text:
Home>Global Travel News>Movenpick Hotels' Executive Committee Kickstart its Grand Tour of Asia in Bangkok
Movenpick Hotels' Executive Committee Kickstart its Grand Tour of Asia in Bangkok
Bangkok (Thailand) – August 25, 2017 (travelindex.com) – The Executive Committee of Movenpick Hotels and Resorts visits Bangkok, Hua Hin and Phuket as the global hospitality firm pursues its Asian expansion plans at pace. The Executive Committee (ExCom) at Movenpick Hotels and Resorts has kick-started its "Grand Tour of Asia" in Bangkok, a move that demonstrates its commitment to Thailand's thriving hotel market.
The stopover is part of the leadership team's two-and-half-week mission to meet colleagues, hotel owners and key partners in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia, which started on August 20 and will run until September 6.
Thailand is where Moevenpick Hotels and Resorts first embarked on its Asia development journey with the opening of Moevenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket in 2006. Today the company operates five properties in three destinations; Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya and has signed management agreements for four additional hotels a move that will grow its portfolio to more than 1,800 keys countrywide by 2020.
Movenpick Resort Khao Yai will open this year, Movenpick Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai and Movenpick Asara Resort & Spa Hua Hin are set for completion in 2018 while Movenpick Resort Mai Khao Beach Phuket will be opening in 2019, adding more than 700 keys to the market.
"Thailand is strategically important for Movenpick Hotels & Resorts," said Olivier Chavy, President and CEO, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts.
"It is not only the gateway to Asia and one of the region's most flourishing hospitality markets, but has strong development potential for our company; by 2020, more than 30% of our properties in Asia will be located in key destinations across the country."
During their visit to Thailand, the ExCom delegation will meet with the company's regional team and local hotel owners and visit the locations of upcoming properties before heading to Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia to conduct similar meetings.
At the end of the whistle-stop tour, the team, which comprises the most senior heads of the Human Resources, Information Technology, Finance, Development and Commercial departments, will return to Bangkok to stage dedicated ExCom meetings.
They will also meet with the hospitality firm's new ExCom Y Committee, a group of 10 dynamic Generation Y employees and entrepreneurs recruited to collaborate with the Executive Committee as it looks to glean fresh ideas on how to attract Millennial guests and talent.
Given Asia is a key focus of the company's global expansion strategy, the ExCom team believed it apt to start these top-level discussions in Bangkok, a modern city where the hospitality sector is thriving and the Millennial guest demographic is switched on.
The Asia development strategy
Moevenpick Hotels and Resorts currently operates 10 hotels and resorts in seven Asian destinations. In addition to its five hotels and resorts in Thailand, the company manages one property in each of the following countries; China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
There are already 17 new projects signed, all of which are on track to open by 2020, growing the Asia portfolio to 27 properties, but the goal is to operate at least 30 hotels and resorts in the region by the end of the decade.
The breakdown of signed projects is as follows: Vietnam (five), Thailand (four), Malaysia (three), Bangladesh (two) and one in each of the following locations: China, the Philippines and the Maldives.
"We will have at least 30 properties under our management in Asia by the end of the decade and looking beyond 2020, we expect our property development activity across the continent to become a bigger percentage of our total portfolio," said Andrew Langdon, Chief Development Officer, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, one of the ExCom members taking part in the "Grand Tour of Asia".
"We are on track to open two new hotels and resorts this year- the Movenpick Resort Khao Yai in Thailand and the Movenpick Resort & Spa Boracay, our second property in the Philippines."
About Movenpick Hotels & Resorts
Movenpick Hotels & Resorts, an international upscale hotel management company with over 16,000 staff members, is represented in 24 countries with over 80 hotels, resorts and Nile cruisers currently in operation. Around 20 properties are planned or under construction, including those in Chiang Mai (Thailand), Al Khobar (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Basel (Switzerland).
Focusing on expanding within its core markets of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts specialises in business and conference hotels, as well as holiday resorts, all reflecting a sense of place and respect for their local communities. Of Swiss heritage and with headquarters in central Switzerland (Baar), Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts is passionate about delivering premium service and culinary enjoyment, all with a personal touch. Committed to supporting sustainable environments, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts has become the most Green Globe certified hotel company in the world. The hotel company is owned by Movenpick Holding (66.7%) and the Kingdom Group (33.3%).
Sarah Fernandez
Director of Marketing Communications – Asia
Pacific Place Two, Suite 1803
10110 Bangkok, Thailand
Move Towards a More Energetic Lifestyle at RAKxa
IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2018 Brings On Yet Another Defining MICE Event
Orient Express to Open Luxury Hotel in Venice at Palazzo Donà Giovannelli
Global Tourism Economy Forum Macao 2020 Unveiled
BDMS Wellness Brings World Class Wellness to Anantara Riverside Bangkok


The best and only oils to use for the first 48 hours after birth are carrier oils – Extra Virgin Olive Oil and / or Sweet Almond Oil. Never use commercial baby oil to massage your baby! It is mainly mineral oil and should not be used by anyone, least of all your baby. No essential oils are to be used during this time.
Mineral oil (Liquid Petrolatum) causes blood and skin cancer formations in animals; eye and skin irritant; derived from petroleum; non-biodegradable environmental toxin.
Roman chamomile and lavender calm the nervous system, boost the immune system and are anti-bacterial, mildly anti-viral and antiseptic.
Yarrow and dill aid in digestion, diarrhea, colic, gas, cramps and constipation.
One of the gentlest and most effective ways to treat babies various common ailments is to allow the molecules of the essential oil to evaporate and circulate throughout the baby's room. This can be done by placing a bowl of steaming hot water on the floor , away from your baby's head with only 1 drop of essence.
By using an essential oil warmer or diffusor, add 1 drop of essence in 2 tsp. of water. Mix well and add a little of this blend to the diffusor or warmer.
DO NOT USE ESSENCES UNDILUTED when using this method. Even 1 drop of essential oil undiluted is too strong for an infant at this age. All the molecules will be released into the air due to the constant heat of the diffusor and warmer. When the bowl method is used, not all the molecules have a chance to be released into the atmosphere before the water becomes cold.
A general massage has a very soothing, calming effect all on its own, not to mention the wonderful bonding that takes place between parent and child. Add essential oils and all of this becomes enhanced!
Dilute 1 drop of lavender OR Roman chamomile in 15 ml of sweet almond or olive oil. All Purpose Baby Oil may also be used.
This oil can also be used for wrinkled skin, cradle cap, teething problems (where the oil is massaged on the face along the gum line), boosting the immune system, and as an overall strengthener.
Gently melt beeswax. Add the lanolin and melt. Mix olive oil and almond oils and add this mixture slowly to the pot. Do not overheat. Remove from heat, Mix the lavender, chamomile and tincture of benzoin. Add this mixture when the temperature of the mixture in the pot is below 45˚C (113˚F). Stir until thoroughly blended, but not set. Spoon into a jar.
Dilute in 2 tablespoons almond oil and mix very well. Massage blend very gently to the scalp once a day until cradle cap is gone. Do not substitute lavender oil in this recipe as this will cause the skin to grow too quickly, becoming even more unsightly.
Note: Do not exceed or substitute any of the suggested ingredients in these formulas. Follow exact instructions.


text:
Guest Post & Giveaway: Venturess by Betsy Cornwell
August 3, 2017 Jordan (BookBetch)	Leave a comment
Amazon/Barnes&Noble/iBooks/TBD/Goodreads
Young inventor Nicolette Lampton is living her own fairy tale happy ending. She's free of her horrible step-family, running a successful business, and is uninterested in marrying the handsome prince, Fin. Instead, she, Fin, and their friend Caro venture to the lush land of Faerie, where they seek to put an end to the bloody war their kingdom is waging. Mechanical armies and dark magic await them as they uncover devastating secrets about the past and fight for a real, lasting happily-ever-after for two troubled countries—and for themselves.
YABM: From the blurb, Venturess seems a little less steampunk and a lot more fantasy driven. What inspired you to first write this steampunk twist on the classic Cinderella fairytale?
BETSY: I suppose Venturess is technically gaslight fantasy because it includes magical elements, while pure steampunk is strictly science fiction. But this book actually includes more 'typical' steampunk elements than its prequel Mechanica did: there are airships, steampunk-style submarines, and automaton soldiers all over the place in Venturess.
As for inspiration, I learned about steampunk while I was studying fairy tales as an English major in college. I thought that Cinderella was a perfect example of how strict and machine-like the progression to a happy ending is in fairy tales: tortured young girl + dream + magic = marry the prince. I wanted to write a steampunk Cinderella who was an inventor, who could reach into her own story like the chassis of a car and pull it apart and reinvent her own kind of happy ending.
YABM: What is Nicolette's biggest challenge in the story?
BETSY: Nicolette has achieved her dream of becoming a successful inventor, so one of the central challenges of Venturess is how she's going to use her success, both personally and ethically. At the beginning of the book, she's asked to use her position to help the Fey, who the people of her own country are oppressing. Once she's actually in Faerie, she and her friends meet with several bigger challenges, but I'm afraid most of them are spoilers!
YABM: Mechanica had a strong focus on friendship and discovery, what themes are central in this sequel?
BETSY: Friends making a family together is even more central to Venturess: Nick, Fin, and Caro love each other and face the challenges of changing relationships and priorities together, and you'll see them becoming even closer and more intimate with each other's lives. Discovery comes into play again too, especially when they travel to Faerie, and I try to work with themes of colonialism and human rights to the best of my ability.
YABM: If Venturess were set in modern times, what music would Nicolette be listening to during her free time?
BETSY: Ooh, that's a great question! I think she'd really like Ingrid Michaelson and The Decemberists.
YABM: Tell me about your writing process.
BETSY: I drafted my first novel in the high-output/low-expectations environment of National Novel Writing Month (a program that I recommend to anyone dreaming of writing or finishing their first book). I still use a lot of the skills I learned from NaNoWriMo: mostly to push any perfectionism aside as aggressively as possible in order to get that horrible first draft finished. I try to write at least 1,000 to 1,500 words per day when I'm drafting, and to work as early in the day as possible. I enjoy editing much more, so it's really getting to that complete first draft that's the biggest challenge.
Website|Twitter|Facebook|Goodreads|Tumblr
Hi! I'm Betsy Cornwell, an American writer and teacher living in a stove-heated cottage in west Ireland, together with my horse trainer spouse, a small herd of dairy goats, and an increasing number of other animals. I write fiction and nonfiction and blog about Irish folklore, travel, wild food, goats (of course!), homesteading, and growing up.
3 winners will receive a finished copy of VENTURESS. US Only.
Betsy CornwellCinderellafaefaeriesfairy talefantasygiveawayguest postmagicMechanicanew releaseretellingsteampunkVenturessYAyoung adult
ARC Review & Giveaway: Rise of the Sea Witch by Stacey Rourke
June 19, 2017 Jordan (BookBetch)	Leave a comment
Goodreads/Amazon/CA/UK
Details of the sea witch's banishment have been exaggerated. The body count that preempted it was not. Once an illustrious princess, her hands and tentacles were stained with the blood of thousands. No one could comprehend how the hooks of madness dragged her down from her life of privilege.
Born Princess Vanessa of Atlantica, the ambitious young royal was one of two children born to the great King Poseidon. She and her brother, Triton, were groomed from birth to rule. Yet only one would ascend that coveted throne. While carefree Triton flits through his training with a cavalier demeanor and beguiling charm, Vanessa's hunger for her father's acceptance drives her to push herself to the limits of magic, and combat to become a leader worthy of her people.
When war against the humans ravages their once regal kingdom, political sides are chosen. Factions from the seven seas challenge the existing leadership, pitting Vanessa against her brother in a vicious battle for the crown. Traitors are exposed, dark family secrets revealed, and a once strong sibling bond is strained to its breaking point.
Only when the ink black waters from the ultimate betrayal rescind, will the truth be known of how the villainous sea witch rose with one name on her vengeful lips–Triton.
I've always been a fan of Stacey Rourke's retellings. They're usually far more dark and sinister, closer to Grimm than Disney and I adore that kind of twisted carnage. This is a YA retelling of how Ursula, like from The Little Mermaid, came into existence. It explores what it takes to make an innocent and caring person turn dark, how much betrayal and anguish a person (mermaid) can take before they crack, and whether love can truly heal all wounds.
Here's what I loved:
Princess Vanessa is a victim and it is so not her fault. All she has ever done is try to be a perfect daughter to the point of stifling who she is. She's young, idealistic, and so hopeful. She has a pure and beautiful heart, she truly cares, she's funny, her sarcasm is on point. She's pretty awesome. And then she gets better. She is forced to make choices that transform her from the inside out. She must embrace her magic and she does not always make the best decisions, in fact, sometimes they're downright cruel and propelled by anger. BUT that's what makes her more real; she's flawed and hurt and sometimes broken but never, ever defeated and there's power in that.
The world building is amazing. Each ruler of the Seven Seas is unique and they all have tons of personality. There are whole cultures and ideals in tiny details that fit so well together. You can totally picture little under water countries.
Vanessa's relationship with Triton. She adores him. Even though he's like a little free-spirited hippie who would rather frolic around than be responsible, how could you not love those golden curls? Their relationship is a complex one. But it's adorable. And then crash and burn. You'll think about how the children you met in the very beginning of the book transformed into these two strangers. It's heartbreaking.
Plot twists. There are a ton and they're truly shocking. You don't expect them. But when they're revealed you'll definitely think, ahhhh, it all makes sense now.
I love love love Vanessa and Alastor. Epitome of slow burn. The way he cares for her. It's so sweet, omg.
Here's what I disliked:
The structure. I don't know if it's because of my ARC or if this is in the finalized version, but the blending of past with present, the sort of omnipotent voice that runs through in Italics and then the time jumps. There are big gaps in time that range from 2 months to several years. Which is fine, but when coupled with the italics it's a little confusing and took me time to readjust. Initially the whole prologue was iffy. You assume who it's about and what's going on from prior knowledge but it reads as a stream of consciousness merging of random thoughts that kind of feel out of place sometimes. The organization-style choice- wasn't my favorite.
Some plot points ended abruptly. There's this whole build up on animosity between Vanessa and another character and then boom, over. I guess, I just wished there was more…hands on retribution.
Enter for your chance to win a signed poster and keychain!
RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon Series Novel
Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012
Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 & Best Teen Book of 2013
Readers' Favorite Silver Medal Winner for Crane 2015
Stacey Rourke is the author of the award winning YA Gryphon Series, the chillingly Legends Saga, and the romantic comedy Reel Romance Series. She currently hard at work on the Unfortunate Soul Chronicles, and additional literary projects. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.
Newsletter/Facebook/Twitter/Amazon/Goodreads/Website/Bookbub
Pleasant reading,
alchemyARCbook reviewfairy talefantasygiveawaymagicmagical creaturesmermaidsretellingRise of the Sea WitchStacey RourkeUnfortunate Souls ChronicleswitchYAyoung adult
Team Urban: 100 Words on Why Urban Fantasy is Awesome from Entangled Authors
March 1, 2017 Jordan (BookBetch)	Leave a comment
Team Urban: Why I Love Urban Fantasy!
Brenda Drake – Guardian of Secrets (Library Jumpers, #2):
I'm such a fan of Urban Fantasy for many reasons, but mostly because writers can take our normal world and, either secret or not, add a dash of the fantastical to it. With mystical creatures hiding from humans or living side by side with them, deliciously nefarious things can happen. There's just something extraordinary about urban fantasy. It's the ability of the writer to look at something normal in the human world and mix it up. Changing a simple book into something that can transport someone from library to library or hiding a zoo of magical beasts in a common suitcase.
Being a Sentinel isn't all fairytales and secret gardens. Sure, jumping through books into the world's most beautiful libraries to protect humans from mystical creatures is awesome. No one knows that better than Gia Kearns, but she could do without the part where people are always trying to kill her. Oh, and the fact that Pop and her had to move away from her friends and life as she knew it.
And if that isn't enough, her boyfriend, Arik, is acting strangely. Like, maybe she should be calling him "ex," since he's so into another girl. But she doesn't have time to be mad or even jealous, because someone has to save the world from the upcoming apocalypse, and it looks like that's going to be Gia.
Guardian of Secrets
Chris Cannon – Fanning the Flames (Going Down in Flames, #4):
1. There are no maidens that need to be rescued in urban fantasy. More than likely the females are the ones kicking ass.
2. I love the snarky banter that occurs when you throw modern day characters into strange/magical/supernatural circumstances.
3. Anything is possible in urban fantasy. There are no rules about what types of paranormal creatures you can have. If you want to create dragons that breathe fire, ice, wind, sonic waves, and lightning, you can, just like I did in Going Down In Flames *cough cough shameless self promotion
She isn't afraid of anything…except losing the knight she loves. Bryn McKenna has it all, including her smoking-hot knight turned live-in boyfriend, Valmont. Even though she's a hybrid dragon, she's finally fitting into the new shape-shifting dragon world that's become her own. But her grandparents want to ruin everything by making Bryn's nightmare of an arranged marriage to Jaxon Westgate a reality. It doesn't help that Jaxon's father is on a witch hunt for Rebel sympathizers and Bryn finds herself in his line of fire.
If she doesn't say, "I do," she'll lose everything. Good-bye flying. Good-bye best friends. Good-bye magic. But if she bends to her grandparents' will and agrees to marry Jaxon, she'll lose the love of her life—her knight.
Fanning the Flames
Shonna Slayton – Spindle:
Urban fantasy reminds me that our own world is magical. We are so used to the way our world works that we take for granted how incredible it is that our heart beats, our brain imagines, that our eyes see color.
As a writer, urban fantasy allows me to open up my imagination on multiple planes. I still work with the real world, but I get to add layers onto that. It's like going from black and white TV to color. Like Dorothy in dusty old Kansas stepping into the colorful land of Oz.
In a world where fairies lurk and curses linger, love can bleed like the prick of a finger…
Briar Rose knows her life will never be a fairy tale. She's raising her siblings on her own, her wages at the spinning mill have been cut, and the boy she thought she had a future with has eyes for someone else. Most days it feels like her best friend, Henry Prince, is the only one in her corner…though with his endless flirty jokes, how can she ever take him seriously?
When a mysterious peddler offers her a "magic" spindle that could make her more money, sneaking it into the mill seems worth the risk. But then one by one, her fellow spinner girls come down with the mysterious sleeping sickness…and Briar's not immune.
If Briar wants to save the girls—and herself—she'll have to start believing in fairy tales…and in the power of a prince's kiss.
Tara Fuller – Inbetween (Kissed by Death, #1):
Death doesn't fall in love. Usually. Since the car crash that took her father's life three years ago, Emma's life has been a freaky—and unending—lesson in caution. Surviving "accidents" has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper who makes her chest ache and her head spin? Not an option.
It's not easy being dead, especially for a reaper in love with a girl fate has put on his list not once, but twice. Finn's fellow reapers give him hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before, and he's not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves from the evil he accidentally unleashed, even if it means sacrificing the only thing he has left…his soul.
Danielle Ellison – Salt (Salt, #1):
Whether it's witches, demons, ghosts or other types monsters, there's nothing like escaping the sometimes mundane reality of our world, or giving what we know every day a spice of fantasy. Filled with kick-ass heroines who aren't afraid to fight for what they believe in (and hot, just-as-fierce love interests) Urban Fantasy inspires you look beyond what you see and be more than you think you can be. Plus, life is more with some magic: more dangerous, more unpredictable, more chaotic, more fun.
Penelope is a witch, part of a secret society protecting humans from demon attacks. But when she was a child, a demon killed her parents—and stole her magic. Since then, she's been pretending to be something she's not, using her sister's magic to hide her own loss, to prevent being sent away.
When she's finally given the chance to join the elite demon-hunting force, Penelope thinks that will finally change. With her sister's help, she can squeeze through the tests and get access to the information she needs to find "her" demon. To take back what was stolen.
Then she meets Carter. He's cute, smart, and she can borrow his magic, too. He knows her secret—but he also has one of his own.
Suddenly, Penelope's impossible quest becomes far more complicated. Because Carter's not telling her everything, and it's starting to seem like the demons have their own agenda…and they're far too interested in her.
Rachel Harris – My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century (My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century, #1):
On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family's trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits…right into Renaissance Firenze.
Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?
My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century
Gloria Craw – Atlantis Rising (Atlantis Rising, #1):
I love Urban Fantasy because it infuses normal life with myth and magic. It's so exciting to have something in common with a character who finds a magic object, special ability or a secret origin. The possible ways her courage and passion might be tested are endless. When she does triumph against fantastic odds, I'm left feeling inspired and reassured that I can overcome great obstacles in my everyday life too. Urban Fantasy reminds me that the ordinary in us can sometimes be…extraordinary.
We've stayed hidden too long… I am different. I have always been different, but no one can know or my life will be in danger. So I hide in plain sight, wearing drab clothes and thick glasses and trying to be invisible. I'm so good at hiding, no one has ever noticed me. Until Ian…the mysterious and oh-so-cute boy I know I need to avoid.
Now I have been seen. And more terrifying still, I am wanted—by those who would protect me and those who would destroy everything and everyone I love. But if they're all terrified about who I am, wait until they see what I can do…
Fantastic reading,
Atlantis RisingBrenda DrakeChris CannonDanielle EllisondemonsdragonsfairytaleFanning the FlamesfantasyGloria CrawGoing Down in FlamesGuardian of SecretshistoricalInbetweenLibrary JumpersmagicMy Super Sweet Sixteenth CenturyparanormalRachel HarrisreapersretellingromanceSaltShonna SlaytonSpindleTara FullerTime travelurban fantasyWitchesYAyoung adult
Review: RoseBlood by A.G. Howard
January 25, 2017 Jordan (BookBetch)	1 Comment
Goodreads/Amazon/B&N/iBooks
In this modern day spin on Leroux's gothic tale of unrequited love turned to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she's trying to hide. Hoping creative direction will help her, Rune's mother sends her to a French arts conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have ties to The Phantom of the Opera.
At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance blossoms, Thorn's dark agenda comes to light and he's forced to make a deadly choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he's ever known.
***Potential triggers for human trafficking, abuse, animal cruelty, violence, death
It pains me to write this review because I was so looking forward to this book-it was at the top of my highly anticipated list for 2017. I mean, The Phantom of the Opera??? As a theater kid, this is my personal form of euphoria. Unfortunately, my feelings on this rendering are mixed.
Thorn's story is almost as tragic and heartbreaking as the Phantom's and yet so full of beauty. No matter the darkness and fear he experienced as a child captured by traffickers and tormented beyond measure, his heart is pure and OMG is he swoonworthy. Some of the stuff he says to Rune, I mean, my heart swelled with joy. He's like a part-time poet and the way he plays that violin. He's the definition of dreamy. That dark hair and those coppery eyes, and that jaw. Smokin' hot. I loved the way his past evolved and changed him and his starry-eyed devotion to the Phantom. Plus the way he looks at Rune…it's like she's his world at first sight. Now, let me warn, this does read like instalove on Thorn's part, but there are reasons so hold out.
This twist on the Phantom is super weird and complex. It can be hard to wrap your head around and accept, but there are enough history and allusions to the original Leroux story. The Phantoms's story is somehow even more depressing and horrific than in the original. When you read about the love he felt for Christine, the hope he held for a happy ending, it will crush you and hit you right in the feels.
There's a ton of seriously disturbing elements to this story-from creepy, crawly animals that don't belong in nature, to taxidermy, to cryogenics. It's a mix and match of sci-fi meets paranormal. And when you find out the truth about Rune's heritage and how she relates to the Phantom…well, whether or not you're a fan is up to you, but for me, I was torn. It felt like the author didn't stay entirely true to the mythology (and that's all I can say without spoilers).
One of my favorite characters was the cat, Diable. He's not particularly cute, but he has so much attitude in his mannerisms and he's so clever. A sassy cat, what's not to love?
This book is at least a hundred pages too long. Let me explain. There were so many parts that seemed unnecessary, dragged, and pulled down the whole sense of foreboding that should have wrapped around the reader. The pacing was in line with a Gothic novel, but because it is set in contemporary time, it didn't fit well with the story, despite the setting. There were whole sections of sprawling description that could have been trimmed, but went on for pages. While these sections certainly painted a picture, the length didn't really build the emotions, but distracted from them with painstaking details. Scenes that would have benefited from being shortened by heightening the anxiety and fear got lost in a sort of step-by-step, piece-by-piece map of the setting. It became more about setting the scene than the story/scene itself.
There's so much going on that it became overwhelming. After you get used to the shock factor and adjust to the bizarre twist on the traditional Phantom story, the shifts in POV, the flashbacks to the past, and the absolutely strange quirks of every character (which was a bit much to begin with) don't fall into place but feel strung together and random. There's not a feeling of cohesion and planning, it hits like chaos and stays that way. Told in a more measured way, these pieces are all elements that explain the characters and their personalities. I guess what I'm saying is that I would have liked more build up.
So much time was placed on carefully crafting the back stories for the Phantom and Thorn, even for Jipetto and Audrey, so that you know their hearts, their motivations, how they became who they are. And yet, despite the tragedy of her past with her father and the terrible situations she had with her grandmother, and even the history of the family name, Rune's character felt undeveloped in comparison. While there are tidbits, like her joy of gardening, her knitting, her personality was kind of bland for such a strong story arc. Honestly, she was much better, much more interesting when she was interacting with other characters than by herself.
If you like any of the following, you'll enjoy this:
Cryptic reading,
A.G. Howardabusebook reviewmysteryoperaparanormalpsychicretelling/continuationromanceRoseBloodsuccubusThe Phantom of the OperatraffickingvampiresviolenceYAyoung adult
Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: RoseBlood by A.G. Howard
January 10, 2017 Jordan (BookBetch)	3 Comments
Amazon/B&N/iBooks/Audible/Goodreads
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest | Goodreads
A.G. Howard was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would've happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland taken center stage, and she hopes her darker and funkier tribute to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child.
When she's not writing, A.G.'s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.
1 winner will receive a signed ROSEBLOOD poster and a Mask. US Only.
Ends on January 17th at Midnight EST!
Spooky reading,
A.G. Howardgiveawaygothicnew releaseretellingromanceRoseBloodThe Phantom of the OperaYAyoung adult
Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: Lost Girl by Chanda Hahn
December 13, 2016 Jordan (BookBetch)	Leave a comment
AMAZON | iBOOKS | NOOK | SMASHWORDS | KOBO | GOODREADS
Wendy doesn't remember anything about Neverland—or the experiments done on her there as a child. Seven years later, all she wants is a normal life, but shape-shifting shadows plague her dreams and turn her life into a waking nightmare. When the shadows attack at a football game and a boy disappears right in front of her, she realizes these wraith-like shadows are real. They're not just haunting—they're hunting.
A mysterious boy named Peter, his foul-mouthed sidekick, and a band of misfit boys intervene before Wendy faces a similar fate. But can they trust Wendy enough to take her to Neverwood Academy and reveal all of their hidden secrets when she's hiding a secret of her own, or will the dreaded Red Skulls find her and drag her back to Neverland?
COME JOIN THE RELEASE EVENT!
We'll be celebrating the release of Lost Girl by Chanda Hahn
and The God Thief by Ben Hale!
Lots of fun, games & prizes!!!
Enter for your chance to win a Kindle Fire, a signed paperback of Lost Girl, a signed paperback of God Thief
Be sure and check out Ben Hale's new book…
The God Thief
Now infamous for his exploits, Jack Myst is a master thief.
As a member of the Thieves Guild he has fought assassins, reavers, and even a devil—but now he faces his greatest challenge yet, the rank of guildmaster. Ascending to the office after defeating Skorn at Margauth, he launches a daring plan, one to steal what cannot be stolen.
A god.
But Skorn has retrieved the fragments of an ancient artifact, and has begun construction on the Necrolith, the beacon of ending. He issues a king's bounty on Jack's head, turning governments and guilds against him. Hounded by soldiers and hunted by assassins, it will require all of Jack's skill to triumph over Skorn.
He couldn't be more excited.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FULL MASTER THIEF SERIES OR TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE AWESOME BOOKS BY BEN HALE!
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS | AMAZON | WEBSITE | STORE
Chanda Hahn is a New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of the Unfortunate Fairy Tale Series. She uses her experience as a children's pastor, children's librarian and bookseller to write compelling and popular fiction for teens. She was born in Seattle, WA, grew up in Nebraska and currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband and their twin children.
An Unfortunate Fairy Tale Series
The Iron Butterfly Series
Underland
Magical reading,
Ben HaleChanda HahnfairytalefantasygiveawayLost GirlmagicNeverwood Chroniclespeter panpiratesretellingThe God ThiefThe Master Thief seriesYAyoung adult
Blog Tour & Excerpt: The Lost Codex by Heather Lyons
November 11, 2016 Jordan (BookBetch)	Leave a comment
AmazonUK/Amazon/iBooks/Goodreads
Allies, once inseparable, splinter until they break apart.
An insidiousness carves its way through Wonderland, challenging the land's very existence.
Battle lines will be drawn as pages, long languishing in darkness, are finally illuminated.
Swords will clash, blood will be spilled, and lives will be lost.
For what is written can still be erased.
"You mentioned the need to take a symbolic object within the dream," I say as I hover over his work, "one I must destroy. Yet, you have given no instruction on what that object must be."
He nudges his half-moon glasses up his bulbous nose, barely sparing a glance toward me. "I did."
Which means I must figure it out myself. I do not bother asking how one even brings an object into their dream, as I can already guess his answer.
What, then, would sufficiently constitute symbolic for a series of dreams I cannot remember? In place of images, all I possess are deep-seated emotions that refuse to relinquish their hold on me. Including a maddening sense of love . . . love for a nameless man whose face I cannot conjure.
Why can I not recall his face?
Perhaps a blank mask will do? Destroy the mask, terminate a passion for an imaginary person for whom I have assigned preposterous feelings for.
Collector's SocietyexcerptfantasyHeather LyonsNew adultretellingromanceThe Lost Codexurban fantasy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


trial, or for research purposes.
evidence of disease for research purposes.
use in generating anti-tumor patient lymphocytes ex vivo, or for research.
spontaneous vitiligo for research purposes.
for infection included in all the cell therapy treatment trials.
and other criteria outlined in the protocol.
No treatments, investigational or standard therapy, will be administered on this protocol.
therapies in the Surgery Branch.
- Patients must be greater than or equal to 16 years of age.
- Clinical performance status of ECOG 0 or 1.
must be associated with minimal morbidity and minimal hospitalization.
the cardiovascular, respiratory, or immune system.
of the proposed therapy and attendant risk.
- Normal donors must be greater than 18 years of age.
- Is at risk or has Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease.
interfere with cell preparation per Principal Investigator's discretion.
procedure as determined by the Principal Investigator.
- Has received any type of organ transplant in the past 12 months.
- Has undergone xenotransplantaion at any time.
- Has received a dura mater graft.
history of cancer who currently have no evidence of disease.
- Greater than or equal to 18 years of age.


Below is a selection of vintage ads and marketing communications developed for agency clients in Bergen from 2003 onwards.
Sjøtrygdgruppen annual report, 2005. Client M&M.
Marketing communications, ephemera and conference programme for VTS Conference, Bergen, 2008. Client: K&K.


text:
Bühl may refer to:

Places
Bühl (Baden), in the district Rastatt, Germany
Bühl (Klettgau), in the municipality of Klettgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Bühl (Tübingen), in the Tübingen district, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Bühl bei Aarberg, in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland
Sportplatz Bühl, Schaffhausen, Switzerland

People with the surname
Alfons Bühl (1900–1988), German physicist
Hede Bühl (born 1940), German sculptor
Marcus Bühl (born 1977), German politician

See also
Buhl (disambiguation)
Buel (disambiguation)

German-language surnames

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Spring Boot with KMS My Spring Boot microservice is running in a Docker container. It requires an encryption key for encrypting the incoming payload. I thought of using AWS KMS for storing the keys. Reading them at runtime, and encrypt the payload.
I was trying to find out the libraries that can be used for accessing the AWS KMS from Spring Boot microservice. Searching on the Google results in below GitHub projects.

*

*https://github.com/zalando/spring-cloud-config-aws-kms

*https://github.com/kinow/spring-boot-aws-kms-configuration
There is an SDK from AWS as well.

*

*https://docs.aws.amazon.com/encryption-sdk/latest/developer-guide/java-example-code.html
I am little confused on which one I should use? The two GitHub projects seems to be more open approach than using AWS SDK to me. Also, the "zalando" project was last updated on May 2020... so they appears to be active.

A: Add the needed dependency.
Create some secrets in AWS as 'other type of secret'.  Name those secrets based on your project.

*

*/secret/application for properties shared across all services

*/secret/{spring.application.name}  for the properties to look up for this specific service.

The above can be changed via some Spring configuration properties -  see section 3.3
Then just inject them as you would any other property:
@Value("${verySpecialKey}")
private String verySpecialKey;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Admiral Heights community-wide yard sale is from 9 a.m. - noon on Saturday, Sept. 26. Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 27. Admiral Heights is a 25-street neighborhood with about 625 homes. Located along Farragut Road at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, it stretches from Rowe Boulevard to Cedar Park Road. The community is easily accessible from Route 50 and West Street.


text:
Profile: Dennis A. Vincenzi
Dennis A. Vincenzi
Dennis.Vincenzi@erau.edu Email
Worldwide campus
The views expressed on faculty and external web pages are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
http://faculty.erau.edu/vincenzd/
Dr. Dennis Vincenzi is the Graduate Studies Department Chair and an Associate Professor in the College of Aeronautics at ERAU Worldwide.
Awards and Experience: Dr. Vincenzi has previously held positions as an Assistant Professor of Human Factors Psychology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach Campus; Senior Human Factors Engineer at the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division in Orlando, FL. Dr. Vincenzi has more than 20 years of combined Human Factors experience in the areas of training, training systems development, advanced simulation interface design, augmented reality and helmet mounted display design and assessment, human performance assessment, and unmanned aerial systems design, development and analysis.
Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology - Human Factors, University of Central Florida
B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of Central Florida
MSHF 618: Virtual Envir, Simul, Robotics
ASCI 662: Statistical Anyl for Avia/Aero
Considerations for the Development and Deployment of an Unmanned Systems Simulation Framework
Effects of Visual Interaction on Unmanned Aircraft Operator Situational Awareness in a Dynamic Simulated Environment
Application of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to Support Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts
Multirotor Vector Control User Interface
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Application to Support Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF)
UAS Regulation in Foreign Countries: Alternatives to UAS Operations in the United States (Ison, David C., Terwilliger, B., Vincenzi, D.), Aviation / Aeronautics / Aerospace International Research Conference (2014)
State and Local Legislation: More Hurdles for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Integration? (Ison, David C., Terwilliger, Brent A., Vincenzi, Dennis), Aviation / Aeronautics / Aerospace International Research Conference (2014)
Session B: Unmanned Aircraft Systems II (Ison, David C., Hauser, Brig. Gen. J., Baker, R., Minniear, H., Terwilliger, B., Vincenzi, D., Metz, N.), Aviation / Aeronautics / Aerospace International Research Conference (2014)
Influencing Factors for Use of Unmanned Aerial Systems in Support of Aviation Accident and Emergency Response (Terwilliger, Brent, Vincenzi, Dennis, Ison, David, Witcher, Kenneth, Thirtyacre, David, Khalid, Adeel), Aeronautics, Graduate Studies - Worldwide (2015)
UAS Capabilities and Performance Modeling for Application Analysis (Terwilliger, Brent, Vincenzi, Dennis, Ison, David, Herron, Rene, Smith, Todd), Publications (2015)
Wide-Scale Small Unmanned Aircraft System Access to the National Airspace System (Robbins, John, Terwilliger, Brent, Ison, David, Vincenzi, Dennis), Publications
Public Perception of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS): A Survey of Public Knowledge Regarding Roles, Capabilities, and Safety While Operating Within the National Airspace System (NAS) (Vincenzi, Dennis, Ison, David, Liu, Dahai), Publications (2013)
Privacy and Unmanned Aerial Systems Integration in the National Aerospace System: Navigating Fourth Amendment Concerns (Vincenzi, Dennis, Ison, David, Liu, Dahai), Publications (2013)
The Role of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in Disaster Response and Recovery Efforts: Historical, Current and Future (Vincenzi, Dennis, Ison, David C., Terwilliger, Brent A.), Publications (2014)
Session G: Unmanned Aircraft Systems III (O'Reilly, M., Ison, David C., Terwilliger, B., Vincenzi, D., Varga, K., Rothenberg, D., Davis, B.), Aviation / Aeronautics / Aerospace International Research Conference (2014)
Seamon, A.G., Bradley, S.K., Hays, R.T., & Vincenzi, D.A., (1999, April). Vesub Technology Demonstration: Project Summary (NAWCTSD TR 99-002). Orlando, FL: Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division.
Hays, R.T., Vincenzi, D.A., Seamon, A.G., & Bradley, S.K. The Devil's in the details: Challenges and the implementation of virtual environment ship handling trainers. Presented at Innovations in Marine Technology, 1998. December 2-3, 1998, New Orleans, LA.
Vincenzi, D.A. and Mouloua, M. (1998). Monitoring automation failures: Effects of age on performance and subjective workload. In M Scerbo and M. Mouloua (Eds.), Automaton Technology and Human Performance: Current Research and Trends. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
McDonald, D., Vincenzi, D.A., Muldoon, R.V., Tyler, R.R., Barlow, A.S. and Smither, J. (1998). Performance differences between older and younger adults for a virtual environment locomotion Task. In M Scerbo and M. Mouloua (Eds.), Automaton Technology and Human Performance: Current Research and Trends. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Hitt, J. M., Mouloua, M. and Vincenzi, D.A. (1998). Attitudes towards automation technology: Using and operating an automated system. In M Scerbo and M. Mouloua (Eds.), Automaton Technology and Human Performance: Current Research and Trends. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Hays, R.T., Vincenzi, D.A., Seamon, A.G., & Bradley, S.K. (1998, June). Training effectiveness evaluation of the VESUB technology demonstration system (NAWCTSD TR 98-003). Orlando, FL: Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division.
Vincenzi, D.A., Muldoon, R. and Mouloua, M. (1997). Effects of aging and workload on monitoring of automation failures. In M. Mouloua and J. Koonce (Eds.), Human-Automation Interaction: Research and Practice. (pp. 118 &endash; 125). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum
Vincenzi, D.A., Muldoon, R., Mouloua, M., Hardy, D.J., and Parasuraman, R. (1997). Effects of aging and workload on monitoring of automation failures in multi-task environments. Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium on Aviation Psychology.
Identification of Cross Platform and Platform Specific Operator Requirements for Unmanned Aircraft System Operators and Crew Members for Navy and Marine Corps UAS Platforms
The Effect of Latency on Simulator Sickness in a See-Through Helmet-Mounted Display: Reducing Apparent Latency With Predictive Compensation
The Need for NextGen and UAS Integration in the NAS: A case for CRM Training in UASs


text:
Ground & Site Investigation
CBR Test
Plate Bearing Test
Dynamic Probing
Soakage Testing
Borehole Soakaways
Difficult / Restricted Access Sites
Marine & Overwater
Instrumentation & Monitoring
Geotechnical Soil & Rock Testing
Aggregates and Earthworks Testing
Concrete Testing
Contamination Testing
WAC Testing
Geotechnical Consultancy
Foundations & Sub Structure
Slopes & Retaining Structures
Earthworks and Ground Improvement
Mining and Cavities
Contaminated Land Investigation
Asbestos Contaminated Land
Land Gas Assessment
Remedial Options Appraisal & Design
Remedial Supervision & Monitoring
Independent Verification & Reporting
Pre Planning Investigations
Pre Purchase Site Assessment
Basement Impact Assessment (BIA)
Topographic Survey
UXO Risk Assessments
Utilities Searches
Work Sectors
Brownfield Site Development
Drainage & Groundwater
Inland Coastal & Marine
Ground Engineering Solutions
Slope & Rock Engineering
Buy Reports Online
Company Information & Certification
You are here - Home : Latest News : Blog : Asbestos Awareness Week
Asbestos Awareness Week
Asbestos is a silicate mineral that has thin fibrous crystals, found in metamorphic rocks. There are six types of silicate minerals known as Chrysotile (white asbestos), Amosite (brown asbestos), Crocidolite (blue asbestos), Tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Evidence suggests that asbestos has been mined for more than 4,000 years, with records of it being used in 2500BC[1].
Initially, asbestos was used in the textile industry in Italy, in time, being adapted for use within a variety of products and materials. Records suggest up to 3,000 products made use of asbestos' unique properties. This led to widespread mining of asbestos from the 1800's, in Africa, Canada and Russia, and, subsequently, worldwide. Peak production was recorded around the mid 1970's, when 25 countries were reportedly mining asbestos.
Recent records suggest that asbestos is still being mined in Russia, in a region applicably named 'Asbestos' where a million tonnes a year is reportedly mined[2]. Approximately 60% of this is exported from Russia to growing economies in China and India.
Asbestos was used for its acoustic, thermal insulation, tensile strength and fire proofing properties in the construction industry.
In the UK, asbestos fibres were in a variety of products from around the1940's towards the end of the 1970's. The use of these materials, knowns as Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs), was prolific within many structures built in the 1960's to 1970's, until it was banned in 1985; second hand reuse was, however, allowed up until 1999.
Due to sub-standard removal techniques, and poor demolition practices in the 1970's and early 1980's, asbestos fibres and ACMs are often found within the Made Ground soil on brownfield sites. The early identification and assessment of asbestos contamination in Made Ground soils on such sites is, therefore, essential to protect both the workforce and future receptors (ground workers and residents). The correct approach to this investigation is, therefore, critical.
Asbestos can cause serious illnesses, including lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.
The management and removal of asbestos material from buildings is well understood and has been controlled by UK legislation and best practise guidance for many years. Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012, all public buildings and non-domestic properties are required to have a register of the asbestos contained within the buildings, to help manage it.
The protection of workers and the general public, in terms of exposure to asbestos from work activities, is also regulated by the Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012. This requires employers (and clients) to ensure exposures are prevented or minimised through the use of appropriate risk assessments and the adoption of appropriate control measures. This legislation applies to any work commissioned in relation to asbestos containing materials, including site investigation and remediation works. Additional requirements are also imposed by other legislation, such as the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM).
The discovery of asbestos in the ground during development can then lead to both significant construction delays and additional costs.
Southern Testing ensure that all sites are correctly assessed prior to any intrusive works being undertaken. In addition, all Made Ground soils are analytically screened for the presence of potential asbestos fibres and ACMs in the soil. Our contracted laboratories are UKAS accredited and provide the results to the standard of ISO17025.
Southern Testing practices, in accordance with the UK legislation under CAR2012 and HSG264 (2nd Ed), require that anyone working with asbestos/exposed to asbestos must be aware of the risks and have yearly refresher training. All our site staff therefore attend in-house yearly training and are familiar with the appropriate HSE documents and HSG 248 in particular. We also have staff who hold UK Proficiency Qualifications in asbestos, being competent personnel to oversee remedial works.
We are able to provide options appraisals, as part of the remediation strategy, for sites contaminated with asbestos. Our approach is to provide the initial identification, carry out a risk assessment, put together a plan of action and verify the remedial works (which includes verification sampling); we then produce a verification closure report on the completion of the works. The verification of the process to treat the asbestos contaminated soils has been part of our capabilities for some time and we are happy to provide advice and information to all our clients.
[1] https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/history/
[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/business/global/city-in-russia-unable-to-kick-asbestos-habit.html
enquiries@southerntesting.co.uk
ST Consult Midlands
creaton@stconsult.co.uk
ST Consult Thames Valley
Hannington
hannington@stconsult.co.uk
ST Consult North West
warrington@stconsult.co.uk
© 2020 Southern Testing Ltd
Michael Bell One: Sussex Web Design
We use cookies, just to track visits to our website, we store no personal details. ACCEPT COOKIES What are cookies?


I have sold a property at 8278 CARTIER ST in Vancouver.
This front side 1/2 Duplex is what you've been waiting for! Immaculate condition, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom home with 9' celings, in -floor radiant heating, gas range, fireplace, and a garage. Next to Lloyd George Elementary School and conveniently located just steps from Granville Street with all it has to offer. Don't miss this opportunity to own a gorgeous 1/2 duplex in a prime location in Vancouver West. Open House Sunday July 26 from 2-4pm.


Did you know that meerkats have complex alarm calls?
Related to mongooses, meerkats (Suricata suricatta) live in colonies in southern Africa where their biggest enemies are jackals and eagles. Because they're highly social they warn each other when danger is near. They even have special sounds to describe the source and threat level for each danger — combinations of "danger from the ground" or "danger in the air" with low, medium and high threat levels.
In this BBC Earth video, scientist Marta Manser tests the meerkats under various threat conditions. Everything goes as planned until she tests for "danger from the air!" by presenting them with a taxidermy jackal arriving by balloon.
You would not think that something this cute could be a problem but European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) have plagued Australia for 160 years. After a century of recurring population explosions (think "plagues of locusts"!) scientists found a virus that kills only European rabbits. They introduced it in 1950 and it worked amazingly well for a while but the rabbit and the virus both evolved. Here's their story.
Introduced for hunting in Geelong, Australia in 1859, the European rabbit immediately went feral and the population went out of control. Without any predators they covered most of the continent by 1910.
Periodic population explosions, called rabbit plagues, became the norm. The rabbits eat everything. They devastate native plants, push out native animals, denude the countryside and cause dust bowls. In the photo below, at dusk, they are everywhere but probably not a plague yet since there's still some grass.
Hunting and poisoning were ineffective.
Then in 1950 scientists found a virus in South America, called myxoma, that killed European rabbits. They released it in Australia (and in France) and it cut the rabbit population by 99%. Wow!
Rabbits on two continents evolved the same genetic changes to beat back the virus—before the virus itself changed and regained the upper hand. […and…] In the 1970s the virus developed a greater ability to suppress the rabbit's immune responses. That change, as well as the natural emergence of another rabbit-killing virus, has caused populations to decline again.
Don't worry about the rabbits. They had another population explosion in 2004. At last count there are about 200,000,000 of them in Australia.
For more information, read "Seventy years ago, humans unleashed a killer virus on rabbits. Here's how they beat it" by Elizabeth Pennisi in Science Magazine.
January-to-February is mating time for red foxes in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region.
Red foxes pair for life. They remain together from midwinter through summer. In autumn the foxes are solitary but reunite in winter for mating in January or February. Following a period of about 51 days, four to six young are born in late March or early April.
People usually don't see foxes mating but Carly Lesser & Art Drauglis came upon this pair in January 2013 at Hain's Point Golf Course in Washington, DC. Click here for another photo and scroll down to read the description.
If foxes mate in January, they have kits in March.
When January 21 is the third Monday of the month, an unofficial celebration falls on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January). Today is also Squirrel Appreciation Day (January 21).
We have four native squirrels in western Pennsylvania: Gray squirrel, fox squirrel, red squirrel, southern flying squirrel.
Black squirrels are actually gray squirrels with black fur.
Gray squirrels are brownish in summer and turn grayer in winter.
The ancestors of South American squirrels came from North America, walking across the isthmus of Panama.
Squirrels are cute when they aren't destroying bird feeders.
Squirrels unwittingly plant trees when they bury acorns. Learn more in this video by Joe Stavish at Tree Pittsburgh.
How shall we celebrate Squirrel Appreciation Day? This one suggests that we give him a handout.
Pittsburgh's squirrels will be grateful for extra food today. It was 2 degrees F this morning!
Last Saturday I tried to enjoy the Sunken Garden Trail at Moraine State Park but there were challenges along the way. The trail was very soggy, trees were down on the Short Loop, and part of the trail was under a few inches of water.
The flood is the work of beavers who backed up water in the wetlands (above) about 600 feet from the trail entrance (below).
The Sunken Garden Trail is truly sunken here. Fortunately ankle-high muck boots were more than enough to keep me dry.
Be prepared for mud in this winter's warm weather. And watch out for black-legged ticks. I got one on my pants after I bushwhacked around downed trees. They're moving around out there, though in slow motion.
When my husband and I visited the Pittsburgh Zoo last spring we stopped by the cheetah exhibit to watch these graceful cats and learn about them from the zoo's cheetah experts. We were amazed to find out that cheetahs like perfume. It keeps them from being bored.
Zookeepers have known for years that big cats, including lions and tigers, react to some perfumes the way housecats react to catnip. They sniff and flemen and rub their faces on the scented spot. My cat Emmy shows how it's done with her catnip toy.
Instead of catnip the big cats prefer perfume and they don't like the expensive stuff. Watch how perfume turns them on in this National Geographic video.
Apparently Calvin Klein's Obsession for Men is catnip for cheetahs.
At the end of September the weather's fine and there's plenty to see outdoors. Goldenrod and asters are blooming but everything else has gone to seed, fruit, and nuts. This is great news for chipmunks.
Join me for a bird and nature walk in Schenley Park on Sunday, September 30, 8:30a – 10:30a.
Meet at Bartlett Shelter on Bartlett Street near Panther Hollow Road. We'll see birds, fall flowers, fruits, seeds, acorns and busy chipmunks.
Before you come, visit my Events page in case of changes or cancellations.


Integrated Students Recruitment Center(ISRC) isYour destination for Global Education , established in 1998 mainly dealing with Students Recruitment Services in assisting students to choose their right choice in pursuing education in SINGAPORE.
ISRC provides all the necessary information related with higher education in SINGAPORE. . ISRC has a strong presence all over India with a network of branches in all the major cities of India through Direct offices and Business Associates. The head office located at one of the most popular commercial centre, CHENNAI and branch office in BANGALORE & CHANDIGARH.


text:
Специфични пазарни решения
Контакти Bulgaria | български
Siemens Bulgaria
Ключови теми
Животът в Siemens
Кариера в Siemens
Свободни позиции в Siemens България
Why you should know this man's face
Find a career like Ashok's.
Search Siemens jobs
Life at Siemens
How one engineer is transforming the lives of thousands in Mumbai
An apprenticeship and years of night classes made Ashok Rane the engineer he is today. Forty years on, he's teaching India's next generation of makers what he knows
It's a time of huge change in India. New ways of working are constantly emerging and disrupting traditional models. India's microfinance sector – services for small businesses and entrepreneurs unable to access conventional banking – is the biggest in the world, and social enterprises have become a transformational force over the past decade. Along with the rest of the world, India's sharing economy (where owners rent out something they're not using – such as a car, house, or bicycle) is booming, with the Bangalore-based on-demand transport service, Ola, challenging Uber where so many others have failed.
Given this new energy, it's not surprising that so many people are looking to enter the Indian market. The immense size of the country – with its population of 1.3 billion – and the speed of its development is understandably appealing to tech moguls and entrepreneurs. India's rapid growth also means there's a huge need for skilled talent, but with many people in the country still struggling to escape poverty, there aren't always enough qualified people to fill the roles.
Tackling youth unemployment
It's a problem that Ashok Rane is well aware of. Based in India's most populated city, Mumbai, he's spent 40 years working through the ranks. He grew up in a small village in the western state of Maharashtra where his family were rice farmers and he became an engineer apprentice at the age of 16 after seeing an advert in a newspaper. While training in what was then Bombay, he took night classes towards an electrical diploma. Now, aged 56, he's revolutionizing Indian engineering.
In 2006, Rane created the Aikya Foundation, a community outreach program that trains Mumbai's underprivileged youth as electricians. Apprentices receive 100 hours of training over two months, learning how to repair household appliances such as toasters, irons, mixers and radios. The course runs five times each year and is completely free – the only requirement is that prospective apprentices have cleared their tenth grade exams. At the end of the course, they are qualified as trade-ready freelance engineers, empowered to earn their own money, pay their own way, and carve out a future in engineering.
While the literacy rate in India now hovers around 74%, computer literacy is much lower at 10%. That means that even if a child completes their school education – a challenge in itself – they'll remain unemployable if they don't possess the right computer skills
We can find the best minds by training people of all backgrounds. It doesn't matter where they're from. What's important is that we encourage every young mind to apply their thinking in a technical way
Ashok Rane
Rane started sowing the seeds for the Aikya Foundation in 1995 when – with other members of his Workers' Union at Siemens – he opened a computer education center for the children of employees. Rane and the union raised the money for the center by pooling their salaries, creating a fund that gave children a 50% subsidy in computer training. In 2000, they began taking the program to underprivileged children in government schools, where students need to achieve certain grades to progress to secondary school after finishing their primary education. With the two hours of weekly teaching that the program provided over three years, it radically improved students chances of admission to high school.
Using the skills he learned during his apprenticeship back in 1976, he's now enabling disadvantaged young people to fill the gap in the job market. And by expanding the talent pool to those with the practical skills to do the job, he's making it easier for organizations within the industry to hire great talent.
After 40 years spent in different roles at Siemens , including a technician, maintenance engineer, and now a manager at the Siemens R&D facility, Rane is well placed to see the successes his work is generating. He's increasingly aware of the growing need for young people of all backgrounds in India to have a computing and technical education. And with the work of the Aikya Foundation, it's becoming far easier for people of all walks of life to enjoy these opportunities.
Since the project started it has provided computers for 26 schools and trained 50,000 children in IT skills, with 3,500 students receiving free tuition each year. Right now, there's a huge need for people to work on the water lines in residential areas, so Rane's next priority is teaching plumbing, as well as extending the foundation's reach into rural villages, like the one he came from.
He wants to give those in remote areas of the country the same opportunities as those in India's bustling cities. When the course is offered in rural villages, apprentices will attend full time, with the 100 hours of training condensed into 16 days, meaning young apprentices will be skilled enough to enter the job market after only three weeks of education.
Rane's methods are unconventional, but these are unconventional and exciting times – a disruption of the past and old ways of doing things. Over the past 20 years, his work hasn't simply tackled poverty : he's empowered the underprivileged and raised a new generation of electrical engineers. Now, he wants to shape – and create – inspired human beings.
Worried about robots stealing your job?
From stimulating the UK's economy and kickstarting our sluggish productivity to raising wages, here's four reasons why we should welcome the rise of AI.
The Internet of Things: A playground for everyone
The world is about to become a lot more connected. Meet a man who has a plan to help the Internet of Things happen on a global scale.
The struggle: From military life to the workforce
Why leaving the armed forces can be more difficult than you might think.
Who said studying needs to be boring?
Ready to change your future with an apprenticeship or higher learning program? Find out first-hand what life is really like beyond the glossy brochure…
Why I never want to leave Cairo
Mai-Britt Soendberg needed a change of scene. A new job in Egypt taught her the joys of chaos, fresh mangos, and canoeing on the River Nile.
Why this environmentalist left the sheep farm
Can you be a real, passionate environmentalist if you work at a global organisation? It's a debate Inga Doak and her brother have a lot.
These young people have 1 thing in common
Three students tell us what it's really like to study with Siemens.
What do zoology, sailing and military school have in common?
Toby Peyton-Jones has an unusual background for an HR Director.
Techno, coffee and learning German: Meet the engineers of the future
What it's really like to study at the Europeans at Siemens program in Berlin
Why my mother's words didn't stop me
35 years later she achieved her childhood dream.
Brain stew and other perks of electronics
"It's quite scary for Europeans or Westerners."
How to develop the courage to get to the top
Here are six tips for inspiring, motivating and leading your team towards greatness.
Задвижващи технологии Здравеопазване Мобилити Финансови услуги Продукти за крайния потребител Сградни технологии Services Industrial Automation
Задвижващи технологии
Мобилити
Продукти за крайния потребител
Сградни технологии
Циментова промишленост Кранове Минна индустрия Енергийно-разпределителни дружества Нефт и газ Контролни табла Производство на гуми Транспорт и логистика Пречистване на питейни и отпадъчни води Оборудване за вятърна електроенергия Химическа промишленост Фармацевтична индустрия Автомобилна индустрия Производство на батерии Центрове за данни Електроника Дистрибутори Производство на стъкло Хранително-вкусова промишленост Машиностроене
Циментова промишленост
Минна индустрия
Енергийно-разпределителни дружества
Нефт и газ
Контролни табла
Производство на гуми
Пречистване на питейни и отпадъчни води
Оборудване за вятърна електроенергия
Фармацевтична индустрия
Автомобилна индустрия
Производство на батерии
Центрове за данни
Машиностроене
Новини Публикации Ключови теми Устойчивост Кариери
Глобални контакти
Последвайте нашите глобални канали
Siemens България Siemens 1996 - 2021
Моля, разрешете употребата на JavaScript
Тази страница се нуждае от JavaScript, за бъде напълно функционална и коректно изобразена. Моля, включете JavaScript и презаредете сайта.
Как да включите JavaScript
Моля, използвайте друг браузър
Изглежда, че използвате браузър, който не се поддържа напълно от тази страница. Моля, обърнете внимание, че това може да повлияе върху изобразяването на сайта и неговата функционалност. За най-добро предоставяне на услугата Ви съветваме да свалите най-нова версия на поддържан браузър.


At the Essence of Living Academy, we are devoted to training amazing Yoga and Pilates teachers.
The teachers trained at Essence of Living are sought after and recognised as some of the best in the industry. At Essence of Living we equip you not only to be a brilliant teacher, but we also prepare you for the business of yoga and Pilates.
The Essence of Living courses are registered with Yoga Alliance and Fitness Australia, offering you the highest level of qualifications.
These short courses can not only be taken to enhance your current teachings to continuously improve, but also work towards a Yoga 300hr qualification. All courses receive a certificate upon completion.
Michelle Cassidy is the course creator and head facilitator of the Teacher Training Academy on the Gold Coast. With all of this knowledge and experience, Michelle is extremely passionate about sharing it with her students and her teacher trainers, truly believing in the power of the ripple effect.


A beautiful collaboration between story teller, scientist and illustrator as the children's story is told alongside very understandable science about skin colour. The message that skin colour is not a determinant of what is in a person's heart nor is the colour of skin indicative of a person's level of intelligence…yes, this is an extremely important message for all. And so Njabulo and his friends work together on a recycling project in his Uncle Joshua's scrapyard while learning that although different in appearance all people originated from the continent of Africa…many, many years ago. And while having fun the children also learn the importance of team work and the value of collaboration. And so this magical children's book which is also a recommended read for adults concludes with a musical surprise!


With over 17 years of experience, we are well-versed and seasoned with various jurisdictions and communities. Understanding the jurisdictional landscape has allowed us to streamline our zoning & permitting process. Our zoning and permitting team offers a large range of services from the preparation & filing of permits to representing our clients at public hearings and meetings. We create an atmosphere that encourages communities and jurisdictions to work with us to get the project completed.


text:
Automotive Regions Alliance calls for EU action to address challenges for automotive supply chain industry
The alliance was launched during the June Plenary Session of the European Committee of the Regions (Courtesy EU)
An Automotive Regions Alliance (ARA) has been created to support a fair and successful mobility transition for European regions, with the aim of ensuring that no region is left behind as the automotive industry moves toward electrification.
The alliance was launched during the June Plenary Session of the European Committee of the Regions in the presence of Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. The Committee of the Regions' Automotive Intergroup (CoR AI) is a key partner in the alliance, having been active on this topic since 2009, and will be a major facilitator of the future cooperation and actions of the ARA.
The alliance is intended to bring together regions with strong automotive and supply industries that want to play an active role in the decarbonisation of the transport sector, and will contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal, while strengthening regional industrial ecosystems and value creation and ensuring economic and social cohesion.
Schmit stated, "The automotive sector in the EU accounts for over 14 million jobs. The move to zero-emission cars and vans offers opportunities for Europe's industry, but equally clear challenges. One thing is clear: to make it a success this green transformation requires a strong accompaniment of reskilling and job-to-job transitions, strong dialogue between social partners, and adequate funding."
The ARA calls for action from the EU on ten points, outlined below. Key to the Powder Metallurgy industry is the call to action in point 3, which asks the EU to address the common challenges and opportunities facing regions and SMEs in the automotive supply chain industry, which will be particularly affected by the transition in drive-trains from ICE drive-trains to electric.
The full list of actions requested by the alliance is:
Urgently establish a European mechanism supporting a just, fair and successful transition for the European automotive and supply industry regions, including by streamlining dedicated additional budget headings in the various European funds and programmes.
Undertake a detailed territorial impact assessment (at regional level) of the consequences of the transformation in the automotive sector as a starting point for the just transition framework, including granular mapping of the impact on regional growth and jobs.
Address common challenges and opportunities for regions and SMEs in respect of the automotive supply chain industry, which will be particularly affected by the drive-train transition.
Support reskilling and upskilling the (regional) workforce in order to avoid job losses in our regions, monitoring the supply and demand of relevant skills and anticipating future demands in close cooperation with the EU-wide framework of the Pact for Skills, and **especially with the Automotive Skills Alliance.
Further develop a strong research framework for industrial transformation and innovation in the European automotive industry, increasing the resilience of the supply chain for strategic and critical raw materials.
Provide for flexibility in State aid guidelines (including the block exemption regulation) to enable automotive regions to guide and manage this transformation and avoid its negative effects. Supporting measures for local and regional authorities to accelerate the uptake of innovative technologies through public procurement should also be provided for.
Support regions to deploy publicly accessible refuelling and recharging stations to promote the uptake of electric vehicles and vehicles that use zero- and low-carbon alternative fuels. It is imperative for territorial and social cohesion that these stations be available in all regions and interoperable across borders.
Concentrate available public and private investment funds on various technological solutions (e.g. electrification, hydrogen technologies and synthetic fuels) to ensure the European automotive industry's competitiveness and innovation.
Establish a multi-level governance and partnership approach to this transition for appropriate and effective policy planning, budgetary action, and dialogue with all stakeholders and public authorities at all levels, including the European Commission, Council and European Parliament.
Support this alliance as the main open platform for coordination of the automotive and supply regions, so that they can work together at regional, national and European level, and in close cooperation with existing initiatives in order to make the transition a success.
The founding regions of the alliance are Lower Saxony, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany; Valencia, Navarra, Galicia, Catalonia, Castile and León, and Andalucia, Spain; Bretagne, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Grand-Est, France; Abruzzo, Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont and Umbria, Italy; Styria, Austria; and Trnava and Bratislava, Slovakia.
These regions will be further supported by the Automotive Skills Alliance, the sectorial initiative under the Pact for Skills that supports the upskilling and reskilling of the automotive workforce to facilitate green and digital transformation.
https://cor.europa.eu/da/engage/Pages/Automotive-Regions-Alliance.aspx
General Motors has announced plans to invest $918 million in four US manufacturing plants, including $854 million to prepare these facilities to pr...»
Masan High-Tech Materials and HC Starck Tungsten Powders combine R&D activities
Masan High-Tech Materials Group, headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and HC Starck Tungsten Powders, based in Goslar, Germany, are bringing...»


text:
Sri Lanka restricts access to social media sites following terror attack
A coordinated series of attacks against churches and hotels in Sri Lanka this morning has killed at least 200 people, and injured at least 450 more. In response to the attack, the Sri Lankan government has restricted access to a number of social media sites, including Facebook, Whatsapp, and Youtube, according to local media and monitoring site Netblocks (via The New York Times).
The site says that the government appears to have blocked Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, Viber, and YouTube, and authorities have issued a curfew in the country. Presidential advisor Harindra Dassanayake told The New York Times that "this was a unilateral decision," and was done over concerns that the attacks would trigger additional waves of…
from The Verge – All Posts http://bit.ly/2ZmWMuh


text:
Causabon
Purdon (Tinerana) The Purdons were active in the affairs of Limerick city but lived in the parish of Ogonnelloe, barony of Tulla Lower, county Clare, from the mid 17th century to the beginning of the 20th century. In the mid 18th century George Purdon married Arabella, daughter and co heir of William Causabon of Carrig, near Mallow, county Cork. Lewis writes in 1837 that, with the exception of 97 acres, the whole parish was in their possession. In the 1850s they held 16 townlands in the parish. George F. Purdon of Tinerana owened 6,298 acres in county Clare in the 1870s. His only son, William Casaubon Purdon, died unmarried in 1893 and the estate was inherited by his two sisters who sold it to the Gleeson family in 1901. A cousin, Reverend William John Purdon of Kingstown, Dublin, held five townlands in each of the parishes of Kilfinaghta and Kilfintinan, barony of Bunratty Lower at the time of Griffith's Valuation. He had two daughters, Emily Jane and Anna Maria. Over 500 acres located in the barony of Clanwilliam, county Limerick, in the possession of Reverend John Head and Simon G. Purdon, were sold in the Encumbered Estates Court in 1853. Mr. McDermott is reported to have purchased the property in trust for over £12,000.
Causabon A Hugenot family who were settled in Youghal, county Cork, by the 1680s. William Causabon married Sarah daughter of Arthur Hyde, Member of Parliament, and bought some of the forfeited estate of Pierce Nagle in the barony of Fermoy in 1703. His son William of Carrig, near Mallow, was High Sheriff of Cork in 1723 and Member of Parliament for Doneraile 1715-1727. He married Arabella daughter of Sir John Rogerson and they also had a son William. The Causabon name also appears in the Purdon and Frend genealogies.


Cathryn Weatherhead A selection of fresh and interesting illustration. Through the use of a sophisticated colour pallet Cathryn attempts to draw the audience into another world capturing 'childlike' sensibilities and nostalgia alike. Combining both traditional and digital media such as mono printing and collage with digital techniques to create her images.


The method most medical doctors and well being care professionals do their jobs has hardly changed over the previous thirty to forty years. Medical informatics began to take off within the US within the Nineteen Fifties with the rise of the microchip and computer systems. In 2002 the Australian College of Health Informatics (ACHI) was fashioned as an expert affiliation and peak health informatics skilled body. Pharmacy informatics (PIX), additionally referred to as pharmacoinformatics, is the application of computers to the storage, retrieval and analysis of drug information. This space of medical informatics contains working with electronic information of care supplied to sufferers, medical imaging tools (akin to X-ray and ultrasound), and software program that manage medical data in hospitals. One thing that's clear, nonetheless, is that the type of informatics job you assume shall be somewhat dependent in your background.
It Is All About Health Informatics!
Health informatics or medical informatics is the intersection of data science, pc science and well being care. As always, I even have had the continuing alternative to publish, speak, and in any other case disseminate details about the informatics within the new 12 months since my last kudos" posting final fall. Although a profusion of merchandise exists, at the moment only a minority of well being practitioners use absolutely featured digital healthcare data systems. The subject that most straight addresses these issues is what I choose to name biomedical and health informatics 2. One accolade I obtained was election as an inaugural member of the International Academy of Health Sciences Informatics (IAHSI) Informatics leaders from around the globe voted to establish the initial membership of 121 leaders from world wide. Over time, I can see that certification becoming very important for informatics practitioners.
The Associate in Science (A.S.) in Health Information Technology degree improves the health care delivery system by way of educating and coaching college students to become educated in regards to the management of well being info methods. The Health Information Technology diploma prepares you to be employed in Hospitals, Physician's Offices, Nursing Homes, Home Health Agencies, Mental Health Facilities, Public Health Agencies and every other group that makes use of patient information or well being info corresponding to pharmaceutical firms, law and insurance coverage companies, and well being product vendors.


text:
Q: How to stop reloading or retendering the component when using match.params I have to get the parameter supplied in the URL and do some operation specific to the parameter.
So I have used match.param. and found it is working. But unfortunately my component is rendering or reloading in an infinite loop. How can I stop that.
Sample code which I have introduced for my requirement
    const TheBoardSubscription = ({match}) => {
       const filterIdFromURL = match.params.savedFilterId;
       return (
        <SocketAuth>
          <WebsocketConnectionContext.Consumer>
            {({ addSubscription, removeSubscription, status }) => (
              <ClientContext.Consumer>
                {(value) => (
                  <TheBoardContainer
                    addSubscription={addSubscription}
                    removeSubscription={removeSubscription}
                    status={status}
                    id={id}
                    tenantId={value}
                    filterIdFromURL={filterIdFromURL}
                  />
                )}
              </ClientContext.Consumer>
            )}
          </WebsocketConnectionContext.Consumer>
        </SocketAuth>
      );
    }

    const TheBoardContainer = ({
      intl,
      addSubscription,
      removeSubscription,
      status,
      id,
      tenantId,
      filterIdFromURL,
    }) => {
      .
      .
     return (
      if(filterIdFromURL){
                console.log("this could be the correct place to initiaze savedfilters");
                //const fetchedFilters = fetchSavedFilters(values.savedFilterIds[0]);
                client.query({
                  query: GET_SAVED_FILTER,
                  variables: { id: filterIdFromURL },
                  fetchPolicy: "network-only",
                }).then(
                  resp => {
                    const savedFilter = resp.data && resp.data.getSavedFilter;
                    //console.log("savedFilter data::::", resp.data);
                    setSearchFilters(savedFilter);
          refetch({
                      search: searchFilters,
                    });
    }
                )
              }else{
                console.log("Donot do anything");
              }

)
  .
  .

}

Things are working fine for me but the component seems to be rendering in an infinite loop. I did googled for solution but did not understand how to make it. Can someone please help me here.


An auction is a popular way of selling a property, and follows a slightly different process to selling in a traditional way. Whilst buyers might see the auction as a stand-alone event, those in the industry see it as the final culmination of a great deal of hard work behind the scenes.
At an auction, real estate agents are working hard to achieve the best sale price for their client, vendors are usually anxious and emotional, and buyers are nervously hoping to secure the property at the lowest possible price.
It's the role of the auctioneer to juggle all three elements at the same time and ensure a happy outcome for everyone.
Being an auctioneer is a highly specialised, fast-paced job that requires passion, confidence and the right skills. So how can you become better at real estate auctioneering?
As with any job, having a plan makes everything easier, and as an auctioneer you have to set up the auction so the home sells. You're in control of how everything pans out.
Discuss with the lead agent things like how many buyers you should have, price expectations and any recent, equivalent sales in the area. Plan your strategy based on the information you've been briefed with and do a run-through with the team.
Always have a Plan B too. You can never truly predict what buyers are going to do, so if you don't get the price you need in the first bid, work with the tools you have at your disposal. If you plan for the worst-case scenario you should be able to handle any situation that arises.
A great auctioneer will be able to instil his or her audience with confidence. Buyers need to feel confident before they will put their hand up; it's a substantial purchase after all.
The confidence you exude comes from the pace and rhythm of your words. If you start off speaking too quickly, looking nervous or stumbling over your words, buyers will pick up on this and become wary. There's a difference between confidence and arrogance, and there's a difference between being assertive and being aggressive.
The key is to find the balance and be confident and assertive enough to encourage the bids to flow.
There will always be moments of nerves, especially if it's your first auction. Remember to take deep breaths, rehearse your spiel before you start, and control your pace and rhythm.
There's nothing worse than forgetting the amount the bidding is up to! Remembering your numbers takes concentration, and is surprisingly easy to forget. Some auctioneers struggle more than others, and if this is you, you'll have to work harder.
Being able to think on your feet and add up quickly and accurately in your head is a skill that comes with practice and experience.
Auctioneers must be fantastic communicators. They are the link between buyers and sellers and must be able to build rapport with the crowd and read body language.
A great auctioneer needs to determine when is a good time to push for higher bids and when the crowd needs to stop for a moment and take a deep breath. They also need to be prepared to get involved in negotiations and interact face to face with buyers when necessary.
We've all seen auctions where the auctioneer is rambling on in undecipherable gibberish. It's all part of a show where the auctioneer is the entertainer and is expected to set the tone for the auction.
Whilst you do need to be understood in a real estate auction, you also need to use your charisma and personality to create some excitement, drive bidding and put the crowd at ease.
Being a great auctioneer is about being confident, assertive, entertaining and an excellent communicator. If you can have fun and make it look easy, you'll have the crowd scrambling over each other to make another bid!


text:
Courtesy HP
Save desk space by installing one of HP's new mini workstations
Eric Emin Wood
@ericewood
Published: November 15th, 2016
Between shrinking office space and an ever-increasing number of monitors, business PC users have less desk to work with than ever before, and HP would like to help.
Today the company unveiled the HP Z2 Mini, a server-grade workstation shorter than an espresso cup and only slightly wider than a monitor's base.
Seriously. Look at this thing. (Courtesy HP)
In a Nov. 15 statement Jeff Wood, vice president and general manager of HP's Workstations and Thin Clients division, called the mini workstation "the ultimate combination of space efficiency, elegance, and power," adding that he expected the Z2 to disrupt office workstations, much as he said the HP Z series had "redefined" the category in 2009.
According to the company's research, the average American worker's space has been reduced by 60 per cent over the past 10 years, and 38 per cent of users now have two or more displays. Measuring 8.5 inches wide and 2.3 inches high, the Z2 Mini is 90 per cent smaller than the average enterprise-class workstation.
It's also been designed with power users in mind, with HP emphasizing its value for workers in the computer-aided design (CAD) industry and claiming it's twice as powerful as any commercial mini PC on the market today.
"The HP Z2 Mini was designed for the millions of CAD users demanding smaller hardware without compromising acoustics and performance and mission-critical reliability," the company said in its release.
Among other features, the Z2 Mini includes Intel Xeon processors, an Nvidia Quadro M620 graphics card, an optional 1.5 TB HP Z Turbo Drive, custom-designed-fan-based cooling system that HP says is 63 per cent quieter than its business-class mini PCs, and support for both Windows and Linux operating systems.
It's also designed to be easily placed in multiple positions: on or under a desk, mounted behind an HP Z display, or on a wall.
HP plans to release the Z2 Mini worldwide in December, for a starting price of $945.
Samsung dives into auto tech market with purchase of Harman
Google makes scanning old documents easy with new app
About Eric Emin Wood
Former editor of ITBusiness.ca turned consultant with public relations firm Porter Novelli. When not writing for the tech industry enjoys photography, movies, travelling, the Oxford comma, and will talk your ear off about animation if you give him an opening.
Follow Follow @ericewood on Twitter
Many employees working from home see cybersecurity as a hindrance: Report
CDN TOP 100 Solution Providers: Ranking starts to take shape
HP Elite Dragonfly hands-on review: style and productivity in one package
HP updates midrange EliteBook and ZBook with high-end features


Offering free WiFi and garden views, Villa Chiusedda is accommodation located in Muratello, a 5-minute drive from Porto-Vecchio. The property is 7 km from Via Notte and complimentary private parking is featured. The holiday home is located on the ground floor and is equipped with 2 bedrooms, a sofabed, a flat-screen TV and a fully equipped kitchenette that provides guests with a dishwasher. Guests can relax in the garden at the property and enjoy the barbecue and the sunloungers. Figari-Sud Corse Airport is 14 km from the property.


text:
Q: Refactor python: replace list of words in list of strings Still getting my head around python, I wonder if this function could be improved either in performance or readability?
def multi_replace_words(sentences, words, replace_str):
    """Replace all words in the sentences list with replace_str
    ex. multi_replace_words(['bad a list', 'og bad', 'in bady there bad2', 'another one', 'and bad. two'], ['bad','bad2']', 'EX')
    >> ['EX a list', 'og EX', 'in bady there EX','another one','and EX two']
    """
    docs = []
    for doc in sentences:
        for replace_me in words:
            if(replace_me in doc.encode('ascii', 'ignore')):
                doc = re.sub('((\A|[^A-Za-z0-9_])'+replace_me+'(\Z|[^A-Za-z0-9_]))', ' ' + replace_str+' ', doc)
        docs.append(doc)
    return docs

Thanks :)

A: Something like this:
In [86]: def func(lis,a,b):
    strs= "|".join("({0}{1}{2})".format(r'\b',x,r'\b[;",.]?') for x in a)
    for x in lis:
        yield re.sub(strs,b,x)
   ....:

In [87]: lis
Out[87]: ['bad a list', 'og bad', 'in bady there bad2', 'another one', 'and bad. two']

In [88]: rep=['bad','bad2']

In [89]: st="EX"

In [90]: list(func(lis,rep,st))
Out[90]: ['EX a list', 'og EX', 'in bady there EX', 'another one', 'and EX two']

In [91]: rep=['in','two','a']

In [92]: list(func(lis,rep,st))
Out[92]: ['bad EX list', 'og bad', 'EX bady there bad2', 'another one', 'and bad. EX']

A: You could try to use replace().  It acts on a string and replaces all instances of a series of characters with another.  An example from here shows how replace acts.
#!/usr/bin/python

str = "this is string example....wow!!! this is really string";
print str.replace("is", "was");
print str.replace("is", "was", 3);


The Color of Memory II2016In my heart I carry a weighted box. I don't think about it daily, but it's there, subtle and constant.When I dream, the ache is a different kind of pain. It's more real, harsher; it throbs like a freshly cut wound and I wake up in tears. Thirteen years, and it still hurts. Like a memory from yesterday, I live and relive it, I am displaced every time I come to. Remembrance is the only way I know how to mourn.If you were to be born again, in this lifetime, I want to meet you once more.
The Color of Memory2016In my heart I carry a weighted box. I don't think about it daily, but it's there, subtle and constant.When I dream, the ache is a different kind of pain. It's more real, harsher; it throbs like a freshly cut wound and I wake up in tears. Thirteen years, and it still hurts. Like a memory from yesterday, I live and relive it, I am displaced every time I come to. Remembrance is the only way I know how to mourn.If you were to be born again, in this lifetime, I want to meet you once more.


text:
Q: Процесс заказа в ubercart глючит помогите пожалуйста советом
при клике на кнопку "в корзину" у некоторых товаров на экран выводится следующее
[{"command":"settings","settings":{"basePath":"\/site_mstore\/drupal7_mstore\/","pathPrefix":"","ajaxPageState":{"theme":"mstore","theme_token":"wSmz3u_e17EHMqoVuq_DOAr5oqq6fUL5w-UrLIeNqaQ"},"colorbox":{"opacity":"0.85","current":"{current} \u0438\u0437 {total}","previous":"\u00ab \u041f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u044b\u0434\u0443\u0449\u0438\u0439","next":"\u0421\u043b\u0435\u0434\u0443\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0439 \u00bb","close":"\u0417\u0430\u043a\u0440\u044b\u0442\u044c","maxWidth":"98%","maxHeight":"98%","fixed":true}},"merge":true}]

где искать проблему даже не представляю. поскажите пожалуйста
а некоторые товары без подобных проблем отправляются в корзину
при этом пробовал удалить модуль ubercart и установить его заново. так же пробовал отключить все, написанные мной яваскрипты.не моиогло