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Home > Powerboat Racing > Solar1 Monte-Carlo Cup
First Edition of the Solar1 Monte-Carlo Cup Launched - Official Announcement
Wednesday 12th February 2014 – It was in the Yacht Club de Monaco lounge, at a conference attended by many leading figures, that Sergei Dobroserdov, CEO of Solar 1, alongside His Excellency Bernard Fautrier, Vice-President of Fondation Albert II, Dr. Marco Casiraghi and Bernard d'Alessandri, Secretary General of the Yacht Club de Monaco, unveiled an outline of what to expect from the first edition of the Solar1 Monte-Carlo Cup that takes place 10th to 12th July 2014.
Held barely a month after the inauguration of the YCM's new building (20th June 2014), the Solar1 Monte-Carlo Cup is set to be one of the highlights on this summer's nautical calendar.
Monaco - always in the vanguard of innovation
An experienced navigator, Prince Albert 1st led the way in sailing for pleasure and was a pioneer of modern oceanography. Keen for his country to be a showcase for yachting and technical innovation, he organised the first regattas in 1862. From 1904, the world's big industrialists flocked to Monaco to present the latest developments in combustion engine technology to an international clientele at an annual powerboat meeting. Within a few years, Monaco had become a global centre for innovation and fashionable water sports. This love of boats was shared by Prince Rainier III, the 'Builder Prince' who in 1959 encouraged Carlo Riva to build the first dry dock and to launch floating pontoons; and four decades later installed Port Hercule's semi-floating harbour wall, a technological feat that is still without equal. These three major innovative projects have contributed to developing an economy that is firmly focused on the sea.
Technical innovation at the service of the environment and yachting
Just as Prince Albert Ist introduced the first ever powerboat races, Prince Albert II, President of the Yacht Club de Monaco, will host the next generation of revolutionary boat races - 100 years after the last 'Grand Monaco' meeting took place. "It is up to us to show creativity, initiative and drive to develop new projects, like the Solar1 Monte-Carlo Cup".
Solar powered boats from all over the world are set to battle it out over two days in the first truly 'green' solar boat world championship. Developed by universities all over the world and driven by young students, this race is destined to be a future facing sport; it promises to deliver a fantastic display of skill and endurance - using boats powered purely by the sun.
Slalom, Fleet and the most exciting One on One races will take place in front of Port Hercules and in Larvotto Bay. It will be a fantastic spectacle round courses based on those proposed at the beginning of the last century.
"The solar power industry is expanding at such a rapid pace that it was crying out for an event of equal magnitude to unite and represent its stakeholders. Not only do Solar boat enthusiasts have an unrivalled opportunity to display their engineering talents but the exciting thing is that they can also compete equally well with both the vertically integrated energy companies and ambitious young students", says Sergei Dobroserdov, CEO of Solar1.
"As a location Monaco can undoubtedly deliver thrilling and exciting sporting events. But its commitment to sustainable development and projects aiming to protect the environment mean it is the perfect fit for Solar 1 races".
The clean technologies involved in solar-powered boats have a positive impact by helping to protect the sea. With the environment at its core, The Solar1 race perfectly complements Monaco's ecological values.
The Yacht Club de Monaco is renowned for its internationally recognised events. Racing is in its DNA and although steeped in history, Monaco's legacy has never stopped it looking to the future. The stunning new Norman Foster designed clubhouse is symbolic of this and its unveiling next summer is testimony to Monaco's commitment to moving with the times.
"With its new building, the Yacht Club de Monaco is set to become the hub for all nautical activities in Monaco, so an event like this will be a great addition to our existing calendar of events. One hundred years on and history is repeating itself! It's a very exciting project as it involves a major shift and a very practical innovation to take the yachting industry forward, something Monaco has always been aware of in order to support Yachting evolution. I am thrilled that it will attract many young people to Monaco from all over the world, as this new generation is clearly very involved and concerned about technical advances that will help safeguard our planet," says Bernard d'Alessandri, (General Secretary of the Yacht Club de Monaco).
While this is not the first solar race to take place worldwide, it will be the first time many will race in the open waters of the Mediterranean. Marnix Hoekstra, Director of Solar 1's technical partner Vripack, witnessed the solar boat take to the waters of Monaco for the first time during the race trials. "It is incredible to see these boats fly across the water", he says. "We organised sea trials in Monaco in August that left us in no doubt that solar boats are capable and seaworthy enough for tough races! Understanding how they work is all part of the education process which we aim to integrate into this event".'
Solar 1, together with the Yacht Club de Monaco, will host three days of events 10 - 12 July which so far include:
Solar boat races
Solar Conference
Kids Solar boat model race
Opening/Prize-giving ceremonies
World's largest solar-powered vessel Planet Solar confirmed their participation as Jury Boat.
Further events will be announced in due course that will complete a fun weekend full of innovation, technology and education.
In February 2014, Eurosport is named an Official Media Sponsor for Solar1 Monte-Carlo Cup.
Photo : © Maria Povecerovska/ Quin Bisset
Filename: Annonce_officielle_ED_YCM_HD.jpg
Album name: BYM / Solar1 Monte-Carlo Cup
URL: http://bymnews.com/photos/displayimage.php?pos=-227494


Amenities at the Faliraki Vista Studios include a photocopier and luggage storage.
The Faliraki Vista Studios has 12 comfortable rooms.
The hotel is a 10-minute walk from Faliraki Beach, and an easy drive from Rhodes City. The Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, the Kahal Shalom Synagogue and Colossus of Rhodes are less than a 20-minute drive from the hotel.


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La Federazione botswana di softball (eng. Botswana Softball Association) è un'organizzazione fondata per governare la pratica del softball in Botswana.

Organizza il campionato di softball botswano, e pone sotto la propria egida la nazionale di softball femminile.

Collegamenti esterni
 Botswana su baseballsoftballinafrica.com

Botswana
Softball in Botswana
softball

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
TERM="xterm"
export TERM

# Only run if this variable is set; local stacks should generate a fake certificate.
# https://github.com/Annixa/docker-nginx-letsencrypt-proxy/issues/4
# Reintroduce LE_ENABLED mode
if [ "$LE_ENABLED" = false ]; then
	echo "DOCKER NGINX LET'S ENCRYPT: Let's Encrypt is disabled according to the environment variable LE_ENABLED. Using self-signed certificates instead.";
	exit 0;
fi

cd /opt/letsencrypt
# https://github.com/Annixa/docker-nginx-letsencrypt-proxy/issues/6
# Add --expand flag to LE: "When adding domains to the LE_DOMAIN env variable, you may be prompted to expand and replace the existing certificate with a new one."
LE="./letsencrypt-auto --config /opt/letsencrypt.ini certonly -n --keep-until-expiring --expand --agree-tos --email $LE_EMAIL "

if [ "$LE_TEST" = true ]; then
	echo "LET'S ENCRYPT: TESTING MODE";
	LE="$LE --staging "
else
	echo "LET'S ENCRYPT: PRODUCTION MODE";
fi

# Parse domains
IFS=',' read -ra DOMAINS <<< "$LE_DOMAIN"
for i in "${DOMAINS[@]}"; do
    # process "$i"
    LE="$LE -d $i "
done

LE_OUTPUT=$($LE);
LE_EXIT=$?;

if [ $LE_EXIT -eq 0 ]; then

	# Determine if the files have changed

	ORIG_KEY=`md5sum /etc/nginx/ssl/nginx.key | awk '{print $1 }'`
	ORIG_CERT=`md5sum /etc/nginx/ssl/nginx.crt | awk '{print $1 }'`
	NEXT_KEY=`md5sum /etc/letsencrypt/live/$DOMAINS/privkey.pem | awk '{print $1 }'`
	NEXT_CERT=`md5sum /etc/letsencrypt/live/$DOMAINS/fullchain.pem | awk '{print $1 }'`

	echo $ORIG_KEY
	echo $ORIG_CERT
	echo $NEXT_KEY
	echo $NEXT_CERT

	if [ "$ORIG_KEY" != "$NEXT_KEY" ] || [ "$ORIG_CERT" != "$NEXT_CERT" ]; then
		echo "LET'S ENCRYPT: certificates have been updated!"
		cp /etc/letsencrypt/live/$DOMAINS/fullchain.pem /etc/nginx/ssl/nginx.crt
		cp /etc/letsencrypt/live/$DOMAINS/privkey.pem /etc/nginx/ssl/nginx.key
		# Restart nginx?
		supervisorctl restart nginx

		if [ -z "$SLACK_NOTIFICATIONS_INFRA_URL" ]; then
			echo "LET'S ENCRYPT: set the SLACK_NOTIFICATIONS_INFRA_URL env variable in docker-compose.yml to get automatic notifications."
		else
			SLACK_PAYLOAD="payload={\"username\": \"letsencrypt\", \"text\": \"A certificate has been updated on *$LE_DOMAIN*. NGINX has been restarted.\", \"icon_emoji\": \":closed_lock_with_key:\"}"
			curl -X POST --data-urlencode "$SLACK_PAYLOAD" $SLACK_NOTIFICATIONS_INFRA_URL
		fi
	else
		echo "LET'S ENCRYPT: certificates are unchanged."
	fi

else #If there was an error with the request
	echo "LET'S ENCRYPT: There was an error with the request."
	echo "$LE_OUTPUT"
	if [ -z "$SLACK_NOTIFICATIONS_INFRA_URL" ]; then
		echo "LET'S ENCRYPT: set the SLACK_NOTIFICATIONS_INFRA_URL env variable in docker-compose.yml to get automatic notifications."
	else
		SLACK_PAYLOAD="payload={\"username\": \"letsencrypt\", \"text\": \"An error occured when trying to update the Let's Encrypt certificates.\", \"icon_emoji\": \":closed_lock_with_key:\", \"attachments\": [{	\"fallback\":\"Could not update certificates.\", 	\"color\":\"#FF0000\",  	\"pretext\": \"Error Message:\",	\"text\": \"$LE_OUTPUT\"}] }"
		curl -X POST --data-urlencode "$SLACK_PAYLOAD" $SLACK_NOTIFICATIONS_INFRA_URL
	fi
fi

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Spectrum 452. Police Constable 2070, Coromandel.
Alwyn Owen joins senior constable, Hori Chesnutt on his rounds. The day begins with a member of...
Reports on the Wahine disaster
This recording contains three voice reports supplied to overseas radio stations by Nadoo...
Roger Boshier On Anti-Vietnam Activism
A radio news item about Victoria University lecturer Roger Boshier who is interviewed regarding...
David Inglis On Presidential Visit And Vietnam
A news report by NZBC Parliamentary correspondent, David Inglis on the forthcoming visit of...
[Bob Needs, a World War I veteran, recalls fighting on th...
Bob Needs, a World War I veteran, recalls fighting on the Western Front in 1916. He is...
Spectrum 224. The wrong side of the wire. Part 2: The Pac...
The second part of a two-part documentary on the memories of former New Zealand prisoners of war....
Spectrum 993 and Spectrum 994. Of stage and screen
A two-part Spectrum documentary. Former staff share memories of the St James cinema-theatre now...
Parliamentary debate on Springbok Tour
This recording (from "Morning Report") contains extracts from a parliamentary debate with motions...
Angus Millar interviews Cecil Wood
Cecil Walkden Wood, a New Zealand motoring pioneer and maker of the first motorbike and car built...
Looking back. Mira Szazy.
Mira Szazy, President of the Māori Women's Welfare League, is interviewed by Leona Bresnehan. She...
Looking Back - George Laking
This recording contains an instalment of the "Looking Back" programme in which the New Zealand...
Spectrum 1015. Days of rag and bottle.
Jack Perkins speaks to Dr Peter Tuckey about medical practice in the 1930s and during the Second...
Spectrum 004. The wreck of the Wairarapa
The rock-bound shores of Great Barrier Island claimed this ship in 1884. 121 were drowned. By...
Clark McConachy, professional billiards and snooker player.
Clark McConachy, born at Glenorchy in 1895, talks prior to leaving for the Billiards and Snooker...
Spectrum 995. Far-out and feminist
Deborah Nation looks back at the 1977 Christchurch United Womens Convention with some of the key...
In this recording, (from "Morning Report") the Race Relations Conciliator Hiwi Tauroa, calls for...
PETER TOWNSHEND
Pete Townshend, guitarist of The Who, talks about audiences and performing in different...
[Sharon O'Neill and the 1979 APRA Silver Scroll]. 1980-04...
Sharon O'Neill is interviewed after winning the 1979 APRA Silver Scroll for her song called 'Face...
SPORTING HIGHLIGHTS 1962
Charles Martin presents a review of sports highlights of 1962. 1. New Zealand cricket tour of...
1924 Invincible All Blacks reunion, Part 1. 1950-07-04 ; ...
Side 1. A broadcaster identified only as ' Mr Fleming' introduces Stan Dean, manager of 1924 All...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Due to the threat of Hurricane Florence, Raffaldini Vineyards in Ronda is moving its celebration of all things Italian to its 13th annual Festa Italiana on October 20 from 11am-5pm on the grounds of the vineyard, 450 Groce Road. Tickets will be $20 the day of admission.
They will be accepting donations of canned and non-perishable goods to help assist in hurricane relief efforts and alleviate food insecurity in our area. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. For more information, visit www.raffaldini.com.


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Poking at hours of service: Independent data collection around COVID-19 waiver use under way to #InvalidateHOS
Todd Dills
Regular readers and Overdrive Radio podcast listeners will recall my conversation with Trucker Nation regulatory affairs lead Andrea Marks about what she sees as the promise of the COVID-19 hours waiver's long tenure, allowing truckers hauling a bevy of commodities under certain conditions to run without regard to limitations imposed by everybody's favorite set of regs -- the hours of service.
[Related: How the COVID hours waiver's long existence might be flexibility advocates' best chance to further disentangle HOS rigidity]
A short few weeks after that conversation, held in part to break down changes to the waiver that certainly narrowed its application and that Marks felt seemed designed to limit its use, Trucker Nation teamed up with a compliance consultant out of the state of South Dakota, D&K Truck Compliance. Their new effort is under way to gather data, independently of FMCSA, from carriers and individual drivers who have operated under the COVID waiver the past year and a half and more. The team is not shy about what it believes could be the result.
When Marks announced the partnership and data collection effort, centered around a module set up at the FMCSAReporting.com website, she noted that "for 600 days professional truck drivers have been proving the point we were all trying to make when we petitioned to change HOS." Trucker Nation wanted full split-sleeper flexibility when that petition was filed in 2018. The goal now is again to have an effect akin to the "squeaky wheel" I invoked in that post from summer 2018. Marks hopes data point the way toward a reality that "professional truck drivers can safely self regulate and it can have a positive impact on highway safety.
FMCSA signaled its intention to utilize data collected from carriers running under the COVID-19 exemption post-September 1 for purposes of understanding "how many carriers use the exemptions, how often, and for what purposes," as spokesman Duane DeBruyne told me around the time of changes to the exemption. Those changes delivered a reporting requirement -- maybe more of an ask depending on who you're talking to -- to carriers using it.
Marks believes the agency's own data collection will never go so far as what Trucker Nation feels ought to be done -- a close look at safety outcomes of carriers utilizing the exemption versus those not doing so, with potential to point ways forward to further hours of service reform. "We have to gather the data that we all have been generating for the past 600 days," she wrote earlier this month, announcing the partnership with D&K. "FMCSA has a more than lackluster mechanism for reporting that they've done nothing but give mixed signals about since they announced a reporting 'requirement' ... We can do better!"
Results from our polling of Overdrive readers, which we published originally at this link, about their use of the exemption indicate a substantial portion at least of the owner-operated trucking segment has in fact utilized the COVID waiver, raising the chance for meaningful results from data collected.
Marks believes the agency is in some ways discouraging reporting and even use of the COVID waiver with limitations in place as of September 1 -- the waiver's narrowed application only to drive/duty-time limits, and not for instance the 392.3 officer-judgment-call prohibition of "ill" or "fatigued" driving. The newest version of the waiver requires time to be logged as if normal, even though hours of service limits don't apply. "Why are we asking truck drivers to capture hours that they aren't subject to?" Marks asked. "We're setting up drivers" for officers to make that "fatigued" judgment call based on on-duty time limits they're not subject to under the waiver. "The fact that FMCSA is doing this to drivers amidst a supply chain crisis is disgusting," she believed.
The agency said its data collection effort on COVID-waiver use, announced in tandem with the waiver changes that came into effect September 1, is for information purposes only. When I asked whether the data reporting was required, FMCSA didn't exactly answer that part of the question, as suggested above. Marks worried about the prospect of after-the-fact audit targeting, too, a concern that I've heard from an owner-operator or two myself, limiting participation in the reporting the agency wants.
As she put it: "Who can assure me that these carriers aren't going to be added to the 'random' auditing list, and that they're not going to be audited retroactively and given revenue-generating violations?"
For these reasons, she feels the best chance to make good on the opportunity that the more than a year and a half now of the COVID hours waiver presents is for carriers to take matters into their own hands and report use to a nongovernmental firm -- Marks and company are attempting to fulfill that role. Yet they're still seeking an entirely independent, non-governmental, non-biased organization (ideally an academic institution, Marks said) to analyze and report the data and correlate it with safety outcomes. That, ultimately, is the goal.
Bias is tricky, for sure -- Marks fully acknowledges that she is most certainly not the person to analyze and report results, given strong bias. And I worried that there was some danger in signaling #InvalidateHOS intentions in marketing around the data-collection effort, as shown above -- selection bias, essentially, attracting only those with a story to tell that points to a predetermined goal. Yet Marks is undeterred, and insistent that she welcomes all participation from any and all parties who've utilized the COVID waiver to date. "When we get more people with more street cred in the industry than I have to support this process," she said, the organization hopes to get sufficient data for meaningful results. "There's not a deadline at this point. This could go for a year, two years," less if participation is sufficient.
The data-entry form at Marks' and company's new FMCSAReporting.com website asks for the carrier's USDOT number, reporting month, total number of loads hauled under the COVID waiver, commodities hauled, and contact email/phone number. Marks notes that it's important that carriers specify the reporting month with each submission, going back as far as is possible, and that they collect an actual number of loads hauled under the terms of the COVID waiver. (Some carriers to date have simply input "All," necessitating manual work to reach back to the carrier to locate the actual load number.)
The current COVID-19 hours waiver is set to expire Dec. 1 if not extended.
How the COVID hours waiver could disentangle HOS rigidity
FMCSA adds reporting requirement with extension of COVID HOS waiver
Broker/shipper contractual shenanigans in practice -- again ...
Visual magic of hydro-dipping, with Dawson Taylor's 2020 Freightliner
Showcase your workhorse
Add a photo of your rig to our Reader Rigs collection to share it with your peers and the world. Tell us the story behind the truck and your business to help build its story.
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When Yodit Tekle was diagnosed with stomach cancer in late 2014, her partner, Martin Anderson, who runs Toccata Classics, asked a few composer friends to write some music for strings to bring her comfort in her illness. As her life slipped away, he had the idea that she might be remembered in music and so he began to commission other pieces for string orchestra in her memory. To his surprise, almost everyone he asked generously agreed, and so the project snowballed: there are now over 100 composers who have written or agreed to write for it – in an undertaking that is probably unique in the history of music. This second volume presents twelve more pieces in an initiative which, in effect, transforms love into something you can hear.


Have you ever gone for a walk, run, or bike ride and wondered just how far you went? Most people tend to over estimate their distance, which has its implications. If you overestimate how much you exercise, you're likely to overestimate how much you should be eating.
They are simple to use; you begin by typing in your starting address and it brings up a map of the area. You click around the map and it tracks the distance as you click. And ta da! You know exactly how far you went.
Use these websites either before you exercise to help plan your route, or after you exercise to see how far you went.


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5 Micronations You've Never Heard Of
Do you know how many countries there are in the world?
There isn't actually a set number for this…
It all depends on who you ask, as well as what you consider to be a country. For example, in the eyes of the USA, there are less than 200 countries in the world, whereas the United Nations would put this number closer to 241.
One of the reasons why this figure is so ambiguous is due to the micronations that spring up every once in a while. A micronation is a self-proclaimed independent state – basically, a new country in the making. These micronations are created for a variety of different reasons, with everything from the need to increase tourism to political reasons being behind some of the most successful micronations out there.
Want to add a truly unique destination to your travel list?
Here are five micronations you've never heard of, but will probably want to visit very soon!
1) Ladonia, Sweden
Ladonia — the little micronation made from driftwood in the south of Sweden.
A post shared by @ elldugger on Jul 6, 2019 at 2:49am PDT
Back in the 1990's, Swedish artist Lars Vilks was going through a court battle with local authorities.
Because Vilks created two 75-tonne sculptures from driftwood in a secluded nature reserve. It was two years before these sculptures were discovered, with authorities then demanding that the sculptures be removed. After multiple court hearings, all of which Vilks lost, he eventually managed to declare the area surrounding his sculptures as an independent, sovereign country, which he named Ladonia.
Ladonia is currently ruled by its own government, headed up by its Queen and an elected president. While the micronation doesn't actually have any permanent residents, there are currently over 22,000 Ladonian citizens located in over 50 countries around the world, each one standing behind the ideals that Ladonia represents.
Wondering what these ideals exactly are?
Here are just a few of these things that Ladonia stands for:
Tax-free living
Freedom from the government
A government that everybody can participate in
Although Ladonia may only consist of one square kilometer of land, the micronation welcomes around 40,000 visitors each year.
What is there to do in Ladonia?
Visit the sculptures, of course!
This remote spot can usually only be accessed by foot, but the well-worn path is marked all the way, making it relatively easy for first-time visitors to find the sculptures.
If you happen to be visiting on a very calm day, you may be able to book yourself in for a boat trip to Ladonia from Arild, although this is never guaranteed.
There are a few other historic sites dotted around Ladonia, from the stone and concrete National Library to the small cave where prehistoric human remains were once discovered. Granted, your visit to Ladonia may not take very long, but it will definitely be an eye-opening experience!
2) The Conch Republic, Florida Keys, USA
Missing the conch life 🐚 #corporatetocabanas
A post shared by Dani & Chris (@corporate_to_cabanas) on Sep 5, 2019 at 6:44am PDT
Ok, so the Conch Republic may be more of a tongue-in-cheek micronation, but it is still deserving of a mention!
This parcel of land lies between the officially defined boundaries of Monroe Country and Dade County, with Key West being designated as the micronation's capital.
The Conch Republic was declared a micronation in 1982, and while it may only be promoted now as a way to boost local tourism, there was actually a better reason behind its creation…
It all dates back to the roadblock set up by the United States Border Patrol in 1982, causing frustrating inconveniences to people traveling in and out of Key West. Although the city complained, it was ignored, leading to the mayor declaring the Conch Republic an independent nation as a form of protest.
Wondering how big the Conch Republic is?
Officially, it is just two miles long and four miles wide, although many surrounding areas are now also including themselves in the micronation's boundary because, as mentioned earlier, it is great for tourism. While the Conch Republic may not be that large, it is home to more than 25,000 permanent residents, welcoming in thousands more visitors each year.
What is there to do in the Conch Republic?
The best time to visit is around April 23rd, as this is Independence Day for the micronation. A week-long festival is held each year, with numerous Key West businesses taking part.
Of course, just about any other time of year will still provide you with a memorable experience. A few of the activities you can try here include:
Dolphin encounters
Tours on a glass bottom boat
Watersports, including para-sailing, jetskiing and kayaking
Visiting the many local bars, cafes and restaurants
Don't forget to also pay a visit to our OROGOLD Key West store for a VIP facial, product demonstrations, and customized skin care advice.
Wondering if you would need a special passport to visit the Conch Republic?
No, as it is still a part of the USA. While the micronation does sell passports through their website, these are just souvenirs, and should not be viewed as official travel documents.
3) Naminara Republic, South Korea
//100% AUTUMN MOOD// ga nyesel sama sekali ganti schedule ke Nami Island yg tadinya tgl 24 jadi tgl 30 October (tepat 1 hari sbelum pulang)😍😭 Sengaja pilih tgl yg akhir2 bulan banget supaya pohon2nya udah menguning semua 🍂🍁🍂 . . . . . . . . . . #seoultravel #seoulfashion #seoulstreet #instaseoul #seoulsearching #igersseoul #seoullovers #exploreseoul #seoul_korea #seoulsnap #travelseoul #seoulsky #seoulkorea #seoultrip #seoulcity #seoul #seoul🇰🇷 #seoulfashionweek #seoulfood #garosugil #seoulphotography #namiisland #naminara #naminararepublic
A post shared by ´◡` 𝓕𝓕 (@fennyfelicia) on Nov 3, 2019 at 7:51pm PST
South Korea is home to a few different micronations, one of which is Naminara Republic. Although this micronation was officially created in 2006, the other Korean micronations do not recognize it.
Because Naminara Republic was created solely as a way to boost cultural tourism on the island of Nami. As opposed to the other Korean micronations that are centered around independence, profit is a big motivating factor behind Naminara Republic.
Still, this does not mean that it is any less worthy of a visit. Naminara Republic has its own flag, coins, stamps and insignia. Everyone who visits the micronation also has to purchase a local passport on arrival.
What is there to do in Naminara Republic?
With cultural tourism being the micronation's main focus, there are numerous cultural attractions set up around the area for visitors to explore. Imagination and creativity is celebrated and promoted here, as is the environment and natural diversity.
Several of the streets around Naminara Republic have been lined with majestic trees, including:
Tulip Tree Lane
Cherry Tree Lane
Gingko Tree Lane
Metasequoia Lane
Reed Woods Lane
Animals are also allowed to roam freely around Naminara Republic, and you will likely come across everything from squirrels and rabbits to turkeys and geese as you explore the island.
Wondering if Naminara Republic is suitable for kids?
Most definitely! From the Fairy Tale Village to the Imaginary Playground, your children will not only find plenty to do here, but will also likely really thrive.
To really make the most of your visit, book yourself into Hotel Jeonggwanru for a night. Each room in this boutique hotel has been designed by a different artist, craftsman, writer and even singers, offering up some truly creative luxury.
4) Seborga, Italy
Presents Photographer @murari.mattia Location #Seborga Country #Italia May 9, 2019 FOLLOW and TAG US 👉 #ALLURING_VILLAGES Admin 👉 @_live_the_moments_ . . 🆔 #all_villages_murari_mattia . . ___ VISIT PARTNERS COMMUNITY: 👇 . . 🔻 @alluring_community 🔻 @Alluring_Deutschland 🔻 @bestofnetherlands 🔻 @super_paris_channel 🔻 @castlemypassion 🔻 @guruhdr . . #shotz_of_italia #vivoitalia #italy_vacations #super_italy #topitalyphoto #ig_italy #yallersitalia #italy_fantasy #loves_united_italy #italian_places #italyiloveyou #italy_photoloves #don_in_italy #travelsitaly #ig_italia #instagramitalia #italia_dev #thehub_italia #italialike #visititalia #igersitalia #igitalia #italiainunoscatto #volgoitalia #italiait #italia_in_grande
A post shared by ALLURING VILLAGES (@alluring_villages) on May 9, 2019 at 11:46am PDT
If you would prefer to visit a micronation that is steeped in a fascinating history, Seborga is the place to go. This micronation stretches out for 3,500 acres, making it larger than some of the others on this list. It sits near to the border between Italy and France, and is known for its rich heritage.
Wondering how Seborga became a micronation?
It all comes down a sale that took place in 1729, with the area that is Seborga today never being registered, meaning that it found its way into a legal loophole. This went unnoticed for quite a while, until the 1960s when locals voted for independence, as well as for a new prince of Seborga.
Although the micronation is ruled by a monarchy, this is not a hereditary one, meaning that new people are voted in every seven years.
As you know, Italy loves its sports, and Seborga is no different…
Although the micronation has their own Olympic committee, this isn't actually recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Their soccer team lies unrecognized too, although they still play matches against other micronations and small nations.
Just like many of the other micronations on this list, Seborga boasts its own national anthem, postage stamps, flag and currency, which is accepted as a form of payment throughout the village.
Curious about Seborga's population?
Around 300 people currently live in Seborga, but many more visit the micronation each year.
What is there to do in Seborga?
When people visit Seborga, they usually expect it to be a peaceful, laid-back village, but the intense tranquillity here will still really surprise you. It is unusually calm, especially if you are used to life in the big city. The streets here are so quiet that you may even hear your voice echo as you wander through them.
As mentioned above, Seborga is packed with history, and there are a few historical sites that you should definitely not miss out on:
Museo Strumenti Musicali Seborga – this museum showcases historic musical instruments that date all the way back to the 18th century
Chiesa San Martino – a baroque church from the 17th century
Piazza San Martino – the village's central square, which dates back to Medieval times
Keep in mind that there are only a couple of restaurants in Seborga, as well as just a couple of bed and breakfasts. Fortunately, since this is such a quiet part of the world, last minute bookings are often possible.
5) Principality of Sealand, UK
Life is an adventure. Take risks.
A post shared by Principality of Sealand (@sealandgov) on May 30, 2018 at 7:08am PDT
The British government built a number of fortress islands during the second world war, as a way to protect themselves. Many of these fortresses were actually illegal, meaning that once the war was over, they should have been destroyed. However, several were simply abandoned instead, one of which became home to a local radio station in the early 60's, as a way to get around broadcasting restrictions.
A Major from the army created the radio station, and also lived on the island, continuously battling with the government over his rights to do so. So, the Major found another fortress that lay just three miles outside of British waters, and, in 1966, declared this to be the independent state of Sealand.
Of course, Sealand has its own anthem, flag, postage stamps and currency, all of which you can find out more about on the micronation's website.
What is there to do in Sealand?
Before delving into the activities that Sealand offers, it is worth noting that this is not always an easy micronation to visit. You need a special visa in order to access the island, and the micronation is not currently accepting new applications. However, it would still be worth contacting them privately to see if they can help.
If you do manage to gain access to the island, here are a few of the things you can look forward to:
The incredible views of England's coast
A tour of the fortress, which includes a chapel, engine room and jail
A workout at the island's tiny gym
How do you get to Sealand?
Usually by boat, but the island also has a helipad that needs to be booked in advance.
Now, if you really love your time in Sealand…
The micronation offers the public the opportunity to purchase a noble rank, such as the title of Lord, Lady, Duke Duchess, Sir or Dame. Many celebrities have actually gotten in on the game too, with the following all holding noble ranks from Sealand:
Ralf Little
Whether you are looking for somewhere quirky and unusual to visit, or simply want a passport stamp that none of your friends have, these micronations will definitely not disappoint. From the hustle and bustle of the Conch Republic to the eerie calm of Seborga, each of these destinations will truly take you into a completely different world.
Conch Republic, Florida, Italy, Key West, Ladonia, Micronations, Naminara Island, Sealand, Seborga, South Korea, Sweden, travel, UK	| Comment


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MLUI / News & Views / Articles from 1995 to 2012 / House Leaders Gird for Battle on Great Lakes Drilling
House Leaders Gird for Battle on Great Lakes Drilling
Confrontation with Michigan governor looms
September 21, 2001 | By Keith Schneider
LANSING — Leaders of the Michigan House of Representatives, responding to overwhelming public support for banning energy development beneath Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, are drawing up new legislation to prohibit drilling along the Great Lakes coast, perhaps for as long as a decade.
The new bill, which is being shaped in part by Representative Rick Johnson, the Republican House Speaker, would maintain a moratorium on drilling beneath the Great Lakes that began in 1998. The proposed legislation is likely to be introduced within the next 30 days. It comes in the wake of the state Department of Natural Resources' decision earlier this month to allow the energy industry to explore for oil and gas beneath the Great Lakes. That decision, although hailed by the oil industry, also was widely condemned by state and federal lawmakers in both parties, editorial boards, and thousands of citizens.
State representatives say the new bill will pass easily and would set up an intense confrontation within the ranks of the state's conservative leadership. In June the Republican-controlled state Senate approved a measure on a party line vote to proceed with drilling beneath the Great Lakes, saying the risks were reasonable. Republican Governor John Engler also supports energy exploration beneath the Great Lakes because of the potential for new economic development.
"I was disappointed the decision was made to lift the ban on directional drilling under the Great Lakes," said Mr. Johnson. "Michigan's Great Lakes are our crown jewels. They are the most unique set of freshwater lakes in the world. While the Michigan Environmental Science Board's report indicated there was minimal risk involved, the economic benefits from directional drilling under the Great Lakes are even smaller. The correct decision would have been to maintain the current moratorium."
Political Leaders Object, DNR Responds
Mr. Johnson is the latest of Michigan's prominent political leaders to oppose drilling beneath the Great Lakes. He joins Republican Lieutenant Governor Dick Posthumus, four of the seven Republicans and all of the Democrats in the Michigan Congressional delegation, as well as every Democratic candidate for governor, including Attorney General Jennifer Granholm, in battling Great Lakes energy development.
"Simply put, there is no compelling reason to expose the state to such risks," said Ms. Granholm in a September 12, 2001, letter to K.L. Cool, the director of the Department of Natural Resources. She called the agency's plan to begin leasing state-owned minerals beneath the Great Lakes "unwise and inconsistent with the prudent exercise of your public trust responsibilities."
On September 14, 2001, Mr. Cool rejected that argument and formally decided to pursue new energy development along the Great Lakes shoreline. In a statement issued hours later, Mr. Cool asserted that developing new energy reserves beneath the Great Lakes would yield $100 million in state royalties and that new procedures would minimize environmental and public health risks. Mr. Cool also noted that since 1979, 13 wells have been drilled from shore to tap oil and gas reserves beneath Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Seven are still operating.
"The DNR cares deeply about our public trust responsibilities," said Mr. Cool. "We listen and learn from the public and from science. We are the right entity to make this decision because we are professionally trained to do so. We are caring professionals who have carefully evaluated all of the factual information surrounding directional drilling under the Great Lakes."
An Ever More Visible Saga
The natural resource agency's decision is the latest turn in an unfolding environmental, economic, and political drama that began four years ago and has grown to such intensity that it could help decide gubernatorial, Congressional, and state House and Senate elections in 2002. In recent public opinion polls, more than 60 percent of Michigan voters have said they oppose drilling beneath the Great Lakes.
In the spring of 1997 the DNR issued drilling leases to Newstar Energy, a Canadian company, for nearly 200 acres of state owned Lake Michigan bottomlands. That summer, the Department of Environmental Quality, which regulates energy development, issued Newstar a permit to drill for oil and natural gas beneath Lake Michigan from wells on the shore of Manistee County. (See theInstitute's backgrounder on Great Lakes drilling-->Institute's backgrounder on Great Lakes drilling.)
In October 1997, the Michigan Environmental Science Board, a panel of experts appointed by Gov. Engler, issued a seven-page report that found drilling from the shoreline beneath the Great Lakes posed a scant risk to the water from oil or gas leaks. The panel, however, also concluded that current state policy was not adequate to protect one of the world's superb scenic coasts from the land use risks associated with new wells, roads, pipelines, and processing stations.
The panel members issued specific recommendations for improving the planning and oversight of hydrocarbon development from the shoreline. Mr. Engler publicly embraced the recommendation, but six months later, in April 1998, issued a moratorium on drilling to prevent the issue from influencing that year's gubernatorial campaign and to give the DNR time to study new leasing procedures.
In February 2001 the DNR revived the controversy when it announced the agency was taking steps to lift the moratorium. The announcement prompted a flurry of political responses, especially in Washington. In June the U.S House of Representatives approved a bill sponsored by Michigan Democratic Representatives Bart Stupak and David Bonior to give the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulatory oversight of any Great Lakes drilling proposal. In July the U.S. Senate approved a separate measure sponsored by a bipartisan coalition of senators from Great Lakes states to ban drilling for at least two years while the National Academy of Sciences studied the risks. A compromise measure is being fashioned in Congress.
Science Board Recommendations Skirted
Meanwhile the DNR's senior leaders sought to bolster their case by citing the Science Board's report as evidence that drilling was safe. On August 20, 2001, after convening an interagency task force, the staff of the Department of Natural Resources formally proposed new requirements for leasing state-owned minerals beneath the Great Lakes.
The Michigan Land Use Institute evaluated the proposal and concluded that it represented an improvement from current policy. Of particular note was the staff's recommendation to bar drilling — by issuing nondevelopment leases — in ecologically sensitive and environmentally unique areas including sand dunes, wetlands, on steep slopes, in highly erodible regions, and in habitat needed by endangered species.
However the Institute also found that the staff proposal did not come close to meeting the standards of the Michigan Environmental Science Board for exploring for oil and gas beneath the Great Lakes. In fact the DNR specifically avoided the Science Board's three central recommendations:
Involving the public directly in planning and approving coastal energy development.
The closest the DNR staff proposal comes to inviting the public to participate in coastal energy development is to provide citizens with notice at least 30 days prior to a lease auction and to hold a public meeting to allow residents to comment and to share information. The staff proposal also calls for state officials to meet with township officials to inform local governments of any proposed sale of Great Lakes bottomland leases. In no way do these steps provide a direct role for citizens or local government officials to help decide where coastal energy development is appropriate and where it is not, according to the Institute.
Limiting coastal energy development only to those areas with existing infrastructure.
The DNR staff proposal completely avoids the Science Board's recommendation to limit coastal energy development to areas with existing infrastructure. Instead the staff proposal calls on the state to inventory existing infrastructure and determine whether suitable drilling sites exist within reach of that infrastructure.
Preparing coastal energy development plans prior to any new leasing or directional drilling beneath the Great Lakes.
The DNR staff proposal sidesteps the Science Board's recommendation to prepare coastal energy development plans prior to any new leasing or drilling. Instead the staff proposal calls on the state to prepare an inventory of existing infrastructure, unique and sensitive environmental features, and determine locations where new wells are "allowed."
A fourth significant omission in the DNR staff proposal is its silence on the public health risks posed by hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Oil and gas from the Niagaran formation contains considerable concentrations of H2S. Moreover, citizens living in and near Manistee, where much of the new coastal development could occur, have experienced a number of significant and worrisome incidences involving exposure to H2S in recent years. In August 1996, for instance, 11 people in the Parkdale section of Manistee were transported to the hospital after being exposed to a deliberate release of natural gas containing 900 parts per million of H2S. (See the Institute's special section on hydrogen sulfide-->Institute's special section on hydrogen sulfide.)
"The Michigan Environmental Science Board recommended three clear, technically sound steps to reduce the risk of energy development along the Great Lakes coast," said Arlin Wasserman, the Institute's policy director. "The Science Board said that until such requirements are put in place leasing must not occur. The Michigan Land Use Institute agrees."
See also Attorney General Jennifer Granholm's letter to K.L. Cool, Director of the Department of Natural Resources-->Attorney General Jennifer Granholm's letter to K.L. Cool, Director of the Department of Natural Resources
See also the Statement by K.L. Cool, DNR Director, on Great Lakes Drilling-->Statement by K.L. Cool, DNR Director, on Great Lakes Drilling
Keith Schneider is the Institute's program director. He is a regular contributor to the Detroit Free Press, the Michigan Talk Radio Network, the Great Lakes Bulletin, and the New York Times. Reach him at keith@mlui.org.


This listing has an excellent condition state souvenir hanky for Colorado! It is a Franshaw production and measures 13" x 13".
Excellent condition souvenir hanky for Arizona! Measures 13" x 13" and is a Franshaw production.
This listing has a colorful hanky for Florida! It is very detailed with lots of attention to detail, measures 13 ¼" x 13 ½", and is a Franshaw production. Excellent condition!
This souvenir hanky is for two states – Nevada and Utah! It is a Franshaw production, measures 13" x 13", and is in excellent condition.
This is a very colorful souvenir hanky for California -- it has red/pink color poppies! It is a Franshaw production, has slightly larger scallops at hem, and is a little smaller at 12 ¼" x 12 ¼". Excellent condition!
This is a neat souvenir hanky for two states! It is for the Dakotas, is a Franshaw production, and is in excellent condition.
This is an unusual hanky for Virginia -- it could be a souvenir handkerchief for the state of Virginia or it could be a monogram hanky for a lady named Virginia!
Hanky is white with a pink embroidered Southern Belle in one corner. Her skirt has Virginia stitched in it.
Handkerchief measures 12" x 12" and is in excellent condition. It has been laundered, lightly starched and ironed (by me), and is from a smoke free environment.
This listing has a state souvenir for Ohio, "The Buckeye State"!. Hanky measures 13 ½" x 13 ½", is a Franshaw production, and is in excellent condition.
Very colorful souvenir hanky for Ohio! It has large red carnations, measures 13 ½" x 13 ½", is a Franshaw production, and has the larger size scallops at hem. It is in wonderful condition but has a small area (approximately ½") on upper left side where hem stitching is loose/un-stitched. Hanky is priced to reflect this imperfection.
Excellent condition calendar hanky for the year 1969! This one is a Franshaw production and measures 13 ½" x 13 ½".
Excellent condition calendar hanky for the year 1954! This one measures 13 ½" x 13 ½" and is probably a Franshaw production.
Very colorful souvenir hanky for Scotland! Measures 10 ½" x 10 ¾" and is in excellent condition.
Excellent condition state souvenir handkerchief! This one is for Indiana and is somewhat unusual in that it doesn't have "The Hoosier State". Hanky measures 13" x 13", and is a Franshaw production.


Fancy sterling silver Mother and Grandmother Bracelets bracelet designed with 6mm sized beads make a beautiful cherished and personal keepsake.
This single strand mother/grandmother bracelet is designed using all 6mm satin sterling silver round beads two types of 6mm sterling silver twists and one beautiful white pearl captured by two highly detailed flower outline caps then each bead is accented with unique floating bali floating ring accent beads between each unique 6mm bead. The bracelet also entails lovely 6mm AB Swarovski Crystals between two fancy star shaped bali bead caps. You can select clear crystals or you can choose from our birthstone series in the Swarovski Crystals and use the associated birthstones for each name on the bracelet if ordering a double name bracelet. The bracelet comes with a lovely diamond cut sterling silver heart outline charm. The clasp is a sterling silver smooth heart toggle.
You may include personalization of one or two names up to 20 name letter beads. You may also add an extra charm under the charm section above. The extra message charm will be added next to the clasp.


After reports went viral yesterday that starboy Wizkid was in a low key romance with popular Zambian Vixen, Nathalie Sade. The 'Ojuelegba' singer immediately made moves to squash the report and took to Twitter to renew his undying love for his supposed ex, Tania Omotayo.
Wizkid tweeted 'T baby forever' with the love emoji. Tania on her part was questioned on social media on the reports that she and the popular singer have broken up once again but she refused to comment.
The rest of them other ladies are side chicks.
Anyway... Wizzy na u get urself.. Ride on Legal..
Wizzy, do your thing na ur time, funny how they notice you and this babe but won't open a thread to celebrate your success like the one in this last Headies..
I gat your back any day tho.
I just can't stop seeing Wizkid as a kid.. Don't know why.
Why would you take a child serious, like seriously?
The real blogger that broke the story did not say he was "dating" the Zambian girl, she said he was cheating on Tania with the girl. Nah all these copy and paste bloggers com carry the matter change am to date. Of course Tania forever as long as she lets him bleep any girl he wants. Some dumb girls relationship goals.
This tunzmedia and that chu.... something blog can copy naijagistlive but they won't copy right!


InputField Icon not up to date?
Is there a FontIconPicker for the foundation icon package?
Is it possible to retrieve the icon of a field set in the admin? Eg. setting a "phone" icon to a "Phone" field in the admin, and then use this icon (name) in the templates?


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The Top 10 Transgressive Novels of All Time
Column by Christoph Paul	June 16, 2017	1 comment
What is transgressive fiction? Well, if you find yourself saying "damn, that's fucked up" more than three times but keep on reading, there's a pretty good chance the book in front of you is a work of transgressive literature. But that's a pretty wide net. So for the purpose of this list, we will not be including hardcore horror or splatter punk (otherwise Ed Lee and Wrath James White would make an appearance) or Bizarro (like Carlton Mellick's Haunted Vagina or Matthew Stoke's Cow). What we are left with are ten novels that made me question my reality and look for beauty in the most unexpected places.
10) 'I Miss the World' by Violet LeVoit
I remember finishing this book and thinking, 'Jesus Christ, that was one fucked up conversation.' LeVoit pulls off a hell of magic act with 95% of the book being a dialog between a brother and sister. Imagine if Chuck Palahniuk wrote a really fucked up episode of the Franzenesque TV show, Casual, and you'd have something similar. I've seen some fucked Facebook conversations, but nothing competes with the artful transgressive storytelling of I Miss The World. I felt like I got punched in the gut during the final pages. (Note: LeVoit could have also made this list for her transgressive short story collections, I Am Gengis Cum and I'll Fuck Anything That Moves and Stephen Hawking.)
9) 'Crash' by J.G. Ballard
Ugh, the sex scenes describing the character's car crash scars still give me an uneasy feeling. In the hands of a less talented writer, this novel could have been a disaster, but instead, it's a meta-transgressive novel about lost souls with auto accident fetishes. It's been a good ten years since I last read it, but I can still remember the book's brutality. I looked at people differently afterwards, wondering if they had their own destructive fetish and what it might be. I also looked at cars differently and thought, "I want to move to a place that has a good subway system."
8) 'Geek Love' by Katherine Dunn
I remember when Dunn passed away, an author I respect said something along the lines of, "I took a writing class and they asked that stupid question, about having any major goals for your writing, and I answered that for me it was to write a unique book like Geek Love that was also a perennial seller." Any writer that feels passionate about writing something that doesn't fit into mainstream tastes looks to Geek Love as the great literary hope. We'd all love to put out something strange, transgressive, and unique with a mid-size press that finds a larger audience. Hell, most of us just want to write something as good as Geek Love.
7) 'Choke' by Chuck Palahniuk
With this book, transgressive fiction reached the mainstream. Some readers would say Fight Club should be here instead, but Choke was the Palahniuk book I found to be the most satisfying and transgressive from beginning to end. Chuck's info dump and background chapters add to the sense of dread, mingling with a crazy story of sex addiction, time traveling, safety codes, and Jesus's foreskin. It all adds up to a great conclusion and gives the reader something to contemplate besides Chuck's nihilistic outlook on life.
6) 'Audition' by Ryu Murakami
It's a shame that most Americans only know this story as a foreign film. Don't get me wrong, it's a great film, but the book is almost always better, and Ralph McCarty wrote a solid translation. Audition is a transgressive novel about two souls needing love and foregoing all morality to hold on to that love. It also draws on other genres like noir and splatter punk, which adds a nice flavor.
5) 'The Sexy Part of the Bible' by Kola Boof
I give major props to Akashic Books for putting this excellent and unique novel into the world. Out of all the books on this list, this one was the most punk rock and fun to read. It is also a serious book with a strong message about African pride and feminism. A very entertaining story that transgresses with glee. I can't wait to see what Kola Boof does next.
4) 'Suicide Casanova' by Arthur Nersesian
Another knockout for Akashic Books. A lot of Arthur Nersesian fans would want The Fuck Up on this list, but Suicide Casanova is a masterpiece of sexual transgression and obsession. Neresesian uses a Lost type TV show structure, going from the past to the present, then into a thrilling and tragic climax. It is a love letter to unsavory love and to the Times Square of the 1970s, full of decadent sex and drugs.
3) 'Tampa' by Alissa Nutting
The one act that is still truly transgressive is engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor. I have difficulty reading books on the subject, but some great literary novels like Little Children and The Lost Memory of Skin have dealt with that subject matter respectfully and artfully. Tampa is not trying to be respectful, but it sure as hell is artful. Nutting created a character in Celeste Price that is probably the most horrifying on this list, and that's really saying something. But the prose and voice are so good they almost hypnotize, and I kept on reading, going deeper into the dark hearted psyche of Mrs. Price.
2) 'American Psycho' by Bret Easton Ellis
Patrick Bateman is one of the most interesting, despicable, and fascinating characters of the Twentieth Century. Especially when his obsession with murdering animals and children starts to blend with monologs about Whitney Houston and bettering humanity. What makes this such a great book is there are moments where you just have to laugh. The horror becomes comical and Ellis is like the Marquis De Sade of his day, battling with humanists writers like Wallace and Franzen, showing them and the other heavyweights that man is a shallow animal trapped in a society with 'No Exit.'
1) 'Lolita' by Vladimir Nabokov
There would probably be no Tampa without Lolita, and Nabokov still remains one of most talented wordsmiths of the past 100 years. There is reason why Lolita makes this list while still being considered a classic. Humbert Humbert is one of the best non-reliable narrators that has ever graced fiction. To build and gain empathy with readers even as he shares what he does, we can't help (even if it feels wrong) falling for this hypnotic voice. It is a story of strange and forbidden love, and Nabokov uses the magic of language to make us feel almost complicit. This is not just one of the best transgressive novels ever, it is one of the greatest novels of all time.
Well, what do you think? Am I way off the mark? What did I miss that you would include? Let us know in the comments.
Column by Christoph Paul
Christoph Paul is an award-winning humor author. He writes non-fiction, YA, Bizarro, horror, and poetry including: The Passion of the Christoph, Great White House Volume 1 and Volume 2, Slasher Camp for Nerd Dorks, and Horror Film Poems. He is an editor for CLASH Media and CLASH Books and edited the anthologies Walk Hand in Hand Into Extinction: Stories Inspired by True Detective and This Book Ain't Nuttin to Fuck With: A Wu-Tang Tribute Anthology. Under the pen name Mandy De Sandra, he writes Bizarro Erotica that has been covered in VICE, Huffington Post, Jezebel, and AV Club. He is represented by Veronica Park at the Corvisiero Literary Agency.
Follow @christophpaul_
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Stephen Conway	from New York City is reading The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins and Make Something Up by Chuck Palahniuk on audiobook. June 26, 2017 - 12:16am
Thanks for sharing this compilation. Lolita makes me squirm in language centers of my brain I never knew I had. Hard to argue against placing that in the number one position. Some truly challenging material can be found in "Hogg" by Samuel Delaney, and "Knockemstiff" by Donald Ray Pollock. (His novels may find a place on your list, too).
We Think You'll Like This Class
Multiple Viewpoints with Suzy Vitello
Navigate the various options related to point of view in this 10-day intensive under the guidance of Suzy Vitello, den mother of Portland's hottest writing group.


TCFF has partnered with Hushup events and will be screening some of the 2016 Official Selection together with some 80s cult classics.
From 2nd Oct to 4th Dec, enjoy the luxurious setting of Shore Steak Lounge Terrace. Nestled in amongst the city skyline this is a Hushup favourite, which will not disappoint.
Ticket: $200 per Admission. Free Peroni with food order (T&C apply).
For more information go to the Hushup website!


We, for the purpose of operating a nonprofit corporation pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 317A, and amendments thereto, do hereby bind ourselves together as a body corporate and adopt the following Restated Articles of Incorporation.
A. Educate the community regarding the wise use, management, and preservation of Weaver Lake and its surrounding watershed in order to maintain the delicate ecological balance which must be kept between the Lake, the adjacent shore land, and its surrounding watershed and encourage such use, management and preservation.
B. Utilize scientific methods to research, monitor and study water quality so as to maintain Weaver Lake and its surrounding watershed in good condition for the benefit of the community at large and all users of Weaver Lake.
I certify that these Articles have been duly adopted as the amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of WEAVER LAKE CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION this 17th day of October, 2002.


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Words of wisdom and miscellaneous facts by Dr. Wysong and others. This is an accumulation over several decades and the accuracy cannot be attested to.
20. THE ANTHROPIC UNIVERSE
By Dr. Wysong From Dr. Wysong's Publications
Click to enlarge, Ctrl + to enlarge further; Ctrl 0 to return to 100%
Over and over throughout the universe, there are countless circumstances perfect for the existence and continuance of life on Earth.
We could not be alive for another second were it not for the billions of coordinated events that occur so perfectly in our bodies. Outside the body, throughout the universe synchrony must also occur for us to exist. The universe is put together so perfectly, so anthropically, as it is called, to accommodate us.
Protons and neutrons are held together by strong nuclear forces. A weaker force would have meant no atoms could ever have formed. A two percent reduction in the strong nuclear force would mean the only atom in the universe would be hydrogen. If the force were stronger, all the free protons in the universe would have been mopped up, preventing the formation of atoms—and us.
If electrons did not spin and hold their negativity, or nuclei did not hold their precise positive charge, all atoms would either collapse or fly apart. (By the way, what powers an atom and what happens to it when it runs out of power—and when does that happen? Just asking. I don't know and apparently, nobody else does either. We just take these little miraculous nano- perpetual motion machines for granted.)
If gravity were not extremely weak compared to nuclear forces and electromagnetism— 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (1X1040) times weaker—life could not exist.
Life is impossible toward the center or heel of our galaxy. It can only happen two-thirds the distance to the center of a galaxy, such as the place where Earth is.
The sun must be of a certain size. If it's too big and hot, it incinerates life. If it's too small, it is not hot enough to accommodate life.
If Earth was closer to the sun, the tidal forces would break the rotational period, and life would not be possible. That's what makes Mercury and Venus inhospitable. Their rotational periods are several months, due to their proximity to the sun.
⌕ Click to enlarge
If the Earth required more or less than 24 hours to rotate on its axis, life would not be possible. A quicker spin would yield too many hurricanes and tornados. A slower spin would make the planet too frigid at night and too hot during the day. At present, it is spinning at 1,000 mph, yet we don't fly off.
Our moon is just the right size and distance from Earth to stabilize its rotational axis to 23.5 degrees, making the ideal conditions for life to exist. Any change in any of these lunar-tidal-Earth circumstances and life on Earth would not be possible.
If Jupiter was not present, was not so massive, was not five times more distant from the sun than us, the gravitational pull of Jupiter would not shield the Earth from most cosmic collisions.
Earth experiences just the right amount of rain, winter, summer, volcanoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural phenomena to create a planet environmentally diverse and regenerating, yet stable enough for life to exist.
The exact position of Earth in the galaxy is necessary for it to have enough heavy elements for life. For example, fluorine, an essential element, requires a very special galaxy (like ours) that has a white dwarf binary star (like ours).
If there was a Big Bang, and it had been a billionth more powerful, galaxies and life could not exist.
If the rate of the universe's expansion one second after the Big Bang had been smaller by even one part in 100,000,000,000, it would have collapsed into a fireball . . .
That is only the beginning of such a list.
The interconnected intricacy of the universe, like the interconnected intricacy of living things, is irreducibly complex; it cannot evolve piecemeal.
The countless ongoing events to accommodate existence as we know it, are not only impossible (materialistically), they are terrifying. Just think, as you read this, that you are on a spaceship ball hurtling through space at 1.5 million miles per hour surrounded by countless galaxies, black holes, nebulas, stars, planets, moons, and rocks going at a similar speed. Our situation is so precarious. It is miraculous that we all don't just vanish at any second. But we don't, and we haven't.
And a final thought as I look out my window at the ice on our pond. It floats. Unlike other liquids that become denser with cold, water becomes less dense. If that were not the case and water behaved like other liquids, ice would sink, crushing not only all the life in my pond but in every other body of water subject to freezing. The spinoff effect would be catastrophic for all life on the planet.
Humility, not hubris is in order when we come to understand that this phantasmagoric Earth and universe machine that no human can claim any credit for hums along for a second, much less for billions of years.
0 Comments 1/27/2019
1. Rules for Finding Truth
2. Truth Is Real and Accessible
3. Origin Choices
4. The Laws of Thermodynamics
5. The Law of Information
6. The Law of Impossibility
7. The Law of Biogenesis
8. The Laws of Chemistry
9. The Law of Time
10. Fossil Problems
11. Have Humans Evolved?
12. Are We Selected Mutants?
13. Favorite Evolution Proofs
14. Why Materialism Is Believed
15. Free Will Proves Creation
17. Biological Machines
18. Nuts, Bolts, Gears, and Rotors Prove Intelligent Design
19. Humans Defy Evolution
21. Evolution's Impact
22. Putting Religion on the Table
23. How Religion Begins and Develops
24. Religions Cross Pollinate
25. Gods Writing Books
26. Questionable Foundations of Christianity
27. How Best to Measure Holy Books
28. The Ultimate Holy Book Test
29. Religion Unleashed
30. End(s) of the World
31. Defending Holy Books
33. The Source of Goodness
34. Matter is an Illusion
35. Weird Things Disprove Materialism
36. Even Weirder Things
37. Creature Testimony
38. Personal Weirdness
39. Proving Weird Things
40. Skeptics and Debunkers
41. Free Will Proves We Are Other
42. Mind Outside Matter
43. Death is a Return
44. Life After Death
45. Why There is Suffering
46. What the Creator Is and Is Not
47. Thinking's Destination
$1 Million Reward
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Home / Uncategories / Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout Release Day #Excerpt
Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout Release Day #Excerpt
Jen 10/21/2014 07:00:00 AM Edit
We are thrilled to bring you the Release Day Launch for Jennifer L. Armentrout's STONE COLD TOUCH! STONE COLD TOUCH is the second full-length novel in Jennifer's The Dark Elements Series, a young adult paranormal romance being published by Harlequin Teen!!
Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** Kobo ** iTunes
Every touch has its price
Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who's pretty sure things can't get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.
But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla's powers begin to evolve, and she's offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She's finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay...
I'd remained in bed after that, trying to sort through the odd tingling in my chest. There was a slight smile on my lips, because Zayne…well, he'd made my day, but then I'd remember what Roth had said to me the night before and the smile would wash away as if it had never been there.
I probably needed to get used to the whiplash mood swings.
It wasn't until after dinner that I decided to scrub a day's worth of gunk off myself. Gingerly, I peeled the bandage off, happy to find that the cut in my arm was healing as expected. I didn't need to cover it anymore. The arm was still tender, but the Warden blood in me was quickly undoing the damage from the iron.
After changing into fresh pj's, like a total hermit, I padded over to my desk, where I'd left my cell phone. It had been on silent all day and when I tapped the screen, I wasn't surprised to see a slew of texts from Stacey.
R u skipping, u ho?
A minute later: Your locker misses u. Guess u sick with the herp?
Oh my God. I laughed out loud, grinning as I thumbed through her texts. Our bio sub is still hot. U r missing this.
Bio is lonely.
My boobs miss u. How weird is that?
That was notably weird and yet not surprising.
If I get my cell taken from me, it's ur fault.
Holy shit, Layla, where r u?!?
Air punched out of my lungs as I read the next text and the several following them.
U have no idea who just walked into bio!!!
Roth is here!
Holy Canola oil, why aren't u here to witness this?
Ok. He says he had mono. Srlsy? Do people still get mono? And who in the duck was he kissing? A second later—Duck? I didn't mean duck. That's SO not what I meant, autocorrect.
Another text had come in about fifteen minutes after the last one. He asked where u were. I told him u joined a cult. I laughed. He didn't.
Finally, the last text was to call her if I wasn't dead.
"What in the Hell?" I tossed my cell onto the bed, mouth hanging open.
And don't forget! The choice is yours...
Beginning today you'll have 3 weeks to visit the series website, www.thedarkelementsseries.com, to take a poll and decide which guy Layla should ultimately choose in the final book in the trilogy, Every Last Breath.
At the end of 3 weeks, we will tally all the votes, and that's when Jennifer L. Armentrout will start writing Every Last Breath. The guy who gets the most votes is the one Layla will pick.
To prevent early spoilers, we're not going to reveal who won the poll in advance…you'll have to wait until Every Last Breath goes on sale on July 28th, 2015 to find out whether Zayne or Roth wins Layla in the end. We promise the book will be epic and definitely worth the wait!
Who do you want Layla to end up with? Go to www.thedarkelementsseries.com and vote for your choice!
# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you've heard about her state aren't true. When she's not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.
Series Website | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads | STONE COLD TOUCH Goodreads
I love books, tea/coffee(by the gallon) and sour candy. I wear my nerd badge with pride and have two children ages 5 and 3 that keep me on my toes.
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Patients with Friedreich's ataxia may have more damage to brain cells than was previously thought. A study from University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany led by Dr. Maria R. Stefanescu and principal investigator Dr. Dagmar Timmann used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look at the levels of atrophy in various regions of the brains of 12 patients with Friedreich's ataxia, as well as 12 patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) and 10 patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), both of which are also common hereditary ataxias.
"Structural and functional MRI abnormalities were observed in patients with SCA6, Friedreich's ataxia, and SCA3 on the level of the cerebellar cortex and cerebellar nuclei," wrote Dr. Stefanescu in the article, "Structural and Functional MRI Abnormalities of Cerebellar Cortex and Nuclei in SCA3, SCA6 and Friedreich's Ataxia," published in the journal Brain.
The team carried out the study to elucidate some unknowns and inconsistencies in the world of ataxias. "Different patterns of atrophy of the cerebellar cortex are well known," commented Dr. Stefanescu. For example, patients with SCA6 are thought to have preserved cerebellar nuclei, but patients with Friedreich's ataxia and SCA3 show signs of atrophy when their brain tissue is examined under the microscope. On the other hand, patients with Friedreich's ataxia and SCA3 show signs of a preserved cerebellar cortex, where patients with SCA6 have a reduced cerebellar cortex volume. When the inferior olive is considered, all three have normal volumes.
Regardless of any structural changes associated with the three diseases, looking at the size of the cerebellar cortex and cerebellar nuclei via histological pathology or susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) brain scans cannot indicate functional changes. To accomplish this, the researchers employed functional MRI and needed to use the ultra-high field version in order to view the small cerebellar nuclei at the level of the dentate nuclei.
"We tested the hypothesis that cerebellar nuclei are smaller in Friedreich's ataxia and SCA3 compared to healthy controls, but relatively preserved in SCA6," wrote Dr. Stefanescu. Indeed, after compiling the results from the 30 ataxia patients and an additional 23 gender-matched controls, the researchers identified a significant reduction in the cerebellar nuclei of SCA6 patients. This translated into a significantly reduced functional MRI signal in SCA6 patients.
Considering the cerebellar cortex, functional MRI signal was lowest in SCA6 and Friedreich's ataxia patients. Reduced signal in SCA3 patients was not significant.
"It will be of interest to use structural and functional MRI to study the cerebellar nuclei in other hereditary ataxias in the future," concluded Dr. Stefanescu. "Furthermore, long-term studies would be of interest to determine whether quantification of nuclear pathology is a useful biomarker of disease progression and response to therapeutic interventions." Although these brain scanning modalities are not a part of regular ataxia patients' visits to the doctors, they may be considered further if they strongly correlate to disease severity and response to treatment.
Tagged cerebellar changes, d, Dr. Dagmar Timmann, Dr. Maria Stefanescu.


PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas:"I demand [the release of] prisoners because they are human beings, who did what we, we, ordered them to do. We - the [Palestinian] Authority. They should not be punished while we sit at one table negotiating. Besides, they spent many years in prison. How much longer? Do they have to spend all their life in prison and even die there?"
Interviewer: "How can we deal with their criteria "bloodstained hands?"
Abbas: "Such talk is illogical talk and I do not accept it. What does a bloodstained hand mean? We were fighting each other. They kill and kill. They hunt down people with planes and tanks and killed. The soldier who kills 50 or 20 persons here and there - are his hands stained with talc powder? They are stained with blood. This is war. One (i.e., Israel) ordered a soldier to kill, and I ordered my son, brother, or others, to carry out the duty of resistance (i.e., euphemism for terror). This person killed and the other person killed. So why say this person's hands are stained with blood, and [he] must be kept in prison? He is a fighter just like any other fighter. We were in a state of fighting. When a truce is reached, in any country in the world, the past is forgotten... What meaning is there to peace with the Israelis if the wanted continues to be wanted, the prisoner continues to be imprisoned, and the deportee continues to be deported? What am I worth in the eyes of the ordinary [Palestinian] citizen? The ordinary citizen will ask me: 'What did you get me? You ordered me - you are responsible for me.'"


In the public's imagination, the stereotypical adviser is, lamentably, a middle-aged, middle-class white man running a traditional business. That traditional business, Joe Public would assert, probably comes with a traditional world-view when it comes to issues like immigration, sovereignty and European "bureaucracy".
The results of a Money Marketing research project canvassing adviser views on Brexit suggest the picture is a little more nuanced in the modern advice profession, however. In what we believe to be the most extensive polling on the subject, nearly 400 advisers gave us their views on everything from the political implications of Brexit to border control and law-making.
Stereotypes are borne out to some extent. On the one hand, most of our sample – 86 per cent of which was male, mirroring FCA data on the advice market – leans Conservative and thinks that the Government just needs to get on with Brexit. They rate David Davis and Boris Johnson much more favourably than Emmanuel Macron or Jean-Claude Juncker, who scores almost comically badly with a 10 per cent approval rating.
But nearly 60 per cent still voted to remain on EU referendum day, and would do so again if another referendum was held tomorrow. Nearly half agreed that remain voters' views were being ignored.
The principal reason for a qualified remain vote seems to boil down to the modernisation of the profession: advice firms have had to become smarter businesses and adapt to the changing regulatory and economic environment. They don't want these to shift again.
They believe having free trade with the EU and protecting EU citizens' rights is far more important than controlling borders or ensuring the primacy of UK courts. The majority support a transition period to mitigate the worst effects of a cliff edge, and many advisers I speak to are concerned about the implications of passporting on ex-pat clients.
Advisers are understandably worried about what a "no deal" might look like for their businesses, and the handling of negotiations up to now has failed to inspire many with confidence – advisers have so far given the impact of Brexit on their job role and company a net negative score, which goes considerably further into negative territory on a "no deal" outcome.
However, a good deal – or at least the one that the Government wants – and advisers will be pretty pleased, saying it would be rated positively. As ever, no two advice firms are alike, and the plurality of views on Brexit we have uncovered illustrates that each will have different pushes and pulls on their business from leaving the EU. But, as with most other major events, the advice profession is well placed to weather the Brexit storm.