text:
AsiaWorld-Expo ends first year of operation on a high note - 30,000 square metre expansion in the pipeline for state-of-the-art venue
AsiaWorld-Expo celebrated its first anniversary with key business partners and customers tonight (17 January), with the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr. Joseph W P Wong, as the Guest-of-Honour.
The company said it had already achieved strong business results with the future looking very promising for Hong Kong's largest and most modern exhibition and events venue. As a result, plans are under development to add another 30,000 square metres of rentable space for the unique venue.
Phase II development will involve adding ground-level, column-free exhibition halls along with additional meeting, conference and all required supporting facilities. Described as a natural and seamless extension of Phase I, the expansion, which was planned from day 1, could go-ahead quickly and cost-effectively with minimal impact on the operations of the existing venue.
With its strategic location offering easy domestic, cross-border and worldwide connections, AsiaWorld-Expo secured and hosted a number of spectacular international trade shows, conferences, and entertainment events in 2006, five of which occupied the entire 70,000 square metres of available space. Over 90% of these events were staged in Hong Kong for the first time and are signed up as annual fixtures for the coming years.
"It has always been AsiaWorld-Expo's objective to provide Hong Kong with a world class venue that is on par with the best in the region and the world. I am pleased to announce we have achieved this in our first year of operations," said Nicolas Borit, Chief Executive Officer of AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited.
"AsiaWorld-Expo has had a strong start and we have to thank our customers for their vote of confidence in staging their events at this new venue. We are happy to see their belief in us has paid off with flying colours," he said.
Highlights for 2006 included the popular China Sourcing Fairs for gifts, electronics and accessories during the peak periods of April and October, which helped to solidify Hong Kong's position as a leading destination for these types of events. Others included leading jewellery fairs; specific sector trade fairs covering various industries such as furniture, auto parts, printing and packaging, security, power generation, arts and antiques.
The venue has 10 column-free, ground level exhibition halls allowing quick and easy access for exhibitors, event organisers and contractors. The venue's purpose-built entertainment arena, which can also double up as a conference facility, can accommodate up to 13,500 people making it Hong Kong's largest indoor seated venue. Apart from public shows and large-scale corporate conferences, concerts and entertainment galas were staged. Oasis, Coldplay, Jamie Cullum, The Black Eyed Peas and a number of leading local artists, just to name a few, all played live concerts to sell out audiences last year while Eric Clapton, John Legend, lL DIVO and Rain are the big attractions at AsiaWorld-Expo this month.
The successful hosting of the mega ITU TELECOM WORLD 2006 further confirmed the venue's ability to deliver world class events and meet even the most sophisticated production and logistical demands.
"Apart from the direct and indirect financial benefits this event has brought to AsiaWorld-Expo and the economy of Hong Kong, it has also received international acclaim from both the business sector and governments," the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr. Joseph Wong said.
"It has significantly enhanced Hong Kong's status as an international centre for exhibitions and conventions," he added.
He said at the central level, relevant Government departments would step up their efforts to promote Hong Kong's advantages to host international exhibitions and conferences.
"We will also work closely with AsiaWorld-Expo, the Trade Development Council and the industry as a whole to attract more international events to Hong Kong. Where necessary, the Government will continue to assume a coordinating role in the areas of security, protocol, transportation, etc. to facilitate the organisation and running of international exhibitions and conventions."
"At the level of exhibition facilities, the Government is mindful of increasing competition from other cities in the region."
"We will ensure that we have sufficient and first class facilities where and when we need them."
"So we are liaising closely with AsiaWorld-Expo to take forward the early commencement of its Phase II project, increasing the total exhibition space to 100,000 square metres, subject of course to a viable business case being made," said Mr. Wong.
In addition to the ITU event, AsiaWorld-Expo has also secured another world leading event to be held at the venue. Asian Aerospace, the world's third largest aviation event, will be relocated from Singapore to AsiaWorld-Expo from this September onwards. It is a signature international trade show and features top industry players like Boeing and Airbus Industrie, and is projected to again bring significant economic benefits to various industries in the city.
AsiaWorld-Expo is a customer-focused organisation that strives to provide the best service to customers. Working closely with different service partners, it delivers excellent services to customers. AsiaWorld-Expo is also a pioneer in setting industry standards with well-defined rules that ensure all those who work and visit the venue are provided with a pleasant, safe and healthy environment.
The future is already looking very promising with the majority of the 2006 shows making bookings for this year and beyond, and the sign-up of an increasing number of new events.
The offering of AsiaWorld-Expo will be further enhanced with the different surrounding developments including SkyPlaza (retail, F&B and entertainment), SkyCity Nine Eagles Golf Course, SkyPier (building of a permanent cross-boundary ferry terminal to the Pearl River Delta), and the new 700-room Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel.
"We look forward to working with the government and the industry to take the exhibition and events industry to new heights," concluded Mr. Borit.


text:
Physician (Medical Evaluation Board)
Defense Health Agency (DHA)
Ft. Wainwright, AK
Other Specialty
A Recruitment or Relocation incentive may be authorized.
This position may require the incumbent to work on call during irregular work hours which may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and/or varying work schedules.
Position is designated as Inclement Weather Essential. The incumbent must make every attempt to report for work on time and/or remain on duty during severe weather conditions.
This position requires the incumbent to wear a uniform and/or protective clothing/equipment.
This position is located at Fort Richardson, AK.
Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service.
Physician (Medical Evaluation Board) in the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) Outpatient Clinic under the administrative supervision of the Chief, Patient Administration Division with clinical supervision provided by the Deputy Commander for Clinical Services (DCCS) or his/her Delegated Authority. There is no direct technical supervision, and the individual exercises independent judgment in selection and performance of the full range of patient and consultant services in support of the MEB. Exercises supervisory responsibility for the process involving fitness for duty, Medical Evaluation Boards and Temporary Retirement List Evaluations for military personnel of all ranks. Incumbent works independently in accordance with methods and practices of the medical profession and established administrative policies as an expert in his/her medical specialty field. Medical services and program objectives and consultations provided are not reviewed and the individual has considerable latitude for professional technical decisions, overall effectiveness, and accomplishment of objectives. The quality of professional and administrative work is evaluated using the quality assurance principles; policies and regulations as mandated by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of health Care Organizations and as structured by appropriate Army and local regulations and policies.
1. As the Physician (MEB) in the MEB Outpatient Clinic, provides leadership and technical direction to a subordinate staff assigned to the MEB Outpatient Clinic. Must be board certified in his/her medical specialty, have demonstrated experience and proficiency in fitness for duty evaluations including Medical Evaluation Boards and Temporary Disability Retirement List evaluations. Requires extensive knowledge of command issues affecting soldier readiness.
a. Utilizes a thorough knowledge of (1) the process involved in fitness for duty, Medical Evaluation Board and Temporary Retirement List Evaluations, (2) extreme familiarity with Army Skill (Officers) and Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) (Enlisted), and (3) extensive experience in command consultation, to review, evaluate and analyze cases of individuals being processed for fitness for duty evaluations due to illnesses or injuries.
b. Coordinates and performs fitness for duty evaluations, Medical Evaluation Boards, Medical Evaluation Board consultation and Temporary Disability Retired List (TDRL) evaluations. Responsible for comprehensive review of medical records, orders and interprets diagnostic tests and x-rays, ancillary tests, and utilizing sound clinical judgment arranges for other medical specialty consultation.
c. Dictates comprehensive narrative summaries utilizing consultant contributions and opinions as indicated. Reviews all comprehensive narrative summaries (NARSUMS) and medical board consultations and ensures they are accurate, concise and appropriate for review by the Physical Evaluation Board (PEB).
2. Assesses community and patient population needs, mission requirements, and Service resources to plan, implement, and provide a wide array of outpatient and inpatient services to include consultative support to other hospital clinics, MEDDAC activities, and community agencies. Demonstrates and employs a thorough understanding of medical principles of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
a. Coordinates with other physicians (family practitioners, general psychiatrists, etc.) in evaluating and correlating conflicting medical evidence for the exceptionally difficult and otherwise untreatable cases. Is consulted on by other MEB Physicians on very difficult or complex cases.
b. Keeps abreast of the latest developments reported in medical literature and is able to apply an authoritative, critical judgment to developments reported.
c. Provides routine, complex and emergency intakes and extended evaluations for a variety illness and disorders. Performs medical evaluation pertinent to the assessment and diagnosis of a variety of disorders, and requests appropriate laboratory, EKG, imaging, and psychological evaluations as required.
d. Provides appropriate referrals to other medical and mental health care providers in and outside of the Medical Treatment Facility.
Must be a US Citizen.
Must be Board Eligible or Certifed in a medical specialty.
Must possess a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy from a school in the United States or Canada approved by a recognized accrediting body in the year of the applicant's graduation or a Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree from a foreign medical school that provided education and medical knowledge substantially equivalent to accredited schools in the United States that is demonstrated by permanent certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) (or a fifth pathway certificate for Americans who completed premedical education in the United States and graduate education in a foreign country).
Graduate Training: Subsequent to obtaining a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy degree, must have had at least 1 year of supervised experience providing direct service in a clinical setting, i.e., a 1-year internship or the first year of a residency program in an institution accredited for such training. Graduate training programs include only those internship, residency, and fellowship programs that are approved by accrediting bodies recognized within the United States or Canada. Listings of accredited programs are published yearly in the Directory of Residency Training Programs and the Yearbook and Directory of Osteopathic Physicians. The internship program must have involved broadly based clinical practice in which physicians acquire experience in treating a variety of medical problems under supervision (e.g., internal medicine, surgery, general practice, obstetrics-gynecology, and pediatrics). Such programs are in hospitals or other institutions accredited for internship training by a recognized body of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Licensure: Must have a permanent, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a State, District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.
AMERICA'S PREMIER MEDICAL TEAM, SAVING LIVES AND FOSTERING HEALTHY AND RESILIENT PEOPLE
Promote, sustain, and enhance the health of our armed forces, veterans, and their families.
Train, develop, and equip a medical force that supports full spectrum operations.
Deliver leading-edge healthcare to our warriors and military families to optimize outcomes.
DO WHAT YOU REALLY WANT -
CARE FOR PATIENTS AND HAVE A LIFE OUTSIDE THE PRACTICE.
There are a lot of reasons you became a physician, but none of them included inflexible work schedules, burdensome administrative tasks, and dealing with insurance companies. By offering you exceptional employment benefits as well as the opportunity to practice at locations across the U.S. and around the world, DHA delivers you the work-life balance you have always been missing.
WORK AND LIFE OPPORTUNITIES.
Practice your specialty and experience the unique career opportunities and benefits that can be found at the DHA.
ABOUT DHA
The civilian physicians of the Defense Health Agency meet the healthcare needs of active duty and retired military personnel, and their families, at treatment facilities across the U.S. and around the world.
REWARDING CAREERS
250+ Locations Worldwide
5 Million+ Under Our Care
Excellent Staffing Ratios
State-of-the-Art Facilities
Patient-Focused Care
EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS
Generous Paid Time Off
Recruitment Bonuses
With job openings at more than 250 military medical facilities all across the U.S. and around the world, DHA offers you the chance to practice where you want.
THE DHA IS CURRENTLY HIRING:
Allergists & Immunologists
Preventive Medicine Physicians
YOUR CAREER SEARCH STARTS HERE.
CIVILIANMEDICALJOBS.COM
"As a civilian serving in the DHA, I get what I was missing most in my old practice. I was tired of the punishing work schedule and dealing with insurance and all the stress it brings. Now, I still practice alongside great physicians in a state-of-the-art facility, but in an environment that allows me to have a life outside the practice.
Best of all, even though I'm a civilian, I receive excellent federal benefits."
Dr. Frank R
Evans Army Community Hospital
Fort Carson, CO.
https://civilianmedicaljobs.com/jama
Supervisory Physician ( Preventive Medicine)
Badger, Alaska

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


In addition to manually entering meter reads, iOffice allows the upload of electronic files that contain meter reads for a specific date. It is important to have the same building and assets as listed on the Meter Read screen. Any discrepancies will cause reporting complications.
Note: The user interface to upload meter reads is a preference that must be enabled during initial configuration.
For the file to upload properly, it must be formatted in a specific way. Follow these guidelines.
You must create the file in Excel (or similar software). Web jet files can be used; just cut and paste the information into a different file.
You must save the file in .csv or .txt format. If it is a .txt file, it must be comma delimited.
Each asset must have unique serial number or ID. IP addresses cannot be used because they may not be unique.
The file must have columns for each of the following categories. If the category doesn't apply (i.e., the asset only prints B&W, not color) use a zero ("0") as a placeholder for that field.
The asset must have the same meter read fields (i.e. Copy Color) set up during the initial site configuration.
You must have a value in each cell, even if zero (0).
After creating the file, you can upload it to the TRAC Solution website.
Click upload meter reads under the Actions column of the Meter Reads screen.
Locate and upload the file.
Click Choose File to open a file search box.
Click the Choose button to select the file.
After attaching the file, click Upload.
Note: The upload speed depends on the file size and your connection speed.
Map the data columns for serial number and meters.
The data is then listed and validated to ensure the uploaded data has the correct serial number, meter date, and meter reads.
Any bad data is marked with a warning icon.
When you hover over the icon, you can read details about the error.
Cancel the upload process and fix the data or you can proceed with the remaining good data.
After the upload, a count of the meter reads added displays.


Ralph R. Garramone, MD, FACS – Plastic Surgery, Dermatology, Weight Loss, & Age Management. Dr. Garramone, a board-certified, plastic surgeon in Fort Myers, Fl CoolSculpting Procedure Before and After with Dr. Lista – Продолжительность: 2:49 The Plastic Surgery Clinic 66 869 просмотров.
Myers, FL – Mazza Plastic Surgery located in Fort Myers, FL 33919. Dr. Joseph Mazza specializes in Breast Augmentation, Facelift, Liposuction, Tummy Tuck with Florida's Premier Plastic Surgeon in Fort Myers. Natural and long-lasting results are achieved with Dr. Mazza. We invite you to learn more.
Dr. Lorraine Golosow is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and also by the American Board of Surgery. She is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Medical Association.
Specializing in plastic surgery of the body, breast and face. … reputation within the community and with fellow medical professionals in Southwest Florida.
Considering a facelift in Fort Myers, FL? Dr. Douglas Stevens is a trusted plastic surgeon in Southwest Florida who specializes in facelifts, laser skin Established in 1997, Stevens Facial Plastic and Laser Center is Southwest Florida's leading practice for facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.


text:
Q: I'm unable to have margins on either side for my FlatList I'm trying to render a FlatList in my React Native application, but am running into some issues with my styles. I want to keep 3 items per row, and have 16px left and right margin on the list (so basically the sides of the FlatList should have 16px of margin on them). On top of that, I need to maintain spacing in between each item inside the flatlist.
I've got the spacing down, but the margins on the side of my FlatList are not working. I can't seem to get even margins on both side, without pushing the list off-screen.
My code is below, and here is a link to my code in a codesandbox.io editor.
import React from "react";
import {
  Button,
  Image,
  useWindowDimensions,
  StyleSheet,
  FlatList,
  TouchableOpacity,
  Text,
  View
} from "react-native";

function MyCustomComponent() {
  const galleryItemGap = 8;
  const { width } = useWindowDimensions();
  const bookInfos = [
    {
      text: "Lorem Ipsum",
      color: "red"
    },
    {
      text: "Lorem Ipsum",
      color: "green"
    },
    {
      text: "Lorem Ipsum",
      color: "blue"
    },
    {
      text: "Lorem Ipsum",
      color: "yellow"
    },
    {
      text: "Lorem Ipsum",
      color: "orange"
    },
    {
      text: "Lorem Ipsum",
      color: "pink"
    }
  ];

  const galleryItemWidth = (width - galleryItemGap * 3) / 3;

  const memoizedStyles = React.useMemo(() => {
    return {
      bookContainer: {
        marginTop: galleryItemGap,
        marginLeft: galleryItemGap,
        width: galleryItemWidth,
        backgroundColor: "aqua",
        ...styles.bookContainer
      },
      book: {
        width: galleryItemWidth,
        ...styles.book
      }
    };
  }, [galleryItemGap, galleryItemWidth, styles.book, styles.bookContainer]);

  const renderItem = React.useCallback(
    ({ item }) => {
      return (
        <View key={item.id} style={memoizedStyles.bookContainer}>
          <TouchableOpacity style={{ backgroundColor: item.color }}>
            <Text>{item.text}</Text>
          </TouchableOpacity>
        </View>
      );
    },
    [memoizedStyles.book, memoizedStyles.bookContainer]
  );

  return <FlatList data={bookInfos} numColumns={3} renderItem={renderItem} />;
}

function App() {
  return <MyCustomComponent />;
}

const styles = StyleSheet.create({
  bookContainer: {
    height: 180,
    justifyContent: "center",
    alignItems: "center"
  },
  book: {
    height: 180
  }
});

export default App;

A: My idea:

*

*Add marginHorizontal to FlatList content.

*Remove marginLeft: galleryItemGap and width: galleryItemWidth in bookContainer`

*Add marginHorizontal and flex: 1 to middle item(index % 3 === 1) in renderItem

Example:
https://codesandbox.io/s/intelligent-wiles-4wugdg?file=/src/App.js

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (NEWSPLEX) -- Smart Cville and WillowTree are working on an event to bring together local government agencies and the community to tackle public problems.
It's called Charlottesville Civic Innovation Day, and it will take place on June 3.
Technologists, designers and citizens are invited to tackle environmental stewardship and traffic congestion as well as supporting the homeless and economic development.
Local institutions will present challenges to attendees who will use technology and user-centered design to develop solutions.
The challenges are being sponsored by the city of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and the Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless.
Teams of attendees will work to tackle the problems presented.
"Initiatives like Civil Innovation Day inspire citizens to actively participate in their government," said Emily Kilroy, Albemarle County Community Engagement Specialist. "Our community has such great talent, tapping that knowledge and know-how for challenges facing local government propels us forward and allows us to more effectively deliver services that benefit everyone."
There will also be a series of workshops to educate participants on issues related to civic technology, user-centered design and civic engagement.


text:
Baccalà mantecato (Also spelled bacalà mantecato) (meaning "whipped salt cod spread" or "creamed cod") is a Venetian appetizer made with dried cod (stoccafisso, stockfish).

History

Baccalà mantecato was created during the 18th-century in Venice. However, the use of salt cod to Venetian cuisine was first introduced in the 15th-century by  Pietro Querini was shipwrecked on the Norwegian island of Røst. Querini and his crew learned how to salt cod from local fisherman. They brought back stockfish to Venice, helping to popularize the fish.

In 2001, the city of Venice created the Brotherhood of Baccalà Mantecato to preserve and promote the dish. It is commonly served at Venetian bars and is also a dish families serve at Christmas.

The dish and variations

The recipe uses stockfish, with salt cod being the most common. The simplest version of the recipe consists of the cod, garlic, olive oil, and salt and pepper.   The fish is poached in water or milk with garlic. After poaching, it is deboned, if necessary. The fish is then broken up in a bowl and whipped, with olive oil, into a fluffy texture similar to mousse. Lidia Bastianich adds potato to the fish during the whipping process.

The finished spread may be topped with chopped raw garlic, parsley, white pepper, or nutmeg. Baccalà mantecato is commonly served atop sliced stirato or grilled or pan-fried polenta. One variation on the dish includes poaching with lemon and bay leaf, rather than garlic, while others poach the fish in milk and water.

See also
Brandade

References

External links

"The First 'Fish' in This Year's Feast Is a Creamy Appetizer" from Saveur

Cuisine of Veneto

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


HELLO AND WELCOME. TO YOUR LEFT ARE SOME TABS WHICH WILL BRING YOU TO SOME PAGES ON THIS WEBSITE. THE PAGE "WRITING" HAS VARIOUS PUBLISHED ARTICLES I'VE WRITTEN. "ABOUT ME" AND "ABOUT PHIL" are self explanatory. (Phil is my husband.) THERE ARE ALSO SOME SONGS TO LISTEN TO. (I write and sing the songs I've written.) Keep scrolling down for more information.
In addition to being a writer (maybe you read my columns in Mature Living Magazine - Lifeway)... my husband Phil and I are songwriters. To the left are some tabs and if you click on them you can know more about me and Phil and the music God has decided to gift us to write.
If you want to know more about my husband - of FORTY NINE YEARS - Phil, click on "About Phil"... He is a former pastor and worship leader and songwriter.
"Open Your Heart" is a song my mom, "The Audacious Molly Bruno" sang on our voice mail one day.
More than anything else, I know that what she said is true for every person alive: "When you have Jesus, you have everything."


HONG KONG – Tens of thousands of people marched through downtown Hong Kong (search) on New Year's Day to demand full democracy in this former British colony, the biggest rally since a mass protest in July that threw the government into crisis.
Chanting "return power to the people," about 100,000 protesters marched from an urban park to the government headquarters, according to organizers.
Police said late Thursday as many as 37,000 people were at the park at the height of the demonstration — and the total would have been higher. Police reversed an earlier decision not to provide a crowd-size estimate.
The demonstration was seen as a crucial barometer of public sentiment, exactly six months after a half-million people took to the streets denouncing an anti-subversion bill proposed by the Hong Kong government, and backed by Beijing (search), as a threat to freedom.
"We have made history again!" said rally spokesman Richard Tsoi, adding the march showed that the so-called "people power" movement hasn't faded away.
"It clearly shows that Hong Kong people still have a very strong desire for full democracy," he said.
Thursday's turnout exceeded predictions by organizers, who said earlier that people would have less impetus to protest this time.
The government's controversial proposal was shelved in October, and Hong Kong's economy — another source of public discontent — appears to be on the rebound.
Marchers — many of whom also protested on July 1 — said that wasn't enough.
"Democracy is something we need to maintain a fair society," said 40-year-old Connie Yau, a civil servant.
Since coming under Chinese rule in 1997, Hong Kong has enjoyed Western-style freedoms unheard of on the mainland, but remains only partially democratic.
Hong Kong's top leader Tung Chee-hwa (search) was picked by an 800-person elite committee loyal to Beijing. During the last election, ordinary people were allowed to choose only 24 of Hong Kong's 60 lawmakers, with the rest filled by special interest groups and the committee that selected Tung.
Protesters on Thursday heaped criticism on Tung, who has faced calls for his resignation over the anti-subversion bill and alleged economic mismanagement.
"Tung hasn't listened enough," said 36-year-old businessman Steve Lee.
Unemployed Bondy Ng, 33, said that, "Hong Kong would only get better if we find someone capable to replace Tung."
Hong Kong's mini-constitution sets full democracy as an end goal, but provides no timetable.


Today search engine giant Google announced 'Google Wallet' will be rolled out to users in the UK.
The service that will be free for UK residents over 18 will allow people to securely send & receive money with friends and family within the Gmail desktop.
Since we announced Send Money in Gmail, paying back your friends has never been so simple, whether you're chipping in for lunch or reimbursing your housemate for your share of the rent. Today, we're excited to make this feature available for Gmail users in the UK.


text:
Sv è il diciannovesimo album in studio del gruppo musicale canadese Nadja, pubblicato nel 2016.

Tracce

Formazione

Gruppo
Aidan Baker – voce, batteria, chitarra, flauto
Leah Buckareff – voce, basso

Collegamenti esterni


A recent publication brought to light that several rich countries, including UK, Australia and Russia have been offering heavy subsidies to oil, gas and coal companies up to the amounts of $88billion (£55.4billion) a year.
The report by G20 summit in Brisbane, Australia discussed last week how these countries have been offering extremely generous tax breaks to companies working within the oil and gas sector, especially those exploring new reserves. The breakdown that they offered of government's fuel subsidies showed that in 2013 the UK offered £1.2billion in tax breaks alone, with British think tank 'Overseas Development Institute' confirming that such incentives were offered to both multinational companies such as Maersk and Shell, in addition to much smaller ones.
Whilst Britain was not the leader in public funding to oil and gas exploration, with Australia giving $3.5 billion in the same calendar year, it can certainly be considered as one of the most generous when considering the respective sizes of each governments. Between 2009 and 2014 the British government has been seen to offer tax breaks to French, Middle Eastern and American oil companies to support funding for the exploration of North Sea Oil reserves.
One may suggest that the government is offering such tax breaks as a response to the ongoing decline of the coal industry that has been seen for the past few decades, with production 50% lower than it was in 2000. The lack of potential energy from coal has encouraged investment in other methods such as offshore drilling and fracking, large companies such as Shell and BP have already gone public with comments of appraisal for the UK's favourable tax regime for deep-water offshore drilling, however less response has been given to UK fracking.
It has been continually recognised here at Blueprint that the oil & gas industry can experience turbulent times, and the recent years have stood testament to this. However with these government subsidies the future of this industry becomes more reliable as companies are able to invest more into exploration and development, which is encouraging news for all involved in this sector.
Or if you are working within this industry and would like to be the first to know about contract and permanent jobs sign up to our jobs by email service today.


text:
CLIENT MEDIA ROOMS
Meet Feintuch Communications
MPOWER Financing rated Top international student lender by Nerdwallet and U.S. News
Play File
watch-v-qWRe8jvFyBs
The innovative fintech firm uses big data analytics and artificial intelligence to offer scholarships and no-cosigner loans for international students in the U.S. and Canada
WASHINGTON, July 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- MPOWER Financing, a mission-driven fintech that provides financial access to higher education for high-promise international and DACA students, was recognized by both Nerdwallet and U.S. News & World Report as the top student loan provider for international students.
Nerdwallet, a comparison website for personal finance products, awarded MPOWER a 5-star rating for its student loans, indicating that its products are "among the very best for consumer-friendly features." Nerdwallet also commended MPOWER for offering loans that are "ideal for international and DACA students without a co-signer or U.S. credit history." MPOWER's loans are available to students from around the world for both graduate and undergraduate degrees at more than 350 top universities in the U.S.and Canada.
U.S. News & World Report recognized MPOWER Financing as the "best lender for international students." This determination was made on the basis of MPOWER's product offerings, cost, customer servicing ratings, eligibility, and other features. U.S. News also detailed that MPOWER's underwriting process considers a student's academic success and career path - a process that is enabled by MPOWER's use of big data analytics and artificial intelligence.
"I was having a tough time obtaining education loans from India without collateral," wrote Kaushik Krishnan, one of MPOWER's early students. "MPOWER was truly life changing for me. I've since graduated from my Masters program, found a job, and paid off my loan."
"MPOWER allowed me to achieve my dream," said Sol Bee, a South Korean student. "I was admitted to Berkeley in Fall 2016, but I couldn't afford it at the time. MPOWER empowered me to be who I wanted to be by allowing me to take control of my finances and my life."
"We're honored by the industry recognition we've received, and the hundreds of heartfelt stories we get from students whom we have the privilege to serve," says Manu Smadja, Co-founder and CEO of MPOWER. "We're working hard to further improve our customer experience and to remain the best international student lending product on the market."
MPOWER Financing, headquartered in Washington, D.C., and with offices in Bengaluru, New York City, and Toronto, is a mission-driven fintech company and provider of global educational loans. It is the only student lender in the world that leverages both overseas and domestic credit data, as well as future earning potential, to serve high-promise international and DACA students. MPOWER Financing works with over 350 top universities and colleges across the U.S. and Canada to provide financing to students from over 200 countries. Since 2014, it has received over $1B in loan application volume on its platform. MPOWER Financing helps students build their credit histories and provides them with personal finance education and career support to help prepare for life after school. The team is backed by Zephyr Management, Goal Structured Solutions, Gray Matters Capital, Lloyd Crescendo Advisors, 1776, Village Capital, Potentia, Breega, VARIV, DreamIt, Fresco, Chilango, Common Sense Fund, K Street, and University Ventures.
Contact: Sasha Ramani, 202-417-3800, sasha@mpowerfinancing.com
SOURCE MPOWER Financing
© Copyright 2022 Feintuch Communications, Inc.
Site design by Bob Buchanan Design.
Photography and videography by Connor Leszczuk.
MediaRoom technology and hosting by PR Newswire.


A deep koi pond project in NY with a waterfall, floating bridge and lush plantings. These large koi are at home in this man made environment. Koi are very beautiful fish and can live for many years.
Landscape Architectural Design and Construction Services in the NY and NJ areas.


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Q: MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlException:"Unable to connect to any of the specified MySQL hosts." I am using Visual Studio 2019 to build a form application, and I have also built a database on SQL Server 2018. Connecting to the database on VS tests the connection successfully.
But the problem came, when I clicked the button control, I got the following exceptionString connetStr = "Data Source=DESKTOP-T4C1MK6;Initial Catalog=Company;Persist Security Info=True;User ID=sa;Password=123456";
            MySqlConnection sqlconnect = new MySqlConnection(connetStr);
            sqlconnect.Open();

A: Looks like you are indeed using SQL Server and not MySQL. In order for you to correctly connect to SQL Server, do this:
At the top of the file, type:
using System.Data.SqlClient;

Then, replace this line (because you aren't using MySQL database):
MySqlConnection sqlconnect = new MySqlConnection(connetStr);

with this line (because you are using SQL Server):
SqlConnection sqlconnect = new SqlConnection(connetStr);

You should then be able to connect to SQL Server just fine.


As you see the clock image displayed right above, the Contemporary Bedroom Design Ideas, based on the many download counts this clock image has made, it clearly say that this contemporary bedroom design ideas is one of people's most-loved clock reference. This current clock shows several beautiful furnishes, including lumie bodyclock elite 300 sunrise natural alarm clock, imitates a sunrise effect, and few more such as the unique innovation alarm clock and body clock perfectly synchronised, etc.
This clock photograph, which was posted here, was certainly not just the only one we'd love to recommend to you. There are bunch of clock photos similar to this clock gallery set. In the next page, we have Simple Bedroom Style with features such as textured sound blocking curtains and soundproofing drapes ideas in onyx black; published related to sound blocking curtains topic. While in previous page — labeled under lighting galleries — is the Minimalist Interior which features fillable glass base table lamp and burnt orange silk curtains.


Surrounded by its large Mediterranean gardens, the hotel's peripheral location in Montemario offers views of Rome and the Vatican from its hilltop position (although the building itself is not exactly a beauty).
The Planetarium Suite (lower left image) and the Penthouse Suite (lower right image) each offer a rooftop terrace with jacuzzi.
Find the best price for your stay at the Rome Cavalieri.
345 guest rooms and suites.
15 acres of hotel grounds.
3 km from the Vatican and a 25-minute drive from the Coliseum.
The 3-Michelin star rooftop restaurant La Pergola serves gourmet cuisine.
The luxury Grand Spa includes a Turkish bath, saunas, a stylish room with an indoor swimming pool and a fireplace. In addition there are 3 outdoor swimming pools, one for children.
There is a free hourly shuttle to/from Piazza Barberini.
See our recommendations on what to pack for your trip to Rome.


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Articles by Nikole Hannah-Jones
Nikole Hannah-Jones is an award-winning investigative reporter covering civil rights at ProPublica in New York City.
Gentrification doesn't fix inner-city schools
Nikole Hannah-Jones Culture
We know the narrative on white flight: Coasting on federal perks like home loans from the Veterans Administration, G.I. bill grants, and heavy subsidization for highways, white families fled northern industrial cities like gangbusters in the 1960s. Whether this was because of financial incentives, or because they were running from court-sanctioned desegregation, the outcome was abandoned communities with devastated city tax bases.
The highest costs of white flight, however, were born by the children left behind in even more segregated, and now almost entirely poor neighborhood schools. Decades of research shows that this resulting racial and economic isolation created toxic, severely under-resourced learning environments for black and brown students, from Detroit to Philadelphia to New York City.
That white and middle-class outflow has reversed, though, in recent years in locales across the country, with many residents returning to the cities their parents had left behind. Gentrification has led to much hand-wringing among policy makers, hipsters, and long-time urban residents who whipsaw between fears of displacement and the desire for neighborhood improvements th... Read more


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Cartronics Reigns Supreme as the 2010 Pioneer Sound Build-Off Champion
Industry Insight Pioneer
LA QUINTA, CA – (April 29, 2010) – Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today announced Cartronics as the winner of its fourth annual Pioneer Sound Build-Off competition for building this year's ultimate sound demonstration / competition vehicle, honored at the company's annual Car Electronics Road Show held in La Quinta, Calif., on Wednesday, April 28, 2010. Cartronics' 2010 Chevy Carmaro, prevailed over eleven other retail competitors from across the nation who utilized Pioneer's high-end Stage 4 car audio components to win the grand prize of $10,000 and the esteemed title of 2010 Pioneer Sound Build-Off Champion.
"We wanted the 2010 Sound Build-Off to clearly illustrate the Stage 4 system's capabilities to produce the highest sound quality possible, as well as the importance of a quality installation to help achieve the ultimate in-car listening experience. Each participating retailer will use their demo cars as a promotional and sales tool throughout the year to provide potential customers a listen to the unique audio experience that an expertly designed and installed Stage 4 system creates," said Ted Cardenas, director of marketing for the car electronics department, sales and marketing division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all the Stage 4 retailers who participated in this year's event."
Dealers participating in the event were given approximately six weeks to build their vehicle around a package of Stage 4 products. Each of the 12 vehicles competing were evaluated and scored by official sound quality and installation judges using the 2010 International Auto Sound Challenge Association (IASCA) Pro Class rules. All attendees of the Build-off were also asked to vote for their favorite vehicle, which accounted for a portion of each competitor's overall score.
After an exciting day of judging, the 2010 Chevy Camaro by Cartronics was declared the winner and awarded a $10,000 check plus the Pioneer Sound Build-Off championship trophy. The 1999 Mercedes CLK 430 by Sound Sensations was awarded second place and the 2001 Chevy Corvette Z06 by Metro Audio Dynamics placed third.
Each vehicle was outfitted with the following Pioneer Stage 4 products:
DEX-P99RS (one) – Reference Series CD tuner/ digital media player featuring a direct digital USB path for external devices and media players and built-in equalization, time-alignment and crossover dividing network
PRS-A900 (two) – Reference quality 4-channel bridgeable full-range amplifier featuring filter-less topology to ensure the purity of the signal path
PRS-D1200SPL (two) – Reference quality Class-D mono subwoofer amplifier with extreme high-current design to ensure linear power delivery
TS-C172PRS (one pair) - Reference Series 6-3/4" component speaker package consisting of a extended frequency response soft dome tweeter, high performance mid-woofer and an audiophile grade passive crossover network
TS-S062PRS (one pair) - Reference Series 2-5/8" component midrange speaker designed to seamlessly integrate with the Stage 4 component speaker packages and provide a single, uniform voice covering the critical midrange frequencies
TS-W252PRS (two) - Reference Series 10-inch component subwoofer utilizing a new 3-layer cone that features a unique combination of aramid fibers, polypropylene, and glass fibers to create a strong, low mass, and natural sounding subwoofer diaphragm with high output capabilities
Pioneer's Car Electronics Department is known for offering the kind of in-car products that make driving more enjoyable by offering high quality audio and video, seamless connectivity and ease-of-use. Its focus is on the development of new digital technologies including audio video, navigation and satellite radio, while maintaining its strong heritage in products for car audio enthusiasts and sound competitors.
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., and its U.S. Web address is www.pioneerelectronics.com. Its parent company, Pioneer Corporation, is a leader in optical disc technology and a preeminent manufacturer of high-performance audio, video and computer equipment for the home, car and business markets. The company focuses on three core business domains including home electronics, car electronics, and Digital Network Entertainment™.
Trick of the Trade: Mariano Bucaoto's 2001 Lexus IS300
Photography by Martin Kruk (@framelous) Since he was a little kid Mariano Bucaoto has been a fan of nice cars, more specifically he was a huge...
Photography by Christopher James (chris_vq) Nothing is as good as the original - Fast and the Furious that is. If you ask Ryan Hunt, that is what...
Pioneer Electronics GM-DX975 Amplifier
Pioneer's 5-channel amplifier produces impressive power in an all-in-one solution designed to deliver big sound without sacrificing space. Ideal for...
Unconventional: Clayton Pallister's 2006 Subaru Forester
Photography by Hayden Londero, Jason Ah Tow. With 49% of the Popular Vote, the winner of the Tuner Battlegrounds #TBGLIVE award category...
Father's Footsteps: Alex Mira's 1977 Datsun 280Z
Photography by Patrick Parong (@patrickparong) With 57% of the Popular Vote, the winner of the PASMAG Tuner Battlegrounds award category...
Maximum Potential: Michael Isperov's 1993 Mazda RX-7
Photography by Ray Flores With 79% of the Popular Vote, Michael Isperov is the winner of the PASMAG Tuner Battlegrounds award category at Parking...
Ultra Car Audio and Innovative Audio partner
MB Quart Launches New REFERENCE Subwoofers


Victron Phoenix Inverter Compact 12/1600 is developed for professional duty, the Phoenix range of inverters is suitable for the widest range of applications. The design criteria have been to produce a true sine wave inverter with optimized efficiency but without compromise in performance. Employing hybrid HF technology, the result is a top quality product with compact dimensions, light in weight and capable of supplying power, problem-free, to any load. Pure sine wave output, high peak power and high efficiency. Combined high frequency and line frequency technologies ensure the best of both worlds.
A unique feature of the SinusMax technology is very high start-up power. Conventional high-frequency technology does not offer such extreme performance. Victron Phoenix Inverters, however, are well suited to power up difficult loads such as refrigeration compressors, electric motors and similar appliances.


Boom! You get the call. Yes, that call. An incident occurred where a worker sustained a serious injury. It turns out he is a contractor working on one of your projects. The call comes in Tuesday around noon, just before you are about to head out for a quiet lunch, or so you thought.
The process kicks in. Yes, that process. The one where the contractor is told they are responsible for conducting an incident investigation and reporting back their findings. The one where production demands another resource to complete work the injured employee now cannot. The one that strictly uses behavior-based approaches to arrive at "root causes." You know, the one where if it had been a company employee, more company resources would be devoted to driving toward true prevention processes and outcomes.
The contractor replaces the injured employee with another trained one and your project continues slightly behind schedule but with a promise of an on-time delivery. The contractor completes its investigation and concludes that the injured employee violated their confined space policy by entering a regulated space without a permit. This action resulted in the subject employee losing consciousness due to a low oxygen level. The confined space is well marked as permit-required and the employee is qualified to work within these spaces. The contractor is also authorized to work in this space.
You are informed that the employee will be disciplined and that he will receive remedial training on confined space entry and company policy. If you insist, the employee will be removed from your site. That is it. Another case of another employee exhibiting unsafe behavior. Another case of contractor employee discipline to send a strong message to the rest of the organization that safety rules shall not be violated. Everyone returns back to normal operations and the talk around the office water cooler, well, cools.
Unfortunately, this scenario happens every day and every day there is an opportunity missed to convert your incident investigations from pacifying processes to process changing machines.
Treating contractors at your worksite as if they are someone else's responsibility is a formula for disaster. The fact is that most of the time, chance is the reason your employee did not get hurt instead of the contractor. An inch here, a fraction of a second there or a failed decision is the only difference between who gets hurt, who goes home at the end of the day and who does not. It is, however, all the same. It is your worksite.
Behavior safety does play an important role in positive workplace behavior modification. That is proven. The issue comes in when behavior safety is used as the only means to derive comprehensive preventive solutions. This approach is one dimensional because it primarily requires behavior modification as the end all for determining root causes. If you stop here, your incident investigation process is merely pacifying an immediate need for answers without ruffling too many feathers and missing on the opportunity to implement an impactful long-term solution.
So where is the missing link? How do you convert your incident investigation process into a change agent tool? For that answer, establish one mindset and ask two questions at the end of every investigation. First, establish a corporate mindset that all outcomes are the result of processes, some more desirable than others. Then, ask your organization this first question: What operational process changes where identified and implemented to prevent this incident from recurring?
Boom! The answer you receive will determine if your team is a change agent or a pacifier of event outcomes. Understanding that you too are part of the process and with their proposed corrective action in hand, answer this second question: What will be your next move as their leader? Your response to the second question will set the stage for your team in the first one.


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Don't Miss our E-book: "Estate Planning For The Zombie Apocalypse"
Whether you believe the Zombie Apocalypse is coming or not, you still have assets and property to protect, some of which you may not even realize you have. Our upcoming E-Book, "Estate Planning for the Zombie Apocalypse" focuses on planning to protect your stuff in the case of emergencies, to make sure it gets to who it needs to get to with the least amount of problems possible. From guns to digital access for movies social media, and more, proper planning can protect your stuff from horror stories.


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The media learned about the granting Rosneft the right to export gas to Europe
May 5, 2016 trump
"Rosneft" and "Gazprom export" working on Agency contract to export gas to Europe, write "Izvestia", citing an unnamed senior official of the government.
"The company will be granted the right to export, but export through a single channel. Now "Rosneft" and "Gazprom export" should prepare Agency agreement", — said the interlocutor of the edition.
The newspaper, citing another source familiar with the situation, reported that the gas supply contract will be concluded with BP, which is a shareholder of Rosneft with a share of 19.5%. Gas export will be through the gas pipeline "Interconnector", connecting Britain and continental Europe, told the newspaper. According to "Izvestia", we are talking about the volume from 5 billion to 25 billion cubic meters per year.
The representative of the energy Ministry told "Izvestia" that the Department "does not comment on internal correspondence". "Gazprom export" has not provided the edition of the operational review. In "Rosneft", commenting on the information of the newspaper, noted that the company retains interest in pipeline gas export to Europe.
Currently, the right to export pipeline gas from Russia is only "Gazprom". "Rosneft" repeatedly advocated the abolition of the monopoly "Gazprom" on export of pipeline gas. As told RBC sources in Rosneft and Gazprom, Igor Sechin in October 2015 sent a letter to Vladimir Putin with the request to allow Rosneft to export 7 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe without intermediaries for the sale BP. Company spokesman Mikhail Leontyev said that a European buyer is willing to buy natural gas from Rosneft, if it will get the export permit. However, the head of "Gazprom" Alexey Miller in the letter to Putin said that additional volumes of Russian gas on the European market will worsen the position of "Gazprom export".
The desire to obtain the right to export gas has also expressed NOVATEK. As wrote "sheets" in early March, the company discussed this issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the disposal of the newspaper was a letter to energy Minister Alexander Novak, in which he stated that the Ministry of energy pursuant to the instructions of the head of state has considered the appeal of JSC NOVATEK for the supply of gas for export to Europe via Gazprom export" "preserving the principle of a single export channel". Then the newspaper wrote that Novak invited Putin to support the proposal.
For his part, Mikhail Leontyev, commenting on this information, stated that NOVATEK has obtained the right, and asks" to allow him to export gas to Europe. "We're all jealous, really. We don't quite understand why we, the state-owned company and the largest producer of gas, and we are so diskriminiert", — said the representative of "Rosneft".
In late March, the source TASS reported that the Ministry of energy is preparing a new position on the next appeal of "Rosneft" with a request to allow her the export gas pipeline. Later, Novak said that the government was not in favour of destruction of export monopoly "Gazprom" and share of "Rosneft" and NOVATEK.
In mid-April, the energy Ministry announced plans by 30 April to prepare a reasoned response to the request of "Rosneft" on granting the right to export.
In turn, "Gazprom" were strongly opposed to granting rights to export Russian gas to Europe independent producers. In April, the Vice-President of Board "Gazprom" Valery Golubev noted that this will lead to competition among Russian suppliers, will not be profitable for Russia's national interests.
← The media learned about the transition Daniil Kvyat in the Toro Rosso
The state office of public Prosecutor has seen infringement of the rights of entrepreneurs in the FCS →
May: EU to try to 'counter' Russia threat
November 25, 2017 trump Comments Off on May: EU to try to 'counter' Russia threat
ALROSA sold its subsidiary in 40 times cheaper than book value
July 6, 2016 trump Comments Off on ALROSA sold its subsidiary in 40 times cheaper than book value
The Cabinet of Ministers again decided not to raise the price of gas for the population — media
October 17, 2018 trump Comments Off on The Cabinet of Ministers again decided not to raise the price of gas for the population — media


We would like to take this opportunity to give you a brief outline of our kindergarten.
Through a negotiated curriculum our programme provides your child with the maximum opportunities for their intellectual, emotional, social and physical development during their time with us.
We provide meaningful opportunities for your child to learn through play in the company of other children whilst under the guidance of qualified teachers.
Our assessment is guided by our New Zealand curriculum, Te Whāriki, as well as been supported by many different educational philosophies, theories and research.
At Mairtown Kindergarten we believe that our relationships with children should be based on respect and affection. By providing support and warmth, children feel free to 'grow' in an environment which promotes their health and nurtures their well-being.
Children learn and develop best when they are extended in this way by teachers who are responsive and who share with the child an understanding of the world.
As a teaching team we value the importance of children's play and encourage our children to have fun in developing meaningful learning experiences.
We have a wonderful blog that highlights the children's learning and involvement at Mairtown and is a wonderful way to view some of the experiences that we offer at our kindergarten.
We advise a three half day minimum enrolment for all attending children.
We try to keep costs to a minimum. If your child's time at kindergarten is covered by your 20 ECE hours there will be no charge for attendance. If you are not covered by 20 ECE hours or your child's hours exceed the 20 ECE hours, the charge is $2.00 per hour.
There is a one off charge of $10 for your child's portfolio.


You've got a job to do; you don't have the time or energy to baby a fragile machine. You don't budget money for repair shop visits. And you're certainly not billing your customer when your cheap plastic machine breaks on the jobsite. Bottom line: you want a quality machine . The Hydro-Force Brush Pro was built for the professional customer, for those that need a machine that will run for 12 hours a day without asking for time off on Friday. Designed to withstand the rigors of extreme commercial cleaning, the Brush Pro will outlast, out-clean and outperform any encapsulation machine on the market.
Super quiet operation and nearly instantaneous drying allows you to clean during business hours; opening up a world of new clients including casinos, airports, hotels, hospitals, and more where hot water extraction is just not feasible.
Cylindrical brush agitation carries the soil from the bottom of the pile to the top so it can be encapsulated and removed later through vacuuming. Pads drive the soil deeper into the pile and leave "blooms" that have to removed later.
The Brush Pro is a machine that can be used by anyone. Simply pull back the handle to start and begin cleaning carpets at a much faster rate than standard hot water extraction.
Lightweight construction and small footprint allows the technician to easily store the Brush Pro in a janitor's closet, in a van or other locations where space is at a premium. It also makes cleaning around furniture and other obstacles incredibly easy.
MH10A: White, medium stiffness. Standard brush that comes with the machine.
MH10B: Black, soft bristles. Ideal for wool rugs.
MH10C: Brown, stiff bristles. Good for tile, stone and concrete cleaning.
Note: The MH10 10" Brush Pro does not include a power cord.
I wanted to let you know that I LOVE my Brush Pro. I built the pile lifting pre-vacuum into my routine, along with brushing the prespray into the carpet. I'm using these extra steps (that none of my local competitors do) to differentiate myself. I've raised my pricing to $39 per room residential, and have ended all discounting, and business is booming. I believe these steps are helping me deliver even better results, and my customers are blown away. I used the Brush Pro to do tile cleaning a few weeks ago (a $1200 job) that I NEVER could have done by hand. The results were amazing!
We at Shaw Industries believe that the use of Bridgepoint products as part of a proper maintenance process (or program) will help insure that your carpet meets your highest expectations. We highly recommend the use of their low moisture system with a cylindrical brushing machine called Brush Pro for interim maintenance and have also have found Bridgepoint products designed for restoration cleaning of your commercial carpets to be some of the best products in the industry.
--Charlie Rollins; Director of Product Support, Shaw Industries, Inc.
Tried the Encapuclean DS today as a prespray, scrubbed it in with the Brush Pro, then extracted w/my foam machine. After extracting with my machine, ran over it again with the Brush Pro, no respraying. This carpet we were working on, I had advised the customer that it was past its useful life, over 10 yrs old in a high traffic area, the lobby of the local electric company. After we were done the carpet looked new! Even the big cheese at the utility couldn't believe it, and I couldn't either. Previously I would have given up and did the best I could do, but would have advised the customer it was time for a new carpet. It made a very dirty, difficult job much easier to do. Never had this kind of result until I used the Encapuclean and the Brush Pro before hand. What a difference.


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Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri names chief development officer
Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri has announced Mandy Long as their new chief development officer. This is a new position for the organization as they create "chief"- level positions in several areas.
"I am excited to join such a wonderful organization that helps so many people in southern Missouri," Long said in a news release. "Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri has grown tremendously over the last couple of years and I am looking forward to helping them continue to grow the ministry."
Catholic Charities announced the creation of a chief program officer, Sarah Carmer, in November to assume supervision of programs throughout southern Missouri and the agency's nine office locations.
"We are working to better coordinate our efforts across all areas of the agency," said Maura Taylor, executive director, in a news release. "The new positions help us to achieve that goal by having a lead staff person with regards to both fundraising and programming."
Long was previously with The Salvation Army in Springfield for six and a half years as development director. A Missouri native, Long has lived in southern Missouri her entire life and has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master's in Business Administration from Drury University.
Send Awards & Achievers news to webeditor@news-leader.com or call the newsroom with questions at 417-836-1199.


Anyone missed Hulk Transformation PO do PM me if you keen to pick up one. I have one PO to transfer, Cheers!
BOOM! It's done. Thanks so much for your help. I can't express just how excited I am to add this BEAST to my collection. This is THE 1/4 HULK statue I've been waiting for.
Thanks Subby! I'm beyond excited to finally add a 1/4 HULK to my collection. It's been a long and painful wait. Now I just need a classic 1/4 Cap and I'm golden for my Avengers lineup.


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Corkscrew Hand #4222m
Founded as a metal workshop for girdling and chasing back in the 19th century, the traditional Carl Auböck workshop is still placed in its original Viennese townhouse in the 7th district. In the years of its foundation the workshop mainly produced the so called ,Wiener Bronzen'. In 1926 the workshop was passed on from father to son, Carl Auböck II, who gave it new ideas - the beginning of the typical Auböck design. Together with his son Carl Auböck III, who cultivated friendships with influential designers like Walter Gropius, Herbert Bayer, Charles and Ray Eames, they worked for Hermes and Píerre Cardin amongst others. His design career reached the top at the Triennale di Milano 1954, where he received four gold medals for his work.
Brass, polished Manila


Softub, Inc., has ushered in a new era in relaxation, offering a go-anywhere spa that is efficient and affordable, with features and technological advances that make it comfortable, safe, and inexpensive to operate. Inside Softub spas� deceptively simple appearance is a bounty of technological innovations, including its unique soft-but-remarkably durable wall construction and its ingenious heat recovery system that keeps water at an ideal temperature using only a standard 120V, 15-amp wall outlet! Softub Spas are easy to set up�just follow our 1-2-3 process!
Today, Softub, Inc., enjoys record-breaking growth across the United States and around the world. For example, world-class athletes at the Olympic Games have enjoyed its therapeutic benefits.) It has been a recipient of the Consumers Digest Best Buy Award for the 140 as well as the 220 model, and Softub, Inc., has appeared on the �Inc. 500� three years in a row! As a hot tub value innovator, Softub, Inc., is on a roll. Check out our FAQ�s and join the Softub spa movement. We have one ready for you today!


Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded that Indonesia's human development index (IPM) showed an upward movement, shooting up 0.58 points to 71.30 points in 2018 than a year earlier.
"The human development index in 2018 increased owing to an improvement in all its components," BPS Chief Suhariyanto remarked at a press conference at the BPS Office in Jakarta on Monday.
The IPM combines three key dimensions of a long and healthy life: life expectancy at birth; education index: mean and expected years of schooling; and a decent standard of living.
Suhariyanto pointed out that in terms of a long and healthy life, infants born in 2018 had a life expectancy of close to 71.20 years, 0.14 years longer than those with the birth year of 2017.
In the earlier eight years, Indonesia had succeeded in boosting its people's life expectancy to 71.20 years in 2018, as compared to 69.81 years in 2010, the BPS chief stated.
Suhariyanto further noted that children aged seven in 2018 were able to avail the opportunity of gaining education for 12.91 years, 0.06 years longer than those born a year earlier.
On an average, Indonesian citizens in the age group of 25 years and above did their schooling for 8.17 years, 0.07 years longer than in the earlier year, he added.
Suhariyanto stated that in 2018, Indonesian citizens had spent Rp11.06 million, on an average, to meet their life necessities than Rp395 thousand in the previous year.


Grand Trunk CrossFit's Boot Camp is geared toward people of all fitness levels. Participants will experience a challenging 30-minute workout without heavy strength training or barbells. Grand Trunk's coaches will take each athlete through a high energy, total body workout that will challenge even the most fit individual.
Sign up today to get the fitness results you truly desire, in a fun and fast-paced environment. The cost of the program is $99/month.


If you receive this message on Whatsapp, delete it immediately.
If you get a message inviting you to change the colours on your WhatsApp, ignore it. Seriously.
As much as new colours on your WhatsApp would be great, unfortunately it's a big ol' scam, and you're going to have to stick to green.
The site uses Cyrillic letters to make it look like whatsapp.com (it's actually шһатѕарр.com).
If you visit the link you get a message saying "New colours for WhatsApp, now you can change your WhatsApp and leave it your favourite colours" stating it's available for iOS, Windows, Apple, and Blackberry (listing iOS and Apple separately should be your first warning).
It then asks you to share the site with 12 of your friends for 'verification'.
Once they've 'verified' it, they are then told that the feature is only available through desktop and that in order to feature it they need to install an extension called 'BlackWhats' from the Chrome Web Store.
However, instead of giving you a nice colourful WhatsApp it actually gives you and all your pals malware.
The extension has now been removed by Google, but was very convincing, with a 4 star rating from 55 ratings.


Facón Display Font is a sport display font with diagonal cuts designed by Alejo Bergmann. It contains all caps letters, numerals and symbols.
Acacio Serif is a demo font from our premium set Acacio Serif Font Family which contains 2 weights. It features unique and modern serif look and feel.


2020 Toyota Fortuner USA Review, Price – The Toyota Fortuner will probably come with no more significant modifications. This can be between men and women versions that enterprise meant for some specific marketplaces. This model will are available in the nations of Southern Eastern side Locations of Asia, Oceania and so on. Is open for just about any lengthy time.
Even so, the existing design occurred two previously. Thus, it indeed is continuously in the relatively new, so there is no requirement of more significant alterations. The 2020 Fortuner will stay in the very same manner, presenting utterly incredible off-road productivity more than other, nevertheless also with outstanding ease and a great deal of most innovative technological innovation. It may arrive in the last final result of the season.
We are going to not see a lot more significant changes to the 2020 Toyota Fortuner. The current next-age bracket edition can be obtained just for two years. Consequently, we understand that it ought to be nonetheless quite refreshing. This redesign launched the best quantity of name-blog. Nevertheless, this SUV held all its excellent traits. It is mostly an off-road motor vehicle, which utilizes utterly remarkable performances.
Additionally to the broad nature, furthermore, there's a lot of exceptional traits. It arrives having a modern and desirable styling, which may be modified positioned within the brand's brand-new style vocabulary. Furthermore, it attributes excellent efficiency along with many devices.
Basis kinds include things like 7.-" touch-screen, electronic rearview camcorder, Bluetooth, USB, 6-speaker music system, as the non-obligatory functions are products like synthetic leather covers, auto parking sensing units, keyless entry, sat nav, 18-" alloy tires plus a lot of other pursuits.
The 2020 Toyota Fortuner cottage may, in fact, be massive to help to seven visitors effortlessly. Leather material furnishings may safeguard internal entrance aspects, possible regulates, together with the recliners. This latest-age bracket may also obtain a far more critical infotainment program plus a brand new dash type. Furthermore, existing skills add a sunroof, hot top, and back seats, an energetic vetting approach, an excellent HD music system as well as a computerized climate conditions-handle.
For simplicity within the running, the Toyota Fortuner For Sale could also include a lane-departure warning device; a back-finish take a examine digicam with auto parking assists an electrical braking program, one of many wheels-strain verify, strolling identification, a frontward collision recognition technique. Safety bags and safety units could guarantee stability for that buddies.
The Fortuner Toyota contain the very same engine assortment. Based on the current marketplace, there are lots of devices within the bundle. With regards to gasoline motors, you are going to discover 2 of those in the offer you with. The underside design functions a 2.7-liter 4-cylinder device, which is suitable for about 160 horses. Nonetheless, the authentic package deal includes a 4.-liter V6, that is unquestionably possibly one of the most sturdy engines that you just could uncover.
It is strengths about 280 horses. Regarding diesel models, there is also some motorists in the bundle. The first the primary can be a 2.4-liter program with 150 horses. The following the quite 1st is a 2.8-liter engine, by possessing an excellent creation of 177 horses. Lastly, there's a classic but fantastic 3.-liter V6, that is best for about 165 horses and 300 lb-toes of torque.
Last but not cramped, the Toyota Fortuner Release Date will almost certainly strike sector towards efficiently attaining 2019. The bottom minimizes will undoubtedly price about $45K, with reductions varied to $55K.


The Equal Justice Center has recently surpassed the milestone of $7 million recovered in wage theft cases for low-wage working men and women.
EJC attorneys and staff, working from its offices in Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas, provide legal representation for low-wage working people across Texas. EJC's clients include construction laborers, janitorial and cleaning service workers, restaurant cooks and dishwashers, landscape laborers, and workers in a host of other industries. They are U.S. citizens, documented immigrants, and undocumented immigrants. They are women, men, young people and older workers.
The common factors among them all are (1) the hard, honest work they perform to support themselves and their families; and (2) their determined use of the legal system to vindicate their right to be paid what they have earned.
The EJC is the leading law firm in Texas specialized in protecting the employment rights of low-wage workers. Its pioneering work continues to advance access to workplace justice without regard to income or immigration status.


We all want to have the very best employees, yet the most common question that I get asked is; where are these people? So in my never-ending quest to help the tree care industry advance, I want to share my top 5 hiring hot spots as well as two websites that provide a ton of information for you to use when recruiting your next new hire.
Local High Schools – While you won't find a seasoned arborist still attending high school, engaging with the youth within your community will give you the best chance at hiring the next rising star within the industry. Your local high school probably has a career center or department that helps introduce industries and careers to the students. Reach out to those schools and develop a relationship so they know who you are and what type of career you can offer.
College Career Fairs – In my home state of Wisconsin, we are very fortunate to have multiple tech colleges and universities that offer programs in Urban Forestry and Arboriculture. These are gold mines for top notch employees, who upon graduating typically have a number of job offers right away. If you do not have a local college that has a specific degree within the tree care industry that is just fine, college graduates from other fields have been struggling with finding a profession they enjoy for decades. Being present gives you a chance to sell your company and the industry to them.
State Workforce Development Job Fairs – Every state has a Workforce Development Department who host job fairs for local employers. This can be a great place to pick up an unexpected employee. Plus as an added bonus, some states have programs available that will help pay for the training of an employee hired through one of these job fairs.
Create a Sector Partnership – This last hiring hot spot takes more time and coordination along with help from others to accomplish, but when implemented successfully, it can have a tremendous impact on your local tree care market. We are currently working on setting one of these up in the Milwaukee area where a number of local tree care companies are partnering with a local non-profit and technical colleges to structure a short term training and recruiting program to help provide more qualified, ready to work arborists in the area. If you are interested in getting one of these started in your area, ask TCIA for some guidance.
So there you have it. My 5 hiring hot spots, however, before you begin to utilize any of them, you must be prepared to talk about your company and the industry when you meet a potential employee. If you haven't checked out the TCIA's Outside careers website (https://outsidecareers.org) yet, do so right away! This site is loaded with great content and videos explaining what your industry is all about and why someone should enter it. Another fantastic resource is from ISA. Their Career Paths in Arboriculture shows all of the different possible career paths that an individual can take within this industry (https://www.isa-arbor.com/students/careersInArboriculture/commonCareerPaths.aspx). Click on any of boxes to get an easy to read flyer on that position, perfect for handing out to prospective employees. These two websites provide an easy way for you to promote the professionalism of the industry to others when recruiting members to your team.
Legendary football coach, Don Shula, may have said it best; "The one thing that I know is that you win with good people." So what are you waiting for? Create a plan to find these good people and go get them on your team!


These days, I'm trying to be more efficient with my time, because there just aren't enough hours in the day.
If I can combine some of my monthly real estate goals and activities in a way that makes the best use of my time, I'm all for it. If I can do all that and have FUN doing it, even better!
Gaining exposure for your listings to the local agents who are most likely to sell them.
Getting sometimes valuable feedback from other agents; a fresh pair of eyes might pick up on something you missed.
Networking and building relationships with other agents.
Sharing marketing ideas and information about upcoming listings, community developments and news that could impact your business.
Pick a theme. In February, my Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties associate (and REthink Council Member) Carl Guild and I just hosted a tour called "The Sweetheart Homes Tour" to celebrate Valentine's Day. We joked about following it up with the "Needs a Whole Lot of Lovin'" tour for fixer-uppers!) Some other tour ideas: a Condomania! Tour, a Lucky Listings Tour or a Waterfront Listings Tour (we have a large lake in town.) This is your opportunity to stretch your mind and get creative!
Specify which town or community you're going to tour. Don't try to cover too much territory. We picked up to 12 listings that hadn't been toured yet in one town, and the tour went from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., ending with lunch at the last listing.
Invite agents to participate. Invite both agents with listings and those without, and tell everyone they can bring an associate, and/or new agent. An approximate head count helps with lunch and the number of feedback packets you'll need.
Make it easy on the agents participating. Provide feedback sheets that will be handed back to everyone on the spot at the last house. Make a packet with an itinerary and reconfirm with everyone. Introduce everyone at the meeting spot so it becomes a true networking opportunity.
Don't forget refreshments! During our Sweetheart Homes Tour, we started with coffee at our office, which I supplied. A local mortgage lender asked if we needed a sponsor for lunch and we were happy to have him participate. With a Valentine's Day theme, we also asked the agents with listings on the tour to provide desserts or drinks. One agent brought a growler of local chocolate stout (in keeping with the Valentine's theme!) to raffle off instead of bringing food, and another made take-away goodie bags for everyone.
Do something different and unexpected. Carl surprised everyone by renting a 12-passenger van, which we decorated in a Valentine's Day theme, and he made a Barry White love songs CD mix that we played in the van and gave out to participants afterward the tour. I documented the day with lots of photos and made a Flipagram video recap that we shared and posted to social media, along with check-ins, photos and updates along the way. Of course, everyone was tagged for maximum social media exposure!
The Sweetheart Homes Tour was probably the most fun broker tour we've ever held. It took some planning, which we did as a two-person team, but the feedback was tremendous and everyone had a blast. Agents were already asking about the next tour!
Lynn Minnick is a REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties. She also is the author of the popular blog, www.mygreenlifeandrealestate.com. Find her at www.lynnminnick.com or tweet to her @LynnMinnick.


text:
https://www.fairplanet.org/support/act-now-to-save-the-sumatran-rhino/
Act Now to Save the Sumatran Rhino
Being the rarest in the world is great if you are a stamp or coin, but if you are an animal, the distinction is far less sought after. Unfortunately, the Sumatran rhino, is just that, one of the rarest rhino species in the world. With fewer than 100 living in the wild.
The smallest of the rhino family - vocal and hairy - the pachyderm can only be found in a few spots of dense forest in Indonesia, Malaysia and possibly even Myanmar. And just like their African cousins, their hard growth horns - despite being significantly smaller than those of their western counterparts - have been their downfall. They are used in Chinese medicine and as ornamental dagger handles in the Middle east.
As of mid 2017, conservation groups have been in agreement as to what needs to be done to save them from certain extinction. A full-blown concerted effort to increase captive-breeding efforts, but despite being one of the nation's iconic creatures, the government seems to be dragging its feet to help get the ball rolling.
Conservationists have cited various reasons why efforts have stalled including red tape, nonsensical arbitrary decisions and territorial squabbling. Even the most basic measures to protect the species like on-the-ground protection from rangers, have been frustrated. Yet all the while the chance that the rhino will disappear becomes more and more likely.
If theses beautiful creatures are to be saved, government, not just conservationists must act and help assist in any plans that could bring them back from the edge of extinction. However, six months after the decision was made to implement a capture and captive breeding program, the government has not lifted a finger.
It is imperative the Indonesian government acts now to assist conservationist in their effort to save the Sumatran rhino. Any more delays puts their future in jeopardy.
Please sign the petition and tell Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to take action now and help in the efforts to implement the rhino population's last chance at survival - the captive-breeding program.
thepetitionsite.com
Stop the promotion of trophy hunting!
NGO, Petition, Protest
The U.S. Department of Interior proposed formation of an "International Wildlife Conservation Council" to promote the hunting of iconic wildlife [...]
Germany: No more separations of families!
Donation, NGO, Petition
While refugees in Germany sometimes wait for years for a decision in their asylum procedure, their families stay behind in most difficult circumstances.
Iran: Freedom for Reza Shahabi and Esmail Abdi
Petition, Protest
In Iran, trade unionists face persecution by state authorities and get arrested for their activities in defense of workers' interests.


Crowd Boos When Simon Tells Singer "I Didn't Like It" — Then He Slams Golden Buzzer!
When Kechi Okwuchi was sixteen, she was one of two people to survive a plane crash that killed 107 other souls.
Now 30, Kechi still bears the mental and physical scars of surviving the crash. After suffering third degree burns over 90% of her body, she's fought for most of her life to overcome the pain and trauma that resulted from that fateful day. As she recovered, she says that hearing her mother singing became a lifeline to help her through her darkest days.
"Music became the ultimate distraction for what was going on with me," Kechi explained. As a young adult, she worked hard on honing her skills as a singer and eventually became a contestant on "America's Got Talent" in 2017. Although she didn't win that round, she says that the experience encouraged her to find her voice in other capacities as well. She gained the confidence she needed to become a burn victim advocate for Shriner's Hospital. Being on AGT also helped her see herself in a new light.
Now, Kechi's got another shot at winning the popular talent competition as a contestant on "America's Got Talent: The Champions." She's older and wiser this time around, and she says she hopes to win not just for herself, but for all of the burn victims out there who are looking to her for inspiration. She also feels a need to do well to honor those who lost their lives in her tragic accident.
Kechi chose to sing, "You Are The Reason" by Callum Scott. Her voice is rich and truly lovely. The audience seems to be emotionally responding to her more than most other performers, possibly because her backstory is so incredibly inspiring!
You can hear the crowd start to boo Simon's controversial answer, and all of the other judges look crestfallen. Host Terry Crews seems like he can't even believe his ears!
That's when he hits that coveted Golden Buzzer that instantly propels a contestant to the next round of competition!
As the golden confetti flies down onto the stage, Kechi seems overcome by the strength of her emotions. She manages to stammer that she couldn't have done it without her mother. Out in the crowd, tears are flowing freely down people's faces as they are once again brought to their feet in wild applause.
Watch Simon giving Kechi the Golden Buzzer treatment in the video below, and don't forget to share this survivor's story with others.


The 1970 Kellogg's baseball card set consists of 75 cards, each one 2-1/4" by 3-1/2". The 1970 series marked the debut issue for the Kellogg's product, which was available as single issues in select brands of cereal or as a complete set via a mail-in offer. These plastic-coated cards were designed to simulate a "3-D" appearance, and each displayed a vivid color likeness of a player with a baseball design at the corner that identified his surname, team affiliation, and position. The design was framed in white. Due to their plastic-coated surfaces, Kellogg's cards were known for easily splitting, cracking, and curling, leaving pristine examples difficult to find.


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EL CAJON TURNS THE CORNER: MAYOR BILL WELLS DELIVERS OPTIMISTIC STATE OF THE CITY 2014 ADDRESS
December 2014 Articles
East County Performing Arts Center
Mayor Bill Wells
painted a generally optimistic picture
The City 2014 Address
By Paul Kruze
Photo by Randy Jordan
December 16, 2014 (El Cajon)--It has been the worst of times and it has been the best of times for the city of El Cajon.
Mayor Bill Wells painted a generally optimistic picture in his State of the City address delivered on Tuesday, December 9th shortly after he was sworn in before a full City Council chamber. The mayor's upbeat message came despite having to deal with some formidable headwinds during the past year—a year that saw the fifth largest city in San Diego County deal with political appointments surrounded by controversy, a crackdown on the city's liquor stores, the city's improving financial stability and ongoing renovation plans for the embattled East County Performing Arts Center.
Wells praised the work of city employees, UT San Diego reported. ""To run a city of this size, it takes a lot of people. To fight fires, save lives, solve crimes, pave the streets, make sure street lights work, make sure the sewer system works, make sure kids have a play soccer, none of this happens seamlessly," he said, but added, "I don't want to paint a picture that everything is perfect. We've got lots of challenges ahead of us. We get up every morning thinking, 'How can we help?' not, 'How can we fix.' There are things government can't do, but we'll continue to fight the good fight and attack some of (our) problems."
He credited the work of City Manager Doug Williford for the opening of several new car dealerships encompassing BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz brands in the city over the past year along with a major expansion of Motoworld, as well as the building of a new Borrego Health complex. Wells also cited two upcoming major future construction projects consisting of a new ten-story Kaiser Permanente facility on East Main Street and Greenfield Drive and a future 110-room four-star Marriott Courtyard Hotel to be built adjacent to the shuttered East County Performing Arts Center, which itself, is set to reopen after major renovations and upgrades have been completed. The end of the city's half-cent sales tax in 2015 is expected to bring additional retail sales to El Cajon.
"The flurry of activity over the past two years has been unprecedented in our city," he said. By a continued concerted effort to encouraging a business-friendly environment, new developments combined with the creation of new jobs "has helped El Cajon rebrand itself," Wells stated. "This represents not just an improving economy, but also an increasing realization in the business community that El Cajon is becoming an outstanding place to locate high quality businesses."
The Mayor acknowledged the leadership of Chief of Police Jim Redman and the efforts of the police department in attaining a twenty-four percent reduction in crime over the past four years in El Cajon. This, he said, was due to their concentrated efforts on bringing about crime-free multi-housing and crime-free hotel/motel programs.
In creating "benefits for our citizens," Wells cited the building of the new public safety/police station, the building of a new fire station on Madison Avenue and a program to upgrade all three other fire stations in El Cajon. Finalizing the renovation and the re-opening of the East County Performing Arts Center, a new animal control shelter, the recent re-opening of Hillside Park and the future renovation Renette Park and Bill Peck Park are also slated for completion. A grant from "KaBOOM!" a national non-profit dedicated to bringing balanced and active play into the daily lives of all kids is bringing about the renovation of Bostonia and Wells parks.
In spite of all of the good news, Wells was quick to emphasize a note of caution. Despite pension reform issues (a matter of concern for many California cities), the overall fiscal solvency of El Cajon continues to be a concern as the city has actively worked towards paying out unfunded pension requirements and
With El Cajon being home to the second-largest Chaldean-American population in the United States (topped only by Detroit), Wells said that the city would keep actively reaching out to its large immigrant community. Last June's "America On Main Street" event drew some 30,000 participants. Next month the city council will vote to assist funding media production efforts to benefit the Middle Eastern community.
Followed by the City of San Diego, the largest cities in the county are Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido. El Cajon is the fifth biggest urban area in San Diego County with a population of over 100,000 people.


Located a short distance from the Potala Palace, the Norbulingka served as the summer residence for the Dalai Lamas from 1780 until the exile of the current Dalai Lama in 1959.
Consisting of three palaces, the first was built in 1755, followed by the Palace of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama and then the New Summer Palace built by the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. During the invasion in 1950, many of the structures were destroyed, but they have since been restored.
The grounds serve as a recreational park today and the Norbulingka also known as Jewel Park, is the site of many festivals. During festival time in particular, it is worth paying the park a visit as the atmosphere is festive with traditional dance and opera. The 'Yoghurt Festival', celebrated in the summer, is held there every year. The festival began in the sixteenth century with lay people giving the monks a huge banquet where yoghurt was part of the menu. Operas and theatre were later added to the festivities. Families and large groups of friends now congregate in the park during the Yoghurt Festival for bonfires and picnics.
Discover the fascinating Tibetan culture in this journey to an alluring land. Explore impressive palaces, age-old monasteries, incredible temples and stunning nature. A perfect exploration of Tibet!


..the Japanese Blotter Drawing Pad. The paperboard uses recycled cardboard so not only is the surface stable when you write, it's eco friendly. The binding side has micro-perforation so you can simply tear off the sheets into standard sizes. The paper feels strong with a pulp-like texture which happens during the paper-forming process, a method that does not use bleach.
The innovators behind these beautiful drawing pads was founded in 1938 as a bookbinding company specialising in binding notebooks. With more than 70 years experience in providing a backbone for paper media, they continue to modernise with new styles of paper manufacture we find pretty smart and compelling.


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CEO says MetroWest Medical Center holds edge on cost
Michael Morton/Daily News staff
As he attempted to stem operating losses, MetroWest Medical Center CEO Andrei Soran offered a frequent refrain: Despite top-notch service and quality, the hospital received lower insurance payments than many Boston peers.
But with rising premiums causing growing business frustration in recent months and state proposals for payment changes imminent, Soran now thinks his for-profit medical center holds an edge: low cost.
"Up until now, it kind of worked against me," he said yesterday during a meeting with other administrators in his network and the Daily News.
In a probe, the attorney general's office found that insurance companies - and their customers - were paying higher rates to some hospitals because of market clout or geographic isolation, not because of better care. That group included many - but not all - Boston teaching hospitals and their affiliates.
Soran and an executive from parent Vanguard Health Systems presented an analysis from the attorney general's data: In 2008, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the state's largest insurer, had paid Newton-Wellesley Hospital roughly 25 percent more, and a number of Boston teaching hospitals at least 40 percent more. Their calculations could not be independently verified.
The point, Soran said, is that MetroWest residents can stop bypassing his hospital like a "train station" for Boston or Newton and get care closer to home. He pointed to high marks from outside sources on quality and patient satisfaction and a newly announced honor: the 2010 Betsy Lehman Patient Safety Recognition Award.
The award is bestowed by the Department of Public Health in honor of a Boston Globe reporter killed by a chemotherapy overdose. MetroWest Medical was cited for following the care of patients once they are discharged to prevent re-admissions, an outcome that harms health - and one Medicare will soon stop covering.
"It's truly a big deal for us," Soran said.
The news comes as state leaders prepare legislation that could change the way hospitals and doctors are paid. Instead of receiving money for each procedure and visit, they could get a set payment for overall care, with bonuses for better outcomes. The idea is to drive down costs and improve care by spurring coordination and cutting redundancy.
"It's cradle to grave," Soran said, with the hospital already positioning itself for the transition, touting its own low costs and focus on early interventions.
As part of its preparations, MetroWest Medical has partnered with Tufts Medical Center to bring specialists to Framingham and Natick and only send the most intense cases to Boston, an arrangement that has brought in more local pediatric visits.
Residents can expect further partnerships and affiliations, Soran said, to provide a comprehensive network. The hospital is also hiring more doctors, upgrading its obstetrics department and working on a new orthopedics center for its Natick campus.
While customers revolted against the industry's attempts at managed care in the '90s, Soran said, that was before hospitals started reporting outcomes, with medical complications likely to arise if providers unduly ration care.
"People won't be able to do shortcuts," Soran said.
Revised payments are still likely to involve insurance negotiations, and Soran said it's too soon to tell what effect talks between Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan could have on costs. The talks could lead to a merger, a takeover or a new company - all with different ramifications. Regardless, Blue Cross would remain the largest insurer.
Soran did ask, however, that payment reform include greater transparency by insurance companies. If doctors and hospitals must assume risk once born by insurers, they should have access to claims data, he argued.
"I have to take on a budget without full knowledge of the costs," Soran said. "That's what I'm telling everybody, that I need access to the information."
Blue Cross already offers a special budget-based payment plan to doctors and hospitals, and doctors employed by MetroWest Medical have already signed up. Blue Cross has been pushing the contracts lately, and the hospital itself is likely to do so when its existing deal is up, Soran said.
To control costs, MetroWest Medical is also working with self-insured groups such as municipalities and larger firms to design cost-saving tiered plans so co-pays and deductibles are lower at hospitals that charge less. Blue Cross offers a similar product, with the hospital on the cheaper rung, said Dennis Irish, a Vanguard vice president.
He stressed MetroWest Medical Center's quality, comparing it to pricier destinations.
"There's no statistically significant difference between us," he said.
(Michael Morton can be reached at 508-626-4338 or mmorton@cnc.com.)


text:
package cards.util;

import cards.french.PlayingCard;
import cards.french.PlayingCardFactory;
import org.junit.Assert;
import org.junit.Test;

/**
 *
 * @author Benjamin Schellenberger <benrain@gmail.com>
 */
public class CardDeckTest {

    public CardDeckTest() {
    }

    @Test
    public void ensureSeparateDecksAreNotEqual() {
        CardDeck deck1 = new CardDeck();
        Assert.assertFalse(deck1.equals(new CardDeck()));

        CardDeck<PlayingCard> standardDeck1 = PlayingCardFactory.getDeck();
        CardDeck<PlayingCard> standardDeck2 = PlayingCardFactory.getDeck();
        Assert.assertFalse(standardDeck1.equals(standardDeck2));

        CardDeck<PlayingCard> standardDeck3 = standardDeck1;
        Assert.assertTrue(standardDeck3.equals(standardDeck1));
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Join the NIU Muslim Student Association and the Islamic Center of DeKalb in a gathering of strength, solidarity, and love on Thursday, March 28, 2019, as they honor the victims of the terror attacks that occurred in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The Unity Event will take place from 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. in the Sandburg Auditorium of the NIU Holmes Student Center, 340 Carroll Avenue, DeKalb, IL. Following from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. will be a Mosque Open House at the Islamic Center of DeKalb, 801 Normal Road.
I would strongly recommend anyone who has negative feelings about Muslims to attend this event and talk to some people there. It might help you to get a new perspective.