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Documentos e Relat�rios
Investing in human capital is essential for Tanzania. To generate future income and achieve sustainable development, people are the most important asset countries have. Part two of this economic update discusses where Tanzania stands in terms of its investments...
Exibir mais +Investing in human capital is essential for Tanzania. To generate future income and achieve sustainable development, people are the most important asset countries have. Part two of this economic update discusses where Tanzania stands in terms of its investments in human capital for both children and adults. The analysis is part of the World Bank Human Capital Project (HCP), which relies on both the Human Capital Index (HCI) and data on human capital wealth (HCW).
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Also this year antoniolupi takes part in Maison&Objet in Paris with two new collections: TEMPRA, designed by Nevio Tellatin, and ILBAGNO, designed by Roberto Lazzeroni.
After more than sixty years the company comes back and introduces a collection made with acid tempered glass, TEMPRA. Glass is a fascinating material that characterized almost entirely antoniolupi production at the beginning and now is back with new forms and content as protagonist. The glassworks factory within the company translates the essential design of Nevio Tellatin in surfaces, accessories and containers of rare elegance. Available in a wide range of colors, the collection is characterized by a great impression of lightness.
ILBAGNO is a sophisticated and refined collection, with mirrors and lamps that remind to the past, taps with classic hot/cold handles, bronze glass shower enclosures, sanitary ware which reinterpret twentieth-century shapes.
Nex event
MAISON&OBJET 2015
Also this year antoniolupi takes part in Maison&Objet in Paris with two new coll [+]
GRAFFIO
A family of five different sinks that can be top or wall mounted all rectangular in Ceramilux. Proportional in shape surface and detail.
This project comes from the desire to continue working with the Ceramilux material that has performed well over the years allowing to reduce the thickness considerably.
The surface for the accessories is a linear relief repeated throughout the collection, is an important part of the project and the study of its design is a plus. This texture grips objects placed upon it and at the same time is easy to clean . The drain is concealed by a cover with a graphic element that blends with the surface of the basin.
All of the GRAFFIO sinks can be used with the various antoniolupi furniture collections and tops. Available in the following sizes:
A family of five different sinks that can be top or wall mounted all rectangular [+]
METEOXXL
Another element added to the collection, larger in size and designed to create a rainy ceiling. The functional characteristic of this showerhead aside from its presence and the two waterfalls are 4 vaporizers and a parametric heat barrier made with a double row of staggered nozzles.
This configuration favors an installation even in bathrooms without a traditional shower enclosure thanks to the delimitation generated by the heat barrier.
The two waterfalls have an oblique jet to meet in the center where another nozzle generates a hard jet that appears as a nail.
As in the other models light contributes, enhanced by the nebulizers, to give volume to the space and responsiveness to the elements. Designed by Nevio Tellatin.
News
METEOXXL
Another element added to the collection, larger in size and designed to create a [+]
Contest
CRISTALPLANT DESIGN CONTEST
After 5 years since the 1st edition, antoniolupi is once again partner of Cristalplant® for the seventh Cristalplant® Design Contest. This year can participate, designers born before 01/01/1980 as the Senior Designer category, and designers born after 01/01/1980 as the Young Designer category.
IlBagno is the collection of return to origins, back to a warm and soft style. More romantic. Shapes and styles change but the elegant and determined theme found throughout the antoniolupi collections since the 50’s doesn’t. antoniolupi has chosen the designer Roberto Lazzeroni for affinity and style tried over the years. A collection inspired from the past and re-elaborated in a contemporary content. A diverse collection from the most recent proposals maintaining the company’s DNA and philosophical planning. IlBagno is presented at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile as a complete collection (furniture, wall sconces, mirrors, accessoires, bathtubs….), with the possibility of extending further with shower enclosures and fittings. A true furniture project.
News
SALONE DEL MOBILE 014
A short step away from ILBAGNO to LACUCINA. At the Salone del Bagno 2014 antoniolupi presents two innovative projects compared to everything else the company has designed and produced until today. A desired completion, studied and developed to search for new markets and new styles, a project that surprises.
In a stand measuring 400 sqm important novelties shall be presented: IlBagno, a collection romantically complete and designed by Roberto Lazzeroni which is characterized by organic shapes and combined materials of wood and lacquers. A project dedicated to a level of style that focuses on a reinterpretation of
classic forms and design, a collection that will have an impact on new horizons and markets in search of excellence. A rich and elegant line of furniture.
LaCucina, a project designed by Archea Associatti / Marco Casamonti, dedicated to those that appreciate design for its essential purity. LaCucina proposes the antoniolupi style in projecting the space for food.
Andrea Lupi, the company art director, desires to search for new creative ideas and moreover to produce product completely different than that found in the current catalogue. LaCucina on one side and IlBagno on the other represent the result of this change and enrichment towards a greater transversality.
Numerous are the proposals created for the bathroom but can be lived outside of it. The first example was the fireplace Il Canto del Fuoco designed by Domenico de Palo in 2008 to Bit by Brian Sironi as well as the latest frescos designed by Riccardo Fattori.
| 5,462 |
This innovative masters program brings together artists and communities.
c/o John Groo
Xaviera Simmons sits on a stage, fully dressed. She places a pair of scissors on the ground and invites the audience to come up, cut off pieces of her clothing, and take them.
Simmons is performing “Cut Piece,” a conceptual art piece created by Yoko Ono, almost 50 years after its original 1964 performance. The occasion is “Performing the Precarious: Day Into Night,” a two-evening series organized by the Danspace Project in New York City. This series hit the stage last December.
Before it could happen, though, someone had to clear it with Ono. That someone was Lydia Bell ’07 M ’12, who approached the famous Fluxus artist with a pitch planned: a thesis around the meaning of Simmons’ “reperformance.” Ono, of course, said yes, but with one caveat: She couldn’t use the word “reperformance.”
That threw a wrench into Bell’s vision for the event, but no matter. As a performance curator, her job is to work with artists not just in the theoretical but in the practical realm, turning ideas into realities. They just take a little finagling sometimes.
For that ability, she has Wesleyan’s Institute for Curatorial Practice in Performance to thank. After three years and more than 30 students (Bell included), the one-of-a-kind program is transitioning to become a fully formed Masters degree, aiming to train the next generation of dance, theater, and performing arts curators.
Presenting the Ephemeral
The Institute first launched in 2011 as a 9-month certificate program, spearheaded by Center for the Arts Director Pamela Tatge and Lower Manhattan Cultural Council president Sam Miller ’75. Born as a collaboration between the CFA, arts faculty, and outside practitioners, the Institute was designed to combine intensive study and fieldwork in a previously unexplored manner.
“There are many places to go in the United States to study curating in the visual arts, but there’s no place to go to study how to organize performance,” Tatge said.
After graduating Wesleyan with a degree in theater, Miller spent years in the arts world organizing conferences and workshops and working with artists and presenters at places like the Jacob’s Pillow dance center and the New England Foundation for the Arts. He helped found the Center for Creative Research, which paired established choreographers with universities to create original projects.
Wesleyan and the Center for the Arts, under Tatge’s direction, were enthusiastic pioneers of Miller’s program. But Miller soon began asking about the future of such collaborations: Who would lead the way in supporting contemporary performance? And how would they gain the knowledge and tools to do so?
If any place could provide that education, Miller decided, it would be Wesleyan.
“Wesleyan has a historic commitment to interdisciplinary work, to contemporary artists, to different traditions and aesthetics,” Miller said. “It’s the right ground for this to grow in.”
Other curation programs only dedicate a course or two at most to curating dance, theater, or performance art, but Tatge said Wesleyan is in a unique position to offer a deeper discussion.
“We have always studied the arts in their social, cultural, [and] historical contexts. And in terms of making good curators, they are people who have…the multiple lenses through which to see a performative event, to be able to reach back and look at the influences of that artist, to that artist’s interaction with the current contemporary world,” Tatge said. “That’s how we think at Wesleyan.”
Performance curation is an odd beast: Like visual art, performance art can be situated in cultural and historical movements, and within the larger portfolio and background of an artist. Yet performance art also comes with a unique set of challenges foreign to visual art.
“Performance work is ephemeral; it exists in a moment and then doesn’t exist anymore,” Tatge said.
Bell suggests another way of thinking about performers: “Their bodies are the artwork.”
With that definition, a large part of performance curation understandably revolves around the curator developing a long-term relationship with an artist.
“There’s a whole set of responsibilities when that’s a live, living person,” Bell said. “To me, it means really putting the art and the artist first.”
Curators, Tatge said, take on the role of advocate: They maintain connections to artists even after a single show wraps up.
When Miller began at Jacob’s Pillow, he started working one-on-one with artist-choreographer Bill T. Jones over the course of a number of years. Phil Bither, Senior Curator of Performing Arts at Minneapolis’s Walker Arts Center and ICPP instructor, has commissioned choreographer Ralph Lemon to the Walker time and time again. And Tatge, through the CFA, not only commissioned playwright Leigh Fondakowski to write the play “SPILL” in the aftermath of the Gulf Coast oil disaster, but she also worked with presenters and theaters to bring that performance to venues across Louisiana.
Curator-artist relationships are mutually beneficial, both allowing the artist to grow and providing the institution with quality art.
“Maybe that work has only reached one level and could reach another level, and so maybe it’s bringing that artist back, or finding another place for that artist to take the next phase of that work,” Tatge said.
Being able to understand, organize, and support an artist’s work requires a wide variety of skills, from research to management and entrepreneurship.
“What are the resources that artist needs to realize their vision? Do they need a dramaturg? Do they need a technical person to come in?” Tatge said. “And then, how do I position this work for and offer it to a community, so I can maximize the engagement and participation of the community in that work?”
Considering the Community
ICPP walks its students through everything they see necessary to navigate the contemporary performance art world.
Students in the Institute come for an intensive two-week summer session, and for two additional weekends in the fall and spring. The classes they take include Social and Cultural Context, looking at the major art movements of the 20th and 21st centuries; Perspectives In Performance as Culture, considering the effect of personal biases and experiences on art and curation; Entrepreneurial Strategies; and Considering Site, taught by Associate Professor of Art Elijah Huge, about how architecture and design factor into performances.
Tatge’s question of community involvement plays a huge part in the thinking going on at ICPP. For Jaamil Kosoko M ’12, Assistant Curator in Humanities and Engagement at New York Live Arts, performances were one way to bring together a community.
“Early on, it was really just a sincere need for me to present work and to fulfill what I saw to be some serious cultural malfunctioning,” Kosoko said.
Performance events provide venues to inform and challenge viewers and participants about the ideas and issues fueling the art, which Kosoko must also take into consideration for the structures—the scheduling, the marketing, even the time and place—surrounding the performance itself.
“We use words like ‘feminism,’ ‘African American studies,’ ‘queer theory,’ and ‘afro-futurity,’ but these are pretty unstable signifiers,” Kosoko said. “They mean a lot of different things and have a particular connotation to various people and various communities. Something that I am really interested in is creating opportunities to situate interviews, conversations, panels, various dialogues, and opportunities for education into institutions that otherwise, because of various reasons, may not be able to put as much focus on that practice as probably they should.”
Practice is the constant companion to theory in the ICPP. Much of the program focuses on walking students through the process of curation, whether for a single event or project, an artist’s catalog, or even an arts festival. That’s also where distance learning, built into both the certificate and the Masters program, comes in.
All students undertake a field practicum—or two, for Masters students—where they spend time going deep into an original project, either with an artist or placed at an institution: the Danspace project, New York’s Museum of Modern Art, Minneapolis’s Walker Arts Center, and the University of California, Los Angeles [UCLA] are all partners.
And because many students come to the Institute already with a position at an arts organization, those projects can go right back to the institutions where the students work and be realized. Megan Brian M ’13, Education and Public Programs Coordinator at SFMOMA, spent her practicum on a series on the relationship of humor to performance that SFMOMA then presented.
Masters students, appropriately, will have one more hurdle to clear: a thesis, which will be the major written work that many undergraduates are familiar with, and a creative output, like a festival or catalog. For professionals looking to advance in their careers, the Masters program is a much-needed credential, and the thesis is the capstone to tie together their learning.
The program, it’s interesting to note, is budget-neutral. ICPP takes no money from Wesleyan and instead self-funds entirely from tuition—around $8,000 for the certificate and $28,000 for the Masters, not including room and board—and grants.
One of ICPP’s aspirations, Miller said, is to construct a unified vision of best practice in the performance world, establishing performance curation as an independent academic field. Discussion and community play a role in this, as well: on July 25, the ICPP brought in curators from across the country for a public unveiling of the Masters program, live-streaming panels online and hosting viewing parties in Boston and San Francisco.
Kristy Edmunds, director of UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance, said in her keynote address that art institutions have a responsibility to invest in creativity, not simply for a profit, but as an end in itself. If curators are the gatekeepers of art, as Miller described it, it is leadership’s responsibility to help them make better, educated decisions about how artists are supported and presented to the community.
“Curate, in Latin, means the protector of the soul of something,” Edmunds said. “That to me is the fundamental job description, in our case, the ephemeral and extraordinary life of what artists make and do as a singular gift into our heritage.”
| 10,767 |
ECHO
ECHO
Statistics
Creator
Hisekii
Number of Episodes
29 (Total)
Status
Active
Rating
9.57 / 10
Genre
Fantasy | Action
ECHO is a discover action | fantasy webtoon created by comic artist Hisekii. Echo takes place in a world where the majority of people can manipulate sound, the stronger, the ones who reign superior, are called Echos. The weak ones, who are not superior, are called Silences. Echos are people who are able to manipulate sound and Silences are people who doesn't have the ability of sound.
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Hiya, I was wondering if you use GTS. I am really curious, so please join the discussion or just answer a few simple questions ^____^
If yes, are you using negotiations or regular find and get? Or you only offer your Pokemon to get what you need?
Do you find GTS useful? Explain why yes or why not. What do you do with Pokemon obtained via GTS?
What are your GTS trophies? Any perfect or shiny Pokemon?
What do you do with Pokemon obtained? Are they just dex fillers or they end up as your team's powerhouses?
TwilightBlade
May 23rd, 2012, 03:45 PM
I used negotiations once. This Japanese player showed me a lotta cool legendaries, such as Ho-oh and Giratina. I offered a random shiny Metagross. The trader suddenly changed his offer to a Zorua... -_- I accepted it, but whatever. I haven't done negotiations again.
In DPPt early days, GTS was pretty useful. I managed to get a Garchomp (hacked lol) but I did breed it. I just get stuff to breed really. I can't remember getting any perfect or shiny Pokemon from the GTS. Just simple things... Like an Aipom... haha, I'm impressed with myself that I remember exact species. :P
Alli
May 23rd, 2012, 04:03 PM
One time I got on GTS negotiations for kicks, and someone started offering Leafeon and Glaceon and I was on a new file and didn't want to insult them with a Lillipup, so I just left. I only use GTS to send Pokemon to Pokecheck and clone them. I don't use it to actually get Pokemon from. Ick.
JaySawn
May 24th, 2012, 10:34 AM
Yeah I use the GTS/Negotiations here and there...
This one time I used the negotiation , I traded a shiny pichu/skitty for a LV.100 Illumise and a milotic...( Illumise was hacked so I had to release it =/ ) Worst trades ever lol ; and no I didn't get what I was browsing for =(
GTS can be useful if you're looking for pokemon that you can trade for ; other than that good luck on getting Zekrom/Reshiram LV.9 and under XD
Best I got from the GTS was a UT Hatched Spiritomb , UT Hatched Oshawott , and a Japanese Ditto ( on the 1st attempt of searching for one ) ; all of em are legit :D
I use the Japanese ditto for breeding purposes ( of course... ) and the other 2 for collecting / desire I guess :P
firefox1000
May 24th, 2012, 02:24 PM
I used GTS/Negotiations once.(If pokecheck cloning and checking doesn't count) I traded my lv 100 Gardevoir for a Shiny Japenese Shaymin. Its pretty hard to find a good trade in GTS because of Impossible trades lv 1 Groudon. GTs is pretty useless mostly.
Gonzo
May 31st, 2012, 12:45 AM
So, I created the thread so I should answer myself finally! lol
I like using GTS, tho I never use negotiations, usually I couldn't find a thing there and wasted my time, so I abandoned it. I never search for Pokemon because of all those dummies who want sooper-oober legends with lvl below 9. That's ridiculous.
I only put my Pokemon as reasonable offers (eg. my random version exclusive for another random version exclusive, my random bred starter for another random starter and so on).
I got a shiny Glameow once, it was legit so that's cool. I also got a legit 27/4/31/30/31/31 Naughty Japanese Charmeleon.
I never use traded pokemon in my teams so all my GTS mons are just dex fillers or are used for breeding.
Thaat's pretty much everything ^______^
ShadowE
May 31st, 2012, 09:56 AM
i used it before i knew these forums, but now im never using it anymore...
all cuz of those lv1 Hydreigons, Victini's and more...
Greenbeans
June 15th, 2012, 07:13 PM
People really try and rip me off in negotiations >.> so i just do normal trades now
Xebelleon
June 16th, 2012, 08:18 PM
Use it for deposit few times a week, depends if my brain feels like it. Most of time I offer nicknamed Lv.1 females of Dream World ability, nickname being related in a way to DW or the Pokemon (Bag Lady the Bagon, HippyPhish the Corphish example). Also offer at times trade evos for the in game stuff considering I've seen Everstones on some of the middlemen.
More times than I like its a Japanese texted Pokemon. As such, I breed the bajeebus out of it out of hack paranoia (Eevee, Pichu for example)
I've been using the GTS to get the Pokemon that I want, but I always offer something that is reasonable.
Using the GTS to search however, is stupid in my opinion. They are always asking for a lvl 9 Zekrom, making those trades impossible.
greg0915
June 19th, 2012, 07:34 AM
I used to use the GTS a lot before I came here, then I started to use the Quick Trade Thread instead. But now I can RNG and with the introduction of Pokecheck there really is no need for it...
ColdBytes
July 4th, 2012, 03:07 PM
I Use both mostly negotiations so I can Get some shinys :3 Or I find a trading forum :)
Roza
July 5th, 2012, 10:31 AM
I use the GTS all the time when I'm bored. I like making chain trades (seeing a Pokemon I want that has a reasonable request on it, then finding that requested Pokemon and trading for that, then trading for the first one with the second one).
I just like filling the Unity Tower or whatever it's called. The one with the different floors? I trade with as many different people as I can!
Asuf
July 5th, 2012, 03:39 PM
I often visit the GTS when I'm curious to see whats on offer, I did happen to strike a shiny Graveler once, so I guess I was lucky.
Makenshi_au
July 13th, 2012, 09:30 PM
how come on the gts nearly every one asks for impossible trades like lvl 1 legends im only new to trading online
I use it sometimes; I usually trade legendaries from my game for other legendaries by Negotiations to fill up my Dex.
이큐리
July 27th, 2012, 07:08 PM
I put random shinies up on GTS for bidoofs/patrats/purrloins for fun. Can't even get a Riolu without people asking for Mews in return. =/
Mikoliah
July 29th, 2012, 06:26 PM
looks like I've been missing on here a while
Welcome, Mikoliah (http://www.pokecommunity.com/member.php?u=77143).
Last Visit: March 25th, 2010 at 01:42 AM
LOL
Well I got both my kids and my wife into pokemon now. I managed to get all the starters for my wife, my daughter, and my self after my wife did soft resets until she received a female starter.
After a bit of breeding I got other starter females of the GTS. As for other things, I was able to get the "black exclusive" on my copy of white.
Usually the Japanese are more realistic for trades. (but they often have the >9 legendarys as well)
I doubt I will be able to get everything like I had in Pokemon Pearl without the help of my fellow traders on here.
However, I did lose my copy of Pearl and will have to start all over again with a new copy of Diamond. :/
Well that is half the fun right? This time I have a Heart Gold to help me get a full roster once more.
PokePlayer101
July 29th, 2012, 07:19 PM
I got a shiny Snivy for a japanesese oshawott i traded for and I used it on my team so yeah
mapsal313
July 30th, 2012, 09:38 AM
I had used GTS with my Pearl a couple of years ago. I traded some cloned lv100 Deoxys from my friend's Emerald to get a Garchomp, Milotic and Tyranitar, ll lv100, for collection purposes.
A couple of weeks ago, haven't yet figured out how to catch a Ducklett in Balck, I deposited a lv14 Audino in the GTS, and I got a lv25 female Ducklett named ~Aura. Needless to say that it's now a lv53 Swanna, and one of my best pokemon.
I also did a sort of cloning, I traded my Reshiram from my original Black to a Black ROM in my R4 ( for those not knoing what an R4 is, it's a cartridge-like device that has a Micro SD card and you can fill it with ROMs and play them in your DS), then I copied the ROM and its save file into my PC, then I traded Reshiram back to my Black and finally, copying the 2nd Black ROM with the Reshiram to the R4, and traded to Balck, so now I had two Reshirams, depositing one of them, asking for a Zecrom lv 50 & up (since Reshiram was lv53).
When I searched for a Zecrom, each one of them asked for a lv9 & under Reshiram/Zecrom. I don't get why people do this.
Anyway, I eventually got a lv77 Zecrom for my Reshiram. What I want now is a Rufflet, since I really love Braviarys, but I don't have it on dex, so I can't ask for it.=(
In other words, GTS=good.
Katie the Friendly Ghost
July 30th, 2012, 10:17 AM
I saw a shiny Watchog and it required like a Serperior (I picked Tepig). All the Serperiors required like a lv. 9 and under Zekrom. I was pretty pissed.
But I did trade for an Accelgor, which was awesome, since I wasn't able to trade with myself or a friend at that point.
Overall GTS sucks though. I heard your Pokemon may disappear after awhile, so that scared me.
mapsal313
July 30th, 2012, 12:40 PM
I saw a shiny Watchog and it required like a Serperior (I picked Tepig). All the Serperiors required like a lv. 9 and under Zekrom. I was pretty pissed.
But I did trade for an Accelgor, which was awesome, since I wasn't able to trade with myself or a friend at that point.
Overall GTS sucks though. I heard your Pokemon may disappear after awhile, so that scared me.
Well that scares me too, but they will only dissapear if you leave them for months without checking them. But just leaving them for a week and then check back it's fine.
WolfricX
July 31st, 2012, 04:18 AM
I think GTSN is great, I use it almost every day! I have managed to get some awesome pokemon out of it such as a lv33 Excadrill for a lv59 Crawdunt with some ace stats and moves.
MamaSeeking
August 1st, 2012, 09:37 AM
Yes I use gts. I'm currently offering Pokemon with the required evolutionary items so as to get Steelix an others of that nature. Lol Harder than I origanally thought.
BlueFireXXi
August 15th, 2012, 07:21 AM
I have bad connection,so i can't use GTS...i was gonna trade a shiny peliper for a shiny feebas...
SSfan
August 15th, 2012, 12:20 PM
I've started to go on the GTS a lot less lately. Like seriously, I can't look without someone asking for a Reshiram/Zekrom/Kyurem Level 9 or under. Why won't nintendo stop this? Is it really that hard? I LOVE going on GTS negotiations though. :D I'll be up at like 12AM EST and everyone in either Japan or Italy will pop up. It's so awesome^^! I got a Shiny Walrein from there.
何贤豪
August 27th, 2012, 10:49 PM
The GTS is great and all, but I don't like the fact that people like to ask for exceedingly impossible offers. But I scored some great offers by offering my own Pokemon...especially if I talk of foreign Pokemon. Because I can get shiny Pokemon from them easily! For GTS Negotiations, I don't seem to get much...only scored one trade, and I ended up getting a Nidoking, which I gave to a friend anyway. Kinda because I only used it once anyway.
Lorenzo The Comic
August 28th, 2012, 05:31 PM
About GTS Negotiations (if that's what the second option is called?). I use it all the time, but no one ever gave me any of the Kami-Trio Pokémon.
I don't know how the GTS of the first option works. So I deposit my Cobalion, search for some Pokémon, but when I try to trade all of my Pokémon aren't selectable. This is my very first year ever using the GTS by the way.
Medlis
September 9th, 2012, 11:20 PM
I love using the Global Trade Station, its not bad if your only offering a Pokemon instead of actively seeking one out via the search menu.
The only thing I don't like is that you don't actually know the original place of origin for that Pokemon, so you don't know if that lvl 100 foreign Zekrom you've just got is hacked or not, even if its stats look right.
GardevoirxGalladeForever
September 10th, 2012, 01:39 PM
I loved to use the GTS, especially Netgotions. I like to show the person a bunch of rare or shiny pokemon then I log off xD I'm so cruel Teehee. But sometimes I do trade if they don't log off.
FrostPheonix
September 13th, 2012, 08:55 AM
Negotiations are cool, but embaress me because all my good pokes are on platinum and I don't have another ds to transfer. So when they offer shiny raikous from events and all that, all i can do is just shake and offer a zorua. Which sucks.
GTS is awesome, as I got most of the things I usually want (still looking for an american ditto, but ill get it eventually) but the thing that pisses me off is that people keep asking for victini or lvl 9 or lower zekrom/reshiram/kyurem etc etc. Blegh.
roosterman
September 13th, 2012, 05:54 PM
sometimes i get to many of a rare pokemon from eggs and put them on the gts for bidoof and magikarp and when i really need more space i put up some weak legendarys.
when i can't find any good deals on the gts becuase of all the people that expect a level 100 palkia for there bidoof or a level 1 gyrados i start hacking pokemon and trade them holding a note telling that that the pokemon they just recieved is fake and only learns splash
shinylatias
September 14th, 2012, 08:26 AM
I like gts really much, i have almost all my shinies from the gts, such as:
shiny deoxys, shiny darkrai, shiny shaymin, shiny charizard, shiny kricketot and i think i have 30 more from gts. My best gts pokemon is an ev'd shiny raichu with volt tackle.
IceFyr1928
September 16th, 2012, 05:19 PM
Well, it's useful, but not useful... GTS is useless at the point that I'm at (just got 2nd badge) and I have nothing to offer for negotiations (that's worth anything...) other than that, it's quite useful. Got zeckrom, zoroark, and a genesect from it in my old file (save file got corrupted, most likely from my AR)
EDIT: chain trades in GTSN are super effective! Traded Snivy for Alartia for Groudon for Heidreigon for egg for egg for Beldum w/ eptic stats and Light Metal.
Chrisaur
September 19th, 2012, 10:48 PM
I enjoy using both the GTS and GTS Negotiations.
The GTS I just use to deposit Pokemon , like my 500 Charmanders ( I am still trying to breed a shiny) ,because searching for Pokemon is just insane. They are all request low level Legendaries. Its just full of below level 9 Reshirams and Zekroms.
Negotiations I find more helpful , because you get to negotiate what you want. And it's fun
TechnoEK
September 21st, 2012, 07:38 AM
It's completely useless for me, I've only seen two or three legit offers, mostly it's just people asking for Legends or Lv 100 Pokemon for Lv 1.
I tried to search for Bidoof and the offer was Bidoof Lv 12 for a Lv 100 Entei.
That Bidoof better be able to do blackflips and OHKO every Pokemon in the game.
Lorenzo The Comic
September 21st, 2012, 09:09 AM
If you check out my Global Link account, you'll see that I like to offer lots of legends to make people happy. That's pretty much the only way I can excel at Negotiations, giving away Shiny Legends for anything. One time I managed to give this one person all the Shiny Golems.
TechnoEK
September 21st, 2012, 07:41 PM
Well I guess there are some beneficial trades.
Got Charmander for Ledyba
Bidoof for Magikarp
Noctowl for my Pichu.
Lecapria
October 2nd, 2012, 12:45 PM
I was just in the GTS. all the pokemon in there are wanted for either Reshiram or Zekrom at level 9 or lower =-= They need a way of filtering those out, or adding a search for what pokemon ppl are looking for
trapincher
October 2nd, 2012, 01:23 PM
I was just in the GTS. all the pokemon in there are wanted for either Reshiram or Zekrom at level 9 or lower =-= They need a way of filtering those out, or adding a search for what pokemon ppl are looking for
Yeah, it's really weird. Do they really expect to get those Pokemon or are they cloning.. I remember there was this cheat where you could clone via GTS on older games.
benwilll
October 11th, 2012, 06:59 PM
i dont mind trading sucky pokemon for other sucky pokemon! it sometimes helps in a certain area. especially restarting the whole journey
Pink Mommy
October 25th, 2012, 12:19 AM
I do use the GTS. I use it to get the pokemon I really want but can't catch. I recently traded one of my Torchics for a Cheruby and just today I received a Piplup for my Ditto.
Only one problem... it's hacked... well, it was a bad natured Ditto anyways.
FrozenPhoenix96
October 25th, 2012, 02:53 AM
I was just in the GTS. all the pokemon in there are wanted for either Reshiram or Zekrom at level 9 or lower =-= They need a way of filtering those out, or adding a search for what pokemon ppl are looking for
Yeah, I hate that people that are doing that.
Its really annoying, because the other normal offers are kicked out because there are 90% offers that are requesting Reshiram or Zekrom Level 9 or lower... -.-"
It's really annoying.
Mudinjakarp
October 26th, 2012, 08:18 PM
I dislike GTS because you can't get pokemon not in your pokedex- otherwise, I think its a good system
MrTripStack
October 26th, 2012, 08:36 PM
I couldn't agree more! I was recently searching for another Japanese Ditto (since my cousin needs one as well) and everybody was offering their Japanese Ditto for Reshiram and Zekrom (at "level 9 or lower"). It's sooo annoying. ._.
MegaQuack8
November 1st, 2012, 11:36 PM
Ive been using GTS negotiations for a long time now cause i find it awesome i once got a shiny mewtwo
(WOWSERS)
and a shiny Altaria ....I LOVE ALTARIAS .... dont judge me >:(
anyway here are some tricks for GTSN
1 use those icons in the corner
2 use the smiley face once u start (1st impressions)
3 if they show a boring pokemon or one u have, show a sad face
4 if they show a legendary or shiney show an !
5 if they have the pokemon u came for show a heart
6 if they have a nice pokemon u want show a smiley face
7 be sure that u have good pokemon too
8 U need to fight with them (kind of) if they show a good pokemon u show one even better
9 dont overdo it and become a showoff
10 if they have stupid pokemon and are just noobs then its acceptable that u ditch the negotiations
Mochi
November 21st, 2012, 11:13 AM
GTS does have some good moments, I got a female Timid Zorua last night. Some other ones (mostly for Dex filling) were Scolipede, Walrein, and a pretty high level Vanillish.
The requests for lv. 9 and under Zekrom and Reshiram are complete jokes though. Honestly I would love to find a way to get a legit Zekrom/Reshiram in that level range just to mess with the punks showing off their impossible to trade Pokemon.
Absol
November 21st, 2012, 11:42 AM
I've tried using the GTS one or two times, but because of error issues I couldn't do anything. This may be due to the Magnemite Coil overloading the servers though. What annoys me the most however is how most of the offers are for Lv. 1 Zekroms since it is impossible to trade for those. I have gotten a few random goodies from the GTS including a Giratina that passed Pokecheck's legality check. :D
Zeyon
December 6th, 2012, 05:17 PM
I only ever used the GTS once.. and didn't get anything that I wanted. I even put in a Level 35 Shiny Charmeleon, and all I wanted was a level 10 and up Turtwip. Nothing. That was also when I first started playing, so I didn't know that, ultimately.. I was screwing myself, if that trade even went through.
I would like to get involved in Negotiation trading over GTS, but I need a little more experience with these games before I do something like that.. namely, learning more of the Pokemon, which are best for what, having planned out EV teams with movesets, etc etc..
For the most part, I'll only be getting involved in trades with people from this Community, because I've gathered from the few that I've spoken directly to, and those that have added their own marks to posts I've made.. this community is an honest bunch.. so I know I won't be getting screwed.
Anyway.. that's my two cents: Didn't like my first experiences, but open to trying again once I learn more, and know what to look for.
WobbuffetWynaut
December 11th, 2012, 03:32 PM
I use both GTS's mostly the regular one because i dont know what people want in negotiations!
Yes,because fills up my dex i could get shinies i even haz a mesprit now!
No i just get whatever I want no shinies or perfrect pokemon except for level 100 purugly.
Dex fillers except for my purugly i use it in my team!
Rayquaza the Godfather
December 12th, 2012, 12:33 PM
My most precious Pokémon I got from GTS was Shiny Darkrai lv 100.
Traded it for a Magikarp, lol.
mechro147
December 30th, 2012, 11:51 PM
i only had one good trade on negotiations. i traded my level 25 N's zorua for some kid in japans lvl 45 Virizion. peoples expectaions on trading is too high and demands legendaries just for a lvl 1 starter pokemon.
vapes
January 3rd, 2013, 12:53 PM
I actually got two good trades. One was a gible for a female dewott and the other was a hippowdon for a larvitar. I then traded the hippowdon to the girl in Accumula town for that timid Alakazam...so all in all not bad.
I remember in HG I got a shiny totodile and all I had to trade was a spinarak lol
Absol
June 7th, 2013, 10:32 PM
I don't ever use the actual GTS mainly cause it's full of everyone asking for impossible Pokemon, especially Lv. 5 and under Zekroms and Reshirams. Every once in awhile there is a reasonable offer though, you just have to be patient and check all the time lol Maybe sometime in the future this will be fixed so then there would be more reasonable offers.
tabor62
June 7th, 2013, 10:35 PM
The GTS seems to be almost completely useless in my opinion. Though unlikely, I'd like to see Nintendo place a stricter filter system on it. I've received a lot of hacked Gen III event Pokemon off of it in the past >.<
Gonzo
June 7th, 2013, 11:28 PM
I friggin' sincerely hate all those offers like: lvl up to 10 Reshiram. Seriously? People, be reasonable.
Absol
June 7th, 2013, 11:37 PM
I friggin' sincerely hate all those offers like: lvl up to 10 Reshiram. Seriously? People, be reasonable.
My thought behind this is that the people are using the GTS glitch to clone since most of the offers I see are shinies. But if that's so, then why don't they remove the Pokemon after they're done... do they leave them there to taunt others? D:
Gonzo
June 8th, 2013, 01:00 AM
Well, the glitch has been fixed in Platinum, lol. So in 5th Gen it's impossible to clone that way.
Cordelia
June 8th, 2013, 04:21 AM
Er, not one to encourage hacking, but that's when you hack a level 9 Reshiram and get their goodies. Unfortunately, the GTS doesn't let you do this, probably.
Absol
June 8th, 2013, 10:49 AM
Er, not one to encourage hacking, but that's when you hack a level 9 Reshiram and get their goodies. Unfortunately, the GTS doesn't let you do this, probably.
I've tried this before and it doesn't work unfortunately :( I really want some of those shinies too...
Penguin1970
June 12th, 2013, 02:07 AM
I only have Heart Gold.I once got a great trade,a level 28 Vaporeon (my dream Pokemon) with Blizzard,Surf,Waterfall and Bite for a level 1 Eevee i just hatched.Of course i accepted ^.^
Cordelia
June 12th, 2013, 03:49 AM
I've tried this before and it doesn't work unfortunately :( I really want some of those shinies too...
Yeah, I thought that after I posted it ;-;
@Penguin1970 -- congrats! That's awesome news n_n
Sableye~
November 2nd, 2013, 09:13 AM
I don't use the GTS much, aside from to get 'mons off Pokecheck. I did manage to obtain a shiny lvl1 Buneary off of it, though. I can't remember what they were asking for, but it was a pretty good trade on my part.
GTS Negotiations is more fun than anything else, for me. I've ended up with quite a few legendary and shiny Pokemon, but it's annoying when people reject everything you try to offer.
Kumo163
November 3rd, 2013, 06:56 PM
I really dislike the global trade center. 9/10 times I go, 99% of the trading options are either legendary pokemon and/or insanely high level pokemon (90+ level). This is why I like wonder trade so much more.
Meemster
December 9th, 2013, 07:58 AM
I hate that people on the GTS ask for impossible to retain Pokemon.. really? A level 1-10 Ditto?
destinedjagold
December 11th, 2013, 10:52 PM
GTS is annoying. =/
What I hate most are pipz offering X and are also looking for X.
Seriously?
And yeah, pipz requesting unobtainable PKMN. =/
Then again, I couldn't really hate GTS that much since, that's where I got a lvl100 Yveltal, and I only sent the trader a llvl36 Charizard. :3
Training new PKMN teams and earning money are now easy as I sweep the Elite Four with my mighty Yveltal. xD
SnowpointQuincy
December 22nd, 2013, 01:29 PM
People have good pokemon you want, like Togekiss, but refuse to give it to you.
How long is that Togekiss going to stay on the GTS before someone trades you a Lv.10 Xerneas?
Just gimme the Togekiss!
----------EDIT----------------
I put Nidoran Hustle up on GTS. And got a Female...JAPANESE....Togetic!!!
Sebastian_Sommer
February 10th, 2014, 02:40 AM
I need a second opinion on the Ho-oh I received from the GTS. It's in a masterball but it's lvl 37 and it originates from the Hoenn region which I checked for any Ho-oh related events but they are all at lvl 70. It also learned recover even though it's a lvl 71 move.
Is this a fake/hacked pokemon?
Gonzo
February 12th, 2014, 01:22 AM
@Sebastian: I'm certain it is hacked.
@topic: I find looking for Pokemon very tedious and ineffective because of all those stupid offers. Yes, they are stupid and wanted Pokemon are impossible to obtain. On the other hand, I've had so many succesful GTS trades, because my offers were fair. For example: random Graveler for any Graveler. There are many people who'd like to get their trade evolving Pokemon. I've been able to exchange Gliscor for Weavile as well.
Sebastian_Sommer
February 12th, 2014, 07:50 AM
@Sebastian: I'm certain it is hacked.
Thanks for your opinion, I reported it to the hacked pokemon thread and had it deleted from my game. It's true that there are a lot of people making some outrageous trade in the GTS, but at least you could be certain that what they are offering are actual pokemon, unlike the Ho-oh I received from the deposit function :(.
The Feves
February 16th, 2014, 09:44 AM
Thanks for your opinion, I reported it to the hacked pokemon thread and had it deleted from my game. It's true that there are a lot of people making some outrageous trade in the GTS, but at least you could be certain that what they are offering are actual pokemon, unlike the Ho-oh I received from the deposit function :(.
That's a bummer. Ho-Oh would only come at a lower level than 50 if it came from the Dream Radar game, and if that was the case it would be in a Dream Radar ball. If you're still in need of a legit Ho-Oh, pm me and we could probably work something out.
I remember when GTS first made its appearance in D/P, but I never used it until a couple nights ago on X/Y. I'm amazed by how useful and helpful it is for completing Dex entries. I would never look for a Legendary trade on there tho. I've learned quickly that it's best to talk to people on the forums. Everyone on here is far more friendly and helpful, and more often than not, very genuine and legitimate.
I have definitely found a new appreciation for GTS, but I'm astounded at the ridiculous Pokemon people are offering when asking for legendaries. I spent a half-hour looking for a Turtwig trade that wasn't looking for an insanely valuable legendary. It's a freaking Turtwig, dagnabbit. If it's breed-able and doesn't have any iv's worth mentioning, then don't go asking for a one-of-a-kind Pokemon! Am I right?
thebest
April 24th, 2014, 02:17 AM
hey,
I like the GTS i always search for Pokemon because many people put shiny Pokemon on the GTS witch is convenient for me because i"m a shiny hunter lol :-) but then again if i"m looking for some legendary Pokemon i put a Pokemon up for trade.
sCam
April 25th, 2014, 05:46 PM
GTs pisses me off 9 times out of ten. As someone who relies soley on this, and forums to complete the dex, it's quite frustrating. I only need like 30 pokemon left, bu tI still don't get all these kids obsession with Mew. I wish i can clone my mew 718 time, and trade it on the gts. I'd have the shiny charm within an hour.
Seriously though, only reasonable trades i get is when i deposit a transfer only pokemon for dex fillers, and repeat the process witht he pokemon i acquired, but it takes a while, and is not ideal way to complete the dex imo. but w/e I don't have money to buy black 2 again, or platinum again, or poke transfer, so I'm stuck witht his ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.
ALL I WANT IS A MUSHARNA IF ONLY I HAD A MOON STONE
AcesHigh89
April 25th, 2014, 08:54 PM
I'll drop an extra legendary for something I don't feel like breeding or training for... got a really good Scizor that way. I never use legendary pokemon, even in the main quest, so it helps a lot.
Axeliira
April 26th, 2014, 08:06 AM
I think the GTS has improved somewhat. It also became a hub for Vivillon exchange too. I've gotten most of the patterns that way and it only required either a starter Pokemon or a Vivillon of a different pattern. Sure, there are still some silly requests out there that people want to trade a L5 Zekrom for a Magikarp, but those are just down at the bottom, which is ok.
I got Poliwhirl with Kings Rock that way too, but until I found out Politoed's ability wasn't Drizzle, I kinda don't want it anymore xD
thebest
April 26th, 2014, 05:50 PM
Yer vivillon exchange to one from around the world as a different pattern made the GTS a but more exciting :-)
TheGinger63
April 30th, 2014, 03:01 AM
I was just dex hunting in the gts recently when I came across a shiny nidoran. And all the other person wanted was a simple rayquaza. Naturally I jumped on it. Now im questioning it though.
It has a masterball and it is from sinnoh. Movesets and stats look okay. Very suspicious though. Til its proven unhacked, its facing isolation lmao
KatTayle
July 9th, 2014, 12:57 PM
Most offers I see suck, so I put up my own for trade. I just use pokemon you can't get in kalos and stick them up there for something I want. Or shinies sometimes if I'm feeling really lazy or need a legend
| 29,970 |
Teaching German
Germany
German Doctors Protest Against Pay Conditions
Over 20,000 doctors from hospitals and private practices all over Germany took to the streets Wednesday to protest against poor salaries and bureaucracy in the statutory health system.
"The system is sick" claims this and many more German doctors
Most German doctors are no longer willing to accept what they refer to as the adverse funding conditions in the statutory health system. Many of them voiced their anger and frustration on the streets of Berlin, while smaller protest actions took place in other big cities across the country. Tens of thousands of practices were shut nationwide.
Andreas Schulz, a general practitioner in Lower Saxony and one of the protesters in Berlin, hoped that Wednesday's protest would have an impact on Germany's politicians.
"We definitely think that with our action today and following action we are able to change the existing conditions. The leading politicians, including our new Chancellor Merkel, will have to listen to the doctors, because otherwise the patient care will go down in Germany."
The restricted funding policy pursued by statutory health funds and endorsed by the government does not only mean less money for the treatment of patients but also less money in doctors' pockets at the end of the day. Doctors are forced to observe ceilings on what they spend on their patients or face financial penalties themselves.
"The amount of money the health insurance funds give to the doctors is very strictly budgeted," explained Hans-Jörg Freese, a spokesman for the German Medical Association.
Health insurance funds decide fees
Doctors say they have been inadequately paid for a decade
"We have a different system when you compare it with other countries like Britain, where you have a state financed system. In Germany we have health insurance funds, and they have to decide and negotiate with the doctors the amount of money they give for the healthcare system. And we have had low wages over the last 10 years in Germany."
Health Minister Ulla Schmidt has shown little sympathy for the doctors. She has said that doctors have less to complain about than they would have us believe. She doesn't subscribe to the view that doctors are paid too little, insisting that their incomes are above the average earnings of German academics.
Politicians have no grip on realistic figures, say doctors
Doctors and nurses are blowing the whistle on their pay conditions
But Andreas Schulz said the minister didn't know what she was talking about. "The politicians do not understand hospital funding, and they definitely don't understand funding of the practices outside the hospital," the doctor said. "They mention numbers that are valid about the turnover of funding inside and outside the hospitals, but the important thing is what is left for the individual doctor, for the individual practice, after everything has been paid."
The protesters are warning that more and more German doctors will leave the country, if conditions in the health system remain unchanged. They point out that a third of all doctor's practices are currently facing bankruptcy and that the number is even higher in rural areas.
In many cases, nurses can no longer be employed full-time and the purchase of essential new equipment is postponed to avoid financial disaster.
| 3,379 |
Private Lipstick TrioLooking for a custom gift that is sure to fit and flatter? Look no further! Our adorable set of travel size Private Red, Private Plum and Private Nude all conspire to give any wearer gorgeous lips, customized to morph into personalized shades of three classic lipstick colors. Pretty perfect for the woman who "has everything!"
| 348 |
Our Map
Stepping out of the hotel, our guests find themselves right in the heart of the Salamanca district with upscale shops that sell both Spanish and international brands, fashionable restaurants and all the glamour of Madrid at its most chic and up-to-the minute. The hotel is a mere block from the new Calle Serrano, renovated only recently with wide pavements, places to sit down, urban gardens and an extensive bicycle path.
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The patch above removes all the dependencies we don't need from the opencv MSYS2 package build, saving around 80MB of disk space.
The savings for our installer package are much smaller (~5MB) because we already trimmed it quite a bit and the file is compressed.
This should make things less brittle too: the opencv package seems to break very regularly in MSYS2 due to the huge amount of dependencies it has and because of the way the module loads them all - they would need to rebuild the package every time a dependency is updated.
Only problem is that the 32-bit version crashes hard, even the simple opencv_version.exe tool does... so r18290 disables webcam support in 32-bit builds.
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Hunting Stories
October 26th of 2013 turned out to be a great day more me in the Iowa timber…after receiving permission to hunt this farm soon after moving to Iowa, I went on a small scouting trip, and found a spot that just stood out to me. It was outside corner of a cattle fence that […]
How the Relationship with My Brother Made for an Unforgettable Hunting Season
Growing up, my older brother, Damin, and I were equally passionate about two things: deer hunting and basketball. At the time, and this is still the case for Damin, basketball took front and center stage of our lives. We traveled all up and […]
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8Data
142.In our interim report, we outlined the importance of good quality, accurate data.115 Poor quality data are undermining the ability to prevent suicide. Access to timely data allows rapid responses (for example, reducing access to places or methods of suicide) to patterns that could indicate suicide clusters, which could help prevent further deaths by suicide. Reliable data will help those evaluating preventative action to know which public health and clinical initiatives are effective in preventing suicide, therefore allowing effective action to be replicated and encouraged.
143.We recognise that ensuring good quality data will not, by itself, save lives. Nevertheless, data is a hugely important issue when seeking to prevent suicide. Bad data is undoubtedly a problem—there is no point looking at and seeking to learn from data if it is not trustworthy. It is difficult to know which public health initiatives are working without reliable data and relying on incorrect data could lead to certain initiatives being advocated when they are actually ineffective.116
144.We are disappointed that in the third progress report on the suicide prevention strategy there was no reference made to changing the standard of proof, and the only reference made to coroners was to say that “ONS is also engaging further with coroners to improve the quality of reporting of suicides”. We made clear recommendations in our interim report which would have improved the quality of data including its usefulness for preventing suicide, and it is disappointing that the Government has not included any of them in its latest update report on the strategy.
Standard of proof
145.As we explained in our interim report, a conclusion of suicide must meet the ‘criminal’ standard of proof, that is, that the coroner or jury must be certain, beyond reasonable doubt, that the person took their own life and intended to do so. Suicide and unlawful killing are the only two conclusions which must meet this higher standard.
146.The higher standard of proof for suicide is harmful for two reasons. The first is that it increases the stigma around suicide. Ged Flynn, Chief Executive of PAPYRUS, explained why stigma around suicide is dangerous:
The consequences of not being open and acknowledging that the person was instrumental in bringing about their own death is to increase the stigma around suicide. This increases the reluctance of those who are considering ending their lives to acknowledge and speak about their suicidal thoughts. It impedes help-seeking.117
147.Professor Louis Appleby, arguing for a change to the standard of proof, told us that
Its equivalence with criminal proof reflects the history of suicide. [ … ] There is a principle here, which is that that standard of proof is a reflection of a system that is full of prejudice and stigma, which we ought to dismantle.118
148.The current standard of proof also causes misclassification of deaths by suicide, leading to an underestimation of the numbers of individuals who have taken their lives by suicide. We explain this in detail below.
149.We recognise that different bereaved families and individuals will view the issue of the standard of proof differently. It has been suggested that some families would prefer for the death of a loved one not to be recorded as a suicide, due to the stigma attached to suicide. However we are guided by the evidence of the bereaved families and individuals from whom we heard in the course of this inquiry. PAPYRUS, a majority of whose trustees have lost a child or young sibling to suicide, was clear that you do not deal with stigma by colluding with it:
We understand the reluctance of many parents/partners or family members to hear a suicide conclusion returned following the death of a family member, but the consequences of not being open and acknowledging that the person was instrumental in bringing about their own death is to increase the stigma around suicide.119
150.Many of the bereaved families from whom we heard in our inquiry are now actively working to prevent suicide. Our evidence suggests that bereaved families recognise that accurately recording a death by suicide as suicide, though difficult to accept in some circumstances, will achieve a different and far better outcome for future families.
151.We recommend that the standard of proof for conclusions of death by suicide should be changed to the balance of probabilities rather than beyond reasonable doubt.
Coroners’ conclusions
152.If a coroner does not feel that the standard of proof has been met for a death of an individual, he or she has three options. The coroner can declare a conclusion of accidental death; the coroner can declare an open conclusion; or the coroner can choose to solely use a narrative conclusion.
153.Open conclusions are included in the Office for National Statistics’ suicide registrations. However, coroners are discouraged from recording open conclusions. The Chief Coroner’s Guidance No. 17, Conclusions: Short-form and narrative makes clear that
Open conclusions are to be discouraged, save where strictly necessary. An open conclusion should ‘only be used as a last resort, notably when the coroner [or the jury] is simply unable to reach any conclusion on the balance of probabilities as between two competing verdicts’. [ … ]In some cases a narrative conclusion will be preferable to an open conclusion. A narrative will give the coroner (or jury) the opportunity to state what findings are made and what are not.120
154.Professor Keith Hawton, Director of the Centre for Suicide Research at the University of Oxford, noted that he and other experts in this field have “considerable concerns about the accuracy of data based on coroners’ verdicts, even when open verdicts are included as possible suicides.”121
155.A coroner, when faced with a suspected suicide which does not meet the standard of proof, who is discouraged from using an open conclusion has two options left. The coroner can record the death as accidental (which would not appear in the suicide registrations and would therefore skew the data) or can choose to use a narrative conclusion.
Narrative conclusions
156.Narrative conclusions are not in and of themselves a problem. However, if a coroner has used a narrative conclusion with no short-form conclusion, ONS must code the death. In some circumstances, a coroner will include enough detail about the deceased’s actions and intent for the ONS to code the death as a suicide. However in other circumstances, the coroner will not have included sufficient detail for the ONS to code the death as a suicide. These “hard-to-code” conclusions result in deaths which are likely to be suicides not being coded as such. David Gunnell (a public health physician and researcher and member of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group) notes that in England and Wales, hard to code narrative conclusions are increasing (from 6% in 2011 to 8% in 2014), “compromising suicide prevention activity and leading to significant under-estimation of suicide rates and trends”.122
157.Professor Gunnell highlights the variability between coroners and regions:
As the use of narrative verdicts varies tremendously from coroner to coroner over time this may have distorted the assessment of suicide prevention activities in some areas.123
158.Research undertaken by Professor Gunnell and other colleagues showed that areas which reported the largest declines in suicide between 2001/2 and 2009 were the areas which experienced the greatest increase in use of narrative verdicts. Some of Professor Gunnell’s research shows huge variation between the decisions of coroners across the country in studies of “clinically defined suicides”. This can lead to ineffective action, as he explains:
I’ve seen claims made for the success of local prevention programmes, where apparent suicide reductions have more likely reflected changes in local Coroner practice (increased use of narrative verdicts).124
159.We are concerned that unreliable data could hinder the efforts of public health teams to reduce suicide. We note that if the standard of proof for conclusion of suicide was the civil, rather than the criminal, standard, coroners would be able to record likely suicides as suicide, rather than facing a choice between a conclusion of accidental death, an open conclusion or a narrative conclusion.
160.Apart from a change to the standard of proof, we also consider that improvements to the way in which narrative conclusions are recorded are essential for improving data accuracy. We are encouraged that in a discussion between our Chair and the Chief Coroner on this subject, the Chief Coroner recognised the importance of ensuring consistency between coroners, but he is limited in his powers to change practice due to the independence of coroners and in the resources available to him to help to bring about greater consistency.
161.We recommend that the Chief Coroner should be given adequate resourcing to allow clear oversight of the variation in the recording of suicide. We also recommend mandatory training for all coroners, both those already in post and newly appointed, on the use of short form and narrative conclusions, to ensure consistency across England and Wales.
162.Witnesses have also told us of the importance of inclusion of detail about the intent of the deceased and the method of suicide in narrative conclusions.125 Detail on intent and method will reduce the number of hard-to-code narrative conclusions, therefore ensuring greater accuracy in ONS data. Systematic and consistent details of method of suicide will also enable quick intervention by public health teams who can act to ensure that the likelihood of further deaths by certain methods is reduced, including restricting access to high-lethality methods of suicide.
163.We recognise the concerns that including detail about lethal (and particularly new or emerging) methods of suicide in coroners’ rulings could be counter-productive, as it could lead to vulnerable individuals using information found in coroners’ conclusions to take their own lives. We suggest that the Government should explore whether information about lethal methods of suicide could be made available to statistical agencies and public health teams, but withheld from public view.
164.We recommend that training for coroners on suicide should include the importance of including sufficient detail in a narrative conclusion about the deceased individual’s intent and method used in order to minimise the number of hard-to-code narrative conclusions. Accurate data is crucial to the understanding of what approaches work best in reducing suicide. We suggest that this training could be given by experts in the field of data and suicide prevention.
165.While acknowledging that coroners are independent judges and that the Chief Coroner cannot direct them to take specific action, we consider that training for coroners could include information about how vital sharing information with public health and mental health teams where appropriate at an early stage can be for reducing the likelihood of a cluster of suicides.
166.We recommend that training and guidance for coroners should include material about the importance of timely information sharing with public health and mental health teams where appropriate in order to identify possible clusters and the proliferation of emerging new methods of suicide.
| 11,587 |
A fashionable lady's hat, an old gramophone, a briefcase, pictures, books, porcelain, and dolls on the windowsill are useless antique things. One can take in his hands an old album with photographs and plunge into the warmth of childhood. A slight recollection is enough for travelling to begin: what was the way to dress oneself, what was fashionable, how usual hairstyle looked like and so on. It is in the routine everyday life where tastes and habits and understanding of beauty are revealed.
Having a special attractiveness, old things reflect the taste of generations and create certain atmosphere, change mood and decorate life.
We gave our gallery the name "Old chest". One can pull marvellous antique things and objects out of it, and touch the forgotten works of art.
Exhibitions of photography, old postcards and works of graphic art take place in the gallery.
| 874 |
Our oldest granddaughter just had her first child (a girl) and soon after stated that she wanted to learn how to quilt. So...we boght her a sewing machine for Christmas. What else does a grandma do LOL. This fabric line would be the perfect finish to the best start. Thank you Margot for this wonderful give a way. Congrats to whoever wins or is it (whomever) LOL
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ideas and news from SMPS Boston
Conducting the Communications Ensemble, Part I
April 11, 2013
“Voice From the Trenches” aims to inform and inspire marketing professionals who are immersed in the day-to-day activities of their firms. This month, Karen Euler excerpts from a recent session on marketing communications at the SMPS Boston Marketing Boot Camp.
At the boot camp, Pia Cardinali, CPSM and I covered five rough groupings of communications literature. We started with basics such as the website and firm brochure, moved through public relations and specialized pieces, and finished with social media.
Together, the groups can be thought of as an ensemble. A musical metaphor is apt because the pieces work separately at times and at other times together. There is an essential kit of pieces that form the melody of the firm’s music, while other pieces add harmony, rising up and falling away as needed to deepen awareness about the firm and its work.
The Essential Kit
Whether a firm is new or long-established, its primary pieces of literature are the one-page firm profile, the website, and the printed firm brochure. It is simply impossible to launch a new firm without these materials, and a long-established firm must update them from time to time or risk appearing dated.
Today’s website usually contains information on key projects, key people, a mention of its philosophy or methodology, and case studies, white papers or blog posts that promote special expertise that the firm offers.
Stationery is an important part of this essential kit and includes the business cards, email signature, letterhead & notecards. In today’s world, paper stationery is used only rarely, but business cards have certainly not yet fallen away.
The email signature can be a powerful tool for mentioning special news. It is dynamic, easily changed to include a message or a link for a short or long period of time.
Broadcasting: Press Releases and E-blasts
After a new firm becomes a going concern, it will want to circulate high-profile project news, awards received, senior hires, and firm anniversaries. An established firm will typically embark on a strong PR program as a secondary effort when the proposal process is running smoothly.
“PR” as it is often abbreviated, is typically achieved through a combination of e-blasts, traditional press releases, and newsletters of some kind. Traditional press releases might not have a graphic design component and are aimed at mainstream media. E-blasts, newsletters, and even Facebook posts all have the potential to be visually creative and impactful.
There are two necessary ingredients for doing any of these well which are not always easy to come by: a mailing list of clients and one of media contacts.
Some principals may be skilled at maintaining a client list while others less so. Some firms have media contact lists that are woefully out of date. Many firms do not have an organized PR program through which to keep track of media outlets that are of interest both to read and to which to contribute. Therefore it may fall to marketing to research relevant publications and obtain the email addresses of their editors.
Developing Clients: Event Pieces
Holiday cards are often very important to a firm because the holiday season is the one time of the year they surely will reach out to clients without a business agenda. In fact, holiday cards that tout too much of a “salesy” firm message are often looked down upon.
Another way to relate directly to clients’ well-being is through a special event. Industry parties were more common before the recession rocked the boat in 2009. Once in a while a party is called for and an invitation can be a great way to show appreciation.
Seminars held at a firm’s office or through trade groups such as Urban Land Institute or Women’s Transportation Seminar are a reliable way to generate quality leads for a firm. Today, firms are just as likely to use webinars as seminars. Either way, a visually compelling invitation is part of successful event-planning.
Part II of the communications ensemble will be covered next month. Til then, we’re humming along.
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Why every script needs a cracking Crisis. In a satisfying film, the hero grows and learns along the way. They may stubbornly pursue the wrong path, but there comes a point when they hit rock bottom, and realise things have to change. Usually, this means digging deep...
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Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Living Room Style
My house has two stories with two bed rooms, living, dining and kitchen downstair. Our existing kitchen is little small (10 by 13 Feet) and enclosed from 3 sides. Also it is very old and need remodeling (everything need to be changed from cabinets, floor You don’t need to break the bank in order to purchase wall mirrors for your living room. You can design something that you like and have a local artist make it for you. Jeff and Reba Leaning want to use the 11-by-19-foot living room of their Arlington home as More from Home & Garden: Tell us about your own design challenge here See past room makeovers by local designers here Having purchased the house eight years ago for $4.395 million, the ex-Bond girl expanded and remodeled the Traditional-style home and made the living room "nightlife-style" thus creating the "ready to party" vibe. Zillow reports that the room features an While the location was perfect, there were a few things that needed to be done to the 1950s Cape Cod-style house to comfortably accommodate McGuill suggested turning the formal living room into a casual gathering place with a custom 8-foot long table. O'Donnell could handle that - he has an interior-design consulting firm is an oil painting by Susan Blubaugh placed over the piano in the pale-green living room. The depiction of cows grazing in an autumn meadow "reminds me what this place would .
The Rauches had built their three-bedroom, 4,400-square-foot Mediterranean-style home and selected the materials and and helped the Rauches select some décor for the formal living room. The next project, Sharon says, will likely be converting an The home configuration will feature a front hall, living room, dining room, kitchen and den, with each resident having his or her own private room and personal space. The smaller homelike design also creates shorter walking distances from bedrooms and and Betsy Burnham of the California-based design firm Burnham Design — share: Analyze your space Begin by deciding how the room will be used, Burnham says. Is it a living room used mainly for TV watching or socializing? Does the space have two roles They’re the simple pieces that stand the test of time. Never in or out of fashion, the items in this bunch are classically chic and tasteful, and eternally look good (so you won’t be forking over money to replace them in two years’ time). Forget .
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Primary Menu
Happy New Year, Happy New Moon!
Happy New Year and Happy New Moon!
If you make resolutions at the New Year, how can you make sure they’re going to work?
January 1st 2014 at 11.15 am GMT brings the new moon in Capricorn: a ‘supermoon’ – meaning that the moon is close to earth in her orbit. Astrologically, this increases the influence of the moon and heightens your ability to tap into the subconscious, clear out what you don’t want and create more of what you really do want. The new moon does not ’cause’ our affirmations, wishes and goals to succeed, its new phase merely reflects a time when everything on earth and in nature supports new growth.
New Moon ‘wishes’ or affirmations are statements that support your goals, (rather than the goals themselves). Affirmations work when there is no contradiction between what you affirm for and what you believe about the affirmation.
For example, if you want to stop smoking in the New Year, your goal might be: ‘I intend to be a non-smoker by February 1st 2014’.
An affirmation (amongst others) that supports this goal might be: ’I love making healthy choices that make me feel good’
Each time you say the affirmation, you’re re-minding yourself of something you already believe is true.
But if you create the goal above and affirm it with something like: ‘I hate smoking’ or ‘I am now a non-smoker’, you might get some inner resistance to your statement. The subconscious would have difficulty ‘believing’ you because it knows that your conscious statement isn’t entirely true: you may still enjoy a cigarette even if it’s your goal to stop, and it knows for sure you are not yet a ‘non-smoker’!
The problem with resistance to an affirmation is that it automatically disempowers us: when we meet with inner resistance, we can’t move forward towards our goal. This is what happens sometime around Jan 10th, when we start to feel like the grand plans are going pear-shaped…..
What can be done to deal with this conundrum? (The same conundrum which, incidentally is one of the prime reasons that Law Of Attraction books such as The Secret can be frustratingly difficult to apply).
Well, we can continue to create affirmations that we know for sure are believed by the subconscious mind. This works but only takes us so far……. Enter, ‘af-form-ations’, a marvelously inventive approach to affirmations originated by Dr Noah St John, who after reaching a rock-bottom moment of frustration when trying to work out why he wasn’t succeeding, had a eureka moment and realised that:
‘you create your life in two ways: by the statements you say to yourselves and others, and by the questions you ask yourself and others.’
Dr Noah tells us that that the mind has an automatic search function. It’s referred to by psychologists as the ‘embedded presupposition factor’, meaning that our brain has an automatic expectation of circumstances, events, relationships and outcomes, hard-wired in from our social and genetic conditioning.
The brain automatically searches for answers to anything we ask, whether positive or negative.
Why does this always happen to me? (A question we rarely ask when things have just worked out swimmingly)
In areas of life that challenge us, the questions we ask of ourselves can be negative: if we find ourselves in a situation we don’t want to be in yet again, we usually respond by asking ‘ Why does this always happen?’ ‘ Why am I so stupid/unlovable/ bad person/ a failure/ broke again? etc etc?’
Naturally, being the amazing super-computer it is, your brain automatically begins to search for answers to the above questions, quickly coming up with hard evidence from the outside world as to why you are indeed stupid/ bad/ wrong/ rejectable!
Up until recently in human history, we have tended to believe the evidence presented to us in the outside world as ‘true’. When there are underlying expectations of failure lurking beneath our conscious goals, we have an underlying belief that drives us quickly to our end point of failure. Except…… except…. Yes, it’s only a belief! This means it’s not real or true in anyone else’s world except for our own personal universe.
Dr Noah’s afformations are thus a beauteous and elegant way to ask a better question of ourselves. Instead of ‘ I hate smoking’ ( we might not, even if we want to stop) we can ask ‘Why do I dislike smoking?’ (tons of reasons will validate this even if you’re still doing it.)
Instead of ‘I am now a non-smoker’ (really?), you could ask ‘Why do I love being free of cigarettes?’
Instead of ‘why am I so stupid/ unhealthy/ unlucky in love/ broke?’, try any of the following:
‘Why am I so clever/bright/ creative?
Why am I so healthy? Why do I make such healthy choices? Why do I love the healthiest food and exercise?
Why am I lovable? Why am I able to picture myself happy with a soul/play/work mate?
Afformations enable us to fill in what Noah calls ‘the belief gap’ – an area of the subconscious that is entrained by previous experiences and social/familial conditioning to expect difficulty, set-backs or failure, limiting our ability to set goals in that area no matter what we desire for it.
More importantly, afforming, – asking empowering questions of yourself, enables you to take actions that progress you towards your destination goal or resolution.
A Short Re-Minder:
Affirmations, (statements that support your goals) and new –moon wishes work well in areas where there is no resistance from the beliefs of the powerful subconscious.
Use afformations in areas in which you have previously been unsuccessful in goal-setting, – where there’s a ‘belief gap’.
When you get to the old familiar bottom-line question of ‘Why is this happening again?’, track the feeling you get and identify it as closely as possible: do you feel sad, bad, guilty, stuck, wrong, insecure, fearful, or something else that stops you in your tracks?
‘Catch’ the feeling and identify it with a word or two, then deliberately turn it around on its head: your brain just found you evidence of something disempowering – that’s all. (It’s not true!)
Always use ‘Why’ as your question opener as this tells your brain to start looking for all the ways the question is already true.
Keep a notebook so you can track your afformation questions and notice where your brain brings you evidence, ideas and fresh perspective.
Notice how much easier it is to create supportive ‘beliefs’ and expectations when you set your brain an empowering rather than disempowering task.
(This work is the same as noticing more of the good in your life).
Good Luck in using afformations, and wishing you an absolutely wonderful, peaceful, loving and inspirational New 2014!
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Blackhawks bring back Patrick Sharp
Patrick Sharp (Fanny Schertzer, Wikimedia Commons)
The Chicago Blackhawks have brought back Canadian Olympic gold medalist Patrick Sharp of Winnipeg, Manitoba. A left winger, Sharp brings leadership and experience to Chicago as he has played in 869 National Hockey League career regular season games.
Last season, Sharp only played 48 National Hockey League regular season games with the Dallas Stars due to injury, and notched eight goals and 10 assists for 18 points and was a -22. He had two concussions and a hip problem that caused him to have season ending surgery in March.
Sharp’s -22 was a career low. His 18 points was also the fewest number of points he had since his rookie season of 2003-04, when he had seven for the Philadelphia Flyers in 41 games. This past season, Sharp also had 31 penalty minutes, one power play goal, one short handed goal, 146 shots, 29 faceoff wins, 24 hits, 24 blocked shots, 16 takeaways and 21 giveaways.
Sharp’s best season came in 2013-14, when he tied his career high in goals (34), and set highs in assists (44) and points (78). It was also that season he won a gold medal for Canada at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
Sharp spent 10 seasons with Chicago from 2005 to 2015, and while he was with the Blackhawks he became a prolific top six forward. With the loss of Marian Hossa for the season with a progressive skin disorder, Sharp could fit into the Blackhawks lineup again just nicely if he successfully recovers from his hip ailment. The terms of his contract are for one year and $800,000.
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Todays Hours
What is My Vehicle Worth?
Interested in trading in your current vehicle? It would probably be good to have an estimate of what it’s worth first. After all, trading in a vehicle is a lot less hassle than selling it yourself. And you can often lower your payments by trading in a vehicle as well. Win-win!
We’re here to help you make an informed decision here at Bowers Auto Inc.. Fill out the simple form below, and we’ll send you an estimated appraisal within 48 hours. From there, it’s up to you what you want to do!
Contact Info
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By submitting this form you will be requesting trade in value at no obligation and will be contacted within 48 hours by by a sales representative.
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Adrian Plass - The Shadow Doctor
In the past I have read some books by Adrian Plass that raise a smile at the expense of churches (that are often more than willing to become hostages to fortune).
For this reason, I have not sure that I was really looking forward to reading this book. I was pleasantly surprised to find the beginnings of a good story line set in Sussex, where I live.
Yet even with the local interest, I am afraid that the story line is not of consistent quality all the way through the novel. The plot does seem to get a bit soggy in the middle and crumbles away well before reaching the end.
The book is good in parts. It has some interesting excursions into apologetics and human psychology, and one or two sideways glances at the Church that are amusing.
One of the chapters is entitled: Loose Ends; I am afraid that for this reader, there were far too many loose ends in this book. However, if you want a relatively undemanding, clean, light read on a plane or the beach, you could do worse than pack this short novel.
John Woods
Get more inspiring reading
Our print magazine for INSPIRE is currently on hold while we explore new funding options for a relaunch later this year. If you'd like to be kept up to date with developments, ready to order the new title once it's available, email [email protected]
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Careers
Vacancies
LCA was founded in 1999 and works with the world’s leading consumer brand manufacturers to develop their sales and supply chain capabilities within emerging markets.
LCA has developed a specialised software in-house called LUCIA. LUCIA is an integrated suite of software modules used by manufacturers and distributors to cut through the complexities of the supply chain – delivering product to the retail shelf, in good condition and at the lowest possible cost. It is a proven solution that still retains exciting development and growth potential.
We are currently seeking:
Logistics Analyst (Jakarta based)
We seek to recruit a strong logistics analyst to support the rapid growth of our DNA Managed Service business in Indonesia.
This is an opportunity for an energetic individual to gain both depth and breadth of experience, working in an informal but demanding environment.
Requirements:
The role requires a high level of competence in the building of structured models. We constantly push the envelope, so it is critical that the analyst can visualise the ‘on-the-ground’ impact of what is being modelled. Logistics operational experience is therefore an advantage.
Responsibilities:
You will work with a small, high-performing team in developing radically upgraded solutions for our manufacturing, distribution and retail clients.
Junior / Senior Software Engineer (Kuala Lumpur based)
As a Software Developer, you will work in teams to enhance our application suite used by major manufacturers and distributors across Malaysia and Indonesia.
Currently we have two open positions: 1 for junior developer and 1 for senior developer.
Requirements:
2+ years of experience with PHP or Python
2+ years of experience with relational database such as MySQL or PostgreSQL
Basic knowledge of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS
A solid understanding of object-oriented programming concepts
Knowledge of common software engineering design patterns
Good written and verbal communication skills
Responsibilities:
Work closely with the development team to ensure seamless implementation and quality of finished application.
Participate in team discussions, including giving and receiving thoughtful feedback and critique.
Think critically about the product and suggest improvements to other team members.
Software Quality Assurance Engineer (Kuala Lumpur based)
As a QA Engineer, you will oversee the entire software test cycle based on functional specifications, technical specifications, user stories, and application performances.
As a System Administrator, you will be working with the technical team to manage and maintain the technical infrastructures, and provide assistance with system administration tasks.
Requirements:
Management of Linux servers and Linux-based tools and infrastructures
Installation, configuration, and management of web and database servers
Installation, configuration, and management of development and remote management tools
Responsibilities:
Keep systems stable, secure, and up-to-date
Manage servers and other technical infrastructures
Deploy and manage tools to assist with system and application development
Liaise with clients to integrate our system into their networks
If you are interested in being a part of our fun, open, and supportive team, please email your latest CV with the job title you are applying for in the subject line, to [email protected]. If you are applying for a programming based role please include sample code of your past works, and/or links to your projects (if available) to our team.
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Search form
'Songs Of Faith And Devotion' was released exactly twenty years ago this week. In 1993, the quartet of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andrew Fletcher and Alan Wilder - regarded as the 'classic' Depeche Mode line-up - was a band vastly changed from their synth-pop roots. 'Violator', the 1990 album that preceded 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion', was the conclusion of a journey that took the band from Basildon boyband pop through various plunges into ever darker places, culminating in the clever, sleek stadium-friendly electronic structures of 'Violator'; girls in my school duly covered their folders and workbooks with photos of the clean-cut looking lads with leather jackets and tidy haircuts.
The Depeche Mode of 1993 arrived in the noisiest of fashions with the first single to be lifted from 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion', 'I Feel You'. From the first moments of that track it was clear that Depeche Mode wanted to put their past behind them, the track opening with seven seconds of howling feedback that some journalists compared to the soundtrack to David Lynch's Eraserhead, before a dirty blues riff from Martin Gore and crashing, processed live drums kicked in; organ grooves, gospel ascendancy and stirring, rousing vocals from Dave Gahan made it clear that this was a Depeche Mode who wanted to be taken very seriously indeed by the rock press.
And to go with that harder sound, with any trace of 'pure' electronics buried almost immeasurably deep beneath a murky rock cacophony, came a new image for Dave Gahan. In the downtime between 'Violator' and 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion', Dave Gahan was suddenly re-cast as the quintessential rock frontman - long hair, a body literally covered in tattoos, and all the nihilistic excesses and tendencies we have come to associate with rock royalty. The change of image somehow gave credence to Depeche Mode's new, more organic sound but it came with a dose of ballsy hyperbole from Gahan during the promotion of the album and its tour, the singer even going so far as to risibly claim that Depeche Mode were responsible for the development of grunge; his growing chemical dependencies would also lead to painfully slow progress at the recording sessions in Madrid and Hamburg, much to the frustration of the rest of the band.
Image reboot to one side, the other big change was Martin Gore's lyric writing. With songs like 'Condemnation' and 'Walking In My Shoes', Gore was suddenly striving for a sort of religious salvation, almost as if he was in need of redemption for some vast life of sin. Previous albums had contained songs that referenced spirituality, but here was a whole album neatly split between the album title's themes of faith and devotion. 'Condemnation', with its world weary imagery of a man accepting his punishment with bitter grace was the album's towering moment, full of hand-wringing angst, regret and disappointment. Gahan had never sounded like he does on 'Condemnation' before; his voice has a gravelly, almost slurred quality that adds to the wretchedness of the man on trial here, the slow motion wonky piano, drums and humming in the music giving this a queasy sense of muted euphoria. The combination of Alan Wilder's studio expertise and Gahan's vocal development on 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion' were the crucial elements required to execute Gore's lyrical themes; Wilder, in conjunction with the album's producer Flood, gave Gore's songs a grainy atmosphere that was more or less the polar opposite of the far cleaner sound of 'Violator'. Grinding bass, skeketal, creeping synths, an unlikely funk guitar on 'Mercy In You', uillean pipes on 'Judas', a string orchestra on the haunting 'One Caress', scratched distorted hip-hop breaks on the affirming gospel of 'Get Right With Me', the psychedelic uplift of 'Higher Love' - all of this was virgin territory for Depeche Mode, setting 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion' a world apart from anything else they'd done. Only the electro-rock angst of 'Rush' seemed remotely related to the earlier Mode sound.
'Songs Of Faith And Devotion' is one of several pivotal albums in Depeche Mode's back catalogue, not least because it would be the catalyst for a massive change in the band. The accompanying fourteen-month global tour would see Andrew Fletcher quit the band temporarily through stress and Gore suffering from seizures brought on, in his words, by extreme exhaustion. Alan Wilder quit the band completely when the tour was over to focus on his Recoil side-project leaving a major studio gap in the band that subsequent albums have never quite filled. As for Gahan, the excesses of rock star life caught up with him savagely, the singer overdosing from a cocktail of hard drugs and actually dying for a brief few seconds, narrowly avoiding becoming another rock star fatality. That the band are still together, and back producing some of their strongest songs yet, remains something of a surprise after the career pinnacle that was 'Songs Of Faith And Devotion' and the ensuing strain it caused - but thankfully they are.
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About Ash
About Us
Founded in 2000, ASH is the brainchild of French shoe designer Patrick Ithier and Italian entrepreneur Leonello Calvani, two prominent figures in the footwear industry. With Ithier’s eye for design and Calvani’s business acumen, ASH was created. Featuring footwear at its core, ASH combines French flair with Italian-heritage design. Its impeccable craftsmanship and innovative creations have made it a leader and pioneer in the market.
Today, ASH has expanded its portfolio to include other categories such as men’s, ready-to-wear, handbags and accessories. ASH designs, manufactures and markets all product lines through an extensive network of over 600 point-of-sale and 200 brand stores.
Creatives
PATRICK ITHIERFOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
French-born Patrick Ithier is the brainchild behind ASH. Combining his background in sports fashion with an eye for innovative designs and impeccable craftsmanship, Ithier rose to international acclaim thanks to his world-famous trademark wedge sneakers. Since then he has established ASH as the go-to shoe brand for exceptional, original and comfortable creations.
Ithier has always had an interest in footwear and worked part-time at various shoe manufacturers and his father's shoe store. It wasn’t until his tenure at Charles Jourdan that he realised his true calling in life was designing shoes.
After meeting Italian entrepreneur Leonello Calvani, they both recognised a gap in the market for premium footwear. They created ASH for fashion-fearless men and women in search of tasteful yet practical products. In 2000 their first design was produced.
Following the incredible popularity of its women’s footwear, ASH soon added men’s and kids’ to its offerings and later ventured into handbags and accessories.
In 2015 Ithier entered new territory by launching the brand’s first ready-to-wear collection, ASH Studio Paris. A harmony of opposites inspired by urban environments, the collections combine the brand’s signature edgy glamour and boho spirit with a sense of playfulness.
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Canada's recent federal election campaign was mercifully short and, inasmuch
as it was essentially a rout by Jean Chretien's Liberal Party, there is
no doubt about its outcome. Yet the divisive rhetoric and trivia that
often masquerades as campaign issues demonstrated that Canadians are not
altogether different from their neighbors to the south.
Day
There was much discussion, indeed no small amount of ridicule, of Canadian
Alliance leader Stockwell Day's beliefs about the origins of the earth
and human species. The Canadian Alliance, which resulted from a merger
between dissident Progressive Conservative Party members (the Tories are
so mushy they make the Republican Party seem like a consistent defender
of individual liberty and limited government) and the conservative Reform
Party and its strong base in the western provinces. Day, like his Reform
predecessor Preston Manning, is an evangelical Christian. As such, he
believes in creationism and rejects evolution. For this, he was roundly
denounced as an extremist.
What did this have to do with which party was better suited to run Canada?
About as much as whether Prime Minister Chretien could defend his church's
doctrine of Immaculate Conception, as Day retorted. There are scientific
objections that have been lodged against Darwinian evolution as well as
religious ones, and there are variations of creationism that differ from
the strict assertion that Genesis was intended as an all-encompassing
literal description of the planet's beginnings. In any event, Day's religious
beliefs were irrelevant and ridicule of them by those who would hold public
office is out of line. One would think that a country grappling with inefficient
bureaucracy, inexorably growing government that is slowly smothering the
private sector, high taxes and threats to national unity not limited to
separatism in Quebec would have larger issues to worry about.
Which of course isn't to say that politics are more important than whether
the Bible is true. Given the claims the Bible makes, such an assertion
would be nonsensical. But the aforementioned political issues are legitimate
objects of public concern, whereas Day's religious beliefs should primarily
be his concern. Yet this type of religious ridicule is not uncommon, nor
is it confined to Canada.
During the 1928 presidential campaign, Democrat Al Smith became the first
Roman Catholic nominee of a major political party for the presidency (Republican
John Fremont was actually an Episcopalian who sent his children to Catholic
schools in accord with his wife's preferences, and the GOP was still a
third party back in 1856). He was subjected to vituperative assaults on
his faith and its tenets, costing him the electoral votes of several usually
reliably Democratic states with large fundamentalist Protestant populations.
Among the charges leveled against him was that he would move the US capital
from Washington to the Vatican and that he was planning to build a tunnel
from New York City to Rome so he could secretly consort with the Pope.
Smith ended up losing by a decisive margin to Herbert Hoover.
Of course, the religion issue was raised again when another Roman Catholic
Democrat, John F. Kennedy, faced off against another Quaker Republican,
Richard Nixon, in the 1960 race. That election was thought to put such
issues to rest in America, when Kennedy ascended to the presidency.
Not so. The political participation of evangelical Christians has been
the subject of debate since the advent of Jerry Falwell and the Moral
Majority in the late 1970s. It has been effectively argued that these
theological conservatives are out to repeal the Constitution and impose
theocracy. It is difficult to imagine Jimmy Carter's open professions
of faith occurring today without intense criticism (and Carter's "born-again"
persona contributed heavily to the distrust of many liberals who supported
Ted Kennedy's 1980 insurgency). There was even criticism of Joe Lieberman
during this election cycle.
In 1993, evangelical Michael Farris sought the lieutenant governorship
of Virginia. Rather than debating his socially conservative positions,
he was the target of derogation and stereotyping on account of his religious
views. He was criticized for his views on dating, marriage and for home-schooling
his children. None of these things would have mattered very much if he
had been elected, nor was he proposing some policy to mandate that the
rest of Virginia adhere to his views. Farris won 46 percent of the vote,
managing to run ahead of the Democratic candidate for governor even as
he lost to a popular incumbent. But nevertheless, his defeat came as the
Republican candidate for governor, the more secular George Allen, won
by 17 points. That same year, the Washington Post characterized evangelical
Christians as "poor, uneducated and easy to command."
Without addressing the agenda of the religious right on its merits, one
must ask whether they are the only morality-legislators in society. The
fact of the matter is that all laws are reflections of the legislator's
and more appropriately the larger society's values. We fashion educational
policy on the theories of John Dewey, economic policy on the writings
of John Maynard Keynes and formulate governing philosophies on the teachings
of Gailbrath, Schlessinger and any number of other political theorists.
Surely, in Western countries provision can be made for the influence of
the Judeo-Christian ethic.
Liberals often behave as if anyone with remotely conservative views who
has serious religious beliefs is apt to launch another crusade upon assuming
office. The only saving grace for religious people in the political arena
as far as they are concerned is to wed one's theology to liberal social
action. The assumption that underlies the attacks on Michael Farris and
Stockwell Day is not simply this; it is that anyone who believes in Christian
fundamentalism must be some kind of moron. What kind of dummy can doubt
evolution? How can a great, big, grown-up parliamentary opposition leader
believe that the world was created in just seven days? What kind of rational
Canadian citizen wants Elmer Gantry to be prime minister?
If evangelical Christian equals back-woods ignoramus, then these buffoons
should not be entrusted with political power. But this is rather overwrought.
Although we may hesitate to admit it in our hyper-tolerant age, everyone
thinks that what they believe about religion is the truth and all other
beliefs are nonsense. This is true of the atheist, the Hindu, the Muslim,
the Jew, the Christian, the agnostic, the Zoroastrian, the Buddhist, the
people whose religious views defy classification. It is true of every
sect within these groups. Moreover, every one of those belief systems
contains teachings or ideas that seem outrageous, ridiculous, scandalous
or just plain odd to those who don't agree with or aren't familiar to
them. It's a plain fact.
If government were strictly limited and the rule of law was in place
to protect individuals from political usurpation, people would have less
need to be concerned about diverse religious beliefs. Government in its
proper place would impose fewer obligations and leave less room for religiously
motivated politics to curb freedom. People of faith involved in politics
would still have ample room to base policies on their values, but debate
could be centered on the substance of their proposals rather than misplaced
fears about theocracy. Ironically, by voting to continue Liberal hegemony
in Canadian government, Stockwell Day's critics prevented precisely that.
W. James Antle III is a former researcher for the Rhema Group, an
Ohio-based political consulting firm. You can e-mail comments to [email protected].
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Horse gas masks first came about around World War I to protect them from chemical agents. Amazing that we still used horses during warfare then! I do love how fitting them up with these crazy masks makes the little horsey look a lot more intimidating and apocalyptic. Gas masks have that effect. [Industrial Anatomy via Neatorama]
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Prepare your smartphone to check-in at the airport with a mobile boarding pass - Tip
If you plan to check in at the airport for your flight with your smartphone, then this of course, has many advantages. So you have to print no more boarding pass and if you are traveling with hand luggage only you do not have to visit the check-in counter anymore.
You only have to show the boarding pass on your smartphone at the security check and at the gate. For this, the smartphone must usually be held in front of a reader that reads the QR barcode on the display. The QR Code stands for your boarding card.
So that the reader at the airport can scan the QR code which is displayed on your smartphone screen properly a few preparations must be done on the smartphone:
What preparations these are, we would like to briefly explain in our check-list:
These tips will help in any way that the reader will recognize your boarding pass at the airport on the smartphone. You can also save your boarding pass as a screenshot and then zoom closer to the QR code.
We hope you enjoy these tips which will avoid embarrassing moments at the airport.
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saja
Senior Member
Visitor Messages
@dentis it depends on Each and every technology you have used , Ex: C#, ASP .NET MVC,Angulrjs,EF + what projects have you done , is it recognized by the job offering company , you have to discuss with the job offering company and decide , may be over one lakhs
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There is a shift the Health and Life Sciences industry, with today’s leaders found at all stages of their careers. Leading this change are women, who are transforming the Health and Life Sciences industry through their revolutionary ideas, powerful innovations, and determination to develop inclusive and diverse environments of leadership.
Women in Health & Life Sciences Summit, brought to you by Watermark and Nevro, is the first of its kind focused on learning and networking opportunities for the advancement of women leaders. Join women and men of all levels from senior executives to emerging leaders, in this unique one-day event.
The morning keynote begins the day by addressing Education, Advocacy & Inclusive Leadership with Nevro's President and CEO, and Watermark's 2019 recipient of the Bill Campbell award, Rami Elghandour. In this industry relevant discussion, Rami Elghandour, focuses on why Diversity makes us smarter, the impact of unconscious bias, and Nevro’s commitment to gender equity through three strong pillars: Education, Advocacy and Inclusive Leadership. Drawing on experience, research and testing models, he will share what can (and must) be done today to implement immediate change though inspiration and influence.
In additional to the insightful and powerful keynotes, there are dynamically engaging panels, and interactive workshops focused on developing practical leadership skills, which will impact any individual’s executive presence and company’s advancement in the health and life sciences industry.
Registration is open to everyone however a limited number of registrations will be available. Secure your space, and RSVP TODAY.
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Round 02: Si Racha – Thailand
Thailand
March 9, 2014
Solid Performances from Team HRC in Oppressive Thai GP Heat
Team HRC did not walk away from the Grand Prix of Thailand with any trophies but Max Nagl and Evgeny Bobryshev both acquitted themselves admirably in very demanding conditions for the second round of the FIM Motocross World Championship. In a typically oppressively hot climate, reigning World Champion Tony Cairoli (KTM) grabbed overall victory in the premier MXGP class but Nagl recovered from bad starts to be fourth overall while Bobryshev gritted his teeth against ankle pain and came home in sixth.
Maximilian Nagl
Maximilian Nagl
The Si Racha circuit bobbed and weaved across two hillsides close to the city of Pattaya with a flowing and fast layout. The loose dirt, big jumps and open corners meant a course that produced tight lap-times and it was tough for riders to create much of a difference in terms of gaining distance to-or-over their rivals.
Nagl came to Thailand confident and in optimistic mood after his first podium result ‘in red’ eight days beforehand in Losail. The German was luckless in qualification after hitting a rut hard and bending the rear brake lever under the bike, forcing a retirement and a lowly pick of positions in the wide start gate and long uphill start straight.
A different specification of fuel to be allowed entry into Thailand had been agreed between the teams and the FIM and this combined with air temperatures over thirty degrees was suspected of causing some technical problems that were also experienced by other teams and manufacturers. Nagl had been trying to optimise his CRF450RW to suit the conditions but could not unearth enough potential to realise his trademark lightning starts. The 26 year old had to work hard in both races to come through the pack and gain positions and his pace was remarkably effective. He made it up to sixth in the first thirty minute and two lap chase and then ploughed a path to a respectable fourth in the second. Nagl now lies second to Cairoli in the MXGP points table, trailing by sixteen.
Bobryshev had precious few days to rest his injured right ankle after a brave performance the previous weekend in Qatar for the season-opener. The Russian hobbled onto the CRF450RW and although he felt at a handicap in the right hand corners and a distaste of overly hot weather ‘Bobby’ got down to business. A quicker and smoother track in the first moto was hard to handle and he scored eleventh place. In the second moto he tried to follow his team-mate for long stretches and was able to find a better rhythm using the bumps and ruts for an improved seventh.
The MXGP podium was headed by the Italian, Cairilo with Belgians, Clement Desalle (Suzuki) in second and Jeremy Van Horebeek (Yamaha) taking the third step.
In the MX2 category former European Champion Tim Gajser had a tough weekend with a run to twelfth spot in the first moto and culled by a mechanical glitch in the second race that ended his participation prematurely. The Slovakian is riding a full HRC-backed CRF250RW in the confines of the Honda Gariboldi squad and is currently twelfth in the championship standings. Team-mate and the sole representative for Japan in the FIM series, Kei Yamamoto, grabbed a point for twentieth in the first sprint but crashed out in the second, nursing bruises and a painful knee.
The MX2 motos, run over 30 minutes and two laps were both dominated by the young Dutch rider Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) with the podium being rounded off by Glenn Coldenhoff (Suzuki) in second place and Max Anstie (Yamaha) in third.
Round two of the FIM Motocross World Championship takes place in three weeks time at the circuit within the Beto Carrero theme park for the first of two visits to Brazil this year. The event, heavily-backed by Honda, is the third flyaway in the formative stages of the 2014 calendar.
Maximilian Nagl
Evgeny Bobryshev
Maximilian Nagl:
Race Result: 6th/4th Championship position: 2nd
“I’m really happy about my riding. In the first Heat I came back from almost last position to sixth and had a few bike problems. I was last again at the start of the second Heat but could make fourth. So I was riding well but it seemed like everybody was having problems with the bikes; Strijbos and Frossard ahead of me could not do the jumps any more because of the different fuel and the heat. I passed them but one lap later I had the same trouble and had to slowdown. The Japanese technicians were working all weekend to find the solution for the starts but I think the bike was just too sensitive for the different fuel and combined with the temperatures was working against us. It was difficult but a good Grand Prix considering. I still have a good position in the championship so I’m quite pleased.”
Evgeny Bobryshev:
Race Result: 11th/5th Championship position: 6th
“In the first race I wasn’t so good and there were not many lines. I wasn’t good off the gate, around fifteenth, and I couldn't slide the bike or get into the right hard turns well. A lot of people passed me. A rock then flicked up and hit my foot and it was really painful. I got the points for eleventh and that was important. In the next race Max passed me in the middle of the race and I just followed him. There were better lines and some more ruts. I was carrying the speed better. The difficult points were the heat – it was unbelievable (but having five minutes less helped) – and those first laps in the pack because I was scared of getting hit on the leg. I tried to be clever and keep out of company. On Tuesday I go for medical treatment and recovery and hope to be better for Brazil.”
Tim Gajser:
Race Result: 12th/22nd Championship position: 12th
“In the first moto I didn’t have the best start. I was round fifteenth. I passed a couple of riders and finished twelfth. It was not so bad but can be better for sure. In the second race again I didn't have the best start but squared a few corners and was inside the top ten. I passed Lupino but on the eighth lap I had a problem with the bike and could not finish. I was really disappointed because it is not good for the championship. We will see what happens in Brazil.”
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The house where Dan Rooney grew up and lived to his final days is just two stories high with a small porch, located on a modest block on Pittsburgh's north side not far from a fast food restaurant and some empty lots. You can almost see it from Heinz Field, and for years, Rooney would walk the cracked sidewalks down the hill to get to Steelers home games, one of the most influential people in NFL history remaining firmly a part of the city where he resided -- save for one very celebrated interruption -- all his life.
On Thursday, Rooney, the revered chairman of the Steelers, the deeply respected patriarch of the NFL and, not incidentally, the former United States Ambassador to Ireland, died at age 84, the team announced.
"It is a sad day for my family and me," Steelers president Art Rooney II said. "My father meant so much to all of us, and so much to so many past and present members of the Steelers organization. He gave his heart and soul to the Steelers, the National Football League and the City of Pittsburgh.
"We will celebrate his life and the many ways he left us in a better place."
Few people in NFL history had as much influence for as long a period of time as Rooney did -- he was a confidant of three commissioners, helped settle labor disputes and pushed the league toward diversity, among other things -- and few others did it all with such a common touch, remaining a part of the blue-collar city that shaped his life as surely as he shaped football.
"Few men have contributed as much to the National Football League as Dan Rooney," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he was one of the finest men in the history of our game and it was a privilege to work alongside him for so many years. Dan's dedication to the game, to the players and coaches, to his beloved Pittsburgh, and to Steelers fans everywhere was unparalleled. He was a role model and trusted colleague to commissioners since Bert Bell, countless NFL owners, and so many others in and out of the NFL. A voice of reason on a wide range of topics, including diversity and labor relations, Dan always had the league's best interests at heart. For my part, Dan's friendship and counsel were both inspiring and irreplaceable. My heart goes out to Patricia, Art, and the entire Rooney family on the loss of this extraordinary man."
Rooney will be remembered by fans for the extraordinary stamp he left on the game and so much more. But for those who knew him well or worked for him, their affection spawned from the fact that he still ate in the team cafeteria with the secretaries, went to each player in the locker room after every game to shake his hand, stopped by the press room and press box to chat with reporters -- even minutes before one of the Steelers' Super Bowls was about to kick off -- and once took a visiting reporter on a tour of his neighborhood, driving his own Buick. One six-week stretch in 2009 summed up the breadth of his experiences: The Steelers won their sixth Super Bowl in February and Rooney was nominated, on St. Patrick's Day, to be the United States Ambassador to Ireland.
"Dan Rooney was an extraordinary man of faith, conviction, reason and peace," former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said in a statement. He loved his family, his Steelers and his Pittsburgh. His values were of America, Ireland and his church. He was an inspiration to millions throughout America, and in many other lands. He was at home on mean streets, in locker rooms and chapels, with presidents, popes, poets and visionaries. Few have served so many so well.
"Dan was my mentor, role model, indispensable supporter and great friend during five decades," Tagliabue continued. "In the NFL, he is irreplaceable. Our thoughts and prayers are with Patricia and his exceptional family.â
Rooney was born in 1932, fittingly the year before the Steelers' birth, and his entire life was threaded through the team founded by his father, Art "The Chief" Rooney. He was a ball boy as a teenager, before he began playing halfback at North Catholic High School. That was the position that handled the football in the single-wing offense, and Rooney was good enough at it to be selected second-team All-City Catholic League. The first-team selection was Johnny Unitas. Rooney used to laugh at that, but not at the fact that the Steelers cut Unitas before he went on to greatness with the Baltimore Colts. Rooney, meanwhile, went to Duquesne University and got a degree in accounting, signing players to contracts while he was still in college. He sold tickets and ad space in the game programs, learning every facet of the business in a jack-of-all-trades tutorial that various Rooneys still follow to this day.
By the time he was in his early 30s, Rooney was helping his father run the Steelers. They would attend league meetings together, always sitting next to the Mara family that still owns the New York Giants. And Rooney often said that one of their greatest accomplishments was never giving in to the wooing by other cities that wanted the Steelers to relocate in the 1950s and '60s, figuring out a way to make the franchise successful and viable, even as Pittsburgh went through dramatic economic cycles.
Much of the Steelers' success and viability can be traced to when Rooney took more of a hand in the day-to-day operations of the team. In 1969, he urged his father not to hire another of his friends and instead to install Chuck Noll as head coach -- the decision that forever altered the trajectory of the team. In 1987, he fired his own brother, Art. Jr., who was then in charge of player personnel, giving him other duties. He pushed his coaches and personnel people to consider drafting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, because he was still steamed that Pittsburgh's own Dan Marino had played elsewhere.
But he might have had an even greater impact on the league as a whole. Commissioners Pete Rozelle, Tagliabue and Goodell all came to rely on his insight. He was a mentor to Goodell, and when Goodell was selected by owners to be the commissioner, it was Rooney who went to his hotel room to tell him. Rooney often took the lead in labor negotiations with players, especially during the contentious contract negotiations of the 1980s and '90s, earning a reputation as a moderator. He once said in an interview that he never made any decision based on money. Even after he had ceded day-to-day control of the Steelers to his own son, Art II, Rooney came out publicly against an 18-game regular season when other owners were pushing for it during labor negotiations.
His philosophy might be best summed up in one story about a time when the NFL was considering ways to enhance their marketing opportunities. During the conversation, an NFL jersey -- with dozens of sponsorship decals attached, making it look like a NASCAR driver's jumpsuit -- arrived at the league office. Rooney had sent it to make a point.
"Our business is the game; we're not in this thing to make all the money in the world," Rooney told me about that ploy, for a story that ran in the New York Times. "I think some other teams still do things our way. But on this, we might be the last guy on the mountain."
Maybe they were. But Rooney told that story just days before the Steelers won their fifth Super Bowl.
Rooney's most famous contribution, though, was his lobbying fellow owners to support a rule that required teams to interview minority candidates for coaching jobs, a critical step that increased the diversity of the league. The rule was actually formulated by the league office, but Tagliabue knew there were few owners who could coalesce support for it. He asked Rooney to take the lead and the rule has come to be known as the Rooney Rule. Rooney is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, along with his father, one of only two father-son pairs to be so honored (the other: Tim and Wellington Mara of the Giants). The Rooneys are considered such a critical element of the NFL that, in 2008, when outsiders wanted to buy a controlling interest in the franchise, the league made it clear that other owners would not approve a sale that took the team from the Rooneys. Instead, Dan and Art II cobbled together a group of minority investors that allowed them to keep the team.
A few months later, Rooney, a lifelong supporter of Irish causes, received a reward for his early endorsement of a young senator from Chicago, Barack Obama. The Rooneys were not likely the wealthiest family in Pittsburgh, but they were considered powerful. Rooney said at the time that he was inspired in part by his own grandchildren's enthusiasm for Obama, although the endorsement angered some Steelers fans, who were used to the Rooneys keeping their politics private.
Still, when Rooney and his wife, Patricia, moved to Dublin -- and began a three-year stint that included visits to each of the 32 counties in Ireland, a first for a U.S. ambassador -- Rooney remained attached to the team. A system was set up so he could watch Steelers games at his residence there, and while he missed training camps for the first time in his life, he frequently took grueling trips home to see the team on Sundays. He added a football field to the grand ambassador's residence in Dublin and hosted July 4th flag football games. He spoke to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regularly, including one time when he took a call from her while chatting in the press box just before kickoff for a Steelers game. Even when he was away, he spoke daily to his son, Art II, about the team and regularly to Goodell.
But if Rooney's accomplishments were sweeping in scope, his manner could be summed up in his home. He never allowed his biography to be printed in the team's media guide, he went to Mass every day, he drove himself to work and when the Steelers went to the Super Bowl, so did every team employee, including the long-time workers in the cafeteria. Only a few years ago, he invited me to a dinner with his wife at a small, family-owned Italian spot. Located next to a hospital and perched up a few cement steps from the street, the restaurant had pictures of the old Forbes Field and Steelers players -- and his father, Art -- on the wall. After dinner, he drove us through the neighborhood in a guided tour, pointing out his home and the local park, the view of downtown and the stadium.
When I first showed up to write about his team, he invited me to sit with them at lunch. "I'm Dan," he introduced himself. And then he told me the history of the steel mills that used to operate on the site of the Steelers' training facility and of the railroad that still runs behind it. "If you need me," he said when lunch was over, "I'm down the hall." The hall was lined with Super Bowl trophies.
Rooney's lone indulgence, it seemed, was his small private plane. Until very late in his life, he flew it himself to owners' meetings and to the Steelers' training camp in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, much to the dismay of family members who recalled the time the landing gear would not come down.
Rooney often said that it was his father who taught him to value people. Bill Nunn, who opened the pipeline to black college players when he began scouting for the Steelers in the 1960s, once said that Rooney did not see color.
"In those days, growing up on the North Side, we didn't think about your skin color or your accent or what church you went to," Rooney wrote in his memoir, "Dan Rooney: My 75 Years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL." "What mattered was that you lived up to your word, pulled your own weight and looked out for your friends."
Rooney never forgot that ethos. He brought it to the Steelers and the NFL, helping to propel their immense wealth and popularity, all that way from that small house up the hill.
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Tiger of the Week
Tiger of the Week: John Lettow '95
Vorbeck Materials, a Maryland-based company that has developed cutting-edge applications for graphene, was established in 2006, but two of the collaborators who launched the company have a history that began in the mid-1990s in a Princeton engineering lab.
At the time, Vorbeck president John Lettow ’95 was a chemical engineering student, and Ilhan Aksay, a Princeton professor and director for the company, was advising the senior’s thesis project. A decade later, the two started working together again, this time to bring Aksay’s research out of the lab and into the marketplace. (Read more from the June 10, 2009, issue.)
Graphene, a super-thin, super-strong, and super-conductive form of graphite, has drawn plenty of interest from materials scientists, but Vorbeck was the first to launch a commercial graphene product (a conductive ink for electronics). To expand its production and sales, the company received a reported $10 million from investors in December.
Earlier this month, Vorbeck received another boost when the Department of Energy named it one of “America’s Next Top Energy Innovators.” Three companies shared the honor; Vorbeck was credited for using technology that originated in the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to improve lithium-ion batteries — versatile, rechargeable batteries used in devices that range from laptops to electric cars.
In a news release, Energy Secretary Steven Chu congratulated the winning innovators and said that the contest was part of a larger effort to let startup companies “do what they do best: Create new products, new industries, and new jobs.”
Do you have a nominee for Tiger of the Week? Let us know. All alumni qualify. PAW's Tiger of the Week is selected by our staff, with help from readers like you.
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Belmonte daughter. Light fawn girl with great luster and coverage.Jude Anderson commented on her wonderful Suri Head type and great luster.Her dam, Galalulia is a great mother who has produced show winners.Heather will make a great foundation female for any program.Heather has a great looking white male son of Accoyo Monte.
TSP Accoyo Monte
White, 1182583, Full Peruvian
FULL ACCOYO MONTE has the most amazing luster I have seen. Ask anyone who has seen him and parted his fiber, his greasy luster is incredible. He is very heavy boned male.He has so much coverage that he even has fiber growing between his toes!Monte's 2008 cria's have arrived. He has produced 100% show quality suris and more females than males .He has produced amazing whites ,fawns and gray which is quite rare for a full accoyo.Monte has passed on all his traits,amazing luster,coverage,very dense locks,heavy bone and that perfect suri head.His off spring have been to two shows and already he has won get a sire,two championships and three Reserve Championships. His sire Montoyo just sold for $100,000 at public auction.
Zuma is developing very nicely. He has a consistent very dense fleece with excellent luster. He is a son of the late Accoyo Monte with Belmonte, Jackpot,Montoyo,and Ramilo genetics. Zuma took a first as a juvenile white male at the 2011 Great Midwest Alpaca Festival and went on to win the Color championship!!! He took first place as a near 3 year old male at the 2013 GMAF and won a reserve color championship also!!. He begins breeding in 2013. Book a breeding to one of Monte's best sons.
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Entries in Vertical
(58)
he Bullet Heaven PC-10gine continues! What you're seeing has been captured and reviewed from genuine PC Engine Duo-R hardware for 2013's special episode set!
In episode 63 of Bullet Heaven the series comes full circle as we take a look at 1943 Kai! This "Wild" 1943 was released in 1991 as an enhanced version of the 1987 original, boasting PC Engine exclusive music and stages!
n this episode of Bullet Heaven, we take a look at the fantastic Ikaruga, released on XBLA in 2008. Simplicity and beauty come together with brutal difficulty and sublime control... but how does it stack up?
elcome back to Bullet Heaven! Rising Star Games is back - in the same year, no less - with another physical shoot em up release! Bullet Heaven takes a look at G-Rev's Under Defeat HD, with special thanks to Rising Star Games for supplying our copy for review! This controversial release saw an original release back in 2005 on Naomi Arcade and Dreamcast... so just how does this helicopter-based shooter fare...?
ROUND 2... FIGHT! ...SHOOT!... Uh, OK, I'll stop that now. In this episode of Bullet Heaven HD we take a look at another nifty genre bender in the vein of Senk no Ronde (Xbox 360)! How does it stack up?
Did you like what you saw here today? Questions and comments are not only welcome but encouraged! Season 3 is a wrap! See you all in Season 4, STARTING SOON!
-------
Support Bullet Heaven HD by liking, subscribing, spreading the word and checking out http://smpmusicproductions.bandcamp.com ; all proceeds from music albums and tracks go directly back into production for bigger, better and rarer topics and new equipment!
Sonic Wings (AKA Aero Fighters) has been a fan favorite for almost 20 years. Monkey Paw Games brings us the enhanced 32-Bit version of Sonic Wings Limited as Arcade Hits: Sonic Wings Special. But in today's advanced shooting game batt;efield full of Akai Katanas and Eschatoses, does this PSOne (and Sega Saturn) Import entry in the series hold up, or will you need those rose-tinted glasses after all?
Just in time for Valentine's Day, it's Episode 47 of Bullet Heaven HD! In this episode, we take a look at a perfect game to play with your significant other: Pocky & Rocky for the Super NES! But don't think this is a walk in the park... Pocky & Rocky has a mean streak a mile wide despite its cute demeanor!
Did you like what you saw here today? Questions and comments are not only welcome, but encouraged!
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Winter brings a special kind of night. The type of night where a light fog makes every light glow and a ceiling of clouds makes the entire world seem cozy. That kind of night requires a fireplace, a good strong drink, and a blanket on the couch. Short of that, you need some comfort food: a good poutine with sausage, some serious fried chicken, or a pulled pork sandwich. That is exactly what the Jerry Ferrer gave us on a particularly cozy Thursday night.
The new Montreal based chain has been opening new spots all over the place. The third south shore spot to open was in the heart of the South Shore between Brossard and Longueil. Unlike other spots, its decoration was carefully planned out and maximized the smaller space. Wooden walls, slanted mirrors, and comfy benches make the spot not only seem bigger but invite the hungry traveler to sit a while and chat.
In a family style, take-what-you-can-get opening, a thousand people were invited to the event, which had the entire Jerry Ferrer family welcoming each person.
The food was predictably comforting. Giant hot dogs gave a heartiness you just don’t get from a tiny Belle Province hot dog. The earthy truffle infused poutine ($9.50) that Jerry Ferrer is becoming known for was another welcome edition on the fall night. Add to that some slices of that already delicious giant beef dog and you’ve already got a respectable meal.
There were also chicken fingers with some delicious sauces which are all usually on their crispy chicken burger ($15.50). Everything we would expect from a diner but with that finer edge of taste. This, of course, meant that the burger “Le Fromager”, was also a cut above, available with brie, blue cheese, or if you must… cheddar ($13.50).
All in all, the launch of yet another location for Jerry Ferrer marks a season of unprecedented expansion for this restaurant chain. Soon, they will be so commonplace that speaking of them will be like speaking of McDonald’s… with the obvious difference of Jerry Ferrer serving delicious,hearty, upper class diner food and McDonald’s serving… umm. We’ll let you insert your own adjectives there.
Check out their Montreal locations in Quartier des Spectacles and on St Laurent and Sherbrooke. Jerry Ferrer for all!
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Software Development
Software Development
Software Development following best practices and methodologies is all we do. And we do it right the first time, and every time. Our projects are robust, scalable, easily extensible and free of defects upon deployment. We also emphasize adopting industry standard protocols and practices, so that your custom applications are adaptable to changes and innovations in new technology.
| 425 |
Lemon Tree Premier, Patna
876, Exhibition Road, Near Gandhi Maidan, Patna-800001
Distance From
2KM
|
8KM
Hotel Rooms & Suites in Patna
105 stylish and elegant rooms and dressed in bright décor let the outdoors in and mesmerize you with their vibrant interiors and inspiring artwork. Room categories include Deluxe Room, Premier Room, Executive Suite and Presidential Suite.
Presidential Suite
A contemporary ambience and a living room, a master bedroom and a twin bedroom. These suites are tailor made for greater comfort. Enjoy a range of amenities and conveniences like High-speed WiFi net access | Complimentary daily newspaper and mineral water | Tea/coffee maker | 42” LCD TV with DTH services | Mini bar | Comfortable mattress | Well appointed bathroom with bath tub.
| 785 |
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Re: [Script] [Video] FakeAP_pwn (v0.2.1)
Hello! I want to say that I love this script, so much fun to test. I am using the beta script at the moment, and the only issue I can see is a message saying that mon0 does not support macket injecting, when it most certainly does.
Hardware is RTL8187 and have sucessfuly injected packets into a test network prior. Also a simple aireplay-ng -9 shows things are all ok.
I apologise if there is a fix to this that I have overlooked however I did read through the thread quite alot.
Re: [Script] [Video] FakeAP_pwn (v0.2.1)
g0tmi1k,
What's goin' on man haven't posted in a while, kinda gave up after v2.2. Anyway, just downloaded your beta #88 release, and needless to say it's still having problems on the Windows end when the "user" goes to connect. I've tested with (2) XP machines, and Vista to no avail.
Everything works correctly on the BT end, but the Windows Machines "time out". It says "successfully connected", but never displays the "Critical Update" page. Also http://10.0.0.1 doesn't load either.
Any Ideas? This is frustrating, and since It's been so long and still won't work I'm even more determined. Keep up the amazing work.
Re: [Script] [Video] FakeAP_pwn (v0.2.1)
Hello all!
I am having some trouble editing the index.php to reflect changes.
I just wanted to correct some things on the test page and make it look half decent, which is not really a huge concern however once I found my inability to have the changes reflect it got me kinda mad!
Does anyone know how to fix this? I have read the thread alot! cant find anything, or perhaps over looked...
Re: [Script] [Video] FakeAP_pwn (v0.2.1)
Originally Posted by RexBudman
Hello! I want to say that I love this script, so much fun to test. I am using the beta script at the moment, and the only issue I can see is a message saying that mon0 does not support macket injecting, when it most certainly does.
Hardware is RTL8187 and have sucessfuly injected packets into a test network prior. Also a simple aireplay-ng -9 shows things are all ok.
I apologise if there is a fix to this that I have overlooked however I did read through the thread quite alot.
Thanks
Hmmm...Thanks for bringing this up! Ill have a look into it.
Originally Posted by frostbyt3
g0tmi1k,
What's goin' on man haven't posted in a while, kinda gave up after v2.2. Anyway, just downloaded your beta #88 release, and needless to say it's still having problems on the Windows end when the "user" goes to connect. I've tested with (2) XP machines, and Vista to no avail.
Everything works correctly on the BT end, but the Windows Machines "time out". It says "successfully connected", but never displays the "Critical Update" page. Also http://10.0.0.1 doesn't load either.
Any Ideas? This is frustrating, and since It's been so long and still won't work I'm even more determined. Keep up the amazing work.
Thanks.
If you can use hostpad, set it up and use that instead of airbase-ng.
Have you tired doing it manually? Without the script?
What hardware are you using?
Does your target get a IP address?
If you try running with -v at the end, it should bring up a connection monitor window.
Is the target visible there?
Does the DHCP window says its given out a IP address?
Does the FakeAP window says that a new client is connected?
Could you post me the output of "-d"?
Originally Posted by RexBudman
Hello all!
I am having some trouble editing the index.php to reflect changes.
I just wanted to correct some things on the test page and make it look half decent, which is not really a huge concern however once I found my inability to have the changes reflect it got me kinda mad!
Does anyone know how to fix this? I have read the thread alot! cant find anything, or perhaps over looked...
What do you wanna chance to the index.php?
Create your own with what you want it to look like, and Ill try and put it into the next version.
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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7141771224189769395.post4934943820141636789..comments2017-09-26T13:59:32.003-05:00Comments on Quilts + Color: Beginning The Final Countdown To The Conclusion Of My Show…3 days and counting down………..Kay Koeper Sorensenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]:blogger.com,1999:blog-7141771224189769395.post-88479064575467297492017-03-18T17:41:05.140-05:002017-03-18T17:41:05.140-05:00I enjoyed the show and I am glad I was able to sha...I enjoyed the show and I am glad I was able to share the photos with you. Marge Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/[email protected]
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March 17, 2012
Are We On The Road To The End Of Modern Medicine?
by editor
Bacteria could soon become so resistant to antibiotics that common injuries or illnesses could eventually become life-threatening, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned during a conference of infectious disease experts on Friday.
According to NewsCore reports, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan told those attending the meeting, which was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, that even ailments as simple as a scratched knee or a sore throat could someday become fatal.
Furthermore, Daily Mail reporter Mario Ledwith writes that Chan believes that the Earth was quickly approaching what she referred to as the "post-antibiotic era."
As these disease-causing microbes become more and more resistant to the drugs meant to treat the conditions they cause, those injuries and illnesses will become increasingly harder to treat, thus making some "remedies more expensive, and some conditions“¦ untreatable," Ledwith added. If this so-called post-antibiotic era does, in fact, happen, Chan said that it would result in the "end to modern medicine as we know it."
This "post-antibiotic era" would "include many of the breakthrough drugs developed to treat tuberculosis, malaria, bacterial infections and HIV/AIDS, as well as simple treatments for cuts," says Hannah Furness of The Telegraph. Any medicines that would replace existing treatments would not only become more costly, but would also take longer in order to have similar affects as today's antibiotics.
"Some sophisticated interventions, like hip replacements, organ transplants, cancer chemotherapy and care of pre-term infants, would become far more difficult or even too dangerous to undertake," Chan said, according to Ledwith. "Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise in Europe, and elsewhere in the world. Replacement treatments are more costly, more toxic, need much longer durations of treatment and may require treatment in intensive care units."
Chan's warning comes following the release of a WHO book on the topic.
According to Furness, that book, which is entitled 'The Evolving Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance- Options for Action,' claims that "a crisis has been building up over the decades, so that today many common and life-threatening infections are becoming difficult or even impossible to treat, sometimes turning a common infection into a life-threatening one."
The Daily Mail reports that while many countries have already introduced policies attempting to prevent the overuse of antibiotics, that the UN's public health group is seeking worldwide implementation of such measures. The UK paper says that the European Union has acknowledged that they are aware of the problem and have developed a five-year plan to slow down antibiotic use, while medical experts in developing nations are also attempting to find ways to stop the substances from being prescribed too often.
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New York Post’s degrading, violent, racist cartoon against President Obama earns it the Media Putz
New York Post
Political cartoons are meant to be expressions that aren’t for the tame. A political cartoon that is too nice probably isn’t doing its job.
But there are certain lines where political cartoons should not go, and the New York Post crossed that line on Wednesday.
The cartoon is of two policemen standing over a chimp lying on the ground shot to death. The cop who isn’t holding the gun says to the cop holding the gun, “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.”
Even if you were aware of the chimp story (and that’s a stretch), you still have to ask “and this relates to the stimulus package how?”
The disturbing part of the Sean Delonas cartoon is that it can be seen as degrading on multiple levels. The cartoon could be racist, comparing the first African-American president of the United States to an ape, long a favorite image among racists. Or it could be political — that an ape wrote the legislation. Or writing a stimulus package correlates to a likelihood to attack someone.
The cartoon isn’t funny or poignant and doesn’t even has a clear message. It’s offensive on multiple levels, depending on one’s vantage point — without redeeming value.
In response, New York Post Editor-in-Chief Col Allan said: “The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington’s efforts to revive the economy.”
To summarize Allan, the effort to revive an extremely sick economy is comparable to a chimpanzee on the loose who attacks a woman and the policeman, using life-extinguishing brutal force, represents the GOP leaders in the House. Or is it the right-wing media to the rescue with a gun?
This isn’t the first time Delonas has come under controversy. This blog entry notes that Delonas ripped off his own work, and was even lazy in doing so.
And then there’s this lovely collection of his tasteless, gay-bashing (among other groups), degrading political cartoons.
There is also a question about talent: Delonas, being obsessed with gay-bashing, draws former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey as if he looks like Barack Obama. McGreevey and Obama look nothing alike.
It’s not like the New York Post is known for taste or decorum anywhere in its ink-stained, tabloid, “I need a shower after I read it” pages. And there is a certain expectation that cartoons will occasionally be tacky. But a violent, degrading cartoon without a funny or relevant analogy is going far too far, and so we name the New York Post the Media Putz of the week.
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July 16, 2015
Timothy Alexander Guzman, Silent Crow News – Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic pro-Israel candidate that would diminish any hope for a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In fact, Clinton will give the self-proclaimed “Jewish State” the green light for any future conflict against the Palestinians although most of the potential candidates (the majority… (read more)
June 8, 2015
Timothy Alexander Guzman, Silent Crow News – Education Minister Naftali Bennett is calling for the world to recognize its 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights because “Syria no longer functions as a country that could reclaim the strategic plateau” according to the Jerusalem Post. Mr. Bennett is taking advantage of Syrian government’s ongoing civil war… (read more)
May 29, 2015
Timothy Alexander Guzman, Silent Crow News – Israel has been preparing for war with Western support since 1948 and it will most likely continue well into 2028. Israel and its American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) lobby have political influence over the U.S. congress and the Obama administration. Will Israel get the amount they are asking for? Most… (read more)
May 28, 2015
How the U.S. Government and Organized Crime Collaborated in the Arms & Drug Trade in Honduras Ryan Dawson is a Political Blogger and has appeared on Russia Today and Press TV. Please Visit his Site: www.ancreport.com
April 27, 2015
Timothy Alexander Guzman, Silent Crow News – On Hardball with Chris Matthews, a U.S. mainstream media program interviewed President Barack Obama and was asked about Russia’s decision on lifting a ban on the sale of S-300 air-defense missile systems to Iran. According to the Jerusalem Post, Obama said “Our defense budget is somewhere just a… (read more)
April 11, 2015
Mass Migration, Poverty, Unemployment and the “VAT” Initiative Timothy Alexander Guzman, Silent Crow News – Puerto Rico’s unemployment rate hovers around 14 percent but of course, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does count those who dropped out of the labor force completely. If you did count every working age person not participating in the… (read more)
April 1, 2015
Timothy Alexander Guzman, Silent Crow News – It is unclear that a nuclear deal between the U. S. and Iran will take place. However, if there is a deal, it is guaranteed that those who opposed it from the start will try to sabotage it. The Republicans and several Democrats in Washington, the Likud government… (read more)
March 27, 2015
Timothy Alexander Guzman, Silent Crow News – Amnesty International (AI) is at it again. The Western-based human rights organization says the armed wing of the Palestinian resistance against Israeli aggression has committed war crimes against Israeli and Palestinian citizens alike. The timing could not be more perfect for an Israeli propaganda campaign against its Palestinian… (read more)
March 16, 2015
Will Obama’s Cuba Initiative Lead to Peace and Prosperity or an Orchestrated Coup? Timothy Alexander Guzman, Silent Crow News – The much anticipated U.S-Cuba talks continues this week as Reuters reported “Cuba and the United States meet for talks on restoring diplomatic relations on Monday, seeking more progress toward an agreement while not allowing differences over Venezuela… (read more)
March 7, 2015
Timothy Alexander Guzman, Silent Crow News – The relationship between the U.S. and Israel in the last 6 years under the Obama administration has never been stronger. In 2012, The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) declared that President Obama’s aid package for Israel was the largest in U.S. history, a fact that is hard to… (read more)
February 12, 2015
*Editor’s Note: ‘Obama’s Syria Gambit: The Endgame of Expanded Syrian Action Against ISIS is Regime Change’ was Updated on February 12th, 2015 under ‘Obama’s Syria Gambit: New “War Powers” can Expand Military Action Against Assad Government Timothy Alexander Guzman, Silent Crow News –In 2011, U.S. President Barack Obama said in a written statement that “The future of… (read more)
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Founded in 1993 by brothers Tom and David Gardner, The Motley Fool helps millions of people attain financial freedom through our website, podcasts, books, newspaper column, radio show, and premium investing services.
Sears is rumored to have its Canadian operations on the auction block, a transaction that could net it more than $700 million. Would it create value for Sears' investors?
Iconic retailer Sears Holdings(NASDAQ:SHLD) continues to struggle to find its way back into the black despite shedding a number of underperforming, non-core businesses over the past few years, including its Orchard Supply Hardware and Sears Hometown & Outlet units in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The company's latest financial update brought another poor data point, as evidenced by a top-line decline and a sizable operating loss.
Of course, with a significant debt load and legacy pension obligations, the company needs to continue doing whatever it can to improve its financial profile and return to profitability, in order to better compete with strong, focused operators like Dillard's(NYSE:DDS) and Home Depot(NYSE:HD). Sears' latest gambit is a rumored sale of its stake in Sears Canada, which is worth more than $700 million at current prices. So would the move be good for investors?
What's the value?Despite an operating history that dates back to the 1950s and a sizable customer footprint that includes 3 million catalog shoppers, Sears Canada hasn't done much for Sears lately; it reported lackluster results in fiscal 2013 that were highlighted by a top-line decline and break-even profitability. Worse, the unit's performance has downshifted further in fiscal 2014 with comparable-store sales down 7.6%, a data point that management blamed on inclement weather and heavy promotions during the period. Combined with selective store closures, the net result for Sears Canada was a double-digit sales drop and a larger operating loss versus the prior-year period.
While Sears Canada and its roughly $3.9 billion in annual sales undoubtedly provide economies of scale for Sears' global purchasing operation, Sears would anecdotally seem to be better off monetizing its Sears Canada stake and redeploying the funds into its domestic growth initiatives, including its growing Shop Your Way loyalty program. In addition, the cash windfall could help the company fund investments in greater inventory selection in key product areas, like apparel and hardware, as it tries to steal customers away from stronger competitors.
An uphill battle against these competitorsIn the apparel category, those competitors include Dillard's, a regional department store chain that seems to benefit from the stewardship of its founding family. This influence likely helped the company resist the urge to get big, as instead it has chosen to stay closer to its roots. It currently operates a network of roughly 280 stores that are focused on markets in the Southeast and Midwest U.S.
Dillard's has also spent time to cultivate a popular assortment of private-label brands that generate approximately 21% of its sales. This strategy has been partially responsible for a huge pickup in its operating profitability over the past five years, even though its store base shrank over that same period. The net result for Dillard's has been strong and growing cash flow, which funds both further product development and the return of capital to shareholders.
In the hardware category, the competition is even tougher, with Home Depot and Lowe's controlling a sizable percentage of the home improvement industry's sales, estimated at more than 40%. Home Depot, in particular, has been using its sizable operating cash flow -- $7.6 billion in its latest fiscal year -- to invest in a greater inventory assortment in key product areas; this includes the appliance category, where the company hopes to eventually unseat Sears as the country's largest appliance seller. Home Depot has also been attempting to improve its value proposition for customers, highlighted by more customer service reps in its stores and more online shopping capabilities, in a bid to give customers one fewer reason to shop at competitors like Sears.
The bottom lineDumping its weakly performing Canadian operation should be a no-brainer for Sears, given that the unit seems to be currently valued on its potential, or perhaps hidden asset values, rather than its recent profitability. A sale would certainly go a long way toward shoring up Sears' balance sheet and would provide funds to further accelerate the development of its Shop Your Way loyalty program, Sears' current focus and likely its best hope for a return to operating profitability. In the process, this would create shareholder value and could turn Sears into a long-term winner for investors.
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Ezekiel 18; Ezekiel 19; Ezekiel 20 NIV
Ezekiel 18; Ezekiel 19; Ezekiel 20
1The word of the LORD came to me:2“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “ ‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?3“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.4For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.5“Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right.6He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.7He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.8He does not lend to them at interest or take a profit from them. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between two parties.9He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD.10“Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these other things11(though the father has done none of them): “He eats at the mountain shrines. He defiles his neighbor’s wife.12He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge. He looks to the idols. He does detestable things.13He lends at interest and takes a profit. Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.14“But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:15“He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.16He does not oppress anyone or require a pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.17He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor and takes no interest or profit from them. He keeps my laws and follows my decrees. He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live.18But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.19“Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.20The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.21“But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.22None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?24“But if a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.25“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?26If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die.27But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.28Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.29Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?30“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.31Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel?32For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!
1“Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel2and say: “ ‘What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among them and reared her cubs.3She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.4The nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks to the land of Egypt.5“ ‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion.6He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.7He broke down their strongholds and devastated their towns. The land and all who were in it were terrified by his roaring.8Then the nations came against him, those from regions round about. They spread their net for him, and he was trapped in their pit.9With hooks they pulled him into a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon. They put him in prison, so his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.10“ ‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyardplanted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water.11Its branches were strong, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick foliage, conspicuous for its height and for its many branches.12But it was uprooted in fury and thrown to the ground. The east wind made it shrivel, it was stripped of its fruit; its strong branches withered and fire consumed them.13Now it is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land.14Fire spread from one of its main branches and consumed its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ “This is a lament and is to be used as a lament.”
1In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down in front of me.2Then the word of the LORD came to me:3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Have you come to inquire of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign LORD.’4“Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors5and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore with uplifted hand to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, “I am the LORD your God.”6On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.7And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”8“ ‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.9But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt. I did it to keep my name from being profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites.10Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.11I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.12Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.13“ ‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the wilderness.14But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.15Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands—16because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols.17Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or put an end to them in the wilderness.18I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols.19I am the LORD your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.20Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.”21“ ‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws, of which I said, “The person who obeys them will live by them,” and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.22But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.23Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries,24because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their parents’ idols.25So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;26I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.’27“Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: In this also your ancestors blasphemed me by being unfaithful to me:28When I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.29Then I said to them: What is this high place you go to?’ ” (It is called Bamah to this day.)30“Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?31When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children in the fire—you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, you Israelites? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will not let you inquire of me.32“ ‘You say, “We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.” But what you have in mind will never happen.33As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.34I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.35I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you.36As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD.37I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.38I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.39“ ‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols.40For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings and your choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.41I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy through you in the sight of the nations.42Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.43There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done.44You will know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.’ ”45The word of the LORD came to me:46“Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest of the southland.47Say to the southern forest: ‘Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it.48Everyone will see that I the LORD have kindled it; it will not be quenched.’ ”49Then I said, “Sovereign LORD, they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?’ ”
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Emergency Car Safety Tool
Maybe it's because I spent your childhood years in a truck driver with three girls. But my Dad insisted everyone know essentials of taking care of is not just. It may been recently the fact he were hard plenty of time remembering our boyfriend's names, and ideal approach didn't desire to worry or wonder about us being stranded in the vehicle. From period I got my driver's license there was an emergency kit typically the trunk in the car.
So you have to decide should the extra money you douse for investing in a car home security system is a worthy investment compared to losing auto or truck. This is the only question. You're next confronted with ones like, which car safety tool system an individual buy? That best protect it?
Yes, there is a correct way in which to secure your child in his car stool. How you secure your baby in the automobile seat will likely depend on a age and size of your baby. For young children under 12 months of age they ought to placed in rear-facing seats in the very center of the rear seat. Kids can sit facing front and their seat are in general placed behind the driver or passenger in order to utilize shoulder/lap devices.
Look in the weather forecasts before you permit and plan accordingly. Can is to be able to be cold dress warmly and have some extra blankets in your car safety hammer.
Adhering into the speed limit is also an important car safety hammer custom. Many driving fatalities have involved increased speeds on the trail. Sometimes, even going below the speed limit will behave badly on the actual. Therefore, watching your speed is a pretty important habit regarding car safety hammer. Also, when you mean to shift lanes or pull over, proper signaling is important so other drivers driving on the road are clear on your next move.
Every driver needs to hold extra fluids around if they develop a leak. Reduce be driving down the queue one day and then notice that the car needs oil, but there isn't anywhere to. This way, you'll skill to add enough oil until perfect get some where else to get an car certain. Running out of certain fluids can cause extreme damage to your motor.
The car cameras will also act as a car security device if your vehicle is parked. Diane puttman is hoping done through the clever event recorder data system. Importantly, these event files also capture the incident itself, but also record the moments for you to it and immediately in the future.
Finally, congratulations on acquire baby as well as the decision to train on a child safety seat for ultimate insurance. Look online for deals or see your local big box variety store or baby supply website. Plan ahead so you have the seat ready to go on the blessed day you bring your baby home.
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Acer Chromebook 11 C771 announced starting $279.99
Acer has announced its latest rugged Chromebook 11 C771. It is durable enough to meet military standards for drops. It has been tested with drops from up to 48-inches.
It also comes with protective rubber bumpers around the display and keyboard. It is dust resistant and water resistant and provides protection against spills of up to 330ml of water. Its keyboard is spill resistant as well.
The Chromebook 11 C771 is sturdy enough to survive up to 132 pounds of force when closed. It has 11.6-inch IPS display with 1366 x 768 pixels resolution. There is an optional touch screen variant called Chromebook 11 C771T.
It is 21mm thick, weighs about 1.35KG and sports 180-degree hinge. The device gets processing power from 6th Generation Intel Core or Celeron processors and supports up to 4GB RAM.
The C771 is said to offer up to 13 hours of battery life while the C771T touch screen model gives about 12 hours of battery backup. It also cmoes with built-in MicroSD card reader, one USB-C, two USB 3.0 and one HDMI ports.
Pawan is a Mobile Technology Enthusiast who is passionate about Mobile phones and Mobile apps. Technology fascinates him and he loves helping others. Playing FPS multi-player games in his free time is also one of his hobbies.
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I previously posted this in Science/spirituality - but this seems to be the thread for Ascension... oKa
TAKING RESPONSIBILITY .. from Terra (Earthmother)
The Human Counterweight in Ascension
Or
Are you pulling your weight?
Or
The Human (physical) counter balance (to the non-physical)
Or
Are you taking responsibility for your own Ascension?
And more to the point..
How are you pulling your weight?
How are you taking responsibility?
Have you an absolute balanced etheric field?
Do you know what your ascension responsibilities are?
First.
One must have all the dimensions covered – this also means one has defined and can commune with the full 4 Density, 15 dimensional field in ones Subtle Body Realm.
Dimensions 1, 2 and 3 – is the humans responsibility
4,5,6 – the Nature Realms
7,8,9 - Soul
10,11,12 – Source and Earth/now ‘Terra’
13,14,15 – Source of Source – Founder/Guardian Races.
Note: angelics are of the 8th dimension, and are ones librarians/recorders, not guides.
Now the rub is this..
The human sits at the lower vibrational bandwidths, and these are not the required frequencies to anchor, nor hear all this higher dimensional collaborative and mentoring. There are many beings and entities, of the lower vibrational field, that just love to invade ones field, and make out something they are not.
Except for the Nature Realms.
So first, one has to inquire as to ones individual and personal Nature Guide – and use their immense guidance and wisdoms, to keep one moving, to keep inquiring of what there is to do next. To get one to the next level of communion.
Soul –
Soul is shattered and scattered on the planet Earth.
The whole of Ascension is The Unification of Soul – in absolute terms.
These ‘absolute terms’ means that Soul is TRUTH.
Absolute TRUTH is absolute Soul – and vice versa.
And how one re-unites soul, is through clearing karma.
With each karma cleared, one is retreiving a lost soul fragment.
Every karmic circumstance, where one either perpetrated or was the victim of, one lost informational truths of self, (energy signatures)records from the blueprint, emotions, and chi. The ‘records’ from the blueprints, are ‘soul’ records – as you are soul having the human experience.
And all matter lost or accrued, stays lost or accrued. Until the inner karmic work is done to retreive lost matter of (past)self, or return anothers matter.
Initially as one clears a percentage of karma, one is actually healing the Biologicol Blueprint – this is called AUTHENTIC HEALING.
All other healing is a band-aid – as the only way to address the etheric body realms and the blueprints – is to investigate, reveal, understand and forgive (or say sorry) to a past karmic circumstance.
These are termed ‘TRUTHS’. Truths of even why humanity is at the lowest level of consciousness.
First the Biologicol Blueprint is addressed, the ascending initiate then acquires all the rest – called ASCENSION BLUEPRINTS. Called Ascension Blueprints, as they are the virtual ascension maps – the blueprints for ascension.
The etheric blueprints sit on top of the outside ‘skin’/membrane of the etheric body approx 1 cm beyond the physical skin.
2. Lineage Blueprint – revealing relevant karma from each lineage
The inner work done in this blueprint, reveals all ones lineages and the work therein to enhance the lineage that have ascension truths, and dampen the ones that cannot ascend. Also reveals some dysfunctional personality traits.
The karmic healing work is also revealed in the Single Polarities of the Language of Light (Spiritual School of Ascension). And through inquiry into ones own 24 Birth Lineages, which will be by way of questions to a pendulum.
3. Ancestral Blueprint - revealing karma
The inner work done in this blueprint, goes towards finding all ones ancestral/astral pastselves, and revealing the karma to address.
The karmic work in this blueprint is ongoing through the SingleTones and the Dual and the Tri-tones in the Language of Light. As each karma cleared is addressing ones ‘Tapestry of Ancestry’, the Ancestral Temples in Earths Akashic Records.
4. Angelic Blueprint
The angelics mechanised themselves a long time ago. It is up to each initiate to reveal all mechanised recorders/angelics, and to dismantle and pull in ones authentic recorders.
This is revealed as one asks the questions. And allows Soul to lead one to the clearing work to facilitate authentic angelic recorders.
5. Holographic Blueprint
The karmic healing in this blueprint, will reveal many of ones Ascension Roles, and ones mastery truths. Each one has an individual holographic truth pertaining to ones individual hologram (at ones first seeding).
There are many holograms, owing to the many lineages. It is up to the ascending initiate to investigate the highest hologram (they have ever been, or ever had). And then work from this hologram only. This will reveal your mastery. The karmic work done in this blueprint, will be in the Language of Light Tri-tones – ones multi-dimensional, multi-specie truths of being. And revealing many of ones mastery designations.
6. Soul Blueprint
The karmic healing in this blueprint, will retrieve all ones Soul complement, all ones complete Soul. The retrieval of all soul being - all higher senses of the five new chakras. The healing of the endocrine.
All the work in this blueprint is the healing of soul – and this is revealed in the Language of Light Dual tones, and Tri tones. All karma is addressing at the Original Cause level, and these are the most ancient. As humanity lost soul a long time ago. And it will be through revealing and completing each karma, that one will retreive what one lost.
7. Source Blueprint.
The work in this blueprint is the regeneration of the physical form and the creation of the 4th dimensional crystalline form. Retreival of sacred sciences, Spiritual Laws and Truths that will ascend the self, and others.
To create the physical form that is progressively enabled to perceive and participate in action in the higher dimensional fields.
A continuence of the karmic work in the Tri tones and the revealing of the Quadtones. Acquiring Divinity. All lost truths of Earthplane Laws of Physicality, and the Law of One. Starting the journey to the state of Rishi.
With the use of a pendulum one can easily obtain the knowledge of the karmic polarities one is at present sitting within. These polarities are preventing your ascension.
Ascendpress have created ‘polarity checkers’. A fun way to reveal your polarities and to discover the integrity of your pendulum, as a yes or no spin is not required.
To print out and lay flat (for pendulum accuracy). With each one, start your pendulum rocking down the centre, and allow it to rock to and show you the negative or positive polarity. Within all polarities, are many karmas.
http://www.ascendpress.org/PDF-files/Polarity.Check.pdf (http://www.ascendpress.org/PDF-files/Polarity.Check.pdf)
There is karmic work, also called ‘the inner work’,to be done in all the blueprints. One will be clearing karma right up to ascension.
If one is intending to ascend, retreival of the whole ascension map, and the map for the biology to create the 4th dimensional crystalline form is the required ascension work. The body requires this map to make the necessary changes, and this map is in the Source Blueprint.
There is communion anchored as all blueprints are addressed – as clearing karma creates a very close collaboration with ones souls, it is they who are mentoring one through every completion.
As it is the higher communion, of Earthmother, Source, and Guardians that will guide you to your World and Universal Service Ascension responsibilities.
It is they that orchestrate the doors to open, and events to manifest in absolute harmony and fulfillment.
The Inner Work in the Lineage Blueprint.
Humanity is now the genetic mix of many races and other worlds. Some re-located from dying planets, and created beautiful lives for themselves. Some came to use and control (and their future ancestors are still here doing so) Some were scientists just checking this planet out.. and so on and so forth.
Irregardless of their reasons for relocating to Earth – the fact of the matter now, is that some of these lineages that you now have cannot ascend you.
Some of these lineages are not ensouled, and have absolutely no ascension truths. And may even have you creating harmful circumstances, due to the nature of these blueprints.
Some are spiritual, but not ascension bound.
The Anu, also created 2 slave races – that we now also have in our genetic mix. Also non-ascension.
The 24 Birth Lineages (the work of The Spiritual School of Ascension)
Each human is born with 24 Lineages.
In the investigation of these lineages, one first defines the ascending ones, and the non-ascending ones.
Because it is the non-ascending ones, that are interferring with the ascending initiates potential to ascend.
The Non-ascending Blueprints of the Anu and slave races.
There is the inner work to be done within all of ones lineages.
It will be the inner work done of the non-ascending ones, that can ‘dampen’ the impact (and the thoughtform) of these non-ascending lineages. As all lineages are blueprints in themselves, and all have a map/journey/thinking and even personality traits.
The Ascending Lineages of the Red Root Races and Sirian Grandmasters
It is the inner work done with the ascending ones, that
(a) one retreives all truths in these blueprints –
(b) one enhances these truths and works with these truths
(c) one reveals all ones mastery designations
(d) and then knows all ascension responsibilities and tasks (World and Universal Service).
We are not to be kept in ignorance of our mastery, nor of our Active service roles – but all the while one has karmic debt, and has not authentically dismantled one karma, one has not retreived their ascension map/blueprint information.
As karmic clearing IS THE ONLY WAY TO RETREIVE ALL THESE LOST TRUTHS.
This is the truth and principle of clearing karma.
Reveal the circumstance where your past ancestors originally lost these truths – soul and angelic go to work in a vaste retreival and return process, and (angelic) re-recording the blueprints, of both the original victim and the original perpetrators (now a million of both).
Karma and its principle is a Fire Letter.
Transcendation is a Capstone Code
(Freedom Teaching – www.azuritepress.com (http://www.azuritepress.com/))
Both, and their absolute knowledge – of the karma dynamic and its clearing principle is a requirement of each and every ascending initiate.
One cannot ascend without clearing all karma.
It will be through each karma cleared, one retreives lost truths, sacred truths/sciences, insodoing one is retreiving LOST DNA information.
THIS is how you re-connect your DNA. How each being with an individuated consciousness must clear karma to retreive lost informational Truths.
And how I am re-connecting mine.
You lost it through a karma (a purposeful action on the part of the Annunaki/greek gods and their minions an eon ago) and you can, and must, retreive what your past ancestor lost, generally to the Anu and all the false gods/’ascended masters’ (who have ascended nowhere and mastered nothing) by revealing that very same karma.
And when you are ready to understand this retreived information and use it in a very real way – your souls and guardians will download it into your consciousmind. (through the dream/meditational modality/tarot etc.
You do not do this (nigh on impossible) work alone – you have help from Nature Guides, Earthmother and Souls. They guide the initiate to each karma ready for clearing to its completion its absolute and authentic healing.
To transcend, is to transcend all polarity – into Unity thinking and Being.
Over 50% one becomes a Bodhisattva – State of Grace – Acceptance and Allowance of All That Is.
100% one Ascends. Not because you have no karma left, but because as you clear karma you are creating different circumstances/map for the biology to follow.
One cannot transcend if no karma has been transmuted.
A very defined, purposeful action is required.
As transcendation, transmutation – is about polarity thoughtform, and all polarity thoughtform is karmic.. caused a karma.
Through the clearing process, one transmutes each polarity, transcends each polarity. When each Unity (middle-ground of each polarity) is achieved.
And the body transforms itself.
As authentic transcendation is not only a spiritual elevation – it is also a biologicol transformation.
(aka thoughtform – the very much ‘you are what you think’.)
Mapcarvers.
All this, and more, has been revealed by the mapcarvers of Ascension.
The ascension truths of karma – its disabling and interferring mechanism, and the truths and principle of the clearing dynamic. www.ascendpress.org (http://www.ascendpress.org/) and www.azuritepress.com (http://www.azuritepress.com/)
It will be as you reveal and dismantle each karma, at the Original Cause level, that the Unity paradigm can be achieved.
One can then start their Ascension Initiations in earnest.
Pendulum - The essential Ascension Tool.
One cannot get to the ascension truths with the mental mind, it knows absolutely nothing about ascension – nor with intuitition. Intuition is severely limited.
Yes the pendulum is iffy – as, at first there is not the integrity of the Creative Subtle Body mind. So one must persevere.
It is as one clears karma, one is actually dismantling the mental and emotional subtle bodies, and merging into the Intuitive and Creative.
Also dismantling the unconscious, which is the space between the meridians .. thereby allowing the meridians to widen to accept copious amounts of chi – this is where the ascending initiate becomes physically fatter.
And also dismantling the astral planes.
Every initiate clearing karma, is integrating every astral consciousness apropos to each karma cleared. The astral was never meant to be (the unrealised consciousness that didn’t reunite in the physical) And now must be cleared up for ascension.
Many people channel the astral – they do not have any ascension truths.
The same for the ascended master and false angelic phenomena.
‘saintmichael’ is a broadcast by the Nibiruan influences on this planet.
And have no ascension truths.
As one pendulums, one must preface each question ‘for ascension truth and clarity’.. thereby ‘attaching’ or directing all questions to the Creative Subtle Body mind.
And anchor the self to the Earth – ground, but as a visualisation to the Aurora, rather than just saying ‘ground’.
Ascension Initiations
Initiations are not with any physical school, organisation, religion or such.
Initiations are monitored by ones souls, angelics and guardians. To see if one has fully embodied a new truth or not.
One is either living a Unity Paradigm or not. (or still in the polarity).
One will be tested.
This is why those ascending, will not be guided to be a recluse, live in a cave, or a monestary. Or, in fact, attached to any religion whatsoever.
It is the karmic mirror that will test you, again and again.
One either reacted or not – was triggered or not.
This is something one cannot fake, as soul is within you , monitoring your very thoughts and your body monitoring your physical reactions.
Generally ‘failing’ is the only way we really and truly understand. And is to be embraced.
Why initiations?
As one ascends into the higher frequencies, one is privy to halls and temples of learning, healing – Akashic Records.
And all of ones Ascension Agreements, responsibilities, Templar Guardianship roles, portal opening/protection roles and so forth.
If
(a) one does not have their body healed, or does not understand the requirement for it to be healed – one does not understand how the body can be vampired and stripped of all truths, even retreived truths. As that is how we lost all our sacred truths, lessor beings vampiring us, without our knowledge.
(b) If one has not anchored all communion – and a daily structure of how to listen to the unspoken, and unseen – then how will one hear all the directions and instructions.
(c) If one does not know the truths and Purpose of each of ones non-physical ‘Ascension Team’ – then one does not know one requires protection in many of these world service responsibilities. If one does not know – one will not be led to their True Roles and Responsibilities in Ascension.
Ascension is very difficult. It takes an ongoing effort to do the inner work, and an ongoing effort to anchor all Ascension Communion.
It is then, one can be mentored to do and Be all that one is required of them for Ascension. More importantly one can be protected as one does this very important Ascension work. As there are many factions hindering ascension at this time.
Namaste and Deep Blessings on your Ascension Journey
Terra
Channeled through oKa – White Buffalo Woman, Truthbearer.
Several insulting comments have been edited out of this post. Please review our rules to see that Preaching in not permitted.
SF Staff
Pounamu
13-11-2006, 12:55 AM
Beloved Truthbearer...
Thank you for your channel above.
I would like to ask: How is the material on the azurite website, being a Melchizedech Order and putting forward the idea of Merkaba-type fields to be reconciled with the SSOA idea of rotational fields being the requirement of the magnetic energies of Terra?
I await your reply with interest!
Namaste,
Pounamu
dreamer
13-11-2006, 12:11 PM
Thanks for posting that Terra. Do you have any simple reminders that might help in the process?
kundalini
15-11-2006, 01:02 AM
I'd really like to know why ALIENS have to be brought into it all...What I mean to say is, why is there such a belief that the human race stem from alien civilisations?
I do not mean to insult anyone's beliefs here but what I would like to say is that when people keep talking about alien races, then it just seems to me like they are saying 'I am a human but not really, I'm really an hybrid' or 'I like to make out I'm an alien because I don't really like the idea of being a human.'
As for fear and negative propaganda to keep the masses in line, I have never heard anything worse than 'our governments are really being controlled by alien races'.
I believe that is a fear-inducing belief so when I keep hearing people say that there's an alien war going on above us for control of the planet...well, where is the proof of this?
I detest the actions of people who spread this vitriol because they are the most fear-inducing people of all. That humankind is not in control of it's own destiny. That it doesn't matter what we do anyway because humans are a slave race.
I'm not saying that I don't believe in aliens either because they surely exist in a universe as large as ours but I would like to know why people insist that there are aliens all around us...it's just fear-inducement.
BLAIR2BE
15-11-2006, 01:16 AM
im with kundalini on this one............?????
rose
15-11-2006, 07:14 AM
i get concerned about the "elitism" of all this...just my two cents. thanks anyway truthbearer for sharing this with us :)
Pounamu
15-11-2006, 11:23 AM
Hi Everyone,
On the question of alien races, Kundalini:
I can only speak from my understanding of what I've been taught and some of which I have tested out by my own sensing and appears to be right - but that's all the guarantee I can give of the veracity of this...
Apparently Earth as a planetary consciousness did not originally plan to have humankind on her at all, as they have such a bad reputation for being wreckers of living systems. However, the Sirians were in a jam and decided to land humans here anyway - so all humans on the planet are "aliens" from that point of view.
I am told that humans consist of one species the Universe over; but there appear to be many variations within the species, although all of these can interbreed, as the DNA is basically the same pattern.
As you say, there are bound to be plenty of different human races / civilisations within our universe; and the Sirians were of course not the only ones who developed the technology to enable them to go forth to other systems and seed their race there. And there are records in the Akasha and in the DNA of such visitations having happened on numerous occasions. However, all this is not credible from a conventional scientist's point of view; but we know that they can only see part of the picture with their dependance on physical measurements. So its hard to PROVE these things, if the "subjective" experience of psychic researches cannot be taken into account. However, as I have stated elsewhere, when one ascends, part of the process is to settle the karma of one's ancestral lineages, and in researching that one is able to construct an ever more detailed and web-like picture of what happened in the earlier days of humanity on Earth. This is how we know that these slave races were generated, and these visitors from other star systems came here and changed things to suit their own agendas.
Rose - as far as this "elitist" question goes, I have met this objection before. It is not that the ascenders are trying to be 'elitist'. It is that humanity on this planet have been so mucked about with genetically, that only those with certain key ancestral lineages in their makeup have the biological information needed to be able to sucessfully carry out all the biological changes that are required in order to ascend. For instance, in order to become of Unity Consciousness one has to change the DNA that causes one to be dogmatic and polarised in one's thoughts. This can only be done if one can transmute such DNA and the physical body structure it generates, if the correct enzymes are able to be made by the physical body. If that genetic information is missing, there's no way one can do these changes.
So its a matter of having the necessary DNA - 'the right stuff' - not a matter of arrogance or elitism. You can't turn a nut with a screwdriver, you need a spanner; in the same way, if you haven't Sirian 'Grand Master' lineages somewhere in your birth-ancestry, you can't ascend beyond a certain point, because the necessary genetic instructions are not there.
Again, the Sirian situation has demonstrated the unwisdom of having a "multi-class" human system; because the original settlers were of the lower class with 15,000 strands of DNA (having been cloned that way), and the 'Grand Master' Sirians who came later to rule them had been cloned to have 36,000 strands of DNA - the Sirian High Prieshood Elite had 124,000 strands! A lot of genetic instructions had been left out of the original settlers (the Red Sirians); but even the so-called Grand Masters had not the full complement of genetics available on Sirius.
This messing around with the human genome has resulted now in many lineages of humans who are not equipped with the wherewithal to ascend properly; when it was the original design of a human that they would all be able to do this, when their work on this level was complete. This has made the process of ascension - a natural process - a problematic one for humanity upon Earth. And unfortunately the time has come in Cosmic Cycles for Earth and her living beings to go up in vibratory frequency; and this requires all living beings upon Earth to match this rise in frequency - or find life too hard to continue in embodiment. One can only match frequencies like this by ascending.
Hopefully these explanations may help - please question further if not. :smile:
Pounamu
kundalini
15-11-2006, 02:02 PM
Hi Pounamu, I had anticipated a reply from you. It was very informative. However, as you say, I do have a few questions...
Although you made reference to the fact that you have sensed certain things to be correct with regards to alien civilisations, you did not go into detail. What kind of things have you sensed to be true and why?
I am of the understanding too that Earth has a planetary consciousness, although I have severe doubts as to whether it would discriminate and have objections against the human race settling on her. Also, this belief ( and I am not saying this is the same for you Pounamu ) seems to me to come from a person who judges humanity constantly and the belief itself would stem from a lack of self-love. Why would I say this? Well, sure, humanity has created a lot of problems and sometimes collectively, we don't always get everything right but I know one thing for sure - sometimes we get it right! In fact, only in the last 2000 years or so, as humanity even been aware of the problems it has been causing the environment and it is probably only in the last 100 years, that humankind has even had the capacity to fix these problems.
Why were the Sirians in a jam? Why did this highly-spiritual race ignore Gaia's wishes and land humans here anyway? Whilst I would say humankind has been visited by Aliens in the past, I draw the line that we actually stem from them.
How does a human gain a more detailed and weblike picture of their ancestral lineage and in so doing, gain a clearer picture of how these slave races came into being? Do they have visions where they see how this happens?
Until rose mentioned the elitism of it all, I had not realised that only 'certain' people could gain UNITY CONSCIOUSNESS. I find this remarkable. I have had moments when I feel unified with all of life on this planet, that one could call unity consciousness...not a thought, just an indescribable feeling but does that make me special, ...I would think not. So what does that mean Pounamu?
Kundalini
Pounamu
16-11-2006, 10:53 AM
Kundalini,
Your questions really demand an essay; but I will try to be concise in my explanations. I feel it is good that you ask these questions - it should be of interest to everyone following this thread. I couldn't let that opportunity pass without a comment or two! :D
(1) Although you made reference to the fact that you have sensed certain things to be correct with regards to alien civilisations, you did not go into detail. What kind of things have you sensed to be true and why?
Although I am not very "psychic" in the way of clairvoyance, I am able to test my truth with a pendulum - as Truthbearer said, it is an essential for an ascending initiate to be able to test their truth to be able to navigate their way through the many pitfalls of the process - many of which are due to the opposers (dark forces). Every so often we of the Ascension School would be given a project to carry out, researching some aspect of our inheritance; and of course there is the ongoing release of karma that can often require an in-depth investigation. From these studies, and other things that have happened in my life before I chose to ascend consciously, I have gleaned some first-hand experience of - for instance - details of my ancestral inheritance which confirm to me that the collected accounts of pre-history by other ascension students are in accord with my own ideas of it. Of course, there are many such students who are excellent clairvoyants, and can glean a much clearer view of it than I can; and so why should we invalidate the collective accounts if we can't check them minutely ourselves? Even conventional scientists take others' gained knowledge and build upon it themselves, building up a more detailed picture of the matter they're investigating.
So... I am satisfied that, for instance, I have lineages from the Pleiadean "Annanuki" people who came to Earth long before Atlantean times and genetically engineered at least two slave races (to mine their gold and serve them, and to fight for them); karma I had with a friend recently was derived from that, and the case was well researched by us, and by the Director of the School, as she needed to know what was going on in the School energetics, because it was causing a problem. So I am sure that slave races with cut-down DNA, part Red Sirian and part Anu, were in fact generated; others who have looked into this give us all a more detailed account of what actually went on in those times. The ascendpress site goes into this pre-history with great detail. If all karma has to be balanced for Earth and at least some humans upon her to ascend, all this has to be gone into, so there are plenty of beings - human and non-physical - working on getting a clear picture of it all so it can be "put to rest" and tidied up.
(2) Why were the Sirians in a jam? Why did this highly-spiritual race ignore Gaia's wishes and land humans here anyway?
The Sirians were in a jam because they were having territory wars with the Pleiadeans - mostly the battles were in outer space; but in one case a Pleiadean commander took things too far and nuked one of the Sirian home planets, reducing it to rubble and making it a water planet (like Earth) due to the shattering of the ice shields the Sirians had constructed to keep the climate more comfortable for them. This spurred them to see if another planet would be suitable for them to evacuate to in the event of another Pleiadean attack. Earth was in "their" territory, so they landed some 18 different strains of Sirian humans here to see which, if any, would survive.
They apparently did not attempt to contact Earth's consciousness and ask permission to land humans; who knows why that was? But it sure indicated that they were not tuning in to their God-selves as they should have done... We do the same today when we get in a panic about something! For one thing, one can see in this scenario that there are grave disadvantages to humans being able to transport themselves to other worlds, where they do not belong, and can so easily mess up what is going on there, quietly minding its own business. If one is really spiritually advanced and practiced in remote viewing or projecting one's consciousness, there is no need to go physically to other planets to explore them.
As it happened, only 7 of the 18 strains of humans from Sirius survived, and they form the "original" 7 human races on the planet. They were gentle folk, who lived in harmony with Earth's creatures.
(3) How does a human gain a more detailed and weblike picture of their ancestral lineage and in so doing, gain a clearer picture of how these slave races came into being? Do they have visions where they see how this happened?
Yes, as I said, a goodly proportion of ascension students whom I have known are clairvoyant, or developing such; and each contributes another bit of the picture of the whole, which like a web has lots of gaps or unknown parts to begin with, but progressively gets more and more filled in. Those who are not clairvoyant can, by asking the right questions, ascertain what lineages they were born with, what the lineages of their siblings and other relatives with whom they interact are, and so on. This is part of the process of developing Unity Consciousness - you begin to realise why you get on well, or don't get on with a certain member of your family or work-group; and then you can more easily forgive them, and intend to clear the karma. And have a better idea of what kind of thinking motivates them, and how to approach them in a successful way.
(4) Until rose mentioned the elitism of it all, I had not realised that only 'certain' people could gain UNITY CONSCIOUSNESS. I find this remarkable. I have had moments when I feel unified with all of life on this planet, that one could call unity consciousness...not a thought, just an indescribable feeling but does that make me special, ...I would think not. So what does that mean Pounamu?
It really is a matter of degree of Unity Consciousness; an unascended human at 2 strands of DNA activated (which is the majority) has one eighteen-thousandth of the capacity of a human at Full Consciousness to express his Soul nature. So such humans are very limited, and generally think in black-and-white terms, are judgemental and dogmatic. As ascension takes place, the ability to think in more compassionate and collaborative terms increases. At about 1800 strands of DNA activated (cleared of karma), one is largely past the dogmatic, highly polarised thought-habits; so the life of such an one is much more fulfilling and positive. For one thing, you are collecting up the fragments of yourself, as Earth Mother said, so you are becoming more 'whole' and more capable. And apparently all humans can readily go to 1024 strands, and most can go to 1800. After that stage, especially much above 2200 strands, one really needs to be consciously intending to ascend and evolve oneself spiritually - and have the genetics for it.
So depending on what level you're at, you may have fairly brief episodes of Unity Consciousness; but of course the aim of ascension is to make that consciousness an ongoing experience throughout one's day - and that's not as easy to do as it may sound! It demands a lot of hard work and alertness.
Realise that although the figures given above may sound very "cut and dried" and clinical or mechanical, they have been arrived at by experience, gained by the Directors of the School I was at.
It can generally be said that if you are interested in spiritual things, you most likely have the capacity to ascend to at least some degree, as those who do not have the genetics for it, don't have any interest in doing it either - not surprisingly, as it is Soul acting through the DNA that urges one to ascend. If there isn't any "ascension instruction" DNA in one's birth lineages, what would then be able to spur one on? The ascension instructions were purposely left out of the slave races, so they would not want to better their lot, break free and evolve themselves.
Hope this information helps... I'm off to bed - its past 10;40 pm, and there's much to be done tomorrow - I'm selling up my stuff preparatory to moving away.
Blessings...
Pounamu. :wink:
kundalini
16-11-2006, 01:48 PM
LOL, you wrote an essay! However, your essay has opened up more questions for me to ask. Don't get me wrong Pounamu, I am not challenging the validity of your claims but merely investigating the whys and wherefores of your beliefs. I would like to know why it is you believe what you do and I have to admit, it is an interesting topic.
So, my first question is who are the dark forces that you mention? How is it that a tool as simple as the pendulum can fool these dark forces? Are you certain that the clairvoyants among your numbers are sincerely having true visions, rather than fantasising ( not purposely ) about the origins of life? I am certain that you understand my approach here...it can sometimes be very easy for the mind to build a picture around something that is false...how certain can you be that their visions are genuine visions?
Why are two supposedly highly-spiritual races having an intergalactic war? I would have thought it would be relatively easy and easily-intended for the two races to settle their differences...is this war still going on today and why did it begin in the first place? Also, how are these races getting around the galaxy...is their technology so advanced that they can travel faster than the speed of light? Why have they not shown themselves to humanity if this is the case?
The next question is something of an unusual question but I have my reasons - what do these two races ( the Sirians and the Pleidians ) look like physically? Can you describe their anatomy somewhat?
Now about the beginnings of Unity Consciousness - I can understand the approach that you adhere to for it is something that many people, myself included, adhere to or rather try to adhere to...however, why is it that you are so certain that only the people with those genes can advance so much spiritually where as other people can't. This is unusual for me for I am rarely the sceptic but where is your proof of this? Have you tested the more spiritually advanced people at the School for activated genes? Indeed, does such a process exist where you can actually do this? For example, if you have not done this, then surely it would be very easy for an ( shall we say ) imposter to claim they are most advanced and so in that deference to those claims, you credit more respect to them than they truly deserve...That would be an observed downfall to not really knowing about these genes...
I noted that the figures you gave were arrived at by the measurement of experience but you did not say how this experience was derived...has their been scientific experiments to prove the validity of the activating genes?
I wish you the best of good luck with your travel plans! I look forward to hearing your response...
Kundalini.
Truthbearer
17-11-2006, 11:25 PM
Kundalhini - nothing is stopping anyone from raising their consciousmind into Unity., except the desire to do so, or the perseverence to do so.
This is a spiritual activity.
And ones spirituality is an inherited biologicol lineage. How spiritual concepts interest you, do not interest others.
There is no truth we cannot get to - these (previously unknown) truths are very necessary to ascend. This is the journey of each spiritual/ascension initiate. TO ACQUIRE ALL TRUTHS.
So one starts their communion practise by asking questions - the further one ascends, the more truths revealed, the more ones ascends.
(truths of our pastlives, our past history, our origins, pre-Earth, who came, who went, who stayed, why did they stay, what did they do? - are they us? are we them? does this affect our ascension? is ascension for everyone?
And in all this mix - we learn some cold hard facts. As Pounamu has outlined, some lineages that we now have are suspect
some lineages are awesome
some lineages are alright.
Facts are facts - and one comes to these 'facts' by ones own experience. And then calls them truths.
Ascension is experiential - mastery is experiential.
And why we dont require science now to validate ascension - as many are experiencing ascension. Clearing the karmas, to see the pastlives, to heal the karma, and retreive lost/hidden truths.
The pendulum doesnt protect per se. The pendulum gives one a yes, or a no answer - it is answers, knowledge, truths that protect.
Namaste and Blessings
oKa
Truthbearer
17-11-2006, 11:34 PM
Yes Pounamu you are correct - firstly the authentic Melchizedeks are now called the Melchizedek Cloistors, as the Drakonian Seraphim appropriated this order for itself on Earth - and one still has karma to resolve with the Melchizedeks.
you are also correct about the merkabah - all pointed pyramidal constructs are being removed - and unity/rotational/consciousness and the energy constructs they create are not merkabahs. Hopefully in the future the directors of this school will address such.
blessings
oKa
kundalini
18-11-2006, 12:41 AM
Hi Truthbearer,
I am very sorry but I do not understand your approach. At no point did I mention about people not being able to raise their conscious mind to that of unity consciousness.
Now spirituality is not an inherited biological lineage. Biological is of the body. Spirit is not biological, therefore how can one's spirituality be derived from their lineage since many people inhabit different bodies in different reincarnations?
Also I did not suggest we required science to measure ascension. I asked Pounamu to explain fully how he knows the people he is listening to are FOR REAL. How does he know their genes are activated like they say they are? I said a scientific experiment would validate or disprove their claims of who they claim to be.
Please ensure next time you post truthbearer that you fully read my posts so as not to misinterpret my words. Thanks for reading, Kundalini.
AL
18-11-2006, 09:31 AM
There is a term which I have come across which says- while the 2 cats fought, the monkey ran off with the butter. I wonder if it involves these (potential) beings?
AL
18-11-2006, 09:34 AM
The next question is something of an unusual question but I have my reasons - what do these two races ( the Sirians and the Pleidians ) look like physically? Can you describe their anatomy somewhat?
Kundalini.
A few months ago, I had a vision of sorts. It can only be described as the face of a male ninja turtle. The eyes were not bug like, more like the eye on the u.s dollar.
If you crossed a human with a tutle or frog, a human amphibian/ reptile then.....
I was awake and it was real, not cartoon like.
Name that toon.
Pounamu
18-11-2006, 11:43 AM
(1) The so-called "Dark Forces" are non-physical beings comprising souls who are only fragments of their former selves, and they have lost so much information or spiritual knowledge in their fragmentation that they don't know that their Creator (the Creator of our universe) loves them and has provided an abundance to cover all their requirements in living and evolving. Thus, they are on a desperate survival trip in which they are petrified of death and believe it is the end of their existance; and they are very determined not to let that happen. They have to get their life-force (chi) and their substance from somewhere; and as these are constantly being used up, they can think only of parasitising another life-form to get this - they haven't the knowledge to do any better! Unfortunately examples of this type of consciouness are found right up the dimensions of this creation, apparently, so there are many powerful beings who are demanding this sustenance. Those on the lower steps of the "pyramid" of beings have to pull apart living organisms and planetary systems and send the substance and chi up the dimensions to the high-ups, and get favours of more power and a higher place in the pyramid in return.
This reply will still leave questions; but at least you will be able to see the principle behind it and how it is that there are those beings who oppose evolution, because our evolution would raise our vibratory state out of range of their manipulations and they would then have no ability to parasitise us - for them (they believe), oblivion!
(2) How is it that a tool as simple as the pendulum can fool these dark forces? Are you certain that the clairvoyants among your numbers are sincerely having true visions, rather than fantasising ( not purposely ) about the origins of life?
Fantasy realities woven around one do indeed have to be avoided - tested for and dismantled if possible. That's one of the traps the dark are adept at setting for us (it would be so much easier to ascend if there were not this active opposition! However its part of our service as Lightworkers to change this situation).
The higher one goes in ascension level, the easier it is to discern if fantasy realities are present in one's testing. For one thing, as the subtle bodies (Emotional, Mental, Intuitive and Creative Bodies according to this School) are pieced together from their usually fragmented state, and one daily practices the grounding and aligning and pulling Soul into one's field, the more resistant one's energy field becomes to manipulations by the dark, as the boundaries hold much more strongly. And karma (which gives the dark a "handle" on one), is being released and healed.
The pendulum is actually serving as a physical tool that magnifies the often very slight muscle movements that are guided by one's Body Angel or Body Spirit; this being is in constant direct contact with one's Soul or "I AM Presence", and thus provides a link to Soul - which otherwise is tenuous indeed in most people. If enough initiates get similar stories about their past in a particular time-frame and location, one can say (and one has to assume for the practicalities) that the combined picture is fairly correct and useful; however, they are always open to refinement as new information comes to hand - just like in science.
(3) Why are two supposedly highly-spiritual races having an intergalactic war? I would have thought it would be relatively easy and easily-intended for the two races to settle their differences...is this war still going on today and why did it begin in the first place?
Part of the reason for these humans being at war - put succinctly - is: they have unreleased karma, and the dark forces are taking advantage of this fact to induce them to fight and assist in the breaking up of their living environment. This makes it much easier for the dark beings to extract the chi and substance, parts and pieces of living beings and pass them up to their masters. And humans who are (shall we say), "bent", are among the most destructive beings in existance; once this destructive pattern is established, as you can imagine, it is very hard to break out of it.
The Intergalactic Federation was formed to try to put a stop to these wars and keep the peace; it is still in existance and evidently still needed. As upon Earth (which mirrors the situation elsewhere) there are always the renegades who decide they want to do it "their way" and so a war can start - these humans may be "spiritual" according to our standards, and have much knowledge and power about creating their reality; but still have not released sufficient karma to have become totally harmless and in Unity Consciousness. You can intend all you like; but if there is still unreleased karma in your field and you do not work to release it, the fights will still eventuate from time to time. That is why the ideal of a harmless and collaborative community is so hard to manifest and keep alive for very long - it is a non-trivial project!
(4) Also, how are these races getting around the galaxy...is their technology so advanced that they can travel faster than the speed of light? Why have they not shown themselves to humanity if this is the case?
Their technology travels at the speed of thought! The speed of light is no barrier to them as it is to us - but I do not have sufficient understanding of this technology to be able to discuss it, as it is secret - understandably so. In fact these beings have shown themselves to humans on many occasions, to try to wake us up; but the military of the world's nations have tried (fairly successfully) to put a secrecy blanket over all these events. Have you not read of the various accounts from ex-military or governmental scientists who have defected in order to enlighten the public upon what's going on - and often been murdered for their temerity?
(5) What do these two races ( the Sirians and the Pleiadians ) look like physically? Can you describe their anatomy somewhat?
As far as I understand it, these two human types could pass in looks for an Earth human in many cases. The 7 Sirian races or strains that survived have become the North American Indians, the South American Indians, the Tibetans, the Inuit/Mongol type, the Polynesians, the Australian Aborigines and the Africans. Of course by now they have interbred and we White people have Pleiadean Anu slave inheritance as well. The Anu had a copper-based oxygen carrier in their blood instead of the iron-based haemoglobin of the Sirians; this as well as their being used to a greenish sun caused their skin to have a bluish tinge (recorded as the blue colour of the Hindu gods - a memory of that ancient past). Most Earth people have several racial types in their birth lineages. For myself, I have 6 Anu-Slave lineages and the rest of the 24 are Sirian types. Those who have all or most of their lineages from the Anu Slaves are the ones who cannot ascend very far - for three reasons: Firstly, they were cloned in a laboratory to have only about 5000 strand DNA (or in the case of the fighter slaves, only 1024 strands). Their ancestry thus only goes as far as their laboratory creation; they were separated from their parent ancestry in the cloning process. And secondly, the ascension instructions part of their genetics was left out, to make them never throw off their servility. Thirdly, ascending these types upon Earth, who come from the Pleiades, has the effect of creating more powerful harmful humans, because their being in the wrong creation for their type of constitution has the effect of reversing their polarity in this way. Thus, those beings now overseeing Earth Human ascension cannot allow such ascension, because it would create more warring and Earth's ascension would fail.
And then they all eventually interbred with the rest of humanity... what a genetic mess!!!
The hybrids like the so-called "Grays" and hybrid human-Reptilian human types do look somewhat different, and also act from different motivaton as well. All this can be looked up on the internet - there's heaps of info about it.
(6) Why is it that you are so certain that only the people with those genes can advance so much spiritually where as other people can't. This is unusual for me for I am rarely the sceptic but where is your proof of this? Have you tested the more spiritually advanced people at the School for activated genes? Indeed, does such a process exist where you can actually do this?
I am reminded of an occasion at a School event when some visitors to the event went to the Director and stated that "they were at 12,000 strands of DNA level, and wanted to know why (something or other - can't remember what). The Director said to them, "well, have you got Buddha Bellies like me and the other Director?" They giggled and said no. The Director replied, "Well if you were at 12,000 strands, you would have to have this to exist, at this time in history". In other words, there was a physical characteristic that is readily discernable by anyone if you are advanced in ascension. The visitors turned out to be at 1800 strands - much to their dismay! They were in a fantasy reality about their ascent.
(The Buddha Belly is a protrusion of the abdomen which is caused by growth of new organs for extracting more oxygen and generating the greater amounts of sugars for energy that an ascending body needs).
There are other ways of telling in the physical whether someone is ascending properly, or is at a particular level or not. For example, if somebody that appears to have ascended to say 3000 strands of DNA activated (or cleared of karma) does something that is out of character with people at that level - such as suddenly being very dogmatic, which should be left behind at 1024 strands, then you know that something is not as it appears, and can examine the person more closely with various psychic tests and see what is happening in their field. The Directors of the School used to do that frequently, to keep things supervised and harmonious.
Why would a person "appear" to have ascended when they had not? Well, its one of the traps of the dark - to cloak a person's unreleased karma from those in charge so they can gain entrance and acceptance in the ascension movement, and then be triggered to do some damage at a later time when the dark feels they can disrupt things to the maximum extent. I tell you, ascension is not for the faint hearted! The ascending ones are perceived as a big threat by the dark; and they will do anything they can to stop it. We will do anything we can to keep going! And so it goes. But the Light is greater than the absence of light, and will - IS - winning.
The Director can pick exactly where in one's genome a problem lies - she will say (for example) that "between segments 450 and 620 there are records of your Inner Child missing - intend to retrieve them and reweave them in". Mind you, she's doing this psychically; she is a very highly ascended initiate; and if you follow her advice, you most likely find that the problem she was addressing comes right. If not, she and you look at it again and try to discover what the hold-up is.
Occasionally I have tested if what the Director says is true for me - so far she has seldom proved wrong; but as I say, she is human like everybody else, and can make mistakes or be misled by the dark... she's pretty good at discerning that, though; and corrects it as soon as she's sussed it out.
Understand that the genes that are "activated" are cleared of karma and then can do their spiritual work of receiving the energies and the templates for what they should be doing within our being. I doubt if a conventional scientist could discern the difference between activated and inactive genes by any instrument other than a psychic sense.
The lights are flickering - perhaps telling me this is getting too long! As time allows me, I will answer any further questions you have. Hope this has helped!
Thanks for your good wishes! :smile:
Pounamu.
kundalini
19-11-2006, 01:57 PM
First, hi AL, it is true that human beings can see strange creatures sometimes although I think it is an healthy attitude not to jump to any conclusions. Just keep an open mind.
Pounamu, you have presented me with yet another essay!
Right then, these Dark Forces you speak of...you say that they are non-physical so therefore how can they be petrified of death if they are already dead? Also, how can any of those particular beings be such powerful creatures if they are so scared and weak that all they can do is to parasite off other lifeforms? In what manner do they manipulate human beings? Could this just be another way for a human to deny responsibility for themselves by blaming it on the Dark Forces?
I congratulate you Pounamu and your brethren for at the moment I do think that by strengthening the aura etc...that it is most definetely a worthwhile pursuit. I agree fully with that practice. I also agree that one's karma can be released and healed.
I understand the principle of how the pendulum works but again I am still not sure how this truly protects against manipulation from any Dark Forces. The other question mark I have over this is that a pendulum is a material feature, so why exactly would it be NECESSARY for use in spiritual work? Do our minds and spirits not provide all the tools for that kind of pursuit? Why use a material substance such as a pendulum?
Pounamu, 'unreleased karma' is an excellent explaination for a war between those two races...however, I still do not grasp the fact that these races are spiritually advanced and cannot themselves grasp a fact as you have,that it is nothing but unreleased karma causing a continuation of the war between their peoples. Why is it you can understand that principle whereas these races cannot? I do however understand what you mean about people creating realities and not having released enough karma...another way of stating this would be that these renegades have spiritual knowledge but little moral substance.
The speed of thought...not a new notion to me and perhaps very possible. There is little I can say on that one at the moment. I have read many accounts of cover-ups and conspiracies...but I have no definite thoughts on any of that at the moment.
Thank you for taking the time to describe the anatomy of these aliens. However, I cannot say I have ever heard of a 'green' coloured star...
Okay, now about the Buddha belly-type manifestation. Are you sure that these directors who possess this physical characteristic are not just fat? I don't want to appear rude but what makes those two characteristics indistinguishable?
Also, these sugars that you make reference to...Why does somebody high on the ascension path need sugar? Why get their energy from sugar and not complex carbohydrates especially as normal sugar ( especially refined ) causes all kinds of physical problems?
I understand the principle of watching a person's behaviour to guage how spiritually advancd they are...
Do you know this Director personally? What do you really think of her? Do you find her to be a spiritually advanced person?
Lastly, have you yourself had any personal experiences of your beliefs and will you share any of them here? Thank you for reading and for answering my questions Pounamu. I immensely enjoy our conversations.
Kundalini.
Truthbearer
19-11-2006, 09:41 PM
Kundalhini - just about every question of spirituality, of ascension, can be acquired by the use of a pendulum.
Especially the authenticity of anothers works - anothers ascension - ones own ascension. Where you are exactly at, in your ascension.
And this is why we require a pendulum at this stage, as there are so many questions to be answered - ascension is new truths. Previously unknown truths.
We have to circumvent the ego/mental mind - which knows nothing (or only what it has been fed, read, conditioned).. The ascending initiate requires ' body truth', truths from the Creative Subtle Body mind - which the ego will over-ride everytime.. this is why Intuition is even suspect.
Namaste and Blessings.
oKa
kundalini
19-11-2006, 09:46 PM
In my opinion, all anybody on the spiritual path requires is the ability to ignore what the ego says and attempt to access the knowledge within, via spirit.
Kundalini.
Truthbearer
19-11-2006, 11:04 PM
Yes K, and muscle-testing and penduluming authenticate what one has heard, or intuits as ones authentic spiritual mind answer.
x oKa
daisy
19-11-2006, 11:14 PM
In my opinion, all anybody on the spiritual path requires is the ability to ignore what the ego says and attempt to access the knowledge within, via spirit.
Kundalini.
i'd agree with you here k, the spiritual path isn't as complex as it would some times appear, it all boils down to following your own truth at the end of the day IMO
kundalini
19-11-2006, 11:55 PM
Truthbearer, doesn't that remove the need to trust what you have heard or seen or felt psychically or spiritually. Sorry but I do not believe a pendulum answers all the questions of the universe.
K.
Pounamu
20-11-2006, 10:03 AM
Dear Kundalini,
I, too, enjoy our conversations - at least someone is showing enough enthusiastic interest in the subject to explore it thoroughly! And the best way to do it is by asking questions - of others who have experience, and of one's own inner being...
(1) Right then, these Dark Forces you speak of...you say that they are non-physical so therefore how can they be petrified of death if they are already dead?
Well of course the answer to that one is that these forces are not "already dead", as they are simply other-dimensional beings, as alive as you or I are (and still will be after the death of our physical bodies).
(2) Also, how can any of those particular beings be such powerful creatures if they are so scared and weak that all they can do is to parasite off other lifeforms?
One may be powerful and have detailed and well-grasped knowledge of how to wield forces at anyone's disposal (having that knowledge), yet be of a self-serving nature and therefore harmful to anyone to whom one chooses to be - who perhaps has something that one wants and won't voluntarily give up... You know how powerfully motivating survival instincts are! But they do not have the knowledge of how they are related to the All-That-Is...
(3) In what manner do they manipulate human beings? Could this just be another way for a human to deny responsibility for themselves by blaming it on the Dark Forces?
The numbers of different ways in which the dark manipulate run into thousands. It has taken years - more than a decade for the Directors of SSOA to trace and document these in order to carve (i.e. pioneer) a pathway for the average human aspirant to follow - as it takes the greatest determination, alertness and spiritual good sense (and sensitivity to guidance), and willingness to sacrifice ANYTHING that would get in the way of the goal of ascension. Otherwise one is just tripped up by some trap or other, and ascension ceases or goes off into a diversion.
I have already mentioned one or two manipulations... for instance, if the initiate is not alert, the ego can be manipulated into making more karma instead of one releasing it; thus bogging one down in karma. Information or parts of the spiritual anatomy can be removed from an initiate's field, so that they cannot proceed until they realise this and retrieve it, releasing the karma that allowed it. Future karma that the initiate currently has not the knowledge or state of evolution to release can be triggered by the dark; then the ascension can cease while the initiate is in the turmoil caused by karma that is a mystery to them. (That happened to me, and resulted in my leaving the School). Work already done in releasing karma can be undone by the dark inserting agreements to have this karma back in their field, then re-inserting the karma. And so on and so on, and so on, ad nauseam!
How, in the name of all that is holy, can this take place??? It is absolutely horrific! :icon_eek: :icon_eek:
Well, its a long story... and to cut it short: there have been some high souls who decided to "buck the rules" of our Creator's creation, and this resulted eventually in a reversal of True Spiritual Law into Lawlessness in this part of the cosmos. There's a lot more fine detail than this - some of it is on the ascendpress.org site, although there are other details that one only has access to if one joins the School. Anyway, the Creator of this sector of the universe became aware of something problematic going on in his creation, and set about finding out what and rectifying it. True Spiritual Law has now been re-anchored upon Earth; and over the next few decades will cause this lawlessness to be no more; but already there are guardians in place to see that karma goes back - more swiftly than ever before - to those whose effect it is; and to see that karmic manipulations that are outside True Spiritual Law are disallowed. SSOA students learn how to invoke and apply this in their own lives; but they still are the ones who have to do this! But you realise that the general populace still host the karma that allows for manipulations; and until this is cleared up, it takes a long time for such a law reversal to be overcome and purged fully from the planet and its living beings. Its a slow and cumbersome process, which cannot happen "overnight". Ascenders are the "fore-runners" in this.
It could conceivably look as though the dark manipulations are an attempt to place the blame for one's circumstances. That students are sincerely applying themselves to forgive and release the karma is something that only a true appraisal of their inner motivations could reveal. They understand as well as anyone, that the process of karmic release cannot be fudged!
(4) I still do not grasp the fact that these races are spiritually advanced and cannot themselves grasp a fact as you have,that it is nothing but unreleased karma causing a continuation of the war between their peoples. Why is it you can understand that principle whereas these races cannot?
For all I know, these races - or the spiritually awake ones among them - might grasp the facts; but have the general populace actually applied themselves to the release work? Or does ego make them so mad with the "enemy" that they find themselves unable to tear themselves away from giving their brother "enemies" a piece of their mind? They have to be persuaded to get quiet and say to themselves, "Why is this situation happening? What is it in me that is creating this embroilment? How can I change some part of myself, such that I am not harmful to anyone?" Again, people can be powerful without necessarily being spiritually (or "service-to-others") oriented. They not only need the knowledge, but also the will to change the situation, and the persistance to put their will into full effect.
(5) Okay, now about the Buddha belly-type manifestation. Are you sure that these directors who possess this physical characteristic are not just fat? I don't want to appear rude but what makes those two characteristics indistinguishable?
Fat of the usual kind does not come and go at the "drop of a hat", so to speak. When these two Directors are hosting an event of theirs (which may be teaching or may be hosting a World Service conference), their Buddha Bellies inflate, as they need extra energy to hold the boundaries of the event; and if they become shattered or damaged, or else lose a lot of information to the dark, they can become quite flat as the buddha belly deflates. This carries on into your next question, which was:
Also, these sugars that you make reference to...Why does somebody high on the ascension path need sugar?
An ascending initiate becomes more and more powerful as they ascend. The basis of this power is the chi (life-force) they can generate; and it is based, while they are in embodiment, in the physical. Therefore, the physical metabolism must speed up to host the power; and the amount of energy required for this eventually far exceeds what one could derive from eating and digesting physical food. So the diaphragm develops blood pockets in which oxygen is used in making additional sugars of various types, to satisfy this need.
(6) Do you know this Director personally? What do you really think of her? Do you find her to be a spiritually advanced person?
Since I trained under her, I can claim to know her personally and to have seen her in various circumstances! I really think she is a wonderful person, whom it was a great privilege to know. She is tremendously powerful in her gaze, yet friendly and very compassionate. I have experienced eight or nine events (Intensives, and Conclaves - a type of World Service gathering to release collective human karma and to have healing and fellowship which such conferences engender), so have enough experience to have concluded that she is "the genuine article" if I could put it that way without being rude. I have no doubt that she is very highly evolved; and yet she always would have a few students to lunch each day during an Intensive or other event, and acted like a human in every way except her ways of thinking, which were strictly in accordance with True Spiritual Law (though she was not mentioning it all the time - just unobtrusively). She does NOT want to be considered a "guru", but simply a self-realised human being who has discovered her true vocation and joy as an ascension pioneer and teacher.
(7) Lastly, have you yourself had any personal experiences of your beliefs and will you share any of them here?
Ummm.... I will have to think about that... the time has gone for it tonight, at anyrate. I am a one-finger typist - it has taken me an hour and a half to type this, although its good, because I have time to think about what I'm saying, and to remember all that I want to say.
At this stage I'll bid you adieu, and I'll do my best to answer that and other questions you may have, in due course...
Blessings...
Pounamu.
chadley
20-11-2006, 05:15 PM
In my opinion.......
Galactic wars, lineage, the human body, the alien body...etc. What do all of these things have in common? They are external.
You are not an alien nor are you human. You are by choice experiencing the consciousness of a human or an alien. Soul itself at its highest expression is not divided. The division occurs in the layers below it that separate each reality.
Galactic wars are irrelevant to those that do not have a war within, as the war itself is only a reflection and/or projection. Do you think this war to be yours just by its mere existance? It is only your war if you make it so as the result of your own inner conflict.
Understanding the lessons learned by lineage is the point. The specific variable that make up this lineage, such as whether or not you had 3 green thumbs or whether you are from the planet Nabu, is absolutely irrelevant.
The ebb and flow that are the very waveform characteristics of energy in all of life make up the beauty in all the universal patterns of life. It is not relevant when and where they go or have gone in the past or future. Only that you are capable in the present to flow the watercourse way now, that you already possess the ability to receive these patterns without resistance. Force only applies its against that which resists it, without resistance you become part of that force.
The point is this, Galactic councils, alien lineage, etheric blueprints..., are only guides towards true ascension. AND NO MORE SO, than experience in the astral, automatic writing, channeling, astrology, numerology and so on and so on, even *mind* itself. It is a great mistake to hold specific tools above the other because it is source/god/soul/the divine which is the true power behind all of these tools and the driving force behind how they are used.
Concerning yourself with all of these things as necessities is to look towards the external reflection in the outer manifestation and/or creation when the real path lies toward the kindom of heaven that exists within.
Thus, aliens, the year 2012, and so on hold no more relevance than the consiquences, affects, and patterns presented in front of you right here on earth, right in your back yard, right in your body. And as such, all of those things are NOT requirements towards true ascention/enlightenment/spiritual progress.
Which has greater power, the creator or what it has created? That which exists in the external manifestation only holds within it the power that you, the co-creator has given it.
Chadley.
tiltjlp
20-11-2006, 06:19 PM
Chadley, I assume you forgot to mention that the comments in your post are merely your opinions, and that you didn't purposely intend to Preach, which isn't permitted here, right? It'd be appreciated if you'd edit your post to reflect that.
SF Staff Spokesperson
chadley
20-11-2006, 06:32 PM
Ok, check it now. Let me know if that is sufficient. All I ask is that you let me know specifically which parts need adjustment before moderators go deleting out portions of the post. Thanks!
daisy
20-11-2006, 06:36 PM
it looks fine to me chadley, thank you
tiltjlp
20-11-2006, 06:50 PM
That's all that was needed Chadley. Anyone can say just about anything as long as they label it as opinion. Most members understand that we're all simply voicing our opinions and ideas here, but new members might not realize that. Thanks for your cooperation.
John
BLAIR2BE
21-11-2006, 01:03 AM
HEY ALL!!!
Ive read this thread quietly for a while now. I guess ill try to offer my two cents….
:director:
IN MY EVER SO HUMBLED OPINION…
:glasses7: One of the opening questions: “are you taking responsibility for your own ascension?”; ok, so further into this thread we have all these other elements involved in our ascension, such as lineage, DNA (“lost” or otherwise), pendulums, aliens, etc. Well it seems that if all these variables are as important as they are being heralded then we need take very little responsibility, as we surely do not control all of these variables. Furthermore if I cannot verify my own knowledge or new information (without a “tool” made by fellow fallible man) then I am not quite as responsible, as I can look towards my implement of decision making to verify or refute for me. DNA is biological. I can perfectly understand the connections being made between DNA and the soul, it seems to me though that an enlightened one would first master reality and then, possibly, DNA would change to align correctly with the soul. After all the body is a decaying, short lived VESSEL; nothing more than a vessel for soul to experience this material life. Nothing more. The “magic” of all this is within; the spirit, not its meatbag (as someone so eloquently stated a few months back). It is quite possible that an “enhanced” version of DNA could enhance the brain; the ability to receive and process data though.
Buddha belly: quick note on this, I am developing a nice round Buddha belly that actually “deflates” to become flat!! No lie, if I do not eat or drink anything for a few short hours my belly becomes quite flat. Now I have had x-rays and I have no extra organs at all. Im sorry but this line of thinking is VERY provably natural, not at all fantastic in any way.
You are right Daisy. It isn’t as complicated as many try to teach. Easy? No, not easy. Difficult? Yes, many times. Complicated? Not really. Sometimes schools of thought take one principal, word it 20 different ways and call it 20 different principals to learn. In my little opinion, the mind sometimes constructs all sorts of details, details, details. Sometimes these details are all TOTALLY UNNECESARY DISTRACTIONS from what really IS. In my opinion, this statement is not an opinion. It is quite true and very common. These “details” are the work of “dark forces”, to bog one down so deep that all one can see is “the mud” of it all. It seems that the closer one gets to truths and awareness, the more distractions, falsities and misinformation are thrown out. In my opinion this statement is also not an opinion, but quite true and quite common.
Again im with kundalini on this one point: “truthbearer, doesn’t that remove the need to trust what you have…pendulum answers all the questions….”. So may I ask, is faith important? I think so. The pendulum doesn’t seem to inspire faith.
Chadley was, as usually for Chadley, correct and simply to the point. I won’t restate what was said (er typed).
Now I know that much of the time folks perceive me as rantish, rude, a hole, smart ***, well its almost never intentional. In this case it is not intentional. I have followed this thread from its beginning, with great interest; as at one time in my life I read much on many of these ideas It seems that we are almost to what I have been waiting for; what may validate, to me, the particular school of thought that has been discussed….EXPERIENCE. Honestly, much of the explanations ive read here seem VERY MUCH like a fantastic and funner version of every religion I have ever heard of, full of fables, stories of moral, values, dogmas, a bit of rigidity. But experience is the gravy!! I eagerly await experiences to be shared, as these cannot be taken as lightly as teachings.
Now my questions…
Can ya’ll explain how and why the pendulum works in these ways??
And how/why is it that so much of our destiny, ability, and potential presumably been altered/tempered/denied us by all these other outer variables? Do we not have enough potential/personal power to “take ourselves” where ever/as far as we desire??
(perhaps an opinion disclaimer could be auto stamped onto every post, this would make things so much easier;):glasses6:
p.s. guys and gals, this has been a fantastic duscussion!! cheers for all!!
tiltjlp
21-11-2006, 09:00 AM
Yo BLAIR2BE,
I think you have the wrong idea about the anti-preaching rule that is finally being enforced. First off, you don't need to add IN MY EVER SO HUMBLED OPINION… to your posts. All you need to do is the include an "I think" or "I feel" within one of your sentences. The idea isn't to inconvenience anyone, but to make us all more aware that our particular version of the Ultimate Universal Truth isn't the ONLY VALID POINT OF VIEW. Possibly if we can keep this in mind while we post and read messages here, maybe we will be more tolerant and understanding.
The shame is that this is only a problem for a very small part of the membership, but it continues to cause issues of personal attacks, insults, and hurt feelings. And not all of it shows up on the open forum. So, as often happens, because a handful of people seem to think they are Special and Important we have been forced to enforce a rule that's been on the books all along. I'm not surprised some of you don't like it. But think how the SF Staff feels being made to play Bad Cop. It just makes their job harder.
And no BLAIR2BE, this isn't directed only at you, but by replying here maybe this will reduce the number of complaints we will receive.
SF Staff Spokesperson
Pounamu
21-11-2006, 09:27 AM
Hi Blair,
You ask:
"Can ya’ll explain how and why the pendulum works in these ways??"
The pendulum, in my humble opinion, is simply a physical tool for magnifying (by resonance) the tiny muscle movements of the arm or fingers that your Body Angel generates in answer to your question that you put to it. So it is not your pendulum answering - any more than a radio is making the music that plays through it. Your Soul is answering; but in order to get its answer down into the physical dimension when your spiritual hearing is not working well, it passes the message on to the Body Angel (who is always in good contact with your soul), and the Body Angel then pulses a muscle a fraction, which the pendulum renders visible by resonant swinging and building up a visible movement.
Also, the body consciousness knows what is true, whether you do or not, consciously. So the pendulum gives a check on what you may perceive / receive by other means. It is NOT taking away your responsibility for what you do, as you have to decide whatever it is you want to actually do. The pendulum is simply one aid to discovering or checking your truth by another method than, for example, listening to your heart-feeling, or the dictates of "common sense".
I agree that experience is the most useful guide; and that you could get on without all this "technique know-how" by just being in the present and aware of what is going on around you... and if you think that other peoples' experiences take away from your sovereignty, and want to be simple and independant, then "bully for you"! Go to it, I say! What you simply intend for yourself will come to pass someday.
Pounamu
P.S. I'm dog-tired - been packing and sorting and having visitors all day - must go to bed... bed, bed, glorious bed! Nothing quite like it for resting the head!
BLAIR2BE
22-11-2006, 09:33 PM
Hey tiltjlp,
Well I believe I may have come across stronger than I should have. Sorry for that (authority many times sets off internal alarms within me; has nothing to do with the moderators here at spiritual forums- moderating is a job I would not do myself; many blessings to you guys;). I would simply hate to see the forum get to a point where politics, political correctness and phony sincerity reigns; I suppose that is where the sarcasm originated.
Pounamu,
Ahhh, Now the pendulum concept makes sense to me (similar to automatic writing or even hypnosis in premise). My personal belief system does not accept this principle any longer (at one time this sort of idea would have fit), but it does make some sense to me, or I can understand how the pendulum may represent the “information”. It seems an exercise of futility though, as this: if the pendulum is a representative (or a check on perception, as you put it) of information that one has experienced, that one has learned or become aware of, and now knows, then the pendulum exercise becomes redundant. Also, how could one know that the origin of the information passed from brain to arm is not of a “pure” origin/nature? Perhaps from a realm of fantasy, or some forgotten disproved mantra far back in the old “database”? Is this not possible? It is a great big wide universe out there, and when it comes to this particular type of exercise, the “answers” could come from “anywhere”, no?
By the way, I was in no way knocking the schools, teachers, organizations out there. I wanted to emphasize that some of the questions presented to you related (as I understood them) to your own experience as apposed to here-say/third part experience.
tiltjlp
22-11-2006, 11:06 PM
Hey tiltjlp,
Well I believe I may have come across stronger than I should have. Sorry for that (authority many times sets off internal alarms within me; has nothing to do with the moderators here at spiritual forums- moderating is a job I would not do myself; many blessings to you guys;). I would simply hate to see the forum get to a point where politics, political correctness and phony sincerity reigns; I suppose that is where the sarcasm originated.
I couldn't agree with you more. I hate authority, either having it used against me or having to use it against others. But I also feel that each of us has to decide what to believe and what to discard. And since someone new to spirituality might not realize that "opinions" are being offered here, we need to make them aware of this. Sad to say, but there are a lot of people who will believe anything they're told, and a forum like this has to protect them against themselves. I try to be as low-key as possible, but sometimes a direct approach is required. And to think that in the year 2345, and probably a lot sooner, none of this will amount to a hill of beans.
John
pokeyjo11
08-12-2006, 02:55 AM
:happy1: I just read this thread; I Love SF!!
I kept having visions of a baseball game:bottom of the ninth, maybe one on third, and another trying to steal second,the pinch hitter is up and yet a finely timed double play and the game or season is done...; next to a soccer field jazzed with passion of play for that winning goal, its last quarter, will the game remain tied and go into overtime or...
The baseball is hit foul and lands in the soccer game, and the conversation insues...
I feel it is wonderful when the players become aware that, although the rules the set for themselves, by their choice of game they choose to play are very different, objectives may appear different, they are All playing ball!:smile:
In the background, the sounds of a friday night football game. I see clearer the players, the band, the chearleader and the spectators....whatever role they choose...
All have come to play their part in this friday night experience, All a part of the game, ball game.
Thanks for letting me share my smile :love4:
:wav:
dreamer
08-12-2006, 10:00 AM
That's all that was needed Chadley. Anyone can say just about anything as long as they label it as opinion. Most members understand that we're all simply voicing our opinions and ideas here, but new members might not realize that. Thanks for your cooperation.
John
So as long as I add IMO at the end of a post i can say just about anything??? Thats one mad rule dude imo of course.
| 82,334 |
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| 5,232 |
Satan is born in new trailer for found-footage thriller Devil's Due
Six weeks after seeing the first flickers, a new trailer for found-footage chiller DEVIL'S DUE has arrived today. And you know what? Satan is on his way!
The Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett joint effort hits theaters January 17th, so cop a peek at the newest frames to see if this is one worth checking in theaters come new year.
Written by Lindsay Devlin, DEVIL'S DUE picks up:
After a mysterious, lost night on their honeymoon, a newlywed couple finds themselves dealing with an earlier-than-planned pregnancy. While recording everything for posterity, the husband begins to notice odd behavior in his wife that they initially write off to nerves, but, as the months pass, it becomes evident that the dark changes to her body and mind have a much more sinister origin.
| 850 |
US approved business with blacklisted countries: NYT
Washington, Dec 24 (IANS) The US has allowed American companies to do billions of dollars worth of business with Iran and other countries blacklisted as sponsors of terrorism, The New York Times reported Friday.Despite economic sanctions and trade embargoes enforced by the US government, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control can make certain exceptions.
The office has granted nearly 10,000 licenses conforming to a law that allows agricultural and medical humanitarian aid in countries where sanctions have been imposed.
A decades-old law - pushed by the farm lobby and other industry groups - was written so broadly that humanitarian aid has included cigarettes, chewing gum, hot sauce, weight-loss remedies, body-building supplements and sports rehabilitation equipment.
Such items were sold by US companies to an institute that trains Iran’s Olympic athletes, the report said.
Hundreds of other licenses were approved because they “served American foreign policy goals”.
Among them are deals to provide famine relief in North Korea or to improve internet connections and “nurture democracy” in Iran.
But there have been cases in which the foreign-policy benefits were considerably less clear.
In one instance, an American company was permitted to bid on a pipeline that would have helped Iran sell natural gas to Europe, even though the US opposes such projects.
Several other American businesses were permitted to deal with foreign companies believed to be involved in terrorism or weapons proliferation.
The US and its allies this year adopted a new round of sanctions that have effectively shut Iran off from much of the international financial system.
“No one can doubt that we are serious about this,” the Obama administration’s official on sanctions, Stuart A. Levey, said.
“It’s not a bad thing to grant exceptions if it represents a conscious policy decision to give countries an incentive,” said Stuart Eizenstat, who oversaw sanctions policy for the Clinton administration when the humanitarian-aid law was passed.
“But when you create loopholes like this that you can drive a Mack truck through, you are giving countries something for nothing, and they just laugh in their teeth. I think there have been abuses,” he said.
| 2,342 |
"The
burden of proof is on the central bank to
convince that a connection exists between
accommodative monetary policy and expansion
in the labor market. So far, they have not
demonstrated that link." ~ Stephen Roach (Yale University
Economics professor, back from his exile
in Asia for speaking
truths, probably banished from Wall Street)
"The
system will be totally decentralized as
it goes from hierarchical structures to
relational structures. People who do not
comprehend the shift will end up as scrap
on the bone yard of society. Banks as we
know them will be eventually been wiped
out by massive independent collaboration.
The reintroduction of a global barter system
that applies 21st century technology will
be the final nail in today's system. The
USDollar is being prepared for its coffin." ~ The Voice (an excellent gold market source)
"In
the 21st century Americans have experienced
an extraordinary collapse in the rule of
law and in their constitutional protections.
Today American citizens, once a free people
protected by law, can be assassinated and
detained in prison indefinitely without
any evidence being presented to a court
of their guilt, and they can be sentenced
to prison on the basis of secret testimony
by anonymous witnesses not subject to cross
examination. The US [so-called] justice
system has been transformed by the Bush/Obama
regime into the justice system of Gestapo
Germany
and Stalinist Russia.
There is no difference." ~ Paul Craig Roberts (from recent essay entitled "In Amerika Law No
Longer Exists: the Extermination of Truth")
"The
CIA owns everyone of any significance in
the major media." ~ William Colby (former CIA Director)
"This
year will go down in history. For the first
time, a civilized nation has full gun registration.
Our streets will be safer, our police more
efficient, and the world will follow our
lead into the future!" ~ Adolph Hitler, 1935 (The Weapons Act of Nazi Germany)
CORRECTION: Phnom Penh, mentioned in the pan-Asian conference
last month, is located in Cambodia, not in Vietnam. It was mentioned so often during the
Vietnam War to the young Jackass, that an
incorrect association was formed.
## VATICAN EVENING VESPERS
◄$$$ A GERMAN LAWYER IS TO HEAD THE VATICAN BANK. THIS IS THE BIG HEADLINE
BEHIND THE PUBLICIZED STORY ON THE POPE'S
RESIGNATION. SPECULATION ASIDE, THE CONFESSION
OF MONETARY SINS COMES NEXT. $$$
The story of the first pope to resign in 600 years is captivating, and has generated
heaps of speculation. All precedent since
the 16th century has held that aging and
infirmed popes die within the arms of the
church. Not here! Benedict's resignation
distracts from the bigger headline issue.
A German lawyer is about to head the Vatican
Bank, an institution replete with controversy.
Its shady activity is blamed by some informed
parties as the reason for the pontiff's
premature departure. Truckloads of holy
water will be required to wash the stain
of past monetary sins. The door is open
for the wrath of God to be let loose.
The Vatican appointed German lawyer Ernst von Freyberg
to be the new president of its bank, filling
a post left vacant since May when when a
financial scandal involving narcotics money
laundering with Roman banks tainted the
institution for the umpteenth time. The
appointment was made by a commission of
Cardinals and approved by Pope Benedict
before his departure was announced. The
bank's formal name is a total joke, the
Institute for Works of Religion (IOR). It
has been dogged by scandals for decades,
since its only auditor is God himself, who
has not yet chosen to file formal charges
with Ecumenical regulators. It should be
noted that von Freyberg is not ex-Goldman.
The strong rumors are that the past deals
with JPMorgan, which ran gold leases and
managed central banks loans, will be publicized
and investigated and scrutinized. See
the Zero Hedge article (CLICK HERE).
Numerous Rome reporters have been found murdered over the
years, after pursuing Vatican financial dealings that run renegade to spiritual pursuits.
The word passed on is that the Vatican has been active for years in making its
gold available to central banks for leasing
and other short-term inter-bank loans. Also,
very large cash loans in the form of bearer
bonds were frequent events, like the ones
captured with Japanese national mules at
the Swiss border in 2009. The bonds cover
both gold loans and narcotics deals, as
well as other diabolical dealings. In return,
the Vatican bankers have requested certain
murders be conducted by the US
and UK
intelligence agencies, who are eager to
aid in the missionary efforts. It is highly
doubtful that narcotics money laundering
or gold market rigging or cover-up hit squads
are part of God's will.
The Jackass has one source (met face to face), a man who left his two-year internship
in 1998 at the Vatican after he penetrated
two layers of security at their infamous
secretive communication center. It connects
the satanic covens of the world, and has
five rings of security. The intern resigned
after bothered by chronic sleep disorder
and nightmares, with the many stories of
sexual rituals a constant mist in the air
in cafeterias and libraries. The Vatican
banker sexual rituals with children will
not be mentioned further. As footnote, let
it be known that the Jackass was sexually
molested between the ages of 12 and 14 years
by teachers in high school, all from Franciscan
order. Departing the Catholic Church was
an easy decision, when in college. Conclude
that the Vatican has changed from its
original divine charter set by Simon Peter.
As a young catholic, the Jackass openly questioned the priests, nuns, and brothers
of the order how a human being could be
so arrogant as to speak ex-cathedra and
claim infallibility. Speaking for God and
being within fault appear on face to be
horrendous violations of arrogance and insolence,
an insult to the deity. The clergy never
responded satisfactorally to the young Jackass,
who quit at age 18 years from any formal
association with the Roman Catholic Church,
but remains a fervent Christian. A German
banker contact, whose opinion was solicited,
made a quick comment. He wrote, "It
appears time to bring the knights in and
clean up all the garbage that has piled
up inside the Vatican Bank. If the Pope
disclosed what he knows, many powerful people
would go down long before he would. The
man is very experienced and not a fool.
By staying inside the Vatican
sanctuary, he remains the Chairman Pope
in spite of his official successor to become
the CEO Pope. Clever move indeed. Benedict
is not a politician. He despises the Vatican power jockeys, and he is far from being done dealing with sordid
individuals, all of them Italians. Not one
of the cardinals he appointed has been an
Italian. There is a lot more going on than
meets the eye." It would be so
sweet if the Vatican broke the gold cartel, with some divine
help.
◄$$$ THE VATICAN HAS A LONG HISTORY
WITH GOLD. A MILLENIUM OF RULE DURING THE
EUROPEAN DARK AGES LEFT THE ORGANIZATION
RICH WITH GOLD. THE CRUSADES ADDED TO THEIR
BOOTY. THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH JPMORGAN
MIGHT SEE SCRUTINY AS IT COMES TO THE SURFACE,
WITH LIGHT SHED. JACKASS CURIOSITY WONDERS
IF POPE BENEDICT, BEING GERMAN, IS AWARE
OF EASTERN ALLIANCE
PLANS COMING TO FORE THAT FOCUS ON GOLD
AND TRADE. $$$
An unholy schism cometh, which will push aside the USDollar,
in a final definitive divergence and division
between paper gold and gold metal. Friend and colleague Rob Kirby offered some information. He pointed to a website
concerning Vatican Bank Claims (SEE LINK)
in which five hot links are included. There
used to be six, the removed link pertaining
to correspondence between the New York Fed
and the Vatican Bank, which referenced gold
accounts at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York. Kirby can attest that specific legal documents used to
be available at this site referencing historical
business relationship with Chase and gold
dealings with the Vatican Bank. Historically
their relationship was almost exclusively
gold based, with bullion bars moving in
brisk volume. Actually, on an historical
basis, Chase provided bullion bank services
for the Vatican.
Think Rockefeller (roots to Chase), not
the House of Morgan.
◄$$$ THE VATICAN HAS A LONG HISTORY
OF NEFARIOUS DEEDS. $$$
The Voice could not restrain himself to join the interchange of historical accounts.
He wrote the following, provided almost
verbatim but edited to flow well. All is
very convoluted with so many cooks and crooks
in the kitchen. The origins go back to post-WWII
when the US
intelligence agency financed the Italian
parties to keep communism in check. It is
the infamous Operation Gladio. The Vatican
played a major role in the activity, since
largely based in Rome (see Red Brigade). The Holy See never could shake the old connections.
The man who played a very big role in all
this was Vince Cannistraro. A mutual acquaintance
who knew Vince for decades held him in very
high regard. He was a top professional.
They killed his entire family (wife and
children) in Lebanon
when he was stationed there. It was said
that Vince did not take shxx from anybody,
not even the president, when he was still
on active duty. He truly wore a white hat
amongst all the black hats.
Lightning Hits Basilica
One should keep firm in knowledge that the Vatican
has been a major house of financial and
violent crime for decades, many centuries.
Just a couple days after Pope Benedict announced
his almost unprecedented resignation, lightning
struck St Peter Basilica in Rome, pictured above. We are told this is a common
occurrence. Doubt that, period. When the
bigger picture emerges, many missing pieces
will come into view. The pope is a very
smart man. He did the unthinkable and took
the world by surprise, including some long-time
scummy financial partners. He did not cave
to pressure, but added to the intrigue.
Some say he set a fatal trap for the the
dark forces. He could have delivered a mortal
blow to nasty insiders at the Vatican, who might find themselves falling onto
their own swords.
##
INTRO MONETARY FRAGMENTS
◄$$$ DAMAGING PRECEDENT COULD FORCE MAJOR LOSSES FOR BANK OF AMERICA
IN MORTGAGE LIABILITY CASES. A RECENT COURT
RULING WAS FOUND IN FAVOR OF THE MONOLINE
INSURER, AGAINST THE BANK ISSUING MORTGAGE
BONDS. $$$
The case is not reported much, but its precedent could be crippling. A judge
has ruled that a large mortgage lender Flagstar
is liable for damages to a monoline insurance
company. Similar issues are at stake
in several cases that Bank of America faces
in court. Flagstar was a big mortgage lender,
now dead. It lent risky mortgages, dubbed
liar's loans where the borrower declared
income that was never checked by the underwriters
to the loans. These are pervasively fraudulent
loans which have caused legal nightmares
for the big banks, and direct liability.
Flagstar was sued by a monoline insurer
named Assured, which engages in specialized
insurance in guaranteeing the quality of
these loans, once packaged into a securitized
bond. The exact same exposure exists in
bigger cases for Bank of America. The big
deal is that the monoline firm Assured
recently won a huge case against Flagstar.
The judge ruled that the lender lied repeatedly
to the firm that insured the quality of
their loans. Under that same methodology,
Bank of America could actually face tens
of $billions in liability from other parties.
The massive exposure to Bank of America
will not end from the mortgage fraud and
basic misrepresentation of mortgage bonds.
In essence, the insurance companies have
demanded the return of their money from
the fraudulent banks who lied about the
asset quality being insured.
The judge found that 75% of the time in year 2005, the lender misrepresented
to the insurance company on loan details.
In 2006, they lied 65% of the time to the
insurer. A massive business was built on
fraud, which victimized even Fannie Mae.
The bond investors all bought a raft of
toxic bonds that went into sudden decline
almost right out of the gate. Not only did
the home loan borrowers lie to obtain the
loans, the banks lied to investors who bought
the big packages in bond securities. The
entire industry lied to everybody, but the
source on bond creation is banks. The
banks grew enormously by doing incredible
volume of crappy loans at a premium yield
with extreme leverage, earning $billions,
against which they posted almost no reserves
against losses. All are liars in the
US mortgage game that went
foul. See the Real News article (CLICK HERE)
with the interview of William Black, professor
of Economics and Law at the University of Missouri in Kansas
City. He is an expert on white collar crime
and the law, a former financial regulator,
and author. He wrote a book with an incredibly
clever title that indicates the depth of
corruption in the US financial system. It is entitled "The
Best Way to Rob a Bank Is to Own One."
◄$$$ BERNANKE'S MENTOR AND DOCTORAL THESIS ADVISER HAS RESIGNED. THE EVENT
MIGHT HAVE SOME MINOR SIGNIFICANCE, BUT
MORE SO ON SYMBOLISM. FISCHER WAS A CHAMPION
OF JUSTIFYING THE PRUDENCE OF FAILED MONETARY
SYSTEMS AND GREAT ENABLER OF WESTERN THEFT
OF WEALTH. $$$
Stanley Fischer has been the head of the central bank of Israel
since 2005. He is often given credit for
steering the small nation through difficult
times. He has announced his resignation,
effective in June, two years before his
term ends. At age 69 years, he is hardly
beyond his useful years, nor in poor health.
Fischer is known as the PhD thesis advisor
for current USFed chairman Ben Bernanke
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) in the 1970s. They created a revisionist
history thesis pertaining to the Great Depression,
complete with unjustifiable untestable constructs.
The highly praised thesis is seen as basis
for Quantitative Easing and massive bond
purchases to safe the system. However, since
the nation is not subject to the Gold Standard,
no solution has come. The Bernanke PhD thesis
is being disproved with each passing month,
and each new QE program. Fischer has held
many top posts, all integral to the failed
fiat paper financial structure that is crumbling
on a global scale never witnessed in history.
He served as deputy director of the Intl
Monetary Fund, and held a top post at Citigroup
Corp. At the IMF, he worked on resolving
financial crises in Mexico,
Russia,
and Southeast Asia during the 1990s. He was mis-educated at the London School
of Economics and MIT, along with many financial
banking leaders. Under Fischer, the nation
of Israel made a distinction. As central bank head,
he led the movement early to raise interest
rates, making it the first nation to take
such a step toward stabilization.
Regard the imminent departure of Fischer as an important symbolic event. The
mentor of Chairman Bernanke is leaving,
possibly because he anticipates some dire
events to occur. Benjamin might be tired
of seeing his thesis disproved by current
events, or tired of operating the Weimar
machinery without a proper license. Ben
might not wish to be present when a controversial
seizure of private US wealth is ordered for to cover the USFed's
ruined balance sheet. He might not wish
to be in office when the global isolation
and rejection of the USDollar occurs. Or
when further exposure comes of the USFed
having stolen official gold accounts. Or
when revelations come that the USFed and
other major central banks have been kept
afloat by narcotics money laundering, led
by the big US banks in coordination with
the USGovt security agencies. Consider
the Fischer resignation a key event, one
that augurs badly for the future of the
central bank franchise system, which has
failed in very open and extreme ways.
The USFed, the Euro Central Bank, the Bank
of England, and the Bank of Japan have all
embarked on a disastrous experiment to print
money and to cover government debts, which
has wrecked the capital structure, wrecked
the economic structure, wrecked the banking
structure, and wrecked the monetary structure.
Their Weimar experiment is soon coming to an end. The chief architects will
scatter like bugs in the summer sun.
Tyler Durden, editor of Zero Hedge, added a professional eulogy for Fischer.
He wrote, "Ben Bernanke's personal
mentor, and famous underwater investor in
Apple shares, has announced his intention
to step down. This resignation comes 10
months (and $100 lower in AAPL value) after
the central bank's announcement to begin
buying foreign stocks. Is this a harbinger
of the change in the old brigade, and does
it make Bernanke's departure one year from
today virtually assured? We hope to find
out, unless of course the most aggressive
and ambitious central banking experiment
in history to keep the global house of cards
afloat fails in the meantime."
A harsh eulogy was given by the London Siren,
who is far more unforgiving. He wrote, "Fischer
served as the thesis adviser to US
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke at
MIT in the 1970s. Ben is a sham. His work
is sham. Quantitative Easing is a bond scheme
to enrich the rich. It has failed, another
sham. At the IMF, he worked on resolving
financial crises in Mexico, Russia,
and Southeast Asia
during the 1990s. Far from resolving, he
acted in the banker interests of the West.
He was a US agent sent to
destroy wealth and transfer assets to the
West. He was an economic hit-man extraordinaire."
◄$$$ JIM O'NEILL FROM GOLDMAN SACHS WILL RETIRE FROM HEAD POST AT GSAX
ASSET MANAGEMENT. A SIGN OF THE TIMES AND
PERHAPS THE FADING INFLUENCE OF GSAX ITSELF.
O'NEILL FORESEES BIG PROBLEMS AHEAD IN THE
CURRENCY WAR FRONT AND EVEN WITH BOND BUBBLES.
$$$
Terence James O'Neill will retire from his post at chairman of Goldman Sachs
Asset Mgmt. O'Neill is best known for
coining the term BRIC, the acronym that
stands for Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
They are cited in tandem as the four rapidly
developing growing economies. He joined
Goldman in 1995 as chief currency economist
and co-head of global economics research,
then became head of global economics, commodities,
and strategy research in 2001. By 2010,
he rose to chairman of their asset management
division. Indeed, he challenged conventional
economic thinking about emerging markets,
leading to anticipated significant economic
and social impact on the geopolitical stage.
The seminal piece was entitled "Building
Better Global Economic BRICs" dated
November 2001. In the essay, he predicted
that the weight of BRIC contributions, in
particular China, would grow as a proportion of world economic
output. In the following decade, stocks
from emerging markets outperformed those
of developed markets. A case in point. In
the ten years ending December 2012, the
Vanguard emerging markets stock index fund
had annual returns of 16.2%, while the Vanguard
developed markets index fund of non-United
States stocks returned 8.4% annually.
O'Neill remains active, and plans to continue in the field, stroking his ego.
In recent work, he foresees the threat
of currency wars and the risk of rising
bond yields. See the New York Times
article (CLICK HERE).
O'Neill is a mouthpiece of syndicate garbage,
from frequent interviews, but with occasional
insights. One well placed Hat Trick Letter
client has personally met and talked with
him. He found the GSax cog to be insufferably
arrogant with little interest in discussion
of relevant material with the plebeians
operating in respectable financial sector
posts. The term has been expanded to BRICS
to include South
Africa.
◄$$$ TIM GEITHNER HAS MOVED TO COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS. ABSURD SPECULATION
SWIRLS THAT HE MIGHT SUCCEED BERNANKE AT
THE USFED. A LIKELY EVENT ONLY IF THE CENTRAL
BANK IS TO BE INTENTIONALLY DESTROYED, THUS
REQUIRING A BAGMAN. $$$
Outgoing Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has landed a job squarely in the
banking syndicate, in a privileged think
tank. His new office will be in New
York City with the Council on Foreign Relations.
He will offer his services to the slimy
puppeteer that conjures foreign policy direction.
The diminutive figure with small shadow,
small mind, and small perspective will fit
in as a wonk, a cog in the special adjunct
outfit that controls the banks, controls
much of the USMilitary, and unduly influences
political process on foreign policy. Geithner
is actually cited as being in line for the
USFed Chairman post, as laughable as that
is. Such an appointment would happen only
if the USFed is expected to be scuttled
and razed, a black hole to follow. The empty
headed speculation centers on the Timmy
the Tool moving to a transitional post without
much substance, like the CFR, having no
fixed tenure to lock him in office. The
Bernanke term as chairman ends later this
year. See the Fox Business News article
(CLICK HERE).
## G-20 AGENDA FOR REVOLT
◄$$$ THE LESSER FADING G-7 MEETING ISSUED SEVERAL BIZARRE STATEMENTS,
MOSTLY ON JAPANESE POLICY THAT DECLARED
UP WAS DOWN. A GOOD AMOUNT OF DOUBLE-SPEAK
IS EVIDENT AMONG THE MAJOR INDUSTRIALIZED
NATIONS. HYPOCRISY IS A BETTER DESCRIPTION,
AS THE COMPETING CURRENCY WAR IS RUNNING
RED HOT. TRUTH IS NOT TO BE TOLD IN ANY
PUBLIC FORUMS. THE G-7 SERVES AS PRELIMINARY
SESSION OF FADING IMPORTANCE FOR THE G-20.
MEETING. $$$
Any attempts to calm the Currency War fail quickly among the G-7 nations. The
elite group G-7 includes the United States, Japan,
Germany,
Britain, France,
Canada,
and Italy. Why Canada and Italy are still members remains a mystery. Worse,
France
now resembles a PIIGS nation. The G-7 completed
its charade before the most important and
more eagerly awaited G-20 takes place, starting
this weekend. All G-7 statements have been
murky and meaningless, quickly contradicted
afterwards. Confusion emanates and radiates.
The hypocrisy is thick. The drafted statement
contains a commitment to market exchange
rates and an agreement that governments
will not use fiscal or monetary policy to
drive currencies. The Japanese are in violation
before, during, and after such an absurd
promise. The push by Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe has resulted in a severe drop
in the Yen exchange rate, exactly as desired
by Tokyo.
The last formal commitment made in Marseille
France at the September 2011 meeting was a sham
of vacant meaning. Review of the text
back then provides the basis of pathetic
tragic comedy. It read, "[We have]
reaffirmed our shared interest in a strong
and stable international financial system
and our support for market determined exchange
rates. Excess volatility and disorderly
movements in exchange rates have adverse
implications for economic and financial
stability. We will consult closely in regard
to actions in exchange markets and will
cooperate as appropriate." Failure
on all counts. Read rubbish, deceit, desperation,
window dressing.
Both Germany and Canada
have expressed concern about the Tokyo
initiative, which has kicked the currency
war into high gear internationally. The
Abe Admin in Japan
actually denies actively pursuing a lower
Yen, which adds fuel to the fires of hypocrisy.
Their economic minister stated the FOREX
rates should be determined by the market.
Tokyo
claims that its bold monetary and fiscal
policies were appropriate. Quiet the laughter,
please, as the currency wars come to Moscow. As Ed Steer of GATA said it succinctly, "The G-20 forum,
which put together a huge financial backstop
to halt a market meltdown in 2009, is back
in the spotlight after a week in which the
Group of Seven rich nations tried, and spectacularly
failed, to speak on currencies with one
voice. The G-7 has long been the powerhouse
of financial diplomacy. But tension between
Washington and Tokyo has risen
over new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's bid
to end two decades of deflation. The G-7
issued a joint statement on Tuesday reaffirming
[market driven FOREX rates]. Yet the
show of unity was quickly undermined by
off-the-record briefings critical of Japan." As the Jackass has stated
for the last year, the G-7 led by the United States is fading in importance. The broader
G-20 led by China is taking over control. In fact, the G-7
has morphed into a preliminary G-20 exercise,
to prep the hypocrisy, to express fear of
agenda, and to set the stage for the important
global forum. The lost prestige of the US
& UK
is very evident. Rebellion is next.
◄$$$ MOSCOW IS TAKING ITS ROLE AS ROTATING PRESIDENCY VERY SERIOUSLY ON
THE G-20 CONFERENCE. THEY SMELL AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXERT SOME INFLUENCE, AND TO INFLICT DAMAGE ON THE AMERICAN
DOMINANT ESTABLISHMENT ON THE GEOPOLITICAL
STAGE. $$$
The Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bankers are meeting in Russia. They will focus on reforming the international
monetary system, the stated priority of
Kremlin officials, who take the role very
seriously. At a preliminary press conference
in Moscow,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated
the clear Russian monetary and financial
priorities. The minister stressed the importance
of the mission. He said, "Decisions
have been adopted but only partially fulfilled.
Therefore, Russia and its BRICS partners and the G-20 co-members,
along with other like-minded parties, will
seek to implement the decisions on reforming
the international monetary and financial
system. The Russian Presidency will
pay due attention to the issues of enhancing
and broadening investment conditions, introducing
measures aimed at new jobs creation and
managing sovereign debt without provoking
global economic shocks." See the
4-Traders article (CLICK HERE).
If the West will not reform itself, then
the East will do so.
◄$$$ THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE G-20 MEETING IN MOSCOW.
EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH FOR SOME BOLD ACTION.
THE UNITED STATES HAS OFFERED TOKEN REPRESENTATION.
THE DOOR IS OPEN TO GANG UP ON THE ANGLO-AMERICAN
AXIS WITH REBELLIOUS DECISIONS AND STERN
INITIATIVES. AT RISK IS A COLLAPSE OF THE
GLOBAL MONETARY AND FINANCIAL STRUCTURES,
EXTENDING TO MAJOR CURRENCIES, SOVEREIGN
BONDS, AND BIG BANKS. WATCH FOR GOLD TO
BE MENTIONED. $$$
As preface, the G-20 Meeting issued a preliminary communique (CLICK HERE)
in format with 26 major points for initiative
and action. The rules seem clear. They
will not single out Japan
for massive currency devaluation. They will
disregard the G-7 call to refrain from using
economic policy to target exchange rates.
They will not urge any national debts to
be cut as targets. Expect no clash over
currencies, since no nation can afford such
a negative signal. It will be implicit and
understood. While Japan
is seen as the big currency warrior, having
engineered a nasty 20% Yen decline, the
United States is seen as the
big currency destroyer, with its endless
bond monetization. Tokyo officials argue a priority of exiting recession
and deflation, the end game to debt abuse
and currency abuse, which they perpetuate
with more debt abuse and more currency abuse.
The path to currency weakness programs (aka
competitive currency devaluation) is to
remain intact. Such efforts are actually
economic defense mechanisms, to preserve
export industries. No nation can argue that
such programs are reckless or foolish. Remember
that all nations lose in the currency war,
yet no nation admits it.
The Europeans enter the fray as sideshow, sort of a lunatic fringe element.
Euro Central Bank head Draghi criticized
the parties on the currency war, calling
the battles inappropriate, fruitless, and
self-defeating, in his words. France has been a lone voice calling for Euro
exchange rate targets, which no nation desires,
but are consistent with socialist ignorance.
Bright but errant Christine Lagarde of the
Intl Monetary Fund said something stupid.
"The current talk of currency wars
is overblown. There is no major deviation
from fair value of major currencies."
Her comments have no bearing on reality.
Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan gave support
for the Japanese monetary policy, stating
each nation is entitled to foster growth.
Indonesia wishes to see a stronger Japan, whose domestic demand would aid their exports
generally to Asia.
Other nations have noted that the United
States has created
vast amounts of new money just like the
Bank of Japan. The desire is to criticize
the US
without mentioning the US.
The communique reflected a conflict brewing between Europe and the United
States over extending
a promise to reduce budget deficits beyond
2016. The US is a laggard and hypocrite, operating from
a broken political framework that is well
noticed. At successive meetings, Germany
has pressed the United
States to do more to
tackle debts. Washington
in turn has urged Berlin
to do more to increase demand, a lame reply.
See the Reuters article (CLICK HERE).
In the Jackass view, the Moscow
G-20 is the most important G-7 or G-20 Meeting
ever in modern history. It sets the stage
for the lesser nations to declare monetary
rebellion ag ainst the United States, United
Kingdom, and any other
Western Europe nation
that stands beside them. The foundation
is being laid for a global initiative to
replace the USDollar as the basis of global
trade, and consequently to replace the USTreasury
Bond as the basis for banking reserves.
The currency war is turning into an initiative
to unseat and dethrone the Almighty Dollar
after 70 years of dominance, if not hegemony.
The abuse occurred after the 1971 abandonment
and fracture of the Bretton Woods Accord,
the Gold Standard that the US
unilaterally discarded and trampled upon.
◄$$$ MEANING OF THE G-20 COMMUNIQUE IS AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS COMPLEX.
DO NOT TAKE IT AS STATED IN CONSTRUCTIVE
FORMAT. IT IS A DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST
THE UNITED STATES & THE BRITISH FOR
THEIR MONETARY FORTRESS, THEIR BOND FOUNDATION,
AND THEIR BANK WEAPONS, ALL DEFENDED AND
WIELDED WITH BRUTAL FORCE FOR DECADES. THE
OLD SYSTEM WILL GIVE WAY TO THE NEW, BUT THE
AIR OF WAR MUST BE CLEARLY DEFINED AS THE
PARADIGM SHIFT IS IMPLEMENTED AND ENABLED.
IT WILL CAUSE SEVERE CHANGES AND CONSEQUENCES.
GREAT DISRUPTION COMES IN RESTORING BALANCE.
$$$
Consider the official communique. Point #5 addresses imbalances, structural
reforms, reserves, and productivity, as
well as volatility of fund flows and fast
moving currency exchange rates. This
is targeted towards the United
States, the United
Kingdom, and the PIIGS
of Southern Europe,
telling them to cut down on consumption,
to pursue structural reforms, and to enact
serious tax reform to create an environment
that boosts savings, not consumption.
The G-20 dislikes the Western emphasis on
stimulated consumption, since they see the
real issue is inadequate investment. The
hidden message is that the West fails to
understand capitalism anymore! The G-20
has pointed the finger directly at the USFed
and Bank of England, telling them indirectly
to stop QE and inflation abuse. China
insists that no trade barriers and tariffs
be imposed, another lob at the US. Conclude that the US
and UK are being isolated and warned quite
sternly to resist from QE, to stop stirring
trade war, and to put their fiscal house
in order. The BRICS are setting the
agenda with cooperation from Europe.
The constructive efforts will not succeed.
The world is ultimately heading for outright
rejection of the USDollar and British Pound,
with profound price inflation hitting in
US and UK.
Europe will fracture in the process, with
Germany turning eastward for alliances.
Point #9 addresses the need for local currency bond markets, to factor in regional
initiatives, and to encourage deepened financing
vehicles for economies from such devices.
It is a formal G-20 Action Plan given high
emphasis. This has huge implications. It
is an implicit rejection of the four major
bond markets, denominated in the USDollar,
the Euro, the British Pound, and the Japanese
Yen. Implementing such diversified bond
markets would transfer control away from
the Developed Market world to the Emerging
Market world. Such drastic development would
be deliver a huge blow to the bank cartel
which has a monopoly of control with bonds.
The initiative is probably being driven
by China, which wants wider acceptance and encouragement
for the growth of the Yuan-based credit
market. That is essential for a new global
reserve currency to be rooted.
Several important but minor points are addressed also. The G-20 has served an
ultimatum to the Intl Monetary Fund to change
the quota system. The ratios are absurd
in today's global economic makeup. Implications
will be felt in contribution requirements,
voting rights, and Special Drawing Rights
(currency basket). In the process, the United States would lose its
powerful blocking stake that controls votes.
The G-20 has given warning 1) to implement
Basel III rules, 2) to implement OTC derivative
reforms (Dodd-Frank), and 3) to allow for
oversight of the shadow banking system.
Translate to mean the Western banks are
warned to obey rules and to stop their global
derivative casino that threatens all. The
G-20 has urged more transparency in commodity
and energy markets. They wish to curb the
banks and hedge funds from exploiting commodity
producers via boom bust cycles. Emerging
markets want stable fair prices. Price control
devices and volatility is exactly what the
Developed Markets and their banks want to
continue.
◄$$$ MANTEGA OF BRAZIL EXPECTS A NASTIER MORE
OPEN CURRENCY WAR TO COME. THE OBJECTIVE
TO BOLSTER ECONOMIES WILL BE DIFFICULT.
HE PERCEIVES THE BATTLE
TO BE OVER SCRAPS, IN A RACE TO THE BOTTOM.
MANTEGA DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE CORNER THE
UNITED STATES IS IN, EXPRESSING OPTIMISM
OVER THE FISCAL CLIFF EVENTS. $$$
Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega first mentioned the term Currency War
over two years ago. He expects the global
war over currency exchange rates to become
nastier and more in the open. He makes a
subtle but important point, that European
countries should focus on reviving their
economies with more investments, rather
than trying to weaken the Euro to protects
jobs as France has emphasized. Until the global economy
is revived, the war will continue in his
view. Therefore, it will heat up fiercely
in the Jackass view, since all central bank
monetary easing works to destroy the capital
base gradually, and actually weakens the
global economy, not stimulate it. The Global
QE to Infinity is intended to aid banks
and to cover the government debts, NOT to
stimulate economies. The inflation is hitting
the cost side, not the wage side. It is
that simple.
Mantega has overseen policy action in his own Brazil
in the last couple years. The competitive
devaluation tool has been used. Brazil has actively sought
to depreciate its Real currency to protect
local manufacturers from shoes to suits
to buses and make its exports more competitive.
It has taken bold action to curb speculative
capital inflows with higher taxes, imposing
a tax on incoming funds that seek to exploit
their higher bond yields, which should be
higher. He make a great point that few central
bankers comprehend, "It is useless
for the European Union to try to get out
of the crisis by exporting more to the United
States, Asia, or even Brazil. We are battling
over the scraps. We are elbowing each other
to compete in a very restrictive market.
I think the most important discussion at
the G-20 will be the return of stimulus
policies." Mantega urged the European
nations to follow the pattern set by Brazil. It has been bolstering
investment by launching their own infrastructure
investment programs. He truly goes awry
in views of the United States. He believes that risks to the global
economy have reduced substantially after
a break-up of the EuroZone was averted and
after the United States avoided running
off a fiscal cliff by cutting a deal. The
EuroZone remains a broken amalgam even without
formal break-up. It needs to break up and
disband the common Euro. The USGovt would
greatly benefit from the $600 billion in
automatic tax increases and spending cuts,
which would start a prudent new trend. He
actually believes the global outlook has
improved, and risks have diminished greatly.
Nothing has changed except buying a little
time, very little time. See the CNBC article
(CLICK HERE).
## TRANSFORMATION OF AMERICA
◄$$$ ANONYMOUS HAS HACKED THE USFED COMPUTER SYSTEMS, WITH COMPROMISE
TO 4000 BANKERS AND COMMUNICATIONS. THE
BREAK-IN IS NOT SERIOUS, NOT YET. SOME BANKER
INFORMATION HAS BEEN OBTAINED, LIKE IDENTIFICATION
CREDENTIALS, NOT DEEP COMMUNIQUES BETWEEN
HIGH LEVEL BANKERS. THE CASE HAS ATTRACTED
ATTENTION OF THE USCONGRESS, BUT EXPECT
NOTHING TO FOLLOW. $$$
Members of the intrepid populist underground movement Anonymous claim to have
breached a computer system that the US Federal
Reserve uses to communicate with bankers
in emergencies. On Super Bowl Sunday February
3rd, the group boasted that they had compromised
4000 banker credentials from the USFed.
The back door used is from the Emergency
Communications System, which was compromised.
To date, no financial or monetary policy
information was breached. But they certainly
attracted attention. The USFed claims that
no critical operations at the central bank
was compromised. The FBI has opened an investigation
into the incident. Recent activity from
Anonymous pertains to Operation Last Resort,
which resulted in the death of Aaron Swartz,
an internet developer and activist who started
the website Reddit. Swartz was indicted
by the USDept Justice in July 2011 on charges
of wire fraud, computer fraud, unlawfully
obtaining information from a protected computer,
and recklessly damaging a protected computer.
Swartz allegedly had downloaded vast information
from JSTOR, an online library of academic
and scholarly journals and articles that
are available for a fee. The charges are
trumped up to the extreme, since open source
free information. Aware of a long prison
term, Swartz committed suicide on January
11th last month. The USGovt wished to make
an example of him, instead a martyr created.
One must wonder if a wrongful death lawsuit
might result.
Not deterred, Anonymous then hacked the website of the US Sentencing Commission,
in reaction to Swartz's death. The case
has garnered the attention of the USCongress.
Members of the House Oversight & Govt
Reform Committee have written queries to
Attorney General Eric Holder on the handling
of the case. See the ABC News article (CLICK
HERE).
Expect nothing of substance to follow, just
like with Mexican Gun Running case led by
Holder himself. So Anonymous and WikiLeaks
are both active in exposing official corruption,
while Occupy
Wall Street is essentially defunct, having
been run out of town and treated like terrorists
before the Gestapo.
◄$$$ DISRUPTION TO THE OBAMA II ADMIN COULD COME IN STRANGE WAYS. A CHALLENGE
PERHAPS TO HIS CABINET PICKS COULD COME.
LATER STILL MORE DEVICES ARE WORTH WATCHING.
$$$
It is worth watching, strange theater to be sure. It will be interesting to
see if the Obama II Admin is hindered (even
halted) by means of his picks. The motive
behind opposition might be unstated, like
abhorrence for his claimed right to murder
citizens, even with domestic drone strikes.
Much attention has come to the unprecedented
voter fraud behind his election, including
some Ohio officials who boasted at having voted twice for Obama. Such is
bad press attention. Watch for obstruction
to passage or even procedural progress on
his next legislation bills. Look for hounding
and possible isolation of Congressional
House & Sentate leaders. The scuttlebutt
with the most substance centers upon Senators
who might work to block upcoming Obama appoinments,
such as Treasury Secretary and CIA Director.
See the PressTV artic le (CLICK HERE).
If obstruction goes out of control, look
for blockage of Michele's expense account,
or commotion over Secret Service protection,
or USMilitary revelations of his past identity.
In the extreme, a signal would be temporary
block of AirForce One usage. Just kidding.
But since it served more like a campaign
bus, that function is no longer relevant.
◄$$$ THE N.D.A.A. LAWSUIT MIGHT BE HEADED TO THE SUPREME COURT. THE HIGHLY
CONTROVERSIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER TO KILL US-CITIZENS
WITHOUT DUE PROCESS, WITH NO FORMAL CHARGES,
IS FACING DIRECT CHALLENGES IN OPEN DISCUSSION
WITH GRAPHIC EXAMPLES OF DRONE STRIKE TACTICS.
EXPECT THE FASCIST
STATE TO MORPH
INTO A DICTATORSHIP VERY SOON IN A FORMAL
DIRECTION, WHILE IN PARALLEL THE USECONOMY
BREAKS DOWN VISIBLY. $$$
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) lawsuit will set itself up as
a key turning point event that exposes the
United
States as a nazi nation.
It could be the most important lawsuit in
the nation's history, along with the various
civil rights and abortion cases. Recall
that the Patriot Act has never been the
object of formal lawsuit. This case is about
permission for a tyrant leader to kill citizens
for any reason at all, or no reason. If
supported and upheld, it means the president
and cohorts that form the ruling syndicate
can kill anyone who opposes them, who works
to expose their criminal activity, who works
to reveal their many sordid deeds, who strives
to reveal their identities and past assocations.
The USGovt executive branch wishes to secure permission to kill enemies of the
state, in order to secure our way of life,
to protect our freedoms, with the exception
the non-white types of ethnic origin, such
as the immigrants. Once obtained, then the
permission is used wherever they wish, to
kill people like organizers of state secession
movements, or directors of class action
lawsuits against corrupt banks, or litigants
seeking disclosure of USFed activities,
or website editors on mega crime events
like 911, or even newsletter writers for
instance. Section 1021 of the NDAA allows
for the indefinite detention of American
citizens without charges or a trial. All
the above could be sent to a prison in Texas or Alaska forever on
a whim, a suspicion, a retribution, a personal
vendetta, or on false testimony. Such actions
are pure nazi that would make the Gestapo
proud, even Hitler himself, maybe Stalin
too.
Journalist Chris Hedges and several others have filed lawsuit against the Obama
Admin on the grounds of the NDAA being unconstitutional.
Judge Katherine Forrest agreed and issued
an injunction on it. The decision was immediately
appealed by the Obama Admin to a higher
court, which promptly issued a temporary
stay on the injunction. The higher the court
in the United
States, the more corrupt
the ruling body. Oral arguments have begun
in front of the 2nd Circuit Court. As Chris
Hedges states in the interview below, if
the USGovt wins the case then it will likely
be brought in front of the Supreme Court
within weeks. On the other hand, if the
Obama Admin wins and the Supreme Court refuses
to hear the appeal, Hedges concludes, "At
that point we have just become a military
dictatorship."Expect the worst,
since the higher courts have given rubber
stamps on several important cases recently,
like with MFGlobal and the incorrect application
of bankruptcy law against a brokerage firm,
like with the FBI case against the Russian
man who stole the Goldman Sachs trading
theft device, like the cases against the
Wall Street banks on narcotics money laundering
for tiny fines, like the limited mortgage
bond fraud cases against the big US banks
with grand attempts to corrall all sector
liablity for tiny awards, like the case
against the USDollar by the Gold Anti-Trust
Action group. The Supreme Court has been
slowly stacked by fascists with strong leaning
toward state powers. The latest member Elaine
Kagan won approval by protecting Obama on
lawsuits concerning his birth and passport
identities, and by her protection of Goldman
Sachs during lawsuits for mortgage bond
fraud. See the Zero Hedge article (CLICK
HERE).
◄$$$ A RASH OF MILITARY EXERCISES HAS BEEN COORDINATED WITH POLICE. SO
FAR MIAMI AND HOUSTON HAVE BEEN SITES. MORE COMING, AS THE POLICE STATE
ARRIVES, IN REACTION TO (OR CAUSE OF) CIVIL
DISORDER. THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN AND WILL BE
TERRIFIED. $$$
Numerous times in recent days in late January and early February, the nation
has seen large scale urban warfare exercises
being conducted in American cities. The
first occurred in Miami Florida, the second in Houston
Texas. The events featured large scale deployments, with full usage
of machine guns firing blanks and swooping
attack helicopters. These have been joint
exercises held with the USMilitary and police
forces. The ordeals have been terrifying
for residents who claim they were not warned
ahead of time in any manner. Witnessed described
a virtual war zone, as the public had no
way of knowing that the rounds being fired
were not real bullets. The Houston
warfare exercises resulted in a school being
locked down for a brief time, until they
could verify if the threat was not real.
An ambulance was dispatched, since the police
were aware of the exercises, but nobody
bothered to inform the fire & rescue
services. Reports were heard that a similar
event is set to occur in Chicago and another
in Pennsylvania. See the Backwood article (CLICK HERE)
and the Before Its News article (CLICK HERE).
One must wonder if Chicago
natives and Obama supporters will appreciate
the next round of urban warfare exercises.
For more on the rising police state, see the YouTube on the FBI Terror Factory
(CLICK HERE).
For a shocking bold admission of lies in
your face concerning the Benghazi attacks on the Libyan Embassy, with a dare
to the public on consequences of known lies
by outgoing Secy State Hillary Clinton,
see the American Thinker article (CLICK
HERE).
◄$$$ THE UNITED STATES WILL TRANSFORM INTO A NATION HARDLY RECOGNIZABLE.
THE INTERMEDIARY PHASE WILL PRECEDE ENTRY
INTO THE THIRD WORLD. CHALMERS JOHNSON IS
WISE, ARTICULATE, AND FEARLESS. THE SIGNPOSTS
READ OF ENDLESS WAR, LOST DEMOCRACY, PROPAGANDA,
AND BANKRUPTCY, ALL THE BITTER FRUITS OF
THE FASCIST BUSINESS MODEL EMBRACED AFTER
THE 911 COUP D'ETAT. THE NATION WALKS BLINDLY
BOUND WITHIN THE MODEL. $$$
Chalmers Johnson is fearless, an octagenarian, and a great patriot who sees
the highly dangerous destructive trends
for the United
States as a nation.
He wrote in "Sorrows of Empire"
in 2004 about the great sorrows. They are
worth a quick review since relevant in this
era. Remember that fascism is the natural
successor to democracy, with the parliament
eclipsed by a ruling board of czars. Think
Politburo.
"Four
sorrows are certain to be visited on the
United States. Their cumulative
effect guarantees that the US will cease to resemble the country outlined
in the Constitution of 1787. First, there
will be a state of perpetual war,
leading to more terrorism against Americans
wherever they may be and a spreading reliance
on nuclear weapons among smaller nations
as they try to ward off the imperial juggernaut.
Second is a loss of democracy and
Constitutional rights as the presidency
eclipses Congress and is itself transformed
from a co- equal executive branch of government
into a military junta. Third is the replacement
of truth by propaganda, disinformation,
and the glorification of war, power, and
the military legions. Lastly, there is bankruptcy,
as the United
States pours its economic
resources into ever more grandiose military
projects and shortchanges the education,
health, and safety of its citizens." The sequence is happening precisely as he described almost a decade ago. In
fact, he describes a combination of a nazi
takeover and the engrained Fascist Business
Model that the Jackass has elaborated upon
since the inception of the Hat Trick Letter.
War, lost liberty, propaganda, and bankrupty
are the marquee effects of fascism and its
strong scarring effect on the national economic
landscape.
◄$$$ THE CONTROVERSIAL JACKASS ARTICLE HAS BEEN LOCATED FROM MARCH 2006.
IT RESULTED IN A DEATH THREAT, SINCE IT
OPENLY DISCUSSED THE NAZI PLAYBOOK AND METHODS
THEY USED IN THE 911 EVENTS. $$$
Many Hat Trick Letter subscribers have openly requested the original article
that resulted in death threat to me. The
other death threat related to similar topics,
delivered on stage at a conference in Munich
Germany in November 2006. The two events motivated
my departure from the nazi-led nation, the
United States. My main question
is how long the nation's inhabitants will
take before realizing the hidden nazi takeover
and visible coup d'etat by grandsons of
avowed nazis and their cadre bearing foreign
passports. The 2006 article laid out
some of the more basic Nazi Playbook tactics,
which continue to confuse 90% of sleepy
slow stodgy numb Americans. The US nation is not well-read in recent modern history.
The keys are a very big false flag event,
a smashing of glass, a call to war under
false cause, a fight against an invisible
enemy army, broad dubious labeling of enemies,
snatching broad security powers, subjugation
of parliament, gigantic military budgets,
glorification of endless war, theft of foreign
gold accounts, aggression toward enemy and
ally alike, collusion with foreign castle
dwellers, and heavy doses of media propaganda.
These are neo-Nazis with far more tools,
and far more control of the system than
70 years ago. The material in the public
article resulted in death threats twice.
It was entitled "Mosques, Civil
War, Oil & Gold" and was published
by many usual supporting web journals that
have posted my work since 2004. Here is
a Gold Seek article link (CLICK HERE). By the
way, a couple of editors found the article
too hot to handle for to post back then.
Upon a quick review of the article this
week, gotta say some rather good jackass
insights back seven years ago. So much has
happened since, mostly in line with the
analysis presented.
##
USDOLLAR LOST CONTROL
◄$$$ CASH USDOLLARS ARE BEING REJECTED IN JAPAN,
WITH AN EXCUSE GIVEN OF WIDESPREAD COUNTERFEIT.
THE REJECTION HAS BEGUN. THE PRETEXT IS
COUNTERFEIT CONTROL SO FAR, A VALID CHARGE.
THE NEWS IS WORTH WATCHING FOR A MUSHROOM
OF REJECTION. $$$
Jim Kunstler offered a morning blog that featured an interesting comment by
one reader. He referred to a trusted friend
with a global perspective. Check out comments
by a Pat Ormsby posted on February 11th.
He wrote, "I was alerted by a source
that I do not trust (Benjamin Fulford) that
a dual US currency has arisen, and this
was confirmed by a source I do trust (a
personal friend engaged in international
commerce). Apparently, dollars issued overseas
are being accepted as international currency,
but dollars issued and circulating in America
are increasingly not. People returning
to Japan
from America,
for example, and attempting to exchange
their dollars are being told they cannot.
I learned this just a few days ago and have
not been able to find anything on the internet
about it yet. I guess most travelers just
use plastic, and the Japanese are stoic.
They are told there is a problem with counterfeits.
Fulford speculates that this is overseas
bank reaction to the Fed's massive printing
of dollars." See the Kunstler weblog
(CLICK HERE). A valid
charge indeed!
What incredible irony. An accurate pretext to refuse USDollars from the United
States, as they might
be counterfeit. In fact, the printed money
is not real or valid, only accepted as legal
tender. Yet the USFed monetary expansion
appears to be massive counterfeit of wealth
to cover a truly broken system. In the case
of Japan, not accepted widely. This is an interesting
angle to pursue by foreign nations in response
to the hyper monetary inflation, which by
any other name is a sanctioned counterfeit
operation. The process is moving along
to trap USDollars on the home front.
The ultimate higher truth is that QE IS
COUNTERFEIT for its bond purchase with printed
money. One must wonder if soon a certain
Mark of the US will be put on the domestic
USD for trapping purposes over time. It
is full of intrigue that the trapping process
might originate from outside the US borders. The global reaction
in rejection of the USDollar is going to
achieve fierce levels, with many fronts.
Amazing the early consequence to hyper monetary
inflation being the entrenched norm. The
arrogant desperate bankers believe they
are in control. They are fast being isolated.
◄$$$ MONETARY BASE HAS ENDURED A BREAKOUT. THE RUIN OF MONEY IS FAR PAST
FIXABLE. A DAM HAS BROKEN, AND USDOLLARS
ARE FLOWING IN GIGANTIC WAVES. $$$
A buildup of USDollars has taken place. Last month it was reported that due
to accounting gimmicks, the monetary aggregate
base was not showing growth. It was disguised
for its big recent burst. The release of
recent data reveals the growth. What started
with the reaction to the Lehman Brother
episode has continued with a series of Quantitative
Easing chapters that has nowhere ended.
See the St Louis Fed data source (CLICK
HERE).
◄$$$ CHINA ACCOUNTS FOR NEARLY
HALF OF WORLD'S NEW MONEY SUPPLY. THE UNITED
STATES IS LOSING CONTROL OF ITS CURRENCY,
AS THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL COLLAPSE FORMS LIKE
A GATHERING STORM OF ENDLESS NATURE. IN
YEAR 2012, THE USFED INCREASED THE MONEY
SUPPLY BY $1 TRILLION. BUT IN THE SAME 2012,
THE CHINESE INCREASED THE USDOLLARS IN BANK
DEPOSITS BY OVER $2 TRILLION. THE USFED
IS BEING OVERWHELMED. DIRE EFFECTS AWAIT.
$$$
China slowly is taking control of the foreign
based USDollars. To be sure, the USFed is
pumping liquidity on the European fires
like a fleet of fire trucks. But the Chinese
are quietly in control of production of
almost half of the new money. The newest
capitalists on stage have learned to abuse
the monetary press as well. They do not
make the news for such a grand feat. But
as they introduce new financial vehicles
to settle global trade, they will be in
position to convert large blocks of USDollars
in the process if they wish. What irony
if China
is printing USDollars to fortify a new trade
system that settles outside the USDollar,
or even using new money to purchase gold
bullion for the trade system core. Back
in 2005, China
owned less than half the total US
deposits. Since then, China
has pumped enough cash into the economy
using various public and private conduits
to make a gigantic impact. Between January
2005 and January 2013, total Chinese bank
deposits have soared by a whopping $11 trillion,
having risen from $4 trillion to $15 trillion.
Their monetary expansion in US$ terms currently
stands at between 200% and 300% of their
national GDP.
Furthermore, between January 2012 and January 2013, the total Chinese bank deposits
rose by over $2 trillion. Most attention
has been focused upon the Bernanke Fed and
its manic expansion of the domestic money
supply, by a cool $1 trillion in base money
creation in 2013 alone. Contrast that data
point with the fact that loan creation by
commercial banks continues to decline in
the United
States, which means
the US
banks have morphed into casinos conducting
USTBond carry trade, toxic bond redemptions,
and derivative coverups. Well, turn to China, which has created more than double this
amount of money in the recently completed
2012 year. See the Zero Hedge article (CLICK
HERE).
◄$$$ THE USFED IS LOCKED INTO A HYPER MONETARY EASING, SINCE ITS BOND
PURCHASES EXCEED THE ENTIRE USGOVT DEBT
ISSUANCE IN THE FORM OF USTREASURY BONDS.
THE PROGRAM EXCEEDS BASIC BOND PURCHASE
IN LAST RESORT. THE CENTRAL BANK CONTINUES
TO MONETIZE THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM, NOT JUST
THE SOVEREIGN BOND. MANAGED FINANCE HAS
GONE HAYWIRE WHILE THE MECHANISMS FOR BALANCE
ARE ERODING OR GONE. TO MAKE ROOM, THE USGOVT
DEBT LIMIT WAS SUSPENDED TO MAY 2013. $$$
To put it simply, so far this calendar year 2013, the Federal Reserve has bought
more USGovt debt than the USDept Treasury
has issued in securitized bonds. At year
end 2012, the total USGovt debt was $16.4327
trillion. The legal limit was hit. In early
February, the USCongress enacted a law to
suspend the federal government debt limit
until May 18, 2013. Added debt can be tacked
on legally. By February 6th, the debt had
grown by $47.2 billon in the new year. Consider
the USFed bond account. At the close of
business on January 2nd, the USFed had possession
of $1.661 trillion in USTreasury securities.
By the close of business on February 6th,
it owned $1.7172 trillion, for an increase
of $51.1 billion in the new year. Thus
their purchases of USGovt
debt in this calendar year have exceeded
the Treasury net debt issuance by about
$3.9 billion.
The only USTBond buyers left on stage are
the USFed press with Weimar
nameplate.
The venerable ruined USFed, center for American financial crime, announced that
it will continue purchasing additional longer-term
USTreasury securities at a pace of $45 billion
per month. All hail the Fed, broken as it
is. A footnote that the US central bank
purchases much more than they openly discuss,
covering much mortgage bonds that have spurious
value discharged by the big US banks. Quietly with little fanfare, the
USFed is monetizing all that has been ruined,
which means much of the entire US
financial system. The bond market has
gone far out of control in utter insolvency.
Next they might examine wrecked big corporate
bonds and a smatter of junk bonds. Why not,
since money is free? See the CNS News article
(CLICK HERE).
◄$$$ JANET YELLEN HAS GIVEN FIRM SIGNAL FOR Q.E. TO INFINITY, PRECISELY
AS THE JACKASS FORECASTED. THE STIMULUS
IS FOR SPECULATION AND FOR RISING COSTS,
IN NO WAY ECONOMIC. $$$
The Jackass claimed in 2009 that the USFed could not execute any Exit Strategy,
or else cause a calamity for the big banks,
the USGovt, and financial derivatives. So
far the call has been on the mark. When
the Quantitative Easing desperate lunacy
began in 2010, the Jackass claimed it would
have numerous follow-on QE chapters. Then
my conclusion was that QE to Infinity would
be justified in a forever policy. So far
the call has been on the mark. In a recent
speech, the weather vane Janet Yellin confirmed
the Jackass forever call. She said, "The
Federal Reserve may keep interest rates
near zero after its bond buying ends, even
after hitting its targets for unemployment
or inflation, in order to maintain stimulus."
Clear as a bell, not even a flinch, no surprise
to the Jackass. The confirmation is of Weimar
Amerika. Those who accept the monetary policy
as sound and sustainable are mentally deficient,
to put it bluntly. The QE to Infinity Forever
is the monetary policy, as in Reich Finance.
Stimulus is not reason, but rather avoiding
a collapse. See the Bloomberg article (CLICK
HERE).
◄$$$ A USFED GOVERNOR HAS URGED A $33 TRILLION (NOT BILLION) BOND PURCHASE
PROGRAM. THE ABSURDITY OF THE SITUATION
HAS GROWN TO NEW HEIGHTS. HE ACTUALLY BELIEVES
THE USGOVT FISCAL DEFICITS COULD BE MANAGED
BY A 10-FOLD EXPANSION OF THE USTREASURY
BOND CARRY TRADE. HALF THE PACK OF BANK
LEADERS IS FULLY INSANE. $$$
David Kemper is a moron who wears a suit and collects a grand paycheck. He is
a former president of the advisory council
at the US Federal Reserve. He is currently
plying his heretic trade as CEO of Commerce
Bankshare. Consider that his viewpoint is
somewhat typical of those conducting the
insane Weimar Amerika experiment to print
money to cover the bills. He actually said,
"Why not expand the Fed balance
sheet exponentially, from its current $3
trillion to $33 trillion. Would $30 trillion
in extra buying power be inflationary when
our entire current GDP is only about $15
trillion? Maybe, maybe not. But we need
a game changer here. First let's celebrate
the USFed record profits and its contribution
to reducing our deficit. Then let's seize
the moment to do something truly grand:
to eliminate that stubborn deficit. We
have the tools, and I for one say let's
give it a try." The insane parade
continues with bankers leading the way like
pied pipers unaware of their folly.
The bizarre main attraction at the USFed has turned even more strange. The
central bank just announced a supposed $90
billion profit for 2012, which must have
excluded all their toxic bonds with no buyers
globally and no markets in existence, which
should take a near total writedown loss
(since no market). They will with glee
pass along the profits to the USTreasury,
sure to put a dent in the $1.3 trillion
deficit. The details are as ugly as the
practice is obscene. The USFed profits are
apparently twice those of Apple's after
tax income. All hail the Fed. The central
bank employs a tried and true device, the
USTreasury carry trade. They borrow at 0%
and earn 2% or 3% from long-term USTBonds.
How simple, profits for free. Thus the obscenity
laced with heresy. Given its resounding
success in fabricated paper profits in a
market long vanished, the wisdom seems to
urge a 10-fold expansion from prudent stewardship.
More insanity.
The moron Kemper demonstrates his mental deficiency by
arguing that QE Cubed (his label) could
move to a $33 trillion balance sheet, return
$900 billion to the USTreasury, and work
toward closing the USGovt deficit. Alchemy is wonderful. The moron goes on like on batteries, explaining that
available bond supply could come from $16
trillion in all the USGovt debt, as well
as most of the USAgency Mortgage debt. The
debt could all be wiped out. Monetize it
all. The foreign creditors could be satisfied,
from the Chinese to the Japanese, the Saudis,
even PIMCO. This is better than helicopter
dumps on the masses, since it could restore
the USGovt to fiscal balance. Kemper urges
that we seize the money and continue the
laudable success. He seems unaware that
the only buyers to the outsized expansion
of USTBonds would be the USFed also, in
self-dealing. He seems unaware that the
expanded experiment would frighten foreign
USTBond holders into a revolt and rejection
the Weimar Dollar itself. Repeat, Kemper
is a monetary moron. Half the USFed is comprised
of such fools.
The USFed governors are almost all converting to blind men on the extremely
harmful effects on USTBond investors. Their
arrogance is beyond repair and their self-admiration
beyond rebuke. They are inflicting irreparable
damage to the USDollar and USTBond. They
are the Weimar engineers with better suits, who replaced
wheelbarrows from the past era with better
levered computers. The USDollar is in the
process of being isolated before rejected.
In fact, QE to Infinity is the clarion
call to organize for the rejection.
The Third World awaits the United
States, very very deservedly.
An alternative suggestion would be to hang
Kemper from the lampposts on Wall Street,
or to strip him then tar and feather him
with monopoly money. The argument and rationale
is frightening and comical. This guy is
CEO of an important regional bank and advisory
to the USFed. He seems tragically out of
touch with reality, and unable to comprehend
the Ponzi scheme. See the Zero Hedge article
(CLICK HERE).
◄$$$ THE PROPAGANDA MACHINE IS IN FULL GEAR, PROMOTING THE VIRTUE OF FREE
MONEY PRINTED. THEY ARGUE THAT ECONOMIC
RECESSION IS AVOIDED, AS ARE ALL THE VARIOUS
& SUNDRY EVILS OF INFLATION. THEY ARE
KILLING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, CORRODING ITS
CAPITAL, PRESIDING OVER SYSTEMIC FAILURE
UNDER THEIR NOSES. THE LUST FOR POWER TO
REIGN OVER THE RUINS IS A STRONG MOTIVE.
THE PUBLIC MUST BE FALSELY INDOCTRINATED
TO ACCEPT THE CLIMAX OF PHONY MONEY WITHIN
A FAILED SYSTEM. $$$
The United States has a partner in monetary crime.
In Great
Britain, Adair Turner
is chairman of the UK Financial Services
Authority. He submitted a research paper
to the Cass Business School.
He is a heretic. In the essay, he spoke
about the virtues of monetization, referring
to it as a true breakthrough. According
to the alchemy of money creation, Turner
claimed that central bankers and politicians
should no longer consider as taboo the handing
out of newly printed money directly to citizens
of governments. Witness moral hazard.
He went further, claiming that monetary
financing of tax cuts or government spending
should continue until economic activity
revives. It will never revive under the
current monetary regime, the Jackass claim.
Therefore UNTIL means FOREVER. In his heretical
treatise, Turner argued that monetary
financing shows that long-term stagnation
can be averted. Witness stupidity. He
attempted to contradict the standard notions
that dumping money on the masses is dangerous
or reckless. He anticipates no dire effects
from hyper-inflation and lost faith in the
currency. Witness myopia.
The reaction in his demented view has been that the Japanese 20 years of stagnation
can be avoided. The Western world is
moving leaps toward monetary financing,
rather than to endure the hardship from
rebalancing that is so urgently required.
Witness a cowardly control of power. The
politicians and banking leaders are determined
to make the monetary climate much worse.
Expect something worse to befall the United States and United
Kingdom and Western
Europe. Three years from now, the West will
crave the stagnation that Japan suffered, as the West
endures certain relentless collapse and
the guaranteed ruin of the economic platforms.
The central bankers are printing money
and killing capital without realization,
the outcome of heresy wrapped in folly.
As the Shamrock from the options pits in
New
York said, "These banksters should
dedicate five minutes of the nightly newscast
to report on how great printing money is.
The brainwashing phase is in high gear.
It is obvious the UK
is about to ransack the Pound Sterling."
The arbiter might be the FOREX market. See
the Reuters article (CLICK HERE).
Monetary inflation and managed finance from
the Weimar offices is being promoted as a good thing to the masses.
◄$$$ THE EXCHANGE STABILIZATION FUND IS THE PRIMARY VEHICLE FOR THE USGOVT
TO INTERVENE IN THE BIG FINANCIAL MARKETS,
LIKE CURRENCY, BOND, AND STOCKS. THE GIANT
SLUSH FUND CONTROLS MOST OF THE GLOBAL FINANCIALS,
AND DEFENDS THE AMERICAN EMPIRE. LATELY,
IT HAS DEFENDED THE US-BASED FINANCIAL CRIME
SYNDICATE THAT HAS WRESTED CONTROL SINCE
THE 1990 DECADE, HAVING MADE THEIR EMPHASIS
STAMP OF SEIZED CONTROL ON 911. $$$
The Exchange Stabilization Fund (ESF) is run by the USDept Treasury. It is the
most extensive pernicious vile fund on the
planet, used and abused to control currencies,
sovereign bonds, derivatives, and bank stocks.
If it were shut down for two months, the
US currency and financial
securities would collapse. Eric deCarbonnel
assembled an excellent five-part series
about the Exchange Stabilisation Fund. It
is a great tutorial intended to teach the
basics of the USGovt market intervention
and corruption of the free market equilibrium
mechanics. See the Daily Motion video for
parts I, II, III, IV (CLICK HERE)
and part V (CLICK HERE).
The Exchange Stabilization Fund is a super secret fund to control activities
in almost all major financial markets, with
zero regulation and oversight. Operations
are conducted through the New York Fed,
which is essentially a manifestation of
the fund itself. The fund controls international
finance and its affairs. It manages all
interventions in financial markets. They
keep a low profile, using the USFed as a
front for interference, which speaks and
acts on its behalf. The ESFund was created
with zero planned oversight by the USCongress
in the 1930s to ensure support of the USDollar,
by the Gold Reserve Act. It has done a terrible
job, since the US currency has lost almost
all its value. The ESFund has been in control
of the USDept Treasury with absolute power.
As a result, the ESF has acted as a giant
slush fund that has funded the growth of
the American Empire over the past century
against the will of both USCongress and
many bankers in private industry. It is
managed by JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs, with
satellite assistance by servile Wall Street
banks. It has become a major syndicate weapon
and tool, to cover the tracks of the complete
pillage of the US Gold reserves held in
Fort Knox. It covers
the tracks of the big US
bank bond fraud. It covers the tracks of
the narco money laundering. It covers the
tracks of the US Stock market rescues. With
rejection of the USDollar, the ESFund will
be kicked into the corner, where in the
darkness of the Third World it will write its memoires.
◄$$$ THE FED'S BAILOUT OF EUROPE CONTINUES WITH RECORD $237 BILLION INJECTED INTO FOREIGN BANKS
IN THE PAST MONTH. THE USFED IS RUNNING
A VERITABLE BUCKET SHOP FOR GLOBAL ABUSE.
THEY CANNOT CONCEIVABLY HOLD TOGETHER THE
BIG BANKS OF THE WORLD WITH PAPER MACHE
AND HUBRIS. WHILE TALKING OF AID TO US-BANKS,
THEY DENY THE DOMESTIC BANKS WHILE HEAPING
ONE QUARTER $TRILLION ON EURO-BANKS IN A
SINGLE MONTH. $$$
In 2011, the USFed secretly funneled over $2.3 trillion
to Europe, from the
Dollar Swap Facility. It was basically free money, made at barely above the 0% rate on generous terms.
They are doing it again. In fact, it seems
in the last several months, more funds are
directed to Europe than to the US
zombie firms that stand erect but are listing
badly. History repeats. Back in June
2011, much of the incremental surge of $600
billion linked to QE2 excess reserves expansion
went to subsidiaries of foreign banks operating
within the United
States. The data
is available (thanks for Tyler Durden instructions)
on the H.8 Report every Friday night, line
item 25 on page 18. The pattern has been
renewed, to direct more funny money to the
still hopelessly insolvent European banks.
The chart below shows the surge to Europe.
A whopping $237 billion went to support
foreign banks from QE initiatives in January
alone, while US banks were denied.
The volume of $236.9 billion must be brought into perspective. It is greater
than the cash infusion seen after the Lehman
collapse. It is greater than the massive
buildup of cash during the spring and summer
of 2011 when the USFed's revived QE2 cash
spigot was turned on. That QE2 surge was
solely devoted to overfund European bank
cash reserves. They have US$-based debts
and obligations to contend with. In the
process, less cash has been made available
to US-based banks of small and large US
charter. Incredibly, of the record $1.8
trillion in cash sloshing within the US financial system overall,
a record $955 billion, or 52.6% of the total
is allocated to foreign owned banks.
The Fed is bailing out European banks while
American small businesses and consumers
have a very difficult time obtaining loans.
Cash in the US financial system is exclusively
a result of the latest open-ended QE, since
the volume in excess reserves created by
the USFed tracks tick by tick with the total
amount of cash held by US and foreign banks.
QE to Infinity is on track, to serve both
the US
and Europe alternatively.
Another way of showing this correlation
is to notice the change in excess reserves
versus the change in cash assets held by
foreign banks. It is almost exactly the
same amount. The latest QE round is exclusively
for European benefit. Tyler Durden of
Zero Hedge made a clear forecast. The European
banks will take the new channel of funds
from Bernanke courtesy, then push the Euro
exchange rate higher versus the USDollar.
Durden expects by the summer 2011 it will
go too far, and render damage to German
export economy. The action will invite yet
another central bank reaction to bail out
European banks by the global central bankers.
Expect a repeat of what the USFed did in
2011 with QE2. The action by the Euro Central
Bank two weeks ago was crystal clear. The
Draghi ECB moved to stop the sudden 10%
rise in the Euro currency over the past
two months. They were motivated to prevent
the collapse of what remains in Europe's
export economy. The Competing Currency War
has reached Europe.
On the Asian front, Japan
has also been actively pushing down its
own currency to promote its exports over
those from Germany and France. All players suffer in this nasty game.
The key effect of competitive currency devaluations is that EVERYBODY LOSES.
Worse, the USFed is a hypocrite, aiding
Europe and turning a deaf monetary ear to
the US banks. Durden concluded, "Things will
be just a little bit more acute as everyone
scrambles to be the exporter of only resort
to what little import demand remains in
a world, where everyone is desperate to
grow their trade balance through currency
manipulation. So whether European banks
will continue buying the EURUSD, or redirect
their Fed cash into purchasing the [European
Stimulus] outright, or invest in other even
riskier assets, remains unknown. What is,
however, known beyond a reasonable doubt
is that at least through this point, the
sole beneficiary of the Fed's open-ended
quantitative easing which launched in
September of 2012, and which was supposed
to help lower US
unemployment and raise inflation are once
again solely foreign. Read almost exclusively
European banks." See the Zero
Hedge article (CLICK HERE
and HERE).
The USFed sold QE3 to aid the USEconomy.
They lied. Witness a deceptive Weimar Amerikaner.
## USDOLLAR END GAME
◄$$$ THE PETRO-DOLLAR SUNSET HAS GAINED SOME ATTENTION. $$$
The Leap 2020 group from Global Europe Anticipation Bulletin in Paris
caught the Jackass article (CLICK HERE)
on the subject, and so did the Iran
news journal Hamsayeh (CLICK HERE).
Word is fanning out.
◄$$$ GOLD IS A MONETARY METAL, NOT A COMMODITY. ITS SUPPLY DOES NOT DICTATE
PRICE. THE LISTED PRICE IS CORRUPTED BY
PAPER GAMES AND DEEP CORRUPTION IN THE FINANCIAL
MARKETS. GOLD HAS DIFFERENT DYNAMICS, AND
WILL TAKE ITS ASCENDANT ROLE. REMARKABLY,
THE DEMAND IS INELASTIC, AND THE SUPPLY
IS INELASTIC. THEREFORE, DEMAND RISES WITH
HIGHER PRICE, AND SUPPLY
FALLS WITH HIGHER
PRICE. GOLD IS BACKWARDS, SINCE IT IS ARBITER
OF MONETARY ABUSE AND HERETIC PRACTICE.
$$$
The Economics field is an embarrassment to higher learning and advanced thought.
The traditional approach of looking at the
Gold supply from a global mining output
perspective is virtually meaningless in
determining its price. They overlook the
monetary aspect of Gold, even though a metal.
It has extremely few and limited industrial
applications, no longer even in dentistry.
Gold is not a commodity. A defiant argument
can be made. Although an estimated 170 thousand
tons exists above ground, almost all that
has been produced over milleniums, and although
2500 metric tons is produced each year by
mining operations, the gold price rises
instead of heading toward zero. Demand
is tiny for industry, while supply rises
steadily. The usual university blather on
Supply & Demand dynamics does not apply
in typical economic law. The professors
are admirers of each other, especially in
abstruce meaningless research journals.
Most gold bullion is held in strong hands,
which realizes its value during an era of
monetary destruction in the fiat paper chapter
coming to a conclusion. Other gold bullion
does not change hands or location over decades,
if not centuries. It is stored wealth by
the castle dwellers and other owners of
the central banks. The appeal is the stable
store of wealth and the absent nettlesome
counter-party.
Some stores of wealth like art works or antique cars hold spurious value. With
a new generation, the old Model-T car owners
saw value slide badly, while the old Chevy
Powerglide car came into vogue and wrested
value. But collectible art still is a great
value, except that sale often is difficult
with auctions (and their percentage cuts).
Even ancient coins involve a 25% cut to
the selling agent. Other issues involve
maintenance, storage, and insurance costs.
Gold is universally recognized as a wealth
asset, infinitely divisible, fungible, portable,
and highly liquid. The value of Gold might
be occasionally lost sight of, but it always
returns during enduring crises after broad
banker crimes end in tragic conclusion during
wayward eras.
The dynamics of Gold price determination are different.
Price is set by stock flow versus available
stock. If gold bars are put aside in vaults,
not intended for sale today tomorrow or
the next day, then those bars are not available
and do not push the price down in the typical
supply argument. The Economics professors
miss this point, being the blockheaded myopic
university crew, 35% of whom derive a salary
from the clandestine USFed research slush
funds. The stock to flow ratio is called
the STF ratio. For example, if every ounce
of gold in existence was put up for sale,
the STF ratio would go to one and the price
would plummet toward zero. Conversely, if
no gold ounces were made available for sale,
the STF ratio would goto zero and the price
would rise to great heights in a frenzy.
So Supply & Demand has a subset concept.
Next consider the concept of Gold inelasticity, a truly fascinating concept
with two sides. First, demand is inelastic,
meaning that a rising price attracts more
demand. Call it gold fever. The so-called
Giffen Good rule dictates a spike in demand
as price rises. Also, demand drops along
with a falling price. See the Brown Bottom
in 2002 in the gold price at $260/oz, with
miniscule demand visible. Demand for gold
is rising fast, while the monetary presses
are hyper-active. A rising price will attract
further new demand, as the public becomes
fiercely worried about their future and
their wealth stuck in paper bound by tax
chains and bad habits. The inelastic demand
phenomenon can be explained by the dynamic
of available stock being removed during
the storm. When that happens, the STF ratio
falls, lifting price. If applied to television
sets or cars or fine furniture, the dynamics
are exposed as very different. No vendor
wishes to hoard TVs, cars, or couches to
push the price up. Their carrying costs
are too high, obsolescence sets in, styles
change, and mold builds. For the gold bar
holder, no desire motivates the exchange
of gold stock for USDollars or Euros or
Pounds or SWFrancs or Yen, especially since
the avalanche of fresh tainted money continues
to pour out, changing the available stock
of fiat paper money. The savvy investor
holds the gold bars with a tight fist and
firm mind and enlightened spirit. The Gold
goes into hiding, as the central banks and
governments debase the money. The Gresham
Law dictates that bad (phony) money drives
out good money (gold). However, real money
emerges triumphant after the inevitable
crisis that ensues. See the Zero Hedge article
(CLICK HERE).
Consider Gold inelasticity briefly from the supply side,
which is more intriguing in my view. It
calls for lower supply coming to market
with a higher price, the opposite of mindless Economics professors and even
many financial mavens lacking all manner
of insight. The supply inelasticity concept
has been mentioned in Jackass analysis on
occasions for eight years. Here are some
dynamics. Many big mining firms are corrupt
to the core, stacking their Boards with
bankers who sell much more in forward contracts
than mine output. They are disguised naked
shorters who aid the corrupt Wall Street
bankers. As the price rises, the mining
firms are compelled to cover their big losses
on the wrecked short positions, removing
funds from operations. The result is
less money for projects, as they are less
capable to exploit the higher price. Another
pernicious inelastic effect has been seen
in recent months. As the central banks pursue
their coordinated currency debasement programs
by purchasing bonds with newly printed money,
they force an unintended effect. They lift
the cost of commodities, including foodstuffs.
The workers rebel, under strain to provide
for their families with rising food prices.
They go on strike, and less mine output
results.
Nations across the Andes region are on the move for both labor strikes and nationalization.
A similar effect operates at the macro level.
Governments suffer from slower economies,
tougher capitalist climates, and rack up
bigger deficits. So they turn to the mine
deposits, move toward confiscation, in a
movement given the name resource nationalism.
The governments take control, impose
their higher royalties and taxes, and introduce
their standard grotesque inefficiency. Lower
mine output results. See South Africa for the gold example. See Venezuela
for the crude oil example.
◄$$$ THE BANK OF JAPAN BALANCE SHEET REFLECTS A MASSIVE ABUSE OF MONETARY
AUTHORITY, WITH AN EXPANSION SEVEN-FOLD
SINCE 2006. JAPAN
AND SWITZERLAND
ARE THE GREATEST ABUSIVE AGENTS IN THE CURRENCY
WAR. THE JAPANESE CANNOT ESCAPE THE QUAGMIRE,
AND WILL TURN TO GOLD WITH ENTHUSIASM. $$$
Thanks to Stewart Thompson at Graceland for this story. Look at the growth from 2006 to present, a
massive seven-fold growth in their money
supply. The Japanese are fighting the painful
enduring costs of the zero bound interest
rate. They cannot escape it. In defense,
they print money to cover foreign debt purchases
in order to prevent a rising Yen exchange
rate. They print money to cover deficits
for reconstruction from natural disasters.
They abuse their currency like toilet paper,
which is actually given better treatment.
The United States does not learn
from their example, but rather repeats it
with multiples greater vigor and utter blindness.
Watch the Japanese follow the Chinese lead
in a thunderous march into Gold, as the
Asians reject the USDollar.
◄$$$ THE BANK OF JAPAN HAS TARGETED 13000 FOR
THE NIKKEI STOCK INDEX BY END MARCH. THE
LUNACY OF VALUE DECEPTION CONTINUES WITH
EVERMORE EXTENDED INSANITY. THE INTERNAL
TURF WAR IN TOKYO CONTINUES. THE EURO-YEN CROSS RATE HAS RISEN
HIGH ENOUGH TO CAUSE PROBLEMS, AS THE CURRENCY
WAR RAGES. $$$
Japan is losing its mind. Their desperation
in pushing down the Yen currency has extended
into other financial avenues. They target
their end of fiscal year. The Economics
Minister Akira Amari in early February actually
said, "It will be important to show
our mettle and see the Nikkei reach the
13,000 mark by the end of the fiscal year.
We want to continue taking steps to help
the stock market rise." To hell
with true value, as appearance rules the
way. They must hope the rampant inflation
spew does not reach the tangible economy,
but it will in time since they do not go
to lengths like the Americans to corrall
99.9% of benefits to the bankers. The Japanese
permit entire companies to remain zombies,
adopted by their conglomerates (keiretsus),
whereas the US permits only corrupt giant banks to remain
favored zombies. The inefficient allocation
of capital is mindnumbing in Japan,
as economic and monetary policy have turned
destructive.
The internal divisional battles continue in Tokyo,
having lasted for decades. The goals might
be shared, like lifting price inflation
to 2%. But battles continue. Talk swirls
that the Bank of Japan should not openly
purchase foreign currency bonds, since that
is the role for the Finance Ministry. Suggestions
are for the BOJ to purchase several hundred
trillion Yen worth of domestic financial
assets in an expanded QE program. They are
in essence urging a monetization of portions
of their industry. The insanity behind the
Japanese monetary push is fully supported
by the USDept Treasury, stated by minion
Lael Brainard. In contrast, the Bundesbank
chief Jens Weidmann said that discussions
about an overvalued Euro are simply a diversion
from the official task of sorting out their
economies. He urged the Euro Central Bank
to do no more on the monetary and bond front,
as they have already stretched their mandate.
The Euro-Yen cross rate has risen bigtime,
enough to crimp exports to Japan.
The new element in the Competing Currency
War is the cross rates, like the Euro-Yen,
like the Pound-Euro, and like the Euro-SWFranc.
Nations are waging battle to protect
their native economies. The war will intensify
much more.
◄$$$ CHINA HAS SURPASSED THE UNITED
STATES IN TRADE. BEAR IN MIND THAT TRADE
PRACTICES WILL DICTATE BANK RESERVES AND
THEIR MANAGEMENT. THE USDOLLAR IS POISED
FOR REJECTION. THE RISE IN CHINA
TO PROMINENCE WILL GO HAND IN HAND WITH
THE FALL OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE, AND ITS
CERTAIN SLIDE INTO THE THIRD WORLD. ITS
PROFOUND DEFICITS AND IMPORT REQUIREMENTS
WILL FORCE A VERY BIG USDOLLAR DEVALUATION
AFTER IT IS ISOLATED. $$$
The rejection of the USDollar is on track, dictated by trade factors. The United States is set up for a massive upheaval.
Since 2005, a massive shift by China from an export dependent source of cheap
manufacturing and labor, toward a moderate
exporter and consumer hub has taken place.
It has recently become a currency powerhouse
with a new metals market in Shanghai.
The trend indicates that China
has positioned itself to decouple from its
dependence on US markets and the USDollar,
and to direct attention to Asian trade and
regional growth instead. For the past
decade, China
has been slowly but surely issuing Yuan
denominated bonds and securities around
the globe, while simultaneously forming
bilateral trade agreements with multiple
nations and cutting off the USDollar at
the pass of trade. As one should always
focus upon, trade dictates banking practices,
in order to make payment in trade settlement.
This process has almost totally ignored
by the mainstream financial media. Despite
being in possession of the largest FOREX
reserves, China
began to issue Yuan-based debt securities.
They are preparing for a new chapter. They
also have between five and eight times as
much gold held in reserves as officially
stated. They have actually been borrowing
more capital, more than required inside
the Chinese Economy. They have been creating
a financial platform with many sides. As
they moved away from export dependence,
they have been distributing their Yuan currency
worldwide, thus putting it at risk of an
increase in valuation.
It seems they anticipated a crisis for US
consumption. The Chinese reportedly are
responsible for triggering the adoption
in 2008 of Fannie Mae by the USGovt. The
event marked the beginning of the trade
war. The Beijing leaders
dumped mortgage bonds, and probably foresaw
the crisis without end in the United States. They expected
a marked reduction in US imports, and therefore
built trade deals within the ASEAN trading
bloc to insulate themselves. They expected
trouble for the USDollar, maybe even props.
For the last three years, they have been
busy converting much of their long-term
USTreasury holdings to short-term USTreasury
bonds that will either mature or being treated
as cash. By distributing the Yuan widely,
and cutting goodwill deals like buying up
impaired European bonds, they have curried
favor with the Intl Monetary Fund. If and
when the fully comprised and deeply corrupted
IMF leads in any movement to promote the
Special Drawing Rights as a new reserve
replacing the USDollar, the global banksters
might be more disposed toward the Yuan inclusion
in the basket currency.
A conclusion is clear. By taking multi-lateral action, China
no longer seeks to maintain the traditional
trade relationship with the United States. The trade war
has resulted in outright opposition to the
US role as custodian of the
global reserve currency. Back in 2005,
the Jackass forecasted the cooperative relationship
with China would turn adversarial in a couple years,
then hostile in open trade war. That war
is here, and the objective to earn more
global respect by Beijing
has come to an execution stage. They wish
to control the dominant currency for trade.
Lastly, China
has not only become the world's largest
gold producer, but also made strides to
be its largest buyer, recently surpassing
India. Official estimates place Chinese gold purchases
in 2012 at around 800 metric tons, a massive
increase in their stockpile. My sources
indicate their gold reserve increase is
multiples higher over the last few recent
years, an urgent project underway perhaps
to establish a gold-backed Yuan currency.
By contrast, the USFed cannot even deliver
gold it is supposed to be holding in official
accounts, including that held for Germany.
As footnote, China
has recently quadrupled imports of rice
and tripled its wheat and corn imports in
just the last year. China
is preparing itself, if not being groomed,
as an alternative economic engine in opposition
to the failing United
States, which is steeped
in horrendous economic policy, overcome
by banker corruption, and deeply committed
to self-annihilation by its own security
agencies. China is ready to dump the USDollar. See the Bloomberg
article (CLICK HERE).
The Chinese Economy has reached a milestone. It has surpassed the United
States for the first
time ever as the number one trading power
in the world. US
exports and imports last year totaled $3.82
trillion, according to the USDept Commerce
in early February. The Beijing-based
customs administration reported last month
that the Chinese total trade in 2012 amounted
to $3.87 trillion. The balance is far
more favorable for China
than the US
deficits, a chronic feature that laughably
has come with boasts from the knuckleheads
inside the US
chambers. China
had a $231.1 billion annual trade surplus
while the US had a trade deficit of $727.9 billion.
Nicholas Lardy from the Peterson Institute for Intl Economics wrote, "It
is remarkable that an economy that is only
a fraction of the size of the USEconomy
has a larger trading volume. The surpassing
of the United States is not because of a substantially
undervalued currency that has led to an
export boom." The point of proof
is contained in an important detail. The
Chinese imports have grown more rapidly
than exports since 2007, something not possible
for a badly under-valued currency. A
major turning point has been reached in
global trade. No doubt should linger that
China will next be inducted into the SDR basket.
Their trade with both Asia
and other major players across the globe
will increasingly move away from the USDollar.
As a result, the USDollar will surely lose
its world reserve status, and soon. While
many cheer the step as necessary progress
towards a more globally aware economic system,
the practical result will be to force a
profound devaluation of the USDollar on
the American citizens, their economy, and
their accumulated illusory wealth, including
pension funds.
The Jackass theme has been steady for almost five years. The Third World awaits
the United States when its currency is rejected and
must seek proper value as an equilibrium
is sought. Its gargantuan deficits, absent
critical mass of industry, predominance
of fraudulent financial sector, devotion
to costly wars, and massive import requirements
dictate a USDollar devaluation of 50%.
The shift will cause enormous disruption,
powerful price inflation, widespread supply
shortages, and civil disorder. Never lose
sight of the fact that the United States has turned heavily
dependent upon covering its debts by monetary
inflation means. The practice will backfire
badly, when the devaluation comes. Few seem
to recall that Third
World nations suffer currency devaluations
from lost control in expansion of their
money supply. The US
is no exception with consequence for established
and chronic monetary abuse. The US
will be isolated, then seen in glaring violation
of monetary controls, under a shameful spotlight,
as resident nazi cockroaches seek the darkness.
Then comes the 50% currency devaluation
as trade settlement ignores the USDollar.
◄$$$ THE CHINESE YUAN WILL SPREAD TO THE PERSIAN
GULF REGION. A BIG TRADE DEAL WAS STRUCK
WITH THE SAUDIS AND EMIRATES OF THE U.A.E.
LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A YUAN
CURRENCY SWAP FACILITY ESTABLISHED IN THE
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. THE LAST NAIL IN THE
USDOLLAR COFFIN COMES WHEN THE SAUDIS PERMIT
NON-USDOLLAR PAYMENT FOR CRUDE OIL. THAT
DAY IS NEAR. $$$
The Chinese have taken more control of the Intl Monetary Fund itself. In January,
a plan was revealed by Zhu Min, the deputy
managing director of the IMF. He made a
statement where he proclaimed that the shift
by China
into a more self-sufficient consumer based
economy had been successful. The important
step would be followed up by placing the
Yuan currency as a world reserve currency.
The IMF has confirmed the Yuan (renminbi)
is set to become a Global Reserve Currency,
the acknowledgment made at an Economic Forum
in Hong Kong. See the Want China Times article (CLICK HERE).
The Yuan is being called a Global Reserve
Currency even by China, having established
the foundation for changes in a short period
of time. China does not reveal
their hand until everything is already said
and done. The USDollar has been owner of
the global reserve for decades, seemingly
forever. They must next share the control,
then suffer its loss in a grand comparison
in grotesque embarrassment and humiliation.
The USDollar will suffer the lost prestige
in practice very suddenly. The Chinese leaders
are crafty and patient and deliberate. They
put everything in place, making preparations,
and then reveal their movements and plans.
Recall that the Premier of China had gone to Saudi Arabi and Dubai
a year ago. He stayed a week, conducting
meetings and making agreements. China signed
economic and trade agreements worth 100
billion Yuan (=US$16 bn) with Saudi Arabia
and the United Arab Emirates, as Premier
Wen Jiabao completed a six-day visit to
the Middle East. The first currency swap
agreement with Arab nations, worth 35 billion
Yuan, was also signed in Abu
Dhabi. The news occurred last year, when
Premier Wen attended the Fourth Arab-China
Business Conference in Sharjah in the UAE.
Saudi Arabi is soon to announce being the last Middle Eastern country to trade
outside the so-called Petro-Dollar. If
(when) Saudi
Arabia initiates crude
oil trade in other currencies, then the
death knell is rung, as in game over for
the USDollar. Not just loss of the Global
Reserve Currency status, but the USDollar
will face isolation, judgment, criticism,
and finally severe devaluation following
the shameful debt downgrades. The US might be declared a financial
rogue nation, my expectation. Given how
the USDollar finds strength only in the
active competitive devaluation process managed
by numerous foreign nations, the USDollar
will next find its truly (much lower) value
when it is not used in global trade.
With the USFed printing the dollar non-stop,
the currency wars raging fierce, the US currency is poised for a massive fall. The
process stops when the USDollar is deposed
and the new Gold Standard is instituted,
led by its newly adopted role in trade settlement.
The only countries left all to themselves
with their inflating currencies will be
the United
States and United Kingdom and certain
Western European nations. They will form
the new Industrialized Third World community.
The day comes soon, signaled by both the
IMF and China. The Yuan will share
the stage as a Global Reserve Currency.
Do not be mistaken. The USDollar cannot
share that stage. It will fall off it rapidly.
For
some good background material on the internationalization
of the Chinese Yuan, aka renminbi,
see the Swift research papers (CLICK HERE
and HERE).
For promoting the London
financial center on Yuan currency issues,
see the City of London
research update (CLICK HERE).
##
BOND BUBBLE CRAZE
◄$$$ THE BIG NEW YORK BANKS ARE CONSIDERED CRIMINAL YET UNTOUCHABLE
IN FOREIGN FINANCIAL CENTERS. THEY OBSERVE
A REVOLVING DOOR OF CONFLICTED INTEREST
BY REGULATORS AND DEEP CORRUPTION BY USGOVT
LAW ENFORCEMENT. THE RESULT WILL BE FURTHER
ISOLATION OF THE USGOVT AND REFUSAL BY FOREIGN
ENTITIES TO PURCHASE USTBOND DEBT SECURITIES.
THE RESEMBLANCE TO THIRD WORLD WILL BE FOLLOWED
BY ACTUAL THIRD WORLD LOCATION. $$$
The Project on Government Oversight (POGO) has come to stark conclusions about
US-based bank fraud as being business as
usual. The foreign financial centers
observe the protected corrupt US
practices, and have refused lately to participate
in official bond purchases. They just say
NO. The result is further isolation of the
United States,
which will suffer a dire fate falling into
the Third World. The perception of the United States on financial
sector matters is badly degrading, in fast
acceleration, a consequence of a decade
operating under the Fascist Business Model
that few analysts notice or wish to mention.
The perception held by foreign bankers and
fund managers often is that New
York City has degraded to a level
on par with some Third
World dictatorships. The MFGlobal crystallized
the viewpoints, leading them to conclude
the New
York is no longer a safe place either to
do business or place money. China has refused to buy USTBonds from the New York bankers. Even the New
York press is unwilling to tell the truth
about events. A recent case showed the New York press actually changing the transcripts
in certain cases like one involving Zichettello.
Overseas, the New York big banks are called Untouchable. The end result is fast catching
up to the USGovt and Wall Street bankers.
Almost no foreign nation is willing to purchase
the USTreasury Bond debt, since the US
considers its leading financial firms to
be above the law. That includes the New
York Fed, which refuses to permit Germany to view its gold on account. The demise
of the United
States in a systemic
failure is assured. The perception extends
to where the USGovt and its banking leaders
consider its own people and foreign governments
to be part of a food chain for exploitation.
At risk is the fabric of US
society. My view has been firm since 2007
and 2008, when the bond market ruin and
big bank collapse took place, that the United States was heading for a grand systemic
failure and total breakdown. The path was
made perfectly clear. It is on track and
absolutely unstoppable.
The revolving door at the Securities & Exchange Commission is under focus
again, as the prima facie for corruption
in the financial sector. The POGO study
has exposed that SEC prosecutors are hired
so as to ensure the villain banks are not
subjected to criminal prosecution. Doing
so is seen as an attack on the system itself.
In one specific case, the head of SEC enforcement
Andrew Geist selected the law firm to be
the receiver over Princeton Economics and
made sure the employees could never be represented
by a lawyer. Then he resigned from the SEC
and joined the very firm he selected to
receive $millions in fees as a partner.
Outside of the USGovt, such action wold
result in 25 years in prison for basic fraud
in plain sight. See the Armstrong Economics
article (CLICK HERE)
and the CNBC article (CLICK HERE).
◄$$$ INVESTORS ARE SWAPPING LOW QUALITY SECURITIES (SOMETIMES JUNK BONDS)
FOR SUPER SAFE USTBONDS IN ORDER TO CONDUCT
DERIVATIVE TRADES. FINANCIAL FIRMS (BANKS,
INSURANCE FIRMS) ARE GROPING FOR YIELD INCOME,
PLAYING GAMES WITH COLLATERAL. THEY SOMETIMES
ARE CAUSING A CHAIN OF EVENTS IN REVERSE
WITH MARGIN CALLS. COMPLEXITY GROWS, BUT
NOT STABLE PROGRESS. $$$
An extract from a speech by USFed Governor Jeremy Stein entitled "Overheating
in Credit Markets: Origins, Measurement,
and Policy Responses" reveals how
shadow banking collateral transformations
operate, as modern day alchemy transforms
junk bonds into USTreasurys with the snap
of a contract, but causes problems with
margin calls down the road. The ultra-low
interest yield has caused contortions not
just for reaching toward risky mortgage
bonds for yield, but in doing two-step derivative
trades with transformed collateral.
The alchemy requires something called collateral
transformation. This activity has been around
in some form for quite a while, but it has
taken on tremendous volume in recent months.
The entire US financial has been put at
further risk.
Imagine an insurance company wants to do a derivatives transaction. To do so,
it is required to post collateral with a
clearing house, but the asset must be pristine,
like USTBonds. All the firm has is junk
bonds to post as collateral. So they approach
a broker dealer and engage in what is effectively
a two-way REPO transaction, whereby it
gives the dealer its junk bonds as collateral,
borrows the USTreasury securities, and agrees
to unwind the transaction at some point
in the future. A fee is paid by the
insurance firm, which then can proceed to
pledge the borrowed USTreasury securities
as collateral for its derivatives trade.
Usually the dealer has inventory, since
USTBond buyers are scarce with all the toxic
paper produced and frightened investors
from QE bond monetization going on. The
dealer might have to conduct a reverse swap
with a pension fund to obtain the USTBonds.
Pension funds are willing since they can
secure higher yields from such swaps, without
altering what appears on their balance sheets.
Now go back to the insurance firm, which
has secured via the swap some USTBonds as
collateral.
Stein concludes on risk. "There are two points worth noting about these
transactions. First, they reproduce some
of the same unwind risks that would
exist, had the clearing house lowered its
own collateral standards in the first place.
To see this point, observe that if the
junk bonds fall in value, the insurance
company will face a margin call on its collateral
swap with the dealer. It will therefore
have to scale back this swap, which in turn
will force it to partially unwind its derivatives
trade, just as would happen if it had posted
the junk bonds directly to the clearing
house. Second, the transaction creates additional
counter-party exposures, which [come
in the form of] exposures between the insurance
company and the dealer, and between the
dealer and the pension fund." The
evidence is loud and clear, and the higher
systemic risk is engrained. View the total
amount of collateral pledged any given month
with the NYFed, courtesy of tri-party REPO
custodian JPMorgan. It has risen 18% in
the last year. See the Zero Hedge article
(CLICK HERE)
and the NYFed tri-party REPO collateral
data (CLICK HERE).
◄$$$ HIGH RISK BONDS ARE SUFFERING A MAJOR EXIT. THE TALKING HEADS MENTION
RISK ON, WITH THE USFED LEADING THE MORAL
HAZARD PARADE. BUT JUNK BONDS TELL A RISK
OFF STORY. THE DIVERGENCE IS PRESENT, AND
NEVER LASTS LONG BEFORE RESOLUTION. $$$
In recent weeks the bond Exchange Traded Funds and credit derivative markets
have been indicating some serious divergence
from stocks. They scream signs of risk off.
The perceptual call on the financial networks
is deceptive and unclear. What is clear
is that this past week saw the largest outflow
on record for the High Yield ETFund. Furthermore,
HYG (symbol for the junk bond ETF) shares
outstanding have plunged over 11% in the
last 90 days, as ETF unit volume in existence
are being destroyed on a sequential quarterly
basis for the first time. Refer to HYG
shares, not value. The rotation appears
to be up toward USTBonds and Corporate Bonds,
and up in strength of capital structure
marked by book value. The divergence cannot
last forever, since linkage comes via the
balance sheet. The sell pressure is picking
up into the very illiquid market for junk
bonds. See the Zero Hedge article (CLICK
HERE).
◄$$$ USFED ENSURES HYPER INFLATION. THE PUBLIC MUST PROTECT THEMSELVES.
BUT THEY ALSO MUST EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON
THE REALITY THAT IS BOND MONETIZATION AND
THE ZERO RATE BOUND. THEY ARE SIGNALS OF
WEIMAR
AMERIKA, AN ENDORSED HYPER MONETARY INFLATION
WITH NO SUCCESSFUL PRECEDENT IN HISTORY.
$$$
For the mere mortals, some background is offered to comprehend the programs
that are called Quantitative Easing (bond
purchases with new electronic money) and
the Zero Interest Rate Policy (stuck at
0% forever). See the Forbes video (CLICK
HERE)
for a quick tutorial. Also, the unwashed
masses deserve to have explained the most
outrageous outlandish monetary experiment
ever conducted. It is most assuredly to
end in disaster. The flip into national
poverty status is coming. See the Before
Its News article on QE For Dummies (CLICK
HERE).
◄$$$ JPMORGAN CONTROLS A BIG MONEY ROOM IN FLORIDA,
WHERE $TRILLIONS ARE MOVED EVERY DAY ON
BEHALF OF BIG BANKS AND BIG CORPORATIONS.
DIMON SPOKE WITH ARROGANCE AND HYPOCRISY.
$$$
JPMorgan Chase maintains what they call a Money Room located in Florida.
In it $trillions are moved every day, boasted
CEO Jamie Dimon at a conference. He said,
"It is a money room at an undisclosed
location. It is in Florida,
but it moves every day $2 to $5 trillion
around the world. JPMorgan moves a lot of
money for corporations and individuals.
That room, which I took my Board of Directors
to, is just very impressive." JPMorgan
is the only bank with a giant money room
in the United
States. JPMorgan is
the biggest bank in the country by assets,
with total assets of $2.3 trillion as of
the end of September 2012. It is also bankrupt,
a tall hollow reed from the derivatives
market unreported losses. It keeps the Interest
Rate Swap structure in place, or tries to,
which forces the USTBond yields low when
no buyers exist.
Dimon talked openly about many topics, took shots at the press, and spoke like
a true hypocrite. He argued that big banks
are the only ones that have the power to
service countries around the world. He said,
"I agree with people who say banks
should not be too big to fail. It should
be bankruptcy and the damn bank board should
be fired. Tax payers should never have to
pay and you should believe it. I want to
call it bankruptcy for big dumb banks. There
should be some form of Old Testament justice
including clawbacks of [executive] compensations."
See the Business Insider article (CLICK
HERE).
Dimon --Criminal,
Hypocrite, Parasite
What a hypocrite and elite parasite! JPMorgan exploited the Lehman Brothers
and Bear Stearns collapses. JPM received
$138 billion in funds from a Saturday 6am
bankruptcy court decision in Manhattan that supposedly was devoted to settling
Lehman Bros private accounts. The sum is
an order of magnitude greater than what
would be devoted for such purpose. It was
in Jackass view an important reload of JPMorgan
slush funds used in a number of different
market manipulation schemes, such as USTreasurys
and Gold. They clearly exploited the situation,
as seen by anybody with an active brain
stem. As footnote, rumors are brisk that
Dimon has a penchant for married women,
who philanders with the wives of his own
associates. He walks a thin line. Harken
back to Tiger Woods.
◄$$$ OVER $19 TRILLION IN PRIVATE US-CITIZEN RETIREMENT FUNDS COULD EASILY
BAIL OUT THE USFED TOXIC BALANCE SHEET.
SIX DOLLARS OF CAPTIVE PENSION FUNDS EXISTS
FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF TOXIC USFED BALANCE
SHEET FUNDS. A FORCED INVESTMENT IN THE
USTBOND BUBBLE WILL COME BEFORE LONG, BECAUSE
IT CAN. $$$
The USFed has boasted of innovative devices and channels for providing a torrent
of liquidity to the insolvent US and European
banks, to no avail however. Extra cash to
borrow does not address brokenness from
insolvency for a bank or a household. Talk
has come of Bernanke possibly being forced
to raise interest rates in 2016. Doing so
would destroy his buddies at the big US
banks, which are deeply committed to USTBond
carry trade for easy profit, as they avoid
the commercial lending function. Bernanke
has the perfect exit strategy, steeped in
exploitation and hegemony. He could simply
sell the bonds on the USFed balance sheet
to captured American citizens, who command
pension funds totaling about $19.4 trillion
in the form of private funds (IRA, 401k,
Keough), defined contribution and defined
benefit plans (corporate), annuity reserves
(trusts), and government plans. A new special
USTBond will be fashioned, which will absorb
both USTreasurys and USAgency Mortgage Bonds.
The USCongress will eventually pass the
bill to authorize the seizure, amidst some
uncertain controversy. With the forced purchase
of USGovt securities from private retirement
funds, the USFed will have all the buyers
they need. Note that several other countries
have already taken this identical step.
See the Investment Company Institute database
(CLICK HERE). Even
the US Consumer Bureau is looking at the
retirement accounts. See the Bloomberg article
(CLICK HERE).
At least the captive US
citizens will be compelled to cover the
new debt racked up by the USGovt each year.
That would cover $1 trillion per year. Regard
it as inevitable, since the bill has been
tabled by the US Senate.
If the Jackass claimed to be an expert on Interest Rate Swaps, a lie would be
told. Some explanation can be given though.
First of all, they are not a contract entered
into by two parties in any official counter-party
setup. Take the simpler Credit Default Swap
as preface. As an investor, one might believe
in early 2008 that Lehman Brothers was a
cooked dead goose awaiting revelation. So
an insurance contract was purchased on its
10-year corporate bond against likely default.
It is like investing in IBM stock, as you
pay a price, and somewhere in the market
supplies the stock to you. You pay 22 (just
for argument, skip the unit denomination)
before the revelation of bankruptcy and
ruin. After September of that fateful year
when the US
banking sector died and was burned to a
crisp by the scorching mortgage fires, you
received 82 for the CDSwap contract upon
redemption. You bagged almost 300% in profit.
There was a counter-party for this derivative,
since an insurance contract was traded from
a previous owner. The party selling the
CDSwap at 22 missed an opportunity.
The Interest Rate Swap is a complex device that plays the spread of long-term
bonds versus the spread of short-term bills.
The spread involves a cash value against
a committed time to redemption on a bonded
security, like all spreads. They are ugly
complex, necessarily so in order to do what
they do and to keep the public unaware.
Remember that these derivatives are all
unregulated, and therefore have grown totally
wild like a weeded field given ample rain
and sunshine. Think of it this way. The
Boyz, principally JPMorgue here, use the
bottomless well of 0% money to fund the
IRSwap tables. With free money, they swap
the securities and convert them into purchases
of long-term USTBonds. No formal counter-party
exists, except that the JPMorgue desks sit
on both sides of the trade. The demand is
purely artificial, and no seller was involved
except the newly printed certificate in
electronic form that floods the bond market.
Since JPM fed the IRSwap engines so fully,
no chance exists of rising rates from the
0% bound. Doing so would implode the
IRSwap derivatives in a matter of days.
Regard JPM as short $trillions in 0% USTBills
of mere months maturity. Think leverage
of between 30:1 and 100:1. The ZIRP policy
will remain fixed near 0% forever and a
day. The derivative machinery assures it.
In the second half of 2010, the assigned Wall Street agent Morgan Stanley bought
$8 trillion of these Interest Rate Swaps.
That is when the big USTBond rally supposedly
happened, all very much fabricated to produce
what seemed like a wondrous phony flight
to safety. Borrow short, invest long, exactly
like the big US-Banks are doing with the
USFed carry trade on the USTreasurys since
QE programs began. Except in the IRSwap
case, they put it through the derivative
machine, with a conversion to USTBond demand.
Most of the Western world remains duped.
Not the Jackass, thanks to Rob Kirby and
his clear lessons on the congame.
◄$$$ THE USFED AS TOXIC PAPER GARBAGE COLLECTOR HIT $3 TRILLION IN THEIR
BALANCE SHEET. WITH TOXIC PAPER, MORE IS
NOT BETTER. THE UNCHARTED TERRITORY FOR
THE CENTRAL BANK IS NEVER NEVER LAND. GIVEN
THE SYSTEMIC FAILURE UNDERWAY AND INTERMINABLE
RECESSION, THEIR BALANCE SHEET WILL GROW
IN SIZE WITHOUT END. $$$
The USFed has formally promised to keep the current bond purchase program and
the zero bound rate in place until the USEconomy
responds favorably, most important the labor
market recovers. It will never recover,
since QE & ZIRP assure steady economic
deterioration from capital destruction.
The economist crew fail to comprehend this
basic fact of economics and capitalism.
The USFed is purchasing $85 billion of securities
every month, using the full force of its
balance sheet to undermine the USEconomy.
The central bank began $40 billion in monthly
purchases of mortgage backed bonds in September
under QE3, then added $45 billion in USTreasury
Bonds to that pace in recent months under
QE4. Resident apologist Julia Coronado is
a former USFed economist, and chief economist
at BNP Paribas. She offered a bland view
lacking any substance in reflection of her
lofty salary. She said, "We are
in uncharted territory. As the easy money
will flow through financial markets and
into the real economy at some point and
lift us to a better growth trajectory, [the
nation faces] a lot of risks."
Dream on with growth, since QE & ZIRP
ensure rising costs, which lock in falling
profits, followed by job cuts, shut business
segments, and retired equipment.
In late January a milestone was reached, a frequent occurrence. The total USFed
balance sheet climbed to $3.01 trillion
as of January 23rd. The lunatics at the
central bank have expressed concern over
overheating financial markets, when they
should concerned about destroying all financial
markets. The extremes have been touched,
with a 22% official rate by Chairman Volcker
in 1980, and recently a stuck 0% by Chairman
Bernanke in the last couple years. Witness
the zero bound, stuck in place. The USFed
cannot raise rates, period! They focus on
the labor mandate. They wish to reduce the
ranks of the nation's 12.2 million unemployed
workers. Their $85 billion monthly pace
of toxic bond purchases will continue until
the labor market improves substantially,
thus forever. They disagree on how long
that will be. Try forever, or until the
systemic failure occurs under their watch.
The Federal Open Market Committee at the
December 11-12 meeting showed members evenly
divided on ending official bond purchases
by mid-2013. One must wonder who they would
expect to purchase the worthless bonds.
The answer is nobody. They might someday
soon realize the QE to Infinity they have
embarked upon. Maybe not. See the Bloomberg
article (CLICK HERE).
◄$$$ A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY WAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE BIG-US BANKS IN THE
FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY. THE REMOVAL TOTALED
$114 BILLION FROM COMMERCIAL BANKS. THE
END OF THE T.A.G. PROGRAM TO SUPPORT MID-SIZED
BANKS SEEMS NOT TO BE THE EXPLANATION. $$$
More than $114 billion exited the biggest US
banks in the first week of January reporting,
and analysts are perplexed to explain it.
It was the largest single week withdrawal
since the September 11th of 2001. The most
rational explanation offered is the expiration
of the Transaction Account Guarantee (TAG)
program, the extraordinary federal effort
to shore up the mid-sized banks during the
2008 financial crisis. Smaller banks were
vulnerable to runs, thus protected by TAG.
The program backstopped their deposit bases
by temporarily offering unlimited insurance
on money kept in non-interest bearing accounts.
That guarantee ended on December 31st. Thus
the removal.
The TAG explanation does not hold. The USFed data shows
$114 billion leaving the 25 biggest banks,
equal to roughly 2% of their deposit base. Only $26.9 billion left all the other banks including the midsized, equivalent
to 0.9% of their deposit base. Over four
times as much money left the supposedly
unaffected bigger banks. A grand shift is
taking place for funds to find money market
funds or elsewhere. Some like Paul Miller,
a bank analyst with FBR Capital Markets,
caution that the USFed weekly data is a
noisy database. He claims the first quarter
is always a whacky quarter. With the federal
fiscal cliff drama, many companies shifted
dividends, while other bank clients guessed
on tax liabilities. At the same time, the
payroll tax just went up, pushing on most
wage earners a 2% hit. Some individuals
might simply shun the federally guaranteed
accounts and enter into investments like
money markets or mutual funds, which saw
their second highest inflows on record in
the first week of the year. The public always
chases the end of a low quality stock rally,
like dumb sheep. See the Business Week article
(CLICK HERE)
and the RT News article (CLICK HERE).
##
CURRENCY WAR BOILS
◄$$$ THE US-DX INDEX SHOWS AN OMINOUS BEARISH REVERSAL SIGNAL THAT HAS
BUILT UP OVER A THREE-YEAR TIMESPAN. THE
STANDARD USDOLLAR INDEX SHOWS A LONG-TERM
RECOGNIZED BEAR PATTERN AND A SIMILAR (BUT
LESS RELIABLE) INTERMEDIATE BEARISH PATTERN.
HOWEVER, THE COMPETIVE CURRENCY DEVALUATIONS
BY MOST MAJOR CENTRAL BANKS WILL KEEP THE
USDOLLAR LEVITATED. IT WILL SHOW APPARENT
CALM, DURING A MAELSTROM UNDER THE SURFACE.
$$$
The long-term chart shows large Head & Shoulders bear pattern. The world
wants to discard the USDollar for fiscal
deficits, punishment for endless war, and
horrific hyper monetary inflation by the
USFed central bank. But the world cannot
let the DX index crash, since each nation
strives not to accept and endure a higher
currency. Too much internal damage would
be done economically. So the US-DX index
will be levitated until the time comes when
it is isolated completely, then rejected
and snuffed out like a diseased rat trapped
in the corner which has rendered deep damage
from its filthy style for decades. Each
nation watches in terror as the USFed directs
the bond monetization with fresh toxic money,
a process that raises the cost structure
in the entire global economy. Nations have
no choice except to sustain the crippled
USDollar, so that their banking reserves
do not degrade further, and their economies
do not lose a competitive edge on their
export industries. Alternatives are
being sought to replace the USDollar, but
only when a new structure is in place, the
firewalls are in place, and the procedure
for the players are in place. Expect the
right side shoulder to extend and defend
the 79 level, which is of paramount importance.
All hell breaks loose if that level breaks
down, as weakened banking systems will threaten
to topple.
The intermediate chart shows a minor Head & Shoulders bear pattern, which
is overwhelmed by active management in defensive
action. Look for the recent downward correction
in the Euro to lift the US DX index a little
more, and possibly push it into the narrow
band between 80.5 and 81.3 as seen in the
daily chart below. The Euro had risen
unduly in the last few months, helped along
but a cool $237 billion in funny money European
bank aid since January, courtesy of the
USFed and its handy swap facility opened
to European banks. That the Euro is
rising at all during its crippled degeneration
is laughable. Such is the nature of the
managed currency arena. All the nations
that push down their currencies in defense
of their economies will see a strong buoy
effect to lift the USDollar. It is actively
managed. The USDollar index is dominated
in absurd fashion by the Euro, thus the
label anti-Euro index in some FOREX corners.
Notice how important the DXY = 79 support line is, in both the long-term and
intermediate charts. It has been defended
for 18 months. Keep in mind that for
the US DX to break down badly, the Euro must rise
with vigorous moves. Yet it is crippled.
Expect the DX index to pay a visit in the
next higher narrow band, but only for a
short while. Too much profit for veteran
traders lies in exploiting the potential
for corrections after central banks moved
their currencies by strong arm approaches.
The action in Europe
is turning into a tragic comedy. They want
a higher Euro currency in order to defend
broken banks and their balance sheets. But
the Japanese and Swiss, maybe even the British,
urgently work to keep their currencies down.
The battle is high pitched.
◄$$$ THE CHALLENGE TO MAINTAIN THE SWISS FRANC--EURO PEG WAS GIVEN A GIANT
ASSIST BY THE USFED DOLLAR FACILITY. SO
THE SWISS BANKERS HAVE ENJOYED AN OPPORTUNITY
TO DUMP EUROS ON THE DESPERATE EUROPEAN
BANKS, EAGER TO LIFT THEIR ROTTEN BALANCE
SHEETS. EVERYBODY WINS, BUT THE SYSTEM LOSES.
$$$
The crisis to maintain the Swiss Franc peg to the Euro currency has been averted.
But behind the marbled offices in Zurich
is desperation as their diversifed reserves
were shifted in favor of the Japanese Yen
and British Pound. In the last few months,
each currency fell hard, the Yen much more
drastically (by design). To be sure,
the big European banks desired the Euro
lift, since they are on the edge of ruin.
It should also be cited that the recent
engineered lift in the Euro was to benefit
the powerful influential Swiss bankers,
who still shout orders from their castles.
The $237 billion in easy USDollars was a
huge factor, a huge open channel, which
received almost zero press attention. Some
big interests are at work, to lift the Euro.
But it has gone too far, given the rotten
fundamentals in the EuroZone economy and
the more rotten balance sheets for the big
European banks. Witness the convulsions
of the fiat paper currencies, with the Euro,
the Swiss Franc, the British Pound, and
the Japanese Yen at the unstable periphery.
They orbit around the toxic ruined USDollar,
the Lord of the Flies.
◄$$$ THE CURRENCY WAR IS COMING INTO MAINSTREAM VIEW. THE COMPREHENSION
BY COLUMNISTS IS SHALLOW SO FAR, THE BREADTH
OF VIEW NARROW STILL. $$$
The mainstream economic and financial news lines have begun to describe a currency
war, but the columnists lack much comprehension
yet. They see only small porckets of the
extremely wide battleground. Most US-based
economists focus on USDollar strength, with
little awareness of all the various major
currencies jockeying for position. Although
Kyle Bass puts the currency war on the table,
he totally misses the destructive interplay
between central banks. He made a loose single
comment about exchange rates in movement
without much awareness that central banks
are desperately making policy decisions
to push down their currencies in competitive
devaluations in order to preserve their
export industries. He seems to indicate
that currency moves are passive outcoms
and indirect effects. He did not mention
the most important cross rate battles on
the planet. The Swiss-Euro 120 peg has been
in force for six months, recently damaged
by Japan and its submerged Yen.
He makes many general comments about Japanese
demographics, post-tsunami changes, their
failure to react in 20 years, takeover of
the Bank of Japan by politicians, and the
friction with China to affect trade. He actually expects the
Dollar-Yen rate to rise to 200 as the Japanese
debt takes a huge toll against the recession
backdrop. That would mean the Yen priced
at 50 cents, far lower than its current
107 value, over a 50% decline.
Bass puts too much focus on the bilateral cooperation between US and Japan
on central bank actions. In doing so, he
misses much of the rest of the world. Cite
some. The South Koreans are considering
strong currency actions. The Scandinavian
nations are also struggling to manage their
economies by using their currencies, frustrated
at the punishment for successful fiscal
balance. The Swiss and Japanese might have
to meet, and if they do, look for two possible
new nations to join forces with the non-USD
trade settlement system. They each have
motive to depart from a US$-centric
financial system. The fiat floating garbage
currencies are killing all the players,
some faster than others. See the Money News
article (CLICK HERE).
◄$$$ JAPAN HAS RECORDED CONSECUTIVE
CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICITS, THE LATEST IN
DECEMBER. THEIR LEADERS ARE DESPERATE TO
TAKE DRASTIC ACTION. GIVEN THAT THE NATION
HAS BEEN STUCK AT THE ZERO BOUND FOR 20
YEARS, THEIR ONLY LEEWAY IS WITH THE YEN
CURRENCY. IMPORTS ARE UP FROM CHINA.
ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION IS DOWN FROM
THE NATURAL DISASTER. JAPAN STRUGGLES.
$$$
Japan has the third largest world economy.
Japan posted monthly Current Account deficits
in back-to-back months for the first time
since 1981, indicating policy failure and
systemic strangle. The CA deficit equals
the trade gap adjusted for investments,
like stocks, bonds, property, patent royalty.
The CA deficit was JPY 264.1 billion
(=US$2.8 bn) in December. The proximal causes
were weakness in global demand, disputes
with China, and increased energy imports following
nuclear plant shutdowns. The hope is
for a revival for the export industries
in response to the powerful Yen exchange
rate decline, urged forcefully by the central
bank and government in coordinated policy.
The Yen move from 129 in September to 107
(a 17% decline) in February will spur exports,
suddenly made cheaper to foreign buyers.
The effect is expected in three to six months.
This is pure competitive currency devaluation,
a war. The recent embarrassment from the
deficits emboldens the Abe campaign to continue
with vigor, pushing the Yen lower still.
The last consecutive monthly Current Account deficit took place in February
1981. The trend has been down. The 2012
annual current surplus of JPY 4.7 trillion
was the smallest since 1985, after falling
51% from 2011. A detail, the Chinese exports
to Japan rose by 25% in January from a year earlier,
according to data from Beijing.
The Hat Trick Letter had reported a trend
over the last few years to ship some industry
to China for cost reduction, but the earthquake
and tsunami in February 2011 added pain
to the outsourcing initiatives. The Japanese
Economy is caught in recession, having shrunk
in Q2 and Q3 of 2012. See the Bloomberg
article (CLICK HERE).
◄$$$ THE BANK OF ENGLAND WILL BECOME THE FIRST G-7 NATION TO ENTER
A SWAP LINE AGREEMENT WITH CHINA ON YUAN CONVERSION. THE CURRENCY IS GRADUALLY
ENTERING INTO FULL CONVERTIBLE STATUS FROM
THE SWAP BACK DOOR. LONDON
STRIVES TO CONTINUE AS A GLOBAL FINANCIAL
CENTER. NOTICE THE NON-FOREX SOLUTION. $$$
The central bank for the United Kingdom is prepared
to set up a Chinese Yuan swap line. This
is very very big news, since England
will be the first G-7 nation to cooperate
in Chinese currency provision. The door
is opening in yet another substantial step
in moves to liberalize the Yuan currency
into broader usage, if not convertibility.
Chris Salmon is the Executive Director for
Banking Services at the Bank of England
(BOE). He told a meeting of senior bankers
in London that the move
was aimed at underpinning a developing offshore
market in Yuan trade out of London.
Add England to the long and growing list of nations
making bilateral currency agreements with
China. The list includes Brazil, Australia,
Russia,
Japan, South Korea,
Belarus,
Malaysia, and Indonesia. That the Yuan is not freely exchangeable
has been a deterrent for British officials.
The BOE actively wishes to see a more flourishing
Yuan business in London. Salmon said, "The Bank would welcome the development
of the offshore RMB market just as it would
any other legitimate market innovation,
and we would not want to inhibit that outcome
inadvertently through gaps in our operational
framework. To remove any residual uncertainty
about our attitude, the Bank is ready in
principle to agree a swap line with the
PBOC (Peoples Bank of China), assuming a mutually
agreeable format can be identified. Ultimately,
the growth of the market will depend on
the success of market participants in matching
incipient demand and supply for RMB denominated
products, just as the original EuroDollar
market grew by satisfying a latent private
sector demand for dollar assets in this
time zone. There is a perception that market
confidence would be boosted if the Bank
and the PBOC agreed a swap line."
European and US officials have been pressuring China for years to take more
action to open up the Yuan to market forces.
The Beijing officials respond privately to stressing
their unwillingness to subject their Yuan
currency to the deep banker corruption in
the West, with hidden devices and devious
mechanisms scattered under the financial
market tables. Thus the circumventing tactics
by Beijing
with barter deals based in currency swaps.
The Western financial markets constitute
a recognized gigantic trap for China, which they refuse to fall into.These
are standard tools used by the West to control
money and its flow, tilting the tables.
See the Exchange Stabilization Fund and
JPMorgan's derivative room, for instance.
Complaints are tiresome about the Yuan bearing
an artificially low valuation. The absurd
USTBond bubbly values should be examined
first. Despite the desire to keep tight
reins, observe the internationalization
of the RMB (renminbi = people's money),
their initiative to introduce their Yuan
currency globally. They are setting up currency
swap lines around the world, in ways that
Western analysts do not comprehend. The
swap lines create a foundation for non-USDollar
trade, in essence barter that revolts against
the USDollar itself as the trade standard
by side stepping it.
Britain has always been eager to reinforce London's
status as Europe's biggest financial center. The City launched a currency and
bond market for Yuan usage last year. The
swap deal nails down the London
center for the Chinese. One should be
amazed that the New York clown criminals are not interested. Thus the US
will isolate itself in preparation for Third
World entry. For Chinese Govt Bond trading
to indeed flourish, the Yuan currency must
be made more accessible for trade. The swap
deal does that specifically, although not
in the manner preferred by the US
& UK
bankers. They bent to the will of Bejing
leaders, who prefer no FOREX solution.
Issuance of Yuan-based bonds listed in London
has been limited to a handful of firms,
such as oil major British Petroleum, along
with banks HSBC (British-Hong Kong) and
ANZ (Australia-New Zealand). By comparison,
the Hong Kong market
for Yuan-based bond grew to around CNY 350
billion (=US$55.7 bn) since 2010, according
to Thomson Reuters. Early indications are
promising for London. The data from global transaction services organization SWIFT
shows the UK
is the leading center for offshore Yuan
trade outside Asia.
It has made far more progress in inducing
companies to invoice in Yuan currency, rather
than the USDollar. The main competition
for London in Chinese
financial trade is Hong
Kong. See the Reuters article (CLICK HERE).
The irony is growing thicker, as London
discourages USDollar transactions in their
London processing.
◄$$$ A BIG MARKET SQUEEZE IS COMING. A PRINCIPAL FACTOR WILL BE FROM A
GOLD-BACKED CHINESE YUAN CURRENCY. THE STORY
MUST BE CONFIRMED TO A GREATER DEGREE, SINCE
SO IMPORTANT AND HIGHLY DISRUPTIVE. SEVERAL
ROADWAYS ARE LEADING TOWARD A GOLD MARKET
STAMPEDE. $$$
As preface, keep in mind that the World Gold Council is hardly a friend of gold,
as strange as that sounds. They have too
many ties to the establishment, eager to
pump out reports on false official gold
reserves, eager to promote the nonsensical
jewelry arguments against a rising price
effect, eager to cite the corrupted COMEX
gold price itself. Aside from the tainted
reputation, the council hasconfirmed
the Chinese intend to back the Yuan currency
with Gold bullion held in reserve. Introduce
Keith Barron, who was co-founder of Aurelian
Resources when they made a 13.7 million
ounce gold discovery in 2006. Aurelian was
later acquired by Kinross Gold in 2008.
Before King World News, Barron expressed
his opinion that the world will see a powerful
short squeeze in gold. The Germans have
given notice to the United
States for repatriation
of their gold on account. As the return
starts to look difficult, expect the Germans
to accelerate the process with more hostile
demands. This will simply add fuel to the
massive squeeze which lies in front of us,
as a feeding frenzy in the gold market could
easily occur. He expects the Gold &
Silver bulls will begin to trample the bears
soon. He cited other important factors.
Dealers in the US have informed him that immediately after the
Presidential Inauguration, the sale of monster
boxes of US silver eagles went crazy, exploding
in volume. Business is crazed right now,
with strains to maintain inventory, which
sells quickly. The public smells a financial
breakdown.
Barron cited the hedge fund Pacific Group, which is converting one third of
its assets into physical gold. The Hat Trick
Letter reported on this story in the last
month. They have already taken delivery
of $35 million worth of gold bars. William
Kaye of Pacific Group said, "In
our judgment we are in the early stages
of what would likely be the world's largest
short squeeze in any instrument. This goes
back to what we were talking about the last
time I was interviewed on KWN regarding
gold repatriation back to Germany. If several key nations
claim their gold at the same time, the world
will witness an incredible short squeeze."
Barron went on to cite a recently submitted document by the World Gold Council.
It stated that the Chinese are going
to back their currency with Gold. Doing
so would displace the USDollar and make
the Chinese Yuan the world's reserve currency.
No paper currency can compete with a solid
gold-backed currency, NEVER. The details
on convertibility to Gold is as yet very
unclear. The Chinese are sitting on mountains
of USDollars. They have spent the last several
years purchasing resource and mineral assets
around the world, like in Brazil,
Iran,
Saudi Arabia, and Africa,
using their less than desirable USTBonds
in the large transactions. The reality is
that all of the fiat currencies are in a
race to the bottom, caught in the frenzy
of accelerating currency war. Barron cited
the Bank of Japan, which will yet again
expand the QE bond purchase, push down the
Yen currency, and print vast sums of money.
Tokyo
is a wreck. The move by the Japanese is
very bullish for Gold, in his opinion. Barron
concluded, "Between what is happening
with the setup for the coming short squeeze
in Gold, coupled with the Chinese moving
to back the Yuan with Gold, and the shortages
we are seeing in the Silver market, the
outlook for Gold & Silver going forward
is spectacular. Quite frankly, the Gold
& Silver bulls are going to begin to
trample the bears at some point in the near
future." See the King World News
article (CLICK HERE).
◄$$$ THE RUSSIANS ARE DIVULGING A GERMAN DEPARTURE FROM THE COMMON EURO
AS CONCEIVABLE. EX-HEAD OF THEIR CENTRAL
BANK, KUDRIN IS AN EXPERIENCED WARRIOR.
HE BELIEVES THE GERMANS ARE UNDER GREAT
STRAIN IN FUNDING COSTS FOR EUROPE, WITH
POLICY DECISIONS COMING FROM BRUSSELS.
$$$
Der Spiegel gave an interview with Alexei Kudrin, the former Russian Minister
of Finance from 2000 to 2011. He has extensive
experience and high credibility, having
also been involved in the Dawson Creek conference in August 2005 hosted by
GATA. The Russians at that time learned
how their gold loans to London
were used to suppress the gold price. The
Russian central bank halted all leasing
activity from that point onward. Kudrin
discussed the issue of Germany leaving the
Euro Monetary Union, soon to abandon common
Euro currency usage. Given that Kudrin is
extremely close to Vladimir Putin, such
a statement could have never been made without
consent of both Berlin
and Moscow.
Furthermore, Kudrin is seen as having good
chances to succeed Dmitry Medvedev as Russian
prime minister. The floating toxic currencies
are gradually to be permitted to crash and
burn.
Alexei Kudrin
In the Spiegel interview, Alexei Kudrin spoke on diverse topics. His points
are related here almost verbatim, but edited
to fit in prose format. He claimed that
Russian economic reform came to a standstill
in the last year, and political reforms
did not produce the results hoped for.
He regarded as a positive trend the new
active civil society has developed. They
protested parliamentary elections not being
conducted fairly. The public wants fundamental
reforms. The nation must develop new parties
and pass laws to prevent election fraud.
Candidates should have equal access to the
media, and business owners who fund opposition
parties should no longer be punished for
the influence. Russia has to take a chance with more democracy.
He considers Putin open-minded to stated
positions and above all pragmatic. He mentioned
how he joined protests demanding democratic
reforms and new leaders with sound judgment,
which drew between 50,000 and 70,000 people
mobilized by attorney Alexey Navalny or
former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov.
He hopes for gradual change in a realistic
manner. He discussed the widespread xenophobia
and the imperial syndrome, where a significant
number of Russians place their country above
other nations and see neighboring countries
as part of their zone of influence if not
control.
Kudrin does not offer support for rising military budgets, a point of conflict
with past leadership, in particular Medvedev.
He regards the arms race as a main reason
behind the demise of the Soviet
Union, a wise viewpoint. He could not
justify the production of tanks and fighter
jets at a time when people were standing
in line for food with their ration cards.
On the energy front, he believes any oil
price decline would quickly result in a
reduction in FOREX reserves held by Russia,
which stand as third largest in the world.
Then either taxes would have to be increased
or military and social spending cut. On
economic reforms, he endorses several projects
like increasing the retirement age (now
60 for men and 55 for women). He urges more
investment in infrastructure, such as roads,
housing, power grids, and water lines. He
wants more privatization and fewer government
owned companies, urges a capitalism movement,
and favors more local power and tax revenues
for the regions. He admitted a corruption
problem in Russia, alluding to the defense
minister who was dismissed for financial
irregularities. He believes policeman, teachers,
doctors, even bank managers issuing loans,
are all open to bribery. He advocates stricter
government spending controls, in response
to fraud which has risen in proportion to
official funding outlays.
On the European Union bailout for Cyprus valued at EUR 17.5
billion (=US$23.3 bn), he believes the effect
to benefit Russian oligarchs is exaggerated.
He believes such criticism distracts from
the fact that Cyprus
has been a convenient tax haven for companies
from the West for a long time. The Western
company usage of offshore models around
the world is just as likely as Russian usage
in Cyprus.
He finally turned his viewpoint to Europe
more directly. He wants the EuroZone to
come to grips with its problems. To date,
it is not doing enough to achieve that end.
Spain
is in a serious trouble, which along with
Greece are effectively bankrupt. They cannot service
their debts on their own. By purchasing
sovereign bonds from these two nations,
the Euro Central Bank helps them by merely
buying time, which is not a solution. The
situation will grow worse, since debt loads
are not being reduced by policy actions.
The European Union must proceed more decisively
to reduce debt loads. Some debt might be
written down in his opinion, if provisions
are made to cushion the effect on creditor
banks. It would constitute a step away from
the precipice and toward stabilization of
the markets.
The Euro currency was raised as a topic. Kudrin admitted he was very enthusiastic
at the time of its introduction. However,
today it is obvious how everything was not
well planned. The rules to prevent debt
limit violations were not enforced strictly
enough. Productivity is too low in some
countries, like in the South. He accepts
the possibility that the EuroZone will fall
apart. The financial and economic crisis
can quickly turn into a political crisis.
He described a potential shock for people
in the West to drastically reduce their
standard of living, as the Europeans are
living beyond their means in his opinion.
He called the social welfare state unsustainable
in its current form. As for Germany, he estimates the European crisis costs
Germany EUR 100 billion per year. The inherent
strain would be incredible if the figure
rose by 50%. To save the Euro currency,
he believes a stronger fiscal union is required,
as per government deficits and spending
controls. He pointed to the conflict with
Brussels
of decisions on government spending and
taxes, where Germans simply would not permit
the detached commissioners to dictate policy.
Kudrin directly agreed that a German
withdrawal from the EuroZone is conceivable,
since every solution will be expensive for
Germany.
He does not believe Germany
has yet faced difficult political decisions
directly tied to the Euro preservation or
departure. See the Spiegel article (CLICK
HERE)
◄$$$ VENEZUELA DEVALUED THEIR BOLIVAR
CURRENCY, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MATCH THE BLACK
MARKET EXCHANGE RATE. EXPECT ANOTHER DEVALUATION
SOON, SINCE THE BANKS WANT THE BUSINESS.
THE MOVE SHOULD ADDRESS THE ABSURD SHORTAGES
IN THEIR ECONOMY, SUCH AS FOOD IN SUPERMARKETS.
BUT MUCH HIGHER PRICES WILL COME AS A RESULT.
EXPECT ANOTHER DEVALUATION, SINCE A GAP
CONTINUES VERSUS USDOLLARS OFFERED ON THE
BLACK MARKET. $$$
The Venezuelan Govt devalued its Bolivar currency to 6.3 per US$ from 4.3 per
US$ in early February. They actually hope
to shore up government finances after reckless
spending last year. It will not happen,
but rather price inflation will be stoked
instead. The outcome will be more available
USDollars to bankers that to date has hindered
imports and left many supermarkets barren
of basic supplies such as flour or sugar.
The big smash effect will be the higher
consumer prices in the import dependent
nation. It already has one of Latin
America's highest inflation rates. Venezuela
has stupidly and stubbornly maintained exchange
controls on the Bolivar currency for a decade.
Thus the adjustment will occur in large
disruptive steps. They have forced importers
and travelers to obtain USDollars through
a state currency board, or else to buy them
on an illegal black market where greenbacks
fetched nearly four times the official rate.
The currency exchange system known as SITME
was also eliminated, a clumsy bond swap
facility linked to the state currency control
board. The powerful shock of price inflation
should undermine the popularity of the clown
criminal who occupies the president post,
Hugo Chavez. He struggles with cancer and
might not be able to complete his new term
in office. He and his cohorts have robbed
the state firms (PDVSA oil cash cow) blind
for over a decade. Food issues usually break
popularity and lead people to street protests.
Consumer prices rose 3.3% in the single
month of January, their second highest rate
since 2010, while product shortages were
the most severe in five years. See the
Reuters article (CLICK HERE)
and the Al Jazeera article (CLICK HERE).
USDollars on the illegal black market had for weeks been fetching nearly four
times the official exchange, which economists
cited as a key sign an exchange rate adjustment
was imminent. Businesses frequently have
to tap this market because they are unable
to acquire US$ funds from the official Caracas
offices. Despite a 32% official devaluation,
the black market reflected an almost 75%
discount before the devaluation occurred.
The official move just announced was not
enough. Expect another official devaluation
soon as the new official rate must go lower.
It is amazing that the black market is often
a true market. Thanks to Craig McC of San
Francisco for astute contributions.
| 143,456 |
Summer Time Vegetable Pizza Pie
Today I have for you a wonderful summertime recipe that my Husband and I simply love. This recipe is not perfect, and I’ll explain why, but ohhh, the taste is friggen amazing!! The flavors in this dish just blow my mind and makes me realize how much I love summer and how much I’ll miss it when it’s gone.
This is my Summer Time Vegetable Pizza Pie! I think the title says it all. It’s chock full of vegetables that I got from the Farmers Market and my CSA box. It’s filled with bell peppers, zucchini, onions, fresh corn off the cob and ohhh those summer time tomatoes, plus fresh basil. I love all of the flavors in this dish and combined together is simply magical.
I came up with this recipe, by using my Tomato Pizza Pie recipe that I made last summer. My Husband and I loved it soooooo much, that we ate the whole pie. Yup, we were little piggies back then. Believe me we would have eaten all of this Vegetable Pie, but it’s pretty filling! This recipe is like a deep dish pizza without a bazillion calories! For the crust of the pie, I went simple and used a Pillsbury Pie Crust. I love their pie crust. I remember as a kid my Mom making pies and everyone thought her crust was homemade, but nope it was Pillsbury!
For the filling I used Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Sauce that I got from Whole Foods. I love that sauce, and now I’m out! 🙁 I guess that means a trip to Whole Foods! I topped the pizza with some lite shredded mozzarella cheese.
I baked the pizza for 20 minutes and it was done! This pizza is thick and very filling!! However, now the flaws to the recipe. The pizza tends to be a tad watery because of the juices from the vegetables. However, the juices have wonderful, fresh flavor. If you don’t mind it a little liquidy, then make it and enjoy it! My Husband and I ate 3/4’s of the pie. I am happy my Husband who is not a vegetable fan loved it. He ate half the pizza! When we were done eating and I went to put the leftovers in the fridge, the pizza held its shape. It has to really cool, quite a bit to keep its shape. Don’t let this picture fool you, but the pie is thick, but some of the filling fell out and I didn’t want to make a mess to the plate.
Line the pie plate with your pie crust. Add in layers, starting with bottom, bell pepper, zucchini, onion, sprinkle of parsley, sprinkle oregano, 5 basil leaves, corn, one row of tomatoes, sprinkle of parsley, sprinkle of oregano, 5 basil leaves and top with remaining tomatoes. Add pasta sauce and spread with a back of a spoon; top with cheese.
Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is lightly golden. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
I really love these kind of dishes! It was simple to put together, just a little cutting and it baked up in no time. By the time I washed the dishes and wrote down the recipe, it was done. The key is, if you can, let it cool so it thickens up. If you’re not so picky, like us, then eat it while it’s piping hot.
So be sure to head out to your local Farmers Market! I really believe in supporting my local farms! I love knowing my produce comes from my neighbors rather than traveling across country!
I was asked on Twitter where I get my CSA box so I thought I would share the information with you. I get my box from Farm Fresh to You. It’s all organic produce delivered to your door. You can pick what produce you want, you can cancel anytime. I have been very happy with everything I have received from them. I just found out they now have organic eggs. I’m calling them tomorrow to add that to my by weekly deliveries! If you get the service, tell them I referred you and they will give you a $10.00 discount. 🙂
Well that’s it for me. Time to shuffle off! Have a beautiful day and a fabulous weekend!
Toodles,
Jennifer
P.S. Please vote for my Peanut Butter and Jelly Tart. You can vote everyday and have a chance to win up to $2000 in prizes. Thank you for your help and support. Just go here.
I don’t think any recipe is perfect- isn’t there always a bit of room for improvement, especially in a home kitchen? 🙂 That said, this pizza looks SO GOOD and I can’t wait to use some of our favorite summer vegetables to make it!
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| 4,626 |
Zarnow: Valentine's Day is a way of life
Sybela and Roberto Moreno, at their wedding. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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Roberto Moreno, in his 20s. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
1 of 5
Roberto and Sybela Moreno, married 47 years, share a laugh. Two years ago Sybela was diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's. The couple say they enjoy each moment and aren't afraid of what the future might hold. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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Sybela Moreno, around the time she married Roberto. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Roberto promptly admits to 72, but Sybela comes out with 46 – quite a feat considering they have been married nearly 47 years.
This is a crack-up moment and they laugh before Roberto gently reminds his wife that she is 66.
It's as funny as it is heartbreaking.
You can't help but enjoy the closeness of this couple, cuddling on the couch and sharing a lifetime of love and memories. You want to warm yourself in their glow.
But it's chilling to realize that Sybela is beginning to forget the facts of her life. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. And in this season of Cupid and hearts, you wonder if these two have special insight into the enduring nature of love. They've had times that were better, and a few that were worse. And, yes, they've been through health and now another sickness.
She was a student at UCLA and he was earning a master's at USC in clinical social work. They share a Latino heritage: He is first-generation Mexican American and she is from Peru.
"I fell in love with her at first sight," Roberto recalls. "She was lovely."
She remembers that he talked a lot.
He says their relationship was "intense." Four months later they eloped to Las Vegas and she quit school. Later, they remarried in the church.
Roberto says they were the least likely couple to succeed.
And yet they have.
These are the metrics: two children, two grandchildren, six houses, 30 years in Northern California, and 11 years living in Orange.
They've learned accommodation. He was intense about work, butting heads with the establishment and advocating for better ways to serve children.
Translation: long hours.
She was home with the kids.
Their photo albums have a "Forrest Gump" feel, a visual for the rapid social changes that swept society and empowered minorities and women. Their hair is long and longer before it's cut short or turns gray.
She finished school at UC Santa Cruz, and by the time their children started high school, Sybela had a career as an elementary school teacher.
One day on the playground, Sybela was hit by a hardball, twisting and injuring her back. The injury was compounded by a second fall in 1997 that did severe spinal damage.
She spent two years in a wheelchair in constant pain, eventually learning to walk again. She still undergoes therapy.
Sybela wanted to handle the doctors and therapy by herself, but Roberto insisted on being involved.
"I went through everything with her," he says.
Good preparation, as it turns out.
•••
The defining moment was two years ago, when Sybela was going to visit her sister in Irvine.
"I didn't know what to do to get out of the house. ... I drove the wrong way. ... All of the sudden, I couldn't think."
She never drove again.
Sybela had observed the drastic changes in her father from Alzheimer's, so she knows how her story will end. But she says her spinal injuries prepared her for this challenge.
"When I knew what I had, I moved on to: What can I do about it? Alzheimer's is easier. I can still walk."
This day, Sybela follows the conversation and has plenty to add. Yet she is aware that at times fog obscures her thoughts.
"My brain is stuck," she exclaims, when a word eludes her.
Roberto, who shops and cooks and dispenses her medications, is the stationmaster of their schedule.
He says the diagnosis sent them into a deep funk for three months.
"Then I decided: We're gonna take this on."
After acceptance came action.
The Morenos credit family, church and the resources of the local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association with helping them. They took several classes and attend support groups, some at the nearby Tustin Senior Center.
There's knowledge and comfort to be gained from openly sharing with others. Roberto says the "alumni," or spouses who previously traveled the same road, are his role models for caring.
Sybela says she's not frightened.
"Roberto tells me: 'I'm here for you.'"
•••
Yes, the future could be dark. They've prepared with legal documents and instructions, but their focus is not on that.
"The stuff of the past is irrelevant," Roberto says. "All we really have is the moment. ... It's the 'now' that counts. How we choose to be with each other is what sustains us."
They've learned to cope with unpleasant moments. No point to petty arguments. They laugh and tease and allow themselves to just be silly.
Yes, but what happens to your relationship when one partner becomes caregiver? Does duty edge out love? Does gratitude create a debt?
Roberto doesn't think so.
He reframes my questions: "What are you willing to do for someone you love?"
He doesn't see this as a test of him; it's a manifestation of his love for her. Taking care of his wife makes him feel good.
"In the process of doing it, you accept it. It gives her pleasure, and puts her at ease. If she's at ease, then I'm at ease."
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| 5,818 |
9 gifts for a 9-year-old cat
I can't remember if I posted that Shaggy turned 9 this month, but today we received a box full of goodies. This was excellent timing, as Shags wasn't too happy with me for keeping him inside all night seeing how it's Halloween.
Update: Thank you for the brush as well, it's perfect! Wish I had one like that for my hair too haha
| 359 |
Despite Early Stages, Alzheimer's Affects Couple's Big Picture
Pansy Greene, 73, is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. She and her husband, Winston, have been married for 57 years. She says her secret to maintaining a normal life is to stay active and positive.
David P. GilkeyNPR
Listen
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Originally published on November 16, 2013 10:22 am
NPR has been following Pansy and Winston Greene, a California couple struggling with an Alzheimer's diagnosis. Three years ago, Pansy learned she had Alzheimer's disease, and over this past summer, the couple told NPR that their day-to-day lives haven't changed much. That's still true. But on this second visit, they each seem to be looking at the future a bit differently.
Pansy Greene says her secret to maintaining a normal life is to keep active. She's almost never without a book of crossword puzzles; she reads her Bible daily, babysits her grandkids and goes for walks. She's also become passionate about raising awareness of Alzheimer's disease.
So on a recent morning, she and Winston were at the Los Angeles office of the Alzheimer's Association. They're on the planning committee for a forum on the early stages of the illness. The committee includes both staff members and people who, like Pansy, are in the early stages of Alzheimer's.
African-Americans are roughly twice as likely to get the disease as whites, so Pansy wanted to make sure the organization was reaching out to her community.
"They don't know where to go. They don't have the money to get all that testing and stuff," she says. "That's in our neighborhood. That's what the black people do. They can't afford [testing], so they just say 'I can't do it.' "
Winston adds that this may not be just an African-American problem. "It's probably in other ethnic groups also. We're just so close to it and see so many in our [extended] family."
There are moments when this meeting feels as much like a support group as a planning committee. Pansy slides seamlessly from discussions of how to persuade Alzheimer's patients around Los Angeles to come to the forum to how to get herown relatives who have the disease to follow her example and take action.
"I gotta reach out more," she says. "They're not listening." She says they need to know what she's done to keep herself active and take charge of her life. "I'm not letting this other thing take control. I'm in control."
Everyone in the room laughs in appreciation of Pansy's fierce determination. But across the table from Pansy and Winston is living proof of how little control of this disease there is.
Jonathan Blumberg, another member of the committee who has Alzheimer's, wants to offer his own suggestions on outreach but the words don't come. There are long pauses between phrases, lots of ums and ahs. He apologizes. Everyone tells him to just take his time and waits patiently while he completes his thought.
'There Is Still Fear'
That's the thing about Alzheimer's. There's nothing that really stopsits relentless progression. And if you're with a group of fellow sufferers, someone will be further down that path. Winston sees this at the support groups he attends. It gets to him.
"There is still fear," he says. "Not so much denial, but fear. ... You're with people that are that much advanced, and you're thinking, oh my gosh, this could be our journey."
Winston and Pansy Greene have been on a journey together for 57 years. She was 16 when they married; he was 18. They have three daughters, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, most of whom live nearby.
Pansy may be having trouble with short-term memory, but she and Winston have plenty of long-term memories to share — of family and travel and decades when they both worked in the aerospace industry.
"I think it's a blessing for me being where I was," says Pansy. While she was working on the space shuttle, she met astronauts and even Queen Elizabeth. "I got all those wonderful memories. God brings those things to me," she says. "So that's why I stay positive. I don't like being negative."
And she thinks Winston is — just a little bit. A few months earlier, he said he didn't look ahead. It would make him crazy. Now, he says he's gotta be realistic.
"I can't be unrealistic about where this journey goes [because] there's no cure!" Winston says. "How could I be unrealistic to think that tomorrow things are going to change and she's gonna be back like she was before the diagnosis. That would be really unrealistic."
That's just the way Winston is, Pansy says. "But ... I'm not giving into it. He's thinking that way, I'm thinking positive, and that's who I am."
The Greenes have spent 57 years accepting each other for who they are. They have no plans to stop now.
Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.
Transcript
DON GONYEA, HOST:
This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Don Gonyea. Five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. This past summer, NPR's Ina Jaffe introduced us to Pansy Greene, who learned she had Alzheimer's three years ago, and her husband, Winston. The Greenes said then that they'd had to adjust to Pansy's diagnosis.
WINSTON GREENE: I don't have to say, oh, well, baby, you just told me that or I just told you that. You know, and that's what I had to really work on myself. Say, well, babe, you know, we put it on the calendar and then just answer her question.
PANSY GREENE: And I say, well, just be patient with me. I just forgot. That's all I can do.
GONYEA: Recently, Ina checked-in with the Greens again. They still say Pansy is stable and their day-to-day lives are fine. But they're each looking at the future a little bit differently.
INA JAFFE, BYLINE: Pansy Greene says her secret to maintaining a normal life is to keep active. That includes raising awareness about Alzheimer's disease. So, on a recent morning, she and Winston were at the Los Angeles office of the Alzheimer's Association. They're on the planning committee for a forum on the early stages of the illness.
GREENE: Are these blueberry?
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: They're blueberry.
GREENE: Maybe I'll share. They don't have nuts in them?
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Not that I'm aware of.
JAFFE: African Americans are roughly twice as likely to get Alzheimer's as whites. So, Pansy wanted to make sure the organization was reaching out to her community.
GREENE: They don't know where to go. And they don't have the money to go get all that testing and stuff like that. That's in our neighborhood. That's what the black people do. They can't afford to do it so they just say, well, I can't do it.
JAFFE: Winston adds this may not just be an African-American problem.
GREENE: And there probably in other ethnic groups also. We're just so close to it. We see many in our family that...
JAFFE: There are moments when this meeting feels as much like a support group as a planning committee. Pansy slides seamlessly from discussions of how to persuade Alzheimer's patients around Los Angeles to come to the forum to how to get her own relatives who have the disease to follow her example and take action.
GREENE: I got to reach out more because they're not listening. So, maybe to help them know what steps I had to take to get where I am and how I'm feeling so much better alive in myself and active. And not letting this other thing take control. I'm in control.
(LAUGHTER)
GREENE: Oh, baby.
(LAUGHTER)
JAFFE: But across the table from Pansy and Winston is living proof of how little control of this disease there is. Another member of the committee who has Alzheimer's - a man named Jonathan Blumberg - has some suggestions about outreach to single people. He knows what he wants to say.
JONATHAN BLUMBERG: It think, I feel we're leaving some groups out at the moment. I find there are gaps in - I'm sorry. This is sort of these things...
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Take your time.
BLUMBERG: And particularly individuals who are by themselves.
JAFFE: That's the thing about Alzheimer's. There's nothing that really stops its relentless progression. And if you're with a group of fellow sufferers, someone will be further down that path. Winston sees this at the support groups he attends. It gets to him.
GREENE: There is still fear, and not so much denial but fear because you're here and you're with people that are that much advanced and you think, oh my gosh, you know, this could be our journey.
JAFFE: Winston and Pansy Greene are as close as a couple can get. They've been married for 57 years - she was 16 and he was 18. They have three daughters, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, most of whom live nearby. After the meeting, they say even if Pansy has trouble with short-term memory, she and Winston have plenty of long-term memories to share - of family and travel and decades when they both worked in the aerospace industry.
GREENE: And I think it's a blessing being where I was 'cause I got to see the astronauts, I got to see the Queen Elizabeth, queen of England, and all those things. So, I got all those wonderful memories. God brings those things to me. So, that's why I stay positive. I don't like being negative.
JAFFE: And she thinks Winston is - just a little bit. A few months ago, he told me he didn't look ahead. It would make him crazy. Now, he says he's got to be realistic. And he doesn't want to hide that thought from Pansy.
GREENE: I shared how I feel, Winston. And I'm not trying to say how you should feel.
GREENE: Right, right.
JAFFE: So, this is how he feels now.
GREENE: Can't be unrealistic about where this journey goes. There's no cure. How could I be unrealistic to think that tomorrow things are going to change and she's going to be back to where she was before the diagnosis? That would be really unrealistic.
GREENE: That's the way he is and I know that's the way Winston takes everything in. But I'm glad I'm the way I am, that I'm not giving in to it. So, he's thinking that way. I'm thinking positive. And that's who I am.
JAFFE: The Greens have spent 57 years accepting each other for who they are. They have no plans to stop now. Ina Jaffe, NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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Newfoundland’s austerity budget hits women particularly hard
[Newfoundland and Labrador Finance Minister Cathy Bennett presents the 2016 provincial budget at the House of Assembly in St.John’s, Thursday, April 14, 2016. / THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly]
Women’s groups in Newfoundland and Labrador are sounding the alarm about the province’s budget, saying its cuts and tax increases will hit women hardest.
“For women in Newfoundland and Labrador, we’re hit in two very clear, distinct ways,” Jenny Wright, executive director of the St. John’s Status of Women Council, tells Yahoo Canada News.
The province already has the highest wage gap in the country: women earn 66 per cent of the average weekly wages of men, according to research from Memorial University. Women are also the highest users of provincial services, Wright says, which means that cuts and fee increases will affect them disproportionately.
“We’re essentially dealing with a double whammy,” she says.
The provincial budget was released Thursday and included several controversial measures, including a “deficit reduction levy” on all residents making at least $20,000 a year, increased income taxes, increased HST, new taxes on books, public sector layoffs and cuts to health-care and education funding.
An analysis published by CBC News, based on data from bankruptcy trustee S.R. Stack and Company, found that the 2016 budget would have a considerable cost for the average family: they’d lose $6,085 a year thanks to increased income taxes, the higher fuel tax, the eliminated baby bonus and the increase in HST, among other factors.
The effects of austerity and economic problems have been seen in other jurisdictions, Wright says, and can actually put women’s lives at risk. Domestic violence has increased in Alberta, for example, amid its own financial crisis related to oil revenues. Similar increases were seen in the United States during the recent economic downturn there.
Earlier this month, the Newfoundland and Labrador Transition House Association said that shelter numbers were up across the province and that it was important to continue to fund their services during the economic downturn. Wright says some of the budget’s provisions will make it harder for women to leave violent situations. Four provincial courts will close and the 16 cents per litre gas tax increase will make it more expensive to travel to courts in other communities.
“Women in rural communities experience double the amount of family violence, and in rural communities they’re experiencing that violence with very little or sometimes no supports at all,” Wright says. “An entire matrix of barriers have been placed around women being able to escape from domestic violence.”
The province’s new “deficit reduction levy” will also hit lower-income earners particularly hard — which is concerning given the wage gap the province’s women already experience, according to Wright.
The levy can cost anywhere from $300-$900 annually, getting higher in relation to income, for anyone who makes more than $20,000. In Newfoundland and Labrador, 15.3 per cent of families are headed by a single parent, according to StatsCan – and in Canada, 80 per cent of single parents are women.
Several other measures in the budget will reduce the available income for families. Newfoundland and Labrador families will lose their “baby bonus,” introduced under former premier Danny Williams, which gave families $1,000 during the first year of a baby’s life.
Routine mammograms for women aged 40-49 are no longer covered under provincial health care. HST will go up by two percentage points, to 15 per cent, and the province will add a 10 per cent tax onto book purchases.
Income tax are increased for all brackets, as are the fees for services like birth and death certificates and motor vehicle registration. Cuts to food and travel subsidies in Labrador will be particularly harmful to indigenous women, Wright says, who already experience high rates of poverty.
Few can deny that financial cuts were necessary with this budget, considering the steep drop in the oil revenues that make up 30 per cent of what the province takes in. But Wright says it could have been distributed more equitably, especially considering that women in Newfoundland and Labrador are already at an income disadvantage.
About 70 per cent of the reduction to the province’s deficit, taking it from $2.7 billion to $1.83 billion, will come from tax and fee increases instead of spending cuts.
“We all understood that cuts needed to be made and that there would need to be an increase in revenue through taxes,” Wright says. “But a budget is not just an accounting exercise. We must make sure that the cuts do the least harm — and if possible, do no harm at all.”
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The new Powerware® 9155 uninterruptible power system (UPS) delivers a genuine triple-play: the latest technology advances, a stylish and user-friendly design, and a budget-pleasing price. In fact, the Powerware 9155 delivers more features at a price lower than its predecessor.
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| 4,517 |
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 5, 2006) - The ETSU men's tennis team continued their winning ways as they defeated Tennessee Tech, 6-1. The Bucs are now 9-5 on the year while the Golden Eagles fall to 1-9 with the loss.
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USA Today has a deserved reputation as “McPaper,” but as the country’s most-read and most widely circulated daily, it has outsize influence relative to the depth and quality of its reporting. The paper’s print edition reaches more than three million Americans, and its website many millions more. That’s one reason that I was disappointed to see USA Today offer a low-quality clickbait article on “10 mythical sites that just might exist.” The article was written Larry Bleiberg from a list provided by Expedition Unknown host Josh Gates. The list is, in reality, little more than a promotional summary of recent episodes of Gates’s show, but it shows that Gates is either less interested in the “truth” than he claims, or is happy to promote fanciful claims to draw viewers from among true believers in fringe claims.
The list is not numbered, so I can’t rank them. Instead, I’ll take the list from top to bottom and add a bit of commentary.
The Lost City of GoldHere Bleiberg and Gates intentionally conflate separate ideas to mislead. The Spanish did indeed believe that the Inca had hidden vast amounts of gold and silver, and some also believed that there was a lost city of gold, El Dorado. However, this wasn’t the city that Gates sought in the expedition Bleiberg praises. Gates sought Paititi, which was not described as a lost city of gold in the early Spanish text that first described the alleged lost city. The only treasure mentioned in it is found when the city’s leader built “a square chapel wholly of gold and adorned it with precious gems” (my trans.). It’s just not the same.
Fenn’s FortuneThis is not a myth, or a place, so its only reason for being listed is that Gates did an episode about the eccentric old man who purposely buried a box of treasure and left clues to its whereabouts. Recently, a man disappeared while looking for it and is believed to have died.
Shangri-LaThe Buddhist kingdom of Shambhala inspired the fictional lost kingdom from 1933’s Lost Horizon. Gates believes that Shambhala was a medieval Buddhist kingdom in the Mustang mountains of Nepal that he visited in a recent episode. It’s possible, but the legends of Shambhala don’t explicitly claim it to be Buddhist (it’s also found in Hindu texts, for example), and most also allege that the people were pre-Buddhist “sun worshipers.” Extant ancient texts describe the Zhang Zhung kingdom of the Sutlej Valley as being Shambhala, and the Zhang Zhung were of the Bon faith. Whatever its origin the story as we have it is almost entirely fictitious, and it’s difficult to square the story as we have it with the textual claims of non-Buddhist peoples of the upper Indus watershed.
CamelotThis one we’ve been over a dozen or more times, but Gates is convinced that “there must be a kernel of truth somewhere” to the myth of Arthur, even if he doesn’t know what it is. My feeling is that Arthur is a composite figure, drawn from bits and pieces of a number of half-forgotten characters, which would explain why his stories seem to point in so many different directions. But I will concede that there is no proof of that guess, at least no more than any other.
AtlantisAtlantis is where logic goes to die. Gates told USA Today that he believes that Atlantis was located in Japan, in the ruins off Yonaguni. “I was blown away by what’s down there. There are seeming architectural ruins, with angular lines, staircases and even rooms. I was very skeptical at first, but I don’t [know] what it is.” While some fringe historians like Graham Hancock have argued that the stone formation off Yonaguni represents megalithic Ice Age architecture, geologists and oceanographers (and even “maverick” geologists like Robert Schoch and fringe writers like John Anthony West!) agree that the formation is natural. Even if it were not, there is not a shred of evidence to connect an Ice Age stone temple in Japan to Plato’s description of a wealthy city “beyond the Pillars of Herarcles,” no more than one could connect Plato’s allegorical myth to any other stone site anywhere on the Earth except by rewriting Plato to order. For this claim to be logical, one would need to provide reasons why Plato was wrong on some details but not others, along with evidence for how knowledge of the sunken site was transmitted across time and space, leaving no trace until Plato wrote of it.
Fountain of YouthGates doesn’t offer any evidence for a real Fountain of Youth, only a plug for the tourist site in St. Augustine, Florida. Therefore, this doesn’t really quality as “might be real.”
Hanging Gardens of BabylonGates locates this ancient wonder “somewhere in central Iraq,” which is a complete “duh” moment. Yes, that’s where Babylonia was and therefore where its wonders must have been. Care to be a bit more specific? A handful of candidates have been proposed, but since the Babylonians built in mud brick, it’s a bit difficult to identify the gardens after the buildings fell to ruin.
Tomb of Genghis KhanSince Genghis Khan was a real person, he had a body and therefore most likely a grave. In an episode of Expedition Unknown Gates visited Genghis’s mountain birthplace and suggested he might have been buried there. There’s no proof either way, but there’s no real reason to suspect his gave is “mythical” so much as it is “lost.”
Lost City of the KalahariThis one was just deceptive. In 1886, the circus performer G. A. Farini claimed in his book Through the Kalahari Desert to have come across the ruins of a stone city, which he described in a few lines of text and then in, of all things, a poem:
A half-buried ruin—a huge wreck of stones On a lone and desolate spot;A temple—or a tomb for human bones Left by man to decay and rot.
Rude sculptured blocks from the red sand project, And shapeless uncouth stones appear,Some great man’s ashes designed to protect, Buried many a thousand year.
A relic, may be, of a glorious past, A city once grand and sublime,Destroyed by earthquake, defaced by the blast, Swept away by the hand of time.
Gates searched for the city in an episode of Expedition Unknown and correctly noted at the time that the site Farini most likely reached (his claimed route in the book was geographically impossible) is a natural rock formation that has the appearance of a city, but here Gates suggests that because there are genuine, though much smaller, undocumented ruins in the Kalahari that these unrelated ruins retroactively justify Farini’s misinterpretation.
The White CityHere again logic fails Gates. Gates attributes the modern myth of the White City to Hernan Cortes, even though the conquistador, in his fifth letter to Charles V or September 3, 1526, the alleged source for his claim, makes no mention of a White City, instead speaking only of the alleged wealth and political complexity of the region around Trujillo, Honduras. The White City appears in legend only in 1927, when Eduard Conzemius reported that the local Natives confirmed that the story was completely made up, from a rubber-tapper’s hearsay. For the legend to be true, one would need to find what that rubber-tapper described: “the ruins of a very important city with white buildings of a stone similar to marble, surrounded by a large wall of the same material” (my trans.). The current exploration of a newly documented set of cultural remains in Honduras can’t very well be that, and finding previously unknown ruins doesn’t retroactively make a modern bit of folklore into a correct tradition unless one can demonstrate that the ruins are in some way actually connected to the origins of the story. The fact that they are buried beneath the ground would argue against anyone having seen them gleaming in the Caribbean sun in the 1920s and 1930s as the legend alleges.
I've watched most of these shows. Gates' usual MO is to go off the deep end by getting carried away with the discovery while introducing the mystery and while attended by a fringe theorist. Then, by the end of the show, he comes back down to earth and "kind of" settles on a real world explanation, but never tightly closing the door on the possibility of a fantastic discovery. Regarding the underwater Japanese Atlantis, my recollection is that he did come back to reality by the end of the show. In the Shambala show, I think he stayed with the "discovery" of a couple of old Buddhist temples and their surrounding environs as the real Shambala, which is almost certainly incorrect. I hope that his actual experience with these shows is that "The producers made me say it."
Reply
JeffintheWest
3/19/2016 07:19:53 pm
Wait. Isn't this the same guy that, in an earlier show, used to jet off to some place, spend half a day or so doing "research" (usually involving no actual science, controls or actual RESEARCH) and then return to LA to spend six months "analyzing" whatever his "research" had turned up? All of which gave a hazy mist of "sciency" cover to whatever he supposedly uncovered? Yeah. Not someone I attach a lot of credibility to... ;-)
Reply
Crash55
3/19/2016 01:07:58 pm
I actually like Gate's show. I guess I must not be watching it too closely as I never noticed any serious claims about what the sites are. I always viewed it as "here is one possibility you decide." Sometimes it does present some actual archaeology as well.
Reply
David
3/19/2016 03:51:16 pm
I enjoy Gates as well. He doesn't take it too seriously, usually, and is more or less just following someone that is doing something that they claim is related to whatever particular story the show is about. It often is more of an update to what is happening rather than a fantastic discovery. I like it because it shows that there is still interest in some of these stories that in todays age could become forgotten, myth or history alike. Lets face it, who wouldn't sign up to travel and have all these "adventures" if you could get someone else to pay for it.
Reply
V
3/20/2016 12:04:38 pm
I used to love watching his previous show, Destination Truth, not because anything that was "discovered" was remotely credible, but rather because they were really good at showing at least some of the local flavor of the places they went, and they tried to be at least somewhat respectful of the local peoples and traditions. It seems to be something that very few shows even attempt to do. I keep thinking I should try the new show and see if it has the same kind of dynamic...
Reply
David
3/20/2016 04:50:32 pm
"I keep thinking I should try the new show and see if it has the same kind of dynamic... "
I definitely does a good job at showing and respecting the locals and their culture.
Time Machine
3/19/2016 04:31:31 pm
>>Genghis Khan
Legend has it that he was buried secretly, and as his men returned to Karakorum, anyone who might have known of his death was killed to prevent the truth from being known.
Reply
JeffintheWest
3/19/2016 07:27:40 pm
Actually, the legend is that everyone knew about his death, but they took him (and supposedly a vast amount of treasure -- but there always has to be treasure) to a place somewhere on the "sacred mountain" and there dug a huge pit. They buried Genghis in the pit, killed his favorite horses, concubines and wives, and put them in the pit, heaped the treasure around them, and then buried the whole kaboodle. They killed anyone who was not a Mongolian who was present (including all the slaves that did the work, and any chance passersby that saw the funeral caravan), stampeded horses repeatedly across the grave site to preserve secrecy and then all went back to Kara Korum to elect the new KhaKhan. They supposedly left a thousand horsemen on permanent guard around the mountain who were to kill anyone who approached the mountain, a custom which was kept until perhaps the 1600's, by which time all evidence of the grave site was concealed by time and forest growth. All of this because, according to the Mongols, Genghis would arise again to lead them to world domination UNLESS his grave were discovered and looted (there always has to be that "will come back from the dead to lead us again" legend too).
Anyway, that's the complete legend, according to most scholarly studies. How much of that was made up in later centuries and how much of it was true is anyone's guess, though my guess is that he was secretly buried to prevent any of Mongolia's enemies from desecrating his grave, and he WAS buried somewhere on the holy mountain, though it's a damn big mountain, so there's almost no way his grave will ever be found; but other than that, most of it is probably so much wish-fulfillment wish by various people over the centuries...
Reply
Time Machine
3/19/2016 07:38:55 pm
Ancient secular history wasn't that reliable. Large portions of stuff by Tacitus, Plutarch and Suetonius cannot be evaluated simply because it was mostly based on gossip.
tm
3/19/2016 04:52:36 pm
"Legend has it that he was buried secretly, and as his men returned to Karakorum, anyone who might have known of his death was killed to prevent the truth from being known."
Plagiarized (:o) from "Genghis Khan" by Brenda Lange. The book is listed as juvenile nonfiction. It figures. :D
After 3 episodes i got fed up by his shameless selfpromotion and his liberties with the truth to sound dramatic.
Gimme something in an Anthony Bourdain style with archaeology, not He-Man Spindoctor.
Reply
Wes
3/21/2016 01:39:51 pm
Hi Jason,
Thanks for your blog and what you do to bring truth and logic to these issues. I must point out, however, that this post makes a crucial mistake - you have conflated what some writer (Larry Bleiberg) interpreted or claims Gates said with Gates' actual words or thoughts. In terms of Yonaguni, for example, Gates clearly said on the episode that the formations were natural and never says anything quoted by USA Today to change that. The claim that it was a "convincing candidate" are the writers' words, not Gates'.
Reply
The Ghost of Gates
6/22/2016 05:23:19 pm
In regards to your analysis of Atlantis, Plato didn't just come up with a story out of nothing, he learned about Atlantis during his time in Egypt. The true site of Atlantis has been discovered and it fit nearly every description Plato wrote except one: "beyond the pillars of Heracles" which was actually misinterpreted by modern folks. Most people living in the Mediteranian region refered to the strait of Gibraltar as the pillars of Heracles, but the Egyptians, who educated Plato on this subject, refered to the now sunken city of Heracleion as "the pillars of Heracles"... so all of Plato's descriptions actually do fit perfectly with the ruins of Santorini.
Reply
Violet Archer
6/8/2017 10:10:47 pm
What happened to you? Did someone stomp on your dreams as a child?
You talk about Josh Gates as if he were nothing but a hyper-active blubbering fool. Well, he IS hyper-active, but he's also fun to watch. He's fun to watch because he's knowledgeable as an Archaeologist (which he truly is).
The reason he comes off as a fool is because he genuinely LOVES what he does. When you get to live out your dreams & are able to inform others of facts found in the midst of a whole lot of mystery & lore, you are a very lucky individual indeed.
Reply
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I'm an author and editor who has published on a range of topics, including archaeology, science, and horror fiction. There's more about me in the About Jason tab.
| 15,590 |
A Stranger Picked Up My Child and Walked Away
I have yet to blog about the awesome Ride for Wishes we rode in yesterday, but first I need to blog about this because we've been discussing it on my FB wall. Strangers. Or better, when strangers adore your children. (And you know they all do!)
Ok, we have cute/funny kids. We know this. We're over the "cute" part now, most of the time. Except for Asher cuz he is SO stink'in cute!
So at the end of the ride is is a street dance. NINE bands playing, something 16-year-old Angela just can't resist. Angela is a dance queen, and people who attend this event every year KNOW that she will always be the first one on the dance floor, and if we allowed her to stay she'd be the last one to fall at the end of the night. But this IS a biker event combined with music and dancing. It's not something a lot of people would bring their kids to (to hear the f-bomb flying all over is not for everyone I suppose), but we bring ours because this is part of our community. These are our friends. The biker community is like that, just like the Down Syndrome community is.
But still, there are a lot of total strangers around. LOTS of strangers. I once heard a statistic that at a public gathering, out of every 100 peoplem there is a pedophile. There are over a thousand people at this event, which means statistically could be a lot of really creepy people walking around and our kids are prime targets! Here's why...
I was taking this video of Angela dancing to the pre-band music. A lot of people were standing around laughing at her adorable-ness. (And really, they were ENJOYING her free spirit in a genuine way.) See the man in the foreground? I don't know him. Never met him before in my life (though he told me later he remembers Angela from previous years at this event). He seems like very nice guy who was just sitting around waiting for the bands to start. He danced with her a couple different times after this video. Now imagine that dance area filled with a couple hundred people, Angela in the middle of it all, right up near the speakers where she likes to dance! Just think how quickly and easily we could lose her... and she'd go willingly. (My apologies to the guy for using him as an example)
And then it happened. A total stranger picked up my child. She didn't ask. In fact, she TOOK him from me.
I'm standing there holding Asher's hand as he danced next to me, while with my other hand I was recording Angela and Axel dancing. I was HOLDING his hand. I thought Dean had picked him up, only turned to find a total stranger had not only picked up my child, but was walking away with him.
[Editor's Note: Please note you can't see the woman pick up Asher. Make sure your sound is turned up and listen to Leah's voice at the end of the video.]
The video is short, and ends when I address the woman very nicely. (actually I address Asher first). It wasn't so pretty after that. This woman chose to argue with me about why I won't "encourage him to recognize people with good hearts." REALLY????? Not only that, but as I went to take Asher from her, she PUSHED his head back into her shoulder. The discussion became a bit heated at that point until I finally told her, in a very scary mad mom warning tone of voice, "I am done discussing this with you and YOU need to move away." (The other kids were still dancing and I didn't want to take my eyes off them.) Apparently Dean could SEE the tone of voice on my face and came to take Asher from me, at which time I removed myself.
I don't get why total strangers think they can just walk up and hug on someone's kid, or pick them up. I would NEVER consider doing that to some strangers kid! I really was tempted to call one of the MANY security guards over to us, but it would have meant taking my eyes off the other kids.
I think it took about an hour for me to come down off that adrenaline rush.
Normally at this point we go home for awhile, change clothes, eat dinner and get the car. (The other kids had been brought to the dance by our sitter.) Angela LOVES to go back to the dance when the bands are playing. She knows them all. But this night we didn't go back. I was done dealing with strangers for the day.
What would you have done? Have you picked up a stranger's child?
~Leah~
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this set is amazing if anyone has any ideas how to get it, feel free to express them :D
Post by Nulgar
That's this set (it's more purple than black in normal light)Follow the link to see the individual items, click each item to see how it is obtained - in this case, all items are available from Tailoring, meaning a Tailor can craft them for you. I'm not sure, but it seems only the Vicious Fireweave variant is still available, while the Bloodthirsty and plain Fireweave have been removed.Some pieces are also available via Cataclysm reputation factions.
There are twhoother recolors of this set, obtained similarly by Tailoring and dungeon drops.
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| 840 |
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Recently I was commissioned by M&C Saatchi to develop a few conceptual illustrations for a series of TV Spots for Zappos.com The time was very short but I think they turned out well for a pitch concept.
| 227 |
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Bank accounts kept separate by couples
Marriage seems to remain high on the list of priorities for young couples - but so does financial independence.
Marriage seems to remain high on the list of priorities for young couples - but so does financial independence.
Of a group of couples on the cusp of tying the knot, half said they were not pooling any of their money, with 36 per cent more saying that they were only going to pool a very limited amount for essential bills only.
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"Money acts as a useful kind of mirror for what is going on in a relationship."
She was speaking at the British Association's festival of science in Exeter yesterday.
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***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Mario Tennis - The FAQ
Copyright 2000 by Victor Broccoli
Please Contact For Distribution Information
Version 1.0
E-mail [email protected] for suggestion, comments, or complaints.
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Version History
Version 1.1: The Character Descriptions and Court Selections are now
finished. Also, I found out about a new court, thanks to one of my informants
Version 1.0: Just a basic outline of what that FAQ will become. As of now,
there are missing sections. However, I will eventually complete them. As of
now, Sections 1-4 are completed, with the exception of the Courts section.
All of the special courts have their descriptions missing.
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Quick Note Before I Begin:
As you notice, there are TOC parts that lead to non-existent sections.
However, when this is done, they will be filled to the brim with info.
Since the objectives of this FAQ are stated, I hope that someone may be
able to help me out. For example, strategies as one player to beat other
players will be time consuming, as I will have to play every possible
combination of matches. So, hopefully, some nice soul out there will give
me a hand. My thanks will be in order! - Victor
PS: Suggestions for additional sections will also be appreciated :)
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Table of Contents
1. Introductory Words
2. Controls
3. Game Modes
4. Court Selections
5. Character Descriptions
6. Tennis Strategies
7. Character Strategies
8. How to Beat That Other Guy
9. Frequently Asked Questions
10. Qualifiers and Codes
11. Rankings of Players
12. Tennis Rules
13. Nintendo Tournaments
14. Contact Information
15. What Needs To Be Added
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Section One: Introductory Words
Mario Tennis is the latest N64 Mario themed game. This game, quite
simply, is one of the best multiplayer games available out there, period.
It has the addictive gameplay of its predecessor, Mario Golf, as well as
an intuitive gameplay engine tailor-made for the sport of tennis. This is
definitely a game that I recommend for a rental or a buy.
Now, since you're reading this FAQ, I assume you want to know how to play
this game. I'm glad you've chosen my FAQ as your guide through this game.
Now, onto the good parts: the information!
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Section Two: Controls
(Note: This game does not use the C-Buttons)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Menu Controls:
Control Stick - Select an option
A - Confirm a selection
B - Cancel a selection or return to previous menu
L - Make player left handed (Player Selection Screen)
Z - Make player left handed (Player Selection Screen)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In-Game Controls:
Serving:
Control Stick - Move around on baseline and aim serve (when ball is in air)
A or B - Toss Ball In Air
While Ball Is Tossed:
A - Topspin serve (Kick Serve, this one spins to the right)
B - Slice Serve (Slice Serve, this one spins to the left)
A+B - Smash Serve (Hard Flat serve, this one doesn't spin much)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground Strokes:
Control Stick - Move player around and aim shots (while hitting the shot)
A once - Top Spin shot
A twice - powerful Top Spin shot
B once - Slice shot
B twice - powerful Top Spin shot
A then B - Lob shot (high ball)
B then A - Drop Shot (stops when it bounces)
A + B - Smash Shot
Holding A or B - Charging shots
Z - Cancel Charging
R - Shoot Item (Bowser Stage Only)
A quick note about hitting shots. When hitting a Powerful slice or top
spin shot, all you have to do is quickly tap the A or B button twice.
When hitting a smash shot, you must first charge your shot by holding A or
B. When the shot starts to charge (denoted by the fireworks building
around your character), you then hit A and B at the same time. When you hit
A charged shot, you will not be able to move much. So, make sure you have
the ball lined up BEFORE you hit the shot.
Whenever you are within the service line (see Tennis Rules), you will not
hit a ground stroke. Instead, you will hit a volley. You will still be able
to hit drop shots and lobs, but pulling them off are more difficult than
from the baseline.
Whenever you hit a powerful shot, a trail will follow the ball.
Orange Trails - Top Spin shot
Blue Trails - Slice shot
Pink Trails - Smash shots
***************************************************************************
***************************************************************************
Section Three: Game Modes
One of the best parts of Mario Tennis are the multiple game modes that the
game contains. In this section, I will explain, in-depth, each of the
modes contained within the game.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exhibition Mode
This mode is the basic play mode in the game. All this
mode entails is the basic game of tennis that we have come to know and love
over the last couple hundred years or so.
Options Available - Number of Players: 1-4
Type Of Game: Singles or Doubles
Games Per Set: 1, 3, or 5 sets with 2 or 6 games each
Types Of Doubles Pairings: 2 types or 3 types
Computer Characters: Any character not selected
Computer Difficulty: Easy, Normal, Hard, or Intense
Courts: Hard, Clay, Grass, Composition, or Hidden
Pause Options - Rules: View The Rule Selections for the current match
Controls: Explanations Of The Controller Functions
Camera Options: Choose from 3 Different Cameras
Save: Choose to save game or to end the game
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tournament Mode
In this mode, you compete against other players (or teams)
to decide a champion. In this mode, you play a series of three tournaments.
However, the game does not let you lose a tournament. If you lose a match,
you simply repeat the match until you finally win.
Options Available - Number of Players: 1
Type Of Game: Singles or Doubles
Pause Options - Rules: View The Rule Selections for the current match
Controls: Explanations Of The Controller Functions
Camera Options: Choose from 3 Different Cameras
Save: Choose to save game or to end the game
Tournament Board: Look at the tourney draw
Start Over: If you lose a match, this lets you retry
The first (and easiest) tournament is the Mushroom Cup. This tourney is
played on Hard Courts (see the Court Surfaces section for more) and is
very easy to win. An absolute beginner may struggle with the final, but
the Mushroom Cup is basically a speed bump on the Autobahn :)
The second tournament is the Flower Cup. This tournament is played on
clay, which is much harder to deal with than the Hard Courts. The matches
here are a bit harder, and you can get knocked off if you are not careful.
Still, the Flower Cup should not prove to be too much of a challenge.
The final tournament is the Star Cup. The first time you play this
tournament, you will face Donkey Kong Jr. in the finals. This tournament
is played on grass (see Court Surfaces) and is quite difficult. Each match
is a challenge, and games normally go to a deuce point or two. Still, if
you are on your game, you can win at this tournament. Your reward: secret
characters and an extremely long credit sequence featuring your character
giving your final opponent an arse-kicking.
Note: If you are selecting a doubles tournament, you do not get to choose
your partner. Instead, you are assigned one by the game. Here's the
breakdown of assigned partners:
If You Are... Your Partner Is...
Mario Luigi
Luigi Daisy
Peach Mario
Baby Mario Donkey Kong
Yoshi Baby Mario
Donkey Kong Toad
Paratroopa Bowser
Wario Waluigi
Waluigi Paratroopa
Daisy Birdo
Toad Peach
Birdo Yoshi
Bowser Boo
Boo Wario
Note: Winning the tournament mode with specific people opens up various
courts for use in Exhibition modes. See the Codes section for more on
these qualifiers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ring Shot
This mode is quite simple. You hit balls through rings. What
could be so hard about that? Well, it isn't as easy as it looks. In
addition to hitting the balls through the massive amount of rings that
pop up on the screen, you must also attempt to keep the ball in play as
well as win the point (depending on the mode of play.) Also, the massive
amount of options that are available will make your head spin. I will
get to them later.
Options Available - Number Of Players: 1-4
Type Of Game: Singles Or Doubles
Relationship: Team or Battle Royale (Doubles only)
Game Goal (Singles): Game, Time, Ball, or Points
Game Goal (Doubles): 50, 100, or 200 rings
Flags (Singles): Choice Of Flags
Doubles Pairings: Choice of Doubles Pairings
CPU Controlled Players: Choose CPU players
Computer Difficulty: Easy, Normal, Hard, or Intense
Court Selection: Hard, Clay, Grass, Compos, or Special
Pause Options - Start Over: Restart the current Ring Shot Match
Flag Selection: Return To Flag Selection screen (singles)
Back To Main Menu: Return to the Main Menu
End Game: Return to the Main Menu (doubles)
Rules: View the rules for the match
Controls: View description of the controller functions
These following modes are for 1 Player Only:
Game Mode: You must clear the specified amount of rings before the
game ends. However, this is during an actual match, and you must also
win the match. This can prove quite tricky when you play on the higher
levels.
Time Mode: In this mode, you must clear out the specified amount of
rings before time runs out. The later parts of this game are quite
tricky, as you must clear out 300 rings in about 2 and a half minutes.
This is not an easy task, to say the least!
Balls Mode: In this mode, you must clear out the specified amount of
rings in 5 balls. The later levels (which have you clearing 200 rings)
can be quite tricky.
Points Mode: In this mode, you must score a specified amount of points
before time runs out. There are five different size rings with different
point values. Smaller rings bring in a larger amount of points.
Note: In Ball, Time, and Point Modes, the rings cleared by your opponent
will count towards the point score as well.
Note: In singles, the is the flag modes where you select the difficulty.
After you clear through all the ones available, a new one will appear on
the right. In this flag, you set records (i.e. How many rings or points
in 3 minutes). This mode turns the singles modes into a competition to
see who is the best at Ring Mode.
These are the multiplayer modes:
Team Mode: In this mode, there are two different doubles teams. When
a team wins a point, they get credit for the amount of rings they shot
through during that point.
Battle Royale Mode: In this mode, there are also two doubles teams.
However, it is every man/woman for themselves. When a player wins a
point (whoever hit the winner or touched the ball last on an error),
they get credit for the rings they shot through during that point.
Last Word On Ring Shot: This mode is, by far, the best alternative
to an Exhibition when dealing with multiplayer. However, when you go
solo, it can get kind of boring. However, with the addition of the
last flag, I now find myself trying to top my previous scores.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bowser Stage
This mode puts all participants on the Bowser court. Bowser's court,
however, is different from all. For starters, this court tilts and
rotates, making getting to even the most routine shots a difficult
chore. Also, in a nod to the Mario Kart series, you can hit your ball
through green boxes by the net and collect various weapons.
Options Available - Number Of Players: 1-4
Type Of Game: Singles or Doubles
Match Length: 1, 3, or 5 sets of 2 or 6 games each
Doubles Pairings: Choice Of Doubles Pairings
CPU Characters: Select CPU Characters
Computer Difficulty: Easy, Normal, Hard, or Intense
Pause Options - Rules: View the rules selected for the match
Controls: View a description of the controls
Camera Options: Select the camera angle
Save: Save game as well as end game
Note: In the Bowser Stage, you have the ability to collect an item that
can be used to benefit you and hurt the other players. You collect an
item by hitting the ball through the translucent boxes situated over
the net. Then, hit the R button. You will then cycle between the
following six items. Hit R again to deploy them.
Weapons Available In Bowser Mode:
Banana : Causes the opponent to slip if they step on it
Green Shell: Shoots 3 shells out in different directions. If one of
the shells hit your opponent, they will be temporarily unable to
move.
Lightning: Temporary lowers the abilities of all other players.
Mushroom: This will speed up your player for a short duration
Red Shell: This shell will home in on an opposing player. When it
hits the opposing player, it will render he/she unable to move for
a short amount of time.
Star: This item will make your character more powerful for the duration
of the power-up.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Piranha Challenge
This mode is the Mario world equivalent of a ball machine mode. In this
mode, your goal is to return all 50 of the balls hocked at you by three
piranha plants situated on the opposing baseline. However, there will
also be an opponent who will hit your shots back at you, making a score
of 100% extremely hard to achieve.
Options Available - Number Of Players: 1 Only
Court Selection: Hard, Clay, Grass, Comp, or Special
Pause Options - Balls Hit: Shows balls hit over balls delivered
Back To Main Menu: Return To Main Menu
Start Over: Start over the session
Rules; Gives an explanation of the rules
Controls: Gives an explanation of the controls
Note: The reward for getting a perfect score (50/50) is the Piranha
Court. For more of these rewards, check out the Codes Section. The
Piranha Court is available ONLY for the Piranha Challenge.
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
Section Four: Court Selection
In Mario Tennis, there are four different types of courts. However, as
you begin winning tournaments, you will notice different courts open
up as selectable. Here is a list of all available courts in the game as
well as a description of the courts:
Hard Court: This type of court is your common asphalt court that you
see in public parks. Of all the normal courts available in the game,
it is by far the most neutral. You don't need to alter your game plan
much, compared to the changes it faces on other surfaces.
Ball Speed: Normal
Bounce: Strong
Clay Court: This type of court is a red clay court, similar to those
popular throughout Europe. This type of court plays extremely slow,
and extremely favors those playing a baseline game. Those that rush
the net are prone to be passed consistently, because the slow surface
allows for baseliners to stay back and charge up a winner.
Ball Speed: Slow
Bounce: Weak
Grass Court: The grass court, typical of those you would find at
Wimbledon, play extremely fast and don't bounce much. These courts
heavily favor the net rusher. Those that are faster characters can line
up a deep shot and come in behind it, rendering those sticking by the
baseline sitting ducks.
Ball Speed: Fast
Bounce: Weak
Composition Court: This is a court closely resembling an indoor court.
It plays fast and also slightly favors the net rusher. However, a good
baseline player can thrive on this type of court.
Ball Speed: Fastest
Bounce: Normal
Note: Throughout the game, you can earn other character-themed courts.
You earn them by winning specific tournaments with specific characters.
For more on this, check out the Codes Section. These courts are:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Piranha Court
A special court for the Piranha Challenge only. I do
not know of a way to unlock this court legally so it can be used in
exhibition modes. It has 50 tennis balls laid out (just like the
finishing menu where the game displays the amount of balls you
successfully hit in the round) in the background with a Piranha Plant
and the word "Perfect" in the foreground. This court does not have any
line judges (the Koopas with the flags or the exploding Bom-ombs).
Strategy: This court is as neutral as it gets. Literally. Any strategy
can thrive on this type of court.
Ball Speed: Normal
Bounce: Normal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mario Brothers Court
Nintendo describes this court as "Mario and Luigi's Mario Brothers
Court." This wonderful court is set up in Rainbow Land. The bonus area
in Super Mario 64 in which you picked up the Flying Cap In the
background. The famous theme to the original Super Mario Brothers for
the NES is playing, sped up by a modern dance beat. The court itself
features a portrait of Mario and Luigi holding a tennis racket bordered
by stars. The line judges are red and black Bom-ombs.
Strategy: This court favors those who have a good net game. This court
hits EXACTLY like a grass court. Hitting low slice approach shots and
following them up with a volley is the key to win on this type of court.
Ball Speed: Fast
Bounce: Weak
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baby Mario & Yoshi Court
The private court of longtime pals Baby Mario & Yoshi. This court is set
up in the plush 2-D surrounding of Yoshi's Island, made famous from
Yoshi's Story for N64 and Yoshi's Island 1 & 2 for the SNES. The theme
from Yoshi's Story plays throughout the matches, although it is sped up
by a dance rhythm. The court surface features a picture of Baby Mario
and Yoshi hitting tennis balls while standing on top of one of Yoshi's
eggs. The line judges are Koopas.
Strategy: This court is like a grass court, but even more extreme. The
balls bounce weaker, and the speed of the ball is faster. On these
courts, a great net game is what will propel you to a victory. For a
baseline player, staying back and hitting groundstroke winners will be
extremely difficult.
Ball Speed: Fastest
Bounce: Weakest
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wario & Waluigi Court
This court is situated in a scene familiar to a Warioland game. The
theme from Warioland plays during matches, albeit sped up with the dance
beat (all classic themes have a dance beat). This theme is also
accentuated by an organ that plays in the background. The court surface
has Wario and Waluigi hitting tennis balls while standing on a wall of
bricks. The line judges are black and red Bom-ombs.
Strategy: This court is a baseline players' dream come true. There is
next to no speed on the court, which gives an accomplished baseline
player time to set up his/her shots. The ball also bounces very high,
which makes a strong topspin shot extremely effective, especially on
shorter players (Toad, Baby Mario). A netrusher, unless extremely good,
will have a day of problems at this court.
Ball Speed: Slow
Bounce: Strongest
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donkey Kong Court
This place is Donkey Kong's own personal court set deep in the jungle.
The surroundings are similar to those in the Donkey Kong Country series,
albeit in a flatter 2-D mode (as opposed to that games' rich ACM
environments). The theme plays from DKC, although it is sped up to the
all-familiar dance theme. The actual court surface features bananas
lining the doubles alleys, with a yellow portrait of Donkey Kong
smashing a tennis ball over some branches. The line judges at this
court are the flag-brandishing Koopas.
Strategy: The settings on this court represent Donkey Kong's game: fast
and strong. Due to this, a player playing DK's game would be of the most
benefit. A baseline will feel right at home here, although the ball
comes in a little bit fast. However, with the excessive spin, the ball
will most likely sit up, making itself an easy target for any decent
baseline player. A net player will feel the heat here, as the high
bouncing balls create hard-to-get topspin lobs.
Ball Speed: Fast
Bounce: Strongest
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mario & Luigi Castle Court
This is Mario & Luigi's private court at Peach's castle. This expansive
court is situated on the roof of Peach's castle from Super Mario 64,
complete with lush background. As it was in the other Mario-themed
court, the hyped-up theme to Super Mario Bros. for the NES plays in the
background. The court itself features Mario and Luigi holding hands and
jumping (it looks extremely close to the opening theme for the Mary
Tyler Moore show) while framed in black and brown. The Bom-ombs have
line judging duty for matches on this court.
Strategy: This court will slightly favor a net rusher. The ball comes in
hard but doesn't bounce much, which favors those rushing the net. A
baseliner may have a long day here if they are not careful.
Ball Speed: Fast
Bounce: Normal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yoshi & Birdo Court (thanks to [email protected])
This is the private court of good friends Yoshi and Birdo. It is placed
on the beaches of Yoshi's Hideaway, from Super Mario RPG for the SNES.
It plays the Yoshi theme in the background. The court itself features
a picture of Yoshi and Birdo hitting tennis balls while framed in pink
bows. The line judges are Bob-ombs, and the court is surrounded by sand
and palm trees.
Strategy: This court favors a baseline player. The ball travels very
slow, and it also bounces high. Plenty of time for a baseliner to wind
up on a ball. In order to succeed, a net rusher is going to have to keep
the ball very low.
Ball Speed: Slow
Bounce: Strong
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
Section Five: Character Descriptions
In Mario Tennis, there are 16 characters total (14 to start off with,
and two characters to earn). In this section, I will give a complete
description of each character, a summary of their respective strengths
and weaknesses, and then my overall feeling on the abilities of the
character. Mind you, my opinions of the characters are just that: my
opinion. What may be a great character for you may be impossible for me
to get decent results out of, and vice versa. So keep that in mind
before you flame me with messages like: "No, dude, Baby Mario sucks!
Waluigi is where it's at, man!" Although these types of messages seem
ridiculous, I've learned from experience (writing the NHL '99 FAQ) that
some people really take this a bit seriously. Now, onto the character
descriptions:
Note: When I refer to the Sweet Spot, I am referring to the serve. You
accomplish a "Nice" serve by holding back on the controller stick, and
pushing forwards as you hit the ball at this point.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mario
Description: Mario is Nintendo's biggest mascot. He has appeared in
a multitude of games. Some have been revered as innovative (Super Mario
Brothers, Super Mario World, Super Mario 64) while others have been
ignored, thankfully (Mario Is Missing). Still, his long lineage as
Shigeru Miyamoto's pet project has given Mario a name synonymous with
the game industry. And, wouldn't you know it, he can play a mean game
of tennis too!
Nintendo's Line: His fancy footwork lets him cover the court easily.
Strengths: Mario is a very good all-around player. He also carries with
him a decent net game which can be utilized if needed.
Weaknesses: Despite what Nintendo may say, Mario has an extreme lack
of footwork. He is often caught off-balance if you need to change
directions, which is not fun to deal with. Also, his baseline game
is quite lacking.
Basic Strategy: Try to rush the net whenever you safely can. Other than
that, just keep the ball in play and attempt to play a counter-puncher
style of game.
Serving Point: Just before the peak of the toss.
My Verdict: As a player, Mario leaves a lot to be desired. The fact that
Mario is easily caught wrong-footed can be a nightmare, considering the
loose controls that Mario Tennis enjoys. Also, his lack of a true weapon
makes playing with him less about strategy and more about playing the
actual point. Take that as you may.
My Grade: C+
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luigi
Description: Luigi is the much ignored brother of Mario. Although he has
starred in a few games, Mario's shadow hangs ominously over Luigi. One
thing though: Luigi does play a better game of tennis than Mario!
Nintendo's Line: His height lets him hit even the balls that look like
they're out of reach.
Strengths: The fact that Luigi has such a tremendous reach allows for
him to excel at netplay.
Weaknesses: However, Luigi's footwork is quite poor. Also, Luigi seems
to have a problem aiming his shots. The result: Luigi can be responsible
for many unforced errors if the human player isn't careful.
Basic Strategy: Just like Mario, Luigi is an all-around player. However,
as stated before, his groundstrokes are erratic. The best thing to do is
to use the heavy slice to force the other guy wide, and then to close up
on the net.
Service Point: Just before the peak of the serve.
My Verdict: Luigi is a better player than Mario, but not by much. In the
end, it was Luigi's superior reach that makes him the better player.
Also, by utilizing his superior stretching skills, Luigi can make a good
net player.
My Grade: B
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peach
Description: Peach is the damsel in distress in almost every Mario game.
Although she has undergone numerous name changes, she is still pretty
much the same as she ever was. In Mario Tennis, she fields a tennis
racket and hopes to do well in the ladies' draw. However, when it even
comes to female players, Peach isn't the best.
Nintendo's Line: Peach can blast the ball right down the line.
Strengths: Peach is extremely accurate when placing her shots. She can
do almost anything she wants with her shots. Also, her footwork is quite
speedy for a player who is not classified as a "Speedy" player.
Weaknesses: Peach is a player who cannot hit the ball very hard. Due to
this, it is very hard for her to play the baseline, as you would expect
a person with placement like her to play. But, it still can be done.
Basic Strategy: Although she has a lack of velocity, Peach still is a
true baseliner. To compensate, she must use shots that prevent an
opponent from hitting hard at Peach and controlling the point. So, Peach
must use her strong top spin shot in order to avoid playing defensively.
Also, you can use Peach's effective hard slice shot to force your
opponent out wide and to force the short ball.
Service Point: Slightly before the peak of the service.
My Verdict: Peach is a good player. However, her lack of velocity allows
her to be easily overpowered. Peach may be able to put the ball
anywhere, but she can't put much on it.
My Grade: C+
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waluigi
Description: Waluigi is the latest addition to the happy Mario family.
Quite simply, Luigi needed an evil brother, such as Mario has in Wario.
So, Waluigi was created. Good thing for Waluigi: They've made him a
superior tennis player to his green-clad brethren.
Nintendo's Line: His long arms and legs let him return any type of shot.
Strengths: Waluigi has the best reach in the game. He is tall, and his
arms and legs are extremely long. Due to this reach, Waluigi is the best
at playing the net in the game. You won't find any better.
Weaknesses: Because of his large size, Waluigi is a slow player. He
cannot hit the ball hard, or run very fast.
Basic Strategy: Waluigi should rush the net at all times. During each
point, the player must look for a way to get him into the net. This can
be accomplished by using the strong topspin shot as an approach shot.
If done correctly, the opponent will most likely hit the same shot as
his/her return. By then, Waluigi should be at the net, and this shot
should be easy fodder for a good smash shot.
Service Point: Hit the ball as it hits the peak.
My Verdict: Waluigi is the best net player in the game. However, the
rest of his game is quite weak. Still, by utilizing him as a net player,
Waluigi is among the best in the game.
My Grade: B+
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wario
Description: Wario is the evil twin brother of Mario. Wario, however, is
not a slouch when it comes to games. In addition to being a punching
bag for Mario, Wario has also appeared in his own games for the SNES and
the Game Boy. Wario is also more powerful than his brother Mario, and
his explosive serve shows just that.
Nintendo's Line: Watch out for his forceful baseline stroke.
Strengths: Wario is one of the most powerful players in the game. He
also is somewhat good at putting the ball where he wants. With this in
mind, Wario has one of the best baseline games in Mario Tennis
Weaknesses: Wario is also one of the slowest players in the game. Also,
his netplay isn't up to snuff.
Basic Strategy: Wario is the quintessential baseline player. He can aim
the ball. He can hit for power. With this combo, Wario is easily able to
force the short balls, which are then put away for winners. Remember to
use strong slice shots to keep your opponents running, as well as heavy
top spin to keep them pinned back behind their baseline. You may even
be able to throw in the occasional drop shot winner (on clay).
Service Point: Wario's service point is about halfway between the start
of the toss and the peak of the toss.
My Verdict: Wario is one of the best baseliners in the game. However,
a smart opponent can easily take advantage of Wario's lack of footwork.
My Grade: B+
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daisy
Description: Mario has Princess Toadstool, or Peach (or whatever you'd
like to call her this month). So, quite simply, Luigi needed a female
companion. And so, on the 8th day, Daisy was created. Although not
as good as her man Luigi, Daisy is a player that does pack a formidable
punch. Her netplay is some of the best in the game.
Nintendo's Line: She rarely misses when playing close to the net.
Strengths: Daisy is the best net player in the game. She can get to the
net quickly, and her combination of that speed and her accuracy makes
her the best net rusher in the game.
Weaknesses: Her lack of power allows for Daisy to be easily overpowered.
Basic Strategy: The important thing for Daisy to do during her points is
to keep them short. She must get to the net quickly and hit a winner on
her second or third shot at the net. The longer a point goes, the more
likely she is to get dominated.
Service Point: Just after the peak of the toss.
My Verdict: Daisy is the most effective net rusher in the game. Although
she doesn't have the reach of Waluigi, but she is overall better at
hitting volleys than him. However, she also has a lack of reach and
power. So, when you play as Daisy, you must attempt to end the points as
soon as you can.
My Grade: B
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Toad
Description: Toad is the keeper of Peach's castle. In addition to this
duty, he occasionally makes an appearance in games. He has appeared in
Mario Kart (as one of the best drivers, I might add) as well as Mario
Golf. For Mario Tennis, Toad is equipped with his speed (after all,
mushrooms DO make you go faster in this game) and little else.
Nintendo's Line: His speed gives him more time to plan his shots.
Strengths: Toad is one of the fastest players in the game. Toad is also
able to place the ball very well.
Weaknesses: Like many players gifted with speed, Toad has very little
power. Also, Toad is an extremely small athlete. Therefore, Toad also
has very little reach.
Basic Strategy: Toad, in order to be effective, is going to have to play
a counter-punching style. Basically, you put the ball back in the court
and try to stay alive in the point. Eventually, using high top spin
shots, you are going to get a short ball (a shot without any trails on
it). Then, and only then, can you rush the net and try to bring an end
to the point. Yes, this style of tennis is boring, but it is also
effective, especially for a player like Toad that has no real weapons.
Service Point: A little past halfway between the start of the toss and
the peak of the toss.
My Verdict: With so many players in this game with so many weapons,
there is no need to use a counter-puncher like Toad. Granted, Toad is a
great counter-puncher. But, there are much better players that you can
use.
My Grade: C
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baby Mario
Description: Before Mario grew up to fight oversized turtles and
donkeys, Mario was a little baby. The extra weight and height must
seriously have slowed down Mario: Baby Mario is MUCH quicker than his
adult counterpart. However, his lack of muscle accounts for his lack of
power.
Nintendo's Line: His small size lets him zip all over the court.
Strengths: Baby Mario is another short fast guy. He can also generate
some power behind his shots.
Weakness: His lack of size cuts down on Baby Mario's reach. Also, Baby
Mario is known to hit the ball erratically.
Basic Strategy: Although nearly identical to Toad, Baby Mario is a much
better player. The reason: his power. By having a moderate amount of
power, Baby Mario can play the net IF he ends points early. The longer
a point goes, the less of a chance that Baby Mario has of winning the
point.
Service Point: Halfway between the toss and the peak of the toss.
My Verdict: Baby Mario is a good player. Despite the fact that he has
limited reach, Baby Mario can still put a volley away. Also, his speed
allows him to play counter-punch, which can be a giant pain in the rear
end when playing against human players.
My Grade: B+
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yoshi
Description: Yoshi is the dinosaur keeper of Mario and Baby Mario. Aided
by the speed learned in games such as Yoshi's Story and Yoshi's Island 1
for the SNES, Yoshi is one of the quickest characters in the game. His
lack of power can easily be overcome by his massive speed and his
accurate placement of shots.
Nintendo's Line: Not only is he fast, but he's pretty accurate too.
Strengths: Yoshi is one of the speedier players in the game. Of all the
speedy players, he is also the most powerful. He can slug it out with
any all-around or technique player.
Weaknesses: Yoshi seems to have a problem aiming. Once in awhile, Yoshi
will miss wide.
Basic Strategy: Yoshi is a good all-around player blessed with amazing
speed and a little bit of power. The best thing to do is to see what
your opponent is doing, and then adapt to it while taking the advantage.
Yoshi is truly one of the most versatile players in the game.
Service Point: Hit the ball just before the peak.
My Verdict: Yoshi is an extraordinary player. A speedy guy with some
power. However, due to his lack of accuracy, he is more suited for an
all-around strategy. He can rush the net, play baseline, and even
counter-punch. However, he doesn't really excel at any of those three
strategies.
My Grade: B+
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birdo
Description: Birdo is the female companion of Yoshi. This proves, one
and for all, that Yoshi IS actually a male. Still, Birdo does pack a
wallop. With her superior speed, Birdo can run down any ball on the
court. Yoshi finally has himself a suitable partner
Nintendo's Line: Her speed lets her move around the court with ease.
Strengths: Birdo is extremely fast, and she can place the ball well.
Weaknesses: Birdo does not hit for power. Because of this, she can easily
be dominated in the course of a point.
Basic Strategy: Having Birdo rush the net is a must. Do NOT rush the net
at first. Instead, use slice shots until you can get a short ball. Use
this as an approach shot, and then go to the net. By doing this, you can
take control of a point, which is hard for Birdo to do.
Service Point: Just after halfway between the toss point and the peak.
My Verdict: Birdo is a good player, but not as good as Yoshi. Because
of her lack of power, it is hard for her to take control. In Mario
Tennis, it pretty becomes a game of power over placement. Birdo can be
great in the hands of a player who can master her skills.
My Grade: B+
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donkey Kong
Description: Donkey Kong is the oldest franchise in the Nintendo arse-
nal. Having been around since 1981, Donkey Kong underwent a drastic
facelift when Rare got a hold of him. The way you see him now is how
the Stamper brothers envisioned him. Being a gorilla, DK is extremely
strong, but slow.
Nintendo's Line: He can return even high balls with incredible force.
Strengths: Donkey Kong is one of the most powerful players in the game.
I have personally been able to hit a serve as DK at 108 mph. Also, DK
is somewhat accurate with his shots.
Weaknesses: DK is also an extremely slow player. He cannot move around
extremely well. Also, his excess power can be tough to control at first,
making DK a hard player for beginners to master.
Basic Strategy: Donkey Kong is the quintessential baseline player. Hits
for power, but can place the ball. And he isn't too bad at using spin.
Force the short balls with slams from the baseline as well as slices,
and then put the ball away.
Service Point: Hit the serve a little bit before the peak of the toss.
My Verdict: Donkey Kong is an extremely talented baseline player. Though
strapped on speed, DK can hit the ball where he wants as hard as he
wants to. He is an extremely formidable opponent that should not be
taken lightly.
My Grade: A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bowser
Description: Bowser has been the perennial punching bag for Mario and
Co. for about 15 years now. Although his attempts to kidnap the Princess
have always miserably failed, he still is quite talented at the sports
portion of the Mario Bros. competitions. So, it comes as no surprise
that Bowser is one of the top players in the game.
Nintendo's Line: His impressive serve may be too strong to handle.
Strengths: Bowser is the second most powerful player in the game (next
to DK Jr.) and his serve is extremely difficult to return. In fact, he
is one of the few players that, from standing next to the doubles alley,
hit a wide smash serve.
Weaknesses: Bowser is also extremely slow. His footwork is extremely
poor, to the point where you actually will slide when you stop to hit a
shot. Also, due to his massive power, Bowser also cannot aim the ball
extremely well.
Basic Strategy: Bowser's best bet is to stick back at the baseline and
use his power to force short balls. Although this technique is extremely
limited, it is also extremely effective. Bowser is not one of the best
baseliners on talent, but he surely gets the job done. A great choice
for a beginning player.
Service Point: At the peak of the toss.
My Verdict: Winning with Bowser is like taking candy from a baby,
especially when playing against a guy like Baby Mario or Toad. His power
is extremely hard to deal with, but a lot of fun when you are in control
of it.
My Grade: B+
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paratroopa
Description: Paratroopa has long been known as "the flying turtle-thing"
in the Mario games for years. Luckily, this is his big break: a new role
as a tennis player. His technique style makes him one of the most
accurate players in the game. Also, his feathers disguise shots before
they are hit.
Nintendo's Line: With his ability to react quickly to any type of shot,
he can return the ball anywhere with ease.
Strengths: Paratroopa can put the ball anywhere he wants, and put a lot
of spin on the ball. Also, his flapping feathers disguise shots until
they are hit, cutting down on the reaction time of a human opponent.
Weaknesses: Paratroopa, like all his flying brethren, cannot hit for
power. Also, when he hits the ball, he will actually recoil, or fly off
in the opposite direction when he hits it. This makes controlling
Paratroopa, as well as directing his shots, extremely difficult.
Basic Strategy: Once again, we have another player who is ideally
situated at the baseline, but he can also rush the net somewhat.
Although he can't hit for power, he can certainly hit for placement. Use
Troopa's amazing spin and placement to put the ball where you want, and then
rush the net to put away a short ball/lob.
Service Point: At the peak of the toss.
My Verdict: Paratroopa is another player who is like an all-around, but
with an actual weapon or two. He can place the ball where he wants, and
even give it enough spin to make the shot even harder to run down. Also,
Paratroopa can run somewhat, making him quite a force to be dealt with.
My Grade: B+
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boo
Description: For years, Boo and his compatriots have haunted houses in
the Mario games with success. However, Boo soon grew tired of houses and
wished to be given a more prominent role in a game. In Mario Tennis, Boo
is the uncontested master of spin. Nobody else can steer their shots in
midair in the fashion that Boo can. However, his power leaves something
to be desired.
Nintendo's Line: He uses his spin shots to manipulate the ball however
he likes.
Strengths: Boo is the master of putting spin on the ball. He can hit a slice
serve that starts out straight at the other guy, and end up a few feet away
from him. Utilizing his spins, you can make any character look quite foolish.
Weaknesses: Boo is extremely lacking when it comes to speed or velocity.
Surprisingly, Boo cannot move too well. Also, he can't put much pace on the
ball, making him solely dependent on his spins to hit winners.
Basic Strategy: The best thing to do with Boo is to stay at the baseline. Boo
can't charge the net (unless it's done off of a lob coming from one of his
massive slice serves) or really put pace on his shots. Therefore, it is
necessary to use spin to draw short balls, and then put them away accordingly.
Service Point: A little bit before the peak of the toss.
My Verdict: Despite his extreme placement and ability to put spin on the ball,
Boo is not a very good tennis player. His lack of movement allows for him to be
dominated. His lack of velocity allows for his shots to be run down by most
players.
My Grade: C+
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: In this game, there are two hidden characters which are not
available at first. They must be earned. Check the codes section for
more information on unlocking these secret characters.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donkey Kong Jr.
Description: Donkey Kong Junior is the son of Donkey Kong, one of the
best players in the game. I guess these genes must have passed on or
something: DK Jr. is better than his dad. He hits with the same amount
of power as a DK or Bowser, but he also hits with tremendous accuracy.
Nintendo's Line: You can use this character, but how?
Strengths: DK Jr. is the most powerful player in the game. I have been
able to hit his serve at an astounding 114 mph. He can also put the ball
wherever he wants.
Weaknesses: DK Jr. doesn't really have any weaknesses. His footwork is
somewhat average, but it is great compared to other power players.
Basic Strategy: DK Jr. IS the best baseline player in the game. He can
take control of points even against other power baseline players, like
Wario or Bowser. Using flat shots to make opponents run and top spin to
pin them back, other players should not be a challenge for DK Jr.
Service Point: Hit the ball just as it hits its peak.
My Verdict: This is my favorite player in the game. And he's earned it.
DK Jr. is capable of doing almost anything you want him to do. You could
even rush the net with him, although I wouldn't recommend it.
My Grade: A
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shy Guy
Description: Shy Guy is one of the familiar bad guys from Mario games
past. However, just like his brethren Boo and Paratroopa, Shy Guy has
a chance at videogame success with his appearance as a secret character
in Mario Tennis. Although not powerful, Shy Guy is the most accurate
player in the game when it comes to groundstrokes.
Nintendo's Line: You can use this character, but how?
Strengths: Shy Guy can put the ball wherever he wants. Also, he hits for
a lot of spin. He can put amazing angles on the serves (although not as
drastic as Boo's serves).
Weaknesses: Shy Guy can't really put much velocity on his shots. Also,
his spin may be hard to aim for a beginning player.
Basic Strategy: Shy Guy, with his amazing spins and aims, is a good
baseliner. Although not blessed with an extraordinary amount of power,
he can still force many short balls using his strong slice and top spin
shots. He still does have ample power to put away a short ball with a
smash, though.
Service Point: A little bit before the peak of the serve
My Verdict: Shy Guy suffers from the Jigglypuff complex. Shy Guy can
potentially be the best player in the game, but his skills are hard
to exploit. However, with some practice, you'll be able to defeat
your Bowser-wielding friends.
My Grade: A+
************************************************************************
This FAQ will be finished when I get some free time :)
Victor Broccoli
[email protected]
Copyright 2000
Mario Tennis is a trademark of the Nintendo Corporation. All other
trademarks and copyrights referred to are the property of their owners.
Please contact for redistribution information. I don't mind if someone
wants to repost this somewhere, but please have the common courtesy to
ask. And, also, please include some sort of personal touch to it, so
that I know that you've actually read this damned thing.
| 47,131 |
WASHINGTON -- A transgender man made a bold move on Friday during an extravagant White House reception in honor of LGBT Pride Month: he dropped down on one knee and proposed to his partner.
Scout, whose full name is legally one word, popped the question to Liz Margolies just minutes after President Barack Obama addressed the guests, many of whom are leaders in the LGBT community. Scout said he had been planning to propose to Margolies at the White House for almost a year, but when the moment presented itself, he realized he hadn't chosen a place to do it. So he just got down on his knee in the middle of Cross Hall, the main hallway on the first floor of the White House, where dozens of guests were sipping champagne and listening to the U.S. Marine Band.
"I memorized some things but I kind of forgot half of them," Scout told The Huffington Post right after. He listed some of them: "Because the last three and a half years, you have been an amazing adventure. Because you try harder than anyone in the world. Because while I'm a little scared to spend the rest of my life with you, because you're so damn fierce, I'm also amazingly excited about the possibility."
Margolies, who is executive director of the National LGBT Cancer Network, said she has long been opposed to the institution of marriage. She even sent Scout an article recently about a failed marriage between two turtles.
"Did you hear about the turtles that divorced after 115 years?" she asked.
Because of Margolies' beliefs, she didn't respond immediately after Scout proposed. Several seconds passed as at least a dozen people gathered and began snapping pictures. Scout said it felt like "about 19 years" passed in those seconds.
Scout, the director of Network for LGBT Health Equity at The Fenway Institute, lives in Rhode Island. Margolies lives in New York City. Since Scout is legally male, their marriage would be recognized just like any other heterosexual marriage. As Scout pointed out, "Gay marriage laws don't stop us, they just impact all the people we love and obviously leave us a little chary about the institution in general."
In the moments that followed, the newly engaged couple hugged and kissed all the people standing nearby who happened to catch the proposal. Margolies flashed her new ring, which Scout said was pink gold and "from like 150 years ago." Asked if she was going to follow through with an actual wedding, despite her objections to the institution of marriage, Margolies seemed to already be warming to the idea.
| 2,534 |
You are here
Last night’s event, “Ask Muffie: Expert Answers to Real-Life Decorating Dilemmas,” was a smashing success. We don’t have the final numbers in yet, but it was a standing-room only crowd at ESD, where we convened a design panel (led by ESD owner and designer Muffie Faith) and asked questions of all kinds, including:
• How do you know what to put on your mantel?
• What proportion of the room should an area rug cover?
• When it comes to painting a tray ceiling, should I keep it one color or can I do something fun?
• For rooms with very high ceilings, how do you deal with all that wall space?
• What kind of lighting should I choose for eight-foot ceilings in a galley kitchen?
• How do I warm up a small, putty-colored bedroom with little natural light?
Discussion was lively as guests sipped champagne and took notes. The best part? The questions were everyday interior dilemmas we all tackle, not pie-in-the-sky topics that 95 percent of us can’t relate to. With each question, Muffie helped us get from problem to solution in a way that seems reasonable—even immediately doable!
What’s next: We’re typing up all the answers to last night’s questions and will run a series of the Q & As in my blog next week. We want to make sure even those who couldn’t make it out to ESD last night can access the smart solutions too. Log on Monday for the first installment.
In the meantime, check out our photo gallery for a peek at last night’s scene.
| 1,496 |
While leafing through our New York Times Magazine yesterday, we noticed something curious: like Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca, Angelina Jolie hung, a spectral presence, over every page:
Okay, that's an exaggeration. But she figured prominently in two of the magazine's feature stories: the much-discussed cover profile of Megan Fox and the story on OctoMom Nadya Suleman. In neither case was this a coincidence; both women have been compared physically to Jolie and for a while, the tabs suggested that Suleman enjoyed a "fixation" on the large-brooded, pillow-lipped star.
Advertisement
The Fox piece devotes much ink to how much the starlet is like, or unlike, Jolie. The "striking" physical resemblance;" the willingness to fill Angie's "wild-child" shoes when she turned Madonna.
If there's an Angelina playbook, Fox followed it. She has seven or eight tattoos, depending on whom you ask, including a reference to "King Lear" ("We will all laugh at gilded butterflies") in gothic calligraphy on her upper back that stylistically mirrors a tattoo on Jolie's upper back. Like Jolie, Fox told journalists that she was bisexual, that the actress Olivia Wilde was "so sexy she makes me want to strangle a mountain ox with my bare hands." Fox emphasized the outrageous, especially in her first big cover article for GQ, in which she embroidered her love affair with the stripper Nikita, defined herself as a man in a sexy woman's body and announced her thoughts on Angelina. "I don't even consider her human," she said. "She's like a superhuman goddess...The Jolie comparison would probably have been made by the media eventually, but Fox sped up the process. By linking herself to Jolie, she sped up every process. And when Jolie became a mom and a good-will ambassador, Fox was ready to step into her shoes. It was an easy fit. Fox enjoyed creating entertaining copy. If she invented or amped up the scenarios, she could (theoretically) manage her image. And, like Jolie before her, she told entertaining tales of darkness and lust. "When I sit down to talk to men's magazines, there's a certain character that I play," she explained. "She's not fully fleshed out - she doesn't have her own name - but she shows up to do men's-magazine interviews. There's something so ridiculous about always being in your underwear in those magazines, and you know the interview is going to run opposite those pictures. So, there's a character that talks to all of them."
Fox calls the comparisons "the bane of my existence," and says she has more humor than the "stoic" Jolie. Similarly, Suleman, who has reportedly also pursued the likeness, "said she saw no resemblance whatsoever." Of course, these are two women who, arguably, are in the business of being famous - or at least, finding themselves in this position, have ridden the wave. One's a sex symbol, one's an embattled tabloid curiosity, but both have become public domain and have become, in the popular imagination, handy metaphors for facets of our collective desires and ethos. Angelina, of course, long since ceased to exist as a real person and became an icon. And it seems we don't even need the shorthand of Madonna/Whore any longer - just refer to different facets, or eras, of Angelina. She's a handy mirror to hold up. She's perfection, I guess - and everybody's just running towards and away from that.
| 3,364 |
Slight warming could be enough to heighten risk of malaria: Study
New research has found that malaria parasites need less time to develop at lower temperatures than previously thought.
Earlier research postulated that malaria transmission in cooler areas was unlikely because parasites took longer to mature than the lifespans of their mosquito hosts.
The researchers found that the parasites needed between 31 and 37 days to develop at 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit) — substantially lower than the 56 days postulated by previous research and well within the lifespan of female mosquitoes.
Climate change could shift the calculus for reining in malaria, according to new research that suggests that infectious parasites can develop in mosquitoes more quickly at lower temperatures than scientists once thought.
“Our study is the first since the 1930s to investigate the relationship between temperature and malaria parasite development,” Matthew Thomas, a professor of ecological entomology at Pennsylvania State University and one of the paper’s co-authors, said in a statement. That early research has guided scientists for decades, despite the fact that it rested on findings from a species of mosquito from Russia, which sits well outside the malaria-endemic tropics and subtropics.
A microscope view of the midgut of an A. stephensi mosquito infected with malaria parasites (the round circles). The researchers found that malaria parasites develop faster in mosquitoes at lower temperatures than previously thought. Image and caption courtesy of Penn State.
Thomas and his colleagues, in a study published June 26 in the journal Biology Letters, focused their investigations on two species of mosquitos: Anopheles stephensi and Anopheles gambiae. A. stephensi and A. gambiae — actually a group, or “complex,” of nearly identical species — wreak havoc on human populations throughout their ranges in Asia and tropical Africa, passing along developed spores in their saliva.
The “long-standing model” holds that parasites need nearly two months to mature at temperatures of 18 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit). That’s butting right up against the lifespan of mosquitoes, making it unlikely that parasite-carrying mosquitoes will live long enough to slip the spores into a new host at this temperature — at least according to that old scenario.
Thomas’s team noted that the previous studies buttressing the trusted model had issues: Some didn’t have a control group to compare parasite development rates to those at a more balmy 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit). Or, they didn’t use Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes the deadliest form of malaria.
So Thomas and his colleagues exposed groups of mosquitoes to a single temperature between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius (61 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit), along with a control group at 27 degrees Celsius, at which malaria transmission typically peaks. They also varied the temperatures for other experimental groups by 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit) in either direction, mimicking the range of temperatures that mosquitoes in the wild experience on a daily basis.
They found that the parasites needed between 31 and 37 days to develop at a constant 18 degrees Celsius — substantially lower than the 56 days postulated by previous research and well within the lifespan of female mosquitoes. (Hard-charging male mosquitoes often don’t last more than 10 days, and they don’t bite humans anyway.) When the temperatures varied between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius (64 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit), the time was even shorter at as few as 26 days.
“Our work shows that even small increases in temperature could dramatically increase malaria infections in humans because the parasites develop much faster at these lower temperatures than has been previously estimated,” Jessica Waite, the study’s lead author and an infectious disease biologist at Penn State, said in the statement.
An A. stephensi mosquito obtaining a blood meal from a human host through its pointed proboscis. Image by James D. Gathany/CDC via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).
Though it’s difficult to forecast just how climate change will alter places like the high-altitude plains of East Africa, this research demonstrates that bumping up highland temperatures could put millions of people around the world at risk of contracting malaria.
“As temperatures increase with climate change, infectious mosquitoes in areas surrounding mountains, for example, may be able to transmit the parasite higher up the mountains than they have in the past,” Waite said.
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Your Digital Kids
CES on the Hill
Every year I get to witness a different sort of CES event. Different than the usual Vegas cacaphony*. (*of which I am a willing partner and participant)
Held in Washington, DC, the Digital Patriots Dinner brings technologists and policy makers together to trumpet the successes of innovation. CEA President and CEO, Gary Shapiro, made it a point to highlight the recent policy decisions that would encourage free trade. Trade Ambassador Ron Kirk, the former mayor of Dallas, stressed the Obama Administration’s commitment to fighting international piracy, adding trade agreements with some of the more reticent countries, and removing many of the obstacles in the way of new businesses.
The Patriots honored were Congressman Mike Doyle (D- Pennsylvania), who’s work with his Pittsburgh constituents has helped it achieve a new status as one of the high tech heartlands. On the other side of the house,Congressman Fred Upton, (R-Michigan) was applauded for his work with the DTV transition and with the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet.
Finally, Vince Cerf, often called the Father of the Internet for his vision of a connected web of computers, received the award . Today he is Google’s chief evangaleist. His speech was touching and humble as he reiterated the Internet mantra of connecting, commuicating and sharing ideas freely.
Prior to the dinner policy makers and legislators (and a lot of young super-connected lobbyists and young aides) were invited to Washington’s Eastern Market for a tast of technology. Robert Anthony reports on the products that were showcased which included new 3D Tvs, recylable phones, Goggle’s digital “closed captioning” service and more:
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How to prepare unsweetened cranberry juice?
First, wash the red cranberries and put the cranberries and water in a pan, then boil it, after getting boil reduce the flame and let the cranberries burst. Then strain the juice out of the pan with the help of a cloth or strained. Reheat the juice but don’t boil it. Pour the juice into a jar and let it cool before refrigerating it.
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Local Goods Report — August 2017
Kendra totes the map of Farmers’ Markets. The print available at General Store!
To Market with Kendra Aronson
Our wonderful employee Ashlynn lights up the register with her bright smile, is full of ideas to keep things on the improve here at the store, and has the coolest habit of leaving quirky notes for the rest of us to find when we open the store the next morning. She also has a great eye, and last month she was raving about the print of local farmers’ markets that she bought at a festival in the park. “We should really bring these in,” she said, and she was totally right.
Kendra totes the map of Farmers’ Markets. They available at General Store!
They were designed by Kendra Aronson, another woman with a sparkly smile and infectious enthusiasm. Kendra is an expert, having written the SLO Farmer’s Market Cookbook, and her letterpress map highlights the 20 weekly farmers’ markets in San Luis Obispo County. The market information—locations, dates, and times—is displayed below the halftone map in chronological order with a corresponding red pin. They are beautifully simple, and now are available at General Store Paso Robles! (You cannot say no to Ashlynn.) You can also find Kendra’s wonderful book alongside local favorite Brigit Binns, plus an ever changing selection of cookbooks, new and classic alike.
We asked Kendra some questions about how she makes the end of summer special.
What’s your favorite summer find at the August farmer’s markets?
Stone fruit! Peaches, plums, nectarines, apricot, and all the fun hybrids like pluots and peacotums. You know it’s summer when you take a bite into ripe stone fruit and the juice runs down your elbow—it’s the best. My favorite thing is how versatile stone fruit can be for just about any application or meal: grilled alongside charred meats; roasted or baked into crumbles, pies, crostatas; tossed into savory salads or sweet fruit salads; consumed raw for simple snacking, elevating a cheese board, or adding slices to your morning yogurt bowl.
Do you have a recipe with just a few ingredients that calls for summer produce?
We are a bit fanatical about our playlists at the store, and man, Kendra was right on the money with her oldies playlist. Just try to grill up some pork chops and nectarines without singing along. You can’t.
As summer wraps up, remember we have lunch boxes and S’well bottles to arm your kiddos with sustenance. Be sure to throw in some of those fresh plums from the farmers’ market. (And maybe some Paso Almonds, if you’re feeling really nice.)
Happy end of summer, neighbors!
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About The Author
PASO Magazine was founded in 2001. Articles attributed to PASO Magazine may be edited press releases, contributed articles, compilations, or other staff reports. Contact us at [email protected].
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"Paul": A 43 year-old "academic who specializes in antiquities," Paul's "partner" (gay) is a law firm partner, and together they bring in more than $2 mil a year, no thanks to academia. They have houses in Hong Kong, NYC, and the Hamptons—and they've poured $1 million into a renovation of the Hamptons place. "There's a perilous, exciting feeling to having zigged when other people zagged," he explains. He's referring to spending lots and lots of money, there.
"Jon": A 30 year-old commercial real estate broker in NYC, Jon's income has fallen during the recession, but he can't stand to regress from $10,000 watches and $2,000 suits. It's hard not to spend, you see: "Then you go to the pool, and it's another $300 for a cabana-and you want the good cabana, not the one on the second floor where no one can see you."
If you know either of these rich evil bastards, out them in the comments at once.
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All articles filed in performance
The default calculated measure of eazyBI “Average Resolution Days” counts until the last Resolution filled ( not until the first value of the Resolution field), then if you set a new Resolution from “Resolved” to “Close” statuses, the value will be measured until “Close”. eazyBI counts the resolution time till the last resolution. This is…
There are two tricks to improve the performance and the security of a large Jira Server 7.4 For the first “trick“, we can develop a little Jira plugin, or we can set a “Script Fragment” with the plugin Adaptavist Groovy Scriptrunner. The purpose of the improvement is to avoid problematic JQL queries. In Jira, by default,…
After the upgrading of Crowd, our servers experimented a new problem… sometimes Crowd becomes “stuck” (also JIRA & Confluence because the SSO) and the log of Crowd show errors in the LDAP connection… but not always… two times a week.. etc. Examples of errors in the log: Caused by: com.atlassian.crowd.exception.OperationFailedException: org.springframework.ldap.PartialResultException: nested exception is javax.naming.PartialResultException…
The Goal of HTTP2 The goal of HTTP/2 is to increase the perceived performance of the web browsing experience. Why Do We Need HTTP2 A web page has many resources that need to be load. In HTTP 1.0 requests for all resources are sent all at once and the server responds to each request. If…
SOAPUI is the best interface to make tests to JIRA Web Services. And it’s free. Download SOAPUI It’s very easy, only install and make the test. Set the Endpoint to your JIRA URL Domain and protocol (http or https) and put the resource URL to the REST Endpoint (like /rest/api/2/PROJECT-NUM/worklog to put worklog in an…
Good morning my proletarian psychic workers! 🙂 These days I was working analyzing the transactions of my JIRA to get better performance and to solve different problems. Due this, the first thing to do is to find the best tool to analyze all the http/s requests and querys to the database also the external services,…
PHP 7.0.0 RC 6 Released The PHP development team announces the immediate availability of PHP 7.0.0 RC 6. This is the eleventh pre-release of the new PHP 7 major series. All users of PHP are encouraged to test this version carefully, and report any bugs and incompatibilities in the bug tracking system. THIS IS A…
Do you restart JIRA e.g. once a week? Is it recomended in order to speed it up? Some users using JIRA very intensively are requesting this, realising that the system is slowing down after a certain time…. VERSION: JIRA 6.3 TRICK 1: The performance increases dramatically if you use Java8 instead of Java7!! SEE MORE: https://confluence.atlassian.com/display/JIRAKB/Java+8+Improves+JIRA+Performance+Dramatically…
With NGINX now serving over 37% of the top 1000 websites it’s a great time to evaluate replacing Apache as the standard proxy server for Atlassian’s JIRA issue tracker. Two reasons you should consider NGINX: Configuration is fast and simple, saving you tons of time NGINX handles highly concurrent, long-lived connections out of the box,…
“Replace jira-users with the ‘Anyone’ permission — Thanks to Jamie Echlin for this tip. Permission checks are expensive, especially for any JIRA issues with hundreds or thousands of links, such as GreenHopper epics.” Note that this tip is only possible with instances in which there is no anonymous access allowed or for which there is no…
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Why It Matters that Overwatch’s Symmetra is Officially Autistic
Overwatch’s Symmetra has been the center of speculation since Blizzard first released A Better World. Part of a comic series expanding the lives of the characters and the world that they live in, it follows Symmetra — real name, Satya Vaswani — as she undertakes a bit of corporate espionage.
It also features this panel, which had people wondering just how committed Blizzard might be to featuring an autistic character in one of their games.
From A Better World
When looking for positive portrayals of autism in the media, people often have to make due with scraps. Characters like Temperance Brennan of Bones, Sheldon Cooper of The Big Bang Theory and Patricia Tannis of Borderlands are given traits associated with autism, and the people around them make reference to that — but creators rarely actually proclaim that a character is autistic. If a portrayal is official, after all, creators become responsible for it.
It’s no surprise that Overwatch fans were reluctant to get too excited about a single line in a comic.
That changed last week, when an Overwatch fan showed off the letter he received from game director Jeff Kaplan:
I’m glad you asked about Symmetra. It was very astute of you to notice that she mentioned the spectrum in our comic. Symmetra is autistic. She is one of our most beloved heroes and we think she does a great job representing just how awesome someone with autism can be.
Some fans are thrilled by the confirmation. Reddit user XeernoftheLight started a thread in the Overwatch subreddit sharing his appreciation for her understated portrayal.
I feel that Symmetra is a hero in more ways than one. Not only does she represent a portion of the population that is vastly underrepresented in media, but she does so in a way that shows how being with high functioning autism is like. That line where some think you’re lying because you’re not bouncing off the walls, and others expect you to do so, where neither party actually understands. Good on you Blizzard, for not making her make a big deal of it. That’s the kinda representation I’ve wanted.
The conversations about Symmetra have also given people the chance to address stigma and stereotypes. Some users, like LeIcyfroggy, were quick to thank both Blizzard and the community for this chance to educate themselves.
If it was not for Sym, I wouldn’t be educated on what autism truly is and I really want to thank Blizzard and everyone who have been really educating a whole load of people on this, it really opened up my eyes on Autism as a whole and this is why representation is so important. Thank you so much Blizzard and people like the OP and this another person who really explained what Autism really is
The praise isn’t universal, of course. Some fans think Blizzard could go further to make Symmetra’s portrayal representative. PVPLive explores that angle:
Well, the first question to ask is: though she’s described as having autism, does she actually resemble a woman on the spectrum?
“Okay, so I have talked with a few teens about this,” said Jacob Sanders, formerly of Guthrie Mainstream Services – an Arizonan educational and care services program for the developmentally delayed population. “They have older siblings who played Overwatch, and I asked them this same kind of question about Symmetra.”
Most have said that, while Blizzard’s said she is autistic, that Symmetra shows no real signs of autism like their little sister or brother does. And that Symmetra would have to be the most high-functioning person with autism to exist.”
Is that as damning as saying that Symmetra’s supposed neuro-atypicality is false advertising then? That Blizzard’s just using perceived stereotypes of what makes an autistic person, and ignoring the reality?
But as the article goes on to explain, some people, particularly women, have trouble getting diagnosed at all because they don’t match the general cultural image of autism.
As PVPLive also points out, no matter how good a portrayal is, it can never be everything to everyone. Symmetra is the only neuroatypical Overwatch character to be revealed so far, and one of very few in video games, period. For as long as that’s the case, she’ll be expected to be the most representative, the most accurate, and the most positive portrayal. Criticism is bound to happen when people are forced to try to see themselves in a single character.
One autistic character is a great step, but until we have more, that’s a big responsibility for Symmetra — and Blizzard — to carry.
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I have to admit, I am nervous about posting this comic, because including a trans person in my cast is something I have wanted to do for years and I really, really want to do a good job of it. One of the major themes of QC, I think, is of inclusion, and this seemed like a pretty important thing to include. I have given it a lot of thought and done a lot of research, so hopefully I won't screw up. I'll do my best, anyway.
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This is the story of how Dutch indie developer Vlambeer (Super Crate Box) almost lost its way entirely after its game was cloned, and that clone became a big hit on the App Store -- and how it found its way to work again with the help of some notable collaborators.
Whether Vlambeer's Rami Ismail was attempting to hide the deep anguish he was feeling or not, it was pretty obvious that he was bummed out during GDC Europe back in 2011.
We laughed and joked about various silly means by which Gamenauts' Ninja Fishing, a clone of Vlambeer's own Radical Fishing that was being downloaded by the millions, could be used to the Dutch studio's advantage. Perhaps the tables could be turned, and Vlambeer could pretend that Ridiculous Fishing was in fact a sequel to Ninja Fishing. How could Gamenauts really complain about that line of fire?
Through all the smiles, it was obvious that day-to-day life at Vlambeer wasn't so chirpy following the cloning outbreak. But while the entire ordeal has been well documented in the past, what hasn't been explored in great detail is just how deep it had all affected Ismail and his partner Jan Willem "JW" Nijman.
But let's start on a positive note. Ridiculous Fishing is finally getting a release on March 14. It's the iOS version of Radical Fishing that was started on December 7, 2010 -- the same year that the original iPad came out, and iOS had really begun to gain traction.
Ismail's demeanor has changed dramatically since 2011. "It's a weight off of our shoulders," he says. "It's been such a long time coming, the whole game. It's been in the back of our heads, this lingering desire to show the world we have a great game."
As Ismail and collaborator Zach Gage hit the App Store submission button just weeks ago, there was a pure 10 minutes of dancing, celebrating, and shouting "Hell yeah!" -- followed by a Skype call to other coconspirator Greg Wohlwend, which was followed by even more celebrating.
"It's just such a relief to be done with it," Ismail adds.
Back to the start
Ridiculous Fishing, for those who have missed the drama, is a stylish mobile game all about catching as many fish as possible, then flicking them up into the sky and blasting them with your shotgun. It's a project that has tormented the team since the day it was casually cloned by another studio, and one that very nearly brought about the end of Vlambeer.
To really gauge the rollercoaster that Ismail, Nijman, and co. went on over the last couple of years, it's necessary to go back to the start. The beginning of 2011 saw huge strides in getting the game up and running, and for four to six months it came along in leaps and bounds. Then the clone hit, and it all went to pot.
"We were working on Serious Sam: The Random Encounter at the same time, and when the clone hit, my main job at the time was Serious Sam," explains Ismail. "What ended up happening was, my full-time job became just handling the fallout from the clone, so JW had to take over Serious Sam."
"Everything just started falling apart. We didn't work on Ridiculous Fishing for about a year -- maybe a few days every now and then -- and then we had another short stretch of work on it just before IGF. And then we didn't work on it for another year!"
From an outside perspective, it seems like the answer was obvious: Drop Ridiculous Fishing, try to put the painful memories to the backs of their minds, and get on with doing what they did best -- make games. But it wasn't that simple, and this project lingering on the backburner preoccupied both Ismail and Nijman.
"We couldn't kill Ridiculous Fishing. We just couldn't," says Ismail. "We just really liked the game, and we knew that we could make it a good game, but we knew that if we tried to make it during that demotivated period, we'd just end up getting really depressed. That ended up being a weird sort of constant tension between me and JW."
This led to a prolonged period of discontent within the duo's working relationship. "Everything was stressful for a really long time," admits Ismail. "You want to be happy working, and for a while we weren't. For a while we were just constantly worrying about everything we did, about whether we were going to be able to continue doing Vlambeer, to be able to continue making a living."
Not that Vlambeer has ever been a simple coming together of two friends -- far from it. Ismail and Nijman spend a good portion of their time arguing with each other on everything from visual design to gameplay, and worrying about stuff is just their way of dealing with life.
Notes Ismail, "We know that if we want to be an indie developer, we're going to have to worry about stuff. We want to worry about making the best games we can. We want to worry about building an indie scene in the Netherlands. We want to worry about organizing events.
"But the one thing we don't want to worry about is the idea that when we release a game, people will realize that it's a Vlambeer game, and that our work gets acknowledged," he adds. "That's the one thing that we don't want to worry about."
Seeing people discussing his games, whether it's in a positive or not-so-positive light, is a large part of why Ismail makes games in the first place. He loves watching people pick apart his work, and that acknowledgement that he's made something worth picking apart is rewarding enough to keep his desire to make games alive.
But there's a flipside to creativity. "What the clone did was make us realize that someone else could just come in, take our stuff, release a highly similar game..." he trails off, the memory of it all clearly catching up with him.
"With Ridiculous Fishing, we were set up to have people credit another company for our ideas," he continues. "And when we started worrying about that, that was sort of this abyss of 'I don't give a shit anymore.' It turns out that creativity is not a solid something. It's pretty fragile. It's not an infinite resource that you can just tap into."
Anyone who knows Vlambeer, and Nijman's past endeavors in particular, will know that feeling of demiurgic bliss. As it turns out, having your ideas ripped off doesn't exactly do wonders for your creativity.
"We had this period where JW had a really tough time with ideas, and I had a rough time working on the execution of ideas," Ismail says. "JW is normally extremely prolific, making games in 15 minutes, or in a few hours -- and then suddenly we weren't quite doing that. We skipped the Global Game Jam, and we'd normally always do that."
"And that's what nearly ended Vlambeer -- we realized that we weren't able to be Vlambeer," he adds. "Vlambeer is prolific, Vlambeer makes lots of games, Vlambeer releases prototypes and weird experiments. That's what we do. Sort of like between the big indies who only make really polished stuff, and then the extremely prolific part of the indie scene. We're between that."
Suddenly, the Vlambeer pair found themselves sat at their computers, staring at blank screens, wondering why they were even there at all. They weren't making anything, and they'd lost the motivation to care -- and all because of one incident that, to the eyes of an outsider, had come and gone many months before.
"We found ourselves at a bar, at a meetup that we organized ourselves, questioning, 'Can we still do this?'" says Ismail. "We canceled one really big project that we were planning to do, because we realized we weren't doing it because we wanted to, but rather because we just wanted a project to be working on. Cancelling that project was a big step. I think if we hadn't done that... We just weren't making anything, and we weren't being productive. We just needed something at that point."
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Saturn Suite
Luxuriously appointed, this duplex suite comprises of a living room, dining room, two bedrooms and a kitchenette. A well-stocked bar and home theatre create an ideal setting for a relaxing evening, while the spacious bathroom in the master bedroom is fitted with a Jacuzzi with synchronized lights.
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I do not think San Paulo is one of the worst cities, good neighbourhoods (not downtown), fantastic restaurants and hotels, the main problem are the traffic jams during the week, every family have two or three cars… Downtown SP is a nightmare because of drug addicts but look at other cities in the world like Philly..
I live in Jardins, fancy boutiques, bakeries, nice places to eat, you can walk and walk, or use a biycle, enormous shopping centers with products from all over the world and a huge financial district…look at the decrepit commercial real estate in Manhattan…and try to rent an ofice space in Rio or SP…more expensive and difficult to find!
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Healthcare Industry Gets a Revamp – An Insight
Creating a world where everyone and everything is connected, is the vision around which the concept of IoT revolves. It is going beyond the confines of mobile and laptops. It is shaping up every facet of our lives.
From a customized shopping experience to sitting in a self-driven car, it is set out to change the way we live our lives and the way we plan our day. IoT is now ubiquitous. It is wearable and implantable. It is something as unrealistic as our devices recording our activities, talking to each other and sharing the details of our day, deciding what course of action would be better for us as opposed to what we might be planning and suggesting us how to go about things. But, it’s all real. It is a well-organized technology enabled ecosystem that walks with us to assist us to optimize our lives.
Now, imagine the impact of this when implemented in the healthcare industry segment. IoT enables remote monitoring of things with real-time data collection and constant monitoring. In the scenario of Indian healthcare, where there is a shortage of medical facilities and resources, remote monitoring of non-critical patients can take off the load from the medical field to a large extent. Further benefits can be realized considering the fact that the patient doesn’t have to stay bed-ridden to stay connected to various machines. He gets the freedom to get on with his daily routine his medical condition is being taken care of the wearable IoT which sends real time stats to the physician.
Healthcare companies have been making huge investments in IoT because it is the next big thing in the field. Although they have just started to scratch the surface of what IoT is expected to do, there have already been some breakthroughs in the field which will lead the way to greater success. The most important and earliest progress can be seen as biosensors. Consider Glucose biosensors which are wearable and work on the principle of biochemical reactions triggering electrical signal which is transmitted wirelessly to an associated device. This technology has been attributed to the reduction of incidents of hyperglycosemia. ECG sensor is another example which measures the heart activity and aims to detect heart attacks in heart patients.
Not only is remote monitoring convenient with respect to resource utilization, it is also more economical for the patient in a longer run as opposed to occupying a bed in a medical facility. Not only the patient can choose to avoid the cost incurred for availing the medical facilities, can go back to work now and start earning again.
The idea behind IoT in the medical sector as well as the pharmaceutical industry is to gather real time data about patient’s health, distributed over various devices like biosensors, smart phones etc, analyze it and transmit it to the cloud and raise warnings and alarms when necessary. One of the most significant enabler for this, can be considered to be the advancements in the field of big data and cloud storage. The unsuccessful attempts of having a consolidated track record of the patient, recording both historical and current data in hospitals has become possible. Blockchain technology is being employed for safe data storage and secure data exchanges between organizations.
Apart from this, IoT has also improved the standards of living of people by facilitating devices for personal monitoring. The most common and heard of example can be wireless activity trackers like Fitbit, Mi Band etc. With an appearance of a digital wrist watch, these devices do much more than just show time. They measure parameters like number of steps taken, heart rate, quality of sleep, steps climbed and many other factors of fitness depending on the offering.
This data can be transferred to the mobile phones wirelessly into the corresponding application to receive a comprehensive fitness report. People are more conscious about their dietary habits now and more aware of the results of their physical activity. They have a better knowledge to choose the life they live in order to avoid health problems. IoT is the digital transformation of healthcare amongst everything else in the world. The comprehensive ecosystem that it creates, is what makes IoT the road ahead in the health sector, offering chances to ambitious entrepreneurs waiting to pounce on opportunities and trends.
To conclude with the healthcare industry overview, we cite the small example of SiCureMi, an initiative by a group of eccentric individuals set to disrupt the health care industry using IoT wearables, data analytics, and machine learning. They are poised to become one of the major players in healthcare industry in India. SiCureMi is an online portal backed by predictive algorithms that track health parameters from IoT wearables and makes intelligent conclusions (like the onset of a disease, or a required change in diet), based on the data it receives. It also aims to connect patients to their doctors remotely, and even extends its reach to a variety of professionals linked with the medical industry, like nutritionists, dieticians, and gym trainers.
Tarun Gupta
A natural networker, an avid reader of business, leadership, auto-biographies and philosophy; and with half a decade of experience in the startup community as a marketing enthusiast; my blog is a collection of meaningful and effective marketing and business networking tips for everybody. It aims to simply and demystify the esoteric world of management.
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Newsy video: Apple reportedly interested in Tesla
FILE - In this June 22, 2012 file photo shows a Tesla Model S driving outside the Tesla factory in Fremont, Calif. Shares of Tesla Motors are down another 5 percent as investors in the high-flying company assess the fallout from a fire in one of its $70,000 electric cars. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)
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Tote Bags
The tote bags we’ve designed can help simplify your life. With four hand drawn designs to choose from, each one of these bags can go from corporate too casual in a second. Not only are they beautiful and durable, they’re also just as versatile as the modern woman has to be. So grab your to- go mug and one of our totes – and forget the struggle of constantly changing your bag.
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The Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board (HPARB) protects and preserves the unique historic and architectural character of Cohoes? oldest neighborhoods, defined by the city's Historic Overlay District. The Dutch settled in Cohoes as early as the 1600s and the City incorporated in 1869. As a result, the City contains the architecture of several important eras that HPARB seeks to preserve in the interest of protecting existing resources and spurring economic development.
To that end the HPARB meets monthly on the third Tuesday to consider applications. These meetings are open to the public. Board members are volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, appointed by the Mayor. During the regular business hours of 8am to 4pm Monday through Friday the City Planner can provide guidance with the application process.
In addition, the HPARB posts design guidelines on the City website. The guidelines list architectural features, materials and methods of care to educate historic district property owners on how to maintain the property in a manner that increases the property value. Applicants can also download application forms, filing instructions, a schedule of filing deadlines and hearing dates from the City webpage www.cohoes.com.
As a side note, the HPARB does not have jurisdiction over use, occupancy issues, or zoning matters. If a project requires zoning relief, all necessary variances must be received from the Zoning Board of Appeal before the project can be reviewed by HPARB. Furthermore, this website is not a substitute for the advice of staff, nor is it a substitute for formal review of an application by the HPARB, as required by law. Instead, the HPARB advises contacting the City Planner for guidance through the process. Potential applicants are also welcome to attend the Board's meetings if they have questions prior to submission of an application.
Please Note: in order to obtain a building permit for proposed exterior changes to properties located within district boundaries, prior HPARB review and approval is required. An application form must be submitted to the City Planner to initiate the review process. Work performed without prior review and approval will result in the issuance of a violation.
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Accent your special occasion with the wild, natural elegance of Napa Valley. Creamy whites and lacy greens are united in a large, French country pot to shabby chic effect.
Wondrous white flowers including roses, lisianthus, Queen Anne's lace, hydrangea and bouvardia are gracefully presented with delicate maidenhair fern in a glazed French Country Pot with classic fleur de lis motif.
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View Poll Results: How did your April 2013 figures arrive..in what shape?
Condition of your April 2013 Figures, in good or bad shape?
How did your April 2013 figures arrive..in what shape?
This poll is to determine how your new release day of / sub figures arrived, where they damaged?,
were they missing something or have wrong parts, or paint problems?Not for any re-issues that may be released, only for new original monthly figures. Sub or Non Sub
And the poll is multiple choice, just so you know, pick all that applies to you!
April 2013 Figure was:
Snake Face (sub)
Poll choices:Package issues
Was your figures box or card damaged, or the bubbles?
Wrong pieces
Did your figure have 2 left legs, or backwards shoulders etc....?
Condition was Satisfactory to Perfect
Best looking figure scenario, decent to perfect for packaged display and for loose collectors alike.
For "Mint In (Sealed) Package" collectors...you can still vote based on what you see in the package,
you can tell by a visual inspection, except for a few things, so vote accordingly....and if you are satisfied, choose that option,
this is how I used to vote as mine were all MISB / MOSC.
Not sure how many use this anymore, or will, but I have been out of commission for the last week (sick) and forgot to post this sooner....
Snake Face:
I got mine last Friday, got him opened and loved him, all was tight, and looked well done.
He looks much better in hand than I thought he would, I never had him as a kid, didn't think I'd like him as much as I do, he made it into my top 20.
My only issue, is the armor being too bulky, and there are clear signs that it could have been made thinner and tighter to the figure. It's loose on him, and
the sides are much thicker than they had to be. But other than that, I love him, very well sculpted figure, even the way the legs are gray and the green of
the boots make the well over used Skeletor shins and feet look really great on him for some reason.
My SF has an issue where his pelvic area isn't aligned properly, which means that the left side of his pelvis sits a little higher than the right. Also, his waist is ultra thin when but i'm wondering that was done on purpose to accommodate the bulkier armour? I wanted to vote that my SF was satisfactory but i gotta call it down the line. Everything else on the figure is sweet.
My SF has an issue where his pelvic area isn't aligned properly, which means that the left side of his pelvis sits a little higher than the right. Also, his waist is ultra thin when but i'm wondering that was done on purpose to accommodate the bulkier armour? I wanted to vote that my SF was satisfactory but i gotta call it down the line. Everything else on the figure is sweet.
Mine was off center too, but I was able to slide the abs to correct it. Pixel Dan's was too I believe, so I think they were all made like this, if not the randomness is amazing.
Mine was off center too, but I was able to slide the abs to correct it. Pixel Dan's was too I believe, so I think they were all made like this, if not the randomness is amazing.
Oh ok, excuse my lack of knowledge for asking LoL, did you just use some force to slide the abs? Or did you heat and move etc... Randomness is a weird one, i ordered two and the one i opened was definitely worse off for this issue. But it's also kind of hard to tell with the bulkier armour. Hearing what you've done though makes me a lot happier!
My Snakeface seems to be fine. Both the packaging and the figure were okay. However I was a bit worried when I opened it up because a torn snake head fell out. Oddly enough everything on the figure was intact but somehow an extra broken chest snake wound up in the package?
My Snakeface seems to be fine. Both the packaging and the figure were okay. However I was a bit worried when I opened it up because a torn snake head fell out. Oddly enough everything on the figure was intact but somehow an extra broken chest snake wound up in the package?
Lucky ass, Mattel gave you a bonus!
Originally Posted by MrRoboto
Oh ok, excuse my lack of knowledge for asking LoL, did you just use some force to slide the abs? Or did you heat and move etc... Randomness is a weird one, i ordered two and the one i opened was definitely worse off for this issue. But it's also kind of hard to tell with the bulkier armour. Hearing what you've done though makes me a lot happier!
No I just used some force, sometimes the briefs are off too, but this time I actually think the waist peg hole is a little too large, or both the briefs and the waist hole were off....but I managed to almost center mine just but pushing harder on it.
Not to sound like a creepy cheerleader for Uki, but it's nice to know there is at least one person on this forum who is extremely positive & friendly all the time. I don't think I could be that nice even if you paid me. If we ever give out awards for "forum member of the month", Uki gets my vote. -Mr. Shokoti
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Reviews
If you’re a fan of Pride and Prejudice (with Kiera Knightley), then this movie is for you. There were so many things to love: the score, the cinematography, the cast, the costumes, the story…
I loved the two main characters. I admired the type of woman Bathsheba was with her strength and independence. How she was still strong even after she made a bad decision and did what she thought she’d never do. I think many women can relate to becoming that girl, who enters a relationship that is bad for her.
Most of all, I loved the kind of man Gabriel was, strong and kind (and gorgeous) and how he believed in her, loved her, and stood by her side.
Paper Towns is incredibly anti-climatic. The movie even more so than the book. The story is about a boy obsessed with a girl he claims to be his miracle: Margo Roth Spiegelman. It was a story far different from what I thought it would be. Read no further if you don’t want spoilers.
Before I get into the message of the book and film, let me note that I wasn't a fan of the casting for the film, although I did like Ansel Elgort's surprise cameo. As far as the book versus the film: The characters in the book seemed less paper than the ones in the film. The beginning of the book is more exciting than the beginning of the film. The middle of both the film and book are a bit dull. The film's ending was far different from the book. Which I think it needed to be because the book's end was even more underwhelming than the film's.
Anyway, turns out Margo is not Q’s miracle. Q is in love with her and puts her on a pedestal, yet he barely knows her. He becomes obsessed with finding her because he thinks that if he does, he will be this knight in shining armor. But that's not what happens at all. She didn't want to be found. She wasn't his to be found. She wasn't an adventure or a cure to his life. No, Margo was simply a girl, figuring out her place in the world and writing her story.
And while I wasn't a fan of the movie (and the book was just okay), I did like the last five minutes when the true lesson was revealed. And it's a pretty important + darn good lesson. At the end of the film, Q admits he was wrong for romanticizing her and thinking he was entitled to her simply because he spent all that time tracking her down. The story shows how all too often we romanticize the people we fall for and forget that they're simply people. A girl is not the prize you get at the end of your adventure. A girl is a girl.
I have so many more thoughts on this book. Like Q wasn't fully at fault. And there was more to him that this guy who wanted to grow up and have kids and a job. “You can argue…that Ahab is a fool for being obsessed. But you could also argue that there is something tragically heroic about fighting this battle he is doomed to lose.”
Anyway, I'm still mulling the story over. Maybe I'll add to this post later. I want to think more about this quote (and others): “It is saying these things that keeps us from falling apart. And maybe by imagining these futures we can make them real, and maybe not, but either way we must imagine them. The light rushes out and floods in.”
Side note, I do prefer The Fault In Our Stars.
"What a treacherous thing to believe that a person is more than a person… And all at once I knew how Margo Roth Spiegelman felt when she wasn’t being Margo Roth Spiegelman: she felt empty. She felt the unscalable wall surrounding her. I thought of her asleep on the carpet with only that jagged sliver of sky above her. Maybe Margo felt comfortable there because Margo the person lived like that all the time: in an abandoned room with blocked-out windows, the only light pouring in through holes in the roof. Yes. The fundamental mistake I had always made—and that she had, in fairness, always led me to make—was this: Margo was not a miracle. She was not an adventure. She was not a fine and precious thing. She was a girl."
Pixar delivered another cute and clever movie. And a lot of reviews are saying it's one of their best yet. But unpopular opinion: I wouldn't put it in my top five favorite Pixar movies. That said, this movie tugged at my emotions and made me bawl. The part with Bing Bong and Joy in the pit, trying to escape on the wagon? That started the tears for me.
The voice casting was fantastic. Poehler played a beautiful Joy and her energy steals the show. But oh sadness. I loved the message of how we need sadness in our life. It keeps us balanced and allows us to experience deeper joy later down the road. I loved the entire concept, about how things became a part of us and make us the person we are. I left the theater thinking about all the things that have contributed to who I am and thankful that they're a part of me.
I also loved the humor in this film. Dream Productions scenes and the end scene where Riley bumps into a boy and his response is a deer-in-the-headlights stare as the emotions in his head run around screaming as a "Girl!" warning plays over and over.
Another enduring independent film. The set design and camera shots/angles reminded me of a Wes Anderson movie. It was a sweet movie. I loved the cast. I loved the quirkiness, IE the films created by Earl and Greg, as well as Rachel's creations (revealed at the end of the film.) These three were the kind of hip and creative and quirky people I wish I'd either been in high school or friended in high school.
My roommate/cousin is the BIGGEST Jurassic Park fan. Needless to say, he’d been counting down the days until premiere night for Jurassic World for the past two years. On Thursday night, he, a co-worker, and I waited in line for the 7 o’clock showing. He dressed as Dr. Alan Grant and received several “nice cosplay” comments and finger points. We got an excellent seat in the Cine Capri. And I was hooked on the movie the moment Chris Pratt showed up on screen. Jurassic World was pure entertainment. I loved and respected the nods to the first movie. I hearted the raptors and the returning T-Rex. That last scene had the audience cheering and clapping. Pure nerdiness and it was fun times. I left the theater wanting to see it again, which we did. On Sunday, I went with my aunt, uncle, cousin, and his grandpa to see it for the second time. Overall, highly entertaining film. And Chris. Freaking. Pratt. He's BA.
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Asthma and Lung Center
Asthma & Lung Center
Leaders in Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Physical Conditioning for over 10 years
The mission of the Asthma and Lung Center of Houston is to deliver quality comprehensive services to clients who are in need of rehabilitation. In particular, the Center focuses on patients with breathing problems. Our objective is to minimize illnesses and disabilities, maximize levels of independence, and restore, maintain, and promote good health.Address: 8555 Knight Rd., Houston, Tx 77054Phone: 713-839-9473
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New Chernobyl vodka ‘possibly the most important bottle of spirits in the world’
8 Aug 20191.4k Views
A bottle of radioactive-free Atomik artisan vodka. Image: University of Portsmouth/PA Wire
Researchers are hoping to breathe new life into the Chernobyl region by brewing a vodka from local grain.
A radioactivity-free vodka produced from crops in Chernobyl’s abandoned zone has been brewed by a team of British scientists.
Prof Jim Smith from the University of Portsmouth described the artisan vodka – branded Atomik – as “possibly the most important bottle of spirits in the world”, as he believed it would help the region recover economically. He said tests on the vodka showed that, following the distillation process, only “natural Carbon-14” radioactivity was found in line with any normal spirit drink.
Smith now wants to produce the traditionally brewed vodka for sale through a social enterprise called The Chernobyl Spirit Company, with 75pc of the profits going back to the affected community in Ukraine.
Some radioactivity
“I think this is the most important bottle of spirits in the world because it could help the economic recovery of communities living in and around the abandoned areas,” Smith said.
“Many thousands of people are still living in the zone of obligatory resettlement where new investment and use of agricultural land is still forbidden.”
A University of Portsmouth spokesperson added: “The team found some radioactivity in the grain: Strontium-90 is slightly above the cautious Ukrainian limit of 20 becquerel per kg [a unit of radioactivity].
“But, because distilling reduces any impurities in the original grain, the only radioactivity the researchers could detect in the alcohol is natural Carbon-14 at the same level you would expect in any spirit drink.”
A 4,200 sq km human exclusion zone around Chernobyl was put in place due to chronic radiation fallout following the nuclear reactor accident in 1986. Radiation was detected across Europe and about 300,000 residents were permanently evacuated from their homes after the accident.
Champagne-like groundwater source
To produce the vodka, Smith and his team diluted the distilled alcohol with mineral water from a deep aquifer in Chernobyl town, 10km south of the reactor, which is free from contamination and which he says has similar chemistry to groundwater in the Champagne region of France.
Smith, a professor of environmental science, said: “We don’t think the main exclusion zone should be extensively used for agriculture as it is now a wildlife reserve but there are other areas where people live but agriculture is still banned.
“33 years on, many abandoned areas could now be used to grow crops safely without the need for distillation. We aim to make a high-value product to support economic development of areas outside the main exclusion zone where radiation isn’t now a significant health risk.”
Oleg Nasvit, first deputy head of the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone Management, said: “We welcome this initiative to use abandoned lands to help local communities. It is important that we do everything we can to support the restoration of normal life in these areas whilst always putting safety first.”
Nasvit added: “I’d call this a high-quality moonshine – it isn’t typical of a more highly purified vodka, but has the flavour of the grain from our original Ukrainian distillation methods. I like it.”
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Tan to deep browns, with a large variety of highlights and features. Renowned for its density and durability this timber suits kitchens, family rooms and commercial areas with high traffic. Recycled floors are generally available in 60mm or 83x19mm. New timber sources are rare because of limited harvesting of Wandoo.
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Telco TV roundup
Here's a glance at some of the news making the rounds at this week's TelcoTV conference in Dallas:
- Verimatrix has inked a deal to supply security measures for a line of IPTV set-tops from Motorola Inc.Under the agreement, Motorola will integrate the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS) with its VIP1900, a series of set-tops that supports high- and standard-definition video in MPEG-2 and H.264 (MPEG-4) formats and on-board digital video recorders (DVRs).
That family also features the Linux-Java-based KreaTV Application Platform. Motorola acquired Sweden-based IPTV set-top maker Kreatel Communications earlier this year.
- Cavalier Telephone & TV has started to deliver video-on-demand content in MPEG-4 format to its base of IPTV customers in tandem with aggregation partner ViewNow. Initially, VOD fare in the advanced compression format is being delivered to Cavalier customers in Richmond, Va., though the telco expects to expand its MPEG-4 VOD footprint to other markets, including Norfolk, Baltimore, Philadelphia and metro Washington D.C., by year-end.
- TVN Entertainment is spreading its wings (and market reach) with the launch of an MPEG-4-based video-on-demand delivery platform targeted to the IPTV sector.
The new advanced compression platform taps TVN's ADONISS asset management technology, which has historically been based on MPEG-2 compression and been deployed by a wide range of cable operators. The MPEG-4 service also employs a hierarchal encryption and watermarking approach.
"With everything moving to file-based distribution, our MPEG-4 technology is making it easier for telcos to enter the VOD market while simultaneously addressing compliance and security requirements with regard to industry and studio standards," said TVN Executive Vice President Jim Riley.
TVN said the new H.264 platform is presently being rolled out by a number of yet-unnamed U.S. telcos.
- RGB Networks and EGT Inc. have teamed up to offer video processing systems for telcos and other IPTV service providers.
The integration matches EGT's line of video encoders with RGB's Broadcast Network Processor (BNP), which handles elements such as video grooming, switching and digital program insertion.
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Camp Cadet is a summer camp for boys and girls from Pennsylvania between the ages of twelve to fifteen. The camp is held at various locations throughout the State and staffed by Troopers, local police officers and many other volunteers. The goal of Camp Cadet is to introduce participants to the diverse criminal justice system and establish a positive relationship with law enforcement personnel.
Camp Cadet is open to all youth and is structured similar to training at the police academy. All participants who attend camp cadet are addressed as “Cadet” during the week. Cadets are required to participate in all scheduled events. The camp focuses on discipline, self-esteem, teamwork, drug and alcohol education, violence prevention and many other issues facing today’s youth.
Troop R (Lackawanna, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne Counties)
Camp Cadet will be held Sunday July 12 to Friday July 17 2015. Check back often for Camp Announcements.
Please refer to our "Frequently Asked Questions" Page before emailing or calling us as most all questions can be answered though this website. Thank You.
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Stuck "Resizing partition"
I am trying to image a Dell OptiPlex 990 with FOG 0.32. I am using the “Single Partition (NTFS Only, Resizable)” option. The system is running Windows 7 64 bit, freshly installed and configured, with a tiny (38 MB seems familiar?) partition then the OS partition filling most of the rest of the disk. There had been a third, Dell recovery, partition in between them which I deleted and then used the Windows CD’s repair process to fix boot stuff and verified I could boot back into the OS. The only thing I’ve changed from stock FOG 0.32 install (on Ubuntu natty) has been to add “acpi=off nomodeset” to FOG_KERNEL_ARGS as was suggested in another thread for the OptiPlex 990 (due to “no chip?” and some other apparently non-critical errors).
PXE boots to the point that it does a resize partition test which is says passed, then hangs on the “Resizing Partition” step. I left it running for over 24 hours before I finally restarted the system and now I get the BIOS splash screen followed by a blank screen with a white cursor blinking in the upper left corner but no text, and it will sit that way indefinitely.
Can anyone tell me why it got stuck on the Resizing Partition step? And is there any way to recover this system I’m trying to image? I can rebuild if necessary, but I’d like to know how to avoid this happening again if I do.
This all makes sense, unfortunately I have already started rebuilding this system. This just gave me a good excuse to do it, but I was already unhappy with the partitioning. Before FOG I was trying MDT and installing onto the third partition of the Dell factory setup, thus the deleting the recovery partition in the middle and the wasted space. I have actually, since the mishap, switched to the latest KitchenSink kernel. So in the end, even if it all works well, there will have been too many variables to say what actually broke last time. Thanks to all for the help.
I think, during the upload process, the boot sector is removed as a preparation step, so this would make sense why you have a blinking cursor. If you have access to a Windows 7 DVD, you can boot to it and attempt to repair your computer. The startup repair wizard should be able to fix this.
If not, you can try going to the command prompt on the DVD and running “bootsect /NT60 C: /force /mbr” that should rebuild the Boot Sector for it. This will allow you to boot back into the PC (you’d have to resysprep it)
To answer your question about the “Resizing Partition” freezing, Joshua’s advice above may be correct, I have yet to have success with uploading a Windows 7 image as a Single Partition. You may also want to consider updating your “Boot Kernel” for Fog by going to “Other Information -> Kernel Updates -> and selecting a new kernel to download and install”
According Blackout in this thread
[url]http://fogproject.org/forum/threads/clone-windows-7-64-bits.9/[/url]
Single Partition mode should work fine for Windows 7, and the NTFS resize probably failed because I didn’t run chkdsk first. I don’t know why my Googling didn’t turn up this relevant thread previously, but thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I’m going to do a multi-disk backup first this time as I’ve tested that to work on one of our Dell servers, so I have a good backup to fall back on if single disk mode goes awry again.
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Aneurysm in right knee to be repaired; left knee surgery set for later date
Below:
Next story in Politics
WASHINGTON — Vice President Dick Cheney will have an aneurysm repaired in his right knee on Saturday and then will have a similar procedure performed at a later date on an aneurysm behind his left knee, a spokeswoman said Friday.
Cheney is expected to remain in the hospital for up to 48 hours after Saturday’s surgery at George Washington Hospital Center, said Lea Anne McBride.
The condition was discovered earlier this year during a routine checkup. The surgery will be performed under local anesthetic, his office said.
Cheney, 64, has had four heart attacks, though none since he became vice president in 2001. That year, he had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator inserted in his chest. The pacemaker starts automatically if needed to regulate his heartbeat.
An aneurysm is a ballooning weak spot in an artery that, as blood pounds through, can eventually burst if left untreated.
Typical surgical repair is to open the leg and sew a fabric patch onto the artery to reinforce the weak spot.
A vascular exam, part of a two-part annual physical Cheney completed in July, identified “small, dilated segments of the arteries behind both knees.” But his overall cardio health was judged as good after the first part of the exam, which included a general physical exam, an electrocardiogram and a stress test.
The checkup determined that the pacemaker was working well and never had to be activated.
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Role of a Business Consultant
March 27, 2017
Management consultants help organisations to solve issues, create value, maximise growth and improve business performance. They use their business skills to provide objective advice and expertise and help an organisation to develop any specialist skills that it may be lacking.
Management consultants are primarily concerned with the strategy, structure, management and operations of an organisation. They will identify options for the organisation and suggest recommendations for change, as well as advising on additional resources to implement solutions.
Typical work activities
The day-to-day activities of management consultants are often complex and will vary depending on the client and type of project. You may work alone on some projects, while others will involve a large team and could be based in one location or across various sites.
Typical tasks, particularly for new graduate recruits, involve:
carrying out research and data collection to understand the organisation;
conducting analysis;
interviewing the client's employees, management team and other stakeholders;
running focus groups and facilitating workshops;
preparing business proposals and presentations.
New recruits tend to spend most of their time at the client's site.
In addition to the above, tasks for more experienced and senior consultants involve:
identifying issues and forming hypotheses and solutions;
presenting findings and recommendations to clients;
implementing recommendations/solutions and ensuring the client receives the necessary assistance to carry it all out;
managing projects and programmes;
leading and managing those within the team, including analysts;
liaising with the client to keep them informed of progress and to make relevant decisions.
Source: www.prospects.ac.uk
INTERESTING FACTS
Jeremy has been running a successful marketing consultancy delivering services to an extensive portfolio of SMEs and project managing a number of national projects on behalf of the DWP and the NHS.
He has also worked as lead marketing advisor for Business Link and...
Business Model Innovation (BMI) refers to the creation, or reinvention, of a business itself. Whereas innovation is more typically seen in the form of a new product or service offering, a business model innovation results in an entirely different type of company...
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