It's not surprising which way this article is biased. Now that the new BMW 5 Series has been revealed, we take a look at how it compares to an unusual rival, the Tesla Model S.
China is really setting the standard. China introduces an additional 10% tax on "super cars", including Ferrari and Rolls-Royce.
About time Netflix! Good job.
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Wealth Management App User Experience Improves but Still Lags Other Industries, J.D. Power Finds
TMCnet News
[November 23, 2021]
Wealth management firms have invested heavily in upgrading their apps, with 75% making feature enhancements in the past year, up from 44% a year ago. However, according to the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Wealth Management Mobile App Satisfaction Study,? released today, while these efforts are paying off in terms of greater utilization, improved engagement and higher overall customer satisfaction scores, wealth management still lags other industries when it comes to the overall app user experience.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211123005385/en/
J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Wealth Management Mobile App Satisfaction Study (Graphic: Business Wire)
"The pace of customer adoption of mobile has accelerated dramatically across virtually every industry, and that's both an opportunity and a challenge for wealth management firms," said Michael Foy, senior director of wealth intelligence at J.D. Power. "Clearly, the investment that firms have put behind their digital strategies is having a positive effect on app user experience and overall utilization rates, but that same thing is happening everywhere, and some industries are just moving faster. Wealth management firms have some unique challenges because of legacy back-end technology and the sheer complexity and range of services they need to provide. But there are unique opportunities to leverage an app to deliver relevant educational content and facilitate communication with advisors."
Following are key findings of the 2021 study:
Customer satisfaction and usage surges: Overall customer satisfaction with wealth management mobile apps this year is 858 (on a 1,000-point scale), up nine points from a year ago. Major drivers of this increase are speed, range of services offered and overall appearance. The number of customers using their wealth apps daily has increased four percentage points year over year and the number using them multiple times per day has increased three percentage points.
Wealth app customer satisfaction lags other financial apps: Despite increased customer satisfaction, overall customer satisfaction with wealth apps trails average app satisfaction scores in J.D. Power studies in the banking (860), credit card (867 and insurance (877) industries. While wealth management firms are spending big on updates, with 31% introducing major feature updates this year, that number jumps to 33% for credit card apps and 50% for banking apps.
Seamless advisor interaction via app creates opportunity: A key differentiator for wealth management apps vs. those of other industries is direct line connectivity to human advisors. Still, just 44% of wealth app users who work with an advisor say they communicate with them via the app, which is unchanged from 2020.
App-based investor education can improve: While firms are very proficient at providing apps with market-related news and information, many fall short on delivering personalized content and guidance. Just more than half (51%) of customers strongly agree that their wealth app provides tailored insights and content and just 47% say it is very easy to research investment options on their wealth app.
"Customer expectations for a seamless multi-channel experience are rising rapidly in line with significant investment and innovation for nearly every customer touch point across every industry," said Amit Aggarwal, senior director of digital solutions at J.D. Power. "The key for wealth management firms to level up in this competitive environment is to heavily lean into their unique value propositions, making it easy and intuitive for investors to move seamlessly between the app and other digital or human channels, while delivering personalized guidance and important information along the way."
The 2021 U.S. Wealth Management Mobile App Satisfaction Study evaluates customer satisfaction with wealth management mobile apps based on five factors (in order of importance): range of services; clarity of information; ease of navigating; appearance; and speed of screens loading. The study is based on responses from 3,025 full-service and self-directed investors and was fielded in July-August 2021.
Study Ranking
U.S. Bancorp Investments ranks highest in overall customer satisfaction with wealth management apps, with a score of 884. Chase Mobile (876) ranks second and Merrill Edge (870) ranks third.
For more information about the U.S. Wealth Management Mobile App Satisfaction Study, visit
https://www.jdpower.com/business/financial-services/us-wealth-management-mobile-app-satisfaction-study.
To view the online press release, please visit http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2021161.
About J.D. Power
J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.
J.D. Power has offices in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. To learn more about the company's business offerings, visit JDPower.com/business. The J.D. Power auto shopping tool can be found at JDPower.com.
About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules: www.jdpower.com/business/about-us/press-release-info
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Today's Internet of Things (IoT) world is characterized by a multitude of solutions among which the user has the opportunity to choose platforms and technologies. Which of them are valuable?
The idea of IoT is simple – to connect smart things to the network. When speaking of smart home, connections between its elements should lead to the delivery of specific values to the user. In order to achieve them, both devices and platforms should offer integrated solutions.
Solutions dedicated to smart home systems should allow you to connect as many of its elements into a single, coherent network. Such a scenario allows to use the synergy effect among their operation. The challenge is faced within both, the IoT platform designers and third-party devices which have not yet offered smart devices.
Third-party companies i.e. manufacturers specialised in providing user with conventional solutions such as locks and heating systems aware of the era of digitisation, are expanding their portfolio with a tab named "smart". One cannot talk about the idea of the world of the Internet of Things without taking into account interoperability, that is, the ability of devices to work together.
Today's IoT environment provides ready-made solutions, mutually integrated. Among manufacturers who have not been present so far in the world of the Internet of Things, there is an increasing awareness of prevailing trends such as smart city, smart home, sustainable development. More and more new products have added value compared to their conventional version, i.e. remote control, programming action schedules (also called scenarios), modifying device activity using mobile or web apps. However, the greatest value is the interaction of devices in one larger, configured system.
Devices debuting in the smart field should assume interoperability with larger smart home systems. SmartThings is an American concept designed to create a smart home platform. This idea appeared in 2012 as a Kickstarter project which turned into a startup that gives the ability to connect devices from multiple areas within one operating environment.
Developers of the open system assumed the possibility of supporting elements at the native and dedicated level. Generic (native) level was introduced by the platform developers themselves and assumes factory support, that is, the ability to use devices immediately after adding to the system. Dedicated support on the other hand, was created by the SmartThings community and is based on placing the source code in the system also referred to as the driver. Codes are created by the users themselves and published on websites to make them available to interested persons. FIBARO offers a similar solution with its Marketplace platform.
Such possibilities are provided by placing the logic of the system's operation in the cloud, where the core of the system is a server located outside the user's home. The principle of operation of such a solution takes into account the possession of a smart home HUB, which acts as a bridge between the elements (devices) physically located in the house and the server — the brain of the system.
Today, smart devices operating independently allow separate environments to control them. As a result, users having FIBARO Motion Sensor, smart watch, smart TV or smart lock have the ability to control each of these devices using dedicated, separate apps. According to the idea of IoT, a common solution is needed to integrate these environments which will allow you to operate a smart home from one app – the system. SmartThings by Samsung allows you to control all the elements with a single app that is intuitive and really simple. The user has the ability to control all devices operating in the Samsung ecosystem. These include household appliances (washing machines, refrigerators, HVAC appliances) and equipment specialised in building automation, such as FIBARO sensors or actuators. You no longer need to choose a single manufacturer to create a customized ecosystem for your individual needs. Such system can be created due to elements already present in the house, including smart refrigerator or washing machine.
SmartThings in its assumptions was a simple platform dedicated to integrate as many devices as possible and offer simple on/off and remote access features. These were the so-called Plug & Play solutions. At the time of the acquisition of the platform, it became clear that the Korean manufacturer would direct the strategy of developing the platform towards its solutions related to smart TVs, HVAC or widely understood household appliances. Another natural step in business growth was to focus on the development of professional building automation elements such as FIBARO smart home system hardware. Today, the user not only has a simple system features, but can also extend smart home solutions and combine professional building automation devices.
As a result of integration, FIBARO devices have been included in the list of compatible devices of one of the largest IoT platforms in the world.
FIBARO devices based on Z-Wave protocol can work in a basic way with any smart home platforms using this type of communication. As an example, a FIBARO Flood Sensor which primary function is flood detection, will act properly within given technology platform. However, FIBARO devices have more to offer than just a simple set of features, such as temperature measurement and movement detection alarm. In order to use pro features of the devices, platform manufacturer conducts a process of dedicated integration i.e. adapting the use of such devices.
Samsung SmartThings has integrated devices to exploit the full potential of FIBARO devices.
FIBARO with its products is available in the compatibility list called "Works with SmartThings" next to such manufacturers as Tesla, Apple, Subaru or Garmin.
Using interoperability in the form of dedicated integrations gives opportunities to distract business models. The cooperation of solution manufacturers belonging to a single ecosystem allows us to create technology network aimed at meeting the needs of safety, energy saving or event detection.
Vodafone project provides a set of devices dedicated to fire detection, including FIBARO Smoke Sensor and SmartThings flood sensor.
This integration lets the user implement a number of scenarios defined by him or her, including managing AV equipment and household appliances at home.
To give an idea of such scenario, imagine starting the camera and changing the temperature when the motion sensor detects motion or doors are open because of the detected motion.
By working with Samsung SmartThings, users around the world get the opportunity to manage their home from phone, smart watch and voice assistants. From now on, every home appliances and electronics integrated into this platform works with the FIBARO system.
Member of leading business projects at FIBARO. Lean methodology protagonist who expands integration projects for the IoT industry. Responsible for technical project development in close collaboration with sales and R&D departments. Known for well developed projects in Scandinavia, The Middle East, Australia and DACH region. Head of the SmartThings integration project.


Raising a priesthood that can stand worthy before God on behalf of His purposes.
Applicants in this program have committed themselves for 6 months of full-time engagement at a specific missionary training center. Training will include an active mission deployment in mission fields led by our covenant partners.
The lifestyle necessary to live out these principles follows. These will govern the day to day activities on the training center.
Send travel itinerary one week prior to your travel date to allow our staff time to schedule all shuttle services.
**The remaining tuition of $1,800 can be paid in full or in increments of $600 per month for the remaining three months due. Payment for the remaining tuition is due on the 1st day of the fourth month of the program.
Send your travel itinerary one week prior to your travel date to allow our staff time to schedule all shuttle services.
Applicants who have completed the admission requirements will be notified of their acceptance into the EGMI Set Apart Boot Camp Program once their application has been reviewed and approved. Applications that are incomplete, cannot be considered without all of the required information and documentation provided. Applicants who are accepted into the EGMI program must complete the program requirements as found in the Training Catalog.
*The required documentation and payment for each applicant must be received no later than two weeks prior to the training start date.
Students who wish to withdraw from the program must complete the proper withdrawal form. The withdrawal from the training center can be submitted at any time throughout the program. Students who wish to withdraw must meet with the program director to explain their reason for leaving the program. Individuals who wish to return to the EGMI after withdrawing must wait for the start of the next 6-month term before re-applying to the program.
Tuition for this camp is $3,600 which includes room, board, and transportation. Two weeks prior to the start of the program, students must pay the tuition in the full amount of $3,600 or pay $1,800 for one-half of tuition. The remaining tuition of $1,800 can be paid in full or in increments of $600 per month for the remaining three months due. Payment for the remaining tuition is due on the 1st day of the fourth month of the program.
Payment Options: Checks, Money Order or PayPal. If paying by check, please make the check or money order payable to Elim Christian Assembly. If paying via PayPal, be sure to include an additional $7.00 convenience fee.


Q: The neighbors next door to us are planning a remodel, and at the current time they will be allowed to build from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. We feel we are priced slightly below the market. In your experience, do you think because of the noise and the disturbance going on next door we will have to make refunds or discount or lower our price? The remodel is on the first and second floors, and our condo is on the second floor, so it will be intrusive.
How do you feel is the best way to handle this situation? To make matters worse, the family doing the remodel has been planning it for 6 years and is acting as their own contractor, so this disturbance could go on for a very long time.
A: I have actually experienced almost the same thing at one of my condos…except it was the entire complex being renovated (not just one unit). Because you already "discount" your market prices, I would clearly inform the renters that this is why the price is discounted. I wouldn't play it up, I'd just offer the information in passing; you don't want to open any doors. It's tough for you to make any concessions because the whole matter is out of your hands. If the work doesn't get started at all, or the contractors take a few weeks off, then you'll be discounting for nothing.
The good news is if they do indeed work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every single day, the whole job should be finished in a snap. If they don't work those hours and it takes a long time for your neighbors to complete it, then the "noise" will be sporadic and likely not be bothersome to your renters. I think it's good for you to give some thought to this. It's always best to have a plan.


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Charles Albert Liffiton (December 14, 1878 – August 11, 1941) was an early professional ice hockey player. Over the span of his career he played for the Montreal Hockey Club, the professional Pittsburgh Bankers of the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League, the Toronto Professionals of the Ontario Professional Hockey League and the Portage Lakes Hockey Club of the International Professional Hockey League.

Biography
Charlie Liffiton was the son of a jeweler and grew up in a family of one sister and six brothers. He worked in his father's jewelry and confection store in Montreal, but preferred playing hockey.  During the 1899–1900 season of the Canadian Amateur Hockey League Charlie was the second best scorer for his Montreal Hockey Club and the league's eighth leading scorer posting 8 goals in 8 games. However, during the 1901–02 season, he helped the Montreal HC win the CAHL championship and later defeat the Winnipeg Victorias and capture the Stanley Cup. He was also one of the top ten league scorers for the third season in a row.

Liffiton played only one game of the 1902–03 season for Montreal, before traveling to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to help the Pittsburgh Bankers win the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League championship. The WPHL was a professional league and by playing there, Charlie became a professional player. Over the next two season, he played for the Bankers and at least one match for the Montreal Wanderers.

In 1904 the Portgage Lakes Hockey Club of Houghton, Michigan lured him away from the Wanderers to play the remainder of the season for $1350. He was reported to be the highest paid player in the International Professional Hockey League that year. Statistics from his hockey career show he was active through the 1906–07 professional exhibition season with the Toronto Professionals.

Family
His younger brother was Ernie Liffiton who also played professional ice hockey. He is an ancestor of David Liffiton of the Colorado Avalanche and New York Rangers. Around 1916, Charlie married Lena Margaret Clark. The couple had five children. It was also around 1916, that Charlie began his own business building automobile garages.

Stanley Cup engraving
While Charlie is a Stanley Cup champion, his name is not on the Cup. 1902 is one of the few years when only the team's name was engraved on the Cup, not each player's.

References
"One of the most famous of the Canadian hockey players" liffiton.net
"C. Liffiton and Campbell Displayed Good Form" New York Times, February 10, 1901.

1878 births
1941 deaths
Montreal Hockey Club players
Montreal Wanderers players
Pittsburgh Bankers players
Portage Lakes Hockey Club players
Ice hockey people from Montreal
Stanley Cup champions
Canadian ice hockey right wingers

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Altimate, Singapore's newest VIP nightclub, is all geared up to set the roof on fire. Located on the 61st floor of the exclusive 1-Altitude building, the 'Glo'-themed premium club is set to bring you a memorable night with it's killer views, international entertainment and a spectacular host. Gallivant in cocktails and gourmet canapés as addictive beats by Australian duo DJ Yolanda Be Cool stirs up the atmosphere on this opening night.


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Home»News»Shaggy learning to trust after wandering Grand Rapids area
Shaggy learning to trust after wandering Grand Rapids area
April 6, 2015	1,159 Views
Shaggy the dog, who wandered the Grand Rapids area for months before his capture, is making strides at an animal rescue and rehab facility.
The Grand Rapids Press reports Shaggy, an 18-month-old Newfoundland mix, is among 13 other undomesticated dogs being taught to trust people at The Devoted Barn about 30 miles south of Detroit. The facility's owner, Melissa Borden, says Shaggy is a "gentle giant" who "really wants attention."
Shaggy was caught by Borden in March. Kent County animal control officers had taken extraordinary steps to try capturing Shaggy, including getting a net-shooting device. He was called Shaggy due to his rough appearance,
When Shaggy went to the shelter, he weighed 118 pounds, roughly 30 to 40 pounds underweight. But he was in good health.
Borden said Shaggy shows characteristics common in strays such as a fear of people and a reluctance to play. She said he's making progress.
"It didn't take too long for him to come out of his shell and realize we have good things for him, which is water and treats," Borden said.
Dogs at the facility have limited contact with outsiders to help build the dogs' trust in people. They're hand-fed human food before they make the switch to dog food, which they're not used to eating.
New dogs are petted 10 to 15 seconds at a time to become used to human touch. Once dogs are comfortable, Borden and volunteers will go into their kennels and snuggle with them. Borden fed Shaggy peanut butter with her fingers as she lay with her head on him.
"We do a lot of this — a lot of just laying here. He makes a great pillow," Borden said. "Right now, we're just going at his pace. We're not doing anything he can't handle." (AP)


Moore & Lee recently represented a defense contractor seeking recovery for the increased price of fuel that was required for its performance under a government contract. The defense contractor was contracted with the government to produce missiles. The supply and price of the required fuel for the missiles was controlled by a separate government entity. On appeal, the ASBCA held that the contractor could recover from one government entity for the actions of a separate government entity based on the close relationship between the entities. The Board examined the relationship between the two entities and found that there was a close relationship or "significant bond" between the two such that one entity's action to increase the price of fuel was imputed to the other. Raytheon Missile Systems, ASBCA No. 57596, 2013 WL 1313461.
Robert Windus was a panel member lecturing at the National Environmental Balancing Bureau's 2013 Annual Conference held May 2-4 in Montreal, Canada. The lecture panel addressed scheduling, testing, balancing and commissioning in addition to contracting and claims issues. In this interactive lecture, panel members engaged the 250 lecture attendees and addressed current pertinent industry issues involving testing, balancing, commissioning and contracting.
Kristen Bennett lectured on the topic of management of litigation for long term care clients. Ms. Bennett's lecture addressed and provided valuable advice involving legal claims, defenses, strategies to achieve beneficial resolutions and related issues encountered by long term care providers. The lecture was presented to the American Health Lawyers Association in Austin, Texas.
Robert Windus lectured at the Sheet Metal and Air Condition Contractors National Association (SMACNA) 69th Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Windus presented lectures on "Avoiding Construction Claims in Litigation" and "The Measured Mile and Other Methods of Quantifying Loss of Labor Productivity in the Construction Industry".


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The Good Doctor: 4x14
After finding out the gender of their unborn child, Lea's enthusiasm prompts Shaun to make an effort to be a more supportive partner. Meanwhile, the team treats a navy pilot whose previous doctor's misdiagnosis compromises her chances at a full recovery.
Frontline, Part 1 Nov. 02, 2020
Newbies Nov. 16, 2020
Not the Same Nov. 23, 2020
Fault Nov. 30, 2020
Lim Jan. 11, 2021
The Uncertainty Principle Jan. 18, 2021
Parenting Jan. 25, 2021
Irresponsible Salad Bar Practices Feb. 15, 2021
Decrypt Feb. 22, 2021
We're All Crazy Sometimes Mar. 08, 2021
Teeny Blue Eyes Mar. 22, 2021
Spilled Milk Mar. 29, 2021
Gender Reveal Apr. 19, 2021
Waiting Apr. 26, 2021
Dr. Ted May. 10, 2021
Letting Go May. 17, 2021
Forgive or Forget May. 24, 2021
Venga May. 31, 2021
Vamos Jun. 07, 2021


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She and her family relocated to the area from Raleigh, North Carolina, approximately 8 years ago. Her professional interests include preventative medicine (she enjoys educating owners about how to best care for their pets), dermatology, and surgery, including dentistry.
Dr. Dateno lives in the Tampa area and enjoys spending her spare time with family and friends, at the beach, traveling, biking, kayaking and most outdoor activities. She currently shares her home with two dogs and three cats, and occasionally rehabilitates raccoons and opossums.
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They're resourceful individuals who can tackle all of life's obstacles. Celebrate their dexterous disposition with versatile gifts. Giftplum's versatile gifts are all around functional gifts for every occasion. Backpacks, lamps, apparel, kitchenware, furniture, home decor and accessories capture their adaptable personality.
This versatile backpack is made of 420D polyester ball shadow and 420D polyester oxford. We love its sleeping bag compartment, and its padded shoulder straps that make it more comfortable to carry. Perfect for the adventurous female to use whether on a day hike or week-long trek.
This feminine silk belt is made of elegant ruched fabric. We love its delicate bow detailing and versatile statement of the chic cincture. Perfect for the stylish female who seeks flirty flare and effortless elegance in her wardrobe.
This industrial ring is a versatile accessory that can be worn as a ring or a pendant. We love its geometric perfection and minimal grace of the style. Perfect for the industrial admirer who likes jewelry and accessories with technological inclinations.
The totally versatile Wenger Fidis Camping lighter brings a whole new dimension to the words, starting a fire. Featuring a conventional old school flint, wick lighter and back fuel reservoir, we love the rugged durability of this fully functional lighter. A great gift idea for the avid outdoorsman looking to light things up a bit!


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Camera IconPaul Squires overlooks the esplanade at his establishment. Credit: Supplied/Marcus Whisson
Tavern decision applauded
Staff ReporterStirling Times
Stirling Times
The change of use was recommended at the city's planning and development committee meeting two weeks ago in a close 4-3 vote, with Councillor Bill Stewart the most vocal opponent of the change.
With Mayor David Boothman and councillors Elizabeth Re, Rod Willox and Jason Robbins absent from last week's meeting, the change was approved unanimously.
Proponent Paul Squires said he was delighted with the outcome and intended to prove that his development was not going to be a 'beer-barn' style tavern, with $127,000 spent on planning and design and $400,000 on a refit of the kitchen.
'I'm very happy, I think the right decision was made,' he said.
'The bar will be an upmarket, stylish lounge-type restaurant, and at this point that's absent from the beachfront.
'We want to create the sort of atmosphere where people want to get dressed up and come out and sit in a bar where they feel comfortable.'
Mr Squires said with quality developments starting to come to Scarborough and the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority taking charge of the precinct, he could see Scarborough emulating other exciting urban areas.
'The combination of existing and new venues should, I think, add some variety which will make Scarborough a destination for locals and for tourists,' he said.
'Choice, variety and really quality venues have been lacking from Scarborough for a very long time and it hasn't enjoyed the patronage it deserves and hasn't lived up to its reputation as an iconic destination.
'I think things are really looking up for Scarborough.'


Govt. to introduce a high quality helmet?
Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Arjuna Ranatunga says the importation of helmets of poor quality will be halted in future.
Speaking to media in Gampaha Minister Ranatunga said the number of motorbike accidents have increased as a result of the recklessness of riders and in turn results in critical injuries due to substandard helmets.
Minister Ranatunga accordingly noted the Ministry will introduce helmets of acceptable quality manufactured according to technically sound standards to the market in the near future.
The Transport Minister noted when helmets are imported, importers do not follow standard procedures.
Minister Ranatunga stressed therefore the Ministry will only allow the importation of helmets manufactured to meet due standards and quality in future.
The Minister claimed the number of deaths as a result of motorbike accidents has increased since the ban on full face helmets was imposed.


Birthdays are just COOLER here!
The Chiller ice rinks offer affordable, all-inclusive birthday parties that your child will never forget!
Friday: 7:30-9:30PM (party/skate) Fridays are held during Friday Night Meltdown - teen night - and are not recommended for kids under 10.
Reservations are not complete until a $50 deposit is submitted and depend upon availability. If you need to cancel your party, you must give a minimum seven (7) days notice in order to receive a deposit refund. Online reservations are recommended a minimum of 1 week prior to event only. Need a party in less than a week? Please call the Birthday Specialists at 614-791-9999 ext. 323.


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2016 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships
Images captured at the 2016 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Bradie Tennell flows beautifully across the ice with a forward spiral at the 2016 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Bradie Tennell radiates waves of energy during her free skate at the 2016 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Pumped Up
Bradie Tennell celebrates after an impressive free skate at the 2016 U.S. National Figure Skating Championships in St. Paul, Minnesota.


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Home / Motorsport / Shell claims Project M concept is the car of the future
Shell claims Project M concept is the car of the future
Search Driven for vehicles for sale
Clam-Shell design: The oil giant has released images of its new Project M concept car featuring a forward-folding roof
Vehicle has been penned by former McLaren F1 designer, Gordon Murray
Shell reckons it has designed the car of the future - but the jury is out whether British motorists will agree. The Project M, dubbed an 'energy efficient concept car' was revealed in Britain last week.
Made up of a three-seat city-car design and a 660cc powerplant that can achieve a claimed 107mpg, it's based on an F1-derived platform that's already well tested.
The space-age shape is the brain child of former McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray.
In fact, very little from the outside of the Shell Project M differs to that of Murray's 2010 original, called the T25.
With a one-plus-two seat layout (one at the front and two at the back), it's a reasonably comfortable city vehicle for three, even though it has a road footprint no more than a quarter that of a Ford Mondeo.
And don't assume because it's tiny it's unsafe; the T27, an updated version of the T25 with an electric motor, passed Euro NCAP's high-speed crash tests in 2011.
The 'iStream' design, now in its third guise as part of the Shell partnership, is now more fuel efficient thanks to a bespoke engine lubricant.
Tipping the scales at 550kg, it's half as heavy as a conventional city car and 80kg lighter than the original T25 - that's around the same as removing the weight of an adult male.
The featherweight is even green, made from recycled carbon-fibre composite body panels and a tubular frame while additional steps have been taken to improve the aerodynamics of the iStream silhouette.
The 600cc petrol engine has also been updated with less friction for greater efficiency, helped by a new formula of lubricant - this is where Shell comes in.
The prototype 'Helix' Ultra low viscosity oil works with a bespoke transmission fluid to deliver a 5 per cent economy improvement on its own, the oil colossus claims.
This, added to the slimmed-down weight and better aeordynamics provides a 107mpg return when travelling at a steady speed of 45mph.
Mark Gainsborough, executive vice-president of Shell's global lubricants businesses which backed the project said, 'This is a significant automobile engineering milestone.
'I'm very proud of what Shell's scientists and their partners at Geo Technology and Gordon Murray Design have achieved.
'Insights gained from this project could be transformational in terms of how we address energy use in the road transport sector. Energy use and climate change are major issues for society.
'This project shows that if we use the best of today's technology, including cutting edge lubricants science, we could potentially have a major impact on energy use and reduce CO2 emissions.'
But despite Gainsborough's words of excitement, don't expect to see a Project M on the road anytime soon.
Dr. Andrew Hepher from Shell said the vehicle will be used to showcase the technology and features it uses rather than being put into production.
'Our car may be small, but it's packed with potential,' he added.
'We want to accelerate the conversation about how we make road vehicles more energy efficient and less carbon-intensive.
'In the coming weeks and months, we look forward to sharing our research insights from this project with engine designers, car manufacturers, academics and other experts across the automotive sector.'
-Daily Mail
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A T T R I B U T E S !
Well I'm back. I'm not distressed anymore I'm just plan mad, I'm not going to take it anymore. Hmm I wish I could say what I'm really thinking but, no I had better keep it tame. Allot of things are going on here at work today. For you who actually take the time to read my gibberish I work as a Staff Engineer for a major Telecommunications / Networking company, chances are you use our phone systems at your place of employment:P ANYHOW, (I use that term much too much, anyhow) I was tasked to write a white paper that outlines what it would take to have an outsource manufacture "test engineer" our products. What this means of course is "How do we tell or instruct the companies (outsource manufactures) that build our products how to perform testing to our products so that we, [said company] no longer have to maintain an engineering staff." Hmmm get rid of my me and workmates in engineering hmmm.. THEN just now I have been mandated to attend a mergers and acquisition course. Hmmm The process of buying and acquiring other companies.
I'm getting silly here! so you know I'm in somewhat of a good mood. Whats the lottery at today?


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Corentin Celton () is a station on Line 12 of the Paris Métro in the commune of Issy-les-Moulineaux. It opened on 24 March 1934 as part of the line's extension from Porte de Versailles to Mairie d'Issy.

In 1863, the hospice of the Petits Ménages relocated from the 7th arrondissement of Paris to Issy-les-Moulineaux, leaving a large area for the expansion of Le Bon Marché department store.  The metro station was originally called Petits Ménages because it was located near the hospice, which later became a hospital. In 1945, the hospital and station were renamed to commemorate Corentin Celton, an employee of the hospice and member of the French Resistance, shot by the Nazis at the Fort Mont-Valérien.

Station layout

Gallery

References
Roland, Gérard (2003). Stations de métro. D'Abbesses à Wagram. Éditions Bonneton.

Paris Métro stations in Issy-les-Moulineaux
Railway stations in France opened in 1934


Concept of the focus SCP: A dimension hopping anomaly who came to earth some thousand years ago for purposes unknown. At some point, it became infatuated with human culture and was fascinated by the Greek theatre and later began trying to bathe itself in the spot light of the crowds via stage performances. Fast forward to the modern age and it has captured Foundation attention by suddenly appearing to take over public theaters with its own performances (From the expensive Broadway Theatre to middle school plays) via appearing from doors that somehow lead to its home (instead of the room that's supposed to be there) when its takeover is active. Actors who were originally performing will inherently know what the things plan is, and will gladly abandon their original script in favor of the one the anomaly came to perform with.
Those who see the anomaly during one of its show take overs regard it like it's a well-known celebrity and have no recollection of what the original show they paid for was, but somehow seeing it when there's not a scheduled show to be had leads to the typical reactions (horror, fear, confusion, disgust, etc.).
Along with the anomaly itself is its posse of various deformed, often delirious people taken by it throughout the ages. Those who impress the anomaly (typically actors who performed well during its takeover) enough are given the offer to join its ensemble of performers to help it with its plays for the rest of their careers. If they agree, they're willingly taken to the anomalies domicile to be given their own Greek-styled theatre mask that resemble a flanderized version of that person. They're amicable enough, though since some were taken centuries before and time has taken a toll on their mental faculties, they're somewhat unreliable for anything that isn't involving the stage. I want to focus on two of the anomalies favorite performers (to the point where they're basically its best friends); an albino man with a severe hunchback and disproportionally long arms that scrape the floor who wears a white mask that has its eyes bandaged, and an obese man with a biologically improbable stature whose mask is that of a baby with its grinning mouth zipped closed.
Summary: Alien from another dimension that's less of a meat hungry eldritch abomination and more of an attention hungry theatre nerd. It's hideously mutated friends and fellow actors help it perform wherever it goes.
Concept for the SCP article itself: I plan on having the Foundation wish to infilitrate the home base of the anomaly via using a D-Class who conveniently meets their criteria for such a thing: they're missing an eye, look approachable enough and is willing to follow orders. They will replace his glass eye with that of an eyeball with a camera, feed a modestly sized microphone under his skin and stick a tracker on him, all for the purpose of surveillance on the SCP and hopefully corner it for containment. He will join the ensemble and various records of noteworthy events will be documented.
So what do you think about this? I had this bizarre idea for a constantly moving street gang of masked fiends and somehow conjured up an afterschools club of alien geeks, mostly inspired by the costumes used in Oedipus Rex 1957 (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/12/86/48/12864862806ca4032fa8a1c563aa6e41.jpg). I'd like to put these thoughts to rest on whether I should bother trying to write it up as an SCP or scrap it.
This definitely has some potential. We have a lot of theatre based skips already, but they've mostly dealt with the horror genre. This is a more subversive take focusing in on love of the theatre and ironic friendships, and that's pretty interesting to me as a reader.
I also like that you've thought out a narrative outline already, and the plan gives you some good potential for video logs you can use to provide character interactions. There are two main areas you need to focus on: impressing the reader with a sense of genuine love for the theatre, and writing good dialogue to make the cast (and thus their Anomalous friend) feel genuine and memorable. I wouldn't reccomend diving too deep into the anomaly's personal origin farther back than the Greece part (whether he's extradimensional or an alien or Zeus himself is ultimately irrelevant to the rest) though you can leave some hints. Finally, try and use some historical tir ins to give the article a little extra flavor and ethos. Good luck!
yeah, I think the article itself would have to be mostly light hearted and maybe even lightly humorous to help shape it up against the terrifyingly terrible terror theatre SCPs that already took the spotlight, though I'm thinking of making one scene creepy enough. Have the terrible trio here use their abilities for something straight up malicious near the end of these video logs. With a good reason behind it, though.
But the physical descriptions of the anomalies is still making me think carefully, I'm confident in the Hunchbacks physical description, but the looks of his boss and large friend leaves a little more to be desired. As it stands now they look like an energy noodle with a holy backdrop and a really fat guy, respectively. Will begin drafting ASAP, but I'm still looking for some suggestions.


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Home » Can Congo And Timneh African Greys Breed?
Can Congo And Timneh African Greys Breed?
Rare hybrids are highly coveted in the avian world due to how hard it is to acquire and mate them.
One such rare species is African grey variants, sought after for their mimicry and intelligence. Given how hard it is to acquire African greys, such as the Congo and Timneh grey, we rarely see their offspring.
Congo and Timneh African greys can breed together, but it isn't easy.
African greys are hard to keep happy in captivity, so it can take breeders years to unite a good, fertile pair. However, when a Congo and Timneh pair mate, they can produce healthy chicks.
Because this mix is so rare, few people know what a Congo-Timneh cross looks like or if it's even possible.
Even parrots that look like a cross between the two may appear different due to regional differences. However, a cross is possible because Congo greys and Timneh greys are similar birds.
1 Can Timneh And Congo Breed?
2 Can a Congo And Timneh Mate?
2.1 Different Localities
2.2 Vocalizations
2.3 Mating Conditions
2.4 Limited Availability
3 What Does a Congo and Timneh Hybrid Look Like?
4 Difference Between Congo and Timneh African Grey
4.2 Intelligence, Personality, and Trainability
Can Timneh And Congo Breed?
Timneh African greys and Congo African greys can breed and produce healthy, fertile offspring because they're genetically related enough that their offspring experience no health problems.
Because of this, a Congo-Timneh cross cannot be considered a hybrid.
A hybrid is the product of two different species. Due to the physical, biological, and genetic differences between the two species, any offspring are likely to be infertile and have health issues.
Congo African greys and Timneh African greys belong to the same family. They're so similar that the Timneh was considered a sub-species of the Congo African grey until recently.
According to Molecular Ecology, enough differences were found that the two types of parrots were considered different species.
Can a Congo And Timneh Mate?
Congo African greys and Timneh African greys can mate. However, it's difficult for them to do so in the wild and captivity.
Different Localities
A big part of this is due to where the two species reside geographically.
Congo African grey parrots (Psittacus Erithacus) are from Equatorial Africa, while Timneh African greys (Psittacus Timneh) are from West Africa.
These two species don't breed in the wild, and avian experts theorize that the two species are from different parts of Africa.
There's no need for a parrot to mate with a bird from a different species if there's an entire flock of similar parrots to choose from.
Vocalizations
Congo and Timneh greys are different enough to have alternative forms of vocalization.
Vocalization is an important part of mating for all parrot species. When parrots want to mate, they'll imitate the vocalization of the parrots they're interested in.
Different flocks have unique vocalizations. If a parrot from another flock wants to join a new one, it'll be better received if it learns to mimic the flock's vocalization patterns.
The Congo and Timneh African grey parrots began diverging over 2 million years ago. Their vocalization is different enough that the two species may have trouble communicating when they first meet.
Mating Conditions
It's also difficult to breed African grey parrots because their conditions need to be optimal before they're comfortable enough to mate.
African greys are hard to care for because they get stressed easily, especially if they had a challenging upbringing. Parrots don't mate when stressed, so only experienced breeders can successfully crossbreed a Congo and Timneh offspring.
Besides comfort, it's also difficult for breeders to get a hold of Congo greys and Timneh greys.
Poachers have decimated many parrot populations in different parts of the world. So, it's rare to see a true Congo-Timneh cross in captivity.
What Does a Congo and Timneh Hybrid Look Like?
It's difficult to say what a true Congo-Timneh cross looks like because there are so few of them.
Many variations can occur when crossbreeding, so it's hard to determine which physical traits are definitive, as many could be unique to the individual bird.
The few records of Congo-Timneh crosses report that they tend to be smaller than the Congo-African grey. They're said to have the same dark plumage as the Timneh's, but others have reported offspring with light feathers, like the Congo.
Congo African greys have red tail feathers. Although some Congo-Timnehs are born with a bit of red in their tail, it isn't known if the feathers change color once they grow older.
It's difficult for parrot enthusiasts to find accurate information about authentic Congo-Timneh crosses, not least because many breeders will acquire African grey crosses and hybrids that look like the traditional variants or get confused for another kind of variant.
There's a lot of crossbreeding in the parrot breeding industry, and not all of it is reported.
Difference Between Congo and Timneh African Grey
There are many differences between a Congo grey and a Timneh grey due to their:
Congo and Timneh African greys are from the same parrot family, so they were considered the same species for decades.
However, enough variation was found that people now understand that there are differences between the two types of parrots:
Parrot Timneh African Grey Congo African Grey
Average Weight: 9.7-13.2 ounces 13.4-20 ounces
Average Length: 11-13 inches 12-16 inches
Average Lifespan (in captivity): 30-50 years 30-60 years
Reaches Maturity: 3 years old 4 to 5 years old
Temperament: Calm, moderate trainability Stressed, difficult to train
Price (individual): $250-500 $100-500
Price (adoption): $1,000-3,000 $500-2,000
Price (breeder): $3,000-7,000 $1,000-4,000
Congo African greys have black beaks and light grey plumage. Their feathers stick out more, making them look fluffier than Timnehs.
They're larger, heavier, and have distinct red tail feathers. Their beaks appear smaller than Timneh's, but this is only because their bodies are much larger.
Timneh African greys have a light-colored upper beak, and their plumage is a darker shade of grey, including their tail. Their dark feathers are tightly pressed against their body, making them look sleek.
Because they're small, their beaks appear large despite being nearly the same size as a Congo's beak.
Intelligence, Personality, and Trainability
Both species are considered on the same intelligence level. They can learn many words and are among the most skilled parrots in mimicking sounds.
Timneh African grey parrots tend to speak earlier than Congo greys and prefer making their own sounds over mimicking words. That said, Timnehs can still be trained to speak.
Congo African greys are difficult to care for because they're easily stressed and prone to anxiety. It's difficult to get them accustomed to other people unless they're socialized correctly, and they tend to bond with one person at a time.
Because of this, Congo African greys aren't the most suitable parrots for most families, especially those with small children. Avian experts don't recommend these birds for first-time owners because caring for them is like caring for a perpetual toddler.
Timneh African greys are more emotionally stable than Congo's because they mature faster. Despite this, Timnehs can be just as difficult to care for as Congo's due to how much attention they need.
Congo and Timneh African greys can breed. However, it's rare and difficult to achieve, so there's still mystery surrounding them.
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Burghfield >
The Hatch, Burghfield, Reading, Berkshire, RG30 3TH
Six Bells in Burghfield has a beer garden. The pub has a car park, it has an outside area. Six Bells has a smoking area. The pub has a dart board, it shows football on TV. Six Bells has terrestrial TV.
England v Italy
After seeing off the Dutch last week, England are going for back-to-back wins as they host Italy at Wembley tonight for the second friendly of the international break.
Catch all the action here, with coverage from 7:30pm followed by an 8pm kick-off!
Netherlands vs England
We're entering the final stretch ahead of the World Cup 2018 with preparations continuing this evening as the Lions travel to Amsterdam for a friendly against the Netherlands.
Coverage starts at 7:30pm with kick-off slated for 7:45pm - join us to catch all the action live!
England v Brazil
Following their goalless draw against Germany on Friday night, England will tonight play host once again, this time welcoming five-time world champions Brazil!
Coverage starts at 7:30pm with kick-off at 8pm
Theale (2.09 miles)
Reading West (3.77 miles)
Hatch Gate (0.01 miles)
Burghfield Community Sports Associa (0.66 miles)
Bantam (1.24 miles)
Old Bell (1.28 miles)
Fox & Hounds (1.42 miles)
Pubs & bars in Reading, RG30