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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "We are in the late stages of a large credit bubble.\n\nBut sometimes it’s hard to perceive something when you’re stuck in the middle of it. I keep hearing people on TV say how amazing the economy is, but I see a much more mixed bag.\n\nAnd the bull market could indeed continue for a year or more. But we are almost certainly in the very late innings of this credit cycle. And the overall economy looks ill.\n\nHere’s a chart showing U.S. corporate debt as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP). The higher the percentage is, the more debt companies have. As you can see, this ratio peaked at the end of the last Fed-blown bubbles in 2001 and 2009, which both resulted in major stock market pullbacks (and rare chances to buy stocks cheaply). <image> (Chart - Nonfinancial Corporate Debt as a Percentage of GDP Exceeds Prior Peak) We’re about due for a pullback. In fact, we’re late in the game.\n\nDebt is leverage. It adds risk. It pads the results for a while… then interest rates rise or the economy sputters. And then the interest payments really start to bite.\n\nMeanwhile, 61% of Americans couldn’t pay for an unexpected $1,000 expense. That’s according to a Bankrate poll cited by CNN.\n\nAs everyone knows, most medical issues likely cost well more than $1,000. So do a lot of other common, but unexpected, expenses.\n\nThis is why the Federal Reserve feels like it can’t raise interest rates. It would crash the economy in short order.\n\nSo where do we go from here? I think stocks could continue to go up for a while – primarily due to stock buybacks, which are also at all-time highs.\n\nA buyback is when a company buys back its own shares in the open market and “retires” them, reducing the number of shares floating around. U.S. companies have already announced $1 trillion in buybacks for 2019. <image> (Chart - Record Buybacks) Like any other tool, buybacks can be used responsibly or irresponsibly. One could argue that companies are being a little too aggressive with their buybacks at this point in the cycle, but companies gobbling up their own shares could certainly keep the market going for a while.\n\nUncertainty in bond markets isn’t hurting stocks either. Many people prefer stocks over bonds due to expected inflation or uncertainty about the underlying currency of the bond.\n\nBut stocks aren’t cheap here. Especially because we’re this late in the cycle.\n\nI don’t claim to know exactly when we’ll peak, but I do know that in bear markets you often get a chance to buy former momentum stocks for 60% off.\n\nSo I’ll continue to avoid domestic stocks for the most part (aside from cannabis and tech). I’ll keep investing in disruptive U.S. startups, of course. The U.S. corporate landscape needs a reboot, and startups are going to be the ones to do it (as always).\n\nOutside of that, I’m buying emerging market stocks. Lately I’ve been looking into India and Malaysia. There’s a whole fascinating world of global stocks out there. And I think having exposure to it is more important than ever." } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "The Royal Enfield boasts the longest continuous production run of any current motorcycle manufacturer, stretching back to 1901 and manufactured exclusively in India since 1967. Recently they have released their 650-twin Royal Enfields, which represents a serious assault on the global market. <image> (_42A8263) On top of this Royal Enfield is the most profitable and fastest-growing motorcycle manufacturer on the planet, boasting sales of 850,000 units annually in 53 countries. That’s over 70,000 per month, which is more than double what it used to sell on an annual basis only 10 years ago. That’s what you call an impressive-looking sales chart and goes some way to explaining the obvious pride and enthusiasm being shown by the high-ranking Royal Enfield officials from India present at the launch. <image> (_42A8254) The two Royal Enfields, these being the Interceptor and the Continental GT, differ very slightly in geometry, weight and wheelbase, but mainly in looks and ergonomics. The GT has the racier layout with clip-ons, smaller tank and slightly more rear-set ’pegs. The Interceptor is more upright, with a higher, flatter, cross-braced ’bar, a curvaceous tank, more forward ’pegs and a different seat. In all other respects, except paint and price, they’re the same bike. <image> (_42A8157) Although sharing similar DNA, the two bikes do feel quite a bit different. Both can be flicked around with ease and feel lighter than their nigh-on 200kg kerb weight suggests, however there was no doubting the Interceptor felt better on the edge of the front tyre than did the slightly tippy feel of the GT as it approached ’peg-scraping lean angles.\n\nBuilding public confidence and a reputation as a reliable and serious brand is surely just the tip of the iceberg for Royal Enfield.\n\nGrab your copy of Road Rider #151 in store now for our full review and more.\n\nIndian Springfield is ready to travel\n\nIndian has annoucned a new touring bike in its 111ci Chief lineup, the Springfield, which takes aim at Harley’s Road King. The Springfield is intended to be more versatile, though, and can be stripped down […]\n\nGot your money ready? Only 10 of these limited-edition Indian Scouts are available, so you’d better be quick! Indian Motorcycle Australia commissioned the special styling to create the third in a line of very limited-edition […]" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "Ingoma was created by company dancer and choreographer Mthuthuzeli November, who has received nominations from the Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards (Best Emerging Artist) and the Olivier Awards (Best New Dance Production). Ingoma portrays a milestone in South African history and imagines the struggles of black South African miners and their families in 1946 – when 60,000 of them took courageous strike action. The piece is inspired by the poem, 'Blue Head' (2018) by Asisipho Ndlovu Malunga, and the painting, 'Song of the Pick' (1946) by Gerard Sekoto (1913-1993) <image> (Mthuthuzeli November) <image> (Yann Seabra) <image> (David Plater) <image> (Ballet Black)" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "The controversial legislation will give the Government power to override the section of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement known as the Northern Ireland protocol. The Bill was comfortably passed by MPs, by 340 votes to 263 – but the next stages will not be as straightforward.\n\nBBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg tweeted: “PM had a call with Tory peers tonight to try to assuage their fears about the bill.\n\n“Bill sailed thro Commons today, but next week with amendments won’t be so easy, and Lords are gearing up for a fight – one Cabinet minister admitted there is no chance of it getting past the red benches as it stands.”\n\nSome Tory backbenchers are deeply uncomfortable because by the admission of Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, the Bill breaches international law. <image> The European Union has demanded Mr Johnson withdraws the legislation by the end of the month.\n\nDuring last night’s debate, Mr Johnson told the Commons the Bill was an “insurance policy” aimed at preventing the EU from interpreting aspects of the agreement in “absurd” ways.\n\nHe added: “What we cannot tolerate now is a situation where our EU counterparts seriously believe they have the power to break up our country,” he told MPs.\n\n“We cannot have a situation where the very boundaries of our country can be dictated to by a foreign power or international organisation.”\n\n(SCROLL DOWN FOR REGULAR UPDATES)\n\nFurious EU leaders have threatened Brexit negotiations by choosing to delay their decision on whether the City of London should continue to deal with euro transactions.\n\nThe EU’s decision could create risks for the clearing house trade in euros on the London Stock Exchange.\n\nClearing houses are a mediator between buyers and sellers during trade.\n\nBut UK and EU politicians have disputed clearing houses as cities including Paris want to use Brexit as a tool to argue over London’s influence on financial markets.\n\nTwo Conservative MPs rebelled to vote against giving the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill a second reading, according to the division list.\n\nThey were Sir Roger Gale (North Thanet) and Andrew Percy (Brigg and Goole).\n\nThirty Conservative MPs did not record a vote although this will be for a combination of reasons, including abstentions and MPs who have been excused from voting or paired with opposition MPs unable to vote.\n\nAmong the 30 were former ministers Sajid Javid, Sir Bob Neill and Jeremy Wright, who had all indicated they could not support the Bill without changes. <image> Boris Johnson is making the same mistake about the EU now as Harold Macmillan did about the European Community in the Sixties, a historian suggested in a throwback report.\n\nBritish negotiators believe Downing Street’s plan to break international law may have helped reboot the trade talks by offering Brussels a reality check about the looming danger of a no deal scenario.\n\nThe publication of the internal market bill last week, under which key parts of the withdrawal agreement agreed last year would be rewritten, has enraged the EU and prompted a fresh rebellion within the Conservative Party.\n\nBrussels has set Prime Minister Boris Johnson a three-week deadline to ditch his plans or face financial and trade sanctions, with the clear suggestion that negotiations over a future relationship will fail unless the most contentious parts of the proposed legislation are removed.\n\nWatch the moment Ed Miliband lost it after Boris Johnson appeared to “roll his eyes” during a fierce clash in the House of Commons.\n\nMr Miliband criticised the Prime Minister and the UK Government for considering breaking “international law” during a House of Commons debate on the controversial Internal Market Bill tabled by the Government. Critics of the Brexit legislation argue it undermines the UK’s standing on the world stage after an admission last week from Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis that it would break the law in a “specific and limited way”.\n\nBut the Prime Minister maintains the Bill is necessary in order to uphold the UK’s sovereignty.\n\nDuring his statement in the House of Commons, the former Labour Party leader stated “I don’t know why he is rolling his eyes” in regards to Boris Johnson. <image> 7.39am update: EU explodes in angry response to Boris victory – ‘Trying to blame us!’\n\nThe EU is concerned the Bill would give Britain the power to re-write the withdrawal agreement which was signed off last year.\n\nThe UK considers the Bill to be a defence against any attempt in the future by the EU to blockade food to Northern Ireland or impose customs checks.\n\nMs Barley told BBC’s Newsnight Brexiteers are “trying to blame the EU” for issues relating to a trade deal.\n\n7.36am update: Union warns of “chaos and confusion”\n\nThe 46-page report, dated last week, says an essential IT system used by hauliers will not be tested publicly until the end of November, one month before the UK’s transition phase with Brussels ends.\n\nLeading union Unite warned on Monday that Britain’s ports would be plunged into “chaos and confusion” in the new year unless customs systems and lorry parks are completed.\n\nThe union said lorry drivers feared the complex computer software to deal with customs would not be ready by December 31, adding most of the planned lorry parks were still to be built.\n\nThe latest developments come as Boris Johnson’s controversial plan to override key elements of the Brexit deal he signed with Brussels cleared its first Commons hurdle despite deep misgivings by some senior Tories.\n\nThe Government has admitted it is preparing for the “reasonable worst case” scenario ahead of Brexit as a leaked report warned of queues of 7,000 lorries in Kent and significant delays to cross into the EU.\n\nA confidential document prepared by the Border and Protocol Delivery Group, and seen by The Guardian, also predicts thousands of passengers could have to wait an additional two hours for Eurostar trains.\n\nHowever, a Cabinet Office spokeswoman said in a statement the Government was using a “stretching scenario” as opposed to a prediction.\n\nShe said: “As a responsible government we continue to make extensive preparations for a wide range of scenarios, including the reasonable worst case.\n\n“This is not a forecast or prediction of what will happen but rather a stretching scenario. It reflects a responsible government ensuring we are ready for all eventualities.”" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> (Jenny Agutter and David Gulpilil in Walkabout (1971)) <image> (Walkabout (Limited Edition) (Second Sight) Blu-ray Packshot) Walkabout is the 1971 cult classic from director Nicolas Roeg based on the novel of the same name by James Vance Marshall AKA Donald G. Payne. Set in the Australian outback and filled with gorgeous widescreen vistas, it’s a quiet coming of age story and one that is subversively sensual.\n\nDeparting immediately from the source novel which begins with a plane crash, Nicolas Roeg’s film, from an Edward Bond screenplay, begins with a father who commits suicide and leaves his children, sixteen-year-old Mary (Jenny Agutter, Call the Midwife, Logan’s Run) and her younger six-year-old brother Peter (Roeg’s son Luc Roeg) stranded in the oppressive heat of the Australian outback. Mary decides to leave the scene with her brother and start walking through the bush to find a town, but things don’t go too well for the siblings. They are soon facing starvation, exhaustion, and dehydration. They are only saved when they happen to cross paths with an Aboriginal boy (David Gulpilil, The Leftovers, Cargo) who is on ‘walkabout’ – a traditional ceremony where a boy must leave his village when he comes of age and go out into the wilderness and live off of the land. He teaches Mary and her brother how to survive as Mary, Peter, and the Boy begin to develop a rapport.\n\nThere’s an underlying sexual tension that remains unspoken between Mary and the Aboriginal boy, whose name we never really learn since he continues to speak in his dialect, and communication between the three is strained but becomes easier as the film goes on. That is until the growing sexual awakening in the two teenagers – as is often the case at that age – gets in the way and complicates cultural misunderstandings even further, leading to tragic consequences. <image> (Jenny Agutter in Walkabout (1971)) Was Roeg making a statement with Walkabout? In 1971 when he was making this film Australia was basically an apartheid state and would remain as such right up to around 1980. The idea of a white English girl and a black Aboriginal boy having an unspoken sexual attraction to each other and swimming together naked must have been shocking both in Australia and in the United States where the film also screened and where Jim Crow, redlining, and other racial issues were (and are) still a considerable social issue. Roeg’s film manages to engage these subjects without ever having to overtly mention anything that’s going on. As writing professors will often say, it is better to show than to say, and Roeg shows with an unmatched potency and sensuality.\n\nRoeg also shows the splendor of the Australian outback. Whether it’s the danger of a scorpion about to bite or the brilliant orange sun setting on the dry horizon, we are given a beautiful look at the sun-soaked land down under. His camera transports us to the desert with lots of wide lens deep focus shots, long lens close-ups, a virtual film class on how to shoot nature. The result is nature as a metaphor for the underlying sensuality and sexual awakening of the two older kids and the wide-eyed wonderment of young Peter.\n\nWalkabout is a film that is full of surprises and watchable on many different levels. Young Jenny Agutter and David Gulpilil have incredible chemistry together on the screen while the young Luc Roeg is am charming young lad. This one is a film that should be on the radar of all cinephiles.\n\nThe film was shot on a medium speed 35mm Eastman 100T 5254 film stock and arrives in a new 4K restoration on Blu-ray in a 1.85:1 AVC 1080p encodement from Second Sight Films. The last Blu-ray release in the US was from Criterion Collection in 2010 as far as I know, so this UK release is a very welcome addition and it looks absolutely stunning. The imagery, colors, and textures of the Australian outback absolutely ‘pop’ in this transfer. The grain structure is fine through most of the film, though due to the film speed and lighting we do see some frames where the grain coarsens, but never tilts over into noise. In short, this is a fantastic, filmic transfer rich in color and detail, free from noise and edge enhancement. I would also add that, if ever a classic film was in need of a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release, this is one.\n\nThe original mono audio mix for Walkabout is included in LPCM 1.0. It is a strong presentation of what is an inherently limited format. Dynamics are narrow, but the sound effects and dialogue are clear and there is little hiss or clipping.\n\nThis release is packed with superb bonus content. The limited-edition comes with lots of collectibles including the original source novel with exclusive cover artwork, and a softcover book with a facsimile of the original First Draft Script, and more. On-disc there are lots of new interviews with the cast, and an excellent audio commentary that features Luc Roeg, who starred in the film, and David Thompson.\n\nA fantastic restoration from Second Sight of this 1971 classic, packed with bonus features and collectibles. If you’ve never seen this film, then what are you waiting for? Pick up this UK release ASAP. Ah, heck, pick this up even if you have seen it. <image>" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "But there are really three different key components here. One is a sector of workers whose health and well-being rely on a workplace-specific set of sexual safety measures -- ones that work. Next, at the heart of Prop 60's campaign, is a sex-negative HIV organization run by \"the most hated man in the [AIDS] business.\" And finally, a proposition that formalizes the online harassment of sex workers -- allowing online trolls to be digital vigilantes, granting them the power to punish sex workers by fining and outing them.\n\nIn a statement from the Free Speech Coalition, Chief Executive Diane Duke said, \"If the proposed initiative were to pass, adult performers would immediately be targeted by stalkers and profiteers, who would use the initiatives' sue-a-performer provision to harass and extort adult performers.\" She added:, \"This is an unconscionable initiative that would take a legal and safe industry and push its performers into the shadows.\" <image> (cyber sex depicted by woman removing underwear in front of computer) California law already requires adult film productions to follow its blood-borne-pathogen standards. In addition, in accordance with the adult industry's program for sexual wellness, actors are required to provide clean HIV and STD test results every 14 days (at their own expense; average test cost is around $200). Actors without verified test results are not allowed to work.\n\nAdult performers have united against Prop 60, but AHF and Weinstein aren't interested in what they have to say. On several occasions, porn-industry groups have attempted to publicly speak with or debate Weinstein about condoms on the set and Prop 60, only to be avoided at every turn.\n\nSan Francisco Board of Supervisors member Scott Weiner said in a Medium op-ed, \"This ballot measure, of course, isn't about public health, since it won't have any public-health benefit. Rather, it's about a moralistic, ideological crusade that will do great damage to this California industry and to the health of its employees. It needs to be defeated.\"\n\nAs we pointed out in October, Prop 60 is set to be a litigation minefield. The way the initiative is written, any representation of actual sex is subject to the law, even if you don't see penetration. This means that not only are \"adult films\" themselves subject to lawsuits and fines, but includes any representation of that scene -- banner ads, still images, clips, even if they're just on blogs that write about it.\n\nThe list of organizations opposing Prop 60 is astonishing. Both the California Democratic and Republican parties formally oppose it, as does the California Libertarian Party. AIDS Project Los Angeles and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation hate it. The San Francisco Medical Society and the International Entertainment Adult Union both oppose it and fought in court to have their names removed as supporters when AHF wrongly listed them as formally endorsing the measure.\n\n\"The most hated man in the AIDS business\" <image> (Porn Film Condoms) None of the organizations opposing Prop 60 believe its mission is one of public health, which only adds to growing speculation about AHF's increasingly bizarre role on the global HIV-prevention stage. The New York Times last November called Weinstein \"the most hated man in the AIDS business.\"\n\nAnd make no mistake, AIDS is a big business. Nowhere is that more evident than in Weinstein and AHF's other war against PrEP (a method for preventing HIV) and the success of its key component, a new drug called Truvada.\n\nFrom the minute Truvada became available two years ago, AHF was the prevention drug's most vocal and misleading critic. Along with numerous ad campaigns claiming that Truvada didn't work, Weinstein derisively called it \"a party drug\" that people take to enjoy reckless sex. In contrast, the National Institutes of Health states Truvada is up to 99 percent effective in preventing HIV when taken daily.\n\nIf so, then he's one with a stunning amount of resources for promulgating that denial. The Los Angeles-based AHF is the world's largest AIDS nongovernmental organization (NGO), with more than 630,000 patients spanning 36 countries and a $1.3 billion budget. It raked in $696,135,524 in pharmacy revenue in 2014 alone.\n\nIn addition to all that pharmacy revenue, AHF's financial statements include the accounts of a suborganization it runs, called the HIV Immunotherapeutics Institute (formerly the AHF Pharmacy Network). Its long-term mission is to \"render current antiretroviral medications obsolete,\" which explains AHF and Weinstein's war against antiretroviral drug Truvada. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation would rather shame people out of having sex than rely on an advancement of medicine.\n\nIn response to public backlash against the billboards, Weinstein told The Guardian, \"There are consequences to hooking up.\"" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> BALFOUR Beatty has been awarded two contracts for the Beauly to Keith 132kV modernisation programme, totalling around £43.5 million.\n\nThe first contract, worth c. £36 million, will involve the design, supply, installation construction and commissioning of overhead line work across a 103-kilometre route running between Beauly, Nairn, Elgin and Keith.\n\nThe second contract, worth c. £7.5 million, will include the design, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of underground cabling sections of the route.\n\n“This project shows our ability to bring together both overhead line and cabling capability under a single programme of works, reducing the risk to our client of managing design and operational interfaces as the project progresses.”\n\nSSEN lead project manager, Ian Clark added, “The Beauly to Keith reconductoring project will increase the 132kV electricity network capacity whilst replacing assets which are nearing the end of their working life, further securing the supply of electricity in the north of Scotland.\n\n“Balfour Beatty have been integral to the development of the project and their significant experience in delivering similar projects will be invaluable over the next three years.”\n\nThe contract is due to start this spring with completion for the whole works expected by early 2021. <image>" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> (MY ZINC BED @ ENSEMBLE THEATRE) MY ZINC BED, by award-winning and provocative playwright David Hare, made its debut at The Royal Court Theatre, London, in 2000. Its carefully crafted eloquence and finesse continues to attract audiences. Mark Kilmurry’s current production is vibrant and funny with an appropriate underlying sadness throughout.\n\nHusband Victor Quinn is a masterful raconteur whose colourful past had its roots in the communist party, at one time greatly popular with intellectuals and philosophers. His transformation over the years brings him into the corporate world as a highly successful founder of an IT company. Despite this success and wealth, Victor has not lost his penchant for the less fortunate and vulnerable.\n\nSean Taylor gives a magnificent performance as Victor, charismatic and complex, brimming with the relentless ability to win an argument, which can lead Victor to play dangerous games. END_OF_DOCUMENT_TOKEN_TO_BE_REPLACED <image> (RICHARD III) With nods to both the legendary Olivier and the McKellan versions, this is an extraordinarily beautifully spoken version of Shakespeare’s play, but I am afraid it just falls short of the mark. You can certainly see what this production is attempting to achieve, however it still leaves us feeling a little emotionally uninvolved.\n\nThis is a pared back abridged version with cuts, and many of the cast playing several different characters as required throughout the play, which can be a little confusing.\n\nThis production, directed by and starring Mark Kilmurry, is framed as a dangerous act of theatre, in which six players gather in a dark, sparsely furnished bunker to perform Shakespeare’s Richard III. There is a sense of suspense, of wartime desolation, of destruction.\n\nBarely acknowledging each other upon flurried arrival, the cast set straight to work ,at first rehearsing short, key snippets of scenes, the sword fight in particular. Costumes, props and a set of benches, a table and dead TV sets have already been assembled. Kilmurry straps on a hump, picks up his gloves, assumes the now stereotypical gait and a clandestine performance begins, rather quietly and at a nervous pace.\n\nWhat then develops is a sturdy presentation of an abridged text, occasionally interrupted by the menacing sounds of barking dogs, loud bangs on the door (which is monitored via CCTV) and patrolling helicopters overhead, all adding intensity and suspense, in what is a highly stylised production.\n\nThe cast speak in a broad range of accents, that dip and change as characters and alliances change.\n\nThe abridgements work well, as do some deft touches of theatrical shorthand – taking glasses on and off to demonstrate a quick-change between multiple characters played by a single actor.\n\nSome key set piece moments do not really catch fire and we feel little for Clarence (Matt Edgerton) as he hurtles towards his death. Also the build up of circumstances towards Bosworth Field is rushed through and barely indicated.\n\nAs King Richard III, while beautifully spoken and with a very expressive face, Mark Kilmurry portrays him as shallow, calculating and manipulative rather than darkly villainous, and it is hard to care for him. The King’s wooing of Lady Anne is played straight and with plenty of feeling. This is in contrast with some of the set piece/famous monologues which did leave me unmoved.\n\nDanielle Carter of the exquisite alabaster skin was tremendous as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Edward. I liked the effect for the Princes in the Tower of having them in brightly striped, very posh school blazers and boaters, but it also in some ways made them look like a vaudeville act.\n\nPatrick Dickson as Buckingham gives a strong, splendid performance. Matt Edgerton is terrific in his many roles as assorted characters. Amy Mathews was most impressive.\n\nAt the finale, Kilmurry pauses for a tense, dangerous moment. He looks at the crown. He then drags on his coat. The ominous helicopter sounds increase in volume and appear to be coming much closer. He grabs a piece of chalk, defiantly writes the date, hurriedly scribbles ”Richard III” and vanishes out the door. They were there and this performance happened. We, the audience, were with them.\n\nRunning time – roughly 2 and a half hours including one interval.\n\n”RICHARD III” runs at the Ensemble until July 19 and then transfers to play at the Parramatta Riverside theatre between July 22 and 26 .\n\nAnna Crawford’s production of Alan Ayckbourn’s laconic comedy ‘My Wonderful Day’ is a well crafted and performed night at the theatre,\n\n‘My Wonderful Day’ features two black actors in leading roles. The scenario sees a nine year old black girl Winnie Barnstairs (Belinda Jombwe) take a day off school and accompany her heavily pregnant mum Laverne (Shareena Clanton) to work. Laverne is cleaning the house of a cantankerous television personality, Kevin Tate (Mark Owen-Taylor), Laverrne tells Winnie that she must be quiet and do her homework, which is to write her essay/journal that she entitles ‘My Wonderful Day’.\n\nLife in the Tate household is far from serene! Tate is a difficult man whose life is made more difficult by his BAFTA award winning wife Paula (Danielle Carter) having left him. His ditzy secretary Tiffany comes to his aid and things are more than a little chaotic.\n\nA sweet natured young girl, Winnie is also bright and astute, and as the day unfolds, with director Anna Crawford, (an Ensemble theatre director’s fellow), flashing the changing times on the back wall, Winnie witnesses the adults’ comical, and at times, irrational behaviour first hand. Winnie will never look at adults in quite the same way!\n\n‘My Wonderful Day’ runs straight through for ninety minutes without interval. Typical of Ayckbourn’s plays, as ‘dramatic’ as the action is, the playwright’s trademark one liners are interspersed through the play with lines such as ‘I married an angel/ I divorced a monster’, and the young Winnie with her ever present pen and exercise book is jokingly portrayed as a young Emily Bronte.\n\nThe roles are neatly played. Mark Owen-Taylor is well cast as the highly strung, comical Kevin Tate. As Paula, Danielle Carter makes a major impression in a scene where she discovers infidelity. Shareena Clanton gives a warm performance as the good natured, hard working Laverne and has a funny, chaotic scene where her waters break in the living room. Young actress Belinda Jombwe plays something of a leading role as Winnie who is trying to discreetly fathom what’s happening. Belinda’s timing is first class. Matilda Ridgeway gives a typically assured performance as the ‘accomodating’ secretary. Brian Meegan plays Kevin’s gregarious mate who tries everything to protect him." } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "Czechs top toy exporters in Europe, thanks to LEGO\n\nThe Czech Republic is Europe’s top toy distributor, exporting more than 50 billion crowns now annually, according to a new study by UniCredit bank. LEGO, Playmobil and similar plastic toy sets account for two-thirds of that, though the country is also churning out various miniature sets and dolls. Along with neighbouring Slovakia, the Czech Republic has been the fastest-growing toy exporter in the EU since 2004. I asked UniCredit bank senior economist Patrik Rožumberský how and when this country became the top exporter. <image> (Patrik Rožumberský, photo: archive of Patrik Rožumberský) Patrik Rožumberský, photo: archive of Patrik Rožumberský “The Czech Republic took over this lead position in the European market in terms of exports of toys from Germany in 2012, mainly because of a shift of production of Lego toys from Western countries, mainly from the home country of Lego Denmark.”\n\nEven without Lego, the Czechs would still be the second-biggest toy exporters in the EU. Do you have a rough breakdown of what percentage are Czech-made products and which are assembled here?\n\n“I don’t have the detailed figures, but in the structure of exports, I can say that especially construction sets, or toy blocks from plastics, and miniature models play the biggest role in total toy exports from the Czech Republic.”\n\nAnd those sets, those plastic kits that you mention, most of those parts are typically made somewhere else but then assembled, packaged, and distributed from the Czech Republic?\n\n“I think that most of these plastic toys come from Lego toys manufactured in the Czech Republic, and the lesser part are from toys which have their origin in this country.”\n\nThe UniCredit study says that only four EU countries export more toys than they import, and three of them are in central Europe – the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary – and the fourth is Malta. To your knowledge, does this stem from the relatively cheap labour costs here, from the relocation of companies such as Lego to this area, or is there an especially strong manufacturing or toy-making tradition? <image> (Photo: Alan Chia, CC BY-SA 2.0) Photo: Alan Chia, CC BY-SA 2.0 “I think it’s a combination of both – it’s about a tradition of toy manufacturing in central and eastern Europe and the resulting move of production from the Westerns countries.”\n\n“Maybe the most interesting thing to note is that the annual volume of exports per person [in the Czech Republic] amounted to almost 200 euros, so it’s in the second position after Malta, and quite a very good position.”\n\nSo, quite a significant part of the economy here – and do you see it growing, or has it reached a saturation point?\n\n“I think the market for toys seems to be quite saturated. We’ve seen the exports start to drop from the 2005 level, to be on the decline for the last one or two years.”\n\nAll EU countries are currently exporting more toys than in 2005, with the smallest increase, less than 5 percent, reported by Italy. On average, exports of toys have increased by 150 percent in EU countries since then. <image> (Photo: ČTK/Luboš Pavlíček) <image> (Photo: Martina Schneibergová) One of the many successful exhibitions marking the 100th anniversary of Czechoslovakia is Mini Wonders, which explores the evolution… <image> (Photo: Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague) A major exhibition of dolls’ houses from the Victoria &Albert Museum of Childhood in London is now on display in Prague. Through the…" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> (Eric Nottke) Eric Nottke is the program director and a faculty member in the Production and Project Management (PPM) MFA program at UNCSA. With over 25 years of experience, he worked most recently as the Director of Production for the Tony-Award winning Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, Mass. Before that, Nottke served as the Production Manager for the Performing Arts and Film at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), one of the largest centers for contemporary visual art and performing arts in the United States.\n\nMy philosophy is pretty simple. Do what you love, love what you do and do it the best that you can. That’s what I want students to take away from their time with me. <image> (Sarah Penland on the set of Spring Awakening)" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "Social media is ablaze now with the news of the demise of Robyn Jang Lucero. Founder of the Bi Chapter Piston Club and member of the Bisexual Confession Files (BCF) Tam-Bi-Yan, she drove a car-for-hire for a living.\n\nInitial reports leaking to the social media state that Robyn may have been murdered around 10.00PM of June 28 along a bypass road in Brgy. Maunong in the City of Calamba in the Province of Laguna. Barangay personnel reported an accident to the Philippine National Police (PNP) assigned to Brgy. Bucal, but they were informed that this was already in the jurisdiction of Brgy. Maunong. Calamba’s PNP eventually called for a team to investigate.\n\nRobyn had multiple stab wounds on her chest.\n\nTracing her social media posts, Robyn was heading back to Laguna and was looking for would-be passengers.\n\nRobyn seemed aware of the dangers faced particularly by LGBTQIA people – e.g. a June post asked for her “LGBT friends” and “kin” who are wary to consider hiring her.\n\nOnly 10 months ago, in September 2019, another crime involving a member of the LGBTQIA community was reported in Pangasinan, when the lifeless body of Jessa Remiendo was found on the shore of Patar in Bolinao. Remembered as kind and hard-working, Remiendo’s case highlights how “hate crimes can just be committed against people like us,” Noreen Barber, overall president of the United Pangasinan Association LGBTQ+, said at that time.\n\nAt that time, Barber cautioned that the gruesome murder should signal other LGBTQIA people to be cautious because “hate crimes sa mga katulad natin ay walang pinipili. Hanggat di pa naipapasa ang SOGIE Equality Bill tayo ay mananatiling the most unprotected and neglected sector sa ating komunidad (hate crimes can just be committed against people like us. For as long as the SOGIE Equality Bill is not passed, we will continue to be the most unprotected and neglected sector in our community).”\n\nNo official report has been released yet on Robyn’s murder.\n\nOutrage Magazine also reached out to the first responders at the scene of the crime, as well as to other people who knew – or may have known – Robyn, but no responses have been received as of press time.\n\nThe bisexual group reported higher levels of cannabis use disorder, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, depression and suicidality than either the groups classified as exclusively...\n\nSexual and gender minority patients were more likely to have “non-traditional stroke risks.” These included HIV and current or previous history of syphilis and... <image> There is an attempt to block the passage of Senate Bill No. 160 - or the SOGIESC Equality Act, the latest version of the... <image> In 2022, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) added into the dictionary LGBTQIA-related words, symbolizing the pervasiveness of words used for and by the queer..." } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> (Star-studded draw held for first-ever Diriyah Tennis Cup) <image> (Star-studded draw held for first-ever Diriyah Tennis Cup) Jeddah - Yasmine El Tohamy - RIYADH: The draw for Thursday’s opening day of the Diriyah Tennis Cup, presented by Saudi Aramco, has served up a mouth-watering set of quarterfinals for the Kingdom’s first-ever international tennis event.\n\nWorld No. 12 Fabio Fognini (Italy) and big-serving John Isner (US) officially open the tournament in an exciting opening quarterfinal clash starting at 4 p.m. at the Diriyah Arena.\n\nThis will be followed by three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka (Switzerland) taking on flamboyant world No. 10 Gael Monfils (France).\n\nThe third quarterfinal will see top seed and world No. 5 Danil Medvedev (Russia) face off against German No. 2 Jan-Lennard Struff.\n\nThe draw, conducted by the players alongside Prince Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, chairman of the Saudi General Sports Authority, took place on Wednesday at the stunning Diriyah Arena.\n\nThe Diriyah Arena took just two months to build, with a footprint of 10,000 sq. meters. It has been transformed in just three days following last weekend’s historic “Clash on the Dunes” heavyweight boxing title fight between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr.\n\nPrince Abdul Aziz said: “I am personally so excited to welcome an amazing line-up of some of the very best tennis players on the planet to Saudi Arabia.”\n\nHe added: “Tennis joins a spectacular season of world-class sport, entertainment, music and culture at Diriyah. Last weekend was a momentous occasion as we hosted a world heavyweight title fight in this extraordinary and unique arena. And we’re now set to make more history over the coming days.”\n\nHe said: “Hosting top-tier international tennis in Saudi Arabia for the very first time is another momentous sporting occasion for Saudi Arabia.”\n\nHe added: “The Diriyah Tennis Cup can inspire new players and new fans in Saudi — male, female, old or young. Our goal is to have our people engaged in tennis, inspired by tennis, taking part in tennis and connected as a nation by the sport.”\n\nAs well as the eight multi-ATP Tour title-winning superstar names competing, the Diriyah Tennis Cup will also witness rising stars challenge each other in a one-off Saudi special exhibition match.\n\nRiyadh-born Michael Mmoh and Saudi national star Ammar Al-Haqbani, both 21, will compete in front of a home crowd ahead of the final match on Saturday, as a precursor to the tournament’s finale.\n\nAll ticket holders for the Diriyah Tennis Cup will be able to attend concerts featuring global superstars Calvin Harris and Major Lazer on Dec. 13, and world-renowned DJs Swedish House Mafia the day after.\n\nThese were the details of the news Star-studded draw held for first-ever Diriyah Tennis Cup for this day. We hope that we have succeeded by giving you the full details and information. To follow all our news, you can subscribe to the alerts system or to one of our different systems to provide you with all that is new. <image> <image> <image>" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "Related posts:\n10 best financial peace organizer\nExpert choice for audible historical fiction\nHow to buy the best crossing cultural frontiers?\nWhich is the best inked playmats mtg?\nList of the Top 8 requirements elicitation techniques you can buy in 2019\n\n1. Conscience and Courage: Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust <image> In this brilliantly researched and insightfulbook, psychologist Eva Fogelman presents compellingstories of rescuers of Jews during theHolocaust--and offers a revealing analysis of theirmotivations. Based on her extensive experience as atherapist treating Jewish survivors of the Holocaust andthose who helped them, Fogelman delves into thepsychology of altruism, illuminating why theserescuers chose to act while others simply stood by.While analyzing motivations, Conscience AndCourage tells the stories of suchlittle-known individuals as Stefnaia PodgorskaBurzminska, a Polish teenager who hid thirteen Jews in herhome; Alexander Roslan, a dealer in the blackmarket who kept uprooting his family to shelter threeJewish children in his care, as well as moreheralded individuals such as Oskar Schindler, RaoulWallenberg, and Miep Gies. Speaking to the sameaudience that flocked to Steven Spielberg's AcademyAward-winning movie, Schindler'sList, Conscience And Courage is thefirst book to go beyond the stories to answer thequestion: Why did theyhelp?\n\n2. Children in the Holocaust and its Aftermath: Historical and Psychological Studies of the Kestenberg Archive <image> The testimonies of individuals who survived the Holocaust as children pose distinct emotional and intellectual challenges for researchers: as now-adult interviewees recall profound childhood experiences of suffering and persecution, they also invoke their own historical awareness and memories of their postwar lives, requiring readers to follow simultaneous, disparate narratives. This interdisciplinary volume brings together historians, psychologists, and other scholars to explore child survivors accounts. With a central focus on the Kestenberg Holocaust Child Survivor Archives over 1,500 testimonies, it not only enlarges our understanding of the Holocaust empirically but illuminates the methodological, theoretical, and institutional dimensions of this unique form of historical record.\n\n3. Courage and Conscience: Black and White Abolitionists in Boston <image> Written by first-rate scholars, these 10 essays give focus to the antislavery movement in Boston, particularly to the significance of African American abolitionists.\" Choice\n\n... this work is a thoughtful, long overdue discourse on individual and group accomplishments. It is replete with absorbing illustrations, which when accompanied by insightful essays, depict the courage of those who labored for equality in antebellum Boston.\" Journal of the Early Republic\n\nUntil recently little was known of the contributions of African Americans in the antebellum abolition movement. Massachusetts, having granted voting rights early on to black males, was a center of antislavery agitation. Courage and Conscience documents the black activism in 19th-century Boston that was critical to the success of the abolitionist cause. <image> Presents the life and work of the young activist, including her childhood in Pakistan's Swat Valley, her current work advocating for the rights and education of young women, and her courage after suffering an assassination attempt. <image> Describes the life and career of the first openly gay elected official in the United States, from his childhood in New York and his early career in finance to his political life, his assassination, and his lasting legacy.\n\n6. Beautiful Souls: The Courage and Conscience of Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times <image> \"A fascinating study in the better angels of our nature.\"George Packer, The New Yorker\n\nHistory has produced many specimens of the banality of evil, but what about its flip side, what impels ordinary people to defy the sway of authority and convention? Through these dramatic stories of unlikely resisters, Eyal Press' Beautiful Souls shows that the boldest acts of dissent are often carried out not only by radicals seeking to overthrow the system but also by true believers who cling with unusual fierceness to their convictions. Drawing on groundbreaking research by moral psychologists and neuroscientists, this deeply reported work of narrative journalism examines the choices and dilemmas we all face when our principles collide with the loyalties we harbor and the duties we are expected to fulfill. <image> Sophie Scholl, an ambitious student with hopes for a bright future, was found guilty of treason and executed during Adolf Hitler's reign in Germany. This captivating story of a young life cut short will draw the attention of even reluctant readers as they follow her story, including her involvement as a leader in a Hitler Youth organization, participation in a secret resistance group, and subsequent arrest. Additional digital material provides readers with insight into the tumultuous time of Nazi Germany during World War II and the courage that compelled Scholl, her brother, and their friends to resist the regime.\n\n8. How Could You Do That?!: The Abdication of Character, Courage, and Conscience <image> How Could You Do That?! illustrates Dr. Laura Schlessinger's philosophy of personal responsibility through her usually provocative but always stimulating moral dialogues with callers about everyday ethical dilemmas.\n\nIn her lively pull-no-punches style, Dr. Laura takes on the moral dilemmas of our time: from the mindless pursuit of pleasure and immediate gratification to taking the easy way out when those actions produce ugly or uncomfortable life-altering consequences. She demonstrates in no uncertain terms that personal values are never someone else's reponsibility but your own, and why choosing not to honor them actually compounds unhappiness. Finally she explains that by disciplining self-indulgence and rising above temptation we can discover the infinite pleasures, the true happiness, of the moral high ground.\n\nDr. Laura delivers not only a compelling argument for an ethical approach to life but also an invaluable inspiration to rebuilding character, conscience, and courage. Here is a work that can make a genuine difference in the quality of your own life and the lives of those we love. <image> Henry David Thoreau was known for living simply, but his views and convictions were anything but. This insightful text introduces the man who, though he lived alone in the woods for part of his life, stood up against slavery and war. Readers will learn how this reclusive figure assisted with the Underground Railroad and wrote provocative essays that inspired history's most famous writers and activists. Additional digital biographies, background, and vocabulary provide background for Thoreau's story, while showing readers the palpable power of passionate, well-crafted words. <image> In 2016, Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi became the state counselor of Myanmar. She wasn't always given a say in her country's political affairs. She spent more than fifteen years under house arrest as punishment for speaking out against human rights abuses and promoting democracy. She then became an international symbol of peaceful resistance to oppression. Readers will learn about Suu Kyi's extraordinary struggles and accomplishments. The compelling main text, a detailed timeline, and bonus online material help students contextualize Suu Kyi's life and her impact on history.\n\nBy our suggestions above, we hope that you can found the best conscience and courage for you. Please don't forget to share your experience by comment in this post. Thank you!" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "From fake fan-tracks to pre-recorded hymns and sanitation stations, the new world has drastically altered match days in Wales.\n\nOn Saturday, for the first time in 17 years, the men will play outside Cardiff with no fans – even poor old Shenklin the goat who parades before games has to stay at his barracks – no hywl or haranguing drinkers in sight.\n\nWith the country in a ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown and the Principality Stadium standing by as a Nightingale hospital still, it is out to west Wales to Llanelli and their new normal. <image> <image> (Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli will play host to Wales' final Six Nations encounter on the weekend) It will be eerie and quiet not rocking and raging like under the roof in the capital. Attendance, officially zero; not a daffodil hat in the place for Scotland’s visit – perhaps the only positive.\n\nFor Wales, the team who perhaps rely on their supporters to drag them to results more than any other in the rugby world, there is no place like home.\n\nBut through artificial means and colour schemes they hope to re-create all that they will miss.\n\nAlex Luff, the Principality Stadium operations manager, has helped staged Anthony Joshua fights, Take That concerts, the 2017 Champions League final and more than 100 Wales Tests in Cardiff but his task to transform Parc y Scarlets firstly into a Covid-safe arena and secondly one fit for an international has been his tallest order.\n\n‘The Champions League Final in 2017 (where Real Madrid beat Juventus 4-1) was a three-year project for one match,’ he explains talking exclusively to Sportsmail.\n\n‘We’ve had to condense that work into a month-and-a-half.’\n\nAs the national stadium is now Dragon’s Heart Hospital, taking patients at the start of the pandemic in the spring as the second-largest facility of its type in the UK, Wales had to play away from their ground for the first time in 108 Tests.\n\nBut none allowed and Scarlets was chosen for all four of their home autumn fixtures, starting with Scotland in the Six Nations this weekend.\n\nThe last time a men’s Test was played there was in 1998 – at the old Stradey Park against Argentina – Saturday will be world’s apart in many ways.\n\n‘We’ve got to try and transform Parc y Scarlets into our home,’ adds Luff.\n\n‘We want the team to feel as if they’re coming into familiar surroundings – a lot of them do play there for their region, one of the reasons we used the venue in the first place. <image> (Wales' national ground - Principality Stadium - is standing by as a Nightingale hospital still) ‘The venue will be transformed with a lot of red branding to make it feel like home.\n\n‘The elements you come to love and expect from the Principality Stadium will be there, albeit slightly reduced and watered down.’\n\nThat means smoke, flames and music for the teams’ entry and when tries are scored.\n\nThose few in the ground will not hear much aside from the snap, crackle and pop of an international – with added swearing.\n\nBut for television viewers, an atmosphere will be added.\n\n‘The Six Nations have worked with the BBC for the Scotland game and Amazon for the Nations Cup and there will be a specific home noise,’ explains Luff.\n\n‘They will be using soundscape from a previous Wales game at the Principality and using that as the background noise for Parc y Scarlets.’\n\nSo expect the fake fans to be ‘siiing-ing Hymns and Arias, Land of my Fathers’, Ar hyd y nos.’\n\n‘I’ve that on my playlist!’ says Luff. <image> (Come anthem time on Saturday, Wales have enlisted the help of a 250-strong choir) Come anthem time on Saturday, Wales have enlisted the help of a 250-strong choir <image> (Wales will be without their hugely vocal backing from their fans at the Principality Stadium) ‘You’ll definitely hear Hymns and Arias and all the Welsh songs, although virtually, on the match-day broadcast.’\n\nOn Friday, after the team’s usual ‘captain’s run’ training session the whole stadium will be locked down, security swept and deep-cleaned.\n\nEveryone who attends will complete a health questionnaire and have their temperatures checked, before accreditation is issued for either the red zone – for essential staff and players – or amber zone – for media and stadium staff.\n\nAttendance will be logged by the NHS track and trace app, face-masks are mandatory for all but the players and hand-gel will abound.\n\nThe pre-match setup will be familiar. Scotland will emerge first, then Wales – with smoke and flames filling Llanelli skies.\n\nThe teams will be wetter than usual, though, with a yellow warning of rain set for Carmarthenshire and no roof now to protect them.\n\nCome anthem time Wales have enlisted the help of a 250-strong choir — from Cor Meibion Taf, as well as Pendyrus, Pontarddulais and Cardiff Arms Park Male voice choirs — and a recording from The Cory Band to bring Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau to life, hoping to tingle spines across the country. <image> (Wayne Pivac's Wales side will be in Llanelli until December amid the coronavirus pandemic) ‘A standard acoustic play-out of a track doesn’t really work, so ours comes with a proper supported choir back-drop,’ says Luff.\n\n‘There will be an additional PA pitch-side, so the players can hear it and sing along properly, to make sure it doesn’t bounce around an empty stadium. It’s a moment for them.\n\n‘Hopefully Alun Wyn Jones is becoming the world’s most capped player, so we want to make sure everything we do ensures we can create those moments we do best.’\n\nAt kick-off the rugby will take over. Wales will be in Llanelli until December as their fans are on sofas; it will take two months to fully de-commission the Principality Stadium and convert it level-by-level back into the famous rugby venue.\n\nWhenever that day comes – financially and spiritually – Wales will be desperate to return home.\n\n‘Having fans back will bring the soul back and what live sport is all about,’ concludes Luff.\n\n‘Nothing beats a packed out stadium. The fans make the spectacle – them coming back safely can’t come soon enough. Hopefully that will be in February for the Six Nations.’\n\nHow the Champions League’s ‘Swiss’ revamp will look – with Liverpool facing Real AND Bayern!\n\nPhotos have surfaced of Brittany Hockley getting into a heated conversation with Etihad Airways staff over her excess-baggage fee..." } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "In contemporary China, profound political transformation can – and has – taken place in the absence of regime change or Western-style democratisation.\n\nThe starkest example is the period of “reform and opening” that began in 1978 under Deng Xiaoping’s charge.\n\nAlthough Deng rejected multiparty elections, he fundamentally changed the direction of the Communist Party of China (CPC), as well as the distribution of power within it.\n\nThe coronavirus epidemic that began in Wuhan in December 2019 may augur a similar historic turning point. The outbreak of what is now called Covid-19 represents more than just a passing moment of stress for the CPC. The world should be prepared for what could come next.\n\nNormally, a single epidemic, even if mishandled, would not break the Chinese regime. Over the past four decades, the CPC has weathered numerous crises, from the 1989 Tiananmen tragedy and the 2002-03 SARS epidemic to the 2008 global financial crisis.\n\nSome of the regime’s critics have long predicted its imminent demise, only to be proven wrong.\n\nBefore President Xi Jinping, the Chinese style of governance was adaptive and decentralised, or what I call “directed improvisation.” In addition, civil society, including muckraking journalism, expanded rapidly.\n\nThis time is different. Since coming to power in 2012, Xi has tightened political control at home and projected superpower ambitions abroad. These policies have unnerved Chinese private investors, alarmed Western powers, and sharpened tensions with the United States, all of which have contributed to a broader economic slowdown.\n\nThe Covid-19 outbreak has added an additional source of stress and unpredictability to the regime’s mounting challenges.\n\nAs the epidemic persists, China will struggle to reopen for business, bringing even stiffer economic headwinds as small- and medium-size enterprises fail, workers lose jobs, and inflation picks up. While the Chinese leadership is highly adept at solving one crisis at a time, it has rarely had to confront so many near-existential crises at once.\n\nIn a recent commentary, Kevin Rudd, a former Australian prime minister who is now president of The Asia Society, argued that “the crisis, once resolved, will not change how China is governed in the future.” But that prognosis is too optimistic. Indeed, cracks are already appearing in Xi’s supreme leadership.\n\nFor example, at the peak of the public outrage over the government’s initial cover-up of the outbreak, Xi disappeared from public view.\n\nAfter his meeting with the director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Jan 28, he didn’t resurface until his state meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Feb 5.\n\nFor a leader who normally dominates China’s news cycle every day, Xi’s absence amid a national panic was conspicuous, and led some Chinese observers to speculate that his grip on power may be in peril.\n\nIf that seems unthinkable, it is worth remembering that the past years have produced events that few anticipated. Who predicted, for example, that an American real-estate mogul would face off with a Chinese princeling in an earth-shaking superpower rivalry, or that China might replace the United States as a champion for capitalist globalisation?\n\nThe current moment of precariousness could well give way to more profound political change.\n\nThree possibilities stand out. The most extreme, worst-case scenario is regime collapse. China-bashers who read that sentence should not gloat, because the sudden dissolution of an authoritarian regime does not necessarily lead to democratisation; in many cases, it leads to civil war, as we saw in Iraq after the United States forcibly removed Saddam Hussein and as we see today in post-Qaddafi Libya. A violent power struggle within China would be catastrophic for the entire world.\n\nFortunately, this scenario is unlikely. Although China is under unprecedented stress, its economy has not come to a standstill.\n\nAnd while tens of thousands of Chinese are infected with the virus and many more are furious at the government, the vast majority of the population is nowhere near desperation.\n\nThe second scenario is a change in leadership at the highest level. Xi cannot avoid blame for the backlash against his restrictive domestic policies and assertive actions abroad, which had already begun to undercut support for him even before the Covid-19 epidemic. With the death of Li Wenliang, a doctor who was rebuked by state authorities for warning others about the virus, the failings of Xi’s top-down approach have been laid bare.\n\nNews of Li’s passing unleashed a firestorm of online criticism of the government, and Xi’s failure to appear on the frontlines of the fight has further diminished his credibility as a populist leader.\n\nIn principle, Xi’s abolition of constitutional term limits allows him to stay on as president for life. But whether he actually will remain in office after his current term ends in 2022 is now an open question.\n\nOwing to the concentration of power in the Chinese system, the paramount leader has an outsize impact on all spheres of society, as well as foreign policy. If a new leader were to take over in 2022 – or even before then – the most likely outcome would be a reset of all of Xi’s policy priorities, forcing the rest of the world to revisit its thinking about China and its global role.\n\nIn the third scenario, Xi clings to his post, but it is hollowed out and power shifts over to various other competing factions. Such an arrangement would not be without precedent.\n\nAfter the Great Leap Forward, Mao Zedong’s fanatical campaign in 1958-62 to “catch up with Britain in ten years,” killed 30 million peasants, Mao was forced into retirement but remained paramount leader in name. (Later, he would stage a comeback, ushering in another decade-long disaster: the Cultural Revolution).\n\nIt is already clear that Chinese politics and governance will not be the same after the Covid-19 outbreak. The myth that Xi and his supporters have sustained about the virtues of centralised control has been demolished.\n\nLi’s parting words – “A healthy society should not have only one voice” – will remain etched in the minds of hundreds of millions of Chinese, who have seen for themselves that censorship can endanger their lives. <image> <image> <image>" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "Thanks to a weird quirk in airline pricing from the UK, I’m headed back to London for free. The plan, as much as there is one, is to stay for about a week, then head to Europe. Probably southern France, but who knows. I’ll figure out when I get there.\n\nThis is the same general direction I went on my last trip, but unlike that adventure, I have zero plan after London. Just a direction.\n\nI have spent the majority of this year on the road, and while I’m by no means an expert (check out CyclingDutchGirl for that), I see from Facebook and Twitter comments that a lot of people have questions about things I take for granted.\n\nSo here are some travel tips from an inveterate traveler.\n\nAirfare prices, generally, don’t change much the closer you get to departure\n\nThe price change myth is shockingly pervasive. As long as you’re flexible on exact flights (and airlines), the price of a ticket 3 months out isn’t radically different from 3 days. I booked my flight to Australia 3 months out from departure, and it was $1,600. That same flight, the morning of the flight was $1,650. Nearly all my flights this year I booked no more than a day or two in advance. <image> (Leadenhall Place) Every hostel I stayed at had at least one, usually more than one, person over 50. Very few hostels have age caps (and screw them). Hostels are a brilliant way to meet new people, are usually clean, comfortable, and most importantly, cheap.\n\nHostelworld.com works like any hotel website, showing you what’s available in the area, and most importantly, many, many reviews. Usually any place lower than an 80% is a hole, but check the actual reviews. Sometimes people will rate a hostel badly because their roommate snored, or some other stupid reason.\n\nI did 3 months in Australia and SE Asia with 36 pounds of luggage, and 12 of that was camera and computer gear I needed for work. Pack for 90% of what you will likely encounter, and buy the rest if you need it when you get there. If you can’t easily lift your luggage, you have packed too much.\n\nAnd don’t give me that “well you’re a boy” crap. Don’t sell your gender short. No one is going to give a shit if you wear the same shirt more than once, least of all boys. <image> (London) I’m always surprised how few people sign up for these. They’re free, and they add up. Even flying once or twice a year is enough for a free ticket after two years. Sometimes the miles expire, sure, but that’s not a reason not to sign up, is it?\n\nI’ve never had a hotel deny me a late checkout, and most have no issue with early check-in. Sometimes there are legitimate issues (cleaning, it’s booked), but hotels are usually very flexible.\n\nHostels, I’ve found, are a lot less accommodating. Most want you out by a certain time, and won’t let you check in early. Not sure why that is, but it’s pretty universal. Still, can’t hurt to ask. <image> (Stonehenge) Got a few hours before your flight, but after you check out (or the opposite?), I’ve never found a hotel or hostel that won’t keep your luggage for a few hours.\n\nGet a USB battery pack\n\nFor under $50 you can get a great USB battery pack that will recharge all your devices if you’re away from an outlet for a long time.\n\nAlong the same lines, you probably don’t need a power converter. Just outlet adapters. The only things you would need a converter for is an old laptop, or a hairdryer. Neither of which you should bring with you (hotels have the latter, and you should be able to find one in any hostel – or buy one when you get there).\n\nPhotograph or scan your credit cards (both sides), driver’s license, and passport, then email these to yourself. It won’t get you through customs, but might save you some hassle if something/everything gets stolen.\n\nLock your phone, use two-factor authentication\n\nUse a screen lock on your phone. Not one of the swipe/design ones (you can see the smudges).\n\nEnable, if you can, two-step authentication on your email. If you plan on using public computers, this will make checking your email annoying, but should prevent someone from stealing your login. <image> (Giant's Causeway) Unlock your phone (if you can) and buy a local SIM\n\nMy #2 overall travel tip (the next one is #1). If you can unlock your phone, you can get a local SIM and get really, really cheap data rates. For comparison, Sprint international data roaming is $19 a megabyte (one picture upload). The lowest I got was in Austria, which was $0.01 per megabyte. You read that right. Local SIM’s rule.\n\nNo matter how shitty your day is going, no matter how jetlagged you are, smile like an idiot and everything is a LOT easier. <image> (Long Room Trinity College) <image> (Akihabara) <image>" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> The sci-fi geek suing James Cameron for stealing the \"Avatar\" idea might have a case -- but most likely ... he's wasting his time.\nAnd, Khloe Kardashian's hubby Lamar Odom on the outs with the Lakers after the Chris Paul trade fails. What's next for Lamar and the Lakers? Former NBA star Olden Polynice joins us and blasts commissioner Stern.\nPlus, Kris Humphries leaves everybody dumbfounded after his strange GMA interview.\n\n(3:33)A man is claiming James Cameron stole his story idea when he made Avatar ... and he plans on suiing Cameron. Seems like a common trend in Hollywood.\n(8:02) TMZ's lawyer, Jason Beckerman, lets us know if the guy suiing Cameron has a case.\n(18:08) Former NBA star, Olden Polynice, called in and gave us his views on Lamar Odom staying with the Lakers. Olden compares NBA Commissioner, David Stern, to Jerry Sandusky.\n(29:45) Poor Kris Humphries was blindsided today on Good Morning America when he was asked about his marriage to Kim Kardashian. Did he really think they weren't going to bring it up?!\n(36:07) A caller fills us in on what he calls 'the Kardashian curse' -- Listen up! This guy might have a point.\n(47:11) We squeeze in two more topics! Katherine Heigl says she would forgive her hubby if he cheated on her. Last topic ... did you see X-Factor last night?! The water works were turned on ... Nicole Scherzinger didn't take a stance, and the wrong contestant might have went home. <image> <image> <image> Khloe Kardashian -- Down to Relocate If Lamar Odom Gets Traded <image>" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "The PRE-WEDDING shoot was conducted at Niraamaya Wellness Retreat. Prannoy shared the news on his social handles with the caption, “All that you are is all that I will ever need”.\n\nAll that you are is all that I will ever need ♥️ #3daystogo pic.twitter.com/SegXJdv5ES <image> In the rankings updated on September 6, Prannoy emerged as the number one shuttler in tour rankings.\n\nThe 2022 BWF World Tour started on January 11 and will end on December 18. It is the fifth season of the BWF Badminton World Tour. The tour consists of 22 tournaments which will lead to the final of the tour in December.\n\nPrannoy started 2022 with a quarterfinal finish in the India Open in January.\n\nThen in the same month, he earned another quarterfinal in the Syed Modi International 2022. <image> In March 2022, Prannoy earned a quarterfinal finish in the German Open 2022. In the same month at the 2022 All England Open, he could not progress beyond the first round. In the Swiss Open 2022 held the same month, he was the runner-up, losing to Leonardus Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in the final.\n\nIn June in the 2022 Indonesia Open, Prannoy earned a semifinal finish. In the same month, he lost in the quarterfinals at the 2022 Malaysia Open.\n\nIn July in the Malaysia Masters 2022, the shuttler finished the tournament after losing in the semifinal. In the same month during Singapore Open, Prannoy earned a quarterfinal finish.\n\nIn August during the 2022 Japan Open, he lost in the quarterfinals.\n\nAll eyes on India vs Pakistan clash, where players’ form and bragging rights will be on the line" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> (Rocky Mt. vs. Meridian FOOTBALL) Rocky Mountain’s Jordan Erickson (1) rolls into the end zone to score a touchdown against Meridian on Oct. 16. <image> (Rocky v Mountain View FOOTBALL07.JPG) <image> (Rocky Mountain vs. Capital FOOTBALL) Rocky Mountain running back Jordan Erickson (1) is driven out of bounds by Capital linebacker Kaden Reimer (7) during the 5A Southern Idaho Conference Championship game on Oct. 23.\n\nRocky Mountain’s Jordan Erickson (1) rolls into the end zone to score a touchdown against Meridian on Oct. 16.\n\nRocky Mountain running back Jordan Erickson (1) is driven out of bounds by Capital linebacker Kaden Reimer (7) during the 5A Southern Idaho Conference Championship game on Oct. 23.\n\nJordan Erickson’s heart on the football field was invested in taking handoffs and running the ball downfield. At least that’s what the Rocky Mountain High senior thought at the end of his junior season.\n\nBut as the Grizzlies started installing plays for the 2020 season, Erickson started to realize he’d be getting more involved in the passing game as well. Rather than lament in a decrease in his rushing attempts, he took the challenge head on.\n\nAnd now with the Grizzlies on the doorstep of a second 5A state title in three years, he is realizing that the change has made him a more rounded football player as he’s been able to shine in both the running back and wide receiver position this year.\n\nThe Grizzlies (8-0) are hoping that versatility can lead them to the state title today. Rocky Mountain will take on defending state champion Rigby (10-0) in the 5A state championship game at noon at Madison High in Rexburg.\n\nThe Trojans beat Rocky Mountain 31-9 last year in the state semifinals game, the Grizzlies’ only loss over the last three years.\n\n“The coaches don’t really talk a ton about that loss,” said Erickson. “It’s more the inner drive of the players that were in that game. Obviously the state championship is a huge driving factor, but the loss to Rigby last year on top of that, that’s big for us.”\n\nThe senior enters the game having helped the Grizzlies in various facets of the game — not just running and cawtching the ball.\n\nIn addition to his 383 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 655 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns, Erickson has specialized as kick returner for Rocky Mountain, averaging 38.2 yards per return with two kickoffs early in the season returned for touchdowns.\n\n“He’s just a really good athlete and a smart football player,” said Rocky Mountain coach Chris Culig. “He’s just stepping up, whatever we ask him to do, he’s willing to do it.”\n\nThat includes getting thrown into a cornerback role in the middle of last Friday’s 36-21 semifinal win against Coeur d’Alene. With Rocky Mountain having a couple of corners banged up during the game, the Grizzlies threw him into that position, despite Erickson not having practiced corner back at all this season.\n\nWhile he has seen some time at nickel, playing a hybrid linebacker-safety role, Erickson said that was the first time that he had ever been on man-to-man coverage in a game situation.\n\n“I think I like safety more, but learning corner right off the bat and not knowing a ton about it was fun,” said Erickson. “I was just going out there, trusting my instincts and doing what I can do.”\n\nDespite the fun he had on defense, it’s still been offense where he’s made the biggest impact for Rocky Mountain, particularly in the playoffs. In the Grizzlies’ semifinal and quarterfinal wins, he had a combined eight catches for 357 yards and five touchdowns. Four of his five touchdown receptions in that span have gone for more than 65 yards.\n\n“Knowing there’s a lot more pressure has allowed me to focus more,” Erickson said about his postseason success. “It’s been a driving factor.”\n\nHis versatility has also caught the eye of college recruiters, as he currently holds offers from all three service academies — Army, Navy and Air Force — as well as Idaho, San Diego and the College of Idaho. Erickson said he’s been waiting for the season to end before narrowing down the list. That season’s end will come after the game today, regardless of a Rocky Mountain win or loss.\n\nUntil then, his focus is on making sure that result a win, and getting a second state championship to go with the one he won as a sophomore in 2018.\n\n“He’s just a perfect example of what we’re looking for,” said Culig. “He came in as a freshman and was a good player as a freshman, but he committed himself to the weight room, committed himself to the program. He was always looking to get better and kept improving and improving. He’s really good for the younger kids, he pays attention and is supper approachable. He’s everything you want as a player.”" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "The US space agency Nasa should prioritise a mission to Uranus, an influential panel of scientists says. <image> (Planet Uranus, captured through the Hubble Space Telescope.) The \"ice giant\" is the seventh planet in our Solar System, orbiting the Sun 19 times further out than the Earth.\n\nIt's only ever been visited once before, in a brief flyby by the Voyager-2 probe in 1986.\n\nResearchers think an in-depth study of Uranus can help them better understand the many similarly sized objects now being discovered around other stars.\n\nThe recommendation is made in a document published by the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS).\n\nKnown as a \"decadal survey\", it is the summation of what the American research community thinks are the big planetary science questions right now and the space missions required to answer them.\n\nThe last planetary decadal survey, published in 2011, had as its two top priorities a rock-collection mission to Mars, which became the Perseverance rover, now on the surface of the Red Planet; and a mission to Jupiter and its moon Europa, which is currently being prepared for launch in 2024. This is called the Europa Clipper spacecraft.\n\nSpecialists who study the outer planets in our Solar System have been campaigning for a return visit to either Uranus or Neptune ever since their late-80s Voyager-2 encounters. And the science case has only strengthened over the intervening years, proponents argue.\n\nLook at the size-range of planets now being discovered around other stars and they seem to dominate in a range that's about three and four times the width of the Earth. That's Uranus and Neptune.\n\n\"And that actually poses a problem for planet formation theories,\" explained professor Leigh Fletcher, who contributed to the report.\n\n\"A mission to Uranus could help us answer that,\" the Leicester University scientist said. <image> (Artwork showing the Cassini mission to Saturn) Artwork: European scientists will hope they can join the mission, just as they did with the Cassini mission to Saturn. Photo: NASA\n\nThere are favourable launch opportunities in 2031 and 2032 that would allow a spacecraft to use a gravity slingshot around Jupiter to shorten the cruise time to Uranus to \"just\" 13 years.\n\nThe spacecraft would go into orbit around the planet, which would preclude any observations at the more-distant Neptune. The eighth and outermost planet will have to wait its turn.\n\nUranus is an oddity compared with the other planets in the Solar System in that its axis of rotation is almost parallel with the plane of its orbit around the Sun. It's as if it has been knocked on to its side, which may well be the explanation - scientists speculate that it suffered a massive impact with another body early in its history.\n\nUranus has rings and plenty of moons. Indeed, the moons are quite a draw because a good many of them are likely to be \"ocean worlds\".\n\n\"This is the idea that you've got an icy crust, and then you've got some kind of liquid briny ocean down at depth that may or may not be in contact with whatever silicate rocky material is down at the bottom,\" said Fletcher.\n\n\"Well, all of the big five classical satellites of Uranus are thought of as being ocean world candidates. These moons could have cryo-volcanic (ice volcano) activity taking place on them.\"\n\nDr Robin Canup from the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, was the co-chair on the Academies' steering committee.\n\nShe said an ice giant was a worthy target for a Nasa flagship and of all the potential candidates assessed in what would be the most expensive class of endeavour, the Uranus mission was the most mature technically.\n\n\"It was the only one to receive a low-medium rating for its risk,\" she explained.\n\n\"So because of that, we are extremely excited to recommend that the highest priority new flagship should be a Uranus orbiter and probe. This will be a fantastic multi-year mission with the probe dropping into the planet at the beginning of the mission, followed by an extended orbital tour investigating the satellites, their interiors, the magnetosphere, the rings, and the atmosphere.\n\n\"It is technically ready to start now. We recommend that it be initiated in financial 2024.\" <image> (This photo released by NASA, shows the Perseverance rover being lowered by the Sky Crane to the surface of Mars on February 18, 2021. - NASA said February 18, 2021 that the Perseverance rover has touched down on the surface of Mars ) The successful completion of the Perseverance rover's mission comes before all else, the researchers said. Photo: AFP / NASA\n\nEuropean-based planetary researchers, like Fletcher, will be hoping the European Space Agency (ESA) can contribute to such a mission.\n\nNasa and ESA are frequent partners, such as on the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn (2004-2017), but their priorities and funding cycles do not always coincide.\n\nAnd for Nasa, the speed at which it's able to implement the recommendation will depend on its other financial commitments.\n\nThe decadal survey panel said completing the Perseverance rover's objectives and the follow-up missions designed to bring its rock samples back to Earth came before everything else in importance." } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> Dr. Nichols currently serves as a medical adviser to the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation, has served extensively on the executive board and for the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society and on each of the steering committees (DEWS, DEWS II, Contact Lens Discomfort, and MGD workshops), and is a founding member of the Ocular Surface Society of Optometry. A leading expert in dry eye disease, Dr. Nicholas is or has been on the editorial boards of the journals Optometry and Vision Science, and The Ocular Surface, and is extensively published. In addition to her Berkeley OD, Dr. Nichols completed a residency in ocular disease at Omni Eye Specialists of Colorado, and earned her MPH in biostatistics and PhD in vision science at The Ohio State University. Dean Nichols also won the 2020 Alumna of the Year Award. <image> Donald R. Korb graduated from the Massachusetts College of Optometry. He is an affiliated Clinical Professor at the School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley, also having served as a Regent’s Lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a trustee at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, and divides his time between his optometric practice and research.\n\nIn 2000 the Contact Lens Section of the American Optometric Association established the Donald R. Korb Medal for Excellence. He was inducted into the National Optometry Hall of Fame in 2007 and has received a multitude of other awards. <image> Dr. Christina Wilmer is the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and a Health Sciences Clinical Professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science. Dr. Wilmer attended the University of California Santa Cruz and the University of California Berkeley School of Optometry. She completed a residency program in Primary Care Optometry at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. Dr. Wilmer has been involved in residency education throughout her academic career as the Chief Mentor of the Primary Care and Contact Lens residency program and currently serves as the Director of Affiliate Residency Programs. Dr. Wilmer lectures locally, regionally and nationally on a number of topics. She has been involved with section leadership within the AAO and has previously served as the Chair of the Anterior Segment Section and she most recently served as the Diplomate Written Exam Chair. Dr. Wilmer has been involved in the National Board of Examiners Part 1 Committee and Council for many years and currently is a member of the Part III Exam Development Committee. <image> Dr. Sheryl Reaves is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, where she attended UC Berkeley for her undergraduate studies and for Optometry school. Dr. Sheryl Reaves graduated with an O.D. from the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science in 2011. Dr. Reaves completed her residency training in ocular disease and primary care at the Department of Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System. Dr. Reaves then completed her Fellowship in the American Academy of Optometry. She has experience in private practice, academia, and community healthcare.\n\nDr. Reaves has a diverse practice background, including clinical faculty at UC Berkeley, and in hospital, surgical, and private practice modalities. She joined the community health system in South Florida and is currently the sole optometrist at Jessie Trice Community Health Center. In collaboration with three alumnae from the Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science, they formed Chroma Consulting Group, a boutique consulting firm that specializes in fostering institutional belonging." } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> (e) THE MOUNTAIN OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD (NOT RELIGION)\n\nFaith is the primary force to create a culture – Religions, Animism, Atheism, or Kingdom will produce such a culture upon the people that hold their belief. People with the true faith in the Kingdom of God will influence the world in these last days – Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”\nThe Kingdom people do not only preach from the pulpit on Sundays, but they are preaching through their godly conduct at their work places, in the professions, relationships and lives. They will become great testimonies for people to come and embrace the Kingdom of God. God will position His Kingdom people in the most significant and prestigious positions in the work place, so that they may become greater influencers.\n\nTHE MOUNTAIN OF FAMILY\n\nFamily is the foundation of a culture. His first command to human being was to be fruitful – to have children – God wants His family on earth to set the standard for a Godly culture. A Kingdom Family will be blessed and honoured on earth when they are molding a culture of love, faith and hope. The only sign of a true disciple of Christ is when they love one another (John 13:35.) Their lifestyle will become the platform for the Kingdom of God to be established – A responsible father, a loving mother and teachable children. <image> (d) <image> (1707-2019-0420095756248977840828) THE MOUNTAIN OF EDUCATION\n\nEducation is for the future – a future generation that will embrace the knowledge of God, not humanism. The mandate of this mountain is preparing the new generation to become a great leader that will have godly principles. An example of this is through the training for the new generation in using modern technology for the benefits of the world and the Kingdom.\n\nTHE MOUNTAIN OF GOVERNMENT\n\nThis mountain will hold a great government that will take care of its people. They will lead by example and honest politicians will be found. Why? Because the Kingdom people realise that this mountain needs them to arise and reposition themselves to take the battle. Before Jesus is coming back on earth for the second time, He will find His children will post themselves amongst the governmental leaders of the nations. No more lies behind the politician’s mask – Prov.29:12 <image> (c) <image> (a) THE MOUNTAIN OF MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY\n\nMedia and technology is the fastest tool to spread the news out. Don’t be shocked by the power of this media and technology. You can observe now that nations have been toppled down through Twitter and Facebook. This technology will accelerate the spreading of the Gospel out all over the world. Kingdom people will possess this area and create something new that will glorify the Lord.\n\nTHE MOUNTAIN OF CELEBRATION\n\nUsually the devil is using this mountain to influence the new generation by means of violence, immorality, promiscuous sex and drugs through Hollywood. But in the last days, the Kingdom people will give a huge influence in terms of Family values and Godly values through their films and Godly. lifestyle of the actors and actresses. They will become such a positive role model for the new generations. There will be a great TV shows and movies that will bring the family back to their original purposes, giving example of strong characters – not giving in to temptations. <image> (b) <image> (f) THE MOUNTAIN OF BUSINESS\n\nSurely this mountain will create a culture of Giving within Kingdom people. They will be successful, honoured and wealthy as a result of their commitment to God. Integrity, loyalty, generosity and humility will be their business trade mark and character. The business kingdom of this world will become the Kingdom of God. Kingdom people will send many missionaries to all the nations of the world, building churches for the glory of God, loving one another while helping the helpless to stand on their feet. Money will be a good servant of the Kingdom people." } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> (Yona Friedmann, handbuch, installation view at Chert; courtesy of Cneai) While winding around the Seine on an early summer morning, a Parisian munches on a croissant, preparing for a day spent wandering the stately halls of the Louvre, perusing some of the world’s finest art. Meanwhile, a Berliner afoot along the Spree stumbles upon an open air still raucous from the evening before, as squalls of the city’s youth mingle amongst some of the world’s finest Graffuturism. They are two cities mired in vastly contrary epochs: Paris in the old, Berlin in the new. Yet, both cities have an identical reverence for great art and artists. <image> (Yona Friedmann, handbuch, installation view at Chert; courtesy of Cneai) Thus, for the fourth year, Berlin and Paris are participating in an international gallery exchange, organized by the curator Collective Le Bureau /(Paris) and The Office (Berlin), which, in total, involves 60 artists and sixteen different locations. This year’s event differs from prior exchanges due to the addition of an intervention day, which includes performances, games, and workshops. Both will take place in the public setting of pubs ( 3 Schwestern in Berlin and the Gaîté Lyrique in Paris). The Berlin counterpart took place on the weekend June 29th-30th, whereas the Paris leg unfolded last weekend, July 6th-July 7th.\n\nOne remarkable example of a successful exchange took place at Chert in Kreuzberg. Invited by its Berlin associates, Cneai Gallery in Paris presented “Handbuch,” an exhibition showing the works of Yona Friedman, a Hungarian-born French architect. It is an encyclopedia presenting the eclectic works of Friedman, highlighting his ideas about independent thinking and action. <image> (Yona Friedmann, handbuch, installation view at Chert; courtesy of Cneai) His projects include “Manuels: Volumes 1,2, and 3,” a series of manuals that instruct visitors in methods through which autonomous living is possible. He illustrated these “cartoons” from 1975 to 1992, and since then, they have been translated in more than 30 countries. In his drawings, Friedman shows how men can form an un-paternalistic society, a culture in which people truly do rule themselves.\n\nHis project “Film’s d’animation” is manifested in twelve films created between 1960 and 1963. They are twelve symbolic pieces, made in the Truca technique. Furthermore, “Democratie,” his work that was published by Cneai in 2011, furthers his ideas about political agendas. Through his humorous depictions, the piece explores the stringency required in so-called democracies. <image> (Yona Friedmann, handbuch, installation view at Chert; courtesy of Cneai) Architecturally, Friedman also added much to the exhibition. In his work that dates back to 1948, he explores the concepts of spaciality within cities, as well as mobile architecture. In his drawings from the collection “Architecture without building,” and the screenings “Diapositives and Griboouilli,” he creates a specific world where technical solutions are necessary and practical, and utopias appear within reach. <image> (Yona Friedmann, handbuch, installation view at Chert; courtesy of Cneai) In its first series of events in Berlin, the Berlin-Paris gallery exchange proved to be invaluable in that the public has the opportunity to experience some of the world’s finest art in a variety of genres, many of which are specific to one of the two cities. This weekend, Paris is looking forward to playing host to some of Berlin’s most talented. Such a collaboration is undoubtedly enriching for all involved.\n\nYona Friedman\nBorn in 1923 in Budapest, Yona Friedman is an architect, theoritican, and writer. He is a key thinker in 20th century architecture. He has participated in many major international art events (like Kassel’s Documenta in 2002, the Venice Biennial in 2009, and Lyons’ Biennial in 2011). He has written and illustrated more than fifty books, with subjects ranging from architecture, to ecology and language.\n\nThe trilogy “Manuals” cost 350 Euros and is available at the Motto book shop in Skalitzer Strasse 68.\nwww.mottodistribution.com" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "Exploring the remnants of ancient civilization in Cairo, Egypt <image> Quite a few of us would have at some point in our lives gone through a guided tour through the ancient desert lands that hold historic value. Discovering the mysteries and exploring the rich culture rooted in some of the UNESCO world heritage structures is always awe-inspiring. Going as part of a guided tour would mean that local engagement with transport and interaction is kept at a minimum as more emphasis would to be laid on moving from one site to another to make the most of the trip and finishing within schedule.\n\nAs an experiment to get a feel of how a solo traveller would have faced local customs, language and tradition, we set out to tourism’s most dependent cities in the middle east. Cairo is known to be a trade hub through the civilizations, what with the Nile river and being an entry point to the African continent.\n\nWe were surprised that Uber cabs run really well here, except for the ease of getting one from the airport out into Cairo. You will surely be engaged at the airport with many alternative travel providers offering to drop you in luxury cabs at almost double the price it takes with an Uber. At least they do it as part of the normal drill so it couldn’t be termed as fleecing as it’s more of a usual occurrence. <image> As you drive into Cairo you will most probably go through what appears to be unorganized traffic, more of the kinds we are used to back home in the city of Mumbai. Nothing impressive. But what will get you in the mood of a tourist is how the remnants of Old Cairo stand out as you make your way to Giza and downtown Cairo – the city. You can feel the atmosphere and can only fathom how it must have been in the old days – a desert with settlements and signature mosques that towered over and around them, and still do!\n\nFast forward into Cairo at our Airbnb apartment hosted by a super host, and by all means, a beautiful one at that.\n\nAfter chilling out for a while and getting to understand the way around from our host, we head for Giza to view the pyramids. How impressive to see them in all their grandeur. These towering man made structures really humbles you when you try to make sense of it all – how on earth were they constructed in the first place?\n\nMany tourists flock these sites and try to get the best view, but we were lucky enough to get a horse ride into the expanse of the desert and get an isolated picture perfect view of the three main pyramids in the foreground.\n\nThe Sphinx is also situated in the vicinity of the pyramids of Giza. It may not appear as monumental, but still stands out as an awe evoking masterpiece. Tradition says it was built as a symbolic structure to guard the tombs and temples of the area. <image> Finally we take a trip to the Egyptian Museum which is known to house one of the largest collection ever of artifacts and excavated items of significance than any other. These range from statues, artwork, inscriptions, works on glass, metal and of course mummies of various kinds. To actually get to explore everything the museum has to offer, one has to spend several hours. Although every exhibit does not have detailed descriptions explaining them, it is still worth a page in every history lover’s handbook.\n\nOverall, the people are friendly, although more aggressive in nature, owing to their customs and culture. But still worth interacting with. They do have an uncanny respect for Indians too. As a tourist, you have nothing to lose. Just keep an eye for those that may overcharge you, be it souvenirs or shopping. It’s best to do a study before digging deep into your pockets, bargaining is always the best bet. Thanks to Uber, you know what the estimated fare would be to travel from one location to another (Just make sure you know how to interpret numbers as the number plates of the cars are in arabic). For non-vegetarians, there is amazing Egyptian food to try out, Koshari and Ful to name a few.\n\nCairo was an amazing 24 hour expedited experience for us, but in our opinion, enough to please the transiting tourist for sure.\n\nExploring the remnants of ancient civilization in Cairo, Egypt" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> (Detail of a synagogue in Vienna by the Forward\n\t\t\t) <image> (Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg in 2013. by the Forward\n\t\t\t) Spielberg’s after-midnight-only conceit is unique and could help set Katzenberg’s Quibi platform apart in a crowded field of streamable content. <image> ( by the Forward\n\t\t\t) <image> ( by the Forward\n\t\t\t) Is Disney CEO Bob Iger Ready To Throw His Hat In The Presidential Ring?\n\nHollywood executives are urging Disney CEO Bob Iger to run for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and he’s willing to consider it. <image> ( by the Forward\n\t\t\t) Jeffrey Katzenberg’s DreamWorks Bought by Comcast for $3.8B\n\nComcast Corp, the owner of NBCUniversal, said on Thursday it would buy Hollywood movie studio DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc for $3.8 billion to boost its family-friendly offerings and help it take on No. 1 player Walt Disney. <image> ( by the Forward\n\t\t\t) Meet the 3 Jews Who Made 'The Lion King' Possible\n\nReady to feel old? ‘The Lion King’ has turned 20. And we dug up three Jews who played key roles in the beloved Disney classic. <image> ( by the Forward\n\t\t\t) Hollywood producer Jeffrey Katzenberg received an honorary Oscar for his charitable work on Saturday at a star-studded gala that kicked off the movie awards season and bestowed film industry gold on three other industry veterans. <image> ( by the Forward\n\t\t\t) Hollywood Ponies Up Big for Obama <image> ( by the Forward\n\t\t\t) Who says Jewish Hollywood is lukewarm about President Obama? The president raised $12 million at a party co-hosted by actor George Clooney and mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg. <image> ( by the Forward\n\t\t\t) In case you hadn’t heard, there is going to be a big fundraising bash for President Obama’s reelection campaign tonight over at George Clooney’s place." } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "- Mwamburi was allegedly kidnapped on Monday, October 7, and taken to an unknown place\n\n- Upon initiating a search mission, the bridegroom-to-be was found near Man Eaters area along Mbololo road in Voi\n\nA Taita Taveta man who went missing just two months to his wedding day has assured family members and friends the celebration will go on as planned.\n\nJames Mwamburi who disappeared for several days was found on Wednesday, October 16, after a search mission that involved concerted efforts from relatives, police officers and members of the public finally bore fruits. <image> (Taita Taveta: Lost and found bridegroom says wedding will proceed as earlier planned) James Mwamburi was found on Wednesday, October 16 after being kidnapped. He has said his wedding will proceed as earlier planned. Photo: Bonny Kimtz\nSource: Facebook\n\nAs earlier reported by TUKO.coke, he was allegedly was kidnapped by unknown people on Monday, October 7, and was taken into hiding where his tormentors reportedly demanded a ransom.\n\nAccording to a report filed by KTN News, Mwamburi was found around Man Eaters area along Mbololo road with his hands and feet tied. He was, however, safe and unhurt. <image> (Taita Taveta: Lost and found bridegroom says wedding will proceed as earlier planned) The family took him to Voi Referral Hospital where he received mental and medical attention before being discharged.\n\nThe wedding committee and relatives have now embarked on finalising plans after the groom-to-be assured them he was in good condition and ready for the big day. <image> (Taita Taveta: Lost and found bridegroom says wedding will proceed as earlier planned) Mwamburi, who works as a mechanic and electrician in Mwatathe area, is set to marry Dorcas Wairimu in a wedding slated for December.\n\nThe bridegroom reportedly disappeared shortly after he escorted some businessmen who had visited their home to buy cows.\n\nHe was expected to use the proceeds from the transaction to meet dowry expenses and other costs." } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "The sight of kids drawing on the pavement with sidewalk chalk is practically guaranteed to induce a round of nostalgia. As summertime traditions go, getting down on the ground to let one’s artistic imagination run wild is right up there with running through sprinklers and creating lemonade stands. But what adults caught up in reveries about the long, lazy days of childhood might not realize is that sidewalk chalk art is a pastime that connects us not only to memories of our smaller selves, but to an abundant historical tradition that goes entirely back to 16th-century Italy.\n\nWhile people have now been using chalk to generate pictures since age cavemen, the Italian traveling artists known as madonnari appear to have been among the first practitioners of street art. Robin VanLear, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s director of community arts, explains in an article on the museum’s website\n\nIn 16th-century Italy various beggars, primarily amputees, began trying to find a plus over another beggars who proliferated in the plazas and market areas around cathedrals, especially on feast days. A number of them decided to generate art , and charcoal from braziers became their first drawing implement. They were rewarded due to their efforts with coins thrown down by pilgrims visiting the cathedrals. Ultimately the more artistic beggars began copying portraits of the Madonna, in particular those by the favorite early 16th-century liturgical artist Raphael. They were dubbed Madonnari, painters of the Madonna.\n\nAs the 2011 book Asphalt Renaissance, published by the street artist Kurt Wenner along with B. Hansen and M. Hospodar, explains, madonnari realized they might maximize their earnings by working as traveling artists, moving between towns in accordance with religious festival schedules. The Italian tradition continued for centuries, and soon street art began popping up in countries like England and Germany as well.\n\nThe English counterparts to madonnari, called “screevers,” emerged in Victorian London and remained a fixture of the town up to World War II. Screevers were less closely related to religious subject matter, but like the madonnari, they made a managing their ephemeral art.\n\nIn George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London, an autobiographical book about poverty published in 1933, the writer describes his encounter with a screever named Bozo. A self-declared “serious screever,” Bozo specialized in drawing political cartoons informed by the day’s news. (“Once a young child got its head stuck in the railings of Chelsea Bridge,” Bozo said. “Well, I found out about it, and my cartoon was on the pavement before they’d got the child’s head out from the railings.”) Orwell suggests Bozo had ample competition among London street artists: “During those times there was a screever almost every twenty-five yards over the Embankment.” But whereas lots of Bozo’s peers drew the same every single day, Bozo distinguished himself by working on something new—a strategy he said paid off. “The very best thing’s to keep changing your picture, because if they see you drawing they’ll stop and watch you,” he explained.\n\nAs VanLear explains, many European street artists fought in World Wars I and II, which meant that the practice of professional sidewalk chalk drawing faded for a good part of the 20th century. Then, in 1972, the Italian village of Grazie di Curtatone chose to host an international street-painting competition to honor the real history of madonnari. The competition, known as Incontro Nazionale dei Madonnari, was a great success, attracting hundreds of European artists and helping revive curiosity about sidewalk painting.\n\nRoughly 10 years later, its profile got a further boost from Wenner, who would become the founder of 3D street art—a technique that uses tricks of perspective to create pavement drawings seem to soar from the sidewalk or sink into it. Wenner was studying classical art in Italy in the 1980s and started drawing on pavement as a way to make money. He eventually made his solution to Grazie’s festival, where he took first place four years in a line, then brought his enthusiasm for street painting back to the US, launching an annual festival—the very first in the country—in his hometown of Santa Barbara, California, in 1986.\n\nBy the time Asphalt Renaissance was published in 2011, the US was home to between 50 and 100 street-painting festivals each year. Europe has also experienced a street-painting festival boom, with events such varied locales as the Netherlands, Germany, France, England, and Serbia; you will find options in Australia, Canada, and Mexico, too. So in case you encounter some kids smeared with chalk dust come july 1st, tell them to help keep at it. There is a future in sidewalk chalk yet.\n\nThese sidewalk chalk ideas are so awesome! Seriously, some people are so creative !? There are so many fun ideas and so many great photo opportunities!\n\nHello my name is Dayana Melton. I have been working on chalk art for a long time. I will try to explain and show you the experiences I have been working on in chalk art for a long time. If you have any suggestions or questions, you can write to me from the contact section.\nPrevious 1 creative ideas for sidewalk chalk photos Creative Maxx Ideas- # burgerste …\nNext Next Post <image> <image>" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> Not too long ago, the story of a man who walked 21 miles to and fro work, one way, went viral, setting the benchmark as a man of inspiration to the hard-working qualities of your average American. Only two of those miles were on a bus.\n\nMany were touched by the humbled story of James Robertson, focusing on his level of commitment by walking that far distance to work and vice versa after his Honda broke down in 2005. This was also because he couldn’t afford to buy a new car.\n\nSome were so touched by his story, that a campaign on GoFundMe was started to raise $5,000 to help Robertson buy a new car. Instead, the campaign raised a stunning $325,447. According to The Detroit Free Press, Suburban Ford of Sterling Heights, Michigan, decided to reward Robertson with a 2015 Ford Taurus, fully-loaded, to assist with his commute. His story was further perpetuated that he also had a perfect attendance at work and in the past 10 years, he never showed up late to his job as an injection molder at a factory in Rochester Hills. <image> <image> (2015 LA - 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia) <image> Report: Jeremy Clarkson admits fault for “fracas”–tell us something we don’t know\n\nMay 26, 2015 Chris Chin Comments Off on Report: Jeremy Clarkson admits fault for “fracas”–tell us something we don’t know" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "I thought I knew Canberra. I was wrong—in the best way | HerCanberra <image> (user) HerCanberra’s Online Editor Bea got more than she bargained for when she travelled the city for our Canberra Unlocked series.\n\nI used to think I was something of an authority on Canberra. Why? Because in May 2022 I’ll have been editing HerCanberra for seven years—that’s 84 months of writing and reading about Canberra’s people, restaurants, cafés and bars, history, events, exhibitions, homegrown businesses and festivals.\n\nSo you might think I’d know this city quite well. Not as well as I thought—as it turned out.\n\nIn late 2021, HerCanberra created our Canberra Unlocked series to help readers revive their relationship with their city in the form of a neighbourhood guide that focused on Canberra’s hidden gems—from cafés to swimming spots—region by region.\n\nA piece of cake for someone like me to write, right? Not so much.\n\nMy expertise first came into question when the team brainstormed what to include in the guides. As a lifelong Inner Canberra dweller, I was stumped by questions like where to grab a beer in Gungahlin and where to get coffee in Tuggeranong. I began to realise I wasn’t quite as across Canberra as I had imagined.\n\nEach editorial was also to be accompanied by a one minute Instagram Reel (video), which meant visiting up to 10 locations per editorial to grab a snippet of footage and because many locations looked their best—or indeed were only open—on weekends, that’s when I headed out.\n\nThose seven weeks opened my eyes to much more than just how little of the city I was familiar with first-hand. Looking for an aesthetic moment to film made me slow down and fully experience each location like a true tourist would—something I would never have done otherwise.\n\nI relished a leisurely solo breakfast at Two Before Ten Greenway and working lunches in Weston’s The Meating Room and Belconnen’s 54 Benjamin. I ate one of the best báhn mìs of my life at Phat Panda in Tuggeranong and have you tried the epic Cheeseburger Pizza from Little Theo’s in Kambah? If not—run, don’t walk. Speaking of food, you only need to look below to see my reaction to Spilt Milk Bar in Dickson’s Iced Vovo gelato.\n\nI recall that the Saturday afternoon I spent in the sunny sculpture garden at the National Gallery of Australia was one of the first times I felt truly calm post-lockdown and that the mid-workday coffees I enjoyed at Redbrick in Curtin and Le Bon Melange in Gungahlin felt like moments borrowed from someone else’s holiday.\n\nI brought a friend along to indulge in cannoli at Pasticceria Amelia and browse covetable homewares at Aranda’s Meet Gather Collect as part of the Belconnen Reel and marvelled at the swollen Murrumbidgee River from lush Pine Island reserve down in Tuggeranong. I bought my sister her favourite international sweets at Gold Creek’s The Lolly Shop and who knew that BOOKFACE in Gungahlin has the cutest stationery section?\n\nChristmas shopping was spread across The Markets Wanniassa, POP Canberra and the NGA gift shop and when friends bought their first house in Kambah, we celebrated at Tuggeranong’s Vanilla Pod restaurant over some of the best handmade gnocchi I’ve ever had (after I filmed all our dishes, of course).\n\nWhen the past two years have forced us to shrink our worlds so tightly, our cities and neighbourhoods can begin to feel like our favourite cosy jumper—familiar and warming for the most part, but a little stifling when worn for 18 months.\n\nBut jump just a neighbourhood across and I do believe you can shake yourself out of your hometown rut and surprise even the most experienced of Canberrans—even if only for the space of a coffee break.\n\nYou can read the Canberra Unlocked series here and watch the Reels @hercanberra. <image> (This Week In The Can) This Week In The Can\n\nYour essential guide to what’s on in Canberra this week! HAVE AN EVENT YOU’D LIKE…\n\n11 things you can’t miss this Spring\n\nThe days are getting longer, the blossoms are out, and the sun is finally doing…" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> (US Government Appeals Injunction that Blocked TikTok Ban) Recently, on December 28, 2020, Monday, the Trump’s Administration Party in the United States has requested and demanded the country’s government to order for issuing blocking restrictions to the Chinese social media app – TikTok in the US on the ground of allegation of national security concerns that of leaking the personal data of 100 million US users.\n\nTikTok Inc. is a company established and owned by ByteDance; this Chinese company ByteDance is operated in the PRC under the name of Douyin. It was released in September 2016 and headquartered in Greater Los Angeles Area, West Coast, USA. It is mainstreamed in a short-video sharing application and social network platform with a facility of developing a lip-syncing video function for creating videos. TikTok is one of the fastest-growing mobile apps all around the Globe which has now also become one of the leading short video platforms in Asia with its world’s largest playback video community.\n\nTikTok is considered controversial due to the data concerns issues and youth protection aspect as well as surveillance and bowdlerization completely in favor of the Chinese government. Further probing into it, it can be said that the parent company Douyin is now progressively repositioning its business activities out of its home country, and in lieu of this, TikTok has expanded its development proficiencies in California, USA.\n\nEarlier on December 07, 2020, the ruling, US District Court Judge in Washington has ensued an order for barring and prohibiting the Commerce Department from forbidding data hosting for TikTok in terms of content delivery services and other technical transactions within the United States. Prior to this, in a separate prior ruling in September, the same Judge had ensued an order of blocking the Commerce Department in the country from wanting Google and Apple to remove the TikTok from their app stores.\n\nPreviously this month, the Trump administration had decided not to allow ByteDance a new periodical allowance of an order ensued by the US president in August 2020 for divesting their company TikTok’s US assets in a stipulated period, and now the Trump administration has again newly demanded for command the enforcement the divestiture order after the deadline has expired. Further, following this pressure from the US government, the company ByteDance is in discussions for months with Oracle Corp and Walmart Inc to strike a deal to change TikTok’s US assets into a new entity in the country of United States. <image> (Michelle Jackson) With a background of finance, Michelle Jackson now writes news stories regarding world's finance and economy at FinanceKnown. She has years of experience in writing news regarding business and market. In her free time, she loves to use different technical aspects to analyze market.\n\nCyberpunk 2077 Sued for Releasing the Game Despite Having Buggy Content" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> (Sarah Jane Honeywell shows off her toned figure wearing only hot pants and a bikini top) Axed CBeebies star Sarah Jane Honeywell, 47, shows off her toned figure in TINY hot pants and a racy bikini top… 10 years after her BBC sacking for THAT topless photoshoot\n\nBy Ella Hodson For Mailonline\n\nThe bikini showcased her eye-popping property whereas the tiny shorts enabled her to flaunt her flat abdomen and slender legs.\n\nWow: Sarah Jane Honeywell, 47, seemed wonderful in a newest put up to her Instagram, the place she posed in simply a bikini top and hot pants.\n\nIn the black and white snap, she put her finest 90s foot ahead by sporting black Buffalo trainers.\n\nShe was wearing the apparel to have fun the 90s competition which is occurring in Lincoln for BBC Radio Lincolnshire.\n\nSarah Jane lives within the metropolis with her husband, Hollyoaks star Ayden Callaghan, with whom she has son Phoenix, 5, and Indiana, three.\n\nCaptioning the put up, she penned: ‘To have fun #lincoln 90’s competition this weekend @bbcradiolincs I discovered a 1990’s ghost up on my roof….. she’s a little bit of a geezer chicken #ghosts of our previous.’\n\n‘It’s extra a Blur than Oasis’: She was wearing the apparel to have fun the 90s competition which is occurring in Lincoln for BBC Radio Lincolnshire\n\nHinting to her previous life she added: ‘Or did you occasion your manner via the 90’s like me? So it’s extra a Blur than an Oasis.’ With a cheeky confronted emoji on the finish.\n\nSarah-Jane shot to fame in 2002 on shows equivalent to Higgledy House and Mighty Mites, alongside her sidekick Justin Fletcher, 50, nevertheless her profession went down in flames when she posed for raunchy photographs in 2011.\n\nAxed: Sarah-Jayne was famously sacked from CBeebies in 2011 after collaborating in a topless photoshoot for PETA to oppose consuming meat (pictured)\n\nAfter posing topless on a large plate of meals in London’s Trafalgar Square in a PETA marketing campaign to oppose consuming meat, she was met with rage from bosses and was dropped from the channel.\n\nSarah-Jane admitted she only agreed to do the shoot for a ‘little bit of enjoyable’ and wasn’t paid for her involvement, however nonetheless confronted backlash from BBC bosses.\n\nShe informed The Sun: ‘The BBC was requested to remark, and they merely mentioned I now not labored for them. That was how I discovered. There was by no means a telephone name or a single dialog with my bosses – regardless of me having labored there for 10 years’.\n\nHurtful: Sarah-Jayne claimed that she has heard nothing from ‘her finest mate’ Mr Tumble – actual identify Justin Fletcher, 50 – after she was axed by the BBC in 2011\n\nShe admitted that after her sacking she was bombarded with on-line abuse criticising her behaviour, and she confronted but extra criticism after talking about taking cocaine in her youth.\n\nIn a 2013 interview she informed The Sun ‘When I did my first line of cocaine, it felt like nothing. It was much less mind-altering than alcohol. I began to suppose, ”I do not get what the massive deal is”. But what I did not realise is that cocaine is a sluggish burner.\n\n‘That’s what’s harmful and what we overlook to inform individuals. Over the primary 12 months of me doing it, it received worse and worse.\n\n‘Cocaine psychosis had began to return into my life. I grew to become paranoid as a result of I assumed individuals had been following me. I used to be very skinny. My buddy and I realised one among us was going to die or go loopy.’\n\nSweet: After reflecting on ending her life, she was pulled again from the brink by her Hollyoaks star husband Ayden Callaghan, with whom she has son Phoenix, 5, and Indiana, three (pictured in 2015) <image> (Former Bachelor star Keira Maguire admits she thought Richie Strahan was her ‘soul mate’) <image> (Mark Wright reveals he and wife Michelle Keegan flew to Ibiza by private jet)" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "By Chloe Morgan For Mailonline\n\nA woman has told of her horror after discovering ‘cameras and a two-way mirror’ hidden in the bathroom wall of her new home, which was previously used by members of a drugs cartel.\n\nAnnabell Mickelson, 18, who moved into the house in Arizona with her family, took to TikTok to explain how they first became suspicious when they realized that a mirror in their house would not come off the wall.\n\nIn the short clip, which she captioned ‘I’m a little scared!’ Annabell, her grandfather and her boyfriend can be seen investigating their new surroundings and cutting into the wall with an electric saw.\n\nAfter removing a section of the wall, they discovered the back of the two-way mirror, as well as a space containing cabinets and some wires that they believe were used for secret cameras.\n\nAnnabell Mickelson, 18, from Arizona, has told of her horror after discovering ‘cameras and a two-way mirror’ (pictured) hidden in the bathroom wall of her new home <image> (Annabell and her family can be seen cutting into the wall, before unveiling some old cabinets (pictured), a two-way mirror, along with some wires they believe were used for secret cameras) Annabell and her family can be seen cutting into the wall, before unveiling some old cabinets (pictured), a two-way mirror, along with some wires they believe were used for secret cameras <image> (She took to TikTok to film her investigation and explained: 'We found all the cords to the cameras around our house') She took to TikTok to film her investigation and explained: ‘We found all the cords to the cameras around our house’\n\nIn the video, Annabell can be seen scratching at the back of the mirror with a razor to reveal a coat of paint, which she says serves as proof of her discovery.\n\nShe added: ‘We were right! It was a two-way mirror! We messed up the mirror but oh well.’\n\nThe clip has since received over 121, 000 likes and thousands of comments from social media users.\n\n‘I’m creeped out now. I have a mirror like that and our landlord told us that we can’t take it down,’ wrote one, while a second joked: ‘Just burn the house down and start again.’\n\nA third added: ‘Well then…that was a creative house!’\n\nHowever, others were less convinced by Annabell’s discovery – and had their own suggestions behind her findings.\n\n‘They had a TV there and cords hidden in the wall,’ wrote one, while a second penned: ‘That’s not a two-way mirror. Why are people always searching for drama these days?’\n\nA third commented on the paint that Annabell scratched off the back of the mirror, claiming that all mirrors have a dark layer to make them more reflective. <image> (The family decided to investigate the matter for themselves) <image> (The family decided to investigate the matter for themselves) The family decided to investigate the matter for themselves (pictured) <image> (Annabell (pictured) also claimed there could be up to $25,000 hidden in their garden as someone recently came looking for the money) Annabell (pictured) also claimed there could be up to $25,000 hidden in their garden as someone recently came looking for the money <image> (Horrified woman discovers 'cameras and a two-way mirror' hidden in the wall of her new home) Taking to the comments section, one person wrote: ‘I’m creeped out now. I have a mirror like that and our landlord told us that we can’t take it down’\n\n‘All mirrors are painted, that’s what makes them reflective,’ the person wrote.\n\nAnother added: ‘It’s one-way glass and you would put a TV behind and it shows through the mirror so you can watch TV in the bathroom.’\n\nBut in a follow-up video, Annabell added that the family is certain that it was a two-way mirror because they know for certain that the house they now live in was once used by ‘a drug lord’.\n\n‘The reason we are certain it’s a two-way mirror is because this was a house that was [involved] in the cartel, I guess you could say,’ she said.\n\nShe went on to say that the previous owner was renowned for having ‘parties all the time’ and that there were cameras ‘all around the house’ that led into the back gates so they could let people in.\n\n‘The neighbors have told us this as one of them used to party with this dude and he knew everything about him,’ she added. <image> (Others were less convinced by Annabell's discovery - and had their own suggestions behind her findings) <image> The Quiet after the Storm\n1 second ago\n\nView Photos of the 2022 Kia Telluride\n3 mins ago <image>" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> A total of 739 teams have been accepted to compete in the 2020 Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup International Soccer Showcase.\n\nThe Girls Weekend will feature 270 teams, with the U15-U19 divisions playing three days of competition from February 21-23, and the U11-U14 age group playing from February 22-23. U.S. teams from all over the country will compete alongside international teams from Canada, Chile, Ireland, Mexico and Sweden. <image> <image> The ECNL Girls Regional League – Heartland Conference will launch in the fall." } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "Six of the eight healthy members of FSU's women's basketball team will be playing in their first ACC Tournament this week.\n\nWhen the Florida State women's basketball team takes the court for the ACC Tournament Thursday night, many of its players will be doing so for the first time.\n\nThree are true freshmen, two were on the team last year but didn't play in the postseason and the sixth, FSU's leading scorer Kiah Gillespie, was ineligible after transferring from Maryland.\n\n\"I think it's excitement. There's a lot of us that haven't done it before so we're really excited to get into it and give everything we've got,\" FSU sophomore Savannah Wilkinson said. <image> (Florida State Seminoles forward Mfiondu Kabengele (25) drives to the hoop during a game between FSU and Virginia Tech at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center Tuesday, March 5, 2019. ) <image> (Florida State Seminoles guard Terance Mann (14) loses the ball on his way up to the basket during a game between FSU and Virginia Tech at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center Tuesday, March 5, 2019. ) Florida State Seminoles guard Terance Mann (14) loses the ball on his way up to the basket during a game between FSU and Virginia Tech at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat\nFullscreen <image> (Florida State Seminoles forward Mfiondu Kabengele (25) meets the body of a defender on his way up to the hoop during a game between FSU and Virginia Tech at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center Tuesday, March 5, 2019. ) Florida State Seminoles forward Mfiondu Kabengele (25) meets the body of a defender on his way up to the hoop during a game between FSU and Virginia Tech at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Tori Schneider/Tallahassee Democrat\nFullscreen <image> (Mar 5, 2019; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard M.J. Walker (23) drives against Virginia Tech Hokies guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (4) during the first half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports) <image> (Mar 5, 2019; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Terance Mann (14) loses the ball against Virginia Tech Hokies guard Wabissa Bede (3) during the first half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports) <image> (Mar 5, 2019; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles forward Mfiondu Kabengele (25) pressures Virginia Tech Hokies forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. (24) during the first half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports) <image> (Mar 5, 2019; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies forward P.J. Horne (14) pressures Florida State Seminoles forward Mfiondu Kabengele (25) during the first half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports) <image> (Mar 5, 2019; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Ahmed Hill (13) shoots against Florida State Seminoles guard M.J. Walker (23) during the first half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports) <image> (Mar 5, 2019; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamilton looks on during the first half against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports) <image> (Mar 5, 2019; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies guard Ahmed Hill (left) drives into Florida State Seminoles guard Terance Mann (right) during the second half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports) <image> (Mar 5, 2019; Tallahassee, FL, USA; A Florida State Seminoles fan tries to distract a Virginia Tech Hokies shooter during the second half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports) <image> (Mar 5, 2019; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies forward P.J. Horne (14) pressures Florida State Seminoles forward Mfiondu Kabengele (25) during the first half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports) <image> (Mar 5, 2019; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles forward Mfiondu Kabengele (25) passes against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports) <image> (Mar 5, 2019; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. (24) reacts after fouling out against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports) <image> (Mar 5, 2019; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies forward P.J. Horne (14) passes against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports) This unique situation has FSU head coach Sue Semrau eager to see how her team responds when it begins the ACC Tournament as the No. 6 seed around 8 p.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina against the Duke Blue Devils (15-14, 6-10 in ACC).\n\n\"I really am (eager). We were talking about it and so few of them have even been to the Greensboro Coliseum,\" Semrau said.\n\n\"For them to get out there in this environment will be exciting as a coach to watch how they handle it and really put them in a situation where hopefully they can go out and find some success.\"\n\nThe message the few FSU players that have been there before delivered to the rest of the team was a clear one.\n\n\"It's win or go home, basically, so you have to bring it from the jump, stay poised and bring lots of energy from the jump,\" freshman guard Morgan Jones said.\n\n\"There's no time for small mistakes. We all just have to play hard and do what we have to do.\"\n\nIf FSU beats Duke, it would face off against the third-seeded North Carolina State team it beat 75-70 back on Feb. 7 in Tallahassee on Friday for a spot in the semifinals.\n\nAlthough inexperienced, the team knows it can't look ahead to that matchup past whichever opponent it faces Thursday.\n\n\"Just going into it one game at a time,\" Wilkinson said.\n\n\"Thinking about the game we have ahead of us rather than thinking too far into the next game and the next game. We just have to win it and go from there.\"\n\nMore: No. 7 Florida State off to a hot start at the plate\n\nSemrau's team has been one of the surprises of the ACC this season.\n\nAfter losing five seniors off last year's team, FSU was picked to finish eighth in the ACC by the coaches.\n\nWith its sixth-place finish, FSU finished above its preseason projection for the fourth time in the last five seasons.\n\nBehind another strong regular season, Semrau is looking forward to seeing how her young overachieving team handles the higher stakes that come from a single-elimination tournament.\n\n\"Everything that has happened goes out the door. You have an opportunity, just one game at a time. You survive, you advance,\" Semrau said.\n\n\"They could go in with a lot of different mindsets so it's really important that this is a business trip and we stay focused.\"\n\nThe Seminoles did beat Duke at home earlier this season, winning 66-62 on Jan. 20. However, FSU wasn't able to find out which team it would be playing until approximately 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night when the Blue Devils beat Pitt.\n\nThe Seminoles' ACC Tournament opener is set to be broadcast at approximately 8 p.m. It will air on Fox Sports Florida in North and Central Florida and on Fox Sports Sun in South Florida.\n\nFor a complete list of networks broadcasting the game, visit http://raycomsports.com/theacc/grids/printRSNMatch/1226.\n\nA pair of Seminoles were honored with all-conference honors ahead of the ACC Tournament beginning Wednesday.\n\nGillespie was named to the All-ACC First Team while freshman center Valencia Myers was included on the ACC All-Freshmen Team.\n\nGillespie is leading the Seminoles with 16.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season. Before the ACC Tournament begins, she's already in the single-season program record books in points (478, 19th most in a season in program history) and rebounds (255, T-16th).\n\nShe's the 13th different Seminole to be named to the first team, but just the third to earn the honor in her first season of eligibility.\n\nMyers is the first FSU player named to the all-freshmen team since Shakayla Thomas in 2015. She's averaging nine points and six rebounds per game this season.\n\n\"These are huge honors for Kiah and Valencia,\" FSU head coach Sue Semrau said through a school press release.\n\n\"It’s special because they are first-time selections, and they both did it in their first years of eligibility. Their contributions this season have helped us exceed the expectations of others.\"" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "'This is it - no more kids!': Mother-of-six Kim Zolciak, 35, is done being pregnant... as she hints at Real Housewives Of Atlanta return\n\nSix is enough for Kim Zolciak.\n\nIn the new issue of Life & Style the 35-year-old confessed she will not get pregnant again after giving birth to twins Kaia and Kane in November.\n\nAnd in InTouch the Don't Be Tardy... star revealed she may return to the reality show that made her famous, The Real Housewives Of Atlanta. <image> (Baby machine no more: Kim - pictured here in October - told Life & Style she was done being pregnant) Having the twins was not as easy for the blonde, who already has Brielle, 16 and Ariana, 12, from a previous relationship and KJ, aged two, and Kash, 17 months, with husband Kroy Biermann, 28, a football player.\n\n'It wasn't the same as having one baby - my nerves were shot,' the comely reality star told the publication.\n\n'Kaia was only six pounds and I'm used to eight pound babies. And Kane was actually delivered breech, facing the wrong way!' <image> (She has six of these: Two of the children Kim had with football player Kroy Biermann) She has six of these: Two of the children Kim had with football player Kroy Biermann <image> (Her oldest children: The 35-year-old with daughters Brielle, 16, and Ariana, 12) Her oldest children: The 35-year-old with daughters Brielle, 16, and Ariana, 12\n\nThe birth had other complications.\n\n'They were a month early, and I was induced because my blood pressure was so high,' she said.\n\n'I delivered them four hours later. It was nerve-racking! These babies feel like a miracle.' She also admitted their birth was natural and not a C-section. <image> (She's seven years older: The beauty with her husband, 28, in April) She's seven years older: The beauty with her husband, 28, in April\n\nShe added, 'I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd have six children.'\n\n'But it's the best thing ever.'\n\nStill, there won't be any more Biermanns being born.\n\n'This is it - no more kids! I think God gave us twins so he could say, \"Y'all just want to keep having babies, so I'm going to give you two at a time. Now stop,\"' she told the weekly. <image> (With her reality TV co-stars: Kim told InTouch, 'Now that I'm done having babies, I can't say that I wouldn't go back' to The Real Housewives Of Atlanta) With her reality TV co-stars: Kim told InTouch, 'Now that I'm done having babies, I can't say that I wouldn't go back' to The Real Housewives Of Atlanta\n\nThe Georgian - who posed for photos in a silk robe with the newborns for Life & Style - described her tots.\n\n'Kaia is definitely more Kroy with a wider face,' she admitted.\n\n'And Kane is me all day long: He has a skinnier face and my nose. He's got blonde hair and blue eyes, and Kaia has dark hair. I've never had a dark-haired baby, I don't know where it came from!'\n\nThe proud mother added: 'They both have the cutest little button nose.'\n\nThough she ended the interview my saying, 'My life's complete,' the outspoken personality told InTouch she might return to The Real Housewives Of Atlanta.\n\n'Now that I'm done having babies, I can't say that I wouldn't go back,' she admitted. 'For the most part, I enjoyed my time on the show.'\n\nThere are some co-stars she's not too eager to see.\n\n'NeNe [Leakes] and I are cool, and Cynthia [Bailey] is sweet, but the rest of the women are useless!' she ranted.\n\nKim Zolciak hints she may return to Real Housewives Of Atlanta" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "Ditch the Pitch: Your 'Wholeness' Deserves More Than 30 Seconds\n\nAnyone who participates in networking activities as part of their business operations has surely had plenty of opportunities to rattle off their quickest 'grab your attention' sales pitch to explain their product or service offerings. This 'elevator pitch' is supposed to be short enough to be rattled off within a typical 30-second elevator ride in the case of meeting a potential client for a business opportunity in such a situation. <image> I find myself running into these networking opportunities VERY often. As someone who's service offerings are representative of WHO I am and not just WHAT I do, I get pretty frustrated with this expectation to 'contain' my-SELF into such a small and limiting box. The other day I was standing in a line waiting to give my personal elevator pitch at just such an event. As I anticipated my turn, I realized that, as a conscious business advisor, part of what I help small business owners to recognize in themselves is that they are MORE than just what they offer and that no 30-second elevator pitch can really reveal the true essence of WHO they are as that unique service or product provider.\n\nSince I prefer to 'wing-it' when it comes to communicating my service offerings, my 'pitch' tends to reveal itself differently every time it leaves my mouth. Some people like to mechanically rattle off their very polished and memorized pitch in ways that they consider to be creative. \"To each their own\" but that method is just not for me. As I stood in line, I decided quickly that I would pitch myself as the guy who shows small business owners how to honor their wholeness by NOT squeezing themselves into a 30-second pitch. It felt right because it pretty much is WHAT I do.\n\nClever, right? I thought so.\n\nIn a room of about 50 or so people, there seemed to be no neutral responses to this declaration. Everyone seemed to react in one way or another to this unusual choice of mine. I also found it interesting that the responses appeared to fall within two primary camps; 1) fear and resistance OR 2) genuine resonance. The 'fear and resistance' camp responded with pensive looks on their faces as if they were quickly scrolling through their minds for all of the reasons why I must, not only be 'wrong', but that I must also be either lazy or incompetent regarding following the expectation to sum up my service offerings in 30 seconds or less. The 'genuine resonance' camp responded with the kind of look on their faces that a child has when they receive a gift for Christmas that they REALLY wanted but for which they had not even thought to ask. It was that perfect blend of surprise and excitement that fuels the creative fires of life itself.\n\nWhile my first reaction to these responses was to see the responders as two very different 'types' of people, I quickly realized that both responses revealed a similar story relative to the experience and pain associated with 'smallness' syndrome. Say what? <image> I am not referring to the 'smallness' syndrome that inspires some guys to drive extra-large pick-up trucks with tires bigger than most other automobiles. If you don't understand this syndrome, I will not be explaining it here ;).\n\nWhat I AM referring to is the collective agreement that we must be SIMPLY DEFINED in life. Our military-based school systems and the common militant parenting style combine to create this syndrome. By the time we are considered legal adults, we have experienced nearly two decades of NOT being good enough, safe enough, or ready enough to join in the process of life. Then, at the flip of a switch, we are expected to suddenly have our lives figured out in the form of having plans for our careers (i.e. choosing college majors etc.) and our lives in general. In other words, we are essentially expected to have a simply defined 30-second elevator pitch regarding what we are doing with our lives. But how can someone who has lived as though they are not good enough, safe enough, or ready enough suddenly be able to have a solid and yet simplified understanding of their own unwritten life? Its a ridiculous expectation and yet it is one of those 'common' collective agreements that is perceived to be 'natural' and healthy' (i.e. normal) just because it is common.\n\nWith regards to my recent networking experience, I soon realized that BOTH responses to my unusual pitch reflected this shared wounding experience. The only difference between the two response camps is in how they interpreted the 'truth' during their own personal wounding experience with 'smallness syndrome'.\n\nThe 'fear and resistance' camp represented those folks who had internalized the control-based fears of their authority figures and interpreted themselves as the 'bad' guys in the situation. In other words, they assumed that their authority figures were 'right' and that freshly legal adults 'should' be expected to wrap themselves into a simply defined box. While the 'genuine resonance' camp may have also followed through with the expectations of their authority figures at the time, these folks never quite internalized this expectation as the 'truth' for themselves. In other words, these folks just did what 'good' (i.e. obedient) 'small' people were told to do, yet never really internally concluded that they were actually 'wrong' for thinking otherwise. Their reaction to my pitch revealed that this spark of truth inside of them has yet to burn out.\n\nSo while the 'fear and resistance' camp were merely projecting their image of their perceived 'bad' or 'wrong' younger selves in my direction in response to my pitch, the 'genuine resonance' camp were experiencing a re-ignition of an old flame that still exists and burns inside of them to this day. Either way, my pitch stirred the emotional memories and imprinting of this wounding experience. <image> I won't answer those questions and I don't have to. My life experience has been one of often feeling as though I am 20 ounces of flowing, unbounded water and that life has, so far, only presented itself in the form of solid 8 ounce glasses from which to choose. Every commonly accepted path (i.e. careers etc.) has proven itself to be ultimately limiting and suffocating to my truth and wholeness. I guess this is why the 30-second elevator pitch has always frustrated me. It is a prime example of being expected to choose 8 ounces of water to present in solid form when I have 20 ounces to offer in 'flowing' form.\n\nI often find that I easily fall into states of self-judgement regarding 'taking too long' when I speak or not explaining concepts in a 'simple enough' form, for example. Just yesterday, I sat down and channeled some information into a YouTube video for which I swear I was only speaking for 10-20 minutes. When I saw that it had actually been 51 minutes, my first thought was to redo it or to edit it down in size (i.e. make it smaller). Several years ago I would have done so. But at this point in my life, I have learned to live by some personal mantras like the ones below:\n\nIn other words, if the information for the YouTube video came through me in 51 minutes then THAT'S what it is. If you only want to listen to parts of it, then that's YOUR choice. It isn't my responsibility to shrink down my expression to fit within the preferred comfort levels of those with whom I interact. And that goes for everything.\n\nEven though I obtained a degree in Meteorology as an undergraduate student, I am NOT a Meteorologist. Even though I have worked with the ancient art of Astrology and have guided hundreds of clients using this wisdom as my primary guide and will continue to do so, I am NOT an Astrologer.\n\nIncidentally, people love to introduce me as an 'Astrologer' which has a way of triggering my personal experience of the 'smallness syndrome' wounding process in my own life. This is just another way of saying that it annoys me and that I would prefer if I wasn't 'summed' up in this way. I certainly USE Astrology in my practice and I am still a big weather geek but these are just parts of WHO I am. I could go on with this or try to explain more deeply, but I think you get the picture.\n\nIn my opinion, we don't need to be expected to have an answer to this question. In fact, if we could come to some collective agreement in this regard and eliminate 'smallness' syndrome, I would be all for it. It's time to learn how to just enjoy the elevator ride again rather than using it to cram ourselves into its limits.\n\nLet's take back our truth and wholeness!\n\nIf you are a small business owner or an individual who wants to expand into your truth and wholeness and to approach the world from the reality of WHO you are over WHAT you do, contact me below!\n\nPS: If you are interested in reading a classic rant by a brilliant scientist who laments this idea of 'smallness' click on the link below for his book, \"Listen, Little Man!\". I read this book by Wilhelm Reich in about 3-4 hours one afternoon and broke into tears at least 2-3 times as I couldn't help but relate to his inner experience and frustration with 'smallness'. Reich was a misunderstood scientist ahead of his time who was working toward scientific understandings of tantric as well as free universal energy. The post WWII raids of many up-and-coming scientists (i.e. Nikola Tesla etc.) included Reich in their cross hairs. He was thrown into prison where he eventually died. In my opinion, this book is a classic and could benefit anyone who is about to enter the adult world.\nhttp://www.amazon.com/Listen-Little-Man-Noonday-271/dp/0374504016" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "An independent public inquiry is the only way to get to the bottom of the largest mass murder in the country’s history, says a Dalhousie University law professor.\n\n“There probably will be overwhelming public pressure on the province’s attorney general to do so, and there should be,\" said Archie Kaiser, an expert in criminal law and procedure. \"The broader issues that this tragedy raises can only be properly explored through an independent, thorough and well-resourced public inquiry to look at all the facts of this case.”\n\nNova Scotia Attorney General Mark Furey has the power under the province’s Fatalities Investigations Act to call an inquiry if he thinks it’s in the public interest or the interest of public safety.\n\nThe process calls for the chief judge of the provincial court to appoint a judge to conduct the public probe that would end with recommendations being made to the government.\n\nThe late Federal Court of Appeal judge Allen Linden once said the difference between a public inquiry and all other types of investigations is that it is truly public.\n\n\"It investigates a matter of public interest, in public view, and with the participation of the public,\" Linden said.\n\nRight now, only the RCMP and the province’s independent police watchdog, the Serious Incident Response Team, are investigating last weekend’s shooting rampage that left 22 Nova Scotians dead, including a Mountie, plus the gunman.\n\nSerious questions remain about how it was possible for a 51-year-old denture fitter to carry out unprecedented carnage over a 13-hour span and why a potentially life-saving emergency alert system wasn’t used while the tragedy unfolded.\n\nThose and other questions might have been answered publicly in the courts had the gunman survived. But the facts and causes of the tragedy still need to be examined in a public forum, said Kaiser, with the aim of preventing such a large-scale disaster from happening again.\n\n“At this stage, it would behoove the attorney general and other leaders of government to start making a list of concerns that will require further investigation and that could be part of the terms of reference of a public inquiry.”\n\nFurey, who was an RCMP officer for 32 years, declined to be interviewed about the investigation. But Justice Department spokeswoman Barbara MacLean said in an email that it’s “premature to even consider a public inquiry so early in what we know to be a most complex and horrific investigation.”\n\nShe said the RCMP and SIRT need time to conduct and complete their investigations.\n\nThe investigation of the RCMP’s handling of the shooting spree is not entirely clear. SIRT is probing two particular incidents, including the fatal shooting of the gunman by police at a gas station in Enfield and the actions of two RCMP officers who opened fire on the Onslow Belmont firehall on Sunday morning while it was being used as a registration centre for evacuees from the nearby crime scene.\n\nThe police watchdog issued a news release Monday saying the RCMP asked SIRT to look at a third incident, but the request had been denied on the grounds it \"would be best investigated by the RCMP.\"\n\nThe Chronicle Herald made several inquiries with the RCMP to find out more information about the incident in question, but didn’t get a response.\n\nQuestions have been raised about the independence of SIRT. While the group’s acting director, Pat Curran, a former provincial court judge, provides an independent and outside perspective, the group's investigation team consists of current and former police officers.\n\nThe mandate of SIRT is also narrow in that its investigations determine only whether an officer’s use of force is justified. The decision to lay a criminal charge is made by the director of SIRT. Only summaries of SIRT investigations are made public and they contain no recommendations that might guide improvements to police procedures or policies.\n\nThose reviews — an internal RCMP probe and SIRT investigations — will fall short of the comprehensive review needed in this case, said Kaiser.\n\n“SIRT has a vital role to play in maintaining the integrity of policing in Nova Scotia, but their mandate is narrow, and a properly constituted inquiry has unlimited scope to investigate the issues and make recommendations,\" said Kaiser. \"A tragedy of this scale demands a thorough public exploration that can't be left to the RCMP or the SIRT office.\"\n\nA public inquiry is underway into the 2017 deaths of Afghanistan war veteran Lionel Desmond and his family. The province announced the probe nearly a year after the murder-suicides happened at the former soldier’s home in Upper Big Tracadie.\n\nTwo of Desmond’s sisters led the high-profile campaign calling for an inquiry. While the inquiry will examine the circumstances of those deaths, it will answer crucial questions, including whether Desmond and his family had access to the appropriate mental-health and domestic-violence support leading up to their deaths.\n\nBefore the Desmond probe, the last public inquiry held in Nova Scotia was a decade ago, in 2010. That public probe examined the jail-cell death of Howard Hyde, who had a history of mental illness.\n\nThe inquiry produced a report containing 80 recommendations, calling for bureaucratic changes in the provincial health and justice departments, more funding for all levels of mental-health care and more training for police.\n\nWayne MacKay, also a Dalhousie law professor, said he would be shocked if the province didn’t call a public inquiry in response to the tragedy that unfolded over the weekend.\n\n“It’s pretty safe to assume, given this is the largest mass killing in Canadian history, there will be a full-scale public inquiry involving both provincial and federal authorities to get to the bottom of how this tragedy played out,” said MacKay, an expert in constitutional and public law.\n\nLike many Nova Scotians, MacKay is concerned that the province opted not to send out a public alert during the gunman's rampage, given that just over a week before, a text alert was issued advising people to stay inside over the Easter weekend.\n\nPremier Stephen McNeil seemed to blame the RCMP for the oversight during a news conference Tuesday. McNeil said the province was eventually in a position to issue the alert, but didn't get the go-ahead from the RCMP to do so.\n\nOn Wednesday, Chief Supt. Chris Leather said RCMP were in the process of drafting an emergency alert when the gunman was shot and killed in Enfield on Sunday.\n\nRegardless, MacKay said the province should have issued the alert, and both the premier and the RCMP should take some responsibility for not doing so. He said this is just one of the many serious issues that a public inquiry must address.\n\n\"It’s quite surprising that a mere couple of weeks ago, we got a very extensive provincewide COVID-19 alert asking us to stay home, and there was no equivalent alert when a gunman was on a rampage over a long period of time threatening the lives of many Nova Scotians,\" MacKay said.\n\n\"The question left with many Nova Scotians was why there was not an equivalent alert to try to ensure that as many lives as possible were protected?”\n\nUltimately, a public inquiry is what is needed to unearth all the factors that led to the mass killing, he said, and to give Nova Scotians the reassurance that it will never happen again.\n\n\"It’s important to ask these questions and get to the root causes, to see whether, in fact, we can do things better in the future to avoid the loss of life.\" <image> (Arianna Eriavbe-Wolters, 5, was one about a hundred people who attended an End SARS vigil in Charlottetown on Oct. 23.) <image> (A small amount of sun can be beneficial for people with psoriasis, but Deva Murthy says she has to be careful not to get too much.)" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "Anyone think they'd be singing this tune if it was a Democrat Mueller was investigating?\nBy Heather\n3 years ago by Heather\nViews:\n\nAnyone think they'd be singing this tune if it was a Democrat Mueller was investigating?\n\nThe right wing, led by hate talk radio and their allies at Fox \"news\" have been screaming to the hills demanding that Republicans shut down the Mueller investigation, or cut his funding.\n\nCNN's Jake Tapper asked Trump flack Michael Caputo, who had previously called the now indicted Trump advisor Papadopoulos a \"coffee boy\" to weigh in on this Sunday's State of the Union, and Caputo agreed that's exactly what they should do if Mueller heaven forbid went beyond the scope of the Russiagate investigation:\n\nTAPPER: So, there's a big debate right now at the White House about how the president should be responding to the Mueller investigation.\n\nObviously, Stephen Bannon, from outside the White House, is suggesting that he take on Mueller, hit back, try to get members of Congress to threaten to take away funding, so as to narrow the scope of the Mueller investigation.\n\nHow do you think the president should handle it?\n\nCAPUTO: Well, I think if this investigation goes outside the scope of Russian collusion, it -- it should probably be shut down.\n\nCAPUTO: Well, I don't -- I'm not -- I can't tell you. I mean, we have a congressional investigation in the House and in the Senate on this.\n\nI have had to testify in front of the House myself on it. There are questions that need to be answered, I think. It's very clear -- and I have said this since July of 2016 -- that the Russians were trying to get into both campaigns.\n\nAnd, certainly, we know for a fact that they were going after Papadopoulos and Donald Jr. And we need to have answers to those questions. But if we start looking into, you know, financial improprieties in 2004 by the Trump Organization, it's time to shut it down.\n\nFrom the party that impeached a president for lying about oral sex and gave us the endless Benghazi!!!! witch hunt.\n\nAll criminal activity is fine as long as you've got an R behind your name and you get their tax cuts passed. <image> (Michael Caputo: 'Time To Shut It Down' If Mueller Looks Into Trump Organization Improprieties) <image> (Franken Punches Holes In Trump's Pathetic Attempts To Discredit Mueller) <image> (Watch As Trump's Kremlin Shill Mike Caputo Goes After FBI 'Bias') He just wants to make the Bureau better!\nBy Susie Madrak\ncomments\nDec 26, 2017" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> (Old microphones) Machine learning and natural language processing are transforming our relationship with our devices by giving them a human voice. People with visual impairments have especially benefited from these technologies, but those who speak languages like my native Odia have largely been left behind by most voicebanks.\n\nWhen T. Shrinivasan, a Tamil-language Wikipedian, started the Voice-recorder-for-tawictionary, he probably didn't realize how useful his open source tool can be for users like me. I was in search of a simple tool that could allow me to record large chunks of words in a short time so that those recordings can be used on Odia Wiktionary, a sister project of Wikipedia and a free dictionary in Odia language that has translations of Odia and other language words.\n\nShrini's tool was a magical encounter. I forked the tool on GitHub and called it Kathabhidhana—which means a speech dictionary in Odia—and made a few changes to the code to suit my own setup. The project grew when I started facing new issues and documented the workarounds. Shrini has been super helpful to fix small little bugs and make additions like previewing the audio recording before saving it.\n\nWhat does the tool do?\n\nKathabhidhana is a simple command line tool that can be run either on Linux or MacOS terminal.\n\nBefore starting it, you need to download the entire tool, unzip, and open the file in a text editor to add a list of words that you want to record. Then it uses your computer's microphone (either the computer's mic or an external one), shows one word at a time, and provides four seconds (by default; you can change this in the code) to record it. Once recorded, it saves a temporary audio file in .WAV file format. You can then choose to preview the recorded audio, then save or re-record it. Once you are happy with the recording, you can just press \"Y\" to save and move to the next word. It automatically saves the file in .WAV and .ogg (an open format that is supported by many open source projects including Wikimedia Commons).\n\nMore than 1,700 audio files have been uploaded so far under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license, an open license that allows anyone to use, share, create a derivative, and distribute even for commercial purpose. Kathabhidhana is proudly made with GNU General Public License (GPL) version 3 and all the documentations and the audio recordings are in CC BY-SA 4.0.\n\nFellow Wikimedian Prateek Pattanaik worked on creating a workflow that uses a few tools and creates audio recordings in .ogg; it is available for download on the project documentation page.\n\nThough the tool does not have any complex code or any GUI at all, its simplicity is part of what makes it so promising. There literally are no pronunciations of words for many languages like mine in an open standard.\n\nThe lack of an openly licensed voicebank stops developers from creating a text-to-speech or speech-to-text engine for visually impaired people and others. India, my home country, has over 15 million people with visual disabilities—the largest in the entire world. While there are open source screen readers like NonVisual Desktop Access that use voice synthesizers instead of real human voices, it is not comfortable to listen to a robotic voice for a long time. Moreover, machine learning and natural language processing not only help people with accessibility needs but can also totally transform the way we interact with our devices. The reason proprietary personal assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Cortana are so popular is because of the use of human voice recordings. With more open source voice-controlled solutions coming, imagine what openly licensed voicebanks in your native language can do. <image> (Man playing drums)" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "London architects DRDH have won the competition to restore and modernise Opera Ghent. Home to Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, the building dates back to 1840.\n\nThe project has a budget of €70m, with a competition date in 2026. DRDH’s plan will add a new performance venue and restore its three existing ballrooms. Further, it will expand back of house office space, improve the backstage facilities, and increase the amount of space open to the public.\n\n“The project restores its historic ballrooms, updates the auditoria, creates new backstage facilities and opens up the site as a contemporary cultural space for the city,” said DRDH co-founder Daniel Rosbottom in a post on Twitter.\n\n“The project opens up the urban block as a permeable public space, creating a new courtyard and external routes through the site. A new stair hall forms a central point of circulation to new and existing auditoria and a tower of large rooms houses large new elements of programme.”\n\nIt is the second major building DRDH has worked on in Ghent, having previously restored the Bijloke Concert Hall – a project that was completed in 2017. Its plans beat off competition from Bennetts Associates, OMA, Kempe Thill and Happel Cornelisse Verhoeven. <image> <image> We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit \"Cookie Settings\" to provide a controlled consent.\nCookie SettingsAccept All\nManage consent\n\nThis website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.\nNecessary Always Enabled\nNecessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.\nFunctional\nFunctional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.\nPerformance\nPerformance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.\nAnalytics\nAnalytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.\nAdvertisement\nAdvertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.\nOthers\nOther uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.\nSAVE & ACCEPT" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "<image> (Jesse Sukunda 1 of 10) <image> (Jesse Sukunda 2 of 10) <image> (Jesse Sukunda 3 of 10) <image> (Jesse Sukunda 4 of 10) <image> (Jesse Sukunda 5 of 10) <image> (Jesse Sukunda 6 of 10) <image> (Jesse Sukunda 7 of 10) <image> (Jesse Sukunda 8 of 10) <image> (Jesse Sukunda 9 of 10) <image> (Jesse Sukunda 10 of 10) Canadian actor most famous for his role as Jesse on the Disney XD series Gaming Show (In My Parents' Garage). He was previously a regular cast member on the YTV hidden camera prank show Extreme Babysitting.\n\nIn 2017, he started a gaming YouTube channel called Mungo Plays. He can also play 5 instruments.\n\nHe grew up an only child in the Etobicoke district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.\n\nHe got the opportunity to meet celebrities like Charles Martinet, Tony Hawk, and Adam Sandler on Gaming Show (In My Parents' Garage).\n\nJesse Sukunda Is A Member Of" } ]

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[ { "role": "user", "content": null }, { "role": "assistant", "content": "Bill Buford, in his account of his adventures as Chef Mario Batali's kitchen slave, says people go to Babbo \"in the expectation of excess\". He ponders Batali's enterprise of \"stimulating outrageous appetites (whatever they might be) and satisfying them intensely (by whatever means)\". <image> Now, I'm known to be partial to a bowl of pasta. So you can only imagine my ecstasy at the sight of Babbo's 8 course pasta tasting menu with matching reserve wines - 6 bowls of pasta, 2 desserts, 8 delectable wines and, 3 hours later, one very humorous stumble home.\n\nBut let me take you back a step. Batali's Babbo is tucked away discretely in a leafy street of Greenwich Village, near Washington Square. Outside, all is quiet and respectable. Open the front door, and be swept up into a celebratory bustle of lively fine dining with the crotch-rock riffs of Led Zeppelin smoldering over the front bar ablaze.\n\nThis is a restaurant with personality.\n\nThe Peanut Gallery and I perched ourselves up at the bar for a pre-dinner Aperol, and a blatant perve at the fare around us. Next door, a bowl of pappardelle with butter, parmesan and lashings of white truffle was showing some leg. The truffle was grated flirtatiously at the table, while its 2 recipient (and presumably flush) diners watched the bar girl coo desirously over their raunchy $300 bottle of Barolo being decanted on the side lines. TPG tried to make friends, to no avail.\n\nBut soon it was onwards and upwards to the beautiful, white upstairs dining room for the main event.\n\nHaving trained under Marco Pierre White, Batali reportedly has a fierce aversion to kitchen tantrums and all things French. He forbids the use of reduced sauces and all stock other than chicken. His passion is for simple, traditional Italian food. Just add a pinch of Batali flair.\n\nThere's so much more on the menu than just pasta (although, do yourself a favour...). There's a traditional tasting menu ($75), and countless number of sure to be ravishing a la carte options. Both the food and atmosphere are lusty and exuberant; and Babbo was bestowed with an easily deserved 3 stars from Ruth Reichl at the New York Times soon after it opened in 1998.\n\nBatali's pasta philosophy is that \"it's about the pasta, not the sauce\". All his pasta pieces are beautifully hand made and cooked to perfection.\n\nWe started with the black tagliatelle with parsnips and pancetta - light and delicate in a butter and wine sauce. It was matched beautifully with a Gerwurtztraminer, Kuenhof 2007 (Alto Adige). <image> The Casunzei with poppy seeds were gorgeous Northern Italy style bundles of pasta stuffed with lustrous, sweet beetroot, potato and ricotta which spilled out in shocking brightness on first bite. They were paired with a lovely Trebbiano D'Abruzzo, Emidio Pepe 2004 (Abruzzi) which the TPG helpfully cried out \"tastes like Chicken Twisties\". In case of doubt, this is the highest of compliments in TPG's repertoire. <image> The Garganelli with Funghi Trifolati was absolutely delicious - gorgeous mushrooms, fresh parsley, a light sauce and, of course, fabulous rolls of fresh pasta. All swilled happily with a robust Barolo, Borgogno 2004 (Piemonte) from a magnum - phwoar! <image> Domingo's Pyramids with Passato di Pomodoro, firm pasta pyramids filled with delectable braised beef, doubled up nicely with the Fontalloro, Fattoria di Delsina 1993 (Toscana). Again, showing that wine tasting course was money well spent, TPG likened the wine to the Green Tomato Bloody Marys at Jane which we sampled the year before - and, I have to admit, the man had a point. <image> Of course, by now, our beloved (and exceptionally lovely) sommelier had already filled us up with 4 glasses of wine each - and we still had 4 to go. Each glass was carefully selected and passionately explained. Glasses were filled generously and evenly (no smaller serves for the womanfolk, a Greedy Diva pet peeve). So life was getting better by the minute at this point - each dish became more awe inspiring, each amorous moment more enamored, each joke more hilarious and each mutual congratulations at finding ourselves here with the food of the gods more flushed. <image> Buford tells how Batali retreated to the small northern Italian town, Porretta Terme, in 1989, where he gained hands on experience at hand making pasta and traditional sauces. He learned to make Bolognese with veal, pork, beef and pancetta, cooked slowly with olive oil and butter. Leave in the fat, add white wine, milk and a little tomato paste. All, I imagine, while staring over the peacefulls hills and valleys from Florence to Bologna.\n\nOnce again, the pasta was perfectly firm as it layered and flipped around the sweet, rich and luxurious sauce. Buttery goodness. A \"sit back, close your eyes, and picture the olive groves\" moment...\n\nNext, out came jigging the Dancing Ewe Caciotta Fritters with Honey and Thyme and an Erpacrife, Scarzello 2006 (Piemonte). The crunchy exterior encased a gorgeous, gooey but fairly mild cheese, balanced beautifully with the sweetness of the honey. <image> The spicy Chocolate al Diavolo was our transitionary course between savouries and sweets, and we saddled it up with the Sagrantino di Montefalco Passito, Bea 2003 (Umbria). <image> The desserts were our only disappointments with the night (not that we needed more food by now). We sampled the Tyrolean Carrot and Poppyseed Cake with Olive Oil and Orange Gelato (average) and a Pistachio Chocolate Semifreddo (which I really liked, but TPG was not fussed - all the more for me). Both were paired with the Moscadeddu, Dettori, 2005 (Sardinia). <image> <image> Babbo was simply sensational. The flavours and textures were wonderful, the service and ambience was attentive and fun. We paid $69 each for the tasting menu and $95 for the reserve wine pairings (our special occasion luxury) - although the traditional wine pairings are less at $50. However, we'd love to come back for a simple bowl of pasta at the bar which wouldn't break anyone's wallet. Book ahead.\n\nSo, that was our magnificent Babbo carb fest. Some other time, I'll tell you about the stumble home... <image> (Bill Buford quotes from \"Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-maker and Apprentice to a Butcher in Tuscany\", Bill Buford, 2007)" } ]