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Globus Maritime Announces Exercise of Warrants

ATHENS, GREECE--(Marketwired - Sep 27, 2017) -  Globus Maritime Limited (the "Company" or "Globus") ( NASDAQ : GLBS ), a dry bulk shipping company, announced today that an investor holding warrants originally issued pursuant to the Company's February 2017 private placement has elected to exercise its right to purchase 500,000 of the Company's common shares at a price of $1.60 per share.

Athanasios "Thanos" Feidakis, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, commented:

"We are pleased to have strengthened our balance sheet by $800,000. We consider this evidence of our investors' support for our relentless efforts to move forward."

About Globus Maritime Limited

Globus is an integrated dry bulk shipping company that provides marine transportation services worldwide and presently owns, operates and manages a fleet of dry bulk vessels that transport iron ore, coal, grain, steel products, cement, alumina and other dry bulk cargoes internationally. Globus's subsidiaries own and operate five vessels with a total carrying capacity of 300,571 dwt and a weighted average age of 9.3 years as of June 30, 2017.


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Boy Painting - Joshuas Brother by Marilyn Jacobson

Joshua's Brother is a painting by Marilyn Jacobson which was uploaded on November 29th, 2010.

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Play The Red Cards

Draft ’12: Cardinals’ Day First Picks

Posted by bosspresso 於 六月 5, 2012

(8) Michael Wacha, rhp, Texas A&M

After the consensus top three college pitchers (Stanford’s Mark Appel, Louisiana State’s Kevin Gausman, San Francisco’s Kyle Zimmer) go off the board, Wacha could be the next one selected. He owns the best changeup in the draft, a pitch that can be devastating when he sets it up with a 90-93 mph fastball that peaks at 96. His command also is as good as any pitcher in this crop, as is his competitiveness. He also has an athletic 6-foot-6, 200-pound frame and delivers his pitches on a tough angle to the plate. The only thing keeping him from being considered on the top tier of college arms is the lack of a plus breaking ball. Wacha made progress with a slider last summer under the tutelage of Team USA pitching coach Rob Walton, and he also throws a curveball. Wacha generally sticks with whichever breaking pitch is working best on a given day. Both pitches can get loose at times and project as no better than average at the big league level. Despite that one shortcoming, he still could find his way into the first 10 picks. He may not have the ceiling of Appel, Gausman or Zimmer, but Wacha has a higher floor.

高中版Zack Cox。很多方面看起來很好，控球好，變速球好，耐操。但他沒有變化球。這個問題就夠讓人頭大了，使他只會是個輪值後段先發。

(51) James Ramsey, of, Florida State

Scouts have called Ramsey the Tim Tebow of Florida State baseball, referring to his leadership, strong Christian faith and big-play ability, and Seminoles coaches don’t shrink from the comparison. The first player under 33-year head coach Mike Martin to wear a “C" on his uniform as team captain, Ramsey spurned the Twins as a 22nd-round pick last summer, turning down more than $500,000 from a club that wanted to shift him to second base. He has moved from right to center field as a senior and got off to a blistering start, and he was batting .401/.536/.731 to lead the Atlantic Coast Conference in all three categories. Scouts see Ramsey as much the same player he was last year, with average to above-average tools but no true plus tool. He’s an above-average runner who might be able to stick in center field, though some scouts question his instincts and doubt he could stick there in a larger home park. He has an average, accurate arm sufficient for right field. Ramsey has average power but may not have corner power. He’s a safe bet to be a big leaguer, with scouts split on just how much impact he’ll have. He has yet to play the infield, but another club might want to follow the Twins’ lead and try him at second in a Jason Kipnis redux.

(26) Stephen Piscotty, of/3b, Stanford

For the teams that value track record, Piscotty has been a consistent performer. He’s hit well all three years at Stanford, hit well in the Alaska League after his freshman year and led the Cape Cod League in batting last year. Piscotty has a strong frame at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds. He has a soild, line-drive approach at the plate and projects as more of a doubles hitter than a home run threat. Piscotty’s bat profiles better at third base than it does in a corner outfield spot. But if he has to move there as a pro—which is likely, since he moved to the outfield midway through the season at Stanford to make room at third for freshman Alex Blandino—then it’s a tougher profile as a righthanded hitter with limited power potential. Piscotty has a strong arm and is a fringe-average runner and scouts like his makeup and work ethic.

Casey Blake類型。

(161) Patrick Wisdom, 3b, St. Mary’s

While most scouts like Wisdom’s defense and makeup, this spring has raised questions about how much he’ll hit. Scouts who believe in him point to his track record, which includes a .351/.423/.582 line last year and a league-leading seven home runs in the Alaska League last summer, when he was the league’s No. 2 prospect. They see a solid hitter with above-average power. This year, however, he was hitting just .254/.380/.435. Scouts who don’t believe in Wisdom don’t think he’ll have enough bat to profile at third base, where he’s a strong defender with above-average arm strength. He is an average runner who moves well for his size, and a great teammate with an outstanding work ethic. Wisdom played some catcher in high school, and a team may ask him to give that another shot.

(66) Steve Bean, c, Rockwall (Texas) HS

The University of Texas landed two of the top three high school catching prospects in its recruiting class, though neither Bean nor Wyatt Mathisen figures to arrive on campus. Bean has raised his profile as much as any prospect in Texas this spring, giving himself a chance to go in the top two rounds of the draft. His standout tool is an arm that grades as a 65 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He’s improving as a receiver and projects to develop solid skills in that regard. A 6-foot-2, 190-pounder, Bean offers offensive potential from the left side of the plate as well. He makes consistent contact and has the wiry strength to grow into decent power. While he’s a below-average runner, he’s athletic for a catcher and plays with a lot of energy.

要講紅雀今年第一天的選秀成果，先搭配Jeff Luhnow在太空人的選擇。太空人選了Carlos Correa、Lance McCullers。Correa的天花板加上現有表現，可以說是今年新秀中最好。McCullers比較麻煩，原本投球動作太差，不過調整後開始有轉先發的可能，stuff是本屆投手當中最好的一位，但是要求簽約金傳聞相當高。但Luhnow都選了這兩位高天花板球員。

相較之下，Kantz (或是說紅雀整個團隊)在前六十順位五支籤的情況下，沒有選任何一位具有明星潛力的球員。Wacha、Piscotty要是用來調配風險和潛力的平衡，會是很好的選擇。但他們的天花板已經是五個人當中最高的了… 選Wacha時，大學投手更成熟的Marcus Stroman、stuff更好的Chris Stratton都還在檯面上。Ramsey和Wisdom都是我想砸電腦螢幕的選擇。第23順位選擇車神類型球員? 第52順位選打擊比Zack Cox還爛的三壘手? 尤其是已經選了三壘手Piscotty之後又選個三壘手? 在Bean之前還有個德州高中捕手Wyatt Mathisen，打擊好更多、工具更好卻沒選?

紅雀第一天的選秀可以跟蒙特婁博覽會1990年的第一輪慘況比了。當年他們第一輪有六支籤，長最好的是Rondell White。我實在不懂，為什麼一定要選擇有問題的球員-沒變化球的投手，糙老沒特別工具的角落外野手，沒守備沒砲管的三壘手，沒棒子的三壘手，風險相當高、報酬不高的捕手。想壓縮預算可以理解，但這樣只能說是沒錢買真貨，也不精打細算，就去買瑕疵品…

3 回應 to “Draft ’12: Cardinals’ Day First Picks”

  1. 匿名 said

    p.s Wacha 有點像Lohse………其實他change up如果真的能長得不錯….那應該有前三號吧?????

  2. bosspresso said

    Shelby Miller是二號先發stuff。Wacha前三號的話，那是指跟Miller差不多等級。

  3. jason said

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Shed Weight Use Raspberry Ketones Plus

Pure Raspberry Ketone

Pure Raspberry Ketone is without a doubt one of the better categories of products to help you on enhancing your well being. The simple truth is that Raspberry Ketones could be really good to possess, therefore you will discover the cost to be really worth it over time. A lot of people generally wish to purchase this kind of, nevertheless they discover that there can be prospective Raspberry Ketones Negative effects. Whenever you educate by yourself about the real side effects, you can make a real strength of mind on whether or not this can be best for you to take or else not.

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“Give me a boy until the age of seven and I will give you the man.”

This quote is attributed to various Jesuits. Its meaning, I guess, is that our path is shaped early in life. Also, our path is predictable based on what we are like as little children.

I do wonder how much truth there is to this idea. My own boy is interested in the following careers: policeman, Army man, doctor, rock seller, ice cream inventor, the next Bill Gates, and lately, fighter pilot. I’m struggling to predict his path.

He turned eight yesterday. I guess I was feeling sentimental about leaving seven, because suddenly I wanted to watch the “Up” series of films. (These are not to be confused with Disney/Pixar’s “Up”, which—ironically—is a downer.) The “Up” series are documentaries shot in Britain from 1964 to present. They started with a group of seven-year-olds from various socioeconomic backgrounds and have followed them up to present day, shooting a new documentary every seven years. The group is now in their early 50’s.

I’ve watched “7 Up”, “7 Plus 7”, and “21 Up” so far. My suspicion that I’ve been writing my literary middle-schoolers as too juvenile was confirmed when I watched the 14-year-olds talking. I’m becoming convinced that the only differences between adults and teenagers are experience and self-control. Otherwise, the thinking seems exactly the same.

Netflix streams these documentaries, so if you have access to it online, you can watch on your computer. They’re also available on DVD. They’re totally fascinating, and I highly recommend them. I can’t wait to get to “35 Up” to see how their lives have progressed and how their thinking compares to my own. And I’m curious to see what happens beyond then.

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Category Archives: E-Juice

E-cigarettes Were My Golden Ticket

ImageI started smoking when I was 18 years old—I guess what happens in Germany doesn’t necessarily stay in Germany. I became a closet smoker and remained one for about 13 years. I had to keep it in the closet because I ran with crowds who would severely thumb their noses at me–even abandon me–if they knew. You see I am a “good girl.” I attend church and worked with children, I ran leadership programs at work for teenagers on probation, I’m generally healthy, and I have a husband and two beautiful children. But when no one was looking, I was taking deep drags off my Marlboro like my life depended on it.

 Leading a double life was hard. I could never, under and circumstances allow my smoking life and my non-smoking life to cross paths. It was exhausting. My husband and I had tried to quit many times, but nothing was working; and we couldn’t ask for help from people who didn’t even know there was a problem. I was almost ready to resign myself to a pathetic life of hiding and slowly dying in the shadows with my cigarette.

 Then one day, my brother Kevin came to my house and asked “Are you still smoking? I thought I smelled a hint of smoke in the garage last time I was here.” Kevin was one of the few members of my family who knew I smoked. I confessed that we were still smoking. “I want you guys to try this—it’s what I used to quit. I guarantee you’ll be able to quit if you use it.” I was intrigued, so I listened.

 What he showed me was an electronic cigarette; specifically a Joyetech Ego T. He told me he had started a company called Cigtronix ( and had been selling them for almost aImage year. At first I laughed. Me, smoking one of those dorky things—ridiculous! But I tried it. . .and was amazed!

 That’s how I was introduced to the world of e-cigs. I started using that little device and never looked back—that was almost a year ago. I haven’t picked up a cigarette since I picked up that Joyetech, in fact, I haven’t even wanted to. I am completely and shamelessly a believer.

 To those who are thinking about quitting, stop thinking and start quitting! This is the way to go. To all my fellow quitters, VAPE ON!

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CFP: The 29th International Conference on Medievalism, Georgia Institute of Technology, 24-25 October 2014

Deadline: 15 April 2014/1 June 2014

Medievalisms on the Move

One of the great epistemological strengths of medievalism studies has been its openness to the many variants of cultural reception, including multiple linguistic, ideological, geographical, and disciplinary perspectives. For this year’s conference at the Georgia Institute of Technology, we specifically invite sessions and individual papers that will investigate the manifold transformations that happen when recreations, reinventions, and redefinitions of the “medieval” move from one cultural space and time to another. The conference (“Medievalisms on the Move”) will feature two plenary speakers. Sylvie Kandé’s research on the migration of medievalisms from Europe and Africa to the Americas, and Kathleen Verduin’s investigation of the North American Dante reception (see below) present excellent examples of the kind of work we invite. We also imagine contributions that would show how medievalisms move between different discourses, genres, technological modes, historical periods, geographies, religions, art forms, social levels, research paradigms, etc. In addition to these contributions to the general theme of the conference, we invite any and all papers on the reception of medieval culture in postmedieval times.

Inquiries, one page proposals for entire sessions (deadline: April 15, 2014), and one page proposals for individual papers (deadline: June 1, 2014) should be sent to the conference organizers at The conference will be held from October 24-25, 2014, in Atlanta, GA at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The annual International Conference on Medievalism (ICOM; known as the General Conference on Medievalism until 1993) began with two meetings at the University of Notre Dame in 1986 and 1987. Subsequent conferences were organized through the Newberry Library and Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago, Illinois: 1988), the United States Military Academy (West Point, New York 1989), Burg Kaprun (jointly with the 5th Symposium on Mittelalter-Rezeption, Austria: 1990), the University of Delaware (Newark, Delaware,1991), the University of South Florida (Tampa, Florida, 1992), the University of Leeds (UK: 1993), Montana State University (Bozeman, Montana, 1994), the Higgins Armory Museum (Worcester, Massachusetts: 1995), Kalamazoo College (Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1996), Christ Church College (Canterbury, UK: 1997), University of Rochester (Rochester, New York, 1998), Montana State University (Bozeman, Montana, 1999), Hope College (Holland, Michigan: 2000), Buffalo State College (Buffalo, New York, 2001), the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, Iowa, 2002), St. Louis University (St. Louis, Missouri, 2003), University of New Brunswick (Canada: 2004), Towson University (Baltimore, Maryland: 2005), Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio: 2006), University of Western Ontario (London, Ontario, Canada: 2007), Wesleyan College (Macon, Georgia, 2008), Siena College (Loudonville, New York, 2009), and University of Groningen (The Netherlands, 2010), University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2011), Kent State University Regional Campuses (Warren and Canton, Ohio 2012), St. Norbert College (De Pere, Wisconsin, 2013).

The conference organizers and the editorial boards of YWIM and SiM  thank everyone who participated in making these conferences successful.

Additionally, Studies in Medievalism usually sponsors sessions at the International Congresses on Medieval Studies (Western Michigan University; Kalamazoo, Michigan) and the International Medieval Congress at the University of Leeds (UK). Conference proceedings, including papers from the annual ICOM and the Kalamazoo and Leeds sessions, have been published in The Year’s Work in Medievalism.

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May 28, 2012

Apologies for the lack of new posts on the blog recently. The Focus on Fauna Fire Recovery Project officially ended with the “Final Fling” and film launch at Strath Creek in April (see post HERE). However, we plan to keep the Focus on Fauna website active,  posting stories of wildlife recovery and general natural history interest in the fire-affected areas around Strath Creek, Flowerdale and beyond.

We will have a couple of new contributors to the blog:
Chris Cobern, the Upper Goulburn Landcare Network’s Fire Recovery Coordinator, who has been involved in the installation and monitoring of wildlife nesting boxes, and who has been recording many interesting images on remote cameras in the Kinglake Ranges/Toolangi area.
Ron from Flowerdale (Ronlit), who has, together with Kate, been an enthusiastic participant throughout the Focus on Fauna project, and who has provided many fascinating wildlife stories and images, particularly about the pair of Powerful Owls resident on their bush block (see HERE).

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You have 14 days, from receipt, to notify the seller if you wish to cancel your order or exchange an item.

Unless faulty, the following types of items are non-refundable: items that are personalised, bespoke or made-to-order to your specific requirements; items which deteriorate quickly (e.g. food), personal items sold with a hygiene seal (cosmetics, underwear) in instances where the seal is broken.

Read the Folksy Returns Policy.


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Check our curated gift guides

Shop Announcement:

* Valentines Day *

Please order before Tuesday 13th of February to ensure delivery by Wednesday the 14th of February.

Made by Sun Rae

Sorry! This item is unavailable.

Owl Stitch Markers

Owl Stitch Markers
Love this

Set of 3 double-sided markers in various colours and covered in clear enamel. I have used silver coloured hoops to complement the look of the owls, which won't snag your work.

Measure 3cm top to bottom and will fit up to a size 6mm/ US 10 needle.

Fittings can be altered for CROCHET with the following:.

PLEASE SPECIFY WHICH CLASP YOU WISH WHEN ORDERING: Lobster Claw or Leverback clasp. Otherwise stitchmarker will arrive with fitting as seen in main photograph.

Every order will arrive in a small organza gift bag with the markers on a locking hoop.

Taught to knit at the age of 5 and now an accomplished knitter and teaching little ones in a nursery environment. I know how important it is to keep your place in a pattern, so add a bit of character to your knitting and never lose your place again with these cute owl stitch markers.

Shipping & delivery

This item is made-to-order and will be posted to you by Made by Sun Rae within 3 days of receiving payment.

Shipping destination Cost Additional items
United Kingdom £2.50 £1.00

Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Germany, France, Spain, Finland, Belgium, Portugal, Poland, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Austria, Latvia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia

£4.50 £1.50
USA and Canada £4.50 £1.50

Returns Policy

This is a custom-made item and cannot be returned unless faulty.

Read the Folksy Returns Policy.


text:
Check our curated gift guides

Shop Announcement:

Everything listed here that says silver is sterling silver, I do not use silver plate at all. There will be elements of sterling silver in every design, some will be completely so, others may have combinations of copper, brass, bronze, glass, enamel, pewter and semi-precious stones as well.

Sorry! This item is unavailable.

Mother of pearl with sterling silver earrings

Mother of pearl with sterling silver earrings
Love this

White mother of pearl round stones with sterling silver hoop, connections and ear wires.
The drop is approximately 3cms.
Despatched in an organza bag via the Royal Mail Signed For service in the UK as part of the price. For those in Europe outside the UK, there is a small additional postal charge. These will be sent via the Royal Mail International Standard service.

Shipping & delivery

This item will be posted to you by Jewellery By Silvana within 5 days of receiving payment.

Shipping destination Cost Additional items
United Kingdom £0.00 £0.00

Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Germany, France, Spain, Finland, Belgium, Portugal, Poland, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Austria, Latvia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia

£2.00 £1.00

Returns Policy

You have 14 days, from receipt, to notify the seller if you wish to cancel your order or exchange an item.

Unless faulty, the following types of items are non-refundable: items that are personalised, bespoke or made-to-order to your specific requirements; items which deteriorate quickly (e.g. food), personal items sold with a hygiene seal (cosmetics, underwear) in instances where the seal is broken.

Read the Folksy Returns Policy.


text:
helping Sadie and Girl Wonder (update 2)

i’m back with another quick update on the fundraiser for Sadie over at Invincible Spring.

you, dear, wonderful, generous readers… are renewing my shaky faith in the goodness of humans.  we’ve collected enough so far for a very nice stroller/pram and carrier as well as other baby-related bits and bobs.  i’m sure this will be immensely helpful to them.

i’ve asked Sadie to let me know when to send the money on to her, and until then, i’m going to leave the donation page open, so if you were planning to donate but haven’t yet, you still have time!

i’ve been trying to send personal emails to each donor, but i’m afraid that after having been out of town for two days, i’m a bit swamped.  i may ultimately resort to a form letter to let people know that their donations have been received, and i apologize in advance for that.

once again, thank you!

Donate Button with Credit Cards
click here to help Sadie and Girl Wonder!

4 thoughts on “helping Sadie and Girl Wonder (update 2)

  1. Carole

    I finally had a chance to do this. It is so amazing of you to organize this… I don’t think personal notes are needed at all. Much love to you as well, Mama. Carole from Glow

  2. conceptionallychallenged

    Finally I got around to this. Thank you! It is wonderful to hear that so much has been donated already.
    Unrelated – where is this lovely piece of art, and how come I have never seen it?

  3. Pingback: a quick update | following my sun

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little sun

on December 5th, 2012, my first child, my magnificient little sun, was born.  the next day, we lost him to meningitis.  he was the most beautiful thing i’ve ever seen, and without him the world feels dark and empty. this is my place to grieve, to share memories and to talk about life following the loss of the person i loved most in the world.

little sun

little sun

15 thoughts on “little sun

    1. le petit soleil Post author

      sometimes, i still feel his sweet little spirit, and at the same time, i miss him terribly. seeing him again….that’s what i dream of. i know i already replied to one of your comments a few minutes ago, but i just wanted to thank you again for leaving such encouraging and kind words. <3

      1. queenofhearts58

        I just had to share this with you! I am a Tarot Reader and I do a daily card reading on my blog site. Today’s card is for you! I just had to share it with you. I randomly pick cards. I do not go through the cards and pick something. Here is what came up today:

        APRIL 22, 2013
        Daily Card: Fertility Upright

        Fertility Upright-Description Of The Card: Making decisions and ruling over your own life. Expansive horizons. Experiences of fertility and abundance. A new marriage or special relationship which supports one’s growth. Practical action which manifests as a physical product-children, artistic endeavors, or wealth. Pregnancy.

        Fertility Upright-Interpretation Of The Card: This card speaks of expansion and fertility in all areas of life. Great abundance in love and relationships, money, artistic endeavors and security. But most of all it speaks of great success in Pregnancy and having an abundance of children. This is an encouraging card to all of you who are wanting children. It says, yes to your dreams. Do not be discouraged or doubtful. Your hearts desires will be realized in more ways than one! What an awesome card!

    2. le petit soleil Post author

      WOW. i’m actually at a loss for words, but i am so incredibly touched that you to took the time to do this for me. i read it and felt my heart lift a bit. i have a strong connection with the tarot, so this means a lot. thank you thank you thank you for the encouragement. blessings to you, kind soul.

  1. lucadorosmom

    I’m sorry I missed his birthday friend. I came to look at his picture and be reminded of how beautiful this son of yours is. He is perfection. So much love to all three of you.

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Wolverine: Volume 2: 3 Months To Die (UK Edition)

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  • As his plan to take down Sabretooth takes shape, Wolverine goes undercover in Madripoor - but he’s not the only one with his eyes on Sabretooth’s empire - what do Pete Wisdom & MI-13 have to do with it?

  • More Below…

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Success: State Leaders Back Ban on Import and Sale of Animal-Tested Products

Target: Cathleen Galigiana, California State Senator

Goal: Support legislation that punishes and curtails the distribution of products tested on animals.

California is leading the way for another significant victory against animal testing in the cosmetics and personal care industries. Committed advocates like the Forever Against Animal Testing campaign and the united voices in this ForceChange petition have loudly and strongly called for an end to inhumane animal testing in consumer products. Three states, including California, have answered the call by banning manufacturer animal testing within their state borders. The progressive legislators of California aim to take an even more significant step by abolishing the sale of cosmetic and care products that utilize animal testing.

The California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act would prohibit “any cosmetic manufacturer from importing or selling any cosmetic, including personal hygiene products such as deodorant, shampoo, or conditioner, in California if the final product or any component of the product was tested on animals.” The measure, introduced by California Senator Cathleen Galigiana last year, has earned widespread support from many organizations, including the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and cruelty-free product manufacturers who have long maintained that humane alternatives to animal testing exist. The act also picked up broad bipartisan support in the state legislature.

While such testing has been removed from the production process by many companies, many more still use these cruel processes. This resolution is so significant because it provides a financial incentive for companies to explore better testing options while penalizing those that do not. Modeled after guidelines imposed by the United States’ biggest trading ally, the European Union, this promising proposal is one that California leaders hope will serve as a standard for future US Congressional action on animal testing.

Sign this petition to encourage the proactive efforts of California in ending animal testing and to support their drive to make this initiative a successful model for the rest of the country.

Dear Senator Galigiana,

Thank you for becoming an unwavering advocate for every living being in your state and beyond. The California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act is a revolutionary and immensely heartening step forward in the fight against outdated practices that have harmed so many.

By banning the import and sale of animal-tested products, you are sending a strong message and a stronger punishment to manufacturers that rely on California as a significant profit-maker. This incentive will prove incredibly beneficial in motivating these worldwide manufacturers to affect needed change in their policies and processes. As such, the impact of this act will reverberate not only in California but across the country and across the world. As a result, untold numbers of vulnerable and innocent animals can be saved.

Please continue being an ambassador for these living beings and take every measure needed to ensure that this positive model may one day be a fixture for the entire country. You have the support of every American citizen who values all life.

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Linda Bartlett

Sign the Petition

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  1. gen agustsson says:

    no more animal testing. we humans can only test on ourselves!

  2. Nooshin Perla says:

    THANK YOU, for such a GREAT news! I been using non cruelty products for many years now, it is hard to find them, but if you look for them, you will find them. If we as a consumer demand for cruelty free products they have to listen. Then our little sweet friends would NOT suffer, and animal lovers like me can live with in peace!

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How Do Exchange Rates Affect US Forest Products and Timberland Investments?

20 10 2011

When studying exchange rates and currency markets, I sometimes think of the old joke “the quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and stick it back in your pocket.”   Currency markets shake more than jello and swing more than Tila Tequila.  Short-term events and market sentiment can drive capital flows into and out of currencies, swamping fundamentals and expected relationships for years.  As such, exchange rates affect forest products trade flows and investments in timberland assets.

It’s funny to think that money “has a price” beyond our labor, but it does.  An exchange rate – which is the price of money in terms of another – and interest rates – which reflect the price of borrowing or loaning money – produce thundering reverberations in the heads of investors and currency traders, far beyond the crack and snap of a tree hitting the ground.  However, exchanges rates affect forest businesses and timberland investors in at least three ways:

  • Exchange rates affect prices.  When the US dollar gets stronger (when we can buy more Canadian dollars or Japanese yen per US$), US exports become relatively more expensive and imports become cheaper.
  • Exchange rates affect investment returns.  If, for example, forest products are imported or exported, or if they compete with forest product imports or exports from other countries, their prices will be affected by exchange rate changes.
  • Exchange rates affect investment activities. When, for example, the US dollar weakens, US timberlands appear relatively cheaper assets to foreign investors.

Previous research into the affects of exchange rates on the US forest products industry indicate that while (1) exchange rate volatility negatively impacts some US exports in the long-term (Sun and Zhang 2003) and some forest products in the short-term (Zhang and Buongiorno 2010), (2) exchange rate levels are more important than exchange rate volatility.  For products such as logs, lumber, pulp and paperboard, a 1% increase in exchange rate variability leads to a 0.3%-0.4% decrease in volume exported in the short-term and a 0.1% export price decrease in short-term.

How do exchange rates affect timberland investment activities?  First, foreign investors continue to increase holdings of US timberlands (Mendell 2009), and investors from Canada and Europe dominate this activity.  While US interest in forest timberlands is minimally affected by exchange rates (Mendell et al; in press with the International Forestry Review), foreign investors cite exchange rates as a critical attraction to investing in the United States.


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Welcome to mangOH forum! (2)
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text:
Bad script on forum index

Discussion in 'Site & Forum Support' started by Andreas¹, Nov 26, 2015.

  1. Andreas¹

    Andreas¹ Crazy Duck

    Jönköping, Sweden
    Every time I go to or refresh the forum index some script crashes and freezes up Firefox for a few seconds. This is the error message I get:
  2. Diablo

    Diablo Administrator
    tduck team

    Strange, but I guess it must be because it's a busy period for retailers so calls to the script must be getting hammered.

    And to be clear: all that script does is identify links that are part of an affiliate network we are with and attribute clicks on them to us.
  • About Us

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text:
I am teaching myself G Code and would like to use LinuxCNC, but it is aimed at Debian. I have downloaded and burnt the iso they provide, but it will not boot (I know my DVD drive is bootable from because that is how I installed Fedora).

Now I am trying to compile it from source, but I am getting all sorts of compilation errors - it is like playing whack-a-mole. The latest one is:
Syntax checking python script halcompile
Copying python script halcompile
Preprocessing thermistor.comp
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "../bin/halcompile", line 1419, in <module>
  File "../bin/halcompile", line 1414, in main
OSError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'objects/hal/user_comps/thermistor.c'
make: *** [hal/user_comps/Submakefile:82: objects/hal/user_comps/thermistor.c] Error 1
[root@womble src]#
Nothing seems to provide thermistor.c and I have Googled for it without success. There is, however, hal/user_comps/thermistor.comp. What?

Before I abandon the whole idea, I thought I would ask if anyone has successfully installed it on Fedora and, if so, what the steps are.


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After update y is back for stupid yahoo

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Thread: lens teardown
View Single Post
Old Mar 20, 2012, 4:22 PM   #2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Australia, New South Wales central coast
Posts: 2,935

G'day ewan

amazing stuff > thx for posting :-)

Regards, Phil
Has Lumix mirrorless & superzoom cameras and loves their amazing capabilities
Spends 8-9 months each year travelling Australia
Recent images at
Ozzie_Traveller is offline   Reply With Quote


text:
Dance Party, Part Two

The Dance Party Restaurant had live music again tonight.

The whole crew promised to meet up again.

I was the first to arrive at the restaurant. The host greeted me with a smile and a fist-bump when I got there. He said “I’ve talked to every one of you, and you all said you’d be coming back tonight.”

and I said “Heck yes we’re all gonna be here tonight!”

I though I was going to walk around the block, to give everybody some more time to show up. I got maybe five meters away before running into Erica.

Party. Started.

This time, everyone brought friends.

We got the entire restaurant to dance. The guitarist broke two strings, but we managed to convince him to re-string and keep playing.

I love people.

At the Market

The Market seems to be situated squarely between the place I’m staying and…pretty much every single thing that I want to go do.

The first few days I walked through, I was still a bit in shock from the currency. I’ve never been in a country where the currency is a based in thousands. It was really intimidating for me to walk through and hear people shouting “So cheap! One hundred fifty thousand!”. It was so easy for me to just…walk through, because I hadn’t gotten a handle on the fact that one American dollar is about twelve thousand Indonesian Rupiahs.

Once I got a bit more used to the exchange rate though…the market got steadily more attractive.

I’m not in the habit of keeping a lot of cash on me. I usually take what I need, and not a lot more. So, today, I realized two really incredible strategies for haggling:

1) Honestly don’t want the thing.

If you really don’t care whether or not you get the thing, and you’re actually willing to walk away, it’s amazing how fast the price gets lowered.

2) Actually don’t have the money.

If you’ve gotten the price down to 100, you reach into your pockets and then truly only have 88… chances are you’re going to get it anyway.

Monkey Forest

I was walking to the Monkey Forest, and before the entrance to the actual forest proper, there’s a stairway.

Me being me, I went “WHERE DOES THAT GO?!?” and promptly went up the stairs.

These were the kind of huge steps, the kind that make you feel eternally two years old, carefully stepping one foot at a time, as if you’re still learning to balance the weight of gravity with the need to find out what’s over there? As I got to the top of the stairway, every flat surface was covered in leaves and sticks, so I wasn’t always sure just how far down it was to the next step.

When I reached the top of the hill, I found that the stairs led to…absolutely nothing.

Well. Not nothing.

The stairs ended at the top of the hill, and left me in the middle of what seemed to be a nursery area for macaque monkeys.

There were baby monkeys everywhere. Some of them were so small they were still mostly pink, too young to have much fur yet.

I stood there, and tried to take a few pictures.

I was so entranced by suddenly being surrounded by baby monkeys, that I didn’t notice that there was an older monkey on babysitting duty who distinctly did not want me there.

I turned around and was faced with a giant, hissing monkey.

At which point, I went back to the stairs, desperately trying to remember what I’d read about how to defuse situations with Macaque monkeys. (All I remembered is that they were attracted to shiny things, don’t try to take anything that they had already grabbed, and that showing teeth was seen as an act of aggression.)

I didn’t want to turn my back on it, because the last thing I wanted was to get jumped by this monkey when I couldn’t see it coming.

It didn’t think I was moving fast enough, as I was trying to pick my way back down the stairs, and so started slapping my legs.

It finally left me alone when I got a little ways down the stairway, but it walked along the top of the hill, just in case I got any ideas about trying to go back up.

So. Sometimes magical stairways don’t lead to Narnia. They lead to angry monkey babysitters who want you to go back down the hill RIGHT. FUCKING. NOW.

A New Kind of Smithing

I’ve worked with blacksmithing before, but the smallest thing I’ve ever worked on was a cloak pin.

I’ve never had the opportunity to work with delicate metal. Everything I’ve ever done has involved mallets, vices, several sets of tongs, and exerting as much for as it was physically possible for me to put forth.

I love working with metal. (Also, I’m pretty sure it’s physically impossible to be cold whilst working in a forge. I just think that it can’t happen.)

However…I really, really like small things. I like details, I like trivia. I like the corners and the edges and seeing a single tree in a forest. Which…is not really blacksmithing. There’s a limit to the amount of detail that can be done when working with metal rods that are two inches in diameter.

Today, I got to work with jewelry for the first time.

The torch used for soldering the pieces together had a foot-powered bellows on the floor next to the work station.

I love it.

I was working with silver, which is just…delightfully responsive. I can apply the smallest amount of force and it will bend.

It’s so strange that I don’t need tools to help apply the amount of force that I need to make metal do what I want it to, but it’s wonderful.

…I might well be hooked.

I wasn’t really sure what to do with myself today. I’m still kind of recovering from illness, and just, tired.

But, I’m in a beautiful place, and don’t really like the idea of not doing anything.

So, me being me, I went out to a restaurant that I’d seen advertising live music tonight.

This is perhaps the single best thing about knowing myself. I know that I *love* live music. If I can find enough energy to actually get to the event I will have a good time. (This is also sort of a beautiful thing about traveling by myself, and maybe more than that, giving myself permission to pursue the things that I enjoy.)

I went to this restaurant (where I had Crispy Duck for dinner, because apparently it’s a bit of a Balinese specialty, but also because I don’t recall ever eating duck in my life. So. When in doubt: New Things!) and sat by myself.

There was a woman sitting alone at the table next to me, and a woman sitting alone at the table next to her.

A little bit later, a woman came in by herself and sat alone on a bench along the wall.

The music started. We finished our food.

We decided that four women need not take up four tables.

Erica is a German woman living in New Zealand, who has grandchildren and more stories than I had a chance to hear.

Emily is a French woman who turned 31, realized her life had become the French saying of “Metro, Work, Sleep, Repeat.”, quit her job, left her dog with her mom, and came to Bali.

Daniela is a Mexican woman who went to university in New Zealand, and came to Bali to rendezvous with her boyfriend.

Erica said “Why is it that people are afraid to dance when the music is good?”

and I said “YES! LET’S DANCE!”

So we did.

We pushed the tables together to clear ourselves a dance floor. One of the other patrons of the restaurant was also a musician, so he got up and played with the band.

It became a karaoke dance party.

The staff of the restaurant came and danced with us.

This is why travel is important.

Because sometimes it doesn’t matter where you’re from or where you’re going. Sometimes all that matters is finding the people who aren’t afraid to dance.

A Beautiful Morning

I was picked up from the airport yesterday by the lovely couple who run the place where I’ll be staying in Ubud.

I was sufficiently sniffly during the trip that when we got to the place, I was shown to my room and given a mug of the most amazing tea. It was spicy and sweet, and I have no idea what it was, but it was so, so good.

I’ve spent the past two days pretty much just sleeping and trying to get better. I don’t need to be totally well, but it’s a lot easier to go on adventures when one is reasonably healthy.

I started my morning with this view

and I’m ending my afternoon with this one.

My life is so good.

Ferguson, Missouri.

Tonight, the grand jury in Ferguson Missouri decided that a white police officer does not need to go to court after shooting an unarmed black man four times.

I…have no words for this.

It’s absolutely an issue of racism.

Sometimes, it just seems like…this world is so messed up.

There are students missing in Mexico.

People are getting arrested for peaceful protests in the U.S.

…and half the people I talk to…don’t seem to think there’s a problem?

Sometimes, all I see is all of the work that needs to be done, because…the world could be a good place for everyone.

It’s just…not.

An Update on Progress: Regarding Game of Thrones

After I finished Book One…I watched a single episode of the television show and just…didn’t feel much of a need to watch anymore of it? I already know what happens, so I just…wasn’t terribly gripped by it?

I have gotten my hands on a copy of Book Two, so I imagine that will be taking up space in my immediate future, but here’s the thing:

I think I’ve watched this video about five hundred times at this point.

I have the soundtrack to every single season.

I just…

it’s so good…..

(Also, why are all lady cello players so incredibly hot?

Oh. That’s right. Because ladies playing cello is pretty much the hottest thing EVAR.)

Seriously, though, there are SO MANY covers of the theme for Game of Thrones. Some of them are better than others.

Also, if you don’t watch the show…the intro is actually really, *really* cool. It’s also super helpful, which, let’s be real. How often is the introduction sequence to a television show *useful*? But this one actually does a pretty good job of giving the viewer an idea of where things actually are on the map, which, honestly, is something that I usually just ignore when reading fantasy novels, (sometimes significantly to my own detriment) I usually just figure “ah, they’re traveling” and go with it. This, however, is super cool and kind of makes it all fit together. (Which is also important for this show because there are a *lot* of story lines, so knowing where everyone is is really helpful.)

Sleeping in Paradise

It probably says a lot about me that I…would really rather prefer to get sick while on vacation that pretty much any other time.

I don’t have to call anyone. I don’t need a note signed by a doctor to prove my illness. I don’t need to deal with…anything actually.

It’s already *my* time.

So, if I choose to spend it drinking water and tea, and sleeping and attempting to eat vitamin-dense foods until I get better?

I don’t have to justify that.

If, instead of sleeping, I choose to watch some stupid movie for the five-thousandth time.

Well. I can damn well do that too.

If I’m going to get sick, I might as well do it when the only schedule I’m on is *mine*.

(Even if it is beautiful and tropical and I’m about a ten-minute walk from the beach.)

(It is also probably a very good thing for me to be on Holiday, because I don’t often hit a point when my response to the thought of *people* is just “DO. NOT. WANT. TO DEAL. WITH THAT.”. Usually it’s more like…”YAY! PEOPLE!” So, I reckon that some more sleep will do me good.)

Of Arrivals and Guitars

Every time I think I have managed to convince myself that I absolutely do not need to be traveling with a guitar…

I find myself in an airport, waiting for the sun to rise and my hotel to open so that I have somewhere to stay.

A man named Phillip was also waiting for the sun to rise.

He pointed to my guitar case and said “You play?”

So while we waited for sunrise, I learned about blues. I learned about Rock ‘n Roll, and fingerpicking. He played my guitar and I played my ukulele.

We sang House of the Rising Sun, because we both knew the lyrics to that one. (Mostly.)

Because music is it’s own language.

Because even at 4:00 in the morning, at the arrivals gate of Denpasar Airport in Bali, with two hours until sunrise, there is still space to create joy.


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Image d'introduction
Texte d'introduction

Heading towards an expat life in a foreign country? Dealing with your child’s education abroad can turn out to be quite nerve-racking. To choose a school in the host country, you’ll need to take into account the quality of the existing structures in the host country as well as your child’s age and grade level. There are several possibilities to ensure your child’s education abroad: list the pros and cons of each option and make a choice according to his personality and… your budget.

Corps de l'article

International or foreign national schools

Many big cities have international or various foreign national schools.  Do you move from one country to another on a regular basis? An international school might be suitable for this type of lifestyle as transitions between different schools will be facilitated. English usually is the language of instruction and your child will be mixing with kids with diverse cultural and social backgrounds, which can be quite a mind opening experience. Also, international schools offer International Baccalaureate (IB) diplomas which many colleges and universities around the world accept.

Sending your child to a foreign national school (French school in Singapore, British school in Japan…) can be the right option for short term expatriation. These schools follow the home-country curriculums. Not having to adapt to a different educational system can make the whole country change process easier and less stressful. Your children will attend classes in their native language and will be able to reintegrate a school without being too bewildered once repatriation occurs.

Can you get quality education abroad without breaking the bank? Take a close look at tuition fees before setting your mind on one specific school. Some schools or grade levels are more expensive than others. For instance, HKD 168,980 is the annual fee for a teenager following the IB diploma programme in Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong. Getting ready for expatriation can sometimes mean doing a lot of math.

Enrolling in a local school

Enrolling your children in a local school is the most efficient way to give them the opportunity to pick up the local language quickly. This immersion also allows them to experience a foreign culture and progressively fit in with the local population. Nevertheless, as the quality of education is uneven from one country to another, a local school might not be an option in some expatriation cases. Bear in mind degrees obtained in a local school don’t always have equivalences in other countries.

Other options

Looking for other convenient solutions for your child’s education abroad? Your country of expatriation might not be the safest place on earth. Enrollment in a boarding school (offering full board) in your home country could be a good idea. Here again, tuitions may be incredibly high. You’ve been hunting for the perfect school but there just doesn’t seem to be much of a choice? Distance learning is an alternative in countries with an inadequate educational system as well as for short-term stays abroad.

To find out more about education abroad:

Search for an international school on the International Schools Services website.

It’s not just all about books & tuitions: learn how you can help your kid adapt to his new life on Expat Info Desk website.

Titre articles poussés
Know more about : Getting ready to live abroad


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Synthetic Biology

From the course by Duke University
Innovation and Design for Global Grand Challenges
31 ratings
From the lesson
Exponential Technology and Open Source Innovation

Meet the Instructors

  • Alex Dehgan, J.D., M.S., Ph.D
    Alex Dehgan, J.D., M.S., Ph.D
    The Chanler Innovator in Residence and the Inaugural David M. Rubenstein Fellow
    Innovation & Entrepreneurship


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Batteries Plus Bulbs? Really? But of Course!

When I first noticed Batteries Plus Bulbs  stores popping up in the North Bay I thought that it was a stupid idea. How can they survive selling batteries & bulbs?

Recently I was in search for another of those little silver coin style batteries–and followed the usual course of searching for them in battery racks in grocery and drug stores–you know, trying to read the numbers on the battery and then finding a matching replacement.

Last week I was in pursuit of a battery and could not find it.  To be sure I found a rack that had a place for the one I was looking for but it was empty.  So I thought, what the heck–I will walk around the corner to that stupid Batteries & Bulbs in Plaza North and search there…

I was genuinely amazed when I entered–It was quite a site and the service was immediate.

  • I did not have to search–just handed it off to one of the Technicians and she provided me with a replacement–at half the price it was in the store with the empty battery rack.
  • I looked around briefly and noted an incredible selection of batteries of all sizes and types as well as bulbs of every type and description–including car & truck batteries, which they also will install.

I almost felt like I was back in a RadioShack Store. Remember them?

As their web site says: “We are your one stop shop for Batteries, Light Bulbs & Repairs.”  Repairs include cell phones, laptops, and battery chargers.

I returned the next day with a rechargeable battery pack that needed replacement.  The technician found one but said she could make a better one with twice the storage capacity if I could wait a few minutes.   And so she did: Price $5.06–less than half of the official replacement battery but with twice the storage.

My visits were enlightening…In fact I got a real charge out of them. Going back in a few days to fulfill the rest of my battery needs!

While this post discusses the store in Petaluma, it is a national chain and there may be a store in your area. Heck,there is even one in Peoria, Ill !

Resolution for 2018?

I suggested in Goodbye 2017! Now We Ascend to an Ersatz If Not Faux New Year…2018! that 2017 has been a rough year…

Perhaps a little more Mistletoe is in order for 2018!

Location: Water Street in Petaluma

Goodbye 2017! Now We Ascend to an Ersatz If Not Faux New Year…2018!

2017 was a year that brought the United States mass shootings, hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires on an unprecedented level.

In addition to these disasters there were three developments in 2017 that I predict will continue to ascend and take over in 2018…The Year Of The Total Faux!

(Signs and Scenes from Downtown Petaluma 2017)

The maturity of Faux News…appearing even on a garbage can on Petaluma’s Water Street….Expect it to become dominant in 2018.

Ersatz Money a.k.a. Cryptocurrency matured in 2017 and may expand in 2018….making money and banks antiques.  Consider this scene in Downtown Petaluma…

If you are willing to join the future money club see Missed the bitcoin boom? Five more baffling cryptocurrencies to blow your savings on

I, for one, will let others pursue this money trail.

III. The Post Literate World born on 2017 will expand in 2018…

Tweets, Texts, personal attacks, insults, slogans, etc., will continue to be the only necessary sources of information to be an informed citizen…

Leading finally to this by the end of 2018…

Bodega Head…A Slippery Slope :-) ?

This is a familiar view to those who hike the trails in this area…

There is also a path of sorts down to the beach that I do not believe is authorized, but people nonetheless use it.  If you look carefully at the photo above you will see it as a thin line going down the cliff.

On past walks we have noticed people on the beach below; however, this time we watched as three adventurous souls descended the cliff using the “trail” in question. Note: Below the Gallery, in “Oops…Forgot The Camera”,  I have included photos that show how much of a trail there is not 🙂

“Going Down The Cliff”

After viewing the gallery, return to this page and scroll down to see “Oops…Forgot The Camera”

(Click any image to open)

Oops…Forgot the camera!!

Are We…Islands In A Common Sea?

The slogan on this building artwork in Petaluma caught my eye…

As best I could, I researched and traced the origin of the phrase to Anne Morrow Lindberg…

“I feel we are all islands–in a common sea. We are all, in the last analysis, alone. When one is a stranger to oneself then one is estranged from others too. If one is out of touch with oneself, then one cannot touch others.” —Anne Morrow Lindbergh

While considering the meaning—not to mention the implications—of these words, the following image from Water St. keeps coming to mind…

A Victorian Sixties Era Ranch House?

I leave it to the reader as to how to best answer the question posed above. But first read the background below! 🙂

It was time to upgrade the exterior of our sixties era ranch house e.g., windows, paint, lights. But what color for the house? Fortunately, my wife, who has a much better eye for such things than I, took charge of the color selection.

After several trips to Peterson’s Paints to evaluate color options, computer modeling, etc., she selected colors frequently used on Victorian style homes–Exotic Purple & Eggplant. Simply White was selected as the trim color.   Purple was the main color except for one side wall in Eggplant. To put it all in perspective this work photo will better explain it…

Here is the result…

NOTE: As the light changes throughout the day, the Purple becomes Black and the Eggplant becomes Purple.  White remains…Simply  White.

This project, like most, generated another idea. I mean if you are doing new windows and colors, you can’t just live with the old concrete steps to the front door!

A little research and consultation with Ohana Construction produced this solution…

  • Ohana Construction in Petaluma for making it all happen with their usual hard work above & beyond…not to mention their suggestions at several stages of the exterior renovation projects. They continue to live up to their reputation as the People’s Choice.

  • Peterson’s Paints for their help in evaluating and selecting colors, sheens, etc.
  • Friedman’s for their assistance on selecting outdoor lighting options from the overwhelming selection.


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Freedom in the World

Freedom in the World 2012

2012 Scores

Not Free

Freedom Rating
(1 = best, 7 = worst)

Civil Liberties
(1 = best, 7 = worst)

Political Rights
(1 = best, 7 = worst)

In April 2011, longtime president Idriss Déby was reelected with 89 percent of the vote, in an election that was boycotted by the three main opposition candidates. In February, Déby’s Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) party had retained its absolute majority in the National Assembly amid allegations of fraud by the opposition. The security situation improved during the year, although bandit attacks continued throughout the country.

Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Chad has been beset by civil conflict and rebellions. Hissene Habre seized control in 1982 and led a one-party dictatorship characterized by widespread atrocities against individuals and ethnic groups that were perceived as threats to the regime. In 1989, Idriss Déby, a military commander, launched a rebellion against Habre from Sudan. With support from Libya and no opposition from French troops stationed in Chad, Déby overthrew Habre in 1990.

Déby won a presidential election held under a new constitution in 1996 despite the ongoing threat of rebel violence. In 1997 legislative elections, his Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS) party won 65 of the 125 seats. International observers charged that both elections were marred by irregularities.

Déby was reelected in 2001, and the six opposition candidates were briefly detained for alleging that the election results were fraudulent. The MPS secured 113 seats in the enlarged, 155-seat National Assembly during the 2002 legislative elections, which were boycotted by several opposition parties. Voters approved the elimination of presidential term limits in a 2005 constitutional referendum, though the balloting was marred by irregularities and the government cracked down on the media during the campaign.

Security forces, assisted by French intelligence and air support, repelled an April 2006 attack on N’Djamena by the United Front for Change (FUC) rebel group. The May presidential election was then held on schedule despite an opposition boycott, and Déby secured a third term. The military, again with French support, launched a new assault on eastern-based rebel forces in September, and in November the government declared a six-month state of emergency for the capital and most of the east, including a ban on media coverage of sensitive issues. In early February 2008, a formation of some 2,000 rebel fighters attacked the capital. Although the two sides soon agreed on a ceasefire and the rebels withdrew, Déby declared another state of emergency, suspending due process rights and tightening already harsh media restrictions. Human rights groups accused the regime of extrajudicial detention and killing of suspected rebels, their supporters, and members of the Goran ethnic group, some of whom were involved in the rebel assault. The state of emergency was lifted on March 15, but fighting continued in the east during the year.

Déby and Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir had traded accusations for several years over support for rebels on each other’s territory. In May 2009, the Chadian and Sudanese governments signed the latest of several accords aimed at normalizing relations. However, shortly thereafter, the Union of Resistance Forces (UFR)—an alliance of eight rebel groups that had formed in January—launched an attack on Chad from its base in Sudan’s war-torn western Darfur region. Violence along the border increased over the subsequent months, and in July Chadian planes bombed targets in Darfur.

In April 2010, the government clashed with the rebel Popular Front for National Resistance near Tissi, reportedly killing more than 100 fighters. In May, former defense minister Mahamat Nouri announced the formation of a new rebel grouping, the National Alliance for Democratic Change. Members included dissidents from three groups that belonged to the UFR.

Relations between Sudan and Chad improved significantly in 2010, starting with a January agreement that led to a series of presidential visits. In February, the governments established a joint patrol of 3,000 troops along the border. Authorities reopened the border to civilian traffic in April after it had been closed for seven years. In May, Chad prohibited the head of a leading Darfur rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement, from returning to Sudan. Meanwhile, the Sudanese authorities pressured Chadian rebel groups to leave Sudanese territory. In October, a reported 171 UFR fighters returned to Chad from Darfur.

After years of regular fighting in the region, Chad by the end of 2011 was home to some 130,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and an estimated 363,000 refugees from Darfur and the Central African Republic, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) had been formed in 2007 to help care for and protect these civilians. Its original mandate was set to expire in May 2010, but was renewed until December 31. In February 2010, Déby requested that UN troops leave Chad, while humanitarian groups expressed concern about increased insecurity if the force were to withdraw. By December, MINURCAT had withdrawn all of its troops. The security situation in 2011 improved significantly, despite bandit attacks across the country. The UNHCR reported that 50,000 IDPs had returned to their areas of origin in 2011.

After years of delay, parliamentary elections were held in February 2011, the first in which opposition parties participated. In the enlarged, 188-seat National Assembly, Déby’s MPS party won 117 seats, and 14 more seats went to Déby’s allies, securing an absolute majority for the president. The most successful opposition party won only 10 seats. Citing irregularities before and during the parliamentary election, the three main opposition candidates boycotted the presidential poll in April, which Déby won with 89 percent of the vote. The Independent Electoral Commission (CENI) reported voter participation for the election at 64 percent, though African Union observers said the turnout was much lower.

In June, the rebel group Popular Front for Reconstruction (FPR) signed a peace agreement with the government. Also that month, the government signed an action plan with the United Nations to end the use of child soldiers by the country’s security forces. Chad was one of six nations listed as a violator by the UN secretary general in an annual report on children and armed conflict.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties:

Chad is not an electoral democracy. The country has never experienced a free and fair transfer of power through elections. The president is elected for five-year terms, and a 2005 constitutional amendment abolished term limits. The executive branch dominates the judicial and legislative branches, and the president appoints the prime minister. The unicameral National Assembly consists of 188 members elected for four-year terms.

The legislative elections due in 2006 had been repeatedly postponed due to insufficient equipment and staffing, and delays in voter registration. In September 2010, they were pushed back from November of that year, and finally took place in February 2011. The European Union praised the peaceful and fair conduct of the elections, despite some logistical problems. However, the opposition claimed that irregularities occurred both before the vote—due to the government’s media dominance and the use of state resources to benefit the ruling party—and during the elections, including irregularities with electoral rolls and voter registration cards. They also pointed to CENI’s official results page, which showed irregularities. A request by opposition parties to reprint voter registration cards was rejected.

There are more than 70 political parties, although a number were created by the government to divide the opposition. Only the ruling MPS has significant influence. Despite rivalries within Déby’s northeastern Zaghawa ethnic group, members of that and other northern ethnic groups continue to control Chad’s political and economic systems, causing resentment among the country’s more than 200 other ethnic groups.

Corruption is rampant within Déby’s inner circle. Despite becoming an oil producer in 2003, Chad remains one of the world’s poorest nations. Weaknesses in revenue management and oversight facilitate the diversion of oil revenues from national development projects to private interests and growing military expenditures. Chad was ranked 168 out of 183 countries surveyed in Transparency International’s 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index.

The constitution provides for freedom of the press and expression. However, both are severely restricted, and self-censorship is common. Broadcast media are controlled by the state. The High Council of Communication (HCC) exerts control over most radio content, and while there are roughly a dozen private stations, they face high licensing fees and the threat of closure for critical coverage. In 2008, the HCC banned reporting on the activities of rebels or any other information that could harm national unity. Radio is the most important means of mass communication, but the HCC has put the price for commercial broadcast channels to a prohibitively high $11,000 per year. A small number of private newspapers have circulated in the capital, and internet access is not restricted, but the reach of both print and online media is limited by poverty, illiteracy, and inadequate infrastructure. In August 2010, the National Assembly passed a media bill that eliminated imprisonment as a punishment for libel, slander, or insulting the president, but created sentences of heavy fines or prison for inciting racial and ethnic hatred and “condoning violence.”

Although Chad is a secular state, religion is a divisive force. Muslims, who make up slightly more than half of the population, hold a disproportionately large number of senior government posts, and some policies favor Islam in practice. At the same time, the authorities have banned Muslim groups that are seen as promoting violence. The government does not restrict academic freedom, but funds meant for the education system have reportedly been lost to corruption. In November 2011, University of N’Djamena students protesting failed payment of their grants clashed with police in the capital, resulting in 150 arrests and injuries to 9 officers.

Despite the constitutional guarantee of free assembly, the authorities ban demonstrations by groups thought to be critical of the government. In September 2011, Amnesty International issued a report condemning the arrest of two students for allegedly planning pro-reform protests and demanding investigation into allegations of torture during their time in custody. The constitution guarantees the rights to strike and unionize, but a 2007 law imposed new limits on public-sector workers’ right to strike. Despite those limits, public-sector workers went on strike for three weeks in October and November 2011, culminating in a deal with the government that significantly increased their wages.

The rule of law and the judicial system remain weak, and the courts are heavily influenced by the political leadership, with the president naming key judicial officials. Civilian leaders do not maintain effective control of the security forces, which routinely ignore constitutional protections regarding search, seizure, and detention. Human rights groups credibly accuse the security forces and rebel groups of killing and torturing with impunity. Overcrowding, disease, and malnutrition make prison conditions harsh, and many inmates are held for years without charge.

Clashes are common between Christian farmers of the various southern ethnic groups and Muslim Arab groups living largely in the north. Turmoil linked to ethnic and religious differences is exacerbated by clan rivalries and external interference along the insecure borders. Communal tensions in eastern Chad have worsened due to the proliferation of small arms and ongoing disputes over the use of land and water resources.

The government restricts the movement of citizens within the country. Insecurity has severely hindered the activities of humanitarian organizations in recent years. Despite relative stability during 2011, recurrent bandit attacks on humanitarian workers make access to the population difficult.

Chadian women face widespread discrimination and violence. Twelve of the 188 National Assembly members, or about 12 percent, are women. Female genital mutilation is illegal, but routinely practiced by several ethnic groups. Chad is a source, transit, and destination country for child trafficking, and the government has not made significant efforts to eliminate the problem. The U.S. State Department again placed Chad on the Tier 2 Watch List in its 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report.


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Executive and Admin

A restructured Federal Public Service Commission will reconfigure the capacity of the entire federal government to deliver the goods and services to the people in a transparent manner and thus regain relevance. Our party intends to change the landscape of government structure by streamlining it into five governance clusters and sixteen line ministries. This new configuration will be replicated at the provincial and district levels.

We will spur new thinking on public administration around the core concepts of relevance and competence.

The power will be devolved to district levels whereby district management will be made to run on modern management principles of delivery and public gratification.

The government service will be reinvigorated with the introduction of new human resource management information systems, to overcome the deficiencies of the archaic civil services system.


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Like the waves we ride, we as surfers are travelers.

We will search the vast ends of the Earth to find our version of the perfect wave. Whether our dream destination consist of no crowds, a left or right, long barrels or sandbars, the journey of getting to the waves keeps us hungry for more year after year.

This is no exception as a surf photographer.

Kaimana Henry

Kaimana Henry

Knowing there are firing waves somewhere in the world, the lighting opportunities, the surfing action, lifestyle moments, all of this tends to wear on the creative mind. The flood of social media photos and video invades my feed and makes me feel that as every day passes, I’m losing out on something that I could have been there for. I previously had the opportunity to make a move but I let it slip through, and I couldn’t let it happen again: this would be my third trip to Indonesia.

Understanding how to travel in Indonesia (places to stay, what’s safe to eat, how to get around), I knew I could be more adventurous on this trip. While having my morning coffee and watching crowded 3-4 foot Uluwatu, a photo caught my eye across the warung (restaurant). It was a photo of Mikala Jones in a gaping barrel resembling the looks of my favorite winter playground: Off the Wall.

Update: Keoki was severely injured in Indonesia and has been transported to Singapore for medical care. If you would like to help click here for the latest info and to make a donation to help with staggering medical expenses. Or, donations can also be made at any Bank of Hawaii Branches: The Friends of Keoki Saguibo

My palms started to sweat and I was itching to get in the know. Hanging out while waiting for the tide to change, I started to talk with local rippers. Over a few Bintangs, I luckily got some knowledge out of them on how to get to this wave. First light the next day, I was on it.

I rolled up on my motor bike after winding through Indonesian morning traffic to the spot where I saw the photo of Mikala the previous day. Knowing the location of the wave is only a small part of the recipe, not to mention every spot takes a certain concoction of tide, wind and swell to make the wave work at its best.

I saw some lines marching in, eyeing the potential of the wave. Winds were sheet glass, the tide just right, but no swell. Skunked. This trend continued the next day and at that point, I was having doubts on this wave and wondered how often it works. But third time was a charm.

A south-southwest swell rolled in overnight, and the tide was looking prime but the winds were questionable. On a whim, I geared up and made the journey.

What was a total roll of the dice turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip. Waves were unloading 4-6 feet with two guys out and not a waterdrop out of place. It was on!

Later on in the trip, Desert Point was on my mind. It’s a wave Later on in the trip, Desert Point was on my mind. It’s a wave everybody seems to score but me. I’ve seen countless hours of footage and heard a million stories about the place, but had yet to score it for myself. I’ve done the mission to the arid dream wave twice before, but no gold. The first time the waves were too small and the second time it was too big with bad winds. On this trip, I had a small window to catch the rising part of a fresh southwest swell. I linked up with Kaimana Henry and close friend Keli Everett to make the journey. Knowing the winds could be funky and the tides would play the deciding factor of the “dreamwave recipe”, we went for it anyway.

The first morning we got up, climbed out of our mosquito nets and walked straight to the wave. It was 1-2 feet on the sets, the tide was way too high and the feeling of being skunked was all over my face.

Kelly Everett

Kelly Everett

“Be positive, it will turn on”, said Kai Henry. I glanced over at him to see the same ‘what were we thinking’ face. We decided to be patient and wait for the tide to drop. After walking the beach for two hours looking for shells, an hour nap, and drinking countless coconuts because the humidity sucked moisture from your body like a dehydrator, the tide dropped and we saw waves coming to life.

The winds, for some reason, turned offshore after what the forecasts called to be sideshore. The waves started to rise with the dropping tide and it came together and turned on.

Switching off with the barrel hungry crowd, we scored our share of waves and views and then called it day. The waves fired until the night, and we ended our day with a traditional Indo farewell, ice cold Bintangs.

Through the night, the waves got bigger and it felt as if the ocean was rising with every set. We were so excited for what the next day brought.

The next morning, the rituals of brushing your teeth, washing your face, and getting ready for the day were non-existent. We awoke, climbed out of our mosquito nets and walked directly to the beach. Much to our surprise, it was flat. The tide was too high.

What was a barreling dream wave was now a small, reverse version of Malibu. That was my last chance to score Desert Point on this trip.

While packing and making a plan to head to the airport, the tide slowly dropped and I saw two surfers paddle out. Knowing what would happen if the tide dropped enough, I tried not to look at the ocean when I left the camp. As we drove away, I couldn’t help look at what I was about to miss. I saw a five-foot, top to bottom wave lining up all the way through.

That last image has been in my mind ever since, and I can’t wait to go back for more.

Related Posts


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There are plenty of candidates for Reason Number 1, but perhaps the best of all was demonstrated by the ferocious reaction from the right wing press after Cleggmania.  It is hard to calculate how deeply set is the corrupt nexus between press coverage, fundraising, the ability to swing marginal seats in our potty electoral system, the whiff of power, so the press coverage …

Remember that in the last UK general election the Lib Dems got about 65% of the Tory vote. What proportion of the press coverage and fundraising do you think they got?

My very favourite expose of the lunacy of the antiCleggmania fury in the press comes from John Finnemore on the Vote Now Show (3rd May).  Please listen from 10 minutes in, or 13 minutes in if you want the ‘wide eyed astonishment’ in the Mail when they found out that Nick Clegg’s neighbours include dentists! And the man has expensively covered modern chairs!

This crazy system, whereby one party might get 60% of the favourable press coverage, 80% of the funding, 37% of the vote, 53% of the seats in Parliament and then 100% of national power, must be stopped.   The clearest way to do so is to vote Lib Dem, and the comical outrage of our knuckleheaded press two weeks ago is a clear sign that we are deliciously close to achieving this.

One thought on “Why I’m voting LibDem, part 1

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Monthly Archives: August 2012

Ryan’s Speech Breaks the Media

I have been trying not to get sucked into the media maelstrom spinning with hurricane force around the convention.

Metaphor purposeful, if perhaps a bit disrespectful.

But then I saw this post on the reliably neutral Wonkblog, about Paul Ryan’s convention speech.

Ezra Klein wanted to stay neutral! He really did! But there were just too many lies!

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Mitt’s Taxes

Sorry about the unannounced absence from Bloggington. Some life happened. And I am still trying to catch up.

So this may be a bit outdated, what with the hurricane and the “we’re not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers” and the speeches.

But here we go: Please lay off Romney about the taxes. I’m serious.

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Campaign Funding Absurdity

I happened to catch some of this Terry Gross interview with reporter Jane Mayer today in the car.

I wanted to drive to Vegas and get married just so I could finish listening to it.

Jane Mayer Interviews Billionaires So You Don’t Have To

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Mid Week Roundup

Ezra Klein puts his smarty pants on (does he ever take them off?) and breaks down the Ryan and Romney budgets.

What we (don’t) talk about when we talk about Medicare.

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“Post-Truth” Politics and Journalism

Last week I twittered this super-rad article by Garance Frank-Ruta about journalists’ new responsibilities to correct electioneering lies.

Today James Fallows caught up with this piece and contextualized it with other promising events he puts into David Roberts’ rubric of “post-truth politics.”

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Sex and the Single Girl Movies

Did the 60s Ever End?

True confession: I was not alive in the 60s. I know! But I know and love several people who were. And I’m pretty sure they would say that the 60s ended.

They would also probably agree that our culture’s fixation on that era is a product of both boomer narcissism (oy!) and a kind of national Freudian compulsive returning to the point of trauma. Reliving that time in order to understand it, to make peace with it, to stop it from hurting us. Culturally. What?

Except the 60s were ultimately good. They gave us the Civil Rights Movement, which in turn gave use the feminist and gay rights movements. And I am grateful for color-blocking, which I was doing before I knew it was a thing.

So here is an Official Blog Announcement: I am more obsessed with the 60s every year. This blog will feed my obsession. I have many exciting 60s-themed posts planned. None of them will have any paisley. At all. No paisley.

Today’s installment is about this stunning piece on movie interpretations of Helen Gurley Brown’s ambiguously proto-feminist hit Sex and the Single Girl.

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Bob Smith

Alvarez Dixon, Extension Educator for Champaign and Vermillion Counties, will discuss his outreach work in STEM education and local Special Interest Clubs (SPIN), including the Teens as Teachers program which helps young people in the early high school years work with middle school-age youth as mentors in STEM topics. Bob Smith, also from 4-H, will share information on statewide SPIN clubs in robotics and other technologies, including computer science.

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Frugalista Gifts: Valentine Joy, $50 or less

Valentine Ideas That Run the Gamut Valentine an emerging or diehard baseball fan? The Major League Ball Parks Map might piqué interest. American and National League stadiums shown on map, printed … Continue reading

February 10, 2017 · Leave a comment

Frugalista Gifts: 10+ Valentine Gifts $25 or less

Valentine’s Day Isn’t Only Candy, Sparkles & Flowers Gifting the food your Valentine loves is love. Being concerned about their health and well-being shows love, too.   The Apple Pear … Continue reading

February 9, 2017 · Leave a comment

Frugalista Gifts: Valentine Day-It’s Not Just the Man

Great Food (#Gifts) Is A Way To His and Her Heart For The Foodie Gift Recipient  (and those that simply love good eats)   Does that fit your #Valentine? Then, … Continue reading

February 8, 2017 · 1 Comment

FRUGALISTA GIFTS: Being Fair on Valentine’s Day

Spreading the Love with Valentine Day Gifts What if you, and your gifts, could be altruistic, support free trade, and have a positive eco impact? Valentine gifts like the handcrafted … Continue reading

February 3, 2017 · Leave a comment

Frugalista Gifts: Dad Rush-last minute gifts

Originally posted on frugalistagiftguide:
Sure, it’s the last day to shop for Father’s Day. (Ok, you can count Sunday-if you’re really pushing it). No need to grab the just any…

December 23, 2016 · Leave a comment

Frugalista Gifts: Know Who They Are? 2

GIVE THE GIFT THAT FITS YOUR GIFT RECIPIENTS Giving the perfect gift is easier than you think … if you think about it.  Who are they; what do they love/like, need, … Continue reading

December 22, 2016 · Leave a comment

Frugalista Gifts: Do You Know Who They Are?

GIVE THE PERFECT GIFT Take a moment and think about who they are; what they love/like, need, like/would like to do, wish they had; where they dream of going or … Continue reading

December 21, 2016 · Leave a comment


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fry orthodontics invisalign

Check out these videos to learn more about Fry Orthodontic Specialists services and community involvement.

We want to share our knowledge of orthodontic procedures, patient health care, technological advances, community involvement, and some fun, unique things we do here at Fry Orthodontic Specialists. Find helpful information in these orthodontic instructional videos like care tips for your metal, ceramic, or Invisalign braces as well as innovations in treatment. See the smiling faces of our doctors and office team that will greet you when you come to your appointments. View press related info, commercials, and fun stuff, too. Get to know us better and see that we truly care about your journey to perfect teeth from start to finish.

Our YouTube Channel is now on Google+, visit us!