text:
The Best Anchovy Fillets, According to Our Taste Test
Our favorite anchovies are the jarred ones from Ortiz.
Niki Achitoff-Gray
Niki Achitoff-Gray is the former editor-in-chief at Serious Eats and a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She's pretty big into oysters, offal, and most edible things.
Updated Jun. 14, 2022
Serious Eats / Robyn Lee
Straight to the Point
Our favorite anchovies are the jarred Ortiz Anchovies. They're tender and have a mild, clean flavor.
Anchovies. You either love 'em, or you hate 'em, right? WRONG. In my experience, everybody loves anchovies—it's just that some people don't know they do. Talk to almost any chef or experienced home cook, and they'll tell you that anchovies are one of the industry's favorite not-so-secret secret weapons. Because they're a concentrated source of glutamic and inosinic acid—two molecules responsible for triggering our sensation of savoriness—they're irreplaceable for adding depth of flavor and a meaty backbone to, well, pretty much anything. Think you're an exception to the rule? So do the long string of dinner guests to whom I've surreptitiously fed anchovies in various sauces, soups, salads, and stews.
Before we go any further, let's get a few things straight. All anchovies are not created equal. Fresh out of the water, anchovy is actually a relatively mild fish—light, plump, briny, and pretty universally inoffensive. You can also get your hands on salt-packed varieties, which are minimally processed before packing—they've still got their bones and fins intact, which means that for most preparations, they need to be filleted and soaked in water or milk prior to use. They also come in paste form, but we vastly prefer salt- or oil-packed anchovies to anchovy paste.
And then there are the anchovies you're probably most familiar with, the ones that come in jars or cans and turn up in pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and, um, my stomach. Those are the anchovies we're talking about today—the kind that have been filleted, salt-cured, and stored in olive oil. It's that curing process that produces the intensely salty flavor and pungent, fishy odor commonly associated with anchovies. It's also what's responsible for breaking down the myosin in the fish—one of the muscle proteins that hold its flesh together—making it exceedingly easy to mash up and dissolve.
Some of us love that bold flavor and readily eat anchovies whole (cough, me); others shy away from it and only pop that lid when a recipe tells them to.* But regardless of which type of anchovy person you are, chances are you've experienced that moment of grocery store paralysis, staring down those colorful battalions of tiny filleted fish. Jar or can, cheap or expensive—which is the best and, more importantly, does it always matter? We decided to find out.
*If you're someone who cuts them out of recipes altogether...we're done here.
We sampled eight common brands, several of which are available in both canned and jarred packages. We opted to test both types of packaging, landing us at a grand total of eleven different samples. Each contains just three ingredients: anchovies, salt, and olive oil.
Agostino Recca (Jar)
Agostino Recca (Can)
Bellino (Jar)
Cento (Can)
Crown Prince (Jar)
Crown Prince (Can)
Merro (Jar)
Roland (Jar)
Roland (Can)
The Tasting
They say you shouldn't cook with a bottle of wine that you wouldn't drink (we'll grapple with the veracity of that statement some other time); we wondered if the same concept would apply to anchovies. To make our evaluation as thorough as possible, we had tasters try each package in three different iterations: plain, in a Caesar salad dressing, and in a puttanesca sauce. All ingredients were weighed out and prepared identically across all samples, with no variable in play aside from the anchovies themselves.
Tasters were asked to evaluate the overall quality of the two preparations on a scale of one to ten. For the whole, plain anchovies, we asked for scores along three different axes—overall quality, saltiness, and texture (more on this below). Crackers and water were provided to help combat palate fatigue. Nonetheless—and I say this as an anchovy enthusiast—this was easily the most challenging taste test we've attempted in my tenure at Serious Eats.
In that spirit, I would like to pause here and ask that you join me in a moment of silence in honor of the intrepid and loyal tasting troops who sacrificed their palates in service of the greater good. Because yes, for those of you doing the math, that's 33 samples and 55 ratings.
Our Tasting Methodology: All taste tests are conducted completely blind and without discussion. Tasters taste samples in random order. For example, taster A may taste sample 1 first, while taster B will taste sample 6 first. This is to prevent palate fatigue from unfairly giving any one sample an advantage. Tasters are asked to fill out tasting sheets ranking the samples for various criteria that vary from sample to sample. All data is tabulated and results are calculated with no editorial input in order to give us the most impartial representation of actual results possible.
Plain anchovy tasting results.
One thing that rapidly became clear is that our tasters had some vastly different feelings about anchovies. The good news? If you're going to use anchovies for cooking, it doesn't matter what brand you use—our tasters couldn't distinguish between the puttanesca sauces or the Caesar dressings from sample to sample.
Never, ever planning to eat an anchovy in any other way? Feel free to grab your hat and head out the door. If, on the other hand, you intend to keep your fillets intact, do read on. This is where things start to get interesting (and, admittedly, kind of confusing).
"The good news? If you're going to use anchovies for cooking, it doesn't matter what brand you use"
First off, there was limited consensus in our group as to what constitutes a great anchovy. Me? I look for a fillet that's been, well, properly filleted, meaning not too many of those pesky little bones. Saltiness is inevitable, but if an anchovy has been excessively cured, it loses its meatiness and develops a metallic saltiness and grainy texture. And when it comes to flavor, I look for a clean brininess that walks the line of fishy territory, without taking the plunge into what one taster described as, "The bottom of a chum bucket."
Well, it turns out that not everyone agrees. Like me, some preferred firm, meaty anchovies; others wanted something with a pronounced fishiness or a texture more likely to dissolve on the tongue. A number had never eaten anchovies on their own before, and all felt overwhelmed by the saltiness of the experience. It's worth noting that we had two significant outliers in the group; had their results been eliminated, the top three products would have been even more distinguished from the rest of the pack, while the remaining scores would've remained roughly the same.
What we can conclude is that the storage vessel didn't have a conclusive impact on quality—our winner and our clear loser were both stored in jars. Perhaps most interestingly, tasters did notice a significant distinction between the canned and jarred versions within a given brand. And while Ortiz, our winner, rings in at the highest cost per ounce ($5.40/oz. on Amazon), down the rest of the line, there are plenty of solid options to be had for significantly less.
Note: Prices reflect supermarket purchases in New York City and are not a standard cost issued by the manufacturer or distributor. Depending on volume and bulk orders, pricing varies drastically.
The Winner: Ortiz Jar (6.9/10)
Ortiz Anchovies (3-Pack)
Ortiz is certainly the most gourmet brand that we tried—every other sample cost us less than $2.00 per ounce. What sets it apart? Tasters applauded its "smooth texture," describing it as "tender and meaty." A number noted its relatively mild, clean flavor, a certain "pleasant sweetness" and "cheesy Parmesan flavor."
2nd Place: Merro Jar (6.8/10)
Merro Fillets of Anchovies
Merro sells for a mere $1.26 an ounce—a pretty huge drop from Ortiz, especially considering how close they were in the final scores. Again, it was a mild flavor and tenderness that was most appreciated. Some actually complained that it was too mild, and one even "wished it was slightly more fishy." All in all, it's a product we'd happily buy and eat whole any day.
3rd Place: Agostino Recca Can (6.5/10)
A few tasters were turned off by the salinity level in the Agostino Recca can ($1.65/oz.), though most praised the large size and remarkable tenderness of the fish. "Very firm, meaty like good canned tuna" seemed to be the consensus. Well, that and, "Wow, this is salty!"
4th Place: Roland Jar (6.33/10)
Roland ($1.46/oz.) seemed to slip into the higher ranks primarily due to its blandness. A few noted that it tasted over-cured or dry, but all found it "inoffensive." If it's your only option, it's not a bad one, but we think there are better choices if you're into eating your anchovies plain.
5th Place: Agostino Recca Jar (6.3/10)
From here on out, the mean and median scores look significantly different, and tasters were extremely split—in fact, the Agostino Recca Jar ($1.76/oz.) garnered some of the highest and lowest scores doled out during the taste test. Interestingly, comments from disagreeing parties noted similar traits—those traits were just valued differently. For a "nice clean flavor" and "slight chalkiness," Agostino Recca is the way to go.
5th Place: Roland Can (6.3/10)
Once again, our tasters were split. One disgruntled participant wrote, "Very prickly bones, plasticky texture. Classic canned flavor." Another took the opposite stance, exclaiming, "Very smooth tasting. I could eat this plain; not too salty." What's clear is that the Roland can ($1.25/oz.) doesn't have a very full-bodied anchovy flavor or a meaty texture—it was more likely to dissolve on your tongue than hold its own.
6th Place: Crown Prince Can (6.2/10)
Folks were not fond of Crown Prince ($1.15/oz.), deriding it as "ridiculously firm," with a "cardboardy, pulpy texture." As for flavor, saltiness took the lead, with very little fishiness coming through.
7th Place: Cento Can (6/10)
No question here, Cento ($1.29/oz.) is not the way to go. In fact, it's the only product that was even recognizably distinct in the prepared samples. This anonymous taster probably says it best: "Holy sh*t, it's fishy! Like a chum bucket. No. And bony, too. Even in dressing and sauce, majorly fishy aftertaste." Or, put more succinctly, "Mealy. Ugh."
7th Place: Crown Prince Jar (6/10)
Nearly every taster noted a certain mealiness and funkiness to the Crown Prince anchovies ($1.86/oz). Some commented that it had the texture of an overcooked fish, while others thought the flavor was "almost funky" and "overwhelming."
8th Place: Polar Can (5.6/10)
Polar ($1.15/oz) evoked some deep and profound reflection from some tasters. "Deep, heavy-tasting. Not sure if that's a good thing?," asked one. Another wrote, ""Dissolves on the tongue. Can't decide if I like that or not." Others were adamantly anti-Polar, calling it "chemically" and "gritty, like undissolved salt." Chances are these little fish spent too much time curing.
9th Place: Bellino Jar (5.1/10)
The hands-down loser, Bellino ($1.41/oz.) seemed to have a quality control problem at hand. Commenters all noted that the product tasted off, wafting an odor that was "stinky and a little ripe." The flavor and texture weren't much of an improvement, described as "thin, fishy, too soft" and even "a little wimpy."
What are anchovies?
Anchovies are small saltwater fish; anchovies don't get much larger than 7 inches in length. They're most commonly consumed in the form of conservas, or tinned/jarred fish and seafood. You can buy anchovies in the form of paste, whole and salted, or packed in oil. The paste and oil-packed varieties will likely be what's regularly in stock at your grocery store, whereas more specialty versions can be sourced at specialty food shops or, of course, online.
What do anchovies taste like?
Anchovies are salty, oily, and fatty. And thanks to the presence of glutamic and inosinic acid, they register on the palate as intensely savory. If you enjoy Caesar salad or Worcestershire sauce, you like anchovies—they're a major ingredient in both.
Are anchovies and sardines similar?
Not really, although we can see how you might assume so. They're both small, oily fish that are regularly cured and preserved. However, the differences stop there. Sardines are larger, with lighter-colored flesh. Sardines are also milder in flavor, with less of a punchy, salty-savory note. They're both excellent on toast, but aren't interchangeable in recipes.
How are jarred and tinned anchovies made?
Although there are a variety of anchovy-adjacent products on the market, we're talking specifically about jarred and tinned, fully prepared anchovies. After being harvested, the anchovies are gutted (bones and fiddly bits removed), filleted (sliced into neat portions), cured in salt, and packed in olive oil. They're then preserved using a canning process that keeps them shelf-stable.
Do you have to refrigerate anchovies?
Jarred and tinned anchovies can be kept at room temperature—ideally, a cool, dry place like your pantry—until they are opened. If you don't use an entire tin or jar of cured anchovies upon opening them, transfer the rest to a food-safe storage container and keep it in the refrigerator.
What can you cook with anchovies?
Beyond eating them straight out of the jar on toast, there's a lot you can do with anchovies. Of course, they're tasty on pizza (try it; you'll like it). They're also a crucial ingredient in some pasta sauces—they'll dissolve into the aromatics in a hot skillet. You can whisk them into salad dressings and sauces for a salty hit, or even use them in a marinade for meat.
46 Saucy Italian Pasta Dishes You Should Know and Love
Additional research by
Rochelle Bilow
Rochelle Bilow is a freelance food writer, as well as a novelist. Based in Vermont, Rochelle specializes in stories about home cooking, techniques, tools, and equipment. She has been writing about food professionally for over a decade.
Anchovy Taste Test: Salt-Packed vs. Oil-Packed vs. Paste
Radicchio, Endive, and Anchovy Salad Recipe
The Best Caesar Salad Dressings | Taste Test
We Taste Tested 9 Popular Brands of Greek Yogurt—Here Were Our Favorites
Small Fish, Big Bite: All About Anchovies
Bagna Càuda (Northern Italian Anchovy-Garlic Dip) Recipe
Essential Pantry Staples for Better Pasta
The Best Sriracha | Taste Test
Everything You Can Do With a Tin of Anchovies
24 Great Hot Sauces Everyone Should Try
How to Prepare Salt-Packed Anchovies
We Tasted 7 Bottled Teriyaki Sauces—These Are Our Favorites
A Guide to Canned Fish and Seafood from Spain and Portugal
The Best Imitation-Meat Burgers (Including the Impossible, and Beyond)
The Best Ricotta Cheese | Taste Test


FSGS, or focal segmental glomerular slcerosis, is a kind of kidney disease, with lesions in parts of glomeruli or parts of the glomerular capillary loops. Protein in urine and nephrotic syndrome are the prominent clinical manifestations, and it will finally develop into end stage kidney failure. So patients need to have early diagnosis and get effective treatment for FSGS, which can help slow down their progression and make a good prognosis for them.
For most cases, doctor will ask patients to take kidney biopsy to diagnose whether they have FSGS. However, since FSGS is focal and segmental lesions, so kidney biopsy cant help diagnose the disease in some cases, so they need to have repeat renal biopsy.
But here are some gist to help diagnose FSGS.
In early stage of FSGS, patients may have high blood pressure and damages of kidney function, and patients can have the symptoms with the occurrence of FSGS, especially for adults.
2. About 2/3 FSGS patients will have microscopic hematuria.
3. For most of the FSGS patients, their protein in urine is non selectivity.
4. For FSGS patients, if their renal tubules are impaired, their urine will have NAG, retinol conjugated protein, and they can also have elevation of urine lysozyme level and reduced urine osmotic pressure.
5. FSGS patients can also have reduced level of serum IgG, and the falling range is higher than the loss of IgG in urine.
1. FSGS patients need to have treatment to anti-freezing, antithrombus, lower high blood pressure, lower high cholesterol level, control protein in urine, etc.
2. Protect kidney function: this is the most important treatment for FSGS patients to help prevent or slow down progression of reduced kidney function.
3. Prevent complications: the treatment should also help prevent the possible complications for FSGS patients, which can help improve their illness condition.
Above are the diagnosis and treatment principles for FSGS patients. If you still have any questions, you can ask online doctor, or you can also send e-mail to chinakidneyhospital@gmail.com.


text:
Arkansas Baptist News
Hotel information for SBC23 released
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – As Southern Baptists gather on the bayou next June, they're going to need a place to rest their head. The SBC Executive Committee (EC) is trying to make it easy on messengers as the navigate their way to the Big Easy for the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting & Pastors' Conference.
The list of convention hotels and other nearby hotels is available now at the meeting website. The information includes the proximity to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the convention room rate.
Reservations for the hotel rooms open Monday, Oct. 3, at 8 a.m. Central.
"We want messengers, guests and exhibitors to map out their budget as they plan to attend the 2023 Annual Meeting," said Jonathan Howe, VP of communications for the SBC EC.
"We believe attendees having this information early will help them effectively plan to attend this important meeting."
SBC President Bart Barber recently announced the theme for the 2023 Annual Meeting. Pointing to 2 Corinthians 4:5, he said it will be "Serving the Lord; Serving others."
Barber said he hopes messengers will make a Gospel impact visiting the city before, during and after the meeting. "I hope that we can show that through Crossover and through the things we do during the annual meeting as well," he said.
Howe said the city has been a great host for previous SBC annual meetings. "We hope messengers will plan to enjoy all the city has to offer while in town," he said.
The 2023 SBC Annual Meeting and Pastors' Conference is set for June 11-14.
This article originally appeared at baptistpress.com
PrevPrevious ArticleChinese mission becomes autonomous church after 23 years
Next ArticleLeatherwood named ERLC presidentNext

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Rob Sewell, editor of Socialist Appeal (British paper of the IMT) spoke at the Revolution Festival in London about the 2008 financial crisis, 10 years after the fact. He explains that we are living through perhaps the greatest ever organic crisis of capitalism, from which there has been no meaningful recovery; and that all attempts to deal with the fallout of 2008 (from quantitative easing to austerity) have now disrupted the social and political situation.
The 2008 crash was the biggest economic crash since the 1930s, for which the bourgeois were totally unprepared. They believed the good times would go on forever, bar 'normal' booms and slumps: but 2008 signalled the death knell for 'business as usual'. Today, the ruling class is rapidly losing control of events, as society polarises under the pressure of the ongoing economic crisis. The solution to this mess cannot come on a capitalist basis, but only through socialist revolution.


Fitbit is adding health and wellness coaching to its consumer-facing digital health platform, giving the company new mHealth tools to appeal to providers and payers.
The San Francisco-based company announced plans this week to acquire Twine Health, which develops online coaching tools for people with chronic conditions and to help in lifestyle interventions like weight loss and smoking cessation. The acquisition would give the maker of the nation's most popular fitness wearable a direct link to coaching and engagement tools that clinicians and health plans are looking for in mobile health interventions.
"Together, we can help healthcare providers better support patients beyond the walls of the clinical environment, which can lead to better health outcomes and ultimately, lower medical costs," he added.
Fitbit has long been the fitness wearable of choice for health systems and researchers looking to make the connection between health and wellness and clinical outcomes, with hundreds of pilot projects and programs launched to foster and improve patient engagement in care management plans.
For example, last year Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles began handing out Fitbits to patients who'd undergone major surgery. Doctors said the device compels patients to track their activity, and will eventually give those patients and their care teams a platform on which to measure and improve their recovery times.
Also last year, the Scripps Translational Science Institute began handing out as many as 10,000 Fitbits to participants in the All of Us research program to help them track activity at home. The program, launched by the Obama Administration in 2015 and funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, seeks to capture personal health and activity data from one million participants "to learn more about how individual differences in lifestyle, environment and biological makeup can influence health and disease.
Fitbit, meanwhile, has been taking steps toward clinical validation with a series of strategic partnerships.
In 2016, the company announced a partnership with Medtronic to integrate activity and sleep data with Medtronic's iPro2 professional CGM platform and app, giving people with diabetes the ability to measure how activity and sleep affect their blood glucose levels. And last year, the company announced a partnership with Dexcom to co-develop new digital health tools for people with diabetes.
The partnership with Twine Health looks to add coaching to that mix – and it gives the healthcare provider a bigger role in the process. It would create a connected health platform that would enable doctors or health coaches to push personalized advice and education to the user when needed.
That combination would prove enticing to healthcare providers looking to better engage with patients with chronic diseases, as well as health plans looking to promote better health outcomes and self-insured businesses looking to improve employee wellness.
"We built Twine Health with the goal of putting people back at the center of their care, helping them take ownership of their health actions and outcomes with the continuous support of both clinicians and loved ones," Twine Health co-founder and CEO John Moore – who will now become Medical Director of Fitbit's Health Solutions group - said in the press release.


Thursday night the junior high wrestling team traveled to Southwoodt to wrestle against Manchester, Eastbrook, and Southwood.
Against Manchester the Norse lost by a score of 15 to 24. Winning for the Norse were Braden Brooks, Cameron Johnson, and Sam Green.
Against Eastbrook Northfield won by a score of 25 to 13. Winning for the Norse were Blayne Powell, Cameron Johnson, Evan Eckelbarger, Sam Green, and Derrick Thurman.
In the last match of the night the Norse defeated Southwood by a score of 21 to 14. Braden Brooks, Cameron Johnson, Logan Cox, Evan Eckelbarger won their match against the Knights.
The Southwood Junior High wrestlers had their first outing Thursday night. The guys worked hard, battling some strong opponents. The team dropped its matches to Eastbrook 6-30, Manchester 12-24, and Northfield 14-21. Jaxon Barnett went 3-0 on the evening. Isaac King, Elijah Sutton, and James Lambert picked up a victory a piece. Tyler Miller, Zak Sarll, and Colton Jones also wrestled for the Knights.


The Bible tells us that Judas was paid 30 denarii to betray Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Believe that story literally or figuratively if you like, but I think the underlying meaning is the same: for love of money some will do just about anything.
It's with the above noted that I read about the guilty plea of Robert Mericle. Story link here.


Affiliate marketing as a way to monetize your blog from day one simply rocks.
You can start making up to $100 for 7,000 pageviews in your 2nd month like Alyssa, or $100 per 3,000 pageviews like Laura.
*This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. See disclosure for details.
With any path you choose anyway one thing is clear, it's much more attractive to get paid for helping your visitors with affiliate links than to potentially annoy your visitors with ads while getting only ¼ of the income affiliate marketing would have gotten you at most.
To help you get started with making unlimited affiliate income, I've compiled a huge list of affiliate marketing programs for bloggers and organized them by niche because I'm kind like that.
But first let's talk a bit about affiliate marketing and how to make the most of this list. It's good stuff, I promise.
Of all the numerous ways to make money blogging, why affiliate marketing?
Because with affiliate marketing, you are actually helping people not just selling.
Think about it. If you wrote a post about productivity tips for example and talked about how you use planners and journals to boost your productivity, your readers would want to try it too.
If you didn't have links to the products you use in that post, chances are that they would go out to maybe Amazon and search for planners they could use to implement your tips. They may end up with a different planner than the one you use and it may not be as effective for them as the one you use.
They give up on planning and your advice thinking it simply wouldn't work for them.
Speaking of planners, this one totally rocks.
Case Scenario #2 – You don't include links and your readers ASK which planner you'd recommend. (see that! They'll ask). Or you include direct links to the product, you readers buy, the company gets rewarded for free advertising, your reader looks to you for support!
The company wins, you don't, your reader won't get all the support you would naturally give if there was a little more incentive.
Case Scenario #3 – You include links to that awesome product you love, your reader clicks through and buys, has a question tomorrow and asks. With money in the bank, you are eager to answer and build trust so she (and her friends!) buy even more stuff from your link tomorrow.
That's the confidence I want you to approach affiliate marketing with! You are impacting lives and making change convenient for your followers.
Get started with either (or both!) of these powerhouses for free.
To make the most of affiliate marketing so you are not just slapping links all over your blog, here are 5 of my favorite easy to follow practices to add to your affiliate marketing strategy.
Use fewer links. Don't make your affiliate links compete with each other for attention which brings us to the next point.
Only add links naturally. One good way to know if you should add a link is to think "If there wasn't a commission on this product, would I share it here." Remember you want to make it convenient for people to buy life changing stuff (your favorite wooden spoon counts too) not turn into an insurance salesman.
Create detailed guides. Links convert the most when you've created a very detailed guide that shows the whole process. I look to momlovesbest.com for inspiration on this one.
Update top traffic posts to include affiliate links.
Capitalize on holiday spendings. While evergreen posts are great, theme specific posts do best with affiliate marketing so write some great Christmas, Halloween… posts and gift guides. Then promote them like crazy.
Side note, my favorite affiliate marketing program is Amazon because conversion rates are killer (it's a household name and you can't beat that!) + you get commission on anything your reader buys within 24 hours of clicking your link, whether you linked to it or not. Laura easily makes $100 off 3,000 pageviews through amazon affiliate marketing and she spills all her secrets in this ebook.
Those are the basics, now it's time to go make some affiliate marketing income!
Affiliate networks work differently from affiliate programs in that when you become a member, usually for free, you get access to work with LOTS of out-of- reach companies looking for affiliates to promote their products.
The sweet thing is that with these networks, you don't need to be driving a large amount of traffic yet, nor do they need you to have tons of followers on social media before you are approved. Just join each one search for programs in your niche and join them. Yay!
The main network I use for this blog. It's super easy to join and they have so many affiliate programs for different niches. I also love that with shareasale it's not so difficult to keep track of your affiliate links.
The best way to find affiliate networks to join with shareasale is to search by keyword or category. It's super easy to use really! You'll find merchants like Lulu's, Gymboree, Julep, Jillian Michaels just to name a few.
This network is very similar to shareasale but has a more attractive backend (that counts right?).
One other thing I like about flexoffers is that apart from the many brands you could promote to earn a quick buck, you get paid commission from sales your referred friends make too!
Infact, this is one great reason to sign up for flex offers today and invite all your friends too.
Well this really is an affiliate marketing program but I've included it here because you can get almost everything you want on amazon.
Affiliate products I currently use and promote (you should try them too).
Ultimate Bundles – You don't want to skip this one, it's affiliate marketing gold for every niche! The people behind the company get big name bloggers to give their course away in a massive bundle for ridiculous prices and the conversion rate of the bundles are at around 40%. Factor in equally high affiliate commissions and you'll be blown away. It's not a scam, pinky swear, and they have bundles for every niche.
I've brought the form to you, Sign up for the Ultimate Bundles right here on this page!
Mailerlite – A cheap and effective email service provider that is free for the 1st 1k subscribers.
Sendowl – If your audience creates digital products they'll eat this one up.
Tailwind – Pinterest scheduling tool most pro bloggers can't live without.
Creative Market – The "Ultimate Bundles" of graphics, fonts, and templates, they do monthly bundles that are pretty insane for bloggers.
Convertkit – My favorite email service provider. All said.
Shopify – Like Sendowl/Etsy all at once.
Maven – An online store where your only job is to curate stuff you like, like with a pinterest board!
While it doesn't take a ton of pageviews to get approved with these affiliate marketing programs I've shared, there are a few things you should do to make sure your application doesn't get turned down.
Wait till your blog goes live with a few of your best posts before you apply.
Be strict with your choice of affiliate marketing programs. Only choose those that unquestionably represent your brand, stuff you can recommend in a heartbeat. That is the key to your success, it will come through in your writing.
And always read rules so you don't waste your time or lose money you've earned.
Facebook groups to promote your work.
Your turn. What's your favorite affiliate marketing program that didn't make the list?
I find shortcuts to building a thriving online business that merges beautifully with creating a life you love and share them with you. Need guided help to find your place online? Start here.
Amazon is also one of my favorite affiliate programs, for the very reason you mentioned that it's so well known and trusted that the conversion rate is awesome (plus I love shopping there myself, ha).
Thank you for leaving a comment. The conversion rate is truly non comparable and the potential cart size too!
Help for hardworking yet frustrated bloggers >>>YES, HELP ME!


text:
Gonjiam Station is a railway station on Gyeonggang Line of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway in Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, South Korea.

Station Layout

External links

Metro stations in Gwangju, Gyeonggi
Seoul Metropolitan Subway stations
Railway stations opened in 2016
Gyeonggang Line
Korail stations

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Abstract: This study examines the eGovernance potential to bring about structural changes in the way in which government agencies operate, interact and communicate internally and externally with its citizens. Public sector needs to adopt eGovernance that is focused on the citizen satisfaction. In many developed countries, the types and quality of public services provided by a Government to its citizens have evolved over time, due to their change in thinking regarding the role of Government, from being a traditional government to that of being a modern service provider. Thus, this study will focus on the complaint management information systems of the selected federal government agencies in Pakistan. Authors were able to derive the implementation model of eGovernance only after doing analysis of all of the data obtained from questionnaires, interviews and observations at the federal government level in Pakistan. Authors found that the overall outcome of the validation process indicated that the model is highly satisfactory to improve the overall eGovernance system to provide modern services to its citizens.
Description: Copyright @ 2013 EMCIS.


text:
Showing posts with label London. Show all posts
The Teen Perp Who Attacked A Couple of Girls They Would Not Kiss on London Bus, Been Let Off
Do You Remember these Girls? They got the perp...No jail
A teenager who attacked a lesbian couple on a night bus because they refused to kiss has been let off with a referral order. Melania Geymonat and Christine Hannigan were surrounded, pelted with coins, punched in the face several times, and subjected to sexual gestures on their way home in Camden, north London in May. The boy, 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted targeting the women at a previous hearing. Today he was sentenced at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior and for stealing Ms. Geymonat's handbag during the attack. He was sentenced to an eight-month youth referral order, 12 hours' reparation and ordered to pay £220 in fines and prosecution costs. His sentence was increased from six to eight months due to the homophobic nature of the attack, the court heard. The teen shook his head as the prosecution described the 'taunting' and 'degrading' attack. Maria Slater, prosecuting, said the teenager refused to answer questions after his arrest. Reading a statement written by Melania, Ms. Slater said: 'I'm feeling so angry and so upset right now. I'm feeling such a strong pain.' The prosecutor added: 'She said she felt hopeless at the time.'
Last month, a 17-year-old boy was sentenced to a four-month youth rehabilitation order for his part in the attack. He will also face a 20-hour reparation requirement, similar to community service, and a two-week curfew and was advised to write a letter of apology to the two women who were attacked. The two teenagers along with a third boy, 15, admitted attacking the women shortly before a scheduled trial. Highbury Corner Youth Court was told last month that the 15-year-old approached the couple who were at the front of the N31 double-decker in north London in the early hours of 30 May. He then made a scissoring gesture towards them with his fingers before the attack.
The 16-year-old took the handbag as the group fled the bus, the court heard. CCTV footage played in court showed the moment the teenagers targeted the two women. Melania Geymonat was punched in the face and had her handbag stolen (Picture: Metropolitan Police) CCTV captured the couple being surrounded by a group of teenagers on the N31 night bus in the early hours of 30 May (Picture: PA) Speaking after the sentencing today, DC Darren Barlow said: 'No one should ever be victimized because of their sexuality and I hope that this result brings some form of closure to both victims and they can put this ordeal behind them.' Mandy McGregor, Head of Transport Policing at TfL, said: 'This sickening incident was utterly unacceptable. 'Homophobic abuse is a hate crime and won't be tolerated on our network. All of our customers have the right to travel without fear of verbal or physical abuse. 'We hope this case reminds all of our customers that they should accept everyone for who they are and they have absolutely no right to abuse them.' The 15-year-old will appear at Highbury Corner Youth Court for his sentencing on 23 December.
Labels: gay hate Crime, London
Another Knife Attack at London Bridge
The suspect, Usman Khan, 28, a convicted terrorist, was shot dead by police officers.
The Queen praised the emergency services and "the brave individuals who put their own lives at risk to selflessly help and protect others".
Members of the public also expressed their admiration for those involved.
George Robarts tweeted that one man, filmed walking away from the attacker holding a knife, "ran through traffic and jumped the central partition to tackle the attack with several others".
He continued: "We ran away but [it] looks like he disarmed him, amazing bravery."
Twitter user Tom replied "an even bigger one to the man who restrained him" referencing one of the other civilians involved, who was seen pinning the attacker to the floor. Amy Coop, who was inside Fishmongers' Hall where the attack began, tweeted her praise of a man who went to confront the attacker.
Skip Twitter post by @theamycoop
Amy Coop@theamycoop
A guy who was with us at Fishmongers Hall took a 5' narwhale tusk from the wall and went out to confront the attacker. You can see him standing over the man (with what looks like a white pole) in the video. We were trying to help victims inside but that man's a hero #LondonBridge
3:34 PM - Nov 29, 2019
End of Twitter post by @theamycoop
One person took a fire extinguisher and let it off in the face of the attacker to try to keep him at bay.
Tour guide Stevie Hurst was one of those who helped restrain Khan.
He told BBC 5 live he saw the suspect being held down and kicked his head.
People were screaming that the attacker had "stabbed a couple of women", he said.
Image copyrightSTEVE HURST
Image captionStevie Hurst said he "doesn't know" why he was compelled to restrain the attacker
"Everyone was just on top of him, trying to bundle him to the ground.
"We saw that the knife was still in his hand... I just put a foot in to try and kick him in the head.
"We were trying to do as much as we could to try and dislodge the knife from his hand so he wouldn't harm anyone else.
"The guys that were there were absolutely amazing. Heroes beyond belief."
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionLondon Bridge remains under police cordon
Mr Hurst's colleague, Thomas Gray, 24, said he stamped on the terrorist's wrist to try to make him release one of two large knives he was carrying.
The tour manager said: "I was brought up on rugby and the rule is 'one in, all in'. I did what any Londoner would do and tried to put a stop to it.
"He had two knives on him, one in each hand, and it looked like they were taped to his hands.
"I stamped on his left wrist while someone else smacked his hand on the ground and kicked one of the knives away."
London Bridge: What we know so far
'Turn off your engine, get out and run'
Follow the latest updates
BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker joined hundreds on Twitter to praise two men who helped stop the attacker.
"These fellas are amazing. The terrorist has already killed two people, injured others and they chase him down with a whale tusk and a fire extinguisher.
"He's wearing a suicide vest which they don't know is fake. Incredible. True heroes," said Walker.
Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said she wanted to thank the members of the public who have helped, "showing extraordinary courage by stepping in to tackle this attacker".
'A lot of courage'
Brendan Cox, whose wife MP Jo Cox was murdered, said: "I hope the front pages tomorrow are full of the stories of the everyday heroes who helped stop the attack, not fixated on the low-life attention seekers who carried it out."
Similarly, Kera Stewart said, rather than see the face of the attacker, she wanted to see the faces of the "brave, heroic pedestrians who took him down, disarmed him and saved people's lives."
Harvey Bateman added: "It takes a lot of courage to do something like that."
Skip Twitter post by @Harvey_Bman
Harvey Bateman@Harvey_Bman
Still can't believe what's going on at #LondonBridge today. Massive respect for the civilians that intervened, takes a lot of courage to do something like that. Thoughts and prayers to any injured, apparently someone has been killed as well... horrible events
10:48 AM - Nov 29, 2019
See Harvey Bateman's other Tweets
End of Twitter post by @Harvey_Bman
Spencer Owen said: "To the brave pedestrians who held the man with a knife down on London Bridge before the armed police got there, you're all heroes."
Media captionSadiq Khan called members of the public who intervened in the incident "the best of us"
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Prime Minister Boris Johnson both offered their thanks.
Mr Johnson praised emergency services and said members of the public "who physically intervened to protect the lives of others" showed "extraordinary bravery".
"For me they represent the very best of our country and I thank them on behalf of all of our country," he said.
Mr Khan said the people who confronted the attacker "risked their own safety".
"They are the best of us," he said.
Labels: London, Terrorist
Five Arrested in Connection to The Lesbian Couple Attack in a London Bus
a fifth teenager in connection to the incident. All five are males between 15 and 18 years old. Geymonat's post has prompted an outcry against homophobic violence on social media. London's Mayor Sadiq Khan tweeted about the incident:
✔@SadiqKhan
This was a disgusting, misogynistic attack. Hate crimes against the LGBT+ community will not be tolerated in London.
The @metpoliceuk are investigating and appealing for witnesses. If you have any information - call 101.
✔@metpoliceuk
Appeal for witnesses following homophobic assault in Camden http://news.met.police.uk/news/appeal-for-witnesses-following-homophobic-assault-in-camden-371894 …
5:46 AM - Jun 7, 2019
According to government data, hate crimes in England and Wales targeting victims' sexual orientation rose 27% in 2017-2018 to a total of 11,638 incidents. Hate crimes targeting transgender people rose 32%. Police estimate that those numbers are getting larger, at least in part, because of improved protocol for reporting these crimes to police — but they still likely don't reflect the reality of hate crimes against the LGBTQ community.
A 2017 study conducted by Stonewall, a U.K.-based advocacy organization, showed that 1 in every 5 LGBT individuals polled in Britain had experienced a hate crime or incident in the 12 months before the survey. Four out of every 5 of those victims, however, didn't report it to police. Many who did report said they weren't taken seriously.
Over 5Million Reads Adam Gonzalez at June 09, 2019 No comments: Links to this post
Gay Couple Bloodied in Attack on a London Bus
"Suddenly the bus had stopped, the police were there and I was bleeding all over."
Both women suffered facial injuries and were taken to hospital, while Miss Geymonat added she may have broken her nose during the ordeal.
The attackers also stole a phone and bag from the women.
Miss Geymonat said one of the men spoke Spanish and the others had British accents.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan described the incident as a "disgusting, misogynistic attack" and said hate crimes against the LGBT+ community "will not be tolerated in London".
In her social media post, Miss Geymonat said she was tired of hearing about gay friends being beaten up "just because".
"We have to endure verbal harassment and chauvinist, misogynistic and homophobic violence," she said.
Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward with information.
Labels: Gay Bashing, gay hate Crime, London


Canada Cartage – This is Home.Apply today for company truck driver job opportunitiesAt Canada Cartage, it's not just about driving trucks – it ...Apply quickly!
School Bus DriverLocation: Holdfast, SKWhy You Should Choose SOUTHLANDSOUTHLAND offers an opportunity that is always exciting and allows for routine. ...Apply quickly!
We are looking for professional and safety oriented Class 1A Truck Drivers in Regina, SK Why work for Canada CartageDedicated 24-Hour Dispatch ...Apply quickly!
With locations across Western Canada, Canada Cartage System is a recognized leader in transportation logistics delivering customized solutions for the ...Apply quickly!
Who we Are District Brewing Company is a Saskatchewan brewery manufacturing the highest quality of craft beer. From four simple ingredi ...Apply quickly!
There is a career opportunity available at RONA Moose Jaw. Reporting to the Assistant Store Manager, the Delivery Driver is responsible fo ...Apply quickly!
Are you an experienced forklift operator? Are you comfortable prioritizing different responsibilities in a fast-paced environment? Are you ...Apply quickly!
Adecco is currently hiring for a temporary/contract certified Forklift Operator in Saskatoon, SK. To qualify for this Forklift Operator role, you mu ...Apply quickly!
Top Job On behalf of our client, we are seeking a certified forklift operator who MUST hold valid certification through a recognized training centre ...Apply quickly!
Top Job We are looking for an experienced certified forklift/yard person to fulfill a seasonal role with one of our clients who specializes in exter ...Apply quickly!


Constructed in the late 1980s, Manchester Lakes is a well-established subdivision of 1,390 townhomes and condos in the Kingstowne area of Alexandria. This community is in a great location, with some residents actually able to walk to shopping areas and Metro. The 2 sections of this community are separated by Manchester Lakes Boulevard, with townhouses and condominiums on both sides. There are five different condo complexes within Manchester Lakes: Tiers I, Tiers II, Essex House, Surrey and Victoria Crossings. A variety of floor plans are available, including ones with garages, lofts and a range of bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage. There is an active homeowners association that publishes The Manchester Laker and maintains a website with tons of pertinent information for residents. It has organized community picnics, yard sales and Halloween parties in the past. Community members enjoy the use of all Manchester Lakes amenities: lovely community center, outdoor swimming pool, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, several tot-lots, an exercise room, ponds and BBQ/picnic areas. The nearby Manchester Lakes Park provides jogging trails and athletic fields.
Manchester Lakes' residents have easy access to all transportation, employment and shopping opportunities in the region. Interstates 495, 95 and 395 as well as the Fairfax County Parkway are all only a few traffic lights away. The Springfield Transportation Center allows riders to hop on the Metro (blue line), VRE (Fredericksburg) or Amtrak trains. Greyhound, Metro and Fairfax Connector bus routes are available too. Nearby military bases include Fort Belvoir, the Pentagon, Bolling Air Force Base and 2 Coast Guard stations. The offices at Metro Park, which include many government contractor and technology companies as well as the INOVA Healthplex, employ many local residents. A 16-screen movie theater, 2 grocery stores, numerous restaurants and shops make up the Kingstowne Town Center. Choices include Panera Bread, Bonefish Grill, Firehouse Subs, Kaleidoscoops, Starbucks, World Market and Home Goods. The Festival at Manchester Lakes shopping center features favorites such as Johnny's Pizza, Baskin Robbins, Lakeshore Learning Store, Shoppers Food Warehouse, Bungalow Billiards and more. Top Golf (miniature golf course and driving range) and Lee District Park (swimming pool, athletic fields, and exercise facilities) offer the chance to enjoy leisure activities.
CLICK HERE to see all currently available homes for sale in Manchester Lakes.


text:
Arcade és una població dels Estats Units a l'estat de Geòrgia. Segons el cens del 2000 tenia una població de 1.643 habitants.

Demografia
Segons el cens del 2000, Arcade tenia 1.643 habitants, 565 habitatges, i 457 famílies. La densitat de població era de 98,2 habitants per km².

Dels 565 habitatges en un 42,7% hi vivien nens de menys de 18 anys, en un 62,5% hi vivien parelles casades, en un 11,7% dones solteres, i en un 19,1% no eren unitats familiars. En el 15,6% dels habitatges hi vivien persones soles l'1,9% de les quals corresponia a persones de 65 anys o més que vivien soles. El nombre mitjà de persones vivint en cada habitatge era de 2,91 i el nombre mitjà de persones que vivien en cada família era de 3,19.

Per edats la població es repartia de la següent manera: un 29,8% tenia menys de 18 anys, un 8,8% entre 18 i 24, un 35,5% entre 25 i 44, un 20,8% de 45 a 60 i un 5,1% 65 anys o més.

L'edat mediana era de 33 anys. Per cada 100 dones de 18 o més anys hi havia 104,4 homes.

La renda mediana per habitatge era de 37.604 $ i la renda mediana per família de 37.750 $. Els homes tenien una renda mediana de 31.914 $ mentre que les dones 21.602 $. La renda per capita de la població era de 15.159 $. Entorn de l'11,9% de les famílies i el 12,4% de la població estaven per davall del llindar de pobresa.

Poblacions més properes
El següent diagrama mostra les poblacions més properes.

Referències

Geòrgia


text:
Q: Copy & Paste hijacking in Google Chrome I'm having a strange issue in Google Chrome. When I attempt to copy a URL from the location bar, pasting it into a new tab results in the output:
file://localhost/.apdisk

It doesn't happen in any other browsers or applications. I have tried:

*

*Removing all extensions

*Clearing browser data (all history, cookies, etc, since beginning of time)

*Deleting and reinstalling Chrome

Nothing seems to work! I have tried Googling like mad, but can't find anybody else with this problem. Nervous that it's some kind of malware/hijacking.
Mac OS X: 10.9.5
Chrome: 44.0.2403.125

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Since granting its first Doctor of Medicine degrees in 1975, Alpert Medical School has become a national leader in medical education and biomedical research. By attracting first-class physicians and researchers to Rhode Island over the past three decades, the Medical School and its seven affiliated teaching hospitals have radically improved the state's health care environment, from health care policy to patient care.
Students are admitted to the School through a variety of pathways. The Medical School awards approximately 100 MD degrees each year.
The Medical School is a component of Brown's Division of Biology and Medicine, which also includes the Program in Biology and the Public Health Program. Together with Brown's seven affiliated teaching hospitals, the collective research enterprise in the life and health sciences attracts $213 million in sponsored research funding per year.
Learn more about what it's like to study medicine and more at Alpert Medical School.
The pursuit of health to benefit society.
This mission statement, adopted by the students, faculty and staff of Alpert Medical School in 2011, was inspired by that of the first known English speaking academic department of medicine (Aberdeen, Scotland, 1497).
Learn more about the mission, vision, and values of the Division of Biology and Medicine.
The history of medicine in Rhode Island and the history of the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University have been deeply interconnected for two centuries. They have never been more closely aligned than they are today, when the medical school is the heart of a major academic medical center embracing seven hospital affiliates in a network of connections and collaborations that extends throughout Rhode Island and beyond.
In 1811 Brown became the third university in the nation to offer academic medical education. In its brief 16-year history, this early program attracted some illustrious teaching physicians who went on to play roles on the national scene, participating in the founding of the American Medical Association and helping set the first national standards for medical education. Locally, they helped found and lead the Rhode Island Medical Society and worked with their colleagues to make Rhode Island Hospital a reality, a goal they achieved after decades of persistent advocacy. The most renowned of them, Dr. Usher Parsons, became Rhode Island Hospital's first president.
Public calls for reviving medical education at Brown began immediately after the school was closed in 1827, and they recurred over 136 years. The appeals came from ordinary Rhode Islanders, from physicians, from hospitals, and from political leaders, all of whom recognized the benefits a medical school would bring to the state - in the caliber and scope of health care, in the number and expertise of physicians, in the growth of hospital programs and technologies, and in the local economy.
In 1963, the calls were answered; the first steps were taken to remove Rhode Island from the small roster of states without a medical school. Momentum was provided by funding from the state and federal governments and from private foundations, as well as from the University. Dr. Pierre Galletti, the University's first dean of biology and medicine, Dr. Milton Hamolsky, chief of medicine at Rhode Island Hospital, and Professor of Biology J. Walter Wilson were among the prime movers in the creation of the Master of Medical Science program.
Although initially a continuum of four years of undergraduate study and just two of graduate study in basic science, the program sparked immediate growth in the Brown faculty and in the staffs of collaborating hospitals, as joint appointments and new training programs were created.
By 1969, when the first Master of Medical Science class graduated, the program was already changing the landscape of medicine in the state: accelerating the delivery of new techniques and technologies to the patient bedside, attracting more and better-qualified residents to Rhode Island's hospitals, encouraging more young doctors to practice in the state, and stimulating more Rhode Island students (who had been the most poorly represented in the nation in medical schools) to study medicine.
The hospitals and the community needed more, and soon a four-year medical program developed under the leadership of Dr. Stanley Aronson, founding dean of medicine, Dr. David Greer, associate and later second dean, and a cohort of medical students and faculty committed to a novel re-imagining of medical education. Together, they designed a program to prepare physicians committed to excellence in patient care and guided by humanistic values - the foundation on which today's Alpert Medical School is built.
The full medical degree program was launched in 1972, bringing with it clinical clerkships at seven affiliated hospitals and an infusion of new specialists, new laboratories, new research programs, and new clinical services.
In the 35 years since the first M.D. class graduated in 1975, Brown's medical school has expanded its faculty and programs and class size; residencies and specialties and technologies have proliferated; partnerships have evolved and deepened; and research initiatives have burgeoned.
Today, Brown's Division of Biology and Medicine - compsed of Alpert Medical School, the Program in Biology, and the Public Health Program - is home to numerous centers of excellence in biomedical research and clinical care. In 2010, research conducted by faculty in the division and the clinical departments of the medical school attracted $300 million in external funding.
A world-class campus-based and hospital-based faculty, totaling almost 1000 members, teaches in five basic science departments and fourteen clinical departments. They staff 25 residency programs in partner hospitals, among which Rhode Island Hospital, the school's first clinical site, is the principal teaching affiliate. Training opportunities are amplified by a large network of Rhode Island physicians who serve as voluntary clinical faculty.
Alpert Medical School attracts a highly diverse body of students from throughout the United States and abroad through two major routes: the Program in Liberal Medical Education, an eight-year continuum of undergraduate and medical studies; and the standard route of admission, open to applicants from outside the Brown community. Alpert students are among the best prepared and most talented in the nation. They collaborate with faculty in an educational experience that is grounded in an innovative competency-based curriculum, enriched by a vigorous research enterprise, and shaped by the commitment to humanistic medicine that has been the school's hallmark for four decades.
The new home of Alpert Medical School, the first building in its history dedicated to housing the core facilities for academic medicine under one roof, opened its doors in August 2011. Among its immediate effects was the prospect of admitting more medical students - increasing class size by 20 percent, to 120 - and introducing new academic programs. The Medical Education Building represents a leap forward in Rhode Island's growth as a major center for biotechnology and medicine, a development that Brown's research enterprise has helped generate. It also signals a period of accelerated growth in the history of a medical school begun by pioneers and innovators and stimulated by the needs and wishes of its community.
Alpert Medical School has evolved, in the words of Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences Edward J. Wing, "into one of the best medical schools in the country, with an empowering culture, a vigorous and growing research community, and outstanding clinical care." Its principal mission - to train excellent physicians equipped to improve the health of individuals and communities - is inseparable from its commitment to create an academic medical enterprise of the first rank in Rhode Island.
We start by focusing on the end product: the successful MD graduate.
That is why our innovative curriculum has been thoughtfully designed to impart all the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and abilities students need to become competent physicians and scientists, while giving students meaningful feedback every step of the way.
Our goal is to train physicians who will provide informed and compassionate care while at the same time serving as leaders and change agents for the health care system. To achieve the latter goal, we aim to train physicians who will be leaders at all levels.
During Years 1 and 2 , students enroll in four sequential semesters of Integrated Medical Sciences and Doctoring. The elective Scholarly Concentrations Program is introduced to students during Year 1.
Year 3 allows students to explore core disciplines and related specialties through the completion of required clerkships in medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics & gynecology, psychiatry, family medicine, and community health. The transition from the third year to the fourth year takes place in May, after which time students have the opportunity to develop a program of elective rotations aimed at finalizing a career choice, and obtaining and preparing for a residency in their chosen field.


Affiliation: Shady Grove Mennonite School is a "Mennonite" school.
Type: Shady Grove Mennonite School is a "Regular Elementary or Secondary School".
Level: Shady Grove Mennonite School is classified as a "High School".
Library: Shady Grove Mennonite School has a library.
Gender: Shady Grove Mennonite School is a Coed School.


Seeker: Hi, Arlindo. Would you care to comment on what the difference is between an epiphany and self-realization? Thanks.
Arlindo: Yes, my friend, an epiphany is an experience, and for experience one to occur you need two factors, a subject and an object, i.e. duality. Spiritual or mystical experiences are but projections produced by a sattvic mind in meditation/contemplation or sometimes out of the blue due to one's karma, an epiphany vasana cultivated in previous lives that unexpectedly fructifies.
But all mental projections are made of the same raw material called mind, and mind is subtle matter. A sattvic mind is an ideal platform from which many abnormal/mystical experiences are projected. You see, during our sleeping dream state we all experience a similar phenomenon; mind from time to time projects a world made up of dream objects and experiences, which is a manifestation of one's causal memory, or vasanas in their causal formations.
It's the same with the mind: when it is agitated (rajasic) it distorts one's views and interpretation of reality. But when it is predominantly sattvic and contemplates/meditates on the self, it tends to project a very subtle distortion we call a mystical epiphany. These mental subtle projections are objects (mithya) reflected on a sattvic mind. What is the difference then between the mind that reflects epiphanies from the one the reflects the non-dual self?
The difference we find is in mind's degree of pure reflectivity. In mediation/contemplation, a mind seeking enlightenment still requires rajoguna. This very subtle rajoguna energy will create a subtle mental ripple and produce a subtle distortion, a mystical object of experience that can easily be taken for the self or enlightenment. But since the self cannot be experienced, due to its non-dual nature, what the seeker experiences is actually a subtle projected object, which is but an idea or symbol of the self. The seeker often develops an affinity for such objects, and if he is not in close contact with Vedanta he may easily develop a vasana for that pleasurable object of experience.
Self-realization, on the other hand, is not an experience in duality, and it requires an instant of pure mental reflectivity. A single moment of pure sattva guna, with no influences of rajoguna or tamoguna. Those are the "aha" moments, the "click" moments Ramji sometimes refers to. The mind is so deeply calm, free from any subtle extroversion – desiring or fearing nothing – that it reflects the most obvious factor, the true eternal seer of all previous distortions of reality. Is self-realization an experience? No, in the sense that all experiences are dependent on objects, and yes because for the first time the jiva realizes that he has always being the self and "experiences" himself as the self. We may call it an experience of identity – the jiva knowing and experiencing from a new platform, from his own very subjectivity as the only seer there is: limitless awareness.
Self-realization is only possible by the means of knowledge because if the knowledge of Vedanta is not well-planted in the mind of the seeker, those moments of pure sattva guna may be easily wasted and the jiva will slide into nirvikalpa samadhi, the subtlest object of experience there is, the absence of objects the yogis like to refer to as emptiness or nothingness – not much different from deep sleep. It was lovely to talk to you.


In the eighth pAsuram, parAnguSa nAyaki mercifully says to a heron which is in front of her "Tell him that there is a girl who cannot sustain herself without you, like nithyasUris (eternal residents of paramapadham) and is suffering due to not having attained you".
Subsequently, parAnguSa nAyaki prays to a heron "Tell him that there is a girl who does not look for anything other than you, the supreme lord who is served by nithyasUris and hence you should bestow your mercy upon her for a day".
pAsaRaveydhi innE vinaiyEn enai Uzhi naivEn?
aruL sey – give your mercy.
Oh heron which is having wings which have no shortcoming in flying and are white in colour reflecting the internal purity! I who am sinful in not seeing the end of this suffering in separation, will remain broken for many kalpa, losing my complexion in this manner; on seeing the supreme lord, who is having faultless hair with blue radiance and who is the leader of nithyasUris, you should give your mercy one day by saying to him "[for parAnguSa nAyaki] there is no option to see, other than you who are free from any blemish".
pAsaRavu … – Am I in a state where it can be thought "let us wait for some more time to inform him"?
pAsaRavu eydhi – pAsu means freshness; which implies nIrmai (good complexion), losing that means, becoming pale.
innE – When asked "how did you acquire this pale complexion?", she says – I don't need to explain to you who are already seeing me. Only if an object is of limited nature, this [suffering] will be limited. I cannot explain my suffering in words; I can only show my body. Being unable to explain it through words, she is pointing to her body.
vinaiyEn – My viSlEsham (separation) from him is not the same as the samSlEsham (union) with him; that (samSlEsham) is occasional; this (viSlEsham) is perpetual.
vinaiyEn – I am sinful not to withdraw from him when there is no opportunity to be with him.
enai Uzhi naivEn – How many kalpa can I spend in this broken state? Those who separated previously only had to wait for fourteen years [bharathAzhwAn], ten months [sIthAp pirAtti] etc.
AsaRu thUvi veLLaik kurugE – Having unblemished wings, and pure mind/heart which will not let you bear others' sufferings.
veLLaik kurugE – Just like he is dark inside and outside [i.e., having cruel heart] to separate from me, you are white inside and outside to unite me with him.
aruL seydhu oru nAL – Shower your mercy once. There is no greater mercy that showing your presence here; you did this purely out of your mercy.
mAsaRu … – Seeing him who is having blemishless, shining hair cared for / enjoyed by nithyasUris [she is saying this with grief]. This is similar to a cloud which is pouring rain on the ocean while there is a [dry] lake [which would feed many].
EsaRum – She is suffering; also implies that she has gone beyond the state of worrying for people's accusations. Also implies – show your form. That is, you assume my pale complexion on your form and show it to him.
nummai allAl maRu nOkkilaL – There is no other cooler eyes than yours. Even to share my story, there is none other than you [for her]; even the state explained in "sakIbissukamAsva" (be happy with your friends) has been crossed.
nummai allAl – She cannot bear even if someone is sent in advance saying emperumAn is coming as in the case of SrI bharathAzhwAn [hanuman came ahead to announce the arrival of SrI rAma].
nummai allAl – She cannot sustain herself by meditating about the qualities of your true nature [She can only sustain herself when she sees your divine form].
maRu nOkkilaL – She has even crossed the state of being cared by the relatives [she has given up all of them] and only you can do it.
There is no verb [action word/phrase] in this pAsuram [for the heron]. It should be assumed from previous pAsuram or next pAsuram. thamizh scholars explain this as "vinai echcham". That is, "maRu nOkkilaL pERththu maRRE" should be suffixed with "enRu sollungOL" (you tell him).
This entry was posted in thiruvAimozhi, thiruvAimozhi 6th centum on May 13, 2018 by Sarathy Thothathri.


text:
ELECTRONIC WORK DIARIES FINALLY GIVEN THE THUMBS UP BY NHVR
November 12, 2020 Jon Thomson Truck and Bus News
Australian heavy industry is finally being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century with the announcement this morning that the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has finally approved the first Electronic Work Diaries for heavy vehicle drivers.
Drivers and fleets will now have a choice in how they record their work and rest hours, with EWD, which are electronic recording systems to record work and rest times, as a voluntary alternative to the Written Work Diary.
Deputy PM and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack made the announcement today and said the rollout of EWDs from 1st December would mean drivers can now "put down the pen, paper and ruler when recording work and rest hours".
"Congratulations to local Australian companies Step Global and Teletrac Navman which have met the strict requirements to provide an alternative to a Written Work Diary," Mr McCormack said.
"The work diary has been a requirement for fatigue-related heavy vehicles* for more than half a century, and today more than 200,000 Written Work Diaries are used by heavy vehicle drivers each year.
"This announcement will cut this red tape enabling drivers to record their work and rest hours by simply pressing a button, rather than spending time ruling lines and counting multiple time periods on multiple pieces of paper."
The EWD Policy Framework and Standards were developed in association with technology providers, transport operators, police and transport authorities in 2018 and were subject to comprehensive review and consultation.
As far as T&B News can tell after speaking with representatives of both Teletrac Navman and Step Global the two approved systems are quite different in terms of hardware and sectors of the market they may appeal to.
The Teletrac Navman system is tied into that company's telematics system and the EWD component has to be used with its own tablets and fleet based telematics offering.
Step Global's system is a tablet or smart phone based app system that appears to have a lot of appeal for owner drivers, contract drivers or small fleets as well as for larger fleets. Currently it is only available for Android based devices, however it is expected to be available as an Apple iOS app for iPhones and iPads in the next few months.
Stop Global, told T&B News that he believe the Step Global Smart eDriver system is actually the only system fully tested and certified for the full NHVR EWD standards and will go live on the 1st December. He disputes the ability for the Teletrac Navman to be fully compliant by the introduction date and says the company is discussing this with the NHVR.
"We can tell you our platform is fully compliant with all NHVR standard and Basic Fatigue Management rules right now and has the ability to integrate Advanced Fatigue Management solutions on request," Stop Global told us.
Stop Global says Smart eDriver users can download the mobile application onto any compliant Android device from the Google Play store, sign up with one of Step Global's distributors and get started.
Integrated training is available on the app and the company says that driver can be ready to start using the electronic work diary in less than 30 minutes. For the operator, there is free access to the Smart eDriver portal and reports.
Drivers will be able to download the app after 23 November and complete training ready for the 1 December launch.
Teletrac Navman told T&B News that it pioneered EWDs and fatigue management solutions in Australia as far back 12 years ago, with its Sentinel system oming to market in 2008.
The company says its customers have adopted Sentinel to check the accuracy of their written work diaries and gain a greater level of back office visibility into driver hours.
It says it has developed a deep understanding of fatigue risks and challenges, and continually updated the solution based on customer feedback.
It added that it has given created a comprehensive EWD solution that meets real day-to-day needs of transport operators, administrators and drivers.
Teletrac Navman says its Sentinel is already being used by more than 40,000 drivers across Australia, and these customers will be able to move to the new NHVR-approved solution at no additional cost from 1st December 2020.
The new solution is also available now for all new clients of Teletrac Navman's telemetry systems from this date.
A group of early adopters will be the first to install the technology in December, including prominent organisations such as Lindsay Australia and Aldi.
Teletrac Navman's chief product officer, Andrew Rossington says that its EWDs will streamline and simplify the whole process of logging driver hours, both from a safety and operational standpoint.
"EWDs empower drivers to manage their own compliance, give managers peace of mind that their drivers are safe, and make it easy for everyone to stay compliant and keep records of driver work and rest times," Rossington said.
"Digitising processes will also help the industry tackle growing demand and a shrinking pool of drivers. This kind of technology is set to assist a new generation of drivers, ones who will be more familiar with a device than they are with pen and paper," he added.
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said both companies are technology partners with a number of heavy vehicle operators, which should see a broad rollout across industry.
"This approval gives the providers the green light to work with their partners to use their products as an approved fatigue management system," Mr Buchholz said.
"We know both technology companies have a number of transport and logistics operators ready and eager to adopt the technology and we should see a good uptake across the industry.
NHVR Chair Duncan Gay said a company's investment in EWDs is an investment in industry safety and productivity.
"Right now, industry is managing 60 million pages of work diary paper per year – this equates to 14 B-Double loads of red tape," Mr Gay said.
"Today's announcement will enable companies and drivers to more effectively focus on managing their fatigue, rather than managing the book – which is an important step forward in delivering improved fatigue safety outcomes.
"As well as reducing time checking written work records on the side of the road, it also delivers huge cost and time savings for heavy vehicle businesses with many operators spending multiple days every week reconciling the written work book with internal systems.
"I look forward to welcoming other technology providers also submitting systems for approval."
Drivers and operators interested in the benefits of using an EWD should contact an approved provider to arrange their access.
There is currently no application fee to apply for approval of an EWD and all approved EWDs will be listed on the NHVR website at www.nhvr.gov.au/ewd
Authorised officers and police will still be able to check an EWD, including recent records, at the roadside to ensure drivers aren't exceeding their legal driving limits.
Approval for these companies to provide an EWD was based on comprehensive technical assessments and expert advice and while many operators and the NHVR were keen to see the first EWDs rolled out, it is also important to ensure that approved systems are fit for purpose for Australian laws.
Electronic Work Diaries
NHVR
VOLVO INVESTS HALF A BILLION IN US PLANT
The Volvo Group will invest the equivalent of $573 million ($US400 million) over six years to upgrade its New River Valley, Virginia, plant that produces all Volvo trucks sold in North America, the company announced […]
SEA ELECTRIC TRUCKS PLUG INTO THE LOCAL MARKET
An electric truck industry for Australia? That is what is mooted by one company based in Melbourne. SEA Electric held a media briefing in Melbourne last week, to which Truck and Bus News did not […]
HINO HYBRID CHARGING TO A DECADE OF DOMINANCE
August 8, 2016 Jon Thomson Truck and Bus News
Market leader in the diesel-electric light duty segment Hino has its sights set on a decade of clinching the best-seller title as the 300 series enters its 10th year of sales. Since launching onto the […]


text:
Communal Farming
In Namibia there are two types of farming: commercial and communal. As pictured below, commercial farming is for profit and is most commonly found in southern Namibia. Commercial farming is also commonly found in the United States. Communal farming uses one piece of land and its resources to farm (Kalundu). Communal farming includes grazing, harvesting plants, and raising livestock. Communal farming began before Namibian independence in 1994 and continues today in the northern parts of Namibia (Mendelsohn).
Here is an example of commercial farming at Jimmy O'Kennedy's family farm.
Along with the majority of the Namibian population, the majority of the cattle of Namibia are located in the northern, communal regions (pictured below). Unfortunately, the Namibian government has declared a "Red Line," separating the north and south parts of the country (Schneider). This line has been set to prevent the spread of disease between the two halves. The northern region tends to have less animal health care leading to the spread of disease. Meat products can only be exported from the south to the north, but not vice versa.
Pictured here are cattle in the northern region. Cattle graze wherever they please and come back home at the end of the day. Individual farmers must know what their cattle look like.
Namibia has the potential to become a powerful producer of meat products due to the high volume of cattle, goats, and sheep that are located in the northern region (Mendelsohn). The only obstacle is ridding Namibia of the "Red Line." To do this, Namibia must first increase the availability of animal health care and then improve the knowledge of animal health care in the northern region.
Next, a controversial topic in Namibia: the commercial farm movement. I believe there should be an increase in commercial farms. Commercial farms have been proven to be more efficient and productive. The United States began farming in communities and struggled until it converted to commercialism. The techniques, knowledge, and technology of commercial farming are reasons for its success. Currently, 50% of the Namibian population depends on subsistence agriculture for their livelihood (Schneider). Converting to commercial farming would create enough produce and animal products to feed families, sell at market, and employ much of the unemployed population.
I believe that Namibia has great economic potential lying in the northern region. The government must take action to unlock its potential. Education of animal husbandry and health care should be encouraged in schools. Technology must be incorporated into new farming techniques. The big question: Where will the money come from to fund these projects?


Organic Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbs: Lilium brownii, Spine date seed, Lotus seed, Bitter Cardamon, Malt, Poria Cocos, Chinese yam, Liquorice.
Directions: 2 pieces every day, 1 piece after breakfast and 1 piece before Bedtime, Brew tea with 200ml boiled water and steep for 3-8 minutes before drinking it.
In addition to getting a good night rest, you'll also get amazing side benefits from this premium herbal blend tea with zero caffeine.
Believed to boost longer lifespan.
Anti-ageing enzyme – so you can have youthful glowing skin all year round!
Helps with abdominal pain, dry cough, fatigue, and headaches.
Increases sperm and sperm quality in men.
Wait for it… helps you prevent and Overcome malaria!


The photographs that I create stem from a life-long visual pursuit to understand the world around me from two near-death combat experiences during the Vietnam War. In this effort, I look to make images that question interpretation from the abstract to the realistic to draw viewers into the image. With few exceptions, the photographs are made in-camera as philosophical interpretations, or emotional reflections, or present questions about life through a visual media. I prefer to let each photograph stand on its own intentionally minimizing the description allowing the viewer to ponder the image to determine what it means or feels to them. Fundamentally, the photographs I take represent an internal psychology of exploration about what it means to live. Explore the site and send an email about your impressions.


I walked to the bank to find how how to withdraw money from Bank of Costa Rica. There were two individuals in line ahead of me. I found out that the guard would not allow anyone in until someone from the inside was done doing his/her business.
After a while, I was allowed to enter the door. The guard scanned my body and told me to show what were inside my purse. I complied. The guard inside helped me acquired my number. I took a sit and waited for my number to be called.
An hour later, my number was called. I walked to the window and asked the teller if she spoke English. She didn't understand me. I showed her the copy of my passport as well as my debit card. She indicated that she needed the actual passport.
Having accomplished what I intended to do, I left the bank happy.


text:
Judge in Ghislaine Maxwell Trial Warns Omicron Could Disrupt Jury Deliberations
The judge in the Ghislaine Maxwell sex-trafficking trial is warning that Omicron could disrupt jury deliberations and drag out the case.
Video Shows Officers Persecuting Little Boy, Demand Vaccine Papers From Family (WATCH)
CONFIRMED: Sexual Misconduct Charges Against Cuomo Are Credible, But DA Refuses to Prosecute
U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan, who is presiding over the case against the British socialite, said the jury might need to deliberate each day this week and over the weekend if a verdict isn't reached.
Jurors were previously scheduled to be off Thursday and Friday for the New Year's Eve holiday, but Judge Nathan said she's worried about "an astronomical spike" in the number of Covid-19 cases in New York.
"Put simply, I conclude that proceeding this way is the best chance to both give the jury as much time as they need and to avoid a mistrial as a result of the Omicron variant," she said.
"The judge's decision came as the jury wrapped up its fourth full day of deliberating. At the end of Tuesday, jurors sent a note asking the judge for permission to leave at 5 p.m., saying that our deliberations are moving along and we are making progress. Despite her extension of daily deliberations by an hour, the judge allowed them to leave at the requested time," the Wall Street Journal reported.
"Maxwell, 60 years old, is accused of helping disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse underage teens. She faces six criminal counts at trial, including sex-trafficking of minors. Prosecutors say Ms. Maxwell recruited and groomed teens for sex acts with Epstein between 1994 and 2004, often under the pretext of procuring massages," the report continued.
"Ms. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing. Her lawyers have said she is a scapegoat who wasn't indicted until nearly a year after Epstein died in a federal jail in August 2019 while awaiting his own sex-trafficking trial. The New York City medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. Judge Nathan told prosecutors and Ms. Maxwell's lawyers about her decision before informing the jurors," the report added.
"At the urging of Ms. Maxwell's lawyers, the judge agreed to tell jurors only that they would need to deliberate each weekday this week. She said she would wait until Wednesday to inform them that they might need to deliberate over the weekend. Ms. Maxwell's lawyers have raised concerns that by extending deliberations, jurors will feel pressured to reach a verdict," the report continued.
The jury began deliberating on Dec. 20.
Judge Nathan said the surge in Covid-19 cases since last week changed her thinking on giving jurors additional time to deliberate.
"We are, very simply, at a vastly different place regarding the pandemic than we were only a week ago," the judge said.
"We now face a high and daily escalating risk that jurors and or necessary trial participants would need to quarantine, thus disrupting trial — putting at risk our ability to complete this trial. Put simply, I conclude that proceeding this way is the best chance to both give the jury as much time as they need and to avoid a mistrial as a result of the omicron variant," she added.
A Brand New Study Suggests The Omicron Variant Will Mean the End of Covid as We Know It


text:
BK8/RVP PARTNERSHIP
The marketing team at BK8 had reached a key milestone in our marketing plan because a partnership deal with legendary football player Robin Van Persie has just been finalized recently. A game changing contract was signed between BK8.com and Mediapro Asia, which grants us access to image rights of the football player as well as the rights to create branded content and market visits for BK8.com's initiatives in various southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. The former seat of BK8's brand ambassador was held by ex-Chelsea captain John Terry, now the goal scoring genius who is considered by the masses to be this generation's best striker will take his place from 2019 to the following year. Together, we will start our ventures into sponsorship and numerous other exciting new plans in the coming year.
It prides us to be able to say that this collaboration was initiated and pushed by Mediapro Asia for BK8.com. Mediapro is a powerful and influential multimedia communications group based in Spain, and their branch in Asia has opened new opportunities for not only us at BK8.com, but Mediapro itself as well in forging our path ahead in the online market. Both parties are elated to be able to shake hands and reach an agreement in this ambassadorship brokerage, this is no doubt a good sign that the bond between both companies have strengthened.
Any football fans that had paid a close eye on the football scene will have certainly heard of the name Robin Van Persie, who made his senior debut back in 2001 and currently holds the highest record of goals scored for the Netherlands National Team. Robin Van Persie also held a significant presence in the Barclays' Premier League as a former Manchester United and Arsenal striker. After his sensational goal in the 2014 World Cup hosted by Brazil, the flying dutchman became a household name. Now, with Robin Van Persie backing BK8 up, we are hoping that this deal will help us attract more followers to join our site.
Regarding this partnership, Robin Van Persie has gone on record and said that he is thrilled to partner up with us, and wished for that he can do his part in promoting BK8.com and help us achieve our goal to become the top ranking online casino in southeast Asia. Likewise, our team here at BK8 are also inspired to have Robin Van Persie on board, our excitement is tangible as we are confident that this partnership will bring a significant boost to our efforts in engaging sports enthusiasts in the gaming industry. "The plan is to not only to engage existing members of our site, but also extend our brand such that we become a premium gaming platform to all kinds of sports audiences." said BK8 general manager Lawrance Wayneson.
Managing Director of Mediapro Asia, Lars Heidenreich, commented that, "We relish this opportunity to be working with one of the fastest growing sporting brands in Asia, along with one of football's top legends, and we are thrilled to explore more opportunities together with BK.com in the properties that Mediapro Asia collectively owns."
BK8's name has always appeared in all the ranked list of online casinos in Asia published by various online casino review sites and blogs, our reputation certainly precedes us because everywhere you go you will certainly see our name and hear praise of our service. We offer players from all around the continent all sorts of quality entertainment content such as slot games, poker, fishing games, and of course, a secure and trusted platform for sports betting. When players in southeast Asia think about sports betting, BK8.com is the first site they think about. Our sports betting cover both virtual sports and traditional sports, and the odds are better than ever. We provide exclusive and insane promotions to our players, every day is a bonanza at BK8 due to the abundance of offers, promotions, cash rebates, event bonuses and referral bonuses that are accessible at our site. Customer satisfaction is our priority, and our massive player base just keeps growing and growing, each day we climb closer to the top, and this partnership with Robin Van Persie will certainly bring additional value to our efforts so far.
If until today, you still have not signed up and join the BK8 family, you are definitely missing out on a ton of fun. BK8 not only runs a famous online casino, we are also a sports match streaming and match up review sites. If are having trouble with sports betting, do not worry, BK8 is here to help. Our site offers help in making sports results prediction so that you will never have to worry about losing too much money in sports betting. Our predictions and match analysis are written by a team of experts so you can certainly rely on us. Besides that, our team had also successfully organized dozens of futsal tournaments known as the BK8 Cup in the past and we plan to pour even more of our effort in organizing future sports events with our new brand ambassador, this is because we are just as passionate about football as you are and we wish to promote the sports even more, especially across southeast Asian countries. If you had been paying close attention to our site so far, you will notice that we have teased a potential Robin Van Persie visit to this region, including Thailand and Indonesia, as well as a series of fun activities leading up to Euro Cup, we are glad to say, these plans are slowly coming to fruition, and we can not wait to see you there!
Visit our site to read more about this partnership and what it means to us and the online casino industry. You are also more than welcome to check out some of our games, we assure you that you will fall in love with them in no time. Download the BK8 app now to keep our entire casino right inside your pocket, we are available on both Apple and Google play store.
Check Out More Here
PrevPreviousMega888 Latest Online Slots in Malaysia
NextSPECIAL WELCOME BONUS FREE 190Next


West CAP is a 501(c)3 charitable organization.
Letters of receipt will be provided to all donors.
PO Box 308 – 525 2nd St.
We encourage appreciated stock gifts to the organization, we use a reputable broker- Edward Jones- to complete this transaction! Contact us for details.
For more information on West CAP and how your dontation can make a difference, contact Peter Kilde, Executive Director. He may be reached by phone at 715-265-4271 extension 1328 or by email at pkilde@wcap.org.


text:
Zeff's Crazy Mocha a place to hang out and relax
Community warm spotNew cafe opening in financially stressed Braddock, Pa.
Caffeine, comfort, community are the right brew for to slow down coffee shop life
By Toby Tabachnick June 8, 2017, 10:57 pm 0 Edit
Ken Zeff edit 2
Ken Zeff is turning the paradigm of the modern coffee shop on its head. And it's working.
While so many other coffee houses — including behemoth Starbucks — are focusing on drive-throughs, mobile ordering and other strategies to speed up the delivery of a cup of joe, Zeff's Crazy Mocha is deliberately defying that model.
"Both drive-throughs and mobile ordering, I think, take the purpose out of the coffee business," said Zeff, whose coffee empire has grown from a single shop in Shadyside in 2000, to 30 locations mostly throughout the greater Pittsburgh area. "The coffee business is intended to be that place where you can go hang out and relax. So, when you place your coffee order online and you have to fight through all these drinks there with stickers on them, it sort of eliminates that human contact that I think originally was the purpose of the coffee shop. You know, just come in, relax, talk to the barista, meet a friend here and not be in a hurry."
The shops in the Crazy Mocha chain, which Zeff owns along with his wife, Michelle, have an intentionally welcoming vibe: the chairs are comfortable, the tables are large, and because not much space is devoted to other retail products and advertising, there is more room to just hang out.
"Our goal is to not do mobile ordering and not to do drive-throughs," Zeff said, "but to maintain locations that can be the rock in the neighborhood, that are dependable, that stay open later than a Starbucks. We have no music nights, or open mic nights, so when people want to come and chill out and enjoy, they know that it's going to be the same 365 days a year. It's an alternative."
Zeff is constantly expanding his business, with construction already begun at his newest venture in Braddock, a few miles east of Pittsburgh.
That location may be surprising to some, as Braddock has been a state-designated "financially distressed municipality" for more than a quarter century. Once a thriving industrial town and the home of Andrew Carnegie's Edgar Thomson Steel Works, Braddock fell apart during the 1970s and 1980s with the collapse of the steel industry. The town's mayor, John Fetterman, has been working since 2005 to turn things around in Braddock, helping to bring in new businesses and supporting a proposed medical marijuana facility in the community to bring in more jobs.
Zeff's eye for up-and-coming neighborhoods may bode well for Braddock.
"We love going into neighborhoods that are transitioning, and we've done it before," Zeff said. "Real estate is a little more realistic and we love to be part of that tipping point."
The Zeffs have set up shops on the North Side, in Lawrenceville "before Lawrenceville happened," and in Market Square when most every other store sat vacant.
"We identified Downtown as an opportunity before Downtown started to happen," Zeff said. "We have 12 stores down there right now."
But Zeff, a native Pittsburgher, sees his new store in Braddock as more than just an opportunity.
He looks back fondly on his childhood days visiting B. Zeff, the scrap business owned by his father, a Braddock native. B. Zeff was an institution in Braddock from 1902 until the 1990s, until the business ran out of family members interested in running it.
He is looking forward to returning to that town with his coffee shop, with the new facility there also housing a prep kitchen that will make sandwiches for all the Crazy Mocha stores, helping to create additional jobs in Braddock.
The Zeffs, who are both native Pittsburghers and who live in Squirrel Hill, make it a point to support their neighbors. The Crazy Mocha on Murray Avenue offers a selection of certified kosher products, including some pretty decadent looking cakes, catering to a customer crowd that includes Orthodox Jews. They are also big supporters of The Friendship Circle, located just up the road, and frequently host events and donate gift cards and products to that organization, which works to integrate children and young adults with special needs more fully into the broader community.
Despite the fact that so much of Zeff's life is about coffee, he admits that he has never even tasted it.
"I've never tried coffee, or tea, or hot chocolate," he said. "It's an undiagnosed problem. I really don't try anything new; I have no interest in it."
Still, he is fueled by the fact that his Crazy Mochas provide a warm spot for the community to get something tasty, relax and connect.
"It's a happy place to go," he said.
Toby Tabachnick can be reached at tobyt@thejewishchronicle.net.