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Home Office confirms IT consolidation
Department brings teams together into new Digital, Data and Technology unit under Sarah Wilkinson
The Home Office has brought together its two major IT teams into a single unit, in a move that it said will encourage more comprehensive design of services and data integration.
Home Office Digital and Home Office Technology have been combined into the new Home Office, Digital, Data and Technology (HO DDT) unit under Sarah Wilkinson. Formerly the chief technology officer, she has taken on the new job title of chief digital, data and technology officer.
<|fim_middle|> integrated approach and offer a huge opportunity to better harness data. Sarah has actively engaged with industry and we look forward to continuing to work with her in her new role."
Image: Home Office building, Marsham Street, by Kevin Gordon, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia | A Home Office spokesperson said: "The Home Office's mission is to keep citizens safe and the country secure. We are transforming the way we work to respond to changing threats and provide better services.
"Home Office Digital and Home Office Technology have delivered important work in the past few years – including online passport renewal and the rolling out biometric residence permits and biometric travel documents.
"The two teams already work incredibly closely. By formally bringing them together we create an even stronger unit. It will bring an injection of new skills and approaches to both functions, will allow a front-to-back digital design approach and enable us to integrate data more fully into everything we do."
Norman Driskell, who was previously chief digital officer, has moved on from the department.
Industry approval
The move has won the approval of IT industry association techUK, whose director public services, Naureen Khan, said: "Tech is critical to the Home Office's transformation journey. Government is making good progress on its goal to attract private sector leaders like Sarah to drive transformation.
"We welcome this move which should lead to a more | 219 |
BRADLEY JOHNSON savaged Hull's tame Tigers and fired Derby back on the promotion trail.
The Rams' record £6m buy scored twice in nine minutes to punish their play-off rivals for defensive slip-ups.
To make matters worse for Steve Bruce's side, they had Moses Odubajo red-carded for a professional foul on Tom Ince early in the second half.
And they were made to pay as Derby took full advantage and doubled their goal count late on.
After an opening half hour of few chances, Johnson was on hand to fire home from close range in a goalmouth scramble.
He was at it again nine minutes later<|fim_middle|> the rout in injury time to seal an emphatic Rams victory. | to give Rams a two-goal cushion before the interval.
Winger Johnny Russell, who had helped create the opener, produced another penetrating burst, and Ince's cheeky backheel paved the way for Johnson to fire home.
Hull had started promisingly and gave Derby a scare when Richard Keogh failed to clear a Richard Snodgrass cross and Sam Clucas sent a looping header towards goal, only for Scott Carson to tip over at full stretch.
But they never recovered from Johnson's double.
And their hopes of salvaging anything from the game looked bleak just after the break when they were reduced to 10 men.
Referee Tony Harrington had little option but to give Odubajo his marching orders after he scythed down Ince.
Derby took full advantage and went further ahead six minutes from time, Chris Martin firing in a left foot shot from just inside the box that gave Hull keeper Allan McGregor no chance.
And Craig Bryson completed | 193 |
6-Day Scenic Bhutan Tour - by Sunita S.
This cultural tour explores the wonderfully diverse environment of Bhutan's western valleys as well as their cultural heritage. Drive over high mountain passes and through rapidly changing vegetation from pine forests<|fim_middle|> to choose from and tailor to your needs. All the staff in this spa and exceptionally trained to guarantee the most relaxing experience.
We drive you to the Airport 3 hours before departure. | to hills covered in rhododendrons, magnolias and dwarf bamboo – abundant with birds and wildlife. The centerpiece to this tour is time spent exploring the beautiful Thimphu Valley, the capital city of Bhutan.
This tour also visits ancient fortresses, temples, monasteries, markets, farm houses and museums in Paro, Thimphu,Punakha and Phobjikha. Highlights include the Ta Dzong Museum, Rimpong Dzong, The National Memorial Chorten, walking around the valley, meeting with locals and hike to Tiger's Nest ( Taktshang Monastery ).
The Local Travel Agent and their team are ready to help you design your perfect trip in Bhutan.
-Airport Pick up and Drop Off.
-All meals (buffet system /include evening tea/snacks per pax each day).
-All hotel tax & service charges.
-Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) Royalties and taxes.
-Inland transfers: SUV Vehicles (Toyota Prado / Hyundai Tucson / Hyundai Santa Fe / Toyota Sedans), Toyota Hiace, Toyota Coaster, Hyundai Motor Buses – based on group strength.
-Local sightseeing with entrance fees where applicable.
-Services of an English speaking local guide.
-Travel & Medical insurance coverage.
-Drinks/ beverages during sightseeing / drives.
-Communication charges, laundry, tips, porters at hotels.
Our guide will wait in the arrivals hall. It's a 1.5 hour drive to Thimpu.
Kuensel Phodrang, also commonly known as Buddha Point or Buddha Dordenma, is dominated by a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue, the largest Buddha statue in Bhutan.
Buddha Point embodies the Bhutanese people as it was built in this specific area to fulfill the prophecy of presenting peace and happiness to the world. It houses 100,000 smaller Buddha statues all of which are cast in bronze and covered with a fine layer of gold leaf and is one of the largest collections in the world.
This is Bhutan's first ever Craft Bazaar, now home to over 80 stalls. It is a spectacle of traditional bamboo huts, neatly aligned below Norzin Lam, opposite to Nehru Wangchuk Cultural Centre, showcasing a wide range of authentic Bhutan-made art and craft products.
You can wander along the huts that line the streets to see the craftsmanship of locals and do a little shopping.
With the products sourced mostly from rural areas, the bazaar aims to promote Bhutan's craft industry by creating a viable market, which in turn acts to preserve and encourage Bhutan's unique culture. The initiative is also expected to bring about equitable socio-economic development in the country.
The Takin is endemic to Bhutan, India and China. Aesthetically, the animal confuses many with it's unusual appears, with the head of a goat and the body of a cow. The Takin is often referred to as a 'bee-stung moose' or a "goat-antelope", in an effort to describe its fascinating features that could only be created in an Exquisite Corpse game. Despite this, the animal is biologically closer to a sheep.
The preserve was originally a mini zoo, which was closed as the King thought it was unethical for a Buddhist country to confine animals in such a way.
Upon their release, locals were utterly baffled, as the animals did not move from the site. The docile creature wandered the streets of Thimphu looking for food - they had become domesticated. To take care of the takin, it was decided a preserve would be built outside of the city.
The Himalayan species was declared the national animal of Bhutan in 2005 due to a legend of the animal's creation by Lama Drukpa Kunley, the 'divine madman', who has been accredited with responsibility for its unique features. The takin is regarded as an endangered species in China, with number depleting worldwide, annually.
Popular among tourists and locals alike, Cousin Restaurant is in the heart of Thimphu overlooking a dzong in a bright and spacious dining area. With a great variety of dishes on offer, Cousin's serves up authentic home-cooked Bhutanese cuisine throughout the day.
The National Textile Museum is a good place to see the art of traditional weaving being kept alive and preserved through exhibition and has a good collection of old textiles which are rich in colours and designs. You will also see people weaving with intricate designs.
Changangkha Lhakhang is a fortress-like temple and monastic school perched on a ridge above Thimphu Valley and is the oldest temple in Thimphu. The temple was established in the 12th century on a site chosen by Lama Phajo Drugom Shigpo, who came from Tibet. From the temple courtyard, there is a fascinating view of Thimphu Valley.
All day long the temple hums with activity as parents bring their young children to be blessed and their newborns to get auspicious names from the protector deity, Tamdrin. Don't leave here without giving the astrologer your birth date so that he can tell you which of the protective prayer flags will be most beneficial to your life using the divination charts.
Located on the northern edge of the city of Thimphu is Bhutan's most stately, and arguably the most impressive, building. It houses the throne room of His Majesty the King of Bhutan and is the summer residence of the respected monastic community.
The current dzong is an impressive result of the redesign of the original medieval structure sanctioned by the third king, His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, when he moved the capital to Thimphu from Punakha.
As well as housing the throne room of His Majesty the King, the Tashichho Dzong also is home to the main secretariat building and the central monk body. Its courtyard is open to visitors during the Thimphu Tshechu and in the summer when the monks move to their winter residence in Punakha.
Situated within the heart of the Thimphu valley and overlooking the National Memorial Chorten, Tashi Yoedling is a 19-room hotel that captures the best of both worlds: it offers easy access for city exploration but still has amazing views of the Tashicho Dzong and the glorious mountains that adorn Bhutan. Each room is heated and features wifi, an in-room safe, and tasteful Bhutanese furnishing.
Tashi Yoedling also has a great panoramic view – all the way from Tashichhodzong on the left to Semtokha Dzong on the right, with a compelling bird\'s eye view of the Thimphu town.
Travel from Thimphu to Punakha.
Dochula Pass—a beautiful mountain pass, which is about 20 km from Thimphu is a concentration of 108 memorial stupas known as "Druk Wangyal Chortens." It's not just a place of historical and religious importance, but also a popular tourist attraction that any traveler would want to witness on their journey through Bhutan.
A short 30-minute hike will lead you to the Divine Madman's Monastery, Chimi Lhakhang, which is well known for its fertility shrine, where those who wish to be blessed with a child go to pray. The Divine Madman, Drukpa Kuenley, was known for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, through humorous acts or by conducting outrageous behaviour.
His practice focused on looking into and proving ulterior methods of enlightenment that did not include celibacy. With his success in demonstrating this, both the Bhutanese phallus paintings and the tradition of phallus statues being place on a roof to ward off evil spirits are said to be from his teachings.
The Punakha Dzong is one of the most majestic sites in Bhutan, built on the meeting point of two rivers. It was built in 1637 and is the second oldest and largest dzong in Bhutan. Unfortunately, the dzong was destroyed four times by fires and an earthquake in 1897 - it has been now fully restored to its original splendour.
We'll prepare a picnic lunch for you to enjoy by the riverside, surrounded by beautiful scenery.
It was designed and built in 1990's by the Queen Mother, Ashi Tshering Yangdon Wangchuck, to ward off negative forces and spread peace and harmony to the people of Bhutan, the construction took over a decade and was completed in 2004.
The chorten is a 30-minute uphill walk, then a walk across an iron suspension footbridge. It is unknown how old this footbridge is, but the first iron suspension bridges in Bhutan are rumoured to be over 500 years old.
The longest suspension bridge in Bhutan, the Punakha Bridge is over 160 meters in length. This is a connection to the Punakha Dzong over the Pho Chu. Frequented by local people to the Punakha Suspension Bridge is draped with many Tibetan prayer flags, paving the way to the Dzong.
Originally, the bridge was built for the Lamas of Punakha Dzong who would be crossing the river very often. Nowadays, it serves locals and tourists who wish to access the temple and the villages on either side of the river banks, with breathtaking views across the valley.
Set over the hilltop, you'll be able to enjoy a breathtaking view of Punakha valley whilst you dine at the Meri Puensum Resort restaurant.
The in-house chefs freshly prepare a range of dishes from western favourites to traditional Bhutanese meals such as spicy meat and vegetable stews.
Established in 1999, Meri Puensum Resort is a serene escape in the culturally-rich valley of Punakha. The resort boasts fabulous views from its hillside position over the valley below. The resort is run by a family who pride themselves on making sure their guests feel like part of the family during their stay.
This 3-star accommodation stays true to Bhutanese hospitality and pays special attention to the needs, comfort, and safety of their guests during their stay. You'll have a more than satisfying stay a Meri Puensum Resort.
Travel from Punakha to Gangtey.
Gangtey Gonpa Lhakhang, also known as Gangtey Sanga Choeling Goenba, is located on a hilltop at 2,800 metres altitude and is important monastery of the Buddhist Nyingmapa school. From this monastery, which was founded in 1613 by the grandson and reincarnation of Pema Lingpa, the views of the Phobjikha Valley are simply stunning.
Between 2001 and 2008, the Gangtey Monastery underwent extensive renovation which included erecting 104 new pillars and the addition of some beautiful wood carvings.
If you visit from November to March, you may also spot the endangering black-necked cranes who call the Phobjikha Valley home during these months in order to escape the harsh Tibetan winter.
Later on, you'll visit the black-necked crane information centre. The black-necked cranes that are very rare and endangered, and highly protected by the Government. The cranes use Phobjikha valley as their winter residence arriving from Tibet from October to February. There are around 500 cranes in residence in the valley during these months. The cranes circle three times in a clockwise direction around the Gangteng Monastery before landing in the valley. They repeat the same practice before flying back to Tibet in summer to breed.
Situated on the edge of the forest and wetland along the main road of the Phobjikha Valley, the black-necked crane information centre has an observation room equipped with spotting scopes for catching the best view of the cranes. The centre also offers display information that outlines the natural and cultural history of the area. There is a small gift shop, which sells handicrafts produced by the local people.
Enjoy lunch with a view at Dewachen Hotel & Spa. The hotel offers friendly and efficient service with a smile. You can sample some local food or enjoy the home comforts of Western food if you wish.
The Gangtey nature trail hike is one of the easiest, yet most beautiful, hikes in Bhutan. From your starting point at the Gangtey monastery, you'll meander through the Phobjikha Valley and the surrounding lush green forests.
The hike takes no more than 2 hours to complete and you'll be able to observe lots of wildlife during this time. From November to March, the endangered black-necked cranes make the Phobjikha Valley their home in order to escape the harsh Tibetan winter.
Set in a quaint little town with a beautiful view over Phobjika Valley, the Dewachen Hotel is a haven for travellers to Bhutan. All sides of the hotel are surrounded by lush, green expanse and the area has a tranquil feel to it.
The restaurant offers fine dining with its selection of delicious Bhutanese, Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisines prepared by a professional chef. The bird's eye view of Phobjikha valley from the restaurant makes it a place to relax with a coffee or during a meal.
The Jakar Dzong is set in a picturesque location overlooking the Bumthang Valley. Legend states that in 1667 when the temple construction was underway, a white bird emerged from the building site and perched where the Jakar Dzong is now situated.
It was considered an important omen by the Lamas and the hill was chosen as the site for the monastic centre and the Jakar Dzong.
The Jakar Dzong has an impressive circumference of over 1,500 metres. You can access the Dzong via a stone-paved footpath and the views from the courtyard once at the top are definitely worth the walk.
Kurjey Lhakhang is one of the most important pilgrimages for the Bhutanese people. This temple houses the imprints of Guru Rinpoche after he meditated there for a while, leaving the imprint of his body on the rock.
Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche was called upon by ministers to use supernatural powers to seize back the life force of a Bumthang King from deity Shelging Karpo after the angry god had withdrawn the king's vital principle.
Kurjey Lhakhang, therefore, houses his imprints in one of the oldest of three temples that sits within a cave at this historical site. There is a Guru Rinpoche Temple and Ka Gong Phur Sum temple also at this site. It is also the final resting place of the remains of the first three kings of Bhutan.
The most prominent souvenir shop in town has a decent range of books, masks and the like. It accepts credit cards, and you can rent mountain bikes. Also of note is a display of a gho (traditional dress for men) worn by the first king of Bhutan.
Lunch will be served at Cafe Perk, which is located in the heart of Bumthang. It serves variety of Bhutanese and western food.
The Burning Lake, Mebar Tsho is located along the way to the Tang village over the feeder road under Bumthang valley. It takes approximately thirty minutes' drive to the Mebar Tsho from Chamkhar town. Mebar Tsho is considered one of the most sacred sites in the region as it is related to the renowned religious treasurer (Terton) Terton Pema Lingpa. Pema Lingpa is considered an incarnated disciple of Padmasambhava who discovered treasure within the lake in late 15th century.
Many tourists visit the site to observe spectacular beauty of this important historical and religious site.
Away from home and if you have missed cheese, it is the perfect place to taste Gouda cheese. You can also get pure honey has a good spread of various cheese and serves draft beer too.
Bumthang sits in the heart of Bhutan and is one of the 20 districts in Bhutan. Bumthang contains the largest number of historical and cultural sites which are of great significance to the history of Bhutan. Among these sites are some of the oldest Buddhist monasteries and temples in the whole of Bhutan.
During your free time in Bumthang, you can further explore the town's many temples and monasteries, whilst attempting to engage with the local people.
Kaila Guest House is centrally located with 18 simple but comfortable rooms with attached bath and shower. The property is popular among the expatriates working in Bhutan and government servants on tours.
The guest house is a two storied traditional Bhutanese building with the balcony in the front.
Enjoy a stunning mountain flight with incredible views over Bhutan from Bumthang back to the Paro Valley.
"Rediscover the uniqueness of Bhutanese tradition".
The resort is set amidst five acres of lush foliage and green lawns that offers you a calm and peaceful environment; located conveniently in the heart of Paro Valley, yet still far away from the distractions of the main town.
Unique blends of traditional Bhutanese and modern architecture can been seen throughout the resort, striking the perfect balance with vibrant interiors and all the amenities of a modern lifestyle.
Tashi Namgay was created with a concern for the environment at the forefront of its design made evident in the layout of the buildings, the use of solar lights, wooden 'shingle' roofing and the mud-brick walls.
You will hike up to Taktsang Monastery, also known as 'Tigers Nest', the jewel of Paro and one of the most sacred pilgrimages of Bhutan.
The climb up to the viewpoint will take around an hour and a half, from there you will enjoy a spectacular view of the monastery clinging precariously to the side of the cliff. You'll have the option to walk further up to the monastery which will take another hour. If you choose to continue the hike the views will be incredibly rewarding.
It is said that in the 8th century Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a tigress from eastern Bhutan to this monastery. Here, he meditated in a cave for 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days. The principal Lhakhang of the present monastic complex dates from 1692.
Taktsang was damaged severely by fire in 1998 but has now been fully restored to its former glory. High up in the mountains looking majestically over the hills of Paro, the monastery is a great symbol for Bhutan.
Have a rest and restore your energy next to Tiger's Nest. This popular cafe has great, western-friendly food with some of the most memorable views in Bhutan.
Paro remains one of the best Bhutanese towns to explore on foot. The main street, only built in 1985, is lined with colourfully painted wooden shop fronts and restaurants.
Take the time to interact with the friendly locals, buy some souvenirs and admire the town's buildings.
Enjoy a great spa treatment in this resort. There are a great range of treatments | 4,043 |
Last week, Safe<|fim_middle|> Georgia Commute Schools' mission by visiting their website here. | Kids Georgia's summer interns attended the Georgia Commute Schools End of the Year Wrap Up meeting. At the meeting, representatives from across the state discussed their goals for increasing community support and awareness of student commutes to school. The mission of Georgia Commute Schools is to help find a better way for children to get to school or work — whether by carpooling, riding the bus, walking or biking, and to reduce idling among parents. The end goal of Georgia Commute Schools is to help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in school areas.
During the meeting, there were three key speakers: Chris Coughlin, Brian Keefer, and Andre Riley. Chris Coughlin is a city councilman of Johns Creek who conducted pilot studies on two elementary schools to reduce traffic near the school. The school introduced Walking Wednesdays and saw an 8-fold increase in walking and biking participation. Chris emphasized that if you build the infrastructure, such as sidewalks, people will utilize them.
Brian Keefer is the current principal of Hampton Charter Elementary School and his school focuses on project-based learning. The school created an anti-idling event where students were educated on air quality and learned the different colors associated with each air quality level. The school would raise a flag each morning representing the air quality for that day to help inform students and parents. Brian found it successful when students got involved by walking around the drop off parking lot with signs stating ways to improve air quality such as not idling.
Andre Riley is the Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing for DeKalb County School District and he talked about National School Bus Safety Week. He focused more on school bus safety protocol such as remaining seated at all times, and refraining from horseplay, throwing objects, etc. Andre found that talking directly to the parents in the pickup line was most effective in gaining their support towards traffic reduction initiatives.
The meeting was concluded by separating into two groups to discuss potential solutions and successful strategies to engage parents in reducing traffic around schools. We discussed the different avenues of tackling this initiative ranging from marketing and branding, to social and emotional development with urban families. It was evident that Georgia Commute Schools is taking strides towards providing students with a cleaner and safer environment. This event was a great opportunity for representatives to congregate and brainstorm ideas to improve the programs in place.
Learn more about | 472 |
14th annual Tustin Lacrosse Camps!!!
Lacrosse Academy OC and City of Tustin Parks and Recreation.
All registration at Parks and Rec 714-573-3326. phone register or walk in's.
The following camps are designed by Coach Jon Fox –<|fim_middle|>rosse membership required. | Director of the Lacrosse Academy OC. www.LacrosseAcademyOC.com Head Coach of Foothill HS, OC Crush lacrosse club & Tustin Tigers Youth program. Camps are run by Lacrosse Academy staff members, including current College and High School players & coaches. If you need to rent a stick $10, please email us 2 weeks before start of camp at: as we have limited supply.
This camp is for beginning and intermediate players entering grades 3rd to 8th. It is designed to teach proper mechanics of the game. Solid stick work and footwork will be covered. This session only uses a lacrosse stick. You will be a better player after these camps, guaranteed! Topics covered: footwork, scooping, cradling, passing, rules, catching, dodging, and shooting. US Lacrosse membership required. Players will be grouped by age and athletic skill.
Designed for boys and girls in 4th through 9th grade with at least one season of lacrosse experience, this camp will develop shooters and teach players to score. Learn technique and form for shooting on the run, time and room, quick stick on the run, shot placement, 8-meter penalty shooting, how to score from behind the goal, and how and when to fake. Equipment required: boys - gloves, helmet, and stick; girls - goggles and stick.
This camp is designed for players with 1 - 3 years experience. We will teach positional play and game situations. Players will learn how to make good decisions on the field. Topics covered include: advanced stick work drills, faking and shooting, fast break offense and defense, offensive sets, proper stick and body checking, lacrosse communication terminology, and more. Players will be grouped by age and skill. Players need complete equipment for this camp. US Lac | 377 |
The pinnacle of Provence rosé!
The estate encompasses 57 hectares of prime vineyards with an average vine age of 40 years (the oldest being planted in 1930). The vineyards are located at an altitude of between 140 to 190 metres, just 35km from the coast, and are aided by a North-West orientation which helps maintain high acidity. The micro climate at Rimauresq is unique within the Appellation; the vines benefit from the cooling Mistral winds and are sheltered by the mountains from the harsh Mediterranean sun. It is this shade that allows a longer ripening period and better fruit development in the crucial weeks prior to harvest. Grenache Noir (34%), Cinsault (25%) and Syrah (11%) provide structure, supplemented by Mourvèdre (8%), Rolle (7%), Tibouren (5%), Carignan (5%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (5%) for complexity.
A combination of mechanical and manual fruit harvesting is<|fim_middle|> to filtering to bottling.
In the heart of the Provence wine region, mid way between Nice and Marseille, Domaine de Rimauresq takes its name from "Real Mauresque" the river which flows through the vineyards.
Rimauresq Cru Classé Rosé is a great example of a Côtes de Provence rosé. It is quite rich in body with slight notes of spice on the nose. The palate is weighty with a good acidity on the finish. Rimauresq Cru Classé Rosé can be enjoyed as part of a variety of meals – salads, grilled fish or salad Niçoise. | carried out during the early morning to benefit from the low night temperatures. Cold maceration on their skins for several hours prior to fermentation at a low temperature. Grapes for this "rosé de presse" are pressed and the free run juice separated. Subsequently, it undergoes a period of cold stabilization prior to fermentation for two to three weeks. After fermentation the wines are left on their lees for three weeks with regular 'batonnage', improving the aromas. The wines do not undergo malolactic fermentation so as to preserve their acidity. Finally, the wines undergo a period of cold stabilization prior | 123 |
I had my 1st ZYTO back in May with Myra from Oily Families.
Wait ZYTO… what is that you ask, well it's a little body communication device that is used by thousands of health professionals around the globe. You place your hand on the device and it scans your body to see which products could be beneficial for you to use. It takes the guessing out of which oils and supplements my body needs. It's pretty cool!
I was very excited to see what oils would come up on my profile. I zyto'ed for Fennel, Patchouli, Ginger, Citronella with 33 biomarkers out of range. It was fun to see what those oils are good for.
Fennel was my top oil bringing 17 biomarkers into range! What! Crazy! Oh wait this makes total sense, I am nursing and this oil is helpful in that department. Let's say I couldn't buy this one quick enough. I also should say that I didn't like the smell at first but it's growing on me. It's not bad but it's not my cup of tea. Oh wait, it may be good in a tea.
How to use: Possible skin sensitivity. If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician. Dilution not required; suitable for all but the most sensitive skin. Generally safe for children over 2 years of age.
Next was Patchouli and it would bring 7 biomarkers into range. Now at first I was like<|fim_middle|> don't feel good find out why, it could change your life! | , "No the scent my mom likes to burn???" Yep that's the one! I hated that smell growing up, and you know what, the essential oil smells nothing like that. I love it! I diffuse this in my house now and it smells wonderful!
Patchouli has an approximate ORAC of 494,271 (TE/L). TE/L is expressed as micromole Trolox equivalent per liter.
How to use: For dietary, aromatic, or topical use. When using as a supplement, dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid such as goat's or rice milk.
Now I didn't order Ginger and that was on accident. Somehow I keep forgetting to but this guy in my ER Order for 3 months now and I could have totally used this on our deep-sea fishing trip back in June. It would have brought 5 bio markers into range.
Ginger: (Zingiber officinale) has a warm, spicy fragrance that is energizing. Supportive of the digestive system, ginger is commonly used to soothe, comfort, and balance digestive discomfort.* It may also be used to enhance the flavor of foods.
I kinda wondered why I got this one, Citronella, but was excited to get it and smell it. The state bird in Alabama is the mosquito, oh wait that's not true but they are HUGE here and there's a lot of them, this oil was going to help with that this summer! Citronella would bring 2 bio markers into range.
Citronella: (Cymbopogon nardus) essential oil is popularly used as an insect deterrent. Traditionally it has also been used to prevent food spoilage due to fungus and bacteria. <— I didn't know that!
Dietary: Dilute one drop with V-6TM Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex or other vegetable oil (e.g., virgin coconut, olive, almond). Put in a capsule and take up to three times daily or as needed. Topical: Dilute one drop with V-6 or other vegetable oil; apply to desired area. Aromatic: Diffuse up to 30 minutes three times daily. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult a health- care practitioner prior to use.
Now after looking at my list of oils that my body needed, something stood out. These all had a little to do with digestive issues and I didn't think that I had a "problem" in that area because my experiences weren't as bad as some of my friends, but actually I was struggling in the digestive area.
Here is a word of advice, don't compare your health to others. If you | 566 |
A<|fim_middle|> in all, it was a very successful day and I really enjoyed seeing this lovely town for the first time. Big thanks to the organisers and patrons of the Borders Book Festival! | fantastic literary festival in the beautiful Scottish Borders.
I had the pleasure of spending last weekend in the rainy, but gorgeous surroundings of the Borders Book Festival. As you can see from the photo, the festival is held in lovely Harmony Gardens, overlooked by twelfth-century Melrose Abbey.
The Abbey is a stunning Gothic structure. It's extremely atmospheric, especially when the weather is overcast. The cemetery adds to the moodiness, with its crooked, weathered monuments. In contrast, Harmony Gardens are full of bright flowers and small sculptures sited in various nooks and crannies.
We were treated to a great lunch and refreshments in Harmony House, which served as a 'green room' for authors. Being in this historic house gave us a chance to gather our thoughts before an event, soak up the atmosphere, chat with other guests and decompress after our talks. One of the nicest aspects about book festivals is socialising with readers and with other writers. The Borders Book Festival was particularly sociable! I was really thrilled to meet David Mitchell, whose Cloud Atlas is one of my favourite novels, as well as John Byrne, and to catch up with one of the festival's ambassadors, Vivian French.
Here I am in my venue, decorated with bunting, getting set up for drawing with the audience. I am forever dragging around paper, art supplies and promotional materials and have a pretty good toolkit assembled now. We can draw pretty much anywhere! This event had a nice turnout and the children were fantastically imaginative. One of the best things about doing young people's events is the buzz that gets going when they are excited by ideas. Every child left with at least one great drawing and I got to read to them from The Blackhope Enigma.
All | 355 |
Harry Perler is an excellent Financial Advisor. He is always in contact with me to let me know how my investments are doing. Harry is always available to answer my questions, review my portfolio and make recommendations. Over and above, Harry provides seminars, appreciation dinners, golf tournaments and several other social events throughout the year. Harry builds relationships with his clients, which really shows he cares for them.
We are most satisfied with the advice and the services that we have received from the Perler Financial Group. Having worked with other financial consultants for many years previous to working with the Perler Financial Group, a feature of Perler's services that became immediately conspicuous and most refreshing for us was the ongoing personal attention we received.
Harry Perler has met with us repeatedly – even on short notice – in the privacy and comfort of our own home to go over our financial picture with us, to discuss our options and to lay out his recommended strategies for us in detail, in layman's terms that we can understand. The results to date have been most encouraging despite the current global economic uphe<|fim_middle|> after working for all these years the shoe appears to be on the other foot, our money finally appears to be working for us. I've said it before, I'll say it again . . . You're a wizard Harry!
My wife and I have been a client of Harry Perler's for many years. Harry displays a great deal of confidence in his investment advice and is never too busy to spend time with me to answer any questions I may have; he is always available.
As a team, Harry and the Perler staff are excellent and provide timely follow up. They pay attention to the customer, are personal and provide genuine service; they pay attention to the customer. Confidentiality is a high priority to all of them.
On a community level, Perler's involvements in the community and the leadership they demonstrate in fundraising is second to none.
Something that is very important to me, is when the time comes when myself or my spouse passes away, I take comfort in knowing that the surviving spouse will continue to receive great service and will continue to provide the quality of service mentioned.
I always feel comfortable in recommending Perler's service to anyone looking for a company they can trust. | aval.
We're quite pleased to see that | 9 |
Herbs for Memory Including Rosemary Sage Ginkgo & Others!
Home DIY Natural Blog Food Herbs for Memory: Rosemary Sage Ginkgo & Others!
Herbs for Memory: Rosemary Sage Ginkgo & Others!
The song we sing at<|fim_middle|> that can improve our overall cognitive function.
The same anthocyanins in blueberry that help protect our eyesight also appear to protect our brain function and improve memory. They appear to be neuroprotective in the way they prevent stress damage to our brains. Cognitive improvements are made with daily intake of blueberry in whatever form you choose.
The same antioxidant content that is well known for protecting our cardiovascular system appears to be protective for our memory and brain function in general. Keep in mind that there is a caffeine content to green tea, so it is my recommendation that you include other brain food in rotation with green tea consumption. Don't overdo it.
An ayurvedic herb that is somewhat of an adaptogenic tonic for the brain. It appears to reduce the effects of stress on this important part of the nervous system. It has been used to increase learning abilities and clear thinking.
This year I'm making an infused sugar to rim our New Year's cocktails and practice some "Auld Lang Syne"!
Choose your favorite granulated sugar and layer it and the dried rosemary in alternating layers in a sealable glass container. Put on the lid and leave to sit in a dark closet for 1-2 weeks. When you are ready to use the sugar, simply sift out the rosemary to separate and put the sugar into a permanent storage container.
To rim a glass, dip it into a small bit of alcohol and allow it to dry for about 10 seconds. Place your sugar on a flat plate and dip the rim of your, now tacky, glass into the plate. This should result in a beautiful glass with an extra kick that will help you remember the good of last year as you celebrate the new one!
Happy New Year! May you remember all the love and friendship of the year before into the new year to come. | the stroke of midnight on New Year's was written, or rather captured in time, by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. It appears that "Auld Lang Syne" was part of traditions that pre-dated the writing of the song. From the time of its writing, though, it has been associated with celebrations that took place at the turn of the year.
The song is really a question. Is it right that we should forget old acquaintances and times gone by? Throughout the song as we sing we are warning ourselves and others that while we now look ahead, we would do well to remember long standing friendships and fond times of the past.
The herb of remembrance! Rosemary has long been associated with memory and friendship. How appropriate for the new year. Rosemary tea is high in resins that are anti-inflammatory and protective of our brain function.
Studies have revealed a benefit from sage consumption associated with memory and mood. It has even been used clinically with alzheimer patients and shown great promise.
These two herbs are often found in combination in herbal supplements for memory. This is for good memory. They are both specialists at improving blood flow across the blood/brain barrier. When the cells in our brains receive proper blood flow, they are being washed with appropriate levels of oxygen and nutrition. You can imagine how much | 265 |
GRiZ made his triumphant<|fim_middle|> spring. Enjoy! | return to releasing music again just a couple of months ago with the drop of two awesome new singles "It Gets Better" and "Can't Get Enough". We knew more had to follow, and we can now finally confirm that we'll be seeing a lot of GRiZ in 2019.
First off, the TSIS favorite has officially announced his sixth studio album, Ride Waves, which is set to be released April 5th. We'll be getting 14 tracks, and we'll also be seeing some of the biggest features of GRiZ's career, with guest verses from Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, Bootsy Collins, and more.
Secondly, one of those 14 tracks has been released today, "I'm Good." This groovy new tune has everything we like about GRiZ in one place. Joyous melodies, soulful vocals, well-placed punches, and of course, that sweet sax. So far, the three tracks we've heard from Ride Waves are all sounding great, and we have a feeling this album is going to be huge.
If all that wasn't enough good news, GRiZ is embarking on a headlining tour in support of the album, hitting 19 different venues across North America starting in early March.
GRiZ is on a mission this year and we're pumped to hear what he's been working on. Below you can find the new single, "I'm Good," the tracklisting for the album, and tour dates for later this | 315 |
Q: jQuery: .load image, then fadeIn() fails when clicked twice! So I've got this .load setup for an image with a .fadeIn() callback, that works just fine. The problem is if I fire the .load twice in a row on the same image, it doesn't get to the callback!
Here's a snippet of the code:
$('#thumbs a').click( function() {
imageSrc = $(this).attr('href').substring(1)+'.jpg'; // grab src, remove hash, add jpeg extension
$('#viewer img').fadeOut('fast', function() { // fade old image out fast, wait until finished before changing src
$('#viewer img').attr('src', (mediumPath+imageSrc)); // change src to new image
$('#viewer a').attr('href', imageSrc);
});
$('#viewer img').load(function(){ // once image is loaded, fade the img back in
$('#viewer<|fim_middle|>, if img1.jpg is shown, and the thumb for that image is clicked, the current larger image fades out, and then fades back in again with no change. Just a tiny thing.
| img').fadeIn('slow');
});
return false;
});
And you can try it on my website (in progress) here. Just click on a thumbnail on the left twice in a row and the loader.gif doesn't go away, i.e. not getting to .fadeIn().
Note: I believe this is only affecting WebKit Browsers(?)
A: I have tested your site http://www.benjibee.com/ in Chrome (Webkit-based Browser, as far as I know), and have been unable to replicate the problem. Although it does take a little longer than in Firefox (but that may just be my computer).
A couple of suggestions/observations.
With your .click() based interactions, using the format:
.click( function( e ) {
e.preventDefault();
// Rest of your Javascript Code here...
} );
Will stop an anchor/link from performing as such, and can be evoked at the start of the jQuery processing, rather than waiting for the end to use return false.
You may also want to store in a javascript variable the details of the current image/link, and then check against that on subsequent clicks on the Thumbnails - as it stands | 238 |
Cafe Society
The future's looking brighter for restaurants at the Beauvallon
Laura Shunk January 26, 2011 4:00AM
In the five years since its completion in 2005, the Beauvallon has swallowed up a lot of restaurants.
The space at 975 Lincoln Street that now houses Japoix was originally<|fim_middle|>Instagram: @laurashunk
Grind Kitchen Is Closed, but There's Still Fried Chicken to Eat
Fellow Traveler, a Plant-Based Bar and Cafe, Opening January 21 in Englewood
Welton Street Cafe to Close March 12, Needs Community Support to Reopen in New Location
` }); } } ], "vars": { "placed": "5111478" } }); });
Mercantile Is Even Better Than Fruition, Reader Says
By Westword Staff
Is Denver Going to the Dogs?
By Patricia Calhoun
Denver Restaurant Week Starts Tomorrow | occupied by Moda Ristorante and Lounge, which developer Jim Sullivan turned into nine75 just a year later. Sullivan ultimately sold that restaurant to the Jet Entertainment group, which closed its version of nine75 in July 2009. Aqua Oyster Bar once held down the corner at the other end of the block, in a space that hasn't seen an occupant since Jay Chadrom, who owns Opal across the street, pulled the plug on Aqua in 2008.
Between those addresses were many more restaurants that came and went. The space at 925 Lincoln that today houses Se7en, another Asian fusion concept that opened last year, was previously home to Wholly Tomato, Marni's Steak & Seafood (for about a minute) and Mr. Coco's Bar & Grill (for not much longer). A few doors up, at 955 Lincoln, Dolce Vita, Deli Zone and Brandon's Pub all gave the Beauvallon a try, then bowed out. Aviano Coffee was the last joint to pick up and move out, heading to Cherry Creek North when the building's repair job became insufferable last year. (Brandon's had already reopened in Cherry Creek.)
Did the Beauvallon just attract a bunch of bad concepts, or was it cursed?
In part, the exodus was prompted by a $21 million lawsuit that the homeowners' association filed against Craig Nassi, developer of the opulent, stone-faced edifice: Just two years after the mixed-use space saw retailers, restaurateurs and homeowners move in, major construction defects began to show up. Condo owners began to bail soon after, followed by many of the retailers.
When the scaffolding and plastic finally went up in 2010 so the building could be repaired, it covered a complex whose ground floor was mostly empty; it looked like a shroud. But the promise that the work would soon be done, coupled with some very good lease deals, inspired a couple of brave restaurateurs to try the block again, and both Se7en and Japoix opened before the repairs were done.
Now that the Beauvallon has been unwrapped, with the sidewalks returned to pedestrians and parking once again possible in front, things are looking up. Better luck this time.
Laura Shunk was Westword's restaurant critic from 2010 to 2012; she's also been food editor at the Village Voice and a dining columnist in Beijing. Her toughest assignment had her drinking ten martinis and eating ten Caesar salads over the course of 48 hours. She still drinks martinis, but remains lukewarm on Caesar salads.
Contact: Laura Shunk
Twitter: @laurashunk
| 564 |
6 One-String Guitars Make Beautiful Music
By Brian Anthony Hernandez 2012-06-22 09:46:31 UTC
Doing strange things to guitars is totally<|fim_middle|> music video for "Summertime on my Mind" in which six dudes each play a one-string guitar.
"It's not that we aren't fans of a good singer in front of a camera singing; it is that we are trying to put some substance behind our videos," the clip's co-producer Greg Baroth of The Beehive tells Mashable. "Creativity helps keep things interesting."
SEE ALSO: 7 Pianists + 1 Piano = This Cover of Jay-Z and Kanye West's 'Paris'
The Beehive is a production company for independent artists and was the mastermind behind Isaac Simons's "Call to Arms" music video, which used fans' Draw Something artwork to visually represent the lyrics.
Topics: Entertainment, Music, music videos, Video, Videos, Culture, viral video, YouTube | in this year.
First, we had Walk Off the Earth's five band members all playing one guitar for their viral cover of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know."
And today, singer-songwriter Kelley James unleashed a | 47 |
Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson
29 years old from Cupertino, California
Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson was part of a four-man unit that was attacked June 28, 2005 in a wooded, mountainous area of Kunar province, which is along the Pakistani border. The commandos were on a reconnaissance mission when they were ambushed and called for help, said Lt. Taylor Clark, public affairs officer for Naval Special Forces Command. He was a member of the SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One, based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which trains with submersible vehicles. The Monta Vista High School graduate had earned a degree in political science at Chico State University and joined the Navy in 2000. He was awarded military honors, including the Silver Star and the Purple Heart.
Ray Garland, a neighbor who watched him grow up in their Cupertino neighborhood, said Axelson had been "a delightful, fun-loving young boy who loved riding his bike and going on skateboard ramps on our cul-de-sac."
Axelson grew into a young man who "had a very calm, unflappable personality ... who had the ability to defuse tension wherever he found it," Garland said. "He just had a very easy, comfortable, enjoyable way about him."
These brave men and women have given their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
If you have a loved who has served or is currently serving in the armed forces, and would like for me to profile them as a Wednesday Hero, I would be proud to. Just email me with some info and a photo.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look
Filed under Wednesday Heroes
Categories: United States Military, War On Terror, Wednesday Hero
Immigration Plan
Frenchmen With Balls
We Need A Fence
True Story From The<|fim_middle|>'s For Damn Sure
More On Saddam And al-Qeada
Classified Iraqi Documents
Dumb, Dumb, Dumb
Lesson Not Learned
And...?
The Left Was Duped, Again
Who Lied Now?
George Clooney's A Tool
Wild Weekend
The Myth Of The White Buffalo
Yemen Publisher Could Get Death
Rudy Wins
South Dakota Abortion Free
The Cost Of War
Saw & Saw II
Oscar bin Laden
Indian Chris Sells Out
Katrina Video 2
Right-Wing & Right Minded Poll
He Does It Again | Front Line
The Joys And Achievements Of Socialism
Illegals, Illegals Everywhere And Not A Cop In Sit...
L'enfer Non Nous n'Irons pas
Two For Two
Moussaoui Confesses
Love And Understanding
Illegal Welcome
I Triple Dog Dare You II
What Happened?: Update
Charlie Sheen Has Flipped His Lid
Saddam, bin Laden & The French
Hillary '08
The NY Times Strikes Out Again
Up To His Old Tricks
Indian Chris Say...
It's San Francisco. Who Would Have Guessed?
They Finally Smelled The Coffee
I'm Not a Liberal, That | 135 |
Bloomberg Hires Business Insider Executive Editor Joseph Weisenthal
Image: Youtube Bloomberg News
By Kari Paul 2014-10-21 21:51:14 UTC
Joe Weisenthal, the executive editor of Business Insider, is leaving the digital media publication he helped build.
Weisenthal<|fim_middle|>After 5 amazing years, tomorrow will be my last day at Business Insider.
— Joseph Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) October 21, 2014
Well known among the business and media circles on Twitter, Weisenthal gained a greater profile after a New York Times Magazine piece that detailed his 16-hour work days.
Weisenthal joins numerous other high-profile recruits including Josh Topolsky, who joined from The Verge, and Justin Smith, who left The Atlantic to take the position of CEO at Bloomberg Media.
"Bringing a multi-talented, digital leader like Joe to Bloomberg is a statement about what we are building here: a portfolio of high metabolism digital brands that live across TV, web, mobile, print, radio and live events – and comprehensively serve the global business and finance audience," Smith said in a press release.
In May, the company hired John Heilemann and Mark Halperin who are reportedly each paid more than $1 million a year.
Henry Blodget, Editor-In-Chief of Business Insider, announced the departure to company staff in a memo on Tuesday.
"We are sad to say goodbye to Joe, but we will always encourage our colleagues to pursue great opportunities, here and elsewhere, and this is an amazing one," Blodget said.
Weisenthal also tweeted his well wishes to Business Insider.
Anyway, I remain incredibly bullish on BI (a lot of my net worth is in BI stock) and I have no doubt it will thrive.
Here's the full internal memo:
I have some bittersweet news.
Joe Weisenthal will be leaving us this week to pursue an amazing opportunity at Bloomberg. Joe will be the host of a new financial TV show and the editor of a new markets and economics site that Bloomberg plans to launch next year.
Joe has contributed a huge amount to Business Insider in the past 6 years.
Joe joined us as a junior writer on our Finance section during the financial crisis. His talent, dedication, voice, news judgement, and unbridled enthusiasm for our medium quickly became apparent. As we grew, we eagerly gave Joe more and more responsibility, and for the last few years, he has helped lead the newsroom as Deputy Editor and Executive Editor. Over this period, our readership has quadrupled.
We are sad to say goodbye to Joe, but we will always encourage our colleagues to pursue great opportunities, here and elsewhere, and this is an amazing one. Happily, we also now have by far the strongest editorial team we have ever had.
Please join me in congratulating Joe. We wish him all the best.
Topics: Bloomberg, Business, business insider, Media | will join Bloomberg on Nov. 10, where he will launch a new business site and host a TV show. He had been with Business Insider for six years, helping to grow the company from relative obscurity into a destination that has disrupted the business media establishment.
Weisenthal commented on the move on his Twitter account.
| 66 |
'It Was a Confusion': The Shooting of David Ortiz
The attack on the MLB legend in the Dominican not only shocked his family and fans but also shed a light on Big Papi's relationship to his home and put him at the center of a wider national crisis.
Daniel CastroContributor IOctober 1, 2019
On the morning of June 9, Jhoel Lopez met up with his good friend David Ortiz at a barbershop in Santo Domingo, to give him back his sunglasses. Lopez, a well-known television host in the Dominican Republic, had interviewed the Red Sox legend on his show a few days before, and Ortiz had left them behind. It was a Sunday, and Ortiz planned on returning to the United States, where he lives most of the year, the next day. Lopez ended up spending the entire day with him. They had lunch and took Ortiz's kids to ride go-karts. That evening, they decided to go out for a drink, and Ortiz chose the Dial Bar and Lounge, which they visited whenever he was in town.
The chief draw of the Dial (pronounced "Dee-ahl"), located in a working-class residential area of Santo Domingo, is its terrace. It is a place where the capital's elite go to be seen. Baseball players, actors and reggaetoneros mingle with bankers and government officials at reserved tables. But that Sunday evening, the bar was abuzz when Lopez arrived with Big Papi, arguably the most famous man in the country. As suggested on a widely reported surveillance video, they sat at a table with four other men at the edge of the packed terrace, along the sidewalk. People stopped by again and again to greet them and take selfies. They had been at the Dial for about two hours when a man walked toward them from the sidewalk, stopped a few feet away and fired a single gunshot into Ortiz's back. It cut through him and hit Lopez in the thigh. The shooter tried to fire again, but the gun jammed. Ortiz fell to the ground, and the crowd on the terrace scattered.
Ortiz was rushed to a clinic by Eliezer Salvador, a businessman who was also at the Dial. Lopez was later taken to the same clinic. The bullet had just barely missed his femoral artery, but after treatment, he recovered more quickly than Ortiz, who had to have his gallbladder removed and part of his intestines repaired. Ortiz was then flown to Boston in an air ambulance provided by the Red Sox and underwent multiple surgeries at Massachusetts General Hospital. Over a month after the shooting, on July 27, he was released from the hospital. He returns to TV as a baseball analyst for Fox this week.
In late July, I traveled to the Dominican Republic to better understand Ortiz and the story behind the shooting. Few wanted to discuss it on the record, either out of respect for Ortiz or fear of those behind the attack. Some of my friends on the island were hesitant to meet with me. "I have kids," one said, in apology. But I found that the narrative of the shooting had become entwined not only with the country's international image, but how it saw itself.
Why would anyone want to shoot Big Papi, perhaps the country's most adored sports figure, a man some would describe to me as "bigger than the president"? How did it come to pass that the possible Hall of Famer found himself on the floor of a bar in his homeland, bleeding from a gunshot wound? In the aftermath of the shooting, it soon became clear that Ortiz's life in the Dominican had intersected with people who were part of a world in which the slightest misstep could put someone at risk.
Most Dominicans got their initial information about the shooting from social media, and in the weeks that followed, rumors about the possible motive caught fire.
A video of a shouting match between two women at the clinic where Ortiz was being treated went viral, and in a culture in which successful men are often expected to be tigueres (literally, tigers—figuratively, playboy-hustlers, a la Porfirio Rubirosa), a love triangle became the leading theory for the motive behind the shooting. Ortiz, who is married, had been seen in public with one of the women, Dominican model Maria Yeribell Martinez Garcia, and the Daily Mail reported Ortiz had bought her a Lexus. The ownership papers for the car in her name were published, as was a check signed by Ortiz. The papers, from a dealership called Delta Comercial, were dated June 8, a day before Ortiz was shot. The check, dated June 10, was made out to the same dealership, with a memo that translates to "vehicle purchase." Ortiz's spokesman later acknowledged Ortiz had been friends with the woman for several years but denied the alleged affair and the purchase of the car. In an interview with a Dominican media outlet, a person identifying herself as Martinez Garcia denied having a relationship with Ortiz but confirmed they were friends.
The third person in the alleged love triangle with Martinez and Ortiz was Cesar Emilio Peralta, aka Cesar El Abusador, a man identified by the U.S. Department of Treasury as a major drug trafficker in the Dominican, one of the top transit nations for cocaine shipments to the United States. He allegedly owned several of the most popular nightclubs in Santo Domingo, and he and Ortiz had once owned apartments in the same luxury apartment building. While one report citing anonymous law enforcement sources speculated that a drug kingpin had ordered the hit on Ortiz, another report stated it was Peralta who had targeted Ortiz over his involvement with Martinez. A video also showed Peralta visiting the clinic the night of the shooting.
The Dial Bar in Santo Domingo, where David Ortiz was shot in June while sitting near the sidewalk.Luis Gomez/Associated Press/Associated Press/Associated Press
The authorities' shifting versions of what happened only intensified the speculation. At first, police confirmed Ortiz was the intended target. When the suspected shooter, Rolfi Ferreira Cruz, was apprehended three days later, though, he told reporters he'd meant to shoot someone else. A spokesman for the prosecutor's office responded to Ferreira Cruz's admission by telling CNN he was skeptical that any Dominican would not be able to recognize Ortiz, adding that he felt Ferreira Cruz was fabricating a "story" to avoid being "lynched" in jail. But a few days later the attorney general announced at a press conference that, indeed, Ferreira Cruz was telling the truth about mistaking Ortiz for someone else. He described an elaborate murder-for-hire plot involving up to 15 people that had instead targeted Ortiz's friend, Sixto David Fernandez, who was sharing a table with him at the Dial that night. Ferreira Cruz had reportedly received only a blurry photo of Fernandez taken minutes before the shooting in which Fernandez's clothes appeared to look similar to Ortiz's that night. Fernandez was not harmed in the shooting.
In the Dominican, where the nightmarish regime of dictator Rafael Trujillo bred a deep distrust of authorities that has recently been fueled by highly publicized accusations of government corruption, many found it hard to buy that someone could mistake the 6'3", 250-pound Ortiz for Fernandez, who is much smaller and has lighter skin.
The shooting had come at a sensitive time for the country. President Danilo Medina (who threw out the first pitch at Ortiz's last regular-season game in 2016, in Boston) was seeking to amend the constitution to allow a run for a third term, prompting a phone call from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and a judge in the Dominican Republic would soon send six Dominican officials to trial for allegedly accepting millions in bribes for public works contracts in the massive Odebrecht scandal. An earlier spate of American tourist deaths and assaults at some resorts had thrown the tourism industry, which contributes 8 percent of the country's gross domestic product and employs over 300,000 people, into crisis. The Ortiz shooting was, Lopez said, "the straw that broke the camel's back" for the country and its image abroad.
The turbulent summer would culminate in a law enforcement dragnet that targeted Peralta and his network and was described as "the largest operation against organized crime ever in the country," according to officials quoted in a Washington Post report. The timing of the crackdown raised the question of whether the operation was somehow set in motion by the attack on Ortiz.
Regardless of the answer, the negative press was already having calamitous effects on the country's bottom line. Lopez was pressured by some after his release from the hospital to convince Ortiz, who at the time was still in treatment in the U.S., to give a statement affirming that the Dominican was a safe country. He declined, since his friend had not yet recovered. But Lopez posted an impassioned patriotic statement of his own on Instagram, promising "not to lose faith in our people, our country, our beloved Dominican blessed by God."
Lopez, who is friendly with President Medina and met with him after recovering, expressed confidence in the authorities. He said he was hurt by all the gossip about Ortiz and couldn't understand why anyone would want to sully the reputation of a man who had done so much to make their country proud. "I've taken this for what it is," Lopez told me. "We were victims of an incident that has nothing to do with us. We were at the place on the wrong day." When people around the city asked if he believed the authorities when they said his friend had not been targeted that night, he said: "Yes, because it's the official version. Do you have another?"
That depends on who you ask, and maybe more importantly, where you ask it.
"You know we are from the street," reads the caption of a photo Lopez posted with Ortiz on Instagram hours before the shooting. Ortiz is usually associated with Haina, a town outside Santo Domingo where he signed his first MLB contract, with the Mariners. But he spent a formative part of his childhood in Gualey, a poorer, more dangerous area in the heart of the capital, on a hill overlooking the Ozama River.
A view from the Francisco del Rosario Sanchez Bridge of the Gualey district in Santo Domingo, where Ortiz grew up for a time.Cole Barash for B/R
In the late 1980s, the barrio was wracked by political violence and protests over the regime of President Joaquin Balaguer, a Trujillo era holdover, who was known as the hemisphere's "last caudillo," or strongman. It also became a hotspot for the drug trade. In The Players' Tribune in 2015, Ortiz said that there were shootings "every single day" and that he saw people killed.
To this day, it remains a neighborhood that Uber drivers often refuse to enter. When I visited, to meet a few of Ortiz's childhood neighbors in the La Famosa sector, my driver left me far from my destination. But as I walked through the neighborhood, on a Sunday afternoon, what I found was a party. It was Father's Day in the Dominican Republic, and families sat in chairs on the street, sharing food and playing dominoes outside brightly painted cinder-block homes with barred windows. Bachata music blasted from speakers in the colmados, blends of bars and corner stores. Men sipped Presidentes in the summer heat.
At the home of Patricio Flores, Ortiz's former neighbors described how the star's father, Leo, a mechanic whom they all respected, had always tried to keep his son out of trouble. "His dad didn't like to see him on the street," said Flores, a welder in his 40s.
Ortiz's nickname back then was Puntu, on account of his large, pointy head, which, according to Flores, would regularly break through his baseball caps. When they played vitilla, the Dominican version of stickball—with a broomstick for a bat and the cap of a water jug for a ball—people from all over the barrio would come to watch Ortiz hit. But if he heard what sounded like his dad's motorbike coming up the hill, he would immediately run home. Leo wanted his son to practice, Flores said, but only in the backyard.
They remembered Ortiz as a sensitive, generous boy who cried easily and would often buy them breakfast at the local bakery. They couldn't recall a single time he got into trouble. But he was competitive and would win at everything, even marbles. Many in their circle had dreamed of baseball stardom, but in their early teens, Ortiz was the one who began to separate from the pack. Flores had also been talented—he proudly proclaims he still gets calls to play on weekends—but, unlike Ortiz, his parents didn't sign him up for the local league. "[Ortiz] was luckier than you," said Ramon Martinez, an older man nicknamed Pijama who was friends with Ortiz's mother and had watched him grow up.
After the shooting, Flores said he couldn't sleep. Among their old crew, he had been the closest to Ortiz (he'd fondly recalled Papi, in his Twins days, bringing him one of Paul Molitor's bats), but they had fallen out of touch, and Flores didn't know how to reach him. Edickson Navarro, another of Ortiz's old friends, said he was still angry about the attack. "David is part of us," Ramon Martinez added. "It hurt us." When I asked his old neighbors what they thought had happened, Navarro initially replied, "It was out of envy," before correcting himself and saying, "or, as the authorities said, it was a confusion." They rejected all the whispers that Ortiz could be involved in something scandalous. "A person at that level isn't going to get mixed up in trouble," Navarro said. "He doesn't need to."
We took a walk and stopped in front of Ortiz's childhood home, a modest white duplex around the corner. The last time anyone around here had seen him was in 2013, when he came to give out toys to the children of Gualey. He stood in the middle of the street, chatting and posing for pictures with the crowd that formed around him. "Why do I need security here?" Flores said Ortiz told him. "Look how people treat me."
Ortiz's childhood home in Gualey, Santo Domingo, carries memories of the Ortiz family for some neighbors who still live there.Cole Barash for B/R
Haina, the seaside town where Ortiz's family moved when he was an adolescent, is a world away from Gualey. The streets are wider, many residents own their homes and there is far less crime. The pastel-colored houses double as storefronts with painted signs for salons, colmados, even lingerie shops.
When I reached the heart of Invi Cea, Ortiz's old neighborhood, children were playing in a tree-lined plaza. Nearby, Jose Pinales sat outside his barbershop, Colita Peluqueria, which faces the plaza and is a popular gathering spot. Pinales told me he has known Ortiz for more than 25 years and had spoken to Ortiz's sister often since the attack. His replies were clipped, especially in reference to the shooting. "It was a confusion," he said.
David is part of us. [His shooting] hurt us.
— Former Ortiz family neighbor<|fim_middle|>icker, had been his neighbor and that he'd met him a few times. "For Cesar, I was an idol," he said. He added that the Dominican Republic was a beautiful country with incredible opportunities for tourism and that he didn't blame the country for what had happened to him.
Ortiz has hired former Boston police commissioner, and now-private detective, Ed Davis and his team to investigate the shooting and provide personal security. Baerlein didn't say if Davis' hiring was an indication that Ortiz disbelieved the Dominican authorities, stating only that Ortiz was anxious to find out who was behind the shooting and why, and that he wanted to gather as much information as possible in addition to whatever the Dominican authorities have found. Since the investigation is ongoing, Baerlein didn't provide details of Davis' findings but said that, going forward, the arrest of Luis Alfredo Rivas Clase, aka The Surgeon—the only suspect who has not been caught—could shed further light on the case.
I don't do an investigation of people that come up to me.
—David Ortiz to his spokesperson Joe Baerlein
In late August, Dominican law enforcement conducted a massive operation targeting Peralta and suspected members of his drug-trafficking and money-laundering network, including two former MLB players, Octavio Dotel and Luis Castillo, who were cleared of charges. Police raided restaurants, malls and several nightclubs connected to Peralta. They also raided his building, Naco Blue Tower, where Ortiz previously had an apartment. Officials from the DEA and FBI participated in the investigation.
In all, 19 people reportedly were implicated in the drug sting, according to the Dominican attorney general, though Peralta remains at large. Pou, the security expert, believed that whether or not Peralta was involved in the Ortiz shooting, all the media attention directed toward him had played a role in the operation against the kingpin. To allow Peralta to continue to operate, Pou added, may have made it seem that Peralta had the tacit approval of the Dominican authorities.
Before the shooting, Peralta had run his empire with impunity. "Dominican authorities were totally indifferent to Cesar Emilio Peralta's operations and perhaps even consented," Pou said. Peralta had been arrested twice before on drug trafficking charges, but neither case made it to the prosecutor's office. Pou believed the decision to move on Peralta's network was one made not by the Dominicans, but by U.S. authorities after the Ortiz shooting. Though there was nothing explicit linking the shooting to the raid, the timing fed the suspicion that the attack had somehow accelerated the investigation leading to the raid.
"You'd have to be very naive to disconnect one thing from the other," Melo, the former prosecutor, said.
One of the alleged members of Peralta's drug ring, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is a man named Natanael Castro Cordero. On his Instagram feed, photos showed him and Ortiz posing together at a beach resort, a luxury tower and even hanging backstage with reggaeton artist Bad Bunny. Through his spokesman, Ortiz responded to the photos by saying that Castro Cordero, whose name he was previously unaware of, was in charge of security at several clubs and often posted photos with celebrities on Instagram. Beyond loose connections like these, no one can point to any hard evidence that Ortiz had relationships with members of organized crime or the drug trade. Yet the photos helped explain the perception I encountered, even from fans such as Mateo in Herrera, that Papi wasn't just casually familiar with narcos like Peralta, but in their orbit, part of their world.
Around the same time Peralta's network was being targeted, Ortiz began appearing in public again. He dropped his daughter off at college and traveled to France with his wife, Tiffany, and John Henry, a Red Sox owner, and his wife, Linda. On September 9, visibly slimmer than before the shooting and after multiple operations, Ortiz threw out a ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park before the series finale between the Red Sox and Yankees. The crowd gave him a standing ovation, and the brief speech he made afterward drew further applause. "I want to thank God for giving me a second opportunity in my life to be here with all of you," he said.
After undergoing multiple surgeries this summer after being shot in June, Ortiz returned to Fenway Park to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in early September.Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
Similarly, back in Gualey, the love for Papi seemed only to have grown since the shooting. His former neighbor Patricio Flores told me that the last time Ortiz visited the barrio, in 2013, he promised to return soon, play vitilla with the kids and maybe cook a big batch of chicken and rice for the whole block. Flores still hoped it would happen. He told me he wanted to help train Ortiz's son in baseball and asked if I could relay the message. "David es mio," he said. Castro Cordero, the alleged drug trafficker, had captioned one of his photos with Ortiz with the same phrase. Lopez, the TV host, had also used it, as a caption for the selfie he'd taken with Papi the night of the shooting. He's mine. In the Dominican, though, it's closer to, "I carry him with me," or, as Flores meant it, touching his chest, "He's in my heart."
Some of his countrymen believe it will take decades to uncover the real story behind the shooting. Others don't think the full truth will ever be revealed, either about the perpetrators or about Ortiz and his relationships, because there are too many powerful people involved. Whatever the outcome of the trials, which will begin sometime next year, it doesn't seem like he'll return to Gualey—or the Dominican—anytime soon. His annual golf tournament on the island, which supports the pediatric cardiovascular unit he funded, has been moved to Miami. "He is going to be much more careful in his life moving forward," his spokesman said.
Daniel Castro is a writer based in Mexico City. His work has been published in Harper's, Salon, and the Miami Herald.
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He expressed admiration for Ortiz and said the baseball star was a great representative of the country, but he didn't hesitate when I asked if Papi visited the neighborhood often. "No," he said. "To be honest, no." He said he understood that Ortiz's life had changed. "He'd like to come and hang out more, but his life doesn't permit it. And I understand that perfectly."
Papi's charisma, considerable charitable efforts (through his foundation, he helped open the country's first pediatric cardiovascular unit) and accessibility have given him a special place in the hearts of Dominicans, more so than other baseball legends. "Even at his level, you could find him on the street, interacting with people," Navarro had told me in Gualey. It was a refrain heard often in his native city: Ortiz, who has racked up a reported $160 million in MLB earnings, felt most comfortable in the barrios, with his people, and that's why it was no surprise he'd been sitting at a sidewalk table without security that night at the Dial.
Yet while those in Gualey and Haina revere him, they also admit he rarely visits.
Ortiz lives mostly in Miami, and the luxury apartment he owned in Naco Blue Tower, the same building where Peralta lived, was in one of the most exclusive areas of Santo Domingo. There's no question he's given back tremendously, but his ties to the barrios he'd grown up in didn't seem especially strong.
Still, out of all the Dominicans I spoke to, the only ones who said they believed the authorities, aside from Jhoel Lopez, were Ortiz's former neighbors. To most, it wasn't merely the outlandishness of someone not recognizing Papi (an official I spoke to at the prosecutor's office argued Ferreira Cruz was possibly on drugs, but the police had shown no evidence of this, and a man who'd seen him minutes after the shooting told me Ferreira Cruz seemed terrified but sober); it was also Dominicans' lack of trust in the authorities, whom they viewed as corrupt. The attorney general has been accused by critics of shielding political allies from prosecution in the Odebrecht case. The national police commissioner had once been sanctioned for an illegal raid that had resulted in a death and the disappearance of over $1 million. And now these same officials were the public faces of an explanation of the attack that, for many, didn't add up.
In addition to Ferreira Cruz, 13 other people were taken into custody in connection with the shooting, and the reported total for the cost of the job was $30,000. The man allegedly behind the plot, according to Dominican authorities, was not Peralta, but a drug trafficker wanted by the DEA named Victor Hugo Gomez Vasquez. He supposedly targeted Fernandez, his cousin, because he suspected Fernandez provided information to police that led to Gomez Vasquez's arrest in 2011. Further tangling the web, it was later reported in the Dominican press that Fernandez had been on the payroll of the national police since 2015.
Fourteen people were arrested in connection with the Ortiz shooting, though many in Santo Domingo were skeptical of the authorities' version of what happened.Tatiana Fernandez/Associated Press
The conclusion that Fernandez was the target had failed to convince Daniel Pou, a security expert who had trained Dominican police officers for 15 years. Pou said the investigation, which lasted less than two weeks before the attorney general announced Fernandez was the target, had not been sufficiently deep and effective. "The [authorities'] explanation is too simple and cheap for the possible complexity of the causes behind the attempt," he explained. Pou mentioned there were photos of Ortiz circulating on social media that showed him hanging out with people linked to organized crime, and said investigators had not fully probed those relationships, possibly under pressure to protect Ortiz's image.
In a video on social media that was later deleted, Peralta, the drug trafficker, called Ortiz a friend. Pou acknowledged that people like Peralta often seek out celebrities to promote lawful businesses and make those involved in criminal activity seem like legitimate businessmen. But even if Ortiz had not been close to Peralta, Pou explained that in the drug traffickers' world, even minimal contact could lead to danger. "This is going to raise a lot of questions about Ortiz," he said.
For Fabian Melo, the former head of anti-narcotics at the Santo Domingo DA's office and a respected law professor, the authorities' version went against all criminal logic. He wondered why Gomez Vasquez would target his cousin so many years later, in such a public way. Fernandez was not a hard man to locate. He owned an auto repair shop, and if someone wanted to kill him, they could've found him there, with much less fanfare, any day of the week.
The Dial, on the other hand, was not only popular but also relatively secure. Government officials who frequented the bar were often accompanied by their bodyguards, who, on the night of the shooting, included active military members. He said criminals always send a message and that the spectacle of the crime had to be considered. "My perception as to the motive is a bit different," he said. "This was directed at David Ortiz."
Due to the high-profile nature of the case, the authorities were under pressure to produce a hypothesis, Melo said; society was clamoring for it. "Now, if it's a conscious act by the authorities to change A to B to satisfy society, then this is something serious," Melo said. "If they have proof that it was targeting Ortiz, then it's something very sensitive."
The [authorities'] explanation is too simple and cheap for the possible complexity of the causes behind the attempt.
— Daniel Pou, security expert
I asked him, if that were the case, why would the state risk creating an even bigger scandal by offering a false narrative of the shooting? He said there were several elements to consider. There was a Hall of Fame bid in play. But more importantly, there was the damage a crime like this could inflict on the "vulnerable areas of tourism." If a man as beloved as Big Papi could be the target of a murder attempt in the Dominican, it would seem that anyone could. And any negative press would be another blow to the country's image, especially in the eyes of Americans—both the sportswriters who vote on Hall of Fame ballots and the tourists who make up nearly 65 percent of its visitors. The idea that the shooting was a mistake, that he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, was more palatable.
Even though recent homicide rates in the Dominican Republic are lower than other popular vacation destinations, such as Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, flights from the U.S. mainland were down by 74 percent in July and August compared to last year. Tourism is so important to the country that the tourism minister suggested to the New York Times that the bad press could be a conspiracy to destabilize the president's ruling party. Given the stakes for the country's image, I asked Melo, who spent seven years as a government prosecutor, if he thought law enforcement officials were truly capable of a cover-up. "I see it as a real possibility," he said.
Colonel Frank Felix Duran Mejia, the spokesman of the Dominican National Police, said the investigation of the shooting was quick but transparent, and that it is among the investigations he has felt most confident in defending to the public. He said all the suspects in custody had, to some degree, admitted their culpability, and that the evidence would be revealed during their trials. In August, the Boston Globe reported that Colonel Duran Mejia is one of three high-ranking Dominican officials on MLB's payroll as a resident security agent, reporting to commissioner Rob Manfred and responsible for the safety of MLB players, scouts and prospects in the Dominican, but the report found no evidence that MLB had improperly influenced Duran Mejia on the Ortiz investigation.
But why would Ortiz be a target in the first place? Those who believed he had been said it was more about where he hung out and who he interacted with. Melo said many former baseball stars in the Dominican Republic have trouble finding their place in society. He suspected that the same quality others praised in Ortiz—his propensity to interact with people of all kinds in various social settings—had led to his rubbing shoulders with a dangerous crowd. He cited Ortiz's opening of a nightclub, Forty Forty (Jay-Z, who had opened the 40/40 Club in Manhattan not long before, later sued Ortiz over the name, and they settled out of court in 2011), in the Herrera district, an area west of Santo Domingo where narcos were known to operate. "Everyone here knows that there are areas that criminal groups have taken control over," he told me. "You have to know them in order to navigate them." Often, Melo said, nightclubs are used by drug traffickers as fronts for money laundering, and no matter how legitimate any club is, to get involved in that commercial niche in a place like Herrera would likely mean competing with criminal groups for business or, at the very least, asking for their permission to operate.
The facade of the Forty Four club that Ortiz owned in Santo Domingo for two years.Cole Barash for B/R
A few days later, I visited Herrera with a man I'll call Mateo, to protect his identity, who grew up there and was familiar with the nation's booming cocaine trade. He spent three years in prison on a drug charge himself, though he said it was a misunderstanding. We drove slowly through the narrow back streets of the Las Palmas neighborhood, not far from the club, which Ortiz sold three years ago. Coincidentally, five of the suspects police had arrested in connection with the shooting came from Guajimia, a barrio nearby. On a street of modest homes with aluminum roofs, Mateo pointed out a conspicuously large house with a sprawling balcony. It had belonged to Edwin Omar Cabrera Gonzalez, aka El Muerto de Herrera, a drug kingpin who was known throughout the country. El Muerto was gunned down in 2013, but he and his family—one picture in a Dominican newspaper, Listin Diario, showed his grandmother, in an apron and sunglasses, holding two pistols in the air—had near total control of the area in the years Ortiz owned the club.
After exiting Buenos Aires, a nearby neighborhood that is also known as a market for drugs, we turned left. A block away, tucked behind a gas station that Ortiz had also owned, was the club. The hulking, sleek building, surrounded by palm trees, stood in stark contrast to the body shops and used-tire lots otherwise lining the avenue. Still popular, the club has been renamed Forty Four, probably thanks to Jay-Z. Mateo recalled when it was being constructed.
"It was a monstrosity," he told me. "It was beautiful." A fever took over the neighborhood when people heard Ortiz was involved. Opening night was extravagant as celebrities descended on the area, and on the weekends that followed, locals would walk to the parking lot just to take pictures of the sports cars.
Many soon found out that while Ortiz was from the barrios, the club was out of reach for those who lived in them. "They looked at how you were dressed," Mateo said. "Poor people couldn't go in." As for himself, he could afford a few overpriced beers back then and partied at the club sometimes. He liked the vibe but never hung around for long. "I would end up in another club," he said, laughing. "Because it was too expensive to stay there." He saw Ortiz there on multiple occasions, especially in the winter, and even spoke to him once. To his recollection, the club was full of baseball players, entertainers and drug traffickers. "The narcos, the famous capos … who sell their stuff, to be seen makes it easier. To make themselves known at the club, to show that they owned the neighborhood."
Mateo acknowledged that narcos party all over Santo Domingo, and just because they frequented a certain club doesn't necessarily imply a connection with its owner. Yet he still found it hard to understand why Ortiz would even consider opening a club like that in an area like Herrera. "It was strange … in a barrio, a club that expensive." When I asked him what he really thought about Ortiz, he acknowledged he wasn't that into baseball, but he was a big fan of Papi's. "For me, he's the best." He had a friend whose daughter had received treatment through Ortiz's foundation. "You can see he's not a person who does bad things." But there was a lot he didn't understand, he said. "He was around people who are not so great."
The former home of Edwin Omar Cabrera Gonzalez, a drug kingpin who controlled much of the Herrera neighborhood before he was killed in 2013.Cole Barash for B/R
Ortiz was not available for an interview with Bleacher Report, but Joe Baerlein, his spokesman, told me Ortiz had initially bought the gas station as an investment, and it was his father's and sister's idea to build a club on the property. Since Ortiz spent most of the year playing baseball, they were in charge of running it, but Ortiz could not recall any conflicts related to the club's operation, which lasted only two years. Baerlein also explained that for Ortiz, Herrera didn't seem like an excessively violent or unfamiliar place to open a nightclub, since he had grown up around "bullets and drugs." Baerlein added that when Ortiz achieved fame and fortune, many people in the Dominican tried to get close to him, and because of his friendly nature, he may have crossed paths with some who sought his friendship for the wrong reasons. "I don't do an investigation of people that come up to me," Baerlein said Ortiz told him.
In his first interview since recovering from the shooting, with Univision, Ortiz said he has no enemies but acknowledged that Peralta, the drug traff | 2,952 |
Heavy Rain – PlayStation 3 Review
August 2nd, 2012 Pierre-Yves Uncategorized comments
by Pierre-Yves
on August 2nd, 2012
Current manager and site administrator for Chalgyr's Game Room, I also review titles on the PS4, XB1, PC, Nintendo Switch and the handhelds.
Tagsblog, Heavy Rain, Interactive Movie, ps3, PS3 Review, Quantic<|fim_middle|> Origin - PS4 Review
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I read about this game long before ever giving it a try. As someone who had kept up on the reviews and trailers, I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting into. Quantic Dream thanks you for supporting Interactive Drama, and that is a good way of phrasing it as Heavy Rain has just enough elements to classify it as a game, while truthfully being more of an experience than a contest of you versus console.
The game starts out slowly – very slowly, I will admit. I had a tough time getting into it, having tried to get through the intro over a few different nights, but just finding the storyline and the somewhat unwieldy control scheme to be more boring than I had expected.
Throughout the game you take control of a specific character. The movement scheme sort of bugs me in that you point your character in a direction and hold a specific button to make him walk forward. This rather odd, tank-like control scheme for basic movement harkens back to the annoying days of Silent Hill and Resident evil where you feel slow and clumsy more often than not. However, there is a lot more to the game's controls than this as you use your controller in a variety of ways to interact with your environment as well as completing tasks. How you go about completing these, and the decisions you make along the way, shape a story that really finds its stride after the first hour or so and becomes one of the more memorable endings I can recall in gaming.
Graphics – 8:
When Heavy Rain came out, it possessed arguably the best character models I had seen to date. A couple of years have passed and other games have caught up since, but for the most part it all looks really sharp. I never had problems with slowdown, or characters who tore fragments through environmental walls, things like that. I was also impressed with the use of reflections in things like mirrors. I have read several articles in the past about how a lot of graphics engines do not handle reflection well (one developer even went so far as to say that is the reason a lot of mirrors in games are busted out or at angles where you wouldn't be able to 'see' a reflection).
Sound & Music – 9:
The voice acting was really solid overall, and that is a big deal. Sound and graphics are probably more important in a game like this than others, because your level of immersion really dictates whether a title like this is a success or not. There is a ton of spoken dialog here, and the principle actors do an excellent job of delivering their lines. The music also deserves some note as there are a lot of times the music is used to excellent effect to underscore moments of tension.
Controls – 7:
I touched on these above. The movement controls really should have been better. That said, the controls for interacting with your environment and completing puzzles and tasks are usually very good. This is where the game element comes into play, because while much of the time you are simply walking around, watching the story unfold and sometimes given some choices in how to talk to someone or interact with something, many of Heavy Rain's more impactful moments come in the form of these mini-games where you have to input commands in a certain way in order to succeed, and most of the time these work very well.
Intangibles – 8:
The game itself is not terribly long – I beat it in nine or ten hours. However, there is a high amount of replay value to be had here. There are several different endings and the chapters can branch out in a variety of ways depending on your choices and how you perform during the event phases. The game will continue on, even should you fail a task (and maybe even getting a primary character killed) – and the storyline is affected accordingly.
Overall – 8:
I am not going to lie – I almost gave up on this game during the first hour or so. The story elements were dull, the controls were not terribly intuitive and there was this odd feeling that I just was not accomplishing anything. However, once you get past that initial learning curve, the dark story becomes far more interesting and you really start to care about the characters during this adventure of theirs. It is a very different kind of gaming experience, but it is one that I wound up enjoying quite a bit by the time I was done.
As an aside? Not recommended for kids. There are a lot of games out there that are rated 'M' that are probably borderline depending on the age/maturity of the child. Heavy Rain sports a fair amount of blood and violence, nudity and sexual content and was one I told my son 'no' to when he asked about playing it.
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You can use the Peek Definition command to view and edit code without switching away from the code that you're writing. Peek Definition and Go To Definition show the same information, but Peek Definition shows it in a pop-up window, and Go To Definition shows the code in a separate code window. Go To Definition causes your context (that is, the active code window, current line, and cursor position) to switch to the definition code window. By using Peek Definition, you can view and edit the definition and move around inside the definition file while keeping your place in the original code file.
You can use Peek Definition with C#, Visual Basic, and C++ code. In Visual Basic, Peek Definition shows a link to the Object Browser for symbols that don't<|fim_middle|> its definition.
When you start to edit inside a Peek Definition window, the file that you're modifying automatically opens as a separate tab in the code editor and reflects the changes that you've already made. You can continue to make, undo, and save changes in the Peek Definition window, and the tab will continue to reflect those changes. Even if you close the window without saving your changes, you can make, undo, and save more changes in the tab, picking up exactly where you left off in the window.
You can also use the same keyboard shortcuts to edit code in a Peek Definition window as you use elsewhere in Visual Studio. | have definition metadata (for example, .NET Framework types that are built in).
You can't use this command in any Express version of Visual Studio 2013.
The definition window appears below the printer.Print("Hello World!") line in the original file. The window doesn't hide any of the code in your original file. The lines that follow the printer.Print("Hello World!") call appear under the definition window.
You can move the cursor to different locations in the code definition window. You can still move around in the original code window above or below the definition window.
You can copy a string from the definition window and paste it in the original code. You can also drag and drop the string from the definition window to the original code without deleting it from the definition window.
You can close the definition window by choosing the Esc key or the Close button on the definition window tab.
If you already have a Peek Definition window open, you can call Peek Definition again on the code in that window. Another definition window opens. A set of breadcrumb dots appears next to the definition window tab, which you can use to navigate between definition windows. The tooltip on each dot shows the file name and path of the definition file that the dot represents.
If you use Peek Definition on code that has more than one definition (for example, partial classes), a result list appears to the right of the code definition view. You can choose any result in the list to display | 292 |
I love eating vegetables. I love drinking vegetable juice. I love smoothies with vegetables. I love shopping for vegetables at the farmers market. I love growing vegetables. I FRIGGIN' LOVE VEGETABLES! And…I'm a mom of two teenage boys who until relatively recently hated most vegetables. This seemed really unfair to me. I took it personally. And felt like I had somehow failed as a mom.
I mean, come on, this is a big part of my life and I was unable to share it with my kids. Over the years, I would talk to other moms whose kids ate vegetables and<|fim_middle|>ates me. Well, clearly, I write a blog about it. Seriously, I love how I introduce some new thing about food into my life and then it leads to something else. Or I meet someone or go somewhere and learn something completely new.
Eating an amazing meal in Boulder, CO inspired me to transition to vegetarian eating. Reading the World Peace Diet during my yoga teacher training affirmed my commitment to a vegan lifestyle. My first macrobiotic meals, at Casa de Luz in Austin and Green Vegetarian Cuisine in San Antonio, felt life changing too.
Although, I've only had a few macrobiotic meals so far, I love the way they make me feel. Balanced. Energized. Vibrant. Healthy. There is something to it and I want to learn more. | pretty much whatever was served for dinner. I'd hear things like: "I'm not a short-order cook," or "They have to at least try a tasting portion." Well, this never, I mean never, worked in my house. It always lead to drama at the dinner table which took all of the fun out of our family dinner. I want that time to be one where we share and laugh and connect…not a time to argue, fight or negotiate.
Food fascin | 98 |
Andrew Kocher and Zantos II Bring Home Blue in $50,000 Grand Prix of Williamsburg CSI2* at Great Lakes Equestrian Festival
Jill Donaldson and Troubadour Capture Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship
Andrew Kocher and Zantos II won Sunday's $50,000 Grand Prix of Williamsburg CSI2* to wrap-up Week Five at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival.
Traverse City, Mich. – Aug. 14, 2016 – Week Five's feature event at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival (GLEF), the $50,000 Grand Prix of Williamsburg CSI2*, went to Andrew Kocher (USA) and brand new mount Zantos II. With only having ridden and competed the 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding for less than a month, the pair is already showing signs of a strong partnership with great potential for the future after Sunday's win.
Kocher owns Zantos II along with friends Bob and Robin Mulkey. The gelding was recently imported from England and was previously ridden by British international show jumpers Robert and Louise Whitaker as well as their father and two-time Olympian (including the 2016 Rio Olympic Games), John Whitaker.
"He's the grumpiest horse in the world in the stall," said Kocher. "Out of the stall, he's perfect – a 10-year-old kid could lead him around, he's the sweetest horse. To ride, he's got a lot of jump, he's ultra careful, he's really fast and he's really strong. He walk, trot, canters perfect, a little kid or anyone could ride him around, but then you aim him at a jump and he's totally electric. He's really strong, but I just kind of try to let him loose. If I want to make space, I just move him to the sides."
Although Kocher and Zantos II are still very new to each other, they've already claimed a few top placings including winning the $15,000 Modified Grand Prix CSI3* at International Bromont in July and, most recently, placing third in the $35,000 Open Welcome CSI2*at the Caledon Equestrian Park's Summer Festival CSI2* on Aug. 4.
Since then, the duo decided to travel to Traverse City to test their luck at the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival and came out on top over a field of 20 in Sunday's grand prix.
Andrew Kocher and Zantos II
"In this class today, I thought anyone could've won," said Kocher. "It wasn't too predictable. The course was built at a nice size. For a $50,000 FEI class, I thought it was pretty spot-on. The course walked perfectly. There weren't any dicey lines; I thought it was straightforward."
Only eight were invited to return to the jump-off after producing clear efforts around Michel Vaillancourt's first round course.
Samuel Parot (CHI) and his own Cous Cous Van Orti were the early double clear pathfinders in the jump-off, setting the time to beat at 34.760 seconds.
Three rounds later, Darragh Kerins (IRL) and Ilan, owned by Maarten Huygens, finished double clear, but were four seconds off the pace to put them behind Parot in 38.370 seconds.
Next up was Kocher and Zantos II. After watching the first few rounds of the jump-off, Kocher opted to take a sharp and risky inside turn to a vertical, shaving one tenth of a second off Parot's time in 34.680 seconds to take over the lead.
Michael Morrissey (USA) and QBS Equestrian LLC's Chance Ste Hermelle decided to take the same inside turn as Kocher in an attempt to catch his time but was just two seconds too slow in 36.210 seconds, putting him in third, behind Parot, in the standings.
Samuel Parot and Cous Cous Van Orti
Parot had one last shot to beat Kocher with his second mount of the jump-off, his own Dazzle White. The pair finished in the fastest time in 32.780 seconds, beating Kocher's time by two seconds, but collected an unfortunate 8 faults to place fifth overall with the 8-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood gelding, while also finishing in second place aboard Cous Cous Van Orti, a 14-year-old Belgium Warmblood gelding.
"[Dazzle White] is a special horse," said Parot. "He won the grand prix in Tryon in July. The<|fim_middle|>ived with the program, as well as the attention the grooms and fellow barn mates are known shower on him.
"He loves attention, and he will do anything to get it," Donaldson described. "He is just a fun horse. He loves to work every single day. I arrive, his ears are up and he is ready to go. The courses were great this week-straightforward and the ring was nice and big, which was great for him. Everything was done just beautifully, I really love coming to this show."
Alliy Moyer and Carlson
Donaldson sealed the championship with three second place finishes over fences, as well as the first place under saddle. Alliy Moyer and Carlson took the lead on the opening day with two first place finishes, and narrowly missed the championship tricolor, claiming the reserve.
It was Kendall Meijer and Breckenridge who captured the $1,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic victory. Meijer rode to the first round score of 85 points, and then returned to duplicate her effort for a solid second round score of 83 points. She captured the win aboard Breckenridge with a cumulative score of 168 points.
"He was so good," Meijer said. "He went in there more relaxed than usual, and he always jumps a 10. I just kept him straight, and he performed great. He tries so hard, and he just wants to please you. We have taken our time with him, and he is perfect in the Amateur-Owner Hunters. He has a huge stride, and there is never a problem getting down the lines."
Meijer rides with Cathy and Hillary Johnson of Meadowview Farm, thriving to stay consistent in her riding so she can stay competitive in the Amateur-Owner and Adult Hunter divisions.
Kendall Meijer and Breckenridge
"I ride as much as I can," Meijer explained. "I try to go out to the barn as many days in a week as I can, so that I can stay consistent and so that the horses can do what I know they can do."
Donaldson picked up the second place behind Meijer, falling just shy of the win with scores of 83 and 76 points for a 159-point total. Laura Obermeyer and Samwise rounded out the top three with 150 points.
Meijer concluded, "I love it here. This is my favorite show. I don't think that there is any place better to spend the summer than in Northern Michigan. The management has done a great job. I have been coming here 8 years, and I love it."
Kendall Meijer and Breckenridge won the $1,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic.
Series Two kicked off on Aug. 10 and will run through Aug. 28, featuring three weeks of hunter and jumper competition with a FEI CSI2* rating Week Five and Six and a FEI CSI3* rating during Week Seven, culminating in the $100,000 Grand Traverse Grand Prix CSI3* on Sunday, Aug. 28. Hunter highlights include the Glory Days Farm, LLC USHJA National Hunter Derby, which will take place each Sunday through the end of the second series.
Tags: Amateur-Owner Hunter Championship Andrew Kocher Grand Prix of Williamsburg CSI2* Great Lakes Equestrian Festival Jill Donaldson Samuel Parot
← Packed stadium as Brazil and Germany dominate Olympic Jumping opener
Caroline Passarelli Captures U.S. Pony Medal Finals Championship Title → | first day during the big class, he had one down, but was very fast. The same happened today with him being very fast but having the last jump down. He is a super horse, but young. He doesn't have a lot of experience, but he's a good horse. [Cous Cous Van Orti] is a super horse also. He has more experience and is more of a veteran of the sport.
"The course today was difficult," continued Parot. "Michel does beautiful courses and he is a top designer. There were good riders, good competition, and seven or eight clear is not an easy jump-off. It was a very fast jump-off. It was a 2* course, but looked like a 3*. With Cous Cous, I wanted to go clear, but then when I was in second place and had my grey horse as the last to go in the jump-off, I wanted to win. I will go for it every time."
In the final standings, Morrissey remained in third, while Kerins claimed fourth place honors, respectively.
Michael Morrissey and Chance Ste Hermelle
"Samuel, I thought, went really fast and I didn't think I was going to catch him," said Kocher. "My horse is small, he doesn't have as big of a stride, but he's really quick with his feet so I think foot speed is what outdid the others. I got lucky because Samuel had poles down with his last horse, otherwise he would've had me. I thought in the first round Zantos jumped really amazing. He's really hot and strong so the distances don't always come up perfect, but you just have to be comfortable in the chaos. I was coming to the last jump though and I thought, 'Wow, this jump-off's just coming up perfectly.' Everything was coming up the way I planned it, and I went to the last one and he moved a little bit right and I thought he was going to run out, but then he ducked back left and jumped over it!"
It was ten years ago that Kocher was last in Traverse City working for David Beisel, however this is his first time competing at GLEF and the Flintfields Horse Park.
"The footing in both rings is really nice," said Kocher. "It was perfect. We've had a lot of fun around the area too. We went kayaking in Lake Michigan and went to a bunch of different little restaurants. Tonight we're going to try to run up to Mackinac Island. My wife Jenny and I, we never do anything, we take care of the horses and that's it. It's been nice to have some time off and do some fun things."
Of the conclusion of his first week competing at GLEF, Parot said, "This is a very top show – the people, the ambiance, the management. Everyone is happy. I am so happy. I got second place today and third place the other day."
Prior to the grand prix action was the $7,500 Show Jumping Hall of Fame (SJHOF) High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic. Of the eight horse and rider combinations competing, none were able to jump clear over the first round course except Texas native Taylor Reid. She was aboard her two Dutch Warmblood geldings Ugano and Boucanier, who she competes with through the grand prix level, thus automatically garnering her first and second place honors.
Taylor Reid and Ugano
"Ugano is 15 and I've had him for three years," said Reid. "He actually rides more like a hunter. He's really lazy and really loose on the reins so he takes a lot of leg. He's a very sweet old guy; he knows his job. He's very handy.
"Boucanier is 10, I've had him for two years and he's fiery," continued Reid. "He's very quirky, he bucks and plays and he's got a lot of motor. They're two totally opposite rides. With Boucanier, you have to pull a lot and keep your legs off of him and with Ugano, you have to kick a lot."
Taking the blue with Ugano and the red ribbon with Boucanier, Reid credited her consistent, winning rounds to her simple, yet effective strategy. She said, "My plan was just simply to ride middle to middle, and keep everything smooth."
Leah DeMartini and Elm Rock LLC's Touchable rounded out the top three as the fastest 4-faulter of the first round to take home third place honors.
Reid attended last year's inaugural Great Lakes Equestrian Festival and has been competing at the Flintfields Horse Park for the past four years.
"I love the horse show facility, it's awesome," said Reid. "There's good footing and it's a great area with nice people. It's just a lovely place to be and I love the weather. We're from Texas so it's nice to be up North for the summer."
Week Six of GLEF runs through Aug. 17-21 at the Flintfields Horse Park and will continue to welcome riders and thrill spectators over the next three weeks throughout the second series of competition, which runs Aug. 10-28.
Results: $7,500 SJHOF High Junior/Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic
1 422 UGANO TAYLOR REID 0 0.000 0 0.500
2 419 BOUCANIER TAYLOR REID 0 0.000 0 1.000
3 200 TOUCHABLE LEAH DE MARTINI 4 76.065
4 278 ZAMIRO 16 JULIA TOPS 8 71.910
5 427 MACH 5 DANA WILLE 12 68.879
6 305 DIVACE ALEX PARRISH 12 70.282
7 260 LAETITIA MARISSA RICE 20 88.864
8 265 ATLANTIS E ALISON RANDALL Refuse
Results: $50,000 Grand Prix of Williamsburg CSI2*
1 434 ZANTOS II ANDREW KOCHER 0 0.000 0 34.680
2 437 COUS COUS VAN ORTI SAMUEL PAROT 0 0.000 0 34.760
3 386 CHANCE STE HERMELLE MICHAEL MORRISSEY 0 0.000 0 36.210
4 411 ILAN DARRAGH KERINS 0 0.000 0 38.370
5 439 DAZZLE WHITE SAMUEL PAROT 0 0.000 8 32.780
6 243 LORO PIANA BALLYLECK ROYALE ALMA BJÖRKLUND 0 0.000 8 37.320
7 171 ARMANI SL Z EUGENIO GARZA 0 0.000 8 47.480
8 248 VICTORIO 5 ADAM PRUDENT 0 0.000 9 48.180
9 173 EMPIRE VAN WUITENSHOF EUGENIO GARZA 4 76.100
10 141 AVON MATTIAS TROMP 4 76.240
11 282 CONTIKI NICHOLAS DELLO JOIO 4 76.700
12 222 BUGATTI WILHELM GENN 4 77.730
Kendall Meijer and Breckenridge Win Week Five $1,000 Amateur-Owner Hunter Classic
Jill Donaldson and Troubadour won the Amateur-Owner Hunter championship at GLEF Week Five.
The Amateur-Owner Hunter division features an array of talented riders, ranging from college equestrians to retired corporate employees, offering an outlet for equestrians of any age to continue to follow their hearts and their passion. On Sunday morning, the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival Week Five concluded with the Amateur-Owner Hunters taking center stage in the Polk Main Hunter Ring, and it was neurosurgeon Jill Donaldson who captured the championship with Troubadour.
"Where there is a will, there is a way," Donaldson smiled. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Donaldson stays active with a full day at Neurosurgical Care, and then finishes her evening at her second home, the barn. "My day starts very early and I try to get as much done in the morning as possible. I am the last person in the barn in the evening, and it is a late supper every day. It is worth it. It is something I truly enjoy, and it is something my husband supports."
Donaldson competed for years in the show jumping discipline, but more recently, she began showing Troubadour, a 9-year-old chestnut Hanoverian gelding.
"He reminds me a lot of a horse that I showed as a kid," Donaldson laughed. "He has the recessive coloring with the flaxen mane and tail, and reminds me so much of my junior hunter. I have a special attachment to him. He is kind of quirky, a class clown, and he always has an opinion, although it is generally good, and he loves to do his job."
Jill Donaldson and Troubadour
Donaldson keeps Troubadour in a very consistent program at Meadowview Farm with trainer Tammy Provost, and in their three and a half years together, he has thr | 2,126 |
All posts tagged progressive
Where are all the young progressives?
Jacinda Ardern's sudden rise to leadership of the country was lauded (in part by herself) as the start of new generation progressive change.
But where are all the young progressives?
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has a lot of influence in the government. He is nearly seventy four years old and first made it into Parliament in 1979, forty years ago and before the so-called neo-liberal changes in the 1980s.
One of the first things the incoming did was do a u-turn to support and implement the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. 'Progressive ' was tacked onto the from of the name, but it is much the same as past trade agreements. Responsible for managing this was Labour's most experienced minister, and one of their oldest – David Parker is nearing 60.
Tax reform has been a major policy of Labour's. They appointed Michael Cullen to lead their Tax Working Group. He is the same age as Peters (he turns 74 in two days), and entered Parliament two years after Peters, in 1981.
Labour has a close relationship with unions, and want to reform labour laws. The appointed ex Prime Minister Jim Bolger to lead that working group. He entered parliament in 1972, before most current ministers were born. He is ten years older than Peters and Cullen. And his group's recommendations have been described as a return to old school industry wage agreements.
Experience is essential in government. So are new ideas, understanding changing times and youthful enthusiasm.
Ardern is fronting a new progressive way of doing politics, but where is the team and the drive behind this? There are no obvious new generation stars beyond Ardern's accomplished grasp of PR.
Where are all the young progressives? And where is the female input beyond the figurehead of Ardern?
by Pete George on 3rd February 2019 • Permalink
Tagged David Parker, Jacinda Ardern, Jim Bolger, Michael Cullen, progressive, Winston Peters
Posted by Pete George on 3rd February 2019
https://yournz.org/2019/02/03/where-are-all-the-young-progressives/
The anti-kiwi royals don't care if we ditched them so we should
Some time in the future New Zealand will ditch the monarchy and become some sort of a republic. John Key liked socialising with the royals too much to consider it and wanted a knighthood too much to consider it, and I suspect Jacinda Ardern likes associating with royal celebrities too much to go there either.
But one day we will get a real progressive Prime Minister rather one than in claim only.
And when we become a country independent of the pomp and snobbery that many of our ancestors escaped from, I think the royals won't care at all. They don't care much about us now. We might be a bit of a perk trip to younger princes and princesses, but to the older ones we are probably just another series of boring engagements.
Jonathan Milne: We want a New Zealander as our head of state? Just get on with it, says the Queen
Former Anglican Archbishop Sir Paul Reeves who led Charles and Diana in prayer for New Zealand's leadership in 1983, went on to represent the Queen as Governor-General. He later told me the Queen should be replaced by a New Zealand head of state. He said his knighthood had become a part of him since its award in 1984, "but if renouncing knighthoods was a prerequisite to being a citizen of a republic, I think it would be worth it."
All Black-turned-broadcaster Chris Laidlaw talked to Charles about New Zealand becoming a republic, too, at a dinner in 1997. "Well, to be frank, I think it would come as a great relief to all of us," Charles told him. "It would remove the awful ambiguity we have at the moment. It seems to me that it would be a lot easier for everybody if you all had your own completely independent head of state."
Another former Governor-General, Dame Catherine Tizard, asked the Queen the same question. "She is quite sanguine about these things," Dame Cath later told me. "She has always said it is a decision for New Zealand to make, and 'whatever decision New Zealand makes, of course we would accept it'."
They would have to 'accept it'. They may lord over us from a great distance, but they don't rule us.
In a new biography of the Queen, author Robert Hardman reveals the Queen came to one firm conclusion. In the event of this or any other realm opting to become a republic, they should get on with it.
'It could not be tied to the death of the Queen," said a Palace advisor. "That would be untenable for the Prince of Wales, untenable for the Queen and untenable for the country itself because, obviously, they'd be looking at their watches waiting for her to pass away."
So we should at least start doing what we need to do to become a republic before the current queen dies. We can't go annoying Charlie.
It's no longer acceptable that our head of state's allegiance is first and foremost to another nation, nearly 20,000km away.
It's no longer acceptable that our head of state's succession gives preference to Anglicans over Catholics, English peers over hardworking Kiwis.
If NZ First seriously believe in promoting kiwi values then they should lead the revolution.
In fact, it's no longer acceptable that our head of state is chosen by succession at all, when in other spheres of life we celebrate the strongly-held belief that we should be recognised on our merit.
The monarchy is anti do-it-yourself-kiwi and anti-kiwi values, it is anti-secular, it is anti-equality, and it is anti-democracy.
All we need is an<|fim_middle|> to involve compromises, something that's necessary whenever you get more than one person in a society.
by Pete George on 2nd November 2016 • Permalink
Posted in Blogs, General
Tagged capitalism, Leftwin, progressive
Posted by Pete George on 2nd November 2016
https://yournz.org/2016/11/02/what-is-leftwin/
Kelsey wants a no trade 'progressive' future
It's well known that Jane Kelsey has long been anti-trade agreements. Leading the campaign opposing the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement in New Zealand is just business as usual for Kelsey.
Or perhaps that should be anti-business as usual.
She has a post at The Daily Blog that targets Labour in an attempt to stoke up the anti-neoliberalism revolution and trying to replace it with "a new, progressive future for the nation".
The NZ Labour Party can no longer avoid the elephant in the room
It was headlined as EXCLUSIVE but, ah, a lot of blog posts are exclusive.
Do you hear the people sing. Singing the songs of angry (wo)men. It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again. When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes. (Les Miserables)
But are they listening?
A cataclysmic event like the Brexit vote focuses the mind on the future and leaves political parties who are supposed to represent the people with nowhere to hide.
The era of neoliberal globalisation is ending. People – who are also voters – have had enough of governments that work for the rich. Precarious jobs, stagnant incomes, unaffordable housing, massive household debt, stripped out safety nets, elected governments that are arrogant and unaccountable, opposition parties who are captives of their past or too cowed by fears of a collapse in business confidence to embrace demands for real change.
The drumbeat is getting louder. Policy choices that once seemed impossible and unthinkable have become very real. Political parties that claim to be progressive need to respond. Not just overseas. In Aotearoa too. And not after we 'wait and see'. They need to take a position now.
No surprise that she wants Labour to take an anti-trade agreement position.
The New Zealand Labour Party can no longer avoid the elephant in the room: if elected, what is Labour going to do about the toxic mega-deals that have become a political liability in other democracies and are so deeply unpopular here?
They are deeply unpopular with a radical few like Kelsey. A Colmar Brunton poll on the TPPA in February:
Which of these best describe your view on the TPPA?
It may impact our sovereignty and I'm concerned about it 42%
It may impact our sovereignty but it's not a big concern 22%
It won't have much impact on our sovereignty 24%
Don't know 12%
Even those who recorded "I'm concerned about it" will have ranged from being a bit concerned (at the height of TPPA protest) to those on the fringe who see it as "deeply unpopular".
By the time of next year's election neither the TPPA, TiSA and RCEP nor any EU FTA negotiations will be a done deal. Assuming Labour forms the next government, it will have the power and responsibility to decide whether to remain in them or take us out. So will the Greens and NZ First (especially tricky if the rumour that pro-TPPA Shane Jones may join their ranks is true).
By the time of next year's election who knows what Labour's vague position on the TPPA will be. It's possible the TPPA will already have been ratified, there's been claims that the USA may ratify after their election in November and before the new president takes over early next year.
Even without Phil Goff, Labour will doubtless hesitate to abandon the upgrade of the China FTA, which they consider an unmitigated success, or the China-led RCEP as the back door to the same. While digging us more deeply into the milk powder economy, the Chinese will be demanding more investment and procurement opportunities and protections, backed by investor-state dispute mechanisms.
It's not just the TPPA (which includes two of the world's biggest trading nations) Kelsey opposes, she also wants to scrap our trade agreement with China. That would have a major impact on availability and prices of goods and would jeopardise one of our biggest export markets.
By far the better option is still is not to negotiate these agreements, where they have been negotiated not to make them binding, and to begin rethinking how we engage differently at an international level.
Kelsey concludes:
New Zealand's three main 'opposition parties' owe it to the majority of Kiwis who oppose the TPPA to have the political guts to state unequivocally that they intend to withdraw New Zealand from the agreement, and others of similar ilk, so that voters can align their preferences to the parties with the vision to create a new, progressive future for the nation.
There is no recent polling on who supports or opposes the TPPA so "the majority of Kiwis who oppose the TPPA" cannot be substantiated.
Although she dreams of "parties with the vision to create a new, progressive future for the nation" Kelsey makes no attempt to explain how progressive a non-trading nation would be.
Perhaps she envisages progressiveness as severely limited exports and more expensive imports.
Does anyone know if Kelsey has any vision of what a "new, progressive future for the nation" would look like?
Or does she just think that scrapping all our trade agreements will magically create utopia?
Seriously, does she have any plan apart from opposing trade?
by Pete George on 8th July 2016 • Permalink
Tagged Jane Kelsey, Labour, progressive, TPPA, trade, Trans Pacific Partnership
Posted by Pete George on 8th July 2016
https://yournz.org/2016/07/08/kelsey-wants-a-no-trade-progressive-future/
Trotter's doublespeaky progressive taxation
What is 'progressive' in politics? Someone tried to answer that leading into last year's UK elections via the BBC, offering a number of varying explanations, and suggesting:
Tony Blair's followers use progressive in those terms, to avoid being cast as "left-wing" or "socialist", and as it seems to be a comfortable and ill-defined word that often means what the listener wants to hear in it.
Chris Trotter has his own take on what 'progressive' means in relation to taxation in "Show Me The Money!" Filling the hole in Labour's policy framework.
The essence of social-democracy is the redistribution of wealth. And the best way to redistribute wealth is through a comprehensive system of progressive taxation.
…it is strategically vital for Labour to set out its fiscal policies openly and honestly before releasing its key policies relating to education, health and housing. The party first needs to settle upon a revenue target, and then upon the fiscal instruments it will use to achieve it.
These may include Income Tax, Land Tax, Inheritance Tax, Financial Transactions Tax, Carbon Tax, as well as a much stricter regime for extracting an appropriate level of taxation from New Zealand's largest businesses.
Unquestionably, making the case for progressive taxation is the most important task faced by any left-wing political party.
The power of social-democratic politics lies in its refusal to allow the parties of the Right to escape the question that is so often put to the parties of the Left. "Where's the money coming from?" The Right wagers everything on the ordinary voter not understanding the causal relationship between his or her own straightened circumstances and the ease and comfort of the rich. That's why it is Labour's political duty to point out the gaping hole in the Right's policy framework.
Namely, that the wealth accumulated by the rich comes from the people, whose hard work created it, and to whom it is only right and proper that a fair share be returned.
There's as many ideas on what 'a fair share' means as there are on what 'progressive' means.
Trotter's 'progressive' tax ideas seem to be a bit doublespeaky.
by Pete George on 2nd February 2016 • Permalink
Tagged Chris Trotter, doublespeaky, progressive, socialism
Posted by Pete George on 2nd February 2016
https://yournz.org/2016/02/02/trotters-doublespeaky-progressive-taxation/
"Care for people rather than the economy"
There was an interesting line up on Q & A this morning, with a repeated theme of people versus corporations and the economy.
First Tim Groser was interviewed on the Government view on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement.
Then Labour leader Andrew Little was interviewed, also about the TPPA. He said things like "our moral duty is to protect the interests of New Zealand citizens", "we will legislate to protect New Zealanders" and "I've got to make judgement calls on what's the best interests of New Zealand and New Zealanders".
On the panel were two who were pro-TPPA – international relations specialist from Auckland Uni Dr Stephen Hoadley and Government Relations Consultant Charles Finney.
Also on the panel was Helen Kelly, President of Council of Trade Unions, who was against the TPPA, seeing it as corporations versus people/workers.
If you think the economy is just existing for corporations and they should be able to do whatever they like without Governments actually being able to put in restrictions or make laws that are in the the interests of New Zealand people then you might say that these sorts of deals are ok.
Curiously, following this, there was an interview of someone also pushing people versus the economy lines. Greg Presland has posted about this at The Standard.
Anat Shenker-Osorio on the creation of left metaphors
Communications Anat Shenker-Osorio has some simple messages for Labour in its quest for Government. The left's strongest advantage is its care for people rather than the economy and the message that will resonate is a positive one emphasising the care of people and the environment.
For unions she proposed that it should be emphasised that they are not somewhat dated third parties but a collection of people.
"We have a better brand.
"Our brand is that we love people and we are on the side of people and we are on the side of the nation and we just need to stop having the argument about who loves the economy best."
If you want a flavour of her approach to politics and her scathing critique of the current infatuation of some with "middle ground" or "third way" politics then the video below provides this. Basically her message is that the left should engage the base, persuade the middle rather than cater to them and if it is not alienating the right it is not doing things properly.
Shenker-Osorio is in New Zealand to give a talk to the CTU Conference.
So Q & A had a triple hit on people versus the economy:
A staunch Unionist
A Unionist who has become leader of the Labour Party
A communications expert, researcher and political pundit
Anat Shenker-Osorio is a communications expert, researcher and political pundit whose one-of-a-kind work is challenging the way dozens of organizations and political figures talk about the most pressing issues of our time. She's the author of the acclaimed book"Don't Buy It: The Trouble with Talking Nonsense About the Economy."
– http://www.asocommunications.com/html/
What Little, Kelly and Shenker-Osorio all failed to acknowledge (and possibly understand) is that a healthy economy is good for workers and for people in general. There is a very close relationship between the health of the economy and the well being of and opportunities for people.
Playing the economy versus people line might fools some of the people some of the time but most of those people may be the ideological players rather than the voters.
Incidentally I wasn't very impressed with Shenker-Osorio but you can make up your own mind if you missed her this morning on Q & A:
Video: Expert advice for the political left (7:54)
Anat Shenker Osorio, an expert in the science of linguistics who helps left wing or progressive organisations to help them target their political conmunication.
Tagged Anat Shenker-Osorio, economy, Helen Kelly, left wing, people, progressive, union, workers
https://yournz.org/2015/10/11/care-for-people-rather-than-the-economy/ | actual progressive Government to do the decent thing and ditch the royals.
by Pete George on 14th October 2018 • Permalink
Tagged Jacinda Ardern, John Key, Kiwi, monarchy, progressive, republic, royals
Posted by Pete George on 14th October 2018
https://yournz.org/2018/10/14/the-anti-kiwi-royals-dont-care-if-we-ditched-them-so-we-should/
NY Times – do Ardern's progressive politics work at home?
Jacinda Aardern has had very good media coverage for a small country leader, and she has generally acquitted herself very well, but not all media is fawning promotion.
New York Times: Jacinda Ardern's Progressive Politics Made Her a Global Sensation. But Do They Work at Home?
In many ways — temperament, style and policy, among them — Ms. Ardern is the polar opposite of President Trump and other brash male leaders.
She has become a subject of global fascination for her progressive values, her youth and charisma, and her status as a new mother who has garnered more attention than any previous leader of this small Pacific country.
But even as her star soars abroad, Ms. Ardern increasingly faces challenges at home. Corporate interests are lining up against her agenda after the country's business confidence rating dropped to a 10-year low in July; the confidence rating has since improved, according to new figures released this month, but it remains weak nonetheless.
There are risks to the economy and to the government's spending plans and wish lists.
Important policies, including tax reform, are still being decided, and critics have cast doubts on Ms. Ardern's ability to maintain discipline within her governing coalition.
Indiscipline and dysfunction have hovered at home while Ardern has been in New York.
Experts say New Zealand exemplifies the difficulty of enacting a progressive agenda at a time when politics are fractured and conservatives worldwide are emboldened. Ms. Ardern's supporters say she must push even harder for transformative change.
"The gestures of kindness and care need to be matched sometimes with more concrete and meaningful aspects of kindness in practice," said Max Harris, a fellow at All Souls College, Oxford, and the author of "The New Zealand Project," a new book about the country's politics. He added that true success for Ms. Ardern would require structural shifts in social and economic systems — and it remains to be seen whether Ms. Ardern can get it done.
Ardern has not been progressive (or revolutionary) enough for those on the far left.
Ms. Ardern came to power last October. After nine years of center-right government in New Zealand, voters chose Ms. Ardern and her party because of their promise of a better deal for ordinary people, especially the marginalized and vulnerable.
That's a very simplistic view of how the election and formation of government played out. In part Ardern became Prime Minister due to the 7% support of a not very left wing at times NZ First, and many NZ First voters would have preferred that Ardern didn't get the nod.
But her power is limited. In New Zealand, a party does not have to win an outright majority in Parliament to govern. Labour formed a governing coalition with minor parties and in recent weeks, disputes between Ms. Ardern's party and the party of Winston Peters, the deputy prime minister whose support was crucial to her victory, have become more frequent, leading critics to argue that Ms. Ardern is not in charge of her own government.
That was highlighted again in her absence.
One of her most common refrains is: "This is the right thing to do." She used that line this month when announcing that New Zealand would accept 500 more refugees per year starting in 2020, raising the country's quota to 1,500. The phrase also appeared in her speeches announcing policies to freeze lawmakers' pay and increase paid parental leave.
In an interview last month, she argued that values and government go together. "You can be pragmatic and grow an economy and improve well-being and do all of the things you have an expectation governments do, but do it with a bit of heart," she said.
That remains an unproven and fairly vague plan.
In New York Ardern outlined in general terms how she things government should progress in New Zealand, but she still has a lot to prove in practice.
by Pete George on 28th September 2018 • Permalink
Tagged government, Jacinda Ardern, New York Times, New Zealand, progressive
Posted by Pete George on 28th September 2018
https://yournz.org/2018/09/28/ny-times-do-arderns-progressive-politics-work-at-home/
"The future of the left is bright" and Ardern is the lighthouse
The world future for the left is bright, according to some hopefuls, and Jacinda Ardern is the Mother Theresa of progressive politics.
Ex-Labour general secretary Mike Smith has posted at The Standard – The future of the left
Australian Guardian columnist Van Badham writes "the future of the left is bright if it looks like Jacinda Ardern and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes." She concludes "We can hope the influence of Jacinda Ardern and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes spread, or we can ensure that it does. The stakes for the marginalised remain life and death." Very worth a read.
This optimism looks a tad premature.
The world influence of Ardern beyond a magazine celebrity level must be minimal at this stage, She has hardly had time to prove herself in New Zealand – and her Government has so far had very mixed short term results.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes hasn't even been elected yet, she has only won a primary in a New York congressional district. Gizmodo: Democratic Candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Didn't Even Have a Wikipedia Page on Monday:
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old progressive activist, became the Democratic candidate for New York's 14th congressional district after a primary election yesterday.
Ocasio-Cortez defeated 56-year-old Joseph Crowley, a man who served ten terms and was the chair of the House Democratic Caucus.
Why is Ocasio-Cortez's victory a big deal for Democrats? She's a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and a former organizer for Bernie Sanders. Crowley, the man she defeated, was being groomed to be the next Speaker of the House.
Bernie Sanders was seen as a great left wing hope in 2016 but he couldn't even beat Hillary Clinton as the Democrat candidacy for president, and Clinton couldn't even beat Donald Trump.
So what else did Van Badham say in her Guardian article? It was headlined Jacinda Ardern is the very hero the global left needs right now
As social media birth announcements go, Jacinda Ardern's handheld Facebook Live of herself and her newborn Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford is charming.
New Zealand's prime minister introduces her new baby with radiant sincerity.
Giving birth was a big event for Ardern and Clark Gayford, and Neve, but it was normal, it is something that happens to everyone. It was hardly heroic.
But as a political communication, the video is matchless. In an epoch overcast by growing shadows of reenergised rightwing authoritarianism, Ardern's public hospital nativity offers a luminous symbolic affirmation of her leadership not just of New Zealand, but of the western electoral left.
Good grief. She is currently on maternity leave so is not even acting Prime Minister at the moment, let alone saviour of the world.
It's not that long ago that Justin Trudeau was the darling of the world left. And Bernie Sanders. Some in the UK even thought that Jeremy Corbyn was the beginning of a great swing left.
The leader of the first Labour government in New Zealand for a decade shares the explicit left agenda for investment in health, education, climate action, public housing and social justice. Ardern's pledge to build "a kind and equitable nation where children thrive, and success is measured not only by the nation's GDP but by better lives lived by its people" is the ancient standard of our side.
Ardern does have some worth ambitions, but she is a long way from proving herself and her Government.
To understand why is to look beyond policy and into her representation of it. What distinguishes Ardern is her active embrace of what Walter Benjamin referred to as "the time of the now" and the diverse and complex identities of a community that no longer sees itself as by, for and of propertied, straight white men. Doing so shatters a traditionalism that imprisons the left even as much as it inspires today's right.
Another variation on popular demonising, this time of "straight white men". Juts imagine how Ardern would be revered if she was not white and not straight. She gets away with not epitomising diversity by having empathy foe non-whites and non-straights, something no man has every been able to achieve and never can – unless he's a progressive left wing hope of course.
If today's left is going to stand a chance against an ascendant, muscular right, my hope is that she and other avowed socialists emerging within her electoral generation eschew the stale temptations of left melancholy for energising examples of a visionary left that looks as different to its past as a pregnant woman in a feathered cloak does to a room of suited men.
"Strong men" of the right are now lining up governments from Italy to Turkey to the United States. The times of the now are ones in which we can construct majorities of a diversity they cannot – and do not wish to – represent. We can hope the influence of Jacinda Ardern and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes spread, or we can ensure that it does. The stakes for the marginalised remain life and death.
Ardern may yet go on to do great things for New Zealand, but she first needs to settle into motherhood hoping her Ministers miraculously acquire cohesion and competence in her absence (they didn't do very well on that while she was Prime Minister).
Then she has to prove herself in a small country at the bottom edge of the world before she becomes the Queen of the World.
Being anointed as the Progressive miracle unfolding is as premature as awarding Donald Trump a Nobel peace prize before meeting Kim Yong Un – or as premature as awarding same prize to Barack Obama, who was probably seen as a great new hope for the left/progressives around the world, until he proved to be a mediocre president at best.
Van Badham seems to be a progressive opportunist.
In 2016: Time to hail Hillary Clinton – and face down the testosterone left
Supposedly progressive men denounce Clinton with foolish and vicious regularity. But a victory for her next week would really be worth celebrating.
People are surprised when I express support for Hillary Clinton. My economic politics are hard to the left and, unlike hers, explicitly socialist. But it's entirely because my analysis of inequality is economic that I endorse Clinton – not as a least-worst option, not even due to the nature of her opponent, but on her own terms as a leader pledged to the material improvement of women's economic and social reality.
That was someone misguided in several ways.
Van Badham on Julia Gillard ousted: Achievement does not equal respect if you're a woman
Julia Gillard navigated through the financial crisis, presided over a 14 per cent growth in the economy and pushed through several impressive policy reforms. The problem for the Australian PM was not her performance. It was that, from to beginning to end, she remained female.
Based on this, if Ardern revolutionises New Zealand and leads the world into a wonderful progressive utopia it will be on her merits and her femininity.
And one could guess that if she fizzles or fails it will be the fault of men.
by Pete George on 2nd July 2018 • Permalink
Tagged Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jacinda Ardern, left wing, progressive, white men
Posted by Pete George on 2nd July 2018
https://yournz.org/2018/07/02/the-future-of-the-left-is-bright-and-ardern-is-the-lighthouse/
What is LeftWin?
It's a blog that thinks that New Zealand's Revolution is coming.
Almost everywhere is seems that radical projects are bringing new life into the radical left. Across the world, protest movements have been reborn. Movements like Occupy and other union, community and environmental struggles have brought forth new energy. This has also come together into new political parties and organisations. While each new project faces its own challenges and opportunities and limitations, the diverse political experiments can make New Zealand seem uninspiring in contrast. Could we see a revolutionary shake up in sleepy New Zealand?
New Zealand will have dozed right off if they read right through that post. I'll skip to the end.
For the left as it exists, the challenge isn't to have all the answers for how the world will play out, but to grow the strength and confidence of activists today. Building struggle in our unions and movements can create the layers of confident activists that makes this kind of organisational break possible. And for such a project to be possible, we need to build layers of people that first and foremost have the confidence and practical and political skills of organisation to push at the boundaries of what is possible in capitalist society.
Leftwin as described by themselves.
In recent years the world has been rocked by dramatic political upheavals such as Occupy and the Arab Spring. We see new left political formations uniting new layers of activists across Europe, and in Latin America social movements have captured governments and embarked on radical political experiments across that continent.
LeftWin is a blog dedicated to fighting for, and winning, these kinds of progressive political changes in New Zealand/Aotearoa.
This blog believes in a movement and a politic driven by popular participation, that actively supports the struggle for Tino Rangatiratanga and that seeks to build an more equal and environmentally sustainable Aotearoa.
Who is the 'we' of leftwin? "You can contact LeftWin at ben@unite.org.nz".
I don't think modern politics is about one political ideology 'winning' and by implication inflicting a loss on others.
Capitalism versus socialism or progressivism or whatever anti-capitalists call themselves these days is a futile argument. We have and will always have a blend of ideologies in practice. The challenge is to get the best possible balance.
Working together to make improvements for as many people as possible seems to me to be a better approach to fighting to win an un-winnable fight. It has | 3,096 |
About us - Solaarte Inc.
Solaarte launched in 2015 by founder Gabriele Macrì is an inspiration infused<|fim_middle|>.
Solaarte wants to become the reference for its customers: a reliable and competent partner in the field of furniture and accessories. | by passion for Italian art and design: undeniably composed of the peculiar talent of creating exceptional worldwide recognized and esteemed products.
Solaarte's mission is to envision how raw materials and resources coalesce to extraordinary, idisputable quality guaranteed products.
Solaarte guarantees their products' authenticity to customers. Buyers are assured with validation that their purchases are genuine and unique "Made in Italy" products.
Capture and indulge in the authentic essence Italian design through furniture and accessories uniquely custom built to cater to your individual and peculiar needs.
Italian Art is a worldwide heritage and our aim is to bring a masterpiece to everyone who wants to have their own piece of art at home.
Furniture and accessories are certainly the added value of a home. A painting, a sculpture, a lamp, can help make your home unique and exactly delineated according to your taste and your own personality.
That's why we, at Solaarte, chose for our customers the best of contemporary Italian design and art in theimmense heritage of the Made in Italy.
When you think of decorating a home you do not just think about what you need, but also to what you really like, because home is the place where we spend the most intimate and important moments of our lives, along with family and friends.
We look for the best quality, because we believe that this makes the difference and we think the attention to details is our distinguishing feature | 283 |
Movie Tickets Got Cheaper In Q2, But Admissions And Grosses Still In Red – NATO
'Annabelle: Creation' Will Be This Summer's Last Scream At The B.O. With Estimated $30M+ Opening – Preview
By Anthony D'Alessandro
Anthony D'Alessandro
Editorial Director/Box Office Editor
@AwardsTony
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The New Line/Warner Bros. prequel to Annabelle and spinoff of The Conjuring will carry summer to its final pop with an industry projected opening of $30M-plus at 3,502 theaters, which is 19% off from its previous installment, 2014's Annabelle.
Why is Annabelle: Creation summer's final crest? Because there's nothing left on the calendar that's expected to top the opening of the New Line horror title by Labor Day weekend. After giving us the summer's highest grossing movie Wonder Woman, the sleeper Dunkirk, and this weekend's Annabelle: Creation, Warner Bros. will literally be responsible for juicing the box office again on Sept. 8 with New Line's Stephen King feature adaptation It. Many rivals are already expecting that pic to clear at least $50M. Even if Annabelle: Creation opens to $25M, it will still be a solid debut as New Line Cinema only spent $15M before P&A on this doll-goes-bad movie. Previews start Thursday at 7PM. Already Fandango is seeing brisk advance ticket sales for Annabelle: Creation that's outstripping that of Annabelle and last summer's Don't Breathe ($26.4M).
'Dunkirk's Barry Keoghan Inks With CAA
The first Annabelle was an enormous cash cow with a shoestring production cost of $6.5M and a total global haul of $256.9M, roughly 33% of that coming from U.S./Canada. Annabelle: Creation should ultimately send the Conjuring franchise, currently numbering three pics at $895M, past the $1 billion mark. Annabelle: Creation arrives to cinemas with the Good Housekeeping sign of approval for horror fans –James Wan's producer credit– and that goes a long way at the B.O. David F. Sandberg, who directed last summer's profitable horror hit Lights Out ($149M global B.O., $4.5M production cost), is in the helmer's chair here for Annabelle: Creation. Further proof that Annabelle 2 is really beautiful and not some ugly piece of plastic: She has a great Rotten Tomatoes score of 82% fresh. New Line previewed the prequel to crowds at the Los Angeles Film Festival back in June and showed it off in San Diego on Comic-Con's Wednesday preview night last month.
The R-rated Annabelle: Creation takes place in<|fim_middle|> | the 1950s. A dollmaker (Anthony LaPaglia) and his wife, following the death of their daughter, invite in a Nun and a bunch of orphans. Except the guests can't stay out of the doll's locked room, and of course that's when everything goes sideways.
Warner Bros. will also relish third place with Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk which in week 4 is estimated to decline a mere 35% for a No. 3 take of $11.1M. Over the last two days, the British World War II movie has topped the weekday box office and has a running total stateside through 19 days of $138.6M, which is 15% ahead of Nolan's last movie Interstellar. That pic finaled at $188M stateside.
In second place will be Open Road's sequel The Nutjob 2: Nutty by Nature which will pull in between $12M-$14M at 4,003 venues. For an independent animated feature, the first film, which Open Road also handled, posted a $19.4M opening in January 2014 and legged out a 3.3x to $64.2M domestic. That's very good. Open Road picked up stateside rights to the sequel. Similar to the first movie, Nutjob 2 cost around $40M with Red Rover, Toonbox Entertainment, Gulfstream Pictures, Shanghai Hoongman serving as producers. Cal Brunker (Escape From Planet Earth) directs with a voice cast that includes Will Arnett, Maya Rudolph, Katherine Heigl, Jackie Chan, Isabela Moner, Gabriel Iglesias, Bobby Moynihan, Bobby Cannavale, Peter Stormare, and Jeff Dunham. Previews start at 5PM tomorrow.
Analysts foresee Sony/Media Rights Capital's fantasy genre-mashup The Dark Tower tumbling by at least 60% in weekend 2 for $7.6M. In its first five days, the Stephen King adaptation has made $23.6M.
Lionsgate has its adaptation of Jeannette Walls' New York Times bestselling memoir The Glass Castle which will be platformed through the month, starting off in roughly 1,400 venues, in order to build buzz among adults. The hope here is for a $5M start with a $3k-$4K per theater average. Walls, portrayed by Room Oscar winner Brie Larson, grew up with deeply dysfunctional, yet uniquely vibrant parents, as she journeyed toward acceptance and fulfillment. Her father Rex (Harrelson) was an alcoholic, and her mother Rose Mary (Watts) was a painter. In her memoir, Walls details her calamities which included her father siphoning away the mother's paycheck to the point where the family starved. Larson is directed here by her Short Term 12 helmer Destin Daniel Cretton.
Weinstein Co./Voltage's Wind River from Oscar-nominated filmmaker Taylor Sheridan is also expanding this weekend after a great per screen start last weekend at four New York and Los Angeles runs with $40,3K. Wind River flows into 45 locations with an eye on $11K-$12K per screen.
Bedeviled Kirk Roos
Brian Brooks will have the specialty report this week which includes Freestyle/Voltage/Conduit's horror title Bedeviled from the Vang Brothers, A24's Good Time, IFC's The Trip to Spain, Neon's Ingrid Goes West and Roadside Attractions' The Only Living Boy in New York.
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The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature
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Our mission<|fim_middle|>1, 3, 4 and 6). | statement - Lebenswelten e.V.
During the early 1980s, Lebenswelten e.V. took pioneering steps by founding integration enterprises in the Berlin region: enterprises where people with a handicap (particularly a psychological handicap) work in normal employment conditions and in an environment that meets competitive standards. The development of a broad spectrum of social services, projects and companies is the result of over 30 years of commitment by Lebenswelten e.V. to the social and professional integration of socially disadvantaged people in the region.
With its services, Lebenswelten e.V. focuses on the need for social and professional integration among people with a (psychological) disability, as well as socially disadvantaged people. We address the current and future needs of our clients and customers, formulate standards for our organisation and strive to exceed expectations.
Lebenswelten e.V. is a social enterprise with a democratic-emancipatory orientation, the development of which is based on the direct personal commitment of its members and staff. Our goal is to create social living spaces that promote integration and prevent exclusion. The corporate culture is supported internally and externally by mutual respect and fairness, in an atmosphere where different opinions are tolerated. Our management works to ensure that the purpose and orientation of the organisation are in harmony. They create and retain an internal environment in which our staff can fully concentrate on achieving the goals of the organisation.
It is individuals that determine the core nature of an organisation at all levels, and involving them makes it possible to bring their skills to bear for the good of the organisation. Employee satisfaction is promoted through active involvement in decision-making processes and offers of further professional development and skills expansion. Our ongoing quality development is implemented in an open, objective dialogue with staff.
Committed, well-informed staff ensure the success of our organisation.
Our quality management system is structured on the basis of a process-oriented approach, which covers services in the areas of employment, advice, education, care and catering, and which allows us to make ongoing improvements.
Lebenswelten e.V. promotes an awareness of shared values and goals through a cooperative, democratic management structure and through active participation among staff in decision-making processes. Through the establishment and further development of transparent structures and services, the individual projects run by Lebenswelten e.V. can also hold their ground in times of economic difficulty, and cope with changing demands.
Lebenswelten e.V. identifies and fulfils market potential using the resources of the entire organisation and its network, and from this, develops solid, needs-oriented concepts and well-functioning organisational processes.
Lebenswelten e.V. is a partner for its customers. The quality of cooperation is supported by an awareness of mutual benefit. Networking and ongoing professional informational exchange at a regional, federal and international level serve to improve the substance of our work, both internally and externally. They also promote the establishment of strategic partnerships, and help us improve the provision of our services for the benefit of our clients and customers.
Lebenswelten e.V. works to prevent exclusion and long-term unemployment among people with a (psychological) disability. Our goal is to provide specialist services that improve personal and professional prospects, the chances of being offered a job and the individual life quality of our participants/clients (in line with the Accreditation and Permission Ordinance regarding Employment Promotion, or "AZAV", fields of specialism 1, 3, 4 and 6). We aim to positively influence the image of (psychologically) disabled individuals in our society, towards an increase in acceptance and openness. In order to achieve these goals, we work to continuously improve existing services and employment agency activities, and to develop innovative, disability-friendly services based on commercial principles for the purpose of cost coverage and the creation of financial reserves. With this in mind, the acquisition of public funds is important in order to ensure that our target group benefits from them (in line with the Accreditation and Permission Ordinance regarding Employment Promotion, or "AZAV", fields of specialism | 814 |
Owning a car is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity. The kind of service a car will give you depends on how well you care for it. But taking care of a car, especially a new one, can be an expensive and time-consuming undertaking.
The importance of car care runs the gamut from the aesthetic appearance to the performance and safety. A well cared for automobile is safe to drive, is in perfect condition and runs properly for as long as possible. A new car that is not well taken care of can cause a range of consequences ranging from excess expenditure to accidents.
You can learn how to take care of a new car to avoid the aforementioned consequences. All you need is the right information. The good news is that the information is right here. These few simple tasks are time proven and will make your new car last longer. Here you can read about Rust Repairs Brisbane.
The moment you pay for a new car, you must think about insuring it. At the very least, it should have liability insurance. Should you crash into another car or any other object including pedestrians, any repairs or bills will be paid for by the insurer.
Ensure you keep a copy of the current insurance document in a safe place in the car. This way, you will not accidentally toss it out when you vacuum, clean or de-clutter your car. An adequate coverage can save you thousands of dollars in repairs if you accidentally crash into an expensive car.
Motorists have the tendency to do weird things while waiting for their tank to fill. Do not follow after their example if you want your new car to serve you well. Instead, seize the opportunity to conduct these three important checkups.
Check Your Tire Pressure: Do you know that maintaining the right tire pressure can save your life and even your pocket? Over-inflated or under-inflated tires do not handle or stop as well as tires with proper pressure. Furthermore, tires with the right pressure are more durable and improve fuel efficiency.
Clean the Windshield: A car with dirty windshield is never attractive. Besides, a bug-splattered and dirty windshield can block your vision while driving. This can pose a safety hazard. Make it a regular habit to clean the windshield. You can do it when you get to a gas station.
Use the spongy part of the squeegee belonging to the gas station and soak the entire windshield with the cleaning liquid. Tightly pull the squeegee from the center of the windshield to either side. Finish off any remnant streaks by pulling the squeegee downwards from the top.
Cleaning the windshield is important every time you travel long distances. Your windshield will likely be littered with dead insects. It gets worse if you try to clean the insect carcasses with your car's wipers and cleaning fluid. You can use the squeegee to clean your dirty headlights too.
Asses The Oil Level And Top Up If Necessary: The performance of your new car is dependent on the oil level. The function of the oil is to lubricate all the moving parts of the automobile's engine. Insufficient motor oil means engine parts will grind against each other. In the process, they wear and tear leading to poor performance and early damage.
Motor oil also does the important function of transferring heat away from the combustion cycle. It also traps and blocks all the dangerous byproducts of combustion and sends them to the filter. Inadequate engine oil means all these functions are lost. Your engine will be at risk of going berserk.
To ensure your new automobile always has enough motor oil, carry out regular oil checkups. It is very easy to check the oil level. You need to have a clean paper towel, a light source and a couple of minutes. Keep in mind that you have to check oil only after you have turn off the engine for at least 5 minutes. This allows the oil to drain back into its pan.
Make sure the car is on a level ground before you begin. This will allow you to take an accurate reading. You can then locate the dipstick of the engine. The dipstick is either labeled with an image of oil can or just the word 'OIL'.
Once you find the dipstick, pull it all the way out. Wipe it clean with a dry cloth, your paper towel or the one you obtain from the gas station.
Push the now dry dipstick all the way inside. Pull the stick out once more and take the new reading. Make sure you do not turn the dipstick upside down as you pull it out. This prevents the oil from running upwards to interfere with the accuracy of your reading.
Dipsticks have two guide marks on their lower aspects. Read the oil level by checking where the wet part ends and dry part starts. Oil level between the two marks is adequate. A level below the lower mark is a sign of inadequacy. You need to add motor oil. Remember to add only one quart of oil at a time.
All cars come with manual or instruction on how to take care of them. Most of the tasks in the maintenance schedule require to be performed only less frequently. However, they are very important in the longevity and performance of a car.
The tasks generally include tire rotations oil changes, transmission fluid replacements and the kind. Dealers and mechanics may tell you to bring your new car for such maintenance tasks every 3,000 miles. Do not believe them. Modern cars are designed to go for up to 5,000 miles before requiring such tasks. Follow what the owner's manual recommends. This will save you a lot of money.
The only way to keep your car clean at all times is to wash it regularly. As you drive, your car will get beatings from salt, sunrays, acid rain, grease and grime, dead bugs, tree sap, smog and the acidic compound found in bird poop. These things will eat up the pain and then the metal underneath. In no time, your new car will look 10 years old.
If you fail to wash the stains away, your car will corrode the body of your car leading to a potential for poor re-sell value. But how often do you need to clean your new vehicle?<|fim_middle|> and well organized will not only make it look great but also reduce your stress and make your driving experience more gratifying. The interior will smell fresh and nice giving you the confidence to invite friends in.
Your car is the next basic need after food, shelter, clothing, and education. It is becoming increasingly hard to survive without a car. If you have decided to buy a new car, then you must be ready to care for it since it is a major investment. Now that you have learned how to take care of a new car, you can be confident your car will last longer and serve you optimally. You can share more insights that the article left out. Also, feel free to share the word if you find the article helpful. | There no single recommended interval because many factors play a role. You may need to clean it more frequently if you live in a highly polluted environment.
As is the tendency of some car owners, please do not turn your automobile into a garbage can. Have somewhere you can drop any trashes in the car. Also, form a habit of cleaning the interior of the car as often as possible.
Keeping the interior of your car clean | 85 |
This Self Help Mini E Course is in the "When Life Gives you Lemons make Lemonade" series. This time we will be focusing on Self Healing after the hard times have come and visited at your door.
This is a self paced, self directed course which will provide you with the skills to set goals and take action steps towards healing your Mind, Emotions and Body. You will also learn about the interconnectedness of these 3 areas of Self, how an imbalance in 1 area has a knock on effect in the other areas and how to take a holistic approach to healing.
This course is suited to anyone who has had a series of hard experiences such as bereavements, relationship breakdowns, any problems with work, finances, family, health etc and their whole Self has taken a hard knock. Throughout the course there is a great emphasis on you creating your own plan of action, finding the right support that you need plus self help and lots of nurturing activities.
Please note! If you have any physical, psychological or emotional condition that is causing you concern or if you have experienced a highly traumatic event and it is still affecting you, plesae visit your Doctor. This course is not a replacement for conventional medical treatment, rather a self help source of information for you to improve your physical, mental and emotional health.
You will be provided with a manual with<|fim_middle|>3 aspect of self and the human aura and chakra subtle energy system.
Module 2: Self Evaluation - in this module you will be assessing the impact of the hard times and how your whole self has been affected.
Module 3: SMART Goal Setting and Action Plan - using your self evaluation from module 2, you will set your own goals and action steps for self healing. I also provide a long list of possible steps you can take, which includes professional support and self help activities. We will also exlpore what you can do if you feel stuck and unsure of the best way forward.
Module 4: The Review Stage - in this module we will discuss the review process, how often you should review your process and what to do if you need to adjust or reset your goals and action steps.
Module 5: Staying the Distance - practical steps you can take to keep on keeping on even when the going gets tough in your self healing journey.
Essential oils and Bach Flower Remedies for healing the Mind, Body and Emotions.
Tips to access and release deeply buried emotions and feelings.
Blank Proformas for you to print and use: Impact Assessment, Goal Setting and Action Steps, Review Form.
Appendix of useful organisations that can offer support for your mind, body and emotions plus useful organisations that can help with life issues which have affected you. | a methodical approach to your Healing Plan, assignments, plus an MP3 affirmation recording for you to listen to. This will help to get and keep you in the right and positive mind set for your self healing journey.
Please note, this course will not dictate to you what you need to do in order to heal yourself. Instead you will learn a straight forward practical step by step approach so that you can be empowered, take charge and choose what you would like to do to start to heal yourself and build yourself back up.
Module 1: The Mind, Body and Emotions connection - explore the interconnectedness of these | 125 |
The three recent updates are Google Hummingbird, the encryption of all search data and the switch to the new Keyword Planner tool.
In recent months, Google has made three significant changes to its offerings. Each has both minor and major implications for search engine optimization (SEO) and online marketing.
Google remains by far the dominant search engine, with 67 per cent of the overall market, according to comScore. Whenever it revises, gets rid of, adds to or otherwise changes its search-related services, then, search marketing professionals take note.
The three recent updates are Google Hummingbird, which is a complete overhaul to Google's search engine algorithm, the encryption of all search data and the switch to the new Keyword Planner tool.
SEO and online marketing professionals say the cumulative effect of these changes underscores the growing importance of three things: Optimizing for natural language and mobile search, not focusing too intently on keywords for SEO and, above all, keeping your sites set on regularly publishing high-quality content.
Now more than ever, says Jayson DeMers, founder and CEO of AudienceBloom, an SEO, social media and guest blogging service, you need a "solid content marketing strategy."
What is it? On September 26, on its 15th birthday, Google announced it had dramatically rewritten its search algorithm for the first time in at least a dozen years. Google is calling the revamped algorithm "Hummingbird", according to Search Engine Land, because it's "precise and fast."
Hummingbird is meant to deliver the best results for "conversational search." Such queries are occurring more frequently as people ask questions of their smartphones - a habit that carries over to desktop searches as well.
What does it do? In a Google Hummingbird FAQ, Search Engine Land's Danny Sullivan used the long-tail query What's the closest place to buy the iPhone 5s to my home? as an example of how Hummingbird differs from the previous Google search engine algorithm.
With that iPhone 5s query, "A traditional search engine might focus on finding matches for words - finding a page that says 'buy' and 'iPhone 5s,' for example," Sullivan notes. Hummingbird, on the other hand, should "better understand the actual location of your home, if you've shared that with Google. It might understand that 'place' means you want a brick-and-mortar store. It might get that 'iPhone 5s' is a particular type of electronic device carried by certain stores. Knowing all these meanings may help Google go beyond just finding pages with matching words."
What does it mean for SEO? In the wake of Hummingbird, Google's SEO guidance remains unchanged: Publish "original, high-quality content."
With Hummingbird and other recent changes, DeMers adds, Google is "betting on the continued rise of mobile usage. It's safe to assume that Google is going to be looking for content and websites that deliver a great mobile experience. Mobile content strategies have become a whole lot more important with Google Hummingbird."
Adam Stetzer, writing for Search Engine Watch, offers this advice: "It is now critically important that (a website) answers questions for end users," due to Hummingbirds ability to more precisely match long-tail queries to relevant content. Content is still king, Stetzer writes, and "content that answers specific questions may be critical for Hummingbird success."
Hummingbird, like the Google Panda and Penguin updates before it, can actually help those engaging in legitimate SEO rise to the top of rankings, notes Joshua Steimle in a Forbes post.
"If you're the best at what you do, these updates Google has been rolling out are opportunities to separate yourself from your competition. They may have been engaging in spammy tactics to get good rankings, but if you've been focusing on creating content that provides real value to potential customers, their days are numbered," Steimle writes. "These changes will help you rise above, and the good news ... is if you've been doing the right things for your SEO, you don't need to change a thing."
What is it? In a separate move, Google began encrypting all<|fim_middle|>? Google's stated reason: "With Keyword Planner, we've combined the functionality of Keyword Tool and (the AdWords) Traffic Estimator to make it easier to plan search campaigns. That's why Keyword Tool is no longer available. You can use Keyword Planner to find new keyword and ad group ideas, get performance estimates for them to find the bid and budget that are right for you, and then add them to your campaigns."
Clearly, Keyword Planner is targeted directly at advertisers, not organic keyword research. Not surprisingly, some SEO professionals dislike at least parts of the new Keyword Planner. The old Keyword Tool was accessible to anyone, notes Andrew Youderian, founder of Spire Digital LLC, which owns several e-commerce businesses and blogger for his site eCommerceFuel.com. But Keyword Planner requires a Google AdWords account (which is free) to use.
Youderian also notes that, unlike the Keyword Tool, Keyword Planner no longer lets you segment keyword search volume data by desktop, tablet and mobile. This had been useful to determine what percentage of search traffic for a keyword came from mobile devices, he says.
The Keyword Planner does retain some utility for organic keyword research. For example, Burr notes, you can now view keyword volume on a "hyper-local basis," which helps businesses "get a better idea of the volume and competition in their geographic area."
What does it mean for SEO? You don't have to buy an ad to explore Keyword Planner's keyword research data. Instead, set up an AdWords account (if you haven't already) and use Keyword Planner to research keyword search volumes.
Other free keyword research tools to consider include the Bing Keyword Research tool (which requires a Bing Webmaster Tools account), Wordtracker and SEMRush.
Read more about google apps in CIO's Google Apps Drilldown. | search query data, except for clicks on Google AdWords ads, starting in late August. This means the keywords you type in a Google query are now protected by SSL encryption, even if you're not signed into your Google account.
Presumably, Google's goal was to block spying. (Heads up, NSA!) But many SEO experts believe Google had another motive: Turning off the spigot of useful, free data about keywords to SEO professionals and instead encouraging them to take out paid AdWords campaigns.
What does it do? Search data encryption effectively kills the nonpaid (also known as "organic") keyword data that many online marketers relied on in their site's Google Analytics.
Until the recent move to search data encryption, Google Analytics displayed the number of visits each keyword or search phrase delivered to a site during a given time period; the percentage of new visits resulting from the keyword phrase; the bounce rate (or percentage of visits in which the visitor only looked at one page); and so on.
For example, a career coach with a site focused on that topic could look at Google Analytics keyword data to see which keywords brought the most traffic: career coach, career counselor, life coach, resume writing and so on. This info was useful to determine which target keywords actually brought visitors to the site - or to discover keywords that deliver traffic but for which the site has not yet created content.
Once Google flipped the all-encryption, all-the-time switch, though, Google Analytics keyword data was completely altered. Instead of seeing a list of phrases such as career coach and career counselor, users see one thing: (not provided). In short: No more keyword data in Google Analytics to help develop and fine-tune your content.
However, Google continues to provide keyword traffic data to those who buy pay-per-click (PPC) Google ads. That's why some speculate that Google's real reason for fully encrypted search is to drive AdWords sales.
What does it mean for SEO? "The encryption of all keyword data is a blow to SEO professionals and webmasters, a clear renewed declaration of war on the SEO industry," DeMers says. "It's a message that Google doesn't want people to obsess over individual keywords but, rather, on simply creating and publishing awesome content."
Analysis: What Is Content Marketing, and Why Does Your Business Need It?
Neil Patel, writing on the QuickSprout blog, offers three steps to take in the wake of "not provided:"
Stop worrying about Google. "If you have an awesome service or product, you're producing great content, and you're building legitimate and relevant links, you should do fine," Patel notes. "Plus, if you aren't ranking for all of your keywords, it doesn't mean that you won't do well as a business."
Create "awesome" content. "Instead of spending your money on paying SEO firms to build or buy links, you should focus on creating awesome content as it will generate more social shares and natural links," Patel advises. This, in turn, can help your content rank highly in search queries.
Turn to alternative sources for keyword data. Google Webmaster Tools still provides some keyword data, including a list of top keywords, the number of impressions and clicks each keyword delivered, the click-through rate and average position. Just log into Webmaster Tools and go to Search Traffic > Search Queries.
What is it? Google Keyword Planner is the successor to Google's AdWords Keyword Tool.
The AdWords Keyword tool had been "the foundation of SEO campaigns" for years, DeMers says. "Because it was free and provided all the information necessary to conduct keyword research, it was the first place most SEO professionals visited when planning a new SEO campaign."
For example, many SEO professionals used the Keyword tool to discover the local or global search volumes for specific keyword phrases and how competitive each phrase was.
But in late August, after months of warning, Google deep-sixed its AdWords Keyword Tool completely and replaced it with the Google AdWords Keyword Planner.
What does it do? Google Keyword Planner lets AdWords campaign owners research relevant keywords for their ads, group them, estimate traffic the keywords will generate and more.
Why the switch | 846 |
| How-To - Project Vehicles
Project Porsche 944 Turbo Part 5: More exhaust testing and a sturdier clutch
To recap, for those in the back of the room: Unlike a belt-driven blower, a turbocharger relies on exhaust gases to spin its turbine wheel. This turbine wheel is mated to a compressor wheel, which spins as well and forces huge amounts of atmosphere into the engine. In other words, it makes boost. The sooner you can get that turbo to spin, the sooner your motor will experience manifold pressure above atmospheric norm (boost)--and building boost quickly is a good thing for performance.
From the front all the way to the muffler, the fit was perfect. A little fab work had to done to the inlet side of the muffler to mount it to the factory exhaust mounts and point the tip out correctly. Precision Motion charges about 3 hours labor for this kind of installation.
One of the easier ways to improve turbo response is to eliminate the most restrictive element in the exhaust system, the catalytic converter. California law prohibits driving on public roads with a cat-less exhaust system on<|fim_middle|> cars, I felt I couldn't go wrong with one of Centerforce's units. They're distinguished by a patented weight system that increases performance without increasing pedal effort, important for comfort as well as preventing premature wear on the release mechanism.
A clutch job on a 944 Turbo is a big job. Find a very reputable Porsche shop to do it. Precision Motion did mine.
Realize, right now, that a 944 Turbo clutch install is a big job. The exhaust, rear subframe, transmission and differential housing all have to come off. It's about a 12-hr job, so make sure that anything which needs replacing gets replaced now. Registering over 80k miles on the odometer, it was no surprise that Project 951 showed a little wear on the clutch release mechanism, so I contacted Performance Products, which carries a wide choice of replacement, maintenance and restoration parts for Porsche and Mercedes-Benz cars. It also sells the Centerforce dual-friction clutch upgrade. Since Performance Products works hand-in-hand with some well-known Porsche dealers, the clutch-release products were sourced from The Auto Gallery, a Porsche dealer in Woodland Hills, Calif. To my delight, the parts arrived the very next day.
Notice the external cooling system for the transmission.
Precision Motion's Don Kravig finally got the car all put together and handed me the keys. Centerforce requires 400 miles of stop-and-go driving to fully break in the clutch, which I respected. Immediately, though, I was blown away at the soft feel of the clutch pedal--if she knew how to shift gears, my grandmother could even drive this car.
Centerforce reports its dual-friction clutch system is tested up to a 90% increase in clamping force, plenty for my peak torque expectations in the near future.
(At the time of this writing, the clutch system has been holding up fine, with torque outputs to the ground nearing the 300 lb-ft mark. I'll have more on those tests later.)
Installers:Precision Motion
•Estimated time:13 hours shop labor @ $90/hour = $1,170
Upgrade costs:
•Lindsey Exhaust: $659
•Thermal coating: $100
•Muffler inlet enlargement: $10
•Exhaust tip: $35
•Clutch: $1,290
•Clutch release mechanism: $380
•Throw out bearing, pilot bearing: $170
•Flywheel resurfacing and bolts: $80
Under load, the 3-in. Lindsey Racing exhaust system showed tremendous gains over the stock unit, even at a low 7.5 psi boost. | any car produced after 1973. The car can be driven on a private road or racetrack. As this car could very well end up on the track, I decided to test a racing exhaust system, supplied by Lindsey Racing, to investigate the difference between a corked and uncorked tailpipe. Testing would be conducted in Precision Motion's Porsche repair shop on its Clayton dynamometer.
The Lindsey Racing exhaust looked nothing short of a full racing system basically a 3-in. pipe from the downpipe back, with a free-flow muffler in the rear. This mild-steel exhaust is manufactured from aluminized exhaust tubing, making it much less expensive to build and much cheaper to buy than stainless steel.
Lindsey Racing offers this exhaust system in four different configurations. First is the basic, straight-through design, with no wastegate pipe tied in and no muffler. It's also the cheapest at just $459. The second system is identical except for wastegate piping to use with your stock or aftermarket wastegate. The third system features a high-flow muffler but no wastegate piping. Both the second and third systems are offered at $559. The fourth system, tested on Project 951, uses both the wastegate piping as well as a rear muffler and costs another $659. For an additional $200, Lindsey also offers a high-flow catalytic converter with any system. If you absolutely have to have stainless steel, Lindsey Racing also offers a 3-in., fully stainless-steel exhaust for a little less than $1,400. My pockets weren't quite that big, but the exhaust system I did order features Lindsey Racing's optional ceramic thermal coating to reduce heat radiation into the cockpit and extend the life of the exhaust system.
The Lindsey Exhaust System features a full, turbo downpipe-back system with a 3-in. diameter all the way through, and comes with a thermal coating option, which all but the muffler received. Although I decided to test a catless system, Lindsey offers four different versions of this exhaust system, including one with a high-flow catalytic converter.
Installation is fairly straightforward. The downpipe fit perfectly through the center section, but when Precision Motion owner Don Kravig got to the rear muffler, a little fab work was required. Since the muffler wasn't aligning perfectly with the center section, it would have placed the tip to the right of its normal location. To remedy this, I took the muffler to a local exhaust shop, Redlands Muffler, and had them simply stretch the 3-in. opening of the inlet side about another 1/2 in. This allowed the muffler to be pivoted more towards the exhaust tip opening, after which Don welded it to seal it completely. As a result, the last section--the exhaust tip--came out nicely through the exhaust opening under the factory rear valance.
Compared to many exhaust systems, this Lindsey setup is quite inexpensive. The one aspect of it I didn't care entirely for, however, was the raw look of the tip--it was merely the end of the piping. And although the silver color of the thermal coating helps its appearance, I decided to keep the tip as factory looking as possible. When I was at Redlands Muffler, I found the perfect tip for $35. Don hacked off a piece of the tail end of the Lindsey system and welded the new tip in place.
The Lindsey Racing exhaust tip was basically an open pipe, so I decided to purchase a $35 exhaust tip from an exhaust shop nearby, which I felt looked similar to the factory tip.
On the dyno, Don tested the exhaust the same way he tested the B&B system in Part 4 (ec, 03/04), which stayed on the car. Don tested it against a load at certain rpm intervals and recorded the sustained horsepower, measured by the computer. As expected, the release of so much backpressure from removal of the cat did little down low, but we didn't see a loss anywhere else, either. It was after 3000 rpm when the true value of the system became apparent. Thanks to the Lindsey exhaust, the turbo came to life much sooner and showed tremendous gains through redline, peaking at 208 whp at 6400 rpm with just 7.5 psi boost. This compares to 163 whp with the previous 2.5-in stock exhaust system and B&B headers.
Don was impressed. "With the stock exhaust and with the B&B 2.5-in header system, you had nice low-end power and mid-range torque, but there was no reason for going past 6000 rpm with either system. But with a cat-less 3-in. system, you now can take this car to redline and continue making horsepower." It takes about 30 sec. to unload a car from Don's Clayton dyno, and it took about 35 sec. for me to get strapped in and drive off like a kid with a new toy. The difference was amazing: The much quicker spool-up felt as though a smaller turbo had made its way into the engine compartment, yet the top-end pull was reminiscent of a bigger turbo. From 3000 rpm on, there was power all over the place.
The sound from inside the car was now incredible, more than a match for the aural assault. I had ridden in a Ferrari F40 just a couple of days before, and I couldn't stop thinking about it from inside the Porsche's cockpit. On the outside, it was a different story. The car sounded tremendously aggressive, even though the muffler was doing a spectacular job of quieting things down--we tried it uncorked, and dogs went into hiding for miles around. I may be adding a small center muffler sometime in the near future to bring down the decibels (remember, this is my wife's car, too).
The Centerforce high-performance clutch system features its patented weight system, which, along with its use of dual-friction materials on the clutch disc, allows for high clamping forces without a stiff pedal.
Running with a cat-less system also affects throttle response and air/fuel mixtures, so retuning the Kokeln-supplied Link Engine Management system will be a must before turning up the boost.
With so much more power (and much more on the way), I began to fear for some driveline components. Surely the transmission and differential were handling it with ease; my main concern was with the clutch, especially since it had endured lots of hard miles.
Enter Centerforce. With its extensive background in manufacturing clutches for the street and for race | 1,394 |
The imminent repeal of the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) is only one of several radical, and potentially harmful, changes to the way we regulate, manage, and pay for essential medical products and services being considered by our newly elected President and his majority in Congress. If they are to have any hope of succeeding, they need be careful to avoid discarding the many things that actually work well in our existing healthcare system. Similarly, Tom Price,<|fim_middle|> one of many innovative programs to manage costs that have emerged under the guidance of existing HHS policies. These programs, and the savings they would deliver, could easily be lost.
If Mr. Price and our government really have the best interests of the American public at heart, they should proceed cautiously as they chart a new course for our healthcare system. | the incoming head of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), should identify and keep the agency's successful initiatives to manage costs that are already underway. Failing to do so risks putting medical care back out of reach for many low- and middle-class citizens, and introducing market uncertainty that would stifle the investment and innovation that fuels the medical industry.
One example of HHS's existing cost-containment initiatives is Medicare's experiments with value-based payment models. This alternative to the fee-for-service payment model that has dominated our industry seeks to compensate healthcare providers for the outcomes they deliver rather than the number of visits, prescriptions, or devices they provide. Creating incentive structures to improve the quality of care while reducing unnecessary expenditures has proven to be difficult, and there are concerns they may not work well for some complex disorders. Nevertheless, trials dating back as early as 2004 have shown promise for providing more effective preventative care and management of chronic diseases at a lower cost.
To get a closer look at how these initiatives are stimulating private sector innovation, I spoke with representatives from Johnson & Johnson about the company's recently introduced CareAdvantage program. This free service helps medical professionals and hospitals navigate Medicare's new payment model while providing them with the resources they need to optimize the management of patient outcomes, costs, and satisfaction across the total episode of care.
When applied to orthopedic procedures, such as knee replacement, the program helps providers examine the entire care chain and identify places where improvements in surgical practices, as well as pre- and post-operative care can boost the odds of a successful outcome. It also identifies opportunities to streamline workflow, eliminate duplicate services, and consolidate supplier contracts.
and guide patients through preparation and recovery from orthopedic surgery. The program makes similar resources available to help patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, to better manage their condition and minimize the need for acute care.
While the program is still in its early stages, J&J says CareAdvantage is already delivering promising results. The company reports it helped a group of 25 facilities within the National Health System reduce the infection rates for hip, knee, colon and hysterectomy procedures by 37.5 percent. Meanwhile, one of the hospitals participating in the program has documented a direct savings of $1,000 per episode of care for hip fractures. Other facilities are using the program's data-driven tools to dramatically reduce patient's incidence of readmission.
CareAdvantage is only | 497 |
This Timber Frame hand hew dovetail log home is situated on the top of a ridge line with fabulous views in all directions. It is a "One Of A Kind" log cabin ever built here in Colorado by Larry Ash.Designed with "Old Fashioned Values" but modern living! Exhibition kitchen with granite counters and custom oak cabinets, rock fireplace, distressed solid oak floors, dual master suites main floor and upstairs. Master suite downstairs has a rock dual-head shower;master suite upstairs has a Jacuzzi tub to bathe in while looking at the views plus a large walk-in shower. The second story office area can be used as more living area or overflow of guests. Bonus room above the garage has four self-lowering twin bunk beds for the kids in<|fim_middle|> could play their games and watch TV without disturbing the rest of the house. We especially enjoyed the views from the wrap around covered porch. We could see the sunrise from the front porch and the sunset from the back porch. The views of the fall foliage were amazing. We would highly recommend this cabin. We plan on coming back in the spring to sit out on that amazing porch and enjoy the views.
We we so pleasantly welcomed by every amenity we could need. We love our fires in the fireplace and there was firewood for collecting on the property. We love our music and there was a sound system we could use. We love to cook and we had everything we needed to cook meals for our bunch. We love our privacy and the rooms were spacious, and set away from the kids bunk room. The property was a real getaway for the views or in our case for skiing. We will definitely be back! Thank you so much!
We had a wonderful vacation at this stunning property. The views alone from the cabin made the experience worth while. The cabin was unique, quaint and clean with thoughtful personal touches. This cabin exceeded all of our expectations. We can't wait until our next vacation here and will definitely utilize this particular property for years to come! | your family. Rap-around covered deck accessed from front and back of home with ramp coming off a two car garage for handicap friendly access. No smoking, absolutely no pets and no air-conditioning in this home, ceiling fans through-out half bath office kitchen area. This home sits on 5.25 AC with views from 2 sides. Gas barbecue grill in garage, which needs to be taken outside to cook on, watch out for the bears please clean grill after use, there will be an extra charge if you don't.
This home will sleep 10 individuals in 3 queen beds one being a sofa sleeper in the loft with a double futon next to it. Big bunk room has 4 hand lowered twin beds, HDTV with DVD player great for kids. Living room area has large wood burning fireplace, 65 inch HDTV with satellite, DVD player, WiFi and surround stereo for your enjoyment. The 2 car garage has space for 1 car with a Ping Pong table on the other side for your pleasure.
We spent a wonderful week at Rocky Mountain Way in early October. It is out in the country on a ridge,so quite and peaceful, but yet only 4 miles from the closest grocery store.This cabin is loaded with modern amenities and rustic charm. Love all the attention to the small details and the well stocked kitchen that has every dish, pot/pan, and utensil that you would need. The two master bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms were a bonus. We stayed in the downstairs master bedroom that had the rock shower. Loved that rustic charm. The huge bunk room for the kids was on the other side of the house so the kids | 338 |
DWF is seeking to recruit a Paralegal to work in the Debt Recovery team in the Belfast office.
We are ideally seeking applications from candidates with Debt Recovery experience in handling claims both pre-litigation and litigated claims, and with a working knowledge of the Northern Ireland court procedures. We will consider candidates who have relevant experience either on the Claimant or Defendant side.
We are seeking a candidate who can demonstrate a real interest in this type of work, who is a team player with strong communication skills and attention to detail. We are also seeking a candidate who is familiar with working in a commercial environment. We want someone who can work and organise their caseload independently, not just someone who will do tasks assigned to them under close supervision.
Main function of job: To progress cases, under supervision, to an effective and satisfactory conclusion for clients whilst providing and maintaining management information under the terms of client service level agreements.
Action all cases in line with practice group/client service standards and protocols.
Use of the Case Management system and / or use of standard documentation wherever appropriate to maximise cost efficiency.
Proactively settle/assist in the settlement of cases to the satisfaction of the client whilst further developing legal technical knowledge.
Analyse risk and develop sound judgement to justify decisions in the management of cases.
Prioritise work efficiently and effectively to ensure client service level agreements and deadlines are met.
Understand the<|fim_middle|> to our business outside of this process. | role in the context of the practice group and proactively seek to increase contribution via the allocation of work.
Work flexibly in adjusting to changes in priority of workload as dictated by the practice group.
We are actively recruiting and keen to hear from you, please apply!
DWF is an award-winning legal business with a strong reputation for excellent client service and effective operational management. There are now over 2,900 people within DWF, based in 26 key locations across the globe.
Nurturing talent is very important to us. We are committed to equal opportunities in all areas of work and business. We want people to achieve their best, which will positively impact on our clients and communities in which we live and work. At DWF we empower people to be themselves within an inclusive and supportive environment, enabling everyone to achieve their full potential in line with their abilities and career aspirations.
We will make reasonable adjustments to help you perform at your best. Please contact the DWF Recruitment team and tell us what adjustments you need either to submit an application for a vacancy, or if you require any reasonable adjustment should you be invited to interview. We are committed to an ongoing programme of improvements to provide access to all.
We operate a strict preferred supplier list and we will only accept CV's from agencies who we have agreed terms with and who we have instructed to assist us with this recruitment. All introductions should be made direct to the Talent Acquisition team and we will not pay a fee for any CV's sent | 303 |
World shares rose modestly while the dollar fell on Tuesday as the initial impact of a massive storm in the United States looked to have been less severe than feared.
The greenback also traded at a one-week low against the yen after the Bank of Japan disappointed many investors by easing policy less aggressively than they had hoped after a slump in factory output and exports during September.
However, activity was subdued everywhere since U.S. share and bond markets were closed on Tuesday as one of the biggest storms to hit the country, codenamed Sandy, left large areas of New York City without power or public transport.
The FTSEurofirst 300 index of top European shares <.FTEU3> was up 0.6 percent at 1,100.12 points and, after gains earlier in Asia, the MSCI world equity index <.MIWD00000PUS> had risen 0.25 percent to 328.68 points.
Strategists said it was too early to tell what impact the destruction caused by Sandy might have on markets.
"Volumes are very low with Wall Street (closed), which makes today's gains quite fragile, and the potential impact of the storm for the insurance sector, estimated at around $20 billion, has not been priced in yet," said Patrice Perois, trader at Kepler Capital Markets in Paris.
Demand for the dollar and U.S. bonds tends to rise in times of reduced appetite to take on risk, but if widespread damage prompts speculation the U.S. Federal Reserve could ease monetary policy further to shore up the economy, they could fall back.
Across European stock markets attention was on corporate earnings with results from well known names like Deutsche Bank , Swiss banking giant UBS and oil major BP lifting prices. UBS shares leapt over five percent as it confirmed a plan to cut 10,000 jobs.
The UK's FTSE 100 index was up 0.6 percent, Germany's DAX index up 0.9 percent, and the Switzerland's SMI up 0.47 percent.
In currency markets, the yen rose broadly after a new plan from the Bank of Japan to increase its asset purchases by 11 trillion yen ($138 billion) disappointed some market players who had positioned for a more aggressive increase.
"It was a very skeptical response to the BOJ policy meeting, made worse by the fact they have revised lower the growth and inflation outlook," said Jane Foley, senior currency strategist at Rabobank. "That has seen the yen unwind a lot of the softer tone we saw going into this meeting."
The dollar hit a one-week low of 7<|fim_middle|>uckes, strategist at Societe Generale.
German government bonds, the benchmark of European fixed-income markets, were also little changed and Italy was able to sell 7 billion euros of new five- and 10-year government bonds at the lowest cost since May 2011.
The positive Italian auction came despite former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's threat on the weekend to bring down the technocratic government of Mario Monti.
"The market will have to get used to higher volatility as Italy approaches elections next spring," said Chiara Manenti, bond analyst at Intesa SanPaolo.
Italian 10-year yields were 3 basis points lower on the day at 4.98 percent, having risen about 25 basis points in the last two weeks.
In oil markets, prices were mostly steady as traders awaited news of the damage inflicted by Sandy, one of the biggest storms ever recorded in the United States, on refineries and pipelines. A drop in demand caused by the storm had kept prices soft.
Brent oil fell 17 cents to $109.27 a barrel while U.S. crude was down 1 cent at $85.53.
"People are just holding back a little bit to see if there's any real damage and impact, and at the moment it's too hard to see," said Bjarne Schieldrop, an analyst at SEB in Oslo.
"It's very clear that it's a very vast energy infrastructure network in that region and it's going to be impacted in some way, in terms of all the logistics to transport oil and oil products," he added. | 9.25 yen and was down 0.3 percent against a basket of major currencies at 79.67 points.
The weaker dollar helped the European common currency climb 0.3 percent to $1.2935, with lower yields on Spanish and Italian bonds adding to the better mood.
But gains for the euro are still expected to be limited by continuing questions over whether Greece can agree a deal on more austerity, and when Spain might request financial aid.
New data on Spain's economic performance released on Tuesday confirmed the recession has extended into a third quarter, with inflation staying high.
However, 10-year Spanish yields were little changed at 5.66 percent.
"Spain's economy is suffering terribly, which will continue to hit government revenues, and a modest decline in bond yields will not solve the problem," said Kit J | 176 |
Princeton (USA) won the Huaian 3x3 Challenger after edging out Liman (SRB) 21-19 in the final in Huaian, China on May 12-13, 2018.
After splitting games on<|fim_middle|> (May 19-20) with the Moscow Open Challenger in Russia and the Sydney Challenger in Australia.
Interestingly, 5 different teams have won the first 5 Challengers of the season (Saskatoon (CAN), Riga (LAT), Piran (SLO), Liman (SRB) and Princeton (USA)). | Day 1 (including a 17-16 loss against Liman), the US national champs went off in the knock-out rounds. They beat three Top 8 teams in a row, including the #1 squad in the world in the semi-finals (Novi Sad) and the #2 in the final (Liman).
The title game was a nail-biter. No team would ever take a 4-point lead. With Princeton up 20-19, it was fitting that the 6ft 8in (2.04m) Kareem Maddox took his responsibilities, drove to the basket, drew a foul and finished the game from the line.
The 28-year-old 3x3 rookie was a joint top scorer in Huaian (tied with Liman's Stefan Stojacic) and took home the MVP trophy.
It was Princeton's first-ever title on the 3x3 pro circuit. With this win, they not only put 10,000 USD in the bag but also secured a ticket to the Kuala Lumpur Masters, their 3rd World Tour spot already this season (after qualifying to the Mexico City and Saskatoon Masters).
Despite losing in the final, Liman achieved their goal of qualifying for their 4th Masters this year (Chengdu, Kuala Lumpur, Prague and Utsunomiya).
The early season struggles continued for former World Tour winners Novi Sad (SRB) – finished 3rd and failed to secure an extra World tour ticket for the 3rd time in a row – and Ljubljana (SLO), who didn't even make it out of the pools.
On the bright side, Moscow Inanomo (RUS) continued to impress, making it from the qualifying draw to the knock-out rounds for the 3rd time in a row (2nd in Nanjing, 5th in Wuxi and 6th in Huaian). The young Ljubljana East team (SLO) achieved their best result ever on the pro circuit with a surprise 4th place finish.
There will be 2 more challengers this weekend | 447 |
Natural from Day One
Meeting babies' expectations
Team of Natural Experts
WHAT IS A BABY LINIMENT?
Baby liniment, originally<|fim_middle|> made in the USA!
Do you want to know more about baby's skincare? Check out this article on cleaning your baby's skin.
TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL BREASTFEEDING
THE MINIMALIST BABY
DOES MY BABY NEED A PACIFIER? | called oleo calcareous liniment is a mixture of Oil (traditionally olive oil) and limestone water. In this mixture, limestone water works as a weak base (a little chemistry) and produces a similar reaction like what happens when we make soap.
Liniment has a yellowish oily appearance, usually fragrance-free, but can have some other components added to it as glycerin or Aloe vera extract to increase its benefits. When made completely natural, liniment tends to separate into oily components that can be mixed back together before using with a gentle shake. Even when it has a basic pH this is useful when it comes to preventing diaper rash as urine and sometimes feces (especially loosen stools) are highly acidic and this helps to keep the skin in balance.
What makes it perfect for diaper changes is its cleaning and protective ability. The liniment is capable to remove feces from the skin quickly and leaves a protective oily film that will repel humidity. It's usually applied with cotton squares but is perfectly compatible with cleaning cloth and cloth diapers. Liniment can also be made with exclusively natural products what makes it a safer alternative to baby wipes or depending on your preferences using it after wiping to protect the diaper area and prevent diaper rash as a lotion.
Ok, we get it, it's great! But where do I find it? There are a few alternatives in the American market, we propose a Vegan, completely toxin free one. It's called Baby Booty and it's enriched with Shea Butter and Aloe Vera, it's especially effective and proudly | 314 |
Courtesy: Paul Santoro - PREA Realty, Inc.
ANNOUNCING an Exciting Redesigned Condo in Laguna Woods Village! A "NEW HOME" design that was once a Casa Vista model (larger than a Casa Del Mar and Casa Linda) PLUS additional space of approximately 100 Sq ft in the Enclosed Custom designed Patio Garden Room adding more living area.!<|fim_middle|>!!
El Toro west -cross Moulton to Gate 7 Calle Sonora, left on Alta Vista left on Via Carrizo. Agents need a pass or use your wallet size DRE license card.
I am interested in 3306 Via Carrizo UNIT P, Laguna Woods, CA 92637. | - This single level home has no one above or below and no steps - A lovely greenbelt view with large shade trees - Very Private and Quiet location! Architecturally, this light and airy home has many special features - an Open-Area living space with fashionable distressed 'wood look' high quality laminate flooring - a Custom Entertainment Center accented by a Fireplace ensconced in a stone tiled wall - the Chef's Kitchen includes a center island breakfast bar with cabinets that has been moved towards the kitchen to give more open space. -Newly designed closet/pantry, new appliances - Granite counter tops - Farmers sink - Designer Cabinets - a continuous row of custom cabinets encompasses the Dining area - - Recessed lighting highlights every room with ceiling fans in both bedrooms and Patio.. Skylights have been added to the kitchen, dining room, living room. -Both Bathrooms feature exquisite tile showers and floating vanities - Master walk in closet has organizers - Guest bedroom closet features built in shelving - Every detail meticulously handled - New Energy Efficient windows - Central Heating & Cooling - DO NOT MISS out on this beautiful and artfully designed home. CHECK OUT THE DETAILS | 231 |
Celebrate Independence With This Week's Red Dead Online Update
Apex Legends<|fim_middle|>Cyberpunk 2077Refused
Chris Hyde | Season 2 brings a new Legend, Ranked Leagues and more
Cyberpunk 2077's in-game band music to be created with Swedish rock group Refused
by Chris Hyde on July 2, 2019
CD Projekt Red has today announced it will be working with Swedish punk rock group Refused in order to bring its own in-game band SAMURAI to life in Cyberpunk 2077. The collaboration involves writing, recording and producing music to culminate in a SAMURAI EP, complete with original material.
Fans were already treated to a teaser of one of the tracks, "Chippin' In" as part of the game's E3 Cinematic trailer. To coincide with today's announcement, this track is also now available on selected digital stores and streaming services.
Check out the Youtube video of the track below:
Cyberpunk 2077 is launching on PC, PS4 and Xbox One on April 16, 2020.
cd projektCD projekt red | 213 |
Fun Things to Do in Phoenix, AZ
UTI Avondale Info
MMI Phoenix Info
Federal School Codes
Known as the Valley of the Sun, there are plenty of fun things to do in Phoenix AZ. From art museums to beautiful hikes to the thrill of the racetrack, this city has it all. Residents and tourists alike love Phoenix for its warm temperatures, stunning desert landscapes and vibrant city life.
Arizona is home to two Universal Technical Campuses: UTI Avondale and Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) Phoenix. Whether you're interested in automotive, diesel, welding or motorcycle, Arizona has the program and campus for you.
At both UTI and MMI, we encourage students to have a balance between work and play. After all, your student experience should be enjoyable! Whether you're a current Phoenix resident or will be traveling from another state to attend UTI, this guide is for you. Read along as we share some fun things to do in Phoenix when you need a study break.
Papago Park
Papago Park is a desert park that spans over 1200 acres. The park is known for its variety of desert plants, picnic areas, hiking trails, small lakes and more. If you want to get a glimpse of<|fim_middle|>.gov, viewed October 24, 2017.
14) Incentive programs and employee eligibility are at the discretion of the employer and available at select locations. Special conditions may apply. Talk to potential employers to learn more about the programs available in your area. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.
16) Not all programs are NATEF accredited.
17) Program start dates vary by campus.
18) Based on comparison with graduates from core programs between October 1, 2007, and September 30, 2015. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.
19) Students who are near graduation, have no outstanding obligations to the school, and who have not previously taken part in a tool voucher program on any UTI/MMI/NASCAR Tech affiliated campus may be eligible to participate in the UTI Tool Voucher Program.
20) VA benefits may not be available at all campus locations.
21) GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website.
22) Discount does not apply at Exton, PA campus. The Avondale Campus has a Yellow Ribbon Program that a Veteran student can choose to use rather than applying the 10% discount.
23) Prior to starting or re-enrolling, Tennessee residents attending the Orlando or Houston campus must provide official high school transcripts, GED scores or state-authorized equivalent exam scores. In addition, all students attending the NASCAR Tech campus must provide official high school transcripts, GED scores or state-authorized equivalent exam scores prior to starting or re- enrolling.
24) Graduates of NASCAR Technical Institute's Automotive Technology program and Automotive Technology with NASCAR (the NASCAR Technology program) are qualified to work as entry-level service technicians in automotive repair facilities or automotive dealer service departments. Graduates from the NASCAR program have additional opportunities to work in racing-related industries. Of the students who elected to take the NASCAR-specific elective courses and graduated during 2015, approximately 15% found employment opportunities in racing-related industries. The overall employment rate for NASCAR Technical Institute was 89% for 2015.
25) Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016 wage data for Automotive Body and Related Repairers. UTI graduates are prepared for entry-level positions using the provided training. Median and 90th percentile figures are provided for illustrative purposes only to show a possible career progression. Results may vary. The average entry level salary in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is $32,820 (Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development Website as of May 2017). The most recent U.S. Department of Labor estimate, published May 2016, for the hourly earnings in North Carolina of the middle 50% of skilled collision technicians is $22.56. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish entry-level salary data, however the 25th percentile is $17.18. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.
26) Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016 wage data for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers. UTI graduates are prepared for entry-level positions using the provided training. Median and 90th percentile figures are provided for illustrative purposes only to show a possible career progression. Results may vary. The average entry level salary in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is $32,820 (Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development Website as of November 2017). The most recent U.S. Department of Labor estimate, published May 2016, for the hourly earnings in North Carolina of the middle 50% of skilled welders is $18.49. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish entry-level salary data, however the 25th percentile is $15.48. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.
27) Does not include time required to complete a qualifying prerequisite program such as UTI's 48-week Motorcycle Technician training program.
28) Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016 wage data for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. UTI graduates are prepared for entry-level positions using the provided training. Median and 90th percentile figures are provided for illustrative purposes only to show a possible career progression. Results may vary. The average entry level salary in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is $29,120 (Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development Website as of May 2017). The most recent U.S. Department of Labor estimate, published May 2016, for the hourly earnings in North Carolina of the middle 50% of skilled automotive technicians is $18.13. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish entry-level salary data, however the 25th percentile is $13.05. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.
29) Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016 wage data for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists. UTI graduates are prepared for entry-level positions using the provided training. Median and 90th percentile figures are provided for illustrative purposes only to show a possible career progression. Results may vary. The average entry level salary in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is $38,930 (Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development Website as of May 2017). The most recent U.S. Department of Labor estimate, published May 2016, for the hourly earnings in North Carolina of the middle 50% of skilled diesel technicians is $20.04. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish entry-level salary data, however the 25th percentile is $16.47. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.
30) Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016 wage data for Motorcycle Mechanics. MMI graduates are prepared for entry-level positions using the provided training. Median and 90th percentile figures are provided for illustrative purposes only to show a possible career progression. Results may vary. The average entry level salary in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is $28,290 (Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development Website as of May 2017). The most recent U.S. Department of Labor estimate, published May 2016, for the hourly earnings in North Carolina of the middle 50% of skilled motorcycle technicians is $16.26. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish entry-level salary data, however the 25th percentile is $13.31. UTI/MMI cannot guarantee employment or salary.
31) Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2016 wage data for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians. MMI graduates are prepared for entry-level positions using the provided training. Median and 90th percentile figures are provided for illustrative purposes only to show a possible career progression. Results may vary. The average entry level salary in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is $31,870 (Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development Website as of May 2017). The most recent U.S. Department of Labor estimate, published May 2016, for the hourly earnings in North Carolina of the middle 50% of skilled marine technicians is $16.42. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish entry-level salary data, however the 25th percentile is $12.97. UTI/MMI cannot guarantee employment or salary.
32) Summer Ignite participants must satisfy standard eligibility criteria prior to acceptance into UTI. | the Phoenix desert, this is the place to do so. While you're exploring, be sure to check out Hole-in-the-Rock—a natural rock formation that has created holes large enough to walk through in the hills.
Opened in 1962, the Phoenix Zoo is the largest privately owned, non-profit zoo in the U.S. African Lions, Bald Eagles, Bighorn Sheep, and Prairie Dogs are just some of the many animals that reside here. General admission typically falls within the $25 price range, however the zoo often offers discounts and you can find great deals on Groupon!
Arizona Science Center
In the heart of downtown Phoenix, you'll find the Arizona Science Center—a science museum that is home to over 350 hands-on exhibits and interactive experiences. The museum hosts a variety of events throughout the year, from 'Mummies After Hours' to 'Girls in STEM.' Visiting the museum is not only fun, but it's also educational.
Chase Field
While you're in downtown Phoenix, be sure to also check out Chase Field. Opened in 1998, the field is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the city's Major League Baseball team. In fact, Chase Field was the first stadium built in the U.S. with a retractable roof over natural grass. Concerts, college sports and professional sports are just some of the many events that take place here.
Piestewa Peak Park
If you enjoy hiking, you'll love Piestewa Peak Park. This park offers miles of trails and a beautiful 2,608 foot summit. It's the perfect place to get outside and enjoy the beautiful Arizona weather. If you're looking for free things to do in Phoenix, this is a great option.
Castles n Coasters
Castles n Coasters is every thrill seeker's dream! From its double loop roller coaster Desert Storm to their water log ride Splashdown, this amusement park has it all. One of its most famous attractions is Sky Diver, which takes you to extreme heights and drops you nearly 120 feet without warning. The park also has mini golf and an arcade filled with games.
Camelback Mountain isn't for the faint at heart. The mountain was named after its unique shape, which resembles the hump and head of a kneeling camel. Located between the Arcadia neighborhood and Paradise Valley, it's a popular destination for hiking and rock climbing.
Turf Paradise is a thoroughbred and quarter horse racetrack in the Deer Valley area. The track is open seven days a week, and live race season takes place between October and May. The grandstands offer plenty of multi-tiered seating both indoors and outdoors, allowing you to get close to the action. Admission prices vary based on the day of the week, however they typically range from free to $5 per person.
Phoenix Art Museum is home to over 19,000 works of art. At 285,000 square feet, it's the largest art museum in the southwestern United States! The galleries feature the works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern and contemporary art and fashion design. Each time you visit the museum, you'll find something new! Tickets to enter cost between $18-23.
Located in Papago Park, Desert Botanical Garden is a 140-acre garden with more than 50,000 plants. One-third of the plants are native to the area, including collections of agave and cacti. In addition to strolling the gardens, you can also attend events that range from night flashlight tours to photography courses.
Canyon Raceway MX Park
Canyon Raceway MX Park is a historic outdoor track that puts on a variety of car races and classes throughout the year. Both the practice schedule and race schedule can be found on the track's website, which are updated regularly.
Located in Avondale, ISM Raceway is a mile long, low-banked tri-oval race track. The track opened in 1964 and hosts two NASCAR weekends each year. They have also hosted CART, IndyCar Series, USAC and the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Fans can stay up to speed by regularly checking the track's website to find out about upcoming events.
Arizona Motorsports Park
Last but certainly not least, Arizona Motorsports Park offers a 2.26 mile, 16 turn, 40 ft. wide, road course that can be divided into two sub tracks. It's the largest driving pad of its kind in the Southwest! If you have a love for racing, you'll feel right at home on this track.
That completes our round-up of paid and fun free things to do in Phoenix for students! Enjoy exploring all the city has to offer.
Want to learn more about UTI Avondale or MMI Phoenix? Request more information today.
Want to Learn More About UTI Avondale or MMI Phoenix?
Want to find out more about continuing your education in Arizona? Just click the link below or call (800) 834-7308 to speak with one of our friendly Admissions Representatives.
Fun Things to Do in Phoenix Arizona
2) For important information about the educational debt, earnings and completion rates of students who attended this program, visit our website at www.uti.edu/disclosures.
3) Approximately 8,600 of the 9,200 UTI graduates in 2016 were available for employment. At the time of reporting, approximately 7,400 were employed within one year of their graduation date, for a total of 86%. This rate excludes graduates not available for employment because of continuing education, military service, health, incarceration, death or international student status. The rate includes graduates who completed manufacturer-specific advanced training programs and those employed in positions that were obtained before or during their UTI education, where the primary job duties after graduation align with the educational and training objectives of the program. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.
4) UTI's Automotive Technology program is 51-weeks. Core program length varies by subject. For example, Diesel & Industrial Technology is 45-weeks and Automotive/Diesel Technology is 75- weeks.
5) UTI programs prepare graduates for careers in industries using the provided training, primarily as automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. Some UTI graduates get jobs within their field of study in positions other than as a technician, such as: parts associate, service writer, fabricator, paint and paint prep, and shop owner/operator. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.
6) UTI graduates' achievements may vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on personal credentials and economic factors. Work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer and their compensation programs affect wages. UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary.
8) Does not include time required to complete a qualifying prerequisite program such as UTI's 51-week Automotive Technology program.
9) Does not include time required to complete a qualifying prerequisite program such as UTI's 45-week Diesel Technology program.
11) See program details for eligibility requirements and conditions that may apply.
13) Based on data compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2016-2026), www.bls | 1,526 |
Black<|fim_middle|>/canyon environment, Black Diamond Equipment has assumed a leadership role in the international outdoor community. For more information on Black Diamond Equipment, visit BlackDiamondEquipment.com | Diamond Announces Key Promotions to its Senior Leadership Team
John L DiCuollo
Backbone Media, LLC
970.963.4873 x118 (o)
970.948.2350 (m)
Black Diamond Equipment®, a global innovator in climb, ski, and mountain sports equipment, is pleased to announce key promotions to its senior leadership team in Black Diamond's sales and operations divisions. Industry veteran Brian Block was appointed to vice-president of sales for North America, while eleven-year Black Diamond employee Fabian Garza was named vice-president of operations.
"Brian's 29 years of industry experience, penchant for building relationships and passion for climbing and the sports that BD serves, are obvious merits for this role. He's always moving and therefore the perfect person to lead sales for Black Diamond North America," states John Walbrecht, president of Black Diamond Equipment. "Fabian has been instrumental in solidifying a strong and dynamic supply chain, improved demand planning processes and systems across our entire organization. Most notable, is the way he along with the rest of our supply chain, sourcing, logistics, manufacturing, and warehouse teams have led us through the unprecedented challenges associated with COVID-19.
After working at Petzl as its sport division manager from 2015-2017, Block joined the Black Diamond team in 2017 where most recently he has been serving as the director of national accounts for North America including managing relationships with key partners REI and MEC. In his new position, Block will support Black Diamond's overall business with an emphasis on improved alignment in sales and distribution to better service its existing customer base.
With over six years of experience across planning, manufacturing, quality, maintenance, warehousing and logistics, Garza joined Black Diamond in 2010 after having served at Gregory Mountain Products since 2004. Garza started as a procurement manager and quickly ascended into the position of director of global supply chain and demand planning. With his new responsibilities, Garza will oversee the sourcing, planning, execution, and distribution of global inventory for Black Diamond Equipment, Black Diamond Europe and Pieps Austria.
"Great teams build great brands," adds Walbrecht. "We are excited to have both Brian and Fabian join Black Diamond's senior leadership team."
Black Diamond Equipment is a manufacturer of equipment and clothing for climbing, skiing and mountain sports. By consistently building innovative, standard-setting products and actively preserving the mountain | 515 |
Red<|fim_middle|> a fourth series in the new year. | Planet Pictures MD Tony Jordan has announced that two aspiring writers have been chosen as the joint winners of the company's annual writing competition.
The Red Planet Prize 2014, held in partnership with Kudos, has been jointly awarded to documentary editor Paul McIntyre and former film art executive Tracy Ann Baines.
Paul McIntyre's tense drama, The Family Next Door, tells the story of a woman who finds a mysterious hole leading to her neighbours' house – and a series of revelations about long-buried family secrets.
Tracy Ann Baines' script, called Iron Roads, is a bold nineteenth-century drama about the men on the frontline of the industrial revolution, building the iron roads for Britain's railways. This epic yet intimate tale highlights the role of these forgotten men and their families.
The Red Planet Prize is open to any UK writer and the winner is decided by an industry panel, including Tony Jordan, Kudos CEO Jane Featherstone and Channel 4's Deputy Head of Drama, Beth Willis.
Previous finalist Robert Thorogood created the BBC One smash hit series Death in Paradise, now starring Kris Marshall and produced by Red Planet Pictures, which returns to BBC One for | 237 |
Daily Ratings & News for Freshpet
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Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) Receives Average Recommendation of "Buy" from Brokerages
Pra Group Inc (NASDAQ:PRAA) Receives $35.00 Consensus Price Target from Analysts
FunFair (FUN) Market Capitalization Tops $18.47 Million
Analysts Set Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK) PT at $198.36
ProChain Trading Down 26.8% This Week<|fim_middle|> DA Davidson initiated coverage on shares of Nomad Foods in a report on Wednesday, June 19th. They set a buy rating and a $26.00 price target on the stock. Finally, TheStreet downgraded shares of Whitestone REIT from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Monday, April 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. The company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $43.57.
Shares of NASDAQ FRPT opened at $45.51 on Wednesday. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $46.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.72. The stock has a market cap of $1.65 billion, a PE ratio of -303.40 and a beta of 1.11. Freshpet has a 12-month low of $25.81 and a 12-month high of $51.85.
Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 6th. The company reported ($0.10) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.09) by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $54.80 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $54.28 million. Freshpet had a negative net margin of 2.57% and a negative return on equity of 4.46%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 26.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted ($0.10) earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Freshpet will post 0.06 EPS for the current fiscal year.
In other news, insider Scott James Morris sold 20,436 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.58, for a total transaction of $992,780.88. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 168,510 shares in the company, valued at $8,186,215.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, VP Stephen Macchiaverna sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.05, for a total transaction of $470,500.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 82,938 shares in the company, valued at $3,902,232.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 174,104 shares of company stock worth $8,335,030 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 5.10% of the company's stock.
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FRPT. Two Sigma Investments LP lifted its position in Freshpet by 86.0% during the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 187,470 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,029,000 after acquiring an additional 86,696 shares during the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. purchased a new stake in Freshpet during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $246,000. Pathlight Investors LLC purchased a new stake in Freshpet during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $202,000. Two Sigma Advisers LP lifted its position in Freshpet by 85.8% during the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 95,700 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,078,000 after acquiring an additional 44,200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Federated Investors Inc. PA lifted its position in Freshpet by 79.2% during the first quarter. Federated Investors Inc. PA now owns 395,982 shares of the company's stock valued at $16,746,000 after acquiring an additional 174,953 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.74% of the company's stock.
Freshpet Company Profile
Freshpet, Inc manufactures and markets natural fresh products, refrigerated meals, and treats for dogs and cats in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The company sells its products under the Freshpet brand; and Dognation and Dog Joy labels through various classes of retail, including grocery, mass, club, pet specialty, and natural, as well as online.
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Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) Lowered to Hold at Zacks Investment Research
Posted by Gemma Cottrell on Jul 14th, 2019
Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Freshpet (NASDAQ:FRPT) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning, Zacks.com reports.
According to Zacks, "Freshpet Inc. is a pet food company. The company manufactures and markets natural fresh foods, refrigerated meals, and treats for dogs and cats in the United States and Canada. Freshpet provides meats- based recipes, such as chicken, beef, lamb and salmon; fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, peas and leafy green vegetables, and high-fiber grains, such as brown rice, oats and barley. It sells its products under the Freshpet, Dognation, and Dog Joy brand names. Freshpet Inc. is headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey. "
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Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. SunTrust Banks downgraded shares of LegacyTexas Financial Group from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price target for the company from $43.00 to $39.05 in a report on Tuesday, June 18th. BidaskClub upgraded shares of Zai Lab from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, June 28th. | 663 |
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Soraya Janmohamed is running a FREE 30 day Holistic Ramadhan programme to use this month as a sprinbgboard<|fim_middle|> did rock climbing, sledging, ice sliding, bowling and shopping all in one day. When we got back we did more activities like decorating cupcakes. Then we got dressed up because it was Mehraj night.
The next day in the morning we had a buloogh workshop and we talked about dressing properly when we become baligh and what kind of clothes we should wear. We did a fashion show.
In the afternoon we went to the food bank and we helped sort out food parcels for people who don't have enough food to eat.
On our last night we had a lovely midnight feast with lots of doughnuts and chocolate and sweets and crisps. It was amazing. | to change – and Buzz will add tidbits for children too!
Remember the Good Deed Tree that was made in the Shabaan bonanza (shared here: http://buzzideazz.com/idea-13-combine-celebrations-with-a-purpose-fundraising/)? Well here is a Ramadhan banner one mum made with lots of ideas of good deeds children can do to help fill that tree!
And how about this good deed tree? The children write their good deeds onto leaves and stick them on – Inshallah by the end of Ramadhan the tree will be full of leaves!
Before i go into the nasheeds, here is a short animated film on Ramadan!
Fits in perfectly with the ideas on buloogh – nice one to watch with our girls!
Make the buloogh birthday extra special by adding meaningful gifts!
One family gifted their daughter 9 gifts, one for each year. She started opening one a day each day, leading up to her actual birthday – this made the excitement truly stretch out!
The women that were invited to mark this special moment in the girl's life were encouraged to give a special sort of gift – something of theirs that was meaningful and significant to them that they were passing on to her, such as a piece of jewellery from when they were younger, a poem that touched them, a book that they loved, a journal to write her thoughts in, a special photograph, etc.
I loved, loved, loved this idea!
So with buloogh parties, the girls celebrated with friends, but what about marking the moment with the loving women in our child's life?
A friend was telling me how they marked a girl's 'coming of age' by gathering all the important women in the girl's life, such as the grandmothers, aunts and other close women. Prior to this, the girl was asked to think of questions she would like to ask (could be on anything she wanted to know), and she thought of a number of questions, and who she would like to answer what question.
On the day, each lady went into a room with the young girl and answered the question she had been given. At the end of each question, the girl got a bead to put together as a necklace of beads (or 'pearls of wisdom' :)), and the lady too got a bead as a reminder of this day and moment.
Needless to say, the beads are a treasured reminder of all the advice given to the young girl, both for her and the ladies involved!
One mum had a lovely idea of collecting messages for her daughter from all the people who knew her – family, friends – school and otherwise, teachers, etc.
The result was one lovely journal full of memories and advice for the years ahead, which I'm sure she will cherish forever!
Following on from the idea of having a one-day Buloogh Club, how about a weekend camp idea?
"I was looking forward to the camp so much I was counting the days. Even though it was my first time away from home I wasn't nervous.
The camp was in Milton Keynes. My mum dropped me to Milton Keynes in the car. I bought a very big suitcase with me which had lots of clothes and other things that were on the list.
We got into groups and did fun ice-breaker activities to get to know each other. There were 36 girls altogether. We played lots of games and made loom bracelets.
We slept in our sleeping bags on the floor of the mosque. It was quite comfortable. We talked for a long time after the lights went out. In the middle of the night we got up for fajr.
The next day we went to activity centre. We | 759 |
A lot of people would choose to see that the model of telecom in Singapore (Singtel, M1, Starhub) is that of a business model that wouldn't die and would only flourish when the whole of Singapore uses data intensive smartphones like iPhones, iPads and Android phones and tablets.
We raised this issue in the past saying that monetization would have to change in the midst of increasing capital expenditure due to greater use of mobile data.
Today I chanced upon 3 great article from Micheal Mace of Mobile Opportunity discussing on this topic.
I really enjoy Micheal's articles discussing technology strategies and the execution of tech companies. Any tech company investors, fans of gadgets and business owners should subscribe to his RSS feeds.
This week he discuss on this mobile data capex problem. There are great discussions in the comments section as well. A definitely must read for telecom stocks investors.
Because of economics and user psychology, I think we're headed for a slowdown in the growth of mobile data. The unlimited, exponential growth forecasts are wrong. I believe the ultimate mobile data market will be smaller, and much more segmented, than most people expect.
Even if I'm wrong about user demand, we're still headed for a slowdown in growth because the cellular networks can't grow fast enough to handle all the traffic being forecasted. This is due to<|fim_middle|> eventually run out of cellular bandwidth. | physics and can't be changed; you could just as easily change the phases of the moon.
Many of the proposals to "fix" the problem would probably make it far, far worse. We could end up with a cellular data network that resembles American cable TV: slow to innovate, dominated by a few players, and subject to intense politics, with users caught in the middle.
In the future, cellular data for the majority of users will likely be metered, and the majority of people will need to be enticed into using it. That creates some excellent unaddressed opportunities for everyone from handset companies to app developers.
Who Will Pay for Mobile Data? Today's post talks about the forecasted growth of wireless data, and why I think growth won't continue the way most people are expecting. That creates some big challenges for mobile data companies, but also some fantastic opportunities.
The Truth about the Wireless Bandwidth "Crisis". In this part, I will talk about the alternate scenario, in which most people are willing to pay for mobile data and adoption of it continues to accelerate. In this case, the mobile operators will need to invest urgently in increased capacity, and even with that investment I think we'll | 244 |
European University Film Award
Aarhus University's ambition is to be a globally-oriented university with a commitment to excellence in research and education and a strong engagement in the development of society. Owing to its size and impressive results as a research-intensive university, Aarhus University has a strong reputation and influence across the entire spectrum of disciplines, locally, nationally and globally.
Department: Faculty of Arts
Course: Film Culture
Tutor: Cathrin Helen Bengesser
Website: www.au.dk
The EUFA project is a unique opportunity for the students to play an active role in European film culture. Discussing the films and selecting a winner will both<|fim_middle|> insight into the work of a festival jury. /srb
+49 40 399 19 00 0 eufa@filmfesthamburg.de
European University Film Award (EUFA) is an intiative founded in 2016 by Filmfest Hamburg and the European Film Academy .
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Load {category} cookies | give the students' analytical/critical activity a concrete purpose and make them reflect on concepts such as European cinema and European identity. On top of that, the discussions will also give them an | 37 |
Kansas State University student Katie Azeltine has been named the winner of a logo design contest sponsored by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.
Azeltine is a senior majoring in Graphic Design. She is originally from Overland Park, Kansas and is the daughter of Mary Lou and LeRoy Azeltine. Katie said she started at K-State as a Mass Communication major, but switched to Graphic Design because she said she wanted something more hands-on. She will graduate in May with a BA in Graphic Design and a minor in Mass Communications. She hopes to work in the advertising industry, perhaps in the Kansas City area.
The contest was the brainchild of the Hansen Foundation trustees. Celebrating its 50th year, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation has never had an official logo. The opportunity to design the logo was offered<|fim_middle|> Kansas State University Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, embraced the logo contest as a learning experience for his students. Warner invited a Foundation representative to meet with the students at the start of the project and then return to have the students present their logo designs. The process mirrored work the students will likely do after they graduate.
"It was a very valuable interactive experience for the graphic design students here at K-State," Warner said. | to graphic design students at Kansas State, the University of Kansas, Wichita State and Fort Hays State University.
Daniel Warner, | 25 |
Beauty may be only skin deep; but don't let nasty bacteria and fungus get under your skin. Skin infections in athletes are extremely common" and account for more than half the outbreaks of infectious diseases that occur among participants in competitive sports. Participants in organized sports are prone to fungal, viral and bacterial skin infections. Sweat, abrasion and direct or indirect contact with the lesions and secretions of others combine to make every athlete's skin vulnerable to a host of problems.
Skin infections include athlete's foot, jock itch, boils, impetigo, herpes infections, and ringworm. However, the most serious<|fim_middle|>.
You are currently browsing the archives for the fungal infections category. | is MRSA or methicillin resistant staphloccus aureus. This is a bacterial infection that is resistant to many commonly used antibiotics and can cause the loss of large amounts of skin requiring skin grafts and multiple surgical procedures.
The weekend athlete or those who go to gym or swim in a public pool are at risk for these skin infections.
*You need to keep yourself and your equipment clean. You never know who last used the equipment in a gym. It can be a great breeding ground for these nasty bugs that cause these skin infections.
*Wash with antibacterial soap even if you have to bring your own.
*You can avoid fungal infections by changing your athletic socks and underwear after each use.
*Also as a courtesy to others, wipe down the mat that you use after exercising and wipe down the equipment such as treadmills and stair climbers after you use them. Antibacterial wipes or spray bottles should be provided and used by everyone to clean equipment after a workout.
Bottom Line: there are numerous benefits to exercise and working out. Take a little precaution and make certain you clean the equipment and practice good hygiene after your work out. Your skin will thank you | 237 |
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Müller to Start 2017 by Adding a Further 2.5ppl to Milk Price
News provided by Pressat Wire on Tuesday 6th Dec 2016
Müller will start the new year by adding a further 2.5ppl to the milk price it offers farmers, building on its 2ppl uplift which takes effect from 1 December. The move means Müller's farmers will have seen their headline milk price increase by an average of 7ppl in the four months since 1 October.
The actual price paid to Müller's farmers on non-aligned contracts for January is expected to be 26.54ppl. This includes a standard price of 25.44ppl plus the separate retailer supplement estimated to be 1.1ppl in January.
"We are delivering on our commitment to offer a competitive and stable milk price throughout the market cycle," said Lyndsay Chapman, Agriculture Director at Müller Milk & Ingredients.
"We know that farmers place a high value on the security of a contract with a dairy company who is investing for the long term and not so directly linked to volatile commodity returns which can change rapidly, exposing them to high levels of downside risk."
Müller is also concluding a country wide series of 16 meetings with farmer suppliers to gain feedback on future milk contract and farmer representation proposals. These events follow the acquisition of Dairy Crest's dairy operations and subsequent expansion of Müller's milk supply base.
"Our meetings have provided an excellent opportunity for us to engage with over 1,000 Müller farmers. I would like to thank them for taking part in the debate around our proposed future milk contract and farmer representation," said Lyndsay Chapman.
"We are bringing together two milk supply groups, each used to different representational models, whilst moving to a single milk contract which aims to better align the supply of milk with our demand in the future."
"It's clear that in the past few years the whole dairy sector has suffered from supply and demand imbalance. Real damage has been caused to farmers and processors as a result of having to dispose of large volumes of excess milk at very low values when production surges, or conversely having to buy from third parties at high values when production falls.
"Going forward we want to keep as much value as possible within our own farmer/processor supply chain by developing a closer working relationship with farmers, and moving away from current industry thinking which tends to be short term and reactive.
"At our meetings we have heard a range of strong, considered and sometimes conflicting views on our contract proposals and these have varied regionally.
"We will now take time to review this feedback and will therefore put back the introduction of our new contract offer. We expect to send our farmers the final contract documents in January, with the option to sign up from February.
"We are however keen to progress our new representative structure as soon as possible, with the immediate focus being the election of the new MMG Farmer Forum representatives. We have been encouraged by the number of farmers who have<|fim_middle|> more information.
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© Copyright 2020 Pressat. All rights reserved. | expressed an interest in standing and will send out nomination forms shortly".
Roddy Catto, Chairman of the Interim Müller Milk Group board said:
"The board has worked hard to ensure that the company maintains its momentum in improving milk prices demonstrated by the December and January increases achieved. In this rapidly changing market, we will continue to robustly represent farmers supplying Müller, making a clear case for future milk prices and the need to re-build confidence at farm level.
"We are also encouraged that the company will now reflect on the views expressed by Müller farmers across the country on the milk contract. There is agreement that change is required and that old models should be reviewed to create the basis of a more sustainable industry. Again, we will work with Müller to ensure the views that have been expressed are considered and acted upon. "
Müller UK & Ireland
Müller UK & Ireland is wholly owned by the Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller. It employs around 12,000 people in a business which comprises two distinct business units: Müller Milk & Ingredients and Müller Yogurt & Desserts.
Based in Market Drayton, Müller Yogurt & Desserts is the UK's leading yogurt manufacturer, responsible for major brands such as Müller Corner, Müllerlight and Müller Rice. It also produces, at production facilities in Minsterley near Shrewsbury, chilled desserts under licence from Mondelez International. Müller Yogurt & Desserts also supplies the UK private label yogurt market from a state of the art yogurt facility in Telford, Shropshire.
Müller Milk & Ingredients aims to be the biggest and best fresh milk and ingredients business with a network of dairies and depots servicing customers throughout the country, producing skimmed, semi-skimmed, whole, flavoured milk and brands including FRijj. It also has the capacity to produce salted, unsalted and lactic butter each year for both the domestic and international markets, and operates the milk&more; doorstep delivery service.
The acquisition of Dairy Crest's dairy operations in December 2015 marked a milestone in Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller's global growth strategy and in particular its aspiration to place much more emphasis on end to end supply chain innovation, adding value to the UK dairy category.
Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Pressat Wire, on Tuesday 6 December, 2016. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/
Müller Food & Drink
Pressat Wire
editorial@pressat.co.uk
Alison Lancaster
alison.lancaster@pressat.co.uk
No media attached. Please contact Pressat Wire for | 545 |
I was never the cool kid in school, which is clear when you consider that I've blogged about data warehousing, master data management, data governance, and now ODBC (Open Database Connectivity). Why ODBC, then? Well the rise of SaaS application adoption is signaling the end to the implementation of monolithic ERPs. In many respects this bodes well for the business user. It also, however, introduces some significant challenges, namely the fracturing of business processes across systems and increasing data fragmentation within environments of explosive data creation. This unprecedented situation packs a powerful punch to the already complex data management threats and practices of most medium to large size enterprises.
According to Ventana Research, 71% of businesses gather data from more than six sources, and 23% use more than 20 sources. And it's not just the size and number of sources that make data complex. Structure, level of detail, query languages and growth rate are just a few additional factors that lead to increasing data complexity.
Individual applications might be less complicated and easier to use, but assembling data for comprehensive reporting is exponentially more complex and more difficult to govern and control than it ever was in the past. IT teams need to be able to interface with dozens of applications all with their own APIs and query language dialects.
There is light at the end of the complexity tunnel. No surprise here, since you know the title of the blog post, that the light is shining on ODBC.
ODBC came about to create a standardized method to access the many relational databases of the day. The use of an ODBC driver rationalizes all the various SQL dialects to a common denominator. This enables portability of query capabilities across data sources. Today, the problem is much worse.<|fim_middle|> its end users to overcome the challenges of data access so they can seamlessly connect with any database and other disparate data sources. | We're looking at an explosion of BigData, SQL, NoSQL, SaaS/Cloud sources and more. Fortunately, ODBC can speak to these sources as well.
To learn more about the merits of standardized access to myriad data sources, read our RStudio case study and how RStudio empowers | 61 |
Reviews & Research
Clinical Zones
Hazardous drugs/CSTD
Helapet launches new product datasheet look with new online archive
First biosimilar mAb in oncology is granted EU marketing authorisation
Outpatient management of anticoagulation therapy
Women most affected by vascular complications of diabetes
Firms to pay $27m in hormone suit
Three things UK pharmacists need to know in case of a no-deal Brexit
Bayer Schering Pharma initiates phase III trial of regorafenib
Celltrion Healthcare has announced that the European Commission has approved TruximaTM (biosimilar rituximab) for all indications of reference rituximab in the European Union (EU).
Truxima™ is the first biosimilar monoclonal antibody (mAb) approved in an oncology indication worldwide. The approval of Truxima™ builds on Celltrion Healthcare's strong global clinical biosimilar programme.
"We are excited to offer the first biosimilar mAb in oncology. With our partners across Europe, we will work together to ensure that Truxima is available to the many patients who can benefit from this treatment", said Jung-Jin Seo, Chairman of Celltrion Group, speaking at a meeting of their European partners in Paris. "For healthcare systems burdened with high cost oncology treatments, we are pleased to provide an option that has the potential to offer significant savings whilst ensuring patients retain access to high-quality and effective treatments".
Truxima™ is approved in the EU for the treatment of people with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis and microscopicpolyangiitis.1 This approval is based on the totality of evidence submitted to the European Medicines Agency showing compelling similarity between Truxima™ and reference rituximab in terms of efficacy, safety, immunogenicity, pharmacodynamics (PD) and pharmacokinetics (PK) in patients with RA and advanced follicular lymphoma, a type of NHL.2 These trials were conducted in over 600 patients and include data up to 104 weeks.1
Dr Bertrand Coiffier, the global principle investigator of the advanced follicular lymphoma study, Head of the Department of Hematology at Hospices Civils de Lyon and Professor at the University Claude Bernard, Lyon, France said, "Biosimilar rituximab has been shown to have comparable efficacy and safety to reference rituximab in a large program of trials providing convincing evidence for the similarity of the two products. This has been recognised by the regulatory authorities, and hopefully this will pave the way for further innovation in this area".
Budget saving impact
Biosimilars have the potential to offer cost savings for healthcare systems and therefore the potential to increase patient access to biological therapies.2,3
"Assuming the price of biosimilar rituximab is 70% compared to reference rituximab, and the market share of biosimilar rituximab is 30% (first year), 40% (second year) and 50% (third year), over this three-year time period the budget savings across the 28 countries of the EU would be around €570 million", said Prof László Gulácsi, Head of Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest; HTA Consulting Budapest, Hungary. "This equates to 49,000 new RA, NHL and CLL patients who could be receiving life-changing treatment which is clearly a huge aggregate health-gain at both a national and EU level".
Celltrion Healthcare data on file.
European Commission. What you need to know about biosimilar medicinal products. Available at ec.europa.eu/DocsRoom/documents/8242.[Last accessed February 2017].
World Health Organisation. Access to biotherapeutic products including similar biotherapeutic products and ensuring their quality, safety and efficacy. 20<|fim_middle|>017].
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cogora.com | 14. WHA67.21. Available at: apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA67/A67_R21-en.pdf. [Last accessed February 2 | 45 |
Yesterday was a Monday. The kind that has nothing to do with the page on the calendar and everything to do a rough re-entry after a gravity-free weekend. The kind that never would have been able to sustain the standard "I'm starting on Monday" mentality.
A complete disinterest in trading a warm bed for the cold world. A missed school bus. A skipped breakfast. A canine ear infection leading me to the vet's office for the 2nd time in six weeks and the memory that last time I left without our sweet, but aged Husky. A customer with complete disregard for our procedures or my personal day.
So by the time my stomach reminded me it had been ignored, I was at the point where I would usually input sugar in one form or another. Because, of course, I deserved a treat.
How much food can I put in my mouth that is NOT sugar?
I'm not much of a rule-breaker. I couldn't lie to you if I fell off the sugar wagon. But just how close could I get to the line without going over?
Clearly, this is a problem. And it's much bigger than sugar.
I've known that. I have. Filling my feelings with food can never be my answer.
Today, it still is. More than I'd like to admit.
I wish I could tell you I made a healthy lunch choice. But I didn<|fim_middle|>.
I sure do miss you, friend!
Thank you, Meredith, for the reminder that in my own strength I will never be prepared. In Jesus only. For everything. Always. And thank you for the cheering. I feel it wildly, too! | 't. I even upsized. And it wasn't anything close to worth it.
Maybe for Monday it's enough to have noticed the way the enemy attacked. Scratched, but not fatally wounded, on Tuesday I will be better prepared for the battle.
I can't stop smiling about your question "How much food can I stuff in my mouth that is not sugar?" That is so perfect – such a familiar way of thinking. I will not break my word but oh boy I will stuff myself nonetheless.
Or maybe I am smiling because Jhonny is at bat. Anyway, I am smiling and thinking of you.
Thank you for being here. And not being anonymous. And for giving us Jhonny. And showing your support.
Oh how I would LOVE that time, too, Beth. Some day, friend!
Oh, my dear friend! Your words resonate with me so much, as you share your journey here. Thank God for second chances…and third…and fourth…and as many as we need, because we will never exhaust His patience or His grace. Your transparency is such a blessing and inspiration. It isn't about whether you failed or succeeded, it is the fact that you are real, and so many of us can relate. God bless you and give you a better Tuesday.
Being transparent in the journey takes away any possibility of shame. When means it can be used for glory. Which makes it a success, I suppose. Thank you for being here, Cheryl | 296 |
This is a guest post from Matt Sornson, head of growth marketing at Clearbit.
Sales is tough. In startups, it is unrelenting. The objective is growth, so no matter what target you hit this month, next month will be even harder.
But people don't get into this industry for an easy ride. Salespeople like hard work. They want to hit those targets and then be given harder targets. They want that growth for themselves, the team, and the company.
What they don't like is stupid hard work. They want to be talking to customers and moving them through the pipeline. They don't want to be wasting time.
Any sales leader should be easing the burden on their team. Not so they can take it easy, but so they can focus their energy on the important parts of the job. You can do this by giving them easy access to data—on both your customers and your team.
Modern sales is data-driven. When you give your salespeople insight into prospects, they close better deals faster.
Take outbound email as an example. The average response rate for a cold email is 1%. As Guillaume Cabane, VP of Growth at Drift points out, this is only marginally better than phishing attacks.
Cold email should be a great channel for most SaaS salespeople. It is a 1:1 personalized communication with someone you know needs your product. Except, for most outbound email, that last sentence isn't true. Most aren't personalized. Most aren't to people in need. Because most salespeople don't have this data.
I don't have data, so I have to do more manual research which eats into my time, so I can send fewer emails—more work for less success.
I don't have data, so I just won't do any research and use my time to send more, generic emails—more work for less success.
Discovering Intent—Do your prospects want you to solve their problem? Do they even have a problem that needs solving? Without this data point, all other activity is moot. This has always been one of the hardest parts of the sales process to grok. But now you can know if a certain company is visiting your site, or has recently installed new tech that you integrate with. These behavioral intent signals are readily available for you to feed to your salespeople, so they know people are interested when they send out that email.
Deciding Fit—Not everyone setting up a new tool or moving job is going to want your product. And not all are going to be good fits for your product. That is why qualification is such an important process for your salespeople. But manually qualifying through search or criteria is time-consuming for salespeople and might require them to get on a call with an unqualified lead in the first place. Feeding information into data-based lead qualification can cut down on this extraneous work, making the qualification process automatic. Then salespeople know they are only reaching out to people in need, will want, and will succeed with the product.
Personalizing outreach—the final part for email is using this information to data to personalize the email. This is more work. But it is useful work. Check out the email below. This is triggered by someone from Eli Lilly visiting the Segment site (intent), qualified through finding tech that Segment works with (fit) and then personalized with this information and lookalike companies. When the recipient receives this it makes sense. They will respond.
At Segment, this technique increased email conversion rates by 200%. At the same time, it made like dramatically easier for the SDR running it. They had the right information at their fingertips and could be confident that when they sent out these emails, the people on the other end found them useful.
The fourth step? Check whether outbound is even for you. If you have someone on your site already looking, then waiting to send them an email could be too late. Use Intercom or Drift instead. This is exactly what Heresy are doing, ready to talk to any potential customer on the site in real time today.
The data that helps your team isn't only external. Any sales team is sitting on a gold mine of data that can tell them exactly where they are going right and where they are going wrong. If only they can find it and use it effectively.
By surfacing this data and presenting it for easy consumption, you can make your team more efficient. This is as true in traditional sales as it is in Agile sales. In Agile sales, we can see how each member of the sales team can be aided by having easy access to simple data.
Frontline salespeople are often left out of analytics. They are seen as donors of data, not beneficiaries. Analytics in most BI tools helps managers understand reps, but not reps understand reps.
A salesperson presented<|fim_middle|>, but only if you have the data.
In Agile sales, the sales managers are there to coach the team. If salespeople are struggling to close deals, they are the person that needs to find the answer.
Reporting infrastructure. This is going to be your analytics. Again, simplicity works. Pointing to a dozen numbers to improve isn't going to help the rep or the team. Instead, having the single number of "average time to close" as a metric both gives a starting point and a goal.
Problem diagnosis. With the data available, rep and manager can sit down and go through all the data to see what might be holding them back. They can then approach the problem together as a team finding the iterative solutions that will slowly bring the time to close down.
Training framework. With data readily available to the whole team, the whole team can be involved in training. The intra-team training is an important component of Agile sales. Having the simple data available for everyone means everyone can help each other, not just the managers.
Each of these types of data—external for understanding customers, internal for understanding your team—might seem distinct. But they are both part of a wider framework that sales teams need. They need to understand that data is going to help you do the job faster and better. It lets you know your customer today and learn more about yourself tomorrow.
Most importantly, it makes life easier for your salespeople. The grunt work can go, leaving just the hard work of sales. Which they love.
To make life easier for your sales team, head over to heresy.io and signup for your (free forever) account. | with this every day knows whether they are on target or not, and how each of the deals in their pipeline is going to contribute to their monthly quota.
The simplicity is key to making life easier for that rep. They aren't distracted by extraneous detail. They are not really thinking about targets or quotas; they are just trying to make sure that the "actual" line trends with the "ideal." It allows them to focus easily on their goal.
During each sprint, it is the scrum master that is responsible for the cadence of the team. They need to know where each deal is to keep the flow moving. A kanban board is just as ideal for this as it is for software or car production.
At a glance, the scrum master can see where the team is, what needs to be chased, and what deals are in which phase. They can have this open all day and see the deals that are moving, as well as the deals that are not. Then they can act on this information.
Again, simplicity is key to making the scrum master's life easier. Sales is awash with analytics and data, but what really matters? It is knowing where deals are and what needs to be done. Reducing their cognitive load back to just this makes them more effective.
Agile sales is about iteration. Quick sprints lead to faster insights | 276 |
INTRODUCTION: Introduction: World-class logistics practices and systems are the means to simultaneously improve customer service, reduce operating expenses, and minimize capital investments. Logistics & Supply Chain Strategies present those world-class practices and systems in a comprehensive and systematic format. The course addresses the changing and increasingly important role of logistics in business; logistics performance<|fim_middle|> distribution, and warehousing; logistics information systems architectures and implementation strategies; and logistics organization design alternatives.
- The main objective of the course is to teach the participants how to develop a comprehensive logistics strategy to support overall business objectives.
- This program improves the knowledge of managers in areas critical to the effective management of sustainable business.
- With a focus on the strategic management of the supply chain, together with the effective and sustainable management of logistics, candidates will develop the confidence to manage logistics and supply chain management issues, including relationships and information flows, effectively and efficiently meeting customer needs, and achieving a sustainable competitive advantage.
- The program presents operations management as a strategic tool for business success, as well as a fundamental in achieving operational outcomes. | measures and benchmarking procedures; world-class processes for customer service and order processing, inventory planning and management, supply chain integration, transportation and | 27 |
SIGNIFICANT SIG MARK MCDANIEL '77
"A philanthropic, transformational, industry leader."
Mark and His Company Cinnaire are Nationally Recognized for Excellence.
Back in 1993 with a dream and vision to change lives and transform struggling neighborhoods Mark McDaniel sat down at a table with a phone and old style rolodex of names and contact information and launched a novel tax credit fund in Michigan. Twenty-seven years later, Mark remains the founder and CEO of nationally recognized Cinnaire, employing more than 100 team members in nine states.
Since that humble beginning Mark strategically diversified the organization to provide access to permanent debt financing, construction lending, technical<|fim_middle|> civic awards over the course of his career:
Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Greater Lansing Business Monthly, 2004.
Governors Corporate Service Award, 2008.
Michigan Habitat for Humanity's Bernice Bensen Award, 2011.
Michigan Terry R. Duvernay Award recognizing lifetime achievements of leaders in the affordable housing industry, 2013.
Children's Advocate Award by the Children's Trust Fund, 2016.
Affordable Housing Finance Hall of Fame, 2017
NonProfit Times recognizes Cinnaire as a Top 50 Nonprofit to work for, 2020.
Crain's Detroit Business recognizes Cinnaire as one of the "Cool Places" to Work for in Michigan, 2021.
Mark McDaniel Legacy Scholarships awards $17,500 in scholarships to Greater Lansing area graduating senior pursuing higher education, 2022. | assistance, predevelopment lending, youth leadership training, and title services.
Under Mark's leadership Cinnaire has committed more than $4.76 billion of loans and equity for affordable housing and community development efforts. As a result, more than 811 housing developments have been developed creating more than 49,700 affordable housing apartments, and 76,000 plus jobs. All told, Cinnaire has economically impacted communities to the tune of nearly $9B.
Significant Sig Mark McDaniel
In 2020, the United States Treasury Department appointed Cinnaire as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). In 2020, The NonProfit Times a leading publication of nonprofit organizations listed Cinnaire as a Top 50 nonprofit to work for. In 2021, Crain's Detroit Business included Cinnaire as one of the "Cool Places" to Work for in Michigan.
Mark received his B.S. in Urban Planning from Michigan State University in 1977 where he was pinned as a Sigma Chi and would become his chapter's president (Consul). Mark's dream to provide affordable housing opportunities for individuals and families began in part during those early years followed up by more than 38 years of experience in community development, urban planning, and market research. Prior to Cinnaire, Mark served as vice president and president of a major Michigan development company and as director of development for a statewide nonprofit housing corporation.
Mark's exemplary achievements in providing affordable housing for thousands of individuals and families throughout the country has brought great honor and prestige to the name of Sigma Chi.
Mark's philanthropic works and leadership has garnered him numerous state and national awards including being inducted in to the Affordable Housing Hall of Fame.
MARK MCDANIEL - PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY
Mark has been the recipient of numerous business and | 389 |
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The release of Oranges and Lemons signals a return to<|fim_middle|>. The world really needs The MFA right now.
Posted by The MFA
Labels: biography | the world of electronic dance music for The MFA, kicking off a new phase of techno-pop-rave inspired beat making for the people. The pair's new EP on Cologne's renowned Traum Recordings, acknowledges the past and looks to a better future while providing a roller coaster ride through club ready rave bell hypnosis, epic choral four on the floor euphoria, and melodic fun house.
The MFA are back doing what they do best (producing and - in the current climate gearing up for - live shows) with renewed aspirations to claim the throne at the head of the UK live dance dynasty. You honestly don't know what you've missed until it's gone, and after downing tools quite a few years ago, the pandemic lockdown has also made clear to the London based duo what they've missed too. The MFA missed The MFA, they missed the music, and they missed the clubs. With the machines restarted, the studio recreated, beers plus salt and vinegar quavers at the ready, they got back to work to produce their latest and greatest output.
They earned their reputation with a wide-ranging musical output, always underpinned by an essential pop sensibility and a healthy dose of that early 90s spirit. Rising above the limitations of any one genre, they kicked off proceedings with the lush deep filtered house of their debut 'The Difference it Makes', before roaming off through epic trance ('Motherload') and belching acid ('The Sphinx'), electro-breaks ('Disco to Break') and comedy rave ('Rinse Time'), re-imagined progressive house ('2 Billion Year Journey') and a techno rave anthem ('Overhang'), with a spot of clownstep thrown in for good measure. This eclectic approach, harking back to a better time before the purists and trainspotters kicked all the fun out of dance music, took them to the unashamed New Order-esque pop of single 'Throw it Back (We Will Destroy You)', edging them that little bit nearer to their destiny.
Along the way their first release 'The Difference it Makes' drew the attention of Border Community and Kompakt. Then Ellen Allien snapped up their 'Zone Day' EP for her legendary Bpitch Control label. Allien also let them go to work on a remix of 'Magma', taken from her 'Thrills' album, which the pair can add to their already pretty impressive string of remix credentials, including EMI France's Telepopmusik, Domino's Junior Boys, and Boxer Recordings.
But playing live is really "what The MFA are all about", a point which the duo are intent on proving once again with each and every one of their club appearances when lockdown allows. Their party-friendly sound has already tamed an impressive array of club legends, including Rex (Paris), Berghain, Tresor, WMF & Maria (Berlin), Bed & Space (Miami), Nitsa & The Loft (Barcelona), as well as festivals Sonar and Creamfields.
Now they are back, like musical superheroes waging a daily battle against the dull and the worthy | 635 |
Tag Archives: Walter Shirley
August 28, 2019 AviationBomber, Britannia Trophy of the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain, D. Napier and Son Ltd., English Electric Aviation Ltd., English Electric Canberra B Mk.2, English Electric Co. Ltd., FAI, Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, G-BVWC, Michael Randrup, Napier<|fim_middle|> Leader.
Following the war, Randrup went to work for D. Napier and Son Ltd. In 1946, he became the company's Chief Test Pilot. The following year, he became a naturalized subject of the United Kingdom and the British Empire.
From 1966 until 1973, Randrup served as manager for the British Aircraft Corporation in Saudi Arabia. BAC provided aircraft and missiles to the Royal Saudi Air Force.
Michael Randrup was twice married, first to Florence May Dryden, and then to Betty Perry. They would have two children.
Michael Randrup died in February 1984 at the age of 70 years.
Walter Shirley, Napier Chief Development Engineer (left), and Michael Randrup, Chief Test Pilot, D. Napier and Son Ltd. (Photograph courtesy of Neil Corbett, Test & Research Pilots, Flight Test Engineers)
Walter Shirley was educated at the Blackpool Grammar School, a private boarding school in Blackpool, Lancashire, and St. Catherine's College, University of Cambridge.
Shirley was employed as a scientific officer at RAE Farnborough from 1942 to 1946. It was while there that he first flew as a flight test engineer with Squadron Leader Randrup. Shirley was sent to an R.A.F. flight school for pilot training. In 1946, he was assigned to rocket engine development.
Shirley joined Napier in 1947, working on turbine engines. In 1952, he was appointed Chief Technician. In 1956, Shirley was made the Chief Development Engineer for the Scorpion engine. He later became the company's Deputy Chief Engineer.
Walter Shirley died in 1993.
The Britannia Trophy of the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain. | Scorpion NSc D1-2, Rolls-Royce Avon RA.3 Mk. 101, Test Pilot, Walter Shirley, WK163, World Record for AltitudeBryan Swopes
English Electric Canberra B Mk.2 WK163 climbing under rocket power. (Institution of Mechanical Engineers)
28 August 1957: Michael Randrup, Chief Test Pilot of D. Napier and Son, Ltd., and Walter Shirley, Deputy Chief Engineer, fly this Royal Air Force/English Electric Canberra B Mk.2, WK163, to an altitude of 21,430 meters (70,308 feet) over southern England. This set a new Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) World Record for altitude.¹
WK163 with rocket engine installed in its bomb bay. (Institution of Mechanical Engineers)
The Canberra was being used to test Napier's Double Scorpion NSc D1-2 rocket engine, which was used to drive the airplane far beyond its normal service ceiling of 48,000 feet (14,630 meters).
After taking off from Luton, Bedfordshire, at 5:26 p.m., Mike Randrup used the Canberra's two 6,500-pounds-thrust (28.91 kilonewtons) Rolls-Royce Avon RA.3 Mk. 101 turbojet engines to climb to 44,000 feet (13,411 meters), where he throttled the engines back to cruising r.p.m. and then ignited the Double Scorpion. The Canberra climbed at a very steep angle until reaching the peak altitude.
English Electric Canberra B Mk.2 WK163. (Institution of Mechanical Engineers)
At this high altitude, there is an extremely narrow margin between the airplane's stall speed and it's critical Mach number—the point at which supersonic shock waves start to form on the wings and fuselage. On an Airspeed Limitations Chart, this area is known as "Coffin Corner." Aerodynamicists had calculated that Randrup needed to keep the Canberra within a 15-knot range of airspeed.
Though the Canberra's cockpit was pressurized, both Mike Randrup and Walter Shirley wore pressure suits in case of emergency.
WK163 landed back at Luton at 6:12 p.m.
Flight of Canberra WK163, 27 August 1957. (Flight)
In 1958, the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain awarded the Britannia Trophy to Randrup and Shirley.
The English Electric Canberra B.2 was the first production variant of a twin-engine, turbojet powered light bomber. The bomber was operated by a pilot, navigator and bombardier. It was designed to operate at very high altitudes. The Canberra B.2 was 65 feet, 6 inches (19.964 meters) long with a wingspan of 64 feet, 0 inches (19.507 meters) and height of 15 feet, 7 inches (4.750 meters). The wing used a symmetrical airfoil and had 2° angle of incidence. The inner wing had 2° dihedral, and the outer wing, 4° 21′. The total wing area was 960 square feet (89.2 square meters). The variable-incidence tail plane ad 10° dihedral. The airplane's maximum takeoff weight was 46,000 pounds ( kilograms).
The Canberra B.2 was powered by two Rolls-Royce Avon RA.3 Mk. 101 engines. The RA.3 was a single-spool axial-flow turbojet with a 12-stage compressor section and single-stage turbine. It was rated at 6,500-pounds-thrust (28.91 kilonewtons).
The B.2 had a maximum speed of 450 knots (518 miles per hour/833 kilometers per hour). It was restricted to a maximum 0.75 Mach from Sea Level to 15,000 feet (4,572 meters), and 0.79 Mach from 15,000 to 25,000 feet (7.620 meters). Above that altitude the speed was not restricted, but pilots were warned that they could expect compressibility effects at 0.82 Mach or higher.
The Canberra was produced in bomber, intruder, photo reconnaissance, electronic countermeasures and trainer variants by English Electric, Handley Page, A.V. Roe, and Short Brothers and Harland. In the United States, a licensed version, the B-57A Canberra, was built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. The various versions were operated by nearly 20 nations. The Canberra was the United Kingdom's only jet-powered bomber for four years. The last one in RAF service, a Canberra PR.9, made its final flight on 28 July 2008.
WK163 was built under license by A.V. Roe at Woodford, Cheshire, in 1954, and accepted by the Royal Air Force 28 January 1955. Having spent its entire career as a research test bed, WK163 was declared surplus in 1994 and sold at auction to Classic Air Projects Ltd. It was assigned civil registration G-BVWC.
English Electric Canberra B Mk.2 WK163, 1997. (Mike Freer/Wikipedia)
G-BVWC last flew in 2007. As of December 2016, the record-setting Canberra was undergoing a full restoration at Robin Hood Airport, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire.
English Electric Canberra B Mk.2 WK163, civil registration G-BVWC. The record-setting airplane has been painted in the standard Bomber Command scheme with markings of No. 617 Squadron. (Tony Hisgett, via Wikipedia)
Michael Randrup was born in Moscow, Imperial Russia, 20 April 1913. He was one of four children of Søren Revsgaard Randrup and Alexandra Pyatkova Randrup. He held Danish citizenship through his father, who had emigrated to Russia in 1899. Following the Russian revolution, the Randrup family relocated to England.
Michael was educated at The King's School in Canterbury, Kent. He became interested in aviation in his early teens, and took his first flight as a passenger aboard an Avro 504K biplane. He began flight lessons at Bekesbourne Aerodrome in 1935, and soloed in June 1936. Randrup applied to join the Royal Air Force but was turned down because of his Danish citizenship. He then went to the Automobile Engineering College in Chelsea, West London, to study aeronautical engineering.
Randrup graduated in 1939, and along with a cousin, Ivan Christian Randrup, formed a small air charter company, AllFlights Ltd., at Heston Aerodrome, west of London. They operated a de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth, de Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly, and a Heston Type I Phoenix II (G-AEYX). The Phoenix was impressed into service by the R.A.F., 5 March 1940.
World War II bought their fledgling company to a close. (Ivan Randrup briefly flew for B.O.A.C. before going on to the Air Transport Auxiliary. First Officer Randrup died 29 January 1941.)
After Denmark fell to Nazi Germany in April 1940, Michael Randrup was accepted by the R.A.F. He received a commission as a Pilot Officer on probation, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 4 September 1940. One year later he was promoted to Flying Officer.
On completion of his military flight training, Pilot Officer Randrup was sent to a flying instructors school. For the next two years, he served as a military flight instructor in England and Southern Rhodesia. In 1942, Flying Officer Randrup was transferred from Training Command to Fighter Command and on 6 October, was assigned to No. 234 Squadron, then stationed at RAF Perranporth, flying the Supermarine Spitfire Vc. A number of Danish pilots had been assigned to No. 234. On 1 January 1943, Randrup was seconded to Air Service Training, Ltd., at Hamble, just southeast of Southampton, where he flight-tested new-production, repaired and overhauled Spitfire fighters.
In 1944, Randrup was assigned as a test pilot at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough. Among other assignments, he flight-tested a captured Heinkel He 177 A-5/R-6 twin-engine heavy bomber. In 1945, Randrup was appointed Officer Commanding, Engine Research and Development Flight. By the end of the war, he had been promoted to the rank of Squadron | 1,953 |
Health topics Health systems Public health services WHO/Europe opens new page in collaboration with the Greek Ministry of Health
Coalition of Partners
Country work
WHO/Europe opens new page in collaboration with the Greek Ministry of Health
A team headed by Dr Hans Kluge, Director of WHO/Europe's Division of Health Systems and Public Health, visited Greece on 12–13 January 2016 to start a new initiative entitled "Strengthening capacity for universal coverage" (SCUC), which aims to support the medium-term reform priorities of the health sector. The team met with Minister of Health, Dr<|fim_middle|>iveness and modernization of health governance
improving financial sustainability of the health system.
SCUC will support activities related to the creation of the necessary framework for:
scaling up the primary health care network
rationalizing diagnostics
creating a strategic intelligence and health technology assessment centre
building capacity for rationalized purchasing of health services
initiating and sustaining the policy dialogue on health policies, strategies and plans.
WHO's commitment to universal health coverage
"We are glad to be here for the opening of a new page in our collaboration, and we would be happy to provide the necessary support to the ambitious reform process initiated by the Ministry that aims at universal health coverage and people centredness," said Dr Kluge during the meeting in which he also committed to extended involvement of WHO at all 3 levels.
"Our health sector is facing a difficult situation, related to the disorganization of public services and insufficiently addressed issues associated with coverage of the uninsured," Dr Xanthos mentioned during the discourse. He added, "Our priority actions are currently oriented towards the stabilization of the health system and improving social coherence, and we are open to learn from good practices promoted by WHO."
The parties agreed to establish efficient coordination and communication mechanisms on both sides, and to proceed immediately with detailed planning and implementation of agreed activities. In parallel, joint efforts will be made to identify longer-term priorities for collaboration in support of the health reform plan.
About SCUC
The SCUC action is carried out with funding by the European Union through a grant agreement between the European Commission and WHO/Europe. The general objective of the action is to contribute to improving health and health equity in Greece, especially of the most vulnerable in the crisis-stricken population, by helping the Greek authorities to move towards universal coverage and to strengthen the effectiveness, efficiency and resilience of their health system. | Andreas Xanthos; Secretary-General for Public Health, Dr Giannis Baskozos; Chief of the Minister's Cabinet, Mr Panos Papadopoulos; and the Director of European and International Health Policy, Mrs Sofia Paraschou-Georgoudi.
The six-month initiative will follow 3 reform axes:
enhancing universal access to quality care
improving transparency, inclus | 79 |
HotelExecutive.com - Business Review - Doug Lodder, Boingo Wireless,<|fim_middle|> University. He is a sought after industry expert, frequently speaking on conference panels regarding the guest experience, connectivity and how to address the ongoing mobile data explosion with the strategic installation of DAS and Wi-Fi networks.
By Doug Lodder, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Boingo Wireless, Inc. | Inc.
Senior Vice President of Business Development, Boingo Wireless, Inc.
Doug Lodder is the senior vice president of business development at Boingo Wireless (NASDAQ: WIFI). Boingo is a leading Distributed Antenna System (DAS) and Wi-Fi provider with a vast network footprint that reaches more than one billion consumers annually in places as varied as hotels, airports, stadiums, universities and military bases. Mr. Lodder is responsible for Boingo's DAS, Offload and Wholesales businesses, where he oversees the strategy and development of Wi-Fi, DAS and Small Cell networks for the company's new and existing venue partnerships as well as the monetization of those networks through innovative partnerships with wireless carriers (DAS, Offload) and Wholesale partners (American Express, MasterCard). His teams work across the hospitality, sports and entertainment, transportation, commercial real estate and other vertical markets and are responsible for generating nearly half of Boingo's revenue. Mr. Lodder has nearly a decade of experience in managing telecommunications infrastructure in large-scale, high growth environments. Prior to joining Boingo, he was an early employee at Mobilitie where he was responsible for network strategy and the acquisition and development of telecommunications assets. Mobilitie was acquired in 2012 for $1.1 billion. Prior to Mobilitie, Mr. Lodder served in a variety of investment banking roles at Wedbush Securities. Mr. Lodder holds an MBA from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business and an undergraduate degree from San Diego State | 314 |
How Elvis Presley was convinced by Priscilla Presley to record this hit song
By Alanis Hayal on<|fim_middle|>Jailhouse Rock," "In the Ghetto," "If I Can Dream" and "Suspicious Minds." Priscilla obviously picked a song the fans of Elvis loved.
Elvis Presley Priscilla Presley
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Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley's relationship was intimate, but at least a small creative aspect existed.
Priscilla could not, by her own admission, tell her husband which songs to sing. She persuaded him, however, to sing one of his late hits. Here is a look at how she persuaded him to record the album.
One of the most unique songs recorded ever by Elvis Presley
Elvis remains one of America's most popular and significant show business icons.
After all, on the Discovery Channel list of greatest Americans, he was ranked #8 – better than any other entertainer. It only makes sense that he has recorded a song that captures pieces of American history – "An American Trilogy." by Mickey Newberry.
"An America Trilogy" is a medley of American folk songs, rather than a traditional song. The Battle Hymn of the Republic – a marching song popular with Union troops during the American Civil War – is probably the most famous of the three tunes in the medley.
'All My Trials,' an African American spiritual song that was used as a protest song, is another song in the trilogy.
The other song in the medley is "Dixie," a folk song from before the Civil War that was used as the Confederacy's national anthem. The song was a popular radio piece in the Southern states in the 1970s, but everything related to the Confederacy is inflammatory today. The recording of the song by Newberry had a major influence on Priscilla.
How Priscilla Presley responded to his TV set when Elvis Presley shot up
How Priscilla Presley had her husband encouraged her to film 'An American Trilogy'
"I was driving down Sunset Boulevard and I heard Mickey Newbury singing it, and I said, 'Oh, my God,' and did an about-face and went back to the house,"I was driving down Sunset Boulevard, and I heard Mickey Newbury singing it, and I said, 'Oh, my God,' and I made an about-face and went back to the house. No one will usually ever carry him songs.
Except for movie songs that went with the scenes, Elvis chose all his songs. No one ever said, 'Hey El, you've got to do this song.' So I said, 'There's a song you really should listen to.' And he said, 'Well, put it on.' So I did, and he just sat at the desk. He turned his head and nodded to it sort of. He closed his eyes and said, 'Damn, damn good song.' And the next thing I knew, we're back in.
"An American Trilogy"An American Trilogy
So did America gobble up the "An American Trilogy" rendition of Elvis? On the Billboard Hot 100, the track reached No. 66.
Many songs which were more commercially popular were released by the King of Rock 'n' Roll. It is exceedingly rare, however, for a recording of old folk songs to make the charts at all.
Elvis Presley: Why does vocalist Darlene Love refuse to sleep with him?
Years later, the album reverberated again. Rolling Stone published a poll in 2015 on the favourite Elvis songs of its readers. "An American Trilogy" was eighth on the chart, behind "Heartbreak Hotel," "Love Me Tender," "Can't Help Falling in Love," " | 713 |
BALTIMORE (AP) | Three<|fim_middle|> the operation, which relies heavily on volunteers.
Tony Geraci, food service director for Baltimore schools, said he's ready to buy produce raised in the greenhouses as part of his push to provide locally produced food to students. As a first step, the greenhouses will supply some produce this winter for 20 elementary schools. | portable greenhouses outside a Baltimore high school campus provide a model that could be repeated across the city, bringing locally grown food to schoolchildren and to poor neighborhoods where fresh produce is rare, urban farming advocates say.
The plastic-skinned hoop greenhouses are known as Hoop Village, and supporters gathered there earlier this month to celebrate the harvest of its first crops - including arugula, kale, radish, Swiss chard and spinach.
The greens will be provided to the cafeterias at some city elementary schools starting this winter. And students at the three schools on the Lake Clifton campus are helping to raise the food they'll be eating.
"I love my vegetables," Heritage High School senior Michelle Simpson told visitors as she showed off the kale and cabbage she helped plant.
Hoop Village is a joint project of two local nonprofits, Safe Healing Foundation and Civic Works. It's also getting funding from the state and city, as well as several foundations and individual donors.
"It's great that food can come out of here and go straight into our cafeterias. Our young people are learning that food does not just come out of a can," said Nzinga Oneferua-El, the foundation's executive director and head of the Entrepreneur Training University, a community school on the Lake Clifton campus.
Miss Oneferua-El dreamed up the greenhouse project five years ago, hoping for a place to raise the raw materials used in classes on floral design, wreath-making and other trades. She had planned to renovate a dilapidated greenhouse at Clifton Park but was offered the portable hoop houses instead.
The steel-framed, plastic-clad houses were erected in October with help from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The university also had 56 tons of organic soil trucked to Baltimore to give the vegetables fertile dirt in which to grow.
Along the way, the scale of the project grew. Civic Works, Baltimore's urban service corps, hopes to raise 150,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables annually to serve low-income communities around Clifton Park, where residents lack easy access to supermarkets with extensive fresh produce.
The program also aims to provide jobs in the greenhouses to local residents - especially young people - and teach them skills in agriculture, horticulture and marketing.
Mr. Ciekot is already fielding requests for portable greenhouses from other city neighborhoods where residents want to try cultivating local produce.
Organizers hope eventually to erect 20 hoop houses in Clifton Park in an unused field near the high school's track. At that scale, they hope the farm can generate enough income to be self-sustaining and allow them to add more paying positions to | 544 |
How should you exercise or return to work when painful movement is your problem?
When pain persists, many people report that even small movements or changes in activity level can leave them worse for hours or days.<|fim_middle|> way when it doesn't feel safe, or carrying on when you know you will regret it later can express strength and perseverance. Yet doing this doesn't send a message of safety.
Pushing through pain might be a way to cope with pain in the short term, but is exhausting and unsustainable in the long term. It is possible for you to have some level of control over your pain, but the way to do it is by cueing into your body and using your mind to consciously discern what is going on, as outlined above. So it can really help to find a movement for which you are more confident that you will not pay for later and build on that. That's where a supportive and well-informed coach like a physiotherapist can help you.
The sensitivity of your nervous systems is influenced by many things, including how you breathe, how tense you are, what you think, and what you predict about the future.
Moving well again is also influenced by many things. The tension in your body, breathing, whether you ignore pain during exercise, your thoughts, emotional state and what's happening around you; all of these impact recovering movement as much as they do sensitivity. The more we practice influencing the sensitivity of the nervous systems, the more skilled and effective we become at influencing them.
Learning to move well again with pain is an exploration, sometimes it's scary to look over the edge!
If you haven't tried movement this way, give it a try. Take a step into a new path.
If you have a PT, maybe ask if there are treatments you can receive to decrease the sensitivity and give you some help with this.
There are more options to try. Information from the body and even from other senses can be as important as knowledge. We'll explore using the body itself to change sensitivity in the upcoming posts of this 3 part series.
Neil Pearson is a physiotherapist and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia. He is founding chair of the Canadian Physiotherapy Pain Science Division, and a previous Director with Pain BC. Neil has been explaining pain to people living in pain and to health professionals for over 20 years. Neil is also a yoga therapist, and he integrates the research evidence and practices of pain education, mindfulness, movement and yoga. Through his Pain Care Yoga certificate training program, he has trained over 2000 health practitioners since 2008. | It feels that doing their best to take a step forward pushes them back even further.
Knowing about sensitivity and the protective buffer between pain and tissue damage might be enough to make movement easier, and it's something that can be improved with practice.
Here's a short story about Alex, who has a common story of ongoing pain after an injury, and how he gets started moving well again.
Alex flipped off his mountain bike 2 years ago, and it changed his life. He had been previously fit and active, but now it feels like "everything hurts". After two years of neck pain, he has tried every exercise program he could find. He even tried not moving his neck at all to see if that would help. It didn't, and his pain has spread instead of improving.
There was so much information in the video he had to go back and watch it many times, but the thing that stood out for him was that the presenter was talking about the sensitivity of the nervous system. He had heard something about that before, but it hadn't made sense until now.
Alex knew for certain that "overly sensitive" seemed to describe exactly how he felt. His would make remarks about him being jumpy and edgy. The pain got triggered by unexpectedly small movements, and even by stress and not sleeping well. He frequently had stomach pain. He used to be able to mountain bike all day, but now even small bumps in his car could trigger more pain.
Could this be related to the sensitivity of the nervous systems he had learnt about? Furthermore, could this change now for the better, when the pain had already lasted so long after his injury?
Alex didn't have the answers himself, but he had curiosity, so he decided to get help from a professional who knew about pain, sensitivity and the nervous system. He had seen many doctors for his pain, and thankfully one of the doctors knew a physiotherapist who had developed specialist skills in helping people with ongoing pain.
During the assessment, Alex didn't want to move his neck much. He knew it was going to worsen his pain. The physiotherapist paused the physical examination and asked him if he would rather start with completing the assessment, or with learning more about pain and sensitivity.
Alex remembered the video, and told her that he thought he needed help to decrease the sensitivity so that movement wouldn't hurt so much. So they talked about pain, the brain, and the many things that can cause pain, keep it persisting long after injuries healed, and even influence it in a positive way.
Alex thought back to that conversation when he was at home later that evening. He had been skeptical about the physiotherapist's suggestions – they seemed too simple. He had been equally unsure about her reasoning – why hadn't anyone else told him this? Alex also remembered being desperate to try anything to get back on his mountain bike.
Years later, Alex reflected on learning about pain and sensitivity, a little bit at a time, and how it changed the way he approached his recovery. As a result of the instructions he received that day, and the explanation of why they would work, he was able to get back on the path of living life the way he wanted to, including working and even mountain biking again. For Alex, knowledge was the first step to success.
What did Alex learn that day?
Alex learnt the first steps to exercise without pain.
When your nervous systems have become sensitized, moving with ease is difficult. When you start trying to move again, your nervous system is overly protective. Over time, it gets easier. Practice helps a lot. Making adjustments and running experiments will help, and having the confidence to do so makes a big difference. Having knowledgeable and supportive health professionals on your team to coach you makes it easier to progress.
After an injury, even when the tissues have healed, your nervous system can react to any compression, stretch or activation of sensitive tissue, or movement of the body part, as if it is highly dangerous.
Do you know that feeling you get after watching a scary movie, and then hearing a sound from the dark as you walk home from the movie theatre? It doesn't matter if that sound is a thug, a garbage man or a kitten; you are jumpy and ready to make a move to protect yourself.
Watching that movie has an effect of sensitizing your nervous system so it perceives the kitten in the same way as a murderous clown. You get sweaty, short of breath, tense up your muscles and see fearful images all the way home. It's not until you walk in the door, click the lock and get safely under the blankets that those fear responses really stop. Even if you don't feel afraid anymore, your body acts as if something really dangerous is happening. This is very much like the sensitivity that happens with ongoing pain, and as a result, challenging your pain with movement and exercise is difficult to do without increasing pain.
Until there is less evidence of danger, that sensitivity will not calm down.
The first step to increasing safety with movement is to use the power of knowledge. Knowing that pain signals "danger", not damage, is a way to help you feel safe to move with more ease.
When you move mindfully, with breathing and a focused attention on the movement, the first increase in pain you feel is never damage. Consider the first pain as a warning that is stating something like, "maybe going further isn't safe".
When you move to this edge, you are safe from damage. Maybe you didn't know this, but that first increase in pain during movement is a chance to ask yourself "Is this movement of my body safe?" Asking that question allows your thinking brain to make sense of the situation. Thus you can have some conscious awareness of what's going on, rather than reacting to the pain with responses like fear, anger, or panic.
When you find a movement that you know is not dangerous to your body, even though you are at the edge of increased pain, by knowing it is safe you are using the power of knowledge to change your sensitivity. Resetting the automatic message that it might not be safe with the knowledge that it is safe is one way to change your sensitivity and pain.
This is not denial. It is discernment.
You can't grit your teeth and think "mind over matter" will change your sensitivity. Telling yourself it is safe to move this | 1,296 |
Double Joker Video Poker is a popular VP variant. The difference between this game and regular VP or even Joker Poker machines is evidenced in the title. Instead of just one joker being in play, there is two jokers in each deck. This increases your odds of making premium hands, but the paytables are different as well.
The primary draw to this game is found in the excitement of simply drawing jokers. Even though they are not necessarily going to pay out substantial amounts of credits, getting a joker is always fun and provides an opportunity to hit a big hand.
Double Joker games are most often found on the<|fim_middle|> to realize a larger house edge as a result of players who are making repeated mistakes.
For the casinos, the more intricate a Video Poker game is, the better. They tend to entice players by offering unique twists with seemingly big payoffs on hands that seem to happen fairly frequently (in this case, 4 of a kind), but the reality is that they either offer inherently lower odds, or they offer worse odds and are also tougher to play.
Double Joker is a fun video poker machine to play, but you should be sure that you are playing with the correct strategy. Learning the rules of this game, like any VP game, will take a little bit of time, but eventually, it will become near second nature. Give this machine a shot, see if the creative Joker dynamic is a fun change for you, and gauge your future interest in the game from there. | same IGT machines where players can toggle through and choose from a long list of different types of both video poker and other video games, like blackjack and sometimes even slot machines, most often found when playing at a bar. The head title of this game has an easily identifiable image that, once you play it once, will be easily remembered and spotted on future casino visits.
Payouts in Double Joker Poker are somewhat unique. As is usually the case, a natural five card royal flush is the max payout at 4000 credits. This is the same amount that players generally receive on a regular Jacks or Better or even Deuces Wild game. The interesting part of the pay table on this video poker game is found in the quad (4 of a kind) tiers. The biggest win would be 4 aces, paying 800 credits on a 5 credit, max bet. Now, though 4 aces is notoriously difficult to achieve, it becomes a lot easier when you are working with two Jokers in the deck as well.
Below the Royal Flush and 4 aces wins, 4 of a kind of any sort is also paid out at a premium, ranging from 250 to 400 credits. Of note is the fact that straight flushes pay the same amount as 4 of a kind 5s through kings in this particular game. It goes without saying that this particular game is much more about the exact type of hand that you make than it is about simply making a hand.
Double Joker games can be found in high limit slot sections of many casinos. If you do not find them as primary, standalone games, you may wish to check to see whether they are available in a different machine. One of the places that you might take a look at would be any of the popular Game King machines.
For the most part, Double Joker Video Poker machines are going to be found on the main floor of a brick and mortar casino. Since the strategy involved for absolutely optimal play is more advanced and complex than what you would find in a game like Jacks or Better, the casino will be able | 434 |
Mangalore is about 300km from Bangalore and is a very historically significant city. The city was part of the Mughal Empire and its traces can be seen on various medieval architectural monuments scattered across the city. Flights to Mangalore are easily available from all key locations. Airlines like Indigo, Air India, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, Go Air and AirAsia are some of the common ones which offer regular service. Cheap flights to Mangalore are also available and you can search for them on our website. If you're planning a trip to Mangalore, book with flywidus and avail great deals on your travel.
Bejai Museum: The museum is located at the centre of the city and also goes by the name Seemanthi Bai Government Museum. Here you can checkout an amazing collection of ancient coins, paintings, stamps and other artefacts.
Light House Hill Garden: This place is believed to have been built by Haider Ali and offer amazing views of sailing ships and setting sun. It's peaceful, tranquil and a perfect place to relax with friends and family.
Mangalore Beach: There are a couple of beaches in Mangalore and two of our favourites are the Tannirbavi Beach and the Surathkal beach. Both are famous for their amazing sunset view, beautiful lighthouse and a clean and calm atmosphere.
Kadri Hill Park: This is a beautiful looking animal conservatory and one of<|fim_middle|>, routes and combinations. Book with us and have an amazing time in this lovely place. | the largest gardens in mangalore. Here, you can spot animals like sambar, anteaters, spotted deer, leopard, crocodiles, jackals and monkeys. There is also a kids entertainment are with toy trains. The eight water tanks here, are said to cure skin disease.
Kadri Manjunatha Temple: Resting on the foothills of the Kadri Hills, sits the Kadri Manjunath Temple. The temple has been constructed according to the Vijaynagar style architecture and you can also see some Buddhist influence here and there. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
The months from December to February make for an ideal time to visit this place. It is a perfect time for sightseeing and outdoor activities. During summers, the weather is generally warm and humid, which can be exhausting. T he monsoon season sees medium to heavy rains and may obstruct you from going out. Usually male kids love to play with robots because it is gives reality to the robot games and movies that they admire on television. Although most robot movies demonstrate fighting and power exhibition, it is still proven as good toys for kids. Robottler offers the greatest selection of robots for kids of all ages from 0+ to 16+. To begin your child's learning about robotics or robot building, you can get him a beginner robot kits for kids. The kit is the complete set of a particular robot kit project that includes the all the needed parts, tools and the instruction necessary.
We at flywidus.com provide some of the cheapest flights to Mangalore and a hassle free booking experience. We'll find you low airfare tickets to Mangalore at all times | 337 |
Carte Blanche Bistro & Bar To Bring French-In<|fim_middle|>e Blanche is located at 339 N Cleveland Street in Oceanside. For more information, visit eatcarteblanche.com and check out the menu below. | spired Mexican Fare To San Diego's North County
The family behind Old Town San Diego restaurants Fiesta de Reyes and the Cosmopolitan Hotel are nearly ready to open Carte Blanche Bistro & Bar, a French-inspired Mexican bistro debuting later this month in North County.
From prominent restaurateur Chuck Ross and family, including sons Brandon and Ryan, Carte Blanche is a 4,300 square-foot French-Mexican fusion restaurant grand opening on January 22 within the new SALT Complex in downtown Oceanside. A 40-year veteran of the trade, Ross began his restaurant career in the kitchen at a Red Lobster, working his way into management with positions at General Mills Restaurant Group and Hard Rock America before revitalizing Old Town San Diego with the launch of Fiesta de Reyes - a unique mix of restaurants and shops including the historic Cosmopolitan Hotel & Restaurant.
"Family has always been my main priority," said Chuck Ross, leader of Carte Blanche owner All Family Hospitality LLC. "Over the last decade, my sons helped my wife and me build our businesses in Old Town, so it's a privilege to create something more uniquely their style alongside them. We're creating a legacy, together."
For Carte Blanche, which translates to "blank page" in French, Ross is harnessing the talents of San Diego chef Alex Carballo. Carrying 15 years of experience on his resume, and having run kitchens at Indigo Grill, The Brigantine and Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, to name a few, Carballo has created a menu of French-inspired Mexican comfort food for his newest restaurant. Carte Blanche's offerings includes dishes like carne asada tartare with onion, garlic, capers, micro greens, chili lime aioli, quail egg, and plantains; duck mole tacos featuring corn tortillas, mole negro, pickled onions, smoked cotija, and topped with duck skin chicharrones; and mushroom raclette with portabella, raclette fondue, chorizo and a special served with tortillas. The dishes revolve around a shared plate concept to promote family-style dining.
"The French-inspired Mexican concept allows for endless flavor profiles," commented Carte Blanche Executive Chef Alex Carballo. "The most difficult part of this entire process has been choosing what to put on the menu and what to leave off. Every time I think I've perfected it, I add another spice or another ingredient and think, well, we must have that."
Carte Blanche will offer a warm union of French and Mexican farmhouse themes, with vintage glass arches behind the bar, thick black metal frames around French windows and subdued tile, just a block from the Oceanside Pier. Cart | 563 |
Once upon a time there lived three little fish. One day their mom said you half to build your own house, And watch out for the big bad shark. He will gobble you up. So off they went.
The first little fish built his house<|fim_middle|> So he bit the rock as hard as he could and all his teeth fell out and he fell down they look out the window and the shark looked like he was dead. They went out to look at the shark and he was dead. And they lived happily ever after.
Is The Three Little Fish and the Big Bad Shark like the Big Bad Wolf? | out of seaweed. He was happy about it. The second little fish built his house out of pebbles. He was very proud of it. The third little fish built his house out of a rock. He was happy and proud of it.
So the shark tried to eat them but all he got was pebbles. He didn't see where they went. So he looked around and saw a huge rock with three fish in it. So the shark went over there and said "open the door or I'll gobble you up." All the fish side "no." | 117 |
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Phil Sonntag is the founder and architect of DATOW Software.
During the mid to late 70's, Phil was a young electronic engineer working in the aerospace industry. During that time he had access to a "Mini-Computer" called a Wang 2200; his first computer. Its primary programming language was BASIC (Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code). While taking an extension course at Cal State in FORTRAN, he taught himself BASIC on the Wang. It was during the late 70's that microprocessors came around and Tandy-Radio Shack first manufactured the TRS-80.
At that time, no software was written for this new, little computer. It's operating system was TRS-DOS, and the programming language was a BASIC interpreter developed by a little known company called Microsoft. Yes, Bill Gates actually wrote the very first BASIC for microprocessors in 1975, and the language was used for the first 8-bit, TRS-80 in 1978-79.
Phil, already proficient in BASIC, left his hand<|fim_middle|> completed.
DATOW was re-born. Although DATOW runs very well under all MS operating systems, we welcome our new DATOW Windows Version 5.0. Check it out for yourself!
The Window has been finally opened.
Buzz will be definitely missed by all. This page, on our website, is hereby dedicated to him and his massive contribution to our own computer world, CTTA, and the Towing Industry. Thank you.
Happy computing!
Phil Sonntag
Pam Buzzanco
Software Infomation
On-Line Software Order
License - Warranty - Return Policy
Contact Datow
Purchase Annual Support
Unlimited Phone Support
Unlimited Remote Support
Minor Updates to Datow 5
Purchase an Hour of Support
Multi User $150.00 USDSingle User $100.00 USD
Call now and make an appointment for an on-site demo,
or an on-line demo via the Internet with our free conference software.
Copyright © BCCS Datow Software 1980-2019. All Rights Reserved. | Hosting by www.nscs.biz | -made business cards at all the local Radio Shacks in the Long Beach (CA) area. Don Ault of B & H Tow, located in Inglewood, California, got a hold of Phil's card and gave him a call. The very first version of DATOW Lot Control was written & installed on a TRS-80 Model II. It was in 1980 that DATOW was born. While it wasn't called DATOW at that time, the program migrated from TRS-DOS to CP/M (Control Program for Microprocessors), to MPM, and finally, in the beginning of 1984, to MS-DOS running on an IBM-PC. The name DATOW was born and our first joining of the California Tow Truck Association (CTTA).
In 1985, DATOW Software's parent company, The Soft Touch, Inc., delivered its first copies of DATOW Lot Control with California Lien Sale Processing, and it's own integrated Accounts Receivable module to Bradley's Towing in San Diego, thanks to Bob Bradley, and to Hal & Reggie Present, owners of Goodman's Towing in Culver City, and Crescenta Valley Tow in La Crescenta, California. A hearty thanks are given to those tow owners who gave Phil the time, expertise & support in developing DATOW for the IBM-PC. Their generosity & friendship, including providing Phil with room & board, was the main thrust of getting DATOW off the ground again.
Needing a consistent and reliable hardware source, Phil looked up an old friend he knew in the computer industry. Tony Buzzanco, who owned Buzzanco Computer Consulting Service (BCCS), officially came on the scene. 'Buzz,' as we affectionately knew him, became our hardware & LAN (network) expert, selling DATOW customers Kaypro computers (now extinct) and Star dot-matrix printers, and, as needed, 10base2 and MS-NET and sometimes Novell networking.
It was in 1986 that two more DATOW systems were born. Dave Pollard, software architect, started 'Truck & Driver' Dispatching & Truck Maintenance, and was developed & first installed by The Soft Touch (TST). Subsequently, Tony engineered our DMV electronic Printout retrieval service for Lien Sale processing using 1200 baud modems! When modems became almost obsolete, they ran in excess of 56K baud (56,000 bits per second), but never went beyond that. Goodbye modems! Now, DMV printout data is retrieved via the Internet.
The 90's proved to be another banner decade. Phil & Tony took DATOW national. DATOW Software become the number one towing software in the US. With alphanumeric & cellular paging via the Internet, driver's license swipe software, automatic AAA call dispatching access, deficient lien letters, DOT compatible truck expense tracking, multiple state lien sale processing, and the 'Once-is-enough,' simple data entry, it's no wonder we are number 1. It was also this decade when Phil transferred the rights of DATOW Software to BCCS.
On February 18, 1995, Tony married Pamela Schoncite – his best acquisition to date! The ceremony took place on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. It was a grand affair for all who attended. It didn't take long, for Anthony III (ASB III) was born on November 4, 1995.
The new millennium finally came. While DATOW was already "Y2k" compliant, physical challenges developed for Tony. Diagnosed with Type II diabetes, Buzz continued to make improvements on DATOW and was first to implement a wireless network design using RF towers for communication for a towing company in Torrance, California. This was long before "Wi-Fi" became popular as it is used today for laptops, smart phones, networking, and Internet access.
Tony was a good family man. To make things even better, Tony and Pam brought Anthony a new, baby sister. Lauren was born February 9th, 2001.
On April 27th, 2003, a good friend and business partner, a wonderful father and husband, passed away. Tony "Buzz" Buzzanco is survived by his wife, Pam, and his children, Anthony & Lauren. His mom and dad, Anthony Sr. & Teri, his two brothers, Joe & Ed, and his two sisters, Mary Lynn & Jo Ann, love him dearly and will always miss their son & brother.
Pam now had a decision to make. Should she sell the Number One Towing Software company in America? At this time, mind you, Pam was frustrated with computers, with little knowledge of how & why they work. She still couldn't find on the keyboard, "Any Key!" However, with Phil back in the picture (he never really left) full time, Pam decided to carry on the family business and even make it better. Despite not having a clue about running a sophisticated software company, within months, Pam more than doubled the business. BCCS / DATOW Software was back on the charts, and in the running, within the top 5 companies in the United States.
Due to Tony's health challenges, DATOW Software had to miss in participating with several of the annual CTTA Western States Tow Shows. But, in 2004 Pam & Phil came back and had a successful exhibit in Reno, Nevada. We were back on the map. The next stop is to create the Windows version.
"You guys need to stop draggin' your butts! You need to get off the DOS bus, and hop on the Windows jet express," said one of our many loyal customers. So, Pam got in the search mode. She was looking for the best way to get DATOW up and running fast in Windows. After several failed attempts she finally found the right mix. Enter her new programmer, Mike. He started in DOS but made a successful transition to Windows and is still working today. Mike and Pam got together, and with Mike's help, the new version for Windows was finally | 1,274 |
Thank you Samantha. Took me 5 places and<|fim_middle|> next haircut.
"Thank you Samantha. Took me 5 places and 5 jacked up hair cuts until I finally found this location. "
"Been a regular customer for over a year always using Gabrielle. She left, but I returned assuming I "
"First time I used the online appointment service and it was absolutely perfect. Showed me approximat" | 5 jacked up hair cuts until I finally found this location. Thanks for getting me in there and getting it right. Will definitely be back.
Been a regular customer for over a year always using Gabrielle. She left, but I returned assuming I could find a quality stylist. I checked with Shari who I knew had been there for awhile. I walked in and the board showed I was on deck and another client showed 22 minutes wait. Shari said Austin was a regular and I would have to wait. She explained that the online check-in feature was not accurate. I have never been lied to that blatantly. If that is the quality of your other stylists you better offer Gabrielle the moon to come back. Shari must be an absolute moron to turn away a client as loyal as I am. I'll never go back to that store, especially since another franchisee is closer to my home.
First time I used the online appointment service and it was absolutely perfect. Showed me approximate wait time which was less than 10 minutes and allows you to pick your stylist. Shari is my preferred stylist, I have thick hard to cut hair and she gives me a perfect cut every time! Store is kept very clean and well stocked with products like the Tea Tree products, a must try. I highly recommend trying this location for your | 275 |
WARRIORS OF WILDLIFE
Our rescued wolf, Judge.
Judge was confiscated from a hunter by Ukrainian Borders Guards. The hunter was going to use him to breed with a Pitbull to try and create a new more vicious breed. He spent a couple of weeks with us in Kherson while we were searching for a sanctuary or zoo to take him. He now lives at Mezhigoriye, Kiev, Ukraine, ex-president Yankovich's private zoo. It is a start of the art facility and he really has a good life now. He will be introduced to another orphaned cub soon. He is now about 4 months old and was just over 2 months when we received him. We would have like to send him to a sanctuary where he could be rehabilitated and sent back to the wild, but unfortunately there are none available in Ukraine. Below are a few photos of Judge.
HELP SAVE THE KHERSON BEARS
My name is Lionel de Lange, and I am a South African ex-pat now living in Ukraine. I opened a chapter of the Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization (LAEO) because of the work the late Lawrence Anthony did in Iraq, when he saved the starving animals that were affected by the war. His passion for animals and all things living inspired me to step up at this desperate time.
The conditions for some of these animals is shocking and there is no funding allocated to some zoo's whatsoever and funding to all zoo's around the<|fim_middle|> stay alive. Read more.....
International President of LAEO based in Los Angeles visits Ukraine, 2 Jun - 9 Jun 2014.
After the first three months of operation of our new LAEO Ukraine, LAEO's International President and Director of the U.S. headquarters, came to Ukraine to do a standard inspection to see our progress and to meet the Directors of the zoos we are working with, and tour the facilities. Here's what she said about our work.
"I am extremely proud to see the work that Lionel de Lange and his staff and volunteers are doing. This group has gotten up and running more quickly than any other group we have worked with and they are doing a fantastic job in supplying food, medical supplies, and medical treatment to those animals and zoos in need. The quality of their work has been acknowledged world-wide, and I am delighted to see the many letters of thanks and appreciation for their good work that we have received from Ukrainian zoo directors, veterinarians, city mayors, and other key officials.
LAEO's international headquarters gives our heartfelt thanks to Lionel and his team for what they have accomplished, and we look forward to their continued progress in helping animals in need in Ukraine."
Carte Blanche reporting on LAEO in Ukraine.
When people go to war, animals often get caught in the chaos. Trapped in zoos or fenced into game parks, they can't escape... Like the thousands of starving animals in zoos across Ukraine where civil unrest rages.
www.carteblanche.dstv.com (Follow the link)
Taigan Safari Park - Crimea
50 Lions saved from starvation.....
Follow the YouTube link to view the action..... www.youtube.com
Baghdad Zoo - Iraq War
Below is the CBS interview with Dr Lawrence Anthony about his rescue of the animals in the Baghdad Zoo.
LAEO is an independent, non-profit group which seeks to reverse the dwindling spiral of the plant and animal kingdoms and our environment through education and action. | country has been cut by the government. Apart from the assistance we are providing to zoo's around the country we have started work on a project in the city of Kherson, Ukraine. The "zoo" is situated on an island on the Dnieper river. This is an ex-privately owned zoo where the animals are living in horrendous inhumane conditions. There are 5 Brown bears living in a combined area of 42 sq/m. There is no other word to describe it, "A prison" made completely of steel and metal bars which includes a steel floor.
Why The LAEO of UKRAINE needs you and your support:
Apart from coming out of a long winter where the visitor attendance drops to zero, you may know about the extreme political and economic unrest in Ukraine presently, but what you may not be aware of is the effect it is having on the animals at some of the Ukrainian zoos. While many of us are consumed with our own needs and daily lives, sometimes there are others who occasionally need our assistance in order to survive through an immediate crisis. Please take a minute to learn about this very important initiative and what LAEO is doing to handle it.
Right now, in Ukraine, there are thousands of animals at the mercy of kind people under intense economic duress willing to donate food and supplies in order to ensure the animals | 276 |
MANCHESTER Magic rounded off a superb season in style with a come-from-behind win in the NBL1 play-off final.
Paul Middleton's team already had the Championship, National Cup and National Trophy in the bag before their clash with Reading Rockets at the Manchester's new National Performance Centre.
And they completed a clean sweep of all honours by beating a spirited Berkshire side 72-65 who pushed them all the way in a thrilling clash.
But the driving force of<|fim_middle|>, "Franc and Ellis were outstanding," said Middleton. "And Jack was too. But I thought Ryan was great.
Publication information: Article title: Magic Marvels Complete the Clean Sweep with Thrilling Reading Win. Contributors: Jepson, Anthony - Author. Newspaper title: Manchester Evening News. Publication date: April 25, 2016. Page number: 44. © MGN Ltd. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved. | Ellis Cooper and Franc Garcia Garrido - in his last game for the club - saw them home.
Middleton praised that duo and shooting guard Jack Minister - but saved a special mention for the dogged dirty work of veteran Ryan Lohfink, also possibly enjoying his Magic swan song | 58 |
Category Lifestyle & Entertainment
It Takes Two Game Review
It Takes Two<|fim_middle|> enjoy around the world. From food, exciting games, culture, lifestyle content, we have covered it in this diverse journal. We believe in passion opens doors to creators. We hope by sharing our experiences, adventures, would inspire you to share your journey.
Copyright © 2023 A World Journal | All rights reserved. | is a two people cooperative game that is fun, challenging to play locally and across distances.
The Mitchells vs. the Machines Review
The Mitchells VS The Machines is an animated comedy sci-fi film about the adventure of a family going on a cross-country road trip interrupted by a robot apocalypse. A film that is full of realistic and heart stringing moments that connect with all of us.
A World Journal
Gaming Is a Hobby for Learning and Gain Valuable Skills
Gaming is a hobby that has great outcomes as it allows you to learn and improve skills. It helps focus, problem-solving, multi-tasking, communication, time management, and creativity.
A World Journal View Profile
We write to share things we adore and | 147 |
HALF A CENTURY AGO, STEVIE WONDER DEFINED WHAT AN 'ARTIST'S CLASSIC RUN' COULD MEAN ~ NPR
March 2, 2022 May 22, 2022 by Jerry Roberts, posted in ART ~ FILM ~ POP CULTURE, AUDIO INTERVIEWS ~ PODCASTS ~ VIDEO, MUSICA ~ TUNES
7-Minute Listen
It's been called "The Greatest Creative Run in the History of Popular Music" – and it started 50 years ago this week. Stevie Wonder released five brilliant albums in the span of five years, between 197<|fim_middle|> territory that I believe is unfortunate, I will say: Van Morrison. From Astral Weeks to Moondance, His Band and the Street Choir, Tupelo Honey, St. Dominic's Preview – that's five albums in almost five years, maybe four years. That, I think, is a brilliant run.
[Also] Björk: Debut, Post, Homogenic, Vespertine.
Gal Costa maybe? Her self-titled debut, then another self-titled – both in 1969 – and Legal in 1970. And perhaps adding her fourth album, Gal a Todo Vapor, in 1971.
I could keep going. I feel like I should stop because I could really keep going.
Previous postJack Miller ~ March 1, 2022
Next postPaco | 2 and '76: Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life. Three of them won Grammys for Album of the Year.
Wonder first signed to Motown Records when he was 11 years old, and so basically grew up with Motown's head, Berry Gordy, calling the shots of his creative life – and Gordy was famously reluctant to allow his artists to make political or social statements in their music. But, when Stevie Wonder's contract was about to expire on his 21st birthday, he was able to negotiate for more creative freedom. It led to a geyser of superb recordings.
Morning Edition's A Martinez spoke with poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib about this "classic period" of Wonder's, saying its story begins with the album just before that historic quintuple run, called Where I'm Coming From.
Hanif Abdurraqib: It received some mixed reviews, both commercially and critically. Some of this, I think, is because it was released right around the same time as Marvin Gaye's What's Going On album, and Gaye's album kind of swallowed Stevie Wonder's, in part because they were thematically similar in terms of the ambition. They were both operating from this newfound realm of freedom within the Motown machine. Where I'm Coming From is an interesting album because it's a little bit delightfully self-indulgent. Like, you can tell that it was created by someone who had for a long time wanted to do more with what they were being given. And this is kind of the first swing at that.
A Martinez, Morning Edition: So March 3, 1972 – Stevie Wonder, armed now with this creative control that he never had before, releases Music of My Mind, the beginning of what's known now as his "classic period." What was different about this album?
Hanif Abdurraqib: Well, the primary thing that jumps out for me is just the sonic leaps. When Music of My Mind gets talked about, there are people who want to discuss Marvin Gaye as an inspiration. But really what shifted Stevie Wonder's sound was hearing Tonto's Expanding Head Band debut album, Zero Time. He heard this, and he wanted to go and meet the architects of the album, one of them being Malcolm Cecil.
Through this introduction, Stevie Wonder was introduced to the synthesizer. Stevie Wonder, for all of his ability, was very much ahead of his time sonically. In his head, he was hearing things that he just did not have the equipment to execute. His imagination was beyond the tools. And with the synthesizer, he found his way to those tools. I think Stevie Wonder was kind of due for a breakthrough album as an adult. If you read stories from Malcolm Cecil, who produced Music of My Mind, he'll say things like, "I knew him still as Little Stevie," you know? And so he was really due for a breakthrough album that treated his work with the gravity it deserved.
What stands out lyrically about this new freedom?
Hanif Abdurraqib: I think he honed a lot of things on a song like "Evil," which is the final track on the album, which is like [Marvin Gaye's] "What's Going On" in that it's primarily rooted in questioning. It is almost personifying evil and asking it questions … It's kind of the reason I don't often compare What's Going On with anything in Stevie's golden era – because I do think that Stevie's work was a little more optimistic, or a little less cynical. I'm not using cynical as a pejorative; I'm a noted cynic in many ways. But there is something interesting about Stevie Wonder's ability to embody an emotion or a human impulse as something more than that.
"Evil" is not very long; I believe it's only one verse. But Stevie Wonder's great ability throughout his whole career is taking a handful of lyrics and building a sonic ecosystem around them to stretch a song out musically, to make it feel like a full and broad song. "Evil" is a great example of that.
Music of My Mind was the first stand-out album from this period. He then went on a run not rivaled in almost any field of life and work that anyone has ever seen.
Hanif Abdurraqib: For me, the Stevie classic run is fascinating not only because of the quality of the work or the fact that, for me, the albums get progressively better – from Music of My Mind to Talking Book to Innervisions to Fulfillingness' First Finale to Songs in the Key of Life, which I think is really the the mountaintop – but the small window of time in which these projects were released. From Music of My Mind to Songs in the Key of Life, from '72 to '76, the corners that he was able to turn as an artist are pretty fascinating to look back on.
You said that this period peaked with Songs in the Key of Life. What was it about that album in particular that stands out to you as his finest moment?
Hanif Abdurraqib: You know, as someone who creates things, I know that the writing or the song or the work that you imagine and the work that you're actually capable of executing – those two things rarely intersect. They can get close to each other, but they rarely intersect. I think Songs in the Key of Life is one of those rare albums where the way the creator imagined it is actually the way it turned out. You know, all the wildest imaginations possible to dream up some of those songs, I just wholeheartedly believe that those came to fruition.
The first time I heard "Love's in Need of Love Today," which for me is one of the great track-one/side-one's of all time, I remember thinking: "I have no idea how a person made this song!" I mean, the entire side-one of Songs in the Key of Life is just note-for-note one of the most perfect sides of all time.
Stevie Wonder went on to have other huge records, huge hits in the '80s. They're not considered part of this classic period. Why not?
Hanif Abdurraqib: I actually think that Hotter Than July [from 1980] would be considered a part of this classic run, if not for – and I have to say this is not my opinion – but I think the historical critical opinion is there was the interruption of Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants [from 1979]. That serves as an interruption in the run that kind of breaks it up.
I've heard that album described as "deeply weird."
Hanif Abdurraqib: You know what? It is weird. But there's something really fascinating about it, and I think it's due for a critical revisit because it was not generously perceived at the time, because people found it to be vague and strange and self-indulgent in its ambitions. But I think some of that was because it came right on the back of Songs in the Key of Life, one of the greatest albums ever created. Right? And so I think actually Stevie Wonder did a very brave and smart thing by saying, well, to follow that feels impossible, and I need to do something that is strange and odd.
I'm wondering if you've ever looked up and down music history and thought of an artist that came close to Stevie Wonder's run.
Hanif Abdurraqib: This opens up a big can of worms, because this is something I think about all the time. I think Stevie Wonder's is the best – any great album run has to include more than three albums.
So, though he has veered into some | 1,638 |
Carrick Contracting Corporation can assume overall responsibility for<|fim_middle|> sub-contractors that all personnel on our sites are safe. | the management of your commercial project or manage a limited scope of work. Projects include and are not limited to automotive dealerships, office buildings, technical sites, restaurants and retail stores. Each project phase is engineered every step of the way to ensure long-term reliability. Experienced Project Managers and Field Supervisors control every detail on the site from selection and management of subcontractors and suppliers to the fine tuning of coordinating outside technical services. Our team approaches each project with the skill and expertise to effectively and efficiently guide a project from concept to completion.
Carrick Contracting makes safety a priority on every project, ensuring our clients a safe and efficient work environment. Commercial work requires strict adherence to safety protocols; we ensure the utmost attention to safety standards, going the extra mile to educate and monitor our managers, supervisors and | 160 |
As the Earth follows its annual orbit around the Sun, the relative positions of those two bodies changes with respect the the background stars. From the point of view of an observer on Earth, therefore, the Sun appears to move slowly relative to its backdrop of stars, passing from one constellation to another as the year passes, and ultimately completing a circuit of the entire sky. The apparent path of the Sun through the sky is known as the Ecliptic, an imaginary line that traces a path across the Celestial Sphere.
Under most circumstances, the stars 'behind' the Sun aren't visible to an Earth-bound observer because of the brightness of the Sun itself (the exceptions are at times of eclipse, when the Sun's light is darkened sufficiently to make the stars visible). The corollary of the Sun's apparent movement along the Ecliptic is that the visible stars opposite the Sun's brilliant disc also appear to move. This is the reason that the night sky changes as the year passes, with different constellations visible in different seasons.
Astronomical Effects
The major planets in the Solar System all orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane, and this means that, to an observer on Earth, the planets also move through the sky following the Ecliptic closely. The relationship is not exact, so the planets will rarely fall exactly on the line of the Ecliptic, but they will never stray far from it. The Moon, too, orbits the Earth in very nearly the same plane. The fact that eclipses can only occur when the Moon actually crosses the line of the Sun's path (and hence the Earth, Moon and Sun are exactly aligned) is the source of the the name Ecliptic.
The rotation of the Earth on its axis does not align with the Ecliptic: the Earth is 'tilted' by more than 23° relative to the path of its orbit. It is this tilt gives rise to the seasons, and it also means that the Celestial Equator - which is based on the Earth's own equator - follows a quite different path across the Celestial Sphere from the Ecliptic.
There are two points in the sky where the Ecliptic and the Equator cross one another. These mark the points where the Earth's axial tilt aligns with the plane of the Solar System, and the practical result is an equinox, where day and night on Earth are effectively of equal length. These two crossing points of the Ecliptic and Equator correspond to the two annual equinoxes: the Vernal Equinox in March, and the Autumnal Equinox in September.
The point of intersection between the Ecliptic and the Celestial Equator at the<|fim_middle|> the centre of the Solar System, it was thought that the Sun and the planets literally followed the path of the Ecliptic, actually travelling though a circuit of constellations each year.
The cycle of constellations through which the Ecliptic passed was therefore seen as profoundly significant, and the original twelve star-groups gave rise to the Zodiac. Gradual changes in the Earth's attitude over the centuries mean that the Ecliptic has changed slightly since the original twelve constellations were defined, and it now also passes through a thirteenth constellation, Ophiuchus, interposed between the classical Ecliptic constellations of Libra and Sagittarius.
Concepts Index
Chi1 Orionis
Deneb Algedi
Sombrero Galaxy | Vernal Equinox is termed the First Point of Aries (for historical reasons, though it currently falls within the boundaries of Pisces). The First Point of Aries marks the reference point for coordinates on the Celestial Sphere, defining the position of zero hours right ascension and zero degrees declination.
Ecliptic Coordinates
The circle that the Ecliptic traces across the Celestial Sphere can be used as the basis of its own coordinate system. Defining the Ecliptic as the 'equator' of a system like this means that the Sun, Moon and major planets always remain close to 0° latitude (Ecliptic coordinates use degrees of longitude and latitude, rather than the right ascension and declination used on the Celestial coordinate system).
Mapping the sky using Ecliptic coordinates locates objects relative to the plane of the Solar System, so increasing or decreasing latitudes place objects further outside that plane. At 90° north and 90° south are the two Ecliptic Poles, marking the points directly 'above' and 'below' the Solar System's primary plane. The Northern Ecliptic Pole is in the constellation Draco, very close to the Cat's Eye Nebula, while the Southern Ecliptic Pole is in Dorado, very nearly in the direction of the Large Magellanic Cloud.
The course of the Sun through the stars was known in ancient times, though somewhat misunderstood. Based on the assumption that the Earth was fixed at | 309 |
Studies of conventional<|fim_middle|>, activation and noise processes, they both share the same interplay between elasticity and activity.
At the microscopic level, we will explore this intimate competition at the structural level, using confocal microscopy, to elucidate the microstructure, vibrations, and plasticity of these living solids. At the macroscopic level, we will investigate the non-linear response of these materials, using both micro and macro-rheology, with a special attention paid to their emerging functionalities and morphologies.
The research will be conducted under the supervision of Olivier Dauchot, who is leading the EC2M team (Collective Effects in Soft Matter) from the Gulliver Laboratory, headed by Elie Raphaël, and co-supervised by Corentin Coulais from the Soft-Matter Group at the Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute of the University of Amsterdam, headed by Daniel Bonn.
The candidate should be completing a Master's degree in physics, engineering, chemistry or a related field. He/she has outstanding experimental skills, a strong theoretical/numerical background and a marked taste for combining experiments, numerical simulations and theory. The following areas of expertise are particularly welcomed : colloidal and polymer synthesis, microfluidics, rapid prototyping, micro-fabrication, mechanical testing, control/automation/robotics, image processing, data mining and computer programming (Python, Matlab, or equivalent) as well as theoretical background in (soft) condensed matter, nonlinear physics, statistical physics and mechanics. The ideal candidate is highly motivated with a go-getter mentality. As he/she will take fully part of collaborative research environment and will be the link between research teams located at two different locations, he/she is also expected to be a team player. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are essential. | polymer gels, foams and emulsions, quintessential systems of soft condensed matter physics, have resulted in numerous fundamental advances and countless technological applications. However, the laws of equilibrium statistical mechanics limit the properties of these materials. One of the distinctive property of living systems is to behave out of equilibrium and thereby access emergent properties, out of reach from their passive analogs : this is the so-called field of active matter. More specifically, important success has been obtained regarding the description of the mechanical behavior of cells and tissues, in terms of active gels.
Active gels provide a natural extension to soft-matter physics. Besides their biological importance, such inherently non-equilibrium systems are an inspiration for developing biomimetic active materials from microscopic components that consume energy and act as local stress or strain actuators. While active fluids consisting of small self-propelling particles have been extensively studied, with a special interest in collective motion, their solid counterparts remains largely unexplored, especially in term of model synthetic experimental system.
Recent developments spearheaded by Dauchot and Coulais in the fields of active matter [1-3] and architected solids [4-6] now provide prototypical systems to explore the new physics arising when activity and elasticity are combined in the bulk of a material. At the micron-scale, colloidal elastic architectures can be self-assembled and doped with activated swimmers. At the centimeter scale, elastic networks with desired response can be suitably designed, 3D printed and actuated by motors. Though these two systems feature starkly different time and length scales | 321 |
E-commerce players always want to find THE solution that will improve considerably their sales performances. Many strategies are currently used online, but have you ever tried to launch a cross-selling strategy?
In this article, you will find the main key points to be aware of how it works and how to implement it. Pure players always want to improve their online sales to reach more market share and take over the competition. For that, they try to implement cross selling into their main strategy. But what is concretely cross-selling?
The cross-selling can be defined as "a strategy that suggest complementary items which will fit with the one you just bought during your purchase. This king of process tends to improve your revenue thanks to an increase of your client's average basket." So, you will understand that cross selling is obviously about increasing your sales performances through an item that provide an added value to the product you just<|fim_middle|> strategy, you need to know how to launch it.
Targeting will be the key of your project. In fact, all your strategy will be successful if you can target your client at the right time. For that, your marketing segmentation must be flawless and your capability to use new techs like machine learning will considerably help you in your process.
Finally, to stack all the odds in your favor, some tools are available on e-commerce hosts website as Shopify that help you to create your shop online. The interface allows you to add some features "plugins" to implement cross-selling. There are also, Boxia, OASIS E-commerce and Powerboutique that help you to set up your automation marketing strategy to increase your online sales performances with a CRM integrated. | purchased.
Moreover, you may know that cross selling can be use through different way but will always be associated to e-marketing and e-merchandising. Indeed, e-marketing tools will analyze your purchased habits and will be able to suggest you relevant items which fit with your product. And e-merchandising will help the company to match those complementary products in the order pipe during your purchase. It is also possible to suggest added value product to your client by e-mail thanks to retargeting methods.
For example, you are French, and you want to go to Brussels for the week-end. You book the hotel you want, and the website will suggest you to rent a car as well, to make your trip more convenient. As a buyer, you will be sensitive to this kind of offer because you don't want to be dependent to train schedules or even train rates that can be very expensive.
Other solutions can be implemented and correlated to cross-selling. Indeed, pure players tend to promote cross selling to bring added value to their product but some of them try up-selling and down-selling strategy.
Up-selling is usually used in e-commerce to not only bring added value, but also to suggest an alternative product that is more expensive but with a higher quality. We can take the example of flight ticket, the client buys a second-class ticket, but the company will tell him during his purchase, "if you had only 80 euros more you will be upgrade to First class". Companies do that to improve their margin and sell product/service they didn't sell yet, knowing that the flight is quite soon.
This solution is less used because of its low-income generation but still relevant to attract customers. To illustrate my words, you can find a simple explication about down-selling; cross-selling and up-selling strategy. Now that you are holding the aces of e-commerce cross selling | 380 |
No. 6 Wichita State rallies past South Dakota State, 95-85
South Dakota State's Mike Daum fights for a rebound with Wichita State's Darrel Willis, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Koch Arena in Wichita, Kan., Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (Fernando Salazar/The Wichita Eagle via AP)
By DAVE SKRETTA
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Gregg Marshall was willing to divulge some of the halftime adjustments he made<|fim_middle|>1) to offset Mike Daum, who hit seven 3-pointers and poured in 31 points for South Dakota State. Daum also had six rebounds in a virtuoso performance.
"With Mike, he scores the ball so well and when he can command so much attention it gives other guys easier plays, easier looks," Jackrabbits coach T.J. Otzelberger said. "When he's playing with that confidence and swagger he had tonight, that makes everyone better."
The game was knotted 27-all midway through the first half when Daum hit one of his four first-half 3-pointers. That began a run over the next 5 minutes that pushed the Jackrabbits' advantage to 39-30 and silenced another crowd packed to the rafters of Koch Arena.
Daum wound up scoring 16 points in the first half, and the Jackrabbits - who were trounced just up the road by No. 2 Kansas a couple of weeks ago - shot 63 percent from the field in the first half.
"In the first half, we weren't communicating too much like we needed to," Morris said. "As soon as we started communicating, got back and got in a defense stance, we did a better job contesting shots."
Indeed, South Dakota State twice pushed its advantage to 13 points early in the second half before Marshall finally began slapping on a full-court press to change the tempo of the game.
It was a big improvement over their leaky half-court defense.
"It seemed like they were hitting everything. That doesn't happen too much around here," Morris said. "We talked about at halftime that we needed to get back in it, get the crowd riled up to give us the extra boost we needed."
The press cooled South Dakota State offensively, and the Shockers slowly chipped away at their deficit. Frankamp made three free throws, Morris knocked down a 3 and Rashard Kelly threw down a dunk to make it 76-all - the first time it was tied since the 9:09 mark of the first half.
Daum set an illegal screen to earn his fourth foul and a spot on the bench with 5:53 left, and back-to-back-to-back baskets by Morris in the paint made it 89-81 with 2:26 to go.
The Shockers were never threatened again.
"I mean, a win's a win," Shamet said. "It wasn't a perfect game, but getting a win gives us some momentum going into a game against Oklahoma State."
SICK SAMAJAE
Junior college transfer Samajae Haynes-Jones, who scored 31 points in a win over Savannah State, missed the game with an unspecified illness. "Samajae had some stomach issues we're trying to resolve," Marshall said. "I don't know if Samajae thought it was going to be an easy game to sit this one out."
South Dakota State was fifth nationally in made 3-pointers entering the game, but the Shockers evidently forgot that part of the scouting report. They allowed the Jackrabbits to go 14 for 29 from beyond the arc, and that long-range shooting was nearly enough to spring the upset.
Wichita State proved it could beat an NCAA Tournament-caliber opponent on an off night, and that should bode well the rest of the season. The performance also gave Marshall plenty of teaching moments, especially on the defensive end, where lapses throughout the game nearly cost his team.
South Dakota State plays Concordia of Nebraska on Friday night.
Wichita State visits Oklahoma State on Saturday.
More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 | that enabled No. 6 Wichita State to rally past pesky South Dakota State on Tuesday night.
He just wasn't going to replicate the R-rated delivery.
The Shockers began switching ball screens that frustrated them the first 20 minutes, and a full-court press got the Jackrabbits out of sorts. And after slowly digging from a 13-point second-half hole, the Shockers escaped with a 95-85 victory over the Summit League favorites.
"The resolve, the toughness of these guys, the refuse-to-lose carried us tonight," Marshall said.
Landry Shamet led the way with 21 points and eight assists. Shaquille Morris had a big second half and finished with 20. Conner Frankamp added 16 points, setting the school record by hitting a 3-pointer in his 30th straight game. And big man Darral Willis Jr. finished with 13 points.
That was enough for the Shockers (7- | 204 |
This is a firstlook.org article.
Three top Democrats are accusing the Department of Housing and Urban Development<|fim_middle|> of America branches are disappearing! If your Bank of America branch disappeared, you're not alone! | of quietly removing a key clause in its requirements for taxpayer-guaranteed mortgage insurance in order to spare two banks recently convicted of federal crimes from being frozen out of the lucrative market.
HUD's action is the latest in a series of steps by federal agencies to eliminate real-world consequences for serial financial felons, even as the Obama administration has touted its efforts to hold banks accountable.
Sens. Sherrod Brown and Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Maxine Waters fired off a letter to HUD on Tuesday, saying they believe that the timing of the change was designed to clear the way for two banks recently convicted of federal crimes — JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup — to continue to make Federal Housing Administration-insured loans. Last year, JPMorgan Chase wrote $1.67 billion in FHA loans, and Citi wrote $342 million, according to data from the Congressional Research Service.
On May 20 of this year, JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup both entered a guilty plea on one felony count of conspiring to rig foreign currency exchange trades, the largest market on the globe.
Five days earlier, on May 15, HUD slipped a notice into the Federal Register, seeking to alter its standard loan-level certification form, known as HUD-92900-A. This form must be filled out for lenders to receive FHA insurance, which reimburses them if the homeowner falls into foreclosure.
JPMorgan and Citi's guilty plea would fall under the antitrust statute, and according to Brown, Warren and Waters' reading of the certification, that would make them ineligible to obtain FHA insurance on their loans.
On the updated form, this language has been excised. The notice in the Federal Register did not even mention the removal, making it impossible to discover without comparing the old form and the proposed form side by side. The Wall Street Journal ran a story about the certification changes in May, but failed to notice that the new language would let law-breaking banks off scot-free.
The day before HUD released the notice in the Federal Register, the New York Times reported that the Justice Department sought to lessen the consequences of the guilty pleas in the foreign exchange rigging case, ensuring that federal regulators would not use the pleas to bar banks from certain business lines.
HUD spokesperson Cameron French said the agency was not providing comment on the Democratic letter. He said HUD would review it and respond accordingly.
HUD solicited public comment for two other alterations to the form. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, only administrative changes that potentially raise burdens on private businesses must go through the public comment process. Anything that reduces paperwork burdens has no such requirement.
According to the Democratic lawmakers, HUD asserted in staff-level discussions that removing the certification does not represent a change in policy. HUD staff argued that a certification on a separate lender-level form is sufficient for keeping criminally negligent lenders out of the program.
However, in their letter, Brown, Warren and Waters explain key differences between those two certifications. The lender-level form covers only felonies by the lender subsidiary and its employees related directly to participation in real estate or mortgage lending. The loan-level form is much broader, encompassing civil or criminal violations of any type, whether related to real estate or not. Plus, violations by the lender's parent company firm or its affiliates count under the loan-level certification.
JPMorgan Chase and Citi would pass the lender-level certification, because the violation to which they pleaded guilty occurred in foreign exchange trading, not mortgage lending.
While many industry observers believe banks should not be punished in one area of their business for the sins in another area, the threat of such consequences could act as an effective deterrent for the parent company to follow the law across its business lines. But if these consequences are habitually waived, the deterrent value becomes irrelevant. The industry has also warned of reduced access to credit if large FHA lenders like JPMorgan Chase and Citi were barred, a perennial objection any time profits are threatened.
"HUD may have good reasons for proposing these changes at this time," write Brown, Warren and Waters, but "but its Federal Register notice fails to even describe the changes to the certifications on illegal conduct — let alone offer a rationale for them." They allege that HUD staffers offered to give additional reasons, but only after the comment period ended on July 14. The notice has already been reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget, the final step before authorization.
The Democratic lawmakers believe removing the certification language results in a change in policy rather than simply a change to the form. They requested that HUD withdraw the notice and issue it again under the Administrative Procedures Act, giving an explicit rationale for the change, and how it would affect JPMorgan and Citigroup's FHA loan status. The public would then have an additional 60-day comment period.
Hundreds of Bank | 977 |
Sean Bean is a god among the nerd community. His filmography features major pillars of nerdom such as Lord Of The Rings, Game Of Thrones, and Goldeneye. Other than his impressive acting chops, nerd-friendly collection of iconic roles, and popular memes, he is known for another thing. He dies in every movie, ever.
What was an ongoing joke among film buffs for years eventually made it's way to the man himself. Our beloved Sean Bean sat down for a panel with an auditorium full of adoring fans at Wizard World<|fim_middle|> Ian McKellen in Macbeth, how he's a major hero of his, and how surreal working alongside him was. | Philadelphia. One thing was very clear from the beginning, Mr. Bean is very aware of his status as both the subject of some of the most popular memes on the interest and his reputation for great characters that always die.
Not only is he aware of his high on-screen death count, but he claims to have his eye on perhaps passing Christopher Lee's number. After a lovely introduction and some time with Bean sharing his Philadelphia experience, the floor opened for questions by the audience.
One fan inquired about which character he would have liked to stick around for a little longer. "Probably all of them," he spits out before the room erupts with laughter.
Well-constructed questions give way to well-thought answers off-the-cuff as Bean charms us all through stories of he and his character's ways of thinking and approaching obstacles. He mentions being blown away by | 173 |
High Demand for Math Undergraduates
Meghan Jones
SFU Student
Melanie Chang
/ 5 December 2010 /
Submitted by OLC Editor on 5 December 2010
Co-op students often find job placements easily if they are in a program that combines mathematics with computing science or business.
"The old image of the math person chewing a pencil solving math problems; that's obsolete. They now get trained for communication too. Employers are interested in math people because of the problem solving and communication skills."
- Tom Archibald, Mathematics Department Chair
Mathematics is a field of study which has been revived and expanded since the development of the new tech age. Mathematics programs at SFU now combine pure math studies with business or computer programming studies to provide students with a greater skill set and increase their employment opportunities upon graduation.
According to Dale Yamaura, Mathematics Undergraduate Advisor, there is a diverse range of careers for students with a mathematics degree. She says many grads "work in engineering firms, teach high school math, or go into software engineering, finance, banking, research, healthcare, actuarial science, or accounting."
Faye Stefan, Co-op Coordinator for Mathematics in the Science & Environment faculty Co-op Department, reflects upon common misconceptions surrounding a degree in Mathematics. "I find that with a math degree, it's often misunderstood by a lot of students and even with employers, potentially. This is because a math degree is no longer just a pure math degree. There are so many different complementary combinations that are being offered with a math degree now."
There are numerous streams offered by the SFU Mathematics department including Industrial Mathematics, pure Mathematics, Management System Science, Math and Computing Science, Applied Math and Mathematical Physics. The newest stream is Industrial Mathematics. According to Faye, "It's more about operational research; systems and logistics."She continues, "the program is designed exactly towards the demands of the industry, as opposed to a purely academic piece that has traditionally been offered."
According to Dale, about one third of SFU<|fim_middle|> if they are in a program that combines mathematics with computing science or business. According to Faye, "they apply to a job, and they'll get the job. It's that blend that really pulls employers in. I find quite a number of my senior students that can easily get into top-end engineering Co-op jobs, which can be highly competitive."Faye explains that employers are not necessarily concerned solely with a high GPA. They are most concerned with the technical knowledge students have obtained throughout their studies at SFU.
Students have a variety of choice and maneuverability when choosing a field of employment. The major players with SFU students in recent years have included Statistics Canada, HSBC, Electronic Arts, Copper Leaf Technology, and Environment Canada. Students also tend towards the gaming industry working for companies such as Propaganda games and Nexon Publishing. "A lot of the students really like the gaming industry because they're gamers themselves,"says Faye. "They love it and they've got the programming skills required."Statistics Canada is also a key employer of mathematics students from across Canada.
Faye comments that the math Co-op program at SFU is male dominated - about 75% of the undergraduate population in the math Co-op program is male. But, she says, "more and more women are joining the program. I have a handful of them right now, and they are very motivated and driven."
Getting Ready for Math-Related Classes in the New Semester
Math Catcher and Its Founder Capture National Attention
Interested in applying to join the Mathematics Co-op program? Visit their website for more information and to fill out the online application form.
To find out more about what some of the Co-op work term opportunities could be for Mathematics students, check out the Mathematics Co-op Profiles on the Online Learning Community.
Career and Volunteer Services
Science Mathematics
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Have you ever thought about working in a place that you are familiar with? Perhaps a Tim Horton's close by? For many students the idea of working at SFU might be a great option, if you prefer a 10 minute jaunt to work after class or an opportunity to learn more about how a university operates.
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I and the whole staff at work attended a training last week on a "narrative" method of career counselling led by Mark Franklin, the practice leader of a company called Career Cycles. It's inspired me to write a bit about narrative therapy in general, especially as it applies to career development.
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While life in Kootenays may bear the reputation of being laid back, Co-op student Adam Brayford finds that within the realm of emergency communications, the province's warmer region is abuzz with activity.
Learn more about volunteer opportunities at SFU.
Explore CVS on the OLC | mathematics students choose to continue their education beyond a bachelor's degree. "They usually pursue a Masters in finance, economics, pure or applied mathematics, or computing. Students are also successful continuing to Faculty of Education PDP, or work towards achieving an accounting designation."
Faye has first-hand feedback from employers about why they choose Mathematics students with combined studies. "It's that diversity of skills; the critical thinking piece that comes with a mathematics student that encourages employers to hire them."Faye continues, "employers have told me before that if they can find that combination in a student, they would take that student over someone that doesn't have a skill set that is as diverse."
Co-op students often find job placements easily | 144 |
Bezos, Amazon Answers Antitrust Questions to House Committee on the Judiciary
On July 29, 2020, Jeff Bezos testified before the US House Committee on the Judiciary. After the testimony, the committee submitted a list of additional questions for Amazon to answer in writing. The questions and answers were published on September 4th. We've reviewed Amazon's responses in the Questions for the Record and identified some key takeaways for brands and third-party sellers that operate on the Amazon marketplace.
Does Amazon Steal Third-Party Data?
One of the most persistent lines of questioning was around Amazon's use, or rather, alleged misuse of third-party data, including third-party seller data from the Amazon marketplace and third-party data from AWS users. Amazon has been accused of using third-party data to create copycat products and undercut its users' prices.
In short, Amazon openly admits to drawing on its enormous wealth of third-party data to improve its first-party offerings. However, it denies targeting any single seller because it anonymizes and aggregates data.
Amazon responded in multiple instances that Amazon uses anonymized, aggregated data to inform its decisions, including which private label brands and products it pursues. Amazon argued that this is an ability that any retailer has, ecommerce or brick and mortar. Amazon also stated that, like any other seller, its private label developers research public-facing content on listings, such as price, reviews, rank, and features.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal's questions pressed Amazon to define "aggregated data" through a hypothetical: If a category consisted of one seller who accounted for 99% of sales and another seller who accounted for 1% of sales, would Amazon deem the combined data "aggregate data"? Amazon's response that aggregate data is "data that is aggregated across multiple third-party sellers and, where available, Amazon's first party sales," suggested that it would.
First-Party Share of Listings by Category
First-Party Share of Sales by Category
This question and Amazon's answer are important to note for brands that release innovative products. Even if Amazon reviews data at a category level (and Amazon did not specify how deep category levels go for their product development purposes), successful products in niche categories are particularly vulnerable to copycat products based on Amazon's aggregated data and frontend research.
Does Amazon Unfairly Favor First-Party Products & Services?
The Buy Box
Chairman David Cicilline asked if Amazon considers profitability to Amazon when determining which seller wins the Buy Box. Amazon responded that profitability to Amazon is not a factor. Instead, factors such as price, delivery speed and cost, Prime eligibility, and seller performance determine Buy Box ownership. These factors are all things prioritized by Amazon first-party products.
FBA vs Non-FBA Offers
Cicilline also asked if Amazon favors products fulfilled through Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) are favored over non-FBA options. As with nearly every answer, Amazon responded in a roundabout way, stating that Amazon's data shows that customers prefer orders with FBA over non-FBA orders by 9.46%. This answer suggests that, yes, Amazon does favor FBA orders over non-FBA orders, but justifies it by claiming it provides the superior customer experience.
However, this may change in the coming fourth quarter, as Amazon has been forced to impose inventory constraints across its fulfillment centers due to being unable to meet the surge in ecommerce purchases caused by COVID-19. Since inventory space is limited and in high demand, Amazon is focusing on higher-volume, faster turning ASINs, as well as higher-profit items, to ensure that products stored in Amazon fulfillment centers (FC) are worthwhile for Amazon.
The Amazon FC capacity constraints has driven many third-party sellers to establish hybrid fulfillment strategies for Q<|fim_middle|> Notable Lines of Inquiry
Because we are an ecommerce services provider with a large portion of our business and expertise focused on the Amazon marketplace, our review focused on key takeaways for brands and third-party sellers that operate on the Amazon marketplace. However, the committee's questions delved into much more, including:
Whether Amazon is seeking access to content rights for content available on HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, or Netflix as part of its negotiations around Fire TV
Whether Amazon's initial and ongoing response to COVID-19 has been sufficient
Allegations of wrongful terminations
Amazon's plans for the upcoming pilot commercial ecommerce program organized by the General Services Administration (GSA) (the program will essentially offer a marketplace specifically for federal employees)
The Future of Amazon
While Amazon is under fire from Congress for monopolizing the ecommerce space and stealing third-party data to usurp its customers, Amazon hasn't broken its stride. Q3 is looking to be another strong quarter, with North American retail revenue forecasted to grow 30% year-over-year (YOY), compared to 21% YOY growth in Q3 2019. Likewise, Amazon's advertising revenue is expected to grow 37% YOY in Q3, compared to 41% in the previous quarter.
Predictions for the Amazon Marketplace, Near and Far
Amazon will continue enhancing advertising services on and off its platform to further realize revenue from this rapidly growing segment.
Amazon will continue expanding its brand protection services, including paid brand protection services, as pressure mounts from Congress and upcoming competitors, like Walmart and Target.
Amazon will retain many of the inventory policies for its fulfillment centers that it put into place during the pandemic. Permitting only faster-turning products to be stored in Amazon fulfillment centers increases Amazon's profits, and the baseline for consumer demand in ecommerce has been permanently raised as the result of COVID-19. As a result, Amazon can afford to impose stricter conditions.
Amazon first-party sales share will continue to reduce, as Amazon enjoys better profits and less risk through seller fees and having third-party sellers carry inventory risk. Pointing to the shrinking share of first-party goods, even as total revenue grows, also helps Amazon argue against calls for trust busting.
If other online marketplaces can rise to compete with Amazon, as Walmart has been making strides towards with the launch of Walmart Fulfillment Services and Walmart+, calls for trust busting may dissipate. As such, Amazon may limit competitive efforts to stymie their growth too much, so it can point to competition as antitrust pressure mounts.
Though countries such as India have forbidden the marketplace owner from also being a seller, it is unlikely that the US will institute such a policy given that Amazon, Walmart, Target, and others all act as first-party sellers alongside third-party sellers on their marketplaces. | 4, combining FBA with Fulfillment by Merchant (FBM).
Purchases Through Alexa
Cicilline also submitted questions about what ratio of first-party products are sold through Alexa compared to third-party products. Amazon stated that third-party sales account for 45% of sales made through Alexa in 2020, despite accounting for 58% of sales of physical products on Amazon. Amazon stated this discrepancy is due to the fact that many sales on Alexa are for consumable household items, like paper towels and diapers, and Amazon has a larger first-party presence in this category.
Amazon also stated that only a low, single-digit percentage of customers complete the purchase of a product suggested by Alexa on Alexa. The clause "on Alexa" is worth noting, as it implies that the conversion rate for Alexa-recommended products could be higher if one tracked sales made on other devices. When Alexa recommends a product, shoppers may look it up on their phone to view pictures and read reviews, then purchase from their phone. Such conversions would not be counted in the low, single-digit conversion rate provided by Amazon.
Does Amazon Do Enough to Protect Brands & Consumers?
Project Zero Allows Brands to Remove Counterfeits
Representative Henry Johnson, Jr.'s line of inquiry focused on brand protection services available to sellers on Amazon, and by extension, consumers who shop on Amazon. His first line of questioning focused on Project Zero, an Amazon program that gives brands the power to take down counterfeit listings themselves.
According to Amazon, to be eligible for Project Zero, a brand must have a registered trademark, an Amazon account with access to Brand Registry, and have maintained an accuracy rate of higher than 90% for all notices of infringement submitted to Amazon in the prior six months. Requiring a high rate of accuracy for notices of infringement is critical to protecting honest sellers from abusive removals.
Amazon stated that currently, 10,000 brands are enrolled in Project Zero. When challenged why brands should have to police Amazon's marketplace for it through Project Zero, Amazon stated that their automated brand protections proactively remove more than 100 items suspected of infringement for every 1 item that a brand owner manually removes.
IP Accelerator Expedites Trademark Registration
Responding to questions about protecting intellectual property rights (IPR), Amazon brought attention to its IP Accelerator program, which connects brands with a curated network of trusted IP-focused law firms to help with trademark registration. According to Amazon, this program has connected over 1,500 brands to the network, and over 500 brands have received "accelerated protection" on Amazon.
Accuracy of Seller Contact Information
As of September 1, 2020, Amazon requires all sellers to list their contact information on their public-facing Amazon seller profile page. Representative Johnson, Jr. asked Amazon how they plan to ensure that the seller information is accurate.
Amazon responded that they combine computer and human resources to validate seller contact information. However, many of their efforts seem to occur when a new account is created, so it is unclear how effective Amazon's systems will be at retroactively identifying inaccurate information in existing seller accounts.
Does Amazon Knowingly Permit the Sale of Counterfeits?
Despite a plethora of anecdotes from consumers and brands about a pervasive counterfeit problem existing on Amazon and the Department of Homeland Security's report from January 2020, Amazon continues to deny that counterfeit products are prevalent on the Amazon marketplace.
Amazon claims that 99.9% of all products viewed by customers on Amazon do not have a valid counterfeit complaint, although Amazon did not state how it determines which complaints are valid.
CJ Rosenbaum, founding partner of Amazon Sellers Lawyer, also cast further doubt on the sincerity of Amazon's claim that it proactively fights the sale of counterfeit product on its marketplace. In an interview with Kaspien's CEO and Director of Compliance, Rosenbaum shared that his firm recently represented a vendor who knowingly sold counterfeit product to Amazon Retail (first-party or 1P), and that Amazon Retail:
Knew the product was counterfeit and bought it anyways, then sold it to consumers
Simultaneously had an existing partnership with the competing authentic brand
Stopped paying the vendor when the vendor's account was accused of counterfeit, while continuing to sell the counterfeit product to consumers, resulting in maximum profits
Instructed the vendor to create a new vendor account so that Amazon Retail could place another purchase order, then repeated the whole process several times before the vendor took Amazon to court
The below video starts at the segment where Rosenbaum shares the story.
The frankly shocking allegations can be listened to in full, here.
Other | 948 |
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ZGF's Jaqua Center leads AIA/Portland Design Awards winners
Top AIA/Portland Design Awards winner the Jaqua Center (photo by Brian Libby)
The John E. Jaqua Academic Center for Student Athletes at the University of Oregon in Eugene was the top winner at Saturday's AIA/Portland Design Awards gala. Designed by ZGF Architects, the building was this year's sole winner of the Honor Award, AIA's top prize.
Surrounded by a reflecting pool, the building is a steel and glass cube with a ventilated double-skin glass facade. Floor to ceiling glass allows natural daylight to flood the interior space and a stainless steel screen forms a layer within the glass cavity. Inside, the building is centered around a large three-story atrium that is bisected with glass-ensconced catwalks. The interior design, particularly in these public areas, utilizes a series of massive wall displays. One is made from thousands of photos of current student athletes that were etched onto metal paneling and combine to form a likeness of Albert Einstein. On another wall (pictured above), the names and likenesses of past UO athletes are etched onto square wood blocks that jut in and out of the wall.
When I visited the Jaqua Center last January with ZGF partner Eugene Sandoval, he explained how in client meetings then-Oregon football coach Mike Bellotti emphasized the desire for a building that celebrated the natural beauty of Oregon. Bellotti spoke to Sandoval of how the surrounding landscape was a recruiting tool for luring top athletes from other regions of the country, and asked for a building that would articulate that sensation.
Three built projects earned the next-tier honor, the Merit Award: the ZIBA World Headquarters by Holst Architecture, the Cape Cod House by Atelier Waechter, and the Twelve West building by ZGF Architects.
ZIBA headquarters, Merit Award winner (photo by Jeff Jahn)
The ZIBA headquarters, located in the Pearl District near Union Station, is a marvel of both natural light and office space-planning. The Holst design created a massive north-facing glass facade that bathes workspaces in illumination. "A spatially rich building on a tight budget," the jury wrote, also noting ZIBA's "beautiful use of wood and metal in a contemporary manner. [Its] interiors are clean and light filled [with] a refined, buttoned-down exterior. Looks like a great place to work."
Personally, this is one of my favorite Portland buildings of the last decade and a major moment for Holst. The firm has won countless design awards in the past, but most always for residential buildings. Here Holst created an innovative corporate headquarters that is quite dazzling. I would have voted it a co-Honor Award winner along with the Jaqua Center.
Cape Cod House, Merit Award winner (photo by Sally Schoolmaster)
Waechter's Cape Cod House was just profiled here on Portland Architecture last week. It's a fine example of how a tiny (650-square-foot) home can be utterly transformed into capital-A architecture on a relatively modest budget. Waechter's Z-Haus also won an award over the weekend, the Citation Award, which is the next tier down. I'd have rated Z-Haus over Cape Cod because of its unique series of half-levels tying together the multistory space, but there's no doubt Cape Cod is deserving as well.
ZGF was certainly the big winner at this year's Design Awards given that the mixed-use building the firm calls home also earned a Merit Award. Given how the building opened in the worst possible economic climate in 2008, it could have been a disaster for the firm and developer Gerding Edlen.
Merit Award winner 12 West (photo by Brian Libby)
As it happens, the Twelve West building is filling up with tenants, and it already boasts the title of first building in the world with vertically-integrated wind turbines. When near the building downtown or in the Pearl, I've already developed a habit of looking toward the top of Twelve West to see if the turbines are spinning.
Along with Z-Haus, the other built-project Citation Award (the third tier of awards) winner was the Flavor Paper building in Brooklyn, designed by Skylab. This is another Portland firm that has become a regular each year in the AIA/Portland Design Awards, having previously taken the Honor Award a couple years ago for the firm's 12th & Alder building and an award<|fim_middle|>ridland)
One project earned this year's Craftsmanship Award: a private residence by TVA Architects in Nevada that overlooks Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountains. The award submission descibes how "two buildings mirror one another and are connected to one another via a boardwalk running through a graveled sculpture garden. The jury noted the project's "beautiful control of concrete, wood, glass and other materials" and its "marriage of landscape and architecture."
Hayes Freedom High, Sustainability Award winner (photo by Lincoln Barbour)
This year's Sustainability Award went to Hayes Freedom High School in Camas, Washington by Mahlum Architects. A 200-student, 20,500 square foot alternative high school named in honor of Camas graduate Denis Hayes, the building school caters to students with alternative learning styles and needs as part of a downtown campus. The Jury "appreciated how the project incorporates a comprehensive environmental approach while making an important social statement by creating a permanent home for non-traditional students" and lauded "how the project incorporates sustainability into the learning experience."
Patton Park Apartments, Mayor's Award winner (photo by Sally Painter)
The Mayor's Award for Design Excellence went to the Patton Park Apartments by SERA Architects. Patton Park is the first new transit oriented development to be built along the Interstate MAX light rail line. The five-story building, created for Reach Community Development includes 54 units for working families and 4,600 square feet of commercial space.
A&CMAPAC, People's Choice Award winner (photo by Kirsten Force)
This year's People's Choice Award went to Ankrom Moisan's design for the Arts & Communications Magnet Academy Performing Arts Center in Beaverton. The project includes a 400-seat theater, experimental studio, support spaces and art galleries for an award-winning magnet arts school that previously had to stage its productions in a Quonset hut.
Congratulations to all of this year's winners.
Some great and deserving projects. I was surprised though that Mercy Corps didn't win anything.
Posted by: Maccoinnich | October 25, 2010 at 02:49 PM
The Magnet Academy Performing Arts Center building exterior design is quite impressive for a high school age (actually serves a wider age group than that), but the picture by Kirsten Force makes it look great. Also noteworthy, is that this is an add on to the aged, existing single level school building.
The contrast between the two styles is complimentary. The road bordering two sides of the school is on terrain that climbs, giving good views of the two different architectural styles juxtaposed against each other. This addition is a good example of how an existing building's energy can be improved.
Posted by: ws | November 04, 2010 at 10:31 PM | for the Departure Lounge atop the Meier & Frank building.
Citation Award winners Z-Haus and Flavor Paper (photos by Stephen Miller & Boone Speed)
Also this year, Skylab won an Unbuilt Citation Award for the Weave Building, which has been planned for the past year and is hopefully set to break ground after a few false starts. The Weave boasts a very striking facade that implies the notion of weaving: that of the West End and Pearl District neighborhoods it straddles and the blend of creative professionals it will provide workspace for.
When I wrote about the Weave Building in The Oregonian last year, Skylab's Jeff Kovel told me it could come to emblemize how the marriage of small creative-class spaces and distinctive architecture can be a way forward even in the worst of economic climates.
Rendering of the Weave Building, Unbuilt Citation Award winner (image courtesy Skylab)
"My hope is it really becomes an example of somebody who went out on a limb and seized an opportunity to do something special," he said. "I think that type of approach is going to become more and more critical across the board. It's going to be harder to succeed with mediocre product or ideas. The competitive environment will hopefully draw more out of people."
Two other projects also received Unbuilt Citation Awards: the David Campbell Memorial to firefighters planned for the East Bank Esplanade and designed by Whelton Architecture; and the Steel Bridge Skatepark designed by DAO Architecture.
Campbell Memorial, Unbuilt Citation Award winner (rendering courtesy Whelton Architecture)
The Campbell Memorial commission was won by Whelton in a three-team invited commission for designers who double as Portland State University instructors. The design is comprised of tall lanterns symbolizing firefighters killed in the line of duty. According to a recent Daily Journal of Commerce article, the design has been scaled back. The original, Nathalie Weinstein writes, "called for a sweeping open space along the Eastbank Esplanade, with lanterns to represent each fallen firefighter. But the area it covered was too large, and adding a new lantern for any new death could be expensive for the city and the fire department.
"The new scheme is much smaller but retains the same poetic value as the original," Whelton told Weinstein. "Now it's about 6,000 to 7,000 square feet. And instead of adding new lanterns, the lantern lighting patterns will be altered monthly to reflect the historical number of firefighters who died during that month."
Unbuilt Citation Award winner Steel Bridge Skate Park (image courtesy Ambient Light Digital Renderings)
The Steel Bridge Skate Park is described in its submission materials as "a sculptural urban space, optimized for skating, but accommodating the broader community, integrating urban design and infrastructure, architecture, landscape, recreating, and art." The Jury applauded this as "a piece of provocative placemaking that is thoughtful to the skaters and a great transformation of an underutilized 'junk' space."
Craftsmanship Award winner, a private residence (photo courtesy Stephen C | 621 |
The road to Rio
Another effort to save the planet
The good news for green groups in 2012 is that they have a big global event on which to focus their energies: the "Rio+20" conference on sustainable development, to be held under the auspices of the United Nations in Rio de Janeiro on June 4th-6th, 20 years after a landmark environmental summit in the same city.<|fim_middle|> up to the Rio gathering in 2012, and of the debates that will follow it.
Oliver Morton: briefings editor, The Economist | The less good news is that it is far from clear what the latest in the series of un grand gatherings on saving the planet will achieve. Not for the first time in the run-up to such events, disagreements are rife over its agenda and its management.
Start with a bit of history. In 1970, two years before the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, Brazil voiced its strong unease at the proposed agenda. Environmental protection, the Brazilians argued, must "be planned as a means to promote development and not as an obstacle...to the rising expectations of the underdeveloped world." At the same time, a clique of rich countries, the "Brussels group", made sure that the conference would not harm their trade interests, not set up a un agency with the power to be troublesome and, of particular concern to Concorde-building Britain and France, not seek to fetter the development of supersonic airliners.
For all this, Stockholm was an historic event: the first global governmental discussion of environmental issues and what to do about them. It was a sort of diplomatic coming-out party for the increasingly influential environmental movement, and it encouraged steps to green governance within countries. In 1971 there had been just one environment ministry in the world, but in 1972 eight more were set up (in part to make their governments look good at Stockholm), and by the end of the decade there were a couple of dozen. It also set the ground-rules for agreements between countries on air pollution and the like.
The world cannot have an environment unaltered by humans
Stockholm's successor, the Rio "Earth Summit" of 1992, seemed at the time an even bigger deal. The Stockholm conference was attended by only two heads of government, the host country's prime minister, Olof Palme, and Indira Gandhi from India. Rio boasted more than 100. It set up three new UN conventions through which agreements to safeguard the global environment could be crafted. Its "sustainable development" agenda also made explicit, as Brazil had wanted 20 years earlier, that environmental protection had to be part of the promotion of development rather than a check on it; that poverty eradication was a part of the process; and that while all the world's nations had a responsibility to protect the environment, rich nations that had done more damage had a different sort of responsibility—one that developing countries thought should include a willingness to foot some of the bill for keeping development clean.
Rio+20 will not be as dramatic as either of its predecessors. The world's leaders are distracted by more immediate concerns, in particular the worrying fragility of the global economy. Few have focused on Rio, let alone formed a clear idea of what it should do.
But a lack of drama may be just as well. This is not a time for setting up more UN bodies, treaties and institutions; those already created have yet to impress. For all the fuss that has surrounded its Kyoto protocol and subsequent negotiations, the Framework Convention on Climate Change shows, at best, that international climate negotiations are possible—but it may never show that they can achieve significant results in mitigating global warming. The other two Rio conventions, on biological diversity and combating desertification, have proved equally disappointing.
If Rio+20 is to have influence, it will have to look instead to the role that the Stockholm meeting played in changing the terms of debate. In the 1970s, to speak of the need to reduce, or even stop, the change that humans were inflicting on their planet was a novelty. Some 40 years later, with a global population 80% bigger than it was then and an economy more than three times greater, the aspiration that was once a novelty has become history.
Embrace the anthropocene
Instead, scientists increasingly talk of a new period in the Earth's history, the "anthropocene"—the period in which human influence on the planet has come to dominate all others. In such a world, avoiding impact on the environment is no longer an option. The issue is managing that impact, choosing which bits to minimise, which to tolerate, even which to embrace.
Rio+20 should be an opportunity for deliberations that are shaped by this new theme of planetary management. One element of this is to focus (as the UN Environmental Programme, a creature of Stockholm, has recently been doing) on enhancing and valuing the economic benefits that the environment provides seemingly for nothing. These "ecosystem services"—the storage of carbon in trees, the pollination of crops by insects—are often closely tied to the economic fortunes of the poorest in the developing world.
The world cannot have an environment unaltered by humans. Humans need an environment that is rich and stable enough to foster further development, and a pattern of development which reflects that need. These twin truths should be at the heart of the deliberations that lead | 1,014 |
TIBS and I (Capt Obvious) wanted to share our reviews of the lightweight down jackets we carried in 2018 and will most likely be carrying on our 2019 continuation of the Appalachian (AT) Trail (Make sure you check out the video at the bottom). Now the reviews… ladies first.
There are not many options for women that are hippy (and, yes, I am talking about myself). Now add in hiking the Appalachian Trail and that goes to almost zero. I have to admit that I was frustrated in trying to find a down jacket. They either stop at my waist or they would not make it to my waist. Either way it was frustrating as all hell. Actually, no, it pissed me off. I really, really hate when manufactures have an assumed clientele view that is very narrow. I have sent emails and even called to voice my fluffy view. I have to say that Patagonia is trying. They have expanded their sizes for men, but not women (yet). I spoke to several REI locations and rock climbing is huge right now. Again,<|fim_middle|> Hardware, recommend and I can leave my pillow at home.
Pros: Extremely Lightweight, Looks Great, Packs Into Itself, Comfortable Fit, Did I Say Extremely Lightweight? | there are few sizes for larger people. Large does not always equal fat. I hate short sited views sometimes, frustrating. However, I am here to review my jacket…….
How did I find this jacket? I did not find the jacket, but my husband Don did. Don noticed the jacket on Massdrop and purchased it for me. I figured that if I did not like the jacket or if the jacket did not fit I would sell it on one of those backpacking gear sites. Lucky for me, the jacket worked out. I had the opportunity to use it on our first night out of Harper's Ferry. I wore that jacket in my sleeping bag with my wool cap under the hood. I was as snug as a bug in a rug at 25 degrees, yeah me!! We had several cold nights that week that varied in temperatures and the jacket rocked it!! Funny how things work out for us fluffy girls!!
I picked up my Mountain Hardware (MH) Ghost Whisperer Hooded Down jacket based on multiple reviews and after ensuring it fir well added it to my 2018 AT attempt gear list. MH says this jacket has something called Nikwax Hydrophobic Down™ which stops down from absorbing moisture so it maintains insulation properties but honestly my plan was to use the jacket in camp after I got out of the rain, after all I was carrying the Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex synthetic jacket (click here for that review) for time there would be moisture and a rain jacket. Honestly, I never wore the jacket during our 450 miles on the trail. It stayed stuffed into its own pocket, great feature, and became my pillow. MH says this jacket has an "Alpine fit" which basically means it's tight so you can layer under a shell. Elastic cuffs and elastic to adjust the hem should help keep warmth in. And with 800 fill you expect it to be warm. What I found is there is a reason for the "Alpine fit", you need a shell to stay warm. I decided to take the jacket for a test drive on a 30 degree (+ or -) 4-mile hike just to find out how it would work in a kind of real world hiking scenario (click here if you want to kip the rest and see the video). I loved the fit and feel of the jacket and it looks good. Features are great and the hood fit nicely as well. The But is that during the hike I simply never felt "warm" but I didn't freeze either. I wore a lightweight base-layer and my arms always felt cool, not chilled but cool. You know that cool you feel from a raincoat that sticks to your arms kind of cool. Maybe the lower comfort limit for the jacket would best be described at 40 degrees. By comparison my Kuhl Spyfire jacket that is 3-4 years old now will still be my daily go to, but I'll take the Ghost Whisperers 8.2oz weight over the almost 1 lbs weight of the cool on the hike. After all I can always layer and many, and Mountain | 635 |
Do you love to get outdoors, hike, explore<|fim_middle|> meadows, mountains, and local wildlife sightseeing opportunities.
Pleasant Valley is about two miles from the Rookwood Inn and boasts a thriving beaver population in the Yokun Brook. Their lodges can be found along the shores of the brook and, although primarily nocturnal, you may be lucky enough to see a beaver swimming along in the water or working on its dam. In the springtime, there is notable Salamander migration along the West Mountain Road.
The park also has trails that wind through hardwood forest, wetlands, meadows, and along Lenox Mountain's slopes. The Housatonic River and area lakes also feature canoe trips from mid-May through Columbus Day.
Canoe Meadow is a mere mile from the center of Pittsfield, and is most notable for its plentiful variety of birds, such as Ospreys, Great Blue Herons, Waxwings, Hummingbirds, Owls, Hawks, and Bobolinks, depending on the time of year. The meadow is a bird-watchers dream, with programs such as the Birds to Watch, Focus on Feeders bird count in February, and May's Bird-a-thon.
Canoe Meadow also has trails winding through woods, wetlands, fields, and along the Housatonic River. Nature enthusiasts regularly sight beavers, otters, and Wild Turkeys.
This summer, come to Lenox, Massachusetts to explore acres and acres of nature. And after a day of outdoor adventuring, it's just a short drive back to luxurious comfort, afternoon refreshments and a delicious breakfast in the morning at The Rookwood Inn. | , canoe, bird-watch, and picnic? The Rookwood Inn is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and unique nature sanctuaries teeming with wildlife.
In fact, two Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries — Pleasant Valley and Canoe Meadow — are within minutes of The Rookwood, each offering extensive hiking trails, riverfronts and lakesides, acres of forests, | 75 |
Soon after it took office, the general administration identified "communication" as one of its top priorities. References to it are found throughout the programmatic letter.
The January meeting was the result of two communication workshops held last summer with representatives of the general administration. They were led by André Lorenz, a media professional from Germany<|fim_middle|> internet. The commission spent much of the meeting identifying target groups and outlining how the needs of such groups can best be met by a redesigned website. It is hoped that a new website for the congregatipon can be launched by the end of the year. | .
Now, the work of that gathering is being taken a step further with the establishment of an International Communications Commission. Members include : Fr. Radek Warenda (vice general secretary), Fr. Stefan Tertünte (director of the Centro Studi Dehoniani), Mary Gorski (communications director of the US Province), Fr. Antonio Rufete Cabrera (responsible for communications in the Spanish Province) and André Lorenz. Working with the commission is Fr. Pedro Iglesias Curto, secretary general.
The group held its first meeting March 23-24 at the Generalate in Rome. Discussions included the development of a communications strategy for the Dehonians. One of the key pieces of such a strategy is creating a common identity for the congregation. In marketing terms this is often referred to as a "corporate image." It is a set of visual cues, such logos and colors, along with words or phrases that quickly bring to mind the organization that they represent. The apple logo of Apple Computer and the blue and white of the Facebook logo are two excellent examples of this.
A significant part of congregational communications is its presence on the | 236 |
Full Title: One World: The Ethics<|fim_middle|> of economic issues and have to be couched as such. A "Golden Straightjacket" that prevents individual nations from going their own way controls the erosion of national sovereignty. Nations can much more easily get in than get out. Claims to democratic operations are questioned because there is no weight given to population numbers. In addition, the Appellate Body does not answer to a majority of its members. Regarding inequality, the court is still out. This is an important ethical issue but it is still not clear if the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. In providing a practical ethical suggestion for the global economy, Singer points out the inherent responsibility of all nations and corporations to refrain from enabling dictators to sell off their country's natural resources. To do so, he claims, is the same as an individual knowingly buying stolen goods. In an ethically principled world, economic values are not isolated deal breakers but rather are a part of a rational and humane system of thought and action.
The issue of one law raises many philosophical questions about transcultural moral judgments. Singer argues that one can certainly work to appreciate, preserve, and learn from other cultures without being a cultural relativist. A consistent cultural relativist stance is very difficult to maintain in an interconnected world. For example, a cultural relativist would have to accept whatever any other culture did, even if that involved another culture's value of conquering other cultures. Accepting that there is a scope for rational argument in ethics means that "we can …ask whether the values we are upholding are sound, defensible, and justifiable" (p. 140). Transcultural moral judgments depend on everyone's capacity and willingness to reason. This, Singer argues, is a universal human capacity, without which we would just have power struggles.
Although rationality has a major role in Singer's notion of one community, so does imagination. In order to get beyond the tribal ways of ethical thinking, people imagined themselves to be a part of a larger nation. This helped remove some tribal barriers. The next step is to imagine ourselves as a part of a global community of reciprocity. This will help remove some of the national barriers. The real test of the workings of such a global community can be seen in the ways wealthy nations overcome the tendency to live high and let others die. If we would not allow this at a local or national level, why would we allow this at the global level?
This review only touches on the subtlety and cogency of Singer's arguments and examples. Unlike some news networks, he strives to present a fair and balanced approach to complex issues. He demonstrates the dedication and imagination necessary to pursue wisdom in a time of great tensions and possibilities. Professors of education can build on this book and work to be a force in creating an ethics of global responsibility. Such a task involves standing out and undertaking the heavy work of not making light of wisdom. | of Globalization.
In a world emphasizing "wisdom-lite," where perplexed postmodernists warn about the dangers of monoculturalism, and color-coded electoral results show that the United States is really two nations under Canada, it would seem writing a rational, carefully argued book entitled One World seems out-of-step. Peter Singer, however, is willing to risk standing-out because he thinks there is something important to stand for. He stands for the importance of global responsibility and points out the necessity of thinking about one atmosphere, one economy, one law, and one community. Educators seeking to ground their pedagogy in the problems of people rather than the theories of specialists will do well to attend to his ethical analysis as well as his prescriptions for the one world we mutually inhabit.
Singer's book is the result of his Terry Foundation Lecture entitled "Religion in the Light of Science and Philosophy" delivered at Yale University. Other lectures in this series have included John Dewey's A Common Faith, Paul Tillich's The Courage to Be, and Jacques Maritain's Education at the Crossroads. Singer holds his own in this elite group and his book cogently challenges people to come to grips with the interconnectedness of life on this planet.
A question asked early in the book and that helps frame its thesis is "To whom do we justify ourselves?" Singer sees people as essentially social beings and points out that if we justify ourselves to the tribe or nation we will only have a tribal or national ethic that does not take us far enough in dealing with our interconnected tensions in a changing world. The challenge for us today, however, deals with "how well we will come through the era of globalization…and this will depend on how we respond ethically to the idea that we live in one world" (p. 13). This challenge is not only a moral challenge; it involves the long-term security of the rich nations of the world. It is in their atmospheric, economic, legal, and social interests to see what is being done now and what might be done in the future to make our shared world an ethically responsible and safer place.
Singer begins his analysis by showing that the atmosphere has been assumed to be a giant global sink with a limitless capacity. Although everyone has used this sink, industrialized nations have been the primary users. For example, "the United States, with about five per cent of the world's population…was responsible for 30 per cent of the cumulative emissions, whereas India, with 17 per cent of the world's population, was responsible for less than two per cent of the emissions" (p. 32). With a sink of limitless capacity, this is no real problem. However, the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change claims that there is new and strong evidence that the sink has limits. The consequences of not attending to these limits results in global warming with its effects on increasing natural disasters, tropical diseases, and changes in food production patterns as well as rising sea levels. All nations will be seriously affected. The Kyoto Protocol has attempted to use a system of justice and ingenuity in dealing with the best output for the atmosphere. Its mechanism of emissions trading is an early and important attempt to limit green house gas emissions. Since Russia has now signed the Protocol, only one nation, the United States, which is also the largest emitter, has not joined in. Perhaps, the present President of the United States, like his father, believes that "the American lifestyle is not up for negotiation" (p. 2). This certainly gives a new meaning to the assertion that "They hate us because we are free." Do we assume the assertion entails freedom to pollute indiscriminately or freedom to act with disregard for the consequences on the rest of the world?
Moving to the economy, Singer examines the dynamics of the World Trade Organization in terms of the four charges: 1) It places economic concerns over others; 2) It erodes national sovereignty; 3) It is undemocratic; and 4) It increases inequality. In terms of economics trumping social values, Singer points out how difficult it is for this not to be the case. Ethical issues are seen as a subset | 860 |
The federal government is kicking in $1.15 million to establish 23 new electric-vehicle fast chargers in B.C.
The stations, to be deployed by B.C. Hydro, are being funded in part by Natural Resources Canada with $575,000 from the provincial government.
Keith Anderson, vice-president of customer service for B.C. Hydro, noted electric vehicles are good option for those looking to reduce their driving costs and their impact on the environment because B.C. Hydro generates 98 per cent clean electricity.
The federal funding is part of the government's $182.5-million investment to develop<|fim_middle|> are building the sustainable village development of Spirit Bay. Like other parts of the region we are seeking to create a strong economy, robust community infrastructure and increased services in our community while ensuring we don't lose the things that make us a unique and beautiful place to live," said Chief Russ Chipps.
Malahat Nation councillor George Harry said the model of regional cooperation aligns well with the Malahat nation.
"We are keen on building relationships with local communities and businesses. We believe our new membership to the South Island Prosperity Project is a positive step, as we both have similar goals," he said.
CBC's Dragon's Den will be holding open auditions in Victoria March 7 for entrepreneurs hoping to score some high-powered financial backing for their business ventures.
The audition tour is open to participants of all ages with businesses at any stage of development. Victoria auditions will be held at the Parkside Hotel, 810 Humboldt St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | a coast-to-coast fast-charging network for electric vehicles and establish natural gas stations along key freight corridors and hydrogen stations in metropolitan centres.
Two more Vancouver Island First Nations have joined the South Island Prosperity Project. The addition of Scia'new First Nation (Beecher Bay First Nation) and Malahat First Nation brings the total number of First Nations participating in SIPP to seven.
"We look forward to our member partnership creating real solutions to the challenges we face in Scia'new Nation. We | 103 |
Head In A Bucket The column by Byron Pope about Ford's Freeman Thomas (see WAW Dec. '06, p.9) really shows how lame his thinking is on the small-car market. While his European background and reasoning seem correct, he still has his head in a bucket regarding the future of small cars in America. Europeans rarely have more than one car, while U.S. families have three or four. The American college student,
Head In A Bucket
The column by Byron Pope about Ford's Freeman Thomas ( see WAW — Dec. '06, p.9) really shows how lame his thinking is on the small-car market. While his European background and reasoning seem correct, he still has his head in a bucket regarding the future of small cars<|fim_middle|> amused and depressed to read the Doug Fraser article ( see WAW — Jan. '07, pp.18). The UAW is no friend of the auto industry or the consumer, and this article yet again proves it.
I take issue with the part of the story that looks at GM's construction of the Poletown plant in the 1980s, requiring a large section of Detroit and neighboring Hamtramck to be cleared.
"If you're talking about maximizing profits, as the Japanese do, GM never would have done that," Fraser says in the article. "A greenfield site would've been much better for many reasons." He goes on to say, "It's a matter of attitude and social responsibility."
Guess what, Mr. Fraser. Had GM made the proper business decisions rather than the "socially responsible" ones, it would be in a much better position today.
Had the Big Three been focusing on that most evil of concepts — maximizing profits — then your workers would not be facing cutbacks, layoffs and the other hardships they face today. The free market works, if you just let it.
Dave Hardy
Want to e-mail us a letter? Please send to [email protected] | in America.
Europeans rarely have more than one car, while U.S. families have three or four. The American college student, commuter, woman shopper and first-time buyer with a small budget but big desires will welcome smaller cars. Very few young drivers want a used car or dad's hand-me-down.
On my visits to Europe, Smart cars are everywhere, serving the needs of local drivers. They will succeed in the U.S., as did the VW Beetle, for the same reasons. I owned one while my father drove his V-8 Land Cruiser and pickup.
Trust me, a small, efficient car, as one of a fleet of bigger U.S. family autos, will be accepted. If Mr. Thomas' ideology prevails, I can predict Ford will be trying to catch up again.
Dominic Marucci
Colmar, PA
Engines Overlooked
I liked a lot of your picks for 10 Best Engines this year ( see WAW — Jan. '07, pp.22). I found your nominee list to be well thought out. However, I must question why a few were left off.
Honda's K20 4-cyl. in the Civic Si, making 98.5 hp per liter, is not something you seein most vehicles, not to mention an 8,000-rpm red line. And that 197 hp comes from a 2.0L mill that is naturally aspirated.
The Subaru 2.5L engine found in the WRX STI, turning out 293 hp, is impressive. There are some great engines on your list, no doubt. But not one of them makes 117.2 hp perliter. The Mazdaspeed3 comes close. Still, the Subaru is more than a second faster to 60 mph (97 km/h).
It's true these may not be the most "mainstream engines from high-volume vehicles," but I still think they should have had a closer look. Besides, I'll bet Honda sells more Civic Si's than Mercedes sells E320's with the new Bluetec diesel (although, I admit, I love that new 3L diesel.)
I live in the Motor City and grew up in a "GM-only" family, so I find it a bit odd to cheer for two engines from foreign auto makers. But I believe they are worthy of recognition.
Bret Darling
Orion, MI
Editor's note: For 10 Best Engines, Ward's editors evaluate all new or extensively modified engines at the start of the model year, plus the 10 winners from the prior year. The WRX STI made the 10 Best Engines list when it was new in 2004, but it lost its spot in 2005, in part because of some refinement issues. The Civic Si engine was nominated when it was new in 2006 and received high marks in many areas but it did not quite make the cut. Until either engine receives significant upgrades, neither will be part of 10 Best Engines evaluations.
Not Fond of Fraser
I was both | 653 |
There are many great parts of having your own work from home business, but there are disadvantages, especially when you are unaware of what you are doing. Doing the right research will help you avoid all of the common mistakes online business owners make. The following are great ideas for a successful work from home business.
If you need to "wine and dine" your clients, remember that you can deduct expenses like these from your taxable income. These are legitimate expenses for your business. Make sure that the clients are going to remain clients, otherwise these expenses are not tax-deductible.
Starting work from home business can be fun but challenging as well. You must find the business niche first. Do all the research you can before aggressively pursuing only one thing. Network with other home businesses to get an better idea of which sectors are the best.
Determine an ending time you<|fim_middle|> easier to track of how much your company's transactions. It is also important to obtain a credit card that you use solely for business expenses.
These tips can show you how to start and run a home-based business, one that can succeed instead of fail. You will also find that you can utilize your resources more efficiently to ensure success. | will stop answering business calls each workday. Remember to create time for yourself, friends, and your social contacts.
A special business checking account will help you keep track of your company's financial transactions. Make sure all business-related transactions use this account. This makes it | 53 |
GWA students and staff celebrated School Counseling Week, an annual event sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). More than 100,000 school counselors worldwide participated in the week's festivities.
The goal of School Counseling Week is<|fim_middle|> helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; for working in a partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today's world; for focusing on positive ways to enhance students' social/personal, educational and career development; and working with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves. | to focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do. School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
Dr. Audrey Menard, Head of School, cited school counselors for being actively engaged in | 67 |
Monster certainly looks interesting. Think I'll give it a better look later when I'm ready to use a scripting language.
One thing occurred to me while looking at the examples: once a state has been "started", how is it safely "stopped" (since the loop never exits)? Does the state code need to be designed so that it can be safely stopped at any<|fim_middle|>, string lookup (for translations), an initialisation framework, etc. So currently it *does* practically nothing, but has a fair bit of useful code. I may well join up with one or more of the other projects around, since I'm less interested in programming the graphics code (which seems to be where most people start).
So what are your plans for monster?
Hey, sorry for the long ping time, I've been away on vacation.
That actually sounds very useful, I could use that for a project I'm working on. I made a simple config system for the project, but I'm not really satisfied with that. How flexible is your system when it comes to integrating it into existing programs? What other features have you put into it? Drop me a mail if you plan to release it!
I think exactly the same way about graphic engines - there are a lot around, some are very mature, and I personally don't feel I have much to contribute in that area. But instead of integrating into one existing game project or engine, I think it's a good idea to keep the core parts modular, and instead write bindings to other systems separately.
At least that's one of my future plans for monster. People should be able to use it with eg. OGRE or Irrlicht or other popular systems, and they shouldn't have to write the bindings themselves. I plan to write bindings or frameworks that will let you use the language with various other libraries (free and commercial), and make these easy to download and use. But that's a bit into the future and I have no idea what it will actually look like when it's done. | point where sleep is called? Maybe some kind of cleanup-on-exit callback would also be useful.
The states idea sounds like it could provide an easy way for people to start modding a game using the scripting language. Great idea!
Thanks for the feedback. The rules for how states run were changed in newer versions; they no longer loop around automatically. The state code will simply stop running if it reaches the end of the state block. You can also stop state code explicitly with a halt; statement. However if you want it to loop around you can use eg. goto and labels.
You are correct about sleep(). Idle functions (like sleep) are not guaranteed to ever return, since the state might change while the object is idle. An example is an enemy that waits idly somewhere, and which is then suddenly put into attack-mode when it sees the player. I plan to alleviate this with special functions called enterState() and exitState(), but I haven't gotten that far yet.
Well, I've noticed quite a few game engine projects on dsource now... I too have a game project, although as yet unreleased. I've mostly been focusing on less-interesting utility stuff, like easy handling of options and other config/data | 249 |
An Entrepreneur with Street Smarts: Emotional Intelligence, Risk Tolerance and Entrepreneur Success
Justin Deonarine is a Research Analyst on the Research and Development team for the Talent Assessments division of Multi-Health Systems Inc. He has kindly allowed PCL to feature this article on our website
Throughout the latter half of last year, I started to compare my experiences in 2016 to those of the years prior. I've noticed that I've had more contact with current or aspiring entrepreneurs in 2016 than I did in the past. Why? One reason is certainly our partnership with Canada's Music Incubator, where I work with a number of budding artist entrepreneurs. However, this pattern exists outside of that partnership. Are other industries turning entrepreneur dependent (like the music industry)? Am I starting to notice the perceived entrepreneurial mentality displayed by millennials?
Honestly, I'm not sure what's driving the increase in entrepreneurs, but it's likely due to a combination of factors. However, as I started to pay more attention to this phenomena, I noticed a lot of articles written about how to be a successful entrepreneur, usually from the perspective of an entrepreneur or someone who advises entrepreneurs. (A Google search for "how to be a successful entrepreneur" nets 43,000,000 results.) But, what about the perspective of the venture capitalist? Given that venture capitalists provide entrepreneurs with the money to start or grow their business, it seems like it would be important for entrepreneurs to know what venture capitalists are looking for. Using this knowledge, the entrepreneur could frame their pitch to appeal to the investor.
I knew I had read an article from the venture capitalist's perspective before though, and my search for this mystery article concluded when I found this post from Barbara Corcoran. You may know Barbara as one of the Sharks (venture capitalists) on the ABC show Shark Tank®. Each week, viewers tune into Shark Tank to see the new and innovative ideas that aspiring entrepreneurs pitch to the Sharks. The entrepreneur's task is to promote the profitability, sustainability and mass appeal of their product or service, in order to get an investment by one or more of the Sharks. However, the quality of the pitch isn't the only important aspect, as certain Sharks (such as Barbara) often cite the characteristics of the entrepreneur as one of their reasons for wanting to invest in the business. In other words, not only does the entrepreneur have to convince the Sharks that their business is a worthy investment, they have to convince the Sharksthat they are worth investing into as individuals.
"First off, I'm looking for an entrepreneur with street smarts…Not the usual book smarts, but real live street smarts." – Barbara Corcoran
In her article, Barbara describes these qualities as "street smarts", emphasizing the importance of soft skills in the business world. Barbara wants to know everything that she can about the entrepreneur, but only has about 20 minutes to both form an impression of the individual and determine whether or not the business "is a real winner".
While reading this article, it became apparent that any individual who possesses the traits that Barbara seeks must also have a well-developed set of emotional intelligence skills. Coincidentally, emotional intelligence has also been labelled as "street smarts" in prior literature: "In everyday language, emotional intelligence is what we commonly refer to as 'street smarts,' or that uncommon ability we label 'common sense.' It has to do with the ability to read the political and social environment, and landscape them; to intuitively grasp what others want and need, what their strengths and weaknesses are; to remain unruffled by stress; and to be engaging, the kind of person that others want to be around. (Stein & Book, 2011)
Using the EQ-i 2.0® model of emotional intelligence, let's see which combinations of emotional intelligence factors can help us determine whether or not an entrepreneur has the qualities that Barbara seeks.
"I want to put my money in entrepreneurs who know how to get back up fast after they've been kicked in the gut… I don't think you can learn resilience, it's just one of those things built in." – Barbara Corcoran
Resilience is captured by the EQ-i 2.0 model in the form of Stress Tolerance and Flexibility. Stress Tolerance refers to the ability to cope with difficult situations, while Flexibility helps you adapt to changing circumstances. It's likely that successful entrepreneurs possess above average ratings in these two traits. Optimism would also help contribute to one's resilience, as it is an indicator of one's ability to maintain a positive attitude and outlook despite setbacks.
It is important to note that one of the key features of the EQ-i 2.0 model is that each trait is malleable, and can be developed over time. Contrary to Barbara's beliefs, an individual could learn to be more resilient by further developing these emotional intelligence skills.
"I need to invest in founders who know how to communicate. At the end of every interview I find myself asking, 'Would I buy from this guy? Is his sales pitch irresistible?'" – Barbara Corcoran
An argument can be made that Emotional Expression and Assertiveness are two important parts of the "expression" component of communication. Emotional Expression measures one's ability to openly express their emotions (verbally and non-verbally), while Assertiveness measures one's ability to express their feelings and beliefs in a constructive manner. In order for an entrepreneur to effectively convey their pitch to the audience, they need to be able to clearly express their passion for their product or company, as well as insist that it's the "greatest thing since sliced bread".
However, communication is also a "2-way street", requiring the entrepreneur to show Empathy and respect towards the opinion of the venture capitalist, even if there is disagreement about the opinion. Empathy also allows the entrepreneur to connect with their audience during the conversation. Through this connection, one can determine what the individual venture capitalist places importance on, allowing the entrepreneur to gain buy-in much more easily.
"I'm always looking for someone who's a bit arrogant, as I've learned that aggressive entrepreneurs bring home the bacon. They make lousy employees, have issues with authority and don't want to be told what to do. I like to put my money in the hands of an entrepreneur who thinks he or she knows more than me. They'll need that kind of confidence to jump over the huge obstacles that stand between them and the finish line." – Barbara Corcoran
If an entrepreneur does not like being told what to do, they will likely possess a high level of Independence (the ability to be self-directed and free of emotional dependency on others). Additionally, in order to be aggressive, they will also need to show a healthy level of Assertiveness. It is worthwhile to note that the reverse of these mappings are not necessarily true: Not all highly independent people have issues with authority, and it is possible for an employee to be assertive without offending others in the workplace.
Also, entrepreneurs with a strong self-perception are more likely to be sure of themselves. The successful entrepreneur will not only need an above average level of Self-Regard (the ability to respect oneself while acknowledging one's own strengths and weaknesses), but a level of Self-Regard that balances well with their high Independence and Assertiveness.
"I'm trying to single out the winners with good gut reactions who are also smart enough to trust those reactions." – Barbara Corcoran
In order to connect "good gut reactions" to emotional intelligence competencies, we have to determine the qualities of a "good" gut reaction. A "gut reaction" is an automatic response, and can be influenced heavily by the emotional component of the decision. However, a "good" gut reaction isn't driven entirely<|fim_middle|> An Emotionally Effective Leader
Do You Have the EQ to Thrive at Work in the Next Five Years?
PCL Survival Kit: Using Emotional Intelligence to Your Advantage
3 Reasons To Develop Your Emotional Intelligence
The Extraordinary Invisible World of Risk Type
Using Personality Questionnaires with Scalable Professions | by wild emotion. Good gut reactions can be solutions that effectively address the issue at hand, but are still realistic and feasible to implement (given limits such as budget or time restrictions).
An entrepreneur possessing a high level of Problem Solving (the ability to harness one's emotions to make better decisions) would be more likely to have gut reactions that are not confounded by emotion, while possessing a higher level of Reality Testing (the ability to remain objective, see things as they really are and disregard personal bias) would help keep the gut reaction grounded in reality. When these two emotional intelligence traits are combined, the entrepreneur will be more likely to make decisions that are both effective and feasible.
However, as Barbara has pointed out, the individual needs to be able to trust those reactions. In order to trust the gut reaction, it helps to know where these reactions come from (or the emotions that led to the reaction). Someone who possesses high levels of Emotional Self-Awareness (the ability to recognize and understand the causes and impacts of one's own emotions) will understand where these emotions stem from, as well as how they have impacted the decision. As a result, individuals with high levels of Emotional Self-Awareness may have an easier time trusting their gut reaction.
"I want to invest in the risk takers. Every great entrepreneur I've succeeded with has an unusually high tolerance for uncertainty – in fact, they're turned on by risk. Too many would-be entrepreneurs have buttoned up business plans with lots of numbers, fancy projections, and reasonable deductions. Those aren't the ones for me." – Barbara Corcoran
While emotional intelligence traits have covered most of the qualities that Barbara seeks, we need to turn to another model to measure an individual's comfort with risk. The Risk Type Compass™ is a measure of risk tolerance, describing eight distinct approaches to risk. From her description, it seems that Barbara would be interested in those who are comfortable with risk, quick thinking and are excited by the unknown. In essence, entrepreneurs who are willing to take the risks that others wouldn't consider. These are characteristics of both the "Adventurous" and "Carefree" risk types.
"I'm looking for entrepreneurs who can size up people quickly and motivate them, and spot opportunities where others see only obstacles." – Barbara Corcoran
In summary, the qualities that Barbara seeks in an entrepreneur can easily be measured. When multiple assessments are combined, they can paint the profile of an entrepreneur who possesses the skills required for success. In particular, the EQ-i 2.0 and Risk Type Compass assessments can provide venture capitalists with a great deal of useful information, even before they meet the entrepreneur.
Corcoran, B. (2014, July 16). 22 down and only 1 to go. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140716214552-264544111-22-down-and-only-1-to-go
Deonarine, J. M. (2016, April 25). Challenging the Stereotype of the Narcissistic or Perfectionistic Musician: What Does Science Suggest? Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/challenging-stereotype-narcissistic-perfectionistic-what-deonarine
EQ-i 2.0® Copyright © 2011 Multi-Health Systems, Inc.
Risk Type Compass™ is a trademark of Psychological Consultancy Ltd.
Shark Tank® Copyright © Sony Pictures Television Inc.
Stein, S. J., & Book, H. (2011). The EQ Edge: Emotional intelligence and your success (Third Edition). Mississauga: John Wiley & Sons Canada.
Thompson, D. (2016, July 6). The Myth of the Millennial Entrepreneur. The Atlantic.Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/07/the-myth-of-the-millennial-entrepreneur/490058/
Justin's work at MHS includes custom solutions for a variety of organizations, including those in the music industry and reality television. He has co-authored a textbook chapter on emotional intelligence and has published articles around various topics (including emotional intelligence, risk appetite and innovation, and leadership development). He has also moved into the world of Big Data, analyzing trends in emotional intelligence and leadership.
Justin's professional interests include predicting and improving human performance. Our thanks to Justin for allowing this article to be featured on our website.
8 Steps To Becoming | 939 |
The earth is continuously exposed to high energy radiation originating from outside the solar system – a discovery that was honored with the Nobel Prize in 1936. These cosmic rays hit the atmosphere at a very constant and known rate. A characteristic that radiometric level and density measurements from Berthold take advantage of as it provides a natural reference – perfectly reliable and free of charge as a perk!
The working principle
Radiometric level and density measurements are perfect for monitoring challenging processes with high temperature and high-pressure conditions. However, the performance of the measuring system i.e. the measurement sensitivity can be affected by changing ambient temperatures if no correction method is in place. The scintillation detectors used in state-of-the-art radiometric measurements are designed to detect gamma radiation which is emitted from an industrial source – usually Cs-137 or Co-60 isotopes. However, these detectors also pick up cosmic rays. The cosmic rays are much higher in energy which allows the radiometric detector to distinguish internally between gamma radiation coming from the measurement source (Co-60 or Cs-137) and the high-energy cosmic rays. By employing a reference channel measuring the cosmic radiation only, Berthold was able to introduce an innovative and unique stabilization technology that automatically and continuously corrects all external effects. Since the rate of cosmic radiation is known to be stable, any fluctuations detected in the reference channel will be related to a change of detector sensitivity caused by temperature effects. As a result the detector internal gain is automatically adjusted in such a way that the cosmic rate is kept within its target value and measurement sensitivity remains stable. Using this natural reference source and patented compensation method leads to higher reliability than any software correction method can achieve because it not only compensates for changing ambient temperatures but also the effect of detector degradation, caused by the aging of electrical components.
The automatic detector stabilization method based on cosmic rays leads to outstanding long-term stability of radiometric level and density measurements. Where operators have previously observed temperature dependence of their measurement system, or have installed complicated methods to keep the detector temperature constant, the automatic stabilization method, based on cosmic radiation has helped them overcome these problems and ultimately, Berthold detectors have been able to increase reliability and drastically reduce operational costs in hundreds of applications ranging from coke drum levels to the measurement of molten glass. In safety-critical applications such as those of polypropylene loop reactors, the high stability<|fim_middle|> safety features - SIL
Berthold Technologies GmbH & Co. KG – Process Control
Phone+49 7081 177-0
Fax+49 7081 177 167
If you want to be kept informed about any news, products, applications and events relevant to process control business unit please sign up here.
Activate your subscription for the process control newsletter by simply provide your email address. | and resulting reliability of the radiometric density measurement has helped the operators push the process to the limits and thereby, maximize production yield without compromising the operational safety of the process.
Owing to the radiation from outer space, Berthold was able to introduce a unique stabilization method that intrinsically compensates all external effects – even without deeper knowledge of where the disturbing factor is coming from (temperature, aging…). The result is highly repeatable measurements which operate in thousands of applications worldwide and allow operators to run their processes a lot safer and more reliably. At the same time, the systems do not require re-calibrations or re-adjustment of parameters throughout the entire operational life, which results in extremely low operational costs and ease of handling.
Ultimately, the natural and ever-present reference measurement based on cosmic radiation has resulted in the SIL2 and SIL3 certification of the Berthold detectors - for both point level applications (high level and low level alarm) and continuous level and density measurements.
SIL certified option
The SENSseries LB 480 detectors are certified for use in SIL2 applications. Even SIL3 is achieved with homogenous redundancy. The certificate covers all measurement applications, from high level or low level alarms to continuous level measurement and density measurement. Thus safe operation of critical processes is guaranteed.
More about SIL
For more information please see our product page:
SENSseries LB 480 L
Next generation of high-sensitive detectors with innovative | 293 |
Leap! star Maddie Ziegler goes through some of the major "firsts" in her life. Who was her first crush? When<|fim_middle|> of it to charity and then,
leave a tiny bit left to buy like 6,000 dogs.
So I don't really consider myself famous,
but I guess, getting to attend the red carpets
that I went to, I thought that was pretty cool.
My first pet was a Yorkie named, Gucci
and she was very little and she
used to pee everywhere on the floor, on my toys.
The first thing I would do if I had a day off,
would be to hibernate and just
eat a bunch of food and watch Netflix.
My first big fashion splurge was when I was like,
eight years old and I used to go to the store
called, Justice and I just bought all the sparkly
matching outfits from head to toe,
with the head band all the way to the
flip flops with the bows on them.
It was really embarrassing but I thought
I was the coolest girl in school, but I was not.
The first thing that I learned
about beauty was, less is more.
When I was little, I thought that I could wear
as much makeup as I want, but I feel like,
now I wear less than what I wanted to wear when I was eight.
One of the first movies that I remember seeing was,
Little Mermaid, I am obsessed with Ariel
and she's my favorite Disney princess.
My first role model was Miley Cyrus,
because I was a huge fan of Hannah Montana.
I wanted to have like a double life like she did.
The first time I nailed a really complicated dance move
was when I was six years old, I did a
front aerial for the first time and I have it on video
and I was very excited about it
and my teacher was like, go back, do it again.
so, kinda defeated my excitement, but...
The first time I realized I was pretty cool at dance
and realized I could make it a career,
was when I started the reality show at eight years old
because who would have thought I'd be dancing on a TV show,
which was really cool, but I am a very hard critic
of myself and I still think that I could be a better dancer
like, I still have so many flaws that I could work on.
My first thought when I found out I
was going to be homeschooled was an amazing feeling
because as much as I was sad that I would be leaving
all my amazing teachers and friends,
I was so excited because that meant I got to dance more.
The first time I realized I had fans
was when I was going into an ice cream shop with my friends
and there were two girls screaming my name
and I never thought that anyone would
know who I was besides my friends.
My first thought when I found out I was moving to LA
was probably the best day of my life.
I still have a home in Pittsburg,
but I'm in LA now, which is like, the best feeling
because it's so much fun here and there's work out here
and I've so many new friends here so, it's pretty great.
Thank you guys so much for watching
and don't forget to subscribe to the Teen Vogue channel.
Starring: Maddie Ziegler
Maddie's new film "LEAP!" is out in theaters August, 25th. Emojis courtesy of EmojiOne | did she first realize she was good at dance? What would she do if she won a billion dollars?? Maddie Ziegler is a force to be reckoned with: She hit the dance competition stage on Lifetime's addictive reality show Dance Moms for five seasons. She's the breakout star of Sia's iconic blond-wigged, nude-leotard music videos.
The first thing I ate this morning was
a blue slushy at my premiere for the Leap movie.
That's why I have a blue tongue, if you're wondering.
Hi Teen Vogue, I'm Maddie Ziegler and today,
we're going to be playing the game of firsts.
My first word was, mama.
My first song that I memorized all the words to was,
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star but my mom said that
I couldn't pronounce it completely right,
so I would say, Tinkle, tinkle, little star.
My first vacation I ever went on was
when I was so tiny, I can't even remember it
but we went to Orlando and then we went to Disney World.
My first reaction to seeing myself on television
was very, very weird and I first of,
just hated the sound of my voice.
My first red carpet that I ever attended
was Teen Choice Awards and I remember that day so clear,
I met Justin Bieber and I was fangirling so hard.
The first time that I was ever really embarrassed
was when I peed my pants in tap class.
But I was like, four, so, it's okay.
My first best friend was when I was about three years old
and his name was Matias and he was my next door neighbor
and we'd share cookies together.
My first acting gig was Austin and Ally on Disney Channel
and it was my favorite show, so I was so excited.
The first I knew I could really succeed at acting
was when I filmed the Book of Henry,
which is about a year and a half ago
and it just came out and, I was
very proud of how it turned out.
The first time I found out I could really succeed at dancing
was when Sia asked me to be in
her music video for Chandelier.
My first friend in Hollywood was my best friend to this day,
named Lilia and I'm going to her house
after this, so I'm very excited.
My first crush was Zac Efron when I was five years old,
I saw High School Musical and I fell in love
and til this day, I am obsessed with him
and I would like to be in Baywatch 2 with him.
My first thought for when I woke up this morning was,
what is my hair and makeup going to be for today.
If I won a billion dollars, the first thing I would do,
donate like all | 584 |
Q: Update Excel file (OpenXml format) with C# I have a requirement to update a few columns on every row in an Excel sheet that will be uploaded from a web browser (I need to decrypt the values that are in the sheet from those columns and replace them with the true values). After the replacement<|fim_middle|>.Row;
for (var row = 1; row <= lastRow; row++)
{
worksheet.Cells[row, 1].Value = ReverseText(worksheet.Cells[row, 1].Text);
}
package.Save();
}
}
private string ReverseText(string value)
{
return new string(value.Reverse().ToArray());
}
}
| happens, I will just push the updated file back down to the client.
I've worked with NPOI in the past but I'm wondering if there's a better solution out there now to accomplish this. I did a little digging before making this post and found ExcelDataReader but I couldn't find an easy way to do anything other than read Excel files using that library and my requirements are to do an update to the file.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
A: Here's a real simple class using the EPPlus library. It updates an Excel file by reversing the text in the first column of every row. You can test it using any Excel spreadsheet with text in the first column.
Replace ReverseText with whatever it is that decrypts the value.
public class ExcelUpdater
{
public void UpdateExcel(string pathToFile)
{
using (var package = new ExcelPackage(new FileInfo(pathToFile)))
{
var worksheet = package.Workbook.Worksheets.First();
var lastRow = worksheet.Dimension.End | 205 |
Category: Art on the wall
10 (Or So) New Sounds for Summer
A cornucopia, a bounty, a plethora, a gallimaufry of new music from the last<|fim_middle|>on Smith and his Cosmically Echoing Hats
As I write this (though I confess that I'm typing it a couple of days later), I'm sitting at a quiet café patio table in the shade by myself, sipping on an iced coffee. It's a warm, late spring, blue sky kinda day and I was planning on listening to Lonnie Liston Smith's 1973 album…
Rush's Deep Cut "Red Lenses"
Rush's 1984 track "Red Lenses" is a textbook example of a "deep cut": a track not well known and generally overlooked when an album first came out. Often deep cuts get their moment much later, when everyone's tired of the hits and explores a little farther. Well, that's not exactly the case with "Red Lenses,"…
2016: Sixteen of the Best Album Covers
From the surreal to the humorous, album cover art in 2016 was full of designs which told a story. Below are sixteen of the most evocative (in no specific order). [Click image to enlarge] Hope Sandoval & the Warm Inventions: Until the Hunter I like the way this image is sort of a "world within…
The Freaky Album Cover Art of Gene Brownell
A chicken in a gas mask, a pigeon in a sandwich, a purple skinned model sitting on a cliff with a guy in a diving suit behind her….you've probably never heard of album cover photographer/designer Gene Brownell, but for a time in the 1960s and 1970s, his otherworldly work made the neighborhood record store a…
Behind Marconi Union's "Weightless" Video
Somehow I missed it the first time around in 2014, but a resurrected news story on "the most relaxing song ever" has been making the rounds again recently, the story appearing everywhere from Teen Vogue to Business Insider. The 8-minute song is by the band Marconi Union and was composed with the assistance of the… | few months I've been listening to, destined to soundtrack summer. ————————- Fazerdaze: Morningside I stumbled on this one a few months ago while watching a Courtneys video on Youtube (who are responsible for another great 2017 album). Amelia Murray is Fazerdaze…
Lonnie List | 68 |
Signal Fire (n): a fire or light set up in a prominent position as a warning, signal, or celebration
Kestrel Theatre Company are proud to be joining some of the UK's leading touring theatre companies, uniting this autumn to present Signal Fires, a nationwide project inspired by one of the original forms of theatre – storytelling around a fire.
Kestrel will be presenting an evening of storytelling on 8 November. While we had hoped to perform in the magical gardens of Asthall Manor, because of government restrictions we have now had to go online. This will be only available to an invited audience but we will be recording it and posting it on the website as soon as possible.
Four Kestrel alumnae have been working with the writer Simon Longman to create fictional stories that look at the experiences of finishing a prison sentence and the problems and possibilities of finding yourself in a new life. The collective piece is called AFTER TIME.
Presented at a time when it is not possible to physically tour, 45North, Arcade, Beyond Face, Big Telly, Boundless, Eastern Angles,<|fim_middle|>Broken Dreams 2, Jack A Lad in the Beanstalk)
Steve: (Rio's Extraordinary Christmas)
Paula Thompson
Kevin Cahill
Christine Tedders
Katy Daghorn
We hope that the event at Asthall Manor will happen in 2021. | English Touring Theatre, Fen in association with Out of Joint, Fuel, Graeae, Headlong, Hightide, Kestrel Theatre Company, Kneehigh, Macha Productions, National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, New Perspectives, Pentabus, Pilot, Paines Plough, SBC Theatre, Scottish International Storytelling Festival, Slung Low, Spare Tyre, The Lord Chamberlain's Men and Yellow Earth Theatre (with more to be announced) are uniting for the first time, to collectively tour a single idea throughout October and into November.
Each company will self-produce an evening of work – a signal fire – at a different location across the UK in celebration of our fundamental need to tell stories, in order to help make sense of the world around us and reimagine the future. Presented outdoors in front of socially-distanced live audiences, or digitally for those who are shielding or currently unable to travel, every signal fire will incorporate a different form of physical fire, ranging from large-scale bonfires to candles, virtual fires to campfires, and BBQ's to mobile phone lights. Working with hundreds of UK freelancers each company's fire will be different from the last, spanning different disciplines reflecting the breadth and diversity of the touring circuit.
Find out where events are happening
In light of the current crisis, the signal fires will create beacons across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland warning of the threat the industry continues to face while celebrating the extraordinary vibrancy of touring theatre and the freelancers they engage. Stretching across four nations, this festival of fires will connect audiences, freelance artists and touring companies together in a communal, national act of storytelling.
Holly Race Roughan, Associate Artistic Director of Headlong and Associate Director of Kestrel said: 'Signal Fires is an unprecedented project born out of unprecedented times. It has been incredibly inspiring and humbling to connect with so many different touring theatre companies. To be reminded of the sheer breadth and diversity of the UK touring ecology, the audiences we engage, and crucially what we now stand on the brink of losing. Touring theatre companies are vital for sharing stories across communities, so we can learn from each-other and reimagine a future together. Signal Fires demonstrates the power of collaboration and the need to embrace both innovation and new ways of working if we are to weather the challenging months ahead.'
KESTREL COMPANY
Writer: Simon Longman
Director: Eleanor Henderson
Acting coach: Jason York
Producer: Arabella Warner
Marc Conway: (Another Chance, Broken Dreams 1)
Ricardo Thomas: (Broken Dreams 1)
Nathaniel Kelly: ( | 539 |
The Blanchard brings classic French recipes to Lincoln Park
By Steve Dolinsky
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago restaurants continue evolving while entrepreneurs are always, it seems, looking for the next new thing.
Fish tacos, fried chicken and barbecue are just a few recent trends - but one restaurateur is attempting to go old-school. And in this case, that means a restaurant highlighting classic French recipes.
In a city as diverse - at least in culinary terms - as Chicago, there are only a handful of French restaurants. Most are associated with older recipes that have fallen out of fashion. But a local chef who's worked his way up through French kitchens decided it was time to bring those classic recipes back, even at the risk of seeming out-of-step with the times.
The potatoes are tourneed, fried in duck fat and placed over the most delicate pomme puree of pea tendrils. It's just one of several windows into Jason Paskewitz's philosophy and obsession with French technique, at The Blanchard, hidden on the ground floor of a pre-war building in Lincoln Park.
"If everyone's going this way, let me go that way and see what happens. That's as simple as I could put it," said Paskewitz.
Paskewitz adores the classics like duck a l'orange and steak frites, as well as eggs.
"The egg - the oeuf outhier - which I thought would just be on there for fun and every night, egg, with the scrambled egg and the caviar and the cream," he said.
Foie gras is celebrated here - from bite-sized, chilled torchons tucked between sweet,<|fim_middle|>askewitz says this kind of cooking is where his heart is.
"I felt like that's what I've always really wanted to do, and now was the right time," he said.
The Blanchard
1935 N. Lincoln Park West
http://www.theblanchardchicago.com/
food & drinklincoln parkfoodhungry hound | fruit preserve-shmeared macarons, to seared lobes, stacked with eggy brioche French toast and fruit.
"I'm not a big of fan of when people say 'I'm doing my contemporary rendition,' because that kind of takes away from what it exactly is. My rendition, yes, but these flavors are meant to be for a reason," said Paskewitz.
Take Dover sole, for example. He seasons and gently sautees it in a pan with butter and fresh thyme, basting with the browned butter. Once it's removed, it's delicately de-boned and filleted. Meantime, a classic meuniere is made in the pan, with capers, butter and lemon juice. Served with those duck fat-fried potatoes, it's France on a plate. P | 171 |
This<|fim_middle|> | common question has one answer - it is up to you. The amount of photoluminescent pigment will depend on how much glow desired, cost effectiveness, type of application method etc. The Basic Guidelines dictate from 10% to 50% by weight. If you'd like to produce a low cost item, a lower percentage would work best for you. If you screen-print shirts and want to make only one pass, a higher percentage would work better. Please also consider the particle size of the powder and the color of the surface to which the medium is going to be applied. Experimentation will be the best method of determining ratios after following the guidelines found on this paper. Do not hesitate to call us for further help or answers to any questions you might have. We look forward to working with you!
As to the Photoluminescent film, you can silk screen printing any safety symbols or pictures on the surface, for safety purpose or just for decoration. The screen printing ink you use is not luminous, the bottom is luminous. Therefore, you can see it in the dark! You can also digital carve it into any shapes. Imagine that you can stick moon or star images to the ceiling of your kid's bedroom and they would feel very safe at night. | 258 |
Call for evaluators for the Royal Astronomical Society RAS200 Sky and Earth project
RAS <|fim_middle|> rate, the number of days you expect this piece of work to take and a budget for travel and accommodation.
Deadline for applications should be received by 9.00am on the 20th July 2015.
Shortlisted applicants will be notified by the 31st July 2015 and will be interviewed during the period between the 17th September and the 23rd September 2015. Successful bidders will be expected to attend a meeting at the RAS on the 24th September 2015. | 200: Sky & Earth
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is seeking an experienced contractor to undertake the evaluation of the first tranche of RAS200 Sky and Earth projects that have been set up across the UK. The evaluation exercise will be part of a wider monitoring and evaluation process, assessing the implementation and success of the RAS200 Sky and Earth project as a whole.
This person/team will work alongside the RAS200 Steering Group and members of staff at the Royal Astronomical Society, with guidance and support from the Education, Outreach and Diversity officer at the RAS. This person/team would be expected to work closely with the first tranche winners in order to carry out the evaluation. If successful the person/team could continue to work with the second tranche winners in 2016/2017.
This document provides a background to the RAS and the RAS200 project and an outline of the RAS200 evaluation exercise with a schedule of services.
Background to the RAS:
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), founded in 1820, encourages and promotes the study of astronomy, solar-system science, geophysics and closely related branches of science. The RAS organises scientific meetings, publishes international research and review journals, recognizes outstanding achievements by the award of medals and prizes, maintains an extensive library, supports education through grants and outreach activities and represents UK astronomy nationally and internationally. It has more than 3800 members (Fellows), a third based overseas, include scientific researchers in universities, observatories and laboratories as well as historians of astronomy and others.
Background to the RAS200 Sky and Earth project:
In 2020 the Royal Astronomical Society will be 200 years old. To celebrate our bicentennial, the Society has established an Outreach and Engagement Fund of £1,000,000 to support astronomy and geophysics projects that create a real buzz about science – understanding, discussion and dialogue – in diverse sections of the community.
We anticipate that the RAS fund itself will support up to 12 projects with sums up to £100,000. The grants will be released in two calls – the first were announced in 2015, the second by early 2017, to initiate projects that run up to and beyond the RAS bicentenary (therefore projects in the first tranche are expected to run for 5 years until 2020).
The aims of the RAS 200: Sky & Earth projects are:
• Have a lasting impact beyond 2020 and inspire a new generation to broaden their interest in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM)
• Go 'where no outreach project has gone before', engaging people from all age groups, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds etc.
• Harness the shared ambitions of world-leading researchers and national, local and community organisations
Throughout the initial process we travelled across the country holding town hall style meetings to meet with potential partners and aid future collaborators and in the first tranche of applications we received 92 proposals, of which six projects were chosen for the first tranche of funding.
The RAS announced £500k in grants for the first tranche of innovative public engagement projects in May 2015. For more information on these refer to http://www.ras.org.uk/news-and-press/2629-460k-for-public-engagement-in-astronomy-and-geophysics-six-teams-win-ras-funding.
The other useful pages on our website can be found here: http://www.ras.org.uk/200/2633-and-the-winners-are
And: http://www.ras.org.uk/200
Description of the RAS200 project evaluation:
The RAS200 project is a brand new venture run by the RAS and as such no formal monitoring and evaluation process has been undertaken.
The aims of the evaluation programme are:
To monitor the demographic and the successful impact of the new audiences reached
To refine plans for introducing an improved practice for the second tranche
To see how and to what extent each project aim has been met and to asses if and how the project outcomes contribute to the RAS outreach and public engagement programme.
We require evaluation of proposals in response to calls for proposals in line with the various aims of the RAS200 programme, evaluation of first tranche winners under the programme and appraisal of the programme itself in order to assess impact based on specific evaluation criteria and indicators.
Due to the nature of the programme we believe we require a responsive evaluation approach utilising a mixed methodologies incorporating qualitative and quantitative techniques and primary and secondary data sources.
The evaluation is likely to be undertaken in four key phases as outlined in the schedule of services. The output of the evaluation will be a report that draws out results, themes, experiences and key lessons learnt from the project which can be shared with future applicants, project winners and RAS fellows and staff.
Schedule of services:
Planning: meetings with the RAS200 steering group and staff. Meetings with the first tranche winners. Agree an evaluation plan for the project to include (but not limited to) aims, indicators, how and when the information will be collected.
Delivery: collection of relevant information and data including (but not limited to) meetings with the RAS200 steering group and staff, visits to meet with all six first tranche winners, observations of any ongoing projects, interviews with key stakeholders, face to face evaluation with audiences.
Analysis: transcription of interviews and observations, inputting of data and data analysis to determine key findings.
Dissemination: report to be circulated amongst all parties.
If you are interested in undertaking this piece of work please contact Dr Sheila Kanani, Education Outreach and Diversity officer, outreach@ras.org.uk , with a covering letter including details of your evaluation project and a price schedule. Please breakdown this price schedule to include your daily | 1,257 |
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