Individuals with weight, shape and body image concerns often experience physical- health (e.g., diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, sleep apnoea) and emotional health (e.g., depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders) issues. Optimal treatment involves integrated care that considers physical, psychological, and social aspects of illness.
Our priority is to get you the right treatment individually tailored. As such, our Brisbane psychologists are trained and highly skilled in a number of therapies and treatment approaches.


Raksha Bandhan is the beautiful occasion which is meant to celebrate the essence of the brother-sister relationship. To add warmth and sweetness in the beautiful occasion of raksha bandhan, Winni provides rakhi with flowers that you can gift to your brother as a token of love. Brothers can also gift rakhi flowers as a token of respect and thankful gift. Order now and send rakhi with flowers to anywhere in India from Winni.
The brother-sister relationship is just like a flower showing different colors of their attitude. They tease each other, knock down each other but can't live without each other. Rakhi is a day which hikes up the beauty of this relationship. A sister ties an elegant Rakhi on the wrist of her brother and the brother promises to protect his sister from every problem. This day is basically considered as the Happy Birthday of Siblinghood. So what are you waiting for? Express your love to your brother or sister like you have never done before.No words can define this beautiful relationship, but if we equate it then flowers will be the best option for maintaining the heart to heart relationship between brother and sister. This year, plan a wonderful surprise to show your unequivocal love by placing an order of sweet smelling flowers from Winni.
Winni has a wide range of enthralling and fascinating flowers to make your siblings feel the depth of love. Our latest Raksha Bandhan section, has a fresh collection of Rakhi flowers that will definitely turn up your day with great joy. Nurture this pure bond of love, even if you are away from them, by sending beautiful Rakhi Flowers online across India.
Flower is the beautiful thing made by God as it has the power to foster the celebration with joy and excitement. This Raksha Bandhan commemorates the pure bond of brother and sister with Winni's beautiful flower arrangements. Our sweet and gorgeous flowers can add more aroma to your sibling's life. There are different colors of flowers having different meanings in life. We bring you the beautiful flower collection that includes Roses, Gerberas, Carnations, Lilies and many more, available in numerous colors like red, yellow, white, pink, orange etc. that will make your siblings feel jubilant. These flowers are beautifully arranged in bouquets on Winni. Along with flowers we have a lovely collection of Rakhis to go along with them. If you are looking for flowers for your loving sister then you can simply make a choice for a bouquet of Red Roses, Pink or White Carnations, White Lilies and Orchids. However when you are gifting flowers to your brothers, then you can go for the white shade of Gladiolus or a bunch of Mixed Roses. So come on, visit our website Winni.in and place the order right now. Send some lovely Rakhi Flowers on this occasion to brighten up your siblings day and and make your presence felt even if you are far away.
Flowers are the most affectionate form of expressing love. The enthralling and fascinating beauty of flowers can touch anyone's heart. Winni has a team of expert florists who craft the trendiest and astonishing arrangements of hand-picked fresh flowers with beautiful wrapping, to make the beautiful bond of brother and sister more special. Our excellent Rakhi Flowers will definitely make this Raksha Bandhan a memorable day of your life. We ensure you the best quality of mind-boggling flowers to be delivered at your desired place. This Raksha Bandhan send your brother or sister Winni's most striking arrangements of flowers to appreciate all that they do for you.
Your brother or sister living away from you? Don't worry. Winni will help you in sending your emotions to your brother and in commemorating this special day with love. We have an impressive collection of a variety of flower bouquets. Sister can choose a lovely bouquet of flower for brother along with the elegant Rakhis that we offer, from our online overwhelming range. Brother can also choose flowers as a return gift for their sisters. Our Raksha Bandhan Flowers category will surely please your mind, eyes and soul. Send online the lovely bouquet of carnations or bunch of roses at midnight and watch the charming faces of your siblings. From normal online flowers delivery to flower bouquet delivery in Midnight, here you find everything. Flowers are the best last-minute gift and Winni will hand-deliver this gift with care and accuracy. So come on, take the advantage of our amazing delivery options, and buy a nice bouquet for your siblings.
Order now the lovely flowers for Rakhi and delight your brother or sister beyond words and make this festival a memorable one.


End o' semester, so: grading.
1) I do hope this dude gets kicked out of school. I dunno about prison—a bomb threat is serious matter, even if made for trivial (unprepared for exam) reasons—but when you mess with other students' attempts to study when you couldn't be bothered to do so yourself, you don't deserve to be a part of that particular academic community.
2) Yes, yes, yes! Universities which take in far more graduate students than they know will ever get decent jobs are selfish, irresponsible, and only adding to the crisis in higher education employment.
This is a problem that is not going to be addressed by actions of universities. They need to organize and form actual professional societies like every other professional group that wants to have power over their field.
A nation-wide contingent union isn't a bad idea, and the observation of another that fewer grad students won't necessarily stop the process of "adjunctification" ain't wrong, either.
But right now universities are feeding off the low-paid labor of grad students who are far more likely to end up as low-paid adjuncts than the relatively well-paid tenure-track professors for whom they work.
Whatever the motivation for reducing the number of grad slots, it's a small mercy to those would-be students who won't get sucked in to a "career" of cobbled-together courses, uncertain freelance gigs, and no dental plan.
Been falling down on the blogging beat. . . and this post isn't really going to rectify that.
Rush Limbaugh is boring. Bore bore bore boring.
I don't care about his advertisers, I don't care about a boycott, I don't care if he disappears from the radio forever.
But he lacks anything other than bile and ego, and as I have my own bile and ego, I see no reason to indulge his particular brand of narcissistic nonsense.
I did coupla' posts a while back deriding the concept of "free" (put in quotes because it was about a price point which wasn't really zero, just offloaded on to someone else), but the notion has reemerged in another form, as a kind of justification for theft of copyrighted materials.
As someone who participated in the SOPA/PIPA protest, who believes that copyright laws are waaaay overdue for an overhaul, and who doesn't pay for the third-party content (videos, photos) that I post, I am as much in the moral muck—if not in as quite as deep as some—as my fellow. . . thieves.
Still, I am unmoved by the argument made by some that the delay in release of DVDs or streaming of movies justifies piracy. "I'm not getting what I want as soon as I want it" is less about copyright overreach and more about selfishness.
One, is not the justification for "free" (in either form) some kind of end-state of a labor-dismissing form of capitalism? That is, value was first removed from labor (in the forms of laborers) and relocated to the anarchic (if manipulated) realm of supply-and-demand; now value is being removed from the production process itself, such that the costs of production are irrelevant to those who demand the end product for "free".
All that matters is the desire of the consumer, to the detriment of the processes and relationships which enable the desire to be fulfilled.
Two, is the academic publication model in any way relevant to this conversation? Professors produce content for "free" (journal articles, conference papers) or nearly "free" (books, book chapters) as a price of admission into the academic guild.
Produce a sufficient number of these "freebies" and one is granted tenure, which in turn allows one to produce more such "freebies".
Pundits have nothing to offer people who pay attention.
There's nothing Cokie Roberts or David Brooks or EJ Dionne has to say that anyone who hasn't been paying long and sustained attention to politics couldn't have said for themselves.
Now, I happen to have particular contempt for Cokie Roberts (god, her smugness!), and I may have suggested once or twenty times that all pundits be loaded on to a cruise ship, sent out to sea, and never allowed to dock anywhere ever again, but a decent pundit actually has something to offer someone who wants a quick hit of info on a topic about which she knows little.
But pundits talking to pundits about their punditry? Useless.
Catman! Catman! Catman! Nana nana nana nana CATMAN!


thanks so much for joining the challenge! looks like you've found some great titles to read! happy reading and good luck!
you have a fab selection of books picked out!! I found you through the story siren's website and am now a new follower. Good luck with the challenge.


I received complimentary passes to attend the show in order to write an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.
The Center for Puppetry Arts opened to the public on September 23, 1978, when Kermit the Frog himself and his creator, Jim Henson, cut the ceremonial ribbon. Today it is the largest American non-profit organization solely dedicated to the art of puppet theater with a new refurbishment wing for an amazing museum you've got to see. It's free with the purchase of a show ticket, so arrive an hour early to tour around and let your kids play in the Jim Henson area… they'll learn a lot!
The shows performed at the Center for Puppetry Arts cater to a variety of ages, with traveling shows, in-house creations, experimental theatre, and the classics you know and love like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Below are reviews of the shows our family has seen, but if you're ready to see one yourself, tickets for the Center for Puppetry Arts can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 404.873.3391. Every person (adults and children ages 2 & up) attending the show must have a ticket. Children under age 2 are free. The individual price for the Family Series Performance ticket includes the Create-A-Puppet Workshop™ and admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum. Group pricing for 10 or more people is available.
It's time to saddle up for a 10-gallon historical hoedown. The Center for Puppetry Arts is rounding up some of America's most famous heroes and heroines to present a production packed with tall tales, twangy tunes (performed live) and glory stories of the American west.
Folklore fans will hear how the larger-than-life lumberjack Paul Bunyan and his devoted friend Babe the Blue Ox invent logging; how Hekeke saves her tribe from a terrible people-eating ogre; how John Henry single-handedly hammers his way through a mountain to become a true steel-driving man; and how Pecos Bill tames the wildest stallion in the land to become King of the Cowboys. It's educational fun for the whole family. Dr. Bigelow will also be on hand to embellish these puppet-infused sagas with a little help from his tall tale tonic. Adapted and directed by the Center's Artistic Director Jon Ludwig, Paul Bunyan and the Tall Tale Medicine Show features rod, shadow and hand puppets along with live music. All of the puppets, props and scenery were designed and built onsite by the Center's staff.
Recommended for ages 4 and up, Paul Bunyan and the Tall Tale Medicine Show will be presented in the Mainstage Theater, January 22 – March 10. All-inclusive ticket prices vary but start at $9.75 (Members) and $19.50 (nonmembers) and include entrance to the Create-A Puppet Workshop™, where guests can make, decorate and perform with their own Babe the Blue Ox Hand Puppet, as well as admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum, featuring the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets in the world as well as a global gallery. Tickets can be purchased online at puppet.org or by calling 404.873.3391.
Immediately after family series shows, a hands-on, curriculum-based workshop for children ages four and up (ages 2 and 3 welcome if accompanied by adult puppet builder) is hosted. Create a puppet to take home (or stop by for a to-go puppet and directions) and put that puppet into performance on our classroom stage! Offered days when Family Series performances are scheduled. Times and format (instructor-led or self-guided) vary depending on day of week/time of year.
Y'all have to see this! The refurbished museum is easily twice the size of the old one, housing some incredible puppets from around the World, Julie Taymor's Disney creations, Kermit himself and a re-creation of Jim Henson's office. Both segments of the museum offer kids some hands-on opportunities to use the puppets and even create their own. This section of the Center for Puppetry Arts is not to be missed. Arrive early or plan to stay after the creative workshop to get a glimpse of the art inside.
Love the Dark Crystal? See the Skeksis puppets. Are you more of a Labyrinth fan? the door knocker, fire guys and occasionally Sir Didymus are on display. The contradictory door shield twins are present for viewing, too. See ballroom accessories and more!
Families are invited to celebrate the holiday season with the Center's puppet adaptation of the stop-motion television special… The beloved tale has become a holiday tradition for families in Atlanta and a trip down memory lane for the kids at heart. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer flies back to the Center, November 13-December 30 2018 and will be staged in the Mainstage Theater. A faithful adaptation of the classic 1964 stop-motion animated television special, the production was adapted for the puppet stage by Jon Ludwig and is directed by Tim Sweeney.
The Center for Puppetry Arts invites families to take off on an adventure to the island of Neverland when the beloved fairy tale Peter Pan hits the stage, September 25 – October 28, 2018. Guests can join the Darling children on a number of adventures, including an encounter with mermaids, mischievous antics with the Lost Boys and a run-in with Captain Hook and the crocodile. Performed in blacklight, the family-favorite show features vibrant sets, flying puppets and original music to bring the magic of the beloved fantasy story to life on stage.
The Center for Puppetry Arts is pleased to present Aesop's classic stories and morals for young audiences when The Tortoise, the Hare & Other Aesop's Fables takes the stage. Featuring fables such as "The Lion and the Mouse;" "Country Mouse and City Mouse;" "The Fox and the Crane;" "The Ant and the Grasshopper;" and "The Tortoise and the Hare," the Center for Puppetry Arts' production is part of the Theater for the Very Young initiative, designed for the developmental stages of young children. The Tortoise, the Hare & Other Aesop's Fables will be presented Aug. 14 – Sept. 23, 2018.
Cows that type? Chickens on strike?? Farmer Brown can't believe his ears! Join the barnyard fun in this adaptation of the award-winning children's book. This adorable musical adaptation for the puppet stage was written by Jon Ludwig and Jason Hines with music developed by the center itself. Puppeteers use a myriad of puppet types and presentational styles to entertain children of all ages.
The show features rod puppets, marionettes, board puppets and varies in scale. Live voices, songs, and interaction help children stay entertained for this over-an-hour show that's sure to please! Do your kids not know what a typewriter is? Visit the theatre a few minutes early to give them a chance to type on a real on to see what it does. Experiment with sound, textures and the feel of a typewriter's keyboard. Red loved this hands-on opportunity to explore before we stopped into the refurbished exhibits in Worlds Of Puppetry at Atlanta Center for Puppetry Arts.
We spent a long weekend in Atlanta and Center for Puppetry Art was one if not the best site we visited. Swimming with Whale Sharks at the Aquarium is hard to top but I think the Henson exhibit topped it! Atlanta is a great city for a family getaway!


Major League Baseball, however, has possession of a Biogenesis client roster that lists the spokeswoman, Sonia Cruz, and is investigating whether Cano had any relationship to the clinic, sources familiar with MLB's investigation told "Outside the Lines".
There are the requisite denials all around. Quinn and Fish note, however, that Cano is close with both Melky Cabrera and Alex Rodriguez, who have also been implicated in the Biogenesis scandal.
Which would normally not be all that important nor would it serve as a reasonable basis for Major League Baseball to pursue its investigation, but guilt-by-association is pretty much all anyone has in this whole shebang, so Cano should probably consider himself in the same crosshairs as everyone else who has thus far been named.
UPDATE: Worth noting, as I neglected to when I posted this a moment ago, that Quinn and Fish's sources say that Sonia Cruz's interaction with Biogenesis, as reflected in the records they've obtained, is consistent with her claim that she went to Biogenesis for personal weight loss purposes. Which would seem to be pretty relevant here. As they also report, however, Major League Baseball is still investigating Cano all the same.


Fanatics is the ultimate sports apparel store and Fan Gear Shop. Our sports store features Football, Baseball, and Basketball Jerseys, T-shirts, Hats and more for NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and College teams.
OotiniCast – A Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR) podcast OotiniCast is a podcast for those interested in a little news and some interesting discussion about Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR).
New Mexico artist creates sculpture with refugee twist on Statue of Liberty Aug 19 - 10:27 PM . A New Mexico artist is putting his own unique twist on an iconic American symbol.
Rio digging deeper at Diavik . By: Esmarie Swanepoel 21st August 2018 Diversified miner Rio Tinto has opened the fourth diamond pipe at its Diavik diamond mine, in Canada's Northwest Territories.
Testimony & Spiritual Witnesses. To a Latter-day Saint, a testimony is a personal witness of a gospel truth. This witness is received through the third member of the Godhead called the Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit or Spirit.
If it sounds like I'm saying, "It's all about who you know," that's because that is exactly what I'm saying. You can rail about how unfair that is, and how it makes publishing into an incestuous little club, and to a degree you would be right.
The Afternoon Brief is a summary of daily news headlines and top stories packaged in an email format and delivered to subscribers at the end of each business day.


text:
'use strict';

// MODULES //

var variancepn = require( '@stdlib/stats/base/variancepn' );
var sqrt = require( '@stdlib/math/base/special/sqrt' );

// MAIN //

/**
* Computes the standard deviation of a strided array using a two-pass algorithm.
*
* @param {PositiveInteger} N - number of indexed elements
* @param {number} correction - degrees of freedom adjustment
* @param {NumericArray} x - input array
* @param {integer} stride - stride length
* @returns {number} standard deviation
*
* @example
* var x = [ 1.0, -2.0, 2.0 ];
*
* var v = stdevpn( x.length, 1, x, 1 );
* // returns ~2.0817
*/
function stdevpn( N, correction, x, stride ) {
	return sqrt( variancepn( N, correction, x, stride ) );
}

// EXPORTS //

module.exports = stdevpn;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


A Sound represents a sound effect object and can be used to play back audio. Generally a Sound should be added to either a scene or the global app's resources so that it can be managed by them.
Note that if you deploy your app using the Marmalade SDK as a native web app then the more powerful Marmalade audio system will be used to play back audio.
Sound(name, location, reuse) – Creates an instance of a Sound object.


Are you interested in submitting material to MusicGeek.org for review?
We very much prefer artwork to work alongside our posts, a nice photo of the band or album art for reviews — preferably a selection — will go a long way.
If you have a track or two or eight you'd like to share with us, we prefer MP3 format (if just because it's common). Please detail whether you're willing to let us stream or download only.
If you have a video you'd like to share with us, it'll probably be best if you have already uploaded it to a video sharing service. Since they've been rolling out higher quality video, YouTube is probably my favorite choice.
Send details to promo@musicgeek.org, or, if you are so inclined, send promotional material to the address below.
Would you like to add us to your PR list?
We're happy to be on your list, so long as you don't bombard us with emails begging us to feature your artists.


Graffiti incident: 3.45pm February 11, 2018 at Edgewater Train Station.
Incident: 5.45pm Monday February 5 at Victoria Street Train Station in North Fremantle.
Incident: 1.51pm Monday September 5, 017 on the 910 bus from Fremantle to Bicton.
THE WA Police Force is calling on the community for help with a campaign to target graffiti.
Operation Quadrangle IV, which has been launched to help gain public support in the effort to catch those behind graffiti, focuses on detection , apprehension and enforcement – as well as prevention and community awareness.
Graffiti costs around $25 million a year in clean-up costs and can set young offenders on the path of more serious offending.
Senior Sergeant Michael Dalla-Costa said the operation would educate the public about graffiti offending and deter potential offenders.
"This is a crime that can escalate to encourage those to commit more serious crimes without intervention and is costly to the community as a whole," he said.
Police believe the people pictured may be able to assist with a number of graffiti investigations.
To report an incident of graffiti or for parents who are concerned their child may be engaging in graffiti, there is support and advice at www.goodbyegraffiti.wa.gov.au.
Anyone with information regarding graffiti offense in the community can also contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.


text:
You are here: Home > Business > Economy
79 Chinese firms make Fortune 500 list
0 Comment(s) Print E-mail China.org.cn, July 10, 2012
The number of Chinese companies in the Fortune 500 global list continues to rise after it hit a record high and surpassed the number of Japanese firms for the first time last year.
Three Chinese enterprises - Sinopec Group, China National Petroleum Corp and State Grid Corp of China - remain in the top 10 of the Fortune 500 list for 2012.
The Fortune 500 list for 2012, released July 9, names 79 Chinese companies, 10 more than in 2011 and the ninth consecutive year the figure has risen, according to Fortune magazine.
Among them, 69 are based in the Chinese mainland, four are from Hong Kong and six from Taiwan.
Three Chinese enterprises - Sinopec Group (5th), China National Petroleum Corp (6th) and State Grid Corp of China (7th) - remain in the top 10.
Netherlands-based Royal Dutch Shell, which ranked No. 2 last year, replaces Wal-Mart Stores to lead the rankings, followed by Exxon Mobil and Wal-Mart.
There are 132 US companies and 68 Japanese enterprises on this year's list. The number of US firms declined from 133 last year and its record high of 197 in 2002. The number of Japanese firms remains 68.
The Fortune Global 500 list tracks annual revenues of the world's biggest companies.
Apple Inc is 55th in the list, compared with 111th in 2011, thanks to booming sales of iPads and iPhones.
Lenovo Group Ltd, China's biggest personal computer maker, ranked 370th in the list, up from 449th the previous year.
Wang Jianlin tops New Fortune rich list
China to host 2013 Fortune Global Forum
60 of Fortune 500 firms flock to Shandong 2011
Fortune favors 500 as China courts foreign advisors
The number of Chinese companies in the Fortune 500 global list for 2012, released on Monday, continues to rise after it hit a record high and surpassed the number of Japanese firms for the first time last year.
• Chinese firms' growing ODI offers opportunities
China.org.cn

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Iheanacho's shocking miss: Rodgers slams Nigerian star
wikinaija May 8, 2019 May 8, 2019 No Comments on Iheanacho's shocking miss: Rodgers slams Nigerian star
For the first time since taking charge of Leicester City, BRENDAN Rodgers has taken a swipe at Kelechi Iheanacho for his shocking miss against Manchester city in the week 37 of the English Premier League on Monday.
Manchester City took the lead in the 70th lead through Vincent Kompany's wonderstrike but a begging chance in 85th minutes was played out by the Nigerian star.
But the former Liverpool coach slammed the Super Eagles striker after the game, and admitted that the mistake cost them the game.
"He should score, I said that to him afterwards, in the big games there are not many moments," Rodgers said in his press conference.
"It was tight, we were very, very good in our defensive organisations. They didn't have many chances and we didn't have many. But the one that came, you have to score that. He knows.
The coach, who has been standing behind Iheanacho following his below-par performance in recent times however, described the player as a diligent striker.
"It's moments when you can come into the game and make an impact, he's a great boy, works very, very hard in training. He's got in front of him a top-class operator in Jamie [Vardy] so it's difficult for him to find rhythm. However, it's moments like that where you can make an impact. He's actually done that in the other games.
Read Also: Iheanacho is a great talent–Rodgers
"It was a big chance for him, the ball was there and it was on his good side. But it wasn't to be. He got himself in the position, I felt we would have deserved that at least," he added.
The post Iheanacho's shocking miss: Rodgers slams Nigerian star appeared first on Sporting Life.
Sharif Heads Back To Prison
"Insecurity In North Worse Under Buhari" – Northern Elders


Meanwhile, in large serving bowl, combine vinegar, sugar, mustard, pepper, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
When potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut each into quarters or eighths if large. Add warm potatoes to dressing in bowl; gently stir with rubber spatula until well coated. Let potato mixture stand 30 minutes to absorb dressing, stirring occasionally.
Gently stir mayonnaise and celery into potato mixture until evenly coated. Serve warm or cover and refrigerate up to 1 day to serve cold.


This IBA includes the settlements between Tarpum Bay and Winding Bay. The habitats contained within these settlements include broadleaf coppice, shrubland, coastal coppice, and sandy shore.
The South Tarpum Bay IBA supports the largest known concentration of wintering Near Threatened Kirtland's Warbler Dendroica kirtlandii.
Other bird species found within this IBA include White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala, Bahama Woodstar Calliphlox evelynae, Bahama Yellowthroat Geothlypis rostrata, Thick-billed Vireo Vireo crassirostris, Bahama Mockingbird Mimus gundlachii, Great Lizard-cuckoo Coccyzus merlini, and Greater Antillean Bullfinch Loxigilla violacea.
The best season to view a Kirtland's Warbler is during the winter months. Other species, including the Bahama Woodstar, Bahama Yellowthroat, Bahama Mockingbird, and the Thick-billed Vireo, can be found year round.
The best time to view these birds would be during the morning or late afternoon hours.
This IBA can be accessed by vehicular transportation. Persons with mobility impairments should have no difficulty moving around within the settllements.


Interested in becoming a LUMI-CON Cosplay guest in our CFS division? But what is the CFS? Let us answer any questions about this feature only at LUMI-CON!
What is the Central Florida Spotlight division?
The Central Florida Spotlight was created in 2018 as a way to give individuals ranging from the Orlando to Sarasota areas a chance to highlight their talents and start their careers off on the right foot!
We opened up submissions last year which aimed at helping a handful of individuals to get noticed and start a path at becoming a cosplayer with a carrer!
Two individuals where chosen to represent the next 2 years and pave the way for future CFS contestants!
At LUMI-CON believe in our community exists an abundance of talented, skilled and hard-working individuals who are deserving of an opportunity to shine.
Maybe you're just starting out. Maybe you've been doing this for some time, either way we all look for a platform to get our names out there and share what we love to do and have worked so hard at.
Each year LUMI-CON and our current CFS guests will select local talent to take part in our feature called the Central Florida Spotlight!
What categories are available in this Division?
The Central Florida Spotlight is currently looking for Cosplayers, Artists, and Industry guests who want to make in impact in our community and stand out making a name for themselves. If you think you have what it takes in these categories then we want to hear from you!
All applicants must be from or between the Orlando and Sarasota Central Florida area.
Cosplay Guidelines– Must create, design, make and build at least 80% of own cosplay and props.
Artists Guidelines– Must create, draw and craft own materials either physically or digitally.
Industry Guidelines– Must have content updates in media formats such as Facebook, Youtube (Streaming Guests), Twitch (Gaming Guests) and Soudcloud for Musical guests.
How do I enter to be a CFS guest?
After the deadline has been reached we will announce the winner via social media and here on our website and the next Central Florida Spotlight Guest at LUMI-CON 2019!
Good Luck to all candidates and we look forward to working with you on your bright futures!
If you have any questions about our Central Florida Spotlight Division please contact us at Lumiconcostumecontests@gmail.com.


text:
Last Utopia of the Enlightenment Age
by David Krus
Cruise Scientific
book review by David Wilkening
"When analyzing Quincy Wright's data on frequency and intensity of warfare among the Western countries, we noticed a cycle... of about 200 years."
The author's search for what he calls the "Long Waves of Time" traces roughly 200-year eras from the domination of the Greco-Roman times in 313, when Christianity became the official state religion of the Roman Empire, to what he terms the "Resurgence of Religion in 1989," which was also the date of the fall of the Berlin Wall. His discussion of these various areas often turn into mini-profiles on some of the worlds most famous philosophers, highly influential thinkers and, inevitably, the dictators that have always dominated the history of conflict—among other intensely human activities.
These players in world history literally jump off the page because Krus does not dispassionately present condensed lives. Instead, Krus brings some little-known figures alive such as Jenny von Westphalen, who dated, exchanged letters and wed the father of communism, Karl Marx. She termed him her "teddy bear." Far more familiar to most readers is Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Unions Man of Steel. Readers may know that Stalin had a lot of blood on his hands, but they can't help but be delighted by such little-known facts as Stalin once wanted to be a priest or that the pockmarked dictator (the result of smallpox as a child) was also a caring father who wrote sensitive poetry.
In his well-thought-out closing pages, the author makes brilliant and evocative comparisons of communist and socialist governments. His provocative conclusions will be of interest to even casual readers who might not agree but who can't help but note he has done his research, including the forty references cited.
Return to USR Home
©2014 All Rights Reserved • The US Review of Books
This review was written by a professional book reviewer with no guarantee that it would receive a positive rating. Some authors pay a small fee to have a book reviewed, while others do not. All reviews are approximately half summary and half criticism. The US Review of Books is dedicated to providing fair and honest coverage to all books.


Enbridge and a new position.
I was really debating adding to our Enbridge position since it is our largest holding. 11% of our portfolio to be exact. I am currently down on our original investment but really think they are a solid company with a tonne of growth.
Enbridge missed the analysts sales target by a small amount and people have been selling out. I feel this created a great buying opportunity and jumped on it. Natural gas numbers should go up now based on the season, and the synergies between the spectra merger still need to be all sorted out.
Less than a month ago Enbridge was trading around the 52 dollar a share mark, Currently it trades at $46.80 and offers a fantastic 5.21% yield. We added another 28 shares of the company on the dip. This will add $68.32 a year in forward dividends. It lowers our average cost and increases our yield on cost.
I joined the Canadian Dividend Investing group on facebook recently after Helen (A reader) told me to check it out. Thanks to the people in the group, I have started a new position. One that I have been waiting to start a position in.
Last week someone mentioned that algonquin power and utilities corp, fell in price. After researching and learning they entered into a deal under which underwriters were to buy 37.8 million common shares of APUC at a price of $13.25 per common share. The proceeds of the offering to be used, partly,to finance co's acquisition of Abengoa's 25% ownership stake in Atlantica yield.
Basically I was able to buy shares just over the bought value. $13.28 per share. We started with 200 shares which I will gladly add to in the future. It pays its dividend in U.S. dollars so I think after the conversion we will generate roughly $112 a year from them. One of my favorite things about this position is their drip. They offer a 5% discount on drips! That's one of the highest I've seen. I hope we can drip 2 stocks per quarter. It also Pays it's dividend in January, April, July and October which is great since my recent sale created a nice dividend hole in those months.
Well that's my 2 new purchases. The potential forward dividend's keeps increasing. Algonquin wasn't a huge value play but a position I wanted to hold and will continue to add too. Enbridge was too hard to pass up at it's current price. It's a big player in my portfolio and I have been trying to knock that percentage down but when life throws you a curve ball in the strike zone, it's better to swing then just take the strike. What do you think of my recent buys? What you buying?
You got a great deal PCI! Great buy. I also joined the Facebook group. It is an active group.
Good purchases, PCI. I don't own ENB but own AQN and have seen some good returns over the past couple of years.
Thanks Road. Curious why dont you own any enbridge?
Enbridge Inc looks good. Solid business and nice yield \ payout ratio.
I also have a sizeable position in Enbridge. With the recent pull back, I am looking to add to my position too. Just need to decide on when to pull the trigger.
Good to hear Leo. I was really debating it but at the same time i love enbridge. Next quarter should be better since more ppl use natural gas in the fall/ winter.
I have a bit of money sitting in a few accounts and you've got me thinking that I should increase my position in Enbridge.
Thank you so much for mentioning the "Canadian Dividend Investing" FB Group. I've asked to join and look forward to learning a lot.
It is said somewhere 'that its not possible to time the market'!
Dam john that is not something i watch at all. Maybe something to consider. Seems like a tonne of potential returns. You think its going to stay flat? I dont know much about natural gas but seems like more power plants are going to it and ppl upgrade their stoves to it. Could consumption be going up? Thanks again for the idea though, something to research.
Will do, you and John always give me something to read. I appreciate it!
ENB is getting very attractive at these levels. I don't own it, but I'm considering getting some shares.
Hey Income, I don't know how your taxes are structured in Germany but yeah Enbridge seems like a great value, dividend and growth stock at current levels.
I had added some ENB yesterday and looks like it was a little bit too early.


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text:
A Quick Trip to Italy, Part XIII
On Friday we went to Milan, about a three hour ride by high-speed rail.
Mediolanum is an old city, with a very long history. It was settled by Celts in the fifth century BC and conquered by Romans in the third century BC. For a period of time under Domitian it was the capital of the Western Roman Empire. It was a major site of conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. It was one of the major cities of the Italian Renaissance. After Napoleon invaded Italy, it was the capital of the Cisalpine Republic, and later of his Kingdom of Italy. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, its opera houses and theaters were among the greatest in the world. Mozart and Verdi debuted works here. Milan has almost always been a thriving trade center and today is one of the economic powerhouses of Europe.
Very little of this is obvious, though. Rome always feels very big and overcrowded; Milan, the second most populous city of Italy, rarely feels so, with plenty of walkable areas and gardens all over the place. You can hardly move around in Rome's historic center without stumbling on something ancient; Milan's ancient Roman history only very rarely comes out. And in World War II, as the economic center of Italy, Milan was very heavily bombed throughout the war. Almost a third of its buildings were destroyed; very few of its great medieval and Baroque buildings and monuments escaped being at least damaged, and some vanished entirely. Milan, almost everywhere, seems very modern, because Milan, almost everywhere, is indeed very modern.
But despite the pulverization of so much of its history, Milan still has treasures. The most obvious is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente -- most often known as the Duomo di Milano:
A photograph does not in any way do it justice. The Duomo, the heart of the Ambrosian Rite of the Latin Church, is the largest church in Italy. (St. Peter's is larger, but, of course, it is not technically in Italy.) It is usually said to be the fifth largest church in the world. It is over 10,000 square meters in area, over 440,000 cubic meters in volume, and it took nearly six centuries to build. The fortunes of the cathedral are closely connected with the history of Milan.
In 1385, Gian Galeazzo Visconti of Pavia seized Milan by overthrowing his uncle Bernabo by breaking a few promises. Bernabo was, however, very unpopular with the Milanese because of his very oppressive taxes. Using his new position as Signore of both Pavia and Milan, he went on to take Verona, Vicenza, and Padua (although he would later lose the last of these). One of the things he did as his fortunes were quickly rising was promise to the Milanese a grand new cathedral. The Milanese, happy to be out from the heel of the taxing taskmaster, were enthusiastic about the project -- so Gian Galeazzo, very cleverly, began to take donations for it, and the first stone was laid in 1386. Construction proceeded quite swiftly, and soon half the brick structure was built. But Gian Galeazzo died of fever in 1402, and very little was done afterward, although bits and pieces would be done here and there. The very Gothic cathedral got a few High Renaissance touches here and there.
In 1564, St. Carlo Borromeo became Archbishop of Milan, and one of his insights was to recognize that the guild controlling the construction of the cathedral was part of the problem; he used his influence to change the statutes and appoint Pellegrino di Tibaldo de Pellegrini as chief engineer. They planned on toning down the Gothic character of the cathedral (Gothic was increasingly seen as a Franco-German style) and giving it a more Italian Renaissance flair. But there was an immense of cathedral there, and an immense amount of cathedral yet to be done. Construction continued through the sixteenth century into the seventeenth, when the facade finally began to be developed. Construction continued through the seventeenth century into the eighteenth century, and in 1762, the Madonna's Spire was erected by Carlo Pellicani, with a gold-plated bronze statue of Mary placed on top of it, the Madonnina:
We were in Milan the day after Italian Unification Day, so that's why the Virgin Mary is waving the Italian flag. The Madonnina is one of the key touches of Milan. By tradition, no building in Milan is allowed to be higher than the Madonnina. But, tall as the Madonna's Spire is, Milan is a city of skyscrapers, and has been for decades! How can this be? When the Pirelli Tower was built in the 1950s in Milan, it was the tallest building in Italy. So they made a small replica of the Madonnina and put it at the top of the building. Skyscraper or now, it is still not higher than the Madonnina! When the Palazzo Lombardia rose even higher, they did the same. They did the same with the Allianz Tower of CityLife. One of the most famous folk songs in Milan, often regarded as the anthem of the city, refers to the Madonnina in its chorus:
Oh mia bela Madunina, che te brilet de luntan,
tüta d'ora e picinina, ti te dominet Milan,
sota a ti se viv la vita, se sta mai cui man in man.
It was written by Giovanni D'Anzi in the 1930s, and this bit means something like, "O my beautiful Madonnina, you shine brightly from afar; wholly golden and tiny, you rule over Milan. Life is lived beneath your feet without twiddling one's thumbs."
Life went on, and then came Napoleon. He wanted to be crowned King of Italy in the Duomo, so he promised the archbishop that if they finished the facade, he would reimburse the entire expense. That finally got things in full gear; the facade was finished and Napoleon was crowned King there in 1805. He then went off to fight in Russia and never got around to reimbursing anyone.
Arches and spires continued to be built through the nineteenth century. The last gate was put in on January 6, 1965, and this is usually the date given for the end of construction -- although there are still parts of the cathedral where you find blocks of stone that are supposed to be carved into statues at some point. There's so much going on with the cathedral, however, that you wouldn't notice it unless you were looking for it. It makes for an impressive whole.
Here is one of the doors, not the largest:
Inside, it is like a forest of columns. We were only allowed on the right-hand side (and thus actually missed a number of the most famous features of the cathedral).
St. Charles Borromeo, of course, is quite prominent here:
Now we will descend into the crypt, under the grand altar of Milan Cathedral, and receive an impressive sermon from lips that have been silent and hands that have been gestureless for three hundred years.
The priest stopped in a small dungeon and held up his candle. This was the last resting-place of a good man, a warm-hearted, unselfish man; a man whose whole life was given to succoring the poor, encouraging the faint-hearted, visiting the sick; in relieving distress, whenever and wherever he found it. His heart, his hand, and his purse were always open. With his story in one's mind he can almost see his benignant countenance moving calmly among the haggard faces of Milan in the days when the plague swept the city, brave where all others were cowards, full of compassion where pity had been crushed out of all other breasts by the instinct of self-preservation gone mad with terror, cheering all, praying with all, helping all, with hand and brain and purse, at a time when parents forsook their children, the friend deserted the friend, and the brother turned away from the sister while her pleadings were still wailing in his ears.
(Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad, Chapter XVIII)
Even just seeing the right side of the church, there was a lot of it. And we came out again; a truism, perhaps, but perhaps also a bit less of one than it would be with another building. People sometimes get lost in forests.
What a wonder it is! So grand, so solemn, so vast! And yet so delicate, so airy, so graceful! A very world of solid weight, and yet it seems in the soft moonlight only a fairy delusion of frost-work that might vanish with a breath! How sharply its pinnacled angles and its wilderness of spires were cut against the sky, and how richly their shadows fell upon its snowy roof! It was a vision!—a miracle!—an anthem sung in stone, a poem wrought in marble!
Posted by Brandon at 6:00 AM


Ezekiel is declaring to Judah a message that everyone will one day hear. That message proclaimed the end of the road had been reached, and they must now give an account to the Lord for the lives they lived. For them, this day was a sorrowful one. All of the investments they had made were earthly and unable to provide deliverance from divine judgment. Like Belshazzar, they had been weighed in the balances and found wanting (Daniel 5:27).
First off, we must deal with sin. Sin means we have violated the law of God, and is a crime committed by all. The Bible declares the penalty for violating the law of God is judgment, but God has provided a way of escape through the cross of Christ. It will not be your wealth, charm, or benevolence that delivers you in the day of wrath; rather, if you have received Christ, your sins are forgiven and eternal life is granted.
Once a person has received Christ, he can begin to store up treasures in heaven. These treasures are given for faithfully following and serving Christ. When we put the things of God above our own desires, we are rewarded. When we take the time to invest in the spiritual well being of others, we are rewarded for that, too. Essentially, spiritual rewards are granted to those who live for Christ.
It is easy to become consumed with the details of life. We can spend almost all of our time tredding water just to keep our head up, and make it to the end of the day. It is important that we look at life through the eyes of eternity. This will enable us to store up eternal rewards, even in the mundane details of life. A young man, faithfully accomplishing his science project, as a witness to his parents of the reality of his relationship with Christ, becomes a means of spiritual reward. The same is true of a young mother caring for her infant son, or an employee seeking to do his job the best it can be done, to impact his co-workers for Christ.
It is time we look at life through the lens of eternity.
I believe that we as true Christians must continually ask for forgiveness… We are not automatically forgiven. It is something that we must continually fight and we must continually examine our selves. Once we ask for forgiveness and we are truly turning away from our sin, we are then forgiven. What are your thoughts on this?
When we place our faith in Jesus, we are forgiven of all sin, present, past, and future. We are placed "in Christ" (Ephesians chapter 1). Our sin is imputed to Him, His righteousness is imputed to us. (Romans chpt. 4, especially verses 23&24.) Our salvation from the consequences of sin is based upon the finished work of Jesus, not our continued works of asking for forgiveness. If forgiveness of sin depended upon us, then we would have none of the joy and rest that is found in celebrating our Hero, Jesus and what HE has done (Rom 4:6).
If we are depending on our works then our salvation is only as secure as how good WE are doing, and ultimately that is not GOOD news! That is BAD news! That's the same situation we were in before we were saved!
To be clear it is still appropriate to come to God expressing repentance and sorrow over sin when it creeps in to our actions, words, or thoughts. And it is never appropriate to live a sinful life abusing the grace we have been given. But it is from a position of security in the love and grace of God that we now live the Christian life. God is for us, not against us, and in Christ we have free access to His throne of grace, to find all of the help and mercy we need to live a life that reflects, honors and pleases Him.


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Will Anwar Ibrahim Verdict Energize, or Split, Malaysia's Opposition?
II Live at the ESG Forum
This content is from: Portfolio
Previous prison term elevated the former Finance minister into the biggest rival to Prime Minister Najib Razak. Is history about to repeat itself?
By Allen T. Cheng
A Deeper Look at Target Date Investing
When Malaysian authorities imprisoned Anwar Ibrahim in 1999 over what was widely seen as trumped-up allegations of corruption and sodomy, the prosecution ended up turning the former Finance minister into the country's most prominent opposition leader since Malaysian independence. After a Malaysian court earlier this month ordered Anwar jailed for five years over another sodomy conviction, Malaysians are wondering whether history will repeat itself.
"Anwar will still play a political role — every day he is in prison he plays a role," says Bridget Welsh, a senior research associate at the Center for East Asia Democratic Studies of the National Taiwan University and noted author of books on Malaysian politics. The prison sentence could give the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR), or People's Alliance, a martyr figure to rally around, she adds.
Human rights groups criticized the latest court ruling as a politically motivated effort to derail a politician who posed the greatest threat to the rule of Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. A number of foreign governments also questioned the verdict. A U.S. State Department spokeswoman said Anwar's trial "raised serious concerns regarding the rule of law and the independence of the courts."
On February 10 the Federal Court of Malaysia, the country's highest court, upheld a lower-court ruling convicting Anwar of sodomy (which is illegal in Muslim-majority Malaysia) and ordered him to begin serving his sentence. Anwar, 67, had denied the charges, which date back to 2008, and the country's High Court acquitted him in 2012, saying DNA evidence used in the case had been compromised, but an Appeals Court overturned the acquittal in 2013.
The sentencing was the latest in a series of legal decisions that have dogged Anwar since he fell out with former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad over Malaysia's response to the Asian financial crisis. Anwar, then deputy prime minister and Finance minister, imposed austerity measures after the crisis erupted in 1997 and sought to maintain the country's access to international capital markets. Mahathir blamed speculators for Malaysia's woes, though. In September 1998 he fired Anwar and imposed capital controls, prompting his understudy to launch a reformasi movement and work to form an opposition coalition. Shortly afterward, Anwar was arrested on allegations of sexual misconduct, and was later sent to prison. He was released in 2004 when the Malaysian Supreme Court overturned his sodomy conviction.
Government officials defended the court ruling. "One must appreciate we have a legal system that is based on the U.K. system," Abdul Wahid Omar, minister in charge of economic planning in the office of Prime Minister Najib, told Institutional Investor in an interview in Kuala Lumpur. "We have an independent judiciary, and at end of the day we should respect the decision of the court."
The People's Alliance is made up of three parties — the People's Justice Party, the Democratic Action Party and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (known by its Malaysian acronym, PAS) — with supporters ranging from conservative Islamic clerics to members of the country's ethnic Chinese business community. The alliance won nearly 51 percent of the popular vote in the 2013 election but only 88 of the 222 seats in parliament, which is heavily weighted toward rural districts dominated by the ruling BN coalition. The alliance also controls the administrations of four of the nation's 13 states.
Some Anwar supporters bemoaned infighting within the alliance over the leadership succession after Anwar's imprisonment. Zaid Ibrahim, a vocal opposition figure who once served as minister in charge of Legal Affairs under Najib's predecessor, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, criticized the alliance, and the Islamist PAS party in particular, for failing to support their leader. PAS has been calling for more legislation espousing "Islamic values," a stance that is strongly opposed by the Democratic Action Party, which is dominated by ethnic Chinese. "Don't worry, Anwar, your Islamist friends will not help you, but others in the country will," Zaid wrote in a Twitter posting after the court verdict.
But author Welsh believes the succession process could strengthen unity in the alliance. "We see an opportunity for the younger generation of new leaders to emerge," she says. "There remains considerable pressure for the opposition to provide a viable alternative for the electorate, and this serves to push PR for some cooperation. It is not robust, but it remains the strongest multiethnic coalition in the country, more than the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, as there is no longer any meaningful representation of minorities within it. The changes will be difficult, and there will likely be open spats and separations, but these signal a different post-Anwar era."
Najib meanwhile has come under criticism from Mahathir, who remains a powerful figure behind the scenes. The former prime minister has expressed frustration at what he claims is a lack of political leadership in the United Malays National Organization, the dominant party in the BN and one that has ruled Malaysia since it gained independence from the U.K. in 1957. The party relies heavily on support from ethnic Malays and is losing support from the wealthy ethnic Chinese and Indian communities that make up more than 35 percent of the nation's population of 30 million.
"Najib was effectively called on to resign by Dr. Mahathir last week," says Welsh, citing a recent blog posting by Mahathir that criticized some of the prime minister's policies. "UMNO, with its lack of capable young leaders, racial bile and clear policies, is in dire condition. Remember: They lost the popular vote in 2013 and, without serious irregularities, lost the election last time as well. It is not a coincidence that the opponent has been locked up."
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Malaysia's Election Weakens Najib and Dims Prospects for Economic Reform
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Bangkok is starting to become all too familiar now, and I can tell because aside from memorizing the BTS stations (and the train announcement spiel for each station), I'm not taking as much picture as I used to.
I met up with Ming again for lunch. It was supposed to be another food trip on the cheap around Silom, but since one of his friends suddenly became part of the lunch party, we ended up at a Japanese restaurant. The food was pretty good, but it made me miss Little Tokyo in Makati. No pictures of the food as well, because aside from the poor lighting, I suddenly felt odd bringing out my camera and taking photos of my food.
After lunch, I walked down the length of Silom road towards Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Road to look for the street that leads to the ITF Market. I took photos of the landmarks for future reference. If you want to go to this market, it's on Silom Soi 10. Photos taken, I walk towards the intersection and crossed the road to get on a taxi that will take me to Yaowarat, or Chinatown.
I was back in Mangkorn street, buying up some dollie stuff. It's rather unfortunate that I found this doll shop, because after discovering the store, I've no interest in exploring Bangkok's Chinatown more. After making my purchase, I went back out to Yaowarat Road and hailed a taxi to Central World. I initially wanted to walk towards the Chao Phraya River and take the river express to Thong Sala, but it started drizzling, and I don't want to get soaked while lost in the middle of Chinatown.
Just how big is Blythe in Thailand? They have hair product boxes featuring the dolls. And they don't even grow hair.
Of course, taking the taxi meant enduring the traffic. This is the second taxi ride I've had since I arrived from Vientiane. The taxi ride then was fast, as the roads were pretty much deserted. Though the ride from Silom to Chinatown was fairly good, traffic was quite heavy when we reached Yaowarat Road. It was traffic going out as well, and even more so when we were nearing the Siam area.
The reason I wanted to go back to Central World is to check out the doll items they have for sale and to look for a pad thai mix. My sister-in-law is requesting that I cook pad thai while I'm staying with them in Singapore. I did find a mix, but the only one available is in a bottle. I can secure the bottle inside my backpack with some clothes to protect it from getting smashed, but I don't want to risk it. Seems like I'll just have to find the mix in Singapore. I didn't buy any doll stuff in Zen world either. The prices of the things they have for sale are much more expensive than the ones being sold in Chinatown. However, they also have items that I didn't see in Chinatown, so if you're in the lookout for Blythe clothes in Bangkok, Zen World is a good place to start.
I went back to the hostel, and after dropping my things and changing into more comfortable clothes, I headed back down to the street for an early dinner. However, before I sat down to eat, I walked around the neighborhood first. Well, I just wanted to see the Philippine Embassy, actually. It was a fair walk to the embassy, and I was tickled to see it in the corner of Sukhumvit Road and Soi Philippines. I crossed the road to walk back to Soi 38. At one crossing, I was wondering why people are all standing up at attention, and why one side of the road was completely empty. A patrol car drove past, followed by a black car with very dark tint, and a couple more cars. As soon as the last car passed, everybody started moving again. Must be somebody very very important.
I stopped by the chicken rice stall I had dinner at the other night and had it with fried chicken. The whole day I've been wondering about my plans for Malaysia. I've initially planned on staying until the end of June, but as my trip progresses, the date to go back to Singapore has been moving backwards. First I thought I'd go back on the 29th, so I can rest on the 30th before going back to work on July 1st. Then I thought 27th might be better, so I'd also have time to go to the places I planned to visit on Day 1. Now, I'm currently settled on June 26th. It's my sister-in-law's birthday, and to celebrate, the family will be spending the weekend at a hotel. I figured that's the best time for me to go back to Singapore, so I can quarantine myself while they're away. The problem now is.. how to I cram a trip to Malaysia in just 7 days?
thanks for the directions to the ITF market!


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Willard trying new method of grading
WILLARD – The traditional way of grading students is on the way out.
Willard trying new method of grading WILLARD – The traditional way of grading students is on the way out. Check out this story on news-leader.com: http://sgfnow.co/1jefrjf
By Claudette Riley; Published 11:00 p.m. CT Jan. 18, 2014
Kent Medlin (Photo: Arnold Jeff)
The Willard school district is piloting standards-based grading in kindergarten through grade 4 this school year.
It means doing away with traditional letter grades — A, B, C, D and F — as well as short report cards.
"This is all about learning. This is all about reporting what has been learned," said Superintendent Kent Medlin. "This is all about mastering skills."
Traditional grading often denotes an average and the letter grade can include homework, extra credit, class participation and test scores.
"Your kid might get a C. OK, what does that mean? Does that mean that they didn't turn (an assignment) in on time? Does it mean they didn't show their work?" Medlin said. "Those are the things we get caught up in traditional grading. Those are components that are almost outside of 'does this student really understand?'"
Standards-based grading, a growing trend nationally, provides parents with detailed information about their child's performance at that grade level. For each standard or skills the student is expected to learn, it records if the student has achieved mastery, is nearing mastery or needs remediation.
"If we're ever going to challenge grade-level structure and customize student learning, this is the first step," Medlin said. "We are asking ourselves now, 'Is it possible to customize the learning of a child and let them progress at their own pace?' We have to have this in place to get to that."
This approach is also designed to provide meaningful feedback to students so they can make academic gains.
"It's a stepping stone to a different type of school because it's specific to the student," said Assistant Superintendent Stewart Pratt. "In the past, the meanings of grades were kind of blurred. In this situation, the meaning of grades is very specific and it's very individualized."
Pratt said this type of detailed information is empowering to students and their families.
"The key to learning is feedback. Timely, precise feedback is how kids learn and standards-based grading provides a better mechanism for feedback," he said.
Danielle Sellenriek, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment in the northwest Greene County district, said the goal is to achieve mastery-level learning of each standard or skill.
Parents can enter a secure online portal to track their child's performance throughout the year. If a child is struggling in math, the parent will see the specific skills they are lacking. Teachers can add comments and upload resources to help.
"When a parent logs into our structure and looks at student performance, they see a list of standards for that content area and they see exactly how many assessments have been utilized with their child to show knowledge and learning," she said.
Medlin said the roll-out hasn't been perfect. It has required extra training for teachers and "a learning curve" for parents.
"You have to be motivated to truly understand your child's progress," he said. "However, if you have that motivation it's really powerful because you can see, specifically, what your child is struggling with objective-wise, instead of just seeing that they got a C."
Willard school officials looked at the standards-based grading approach used in a smattering of area districts, including Aurora, as well as "best practices" nationally. However, the system they developed was tailored to Willard.
"This is still a work in progress," Medlin said. "This is a locally developed initiative. We didn't buy it. We didn't read it in a book."
The district started with the early grades because they are the least reliant on letter grades and report cards, especially in the primary years.
"It was a natural place to start," Sellenriek said.
It will be expanded to grades 5-6 during the next school year. The goal is to have this approach in all grades, but middle and high school present unique challenges.
"Once we get to seventh grade, we're required in the state of Missouri to also record a letter grade. And that kind of changes things a bit in terms of what this might look like," she said.
Sellenriek said the district will probably adopt a hybrid model for grades 7-12 but details have yet to be worked out.
"When you get to the high school level, you start to knock on the door of some very strong structures because of the secondary (requirements) and grade point averages that students are used to or colleges require for entrance," she said. "It becomes more complicated in terms of what it looks like."
Read or Share this story: http://sgfnow.co/1jefrjf


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The gift of prophecy manifested in the service of Ellen G. White, who was one of the founders of Seventh-day Adventist Church. Council received inspired the people of God in recent times. The world at the beginning of the nineteenth century began to bring God's message was a man's world. Her prophetic calling it exposed a critical examination. Did the Bible's criteria and his prophetic gift was used for over seven years. Since 1844, when she was seventeen until his death in 1915, received more than two thousand vision. During her life she lived and worked in America, Europe and Australia, where he advised new job organized, lectured and wrote.
Ellen White never proved your claim that the bear was a prophetess, but did not oppose it, while others called her so. He explains: "In my youth I was asked: Are you a prophet? I replied: I am a messenger of the Lord.
Application of the prophetic criteria. To what extent the service of Ellen White agrees with the biblical prophet criteria?
1 Consent to Scripture. Her literary work includes extensive tens of biblical texts, which are often accompanied by a detailed explanation. Careful study showed that her writings are consistent, accurate and in full accord with Scripture.
The rise of modern spiritualism.
In 1850, when spiritualism was at the beginning of its development, by Ellen White describes as a fraud and the recent expansion of its forecast. Although at that time was completely against the Christian movement, predicted that his hostility to Christianity and that the changes will give the Christians respect. Since then, spiritualism spread throughout the world and gained millions of followers. He changed his stance against the Christian, many Christians are called psychics.
Close cooperation between Protestants and Catholics.
During the life of Ellen G. White had existed between Protestants and Catholics, a large gap between them ruled out any cooperation. Among Protestants dominated the anti-Catholic sentiment. Ellen White prophesied that the result of major changes within Protestantism will move away from the reformist faith. Consequently, reducing the gap between Protestants and Catholics, leading to bridge the gap that separated them. In the years that followed her death, there was an increase of the ecumenical movement, founding the World Council of Churches and to Catholic Second Vatican Council. As Protestants would no longer be aware of or perhaps even totally reject reformist views on the interpretation of prophecy. The major changes to remove barriers between Protestants and Catholics and led to increasingly close cooperation.
Her writings clearly represent Christ as true God and true man. Its balanced interpretations are fully consistent with the Bible, trying to avoid excessive emphasis on one or the other nature, which was a problem caused in the history of Christianity, so many contradictions.
4 The influence of her services. For more than a century has passed since Ellen White received the gift of prophecy. The church and the lives of those who heed its advice, show the impact her life and had a message. Her literary work includes more than 80 books, 200 tracts and pamphlets and 4600 journal articles. Sermons, diaries, letters and testimony to the special make up another 60,000 pages of the manuscript material.
The scope of this work is astounding. Ellen White's expertise is confined to a few areas. The Lord gave her advice on health, education, family life, temperance, evangelism, publishing the work, proper diet, medical work in many other areas. Perhaps the most surprising her writings on health, because what you preach for more than a hundred years ago, confirmed by modern science. Her writings focus on Jesus Christ and promote high ethical and moral values of Judeo-Christian tradition.
Spirit of Prophecy and the Bible. Ellen White's writings do not replace the Bible can not be equated with Scripture.
1 The Bible is the supreme criterion. Seventh-day Adventist Church fully supported the Reformation principle of sola scriptura. The Bible is its own interpreter, and only the Bible is the foundation of all learning. The founders of the Church formulated the doctrinal principles through Bible study. This learning might then come through the vision of Ellen White. Its main task during the development of this doctrine was to lead them to understand the Bible and to confirm their findings, which occurred on the study of Scripture.
Ellen White herself believed and taught that the Bible is the supreme norm for the church. In her first book published in 1851, wrote: "I recommend you, dear reader, the Word of God as your rule of faith and life. This word will be judged. This view has never changed.
2nd Guide to the Bible. Ellen White recognized that its mission is to lead people back to the Bible. "Just a little care to the Bible, she said, because" the Lord has given a lesser light, which has lead people to greater light.
3 Advisor in understanding the Bible. Ellen G. White understood his writings as a guide to a better understanding of the Bible. "It is an additional right. Simplified through the witness of God is great truths already given and it is the chosen way forward for people to awaken through and impressed the minds of the people that were all without excuse. "Written testimony was given in order to bring new light, but sharply impressed upon the heart already revealed inspired truths.
4 Guide for the application of Biblical principles. In many of her writings to apply biblical advice in everyday life. Ellen White wrote that she was encouraged to "word and pen, explained the general principles and also highlighted the risk of errors and sins of some believers to have all warned, reprimanded and received advice.
Prophecies of the Revelation of John, which says that "the testimony of Jesus is reflected by the" spirit of prophecy in the last days of earth history, invites everyone to not to be indifferent or incredulous, but to "examine all things and to" hold good. Much to gain or lose by examining the prophetic gift. Jehoshaphat said, "Believe in the Lord your God and you will not be moved, believe his prophets, so shall you prosper. (2 Chronicles 20.20) His words are as true today.


of Russia's working-age population is employed in the informal sector of the economy.
These data are presented in a study by HSE Professor Simon Kordonsky and Professor Juri Plusnin, entitled 'The Social Structure of Russia's Provincial Society', which was conducted under the auspices of the Khamovniki Foundation for Social Research Support.
Research on the structure of provincial society was based on field materials collected from 2011 to 2015. The data obtained exceeded official statistics by a factor of two.
In the provinces a subsistence economy is thriving – 'distributed manufactory', 'garage economics', 'seasonal work' and crafts. Residents of small towns often produce specialized goods from local, often unique, raw materials. This economy is characterized by tough functional specialization and development of cooperation, which serves as a background for crude internal competition between groups of families and clans. Informal business is competitive, subject to market rules, is innovative and enables the country's population to easily withstand economic crisis, inflation, devaluation and other macroeconomic shocks.
More details on the results of the study can be found on the OPEC.ru website (in Russian).
of Russian workers are employed either completely or partially in the informal sector.


The holiday season is among us once again and that means so is the season for shopping and gifting! I've put together two gift guides this year; one for him and one for her, hilighting some of the seasons most coveted and thoughtful gifts from my favorite brands and businesses. Happy shopping and happy holidays!


As part of Hockeyland Canada's season preview, each division will be examined one team at a time to identify players to pick and players to avoid. There are six categories of players covered and it'll continue with the Pacific Division. Plenty of stud players for fantasy poolsters to familiarize themselves with, so lets keep it going with the Arizona Coyotes.
The Elite Suite – The strength of the Coyotes has been on the back end, as they boast two elite offensive defenseman in Keith Yandle and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Yandle is an elite source of assists, power-play points, and shots on net from the backend in fantasy. On top of all that, Yandle hasn't missed a game the past 5 seasons and is as reliable an elite pick as you'll find in the NHL. Oliver Ekman-Larsson is just entering his fifth season in the league, but has already established himself as one of the premier players in the game. With an emphasis on shooting more, OEL recorded 199 shots which led to a career high 15 goals last season. As a former 6th overall pick, the pedigree is there for OEL to take another step this season, as he is working his way into Norris trophy contention one day.
Dependable Joe – Mike Smith's gaudy numbers in his first season in Arizona are looking to be an aberration, as opposed to the norm, in his game. Still, he was good enough to make Team Canada and should be good enough for 30 wins this season as he is sure to get 60+ games. Plan for a 2.50 GAA and 0.915 save % and Smith will be sure to deliver in front of a defensively oriented team. Martin Hanzal's offensive numbers don't jump out of the screen, as although he recorded a career high last season, it was only for 40 points. Considering he recorded those points in 65 games, there is reason for optimism, and he is a boon in leagues that record hits and faceoffs.
Risky Plays – Exclaimed Coyotes lifer Shane Doan has a remarkably consistent career with unique longevity, but we are seeing his numbers on the decline. The 37 year old is still likely to score 20 goals and record 50 points, which is serviceable in deep leagues for sure. Its the dip in hits and shots that has us concerned for the fantasy poolsters who rely on Doan too much. Having shipped Mike Ribiero out of town for off ice behaviours, the Coyotes will have to miscast Antoine Vermette as their first line center. We know he's had some revelatory years, but Vermette is too up and down for our liking in the fantasy game. Thought by some to take off on a team with Alex Ovechkin and Nick Backstrom, Martin Erat cost the Capitals prized prospect Filip Forsberg, and gave them a measly, a paltry 2 goals in 2 years. His best days weren't that great, so don't get too hyped up for Erat finding his game in an offensive desert, the Arizona Coyotes.
Sleeper Seeker – Its been a long time coming for Mikkel Boedker's breakout campaign, and it happened last season with 19 goals and 51 points. As the 8th pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the Coyotes have finally developed a home grown youngster with offensive upside. It may take some reinforcements to arrive for him to reach his full potential, but Boedker is just getting his career started and will be given big time offensive minutes this year.
Rookies Ready to Break the Ice – The slow, painful road for Coyotes prospects led Max Domi back to his junior club, the London Knights of the OHL, and as some say, an unnecessary 4th junior season. Further down the pipeline, Henrik Samuelsson is turning pro and will start the year in the AHL, but could turn heads if injuries call him into duty as he plays a complete game. Even further, highly touted defensive prospect, Brandon Gormley, will have to suit up for a third AHL season, but may get a sniff sometime this year.
Keep Eyes Peeled – A subject of criticism and scrutiny for years in Edmonton for not living up to his 6th overall draft slot, Sam Gagner is given a new lease on life in Arizona. His offensive numbers have been decent in the NHL, and were eye popping in junior, so he has the potential to top the 50-60 point mark. Being insulated by big bodies, like Martin Hanzal's, will help the smallish Gagner, something he didn't have in Edmonton.


Although often confused with search engines, today's featured sites are actually directories, because each and every entry is handpicked by a human, not an automated Web crawling computer program. Yes, their databases are considerably smaller than the huge search engines, but when you type in your keywords, and hit enter, you can be confident only appropriate family- friendly sites will be returned.
AOL @ School divides their site recommendations into four grade levels: primary school (grades K-2), elementary (grades 3- 5), middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9 -12.) This directory is for middle schoolers. The others can be found by returning to Home (look for the link at the bottom of the page), following the appropriate grade link, then choosing Browse by Category. Note that the red at-sign icon next to a site listing means it is "educator approved."
Like its grownup counterpart, Ask Jeeves for Kids prides itself on answering natural language questions. No need to learn boolean or complicated search engine syntax here, simply ask Jeeves a question such as "Where is Peru?" But don't expect an answer quite yet. Next you'll need to choose from a list of questions that Jeeves knows the answers to. For example "Where can I find a map of Peru?" or "Where can I find the history of the country Peru?" If the resulting questions are not exactly what you wanted, you can modify them by selecting different fill-in-the-blank phrases from the drop-down boxes.
"The Open Directory Project is the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web. It is constructed and maintained by a vast, global community of volunteer editors." The volunteers responsible for the Kids and Teens section have reviewed and organized 23,790 sites into fourteen subcategories. Each site is briefly annotated and includes a recommended audience: kids, teens, or mature teens. Have a passion you want to share with the world? Find an appropriate DMOZ topic, and volunteer to be a section editor.
KidsClick! is a "web search for kids by librarians" created by the Ramapo Catskill Library System. In addition to the search box, 6300 recommended sites can be browsed by clicking around the fifteen general categories or 600 alphabetized topics. For a bit of librarian humor, click on the question at the bottom of the page "What does this page look like through a librarian's eyes?" Unfortunately, you'll need patience to enjoy this site. It is very slow at times.
The first Internet directory for kids is still my favorite. Published by Yahoo!, each listing is placed in the searchable hierarchy under one of six main categories (such as Around the World, Arts & Entertainment or School Bell). Over the years, their extra features have grown by leaps and bounds. On the front page, you'll find E-Cards, Music, News, Joke of the Day and Yahooligans! Poll, just to name a few.
Feldman, Barbara. "Kid-Friendly Internet Directories." Surfnetkids. Feldman Publishing. 12 Nov. 2003. Web. 19 Apr. 2019. <https://www.surfnetkids.com/resources/directories/ >.
By Barbara J. Feldman. Originally published November 12, 2003. Last modified November 12, 2003.


Your other half doesn't necessarily have to be your romantic partner. It could be the best friend you've had since you were still wearing diapers, a person you met in college who has been your partner in crime since then, the sibling who has gotten you out of trouble time and again or the parent who stood by you no matter what.
Whoever you consider your other half to be, losing them can be indescribably painful. You might be in denial at first or you might pretend they're just away for a while, but that doesn't always help.
According to Hospice of the Calumet Area, each person experiences grief in his or her own way and at their own pace. As facilities offering bereavement programs understand that your grief journey is unique, they offer extensive choices that may help you out. A support group might be what you need or maybe short-term counseling and telephone support are what can help you feel better.
Don't be hesitant about bereavement programs, though. While nobody might know exactly what you're feeling, everyone goes through loss and they will help you out.
On the other hand, you could so something you and your other half have always wanted to. It could be something as simple as growing a cherry blossom bonsai tree from the seed or as action-packed as a helicopter adventure.
Other than being a distraction, doing this allows you to fulfill your loved one's dream. And hopefully, that sentiment will make you feel better.
Losing someone you love is a tough pill to swallow, but remember that you have a life of countless opportunities ahead of you and they don't want you wasting that.


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Home > Topics > Palm > News > PDA News - New Palm release details, Earthlink to end CDPD service, More Palm equity
PDA News – New Palm release details, Earthlink to end CDPD service, More Palm equity
September 3, 2003 by Brighthand Staff Reads (4,184)
New specs on upcoming Palms
Some new information on Palm's upcoming October releases has been leaked to PalmInfoCenter. One of the reported upcoming releases is the Tungsten T3, the HighRes+ virtual Grafitti tablet first reported a couple of months ago. There is basically no new information on this, as everything leaked is consistent with prior reports. The T3 is expected to retail for $400.
Altogether, the Tungsten E's specs look like a Tungsten T2 in a different case. It will have a 144 MHz ARM processor, OS 5.2, 32 MB RAM, and a HighRes color screen. No Bluetooth reported, and at this price point I'm not surprised. Also no thumb keyboard, which will probably please more people than it irritates. It's described as looking like "a cross between the m515 and Zire 71." If those are it's parents, it's got very good lineage. I think the TE will be a slam dunk. At an expected retail price of $200, it's cheap. It's got good hardware, and it will likely satisfy those remaining picky users who refuse to accept the Tungsten T line's slider. It's only apparent downside is that it will use a mini-USB cable for syncing, and a direct AC adapter plug for charging, so it will not be compatible with other Palm peripherals.
The Zire 21 is reported to use the same case and design as the original Zire, have 8 MB RAM, and run Palm OS 5.2 on a Texas Instruments ARM processor, speed unknown.
I must say, I can't see what Palm is doing with the Zire 21. I would think that if they wanted to offer an upgraded Zire replacement, they would do better adding a memory card slot, or a color screen, or something more tangible. I doubt that the average low-end customer will apprecciate something as power-userish as OS 5, particularly since without color, HighRes, and audio it can't play to it's strengths. I also seriously doubt that a monochrome Zire 21, priced at $99, will compare favorably to the expected Axim X3 with wireless, color, audio, video, and the works at $149.
All in all, it looks like Palm has a solid Fall lineup. It will be interesting to see how well the individual models fare. I expect that the T3 will be a smash hit–it's the Holy Grail of Palms, a wireless HighRes+ tablet. I also expect the TE to do well–for the price, it's got superb specs. The Zire 21 is less certain, but I won't count it out yet. Palm seems to know what they're doing, even if I don't.
http://palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=5865
Earthlink phasing out CDPD service, old Palms affected
Earthlink has notified it's subscribers that it–or more properly, it's partner AT&T–is phasing out CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) service, effectively obsoleting older wireless Palm handhelds such as the VII and VIIx, and the Omnisky wireless modem. Since the new replacement technology, CDMA 1X, is significantly different from the old system, no upgrade options can be offered.
Palm issues 1.2 million more shares
Palm has again issued new shares of common stock, the second such move in a month. The new shares, worth about $19 million, were issued to institutional investors.
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030829/sff029_1.html
New 2.2 gigabyte Microdrives for $255
CompGeeks is selling brand new, 2.2 gigabyte (that is 2200 megabytes, for the typo paranoid) CompactFlash Microdrives for $254.50, which compared to at least $170 for a 1 GB Microdrive is an excellent price.
CompGeeks