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Masport's Mission: To be a leading manufacturer and distributor of consumer outdoor power equipment, and patio lifestyle products in our chosen markets worldwide.
Masport delivers a range of quality lawn and garden products. The business also markets a more affordable range of products under the Morrison Brand.
The Masport brand is extremely strong in the New Zealand and Australian outdoor markets. Masport’s rugged outdoor product range has proven itself consistently in some of the hardest outdoor environments on earth. The Masport Outdoor market includes lawn mowers, patio heaters, and BBQ’s.
The Morrison brand caters for the cost conscious end of the market, with a range of products that also includes lawn mowers and patio products and an expanded garden implement range.
For Masport’s commercial partners there is a clear and simple vision: to create a seamless distribution system that delivers quality outdoor products to a receptive market. Our goal is to grow market share through our distribution partnerships. To do this we now have a well proven distribution model coupled with a world leading product range. | <urn:uuid:7c5b3854-e40d-442d-94ef-eb3b6ccc1b6e> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://masport.com.au/about/mission-statement | 2024-04-18T08:09:17Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.937886 | 216 |
Eighth Annual Master Drawings Symposium
On January 30 Master Drawings once again held its annual symposium during Master Drawings New York 2024 showcasing the best and brightest young scholars in the drawings field.
Luming Guan, Diamonstein-Spielvogel Fellow in the Metropolitan Museum’s Department of Drawings and Prints, offered new insights on a sheet by Martin Schongauer, describing how an intriguing detail led to a fascinating iconographic study. Tom Nevile, Head of Research at Day & Faber, London, presented a corpus of autograph drawings by seventeenth-century Flemish artist Robert van den Hoecke, providing the first comprehensive look at this little-studied master’s working method. In conversation with the Morgan Library & Museum’s Head of Drawings and Prints, John Marciari, the 2024 Ricciardi prize winner Ian Hicks discussed his ground-breaking reconsideration of a group of drawings by Giambattista Tiepolo.
Thank you to our hosts, The Drawing Foundation in association with Master Drawings New York 2024, and additional thanks the Tavolozza Foundation, whose generous support made the event possible.
Image: Giambattista Tiepolo, Studies of Abundance and Apollo Carried Aloft (detail), New York, Morgan Library & Museum | <urn:uuid:7b8fe43f-f315-4de7-afa4-0a8501bc8022> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://masterdrawings.org/eighth-annual-master-drawings-symposium/ | 2024-04-18T08:28:45Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.868444 | 278 |
Discover our postharvest solutions for the professional treatment of cannabis and industrial hemp.
We design and manufacture agricultural machinery according to the needs of our customers and to the production requirements of each type of cultivation. From cannabis trimmers, debudders that separates the stem from the branches, to deseeders or flower sorters unique in the market. We also offer ultrasonic washing equipment that operates automatically. All our machines are manufactured with high quality materials that give optimal result of the processed product and provide durability and perfect preservation.
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Architecture is the process of planning and designing manmade structures. It combines aspects of the arts – through its concern for the elements of style and beauty of a building – with aspects of the hard sciences, especially Mathematics – through the need to design buildings that are structurally sound and comfortable to inhabit. As the knowledge and availability of materials and technologies has increased and the regulation of the built environment has intensified, the discipline of Architecture has necessarily become more complex as well. Although the classic objects of architectural interest are buildings, Architecture also deals with the design of other constructions, too. Some architects – known as Landscape Architects – deal more with public space and landmarks, while Naval Architects – specialise in designing ships. The Master of Architecture (MA, MSc, or MArch) is the professional degree in Architecture, attaining it permits students to continue through the process of professional accreditation. There are several routes to gaining a Master of Architecture degree, including beginning at an undergraduate level. Completing a separate Masters degree in Architecture provides a way of embarking on a career as an architect, if your undergraduate degree was in an unrelated discipline. Architects require a further professional license in order to practice, that is attained through experience in the field. Architecture schools also offer Masters courses that are not accredited. | <urn:uuid:fae86ba0-c024-44aa-aa9d-55cac6399ea9> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://mastersavenue.com/disciplines/architecture | 2024-04-18T07:38:04Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.964088 | 261 |
I’m so excited to share with you this episode of CLARITY TV.
In this episode my client and friend eirdre Breakenridge, Author, Speaker, Podcast Host & Communications Strategist, CEO of Pure Performance Communications shares with us her journey to empower people on their path to better communication and relationship-building in both their careers and personal lives. She shares how her FEEL model came about and how something that devasted her family is now blooming into a movement for helping people communicate with FEEL.
We began our conversation by getting vulnerable about a deep loss in Deirdre’s life and how that influenced her work and inspired her FEEL model, which helps people find the best way to communicate, both internally and externally to reach others. The FEEL model is:
F – Face Fears
E – Engage with Empathy
E – Use Ethics and Good Judgment
L – Unleash the Love
Deirdre talks about the power of vulnerability, connection, and the value of doing the inside work to be a modern communicator and grow your audience. Creating content as an influencer and leader involves being proactive in your sharing and listening for the needs of the people that you serve. She believes that when we do that work internally as well as in our businesses, we are able to best align with our true potential.
For more information on Deirdre, please check her out at:
Deirdre’s suggested reading: You Are the Placebo by Dr Joe Dispenza
PS: Are you ready to take action? Ready to be seen? Schedule a complimentary call with our CLARITY COACHES and let’s help you create an action plan for you to grow your business by being seen! SCHEDULE A CALL NOW
PS2: If you want to get notified or join us live for our next interview, simply LIKE OUR PAGE
PS3: Want to be a guest in our show? Apply Now… | <urn:uuid:ba183ec7-f7c2-4c34-8a81-b726767b6ff5> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://mastersinclarity.com/how-do-you-feel/ | 2024-04-18T07:49:40Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.947423 | 407 |
“The Plight of the Red-Feathered Austrian Goose”—our New Voices story for this week—ponders the fragility of existence, of our relationships. Would you recognize the significance of the extinction of a creature you didn’t know existed? Smith’s careful narration in this fabulist tale leads us to an inevitable but remarkably quiet conclusion. Read on below.
It could break so easily, he said. And that’s the beauty of it. Wouldn’t you want something to last? I asked. He shook his head. No, where’s the beauty in that? It’s the absence of eternity that makes things attractive.
Here’s a story that you don’t hear every day: I once knew a man who owned the last red-feathered Austrian goose. He said that it came from a wintry mountainside, where the lakes had just about frozen over, and now he was adapting the goose to the winters of the Bronx. Well, I said, it just about makes sense that the poor thing would die off, seeing as geese can’t survive on mountaintops. Their feathers freeze and they can’t huddle together close enough to sustain the heat. But my friend shook his head. No, he said. It’s the people that do it. The geese’s feathers can withstand the snow and the ice, but the people can’t seem to stop hunting them. Anyway, said my friend. You should come and see the goose sometime before it’s too late. I think you’d like him.
I told my friend all right, but I didn’t go over that night or the next. Instead, I spent my evenings out with friends at this jazz club, where some solo saxophonist played lounge covers of the nation’s top 50 hits, and we laughed and drank martinis with dark green olives in them and we spilled over ourselves. One night I even brought a man with me. He was a tall, strong man with big arms and a good laugh—the sort of laugh you might’ve recorded for a laugh track back in the nineties to really drive the joke home. An earnest laugh. The sort of laugh that you couldn’t fake. | <urn:uuid:034d11f5-87d5-4397-a39a-0acb58e683b0> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://mastersreview.com/new-voices-the-plight-of-the-red-feathered-austrian-goose-by-e-y-smith/ | 2024-04-18T07:17:52Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.961323 | 488 |
The Dragon Prince
Rohan and Sioned are married and return to the Desert, but Sioned fails to conceive a hoped-for inheritor. She suffers a collection of miscarriages, and the whole realm is decimated by Plague within the ensuing years. Sioned is comforted by a vision of herself with Rohan’s child at her breast, although she is aware of she can not bear his child. High Prince Roelstra is an evil, crafty man and the father of seventeen daughters.
Three younger adventurers are on a quest of worldly significance that each imperils them and teaches them priceless life lessons. It’s escapism, however it additionally ultimately shines a light on common elements of the human condition. The first season is essential viewing to ascertain the show’s larger plot, involving the banishment of humans from the magical realm of Xadia and a brewing warfare between humankind and magical creatures.
- Thunder spent his last moments desperately attempting to go back to his nest.
- It was a one-sided battle, but with assist from Viren, Harrow was able to strike Thunder’s coronary heart and switch him to stone.
- Eventually, though, Viren went up the mountain to destroy the egg anyway.
- Viren wanted to go up the mountain to destroy the egg, however Harrow refused.
- However, because of the quick pondering of Rayla’s parents, he opted to steal the egg as an alternative, together with a mirror connected to Aaravos.
- That is when Viren realized why Thunder did not method them the place they first encountered him.
She calls him out for failing to guard King Harrow, of which he deflects blame on Harrow’s stubborn nature preventing Viren from saving his life. Amaya accuses Viren of plotting to usurp the throne after Harrow’s death, of which Viren strongly denies. Amaya asks that Viren honor the late king by serving to the search for the lacking princes. Viren believes it will be a waste of time because the princes might finally be killed and he is solely dedicated to serving to Katolis and the other Human Kingdoms within the struggle against Xadia. Amaya remains unconvinced, so Viren lends his full help for Amaya to behave as Queen regent of Katolis and even the offer to assemble the assist of the High Council and the rulers of the Pentarchy.
Who is the bad guy in the dragon prince?
Type of Villain
Lord Viren (also simply known as Viren) is one of the main antagonists of the hit Netflix series The Dragon Prince. He is the High Mage of Katolis, an adviser of King Harrow, and is an expert of dark magic.
Lord Viren is likely one of the main antagonists of the hit Netflix sequence The Dragon Prince. He is the High Mage of Katolis, an adviser of King Harrow, and is an professional of darkish magic. Knowing that any problem is solvable, he saved kingdoms from threats a number of times, and has an excellent imaginative and prescient for the future of humanity, one thing he goes out of his way to get. Callum is also very ethical, refusing the temptations of dark magic when confronted with the choice within his dreams whereas suffering illness because of the corrupting effects of such magic.
What Went Wrong With Smallville Season Four
What did Aaravos whisper to the Sunfire queen?
Just before Aaravos killed actual sunfire queen, he said this: “You allow my vessel to walk into your court and then you brought me directly to source of all your power. Oh, the irony is wonderful. You’re just like your grandmother.”
In retaliation, elf assassins attempt to kill Harrow and his heir Ezran. Ezran, his half-brother Callum, and the murderer Rayla uncover that the egg was not destroyed; they undertake to return the egg to Xadia. Viren seizes power after Harrow’s assassination and sends his kids Claudia and Soren to kill the princes and get well the egg. At the tip of the first season, the egg hatches into the Dragon Prince, Zym. Fueled by a need for revenge, Viren and Harrow sought to strike Thunder down ten years later.
How many seasons will Dragon Prince have?
The Dragon Prince / Number of seasons
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There will have to be a season that has the main cast on the Elf aspect of the globe. Future seasons should have a minimum of twice the episode rely, perhaps much more. This first season ended proper at the climax of its initial arc, providing solely a naked minimal of closure of any sort. Just when the story was lastly beginning to take shape, it is over.
Ezran learns of his father’s demise and returns to Katolis to say the throne. a thousand years later, the human king Harrow of Katolis and his advisor, the dark https://beaxy.com/buy-sell/drgn-btc/ mage Viren, have killed the dragon king, and supposedly destroyed his heir’s egg.
Despite a marriage and a collection of mistresses, he never succeeds at conceiving a son and inheritor. His latest mistress, Lady Palila, is pregnant through the Rialla. Roelstra’s eldest daughter, Princess Ianthe, schemes with her sister Pandsala to modify https://www.xe.com/ Palila’s child for a woman if it’s a son. Pandsala, thinking Roelstra will marry her to Prince Rohan if Palila helps her, plans to turn the tables on Ianthe and assist Palila switch one other daughter for a boy.
As it stands, I can’t see this show appealing to young youngsters the way in which Avatar does, nor can I see it interesting to adults the best way Avatar does. It desires to have one of the best of both worlds, however in attempting to unfold its enchantment too far, it misses a clear shot at any particular demographic. A teenager finds herself stuck in the Demon Realm and battles the forces of evil alongside a rebellious witch and a pint-sized demon king. Various folks https://finance.yahoo.com/ find themselves on a mysterious train with an endless variety of cars, every one its own universe, and should discover a way to get home in this animated anthology sequence. In a warfare-torn world of elemental magic, a young boy reawakens to undertake a dangerous mystic quest to satisfy his future as the Avatar, and convey peace to the world.
A decreased body price was applied to the primary season to offset “floatiness”; the body rate was adjusted for the second season in response to fan suggestions. In November 2019, a number of female former employees of Riot Games and Wonderstorm accused Ehasz of asking his female workers to take care of his youngsters with out permission and never taking ladies’s inventive concepts critically.
Who dies in Dragon Prince?
Viren’s Death / Callum Saves Rayla The Dragon Prince Season 3 Clip.
This also introduces an natural complexity to The Dragon Prince, where young characters be taught to manage and adapt in response to altering data. Young viewers are able to see constructive change coming from a single individual wanting beyond the biases they’ve grown up with. Like its forebears, The Dragon Prince has all the trappings of an enduring fantasy present.
She can even come off as mean and harsh towards anybody who uses it as she was fast accountable Callum, despite being associates, for his corruption and sickness upon utilizing the dark artwork. This means, just like the princes’ mom, Sarai, she too values the lifetime of other creatures. However, she is forgiving and means it honestly ethereum to btc, as with Callum when she was worried about him after utilizing darkish magic left him unconscious. She used to be slightly self-righteous when she accused Callum of utilizing darkish magic, even though it was the one method to save her life and of the dragon Pyrrah.
His stance against utilizing it allowed him to open each his thoughts and body to the Sky Arcanum, displaying an iron will. Through it despite not being born a royal Callum has the guts of 1 putting the desires of others first before his own corresponding to giving up his magical skills to save Zym and keep everyone’s hope alive. Also in contrast to Viren, Callum was able to let go of his revenge, and hate as well as his prejudice in the direction of elves after spending a short while with and getting to know Rayla. Upon coming into Xadia, Callum pretended to be an elf and made humorous remarks in regards to the habits of elves.
The Dragon Prince is full of stunning action sequences, which look even better this season, thanks to enhancements within the show’s pc-generated animation. There’s a breathless intensity to the sequences of human soldiers doing battle against a Sunfire elf with a blade that can cut by way of something, or Soren and Claudia making an attempt to use ballistae to shoot down a fire-breathing dragon.
Who is Callum’s dad?
And then there’s Option two, which is that Avaravos is Callum’s dad.
An odd boy finds a magic amulet that chooses him to be a Trollhunter, a guardian that defends the world of humans and the key world of trolls. “The Dragon Prince season 2 changed animation styles in response to fans”. A tabletop function-enjoying recreation has been introduced, and will be titled Tales of Xadia. It will function story info bridging the hole between seasons 3 and four.
It also introduces you to the primary characters—moonshadow elf murderer Rayla, prince Ezran, and his half-brother Callum—all journeying from the human kingdoms of Katolis to return child dragon Azymondias to his mom. In the third season, Ezran is manipulated into abdicating the throne amid strain dragon price for warfare and rejoins Callum and Rayla to return Zym to his home, the Storm Spire. Viren, restored to energy, leads the human armies in opposition to Xadia, amassing even more darkish magic with the assistance of Aaravos.
The show tells the story of two human princes, who forge an unlikely bond with the elven assassin despatched to kill them, embarking on an epic quest to deliver peace to their warring lands. A land stuffed with magic, named Xadia, fascinates with beautiful magical creatures, magic spells and mighty dragons. The elven civilizations of Xadia, along dragon price with all different creatures, unite underneath the longer term ruler, the Dragon Prince Azymondias, son to the previous king Avizandum.
Hunter X Hunter Season 7: Release Date ,Spoiler Alert And Everything You Should ..
A novelization of the first season, written by Aaron and Melanie McGanney Ehasz, was published on June 2, 2020. Concurrently with the collection, Wonderstorm is growing a online game primarily based on the series and expanding on its plot. The game will be a combat-primarily based multiplayer recreation, however not an MMO. No information about supported platforms or release dates has been made available. | <urn:uuid:beab363b-2d3e-42cf-af94-107bc200810c> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://mayraescalona.com/dragon-speech-recognition | 2024-04-18T08:03:54Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.955472 | 2,380 |
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Almost everyday we hear heartbreaking media reports about the desperate search for a missing person. I was surprised to learn from the National Vigil For Hope website that there are more than a million missing adults and children in America. To make us all aware of the situation, vigils will be held across the country this Sunday, May 17, National Vigil For Hope day.
Here locally, the American Business Women’s Association Verdugo Glen chapter is among the community organizations supporting the Glendale National Vigil For Hope event. ABWA Verdugo Glen chapter member Lynn White-Shelby sent me an e-mail describing the goal of the upcoming vigil as “… an hour of prayer, hope and awareness for the thousands of missing people who may be ‘gone…but are not forgotten.'”
The local vigil will be held at the Glendale Civic Center, Parcher Plaza, 613 E. Broadway, in Glendale from 4-5:30 p.m. The event will include entertainment, fingerprinting for children and an appearance by the parents of missing San Diego area teenager, Amber Dubois.
Photo of Amber Dubois: http://www.bringamberhome.com/
The Escondido girl was on her way to school when she disappeared on February 13, 2009. There are well organized searches for the 14-year-old each weekend. Also, a total of $60,000 in reward money is being offered in this missing person case. | <urn:uuid:e3f945c6-08d2-4bbf-b298-4736bd8ed2ce> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://mediacitygroove.com/community-calendar-national-vigil-of-hope/community-chatter/ | 2024-04-18T07:10:51Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.932605 | 300 |
by Ana María Hermida
Synopsis | Cast & Crew | Technical Information
“The Firefly” tells the story of Lucia, a married woman who, after the sudden death of her estranged brother Andrés, goes through an emotional crisis. At the funeral, Lucia cannot bear to see him being buried and escapes to Andrés’ apartment. There she meets Mariana, Andrés fiancée, who has been using the apartment as a hideout since the wedding day. Slowly the two women begin to help each other mourn their loss and grow to love one another. After going on a road trip together, Lucia realizes she no longer wants to be married and decides, once and for all, to follow her dreams next to Mariana, the love of her life.
Awards & Festivals
Official Selection at Cine Global Dominicano & Roze Filmdagen Amsterdam!
Manuel José Cháves
ANA MARIA HERMIDA is an award winning writer, director and producer from Colombia. She graduated with honors from The School of Visual Arts and her thesis film, “The Red Elephant”, won the Outstanding Achievement in Directing and Outstanding Film of the Year at the Dusty's Film Festival organized by SVA. It was also part of the official selection of HBO's New York International Latino Film Festival, The Indie Spirit Film Festival and Guanajuato Film Festival, among others. “The Firefly” is Hermida's first feature film.
CAROLINA GUERRA is a Colombian actress, best known for her roles in films like Damned, La Lectora, and Restos. She was the host of Colombia´s Next Top Model. She also played in the Latino version of Grey´s Anatomy called A Corazón Abierto, El Cartel 2 and the aclaimed British TV show Davinci's Demonds.
OLGA SEGURA is a Mexican actress and producer. She played in Cellmates with Stacy Keach and Tom Sizemore, Border Run with Sharon Stone, Marcelo with Hector Jimenez, and Gonzáles: Falsos Profetas with Carlos Bardem. She has also been part of the popular TV shows Señora Acero and Texas Rising.
MANUEL JOSÉ CHÁVES is a Colombian actor who started his career in the TV series De pies a cabeza in 1993. He played in the films Edipo alcalde and Como el Gato y el Ratón, winner of the Jury Award and the Gold Sun Award. He is also known for his role in the successful Hispanic TV series El Capo.
Director & Writer: Ana María Hermida
Producers: Luisa Casas & Ana María Hermida
Executive Producers: Dimitry Elyashkevich, Jake Ryan, Jose Luis Pérez, Luisa Casas, Maria Stella Silva de Hermida and Hangar Films
Director of Photography: Alonso Homs
Production Design: Arley Garzón and Sofía Gúzman
Editors: Juan Falla, Travis Graalman
Music Composer: Bartek Gliniak
Original Title: La Luciérnaga / HD (Red Epic) / Color / 88 min / Spanish with English subtitles / Drama, Romance / Colombia / 2015
You might also like | <urn:uuid:1d156c11-52bb-40c6-89c4-2a122c1d75ca> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://medialuna.biz/programme/the-firefly | 2024-04-18T08:34:45Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.923182 | 694 |
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A Framework for the New Economics of Blockchain: The Prysm Group House
Blockchain platform founders must use economic design if they want to build platforms that deliver value to their users. While most founders recognize the need for tokenomics, this is only one piece of a much larger economic picture.
Economic design is a set of tools that helps economic systems to function effectively. Blockchain platforms are essentially mini-economies written in code. Users come to them to engage in mutually beneficial interactions with others, and they rely on the platform’s contracts, marketplaces, currencies, and rules of decision-making to help them do so. Having appropriate economic structures, working together towards the goal of the platform, maximizes the probability that users are satisfied with their experience and want to return.
Major technology companies have long recognized the importance of economic design to their success. Amazon, eBay, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and AirBnB are just a few of the platforms that employ dozens of economists. Using a combination of economic theory, mathematical modeling, data analysis, and experiments, these economists continually improve the design of products and services, such as recommendation engines, ad auctions, and reputation systems. In other contexts, economists have been brought in to design everything from school choice to labor markets to spectrum auctions. In all of these many settings, economists leverage decades of academic research to identify problems that destroy value and craft and test design changes that increase revenues, profits, and user satisfaction.
A particularly exciting aspect of blockchain is that it brings together so many varied areas of economics. In this post, we outline the platform design framework — the Prysm Group House — that we use to guide economic design and analysis. This framework is the basis of our custom economic design solutions for blockchain projects, providing the blueprint for designing an economic system from the ground up. It also formed the outline for our mini-course on economics for blockchain professionals that we gave in November 2018 at the University of Southern California.
Components of Blockchain Platform Design
An effective economic design for a blockchain platform requires a strong foundation, which includes the value proposition of the intended product and the early-stage funding to begin its development. Both are these must be established before economic design can be fruitfully applied.
- Value Proposition and Early-stage Financing and Capital Investment
First and most importantly, the founding team must identify the value proposition of the project. Who are the intended users, and what will they hope to get from using this product or service? While this appears to be an obvious point, many platforms do not have a well-defined idea of their target customers, these customers’ needs, and the value the platform will bring them. These insights can come from customer discovery, market intelligence, and the previous experience of the founding team in relevant industries. As we’ve discussed previously, a thorough understanding of what value the project will deliver to whom is an essential input into effective economic design.
Next, the team will need to raise funds to support the development of the technology and the design of the economic mechanisms of the platform. The optimal method for raising this early capital — including whether to sell equity or create and issue a token — is a complex topic with legal, regulatory, and corporate governance considerations.
The full design of a native token comes towards the end of the economic process because it is informed by the specific economic mechanisms that are used on the platform, which are not yet defined at this stage. Therefore, if founders choose to raise money using a token sale, they must be careful not to commit to token policies that they may later want to change.
After the foundation is laid, the main components of the economic design can begin. These components — -contract design, market design, and information systems — -shape the behavior of platform participants so that the founders’ vision of the platform can be achieved.
- Contract and Transaction Design
In a typical transaction, one party pays another party to provide a good or service. There are a variety of problems that can arise in the execution of contracts, such as the buyer not sending payment or the supplier not providing the service as described. Typical problems arise from moral hazard (the inability to properly share risk and monitor behavior) and adverse selection (asymmetric information regarding the quality of goods or services).
Blockchain is often touted as a trustless system which helps to alleviate these sorts of issues; however, actually ensuring that a contract is executed as agreed upon, and that all parties receive the benefits they expected, requires careful design of the contract and related mechanisms. Economic levers that can be used in transaction design include:
- Contract terms
- Escrow services
- Dispute resolution services
Some of these elements may be more or less important depending on the specific context in which a transaction takes place. For example, decentralized blockchain-based peer-to-peer marketplaces have learned that powerful dispute resolution services are essential so that users trust the platform and want to engage in transactions.
- Market Design
Before transactions can be executed, buyers and sellers must be able to find each other and negotiate mutually beneficial transaction terms. Designing well-functioning marketplaces is a complex endeavor. Some of the many issues that can arise include congestion (buyers and sellers not being able to find each other), unraveling (users choosing to opt out of the market), inefficient matching (users would be better off transacting with alternate trading partners), suboptimal pricing mechanisms (one or both parties does not receive the appropriate surplus), and inefficient or ineffective procedures for negotiating terms.
Market design has numerous components, including:
- Matching of buyers and sellers
- Pricing mechanisms
- Negotiation of terms
Again, the relative importance of each of these elements depends on the specific setting at hand. An online e-commerce platform such as eBay, which sells many highly differentiated goods and has thousands of users, relies heavily on effective matching of transaction partners and well-designed reputation systems. In contrast, a procurement auction may depend less on matching and focus more on the design of the pricing mechanism.
- Information Systems
Information, whether it is used by market participants or by the algorithms of the platforms, is critical to supporting the goals of contract and market design. Information mechanisms feed into other economic structures; for example, pay for performance contracts depend on performance metrics, which are selected and their risks mitigated by the designers of the platform. Similarly, if a marketplace is intended to allow buyers to select among sellers of various abilities, then those abilities need to be communicated to buyers in a way that minimizes risk of manipulation and cheating. Information systems can include structures such as:
- Performance metrics
- Quality standards
- Reputation systems
The information systems of a particular platform are designed to support the function of its main economic mechanisms. Their design must take into account the way users are likely to interact with these informational tools based on their own motivations and goals.
- Token Economics and Design
Only after the economic design of the platform is complete should token design take place. Tokenizing something just for the sake of it is never a good idea — there should be a compelling business reason to introduce a blockchain-based token, and the economics of the token needs to fit with the rest of the design of the platform.
A well-designed token is more than a means of exchange or a store of value. It must be designed so that it supports the incentive, market, and transaction design of the platform, as well as fulfilling the needs of those who use it for traditional currency purposes. Designing appropriate token economics involves creating a token that fulfils the fundamentals required by the platform, and then verifying that equilibrium token values will sufficiently compensate any platform participants who receive their compensation in tokens.
For a utility token, the design elements will include:
- Fundamental value drivers
- Monetary policy
- Token distribution mechanisms
What is important is that the token is designed with its specific use case or cases in mind. The same token, for example, should not be used both as a medium of exchange and for investment.
The design of security tokens is more complex and varied, because they can be used to represent items of value both on and off-chain. Carefully thinking through the property rights that a security token bestows is essential for the token to behave the way the platform founders desire.
Finally, blockchain platforms — and especially decentralized ones — need governance.
Governance is the set of decision processes or systems that allow for a platform to adapt over time to changing conditions or new information. The design of a governance system must be flexible enough to allow for adaptation under unforeseen circumstances, which is when it will be most needed. However rules, mechanisms, and processes are typically put into place in order to ensure that the needs of particular stakeholders, such as platform users, are served by the decisions that result from a governance system. The economic fields of social choice (the study of decision making by groups) and contract theory (which covers decisions made by representatives) both provide frameworks that can inform the design of a governance system.
How to design governance depends on the specific decision to be made and can include:
- Proposal processes
- Delegation/representative decision-making systems
- Voting systems
A critical lesson from social choice theory, a field which dates back to Kenneth Arrow’s work in the 1940s, is that a decision-making process should not be copy-pasted across all governance decisions. The design of a governance process should be custom-fit to the purpose.
Economic design is everywhere, and blockchain founders need to understand how it shapes the behavior of their users and therefore the success of their platform. “No design” is not an option — economic structures are ubiquitous, and it is in any founding team’s best interests to think critically about how they can be designed to best advance the goals of the platform. | <urn:uuid:248a3315-7d25-4cbe-9f73-9393a17fa182> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://medium.com/prysmeconomics/the-prysm-group-house-a-framework-for-the-new-economics-of-blockchain-a96edf0fc41a | 2024-04-18T08:46:40Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.945969 | 2,015 |
A group of leading U.S. healthcare providers, including members of Mayo Clinic, Novant Health, BJC HealthCare, and Munson Healthcare, have signed onto a letter urging the adoption of a universal platform to manage product recalls and other supply-disruption alerts. The health systems are also asking other providers to join them.
These healthcare leaders argue that “the current manual and fragmented systems compromise efficiency and, most importantly, patient safety.” They say that a universal, centralized communication platform will revolutionize their response to recalls and supply disruptions “by offering a single point of communication for all necessary updates and alerts.”
“The effectiveness of this network grows with each new member, leading to greater speed and efficiency that ultimately benefits our patients,” said Mike Vintges, Senior Vice President of Strategic Sourcing, National Cardiovascular Partners & Azura Vascular Care. “Every health system and supplier should be on it.” Vintges stressed the importance of this initiative for patient care.
As part of this initiative spearheaded by NotiSphere, these healthcare providers are encouraging their suppliers to adopt NotiSphere, a digital platform that directly connects medical device suppliers and healthcare organizations, enabling direct communication and management of supply disruptions in real time. This platform enables rapid two-way digital communication, to help ensure prompt and effective responses to product recalls and other supply-chain disruptions.
“While the need for a robust supply chain is universally acknowledged, many in the industry still rely on outdated methods of communication,” said NotiSphere Founder and CEO Guillermo Ramas. “We built our platform to modernize this process, ensuring that providers receive immediate and accurate information to handle recalls and supply-chain challenges effectively.” | <urn:uuid:2cafe561-562e-434e-b99a-479c45708b4e> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://medtechintelligence.com/news_article/healthcare-providers-call-for-universal-platform-for-recalls-and-other-supply-disruption-alerts/ | 2024-04-18T08:27:43Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.931515 | 361 |
Yucatan molly or giant sailfin molly (lat. Poecilia velifera) is a live-bearing fish genus of the Poeciliidae family. Further in the article, you will find information about keeping, feeding, and breeding Poecilia velifera.
Mollies is a small group of live-bearing fish of the Poecilia genus (earlier, they were included with Mollienesia genus). They are rather popular and undemanding aquarium fish that even beginner aquarists can deal with. Due to selective breeding programs, many new variations were obtained, with different coloring and body shapes. They are all widespread and renowned tank dwellers, though quite often, they look very different. This is all due to their peacefulness, endurance, unpretentiousness, inexpensiveness, and easy breeding. Molly fish differ only in size and color, but the info about breeding, keeping, compatibility is the same for all of them. | <urn:uuid:a72407f2-64a7-4758-a18d-26ab669c4e38> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://meethepet.com/category/livebearers/page/2/ | 2024-04-18T07:11:04Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.962907 | 202 |
NHM South West Khasi Hills Recruitment 2024: The District Health Society, South West Khasi Hills District has released an employment notification for the recruitment of an Accountant for the Implementation of NHM. The last date for submission of the application is 8 March 2024.
Post Name: Accountant
- No. of Post: 01
- Salary: As per NHM
- Educational Qualification: M.com/B.Com with Tally
- Desirable: 1-2 yrs working experience. Proficiency in computer skills (MS Office tools etc)
- Place of Posting: Block
How to Apply for NHM South West Khasi Hills Recruitment 2024: Accountant Vacancy?
Interested and Eligible candidates may submit their application in a standard form along with Biodata and self-attested copies of all relevant documents and passport-size photos on or before 8 March 2024.
Shortlisted candidates for appearing on written tests and personal interviews will be displayed on a notice board on the 13th of March 2024.
Those who wish to apply are advised to go through the below official notification in detail before submitting applications.
Download Application Form | Click Here |
Download Official Notification | Click Here |
Get Job Updates on Facebook | Click Here | | <urn:uuid:a1ff8ad6-d3fb-49de-abff-4c88acdc1e77> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://meghalayacareer.com/nhm-south-west-khasi-hills-recruitment-2024-accountant-vacancy/ | 2024-04-18T07:10:12Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.896895 | 262 |
“YOU WANT TO DO WHAT!?”
Mom freaked out the first time I told her I wanted to backpack solo. Sem break was coming up and I was dreaming of going to Sabah for two short weeks. But that was not going to happen. She immediately sat me down and recommended I go see a doctor for depression. Hours later, my brother called home from Singapore to talk me out of it.
Well, that sucks. I remember thinking to myself if my brother made the same request, mom and dad would’ve gladly driven him to the airport. No questions asked. Pfft! What double standards!!
I was infuriated not at my parents, but at the reality of society. It’s a painful truth to say out loud, but life is a little trickier for women.
While our male counterparts walk out the doors with little to worry about, we’re inundated with fears of sexual assault. While they happily grab a beer with a stranger, we constantly remind ourselves to keep an eye on our drinks. While they’re ready to rumble in two shirts and a shorts, we obsess over our clothes – Can I wear shorts? Do I need a headscarf? Are short sleeves disrespectful? Did I pack my pepper spray?
Unfortunately, the realities of travel for women are different from men as we are still seen and treated as the weaker sex.
“You have so many guy friends, why don’t you ask them to join you?”
One university degree and countless solo adventures later, mom still asks this question whenever I share my latest travel plans.
Like my mother, a lot of women out there are still dependent on men. It is their fathers who fix their broken car (guilty as charged), their brothers who read the map, their boyfriends who hoist their oversized suitcase to the plane’s overhead compartment. For these women, the idea of tackling a foreign country without male presence can be unnerving, especially when it gives them a sense of security.
Nonetheless, my mother has learned to accept the realities of a wanderlusted daughter who prefers to travel alone. While that’s great, I still can’t escape disappointed head shakes from my grandparents and raised eyebrows from relatives.
Others are more wary of what their bosses think. What if taking time off to do a bit of travelling affect their careers?
These fears – of disapproval, of the lack of male presence, of physical safety – have set many aback from venturing outside their comfort zone. But what are fears, if not for us to face them?
Fear of disapproval
It is human nature to seek validation, but how can we achieve our dreams if we let everyone’s opinion affect us?
Solution: Learn to filter the negative opinions of those who do not matter and have an open conversation with those who do.
For me, I’ve trained myself to turn unsolicited opinions from busybody aunties into background noise. When they say “you should stop travelling”, I hear flies buzzing in the background. The only blessing I needed was from my family.
Every time someone asks me how are my parents okay with me travelling as a single woman, I joke that “they’ve given up on me.” The truth is, it took years to show them that independent travel is not a mere hobby, but a part of who I am. Taking that away from me would be like asking Shakespeare to stop writting. Upon realising that, they bit their tongue, got me an amulet from the temple, and drove me to the airport.
It was a matter of winning their trust from then on. I shared my itinerary with them, forwarded my hotel reservations, and “reported” home often. I did all I could to convince them that I am careful yet brazen enough for this.
I slowly won my family’s trust one trip at a time. Now, they proudly armchair travel through my recklessness. They may have accepted my wanderlust, but I don’t think they’ll ever stop worrying. Mom still tells me that it’s time to stay home and settle down. Her constant nagging to “not trust anyone” gets overwhelming, but I know it’s just the kind of overbearing motherly love every lucky daughter has to deal with.
Fear of personal safety
Unfortunately, all the news reports on violence against female tourists in places like India do not make things easier for my parent’s anxiety.
I’d hear mom say ‘don’t travel here, don’t go there, it’s too dangerous’. That got me thinking, if I let the fear of crime hold me back from travelling, I might as well just lock myself up at home and never go out. Whether on the streets of Timbuktu or at the street outside my home, there is danger everywhere in the world.
Solution: Instead of letting it cripple you, take charge of your own safety
Case in point: Shopping mall parking lots are notoriously dangerous in Malaysia, but we haven’t let that stop us from going shopping, have we?
With female independent travel becoming a norm, there are a tonne of resources out there written by women for women, use it to empower yourself. Read about other women’s experience to boost your confidence. Connect with a women travel groups to get support and advice. Research on local customs to learn what to avoid and how to be respectful. Maybe take up a self-defence course! Be aware of the possibility of dangers, yes, but please don’t let it paralyse you.
Lack of male presence
Who will stand up for you if you receive unwanted attention from creeps? Yourself.
A male presence is handy, but not the be-all and end-all.
The feeling of need for a man to be your patron and protector is called the Cinderella Complex. It stems from having little confidence in your ability to make it in the world on your own, leading to a desire to be saved by Prince Charming.
Solution: Dive head first into it. Book an all-girls trip or go on a small getaway on your own, you’ll discover how independent, self-sufficient, and strong you really are.
Whatever your fears are, do not let it stop you from travelling. Most importantly, do not live with the regret of not pursuing the things you believe in.
Oh, and if your work does not support your right to a fulfilling personal life, ask yourself if it is worth sacrificing your time and life for. Perhaps the company is worth postponing your dream for the next five years, perhaps it’s not. Whatever your decisions are, always be honest with yourself.
This article was first written for Zafigo.
Read more tips to kickstart your solo adventure:
I’m dedicating meimeichu.com to honest travel stories that’ll teach and inspire. If you like travelling through my stories and photos, follow my personal Facebook and Instagram profiles where I share more of my life. | <urn:uuid:21ba537e-86f1-4c0b-92a4-ebc8c34fffda> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://meimeichu.com/tips/the-biggest-fears-women-travellers-face-and-how-to-overcome-them/ | 2024-04-18T08:07:08Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.961306 | 1,494 |
9 Ways to Practice Mindfulness Here are some easy options to become more mindful in daily life. Leave your name and contact info and we'll get it to you right away. Name Please enter your name. Email Address Please enter a valid email address. Subscribe! Thanks for requesting this meditation! Please check your email for further instructions. Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again. | <urn:uuid:70b9d864-3925-4d44-8022-649e5b6e1110> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://members.balancedwisdom.com/9-ways-to-practice-mindfulness/ | 2024-04-18T08:14:07Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.924481 | 78 |
Jamila Freij (Umm Sam‘an) was born in 1930 in “new” Jerusalem, what is now called West Jerusalem. Her family had lived in Jerusalem’s Old City for 15 generations until 1925 when her father and his brother built houses in Bak‘a (which means “beautiful area”), then an unpopulated land outside the Old City walls. The family fled their homes just days before the establishment of the state of Israel. They never returned. Umm Sam‘an describes their life in Bak‘a, their flight in 1948 and return to the Christian Quarter of the Old City, and the family&rsuqo;s disintegration.
A mother of four and widowed for the past 17 years, Umm Sam‘an is a social worker who has worked on mother-and-child health issues in Ramallah area villages since 1964. She is known in the villages for her no-nonsense approach to problems, her natural empathy and advocacy of women’s rights. I spoke with her in her large but spare kitchen in Bayt Hanina while she prepared with her married daughters a Palestinian dish, kufta wa batata bi-tahina, a process which took twice the usual time as she stopped and reminisced about how her life in Jerusalem had been changed by wars.
Bak‘a was empty, land was cheap. I remember there were wild hyenas. We had a big family. My father and uncle built houses next to each other with their family name — Freij — in white tiles on the red carmide roofs.
Our city was full of foreigners: Jews, English, Germans. There was Arab and Jewish segregation. Our street was all-Arab, Muslim and Christian; Jews lived nearby but there were strict boundaries. For example, my father ran a liquor shop; he bought ‘araq from Bethlehem or Ramallah, but wine and spirits from Jews in Rishon [south of Tel Aviv] and sold them to Arabs. Jews never came to Arab shops, although Arabs frequently shopped in Jewish areas. We did business with them but — like today — whenever anything happened we were as one against them. As Christians, we were taught to be against them, for religious reasons.
In 1936, when the Arab revolt began, we stayed home from school for six months and my father’s shop was closed. Three of my uncles were arrested. Two were sentenced to six months for bringing goods from Iraq. Everyone respected my Uncle Foti, a doctor, who spent two years in jail for being a member of the Higher Arab Committee. He went on to become minister of economics in the first Palestine government, set up in Gaza in 1948. He died in Lebanon of Alzheimer’s disease in 1956. We all knew it was from the shock of the loss of our country.
The best times for us were during World War II. Although there were blackouts, there were no direct problems affecting us. We felt the British were foreigners ruling us and a day would come when they would leave.
In Jerusalem, there were protests against large groups of immigrants who were being brought into our country. Our family supported the protests but did not participate in them. My father always said, “Politics is a waste of time.”
I went to a German Catholic school and many of my teachers were put into camps. The Schmidt School was well-known as the best school. My sisters and cousins all went there. The boys in the family went to al-Nahda which was run by a Lebanese man. I was forced to leave in the eleventh grade, when I was engaged, in 1947. I married in September of that year. If I had known there would be war, I would not have married.
My husband and I lived only two months in our own house; it was the last Arab house, on the last piece of land, before the Jewish settlement of Biker Ha‘im. The Egged bus company only served the Jewish areas; the number 7 bus went past our house and to the settlement without stopping. Sharikat al-Basat al-Wataniyya [the National Bus Company] was the Arab bus company; it went everywhere in Palestine.
The partition of Palestine was the beginning of our troubles. We were very afraid. The Jews used to explode houses on people while they were asleep. The first three nights after [the United Nations] partition [decision] were unbearable. Our Arab neighborhood was very small and next to a large Jewish settlement which was surrounded by trees, like a screen. On the third night, we moved all of our new wedding furniture to my parent’s house and never went back. We stayed at my parent’s in Bak‘a until May 1948, when we were forced to leave again.
We were the last family to leave the neighborhood on May 2, 1948. I was nine months pregnant. I didn’t want to leave and I argued with my mother. She said, “They will open your stomach and take your baby!” We had heard what happened at Dayr Yasin just a few weeks before. So we left: my grandmother, my parents, my eight brothers and sisters, my husband and I. We had a truck and took a cupboard and some mattresses. My uncle’s family, who lived next door, also loaded a truck with the children and their few possessions.
We went to Bethlehem where we rented a room. My father, my husband and my eldest brother commuted from Bethlehem to Jerusalem for work. My grandmother had gone to the Old City to visit relatives, and for 20 days we were separated because of the fighting and the roadblocks. There were 5,000 mortars in one night in the Old City. Then my grandmother walked back to Bethlehem with a donkey and a guide she had paid because the roads were so dangerous.
We stayed three months in Bethlehem. I delivered my first child in the rented room. Jerusalem became partitioned and our house, my school, my father’s shop — everything I knew was now in the Jewish part. Jordan built a wall to show where no man’s land was. It was four to five meters high. I would stand in front of that wall and sigh and curse.
They began a new road to Jerusalem [from Bethlehem] in June, but still it took three hours by bus. My husband and I had no choice but to move to the Old City, to one room in someone’s house in Harat Espaniol in the Christian Quarter. The conditions were very bad. Two other rooms in the house were rented to other families. There was one toilet for the whole house, one water tap, and a space for a kitchen. We stayed there one month, then moved to another family’s house which was slightly larger. We remained for four months but then we had to move to my parent’s house because we were unable to pay the rent of four Palestinian pounds.
My husband had lost his job with the municipality; only one third of the work force was kept after the war. He worked in a bar which served ‘araq and turmus (wax beans) for men. After that he worked in a grocery, then in another bar, until he got a job in Nablus with UNRWA.
We stayed with my parents for another four months. When I was pregnant with my second child, we moved to the Assyrian neighborhood, to a slightly larger house we could afford. We were very poor. We ate eggs only twice a week and lived on beans, rice and some milk. I made my own bread which I sent out to a local oven for baking.
From 1953 to 1965 we lived in the Old City in one room in my husband’s family’s house. Life was awful. It was the worst, sharing everything, even the toilet. I was not raised in this way. All at once my life had deteriorated. Our family soon separated. My father ran a lemonade factory in the Old City after he lost his shop. When he died in 1956, my brothers couldn’t manage the business. My uncles went to Lebanon and Syria where they started clothing factories; they asked for my brothers to go and help them. My eldest brother went to Iraq to try to find work. In 1959, my mother also left for Syria. She cried; she did not want to leave her sisters and sisters-in-law.
Transportation and communication was easy then between Palestine and the Arab world. Even though family members might live in Syria or Jordan, their ties to Jerusalem were close. We could travel in one day — without permits or payments other than the taxi. My family came often to Jerusalem for visits. Although my youngest sister was raised in Syria with my mother, she was married in Jerusalem.
By 1965, we needed more room. My son, three daughters, my husband and I were still sharing one room. There was no place in the Old City, so we rented a house in Bayt Hanina [a northern suburb of Jerusalem]. I was happy to leave the oppression of the Old City. Then another war came [in 1967]. The foreigners left and the schools were closed for one week. We had been told not to go to work. I was home, asleep, when someone said the war had started. It was 9 am…. The first thing the Israelis did was to destroy the wall [dividing the city]. They were not afraid of the Palestinians. I took my daughters to see my family’s house in Bak‘a. The next year it was destroyed and a factory was built in its place.
Now my family can come to Jerusalem only as visitors, with Israeli permission. I have grandchildren who were born in Syria who may not come here at all. | <urn:uuid:f1afeff6-8b3e-46f3-94e6-c219bd61118d> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://merip.org/1993/05/growing-up-in-jerusalem/ | 2024-04-18T07:39:43Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.993624 | 2,050 |
METSJÖ, Sweden (9 Maj 2023)
Ivarssons in Metsjö is launching a new bale wagon model, MetaBale. Bales pressed in modern presses are becoming more compact and heavier than before, while today's tractors go faster and faster. There is thus a need to increase the load capacity and speed capability of modern bale wagons. MetaBale, which has had the traditional suspension upgraded to hydraulic suspension, gets better comfort at high speeds and increases the load capacity. MetaBale's chassis is based on Metsjö's well-known wagon tipp-trailer model MetaQ 60, which has been on the market for over 30 years. MetaBale's hydraulic load securing system is based on Metsjö's Mooring construction, where the load securing pipes lie just below the side of the flatbed in the lowered position.
The new trailer is built in high-strength steel and has a construction that provides both high load capacity and low net weight. MetaBale has a long bogie for increased legal payload and better distribution of the load weight. The centre of gravity is lower, which increases stability and traffic safety. The wagon can be equipped with large 800 wheels, which in combination with the trailer’s low curb weight of 3 tons both provide low ground compaction and great stability.
Ivarsson i Metsjö's CEO Anders Ivarsson points out certain characteristics that he believes will attract customers:
"A lot has happened in the baler market in recent years and today's bales are well packed and therefore heavy. We see MetaBale filling a gap in the market for higher payload trailers and a more professional axle suspension adapted to modern tractors that go at higher speeds.”
The MetaBale has a flat surface of 9.5 meters and a payload of 21 tons. It has hydraulic suspension with laser-aligned axles. The trailer is equipped with load sensing air brakes and can be equipped with a steering rear axle. The hydraulic load securing can be opened per side. | <urn:uuid:db8dc12a-0e57-4ab9-a274-4e2f4279e977> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://metsjo.se/en/blogs/news/hogre-lastvikt-i-metsjos-nya-balvagn | 2024-04-18T08:43:56Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.950638 | 423 |
Mexican insurance at MexicanInsuranceStore & travel supplies
If you are traveling into Mexico by car for the first time, you may wonder about what supplies to carry in your vehicle. Although you are entering a foreign land, you will find that it’s easy to stop at a store to pick up supplies. However, your Mexican insurance at MexicanInsuranceStore is better purchased online. Although there are places to buy a policy after crossing the border, once you are on Mexican soil, any accident without coverage can be a huge problem, even on your way to that sales booth. Getting your car insurance for Mexico from MexicanInsuranceStore.com ensures that you are covered from the moment you cross the border.
Basic emergency supplies
It’s always sensible to have a few basic emergency supplies in your vehicle. Extra fluids, a tire jack, jumper cables and a flashlight can be useful in the event of a car problem. If your travels will take you through rural communities, you may want to be sure that you have a tire inflation device handy. Be sure that your spare is in good condition as well. It’s important to evaluate your wireless service before you travel so that you can develop an emergency communication plan. Many companies include international coverage options, and you will want to think about the value of this as you travel more remotely. Your Mexican insurance at MexicanInsuranceStore includes roadside help as a no-cost add-on for all policies. You can contact your provider to get help if your emergency can’t be handled on your own.
Food and water
As you travel through the country, you’ll find that markets and stores are available for everything from soft drinks to travel snacks. One of the highlights of a trip through rural communities can be stopping and trying out local fare. A good rule of thumb is the activity level at a restaurant or stand. That busy taco stand is probably a great spot for eating safely and heartily. You can bring some emergency foods in case of a breakdown, but you’ll have no trouble finding good food as you travel.
Don’t forget to buy Mexican insurance at MexicanInsuranceStore before leaving!
Your car insurance for Mexico from MexicanInsuranceStore.com is one of the most important safety measures you can take in preparing to travel. From medical help to legal representation, your Mexican insurance at MexicanInsuranceStore has many of your emergency needs covered.
Mexican insurance at MexicanInsuranceStore gives you peace of mind, so you can fully enjoy your vacation without worry!
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- The Significance of Buying Quality Mexican Auto Insurance | <urn:uuid:8566c8bd-5079-4ea7-b41d-f92e0d77026d> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://mexicaninsurancestore.com/blog/mexican-insurance-at-mexicaninsurancestore-travel-supplies/ | 2024-04-18T07:59:44Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.924609 | 871 |
Wow! I had such an encouraging weekend attending the IF:Gathering (webcast) this weekend! I am not sure if I have the words to describe how blessed I feel from such a gathering! I feel like the Lord came down and hugged me! Affirmed me! Confirmed to me the path of writing and art!
The funny thing is, I was more on the side of dreading that I decided to attend, instead of excited.
I even tried to discourage my friends, that I asked to attend with me, not to go. I thought if they decided not to attend, then it would give me an excuse to not go.
Mostly, because I wondered if the two days would be worth it? Wondering if it would be a conference full of fluff? Would it be pertinent to where I am in my life right now? Thinking of all the other things I should be doing at home (the long list of cleaning I needed to do and unfinished projects to complete).
Ever so grateful my friends wanted to go! At the time, I thought at least it would give me time to spend with my “besties”. Not realizing how much the Lord had in store for me.
I think of Gideon in Judges 6 from the Bible. Over and over the Lord encouraged Gideon for what He called Gideon to do. When Gideon had questions, the Lord answered Him. He even waited on Gideon, when Gideon asked Him to wait (vs.18). He equipped and prepared Gideon. The Lord was ever present with Gideon. Every concern Gideon had the Lord helped Gideon. The Lord was gentle and wanted Gideon to know He would be there to fulfill whatever He called Gideon to do.
Now, I am not a Bible scholar, but I can identify with Gideon’s humanity and the love the Lord showered on Gideon. I know I serve the same God today (Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Hebrews 13:8).
I love that! I can see that the enemy wanted me to forfeit the blessing the Lord had prepared for me. I am so grateful the Lord got me there! So grateful for all the women local and in Austin, Texas that gave of their time to prepare for IF: Gathering. What a gift!
Every message spoke to my heart. The women empowered all of us to have courage and to unleash the calling the Lord has placed on each of our hearts. To answer the question, “what would you do if you had the courage to do it?” To throw off any sin and snares holding us back (Hebrews 12:1-2). To not grow stale. To risk. To lean into the Lord. To walk in freedom (Galatians 5:1). To be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9).
I spent some time repenting, rebuking and renouncing thoughts that surfaced. I could not doing anything about them coming, but I could tell them they could not stay! I did not allow them to camp out and quickly sent them on their ugly way!
The speakers encouraged us to know what we were made for and to be doing it. Author, Rebekah Lyons said, “we fade when we don’t know who we are.” She went on to say we have a birthright gift and that “our calling is when our talents and burdens collide.” Her words spoke such peace over me when she said, “God has enough room for calling. We do not need to look to the right or left–God is so creative, He has enough room for everyone.”
I needed to hear those words! They spoke life to me! God has enough room for ALL our callings. How could I have made God so small! How did I miss the GREATNESS of God in His ability to fulfill the plans He has for me! I was unaware of the root of doubt and chains that come with that that were taking up residency in this area of my life, my heart. Lord, I am so sorry I put you in a teeny tiny box! Thank you Lord for your abounding forgiveness! Thank you for showing me a better way!
I am not sure of everything the Lord is calling me to do. I want my heart to stay close to His by abiding in Him (John 15:5). To be open to His leading. Faithful to do right now what He has given me enough light to see to do (Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105).
I am open. Thank you Jesus…I believe in my possibilities!
“But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
“Everything is possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:22-24 | <urn:uuid:4a885c22-e70d-4667-a324-f6bd990d6cd4> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://michellemarttila.com/believe-in-your-possibilities/ | 2024-04-18T07:07:40Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.975268 | 1,060 |
Cowboy Bebop is one of my favorite anime series, and it's probably the best one I've
ever seen. However, I never considered making a site to it: although I love everything about it, there are plenty of excellent
sites on the series already. When I saw the Bebop movie, I immediately fell in love with Electra. I find her beautiful and
strong and just all-around kick-ass. That led to me deciding she needed a shrine, so here this is.
I admit that Broken Wings isn't an especially great title. It's supposed to relate to the movie's Heaven/Hell focus and on the
butterfly motif; it also suggests Electra as a tragic figure, which, I think she is to some extent. In any case, the name sounds
The current layout features various scans of Electra. The layout was done in Paint Shop Pro 7.0 and was hand-coded in Editpad.
The fonts used are TempoFont and Porcelain. | <urn:uuid:38a0aa20-ccc4-4723-ae0f-c6191831899f> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://michiru.org/electra/history.html | 2024-04-18T06:27:23Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.973545 | 211 |
BOA Technology's sub-brand, habu, went through a major growth spurt in 2020. A website, brand standards, and product catalog were all launched in the span of a year. In addition, I also did an exploration on updating the brand identity.
We looked at everything from slight evolutions to some radical changes. The final proposal ended up in the evolved mark camp that used custom letterforms that spoke to the modern, technical product that habu is.
Due to various timing and budget circumstances, the logo update did not move forward. But we were able to evolve the brand in other areas that helped with its future expansion.
SKETCHES AND EARLY VECTOR WORK
La Sportiva Cyklon CampaignArt Directon / Digital Design / Print Design
Dialed In CampaignCampaign Design / Art Direction
Travis Credit UnionCampaign Design
2021 Fall CampaignArt Directon
Habu Fit SystemArt Direction / Brand Identity / Web Design / Design
BOA Pioneer / Grayson MurphyArt Direction
BOA Pioneer / Vincent VietArt Direction
Cuesta College Concert SeriesGraphic Design
Performance Fit LabEnvironmental Design / Art Direction / Design
L6 Reel Platform LaunchPackaging Design
Social Media CampaignsDigital Design
The Running EventEnvironmental Design
CatalystBrand Identity / Design | <urn:uuid:b0d0936a-3761-486f-96c0-12fd9cd09523> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://mikespencerdesign.com/project/habu-brand-exploration | 2024-04-18T06:47:34Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.865501 | 269 |
Hubba Bubba is a popular brand of chewing gum known for its flavorful and long-lasting taste. If you follow a gluten-free diet or have a gluten sensitivity, you may be wondering if Hubba Bubba is a safe choice for you. In this article, we will explore whether Hubba Bubba is gluten-free or not.
Understanding Gluten and Gluten Sensitivity
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and related grains. People with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, and those with gluten sensitivity need to avoid gluten as it can cause various symptoms and health complications.
Celiac disease is a serious condition where consuming gluten triggers an immune response that damages the small intestine. Gluten sensitivity, on the other hand, is a less severe condition, presenting similar but milder symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and fatigue.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the availability of gluten-free products, including chewing gum. Food manufacturers are now required to clearly label their products as gluten-free if they meet the required standards set by the regulatory authorities.
When a product is labeled gluten-free, it means that the manufacturer has taken necessary precautions to ensure that the ingredients used do not contain any sources of gluten, or if they do, they are present in a form that contains less than the legal limit for gluten content. This labeling allows individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity to easily identify safe food options.
Checking the Ingredients of Hubba Bubba
To determine if Hubba Bubba is gluten-free, it’s important to check the list of ingredients. Manufacturers are required to list all ingredients used in their products, making it easier for consumers to identify gluten-containing ingredients.
As of the time of writing this article, the ingredients of Hubba Bubba chewing gum include:
- Gum Base
- Glucose Syrup
- Glazing Agent
Based on the ingredients list, there are no obvious sources of gluten present in Hubba Bubba chewing gum. However, it’s important to note that ingredient formulations may change over time, and cross-contamination is always a possibility during the manufacturing process.
Cross-Contamination and Manufacturing Processes
Even if a product’s ingredients do not contain gluten, there is still a risk of cross-contamination during the manufacturing process. Cross-contamination occurs when a gluten-free product comes into contact with gluten, potentially leading to the presence of trace amounts of gluten in the final product.
Manufacturers take different measures to prevent cross-contamination, such as segregating gluten-free production lines, conducting thorough equipment cleaning, and implementing strict quality control protocols. However, it’s important to acknowledge that the possibility of cross-contamination can never be completely eliminated.
Verifying Gluten-Free Certification
If you have celiac disease or are highly sensitive to gluten, it is recommended to look for products with gluten-free certifications from reputable organizations. These certifications indicate that the product has undergone third-party testing and complies with strict gluten-free standards.
When it comes to Hubba Bubba chewing gum, they do not specifically advertise or have a gluten-free certification. However, this does not necessarily mean that their products contain gluten. It’s always a good idea to reach out to the manufacturer directly or consult reliable sources to obtain the most up-to-date information about their gluten-free status.
In conclusion, while the ingredients of Hubba Bubba chewing gum do not appear to contain gluten, it’s important to be aware of the potential for cross-contamination during the manufacturing process. If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, it is advisable to verify the gluten-free status of Hubba Bubba gum by contacting the manufacturer or looking for products with a gluten-free certification.
Remember, everyone’s sensitivity to gluten varies, so always listen to your body and consult with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns or experience adverse reactions after consuming certain foods. | <urn:uuid:7d169cca-53b9-42fa-b883-4c5b02c59cfb> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://milehighmasala.net/is-hubba-bubba-gluten-free/ | 2024-04-18T06:41:48Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.932364 | 837 |
Greetings, fellow adventurers, and welcome to the vibrant and captivating land of Morocco! Prepare to be enchanted by a realm where history, landscapes, and culture converge to create an extraordinary tapestry of iconic locations just waiting to be discovered. In this article, we invite you to join us on an exhilarating journey through the 10 Best Most Iconic Locations in Morocco, where we’ll unlock the secrets of hidden gems and unveil the must-visit destinations that will leave you utterly spellbound.
Morocco, with its bustling markets of Marrakech and the majestic allure of the Atlas Mountains, offers a kaleidoscope of experiences to satisfy every traveler’s wanderlust. Immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of ancient medinas, wander through palaces that exude mesmerizing beauty, and lose yourself in the labyrinthine streets of picturesque coastal towns.
Let your senses come alive as you immerse yourself in the aromatic spice markets, tantalize your taste buds with the flavors of Moroccan cuisine, and immerse yourself in the vibrant traditions and customs that have shaped this remarkable land. Morocco’s iconic locations offer visual splendor and serve as gateways to a world of cultural richness and authenticity.
So, prepare for an extraordinary adventure as we unveil the 10 Best Most Iconic Locations in Morocco. Allow the magic of this North African gem to envelop you as you uncover its hidden treasures and embrace the spirit of exploration. Prepare to embark on a journey that will leave an indelible mark on your heart and ignite your wanderlust. Together, let us delve into the enchanting world where ancient wonders and modern marvels collide.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Morocco
Morocco, a land of wonders and mysteries that will captivate your imagination! Morocco is a treasure trove of culture and adventure from its vibrant markets to its majestic landscapes. Prepare to be swept away by the rich tapestry of traditions, the tantalizing aromas of Moroccan cuisine, and the warm hospitality of its people.
- Morocco’s history is a tapestry woven with the influences of ancient civilizations, exotic trade routes, and diverse cultures.
- The country boasts architectural marvels adorned with intricate details and vibrant colors, showcasing its rich heritage.
- The mesmerizing beauty of the Sahara Desert beckons adventurers with its endless golden dunes, offering unforgettable experiences.
- In Morocco, traditions come alive through lively festivals, captivating music, and spirited dance.
- The vibrant medinas hold treasures waiting to be discovered with every step, creating a sense of excitement and wonder.
- Exploring bustling souks is an opportunity to haggle for unique treasures, such as vibrant textiles and intricate handicrafts.
- Moroccan cuisine is a paradise for food enthusiasts, with tantalizing flavors of tagines, couscous, and aromatic spices taking your taste buds on a sensory journey.
- Sipping traditional mint tea is not only a delightful experience but also a symbol of the warm hospitality that Morocco is known for.
In Morocco, history, culture, and culinary delights converge, creating a captivating destination that offers something for everyone. Prepare to be immersed in the magic of this enchanting country as you explore its diverse landscapes, embrace its vibrant traditions, and indulge in its delectable cuisine.
Starting Off Our List of the Best Most Iconic Locations in Morocco, We Have:
Casablanca may not have the same atmospheric charm as other Moroccan cities, but it is one of the country’s top destinations to visit. This vibrant city perfectly showcases modernity in Morocco, with its impressive blend of French-colonial and traditional Moroccan architecture. The stunning moresque buildings are a sight to behold, capturing the essence of this cosmopolitan hub.
Not only does Casablanca offer architectural wonders, but it also tantalizes the taste buds with its awesome food scene. From mouthwatering street food to fine dining experiences, the city’s culinary offerings are sure to satisfy any food lover. Delve into Moroccan cuisine and indulge in a gastronomic adventure that will leave you craving more.
Casablanca stands tall among Morocco’s best places to explore with its unique fusion of modernity and tradition. Immerse yourself in the city’s bustling energy, marvel at its architectural marvels, and savor the flavors of its diverse culinary landscape. Casablanca is a must-visit destination that effortlessly showcases Morocco’s contemporary charm.
With its bustling medina and enchanting atmosphere, it’s no wonder why it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Morocco. From the lively central square of Djemma El-Fna, where snake charmers and street performers captivate your senses, to the magnificent El Badi Palace, Marrakech offers a wealth of cultural and historical wonders to explore.
One of the highlights of visiting Marrakech is undoubtedly the bustling souks or bazaars. These vibrant markets are a shopaholic’s paradise, offering a plethora of traditional crafts, spices, textiles, and unique souvenirs. Getting lost in the narrow alleys of the souks and haggling for treasures is an adventure in itself, immersing you in the local culture and traditions.
Aside from its vibrant markets, Marrakech also boasts a reputation as one of the safest cities to visit in Morocco, alongside Agadir. This provides travelers with peace of mind as they explore the city’s remarkable sights and immerse themselves in its captivating ambiance.
Once ravaged by an earthquake in 1960, Agadir has emerged as a thriving seaside resort town, showcasing its resilience and beauty. With a picturesque waterfront and a laid-back atmosphere, it’s no wonder that Agadir is often regarded as the best place in Morocco for couples. The town exudes a chilled-out vibe, making it a perfect destination for a romantic getaway. From breathtaking sunsets to leisurely walks along its stunning streets, Agadir offers a memorable experience for couples seeking relaxation and tranquility.
Despite its battle scars, Agadir has transformed into one of the top tourist destinations in Morocco. The city buzzes with life and activity, with its bustling port and vibrant streets beckoning travelers to explore its treasures. Whether you’re lounging on its pristine beaches, indulging in the mouthwatering delights of Moroccan cuisine at local food stalls, or simply immersing yourself in the energetic ambiance, Agadir offers a wealth of experiences to enjoy during your visit.
Its unparalleled beauty captivates the senses, with a kaleidoscope of green hues, crystal-clear blue waters, majestic snow-capped Atlas Mountains, and sprawling olive and fig trees that paint a breathtaking landscape. Rose Valley is a paradise for adventure enthusiasts, offering an escape into nature’s embrace.
The name “Rose Valley” reflects the abundance of pink gardens that carpeted the valley’s floors. These vast fields of roses add a touch of fragrant beauty to the already picturesque surroundings. Imagine strolling through a landscape adorned with blooming roses, immersing yourself in this valley’s tranquility and serenity.
Whether you’re a nature lover, an adventure seeker, or simply yearning for a peaceful retreat, Rose Valley has it all. Explore its hidden trails, marvel at the stunning vistas, and bask in the soothing ambiance that only a place like this can provide. Rose Valley is a true testament to Morocco’s diverse and captivating landscapes, waiting to be discovered by intrepid travelers like you.
Aït Ben Haddou
This ancient village is nestled on a hillside, showcasing a mesmerizing collection of houses that will leave you in awe. Its beauty is unparalleled, and stepping into this destination feels like entering a world of enchantment. As you explore, you’ll discover that much of the village has been abandoned, allowing visitors to wander through its captivating ruins.
But there’s more to Ksar Aït Ben Haddou than meets the eye. This extraordinary place has played a starring role on the silver screen, serving as the film set for the Hollywood blockbuster “Gladiator.” As you stand amidst the ancient structures, you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported back to the golden days of cinema, reliving the epic moments captured on the big screen.
Ksar Aït Ben Haddou is not just a village; it’s a living testament to Morocco’s rich history and cultural heritage. Its rustic charm, architectural marvels, and cinematic connections make it a destination that truly captivates the imagination.
This coastal city boasts a perfect blend of stunning landscapes and cultural treasures that will leave you breathless. With year-round pleasant weather and pristine beaches, Rabat is an idyllic destination for those seeking relaxation and tranquility.
But Rabat is not just about sun and sand; it offers a plethora of exquisite experiences that make it one of the best places to visit in Morocco. Explore the charming streets of the medina, where ancient architecture and vibrant markets come together in a delightful fusion. Discover historical sites like the Kasbah of the Udayas and the Hassan Tower, which stand as testaments to the city’s rich heritage.
Beyond its historical allure, Rabat also embraces modernity with its cosmopolitan atmosphere and a thriving arts and culture scene. From contemporary art galleries to vibrant music festivals, there’s always something exciting happening in this dynamic city.
So, whether you’re a beach lover, a history enthusiast, or an art aficionado, Rabat has it all. Get ready to immerse yourself in the unique charm of this coastal capital and experience the best Morocco offers.
This vast expanse of golden dunes is a must-visit destination that promises awe-inspiring experiences you won’t find anywhere else. From witnessing the breathtaking sunset casting its warm hues over the desert to immersing yourself in the silence and tranquility of the vast landscapes, every moment spent in the Sahara is truly captivating.
The Sahara Desert offers a multitude of activities and experiences that will leave you in awe. Take a camel ride across the rolling dunes, feeling the rhythm of the desert beneath you as you traverse this otherworldly landscape. As night falls, prepare to be amazed by the starry sky, as the desert becomes a canvas of twinkling lights.
Among the best places to visit in Morocco, a trip to the Sahara Desert should definitely be on your itinerary. It’s a chance to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect with nature’s grandeur.
Towering as North Africa’s highest mountain range, the High Atlas is rightfully hailed as the “mountain of mountains.” This captivating destination beckons trekkers and nature enthusiasts alike, offering a paradise of rugged beauty and unparalleled vistas. The High Atlas becomes a playground for those seeking thrilling trekking experiences from spring to autumn.
Stretching across approximately 1000 km, the High Atlas range runs diagonally through Morocco, creating a dramatic landscape that captures the imagination. Its iconic saw-toothed Jurassic peaks not only add to the breathtaking scenery but also act as a natural barrier, influencing weather patterns and creating microclimates that further add to the allure of this region.
For adventurers and nature lovers, the High Atlas is a playground of exploration. Lace up your hiking boots, breathe in the crisp mountain air, and immerse yourself in the beauty of this extraordinary mountain range. Whether you’re conquering challenging trails, marveling at cascading waterfalls, or engaging with local Berber communities, the High Atlas offers an unrivaled experience that will leave you in awe.
Despite its old age and architectural splendor, Meknes has managed to captivate the hearts of travelers from around the world. Located in northern Morocco, this city boasts a rich history that dates back to the 9th century, making it a treasure trove of cultural heritage and ancient wonders.
Meknes is renowned for its mesmerizing medina, a labyrinth of narrow streets and bustling markets where time seems to stand still. Step into the past as you wander through the ancient city walls and discover hidden gems at every turn. From grand palaces adorned with intricate details to historical sites that showcase the city’s former glory as one of Morocco’s previous capitals, Meknes offers a journey back in time.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of the medina, where artisans craft exquisite goods and aromatic spices fill the air. Explore the bustling souks, where you can haggle for unique treasures and experience the vibrant local culture. With its rich heritage and architectural wonders, Meknes invites you to unravel the mysteries of its past and create unforgettable memories.
Situated on the enchanting North Atlantic coast, this seaside paradise has become a beloved destination for tourists and locals alike, especially during the hot summer months. With its pristine sandy beaches and refreshing ocean breeze, Asilah offers a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
But it’s not just the sun and sand that make Asilah a must-visit destination. The city walls adorned with vibrant and colorful murals add a touch of artistic charm to this already captivating town. As you stroll through the narrow streets, you’ll be greeted by a visual feast of stunning artwork, transforming the city walls into an open-air gallery.
Asilah’s murals not only showcase the talent of local and international artists but also reflect the rich cultural heritage and creative spirit that thrives in this coastal haven. It’s no wonder that the city has become a magnet for art enthusiasts and those seeking an immersive cultural experience.
Whether relaxing on the pristine beaches, exploring the medina’s labyrinthine streets, or admiring the captivating murals that adorn the city walls, Asilah offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and artistic inspiration.
We’ve reached the end of our journey through the best and most iconic locations in Morocco. From the vibrant streets of Marrakech to the ancient wonders of Fes, and the mesmerizing beauty of the Sahara Desert, Morocco has proven itself to be a land of captivating diversity and rich cultural heritage.
Each destination we explored offered a unique and unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an art lover, a nature explorer, or simply a traveler seeking new horizons, Morocco has something for everyone.
We’ve witnessed the architectural marvels of ancient cities, got lost in the maze-like medinas, haggled for treasures in bustling souks, and marveled at the stunning landscapes that range from majestic mountains to pristine beaches. We’ve immersed ourselves in the vibrant traditions, sampled the tantalizing flavors of Moroccan cuisine, and embraced the warm hospitality of the Moroccan people.
Morocco has proven itself to be a land of hidden treasures, where old meets new, and tradition intertwines with modernity. It’s a place that invites you to step out of your comfort zone, to embrace the unknown, and to embark on an adventure that will leave a lasting imprint on your soul.
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Thanks for visiting our Website. If you appreciate our work, kindly show us some support in our comments section 🙂 | <urn:uuid:d50e4513-24c0-4dc2-b1d7-ab6482ca547c> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://miller-reviews.com/the-10-best-most-iconic-locations-in-morocco/ | 2024-04-18T07:14:37Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.902222 | 3,217 |
UltraVPN, a VPN provider based in the United States, has swiftly established itself in the industry despite being relatively young, having been founded just four years ago.
One notable aspect of UltraVPN is its commitment to user convenience and affordability. The company offers a highly generous free trial plan, allowing individuals to thoroughly test the service without the obligation of a long-term contract. To ensure the utmost security, UltraVPN utilizes the PPTP, Hydra, and IKEv2 protocols, coupled with 256-bit AES encryption, which represents the highest level of encryption presently available.
A standout feature of UltraVPN is its unique “Instant Mode,” enabling users to effortlessly connect to the VPN without the need for downloading or installing client software. Simply input your username and password, and you’re ready to explore the benefits of the service.
Presently, UltraVPN has gained significant popularity among users seeking a combination of speed, reliability, and affordability in their VPN provider. In this article, we provide an in-depth review of UltraVPN to determine whether it lives up to the considerable acclaim it has garnered.
Table of Contents
UltraVPN Review Basics
Let’s begin with the fundamentals. UltraVPN is a software application that enables users to establish a connection with a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN serves the purpose of encrypting internet traffic, enhancing privacy and security. It also grants the ability to bypass geo-restrictions, enabling access to websites and services that would otherwise be inaccessible in your country.
UltraVPN stands out as one of the most user-friendly VPN options available. Its intuitive user interface makes setup and usage a breeze, catering to multiple platforms such as Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Utilizing its proprietary protocol, Hydra, UltraVPN boasts a reputation for speed and reliability.
In terms of server infrastructure, UltraVPN maintains an impressive fleet. With over 100 servers across more than 85 countries, users have ample choices for their VPN connections.
One of the standout features of UltraVPN is its strict no-logs policy. The company refrains from retaining any logs related to user activity, ensuring that browsing history, traffic data, and IP addresses remain entirely unmonitored and unrecorded.
According to this policy, a minimal amount of non-identifiable data is collected, specifically relating to connection establishment and the country to which you are connected (while excluding the outgoing and home IP addresses). These anonymized connection logs are secure, as they do not reveal any details regarding your actual activities while using the VPN.
Now, let’s take a quick overview of the key features offered by UltraVPN:
BASED IN COUNTRY: | UNITED STATES |
USABILITY: | Very Easy to use |
LOG FILES: | Strict No Logging Policy |
LOCATIONS: | 85+ countries, 100+ servers |
SUPPORT: | Live Chat (24/7) |
TORRENTING: | P2P & Torrenting Allowed |
STREAMING: | Unblocks: Netflix, Peacock, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and more |
ENCRYPTION/PROTOCOL: | 4096-bit DH key, Automatic, Hydra, and IKEv2(IPSec) |
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: | www.ULTRAVPN.com |
1. Well–Distributed Network
UltraVPN presents a compact yet formidable server network encompassing 100 servers distributed across 85 countries. These servers are thoughtfully positioned to cover Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania in a relatively balanced manner.
While UltraVPN’s network incorporates virtual servers that reliably deliver connections, it should be noted that the limited size of the network may lead to potential congestion if there is an unexpected surge in customer demand. Consequently, users might experience occasional delays in streaming, gaming, video chats, or other bandwidth-intensive activities during such congestion periods.
Navigating to the server menu from the home screen is a seamless process. Just look for the server menu icon—a small arrow beside the Connect button, displaying the most recent location. When you wish to reconnect, simply select your desired server and establish a connection.
Overall, UltraVPN’s network performs commendably; however, we would appreciate a slightly more robust infrastructure to ensure optimal service quality.
2. User-Friendly Apps
UltraVPN’s applications are designed to be compatible with all leading platforms, encompassing Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. These versatile apps feature a user-friendly interface that strikes the perfect balance between intuitiveness and effortless navigation.
In this review, we will concentrate on the macOS experience of UltraVPN, considering the similarity between the Mac and Windows clients. We encountered a seamless and hassle-free experience while testing the Mac version of the application.
Establishing a connection is swift, typically taking around 3 seconds, and the client itself boasts a streamlined and user-friendly design. While certain VPNs allow users to reposition program windows as desired, UltraVPN’s Mac client conveniently remains anchored to the top bar of the display, ensuring easy access and unobtrusiveness.
Although it may initially appear as a drawback, the fixed position of UltraVPN’s client interface on the screen actually proves advantageous by saving valuable screen space. Moreover, accessing all the features and settings is conveniently achieved by simply clicking on the icon located in the top bar.
The server list is readily accessible from the main screen, offering the flexibility to not only choose the desired country but also select a specific location within that country—an exceptional feature that sets UltraVPN apart from other VPN providers.
As depicted in the accompanying images, UltraVPN’s interface is designed with user-friendliness in mind, catering even to those less familiar with technology. However, one feature that might cause slight confusion for newcomers is the firewall functionality.
In reality, this “firewall” serves as UltraVPN’s kill switch, ensuring immediate disconnection from the internet in the event of a sudden or inactive VPN connection. This swift action prevents exposure on an unprotected network.
While exploring the Settings menu, we noticed a relatively limited range of customization options. However, users can conveniently navigate to this section to switch between the Hydra and IKEv2 protocols or toggle the kill switch on or off.
While the software boasts an appealing user interface, it does lack several features. For instance, an auto-connect tool that automatically selects the best and nearest server would have been a valuable addition to enhance the overall user experience.
The Windows application stands out with its exceptional design, offering a range of exclusive features not present in the other applications. Among these features are a reliable kill switch and convenient auto-connect functionality.
With the kill switch feature, your device will be automatically disconnected from the internet in the event of a VPN connection loss, ensuring your online security and privacy. Additionally, the auto-connect feature intelligently selects the optimal server based on your location, seamlessly establishing a connection for an enhanced browsing experience.
Considering the prevalence of mobile device usage for VPN connections, it’s important for VPN providers to prioritize a mobile-friendly interface. The majority of VPN users opt for mobile devices over desktop computers when accessing security software.
Given this context, we commend VPN providers that dedicate attention to the design of their mobile interface. UltraVPN’s Android client exemplifies this approach by offering a seamless blend of rich features and a user-friendly design, mirroring the experience found in the desktop version.
The distinguishing aspect of the Android client lies in its exclusive utilization of Hydra, a protocol renowned for its expertise in ensuring anonymity and bypassing censorship. In fact, Hydra’s resistance to blocking surpasses even that of WireGuard, further enhancing the capabilities of UltraVPN’s Android client.
3. Solid Encryption
UltraVPN prioritizes robust security measures by implementing the AES-256 encryption cipher, reinforced by a 2048-bit key and HMAC SHA256 for message authentication. Widely regarded as one of the most robust encryption ciphers, it is trusted by numerous military and government entities worldwide.
In addition to its formidable encryption, UltraVPN sets itself apart from other VPNs with an array of exceptional security features. These include a built-in firewall, anti-spyware capabilities, and an ad blocker, all working in unison to provide users with comprehensive protection and a seamless browsing experience.
To establish a secure tunnel, UltraVPN offers a selection of three protocols: Automatic, Hydra, and IKEv2 (IPSec). These protocols provide users with flexibility in choosing the most suitable option for their specific needs, ensuring a secure and reliable VPN connection.
By utilizing the Automatic protocol, your device will effortlessly connect to the most secure tunneling protocol currently available.
This protocol is highly recommended due to its ability to provide the utmost level of protection and its constant updates to incorporate the latest security features. With Automatic protocol selection, you can rest assured knowing that you are benefiting from the highest standard of security for your VPN connection.
Hydra, developed by Aura and exclusively employed by UltraVPN, is a highly anonymous multi-protocol VPN client that operates on the TLS 1.2 protocol. While Hydra is UltraVPN’s proprietary protocol, it should be noted that its performance may be slightly slower compared to WireGuard.
Another option is IKEv2 (IPSec), a VPN protocol that utilizes the IPSec protocol to establish a secure tunnel. Although IKEv2 is recognized for its enhanced security, it may not match the speed of WireGuard or OpenVPN.
Regrettably, UltraVPN does not currently support the OpenVPN protocol, which is widely acknowledged as the benchmark for VPN security and speed.
5. Fast Speeds
UltraVPN stands out among VPN providers as one of the rare few offering genuinely high-speed connections. With an average server speed of approximately 100Mbps (depending on the country), UltraVPN surpasses the performance of many other VPN services.
This exceptional speed makes UltraVPN an excellent option for users seeking a swift and reliable connection for activities such as gaming, streaming, and other bandwidth-intensive tasks. Enjoy seamless online experiences and uninterrupted access to your favorite content with UltraVPN’s impressive speed capabilities.
Among UltraVPN’s server locations, the European servers demonstrate an average speed of approximately 130Mbps, providing users with reliable and efficient connections. However, it is worth noting that the servers in Asia offer even greater speed, boasting an average of 160Mbps. Users can take advantage of these fast and responsive connections when accessing UltraVPN’s servers in Asia, ensuring a seamless online experience.
6. Bypass Streaming Geoblocks
UltraVPN excels in bypassing geo-restrictions imposed by popular streaming services like Netflix, granting you access to a wide range of content from any country. This capability is achieved through the utilization of multiple optimized servers dedicated to streaming purposes.
To discover the optimal server for streaming, simply connect to the designated “Streaming” server location within the UltraVPN app. Experiment with different servers until you find one that consistently delivers the desired streaming experience.
Within UltraVPN’s network, you will find four dedicated servers specifically designed for streaming. During our tests, the UK locations performed admirably, exhibiting minimal lag and buffering, alongside excellent video quality. However, it’s worth noting that the Canadian server offered a somewhat mediocre video quality, with occasional delays and buffering issues.
We thoroughly examined UltraVPN’s ability to unblock content across various popular streaming platforms, yielding predominantly positive outcomes, although occasionally encountering unexpected results. In the subsequent sections, we will delve into our findings in more detail.
As the streaming service with the most extensive content library, Netflix is typically the primary target for VPN users aiming to bypass geo-restrictions. Unlike other streaming platforms, Netflix implements a unique method of geo-blocking due to its worldwide accessibility.
Netflix distributes its streaming collections across different locations where they are accessible, with each location offering a distinct catalog (excluding countries where Netflix does not operate). Consequently, the content available in the US catalog significantly differs from that of the Canadian catalog, highlighting the geographical variation in content offerings.
When accessing Netflix, a user’s available content collection corresponds to the country associated with their IP address. Given that the American library boasts the largest assortment of content, it is advantageous to employ a VPN that offers an American IP address.
However, individuals attempting to unblock Netflix may encounter additional challenges as the streaming platform has the capability to detect and block VPNs it identifies as untrustworthy.
We are delighted to report that Ultraflix, provided by UltraVPN, is among the select few VPN services that can successfully unblock Netflix. This service employs multiple US-based IP addresses to grant users unrestricted access to the complete American Netflix catalog, ensuring an enhanced streaming experience.
Hulu, another prominent player in the streaming industry, has implemented robust measures to prevent VPN services from accessing its platform. This has resulted in the blocking of numerous reputable VPN providers, including those that previously bypassed Netflix’s restrictions.
By leveraging UltraVPN’s UltraFlix servers, users can overcome Hulu’s restrictions and enjoy unrestricted access to its content from anywhere in the world. Similar to Netflix, UltraVPN assigns you a US IP address, enabling you to effortlessly access Hulu’s complete content library, regardless of your physical location.
Amazon Prime Video
With over 150 million subscribers worldwide, Prime Video has gained tremendous popularity. However, there are a few countries, such as Syria, Iran, North Korea, and Mainland China, where the service is not available due to regional restrictions.
Amazon employs a geo-blocking mechanism similar to that of Netflix. Being a global service, it assigns specific content libraries to each location. Consequently, an Amazon Prime Video subscriber will have access to content based on their IP address.
The US version of Prime Video boasts the largest content library by a significant margin. To enjoy this extensive collection, users need to utilize a VPN to acquire an American IP address.
Unfortunately, UltraVPN is not compatible with Amazon Prime Video. The service readily detects the usage of a VPN and presents an error message stating, “Your device is connected to a VPN…
Disney+ and HBO Max
During our evaluation of UltraVPN’s compatibility with Disney+ and HBO Max, we were pleasantly surprised by the streaming quality. While we encountered intermittent lags on both platforms, which could be attributed to fluctuations in connection speeds, the overall video quality remained excellent. Moreover, we encountered no difficulties in discovering functional servers for uninterrupted streaming sessions.
In our attempt to unblock DAZN using UltraVPN, we encountered limitations as none of the servers we tested were able to access the content.
Streaming from the BBC iPlayer proved to be a challenging experience with UltraVPN. The playback speed was sluggish, and we encountered several delays during streaming sessions. The video quality was average at best, and at one instance, we encountered an error message when trying to play a new episode of a show.
While UltraVPN does not have dedicated servers specifically for torrenting, all of their servers support P2P traffic. You have the freedom to engage in torrenting activities on any server, particularly those labeled with the “Torrenting” location in the app.
For optimal torrenting performance, the Netherlands server stands out as the top choice due to its exceptional speeds and reliability. Additionally, the UK server is a viable option for torrenting, although its speeds may not match the swiftness of the Netherlands server.
8. Very Affordable
Regardless of the term plan you opt for, you will enjoy identical benefits with UltraVPN. The service allows simultaneous connections for up to six devices, a standard offering among VPN providers.
Furthermore, each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, ensuring your satisfaction and peace of mind. As an added bonus, you will also receive complimentary access to the PassWatch password manager and the dark web scan tool, enhancing your online security at no extra cost.
For the most cost-effective option, UltraVPN’s longest package provides exceptional value. With the two-year plan, you’ll enjoy a monthly rate of $1.99. What’s even better is that you’ll only need to make a single payment for the entire duration, amounting to approximately $47.76.
9. Good Customer Support
UltraVPN provides round-the-clock live chat support in English, French, and German, ensuring assistance is readily available. During our testing, we found the live chat agents to be highly responsive and helpful. They addressed all of our inquiries and offered additional information whenever needed.
In addition to live chat, we also reached out to UltraVPN’s customer support via email and received a prompt response within a few hours. The representative we interacted with was courteous and provided valuable assistance.
Overall, UltraVPN’s customer support is outstanding, with 24/7 availability, ensuring that any concerns or queries you may have are promptly addressed by their knowledgeable team.
10. Kill Switch
A kill switch is an essential feature provided by reputable VPN companies. It ensures the protection of your true IP address and personal information by immediately disconnecting your internet access if the VPN connection is compromised.
UltraVPN offers a kill switch specifically designed for Windows, which automatically severs your device’s internet connection in the event of a VPN connection failure. This feature is highly valuable and not offered by all VPN providers.
To enable or disable the kill switch, you can easily access the “Settings” tab within the app and make the desired selection with just a few clicks.
However, in our testing, we found that UltraVPN’s kill switch was not as reliable as those offered by its competitors. It took a few seconds for the kill switch to effectively cut off our internet connection during our tests. Unfortunately, this delay exposed our true IP address to anyone who might have been observing it during those brief intervals.
11. No Logging
UltraVPN prioritizes user privacy by being a no-logs VPN, guaranteeing that no records of your online activities are stored. This essential feature safeguards your privacy throughout your VPN usage.
Furthermore, UltraVPN emphasizes that they do not monitor the IP addresses of their users or track the websites they visit, reinforcing their commitment to maintaining user anonymity and privacy.
12. Password Manager
Among the complimentary add-ons offered by UltraVPN, the PassWatch password manager stands out as a genuinely valuable feature. It is conveniently accessible as a browser extension on both Windows and macOS platforms. On Android and iOS, it is presented as a mobile app, visually resembling the browser extension. Let’s delve into some of its notable features:
The PassWatch password generator is capable of generating passwords with a maximum length of 32 characters. It provides various customization options, allowing you to include special characters, numbers, and a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters in the generated passwords.
With the PassWatch identities feature, you can securely store your personal information, including details like your name, address, email, and credit card number. All this sensitive data is encrypted and can only be decrypted using your master password, ensuring maximum security and confidentiality.
The Secure Me feature, available as a browser extension, adds an extra layer of security by encrypting your login credentials and storing them locally on your computer. Whenever you visit a website, Secure Me will conveniently and automatically fill in your username and password, making it easier and safer to access your accounts.
With the PassWatch credit card feature, you can securely store your credit card information. This sensitive data is encrypted and can only be accessed and decrypted with your master password, ensuring the highest level of protection for your financial information.
1. Very Basic Features
UltraVPN primarily focuses on providing essential features, which may be sufficient for casual users. However, for those seeking more advanced functionalities, such as browser extensions commonly available in other VPNs, UltraVPN’s offering may seem limited. This restricts its usage to specific devices and excludes others from the compatibility list.
Moreover, UltraVPN lacks RAM-only servers, which could potentially pose a risk to your data security in the event of a server breach. Additionally, it doesn’t incorporate Double VPN capabilities like those offered by NordVPN or ExpressVPN, which provide an extra layer of encryption by routing your data through multiple servers for enhanced security.
2. Limited Device Options
To begin with, it’s important to note that UltraVPN does not currently offer support for Linux operating systems. While this may not be a significant concern for some users, it is worth highlighting for those who rely on Linux platforms.
Additionally, UltraVPN provides a limited range of device options, including PC, Mac, iOS, and Android. If you intend to utilize UltraVPN on devices such as routers, smart TVs, or gaming consoles, unfortunately, the service does not extend support to these platforms at present.
3. Free Trial Needs Credit Card Info
While UltraVPN does offer a free trial option, it’s important to note that signing up for the trial requires providing your credit card information. This approach may be off-putting to some individuals, as other VPN providers offer free trials without requesting such sensitive data.
Getting Started With UltraVPN
The download and installation process for UltraVPN was quick and uncomplicated, in our experience.
Step 1: Download
Visit the website and proceed to download the UltraVPN application.
Step 2: Register for an Account
You will be required to provide your name, email address, and create a password.
Step 3: Log in
After completing the registration process, you can log in to the UltraVPN app using your newly created account credentials.
Step 4: Choose Your Connection
From the list of available options, select the desired country you wish to connect to, and then simply click on the “Connect” button.
Step 5: Connected
You are now successfully connected to UltraVPN, enabling you to browse the internet securely and anonymously.
To access the options menu, simply click on the cog icon located at the top left corner. It offers a straightforward interface with a few choices primarily focused on security. For your convenience, you’ll find two icons in the upper right corner leading to your Account and Support.
In the Account section, you can easily check your plan type and the email address associated with your service sign-up. Additionally, within your account dashboard, you’ll find further information accessible by clicking on the “Manage” option.
If you require assistance or have any questions, the Support feature provides quick access to the FAQ area and contact page. Feel free to reach out for help regarding any issues or inquiries you may have regarding the service.
Overall, the VPN setup and usage are designed to be user-friendly. There are no complex menu options or intricate features to navigate. This VPN service offers a simple and sleek interface, making it an excellent choice for those seeking an uncomplicated and user-friendly VPN experience.
UltraVPN offers competitive pricing in line with other well-known VPNs. They provide flexible plans ranging from one month to six months and twelve months, with automatic renewal unless canceled. It’s important to note that upon plan expiration, there will be an additional charge for renewal.
For those who are curious, the website of UltraVPN provides an exclusive 7-day free trial, which can be accessed solely on Android and iOS devices. It’s important to note, though, that the accepted payment methods are limited to PayPal or credit/debit cards. While this offers convenience for payment processing, I completely understand the preference for anonymous transactions facilitated by cryptocurrencies.
Rest assured, each UltraVPN package comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, providing peace of mind and ensuring customer satisfaction.
UltraVPN offers various pricing options that cater to different needs. For a single month, the subscription starts at $7.99, while committing to a one-year plan reduces the monthly price to just $4.99. This pricing structure is particularly impressive, given the VPN’s ability to efficiently unblock content.
However, the true value of UltraVPN shines when you opt for the two-year subscription. With this plan, the monthly cost dramatically decreases to only $2.99, firmly establishing UltraVPN as an affordable choice in the VPN market.
How Secure Is UltraVPN?
Since its acquisition by Pango in 2020, UltraVPN has experienced a significant transformation. This VPN service now offers an impressive range of features, backed by robust security measures, With a focus on robust security measures, UltraVPN boasts military-grade encryption and upholds a strict no logs policy, ensuring your online activities remain private and protected. However, it is essential to evaluate its actual level of security.
Under its previous ownership by Aura Group, UltraVPN faced numerous security vulnerabilities, with one of the most concerning being the collection and sale of user data to third parties.
Fortunately, Pango has taken proactive steps to address these issues and enhance UltraVPN’s security. The encryption has been significantly strengthened to military-grade AES-256-bit, ensuring a high level of data protection. Moreover, the implementation of a watertight no logs policy guarantees that user information remains confidential.
To further fortify security, UltraVPN now utilizes perfect forward secrecy. This means that even if the VPN’s encryption keys were to be compromised, your data would remain secure and protected.
These comprehensive security enhancements implemented by Pango have significantly improved UltraVPN’s overall security and instilled greater confidence in its users.
If you are in need of an effective and budget-friendly VPN, UltraVPN is an outstanding option. With a strong presence in over 85 countries and a network of 100+ servers, it offers ample resources to unblock any website or service you desire. By default, UltraVPN employs military-grade AES 256-bit encryption with the Hydra protocol, guaranteeing the security of your data against both government surveillance and malicious hackers.
UltraVPN excels in unlocking a wide range of content, all while maintaining a reasonable cost. Its impressive speed makes it a suitable choice for individuals seeking to unblock foreign game servers or stream content on platforms like iPlayer.
Overall, UltraVPN is highly recommended as a fast, reliable, and affordable VPN service that ticks all the right boxes.
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Thanks for visiting our Website. If you appreciate our work, kindly show us some support in our comments section 🙂 | <urn:uuid:47e001c2-6a5a-436f-8dc8-43ff2f228dcb> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://miller-reviews.com/ultravpn-review-in-year-features-pricing-more/ | 2024-04-18T08:18:44Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.927717 | 5,536 |
I have a very disciplined friend Mr John. He has four school going kids. He is very supportive for his kids. Making them get up in morning for school, making light breakfast for them etc is his pleasure.. At night Mr John and his wife keep their children school uniform ready so that early morning there is no problems for kids. Special requirements of children for co curricular activities if required by school(mentioned in school diary) are also arranged by Mr and Ms John.
John is believer of strict discipline which must be followed by kids. As kids grow little older John slowly transfer his responsibility which he was doing for kids to them(kids) . For example keeping their school uniform properly in cupboard. Asking parents to arrange special material for their co curricular activities.
Johns strongly believe that slowly and gradually transforming parents responsibility towards kids so that those responsibility become part of kids day to day life is very comforting in kids life. Example like taking bath, and polishing shoes, packing their own lunch boxes. These activities though look small but is big step towards child’s independence.
Johns suggest that this transition has to be Delta x in nature. If some time children miss to do same ,warning is issued to kids. But according to John this practice of giving children responsibility of doing their own things make them wise, strong and mature.
If parents fail to do this responsibility of transferring small life skill at younger age they are creating trouble for children in future life, specially when they get married. This discipline is very difficult to be inculcated in adult hood.
Moral- pre requisite of this training require that parents are very friendly with kids. Then only they can built up trust of transferring small skill valuable to kids for leading comfortable life. | <urn:uuid:a86235f0-91f1-4b56-a6d2-835fe5764a72> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://milyin.com/557533/parenting-trick/ | 2024-04-18T07:52:22Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.982625 | 358 |
Rocky Bleier’s life is one of valor and victory. Drafted into the U.S. Army during his rookie season with the Steelers, Bleier faced the horrors of the Vietnam War and sustained injuries that threatened to end his athletic career. Yet, he defied the odds, returning to the NFL to win four Super Bowl titles and earn a place in the hearts of sports fans nationwide.
His post-football life has been equally impactful, with his advocacy for veterans and his inspirational message that resonates with all who face adversity. Bleier’s presence at the Apple Blossom Festival is not just an honor for him but a privilege for the attendees who will benefit from his experiences.
Celebrating Sportsmanship and Service
The festival’s Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast will feature Bleier as a guest speaker, where he will share insights from his journey from the battlefields to the football fields. His participation in the Hang 10 Car Wash Firefighters’ Parade and the Glo Fiber Grand Feature Parade will be a highlight for the community, celebrating his dual legacy of sportsmanship and service.
Rocky Bleier’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience, making him an ideal figure to inspire the festival’s spirit of community and celebration. | <urn:uuid:7b5d1351-06bc-49aa-a9a8-68dc9d2689f5> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://mindcron.com/rocky-bleier-apple-blossom-festival-honoree/ | 2024-04-18T08:08:03Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.963936 | 266 |
Roland’s new Serato-based controller looks to be tailor-made for mobile DJs, with unique routing options that offer a kind of flexibility previously unseen in portable DJ controllers, but the question still looms, is this the all-in-one solution mobile DJs are looking for?
The DJ-707M is a response to DJs that are increasingly expected to not only DJ but to act as a jack-of-all trades: being an audio problem solver, setting up events with speeches, other instrumentalists and possibly even recording the gig are all very much part of the reality of the modern DJ. For these applications, portability and flexibility are key. The DJ-707M is an all-in-one solution, allowing for up to eight inputs, which can then be routed through the four main channels, with two mic inputs and two line inputs that can also be utilised and tinkered with to fit the unique and challenging situations facing the modern DJ.
As with most controllers in this bracket, the DJ-707M has access to most of the Serato features through physical buttons, including track selection, hot cues, loops, live slicing, pitching, FX, crossfader curve and selection with the obvious three-band mixing EQ and upfaders. The crossfader feels quite smooth and all the knobs feel nice to the touch.
Every feature of the DJ-707M is plug and play. Auto downloaded drivers on Windows and class-compliant on Mac, everything just works the way it should, which is a real plus for gigs where setup time is minimal. There are also two USB connectors which can be used to seamlessly transition between DJs or to use an iOS device to play music through one of the channels, or even for use as an audio interface with the ability to record each channel and the master individually.
One key feature for mobile DJs is size and weight, as they have to transport gear from gig to gig: every kilo counts! Despite utilising metal faceplates for the centre mixer and hardware for the knobs and crossfaders, the DJ-707M weighs in at only 3.5kg, and is small enough to fit inside a large backpack/road case.
With portability in mind, Roland have adapted the size of some controls on the DJ-707M to make space for the sheer breadth of features on the unit. Pitch faders and jog wheels are slightly smaller in comparison to past controllers, and there’s now only one FX dry/wet per side, but each one is assignable to three different FX algorithms and to any channel. When used in combination with the FX available on each individual channel, I found this was more than enough to play with while DJing.
A TR drum sampler is also included which allows you to play drum loops and live drum samples which are fed through a channel allowing you to add FX and EQ on the fly. The ‘osc’ function is basically a sampler with eight sounds pitch-shifted an octave up and down.
While the TR drum sampler and ‘osc’ function will no doubt be useful to some, the routing options are what really put this controller in a league of its own. The onboard processor allows you to edit scenes, which can then be tweaked to your hearts content and later recalled with a click of a button. Whether you’re plugging in eight different inputs and running a live set through the mixer with EQ and effects, using the zone out to send only bass frequencies to a subwoofer using the onboard settings and maintaining independent control of its levels via the mixer, or sending audio to master and booth speakers and use the zone output for recording, there’s plenty of routing options available. The best part is that most of these can be done simultaneously and you could have a scene set up for each function which would allow instant changeovers, meaning no more intermission music. Crazy stuff!
In the settings, you can assign what individual channels send to each output, which is useful if you are looking to send the mic to the master but not the booth monitors to avoid feedback while talking, although you could always use the onboard anti-feedback setting with the flick of a switch. There’s gain, EQ/isolator, FX, high-pass filter, gate, pan and duck settings available on each individual mic input with physical knobs for level, EQ and FX for ease of use. The preamps sound extremely clean and should be perfect for any setting.
On each of the three outputs there is also four-band EQ, three-band compression, a limiter, mono mode, pan and attenuation control. A limiter and attenuation control are the real lifesavers here. If you are letting someone else use your setup after you, having the attenuator means you can make sure your system is never clipping and the limiter means even if the other person is overzealous with their gain structure, the mixer will still sound smooth and not enter nasty digital distortion.
Although this controller uses Serato software, you are able to use it in standalone mode, where all external inputs, channel FX and vocal FX are available. This is useful for recording an all-vinyl set, recording a podcast, playing music through a phone or simply DJing from CDJ’s.
All in all, the Roland DJ-707M fills a hole in the market for mobile DJs with the ability to be the centrepiece for a wedding, function, live set and classic DJ setup all in one, which can change at the click of a button and fit inside a large backpack. If you’re doing events in more than one location and want minimal setup time, this controller is a surefire way to get the party started in no time. | <urn:uuid:aa5a98e4-77b6-4f06-9ecb-a881cb64e10e> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://mixdownmag.com.au/reviews/turntables/reviewed-roland-dj-707m/ | 2024-04-18T07:59:27Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.945557 | 1,192 |
Illinois regulators awarded an additional 55 marijuana adult-use retail licenses in a lottery, aiming to create a more equitable industry and expand access to regulated cannabis.
Nearly 2,700 applicants were hoping to snag one of the conditional recreational retail licenses, which were reserved for entrepreneurs who meet the state’s social equity criteria, according to the Country Herald of Bourbonnais.
The criteria include being from a community that was disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition or someone having a record of low-level marijuana-related charges.
But it will likely be challenging for many of the awardees to raise the necessary funds to open their stores.
Of the 192 social equity licenses that were previously awarded, only 27 stores had opened as of July 11, according to Green Market Report.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation launched the latest application process in January. | <urn:uuid:7c82694e-1fd5-4dcd-b627-46071994af6b> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://mjbizdaily.com/illinois-awards-55-more-adult-use-marijuana-retail-licenses/ | 2024-04-18T06:37:47Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.974697 | 172 |
A mobility moped will be a much more superior version of a mobility device and freedom assistive machine, normally developed being an auxiliary or 100 % mobility software. They may be very popular in a few nations wherever a person with limited range of motion may battle to get around. When motorized, they are generally called an electrical powered motorbike or range of motion motor vehicle (MV) with an electronic freedom moped (EMS).
The Mirielle.S. electric scooters or EMS has a battery powered electrical generator. This shall be employed for running the M.Azines. electric scooters and EMS as it is inexpensive to use a battery-powered electrical generator to strength the kid scooters and EMS whether it is not being used. , it usually is motivated with not much the aid of the motorist,. That is definitely likewise, if you find yourself not utilizing the scooters and EMS, the battery group will probably be charged through the generator.
A person benefit of developing a M.Ersus. child scooter compared to a regular wheel chair. The traditional motorized wheel chairs want more energy for being run with a person hands although a child scooter requires a smaller amount toughness. Having a child scooter, you do not need a stick or jogging stay that will help you proceed.
Many organisations manufacture range of motion child scooters in case you have an extreme constraint or being unable to walk or stay. The electric scooters differ in sizes featuring and you ought to pick the brains behind best fits your preferences. The L.Vertisements. flexibility motor scooters can either be guidebook or powered by an electric battery.
An Michael.S. scooter is usually frequently battery powered or electrical power motivated. The car battery power electric scooters are more expensive compared to the ones run by a generator. You need to be mindful about the life of the battery as it is likely to become depleted before you should choose.
For people with restricted range of motion or people who want a mobility scooter that is less complicated when compared to a typical 1, the power-powered flexibility kid scooters work most effectively preference. as they are able be run without having lots of the help of the trucker and thus give a greater range of motion support, if you choose an M.Ohydrates. moped powered by a cell. If you’re considering purchasing a kid scooter that is powered by a battery bank, you should consider for you to is able to use your individual electrical power in the case of a serious event or when it’s not being utilised, you’ll be able to bring them with virtually no aid whatsoever with the motorist and jump on the street effortlessly.
However. Nonetheless, you must only buy a strength driven scooter if you are clear on how you’ll apply it. A power kid scooter, alternatively, has a battery power so the cost end up caught on the runway when the electric power chimes.
Flexibility kid scooters are incredibly reasonably priced and uncomplicated to utilize. Nonetheless, the key pitfall with supply is it is costly and you should in no way get a moped that could meet or exceed your monetary capacity. Also, it is recommended to make sure the child scooter that you will be obtaining is proper to your peak, time, actual physical and weight issue. Although some child scooters are costly, there are actually reasonably priced versions widely available in many stores.
When it comes to choosing a mobility scooter, you might want to recall there presently exists many kinds available for sale. You can find electric scooters for kids, which might be cheaper than the capability motivated motor scooters and require an inferior electric battery. If you are just starting their journey, a low-costed power motorbike can be suitable. You could choose to more heavy model.
Scooters for kids might also come with a couch, if you need to put it at a a number of location, as soon as you be encountered. Even though some motorized child scooters is usually fixed in addition to your auto, some others may be placed on a system. In order to move the mobility scooter from one destination for a an additional.
Scooters are an important part of everyday life, if it is properly used, these are typically helpful. Hence, easier to which you choose the right one that can offer your own personal purpose. and may last for a long time.
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- Size: 5,530 acres
- Detected: May 1, 2021
- Location: 20 miles northwest of Red Lake, Minnesota in Clearwater County
- Incident Management Team: MNICS Team B, Incident Commander Tom Roach
- Cooperating agencies: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Red Lake Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
The Goods Fire was detected late morning on May 1, 2021 approximately 20 miles northwest of Red Lake, Minnesota. The fire actively ran through grass, brush, and timber, threatening structures during Red Flag Warning conditions. The dry and windy conditions contributed to fire growth during the afternoon hours as the fire grew to an estimated 1200 acres threatening structures. Several aircraft, including an air attack, two Fire Boss air tankers, six single engine air tankers (SEAT), a large air tanker (LAT), and two helicopters were used for fire suppression.
Due to the size and complexity of the fire, a Minnesota Type 3 Incident Management Team (MNICS Team) B, led by Incident Commander Tom Roach, was ordered to manage the fire. Team B assumed command of the fire at 6:00 a.m. on May 2, 2021.
Fire crews scouted the fire perimeter, prepared additional fire personnel and equipment, and developed suppression actions on the initial day under the management of MNICS Team B. On the western and southwest sides of the fire, crews continued to secure the fire’s edge. On the eastern side, there was some active fire in the swamp grasses. The north and northeast sides of the fire remained quiet.
Tracked vehicles were utilized throughout the fire suppression and mop up efforts to identify safe access routes and complete fire suppression work along the fire’s perimeter. Both direct and indirect operations were implemented based on fire behavior and access. Pockets of burning peat were identified along the west side of the fire.
A temporary flight restriction was ordered for the airspace above the Goods fire due to the continued use of aviation operations. In addition, three helicopters were assigned to the fire and provided bucket water drops to cool off areas of heat.
Cooler temperatures, higher humidity levels, and light rain helped fire crews gain containment efforts on the Goods Fire. Firefighters worked on securing the fire edge and cooling pockets of flames and heat as necessary around the perimeter of the fire. Most of the work was supported by tracked vehicles with water tanks and firefighters on the ground with support from helicopter water bucket drops. A series of helicopter flights with an infrared camera were completed to map the edge of the fire and mark areas of heat that helped in directing ground crew actions. By Wednesday, May 5, the fire was estimated to be 40 percent contained.
Over the next two days, firefighters and equipment continued making significant progress toward securing the fire edge and continuing to cool down pockets of heat when necessary around the perimeter of the fire. By Thursday, May 6, the fire was declared 100 percent contained. MNICS Team B returned the management of the fire to the local fire organization at the end of the shift on May 6.
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In memory of MoMo.
These days my SS often comes home for lunch. Here I am waiting for her at the back door...
Good to share lunch and milk with her. I also get lots of cuddles too!!!
Posted by Angel MoMo and Charlotte at 10:48 am
Oh Momo!!!! You iz such a itty bitty floof gurl! I yam so happy dats you iz enjoyin' lunchez wit your momee. I hope she bringz you some cream & tuna. You are lookin' good..I yam so releeved!!!Love, Dr Tweety
Momo - this is the cutest picture ever of you! Only you are a bit thin looking... get SS to give you some Salmon, and Beef, and Cream, and Butter. And tell us when she does so we can over an have some too!Lunch, Dinner, and Breakfast, hahahahaha
This is lovely to see! Momo outside and awaiting for lunch with milk. I do hope you continue to get better Momo, and eat your way back to a sturdier weight.Rumbly purrsWhicky Wuudler & Family
You are one pretty cat, Momo!A little more weight won't hurt. I am living proof! ;-)Paws 'n Claws,Rupert
Sweet MoMo you look great. SS for lunch that sounds wonderful. Oh and your new post showed updated on my blog.
Momo, are you feeling better? It's great that you are up and around and waiting for lunch.
Boy would I love to share lunch with my human
Isn't it cool when the humans can do that! Our dad has been able to come home this last week, which we love. You can never have too many cuddles. We hope you are continuing to feel better and stronger:)
You look perfect under the sun,just love it~!
So sweet, Momo! Enjoy your picnic in the sun!!!Purrs Shade
MoMo, we love all your moods.Glad SS is getting to come home for lunch. Hope she is stuffing you full of yummy food. We have our fingers crossed that you will gain weight. Mommy said she would be happy to give you some of her fat. Hugs & purrs, Socks, Scylla & Charybdis
We are glad to see you looking better Momo. You are a good girl waiting to welcome your mum home.
You just look like you are so happy waiting for your lunch date! Hope you get lots of yummy lunches in the sun!
ooh i wish i could have lunch every day with my boyz. you are quite lucky.
That's nice. Purrs FAZ
That is a lovely sunny piture, Momo. You sure seem like you're feeling better and that makes us furry happy.Iago
MoMo, you look lovely! Aren't you lucky to have SS home with you for lunch!
Oh, I see you got your summer coat on. It suits you furry well. Here's to the squirrel cat!Purrs, Siena
MoMo, you're so lucky to be able to have cuddle lunches with your SS!
Wait a minuet! Wait a minute!!If you are waiting for SS to return home for lunch why are you not on the inside looking at the outside?????? You are not be be left outside alone, remember? Or did you forget???? Don't want anything to happen to you. Please stay safe.And you need to eat a little more, you are looking too thin.
Awwww! We get Her on the weekends and school holidays!
You have your human very well trained if she comes home to share lunch and cuddle! BTW, please remind your beans that my book, The World is Your Litter Box, makes a great holiday gift. It’s only 9.95 green papers and is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.
Awww Momo your Momma is so nice to do that!!! And I bet your Momma loves how you waits for her every day :))Who could describe Momma furry babeh love more beautiful :))V-V
wow, you are one healthy cat Momo!! Good for you! Have a nice day..love,JiMbO
Post a Comment | <urn:uuid:ad329645-8349-4011-b75a-2be771ba4ae3> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://momoandco.blogspot.com/2008/12/miscellaneous-monday.html | 2024-04-18T06:46:42Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.956466 | 925 |
Our first blog post!
Crazy, I can’t believe we have already come through so much of 2013. This year has been incredible, we have gotten to know a lot of wonderful new friends and reconnected with some people that we have known and loved for a long time. The press has been so generous I don’t know where to start, and so many people have allowed us to stock the store with some of the most amazing product possible. Thank you
I should tell you how the store came to be.
I worked at Nordstrom for 10 years and realized that I needed something different than what Nordstrom had to offer. I left there in July of 2012 not really sure what the next phase was going to be, but ready for the phase anyway. | <urn:uuid:7c4e36a0-f67e-4c11-a648-f58e5601f803> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://monawilliams.com/tag/patric-richardson/ | 2024-04-18T08:04:02Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.984993 | 159 |
Helen's Guava Cake (rectangular)
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Punchline Stands in the Spotlight!
When James Tynion IV started his run of Batman, he introduced the character of Punchline to the world. Joker’s new right-hand woman would play a major role in the Joker War story, from being Joker’s middleman to the villainous bank brokers to concocting a new Joker toxin. In the real world, this character has also gained popularity for her design and attitude. With the war behind us, the clown princess of crime is heading to trial, but under her true identity. She proceeds to make dozens of videos proclaiming her innocence and posts them online. This couldn’t possibly swing the public in her favor, would it?
*Some Spoilers Below*
MFR ON YOUTUBE (latest video)
Help us reach 5K Subs!
We open with Punchline revealed to be Alexis Kaye, stating to the court that she is innocent. After getting approved by Leslie Thompkins, the trial is pushed forward, with Kaye defending herself. This causes a schism between the youth of Gotham and other Gothamites as she uses social media to promote her innocence. One such example is the Row siblings, Cullen and his sister Harper, also known as Bluebird. While Harper understands and believes Punchline must be charged, Cullen begins to change gears when finding Alexis’ old blog. From there, the tale of how a senior in college met the Clown Prince and began.
Punchline isn’t innocent. We learn that not only did she descend into the madness, but she is pulling strings to manipulate Gotham. The argument between Harper and Cullen should be the heart of this issue. The pair butt heads of whether Punchline is guilty or not. It’s actually a surprisingly topical comic, showing how a person could abuse social media. If it wasn’t for the fact that we see Punchline’s origin, this could have been a great issue to have the fans debate.
Unfortunately, we do see the truth, and it ruins the potential. Punchline’s actual origin is in the same vein as Harley Quinn, being twisted due to trauma caused by Joker. However, the main difference is that she searched for the Joker and demanded to be treated as an equal by stabbing him. The difference between Harley and Punchline had to be clear, or else it could lose readers, but to get that difference out, Johns and Tynion IV lost the opportunity to make a story that people could debate about.
Mirka Andolfo is the artist behind this issue, and she does a great job. The way she frames Punchline during the flashbacks gives off an unhinged feel. The panels start off being straight, but slowly over time, the angles become more apparent until she kills a rat. By that point, Mirka cements her style and delivers a great look for Punchline and the other characters of Gotham. When the story picks back up, hopefully, Mirka returns to bring it to life.
Overall, despite a very cool look and topical subject matter, the writers don’t take a chance to invest in the latter. Comics are a great platform to take a stance on societal topics, and while they touch on it here, it could have been done better. This issue was designed to have us understand who Punchline is, and it did succeed in that. This comic does deserve some praise, but it isn’t essential for reading. | <urn:uuid:ad1ed212-38d5-4f63-81a6-3df083a81031> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://monkeysfightingrobots.co/punchline-1-review/ | 2024-04-18T07:08:15Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.959459 | 717 |
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The "this site can't be reached" error is one of the most frequent error messages you may encounter while exploring the internet.
This error, which often appears in your browser's tab, indicates that the server could not locate the website you were attempting to access. This error notice could happen for several reasons, but fortunately, there are a few things you can do to solve it.
In this article, we’ll explore common causes of the “This site can’t be reached” error. Then, we’ll talk about effective ways to fix it.
What results in the error "This Site Can't Be Reached"?
Certain error codes, such as the 404 error, are simple to identify and comprehend. However, the "this site cannot be reached" error is a little more mysterious. The following are some of the most typical causes of this error message:
The website you are attempting to access may be down or unavailable, which is one of the most frequent causes. This indicates that the website's hosting server is now down, and the only solution is to wait for the server to come back online.
It's also likely that the server is simply overloaded with traffic and unable to handle all of the requests if you're trying to access a well-known website. If you try again later, you might, in this situation, be able to access the website.
Another frequent source of this error message is that your computer or device cannot locate the server due to out-of-date DNS settings or an issue with your ISP. There may be a problem with your DNS settings if you frequently receive the "this site can't be reached" message.
How to fix the “This site can’t be reached” error
This error message might appear on Windows 8, 10, Linux, Chrome OS, or Android devices. Whatever the reason for this notice appearing in Chrome, a permanent fix is required.
Here are a few potential fixes that can reduce or eliminate the issue while directing you to the page you want on the Chrome browser.
Restart your router and modem
Like all computers, modems and routers are susceptible to malfunctions which can be among the causes of the “This site can’t be reached” error. Unplug your modem and router for at least 30 seconds, then restart both devices. If you want to be 100% certain, unplug them for a short while before plugging them back in.
Give your modem, router, or integrated device five minutes to restart before attempting to access the websites that were giving you trouble. You'll need to try other troubleshooting techniques if it doesn't work.
Restart your device or PC
Restarting your computer or device is the next step if resetting your router doesn't solve the problem. The "this site cannot be reached" error could be resolved as a result of clearing any temporary files and documents that might be the issue.
Navigate to the Start menu and choose "Restart" to restart your machine. On a Mac, you can choose "Restart" by clicking the Apple logo in the display's top-left corner. Hold the power button on a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, until the restart option appears.
Check your cables and connections.
Although it would certainly be obvious that your internet is completely disconnected, this site cannot be reached" problems can also be caused by a faulty Ethernet, coaxial (coax), or fibre optic cable.
Give the cords in your modem, router, or combo device a visual and tactile inspection. If your modem and router are separate, you likely have two cables: one going into the modem, and the other going from the modem to the router.
One cable will enter the combined unit from the outside, and there will be as many Ethernet cables exiting the combined unit as hardwired devices. Please verify that all of the connectors are properly inserted in their sockets and that none of them is broken or loose.
You shouldn't be able to see or feel any obvious bends or kinks in the cables. The copper conductors in coax and Ethernet cables are typically far more forgiving than the glass or plastic fibres used in fibre optic cables. This is especially essential if you have a fibre optic connection directly into your home.
The cable's exterior insulation should be smooth and unblemished. Deep cuts, ripped, or damaged insulation could indicate that the cable, and the twisted pairs inside, have been seriously damaged.
Surface scratches and scuffs, however, are OK. Watch out for any spots where the insulation is whiter than the insulation around it, as this may be a sign that the cable was squeezed or bent at an acute angle before being bent back into form.
Turn off your antivirus and firewall.
In many circumstances, the firewall integrated into your operating system (OS) or any other program you use may be among the causes of the “This site can’t be reached” error.
These programs block pages and stop your machine from connecting to them. Disabling your firewall and antivirus software for a while will make it easier to determine if that is the issue when you try to access the website again.
Depending on the tool you're using, your settings for disabling your antivirus software may vary. In our experience, unless a website is harmful, your firewall rarely prevents you from loading it.
Clear your browser cache
Chrome stores a lot of information and files from the websites you visit while browsing the internet. To save you from having to refresh websites each time you visit them completely, your browser caches those files in a local cache.
Occasionally, issues with your cached files may cause you to encounter the "This site can't be reached" error. You'll need to delete the cache in your browser to fix the “This site can’t be reached” error.
Using Chrome, you can choose the Cached Images and Files option under Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data.
Clear your DNS cache
If you're still receiving the "this site cannot be reached" error, your DNS cache can be one of the causes of the “This site can’t be reached” error, and you need to clear it.
This temporary data file contains details about just-visited websites. This data may occasionally become corrupted, making it difficult to access specific websites.
Open the Command Prompt and type "ipconfig /flushdns" to remove the DNS cache on Windows.
You can use a Mac to execute the command "sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder" by first launching the Terminal application.
Flushing your DNS cache can occasionally fix the “This site can’t be reached” error immediately. In some circumstances, you might have to restart your computer for the modifications to take effect.
If flushing your DNS cache does not resolve the problem, you might try utilising an alternative DNS server.
Change your DNS server.
Changing your DNS server is an option to fix the “This site can’t be reached” error if deleting your DNS cache did not resolve the issue. The server that converts domain names into IP addresses is this one.
Several public DNS servers are available for use, including Google Public DNS, Quad9 DNS, and Cloudflare. To modify your DNS server, you must open the network settings on your computer.
You may do this on a Windows computer by clicking the Start menu and then choosing "Control Panel." Select "Network and Sharing Center" from the "Network and Internet" menu.
On a Mac, click the Apple logo in the screen's top-left corner, then choose "System Preferences" to view your network settings.
Find and select the "Network" option from there. Locate the "Advanced" or "Advanced Settings" option once in your network settings.
A list of DNS servers that you can use ought to appear. Choose a public DNS server from the list, then save your modifications.
It would be best to utilise the DNS server nearest your physical location. You can choose from any of the open DNS servers, though.
Check whether the "this site can't be reached" problem has been resolved after updating your DNS server.
The next step is reinstalling Chrome Browser if you're still getting the "this site can't be reached" issue. This will eliminate any damaged data and files that might be among the causes of the “This site can’t be reached” error.
After removing it, you'll have to download Google Chrome from the Google website again. However, you would lose all your Chrome data, such as bookmarks, add-ons, and browsing history. Because of this, we advise saving it for last-resort use.
If you don't want to lose your data from Chrome, you might try using a different browser, such as Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge.
Reset your router and modem to factory settings
The final option you can attempt to fix the “This site can’t be reached” error is a complete factory reset if restarting your modem and router didn't resolve the problem. You can't identify any physical issues.
Your Wi-Fi network names and passwords will be erased if you reset your modem and router to the factory default settings, but it will likely repair any software faults that create connection issues.
Take a peek at the back of your modem, router, or integrated unit. To prevent accidental pressing, the factory reset button is often small and recessed into the device's body.
Press and hold the reset button for at least 10 seconds. You won't hurt yourself by holding the button down for longer than is necessary because some devices need up to 30 seconds to perform a factory reset.
If your modem and router are distinct devices, repeat this procedure for both.
Even though the "This site can't be reached" issue can be inconvenient, fixing it is not that difficult.
The error is typically caused by your DNS and caching settings or internet connection issues. The process of fixing website issues can be time-consuming.
However, you may always contact your hosting company for assistance if you cannot fix the “This site can’t be reached” error or any other problems on your own.
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Lucas Paris & Alexis Langevin-TétraultFR/QC+CA/QC
Lucas Paris has been working with real-time sound and visuals and has been building digital instruments and software for over a decade. His studies in digital music at Université de Montréal led him to join the electroacoustics collective QUADr, alongside Alexis Langevin-Tétrault. Intrinsically spontaneous, his artistic process captivates audiences through immersive and mind-bending scenography. Touring internationally since 2017, Paris garnered a number of residencies in Montréal, Spain and Portugal, and collaborated again with Langevin-Tétrault under the name BetaFeed for the 2015 edition of MUTEK Montréal.
Prolific interdisciplinary artist, Alexis Langevin-Tétrault merges musical composition, digital technology, visual arts and performance. Product of numerous collaborative and solo projects, namely Alexeï Kawolski, Falaises, DATANOISE, ILEA and Recepteurz, his work has been featured in over a hundred international events and received a number of accolades. His recent works explore the corporeal aspect through audiovisual devices, scenographic and dramaturgical analysis, the study of sound timbre and a reflection on social themes. Langevin-Tétrault holds a master’s degree in digital audio composition and sits on the board of directors of the Regroupement des Arts Interdisciplinaires du Québec (RAIQ)
Lucas Paris & Alexis Langevin-Tétrault FR/QC+CA/QC — square one
Born from a desire to reunite, both musically and in person after a year of lockdowns, Lucas Paris and Alexis Langevin-Tétrault return to the core of their collaboration with square one, a streamlined audiovisual performance. With modular synthesizers, the duo simultaneously projects audio and light on a simple square, immersing spectators in a sensory experience assembled from sound and light abstractions. The approach aims to reconnect with the origins of electronic music, recontextualized through a contemporary approach and tools.
Montrealers Lucas Paris, artist and digital instruments/software designer, and Alexis Langevin-Tétrault, interdisciplinary artist and composer.
Kalmar A Label
Lucas Paris : Emotional Synthesis (2019), AntiVolume IN/EXT (2018)
Alexis Langevin-Tétrault: Hypercube (2020), Interférences (String Network) (2018), Falaises (2017)
Collaborating since their university days with QUADr and more recently as BetaFeed for MUTEK 2015, Lucas Paris and Alexis Langevin-Tétrault are back with square one. | <urn:uuid:e79df02d-02de-4a52-91c3-d7788c224282> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://montreal.mutek.org/en/artists/lucas-paris-alexis-langevin-tetrault | 2024-04-18T08:44:13Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.828822 | 583 |
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I have a love/ hate relationship with the Guest Views of Dan Walters published in The Morgan Hill Times. His most recent, “Key subjects fall short in curricula expansion,” is a good example.
Without getting into too many specifics about his myopic views on curricula in public schools, I would like to point out to him and your readers that financial literacy is an international literacy, it supersedes language, cultural, educational and ethnic barriers. It combines reading and math. Money is money, be it dollars, dineros or yen. We all use it. Why not learn to use it well?
Often, the people who most need to learn about financial literacy are those with less formal education, those who traditionally fall behind in standardized tests, those who continually fail public school expectations, sometimes through circumstances beyond the control of educators.
“A rising tide floats all boats” as the saying goes. Teaching people about money benefits everyone.
As adults, it often helps keep these students away from predatory lenders, high-fee check cashing establishments and out of bankruptcy. It creates a stronger and more resilient workforce and more secure families.
Teaching financial literacy can and should successfully be integrated into an existing curriculum. It is not a binary choice. We can be smart about money and still be slow readers.
My own husband struggled with reading his whole grade 1-12 education because of undiagnosed dyslexia. He found math to be his happy place because numbers were easier. He went on to earn two degrees in mathematics and a medical school degree, and practiced for many years before retiring from medicine. He now teaches biostatistics at SJSU and statistics at EVC.
He is a smart and educated man. He manages money well. But he is still a slow reader and would probably fall behind in today’s standardized reading tests. He would be exactly the student to whom Mr. Walters would deny financial literacy classes.
Education is never “pointless” as Dan Walters states. We can be more than one thing. We owe all students the opportunity to try. | <urn:uuid:d96119bf-121a-4f41-bedc-15a9315f32c2> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://morganhilltimes.com/letter-financial-literacy-a-worthy-curriculum/ | 2024-04-18T08:27:23Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.970233 | 432 |
Morningstar received a grant to help with the cost of CPI nonviolent crisis intervention (NCVI) training. We now have a certified NCVI trainer in house to train all staff and offer to volunteers as well.
Men’s and Women’s breakfast resumed for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic.
Office floors were refinished (we recieved a specific donation to cover the costs).
2 new furnaces were installed.
Morningstar’s tax clinic began a new tax season.
The Warming Centre closed for the season on Mar. 31st.
Morningstar began offering premade breakfasts to the unhoused community.
Easter Dinner served 83.
Cram the Cruiser
“Cram the Cruiser” food drive led by L&A Auxiliary OPP raised $1800 and collected a large amount of non-perishable food.
Medical Pilot Program
Began a pilot program with a nurse practitioner from NACHC to offer some medical services to Morningstar clientele that were not connected to a family doctor.
The Second Harvest program was established with NoFrills to reclaim perishable and non-perishable items that had passed their best before date. Morningstar began receiving a large amount of meat to support our various meal programs.
Morningstar was approved for a technology grant administered by the Community Foundation for L&A and funded by the Federal Government. The grant was valued at $69,000 and will provide new computers, security cameras, updating our donor and client management software, as well as a new website and I.T. and social media support.
Trudy McCarthy retired after 4 years as Administrator.
Morningstar began inviting local musicians to play after Saturday evening meals through the summer.
A new concrete pad was installed in front of the walk-in freezer.
Thanksgiving served 81.
Installed a new shower in the Warming Centre.
Winter Clothing Giveaway
The Warming Centre opened for the winter season on Nov. 26th from 5:30pm to 10:30am and operating until April 13th, 2024.
Our Giving Tuesday campaign raised over $7,500 towards Christmas dinner costs.
Upstairs vaulted windows were replaced.
Winter Gear Donation
Owen Hewett donated over $6,000 worth of winter gear to be given away. | <urn:uuid:1c8b139c-4891-4dbf-a924-8252d8ae9bad> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://morningstarmission.ca/morningstars-2023-summary/ | 2024-04-18T07:09:45Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.957049 | 484 |
Scientists at the College of California, Irvine have formulated a new mathematical equipment-intelligence-centered strategy that spatially delineates hugely sophisticated mobile-to-mobile and gene-gene interactions. The effective strategy could enable with the diagnosis and remedy of conditions ranging from cancer to COVID-19 by quantifying crosstalks in between “good” cells and “bad” cells.
By combining the mathematical strategy recognised as “optimal transport” with equipment understanding and information and facts principle, the scientists ended up equipped to equip unconnected solitary cells with spatial information and facts, therefore highlighting communication inbound links in between cells or genes. The perform is the subject of a new research revealed in Character Communications.
“With this device, we can identify cross-converse in between virus-infected cells and immune cells,” explained co-author Qing Nie, UCI professor of mathematics and the director of the National Science Basis-Simons Heart for Multiscale Mobile Fate Exploration, which supported the challenge. “This novel tactic may possibly have an instant application in obtaining critical mobile-to-mobile communication inbound links in the lung when the COVID-19 virus attacks.”
Nie explained that precise disease diagnosis and remedy necessitates both gene screening and tissue imaging. High-throughput gene profiling at solitary-mobile resolution generally necessitates dissociation of tissues into particular person cells, top to a reduction of spatial information and facts. But imaging intact tissues only will allow the measurement of a little variety of genes.
“This new mathematical equipment-intelligence strategy enormously enriches our capacity in integrating several biomedical datasets,” explained Nie. “For the quite initially time, we can expose how 1 gene in 1 mobile – for example, in a specific cancer mobile – may possibly influence yet another gene in an immune mobile, for instance.”
He explained that he was partly motivated to search into the use of exceptional transportation, a device with broad applications, together with deep understanding, after the 2018 Fields Medal (the mathematics equal to the Nobel Prize) was awarded on the matter.
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Microsoft’s new generative AI model is leaner and more capable than even bigger language models.
Microsoft‘s new generative AI model
In the world of large language models (LLM) like GPT-4 and Bard, Microsoft has just released a new small language model—Phi-2, which has 2.7 billion parameters and is an upgraded version of Phi-1.5. Currently available via the Azure AI Studio model catalogue, Microsoft claims that Phi-2 can outperform larger models such as Llama-2, Mistral, and Gemini-2 in various generative AI benchmark tests.
Originally announced by Satya Nadella at Ignite 2023 and released earlier this week, Phi-2 was built by the Microsoft research team, and the generative AI model is said to have “common sense,” “language understanding,” and “logical reasoning.” According to the company, Phi-2 can even outperform models that are 25 times larger on specific tasks.
Microsoft Phi-2 SLM is trained using “textbook-quality” data, which includes synthetic datasets, general knowledge, theory of mind, daily activities, and more. It is a transformer-based model with capabilities like a next-word prediction objective. Microsoft has trained Phi-2 on 96 A100 GPUs for 14 days, indicating that it is easier and more cost-effective to train this model on specific data compared to GPT-4. GPT-4 is reported to take around 90-100 days for training, using tens of thousands of A100 Tensor Core GPUs.
On benchmarks like commonsense reasoning, language understanding, math, and coding, Phi-2 outperforms the 13B Llama-2 and 7B Mistral. Similarly, the model also outperforms the 70B Llama-2 LLM by a significant margin. Not just that, it even outperforms the Google Gemini Nano 2, a 3.25B model, which can natively run on Google Pixel 8 Pro.
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The crypto market grew from $1.49 billion in 2020 to $1 trillion in 2021. Over the same period, crypto investing also gained much momentum. Approximately 106 million people are investing in cryptocurrencies currently, along with institutions like Tesla, Microsoft, Paypal, Twitter, and more engaging with it.
But why is everybody rushing towards cryptocurrencies?
Why Invest in Cryptocurrencies?
There could be many reasons to invest in cryptocurrencies, but any investment’s primary objective is to generate returns.
However, ‘returns’ are the outcome of adding value. In short – any investment will only grow in monetary terms if it adds value. Cryptocurrencies are built on the disruptive technology called the blockchain.
Today, the internet has become centralized. A few big players control everything that we see and do. It is harmful because we are at their mercy to do the right thing with their power. Blockchain is here to change that by decentralizing everything. It will give you the remote of what you see and do.
Hence, investors are looking at cryptocurrencies as a potential investment opportunity as it is forecasted that the world will eventually become decentralized.
Top 10 Benefits of Investing In Cryptocurrency
No matter the size of your portfolio, you must consider investing in cryptocurrencies. Most people are afraid of the volatility and hence stay away from it. However, they do not realize the true benefits of investing in cryptocurrency. Following are the few advantages of cryptocurrency.
1. Potential for high returns
One of the primary benefits of investing in cryptocurrency is that they have high growth and thus high return potential.
They have been a top-performing asset over the past few years. For instance, Bitcoin and Ethereum have grown approximately 1000% and 500% in the last five years, respectively. Compared to that, the stock market index of Nifty 50 has only increased about 65% over the last 5 years. However, like with any other investment, there are risks involved with crypto investments, too, that one must be aware of.
2. Global market
Unlike the stock markets, the crypto market is global. There are two ways to look at this –
First, the stock market concept was introduced to different geographies at different points in time. The New York Stock Exchange was launched in 1792, while the Bombay Stock Exchange was launched in 1875. This gave NYSE a headstart over BSE. Effectively, the investors in the former market also got early exposure to the investment opportunities. On the other hand, crypto being global was introduced to the world at large and not to specific geographies. It gave an equal chance for people across to invest.
Secondly, it is still complicated for people to invest in foreign markets, thereby limiting investment opportunities by geographies. However, anybody can invest in projects in any part of the world with cryptocurrencies.
Inflation refers to the decline in the value of money. For instance, $1 could get you a lot more in the 1900s than it can today because inflation decreased its value. It happens for many economic reasons, the most common being printing more money. So paper money is inflationary.
However, some cryptos are deflationary; over time, their value increases. For example, Bitcoin. 1 Bitcoin was worth $2000 in 2017, and now it is worth $19000. It is possible because Bitcoin has a limited supply of 21 million, unlike paper money.
4. Easier to buy and sell
With the emergence of many crypto platforms, it has become very easy to buy and sell cryptocurrencies. Some platforms let you buy cryptos in just a few clicks. Concepts like staking and yield farming have also emerged, which help crypto investors earn interest on their holdings.
5. Accessible 24×7
Money never sleeps. This is a typical dialogue echoed in major financial cities like London and New York. Yet the stock markets and banks are open only 8 hours a day and closed on weekends. What if you have an emergency in the middle of the night and need funds? What if your family is in a different country and suddenly needs funds on the weekend? You cannot rely on stock markets to liquidate your investments or the banks to transfer money in such citations.
Fortunately, you can trust cryptos. Cryptocurrencies are accessible 24×7, 365 days a year. You can buy or sell cryptos anytime as the exchanges are open 24×7, including weekends. You can also transfer money to your friends and family in an hour of need without relying on banks or other intermediaries. This is one of the important benefits on investing in cryptocurrency.
6. High degree of security when making transactions
Cryptocurrency transactions are encrypted using cryptography. It ensures that only authorized people have access to your data.
By being built on blockchain technology, it is also very difficult to transact fraudulent transactions with cryptocurrencies. Everyone on the blockchain network has a copy of all the transactions on the network. If anybody tries to make a false transaction, others would know.
Cryptocurrency transactions are also immutable. Once a transaction is recorded, it cannot be edited, thus preventing tampering with records.
7. Fast and efficient
Have you ever tried to transfer money abroad? To give you context, it might take up to 2 days to transfer money from India to New York, USA. This is because of a lengthy chain of intermediaries that the transaction must go through. Cryptocurrency disrupts this entire segment.
You can transfer cryptocurrencies globally within minutes and at a fraction of the cost compared to regular bank transfers. Hence, making it faster and more efficient. This is a great benefit for investing in cryptocurrencies as its applications for global payments might have huge potential.
8. Pseudonymity (Private)
Though blockchain transactions are public, they are pseudonymous. Every user has a public and a private address that identifies them. They are a 26-35 character long alphanumeric text. A public address is your pseudonym identity through which all your transactions are identified and can be shared with others to transfer cryptos to you. Whereas a private address is through which you access your cryptos.
Private and public addresses ensure that the transactions are confidential.
9. Control over your assets
There are two keys – a public key and a private key, required to access your digital wallet (just like a locker in the bank). This digital wallet has all your crypto holdings. The public key is held by your crypto exchange (for eg, if you invest through Mudrex, Mudrex has the public key). All you need is the password or the private key to your digital wallet to access your crypto holdings from anywhere and anytime.
No one can access your account with either one key. So even if someone can breach the public key, they will not be able to access your crypto holdings without your private key. Think of it as a combination lock. This gives you complete control over your assets.
10. They are digital
You don’t have to worry about pick-pocketers with cryptos, you know. As mentioned above, the high privacy of the blockchain makes it impossible for anyone to steal your cryptocurrency. And since it is entirely digital, you do not have to carry around a wallet, worry about dropping it or pickpocketing. As long as you remember the login credentials to your digital wallet, you can access your money from anywhere.
How to Choose the Right Cryptocurrency & Platform for Investment?
Everyone has a different level of risk appetite and goals with their investments. Hence choosing the right cryptocurrency varies from person to person. It isn’t wise to copy-paste what others are doing. Learn about the fundamentals of cryptocurrencies and shortlist cryptocurrencies based on your risk tolerance and objectives.
Regarding how one should select their investment platform, you should primarily look at three things.
- The platform should be reliable and trustworthy
- What does the fee structure of the platform look like? Fees can really add up!
- If their product is helping you with your investments
If you are looking for a good crypto investment platform that fits the bill, you might want to check out Mudrex. We are backed by Y combinator and have over 500,000 users on our platform. The fees on our offerings are very minimal. Through our flagship product, Coin Sets, we strive to simplify crypto investments for people. They are a basket of cryptos curated by experts based on various themes, ready for you to invest.
How to Protect Yourself from Scams and Fraud While Investing?
The easiest way to protect yourself from scams and fraud while investing is to DYOR (Do your own research). The internet is filled with self-proclaimed gurus and crypto experts. Do not follow anyone blindly while making investment decisions.
Additionally, if you are unsure of individual projects and tokens, as a beginner, you may opt for other financial products that will let you invest in cryptos wisely—for instance, Coin Sets.
Cryptocurrencies Are the Future
Cryptocurrencies are based on blockchain technology which is a decentralised network. It has massive potential to eliminate the dependency on any centralised authority.
Despite all the benefits of investing in cryptocurrencies, you must remember that all investments carry risk. Cryptocurrency investments too. However, you should not let the fear of risk keep you away from investing in them.
1. Is investing in cryptocurrency a good investment?
Yes, investing in cryptocurrency could turn out to be the right choice. They are an emerging asset class. With the wider adoption of cryptos and the web 3.0, the demand for cryptos may rise steeply. As a smart investor, you should take the early mover advantage by investing in them.
2. Can you get rich by investing in cryptocurrency?
Just to be clear, cryptos are not lottery tickets. They will not make you rich overnight. However, if you invest wisely by conducting your research or using structured products like Coin Sets, you may earn handsome returns on your crypto holdings.
3. Is Bitcoin a risky investment?
All investments carry risk. Bitcoin also carries various market risks like volatility. However, you should not be afraid of it. Bitcoin has had a couple of steep downturns but has always managed to bounce back.
4. Which cryptocurrency should I invest in, in 2022?
Choosing the right crypto can be a challenging task. Everyone has different needs and goals; thus, not all cryptos are suitable for all. As a beginner, you may invest in widely acclaimed blue-chip cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum, etc.
5. How do you choose a good cryptocurrency to invest in?
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Introduction to Sitemaps
Ever wonder how search engines understand your website? Or how users navigate through your pages? The answer lies in a powerful, yet often overlooked tool known as a sitemap. Now, you might be thinking, What is a sitemap? We’re here to clarify all things sitemap, so sit back, relax and let’s dive in.
The Importance of a Sitemap
Improve Search Engine Indexing
In the vast ocean of the internet, a sitemap is your website’s beacon, guiding search engine bots. It lays out the structure of your site, highlighting the key pages and content. It’s like giving Google a roadmap of your site, making it easier and faster for it to index your pages.
Enhance User Experience
But sitemaps aren’t just for search engines; they’re equally vital for users. By providing a clear outline of your site, they aid in navigation, helping users locate the information they need quickly and efficiently.
Types of Sitemaps
An HTML sitemap is designed for your site visitors. It’s essentially a plain text version of your site structure, offering a snapshot of every page on your site.
This one’s for the search engines. An XML sitemap lists URLs for a site along with additional metadata about each URL (when it was last updated, how often it changes, and how important it is relative to other URLs).
As the name suggests, a visual sitemap uses graphics or diagrams to illustrate the structure of your website. It’s an excellent tool for planning and designing websites.
If you’re in the news business, this type of sitemap is for you. It’s specifically designed to help Google News navigate your site and find fresh articles faster.
How to Create a Sitemap
Manually Creating a Sitemap
If you have a small website, you can create an HTML sitemap by simply listing all your pages with their respective URLs. For an XML sitemap, you’ll need some knowledge of XML syntax.
Using Sitemap Generators
For larger websites, manual creation might be impractical. In such cases, sitemap generators can do the heavy lifting. They automatically create an XML or HTML sitemap that you can submit to search engines.
Implementing Sitemaps on Your Website
Once you’ve created your sitemap, the next step is implementation. This involves uploading the XML sitemap to your site’s root directory and then notifying search engines by submitting it through their respective ‘Webmaster Tools’.
Sitemap and SEO: The Link
A well-structured sitemap is a great asset to your SEO strategy. It enhances your site’s visibility, accessibility, and navigation – all key factors in achieving higher search engine rankings.
Sitemaps are the backbone of your website, enabling search engines and users alike to comprehend your site’s structure. Whether it’s HTML, XML, visual, or news, the right sitemap can elevate your SEO game, improve user experience, and ultimately, lead to better engagement and conversion rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few FAQs about sitemaps we get asked often:
What is a sitemap in SEO?
A sitemap is a file where you can list the web pages of your site to inform Google and other search engines about the organization of your site content.
Do all websites need a sitemap?
While not mandatory, sitemaps are highly recommended for all websites, especially those with large content, new sites, or sites with few external links.
Does a sitemap help SEO?
Yes, a sitemap aids in indexing your website more efficiently, thus improving your SEO.
How often should I update my sitemap?
You should update your sitemap every time you add new content or make significant changes to your website.
Can I have more than one sitemap?
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The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, yesterday narrated how the petitions made by the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, and Falana & Falana Chambers led to the investigation of a N765.6 million subsidy fraud against the Federal Government by an oil marketer, Abubakar Ali Peters. The EFCC had charged Peters and his company, Nadabo Energy Limited on a 21-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence, diversion of Federal Government funds and forgery.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants obtained said sum from the Federal Government as oil subsidy using forged documents on September 26, 2011. The EFCC alleged that the defendants obtained N761,628,993.84 from the FG under the Petroleum Support Fund for the purpose of importing 16,808,064 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) but fraudulently imported only 7, 953,962 litres and diverted the rest of the product and its proceeds for personal use. However, during his further examination-in-chief as PW2 (second prosecution witness), Bawa said that the Commission received a complaint from the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, in 2015 alleging fraud in the importation of PMS by Nadabo and another petition from Falana & Falana Chambers dated January 17, 2012.
Bawa, while led in evidence by the prosecutor, S.K. Atteh said that the petitions, which also included a complaint from a civil society group, formed the bedrock of the investigation into Nadabo Energy Limited. According to Bawa, who investigated the case as a then operative of the EFCC, told the court that a Special Team was constituted by the EFCC to probe the subsidy regime.
He said: “The first port of call was the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). “After meeting with PPPRA, the defendant was among many involved in importing petroleum. “Based on intelligence from PPPRA, we set out to get more intelligence. However, all the banks involved were written to, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) the Debt Management Office (DMO), Nigerian Ports’ Authority (NPA), NIMASA, the Nigerian Navy and many other companies involved in dealing with Nadabo Energy Limited. “We invited all marketers to come forward with the documents they submitted to PPPRA.
“In this particular case, we wrote to him and his company inviting them to bring forward all documents submitted. “On 28th January 2012, he came to our office and I personally interviewed him. “The PPPRA was thereafter contacted to furnish the EFCC with the certified true copies of all documents submitted to it by the defendant.
“They responded in writing, attaching the documents submitted by the defendant. When we received it, we compared it with the ones he submitted to us and found out that he claimed that he imported 6,000 MT each with two Letters of Credit financed by then Spring Bank Plc which was not the case.” However, the prosecution, through the witness, tendered in evidence several documents as he further testified to the findings of the investigation he led into the alleged fraud. But the defence counsel, E.O. Isiramen raised objections to their admissibility. | <urn:uuid:2f8142da-610e-49c7-b892-ce108066d854> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://musbizu.com.ng/2021/09/23/how-diezani-falanas-petitions-exposed-n765-6-million-subsidy-scam-efcc-boss-bawa/ | 2024-04-18T08:13:23Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.974653 | 708 |
As the saying goes, “music soothes the soul.” But did you know that music has the power to boost your brainpower and help you to study smarter? It’s true! Research has shown that music can affect cognitive skills, including memory, attention, and even creativity.
So, how can you use music to your advantage when studying? Here are some tips to help you harness the benefits of brain-boosting music:
1. Choose the right music: Not all music is created equal when it comes to boosting brainpower. Studies have shown that music with a tempo of 60-80 beats per minute can help stimulate alpha brain waves, which are associated with relaxation and creativity. So, choose instrumental music with a slow and steady beat, and avoid music with lyrics that may distract you from your studies.
2. Create a playlist: Once you’ve found the right type of music, create a playlist of songs that you enjoy and that help you to stay focused. You can use apps like Spotify or Apple Music to create playlists, or simply create a list of songs in a music player. Make sure to keep the playlist fresh and update it regularly to avoid getting bored of the same songs.
3. Use music as a motivator: Music can be a great motivator when studying. Try using it to break up long study sessions or to reward yourself for reaching a certain milestone. For example, you can listen to music for 10 minutes after every hour of studying, or use music as a motivator to help you power through a difficult chapter.
4. Experiment with different types of music: Not everyone responds to the same type of music, so it’s important to experiment with different genres and tempos to find what works best for you. Classical music is often a popular choice, but you may find that other genres like jazz or ambient music work better for you.
5. Keep the volume low: While music can help stimulate the brain, it can also be a distraction if the volume is too high. Keep the volume low enough so that it doesn’t interfere with your ability to concentrate and retain information.
In conclusion, music can be a powerful tool to help you study smarter and more effectively. By choosing the right music, creating a playlist, using music as a motivator, experimenting with different genres, and keeping the volume low, you can harness the full benefits of brain-boosting music. Give it a try and see how much more productive and focused you can be when you study with music! | <urn:uuid:5c2df5d4-85fc-47a8-adf2-c5caa875403b> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://music.worldrank.net/study-smarter-with-brain-boosting-music/ | 2024-04-18T06:43:52Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.944822 | 521 |
Tagged: Why Music Tracks Get Rejected
January 25, 2013 at 5:39 am #8349MichaelLParticipant
1. I prefer Maybelline
2. I’ll stick to Love Story, better yet, Feelings.
January 25, 2013 at 6:37 am #8350Mark LewisGuestApproved!!
January 25, 2013 at 9:30 am #8352Denbo17ParticipantI always say I’m still new at this as it is a part time passion for me (hopefully full time some day) but I had deduced a lot of this advice on my own over 3 years and it’s nice to see I am at least thinking in the right direction. I’ve learned to use more hand played purcussion and less drum tracks. I’ve been sticking to a certain style although I do try different things at times which work out such as a Ukulele and an Analog Synth track that got picked for an exclusive deal. Most importantly I try to learn as much as I can as the main reason I produce is because I love it.
January 25, 2013 at 3:37 pm #8353Mark_PetrieParticipantanother thing to add..right music…wrong style for a particular library
This is definitely something I’ve run into a lot, with libraries that are paying upfront or are just plain ol’ picky. I’ve had an epic track get rejected by one trailer music library, and then get accepted by another, who went on to license it for five figures. Sometimes libraries have a very specific need, for whatever reason (perhaps a themed album they’re working on), and it will prevent them from taking your music, no matter how good it might be.
Great thread!January 26, 2013 at 12:07 am #8354DaveyGuest#3 @Davy….sorry studies have shown that when played side buy side listeners prefer the music that is perceived to be louder, even if the music itself is not as good as the softer choice. There are a number of processing options available, like the Oxford Inflator, that increase perceived loudness without over compressing dynamics.
Why are you sorry? My point remains that if people believe that their music needs to be louder than the next persons to be chosen then we are in the exact same position as commercial pop music. We have all heard many great records ruined with over limiting/compression. I would like to give music supervisors a bit more credit when it comes to this important issue.
Mark – I totally take your point that this relates to extreme cases, good stuff.
January 26, 2013 at 8:18 am #8355GaryWParticipantFirst off, kudos to Mark for posting this. I have had the opportunity over the past few months to be mentored, if you will, by a friend of mine who runs a music library. He’s given be a look “behind the scenes” on the approval process and what Mark has written is spot-on.
I’ve learned a lot by listening to what is out there in certain genres both good and bad, and has changed the way I am writing to the extent of does this track sound as good, or better than what is out there? And it has made me focus more on the genres that I can do well, which are more guitar oriented tracks. I still like to experiment with different styles, but unless I can make it sound real I stay away from it.
Only been at this close to 3 years, so I am continually learning,writing, and trying to get better. And taking rejections better………..
February 6, 2013 at 12:14 pm #8509Dave YowellGuestAll the above is mostly correct from our point of view.
As Michaell, and Wildman said, it’s a huge market and one man’s gold is another man’s lead.
All our composers are pretty professional and sound quality / loudness isn’t an issue.
Telling library music composers to enter the “Loudness race” that is current in the pop industry is also a bit dangerous. Music supervisors and VT editors that I know hate over-compressed music.
I just rejected some tracks today that were cheesy copies of “big” blockbuster type orchestral film scores, done via virtual MIDI orchestra – Don’t bother trying that, most libraries will probably reject this type.
Too much MIDI=No soul / no emotion.
if you are going to use only MIDI, then make it as weird and electronic as possible. Don’t do virtual brass, orchestra or standard “rock drums” via MIDI.
Try and always add as much “real performance” – real playing on a real instruments as possible.February 6, 2013 at 9:12 pm #8516Rob (Cruciform)GuestYes, here’s an example of how soulless and emotionless midi orchestration is: http://www.virtualinstrumentsmag.com/down/6-7-06/From_Sketch_Score/Mojo_Madness.mp3
February 6, 2013 at 10:04 pm #8527Mark PetrieGuesttoo much MIDI, hmmm I’ll have to go back to the drawing board then!
February 6, 2013 at 10:11 pm #8528Rob (Cruciform)GuestMark P, maybe just lower your expectations a bit!
February 7, 2013 at 1:03 am #8529WildmanMemberHi Rob,
the example sound for me like Kevin Kiners work for the Clone Wars. It`s a bit of another level what the usual production music composer is capable of doing 🙂
February 7, 2013 at 1:13 am #8531WildmanMemberOk,
it´s my norwegians friend work. Hva en flink gutt 🙂
February 7, 2013 at 2:08 am #8533Rob (Cruciform)GuestHey Wildman, yep, that’s him. 😉
True, the quality doesn’t get any higher than that. But that’s what’s possible with midi so the kind of blanket statements I was responding to don’t hold water.
February 7, 2013 at 2:38 am #8534WildmanMemberYeah,
mad what can be done with good programming. But I doubt that it´s possible to reach all alone. You need a little team of extremly talented programmers and mixers around you to get such a sound out of vst sample libraries. But again, it`s high level trailer music and not production music and that is a big difference 🙂
February 7, 2013 at 7:24 am #8537Art MunsonKeymasterToo much MIDI=No soul / no emotion.
I’m always amused when someone makes sweeping statements with the implication that they are the final word on the subject. | <urn:uuid:0f67e84d-e38b-41dd-b5e9-b49cdc730607> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://musiclibraryreport.com/forums/topic/why-music-tracks-get-rejected/page/2/ | 2024-04-18T08:31:25Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.953813 | 1,471 |
From Eccles is Saved
I have described elsewhere how my friend Sherlock Holmes had on an earlier occasion been consulted by the Holy Father in order to track down the mysterious Marcantonio Colonna. One October day we were summoned again to the the papal presence in order to investigate the Crime of the Century.
"Right, Zuhlsdorf and Voris
will keep us covered, while Donnelly and Taylor Marshall
knock off the idols. We'll meet at the Tiber."
After offering us a humble glass of indigenous Amazon water, Pope Francis explained the problem to us. "Mr Holmes, only you can help us. Last night thieves broke into the Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina, removed four idols of the Blessed Pachamama (here the Holy Father knelt down and kissed the ground) and threw them into the Tiber."
At this point I was so shocked that I sipped at my indigenous drink and immediately felt a sharp pain in my tongue. Removing the piranha fish that had been swimming in the glass of Amazon water, I coughed a few times, and listened while the Successor of St Peter gave us our instructions.
"Do you not have replacement idols?" asked Holmes. "I saw traces of Brazilian sawdust on the floor when I came in, which suggest that an idol-making factory is somewhere nearby. I have written a monograph classifying six hundred varieties of sawdust, and these fragments clearly came from the deadly Hummes tree of Brazil."
"Oh yes, we have a whole shed full of the idols," explained Francis. "We shall be sending one to every parish in the world. But it is important for the prestige of the Synod that we recover the missing idols and place them in St Peter's Basilica."
Coming soon to every Catholic church!
We went into the garden, and I remarked to Holmes, "That's a very strange-looking garden-gnome standing on top of the compost-heap. Or is it another pagan idol?"
"I think not, Watson," replied my friend. "One can see that it is moving its lips."
As we approached, we could hear the gnome talking to himself. "Hail Pachamama, Our Lady of the Tiber! Those fascist, alt-right, racist, anti-semitic, Hitlerite, conservative, neo-Nazi, fascist, Brexiting, cat-torturing, thieving, baby-snatching, Telegraph-reading, criminal fascists have committed the Worst Crime in the World! But I will be avenged on the whole pack of you, or my name isn't Austen Ivereigh the Caped Crusader!"
We promptly turned round and walked away.
Massimo Faggioli joins the
hunt for the missing idols.
Holmes and I went down to the Tiber bridge from which Pachamama had received her early bath - now renamed St Pachamama's Bridge - and looked for clues. Would the idols have sunk into the mud, or would they be drifting out to sea, like a small flotilla, wending their way back to the shores of South America? There were no clues, and the crime seemed to be motiveless. What Catholic could possibly object to the demotion of the Trinity, the Virgin Mary and the saints, and their replacement by a smelly old lump of wood? Only the worst extremist Genghis Khan-following fascist sedevacantists, as little Austen might put it.
Bowing to Pachamama. Catholic worship at its best.
After a detailed search of the neighbourhood, Holmes and I finally stumbled across a quaint Italian shop, which advertised "LITURGICAL SUPPLIES. Puppets, statuettes, idols, and dolls. All your Catholic needs supplied here." Disguising ourselves as indigenous Amazonians (those feathers really tickled), we went in and asked to see something "spiritually nourishing". There, sitting on a shelf, were four muddy idols, which were clearly the missing Pachamamas.
"I do not wish my name to appear in this case," said Holmes. "Let us alert Inspector Ploddo of the Flying Squad, and allow him to take the credit for this discovery."
And so it was. Following Inspector Ploddo's advice, the Pachamama idols appeared in a place of honour in St Peter's, the following Sunday. Inspector Ploddo was there, ready to arrest anyone seen trying to liberate them. Indeed, the Holy Father had organized a "Bring your own idol for blessing" service, to which I took along my own ten-foot statue of Moloch.
Blessed by Pope Francis. | | <urn:uuid:2ff7b672-05e7-4789-bae3-028813328fdc> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://musingsofanoldcurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2019/10/sherlock-holmes-and-pachamama-affair.html | 2024-04-18T07:06:45Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.970394 | 987 |
Thursday Night Flatbreads
Made to order flatbread pizza made by the brewer, with his signature sauce.
Every Thursday Night 5:00 - 7:30-ish
Sixth Anniversary Party
Friday, June 28th, 5pm
The Musky-lounge is turning 6.
Join us on June 23rd to celebrate our anniversary and enjoy authentic Puerto Rican cuisine from Red Rican Food Truck. Taproom opens at 5pm. Food truck will be ready at 5:30 pm.
Join the Musky Mug Club
Benefits include special pours in your assigned mug, exclusive preview of new releases, deals on 4-packs to go, and an annual cookout on the patio. Stop by the taproom or call the brewery for cost and details. Only 10 spots available.
Growler Happy Hour
Growler fills are discounted on Thursday nights from 6 pm to 9 pm.
Beers below 8% ABV are $10/fill. High gravity beers are $15/fill.
Next date tba
Our first Home Brewing School class will be at the taproom at Muskellunge. We will be making a 100% extract version of the Walleye Kölsch from beginning to end. Also, we will discuss all the basics of homebrewing needed to make your own, successful, first batch.
Price is $20.00. You will receive: a flight of 3 samplers, lunch, and bottles of the finished product when it’s ready.
Registration details will be posted as dates are finalized.
Maximum capacity is 10 people.
Game Night Meet-ups
Game Night is back! Meet at Muskellunge from 7pm to 10pm on the First Thursday of every month. New gamers welcome. Expert and Novice alike. Just show up and sit down. There are plenty of games available, or you can bring your favorite.
Check out Canton Tabletop Gamers if you want to get on the mailing list or RSVP (but that’s not required). | <urn:uuid:7c7a7cfa-8d1b-4c10-b6cf-658caba1fa5f> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://muskellungebrewingcompany.com/taproom-events/ | 2024-04-18T07:36:28Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.920894 | 422 |
Answered by Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah protect him and benefit us by him)
How can we attain hope in Allah?
We must seek to attain knowledge of Allah through knowledge of His attributes: His greatness, His immense kindness to His slaves, that He gives without account, that everything in His hands and that His mercy precedes His wrath. The more we attain knowledge of Allah the more we will attain hope in Allah.
How is it possible to remove from the heart all fear of other than Allah and all hope in other than Allah?
What is required is sincerely seeking this from Allah and seeking knowledge, specifically by reading the books of the people of Allah. These are the means of seeking all praiseworthy attributes. | <urn:uuid:9988892c-67ef-421f-9fa8-0fcfb8ef8bdc> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://muwasala.org/2013/04/25/on-attaining-hope-in-allah/ | 2024-04-18T07:06:27Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.951832 | 156 |
These easy to use wireless earbuds have gone viral across the United States. They are selling out and we wanted to find out why...
Forever, big tech companies have been ripping their customers off with outrageous prices on new gadgets. These product come to market with barely any new features and higher prices. But now, one tech startup is turning the $5 billion wireless headphones market upside down. This company is TWS Premium Bluetooth 5.1 Earbuds and it's found a way to offer feature packed (geeks agree) wireless earbuds at a fraction of the price to consumers. Their new TWS Premium Bluetooth 5.1 Earbuds is quickly becoming one of the bestselling bluetooth earbuds of 2022.
TWS Premium Bluetooth 5.1 Earbuds is one of the best-made and best-sounding earbuds on the market.
People love music and podcasts, and we all need headphones on the way to work. If you are lost in the countless choices of different earbuds on the market, fearing that they may fail you and cost you hundreds of dollars, you have to try TWS Premium Bluetooth 5.1 Earbuds.
The first you will notice about TWS Premium Bluetooth 5.1 Earbuds is the high-quality sound. The sound is crystal-clear, the bass is strong, and the connection range is amazing. Simply speaking, they sound like those high-end headphones that DJs wear in the studio! If you have a friend who is an audiophile, you are more than welcome to let him try the TWS Premium Bluetooth 5.1 Earbuds, and it will probably blow his mind. TWS Premium Bluetooth 5.1 Earbuds may not sound exactly the same as those professional wired headsets, but it is undoubtedly one of the best wireless earbuds on the market.
TWS Premium Bluetooth 5.1 Earbuds wouldn't be called one of the best earbuds on the market if they only sound good. What really sets them apart from other headphones is the smart structure design. They are super comfortable to wear, and most people won't even notice that they are wearing them. At the same time, they can stay in your ears with ease. Unlike the average earbuds, you can still move around and they still won't fall off easily. In short, with TWS Premium Bluetooth 5.1 Earbuds, all you have to do is to enjoy your music.
6 Unique Features Of TWS Premium Bluetooth 5.1 Earbuds
- CVC80 Intelligent Noise Reduction: Effective background noise isolation, so you can listen to your favorite music or making call outside.
- Bluetooth 5.1: With Bluetooth 5.1, you can experience pure connectivity that is completely lag-free and reliable, thanks to the latest Bluetooth technology.
- IP6X Waterproof & Sweat Proof: IP6X Waterproof & Sweat Proof rating lets you wear these earbuds confidently during workouts, and other outdoor activities.
- Superior Sound: 9D Hi-Fi Sound Effects that offer deep, rich bass and crystal-clear audio, making your music listening experience a true delight.
- Upgraded LED Power Display: With the upgraded LED Power Display, you can easily check the battery life of your earbuds at a glance.
- 2200mAh Large Capacity Charge Case: You won't have to worry about your earbuds running out of battery.
What's the price?
TWS Premium Bluetooth 5.1 Earbuds is having a temporary promotion of 50% off. For only $39.95, you can bring your own TWS Premium Bluetooth 5.1 Earbuds home. It's an incredible deal, considering a lot of people won't think twice spending over $300-$500 on a pretty average headphone. What's even better is that you can have a greater discount if you order the three TWS Premium Bluetooth 5.1 Earbuds package, saving you an astonishing 20% more. Check it out on its official website. | <urn:uuid:9b62807d-76a0-4f5e-b5e3-1d43a2c57d48> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://my-premiumgifts.com/de/pages/tws-premium-bluetooth-earbuds | 2024-04-18T08:03:30Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.949565 | 832 |
Why Do Small Dogs Have More Character Than Big Ones?
The simple fact that some dogs are born smaller doesn’t mean they will develop a more aggressive behavior. Just because they are tinier, owners usually make the mistake of always treating them like a baby.
If you have a Dachshund or a Poodle, they are most likely a little moody, and you might wonder why. There is a common myth in society that says small dogs have more character than big ones, but perhaps it’s not like.
There are many reasons why small dogs have more character. A big part of the problem has to do with how humans treat their animals, even though other factors come into play.
Small size = big problem?
First of all, take a look from small dog’s perspective. Short animals are at the bottom of the food chain. That is why there are usually breeds like Chihuahuas that are shaking or constantly alert.
Always being alert is a survival method for small dogs because they do not pose a threat themselves. Therefore, this explains why people believe that a dog can become aggressive when he is scared.
As you surely know, aggression is natural in animals due to survival reasons. It allows them to be more careful and react unexpectedly. An aggressive animal acts in such a manner due to being constantly scared.
The same thing happens with miniature dogs. Aggression is a way of alerting others that they are dangerous and they should be feared. However, humans find this somewhat funny.
This is the start of the great dilemma about whether small dogs have more character than big dogs. When taking this into consideration, you need to accept that there isn’t any evidence supporting that a breed is more or less aggressive or dominant than others. Everything has to do with the animal’s personality.
Why do small dogs have more character?
One of the main reasons why a miniature dog is more dominant than a big one, has to do with the way you treat them. Read the examples below:
- A Poodle may bark constantly and it might seem to be funny. Most likely people would laugh and even ignore him, so he continues barking.
- A Great Dane may bark and might scare others. Their size intimidates others and the owner will take action to correct this behavior immediately.
Do you see the problem now? Allowing small dogs to keep on misbehaving, will have then become uncontrolled tiny tyrants. On the contrary, people won’t allow their dogs to act this way.
This makes people think that small dogs have more character than big dogs, but in reality it’s not true. People are actually allowing them to learn this behavior, which in turn has them become little time bombs.
These behaviors are very destructive to your surroundings, especially if you have other pets. Correcting this behavior takes a long time, but it’s not impossible. So it’s a good idea to stop this behavior as soon as possible by using the correct techniques.
On other instances, you may have another problem: you don’t let the dog behave normally. In other words, you treat him like the baby of the house. It should not be like that. The fact that the animal doesn’t grow in size doesn’t mean he doesn’t mature.
They are still dogs
As deceptive as their size is, small dogs’ age the same as bigger ones. It is very common that an owner keeps seeing them as a puppy, when in actuality it’s the complete opposite. For example, you can treat the animal as if they were young, but their mind will be at least seven years old.
Continuing to treat these animals as if they were children will only bring serious consequences. Constant barking, disobedience in general and even taking ownership upon belongings are common symptoms of Small Dog Syndrome.
To avoid this from happening, it’s best to give them a normal life, or rather, treat them like you would to any other dog. The ideal thing to do would be burning their energy through exercise in order to prevent them from developing these destructive behaviors.
Likewise, it is recommended to practice obedience exercises according to the breed. You should avoid treating them like puppies after a certain age in order to not feed into these undesirable behaviors.
In some cases, you can lose control of the situation, so seeking advice from the veterinarian or a dog psychologist is necessary. Remember that every dog has different life stages, which you must respect in order for your dog to have a happy and normal life. | <urn:uuid:8d968361-a24a-4460-be5c-875ac2a9dbd6> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://myanimals.com/why-do-small-dogs-have-more-character-than-big-ones/ | 2024-04-18T06:30:02Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.972836 | 949 |
There is no doubt that a diamond is a big purchase, but that does not mean you have to break the bank to get the brilliant sparkling diamond you want, whether it is for you or for someone else. Most of the time, a big diamond purchase is for an engagement ring and naturally, you want the perfect option, both in appearance and size. There are lots of ways to save money and still the beautiful gem you want. Check out these tips:
Understand How Diamonds Are Valued
Diamonds get their value based on the 4 Cs — cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. The more brilliant, large, and colorless a diamond is, the more it will cost. The cut of the diamond also influences the total price. Learning how diamonds are graded and what gives them the most value can help you choose the right one, at a price you can afford. The Pricescope diamond price calculator can help.
Forget About Perfect
The “perfect” diamond is going to be very expensive. If you can let go of needing to have the ideal diamond, you can save quite a bit of money. Remember, an engagement ring is a symbol of your love, so it is fine to choose something that matches the bride’s personality, even if it is not the grand diamond you might envision. Shop around and chances are that you will find the perfect diamond for you, at a much lower cost.
Pay Attention To Cut
You can compromise on size, but you should pay close attention to cut. The way a diamond is cut, including a smaller carat weight gem, influences the way it catches the light and a symmetrical diamond will look better when it is placed in the setting you choose. A diamond that is cut well will sparkle, even if it is not as large as you had hoped to find. That can make up for the smaller size, because there will be brilliance that will make the stone shine and sparkle.
Consider The Color
One of the best ways to find a diamond at a price you can afford is to shop around. Do not buy the first one that comes along. Look at loose diamonds, as well as those already in a setting. Chances are that if you look around a bit, you can find the perfect stone for the bride without going broke in the process.
Saving money on a diamond is always great, but be sure that whichever one you choose has been examined and graded by the experts, either at the Gemology Institute of America or the American Gemological Society. | <urn:uuid:0b291c3d-3c8c-4a2d-b9e7-bfb257056c4d> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://mybeautifuladventures.com/2021/03/28/how-to-save-money-when-buying-a-diamond/ | 2024-04-18T06:26:02Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.955196 | 523 |
Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge are part of the typical ordinary photo when visiting Sydney. Vivid Sydney is a perfect opportunity to add a touch of originality to it: what if the Opera turns into a mix of purple, green and pink? What if you could spot a classical dancer on the tower of the Harbour Bridge?
I go to the Vivid festival almost every year, not only for the photo opportunities but also for the great atmosphere in the streets of the city. Although it marks the start of winter and I have been cold every time I went there, the festival attracts millions of people who follow the trails as soon as the night falls to watch the light shows, to interact with the art exhibitions, to spot some street artists or to wander in the market stalls.
Every year, my must-sees at Vivid Sydney are:
- the Opera House (the best view, in my opinion, is from the West of Circular Quay)
- the Museum of Contemporary Art (the best view, in my opinion, is from the East of Circular Quay)
- the Customs House (my favourite in 2015!)
- The Rocks area for the atmosphere and the fun to explore the smaller alleys.. and the stalls!
I would recommend allowing a full evening to enjoy the festival. Maybe it is because I did it on a weekend but the streets were always crowded, and it took a long time to go from one point to another.
The Vivid Festival is on for four weeks every year around the end of May/beginning of June. | <urn:uuid:a3741630-7502-414a-861a-b52e999bd095> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://myfavouriteescapes.com/see-sydney-in-a-new-light-during-the-vivid-festival/ | 2024-04-18T07:20:56Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.958399 | 324 |
This isn’t a retractable dog leash because you never know when it will come in handy.
This isnt a retractable dog leash because it may be useful in a pinch if you need to grab something quick.
The idea here is pretty simple: you can use this leash to hold a dog in the air, to prevent him from jumping or biting. This could be especially useful when a dog is being cornered, or you are scared that your dog might jump on your leg right now.
Well, duh, why not? This isnt really a leash at all, but a quick clip on the dog’s collar that could be used as a quick leash if you find it on the ground.
Not only is this a great idea, it would make a great gift. I am not sure if they would accept dog leashes in their store, but I’d definitely buy one.
I think the new dog leash is a great idea! This is something that would be great for the dog owner or pet owner that would let the dog run free, but would be a great idea for the dog owner that doesn’t want to be out in the rain or in the cold. I think it would be very cool to be able to hold your dog in the air without them trying to grab you.
I think the new dog leash would be a great idea If you are a dog owner, or a pet owner who doesnt want to be out in the rain or in the cold, then this would be a great idea. You could also hold your dog in the air without them trying to grab you.
And I think there would be a better way to keep your dog from running away, than having them run around to chase you. They would be much more capable of catching you if you werent holding them in the air.
Well, one of the most effective ways to keep your dog from running away is to make sure you do not hold them in the air. But then you have to make sure that they are not running around. If they are running around, they are a danger, and you should have them stay down. But if they are not running around, then you can let them run to another place if you need to.
Retractable dog leashes are a great way to stop your pet from running away to the dogs house. These leashes are made of rubber and a retractable hook. When your dog runs off, you just pull the leash back to stop it from going to the dogs house. You can also attach these leashes to your dog’s collar to give you more control. | <urn:uuid:ddfe6fd1-122b-4e10-97e3-ea4fe72046d8> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://myfitbodygoals.com/retractable-dog-leash/ | 2024-04-18T07:05:10Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.980453 | 542 |
Antoine Edwards, 31, was booked and charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the July 31 shooting that claimed the lives of Joshua, 31, and Ryan “Rudy” Johnson, 24. The two men were discovered in a 2006 Chevrolet Equinox riddled with multiple gun shots outside of a New Orleans residence.
An arrest warrant obtained by the website shows multiple tipsters informed investigators that the culprit went by the nickname “Toine” or “Tweezy,” and in one instance identified himself as the shooter to multiple witnesses.
The affidavit also says Edwards was “in the area during the time the incident occurred and as the subject who produced a firearm and shot the victims in this incident.”
Edwards’ bond was set at $500,000 and a second court date is scheduled for May 7.
Wright, who forged a successful business career for herself outside of her past marriage to childhood sweetheart and rapper Lil’ Wayne, was rightfully heartbroken when news of the shootings made national headlines last summer.
Celebrity friends and fans offered an outpouring of support to Wright and her family during the difficult weeks that followed. Wright still uses her social media accounts to honor the special memories she shared with her brothers throughout the years.
Suspect Arrested In Fatal Shooting of Toya Wright’s Brothers was originally published on newsone.com | <urn:uuid:50dca692-5146-450b-80d2-3e0cb2307d96> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://myhoustonmajic.com/3262840/suspect-arrested-in-fatal-shooting-of-toya-wrights-brothers-2/ | 2024-04-18T07:52:46Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.976711 | 291 |
Hurricane Ian is barreling toward Florida after strengthening to a Category 4 storm, and analysts are forecasting billions of dollars in damages. Beyond the impact to human lives, storms of this nature also turn into economic events as people, towns and cities rebuild after extensive damage. Wells Fargo said Wednesday that retail names exposed to the housing theme could see a “possible uptick in 2H Home Improvement demand.” Analysts led by Zachary Fadem said that these companies, including those in the flooring and auto part industries, tend to benefit from hurricane preparation and clean-up activity. Fadem pointed specifically to Home Depot , Lowe’s , O’Reilly Automotive and Floor & Decor Holdings as being among the possible beneficiaries. He has an overweight rating on all four stocks. Fadem added that even beyond the possible uptick in sales from the storm, defensive positioning is warranted across hardline retailers. Wells Fargo said that the storm could contribute between 30 and 80 basis points of incremental quarterly comparisons across its home improvement coverage in Florida alone. When including neighboring states such as Georgia and the Carolinas, the firm said total uplift could be between 90 and 130 basis points. Of course, much depends on the scale and scope of the storm. Wells Fargo noted that the benefits to Floor & Decor Holdings, for example, depends on the extent of water damages. When it comes to auto companies, Fadem said any potential benefits will likely be seen after the storm as consumers repair and replace damaged vehicles. Uptick in sales around storms also come with headwinds, however. Wells Fargo said that while comparisons can be attractive quarter over quarter or year over year, it doesn’t necessarily mean higher margins. That’s partly due to storm-related items such as lumber and generators carrying lower product margins. Additionally, store closures and elevated transportation costs can offset some of the benefits of a sales spike. “For broader Home Improvement, we caution that Ian (and other storms) could also disrupt the supply chain, driving more inflation for building material products (which would be disappointing considering recent moderation in supply chain/domestic freight pressures),” the firm said. Reinsurers Reinsurance companies are another area of the market that comes into focus amid catastrophic weather events, with names like Arch Capital , Axis Capital , Everest Re and RenaissanceRe attracting attention. Still, Bank of America noted Tuesday that it’s premature to estimate losses from Hurricane Ian and the ultimate impact on the reinsurance market. The firm said that storms can become “sell the rumor, buy the news” events since short investors can suddenly reverse trades. “Additionally, some investors short these offshore stocks at the beginning of hurricane season, hoping to be able to buy them back cheaper on the other side of it, which often creates a surge in buyers over sellers through the month of October,” Bank of America analysts led by Joshua Shanker said in a note. – CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed reporting.
- 'Home Improvement' Star Patricia Richardson Just Shared a Super Rare Photo Featuring Tim Allen
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- Home Improvement Retailers Are Still Winning With Analysts, to an Extent
- Surprising Home Improvements That Are Legal To Do Yourself
- Homeowners delay big purchases, improvement projects due to inflation | <urn:uuid:890b1482-e7a8-4add-b677-0d02eecdeddf> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://myinhouse.co.uk/home-improvement-companies-could-see-increased-sales-after-hurricane-ian-wells-fargo-says.html | 2024-04-18T08:00:12Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.952157 | 686 |
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Still have questions? Check out what our customers have to say about their experience in choosing Nationwide Credit Clearing! | <urn:uuid:93beb9b5-b915-43e8-bc48-53b7a6bc9262> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://mynationwidecredit.com/credit-clearing-services/ | 2024-04-18T06:30:04Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.958561 | 401 |
Peter gives us the rules of that road. (Interestingly, this is now the older, mellower, more spiritual Peter, not the one who whipped out his sword and chopped off the ear of the high priest’s servant.) ‘Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathise with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil”’ (vv. 8-12 NLT).
So, the word for today is – don’t retaliate, respond with love. | <urn:uuid:1b228362-19fe-46d0-982f-e9fdc0a277c3> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://myreligion.com.ng/2024/03/ucb-word-for-today-devotional-for-march-1-2024-topic-respond-with-love/ | 2024-04-18T08:23:46Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.968935 | 248 |
It was a few years ago when my boyfriend at the time wanted to spend some time with just me when we were spending time at his friends family cabin. His friend and my girlfriend were dating as well. He got the little boat ready on a beautiful clear, moon and star fill night and we paddled out on the lake just far enough to be alone. We had a glass of wine and snuggled under the stars. It was so romantic. | <urn:uuid:b72377d2-bdb8-41aa-8304-d804572484ba> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://myromancestory.com/story-from-the-heart/the-lake-romance/ | 2024-04-18T08:16:27Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.994521 | 91 |
Terms & Conditions
All emergency work and appointments in need of new parts and/or specialist equipment must be paid in full to reserve your booking. This includes appointments that require technicians who specialise in electrics, carpentry, access control, CCTV, intercom systems, security grilles, metalwork and welding, etc. Rest assured, your payment will secure a guaranteed slot and place you on our priority list.
All customers in breach of payment terms will be liable for the cost of recovery, which includes:
CANCELLATION FEE POLICY:
A flat rate of £99 is applicable if the job is cancelled.
OUT OF OFFICE HOURS POLICY:
Full payment will be taken upfront during out-of-office hours. Upon receipt, we will dispatch our emergency locksmith to assist you immediately. | <urn:uuid:9c3798a8-4f75-46f0-a3ce-17190bfd0e25> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://n1locksmiths.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/ | 2024-04-18T07:09:05Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.942737 | 171 |
Giulia is a beautiful and elegant feminine name with a long and rich history. Originally a Roman family name, it is still popular in many countries around the world.
What’s the origin of Giulia
The name Giulia is derived from the Latin name Julius, which was originally a family name.
What’s the meaning of Giulia
Giulia means “of the Julian family”, which is a reference to the prominent ancient Roman family descended from Julius Caesar.
Variants of Giulia
Giulia (dzhu-lee-ah) is a slightly difficult name to pronounce with a soft sonority | <urn:uuid:7747479d-3f5a-4c95-8149-aa00977d2077> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://namewith.ai/names/baby-giulia/ | 2024-04-18T08:12:30Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.938086 | 131 |
Five lessons from my visit to the Facebook Campus
It is no coincidence that as you enter 1 Hacker Way — Facebook global headquarters — it feels like Disneyland… literally. In 2009 when Facebook purchased the site in Menlo Park from Sun Microsystems (they reversed the welcome sign to remind themselves that success is never guaranteed). Sheryl Sandberg, COO of FB, also happens to sit on the Disney board. She brought the folks in from Disney to help design the look and feel of the campus… and it worked. At any turn I was waiting to see a life sized mouse in shorts.
There is surprisingly little Facebook signage throughout the campus. The belief in staying humble and not big noting oneself is very much a part of the DNA.
As a firm believer in great workplaces and great workspaces I was curious to understand if Facebook was what people had said it would be. As I strolled down the main promenade between the buildings my host Garrett, who works in the global influencer team, shared with us the theory that if you have everything on tap then it saves people time so they can be more productive. But looking around I wondered if the folks at Facebook get anything done. There are 10,000 employees at this campus and photography is fine in certain areas – but no pics anywhere where someone is using a computer.
Apart from the endless provision of cafes and food outlets (where everything is free), the merchandise store, the pinball arcade (which used to be a janitor’s closet)… of note was the old telephone box which is a library of print books (available to borrow) and a woodwork shop (that is bigger than the whole RedBalloon office) which also has a screen printing facility. A big way that they share ideas and initiatives is by printing posters and having them up throughout the campus. The print shop/ woodwork area is known as the ‘Analogue Lab’… back to basics when it comes to internal communications not relying just on intranet/workplace or email.
The LCD map to find the location of meeting rooms, the world map showing active users around the planet, the interactive display that calculate the size of audiences based on minute filter criteria, the Instagram booth and display wall of popular hashtags all demonstrate the myriad of ways that technology can be tactile and intuitive.
Still, I wondered if people had any time to get work done.
Basketball teams, sports centres, running tracks, gym — monthly all-hand meetings hosted by Mark Zuckerberg, as well as weekly Q&As with him held in the quadrangle – all encourage team members to be active both physically and mentally. The 36 hour quarterly hackathons which put people from diverse teams together to work on things other than their projects – assist to stimulate that grey matter and drive all sorts of innovations… (I wondered if that was where boomerang came from).
There is a big sense of purpose at Facebook — Garrett expounded the value of delivering internet connection to those who don’t have access whether that is through disability, poverty or geographic region. He spoke of the work done at internet.org to connect everyone on the planet; there is the belief that if people have access to the internet and ultimately education, then it is the ‘fastest’ way out of poverty.
Despite all the perks, one gets the sense that people are focussed on delivering on their projects… the meeting room (plastered in analogue posters) was quick to connect to our other host based in Washington DC… the office there looked exactly the same.
Work is done anywhere, anytime — it is project driven and outcome focused
Our host said it was complicated for guests to catch the shuttle back to the city: “The buses are seen as workplaces and as such they are secure, so it is difficult to have outsiders travel that way”.
Uninvited tourists arrive most days to have a tour…. which is odd given it is a workplace but the tourists seem happy to settle for a photo in front of the 1 Hacker Way sign.
Five lessons from Facebook
So, here’s what I learned from my time at the Facebook campus:
- No matter the perks it is the purpose that delivers productivity
- Being physically fit is equally important as being mentally fit – to be able to do great work
- People need space and time to be creative
- Communication, rhythm and keeping people connected is paramount for success
- Success is never guaranteed no matter how big you get (and the Sun Microsystems sign remains as a reminder of that).
A recommended read
One book that I love about great workspaces is ‘The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace’. Click through to explore it further…
In summary, I’d argue it is not about the size of the budget, it is about the intention of the leaders…
It was worth the 90 minute trek from San Francisco to see the way other people work (though I did write this post on my own workplace – the train). | <urn:uuid:714e67fc-f8c0-40cd-bc52-2e121097c3f3> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://naomisimson.com/anatomy-of-a-great-workplace/ | 2024-04-18T08:38:21Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.96201 | 1,043 |
What is NeuroStar®?
Treating depression safely, without medication.
A new possibility for the treatment of depression
If you’re like so many who suffer from depression, you have tried multiple medications or therapies searching for relief. These treatments don’t deliver satisfactory results for everyone, and they often come with significant side effects that only add to the struggle. It can be an exhausting cycle of trial and error that feels never ending.
Drug-free Depression Treatment That Works For You
TMS is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation therapy, a non-drug treatment for major depression. TMS uses focused magnetic pulses, similar to an MRI, to reignite dormant synapses in the brain and help your brain function the way it was meant to.9
It is not a drug, “shock” therapy, or surgery. It is a safe, effective treatment for MDD without the common side effects of medication.1,9
NeuroStar is focused, local treatment at the source of your depression, without the side effects of medication.
How soon will you see results?
Many NeuroStar patients start to see improvement within 2 to 3 weeks of treatment. That can include changes in mood, fewer days of depression, and increased desire to engage with other people more often. In fact, your friends and family may notice your results before you do!
Completing the full NeuroStar treatment course gives the best chance for delivering long-lasting relief from depression.
As with any therapy, completion is key. Completing the full 6-week course of NeuroStar treatment gives the best chance for delivering long lasting relief from depression.
Real World Outcomes Mean Real Depression Relief
NeuroStar Advanced TMS therapy is an outpatient treatment that takes as little as 19 minutes per session. A study of real-world outcomes reported an 83% response rate which means patients experienced notable relief, and a 62% remission rate which means their depression effectively went away.**12
The STAR*D study, the largest clinical trial of MDD ever conducted, showed that the rate of remission goes down with each new medication needed. If you’ve tried 3 or more medications, the chance of remission was just 7%.6,7,17,18
NeuroStar is being used in over 1,100 practices nationwide. | <urn:uuid:fecec443-0070-48a7-a81b-7be783f5da9b> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://neurostar.com/what-is-neurostar-advanced-therapy/ | 2024-04-18T07:18:21Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.925096 | 476 |
Armenian Elections 2012: Predictions and Perspectives
The forthcoming parliamentary elections due to be held on May 6th 2012 in Armenia are expected to bring changes in the political scene, as a powerful oppositional force will enter the Parliament. However, no major surprises are anticipated.
In Armenia, it is obvious that the ruling Republican Party will remain in power after the election, and President Serzh Sargsyan, head of the party, is going to decide who will accompany the Republican Party in the ruling coalition.
No surprises anticipated
There is no doubt that the country will again be ruled by a coalition government – the authorities thus show the world, and particularly the West, that Armenia is a democratic country. The main outcome of the upcoming parliamentary election will be the possible appearance of the oppositional Armenian National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly (Armenian Parliament). This is not surprising, however, as the speculations about ANC’s possible emergence as a parliamentary opposition began at least six months ago, when Levon Ter-Petrosyan, head of ANC, initiated a dialogue with Armenian authorities.
At first the dialogue seemed useless and produced no results. ANC, however, cancelled and resumed the dialogue from time to time. The main oppositional force wanted to play for a time while it was still engaged in talks on holding early elections [it is noteworthy that initially ANC started the dialogue for holding an off-year election, but officials completely ruled out any possibility of negotiations on this]. So, ANC had to bide its time until the next official election and then direct its efforts towards generating ideas for the election campaign.
The only question that is still a puzzle for everyone is the extent of ANC’s presence in the Parliament. This problem prompts more questions, namely – whether ANC will become a part of the ruling coalition, orPresident Serzh Sargsyan simply needs it as a parliamentary opposition force. It is possible that Sargsyan hasn’t yet decided for himself which option is more appropriate, and according to experts, the credit of the fact that ANC has admitted the Republican Party as a ruling force is due to the U.S. Embassy in Armenia and was coordinated with Sargsyan himself.
Who is going to lose?
Last spring Armenian experts and media representatives were wondering at whose expense the ANC was actually going to enter the Parliament. Stepan Safaryan, secretary of the parliamentary faction of the Heritage party, was among the first to speak out against this. He said members of Heritage were not going to cede their votes to ANC. Safaryan was thus referring to the Prosperous Armenia party, but some analysts say that Heritage is going to face pressure from ANC anyway. However, it is more likely that all the parliamentary factions will have to cede their seats to ANC.
The Republican Party is the ruling force in the country with the largest representation in the government, with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan. As a ruling force, the party controls most of the Armenian TV stations [except for a couple of other TV channels]. Although the party can use administrative resources, it has decided to thoroughly prepare itself for the upcoming vote.
In November 2011 Hovik Abrahamyan, speaker of the Armenian parliament, resigned, declaring that “the party has offered me to manage the election campaign and so I decided to step down and get involved in the process of forming the pre-election team.”
Asked if it wasn’t too early for this, Abrahamyan said: “It’s not early; only 5 months are left [before the parliamentary election]”. Moreover, Mikael Minasyan, First Deputy Head of Armenian Presidential Administration and President Sargsyan’s son-in-law, also resigned office. Minasyan said he was going to help Hovik Abrahamyan in properly running the election campaign.
“We are going to not only ensure the presidential party’s victory in the forthcoming elections but also foster the kind of elections from which Armenia will emerge stronger and confidently facing the future. I think these elections will mark a qualitative revolution for our country and each of us,” Minasyan told News.am.
It is noteworthy that News.am is among some dozen online media which are allegedly under Minasyan’s patronage and are financed by him.
The fate of the current coalition
The current coalition government consists of three parties – the Republican Party, Prosperous Armenia and Country of Law. Public interest towards Country of Law died out early in 2008, when Artur Baghdasaryan, leader of the party, who stood as a presidential candidate and was accusing officials of electoral fraud after the vote, accepted their offer on cooperation on 29 February 2008 and signed an agreement of collaboration with Prosperous Armenia and Republican parties just a few days later.
After the 2008 presidential election in which Levon Ter-Petrosyan lost to Serzh Sargsyan, ANC declared the results fraudulent. The mass opposition protests that followed the election on March 1st 2008, were broken up by police, resulting in around ten deaths.
After the presidential vote, Artur Baghdasaryan was first engaged in talks with Levon Ter-Petrosyan on joining the opposition. Baghdasaryan, however, preferred the coalition agreement and was later appointed Secretary of the Security Council, while two other members of his party shared government posts. At the moment, both President Serzh Sargsyan and the Republican Party receive strong support from Baghdasaryan’s party which has fully adapted to the role of a “younger brother”. Therefore, very few are still interested in this party, but the same cannot be said of Prosperous Armenia.
Gagik Tsarukyan, a well-known oligarch and head of Prosperous Armenia, announced during the fifth session of the party leadership last February that his party is committed to the letter and spirit of the coalition agreement aiming to put an end to the rumors that the party could pull out of the ruling coalition. Despite Tsarukyan’s efforts, speculations about the discrepancies between the Republican Party and Prosperous Armenia still remain.
In January the news came that the party's regional office in Ararat had received dozens of applications for leaving Prosperous Armenia. It turned out later that a part of the 58 applications was forged, and Vardan Bostanjyan, a member of the party's parliamentary faction, said the Republican Party was thus trying to exert pressure on Prosperous Armenia.
The strained relations between Republican Party and Prosperous Armenia became even tenser when the latter unexpectedly supported the proposal of Heritage party and Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) on introducing fully proportional electoral system during the upcoming parliamentary polls. Not long ago, the party also voted down the government's bill in the Parliament for the first time.
On the backdrop of these events, different conclusions can be drawn, but one thing is for sure – Prosperous Armenia is going to use all the possible methods in its fight to win the parliamentary vote. The possible cooperation between the party and Vardan Oskanyan, former Foreign Minister of Armenia, might be considered as one of such measures. Oskanyan’s possible appearance in the party’s list of candidates also cannot be ruled out.
The oppositional force in the Armenian parliament is represented by two parties – Heritage and Armenian Revolutionary Federation [Dashnaktsutyun]. ARF, as a traditional party, embodying Armenian Diaspora’s political power, has all chances to be represented in the new parliament. The point is that the president, who has advanced the slogan of strengthening the relations between Armenia and its Diaspora, is more likely to secure the party’s presence in the Parliament.
As for the Heritage, its future is much vaguer. The party will decide whether to join the newly-formed Free Democrats party or not by the middle of March. Free Democrats was created by former ANC members who were dissatisfied with the ANC’s recent policy, and particularly with its decision to start negotiations with the government.
It’s still unknown what these two parties might have in common, but they are allegedly united by the support of the U.S. Embassy in Armenia.
It is possible that fearing a decline in the number of Heritage’s supporters, the US raced to the rescue and founded Free Democrats offering them to create a new political block on the eve of the elections. This block might serve as a fallback position for the US in case of a force majeure with ANC.
The results of the upcoming vote and the alignment of political forces in new parliament depends on a number of other factors rather than just voters, including external factors, and here the United States might play a significant role as well, since they continue their policy of strengthening the U.S. influence in the South Caucasus.
Contrary to the popular belief, Russia doesn’t have much power to manipulate with Armenia now. Armenian authorities will remain loyal to Russia as long as they have a reliable source of subsidized loan, while Russia needs Armenia to maintain its presence in the South Caucasus. Therefore, Moscow doesn’t tie Armenia too rigidly fearing that it will look more to the West.
Marina Brutyan is an Armenian correspondent for the Russian news agency REGNUM. She specialises in foreign policy of the Commonwealth of Independent States, particularly the states of the Eastern Partnership.
Translated by Suzanna Sargsyan | <urn:uuid:c2d27550-c7d7-4eeb-8060-3c99e91b7cd4> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://neweasterneurope.eu/2012/02/23/armenian-elections-2012-predictions-and-perspectives/ | 2024-04-18T07:41:51Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.974088 | 1,971 |
Nicaragua is in the midst of a contentious debate that could become a serious social struggle over the reform of the nation’s Social Security system. President Daniel Ortega’s Sandinista government has proposed to increase the retirement age, the number of years one has to work, and the number of required contributions. Under his plan, the retirement age will increase from 60 to 65 years, the minimum number of years worked will increase from 15 to 30, and the number of weekly contributions required in order for a worker to retire will increase from 750 to 1,500.
The proposed social security reform will exacerbate the contradictions of the Sandinista government that calls itself the party of the people, especially the working people and the poor, while it attempts to implement changes that will aggravate and antagonize both public and private sector workers. The Sandinista’s populist rhetoric here comes into open conflict with the neoliberal character of the reform intended to force workers to pay more and to work longer in order to be able to retire one day. Many complain that should the reform pass, they would have little time left to enjoy their retirement. Average life expectancy in Nicaragua is 72 years, though most men live to 70 while women live to 76.
The Nicaraguan Institute of Social Security (INSS) now covers 600,000 workers who would be affected by these changes, as well as other workers who will be affected in the future. Under the current system, workers pay 2.25% of their salary and the employer pays 6%. After making contributions for two months, workers have the right to medical care and surgical operations, and they are entitled to time off if they have some problem working because of illness, for which they receive 60% of their salary for up to a year. Most are now able to retire at 60 years of age, though teachers may retire after working to age 55.
The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have been pressuring the Nicaraguan government to reform the INSS pension system for several years. Speaking back in 2010 when the matter first became public knowledge, Manuel Israel Ruiz Arias, an authority on pension systems, stated,
“The IMF is demanding reform because it has calculated that without it, the State will have to assume huge costs within 10 to 15 years that will destabilize the economy. And it’s right to be worried. It’s insisting on reform but not privatization. And it’s not saying what sort of reform either. It and the World Bank are only demanding 'social security reform' to defend INSS’ financial capacity. But neither of them is saying what model to implement or what needs reforming.”
While the IMF argues that its concern is solvency of the system, under this reform the system will be made solvent not by raising contributions from the corporations or by increasing the revenue base by expanding coverage to other groups, but rather by forcing workers to work longer and retire later.
Today, the Sandinista government is complying with the IMF and the World Bank, but according to a recent poll 68 percent of all Nicaraguans disagree with the proposed changes. The poll also indicated that many of those who reject the proposed changes consider themselves to be members or supporters of the Sandinista party. One older worker who works in the private sector for a computer company said he was completely opposed to the reform. And he is not alone.
Some of the nation’s union federations, the National Council of Workers (CNT) and the Sandinista Confederation of Workers (CST), reject the proposed reform and say that they have collected more than 10,000 petition signatures. They are also demanding that the social security pension system be extended to workers who are not now covered.
Arsenio Vivas, a leader of the Nicaraguan Teachers Union, argues that the proposed law would violate an existing law covering career teachers which gives them the right to retire after age 55. Vivas is a member of the Teachers Union Group (Unidad Sindical Magisterial) that filed a complaint with the Permanent Human Rights commission (CPDH) demanding that the existing law covering teachers be respected. Vivas explained that elementary school teachers make 4,500 córdobas (US$187.50) per month, while secondary teachers make 4,800 córdobas (US$200). Teachers reject the idea that they should have to work ten years more before they can retire.
Other unions have come up with their own Social Security reform proposals. The Nicaraguan Union Movement (MSN), the Sandinista Workers Center (CST-JBE), and the General Confederation of Independent Workers have each made their own proposals, but all insist that the 60 year retirement age and the 750 weekly payments be maintained.
Most Nicaraguan workers, however, are not covered by the Social Security pension system. Nicaragua has two million workers, but 1.4 million of them, about 70 percent, work in the informal sector where workers have no social security coverage of any sort. These informal workers make about US$1.88 per day.
Michael Kelly is an American writer living in Nicaragua. This is the third of an occasional series of Nicaragua Notes. | <urn:uuid:61f3bc0c-28b7-473a-97e3-6bdb2203a6a2> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://newpol.org/nicaragua-contentious-debate-over-social-security-reform/ | 2024-04-18T08:19:12Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.95949 | 1,067 |
The Community Fund of Darien is pleased to announce the appointment of Sarah McCarty as Thriving Youth Program Director. Sarah will lead the Thriving Youth Darien local prevention council in its work on the Center for Disease Control’s Drug Free Communities Grant. The grant was awarded to The Community Fund of Darien in 2021 for 5 years. The $625,000 grant is the nation’s leading effort to mobilize communities to prevent youth substance abuse.
“Sarah’s passion for youth will enhance the Thriving Youth Darien coalition in its work to promote and empower positive youth development and mental health, with the goal of reducing teen substance abuse. Sarah’s experience will help the volunteer coalition collaborate to conduct the work of the CDC’s grant,” said The Community Fund of Darien Executive Director Janet King.
Sarah has a degree in psychology from the University of Connecticut and extensive experience working with youth and families. She worked with Perrot Memorial Library, Spark Business Academy, Mad Science, and Green Moon Art Studio before starting a position as Youth Program Manager at The Community Fund of Darien last fall.
“I am excited to step into this new role and continue supporting the youth of Darien,” said McCarty. “My goal is to provide even more opportunities for our young community members to thrive, learn and make a positive impact.” | <urn:uuid:be36fea2-2359-4cf5-8ae7-bc27ba4ee9e9> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://news.hamlethub.com/darien-connecticut/49714-the-community-fund-of-darien-announces-sarah-mccarty-as-thriving-youth-program-director | 2024-04-18T08:06:29Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.943775 | 287 |
The Valencia College East Campus theater program is accepting plays from Florida playwrights for its annual Florida Playwrights Competition, which has been held annually since 1991.
Scripts must be original, previously unproduced, full-length plays that are at least 90 minutes long. Scripts that have received staged readings may be submitted. Collaborations are eligible, but children’s plays, musicals and adaptations are not eligible.
The winning play will be announced in early December and will be staged in April 2013, as part of Valencia’s regular theater season. The playwright will be invited to develop and workshop the play, beginning in January. The playwright will also receive a stipend to cover travel and other expenses related to the production.
Valencia requests that playwrights submit their manuscripts by email. Playwrights residing in Florida are invited to send the first 15 pages (of no more than two scripts per person) to Valencia’s artistic director, Julia Gagne at firstname.lastname@example.org. For further submission information or a mailing address, call 407-582-2296. | <urn:uuid:92d04eeb-1d8e-4227-9d0d-005a87523f01> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://news.valenciacollege.edu/wanted-new-original-plays-by-florida-playwrights/ | 2024-04-18T06:46:47Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.975074 | 229 |
COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium
March 31, 2022
Black patients with cancer face worse COVID outcomes: study
Vanderbilt researchers have found that Black patients with cancer experienced significantly worse outcomes after COVID-19 diagnosis than non-Hispanic white cancer patients.
By Tom Wilemon
March 19, 2021
COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium study highlights racial disparities, increased mortality for patients facing dual diagnoses
The COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) published new findings in the Annals of Oncology showing heightened mortality and racial disparities for patients with cancer diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
By VUMC News and Communications
July 22, 2020
New data offer insights on COVID treatments for people with cancer
Newly released data on treatment outcomes of people with cancer diagnosed with COVID-19 reveal a racial disparity in access to Remdesivir, an antiviral drug that has been shown to shorten hospital stays, and increased mortality associated with dexamethasone, a steroid that has had the opposite effect in the general patient population.
By Tom Wilemon
April 30, 2020
Initiative to explore COVID-19 outcomes in cancer patients
A multi-institutional consortium led by Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) is collecting data on cancer patients with COVID-19 as part of a rapid effort to understand the unique effects the coronavirus has on this vulnerable population. | <urn:uuid:2d5be76c-e779-438c-9512-4e912acc841d> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://news.vumc.org/old-tag/covid-19-and-cancer-consortium/ | 2024-04-18T07:55:39Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.932601 | 301 |
Newly created center seeks to ease chronic pain
Chronic pain affects 116 million people in the United States — more than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined — according to the Institute of Medicine.
Because pain is complex and often involves physiological, psychological, emotional and environmental factors, Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s new Pain Management Center, located at Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks, will take a multidisciplinary approach to pain care, offering thorough evaluations, consultations and referrals to a wide range of treatment modalities.
“The center is for all patients who have pain, regardless of cause and what has or hasn’t been done previously. It will be the first stop for pain patients at Vanderbilt,” said Marc Huntoon, M.D., chief of the Division of Pain Medicine and director of the Vanderbilt Pain Management Center.
Many patients seen in pain clinics suffer from back and neck pain, but the Pain Management Center will see patients with all types of pain, including abdominal, pelvic, nerve and joint pain, and chronic headache.
During their first clinic visit, a patient’s medical history will be thoroughly reviewed, and their condition will be evaluated by Vanderbilt pain specialists to develop a team-based treatment plan. This team could include specialists from Anesthesiology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Neurology, Neurosurgery and Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation.
Part of the treatment plan could include referral to the Vanderbilt Interventional Pain Center or to the Vanderbilt Center for Integrative Health. Pain Management Center physicians will also work closely with a patient’s primary care providers.
“Providers at the primary care level often haven’t had the right resources for pain care. At the Pain Management Center, we want to build relationships with primary care providers, get patients the care they need, and work on an ongoing basis with the providers,” Huntoon said. “We see it as a very collaborative and supportive relationship.”
In addition to treatment, the Pain Management Center will help patients better cope with chronic pain.
“Pain is a disease now, much like obesity or diabetes. In many cases, pain will be a permanent part of a patient’s problem list, and they need to learn how to cope with that on a long-term basis,” Huntoon said.
Huntoon hopes to eventually offer an inpatient pain rehabilitation program and “Pain University,” an educational seminar to teach patients about their disease and strategies to manage symptoms.
The Vanderbilt Medical Group Pain Advisory Council began to envision a pain center more than a year ago, striving to create an easy referral resource for both Vanderbilt physicians and outside providers that offers cutting-edge care based on the latest evidence.
When Huntoon arrived at Vanderbilt in June, he had much the same plan.
“The Pain Advisory Council includes physicians and nurse practitioners from multiple disciplines,” said Rob Hood, M.D., medical director for Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks and chair of the Pain Advisory Council.
“The council was created to provide organization and coordination among the various individuals at Vanderbilt whose expertise and clinical practice focus on pain management. Our most important goal was to facilitate access for patients with challenging pain syndromes to the right provider and clinic. It was remarkable how closely the specific recommendations which were developed by the Pain Advisory Council mirrored Dr. Huntoon’s own approach to pain management.”
“Many institutions try to do this to some extent but are unable to achieve the multi-disciplinary vision,” Huntoon said. “The idea is that pain crosses many boundaries. No one specialty has the knowledge and capabilities to best serve all patients, but if we put our heads together, we can reach that optimal care.”
The Pain Management Center opens Monday, Nov. 14. To reach the Center, call 875-PAIN. | <urn:uuid:d20c6308-c9dd-40ac-8ee4-3866956a2a45> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://news.vumc.org/reporter-archive/newly-created-center-seeks-to-ease-chronic-pain/ | 2024-04-18T08:18:17Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.948302 | 802 |
Video: Cook County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Ponni Arunkumar and Duaa Eldeib, a ProPublica Illinois reporter, talk about the rise in opioid-related deaths.
Officials are sounding the alarm on the rising number of opioid-related deaths in Cook County, which they say is on track to see twice as many deaths from opioids in 2020 as it did in 2019.
“While much of this year has been consumed by our fight to contain COVID-19, which has disproportionately impacted our communities of color, we’ve had to contend with skyrocketing homicide rates which almost universally took the lives of Black and Brown people and we must face the devastating toll the opioid crisis is taking on our community as well,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Tuesday morning.
In 2019, there were 605 opioid-related deaths between Jan. 1 and July 13. So far this year, 773 deaths can be attributed to opioids, according to Cook County officials.
“But that only tells part of the story,” said Cook County Medical Examiner Ponni Arunkumar. “We also have 580 pending cases. We know traditionally 70%-80% of cases wind up being ruled as opioid overdose deaths. … This means this year there are (already) more than 1,200 opioid overdose-related deaths.”
The medical examiner’s office confirmed a total of 1,267 opioid overdose deaths in 2019, and 1,148 such deaths in 2018. The majority of the victims are people of color, according to Arunkumar.
Among the 773 people who died this year, 63% were Black or Latino, according to Arunkumar, who said people ages 45-54 were most likely to die from an opioid overdose, followed by those ages 55-64.
“Fentanyl is the culprit in the overwhelming majority of these cases,” she said. “The majority of the victims (live) on the West Side in Austin and the East and West Garfield Park neighborhoods.”
These deaths are “by and large preventable,” said Arunkumar.
Despite the increase in opioid-related deaths, emergency rooms aren’t seeing an increase in patients seeking help, according to Dr. Steve Aks, division chair of emergency medicine and toxicology at Cook County Health.
“This means people by and large are not coming to the emergency room or hospital at a point of crisis. This is very important. We’ve actually seen decreases in volume of emergency room (visits) since the beginning of the pandemic,” Aks said. “This is extremely alarming with respect to opioid overdoses.”
Hospitals and emergency rooms are safe, Aks said. “Due to the pandemic, we asked individuals to stay home unless it was an emergency. An overdose is such an emergency,” he said.
Aks urges people to call 911 during an opioid overdose because paramedics can begin treating someone on the scene or en route to the hospital. “An opioid overdose death in the emergency room is a rare event,” he said. “We don’t want people to be afraid to come to the emergency room. We are here to serve everyone.”
Patients are asking for help in other ways, however. According to officials, Cook County Health has seen a 20%-25% increase in patients seeking help for substance use.
“We are working to keep patients safe by breaking down barriers to access through telehealth visits, frequent team engagement and outreach, access to naloxone for overdose prevention, and longer prescription supplies to avoid disruptions in care,” said Dr. Juleigh Nowinski Konchak, lead physician for medication assisted treatment at Cook County Health. “We have a long history of serving a vulnerable population and we see every day the toll this crisis is taking on them.”
Through a collaboration between Cook County Health and the Chicago Recovery Alliance, anyone can take part in a mobile syringe exchange program and be connected with Cook County Health over the phone, according to Konchak, who said CCH clinics will begin dispensing naloxone as well.
In addition, CCH is in the process of building a partnership with law enforcement to equip them with naloxone, according to Dr. Kiran Joshi, assistant incident commander of CCH operations. “It’s important to blanket the community with as much naloxone as possible,” he said.
The county is also in the process of building partnerships with law enforcement that would connect people with access to care, according to Joshi.
Note: This story was originally published on Tuesday, July 14. It has been updated. | <urn:uuid:283db776-0397-4c91-85fa-e59b6d0affad> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://news.wttw.com/2020/07/16/preckwinkle-cook-county-officials-sound-alarm-rising-opioid-overdose-deaths | 2024-04-18T07:51:11Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.973165 | 996 |
The one place where you will always be accepted for who you are is in your family. Even traveling to any location in the world, being with your family makes you feel at home. These priceless people never fail to gather for the annual festival of lights. Diwali is a lovely celebration that strengthens friendships. Give your beautiful family members online Diwali gifts this year to help you celebrate and express your gratitude. During the celebration, giving and receiving gifts is a significant way to honor and show your love for your loved ones. Find the most excellent Diwali presents online to make your family and friends the happiest people on the planet with the help of online Diwali gift delivery.
Most of us offer gifts to our close friends, family members, and acquaintances around Diwali; this must continue undisturbed by the consequences of the pandemic. During Diwali, there is always something to present for everyone, from a modest joy to a big cheer. So, have you ever determined what needs to be bought for your loved ones, friends, and family? Family, friends, and loved ones will undoubtedly appreciate Diwali presents, whether they are products that are traditionally associated with the holiday or those that are more contemporary and artistic.
The traditional Diwali presents that one might purchase for their loved ones include sweets, coffee mugs, jewelry, basic diyas, clothes, etc. But what if you discover that you have given the identical box of candies or clothes to your buddy twice in a row? What if your loved ones can tell without even opening the present box what’s inside? Buy them something unusual, imaginative, and memorable for Diwali that they won’t even know. As a result, we’ve put up a list of unique, considerate, and well-received Diwali presents for your loved ones.
Top Diwali Gifts That Will Show Your Family How Much You Care
- Lanterns and candlesticks
All year long, candlesticks and lanterns can be used to decorate homes. For instance, these floor metal lanterns can give a little glitz to any area, whether inside or outside. Make sure to include excellent, large candles as online gifts.
- Food-themed hampers
Give your friends and family the absolute joy of receiving a carefully designed gift basket tailored to their preferences. A selection of fine wines, organic teas, gourmet cookies, or upscale chocolates provides a meaningful gift and demonstrates your effort.
- A piece of art
A sculpture or painting complements the individual who receives it because it indicates that they value fine art and other better things in life. It’s good that it also says something similar about the giver. So bring a smile to the faces of your relatives and friends with the help of online Diwali gift delivery.
- Standard lamps
The festival of lights should be celebrated with traditional diyas and lamps since it is all about tradition. To illuminate problematic areas and fill empty spaces, ornately carved brass lamps that can be suspended from the ceiling or come in pedestal form are a terrific decorative accent.
Read More:- 5 Essential Ways of Enjoying Diwali
- Plants in pots
A potted plant at the center of the table is a special present that will endure. Beautiful plants that are also simple to care for are the most excellent gifts. A sturdy succulent, flowering amaryllis, a snake plant, or an orchid put in a stylish container make lovely gifts. These plants are all likely to please and require little maintenance.
A beautiful cook pot or a set of cast iron pans will assure your seat at your super-chef aunt’s table if you want to be invited to dinners at her house frequently. These types of cookware are durable and multi-cuisine friendly.
We’ve all experienced this: we eagerly open a gift only to be disappointed with a drab coffee cup or a similarly dull tea light holder. Both gifts are OK. However, it would be wonderful if yours stood out, so they weren’t recycled rather than thrown away. As a result, we’ve compiled a list of Diwali gift suggestions for your loved ones that are both original and considerate and will be cherished by the receiver. This year, add some surprise aspects to your Diwali celebrations to kick them into high gear. This Diwali, delight your family with lovely gifts.
Make everyone feel awed by your excellent gifts, whether for your mother, father, son, daughter, brother, or other family members. Enter the never-ending sea of Diwali gift selections for family members at fantastic online retailers. We believe that after reading this, you have a clearer idea of all the great presents you can buy for your family this Diwali. | <urn:uuid:9bdf9a30-319d-4109-b8d6-0aa1d84a8ec0> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://newsbrut.com/unique-diwali-gifts-to-impress-your-family-members/ | 2024-04-18T07:00:35Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.941707 | 998 |
Looking at the benefits and casino games of the "Online Casino Morocco." With the advent of online casinos, the gambling market has seen a revolution in recent years, providing players from all over the world with a convenient and engaging gaming experience. In addition to embracing the digital era, Morocco, a nation recognized for its lively culture and rich history, has created a plethora of online casinos that serve Moroccan players. We will examine the benefits of the "online casino Morocco" in this editorial and also look at the wide variety of casino games they provide.
Moroccan online casinos provide the following benefits:
Comfort and Accessibility:
Online casinos in Morocco have a variety of benefits, but accessibility and convenience are two of the most important. Instead of traveling or sticking to rigid opening hours, players may enjoy their favorite casino games from the comfort of their own homes. Online casinos allow users to indulge in their gambling urges whenever and whenever they wish, whether on a desktop computer or a mobile device.
Many Casino Games to Choose From:
In order to accommodate the wide range of player interests, online casinos in Morocco provide a substantial selection of casino games. There is something to fit every person's preference, from traditional table games like blackjack, roulette, and poker to a profusion of slot machines with different themes and alluring extra features. Furthermore, a lot of online casinos have live dealer games, which let players communicate with real-time croupiers in order to simulate the ambience of an actual casino.
Online Casino Morocco
Bonuses and promotions that are plenty
With substantial incentives and promotions, online casino Morocco draw customers by increasing the gaming experience and adding value. Among others, they might include loyalty programs, free spins, welcome incentives, and bonuses for deposits. These promotions reward the loyalty of current clients while also luring in new ones, enabling them to play longer and maybe increasing their chances of winning.
A higher level of security and privacy:
By using cutting-edge encryption technology to protect customer and financial information, online casinos give players' privacy and security first priority. Online Morocco gambling offers gamers a quiet setting where they may enjoy their favorite games without worry, unlike traditional casinos where privacy may be compromised. In addition to being licensed and regulated, reputable online casinos offer players options in the event of a disagreement and guarantee fair gameplay.
The world of video games:
By bringing together gamers from all over the world, online casinos develop a thriving and diverse gaming community. Through interactive elements like chat rooms and online games, users may communicate socially, discuss techniques, and develop friendships with like-minded enthusiasts. The online casino experience in Morocco is enhanced by this worldwide presence in terms of excitement and engagement.
Online Casino Morocco's Most Well-Known Casino Games:
Slots: There are a variety of slot games available at Moroccan online casinos, each with a unique theme, gorgeous visuals, and engrossing sound effects. Players have a wide variety of options for enjoyment, including classic three-reel slots and contemporary video slots with progressive jackpots.
Blackjack: Blackjack, the popular card game, is a mainstay of online casinos. Competing against the dealer, players try to make a hand value that is as near to 21 as they can go without going over. Every skill level may find a suitable game in the many variations of blackjack available online, including single-hand, multi-hand, and live dealer alternatives.
Online casinos provide a variety of versions of roulette, the venerable game of chance. In order to influence the outcome of their wagers, players can put wagers on certain numbers, colors, or combinations. With several betting possibilities and engaging user interfaces, online roulette offers a genuine experience.
Poker: There are many other poker variations available at online casinos, including Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and Caribbean Stud Poker. Players may play against opponents from all around the world in virtual poker tournaments or select individual cash games. While experienced players may test their abilities and take part in high-stakes games for exhilarating experiences and possibly significant profits, online poker platforms offer thorough tutorials and tools for novices to master the game.
Baccarat: Online casinos in Morocco provide this age-old card game, which is considered to be sophisticated. With the goal of getting their card total as near to nine as possible, players can wager on their hand, the banker's hand, or a tie. With live dealer versions of online baccarat, players may take advantage of a variety of betting possibilities while relaxing in their homes.
Online casino Morocco have embraced the trend of live dealer games, where players may communicate in real time with experienced croupiers. With live broadcasting of games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and more, this ground-breaking service transports the thrill of physical casinos right to users' screens. It enables a more sociable and immersive experience, enhancing the authenticity and engagement of the online casino setting.
With several benefits over conventional brick-and-mortar casinos, the introduction of internet casinos in Morocco has ushered in a new era of gaming. Online casinos cater to the tastes of players from many backgrounds, from the comfort of playing from home to the wide range of casino games on offer. Online casinos in Morocco continue to enthrall and amuse fans thanks to improved privacy, alluring incentives, and the chance to connect with a worldwide gaming community. Therefore, the Morocco Casino and the online casino in Morocco are ready to provide an engaging and profitable experience, regardless of whether you enjoy playing slots, blackjack, roulette, poker, or any other casino game. | <urn:uuid:fbc85a84-929e-449d-a63a-99ab837f5ea2> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://newsby.org/blog/online-casino-morocco | 2024-04-18T08:41:08Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.932723 | 1,146 |
Exploring the Divine Feminine in Paganism: Empowering Women in Gothic Subcultures
Paganism, an ancient spiritual belief system, has gained popularity in recent years, especially within the gothic subculture. One captivating aspect of paganism is its focus on the divine feminine, which has empowered women in Gothic subcultures by offering a space for self-expression, empowerment, and the embracing of the sacred feminine energy.
The divine feminine represents the feminine aspects of the divine, often associated with creation, intuition, nature, and spirituality. In paganism, gods and goddesses are worshipped equally, and the goddesses are revered for their strength, wisdom, and nurturing qualities. This ideology resonates strongly with women in Gothic subcultures, who often feel a connection to the mysterious, dark, and unconventional.
Through embracing the divine feminine in paganism, women in Gothic subcultures are reclaiming their power and challenging traditional gender norms. Pagan rituals and ceremonies, such as moon ceremonies or Goddess worship, provide a safe space for women to explore their spirituality and connect with their inner strength. These practices allow women to tap into their intuition and explore their own unique spiritual path, free from the constraints of patriarchal religions.
Furthermore, the divine feminine in paganism encourages women to embrace their bodies and sexuality. Many pagan rituals celebrate the goddess’ fertility and eroticism. By embracing this aspect, women in Gothic subcultures are able to reclaim their sexuality and challenge societal expectations and judgments. In a world that often objectifies and commodifies women’s bodies, paganism offers a counter-narrative that celebrates the sacredness of female sexuality and aids in the empowerment of women.
In Gothic subcultures specifically, where individuality, darkness, and uniqueness are valued, the divine feminine in paganism becomes a significant aspect of self-expression. It provides a platform for women to explore and celebrate their own identities freely, which are often considered taboo or unconventional in mainstream society. These women find solace and acceptance within the pagan community, where they are encouraged to embrace their true selves without judgment.
Moreover, the divine feminine within paganism offers a sense of sisterhood and support for women in Gothic subcultures. Pagan circles and gatherings create a space for women to connect, share experiences, and support one another. Through these connections, they can find strength in their shared experiences and learn from one another’s wisdom, fostered by the ancient feminine principles.
In conclusion, paganism and the exploration of the divine feminine have become powerful tools for empowering women in Gothic subcultures. By challenging societal norms, embracing their bodies and sexuality, and celebrating their individuality, women find strength and self-expression within the pagan community. The sacred feminine offers a space for women to reconnect with their inner power, acknowledge their unique identities, and support one another on their spiritual journeys. Paganism, with its focus on the divine feminine, continues to inspire and empower women, making it an integral part of Gothic subcultures.
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Log in — The Soulfull Gothic
Come check us out | <urn:uuid:9d5f3e46-38b9-4bb5-9d47-f651e8b8ae44> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://newsflowhub.com/exploring-the-divine-feminine-in-paganism-empowering-women-in-gothic-subcultures/ | 2024-04-18T07:52:25Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.935859 | 636 |
Guwahati, Sep 8: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that the Centre will not touch Article 371 which grants special provisions to the North East.
Article 370 was clearly temporary in nature but Article 371 is about special provisions in the North East and there is a vast difference between the two, Shah said while addressing the 68th plenary session of the North East Council here.
“After abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, there were attempts to misinform and misguide the people of North East that Article 371 would also be scrapped by the Centre”, he said.
“I have clarified in Parliament that this is not going to happen and I am saying it again today in the presence of eight chief ministers of North East that the Centre will not touch Article 371”, Shah added. (PTI) | <urn:uuid:065a457c-9dab-470c-b6a4-49756ec793bb> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://newslivetv.com/centre-will-not-touch-article-371-amit-shah/ | 2024-04-18T08:08:29Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.969038 | 176 |
Nvidia has found success in China by selling automotive chips to the country’s electric car companies. But the U.S. semiconductor giant has been restricted from sending some products to China. So far, electric vehicle makers do not seem to be affected.
Budrul Chukrut | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images
BEIJING — U.S. restrictions on Nvidia chip sales to China won’t affect Chinese electric car companies, as they’re using auto systems that don’t include the sanctioned products.
Chipmaker Nvidia’s shares have plunged around 13% this week after the company disclosed new U.S. restrictions on its exports to China, affecting about $400 million in potential sales in the current quarter. | <urn:uuid:3b1daba4-8cac-408b-96dc-3254558d71fa> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://newsonfinancial.com/chinas-electric-car-companies-are-safe-from-the-u-s-nvidia-chip-ban/ | 2024-04-18T07:15:11Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.927542 | 160 |
Vladimir Putin has been re-elected as President of Russia.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has clinched another six-year term as president, with exit polls from the government-run VTsIOM pollster indicating an overwhelming 87 percent victory.
This result, announced after the polls in the Kaliningrad region were closed, puts Putin on track to become the longest-serving leader in Russia’s modern history.
The election, spanning three days, was marred by heightened tensions, including increased Ukrainian bombardments and incidents of incursions and vandalism, casting a shadow over the voting process.
The Kremlin has portrayed the election as a referendum on Russia’s military engagement in Ukraine, extending the vote to territories under Russian control in the war-torn country.
International responses have been sharply critical. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced Putin as a power-hungry “dictator,” accusing him of committing any conceivable atrocity to maintain his grip on power.
Echoing this sentiment, Poland and the European Union have dismissed the electoral process as neither free nor fair, with EU chief Charles Michel offering a tongue-in-cheek “congratulation” to Putin on his “victory.”
In a defiant act of protest, supporters of the deceased opposition figure Alexei Navalny, Putin’s most notable political adversary, launched a “Noon Against Putin” campaign.
Participants were encouraged to spoil their ballots as a sign of resistance, a movement that saw Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, participating from Berlin, where she symbolically added her late husband’s name to her ballot.
Despite the government’s narrative of national unity and support for Putin, dissenting voices within Russia, like 19-year-old student Artem Minasyan, expressed their opposition, emphasizing the existence of a significant anti-Putin sentiment among the populace.
Leonid Volkov, a close associate of Navalny, has outright rejected the election results as fabricated, highlighting a disconnect between the official figures and public sentiment.
While state media lauds what it describes as a “splendid victory” for Putin, the election’s legitimacy remains under scrutiny, both domestically and internationally.
This electoral milestone solidifies Putin’s rule and accentuates the deep divisions and ongoing strife within Russian politics and its relations with the global community. | <urn:uuid:adb61228-7935-4456-819b-6ef514b44e82> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://newsonlineng.com/vladimir-putin-re-elected-as-president-of-russia/ | 2024-04-18T07:03:44Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.952324 | 513 |
Here’s the birthday message of Robin Padilla for wife Mariel Padilla
Actor Robin Padilla wrote this heartwarming birthday message for his wife TV host Mariel Padilla.
Robin and Mariel got married in 2010 and the couple happily announced six years after that they were going to have their first daughter. Last year, they had their second baby, another daughter.
As Mariel is now celebrating her 36th birthday, Robin shared this message for her. In her recent Instagram post, action movie icon said that he did not notice that they have been together as husband and wife for a decade now.
“Ang lahat ay nagsasabi na isang dekada kana sa akin pero ako lang ang hindi nakapansin ng haba ng ating pagsasama sa iyong itsura sapagkat magmula nong una natin na pagkikita hanggang sa oras na ito ay 26 pa rin ang tingin ko sa iyo,” Robin Padilla said.
The 50-year old actor added that his wife is still as beautiful as ever. “Walang nagbago kundi lalo pang gumanda dahil kumikinang ka sa iyong pagiging mabuting asawa at ina,” he said.
This sweet post of Robin received this overwhelmed comment from Mariel.
Several celebrities in the Philippine entertainment industry also greeted Mariel Padilla. Fans of the couple also left this heartwarming messages for the birthday celebrator.
“Happy birthday sa oa “in all positive aspects” na nanay at asawa! I appreciate your being you!” – IG user @owie_19
“Happy birthday ms. @marieltpadilla.i got hooked on IG because of your posts while u were abroad with @robinhoodpadilla .witnessed ur journey as a MoM..and i’d say you both are really the best half of each other..not just better half. GOD BLESS and more birthdays to come!” – IG user @adlr2327
“So much love for the both of you Happy birthyday mariel” – IG user @katya0318
What can you say about this?
Please like and follow Newspapers.ph Facebook Page | <urn:uuid:1e362bd2-681d-4e22-b9b6-830f8b241d67> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://newspapers.ph/2020/08/robin-padilla-pens-heartwarming-birthday-message-for-mariel-padilla/ | 2024-04-18T08:24:25Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.918242 | 504 |
Time For That Flu Shot
It's that time of year that doctors are urging everyone to get the shot.
While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our daily lives, fall brings the flu. The presence of both viruses could put more people in the hospital and strain Washington’s health care system. A vaccine for COVID-19 is in the works but flu shots are widely available.
The Washington State Department of Health, Safeway and Albertsons are teaming up to provide flu vaccines to uninsured adults over 18 this flu season.
Three Safeway stores in Yakima on Mead, and Lincoln Avenues and on North 5th Avenue plus the Safeway store in Toppenish are among those offering free flu shots.
They say everyone 6 months and older needs a flu vaccine. Young children, pregnant women, people with underlying health conditions, and those aged 65 and older are at high risk of complications from flu illness. Flu is a highly contagious disease that can cause mild to severe illness, can lead to hospitalization, and can even be fatal - even in healthy young people. Getting a flu shot reduces your chances of getting the flu, but does not prevent other respiratory infections.
Washington provides all recommended vaccines at no cost for kids from birth through age 18, available across the state. | <urn:uuid:08613681-2d95-4bc9-9381-3f89f4ec9aa6> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://newstalkkit.com/time-for-that-flu-shot/ | 2024-04-18T08:39:51Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.960362 | 269 |
In recent news, the topic of funding NATO and addressing border security has been a subject of debate in the United States. This blog aims to shed light on the significance of these issues and why they should be given priority. From the perspective of a Kansas Senator, Roger Marshall, it becomes clear that the interests of the United States are at stake. The following sections will delve into the details.
The Importance of Funding NATO
NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, plays a crucial role in maintaining the security and stability of the United States and its allies. It serves as a collective defense alliance, ensuring that member countries are protected against potential threats. However, there seems to be a lack of willingness in the House of Representatives to support funding for NATO.
Senator Roger Marshall emphasizes the importance of funding NATO, stating that walking away from Ukraine and allowing NATO to split would be against the interests of the United States. He urges Congress to pass the legislation for NATO funding, highlighting the need for solidarity and commitment to the alliance.
The Role of the House in Aid Distribution
For any aid to be sent to countries like Ukraine, Israel, or Taiwan, it must go through the House of Representatives. However, it seems that the House is not willing to take the necessary steps to support the Senate’s proposed aid packages. Senator Marshall acknowledges that it is up to Speaker Johnson and the House to decide on funding for Ukraine and Israel.
He further argues that securing the U.S. border should be prioritized before providing aid to other nations. Using an analogy, he states that if someone is being bullied, they shouldn’t rely on their mother to fight the bully for them. Similarly, he suggests that European Union nations should step up and take responsibility for their own defense, rather than depending solely on the United States.
Former President Trump’s Comments and the Role of NATO
Former President Trump has faced criticism for his comments that some interpret as encouraging Russian President Vladimir Putin to target NATO countries. However, Senator Marshall argues that Putin does not respect President Biden or the European Union. He believes that a strong NATO presence, along with European countries standing up to Putin, is crucial.
The funding for NATO has been a hot-button topic, but it is essential to address it, especially considering the threat posed by Putin’s regime. The Russian government’s actions, such as the murder of critic Alexei Navalny and potential nuclear weapon escalation, necessitate a clear stance from the United States and its allies.
Border Security and National Security Threats
Senator Marshall emphasizes that securing the U.S. border is the number one immediate threat to national security. He points out that thousands of illegal aliens are crossing the border every day, putting the country at risk. Moreover, he highlights the importance of enforcing existing laws and maintaining operational control over the border.
While there are currently 100,000 troops in Europe, training for decades, Senator Marshall argues that European nations need to contribute more by deploying troops to Poland and the Baltic nations. He asserts that it is time for European Union nations to step up and take responsibility for their own defense, rather than relying solely on the United States.
The Impeachment Trial of Alejandro Mayorkas
The Senate is expected to hold an impeachment trial for Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Senator Marshall expresses concerns that the Republican efforts in the Senate may not succeed, and the impeachment trial could be tabled.
He believes that there should be a trial and that it is an opportunity for Republican leadership to demonstrate their commitment to upholding the law. He stresses the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions and ensuring that the law is enforced.
In conclusion, funding NATO and addressing border security are pressing issues that demand attention. Senator Roger Marshall’s perspective provides valuable insights into the importance of these matters for the United States. With national security and international relations at stake, it is crucial for Congress to take action and prioritize the well-being and interests of the United States and its allies. | <urn:uuid:0622a7bd-606c-4efe-ab5b-f0e7ac674c4a> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://newstrends.today/the-importance-of-funding-nato-and-addressing-border-security/ | 2024-04-18T08:38:43Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.94921 | 831 |
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We can create ads and video content for posting, as well as design headers for your social media accounts such as Facebook, YouTube, and more to ensure consistent branding. | <urn:uuid:a3fe9739-0d85-4b85-a88c-8e58e1a4bbbd> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://newtargets.co.uk/website-design/ | 2024-04-18T08:09:10Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.909115 | 642 |
Sarasota is not the first city to install pianos in downtown streets but they might be the first to showcase a remarkable piano player. According to ABC 7, Donald Gould, a homeless man, saw the newly installed pianos and decided to hop on in hopes of making a few bucks and while he was confident in his skills, he never expected the overwhelming positive reactions.
I was thinking I could just put my hat on the piano and make a couple dollars and get tips. I didn’t expect it to jump out to this. I might not do the whole song complete as it was recorded originally, but I [know] enough to touch people out here — ’cause I’ve touched a lot of people apparently,
The 51-year-old’s love for music began as a child, starting with the clarinet, which he eventually played in the United States Marine Corps. Upon completion of his service, Gould returned home to Michigan to study music education at Spring Arbor University with hopes of becoming music teacher but he ran out of money and was unable to complete his degree, taking up random jobs as he started a family.
Gould’s wife passed away suddenly in 1998 and he fell into substance abuse, losing control of his life. Now living in Florida, he tries to get his hands on any instrument, including the downtown pianos, which led to an upcoming pianist tryout at a weekend piano bar.
Here’s the video that has everyone in Sarasota buzzing:
And here’s the interview that was conducted by a few locals, in which he briefly discussed his story: | <urn:uuid:9b51e58b-431a-44e9-9044-2be94cf08aa9> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://nextimpulsesports.com/2015/07/02/homeless-man-piano-sarasota/ | 2024-04-18T08:01:30Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.988832 | 335 |
Traveling As a Leisure Activity
Tourist is an around the world sector that produces big amounts of earnings for countries. Traveling is an usual leisure activity as well as is significantly considered as an opportunity to experience regional society and also practices. There are numerous types of tourist, consisting of leisure, business, as well as social. Noted listed below are a few of the primary types. Incoming tourist refers to tasks that occur within a nation, while outbound tourist includes tasks that occur outside the country. Both kinds of tourism are very rewarding for countries.
Vacationers are progressively seeking ‘authentic and also neighborhood experiences’
Credibility is among the major concerns of visitors. Visitors want initial experiences in an area, as well as they try to come close to social symptoms that are not generally visited by travelers. In order to give authentic experiences, travelers seek attractive residents as well as try to locate areas that are off-the-beaten-path. This is a good idea, as it shows that they respect preserving the character of a place. The rise of globalization has contributed to the overhomogenization of products and also services, however by seeking a lot more genuine experiences, vacationers are trying to counter this trend.
Traveling is a recreational task
The meaning of travel as a recreational task is broad. This term consists of all types of travel, whether domestic or worldwide, and consists of every setting of transportation as well as accommodation, including outdoor camping. Many people link travel as a leisure task with a holiday in a recreational vehicle, yet it’s much more comprehensive than that. Individuals utilize traveling as a way to experience brand-new locations as well as challenges, whether it remains in the kind of outdoor tasks, exercise, or also a combination of these.
Tourist is an international industry
The world’s population is increasingly metropolitan, with over 50% of the world’s individuals living in cities. This trend is anticipated to continue, with global tourism costs expected to surpass US$ 1 trillion in 2010, as well as to climb also much faster in the next decade. While development in international tourist will certainly be driven by increased world prosperity, enhanced infrastructure, as well as concentrated marketing and promo efforts, the sector is additionally impacted by other factors. Increasing numbers of travelers will need various lodgings, destinations, and personnel. Human resource plans for working with tourist staff will certainly require to show the altering demographics.
It is a major income income earner for nations
There is a solid connection between tourism and economic development, and the elasticity coefficient shows that a 1% rise in international tourism invoices per head would translate right into a 0.31% increase in residential genuine earnings. The same holds for various other BRICS nations. Studies by Kreishan, Balaguer and Cantavella-Jorda, as well as Ohlan have revealed that revenues from worldwide tourism have a positive result on development efficiency.
It is useful for local areas
The financial advantages of tourist ought to be a concern of the environmental motion, however social aspects ought to not be overlooked. Establishing an area as well as promoting tourism can have many benefits for local communities, including the conservation of regional society, environment, and also heritage. The growth of tourism might additionally boost regional framework, create brand-new work, and boost neighborhood economic climates. Tourism can aid rejuvenate rural and also city areas and also maintain social heritage. But exactly how does this work?
It is a challenge for city coordinators
The production of tourist has an enormous influence on city life. It affects real estate rates, traffic, and also blockage. It likewise influences neighborhood economic situations and technology-enabled business. City organizers are confronted with stabilizing the demands of tourist and residents. In this post, we take into consideration the ways in which cities can address this difficulty. We likewise check out just how city planning can help local residents and organizations take advantage of tourist. In the following paragraphs, we discuss some of the most essential concerns that occur when city planners should prepare for tourism. For those who have almost any queries relating to wherever and the way to make use of https://www.cruisebooking.com, you are able to call us with our web site.
Relevant posts pointed out by viewers in the web-site: | <urn:uuid:74c5ccd7-8107-4764-abb6-37510eef6407> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://nextmagazine.club/traveling-as-a-leisure-activity/ | 2024-04-18T07:45:34Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.967894 | 888 |
In the dynamic and ever-evolving world of kitchen design and installation, where the focus often shifts to the latest trends, precise measurements, and choice of materials, Nicholas Hythe’s promise to our clients is to stand out for a different reason. While we pride ourselves on the quality of our work, the true cornerstone of our success is something more fundamental: our unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service. This commitment isn’t just another aspect of our business; it is at the very heart of everything we do.
From the initial design meeting to the final touches of installation, our philosophy of putting customer service first guides every decision we make. In an industry brimming with options, where clients can choose from large retailers and small firms, it’s our deep-rooted dedication to this principle that we believe sets us apart. We don’t just follow this as a policy; we embrace it as a core belief, ingrained in every aspect of our operations and reflected in every project we undertake.
The Importance of Keeping Customers Informed
At our core, we understand that the process of designing and installing a kitchen can be overwhelming for our clients. That’s why we place an immense focus on keeping them updated. The journey of transforming a kitchen is not just about the end result but also about the experience along the way. Mr. and Mrs. Evans from St Ives beautifully encapsulated this when they mentioned, “We got prompt attention to all queries raised.” Their words reinforce our belief that timely and clear communication is essential to ensure a smooth and enjoyable process for our clients.
Proactive and Speedy Issue Resolution
In any project, especially one as intricate as kitchen design and installation, unforeseen issues can arise. We pride ourselves on our ability to anticipate potential problems and address them proactively. Our approach is always to be one step ahead, anticipating and ensuring that any hiccup is resolved swiftly and efficiently. This proactive stance not only minimises stress for our clients but also demonstrates our dedication to delivering a positive experience. The feedback from Mr. and Mrs. Owen from Sawtry highlights this aspect: “We also thought that team at Nicholas Hythe had a good handle on the project and kept us in touch and up to date. When there was a glitch, the issues were speedily resolved with an on-site assessment and resolved very quickly.” Their commendation is a testament to our team’s commitment to being hands-on and responsive at every stage.
The Role of Our Back Office Team
Behind the scenes, our back-office team plays a crucial role in orchestrating all the moving parts of our operations. They are the unsung heroes who keep the wheels turning, ensuring that our planned work program is always on track. Their regular client updates and coordination are pivotal in maintaining the flow of information, which, we believe, underpins great customer service. This seamless communication network within our team is the backbone that supports our ability to deliver on our promises to our clients.
Building Trust Through Communication
Good communication is the foundation of trust. In our business, it’s not just about relaying information; we strive to create an environment where our clients feel heard, valued, and respected. Every query, concern, or suggestion is an opportunity for us to strengthen our relationship with our clients. By listening attentively and responding thoughtfully, we aim to transcend the traditional client-service provider dynamic and foster a partnership based on mutual respect and understanding.
Continuous Improvement: A Core Value
As a team, we are committed to continuous improvement. Each project, with its unique challenges and triumphs, is a learning experience. We take the feedback from our clients seriously, using it as a catalyst for growth and improvement. Whether it’s refining our communication methods or tweaking our project management strategies, we are always looking for ways to enhance our customer service.
Nicholas Hythe’s Promise to our Clients
To our current and future clients, our promise is simple: at Nicholas Hythe Kitchen Design Studio, you are not just commissioning a kitchen, you are embarking on a journey with a team that values your peace of mind as much as the aesthetic and functionality of your kitchen. Our focus on keeping you informed, resolving issues proactively, and maintaining open lines of communication is our way of ensuring that this journey is as stress-free as possible.
In conclusion, our ethos is deeply rooted in a commitment to fulfilling their expectations in every project we undertake. Contrary to the common misconception that all kitchen design companies offer similar services and outcomes, the reality is remarkably different. Every kitchen design studio, including ours, brings a unique set of skills, approaches, and values that profoundly impact both the client experience and the final product. At Nicholas Hythe Kitchen Design Studio, our distinction lies in our personalised approach to customer service and, we believe, truly sets us apart in an industry often mistakenly perceived as homogeneous. | <urn:uuid:6f33953e-6993-48e1-944e-9b38c734f2b3> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://nhkitchendesign.com/why-choose-nicholas-hythe/nicholas-hythes-promise-to-our-clients/ | 2024-04-18T06:53:34Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.941221 | 1,015 |
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By Michael Ollove
I couldn’t bring myself to speak to Stephen King. That Stephen King. The Titan of Terror. The Behemoth of the Bestseller List. Maine’s Master of the Macabre. I had him in my sights, and I let him get away. Over and over again.I was a Baltimore Sun reporter at the time, assigned to write about whether King’s creations qualify as literature or merely pulp. That was a debate brewing at the time. That I couldn’t summon the gumption to talk to the man I was writing about is something that has tortured me for decades. How, I’ve asked myself countless times, could a newspaper reporter, a very experienced reporter at that juncture, just wilt like a parched orchid?
During more than four decades as a journalist, I interviewed hundreds and hundreds of people, many in the midst of experiences as painful as any faced by human beings. I interviewed the parents of murdered children. I interviewed devoted parents of a murderer. I interviewed people who had been involuntarily sterilized by the state of Virginia when they were youngsters. I interviewed the mother and friends of a rugby champion believed to have been among those who stormed the cockpit of Flight 93 on 9/11. I interviewed a pain-wracked, cancer-ravished octogenarian begging for the right to accelerate her death. I interviewed a Black veteran who had been sentenced to be hanged during the Korean War by a U.S. Army suffused with racism.
When someone asked me what my specialty was in journalism, the best answer I could devise was that I wrote about people facing the worst moments of their lives.
It often surprised me that any of these people were willing to talk, to allow me to trespass into territory that for them represented unalloyed anguish. Here comes this complete stranger asking them to unpack that agony in excruciating detail. More than that, they were also granting that stranger liberty to reconstitute their stories for tens of thousands of other strangers.
Often I girded myself for the figurative slap in the face…
Often I girded myself for the figurative slap in the face that part of me felt I deserved just for making such a request. I was surprised that it never came.
I should make clear that this ambivalence didn’t surface in much of my reporting. Certainly not when dealing with public officials or those suspected of wrongdoing or those with information about such things. The former know that journalistic inquiry comes with the territory. As for the latter, it’s self-evident that the public has a right to expect accountability and look to reporters to help supply it.
Those situations are different from the experiences of private citizens who have no obligation to satisfy the curiosity of the public, no matter how much illumination, wisdom or consolation they could supply.
I recognize that people spoke to me for different reasons. Some seemed to find catharsis in being able to voice their suffering. Perhaps they felt a duty to fix a lasting, truthful impression of a lost loved one. Others told me they felt a responsibility to have their experiences serve as a cautionary example or to demonstrate to others in pain that they were not alone.
In my early years on the job, I would raise these reasons to convince reluctant subjects to speak to me. Sometime around mid-career, I stopped trying to lobby them. It’s not that I didn’t believe they could profit from speaking to me, but I came to believe it was disingenuous of me, who did stand to benefit, to lure them into revealing themselves. I could explain to them why I wanted to do the story, but once I did, I felt it was only fair to leave the decision to them, without any persuasion. Besides, I knew, from experience, that it was next to impossible to fully prepare them for what it would be like to see their stories plastered on the front page of a newspaper — and for what might follow.
To be sure, some regretted speaking. That Korean war veteran, for example, was devastated to see the headline atop my story, which I didn’t write, but, to be honest, failed to catch: “A Soldier’s Disgrace.” An enormously open-hearted woman in Havre de Grace, Maryland, who invited a homeless man to live with her during the last weeks of his life, was heartbroken to read in my lengthy account of her remarkable generosity my clumsy description of one of her dogs as “mangy.” The son of the inventor of the Dalkon Shield, the infamous 1970s-era intrauterine birth control device that harmed hundreds of women, hated my story portraying how his father’s obsession both ruined the father’s reputation and family’s well-being. It was that son, a brilliant man in his own right, who, through hours of interviews over weeks, had provided me with much of the material that enabled me to write the story. Understandably, he was not prepared for what it felt like to see his family’s dysfunction spread across newspaper pages.
And I remember Peter Angelos, a feisty plaintiff’s attorney who later bought the Baltimore Orioles, turning his back on me on a downtown street corner because of a single word in a lengthy story and sidebar that had run on the front page and two inside pages the previous Sunday.
A single word.
The main story was about how asbestos and the fatal illnesses it had spawned had ravaged a neighborhood filled with steelworkers from nearby Bethlehem Steel. Angelos had successfully represented many of those workers in civil lawsuits and had talked to me at length for the story. In the sidebar about Angelos and the legal case, I mentioned that he had run for mayor in 1964. He won less than 10% of the vote, so I felt it fair to characterize him as a “failed mayoral candidate.” Despite the sympathy with which the stories treated Angelo’s clients and the portrayal of him as a tenacious champion for their cause, in all that verbiage, Angelos saw only one word: “failed.”
…no matter how well you believe you are capturing someone else’s story, you are not telling it the way they would.
All of this taught me that no matter how well you believe you are capturing someone else’s story, you are not telling it the way they would. The blunt reality is that it’s not even their story: It’s yours. Which is why, as the years went by and I continued to do these long-form explorations, I stopped trying to convince people to speak to me. What was good for me was not necessarily good for them, and I didn’t want to pretend otherwise. When given the choice, if they didn’t want to grant me access to their innermost thoughts, that struck me as a decision I could respect.
Refusing to accept “no interviews”
All of this was swirling around my brain when the idea for a story about Stephen King came to me.
By the mid-1990s, King had established himself as the party guest who would not leave the bestseller lists he had first crashed with his1974 novel, “Carrie.” So popular had he become that numerous colleges and universities were offering courses on his works. When the National Book Foundation in 1996 awarded him its annual award for “distinguished work,” it kicked off a heated debate in academic circles: Did King deserve to be included in the literary canon, a list populated by such writers as Shakespeare, Joyce and Hemingway? (And, as many rightfully chide, mostly dead, white men.)
The thought of King rubbing shoulders with such august figures struck some as deeply offensive, none more notable than the formidable critic Harold Bloom, who characterized the award to King as “another low in the shocking process of dumbing down our cultural life.”
I knew a fun story when I saw it.
As it happened, King’s alma mater, the University of Maine in Orono, just a few miles north of his Victorian house in Bangor (my own hometown, BTW) was about to host a weekend conference on this very subject. It had tapped as its opening night keynote speaker none other than the subject of the conference itself. (If that combination of facts suggests where the conference would come down on the question of whether King belonged, you’re onto something.)
I resolved to fly up for the conference, but first I called King’s office in Bangor to arrange an interview. That’s when his assistant told me in no uncertain terms that Mr. King had elected not to give any interviews around this event and topic. None. Zip.
Fine. Fair enough. His decision.
I flew up anyway.
Missed opportunity No. 1
The kick-off event that Friday evening was a dinner in a hall not far from the auditorium where King would speak. I was led to a seat at one of about 20 circular tables that were quickly filling up. There was a stir soon after I sat down, and I looked up to see a smiling King in a black Harley-Davidson t-shirt greeting attendees like a president at the State of the Union as he was escorted to his table.
That table turned out to be adjacent to mine. We were practically back- to-back.
Thus, my dilemma. Sure, I’d been told King didn’t want to give interviews, but he was right there, a few feet away. Maybe, faced with a flesh-and-blood reporter, he’d relent. But then, I had received a firm denial. Did I have any reason not to honor that? Then again, his very presence a taunting and tempting specter. Then, and then again.
I wrestled with myself all through the roast chicken, trying to will myself to my feet, and imagining myself interrupting King mid-bite to pepper him with questions about what made him think he should walk alongside such luminaries as Toni Morrison and John Updike. Caught up in this internal crisis, I glanced back toward my quarry and there saw…an empty chair. Gone. Vamoose.
I’d missed my chance.
I cursed myself for my indecision, absorbing the lessons of He Who Hesitates. There was nothing to do but mope my way to the auditorium to join others in anticipation of King’s speech. A faculty member gave a fulsome introduction and King commenced to give a most entertaining speech.
While not directly addressing whether he belonged in the literary canon, King made a strong case that his novels and short stories aspired to do more than deliver terror. He said he also layered his writing with symbolism, metaphor, literary references, allegory and broad cultural and sociological themes — exactly the ingredients that elevate popular works of fiction into something grander and more lasting. Those elements, King insisted, kept his books from being disposable, or as he said, “”the mental equivalent of a stick of gum.”
For me, it was a great speech as it addressed the subject I was writing about. Still, as King spoke, I replayed the same internal debate as before. Should I try to nab him after the speech?
As everyone headed for the exits, I stood watching as King left the stage. My legs were frozen. Another opportunity lost.
As prone to self-loathing as the next guy — or at least the next writer — I berated myself as I filed out of the auditorium into the autumn night with an otherwise contented crowd. Then, in rounding the corner of the building, I spied striding toward me three figures. The rather large, bespectacled one in the middle was, of course, the evening’s star attraction.
What? Now? I’m supposed to dragoon him out here??
I slowed my steps, searching for the right words that would unlock my paralysis. They wouldn’t come. The three brushed past me without a glance and vanished into the cool night.
I’d let my last chance slip away. King’s role at the conference was over. He was in the wind. I drove my rented car to my hotel and the mirror reflecting the face of a loser that I knew would be awaiting me.
Missed opportunity No. 2
The next day, I attended the rest of the conference. I spoke with other attendees and conference speakers. With that material, along with King’s speech and interviews I had already logged with Bloom and other scholars and critics, I felt I had enough for my story. The conference ended late that Saturday afternoon, but with my flight home the next morning, I had time to kill. I headed to the movies, which in Bangor meant a multiplex — the multiplex. I bought my ticket for the film, “2 Days in the Valley,” notable as one of Charlize Theron’s first movie roles.
At the concession stand, I ordered popcorn. That’s when I heard a familiar, Maine-accented voice doing the same just a few steps away.
Any guesses who it was?
Are you kidding me? I thought. He’s actually torturing me now, like some apparition in “The Shining.” I’m supposed to interview him here in the popcorn line? Forget it.
I stomped down the corridor, passing every other theater until I reached the last one, where my movie was showing. Shoulders slumped, I entered a nearly empty theater, made my way to a middle seat about halfway back from the screen, where I stewed some more.
But for only a minute. Pretty soon I heard the rustle of a group of people entering and making their way down the aisle. Though there were empty seats everywhere, they stopped in the row in front of me and began sidling in.
I don’t have to tell you who was among them, do I?
He took the seat directly — directly! — in front of me. For the next 90 minutes, I had to crane around his silhouette to watch the movie. More often, I simply stared into the back of his head, trying to think of what I could possibly say at the end of this film that would make it acceptable to ask for an interview.
I couldn’t find those words, and when Charlize and company were done, so was I. Back to the hotel, up early for my flight home, full of treasure in my notebook and self-loathing in my heart.
Not a vulnerable story subject
All these years later, I remain perplexed about my paralysis up there in Orono, which never had happened to me before or since. For the longest time, I regarded my failure as journalistic malpractice. What prevented me from approaching King?
I’m not shy. I don’t think it was that I was in awe of him. I’ve interviewed plenty of celebrities. I also don’t think I was afraid of being embarrassed by the prospect of him turning me down. Journalists whiff nearly as often as baseball players at bat when it comes to landing interviews. Rejection comes with the territory. I certainly wasn’t worried that my questions about his place in the literary canon would cause him pain. If we know anything about Stephen King after all these years, it’s that he is not a particularly fragile specimen, either in his books or his ego.
What the hell was going on with me?
I’ve thought about this, literally, for decades. Lately, I’ve come to be more forgiving of myself.
I embarked on the King piece as a break from the heavy, emotionally fraught stories I described earlier, which had sparked in me a kind of existential conflict about how to present myself to the people whose accounts I needed in order to do this work. It’s a conflict that I’m guessing is not uncommon but rarely acknowledged in my profession. On one side was my obligations as a journalist to get the story. On the other was a deference that I could never fully suppress for the prerogative I believed everyone has to decide what, if anything, they’re willing to reveal of what goes on between their ears.
Who, in other words, gets to tell their stories?
Who, in other words, gets to tell their stories?
Over the years, I’d come to believe that journalists have no more right to the contents of someone else’s head or heart than anyone else, If someone says they don’t want to talk to me, that strikes me as their privilege — as a preference to be honored rather than chipped away against.
I have watched reporters pester private figures and law-abiding citizens for interviews and wear away their resistance with repeated entreaties. And I’ve seen how triumphant those reporters feel when their persistence pays off. They got the story they were after. They fulfilled their journalistic mission. I hope it was worth it for them.
Me? I largely stopped doing that, even if letting it go could prove fatal to the potential story.
But with King, I made a mistake. I conflated private citizens in pain with a public figure — King — who was quite capable of telling a reporter that No Means No and not inflicting on himself the slightest bit of psychic harm. I had put King in one bucket when he belonged in another one marked Fair Game.
Recovery, score and … shrug
Some realization about all of this must have occurred to me back then because as soon as I got back into the newsroom that Monday morning, I sat down and wrote a letter to King. Letters, I found, often proved more successful than cold calls, affording a better opportunity to articulate the story I was after and why I was requesting an interview.
But the King letter wasn’t so much that. It was more an epistolary comedy sketch in which I laid out to him the opportunities I, a fellow Bangorian (I shamelessly pointed out), had passed up to try to corral him out of respect for his wishes. This despite his repeated provocations of planting himself directly in front of me.
I began the letter “You mock me, sir” and ended with “In light of my remarkable sensitivity to your privacy, how about a few minutes of your time for an interview over the telephone?”
I FAXED the letter to his office.
Minutes later, the phone on my desk rang. “What did you think of the movie?” a voice at the other end asked.
Let me say that King couldn’t have been friendlier or more gracious in what I remember was a 10-minute-or-so interview. And yes, he did like the movie. And he answered all my questions about whether he regarded his fiction as literature.
But here’s the thing: Nothing he said in our conversation added to what he has said in his superb speech that night. In fact, the interview wasn’t as good as the speech.
I didn’t use any of it in the story.
* * *
Michael Ollove was a long-time journalist at The Baltimore Sun as a reporter and then as the paper’s narrative editor. He worked earlier at the Roanoke (Va.) Times & World-News and the Miami Herald and later at the Pew Charitable Trusts news website, Stateliine. He also has been a freelance podcast editor, including on Audible’s popular nonfiction serial, “West Cork.” | <urn:uuid:343ab305-2792-41cb-bf64-77c49cf595fa> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://niemanstoryboard.org/stories/interview-stephen-king-sources-ethics/ | 2024-04-18T08:01:56Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.984816 | 4,135 |
gps car tracker magnetic mainly by intercepting satellite signals, calculate the satellite moving trajectory to get our vehicle position, distance, speed and so on.
So, does the gps car tracker magnetic field have a signal in the basement?
Wireless mobile signal is electromagnetic wave, the decay of various materials on electromagnetic wave is different, metal is the strongest, followed by concrete, followed by brick wall, and then the attenuation of glass wood is not obvious. The basement is blocked by thick soil close to concrete, so if the signal of the basement is relatively poor, some basements are far away from the base station, the basement will even have no signal directly, it is precisely because of this reason, the basement is generally covered separately. But a set of base station equipment is actually very expensive, in addition to some large basements, most basements, no base station equipment, no signal is very normal.
Therefore, the gps car tracker magnetic field in the basement naturally has no signal, and usually the device will not be able to play its role.
gps car tracker magnetic https://www.eelinktracker.com/Magnetic-GPS-Tracker/ | <urn:uuid:71ff33d6-2ec3-48df-b474-bee16ee482ea> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://nindul.com/read-blog/1003_military-tactical-combat-vest-factory.html | 2024-04-18T08:33:39Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.950254 | 243 |
Age, being overweight, practicing impact sports and repeated activities at work are factors that can affect our joint health. Keeping the joints in good condition and preventing wear and tear will be key in preventing joint pain and discomfort, especially in mobile joints such as knees, hips, elbows, fingers. It is also important to distinguish joint pain from osteoarthritis or arthritis.
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Anabel Brunet, 65
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Ricardo Valada, 67
RESOLVE YOUR DOUBTS!
BET ON VITALFLEX
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Take one capsule a day, preferably in the morning with a meal. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a balanced and varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose.
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Who can use Vitalflex?
Vitalflex is formulated for men and women who want additional support for the health of their body and suffer from joint pain. | <urn:uuid:7136a276-c4b5-467a-a1a1-ae52e146b5ba> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://niruvita.com/en/pages/landing-vitalflex | 2024-04-18T08:22:10Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.969281 | 469 |
In light of the phenomenal Covid-19 pandemic, imagine what would happen if a catastrophe of this magnitude was engineered by a diabolical mastermind? What if a widespread, unstoppable disease emerged from the brainchild of a sinister conspiracy? Matt Hawkins and Colleen Doran tackle these questions in a thrilling tale that explores such possibilities in the doomsday graphic novel, The Clock.
The story begins in a Nigerian refugee encampment in a not so distant future, as professor and immunotherapist lead researcher Jack Davidson investigates a viral cancer that has infected and killed a wide swath of the human population in just three weeks. His own wife has died from it and his nine-year-old daughter Kimmie has recently been diagnosed with it. While heading back to the U.S., he crosses paths with a mysterious stranger who slips him a piece of paper with a single sentence scrawled on it: “Your wife was murdered.” This note triggers a series of rapid-fire events akin to a Hitchcockian espionage thriller, and amidst this cataclysmic threat, he becomes implicated in a murder, turning him into a fugitive from the law. Like a relentless nightmare that shifts from bad to worse and rises to a feverish pitch, Jack must uncover the truth as those closest to him become targets for murder.
As the mystery deepens, The Clock unfolds at the pace of a runaway train speeding off its tracks. A global conspiracy surfaces with signs of weaponizing this pervasive cancer that could trigger the onslaught of World War III. Like the quintessential Hitchcockian character thrust into an extraordinarily maddening situation, Jack must fend for his life as he races against time to uncover the mystery behind a nefarious plot to destroy humanity. A taut thriller narrated in part through newspaper headlines, television news reports, websites, and social media feeds, the narrative momentum flows at a steady yet intense pace. Lengthy scientific explanations occupy some panels, though the jargon remains plausibly comprehensible. Doran’s artwork captures a wide range of facial expressions, nuanced in part by character interactions framed in medium close-up shots. Various shades of lighting set the mood and tone in each panel, mirroring the narrative action as each scene unfolds.
While the heart-racing plot ratchets up the tension and suspense, the conclusion fizzles out and falls flat in a rather anti-climactic way, leaving much to be desired and explained. The climax and falling action seem rushed from a storytelling perspective. Extra features include a cover gallery and penciled sketch panels by Colleen Doran. A bonus “Science Class” section highlights information on cancer statistics and a list of different types of cancer accompanied by resource links for further exploration into the scientific and ethical issues raised in The Clock. For libraries aiming to build their apocalyptic science fiction thrillers, there may be better developed stories out there, though loyal fans might still appreciate Doran’s artistic prowess in rendering the gamut of human emotions through her finely crafted illustrations.
The Clock, Vol. 1
By Matt Hawkins
Art by Colleen Doran
Image Comics/Top Cow, 2020
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+) | <urn:uuid:1626eedd-3f12-4281-a71e-04ea24c6678c> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://noflyingnotights.com/blog/2021/07/29/the-clock/ | 2024-04-18T08:20:35Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.944867 | 646 |
By Matt Browning
The Sedgwick Cardinals were voted as the Wichita Small School Cheer Squad of the Year. Between the business of the football and basketball seasons, the Cardinals schedule for six months is hectic.
“The majority of my team plays volleyball in the fall and basketball in the winter so we work our schedules around those practices,” Sedgwick cheer coach Cristie Francis said. “We usually practice once a week for two hours and on the weeks that we have a halftime performance we will practice twice.”
Outside of the usual routines during football and basketball games, there is more that goes into practices on performance week.
“Our practices consist of stunting, jumping, perfecting motions and going over routines and band dances,” Francis said. “We performed twice during football and three times so far this basketball season and have another performance on the horizon.”
The selection process for the team is unique in that half of the performance score for those trying out comes from people not associated with the school.
“We have had judges come from Bethel, WSU, KSU and FHSU to score our cheerleaders on their abilities,” Francis said. “This score accounts for 50 percent of their tryout score. The other 50 percent comes from teacher evaluations, grades and attendance. This type of scoring gives us well balanced cheerleaders.”
Francis said she wants her cheerleaders to not only represent the school, but the community itself.
“Cheerleaders should always have a positive outlook and smile no matter what the score is,” Francis said. “The crowd should always be able to look to the cheerleaders for a smile and to lead them through a rough game.”
Members of the 2022-2023 cheer squad are Aubrey McGaugh, Alivia Burns, Ally Rueda, Mady Evans, Blythe Harris, Gaby Petersen, Ethan Tolin, Jadelyn Pohlman and Emma Koehn. | <urn:uuid:e5b0b4a9-9de9-452e-8bb3-ce910a106757> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://northcentral.ksvype.com/featured/sedgwick-cheer-wichita-area-spotlight-presented-by-kansas-turnpike-authority/ | 2024-04-18T07:48:59Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.969621 | 419 |
It’s been almost two years since the first time I gave my talk on CSS algorithms. What is a CSS algorithm? Great question.
For example, a `color` property should not be in an algorithm that is intended for CSS grid properties. This is a potential Stylelint rule that would report that!
I think I figured out a really cool, fun, exciting, and not complicated way to write tests for CSS algorithms! This post introduces the concept of writing unit tests and test driven development.
This post is an account of pair programming with a fellow front-end developer to figure out a tricky responsive layout issue. Time for a CSS algorithm!
The methods for white-boarding algorithm questions serve us quite well when writing CSS algorithms. This post is a written portion of the second half of version 1 of the Algorithms of CSS. | <urn:uuid:dba2059d-b75c-4576-9bd3-1d4b24d1188e> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://notlaura.com/tag/css-algorithms/?query-39-page=3 | 2024-04-18T07:43:01Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.937778 | 174 |
After listening, Jiang Wenjie also whispered a couple of words in Jiang Zhengzhong’s ear, as if he was saying something!
Jiang Zhengzhong’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Whoever dares to hit the Wei family is against my Jiang family, I would like to see that family in the provincial city dare!”
After saying that, Jiang Zhengzhong’s body suddenly erupted with a surging murderous aura, the clothes on his body were windless, and all the people around him were all shivering and shuddering!
“I give you three days, bring the murderer to me within three days, after three days if your Protector Pavilion has not caught the murderer, I will solve it in my own way!”
Jiang Zhengzhong said coldly to Li Shouyi.
“Three days?” Li Shouyi’s face instantly showed a look of embarra*sment!
“Pavilion Master Li, I’ll tell you a candidate now, this matter is mostly the work of a fellow called Chen Ping, who is from Hongcheng, as for the rest, you can check it out yourself!”
Jiang Wenjie thought of Chen Ping the first time after he got the news of the Wei family’s accident!
“Chen Ping?” Li Shouyi muttered, before nodding and saying, “Thank you for reminding me, Sir Jiang, I’ll go check it out!”
Li Shouyi took his men and left, the rest of the Wei family’s affairs would be handled by the Jiang family’s people!
“Ling’er, isn’t Ancient recuperating in Hongcheng, ask Ancient, who is this Chen Ping, to be able to wipe out the Wei family, he must not be an ordinary person, how come I haven’t heard of him?”
On the way, Li Shouyi said to Gu Ling’er.
“Got it!” Gu Ling’er casually replied, but with a few moments of unhappiness on her face!
She had just been lectured by the Jiang family, which made Gu Ling’er’s heart very upset!
Li Shouyi glanced at Gu Ling’er and didn’t say anything else, but sighed faintly.
Yuncheng, Chen Ping slept for a whole day, felt his body recovered a lot, immediately called He Zhigang and asked him to prepare medicinal materials, Chen Ping wanted to use the night time to refine a pill for Lin Tianhu in order to let Lin Tianhu’s body recover as soon as possible!
After Chen Ping made the pill, he had Lin Tianhu take it, and taught him a set of ordinary mind techniques so that Lin Tianhu could concentrate on his body when he had nothing else to do.
The next morning, Chen Ping and the others planned to go back to Hongcheng, this time they had been out for several days, I was afraid that Su Wenzong would be worried at home, how to say that Chen Ping and Su Yuqi were not married, not even engaged, so they were running around together like this, it was inevitable that there would be some gossip!
The Gu Yuyao sisters and He Zhigang came along to see them off, I could see that the Gu Yuyao sisters had a bit of reluctance in their eyes, it wasn’t that they didn’t want to leave Su Yuqi, they didn’t want to leave Chen Ping, these two sisters already had Chen Ping’s shadow in their hearts!
“Big brother He, I’ll leave the matter of Yuncheng to you, keep an eye out for medicinal materials, as long as there are rare medicinal materials, no matter what the cost, we have to take them down, if you’re not sure of anything, you can call me!”
Chen Ping patted He Zhigang’s shoulder and said.
“Brother Chen Ping, don’t worry about it, now all the medicinal herbs in Yuncheng that are over a hundred years old have to pa*s through my hands at Renhe Hall, no one dares to compete with me!”
He Zhigang said with confidence.
After all, only Ren He Tang was the agent for Xiao Hui Dan, and since Tong Ren Tang didn’t dare to make any money, other medicine companies would not dare to follow Ren He Tang!
After a few more small talk, Chen Ping and the others rushed back to Hongcheng!
When they returned to Hongcheng, Su Yuqi went straight home, she had not seen Su Wenzong these days, and Su Yuqi was a bit worried, so Chen Ping went back to the Pan Long Mountain Villa by himself!
“Mom, I’m back, is the meal ready?”
After entering the door, Chen Ping changed his shoes and instinctively shouted. | <urn:uuid:04937b05-5eeb-4e0a-9f97-c071c9adf20a> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://novelrow.com/phoenix-among-men-chapter-340/ | 2024-04-18T08:00:08Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.977019 | 1,085 |
Three months ago
(Luca 35 y.o.)
I lean my elbows on the steering wheel and watch the video playing on my phone.
A pair of black pants and a red dress, obviously discarded in a hurry, are lying on the floor in the middle of the room. A man in a white shirt is sitting at the edge of the bed, while a blonde-haired woman is kneeling between his legs, sucking his dick. The room they are in is . . . my bedroom. And the woman who’s currently choking on her bodyguard’s dick is my dear wife.
I put the phone in my jacket, take my gun from the glove compartment, and leave the car.
It’s half past one in the morning, and there’s no one in the hall. My footsteps echo off the dark marble floor and up the wide stairwell. When I reach the third floor, I turn right and walk down the hallway to my daughter’s room to make sure she’s not home. Rosa is having a sleepover at her friend’s, as she usually does when I have to leave home for a couple of days for work. She and her mother never got along well.
I open the door to Rosa’s room and peek inside. Empty. I close the door, then continue to the other end of the hallway, toward my bedroom.
Simona is still on her knees in front of the bodyguard when I enter. The lamp in the corner is giving off more than enough light for me to clearly see the man’s flushed face above Simona’s bobbing head. I lift my gun, aiming at the center of his forehead, and pull the trigger. The loud bang makes the nightstand rattle, and blood sprays all over the white, satin sheets. Simona screams, then jumps up and away from the body now sprawled across the bed. Her face and hair also bear red splotches, and there are some on her breasts and neck. Seems like some of her lover’s brain matter ended up in her hair as well. She is still wailing when I walk casually over to her and grab her upper arm.
“Let me go!” she yells as I drag her out of the room and down the hallway. “You killed him, you monster!”
Simona keeps shrieking all the way down the two flights of stairs, trying to squirm out of my grasp. I ignore her protests and head toward the wide-open front door. Two of my security guards run inside, but stop at the entrance, their eyes bulging out upon seeing us. A maid comes out around the corner from the hall where staff have their rooms and freezes midstep. She’s clutching her knitted cardigan around herself with her gaze locked on Simona’s naked and blood-splattered body. I pass the guards and drag my screaming wife outside, and down the four stone steps to the driveway.
“You’ll receive the divorce papers in the morning,” I spit out and release her arm.
“What? Luca, please! It was a mistake.” She reaches over as if to take my hand.
“Don’t you dare fucking touch me! Get the fuck out of my house.”
“You can’t do this!” she wails. “Luca!”
I turn and go back inside. For some reason, I’m not even angry. The only thing I feel is disgust. With her, but also with myself for not ending things with the bitch sooner.
“Send a maid to bring her something to put on, and call a taxi,” I tell Marco, who is standing by the door. “She’s not to come inside the house.”
“Of course, Mr. Rossi.” He nods quickly.
“There is a body in my bedroom. Have someone take care of that, too,” I say as I move toward the stairwell. I’m halfway to the second floor when my brother’s voice reaches me.
“Luca? What’s going on?”
Damian is standing on the landing to the second floor, wearing only his boxer briefs. Behind him is a dark-haired girl wrapped in a blanket, peeking over his shoulder.
“Simona and I decided to split,” I say as I’m climbing the stairwell. “She’s leaving.”
“Yes.” I stop in front of him and cast a glance at the girl cowering behind his back. “Good evening, Arianna.”
“Hi, Luca.” She smiles nervously.
“Does your father know where you’re spending the night?”
“Nope,” she mumbles.
I shake my head and look back at my brother. “Franco is going to kill you.”
“Arianna is twenty-one. I think she can make her own decisions, Luca.” He smirks.
“She’s also engaged,” I say and keep heading up the stairs. “I’m going to crash. I have a meeting at eight tomorrow.”
“Luca?” he calls after me. “Was that a gunshot we heard earlier?”
“Care to elaborate?”
“Nope. Go back to bed, Damian.”
When I reach the third floor, I drop by my bedroom to collect the phone charger and a change of clothes for tomorrow, then head into Rosa’s room to sleep. | <urn:uuid:0f52aabe-db6e-4a48-850f-7c430f347b4e> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://novelsforall.com/ruined-secrets-part-1-chapter-2/ | 2024-04-18T07:50:06Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.970498 | 1,235 |
I’ve attended at least ten Cosa Nostra weddings over the years. Most receptions were held in restaurants, fancy hotel banquet rooms, or luxury country clubs. The more expensive the venue and the production, the better. There is no grander way to show off your wealth and importance within the Family. So, I’m rather confused when Drago parks the car some distance from a three-story gray stone house.
I heard the music long before we reached the place, but this close-up, it’s so loud that it takes me several moments to adjust. An enormous white tent is standing in the middle of the big lawn behind the house. Drago must have missed a turn, because I think we’ve ended up in the wrong place.
“Why are we at a fair?” I ask.
“This is not a fairground. It’s svadba. A wedding.”
I widen my eyes and look back toward the rectangular tent in front of us. Its sides have been removed, leaving a great canopy to drape over long tables set within. Each table runs the length of the tent and could easily sit about eighty. There are five tables. That’s four hundred guests, minimum. I don’t think I even know that many people.
At one end, a platform has been set up where a band is playing while a blonde-haired woman in a red dress walks among the tables, singing. Most of the guests are standing next to their chairs, dancing and singing along, but some have gathered around the singer and are putting money into her hands.
Kids—boys in cute suits and girls in pretty dresses—are chasing a dog around, running in and out of the tent through the open side panels. There are no grim-faced men talking business in the corners, no stiff-looking women sitting with their backs straight, worrying over moving a muscle for fear that their hair will come undone while they gossip about those not close enough to overhear them. Everyone seems genuinely happy. So different from the Cosa Nostra weddings.
It’s joyful, positive madness. I love it!
“Let’s go congratulate the newlyweds.” Drago wraps his arm around me, tucking me closer to his side as we walk through the crowd toward the head table on the far side of the tent pavilion. It’s set perpendicular to the rest, and more people are milling around it.
The bride is wearing an amazing white lace dress that features a voluminous, full skirt, and the groom is dressed in an elegant gray suit and white shirt. There are two more people at the table—a man next to the groom and a woman next to the bride. All four, however, have pushed back their chairs, and are dancing and singing at the top of their lungs right on the spot.
When the groom notices our approach, he rushes to meet us. Drago and the man exchange a few words, but their conversation is drowned out by all the noise, so I can’t hear what was said. The groom moves his gaze from my husband to me, his eyes as wide as saucers, then he composes himself and offers me his hand. I expect us to head elsewhere to sit down, but the groom starts waving at someone and shouts, “Drago’s wife!”
A moment later, I find myself surrounded by people—men coming to shake my hand and women kissing my cheeks three times—right, left, right. Everyone talks simultaneously. The whole thing would be a little overwhelming if Drago’s body wasn’t pressed to my back, and his arm wasn’t tightly wrapped around my middle.
“The bride’s grandmother,” he says next to my ear as the older woman approaches. He continues whispering small details to me about each person who comes forward. “The aunt from her father’s side . . . Aunt’s lover . . . The groom’s younger brother . . . And the older one . . . The bride’s mother . . .”
I can’t remember half of the names. It continues for ten minutes until my cheeks are tingling from all the kisses, and my hand feels like mush, but I don’t mind. In fact, I’m smiling so wide my face hurts. I never would have expected such a warm welcome from people who just met me. It feels like . . . I belong. It’s the same feeling I have in Drago’s home, like I’m part of a big family.
Once done with all the greetings, we head toward two vacant chairs at the end of one of the long tables. People previously occupying the spots have just left, taking their plates with them. Drago takes one of the seats and pulls me onto his lap.
“So, what do you think?” he asks.
I grin. “It’s crazy.”
The corner of his mouth curves upward. “I figured you’d like it.”
“Let’s take some photos.” I fish the phone out of my purse and lift it in front of us.
“Do we have to?”
“What kind of question is that?”
I snap a selfie, then look at the picture. “No. You need to wipe that glaring look off your face. Insta will censor my post for disturbing content. Again.”
I wrap my arm around his neck, press my cheek to his, and raise the phone.
“One more,” I say and smile into the camera. When I take a look at the new photo, Drago is brooding in this one, too.
“You’re not taking this seriously.” I reach out and take his chin between my fingers, then tilt his head so he’s looking at the phone. His gaze meets mine on the screen. “Now, smile.”
He rolls his eyes but smiles. It’s kind of sour, but I guess it’s the best I’m going to get.
I let go of his chin and lower the phone. That’s when I notice people looking at me strangely. Maybe you’re not supposed to take photos at Serbian weddings? I quickly put the phone away.
One song ends and another starts. Obviously, although I don’t know it, it’s a popular tune because people start yelling and singing along with the first note. I try listening to the lyrics, but it’s much harder to understand sung Serbian words than spoken ones. Something about mixing black and gold, then mentioning a . . . frame? Is it about art? A painting, perhaps?
A woman a few seats away abruptly stands and climbs onto the table. I stare, open-mouthed, as she starts dancing, her heels clicking on the linen-clad tabletop, just missing the plates and cutlery. People around her are cheering, clapping their hands. Another woman, further down, climbs onto the table. Then, the bride takes off her shoes and does the same. The crowd goes crazy, and I laugh amid the excitement. Never in my life have I witnessed such a joyous celebration.
I look at my husband and bite my lip. “Can I try?”
“Try what?” he raises an eyebrow.
“The table thing.”
His arm around my waist tightens. “No.”
Drago leans forward. “I won’t have my wife mounting a table and shaking her hips with over four hundred people watching.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “And what if I dance only for you? Pretty please?”
A low rumble comes from his throat. “All right. But you make sure I keep my eyes on you—only you—because if my gaze wanders, and I notice other men looking at you, the next song playing will be a funeral march, mila moya.”
I squeal in delight and start unstrapping my heels.
Transfixed. Hypnotized. Absolutely mind fucked. That’s how I feel as I watch my wife dance on the tabletop in front of me. I’m not sure what I like more—her perfect little body, which sways slowly and sensually as she moves, her ridiculously sunny personality, or the brilliant intellect that hides behind her sparkling shell.
Last weekend, I walked in on her and Keva sitting at the kitchen table, discussing money laundering. I leaned my shoulder on the wall and observed my wife as she explained in great detail how it’s possible to launder money through renovation work of real estate properties. In the five minutes I spent watching, she gave Keva a step-by-step strategy—starting with the purchase of a derelict building and moving on to the remodeling activities that would allow for the optimum amount of money to exchange hands, and not missing any of the steps in between. And then, she finished by highlighting the estimated timeframe for the whole ordeal. When she was done, she took out her phone and snapped a picture of the pile of carrots she’d finished peeling while she spoke.
But the way she dances now is something else altogether, sending all the blood rushing straight to my cock. I lean back in my chair and let my gaze glide over the long-sleeved blue silk dress. A rather tame choice, given her fashion taste. Well, if you disregard all the sequins and the huge gold heart-shaped earrings.
Sienna places her hands on her waist and, looking straight into my eyes, starts rotating her hips. She’s smiling mischievously, and that smile is doing strange things to my insides. So fucking beautiful. The sight of her almost makes me forget the throbbing migraine that started the moment we approached the wedding venue and exponentially worsened the closer we got to the noise.
My enchanting wife is attempting a pirouette without tripping over a plate when a gunshot pierces the air.
She stops in midmotion, her eyes going wide with panic. Shit. I forgot to give her a heads-up about the celebratory shots.
In an instant, I freeze, my heartbeat skyrocketing, and stare at Drago as he slowly rises from his chair. A few more gunshots ring out somewhere outside the tent. A strangled cry escapes me, and I jump into my husband’s arms, wrapping my shaking limbs tightly around his neck.
“It’s okay,” he coos next to my ear. “That was the best man, shooting into the air. It’s a tradition.”
“Tradition?” I look up. “Your people are a bit crazy.”
I should probably get down since people are starting to give us curious looks. Apparently, I’m the only one who wasn’t expecting intentional gunfire in the middle of a wedding. I really should try to regain some sort of decorum, but I like being held by Drago. Maybe he feels the same, because he lowers himself back onto the chair without letting go of me.
“So, shooting into the air happens often at weddings?” I trace the length of his jaw with the tip of my finger.
Drago’s eyes widen slightly in surprise, but other than that, he pretends he doesn’t notice my caress. “Every damn time. And at most of the other celebrations held outside. I should have warned you.”
“It’s okay.” I shrug and lean forward a little bit. His eyes are so gorgeous. As is his nose, even though it is slightly crooked. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
Heat races along my spine as Drago’s rough palms slide up my back. “You’re welcome.”
The sensual melody I was dancing to transitions to a fast beat. A new wave of cheers erupts from everyone around us as the band kicks it into high gear with a drum and bass pattern that reverberates through the massive tent. Drago tenses and squeezes his eyes shut. His face twists into a grimace, his lips tightly pursed.
“Drago?” I cup his face in my palms. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” His eyes flutter open, and he resumes stroking my back.
Doesn’t seem like “nothing” to me. His body is rigid and there is a strain in the tone of his voice. I stroke the furrows in his brow, trailing the lines that aren’t usually there.
“You look like you’re in pain, Drago. What’s going on?”
“I’m fine, Sienna.”
A few hundred guests belt out the chorus of the song, each refrain louder than the last. Drago lets out a nasty Serbian curse and pinches the bridge of his nose, tightly squeezing his eyes shut.
He curses again and lowers his hand, but the strain is plainly visible on his face.
“Is it the music?”
“Yes,” he says through grinding teeth. “It’s too fucking loud.”
His hair is so soft as I rake my fingers through the dark strands. I haven’t even realized that I’ve been stroking it. “Let’s go home.”
My husband tilts his head to the side and looks at me as if he’s trying to parse me out. “I thought you were having fun.”
“I was. Not anymore.”
Because you’re obviously in pain and I can’t have fun knowing you are hurting. But I don’t say it, of course.
“I promised Asya I’d phone her at five tonight,” I lie. “We should get going right away so I don’t miss making that call on time.”
The corner of Drago’s lips lifts just a smidge. “But you have your phone with you. You can make a call from here. Or while we’re driving back.”
“Um . . . I prefer making my phone calls in private.” I shoot him a beaming smile. “It’s about girls’ stuff.”
“Mm-hmm. Or maybe it’s not your sister you need to call?”
My hand stills midstroke. Had someone overheard me calling the don yesterday and told Drago? I always make sure I call Ajello only when I’m alone in the bedroom or strolling through the grounds where no one is around. No, it’s not possible. “Of course not. Why would I lie?”
Drago keeps his eyes glued to mine, a dangerous glint sparks within them, as if he can see right through my lies and defenses, down to my soul. My heartbeat picks up while I stare into those two pools of green with brown flecks. Run! Screams the part of me that’s terrified of baring my secrets to anyone. Run, now, while you still can.
He takes hold of my chin, tilting it up as he slowly caresses my lower lip with his thumb. “Tako lepa usta, а toliko laži.”
I blink and try to concentrate on what he said amid all the distractions, but there is too much noise and activity around us so I only understand half of the sentence. I think he said he likes my mouth. My lips part, anticipating a kiss, but Drago releases my chin and leans away.
“Let’s head home.”
Swallowing the disappointment, I smile and get down off his lap. “Sure.” | <urn:uuid:c4022e60-5b9c-49bb-ada7-d2fb516a95d0> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://novelsforall.com/silent-lies-chapter-11/ | 2024-04-18T06:55:15Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.969312 | 3,463 |
Natural consequences of the productive capacity and Novomeccanica’s versatility are the activities that the company carries out in the field transport.
The company excels in precision machining. This is made possible by machinery capable of operating on pieces of large sizes which may be the components and the motors of the railway sector.
Our processing cycles of 5 axis can develop 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ensuring the greatest effectiveness and optimization of time.
Our milling and boring machine workshops, are capable of working components that require skill and precision. The range of activities that Novomeccanica covers is very broad: the structural elements, the finish of the wheel centers, the construction of casings. The company is equipped with the best machines for full machining with high dimensional accuracy and control systems. | <urn:uuid:c266dfa2-f4a5-4816-b3dd-f560b18956ee> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://novomeccanica.com/en/railway/ | 2024-04-18T07:49:32Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.930871 | 166 |
We’ve written about SaaS cost management extensively on this blog in recent months. Why? Because companies are spending more on SaaS…a lot more. Gartner estimates SaaS spend will grow by 20% in 2022, and that estimate is conservative for many enterprise customers. The volume and value of SaaS transactions NPI has analyzed over the last 12 months has grown at a sharp clip even as economic headwinds prevail. We expect the trend to accelerate as because SaaS is now the default delivery model for new software solutions, and top enterprise software vendors have not only transitioned to the model but are also getting more aggressive about phasing out residual perpetual licenses.
One byproduct of cloud spend proliferation is a growing marketplace of tools and services to help companies gain better visibility into their SaaS spend. This visibility is critical – foundational even – but it’s just one piece of the SaaS spend management puzzle. How are SaaS licenses being used? Who’s using them, and is there an optimal match between the license type and the features each user needs? Do you have shelfware licenses? Are you paying a fair price to begin with? Are your business terms aligned with your rollout plans? If you want to move the needle on SaaS spend, these questions are your guideposts.
Which SaaS Spend Management Tactics Deliver the Best Results?
As our clients grow their SaaS footprint, they typically have three objectives. The first is to proactively manage the category and get maximum value out of every SaaS dollar spent. The second is to achieve the first objective without any disruption to IT operations or departmental workflows. The third objective is to accomplish the first two while supporting the internal IT roadmap and, in most cases, paving the path with much-needed flexibility and agility.
NPI has found these objectives can be achieved using two proven tactics:
Assess large SaaS estates for opportunities to reclaim, reduce and realign licensing. NPI’s SaaS license optimization assessment is the first, most effective way to get rid of SaaS toxic spend. Assessments identify inactive or overpowered licenses, and typically reveal savings opportunities of 10 to 30%. They can be performed any time but are especially helpful in preparation for renewals – establishing a fact-based demand baseline is a best practice that measurably cuts costs (as opposed to renewing what you already bought without validating that you need it, which is the norm for many companies today). Here are some recent examples:
Optimize renewal agreements for better pricing, discounts and terms. Enterprise agreement renewals are an excellent time to ensure you’re receiving best-in-class pricing, discounts and business terms. This requires IT price benchmark analysis to ensure pricing is at or below fair market value range (note: SaaS pricing isn’t as “transparent” as many vendors would have you believe). It also encompasses license optimization, which includes executing against the licensing requirements defined in a SaaS license optimization assessment. Another layer of enterprise agreement renewal optimization is aligning business terms and usage rights with both current and future-state usage requirements.
Here are a few more detailed examples of how companies have achieved 7-figure savings through these tactics:
Remember – Visibility into SaaS Spend is Important, But It’s Not Enough
As we’ve pointed out, execution of the two tactics detailed above can have a material impact on enterprise SaaS spend – especially for large SaaS software estates like Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday and others. Just as importantly, it can give companies the flexibility and cost protections they need to grow their SaaS usage in lockstep with changing requirements.
The key? Focusing on SaaS spend management best practices that deliver real impact. Visibility into top-line SaaS spend is important – but it’s simply not enough.
If you want to learn more about how you can get more mileage out of your SaaS spend, NPI can assist. Contact us today. | <urn:uuid:fa26c4c7-18cc-42b7-ac35-1001335b9ffa> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://npifinancial.com/blog/how-to-get-more-out-of-your-saas-spend/ | 2024-04-18T07:53:04Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.947954 | 847 |
In February 2023, IBM announced changes to its Passport Advantage Agreement terms that will take effect on May 1 for existing customers. These changes increase customers’ software license compliance burden and risk. It’s imperative that customers conduct internal license position assessments as soon as possible.
Over the last decade, enterprise software vendors have gradually and creatively shifted more software compliance reporting burden and risk onto their customers. Examples include SAP’s annual self-declaration requirement and Microsoft’s Cloud Economics Assessment. Most recently, IBM joined the list with recent updates to its Passport Advantage Agreement terms.
A common theme among IBM’s changes is that Passport Advantage customers now bear more responsibility for software compliance reporting at a more frequent cadence – whether it’s additional annual reporting requirements or validation of license position leading up to deployment changes. As NPI has seen in the past, more opportunities for IBM to assess compliance means a higher likelihood of noncompliance discovery. (Many customers don’t realize that vendors such as Microsoft, Oracle and IBM count on revenue from software license audit penalties and have dedicated teams with revenue targets to meet.)
IBM Passport Advantage customers need to fully understand the implications of these changes and their impact on SAM best practices across the IBM estate. In this bulletin, we focus on the updates that will have the most material impact on compliance risk and reporting.
One of the most noteworthy changes to IBM’s Passport Advantage agreement terms is the addition of new mandatory compliance reporting requirements. Section 4.1.a of the new agreement terms stipulates:
Client will, for all Programs at all Sites and for all environments, create, retain, and each year provide to IBM upon request with 30 days’ advance notice: i) a report of deployed Programs, in a format requested by IBM, using records, system tools output, and other system information; and ii) supporting documentation (collectively, Deployment Data).
The challenge? Few enterprises are currently able to provide this information in a single month’s time. License reconciliation across an enterprise-scale IBM deployment is a huge undertaking and most IT and procurement teams don’t have the processes and resources in place to make it happen. Previously, customers only had to submit a report generated by IBM’s License Metric Tool (ILMT) on a quarterly basis and only if they were being audited.
To ensure readiness, NPI recommends customers perform a full license reconciliation (or license position assessment) of their IBM estate now. This will serve as a baseline report that can be feasibly updated upon IBM’s request.
Most enterprise IBM customers are not prepared to adhere to the changes to IBM Passport Advantage agreement terms. For SAM and procurement leaders, these changes mean redirecting valuable resources, money, and time.
IBM now mandates Passport Advantage customers not alter, modify, delete or misrepresent any IBM approved software reporting tools and reports – either directly or indirectly. This includes any IBM approved software reporting tools (including its code), any report generated by those tools, or any manually generated reports that misrepresent EP use.
While this stricter language isn’t very onerous at first glance, it points to a larger issue. Very few enterprises configure ILMT to report accurately. As a result, inaccurate reporting outputs that are typically in IBM’s favor – not the customer’s – are a common occurence. IBM’s new language makes it harder for customers to rectify these errors on an ad-hoc basis. Customers should carefully evaluate their ILMT configurations to ensure accuracy, as well as continue to analyze reported data for accuracy.
IBM is making it more difficult for customers to drop or reduce S&S. If a customer wants to renew expiring S&S at a lower quantity, they must provide documentation that verifies current use and installations at least 30 days prior to renewal date. If the client fails to deliver the required documentation, they will be required to renew all existing quantities.
This is a strategic tactic for IBM to protect S&S revenues. Much to customers’ frustration, it also provides another opportunity for IBM to assess compliance across the entire IBM estate. Given the runway required to generate a license position assessment – and potentially remediate any compliance risk exposure before IBM becomes involved – customers that wish to reduce S&S will now need to approach renewals more strategically and earlier.
Customers that want to deploy software on containers are now required to run IBM License Services (another license measurement tool). Similar to a more robust ILMT, IBM License Services measures licenses on the container side, has more intel built into it, and includes more frequent and more detailed reporting.
Given the relative early adoption of containers, this change will have a more limited impact across IBM’s customer base – at least for now. Over the last few years, the use of containers in computing has become increasingly popular among companies and developers.
Under new rules, customers cannot terminate entitlements for their subscription licenses before the end of their current term. This is the first time IBM has issued any solid language to support this requirement. It underscores the need for customers to make sure they are buying only what they need, when they need it, at a fair price, and with maximum flexibility engineered into their negotiated agreements. A license position assessment will reveal exactly what is being used and what is not so customers have a fact-based demand definition.
Most enterprise IBM customers are not prepared to adhere to the changes to IBM Passport Advantage agreement terms. For SAM and procurement leaders, these changes mean redirecting valuable resources, money, and time. There will be a very real budget impact for most enterprise customers, and unneeded distraction during tech roadmap execution. Customers will need to take a more strategic and proactive view of license reporting and compliance as well as Passport Advantage Agreement renewal events.
If you are an IBM Passport Advantage customer, NPI strongly recommends you conduct a license position assessment immediately (and on an annual basis going forward). This will give you the ability to remediate compliance issues, assure that ILMT is configured correctly, tune SAM processes across the organization if needed, and be at the ready if IBM makes the “30-day notice” request. Contact us to learn more. | <urn:uuid:115f5560-d4e5-4c9e-8fb1-9d9af9e9f423> | CC-MAIN-2024-18 | https://npifinancial.com/sb-resource/ibm-passport-advantage-agreement-changes-how-to-tackle-new-compliance-requirements/ | 2024-04-18T06:40:35Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2024-18/segments/1712296817200.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20240418061950-20240418091950-00368.warc.gz | en | 0.938615 | 1,286 |
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