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April 14, 2016 April 14, 2016 by Sgt. Mom
Curious indeed, to reflect that by the end of this year, I will have been out of the Air Force for as long as I was in it – but the time does fly when you are having fun. But twenty years in the Big Blue Machine does leave marks, as well as an exquisite sense of how the military really operates in real time, among the lower-ranking levels, close to the ground. This isn't a sense readily developed from reading, although I suppose someone with wide experience, a strong sense of empathy and close personal associations with veterans can develop it by proxy.
This around-about way of explaining how all this last week, my daughter and I were wondering about a murder-suicide at Lackland AFB last Friday morning – nearly a week ago. A trainee airman had fatally shot his squadron commander, and then killed himself. Of course, it all came out in dribbles over the weekend; the trainee was an E-6, aged 41 and a student in the pararescue course … and had also resigned from the FBI as a special agent. Everything about this was curious, even unlikely; the Air Force para-rescue specialty is one of the most physically-demanding jobs the Air Force has. It's comparable to the SEALS, and Army Special Forces, in that many are called, few chosen, and even fewer still graduate.
And an instant promotion to E-5 or E-6, Blondie and I agreed, must mean this man must had been prior service; Marine or Army Ranger, in order to waltz in without going through Air Force basic. But to have dropped from the FBI to enlist … curioser and curioser, Blondie and I agreed – and until this last Tuesday, there was nothing really reported which explained any of this … until I found a story from the L.A. Times. A reporter had actually looked at the anomalies, and reported thusly:
Bellino joined the Army after graduating from high school in 1992, training first as an Army Ranger at Ft. Stewart, Ga., then as a Green Beret at Ft. Bragg, N.C., according to his attorney, Daniel Conway. In 2002, he left the Army and joined the Army National Guard, serving with a special forces unit based in Ohio, according to Conway and military records. During his time in the Army and National Guard, Bellino served multiple tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and Kuwait …From 2004 to 2007, Bellino also worked as a civilian contractor with a private security firm, the lawyer said. In 2011, Bellino left the military, went to work as an FBI special agent in the New York office but resigned after less than two years, according to an FBI statement. He then tried to reenlist in the Army or join the Navy, but eventually settled on the Air Force because it involved the least amount of red tape…
The story has otherwise vanished from the media – there don't seem to be any other reports – or even any great curiosity about a truly strange set of circumstances for murder out of the clear blue. Of course, the Air Force public affairs offices at all levels likely want this to vanish down the memory hole, but then, it seems, so does the established news media. This is the only story that I could find that went into more than just terse detail of names, ranks and ages.
To recapitulate; Bellino spent ten years in the Army, then the Army National Guard for nine years, to include three years as a civilian contractor, then a mere two years as an FBI agent … and back to military service, as a trainee among people half his age. This, when he had already spent years in extremely demanding military or law enforcement specialties. A badge hunter? Addicted to the adrenaline rush? I'd also venture a speculation that an extremely checkered career might be an indication of certain personality traits; traits that made him a very bad team player and a huge problem for commanders and NCOs, all the way along. I'd also speculate that he looked good at first look and on the resume, every time … but eventually the problem traits surfaced, and it was just less trouble for all involved to let him move on. Discuss – and I would like very much to hear what other veterans, especially Subotai Bahadur have to offer.
(Cross-posted from several days ago at www.ncobrief.com)
Categories Crime and Punishment, Current Events, Human Behavior, Media, Military Affairs, The Press, War and Peace
New Developments between Israel and the Saudis.
32 thoughts on "The Heart of the Matter"
I wonder how this fits the story of the murderer of Chris Kyle.
Routh's mother had asked Kyle, a former Navy SEAL whose wartime exploits were depicted in his 2012 memoir, to help her son overcome troubles that had at least twice led him to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Routh had been a small arms technician who served in Iraq and was deployed to earthquake-ravaged Haiti before leaving the Marines in 2010.
PTSD from no combat I understand.
I was interviewing an applicant for the military yesterday. a young Asian girl, and gradually got a wild story of troubles, It took me almost an hour to get the story. The techs said they were starting to worry about me. I can imagine the people who interviewed this guy and Bowie Bergdahl were in a hurry to get through.
This is another strange one. Forty one seems kind of old for an E-6, but maybe because of the National Guard thing…would seem as though if he went through all that Ranger and Green Beret entailed he would have gotten back into the Army. The prior service I encountered came over because they were stuck in dead-end rates and wanted a better situation, none were in high-profile outfits. I suppose the Pararescue-Ranger thing was a lateral though…
Grurray
There's a physical entry test for pararescue that includes a rigorous swimming portion. They should've known he couldn't swim. It sounds like they probably let him skate through because of his prior service.
Sgt. Mom
That's one of the curious elements, Gurray – the Rangers and Special Forces also have pretty rigorous swimming requirements. As Blondie said, early on – the swimming qualifications should have been a walk in the park for him … unless he had really gone out of shape.
Considering he was in the Green Beret 20 years ago, it would be easy to get out of shape. I've heard stories about navy SEAL recruits showing up to BUD/S training without knowing how to swim. I don't know if they let these guys in to have a good laugh or they just like to pack the field or what. Sooner or later lax entry procedures were going to backfire, and it did when they let this lunatic in.
There was a great show a few years ago about special forces training called Surviving the Cut. Here was the pararescue:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1qt2vn_surviving-the-cut-air-force-pararescue_shortfilms
The swim is nuts. 25 meters fully clothed with 60 lbs of gear on your back without breaking the surface.
Courageous of the commander. Sad leaving two little kids.
It still makes me think of the Kyle thing.
Very odd; very sad.
I read an account recently of the FBI murder of a witness in the Boston bombing case. It made me wonder if the FBI deliberately recruits a few murderous loonies. I suppose they have their uses, but I must say I wouldn't want to serve alongside one.
Roy Lofquist
I was in the Army 1-61 to 12-63. It was a difficult time for the military. A mixture of guys with Combat Infantry Badges and a bunch of incompetents that couldn't make it in civilian life. More than once I witnessed the "hand off". Commanders had little control of who got assigned to fill slots in the TOE. When you got handed a dud the easy way out was to praise him to the rafters and encourage a transfer. Make him someone else's problem.
I wonder if the strain of doing the physical training at 41 got to him? This isn't just basic training but I would assume stuff that weeds out 20 year olds.
Lots of them.
Was there anything in his past Army service to indicate he was a loose cannon? (no pun intended).
I saw a series on Netflix I think – on an Air Force para rescue unit in Afghanistan – I was surprised – those guys were hard core. I expected to see some unit like that in the Marines, Army or SEALs – but they were/are second to none.
I can't imagine having to go though all that stuff at age 41. They are trying to weed out the 50% or so. Old men need not apply.
And in that kind of unit, 41 is old.
I always had a chuckle in Army Basic training at the rifle range – in the tower of the range master sat a locked and loaded M16. In case someone went nuts I suppose.
I never asked.
"I can't imagine having to go though all that stuff at age 41."
I've seen a couple of prior service guys applying for OCS in the Navy. The only thing open to guys over 35 is EOD. I guess there is not much demand for getting yourself blown up.
I can't imagine what this guy was doing there.
I think of it from the POV of the doctor who has to certify the applicant is qualified.
I wouldn't like to be the guy who qualified Bergdahl.
To my mind, Bergdahl was a plant, an activist looking to subvert. Much the same as Hasan. If you're a Bergdahl, "against the war" and all that goes with it, how do you end up in a rifle platoon in a war zone? You don't. In the big services like the Army and Navy there are thousands of jobs in non-combat areas. Not unusual at all for someone to do twenty years with out ever leaving the U.S., going to sea, etc. You can get your G.I. Bill, retirement, just by keeping your uniform squared away, and staying under the radar. I personally knew individuals who worked 9-5 jobs for their entire hitch, never stood a watch, couldn't tell starboard from port.
The Kyle thing still stinks, despite it being "settled science" in the parlance of the administration. I keeping thinking of that story I read (at SOCOM?) about the skipper of the Roosevelt approaching the SEAL team to "help out" with the gang problem aboard. Given who the CIC was, nothing would surprise me. I'd be willing to bet the ranks are heavily salted nowadays with SJW's looking for opportunities wherever they may be.
It is a curious instance.
One motivation for getting back in would be to get to active duty retirement longevity. His guard time would have only counted for the periods of extended activation (pre-, deployment, post-). He could of made that without going elite. The FBI pays better than E6. All of his active duty periods would have countered toward his FBI federal civil service retirement for longevity, not benefits- so he wouldn't have had to stay that many years. Addition of his active and guard service would have put him only a year or so from a military reserve service pension payable starting at age 60. Doubt it was financial, short or long term.
I'm going to guess that he found the contractor and FBI environments less satisfying to a warrior mentality than his earlier service- they are. As an FBI agent he was likely working for a younger, less warrior spirit with bureaucratic ambitions and playing that game. He was limited in advancement due to age and likely formal education. He might have reached a midlife crisis period with regrets over leaving the brotherhood. Going into another branch of special ops wouldn't likely be his first choice and I doubt the red tape was a factor. The issue could well have been the circumstances of his departure from the active army. The Army would have had much more documentation on his service than what they would have likely shared with the Air Force. Elite forces don't volunteer information that could be interpreted as reflecting badly on them.
When guys leave the Army combat arms (and I'm sure other military services warrior classes), they may leave voluntarily due to special personal circumstances (mainly family). It usually has little to do with better compensated opportunities as their skills are highly specialized. If they are forced out (more or less involuntarily), it is either performance as reflected in their evaluations, addictive or other behavioral issues or physical limitations (results of aging, illness or injury). Just like professional contact sports, much of the physical conditioning, rehab and lifestyle discipline required to stay in the game falls on the individual. Some guys are superman physically and technically, but as they move forward in the service, are not effective as leaders rather than followers. It can also be interpersonal issues with team or leadership members that the individual can not see a resolution possible. Special ops is a close knit community and it is not like you can transfer easily to avoid a bad chemistry situation. Knowing more about his actual unit assignments and transfers might show a pattern. What happens within the brotherhood likely stays there, rather than being written down in any detail. Those in the brotherhood know how to fill in the blanks and that would not likely cross service lines. Some combination of these factors most likely explains why he left the brotherhood mid career.
Even in the elite special ops, the services are depleted and the Air Force might have taken a calculated risk on this guy without digging as deeply as they should have. I would guess that their special ops guys got involved late in the acceptance process or that their reps were somewhat less diligent than if they had actually had to serve with this guy. The very act of seeking entry in a sister service special ops should have raised red flags. Pressure to recruit is intense and you doing usually put your best warriors in positions of recruitment and staff work.
The trouble with being middle aged is that you aren't 21. The trouble with midlife crisis is that you don't factor that reality. A guy who self-identifies as an elite warrior could snap if confronted with that reality in a graphic way, especially if there were other psychological factors preexisting.
In western societies isn't there often overlap between mental illness and jihadism, just as there is between criminality and jihadism?
(WRT Bergdahl and Hasan.)
"Was there anything in his past Army service to indicate he was a loose cannon?"
I wonder about that myself – likely not that there would be anything actually written down. I'm making some assumptions based on my own experience in a relatively small career field, of course. The thing about relatively small career fields is that after a hitch or two, you know everyone or of everyone else in it. If he was a troop with issues, or was constantly clashing with peers and supervisors, that word would get around. He went Air Force, according to the story, because there was too much paperwork involved in rejoining the Army … what if people processing his applications went and quietly called around to his old units, saying, "Hey, you worked with him, and he wants back in – what do you think?" and the answer they got was, "Oh, HELL no!" It did work that way in my career field; I spiked a guys's assignment to a unit, because I recalled very well what a PITA he was when we worked together previously. Was there anything ever on paper – no, all word of mouth. The det chief asked me, casually — and I about blew his ears off with an honest reply along the lines of "HELL NO!!"
I wonder also if he expected the para-rescue course to be a relative doddle, anyway. The AF does have a bit of a reputation for not being rigorous in field training – and why not, we're mostly technicians?
And if the training cadre also expected him, on the basis of his written record to accomplish it easily, in spite of the age? "Hey, people – got us a grown-up trainee! Looky there, honor grad materiel for sure!" Only to be hideously disappointed when it became clear he couldn't hack it, after all.
People have been driven crazy. Hasan claimed that he had been. It can take on diabolical and very dangerous dimensions. Post-Vietnam morale was notoriously ugly. The divide between junior and senior enlisted wide. I knew of several instances, an E-6 who was our division leader was hated by all, including the E-5's and E-4's who worked under him. It was an open secret that he should not be caught alone on the weather decks at night underway. We had some seriously bad apples aboard.
Another situation on the same unit was a fireman who's EO had it in for him. He learned that the Lieutenant's wife had a drinking problem. He developed a plan, and one night while we were home-ported he picked her up outside the Officer's Club. A whole bunch of the black gang partied with her. Fireworks. Word spread rapidly. He sat out the next patrol TAD at the barracks, and then was transferred. I took orders off that unit later, but my understanding is that he never made LCDR, and left the service because of the incident.
Albeit at a lower level, I served with older prior-service troops who left the military and then came back in for various reasons, who were exemplary soldiers, respected as stalwarts by peers, NCOs, and officers. Just on the information in the account, Bellino's coming back to the uniform doesn't seem exceptional besides the elite level of his service. That USAF's SF would give him a try-out doesn't seem exceptional, either.
On its face, this looks like yet another unpredictable, even black-swan act to add to the list with the likes of Elliot Rodger, Jaylen Fryberg, Myron May, Aaron Alexis, Jared Lee Loughner, Charles Carl Roberts IV, George Sodini, Chris Dorner, James Holmes, Robert Bales, Adam Lanza, Seung-Hui Cho, Yoselyn Ortega, Nidal Hasan … not an exclusive list, but a famous segment of a recently growing and diverse list of murderers who, often without especial prior indicators of murderous violence, often in contradiction of their apparent profile, suddenly exploded in their homes and communities by committing homicides openly, often impersonally if not randomly, with considerable forethought, and with little or no attempt to escape.
Sgt. Mom:
"I wonder also if he expected the para-rescue course to be a relative doddle, anyway."
I doubt that. Maybe if he was a 'stolen honor' fake vet. It's true that soldiers make fun of airmen generally, but we understood USAF security and pararescue were a different breed from typical airmen. If he was an Army Ranger and Green Beret, then SF knows and respects SF across branches, more so since they've served together in the field since 9/11.
And forward air traffic controllers have a pretty rigorous program as well – count them as SF, too, I think.
You may be on to something in bringing up the matter of Chris Dorner, though. Seemingly absolutely straight-arrow, good reputation, as near as I could tell, good military record … and suddenly going all mad-dog murderous, for no very good reason that I have read – and the news media put out far more about him than they have in this case.
"a famous segment of a recently growing and diverse list of murderers who, often without especial prior indicators of murderous violence, often in contradiction of their apparent profile, suddenly exploded": has anyone checked the prescription drugs they were on, the inoculations they had had?
"…has anyone checked the prescription drugs they were on, the inoculations they had had?"
Yet another thing to wonder about, Dearie – especially the prescription drugs. I know that some of recent sudden spree murderers can be or have been attributed to the onset of schizophrenia; normal male kid suddenly goes off the rails in early 20s. Not my field of expertise, though – for matters medical, I'd defer to Mike K.'s judgement.
"suddenly going all mad-dog murderous, for no very good reason that I have read"
Didn't that Captain whose daughter he killed at the beginning have something to do with Dorner's situation ?
I thought I read something.
"the onset of schizophrenia; normal male kid suddenly goes off the rails in early 20s."
That doesn't happen with 41 year olds. Crazy behavior with a 41 year old is more likely to be cocaine (or maybe Meth) than schizophrenia. Unless, of course, there was a history which sounds unlikely.
I see previous service folks all the time going into the NG or reserves. We check their RE code. I've had a couple I had to look upon Google.
Dorner and Hasan both had skate jobs, nothing that would generate battle stress. Both most likely had persecution complex's, Hasan probably had to take some guff over his known sympathies, but was already known as trouble. Dorner left a manifesto, which I'm not sure has ever been released. The "medicine" they were both on didn't come in tablet form, but from the likes of Rev. Wright and al Awlaki. I have no doubt there's a lot more to this grim tale, and there are undoubtedly many more. If the country survives this administration we just may be able to hear a few.
"If the country survives this administration we just may be able to hear a few."
Yes, still almost 9 months to go.
"schizophrenia; normal male kid suddenly goes off the rails in early 20s": I've seen that twice in students under my supervision. It's awful to see. Even more awful is to see their bewildered, heart-broken parents.
Trent Telenko
I am bothered by the targeted premeditation and limited body count in this.
Bellino killed his CO and himself. Stop.
No one else.
A true "Psycotic Break" in someone of Bellino's skill's set sould have left -a lot- more bodies.
There was a Ft Bragg Psycotic Break a few years ago when a trooper got an assault rifle and used it on a P.T. formation on a morning run.
Bellino actions strikes me as something other than a Psycotic Break.
NB: The example the comes to mind is from over a decade and half ago where a SF officer blew a claymore under the bed of his wife and her lover, but in this case the officer didn't kill himself.
Beyond that, I have not a clue.
"I've seen that twice in students under my supervision"
Our next door neighbors' son was 17 when he became schizophrenic. I'd known him since childhood. Amazing change. Then their daughter died of melanoma.
Neurobiology is coming up with some explanations but nothing that seems to be preventable although marijuana is a significant risk.
Jezzy
I think it speaks to the kind of person he was, when he failed the swim qual portion of the course and he left with out permission, to go home back to Ohio. I suspect that action might have triggered questions being asked about his prior history in the service. It is very odd though that he left being a PMC to join the FBI, I would have thought that being a contractor checked all the boxes for an action/glory seeker. I suppose that he thought he might skate through the para-rescue training on his previous laurels, but was confronted with the inescapable lesson post-9/11 service has changed from pre-9/11. Bellino might not have been aware of the shift in war doctrine in the time he was out of active service, and did not meet the new standards set for special forces operators.
Remember the CO told the first sergeant to run. Then he grappled with the shooter. Maybe his bravery stopped a worse incident.
Mike K,
Unless Bellino's CO disbled him in the grapple, I still have a very hard time seeing how there were not more bodies.
Well, Bellino shot him in the arm three times and then the head to kill him. It may have taken long enough for everyone else to get away. The shooter may then have just decided to kill himself.
Still a courageous thing for the CO to do.
A friend of mine has a big article about him in "Leatherneck" magazine this month. He is one of the most famous Marine fighter pilots ever.
I don't know if you might be a subscriber.
My nephew is currently (ao 4/2016) at Lackland, and related to my brother that the murder/ suicide trainee was in the K9 corps unit, and was scheduled to be discharged for XXX and YYY reasons and was not too happy about it. The result of that was the shooting.
He reported that investigation was likely going to take a long time, and that his(trainee) squad leader and CO were on to something in deciding to discharge him based on the outcome.
Tomw -K9? Bellino was a pararescue trainee, from all reports – different squadron from the K9 school, but in the same training group – the 37th, which oversees 6 different squadrons with varying missions.
http://www.37trw.af.mil/Units/37thTrainingGroup.aspx
I can believe second thoughts and a long investigative process before discharge, though.


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Get ready for a real shocker!!!
So it's no longer Science fiction, but an actual possibility.
Now we have all got over Thanksgiving, we can all look back at it fondly and laugh at all those inevitable moments that ultimately come paired with any Thanksgiving meal!


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Designer and Luxury
Cartier's Perrin Mixing Craft, Innovation
Emmanuel Perrin seeks balance for the venerable brand, Cartier.
By Sophia Chabbott on May 24, 2010
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Canada Goose Releases Collaboration Capsule With Angel Chen
Emmanuel Perrin, Cartier North America's new president and chief executive officer, is trying to balance innovation and tradition.
This story first appeared in the May 24, 2010 issue of WWD. Subscribe Today.
Since taking over in January, Perrin has launched e-commerce, marking the first time American customers of the fine jewelry house have had access at any hour of any day to Cartier products. The firm also launched an advertising campaign featuring its iconic watches, such as the Tank Française and Santos, which were designed in 1904 and 1917, respectively. The campaign, which ran in newspapers, was intended to convey the longevity of styles that remain top sellers.
As Perrin takes the business forward, he is mindful and protective of the heritage and craftsmanship that date to Cartier's founding in 1847 in Paris and the brand's 101-year history in the U.S.
"The role [of] any one member of the Cartier organization is a role and also a responsibility," Perrin said in his office overlooking Fifth Avenue. "Three generations of the Cartier family have passed [this house] onto the next generations in better shape than they inherited it. We can't compromise the short term for the long term. [We are about] reinforcing the true value of the house and its products."
Although the Love bracelets are still selling, Tank watches continue to perform and high jewelry keeps wowing consumers, Cartier is in a different position than in 1992, when Perrin started at the company fresh out of college at age 23.
Cartier is bigger, with a retail network of 36 stores; the Internet has started to become a major selling vehicle, and the economic downturn has left customers more demanding of quality and service.
"We've seen clients' expectations and demands [increase]," Perrin said. "It's much more detailed. There are more questions being asked. The level of service is very important."
The history that Cartier represents looms large in the expectations of clients.
"Cartier's heritage of true luxury and iconic designs resonates with the Saks Fifth Avenue customer," said Cody Kondo, group senior vice president and general merchandise manager at Saks Fifth Avenue. "The brand has a real and authentic story to tell of superb craftsmanship all brought together through a unique shopping experience."
Perrin, 41, rejoined Cartier this year from Van Cleef & Arpels, where he was president and ceo in North America. Van Cleef, like Cartier, is owned by Geneva-based Compagnie Financière Richemont SA. Before that, he was ceo of Van Cleef's Japanese division.
Perrin replaced Frédéric de Narp, who was Cartier North America's ceo from 2005 to 2009, and now has the top job at rival Harry Winston. His father is Alain Dominique Perrin, who began his career at Cartier and is a former ceo of Richemont.
Emmanuel Perrin understands the way a Richemont-owned brand is operated, although the Van Cleef business is far smaller than Cartier and is more focused on limited edition, high-ticket items. Cartier has a wider distribution of products ranging from leather goods, such as a business card holder for $80, to pieces in the millions when it comes to large gemstone jewelry and watches.
The Cartier store network also is broader than Van Cleef's, which has 13 U.S. units. Upon joining the house, Perrin set out to visit all of the stores, meet with sales and management teams and check out the various locales.
"What's wonderful in America is the eclecticism of the clientele," said Perrin, who has left the visit to the Hawaii store for last. "We have a very strong network. We haven't overextended, yet we are there for our top clients."
There are no plans to increase or decrease the number of Cartier stores in North America for the foreseeable future. The house recently added a boutique in Las Vegas' CityCenter retail complex, the Crystals, and is relocating its store at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to a more prime location within the same mall.
Perrin anticipates the Web site, cartier.us, will be one of the firm's top five producing stores in the U.S. by 2012.
In recent years, De Beers, Bulgari, Harry Winston and Boucheron began selling jewelry and watches on their Web sites. Cartier first launched e-commerce in Japan in 2008.
E-commerce signifies "an introduction to a brick-and-mortar store," Perrin said, adding that Cartier customers lobbied for it. "We're coming into the game rather late, but we wanted to come into the e-world comfortably."
The Web site offers accessories and fragrances with retail prices ranging as high as $16,000 for a piece of jewelry or a watch. The broad assortment of Cartier's iconic Love, Trinity, Santos and Tank collections also is sold on the site, which evokes the hallmarks of a Cartier boutique with its signature red background, and offers multiple views and colors for styles, whether it's the Marcello bag in tan, white or black or the Pasha watch in stainless steel with a gold bezel. Sales help is available by phone Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Perrin said 95 percent of purchases made on the Web site are from new customers.
Cartier is making several product pushes this year. One is an expanded Trinity collection, which first appeared in 1924. The key theme in the collection is a three-banded ring consisting of platinum (a symbol of friendship), rose gold (for love) and yellow gold (for fidelity). The style has been made famous by icons such as Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Cocteau, David Bowie and Madonna, who all have worn the rings.
The new collection includes tiered necklaces, cascading earrings and diamond-studded bracelets. The firm is also promoting its Calibre men's watch that features Cartier's first in-house automatic movement and is available in steel, steel and rose gold, yellow gold and with diamonds. High jewelry, fine watches, writing instruments, fragrance and eyewear are also being promoted, for a more diverse product mix.
Perrin outlined his goals succinctly: "To maximize the short term and make sure shareholders are happy. It's all about the clients, making sure we live up to customer satisfaction."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Policy Director
Justin Slaughter
Justin Slaughter is the Policy Director at Paradigm. Prior to joining Paradigm, Justin was Director of the office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs and Senior Advisor to Acting Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Allison Herren Lee. Justin has also served as Chief Policy Advisor and Special Counsel to former Commissioner Sharon Bowen at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and General Counsel to Senator Edward J. Markey. Justin has also served as a consultant in private practice focusing on fintech and smaller technology companies, and he began his career as a law clerk to Judge Jerome Farris on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Justin has a B.A. from Columbia University and a J.D. from Yale Law School.
Written by Justin
Joining Paradigm
I'm thrilled to announce that I'm joining Paradigm as Policy Director, helping Fred, Matt, Alana, and the entire Paradigm team, as well as our portfolio companies and projects, approach the [→]
by Justin Slaughter on Feb 14, 2022
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Felony expungement legislation signed into law
Gov. Matt Bevin, alongside many key legislators and groups including the Kentucky Chamber, signed House Bill 40 Tuesday afternoon—a bill to ease barriers for individuals seeking to re-enter society after having been convicted of a single non-violent Class D felony.
The version of House Bill 40 that passed both legislative chambers and was signed into law Tuesday requires a judge to vacate the felony before having it expunged, contains a five year waiting period and limits the number of felonies that would be applicable for expungement.
The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce has pushed for common sense felony expungement legislation this session to give people with low level offenses a second chance and get them back into the workforce.
At the bill signing Tuesday, the governor, bill sponsor Rep. Darryl Owens and others thanked the Kentucky Smart on Crime coalition, a group which includes the Kentucky Chamber, ACLU of Kentucky and many others, for their work on the legislation this year.
Bevin said it is critical for a law like this to exist to give people a second chance.
"It is a great, great day when doing the right thing transcends all political boundaries and all ideology. And it is an honor and a privilege for me to be able to sign this into law today," Gov. Bevin said.
Watch video coverage of the event below:
2 Comments on "Felony expungement legislation signed into law"
Elizabeth Lewis | April 22, 2016 at 4:49 pm | Reply
When and how can you start the process of of having a record expunged?
Benham J. SIms, III | April 30, 2016 at 8:18 am | Reply
Elizabeth, my name is Benham Sims and I helped write the bill. My website http://www.helpexpungeme.com will answer most of your questions. The law goes into effect July 1, 2016, There are a number of steps which must be completed in order to secure a hearing date and file the correct documents and prepare for the hearing.


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Ohio State hires Oklahoma State's Jim Knowles as new defensive coordinator
By Bill Landis
Ohio State coach Ryan Day has fulfilled his wish of bringing in an outside, experienced defensive coordinator with the hire of Oklahoma State's Jim Knowles. Knowles will begin his new job with the Buckeyes on Jan. 2.
In a statement released Tuesday, Day said Ohio State will get through its preparations for the Rose Bowl against Utah with its current staff of 10 assistant coaches. Knowles takes over as defensive coordinator for Kerry Coombs, who was relieved of his defensive playcalling duties by Day in September and replaced by secondary coach Matt Barnes.
Knowles, 56, has been Oklahoma State's defensive coordinator for the past four seasons. The Cowboys defense is currently No. 3 nationally in yards per game, No. 4 in yards per play and No. 7 in scoring. Oklahoma State is also No. 2 in third-down defense after leading the country in that same category last season. It also leads the country in sacks.
The Buckeyes rank No. 50 in total defense this year and ranked No. 59 last year while giving up 401 yards per game, the second-highest mark in the history of the program.
This is Day's third defensive coordinator hire in three seasons as Ohio State's head coach.
(Photo: Brody Schmid / Associated Press)
What 'mad scientist' Jim Knowles brings to Ohio State's defense: Experience, organization, aggression and identity
Bill Landis
Jim Knowles is Ohio State's new DC
Ari and Bill discuss Ryan Day's decision to bring on Oklahoma State DC Jim Knowles as the new Buckeyes...
What I'm hearing on Ohio State's offseason as the Buckeyes prepare for the Rose Bowl
Sources indicate that Day intends to make an outside hire for the all-important defensive coordinator position.
Rose Bowl expert predictions, odds, betting trends for Ohio State vs. Utah
The Athletic College Football
The Rose Bowl features one team happy to be there, Utah, and one team which views it as a disappointment, Ohio State.
Ohio State mailbag: On staff changes, transfer portal gazing and potential difference-makers next year
Will any Buckeyes opt out of the bowl game? What will happen at tight end next year? Should OSU shake things up on the O-line?


Fireplaces are often the focal point in the house or in a commercial property. Too often these beautiful features have been painted over, or neglected with rust stain, smoke damages or scratches.
At posh floors Ltd we have many years of experience in restoring and refurbishing fireplaces. Even the most neglected fireplaces can very often be restored with remarkable results. Whether it is Slate, Marble, limestone, granite or any type of natural stone we will probably be able to revive the look of your old fireplace.
Our many years of, expertise and quality of work makes us a leading force in the field Fireplaces restoration.
if you have an old fireplace, do not try painting over it, covering it or replacing it; call us now, in many cases, your fireplace can be restore to its original beauty.
Fireplaces are often the focal point in a residential or in a commercial property. Too often these beautiful features have been painted over or neglected with rust stains, smoke damages or scratches. In the winter season, a fireplace that keeps the temperature of a particular place controlled also adds stains and dirt to itself. Due to excessive use and improper cleaning measures, fireplaces made of different stones like limestone, slate, granite or marble desert their shine and dazzle as well as long lasting ability. To restore their natural beauty and flash, fireplaces need immediate expert attention and care.
At posh floors Ltd, we have many years of experience in restoring and refurbishing fireplaces. Even the most neglected fireplaces can very often be restored with remarkable results. We know how to revive the look of your old and unattractive fireplace. Our professional and qualified working staff knows the expectations of all customers and renders them what they need. We have made cleaning limestone fireplace easy and convenient so that you don't feel disappointed with old and ordinary looking fireplace.
Carrying many years of expertise and experience, we assure all of our new and existing customers with unmatched and flawless quality of work. Don't replace, cover or paint an old existing fireplace; ask our experts how to do it and get stunning results by restoring natural, original and lost beauty to fireplaces. Come to us if you think of cleaning, repairing and polishing of fireplaces. Get expected results with assured removal of all sorts of stains, scratches and paint covers. Even, you can enhance the appearance of any old fireplace or can re-polish it to add more sparkle and brightness to it.
Our qualified and experienced stone masons are able to carry necessary and required repairs carefully by matching the original colour of your fireplace to allow a near prefect repair with selected mortars and resins. With our special state-of-the-art cleaning techniques and methods, we are able to carry out virtually invisible repairs to all sorts of fireplaces whether they are old fashioned or made of modern architectural patterns.
We use certified and high quality products like vacuum cleaners, pH neutral stone cleaner, stain removers, thinner and sponges to give you're a fireplace cleaning your choice that suit your needs and wants properly. We pick natural cleaning ingredients that are stone-friendly in place of harmful chemicals that mar the beauty of fireplaces with hardness and rigidness.
Our qualified stone masons are able to carried repairs carefully matching the original colour of your fireplace to allow a near prefect repair with selected mortars and resins.


text:
Q: Zariski closure of a set in $k^3$ Let $k$ be any field, and we give $k^3$ the Zariski topology.
Then the question is how to compute the Zariski closure of the set $S=\{(x,y,z)\in k^3|xz=y, x+1=z^2, x\neq0\}$ in $k^3$.
The motivation is that I want to compute the blowup of the variety $\{(x,y)\in k^2|x^3+x^2=y^2\}$ at the point $(0,0)$.
Remarks: I have seen this question and this question. I also want more examples of computing the Zariski closure.
Merci beaucoup !

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


DIY house number with flowers - Lovely Etc.
The last few years I've been working away transforming the inside of our home into a happier, fresher, and more welcoming place. But during that time I haven't done a thing to the exterior of our house. Curb appeal? What's that? Seriously, the front of our house is incredibly dated and unwelcoming and I decided it was time to finally do something about it. For the last few weeks, I've been working behind the scenes to completely update our front entry. I'm almost ready to reveal the entire makeover, but in the meantime, I have a really fun DIY project from the space to share: my DIY house number.
But first, here's a look at where this all started.
This is what I came up with. I'm kind of in love with it.
Putting this together is really simple. First, stain your wood board. You can choose any color stain you like, but you want to make sure that your house numbers show up very clearly against whatever color you use. I ended up using a mix of Minwax Weathered Oak and Minwax Jacobean. (Those were the two colors I had on hand. One was too dark and one was too light, but together they were just right.) I wiped my stain on with an old tshirt rag, but you can also use a foam brush if you choose.
While the stain dried, I made a fabric liner for my metal basket to hide the flower stems. I'm sure it is probably pretty easy to sew a little basket liner, but I try to avoid sewing unless absolutely necessary. So instead I used fabric glue, to turn some scrap fabric into a nice little basket liner.
Then it is simply a matter of putting it all together. Attach the house numbers and basket to the board with screws. Add flowers or whatever you want and your done. Seriously, so easy.
Okay, so a few things. Yes, I did choose to use fake flowers for this instead of adding a planter box and planting real flowers. That was my personal preference because I'm not great at growing things. Also I like the fact that I can easily switch out what's in the basket as the season's change. I'm thinking maybe some cotton branches or fall leaves in the fall, evergreen branches in winter, etc.
You probably noticed that my new house number is hanging on cute white siding and not the red brick from the before picture. I'm still working on the whole intercom situation, so for now I took photos of my new number on my much more picturesque back porch. But I am super excited to officially hang this out front and complete my front door refresh this weekend. This makeover is long overdue and it's going to be a good one!
Here are a few basket alternatives I found. Personally I adore that turquoise mailbox, but that's probably no surprise!
I like it! It is unique, does its job and is not "cookie cutter" in the way that looks like something you bought from the store. It's beautiful. We just bought a house in September and our house number is on the backdrop of a what I call, a cutie Duty, kind of background…with cats…not my thing, I'm may take some inspiration from you and do something along the same lines as you did… If you don't mind, I think it's a great idea…what you have created here!
I LOVE that this is so simple yet cute! We have brick on the outside of our house too… how do you plan on hanging it/ attaching it to the brick?
Hi Ashley! I used a masonry drill bit to drill two holes in the mortar between the brick and then used masonry anchors and screws to hang the house number. I bought the bit and anchors at Lowes for just a few dollars.


text:
Q: How to get (name,type) from AttributeArgumentListSyntax in Roslyn C# I want to get list of (name,type) from AttributeArgumentListSyntax
    public static List<Tuple<string, string>> GetArguments(this AttributeSyntax node)
    {
        var args = node.ArgumentList.Arguments.ToList();
        if (args.Count > 0)
        {
            var list = new List<Tuple<string, string>>();
            foreach (var arg in args)
            {
                var name = ""; // ??????????????
                var type = ""; // ??????????????
                list.Add(new Tuple<string, string>(name, type));
            }
            return list;
        }
        return null;
    }

Can anyone help me ?
Result like this :
[Obsolete("A",true)]
public DateTime ModifiedDate { get; set; }

(A,string)
(true,bool)

A: You need to get the SemanticModel from your Compilation or Project.
Once you have that, you can call GetSymbol() to get the type of the value passed (which may not be the same as the type of the attribute's constructor parameter).


TRENDS THIS WEEK: Is Fed lying, or not telling the truth?
Is Fed lying, or not telling the truth?
KINGSTON, NY, 14 October 2015— Nearly one year ago, on 29 October 2014, the Federal Reserve announced it would end QE3, its third round of bond-buying stimulus that ballooned its balance sheet by $3.5 trillion. No longer worried about global weakness with equity markets sound, and "that the likelihood inflation running persistently below 2 percent has diminished," the Fed declared there would be no need for QE4.
While pledging to maintain its Zero Interest Rate Policy it had in place since 2008 for a "considerable time," the expectation on the Street, based on the Fed's bullish growth, inflation and equity market forecasts, was for the first round of interest rate hikes to begin by mid 2015.
The Fed was wrong. The Street was wrong.
Fast forward to the Federal Reserve's mid-September Open Market Committee meeting. Faced with plunging commodity prices, plummeting currencies, battered equity markets and a global deflationary cycle, the FOMC, concerned that China's economy was slowing and the global economy risked falling into recession, did not raise interest rates.
But just one week later the story changed. The reason not to raise rates was no longer the reason. Instead, a rate hike was on the near horizon.
On 8 October, when the minutes from the mid-September FOMC meeting were made public, they told a different tale than the one Yellen told at the university in Amherst, Mass. While Yellen did not "anticipate the effects of these recent developments" abroad to have "a significant effect," and thus a rate hike was probable before year's end, the minutes from FOMC's meeting revealed a committee deeply concerned with market indexes that "were quite volatile," and the implications of world events on global economies.
"Over the intermeeting period, the concerns about global economic growth and turbulence in financial markets led to greater uncertainty among market participants about the likely timing of the start of normalization of the stance of U.S. monetary policy," the minutes stated.
Is the Fed afraid to do anything considering the possible implications of raising rates at a time of "concerns about global economic growth and turbulence in financial markets," thus the mixed messages? Or is this just another round of Fed ineptness?
Indeed, former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke admitted in his new book that the Fed underestimated the dangers leading up to the Panic of '08. Considering the uncertainty of decision making policies, could it be the Fed does not know what to do?
Trend Forecast: Regardless of Fed policy, we maintain our forecast for a major equity market correction by year's end and recessionary pressures building worldwide.
banksters are as reliable as other politicians - not at all!
Through the money changers out of the temple!


text:
Found 1418 volunteer opportunities in Sherwood QLD 4075 and the surrounding areas
Red Cross Shop Volunteer - Sherwood
Sherwood Queensland
Types of work: Retail & Sales
Do you have a passion for fashion? Assist with raising funds to support the everyday work of Red Cross. You will gain valuable experience working in the community.
Volunteer Retail Assistant – Sherwood Salvos Stores
Salvos Stores (QLD)
Are you looking to make a great contribution to the social programs of The Salvation Army? Obtain a sense of achievement and pride in 'giving back'? Gain valuable work experience? Make new friends and work in a fun environment?
Volunteer Online Sales Assistant – Sherwood Salvos Stores
Types of work: Arts, Craft & Photography, Marketing, Media & Communications, Retail & Sales
Gain hands-on digital experience by joining our diverse and collaborative team in the exciting new role of Online Sales Assistant, helping to list a selection of unique finds to our online store, in addition to general in-store duties. This opportunity will allow you to make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable Australians by generating much needed funds for The Salvation Army's programs. Meanwhile, you'll be gaining in-demand eCommerce and digital skills within a supportive environment
We found more opportunities in the
surrounding suburbs and areas
Warehousing Volunteer - Sumner Park
St Vincent De Paul Society Queensland
Sumner Queensland
Types of work: Retail & Sales, Trades & Maintenance
Volunteer with Vinnies to make a difference for those in need. For some Vinnies volunteers, this is a chance to give something back to the community, to use their skills and experience to make a difference in the lives of people who need assistance the most. For others, it is a chance to develop new skills, experience and meet like-minded people in a supportive environment.
Retail Volunteer - Corinda
Corinda Queensland
Volunteer with Vinnies to make a difference for those in need. For some Vinnies volunteers, this is a chance to give something back to the community, to use their skills and experience to make a difference in the lives of people who need assistance the most. For others, it is a chance to develop new skills, experience and meet like minded people in a supportive environment.
Retail Volunteer - Oxley
Oxley Queensland
Retail Volunteer - Sumner
Soccer Stars Volunteer - Brisbane Southside
Inala Queensland
Category: Young People
Types of work: Companionship & Social Support, Sport & Physical Activity, Tutoring & Coaching
The St Vincent de Paul Society Youth Team is looking for leaders aged between 18 – 35 years old to support local children in our community soccer program, Soccer Stars. Leaders do not require any previous soccer or sporting experience, but must be warm, enthusiastic, energetic, and have a passion for supporting children. The program takes place every third Saturday morning from 8:00-11:00am.
WesleyCare Sinnamon Village - Volunteer, Sinnamon Park
Wesley Mission Queensland
Sinnamon Park Queensland
Types of work: Companionship & Social Support, Disability Support, Music & Entertainment
WesleyCare Sinnamon Village is a Specialist Disability Accommodation Community making a difference to the lives of adults living with complex and high support needs. We are looking for persons with an interest in sharing their time, skills, talents, and knowledge with us while developing friendships with the people we support, sharing experiences, and encouraging them to participate. It's heaps of fun for all involved!
WesleyCare Jindalee - Volunteer, Sinnamon Park
WesleyCare Jindalee is a Specialist Disability Accommodation Community making a difference to the lives of adults living with complex and high support needs. We are looking for persons with an interest in sharing their time, skills, talents, and knowledge with us while developing friendships with the people we support, sharing experiences, and encouraging them to participate. It's heaps of fun for all involved!
Community Garden volunteer
HUB Community Projects Inc.
Types of work: Companionship & Social Support, Garden Maintenance
HUB Neighbourhood Centre is located at the Inala Community Centre. This was a purpose built centre opened in late 2019. HUB will be establishing a community garden at the Centre working with committed volunteers. Initially we need a few volunteers who can work together with us to establish the garden.
Multicultural Women's Group Creative Support worker
Types of work: Arts, Craft & Photography, Music & Entertainment
The HUB Wonderful Women's Group for women from all cultural backgrounds runs every Thursday during school terms from 11am - 1.00pm. The women create, sew, chat, exercise and have fun. This group is run in partnership with Multicultural Australia and many of the women speak little English. HUB is looking for a creative volunteer who could commit to running a practical activity with the women for about an hour once every 3 or 4 weeks.
Reception and Concierge Volunteer Assistance – Corinda
St Vincent's Care Services
Types of work: Administration & Office Management, Companionship & Social Support, Seniors & Aged Care
St Vincent's Care Services, Corinda, offers a new, premium way of living for aged care residents. The facility is currently looking for a friendly volunteer to support reception and administration staff with daily office tasks.
Brisbane South Toy Library Volunteer
Brisbane South Toy Library
Richlands Queensland
Types of work: Administration & Office Management, Education & Training, Library Services
The Brisbane South Toy Library is looking for enthusiastic Volunteers that can spare 2 hours of their time on Thursdays and every second Saturday at least once a month. We open from 9:30am till 11:00am every Thursday and every second Saturday.
Games & Activities Volunteer - Corinda
Types of work: Arts, Craft & Photography, Companionship & Social Support, Seniors & Aged Care
St Vincent's Care Corina are thrilled about the opening of our brand new, premium facility and are currently seeking fun and friendly volunteers to bring laughter and joy to our aged care residents. Make an impact by spending time together engaged in games and activities that are scheduled throughout the week. Activities can include art groups, movies, bingo, bus outings and so much more.


The fascination of Marrakech, the red city, and general admiration for Moroccan arts and crafts are behind the foundation of Maroc 'n Roll, a leather goods brand created three years ago by Robert Merloz.
Ten years collaboration with Monsieur Saint Laurent in Paris and a diploma in haute couture are the salient features in the curriculum of this designer who, before choosing Marrakech as his source of inspiration as well as his actual home, explored exotic places even farther away, such as Brazil and Madagascar, but it was that North African country which stole Robert's heart, deciding him to launch his own line of accessories that clearly draw on local art.
The collection of bags and accessories launched in Paris this last July is plainly in homage to Moroccan craftsmanship. The graphic and geometrical beauty of the glazed mosaic tiles of Marrakech become ornamental motifs of high range shoppers, sacs and clutches. the same technique of assembling various pieces of leather stitched together recalls the art of mosaics and makes each creation totally unique and precious.


Great location, just 400 metres to the surf beach, is this unpolished gem waiting for someone to put the sparkle back! The block is 670 sqm and has future development potential (subject to council approval). With 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and plenty of off street parking, this home is currently rented on a permanent basis. The home sits on an elevated block that is perfect for catching the sea breeze and the back yard enjoys northerly aspect – great for a deck or entertainment area! Its an easy walk to beaches, golf, shops and cafes. Ideal position for a holiday weekender or retirement home. Inspection is by appointment.


It's no secret that online shopping is increasing at a much faster rate than that of brick-and-mortar, but most experts agree the retail channels do not operate as a zero-sum game. The growth of e-commerce continues to reveal how much consumers have evolved—and how channel-agnostic they are when it comes to shopping.
As a result, all types of retailers are taking steps to ensure the whole shopping experience is seamlessly integrated into online and offline.
The industry is absolutely right-sizing it's physical footprint. Not only were there too many malls, but that was compounded by the growing demand for online shopping, which amplified the perception due to more malls closing.
Visionary retailers are marrying these two together to create a more experiential experience for shoppers. For example, Urban Outfitters bought a pizza chain. Other retailers like Barnes & Noble and Tiffany & Co. opened up restaurants in their stores. Tommy Hilfiger is deploying technologies such as interactive screens and smart mirrors to make the store a destination experience itself.
This is a big one. Lack of inventory accuracy means retailers are making really big bets in all the wrong places. Overstocks and out-of-stocks alone account for approximately $123 billion to $129 billion loss in annual revenue!
Traditionally, retailers try to anticipate fluctuations in future demand, yet, most of the time, fail to do so accurately. The opportunity for improving inventory decisions across stores is invaluable—and completely feasible given the technology and data available.
Taking advantage of cutting-edge technologies, like Celect, can help businesses thrive in today's "Retail Renaissance." Only then can we set the record straight (on Wikipedia and beyond) to reflect the industry revival we're undergoing today.


text:
#ifndef TAK_SIZE_H
#define TAK_SIZE_H

#include <ctf/ctf.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int size_array(ctf_type type, void* arg);
int size_int(ctf_type type, void* arg);
int size_noop(ctf_type type, void* arg);
int size_pointer(ctf_type type, void* arg);
int size_struct(ctf_type type, void* arg);
int size_typedef(ctf_type type, void* arg);

/**
 * Obtain the size of a type.
 *
 * The result of this function should be identical to a sizeof() operator.
 *
 * @param type type
 * @return size of the type in bytes
 */
size_t size_type(ctf_type type);

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The antique Vespa scooter auction that claimed to be the world's oldest ended on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. The highest price obtained for the scooter produced in 1946 was less in line with the expectations of the auctioneer.
Earlier Catawiki, a Amsterdam-based auction organization, estimated the old Vespa scooter could be sold for between $268,150 - $348,600 or equivalent to Rp.3.5 - 4.5 billion. However, the expected numbers could not be reached until the last deadline of the auction, with the highest bid to be halted at $195,748 or equivalent to Rp.2.6 billion.
The auctioned Vespa scooter itself is one of the first 60 units that produced by Piaggio in 1946. And it has a chassis number 1003 that signifies it is the third unit produced. While for the first unit (1001) and the second (1002) reportedly no longer exist in the world as time passing by.
Functionally, these Vespa scooter is also still able to run normally. Its power sources are still using a 2-stroke engine, with a capacity of 98 cc and combined with three levels of gears controlled through the left hand of its rider. For the next time, not known there're another oldest Vespa scooters will be auctioned off that certainly have a price tag that is also quite high, to reach the price of hundreds of thousands dollar.


Modern-day fly fishing, like much in life, has become exceedingly complex, with high-tech gear, a confusing array of flies and terminal tackle, accompanied by high-priced fishing guides. This book reveals that the best way to catch trout is simply, with a rod and a fly and not much else. The wisdom in this book comes from a simpler time, when the premise was: the more you know, the less you need. It teaches the reader how to discover where the fish are, at what depth, and what they are feeding on. Then it describes the techniques needed to present a fly at that depth, make it look lifelike, and hook the fish. With chapters on wet flies, nymphs, and dry flies, its authors employ both the tenkara rod as well as regular fly fishing gear to cover all the bases. With paintings by renowned fish artist James Prosek, as well as inspiring photographs and stories throughout, Simple Fly Fishing reveals the secrets and the soul of this captivating sport. Foreword by American landscape artist and fly fisherman Russell Chatham.


text:
import {
  ActionType,
  OwnerType,
  SearchedReverseImageWithNoResults,
  SearchedReverseImageWithResults,
} from "@artsy/cohesion"
import { CommonActions } from "@react-navigation/native"
import { StackScreenProps } from "@react-navigation/stack"
import { captureMessage } from "@sentry/react-native"
import { navigate } from "app/navigation/navigate"
import { nextTick } from "app/utils/nextTick"
import { useImageSearch } from "app/utils/useImageSearch"
import { compact } from "lodash"
import { Flex } from "palette"
import { useEffect, useRef } from "react"
import { Alert, Image, StyleSheet } from "react-native"
import { useTracking } from "react-tracking"
import { Background } from "../../Components/Background"
import { CameraFramesContainer } from "../../Components/CameraFramesContainer"
import { HeaderBackButton } from "../../Components/HeaderBackButton"
import { HeaderContainer } from "../../Components/HeaderContainer"
import { HeaderTitle } from "../../Components/HeaderTitle"
import { useReverseImageContext } from "../../ReverseImageContext"
import { ReverseImageNavigationStack, ReverseImageOwner } from "../../types"
import { CAMERA_BUTTONS_HEIGHT } from "../Camera/Components/CameraButtons"

type Props = StackScreenProps<ReverseImageNavigationStack, "Preview">

export const ReverseImagePreviewScreen: React.FC<Props> = (props) => {
  const { navigation, route } = props
  const { photo } = route.params
  const tracking = useTracking()
  const didUnmounted = useRef(false)
  const { analytics } = useReverseImageContext()
  const { handleSearchByImage } = useImageSearch()
  const { owner } = analytics

  const handleGoBack = () => {
    navigation.goBack()
  }

  useEffect(() => {
    return () => {
      didUnmounted.current = true
    }
  }, [])

  const handleSearch = async () => {
    try {
      const results = await handleSearchByImage(photo)

      // ignore results if component was unmounted
      if (didUnmounted.current) {
        return
      }

      if (results.length === 0) {
        tracking.trackEvent(tracks.withNoResults(owner))
        return navigation.replace("ArtworkNotFound", {
          photoPath: photo.path,
        })
      }

      const artworkIDs = compact(results.map((result) => result?.artwork?.internalID))
      tracking.trackEvent(tracks.withResults(owner, artworkIDs))

      if (results.length === 1) {
        await navigate(`/artwork/${artworkIDs[0]}`)
        await nextTick()

        // Navigate to the camera screen **without** animation
        return navigation.dispatch(
          CommonActions.reset({
            index: 0,
            routes: [{ name: "Camera" }],
          })
        )
      }

      navigation.replace("MultipleResults", {
        photoPath: photo.path,
        artworkIDs,
      })
    } catch (error) {
      // silently ignore error if component was unmounted
      if (didUnmounted.current) {
        return
      }

      if (__DEV__) {
        console.error(error)
      } else {
        captureMessage((error as Error).stack!)
      }

      Alert.alert(
        "Something went wrong.",
        "Sorry, we couldn't process the request. Please try again or contact support@artsy.net for help.",
        [
          {
            text: "Retry",
            onPress: () => {
              navigation.goBack()
            },
          },
        ]
      )
    }
  }

  useEffect(() => {
    handleSearch()
  }, [])

  return (
    <Flex bg="black100" flex={1}>
      <Image
        source={{ uri: photo.path }}
        style={StyleSheet.absoluteFill}
        resizeMode={photo.fromLibrary ? "contain" : "cover"}
      />

      <Flex {...StyleSheet.absoluteFillObject}>
        <Background>
          <HeaderContainer>
            <HeaderBackButton onPress={handleGoBack} />
            <HeaderTitle title="Looking for Results..." />
          </HeaderContainer>
        </Background>

        {!photo.fromLibrary && (
          <>
            <CameraFramesContainer />
            <Background height={CAMERA_BUTTONS_HEIGHT} />
          </>
        )}
      </Flex>
    </Flex>
  )
}

const tracks = {
  withNoResults: (owner: ReverseImageOwner): SearchedReverseImageWithNoResults => ({
    action: ActionType.searchedReverseImageWithNoResults,
    context_screen_owner_type: OwnerType.reverseImageSearch,
    owner_type: owner.type,
    owner_id: owner.id,
    owner_slug: owner.slug,
  }),
  withResults: (owner: ReverseImageOwner, results: string[]): SearchedReverseImageWithResults => ({
    action: ActionType.searchedReverseImageWithResults,
    context_screen_owner_type: OwnerType.reverseImageSearch,
    owner_type: owner.type,
    owner_id: owner.id,
    owner_slug: owner.slug,
    total_matches_count: results.length,
    artwork_ids: results.join(","),
  }),
}


Ruiz Gasch: Dolor De Ausencia Habanera for V.M.
Composed by Jose Ruiz Gasch. Classical. Book Only. Union Musical Ediciones #MUSUMV20646. Published by Union Musical Ediciones (BT.MUSUMV20646).
Find scores for Jarchas de Dolor de Ausencia Halffter at Sheet Music Plus.


Thonet slides for tubular steel cantilever chairs.
For mounting with hole in frame.
You can order the sliders in black or transparent.
Felt slides for hard floor or plastic slides for carpet.
Note: if there is no hole in the Thonet frame but only a standard pre-cut drill hole, we offer you a specially hardened drill bit (4.2 mm) for self-assembly.
The slides can also be used for cantilever chairs without pre-graining.


text:
SugarSync Makes It Simple To Upload Files Via Email; Adds 500 GB Storage Plan
Sharpcast's SugarSync,, an application that synchronizes data across desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones, and even televisions, is making it easier for users to backup their data via email. The startup is launching an "Upload by Email" feature that lets users store email attachments in their SugarSync account with the ease of sending an email.
The new feature allows a SugarSync user to sync any email attachment to a dedicated folder in their SugarSync account by simply forwarding it to a special email address. Instantly, the file(s) is available on all synced devices and accounts. For example, if a user receives an email with many attachments, they can simply forward it to their SugarSync email address (comprised of random numbers and letters for spam protection). All attachments will transfer to their SugarSync account.For added security, SugarSync will scan all file attachments for viruses prior to syncing, and certain file types are not accepted (e.g., .exe, .cmd, .bat) to prevent malicious files from landing in an account.
At the moment, SugarSync is supporting 2 petabytes of data from users. SugarSync's CEO Laura Yecies says that because of the popularity of the product, the company is adding a new power-user storage account that has 500 GB of storage, priced at $39.99 per month. Previously, the highest level of storage available was 250 GB.
SugarSync recently launched a small business friendly offering, which Yecies says is gaining considerable traction. You can read our past reviews of SugarSync here and here. The startup has ramped up its mobile offerings, with supports for Android, iPhone, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile powered phones.
SugarSync faces competition from Windows Live Mesh from Microsoft, Dropbox, Box.net, ZumoDrive and Mozy.


Picture #1: Location bedroom #2 casement; Glazing and cladding failure has been discovered on this sash. Failed seal at the glazing is allowing water to enter into the wood elements of the sash, glazing applied do not appear to be wet sealed. Weather striping along side jambs and sill of sash are trapping water, this condition is a contributing factor for the rotten sash.
Picture #2: Location bedroom #2 casement window sill; Debris and trapped water can be seen at this location. Moisture is being trapped at the sill and is causing the casements to rot.


QUIZ: How well do you know the War of Independence?
You need eight right answers to pass this Irish history test.
There are 20 questions in total and in order to pass with a score of 40%, you need to get eight right answers.


Tools for quantitative comparison of differential tissue gene expression?
Question: Tools for quantitative comparison of differential tissue gene expression?
I am attempting to assess the expression of a gene list in blood vs brain tissue (since we use blood as a proxy). I am struggling to find a tool/ database that has quantitative data (correlation, r^2 results) that's easily comparable between tissues. Does anyone know of something like this? I am trying to prioritise genes based on similar expression levels in brain and blood.
Hello, why would a simple correlation analysis not suffice? You can even derive P values from a correlation test in order to increase confidence in the correlation and, then rank them based on P value (lowest to highest).
It might help to look around for papers that use what you're describing and copying/emulating their methods.
How Can We Get Tissue Specific Genes?


text:
PENSION FUNDS GET BLAMED;GOVERNOR FILES FOR BANKRUPTCY
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Gov. Fife Symington declared personal bankruptcy last month, blaming six pension funds for his predicament.
The pension funds rejected his offer to repay $11.4 million he owes them at 2.5 cents on the dollar.
"The project which has forced me into bankruptcy.....is the Mercado in downtown Phoenix," Mr. Symington said in a prepared statement read at a press conference last month. "The lenders of that project are local union pension funds.
"Unlike other lenders with whom I had restructured debt, the union funds have rejected settlement offers and elected to seek a judgment against me."
Mr. Symington was an Arizona real estate developer before becoming governor. He borrowed $10 million from the defined benefit and defined contribution plans of the Arizona State Carpenters; Operating Engineers Local 428; and the Arizona Laborers, Teamsters and Cement Masons. The money was used to build the Mercado, a mixed-used office and retail building in downtown Phoenix. The building is 35% to 40% vacant.
Mr. Symington personally guaranteed the loans at the request of McMorgan & Co., San Francisco, real estate adviser to the pension funds.
In his bankruptcy filing, Mr. Symington reported liabilities of $24 million and assets of less than $62,000.
The pension funds and McMorgan have aggressively pursued repayment of the loan. Most recently, the funds and their adviser told Mr. Symington they would garnishee his salary for repayment of the loan, said Paul Morton, vice president with McMorgan.
Mr. Symington, however, volunteered to pay 25% of his annual $75,000 salary, as Arizona law allows. After one payment to the pension funds and a rejection of his offer to settle for $285,000, Mr. Symington decided to file for bankruptcy protection.
"Short of winning the lottery, I could not pay an $11.4 million judgment under any circumstances," said Mr. Symington in the published statement. "I could not pay even the interest on such an amount."
The interest on the loan is $1 million a year, said Mr. Morton, who estimated it would take Mr. Symington 862 years to repay the loan.
"Most people don't have that as their lifespan," said Mr. Morton.
The $11.4 million is the result of an $8.8 million judgment against Mr. Symington in July by a Maricopa County Superior Court judge - plus accrued interest. The figure would be higher, but the pension funds foreclosed on the Mercado in 1993, paying $3.1 million for it in the foreclosure sale.
In 1992, the pension fund's custodian, Bank of America, sued one of Mr. Symington's development companies for the balance of the loan amount, resulting in an award of $8.8 million. Mr. Morton agreed with the governor that the pension funds were reluctant to restructure the terms of their mortgage.
"We have a singular one-dimensional interest: the pension funds," said Mr. Morton. "The others (investors) are used to writing off business and taking writedowns. We won't be as casual with any aspect of our pension clients' money."
McMorgan took over as the pension funds' adviser from Mitchell Hutchins Asset Management Co, in 1987. The loan commitment already was made but was unfunded, said Mr. Morton, "We asked for and got the personal guarantee, which turned out to be a pretty good idea," he said. "We didn't have a whole lot of leverage."


Students may check out up to three books at one time for a three week loan period. If the student needs more time with the item, they should ask to renew the book which will allow them to use the book for an additional three weeks provided that the item has not been reserved. Students may also borrow magazines for a one week loan period.
Late fees are $1.00 per day, per item. Students are required to reimburse the school for lost or damaged materials.
Effective use of the library's resources requires cooperation from everyone. Failure to meet expectations may result in dismissal from the library and/or detention.
The purpose of this policy is to enable students to utilize current technologies as tools for research, finding books to read for pleasure, interacting with the school and library's social media pages, academic pursuits, and other pursuits of personal interest.
Cellular devices should remain on "silent" or "vibrate" mode in the library.
Students should continue to ask for permission before placing a call on their cellular device. Only necessary calls will be permitted, and calls must be carried out as quickly and quietly as possible and only in the presence of a faculty member.
Students should use headphones for listening to audio while using applications or viewing videos on any device.
Students should bring fully charged devices to school. The library will not lend chargers to students for the purpose of charging their personal devices.
Students may not take with any device a photographic image, audio, or video recording of any student, faculty or staff member without the express permission of the individual(s). Students may not with any device post to the internet, store, or transmit a photographic image, audio, or video recording of any student, faculty or staff member without the express permission of the individual(s).
Students may not use their device on school grounds to post to the internet or communicate to any other individual information that may be considered harmful as determined by school administrators.
While the library is a "Green Zone," students should understand that their cellular devices should be silenced and put away before they leave the library, as regular school rules regarding cellular devices will continue to apply at AMSU.
Although students will not be able to access the school's internet network via their cellular devices, they should understand that the school's Internet Acceptable Use Policy will still apply to their use of any device on school grounds. Devices should be used with decorum and respect for others' privacy. Devices should not be used to access inappropriate materials on school grounds, to publish potentially harmful information about others, or to communicate to another individual any information intended to be harmful as determined by school administrators.
Students are responsible for their own property. The school will accept no financial responsibility for lost, stolen, or damaged devices. Likewise, neither the library media specialist nor school administrators will be responsible for conducting searches for lost or stolen devices. Students are also required to use their devices in accordance with the expectations of their parent or guardian. The school will accept no financial responsibility for data, texting, or other charges incurred by students using their cellular devices or any other devices while at school.


text:
Home › U.S. News › Discrimination › Tennessee Bans Teaching that Homosexuality Exists
Tennessee Bans Teaching that Homosexuality Exists
By The Red Phoenix on May 21, 2011 • ( 0 )
Tenn. Senate OK's bill on gay lessons
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A bill passed yesterday by the Tennessee Senate would forbid public school teachers and students in grades kindergarten through eight from discussing the fact that some people are gay.
Opponents deride the measure as the "don't say gay bill.'' They say it is unfair to the children of gay parents and could lead to more bullying. Supporters say it is intended to give teachers clear guidance for dealing with younger children on a potentially explosive topic.
The bill is not likely to be taken up by the House before lawmakers adjourn this spring, but the sponsor there has said he would push it forward in 2012 when the General Assembly comes back for the second year of the session.
Passage would make Tennessee the first state to enact such legislation, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In 2003, Washington defeated a proposal similar to Tennessee's, as did California in 2005 and 2006. A Louisiana law forbids the use of sexually explicit materials depicting homosexuality in sex education classes.
Under the proposal, any instruction or materials at a public elementary or middle school would be limited to age-appropriate lessons about the science of human reproduction.
‹ Majority of Americans Support Gay Marriage
Right-Wing Terror on the Rise ›
Categories: Discrimination, LGBTQ Rights, U.S. News, United States History
Tags: American Party of Labor, APL, civil unions, education, gay marriage, homophobia, LGBT rights, opinions on gay marriage, same-sex civil unions, sex education, support for civil unions, support for gay marriage, trans-phobia
"Karl Marx's Legacy in the Reinvigoration of the US Labor Movement:" Presentation by the American Party of Labor at the 22nd International Seminar on the Problems of the Revolution in Latin America.
Celebrate International Workers' Day 2013!
Christie Finds Himself on Short End With Civil-Rights Remark


A horse is dressed up in a horse costume. His movements during the invention are photographed and filmed. Due to cultural and historical expectations, viewers will assume that they are watching two costumed men. However, certain movements reveal on closer inspection that a horse, not humans, is under the costume that looks like two men dressed as a horse.


If you're struggling to find social media content ideas, this list will help. I've listed 20 ideas for your social media content that can be used on all platforms. This list of ideas will keep you inspired for a long time.


Scott Walker, one of the most innovative and enigmatic figures in modern music has passed away at the age of 76. No cause of death has been given in the official announcement of 4AD – his last record label.
The music of Walker, who was born in Ohio in 1943 as Noel Scott Engel was featured on these pages and ranged from huge pop hits like "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" and "Make It Easy On Yourself", to a brilliant set of four singer/songwriter albums named Scott 1 to 4, to avant-garde pop albums like Nite Flights and Climate of Hunter, to the intriguingly experimental avant-garde music of Tilt and The Drift.
In the last five years Walker worked with experimental rockers Sunn O))),worked on a ballet score called "Fourteen Days", had his work commissioned by the LA Philharmonic, and lastly wrote and produced the score for Brady Corbet film Vox Lux starring Natalie Portman.
During that period, Sundog, a volume of his lyrics which he selected was published by Faber, and the BBC paid a tribute to his work with a Proms concert at London's Royal Albert Hall in 2017.
The news was immediately picked up, with the likes of Them Yorke of Radiohead and singer Marc Almond expressing their sadness at the loss of a great artist.


Selecting Sports Attires Your dressing code can affect your performance while in the field or while in the gym. Running in heavy clothes is very tiring. Wearing soldier boots makes it difficult to play well in the field. You can perform better in the gym while in the right exercise attires. A number of things should be taken into consideration while shopping for sports clothes. Your choice of clothes should relate to the climatic situation of the place to play in. Your choice of clothes should help you adjust to the extreme changes of temperature. Various clothes allow air to flow freely. If you have a hard time in rising of temperatures while working out, you can opt to purchase clothes made of porous material. Air easily and freely flows in clothes made of porous materials. Winter seasons pose a great danger. On instances that you play outside during winter, wear a layer of clothes to keep you warm. Once you start feeling warm you can remove some garments. For cold weather during winter, some sports clothes are made bearing in mind that they will be worn out doors. These sports clothes are made by putting in them heavy elements that help the player to feel warm while playing in the cold weather.
Consider buying clothes that will enable you to move freely. Clothes that provide freedom of movement allow you to have ranged in motion. Various activities require the athlete to move differently. Choose sports clothes that enable you to perform well in your sporting activity.
In other instances, organizations manufacture specialized clothes to serve a specific need in some activities. For instance, athletes put on tight shorts to prevent muscle cramps while they are in their activities. Players in a basketball game put on baggy shorts to free their lower limbs and ease pivoting. It is important to put on clothes that fit your type of sporting activity. Buy attires that will make you remain dry through you work out process. Exercising makes you to sweat so much. The type of garments you put on should be able to wipe off the moisture on your body. Some sports clothes are made in a way that they keep an athlete dry when they sweat during a workout. You should check on clothes worn by other athletes. If you want to buy clothes worn in weight lifting exercise, then investigate on what bodybuilders perceive as the best. Athletes with a lot of experience advocate for quality products for their sporting activities. They select quality clothes to use in their training and while in action. You can ask for their guidance in selecting the best sports clothes. Buy clothes that will give you comfort and self-fulfillment. This will promote proper performance while in action. Try various options before settling for a specific garment. It will help in making a proper decision. Choose garments that will enhance your performance. You may not find the clothes that you are in search of from the local stores. Consider looking for them on the internet sports stores.


text:
Q: PHP get_object_vars from subclass Question:
How to push $param from load() to $data property in class A?
Therefor I can use get_class_vars get_object_vars to load them.
Each time I use load function, it will add $param to $data property.
Example:
<?php

class Test {
    public function testing($str) { echo $str; }
}

class A {

    public $data = array();

    public function load($param) {
        array_push($this->data, $param); // not adding $param to $data property
        return $param = new $param;
    }

}

class B {

    public $a;

    public function __construct() {
        $this->a = new A();

        var_dump(get_object_vars($this->a)); // showing empty $data property
    }

}

// Usage
$b = new B();
$test = $b->a->load('test');
$test->testing('hello');

Edit:
used get_object_vars($this->a)

A: get_class_vars only shows default public variables. Use get_object_vars($this->a) instead; this should work.


text:
Vinci S.A.
PAR: FR:DG
Overview Charts
Volume 1.84m
€45.50B
/news/latest/company/fr/dg
MarketWatch News on DG
European stocks turn higher and Dow futures rise over 200 points as investors watch COVID-19's spread
6:26 a.m. Nov. 13, 2020
- Barbara Kollmeyer
European equities fall as after Trump says he is positive for coronavirus
9:43 a.m. Oct. 2, 2020
These stocks may get a boost from Trump's infrastructure plan — but they're not in the U.S.
7:21 a.m. Feb. 20, 2018
- Philip van Doorn
What stock-market sector looks good in 2018? Think planes, trains and automobiles
7:21 a.m. Dec. 28, 2017
- Victor Reklaitis
2 Transportation Stocks for a Recovering Europe
1:59 a.m. Dec. 9, 2017
- Barron's Online
World's biggest M&A of 2017? It may be a bad deal for this transportation stock
3:34 a.m. Nov. 7, 2017
After a Runup, It's Time to Rethink Italy's Atlantia
8:29 p.m. Nov. 3, 2017
Italian fears send European stocks lower
11:56 a.m. Feb. 6, 2013
- Sara Sjolin
Europe stocks drop on fiscal-cliff impasse
12:29 p.m. Dec. 28, 2012
Europe stocks lower as Fed decision looms
11:07 a.m. Sept. 13, 2012
Europe stocks mostly higher ahead of Fed decision
11:19 a.m. Aug. 1, 2012
Most Europe stocks rebound after election results
11:43 a.m. May 7, 2012
European stocks end week higher after U.S. data
11:06 a.m. April 27, 2012
Investing in Global Infrastructure Growth
7:16 a.m. March 6, 2012
Stop the Backhoes and Build on These Stocks: Vinci and TNT Express
AXA strategist advises caution
2:45 a.m. Sept. 28, 2010
- Aude Lagorce
How to invest in three hot emerging-market sectors
6:54 p.m. Sept. 10, 2010
- Jonathan Burton
Miners lead European markets lower
11:02 a.m. June 7, 2010
- Sarah Turner
St Gobain, Vinci upgraded at Goldman
4:41 a.m. June 7, 2010
BAM shares stumble on plan to raise $341 million
10:47 a.m. March 4, 2010
- Simon Kennedy
/news/nonmarketwatch/company/fr/dg
Other News on DG
Areva Diversifies Further Into Wind
9:56 p.m. Nov. 28, 2011
- The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition
Florida Governor Cancels Rail Plan
11:52 p.m. Feb. 16, 2011
/news/pressrelease/company/fr/dg
Press Releases on DG
No News currently available for DG


We survived our first night on the ship! Waking up that first morning still felt a little weird. Are we seriously waking up in the middle of the Caribbean right now? Crazy. We had a little bit of hesitation at first, not gonna lie. Apparently life at sea is a lot more complex than what it sounds. We woke up bright and early that first morning to a phone call to our room (each room had its own phone, kinda like a hotel, and you just had to dial the room # to call people). It was our boss, telling us our first training class was coming up and we needed to start reading our safety packet. Some of that stuff still feel likes such a blur to me, so I'll spare you all of the details of what each class entailed. All I remember is by the end of our contract, we had probably attended around 15-20 "training sessions", taken about 15 different tests, watched a handful of ship safety videos, and I still couldn't tell you a damn thing about what it takes to run a ship. But anyways, we were the amateurs, the new kids on the block that looked like 2 little lost puppies to all the other crew members, and we were NOT aware that we would have to go through all of this strict training and early morning meetings. Yup, we thought when we got hired to play music that we were just gonna play music and use the rest of our spare time to do whatever we felt like doing. LOL YEAH RIGHT. We learned realllll fast that it doesn't work that way.
So the first week was weird. And when I say first week I don't actually mean 7 days. We basically kept track of time by what number cruise we were on. Our contract stated that we would be on board for 24 cruises (a bunch of 4 day and 5 day cruises), so we just kind of considered each "cruise" as a "week" on board, if that makes sense. Our schedules were written out for 4 days and 5 days at a time, so after a while you start to have a different sense of time, and most days you really don't even know what day of the week it is. Because it doesn't really matter. So yeah, the first week was this weird transition period for us. Getting to know our surroundings, meeting some of the other crew members, figuring out where to eat, all that fun stuff. We actually didn't even have any cell service for the first few days because we were so caught up in the culture shock and figuring everything out that it just took us THAT long to finally sit down and figure out how to even get wifi in the first place. It's funny, I actually remember going 3 full days without charging my phone, and it still stayed at like 90%. That neverrrrr happens. On day 3, we finally sat down and decided to purchase the ship wifi, which by the way, a lot of guests asked us if as crew members we had our own wifi and the answer is no. We were offered the same packages that everyone else had, and we had to pay the same prices as the guests. The wifi we ended up using 99.9% of the time was a $4 package that allowed us to use Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. No google, or regular internet, just social media. That's $4 PER DAY. Our contract was for 100 days. That's $400 EACH in just social media data, $800 between the two of us. Luckily we were able to purchase it daily though rather than just buying it all at once, so we could decide if we really wanted it that day or not. I still bought it most days though, because that was my only way of communicating with my family. We were fortunate though to have cell service at all of the ports because Sprint allows you to add "International service" to your plan for no extra charge.
Back to that first week......IT. WAS. ROUGH. The shows were great! We played 4 hours per night (usually either a 6p-10p or a 7p-11p) and our shows were broken up into 4 sets, so our 15 min. breaks were already built-in for us. We had a lot of fun getting to play for a new set of fans each cruise and meeting so many amazing people, but I'll go into more detail about that in another blog!
One question we were asked a lot while at sea was "how often do you cruise?" "Do you get breaks in Texas in between cruises?" The answer, is we never really stopped cruising. The Carnival Valor was on a sailing schedule that consisted of 4 and 5 day cruises. So basically, we did a 5 day, 5 day, 4 day, repeat. And when each cruise was over, debarkation started at around 9am, the new set of passengers would board at around 1pm, and we would sail away at around 4pm. This meant every 4 or 5 days (depending on which rotation we were on), we would be able to get off the ship in Galveston for about 5-6 hours. We always had to be back onboard by 3pm sharp because we had to prepare for the mandatory Emergency Drill that every cruise line requires before embarkation.
Our first cruise was a 4 day cruise, which meant we got to get off the ship in Texas for 5 hours on Monday, April 3rd. We were desperate to find the closest convenient store to pick up some decent shampoo, body wash, and some SNACKS. Luckily, we found out there was a Family Dollar a few blocks away, so we were able to walk there and grab a few things. While I was shopping for basic toiletries and shower necessities, I figured I better pick up some tampons so I don't need to drop $20 on a box in the ship gift shop when the time comes. But that got me thinking.....I should have needed those a week ago. I guess the stress of starting our new adventure just caused the 'delay'. But what the heck, I'll go ahead and buy the tampons, but I might as well buy a pregnancy test while I'm here. That way, the stress will go away and I'll start in the next day or two. We finished buying all of our necessities with a couple hours to spare, so we decided to hit up the Starbucks that was next to our port and have a coffee/use the wifi before we got back on board. With about 6 or 7 Family Dollar bags hanging off our arms, we managed to find a cozy couch under a palm tree on the Starbucks deck and made ourselves comfortable. I gulped down half of my vanilla bean iced coffee and decided to make a trip to the bathroom to get that stupid test out of the way. But as I was opening the box, I started to get a little nervous. I decided I didn't even wanna read it. So I didn't. I did my job, put the cap back on, and threw it in my purse. I decided that John was gonna be the one to read it first.
So I went back outside to our comfy little corner, sat my purse down (because John was on the phone) and proceeded to make a few phone calls myself to pay some bills while I still had phone service. About 30-45 min went by before we even remembered that I took the test. John was ready to see what it said, but let's be honest......I wasn't. I started getting nervous. I told him to look in my purse and let me know what it said, and before I could even ask, the answer was written all over his face. I'm pregnant. My heart was racing, my skin felt like it was on fire, and I instantly felt like a different person. I couldn't grasp what was happening. I couldn't even cry, because I was just THAT shocked. We picked up our bags and rushed back to the ship so that we could go straight to the ship medical center, and then the tears started flowing. FAST. I was so scared, and so shocked. We happened to walk into the medical center while all nurses and doctors were on break, but I was fortunate to have the sweetest nurse from India take my hand and somehow manage to calm me down. She checked my vitals, and gave me a second test (because ya know, family dollar tests can be questionable) and was able to confirm the pregnancy. Somehow, she was able to calm me down and snap me out of whatever panic attack I was having. It's so weird. I have ALWAYS known that I wanted kids in the future, but there is something about finding out you are carrying a child that FREAKS. YOU. OUT. No matter how much you want a baby. It's scary. Especially when it wasn't planned. So John and I decided to go to our room, process our news, and talk through our excitement/fear. Next thing we knew, we were already picturing our little family, and our hearts were overflowing with happiness. But then the fear set back in when we quickly remembered that our lives weren't confined to that ship. We needed to tell our families.


Gathering all the final specifications of the project.
In-depth research of the field, market pool, and target population.
Establishing the strategy to best accomplish the goals for your presence within budget and timeframe.
Determining the full and final in-depth scope of the project.
Conception of the main goals of the website and of the user's pathways, including what I call "the preferred persona pathways".
Conception of the website's flow.
Optimization of the navigation according to the application's goals.
Actual design of the website and of the web application based on the layouts and structures.
Conception and creation of all the graphic elements of the website.
Advanced programming and integration of latest front-end web technologies for enhanced user experience and usability.
Fine tuning the final details of the website design and features.
Configuration and setup of the server that will host the website.
Migration of the site to the live server and launch!


Senshi-Con started back in 2005 as collaboration with multiple high school anime and video game clubs, held in the West High cafeteria after school on March 4th, 2005. When attendance rose over 300 people coming as far as 50 miles away from Wasilla, we decided that we had to do it again! Since then, the founding members formed the University of Alaska Anchorage Anime Club and have held the convention at the college every year. Attendance has grown from 300 to 1,000 people for the single day event, with visitors coming from Washington, California and more! Senshi-Con is proud to welcome you to UAA in order to bring you the anime, video games and cosplay you know and love for 2009!


1. PREVIEW/Inspection of all items will take place Saturday,December 1, from 10am to 1pm - Grand Junction, Colorado. Click on Travel/Directions tab for more specific directions. Signs will be posted.
3. All winning bidders must pick up all items you purchased on Wednesday, December 5th, from 10am to 5pm. The Auction Team will not be responsible for any items not picked up by 5pm on the 5th.


The Motorola Moto G Android Smart Phone comes with a budget price which is why we cannot expect much from the same in terms of the hardware. Hence the device comes with a 5Mp Camera which surprisingly shoots some amazing photos and videos. Here is a small slideshow on the photos we captured at our office with normal indoors lightning and also in low light environment to show you how good the photos would be if you capture the same.
The Camera comes with many options which are generally available in all the Android devices but the 720P video we recorded with this device was stunning and the device was able to record videos with quick auto focus and background defocus which is applicable with the photos too.
If you are Impressed with these, You can check the price of this Smart Phone below and Buy it right away.


Yan, Min-Chi; Kim, Sunyoung; Kang, Hyun-Ju; Wilkerson, Kimber L.
The purpose of the current literature review is to understand how East Asian American (EAA) parents of students with disabilities perceive disabilities and special education. These parental perspectives are compared to those of their East Asian (EA) parents to better understand whether EAA parents adjust their perceptions in the U.S. Findings from 21 studies indicate both similarities and differences between EAA parents and EA parents regarding (1) parents' perceptions of disability, including (a) familiarity with the concept of disability, (b) child's disability type, and (c) religious beliefs and (2) parents' perceptions of special education and related services, including (a) highly qualified teachers, (b) overall quality of special education and related services, and (c) level of parental involvement in their child's education. Implications for research and practice are discussed, including the need for increasing awareness of disabilities among immigrant communities and the promotion of parental involvement in schools.