with eating poorly. They say the sickness arrives because we don't eat well; the remedy is to eat vegetables and greens.
Will the masks be used in a ceremonial setting?
Cárdenas: Every mask is alive, but to truly become alive, people have to dance with them. Right now, these masks haven't been part of a ritual, but when it's possible, we hope to take the masks to a carnival so they can be used in a ceremonial way.
Where did the funding for the project come from?
Cárdenas: Unfortunately, the school didn't have any money, so Carlos paid for them.
We hope they land in a good place, with a museum or collector — somewhere the objects can be seen so they can communicate their meanings.
What lessons can be learned from these artful expressions of indigenous cultures?
Cárdenas: That there are many ways of living the pandemic and of understanding the virus. Their world is one made of other worlds where humans are not the only species that exist. It teaches us that it is essential to rethink our relationship with the world of nature and to appreciate the importance of the supernatural to these cultures.
Cathy Newman is a former editor at large at National Geographic whose work has appeared in The Economist, The Wall Street Journal and Science. Follow her on twitter @wordcat12
THROUGH 31DEC 2030
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Do Your Children Know They Are Royalty?
In a world filled with cartoon princesses and fairy tale queens, isn't it reassuring to know that your kids are sons and daughters of the real King of Kings? Share this devotion with your children or grandchildren and remind them of their special place in God's kingdom.
Have you ever dreamed of living in a castle and having an entire kingdom to call your own? It would be fun to be royalty, wouldn't it?
Actually, you probably are royalty! People who study the history of families have figured out that every person on earth is no doubt descended from one royal person or another. You are royalty and don't even know it! I bet you had no idea you have the blood of some king or queen flowing through your veins.
What's even better, if you believe in Jesus and are a part of His family, you're part of the greatest royal family ever. You're descended not just from any old king but from the King of kings.
Can you imagine a king coming down from his lavish castle to live among the common people? Giving up his banquet table with all that fancy food and living on bread and water with those who couldn't afford much?
Can you imagine a king leaving his luxurious robes and treasury of jewels behind and dressing in ordinary—or even tattered—clothing and wandering from place to place, not really having a home? That's what Jesus did. He did it for you and me.
It might be a little bit hard to understand why Jesus chose to become human and live in our world. The important thing is that you understand why He did it—because He loves us and wants us all to be a part of His royal family.
Jesus, thank You for becoming part of the human family so I could become a part of Your royal heavenly family. Teach me how to live for You, love You, and do Your will.
Be sure to enter our January giveaway for a chance to win a free copy of 52 Weeks with Jesus and 52 Weeks with Jesus for Kids. See our Facebook page for details.


A new experiment suggests that the enzyme telomerase can extend the lifespan of mice by about 26 percent.
Some cells can keep dividing forever, essentially becoming immortal thanks in part to telomerase. But evidence for whether this enzyme affects aging and longevity in larger organisms such as people has been muddled and contradictory.
While the enzyme enables cells to keep dividing, it also takes cells one step closer to growing and proliferating out of control — that is, becoming cancerous. Lab animals with extra genes for telomerase often die young from tumors.


Grilled Chicken, Sausage, Peppers, and Onions Make this Incredible Meal Pop with Flavor!
This is one of those meals that's not just great when you make it, its even better 2-3 days later when eaten as leftovers. My family loves it and every time I say I am making my special fire-licked stir fry everyone gets excited.
The incredible array of flavors in this dish come from the olive oil, Pomegranate infused Red Wine Vinegar, and Worcestershire Sauce and how these flavors seep into the peppers and onions, not to mention chicken and sausage.
We server it over rice, but you can eat it without and it is just as good.
The best thing is, this meal is incredibly easy to make.
Olive Oil, Pomegranate infused Red Wine Vinegar, and Worcestershire Sauce.
Start by dicing up your chicken breasts into small cubes and slicing the sausage into 1/4 inch slices. Cut up both the onions and peppers in slivers sized to your personal preference. Remember, the thicker your veggies are, the longer it takes for them to cook.
I use a Weber Grill and preheat it to 400 degrees on high. I like to run it hot to keep the flames high while cooking. Use some non-stick cooking spray and coat your grill pan to keep everything from sticking to the grill pan.
Put your grill pan on the grill and start by throwing on the chicken. Season with salt and pepper and grill to the chicken starts browning on both sides. Once you can see it starting to get color all the way around on the outside, throw the sausage on. Keeping your heat on high, season the chicken and sausage with some Worcestershire Sauce.
When the sausage has a tint of color to it (after about 4-5 minutes, throw on the onions and peppers. Once they are loaded into the grill pan, lightly sprinkle olive oil and the red wine vinegar over the veggies along with some more Worcestershire Sauce. Be careful as the olive oil will really bring out the flames from the grill. This is ok. You want this. This is where the grill pan will protect the food from being heavily burnt, yet give it an incredible smoky and fire-licked flavor.
Stir the entire mixture every 3-4 minutes and continue to liberally cover it all with more olive oil, vinegar, and Worcestershire. Continue cooking until the veggies are cooked to your personal liking. I like to leave mine slightly crunchy, but with the edges slightly burned.
Serve over white rice and add a little Sriracha sauce to really make this meal pop!
Once you make this simple, yet awesome tasting grilled extravaganza it will become a staple in your monthly meal plan. It is that good.


There is 10 of us working full-time to deliver the best storage facilities services around Glasgow. Our customers keep coming back because we are constantly reviewing our staff to ensure they are providing fast, efficient, friendly, and value for money service for you and we pride ourselves on delivering the highest possible levels of customer service and satisfaction from the start to finish on all of our storage facilities services. To take care of all your storage facilities needs we administer a assortment of services providing services in Glasgow Southside Glasgow. To help every type of person gain the benefits of easy access to van drivers and removal services is why SM Van Services were started more than 5 years ago. Our services are created to minimise disruption to your life and incorporate with your schedule and daily routine, for a totally slick customer experience. We know that tremendous service and friendly valuable staff can profoundly reduce stress, give all the advantages of having a van without actually having to own one, and give peace of mind, which is our plan.


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2 Kings 5:1-3,7-15
The Healing of Naaman
5Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favour with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy.* 2Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. 3She said to her mistress, 'If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.'* 7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, 'Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?* Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.'
8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, 'Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.' 9So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha's house. 10Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, 'Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.' 11But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, 'I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy!* 12Are not Abana* and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?' He turned and went away in a rage. 13But his servants approached and said to him, 'Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, "Wash, and be clean"?' 14So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.
15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came and stood before him and said, 'Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel; please accept a present from your servant.'
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition , copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
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(1) When the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or other appropriate federal agency is appointed receiver of the bank, it may proceed independently with the receivership pursuant to its rules and regulations.
(g) If necessary to pay the debts of such bank or trust company, sue for and enforce the individual liability of the stockholders.
(d) Appoint a new receiver.
History.—ss. 105, 152, ch. 80-260; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 1, ch. 91-307; ss. 1, 138, ch. 92-303; s. 543, ch. 97-102; s. 1799, ch. 2003-261.


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Boys basketball: La Salle Prep comes out flat against Churchill
Jim Beseda
The Falcons started 2 for 11 from the field with six turnovers and trailed 29-8 with 5:46 to play in the second quarter Tuesday
Somebody forgot to light a fire under La Salle Prep's boys' basketball team before Tuesday night's season opener against Churchill.
As a result, the game got really ugly, really fast.
Brian Goracke scored 15 of his team-high 21 points in the first half and three other Churchill players also finished in double figures, leading the Lancers of Eugene to a 77-56 non-conference road win over the Falcons.
Silas Bennion finished with 16 points and Kaelan O'Neil and Evan Pia added 10 points each for the Lancers (2-0), who raced out to a 22-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and maintained at least a 12-point cushion the rest of the way.
"I'm happy with the win on the road, but we've got a lot to work on," Churchill coach Kelly Bokn said. "I thought we played really hard and pretty efficiently in the first quarter.
"After that, I thought we had a lot of breakdowns and then I thought we, unfortunately, played too much one-on-one basketball in the second half I don't know why, but we did."
La Salle Prep's Jace Norton knocked down four 3-pointers and led all scorers with 22 points, and Nolan Grogan chipped in 10 points for the Falcons (0-1).
"We weren't ready to play on the top 5A teams in the state," Falcons coach Sean Christensen said. "We showed up flat, Churchill got up on us early, and it was too much for us to claw back from."
The Lancers were the aggressors off the opening tip, while La Salle struggled through the first 10 minutes of the game to do much of anything right at either end of the floor.
The Falcons started 2 from 11 from the field and 3 for 6 from the free throw line with six turnovers and were looking at a 29-8 deficit with 5:46 to play in the second quarter against the perennial Midwestern League powerhouse.
"I thought we'd make some more shots to start the game," Christensen said. "We got all the shots we wanted, they just didn't go in for whatever reason. Maybe we got fouled or maybe our guys just couldn't finish, but we got the shots we wanted to start the game."
Norton buried a 3-pointer from the left corner 34-22 with 2:31 to play in the second quarter, but Churchill answered with an 11-3 run to end the half and went into the break with a 45-25 lead.
After a penalty-filled third quarter that saw La Salle outscore Churchill 13-9, the teams traded baskets through the first five minutes of the fourth quarter and then the Lancers closed the game on a 14-7 run highlighted by Samaje Morgan's behind-the-back pass to Goracke for a dunk that made it 67-49 with 2:10 to play.
Did the Lancers tailor their game in any way to try and counteract some of La Salle's 3-point shooting abilities?
"Not necessarily," Bokn said. "We've got a style of play that we're going to try to enforce on people. We want to play 84 feet, we want to try to defend, and with that comes a lot of effort and testosterone from the kids.
"They' got to learn to tame it down on the offensive end a little bit and execute a little better, but we'll get there."
The Falcons were without senior guard Rudy Massaad, who stayed home due to an illness.
"Rudy's a big, strong kid who would have helped in a game like this," Christensen said. "I thought Churchill was really physical, and we weren't ready for that.
"We did a lot of good things in the game, but there's a tone of stuff that we can get better at. That's the way it's going to be. We've just got to buckle down, watch some film, and move on to our next game on Friday.
"This one was disappointing, but I know that's not how we're going to look come March."
TUESDAY GAMES
OREGON CITY 58, NEWBERG 51: Jake Gettel scored a team-high 16 points and Andre Best also scored in double figures with 12 points, helping the Pioneers to a season-opening road win over the Tigers.
With the game tied 44-44, the Pioneers got baskets from Eric Nova and Gettel, and went 10 for 15 at the free-throw line as they closed with a 14-7 run.
Jack Chlumak led all scorers with 20 points for the Tigers (0-3).
GLADSTONE 69, COTTAGE GROVE 48: Thomas Tacha scored a game-high 21 points and Jude Ashpole added 18 points, leading the Gladiators to an impressive non-conference boys' basketball road win over the Lions.
Matthew Lehrbach finished with nine points and Drew Pulsipher had six for the Gladiators (2-0), who led 37-28 at halftime and then broke the game open in the third quarter when they outscored Cottage Grove 21-9.
Erick Vallejo Giffen scored 21 points and Jasper Nichols Ferguson had 10 points to pace the Lions (0-2).
NORTH CLACKAMAS CHRISTIAN 58, COLUMBIA ADVENTIST 41: Caleb Matias knocked down four 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points to lead the Saints of Oregon City to a non-conference boys' basketball home win over the Kodiaks of Battle Ground, Wash.
Hadden Stark added 10 points and Jake Van Lieu and Braden Young had eight points each for the Saints (4-0), who jumped out to a 32-20 halftime lead.
Matias had seven points to help spark a 20-6 run in the third quarter that helped extend NCC's lead to 52-26.
Trey Hart and Nick Heinrick scored 11 points each to lead Columbia Adventist.


The 2014-2015 PayScale College Salary Report ranks Loyola University Maryland No. 56 of more than 1,000 U.S. four-year colleges and universities for mid-career median salary potential of graduates.
Loyola also ranks in the top 9 percent of all private institutions; in the top 3 percent for all religious institutions; No. 17 for business majors; and No. 29 out of 346 schools for sports fans, a category for institutions with a Division I football or basketball program.
Loyola graduates have the second-highest mid-career salary from all schools in Maryland, after the U.S. Naval Academy. Only two other Jesuit schools, Santa Clara University and Georgetown University, rank ahead of Loyola, and Loyola is among the seven Patriot League institutions ranking in the top 6 percent.
"These latest data released by PayScale offer one set of metrics in continued support of the value of a Loyola University Maryland degree, affirming our commitment to providing students a distinctive, liberal arts, values-based education in the Catholic, Jesuit tradition," said Marc Camille, Ed.D., vice president for enrollment management and communications at Loyola.
PayScale found that the mid-career median salary of a Loyola graduate with a Bachelor's degree is $101,000, and the early-career salary for a Loyola graduate is $52,000.
For more information visit PayScale's full college salary report and Loyola's profile page on PayScale's website.


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Tag Archives: Dungeons and Dragons
Of Ringers and Runts: An Experimental Exercise in Geeketry!
Posted by danielwalldammit in Gaming, Uncategorized
D&D, Dungeons and Dragons, Entertainment, Games, Narrative, Role Playing Games, RPGs, Story-Telling, Storytelling
Nerds only now! The rest of you guys just run along…
I think most of us who play RPGs have had this experience, the one where the game master (GM) brings in a ringer. It may be a non-player character (NPC), or it may be the GM's own personal player character (PC, which was much more common back in 1st edition, …yes, I'm that old). Either way, the ringer towers over the player characters. He kicks ass while they struggle to make a difference.
One thing that strikes me about this is just how often the players will initially greet the ringer with joy. He or she typically shows up just when the player characters face some challenge they thought surely would prove too much. Suddenly they have a chance after all. With the appearance of a ringer, you can't help but feel that hope is alive and well again. At least you can feel that way until somewhere during the course of that epic battle when the three orcs your ranger has killed don't seem all that significant in comparison to the 6 giants, four ogres, and thirteen trolls the ringer has offed while you were struggling with a random goblin. The ringer is always a mixed blessing. He can win the day, but he can also make winning feel an awful lot like losing.
If the ringer is still in the group six games later, then I for one reckon it's time to leave.
Should a ringer stick around for several sessions, the players begin to feel they are just along for the ride. The ringer can reduce player characters, and with them the players themselves to the role of an audience rather than a participant. It can take the fun out of the story, and it can make you reconsider how you want to spend your Saturday nights.
I think most gamers would say that it's bad GMing to let a major character overshadow the player characters like that. It's the job of the GM to challenge the players, not take center stage and enjoy their applause every time he wins the day. This is why so many frown on GM player characters. Game Masters shouldn't run characters of their own, so the wisdom goes. That's just asking for abuse. But in my experience, the taboo against GM player characters just contributes to the problem rather than helping to solve it. Almost every ringer that I've seen began as an NPC, just another character in the cast. This is what frees the GM to set them up with extra power. Often, the GM doesn't even plan to keep the ringer around that long. he's just another character in the overall plot-line, so it's not big deal if he has a little extra power. The trouble is that GMs do become attached to interesting NPCs, so much so that they look forward to playing them, leveling them up, and watching the kick ass. A GM can feel this way about an NPC just as easily as he (or one of his players) can feel about a player character. In effect, some GMs have player characters, and they don't even know it.
Back in the days of first edition, a GM's player character was most often rolled up according to the same rules as those of the players. This provided a bit of a check on the whole ringer problem. Abuse could still happen, but there was a bit more of a sense that the GM's character was supposed to be part of an ensemble. When they come in over-powered to begin with, they inevitably become the star of the show, and the notion that a given character isn't really a player character can very well serve as the excuse for a GM to field one who simply dwarfs anything the other players can produce.
Anyway, ringers are a problem, right? "Don't do them!" That's usually a pretty good rule of thumb. So, here is a thought experiment. What if we toss that rule aside? Is it possible to put a ringer in a campaign without ruining everything?
Okay, I know you can do it for a game or two, but what if the ringer was there for the balance of the campaign. Is it possible to do this without ruining the players' fun?
In essence, this is a question of re-protagonization. In gaming, we often talk about deprotagonization, the process by which a character is made irrelevant to the story-line in a campaign, but what can be done to provide genuine significance to a character living in the shadow of a ringer? That is the question posed by the prospect of gaming (deliberately) with a ringer. It's a thought experiment of sorts, but hopefully an amusing one.
How to go about it?
I can think of a few angles. Whether or not they would actually add up to a fun campaign, well that's an open question! Anyway, here are the guidelines I would use to set up the campaign.
One: Much of the ringer's activities take place offstage, leaving the player characters free to resolve their own challenges without the help of the big guy. For example, the ringer is a spell caster, and she is performing a complex task inside a building. The players must protect the building themselves. If they fail, her spell is ruined, and the overall plot takes a turn for the worse. What I really like about this example is the characters can fail without this resulting in a total party kill. If they blow it, then the enemy reaches the ringer, and the ringer then enters the fight. This way the PCs will probably live through their failure, but everyone will know the development is bad in the long run, because that spell was important. How? Well that's a question for a larger plot-line…
Okay, this might be cheating a bit, because a ringer off-stage isn't all that different from any other background piece of a campaign plot. Arguably, such things are happening just offstage in many campaigns. It's just not that unusual. The full challenge of making a ringer work would be one of making it work when the ringer is standing right there beside the players, doing things along with them, and providing tangible assistance during the course of events. It could provide an interesting twist for a game or two to let the players cope with the sudden absence of their MVP, but if that's the campaign, then your campaign doesn't really have a ringer. That's ducking the challenge here rather than facing it.
Two: Give the healer an inherently supportive role. What is she good at? She can heal like no-one's business, or she is really great at support magic. She can make the other characters run faster, hit harder, and otherwise kick ass. If only they were a little better to begin with! (This works particularly well if you combine it with a definite plan for PC growth.)
What I like about this approach is it filters the impact of the ringer through the actions of the PCs. The ringer remains a ringer She can do amazing things, but the PCs will still have to kill the bad guys; they will still have to scale the cliffs, and they will still have to break open the door to the enemy castle. They may get a boost from the ringer, but it's up to them to make that boost matter. In effect, the ringer becomes their own asset. It is up to them to make her matter.
What doesn't work about this approach is that it soft-peddles the ringer to the point that she may not seem like a ringer. Fantasy movies and books are full of wise wizards with far more power than the warrior-protagonists which remain the focal point of such stories. Simply put, we care who wields the sword more than we care who keeps him healthy. That's one of life's little perversions, but I reckon it's a common enough feature to storytelling, it doesn't make much sense to deny it. A real ringer is a ringer than leaves carnage in his wake, not one that brings you back from the dead and gives you an energy drink. Maybe that shouldn't be the case, but it is.
Three: Let a player run the ringer. I've done this countless times. My old first edition D&D campaign ran for over 20 years. Since we started a new plot-line every year or so, we would often roll one or of the old characters into the new campaign. This often meant that a single player would have a 9th level character or two while everyone else was starting at 1st. It could be fun. We let different players run the ringers in different campaigns, and with multiple characters on the board, no-one got bored. There was always plenty for the other characters to do.
This approach at least takes some of the sting out of the GM bias, but that may be all it accomplishes, and a PC-ringer poses problems of its own. If the ringer-rolling player isn't present for a game session, then either someone else must run their character (something I don't like doing), or your ringer is gone. How to explain the absence of the ringer or the player's how to cope with his absence is sometimes a tricky question. Also, letting a player run the ringer makes it harder to control the relationship between the ringer and the other players. If that player is selfish, then she will deprotagonize the other players, and you can't do anything about it without taking the player's ability to run her own character. That's no fun. It can all workout, but suffice to say that I don't think this really solves the problems posed by putting a ringer in a campaign.
Four: Make the ringer its own challenge. It doesn't have to be obvious that the ringer will help with tasks the players have set out to accomplish. Maybe she doesn't really want to help at all and the players will have to talk her into it. Better still, if they must actively work to keep her on track over the course of the campaign! Is the ringer a drunkard? The players must keep her sober for the big fights. Is she really forgetful or otherwise aloof to the point of becoming utterly unreliable? If the player characters have to make decisions for her, or even role-play the process of guiding her actions, the ringer becomes an extension of the player's own efforts. What she does is what they get her to do. It may still be her fireball, but at least it will be the players who told her where to place it.
On a side note: it could be interesting to give players powers enabling them to redirect the actions of the ringer. In effect, she becomes a power source, but at least some of her actions are determined by the players.
I think this approach is promising insofar as it gives the player characters some sense of control over the campaign. Still, convincing the hero to do the right thing isn't quite as much fun as being the one who does it yourself. a fireball rolled up by another character will never be as fun as one you roll up yourself, even if you did talk the other person into casting it. Giving the PCs a care and feeding role to play in managing the ringer helps a bit, but this alone won't provide a satisfactory solution to the problem.
Five: You can give the player characters independent tasks and even long-term goals that diverge slightly from those of the ringer. Perhaps, the ringer is happy to demolish all the orcs in the northern wastelands, but she isn't all that concerned about the elven princess the characters want to keep alive. Their challenge thus requires tasks that the ringer won't help with and their sense of accomplishment will then rest (at least partially) on terms that don't involve the ringer.
I think this is critical to resolving the problems posed by a ringer. Whatever problems the ringer can be relied upon to help the players solve, the players must face some problems they have to resolve on their own. If these problems can be put in play at the same time, in the same scenario, then so much the better. The ringer is in play on the table, and the player characters must do something for which her help will not be provided. Not only does this go a long way toward resolving the problems posed by a ringer; it can also spice up game combat in general. A battle with a subplot is more interesting than a straight-up fight, and if that sub-plot skews the significance of the characters present, so much the better.
Six: Let the characters progress to a level comparable to that of the ringer. This really is the big one, as far as this challenge is concerned, because it makes the ringer into a challenge that must itself be resolved over the course of the campaign. In effect, this turns the problem posed by a ringer into a source of meaning in itself. To make this work, though, you must risk letting the characters feel the weight of the ringer initially. Let them struggle to matter for challenge or two, then let them solve a problem or three, and finally give them a moment when they see the ringer as an equal rather than a superior.
For an extra twist, let the ringer become an enemy in this final moment, and let the battle with that ringer be the final test of progress. You know you've made it when your mentor lies defeated before you! …extra fun if some cryptic prophesy alludes to this early in the campaign.
Extra twist, or not, I think letting the players overcome the difference is the key to making a ringer into a positive force in the campaign. It's an experience, I recall from my early days in gaming. I spent most of my gaming days playing first edition D&D. It was a consistent expectation back in those days that your character would start as a grunt and grow into power over the course of a campaign. Most importantly, first edition was a definite sense of diminishing returns. You could bring a 1st level character into an 8th level campaign, and by the time the other characters had made 10th, your own character was probably only one or two levels behind them. You weren't quite even with the others yet, but at that point, you were one of the group, a force to be reckoned with. Watching your significance grow in comparison to the established characters in such a campaign could be a lot of fun. In effect, the over-powered characters provide a base-line from which you gauge your characters progress, effectively making it all that much more obvious than it would be in a campaign where the characters (and their enemies) are both relatively evenly matched.
The sense of character progress is something I missed in 3rd edition. The balance of power in that game didn't shift much over the course of a game. If one character was 5th level and another 1st, ten games later, then 5th level character was till significantly more powerful than the 1st. You just couldn't overcome the difference like you could in first edition. It's one of the things that made the presence of a ringer that much more toxic in 3rd edition, I think. Under normal circumstances, the differences could not be overcome. I miss it. Maybe that's what has me thinking about ringers.
No, I haven't played 4th or 5th edition.
SixB: As a further twist on progress, give the ringer an active role in helping the PCs develop and grow. It's easy enough to role-pay a mentor apprentice relationship, but it's a little more fun to provide some significance to this in the game-mechanics. IN my home-brew system, I allow characters to share experience points, and I make this more effective under selected conditions, as in cases where the advanced character has specific teaching abilities, or if the characters have entered an established relationship of some kind). I let the players choose these things, of course, but I give these choices weight in character development. This can help to accelerate player character growth relative to the ringer even as it slows the ringer down. Such mechanics can help to facilitate the change in balance for an overall campaign. It's particularly interesting when the players themselves have a ringer. Letting them decide how to deal with the differences in power-level provides another layer of meaning to the plot, and of course I try to ensure that the rewards for sharing experience and helping younger characters grow will outweigh any costs.
…of course, none of which is going to help any of the poor bastards when it's time to meet the dragon!
Taking The Piss Out of Magic: What it Isn't and What it Really Isn't: Special Gaming Edition
Posted by danielwalldammit in Gaming, General, Movies
D&D, Dungeons and Dragons, Explanation, Lord of the Rings, Magic, Myth, Mythology, religion
Do you Recall that glorious moment in The Return of the King when Gandalf rides out to save Feramir and the last defenders of Osgiliath! Do you remember when he raised his staff and great light issued forth, driving the ring-wraiths away (along with all the cool kids who happen to be reading these here lines)? Yes, well, I do too. And now that it's just us nerds here in the blog, let us talk of wondrous things!
What I'm particularly interested in on this dark morning here on the tail end of polar midnight, (aside from hope of a Gandalf-like ray of sun-light soon to come) is the way that some folks (ahem gamers!) often speak of wondrous things in particularly unwondrous ways.
'Unwondrous', Yeah, it's a word now dammit!
One of the amusing meta-games that gamers have been playing ever since those heady-days of the early 80s is the game of "how do you stat that?" You know, the one where you decide that the Arnold version of Conan is a 10th level Ranger with an eighteen double-ought strength, and then your friend says; "hell no, he's a 12th level fighter and he must have supernatural strength, 20 at least, …probably Chaotic Good alignment." Then someone says; "You must be nuts! He's easily true neutral." …yeah, we geeks do that. Well anyway, the game of "how do you stat that" really comes into its own with magical effects, because stating magic helps to define the fantasy worlds in which the games take place.
In Tolkien's work, mythic narratives began to flourish in fantasy fiction. Hell, for a time they almost seemed cool, cool enough for the mighty Zep at any rate, and this was a significant part of the cultural background informing the early days of pen&paper RPGs. But here is one moment where the game of stating the worlds around you (real or imagined) always seemed to fall short for me, at least in mainstream games. They fall short really the minute the game of stat this is played.
You see, to stat that magic moment in which Gandalf drives off the wraiths in AD&D one would need to assign his light effect to a designated spell with a designated range, area of effect, and duration, all defined in precise mathematical terms. The effects of light on undead would be clearly defined in this spell, and the sort of power it takes to generate the spell would also be clearly explained. In Dungeons and Dragons and many of the games emulating it, this wondrous moment in the story becomes a function of well-defined principle of mechanics. One might even suggest that it becomes part of the natural laws of the universe in which the games take place.
Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed countless hours of manipulating precisely those very mechanics over the game table. Good times! I wouldn't part with them for brand new vorpral sword. But one thing is definitely lost in this approach to gaming, the wondrous part of it all. The rules of mainstream fantasy games normalize the features of mythic narratives to such a degree that they become a kind of demi-science. One can often see gamers haggling over the details of some magic effect or trying to plot the precise mathematical formula needed to ensure that all the orcs on the game table fry-up in a fireball without singing the elven maiden. in most cases there is nothing mysterious about it; the game rules tell us exactly how this sort of thing works. It's how many of these games are played.
What is lost in this approach to gaming is the very fluid nature of the narratives which inspire and inform the genre. The Lord of the Rings doesn't really present us with a theory of Gandalf's light, not a complete one at any rate. We might imagine that Gandalf is able to generate that effect because of some arcane set of rules we know nothing about, but what we have in a mythic narrative is simply the fact that he did that, odd as the whole thing may be. Wondering just how such seemingly impossible feats actually happen is an important part of the story. Wondering about it at the game table? Not so much. Not usually anyhow.
In the scientization of mythic narratives, the spell-books of classic fantasy gaming effectively set that wonder aside. Of course there are alternative approaches to the subject, such as those used in story-teller games, but my purpose here isn't to argue for upping the nerditude of the game table. It's to comment on something I consider an interesting twist in the culture of fantasy gaming, namely its tendency to frame wondrous things in terms of a well defined rational principles.
If fantasy games presents us with a kind of alternative physics, I don't think this is entirely unique to modern perspectives on the subject. One sees it in references to The Force of Star Wars, and still more so in the theme-killing notion of Midi-chlorians (microorganisms responsible for the force. …blech)! You can see it in old Theosophical notions of an astral plane through which emotional and psychic powers turn out to follow a kind of physics in their own right, and of course you can see it in sundry New Age efforts to turn Quantum Mechanics into a science of wishful thinking. Folks use these notions and others like them to embed the uncanny moments of a narrative in a theory which makes sense of it. In some cases, that is the total point of the theory; in others it is one of many uses.
Time and again, folks seem to want to find a theory in stories made wonderful precisely because they defy our theories, or more importantly, because they defy our normal strategies for making sense of the world. What makes the moment Gandalf creates his light effect compelling is precisely our inability to fully make sense of it. It is likewise with more traditional epic narratives such as the role of missletoe in the killing of Baldur in Norse mythology, the origin of sea mammals in the in Sedna's severed fingers, or the forceful eviction of the Gambler in Navajo legends (he was fired up into the skies from a great bow). What all of these and so many more narratives share is not conformity to an arcane set of natural laws so much as a momentary in-your-face violation of expectations which people are most familiar.
What I am suggesting here is that the notion of magic isn't really a part of these narratives, or at least that it is not the key to understanding the momentary occurrence of irrational events. Such stories may relate information about a natural order (such as a world in which the availabile game-animals are in some sense part of an active relationship to Sedna), but that order does not itself explain the moment in which something odd springs forth from her severed fingers. One doesn't really need a theory to appreciate the story, nor need one assume that the story could be explained by a valid theory. One needs only to understand that the outcome of the narrative will be meaningful. In the interim, the shear absurdity of certain moments in that story is a thing to be savored, not to be explained away.
The notion of magic along with its specific variations come into such stories in efforts to square them with more familiar realities. Where the uncanny can be a feature of such stories, it becomes a bug when one imposes an expectation of literal truth upon it. So, people sometimes concoct a theory to explain the matter. Those theories then provide an ad hoc defense of the uncanny, but they provide us with no real insight into the stories.
Magic, resides in the secondary and even tertiary rationalization of mythic narratives, but there is no reason to believe it resides in the narratives themselves. We needn't imagine Tolkien plotting an area of effect for Gandalf's wraith-baffling light ray, nor do we need to ascribe a theory of mythic-evolution to Inuit story-tellers relating the story of Sedna. Hell, we don't even need to imagine that the Book of Genesis constitutes an attempt to explain the cosmos, though a world touched by the hand of Thomas Aquinas can hardly seem to imagine otherwise.
There is something in the effort to find a theory behind wondrous narratives that does violence to those narratives themselves. Such theories always end up falling short of their source material. It is the same whether we are talking about the hackneyed apologetics of fundamentalist Christians looking to read a consistent theory into all the traditions crammed into the Bible; an anthropologist trying to find such a theory in the oral traditions of some exotic people, or yes; something as simple as a game designer trying to fit a wondrous theme into a rule system. The explanation never quite lives up to the promise of its inspiration.
Sometimes that failure matters more than others, but for me at any rate, the disappointment is a fairly common reaction. What concerns me most nowadays is the ease with which people seem to accept that mythic narratives ought to have a theory behind them, a set of principles that will explain them, even if only in terms of an error. That just isn't the case. Sometimes this expectation gives us bad story-telling, sometimes it steers a whole generation of fantasy-gamers right past the fantastic part of fantasy, and sometimes it leads people to genuinely misunderstand great texts and brilliant oral traditions. Either way the variety of magics are never quite as brilliant as the stories which inspire them.
Magic itself just isn't all that compelling, but a man playing chess with a fish or a cat that sings itself into a dragon? No explanations required.
…or wanted!
Geeks Only: Intruders from the Cool Table Just Move Along!
Posted by danielwalldammit in Gaming
D&D, Dungeons and Dragons, Evil, Fun, Geeks, Hobbies, Role Playing Games, RPGs
Just a quick note to say that I am running a summer youth camp right now, which is why the blog has been silent lately. What I've posted has been stuff written in advance (like this one for example). The kids will soon dismiss me, though, and I'll commence bloggenating proper once I taste freedom.
Okay, most of you probably aren't going to get the point of this story, and some of you may flee in terror shouting 'nerd alert! nerd alert!' That's okay, because, well, …guilty as charged.
The game was D&D, and it may have been the mid-90s, but we were playing first edition. I was the Game Master, and two separate gaming groups (one from Las Vegas and one from Flagstaff) had come together for a single game session. Each of the players had several characters on the table and we were engaged in a massive battle with an army led by evil forces. At some point in the evening, the players had achieved a clear victory over that army, so I thought it was time to wrap up the long game session and give the players their just rewards for a battle well-fought.
I told the players that an evil God (Li Kung, I believe) had descended upon the battlefield and congratulated the party on their victory, asking them to consider sparing what remained of the evil army and allowing it to quit the field. In exchange for this, Li Kung would grant a number of favors. At this point I meta-gamed the issue and simply told each player that they could ask for 1 favor for 1 of their characters. The players readily agreed.
It didn't take long for the players to begin making their requests. Most of the specifics were perfectly forgettable, but one of them stands out. This player prefaced his request with the words; 'it can't hurt," which I actually thought was probably a safe assumption under the circumstances. He then asked for a Holy Avenger for his Paladin.
I thought about explaining to the player that his great and Holy Warrior ought not to ask an evil deity to provide him with a weapon that was supposed to be a symbol of his faithful service to his own (good) god. Then inspiration struck me. I told the players that Li Kung nodded his head and then disappeared. The players chatted a moment in character, wondering where he went and whether or not this meant the deal was off. Then the evil one reappeared with a great sword, which he offered to the Paladin, the bloody stump of a human hand still gripping its handle.
"Oh goody!" the player was positively beaming.
He wasn't entirely sure why the sword functioned as a simple +2 weapon.


text:
Coloniality without colonies? Poland for example
Joanna Warsza
The context of semi-peripheral countries such as Poland adds new layers to the understanding of (post)-colonial history. How to grasp the region, which was both oppressed and oppressor? Based on two exhibitions curated by Joanna Warsza at SAVVY Contemporary in Berlin in 2017 and at La Colonie in Paris in 2019 the talk will casts a light on how colonial and neocolonial forces have navigated the territories of Eastern-Europe, Poland in particular, through a choice of artworks. From Emma Wolukau-Wanambwa's "Paradise" (2012), where artist looks at the remains of a refugee camp of Poles in Uganda during the Second World War and the relations between the erased memory and the all-visible documents testifying to the unfulfilled hegemonic aspirations; to today's perverse use of postcolonial theory in the nationalist agenda in the work of Agnieszka Polska. Such an inquiry can offer ways to better understand the region's right-wing turn, the permanent need of affirmation of its exeptionalism and victimhood, the lack of the critical examination of its own imperial past, but also the feeling of discrimi¬nation in Western Europe. Those exhibitions were meant to offer ways of going beyond such entanglement, also with the help of artificial intelligence in the work of Janek Simon.


text:
Q: First Posts Review Queues: When are these posts no longer sent for moderation? From reading this post on the review queues, I now understand how they work in general. However, the answer's author mentions

The First Posts queue contains the first few posts asked by new users (who will probably need help learning to use the site)

Does that mean a user would have to reach a certain level of reputation until her questions/answers no longer appear in the review queue? What would be this level of reputation be?

A: When selecting items for the First Post Review queue, we don't look at the reputation of the user on the post.  There are a variety of requirements for the queue but that main one is based on whether or not it is the first question or first answer by a user.
If it's their first post, then it is eligible for review.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Ben Denzer, 2011–present
This is Brad, and Brad is made of Lions!
— Stephan Jenkins
Let them change.
— Hadji
First thing I want to do is take you out to see your grandmother.
— Royal Tenenbaum, The Royal Tenenbaums
Let the sun shine on in.
— 5th Dimension, "Let The Sunshine In" via Recess: School's Out
One big reason I wanted to spend all these years with Wallace was to help me with my own questions of faith by examining his.
— D. T. Max, "God, Mary Karr and Ronald Reagan: D.T. Max on David Foster Wallace," The New York Times
Join the swirl of activity.
— Brian Jay Stanley, "On Being Nothing," The New York Times
Trust your story.
— Neil Gaiman, Instructions
— RJ
Baller.
— Judy
Money in the bank.
— Lil Scrappy Ft Young Buck, "Money in the Bank"
Operation Wormhole.
— VA 86
Snow pea.
— Snow Pea
Cray cray.
I would understand.
— Third Eye Blind, "Jumper"
Psychedelic principalia.
— Principal Prickly, Recess: School's Out
Come tomorrow.
— Eagle-Eye Cherry, "Save Tonight"
You always know the right times to be assertive or to simply wait.
Mooo.
— Princeton OA
Remember that chap about twenty years ago? I forget his name. Climbed Everest without any oxygen, came down nearly dead. When they asked him, they said why did you go up there to die? He said I didn't, I went up there to live.
— Roland Tembo, The Lost World: Jurassic Park
The jellyfish.


March 21, 2017 – Monster Energy / Arctic Cat / Ram Truck's Tucker Hibbert finished third in the 2016/2017 ISOC National Snocross Pro Open Championship with a solid weekend of racing at the Ram Truck Grand Finale National in Lake Geneva, Wisc. The three-day event capped off another remarkable season for the 10-time champion.
Hibbert's victory in front of a packed crowd Saturday night was the highlight of his weekend. With a second place start in the 14-rider, 10-lap final, he was in good position but, ultimately, strategy played a major factor in the race. On lap six, the leader took the joker lane (an extended section of the track each rider was required to take once during the race), opening the door for Hibbert to take control of the race. He took full advantage of the opportunity, laying down fast lap after fast lap to pull a comfortable lead over second place. He waited until the final lap to take the joker lane and secured the victory.
Recapping Hibbert's 17th Pro National season, he tallied a series-high seven Pro Open final wins, 11 podiums and 14 top-five finishes. In the process, he added another career milestone to his record by winning his 125th Pro National race at the Eastern National in New York.
Vote for Tucker – Fan Favorite Rider!
Tucker Hibbert needs your help to win the ISOC Snocross Fan Favorite Rider award. He took home this honor in both 2014 and 2015.
If Tucker is your favorite, you can vote daily, on any web device (computer, phone, tablet, etc.) until March 16 at midnight CT.
March 7, 2017 – Monster Energy / Arctic Cat / Ram Truck's Tucker Hibbert scored a podium finish at the penultimate event of the 2016/2017 ISOC National Snocross tour in Dubuque, Iowa. Marking the first time the national tour has landed in The Hawkeye State, the Iowa Snocross National featured a steep, rough track on a tight section of Sundown Mountain Resort's ski hill.
Friday night, Hibbert went 3-2 in qualifying and finished fifth in the final. The defending champion turned things up Saturday night finishing 1-3 in his qualifying rounds and putting on an impressive charge in the final.
With a 10th place start in Saturday's 18-lap, 13-rider final, Hibbert had his work cut out for him. Dodging carnage early in the race, he rode smart while pushing forward. He moved into fourth place on lap four but already trailed the leader, #53 Kody Kamm, by nine seconds. Hibbert started making big gains halfway through the race by turning laps one to two seconds faster than Kamm. On the final lap, he closed the gap and was within striking distance of the lead but came up short to finish second.
Next up for Hibbert is the final event of the season in Lake Geneva, Wisc. March 17-19. He currently sits third in the 2016/2017 Pro Open championship and 44 points out of first place. With three days of racing and 177 points on the line, he's still in the hunt to claim his 11th pro national title.
February 27, 2017 – Monster Energy / Arctic Cat / Ram Truck's Tucker Hibbert had a dominating performance on the second day of the ISOC National Snocross Michigan National in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. Nailing the holeshot nearly every time he was on track Saturday night, Hibbert rode with confidence and control to win both his qualifying rounds and the final event at Soaring Eagle Resort & Casino.
Friday, the story of the night was the brutal track conditions brought on by unseasonably warm temperatures and intermittent downpours triggered by a thunderstorm that rolled through the area. The event went on but featured condensed racing, with laps cut from qualifying and the final. Hibbert charged hard in all his races but with mid-pack starts, he came up short to finish 2-3 in qualifying and fourth in the final.
Feeling good about his rides Friday night, Hibbert entered Saturday focused on winning. He grabbed the Stud Boy Holeshot in both his qualifying rounds and, despite being dealt ninth pick on the start line for the final due to the inverted start procedure, nearly got the holeshot in the final.
The opening laps of the 20-lap final, it was a three-way battle for the lead with Hibbert in third. Riding a blistering fast line through the back rhythm section of the track, he made two clean passes for the lead and immediately opened a gap over second place. He rode the remainder of the race unchallenged to take the win.
Next up for Hibbert is the inaugural Iowa Snocross National at Dubuque's Sundown Mountain Resort this weekend. For an inside look into his preparations for the final stretch of the season, visit tucker-hibbert.com and connect to his social media channels.
Tucker Hibbert and Arctic Cat have teamed up to give fans the Ultimate Race Experience! Every snocross race weekend this winter, fans will win autographed Arcticwear gear, race memorabilia, parts and accessories. One lucky fan will win the Ultimate Race Experience — a VIP trip for you and a friend to the 2018 ISOC Canterbury Park Snocross National with Team 68!
BONUS: With your entry, you'll receive a code for 25% off any Arcticwear Tucker Hibbert Signature Collection item!
February 6, 2017 – Monster Energy / Arctic Cat / Ram Truck's Tucker Hibbert recorded his 125th Pro National Snocross career victory Saturday night at round 10 of the ISOC National Snocross tour in Salamanca, N.Y. Hibbert led the milestone race from start to finish in dominating form.
Friday night at the Eastern National, win number 125 eluded Hibbert after he finished a hard-fought second place. Confident in his performance, he entered Saturday determined to get to the top step of the podium.
With 4-2 finishes in his qualifying rounds Saturday night, Hibbert had a seventh start line pick for the 15-rider race. Positioned in the middle of the front row, he launched off the line and into the early lead. Immediately pulling a gap on the rest of the field, he rode 22 laps smooth and in control while dodging ice holes, snow dust and lapped riders. When the checkers flew, he had lapped up to sixth and held a 10-second lead over second place.
The ISOC National Snocross tour now takes a two-weekend break before hitting the final three events of the season. For more information on Hibbert and his race schedule, visit tucker-hibbert.com.
January 27, 2017 – Monster Energy / Arctic Cat / Ram Truck's Tucker Hibbert finished fourth in the Snocross event at X Games Aspen 2017, breaking a gold medal streak he's held since 2007. The 14-time medalist was fast in practice and qualifying but came up short in the final.
Typically known for its big-air, technical snocross tracks, X Games featured a short track this year with lap times hovering around the 19-second mark. Throughout the race day, the track developed into an icy, one-line course making the holeshot even more critical for a top finish.
In Hibbert's qualifying race, pileups off the start in the tight, right-hand first corner caused officials to restart the race twice. On the third start, Hibbert was third off the line. In lap six of 15, he made the pass for second and held that position to the end of the race.
In the eight-rider final, Hibbert got a solid jump off the line and made it through the first corner clean to round lap one in fourth place. He pushed hard for 30 laps, looking for a line but struggled to find an option for a clean pass to finish the race where he started, in fourth.
Next up for Hibbert is the fifth stop of the ISOC National Snocross tour in Salamanca, New York. For more information on his schedule, visit tucker-hibbert.com.
Note: In 2012, Snocross was not contested at X Games.
Watch X Games Snocross Live!
Watch Tucker Hibbert race for his 10th consecutive X Games gold medal Thursday, January 26 4:30-5:30 p.m. ET live on xgames.com. There will be two heats of qualifying with the top four in each heat advancing to the eight-rider final.
The event will be delay broadcast on ESPN Sunday, January 28 at 2 p.m. ET.
January 23, 2017 – Monster Energy / Arctic Cat / Ram Truck's Tucker Hibbert took home a fourth place finish and a win at rounds seven and eight of the ISOC National Snocross tour in Deadwood, SD. Despite missing the podium Friday, Hibbert had impressive runs both nights on the tight, rough track – something the sold-out Deadwood crowd has come to expect from the 10-time champion.
In Friday's 14-rider, 24-lap race, Hibbert was buried off the line, rounding lap one in 11th place. Battling heavy roost, he moved around the track, searching for new lines to make clean passes. He charged hard but ran out of time to get to the front, finishing in fourth place.
Saturday night's final was a drastically different race for Hibbert. He took the holeshot, momentarily got shuffled back to fourth place in turn two's split lane corner but by the time he exited the next corner, he regained control of the race. With a clear track in front of him, he quickly pulled away and by lap 16 of the 24-lap race, he had a jaw-dropping 16-second lead. He rode the remaining laps smart and in control to take his 124th career win.
January 9, 2017 – Sunday afternoon, Monster Energy / Arctic Cat / Ram Truck's Tucker Hibbert won the ISOC National Snocross Canterbury Park Pro Open final in Shakopee, Minn. Below are Hibbert's results along with his thoughts on the race weekend and upcoming events.
Canterbury Park National's three days of racing action will air on CBS Sports Network January 14, 21 and 28 at 10:00 a.m. EST.
Next up for Hibbert is the fourth stop of ISOC National Snocross tour in Deadwood, SD January 20-21. The following Thursday, he'll compete for his 10th consecutive gold medal at X Games Aspen.


The Trends of Benton and Franklin Counties, in south central Washington; are presented by a coalition of interested parties. The steering committee included the following organizations: Benton Franklin Health District, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Port of Benton, the Three Rivers Community Foundation, and the Tri-City Herald. The information contained among these many indicators offers residents and visitors alike a comprehensive view of our community.
Our process has been deliberative and inclusive. To arrive at the current set of indicators, we engaged focus groups around eight of the ten categories on the site. This involved nearly 150 community leaders and subject experts. Their votes determined the choices of indicators you see in each category.
Over time, the mix of indicators will undoubtedly change. For now, these represent the best approximation of the most important views of life in the two counties. Most are annual, so the insights offered by the future path of these trends will take time.
As you explore this site, the Development Team encourages your feedback to help continue to improve this community resource. To receive a quarterly e-newsletter with updates about select indicators and stories of success, subscribe here.
Website development and maintenance comes from Eastern Washington University's (EWU) Institute (Institute) for Public Policy and Economic Analysis. The Institute is a multi-college unit conducting applied analysis at EWU. Institute, staff and students, gathered the data, wrote the explanations, conducted statistical tests & designed this site. The Institute has created several similar indicator websites, including those for Grant County, Chelan and Douglas Counties, three counties in Northeast Washington, Benton and Franklin Counties, Skagit County, Yakima County, and Kootenai County, ID.
The Institute's Director is Dr. Patrick Jones. Scott Richter is the Community Indicators manager while Brian Kennedy is the Institute's data analyst. Many students have helped develop and maintain both data and verbal content. Student research interns who were instrumental in creating this project were: Bryan Lockwald, Holly Miller and Emily Wavra. Chris Thompson was the student design intern for this project. Kandyce Moore is the Institute's computer programmer.


text:
Trüb ist der Familienname folgender Personen:

 Carl Ludwig Paul Trüb (1894–1981), deutscher Medizinalbeamter
 Charles Trüb (1925–2020), Schweizer Kunstmaler
 Hans Trüb (1889–1949), Schweizer Arzt und psychoanalytischer Psychotherapeut
 Rudolf Trüb (1922–2010), Schweizer Sprachwissenschaftler
 Walter Trüb (1883–1962), Schweizer Ingenieur, Verbandsfunktionär und Politiker

Trüb steht ferner für:
 Trüb AG, ein Schweizer Unternehmen

Siehe auch:
 Trübung

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Would you love to be a certified NLP Trainer, deliver NLP trainings, be smart in your structure, creative in your style, powerful, effective and fun? Or would you like to upskill your training style and structure generally? We are excited to announce the success of our Trainer Training event.
The Course is a collaboration between Your Business in Mind Ltd and inimitable Master Trainer Beryl Lyndley. It is aimed at those who want to work more effectively in developing their staff, who might train in different organisations, and those who might want to add strings to their freelance bows.
Our training revolves around structure, process and self. In the first two modules, you will learn and refresh your ability to design training through an intentional structure: how to create the perfect trainer state for you and unlock the full range of your capabilities: how to work responsively with individuals and with groups, creating dynamic connection and energy. We seek to create synergistic alliances between the group and the learning.
The ultimate outcome is to bring excellence into your training and delivery style, through understanding structure and processes which enable you to meet or exceed your learners' outcomes. Certification as an NLP Trainer takes place in Module Three. You might choose to take the first two modules, even if you don't want to be able to train people in NLP specifically. We have flexibility.
Our Trainer Training will run over three modules, to give delegates time to integrate and refine learnings through practice, and create excellence in their personal training styles. The style of the course is that delegates will receive tutor input supported by a personal coaching approach, to allow for the greatest development.
You will receive extensive high quality feedback from tutors, peers, and via video work. Our venue includes a residential option which allows those who learn more easily away from the distractions of home to fully immerse in the experience, and to enjoy the relaxing environment and facilities of the venue. Every module is likely to require at least one early evening input session.
The training will run with a maximum of 18 participants. It is highly interactive. The emphasis is very much on individuals developing their own unique blend of competences and styles which meet the standards expected by accrediting professional bodies to deliver to Masters level. We will use a video portfolio to enable delegates to find a neat third position for self- evaluation, awareness and development.
Next event to be announced – contact Jan on 07892 902354 to register your interest.
Note that there will be one evening class on all modules, so please choose your residential options with this in mind.
Modules One and Two only: If you would like to improve your training and presentation skills and are not an NLP Master, you are welcome to join the event for the first two modules. If this is you, please contact jan@yourbusinessinmind.com to discuss further and for pro rata costs.
Beryl was the first female Master Trainer in the UK. She is co author of the highly successful and accessible book NLP in 21 Days, and one of the most extraordinary trainers in the business. Beryl combines an inside out knowledge of NLP with the wisdom and experience of creative practice.
Dr Jan Russell (Dexter) is a twice certified NLP Trainer and Director of Training and Development for Your Business in Mind. Jan has earned an excellent reputation as a trainer in diverse settings, and regularly utilises NLP modelling in her work at Leadership level.
Jan is has a visiting Senior Fellowship in Coaching at the University of Lincoln. As well as training and coaching, she writes fiction for fun and brings her story telling abilities into all of her work.
From time to time we engage guest tutors from our NLP trainer associates pool, as appropriate.
Setting personal goals, creating a robust trainer identity, the energetics of the trainer state, verbal artistry in the group setting, the categories of Virginia Satyr, stage anchoring, the presentation format.
Structuring NLP content and processes, in setting learning styles, teaching a practical skill set, stages of group development, styles of group facilitation, turning NLP knowledge into effective lessons, blending content and process.
Organic questions and answers session, written paper, live demo of an NLP application, business applications of your accreditation, accrediting with recognised bodies.
If you would like to take advantage of this rare opportunity please contact jan@yourbusinessinmind.com Places are limited and this is a rare opportunity, and it will be a case of first come first served. We require a deposit to hold your place.


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2023 Genesis Electrified G80 Review: old-money luxury gets an electric edge
By Stephen Edelstein September 15, 2022
"The Electrified Genesis G80 wraps EV efficiency in classic luxury."
Old money style
Excellent chassis
High-power charging
Surprisingly efficient
Awkward touchscreen
Unimpressive driver-assist tech
Luxury automakers are quickly embracing electric cars, but Genesis is making the shift at whiplash pace. Hyundai's luxury brand has only existed since 2015, but it's now rolling out two EVs that represent very different approaches to electrification. The GV60 is a small crossover SUV designed from the ground up as an EV, while the 2023 Genesis Electrified G80 is based on an existing gasoline car.
Design and interior
Tech, infotainment, and driver assist
Range, charging, and safety
How DT would configure this car
Show 1 more item
It's the latter that we're concerned with here. While "electrified" is often used in the auto industry to denote hybrids, the Electrified G80 is an all-electric version of the Genesis G80 luxury sedan with no tailpipe to speak of, It replaces the standard G80's four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines with a pair of electric motors.
New for 2023, the Electrified G80 starts at $80,920 with destination. With so few electric sedans on the market, the Genesis occupies a space between the cheaper Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4 and the more expensive Tesla Model S, Lucid Air, and Mercedes-Benz EQS, with more focus on luxury and comfort than the sporty Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan. And unlike most other EVs, the Electrified G80 gets nearly every feature as standard equipment. The only option on our test car was $575 Capri Blue paint, bringing the as-tested price to $81,495.
The Electrified G80 is the automotive equivalent of strutting about wearing a top hat and monocle. While not wholly anachronistic, it doubles down on old-money styling cues, such as the chrome fender vents and leering disco ball grille. Combine that with Genesis' signature quad LED headlight and taillight strips, plus a sleek fastback roofline, and you get a very distinctive design — distinctive from other brands, at least. Aside from the shiny grille and lack of exhaust tips, the Electrified G80 is virtually indistinguishable from the gasoline G80.
The luxury aesthetic continues on the inside. The Electrified G80 has standard Nappa leather upholstery, with heating and ventilation for the front seats. Rear-seat passengers get a fold-down armrest with cupholders. Genesis is also bolder with color and material choices than other luxury brands. Our test car's white upholstery was paired with blue trim instead of the usual black or gray, along with matte wood trim. Granted, the latter looked a bit like the countertops at a Long Island diner.
The G80 is the automotive equivalent of strutting about wearing a top hat and monocle.
The Electrified G80 felt pretty spacious, but on paper it gives up some room compared to its gasoline sibling. It has less headroom in both rows, and while front-seat legroom is about the same as the gasoline version, the EV has significantly less rear-seat legroom. The BMW i4 comes fairly close to the Genesis on passenger space, although its seats are nowhere near as comfortable.
At 10.8 cubic feet, cargo space is also about three cubic feet less than the gasoline G80. While there is a small passthrough between the rear seats, they don't fold down completely. The trunk floor also has a hump, so the space that's available is not completely flat. The BMW i4 once again offers a comparable amount of space, but it's also a hatchback, which makes loading and unloading items a bit easier. Neither car has the "frunk" popularized by Tesla.
The standard infotainment system includes a 14.5-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and four USB ports (two front, two rear). A 21-speaker Lexicon audio system and wireless device charging are standard as well. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard, but wireless versions aren't available.
We liked the digital instrument cluster, which has a 3D effect like a 1990s baseball card that makes the virtual speedometer needle appear to stand out from the background. But the touchscreen was awkward to use because of its positioning. It's set far back on the dashboard behind a hump that you have to reach over. Genesis' voice control is also less sophisticated than that of German luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes. You do get a rotary controller with its own small trackpad, at least.
Like other Genesis models (and those of parent Hyundai), the Electrified G80 also gets Digital Key, which turns a smartphone into the key fob. Instead of carrying a separate fob, drivers can use a compatible phone (this feature is Android-only for now) to unlock or lock the car, start it up, and drive.
The touchscreen was awkward to use because of its positioning.
Another carryover feature from other Genesis and Hyundai models is Remote Smart Parking Assist. While other automakers offer parking-assist systems that can steer a car into spaces, you don't have to be in the car to use this one. And the Electrified G80 gets the now-familiar Hyundai/Genesis/Kia Blind-Spot View Monitor camera system, which shows a camera view in the instrument cluster. While no longer novel, it's still very helpful when merging or overtaking.
Blind-Spot View Monitor is also standard, along with a host of other driver aids including forward-collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, safe exit assist, and a rear occupant alert feature that reminds you to check the back seats before leaving the car.
Also standard is Highway Driving Assist, which levels up the adaptive cruise control by adding automated lane centering. Tech like this is already common in cars of all price ranges, and Genesis' version doesn't exactly distinguish itself. While we appreciated the straightforward controls and the ability to automatically match posted speed limits, acceleration was frustratingly slow, and steering movements awkward. Instead of following curves, the system always seemed like it was trying to cut them, only pulling the car back in line when it approached the limits of a lane. And you'll definitely get your hand-strength exercises in while gripping the steering wheel, which is the only way the car knows you're still paying attention.
The all-wheel drive Electrified G80 has one electric motor powering each axle, fed by an 87.2-kilowatt-hour battery pack. Combined output from the two motors is 365 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. The electric model can't match the 375 hp of the most powerful gasoline G80, but outdoes that model's 391 lb.-ft. of torque. That extra torque was definitely noticeable when accelerating away from stoplights; it was easy to chirp the tires despite the Electrified G80's all-wheel drive.
The Electrified G80 has the character of a classic luxury car, combining speed and comfort while keeping the drama to a minimum. Standard adaptive dampers provide the pillowy ride expected in the luxury category, along with excellent body control that means passengers won't be disturbed by jarring sideways motion in corners. Genesis' choice of 19-inch wheels likely helps as well. The wheels are large enough to appear properly scaled with the rest of the car, but still leave room for thick tire sidewalls, which provide an additional cushioning effect.
The Electrified G80 has the character of a classic luxury car.
While not a performance car per se, the Electrified G80 was also surprisingly game for twisty roads. The same suspension elements that coddle the driver and passengers with a smooth ride helped the G80 glide through corners with the agility of a smaller car. The steering was nicely weighted — especially in Sport mode, which also quickens accelerator response — and the rear end provided just the right amount rotation to help expedite cornering. Like a real performance car, the G80 communicated the sensation of the road, but in a more subtle way that preserved the luxury atmosphere.
The Electrified G80 is a great car to drive, but it also works well as an EV. It has strong enough regenerative braking to enable one-pedal driving, and can even (gradually) slow to a stop without any application of the brake pedal. And while converting a gasoline car to electric power can often uncover unpleasant sounds normally masked by the engine, the Electrified G80's cabin was as quiet as an abandoned shopping mall.
Official range and efficiency ratings haven't been published yet, but Genesis estimates a respectable 282 miles of range. A standard heat pump and battery heater should help maintain maximum range even in cold weather. We also saw average energy use of between 3.7 kilowatt and 3.9 kW per mile during a week of driving — greater efficiency than we expected.
One of the most impressive aspects of the Electrified G80 is its 800-volt electrical architecture, which enables DC fast charging at up to 350 kW, and can charge the battery pack from 10% to 80% capacity in 22 minutes, according to Genesis. That's some of the quickest charging currently available, although actually finding a 350-kW fast-charging station can still be challenging. Genesis is also including three years of free 30-minute charging sessions at Electrify America locations.
Connect to a 240-volt Level 2 AC charging station — the kind normally installed as home chargers — and the Electrified G80 can charge at up to 10.9 kW, taking the battery pack to 10% to 100% in seven hours and 22 minutes, Genesis claims. The Electrified G80 also has vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability that can discharge power at 3.6 kW to run devices or appliances.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) haven't published crash-test ratings for the Electrified G80, although both organizations did give the gasoline G80 high marks. While that's encouraging, those ratings may not translate to the Electrified version as the addition of the battery pack and subtraction of the engine may change the way it performs in a crash.
The Electrified G80 does get the same warranty coverage as other Genesis models, including a five year, 60,000-mile new-vehicle warranty and a 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Genesis also provides a separate 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty for the battery pack and other EV components.
There isn't much configuration to be done, as the Electrified G80 is only sold in one all-inclusive trim level encompassing everything from Nappa leather and premium audio to a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain and a full suite of driver aids. That doesn't make the Electrified G80 a great value, though, as this is simply the level of feature content one should expect in a roughly $80,000 car.
The price point does position the Genesis well against other EVs, undercutting the Audi e-tron GT, Lucid Air, Mercedes EQS sedan, Tesla Model S, and Porsche Taycan. With its 800-volt electrical architecture, respectable estimated range, and one-pedal driving capability, the Electrified G80 is also a good EV that nicely replicates the experience of traditional luxury cars.
It may be harder to find an Electrified G80 than other EVs, however, as it's only available in eight states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Utah, and Washington. Its base price and the fact that it's assembled in Ulsan, South Korea, also disqualifies the Electrified G80 from eligibility for the federal EV tax credit under the latest rules.
More competition is also on the way. The Lucid Air Pure is scheduled to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2022 with an $87,400 base price (before destination), but 406 miles of range. The Mercedes EQE sedan should also reach dealerships soon at a significant discount from the EQS. So while the Electrified G80 is an impressive first effort, when it comes to EVs, change is constant.
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Kao achieves climate neutral operations in the UK and Germany
Sam Robinson
The Japanese consumer goods manufacturer Kao advances its global goal of reducing its CO2 emissions to zero.
Climate neutrality at key EMEA locations achieved through a combination of strong on-site measures and a collaboration with ClimatePartner.
Support of renewable energy project in Morocco also strengthens role of women.
Kao, a leading Japanese consumer goods manufacturer and one of the world's largest suppliers of professional salon products including brands like Goldwell and other iconic beauty brands such as John Frieda and Molton Brown, announced that its production and administrative facilities in the UK and Germany will be climate neutral by 2022. Whereas the UK facilities have already achieved this goal for the year 2021, the German operations will follow on January 1st, 2022. For this project, Kao has teamed up with Climate Partner, a leading solution provider for corporate climate action. The collaboration is an addition to Kao's longstanding commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.
Over the past years, Kao EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) has applied a wide range of measures to pave the way towards climate neutral operations: Since 2014, all Kao operated factories and owned offices in EMEA have been using 100% renewable electricity. Furthermore, energy saving measures have been implemented, resulting in a 31% reduction in energy consumption since 2010. Additionally, Kao has reduced its waste water volume by more than 12% since 2016 and completely switched to sustainably sourced paper (FSC certified) in 2015.
The next milestone in Kao's strategy is the year 2025: Until then, Kao plans to further reduce its
carbon footprint in the EMEA region by continuing to cut water consumption, installing LED lights in its facilities, switching to low energy consuming cold mixing process and reducing waste in its production sites. Additionally, Kao is looking to certify selected brands and products as climate neutral. By 2030, the plan is to replace any fossil fuel heating with alternative heating technologies.
Climate neutrality as part of Kao's ESG strategy.
The step to become climate neutral in the UK and Germany is part of Kao's ESG strategy, the Kirei
Lifestyle Plan. The Japanese word "kirei" describes something that is clean, well-ordered and beautiful, all at the same time. In the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, Kao lays out its ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy that is designed to deliver the company's vision of a gentler and more sustainable way of living. As part of the Kirei Lifestyle Plan, Kao aims to reduce its global CO2 emissions to zero by 2040.
"Becoming climate neutral in two key markets of the EMEA region is a big milestone for us on our way to zero CO2 emissions," says Guido Kirchhoff, Vice President Supply Chain at Kao EMEA. "However, we do not stop here. Reducing our carbon footprint continues to be one of our key priorities at Kao and we are already planning the next steps to further minimize our emissions along the entire supply chain. The collaboration with ClimatePartner is a great support and will help us on our path to full climate neutrality for all EMEA branches of Kao."
Cooperation with Climate Partner identifies further saving potential
Climate Partner supports Kao by calculating its carbon footprint, identifying the biggest emission sources and suitable future countermeasures. These are divided into direct emissions such as heating (Scope 1), indirect emissions from purchased electricity (Scope 2) and other indirect emissions like commuting and waste treatment (Scope 3). By using renewable energy in the UK and German facilities, Kao is already able to completely avoid all Scope 2 emissions. However, the emissions categories Scope 1 and 3 were identified as more challenging to tackle as they account for more than half of the emissions from the UK and German facilities.
To achieve its goal of climate neutrality in the UK and Germany, Kao is offsetting its unavoidable
emissions by collaborating with ClimatePartner. "Our vehicle fleet and our employees' commute have
already been on our agenda for several years. It has been insightful to see that we have not been moving the needle enough in this area. While we are working on this and other projects such as
improved waste management in our production sites, our collaboration with ClimatePartner will help us to reduce our carbon footprint while also supporting local communities in their own efforts to lead a more sustainable life", says Guido Kirchhoff.
Strengthening renewable energy and the role of women in Morocco
Key element of Kao ́s offsetting activities is the support of a wind farm project in Tangier-Tétouan, Morocco. This project helps to reduce the country's dependency on fossil fuels and empowers women in the region by improving their economic and social status. The project is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals*, as is the sustainability strategy of Kao. The wind farm comprises 40 turbines with an overall capacity of three megawatts each. The electricity generated is fed into the national grid, reducing Morocco's dependence on fossil fuel imports, which currently stands at 95%. Furthermore, the project empowers local women through the establishment of agricultural cooperatives and women's associations, training in cooperative management and handicrafts as well as medical care, helping to strengthen their role in society and improve their employability. The project is W+-certified, a standard that recognizes projects that support women to act collectively to address climate change, poverty and food insecurity.
Tristan A. Foerster, CEO and co-founder of ClimatePartner explains: "While working with Kao we have seen how committed the company is to achieve more sustainability for everyone around the globe. We, therefore, are very happy to be able to continue to accompany Kao on its journey to become climate neutral and to support the company offset its currently unavoidable carbon emissions with certified carbon offset projects."
For more information about Kao's offset project, visit: climate partner here.
climate neutral germany kao UK
MARKDAVID SALON: FESTIVE PARTY HAIRSTYLES
The 'How' Behind The 'We Don't Do Saturdays' Movement


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Why Did Apple Delete Its Gay Rodeo Ad?
June 30, 2019 by Devin Randall
Breana Knight shows 'em how it's done at the Gay Rodeo (but sadly, no one's seen it). / Screenshot via YouTube @Apple official
Earlier today, I discovered the news of a new Apple ad that also celebrates the gay rodeo.
While I shared stories about the gay rodeo before and how it's a community of LGBTQ people celebrating the rustic heritage of the cowboy life, I was happy to share more information on the subject. But unfortunately, that video has now disappeared.
The week after GLSEN was "pleased to announce that it will honor Apple CEO Tim Cook at the 2019 GLSEN Respect Awards – Los Angeles. Cook will receive the Champion Award for his ongoing commitment to fighting for LGBTQ rights and creating safe spaces for members of the LGBTQ community," Apple released the latest "Shot by iPhone video."
In the video, shot by Luke Gilford, Apple spotlights the gay rodeo circuits where LGBTQ people create and participate in rodeo activities like bull riding. Then Breana Knight, a Denver-based bull rider and musician played the starring role in the ad.
A post shared by Alex Valencia (@mr.alex.valencia)
The "Shot on iPhone" series is primarily based on celebrating the diversity of life and several different communities around the world. And, it's also an ad for their iPhones' recording tech. To spotlight that, the only shooting equipment for the video was an iPhone XS and a CS Max (paired with a DJI Osmo Mobile 2 gimbal and Moment lenses).
As you'd expect, the theme of the video was probably to celebrate and exploit pride month as all companies do around this time in the year. But, then Apple did something mysterious. It deleted the video. Yes, it appears that the original video was erased from the company's official YouTube channel after its release (and after a few news sources like Patently Apple, Apple Insider, and iPhone Italia reported on it).
But why? Apple made no announcement about the video or about the video's deletion. In fact, the video was deleted within 24 hours of its uploading. The only trace of it ever existing is the fact that a few news sources reported on it and that a few unofficial sites & YouTube channels uploaded it to their pages. So without any word from Apple on the matter, there's only speculation as to why the video was deleted.
Perhaps the video's deletion was a mistake. Perhaps there was a mistake in the video. Perhaps there was a logistical or legal problem such as getting rights to show a person's face or whatever else. Honestly, I don't know why the video was deleted. I just know that the video was deleted and Apple's being very quiet about it.
Maybe the video will be uploaded later. Maybe later even means later today. But until that happens, the video has been uploaded elsewhere. If you want to watch the video, you can watch it through this link here or you could watch it below (Thanks to an Apple fan account that uploaded the ad. Note that these sources may get deleted too).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZuhXS5-3T0
Tags #GayCowboys, #GayRodeo, #GayVideo, #ShotByiPhone, Apple
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