#Attention: It&039;s meaning

[onlinenotebank]

Attention: It's meaning, Characteristics, needs and importance and factors affecting attention

Attention is always present in conscious life and is common to all types of mental activity. It is the characteristics of all conscious life. Every activity of ours is based on interest and attention. We can succeed in achieving your goals only when your attention is directed towards learning. Attention is defined as the act of selective consciousness-Ross. Dumville defined Attention as the…

[charmiixx]

At this point it takes a miracle for a celebrity couple to actually stay married together for longer then 5 mins…

[biblebloodhound]

One Thing (Psalm 27)

What is your highest priority in life?

And We Shall Dwell in the House of the Lord, by Dale Terbush The Lord is my light and my salvation—    whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life—    of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me    to devour me,it is my enemies and my foes    who will stumble and fall.Though an army besiege me,    my heart will not fear;though war break out against me,    even then…

[kaviru2147]

* * Healthy Life Tips and Tricks Embracing wellness in everyday life

* Living a healthy life is just about hitting the gym or eating a salad now. and then; it's about making small, sustainable changes that add up to a happier, more fulfilling life. In this article, we'll explore some tips and tricks to help you embrace wellness in your everyday life. * *

1.Start Your Day Right with a Nutritious Breakfast * *

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and for good reason. A healthy breakfast can kickstart your metabolism, provide you with essential nutrients, and give you the energy you need to tackle the day ahead. Try to include a mix of protein, whole grains, and fruits or vegetables in your morning meal for a balanced start.

* 2.Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day * *

Water is essential for good health, but many of us do not drink enough of it. Staying hydrated can help maintain your energy levels and digestion, and keep your skin looking healthy. Keep a water bottle with you throughout the day to remind yourself to drink. *

* 3.Move Your Body Regularly *

* Exercise does have to mean spending hours at the gym. Find activities you enjoy, whether they are dancing, hiking, or simply taking a walk around the neighborhood, and make them a regular part of your routine. Regular physical activity can improve your mood, boost your energy levels, and help you maintain a healthy weight.

* * 4.Prioritize Sleep * *

Sleep is often overlooked, but it's crucial for good health. .Establish a bedtime routine to signal to your body that it is time to wind down, and create a restful sleep environment free of distractions. * * Incorporate mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises into your daily routine to help manage stress and improve your overall well-being. Taking time for yourself and practicing self-care is essential for maintaining a healthy balance. * *

5.Eat a Balanced Diet * *

A healthy diet is key to overall health and well-being. Focus on eating a variety of whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Limit processed foods, sugary drinks, and excessive amounts of salt and unhealthy fats. Remember, it's is about balance, not perfection, so allow yourself the occasional treat. ###* * 6.Stay Connected *

* Human connection is vital for mental health. Make an effort to nurture your relationships with friends and family, and seek out social activities that bring you joy. Surrounding yourself with positive influences can help boost your mood and outlook on life. ###* *

7.Set Realistic Goals *

* Setting realistic goals can help you stay motivated and track your progress. Whether it is improving your fitness, eating healthier, or reducing stress, break your goals down into smaller, achievable steps. Celebrate your successes along the way to keep yourself motivated. ###* *

9.Listen to Your Body

* * Your body has a way of telling you what it needs, to listen to it. Pay attention to hunger and fullness cues, and eat when you're hungry, stopping when you are satisfied. Rest when you're tired, and do push yourself beyond your limits. Trusting your body's signals can help you maintain a healthy balance. ###* * Whether a nutritionist, personal trainer, therapist, or other healthcare provider, they can provide you with the support and guidance you need to reach your goals.**Conclusion * * Embracing a healthy lifestyle is about more than just following a set of rules;: about finding what works for you and making small, sustainable changes that enhance your overall well-being. By incorporating these tips and tricks into your daily routine, you can create a healthier, happier life for yourself. * * FAQs * * 1.How Can I stay motivated to stick to a diet? lifestyle?

2.Is it okay to indulge in unhealthy foods? occasionally?

3.What are some easy ways to incorporate more physical activity into my day?

4.How Can I improve my sleep? quality?

5.What are some healthy snack options to keep me satisfied between meals?

[thecreativejunkie]

Meaning & Purpose of Life The secret to life is meaningless unless you discover it yourself. It does not matter how long you are spending on the earth, how much money you have gathered or how much attention you have received. It is the amount of positive vibration you have radiated in life that matters.

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball Z 039

Last time, Krillin, Gohan, and Bulma embarked on their trip to Planet Namek.   It’s been a few days, and Bulma’s already bored.   She spends this whole episode not bothering to wear pants.  

I mean, is this a fanservice episode?  I mean, probably, but this is a Triangle Guy production, so Bulma looks pretty weird the whole time, so I have a hard time imagining what sort of fan feels serviced by this.    Also, Krillin looks like he’s wearing Bulma’s shirt from several episodes back.  

Krillin and Gohan spend much of the trip “image training”, which I guess is some kind of telepathic sparring?   I never quite understood how either of them knew how to do this, but it’s pretty awesome that they can.   

When they finish, Bulma gripes about how messy the ship’s gotten, and when Krillin points out that it’s her mess on her side of the ship, she gripes that she’s super busy because she has to keep the ship functional.   

Krillin wishes aloud that she wouldn’t wander around in her undies all the time.   Team Four Star really did a good job with this this part of the saga, by the way.

Back on Earth, Goku is apparently well enough to get out of bed and do situps.   So what are all the bandages for, exactly?   In the fic I write, I invented a doctor who’s this giant spider, specifically so he could wrap up his patients in bandages made from his own webbing.   So I know how fun it is to wrap up characters like mummies and call it medical treatment.    But Goku really did suffer a bunch of broken bones not too long ago, so I don’t get it.

The doctor puts a stop to this and orders “Grandpa Glad-hands” to help the nurse put him back in bed.   Grandpa Glad-Hands belongs in jail.    As for Chi-Chi, she’s up on the roof worrying about Gohan.

This part looks like it wasn’t handled by Triangle Guy.    Chi-Chi’s all worried because Gohan hasn’t written her.   Does she just not understand how space works, or...?

Anyway, Chi-Chi’s adorable.

Back on the ship, Bulma asks where Vegeta went after he left the Earth.    He was badly hurt, and his home planet was destroyed a long time ago, so where would he have gone for medical attention?    It’d be kind of funny if he turned out to be in the same hospital as Goku, and they ended up sharing a room together.

They agree that wherever Vegeta has gone, it’ll be best for the Earth if it takes him a long time to get there, so they’ll have more time to prepare for his inevitable return.   Krillin figures that if the Saiyans sold planets to other aliens, maybe he went to one of his clients for help.

Meanwhile, we see Vegeta en route to... wherever he’s going, and he’s still hurt, and he’s still amazed that he’s this badly hurt.   I’m not sure it was worth checking in on him like this if there was no new information to reveal, but okay.

Back to Bulma, a swarm of alien ships suddenly appear and fire upon their vessel.    I guess they’re unmanned drones, since there’s no sign of pilots in the cockpits.

Bulma returns fire and blows them all up, so I guess Capsule Corp. armed this ship.   Or maybe it had weapons on it from the start?   Doesn’t sound very Namekian to me.

Then they see another spaceship, and it mirrors their movements.    That’s because its just a reflection of their own ship.   I don’t understand why they never notice this, since they all know what their own ship looks like.

They end up getting pulled into the... whatever it is, and gradually it becomes clear that they ran into a much larger ship with some sort of reflective hull or force field or something like that.    I don’t understand how they collided with it and just sort of sank into it, but it’s an alien ship, so I guess it doesn’t have to make sense.    For some reason it looks like a hot-air baloon painted all-black.   

They find themselves in a cargo bay full of junk, and they go out to look around.   Bulma forgot to put on some clothes first, so she spends the rest of the episode like this.   Some triangle-fetishist must love this episode.   

Also, why is Bulma so jacked in this episode?    Really, her arms are usually this big around, it’s just that her lower legs are really skinny because triangles.    I ran into this in the Xenoverse games.    A lot of players made custom Videls, and they looked very show-accurate except they never seemed to look quite right, and then I realized it was because all the women characters had really skinny legs to make them look “sexier”.    That’s dumb, because the Dragon Ball house style gives everyone thick calves, especially Videl, because she’s a jock.   Bulma’s a nerd, but she still has thicker legs than this most of the time.

Anyway, there’s all these booby traps on the ship, and a section with no doors, so they have to fly up to the next deck, and the whole place feels more like a tabletop RPG than an actual spacecraft real people would use.   I mean, literal green slime drops down from the ceiling, and it kills on contact, just like the old D&D comic ads from the 1980′s.  

Triangle Guy probably drew this ad, too.  

Oh, hey, it’s Vegeta again, and now he’s swearing revenge.   Neat.

All I’m saying is, why would you build a ship with green slime and guns in the walls and a red door in the ceiling that’s the only way in or out of a room?    It doesn’t make any sense.

There’s even one trap that breaches the hull and Krillin’s hat gets sucked out into space.

Then they get to a room with a scrumptious dinner laid out for them.

. 

Bulma dodges a knife, because she expected the food to be bait for another trap, but she failed to consider that the knife hitting the wall behind her was designed to activate another trap.

This giant dome falls on her, and everyone’s all surprised, like they wouldn’t have noticed that thing when they walked in.   

Then it starts to retract itself or something...

And a robot claw reaches down and plucks Bulma up into the air.    Well why didn’t they just do that in the first place?

Then a bunch of children come out and point guns at them.   Why didn’t they do this in the first place?

This episode isn’t all that terrible, but it’s not particularly good, either.   I can deal with Triangle Guy and the filler stuff and the fanservice crap, but not much actually happens, and when you put all that together, it just makes for a low-quality experience.   It feels like the ship was only as big as it is just so they could stretch the story out and have the gang wander around it for a while.  

I say this because the next episode is a lot better, and I think that’s mainly because we actually get to find out who these kids are, instead of just seeing the heroes deal with a bunch of corny traps that could have been laid by any stock villain.  

[johnyfe]

How to Build Self-Discipline and Become More Successful (365 Powerful Thoughts From the World's Brightest Minds) Its lack makes you unable to achieve your goals. Without it, you'll struggle to lose weight, become fit, wake up early, work productively and save money. Not embracing it in your everyday life means that you'll never realize your full potential. Ignoring it inevitably leads to regret and feeling sad about how more successful and incredible your life could have been if you had only decided to develop it. What is this powerful thing? Self-discipline. And if there's one thing that self-discipline is not, it's instant. It takes months (if not years) to develop powerful self-control that will protect you from impulsive decisions, laziness, procrastination, and inaction. You need to exhibit self-discipline day in, day out, 365 days in a year.

What if you had a companion who would remind you daily to stay disciplined and persevere, even when the going gets tough? 365 Days With Self-Discipline is a practical, accessible guidebook for embracing more self-discipline in your everyday life. You'll learn how to do this through 365 brief, daily insights from the world's brightest minds, expanded and commented upon by bestselling personal development author Martin Meadows. This isn't just an inspirational book; most of the entries deliver practical suggestions that you can immediately apply in your life to become more disciplined. Here are just some of the things you'll learn: - why living your life the hard way makes it easy (and other suggestions from a successful entrepreneur and longevity scientist); - how to overcome your initial resistance and procrastination based on the remark made by one of the most renowned Renaissance men; - why, according to an influential neurosurgeon, it's key to see problems as hurdles instead of obstacles (and how to do that); - how to embrace an experimental mindset to overcome a fear of failure (a technique recommended by a successful entrepreneur and musician); - how to quit in a smart way, according to a world-famous marketing expert; - how to improve your productivity at work by implementing the advice from one of the most successful detective fiction writers; - how a trick used by screenwriters can help you figure out the first step needed to get closer to your goals; - how to maintain self-discipline in the long-term by paying attention to what a bestselling non-fiction author calls necessary to survive and thrive; - how your most common thoughts can sabotage your efforts (and other valuable insights from one of the most respected Roman Stoics); and - how to overcome temporary discouragement and look at your problems from the proper perspective, as suggested by a well-known public speaker and author. If you're ready to finally change your life and embrace self-discipline - not only for the next 365 days, but for the rest of your life - buy this book now and together, let's work on your success!

[asktwofishandacrab]

Jeffree Star, Kylie Jenner, and more make YouTube & # 039; s top beauty list

PewDiePie - 101 million followers

Introduce an exciting topic and ask for people's opinions in the comment section. Your pets may be the right candidates for such a video. Start filming spontaneously and see if they do something worth showing on your channel (treats always help to encourage them). Try to get your parody short and to the point. If your video is too long, viewers who are unfamiliar with your channel may not be seen. In February 2012, Kjellberg was nominated for the King of the Web in an internet contest. However, he lost the title again, but shortly afterwards he was nominated for the Gaming King of the Web, based on his YouTube channel focused on Let's Plays. Kjellberg won the competition and donated the prize to the World Wildlife Fund. Educational videos can be on any topic, but make sure they're relevant to the target audience you want to reach. Many cameras these days have a setting that can record a time-lapse very efficiently. However, if you need to manually record your time-lapse, you need to carefully consider factors such as the duration of the shot and the distance between photos. Tours are one of the easiest ideas to implement for YouTube videos. All you need is a camera and a location. Videos with cute children or pets make us smile immediately and they could be the kickstarter for your YouTube channel. Videos can also give people ideas on what to do in certain situations or on holidays. You can choose either, or focus your channel's theme on either. Highlight (and outline!) The products you use to create the look shown in the tutorial and what they cost to buy. This is also a reliable way to connect with your audience as they can see similarities between themselves and part of your team. If the product you publish is quite complex, you can create a series of educational videos that address specific areas of the product.

By using this website, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Add bloopers and outtakes from some of your latest videos to make your subscribers laugh .

Ask the community a question in the help forum.

If a potential customer is interested in your product, they'll look for customer recommendations to see what others are doing .

Use it as an opportunity to get new viewers.

ul> However, that doesn't mean that a response video won't pay off for you. When they have an interesting story to tell, viewers want to know about it. Keep an eye on the news near you and keep an eye out for people to interview for your next video. Even famous vloggers like Casey Neistat started from the bottom, so don't let the upcoming challenge put you off. Unboxing videos are a favorite for kids who want to see the latest toys, but they're also a huge hit with other age groups.

Motivational Video

Pranks have been one of the most successful YouTube video ideas for years. Many top-class YouTubers, such as Roman Atwood and Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, have focused their entire channels on performing hideous pranks. There have been a variety of different challenge videos in recent years. From the ice bucket challenge to the cinnamon challenge, these videos sometimes succeed in attracting the public's attention to a phenomenal extent. Choose a topic you like to talk about and share your passion and opinion with the world. Take part in a popular makeup challenge and show it on your YouTube channel. If you're a makeup fan, share it with the world and start creating makeup tutorials on YouTube. The Design Assistant has a selection of great business video templates that you can customize to create your own branded video. A variety of topics could be dealt with in the questions and answers. A time-lapse can reveal new details about a scene that would not be perceptible in a standard video. YouTube once had a dedicated video response feature, but low usage rates led to its demise.

[tenorcolt8-blog]

Exploring the NBA's Two Newest Arenas

A back-to-back in Detroit and Milwaukee earlier this week didn’t bring the 76ers the success they were looking for.

But it did take the team to the NBA’s two newest venues.

With some time to kill before each game, I decided to scope the arenas out. Here’s what I found…

LITTLE CAESARS ARENA

Location: Detroit, Michigan

Opened: September, 2017

Size: 20,491

Cost: $860 million

Downtown Destination

The starkest contrast between the Pistons’ new digs and their old ones, The Palace of Auburn Hills?

Location, location, location.

The Palace, which opened in 1988 and was the site of several Iverson-era playoff series between the Sixers and Pistons, was about a 30-minute drive north of Detroit, in a relatively posh suburb.

Little Caesars Arena, on the other hand, is now an anchor establishment for the up-and-coming ’District Detroit’ neighborhood.

It’s like what Brooklyn and Queens are to New York, and what Northern Liberties and Fishtown have become to Philadelphia - an area full of rehabbed buildings, new construction, trendy restaurants, and plenty of investment dollars.

Also worth noting about Little Caesars Arena is its proximity to Detroit’s other two pro sports venues - Comerica Park (Tigers of MLB) and Ford Field (Lions of NFL). You can see the tops of both stadiums from Little Caesars Arena’s Chevrolet Plaza, a nice open-air space that feeds into one of the entrances of the building.

Multifaceted Design

As the above photos show, Little Caesars Arena has a very classic exterior look - straight, sharp edges, with a bunch of red bricks. The feel is appropriate, with plenty of apropos blue collar, midwestern undertones.  

The interior of the building, though, reveals a much more modern infrastructure. The arena bowl itself is actually a separate, curved structure, connected to the brick exterior with rounded glass panes.

Not only does the exterior and interior architecture create a cool blend of styles, the windows that make up part of the roof bring in lots of bright, natural light.

Hometown Touches

Gameday didn’t offer a ton of time to investigate Little Caesars Arena, but I did manage to get a quick stroll in.

Out of everything I saw, I think I had the most fun stumbling upon all the Detroit-inspired features that projected civic pride.

Above the Chevrolet Gate entrance, not only was there an actual Chevy affixed to part of the brick wall…

...but a sculpture of the Detroit Red Wings logo called “Wheels & Wings” that was made out of 186 auto parts from 13 different Chevrolet (part of Detroit-based General Motors) cars. The project apparently took over 700 hours to finish.

Then, placed along the concourse floor, there are these manhole covers, each one commemorating an iconic player, coach, executive, or team from Pistons or Red Wings history.

Nods to Motor City culture crossed over into the dining options, too. After all, what's more than something associated with Kid Rock?

Game Experience

Before looking down at the actual playing court at Little Caesars Arena, it’s hard not to first gaze upward, at the venue’s 43,000-square foot ceiling, which consists of 1,700 LED light strips. The colors and design can change over the course of a game or event.

The scoreboard itself is impressive as well. Four big screens combine to form a 5,100 square-foot box, that, at the time of the arena’s opening, was the largest “center-hung” scoreboard ever built.

For a 20,000-seat facility, Little Caesars Arena actually felt cozy enough. Unfortunately, the night the Sixers were there, the crowd was somewhat sparse.

Next Time I Go…

I’d love to check out the upper level gondolas, which, despite being up pretty high, apparently offer neat views of the action.

Maybe that’ll be my move for (at least a portion of) the Sixers’ second and final regular season game at Little Caesars Arena, a December 5th nationally-televised appearance on ESPN.

FISERV.FORUM

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Opened: August, 2018

Size: 17,500

Cost: $525 million

Stunning Sight

Google Maps told me it was about a mile from the team hotel to fiserv.forum. The early fall afternoon was crisp (temperatures topping out in the low 50s that day), but still pleasant enough.

So, I decided to hoof it to the arena, and was glad that I did.

The 20-minute walk was really nice. It took me from the the revived Historic Third Ward district…

….north along the Milwaukee River that runs through the heart of downtown…

… and past Pere Marquette Park.

Fittingly, it was while I was heading down ‘Old World’ North 3rd Street, past the iconic Mader’s German restaurant (est. 1902), that I saw first caught a glimpse of the newest school venue in professional basketball.

fiserv.forum may have only been partially peeking from in between the handful of far more traditional-style buildings in downtown Milwaukee, but man, did its beaming glass facade and curved, copper-colored, wooden-looking roof grab your attention immediately.

After turning onto Highland Avenue and reaching the arena’s entrance, a handful of Bucks branded items came into view. One of them was this sculpture, located at the head of a plaza that joined the ground the arena was built on to a nearby entertainment complex still under partial construction.

A little bit farther up the street, I passed a mini-mural along along the north side of the arena. The artwork depicted lots of Milwaukee nostalgia.

By the time I reached the end of the block, I was, yes, kind of cold, but more than that, pumped to see what was inside.

Sparkling Fresh, Starting at the Top

The very first thing that hit me about fiserv.forum was its smell. Less than two months old, the place still had a super fresh scent, the kind created by construction materials.

After being tight on time in Detroit, I made sure to get to fiserv.forum early enough to allow for some solid exploration.

When I got to the 100 level concourse, I first came across this steep escalator that enticed me upward towards the very futuristic looking Panorama Club at the tippy-top of the building.

What do you do when you’re in a place called the Panorama Club? Take a panoramic picture, of course.

True to the last part of its name, the Panorama Club has every bit the feel of a club, from its carpeted flooring, shiny lights, and lounge-style seating. You won’t find traditional chairbacks in this space, which is meant primarily for the standing-room-only crowd.

What you will find, however, is a terrific view of the Milwaukee skyline, and an outdoor balcony on the side of the Panorama Club opposite the court.

It may have been located in the highest accessible part of the arena, but the Panorama Club, for me, was one of the most distinct aspects of fiserv.forum.

I headed down a staircase to the 200 section, which, despite being the second level, offered good sightlines. In general, whether up there, or in the 100 level, there were few places on either of the fiserv.forum concourses where you didn’t have at least a partial view of the court.

Had it been open for business while I was walking around, I would have grubbed at the fiserv.forum Southside Market. This 200 level dining area featured some local favorites, like Klements (sausage) and Cedar Crest Ice Cream, plus other enticing stands that specialized in fare like mac and cheese, grilled cheeses, and gyros.

Luxury to be Found

To get back down to the main concourse, I once again took the escalator on the east, glass-facing side of fiserv.forum. Going down offered a neat look at all the different levels of the arena, and with the sun setting, there was a nice glow to that part of the arena.

I hopped off the escalator at a premium seating section called the West Bend Lofts. I’m by no means a design expert, but words that come to mind to describe this area are hip, high-end, and cattle ranch.

A large dining space inside the West Bend Lofts was being set up for a pre-game event, so I took a peek inside a few of the private boxes, which were well-stocked, and very nice.

Built for Basketball

Much like Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, the walking space on the first-level concourse at fiserv.forum was especially spacious. The rustic, woodsy motif from the exterior of the arena, and parts of the second level, carried through.

Once again, if you wanted to consume local products, especially of the drinking variety, you had ample chances to do so.

One of my biggest takeaways from fiserv.forum was that you could tell the building was built for basketball. For a multi-sport facility, Little Caesars Arena was still intimate for hoops, but the seating in fiserv.forum, especially in the 100 level, seemed perfectly pitched for fans to watch round ball action.

While this picture (taken from my press seat) might not do a good job showing it, at fiserv.forum, you felt on top of the action.

The scoreboard, as to be expected, was bright and sharp, with some nice bells and whistles underneath. I liked that its size, while big, wasn’t off scale for the size of the arena.

Next Time I Go…

I think I walked past what were a couple of meeting spaces and / or premium suites that were actually on the event floor level. The Sixers will be back at fiserv.forum for a Sunday, March 17th matinee, so I’m going to look into those more then.

FINAL THOUGHTS

For teams and fans, Little Caesars Arena and fiserv.forum both offer top-of-class experiences. The two venues have each clearly been constructed and designed with lots of cutting edge features, t.l.c., and branding thought in mind.

Is it hard not to feel just the slightest pang of jealously over the Pistons’ and Bucks’ shiny new digs? Of course. That’s human nature.

But, I’m also excited for all the renovations that will be taking shape at The Center over the next couple years. The upgrades should only enhance a place where the 76ers have been enjoying increasing success.

Source: https://www.nba.com/sixers/news/exploring-nbas-two-newest-arenas

[polotanker6-blog]

Pullman's Renaissance

Above: An aerial rendering depicting the Pullman National Monument and new industrial development surrounding it. Image: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture

In the coming weeks, construction crews will begin meticulously restoring the roof and upper floor windows of the landmark Pullman Clock Tower and Administration Building, the former headquarters of the company that developed the neighborhood and forever changed rail travel in the 19th century.

Nearly lost in an arson attack in 1998, the structure is being overhauled for its next life as the visitor center for the Pullman National Monument, Chicago’s first ever site in the national park system. The roof work, funded by a $2.2 million grant from the National Park Service, is expected to take six months.

Related: The Dream of Homeownership Is Alive in Pullman

Construction on the old administrative building comes more than three years after President Obama dedicated the site as a national monument, setting into motion a restoration that Pullman residents and preservationists have long called for. According to Kathleen Schneider, the first superintendent of Pullman National Monument, there are a mix of public and private funds earmarked for the restoration, including more than $13 million from the National Park Foundation.

“We’re only three years old with a staff of three people,” Schneider says of the new national monument. “Although it may appear that not a lot is happening, we’ve been working hard with the State of Illinois and community on the 2020 opening of the visitors center.”

Schneider says the site’s educational programming will center on Pullman’s legacy as a planned neighborhood and as an integral site in the labor and civil rights movements. Specifically, the visitor center will spotlight the internal clashes that led to the Pullman Strike of 1894 and formation of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.

A rendering of the restored Pullman Clock Tower and Administration Building. Image: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture.

As for community partners, Schneider highlights the Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives (CNI) group, a nonprofit developer that has helped bring investment to the greater Pullman area in recent years. While the Clock Tower’s restoration represents a symbolic rebirth of the historic district, newer facilities including a Whole Foods distribution center, an expanded greenhouse by produce supplier Gotham Greens, and soap maker Method have reinvigorated the neighborhood’s identity as an industrial hub.

And there’s still more on the way, according to CNI President David Doig.

“It’s taken decades for these neighborhoods to decline and it’ll take decades for them renew,” Doig says of the broader trend of deindustrialization throughout the South Side. “But when we think about community development, we think about principles of being holistic by building on existing assets and thinking about the longer term perspective.”

The recipe for Pullman’s rebirth includes public transit connectivity, easy access to heavy rail and the port, and an inventory of available land. Doig says this combination makes Pullman particularly desirable for logistics, transportation, and manufacturing businesses. The recent wave of industrial development in the area has had a trickle-down effect, Doig adds, contributing to a need for more retail and restaurants as Pullman attracts new workers.

The upcoming Pullman Artspace Lofts development for Langley Street. Image: Stantec Chicago

Other new developments include the forthcoming Pullman Community Center, a 135,000-square-foot facility with space for indoor athletics and community programming. There’s also the One Eleven Food Hall slated for the 111th Street Gateway Retail Center, and a 150,000-square-foot greenhouse set for Gotham Greens, currently located on the roof of the Method soap factory.

Additionally, a new 38-unit artist housing development is underway in the historic district. Dubbed the Pullman Artspace Lofts, the development will fill a vacant parcel between two existing structures on Langley Avenue. It will also include 2,000 square feet of community and gallery space. Doig adds that CNI hopes to solidify plans to bring a hotel to Pullman in the coming months.

Since 2010, more than $250 million has been invested in new developments in Pullman, says Doig. He also says 1,700 jobs have come to the area. And with the continued momentum surrounding the National Monument site, Pullman may be poised for even more development as investor interest increases.

“The national monument has been significant in providing investor confidence in the area, and has certainly brought more attention, more visitors, and more interest to Pullman,” says Doig.

Alderman Anthony Beale (9th) says that Pullman is experiencing a full-scale renaissance — and setting the stage for other South Side communities to follow. While the flood of development has been a long time in the making, Alderman Beale would like to see Chicago’s next mayor meet with the City Council to produce a comprehensive plan for development across the rest of the South and West Sides.

“Downtown is going to take care of itself — we need to concentrate on the neighborhoods,” he says. "When you give people jobs and back it up with a good education, crime is going to drop, because at the end of the day, all we want is a better quality of life.”

Beale pegs the total post-recession investment in Pullman closer to $300 million.

But the Pullman National Monument means more than a reinvestment in the community: It’s a piece of history that deserves to live on for future generations to enjoy, NPS Superintendent Schneider believes.

“The public owns that site and needs access to it,” she says. “It’s a promise that has been a long time coming and we need to work harder to spread the message to the larger Chicago community and to the nation of how important this place is.”

Source: http://www.chicagomag.com/real-estate/October-2018/Pullmans-Renaissance/

[gkindshivani]

Learning 663

Having a better life starts with practicing self-discipline and developing the habit of delayed gratification. Delayed gratification is the process of scheduling the pain and pleasure of life. Let’s say you struggle with procrastination. Who among us hasn’t tackled the easy work first and then spent the rest of the day struggling with the boring and difficult stuff? The author had a patient with…

[deivapublisher]

cannon ball on mars...Kavignar Thanigai.

cannon ball on mars…Kavignar Thanigai.

Was Mars a war ground? Mysterious object resembling a ‘cannonball’ sparks debate – Watch

A video has surfaced showing what looks uncannily like a cannonball on the surface of the Red Planet, which has been seized as proof of life.

New Delhi: The Martian terrain has always been the center of attention for UFO hunters for possible alien sightings.

Those involved in alien hunting or UFO hunting…

[thinkaboutnetwork-blog]

It's 2017 And People Seriously Need To Stop Asking These 15 Questions

It’s 2017 And People Seriously Need To Stop Asking These 15 Questions

One of the most common questions I get asked these days is, “Are you a feminist?” Friends I’ve known for years, people I meet at parties, colleagues, almost everyone wants to know if I stand for something as basic as equality of all sexes. Seriously how are we even giving room for people to say no?

“Hi, do you believe in equality of all sexes”

“Umm no”

“Okay great, let’s continue being friends.”

[divinityblink-blog]

｢Containment Breach｣

Word Count: 5126 A/N: This is my first drabble in a loooong time. So, I hope I do pretty okay for it. I just wanted to hammer in some of Aster’s backstory and motivations for this blog and him as a muse, this isn’t necessarily a required read! PLEASE, reference [here] for several of the characters’ essentials and information. But, if you do decide to read it, enjoy yourself! 

     “Aster--! You’re silly!” 

     The female’s voice rang out, a man’s laughing behind her. Three sat at the lunch table, garbed in white scrubs and sneakers. They nearly blended into the scenery around them, the facility a striking and strange white. The only color there were the armed guards, dawned in black combat gear for any occasion. However, based on the trio enjoying their lunch, one wouldn’t even pass the thought of an uprising. 

     A younger man was sat across from a woman and older man duo, both his seniors. His short sleeves allowed for the exposure of a bold ink, marked ‘S#032.’ His teal gaze was still blank, looking at the bland food before him. He couldn’t understand why the other two were laughing at him. The woman held her gloved hand out, being the only one with a full body uniform. She grabbed the plastic utensil and stabbed the prongs into the cooked green beans, holding them out before his mouth. His eyes looked up at the woman, her soft, beige complexion settling upon his blank stare. Teal hues refused to leave the woman’s face as she then mimicked a mother to a child, “Aster, say ‘ahh!’”       His mouth opened but no sound came from his lips. The food was placed in and he began to chew, the man across from him giving a small chuckle, “Gosh, Jae. If he wasn’t so brain dead, it’d be like you were a cute couple sharing a meal-- Except it took all the mush!”      “Dex, sometimes your mouth is just too big for that tiny head of yours!” 

     The two continued to bicker as Aster chewed, swallowing the mouthful of food once it was thoroughly ground up. He blinked his eyes, the two others turning their gaze back to him. The man lifted his head with a half cocked smile on his face, “Hey, Aster, what’s my name?”      “D... Dexter,” The young man replied, his gaze slowly turning to the older, bulkier man. Dexter then pointed to the woman that had her hand pressed against his face, his own fist pressed down against the top of her head, “... And her?”      “Jae-eun,” Aster replied, slow and zombie like. His gaze slowly shifted to meet her, and she simply smiled at him. The response ignited one within himself as well, the barely alive man’s lips curled at their corners to create an expression of delight. Jae-eun and Dexter smiled alike, dropping their hands from each other. Dexter then folded his arms, “Looks like our boy is becoming more and more human, huh?”      “He’s always been human, Dex. Don’t tease him like that.”      “Tease him? I’m just saying, wait until he can hold conversation! It’ll be nice to be able to talk to somebody besides you--!”      “Hey, nobody’s asking you to talk to me!”

     Their laughter echoed from the table, enriching their imprisoned lives. For what it was, it held peace. Years passed as they grew closer, the three experiments forming an unbreakable bond. 

     “Dex, from the right!”      “Don’t leave our left flank open, Aster!”      The two men were training together, running a lane for a combat simulation. A target popped up from the left, where Dexter had called it. Aster’s body encased itself in a blue glow as he thinned down to a blue beam of movement, only to reappear into the air as he had made destination. He extended his left arm, to reveal a black, metallic pistol. The trigger was pulled and the shot rang out, the lead round tearing through the air with the intention of pain and destruction. It tore through the target, the figure collapsing onto its back with a successful buzzer beep. His body encased itself once more, suddenly appearing next to Dex. The taller man was looking up at the large time posted from a neon clock, Aster’s eyes following him.

     “17 seconds?! We were slower!?”      “I told you, Aster! You’re slower than I am, you need to focus on what we know is there. I can handle the rest,” He constructed, turning his gaze to meet Aster. The man gazed up with a nod, the both of them then bumping their forearms together, “There’s always next time.”      The two were then released from the lane, the door leading to a long hall that branched off in many directions. Jae-eun was waiting for them, a large smile on her face as they came walking together. Her hands clapped together, “About time they let you out! I was about to go eat without you!”      “You probably would have eaten our meals, too,” Dex said, Aster following up with a laugh himself.      “I’m feeding for two!” She retorted.      “T-Two!?” The duo exclaim, looking at one another as if they had the suspicion that the other was at fault for this.      “Myself and I!” She answered, with a look of accomplishment to wring out such a response from them. Aster’s cheeks flushed red and he turned his gaze away while Dex threw his head back with a groan, “Come on, then, Sea Sponge. Let’s go catch dinner.”

     The three were walking together, making conversation about the day’s happenings. Aster’s gaze turned from Dexter and Jae-eun, meeting a woman’s figure at the end of the hall. She stood, arms tucked in and downwards, a bold ‘S#037′ placed on her left bicep. The teal hues raised from her arm to her lean face, examining her genetic perfections. His lips curled with a hint of a smile, giving a small wave, “Hey, Aella.”      The woman was kind enough to return the smile and nod at him, “Enjoying yourself, Aster?”      “Of course, Aella. Dex is always a blast to be around!”      “Isn’t he?” She replied, her gaze shifting to the taller man. The two held a silence before he stepped out from in between Aster and Jae-eun, giving them a quick glance back, “I’ll catch up, you two. Don’t wait up-- Just keep the food hot.” He gave them a smile, ushering them along. 

     Aster paid no mind to it, turning to his companion to continue casual conversation-- Only to catch her glancing back at the two. He then turned back to see the two exchanging words, Dexter glancing up at them only to turn his figure away from them. As if he were blinding himself of their presence, to shun them away from this side of who Dexter was. Every time he spoke with Aella, he closed himself to the lot of them.  To Jae-eun. To Aster.

     His brows burrowed upwards with a line of concern, Jae-eun’s hand placing itself onto the younger man’s shoulder and turning his gaze away from that image of self torment and questioning. His breath was unsteady without even his own realization, the rolls of mucus being the only indicator to Aster. two. 

     The two had stepped out into the cafeteria, only to see a bulky and tall man, a gaze hard on the duo. The man’s number was bold across his larger bicep, a printed ‘S#039.’ Aster’s brows furrowed at just the sight of the other, “It’s Owain.”      “I know,” Jae-eun replied in more of a whisper, to attempt to dissuade any sort of suspicion that Owain might have held. However, despite her attempt, the man’s figure moved towards them. His lips were in a natural frown, his brows generally pushed forward to that of annoyance or anger. He stepped in front of Aster, Jae-eun attempting to put herself in between the them. Owain didn’t push to her advances, his silver eyes glaring down the shorter Aster, “’32, don’t you listen to that boy’s lies now.”      “Wh-What are you talking abo--!?”      “They need you, ‘32. And, when the time comes, walk between their given paths.”      “What’s your deal, Owain!?” Yet, before an answer could be given, a loud buzzer sounded across the facility. Everyone present knew the meaning, a long buzz to signify that it was time for them to sleep the night away. It drew Aster and Jae-eun’s attention away from the man, his movements shifting as he stepped passed and began his way to his own containment cell. Aster turned about, spotting the man’s back as the words seemed to rattle his brain.

     “... Who are they?” 

     Aster had given his final bits of the night to Jae-eun before he made his way to his own cell. His shoes tapped against the tiles of the hall’s flooring as he walked alone. A hand raised to the back of his neck, brushing the loose locks and fuzz that it managed to capture upon its clasp. There were armed men by the door, ushering for his entry as he approached. Like clockwork, he went through a body search before entering the cell and making his way over to his bunk. He practically collapsed in the cushion of the bed, his eyes staring at the starch white wall, “... Why is everyone acting so weird?”

     Teal hues shut from exhaustion.

     His eyes suddenly opened, a heat of sleep deprivation stinging at the exposed bits of the organ. He turned in the darkness of his cell, hearing commotion from beyond the door. 

     Struggles.

     Screams.

     Then, silence.

     There was more movement, and the thick steel suddenly shifted. Light peeked through, Aster’s grip on the blanket pulling towards himself. His brow arched forward, the image of the heretic blackened from the light that beamed passed. Aster’s arm raised above his brow, eyes squinting with the sudden visual intake. The figure stood before it turned itself away, stepping out from the doorway. Aster could hear the foot steps fade, until there was silence. It was like his stomach was anchored to the floor. 

     He tossed his blanket to the side, slipping from the edge of the mattress. He stumbled with his first few steps, knees weak. His stomach seemed to twist with each step closer to the door, his eyes focused with the light now. He could see the fresh crimson water splatter across the white tiles of the hall. His fingers latched onto the metallic frame as his head perched out. His gaze shifted up and down the hall before he took a step out, his chest shaky as he took a deep breath. His hands curled into tight fists, brows furrowed with a held determination.

     He ran down the hall, teal hues spotting a group of rushing guards. He attempted to stop and duck for concealment, only to slide on his padded shoes. He quickly backtracked against the wall, his head gently tapping the clean tiles as he let their grouped sound fade somewhat. He rushed passed the branched off entry, rushing over to the cell labeled with a bold, black ink ‘S#033.’ 

     Aster’s hands grabbed onto the steel door, not questioning the lack of guards around. He used his weight to pull the handle, then pushed inwards to allow light to break into the darkened room. A figure rummaged from under the covers, only to lift up in a daze of tired. She rubbed her right eye, grogginess in her voice, “... Aster? Why are you here? The morning alarm--”      “We’re getting out of here, Jae!”      “... What?”      Aster stepped into the room to help her up, reaching forward only to stop and pull his arm back. The exposing light flashed across her body, showing her in a white tank top. His cheeks flushed red as he looked away, clearing his throat. He had never seen Jae-eun in this kind of light, and he hadn’t realized how attractive she really was. It hugged her body, giving her a much more shapely figure despite being rationally average with her measurements. He awkwardly cleared his throat, Jae-eun’s eyes drifting downward as she smiled a much more devious notion. She shook her head, kicking her legs to the side and using the motion of sliding off the mattress to gain footing. She took a deep breath, “Aster, let’s get you back before we both get in trouble--”      “Jae-eun, someone killed the guards and opened my door! Jae, we can--!!”      “What!? Aster, this isn’t good! They’re going to kill you for this!”      “No, Jae! We’re going to get out of here! You, me, and Dex! C’mon!”      Her tired eyes simply looked at the other, brows arched forward a bit. Her wake was slowly catching up with her, her mind grasping what Aster was planning. Her lip tucked itself between her teeth with a gentle bite before she nodded her head, “If we do this, we’ll never be able to come back, Aster. This life of peace... This is something we’ll never have again. Are you sure you want that?”       “This is hardly a life of peace, Jae... But, as long as I’m with Dex and you, nothing will stop me from fighting until we get that peace.”      Jae-eun replied with a simple smile, the both of them taking the ever dwindling time to race out of the room. Dexter’s cell was branched off another hallway, the two wasting no time to locate the painted letters of his serial, ‘S#038.’ However, as they arrived, the two quickly backed out of view of the hall. Guards in riot gear were posted all about the hallway, heavily guarding the designated door. Aster grit his teeth, “They’ve got guys all over his cell!”      “Then we make do, Aster! I’ll distract them, you get Dex!”

     The moment suddenly hit. Jae-eun had run into the open hall, calling for attention. She then ran back, rushing passed Aster. The man took a few steps back before ducking into a corner. The men rushed passed, chasing after the rather agile woman. Once the last set of boots turned away from his line of sight, Aster slowly stood to his feet. He rushed down the hallway, one of the two guards left behind turning his sights to the man, “Hey, you’re not supposed to--!?”      Aster’s body suddenly engulfed in a blue aura, his body ripping across the space. When he reappeared, his fist was extended outwards and thrust into the man’s facial mask. He was thrown back into the other, both now spread across the white, glossy floor. Aster turned to the door, grabbing the steel hand and pulling it open. He then placed his shoulder against the door, pushing into it as he slowly opened. The light of the hall crept passed his figure, illuminating the dark room. Aster’s eyes scanned around as he took a step inside, “Dext-- Huh...?”

     It remained empty.

     The bed was made, and it seemed to have been untouched for sometime. He stood in the doorway, his bros pushed together, nearly touching from the intensity. He turned back without a second thought, following the path that Jae-eun had ran. He headed down the hallway, the white suddenly stained with a fresh, bright crimson. It ran along the wall, splotches remained on the floor. The smear of the blood gave the impression that whoever was bleeding was in a rush down the hallway. He paced himself, fear causing hesitation in the man.

     He appeared in the entryway of the cafeteria. He froze up, the sight of the chaos having caught his gaze. The tables were flipped, several guards had their weapons drawn. Jae-eun was collapsed, the trail of crimson leading towards her. His eyes continued to gaze around, aware that the attention of the room was now suddenly shifting to him. Jae-eun’s gaze turned up, and she pushed herself forward, “No! Aster! Ru-- Agh!!”       One of the men cut her off early, ramming the buttstock of his rifle into the side of her head. She collapsed again, obviously hitting her hard as she struggled for consciousness. Aster took a step forward, only for a man’s voice to shout at him to stop. He recognized the voice, and at its presence he had turned around.

     Brows burrowed forward as the bulky, tall man walked into view. His hair was short, but long enough to be wiry and messy. Eyes were a deep blue, hard to look at if one couldn’t recognize him. His face was a permanent frown, almost etched into him so naturally. The man looked down, unfolding his arms to expose the bold ‘S#039′ print on his left arm, “Stand down, ‘32. You’re not part of this mission.”      “Wh... What do you mean ‘mission’!?” Aster shouted back, his hands balling into fists, “You mean... You’re just going to attack Jae-eun!? She’s one of us! You’re going to just turn against her like this!?”      “You need to understand!” His brows arched forward, glaring down at Aster, “We don’t have friends-- We don’t have family. We’re weapons and nothing more! We were stripped of our names, our lives! We are dead to the world, ‘32,” Owain’s deep voice rattled through Aster’s chest, widening the teal hues. The man then stepped passed him, his body slowly coating itself with a shiny, metallic cover, “My mission is to exterminate Subject Number zero-three-three. You’re being decommissioned, as for you--” He stopped walking, his feet stopping with the sound of scrapping metal. He looked over his shoulder again, “You are to be recaptured and detained. You are too valuable to the company, ‘32.”      Jae-eun slowly pulled herself up, her eye now swollen over. Owain continued towards her, holding his hand out and pointing it downwards towards her. She looked up with her dark eyes, irises red from the held back tears of pain, “Please, Owain...”      “You know what our purpose is. I only sympathize with you for being on the other end.”      “Then... Let me say goodbye to Aster...”       Owain turned his gaze over to the man, still paralyzed before the sights before him. His hands were tightened, knuckles white, teeth bared, and eyes lost in the white tiles of the floor. Jae-eun called his name, his teal hues drifting over to her defeated image, “Aster... Don’t be sad... I’ll be with you, alright?” Tears began to swell up in her eyes, a woeful smile on her face, “And together, we’ll walk through the Garden of Eden.” 

     Owain suddenly shifted. His brows arched forward, turning from her to Aster’s image now. His eyes hardened suddenly, his body straightening upwards. Owain threw his hand forward, “Fire! Fire now, you idiots!” Jae-eun took the moment to scurry to one of the corners.

     The men raised their rifles, suddenly firing the automatic gunfire. Suddenly, his body disappeared with a blue aura coating his body. The blur ripped across the air. He’d appeared in one location, only for the coating to engulf his body and move him to another spot of the room, waiting for the men to pause their firing. Once the last round fired, a fraction of a second passed before he reappeared. The man held out a closed hand, turning it towards the floor and opening. From his hands, discharged rounds were dropped to the nearly flawless tiles. The men stood for a moment, Owain’s lip quivering, “... Shit.”      One of the men shifted, only for Aster’s body to phase over. He suddenly thrust his left hand upwards, diverting the fire of the rifle. With his arm extended upwards, he used the down motion to hook the back of the guard’s head. He pulled it down to meet with an upwards knee, cracking the visor of the other’s face mask. He then turned on the heel of his still planted foot, turning and extending the bent leg outwards with some impromptu sideways kick. His foot hit the side of the man’s helmet, knocking him to the floor.       He shifted again, his body forming in the air with his leg already upwards. He brought it down like a hammer, thrusting the other down towards the floor with a stumble. He then reappeared on the ground, quickly bending down to grab the ankle of his black boot. With a surprising amount of strength, he twisted himself about to toss the man across the room. The guard screamed before he hit the wall, cracking the tiles and falling limp to the ground.       The next moment, he was on the third guard. Before he could fire, Aster threw a left hook into his side. The force caused him to drop the rifle from his arm. Aster’s free arm crossed across his body to snag it, only to push the barrel up on the other’s exposed neck from the handguard. Without any sort of negotiation, he brought his left hand to the trigger and pulled with ease. The man’s neck exploded into a bloody mess, the sound of sudden gurgles and chocking filling the air-- Muffled only by the ring from the muzzle blast.       Aster turned to see Owain’s movement towards him. The metallic man swiped his arm horizontally, Aster ducking. The arm ripped through the rifle like butter, causing the upper half to spin about in the air from the force. He grabbed it, taking the barrel and pushing it between Owain’s lips. The man’s metallic coated eyes looked down, only for the assassin to swing the buttstock like a bat against the other half. There was the sound of grinding metal, shortly followed by the sound of Owain choking and gagging.       The metallic man was leaned forward, coughing. He felt a hand place itself on his neck, lifting him up. He was met with the image of Aster’s gaze. The teal hues like a burning flame, his discolored brows arched forward with intense line. Aster cocked his head back, only to thrust it forward against his. Owain stumbled back, his hands held against his forehead now. His vision blurred in and out, looking down at the other. 

     Blood ran from Aster’s forehead, only for the open wound to seal itself shut in a matter of seconds. The larger man shook his head, raising his fists, “No more playing around, ‘32... I will cut you down if I have to!”      Aster tilted his head to the side, giving a scowl.

     The two met, Owain throwing the first punch. He threw a right hook, only for the other to lean back and have the initial attack miss. He threw a straight, Aster shifting his body so his fist ran alongside his head. He used the momentum, swiping his leg beneath Owain’s to throw him off balance-- Cutting up his own leg rather badly. Owain’s body fell with a slam, cracking the tiled floor beneath them. He grunted as he looked up towards Aster, the assassin staring down at the metallic man. His breathing was heavy huffing, “You can’t... Kill me, Aster... Not even ‘37 was able to best me in spars. What makes you think you’ll be able to--!?”       Aster bent down and gripped Owain’s forehead. He pulled him up, only to use his full force and slam the back of his head back down into the tiles. Raising Owain’s head once again, he kept slamming him into the ground. Metallic clunks echoed through the round as he let out grunt after grunt, Owain’s hand pressed against Aster’s face-- Cutting him up like a thousand razors waltzing across the ivory skin. His blood began to run down the underside of Owain’s arm, only for the heated feeling in his face to meet another warmth.       Owain had suffered from head trauma, the metallic coating on his body growing spotty and exposing some of his flesh. His fingers attempted to curl, “As-Aster, don’t...”       Aster tilted his head away from Owain’s hand, pulling his hand back from the other’s face. He then stood, his body slowly beginning to heal itself as he approached one of the tossed aside rifles. He picked it up, grabbing the pistol grip and holding it by his side. By the time he had come back to Owain’s body, his wounds were healing scabs. Aster stood over the main, bringing the rifle upwards towards the exposed rift across Owain’s chest. The man looked up at him, his brows arched up. His exposed hand reached up towards him, “No please... I-I don’t want to die, Aster...!”

     No remorse was held as he pulled the trigger, Owain’s crimson spilled across the imperfect tiles.

     Teal hues suddenly widened as reality built itself around Aster now. His hand began to shake, dropping the rifle suddenly. It rattled and bounced as it hit the floor, Aster taking a few steps back from the scene. His gaze looked around, spotting Jae-eun in the corner. Her eyes were wide, tears streaming down her puffy cheeks with no facial reaction. Aster took several steps towards her before stumbling a bit and falling to one of his knees. She crawled towards him, the man struggling to get back up before he simply let himself fall to his knees. He wanted to hold her, he wanted to feel the comfort of her presence but he knew of the consequences. They both just knelt near one another, Aster’s cheeks dry despite the knot in his throat. He felt a piercing pain in his chest, a push of a blade that went deeper and deeper with each beat of his heart. It felt as though his neck was going to swell shut, a constant swallow as a reminder that he could still breath. He didn’t want to look-- He couldn’t look. He knew what he had done, he could feel Owain’s weight. 

     How could he ever be a good guy like this?

     Jae-eun got to her feet at the sound of the clunking boots, “A-Aster, c’mon! We have to go!” He turned his gaze to Owain’s body, laying so freshly lifeless. He continued to nod his head as she gripped his shirt to help him get to his feet, holding her side as they made their way to a now unguarded exit.       Jae-eun had known about this back exit for some time. When she was younger, Dexter and she used to sneak out into the garden. It wasn’t gated off, which always lead to them being lectured by Owain for reckless behavior. She pressed her weight against the door to reveal gray clouds and falling water, the colors of a darkened and gray nature but still all the while more vibrant. It was like opening a door to a dream that he hadn’t even known he had forgotten. He stared up at the sky, wincing a bit at the clouds as the rain drizzled down upon them. She guided him along a line of bushes in bloom, allowing now time to admire their color. All his life, Aster had seen only the colors of the facility and labs. He hadn’t known such color existed in the world-- Not in all sorts of coexistence.       Their feet suddenly met with hard soil, dried from the usual heat. And yet, on such an unusual day rain had decided to grace the land with its rare presence. The facility grew smaller and smaller as they continued towards where Jae-eun could only hope the road was. She had her hand still gripped on the chest of Aster’s shirt, only for her to suddenly jerk back as he stumbled again. She turned around, seeing the man once again on his knees.       The rain felt warm against his skin, humid and clammy. It felt discomforting, like he couldn’t be washed away. His teal hues looked up at her, several strands of water running down his soaking face. And yet, even through all that, she knew that he was no longer holding himself back. She bent down, placing her knees on the wet ground, her hands reaching out towards him. They placed themselves on his shoulders, “Aster... You were stronger than anyone I had ever seen before. That’s why I know you’ll survive, you’ll get through this.”

     Jae-eun leaned forward, her lips pursed gently to meet his. The man’s eyes widened a bit before they softened, pushing back into the kiss. He knew of the consequences, before for the first time in his life he felt the comfort he had always wanted. The kiss was brief, but felt as though he was experiencing it for a lifetime. Their lips parted, and Jae-eun’s gaze met with Aster’s. He could feel his body begin to tense up, and he struggled to fight the poison. He looked up at her, watching her stand from his body, “I’m sorry, Aster... But, I know what I have to do. I’m not ready for you... Not yet. I hope you can forgive me.” She began to take a few steps back as pushed himself to attempt and follow, only to lean forward and meet his face with the dirt.       However hard it was, he continued to struggle against the toxins. His face ground against the wet, hard earth just to get a glimpse of her back. He struggled to reach up, his arm tense as it extended in small movements. His jaw dropped, shifting up and down as he struggled to call her name.

     Maybe if she heard him, she’d stay.

     Maybe if she knew he loved her, she’d stay.

     Yet, her image continued to shrink. Fading from his sight. Fading from him.

     A bell rang, a diner’s usual customers having their morning chatter. A young girl had been running late to work, no doubt a waitress. Her hair was in a mess, clothes ruffled. The small business was too busy to afford a lecture right now, and she was pointed by one of the older women to help with a gentleman’s order. She gave a nod and a thousand apologies, heading over to the man’s booth.       “My name’s Lindsey today, might I get you somethin’ to drink, hun?”      “Just a coffee, thank you.”      The man looked over at her, a smile on his face. An ivory fair skin, white locks that wilted to a black-- Probably the work of a very good hairdresser. He was well dressed, a blue blouse, tie, suspenders, all complimented with his black slacks. As she wrote down on her pad, the bell rang again. She looked up to see some thugs, roughed up with gaudy suits and egos to overcompensate. One had a cigarette hanging from his lips, despite the prohibiting sign in the door. They looked around the place, immediately silencing it, one of the men spoke up, “Hey! We’re looking for Lindsey! She ran out on our date last night and owes me some of that ass!”       Naturally, the waitress stepped back. One of the men tapped the other, pointing her out. They smirked, walking over with swagger, “Lindsey, you thought you could--”       The man suddenly stood from his both, the thug bumping into his shoulder. He wasn’t phased, instead he stared down the annoyances to the diner, “Hey, who the hell do you think you are!?”      His teal hues were set on the obvious ringleader, “My name’s Aster Brooks.”

[newssplashy]

Tech: 14 powerful human rights groups write to Google demanding it kill plans to launch a China search engine

A group of 14 human rights organizations have written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding Google kill plans to create a censored search engine in China. Codenamed 'Dragonfly,' Google's plans to create a search engine compatible with China's stringent laws were revealed in August.

A group of 14 human rights organizations have written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding Google kill plans to create a censored search engine in China.

Codenamed "Dragonfly," Google's plans to create a search engine compatible with China's stringent laws were revealed by the Intercept in early August.

The letter, signed by the likes of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, asks Google to clarify its position on censorship and put safeguards in place for whistleblowers.

A group of 14 human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and PEN International, have written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding he reverse plans to launch a censored search engine in China.

News broke in early August that Google was planning to re-enter China after an eight-year hiatus. The Intercept obtained leaked documents showing that firm is working on a new search service, codenamed "Dragonfly," and that Pichai met with a Chinese government official in December 2017.

In their letter, the human rights groups said the plan would be an "an alarming capitulation by Google on human rights," as it would mean accommodating "one of the world’s most repressive internet censorship and surveillance regimes."

The letter demands three things:

That Google kills plans for a censored Chinese search engine.

That the company clarifies its position on censorship in China and outlines any steps it is taking to "safeguard against human rights violations" linked to Dragonfly and its other Chinese mobile apps.

Finally, it asks that Google guarantees protections for any internal whistleblowers.

Google announced it was leaving the Chinese market in 2010 after it detected a "highly sophisticated and targeted attack," the primary goal of which was to infiltrate the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists.

"If Google’s position has indeed changed, then this must be stated publicly, together with a clear explanation of how Google considers it can square such a decision with its responsibilities under international human rights standards and its own corporate values," the letter said.

It added that protections for whistleblowers are essential, pointing out that Google staff were instrumental in raising concerns about its involvement in military drone programme "Project Maven." The company has since set out ethical guidelines on the use of AI and plans to withdraw from the Pentagon project in 2019.

The letter concludes: "As it stands, Google risks becoming complicit in the Chinese government’s repression of freedom of speech and other human rights in China. Google should heed the concerns raised by human rights groups and its own employees and refrain from offering censored search services in China."

Business Insider has contacted Google for comment.

Here's the letter in full:

Dear Mr Pichai

(cc: Ben Gomes, Vice President of Search; Kent Walker, Senior Vice President of Global Affairs)

Like many of Google’s own employees, we are extremely concerned by reports that Google is developing a new censored search engine app for the Chinese market. The project, codenamed “Dragonfly”, would represent an alarming capitulation by Google on human rights. The Chinese government extensively violates the rights to freedom of expression and privacy; by accommodating the Chinese authorities’ repression of dissent, Google would be actively participating in those violations for millions of internet users in China.

We support the brave efforts of Google employees who have alerted the public to the existence of Dragonfly, and voiced their concerns about the project and Google’s transparency and oversight processes.

In contrast, company leadership has failed to respond publicly to concerns over Project Dragonfly, stating that it does not comment on “speculation about future plans”. Executives have also refused to answer basic questions about how the company will safeguard the rights of users in China as it seeks to expand its business in the country.

Since Google publicly exited the search market in China in 2010, citing restrictions to freedom of expression online, the Chinese government has strengthened its controls over the internet and intensified its crackdown on freedom of expression. We are therefore calling on Google to:

Reaffirm the company’s 2010 commitment not to provide censored search engine services in China;

Disclose its position on censorship in China and what steps, if any, Google is taking to safeguard against human rights violations linked to Project Dragonfly and its other Chinese mobile app offerings;

Guarantee protections for whistle-blowers and other employees speaking out where they see the company is failing its commitments to human rights.

Our concerns about Dragonfly are set out in detail below.

Freedom of expression and privacy in China and Google’s human rights commitments

It is difficult to see how Google would currently be able to relaunch a search engine service in China in a way that would be compatible with the company’s human rights responsibilities under international standards, or its own commitments. Were it to do so, in other words, there is a high risk that the company would be directly contributing to, or complicit in, human rights violations.

The Chinese government runs one of the world’s most repressive internet censorship and surveillance regimes. Human rights defenders and journalists are routinely arrested and imprisoned solely for expressing their views online. Under the Cybersecurity Law,[1] internet companies operating in China are obliged to censor users’ content in a way that runs counter to international obligations to safeguard the rights of access to information, freedom of expression and privacy. Thousands of websites and social media services in the country remain blocked, and many phrases deemed to be politically sensitive are censored.[2] Chinese law also requires companies to store Chinese users’ data within the country and facilitate surveillance by abusive security agencies.

According to confidential Google documents obtained by The Intercept, the new search app being developed under Project Dragonfly would comply with China’s draconian rules by automatically identifying and filtering websites blocked in China, and “blacklisting sensitive queries”. Offering services through mobile phone apps, including Google’s existing Chinese apps, raises additional concerns because apps enable access to extraordinarily sensitive data. Given the Cybersecurity Law’s data localization and other requirements, it is likely that the company would be enlisted in surveillance abuses and their users’ data would be much more vulnerable to government access.

Google has a responsibility to respect human rights that exists independently of a state’s ability or willingness to fulfil its own human rights obligations.[3] The company’s own Code of Conduct promises to advance users’ rights to privacy and freedom of expression globally. In Google’s AI Principles, published in June, the company pledged not to build “technologies whose purpose contravenes widely accepted principles of international law and human rights”. The company also commits, through the Global Network Initiative, to conduct human rights due diligence when entering markets or developing new services. Project Dragonfly raises significant, unanswered questions about whether Google is meeting these commitments.

Transparency and human rights due diligence

Google’s refusal to respond substantively to concerns over its reported plans for a Chinese search service falls short of the company’s commitment to accountability and transparency.[4]

In 2010, the human rights community welcomed Google’s announcement that it had “decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn”, citing cyber-attacks against the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists and attempts by the Chinese government to “further limit free speech on the web”.

If Google’s position has indeed changed, then this must be stated publicly, together with a clear explanation of how Google considers it can square such a decision with its responsibilities under international human rights standards and its own corporate values. Without these clarifications, it is difficult not to conclude that Google is now willing to compromise its principles to gain access to the Chinese market.

There also appears to be a broader lack of transparency around due diligence processes at Google. In order to “know and show” that they respect human rights, companies are required under international standards to take steps to identify, prevent and mitigate against adverse impacts linked to their products – and communicate these efforts to key stakeholders and the public.[5] The letter from Google employees published on 16 August 2018 demonstrates that some employees do not feel Google’s processes for implementing its AI Principles and ethical commitments are sufficiently meaningful and transparent.[6]

Protection of whistle-blowers

Google has stated that it cannot respond to questions about Project Dragonfly because reports about the project are based on “leaks”.[7] However, the fact that the information has been publicly disclosed by employees does not lessen its relevance and rights impact.

In relation both to Project Dragonfly and to Google’s involvement in the US government’s drone programme, Project Maven, whistle-blowers have been crucial in bringing ethical concerns over Google’s operations to public attention. The protection of whistle-blowers who disclose information that is clearly in the public interest is grounded in the rights to freedom of expression and access to information.[8] The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises recommend that companies put in place “safeguards to protect bona fide whistle-blowing activities”.[9]

We are calling on Google to publicly commit to protect whistle-blowers in the company and to take immediate steps to address the concerns employees have raised about Project Dragonfly.

As it stands, Google risks becoming complicit in the Chinese government’s repression of freedom of speech and other human rights in China. Google should heed the concerns raised by human rights groups and its own employees and refrain from offering censored search services in China.

Signed, the following organizations:

Access Now Amnesty International Article 19 Center for Democracy and Technology Committee to Protect Journalists Electronic Frontier Foundation Human Rights in China Human Rights Watch Independent Chinese PEN Centre International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) PEN International Privacy International Reporters Without Borders (RSF) WITNESS

Signed in individual capacity (affiliations for identification purposes only):

Ronald Deibert Professor of Political Science and Director of the Citizen Lab University of Toronto

Rebecca MacKinnon Director, Ranking Digital Rights

Xiao Qiang Research Scientist Founder and Director of the Counter-Power Lab School of Information, University of California at Berkeley

Lokman Tsui Assistant Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication The Chinese University of Hong Kong

source http://www.newssplashy.com/2018/08/tech-14-powerful-human-rights-groups.html

[its-veso]

USD: Trading Trump's Address To Congress - Views From 10 Major Banks

Credit Agricole: Trump may struggle to revive the ‘Trump trade’

US President will address Congress late on Tuesday and according to some reports he is expected to outline the progress made so far and urge lawmakers to follow up with legislation to maintain forward momentum. The list of topics is expected to be broad, including public safety, healthcare, tax reform and deregulation. Investors are likely to focus in particular on any details of the ‘phenomenal’ tax package signaled earlier by the President, particularly as the Treasury Secretary and members of Congress have recently cautioned not to expect legislation to be implemented before next year. Given that Republicans control both houses, the optics of the President’s appearance in front of lawmakers are likely to be constructive but the lack of significant policy detail in the speech will likely prevent a sustained revival of the long-USD ‘Trump trade’.

BTMU: Scope for disappointment on tax reform; USD/JPY to drift lower.

In a speech yesterday, President Trump stated that his first budget will focus on public safety and national security. He is seeking to increase defence spending by USD54 billion which would be offset by savings elsewhere. He added that he will make a big statement on infrastructure spending when he addresses Congress today, and that he is going to be moving very quickly on regulatory reform. However, there appears some scope for disappointment on tax reform at least in terms of timing as President Trump stated that his tax plan will only be released once they have released their proposal on Obamacare and have a clearer indication of the costs involved. USD/JPY is likely to continue to drift lower in the near-term if President Trump fails to provide fresh impetus for reflation trades today.

TD: Fade A USD bounce if no details on Border Adjustment Tax 'BAT'

The market remains sensitive to the news flow ahead of the unofficial SOTU. Ultimately, we believe that market participants looking for details will likely be disappointed, especially with market expectations of a Mar rate hike bouncing to nearly 50% in recent days. Recent news headlines have shown an emphasis on budget proposals with anti-terrorism and infrastructure the key features. This comes with a little focus on the fiscal agenda, which we view is an exercise in managing expectations. We think that the lack of consensus on how to handle Obamacare and implement broader tax reform has left the administration trying to lower bar for the speech. For the FX market, the drivers will be whether the speech keeps the equity rally going or there is an endorsement of BAT. A positive tone that encourages cooperation could benefit risk assets and the USD but would prefer to fade a USD bounce without discussions on BAT.

Barclays: Policy announcement might not come

Trump will deliver his long-awaited speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday (9 PM EST). Although market attention will be keenly focused on the speech, it is unlikely that new details regarding fiscal stimulus, tax reform or trade policy will be provided. The administration intends to push forward fiscal reforms before August, according to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, but details on tax policy are likely to come after March, when Congress finishes working on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act.

BNPP: Risk-reward attractive for long USD ahead of this week's 3 major events.

There are three key events in the US this week: US President Trump will address a joint session of Congress (28 February), January Core PCE data (1 March) and Fed Chair Yellen’s speech (3 March). Trump is expected to reveal his fiscal plans, the market expects core PCE to rise further to just 0.2pp below the Fed’s 2% target, and Yellen’s speech will be her last before the blackout period ahead of the 15 March FOMC meeting. Pricing for a 25bp March rate hike stands at around 35% and in total there are only two hikes priced for 2017. In our view – following continued rhetoric from several FOMC voters that a March hike should not be taken off the table – the risk heading into the three events are skewed towards the market needing to increase pricing for Fed tightening and the USD strengthening in sympathy.

BofA Merrill: Risk of lack of sufficient details.

It feels like it has been a very long time coming, but markets will finally hear from President Trump at next week’s address to Congress. Anticipation is running high, and investors will be looking for clarity on the new administrations agenda. As we argued earlier this week, if fiscal progress is delivered, rates and the USD should move higher. The risk is that we do not get the level of detail on policies markets are waiting for.

Goldman Sachs: Political picture looking a little less rosy.

With President Trump set to address Congress tonight, the difficulty congressional Republicans have had on Obamacare does not bode well for quick progress on tax reform or infrastructure funding. This reinforces our view that a fiscal boost worth about 1% of GDP (largely via tax cuts) is primarily a 2018 story. In the meantime, Mr. Trump’s administrative actions on trade and immigration present downside risks to growth.

NAB: Difficult to see how Trump can offer real specifics?

All up, it is difficult to see how Trump can offer real specifics on how his programs will be financed – if that is what markets want to avoid a further clear-out of positions. By definition, what we’ve learnt so far suggests the details today will be sketchy – long on vision and passion, but short on specifics. That does not mean yields and the USD won’t get another small nudge up immediately, but price-action in recent weeks suggests markets want more and positioning, especially in bond markets, is weighing. Disappointment could set in fairly soon after. Then again perhaps we might have to wait until soon-to-be-seen headlines on the looming debt ceiling deadline of 15 March appear? Any move lower in yields will impact the USD and if the resulting market turbulence is sufficient, perhaps the Fed too, scotching any ideas of a March 15 hike.

UniCredit: Market response depend on the question of border-adjustment taxes.

Today’s highlight is President Trump’s speech to Congress with everyone hoping for him to go beyond rhetoric and disclose some details of the new administration’s planned tax reform. As Andreas Rees highlighted in the Sunday Wrap, it is highly speculative to come up with a clear picture for markets ahead of any detailed announcement and the market response may heavily depend on the question of border-adjustment taxes, which in our view would have negative consequences not just for the main US trading partners but for the US itself. In the end, it would not be surprising to see US yields moving slightly higher across the curve due to a revival of the reflation trade story.

Lloyds: Too early to expect much.

Markets will be looking for more detail on both trade policy and his tax and spending plans. But, it may be too early to expect much, as reports suggest the administration have yet to fully agree on specifics. For now, agreement seems limited to some specific spending measures – an increase in defence expenditure but a reduction in environmental protection. A more comprehensive package, including tax changes, may only come later in the year. Even after that, the administration will need to get the agreement of Congress. Last week, the new Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said he hoped to reach agreement on tax changes before August, but warned it could take longer. All this suggests that the President may not have much to report, although he will likely be his usual combative self. 

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