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Home Agenda The Tribune Accused of hurting sentiments, poet takes asylum in Europe
Accused of hurting sentiments, poet takes asylum in Europe
Vishav Bharti
Chandigarh, October 29
Haunted by the government as well as Khalistani and Hindu fundamentalists alike, young Punjabi poet Surjit Gag has taken political asylum in a European country. He was underground for almost two years.
It's not easy to live in exile. One gets a feeling of alienation among the people whose culture and language are not related to you. - Surjit Gag
He said he had been granted political asylum on Wednesday. Surjit, who hailed from Gag village in Anandpur Sahib, was booked thrice under Section 295A (outraging religious feelings) of the IPC in 2017 and 2018.
Surjit, who initially eked out his living as a television technician and later as a clerk at a private institute, belongs to a new generation of Punjabi poets who shot to fame on Facebook. He has been extremely critical of religious 'middlemen' in his creative expression. "I became active on Facebook in 2010. Within a year, controversies started erupting around my poems. Soon abuse and threats by fundamentalist groups became a routine," he said.
His two works 'I and Nanak' and an essay on Dasehra in which he critically looked at the Hindu mythology remained the most controversial. "I was booked in 2017 on a complaint given by the head granthi of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. I had to spent two months in jail, where I was attacked," he says.
Soon, two more cases were slapped against him. "Perhaps, he is the only Punjabi poet who faced such a serious threat from the state and religious bigots. It is also a case when a democratic country failed to protect its citizen's fundamental rights," says Prof Jagmohan Singh, president, Association for Democratic Rights, Punjab, who once led a delegation to the police for his protection.
Writer Surjit Patar says, "When a poet has to live in exile, it indicates that his motherland is not ready for a dialogue with him," he says.
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2Jl4odl


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William Carey University starts conference play this weekend, and the Crusaders aren't just dipping a toe in the water. Carey will dive into the deep end of the Southern States Athletic Conference pool when it meets NAIA fourth-ranked Faulkner in Montgomery, Ala. Faulkner is 12-4, 8-2 at home. The Crusaders are 4-7 and coming off a 10-2 home win against No. 25 LSU-Shreveport on Tuesday. That was Carey's first game in 10 days. The win snapped a four-game skid. Jonathan Turner, a senior from McComb, has swung a hot bat (.452) for the Crusaders, but the team is batting just .245. At some point in the three-game set that starts tonight, Carey will face Eagles ace Evan Gillespie, who is 4-0 with a spotless ERA. The Crusaders' ace has been J.C. Sanner, a senior from Hattiesburg who is 2-1, 0.00. The big threat in Faulkner's lineup is Max Guzman, batting .377 with four homers, 18 RBIs. … There are two Mississippians on Faulkner's roster: Clinton's Staton Todd and Vicksburg's Marcus Ragan, both Mississippi juco products.
One big rally was all the William Carey Crusaders had in them on Monday. After overcoming an eight-run deficit to beat LSU-Shreveport 11-10 in 10 innings, the Crusaders were whipped by St. Thomas 8-2 in the final game of the day in the NAIA Opening Round tournament in Hattiesburg. Carey (34-25), seeking a return to the NAIA World Series, faces an elimination game today. The Crusaders got key hits from Wes Brown, J.T. Wright and Caleb Ledet in their victory, which came on a walk-off HBP, but also rode the stellar relief work of Lake Robertson and Dylan Spiers (a combined five shutout innings). In their second game, the Crusaders ran into a buzzsaw in top-seeded St. Thomas. Orlando Rodriguez scattered seven hits over eight innings to improve to 14-0 and Jackie Urbaez and Mississippi State transfer Elih Marrero combined for seven RBIs for the Bobcats, who matched a school record with their 54th win. P.S. On the MLB front, former state prep stars Anthony Alford and Hunter Renfroe have been optioned to the minors. Alford, from Petal, went 2-for-14 in seven games for Toronto, which shipped him back to Triple-A Buffalo. Former Mississippi State star Renfroe, from Crystal Springs, was optioned to Triple-A El Paso by San Diego. He was hitting .200 with two homers in 17 games when he went on the disabled list with an arm injury in mid-April. He hasn't played since.
Tuesday was a test of resilience for three college programs that endured serious disappointment over the weekend. Ole Miss, William Carey and Millsaps all showed a little something. The No. 4-ranked Rebels, coming off an SEC series loss to scuffling Mississippi State, bounced back with an 11-3 win against No. 12 Southern Miss before a crowd of 5,772 at Trustmark Park in Pearl. Chase Cockrell and Thomas Dillard drove in three runs each and Houston Roth improved to 5-0 for the Rebels (28-6), who'll take a 7-5 conference record to Vanderbilt this weekend. Carey, ranked 11th in the latest NAIA poll, was swept at home by top-ranked Faulkner in a big Southern States Athletic Conference series last weekend. The Crusaders rebounded Tuesday with a 7-1 win in the opener of a doubleheader at LSU-Alexandria behind the bat of Marcus Buckley and the arm of Lake Robertson. WCU lost Game 2 7-4. The Crusaders (26-14, 10-5 SSAC) travel to Loyola (La.) for their next league series this weekend. Millsaps, hoping to make a late push in the Southern Athletic Association standings, was swept at home by Sewanee over the weekend, falling to 8-10 in the conference. Fueled by the hitting of Christian Cooper and six innings of stellar relief from Chris Guerin, the Majors responded Tuesday with a 6-4 victory at East Texas Baptist. NCAA Division III Millsaps (20-16) finishes SAA play at Centre this weekend. P.S. On the day he was named to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List, Delta State's Zack Shannon smacked his nation-leading 23rd home run in an 8-3 win vs. Harding. Shannon is batting .445 with 70 RBIs for DSU, 29-6 and ranked as high as fifth in Division II.
MGM Park in Biloxi would be a nice place to post up today. The home of the Southern League's Shuckers is hosting a college doubleheader: Mississippi College-William Carey University at 1 p.m., Mississippi State-Southeastern Louisiana at 6:35. The Bulldogs are 10-6, having recovered – apparently – from their 0-3 start at Southern Miss and the dismissal of their head coach for off-field issues. This will be their final tuneup for SEC play, which starts Friday against Vanderbilt in Starkville. Unsung Southeastern Louisiana, which always seems to have a good team, is 11-6. The Lions' roster includes several Mississippians, notably Trey Shaffer, last year's state Gatorade Player of the Year at Biloxi High, and ex-Hinds Community College star Kyle Schimpf. No less intriguing is the MC-Carey game, which could evolve into an annual rivalry. Both are nationally ranked, MC (15-3) in NCAA Division II, Carey (18-5) in NAIA. The resurgent Choctaws claimed two walk-off wins last weekend, one on a homer by Blaine Crim. Crim, at .351, is one of six regulars batting .350 or better, topped by Billy Cameron, a former Mendenhall High and East Central CC standout, at .464. He has four homers and 17 RBIs. This will be just the fourth game away from home for Carey, which went to the NAIA World Series in 2017. Christian Smith, from Carriere, has been the Crusaders' sparkplug, batting .329 with 21 runs and 20 steals, leading a team that has 55 bags. David Pimentel adds pop with three homers and 16 RBIs.


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Video Screenshots Showing Chicago Police Officers Allegedly Deleting Laquan McDonald Shooting Footage Emerge
JohnThomas Didymus
Two grainy screenshots have emerged for the first time that appear to show police officers sitting at a computer inside a Burger King, reviewing security footage files on the night 17-year-old African American Laquan McDonald was shot 16 times by police officer Jason Van Dyke.
The images emerge as Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said on Tuesday that, in a letter to the U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, she has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to step in and investigate whether the Chicago PD's actions in relation to the shooting case have violated federal and constitutional law.
The screenshots, obtained by NBC Chicago (NBC 5), appear to show at least one police officer sitting at a computer in the office of a Burger King. Although the grainy images do not show exactly what the officers were doing, Jay Darshane, district manager for the Burger King at Pulaski Road and 40th Street, claims that police officers came to the Burger King with IT specialists after the shooting and worked on the computer for about three hours.
Darshane believes the officers deleted footage relating to the shooting of 17-year-old African American Laquan McDonald from the servers.
Explaining how the officers were caught on camera apparently tampering with Burger King's surveillance footage files, Chicago attorney Craig Futterman, who told NPR he has seen the footage, said, "We interviewed people from Burger King that was located kitty-corner to where this happened — and the Burger King cameras had seven different video files. The officer went into the Burger King, and he erased all seven of those files. The irony is, though, that the Burger King surveillance video was running while the officer erased them. And so there's a videotape of the officer erasing the video."
About an hour and a half of surveillance footage covering the time that McDonald was shot and killed is missing from the servers of the Chicago Burger King located less than a hundred yards away from the scene of the murder. NBC Chicago reported Darshane said Burger King's surveillance cameras were working properly on the night of the shooting and at the time that several police officers came — soon after the shooting on October 20, 2014 — and demanded access to the surveillance files.
Darshane said he discovered a few hours after the officers left that about 86 minutes of footage — 9:13 p.m. to 10:39 p.m. — was missing. Although it is unlikely the surveillance footage captured the shooting, he believes that two cameras captured footage containing vital evidence relating to events before and after the shooting, including details of McDonald's behavior and moments before police officer Van Dyke shot and killed him."
"We had no idea they were going to sit there and delete files. I mean we were just trying to help the police officers."
Van Dyke reportedly fired the first of 16 shots at about 9:57 p.m., and most of the shots were fired after the teenager had fallen to the ground.
Testifying before a federal grand jury in May, Darshane said he believed the officers deleted relevant footage. But Chicago Police Department officials contested the claim, saying that forensic tests have failed to yield evidence that surveillance footage files were tampered with.
Police Superintendent McCarthy and Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez claimed that the missing footage was likely due to technical difficulties with the video equipment. According to McCarthy, allegations that officers had tampered with the surveillance footage files were "absolutely untrue."
He said, "In no way, shape or form is there any evidence that anything was tampered with."
Speaking with reporters, Alvarez said, "We have looked at those videos and… it doesn't appear that it's been tampered with."
The latest developments come after Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the dismissal of Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy following protests against his handling of the McDonald murder case. Although he praised McCarthy for his leadership since 2011, he said there was a need for change because public trust in the police has been eroded by the recent incidents.
"Now is the time for fresh eyes and new leadership. Any case of excessive force or abuse of authority undermines the entire force and the trust we must build with every community in the city," Emanuel said.
Meanwhile, a 15-second clip has emerged on social media showing a police officer accusing Mayor Rahm Emanuel of colluding in the cover-up of McDonald's murder. The clip, which first appeared on Instagram account @xaneetta, was later uploaded to the Twitter account of radio host Yesenia Alvarez, according to the Daily Mail.
VIDEO: Chicago Police Officer states #RahmEmmanuel was involved in the cover-up of #LaquanMcDonald. pic.twitter.com/RHFgjQEXkf
— Yesenia Betty Boop (@YesiOnAir) December 1, 2015
The officer alleged that Emanuel "paid the family (Laquan McDonald's) to shut them up."
Commenting on her decision to ask for a federal civil rights investigation, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, said, "The shocking death of Laquan McDonald is the latest tragedy in our city that highlights serious questions about the use of unlawful and excessive force by Chicago police officers and the lack of accountability for such abuse. Trust in the Chicago Police Department is broken. Chicago cannot move ahead and rebuild trust between the police and the community without an outside, independent investigation into its police department to improve policing practices."
"The children in all of Chicago's communities deserve to grow up in a city in which they are protected and served by the police," she added.
[Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast/AP]


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Embedding Gender Equity Into Companies' DNA: An Investor Consortium Builds the Evidence Base for Gender Lens Investing
As gender lens investing moves into the mainstream, investors and enterprises need support in getting buy-in for this approach – and in implementing it effectively. To that end, the Gender-Smart Enterprise Assistance Research Coalition is working to build the evidence base for investing with a gender lens, with support from the Performance Measurement and Improvement team at the William Davidson Institute. NextBillion spoke with Lisa Willems at AlphaMundi and Rebecca Fries at Value for Women about the momentum that's driving gender lens investing, the challenges it faces and the work the new consortium is doing.
Investing, NextBillion Originals
gender equality, gender lens, impact investing, impact investors, measurement, SMEs, social business, social impact
Surveying the Landscape for Social Investments in Africa: A Major New Study Assesses the Current State of Play on the Continent
The social investment sector in Africa is dynamic and growing – but it's struggling to close the enormous Sustainable Development Goals financing gap. The African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) explored the opportunities and obstacles facing social investors on the continent in an ambitious new study, "The Landscape for Social Investments in Africa." NextBillion interviewed AVPA's CEO, Frank Aswani, to discuss the study's findings, and what they say about the current state of social investment in Africa.
Entrepreneurship, Investing
impact investing, innovation, investors, philanthropy, research, SDGs, social enterprise, social impact, social investment
Startups and Venture Capital vs. COVID-19: How an INR 1 Billion Grant Program Is Boosting India's Pandemic Response
India is home to many innovative startups that are leveraging technology to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. To support them, a group of prominent venture capital funds and founders recently launched ACT Grants, an INR 1 billion effort to fund scale-ready solutions to COVID-related challenges. NextBillion spoke with Mekin Maheshwari, founder of Udhyam Learning Foundation – a key partner in the initiative – about how it is helping India's startups ramp up their battle against the virus.
Coronavirus, Health Care, Investing, Technology
coronavirus, healthcare, impact investing, innovation, public private partnerships, scale, startups, technology, telemedicine, venture capital
Moving Past Traditional Philanthropy: A Q&A with Enterprise Development Pioneer Frank Giustra
Earlier this year, the Clinton Giustra Enterprise Partnership announced that it was spinning off from the Clinton Foundation, where it had been an initiative since its founding in 2007. The independent organization, now called Acceso, works to build businesses and connect them to the broader marketplace – particularly in Latin America. Its founder, Frank Giustra, discusses its new focus and ongoing work in this Q&A.
Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, Investing
agribusiness, agriculture, business development, Clinton Foundation, emerging markets, ESG investing, global development, impact investing, interviews, job creation, philanthropy, poverty alleviation, small business, social business, social enterprise, social impact, supply chains
Closing in on the SDG Home Stretch: A Q&A with Florian Kemmerich and Lucica Ditiu at SDG500
Six new funds comprise the new SDG500 initiative – a first-of-its-kind, $500 million investment platform aimed at accelerating progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Florian Kemmerich at Bamboo Capital Partners and Lucica Ditiu of the Stop TB Partnership spoke with NextBillion to share a behind-the-scenes look at how the initiative aims to reach its goals by 2030.
Finance, Investing
blended finance, emerging markets, global development, impact finance, impact investing, interviews, LMICs, Q&As, SDGs, small business, SMEs, Sustainable Development, United Nations
Investing from the 'Frontier of the Frontier': Lessons from Ten Years as an Investment Advisor in Africa
With six of the world's 10 fastest-growing economies, Africa is an attractive target for investors. But investing there doesn't always come easy. Ten years ago, Andreas Zeller moved to Nairobi and co-founded Open Capital Advisors, which helps investors access African markets, and helps African businesses become investment-ready. In this interview, Zeller discusses how development and donor agencies can remove the barriers to investment throughout the continent.
business development, emerging markets, ESG investing, impact finance, impact investing, interviews
Big Investors Need to Change the Way They Do Business: A Q&A with the GIIN's Co-Founder and CEO, Amit Bouri
The overall impact investing market portfolio is now estimated at half a trillion dollars. So how are Asia – and specifically India – shaping up in terms of impact investment growth and development? Smarinita Shetty, co-founder and CEO at India Development Review, asks this and other questions in this interview with Amit Bouri, the CEO and co-founder of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). Bouri notes that despite several new retail opportunities, it's still not enough to move the needle.
emerging markets, GIIN, impact finance, impact investing, philanthropy, scale, social enterprise, sustainable finance
Financial Inclusion Week: Reflection and Action from Three Leading Voices
Today, the Center for Financial Inclusion is wrapping up Financial Inclusion Week. The intention for the week was to ask some soul-searching questions about what it means to be inclusive – and about how financial access in the age of fintech can impact the lives of millions, for good or ill. We caught up with three leading voices in the field, asking each of them three key questions focused on what financial inclusion means to them from a personal, organizational and international standpoint.
Finance, Impact Assessment, Investing, Technology
digital finance, financial inclusion, financial products, fintech, interviews, mobile finance, mobile money, social impact


The days of huge signing bonuses for chief executives are over, at least for the present. So said a study by Christian & Timbers, a global executive search firm.
Base salaries for the top dogs continued to rise, up 6% through June 15, but are well short of the standard 15% increase recorded from 1999 to 2000.
CEO bonuses took the biggest hit, down 47%.
"The elimination of many CEO positions . . . combined with a depressed stock market has reduced the pressure on companies to offer bonuses," said Jeffrey Christian, chairman and CEO of Christian & Timbers.
"It's not as tough to keep a CEO 'whole' in terms of salary and stock options."


Hello again! There's a little delay on the blog since I'm having some physical issues with my neck. Unfortunately this prevents me from making outfit photos since I'm walking around like Quasimodo haha. But meanwhile I have some new stuff around me to show you. After showing you my little grumpy clutch, I also decided to order the tote bag. I've always been a big fan of the Fendi monster bags but of course they are way out my budget. When I discovered the Esprit Monster collection I thought this shopper bag came very close to the Fendi monster bag. It's a great affordable alternative and a black shopper is always a good purchase. If you don't like the grumpy monster you can always turn it around cause the backside is full black. I think it's a good purchase and I'll use it a lot! :) Ps. It also looks a lot like the Karl Lagerfeld Choupette bag!
Deze tas is zo cool!


On some calendars, yesterday was Nap Day.
We, ah, might've slept through it.
If these pictures are a result of you two sleeping through it ... I'm so glad you did!
Hmmm...methinks you celebrated in the most appropriate way!
We had no idea it was Nap Day yesterday. Thank COD you told us. We'll be sure to make everything right today.
Nap Day?? It was Nap Day? How come no one told us!! Now, we're going to have to nap extra just to catch up!
It looks to me like you celebrated properly!
looks like you made a good job of celebrating it.
Everyday is nap day here.
You sure know how to celebrate nap day :) Adorable photos.
You boys are silly. And sleepy.
We celebrate Nap Day everyday!
You all celebrated purrzactly right!
Nap day happens here almost all the days of the year, MOL!!!
Oh you look so very sweet, boys!
WE always enjoy a good nap!
Looks like a happy nappy time.
Yup I slept through it too, but I am collecting together all of the good bits I've missed so I can have one very big good day, mostly made up of naps!


The Smoothwall System uses the concept of groups to provide a means of organizing and managing similar user accounts. Authentication-enabled services can associate permissions and restrictions to each group of user accounts, thus enabling them to dynamically apply rules on a per-user account basis.
Users can be mapped to Default Users. The main purpose of this group is to allow certain authentication-enabled services to define permissions and restrictions for users that are not specifically mapped to a Smoothwall System group, that is, users that can be authenticated, but who are not mapped to a specific Smoothwall System authentication group.
It is possible to add groups to the Smoothwall System. Currently, the Smoothwall System supports 1000 groups.
1. On the Services > Authentication > Groups page, point to the group and click Edit.
2. Edit the changes as required. For a detailed description of available settings, see Adding User Groups .
Once you have successfully configured a connection to a directory, you can map the groups the Smoothwall System retrieves from the directory in order to apply permissions and restrictions to the users in the groups.
Note: These instructions are only for directories, not configured as Local users. For a detailed description of how to map local users, see Configuring a Local Users Directory .
2. Expand the relevant directory group, and click Add new group mapping.
• Directory group — Depending on the directory service configured, add or select the directory group to map from.
• Local group — From the drop-down menu, select the relevant group.
• Enabled — Select this option to enable or disable the group mapping.


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Kevin's Watch Forum Index -> Andelain -> Sports
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Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:30 pm Post subject: Olympic Games
They're almost upon us!!
Who's watching? Any favourite events? Which country will get the most gold? World records? Amazing feats?
Women's beach volleyball is on my list - for the skill of course
Hugs and sh!t!! ~ lucimay
Menolly
Gravin Threndor, how I love thee.
Location: Harper Hall, Fort Hold, Northern Continent, Pern...
148640 White Gold Dollars
I'm generally not a sports person, except for NCAA/SEC football and a few teams for american football. But, I always enjoy both the summer and winter Olympics.
For the summer games I follow these sports, although I do not know if any have been cut or added since the last games:
Gymnastics, particularly rhythmic and floor exercise
Swimming (UF's swimming coach Greg Troy is the head coach of the American men's team, and Ryan Lochte is a former Gator athlete)
Karate, particularly kata, since I studied karate-do
That's pretty much it for me. I'm not a huge track and field or team sports fan. However, if the US developes medal hopes, I admit I'll probably find myself pulling for them, whichever spoort is contending.
Proudly wearing Purple
Location: Lincolnshire, England
Hmm, I might watch some tennis, but nothing else really takes my fancy.
I am playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order!
"I must state plainly, Linden, that you have become wondrous in my sight."
sgt.null
jack of odd trades; master of fun
USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
"life's not a paragraph
And death i think is no parenthesis"
― E.E. Cummings
sgt.null wrote:
Finally someone with a pulse!
I'm interested to see if the 100m world record will be broken.
I'll say,
...and...
GO ABBY!!!
Wambach helps U.S. open Olympics with win
Florida alum and United States standout Abby Wambach, right, heads the ball over France's Ophelie Meilleroux during a women's group G soccer match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, at Hampden Park Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland. (AP Photo/Chris Clark)
Damelon
Does FU have an Olympic team?
Yesterday, I downloaded an app from NBC listing event times and channels along with highlight clips. I'll be stuck in the house for a lot of Saturday waiting for repairmen. Looking at the schedule, for me, it will be watching cycling in the morning followed by swimming later.
But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown. ~ Carl Sagan
No New Hampshire Olympians
By Monitor staff and wire
Jenny Thompson, where are you when we need you?
According to Time magazine, New Hampshire is only one of five states that won't be sending an Olympian for the summer games in London. Of the 530 athletes on the U.S. roster, Time reports, California has the most - 128. Wyoming, with a population of 568,158, has the most per capita - two - which earned it special praise from Time: "Congratulations, Wyoming. You're the most Olympian state in the union."
The other states besides New Hampshire without an athlete at the Olympics: New Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina and South Dakota.
We have a swimmer from Lincoln
Damelon wrote:
I will admit surprise that there are no female gymnasts from UF in these games. Unless the competitors are still younger than college age...
So, being on the west coast of the US, coverage of the Opening Ceremonies has yet to start. I completely missed the Beijing games, as the house in Gator Town does not receive an NBC affiliate. From what I am hearing though, their Opening Ceremonies were apparently a tough act to follow and many are expressing disappointment in what they are seeing/have seen tonight.
Thoughts from those who are watching/have seen the London Opening Ceremonies?
Savor Dam
Will Be Herd!
Location: Pacific NorthWet
Menolly wrote:
I completely missed the Beijing games, as the house in Gator Town does not receive an NBC affiliate. From what I am hearing though, their Opening Ceremonies were apparently a tough act to follow and many are expressing disappointment in what they are seeing/have seen tonight.
I have a digital recording of the Beijing opening ceremony (16 GB complete...3 GB without the endless parade of athletes) that I would be happy to let you watch just for comparison after tonight's ceremony.
Oh, and we are delighted that you have been here on the left coast of the US these last few months...
Love prevails.
~ Tracie Mckinney-Hammon
Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.
~ Rainier Maria Rilke
It's more that NBC has been butchering the coverage. Nothing unusual about that, I might add.
Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 6:24 pm Post subject:
Unfortunately I watched from just before the parade of countries began to the end. I say unfortunately because it didn't finish until after 1 in the morning and I had to be up at 6.
The next to last bit was the best - the young athletes lighting the cauldron, and the effect of all the kettles becoming one big flame.
Macca's voice appeared to have recovered somewhat from the Jubilee celebrations, but ............. oh dear!
Woo hoo - Aussies win their first gold in the 4 x 100m freestyle!
China have 4 gold after day 1!
I watched the first hour or so of the opening ceremony - I was impressed. Have the rest recorded so will watch when I get a chance.
Ah, then I won't comment much on the ceremony other than to say that I thought it was overall pretty good. Though I still think Barcelona had the best torch lighting of any of the games I've watched.
Mostly on the first day I watched archery and women's fencing. The U.S. won the silver in the men's team archery, losing to Italy on the final shot - a 10 point shot that the Italians had to make. The Italians also swept the medals in the woman's individual foil.
LONDON — Under a drizzly gray sky, Kim Rhode on Sunday became the first American athlete to win five medals in an individual event in five consecutive Olympic Games.
Rhode, center, earned a gold medal in women's skeet on Sunday, setting an Olympic record and tying the world record. Wei Ning of China, left, finished the event in second place, and Danka Bartekova of Slovakia earned the bronze medal in a shootout.
She earned a gold medal in women's skeet, setting an Olympic record and tying the world record by hitting 99 of 100 targets. She also became the first woman to win three gold medals in Olympic shooting.
"I don't think it's really sunk in yet, from the time I shot to present, it's just been a whirlwind of emotions," Rhode said. "It's incredible. I'm just waiting for someone to pinch me."
Rhode, 33, hit an Olympic record 74 of 75 targets in the preliminary rounds at the Royal Artillery Barracks, shattering the 2008 record of 72.
She cast purple plumes in the air as she hit target after target after target, calmly casting her discarded shells into the basket beside her. Realizing she was on her way to gold, Rhode cracked a smile after hitting her 95th shot.
Wei Ning of China finished the event in second place, hitting 91 targets, with Marina Belikova of Russia and Danka Bartekova of Slovakia each hitting 90 targets. Bartekova earned the bronze medal in a shootout.
After Rhode's final shot, the audience rose to its feet for an ovation, which was followed by Rhode's tearful acceptance of her medal.
"I don't think it ever becomes old hat," she said of the Olympics, adding, "It's really about the journey."
Rhode's path to the record books was not a linear one.
In the four years leading to the London Games, she had a breast cancer scare, and the gun she had used for years — a prized, customized and pricey possession for elite shooters — was stolen from her car after the Beijing Games. It was recovered a year later, but in the interim, she had to adjust to a new firearm, which she likened to a swimmer having to learn a new stroke.
"It was very fortunate to have gotten it back," she said. The gun she won the gold medal with Sunday was the one that was donated to her when her gun was stolen.
"It's a pretty amazing story to have so many people who believe in you," she said.
"The journey to this one was one of my most challenging," she said. It made her winning of the medal "that much sweeter."
More recently, Rhode, of El Monte, Calif., faced several flight delays getting from Southern California to Europe and ended up flying directly to London, missing the team training camp in Denmark. The weather during Sunday's event — wind, changes in lighting and rain — didn't help either, she said. "In the end, it made me focus that much harder," she said.
Rhode, who has another competition (women's trap) in five days, began shooting when she was 10 and is coached by her father.
She began her Olympic career with a gold medal in double trap in 1996 at 17, making her the youngest person to win an Olympic medal in the sport. Then, after the 2004 Games in Athens, women's double trap, was eliminated from the Games.
Undeterred, she made the transition to skeet and earned a silver medal in that event at the Beijing Games.
She averages 500 to 1,000 rounds a day, seven days a week.
"They have me at 3 million-plus targets under my belt," she said. "I know at a very young age, I was very focused."
In addition to being an expert markswoman, Rhode builds and restores antique and muscle cars and is an avid collector of first-edition children's books, her favorite being "The Wizard of Oz."
Rhode's fifth medal elevates her standing in an elite group of medal-heavy American female Olympians, with the likes of Bonnie Blair in speed skating and Jackie Joyner-Kersee in track.
Shooting is a rare Olympic sport known for longevity among its athletes, with competitors appearing on Olympic teams well into middle age. Rhode said she wanted to continue with the sport beyond the London Games.
"It's something definitely I can do for a long time," Rhode said, adding that she planned to compete in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. "Right now, I'm just going to take it one competition at a time."
the aging savage
35375 White Gold Dollars
Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:20 am Post subject:
I'm not a sports fan or particularly nationalistic as a rule but today I have to say I'm proud to be British. Last night I finally got to see my recording of the opening ceremony (damn having to work for a living ) and despite all my fears that we would make a complete hash of it, it was fantastic! I don't know if it would have meant very much to non-brits but I'm sure it would still have been a damn good show. The choice of Danny Boyle to produce the show was inspired (again despite my reservations) and I take my hat off to whoever made it. The opening section was choreographed to perfection and the final lighting of the crucible is unlikely to be equalled for many an Olympiad to come. Boyle's tribute to Sir Tim Berners-Lee who developed the World Wide Web and then gave it to the world free of charge with the words 'This Is For Everyone' was a thankyou from us all. Congratulations to all involved from the biggest humble pie eater on the planet. I salute you!
http://jhfv.blogspot.co.uk/
....and the glory of the world becomes less than it was....
'Have we not served you well'
'Of course - you know you have.'
'Then let it end.'
We are the Bloodguard
Cybrweez
The Gap Into Spam
Location: Jamesburg, NJ
Heh, the bronze medal match in skeet shooting ended in a shootout.
"Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur."
Whatever is said in Latin sounds profound.
I believe in the One who says there is life after this.
Now tell me how much more open can my mind be?
Obi-Wan Nihilo
Ego non semper sapiens
Watching the women's water polo match between US/Hungary today I couldn't help but think how cool it would be if Marco Polo were an olympic sport... maybe you could throw tag in there as well as king of the mountain...
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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70% of consumers have yet to act on voice search results alone, says Yext
By Newsroom on November 8, 2018 Comments Off on 70% of consumers have yet to act on voice search results alone, says Yext
Over two thirds (70%) of consumer have yet to act on voice search results, with many concerned about the accuracy of online business information, according to new research.
The 'Accuracy in the Age of Voice Search' Report by Yext found that 35% of consumers have discovered opening hours displayed online have been inaccurate upon checking with the physical restaurant or store. This inevitably leads to consumers' mistrust in voice that brands must proactively rebuild.
Most consumers still have to qualify the top online search result by checking three or four sources
56% believe voice assistants ought to indicate how confident they are of the facts
BUT just 22% feel that the accuracy of voice search results is down to the search engine – rather many feel that it is down to retailers and brands to ensure
As a result, when completing any kind of search online, 52% of consumers surveyed still qualify the information by checking on three or four online sources.
Jon Buss, Managing Director UK & Northern Europe, Yext, comments "People are increasingly searching for business information on their voice devices. However, if companies fail to present accurate, comprehensive facts, people risk arriving in the wrong place at the wrong time. This leaves a bad taste in the customer's mouth and results in a negative experience they may share with friends and colleagues."
To address the knowledge gap between technology and brands, more than half of the consumers surveyed (56%) believe voice assistants ought to have different voices that indicate how confident they are of the facts. This feature could, for instance, forewarn users of changes in opening hours around Bank Holidays.
While such warnings can lessen the blow of inaccurate information for intelligent service providers, just 22% of UK consumers state that the accuracy of voice search results is down to the search engine to guarantee. Instead, over half of the UK respondents surveyed perceive that responsibility should rest with the retailers and brands.
In light of this, brands must consider how they can proactively build trust over voice. Buss explains, "Brands have to be conscious of the assumptions consumers are making. If online information leads them astray it's the logo on the closed storefront they are upset with. Crucially, improving the voice search experience involves not just ensuring the information is right, but also starting to think about how users can access and provide customer feedback through voice to propagate valuable insights."
The good news is progress is already being made. Three in five voice users already feel they trust the information their smart voice assistant provides more now compared to before they had owned one.
From a seasonal perspective, retailers will also have to pay particular attention to voice search around the upcoming sales peaks of Black Friday and Cyber Week. Not only do nine in ten consumers that currently use voice search (89%) plan purchases around winter sales periods, but they believe that electronics (49%) and fashion (28%) are among the most promising fields for voice search and shopping.
Buss concludes, "Voice search is the testing ground for a world in which keyboards, keyword searches and confusing user interfaces are abandoned. In this world, accurate digital knowledge is the only resource standing in between the customer arriving at the right place, at the right time, and something going very wrong."
To ensure brands are ready, Yext announced the next generation of digital knowledge management, Yext Brain, at its ONWARD18 conference earlier this week. This new technology allows businesses to create and relate all the facts about themselves in an artificial intelligence-ready data structure, so they can answer detailed questions such as 'Which store is hosting a Black Friday event?' through AI-enabled consumer services, including search, voice assistants, and chatbots.
Source: Net Imperative
Black Friday, Cyber Week, Digital, eCommerce, Marketing, Report, Research, Retail, Study, UK, Voice search, Voice Technology, Yext
70% of consumers have yet to act on voice search results alone, says Yext added by Newsroom on November 8, 2018


Vince began his investment career during the 1997-1998 Asian crisis and was immediately intrigued by the interaction of fear, greed and central bank actions on market prices. His interest in credit and interest rate cycles has continued ever since. Vince believes opportunities present themselves only periodically and an astute investor must be ready to act decisively to produce exceptional long-term results. As a fixed income Portfolio Manager at Burgundy, he patiently waits for opportunities where he can apply Burgundy's investment philosophy.


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To commemorate National Energy Action Month, we're featuring some scarily effective ways to save energy at home. As cooler weather lurks around the corner, tune in to energy.gov throughout the month of October for ways to save energy and money -- and avoid cold weather terrors like energy vampires. We also put together some energy-themed pumpkin patterns to help "energize" your neighborhood for Halloween. Send us photos of your energy-themed jack-o-lanterns via Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or email at newmedia@hq.doe.gov and we'll share our favorites during the week of Halloween.


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SME Network
Learn about the world-class management education offered at JGBS.
BBA (Hons.)
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Our students have excelled in various fields of corporate world and have risen to very responsible positions.
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About>
Jindal Global Business School is the leading Business School in India renowned for premier education in business management with transformation being our overall aim
JGBS offers a multidisciplinary global business education to foster academic excellence through industry partnerships and global collaborations. JGBS seek to make an impact through its various degree programmes, executive education, research and consulting. It promotes global courses and curriculum, global research and collaborations, and global programmes and interaction through a global faculty.
JGBS fosters curriculum, research, and collaborations of the highest standards, and with a global perspective, through a faculty drawn from and educated throughout the world.
JGBS is an institution for research and scholarship for progressive research issue in contemporary Indian business scenario. JGBS focuses on multi-disciplinary international research perspectives.
JGBS is ranked 250-300 amongst 9000 universities in the BRICS and is also the member of Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. JGBS is also recognised and granted Autonomy by UGC.
The articulated Vision of the Business School is:
To be a globally acclaimed business school providing transformative and responsible management education through impactful interdisciplinary teaching and research.
The core Values of the Business School align with those of JGU and are as follows:
Focus on methods, outcomes and impact
Academic freedom in line with standards followed by the world's top universities
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The articulated Mission of the Business School is:
To provide an enabling and engaging environment that inculcates a spirit of inquiry and participative peer learning to build leadership and entrepreneurial capabilities.
To enable learning through innovative pedagogy and exposure to cutting-edge global management and business practices.
To nurture our students to be socially and ethically responsible citizens sensitive to local and global issues.
To co-create, with stakeholders, rigorous and relevant interdisciplinary research with business and social impact.
To create knowledge and build capacity at the intersection of business, finance and technology, to benefit civil society, industry, and policymakers
To create a collegial, inclusive and collaborative culture that helps attract global faculty and foster academic partnerships.
The school encourages students to take courses from other schools that would supplement their learning with different perspectives.
JGU has faculty from the best schools in the world, which provides students a unique opportunity to learn from the top academics and professionals of the business world.
Global Curriculum
With businesses crossing borders, you cannot afford to be left behind. That is why our programmes teach you the best global business practices, and equip you with the skills to work anywhere in the world.
Several JGU students spend time undertaking study abroad through immersion trips, semester exchange, or transfer to earn a second degree from foreign partner institutions. Here, students can also add to their global credentials by learning a foreign language on campus.
Our Career Development and Placement Assistance Unit works consistently to ensure that when you are ready to graduate, you have the opportunity to pursue the career areas where your passion and skills lie.
Curriculum and Pedagogy
Business education is witnessing a shift from conventional to innovative learning. Increasingly, students need to be trained in real life situations which enable them to effectively respond to business issues.
JISMEC (Jindal Initiative for SME Collaboration) is an initiative by Jindal Global Business School (JGBS) to forge a strong relationship between the students and the SMEs by active exchange of information and ideas between the two stakeholders. JISMEC opens a new avenue for the scholars where they have a hands on experience in building successful businesses.
Ji-Sen is a network of social enterprises, non-governmental organizations and Jindal Business School. The network is created for mutual benefit of partner institutions and larger stakeholders. The network will work towards achieving the agenda of sustainable development goals through the involvement of multiple stakeholders. Universities and like-minded partner institutions across the globe…
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Linear Measurement Instruments has provided a variety of high quality dimensional gauging systems for over 20 years. We have a strong research and development division to meet the quality standards you need. LMI can help you establish a competitive advantage. We serve the automotive, aerospace and glass industries. Call us or visit our website today for more information.
LNA is a global leader in quality Nd:YAG lasers, marking lasers, diode lasers and laser technology. We are a new addition to the Laservall SPA group and all of our companies are dedicated to the design and manufacture of cutting-edge laser products. Contact us today for your laser needs.
Markem-Imaje is a trusted manufacturer of product identification and traceability solutions delivering the perfect laser system solution. Our full line includes inkjet, thermal transfer, print and apply label, laser systems and RFID-based systems. We exceed customer expectations by setting the standard for delivering the most reliable and innovative laser and label solutions around the world.
When you choose Mazak Optonics Corporation, your relationship with does not end once your product is delivered and installed. Whether you are looking for a spare part, phone support or a service call from one of our experts, we are there when you need us. Please phone or visit our website today so we can begin assisting you in your next medical lasers.
The Laser Group of Melles Griot is a world leader in gas lasers & solid-state lasers: multi-colored helium neon lasers; helium cadmium, air-cooled ion & frequency-stabilized laser technology; subassemblies, systems, customization, turnkey services, laser power meters & beam diagnostic equipment.
Micor Industries, Inc. provides global contract manufacturing services, using the latest technology in CNC machining, metal parts fabrication, welding, finishing, laser marking and precision tools and techniques. ISO 9001:2008 and AS9100 certified, Micor Industries specializes in value-added manufacturing services with a focus on quality, lean manufacturing and customer-driven solutions.
Established in 1969, Newport Corporation is an industry-leading supplier of advanced laser solutions to the microelectronics, solar, semiconductor, industrial manufacturing, scientific research, and life and health sciences markets. Our website offers faster selection, and our service guarantees faster delivery and faster results. Visit our website or call us today for more information!
Northeast Laser and Electropolish provides laser welding, laser marking, laser engraving, electropolishing and passivating services to a variety of industries, including medical and light industrial. Our goal is to be your preferred laser processing source by delivering a superior level of quality, value and customer interaction. For more information, contact Northeast Laser today!
With corporate offices in Bedford, MA, Novanta develops and delivers enabling technology solutions. Our leading brands include precision motion products, lasers, and laser systems, and are used to boost efficiency and productivity in the global medical, semiconductor, electronics, and industrial markets. To learn more about how we can assist your business, contact Novanta today!
NTC America - Laser Group manufactures industrial laser machines. In addition to Laser Cutting and Welding Machines NTC designs and manufactures Transfer and Grinding Machines, Machining Centers, Wire Saws, and Special Purpose Machines for major automotive, aerospace, and industrial manufacturers worldwide.
Oclaro, Inc optical technologies are enhancing and enabling applications ranging from telecommunications & data networking to optical transport subsystems, & industrial & commercial markets. Established from the resources of Hitachi's Fiber Optics Division, Oclaro has focused on innovation from the start. We have built on 3 decades of advanced technology & an enviable history in the field of optical components to establish our own broad portfolio of solutions & a reputation of excellent service.
At OR Laser, our services & products include laser deposit welding with all materials; standard, precious & exotic. We also manufacture pulsed solid-state Nd:YAG lasers & complete laser processing machines for laser deposit welding. We also do technology consulting, service & support and research & development of special applications with standard & exotic materials using laser welding technology.
Oxford Lasers is a manufacturer of industrial lasers. We offer copper vapor lasers, excimer lasers, diode lasers, YAG lasers and more for industrial companies and universities. We also carry products for other applications, including high-speed imaging, flame penetration and spray patternation.
Potomac Photonics is a provider of diode lasers, industrial lasers, laser marking systems and contract services for UV to IR laser micro machining, marking and deposition. Proprietary inspection and machine vision software is available along with custom quality control programs.
Not all lasers are created equal. At Power Technology, our products stand out, just like our company. We have over 40 years of manufacturing experience, so we know a little something about customer service and quality manufacturing techniques. We stay away from gimmicks, and simply offer clear service, affordable prices, and quality products- just for you!
PRC® Laser is the nation's largest manufacturer of CO2 lasers. We offer superior laser technology, industrial laser systems and welding lasers with available power levels from 1,000 to 6,000 watts. We offer laser accessories and supplies plus provide 24-hour customer support, 365 days a year. For more information, call us or visit our website today!
A combination of superior craftsmanship, the finest materials available, and over 100 years of experience, makes each Precitec precision instrument an uncompromising standard of excellence. When it comes to the medical lasers you need, we have the perfect solution. For flexibility and diversity to create specialized angle measuring instruments, designed to achieve your goals, call today.
A combination of superior craftsmanship, the finest materials available, and over 40 years of experience, makes Prima Power an uncompromising standard of excellence. When it comes to the medical lasers you need, we have the perfect solution. For flexibility and diversity to create specialized angle measuring instruments, designed to achieve your goals, call today.
ProPhotonix provides diverse industrial laser lighting applications to the optical and metrology industries. These include structured light lasers, alignment lasers, inspection and machine vision lasers, diode lasers, uniform intensity line lasers, green lasers and laser diode modules.
Marking equipment specialist Rea Jet offers coding & marking solutions for many Industrial & Packaging applications. With our broad range of ink jet & laser technology, REA provides solutions for printing on steel, wood, rubber, cans, bottles, electronics or packaging. Get Confident-Get REA.
At RMI Laser, we are known for products that provide a high level of sophistication, automation and reasonable cost. We have an extensive product line capable of providing the exact medical lasers you need. Our designs are flexible and can be readily customized. We are dedicated to seeing your project succeed, and we strive to have our products meet your requirements.
Specializing in laser technology innovation, Rofin manufactures superior industrial lasers and laser marking systems. We also offer high-powered CO2 lasers, marking lasers, Nd:YAG lasers, welding lasers, diode lasers and pattern-recognition systems. We have locations throughout the world.
Our broad product range includes Fiber laser & Nd:YAG diode pumped laser marking machines. The newest addition is the YLIA fiber series, with their combined high peak power & high quality beams, the fiber laser allows for marking a wider range of materials, such as plastics, polymers, metals & ceramics. At Schmidt Marking Systems, ISO 9001-2000 certified, we serve marking needs worldwide.
ShapeGrabber is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quality Vision International, the world's largest vision metrology system company. We design, manufacture and sell industrial 3D scanner products that are ideal for measuring complex shapes such as injection molded plastics and castings that are otherwise too time consuming, costly, or difficult to measure.
SICK safety light curtains, area laser scanners, optical perimeter guards, and interlocks ensure the effective prevention of accidents and protection of personnel in automated production and logistics processes. Industrial users can apply our safety products with confidence, as SICK has always been at the forefront of opto-electronic safety technology.
We are world-leading manufacturers of precision measuring systems, including lasers. Our diverse product line includes complete measuring solutions for surveying, mapping & GLS, industrial measurement & construction applications. We back up our products with the industries most complete service & support capabilities.
Spectra-Physics is a brand within the MKS Instruments Light & Motion division. The Spectra-Physics product portfolio consists of a broad spectrum of lasers for precision industrial and scientific applications. Spectra-Physics lasers combine groundbreaking technologies with deep applications expertise to deliver disruptive performance and lower total cost of ownership.
The industrial lasers Synrad manufactures are sealed CO2 lasers. Our 48-series requires a gas refill after 45,000+ hours. Our Evolution lasers function as welding lasers for thin film and perform kiss-cuts and semiconductor wafer processing. Our <i>firestar</i> series offers 100- and 200-watt lasers.
TAMPOPRINT® International is a worldwide leader in laser technology, laser systems and laser automation. We also provide Nd:YAG lasers, diode-pumped lasers and CO2 lasers. Our lasers allow you to mark uneven, hot, dusty, oily or rusty surfaces, as well as glass, ceramics, metal, wood and paper.
Tecnar Automation Ltée develops and manufactures non-contact laser ultrasonics. Our highly specialized laser ultrasound product line includes laser-ultrasonic inspection systems, or LUS, and other novel laser-ultrasonic detection units, such as pulsed, TWM and Fabry-Perot cavity, or FPC.
Trotec Laser, Inc. is an innovative leader in affordable laser cutting, engraving and marking solutions. Founded in 1997, we are recognized as the technological leader in the international market. The Trotec Laser engineering team has many years of experience in providing you with the perfect lasers for your applications. For additional information contact us today.
TRUMPF, a leader in laser technology, offers a variety of systems and machines like CO2 lasers, welding lasers, pulsed lasers, CW lasers and 3D laser machines. ISO 9001 certified.
TYKMA Technologies designs and manufactures precision industrial laser marking systems available with graphical user interface software, mark control and advanced features for automated environmental applications. We also offer diode lasers and Nd:YAG lasers (high-power pulsed and q-switched).
U.S. Laser designs and manufactures precision industrial laser marking systems available with graphical user interface software, mark control and advanced features for automated environmental applications. We also offer diode lasers and Nd:YAG lasers (high-power pulsed and q-switched).
A combination of superior craftsmanship, the finest materials available, and over 37 years of experience, makes each Universal Laser Systems an uncompromising standard of excellence. When it comes to the medical lasers you need, we have the perfect solution. For flexibility and diversity to create specialized angle measuring instruments, designed to achieve your goals, call today.
Viavi manufactures/designs commercial and OEM laser marking systems, including diode lasers, helium lasers and other industrial lasers. We have quality commercial lasers, instrumentation and fiber-optic communications products. The defense and commercial industries depend on our quality lasers.
A combination of superior craftsmanship, the finest materials available, and over 30 years of experience, makes each Virtek an uncompromising standard of excellence. When it comes to the medical lasers you need, we have the perfect solution. For flexibility and diversity to create specialized angle measuring instruments, designed to achieve your goals, call today.
When it comes to medical device identification and marking, precision is crucial. Some medical devices, implants and surgical instruments continue to become smaller and more efficient, laser marking systems are able to meet very high quality standards. Visotek continues to be an industry leader in application processing for medical device manufacturing with cutting-edge laser technology for laser welding, laser marking and laser cutting systems and solutions.
VyTek is an innovative leader in the manufacturing of quality laser cutting, engraving, etching and marking systems, all operating with precise computer controlled technology. Speed up and simplify your workshop flow by choosing one of our laser marking machines. Check out our host of options.
A combination of superior craftsmanship, the finest materials available, and over 100 years of experience, makes each Warren-Knight precision instrument an uncompromising standard of excellence. When it comes to the medical lasers you need, we have the perfect solution. For flexibility and diversity to create specialized angle measuring instruments, designed to achieve your goals, call today.
Systems from VIL/Wayne Trail are providing unsurpassed levels of performance and reliability in the tailored blank market. We are committed to providing the industry with a range of affordable standardized laser solutions. Find out how a laser system or a stand-alone module from VIL Laser can enhance your operation.
Our medical lasers are known for their quality, manufacturing techniques, and outstanding designs. We have over 45 years of industry experience crafting some of the best laser technology in the world today. We are known for our quality, innovation, and complete dedication to customers. You won't find better service anywhere else! Contact us with your questions today!


Yes, you have an organizational style. It may be chaos, or it may be hyper-organized. Either way it is still a style. Moving from paper to digital feels more organized, but it also requires management.
There are a number of different ways to approach any problem, including getting financial documents in order. Some people pile papers in a stack, promising to get to them some rainy day that doesn't seem to arrive. Others are calendar driven, filing and shredding at the end of every quarter. Still others hoard documents, shoving them in overstuffed filing cabinets. Millennials keep nothing on paper, operating under the expectation that any needed documents will be easily downloaded when they are needed.
Pare Down Paper Files. You don't need bank statements from ten years ago, nor do you need a plumber's bill from a house you no longer own. Go through your existing files and shred what you don't need. Here's what you do need: certificates of marriage, birth and death; adoption papers; Social Security cards; deeds; and car titles. These need to be protected, either stored in a safe-deposit box at a bank or in an in-home fireproof box. Keep a copy of estate planning documents in your home, making sure to tell your spouse or trusted family member where they are. Include in those files contact information for your Houston estate planning attorney, CPA and other key professionals.
For additional information on estate planning, financial planning and other elder law questions in Houston, please click here to visit my website.


Giovanni Francesco Barbieri was called Guercino in reference to his pronounced squint. He was the leading Bolognese painter after the death of Guido Reni. His earlier pictures typically combine the chiaroscuro effects of Caravaggio with a charm and softness not usually found in followers of this artist.
Guercino was born at Cento, near Bologna. He was largely self-taught but influenced by the Carracci and particularly by Ludovico Carracci. An early commission in Bologna was the altarpiece of the 'Investiture of Saint William' (1620, Bologna, Pinacoteca). In 1621 Guercino was invited to Rome to work for Pope Gregory XV. His ceiling fresco, Aurora, was painted for the Pope's nephew (Rome, Villa Ludovisi).
On the death of the Pope, Guercino returned to Cento; he settled in Bologna, probably in 1644, after the death of Reni. His later work is more academic, closer to the manner of Reni, and lacks the bravura handling and chiaroscuro effects of his earlier paintings.


Engagement season is upon us and we thought we would share some interesting fun facts we found about wedding planning.
40% of engagements happen between November- February and of course December 25th.
Average engagement is 13 months in the process and 50% start planning in the first month of their engagement.
Social Media plays a major role in the planning process. It starts with over 60% of engaged couples announcing their engagement as well as accessing many planning tools throughout the process. Most planning is done on some sort of device since we have everything at our fingertips.
What are some of the most popular planning tools? Pinterest is a big player. Who doesn't have a Pinterest board? You can also find checklists for anything, organizers and design your own wedding website. Wedding websites are very helpful especially for those out of town guests. Hotel information, directions and attractions in the area are great on your website and will be helpful for those traveling.
While trying to decide on a date, keep in mind 71% of weddings happen between May and October. Don't forget about some Off Peak months as well, you could save money. Like they say, you can have your cake and eat it too!
More and more couples are incorporating unique ideas into their weddings. Tradition is still pretty common, maybe just with a little twist. Less are handing out favors and 54% provide alternative desserts besides cake.
As you start to swipe and pin for inspiration for your wedding remember to have fun! It's a one- of- a -kind day and goes by so fast. So enjoy all the little moments and watch you vision come to life!


Meet Maciek Sasinowski! His debut novel, 'Heir of Ra', has been released earlier this month and it made it as #3 Amazon Bestseller in Adventure Science Fiction on its Debut Day! I had the pleasure to interview Maciek and took this opportunity to ask him about his book, research going into it and future plans.
Imagination Bubble (IB): Tell us a bit about yourself.
Maciek Sasinowski (MS): I'm a bit of a cultural mutt: born in Poland, lived in Germany as a teen, and came to the U.S. in high school and been here ever since. I have a science and medicine background and love all things sci-fi and fantasy.
IB: What inspired you to write 'Heir of Ra'?
MS: I've always been drawn to mythology and ancient civilisations and also loved books that played in multiple timelines, or told a story within a story, like Inkheart or NeverEnding Story. Being a huge sci-fi and fantasy geek, I tried to combine all those elements and write a book that I'd enjoy reading. In retrospect, it may have been a bit of a gamble for a debut novel, but it seems to have turned out ok. So far I couldn't be happier with the reception Heir of Ra has been getting!
IB: How long did you spend on research for the book or is Egyptian mythology something you're passionate about?
MS: I grew up watching TV shows about Egypt, so I did have a little bit of a background. Once I decided to incorporate Egyptian mythology into the book, I realized how much there was I didn't know, so I scoured the web and learned as much as I could about the figures and mythology that I could incorporate into the story. Putting all the pieces together and creating a world that included elements of real history, mythology, and fiction was one of the most challenging, but also most enjoyable, aspects of writing this book.
MS: Right now we're still super busy with the book launch of Heir of Ra, but my plan is to get started on the sequel in September. I can't wait to dive back into writing!
MS: To borrow from a well-known slogan: Just write it. I've talked to so many folks who want to write, but somehow they keep finding reasons not to do it. Just sit down and start writing. It may (ok… it WILL) be terrible at first, but it will get better. That's what practice – and countless rounds of edits – are for. And if you're ever truly discouraged with your first draft, look up a famous quote about first drafts that's being attributed to Ernest Hemingway. It'll make you chuckle and make you feel much better.
I would like to say thank you to Maciek and his daughter Sarah for sending me a copy of 'Heir of Ra' for review and for the opportunity to do an author interview. It's been a pleasure working with you.
As for you readers, I hope you enjoyed the read and until next time, Dream On, Dreamers!