Go Sweden! The team at Buy-It-Once.com are very impressed.
"I believe there is a shift in view in Sweden at the moment. There is an increased knowledge that we need to make our things last longer in order to reduce materials' consumption," says Per Bolund, Sweden's minister for financial markets and consumer affairs.
Read more in Waste not want not: Sweden to give tax breaks for repairs by Richard Orange at The Guardian.
The Minimalists are Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus. They write about living a meaningful life with less stuff for 4 million readers.
How do you ensure the clothing you buy was created responsibly?
Where do you draw the line between spending more money for higher quality goods and getting sucked into consumerism?
How can you be a fandom collector and still be a minimalist?
How do you shop responsibly at warehouse club stores?
I want to thank the Minimalists for mentioning Buy It Once and helping to spread the message about buying ethical, high quality products. You can listen to the podcast below.
Intelligence in the fashion industry. Subtle signs suggest a trend of producing more durable clothes by Thomaz Wood Jr.
Thomaz Wood Jr wrote an opinion piece titled Intelligence in the fashion industry for CartaCapital, a Brazilian magazine that focuses on politics, economics, social issues and culture. Wood writes about the subtle shift towards conscious consumerism in the fashion industry. This is a trend that we at Buy-It-Once are delighted to see moving closer to the mainstream.
Wood wrote his article in Portuguese and the passage above was automatically translated, as was the title, which has a possibly unintentional double meaning. You can read the rest of the translated article by clicking here. If you are lucky enough to be able to read Portuguese, then here is a link to the original article at CartaCapital, http://www.cartacapital.com.br/revista/891/feitas-para-durar.
All I needed was a garden spade. So after careful consideration, I chose a mid-priced spade, costing $22.98, with a 10 year guarantee, from an Australian company. I expected it to last. A guarantee is not just a promise of a replacement, but also, an indicator that a product is of high quality and is built to last.
But what happens when a product has a guarantee, but isn't built to last?
A month later my spade, guaranteed for 10 years, was broken. It wasn't until the spade's wooden shaft had snapped that I noticed it was made in China. Companies in search of higher profits and lower prices have chosen China for low manufacturing costs and lower wages. Unfortunately, companies that have moved manufacturing to China haven't just shaved cents off the dollar, but have also shaved the edge off quality and brand reputation.
With mud still on my shoes, I returned the broken spade to Bunnings. Bunnings is the biggest home improvement retail chain in Australia and New Zealand. The range is good and the "lowest prices are just the beginning". I knew Bunnings would offer me a replacement, but how could I know the replacement would be better?
Up and down the aisle, I searched for spades with signs of durability. I read guarantees, checked where products were manufactured and noted prices. The friendly and helpful staff told me they had seen broken Spears & Jackson spades crossing the returns desk, but so far, they hadn't seen any Cyclone spades being returned. That was good enough for me. So I walked out with the green Cyclone spade for $43.95. It cost nearly twice the price of my broken spade, and I gladly paid the difference.
Is the green Cyclone spade actually better than the blue Spear & Jackson spade? What does a guarantee actually mean? A lifetime guarantee versus a 10 year guarantee is basically equivalent, but, if we can't look for guarantees as an indicator of quality, what can we look to? We can seek companies with long histories, ethical commitments, and sustainable supply chains. We can avoid products made in countries that are known for cutting corners, and favour nations with reputations for producing the highest quality products. Sometimes price is an indicator, but often we don't get what we pay for. Instead, we just pay for brand positioning.
Both spades are made by companies that have long, proud Australian histories. Spear & Jackson was established in Australia in 1957 but, the current company has a history dating back to the 1700's in England. They have divisions in England, France and Australia. They distribute their products across the globe and also own the famous WHS trowel brand. WHS is popularly said to stand for Work Hard or Starve, echoing the brand's commitment to durability. Cyclone also has a long Australian history and was established in 1898. They quickly gained a reputation among farmers for high quality wire fencing. When construction began on the Sydney Opera House in 1958, Cyclone was there supplying scaffolding that could be relied on. Cyclone are now known across Australia for their hard wearing garden tools.
Both companies make commitments to ethical manufacturing. Cyclone signed the Australian Packaging Covenant, a progressive initiative to reduce waste and increase recycling. Spear & Jackson, have a "Supplier Code of Conduct" that prohibits human rights abuses and unethical practices by them and their suppliers.
When I buy online I read reviews, I check the background of companies, and do my best to find products that meet the "buy it once" standard. But sometimes I don't have time to buy online so I just go to a mall. From now on I won't just look for a guarantee, or just buy from a local company, but I will stand in the aisle reading reviews, checking where products are manufactured, and be sure that what I buy is truly "buy it once".
Elizabeth Cline wrote the passage above in her article titled, "The Power of Buying Less by Buying Better", published today in The Atlantic.
Thanks Elizabeth for including a mention of Buy-It-Once.com. I really appreciate it.
Kathryn McKenzie, a columnist for the Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper is writing her "Living Green" series. Her latest article titled "Buy the things that last"resonates with the Buy-It-Once message.
I'm very happy to see Kathryn also points readers to "Check out Buy Me Once (www.buymeonce.com) and Buy It Once (www.buy-it-once.com) for online stores that carry items with lifetime or very long guarantees." Thanks Kathryn.
There is, clearly, an argument to be made for buying the best you can afford. There is, clearly, an argument to be made that poor quality goods are an environmental plague in addition to being a false bargain. We've become too accepting that things simply fall apart and that we replace them. Our possessions seem to be leased, rather than genuinely owned. After all, when you purchase short term utility, isn't that usually referred to as "renting"? Whatever happened to durability?
The passage above is from Jane Macdougall's latest article, Buy it once, buy it right, published in Canada's National Post newspaper. She describes her experiences trying to replace a broken potato ricer. It had been handed down from her Grandmother to her mother, and now to her. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Jane also included a reference to Buy-It-Once.com.
Edit: Thanks to all the visitors from Reddit! It was fun reading all the comments.
It's been a tough journey. All I'm trying to do is find products built to last then check if they're sustainable and ethically made. Researching products and making sure that they really live up to their claims is slow progress. Initially I hoped to find products with lifetime warranties but you'd be surprised how often a lifetime warranty really means 1 or 2 years. Slowly but surely the Buy-It-Once store is growing with more and more products that really are the best of their category.
The plan is to use this space to write articles, show info-graphics, and everything else that won't fit into the main store.
Please leave feedback and use this as a place to discuss around durability, sustainability, and planned obsolescence.
© 2013 – 2019 Buy It Once Blog. All rights reserved.


You have always had at least one parent or guardian reminding you to check your blood sugar or dose for your meal. The time has now come and you are moving out of your parent's house. You have all of your belongings packed and you're staring at your empty room. Now what? If it is not already stressful enough that you are moving out and starting something completely new, you also have your type 1 diabetes to worry about.
If your mom is anything like mine she was more of a mess than I was. "Make sure you take care of your diabetes, check your sugar, dose for your food, carry all of your supplies with you, carry quick carbs just in case!" She was worried that I would forget about everything she ever taught me. At the time I was so frustrated and aggravated that she was so worried about me. I kept telling her, "I am an adult now, I have it under control." I thought that she did not trust me, that she did not think I was responsible enough to move out on my own, without her.
Now looking back on it, I realized that she loved me and that is why she said anything at all. All of the times that she frantically called me when I did not text her back or answer her first phone call, she loved me. All of the times that she would text my boyfriend to make sure I was safe, she loved me. All of the times that she asked if I had been taking care of myself, she loved me. All of the times that my mom got aggravated with me about not taking care of myself, she loved me. All of the times that my mom lectured me about the health problems I would have later on, for not taking care of my diabetes, she loved me. I am still learning today that the only reason she does what she does, is not to annoy me or bug me, but because she cares and loves me more than anything.
So my advice to anyone who is moving out of their parent's home for the first time; Be understanding and loving of your stressed parents. Text your mom or dad at night and tell them you're OKAY! Text them your blood sugar every now and then, let them know that you are doing well on your own, that they did a good job raising you. It has taken me a while to understand that your parents are not nagging at you to annoy you or get under your skin, they are being loving parents who want their children to be healthy and safe.


text:
The PJ Tatler
Progressives Entrust Their Kids' Education to Weird, Facepainted Mimes. What Can Go Wrong?
By Bryan Preston Jun 13, 2012 10:11 AM ET
Oh, just everything.
The Blue School is one big play date in desperate need of adult supervision.
Parents are yanking their kids out of the "progressive," $32,000 per-year private school founded by the Blue Man Group — which has no books and no tests — because their kids are barely learning to read, The Post has learned.
No books and not tests and the kids aren't learnin'. Who could have seen that coming? Not the progressives dupes who sent their kids to the Blue School.
Another parent who dropped her first-grade son off yesterday said he's not coming back next year — because he's got nothing to do.
"When a 6-year-old says they're bored, there's a problem," the mother said. "I think they bit off more than they can chew."
Other moms have taken to a popular message board to vent.
"It's all fun and games until you realize your second-grader can't read," a parent wrote on Urbanbaby.com.
Here's what the prog parents are paying $32,000 in tuition per year for.
The Blue School, founded by members of the theater troupe and their wives as a play group in 2006, got its independent-school charter in 2009.
The school holds an annual fund drive for parents — 72 percent contributed during the most recent one, officials said.
School officials say students decide their own curriculum, and have no set arrival time.
And this may not be atypical of "progressive" schools.
Some experts said parents who choose progressive schools shouldn't expect to see the same results as they do from a conventional school.
"A majority of my Upper East Side clients, if they took a look down there, their heads would explode," said education adviser Terri Decker of Smart City Kids. "Literally, their brains would be on the pavement."
Fools, money, parted. With the exception of the green money involved, every color in this story is blue: Blue man group, blue prog dupes, and in a blue state. How appropriate.
Bryan Preston has been a leading conservative blogger and opinionator since founding his first blog in 2001. Bryan is a military veteran, worked for NASA, was a founding blogger and producer at Hot Air, was producer of the Laura Ingraham Show and, most recently before joining PJM, was Communications Director of the Republican Party of Texas.
Read more by Bryan Preston
Exposed: Progressive Democrats' Totalitarian Obsession in COVID Crisis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
import * as React from 'react';
import type { BaseWaterMarkProps } from './interface';

export const WATERMARK_DEFAULT_STYLES: React.CSSProperties = {
  position: 'fixed',
  left: 0,
  top: 0,
  right: 0,
  bottom: 0,
  pointerEvents: 'none',
  overflow: 'hidden',
  backgroundColor: 'transparent',
  backgroundRepeat: 'repeat',
};

export const TEXT_STYLE_DEFAULT: BaseWaterMarkProps['textStyle'] = {
  color: '#000',
  fontStyle: 'normal',
  fontWeight: 300,
  fontSize: 14,
  fontFamily: 'sans-serif',
  fontVariant: 'normal',
  textAlign: 'center',
  textBaseline: 'alphabetic',
};

export const IMAGE_STYLE_DEFAULT: BaseWaterMarkProps['imageStyle'] = {
  width: 120,
  height: 64,
};

export const MARK_STYLE_DEFAULT: BaseWaterMarkProps['markStyle'] = {
  width: 120,
  height: 64,
  rotate: -22,
  opacity: 0.15,
  gapX: 100,
  gapY: 100,
  offsetLeft: 0,
  offsetTop: 0,
};

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Strong storms can pop up out of nowhere, and wreak havoc on our neighborhoods in a matter of minutes. The Atlanta areas is especially susceptible to strong storms during late spring and all the way to late November at the end of the tropical storm season. These storms carry an arsenal of power that can damage your home or property. Heavy rains that can flood basements, hail that breaks windows, or wind that uproots trees can all cause headaches galore.
If your home has unfortunately fallen victim to a strong storm or rain, the last thing you should have to deal with is being the one to clean the mess up. Making claims, assessing damage, and even missing out on work due to damage or power outages can be exhausting. We strongly suggest letting an Atlanta storm debris expert take care of the tree branches, broken windows, or any other storm debris for you. When those storms pass through that never seem to be over, flooding can cause issues, especially in basements. If you need your carpet removed due to too much water damage, we can haul that away too!
The tropical storm season has just started for 2013. Please take the proper precautions to stay safe and keep your home free of damage. If you run into trouble, contact Mr Junk for a helping hand in getting things back to normal by cleaning up storm damage.


text:
Job losses a shock to the community – Crowe
26 February, 2015 - by Seán Crowe TD
Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe has called the reports of the loss of more than 60 jobs at Cadbury's Tallaght factory as a shock to the community and said it will have wide ranging repercussions for the families of those losing the jobs and the local economy.
Deputy Seán Crowe said:
"Cadbury-owner Mondelez has announced plans to close its gum production plant in Tallaght with the reported loss of over 60 jobs and that the plant will fully close next year. It was only opened a short while ago, in 2006."
"I am gutted with these job losses particularly as they are currently located in a community which really can't take any more negative hits and job losses."
"The continued departure of traditional industries and the manufacturing jobs they brought has had a devastating effect on Tallaght and its hinterland as they are not easily replaced."
"SIPTU have announced that its members who worked in the plant were shocked to hear of the news and angry that their jobs are now being located to Poland."
"Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, needs to explain if the Government had any advanced warning of these job losses and if they tried to do anything to stop them, or indeed if there is anything they can do at this late hour to stop them."
"A fair deal for these employees must follow this announcement and the Government need to provide them with adequate supports and most importantly explain how they will replace these jobs."


text:
Blanchette ist der Familienname folgender Personen:

 Javeim Blanchette (* 1991), Fußballspieler von St. Kitts und Nevis
 Patricia Blanchette (* 1957), US-amerikanische Logikerin und Philosophin

Siehe auch:
 Blanchet
 Blankscheit
 Planchette

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Over the last 14 years, The Arts Institute (formerly Peninsula Arts) has evolved significantly, finding its place in the city's art and cultural offering.
Whilst our cutting-edge research portfolio explores the arts and humanities with investigation that cuts across science, health and marine, our public programme informed by research expertise and through collaborations with partners across the city, welcomes audiences of all ages and backgrounds to experience high quality exhibitions, talks, films, music and performances throughout the year.
We host the largest contemporary art gallery in Plymouth, The Levinsky Gallery; the Jill Craigie Cinema; The House and its cutting-edge performance programme; a year-long series of fascinating talks that open up the world of history, and a rich classical and contemporary music programme.
It's hard to believe we have now delivered ten seasons of our public arts programme since our move into the iconic Roland Levinsky Building.
As a direct result of the vision of our late Vice Chancellor, Professor Levinsky, we have evolved, flourished and now sit at the heart of the city's arts and cultural offer and the University's national and international ambition.
From collaborating to host the prestigious British Art Show back in 2011, we are now a key partner anticipating the opening of the city's flagship venue, The Box in 2020. We are delighted to mark such success by renaming the Peninsula Arts Gallery, 'The Levinsky Gallery'.
Find out about upcoming exhibitions in the gallery.
You can book your tickets online 24 hours a day, you can also purchase tickets via our ticket booking line which is open Monday to Friday between 13.00–17.00.
Tickets can be posted to you or provided as an e-ticket. We accept all major credit cards. Tickets cannot be reserved without payment. Seats are unreserved; a first come first served basis is in operation.
Concessions apply to University of Plymouth students and staff, over 60s, unwaged, full-time students and young people aged 18 and under. Proof of eligibility may be requested.
We regret that it is not possible to offer a refund once a ticket has been purchased unless an event has been cancelled by The Arts Institute.
Admittance may be restricted after the published commencement time of the event.
Please note all programme details are correct at the time of our season guide going to print. The Arts Institute reserves the rights to change the programme without prior notice. All events are kept up-to-date online.


text:
Sukkah expresses public, private dilemma of Judaism
By Rabbi Mark Fasman
Ask almost any Jew what his or her Hebrew name is, and most know it. Outside of Israel, that name is often different from the secular name. Sometimes it is close (Sam/Shmuel, Elizabeth/Elisheva). Sometimes it begins with the same sound (Mark/Mordecai, Lisa/Leah). Sometimes it has the same meaning (Wolf/Zeev, Pearl/Margalit).
But no matter what, we have a public name and a "private" or Jewish name.
We are remarkably adept at separating our Jewish life from our secular life. Diaspora Jews are exceptionally adept at alternating between these two identities. Many keep a kosher home, but see no inconsistency in eating non-kosher food out of the home. Many expect that the synagogue be a place of strict adherence to halacha, but do not follow halacha in their homes or businesses.
Many committed American Jews are Jews who keep a kippah in their pocket. Like Boy Scouts, we are prepared to make the switch to "Jewish" at a moment's notice. Twenty-five years ago, as a new professor, I did not divulge my religion, either to colleagues or to students. I did not want the adjective appended to my title: "Jewish" professor. Eventually I wore that aspect of my identity openly and proudly. However, it took many years and it was not until I entered rabbinical school that I began to wear my kippah in public.
There are times in which there are conflicts between our two lives. Shul or soccer? Festivals or work and school? Cardinals or rabbis? Hebrew school or cheerleading/after-school sports? But we find ways to navigate these sometimes turbulent and dangerous waters.
Sukkot is one of the seasons of the Jewish year in which we are challenged to break down the artificial walls we have created between our Jewish self and our secular self. The sukkah forces us to go outside of our homes. It, like the public lighting of Hanukkah candles, places us in contact with our non-Jewish neighbors. We can see this meaning of Sukkot hinted at in the difference between the sacrifices for Sukkot vs. Shemini Atzeret. On Shemini Atzeret there is only one bull offered. But on Sukkot, we offer 70 bulls, corresponding to the 70 nations of the world. The rabbis teach us that these bulls are to atone for the sins of all mankind.
The Jewish people have often been insular. And we are parochial in many ways. This has sometimes been by choice, but often for our own protection. We hold ourselves separate. We ask, "Is it good for the Jews?"
But Sukkot forces us to emerge into the public sphere. We have obligations beyond the walls of the Jewish world. We have to see to the needs of the poor within our homes, but also to our neighbors. We have to see to the needs of the Jewish community, but also to the non-Jewish community.
If the role of the Jewish people has been to introduce God to the nations of the world, and in particular, to convey God's Torah, our obligations do not stop once that delivery has been made. Torah is instruction. We need to teach it to ourselves and to others. We need to live it for ourselves and teach others how to live by its principles.
The trick, of course, is to find the proper balance between private and public expressions of Judaism.
We must not remain isolated from the non-Jewish world. This is in our interests as well as in the interests of our neighbors.
But remember that the sukkah does have walls. Even as we live outside of our homes, we live within the walls of our temporary shelter. Even as we live outside of our homes, we must retain our particular expression of religious identity. Our tabernacles are Jewish, not Mormon. We have obligations that are particular to Jews, both in private and in public. We have beliefs and practices that are uniquely Jewish, both in the privacy of our homes and synagogues and in the public arena.
The sukkah is a symbol of the great challenge of Judaism in the contemporary world. Like a fiddler on the roof, we walk a fine line between our Jewish identity and our universal humanity, between the imperatives of our tradition and our need to change to meet the changing conditions in which we live. During Sukkot, a fiddler on the s'khakh is in an even more precarious position. This is as it should be. This is the season to focus even more carefully on the balance we strive to achieve in our lives.
Rabbi Mark Fasman of Shaare Zedek Congregation prepared the commentary on this week's Torah portion.
Thank you to faith leaders supporting the separation of church, state
Pursuit of justice must include justice within our ranks
How the left is redefining morality, legality and sanity
D'var Torah: We are called to turn 'hard hearts' to compassion, love
Jews who defend antisemites
A law professor worries Israel could become the next Hungary
Israeli democracy may not survive a 'reform' of its Supreme Court
Welcoming Sheri Glantz and her "Sunny Side of Life" to the Jewish Light
The Pope Benedict I knew: A keeper of his faith with a deep respect for Judaism
Resolutions in Reverse: We turn the tables as we enter 2023 this week


M Mushfiqul Fazal from Washington, May 10 (Just News): The United States President Donald Trump made the impossible possible one as three American detainees freed from arch-rival North Korea and landed safely to their home on Thursday. The whole world observed this dramatic change with the North Korea and fruitful diplomacy of the USA.
The President with the First Lady Melania Trump warmly welcomed the three great Americans at the Joint Base Andrews early morning .
The plane bearing the returnees from North Korea landed at Andrews Air Force Base at 2:42 am. After landing, the plane bearing the returnees from North Korea taxied towards the large American flag backdrop. It came to a stop at 2:49 am.
President Trump left the terminal four minutes later and walked towards the plane accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Second Lady Karen Pence, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The president and the First Lady boarded the plane at about 2:54 am. The Pences and the Secretary of State remained on the tarmac.
Trump walked onto the steps outside the plane at 3:00 am accompanied by his wife and the three proud American returnees. They shook hands. One of the men pumped his hands in the air as Trump clapped.
About two minutes later, Trump brought the men up to the assembled reporters and they all spoke to the press for over seven minutes.
"I think our Secretary of State, despite the fact that the New York Times said he was missing -- he was in North Korea -- but I think our Secretary of State has done a fantastic job. Mike, did you know that you were missing? They couldn't find you. They couldn't find him. They couldn't find him because he was in North Korea," he added.
Three detainees are, Kim Dong Chul, Kim Sang Duk (Tony Kim), and Kim Hak Song.


Nah,jika teman-teman sudah melaksanakan pentunjuk sesuai yang saya sarankan, maka pada layar monitor teman-teman akan muncul gambar seperti dibawah ini. Dengan langkah ini, pada Ribbon akan ditampilkan Key Tips berupa angka atau huruf yang dapat digunakan untuk menjalankan tab atau tombol perintah(command button). Virtually all "discovery processes" utilized by home designers concentrate on the use and house requirements of the rooms in the home.
More string lighting, this time utilizing a sheer curtain. Coordinated cloth in a masculine pattern and colors. Shop round and make sure the gadget's finish coordinate with the home and room's shade scheme. Speak to me at your Decor Studio appointment for information on all our Sensible Home upgrades and inspiration.
Designer Vanessa DeLeon integrated a sheer, silk curtain panel into this Asian-model condominium to add a dramatic factor and visually separate the lounge from the eating room. Coordinated cloth in a feminine sample and matching colours. Ribbon dirancang untuk membantu Anda agar dapat bekerja lebih produktif serta mudah dalam menggunakan seluruh fasilitas dan fungsi yang disediakan oleh PowerPoint 2007.
As you savor the expertise of holiday adorning, grab a number of DIY good house gadgets from Iris to assist take this year's decor to the following degree. Traditional bed room furnishings options velvety or silky finishes and graceful curves. The advantages of residing in an automated home are indeniable in terms of comfort, safety and power saving.
I'm a traditional red, green and white woman, although the pink, purple and shiny inexperienced mixed in with the traditional colours this year was really pretty. In case you have brightly coloured but non-white partitions, coloured lighting will additively combine with that colour, but once more, you will get a less pronounced impact and probably will not obtain the precise lighting shade you had been aiming for.


Read more about PenTest+ Objectives: What Should My Employees Know?
Cybersecurity Certification Programs: What is right for your Employees?
When building a cybersecurity platform for your company, it's important to that your employees have the knowledge to make sure that your company's data will be protected from attacks.
Read more about Cybersecurity Certification Programs: What is right for your Employees?
Certified Network Defender Training: What is it Exactly?
Wireless connectivity and the ever-expanding Internet of Things gives people the power to work, socialize, and shop at any time and place. However, this convenience comes at a price. In a recent survey by internet safety firm Symantec, 38.5% of Americans were affected by cybercrimes in 2016. With more people and businesses relying on the internet every day, this number is expected to continue to rise.
Read more about Certified Network Defender Training: What is it Exactly?


text:
There must be peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan: President Aliyev
There must be a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said.
The head of state made the statement during his speech after viewing the progress of restoration work in the Aghdam Juma Mosque, carried out by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, News.Az reports.
President Aliyev reminded that for 30 years, all Azerbaijani cities, villages, mosques and cemeteries had been deliberately destroyed by the Armenians.
"Imaret was destroyed and insulted by the Armenians. Some are talking about future reconciliation now. Of course, there must be a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This peace agreement must be signed on the basis of mutual recognition of the territorial integrity of the countries, on the basis of the norms and principles of international law. I have also said that. But the Azerbaijani people must never forget this atrocity. No-one should ever forget this savagery," he said.
President Aliyev added: "I am confident that the work we are doing today, including the work in the field of army building, will further strengthen Azerbaijan and serve as a good response to the revanchist forces in Armenia. We are on our own land. We have returned to this land by shedding blood and giving martyrs. We are standing firm in this land and will live on it forever. Karabakh is Azerbaijan!"
Aghdam
Azerbaijan continues engineering support for military units stationed in liberated territories (VIDEO)
Azerbaijani, Georgian PMs hold phone talk
First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva makes post on Day of Azerbaijani Youth
First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has made a post on the occasion (...)
Azerbaijanis continue peaceful protests on Lachin road despite cold weather
Despite the snowy weather, the peaceful protests of Azerbaijani ecologists and NGO representatives o (...)


Using lean ground turkey instead of ground chuck lowers the overall fat content of this savory Turkey Sloppy Joe recipe. The tangy, tomato based sauce is packed with fresh vegetables. Quick and easy, this recipe can be on your table in under 20 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, tomato sauce, sugar, worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, chili powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add onion, bell pepper and carrots and cook, stirring as needed, for 5 minutes.
Add turkey and cook until browned through, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks. Add the ketchup mixture, stirring to evenly coat turkey and vegetables.
Simmer for 10 minutes more, or until thickened. Divide turkey mixture evenly among buns and serve immediately.


Lenovo Yoga 2 11.6" Best Buy Laptop Pentium Quad Core N3540 4GB 500GB+8GB SSD.
Add some flexibility to your computing with this amazing device. Offering multiple modes it gives you more convenience and productivity. Featuring Quad Core Pentium N3540 processor, 11.6-inch HD IPS display with 10-point multi touch and long lasting battery it gives you better performance in every task.


text:
Caren Merrick
Thrive at Work, Every Day
Let The Power of National Parks Transform Your Summer
"You cannot really be first rate at your work if work is all you are." – Pulitzer Prize winning author, Anna Quindlen
Anna has a point. In her book, "A Short Guide to a Happy Life," she writes:
"Get a life in which you notice the smell of salt water pushing itself on a breeze over the dunes, a life in which you stop and watch how a red-tailed hawk circles over a pond and a stand of pines."
With Summer coming up, you may be thinking about how you'll be spending your time.
There is one simple way you can get a better, happier life, and improve your work at the same time — visit a U.S. National Park. Or, even better, visit a few!
I confess, I'm biased. Every Summer as a kid growing up, my parents loaded my three siblings and I into our station wagon (and later, a rickety camper) and we set off for a National Park. It was non-stop adventure, and undoubtedly one of the best investments my parents made in our well-being. Some of the happiest times of my childhood were spent camping with my family beneath giant trees in a National Park.
Our family lived in California, so our adventures began out West, visiting some of the best Parks before my 12th birthday, including:
Yosemite (overwhelming beauty)
Sequoia (which has the oldest, tallest, wildest trees in the world)
Yellowstone (explosive!)
Bryce (otherworldly)
Zion (dazzling blue skies)
Crater Lake (home to the deepest lake in the US)
Grand Canyon (breathtaking, and a bit scary for a kid)
Our National Parks have something for everyone — from the rugged individualist, to the cultured businessperson, to adventurous couples, families young and old, and especially for the enthusiastic environmentalist.
Here are 4 reasons (as if you need convincing!) why you should visit a National Park this Summer:
1. You'll be renewed and inspired
National Parks offer some of the Earth's most spectacular scenery. Countless studies show the link between renewal and nature. Take in breathtaking mountain ranges with massive peaks, roaring rivers, emerald green rain forests, or rising dune fields.
"Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better." – Albert Einstein
2. You'll get a boost of energy
Get out and hike or bike a trail. Ride the rapids of a river, or wade in a creek. The huge dose of exercise and fresh air you can get in a National Park will energize you.
"Great things are done when men and mountains meet. This is not done by jostling in the street." – William Blake
3. You'll increase your happiness
As you witness some of America's greatest treasures in our National Parks, you'll be awestruck. A UK study found that people who spend time outdoors and near the water are happier.
"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous." – Aristotle
4. You'll learn a lot while having fun
The National Parks are huge outdoor classrooms of biology, animals of all sorts, meteorology, and history.
Here are a few facts:
Our National Parks offer 85,000 miles of the country's most beautiful rivers and streams and over 43,000 miles of our wildest shoreline (water + people = happiness)
They include 27,000 historic structures and nearly 70,000 archeological sites
Over 400 endangered species are protected in our Parks
Each park offers talks, guides, and unique things you can do.
The last National Park I visited was in March. It one of the most exotic – the US Virgin Island National Park on St. John. It was a short plane ride to St. Thomas from the East Coast, then we sailed to St. John on a boat. It has become one of my favorite National Parks with an underwater, 225 yard snorkeling trail.
On my wish list is the rugged, coastal Acadia National Park in Maine. We haven't planned that trip, yet!
Let the power of National Parks transform your summer. Discover a National Park near you and plan your next trip! Trust me, you'll be glad you did.
In the meantime, check out National Geographic's breathtaking celebration of National Parks and you'll be taking the first step toward your journey. And follow the U.S. National Parks on Instagram.
Your turn: What is your favorite National Park, or which one are you dying to visit? Email me directly at caren@carenmerrick.com. I respond to all my emails and would love to learn more about you! Or, tweet me your answer at @cdmerrick!
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About Caren
I'm a serial entrepreneur (start-ups in tech and social impact) most notably co-founder and EVP of webMethods, Inc. which grew from my basement to a $200m global, Nasdaq company with 1,100 team members. I now serve on several public company boards, write, speak, and advise high performance leaders. I'm married with two sons and our family loves to sail on our catamaran, Glad In It.
Connect with Caren
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© 2020 Caren Merrick


China Lands On the Moon!
The space race is still in full swing! Join the round table as they celebrate China's cosmic milestone on "Chelsea Lately."
Dec. 24 - The coming year is likely to bring more tension between China and its maritime neighbours as the country builds up its presence in the region. Reuters' Greg Torode highlights three flash points.


Fix Error: Could not find recovery environment!!! Help please!
Error: Could not find recovery environment!!! Help please!
Preferred Solution: Error: Could not find recovery environment!!! Help please!
A: Error: Could not find recovery environment!!! Help please!


Before we answer your question, did you know that smartphone users check their devices 150 times a day? With a growing percentage of your target audience accessing websites through their mobile devices, it is becoming a trend to create websites that are responsive.
Responsive Web Design (RWD) is the approach in web design aimed to provide an optimal viewing experience across different screen sizes, platforms and devices. With 46% of mobile users reporting problems viewing a static site, RWD enhances the user experience and allows them to browse the website with ease.
Firm Media, has made it a standard to design and develop all websites to be responsive. Using fluid grids, flexible images, and font sizes, your target audience is able to view the same exact information on different devices, without sacrificing their experience.
Before we start any project, our design team spends a great amount of time analyzing data on your existing web presence, RWD, and other proven methods to build our foundation for the project.
What Are the Benefits of Having a Responsive Web Design?
Improving the overall user experience for your website visitors is just beginning. Having responsive websites has helped our clients decrease bounce rates and increase conversion rates. And especially with the latest algorithm update from Google (which began rolling out today April 21, 2015), responsive web design will help your SEO efforts to rank better in search.
Don't Have a Responsive Web Design? It's time to update your website.
Not sure if your site is mobile-friendly? You can check here: https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/ That is a first step. Responsive Web Design is the next level to make sure any device can display your professional practice website in the best way!


This site is provided by ProPet Distributors, Inc. ("ProPet Distributors") and acts as a service to our customers. All material on this site, including, but not limited to images, photographs, product names, logos, graphics, illustrations, and lists, is the property of or been licensed to ProPet Distributors and is protected by trademark, copyrights and all other proprietary rights. It is a violation of federal copyright and trademark laws, as well as other proprietary rights, to copy, reproduce, republish, post, upload, transmit or distribute any portion of this site without the express written authorization of ProPet Distributors.
ProPet Distributors shall strive to always process and ship your order as quickly as possible. Provided however, ProPet Distributors reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to cancel or not fill any order for any reason, including, but not limited to limitations on quantities available for purchase, errors in product pricing information, or problems in connection with online payment methods. ProPet Distributors also reserves the right to request additional verifications or information before accepting an order. A ProPet Distributors representative will contact you if additional verification or information is required. Additionally, ProPet Distributors shall offer credit terms on a customer-by-customer basis, and may, in its sole and absolute discretion, modify such terms at any time for any reason.
All customer contacts, response emails, comments, feedback, submissions and order information shall become and remain the property of ProPet Distributors. The privacy and security of your personal information is important to us. ProPet Distributors does not sell or rent customer information to any third parties or non-affiliates under any circumstances.
Your use of the www.propetdistributors.com site constitutes your unconditional agreement to follow and be bound to these Terms and Conditions.
Questions? Please contact us. We will be happy to assist you.


Sometimes it may be advisable to use other tools or languages to achieve your goals.
Just take a look at these JScript, KiXtart, Perl, Rexx and VBScript scripts that use only a few lines to display sorted ate and time, week number, Easter's or yesterday's date or check for leap years.
Modify the first line of each Perl script for use in non-Windows environments.
Note: These Rexx scripts may have the extension .CMD (OS/2 Rexx) or .REX (Regina Rexx).
Most of the scripts presented here were created in OS/2 but do not use OS/2 specific code, so they may be used unaltered in Regina Rexx.
Yesterday.rex, however, was written specifically for Regina Rexx and uses some non-OS/2 Rexx features.
Some examples using these scripts in NT batch files.
Easter calculates the date of Easter Day for the specified year.
// Simon Kershaw's "KEEPING THE FEAST"
? "Easter.kix,  Version 2.00 for KiXtart 4.2*"
? "This script requires KiXtart 4.20 or later."
# Simon Kershaw's "KEEPING THE FEAST"
' Simon Kershaw's "KEEPING THE FEAST"
LeapYear checks if the specified or current year is a leap year.
// Check if the specified year is a leap year.
Write-Host "$year $is1$is2 a leap year"
Write-Host "$year $is1 NOT$is2 a leap year"
' Check if the specified year is a leap year.
If LeapYear = 0 Then strIs = " is NOT"
SetDate sets a couple of (system) environment variables with the current date's day, month, year, week, quarter, weekday and day of the year. If scheduled daily and at every system startup, batch files can read these date "components" directly from environment variables, instead of each batch file having to calculate it again.
SortDate displays the current date in YYYYMMDD format.
This PowerShell script combines SortDate, Tomorrow and Yesterday.
"Date / Format   YYYYMMDD        DD-MM-YYYY        MM/DD/YYYY"
strSortDate = strSortDate & "0"
SortTime displays the current time in HHmm or HHmmss format.
strSortTime = strSortTime & "0"
Tomorrow shows tomorrow's date in "sortable" format.
strDay & "/" & strMonth & "/" & strYear & ")"
Week displays the current week number.
Note that week number definitions may vary, and different scripts may display different week numbers.
// Display the current week number.
Modify the first line for use in non-Windows environments.
Replace the vbSunday and vbFirstFourDays constants to modify week 1 definition if necessary.
' Display current week number.
' in the DatePart() function.
Yesterday displays — you may have guessed — yesterday's date in various formats.
; If the year divisable by 4 then it is a leap year . . .
; . . . unless it is also divisible by 100 . . .
To build your own PowerShell versions, have a look at Performing Date Arithmetic.


To download a high-resolution file of an image shown below, click on the image, then click Download in the pop-up box. You may have to scroll down using the sidebar to see the Download button.
The videos are raw b-roll footage of our operations and are intended for use primarily by the media. These are not finished, edited videos and should not be used as such.


What a gem of a bookshop this little charity store is, upon entering you are struck by just how pristine it is, there is not a speck of dust anywhere and the books are perfectly aligned upon their shelves, it really is beautifully presented.
There are books on just about anything you could imagine and they're all easily discoverable with everything clearly labelled and all the books within each section ordered alphabetically by author.
Their Antiquarian shelves had me drooling, such gorgeous books and all at supremely affordable prices too, although I did manage to restrain myself to just one book on this visit.
The staff are friendly, approachable, knowledgeable and very accommodating; offering to search through the back rooms for any titles that the browser may not have been able to find for themselves on the shopfloor and constantly busy!
They're like little bees flitting around the shelves straightening this book, flicking a piece of imaginary dust from that shelf and constantly rotating the stock.
You are made to feel very welcome and this is supported by the two bucket seats in the window which invite you to sit and rest a while as you shop.
All in all, a wonderful little book shop and well worth a visit, just make sure you take a big bag and someone who will drag you out before you become lost to the real world!


wizzFX | TRIP010 - Is The Radio Imaging Talent Pool Empty?
TRIP010 – Is The Radio Imaging Talent Pool Empty?
The iPod is DEAD. Sort of.
Sort of because iPods have converged with our phones… check out the article on Mashable here.
Soundcloud is still here, and may have investors.
So, is the Radio Imaging talent pool empty?
This is based on an article from a year ago – unpacking and discussing in a the podcast. I've talked to a lot of Radio Imaging folks over the last year so I thought it well worth a revisit.
There are no great training grounds to learn the trade and prove how good you are.
This website – check out the resources and free courses!
Everyone wants the same sound.
Most production services are not the problem.
There is push back from creative people – check out Z100, KROQ, Nova, Triple M, ZM, The Edge.
Radio Imaging producers aren't valued anymore.
Costs are being cut everywhere.
Often the Imaging Guy is the Drive Jock and Music Scheduler.
But many media roles aren't being valued.
The time to be creative has gone.
Production Services can be a saviour though!
They've taken their talent elsewhere.
Radio is a labor of love, so when you're done you're done.
Fewer jobs mean people take their skills elsewhere.
* Other jobs can often pay better.
Radio Imagers are taken for granted.
I still believe this to be the case. Managers of creative people need to get better at praising people.
Recommended book: Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull.
The skill set required is growing faster than the pay grade.
I feel this is mostly because many people have multiple roles to fill at a station, not just doing Imaging.
Great production, great story telling skills. Epic piece remembering Chester Bennington from Linkin Park.
Ryan Drean's The Producers Podcast is awesome, if you've never listened.
Ryan's podcast is probably the BEST Radio Imaging podcast out there to learn a load of tips and tricks from a load of highly respected Radio Imaging and Voice Over folks.
Remember tosubscribe to this podcast, and give it a FIVE star review.
TRIP009 – Is Radio Imaging Even Needed Anymore?
TRIP011 – What's More Important, Technical or Creative Ability?


This lovely French portiere tapestry "Caroline Pewter" shows flowers and leaf motif in a decorative piece. Here we see the French portiere wall hanging in traditional French style, with flowers, and stylish foliage motifs which spiral around the work to produce a decorative effect. The understated style is reminiscent of the original portieres of French castles where royalty commissioned works to decorate royal residences. This art tapestry "Caroline Pewter" is backed with a lining and has a tunnel for easy hanging. Note: tapestry accessories, where pictured, are not included in the price.


The minister contrasted this with the $9.95 billion rich nations have committed to the Green Climate Fund so far, mostly to help developing countries adapt to climate change effects. "They should have done 40 billion dollars by now, 60 billion by next year and 100 billion by 2020," he pointed out.
Talking about other measures taken by the government, the minister pointed out, "Cement industry norms have been made more stringent, and India is one of the leading cement manufacturers of the world. Then, of course, there is the carbon tax. We've already collected $6 billion with the cess at Rs 50 per tonne of coal. When we have coal auctions, this figure will go up." The coal cess was raised to Rs 100 per tonne by the new government. The achievements of the environment ministry have been put together in a brochure prepared by Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, and is being distributed widely among delegates to the Lima conference.
Asked about his recent announcement that India would soon have comprehensive climate legislation, Javadekar explained, "There are five laws – the environment protection act, the forest conservation act, the water (pollution control) act, the water cess act and the air (pollution control) act. We are bringing amendments to them, and we want to bring all the amendments at one go. This will have considerable co-benefit for climate." A recent committee set up by the environment ministry – headed by T.S.R. Subramaniam – has recommended a number of amendments. Javadekar said the Subramaniam committee report was "under consideration". All central ministries and chief ministers had been asked to give their comments.


text:
Event Calendar Trail Rides Calabogie Boogie® Sept. 12-13
Husqvarna: Proud Sponsor of the 2020 Calabogie Boogie® TRAIL RIDE
Date: Saturday, September 12 & Sunday, September 13, 2020
Location: Calabogie south side only this year. The "north side" has been subject to extensive and ongoing logging operations, and lacks an appropriate venue from which to stage. Staging area both days is therefore at Calabogie Highlands Golf Course, 981 Barryvale Road. Two challenging but different routes are planned on the south side for these two days. See map below and directions
Rider limits: Limited to the first 200 pre-registered riders.
Cost: Early registrations: $120 until Aug. 1, or the first 200 riders registered, whichever occurs first. $140 for registrations afterwards, should spaces become available.
Cancellation & Refund Policy: By registering, you agree with the registration, cancellation and refund policies which may be viewed here.
Online advance registration only using a form to be displayed later at the bottom of this page - Limited to the first 200 riders pre-registered by August 1 (2019 sold out in early July)
Sound Check (all bikes must pass 94db test to ride):
6:00 pm till 9:00 pm Friday (Highlands Golf Course)
7:30 am till 8:30 am Saturday (Highlands Golf Course)
Registration check-in, Waiver Release, & Sign In:
Riders' Meeting: 9:00 am Saturday and Sunday. (Ride starts immediately after meeting). Sweeps will begin trail closures starting at 9:45 am to ensure all trails are swept and closed before dark.
Trail rider information: This IS Ontario's premiere ride event, and draws riders from Ontario, Quebec, and the Northeastern U.S., attracted by some of the best riding terrain in Ontario.The ride is suitable for advanced novice to expert riders, not suitable for children, beginner or novice riders. Small wheeled motorcycles will have difficulty. Riders under 16 years of age need to be strong riders. Most trails will be single track, although dirt road and atv tracks may be used as connectors. Calabogie can be a challenging ride area. The start and finish point of each ride day is the Highlands Golf Course. There will be a main loop, with various optional routes marked for difficulty ranging from Level 3 (intermediate) to Level 5 (experts only). See "what level am I". Maps will indicate optional early return routes. We will be riding on the "south side" on Sunday this year.
Ask Questions:
PLEASE ensure your bike is in top condition, running 15 lbs. air pressure.
Bring plenty of hydration and trail snacks such as energy bars. Lunch is provided on the trail on Saturday. Lunch is available for purchase at the golf course on Sunday and is not included in the ride fee.
There is no gas truck on Saturday, although gas will be available for purchase (cash only) at the lunch stop.
Primitive camping available at the start/finish points at Highlands Golf only. Other accommodations. Also see Cottage, Lodge, Resort accommodations in the drop down list on the North Frontenac business directory,
Saturday & Sunday - Breakfast (from 6 am) available at the Highlands Golf Club - cost not included.
Please "ARRIVE CLEAN" and be free of any mud or debris to prevent the spread of invasive species.
By registering, you hereby accept the BMA's Calabogie Boogie® registration, cancellation and refund policies which may be viewed here.


text:
Love Rollercoaster
by storyteller · February 22, 2010
"Love Rollercoaster" is a song by American funk/R&B band The Ohio Players, originally featured on their 1975 album Honey. The song was a hit upon its initial release, reaching the top of both the R&B and pop charts, and still sees wide airplay on classic funk and R&B stations. The song uses the roller coaster, a common theme park attraction, as a metaphor for the ups and downs of dating and romantic relationships.
While the song is known within the music community for its distinctive and influential sound, within the popular imagination it remains best identified with a persistent urban legend. During an instrumental portion of the song, a high-pitched scream is heard (between 2:32 and 2:36 on the single version); this was Billy Beck, but according to the most common legend, it was the voice of an individual being murdered live while the tape was rolling. The "victim's" identity varies greatly depending on the version.
The supposed sources of the scream have included an individual who was killed at some prior time, her scream inexplicably recorded and looped into the track. Another version tells of a rabbit being killed outside the studio whose scream was accidentally picked up by the band's recording equipment – highly implausible, since professional recording studios are soundproof. The most widespread version of the myth, however, tells that Ester Cordet, who appeared nude on the Honey album cover, had been badly burned by the super-heated honey used for the photo shoot, which occurred simultaneous with the recording session, and her agonized screams were inadvertently captured on tape. A further variation had Cordet suffering permanent disfigurement due to the burns; she interrupted the band's recording session, threatening to sue, at which point the band's manager stabbed her to death in the control room. Both of the latter two scenarios, however, are impossible as Ester Cordet is still alive.
Casey Kasem reported the urban myth of the woman being killed in the studio recording booth on his radio show, American Top 40, when the song was on the charts in 1976. Jimmy "Diamond" Williams explained that the scream was nothing eerie or disturbing:
"There is a part in the song where there's a breakdown. It's guitars and it's right before the second verse and Billy Beck does one of those inhaling-type screeches like Minnie Riperton did to reach her high note or Mariah Carey does to go octaves above. The DJ made this crack and it swept the country. People were asking us, 'Did you kill this girl in the studio?' The band took a vow of silence because you sell more records that way."
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Rollercoaster
Jacob from Alamogordo NM
Posted via email from Urban Legends Online
Tags: DeathMurdermusicrecordedrock bandThe Ohio Players
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Bonsai Cats
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text:
On the eve of the sunset when the world was still dim in light, Bai Yunfei's eyes flew open without warning.
Rising slowly to his feet, he looked around the perimeter of the cave, "It's not even bright out yet, geez….Couldn't you have waitd two more hours or something? I was having a nice nap…." he grumbled.
He spoke to no one in particular. Dusting the hay off himself with a sigh, Bai Yunfei slowly walked outside.
Because Bai Yunfei woke up, Xiao Qi found itself waking up as well. Still groggy, the bird was unsure what Bai Yunfei was doing, but before long, it shook itself once and flew after him.
The bird reached Bai Yunfei as he stood at the entrance, taking in the sea of trees in front of him with a calm eye. The skies were still abundant with the stars and the moon, but only bright enough to illuminate just a little bit of the trees all around. Where some parts of the forest was sparse in trees, several other forms of plant life could be seen, but aside from that, there wasn't anything else visible to the naked eye.
When Bai Yunfei strode out from the cave, he was intentionally looking at a specific part of the forest fifty meters towards the right. In that area, the trees were roughly ten meters high and was quite dense in plant life. Bai Yunfei smiled at the sight, "I know you're there, stop hiding and come on out!"
He didn't yell, but his voice was audible to anyone within three hundred meters of him. But despite that, there was no movement to be seen.
Xiao Qi stared inquisitively at Bai Yunfei as if to try and guess what he was doing.
"I felt your presence already; you think yourself stronger than me and want to eat me? I know you were paying attention to the fight between the greenwood wolf and the prisma oriole three days ago, were you planning to take a part of the spoils yourself?" Bai Yunfei quipped, as if trying to make conversation with someone. When there was no response to be had, he felt a tinge of boredom in him start to stir, "Is talking to soulbeasts with little rationality really impossible?"
"I told you to stop hiding and come on out!"
This time, rather than wait silently, Bai Yunfei threw a fireball formed by his Ardent Sun Glove at the spot he was looking at!
"Whoosh!" The fireball whizzed through the air and into the spot behind the trees. Exploding when it hit the ground, the fireball soon set anything within a twenty meter radius on fire!
"Roarr!!!"
From the blaze, a furious roar exploded outwards following a large burst of soulforce. In a flash of blue light, a gigantic figure dashed out into Bai Yunfei's eyesight!
Now the figure was in Bai Yunfei's line of sight, he could tell just what kind of soulbeast it was. The soulbeast stood about ten meters tall, had a huge head with sharp teeth, and a long neck. Further down its body was two bulky limbs, and at the front of the body was two comparatively shorter limbs. All four of its appendages were equipped with sharp claws, and the glint off the extremities gave Bai Yunfei no doubt that they'd be able to tear through stone and rock without a problem if the soulbeast wanted to. At the very end of its body, a thick tail smashed through a tree thick enough for three adult humans to barely wrap their arms around. (Please imagine a soulbeast similar to a T. Rex)
A light blue as the ocean rippled across its body, protecting it from the intense flames that assaulted it and quickly extinguishing the fires!
"A water type eh?" Bai Yunfei's eyebrows rose slightly on his face. "An early-stage class six blue-eyes wyrm. That's a rare one, didn't think I'd see one here."
"Roarr!" Again, the blue-eyes wyrm howled, angered by the look of contempt coming from Bai Yunfei. Its aquamarine eyes gave him the death stare as it charged its body up with blue light. As it charged up, all of the elemental water in the surrounding vicinity started to congregate in front of it in the form of a screen of water.
In the second after it formed, countless of darts made of elemental water started fly at Bai Yunfei!
The amount of projectiles coming at him didn't seem to faze Bai Yunfei. The Violet Soul Ring on his right hand twinkled with light once before the Cataclysmic Seal appeared in a burst of orange light to erect a barrier in front of him.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang…."
A series of water darts slammed into the barrier, but not one made its way through it. The barrier held strong, with only several ripples to be seen on the barrier, but the parts of the cliff wall that wasn't protected by the barrier was immediately perforated by the darts!
"You've good timing, let me use you to test the Beast Taming Ring!" Eyes glowing with excitement, Bai Yunfei took out the item and fed soulforce into it. When it started to glow with all the colors of the rainbow, and when the attack on him ended, he threw the object towards the blue-eyes wyrm!
Almost expertly, the ring expanded to two meters in circumference and flew through the air straight and true towards the wyrm's head!
"Roar!!"
It was only natural for the wyrm to react to an object being thrown at it. The blue light surrounding its body flickered briefly as it swung its tail forward. At the very tip of it, a bright blue 'whip' extended outwards to smash into the Beast Taming Ring!
"Pow!!" The ring was struck mid-air, causing Bai Yunfei to narrow his eyes and raise his hand into the air. As if summoned by a mysterious force, the ring flew back to his hand.
"Obviously, a soulbeast wouldn't let the Beast Taming Ring placed on it without a fight, that'll be a problem…." Bai Yunfei muttered, "Then I'll beat it first and then have it wear it!"
"Xiao Qi, go back into the cave." He spoke to Xiao Qi.
After the bird retreated into the cave, Bai Yunfei turned back to the wyrm. At his command, the Cataclysmic Seal released the fireseed in it and had it enter his chest….
Dual Flame Arts, 'Coil' form activate!!
In a second, Bai Yunfei's strength exploded in strength. Despite losing some strength from his mishap with Xiao Qi, Bai Yunfei was still a late-stage Soul Ancestor in strength. After entering the 'coil' form, he could force himself to reach the early-stage Soul Exalt level. And overall, he was still strong enough to deal with the blue-eyes wyrm without much difficulty.
His feet dug into the ground, allowing him to build up enough momentum to fly straight for the wyrm like an arrow shot out from a bow.
His forward advancement was met with a mighty tail whip from the wyrm. Unphased by the attack, Bai Yunfei clenched his red light emitting right hand and punched out at it!
Eighty-one Fold Fist Force!
When fist met tail, Bai Yunfei was whipped to the side, but the wyrm wasn't left unharmed. Howling in pain, it's tail was thrusted in the opposite direction of Bai Yunfei with a slight shiver to its frame.
"Bang!" Flipping himself upright in the air, Bai Yunfei's legs bent at the knees as if preparing himself for impact.
Then, red light glowed beneath his feet, serving as solid ground for him to step on! Pushing against it, he flew in the opposite direction of his original path to come flying at the wyrm's head again!
But having not been paying attention to what the wyrm was doing, Bai Yunfei was surprised to see a giant gaping maw come forward to greet him! Not only did it look like the wyrm was about to eat him, but its jaws were filled with blue light to blast him with a ball of elemental water as well.
Extending his right arm at the jaws of the soulbeast, the Ardent Sun Glove on Bai Yunfei's hand exploded with scorching red light and heat to strike at the sphere of elemental water with a burst of elemental fire!
"Boom!!!" The two elements collided with one another, resulting in an explosion near the wyrm's mouth, sending it backwards due to the blast!!
"Now's my chance!!" Granted the prime opportunity to strike, Bai Yunfei tossed the Beast Taming Ring in his left hand towards the right forelimb of the wyrm!
Flying towards Bai Yunfei's target in a trail of rainbow light, the Beast Taming Ring flew onto the wyrm's arm and contracted quickly to latch onto it like a bracelet!


text:
Home > News > Research > Multi-Asset ETF Portfolio Best Route for Smaller Endowments, Isenberg Professor Says
Research July 20, 2017
Multi-Asset ETF Portfolio Best Route for Smaller Endowments, Isenberg Professor Says
Cost to manage illiquid portfolio assets too high to justify, according to Hossein Kazemi.
Hossein Kazemi, senior advisor to the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) Association and professor of finance at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, is making a surprising claim for an alts guy. Kazemi says small endowments should skip hedge funds, private equity, and other illiquid assets in favor of a multi-asset ETF portfolio.
"After going through the research, I noticed some serious issues with the way endowments are being managed," Kazemi tells CIO magazine. "Endowments report portfolio returns net of fees, but that leaves out the cost to the organization to have staff managing illiquid portfolio assets that aren't significantly outperforming their benchmarks."
According to Kazemi, while many endowments have opted to copy either the Harvard or Yale Endowment portfolio mix by including alternative investments, few of them have the same access to top-tier managers that those endowments do, leading to pretty pricey underperformance. When looking at the data, Kazemi says that although there has been a significant effort to add alternative strategies, those allocations haven't added much diversity; portfolios are still heavily invested in US equities. The only difference is the fees paid for that exposure.
He adds that the allocations within endowment portfolios don't change much over time, which means that the price for underperformance can actually compound year-over-year if investment teams aren't consistently re-evaluating how the portfolio is constructed. "Entering and exiting illiquid positions is difficult. Even if endowments are proactive about portfolio management, allocating to illiquid assets can mean foregoing other market opportunities," Kazemi contends.
In a recent article on his claim, Kazemi showed that even with access to top-tier managers, Harvard hasn't been able to beat a basic 60/40 portfolio construction over a one-, five, or 10-year time horizon.
He says that this performance drag is similar for smaller and medium-sized endowments that are copying Harvard's model. "Overall endowment portfolios are highly correlated to each other; no one wants to get caught out doing something different and being wrong about it," Kazemi says.
So what should small and medium sized endowments do? Kazemi posits that a portfolio made up of the following ETF mix would provide a consistent return and lower overall costs to endowments.
For Kazemi, this mix provides similar exposures as a combination liquid/illiquid portfolio, minus many of the expenses associated with illiquid assets. He's started a research experiment to track the performance of the ETF portfolio over time relative to reported endowment returns. "There's always going to be a place for investing in alternatives, but it depends on portfolio size, manager selection, staffing resources. That's a big ask for small- and medium-sized endowments. I would argue that this option makes more sense."
*Image source: "A Simple Model for Managing Endowment Portfolios" – CAIA
Tags: alternatives, Endowments, ETF
By Bailey McCann
« Ontario Teachers' Buys Mémora Funeral Services Company


Congratulations to the Annex Loft Houses, on their successful launch of their new townhouse site in The Annex.
BuzzBuzzHome was at the launch, taking in the great energy and vibe of the launch party.
The model suite looked amazing, designed by Matt Davis — former host of the Designer Guys as seen on HGTV. BuzzBuzzHome had a chance to talk to Davis about the space, and the finishes of the project (washroom picture, to the left). With standard appliances fit for the most luxurious new homes, amazing cabinetry, and a stunning washroom, coupled with the location, and only priced from $329,000 to $699,000… this project will move fast.
If looking for a new townhouse, loft or condo, be sure to check this project out. Check it on the BuzzBuzzHome map here, and be sure to check out the Annex Loft Houses website, here.
Friday 5-8; Saturday 12-5; Sunday 12-5 @ 483 Dupont Street.


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Netanyahu Among the Lilliputians
Anything goes when it comes to flinging insults at Netanyahu or anyone who expresses admiration for him or Israel. Maybe it's the result of a feeling of intellectual inferiority
Moshe Arens
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the weekly cabinet meeting, March 11, 2018. Credit: Oded Balilty / AP
Those who watched Benjamin Netanyahu's appearance at last week's AIPAC conference in Washington were surely reminded of the extraordinary oratorical talent that he has used again and again in presenting Israel's case to the world. Like him or not, he is one of the great world leaders at this time. The respect that other world leaders and statesmen show him is confirmation of that, if such confirmation is needed in addition to the continuing support among Israel's voters.
For Israelis, no less important than his oratorical talents are the great advances that the country has made during his years as prime minister. Israel is stronger economically and militarily than it has ever been. Israel's relations with other countries have improved greatly during his time in office. Should he leave it will be difficult to find a replacement of his caliber.
And yet, the attacks on him by Israeli commentators only gain in volume. Even those who were impressed by his performance at the AIPAC conference didn't fail to predict that this was his last hurrah. Others even denigrated his appearance there. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who once served as his defense minister, went so far as to describe Netanyahu's appearance at the recent Munich Security Conference — where he held up part of the Iranian drone intercepted over Israel — as laughable. The Iranians surely aren't laughing.
But attacks on Netanyahu by numerous Israeli commentators don't stop there. Those who applaud him abroad are also recipients of such attacks from Israel. AIPAC, which over the years has stood by Israel through thick and thin, and contributed to the development of the U.S.-Israeli relationship while expressing support for Israel's democratically elected government, has now also become the subject of criticism after giving Netanyahu a standing ovation.
According to one commentator it is an "anti-Israel" organization. Even Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, an outspoken and eloquent friend of Israel, isn't spared. Anything goes when it comes to flinging insults at Netanyahu or anyone who expresses admiration for him or Israel.
How to explain this phenomenon? The fact that he his under investigation and subject to the judicial process that every citizen is entitled to isn't an adequate explanation. Of course he isn't above the law, but the judicial process must be allowed to run its course. No need to pressure the institutions involved or prejudge the outcome. Whatever the outcome, there is no doubt that he has been a great prime minister and the majority of Israelis have benefited during his years in office.
Is it envy or sour grapes? With all due respect to commentators who wallow in criticism of Netanyahu, some of whom may possibly belong to Israel's intellectual elite, they have given no proof that they can measure up to his abilities.
Netanyahu at AIPAC: The good, the bad and the bubble
Give due process its due
We may miss Netanyahu yet
Time and again they have been proved wrong — when they claimed that he ruined the relationship with the United States, that he was a scaremonger with descriptions of a "nonexistent" Iranian danger, that he isolated Israel among the nations of the world. Possibly it's the result of a feeling of intellectual inferiority compared to Netanyahu that leads to these unrestrained outbursts against him. Is it Lilliputians having a go at Gulliver?
The level of the Israeli public debate has really become disgraceful — and the attacks are mild compared to what can be seen on the comment threads to certain Haaretz articles. Protected by the anonymity provided by this newspaper, you can find comments that include slurs, insults and even death wishes. Is this Haaretz's contribution to free speech?


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1. Horizontal division of labor – SONY practices this as is clear from the link – what is horizontal division of labor? The answer can be found at this link.
2. SONY is currently facing a low margin, high turnover business in LCD TV's and cannot exit it easily. If it reduces prices to match competition (typical of a red ocean strategy), then it has to drive up volumes (on its sales channel) to make up for it's lost margins.


StainlessLUX 77508 Two-tone Stainless Steel Chopsticks (2 Pairs / Set) – StainlessLUX, Inc.
No matter if this is your first pair of chopsticks or you have been using chopsticks all your life, you would enjoy using these handsome stainless steel chopsticks for your authentic Asian cuisine. Stylish two-tone finish (brushed top and brilliant lower) smartly hints the best position to hold and control the chopsticks with ease. Rounded square top for better grip. Stripes accent and pointed lower end holds your food better. Perfectly balance, not too heavy and not too light. Each pair weights ~ 1.2 ounce. Made of quality 18/8 food-safe stainless steel and excellent craftsmanship. Two pairs of chopsticks in a set. Length ~ 9.25 inches x Width ~ 0.3 inches. Ship in a protective non-woven pouch - your assurance of an authentic StainlessLUX product. One year limited warranty. There are many good ways to hold and use chopsticks. Here is one that may be helpful to you: a) Place one of the chopstick between your thumb and index finger, and let its lower part rest nicely on your fourth finger. b) Then, place the second chopstick on top between thumb and index finger, and its lower part rests it on your middle finger. c) Now, move your index and middle finger to control the top chopstick, pivoting by the thumb. Such movement will open and close the lower point of the chopsticks to hold and release your food. Practice and enjoy!


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COVID-19: A Guide to the Global Economic Impact
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AIOps: Will 2021 be the Biggest Year for Gaming Industry
by Puja Das
Artificial Intelligence, Games, Latest News, Tech
Understanding The Role AIOps in the Gaming Industry to Provide Enhanced Experience
Artificial intelligence for IT (AIOps) is a new catch-all term for any multi-layered development initiative, including big data analytics, machine learning (ML) to automate and solve business and IT problems. On the other hand, the contribution of AIOps in the gaming industry is also notable. With the recent launch of new gaming consoles from Sony and Microsoft, 2021 is expected to be the biggest year for the video gaming industry. Cloud-based gaming services giants Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are going to lead the industry this year.
In the era of social and online gaming, many would be surprised to learn all the moving parts it takes to create a truly seamless experience, whether it is a two-on-two pickup game of Rocket League or an intense 150-person battle royale match in Call of Duty: Warzone or PUBG.
To understand entirely, it's vital to look at the industry's position. It includes where it is headed and how advanced it is in terms of the reliability and operation of the underlying technology. These play a crucial role in helping the industry's biggest titles thrive.
Consoles are the Game-changer
Current-gen consoles such as Microsoft's Xbox Series X, Sony's PlayStation 5, and Nintendo's Switch are the mass-market drivers, especially during the COVID-19 scenario. The huge investments made in top-quality content help the industry create gaming experiences that frequently surpass big-budget blockbuster films in engagement and revenues.
However, there is evidence that the major consoles' reign may not last as long as previous generations.
Cloud-Based Services will thrive.
Cloud gaming is poised to take a massive leap forward as consumer devices and internet speeds reach the essential mass. The big tech giants are contributing to this. Google Stadia launched in late 2019. Amazon Luna and Microsoft's upcoming xCloud are still in the early phase. However, Microsoft is in a great position, with a console and a streaming service and multiple IPs to launch across both.
Subscription-based platforms have a low barrier of entry, similar to Netflix and Hulu. And these companies know how to hold on to users and keep them paying every month.
The winners are those that keep player bases happy. A situation like the gaming hacks of 2014 is a great way to make players dissatisfied and move to another service. Those who provide a seamless, low-latency, and comparatively interruption-free experience will be those who deploy modern AIOps to make the machinery work without hiccups.
Keeping Game System up
In an online gaming environment, there's more than meets the eye when it comes to keeping these games up and running. The server infrastructure, databases, applications, and network all require being maintained for reliability, updating for security and system upgrades, and improving efficiency and performance over time.
Monitoring these activities for both the detection of problems and capacity management is a significant challenge in the chain of businesses. It includes game and platform developers, network ISPs, CDN providers, and the server infrastructure across various data centers. These businesses don't often communicate directly with one another about maintenance, patches, updates, incidents, or monitoring data. And malicious actors might attack them all periodically as they attempt to make a name for themselves in the hacker world.
Unsurprisingly, this coordination is a time-consuming and tedious process once done manually and can lead to downtime for a given game. In turn, that creates an angry mob of players, which is bad for business.
AIOps AIOps in the gaming industry Artificial Intelligence Cloud consoles Gamers gaming Industry online gaming
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Artificial Intelligence, Latest News, Tech
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: A TOP TO END DISCUSSION ON HUMAN MIMIC
This is a complete discussion on the capabilities of artificial intelligence on becoming a human mimic. INTRODUCTION The term artificial intelligence was first introduced to us ago in the year of 1956 by John McCarthy at a conference which was held at
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Artificial Intelligence has found its way into our daily life and it has become so general that we don't even realize that we use it all the time. INTRODUCTION The term artificial intelligence was first introduced to us ago in the year
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