text:
Home Essays Portfolio Managementi
Portfolio Managementi
Topics: Capital asset pricing model, Modern portfolio theory, Investment Pages: 7 (1372 words) Published: February 6, 2013
Chapter # 07
AN ITRODUCTION TO PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
1. The optimal portfolio is identified at the point of tangency between theefficient frontier and the a. Highest possible utility curve.
b. Lowest possible utility curve.
c. Middle range utility curve.
d. Steepest utility curve.
2. An individual investor's utility curves specify the tradeoffs he or she is willing to make between e. High risk and low risk assets.
f. High return and low return assets.
g. Covariance and correlation.
h. Return and risk..
3. As the correlation coefficient between two assets decreases, the shape of the efficient frontier i. Approaches a horizontal straight line.
j. Bends out.
k. Bends in.
l. Approaches a vertical straight line.
4. A positive covariance between two variables indicates that m. The two variables move in different directions.
n. The two variables move in the same direction.
o. The two variables are low risk.
p. The two variables are high risk.
5. A positive relationship between expected return and expected risk is consistent with q. Investors being risk seekers.
r. Investors being risk avoiders.
s. Investors being risk averse.
t. All of the above.
6. What information must you input to a computer program in order to derive theportfolios that make up the efficient frontier u. Expected returns, Covariances and correlations.
v. Standard deviations, variances and Covariances.
w. Expected returns, standard deviations and variances. x. Expected returns, variances and Correlations.
7. The Markowitz model is based on several assumptions regarding investor behavior. Which of the following is an assumption of the Markowitz model? y. Investors consider investment alternative as being represented by a joint probability distribution of expected returns over some holding period. z. Investors minimize one-period expected utility.
{. Investors estimate the risk of the portfolio on the basis of their utility functions. |. Investors base decisions solely on expected return and risk.
8. As the correlation coefficient between two assets increases, the shape of the efficient frontier }. Approaches a horizontal straight line.
~. Bends out.
. Bends in.
. Approaches a vertical straight line.
9. The probability of an adverse outcome is the definition of: . Statistics.
. Variance.
. Random.
. Risk.
10. Which of the following is a measure of risk? . Range of standard deviations
. Expected return
. Standard deviation
. Covariance
11. Semivariance, when applied to portfolio theory, is concerned with the . Square root of deviations from the mean.
. Deviations below the mean.
. Deviations above the mean.
. All deviations (above and below the mean).
12. With low, zero or negative correlations it is possible to derive portfolios that have . Lower risk than the individual securities in the portfolio. . Lower risk than the highest risk individual security in the portfolio. . Higher risk than the individual securities that make up the portfolio. . Higher risk than the highest risk individual security in the portfolio.
13. Given a portfolio of stocks the envelope curve containing the set of best possiblecombinations is known as the . Efficient portfolio.
. Utility curve.
. Efficient frontier.
. Last frontier.
14. Estimation error refers to potential errors that arise from estimating . Expected security returns.
. Standard deviations of expected returns.
. Correlations of expected returns.
. All of the above.
15. A portfolio is considered to be efficient if:
. No other...
Please join StudyMode to read the full document
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
Paper Portfolio
...PaperThis assignment needs to consist of a portfolio analysis in a Microsoft Word document that is not to exceed three pages. You must also include your portfolio analysis in either Word or Excel. You must show how you calculated the answers. 1. Select four stocks from finance.yahoo.com, google.finance.com, or moneycentral.msn.com. One should be a clothing manufacturer, one should be a retailer, one should be an automobile manufacturer, and one should be a restaurant or food producer. 2. Obtain the closing price, the change in price from the previous day, and the beta. 3. Calculate the return on holding the stock for a day (this should be the change in price over the closing price). 4. Calculate a portfolio return with weights of 0.25 for each stock. 5. Calculate a weighted beta with weights of 0.25 for each stock. 6. Write up the implications of the portfolio return and risk with respect to what you learned about beta and the CAPM in 2-3 pages. Answer: Market Risk: Market risk is the risk that reflects the effect of the project on a well-diversified stock portfolio. This is the risk which depends on the variance and correlation of the project or a particular stock with the stock market. Portfolio risk is the risk that one still bears after achieving full diversification, Portfolio risk is often called systematic or market risk as well. The market risk of a stock...
846 Words 3 Pages
Portfolio Management Essay
...TITLE OF THE STUDY: A STUDY ON PORTFOLIO MANGEMENT INTRODUCTION TO THE COMPANY: Sharekhan Ltd. is one of the leading retail stock broking house of SSKI Group which is running successfully since 1922 in the country. It is the retail broking arm of the Mumbai-based SSKI Group, which has over eight decades of experience in the stock broking business. Sharekhan offers its customers a wide range of equity related services including trade execution on BSE, NSE, Derivatives, depository services, online trading, investment advice etc. The firm's online trading and investment site - www.sharekhan.com - was launched on Feb 8, 2000. PROFILE OF THE COMPANY: Name of the company : Sharekhan ltd. Year of Establishment : 1925 Headquarter : Sharekhan Ltd. , 10th Floor , Beta Building , Lodha iThink Techno Campus , Off. JVLR , Opp. Kanjurmarg Railway Station Kanjurmarg (East) Mumbai – 400042 , Maharashtra , India Nature of Business : Service Provider Services : Equities, Derivatives, Commodities, Mutual Fund Portfolio Management, IPO, Depository Services...
2421 Words 11 Pages
Dividend Growth Model, Capital Asset Pricing Model, Modern Portfolio Theory, Estimation of Untraded Stocks Essay
...generally incorrect. Almost all transactions within the market have some sort of tax or fee associated with it. Within CAPM, the required rate of return is found in the following equation:r = rf + B (rm - rf)Where r = the required rate of returnrf = the risk free rateB = the stock's Beta valuerm = The Market returnIn essence CAPM evaluates a stock based on its risk and potential return compared to a risk-free market portfolio. 3. CAPM and the Modern Portfolio TheoryModern Portfolio Theory is an attempt to balance the risks and rewards of investment portfolios through the use of diversification to lower the risk of the entire portfolio while maintaining high returns. The use of Beta is a key concept in Modern Portfolio Theory. It uses CAPM as its basis to select investments within a portfolio; seeking to mix stocks with both positive and negative Betas to construct a portfolio with a minimal Beta for the group of stocks as a whole. Theoretically, the returns from stocks with both positive and negative betas do not cancel each other out, but rather the portfolio is constructed that the returns are independent of the other stocks held, yet complimentary in accumulation of returns. 4. Estimation of Untraded Stocks. The general standard for estimating the cost of equity of a non-traded company is through the Market Approach. The basis of this...
Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management Essay
...Investment Analysis and Portfolio Management PREPARED BY Kamruzzaman Chowdhury Bangladesh University ID-081-12-0199 Department of Finance Faculty of Business Studies Bangladesh University Subject: Submission of the term paper Sir, I am honored and pleased to inform you that as per the course requirement, I selected to work on the field of Portfolio Management & have prepared the report. Based on our classroom knowledge and real-life key informant interviews, we have prepared this report for your kind consideration. Researching for and finalizing this report have been an extremely learning, interesting and rewarding experience for me. It was a lifetime opportunity to compare the bookish knowledge with the real-world applications. I have gone heights to ensure the highest possible quality of our research and report. You would be pleased to know that I have worked with the utmost possible integrity, honesty and care for preparing this paper. I also tried to follow your instructions properly now and when necessary. I would like to request you to allow me to submit the report on the Portfolio Management Sincerely Yours Md. Sabirul Islam ID- 081-12-0199 Introduction: Security Portfolio Management: Portfolio is a group of financial assets such as shares, stocks, bonds, debt...
Portfolio Construction Essay
...PORTFOLIO CONSTRUCTION USING SHARPE METHOD A PROJECT REPORT Table of Contents Executive Summary	3 Introduction	4 The traditional Approach	4 The Modern Approach	4 Need for Study	5 Objective	5 Limitations	5 Literature Review	6 Research Methodology	8 Analysis and Interpretation	10 Findings	13 Recommendations	13 Conclusions	13 Bibliography	14 Executive Summary An equity portfolio consists of two or more securities. Individual securities have risk and return characteristics of their own. The portfolio which consists of these securities may or may not have the collective properties of the individual securities. By constructing a portfolio we are trying to reduce the risk and increase the return, than investing in a single stock. Risk is the variability of return. More dispersion or variability about a security's expected return means the security was riskier than one with less dispersion. The risk of a portfolio can be reduced by having securities in which the risk of one security can be cancelled by the other. If we consider a portfolio of two securities, the important point is finding two securities in which every time one security performs poorly, the other security performs well. This will provide reasonable return to its investor, even if some of the stocks in the portfolio perform poorly. In this project we are taking Large Capital...
Modern Portfolio Theory Essay
...derivatives blew up, and other foundations were laid bare. Even the core of investing theories related to portfolios has come under pressure. Yet the belief in Modern Portfolio Theory has remained strong amongst the investors. Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) is a theory that tells investors how to minimise risks associated with investment and at the same time, maximise return on the investments by proper resource allocation and diversifying their portfolios – it is based on the theory that risk can be lessened by diversifying into uncorrelated asset classes. However, unless the correlations of the various asset classes are predictable, the reduction of risk may be lost. Investors expect to be rewarded for the level of risk they are taking in a particular market. According to the theory, it's possible to construct an "efficient frontier" of optimal portfolios offering the maximum possible expected return for a given level of risk and there are four basic steps involved in portfolio construction: Security Valuation, Asset Allocation, Portfolio Optimization and Performance measurement. This theory of portfolio selection was coined by Harry Markowitz in his paper 'Portfolio Selection' which was published in the Journal of Finance in March, 1952. Even before Markowitz in 1952, investors were familiar with the notion being able to reduce exposure to...
Essay about post modern portfolio theory
...Post-Modern Portfolio Theory PMPT Definition, Investment Strategy, and Differences With MPT By Kent Thune See More About alternative investing build a portfolio mutual fund analysis See More About alternative investing build a portfolio mutual fund analysis Definition: Post-Modern Portfolio Theory (PMPT) is an investing theory and strategic investment style that is a variation of Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT). Similar to MPT, PMPT is an investing method where the investor attempts to take minimal level of market risk, through diversification, to capture maximum-level returns for a given portfolio of investments. PMPT History and Difference With MPT PMPT is the culmination of research from many authors and has expanded over several decades as academics at universities in many countries tested these theories to determine whether or not they had merit. The term post-modern portfolio theory was first used in 1991 to describe portfolio construction software created by engineers Brian M. Rom and Kathleen Ferguson. Rom and Ferguson first publicly described their ideas about PMPT in the 1993 Journal of Investing article, Post-Modern Portfolio Theory Comes of Age. The difference between PMPT and MPT is the way they define risk and build portfolios based upon this risk. MPT sees risk as symmetrical; the portfolio...
Literature Review of Portfolio Managament Essay
...Portfolio management Portfolio management is the professional management of various securities (shares, bonds and other securities) and assets (e.g., real estate) in order to meet specified investment goals for the benefit of the investors. Investors may be institutions (insurance companies, pension funds, corporations, charities, educational establishments etc.) or private investors (both directly via investment contracts and more commonly via collective investment schemes e.g. mutual funds or exchange-traded funds). * Portfolio management: Each of the investment avenues has their own risk and return. Investor plans his investment as per this risk – return profile or his preferences while managing his portfolio efficiently so as to secure the highest return for lowest possible risk. This in short is the portfolio management. Portfolio management is the process of encompassing many activities of investment in assets and securities which includes planning, supervision, timing, rationalization, etc. in selection of securities to meet investors' objectives. Investment management is the another word which can be used for "portfolio management" WHY PORTFOLIO: You will recall that expected return from individual securities carries some degree of risk. Risk was defined as the standard deviation around the expected return. In effect we equated a security's...
Uc-Davis Essay Sample
Chinese New Year Essay
Powered exoskeleton Essay
New Testament Essay
Desdemona Essay
European Union Essay


Sierra wants to show her mom what she learned in ballet, but her huge puppy Samson wants in on the attention too. Anything Sierra does, Samson wants to be involved in his own way. Watch Samson attempt a spin after Sierra starts to dance. These two are a great pair!


Currently we have the most updated Boho Luxe Home coupons among the other discount sites and we also update the deals based on fb, ig, and more.
Go to boholuxehome.com and paste the code while checking out.
Code copied successfully. Paste at boholuxehome.com.
Never miss Boho Luxe Home deals. Get email alerts.
Discount automatically activated by following the link to boholuxehome.com. Not sure?
Boho Luxe Home is an online retailer of good quality art printed pillows and fabrics. You can purchase those quality decor by entering Boho Luxe Home promo code or coupon to receive extra discount savings, free shipping and clearance sale deals.
Sign up email newsletter and receive discount code valued up to 30% off your first purchase!
New customers only, enter the code at checkout, save 20% OFF!
Expired Boho Luxe Home discount codes - They might be expired, but some of them may still works!


text:
Centre may extend Udaan scheme after J&K success
THE ASIAN AGE. | ANIMESH SINGH
Published : Oct 8, 2018, 5:24 am IST
Updated : Oct 8, 2018, 5:24 am IST
Till date, the government has released Rs 350 crore for the scheme out of the total Rs 750 crore earmarked for Udaan.
Out of the 30,000-odd J&K youth, who were trained under its Udaan scheme, more than 18,000 have received job offers from prestigious corporate houses. (Representational image)
New Delhi: Buoyed by the success of Udaan scheme for youth in the trouble-torn state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Narendra Modi government may consider continuing the initiative beyond December 2018, which is its deadline.
Out of the 30,000-odd J&K youth, who were trained under its Udaan scheme, more than 18,000 have received job offers from prestigious corporate houses.
The Centre recently reviewed the performance of the Udaan scheme.
According to highly-placed sources, the Centre is likely to explore the possibility of continuing with the scheme for the benefit of the state after considering the fact that not only the youth from J&K have been getting job opportunities from within the country's corporate sector, many of them are returning to the state to set up their own entrepreneurial ventures.
The Udaan scheme, which had been started by the erstwhile UPA regime in 2013 to train graduates, post graduates, and three-year diploma holders in engineering from J&K for a period of five years, is ending on December 2018.
The scheme is implemented by the skill development ministry (created by the NDA government after it came to power in 2014 by carving it out from the labour ministry) through its body, the National Skill Devel-opment Corporation, and is funded by the Union home ministry.
It was formed on the basis of the Rangarajan Committee's recommendations and is an initiative towards capacity building of J&K's youth, to make them employable.
The basic idea was to target 40,000 Kashmiri youth over a period of five years and exposing them to the best of the corporate sector and also, at the same time, providing access to the corporate sector to the talent pool available in the state, sources said.
Official sources said that because of the scheme, there has been a "healthy improvement in the skill levels and social stature of the candidates," and therefore the possibility of continuing the scheme beyond its deadline of December 2018 is being actively considered.
Tags: udaan scheme, modi government, j&k youth
Location: India, Delhi, New Delhi
No time limit could be attached for anticipatory bail: SC
No Vande Mataram at Beating Retreat, Abide With Me stays
Islam does not bar women from mosques, says Board
Dhankar: Pained to leave CU event under duress

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Playing Stein
EC Maxe Crandall
'Roastbeef,' by Kate Huh.
Tender Buttons is the future. Neither cipher nor code, the grammar of Tender Buttons forces the reader to play Stein. Stein's obsession with perspective, her collection of objects, food, rooms, produces a scene of constraints (the rules of the game): a discrete spatial field where coordinates shift as the text's gravity swerves. A game board. No, a bored game.
Witness Marcel Broodthaers
The docile aphorism
Patrick Durgin
Poet, artist, composer and publisher Dick Higgins' culminating work might be his 1987 study, Pattern Poetry: Guide to an Unknown Literature. The categories he draws up, and the drawing up of them, are as fascinating as the examples in this profusely illustrated book. Categories that replace received notions of prosody in visual terms call for new units of measure. Why replace? Because we equate poetry with verse, using the old would make the term "pattern poetry" redundant, short-circuiting its explanatory power.
Long-time director of Visual AIDS will lead Philadelphia's ICA
Al Filreis
ICA in Philadelphia; at right, from left to right: Amy Sadao, Yoko Ono, Jeffrey Deitch at a Visual AIDS benefit
It's not possible to overstate the importance of Philadelphia's ICA to the world of contemporary art, from around 1965 on. There was the night of October 8, 1965, the opening of Andy Warhol's first solo museum show, held at ICA (then located in the Fisher Fine Arts Library). It was a moment that was "arguably the turning point of Warhol's career." ICA hasn't missed an opportunity to push and innovate and suggest. Tony Smith in 1966. Christo in '68. "Chance and Art" in 1970. Agnes Martin in 1973. "Video Art" in 1975.


text:
Home ❭ News ❭ Throwing a Lifeline to Get Kids Back in School
Throwing a Lifeline to Get Kids Back in School
Dear Friend,
We're now 21 days into the 2021 General Assembly session, and I want to take a moment to update you on what's happening in Richmond.
Early this morning, I presented my HB 2243 Home instruction and private school tax credit legislation to create an individual, nonrefundable income tax credit for the next five years for parents who pull their children out of public schools to begin home-schooling or private schooling. Right on cue, a teachers union representative spoke against throwing parents and
students a lifeline. Read more below about how teachers unions are blocking our efforts to provide students with the education they deserve.
Schools Are Failing our Families
The evidence is growing every day that our children need to be back in school. Not only is it safe for them to do so, it's safer than keeping them out of school. Walmart never closed, most private schools are back in full swing and most parents, kids and teachers want to open. Unfortunately, teachers' unions seem have the power to veto reopening.
The science is consistent and getting clearer by the day: our kids need to be back in school as soon as possible. The CDC and Dr. Fauci (who I hesitate to reference) have gone further than just "it's safe to open." On Thursday they reported that it's actually safer for kids to be in schools than it is to be out in the community.
Kids don't tend to transmit the virus to each other or teachers. The systems we've had open in Virginia have done very well. If cases come into the school from outside, they're identified, contact traced, and quarantined.
Teachers unions are pushing hard in the other direction, however. In Fairfax County, teachers asked to be vaccinated before they go back. The county agreed, and that's happening now. But the president of their union said they don't want to go back until teachers and children are vaccinated. Considering there's no vaccine approved for children, that's a tall order.
The damage being done here is just unimaginable. Our testing results for academic progress are coming in, and our kids are falling behind in reading. There's an epidemic of "F"s out there as kids who don't have the complete support system they need are failing.
Kids are fighting with depression in virtual schools, and it's no wonder why. Can you imagine being stuck on a 6-8 hour zoom call 5 days a week? We know that screen time impacts kids in a negative way. This is compounding the situation. Las Vegas reopened their schools because they had a rash of elementary school suicides.
Teachers are telling us what parents already know-
--kids in virtual schools are suffering.
If schools aren't going to teach our children, they should lose state funding. The science is clear -- schools, with proper procedures in place, are safe for kids and teachers. Many school boards continue to ignore and frustrate parents and students, making choices that harm our children- You've probably seen the viral video of one such parent from Loudoun County. In response, many parents are choosing to move their children to private or home schools to access educational opportunity. The costs of going to a private school or homeschooling can have serious impact on any budget, especially on poor and working families' budgets.
This morning, I presented my HB 2243 Home instruction and private school tax credit legislation to create an individual, nonrefundable income tax credit for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, but before January 1, 2026, for amounts paid by the parent or legal guardian of a child for the child's home instruction expenses or tuition for attending an accredited private school in Virginia. The credit shall equal the lesser of the amount actually paid in the taxable year for such costs, or half of the average state standards of quality funding per student per year. The credit may be taken for instruction-related materials, courses, or programs used in home instruction or for private school tuition. The credit is available only to the parents and legal guardians of children who did not attend private school or were not home schooled in the previous year in Virginia. The credit is available for two years per child and can be carried forward for five taxable years. Best of all, this would bring a huge tax savings to taxpayers as it will be funded instead of funding empty schools.
Unfortunately, this legislation was voted down on a party-line vote, with Democrats refusing to help families in need fund the education of their kids. You can watch the 10-minute discussion and vote here.
Four more of my bills have received hearings so far, but all have been killed in Democrat-controlled Committees.
HB 2242 COVID-19 immunization; prohibition on requirement; discrimination prohibited. Prohibits the state government from requiring any person to undergo vaccination for COVID-19 and prohibits discrimination based on a person's vaccination status with respect to any COVID-19 vaccine (i) with regard to education, employment, insurance, or issuance of a driver's license or other state identification or (ii) in numerous other contexts. The bill also prohibits the inclusion of any patient immunization information in the Virginia Immunization Information System (VIIS) unless the patient has consented, in writing, to inclusion of his information in the VIIS. Democrats refused to discuss the substance of the bill, instead making straw-man arguments and personal attacks against me, and refusing me an opportunity to respond. Watch the video here
HB 2244 Family life education curriculum guidelines; human reproduction; viewing of ultrasound video. Requires the instruction on human reproduction contained in the Board of Education's family life education curriculum guidelines to include the viewing of a video recording of an ultrasound of a live unborn human in the uterus. This bill was defeated on a party-line vote; apparently Democrats want to hide the truth of the miracle of human development from students. Watch the video of the hearing here.
HB 2245 Use of transportation funds. States that it is the policy of the Commonwealth that revenues dedicated to transportation purposes shall not be used or redirected for any non-transportation-related purpose. Any attempt to re-purpose funds dedicated to transportation as of July 1, 2020, shall be deemed invalid and shall not be effectuated. This bill to protect Transportation funds from diversion to other purposes was defeated on a party-line vote (including 3 from Loudoun) , which you can watch here.
HB 2251 Emergency Services and Disaster Law; Commissioner of Health; emergency orders and regulations. Provides protections from the Governor, Board of Health and Commissioner of Health shall not make any emergency order or regulation that unconstitutionally violate fundamental rights. The bill also limits the duration of any emergency rule, regulation, or order to 15 days; provides for one extension of such rule, regulation, or order. This bill was also defeated on a party-line vote; you can watch the debate here.
What's Coming This Week:
This Friday is the deadline for the House to complete action on House legislation, except the budget, so we will be busy. Here is my legislation that hasn't been acted on yet....
HB 2241 Unborn child protection from dismemberment abortion; penalties. Prohibits the practice of dismemberment abortion, which is defined in the bill as meaning to, with the purpose of causing the death of an unborn child, purposely dismember a living unborn child and extract him one piece at a time from the uterus through the use of clamps, grasping forceps, tongs, scissors, or any other instrument that, through the convergence of two rigid levers, slice, crush, or grasp a portion of the unborn child's body to cut or rip such portion of the unborn child's body
HB 2246 State agencies; automatic workforce management verification software. Requires all state agencies with more than 20 full-time teleworking employees to use automatic workforce management verification software to verify the hours employees worked while teleworking by counting and reporting data to the agency.
HJ 573 COVID-19 vaccination; voluntary. Expresses the sense of the General Assembly that any vaccination for the COVID-19 virus shall be voluntary within the Commonwealth of Virginia and that it fully supports the practice of medical informed consent.
Budget Amendments (Provide comment on these here):
68#4h Fully-fund State Funding for Sheriffs Positions
86#3h Counting of Absentee Votes by Precinct
86#8h Elections Policy (Language Only)
374#3h Operations funding for State Park in Loudoun County
C-72.70#1h VSP Technical Title Change (Language Only)
4-0.01#3h Law Enforcement Collective Bargaining Agreement Transparency (Language Only)
4-0.01#4h Prohibition Against Requiring Vaccination Unless Specific Criteria Are Met (Language Only)
4-0.01#5h Executive Orders that Last Over 30 Days (Language Only)
4-0.01#7h Online Training for Concealed Carry Permits while in COVID emergency (Language Only)
As always, thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you in the Virginia House of Delegates. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions!
Sincerely,
If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call or email my office at 540-751-8364 or DelDLaRock@house.virginia.gov. You can also follow me on Twitter @LaRock4Delegate and like my campaign Facebook page to keep up to date. I'm also now on MeWe.


Find our more about natural solutions to aid health and wellbeing with nutritional therapist Paula Sharp and botanical pharmacist Fawz Farhan.
Drawing from life with local artist David Weekes.
Beautify your home with a summer bouquet – Donna will show you how!


Opened since 2005 with a single location in Mentor, Ohio. Excel Nails Salon was established with the vision of providing superior service to our customers in a relaxing, upscale environment.
At Excel Nails, we are a professional NAIL SALON with the highest quality of work and standards. We take great pride in our work, great care in our customers and great craftsmanship in our services. We know that satisfaction is very important to our business. We want to make sure that when you come to our Salon, you will have a pleasant experience. You are in good hands because we care.
Our Mission: To ensure that your experience at our salon is pleasurable and relaxing, we are committed to delivering excellent service, promote good health and well-being, and use the highest quality products.
Health: We use the latest "pipe-less" La Fleur spa jet design (deep clean & soak spa sink with disinfectant after each client), and also new utensils for each client to provide our clients with top protection. Our spa has no internal pipes, and no bacterial contamination due to the circulation of unsanitary water using the traditional pipes designs.


text:
The Hold Steady Release New Track "You Did Good Kid"
The Hold Steady have released another track from their forthcoming album, Thrashing Thru the Passion.
"You Did Good Kid" follows the previously released tracks "Denver Haircut," "Entitlement Crew," "T-Shirt Tux," "The Stove & the Toaster," "Star 18" and "Confusion in the Marketplace."
The remaining handful of songs on the LP can be heard when the record lands on August 16 via Frenchkiss. It will mark the follow-up to 2014's Teeth Dreams.
Stream "You Did Good Kid" below.
As previously reported, the Hold Steady will perform a series of residencies in Seattle, Chicago, Nashville, Boston and Brooklyn later this year. You can get all the details here.
More Hold Steady
Jeff Rosenstock and Laura Stevenson Release Neil Young Covers EP for His Birthday
Neil Young turns 74 today, and Jeff Rosenstock and Laura Stevenson are celebrating the occasion with a covers EP of the Canadian folk-rock l...
The Hold Steady Thrashing Thru the Passion
It's been five years since the last Hold Steady album and 15 years since the first, and things have changed a bit. To spare the details, the...
The Hold Steady Announce New Album 'Thrashing Thru the Passion'
The Hold Steady will release a new album titled Thrashing Thru the Passion on August 16 via Frenchkiss. For a taste, you can hear the new so...
The Hold Steady's Craig Finn The Exclaim! Questionnaire
As the frontman of the Hold Steady, Craig Finn's character-driven tales of massive nights and bad decisions have anchored the band's blockbu...
The Hold Steady Unveil New Song "The Last Time She Talked to Me"
The Hold Steady are gearing up for a string of U.K. shows this weekend, but ahead of the live dates, the band have shared a brand new song c...


text:
Liv Lewis: Why Leaders Must Start By Doing, Fostering Authentic Relationships & Working On Purpose
If you've ever wondered what it's like to work in marketing communications, aka comms, for beauty and other CPG brands, then this conversation with Liv Lewis, Senior Vice President of Client Experience at Egami, an award-winning multicultural agency, will answer many of your questions.
Liv had her heart set on working in fashion when she first arrived in NYC. However, she couldn't envision a future being in a room full of racks of clothing. She quickly pivoted to beauty p.r. via a temp job that quickly turned permanent. There she helped launched Eternity Moments, one of Calvin Klein's blockbuster brands. But she followed the advice from one of her colleagues, who told her that working at an agency would help her learn and grow more quickly. Liv landed a job at a boutique agency and, from there, moved to a mid-sized agency. At the latter, she got a 360-degree view of creating a successful strategy for a brand versus a focus on pitching and placement.
After having her children and taking a brief sabbatical, Liv looked for a role she could sink her teeth into, and she found that at The Egami Group, where she has worked with some brands that also have a purpose-driven mission. One of them is P&G, which has the "My Black is Beautiful" initiative. They also charged Egami and some of their other partners to make them uncomfortable, so the spot "The Talk" was created, followed by "The Look." We discuss how that meaningful work continues in this age of reckoning.
Liv believes that anyone who wants to lead a team in this new "comms" world needs to know how to "do" first. Only then will they fully understand the time and commitment that is needed for the work. And those who want to enter the industry now need to be hungry, quick on their feet, and flexible.
Check out these tips and more in this week's episode!


text:
Troy Schneider
FCW & GCN
Troy K. Schneider is the Editor-in-Chief of both FCW and GCN, two of the oldest and most influential publications in public-sector IT. Both publications (originally known as Federal Computer Week and Government Computer News, respectively) are owned by 1105 Media Inc. Mr. Schneider also serves a General Manager of 1105 Public Sector Media Group.
Prior to joining 1105 Media in 2012, Mr. Schneider was New America Foundation's Director of Media & Technology, and before that was Managing Director for Electronic Publishing at the Atlantic Media Company, where he oversaw the online operations of The Atlantic Monthly, National Journal, The Hotline and The Almanac of American Politics, among other publications. The founding editor of NationalJournal.com, Mr. Schneider also helped launch the political site PoliticsNow.com in the mid-1990s, and worked on the earliest online efforts of the Los Angeles Times and Newsday. He began his career in print journalism, and has written for a wide range of publications, including The New York Times, WashingtonPost.com, Slate, Politico, Governing, and many of the other titles listed above.
Mr. Schneider is a graduate of Indiana University, where his emphases were journalism, business and religious studies.


The pieces of the jigsaw are slowly falling into place and our knowledge of how the Wornington College building passed from the ownership of the KCC Corporation into the hands of the Royal Borough is now becoming much clearer. It was always our understanding that it was the arrival of RBKC's Director of Strategy, Tony Redpath, onto the KCC Board of Governors that was key to the sale of the freehold but a recent discovery of confidential KCC minutes has revealed that the plan was actually hatched sometime before.
Reg Kerr-Bell has had a high profile in the North of the Borough for a number of years and once stood unsuccessfully in local elections as a Conservative candidate in the Golborne Ward. He was a member of the Golborne United SRB board, and was a founder member and chair of the West Row Tenants Association (Hortensia West Residents Association). Golborne United was created in September 1999 and was dissolved in 2006, when the SRB programme ended, at which point it was succeeded by the Golborne Forum.
Between 1999 and 2006 Golborne United received grants totalling £2.7 million under the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) programme, which it distributed as small grants to 80 local projects – including, rather strangely, the TMO and the Westway Amenity Trust (Westway Trust) both of which were awarded generous grants, despite the obvious fact that they were both revenue and asset rich satellites of the Council. The SRB programme had been set up by the former Labour Government, and a crucial part of its function was to channel small grants to local voluntary groups, which it did via the local authority to which Golborne United applied for funds that were entrusted to it for wider distribution.
When Golborne United was dissolved Kerr-Bell stayed on as a member of the Golborne Forum. He was subsequently elected to the Board of the KCTMO in 2009 and became Chair of that despised organisation between 2010 and 2012, at which point he was superceded as chair by the present incumbent Faye Edwards. Kerr-Bell maintained his presence in this 'mini-mafia' by chairing the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. In his apparent lust for power and influence he also joined the KCC Board of Governors in 2006.
Over the years his involvement with these various bodies has afforded him ample opportunity to rub shoulders and curry influence with Councillors and Officers of the RBKC, and readers of this blog need not be reminded of the unholy and incestuously close relationship that exists between the Council and their stooges at the supposedly separate TMO, to the great detriment of TMO tenants and leaseholders.
We now know that following Mark Brickley's recruitment as the new College Principal in October 2013, the KCC Search and Development Committee requested that RBKC be contacted and 'an officer with experience of education' be invited to join the Board of Governors. It is a matter of record that Brickley subsequently wrote to Nicholas Holgate, the Town Clerk at RBKC, seeking his recommendation for this role, and that Tony Redpath, Director of Strategy and Local Services at RBKC, was subsequently nominated and joined the KCC Governing Board in March 2014. Kerr-Bell and Redpath then sat concurrently on the KCC Board before Kerr-Bell resigned his position at the College in March 2015. The role of Tony Redpath was apparently to represent RBKC interests more directly and authoritatively on the KCC Board, to relay insider information back to RBKC, and possibly to approve evolving proposals, whenever necessary, on behalf of RBKC. The sale of Wornington College to RBKC was negotiated and announced to the public, without any public consultation, or even the knowledge of the RBKC Labour Group, in May 2016.
The Grenfell Action Group can only guess at the motivation behind the suggestion by Kerr-Bell that the financial problems bedevilling KCC could be remedied by a fire sale of the Wornington Road complex to the Royal Borough. We are horrified that a single individual, a senior TMO Board member, who bragged openly about his influence with RBKC Councillors from the Planning and Housing Development Committees, could so directly and decisively influence the sale by KCC of this vital local asset to RBKC.
(i) "members of the Board of Governors agree always to act in the best interests of the College and not to speak or vote as if mandated by other persons or bodies".
(ii) "The Coroporation considers that each of it's non-executive members is independent of management and free from any buisness or other relationship that could materially interfere with exercise of their independent judgement".
The recent history of the TMO reveals them as willing and enthusiastic partners in the Council's ideology of remorseless demolition of social housing, and destruction of local communities, in the name of 'regeneration' and the pursuit of profit. We have little doubt that Kerr-Bell shared this ideology and used his influence at RBKC, and his position on the boards of both TMO and KCC, to facilitate the aquisition of the Wornington Road College by RBKC in the full knowledge that it would be demolished and redeveloped for profit.
We have no doubt that, as a senior member and former Chair of the KCTMO Board, Kerr-Bell was too close to RBKC councillors and officers not to have had a glaring conflict of interest in advising KCC regarding the sale of the Wornington complex to the Council. We believe Redpath too had a similar conflict of interest. It seems equally clear to us that the actions of both parties significantly breached the Code of Conduct for KCC Governors, and yet not a single member of the KCC Board appears to have even considered this to be an issue. We have to question what this says about the quality of management and governance at Kensington and Chelsea College during this time of crisis!
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Golborne Forum, Golborne United, KCC, KCC Board of Governors, KCTMO, Kensington and Chelsea College, manageent and governance failings at Kensington mand Chelsea College, management and governance at Kensington and Chelsea College, RBKC, RBKC Council, Reg Kerr-Bell, Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) programme, TMO, Tony Redpath, Wornington College. Bookmark the permalink.


Olympia is a piece of furniture with multiple uses. In fact it can be used as a bookcase, an exhibitor or as a cd holder. Made of extraclear transparent glued glass, Olympia was designed by Sovet studio to complete the furnishing of the living space or any other environment. The transparency of the glass gives a particular effect of visual lightness in the whole and makes the Olympia bookcase perfect both in the modern environment and in the classic environment. Finally, Olympia is characterized by having a lower depth in the upper part, so as to have a slimmer and lighter line and greater visual lightness.


text:
$4.75 Million Gift Establishes Brin Mathematics Research Center at UMD
Center will expand the Department of Mathematics' research in mathematics and statistics. The University of Maryland announces today a $4.75…	Read More
Happy Birthday, Coach!
Celebrating 80 years with Distinguished University Professor Emeritus Jim Yorke, the "Father of Chaos." James "Jim" Yorke has held many…	Read More
Technique, Hard Work and Fearlessness
Brin Postdoctoral Fellow Agnieszka Zelerowicz took a chance by leaving Poland, and it set her on a challenging new path.…	Read More
Eric Slud Counts Himself Lucky
A professor who also works at the U.S. Census Bureau gets to explore both theory and application in his dual career
The national Census—that government survey every American household received in April—only comes around once a decade, but the U.S. Census Bureau never stops collecting data about how Americans live. Every month, the bureau surveys millions of individuals, households and businesses about education, employment, internet access, transportation and other topics that reveal the social and economic needs of communities.
Eric Slud is one of the mathematicians who helps make sense of all that data. Slud is the area chief for mathematical statistics in the Center for Statistical Research and Methodology, a research unit within the U.S. Census Bureau. He is also a professor of mathematics at UMD.
Between the two positions, Slud lives a kind of a dual professional life. He spends half his time teaching and publishing research papers in theoretical mathematics at the university and the other half developing statistical methods that help ensure quality survey results for the government. It's an unusual arrangement, but Slud likes it that way.
"I love to teach and I love graduate student advising," he said. "There is so much I like about being a faculty member and being able to work on the more purely theoretical issues with graduate students. But then at the Census Bureau, although the job is still basically about statistical research, my life is more tethered to practical reality."
The practical aspects of Slud's job include researching and developing methods for statistical design, modeling and analysis of census surveys and data. A certain number of people won't respond to a survey, so mathematicians develop models to account for the missing data. They also have to determine how many people each survey respondent represents in the general population, because most surveys are just small samplings of a larger group. These are the kinds of puzzles Slud likes to solve.
For him, it's about the mathematics, ensuring accurate, reliable survey design and analysis. But the end results have important implications for the daily lives of most Americans. Policymakers and business leaders rely on Census Bureau surveys to guide decisions about things like where to construct schools and hospitals, when to invest in economic development, and how to spend emergency management funds.
Slud got his first taste of working with census data in 1997. By then, he had already been teaching at UMD for 20 years. His research focused on survival analysis and biostatistics, which involved working with data from pharmaceutical trials. Then he got a one-year fellowship from the American Statistical Association to conduct research at the Census Bureau.
"It was like hitting the mother lode of national data because the Census Bureau provided a huge repository of public datasets," Slud said.
It was a big shift from dealing with biostatistics and survivorship research, where privacy concerns and the proprietary nature of clinical trials could often hinder access to data.
Still, some of the mathematical questions that interested him applied to both areas of study. Like how to account for missing data, such as when participants drop out of clinical trials or potential survey respondents don't respond.
"It's sort of amazing that you can solve problems in one domain and these methods are immediately transportable to other domains," he said. "The fact that you can model the real world by formulating things abstractly with mathematics is fascinating."
Although he's already balancing two demanding jobs, Slud still finds time for diversions. He enjoys reading and riding his bicycle along the C&O Canal towpath, and he may soon have an opportunity to return to the game of chess. Once a competitive player, Slud won the 1975 New Mexico state championship in chess.
He hasn't had the time to dedicate to such high-level play in years, but an eager competitor could soon rise to the challenge—his seven-year-old granddaughter.
"So far, she's mostly just interested in the weird moves on a chess board, but she's a wicked checker player," he said.
Slud has been working at UMD for 46 years and at the Census Bureau for nearly half that long, but he isn't ready to give up his double-professional work life just yet.
"I will have to retire from one of those positions sooner or later," he said, "but I don't know which one, because I like them both. I suppose that's a very lucky position to be in."


Based on significant growth of the elderly population, both in total numbers and as a percentage of the overall population, there is a need to provide information to assist older persons to remain in their present homes. In 2000, there were 34.8 million Americans aged 65 and over, and this is projected to reach 70.3 million by 2030 (Administration on Aging, 2001). Surveys reveal that approximately 85% of older persons want to remain in their homes for as long as possible, although one-half of those homes were built prior to 1960 (American Association of Retired Persons, 2000).
Research shows that the most common physical changes in older persons are reduction of general mobility, visual ability, and auditory ability (Kennedy & LaPlante, 1997). These physical changes have an impact on ability to stay in one�s home. The bathroom and kitchen typically produce the greatest challenges. An American Association of Retired Persons (2000) survey revealed that about one-half of older persons have modified their homes to help them age in place. However, it is more common for older persons to adjust their own behaviors based on the deficiencies of their homes as opposed to performing modifications.
The Gerontology Action Group was charged by Colorado State University Cooperative Extension to develop an educational program to identify best elder practices in adapting existing homes. The focus was determined to be home modifications, defined as adaptations to the home that make it more comfortable, safer, and easier to carry out daily activities (National Research Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modifications, 2001).
Possible home modifications were collected from a variety of sources, including guidelines in the Fair Housing Amendments Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the National Research Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modifications. Through an Internet search, over 50 Cooperative Extension publications and programs on housing for older persons were located. With feedback from county Extension faculty, educational modules were developed and materials purchased.
The program consists of a variety of materials contained in a medium-sized suitcase weighing approximately 20 pounds. It has wheels and a handle and is relatively easy to mail, carry, and roll to needed locations (Figure 1). The materials can be mixed and matched, depending on number of program participants, amount of presentation time, and learning objectives.
Demographics: Population size and growth, marital status, and living arrangements.
Physical changes: Types of changes that affect need for home modifications.
Understanding the importance of housing for older persons: Significance of housing, a quiz to examine knowledge about housing, what to consider for aging in place, and housing options.
Home modifications: reasons for performing home modifications; types of modifications typically made; interactive exercises of possible modifications in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room; and descriptions of modifications ranging from no cost to expensive.
Home Sweet Homeis a 22-minute video by the Aid Association for Lutherans directed at older persons and their children. In the tape, age-related changes are discussed and home modifications visually displayed.
Product catalogs are included for program participants to look through so they can develop a better knowledge of types of modifications, places where they can be purchased, and cost.
Assistive devices that can be easily purchased at low cost are in the suitcase. During a program, older persons can see and feel the actual devices. A tactile and visual experience creates a higher comfort level for participants so they will be more likely to purchase and add these devices in their homes.
The 38 devices include a large lettered alarm clock, a digital thermostat, kitchen utensils with large rubber handles, a carpet gripper, a cutting board safety pad, a door knob opener and D-handle, a flexible shower head, a grab bar, a gripper, motion-activated light controls, a radius toothbrush, and a reacher.
Illustration boards consisting of floor plans, materials, and rendered perspectives show program participants how modifications might look in their homes. These include larger scale modifications such as installing a ramp, designing an accessible bathroom, and relocating important daily activities to one floor of the house.
Finally, references and Cooperative Extension fact sheets provide additional resources if participants want to gain more information about home modifications.
Intention to modify their homes within the next 6 months, and If help is needed to buy or install home modification features.
Results from evaluations conducted with participants of the home modifications program were positive. There was an increase in knowledge by participants as a result of the program. The average number of assistive devices shown during the program previously seen was 12, meaning that 26 of the devices were new to them. The assistive devices most commonly selected as most helpful to remain independent in their homes were the gripper, doorknob opener, and grab bars. Participants desired additional information on costlier forms of home modifications such as converting a main-level living room into a master bedroom and bathroom suite.
The program also received positive responses from the Gerontology Action Group members who delivered it, particularly in their ability to mix and match different components based on their needs. To reduce scheduling conflicts, a PowerPoint presentation on a CD-ROM was sent to all county Extension offices.
To receive a free copy of the CD-ROM containing the home modifications program, please e-mail the author.
Administration on Aging. (2001). Profile of older Americans. Washington, DC: AOA.
American Association of Retired Persons. (2000). Fixing to stay: A national survey of housing and home modification issues. Washington, DC: AARP.
Kennedy, J., & LaPlante, M. P. (1997). A profile of adults needing assistance with activities of daily living. Washington, DC: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
National Research Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modifications. (2001). Home modifications resource guide. Washington, DC: NRCSHHM.


I am happy to announce that another of my children's plays has been accepted for publication at Lazy Bee Scripts. The Alphabet Trip is for Kindergarten and/or First Grade, and each child has at least one line in the play. Very Exciting!! Please stay tuned for additional information.
This entry was posted in Plays, Uncategorized and tagged Elementary school plays, Lazy Bee Scripts, Plays for children on October 31, 2013 by Sherrill S. Cannon.
This entry was posted in Christmas, Plays, Uncategorized and tagged Christmas, Elementary school plays, Plays for children, Robert Fletcher, SBPRA on October 24, 2013 by Sherrill S. Cannon.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month – Call on "Manner-Man"!
I received a very nice note from Sharon Fialco, author of the Starabella Book Series which also deals with the issue of young children and bullying… Manner-Man is a Superhero who helps children cope with bullying!!
OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH.
This entry was posted in Behavior, Bullying, Children's Picturebook, Consideration for Others, eBook, Manners, Superhero, Uncategorized on October 23, 2013 by Sherrill S. Cannon.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized on October 23, 2013 by Sherrill S. Cannon.
Thanks, SBPRA, for including this in the Author Success Stories!!!
SBPRA author Sherrill S. Cannon and her daughter Kerry E. Gallagher have written a play that is featured in JoAnn Ross' new release, Christmas on Main Street.
Their play, ABC December, is the holiday play that is performed in the Christmas in Shelter Bay novella that is part of the collection that includes four holiday romances.
Sherrill is the author of several award-winning children's book, including Santa's Birthday Gift, Peter and the Whimper-Whineys, The Magic Word,Gimme-Jimmy, and Manner-Man.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized on October 22, 2013 by Sherrill S. Cannon.
So thrilled to receive an autographed copy of Christmas on Main Street from bestselling author JoAnn Ross! The play, "ABC December", is written by me and my daughter, Kerry Gallagher, and published by Lazy Bee Scripts. JoAnn Ross uses the play as part of a Holiday performance given by the heroine of the novella, Christmas in Shelter Bay. Her main character Kelli is a kindergarten teacher, which is especially fun for us since Kerry is also currently a kindergarten teacher!
This entry was posted in Uncategorized on October 21, 2013 by Sherrill S. Cannon.
A special Halloween treat – Try the Peter and the Whimper-Whineys App!
Learn to read and stop whining at the same time!
Our Apple apps can help bring your children's book alive by adding many features that you can't get with a regular e-book. They are easy to operate and provide a wide range of possible functions.
Read to me: Narration will read aloud for each page.
Read myself: Reader can read the page itself and there will be no narration and simple page turn.
Record you own voice: Parents can record their own voice for each page and the child can hear it later in the absence of their parents.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized on October 14, 2013 by Sherrill S. Cannon.


on line sign in doesn't work. Tried 4 times, it just kept spinning, nothing happened. Don't advertise a service that doesn't exist.
"on line sign in doesn't work. Tried 4 times, it just kept spinning, nothing happened. Don't advert"


To Inquire about tournaments, call 613-652-4367 or email .
If you would like to provide a little information and get a preliminary response, submit the following form.
This form is for groups or individuals interested in receiving more information on tournament services and prices.
Information provided is kept confidential. We use it only to give you a prompt effective response.
Prices are subject to change and must be confirmed with management.
Neither you nor Iroquois Golf Club are obligated to any submitted information without confirmation.
Do not include links or web addresses or your request will fail to submit.
You must provide a name for your group.
Include any special requests or questions.


A dainty and delicate stacker made to hug just about any ring. Featuring natural white topaz stones formed into a winged V-shaped and set in an 18K rose gold vermeil band. Pair with the rose gold La Viva ring for the ultimate rose gold stack!


Adriana has over seven years experience in the international education sector with specialized knowledge in partnership development, international relations, and intercultural negotiation. She earned her BA from The American University in Paris and a McMaster-Syracuse Master of Communications Management. Adriana began her career at the OECD, followed by the Consulate General of Mexico in Vancouver, and more recently worked at Simon Fraser University. She was born in Mexico and grew up in Vancouver which has deepened her interest in the internationalization of education within the Americas. Adriana enjoys running, writing, and learning about the history of art and wine.


All too often a client gets confused with all of the different types of training available, from E-Learning to CBT and Decision-Based simulations to Virtual Worlds (and now Hybrid Simulations)… the possibilities just seem endless. For those unfamiliar with the different styles of training available on the market today the task of choosing the right training method can be daunting. In the end it all comes down to utilizing the right tool to get the job done, in the most cost efficient and timely matter.
Let me highlight a few differentiating factors that an organization should consider when looking into employing a new type of training, you'll notice that Visual Purple offers checkmarks in all of the below boxes.
The obvious choice here is a modern approach to workforce training whereby an organization can cost effectively build an efficient training tool that is proven!
With the ringing in of the New Year it is once again time to recap the Top 10 blog posts from 2010. Happy New Year to everyone!
Study Shows Video Games Really Do Train People!
In the article entitled "Video Games Can be Highly Effective Training Tools, Study Shows: Employees Learn More, Forget Less, Master More Skills" a study from the University of Colorado Denver Business School established that those trained by video games do their jobs better, have higher skills and retain information longer than that of workers learning in a less interactive environment.
All too often organizations make the same age old mistakes when choosing and implementing a training program. Below is a list of 10 common training mistakes that organizations make time and time again.
With the recent announcement of Linden Labs (you know the company behind Second Life) to begin restructuring, one must wonder what the future has in store for our friends. Does this really translate to the end of all the hype surrounding virtual worlds?
So it's not exactly decision-based or a virtual world, what the heck is it?
We are officially announcing a new capability of which we are very proud: 'Hybrid Simulations'…where we lovingly bake in the best elements of Decision-Based Sims with the cost-effectiveness and flexibility of Virtual Worlds.
Military forces around the world rely on computer-based simulators to provide invaluable training for today's warfighters. More and more military branches are turning to the simulation and virtual training market to increase retention and performance of our treasured warfighters, maximizing the benefits of this training technology.
Militainment, huh? Just the name makes it sound so gamey and just plain wrong for training today's techno savvy warfighters. The title itself belies the high standards of military training today. Take for example the official U.S. Army game called America's Army, while it is a wildly popular gaming application and not to mention a great online recruiting tool, it's still just a game.
Since there was great interest in a blog entry last Fall called, 'Emulating Human Voice-overs with TTS Voices' I have elected to present those lessons as a Vlog, and so it makes sense that we give this newer presentation the same title, but suffixed with 'Part Two'.
Proven to be more effective than traditional training methods, Serious Gaming (SG) has many unique advantages. It's not a new concept- it has been around for awhile dating as far back as 1977 when Clark Abt discussed the idea and used the term in his book, although it wasn't directed to computers at that time.
E-Learning: Is It Really Worth It?
In a prior post I touched briefly on how e-learning tends to be, well, oversold. To follow up on this I wanted to review the relative costs associated with e-learning and compare to other technologies. With nearly one-third of training content being delivered electronically (according to ASTD's 2008 State of the Industry Report) it's no wonder it is such an easy go to.
Virtual Worlds & Training…Do They Mix With Social Media?
Social media seems to be all the rage right now. Is it really possible to infuse social media into a virtual world space? Would it be beneficial or detrimental?
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our loyal blog readers and clients a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous new year!
More often than not we here at Visual Purple meet with a client during an initial project kick-off meeting to lay out the project work plan, but by the end of the project so much has changed. It's like you take a look back in time and think "gee if I had it to do all over again I would have done it this way…" Well I guess I should first say that this happens a lot in life, but when building a project from the ground up you must always anticipate that you could have done it a million other ways- just like building a house. You meet with the architect and draw up the plans, hire the contractor, pick fixtures and finishes and by the time the home is completed you still think, "I should have built the kitchen bigger and added an island or I should have added a window here." Our goal here at Visual Purple is to help clients leverage our vast experience when considering possible ways of presenting training materials in an engaging manner. All the while thinking outside the box so the simulation is built in a way that the client doesn't want to go back in time and say "I really wish they would have told me to present the training in this manner." Well this is where our expertise and years of experience are here to help! Granted one of the many benefits of Visual Purple's training products is our proven technologies that allow for rapid updates and changes. So unlike a newly constructed house that is more difficult to make any major changes and/ or updates to, Visual Purple simulations can easily be 'remodeled' later should the need arise.
We're pretty excited! This post has been a long time coming… We are officially announcing a new capability of which we are very proud: 'Hybrid Simulations'…where we lovingly bake in the best elements of Decision-Based Sims with the cost-effectiveness and flexibility of Virtual Worlds. Decision-Based Simulations are great except when it comes to expanding the world or making rapid changes in a cost-effective manner. Virtual worlds make it easy to expand or update but often fall short when it comes to perceptions that trainees won't stay on task. We've learned through experience that many clients are looking for something beyond the perennially popular decision-based simulation, but aren't quite sold on virtual worlds, mostly because of the negative perceptions associated with SL-based worlds. Working with select clients over the past 18 months, we have created a successful new approach and began delivering Hybrid Sims earlier this year – marrying the best of both worlds.
These interactive, decision-based virtual environment simulations perform exceptionally well and are produced quicker (in a few months) and at lower cost. We think we like to call it "3D vWorld-DB simulation software" – though our CEO still calls them Hybrid Sims. So, maybe, just maybe, we'll stick with Hybrid Sims. These 3D animated simulations are custom built and the scenarios play out in a private virtual world. So what other advantages do these custom-built simulations present you may ask? Increased immersion, interactivity, layered decision-making, and feedback to the user (just to name a few). And perhaps the biggest advantage of all, is that this hybrid vWorld-DB simulation, er, I mean Hybrid Sim, is able to run in a browser!
•	Harvest Tools that are designed to maximize value received from idea generating output.
Visual Purple isn't the typical virtual world builder where the 'average' virtual world will offer a free roaming character that the trainee can navigate around, our virtual worlds have walls (visible and invisible) and threaded missions to accomplish rather than just the free roaming nature that so many businesses worry about turning an employee loose in, just to "wander" around aimlessly. So there you have it folks, our latest and greatest way of presenting our clients with cutting edge simulation technologies. Stay tuned for more in-depth reviews of the new Hybrid Simulations.
What are organizations searching for when it comes to training? 1) A new and innovative solution, 2) or a road-tested and proven solution. And if the answer is number two- then by definition do virtual worlds fit the bill?!
One size does not fit all when it comes down to training (and most clothes), no matter what the type. You don't want single use training- meaning to use it once and then discard it. There is no cost savings in this. The learning environment can be the key to success or the ultimate in failure. What's to ensure that your organization's next training initiative is the right fit for your employees? Many others and I say that active participation is key, thus leading to higher retention rates and higher ratio of success. And guess what…. Virtual Worlds do offer the right fit for many organizations at a low cost and short time frame of concept, to development to implementation.
What Do Virtual Environments Bring to the Table?
Did I miss any? Leave a comment below with additions/ suggestions.


Do you remember your grandmother's kitchen? The wonderful aromas, the warmth, the pie coming out of the oven? My memories create images of warmth and safety, and so I created elements of that era for you in a mini kit called Grans Kitchen, to add to your pages in memory of those great times and people. Four papers in both 12x12 and 8.5x11 are included with this Mini Kit, along with twenty two elements that include: Apple slices, apple half, coffee beans and a coffe can, cupcake papers, a jar, lace, lemons, a hand mixer, and a rolling pin, a mask, salt&pepper (with spilt salt), stitches, swirl, tea bag (and one with a shadow, a teapot and a wisk, plus four recipe cards.


Are you having a major case of "back to school" at the moment? Because I am.
I think we've established this, but Autumn is my favourite season. The rain? Love it. Being all cosy at home and putting on a heavy scarf to go meet a friend for a hot chocolate in Covent Garden? I can hardly wait. Also I don't think I ever bake in the summer, so I'm pretty much counting the days until I plunge my hands in the dough and slide that first tray of dark chocolate pecan cookies in the oven. I love that the delicious smell takes over the whole flat and that we hop up and down impatiently until they're perfectly golden so we can dunk them into some fresh milk and stuff them in our mouths. I say "we", but Rob would probably say I'm the only one who is eating cookies messily, like they're going to disappear or something.
Another thing that excites me about the Fall is that, let's face it, it's much easier to be productive when it's a little temperamental outside. There's just less temptation. I think back to when I was a child and on those sweltering days I would be running havoc outdoors, jumping from the pool to the garden and back. But on rainy days? I would be writing, building complex house layouts for my sister's playmobils (yes, apparently that's a thing – I did it with crayons if you're interested) and I just generally threw myself into new hobbies and projects.
Getting back this Sunday, I had a lot of stuff to catch up with, so I'm rather glad it was a full-on rainy day. My inbox after almost two weeks outside the country was a little frightening and I had blog posts to prepare, photography adventures to plan, plays and gigs to book, friends to invite over, and hum, I was interviewed on camera. Filmed, yes! At home, for a flat tour and to talk about the most beloved things I have collected over the years.
So, that was interesting. Intimidating but also quite fun. It made me realise it's much harder than you think to be on camera: your thoughts are all jumbled up because you plan the next things you're going to say while you're speaking and that's confusing. Plus, you become really really self-conscious: how am I looking, is my hair sitting properly, am I all slouched in my seat, am I smiling, is my accent too strong, is my outfit flattering, am I making any sense? You get the gist. I think I did okay and I can't wait to see the edited version. I'll share it with you of course and we can all make fun of me, maybe, if I'm super awkward. Hopefully not.
In preparation for the shoot, we did a big clean of the flat and shuffled some things around, as we tend to do every couple of months. Because I had strangers coming over, I guess I looked at our home with objective eyes and it made me realise all these things I haven't sorted out yet. Like, we don't have a nice laundry bin, or soft assorted towels. The lovely pendant light we got a month ago is still sitting in its box in the hallway because we forgot to buy the bulb for it. More importantly perhaps, I realised I don't have a proper set-up for all this blogging malarkey.
As I'm writing these words for instance, I am half lying down on the couch (like a Roman lady at dinner?) and there are notebooks, my camera, business cards, catalogues and mock-ups fanned out all around me in little messy piles. I can't believe it took me so long to realise it but with the hours I spend on this blog, I need a proper work station.
We have such wonderful light in the bedroom and I really think it's good to keep things to different spaces too. Have you ever noticed how, when you hit a creative block in your work, or you're simply bored, just getting up and going to sit somewhere else can really be helpful to restart your brain? Well I've decided I don't want to get all my work done at the dining table or on the sofa anymore and so I am planning… a bedroom refresh!
Yes. I'm excited! I'm thinking I can get a nice rug, a desk or some kind of cool desk/cabinet, a few prints for the walls, perhaps do a DIY stand for my jewellery and also, I would really love an armchair. I measured it and it just about fits in without crowding the space so, I think it's happening! Now, I realise this post has been super long, I think I had a lot to update you guys with since I didn't post anything last week when we were in France – but hopefully you don't mind. I've had a look around at (where else?) Habitat and I've found endless stylish options so as usual I would love to know what you think.
Here are the styles I think would look really nice in our bedroom, I made little collections by theme (Boho, Graphic, Scandinavian, and Colorblock) – please help me choose?
Are you feeling the "back to school" thing?Do you shuffle things around in your home? Which style above do you prefer? Any piece in particular that you think looks great?
Disclosure: This post is a collaboration between Habitat and Hecticophilia. If you're interested in working with me, please head to my About page.
I'm ALWAYS having a back-to-school moment ie. the constant need to add more stationery to my ever growing collection of 'too pretty to use'!
I really like the teal armchair from the graphic look, the coat stand and candle from the Scandinavian look, and the shelving unit from Colourblock.


Once the window is removed or supported, we need to remove these three 8mm nuts in the lower left hand corner. These are what keep the power window regulator in place.
After removing, pull the regulator up and unplug the electrical connector from the bottom (these can be stubborn and a small screwdriver can make this easier).
Once that clip is out, we can pull the regulator from the door.


Washington Limousine gets many calls from our newer customers with the same few questions. You already know that we love to save you money, but we also like to save you time! That's why we went ahead and printed up a bunch of our most frequently asked questions right here. That way you can save a few moments and get your initial concerns out of the way before you place your first call or send your first email to us. Here are Washington Limousine's most frequent customer questions.
Q. Are we able to watch movies in the limousine?
A. Washington Limousine limos feature HDTVs with DVD players so you're able to enjoy all the movies and videos that you like while on board.
Q. Can we listen to our own music in the limos too?
A. You're welcome to bring your iPod or MP3 player to hook up to our audio system, or you can simply bring some of your favorite CDs and ask all your friends to do the same.
Q. How many guests can your limousines accommodate?
A. Our Escalade limos can hold up to 20 guests and our Lincoln Town Car limos can hold up to 10.
Q. Do you provide drinks or snacks for your customers while traveling?
A. We do not, but we have beautifully crafted built-in bars with coolers that you can stock with plenty of food and beverages.
Q. Are we permitted to drink alcohol in the limo?
A. As long as everyone in your party is at least 21 years of age, you are more than welcome to stock the bar with all your favorite alcoholic beverages and have your own little nightclub on wheels! If anyone in your party is under 21, you will not be able to have any alcohol on board.
Q. Can we smoke in the limo?
A. To keep our limos fresh, we don't allow smoking, but the chauffeur will be happy to pull over for you to step out and have a smoke whenever you like.
Q. Are we responsible for cleaning the limo and for any damages?
A. We simply expect that you return the limousine in the clean condition that it was presented to you in. If any purposeful damages occur by you or your party, you will be responsible for the repair costs.
Further questions? You can reach Washington Limousine by telephone or email right here.


Marine Applied Research & Exploration (MARE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses science-based marine conservation efforts to help protect and restore the ocean's invaluable, yet threatened resources. Using cost-effective and innovative deepwater robotic technology and data analysis expertise, MARE assesses changes in marine life and habitat over time to inform ocean management and support wild sustainable fisheries for future generations.
To help them create awareness for their crowd sourced coral dive, I designed a piece for their social channels. Part of the charm has been creating underwater characters that they can own form a brand mascot standpoint.


text:
package com.oath.cyclops.jackson;

import cyclops.data.LazySeq;
import cyclops.data.Seq;
import cyclops.data.Vector;
import cyclops.reactive.ReactiveSeq;
import cyclops.reactive.collections.mutable.ListX;
import org.junit.Test;

import static org.hamcrest.MatcherAssert.assertThat;
import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.equalTo;

public class IterableXTest {
  @Test
  public void seq(){
    System.out.println(JacksonUtil.serializeToJson(Seq.of(1,2,3)));
    Seq<Integer> s = JacksonUtil.convertFromJson(JacksonUtil.serializeToJson(Seq.of(1,2,3)),Seq.class);
    assertThat(s,equalTo(Seq.of(1,2,3)));
  }
  @Test
  public void lazySeq(){
    System.out.println(JacksonUtil.serializeToJson(LazySeq.of(1,2,3)));
    LazySeq<Integer> s = JacksonUtil.convertFromJson(JacksonUtil.serializeToJson(LazySeq.of(1,2,3)),LazySeq.class);
    assertThat(s,equalTo(LazySeq.of(1,2,3)));
  }
  @Test
  public void vector(){
    System.out.println(JacksonUtil.serializeToJson(Vector.of(1,2,3)));
    Vector<Integer> s = JacksonUtil.convertFromJson(JacksonUtil.serializeToJson(Vector.of(1,2,3)),Vector.class);
    assertThat(s,equalTo(Vector.of(1,2,3)));
  }
  @Test
  public void listX(){
    System.out.println(JacksonUtil.serializeToJson(ListX.of(1,2,3)));
    ListX<Integer> s = JacksonUtil.convertFromJson(JacksonUtil.serializeToJson(ListX.of(1,2,3)),ListX.class);
    assertThat(s,equalTo(ListX.of(1,2,3)));
  }
  @Test
  public void reactiveSeq(){
    System.out.println(JacksonUtil.serializeToJson(ReactiveSeq.of(1,2,3)));
    ReactiveSeq<Integer> s = JacksonUtil.convertFromJson(JacksonUtil.serializeToJson(ReactiveSeq.of(1,2,3)),ReactiveSeq.class);
    assertThat(s.toList(),equalTo(ReactiveSeq.of(1,2,3).toList()));
  }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Yesterday, December 15, to honor the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney's passing, "Memory Boards" were set up on the Walt Disney Studios lot and at Disney parks around the world for fans to pay tribute to the man and his enduring legacy.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is flying into theaters just a few days from now, and we're sure we'll be in a Force frenzy once we see the film Thursday night! If you're looking to get your Star Wars fix at Disney Parks and Resorts, look no further––Here are just a few ways to experience the galaxy far, far away.
While the holiday season may be all about giving, we think it's important to treat yourself, too! We've rounded up some of the most tempting eats from Walt Disney World and Disneyland, should you care to indulge in something sweet. Happy Snacking!
When Steamboat Willie made its debut on November 18, 1928, a star was born. Mickey Mouse is one of the most beloved characters of all time, which is why we're so excited to celebrate his birthday! Read on to see how you can join in the fun.
Do you feel that? There's a disturbance in the Force… and it's a good one! The next chapter of the continuing Star Wars saga, Star Wars: Episode VIII, just began principal photography at Pinewood Studios in London on this past Monday, February 15!


text:
Q: django wont store authUser referenced as foreign key in my model I created my model that have authUser referenced as foreign key, then using django Form API i am trying to store data into my DB but my user field remains null.
I have used build-in FORM API to receive an uploaded file and before storing my file, i also store filename. I tried to do the same for userField but django throw ValueError.
Models.py
class sample(models.Model):
    user = models.ForeignKey(User, on_delete=models.SET_NULL, null=True ,default=1)
    submit_time = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True)
    file_name = models.CharField(max_length=1024)
    score = models.FloatField(default=0.0)
    is_pending = models.BooleanField(default=True)
    is_complete = models.BooleanField(default=False)
    json_URL = models.FilePathField()
    sample = models.FileField(upload_to='samples/')

Views.py
@login_required
def upload(request):
    if request.method == 'POST':
        file = request.FILES['sample']
        form = SampleForm(request.POST, request.FILES)
        if form.is_valid():
            new_sample = form.save(commit=False)
            new_sample.file_name = file.name
            new_sample.user = User.id #throws ValueError Cannot assign  "sample.user" must be a "User" instance.
            form.save()
            return redirect('reports')
        else:
            print("form is invalid")
    else:
        form = SampleForm()
    if request.method == 'GET':
        return render(request, 'upload2.html', {'form': form})

forms.py
class SampleForm(forms.ModelForm):
    class Meta:
        model =sample
        fields=('sample',)

my goal is to save the user id in my db so i know who uploaded the file.

A: You should use request.user to the new_sample.user object, or request.user.id (or request.user.pk) to the request.user_id attribute, like:
# …

new_sample = form.save(commit=False)
new_sample.file_name = file.name
new_sample.user = request.user
form.save()
return redirect('reports')

# …
By using User.id, you get a reference to the field of the User model, not an object.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna: Tuition, Admissions, Rankings
Austria » Vienna » Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna
The Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna (MUK) is a private university in Vienna, Austria. It was established in 1938 as the Musikschule der Stadt Wien. MUK, as a music and performing arts university, develops and explores both traditional and contemporary art forms, as well as innovative concepts of arts education.
Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna Overview
Location: Vienna, Austria
Total Enrollment: 850 students
Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna Website
Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna Admissions
In this section, we will go over the admissions at Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna. To apply to Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna, it is essential that you follow the application procedure found in these pages:
If you wish to study at Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna in German, you should meet at least one of the following requirements:
Minimum ÖSD Score for Bachelors: B1
Minimum ÖSD Score for Masters: B1
Language Requirements Pages
If you are interested, take a look at these language requirements pages for more information on language requirements at Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna:
Bachelor's German Language Requirements Page
Master's German Language Requirements Page
Bachelor's Tuition Fees
The bachelor's tuition fee at Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna is from 660 Euros to 2,200 Euros per year for domestic students and from 660 Euros to 2,200 Euros per year for international students.
Master's Tuition Fees
The master's tuition fee at Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna is from 660 Euros to 2,200 Euros per year for domestic students and from 660 Euros to 2,200 Euros per year for international students.
Tuition Fee Pages
Here are the official tuition fee pages where we got the information from. Check out these pages for more information on tuition fee of Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna:
Domestic and International Bachelor's Tuition Fee Page
Domestic and International Master's Tuition Fee Page
Here are the world rankings of Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna from reputable ranking sources:
Here are some of the bachelor's courses at Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna that are being offered:
You can take a look at complete list of bachelor's courses at Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna in the Bachelor's Courses Page
Here are some of the Master's courses at Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna that are being offered:
You can take a look at complete list of master's courses at Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna in the Master's Courses Page


text:
<?php

use yii\db\Migration;

class m160510_125852_create_depositos extends Migration
{
    public function up()
    {
        $this->createTable('depositos', [
            'depositoID'    => $this->primaryKey(),
            'banco'         => $this->string()->notNull(),
            'numero'        => $this->integer()->notNull(),
            'fecha'         => $this->datetime(),
            'estado'        => $this->integer()->defaultValue(0),
            'monto'         => $this->float()->defaultValue(0)
        ]);
    }

    public function down()
    {
        $this->dropTable('depositos');
    }
}


We were in charge of campaign for WACOAL's top prestige brand Trefle's 2018AW series. Under the seasonal theme "TIMELESS BEAUTY" inspired by traditional architectures and goods of medieval Europe, the visual produce and catalogue design was conducted. The profound but clean visual expresses Trefle's grand worldview "Tradition X Elegance" and "Timeless Beauty".


text:
How to raise your chances of getting a Fulbright scholarship
Sheikh Rafi Ahmed
27 October, 2022, 10:45 am
29 eminent citizens demand withdrawal of primary scholarship exam decision
INMA, Google News Initiative select 50 media professionals for 'Elevate Scholarships'
Should there be an age cap on higher education?
10 DU students get Japan scholarships
Standard Chartered disburses Governor Scholarship to 80 promising students at University of Dhaka
Originally introduced after the WWII as a diplomatic instrument, the Fulbright Foreign Student Programme offers fully funded scholarship to young professionals aspiring to study in the United States
Infograph: TBS
The Fulbright Foreign Student Programme is one of the many scholarships Bangladeshi students aspire to get in their pursuit to study in the United States.
However, most candidates often get confused because they either do not have enough information about the programme or have too much of it.
On this note, this article attempts to dispel any misinformation regarding the Fulbright Programme. The Business Standard also consulted with two recent Fulbright awardees to seek guidance on behalf of the potential candidates.
What is the Fulbright Programme
The Fulbright Programme is one of the many fully-funded scholarships provided by the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
[Other scholarships include the Global Undergraduate scholarship, the Study of United States Institute (SUSI) scholarship etc.]
The programme was originally introduced after the second world war by former US senator J William Fulbright as a diplomatic instrument to bolster ties between the US and other countries. Initially, the goal was to introduce Western ideals to some of the best and brightest minds coming to the US from different parts of the world, and also allowing US students to learn more about their culture and history.
The programme currently operates in more than 55 countries. Apart from the Fulbright Foreign Student Programme, the US State Department also offers scholarships under the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Programme, Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Programme, Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Programme, etc.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Programme is offered to young professionals and academics belonging to a wide range of fields ranging from education, health and medical sciences, biological and physical sciences, social sciences and humanities, business, economics, urban planning, environmental studies, public administration and so on.
If selected, Bangladeshi students can pursue a Master's degree (PhD programme has been discontinued) in the US. The Fulbright Programme then negotiates with universities – ideally, those preferred by the students – to get them fully funded scholarships.
What does it take to get a Fulbright scholarship?
As far as the US Embassy is concerned, a candidate should ideally be a professional with considerable experience in academia – whether as a lecturer at a university or an entry-level researcher at a research organisation, think tank or NGO.
"The Fulbright programme is seldom awarded to a fresher even with an extraordinary academic portfolio. The programme usually looks for professionals with at least two years of experience in academia," said Tazrian Shahid.
Tazrian Shainam Shahid is a former awardee from Fulbright's cohort 2020-21. She currently works at the University of Liberal Arts as a lecturer. Tazrian had around ten years of experience working and teaching before she applied for the programme.
Yasin Shafi is from the same cohort as Tazrian. He completed his Master's in Public Policy from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) under the Fulbright Programme.
Yasin agreed with Tazrian's assessment that accumulating sufficient work experience was key to getting into the Fulbright Programme. But other aspects can work to your advantage as well.
For instance, Yasin also had a stellar CGPA as an undergraduate student in Development Studies at the University of Dhaka. When asked about the importance of CGPA, Yasin said, "CGPA is as important as it is for any grad school admission – I think. I don't want to recommend a ballpark figure. The range of CGPA will vary depending on the school, discipline, and programme. Grad school applications are usually assessed holistically."
"A good CGPA will be a strong signal, but work experience, strong essays and letters of recommendation are also very important. They all need to tell a coherent story in favour of the applicant," he added.
Tazrian also believed that prioritising only one aspect is unlikely to land you a Fulbright scholarship.
"There were people who had better GMAT scores or had better profiles per se than I did. But I realised during the interview process that they were looking for the entire package: someone with reasonable academic excellence, sufficient work experience and the ability to reflect the visions of the programme," she said.
Although not always essential, GRE or GMAT scores or other language proficiency tests like IELTS, TOEFL, etc, can supplement your profile.
"There is an anti-standardised test movement in the States. But many schools still ask for GRE/GMAT scores or some other language proficiency test scores. So, it might be wise to take these tests anyway. It also signals your intent to go abroad for higher studies and might help you get selected for the programme," said Yasin.
Interestingly, if you get shortlisted for the Fulbright Programme, you can attend these tests again at their expense to boost your chances of getting into higher-ranked universities.
Apart from CGPA, letters of recommendation and work experience, Tazrian also urged potential candidates to focus on two things: a strong, honest and personalised statement of purpose and a confident interview.
"Make sure that your statement of purpose is not generic and it reflects your passion for what you want to study, why you want to do it and how getting the scholarship would help achieve your goals," said Tazrian.
Once the initial application process is completed, the Fulbright selection committee calls the shortlisted applicants for an interview. Tazrian believed it was important to project confidence in these interviews.
"Like everyone else, I had no idea whether I would get selected for the programmes. But when I went for the interview, I projected that I was confident about getting the scholarship and told the interviewers what I would do once I got it," said Tazrian.
Both awardees recommended candidates to be patient as the entire selection process for the Fulbright Scholarship can be quite taxing as well as time-consuming.
"I applied for the scholarship in early 2019. I had to wait for roughly a year to find out that I had been selected," said Yasin.
"While the wait can often be nerve-wracking, do not try to directly get in touch with the universities on your own. If you have questions, politely ask (email) the admission committee in charge of the scholarship," he added.
How difficult is it to get the scholarship?
Quite difficult, to be honest.
"While other programmes can offer fully-funded scholarships to more than twenty students (Chevening), Fulbright in our cohort awarded the scholarship to only six students. So it goes without saying that Fulbright is more competitive than other programmes," said Yasin.
Given Fulbright Programme's original purpose as a diplomatic instrument, the difficulty arises from Bangladesh's relative geopolitical importance to the US compared to its regional neighbours like India and Pakistan.
Moreover, Bangladesh does not have a Fulbright Commission like India or Pakistan. In many countries, the governments also contribute to the programme which can boost the number of awardees from their country. The GoB does not contribute to the Fulbright Programme.
It is also worth mentioning that because of the same geopolitical factors, Bangladeshi students might have to experience some discrimination in terms of the benefits received compared to Fulbrighters from other more 'important' countries.
Is it worth going through all the trouble?
It depends on your priorities.
If you are only looking for a Master's degree and do not want to settle down in the States, a Fulbright scholarship might just get you on your way. But if you are looking to settle abroad or looking for a PhD programme, there may be better alternatives.
"In terms of benefits, the Fulbright Network as a platform, can get you in touch with Fulbrighters from different parts of the world, as well as Fulbrighters from the previous cohorts. Most of them have already or will likely hold important positions in the future. For example, many of the Fulbrighters have gone on to win the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer prize, etc," said Yasin.
More importantly, the Fulbright programme, at the end of the day, is a fully-funded scholarship programme and students, belonging to middle-class or upper-middle-class families, can greatly benefit from it.
"I am grateful to Fulbright for allowing me to study at the University of Michigan. Without Fulbright, I would probably not be able to go there," added Yasin.
But the Fulbright programme also requires applicants to return home for at least two years after completing their Master's degree, barring any special waivers for work of PhD. That means, if your goal is to settle down and acquire permanent residency status in the States, Fulbright might not be for you.
In the case of a PhD programme, most US grad schools would make you go through the coursework again, barring some waiver that you did during your Master's degree. Essentially, you may have to do two master's before even qualifying for the PhD programme.
This is why Yasin recommended PhD aspirants push for the F1 visa and get directly admitted into a grad school, assuming they feel confident enough to do so.
Fulbright Foreign Student Programme / scholarship / Higher education
How a mofussil girl became the champion of the Three-Minute Thesis competition
Is information architecture a career for the digital age?
The brave new world of recreation in the workplace
Always racing to meetings? It is slowing you down
How to get a high score in GRE Verbal
Don't turn your hobby into a side hustle: Erin Lowry


text:
Q: My website project's images get uploaded with capitalized filename. Why is this happening? so strange problem.
I finished my website and pushed the project to github.com.
The picture section of my page won't work because the pictures are added into the html with .jpg but github has it as .JPG (capitalized).
So if you go to my site: https://dhuber666.github.io/Frodo/fotos.html you won't see the pictures. However if you click on one of the missing file icon you will get the link to the full picture (but it say that the page does not exist because filename is written in lowercase letter (as it should be) but github has the images capitalized (.JPG)
If you edit the link like so: /Frodo/images/pic4.JPG (sry have to shorten that I can't post more then one link)
it infect works.
So what is this problem? On my local machine it's fine.
I uploaded it on windows with the github shell like normal.
So I go to my local images folder and I see the filename like so: pic4.JPG --> If I right click it properties it says pic4.jpg
So I renamed it to pic4.jpg and after hitting enter I got .JPG again.
I deleted the whole file ending enter. Rename it again and write .jpg and enter --> Now it's actually pic4.jpg.
But how can I push it to github, because it does not recognize it as changed file?
Also how can I solve this for feature pictures and uploads?
Bonus: Cute dog pics on my page :P
Thank you!

A: I do not know why this is happening, but I know how you can fix it.
Solution 1: Go into the html and make the file extension capitalized.
Solution 2: Change it via the command line.
Github only allows for image change through commmand line. Follow the link above to their guide on changing via command line.