text:
Meghan Markle Appears at First Official Event With Queen Elizabeth II
Prince Harry and his fiancée, Meghan Markle, left, arrive with Prince William and Catherine at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Day on Monday. Daniel Leal-Olivas / AFP – Getty Images
Prince Harry's fiancée, Meghan Markle, appeared for the first time at an official event with Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, highlighting the royal family's welcome of its newest member just two months before their wedding.
The two were joined by other members of the monarchy, including Markle's soon-to-be brother- and sister in-law, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, to celebrate Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey in London.
Wearing an off-white coat and hat, Markle, an American actress, was seated behind the queen and next to Princes Harry and Andrew. The couple walked in behind Prince William and Catherine, passing a troupe of dancers performing outside the abbey.
The Queen is joined by other Members of The Royal Family at @Wabbey as they celebrate #CommonwealthDay. pic.twitter.com/Vjy5gIgDZU
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 12, 2018
The queen is the head of the Commonwealth, a group of 53 nations around the world that are largely former British territories. Around 2,000 people were expected at the interfaith gathering, including Prime Minister Theresa May and British singer Liam Payne.
While this is Markle's first time at an event together with the queen, she has had a busy few months since her engagement to Prince Harry in November. The former "Suits" star has had a preview of her future role as a royal, with the two meeting organizations and the public in Nottingham, London and Birmingham as well as Edinburgh, Scotland.
SOURCE: NBC News, Rachel Elbaum
Commonwealth Day
Prime Minister Theresa May
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text:
The Andina Advantage
R. Rudolph Reinfrank | Advisor, Private Equity
Rudy is an Advisor to Andina on strategic matters with a focus on private equity portfolio investing operations for The K Fund, LP and The K Fund II. He is the Managing General Partner of Riverford Partners, LLC, an strategic advisory and investment firm that acts as an investor, board member and advisor to growth companies and companies in transition. He is a director and governance committee chair and former lead director for Parker Drilling Company (NYSE:PKD) and member of the board of directors and chair or member of several committees of Apollo Investment Company, a registered investment company and publicly-traded financial services company. Rudy is also a Senior Advisor to Pall Mall Capital, Ltd. in London and an Advisory Board member of Transnational Capital Corp. based in New York. Recently Rudy was named to the Board of Kayne Anderson Acquisition Corp., (NASDAQ: KAAC) formed for acquiring one or more companies.
His prior experience includes roles with several private equity funds including co-founder and Managing General Partner of the $800 million Clarity Partners LP fund, and the $100 million Rader, Reinfrank & Co. fund and co-founder of $220 million Clarity China, L.P. fund. Rudy's additional experience includes roles as an executive, investor and advisor for the Roy E. Disney (Shamrock Holdings) and Marvin Davis families. He has served on numerous corporate boards in connection with these activities and his roles with his private equity funds.
Rudy has an AB from Stanford University and an MBA from UCLA.
Copyright © 2017 Andina Family Offices. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Andina Capital Management, LLC provides discretionary advisory services for a fee. Risks applicable to any portfolio are those associated with its underlying investments. For more information please see: Andina Capital Management LLC Disclosure Brochure ADV Part 1, 2a, 2b and Sub Advisor Disclosure Brochures.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Harmonics, a key Power Quality (PQ) phenomenon has made a common occurrence in today's electrical power system leading to inefficiencies, safety hazard and higher operating costs. It existed in the power system since decades, however due to less non-linear loads before 1990s, its effect on power systems were negligible. In today's scenario of electrical and electronics equipment, the non-linear loads are increasing and approaching 75-90% of the loading on our nation's electricity grid. High levels of harmonic lead to problems for the utility's distribution system and any other equipment serviced by that system. Its effect can range from spurious operation of equipment to a shutdown of important equipment, such as unwarranted tripping of lines. Some of the adverse effects of harmonics are: conductor overheating, heating of capacitors, fuses, increased transformer losses, malfunctioning of generators, faulty utility meters causing inflated bills, interference in communication devices etc.
Passive Filters are applied extensively by design engineers to mitigate harmonics due to their low cost, simple design and high reliability.
Given the existing condition of utility power systems, harmonic mitigation and improvement of power quality are very essential. There are various harmonic mitigation methods available like Harmonic Mitigating Transformer, Active Harmonic Filters, etc. but Passive Filters are applied extensively by design engineers due to their low cost, simple design and high reliability. Passive filters are the ideal solutions for reducing harmonics in medium and high-voltage networks. However, the traditional approach of installing filters mainly on initial capital costs results in higher costs in O&M over life time of equipment.
This blog draws attention towards leveraging passive filters to mitigate harmonic distortion with the minimum of cost using Life Cycle Cost (LCC) approach.
Passive filters is one of the simple, well understood and conventional technology solution for mitigating harmonic distortion. Its classification is done on the type of harmonic generation source component present in the system and passive components resistor, capacitor and inductor. They are broadly classified as series, shunt and hybrid filter. Depending on the design of filters, passive filter can be single tuned filter or high pass filter. Single tuned passive filters are probably the most common type of filters which are used in industry for the harmonic mitigation. The objective of using passive filter is that on the tuned frequency, filter offers low impedance through which harmonic current will tend to divert in the system. Another advantage of using passive filter is that it provides the reactive power compensation in the system to improve the power quality.
Most passive filters need are custom designed depending on specific system impedance, system short circuit level, the load current harmonics, the background voltage distortion, as well as interactions with other loads and sources in close vicinity. Filter design without considering above points can result in poor performance due to interactions, and overall system performance may also be poorer than it was prior to filter installation in some cases. Hence, designing an appropriate passive filter is more of an art based on engineering science and background data input to designers is not so onerous for utility engineers.
Further, the utility engineers predominantly consider only initial purchase and installation cost of a system thereby resulting in high costs over the life time of equipment. Since most of the utilities are facing financial challenges, it is in the fundamental interest of a utility or design engineers to evaluate life cycle cost before installing passive filters. Often in large power distribution system the choice of passive harmonic filter may prove to be the best option from life cycle cost angle. Hence, there is a strong need of selecting and installing equipment in a step-by-step approach including problem definition, sources of harmonics, load characteristics and evaluation of life cycle costs. Life cycle assessment helps utilities to maintain the cost factor to revamp profitability of its operation.
Life cycle assessment approach helps utilities to maintain the cost factor to revamp profitability of its operation.
Life Cycle Cost is the total cost of ownership of machinery and equipment, including its cost of acquisition, operation, maintenance, replacement and/or decommission. It is one of the pivotal aspect to consider in today's electrical power system owing to expensive equipment. LCC analysis helps in making an informed decision in order to achieve the most economical process from inception to decommissioning. It is helpful for utility engineers to justify equipment and process design based on total cost rather than initial purchase cost of the equipment alone. Procurement strategies focused on lower initial costs are more likely to lead to higher long-term costs. They are often directed to reduce costs and work within budget. In the short run, this approach can be efficient but eventually this will come with increased maintenance cost or other problems over equipment lifetime.
The various cost components of LCC include initial cost, installation and commissioning costs, energy costs, operation costs, maintenance & repair costs, down time costs, environmental costs, and decommissioning & disposal costs. The following pie-chart depicts, in general, the percentage breakup of these costs for equipment.
It can be seen that the initial capital costs represent a fraction (i.e. ~ 9%) of the total life cycle costs for process equipment. Operating costs, maintenance and cost of downtime contribute more (i.e. ~58%) heavily to the total cost. Hence, it is imperative that long term equipment costs need to be fully considered in capital cost assessment. LCC analysis helps utilities and industries minimize overall cost and maximize energy efficiency for many types of systems.
Capital Cost forms approx. 9% of the total life cycle costs for process equipment. Remaining 91% forms other costs like downtime, O&M, energy costs, installation, decommissioning, etc.
Process Requirements – Determining the present and future capacity for the product, lifetime of the process, defining product quality based on customer requirements, its flexibility, etc.
Define equipment – This has many variations in basic design and design operations. This is one of the important step in LCC analysis and utility engineers should discuss their requirement with equipment manufacturers/suppliers on: performance, design options, foundation and support requirements, mean-time between failures, spare parts, etc. to have exact equipment as per defined configurations.
Installation – An important consideration during the layout and installation of equipment is the accessibility to allow preventive maintenance and future repair.
Operation & Maintenance – O&M are two areas that are critical to avoiding downtime and both are affected by equipment selection, design and operating procedures. Key aspects to consider are: operating within limits/capacities, training of personnel, parts availability in case of unexpected failures, etc.
Decommission – The concept of decommissioning is not something most engineers tend to consider as they are designing a plant, but some plants will have finite lives of just a few years. Some costs of decommissioning include dismantling and selling of key equipment, and others.
Utility engineers and professionals are less acquainted to the fact that the variable costs (i.e. operating costs, maintenance and cost of downtime) contribute largely to the total cost of ownership across the whole life cycle of the equipment. Due to lack of awareness in common practice, life cycle cost plans are seldom put into practice. LCC is the need of the hour in leveraging mitigation methods like passive filters to keep the overall capital cost low, helping utilities to experience growth in their profit.
(4) Power System Harmonics Causes and Effects of Variable Frequency Drives Relative to the IEEE 519-1992 Standard by SQUARE D Product Data Bulletin. August 1994.
(5) Harmonics & Its Mitigation Technique by Passive Shunt Filter by Kuldeep Kumar Srivastava, Saquib Shakil, Anand Vardhan Pandey, International Journal of Soft Computing and Engineering (IJSCE) ISSN: 2231-2307, Volume-3, Issue-2, May 2013.
(6) Electrical Installation Wiki by Schneider Electric.
(7) Harmonic Mitigation Techniques Applied to Power Distribution Networks by Hussein A. Kazem, 21 January 2013.
(8) Mitigating harmonics in electrical systems by Nicholas Rich, PE, LEED AP, Interface Engineering, Seattle, 13 march, 2014.
(9) Pump Life Cycle Costs: A Guide To Lcc Analysis For Pumping Systems by Hydraulic Institute, Europump, Office of Industrial Technologies Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy U.S. Department of Energy.


text:
Category - Olympics
2018: A (Somewhat) Statistical Year in Review
By Danny Blumenthal and Andrew Puopolo As 2018 comes to a close, take a look back at the moments that made this sports year unforgettable. What were your favorite sports memories from 2018? Let us know in the comments. NFL...
The Importance of Initial Hammer in Olympic Curling
By Jack Schroeder Around 4:00 am EST Saturday morning, skip John Shuster led Team USA to a 10-7 victory over Sweden in the men's curling gold medal match in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The result appeared near...
2016: A (Mostly) Statistical Year in Review
By Andrew Puopolo As 2016 winds to a close, we take a look back on 55 reasons why this year was a particularly crazy year in the world of sports. NFL 1.) Both teams that made the Super Bowl failed to make the playoffs the...
Hunting White Elephants: Exploring the Idea of Rotating Olympic Venues
By Jason Light, Liam Cleary, Kayley Leonard, Zayne Matulis, Noah Reimers, Davon Robertson, and Jocelyn Skoler The inspiration for this article came from our conversations with the Boston Globe's Shira Springer following an...
Lost, But Not Least: Wrestling at the Olympics
By Anthony Zonfrelli The worldwide wrestling community was shaken last week when the IOC ruled that it would remove the sport from the 2020 Olympics. This decision left many in disbelief—after foot racing, wrestling, added in...
Final COSTAS Medal Standings
Here are the final COSTAS medal standings, complete through the end of Olympic play on August 12. For an explanation of the methodology behind COSTAS, click here, and here for the COSTAS standings after the first week of the...
Who is the Most Dominant Olympian of All Time?
by Andrew Mooney Following the exploits of Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt in London, the word "greatest" has been getting thrown around quite a bit. As with any time this word comes out, one has to question just how much of it...
Dream Over: How the U.S. Could Lose
By Andrew Mooney On Wednesday, the U.S. men's basketball team begins its gold medal defense in earnest as they square off against Australia in the quarterfinals, a contest the U.S. has been given 1/100 odds to win, according to...
COSTAS Standings, Week One
by Andrew Mooney As promised, here are the COSTAS standings for the first week of Olympic competition. To learn more about how COSTAS is calculated and what it intends to measure, read my original post here. Medal figures are...
The Bodies of Champion Gymnasts
by Andrew Mooney Four feet, eleven inches, and 90 pounds is hardly the prototypical physique of a world-class athlete, but as American gold medalist Gabrielle Douglas proved yesterday, it's more than enough to perform...


One of my favorite books in the world is the first in the Harry Potter series (though I love them all!). I picked up a copy of Book One soon after it came out, just to see what the hype was all about – and I couldn't put it down til the last page. Literally! I read it in one sitting.
The book reminds me that well-written stories can take you to a different world and that there's magic in reading. Don't ever think you're too old to start this series! It's perfection.


text:
package com.twitter.finagle.exp.zookeeper.client

import com.twitter.finagle.Stack
import com.twitter.util.Duration
import com.twitter.util.TimeConversions._

object Params {
  case class ZkConfiguration(
    autoWatchReset: Boolean,
    canReadOnly: Boolean,
    chroot: String,
    sessionTimeout: Duration
  )
  implicit object ZkConfiguration extends Stack.Param[ZkConfiguration] {
    def default: ZkConfiguration =
      ZkConfiguration(
        autoWatchReset = true,
        canReadOnly = true,
        chroot = "",
        sessionTimeout = 3000.milliseconds
      )
  }

  case class AutoReconnect(
    autoReconnect: Boolean,
    autoRwServerSearch: Option[Duration],
    preventiveSearch: Option[Duration],
    timeBetweenAttempts: Duration,
    timeBetweenLinkCheck: Option[Duration],
    maxConsecutiveRetries: Int,
    maxReconnectAttempts: Int
  )
  implicit object AutoReconnect extends Stack.Param[AutoReconnect] {
    def default: AutoReconnect = AutoReconnect(
      autoReconnect = false,
      autoRwServerSearch = None,
      preventiveSearch = None,
      timeBetweenAttempts = Duration.Bottom,
      timeBetweenLinkCheck = None,
      maxConsecutiveRetries = 1,
      maxReconnectAttempts = 1
    )
  }
}


So, how to setup a VPN on Windows 7 (PPTP)?
Use this instruction as an example on how one could set up a PPTP VPN connection on Windows 7 system. Follow these simple steps and set up your Windows 7 VPN connection easily. Having all the configurations setup properly don't forget to check your VPN account working properly and activated. Windows 7 PPTP VPN connection is one of the simpliest forms of native VPN setup on Windows and also one of the fastest, you can use PPTP VPN for watching US UK Netflix and HD steaming.
The instructions above show the simple and step-by-step procedure for the proper setup of PPTP VPN on Windows 7. Long-time users of this OS will certainly have no trouble getting it done in less than five minutes. Once setting up PPTP VPN on Windows 7 is done, you can enjoy all the benefits of LimeVPN. If you have trouble and still do not know how to setup PPTP VPN on Windows 7, you can contact support staff and they will do their best to explain everything again. Make sure, however, to read the instructions carefully and you should be able to do it all by yourself.


text:
Unanimous Supreme Court throws out 'Bridgegate' convictions
Posted: May 7, 2020 / 09:30 AM CDT / Updated: May 7, 2020 / 03:04 PM CDT
FILE – This combination of March 29, 2017 file photos shows Bridget Kelly, left, and Bill Baroni leaving federal court after sentencing in Newark, N.J. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday on whether to throw out the convictions of the two former aides to former Republican Gov. Chris Christie in New Jersey's 'Bridgegate' case. Baroni and Kelly have argued their actions may have unethical but weren't criminal. The court's decision, expected this spring, could have a far-reaching impact on how public corruption investigations are handled. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
WASHINGTON (AP) — A unanimous Supreme Court on Thursday threw out the convictions of two political insiders involved in the "Bridgegate"scandal that ultimately derailed the 2016 president bid of their ally, then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
The justices said there was evidence of deception, corruption, and abuse of power in the political payback saga that involved four days of traffic jams on the world's busiest motor-vehicle bridge, the George Washington Bridge spanning the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey. But "not every corrupt act by state or local officials is a federal crime," Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the court.
In the end, the justices concluded that the government had overreached in prosecuting Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni for their roles in the scheme. Kelly was a deputy chief of staff to Christie. Baroni was a top Christie appointee to the Port Authority, the bridge's operator.
The court's decision to side with Kelly and Baroni continues a pattern from recent years of restricting the government's ability to use broad federal laws to prosecute public corruption cases. In 2016, the court overturned the bribery conviction of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. In 2010, the court sharply curbed prosecutors' use of an anti-fraud law in the case of ex-Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling.
Kagan wrote for the court that Kelly and Baroni had acted for "no reason other than political payback." In devising the traffic jam, they were seeking to punish the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey, Mark Sokolich, after he declined to support the reelection bid of Christie, the GOP governor.
To create chaos, on the traffic-heavy first day of school in 2013, Kelly and Baroni schemed to reduce from three to one the number of dedicated lanes onto the bridge from Fort Lee. They created a traffic study as a cover story for their actions.
Kagan said that Kelly and Baroni "jeopardized the safety of the town's residents," and she repeated some of their gleeful plotting in the decision. At one point, Kelly wrote what Kagan called "an admirably concise e-mail" about the plan. It read: "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee." Later, after the traffic snarls began, Kelly wrote in a text, "Is it wrong that I am smiling?" Kagan noted that they then "merrily kept the lane realignment in place for another three days."
"But not every corrupt act by state or local officials is a federal crime. Because the scheme here did not aim to obtain money or property, Baroni and Kelly could not have violated the federal-program fraud or wire fraud laws," wrote Kagan. She grew up in New York City and is one of four justices who grew up in New York or New Jersey.
Christie, in a statement following the high court's ruling, called the prosecutions of his former allies a "political crusade" against his administration, and lashed out at prosecutors and the Justice Department under President Barack Obama, a Democrat.
"As many contended from the beginning, and as the Court confirmed today, no federal crimes were ever committed in this matter by anyone in my Administration. It is good for all involved that today justice has finally been done," Christie wrote.
Christie denied knowing about the plan for gridlock ahead of time or as it was unfolding, but trial testimony contradicted his account and the scandal helped derail his presidential bid. On Thursday, he wrote that the prosecutions "cost the taxpayers millions in legal fees and changed the course of history."
President Donald Trump, who emerged from a crowded GOP field in 2016 to become the White House nominee, tweeted his congratulations to Christie after the ruling. The president called the decision a "complete and total exoneration" and said there was "grave misconduct by the Obama Justice Department!" Yet as a candidate, Trump had attacked Christie by saying the governor "totally knew about" the lane closings before they happened. Christie endorsed Trump when he left the race.
Nothing in Kagan's opinion suggested there was any misconduct by prosecutors.
The U.S. attorney's office in New Jersey, which prosecuted Kelly and Baroni, said in a statement that the court's decision "speaks for itself, and we are bound by that decision."
Former U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, who oversaw the prosecutions, said in a statement he was disappointed with the ruling. Christie "may try to rewrite his legacy —- and he may want to rewrite history — but the fact remains that the 'deception, corruption, and abuse of power' was committed … by his team on his watch."
In a statement, Kelly said the justices' decision "gave me back my name and began to reverse the six-and-a-half-year nightmare that has become my life." Kelly did not ultimately serve any prison time but had been weeks from beginning a 13-month sentence when the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case.
Baroni served about three months of an 18-month sentence before he was released after the high court agreed to weigh in.
"I have always said I was an innocent and today, the Supreme Court unanimously agreed," he wrote in a statement.
Associated Press reporters Dave Porter in New York City and Mike Catalini in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.


text:
Ross Cady
American politician from Idaho
Mayor of Boise, Idaho
February 13, 1933 – May 1, 1933
James P. Pope
J. J. McCue
October 29, 1884[1]
Hubbard, Iowa, United States
Clatsop County, Oregon, United States
Ross Cady is a former American politician from Idaho. Cady served briefly as mayor of Boise, Idaho in 1933.
On October 29, 1884, Cady was born in Hubbard, Iowa.[2]
In military, Cady enlisted during World War II in the United States military in Holl Boise, Idaho.[2]
In 1933, Cady was appointed mayor of Boise, Idaho. Cady served the remainder of the term of James P. Pope, who resigned after being elected to the United States Senate.[3][4]
^ "Mayors - Boise Arts & History". Boiseartsandhistory.org. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
^ a b "Cady, Ross (1884)". fold3.com. 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
^ "Mayors Past & Present". cityofboise.org. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
^ "Mayors of Boise, 1866-2004". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
Mayors of Boise - Past and Present
Political offices
James P. Pope Mayor of Boise, Idaho
Mayors of Boise, Idaho
Twitchell
J. Lemp
Bilderback
Pinney
Hasbrouck
Pefley
Fritchman
Eagleson
H. Lemp
McCue
J. Edlefsen
Whillock
R. Edlefsen
Shellworth
Amyx
Eardley
Kempthorne
Terteling-Payne
Bieter
This article about a mayor in Idaho is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ross_Cady&oldid=990917008"
People from Hardin County, Iowa
Western United States mayor stubs
Idaho politician stubs
This page was last edited on 27 November 2020, at 06:55 (UTC).


I've made it to Friday! I'm celebrating this fact because it's been a hard and downright tiring week. With all that I've done this week, I deserve a standing ovation. Of course, I don't do what I do for accolades, but I was thinking this morning that just one accolade would be nice.
Celebrities are used to applause. I'm sure B.eyonce and other performers are accustomed to the roar and whistles of adoring crowds. While, well-deserved, us regular folk need to hear the deafening applause of a standing ovation.
This week alone, I've juggled bad attitude, tantrums, dinner, packing lunch, combing, brushing and braiding the thick hair of my daughter, coordinating wardrobes, overseeing laundry and housecleaning, braved Los Angeles traffic, managed a budget at home and work. I've refereed a number of sibling fights (as early at 7:00 a.m.) and made sure that snacks were packed for hungry little kids who arrive in the car starving after school pick-up. All of this is only the tip of the iceberg.
I think of my husband, who works a full-time job and then heads to the kickboxing gym he owns where he teaches classes whether he's tired or not. He has to welcome new customers, field phone calls, handle the finances, make sure the bathrooms are clean and various other duties. That dude deserves a standing ovation at the end of every day.
Then there's my friend Kelli, pregnant with her third child while homeschooling two others. She and her husband had to move an entire household all while she was on bedrest. Yes, she deserves a standing ovation. There are friends juggling their own households while taking care of aging parents and some who are even sick themselves while trying to keep it all afloat.
Every single one of them deserves a round of applause, a bouquet of flowers placed in their arms and people standing on their feet to acknowledge how they have poured out every bit of themselves this week.
Sadly, many of us will go about our daily duties without so much as a thank you. Many of us go about our life's work with little appreciation or thanks. But know that you are seen. Your works don't go unnoticed. Your children appreciate your effort and love even when they don't act like it. And of course, God knows and sees.
So count this post as your standing ovation. If you know of someone who may need a pat on the back, hug or a round of applause give it to them. You never know how that will cheer them on and keep them going.


Cayman Athletic Sports Club had another successful football season and were thankful to all the people that made it possible.
"Our Under-15 team did not win any championships this year, but they still did good for being one of the youngest teams in the league," said technical director Ernie "Gillie" Seymour.
"We drew two games with the eventual league winners, Academy Sports Club, and were runners-up in the U-15 FA Cup Final to Future Sports Club, who were the league runners-up and that is success in itself.
Athletic's senior players like Kyle Santamaria, Kemar Scott and Nigel Solomon have helped youngsters like Matthew Suberan, Santagelo Bush and Jeronnie McLean developed.
Overall, the club gelled well and formed a closer bond after upheavals the previous season.


President Trump is keeping a close eye on his competition and recently weighed into the Democratic primary race to say who he thinks stands the best chance of going the distance.
So far, Democrat Senators Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker, and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard have each launched bids or exploratory committees for their party's nomination.
President Trump dismissed Sen. Cory Booker's presidential ambitions on Friday, boasting he would trounce the Democratic nominee who emerges from the ever-growing primary field.
Booker, of New Jersey, is the latest Democrat to announce he will seek the party's nomination to challenge Trump for the White House in 2020. The 49-year-old former mayor of Newark, a vegan and bachelor educated at Stanford, Yale, and Oxford, waited until the start of Black History Month to formally declare his candidacy.
According to the report, Trump does not see anyone who would stand a chance against him in a general election.
"I'm not impressed with their group," Trump said, per the report.
Much to the surprise of some, Trump credited Harris for having the best start of their campaign.
"I would say the best opening so far would be Kamala Harris," who announced the launch of her campaign last week in her home state.
"I would say in terms of the opening act, I would say, would be her. A better crowd — better crowd, better enthusiasm," the president added.
The interview took place Friday afternoon in the Blue Room at the White House.
Brennan's interview with the president comes just before his first State of the Union address to a divided government, and two weeks before government funding for several federal departments and agencies runs out on Feb. 15. The president continues to insist on funding for his border wall and has threatened to declare a national emergency at the border, which would give him the unilateral authority to use military funds to build a wall without a congressional appropriation.
For nearly two decades, presidents have sat for interviews ahead of the Super Bowl. CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz first interviewed then-President George W. Bush before the Super Bowl kicked off in 2004.
This was the president's fifth on-camera interview with CBS News since he took office in January 2017.


The year is 2033, and retired detective chief inspector Jonathan Welker, is telling the story of how he became all alone and how he ended up in a wheelchair. It was 18 years ago (the year 2015), and a body parts grotesquely ripped apart, hanging by a rainbow of ties from several trees, have been discovered over the Lee Valley Park. It was up to Jonathan to solve the crime, along with his work partner DC Mae Young. When Jonathan's daughter, Jessie, gets kidnapped by the murderer he is thrown into the centre of the investigation, he must track down his daughter and solve the murder, while struggling with grief of the resent loss of his wife. Can he save his daughters life? With thickening plot twists throughout.


Located across from Magic Kingdom park, Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort offers classic American dining with a contemporary twist, compliments of nearby Disney's Contemporary Resort.
From I-95, take I-4 West to Exit 64 (Magic Kingdom Park).
All accommodations are subject to availability, change, and cancellation without notice.
Certain amenities and recreational offerings are not part of Membership and may require a fee, are subject to availability and restrictions, and require reservations.
Recreation and amenity offerings are subject to change and cancellation.
For important booking window guidelines, please see the "How to Book" page located under the "Plan Vacations" tab.
For important cancellation guidelines, please see the "How to Cancel or Modify a Reservation" page located under the "Plan Vacations" tab.


On Thursday of this week, I had the great pleasure of visiting Grace Covenant Church in Huntersville, NC to lead a session of a PathWay 2 Wholeness (P2W) program that their church is offering. 20 women are participating as part of their weekly Women of Grace ministry.
Earlier in the year, one of the church's members, Jo Rohrbaugh, participated in the Faith and Health Ambassador Course. Upon completion of the course, she met with the Pastor of Women's Ministry to explore whether the P2W program could be offered to the women of the church. The church leadership saw the merit of offering the course… and the rest is history, so it's said.
A few of the women were transparent in sharing about some long-standing issues that had kept them from living in freedom and experiencing the full life that Jesus wants for us all to have. And, more importantly, their hearts were healed as they received supportive and loving prayer from the others and a touch from Jesus.
Teaching one of the P2W sessions was rewarding and encouraging for me as I was able to directly witness some fruit being born out of the Faith and Health Ambassador initiative. Transformation and improved spirit, mind body health is already occurring for some of the women at Grace Covenant!
A big "Thank You" goes out to Cammie Wilson, Jo Rohrbaugh and others at Grace Covenant that have created a godly environment for people to grow in their faith and to heal in their hearts.
I'm also very appreciative of the six other Faith and Health Ambassadors who are currently leading the P2W program at their respective churches. Thank you all for serving and growing the Kingdom of God.
Interested in leading a PathWay 2 Wholeness program at your church or in your community? Enroll in our next Faith and Health Ambassador Course that begins January 30th.
Praise God for the GREAT things He has done through my fellow, anointed Faith and Health Ambassador "Buddy," Jo, and anointed Executive Director of the Faith and Health Connection Ministry, Dale!! Thank you for sharing the photos and the Good News!


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Earlier this year KTM and Husqvarna have unveiled the 2018 lineup of motocross bikes, which includes an all-new 85cc machine, and small refinements to the rest of the line.
As a KTM/Husqvarna OEM supplier, Twin Air has developed the new Air Filter, PowerFlow Kit and Airbox Cover for the 2018 SX85 and TC85. The new airbox uses the same style of design as the 2016/2017 SXF bikes. The air filter cage also snaps into place with two pins; however the filter is smaller.
The new air filter, PowerFlow Kit and Airbox Cover are now available.


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Susan Fletcher
Susan Fletcher - Author
Susan Fletcher was our Guest Editor in March 2010 - click here - to see the books that inspired her writing.
Susan Fletcher was born in 1979 in Birmingham. She studied Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia and lives in Stratford-upon-Avon. Her first novel, Eve Green won the Whitbread First Novel Award, the Betty Trask Prize and Author's Club Best First Novel Award. Her second novel Oystercatchers was published in 2007 to great acclaim.
Author photo © Graeme Cornes
Featured books by Susan Fletcher
Let Me Tell You About a Man I Knew
Author: Susan Fletcher Format: Paperback Release Date: 01/06/2017
This soulful portrait of a woman's friendship with Van Gogh, imagined from letters exchanged between the artist and his brother, is a richly-rewarding reverie about longing, loneliness and renewing life. Jeanne is an outsider in her Provencal village. She and her husband, Charles, live in the warden's cottage of a psychiatric hospital, which renders her "too close to lunacy" for the other wives to feel safe, while she also feels invisible to Charles. Jeanne had loved the joy of discovering "new, small pleasures", but she and Charles have slept apart for twenty years, and life is "ordered, disciplined". Then a Dutchman arrives, the asylum's first new patient in years, and Jeanne is immediately drawn to him, to this red-haired artist who is "not like other men". Disobeying her husband, Jeanne watches Vincent paint, and his presence, his art, his "strong unwashed smell" heighten her restlessness. "Where is my wife?" Charles wonders, noticing a change in Jeanne, and yet there she is, dressed in the dazzling sunshine-yellow dress she last wore in her youth, radiating the promise of being seen anew, and of living life afresh. The descriptions of Van Gogh's familiar works ("yellow swirled stars...that seem to move above the little sleeping town"), and the Provencal landscape are glorious, while the unsettled landscape of Jeanne's heart is evoked with affecting poignancy. Truly a novel to pore over and savour. ~ Joanne Owen
A Little in Love
One of our Books of the Year 2014 Eponine tells the heart wrenching story of her own life of suffering and cruelty in this emotional roller coaster taken from Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. Brought up in poverty, from the youngest age possible Eponine has been sent out to steal and to lie and to cheat. But somehow, deep inside her, she knows there are better ways of living a life and higher human values to hold onto. Eponine's encounters with Cosette and Marius unlock the best emotions in her. Can she change despite the great cost to herself? A spell-binding story about one girl's search for inner peace. ~ Julia Eccleshare A Piece of Passion from Publisher, Barry Cunningham Les Misérables literally takes your breath away. The passion and the peril in this massive story has inspired plays, TV shows, films and songs through the years. But sometimes it's good to find the simple heart in the greatest works, which is exactly what Susan Fletcher does here with shy tragedy and hauntingly romantic beauty. It's a simple, moving and brilliant retelling, showing what Victor Hugo himself said of his original novel – a progress from evil to good. A Note from the Author, Susan Fletcher 'A Little in Love is my first novel aiming to appeal to both adults and young adults. But Eponine's story contains many themes I've always been interested in as an adult fiction writer – identity, survival, solitude, the natural world, different forms of love and the brevity of life – all told by a feisty protagonist. To write of these themes – and of Eponine herself – for a wider readership was a sheer delight.'
Witch Light
The new novel from Susan Fletcher, author of the bestselling 'Eve Green' and 'Oystercatchers'. It is a tale of passion and courage, magic and betrayal, and the difference that a single heart can make to the great events of history.
Corrag
Author: Susan Fletcher Format: Hardback Release Date: 04/03/2010
A sweeping historical drama based around the massacre of the MacDonald clan in 1692 and told from the perspective of a young girl, now imprisoned, accused of being a witch. Rich in historical detail and wonderfully descriptive of the landscapes of the Highlands this is a book to immerse your self in and enjoy page by page.
From the winner of the 2004 Whitbread First novel award comes a beautifully written novel about love, about trust, loss and loneliness with a profound darkness at its core. The story unfolds at the bedside of a girl in a coma, as her sister confesses to her past selfishness, her bitterness and her anger and savagery towards her family and most of all towards her sister. Fletcher's writing is wonderfully lyrical and beguiling, and an utter joy to read despite the sadness and bitterness of the story.
Eve Green
Reviewed on Richard and Judy on 6th July 2005 and voted most enjoyable book by viewers.This was, in my mind, the surprise winner of the Whitbread First Novel award. I had got my money on Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, but this is certainly a very worthy winner. Written in two parts, the first an eight-year old grieving the loss of her mother as she is packed off to Wales and the second, reflecting. As she awaits the birth of her first child, she relives that agony and the sad mystery that followed it. Comparison: Alice Sebold, Kate Atkinson, Esther Freud.Similar this month: Andrew Greig, Muriel Spark
Other books by Susan Fletcher
House of Glass
Author: Susan Fletcher Format: Paperback / softback Release Date: 06/06/2019
June 1914 and a young woman - Clara Waterfield - is summoned to a large stone house in Gloucestershire. Her task: to fill a greenhouse with exotic plants from Kew Gardens, to create a private paradise for the owner of Shadowbrook. Yet, on arrival, Clara hears rumours: something is wrong with this quiet, wisteria-covered house. Its gardens are filled with foxgloves, hydrangea and roses; it has lily-ponds, a croquet lawn - and the marvellous new glasshouse awaits her. But the house itself feels unloved. Its rooms are shuttered, or empty. The owner is mostly absent; the housekeeper and maids seem afraid. And soon, Clara understands their fear: for something - or someone - is walking through the house at night. In the height of summer, she finds herself drawn deeper into Shadowbrook's dark interior - and into the secrets that violently haunt this house. Nothing - not even the men who claim they wish to help her - is quite what it seems. Reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier, this is a wonderful, atmospheric Gothic page-turner.
Journey of the Pale Bear
A runaway boy befriends a polar bear that's being transported from Norway to London in this lyrical and timeless adventure story about freedom, captivity, and finding a family. The polar bear is a royal bear, a gift from the King of Norway to the King of England. The first time Arthur encounters the bear, he is shoved in her cage as payback for stealing food. Restless and deadly, the bear terrifies him. Yet, strangely, she doesn't harm him-though she has attacked anyone else who comes near. That makes Arthur valuable to the doctor in charge of getting the bear safely to London. So Arthur, who has run away from home, finds himself taking care of a polar bear on a ship to England. Tasked with feeding and cleaning up after the bear, Arthur's fears slowly lessen as he begins to feel a connection to this bear, who like him, has been cut off from her family. But the journey holds many dangers, and Arthur knows his own freedom-perhaps even his life-depends on keeping the bear from harm. When pirates attack and the ship founders, Arthur must make a choice-does he do everything he can to save himself, or does he help the bear to find freedom? Based on the real story of a polar bear that lived in the Tower of London, this timeless adventure story is also a touching account of the bond between a boy and a bear.
I had a curious sense of being watched. June 1914 and a young woman - Clara Waterfield - is summoned to a large stone house in Gloucestershire. Her task: to fill a greenhouse with exotic plants from Kew Gardens, to create a private paradise for the owner of Shadowbrook. Yet, on arrival, Clara hears rumours: something is wrong with this quiet, wisteria-covered house. Its gardens are filled with foxgloves, hydrangea and roses; it has lily-ponds, a croquet lawn - and the marvellous new glasshouse awaits her. But the house itself feels unloved. Its rooms are shuttered, or empty. The owner is mostly absent; the housekeeper and maids seem afraid. And soon, Clara understands their fear: for something - or someone - is walking through the house at night. In the height of summer, she finds herself drawn deeper into Shadowbrook's dark interior - and into the secrets that violently haunt this house. Nothing - not even the men who claim they wish to help her - is quite what it seems. Reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier, this is a wonderful, atmospheric Gothic page-turner. A deeply absorbing, unputdownable ghost story that's also a love story; for readers who love Sarah Waters's The Little Stranger; Frances Hodges Burnett's The Secret Garden; Margaret Atwood's Alias Grace; Jane Harris's The Observations.
No one knows the name of 'the painter' who comes to the asylum in St Remy in the south of France, but they see his wild, red hair and news of his savaged ear soon circulates in the village and comes to the notice of the wife of the asylum's doctor. She feels herself drawn to him and learns that his presence is disturbing - and not just to her either. But back she goes - again and again. Until she is banned, but still she makes her way over the wall, through the garden to talk to this apparently mad and passionate man. And the consequences of her indiscretion, of what van Gogh comes to mean to her, of what it will do to her marriage, her life once she has touched danger and passion will have far reaching effects - both surprisingly catastrophic and tender.
Environmental Laws Summaries of Major Statutes Administered by the Environmental Protection Agency - Scholar's Choice Edition
The Silver Dark Sea
This powerful novel from the award-winning author of Richard and Judy pick `Eve Green' is a tale of love and the lore of the sea. The islanders of Parla are still mourning the loss of one of their own. Four years since that loss, and a man - un-named, unclothed - is washed onto their shores. Some say he is a mythical man from the sea - potent, kind and beautiful; others suspect him. For the bereft Maggie, this stranger brings love back to the isle. But as the days pass he changes every one of them - and the time comes for his story to be told... Tender, lyrical and redemptive, `The Silver Dark Sea' is the dazzling new novel from the author of `Eve Green' (winner of Whitbred First Novel award). It is a story about what life can give and take from us, when we least expect it - and how love, in all its forms, is the greatest gift of all.
Alphabet of Dreams
Author: Susan Fletcher Format: eBook Release Date: 24/11/2009
Mitra and her little brother, Babak, are beggars in the city of Rhagae, scratching out a living as best as they can with what they can beg foror steal. But Mitra burns with hope and ambition, for she and Babak are not what they seem. They are of royal blood, but their fathers ill-fated plot against the evil tyrant, King Phraates, has resulted in their fathers death and their exile. Now disguised as a boy, Mitra has never given up believing they can rejoin what is left of their family and regain their rightful standing in the world.Then they discover that Babak has a strange gift: If he sleeps with an item belonging to someone, he can know that persons dreams. Soon Babak and his abilities come to the attention of a powerful Magusone who has read portents in the stars of the coming of a new king and the dawn of a new age. Soon Mitra and Babak find themselves on the road to Bethlehem . . .The acclaimed author of Shadow Spinner returns to ancient Persia in this spellbinding sagaa tale filled with the color of the caravansaries and the heat of the desert, a tale that reimagines the wonder and spirit of a lost age.
Walk Across the Sea
The Haunting Possiblity
https://www.susanfletcher.com/
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Mary Kay Keller, MPA, PhD, CEIM, CFLE: Fathers need to know they can protect their babies!
Fathers need to know they can protect their babies!
During the next week we shall explore the importance of the role of fathers in the lives of their children during labor, birth and forever.
Check out this link for the amazing dialogue about fathers and their role in the Birth process!


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3 Stocks Pushing The Internet Industry Higher
TheStreet highlights 3 stocks that pushed the Internet industry
Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link.
Two out of the three major indices are trading lower today with the
) trading down 78.22 points (-0.4%) at 17,774 as of Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014, 3:25 PM ET. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 1,227 issues advancing vs. 1,763 declining with 144 unchanged.
The Internet industry as a whole closed the day up 1.1% versus the S&P 500, which was down 0.2%. Top gainers within the Internet industry included
IPDN
Selectica
SLTC
Innodata
BroadVision
BVSN
TheStreet Ratings Group would like to highlight 3 stocks pushing the industry higher today:
) is one of the companies that pushed the Internet industry higher today. Innodata was up $0.09 (3.2%) to $2.90 on light volume. Throughout the day, 7,124 shares of Innodata exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 19,300 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $2.75-$3.08 after having opened the day at $3.08 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $2.81.
Innodata Inc. provides business process, information technology, and professional services that are focused on digital enablement. The company operates in two segments, Content Services (CS) and Innodata Advanced Data Solutions (IADS). Innodata has a market cap of $69.4 million and is part of the technology sector. Shares are up 14.7% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are no analysts who rate Innodata a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 1 rates it a hold.
STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more.
TheStreet Ratings rates Innodata as a
. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its increase in stock price during the past year, compelling growth in net income and good cash flow from operations. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that the company's profit margins have been poor overall.
Highlights from TheStreet Ratings analysis on INOD go as follows:
Compared to its price level of one year ago, INOD is up 10.00% to its most recent closing price of 2.75. Looking ahead, our view is that this company's fundamentals should not have much impact in either direction, allowing the stock to generally move up or down based on the push and pull of the broad market.
Net operating cash flow has significantly increased by 849.46% to $1.41 million when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, INNODATA INC has also vastly surpassed the industry average cash flow growth rate of -2.44%.
INNODATA INC reported significant earnings per share improvement in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. This company has reported somewhat volatile earnings recently. But, we feel it is poised for EPS growth in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, INNODATA INC swung to a loss, reporting -$0.43 versus $0.29 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings (-$0.02 versus -$0.43).
The company's current return on equity greatly increased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of significant strength within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the IT Services industry and the overall market, INNODATA INC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.
The gross profit margin for INNODATA INC is currently lower than what is desirable, coming in at 33.03%. Regardless of INOD's low profit margin, it has managed to increase from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, the net profit margin of -1.47% trails the industry average.
You can view the full analysis from the report here:
Innodata Ratings Report
At the close,
) was up $0.18 (3.3%) to $5.68 on light volume. Throughout the day, 6,122 shares of Selectica exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 8,800 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $5.36-$6.09 after having opened the day at $5.51 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $5.50.
Selectica, Inc. provides cloud-based software solutions for companies in the United States, Canada, India, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Selectica has a market cap of $45.8 million and is part of the technology sector. Shares are down 14.2% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there is 1 analyst who rates Selectica a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and none rate it a hold.
TheStreet Ratings rates Selectica as a
. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its deteriorating net income, weak operating cash flow, generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself and feeble growth in its earnings per share.
Highlights from TheStreet Ratings analysis on SLTC go as follows:
The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Internet Software & Services industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 479.8% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from -$0.47 million to -$2.70 million.
Net operating cash flow has significantly decreased to -$4.40 million or 58.19% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing to the industry average, the firm's growth rate is much lower.
The share price of SELECTICA INC has not done very well: it is down 6.85% and has underperformed the S&P 500, in part reflecting the company's sharply declining earnings per share when compared to the year-earlier quarter. The fact that the stock is now selling for less than others in its industry in relation to its current earnings is not reason enough to justify a buy rating at this time.
SELECTICA INC has experienced a steep decline in earnings per share in the most recent quarter in comparison to its performance from the same quarter a year ago. The company has reported a trend of declining earnings per share over the past two years. However, the consensus estimate suggests that this trend should reverse in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, SELECTICA INC reported poor results of -$3.10 versus -$1.67 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings (-$1.24 versus -$3.10).
The company's current return on equity greatly increased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of significant strength within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Internet Software & Services industry and the overall market, SELECTICA INC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.
Selectica Ratings Report
) was another company that pushed the Internet industry higher today. Professional Diversity Network was up $0.21 (4.4%) to $4.95 on light volume. Throughout the day, 1,343 shares of Professional Diversity Network exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 5,800 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $4.93-$4.96 after having opened the day at $4.93 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $4.74.
Professional Diversity Network, Inc. operates online professional networking communities with career resources in the United States. Professional Diversity Network has a market cap of $59.4 million and is part of the technology sector. Shares are up 2.2% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there is 1 analyst who rates Professional Diversity Network a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and none rate it a hold.
TheStreet Ratings rates Professional Diversity Network as a
. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including feeble growth in the company's earnings per share, deteriorating net income and disappointing return on equity.
Highlights from TheStreet Ratings analysis on IPDN go as follows:
IPDN's very impressive revenue growth greatly exceeded the industry average of 28.1%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues leaped by 60.9%. This growth in revenue does not appear to have trickled down to the company's bottom line, displayed by a decline in earnings per share.
IPDN's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.01 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Despite the fact that IPDN's debt-to-equity ratio is low, the quick ratio, which is currently 0.69, displays a potential problem in covering short-term cash needs.
The gross profit margin for PROFESSIONAL DIVERSITY NETWK is currently very high, coming in at 75.37%. Regardless of IPDN's high profit margin, it has managed to decrease from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, IPDN's net profit margin of -59.74% significantly underperformed when compared to the industry average.
The company's current return on equity has slightly decreased from the same quarter one year prior. This implies a minor weakness in the organization. Compared to other companies in the Internet Software & Services industry and the overall market, PROFESSIONAL DIVERSITY NETWK's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500.
Net operating cash flow has significantly decreased to -$2.80 million or 679.10% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing to the industry average, the firm's growth rate is much lower.
Professional Diversity Network Ratings Report
MarketsStocks


On June the 16th, 2018, the Saints of Cullman County and friends of the Miracle League hosted the 2nd Annual Miracle League Benefit Ride.
Brandi Story Evans and her husband, Brian "BR" Evans, president of the Cullman, Alabama Saints chapter started this ride to honor their son, Jacob who has Down Syndrome and his friends. Jacob is 26 now but has loved playing baseball for over 20 years. Jacob is also an honorary member of the Saints MC.
The miracle League is very important to them so they wanted to do something to help with registration fees for these special athletes.
Spring Baseball registration costs are $50 per player, Fall Baseball is $30 per player and Winter Basketball is also $30 per player.
Many of these players live in-group homes or have costly health care and can't afford to pay the registration fees, so they wanted to try and ensure that EVERYONE would have the chance to play.
Last year they covered fees for 105 of these superstar athletes and raised a little over $5000 and were able to pay for their Spring Baseball Season. This year they raised over $8000 and should be able to cover registration fees for ALL THREE SEASON'S!!! How awesome is that?
The ride started in the parking lot behind the Donald E. Green Senior Center in Cullman, Alabama, and ended up at the Saint's MC Clubhouse.
Over 120 attendees enjoyed a nice little scenic tour around Cullman, then lots of good food, some prizes and fun entertainment.
Thanks to Linda Jones for sharing pictures with us!


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India will use all the might to protect the nation's sovereignty
Coimbatore : Lauding the Armed forces, exemplified by the air warriors, President Ram Nath Kovind Monday said that its valour and professionalism was on display very recently, as the Indian Air Force carried out pre-emptive strikes on a known terrorist camp.
"Our Armed Forces, exemplified by the air warriors who stand before us, reflect our firm resolve to defend our nation. Its valour and professionalism was on display very recently6, as the Indian Air Force Carried out pre-emptive strikes on a known terrorist camp", he said.
"India remains firmly committed to peace, but in case the need arises, we will use all our might to protect the nation's sovereignty. I am confident that our valiant men and women in uniform will rise to the occasion," Kovind said in his address on the occasions of presentation of colour to Air Force Station at Hakimpet and 5 Base Repair Depot at Sulur on the outskirts.
India's growing stature in the comity of nations is consistent with the strength and capabilities of our armed forces, the President noted.
Stating that Indian Air Force (IAF) has over the years grown into a modern, technology-intensive force distinguished by its commitment to excellence and professionalism, Kovind said that keeping pace with the demands of contemporary advancements, the IAF continues to modernize in a rapid manner and is in the process of a very comprehensive modernisation plan.
Besides safeguarding the sovereign skies of our nation, IAF has also been at the forefront of all Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations, he said adding that the resilience and tenacity displayed by our valiant air warriors is a great source of pride for the Nation.
Both these stations have a rich history of professional excellence and have served the Nation with honour and distinction in peace and during hostilities, he said.
The Nation honours them today with a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for their selfless devotion, professionalism and courage in the face of adversity.
"In acknowledgement and recognition of their outstanding performance, I am pleased to award Colours to Air Force Station Hakimpet and 5 Base Repair Depot," Kovind said.


When/how often do you conduct the CPL/CCW Class?
At AZO Civil Services, we typically run the concealed pistol classes twice per month. Some months have more, some fewer depending on our training schedule for other courses, holidays etc… You only need to sign up for one class as these are a 1 day only class. Click Here to view our schedule and click on the "CPL/CCW Class" of your choice for more information and to sign up.
CPL and CCW are two distinct terms that are used interchangeably to describe the carrying of a concealed pistol.
A CPL is the concealed pistol license. This is the license that allows those who meet the requirements set by the State of Michigan to carry a pistol concealed on their person, or loaded in a vehicle.
Technically, a CCW is the crime of carrying a concealed weapon without a license. However, it doubles as a slang term for a CPL.
Why should I take this course from AZO Civil Services instead of with somebody else?
1. Simply put, we are the best! Now I know you may think that sounds quite arrogant, but we are, and that is because WE CARE ABOUT YOU! You are NOT just a number here. At other places, they treat you just like that… a number. They are more concerned about how many students they can get into each class instead of caring about the total experience. We strive to make you feel a part of the AZO Family! We want you to leave knowing it was worth your time and money and knowing you can come back to us any time with any question you may have.
2. We are PROFESSIONAL! We hire only the highest qualified instructors who must maintain our high-standards of training and ethics. All of our instructors have Military, Law Enforcement, Public Safety, or other qualified backgrounds and have a passion to educate and inform the students. We use a professional classroom. We use a professionally maintained and SAFE outdoor range, close to our classroom facility. It's safe, clean, fun, and you don't have to drive out to the middle of nowhere to get to it! We also have a professional staff working in our store. No matter if you are there for guns, ammo, accessories, or survival gear, we will have it in stock (or order it for you!) Just tell us what you are looking for and we can get it if it's not already in stock!
3. We include a quality lunch. Most other places leave lunch up to you which delays the class and costs you extra time and/or money. We have partnered with local establishments to provide lunch during the class and it's always included with your registration fee for the CPL/CCW Class.
So to summarize this, we at AZO are among the most qualified, and have the highest level professional instructors around. You will see our quality of instruction and professionalism from the moment you step foot into our classroom, and that will continue throughout the entire day until you leave! Give us a chance, call us, or schedule your class online today!
Why do I become a member of the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners (MCRGO) when I sign up for my CCW/CPL Training?
We conduct the course that was created by the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners. As part of the cost of the class, the MCRGO includes a 1-year membership to their organization. The only thing you will receive from them is a quarterly newsletter and a short, once per week e-mail on Monday. However, and most importantly, this membership gives you access to their "Ask a Lawyer" section of their website, where you can receive FREE answers to your questions related to concealed carry and Michigan's firearms and self-defense laws.
You will also receive a certificate of completion which you will need when you submit your application to the County Clerk in order to receive your Michigan Concealed Pistol License.
What is going to be the total cost of acquiring my CPL?
Our class costs $100 (price includes lunch). Upon successful completion of the course, you receive the certificate which the State of Michigan requires in order for you to apply for your license at the County Clerk's Office.
In addition to the fees for the license, you will want to invest around $400 or more in a high quality pistol for your concealed carry firearm and holster. Stop by our store, Tactical Advantage Guns to get set-up for your conceal carry equipment today!
"I signed up for the CPL class in the summer of 2013 with my wife. We were both novices, neither of us had even shot a handgun, ever. We came out not only very familiar with the laws but also with the basic shooting skills to get the ball rolling. My wife had problems with the heat and couldn't complete the shooting portion but Brent made special arrangement for a private tutoring so she could finish up.
"I have lived in many states throughout the U.S. and have held a CPL in each one. When I moved to Michigan, I was dreading having to take yet another 'safety course' to get my Michigan CPL. I signed up with AZO Civil Services after seeing them on Portage Rd. while driving by one day. I was shocked when I got to their class and actually learned quite a bit. The instructors were great and very knowledgeable and made the 10-hour day fly by!
I highly recommend AZO Civil Services for ANYONE looking to obtain their CPL or just general gun safety. The instructor staff is very professional, knowledgeable, and fun to be around. AZO is top notch!


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How prison inmates were paid £17m in benefits by mistake
By JAMES CHAPMAN
Last updated at 21:18 25 October 2007
Benefits worth £500 million were paid out in error last year, according to official figures.
In a decade, £5 billion has been lost through fraud and error. Prisoners, students and those with jobs and money in the bank have all enjoyed payouts to which they were not entitled.
Since 1997, more than £17 million has been wrongly paid to prisoners, who are not eligible for many benefits during their incarceration.
Students have received £33 million while those who are in hospital for the long term - and are not entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support - were handed £10 million.
More than £1 billion has gone in benefits to those who have jobs and are not entitled.
Prisoners are not entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance - worth up to £57.45 a week - as they are not available for work.
Nor are they eligible for income support, worth the same amount, or pension credit.
Help with housing costs is payable only to those on remand, awaiting trial or sentencing.
Inmates are not usually eligible for incapacity and disability benefits, the state pension, carer's allowance, industrial injuries benefit or maternity allowance.
The sums involved suggest that thousands of prisoners continue to receive handouts through fraud or error after they have been jailed.
Most full-time students are not entitled to claim social security benefits.
Tory work and pensions spokesman Chris Grayling said: 'I never cease to be amazed by how incompetent this Government can be.
'They are paying out vast amounts of taxpayers' money to the wrong people. It beggars belief that they would actually be paying out benefits wrongly to people in prison.'
The number of prosecutions and convictions have fallen every year for five years.
Prosecutions dropped from 11,584 in 2000-2001 to just 8,670 in 2004-2005. There were 11,403 convictions in 2000-2001, but only 8,573 in 2004-2005, a fall of about 25 per cent in each case.
Fraud and error in the benefits system costs each taxpayer about £100 a year, senior MPs say.
In a recent report, the Commons Public Accounts Committee said the total bill for 2004 was £3 billion. Half the money was lost because of mistakes by officials.
MPs concluded that the Government had little idea of how much was owed by claimants who had been overpaid.
Benefits Minister James Plaskitt said yesterday: 'Fraud and error was left untackled before 1997 because it wasn't even regularly measured.
Since then we have slashed in half losses to fraud and error in Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance, saving taxpayers around £3 billion.
'A continuing, hard-hitting benefit fraud campaign is running alongside a new strategy aimed at taking out a further £1 billion of error.'