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Decision insights - Nike's critical workout plan
A simple process can help you identify your organization's critical decisions and expose trouble spots.
By Marcia Blenko, Michael Mankins, Paul Rogers and Askin Morrison
An organisation's decision abilities determine its performance. Companies that make better decisions, make them faster and translate them into action more effectively nearly always outrun their competitors. But managers and employees in any large company make countless decisions every day. How can an individual manager or a leadership team know which decisions to focus on? How can it analyse those individual decisions to see what's working and what isn't?
This article aims to help you answer both questions. It shows how to identify your organization's critical decisions, the ones that most affect results. And it shows how to use a tool we call a decision X-ray to expose the trouble spots and begin to identify improvements. Taken together, these actions can tune up your organization to deliver peak performance.
Two categories of critical decisions
What are your critical decisions? Any organisation's success obviously hinges on big, high-value choices, whether strategic or operational. When Starbucks introduced its instant coffee, or when Applied Materials moved its manufacturing and engineering base to Asia, the decisions involved sizable amounts of resources and significant risk. Each company had to do the best job it possibly could on the decisions.
Decisions like these aren't limited to the corporate level—every unit within a company has big strategic decisions of its own. When IT decides to invest in a major systems upgrade, for example, that's clearly a critical decision for the IT organization.
But there's a second category of decisions that can be equally important: those that are made and remade frequently, week in and week out, and that add up to a substantial amount of value over time. These decisions are typically more operational in nature. The people who make and execute them can be anywhere in the organisation, and often they are on or near the frontline. For instance, Amazon.com's continuing success depends partly on a host of savvy merchandising decisions, including decisions about special prices and shipping discounts, suggestions for complementary purchases and targeted email notices about new offerings. Individually, each of these decisions may have a relatively small impact. Taken together, they stimulate many millions of dollars in sales and contribute to a winning customer experience.
Every part of an enterprise is likely to have this kind of everyday critical decision as well. IT organizations, for example, must make routine but often essential decisions about matters such as software upgrades and help-desk staffing levels.
Critical decisions are an example of the "80–20" rule—a subset of decisions has a disproportionate impact on an organisation's performance. The key, therefore, is for organisations at whatever level—business units, functions, even teams—to develop their own lists of critical decisions, including decisions from both categories. That way they will always be focusing on what's most important.
Identifying your critical decisions
Here's a simple two-step process that will help you identify your own critical decisions.
1. Create a decision architecture
A decision architecture lays out a list of decisions for every major business process of a given company or unit. It shows the value creation steps that the business or unit is responsible for. It identifies the decisions, both one-off and ongoing, involved in each one. Depending upon the business, a decision architecture may contain scores of decisions. It gives you a holistic view, enabling you to home in on those that are central to success. It ensures that you have thought through all the possibilities and that you don't miss any important decisions.
2. Winnow the list
The next step is to shorten the list of decisions to those you most need to focus on. Companies typically employ two distinct screens as they narrow down their lists. One is the value at stake. High value decisions are generally more important than those with lower value. To make sure you don't miss the everyday decisions that add up over time, you can keep in mind a handy formula: decision value multiplied by frequency. A European rental-car company, for instance, realised that its growth would come from serving international travellers, which it had failed to serve well in the past. So it put a high priority on everyday operating decisions made in one geographical area but affecting customers originating from elsewhere. These decisions affected pricing, customer service and fleet management, among others. The objective was to do everything necessary to provide the international travellers with a seamless experience.
The other screen is the degree of management attention required. Some decisions need more management attention than others in order to work well. They may be particularly complex. They may represent an organizational bottleneck that is getting in the way of other decisions. Or they may be new to the organisation—decisions resulting from a change in structure, for example.
The output from these two screens is a list of critical decisions, which must work well if the organisation is to improve its performance.
Decision Architecture
In practice, each company tailors this two-step process to its own situation. Some take a comprehensive approach, listing decision areas (such as brand management) and then identifying important decisions within each area (such as the target customer segment for each brand). Once they have a long list of decisions, they use surveys, interviews and workshops to assess the value and degree of attention required and thus pare down the list.
Other companies take a simpler approach. They create a high-level architecture with decision areas, assign priorities to each area and brainstorm critical decisions only in the areas with the highest priority. Both approaches can work, and both are likely to produce 20 to 30 decisions to focus on. Nike, for example, identified 10 major decision areas, including category selection, budgeting and targeting, and channel and sales strategy. Then the company came up with 33 key decisions under the 10 headings.
Nike's decision dilemma
Nike's famous "swoosh" is a global icon, a brand that's recognised by consumers and sports fans worldwide. Less well known are the organizational structure and processes Nike has relied on to build global leadership in sports-related footwear, apparel and equipment. The company had long been organized as a matrix, with the three businesses on one dimension and geographic areas on the other.
In 2007, however, executives began to see that they were missing a holistic focus on a given sport—soccer, golf, etc.—across the three business areas. So they introduced a sport-focused dimension to the matrix. With their "Just Do It" attitude, most people at Nike welcomed the change, realising it would bring them closer to consumers. But many also wondered if another set of dotted-line accountabilities would bog down the organisation. Who would make key decisions? Who would be responsible for implementing them? Unless everyone at Nike understood exactly how the new organisation would work, they would never be able to respond quickly enough to changing trends in all the countries, products and sports where the company competes.
Using a decision X-ray to analyse critical decisions
Once you have a clear sense of your organisation's critical decisions and have highlighted those that most need improvement, it's always tempting to jump right in and fix things. That's understandable. But it's usually more productive first to take a closer look at many of these decisions. How are they working right now? Where are the failings, exactly—decision quality, decision speed, execution of the decision (yield), the effort involved or some combination of the four? What aspects of the organisation are holding the decisions back?
To reach that level of specificity, we use a tool called a decision X-ray. In a decision X-ray, leaders ask questions of everyone involved in the selected decisions. How do they rate quality, speed, yield and effort? Who plays what roles, and are the roles clear to all? How well does the process work? Where is the organization helping or hurting? What behaviours get in the way? An X-ray often uncovers issues that a broad survey misses. It can reveal the kinds of actions likely to improve problem areas. It also may turn up issues common to many key decisions.
At Nike, team members used surveys to get broad input on all 33 critical decisions. Then they conducted detailed X-ray-style interviews to get more insight into a few. One set of decisions, for instance, involved how much to invest in new product development. In the previous system, the business unit (such as apparel or footwear) would make the decision. But who should make the decision in the new system? Should it be the business unit, with input from the category organisation? Or should the roles be reversed? Survey respondents had a range of views both on how the decisions worked today and on how they should work in the future, with perhaps predictable differences on country versus centre, and category versus sport. Decisions regarding retail strategy for each country showed similar differences.
Nike, of course, wasn't just interested in diagnosing the issues. The company used the decision X-rays to help resolve them. In workshops, managers clarified how specific decisions should be made in the new matrix. They also proposed other practical changes, such as co-locating project teams that had previously been dispersed throughout the building. That made it easier for teams to communicate and collaborate, and for Nike to deploy teams quickly to the hottest opportunities, whether it was basketball in Poland or swimwear in Germany. The one-two punch of identifying the critical decisions and then X-raying them to determine specific fixes helped Nike get the new matrix working without missing a beat in performance.
Many attempts to reshape organisations inevitably have a scattershot quality—a little bit here, a little bit there. The teams leading the charge never really know whether the changes they're working so hard on will have a real effect. But viewing the organisation with critical decisions in mind transforms the process. You're now focused on what matters—and you know that improving these decisions will generate better performance.
By Marcia W Blenko, Michael C Mankins and Paul Rogers, who are all Partners at Bain & Company. Askin Morrison, Partner at Bain & Company, leads Bain's Organisation Practice in Australia.
Decide & Deliver
Five Steps to Breakthrough Performance in Your Organization
Score your organization
How to measure the quality, speed and effort of your company's decisions.
Focus on key decisions
Don't overlook small, frequent decisions that generate a lot of value over time.
Powering a mining company's growth through cultural change
Building a winning media salesforce
Creating a regional operating model in medical devices
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Glendale, CA – OmniTechnical, a Glendale-based custom IT-solutions provider, has partnered with ODOO. ODOO, which was formerly known as OpenERP, is a comprehensive suite of business applications which include sales, CRM, project management, warehouse management, manufacturing, financial management, and human resources. ODOO offers a choice of over a thousand software modules. With more than a thousand installations per day, ODOO remains to be one of the most used open source solution in the world. It has a dynamic community, is flexible, and can be adapted to the user's needs. It can be put in production rapidly due to its modularity.
ODOO customization is ideal for newly established businesses that are looking for low-cost and a fully integrated financial, HR, website systems. These are companies which currently have some sort of automation but are using various software from different vendors and would like to integrate into one seamless system. Businesses which are paying too much for automation and are using antiquated technology hampering company growth, reliability and scalability of their business applications while at the same time are tired of poor customer service from their software vendors. It is also an excellent fit for businesses that have lots of different software for different processes as well as companies that do not have easy access to information about their business and whose IT is too complex and time-consuming. ODOO customization also serves businesses whose financial management is increasingly inefficient and complex.
Omnitechnical provides services like assessment of current systems and a fit-gap analysis to determine suitability of ODOO. It provides the implementation and integration using ODOO to support operations and growth as well as building efficient and cost-effective software solutions for businesses on top of the ODOO platform.
After implementing this solution businesses can radically improve operational efficiencies in all the operations by increasing information availability and adopting process improvements. Also, they can reduce working capital requirement by optimizing the inventory products and other consumables across departments and capture information to build accountability for performance across organizational levels at the corporate office. Businesses can also integrate systems to address issues relating to data management to avoid duplication of effort, accuracy, timeliness and comprehensiveness of management information. They can streamline the accounts functionalities for efficient cash flow management and ensure that the IT systems are ready for the future competitive environment.


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Charles Vandenhove
Charles, Knight Vandenhove (3 July 1927, Teuven – 22 January 2019, Liège) was one of the leading Belgian architects of the 20th century. His company Charles Vandenhove et associés is based in Liège, Belgium.[1] He is mostly known for his work in Belgium, the Netherlands and Paris ranging from the 1950s to the 2010s.[2]
Vandenhove in 2010
(1927-07-03)3 July 1927
22 January 2019(2019-01-22) (aged 91)
Academisch ziekenhuis C.H.U., Liège
Renovation of the Koninklijke Schouwburg, The Hague
Hôtel Torrentius, 16th century home in Liège, renovated in 1981 by Vandenhove
Cour Saint-Antoine (1978-85) in Liege
Palace of Justice (1998), Den Bosch, Netherlands
Detail Maison Céramique (2009), Maastricht, Netherlands
1.1 Recognition
BiographyEdit
Vandenhove graduated in 1945 from the Liège university of applied sciences Saint-Luc and in 1951 from the university of applied sciences for architecture La Cambre in Brussels. Vandenhove became famous with his design for the university campus Sart-Tilman (Liège Science Park) of the University of Liège in the 1970s.[3] He demonstrated with his project Cour Saint-Antoine in the inner city of Liège that modern functional concepts can be merged with a respect for the historical fabric of the old city. Since the 1990s, Vandenhove was mostly active in the Netherlands. Many of the homes designed by Vandenhove can be recognized by typical halfround zinc roofs, French balconies and Louvre shutters.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Vandenhove collaborated with artists such as Sol LeWitt, Daniel Buren and Giulio Paolini in designing buildings such as the academic hospital of Liège, the Koninklijke Schouwburg in The Hague and the La Monnaie in Brussels. He also involved artists in the renovation and decoration of his own home, the 16th century city palace Hôtel Torrentius in Liège.
Charles and his wife Jeanne Vandenhove loaned their art collection of post-1945 European art in 2007 for long term to the Bonnefantenmuseum in Maastricht.[4] The collection is currently maintained by the Stichting Charles Vandenhove (English: Charles Vandenhove Foundation) and is since 2012 permanently on display in a new home in Ghent, nearby the Henri Van de Veldes Boekentoren.
RecognitionEdit
On 19 March 2016; Vandenhove was appointed as doctor honoris causa at the University of Liège.[5]
ProjectsEdit
Academic Hospital C.H.U., Liège, Sart-Tilman, 1962-1987
Sporthal Standard, Liège, 1968
Universiteitssporthal Liège, Sart-Tilman, 1972
Renovation and new constructions Hors-Château and Cour Saint-Antoine, Liège, 1978–85
Renovation Hôtel Torrentius, Liège, 1981
Renovation La Monnaie, Brussels, 1986
Homes at Zieken, Huygenspark The Hague, 1987, 1992
Renovation and extension Koninklijke Schouwburg, The Hague, 1991, 1999
Apartment building de Liefde, Bilderdijkstraat, Amsterdam, 1992
Homes at the Charles Voscour, Maastricht, 1993
Apartment buildings Bassecour, Wageningen, 1993-1997
Renovation Théâtre de la ville - rue des Abbesses, Paris, 1996
Homes at the Kanunnikkencour, Maastricht, 1996
Palace of Justice, 's-Hertogenbosch, 1998
Homes at Poort van Breda, Breda, 1999
Apartment building De Croissant and homes at the Bocht van Guinea, The Hague, 1999
Faculty building, University of Groningen, 2001
Apartment building Statenplein, Dordrecht, 2003
Homes at Getsewoud, Nieuw-Vennep, 2002
Antenne Sociale, OCMW, Brussels (Laeken), 2003
City hall of Ridderkerk, 2004
Catharinahuis Eindhoven, 2004
Apartment building De Kölleminder, Venlo, 2006
Apartment building Maison Céramique, Maastricht-Céramique, 2009
GalleryEdit
Extension of La Monnaie, Brussels
Extension Thêatre des Abbesses, Paris
Extension Koninklijke Schouwburg, The Hague
De Croissant, The Hague
Charles Voscour, Maastricht
Kanunnikencour, Maastricht
Poort van Breda
Statenplein, Dordrecht
LiteratureEdit
Charles Vandenhove: Art in Architecture. Ludion, Ghent 2005, ISBN 90-5544-546-0
Bart Verschaffel: Charles Vandenhove: Projects/Projecten 1995-2000. NAi Publ., Rotterdam 2000, ISBN 90-5662-181-5
Geert Bekaert and others: Charles Vandenhove : art and architecture. Renaissance du Livre, Tournai 1998, ISBN 2-8046-0012-2
Geert Bekaert: Charles Vandenhove, 1985-1995. NAI Uitg., Rotterdam 1994, ISBN 90-72469-72-0
Pierre Mardaga: Charles Vandenhove: Une architecture de la densité. Liège 1985, ISBN 2-87009-231-8
^ "Charles Vandenhove & Associes". Archived from the original on 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
^ Haytam Abdelaoui, Laurens Bulckaen and Laura Ramaekers. Charles Vandenhove - Structure as a bearer of meaning (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-06-20. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
^ Sennott, Stephen (2004). Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Architecture. Taylor & Francis. p. 132. ISBN 9781579584337.
^ Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens (2013). "Collectie Collection Jeanne & Charles Vandenhove". www.museumdd.be. Retrieved 2018-06-05.
^ "Monsieur Charles VANDENHOVE". www.ulg.ac.be (in French). Retrieved 2018-06-05.
Website Charles Vandenhove
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charles Vandenhove.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charles_Vandenhove&oldid=924600394"

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No word yet on the neuroscience of humbug.
A report on some more promising cancer research.
New research shows that antioxidants shield cancer cells immediately after they leave the tumor in metastasis.
Soda isn't just bad for you; it's one of the worst things people regularly consume.
The latest in potential outside-the-box treatments for HIV.
When Congress can't fund itself, medical research takes a huge hit. We can't let that happen.
A number of new clinical trials are showing promise in hopes of treating the disease and preventing its spread.
3D-printed pills could allow doctors to set customized dosages, reducing the risk of side effects.
The FDA has issued new warnings against a battery of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Brain eating amoebas are a small but serious problem. Now we're a step closer to a cure.
Americans are bad at using sunscreen, which puts them at risk for skin cancer.
An alarmingly low percentage of edible marijuana contains the advertised amount of THC.
Problems with the VA's medical system are exacerbated when they can't hire enough people.


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The Manual is Looking for Freelance Writers to Join Our Team
By The Manual	 April 17, 2019
Are you passionate about craft beer or spirits? Do you enjoy keeping up with the latest style trends? Do you love learning new things?
The Manual is looking for experienced freelance writers who know a thing or two about what we do here. If this sounds like you, we want to hear from you! You will find complete instructions for applying to the freelance positions on Indeed, but we've included some highlights below:
Food and Drink: The ideal candidate already has considerable knowledge of and connections in both the food and beverage industries, from high-end restaurants and cocktail bars to everyday favorites and unknown local delights.
Style, Grooming, and Design: The ideal candidate is savvy with men's lifestyle — in particular, men's fashion, men's grooming, and architecture and design.
Please click the links to Indeed and follow the instructions posted there. We will not respond to inquiries sent elsewhere.
More about The Manual
Wait, you're reading our site and don't know about us already? Welcome! The Manual is a daily digital publication covering men's lifestyle. Our goal is simple: We show men how to live a life that is more engaged. Whether it be fashion, food, drink, travel, grooming, or the outdoors, we're here to provide insight into it all. As our name implies, we offer a suite of expert guides on a wide range of topics, from how to tie a bow-tie to how to cook a steak to how to defend yourself from a bear attack. We don't boss you around. We're simply here to bring authenticity and understanding to all that enriches our lives as men on a daily basis. The Manual was founded in 2012 in Portland, Oregon, by our brother site, Digital Trends, a daily digital technology publication.
More about Digital Trends
Speaking of Digital Trends, our brother site is also looking for tech-savvy freelancer writers. If you're the kind of person who follows Elon Musk on Twitter, has strong opinions on Apple versus Android, or fixes everyone else's Wi-Fi (whether you want to or not), then take a look at the current freelance openings. Digital Trends is hiring for a variety of different specialties.
Indica vs. Sativa: An Introduction to the Major Cannabis Types
How to Plan an Unforgettable Staycation at Home in 2021
Penfolds Wines Releases Limited Edition Record Player
11 Best Beer Movies To Watch With a Cold One in Hand
How to Get Rid of Cigar Breath, Smell, and Smoke


I also gained a few private students when students whom I tutor in my university's academic support center discovered I teach yoga, and expressed interests in having me teach them. Though busy and incompatible schedules could make those commitments short-lived, the bits of experiences (and extra cash) were valuable enough to make my efforts more than worth it. For anyone who might have to suspend formal teaching temporarily because of other work and financial obligations, I believe that similar connections are possible.


RIGA, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Latvia's banking watchdog said on Friday it had fined LPB Bank, the fifteenth largest bank in the country by assets, 2.2 million euros ($2.53 million) for breaching anti-money laundering and terrorism financing (AML/CFT) rules.
The regulator also ordered LPB Bank, which focuses on servicing non-resident clients, to dismiss one of its board members.
LPB Bank has previously been fined by the regulator for violating AML/CFT rules. The bank could not immediately be reached for comment.
"Our decision is yet another sign that we are closely following how this area in the banking sector has been brought to order," said the head of the Latvian banking watchdog Peters Putnins in an emailed statement to Reuters today.
A recent report by the Council of Europe's anti-money laundering committee criticised Latvia heavily for failing to tackle financial crimes.
The report came two months after Latvia's banking regulator approved the liquidation of ABLV Bank, which U.S. authorities have accused of large-scale money laundering and facilitating the breach of sanctions against North Korea.


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Patrick Kane Shows Off Sick Stick-Handling Skills
Patrick Kane is at it again, as he's showing off his stick-handling skills in a dazzling new video
By James Neveau	• Published July 20, 2016 • Updated on July 20, 2016 at 12:39 pm
Chicago Blackhawks superstar Patrick Kane is one of the absolute best puck-handlers in the NHL, and in a new video released this week, he shows off his skills yet again.
Kane, who won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP for the 2015-16 season, has already danced his way through a sea of pucks while executing some of the most beautiful moves that hockey fans have ever seen, but he took things to a new level in a promo video for Bauer Hockey.
Behold, the stickhandler's playground:
Granted, Kane didn't fire a puck at the camera after he was done, but there were still plenty of fancy moves for fans to enjoy as hockey season slowly draws closer.
Chicago Retail Thefts 41 mins ago
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Original creation in Watercolor by Prince Konganoor. The painting comes with frames.
Prince Konganoor from Thrissur in Kerala is a Fine Arts graduate and likes to apply simple strokes and transparency for water color paintings. Being on site is important to him, so that he can absorb the total feel of the scene geographical condition.
He enjoys painting on a variety of subjects including figures, landscapes and people. His primary focus is always on the light and its ability to transform the ordinary into the extra ordinary. Prince is also a master in Oil & Acrylic mediums too.
He participated in many group painting exhibitions in India and abroad. They include PART group exhibition Kuwait 2013, KALA KHODA, Mumbai 2014, Amrithanandamayi kochi 2005, State painting exhibitions at kerala lalitha kala academi kochi 2016-17 . Solo painting exhibition at kerala lalitha kala akademi thrissur 2019.
This painting is readily available in stock.
Domestic delivery in 4-7 days time.
International delivery in 7-10 days time.
Cancellation of the order is not possible after 8 hours of order placement.


Vectrus, Inc. acquired SENTEL Corporation for $36 million. Faegre Baker Daniels advised Vectrus in the acquisition.
The deal advanced Vectrus' strategy of being a leader in converging physical and digital infrastructure markets. The acquisition also furthered the company's logistics, information technology and technical solutions capabilities, while expanding Vectrus' client base.
SENTEL, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, has over 600 employees and operates in three core business areas: engineering and advanced solutions, logistics and supply-chain management, and intelligence mission support.


In today's modern age, communication between businesses and their clients is of utmost importance. That is why client retention is a necessity and so are email-marketing systems. If you're looking for an email marketing system, you better make sure it can track your results.
Let's start at the beginning. The first aspect we need to consider is the Open Rate. In email marketing terms, this means the percentage of people that received your email and opened it. As you start out, our Open Rate is expected to be at about 20%-35%. But do not worry– you can practice and equip yourself with techniques that will help you improve your Open Rate, such as sending emails from your personal email address or using a better subject header.
The Open Rate is just the first step. The next step is the Click Through Rate (CTR). CTR is the percentage of people who have received your email, opened it and clicked on the links that lead to a landing page or website. The advantage of CTR is that it gives you a comprehensive picture of the strength and weakness of the links you attached.
As long as we're on the subject of link effectiveness, here's a small tip: Before you send a mass email, we recommend that you conduct a test that examines the effectiveness of the links you chose to add. It's not enough to focus solely on sleek design or smart email content. You need to think about technical aspects. For example: do your links lead the recipient to the relevant landing page? Are they efficient enough?
Did the right action take place?
The purpose of email marketing systems is to keep clients updated on the products and services you are offering, as well as special sales and events. You want your clients to take action– make a purchase, ask for more information, and so on. Clicking on the link and getting to a website or a landing page doesn't necessarily mean your client will take action. To make sure he does, you need good conversion rates. That's why our third aspect deals with examining conversion rates. Oh, and just so you know, the average conversion rate is 4%.
Did this investment pay off?
Calculating conversion rates is accomplished by dividing the number of conversions by the number of emails sent. After you have your conversion rate, you will also be able to calculate your campaign's return-on-investment. This is where the fourth aspect comes in. Divide your profit by your overall investment. If after doing this you still don't know if your campaign paid off, this might help clarify things: a 40% to 45% return-of-investment is considered a good result.
The last aspect that will help you analyze your campaign is the Unsubscribe Rate, which determines the percentage of people who chose to unsubscribe to your mailing list. You'll also want to pay attention to those who marked your emails as Spam. Before you get depressed, remember that there will always be people who will want to unsubscribe, or who are not interested in the services you offer. As long as the unsubscribe rate in less than 10%, you shouldn't be too worried.
Expertise, creativity, knowledge and experience are what make us tick– and we want to share them with you. We plan on supplying you with all the guidance and instruction that will ensure that your emails provide true added value to your readers, and will strengthen your bond with your clients. So if you're ready to maximize your conversion rates, minimize your unsubscribe rates and increase your profits– then we're ready to help. That's why we're here.
Call us at 972-3-5240290 today, and begin improving your email marketing.


It is also recommended that people do buy houses with profit in mind while flipping houses for profit. One of the positive attributes of buying a house with profit in mind is that a person is able to generate the highest possible returns. A lot of emphasis is laid on the need to connect with the most reputable contractors when a person is flipping houses for a profit. It is important to note that track record also plays a very significant role in the hiring of the best contractor.


Essential oils provide natural ways to relieve a variety of conditions that are harmful and irritating. These oils could provide options for treating the body and eliminating sickness quickly. They also offer additional properties that improve the overall health of consumers each and every day. Online suppliers offer a wide assortment of essential oils and books that educate consumers further about how to use these oils.
Tea tree oil can treat athlete's foot as well as improve the healing process for abrasions of the skin. Pet owners may use the oil to eliminate signs of mange bites after prescription treatments. The oil could provide a soothing element for ant bites and rashes as well.
Combinations of several essential oils are used for hydrating and softening the skin. They include, but are not limited to, rosewood, chamomile, palmarosa, and sandalwood. These oils are often included in moisturizers consumers buy each day. However, with the right instructions and recipes, consumers could create their own combinations of the essential oils for dry skin. These opportunities allow the consumer to choose their own fragrances as well.
Essential oils are often used in diffusers for aromatherapy purposes that help consumers relax. These oils provide heavenly scents that could detox the body and mind quickly. These options are beneficial for eliminating the stress of a busy work week and improving mental and physical health. Lavender is a popular choice among consumers for aromatherapy practices.
Select essential oils are used in cooking and could present consumers with delicious treats. Peppermint patties are created with a combination of peppermint oil, dark chocolate, honey, and coconut oils. The concoction is a perfect way to enjoy a treat that isn't unhealthy and tastes yummy.
Essential oils provide natural methods of managing the health without presenting toxins into the body. The oils are often used to create skin and hair care products based on at-home recipes. The products are beneficial for eliminating complex skin conditions and making the hair stronger. Consumers who want to learn more about these products can Discover LSP today.


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The Shorts | 9/27/21 | Business and Industry in Quantum Computing
The Impact of the Different Market Factors on Helium-3 Market in Upcoming! Forecast to 2025 | Space Race among Nations for Mining Helium-3 Proving Conducive Helium-3 (He3) is a light, stable isotope of helium with two protons and one neutron, which has the potential to be used as a fuel in future nuclear fusion power plants. Helium-3 has significant use in homeland security, national security, medicine, industry, and science. The demand for helium-3 has been rising, since the rise in the number of terrorist attacks across the world. After September 11, 2001, the Federal government of the United States started stationing neutron detectors at the U.S. border to help secure the country against smuggled nuclear and radiological material. The continuous deployment of detecting equipment has created a heavy demand for the helium-3 market. Source: openPR. The Impact of the Different Market Factors on Helium-3 Market in Upcoming! Forecast to 2025…
Industry once again warns Australian government about falling behind in tech | The Australian Academy of Science has published a policy primer calling for the federal government to place emerging digital technologies higher up the priority list. "Australia risks falling behind as a technologically-driven nation unless we recognise emerging digital technologies as a central, independent sector in its own right, warranting investment in the core aspects of research, innovation, and workforce development," the organisation wrote. Source: ZDNet. Industry once again warns Australian government about falling behind in tech…
IBM CIO: 'Quantum computing will be important in the IT landscape' | Kathryn Guarini is the CIO of multinational tech giant IBM. Big Blue has been switching its focus to AI and cloud services in recent months, following the news that it is set to undergo a major restructuring. Source: siliconrepublic. IBM CIO: 'Quantum computing will be important in the IT landscape'…
Seraphim completes its Investment in Arqit Quantum Inc | Further to its announcement on 7 September 2021, Seraphim Space Investment Trust plc (LSE: SSIT), the world's first listed fund focused on Space Tech, is pleased to announce the acquisition of the holding of Arqit Quantum Inc. ("Arqit") from the Seraphim Space LP (" Seraphim Space Fund ") . As set out in the IPO prospectus, Seraphim Space will acquire four assets from the Seraphim Space Fund for newly issued ordinary shares in the Company. This acquisition represents the second of those transactions to complete. Source: SPACEREF. Seraphim completes its Investment in Arqit Quantum Inc…
D-Wave to Host Qubits Conference, Featuring Global 2000 Customers | BURNABY, Canada, Sept. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — D-Wave Systems Inc., the leader in quantum computing systems, software, and services, today announced it will host its annual global Qubits Conference on October 5-7. Now in its 6th year, Qubits will be a virtual format with live talks and real-time Q&As with speakers, providing an opportunity for thousands of technical experts, developers, and forward-looking businesses to come together to learn more about D-Wave's newest quantum technologies and hear from leading-edge customers and partners such as PayPal, E.ON, GE, Menten AI, Accenture, NEC, Multiverse Computing, and many more. Source: AP. D-Wave to Host Qubits Conference, Featuring Global 2000 Customers…
Quantum – More Than Just Computing | Throughout history, there have been revolutionary technological innovations that have changed the way the world operates and quantum technology is set to be the next of these developments. While quantum computing is regularly discussed in the media, it is largely hogging the limelight – that's right, the scope of quantum tech is far broader than just increasing computing power beyond anything that is currently available. With some of it very close to the market, it's quite strange that we don't hear about all the other elements of quantum technology that are soon going to change our lives. Source: UK TECH NEWS. Quantum – More Than Just Computing…
Entanglement continues a Midwest surge to provide quantum & high-performance computing applications to the nation's leading hospital association in the heartland of America | Entanglement Inc. (Ei), an early-stage quantum and advanced computing company, has partnered with The Center for Health Affairs to accelerate the next wave of computing breakthroughs for healthcare and medical applications. The partnership will leverage Entanglement's diverse advanced computing capabilities, professional services, AI, and quantum & quantum-inspired optimizations to deliver quantum-bridging solutions to clients of the center and its business affiliates, CHAMPS Group Purchasing and The Essentials Group. The multi-year agreement represents a significant opportunity to accelerate transformational innovations within the Cleveland healthcare and medical community and re-affirms Cleveland as an epicenter for health and medical related AI and high-performance computing capabilities. Not only will quantum computing revolutionize critical simulations for drug discovery, but it will also transform the landscape of medical analytics, hospital management, and global medical-supply-chains, eventually unlocking tailored predictive health solutions for patients. Source: Entanglement. Entanglement continues a Midwest surge to provide quantum & high-performance computing applications to the nation's leading hospital association in the heartland of America…
Trading Up To A Quantum-Powered Financial Services Industry | Quantum computing is no longer a theoretical marvel – it's a commercial reality. And industries are exploring how to bring quantum computing into their workflow for the financial services sector, particularly the companies dealing with market risk and uncertainty. Source: International Buisness Times. Trading Up To A Quantum-Powered Financial Services Industry…
The Quantum Technology Industry Is Creating Entirely New Jobs | One of the success stories in modern science is the emergence of a fledgling industry exploiting the weird and wonderful properties of the quantum world. This industry is developing technologies, devices and services based on quantum cryptography, quantum metrology, quantum computing and other properties of the quantum world. Source: DISCOVER. The Quantum Technology Industry Is Creating Entirely New Jobs…
Quantum Computing Is The Newest Megatrend In Silicon Valley | That's a famous line in a fantasy duology describing the basics of magic. Interestingly, it also aptly describes quantum mechanics to a tee. In the rarefied world of quantum physics, the magic of quantum computing lies in incredibly powerful yet bizarre–and even slightly grotesque–machines which look more like a steampunk chandelier than anything remotely computer-esque. Source: SAFEHAVEN. Quantum Computing Is The Newest Megatrend In Silicon Valley…
US patent granted for 12CQ quantum computing chip | Archer Materials Limited ("Archer", the "Company", "ASX: AXE") is pleased to announce the granting of a patentin the United States of America ("US Patent") associated withArcher's 12CQ quantum computing chip technology. Source: archerx. US patent granted for 12CQ quantum computing chip…
Goldman Sachs, QC Ware and IonQ Demonstrate Quantum Algorithms Proof-of-Concept That Will Revolutionize Financial Services, Other Industries. | New paper benchmarks quantum algorithms on IonQ's new quantum computer, demonstrating the viability of the approach and providing a roadmap to commercial usage. Use of quantum computers in Monte Carlo simulations has relevance in many areas of finance, science, and engineering. The high performance of IonQ's quantum hardware was critical for this demonstration and the experiment ran on IonQ's proprietary Evaporated Glass Trap technology Source: IONQ. Goldman Sachs, QC Ware and IonQ Demonstrate Quantum Algorithms Proof-of-Concept That Will Revolutionize Financial Services, Other Industries….
Two new quantum computing breakthroughs reveal the technology's commercial potential | Quantum computing is getting ever closer to realizing its potential as a transformative technology for many businesses. This past week a pair of announcements provided a glimpse of how two diverse sectors, steel manufacturing and finance, may be on the cusp of being able to do things with quantum computers that were until now impossible. Source: yahoo!finance. Two new quantum computing breakthroughs reveal the technology's commercial potential…
Atomic Institute of TU Wien Develops Quantum Cryptographic Keys Faster, Far More Robust Against Interference
So What Are Applications of Quantum Technology?
The Shorts | 9/14/21 | Algorithms and Software in Quantum Computing
The Shorts | 7/2/21 | Business and Industry in Quantum Computing


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Fortnite 'Victory Cape' Concept Allows You to Show Off Your Win Count
Dan Goldstein
Fortnite players have long awaited the opportunity to showcase their wins in-game.
Especially as time goes on, some community members have questioned why Fortnite lacks some sort of in-game reward for securing a Victory Royale.
With new content being added almost weekly, many believe that a certain outfit or accessory should be granted to those that reach a certain milestone for wins and be able to 'flaunt' the item.
Reddit user /u/SchwarzENTegger has devised a simple, yet rewarding, possibility to help make winning more of an incentive in the form of a 'Victory Cape.'
Like other outfits that level-up as a player completes certain goals, the Victory Cape would get more and more elegant as wins are acquired, and would allow for players to stand-out from the rest of the pack.
The full concept can be viewed below.
An incentive to win: the Victory Cape from r/FortNiteBR
At the time of writing, there has been no word from Epic Games regarding the addition of items that will track or show wins in-game.
More information on Season 6 including release date, teasers, and more can be found right here.
Writer and reporter for Dexerto.com and FortniteINTEL.com.


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Leaders in South L.A. say they need to fight vaccine distrust in communities of color
By Denise Dador
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The COVID-19 vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel for this pandemic. But there are many people who don't trust the vaccine.
In a show of unity, local community leaders are committing to building trust with the people in South Los Angeles.
Like so many, behavior therapist Elvis DeJesus was weary of the new COVID-19 vaccines.
"I was a little bit hesitant," he said.
But since he works with special needs students, he came to St. John's Well Child and Family Center to get his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
"We are now vaccinating 600 healthcare workers a day and we are prepared to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of people in South L.A.," said Jim Mangia, president and CEO of St. John's Well Child & Family Center.
Mangia said the virus has ravaged the families of essential workers who live in the areas he serves.
"From the beginning of this pandemic," he said, "St. John's had to fight to get tests, to get treatment and to get vaccines."
But the greatest challenge may still lie ahead.
"The issue of vaccine hesitancy in Black and brown communities is real," said Areva Martin, president & co-founder of Special Needs Network.
"We know the history of health disparities in this country," she said. "We know the reluctance that people of color rightfully have when it comes to trusting the medical community."
Recent polls reveal only 14% of Black Americans and 34% of Latinx Americans say they have trust in the safety of new COVID-19 vaccines. Community leaders say the most effective way to convince vulnerable populations to get vaccinated is to provide factual and timely information.
"Educating ourselves and educating each other is important so that we can with confidence make a choice," said April Verrett, president of SEIU 2015.
This week, St. John's has been testing up to 1,000 people per day with an average positive rate of 35%. It's a harsh reality, home health care worker Karen Crawford hopes people will take to heart.
"You really need to consider taking it because it's for the community. It's not just an individual thing. It's a community thing," she said.
Joe Biden to speed release of COVID-19 vaccines upon taking office
President-elect Joe Biden on Dec. 8 promised to distribute a coronavirus vaccine to 100 million people during the first three months of his incoming administration, pledging "100 million shots in the first 100 days." He also pledged to promote masking and get kids back to school.
health & fitnesssouth los angeleslos angeleslos angeles countycircle of healthcoronaviruscovid 19 vaccinecovid 19
Garden Grove police lieutenant, 59, dies from COVID-19


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Vijomlea (în ) este o comună în raionul Iavoriv, regiunea Liov, Ucraina, formată din satele Ciornokunți, Hlîneț, Novosilkî, Șciîhli și Vijomlea (reședința).

Demografie

Conform recensământului din 2001, majoritatea populației comunei Vijomlea era vorbitoare de ucraineană (%), existând în minoritate și vorbitori de alte limbi.

Note

Vijomlea, Iavoriv, Liov
Vijomlea, Iavoriv, Liov
Vijomlea, Iavoriv, Liov

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Before placing food into your CoolDrawer™ for the first time, it is important that you ideally, allow it to run empty overnight, or for at least 5 hours, to allow it to cool to the appropriate temperature.
Your CoolDrawer™ will default to 'freezer' mode when you first turn it on. If you do not wish to use the CoolDrawer™ as a freezer, simply select another option from the other four storage modes displayed on the control panel.


USDA regulations require substitutions or modifications in school meals for children whose disabilities restrict their diets. A child with a disability must be provided substitutions in foods when that need is supported by a statement signed by a licensed physician.
The food or foods to be omitted from the child's diet and the food or choice of foods that must be substituted.
Each special dietary request must be supported by a statement that explains the food substitution that is requested.
Kenedy Independent School District Child Nutrition Department is not responsible for and cannot guarantee the accuracy of any of the nutritional information contained on this site. The information contained on this site is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.
Please provide a copy of the Physician's Form to both the school nurse and child nutrition.
Menus are posted and parents are welcome to look at any ingredient label on food products onsite at the school cafeteria. Please request an appointment with the Food Service Director or Cafeteria Manager.
An individual with a special dietary need is one who does not have a disability, as defined by USDA, but is unable to consume a particular food because of a medical or other special dietary condition. The individual's special dietary need and the needed substitution(s) must be supported by a medical statement from a licensed medical authority or other appropriate health professional as designated by the state. A person with special dietary needs may have a food allergy or intolerance (for example, lactose intolerance) but does not have life-threatening (anaphylactic) reactions when exposed to food(s) to which he/she is allergic.
The attached form must be completed for Special Dietary Requests – Physician's Form - Food Allergy/Special Dietary Needs/Disability Action Plan. Other physician forms will not be accepted.


Black and White Glass Beaded Necklace – This beautiful Ayahoda designed Czech real glass crystal beaded jewelry necklace contains cracked white glass beads, stone-like black beads with grey marks, fired shiny cut crystal beads and golden beads. Handmade beaded jewelry for women with high quality and attention to every detail. Metal closing is safe even for sensitive skin. Beautiful cute necklace for your girlfriend, spouse, if bought as a gift for Her.


Sliding barn doors create an impressive focal point in any space. The exposed tracks and open rails give the door a sleek, industrial appearance with an architectural edge.
Our barn door systems can incorporate most of our door designs, including solid timber doors, tongue-and-groove doors and more. Simply choose the door design you like and let us know that you would like to use it as a sliding barn door.
All of our doors are custom-made, which means that we can accommodate a variety of rolling track systems, including round or square rails, with top-fixed or face-fixed hangers. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you create the look you want for your next project.
You can combine one of our streamlined timber doors with a stainless steel track for a contemporary look, or select a traditional raised panel door with a classic black rail for a more rustic style.
Simply select the door design you like from our huge range of designs or give us a call and we can help you find the ideal door design for your project.
Custom-made to suit your size requirements. Can incorporate a wide range of Cedar West door designs.
(1) Centor Hardware (A6 System).
(2) Brio Hardware (Open Rail Systems).
*Other track systems can be accommodated on request.
Track colour - range of colours available, including black, stainless steel and powdercoat finishes (see above websites for full details).
Suitable for single or double doors.
Maximum size of door is dependent on hardware selection.
Doors available in raw timber, or with white or grey factory undercoating (to exposed surfaces).


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Why Diets Fail • 2018 • episode "S1E6" • Explained
Explained examines why diets are often unsuccessful. It looks at the science that suggests that low carb, low fat, and body type diets as well as supplements and detoxification regimes simple do not work in helping most people lose weight. While the diet industry pushes us to avoid calories the food industry encourage us to eat more of them.
Explained • 2018 • 20 episodes •
The Racial Wealth Gap
Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have compounded to create a racial wealth gap.
2018 • Economics
Designer DNA
Scientific feat or terrifying social experiment? Specialists in the field discuss the high stakes and ethical controversies of gene editing.
2018 • Technology
What do biology, human history and the promiscuity of bonobos reveal about monogamy? Experts and everyday couples weigh in on shifting cultural norms.
Elaborate music videos, adoring fans, killer choreography. Learn about the global music phenomenon from South Korea that goes beyond "Gangnam Style".
2018 • Music
Cryptocurrency has made people billionaires, but is digital cash the next revolution? Learn about this anonymous currency and why it's so coveted.
Why Diets Fail
2018 • Health
Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss market history, valuations and CEO incentives.
The term eSports is short for "electronic sports". It is introduced to describe competitive video gaming. What's competitive video gaming? It's basically just people playing video games in some form of competition.
Extraterrestrial Life
Explained examines the possibility of extraterrestrial life and looks at why we have not yet found evidence for its existence despite efforts to look for it. It considers the Fermi paradox which suggests that given the vastness of the universe that there should be a great deal of extraterrestrial life in our galaxy. It also consider conspiracy theories about U.F.O.
2018 • Astronomy
The Exclamation Point (!)
The story of the exclamation point. How it came to be and are we overusing it today?
2018 • Design
Explained looks at the popular English sport of cricket. First developed in the mid-1800s, cricket has grown into one of the most popular sports in the world. It looks at the complicated and confusing rules behind the game and examines how the British Empire exported the game to its colonies including the West Indies and India. It also looks at different forms of the game including test cricket and Twenty20 cricket.
Marijuana experts discuss the rise of potent "sexually frustrated" cannabis plants, the quest for consistency in weed strains and the history of hemp.
They've been used to command respect, punish criminals and mark achievements. Tattooists speak about the origins of tattoo traditions and rituals.
Do zodiac signs prescribe your fate? Or do horoscopes' accuracy lie in the placebo effect? Take a look at the science, history and lure of astrology.
2018 • Science
Can We Live Forever?
Scientists are working to understand and even slow the aging process.
The female orgasm is more elusive when a man is involved. Discover the reasons why -- and how women are embracing hands-on solutions.
Political correctness can sometimes feel like a tug-of-war between inclusivity and free speech. Experts discuss the concepts behind the fraught term.
Why Women Are Paid Less
Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide gender pay gap, including the "motherhood penalty"
When does sound become music? Why are humans so uniquely able to master musicality? Researches talk rhythm, octaves, and the magic of song and dance.
The World's Water Crisis
The global water crisis is at an inflection point. How do we price our most valuable resource, while also ensuring access to it as a human right?
2018 • Environment
What's Living in You?
Whether they make you fat, fart, or freak out, microbes play a central role in your life. Right beneath your nose—on your face, in your gut, and everywhere in between—trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi are so abundant in your body, they outnumber your human cells. But these aren't just nasty hitch-hikers. Many are crucial to your survival. Evidence suggests that a diverse microbiome can keep you healthy and, conversely, a damaged one could kill you. NOVA Wonders peers into this microscopic world to discover the fascinating, bizarre, and downright surprising secrets of the human microbiome, including the world's largest stool bank, which transforms raw stool into life-saving poop pills.
2 • Nova Wonders • 2018 • Health
Growing up in the streets of Dundee, actor Brian Cox was surrounded by tobacco. His entire family either smoked it or chewed it and yet Brian reveals, he never took up the habit. To find out why not, Brian travels to Virginia in the US to discover how the habit of smoking kick-started the British Empire and created a global market of addicts.
3/4 • Addicted to Pleasure • Health
Science of Babies
As new parents can attest, children develop so much in the first year of their life it's hard to keep up. From the moment they draw their initial breath - itself an incredibly complicated biological feat - to their first steps, it's a year of remarkable development. In The Science of Babies, Nat Geo explores the amazing biomechanical benchmarks achieved in the first 12 months of human life. Using CGI, fMRI and other tools, viewers can watch as a baby's lungs draw breath for the first time, and can witness the heart grow exponentially in order to power this incredible developing creature. Perhaps even more fascinating is the manner in which the neurosynapses develop, creating the essence of what will become a new personality and intellect. This film explores the amazing mechanics behind the initial milestones in a human infant's life, and even compares them to babies of other species. Beyond simply being a beautiful film to watch, the technology that Nat Geo uses to help tell the tale is remarkable.
A Shot to Save the World
It was 1952, and polio had reached outbreak levels in America. There was no known cause, no cure, and no help in sight for parents desperate to protect their children. Our nation's hope was placed in a 33-year-old scientist, working from a basement lab in Pittsburgh. His name was Jonas Salk, and in just a few years, he would bring infantile paralysis to its knees and change the course of medical history. Travel back to a world gripped in fear and see how Dr. Salk, with his dedicated staff, a young charity, and a faithful nation, came together to conquer polio.
An intimate, feature-length documentary following the stories of four patients at London's King's College Hospital who have been struck down by Covid-19. The film follows the patients and their families over a six-month period, offering a stark reminder of how frightening and destructive the Covid-19 virus can be.
Cocaine: History Between the Lines
As a woman in New York City leans over a table, about to inhale a line of cocaine, she is unknowingly part of a $30 billion a year industry — an illegal empire governed by fear and violence, bribery and corruption, all spiraling out of control and turning Mexico and the southern border of the United States into one of the deadliest places on earth. In this probing, incisive investigation into the bloodstained path taken by cocaine we travel backwards from the end user in the U.S. all the way to the drug's source high in the South American mountains. We meet the dealers, traffickers, smugglers and farmers who together form its production and distribution chain, as well as the law enforcement agencies and individuals whose mission is to shut the deadly trade down. The cocaine industry is littered with unimaginable sums of cash and more than 35,000 murders in the past five years. Much of this violence occurs on the border between the United States and Mexico. This is just one aspect of the cocaine epidemic which is explored in the feature-length documentary Cocaine: History Between the Lines. This two-hour special goes inside the history of the second most used illicit drug in America. The human appetite for this narcotic goes all the way back to 3000 B.C., when South Americans chewed coca leaves thinking they were a gift from God. But it wasn't until 1855, when cocaine was first extracted from the coca leaf and used in powder form that its use spiked. Initially it was utilized as an anesthesia. Soon, famed psychologist Sigmund Freud touted it as an effective cure for depression and impotence. In 1886, John Pemberton, an Atlanta pharmacist, added it to his new soft drink: Coca Cola or Coke for short. In 1914, the drug was outlawed, but the damage had been done. The 70's ushered in another boost in the drug's use fueled in part by new drug cartels in South America. To combat cocaine's rise, the Reagan administration started the War on Drugs in the 80's. That hasn't stopped the proliferation of the drug in cities across America or with the cartels that continue to feed at the trough of this $30 billion dollar a year business. Cocaine use may have peaked decades ago, but it's never gone away. With the advent of crack cocaine in the 1980s, the trade became deadlier and more toxic than ever before. The high demand for the product has rendered more than 70% of Mexico under the control of the smuggling trade. American law enforcement agencies from Texas to California are fearful that this nefarious element will soon enter their country unchallenged. According to the officers interviewed in the film, border security is lax, and bureaucrats in Washington are doing little to remedy the crisis. For them, the discovery of a dismembered body – whether it be a trafficker, illegal immigrant or innocent bystander - has become a daily occurrence. This harsh reality is lost on most of the users themselves, who run the gamut from the hippest clubbers to the homeless population across America. Each user profiled in the film shares their experiences with the alluring white powder. Whether they use the drug recreationally or habitually, they have all witnessed the hold it can have on a life. From the personal to the political, Cocaine: History Between the Lines is a comprehensive account of a drug that has left much devastation in its wake.


Surfing will always be one of those sports that represents the epitome of "cool." The mental image of a relaxed surfer being one with the waves is still an ingrained picture in many people's minds. Surfing is an incredible sport that requires a fair amount of athleticism and knowing just when the perfect wave is coming your way. The fun thing about surfing is anyone can learn, and it's even easier to find the perfect surfing spot, either near you or anywhere around the world, thanks to surf guides, forecasts and surf reports ready which are available on the Internet.
1. Swell height - how tall the swell is.
2. Swell direction - which direction the swell is coming from.
3. Swell period - how much time is passing between wave breaks.
The swell period is especially important to know because it can tell you how the swell will impact the break. There are two different kind of swells, groundswell and wind swell, but it's groundswell that creates the best conditions and biggest waves for surfers.
Another aspect to predicting how the surf will be in a given spot is knowing what kind of conditions your spot is experiencing and how waves can affect that. Surf reports and surf forecasts can easily give you this information, but it also pays off to learn how to read certain spots on your own. A giveaway to know where it's best to surf is in the breaks. Breaks are affected by the way the ocean floor is shaped underneath them. If you can identify the break, then you can better understand how the floor is shaped. Beachbreaks are the most common, but you can't always tell if a wave is going to be good or bad just from that. The quality of the wave in a beachbreak is going to be affected by sandbars in the area. Sometimes you can tell where sandbars are more likely to form, like if there's pier nearby.
Of course, if you're going to have a successful surf, you're going to need to know the weather conditions. Really, it's all in the wind, which causes the waves to form. The ideal conditions for a surfer are little to no wind. If there has to be wind, it needs to be blowing towards the water so that it can support the break of a wave longer, allowing you more time to get into positon. You also need to know what the tides are like. This information is very easy to predict and should be closely followed by people in the area where you're surfing.
Ultimately, the best way to know how to catch the best waves is by learning the area for yourself. Surf forecasts and reports are a huge help, but you need to be able to recognize ideal surfing conditions so you can stay safe and still have fun.
Surf reports provides with all data needed to know about current surfing conditions. It paints the idea of how big are waves going to be today, and how waves will be hitting in your area.
Always use trusted sources like Frostfires to get a live look at wave conditions via surf cams. You can also take benefit of their reliable surf reports and surf forecasts. The surf forecasts include wave height, swell direction, wind speed and direction, tide times and weather.
In surfing, every day is different and every wave is different. All you have to do is search your beach and get relevant hints on wave's consistency.
Reading surf reports is just as important as surfing. However, not everyone can read a surf report. Once you become aware of fundamental variables and factors affecting surf conditions, it will help you decide better whether it's a good idea to leave home for surfing or not.


The crew of the "LOREE" from Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY circa 1945. From left to right are Captain Adam 'Eddie' Doll, Mate Eddie Enders, and a young Bill Doll (age 15). The "LOREE" was owned by partners Adam 'Eddie' Doll and Mike Scarpati. Captain Adam 'Eddie' Doll began sailing party boats in 1917 with his first boat, the "JUPITER". He later operated the "ADA L", the "ANGLER", the "ANGLER II", the "LOREE" and the "DOLLSON". His son, Captain Bill, took over the "DOLLSON" and went on to own the "JET" from Sheepshead Bay. (Captain Bill still operates the "JET" today.) Photo courtesy of Captain Bill Doll.


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Taste of Cinema - Movie Reviews and Classic Movie Lists > Lists > Film Lists > 10 Great Movies That Never Had a Theatrical Release
10 Great Movies That Never Had a Theatrical Release
Posted on June 1, 2018 June 4, 2018 by Cara McWilliam-Richardson
6. Trick 'r' Treat (2007)
Trick 'r' Treat is an anthology horror film which is comprised of four Halloween related stories – 'The Principal,' 'The School Bus Massacre,' 'Surprise Party,' and 'Meet Sam.' The films are linked together by the presence of Sam who is a mysterious child trick or treater who appears whenever a character breaks Halloween traditions. The film was written and directed by Michael Dougherty who made a short film in 1996 called 'Season's Greetings' which is a precursor to Trick 'r' Treat.
Trick 'r' Treat was originally set to be released theatrically in October 2007, but a month before it was released it was announced that the film had been pushed back. Trick 'r' Treat then sat untouched for two years, whilst distributors Warner Brothers decided what to do with it.
Warner Brothers contemplated a theatrical release, but in the end decided against it which director Michael Dougherty thought may be down to the content of the film. He said, "I think they got a little cold feet and buyer's remorse for various reasons. The big one being the number of kids that we kill in the film." Instead Dougherty took the film on the road, screening it and showing it at various festivals. The film was then released direct to DVD in 2009.
Despite its tricky road to release, Trick 'r' Treat was well received with overwhelmingly positive reviews, and has amassed a cult following since its release. Dougherty has said that the difficult road to release may have actually worked in the film's favour, and that it allowed the film to stay in people's minds and hearts more than if it had been released into theatres where he believes most films are forgotten after a few weeks.
In 2016, Dougherty teamed up with AtmosFX to create a series of Halloween decorations that feature Sam, and in 2017 a Trick 'r' Treat themed scare zone was added to the Halloween horror nights event in Orlando. A sequel to the film has also been announced.
7. Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)
Batman: Under the Red Hood is the eighth feature in the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series. It is a direct to video film and was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and released by Warner Home Video. It is directed by Brandon Vietti and written by Judd Winick.
Batman: Under the Red Hood sees Batman set against a diabolical villain who always seems to one step ahead of the caped crusader. The villain is also determined to clean up the streets of Gotham for good and destroy Batman in the process. Batman continues to patrol the streets of Gotham by night, protecting its citizens but lately another vigilante is doing the same. However the new vigilante's methods are merciless and frightening. Meanwhile the Joker resurfaces to taunt Batman by digging up old skeletons that were best left buried.
Batman: Under the Red Hood received critical acclaim upon its release, being praised for its faithful take on the Batman lore and its smart writing. Batman: Under the Red Hood was the highest rated direct to video Batman film until the release of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns in 2012. It grossed over $10 million in domestic home video sales.
8. Hush (2016)
Hush is a thriller horror film from director Mike Flanagan who co-wrote the film with his wife, actress Kate Siegel who also stars in the film. The film follows deaf author Maddie Young who lost her hearing as a teenager and now lives in utter isolation in the woods. Retreated from society, she lives in seclusion and exists in a completely silent world. One night, the masked face of a psychotic killer appears at her window and with no way to call for help – a terrifying game of cat and mouse begins where Maddie must fight for her survival.
The film was jointly produced by Jason Blum through Blumhouse Productions and Trevor Macy through Intrepid Pictures. The film was kept under wraps until it was revealed at a buyer's screening at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. Netflix acquired the worldwide distribution rights to Hush, and it was released in April after its world premiere at South by Southwest.
The film was generally well received, with most reviews praising its effective build-up of tension and suspense. Hush was also praised for making its main protagonist deaf. Director Flanagan said that the character originated from him wanting to make a film without dialogue, and he considered making the film completely silent. After deciding that a completely silent film wouldn't be possible, various ambient sounds were used, for example the sound of ultrasound machines. Overall the film includes less than fifteen minutes of dialogue.
9. Gerald's Game (2017)
Based upon Stephen King's novel of the same name, Gerald's Game is a psychological horror film from director Mike Flanagan. Flanagan also co-wrote the film along with writer Jeff Howard. Gerald's Game sees couple Gerald and Jessie Burlingame attempt to rekindle their marriage with a trip away to their remote lake house. But after indulging in dangerous sex game, Gerald is accidentally killed, leaving Jessie handcuffed to the bed. Trapped, and with no hope of rescue, Jessie begins to hear voices and experience strange hallucinations.
Gerald's Game was dismissed by many as unfilmable but director Flanagan had aspirations to film it anyway, calling it his dream project. He even carried a copy of the book with him to meetings for years, in case anyone ever asked him what his ideal project would be. The film's distribution rights were acquired by Netflix who released the film in September 2017.
Gerald's Game has received a slew of positive reviews, with much of the praise focused on Carla Gugino's performance which is undoubtedly career defining. Many have also called the film, Flanagan's best. Stephen King himself called the film "hypnotic, horrifying and terrific" after he was sent the rough cut by Flanagan. Flanagan admitted that he was so happy and flattered by King's praise that he printed out his email about the film and has it framed in his house.
10. All the Way (2016)
All the Way is a biographical drama film adapted from the play of the same name by Robert Schenkkan and is directed by Jay Roach. It is based on the events of the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson who became President in the chaotic aftermath of John F. Kennedy's assassination, and spent his first year of office trying to pass the Civil Rights Act. The film stars Bryan Cranston, who reprised his role as Johnson from the play's 2014 Broadway production.
In July 2014, it was announced that HBO Films had acquired the rights to the play. Filming took place in 2015, and the film was broadcast on HBO in 2016. All the Way drew around 1.2 million viewers on its premiere, making it the second most watched HBO original film behind Bessie.
The film was very well received. It has been nominated for a multitude of awards, including eight Primetime Emmy Awards. Cranston's performance has been particularly noted, being called "phenomenal," "compelling" and "engrossing." The film was later released on home media.
Author Bio: Cara McWilliam-Richardson is a writer with a passion for films and filmmaking. She has written several screenplays, and is currently working on her first novel. Her favourite genre to write is fantasy and science fiction.
Great Movies That Never Had a Theatrical Release
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Between these bars and pancakes, that's pretty much all I've eaten this week. And I'm totally OK with that.
You see, summertime for me goes two ways. Sometimes, it's super chill and lazy, reminiscent of the sweet freedom of summers when I was in grade school. Other times, it's insanity. Parties, weddings, work, errands, yada yada yada — all good things, of course, but just a.lot.of.it. And that's just the stuff we know is coming.
For us, summer has decided to swell right out of the gate — thus why my diet lately has been all carbs, all day long (also, thus, why I spent some time with Rihanna this week). Not a bad trade, though, when pink lemonade bars are involved. But I'm looking forward to the calm side of summer soon. Of course, I'll be enjoying these bars during that time, too.
My point is, these summers? They go by so fast. And sometimes, we get so caught up in the hectic crazy-times that we forget to enjoy them just as much as the calmer times. And then there are the times when life throws us curveballs and we have to respond to those, too. Such is the case with my blogger friend, Claire of The Realistic Nutritionist, whose kitchen in her brand new home recently caught fire. Thankfully she and her family are safe and sound, but I can't imagine having to go through that ordeal, especially when I have breakdowns sometimes over stains in my carpeting. Oy.
So in an effort to give her a little more time to breathe and get back on her feet, I've written a guest post on her lovely blog with a recipe for these nummy pink lemonade bars, flavored with raspberries and a buttery shortbread crust. Hopefully, Claire and her family can get back to normal life soon and enjoy the summertime. As for the rest of us, I suggest we do the same.
That is so nice of you to guest post for Claire! I can not imagine how hard it much be for her right now.
Going to check these bars out now! They look awesome!
Tieghan — I know, it just sounds like an awful situation, but I hope things turn around for her soon! Thanks, dear!
oh you have the life. I am going through exams right now>_< but summer time is meant to be lazy. I often spent it sleeping and eating rather than parties. These bars look delicious I have never had pink lemonade before so I am eager to try!
Oh dear Lord – seriously, these are my dream come true. Maybe not my waistline's, but mine for sure!
These bars are freaking awesome! Love, love, love the colour! WANT!
Those are so gorgeous! I bet the flavor is amazing.
Marie — Thanks so much for the link, lady! I appreciate it. 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!
Heather — Oh, my waistline is none too happy with me right now, that's for sure 😉 Thanks, friend! Hope you have a great weekend!
Jocelyn — Thank you! The flavor is to.die.for. 🙂 Happy weekend!
You are a good blogger friend. Such a bummer about her kitchen. These bars sound fantastic lady!
Beauties, I love that dusting of powdered sugar!
These are soooo pretty! I love the pink! Totally ok to eat only these for a week. I say so.
These look so so amazing! Definitely need to go get the recipe.
It is so terrible what happened to Claire, isn't it? Especially when she is just the sweetest!
How nice of you to guest post! And with such a tasty treat. Pink lemonade is the stuff that summer is made of. Off to check it out!
Monica — It's super good! Thanks, love!
Stephie — Oh good, because I totally did. 😉 Thanks, dearie!
Joanne — I know! Not that I would wish it upon anyone, but of all the people… So sad. 🙁 I really hope things turn around for her soon. And thanks so much about the bars, dear!
Pamela — Thank you! I hope you love them. 🙂 Happy weekend to you, too!
I love shortbread and lemon bars. Combining the two and adding raspberries sounds delicious! Sorry to hear about the fire. Very scary. Thank goodness the humans and animals involved are ok!
Wendy — I know; I'm so glad her loved ones are safe and sound! And I agree — there are few better combos than shortbread and lemon!
Bars and pancakes all week? I can totally get on board with that.
And awesome bars. You are too sweet to guest post for Claire. Heading over to get the recipe!
Chung-Ah — Haha, it was a pretty epic eating week, that's for sure 🙂 Thanks, friend!
i am pretty sure i could survive off these and pancakes too!
Angela — It's a good way of living (for a week, at least ;)). Thanks!
Ugh, how awful for Claire. I can't imagine!
On a lighter note, I *can* totally imagine myself eating nine of these bars poolside. Mmmmhmmmmm.
Hayley — Mmm, yes. These bars poolside is a fantastic idea. 🙂 Thanks!
These look awesome. Thanks for helping Claire out 🙂 She's so fantastic.
I have a question on the recipe–we get a 1/3 cup of the puree but the recipe only shows using a couple of TBSP–is that correct?
Betty — Yes, that's true. You can modify the measurements so you get less puree, but the original recipe called for 1/3 cup just so you can make sure you have enough for the recipe. Hope that answers your question! Thanks!


I just found out that Star Trek Beyond will have its world premiere on the 20th of July 2016 and the little geek inside of me just jumped up and down, did 20 cart wheels and went completely bananas.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm definitely heading off to the cinema to watch this one. The film will feature performances by Chris Pine, Sofia Boutella, John Cho, Simon Pegg, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Idris Elba and others and promises to be one of the best films of 2016.
What do you think? Are you heading off to the cinema to watch it when it's released or are you giving it a skip? Leave a comment and let me know.


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Andrés Iniesta on Lionel Messi joining PSG: "It will hurt to see him in another shirt."
Speaking to AFP this Tuesday, former Barcelona midfielder Andrés Iniesta discussed the prospect of his former team-mate Lionel Messi joining Paris Saint-Germain, and leaving Catalonia after more than two decades.
The World Cup winner, now at Vissel Kobe, admitted that seeing the six-time Ballon d'Or winner in another shirt would be painful, but that Barcelona would nonetheless be able to recover from the 34 year old's departure.
"I don't know what happened internally, nor how things unfolded, but the club will need to recover from this transfer."
"It will hurt to see him in another team's shirt. Leo personifies Barcelona. He was everything, he's a player who transcends the team. I've never seen a player like him and I don't think I ever will."
"[Barcelona] will continue to be one of the best teams, one of those that has to be on the summit."
Javier Pastore on Lionel Messi to PSG: "It'll be fantastic to watch."
Lionel Messi unveiled as a PSG player: "I can't wait to start a new chapter of my career."
Saint-Etienne snubbed opportunity to sign "monster" Alphonso Davies...
Nantes manager Antoine Kombouaré said he was "bored"...
PLAYER RATINGS | PSG 1-1 Reims: Folarin Balogun...
Marseille and Sevilla strike agreement for Pape Gueye...
Jean-Michel Aulas on former Lyon sporting director Juninho:...
Milan Škriniar pushing to join PSG this month...
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Violet is a Hound mix we rescued from another shelter. She is a big sweety and just loves everyone. She is a young girl 10-12 mo. Violet gets along with other dogs and likes everyone. She's doing great with crate training and walking on leash. She's a stocky girl, and an absolutely beautiful soul. Please call Friends for Animals for more info, 817 326-3647, Tues., and Thurs. thru Sat., noon-4:30.


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| Mar 17, 2017
New Study: Wind Energy is a Jobs and Economic Engine
There's a lot of talk about jobs these days. President Trump speaks often, and passionately, about bringing jobs (especially manufacturing jobs) back to America. Wind energy is and will continue to be an important driver of the growth in American manufacturing and other family-supporting jobs across this nation. And, according to a new Navigant study, more jobs are on the way.
The wind industry is an economic engine. In 2016, wind power installations represented more than $14 billion in new investment. That's greater than the annual revenue of the National Football League. Wind power currently generates 5.5 percent of the nation's electricity with 82,183 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity generating clean, low-cost energy. It is now the largest source of renewable electric capacity in the U.S., eclipsing hydropower, and its growth spurt is expected to continue. The new report by Navigant finds that wind could grow by 8-10 gigawatts (GW) per year through 2020, resulting in 35 GW of new U.S. wind installations by 2020. This means more jobs and economic development will follow.
The wind industry currently supports over 100,000 jobs across all 50 states, and wind technician is the fastest-growing job in the nation. Domestic manufacturing of turbine components is growing strong. Over 500 U.S. factories build wind-related parts across 43 states. They currently employ more than 25,000 workers, and Navigant forecasts that number will grow to 33,000 by 2020.
Navigant also estimates that jobs in manufacturing, operations and maintenance, construction, combined with induced jobs resulting from spending by workers involved in the industry at restaurants, hotels, and mechanics, among others, will grow to support 248,000 American jobs by 2020. The job opportunities span the nation and are even significant in areas like the Southeast where there is little or no wind development. With over 60 wind-related factories Ohio ranks first in the nation for manufacturing, followed by Texas (40), Illinois (35), and North Carolina (27). Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin round out the top slots with 26 plants each.
Despite the manufacturing stronghold in the rust belt, the Southeast also is a manufacturing hub with more than 100 wind component factories in the area. According to the report, North Carolina, for example, is projected to see 4,300 wind jobs by 2020. The report also projects the Southeast could see a total of 22,800 wind jobs in the same year.
The wind industry is investing in rural America in nearly unmatched ways, giving many struggling communities a vital boost to the local economy. About 71 percent of wind capacity is located in low-income counties, according to Navigant. This means that the tax revenue, land lease payments, and jobs are flowing to the very places that need it most.
Furthermore, the growth of new wind projects is expected to generate over $8 billion in taxes over the next four years. This is on top of the tax revenues from existing projects that are already helping many small towns fix roads, build schools and improve emergency services that benefit everyone.
Clearly, the entire country benefits from wind power – whether it's in the form of jobs, a healthy rural economy, or the clean air and water that result from the growing use of renewable energy.
The wind energy industry is booming, and that's a good thing for our economy and for America. With popular support from utilities, businesses, grid operators, and the general public, it's no surprise that reliable, low-cost wind power is flourishing. Make no mistake, wind works for America.
This article originally appeared in Morning Consult.
Economic Development | Jobs


Normal has changed and those who would catch the wave of the future are challenged to incorporate a more profound presence of being into their doing.
In his best-selling book, A Whole New Mind, author Daniel Pink explains that the Information Age has given way to the "Conceptual Age," which requires a different kind of work from a new kind of worker—those who consider transformational outcomes the norm, not the exception.
These are the folks who place too high a value on their own time and potential to accept mediocrity in themselves or in their companies. They demand of their workplace the opportunity to do their best on a daily basis. They are eager to meet the current challenges and changes that many companies are still reluctant to embrace.
Most enterprises exist today to provide products, services or information for people or to build the machines that make people's lives more comfortable, safer or healthier.
When the world still ran on a primarily agrarian economy, systems and mechanisms emerged more gradually in response to the slowly evolving needs of society.
For example, my great-grandfather, who was born right after the American Civil War, was a talented inventor who constructed unique systems for irrigating and tilling his Missouri farmland. According to family lore, he never stopped making adjustments to the root cellar so stored food would last longer with less spoilage.
However, the Industrial Revolution and several major wars flipped the priorities for people like my great-grandfather. Within his lifetime individuals found it increasingly necessary to adapt to the needs of the mechanical systems they or the giants of industry had invented.
As a modern society, we are comfortable with the clarity of technology. It is something we can put a finger on. If a computer has a problem, we can fix it. If a machine breaks, we can install a new part. If a system is inefficient, we can streamline it.
These are objects we can touch and control. They are things, and we are very accomplished at dealing with "thing" processes and structures. We can measure, calibrate and quantify them and their performance. Mechanical remedies for mechanical problems.
Still, a challenge for both employers and employees is that people are not things; they are human beings. And the entire industrial/technological complex gets weak in the knees when people act out their inevitable emotions, wants, needs, values, beliefs, fears, illnesses and a thousand daily variables that threaten the stability of production lines and supply chains everywhere.
I once witnessed the unfortunate experience of a very talented computer programmer who was promoted to manager other programmers. The poor man was so overwhelmed by "people issues" that he would stay in his office with the door closed for hours at a time. Mercifully, he was relieved of that position, though not before chaos erupted in his department.
People are complicated. They are highly creative in their unpredictability. The good news is that growing numbers of employers are beginning to pay attention because employee demands for personal consideration at work are likely only to increase.
What was once considered "soft" or "touchy-feely" is now becoming the "hard stuff" of employee training and development. Companies that fail to consider the people factor in both their external business practices and internal relationships are suffering negative financial consequences that cannot be ignored.
When the cost of replacing an employee equals 200% or more of his or her annual salary, proactive companies are now considering how to help that individual remain a satisfied, productive member of the organization's team.
Where once we trained people how to "do" things efficiently, we're now training them to "be" effectively balanced in how they work, especially within a multi-generational, multicultural workforce.
We need people at all levels of an organization (and a family) to make balanced decisions, take appropriate action and create positive results within an atmosphere that meets today's changing expectations for what a joyful life might be.
In our companies we need both well-honed skills and effective attitudes that allow individuals to work productively alone as well as with other people. We need an awareness that shapes our values and informs our behavior, and that travels with us wherever life and career may direct.
Increasingly, I hear managers report that they are looking for mature attitudes in their candidates. Then they train for the specific skills required in a particular job. Where do those attitudes come from?
It is difficult to train attitudes because they are "inside" features—the result of culture, ethnicity, gender, age and personal values. These are the unspoken, and often unconscious, attributes a person brings to the workplace. Often that quality is intuition. Thankfully, intuition can be improved—though the process is not easy.
If we are to attain the effectiveness that we hope for at home and away, we must grow into an awareness of how work "works" from both a personal perspective and in relation to other people. In so doing, we may find ourselves dancing in an inspired partnership that spirals through the steps, rhythms and tempos that make up our daily lives—all the way to joyfully great work.