This was a wonderful audiobook for children about using their imagination to calm their fears. There were two stories. In each the parent teaches the child to use her imagination to help explain away her fears. This audiobook was well produced. The narrator had a soothing voice and told the story in a way that would make any child relax before bedtime. The pace was perfect and unrushed. There were also sound effects to enhance the production. As an adult I enjoyed listening to this book so I think that children will love it. In particular I think it is good for younger children who are apprehensive about shadows and noises before bed. It is definitely a book that will help to calm their fears. I would like to thank the author/narrator/publisher for gifting me a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are unbiased and my own.
Shadows In My Room is the story of a little girl named Kayla who is afraid of night shadows. She longs to be brave like her brother Adam, who is not afraid of anything. But for Kayla, when the sun sets and it is time to turn out the lights, that is when the scary shadow monsters come to life in her bedroom.Ms. Weaver-Clarke creates a special, nurturing relationship between Kayla and her mother, while adding in dashes of humor in the bedtime story, Shadows In My Room. For Kayla, going to sleep goes from being scary, to being creative and fun by learning the art of imagination. Kayla's mom teaches her how to be fearless, not fearful and start to see objects through new eyes. For example: no more scary monsters live inside the closet. Instead there are angels and fairies. Now if only Mom can find a way to stop those mischievous, naughty little elves Kayla claims keep messing up her room.Linda Weaver-Clarke amps up the level of imagination to super-creative in the bedtime story, What's That Noise?. People and some animals, especially dogs, tend to be afraid of thunderstorms. Amber is no exception to this fear. When the sky goes, "Boom!", she wants to run and hide. Once again, Ms. Weaver-Clarke crafts a clever story packed with parental bonding, as Amber's mother teaches her daughter to not only see the storm differently, but to also hear things through new ears. Dad gets a lesson too from Mom, when he hears the thunder clap and the wind howl. Amber and her dad learn that when the wind howls, the planets and stars are merely playing hide and go seek by hiding behind the clouds. There is nothing to fear when it storms outside, for thunderclaps are just baseballs sent flying into the sky by stars engaging in a game for fun.The illustrations in both stories are colorful with cheerful bright hues. There are thick horizontal turquoise and gray stripes featured on background of each page in Shadows In My Room. The stripes remind one of a soothing wallpaper found in a bedroom. The same striped background is seen, only sporadically this time, in What's That Noise?. But, this time by using yellow and gold tones. The varying flaxen colors match the weather and elements of that story, like the stars and lightning. The characters themselves display accurate facial expressions during times of fear and moments of joy, particularly those moments of parental bonding.Shadows In My Room and What's That Noise? are great bedtime stories to help children learn to overcome fears by using their imagination. The stories are unique and strong enough in teaching about imagination that they could be sold together as a unit or as two separate books.
My rating: 4 starsAudiobook narrator Heidi Allred rating: 4.5 starsI listened to this book with my 7-year-old, Olsen. He enjoyed this book and will write his review below.I thought this was a fun little book, but likely would have been more fun with an illustrated copy of the book. I only have the audio.There are three short stories in this book, even though the title makes it look like two. The stories are good but I am not sure I like the third story too much. Maybe it's just my parenting style but I was always against kids sleeping in bed with parents (and maybe it's also me being selfish, too!).The narrator of these stories was really good as well.Olsen's rating: 4 starsOlsen's review:I liked these three stories. Shadows in my room:I liked when she saw the moving tree branch. This was fun to visualize. I liked when they thought there was an elf standing in their room. That was funny.What's the noise?:I liked when they heard the thunder. They didn't like the thunder. It was too loud. They pretended to sit on a cloud and watch fireworks in a parade. This was fun.I'm not sleepy:I liked when he tried to make his mother keep him busy so she would get distracted and not put him to bed. I liked that he wanted to get a glass of water so it would help him not go to sleep. He wanted to sing songs with his mom. He made her get him his Teddy Bear. I would like more of these stories.-- end Olsen's review --I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
"Shadows In My Room & What's That Noise: Bedtime Stories" by Linda Weaver Clarke is a quaint duo of heartwarming children's stories for nighttime. In both of these stories, a mother helps her young daughter understand her night-time fears, including the proverbial "monster under my bed." While listening, I couldn't help but recall my own experiences as a little girl who would swear I saw ghosts in my window, when in fact it was just a shadow of the hallway light. To this day, I fondly refer to this ghost as my old friend. Linda Weaver Clarke's writing is much like that, very calming and like an old welcomed friend. To this day, I also love to sleep during thunderstorms, which is the point of the second story. Heidi Allred did a great job narrating, which contributed to my enjoyment of this book. I listened to the Audible version of this book, which is also a children's picture book. I really hope Amazon makes it a Whispersync version as my daughters used to love to listen to books while looking at pictures before they learned to read. Even though I hope this book gets the full Whispersync treatment, you don't need the picture book to enjoy it.
Linda Weaver Clarke's new bedtime stories is truly a bargain...there is two stories in one book! It is an ideal book to ease bedtime fears of little ones. 'Shadows in My Room' gives a new perspective to children pertaining to those "creepy" shadows one sees at night that sometimes seems to move. It will ease fears and assist in developing a child's imagination in a positive way.'What's That Noise' addresses the other key problem in settling little ones bedtime worries. It , again, directs the imagination in a positive manner to cease to be worried about strange noises one often hears in the quiet of the night.The first book is full of colorful illustrations depicting the flow of the story. Although the second story has good illustrations, they do not depict the story as well. I feel it needed a few more extensive illustrations to hold a child's attention. However, they were both very good helpful bedtime stories.Theses stories would be good for children ages 2 to 10.I offer Four and a Half Stars rating for the book as a whole.I was gifted a pdf of this book in exchange for an honest review , of which I have given.
Two cute short stories. As you might imagine, these are intended for a very young audience. The story focuses on using your imagination in a good way instead of a negative way. The parent in the story encourages the child to envision positive images for night shapes and noises instead of negative scary images.The narrator does a good job of using different voices for the different characters. The parent sounds patient and loving.
This is a sweet little book about a child that is scared at night by different noises and shadows. Her mother comes to her and explains the noises as something fun, such as the moon and the stars playing a game and lightning as fireworks to celebrate. Its basically about using your imagination and turning something scary into something fun. I listened to the audio book with my two kids who are 5- and 6-years old. I think that they were really on the outer cusp of kids who would enjoy the book (but that could also be because my kids don't have those particular fears). I think that this book would be great for a 3- to 4-year old. But regardless, I really liked the message, and really, it can be applied to adults, too. The second story is about a boy who says he's not sleepy, so he doesn't want to go to sleep. What parent and child doesn't relate to that? These were really sweet and short - perfect for a bedtime listen.
"Shadows In My Room & What's That Noise: Bedtime Stories" by Linda Weaver ClarkeThis is a children's book! I give it 5 stars, but my granddaughter who is 10 read it and gave it a c, (Tori is ten so it is geared for much younger children. The pictures were really cute! I think every little girl ( and boys as well, except the stories are about a little girl ) should have this book as part of her collection!Bedtime Stories: In each of these stories, a mother helps her little girl understand her fears at night.Shadows In My Room: Kayla sees shadows in her room that disturb her. Her mother answers all her questions about each shadow that she points to, and helps her to calm down and go to sleep.What's That Noise: Amber hears noises that disturb her such as the wind and thunder. Her mother teaches Amber to use her imagination by turning something fearful into something fun.I was given a pfd copy by the author for a honest review!
I received this book for free through Goodreads "First Reads" program. After reading it, I gave it five stars and it truly deserves that. This book is comprised of two bedtime stories. It is geared towards young children, but as a teacher, I can see these stories being read to kids from six months to about ten. Both stories offer vibrant, unique illustrations and rich vocabulary to introduce to your little learners. The first teaches kids about their imagination and guardian angels. The second teaches kids how to be brave and turn seemingly scary things into silly things. This would be a great story to read aloud to your children or students.
Linda Weaver Clarke, popular author of many young adult sweet romance and mystery stories, has entered the children's picture-book genre with her lovely new book which includes the stories, Shadows in My Room and What's That Noise?, This darling book will help parents everywhere soothe children who have nighttime fears. Coping with strange shadows and dealing with loud thunderstorms… fears alleviated by logical and whimsical reasoning… all combine to produce a charming bedtime book for children. What a wonderful addition to the world of children's books!
This was a cute Audible book that I recently listened to. The stories last a total of about 18 minutes in length' and are stories of mother's comforting their girl's bedtime fears. I read other reviews which mentioned that there were pictures, however, I only saw the cover picture in my Audible version, unless my phone app was not working properly, which is certainly possible. The narrator was Heidi Allred. It was a sweet book which I think that my grandkids would enjoy. It is written for younger children and shows the trust between mother and child. Very nice job.
These two adorable stories address children's nighttime fears. My 4 year old and I had fun reading them together and imagining how the shadows and noises in her own room could be understood. She thought the idea of the wind tickling the branches of the trees was hilarious. We enjoyed a good laugh together and I am sure any fear she had of the shadows and noises produced by the wind in the trees has been put to rest. Linda helps explain shadows and teaches how our imaginations can quiet our fears of nighttime noises. This is a great read for children and their parents to enjoy together!
This is my first picture book to listen to. Not having the book to look at the pictures, I wasn't sure abut how much I would like it. But I'm happy to say that I was impressed! With the author's words and the voices of the narrator, I didn't need the book. The words flowed with emotion and fun. I look forward to more from Linda Weaver Clarke and Heidi Allred.I was given a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Two Bedtime Stories: In each of these stories, a mother helps her little girl understand her fears at night.Shadows In My Room: Kayla sees shadows in her room that disturb her. Her mother answers all her questions about each shadow that she points to, and helps her to calm down and go to sleep.What's That Noise: Amber hears noises that disturb her such as the wind and thunder. Her mother teaches Amber to use her imagination by turning something fearful into something fun.
Two sweet, gentle stories about overcoming fears related to bedtime. One little girl is worried about shadows in the room, the other is worried about wind and thunder. This audiobook is really useful to help young children get to sleep, especially in the car. Please note, I am reviewing the audiobook, so can't comment on illustrations.
Linda Weaver Clarke - Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching a "Family Legacy Workshop," encouraging people to write their family history and autobiography. She is the author of the historical romance series - "A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho," a mystery suspense series - "The Adventures of John and Julia Evans," and a romantic cozy mystery series - "Amelia Moore Detective Series."


text:
How to replace your social security card in Los Angeles, California
Social Security Offices in Los Angeles, California
You have had a social security number for most of your life, now you live in Los Angeles, California.
Unfortunately, this small blue card is easy to lose or damage. If you find yourself in need of a replacement social security card, you must follow several steps in the correct order before you can get a new one in Los Angeles, CA.
If you are a United States citizen and need to apply for a replacement social security card in Los Angeles, California, you need one document that verifies your identity.
You will find below all the phone numbers you can use to contact your social security office in Los Angeles, California and their address if you want to mail them a specific request.
How to contact Social Security offices in Los Angeles, California
611 W 6th St Ste 650 Los Angeles, CA 90017
Security Social Office details
215 N Soto St Los Angeles, CA 90033
1122 W Washington Blvd Ste 201 Los Angeles, CA 90015
4000 Wilshire Blvd Wilshire Center Los Angeles, CA 90010
1122 Vine St Los Angeles, CA 90038
3840 Crenshaw Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90008
12429 Avalon Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90061
11500 W Olympic Blvd Ste 300 Los Angeles, CA 90064
You can use our office locator tool to find the closest social security office, but to make it easy for you, we already put the 3 closest offices in Los Angeles, California below:
3 Closest Social Security offices in Los Angeles, California
611 W 6th St Ste 650
Office is located at 611 w.6th street -- 6th floor, between s. grand ave and s. hope street.
More information about the Social Security in Los Angeles, CA 90017
215 N Soto St
One blk n of first st and one blk s of cesar chavez** free limited parking next to bldg** interviewers are spanish and chinese speaking**
1122 W Washington Blvd Ste 201
We are on the corner of washington blvd. and hoover st., behind pep boys automotive. we recently moved up the street from adams and hoover.
You then have to take a number and wait for someone to call it. The wait can vary, but based on a study done by the Social Security Administration itself, it's an average of 30 minutes especially in Los Angeles, California.
This can take anywhere from seven to 14 business days in Los Angeles, California. As with anything delivered by mail, you run the risk of it getting lost in transit or having someone steal your mail so make sure you stay on top of it.
Closest cities from Los Angeles, California where you can get a social security card
Huntington Pk, CA
Fountain Vly, CA
Sn Bernrdno, CA
Porterville, CA

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: How can I connect directly to a mobile device over 3G? I'd like to be able to deploy a lightweight web server on my mobile device (android) but there are obviously NAT issues with respect to the mobile provider's network. Is there anyway I can make my device publicly available/addressable over the internet?

A: A Nokia research team did something similar to this and used a gateway, which was mapped to the public URL with DNS, to provide a means of always accessing the phone (which had an app to then send the HTTP message to the Mobile webserver).
I would imagine this would also have the advantage of allowing you provide some sort of controlled response from the gateway itself even if the phone is not switched on/in coverage.
Details at: http://wiki.opensource.nokia.com/projects/MWS:FAQ#So_how_does_my_phone_get_a_URL.3F

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Gosh can you believe it's already September? Time flies so fast and for all we know it's the Holiday Season already. The "ber" months doesn't only signal the upcoming holidays but also the start of the chilly weather. Although in the Philippines we don't get to experience snow, but we are and will be going through a rainy weather up until probably November and the cold wind from Japan and China will definitely contribute to a constant drop in temperature. That only means we as well need to start wearing clothes that will keep us warm to combat the cold brought about by the rainy and chilly weather of the "ber" months.
Sometimes donning just a sweater or a long sleeves shirt won't be enough to keep us from shivering because of the cold. And that calls for additional warming clothing like hoodies, pullovers and leather jackets. Just like my experience last week when we went up to the mountain city of Baguio; the temperature was around 17-19 degrees Celsius already and it was raining super hard too. I was just wearing a crochet type cardigan over my dress while we were driving to Baguio, but the minute I stepped out of the car, I couldn't stand the cold. Good thing I was able to bring my PU/faux leather jacket with me. It was a life saver because it really kept me warm the entire time.
It is my only leather jacket, and surprisingly even though it was just made of PU/faux leather, how it kept me warm was pretty good. I don't have the budget to buy real leather so I opted for a faux one, it is way cheaper yet gives me the same protection from cold and the quality is pretty good too.
Owning a PU/faux leather jacket doesn't saves you money but also gives you a versatile piece of outerwear that can often carry you throughout the cold season of the year with ease. These faux or PU leather jackets come in different styles and colors that will surely suite your style. As for me I really like the look of biker/motorcycle and bomber jackets. They are so hip and edgy that wearing it instantly makes your simple outfit looks well put together.
If you love to have these types of jackets, then let SheInside warm you with their PU leather jackets without burning a hole in your pockets. I am so in love with their PU Leather Jackets because they have a wide range of styles and colors. They are suitable to wear to the office as well as on casual days while taking care of personal business.
These SheInside PU leather jackets are super perfect for those chilly days of the fall, winter and until early spring. Looking for a PU/faux leather jacket? Find "the one" for you when you browse the selection at SheInside.com and don't forget to use the coupon code: pu15 to save and get 15% off on these jackets, the code is valid until Sept 11, 2014.
Until next time and thanks for dropping by my blog!
Unas fotos muy bonitas, muy guapos!!
Is Tim Ho Wan Manila Just A Hype?
Cozy up with SheInside's Fall Sweater Sale!
It's Starting To Feel A Lot Like Christmas!


Oral motor skills: the ability to move the structures in one's mouth to make speech sounds, chew and swallow food.
Alternative Communication and Assistive technology: specialized techniques to help children communicate such as gestures, sign language, pictures and computer based systems.
Motor planning skills: coming up with an idea, sequencing the steps, executing the motoric language plan.
Auditory processing: how the brain processes information (such as the sounds of speech).
Your child will need a speech therapy evaluation to determine if s/he qualifies for services.


text:
Q: Apache Proxy-server receives a POST request but converts to GET? I'm setting up Apache to front a backend server and issue a command line request to the Server. Apache receives the request as POST ( confirmed from the log), but the proxy-server converts it to a GET request. Any idea why this is happening? I have set up a simple reverse-proxy using Apache. Is there any special URL rewrite that needs to be done? Thank you

A: shall you please share the code snippet.. And in case if you have already got the solution please do share the same also...
not sure if the comment should have gone here but i dint have an otherwise option to put it elsewhere..


Are looking for fun rock and mineral kits with lots of activities, we've got you covered. Need a lesson for your students? We can help there too. And if you have a birthday in the family, we will help you throw an epic Rock Detectives party for all of your guests.
We have a huge selection of individual samples to make your collections great and books for everyone in the family. Have questions? Our on-staff geologist is here to answer your questions.
Connect with us on Social Media for fun information, coupons and more!


White Plains NY has often been called "The City In the Park" and with good reason. Much of this is due to the good offices of the White Plains Beautification Foundation.
For the past 8 years the Hudson Valley has celebrated the renewed presence and vibrancy of our national bird in the Hudson Valley.
The median sales price at the Ritz Carlton White Plains is down about 38% from the highs in 2008. In an apples to apples comparison, the prices are down about 25-30% depending on the type of unit.
Homes in the village of Larchmont feature tree-lined streets and pre-war homes packed with Old-World charm and character. In 2009 that number abruptly "corrected" to $907k and rose to $1.243 million in 2010 and now rests at $1,053,000 for 2011.
The big bad bear market has actually been very kind to Larchmont Village and the Larchmont PO. While other areas of Westcehster NY are still in the doldrums, Larchmont homes have been selling at a fairly brisk pace and prices have increased.


text:
UN Expert Says Action Needed to Prevent Genocide in Several African Countries
A top U.N. official is warning that action must be taken to prevent conflicts in several African countries from turning into genocide. Juan Mendez tells VOA the situation is particularly dangerious in Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, northern Uganda, and Sudan's conflict-ridden province of Darfur.
Juan Mendez is special adviser to the U.N. Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide. He visited Darfur in October 2004 and in September 2005. He says that although the international community has never determined whether genocide actually occurred in Darfur, he has no doubt that war crimes have already been comitted there, and he does not rule out the possibility that Sudanese-backed militia are intent on exterminating a whole race of people in Darfur.
"The situation is very tense and very complicated and all the elements that could lead to genocide are very much in place in Darfur today. So, the task of preventing genocide is by no means complete," he said.
Mendez says early warnings of a genocide include the spread of religious intolerance, racism and xenophobia. He says his job is to monitor countries to see whether these signs are present and to issue warnings to the world community to prevent genocide.
Besides the Darfur region of Sudan, Mendez says another danger area is the Ivory Coast, where there are signs of growing intolerance against immigrants. The intolerance extends even to people who have been born in the country, but are not considered true Ivorians.
"The problem as well is that the tension is so high and there are armed militias and there is extensive hate speech, all of which creates a situation of tension that can quickly derive into mass violence and mass violence in which these so-called non-Ivorians are at risk," he said.
Mendez says he is also keeping close watch on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country that has a long history of mass slaughter.
"That is the one factor that every expert says is something to look at. When a country has experience with genocide or genocide situations, you look particularly at it to prevent things from happening again. In the DRC, the problems right now are happening in the eastern part and they by in large involve armed militias and guerrillas and armed movements. But, in an important way, it affects the civilian population in that area."
U.N. genocide expert Mendez says other countries of concern include northern Uganda, Myanmar, West Papua in Indonesia, Central Asia and the Caucuses and Colombia, where, he says, indigenous populations are at risk of extinction.


text:
Justia Patents VariableUS Patent for Continuously tunable RF MEMS capacitor with ultra-wide tuning range Patent (Patent # 7,345,866)
Continuously tunable RF MEMS capacitor with ultra-wide tuning range
May 13, 2005 - HRL Laboratories, LLC
A method is provided of continuously varying the capacitance of a MEMS varactor having a cantilever assembly mounted on a base portion, the cantilever assembly having a first capacitance plate and a dielectric element mounted thereon, and the base portion having a second capacitance plate mounted thereon. The method includes applying a first actuation voltage to deform the cantilever assembly until the dielectric element contacts the second capacitance plate leaving a gap therebetween, and applying a second actuation voltage larger than the first actuation voltage to further deform the cantilever assembly to reduce the gap between the dielectric element and the second capacitance plate.
Latest HRL Laboratories, LLC Patents:
Scalable, stackable, and BEOL-process compatible integrated neuron circuit
In situ fabrication of horizontal nanowires and device using same
Integrated platform to monitor and analyze individual progress in physical and cognitive tasks
Video scene analysis system for situational awareness
System to identify unknown communication behavior relationships from time series
This invention relates to trimmable and continuously tunable capacitors and more specifically to a tunable-trimmable Micro Electro-Mechanical System ("MEMS") capacitor having an ultra-wide tuning range.
Tunable capacitors are widely employed in radio frequency ("RF") communication applications as low noise parametric amplifiers, harmonic frequency generators, frequency controllers such as voltage-controlled oscillators, filters and tunable high impedance surfaces. Various devices would benefit from tunable capacitors or varactors having a wide tuning range, low loss and a low power consumption. A useful varactor should also be capable of being monolithically integrated in the device in which it is employed.
Typically, solid-state varactors are employed where tunable capacitance is required. However, solid-state varactors provide a very limited tuning range, usually in the range of 300-400%, have a high resistive loss and relatively high power consumption. In a solid state varactor diode used to provide a tunable capacitor, the varactor's capacitance is set by a bias current generated by a sub-circuit that can consume a significant amount of steady state power. Furthermore, the signal current applied to a solid-state varactor may tend to affect the capacitance, thus inducing some measure of error.
To avoid these problems, a MEMS varactor may be used in the place of solid-state varactors. MEMS devices are the microscopic equivalent of air-spaced variable/switchable varactors, and can be integrated into silicon chips using conventional wafer fabrication processes. Compared to varactor diodes, these devices are amenable to monolithic integration in a standard electronic circuit process without sacrificing performance.
The materials and fabrication techniques used to create a MEMS device include standard integrated circuit manufacturing materials and techniques. For example, MEMS devices may be fabricated by the under-etching of an area of a silicon chip's top metal layer to create a microscopic metal beam. Specifically, the MEMS varactor structures can be fabricated using a silicon on insulator ("SOI") technology in which the top silicon is etched to define the varactor structures, a deposition layer is patterned to form a mechanical coupler, and then subjected to a front side hydrofluoric acid etch to partially remove the silicon dioxide to form the suspended varactor structure.
Alternately, the MEMS varactor structures can be fabricated using a higher performance but more expensive SOI technology in which the top silicon, silicon dioxide or a deposited insulator layer is etched to define the mechanical coupler and the backside is dry etched to partially remove the substrate to suspend the mechanical coupler and the two electrically isolated capacitor plates. These and other techniques of fabrication will be known to those skilled in the art.
Previous RF MEMS tunable varactors have employed a gap tuning design, wherein the two plates of the varactor are suspended apart from one another, for example on the aforementioned microscopic metal beam and on the base of the device. A set of actuation electrodes pulls one plate closer to the other plate by deforming this microscopic metal beam through electrostatic attraction, thus changing the capacitance provided by these plates.
One of the forces intrinsic to MEMS variable varactors having an electrostatic attraction mechanism is the restoring force. The restoring force is a mechanical force that tends to return the cantilever assembly to its initial or rest position, i.e., the position of the cantilever assembly with no voltage potential across the actuation electrodes. When the voltage potential across the actuation electrodes is lessened or removed, the restoring force causes the cantilever assembly displacement to decrease as the cantilever assembly returns to its initial position, thereby varying the capacitance of the MEMS varactor.
However, known MEMS varactors suffer from the setback of a small tuning range (<3:1) due to a phenomenon known as the "snap down" effect. This effect causes the gap between the two plates of the varactor to close abruptly as the electrostatic attraction force provided by a pair of actuation electrodes exceeds the spring restoring force. As such, prior art devices have had to avoid bringing the two plates of the varactor within a minimum distance to prevent this effect, thus reducing the MEMS varactor's overall tuning range. Typically, prior art MEMS varactors have been limited to a tunable range defined by a deflection of no more than one third of the distance between the parallel plates. These varactors employ a region of small deflection of the microscopic metal beam or other device on which one of the varactor's plates is mounted resulting in a continuously variable capacitance-versus-voltage characteristic for the varactor.
Once spacing is decreased by more than one third, the snap down phenomenon takes effect and the formerly free end of the microscopic metal beam makes contact with the base of the device. In prior art devices, this has happened and the device is in snap down mode, it is assumed that the maximum capacitance has been reached for the device. Because of the snap down effect, prior art MEMS varactors have often been employed as bi-stable devices, rather than as true varactors continuously tunable over a full range of capacitances.
An explanation of the snap down effect and its limit on the tuning ranges of conventional varactors is included in the description of a MEMS varactor developed by Young and Boser in "A Micromachined Variable Capacitor for Monolithic Low-Noise VCOS," Tech. Digest of Solid State Sensors and Actuator Workshop, Hilton Head, S.C., Jun. 2-6, 1996, pp. 124-127. Another example of a conventional MEMS tunable varactor is disclosed by Change et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,959,516. Other known MEMS varactors exist offering a slightly improved tuning range (3-4:1), but at the cost of greatly increased power consumption. What is needed is an RF MEMS tunable varactor with a tuning ratio of over 40:1 which maintains the feature of ultra low power consumption (<<1 mW).
The present continuously tunable RF MEMS varactor features a tunable range of over 4000%. The varactor's innovative design allows for continuous adjustment of the gap between the two plates of the varactor from a maximum distance to zero by electrostatic attraction. The continuous tuning range of prior art, electrostatically actuated, two parallel-electrode systems is limited by the abrupt closing of the air gap occurring as the electrostatic force exceeds the spring force of the beam. However, with the present varactor, by incorporating spring linkages in the cantilever assembly, and by providing a dielectric element to act as a second anchor for the cantilever assembly, the actuation voltage can be increased to well above that necessary to initiate the snap down effect, without sacrificing the continuous tuning range of the varactor.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the cantilever assembly is a rigid, non-deforming member with the exception of one or more spring portions included therein. In another alternative embodiment, the application of the second actuation voltage causes the cantilever assembly to deform under a three-point load. In a further alternative embodiment, the method further includes applying a third actuation voltage larger than either of the first or second actuation voltages to further deform the cantilever assembly and eliminate the gap between the dielectric element and the second capacitance plate.
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the present continuously tunable MEMS capacitor.
FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the present varactor wherein the dielectric has made partial contact with the RF line electrode.
FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the present varactor wherein the dielectric has made complete contact with the RF line electrode.
FIG. 4 shows the varactor of FIG. 3 wherein complete contact between the dimple and the RF line electrode has been lost due to a further increase in the voltage across the actuation electrodes.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the present varactor.
FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the present varactor wherein the dielectric has made complete contact with the RF line electrode.
FIG. 7 is a diagram depicting the relationship between the capacitance of the present varactor and the voltage applied across the actuation electrodes of the present varactor.
FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the present varactor wherein the dimple has made partial contact with the dielectric formed over the RF line electrode.
FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present varactor having a base portion 130 supporting a mounting portion 131, a first actuation electrode 120 and an RF line electrode 112. The mounting portion 131 in turn serves to support a cantilever assembly 113. The cantilever assembly 113 includes a dimple 111 positioned at the free end of the cantilever assembly 113. This dimple 111 and the RF line electrode 112 are designed to function together as a pair of capacitance plates.
A second actuation electrode 121 is included in the cantilever assembly 113 which, when used together with the first actuation electrode 120, allows the cantilever assembly 113 to be pulled towards the base portion 130. The strength of the pull is dependent on the voltage applied across the first and second actuation electrodes. In the varactor shown in FIG. 1, a control circuit (not shown) applies a voltage Vc across the varactor's first and second actuation electrodes generating an electrostatic force pulling the cantilever assembly 113 towards the base portion 130 against the natural spring force of the deformed cantilever assembly until the opposing spring and electrostatic forces reach equilibrium. When the voltage is reduced, the spring force of the cantilever assembly 113 pulls itself and the second actuation electrode 121 away from the base portion 130 until an equilibrium of opposing forces is reestablished.
The capacitance value of the varactor is based in part on the distance between the two capacitance plates, i.e. the RF line electrode 112 and the dimple 111. Because these are mounted on the cantilever assembly 113, by varying the voltage Vc across the actuation electrodes, the distance between the two capacitance plates is varied and with it the capacitance value of the varactor.
The electrostatic force FC created by the voltage VC between the first and second actuation electrodes is given by the equation FC=(∈o AVc2)/(2x2), where ∈o is the permittivity in a vacuum, A is the surface area of the electrodes, and x is the distance between the electrodes.
For an equilibrium of forces to be maintained, this electrostatic force FC of must be equal to the spring force FS of the cantilever assembly 113. The spring force FS is given by the equation FS=−KX (Δx), where KX is the spring constant of the cantilever assembly 113 and Δx is the deflection of the assembly from its undeformed position. One or more spring portions may be included in the cantilever assembly 113 to provide this spring force, or the stiffness of the assembly itself may serve to do so. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a first spring portion 133 and a second spring portion 132 are provided as part of the cantilever assembly 113.
One of the limitations of prior art MEMS varactors is reflected in this equilibrating relationship between the spring force FS and the electrostatic force FC. As shown by the equations above, the spring force FS for the cantilever assembly 113 is linear with respect to the displacement. However, the electrostatic force FC is inversely proportional to the square of the difference between the original gap and the displacement. Therefore, as the voltage VC increases causing further displacement of the cantilever assembly 113, a point is reached at which FC dominates fully over FS resulting in the cantilever assembly collapsing to the fully closed or displaced position. Furthermore, when the actuation voltage is reduced, the cantilever assembly will remain fully deflected until FS can dominate FC, at which point the cantilever assembly will spring back into the open position, causing an abrupt form of hysteresis. This is known as the "pull-in" or "snap down" effect. Prior art devices exist which, due to this effect, are either fairly limited in their tuning ranges because they never approaching their snap down limits, or are employed as two-state or bi-stable varactors.
FIG. 1 shows a dielectric 110 which serves as both a dielectric element for the varactor, and prevents contact between the dimple 111 and the RF line electrode 112 in the event of a "snap down" event. The addition of this dielectric layer to the end of the cantilever assembly 113 prevents a potential short circuit between the capacitance plates of the varactor. Furthermore, the dielectric 110 serves as a second anchor of the cantilever 113 to prevent the snap-down effect which would otherwise limit the tuning range of the present varactor. In one embodiment, the dielectric 110 of the varactor is a layer of silicon nitride, though the dielectric 110 can be constructed from any suitably non-conductive material to achieve the benefits of the present varactor.
A dielectric 110 is formed over the dimple 111 to eliminate the possibility of electrode/electrode fusion and to create a capacitance greater than that afforded by the dielectric constant of a mere air gap. The tuning range of the present varactor may be extended or reduced by changing its material parameters, for instance the material used to provide the dielectric 110.
FIG. 2 shows the present varactor after the cantilever assembly has been drawn close enough to the base portion so that the dielectric 210 has made contact with the RF line electrode 211. Because the dielectric 210 is composed of a dielectric material, capacitance is maintained between the dimple 212 and the RF line 211. After the snap down effect, the fixed-free beam provided by the cantilever assembly has become a fixed-fixed one. However, as shown in FIG. 2, a slight air gap 213 still exists between the dielectric 210 and the RF line electrode 211. As such, there is room for a further increase in the capacitance of the varactor.
In FIG. 2, the dielectric 210 is not in complete contact with the RF line electrode 211 and therefore the maximum capacitance is not provided by the device. As will be shown in the following figures, the voltage across the actuation electrodes in this exemplary embodiment of the varactor can be increased all the way to 130 V in order to achieve the maximal capacitance (FIG. 6). Once the dielectric 210 has made contact with the RF line electrode 211 as shown in FIG. 2, because of the new boundary conditions and the ultra-stiffness of the cantilever assembly, the gap of the capacitance can now be continuously varied by adjusting the voltages across the actuation electrodes.
In contrast, FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present varactor where the attraction between the actuation electrodes is even greater than in FIG. 2. The dielectric 210 is shown in contact with the RF line electrode 211. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the capacitance of the varactor is at its maximum, given that the minimum distance (i.e. no air gap) exists between the dimple 212 and the RF line electrode 211. The maximum capacitance of the present varactor is obtained when the dielectric 210 is in conformal contact with the RF line electrode 211. FIGS. 1 and 3 thus show the extremes of the tuning range of the present varactor.
FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the preset varactor where the voltage across the actuation electrodes is increased past even the level of FIG. 3. As a result, the first and second actuation electrodes 220 and 233 continue to be pulled towards each other overextending and collapsing the cantilever assembly. As a result, the far edge of the dielectric 210 is pulled away from the RF line electrode 211 creating an air gap 215 and reducing the capacitance of the varactor from its maximum level. Thus, FIG. 4 shows an over-actuated embodiment of the present varactor where the capacitance value has fallen off from its maximum.
FIG. 5 shows a 3 dimensional view of the present varactor. The cantilever assembly of FIG. 5 is shown in the undeformed position. The capacitance of the varactor is measured based on the relationship between the dimple 212 having a dielectric 210 thereon and the RF line electrode 211. At zero actuation voltage applied across the first actuation electrode 220 and the second actuation electrode 233, the air gap 217 between the dimple 212 and the RF line electrode 211 is at its maximum. Therefore, the varactor establishes its lowest capacitance.
FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the present varactor wherein the dielectric 210 has made complete contact with the RF line electrode 211. As such the shortest distance or "zero air gap" is provided between the capacitance plates of the varactor and the varactor establishes its highest capacitance.
FIG. 7 illustrates the capacitance to voltage relationship of the present varactor over a range of voltages. For example, the range of voltage signals from 0 to 130 volts produces a capacitance ranging from 0.025 to 1.15 pF. These voltages and capacitances are exemplary and may vary with dielectric material and other properties. In the graph of FIG. 7, a sharp knee is seen at 50 V, 0.3 pF due to the physical contact between the cantilever assembly and the base as the electrostatic attraction between the actuation electrodes begins to predominate, though does not completely overcome, the spring force of the cantilever assembly. Specifically, as the voltage applied to the first and second actuation electrodes approaches 50 V, the effective capacitance of the varactor rapidly increase firstly due to the fact that the displacement of the cantilever assembly with respect to the applied voltage is nonlinear, and secondly due to the fact that the gap between two electrodes consists of a air gap and a thin dielectric layer such as silicon nitride. The silicon nitride has a dielectric constant of 7.5 in comparison to 1 for the air. Since the air gap decreases as the applied voltage increases, the effective dielectric constant between the two electrodes approaches but does not yet reach 7.5, as the gap approaches but does not yet reach zero as the leading edge of the silicon nitride layer first contacts the RF line electrode 211. The slight diminution of the effective dielectric constant between the two electrodes below 7.5 is due to the slight air gap 213 which still exists at this point between the dielectric 210 and the RF line electrode 211, which air gap will be eliminated when the silicon nitride layer makes complete conformal contact with the RF line electrode rather than partial contact, which conformal contact is brought about by a substantially higher voltage than 50 V applied to the first and second actuation electrodes approaches. Thus, the rapid displacement of the electrodes towards each and resulting increase in the effective dielectric constant therebetween results in a sharp knee seen in FIG. 7 at 50 V.
At V=50 V, the far end of the dielectric contacts the RF line electrode. At V=130 V, the air gap between the dielectric and the RF line electrode is completely eliminated. As such, the dimple is in the closest possible proximity to the RF line electrode, and so the varactor is at its maximum capacitance. Even at V=160 V, the conformal contact between the dielectric and the RF line electrode is maintained.
In the embodiment shown, the actuation voltage VC can safely be increased up to 160 V without losing conformal contact between the dielectric and the RE line electrode (as has occurred in FIG. 7), and therefore in this range a continuously tunable varactor with a continuously increasing capacitance is provided. However, as the actuation voltage is further increased the cantilever assembly is pulled down further still to reveal a new gap between the dimples and the RF line electrode. At V>170 V, a new air gap 215 is formed due to further bending of the cantilever assembly, and the capacitance begins to reduce from its maximum value. The cantilever assembly will ultimately collapse if the voltage is increased beyond 170 V.
As shown in FIG. 7, the capacitance of the present varactor in one embodiment of the present invention can be varied from 0.025 pF to 1.15 pF for an enormously large tuning ratio of greater than 4000%. Taken in total, by employing the dielectric element to make the cantilever assembly function as a fixed-fixed beam a much greater tunable range can be provided by the varactor. By continuing to vary the actuation voltage and thus the capacitance to close the remaining air gap between the dielectric and the RF line electrode after the former and the latter have made contact, a much greater tuning range is possible than in prior art MEMS devices.
FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present varactor wherein the dielectric 310 is formed over the RF line electrode 311. The dimple 312 shown in FIG. 8 has made partial contact with the dielectric 310. A first actuation electrode 320 and second actuation electrode 333 are used to vary the gap between the RF line electrode 311 and the dimple 312.
In one embodiment, the varactor is fabricated using a process similar to that disclosed by Loo et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,046,659 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. As such, the varactor can be constructed using existing technologies without the need to develop a new fabrication process. The device may be fabricated on top of a silicon wafer using conventional deposition techniques. Both switches and varactors can be monolithically integrated in the same fabrication run.
1. A MEMS varactor comprising:
a base portion including a first actuation electrode;
a cantilever assembly mounted on the base portion, the cantilever assembly including a second actuation electrode;
a first capacitance plate attached to the cantilever assembly;
a second capacitance plate attached to the base portion; and
a dielectric element disposed between the first capacitance plate and the second capacitance plate;
wherein the cantilever assembly is deformable towards the base portion in response to a voltage difference between the first actuation electrode and the second actuation electrode resulting in a change in the distance between the first capacitance plate and the second capacitance plate.
2. The varactor of claim 1, wherein the dielectric element comes into partial contact with both the first capacitance plate and the second capacitance plate when the cantilever assembly is sufficiently deformed towards the base portion.
3. The varactor of claim 2, wherein the dielectric element comes into complete contact with both the first capacitance plate and the second capacitance plate when the cantilever assembly is sufficiently deformed towards the base portion.
4. The varactor of claim 2, wherein the cantilever assembly is further deformable after the point at which the dielectric element has come into partial contact with both the first capacitance plate and the second capacitance plate through the application of a three-point load.
5. The varactor of claim 1, wherein the cantilever assembly includes a rigid, non-deforming portion.
6. The varactor of claim 1, wherein the dielectric element is attached to the cantilever.
7. The varactor of claim 1, wherein the dielectric element is attached to the first capacitance plate.
8. The varactor of claim 1, wherein the dielectric element is attached to the base portion.
9. The varactor of claim 1, wherein the dielectric element is attached to the second capacitance plate.
10. The varactor of claim 1, wherein the dielectric element comprises silicon nitride.
11. A method of continuously varying the capacitance of a MEMS varactor, the method comprising:
providing a MEMS varactor having a cantilever assembly mounted on a base portion, the cantilever assembly having a first capacitance plate and a dielectric element mounted thereon, and the base portion having a second capacitance plate mounted thereon;
applying a first actuation voltage to deform the cantilever assembly until the dielectric element contacts the second capacitance plate leaving a gap therebetween; and
applying a second actuation voltage larger than the first actuation voltage to further deform the cantilever assembly to reduce the gap between the dielectric element and the second capacitance plate.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cantilever assembly includes a rigid, non-deforming portion.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein applying the second actuation voltage causes the cantilever assembly to deform under a three-point load.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising applying a third actuation voltage larger than either of the first or second actuation voltages to further deform the cantilever assembly and eliminate the gap between the dielectric element and the second capacitance plate.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein applying a third actuation voltage results in a conformal contact between the dielectric element and the second electrode.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the third actuation voltage is applied across a pair of actuation electrodes disposed between the cantilever assembly and the base portion.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein applying a second actuation voltage results in a non-conformal contact between the dielectric element and the second electrode.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first actuation voltage and the second actuation voltage are applied across a pair of actuation electrodes disposed between the cantilever assembly and the base portion.
19. The method of claim 11, wherein the dielectric element comprise silicon nitride.
5640133 June 17, 1997 MacDonald et al.
6212056 April 3, 2001 Gammel et al.
6229684 May 8, 2001 Cowen et al.
6355534 March 12, 2002 Cheng et al.
6387769 May 14, 2002 Dekker et al.
6441449 August 27, 2002 Xu et al.
6507475 January 14, 2003 Sun
6803774 October 12, 2004 Park
6962832 November 8, 2005 Chou
7141989 November 28, 2006 Liu
Date of Patent: Mar 18, 2008
Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC (Malibu, CA)
Inventors: Tsung-Yuan Hsu (Westlake Village, CA), David Chang (Calabasas, CA)
Primary Examiner: Nguyen T. Ha
Attorney: Christie, Parker, Hale
Current U.S. Class: Variable (361/277); With Significant Electrode Or Terminal Feature (361/278); Pressure (361/283.1); By Varying Distance Between Electrodes (361/290); Compression Type (361/291)
International Classification: H01G 5/00 (20060101);


Alienware has revamped its range of gaming laptops with new designs, new graphics and Intel's latest-generation Haswell Core processors.
The three new models are simply called the Alienware 14, Alienware 17 and Alienware 18 (relating to their respective screen sizes) and feature a new angular design across the range.
Alienware reckons it's inspired by "jet engines and stealth bombers", though we're not really sure of the connection there aside from the fact all three laptops are black and they're mostly metal. Indeed, over 60 percent of the main mechanical components are metallic including the anodised aluminium shell and the magnesium alloy body.
High bandwidth DDR3L memory is also used, which has lower voltage requirements to increase battery life.
Storage is also plentiful, with support for up to three storage drives on the Alienware 14, and up to four storage drives on the Alienware 17 and 18.
The laptops all feature Ethernet technology by Qualcomm's Killer networks as well as Klipsch speakers and Dolby Home Theater v4 audio. You can choose between Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 8 as the operating system.
Alienware has introduced several other new enhancements based on feedback including a metal plate behind the soft keyboard to improve typing, while the Alienware 14 features an anti-glare wide-angle LCD display – all three laptops have HD displays and the Alienware 17 can be specified with a 3D screen.
And, as you'd expect from Alienware, you can customise all of the lighting across the case. We were told how many lighting combinations you can have, but we've forgotten how many it was as it was so big. Millions.
The Alienware 14 starts at £1,099 (USD $1712, AUD $1,820), with availability of the Alienware 17 and 18 set to follow.
We'll have hands on reviews of all three laptops later today on TechRadar, but in the meantime find out more about Intel's latest-generation Haswell processors.


Should I Let Someone Borrow My Car?
Should you let someone borrow your car? And, if an accident does happen, will that person be covered under your insurance policy?
Life happens. There are times when you need a friend to run an errand for you, a co-worker may need to borrow your car to do company business, or a family member may need to borrow your vehicle. What do you do?
Lawyers.com says: "Generally, insurance coverage 'follows the vehicle.' As long as a driver has the vehicle owner's permission to use it, the owner's policy will provide coverage no matter who the driver is. Whether you're lending or borrowing a car, the vehicle owner's policy should cover injuries and property damages. "
It is always best to consult your independent insurance agent regarding specifics to your individual policy. These licensed professionals are qualified to help you make the right choices and clarify any confusion.
When Should I File An Insurance Claim?
When should I pay out-of-pocket?
You purchase insurance for life's unexpected events and you trust your independent insurance agent to help you find the right coverage for the best price. When you have an accident, it is always a good idea to consult with your independent insurance agent before filing a claim. He/she is there to look out for your best interest and may have more information that may affect your decision.
You love your boat. Even more so, you love the fun, relaxation, and memories your boat offers. Think of that perfect Sunday looking for that ever-evasive fish, teaching your kids to water ski, or simply skimming the waters in your sleek sailing vessel. Ahh. However, with the pleasures, so come the responsibilities: maintenance, restoration, storm preparedness, winterization, and, yes, insurance.


I propose to you a small honeymoon trip in DGIV at the beginning of Canaveral Cape which will lead you to PapyBar orbiting around the Earth then in lunar HoneymoonBase and finally to the Sables d'Olonne after a passage by LunaOB1 in lunarorbit.
If you have read my previous tutorials and know the DGIV and IMFD well, you will not have difficulties I think of achieving this small pleasure trip.
If you do not like the automatisms, you can try this travel manually with the standard MFD of orbiter.
The meshes and textures of the lunar crater, memorials 2001 and Tintin and Sables d'Olonne were taken again by Jacquesmomo. Thank you with him!


More than likely you have a few questions each year about what to do about your current debt, retirement, tax refund and raises. In this article, I will give you some insight as to how to get the ball rolling in your favor to take advantage of your income!
8 Top Tax Law Changes For 2018, How Will They Affect You?
In this post, I will go over some of the major Tax Law Changes that took effect this year and may have an impact on you when you file your taxes in 2019. Make sure you are making the best choices for your tax implications!
If you haven't been following my blog for long, let me be the one to tell you that the first home I purchased was a huge financial mistake, and it left me in a financial mess for many years!
With the amount of debt in our society, it is our job as parents to give our children the necessary tools to be successful in life – especially when it involves money.
If you type "life insurance" in Google, you will get bombarded by advertisements touting their best life insurance product. With so many different varieties, which one is best suited for you? Do you even need life insurance? If you have people who depend on you, the answer is YES!
Should I Pay Off My Mortgage ASAP?


One of the most popular guests returned to the podcast this week – I have had the pleasure of Damian Hughes on the show, twice before and this time he returns with another book almost completed, this time on FC Barcelona and the power of culture.
His most recent coaching projects include work with Scotland Rugby Union and the English Rugby League team in advance of their recent World Cup Final appearance.
As always, it is a pleasure to get talking to Damian and in this episode he talks about communication, culture and the importance of preparation.


The Gathered Neckline Top by NA-KD Classic features a ruffled v-neck and long sleeves with ruffled cuffs. This top comes in the color red.
Add a colorful top with your satin high waisted shorts and your look is completed.


text:
Perspectives | Albania
Resisting the shock doctrine in Albania
By Sindi Kuçi - 08.06.2021
Resistance and aspirations help reclaim Albania's public space, and its democracy.
The past three years have witnessed Albania brought low by the weight of two distinct, but equally destructive crises; the 2019 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic. The response to these crises has been shaped by top-down profiteering rather than grassroots solidarity.
In fact, the disorientation of the populace in the aftermath of both events has enabled Prime Minister Edi Rama to advance his pro-corporate agenda through non-transparent backroom deals and the granting of unusual concessions, all while clamping down on free press and resorting to violence to quell dissent.
Rama's response to these dual disasters resembles a set of policies that Naomi Klein calls "the shock doctrine." Put forward in times of crisis, shock doctrine policies aim at advancing market fundamentalism — the libertarian idea that when left unhindered, the market can heal all social and economic ailments. These policies generally advance the interests of corporations, shifting resources from the marginalized to the powerful.
Shock doctrine and the 2019 earthquake
On November 26, 2019 a 6.4 magnitude earthquake left Albania in a state of panic and grief, and parts of the coastal city Durrës in ruins. At least 51 people died and more than 3,000 were injured. The number of displaced persons soared to 6,000 and 7,900 buildings were registered as damaged countrywide.
Planned as only a temporary solution, tents were set up as living quarters for the affected families. More than 18 months later the situation remains dire for the many of the displaced persons. Despite the millions poured into relief funds for the catastrophe, hopes of being re-housed through government assistance are dwindling.
In her book "No Is Not Enough," Klein states that the shock doctrine is enacted in times of natural disasters by means of reallocating land and resources from the poor to the powerful. This process is currently occurring in the areas most affected by the 2019 earthquake.
The war against the media has long been one of the defining features of the current administration.
Hidden under the guise of development, the government's reconstruction plans include the expropriation of individual properties in order to build multi-story apartment complexes in their place. Only companies handpicked by the government bid for the reconstruction tender and the winners were announced under dubious circumstances, creating suspicions that the results of the public tender had been decided in advance. The government also announced extraordinary tax benefits for these handpicked firms, leaving space for additional abuses.
This bonanza for contractors was accompanied by attempts on the part of the government to restrict the freedom of the press. In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Rama administration pushed forward an anti-defamation law ostensibly aimed at limiting the spread of fake news during the state of emergency.
The war against the media has long been one of the defining features of the current administration, and it appears that the situation created in the wake of the earthquake provided Rama with the perfect opportunity to strike boldly against it. The laws contained within the anti-defamation package intended to vest the state with the power to regulate online media, which would give the state direct control over what is published. This restriction is problematic because it directly affects the citizen's right to access information and impedes the free flow of information.
Shock doctrine and the COVID-19 pandemic
As COVID-19 entered fully into the global consciousness in March 2020, forcing governments to implement restrictive public health measures, Rama saw a golden opportunity for self-aggrandizement; he decided to personally distribute all lockdown rules through his TV Channel, Edi Rama TV (ERTV). Albanians were forced to follow Rama's personal social media channels to determine the legality of basic daily actions like taking a walk or buying groceries.
Rama then exploited the lockdown measures to abruptly demolish Tirana's National Theater to the benefit of his favored developers. The 81-year-old theater was a historical landmark of the city, embodying its rich cultural and intellectual history. Before the demolition, the theater's fate had been hanging in the balance for almost two years, as negotiations between civil society activists and the government went unresolved.
Shortly after implementing pandemic movement restrictions, the government deployed police forces to violently drag out activists who had been sleeping inside the theater. The bedraggled activists, choking on tear gas, watched helplessly as excavators turned the building to rubble.
The firm that designed the replacement for the National Theater is Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), a firm notorious for its greenwashing and gentrifying projects. More notably, the company in charge of construction is Fusha sh.p.k, an Albanian firm that in recent years has won 40 tenders in the municipality of Tirana. Mirroring the tender competition for the post-earthquake reconstruction, Fusha sh.p.k appears to have been the only bidder in the tender for the new National Theater, under selection criteria seemingly designed to restrict or completely eliminate competition.
A similar pattern of tenders with restricted competition and unusual concessions has been evident throughout the entire pandemic year. Rama's intention to rapidly privatize public land and deregulate the corporate sphere are evident in various construction projects of national importance, such as the Vlora and Kukës airports. The bonanza for contractors and Rama's incessant war against the media are all part of his administration's attempt to not let a crisis go to waste. He may not have read Naomi Klein, but he is nevertheless operating under the logic of the shock doctrine.
Resisting the shock doctrine: What can be done
Albania's most effective tool against the non-democratic seizure of the public sphere should be the collective memory of the fear and trauma that results from the absence of democracy. Still living with ghosts of their communist past, Albanians know the lengths powerful individuals will go to to consolidate their position, as well as the consequences that can result from one man's ambition and paranoia.
Albanians also know, deep in their bones, the importance of dreams for toppling regimes. It was, after all, a dream that led to the 1991 student protests, which marked the starting point of the downfall of Enver Hoxha's regime. So what is missing now? What is preventing the replication of those much-revered protests? Perhaps Albanians have forgotten how to dream. And without the willingness to dream, no meaningful change can occur.
The main suggestion Klein offers to resist shock tactics is to re-learn how democracy works. In times when our societies are steeped in crisis and our political leaders seem to offer no respite, it's easy to disengage from politics completely, choosing to stay home and not participate.
But it is exactly at this point, when we find ourselves at the precipice of hopelessness, that we need to go back to those lofty promises of democracy, reminding ourselves that we have political power. We have the right to protest, occupy and demonstrate. Our leaders are not immutable, our futures are not predetermined. We need to dream big and out loud, in order to be able to effect any semblance of change.
Reclaiming our public lands
It is common to think of Albania as a country where social movements go to die. Indeed, every protest or manifestation of recent years has met the same fate. Police forces disperse peaceful protesters. Citizens' anger and indignation quickly subside. Pervasive hopelessness has become the state of affairs during the last decade.
But I fiercely believe — or rather, dare to hope — that this is a misconception. Albanian civil society, however downtrodden and fearful, has shown itself capable of reversing harmful policies and resisting injustice.
There is no better example of this than the movement against the construction of hydropower dams on the Vjosa River in southern Albania. Years of civil society protest and organizing have brought the dream of a Vjosa National Park closer to realization. False claims by the prime minister about the negative effects of such a designation have been met head on by the stakeholders on the ground and the issue now has the support of well-known celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellie Goulding.
Powerful social movements are sustained not by the spark that creates them, but by the futures that they dare to dream of.
The fight is not over yet. The Rama administration has only agreed to designate the area as "protected" and not a "National Park," which still allows for power plants to be built in the area. However, the attention this issue has captured, and the momentum it has managed to sustain throughout the years, signifies a clear victory despite the failures of other civil society initiatives.
The fight for the preservation of the Vjosa River is a success that provides lessons that Albanians need to keep close to heart. We need to allow these stories to propel us forward, to act as a springboard for future responses to crises. It is only through resistance that the shock doctrine can be prevented or reversed.
More than that, Albanians need to learn how to dream again. Powerful social movements are sustained not by the spark that creates them, but by the futures that they dare to dream of. And as Klein argues, it is exactly this "interplay between lofty dreams and earthly victories [that] has always been at the heart of moments of deep transformation."
Feature image: Majlinda Hoxha / K2.0.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sindi Kuçi holds a BA in international relations from Webster Vienna Private University and is an incoming postgraduate student at the University of Oxford, where she will read an MPhil in development studies. Her research interests include localized transitional justice, civil conflict and development in South-Eastern Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa.
DISCLAIMER The views of the writer do not necessarily reflect the views of Kosovo 2.0.


their previous 10 games. The 76ers come into the game at -4.5 over the Bulls.
they draft a guy like Murray State point guard Ja Morant at the top of the draft.
The 76ers sit comfortably at 4th place in the East with a 2.5 game lead on the 5th place Boston Celtics.
power forward, finished with 22 points in 32 minutes against the Warriors.
Wednesday night. We are taking the Philadelphia 76ers -4.5.


Description Free forum We provide the answers to your questions on gold detecting and prospecting. Gold is a like a magnet, once you have found it you want more. Gaming Group for various video games. Cod, Battlefield, DayZ, Minecraft, you name it. . . we play it.
free forum - 4umer.net - free forum 4umer .net Create a free forum free forum free forum Shopmotion free forum support FAQ resident mt2 jango indonesia victus online fiesta tekkit wallpaper lbpea visayas ntbpt backup egc cabal www.indothailotto.com zera rush slender man soundboard stardoll srpski transformice alpine genetrix plus toefl "behavioral adaptation" metin2 omnia metin2 mercury spnhl.forumotion.ca facicare skin cream muratuba forum metin2 throne ranug download galway soccer scene vixion tablet metin2 ominus herobrine soundboard www.thailotto discussion thailotto archeage philippines otai academy symphony flyff kitsune hayabusa jobs.4rumer.com 2012 igrice nerf borde slender soundboard welcometowww.thailotto.c.la shanghai slingshot forum.
Create a free blog Create a free forum. 4umer .net selection Gold Detecting and Prospecting forum.
We provide the answers to your questions on gold detecting and prospecting. Gold is a like a magnet, once you have found it you want more.


Google, Apple, Facebook, Uber, Airbnb, Lyft, Tesla, and YouTube are among those weighing in.
When it comes to the political sphere, the business sector plays an obvious role. After all, the decisions made in the halls of government have an impact on the ways businesses operate. But several tech firms are inserting themselves in a new issue simply for the humanity–or lack thereof–behind it.
For those unfamiliar, the US government has instituted a zero-tolerance policy on foreigners entering the southern border of the country with children. There's a lot of confusion online, much of it on both sides of the issue: yes, the policy that allows the government to separate children from their parents is several presidential administrations old, but was established to fight the epidemic of human trafficking.
The current administration has admitted that the new 100% enforcement of this policy–to take every child away from every person attempting to enter, regardless of asylum seeking status, and detain them in separate parts of the country–is to serve as a deterrent to seeking refuge. Basically, if you come here, you will forfeit your children and they will be locked in detention facilities without due process, regardless of their age, medical status, or asylum status.
So what can the tech industry do about it?
The tech giants are weighing in, some of it sparked by employee outrage and others by the heads of the companies themselves.
Microsoft may have been the first to take issue, as a Microsoft product was being used for the record-keeping. Over 100 employees signed an open letter to their executives, condemning the government's actions and asking the company to take a visible stand against it. It's not hard to see why they feel invested; employees who worked hard to develop Azure don't want it to be used for harm, and certainly don't want their names associated with the atrocity.
Top leaders from Google, Apple, Facebook, Uber, Airbnb, Lyft, Tesla, and YouTube, among others, all issued their own condemnation of what's happening in the US. Some even made large donations to organizations that are fighting the policy and providing aid to these young victims.
But there's something lacking: official status. It's one thing to answer a question at a foreign press conference or fire off a short tweet. It's something else altogether, though, to issue a formal and official company statement then to issue an ultimatum like a ban on government officials using their products or services. For obvious business reasons, these companies and many others have been reluctant to take their outrage too far.


Ahead of the operation, the defence ministry said hundreds of soldiers have been sent from Kabul to Kandahar and put the total number of Afghan forces on the ground at several thousand.
Hundreds of families fled their homes in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday as foreign and Afghan forces prepare to attack Taliban insurgents who have seized several villages, officials and witnesses said.
About 600 Taliban insurgents took over several villages in Arghandab district in the south on Monday, days after they had freed hundreds of prisoners, including about 400 insurgents, after an attack on the main jail in Kandahar city.
"There are hundreds of them (Taliban) with sophisticated weapons. They have blown up several bridges and are planting mines everywhere," Mohammad Usman, a taxi driver who evacuated a family on Tuesday from the district, told reporters in Kandahar, the main city in the south.
A Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf said the insurgents were eyeing Kandahar after Arghandab.
"After occupying Arghandab, the Taliban's next target will be Kandahar. But, we will not attack Kandahar with rockets and heavy mortars. We will hit specific targets in the city," Yousuf told the Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press.
The Taliban emerged from religious schools on the Pakistani border in Kandahar in the early 1990s and began their takeover of the country from the province, where they still enjoy support.
Afghan forces will spearhead the operation, which would be backed by ground and air support from NATO-led troops, it added, without giving further details.
Ahmad Wali Karzai, the head of Kandahar's provincial council and a brother of President Hamid Karzai, said about 600 Taliban had positioned themselves in Arghandab district, which lies 20 km (12 miles) to the north of Kandahar city, one of Afghanistan's largest cities.
NATO and Afghan forces have deployed troops to seal off the area, which has an estimated population of 150,000.
NATO troops have dropped leaflets by air warning people to leave the district, fleeing villagers said.
Haji Agha Lalai, a member of Kandahar's provincial council, said 300 families had left and more were leaving their homes.
Witnesses said Afghan troops were stationed in many parts of Kandahar city, the birthplace of the Taliban who U.S.-led troops drove from power in 2001.
Since making a comeback in 2006, the Taliban have briefly taken some district headquarters and villages in the south and east.
Ahmadi said the Taliban were in full control of Arghandab district.
The insurgents had taken control of eight villages in Arghandab, the defence ministry said in Kabul.
The flareup comes despite the presence of more than 60,000 foreign forces under the command of the U.S. military and NATO, as well as about 150,000 Afghan forces.
Britain's Defence Secretary Des Browne told parliament on Monday the government would increase its force in Afghanistan by 230, taking the total number of British troops there to more than 8,000.


Based in Oklahoma City we can help you find the path to the first page of Google. We will conduct research on your site and keywords and develop a plan to make you business thrive. Our methods can be used anywhere. If you are not based in Oklahoma City we can help you thrive in any area of the United States.


Semantic relations are an important element in the construction of ontologies and models of problem domains. Nevertheless, they remain fuzzy or under-specified. This is a pervasive problem in software engineering and artificial intelligence. Thus, we find semantic links that can have multiple interpretations in wide-coverage ontologies, semantic data models with abstractions that are not enough to capture the relation richness of problem domains, and improperly structured taxonomies. However, if relations are provided with precise semantics, some of these problems can be avoided, and meaningful operations can be performed on them. In this paper we present some insightful issues about the modeling, representation and usage of relations including the available taxonomy structuring methodologies as well as the initiatives aiming to provide relations with precise semantics. Moreover, we explain and propose the control of relations as a key issue for the coherent construction of ontologies.


Debo's time was up. The Pit Bull mix was suffering from eye, ear, and skin infections. He was underweight and battling heartworms and hookworms. His owners could no longer afford his medical care.
They brought the 6-year-old dog to Lesslie Animal Hospital in Rock Hill, South Carolina, to be euthanized.
That's when Suzy Blocker got the call.
Carolina Big Hearts Big Barks doesn't take what Blocker calls "the easy dogs." Since its founding in 2015, the group's volunteers and fosters have helped save more than 300 dogs, including plenty of medical cases like Debo's.
But as eager as she was to help him, Blocker feared it wouldn't be easy to find a foster parent who could take on a dog with such special needs.
For three years, Kristen Bright served as the vice president of K9 Kokua in Waianae, Hawaii, a rescue group she co-founded that helped dog owners who were homeless or victims of domestic violence. She and her orange tabby, Patrick, fostered close to 20 dogs for her group, as well as the Oahu SPCA and Hawaii Italian Greyhound Rescue.
But when she moved to North Carolina, she knew she needed to take an emotional break from rescue work. After a five-year hiatus, Bright decided she was ready to get back into fostering.
That's when she saw Debo.
"I saw his post and story, and despite all his medical needs, I was like, 'That's the dog I'm supposed to start this adventure with again,'" she recalls.
When Bright first took him in, Debo was severely underweight. He was still in pain from his infections, and suffering from heartworms and parasites.
But she fell in love, like everyone else.
After being in her care for only a few weeks, Debo is a "happy, grinning bundle of love," Bright says. Many of Debo's skin, eye, and intestinal problems have been addressed, and he's back to his optimal weight of 70 pounds.
But the dog's ear infections were so bad, they wouldn't respond to even the strongest antibiotic. The doctors determined Debo's ear canals had to be removed. Both of them.
After the first surgery, Debo was in so much pain, he had to go on anti-anxiety medicine.
His next surgery is scheduled for early 2018. Once it's done, he will have lost most of his hearing.
It's hard for Bright to imagine how someone could have let Debo get to the point where he was so emaciated and infected. But she believes he once had an owner who loved him.
Bright is now working on hand commands so his next owners will be able to communicate with him even if he can't hear. So far he's learned the signs for sit, yes, come, and food.
After his second surgery is complete and he's healed, Debo will start his heartworm treatment and should be ready for adoption by March or April.
Blocker estimates Debo's total care will cost about $4,500. She says Lesslie Animal Hospital (which did not respond to calls for this article) is providing the medical care at a discount. Carolina Big Hearts Big Barks Rescue has been able to raise funds for his medical care.
"We've been blessed to collect almost as much as we need," Blocker says.
Of course, Bright considered keeping Debo. But she lives alone and thinks he needs more people to love than just her and Patrick. He's great with kids, cats, and other dogs, she says. He deserves a family.


text:
Q: Divergence and convergence tests: $\sum\left(\frac n{n+22}\right)^n$
Hi! I am currently working on some calc2 online homework problems and I am having a hard time with this one question. I did try the root test but that was inconclusive because the limit $\lim_{n\to\infty} \frac n{n+22}=1$. If someone could help me solve this problem using any convergence or divergent method, I would greatly appreciate it.

A: $$\lim_{n\to\infty} \left(\frac{n}{n+22}\right)^n = e^{-22} $$
This series diverges by the limit test or the $n$th term test.
The problem says to use "any method" covered so far even though it is in the "ratio and root test" section.

A: We have
$$u_n=\left(\frac n{22+n}\right)^n=\exp\left(-n\log\left(1+\frac{22}{n}\right)\right)\sim_\infty e^{-22}$$
hence the given series is divergent since the sequence doesn't converge to $0$.

A: $a_n$ does no goes to $0$.
$$\lim_{n \to \infty} (\frac{n}{n + 22}) ^n = e^{-22}$$ so the series cannot converge


text:
Q: Date issue on multilanguage posts I have a multilanguage site with posts. Post in one language are ok and date displayed is published date. In the other language always is displayed todays' date.
What can be a problem?
entry-content.php

<?php if ( get_theme_mod( 'blog_date', true ) ) { ?>

        <?php $the_date = get_the_date(); ?>
        <?php echo date_i18n("d", strtotime($the_date)); ?> <?php echo date_i18n("M Y", strtotime($the_date)) ?>

<?php } ?>

<?php if ( get_theme_mod( 'blog_author', true ) || get_theme_mod( 'blog_comment', true ) ) { ?>

        <?php if ( get_theme_mod( 'blog_author', true ) ) { ?>

                <?php if ( get_the_author_meta('first_name') != "" || get_the_author_meta('last_name') != "" ) { ?>
                    <a href="<?php echo get_author_posts_url( get_the_author_meta( 'ID' ) ); ?>"><?php echo get_the_author_meta('first_name');?> <?php echo get_the_author_meta('last_name');?>
                <?php } else { ?>
                    <?php the_author_posts_link() ?>
                <?php }?>

        <?php }?>

        <?php if ( get_theme_mod( 'blog_category', true ) ) { ?>

 <?php echo get_the_category_list(', '); ?>

        <?php }?>

        <?php if ( get_theme_mod( 'blog_comment', true ) ) { ?>
            <?php if ( ! post_password_required() && ( comments_open() || get_comments_number() ) ) : ?>

                    <?php comments_popup_link( '' . esc_html__( '0', 'wpeducon' ) . '', esc_html__( '1', 'wpeducon' ), esc_html__( '% comments', 'wpeducon' ) ); ?>

            <?php endif; //.comment-link ?>
        <?php }?>

<?php } ?>

        <?php if ( is_single() ) {?>
            <?php the_title(); ?>
        <?php } else { ?>
        <a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>" rel="bookmark"><?php the_title(); ?>
        <?php }?>
        <?php if ( is_sticky() && is_home() && ! is_paged()) { ?>

        <?php } ?>

Above is code from entry-content.php

A: The problem was a custom date format in general settings. When I changed it dates on posts chaned too.


Biblia Traducción en lenguaje actual (Spanish Edition) – Kindle edition by Varios Traductores. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones. Apocalipsis 1 Traducción en lenguaje actual (TLA) Apocalipsis Siete iglesias: En la Biblia, el número siete representa la perfección y la totalidad. Así, las. Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas presenta una Biblia con el texto claro y contemporáneo de la Traducción en lenguaje actual con los libros deuterocanónicos en.
A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. Want more information about Bible Gateway Plus? Ships today if paid within 13 hrs 38 mins Details.
Explicit and implicit information has been taken into consideration. Learn More – opens in a new window or tab Returns: Estuve muerto, pero ahora vivo para siempre, y tengo poder sobre la muerte. Please enter a valid ZIP Code.
This translation is also ideal for the actuual adult population that has not had access to a formal secondary education, as well as for those to whom Spanish is their second tongue.
This Bible met all my expectations. Antiguo Testamento Interlineal Vol.
Footnotes — Footnotes are used to explain difficult terms and words that may not be clear while seeking to retain faithfulness to the original languages. For additional information, see the Global Shipping Program terms and conditions – opens in a new window or tab No additional import charges on lengjaje Delivery: Standing Strong Bibkia the Storm: This amount is subject to change until you make payment.
Starting your free trial of Bible Gateway Plus is easy. An error occurred, please try again. Step 1 — Create an account or log in to start your free trial. Skip to main content. Catecismo de la Iglesia Catolica by U.
Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, done in such a way that the tradyccion can also catch the different emotional, devotional and spiritual aspects of the message, taking into account the new advances in modern linguistics and contemporary biblical exegesis. Try it for 30 days FREE.
Try it free for 30 days. Besides the work done by this team, the text has been reviewed by Christian representatives of the different countries of the Spanish-speaking world. Only when pertinent adaptations and modifications are made the text is able to communicate something significant to the receptor. You must be logged in to view your newly purchased content. This has been done when it is considered that the information is important for the reader or hearer to understand easily the total sense of the paragraph or the sentence.
You can biblia traduccion lenguaje actual anytime during the trial period. The Translation in current language seeks to reach children, adolescents, youth and adults.
Get an immediate offer. With this translation the reader will have a new alternative to approach the word of God in a fresh, creative and simple way.
As a general rule, sentences are limited to two or three clauses, and parenthetical clauses are avoided. Please enter a number less than or equal to 1. Amazon Inspire Digital Educational Resources. Do you wish biblia traduccion lenguaje actual knew the Bible better? See terms – opens in a new window or lentuaje. Cancel at any time. Learn more – opens in a new window or tab.


To be considered for a scholarship, a graduating high school senior must: 1. Complete and answer all 2019 Scholarship questions. 2. Attach a certified transcript of his or her high school grades. 3. Include a copy of a letter of acceptance from the trade school, college, or university. If an acceptance letter is not available at the time of application, the Council must receive a copy of the letter of acceptance before making an award. 4. All documentation must reach the Committee not later than the announced deadline for application.
Each applicant is responsible to see that the application reaches the Church Office by the deadline. There will be no exceptions!


text:
Chiyotaikai Ryūji (千代大海 龍二 en japonés) (nació el 29 de abril de 1976 como Hiroshima Ryūji (廣嶋 龍二 en japonés) en Chitose, Hokkaidō), es un exluchador japonés de sumo. Es el luchador que más tiempo ha estado como ōzeki en la era moderna del deporte. Se retiró en enero de 2010.

En sus inicios en el sumo usó como su shikona, su nombre real.

Biografía
Después de la muerte de su padre la familia de Chiyotaikai se fue a Ōita, que es considerada como su residencia. Chiyotaikai fue un jugador de béisbol y fútbol y un buen luchador en judo y karate. Después de graduarse en la escuela superior júnior, trabajó como en la construcción y después decidió comenzar a entrenarse en un establo de sumo, la Kokonoe beya.

Su primera Copa del Emperador la obtuvo en 1999 cuando tuvo un récord de 13 - 2 y derrotó a Wakanohana Masaru en el desempate, en enero en Tokio consiguiendo así ascender a la categoría de ōzeki. Sin embargo, en su primer torneo se rompió la nariz aunque mantuvo el rango hasta la actualidad superando en julio de 2007 el récord de Takanohana Kenshi de 50 campeonatos con ese rango.

En 2002, en Nagoya volvió a ganar el título pero en el siguiente torneos solo pudo obtener un récord de 10 - 5. En noviembre tuvo una lesión que lo apartó también del torneo del año siguiente en enero. Pero volvió en marzo y se adjudicó el torneo de Osaka.

En el Hatsu Basho 2010 vuelve al grado de sekiwake y anuncia su retirada al encajar su tercera derrota consecutiva ante Kaiō.

Historial

Enlaces externos
 Página oficial (en japonés)
  (en español)
 Récord en el sumo (en inglés)

Ōzeki
Luchadores de sumo de Japón

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


It is as cold as Eskimo country in Johannesburg, and the Inkanyiso crew is out and about in Rosebank Mall as we spot a group of vibrant singers and talented dancers. This Youth Day celebration marks a year since the group started, and it has been a special journey that has created an amazing dance family.
Baloi Bammino dancers outside Africa Market, Rosebank Mall.
As we celebrate youth month, it makes me very proud that, though not always visible, some aspect of our democracy – what the Youth of 1976 fought for – can be seen in the spirits of these performers, singing their hearts out, and stomping their feet proudly with a range of dance styles reflecting the diversity in the Botswana culture. From Mohlakeng Ext 7, Randfontein, Baloyi Bammino Cultural Dance is performed by a group of young men and girls who come from different backgrounds and different corners of life.
Dressed in traditional attire, braving the cold weather of Johannesburg, they put on a world class performance that drew spectators from their shopping duties to take a moment to experience true culture firsthand. The young ladies would make any parent proud, wearing traditional skirts elongated at the back, complemented by brown tops decorated with beautiful, colourful patterns, and colourful head bands. For their part, the gentlemen have on traditional underwear that represents strength and the true nature of their background and cultures. Their stomping feet move in sync with the rhythmic sounds of the background drums and the chanting of the group, their dance styles often resembling the movements of wild animals.
Olebogeng Mosehweu, founder of the group, speaks of the pride that he has in his group and how far it has come, the purpose of the movement and the influence it has on people who watch them. "We started this group because we felt the need to keep children from the streets, to provide that glimpse of hope for their future". Members are not recruited, but come forward voluntarily to be a part of the group. They are not making any money nor are the members paid. They perform in various shopping centres – where they are sometimes not allowed to perform due to prior arrangement not having been made – in the hope that people who watch them will throw money into a woven basket, to at least help with getting more equipment, and food on the table for the group.
Performing once a week at the mall of Rosebank, these beautiful young minds aspire to tour overseas so that they can educate people from around the world about the indigenous dances of the Botswana culture. The intergenerational dialogue of this group is inspiring because the older folks are able to shape the younger minds, teaching them the values of their culture, and how to preserve it through the performing arts.
This entry was posted in Another Approach Is Possible, Archived memories, Art Activism in South Africa, Art Solidarity, As we are, Before You, Celebrating Youth Month in SA, Crea(c)tive senses, Education, Entertainment, Exposure, Lack of Resources, Media works, Organizations, Our lives in the picture, Power of the Voice, Records and histories, Relationships, revolution, We Care, We Still Can with/out Resources, Youth voices, Zandile Makhubu and tagged Articles; Arts & Culture; Heritage; Tribes; Traditional; Traditions & customs; Rosebank;. Bookmark the permalink.


While shooting shafts at my target (nowhere near water) I noticed this kept popping up in my combat tab in between several messages about the arrows breaking.
[04:40:27] The arrow disappears into the water.
With a target against a mountainside and not anywhere with water in range, it seemed somewhat absurd. Granted its not a gamebreaking issue in any way, but thought it ought to be mentioned and recorded here.
Added to the text issue list.


I would pay to see that. We can make it a triple threat match proud and his side kick of a brother savage vs the god almighty Badabing.
@OperationSB also know as operation smoked bacon is a meme god and you should never disrespect him!
really then who is osb?
Tell your gang of 12 year olds to fight us!
Look at the bimbo with the big tatas! Also she don't got dino nuggets NEXT!!
They got to be dino shape or I can't eat them.
Gang life isn't dead just your leader is.