Today I visited Ouchijuku village in Aizu region of Fukushima covered with deep snow. Last night I stayed at Yunokami Onsen on the foot of the hill and I walked up to the village in the morning about 6km away. It took about 1.5 hours one way. Altitude of the village is 650m.
The location is on the map below. The GPS logged route is drawn by red. The map can be scaled up and down by clicking it.
Above photo shows a view from the entrance point of Ouchijuku village. This morning, clear sky spread until just past 10 o'clock and it made a beautiful contrast with white snow. Ouchijuku village prospered in Edo Period some 300 years ago as the lodging village for travelers between Aizu and Tokyo along the old main highway. Even today many old thatched roof houses stand along the street which bring us back to those old days. Aizu and Tokyo is separated about 240km and it took 6 days and 5 nights to travel. It is said that feudal Lord Hoshina stayed at Ouchijuku 7 times and another feudal Lord Matsudaira 11 times. Today Ouchijuku village is designated as National Preservation District of Important Traditional Buildings.
Above photo shows a view from observation hill at the end of the village. There were many foreign tourists today.
Just below the observation hill there was a nice souvenir shop called Kanouya.
Down the hill from Ouchijuku village there is Yunokamionsen Station of Aizu Railway Line. This station is famous as the only thatched-roof railway station in Japan. I took some pictures of the station and train from National Route 121 just across the railroad.
Above photo shows inbound (toward south) rapid train and Yunokamionsen Station.
Above photo shows inbound (toward south) local train and Yunokamionsen Station.
In Aizu Region of Fukushima, there is also thatched-roof bus stop. The bus stop is called Maezawamukai Bus Stop at the entrance of Maezawa magariya village in Minamiaizu Town. The bus stop is located along National Route 352 as shown in the map below.
Above photo shows the excellent thatched-roof bus stop which can protect travelers from severe snowstorm.
In front of this bus stop, there spread the small village of Maezawa in which many character L-shaped thatched roof houses stand. This village is also designated as National Preservation District of Important Traditional Buildings the same as Ouchijuku village.
But in winter season, as shown in the above photo, all the houses are covered with deep snow that we cannot see the details of L-shaped structure. There is an observation place of the whole village up on the mountain across the road but today deep snow of 2meters high rejected me.
Last night I stayed at Shimizuya Inn of Yunokami Onsen. Though it looked like rustic inn along the National Route 121, everything was good including people, meal, hot spring (only spring source was flowing into the bath with no water or circulation), room, and charge (really reasonable).


New videos focus on operating and safety tips for the T680 and T880 models.
Kenworth Truck Co. is updating its "Essentials App" for Apple and Android smart phones and mobile devices with a series of new videos aimed at helping drivers igain operational and safety benefits when piloting its T680 and T880 trucks.
Seven new T680 videos covering fuel economy and driver assistance technologies have been added to the "Essentials App," the OEM said: Four focused on driving tips for better fuel economy, T680 fuel economy features, PACCAR Powertrain, and predictive cruise control/neutral coast operation. The three other "driver assistance" technology videos cover adaptive cruise control/collision mitigation, lane departure warning, and the side objection detection systems available on the T680.
Kenworth added that its "Driver Academy" now offers a total of 44 short instructional videos, with 27 for its T680 tractor and 17 for its T880 vocational truck. The videos provide an overview of truck features and key functions along with other helpful information for simple servicing while on the road, it said.
The company noted that its T680 and T880 "Driver Academy" video series are also available on its YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/user/KenworthTruckCo.
The OEM also emphasized that the app also features a dealer locator tool; it recognizes a driver's current location and then maps them directly to the Kenworth dealership they select. A call to the dealership can also be made with the "one-touch" dialing feature simply by tapping the phone number provided by the app, Kenworth added.
The "Essentials App" can be downloaded to smartphones and tablets from the Apple Store or Google Play Store by searching on "Kenworth," the company noted.


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Barbara Todd is the Director of Advanced Practice at Hospital University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA and also the Director of the CMS Graduate Nurse Education Demonstration Project. She also serves as clinical faculty for Acute Care NP students at University of Pennsylvania.
She began her career as a nurse practitioner in 1984 with her first NP position in cardiac surgery at the Hospital University of Pennsylvania. She then pursued an administrative and clinical role as the program director for the cardiac and thoracic surgery program at Temple University from 1989 to 2003, where she developed the inpatient NP model. She returned to Penn in 2003 as the Director for Advanced Practice Providers in the Department of Surgery. She has lectured extensively on issues in cardiac care and Nurse practitioners model of care. She has been a nurse practitioner for the past 30 years with a focus on cardiac surgery with a specialty interest in valvular heart disease. She has published extensively and presented nationally on advanced practice clinical and administrative topics. She has published numerous articles and authored a certification review book for students preparing for the acute care nurse practitioner exam. She is certified in both family practice and acute care.
She completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at Thomas Jefferson University in 2010. Her DNP project focus was on transition to NP practice. She is a fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, past leadership roles in Philadelphia Area NP group; member of Pennsylvania Advanced Practice Alliance and American College of Cardiology.


We The Italians | Energica Motorcycles: New Commercial Agreement in New York and the Northeast U.S.
Energica Motorcycles: New Commercial Agreement in New York and the Northeast U.S.
New York has the fifth largest number of motorcyclists in the U.S., with over 392,771 registered street bikes in 2017. According to Plug-In America, New York is also the second largest market for EV vehicles, with about 30,645 currently registered and a growth rate of 67% in just the last year. There are over 2,400 charging stations already in place in the state, the fourth-highest number in the country, behind three states (California, Texas, Florida) where Energica already has dealer representation.
Highly ambitious plans have just been announced by Governor Cuomo to add over 10,000 additional charging stations and expand the New York EV units in operation to 800,000 – so the outlook for electric motorcycles to follow the growth in electric cars in New York is very positive.


text:
I HAVE A CODE
Personal Loan Aurangabad, 22 January 2020 from UCO Bank
{{personallocity.cityname}}
Wedding Loan from UCO Bank in Aurangabad
Aurangabad is a historically and culturally important city in the state of Maharashtra. It houses one of the Worlds Heritage Sites, Ajanta and Ellora Caves, which makes the tourists swarm in to this city at any time of the year. Aurangabad has various cultural lineage linked to it. It was found in 1610 by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and the city was named after him. Lately, the city is heading towards a rapid industrial growth but the most exciting thing about the city is that its culture, heritage and traditions still remain intact. Beautifully situated near the elevated Deccan Plateau, it has beautiful locations to explore and a mix of cultural heritage to offer to its visitors. The city was found by Aurangzeb in 1610 but it wasnt as relevant in the medieval period. The city gained importance in the entire country after it was turned into the capital of the entire Mughal Empire from 1653 to 1707. After the death of Aurangzeb, the glory of the city was faded. Aurangabad has facsinating monuments like Bibi-qa-Maqbara, Taj Mahal Replica and the famous Buddhist caves.
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Low interest rate Wedding Loan in Aurangabad, 22 January 2020 from UCO Bank
the motto of the UCO Bank is "Honours your Trust." It was founded in 1943 in Kolkata. It is a major government-owned and commercial bank of India also known as the United Commercial Bank. Its total business was ? 4.55 lakh crore during FY 2013-14. It was ranked 1860 on Forbes Global 2000 List by 2014 data. According to the Brand Trust Report 2014, a study conducted by Trust Research Advisory, the Bank was ranked 294th among Indias most trusted brands. It was a difference of 796 ranks considering its previous position among Indias most trusted brands in the Brand Trust Report 2013. The bank has a regional presence of 3,078 branches and 2564 ATMs with a prospective growth in the number of offices as well as ATMs. The logo of UCO bank includes a pair of clasped hands covered by an octagonal structure. It has been colored blue since the organizations inception is to represent the national responsibility of the bank. The background of the logo is yellow from the beginning. The significant competitors of the bank have always been the State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda and the Bank of India. The economic liberalization may bring foreign banks, which could make the inter-bank competition intense for commercial and well-to-do retail customers.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
The New "Climate Sync" Art Intervention Raises Awareness About Sea Level Rise and Climate Change Dangers
News Travels Fast
June 08, 2017, 19:57 GMT
The art intervention "Climate Sync," by the artist Tom Scicluna
The art intervention "Climate Sync," by the artist Tom Scicluna, installed at the entrance to ArtCenter/South Florida at Miami Beach's Lincoln Road
At ArtCenter/South Florida, "Climate Sync" by the British artist Tom Scicluna will reach millions of people at one of America's busiest pedestrian attractions
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES, June 8, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Art Intervention "Climate Sync" by the British artist Tom Scicluna (based in Miami), will be exhibited for a year at ArtCenter/South Florida, delivering the message that our relationship with the environment is out of sync.
Scicluna's work is part of the series of site-specific public art interventions exploring the topic of rising seas, organized by Art in Public Places of Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the University of Miami School of Communication.
On view May 2017 through May of 2018 at the entrance to ArtCenter/South Florida, 924 Lincoln Road Mall (between Jefferson Avenue and Michigan Avenue) on Miami Beach. The outdoor Lincoln Road Mall is one of America's busiest pedestrian centers, attracting more than six million people per year.
Climate Sync, created by the artist Tom Scicluna, is an inverted yet fully operational alternating time and temperature display unit. The commercially produced upside-down LED display critically invokes geographic, social and economic conditions at play concerning the given South Florida environment. The art intervention will remain on view for twelve months, through May of 2018.
Scicluna's Climate Sync is part of "SEA LEVEL RISE," a series of site-specific temporary public art interventions exploring the topic of rising seas and its impact on South Florida, organized by Art in Public Places of Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, and the University of Miami School of Communication.
Climate Sync is meant to alarm passersby who are accustomed to seeing the nearby time and temperature landmark, a traditional clock on the rooftop of the 407 building on Lincoln Road (located five blocks east of Climate Sync's installation). The original mid-century clock has been familiar to pedestrians for decades. Climate Sync's message serves as a counterpoint to the traditional landmark clock, and a wake-up call to citizens with its startling upside-down temperature and time display.
The artist who created Climate Sync, Tom Scicluna, is based in Miami. Some of his other exhibitions include: "Some Aesthetic Decisions: Centennial Celebration of Marcel Duchamp's Fountain," at NSU Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale; "New Work Miami 2013," at Miami Art Museum; "Night Shift," at the Bass Museum of Art; and "Rendez-Vous 08," at the Muse d'Art Contemporain de Lyon, France.
Continuing a trajectory of contemporary artists' radical engagement with ecology and environmentalism, Art in Public Places of Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, and the University of Miami School of Communication, are pleased to announce SEA LEVEL RISE, a series of site-specific temporary public art interventions exploring the topic of rising seas and its impact in South Florida.
Located at scattered sites throughout Miami-Dade County and ranging from installations to film screenings to event-based interventions, artworks will take place throughout a year of programming that continues through May of 2018.
In an effort to bring broader awareness to the topic, each artist has been paired with a student(s) from the University of Miami School of Communication to produce a short documentary video on each project as part of their class curriculum. Support for SEA LEVEL RISE is provided by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
About ArtCenter/South Florida:
ArtCenter/South Florida was founded by Ellie Schneiderman in the spring of 1984 on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach as an organization to address the community's cultural needs.
Today, ArtCenter is credited as being the catalyst for the revitalization of Lincoln Road and its surrounding areas, having provided studio residencies and exhibition opportunities to more than 1,000 visual artists, while also offering art classes and outreach programs to the community.
ArtCenter/South Florida prides itself in being one of the few institutions in South Florida that grants free admission to all of its exhibitions and other public programming in an effort to make the arts accessible to all.
Exhibitions and programs at ArtCenter/South Florida are made possible with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the Miami Beach Mayor and City Commissioners; and the State of Florida, Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council; the National Endowment for the Arts; and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
For more information, visit artcentersf.org. ArtCenter's Miami Beach studios and offices are located at 924 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL 33139, 305-674-8278.
Jose Lima
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With Washington's new ballpark due to open, Nationals' management lobbied Major League Baseball to let the team to start the National League season on ESPN's Sunday night game, March 30, 2008. Despite the Nats' dim prospects, MLB granted the request, putting Washington in the national spotlight for an opener for the first time since the Senators left for Texas after the 1971 season.
The $611-million stadium on the banks of the Anacostia River in the Southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C., was paid for with tax dollars. Political opposition had nearly scuttled the deal — and the transfer of the Montreal Expos to Washington. All that was a distant memory by the gala opening. The gates opened at 3:37 p.m. for the scheduled 8:15 game start. Four F16s from the 121st fighter Squadron flew over the ballpark shortly before the first pitch.
had arranged for free shuttle buses from the parking lots around old Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, about 10 minutes away, depending on traffic.
The game, unsurprisingly, was a sellout, with 39,389 paying customers and about 3,500 guests and dignitaries, including President George W. Bush. The new stadium's official seating capacity was 41,888. It featured a 4,500-square-foot, high definition, scoreboard above right-center field. The outfield fences down the lines were 336 to left and 335 to right, the same as RFK, but the gaps were not as deep, and dead center was 402 feet from home plate.
Nats' players were ecstatic to be somewhere other than RFK, but they clearly were impressed with their new digs. "It's just a clean-looking park," said Zimmerman the day before as the Nats were about to play the Orioles in an exhibition. "It's kind of classy looking – not too flamboyant." Several players and coaches on both teams saw similarities between Nationals Park and Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park.
"It's top-of-the-line. It's exciting to come to work here every day," Nationals Manager Manny Acta said.
The Atlanta Braves, three seasons removed for a remarkable 14-year run as National League East champs, provided the opening night opposition. The Braves wore navy blue caps with a white "A" and navy blue jerseys with "Atlanta" in white script, the first change in their away uniforms since 1987. Before gates opened, the Braves had worked on cutoffs and relays in a full workout to get the feel of the new park.
Bush was given a Braves jersey by a couple of Atlanta players who urged him to wear it onto the field. He told them he didn't want to encourage Washington fans to boo him. "I'm not going to give them any excuses," the president said. He wore a Nationals warmup jacket as he quickly made his way onto the field to a mixture of cheers and jeers. His pitch to Nats' manager Manny Acta was high and outside.
Tim Hudson, coming off a 16-win season, started for Atlanta. Journeyman Odalis Perez, whose ERA was 5.87 over the past two seasons, was Washington's starter, an indication of how thin the Nationals' starting pitching was.
Perez threw the first pitch – a strike — at 8:21 p.m. Thousands of cameras flashed to catch the moment. A walk was all the Braves could muster in the top of the first.
Cristian Guzman's line drive single leading off for Washington was the first hit at Nationals Park. Hudson had Guzman picked off but threw the ball away, sending Guzman to third. Hudson struck out Lastings Milledge looking and Zimmerman swinging before Nick Johnson's liner down the right-field line scored Guzman. Austin Kearns followed with a ground single to right that scored Johnson, giving the Nats a quick 2-0 lead. Johnson's hit came in his first plate appearance since he badly fractured his leg in a collision with Kearns on Sept. 2, 1986.
Perez made the lead hold up through his five innings. A solo homer by Chipper Jones produced the lone Atlanta run. Acta pinch hit for Perez in the bottom of the fifth. Hudson, meanwhile, became untouchable, retiring the last 19 batters he faced after the Kearns single. Still, he left trailing, 2-1.
Jon Rauch, at 6-foot-11 the tallest pitcher in history, came in to try for the save in the ninth. The Nationals closer for the past three seasons, Chad Cordero, had what was described at the time as tendonitis in his shoulder, an injury that turned out to be much more serious. He would not record another save.
With one out, Mark Teixeira just missed a homer off Rauch, doubling off the wall in right-center. A groundout moved pinch-runner Martin Prado to third.
With a low brick wall behind home plate, "It's definitely going to be hard to score from third," on a wild pitch or passed ball, Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca had said the day before. So, sure enough, with the Nats an out away, a ball that got through him for a passed ball, allowed the tying run to score.
In his third full season, Zimmerman already was known as the Face of the Franchise. At 10:43 p.m., he hit a 1-0 pitch – another fastball — from right-hander Peter Moylan on a line a row deep into the left-center stands for his fourth career game-ending home run. After being mobbed by his teammates at home plate, Zimmerman came out of the dugout for a curtain call for the still-cheering fans.
"I knew I hit it well but I didn't know if it was high enough. I thought it might hit off the wall," a happy Zimmerman told reporters. "I was talking to it a little bit on the way to first…. It turned out perfect." As for his previous at-bats against Moylan, "I've never hit the ball out of the infield against that guy," he said.
The game-winner was Zimmerman's fourth. He hit his first walk-off homer on Father's Day, two seasons earlier. His parents were in the stands at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium. Before then, even in Little League, Zimmerman said, he had never ended a game with any kind of hit, nor had he done it in high school or in college. "No walk-off … No single. Nothing." By March 30, 2008, it was becoming routine.
The home-run ball was retrieved from the fan who caught it. Zimmerman traded a signed jersey for it. The cap Zimmerman wore was sent to Cooperstown for display with other significant Nationals' memorabilia.
Although the Nationals won two more games to start the season, 2008 quickly unraveled. The team lost 102 games, the first of three-straight seasons of 100 or more defeats.
No one, however, can take away the thrill of that opening night. "That's one I'll never forget," Zimmerman said.
 Barry Svrluga, "First Game at Nationals' New Ballpark Is Set for March 30," Washington Post, December 15, 2007: E2. In the original schedule, the Nationals were to open on the road against the Mets.
 The Red Sox and Athletics had played 2008's first two games in Tokyo on March 25 and 26. Before the Senators left town, Washington and its opponent would open the American League season, usually with the president on hand, in D.C. a day before the other A.L. teams played. The Reds would open the N.L season the same day as the Senators.
 Michael Brick, "A Stadium, and With It a Season, Opens with Fanfare, New York Times, March 31, 2008: D6.
 Jeff Baker, "New ball park is a hit, Baltimore Sun, March 30, 2008: D6.
 Howard Fendrich, Associated Press, "Nats walk off with win on new field," North Adams (Mass.) Transcript, March 31, 2008: B2.
 Associated Press, "Nationals' Treasure," Tribune Democrat (Johnstown, Pa.), March 31, 2008: 37.
 Associated Press, "Bush delivers 'high heat'," Port Arthur (Texas) News, March 31, 2008: B3.
 "Nationals Field Opens to Rave Reviews, US A Today, March 31, 2008: C5.
 Svrluga, "The Face of the Franchise Becomes the Hero of the Night," Washington Post, March 31, 2008: E1.
 Thomas Boswell, "Finally, a Foundation Built for Winning," Washington Post, March 31, 2008: E1.


text:
"""Sendgrid email connector module."""

# The pre-commit linter will complain about useless disable of no-member, but
# this is needed because quiet the Sendgrid no-member error on Travis.
# pylint: disable=no-member,useless-suppression

import base64
import urllib.request
import urllib.error
import urllib.parse

from future import standard_library
import sendgrid
from sendgrid.helpers import mail
from retrying import retry

from google.cloud.forseti.common.util import errors as util_errors
from google.cloud.forseti.common.util import logger
from google.cloud.forseti.common.util import retryable_exceptions
from google.cloud.forseti.common.util.email import base_email_connector

standard_library.install_aliases()

LOGGER = logger.get_logger(__name__)

class SendgridConnector(base_email_connector.BaseEmailConnector):
    """Utility for sending emails using Sendgrid API Key."""

    def __init__(self, sender, recipient, auth, custom=None):
        """Initialize the email util.

        Args:
            sender (str): The email sender.
            recipient (str): The email recipient.
            auth (dict): A set of authentication attributes
            corresponding to the selected connector.
            custom (dict): A set of custom attributes.
        """
        self.sender = sender
        self.recipient = recipient
        if auth.get('api_key'):
            api_key = auth.get('api_key')
        # else block below is for backward compatibility
        else:
            api_key = auth.get('sendgrid_api_key')
        self.sendgrid = sendgrid.SendGridAPIClient(apikey=api_key)

        if custom:
            LOGGER.warning('Unable to process custom attributes: %s', custom)

    @retry(retry_on_exception=retryable_exceptions.is_retryable_exception,
           wait_exponential_multiplier=1000, wait_exponential_max=10000,
           stop_max_attempt_number=5)
    def _execute_send(self, email):
        """Executes the sending of the email.

        This needs to be a standalone method so that we can wrap it with retry,
        and the final exception can be gracefully handled upstream.

        Args:
            email (SendGrid): SendGrid mail object

        Returns:
            dict: urllib2 response object
        """
        return self.sendgrid.client.mail.send.post(request_body=email.get())

    @staticmethod
    def _add_recipients(email, email_recipients):
        """Add multiple recipients to the sendgrid email object.

        Args:
            email (SendGrid): SendGrid mail object
            email_recipients (Str): comma-separated text of the email recipients

        Returns:
            SendGrid: SendGrid mail object with multiple recipients.
        """
        personalization = mail.Personalization()
        recipients = email_recipients.split(',')
        for recipient in recipients:
            personalization.add_to(mail.Email(recipient))
        email.add_personalization(personalization)
        return email

    def send(self, email_sender=None, email_recipient=None,
             email_subject=None, email_content=None, content_type=None,
             attachment=None):
        """Send an email.

        This uses the SendGrid API.
        https://github.com/sendgrid/sendgrid-python

        The minimum required info to send email are:
        sender, recipient, subject, and content (the body)

        Args:
            email_sender (str): The email sender.
            email_recipient (str): The email recipient.
            email_subject (str): The email subject.
            email_content (str): The email content (aka, body).
            content_type (str): The email content type.
            attachment (Attachment): A SendGrid Attachment.

        Raises:
            EmailSendError: An error with sending email has occurred.
        """
        if not email_sender or not email_recipient:
            LOGGER.warning('Unable to send email: sender=%s, recipient=%s',
                           email_sender, email_recipient)
            raise util_errors.EmailSendError

        email = mail.Mail()
        email.from_email = mail.Email(email_sender)
        email.subject = email_subject
        email.add_content(mail.Content(content_type, email_content))

        email = self._add_recipients(email, email_recipient)

        if attachment:
            email.add_attachment(attachment)

        try:
            response = self._execute_send(email)
        except urllib.error.HTTPError as e:
            LOGGER.exception('Unable to send email: %s %s',
                             e.code, e.reason)
            raise util_errors.EmailSendError

        if response.status_code == 202:
            LOGGER.info('Email accepted for delivery:\n%s',
                        email_subject)
        else:
            LOGGER.error('Unable to send email:\n%s\n%s\n%s\n%s',
                         email_subject, response.status_code,
                         response.body, response.headers)
            raise util_errors.EmailSendError

    @classmethod
    def create_attachment(cls,
                          file_location=None,
                          content_type=None,
                          filename=None,
                          disposition='attachment',
                          content_id=None):
        """Create a SendGrid attachment.

        SendGrid attachments file content must be base64 encoded.

        Args:
            file_location (str): The path of the file.
            content_type (str): The content type of the attachment.
            filename (str): The filename of attachment.
            disposition (str): Content disposition, defaults to "attachment".
            content_id (str): The content id.

        Returns:
            Attachment: A SendGrid Attachment.
        """
        file_content = ''
        with open(file_location, 'rb') as f:
            file_content = f.read()
        content = base64.b64encode(file_content)

        attachment = mail.Attachment()
        attachment.content = content.decode('utf-8')
        attachment.type = content_type
        attachment.filename = filename
        attachment.disposition = disposition
        attachment.content_id = content_id

        return attachment

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Sitting is not a milestone? What on earth do you mean, crazy lady?
Are you excited about watching your newborn grow and develop through that first, amazing year? "When will they hit those important milestones of rolling over, sitting up, crawling and walking?" you say to your spouse/partner every day. Get your camera ready! But try to "Live in the now!" because those fleeting moments are so priceless! Ooohhh those precious little cheeks and buns!
Isn't that all we talk about as new parents? You know what I mean–comparing your first child to your third child, comparing teeth and steps on their first birthdays, or working diligently on that perfect scrapbook baby book (while finishing the other kids' books from when they were babies. Ha!) Can I get a raise of hands from the audience?
Don't you wish you restart that first year over and over again? Maybe not all of you share the same nostalgia about your kids as babies, but the growth I witness in babies from birth to walking is my favorite part of life as a mom and a therapist.
We are going to look at "milestones" a little differently.
But as a pediatric physical therapist, I have a few concerns about the traditional notion of "milestones." It is so common to get referrals from pediatricians AFTER a baby has fallen behind on their milestones. The one that troubles me the most is the 11-month-old baby that just sits…and cannot to ANYTHING else. They never rolled, learned to get in and out of sitting, or crawled. Scandalous!!
They never learned to how to roll, to belly crawl, to get in and out of sitting, or to crawl on hands and knees?!? Scandalous!!
Thanks for asking! I'll tell you and I promise it won't go over your head or under your feet or in one ear and out the other. I hope that this information might actually make more sense! Read on, friends!
Breaking news!! Sitting IS NOT a milestone!
Whoa Bessy! Hold your horses!!
So many babies these days are unnaturally and prematurely placed in a sitting position looo00ng before they are developmentally ready to sit.
Babies need to MOVE to LEARN!
Sitting is not a motor skill, it's a static position.
Think about the "skill" you are using to lounge on your comfy sofa during a Netflix binge. Will Netflix marathons become the next Olympic sport? Umm…no…not a chance. Haha!
Often, if babies learn to sit before they learn to get in and out of sitting, they will have missed out on the strength, rotation and postural preparation needed for more important, functional skills in sitting like reaching for a toy, getting onto hands and knees, transitioning back onto their bellies to get around on the floor, etc.
Babies cannot "interact with their environment" independently if they can't move while they're sitting, and they cannot access toys out of their reach.
They are very limited in the variety of learning opportunities available when they are stuck in one position.
And take lots of pictures and videos when they do, because they'll be off and running in no time at all!
Great read! As a pediatric occupational therapist (OT) I couldn't agree more. Marketers make all the baby containers look so great but they do nothing for development.
Thanks for the comment, Jennufer. Wait until you see my (future) post about containers. Ha!
I never really developed proper core muscles. Decent, but I overcompensate and have a bad hip, back and abnormal coordination now as an adult. It's definitely made me want to be sure we follow the proper order in developing muscles. My mom did a great job as I wasn't with her until 1 (adopted) but some things are quite hard to undo!
Noelle's PT said even though she's making progress in the right steps and could be discharged, she never discharges patients until they're far enough along to know they won't pick up those short cuts and do things a little funky which will impact their next developmental steps.
Thanks for your input, SIlver. It's interesting that you've made that connection between your current physical health and your physical challenges as a preemie and infant. I'm glad you've gotten good information on how to help your daughter!


It was time to gain our sea legs and try a new style of adventure – exploring the Mediterranean by sail! What better timing than now – during the peak of Riley's locomotion, crawling and eager to climb. Baby overboard!
We booked a bareboat charter as dad has his skipper's licence from a few years back and we decided we needed to put it to use.
We chose the Amalfi Coast, a region of southern Italy known for its stunning views of the Tyrrhenian Sea, incredible seafood and the local specialty liqueur – Limoncello. For dad, it was mixing two of his great loves, Italy and for the sea. For me, it was about to become my biggest challenge.
We arrive into Naples and head for Salerno. We spend the night there before picking up our 41-foot catamaran.
Half the day was used to complete the safety checks and load up with 'survival stock' (code for wine). It is safe to say we are all pretty unsure about how this week will roll. But, we head out, follow the shoreline and hope for good weather.
We dart along the rocky coast to Positano, we marvel at the cascade of colourful terracotta buildings on the steep hillsides rising up from the sea. We manage to snag a mooring buoy with some help from the guys at the marina, take in a massive breath and pop open a beer in success with making our first stop.
Baby supports include a tether, life jacket and a travel cot. This proves treacherous as he loses the plot, behaving as if I am feeding him to a pit of deadly snakes every time I put him in. Once his tears have dried up and he realises he is safe, we wave a ride ashore for dinner.
Our first night, we eat overlooking the glistening water, with baby snoozing. The restaurants are packed with socialites and tourists chatting over fragrant caprese salads and sipping spritzers. We eat like the Italians do, enjoying every bite. Limoncello makes its first appearance. We save only enough room for sorbet and tiramisu!
As night closes in at the end of our first day, we head back to our boat completely exhausted, snuggle into our cabin and listen to the waves sing along the stony shore.
Day two brings sunshine and happiness; thankfully we had a good sleep – although it has been very warm. Baby spends the morning giggling and playing with his toys while we rustle up Jamon rolls for breakfast. We strap bambino into the Baby Bjorn in preparation for a tour through the picturesque town. It is flooded with tourists and locals who are filled with adoration for baby Riley – especially for his baby feet! "Bella Bambino" "Bellissimo". While it amuses Riley, mama needs a crisp cool pinot gris, especially after lugging Riley up and through the streets of the village.
Our second night was a replay of the Titanic; okay, maybe not that bad … but I wasn't dealing too well with the 46 knots of gusting wind that stormed through Positano like a funnel. The boat screamed and I was a mess … full stop.
Just joking! While I was ready to give up after a terrifying night, I soon got over it.
With some trepidation, we continue on our voyage, and dart our way along the coast, dodging the many other sailors and boats heading for the island of Capri. Dolphins sweeten the ride and excite baby with their playful and athletic leaps out of the water.
We enter the Isle of Capri; the jagged sculptured rock faces are overwhelmed with day boats, skipping in and out of the coves and caves. We slowly make our way in to the marina still in awe of our surroundings and pull up for lunch.
The water is waves of turquoise and deep blue. Dad doesn't hesitate and jumps in. Bub and I take a little longer to prepare, but we too soon follow.
Capri quickly becomes my heaven! I am in love. Prosecco, cheese, meats and a town studded with designer stores. Oh gosh, and gelato! Nothing short of amazing.
We spend three nights and four days here. At night, we bath baby on the boat in the kitchen sink; he finds it hilarious. Then we proceed to the bow trampoline and enjoy the sunset.
One of the nights we escape the boat for a hotel in the main township to give the little mover a place to crawl around and exert some built up energy.
The sad day came to leave Capri and head back with a night stop in Amalfi itself. Of course, we are blown away again. As we arrive at the marina, we are greeted by a boatman who casually guides our catamaran into port with ease. It was like witnessing a perfect artist in action; everyone stands in awe of this guy's ability to jam the boats into the marina.
Once in dock, we gathered ourselves and hit the town for gelato and sightseeing. A quaint town, again bustling with tourists, restaurants and gelato shops claiming to be the best in the area.
It's a battle along the cobblestones through the village to the Cathedral. Hundreds of tourists and cars shift through the street but we love it. The atmosphere is fun and exciting. And the trees are full of enormous orbs of lemons, fresh and ready to be made into limoncello liqueur and for use in the local dishes as well. The lemon motif shows up in regional ceramics and the citrus scent fills the air as you meander about.
Da Gemma takes our fancy for dinner. We stupidly order the degustation. D'oh! Baby ain't having that. As he squirms from the heat, we shovel in the elegantly prepared meal recommended by the Michelin star website.
P.S. if we were at McDonald's, the kid would have slept through the entire meal.
Not tonight. Take note parents.
We leave our hearts behind and say a sad goodbye to Amalfi, dragging our feet as we sail back along the coast to Salerno.
The experience has been absolutely amazing. I think back to how it all began; I was dead scared of this boat to begin with, especially with my valuable boy. But we didn't just make it – we loved it!
Feel free to ask any questions about tips for sailing with baby, or about Amalfi and Italy.
Hi lovely, thanks for the support.


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Introducing 'Story' – share candid moments safely, for a limited time
May 20, 2019 Updates
LINE offers you a fun and convenient way to share your life with your friends, family and others. But sometimes, you don't want your every thought or image to linger online forever. So, for those of you who'd like to take control of your memories and share something just for a short while, we present "Story."
Using Story, you can share a moment in your daily life as a video, photo or text, just like a normal post on Timeline. However, a Story disappears 24 hours after you post it, allowing you to share more candidly than with a regular post.
Scan and translate on the go, with LINE's new OCR feature!
April 25, 2019 Services
LINE has added a most new feature that's incredibly useful, especially for anyone who does much traveling – it's Optical Character Recognition (OCR), letting you scan signs and other texts from within a LINE chat, and then translate it or share the text with others.
Since the OCR feature allows you to easily translate any recognized text, it can be quite handy in a wide range of situations, especially when traveling overseas, letting you understand the text on a billboard or sign, or the items on a restaurant menu.
In order to convert an image in a LINE chat room, tap image that contains the text and then press the OCR icon on the top right of the screen.
To convert the text in an image saved on your smartphone, tap the image icon, select an image and tap the OCR icon on the top right of the screen.
If you see a text in the real world that you would like to capture and convert, turn on the camera from within the LINE app and select "OCR" to take a picture.
On a PC
Right-click on the image shared in a LINE chat room, and select "convert to text."
Select a language on the top right of the screen to translate the text to the target language. Click the button at the bottom of the screen to copy or send the translated text.
Compatible languages
Languages that can be recognized by OCR:
Japanese, English, Chinese (traditional), Chinese (simplified), Thai, Indonesian and Korean.
Languages that can be translated:
Japanese (JA), Chinese (Traditional) (TW), Chinese (Simplified) (ZH). Thai (TH), Indonesian (ID), Korean (KO), Spanish (ES), Portuguese (PT), German (DE), Russian (RU), Malay (MY), Vietnamese (VI), Arabic (AR), Farsi (FA), and Hindi (IH).
This feature can be used with LINE 9.6.0 and later.
Update now and give it a try.
'Chat Capture' lets you take screenshots of your chats – and much more
April 08, 2019 Updates
Introducing a fun and very useful new function for the LINE messenger: "Chat Capture" (only for iOS). Using Chat Capture, you can easily take adjustable screenshots of any part of your chats, save them and share them.
This new feature has a lot of uses for your chats. Like when you need to discuss something sensitive and you don't want to reveal who you were talking to. Or when you get a really nice message from a friend and you want to save the memory. There is no end of ways you can use Chat Capture to make your life easier.
Changing how you transfer LINE accounts to new devices
February 25, 2019 Updates
LINE has changed the process of how you transfer a LINE account to a new device so now the process can be done more safely. The new transfer process begins with LINE version 9.2.0 — and while the old transfer process will continue to work with previous versions of LINE for now, soon the new version will be standard for all, so you need to be aware of the change.
Find a suspicious account? Report it! Learn how to deal with spam accounts
Ever get surprised by new friend notifications, suspicious offers, or unwanted messages from accounts you don't know? If so, they're probably from spam accounts.
Spam accounts use a variety of methods to try and get your attention. For example, they may pretend to be attractive person or use the LINE logo to appear like official accounts.
These accounts often want you to click on a link to make you buy a product or sign up for a paid website. Make sure you never click any links sent by spam accounts!
Are you sure that email is really from LINE? Watch out for phishing scams!
January 21, 2019 Announcements
Got an unexpected email from 'LINE'? Even if it seems legit.
Don't trust that email without making sure it's for real! It could actually be a phishing scam.
Try on a new face with 'Character Effects'
November 08, 2018 Updates
We're excited to introduce a new feature you can use with LINE video calls, the camera, and Chat Live: Character Effects.
We've revamped the LINE profile page, giving you more space to express yourself!
For the latest version of LINE, we've revamped the profile screen!
The background image layout has changed from landscape to portrait orientation, which is better suited to smartphone displays. And you can still see the same important profile information like your name and status message.
How to set up the profile screen:
You can choose a cover and profile image that go together to make a unique profile screen.
Reply feature lets you quote messages and answer them directly
Here's a new feature that we think a lot of people are going to find very helpful — it's called "Reply" and it allows you to quote messages and answer them directly during a chat.
Sometimes when you're chatting, it's easy to lose track of what message exactly someone is responding to. Like when you're trying to answer a friend's question, but just as you send your answer, your friend asks a second question.
With Reply, you can quote the exact message you're responding to, so your meaning is always clear.
Celebrating 7 Years of LINE, Thanks to Users Like You!
We are pleased to announce that June 23 is the seventh anniversary of the launch of LINE.
In order to show our thanks to our loyal users, we have prepared a special present for everyone.
- 120 free LINE animated stickers added!
As part of our anniversary celebrations, users will gain access to three new sets of animated stickers — for 120 stickers altogether — all at no cost.
These stickers feature Cony, Sally, Brown and other favorite LINE characters, joined by the superstar characters BT21 in a set of 40 animated stickers of their own.


Lauren Reid is president of The Privacy Pro, a boutique privacy consulting firm specializing in data ethics, GDPR, and cross border data transfers. Lauren has over 13 years of experience in privacy and data protection. Her broad range of experience includes consulting/advisory, in-house privacy officer, and software and program implementation support.
Lauren has in-depth knowledge of privacy laws and the global compliance environment, supported by hands on experience implementing programs at the technical and operational level in various industries. Lauren speaks at conferences across Europe and North America on privacy governance, GDPR, data ethics, and demonstrating compliance.
Prior to establishing her consulting practice, Lauren led the Accountability Management Solutions department at Nymity and oversaw EU Operations. In that role, she was responsible for the Nymity Attestor™ solution design, implementation and support. She is the co-author of the Nymity Privacy Management Accountability Framework™, the Data Privacy Accountability Scorecard™, and numerous related tools, including the GDPR Readiness Assessment Questions and the BCR Readiness Assessment Tool.
Prior to Nymity, Lauren was Senior Manager accountable for strategic privacy initiatives at Bank of Montreal, one of Canada's largest financial institutions. For over six years, Lauren was part of KPMG's Global Privacy Centre of Excellence, leading the privacy advisory services initiative for Canada and advising clients across industries and sectors on privacy, information security and governance, risk and compliance.


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Noble peers: colleague of UTD faculty awarded Nobel prize
Physics, math professors reminisce achievements of Nobel prize laureate Roger Penrose
Penrose primarily conducted research at UT Austin and visited the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies – the former name for UTD – to exchange ideas with professors. Photo Courtesy of Roger Penrose
Fatimah Azeem
Mercury Staff
Known for his contributions to theoretical physics and pure mathematics – as well as his interactions and collaborations with UTD professors – Roger Penrose was recently announced as one of this year's Nobel prize winners.
Penrose's relationship with UTD began in the early 60s – or what astrophysics professor Mustapha Ishak-Boushaki calls the 'general relativity Renaissance.' During this time, Penrose primarily conducted research at UT Austin and visited the Southwest Center for Advanced Studies – the former name for UTD – to exchange ideas with professors. These professors included physicists and first-generation UTD faculty members Wolfgang Rindler and Ivor Robinson.
Associate clinical mathematics professor Mohammed Akbar said that Penrose's 1964 work on singularity theorems in gravitational collapse – which is the basis of black hole formation – was the reason he was awarded the Nobel prize.
"Have you ever seen James Bond?" Akbar said. "James Bond is quite aggressive in the way that he can't accept defeat, [but] Penrose wasn't like that. Penrose was an unhurried scientist and scientific sage. He would try to get to the bottom of the problem and see things from a very fundamental point of view."
One of Penrose's seminal contributions to the field, Akbar said, was Twistor Theory, or the geometrical theory of gravity, which was influenced by Robinson. Furthermore, Ishak-Boushaki said that in the 80s Penrose worked with Rindler – who helped found the UTD department of physics – to write volumes one and two of 'Spinors and Space Time', a series on two-spinor calculus in general relativity. Akbar said that he first came across Penrose while getting his degree at Cambridge.
"Like many students in the late 90s and early 2000s working in Hawking's group in Cambridge, for me, Roger Penrose has been a not-so-often-seen-uncle-who-is-no-less-than-daddy figure," Akbar said. "Penrose's visits from Oxford to Cambridge would energize Hawking and every professor in the group, as most of them had academic interactions earlier in their careers with him. This tradition by my time was fading away as the field became large, but the connection remained palpable."
Ishak-Boushaki said that Penrose asked him to help find quantitative observations for his cyclic universe theory at his 2006 UTD seminar. The theory is one of Penrose's newer ideas and is controversial among cosmologists. It states that the universe undergoes endless cycles of expansion and acceleration rather than the accepted single cycle of expansion and acceleration.
"During that visit to UT Dallas and for several months afterward, we exchanged emails talking about his cyclic universe theories," Ishak-Boushaki said. "He wanted to know if we could find ways to verify his theory – whether there was something observable in the universe that could verify this."
Ishak-Boushaki said that he sees Penrose's Nobel prize recognition as a win for the field of relativity and cosmology. Penrose could not be reached for comment.
"This is a very exciting time in cosmology," Ishak-Boushaki said. "We have a lot of data available and it is all possible to test now. The conditions are here for great discoveries."
How does UTD's pandemic response compare with other system schools?
Get to know the 2020 presidential candidates


Foods for People with Difficulty Swallowing in accordance with the new Foods for Special Dietary Use System enacted in April 2009 are based on three levels of criteria classifications corresponding to severity according to physical property criteria consisting of hardness, adhesion and aggregation. On the other hand, since in-depth testing of individual cases using Videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing (VF) and the like becomes increasingly indispensible as the severity of the patient's condition increases, in the case the patient uses commercially available foods certified as "Foods for People with Difficulty Swallowing", it is necessary that the type of foods selected coincide with test results. With this in mind, a study was conducted of conditions for preparing VF test foods suitable for each level of the aforementioned criteria classifications for the purpose of achieving a correlation between clinical findings and commercially available foods consumed on a daily basis. [Methods] Test foods were prepared by using a commercially available gelling agent and thickener in liquid barium diluted to 50 w/v%. At that time, physical properties of the test foods were measured while changing the concentrations of gelling agent and thickener. Measurements were made using a creep meter, while hardness, adhesion and aggregation were calculated based on methods defined in the regulations for approval of indication of foods for special dietary use. [Results] The hardness of the prepared test foods demonstrated higher values at 10°C than at 20°C in all cases. The test foods were determined to be able to be prepared at gelling agent concentrations of 1.00 % and 1.75 % for approval level I, at gelling agent concentrations of 0.50 % and 2.25 % for approval level II, and at a thickener concentration of 1.00% and gelling agent concentration of 2.75% for approval level III at 10°C , and at gelling agent concentrations of 1.00% and 2.00% for approval level I, at gelling agent concentrations of 0.75% and 2.50% for approval level II, and at a thickener concentration of 1.50% and gelling agent concentration of 3.00% for approval level III at 20°C. [Conclusion] The use of the results of this study will enable the preparation of test foods that satisfy each approval level of "Foods for People with Difficulty Swallowing" according to the new Food for Special Dietary Use System in the clinical setting. This suggested that it will be possible to achieve agreement between VF test results and commercially available foods.


Still using Internet Cafes while trying to figure out if I want a short or long term contract with Telcel. Hear you need to go to Manzanillo for a contract with more options. Still haven´t found if Iusacel is going to work in Melaque. All these little booths that sell Telcel and Iusacel "minutes" seem to be full of misinformation.


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USA Men's World Cup Qualifying Team Announced for November Games
USA World Cup Qualifying Team to play on the poad versus Argentina on Nov. 29 and Uruguay on December 2.
November 2018 USA Men's World Cup Qualifying Team Roster
FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifying Schedule/Results
November 2018 USA Men's World Cup Qualifying Team Media Guide
Featuring three players with prior USA Basketball World Cup Qualifying Team experience and including eight players who own NBA regular season experience, USA Basketball announced its official 12-man roster for the November USA World Cup Qualifying Team.
The USA will train Nov. 23-25 at the Houston Rockets' practice facility and will continue second-round action of FIBA World Cup Qualifying play with a pair of challenging road games, Nov. 29 versus Argentina (7-1) in La Rioja, Argentina, and Dec. 2 versus Uruguay (5-3) in Montevideo, Uruguay (the full Americas World Cup Qualifying schedule/results is available at usab.com/mens/wc-qualifying/schedule.aspx).
The USA November roster includes Joel Berry II (South Bay Lakers); Reggie Hearn (Stockton Kings); Scotty Hopson (Oklahoma City Blue); John Jenkins (Westchester Knicks); DeAndre Liggins (Sioux Falls Skyforce); Eric Moreland (Free Agent); Chasson Randle (Capital City Go-Go); Cameron Reynolds(Stockton Kings); Richard Solomon (Oklahoma City Blue); Jarnell Stokes (Free Agent); Travis Trice (Wisconsin Herd); and Tyler Zeller (Free Agent).
Former NBA head coach Jeff Van Gundy, who has led the USA to a 7-1 record in FIBA Americas World Cup Qualifying action and directed the USA 5-0 record and the gold medal at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup Championship, again is head coach of the USA Basketball Men's World Cup Qualifying Team. Former University of Georgia head coach Mark Fox and former Georgetown University coach John Thompson III are serving as USA assistant coaches.
Hearn, Randle and Trice return after playing with previous USA World Cup Qualifying teams. Hearn has suited up for the USA in three prior World Cup Qualifying windows, including November 2017, June/July 2018 and September 2018. The 6-foot-4 guard started in four of the five games he has played in andaveraged 12.2 points and 4.2 rebounds a game. Randle and Trice both played for the U.S. in the September 2018 World Cup Qualifier and helped the USA to two wins. Randle averaged 9.0 points a game, and Trice contributed 8.5 points and 4.5 assists a game.
Eight of the U.S. players have NBA regular season experience, including seven-foot NBA veteran Zeller ( 406 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets). Other players possessing NBA experience include Hearn (three games with the Detroit Pistons); Hopson (three games with the Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks); Jenkins (145 games with the Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns and Mavericks); Liggins (177 games with the Orlando Magic, Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat, Cavaliers, Mavericks, Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans); Moreland (78 games with the Sacramento Kings and the Pistons); Randle (26 games with the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers); and Stokes (28 games with the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies and Heat).
Eleven of the players own NBA G League experience, including nine who are playing in the NBA's official minor league in 2018-19.
With a total of seven 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifying berths going to the top three finishing teams in each of the Americas second round groups and to the best fourth place team, Argentina (7-1) and the USA (7-1)sit atop of the second-round Group E standings, followed by Puerto Rico (5-3) and Uruguay (5-3), with Mexico (3-5) and Panama (3-5) in fifth place. In Group F standings, Canada (7-1) and Venezuela (7-1) are tied for first, followed by Brazil (6-2), Dominican Republic (5-3), U.S. Virgin Islands (2-6) and Chile (1-7).
The USA will completeits World Cup Qualifying competition with a pair of second-round February home games in Greensboro, North Carolina. The USA will playPanama on Friday, Feb. 22 (7 p.m. EST), and Argentina on Monday, Feb. 25 (7 p.m. EST).
FIBA World Cup Qualifying
Under FIBA's new competition system, a total of 80 national teams from FIBA's four regions of Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe initially competed in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifying first round looking to earn a qualifying berth into the 32-team 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup competition that will be held Aug. 31-Sept. 15 in China.
The FIBA World Cup Qualifying games are being used to qualify 31 of the 32 nations that will compete in the 2019 FIBA World Cup. China automatically qualified as the host nation of the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Five teams will qualify from Africa, seven teams from the Americas, seven teams from Asia and 12 teams from Europe.
The current two-time defending World Cup champion USA men have participated in 17 FIBA World Cups and have collected 12 medals - five gold medals (1954, 1986, 1994, 2010 and 2014), three silver medals (1950, 1959 and 1982) and four bronze medals (1974, 1990, 1998 and 2006). USA teams own an overall record of 123-27.
Results from the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 will qualify seven teams for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Additionally, Olympic host, Japan, automatically qualified, and the final four nations will qualify through four FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments that will be held in 2020 in advance of the Olympics.
Coaches Network: Favorite Drills
Assistant Coach Mark Fox Looks Forward To Memorable Moments in World Cup Qualifying
By Kyle Ringo, Red Line Editorial
3x3 Basketball
National Team Men
Don't miss some of USA Basketball's funniest sound from 2021.
Junior National Team Women
Junior National Team Men
3x3 Men's National Team
3x3 Women's National Team
Olympic Games Men
FIBA AmeriCup for Men
Don't miss some of USA Basketball's top plays from 2021.
Check out the best action as the USA fell to Mexico 97-88 on Nov. 29 in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Check out the action as the USA defeated Cuba 95-90 in FIBA World Cup Qualifying action in Chihuahua, Mexico, on Nov. 28, 2021.
From our family to yours, happy Thanksgiving.
U.S. Open Basketball Championships
USA Basketball to Offer Five Divisions in Return of U.S. Open Basketball Championships
Online registration is open for all five divisions of competition at the 2022 U.S. Open Basketball Championships that will take place July 13-17 in Indiana.
Teresa Edwards
Teresa Edwards Narrates Her Remarkable Life and Career in New Audiobook
Steve Drumwright, Red Line Editorial
Teresa Edwards, the original GOAT of USA Basketball as the first five-time Olympic medalist, has detailed her basketball journey in the audiobook "Black Gold," available on Audible.com.
@usabasketball The 🇺🇸 #USABWNT coaching staff for the February @FIBAWWC Qualifying Tournament is all set. We welcome… https://t.co/btKF7t5L4J4 Hours ago


note pad holders with a pocket on the back and the front will hold 2 pens. Uses a 4x6 notepad.
Secrets of Embroidery has unlocked the treasure chest and now you can see all the designs on sale with no searching. 2 days only so go see what you missed.
I think most of us embroiderers have other crafts they like to do on the side. I discovered kumihimo braiding and really like it. I can make a bracelet in less than a hour. It it very easy . all you need is a loom and your choice of threads and some time.


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Fashion designers may work full-time for one fashion house, as 'in-house designers', which owns the designs, or they work alone or as part of a team. Freelance designers work for themselves, selling their designs to fashion houses, directly to shops, or to clothing manufacturers. The garments bear the buyer's label. Some fashion designers set up their own labels, under which their designs are marketed. Some fashion designers are self-employed and design for individual clients. Other high-end fashion designers cater to specialty stores or high-end fashion department stores. These designers create original garments, as well as those that follow established fashion trends. Most fashion designers, however, work for apparel manufacturers, creating designs of men's, women's, and children's fashions for the mass market. Large designer brands which have a 'name' as their brand such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Justice, or Juicy are likely to be designed by a team of individual designers under the direction of a design director.
Everyone knows this guy, and I bet you do, too. He's one of the international fashion icons. Yves Saint Laurent became popular as a designer who re-designed menswear into feminine, beautiful garments for women. His name is also closely associated with the phenomenon of 'ready-to-wear' fashion clothing, 'power suits' for women and 'smoking jackets' for men.
Ready-to-wear, or prêt-à-porter, clothes are a cross between haute couture and mass market. They are not made for individual customers, but great care is taken in the choice and cut of the fabric. Clothes are made in small quantities to guarantee exclusivity, so they are rather expensive. Ready-to-wear collections are usually presented by fashion houses each season during a period known as Fashion Week. This takes place on a citywide basis and occurs twice a year. The main seasons of Fashion Week include: spring/summer, fall/winter, resort, swim, and bridal.
Jean-Paul Gaultier is a French fashion designer born on 1952 in Val-de-Marne, France. At age 18, he joined the house of Pierre Cardin before moving on to Jacques Esterel and Patou. The appearance of Gaultier's collection was in 1976, but his own design house was only launched on 1982. Jean Paul Gaultier's sensual, irreverent style continually challenges stereotypical femininity, ignoring traditional gender roles by embracing androgyny and the freedom of sexuality. His style is known to challenge standard views of fashion.
Born in January of 1905, this French designer was best known for his distinctive "New Look" silhouette. First shown in 1947; his suits and dresses revolutionized the way women dressed after the Second World War. Today, talented designer John Galliano carries on the legendary designer's legacy in Paris, where he creates dramatic couture ball gowns, chic prêt-a-porter, and luxurious accessories for Dior. Galliano's talent and his over-the-top runway shows have ensured that the brand remains strong and viable in today's world…
Inspiration board is a references and research framework for your design. Designer collects different inspirational images, words, and objects (fabric, colour, textures,trims, paint chips, packaging, etc.) that are organize and keep at hand as a reference for starting a fashion design. It can be made in the form of a paper poster, a bulletin board, a digital graphic, or a video.
Latest 2019 Fashion Trends for Women. It's another year, a fresh start, and the ideal time to refresh your closet with quality pieces and crisp outlines for 2019. Be strong and go after those snakeskin donkeys or silk aircraft. It's another season, and you're reevaluating yourself and your storage room, recollect? We have picked a portion of the most recent and most wearable design patterns for ladies. Along these lines, let us investigate the Top 10 Fashion Trends in 2019 for Women to adopt.
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A wonderful thing happened in 2013…
But hold on, just for a moment let's step back to 2012, the year much of the world was waiting for an era to end. Those who believed that nothing much was going to occur in December 2012, were right. It was rather an uneventful conclusion to a very long countdown, considering it was the end of a 5000, or so, year cycle in the Solar System's revolution around the Central Sun of the Milky Way. The big surprise came in 2013, but it came along like a whisper as the New Year began. No one really expected anything big to happen in 2013, and most people were not even paying attention as the New Era began.
There are some that may argue that the New Age began years ago and they would be correct in saying so, but it is that same New Age that has led us into the New Era, the next generation of consciousness here on Earth. In the same manner as the "next gen" computer chip or cell phone evolves into the mainstream of technology, humanity is now in the next generation of it's Conscious Human Evolution. How could, anyone suspect this was about to happen as January returned for its annual visit? No one could have guessed, after all, it was a unique experience that had not been previously recorded in history and doesn't exist in the conscious memory bank of anyone alive today. Little by little, as winter turned into spring in the Northern Hemisphere, Lightworkers became aware of the birth of a new reality. It was like a dream come true and was what they had been hoping for and envisioning. Now it was unfolding, gently and gracefully, right before their eyes. They began to talk about it to one another, posts on Facebook were seen increasingly, describing the new reality that was being experienced by more and more highly evolved individuals. Of course, not everyone was having such a good time. Many were still suffering and others continued to live in the fog and the dream of the collective consciousness.
As a result of the change in the vibration here on Earth, in the almost imperceptibly unique dimension in which Lightworkers live, new knowledge and wisdom are streaming through from its inhabitants on a daily basis. Fortunately, there is an alternate source of information and it is brought forth by many individuals, some channeling higher beings and others in touch with their multidimensional selves. New ideas are coming through every day from increasing numbers of people. Some of these ideas may seem absurd to those who still cling to the old belief systems, but to light workers, who rely on their gut feelings for validation, the new, strange ideas and information are accepted as the foundation of the New Era.
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How many hours do you play games daily?
By Icefrost, May 21, 2022 in Gaming Forum
Icefrost
Video games are something that's capable of keeping down for hours in a day if you give into it fully without holding back.
It's probably why a lot of people get addicted to them without knowing how it happened. It's why I always set a timer for my myself whenever I'm playing any games.
The purpose of doing that is to have something pull me back into reality when I must have lost myself in the game.
How long do you usually play in a day? Is it always fixed or you stop whenever you feel like it?
on most days I tend to game like two to three hours on weekeday depending if I have nothing else going or free. Weekends mostly more. Twitch streaming people. Stream and do MSFS2020 - I do MSFS202090$ of the time anyway 🙂
My daily schedule decides how long I would be able to play each day. There is no specific duration because my day's schedule aren't fixed. But I can play at least 1 hour and 30 minutes without having to worry about my schedule.
I can play 6 hours in a day but that's going to in 2 hours different intervals till the day is over.
There's no way I would put myself through the stress of playing for 6 hours straight.
Family sedan
I have one hour on average for both console and mobile gaming, I'm just too occupied at this point to devote my time playing videogames.
21 hours ago, Empire said:
You're right about that on being able to play a lot more on weekends especially on Saturday.
Just like yesterday, I was able to play at least for 7 hours starting around 7:25 AM throughout the day till I stopped playing around 9:00 PM.
I played at intervals for the 7 hours in order not to strain myself too much all because I had the time to play more.
I was steady online yesterday, that made me not to hold my PS4 controller for the first time since I got it. Today, their is power outage, and if it continues, then I'll skip video games for 72 hours, that will affect my average daily time devotion playing games xD.
On 5/21/2022 at 5:57 PM, Boblee said:
Seriously, playing for 6 straight hours would be insane for me to even think about it because it's going to wear me out. Even my back is going to feel sore for a while before it stops. You're doing well by playing at intervals.
6 hours ago, Heatman said:
I have tried playing for a longer period of time and I had a terrible headache the next day, so I knew very well that it's not something my body would take lightly.
29 minutes ago, Boblee said:
They say that experience is the best teacher and I do believe that as well. When you learn the lessons the hard way, you will never forget it quickly.
2-3 hours daily but broken up into smaller sessions throughout the day.
kingpotato
It depends on the day, working days maybe around an hour, sometimes none, on my days off maybe 3-4 hours, I dont play as much as I used
1 hour ago, kingpotato said:
It's an age thing I swear - Nowadays, I find myself wanting to sleep after 2 hours XD
I used to be addicted to gaming. Back in the 2000's I was so addicted to GT games that I honestly don't know how I kept my friends or kept track of NASCAR or my favorite team the Boston Celtics, but somehow I did. I guess I have more mental strength than I think I do. I'm really not that addicted anymore. Today I played two NBA Live '03 games with two minute quarters and decided that was enough.
5 hours ago, killamch89 said:
Sleep is always good in one's life 😂. It's why no matter what I do, once I get to feel sleepy, that thing gets suspended immediately unless I'm at the office.


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Der Glacier Noir (»Schwarzer Gletscher«) ist ein Gletscher im französischen Écrins-Massiv und gehört zum Département Hautes-Alpes. Von allen Gletschern des Dauphiné fließt seine Zunge am weitesten ins Tal hinab. Dies verdankt er neben einer günstigen Topographie dem Umstand, dass seine Zunge im unteren Bereich vollkommen mit Moränenschutt bedeckt ist. Dadurch ist er besser gegen den Einfluss direkter Sonneneinstrahlung geschützt als z. B. der benachbarte Glacier Blanc (»Weißer Gletscher«), mit dem er sich noch 1866 oberhalb des Pré de Madame Carle zu einem einzigen Eiskörper vereinigte. Während die Zunge des Glacier Blanc sich bis heute auf eine Höhe von rund  zurückgezogen hat, liegt das Gletscherende des Glacier Noir 200 Höhenmeter tiefer auf etwa .

Mit Moränenschutt bedeckte Gletscher werden im Französischen ganz allgemein als glacier noir bezeichnet.

Geografie

Der Glacier Noir speist sich aus zwei hochgelegenen Firnbecken. Der nördliche Ast (branche septentrionale) nährt sich aus dem Kessel unterhalb des Col des Avalanches, zu Füßen des Pic Coolidge und der Barre des Écrins, dem südwestlichsten Viertausender der Alpen. Von hier fließt er unter den Südwänden des Crête de l'Encoula (andere Schreibweise: Crête de l'Encula) genannten Kammes ab, der von der Barre zur Pointe du Serre Subeyran hinüberzieht. Der überwiegende Teil des Schutts, der die untere Zunge des Gletschers bedeckt, wird vom nördlichen Ast des Gletschers transportiert.

Der südliche Ast (branche méridionale) hat seinen Ursprung zwischen den Wänden der Ailefroide und des Pic Coolidge, unterhalb des Col de Coste Rouge () und des Col de la Temple (). Er wird von den steilen Nordwänden der l'Ailefroide, des Pic du Coup de Sabre und des Pic Sans Nom um 1000 bis 1500 Höhenmeter überragt. Der Grat, der über diese Gipfel ostwärts bis zum Mont Pelvoux hinüberzieht, wird auch als Grand Muraille du Glacier Noir bezeichnet. Fünf Gipfel dieses Kamms (Ailefroide Central, Pointe Fourastier, Pic Sans Nom, Pointe Puiseux und Pointe Durand) übersteigen die 3.900-Meter-Marke. An seinem linken Ufer wird der südliche Gletscherast von den Ostausläufern des Pic Coolidge begrenzt. Eingeengt zwischen diesen Wänden fließt der Firnstrom zunächst in nordöstlicher Richtung, bis er sich kurz vor dem Zusammenschluss der beiden Eisströme nordwärts wendet. Schutt tritt auf der Oberfläche des südlichen Gletscherastes erst in seinem unteren Teil in größerem Umfang zu Tage.

Noch vereinigen sich die beiden Eisströme des Glacier Noir auf einer Höhe von gut . Allerdings ist der südliche Arm im Begriff, sich über die Begrenzungskante des unteren Beckens in den oberen Kessel zurückzuziehen, so dass der Gletscher in einen unteren und einen oberen Glacier Noir zerfallen wird. Derzeit fließt die gemeinsame Zunge vom Zusammenschluss noch gut 200 Höhenmeter weiter talwärts und endet unter den Nordausläufern des Mont Pelvoux. Sie ist hier ungefähr 400 m breit und wird auf der linken (nördlichen) Seite von einer hohen und steilen Seitenmoräne überragt, über die ein Steig vom Pré de Madame Carle oberhalb der Ortschaft Ailefroide hinaufführt.

Die Vermessung des Gletschers ist aufgrund der Schuttauflage schwieriger als bei anderen Gletschern. 1965 betrug die Länge der Gletscherzunge etwa 5,5 km, die Fläche knapp 6 km². Aufgrund der Schuttbedeckung sind die Variationen dieser Größen geringer als bei Gletschern gleicher Größenordnung, denen eine solche fehlt.

Der Glacier Noir entwässert über den Torrent du Glacier Noir, den Gyr, die Gyronde, die Durance und schließlich die Rhône ins Mittelmeer.

Erschließung

Vom Pré de Madame Carle mit dem Refuge Cézanne, hier endet die Straße vom Bergsteigerdorf Ailefroide im Vallouise an einem großen Parkplatz, ist der Gletscher leicht zugänglich. Zunächst dem Weg zum Refuge du Glacier Blanc folgend, hält man sich an einer Weggabelung links und erreicht so die Seitenmoräne des Gletschers, auf der man hoch über dem Gletscher an dessen Zunge entlang wandern kann.

Von La Bérarde, einem weiteren alpinistischen Zentrum im Écrins-Massiv, bietet der Col de la Temple für gletschererfahrene Hochtourengeher einen hohen, aber vergleichsweise leichten Übergang ins Vallouise. Der Abstieg erfolgt über den südlichen Gletscherast des Glacier Noir, den man bis zur Vereinigung beider Gletscherströme verfolgt, um dann den nördlichen Ast zur gegenüber liegenden großen Seitenmoräne zu queren. Als Stützpunkt bietet sich das im Haut Vénéon gelegene Refuge Temple-Écrins an.

Historische Entwicklung

Wie bereits erwähnt, bildeten Glacier Noir und Glacier Blanc früher zeitweise ein einziges Gletschersystem. Während der Kleinen Eiszeit erreichten die vereinigten Eiskörper im Jahr 1815 ihre Maximalausdehnung und endeten etwa auf Höhe der heutigen Cézannehütte (). Etwa einen Kilometer weiter talauswärts befindet sich die alte Stirnmoräne von Fontfroide, Relikt eines Vorstoßes von Glacier Noir und Glacier Blanc aus der Zeit vor dem 16. Jahrhundert. Nach dem Rückzug der Gletscher hat sich in der flachen Flussaue nach und nach die Vegetation wieder ausgebreitet und so die liebliche Landschaft des Pré de Madame Carle geschaffen.

Weblinks

 Informationen über den Glacier Noir mit historischen Fotos auf vallouimages.com

Einzelnachweise

Noir
Noir
Noir
Geographie (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)
GGlacier Noir
Vallouise-Pelvoux

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
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Articles | Eveve Software Vs. OpenTable: Reservations War
Eveve Software Vs. OpenTable: Reservations War
Local upstart Eveve is taking a bite out of OpenTable's hide—because it saves restaurants money.
A year after Eveve Software decided to make the Twin Cities its first American beachhead, a full-fledged war has broken out over how restaurants take reservations.
Over the last decade, San Francisco-based OpenTable Inc. has grown to dominate the restaurant reservations business, its ubiquitous computer terminals perched at host stands in thousands of American restaurants.
We have grown accustomed to making reservations online, day or night, using OpenTable's customizable Web interface to find restaurants at a certain time or in a certain neighborhood, on long or short notice. Business travelers rely on OpenTable's ratings and geographic groupings to make finding a meal easier on the road.
But that convenience comes at a cost to restaurants. Mark Pastore, of San Francisco's lauded Incanto restaurant, publicly accused OpenTable of a fee structure that sucked most of the profitability out of small restaurants. He called on the marketplace to create competition that would alter OpenTable's defacto monopoly. (OpenTable has always had competitors, but restaurateurs say few have been able to offer a product that duplicates OpenTable's suite of restaurant operations and marketing software.)
Into that breach last year stepped Eveve, a Scotland-based software company that selected the Twin Cities to be its first U.S. market. It entered with a splash, pulling eight of OpenTable's top 10 Twin Cities restaurants (in booking volume), the five largest representing 20,000 diners a month, says Tim Ryan, Eveve director and president of U.S. operations. As of press time, the privately held Eveve boasted 46 Twin Cities clients (43 are former OpenTable members), while OpenTable's Web interface offers 224 restaurants. (OpenTable debuted in the Twin Cities in 2004.)
"We saw the Twin Cities as representative of a typical U.S. city," says Ryan. "If we could prove it here, it might work anywhere." Ryan also says he believes the Twin Cities were at or near the top of OpenTable cities in revenue per restaurant, meaning the savings Eveve could offer would be compelling.
The Cost of Reservations
Eveve (pronounced eh-VEEV) targeted OpenTable's highest-volume restaurants in the Twin Cities, Hell's Kitchen and Bar La Grassa, both in Minneapolis. They are restaurants with little in common, except that they were paying OpenTable several thousand dollars each month and are now paying Eveve a flat $200. (Eveve's flat-fee structure is based on the size of a restaurant, and currently runs from $200 to $500 a month, says Ryan.)
La Grassa, which serves dinner only and fills eight weeks out on weekends, was booking more than half its diners with OpenTable. "We had a fair number of regulars booking through OpenTable," says partner Nancy St. Pierre.
"OpenTable consistently had us and Bar La Grassa as the most booked restaurants in the Twin Cities," says Hell's Kitchen co-owner Cynthia Gerdes. "And we were keeping half our tables open for walk-ins."
What Eveve and OpenTable offer restaurants is similar, say restaurateurs, but what they offer the consumer is radically different. Eveve exists to serve restaurants. It offers a reservations widget on a restaurant's website. There is no way to see another restaurant's availability. This opacity is a selling point, as Eveve never steers a diner to a competitor.
"[OpenTable's] theory is that every diner is exogenous," Eveve's Ryan explains. "And they wouldn't dine with you without [OpenTable]. In fact, OpenTable was probably cannibalizing Bar La Grassa's customers, redistributing them to other restaurants," when they saw no tables available.
But the motivation for most OpenTable defectors has been cost, pure and simple. OpenTable's fee structure bills restaurants for its service (a function of how many computers a restaurant has operating the OpenTable system) and for diner reservations. It also bills a restaurant for every diner seated via a reservation. The fees are a function of how a diner books. Bookings that come through a restaurant's website into the OpenTable system are charged at 25 cents per head. Bookings that come through the OpenTable.com site price at $1 a head. (OpenTable's frequent-diner program offers points only to diners who book through Opentable.com, which is in essence funded by the $1 reservations.)
Profitability Killer?
The lower a restaurant's price point, the more OpenTable cuts into profitability. "If your guest check average is $12, and you take $1 off the top, there's not much left in an industry that averages a 4 percent profit margin," explains Stephanie Shimp, co-owner of the Blue Plate Restaurant Company (The Lowry and the Highland Grill, among others), which switched from OpenTable to Eveve at its Scusi restaurant in St. Paul.
OpenTable says the average diner who uses the service spends $42.50 on a meal. Its data indicate that most restaurants need add only 5 percent to revenue to cover all costs related to OpenTable. But most restaurants that have left OpenTable that TCB spoke with (Bar La Grassa, Hell's Kitchen, Barrio Restaurant Group, Blue Plate Restaurant Company, W.A. Frost & Company) say they are skeptical that OpenTable brought them incremental business after seeing no decline in customer counts after leaving.
"That's the question," says Bob Crew, general manager of W.A. Frost. "Are you going to lose business if you're off their network, or were they actually steering customers away?"
The calculus for restaurateurs is certainly murky: what percentage of $1 reservations that come through the OpenTable site would have gone to a competitor had the restaurant not been an OpenTable client? Eveve's Ryan says restaurants best suited to OpenTable's network are ones that derive a lot of reservations from last-minute bookers searching by time or location. Restaurants such as Bar La Grassa and Scusi, which book up in advance and don't always have same-evening availability, were paying OpenTable for customers who were coming to eat there anyway, he thinks.
"[OpenTable] tells you they're filling your 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. tables," says Scusi's Shimp, "but you have to look at your data. If the names on it are regulars," then OpenTable's assertion doesn't stand up, she says.
Hell's Kitchen, though, fits Ryan's definition of a restaurant that should benefit from OpenTable. "I planned for a loss of 50 percent of my online reservation business. We could sustain that and still break even on the switch [to Eveve]," says Gerdes. "If anything, our business has only been up. I'm really incredulous over it."
OpenTable Fights Back
OpenTable has made concessions to maintain its customer base. The proprietors of Atlas Grill in downtown Minneapolis left OpenTable's web interface in January, allowing bookings only through atlasgrill.com. Ultimately, they returned after seeing a significant drop in reservations, but a smaller drop in customer counts. "As Valentine's Day approached, we felt we had to be back on Opentable.com," says manager Ken Cole.
A handful of restaurants that migrated to Eveve have ultimately returned to OpenTable; of those, most spent just weeks with Eveve and encountered integration or training issues. W.A. Frost went back to OpenTable after several months, but not because it was losing business. "The software was glitchy; it was not designed for American restaurants," says Crew. "It needed more customization for a high-volume restaurant like ours, and they were open to it, but we found they could not move quickly enough and just did not have enough people to support us."
Crew says when Frost returned to OpenTable it did so at a rate structure more favorable than when it left, but still more expensive than Eveve.
OpenTable has retained more than three-quarters of its local restaurant accounts, including heavy hitters Crave, Parasole Restaurant Holdings, and D'Amico & Partners.
Parasole was a big fish Eveve wanted. Ryan says the company told him it was spending as much as a quarter of a million dollars a year with OpenTable, spread out over its 12 restaurants. Kip Clayton, Parasole vice president of marketing, says he was intrigued by Eveve, but felt the risks of leaving OpenTable were too great. "If 10 percent of your customers go bye-bye, you're screwed," he quips. "OpenTable is a loyalty program to begin with. Business travelers are focused on booking through it, whether your restaurant is there or not."
Clayton says 25 to 30 percent of Parasole diners make reservations, and the company is trying to steer more of them to the Parasole website to book at OpenTable's 25-cent rate. As for the $1-per-head bookings, "they are truly opaque. You don't really know how you get them or if you would have gotten them without the OpenTable website." Parasole's hotel-based Manny's Steakhouse, with a per-diner dinner check average of $90, has no trouble disgorging $1 to OpenTable for each customer. Parasole's Good Earth, averaging $12 per diner, probably doesn't break even on OpenTable bookings, but they represent only 5 percent of the restaurant's overall customers.
"No head of IT ever got fired for going to IBM," Clayton says, of the decision to stay with OpenTable. He believes the competitive pressure OpenTable faces locally has changed its sensitivity to pricing concerns. "If you're in a monopolistic situation, you will see monopolistic pricing and profits," he says. "But nobody wants to seat diners at $1 a head, and OpenTable has worked very closely with us to save us money. They know if it isn't Eveve that displaces them, it will be someone else."
OpenTable aggressively tried to hold onto its other restaurants as well. Hell's Kitchen, Bar La Grassa, and Blue Plate say OpenTable offered them a modified pricing structure and perks like free iPads, in exchange for staying with the service. The pricing was contingent on the restaurants keeping the details confidential.
"It kind of bothered us," says Scusi's Shimp. "I mean, why didn't they offer it to us from the beginning?"
OpenTable defends its position and pricing as justified by new diners the service reels in from its website and frequent guest program. It believes no competitor has duplicated OpenTable's database and operational functions, says OpenTable's Senior Vice President of Marketing Ann Shepherd, a statement echoed by W.A. Frost's Bob Crew. (It's worth noting that OpenTable's technology allows guests to cancel and modify reservations, while Eveve's does not.)
"It's not fair to talk about cost without discussing value," Shepherd says. She believes Bar La Grassa's experience is atypical, and says research shows most $1-a-head diners had not chosen a restaurant when they arrived at OpenTable's website. She says Eveve has prompted no fundamental change in OpenTable's strategy or pricing structure, and the company notes Eveve is far from its biggest competitor.
After using the Twin Cities as its springboard, Eveve has been receiving inquiries and opening markets in other states. Ryan says Eveve will likely keep its support and administrative functions in the Twin Cities for the long haul. While it has not dislodged OpenTable from its dominant position, it has taken some of its most profitable accounts and believes it is handling 39 percent of all the online reservations in the Twin Cities, representing 45,000 diners per month. It would seem to have the potential to be a thorn in OpenTable's bottom-line across the rest of the country as well.
See all stories by this author >
Adam Platt
Adam Platt is executive editor at Twin Cities Business magazine, a position he has held since 2011.
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