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Data | The NDA juggernaut has halted with the BJP-led alliance losing power in key States

While the BJP-led NDA won resoundingly in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, it has lost power in five major State assemblies since December 2018.




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The Challenges Facing the Nation's Electricity Power Sector: A Conversation with Severin Borenstein

Energy economist Severin Borenstein, Professor of the Graduate School at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, discussed the many significant challenges facing the nation’s electricity power sector in the latest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.




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HPCA Hosts COP 28 Side Event on the Challenges and Opportunities of Reducing Global Methane Emissions

The Harvard Project on Climate Agreements (HPCA) assembled a panel of leading academics and government officials to discuss strategies for achieving significant methane emissions reductions at relatively low costs at an official COP 28 Side Event last Wednesday (Dec. 6). The event, titled “Reducing Global Methane Emissions: Imperatives, Opportunities, and Challenges,” was moderated by HPCA Director Robert Stavins.




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The Gulf Moment and the Making of the Khaleeji State

The paper argues for putting aside the old rentier state paradigm that has long dominated Gulf literature, considering the emergence of both the Gulf Moment and the United Arab Emirates Momentum (henceforth UAE Momentum). Instead, it offers a novel analytical concept of the Khaleeji state, incorporating both the exceptionalist and normalist approaches to Gulf studies. The Khaleeji state is also a way to comprehend the unfolding of the Gulf Moment. The term Gulf Moment indicates the profound influence that the Arab Gulf States (AGS) maintain over the rest of the Arab world at the turn of the twenty-first century. The UAE momentum is currently the main engine of the Gulf Moment.






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Challenging Biases and Assumptions in Analysis: Could Israel Have Averted Intelligence Failure?

The human tragedy continuing to unfold in Gaza and Israel reminds us how important it is to get strategic forecasting right. While in no way excusing Hamas’ culpability for 7 October, we also cannot dismiss the fact that the failure to anticipate and prepare for such an attack has had grave consequences for communities on both sides of this conflict, undermined efforts to bring peace and prosperity to the region, and affected global interests through the expansion of the conflict to the Red Sea and potentially beyond. 





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Pakistan's Wasil Foundation Wins Islamic Microfinance Challenge - Islamic Microfinance Challenge

Watch this video highlighting Wasil Foundation's work.





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Mercury Insurance Launches 'Drive Safe Challenge' to Teach Teens the DOs and DON'Ts of Getting Behind the Wheel - Mercury Teen Driving B-Roll :45s

Forty-five seconds worth of clips from the inaugural Mercury Insurance Drive Safe Challenge at Honda Center, including driving shots and classroom activities





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The Greatest Celebration Of American Innovation Inspiring The Future And Honoring The Past - The Key to Inspiring Innovation: Brought to You by the National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees

The Key to Inspiring Innovation: Brought to You by the National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees




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2016 MORE/SHAPE Women's Half-Marathon To Honor 13 Female Leaders For The First-Ever Women Run The World Relay & Mentorship Program - 2015 MORE/SHAPE Half-Marathon Broll

The 12th Annual MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Women�s Half-Marathon on April 19, 2015 in New York�s Central Park




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Jedi Performers Engage in Epic Lightsaber Challenge at the Top of the World's Tallest Building - Dubai's Burj Khalifa - as Star Wars: The Force Awakens Becomes Available for Digital Download - Two Jedi performers ascend the world�

Two Jedi performers ascend the world�s tallest building




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Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. Announces Community Aces Challenge Winners - Five charities win a share of $50,000 in Isle of Capri Casinos� Community Aces Challenge.

Five charities win a share of $50,000 in Isle of Capri Casinos� Community Aces Challenge.




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Natalie Morales Of NBC's TODAY Show, Erica Hill Of NBC News, And Carolyn Manno Of NBC Olympics To Host 2016 More/Shape Women's Half-Marathon - 2015 MORE/SHAPE Half-Marathon BTS

Behind the scenes with Natalie Morales and Erica Hill at the 12th Annual MORE/SHAPE Women�s Half-Marathon on April 19, 2015.




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The Makers of Dinty Moore® Stew Challenge America's Lumbersexuals to Become Real Lumberjacks in STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series Championship - Misery Whip Training

Professional lumberjack Adrian Flygt teaches a dedicated team of off-the-street lumbersexuals on how to use the �misery whip� saw during their training in Stillwater, Minn.




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#pass4prostate Challenge Raises Prostate Cancer Awareness and Research Funds - Nick Cummins promotes #pass4prostate

Qantas Wallabies player Nick Cummins promotes the #pass4prostate challenge and USA vs. Australia match coming up on Sept. 5 in Chicago. #pass4prostate and the match are presented by Astellas Pharma







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2016 MORE/SHAPE Women's Half-Marathon Honors 13 Female Leaders, Including Sara Bareilles, Danielle Brooks And Padma Lakshmi, For The First-Annual Women Run The Worldâ„¢ Relay & Mentorship Program - 2016 MORE/SHAPE Half-Marathon BTS

Behind the scenes with Elizabeth Goodman Artis, Natalie Morales, Danielle Brooks, Padma Lakshmi and Sara Bareilles at the 2016 MORE/SHAPE Women�s Half-Marathon in Central Park on April 17.








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2020 Redux? Army of MAGA Election Officials Prepare to Challenge Results If Trump Loses

As voters across the United States head to the polls, we speak with New York Times writer Jim Rutenberg about how Donald Trump may try to preemptively declare victory and challenge election results. The former president has ramped up claims Democrats are “a bunch of cheats” and preemptively cast doubt on a win by Vice President Kamala Harris, following a similar playbook as 2020 when he baselessly claimed the election was stolen. Rutenberg spoke to pro-Trump election officials in battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania who say they are ready to refuse to certify local election results as part of a wide-ranging effort to throw the system into disarray. Rutenberg says after the failed insurrection of January 6, 2021, many in Trump’s orbit had a clear goal for 2024: “We have to go local.” He also discusses the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 that makes it harder to stop the final certification of results.




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People with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome May Have an "Exhausted" Immune System

A long-awaited study of people with ME/CFS revealed differences in their immune and nervous system. The findings may offer clues about long COVID






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The Great Hall of Poets

Welcome to The Great Hall of Poets, our poetry feature showcasing the talent of Middle-earth fans. So come and join us by the hearth, and enjoy!

If you have a Tolkien/Middle-earth inspired poem you’d like to share, then send it to poetry@theonering.net  One poem per person may be submitted each month. Please make sure to proofread your work before sending it in. TheOneRing.net is not responsible for poems posting with spelling or grammatical errors.

The Steward and the White Lady

by: Cassie Hughes

She lay bereft of all she loved and wished her life was done,
That King had never called her back from limbo’s darkened home,
Within these hallowed healing halls her heart felt caged anew,
What now for maid without a shield? No cause to cleave unto?

In waking dreams she wandered there a ghost in living form,
Her hopes and dreams dispersed as dust, her mind encased in storm,
‘Twas thus he first did spy her there caught up in moonlights glow
And from that moment lost his heart to Rohan’s greatest jewel.

Fair Eowyn he then pursued though she desired naught
But finding honour within death, this goal, her only thought,
With inner strength he persevered and piece by piece did steal
Away despair and hopelessness, her zest for life reveal.

At last the scales fell from her eyes, she finally perceived,
The wise and steadfast prince of men to whom her heart had cleaved,
The Steward and the Lady found at last their just reward,
A strong, enduring love in which to live in light restored.

~~ * ~~

I've included this following poem to commemorate Remembrance Day. It's one I wrote as part of my Literature degree in memory of my Grandfather. Lest We Forget

Grandad Speaks

by: Kelvarhin

They called me Jack,
Though my mates
Called me Snowy.

A hazel-eyed beauty,
From London’s east-end,
Became my life’s love.
Two adored daughters,
Completed our home.

War intervened,
To the R.A.F. I soared.
Not to drop bombs,
Or dogfight in the sky,
Dinghy Drop rescues
Were my choice to fly.

The fates made their call,
Rescuers missing,
Lost over North Sea.
Three simple words,
All that were shared.

Missing in action.

No body to mourn,
No grave to cry on.
A telegraphed epitaph,
My Loves only memorial.

~~ * ~~




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The world is falling far short of its goal to halt biodiversity loss

In 2022, countries pledged to halt biodiversity loss by protecting 30 per cent of the planet by 2030, but progress has been too slow thus far




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Melonbooks Dōjinshi Store Chain to Halt Visa/Mastercard Payments on December 19

Chain will still accept payments via JCB/American Express cards or other means




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9 Hilariously Bizarre Halloween Cakes To Make You Go, "Huh?"

Happy Halloween, minions! Let’s go out with a bang, shall we? :D

Bakeries get a lot of leeway this time of year, since Halloween is supposed to have ugly gross stuff:

 

But there's raspberry jam soaked zombie faces, and then there's... uh... this:

Took me a solid minute to figure it out:

A banana shooting laser beams.

(I am SO GOOD AT THIS, you guys.)

 

Yep, bakers are once again trying to collectively punk the world, churning out ridiculous Halloween designs each more baffling than the last:

Aliens? Amoebas?
This guy?

 

I actually see this design a lot:

The angry toilet paper has sprouted arms, and is pulling itself to freedom.

 

While this roll vows revenge on airbrushes everywhere:

"I am not 'pretty,' I AM THE TERRIFYING TP! Here to WIPE you out! Mwuah-ha-haaawhy are you laughing?"

 

Next we have an ice cream swirl wearing a traffic cone about to be impaled by a trident.
Because if THAT doesn't say "Happy Halloween"... then don't worry 'cuz the board does:

 

For some reason ghost sperm are always a big seller this time of year:

They look kinda confused, though, right?
Like they can't tell if they're coming or going.

[HEYO.]

 

Also confused? Me, after looking at this thing:

They managed to get icing absolutely everywhere except on top of the cupcakes.
Now that's scary.

 

And finally, a possessed stove burner:

Because haunted appliances are SO hot right now.

("It burns. IT BURRRRNS!")

 Have fun tonight, gang! Remember, this is the one night of the year when it’s OK to have candy for dinner, so take FULL advantage.

There's a ghost of a chance Brittany D., Carrie, Ginny V., Karen S., Megan S., Karrie T., Jennifer K., Jennifer R., & Shannon T. will be ordering out tonight. You're welcome, ladies!

******

P.S. Today's TP ghost cakes led me to the best home accessory ever:

THIS, my friends, is a "Talking Toilet Paper Spindle." You record your own message, which it will play back when your guests spin the roll. [rubbing hands together evilly] I can't wait to use this baby at our next Christmas party.

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:





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first half meme

Today on Toothpaste For Dinner: first half meme


This RSS feed is brought to you by Drew and Natalie's podcast Garbage Brain University. Our new series Everything Is Real explores the world of cryptids, aliens, quantum physics, the occult, and more. If you use this RSS feed, please consider supporting us by becoming a patron. Patronage includes membership to our private Discord server and other bonus material non-patrons never see!




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Reform to challenge Labour at Senedd poll - Farage

Nigel Farage says Reform will be Labour's "main challenger" in 2026 at the party's Welsh conference.




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Coming this November to Hal-Con!

Jim will be attending Hal-Con this November 8th-10th in Halifax, Nova Scotia! For tickets, head to Hal-Con.com. Please visit their website for all information about schedules and events.




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US flights to Haiti halted for month after attacks

America's aviation regulator suspends US flights to the country after three gun attacks on planes.




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Chisora to challenge licence ban

Dereck Chisora appeals against the withdrawal of his licence by the British Boxing Board of Control.




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Athletics halted after Greek cuts

Greece's athletics federation suspends domestic events because of spending cuts - although they will still compete in London 2012.




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Tax-News.com: EU To Challenge Dutch Pension Tax Rules Before ECJ

The European Commission has referred the Netherlands to the Court of Justice for its rules on the cross-border transfer of pension capital and cross-border provision of pensions.




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Mushroom Gummies May Contain Illegal Hallucinogens

Experts from UVA Health are issuing a warning about mushroom gummies marketed to enhance brain function, as they may contain the illegal hallucinogen




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Advanced Generation Cephalosporin Approved by US FDA

Highlights: Basilea's Zevtera gets U.S. FDA approval for MRSAB and other severe infections Zevtera - A New antib




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AI-Discovered Antibiotic 'Halicin' Fights Resistant Bacteria

Highlights: AI identified Halicin to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria efficiently Halicin disrupts bacterial




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Vishal Chaudary on How to Keep Fit

Highlights: Vishal Chaudary is a well-known Indian actor and model Despite his hectic schedule, he offers advice




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Tax-News.com: China Halves Corporate Tax For Smallest Businesses

Chinese authorities have announced enhanced temporary tax breaks for small businesses.





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The 15-Minute Challenge: A Simple Step to Transform Your Health at Work

Highlights: A 15-minute daily exercise challenge led to a 12-minute increase in daily physical activity among parti