Students passing from the humanities stream in school or pursuing graduation in an arts subject can study short term courses in creative English as a hobby or for professional purposes. In fact, any person who loves language and is interested in poetry and prose can study distance learning diploma in creative writing English. Distance learning ensures that the student can work full time or can pursue another course of study at the same time.
Let us take a look at some institutes in India that offer distance learning diploma program in creative writing English.
Minimum eligibility requirements for admission to a diploma course in creative writing English is successful completion of 10+2 examination from a board of education that is duly recognized by the government of India.
Imagination and creative thinking is a must for students enrolling in this course of study.
Good observation skills and voracious reading habits are essential requirements.
Knowledge about the contemporary writing style is important.
Every applicant must submit copies of mark sheets, identity proofs, passport size photos, application form and a sample of his / her own writing at the time of admission to an institute teaching the course.
The minimum duration of a diploma course in creative writing English is one year. The course duration extends to four years in several institutes. For distance learning candidates, the duration can stretch further as the students attend classes keeping professional and other academic requirements in mind.
Creative writing is any kind of writing, whether fiction or non fiction, poetry, short stories or novels, that are written in a style different from normal journalistic, professional and academic writing. Writing for the stage, the big & the small screen also fall under the purview of creative writing. Creative writing can be in any language, but it was in the US that the concept was first defined as an extension of the English language.


Also known as: collapsed lung.
The pleura are two membranes, (with minimal space between them - the pleura cavity, containing a small amount of lubricating fluid), that lie between the lung and the chest wall. A pneumothorax is air in the pleural cavity. Air leaks into the pleural space can occur suddenly or gradually and may be simple (without buildup of significant pressure but with some stable collapse of the lung) or complicated (from air continuing to leak into the pleural space causing increasing lung collapse -called a tension pneumothorax, with further chest problems).
Pneumothorax can occur for several reasons. In babies it's most commonly due to the air sacs (alveoli) becoming over distended and bursting because of pressure from breathing machines (mechanical ventilators), inhalation of meconium stool passed before birth, or associated with other lung diseases like respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).
In older children it can occur without cause (spontaneous pneumothorax- associated with being tall and thin, connective tissue disorders, smoking, scuba diving and flying), with acute or chronic lung diseases, blunt/penetrating injury to the chest, during mechanical ventilation, or during the placement of diagnostic or therapeutic catheters (inhalation of crack cocaine has been associated with a pneumothorax).
Depending on a number of different factors, symptoms of pneumothorax may be none to minimal, or in baby's cause irritability, restlessness, grunting, nostril flaring, and rapid and difficulty breathing with pale/blue tinged skin/tongue or mouth. Older children may complain of a sharp chest pain made worse on taking a deep breath, shortness of breath, and chest tightness with a fast heart rate and bluish color to skin/mouth/tongue. These can become quite severe and life-threatening in some instances.
What are pneumothorax care options?
Treatments depend of the size of the pneumothorax, its duration and severity of symptoms. In less severe instances, only oxygen for a short while may be required; with more severe symptoms a needle or chest tube will be inserted in order to remove the air from the pleural space enabling the collapsed lung to re-expand. If persistent, surgery may be required.


text:
HomeCorrespondence
Administrative procedures and practices
EU Competence area
Health and Food Safety
Failure to be proactively transparent in EU decision making
Lack of impartiality, independence and objectivity [Articles 8 and 9 ECGAB]
Letter to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) concerning the transparency and independence of the work of the EMA in supporting the development and evaluation of COVID-19 medicines
Correspondence - Date Wednesday | 29 July 2020
Case SI/5/2020/DDJ - Opened on Wednesday | 29 July 2020 - Decision on Monday | 08 March 2021 - Institution concerned European Medicines Agency
Professor Guido Rasi
Strasbourg, 29/07/2020
Subject: Transparency and independence of the work of the European Medicines Agency in supporting the development and evaluation of COVID-19 medicines
Dear Professor Rasi,
We are experiencing a global health emergency of proportions that we have not seen for generations. I am conscious of the efforts being made by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to conduct its evaluation work as quickly as possible, without compromising the quality of the safety and efficacy assessment. You confirmed your commitment to this mission before the European Parliament recently.[1] In the context of the work my Office is conducting on the response of the EU administration during the COVID-19 crisis, I am writing to you with this request for information.
Among the measures taken by EMA to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic is the establishment of the COVID-19 EMA pandemic Task Force (COVID-ETF)[2]. The role of the COVID-ETF is to help EU Member States and the European Commission to take quick and coordinated regulatory action on the development, authorisation and safety monitoring of medicines intended for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. The COVID-ETF will assist COVID-19 medicine developers by providing guidance and advice.[3] Such interactions can be of vital importance for the speedy development of safe and effective vaccines and treatments.
However, it is important to ensure that an appropriate balance is struck between providing the best possible advice and assistance, while guaranteeing the independence of any subsequent evaluations. I understand that the COVID-ETF's membership includes the experts that draft EMA's evaluation report for COVID-19 medicines (the 'rapporteurs and co-rapporteurs')[4].
My Office has worked with EMA in recent years to improve the transparency and independence of its actions. I have no doubt that every effort is being made to apply the improved standards that have resulted from that work to EMA's current efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. With this in mind, I would be grateful if EMA could confirm that it intends to:
1. apply the principles agreed in the context of my inquiry into EMA's pre-submission activities[5] (OI/7/2017/KR) as regards the work of the COVID-ETF;
2. ensure transparency of its COVID-19 related activities, including the possibility of rapidly publishing clinical data for the products in question.[6]
I would be grateful if you could reply by the end of September 2020, if possible. Any question in the meantime may be sent to Mr Diesmer de Jonge, who can be reached on +32 (0) 22 83 07 84, and at diesmer.dejonge@ombudsman.europa.eu.
Thank you for your continued engagement on these matters. I wish EMA every success in these challenging times.
[1] Speech of 12 May 2020 in the European Parliament's committee on environment, public health and food safety (ENVI): https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/product/product-details/20200506CAN55006.
[2] Press release: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/ema-establishes-task-force-take-quick-coordinated-regulatory-action-related-covid-19-medicines.
[3] Activities of the COVID-ETF include, among others: i) providing guidance on development plans of COVID-19 medicines when formal scientific advice is not yet feasible; ii) the review and requesting of data from developers and engaging with them in preliminary discussions; iii) contributing to scientific advice procedures as advisor to SAWP/CHMP, including on a rolling basis; and iv) providing feedback on development plans of COVID-19 medicines when formal rapid scientific advice is not feasible.
[4] COVID-ETF rules and procedures: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/other/mandate-objectives-rules-procedure-covid-19-ema-pandemic-task-force-covid-etf_en.pdf.
[5] The European Ombudsman's inquiry into how EMA engages with medicine developers in the period leading up to applications for authorisations to market new medicines in the EU (OI/7/2017/KR), see: https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/decision/en/116683. This inquiry emphasised the need to ensure that the experts that have a prominent role in advising medicine developers in so-called pre-submission activities are not the same experts that are subsequently prominently involved in evaluating the safety and efficacy for the same medicine.
[6] See: https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/letter/en/57622.
Download this publication in PDF format (100.39 KB)
Case SI/5/2020/DDJ
Wednesday | 10 March 2021Case description
The role of the European Medicines Agency and its pandemic task force during the COVID-19 crisis
Wednesday | 29 July 2020Case opened
Monday | 08 March 2021Correspondence
Letter from the European Ombudsman to the European Medicines Agency closing of the Ombudsman's Strategic Initiative SI/5/2020/DDJ
Wednesday | 30 September 2020Correspondence
Reply from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to the European Ombudsman's letter on the role of EMA and its pandemic task force during the COVID-19 crisis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Get exclusive offers with the best rate guaranteed, only when you book direct at premierinn.ae. As well as saving money on your stay, you can get an early check-in from 9.00am, late check-out until 6.00pm* and 2 for 1 deals on meals, drinks and attractions with the Premier Inn Passport.
Enjoy free breakfast on your first morning on selected dates and rates, only when you book your stay direct.
Whether you want to escape for the weekend or need to stay near the business hub of Dubai, take advantage of the Premier Inn – Al Jaddaf opening offer of only 99 AED per room*.
Pre-book your delicious 2-course menu with us for only AED 45!
Plan your next stay at least 30 days in advance and enjoy the lowest rates across our hotels in the Middle East.
Stay longer and enjoy more of your destination with 20% discount at any Premier Inn across the Middle East.
Enjoy 2 for 1 offers on food & beverages with discounts on experiences and services across the UAE.
Kids eat Lunch and Dinner Free!
Kids can eat lunch and dinner free, even better value for families when you book your stay directly on our website!


If you've already started out in business, even just dipping in your toe, you're likely a smart cookie. As a business woman, you've had to gain a fair amount of wisdom, even with relatively little experience, to just get going, much less make a success of yourself.
If you're a business owner or manager – a leader in any capacity – you know that gaining experience is important. For women, the key is gaining experience and respect. And respect is gained through excellence. True excellence comes only from experience. You can read a book on excellence, but that doesn't mean you're going to walk right out the door and be excellent. There's book learning, and then there's the type of wisdom that you pick up on the streets, whether that be your small business on Main Street, USA or in the rough hustle of Wall Street.
If you've already had the experience of success, you may be nodding your head and moving on. Not so fast! The following words of wisdom aren't just for those who are looking to gain experience in the business industry; we have a few things to say to you who've been around a while as well.
On the flip side, if you're a woman who is new to running a business, you may be wondering – If I'm new to this, how do I gain experience? and Isn't that a bit of a catch-22? Well, there's some work-arounds for gaining experience in a fast-pass sort of way.
Business owners new and established – we think you have wisdom to gain from the experience of reading what we have for you below.
1. Actively look for mentees.
Wait. You're looking for ways to gain wisdom, and we're asking you to give it away? Well, yes. Yes we are. Because, actually, you'll learn a lot more than you'd expect from guiding someone new. It's an excellent way to stay in touch with the latest and greatest that's happening in your field.
2. Speak up about what you know, and be willing to teach.
Hopefully, you're all caught up on the "speak up" part. What you may be lacking is patience to break it down for others when they're struggling. Again, this will help you to develop a greater understanding as well.
3. Evaluate your compensation – often.
If you have experience, constantly reevaluate how you are compensated, and present your reevaluation to any superiors you may have, or to the board of your company. A good guideline is to perform this review every 6 to 12 months. Don't wait around for someone else to give you a raise or promotion – build your case, and present it.
4. Become a conflict ninja.
We're here to tell you that the difference between you, and another, average leader, is that those who really knuckle down and get good at handling conflict will outshine others, hands down. The trick is to manage conflict in a way that lets all parties come out of it with a sense of dignity and satisfaction. That's difficult to pull off, but so worth it.
5. Give yourself frequent, challenging pep talks.
When you were just starting out, you might have found that you had a lot of cheerleaders. As you gained success, you may have found that the encouragement tapered off. Like a parent releasing the handles of a bicycle when their kid gets the hang of pedaling, your supporters may be cheering you in a less hands-on way. That's why it's up to you to continue to encourage yourself, and to challenge yourself. Look in the mirror and be real with yourself each day.
1. Boldly ask someone you admire to mentor you.
You didn't get where you are today by being shy. And look, people love being asked to mentor others. It's very flattering, even if they have to turn you down because of prior commitments or a heavy workload. Ask and ask again until you find the right person to lead you on your way to becoming royalty.
2. Speak up about what you know, and be willing to learn.
This one's hard to do when you feel like you're the fresh face. But guess who gets to be the boss? That's right. She who acts like a boss. Don't assume that you have less than others to offer. Your newness is also your value – you aren't roped in by some of the ties that can bind more experienced leaders. As long as you maintain your willingness to learn, speak up about your ideas and point of view.
3. Evaluate your compensation – in comparison.
If you want to climb the ladder, you may be focused on salary. You may have been hired on at the same time as someone else, but making less. While it's important to be aware of the impact that gender inequity plays in pay, you should also be aware of – or find out – e x a c t l y why and how your company makes decisions on salary. Think of it as a treasure map to the gold you want. Does your company value education, or taking on extra tasks? If you know, you can make strides toward your goals.
4. Don't shy away from conflict.
This can be tough, especially when you're wanting to make those smooth moves rather than have a bumpy ride. But again, with success, conflict is inevitable. And leaders, like firefighters, run toward the flames instead of shy away. They aren't aggressive, or defensive, but neither do they roll over. Show early on that you're willing to work through challenges, and you will be respected.
5. Give yourself frequent, encouraging pep talks.
We certainly hope that you have a girl group in your corner, pumping you up and letting you know that you can handle anything. But it's also really important that you do this for yourself. Don't become to reliant on others for encouragement, and really be your own best friend. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses, but in this fragile time of just starting out, focus on what you have to offer.
1. Get your game going.
If you're a potential #ladyboss, but you haven't yet started, what's the hold up? We need more women like you! Figure out your game, and get in it!
Once you get your start, you'll make moves quickly. And you'll need some assistance. Call them your employees, your team, your entourage – they're here for you, your vision…and to get paid.
3. Log in to PayWow.
When you need to pay people fast, PayWow is here for you. Staying on top of your game means knowing exactly what tools to use.
4. Pay people like a #ladyboss.


Thoughtfully and lovingly remodeled over the past 3 years by the current owners. New slider (required by the HOA), new temperature regulators in both bathrooms, all new electrical (fully permitted), gorgeous Coretek laminate floors with : sound buffer, exceptional new lighting and ceiling fans. Fabulous closet organizers in the master and coat closet. New open floor plan kitchen / living room with stainless appliances, granite counters, white cabinets, french doors with frosted glass into the guest room. Both bathrooms tastefully remodeled. The enclosed lanai overlooks the first fairway of the golf course, and is shaded by a gorgeous tree. Sit and enjoy a beverage, while watching the day go by! Windsor Gardens offers a great retirement lifestyle and its amenities include community golf course, restaurant, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, amazing clubhouse with fitness center, numerous activity rooms, and 24 hour security. This is a fabulous opportunity in the best 55+ community in Denver!


text:
Q: Retrieve all values Mongo Query I am new to MongoDB. I am trying to retrieve all values for 'des' from termL list. It contains string value.
Sample data
{'_id': ObjectId('5d19fbc0e4b0490ed4c5a02d'), 'uID': '2004', 'documentTitle': 'Training the trainers','termL': [{'code': '30', 'des': 'SVM'}, {'code': '50', 'des': 'NN'}]}

Mongo query
record = mycollection.find({}, {
    "uID":1,
    "documentTitle": 1,
    "indexTermList": {'$elemMatch':{'des':1}}
}).limit(1)

A: You can use $project operator and the dot notation to reshape your data:
db.collection.aggregate([
    {
        $project: {
            _id: 1,
            uID: 1,
            documentTitle: 1,
            des: "$termL.des"
        }
    }
])

Mongo Playground

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


During a shootout, Topan crawls to his safe to retrieve a gun. He hurriedly dials in a combination, grabs the door's handle, and then pulls the safe open without first turning the handle.
Hideaki Goto: They're not cops anymore. They're in my world now.
This sequel is better in every conceivable way.
The action might take up a little less screen time percentage wise, but is more brutal (way more), even better choreographed, varied and memorable. I think this movie has the greatest overall collection of fight scenes in the history of action cinema, and a fantastic car chase too. Obviously I haven't seen every movie in existence, but I have never seen anything with such a collection of incredibly well done and brutal fights.
Characters have depth to them, even if on a comic book level, and are well cast and well played. Story is fairly intelligent, and more than services the action.
Everything else; filming, editing, sound design, stunts, special effects are stellar. There are quite a few "how the hell did they do that?!?" moments.
154 of 184 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?


Their aim is to transform the common student learning pattern of "cram, pass, and forget". Teaching Science so that Students Learn Science, by John Mays, primary author for Novare, is a wonderful overview of their unique approach to science education. The chapter entitled "Dealing with Evolution" is well worth reading by anyone seriously interested in improving Christian science education in the U.S.. John Mays' perspective is based on many years of teaching in a classical Christian school and is perhaps the best presentation we have seen offered by a Christian publisher on how to handle evolution in Christian classrooms. Though Novare does not currently offer a life science or biology text, their resources include materials on physical science, physics, and chemistry, as well as other teacher resources like solution manuals, experiment collections, and resource CD's. Jeffrey Mays of Novare recently wrote a blog post for BioLogos.
Novare recently launched a new imprint called Centripetal Press that offers science curricula that include their mastery approach but without the faith perspective. It is a new choice for schools which cannot include faith-based language but still want John Mays' fresh approach to scientific education.


Pajama parties are a perennial favorite of girls from childhood to their teens, but they can also be fun for adults! The best things about pajama parties is the playful nature, nostalgia and junk food involved, and those are things that any age group can appreciate.
The first pajama party for many girls involves running around your friend's house, eating cookies, barely sleeping through the night and then getting up to pancakes in the morning. Learn how to add to the fun with some great pajama party ideas.
A movie marathon. For the younger kids, you can show Disney films, Christmas films like Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman or other age appropriate films. For older kids and teenagers, you can consider a marathon of slightly scary movies. Be careful with this idea though -- if they are too scary, the kids may never fall asleep!
Karaoke or a music show. Kids of any age love to put on a show, so why not let them? Give them some songs on their MP3 player, along with a stereo to play them through plus a microphone, and let them put on a show!
Games night. Pajama party games like Twister, scavenger hunts and hide-and-go-seek can be a great way to pass the time until you declare it bedtime.
There are more pajama party ideas to consider, such as having a backyard fire in the summer or a late-night snowball fight if you are hosting the party in the winter months.
One thing to look out for is for any children who may get homesick. Although they may love to be with their friends, homesickness can hit any kid at any time of night. Make sure you have mom and dad's number so your child's guest can call them up to talk with their parents. If they decide to go home, let him or her know you are happy they were there for how long they were there, and you hope to see them again soon. Also make sure you own child understands that their friend went home because they wanted to and it was nothing they did wrong.


text:
Q: Cant edit my code, Android Studio searches for files When i developing my app and press alt + tab or click outside from Android Studio, to search something, and clicking again in the Android Studio window, i cant edit my code anymore.
There's no cursor, when i typing words or something it searches everytime for file in my project.
On top of my project files explorer is a grey small Window, where is the following text:
Search for: (and the text i type)
I dont know what i have to do, to get rid of this mode.
When i restart Android Studio i can edit my code again.
But some 20 minutes later, after clicking outside from studio, the problem comes back.
Any ideas to deactivate this "search for" mode or switching the focus on my code?


Develop and maintain complex stored procedures, views and functions on MariaDB, MySQL, DB2 AS400 and DB2 LUW databases. Program and write SQL code to support the creation of tables, views, stored procedures, functions, reports and triggers. Analyze data requirements for business applications; develop data models and data migration/conversion strategies for internally hosted applications. Acquire business knowledge for: debugging model/data related issues, explaining the models to application teams or business. Maintain and enhance technical aspects of database and data warehouse systems. Provide operational and system support as well as technical expertise to software developers and database administrators. Utilize software development principles and experience to support the full lifecycle of software products. Work with application teams to identify ways to optimize the database tier and work to implement improvements for future releases. Develop application and database standards/architecture to help ensure the scalability, performance and maintainability of applications. Create standards to monitor and enhance capacity and performance.
BS, BA in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, MIS, or relevant technology degree. Experience with complex custom-developed software applications. Minimum 8+ years previous related experience with RDBMS systems 2 years of AS400 system work experience.


text:
SRTA: NB 8 (Mount Pleasant)
by Miles Taylor | Jan 13, 2019 | Miles on the MBTA | 0 comments
The NB 8 is the same bus as the North End Shuttle, with every run on this route turning into a loop on that one before coming back. I really wish they made it more obvious that they use the same bus, but marketing them as two different routes does have one advantage: it makes the 8 look a whole lot better on its own.
Ah…good place to start a bus route.
I just stayed on the North End Shuttle, so after deviating to Fieldstone Marketplace (which has nothing of substance in it), we took Kings Highway over Route 140 and turned onto Mount Pleasant Street. Although there were a few houses and a cemetery along here, it was mostly industrial. We crossed Route 140 again and there was some public housing on the other side, although we missed out on a Price Rite supermarket and a bunch of apartments a few blocks away.
That McDonald's sign is where the Price Rite is. So, not an insignificant distance.
Mount Pleasant Street still did run through some dense housing. We also went by another cemetery and an elementary school. It was all residential as we crossed I-195, and it remained so on the other side, apart from a few convenience stores here and there. Eventually, we turned onto Kempton Street, and this led us into downtown New Bedford. After taking a right on 6th Street, we had arrived at the terminal.
The bus changed routes when we got to New Bedford, so you know what? Here's a picture of the FR 8. You can't tell the difference!
SRTA Route: NB 8 (Mount Pleasant)
Ridership: This one gets a respectable-for-SRTA-standards 340 passengers per day. My trip got 9 people, which was one of the highest I had seen all day.
Pros: It's a nice straight shot serving a lot of dense houses and apartments on its southern half, plus it gets decent ridership.
Cons: Despite getting a decent amount of passengers, the 8 has a pretty awful schedule. Service only operates from 7 AM to 6 PM (8 to 5 on Saturdays), and it's every 40 minutes throughout the day. The NB 3 gets fewer people than this, but that one runs every half hour until 9 PM! Also, I can't believe I'm saying this, but a jog or deviation to Price Rite might be a good idea. It's an 8-minute walk from the route at present – serving a supermarket would probably add a lot of ridership, especially with the route's midday-focused schedule. It would also provide access to a giant apartment development.
Nearby and Noteworthy: It's mostly residential, apart from the plazas at the end, which don't have much in them.
It doesn't seem like the 8 is especially useful at the moment. Its schedule doesn't match its ridership, and it doesn't really serve much once it leaves the urban core. As it stands, for passengers to get food, they have to stay on when the bus becomes the North End Shuttle and use the Stop & Shop deviation, but that's only in one direction. Of course, SRTA also doesn't tell you the two routes interline, so that connection might as well not exist for an unfamiliar riders!


I love to give an inspirational keynote. All of my presentations are customised. I never give the same presentation twice.
Deciding which way to go can be a daunting exercise. But that's not even the hardest part. Afterwards, you need to communicate the new strategy and ensure people will adopt it.
I can facilitate your brainstorm during your offsite or in your offices. My involvement is limited to a half day of preparation and reporting and a half day on site.
This project is aimed at organisations that want to start a new business line, but need help in the selection, planning and creation of this new business without being dependent on an external consultant to make this business grow.


It can't compatible with Epson d and Sony projectors.
Ultra-Clear HD 144 Hz DLP LINK 3D Active Rechargeable Shutter Glasses for All 3D DLP Projectors - BenQ Optoma Dell Mitsubishi Samsung Acer Vivitek NEC Sharp ViewSonic & Endless Others!
BOBLOV JX-30 3D DLP-Link Active Shutter Glasses for viewing 3D images and 3D visions from DLP Link 3D Projectors,Support 96~144Hz DLP-Link such as Optoma/BenQ/Sharp/Acer/Samsung/Mitsubishi series DLP projector. Build-in rechargeable battery, which can hold a charge for up to 45 hours of use. JX-30 net weight is just 33g,very light,comfortable wearing,and the excellent LCD lens will offer bright and sharp 3D experience for you.
1:The 3D signal receiving window can receive the DLP-Link signal. As soon as you use 96-144Hz DLP-Link 3D projector and connect thru 3D image source,our glasses can work perfect with your projector.
4.Super fast 144Hz refresh rate.
5.Low-power design,can charge by USB.
9.Auto power off function, save energy and stable.
I really liked the simplicity of these glasses right out of the box.
This was one of those tasks where you charged the glasses for about 3 hours in the morning and then the other pair around noon (in the set of 2) & just forget about them. Let them fully charge until the red dot disappears.
It was not noted nor listed, but both of these glasses came inside a very durable softshell case which was very nice and adds to the quality. They packed so much into the boxes. They came with soft shell case, the soft bag, the micro usb cable for charging, fabric lense cleaners & the manual which was very helpful because I have never used a pair of 3D glasses (Read them)!
Together (my wife & I) we watched Avatar (3D & Blu Ray) for over 3 hours and I was blown away at the quality of the picture and the perceived perception of the 3D graphics on the projector that we saw.
These glasses really added to the experience and I was truly impressed & very happy that these worked right out of the box as advertised. I was not aware of this brand & this truly had me concerned, but I am glad that I bought them and it all worked out just great.
I am bragging to my coworkers on the Avatar movie & the 3D glasses that we saw in my living room and would recommend this brand to anyone!
I've used a few different DLP-Link glasses in the $9-15 per pair price range. These ones stood out in terms of build quality and extras. I bought more of these after I tried them out.
The other "cheap" 3D glasses I've tried felt "cheap." I don't know how long they will last (one has already broken). These glasses feel like they will last. The hinges and temples feel much sturdier than I was expecting (similar to a regular pair of sunglasses). They also went above and beyond with the extras. The glasses come with a cleaning cloth (a nice touch), a cloth pouch for storage and a zippered glasses case. I was very pleasantly surprised by the glasses case for this price.
I was concerned by other reviews that talked about the glasses not working or having some image quality issues. I have not had any issues. The picture quality might be a bit better on some other glasses, but nothing that concerns me. The glasses are a little bit heavier than some other options, but my family prefers wearing these glasses.
Overall, these are a great choice for affordable 3D glasses (DLP-Link).
5.0 out of 5 starsWOW, it really works!!!
This DLP-Link 3D glasses came with more then I expected since its wasn't in there description. The expected items are the 3d glasses, micro usb charge cable and manual. But you will also get added surprise, blue semi hard shell case, black soft bag, and fabric to clean the lens.
Now on to the glasses... there was two color options, black and blue. I got the blue because it was similar to my projector brand. Plug micro usb cable to bottom of glasses. Then charge till the red light goes out. You will need your own usb power wall plug for faster charging. There are protected film on both sides of the lens that will need removed. To power on, press the power button on top of glasses. To turn off, hold power button for few seconds.
These looks very stylish too, not like the older looking 3D glasses at the movie theater. They feel comfortable and seem pretty well made. If they last for few years, I'll definitely got my $$ worth. For now, I'm totally happy with these, so going to buy few more for movie night with my family and friends.
I have no previous experience with 3D glasses but I'm very pleased with these. They're really hassle free, you just hit the power button and they work. If they don't detect a 3D signal they turn themselves off after about 30 seconds to conserve battery life. Speaking of battery life, I charged them up when I got them and I've watched about a half dozen movies and several dozen YouTube clips with them and still have not had to charge them. Impressive! They're comfortable too, and fit over my regular glasses with no problem at all. 10/10 would recommend.
I have one of the Optoma DLP 3D projectors on the list. My factory (bulky) Optoma glasses work just fine. These glasses would never acknowledge a 3D signal. They acted like they wanted to for a second, but just stayed in normal mode.
I would have returned this pair anyway. One set looked like it had been opened and there was a splotch of adhesive on one of the lenses.
I wish they did work. They are much lighter than the Optoma glass. They are charged by USB.


Either current or no longer on.
Do you have a favorite or go to razor?
What is it and why do you prefer it?
(08-28-2016, 06:46 PM)bakerbarber Wrote: What's your favorite TV show?
Oh, boy. What is my favorite show. There's so many to choose from. I tend to have Netflix running as background noise in the evening, so I do catch a lot of shows. Since I can't decide on one, I'll give you a few. Archer: fan of Adam Reed's since Sealab and Frisky Dingo. House of Cards: Kevin Spacey's performance and his breaking the fourth wall is amazing. West Wing: Great characters all the way through the series.
My favorite razor is the Merkur Futur on a #2 setting. It is my favorite razor because it is consistent. That is the razor and setting that I use to test a new blade. I know how the razor behaves so any variation is from the blade. My prep is fairly consistent as well. Also, I love a heavy razor. I have a Maggard's MR8 handle with a iKon Shavecraft Slant head.
aside from wet shaving, what are some of your hobbies?
what's your profession, if you don't mind me asking?
(08-28-2016, 07:41 PM)andrewjs18 Wrote: aside from wet shaving, what are some of your hobbies?
Thanks giving me the opportunity talk about my business/obsession!
I am a geek at heart, so LEGO's are on the list. My boys are 9 and 11 and we like to build together. I am a husky chap, but that doesn't stop me from doing mud runs and 10mi walks. We started playing foot golf this year. It's like golf, played on a golf course, and the hole is the width of two soccer balls. Also, we frisbee golf. Basically, any kind of golf that doesn't involve clubs and a small ball. My real golf game is a joke.
I am a Senior Web Developer by day. I code primarily in PHP/Laravel, which is what the blade site is created with.
I placed my first order with you a couple weeks ago for a few SE blades.
You are welcome! Yeah, it's quite an investment for the full packs of the SE blades. I'm a fan of the Feather Professional blades in my Feather AC fixed handle and my Alumigoose.
the forum software we use here, mybb, is rewriting its entire code using laravel.
HTTPS is on the way.
I am starting to work on a new version of the site in Laravel 5.3 and it will implemented when it goes live whenever it gets done.
Nice to see existing projects latch onto Laravel, it's a nice framework and does a lot of heavy lifting for you.
(08-28-2016, 08:29 PM)TryABlade Wrote: HTTPS is on the way.
good to hear! let's encrypt works quite well and it's free...!
Hi, Jason! I very much appreciate the service you offer and have used it on several occasions. Thank you!
I'm wondering what your favorite or "go to" blades are? DE, SE, etc.


text:
Swindon Climate Action Network
Plastic Free Swindon
Refill Swindon
About SCAN
Tag: Plastic Pollution Bill
The SCAN environmental general election guide
December 1, 2019 Ben Bell Learn More, Upcoming Events
There is a lot of conflicting information and narratives out there. Who to believe? Facts are difficult to dispute, such as the voting records of MPs and political parties. So, we have produced this article with links to that information. Friends of the Earth have gone through the manifestos of the Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats and Green Party, as well as pledges that each party has made throughout the campaign. They have then scored each party on 'tackling the climate and ecological emergency'. For the Plastic Free Swindon campaign, we have written to all local parliamentary candidates to ask for commitments to end plastic pollution. This article provides a simple summary as well as full details for those who want them. 'Swindon Climate Debate: Action or Extinction?' was held at New College. Each candidate was asked what their party's plan is to deal with climate change, followed by[…]
Plastic pollution commitments from Swindon's parliamentary candidates
November 30, 2019 Ben Bell Campaigns, Plastic Free Swindon
We wrote to all local general election candidates asking them for commitments on phasing out plastic pollution; two simple questions:1. Do you and your party support the aims of the Plastic Pollution Bill?2. Do you and your party support a permanent ban on fracking? Show full letter Dear (candidate), Plastic Free Swindon is a campaign to help phase out plastic pollution as soon as possible. It is one of the many plastic-free campaigns around the UK and part of the global Break Free From Plastic organisation. The campaign launched for Plastic Free July 2018 and has been very active in Swindon. The campaign so far has included the introduction of the Refill campaign to Swindon, the launch of Nude Foods (zero waste shop), litter picks around Swindon, an ecobricks group, education, lobbying, articles, art, music, and engagement. For further information, please have a look at the website: https://swindonclimate.org/plasticfreeswindon/. Pollution, environmental[…]
Plastic pollution commitment letters – Justin Tomlinson
November 30, 2019 Ben Bell Uncategorized
Thanks Ben. I am proud that as a Councillor I introduced the kerbside recycling scheme. I have opened the two Advanced Recycling Technology facilities in Swindon (it is great, that we as as town are at the heart of a potential commercial breakthrough) and I have supported the additional money being invested into research to seek alternatives. I have also fully support pressure on retailers to reduce unnecessary packaging, including with plastics. Thank you for the work you are doing in this important area. Happy to meet you post election to discuss ongoing works / campaigns, should I be re-elected. Cheers, Justin. For clarification: Neither of the questions we asked have been answered, hence we signified that an answer was 'not stated'. We are seeking clarification on this. This letter is in response to a letter we sent to all of Swindon's parliamentary candidates for the 2019 general election. See[…]
Plastic pollution commitment letters – Robert Buckland
Dear Ben, Thank you for your email. On the question of legislation, we will introduce our flagship Environment Bill. Leaving the EU is a defining opportunity for the UK to set its own course and take ambitious action to protect our natural environment for future generations. We are taking world leading action to take on the scourge of plastics. We have already banned plastic straws, drinks stirrers and cotton buds from April 2020 and the Environment Bill encourages producers to cut waste and protect our water resources. This is on top of the action we have taken to ban microbeads, which can be so harmful in our waterways . Thanks to our efforts, plastic bag sales are down 90% since 2015 and the fee we introduced is being used for environmental causes. Our manifesto announced that we will introduce a new levy to increase the proportion of recyclable plastics in[…]
Plastic pollution commitment letters – Kate Linnegar
I absolutely support the plastic pollution bill. A statement from our Shadow environment secretary Sue Hayman, "Labour is calling for a truly comprehensive waste and recycling strategy that tackles our lack of domestic infrastructure to deal with what we throw away as well as further action to reduce waste at source and improve levels of recycling". And from our shadow minister for waste and recycling, "Labour is calling for a root-and-branch comprehensive approach to dealing with our waste which reduces the amount created in the first place, recycles the maximum of waste that is produced and protects our environment from pollution". Both myself and the Labour Party support a permanent ban on fracking. Kind regards, Kate Linnegar. Clarification: Plastic pollution: Labour Party support for the Plastic Pollution Bill is not clear. Further detail is required for a more precise answer. This answer is derived from both Kate Linnegar and Sarah[…]
Plastic pollution commitment letters – Katie Critchlow
Many thanks for taking the time to write to me about Plastic Free Swindon and Swindon Climate Action Network. As a long term eco activist I'm glad to be able to thoroughly support the aims of the campaign which you outline in your letter. In my own career I have worked at Marks & Spencer HQ as Sustainable Development Manager where I helped turn the company Carbon Neutral, move to 100% sustainable wood and palm oil sourcing and to aim to send zero waste to landfill from the stores. I also introduced the 5p carrier bag charging scheme nationwide in M&S stores a full 7 years before the government caught up. I've worked in Indonesia with WWF to stop the destruction of the rainforests of Borneo and I've also run start ups in the UK focussed on renewable energy and nature monitoring. The former, using recycled batteries from electric vehicles[…]
Plastic pollution commitment letters – Sarah Church
Many thanks for this. I read the Plastic Pollution Bill with interest and certainly commit to support its aims. I would go so far as to offer to sit on the Committee because I do believe that only through a combination of behaviour change and scientific understanding of the life cycle impacts of the materials we use, will we be able to combat plastic pollution and also reduce carbon emissions. I have some policy experience in this area. I also fully support a full ban on fracking, so does the Labour Party. There is no need at all to start down a road of setting up further fossil fuel extraction infrastructure when we should be focussing all our energies to reducing energy consumption and replacing fossil fuels with renewables. Kind regards, Sarah. We wrote to Sarah for clarification of the Labour Party's support for the aims of the Plastic Pollution[…]
Plastic pollution commitment letters – Stan Pajak
I really enjoy it when I can easily give an answer to a very important question. To both questions the answer is yes. Significantly on this day [15th November] the Lib Dem party launched its policy on combating the climate emergency. Lib Dems will spend £100bn on combating the climate emergency:– The Lib Dems have set out a clear plan to tackle the climate crisis. – An extra £100 billion will be pumped into combating climate change and protecting the environment when the Liberal Democrats take power. – Across a five-year Parliament, Liberal Democrats will spend and invest an extra £100 billion of public finance on climate action and environmental preservation. – This includes a new £10 billion renewable power fund to leverage in over £100 billion of extra private climate investment. – This will fast-track deployment of clean energy, to make Britain not just the world leader in offshore[…]
Plastic pollution commitment letters – Andy Bentley
I played a small part in that SCAN Plastic Free July campaign by helping to put together the personal blogs of some SCAN supporters, who shared their experiences of cutting out single-use plastics. As one of the contributors I was already somewhat aware of the issues around the huge amounts of unnecessary plastic waste that we generate, and learnt a lot more as a result of being involved. The Green Party have always been at the forefront of the fight against pollution of all sorts, and Caroline Lucas was one of the supporters of the Bill when it was presented to Parliament in February. Given all that, I have absolutely no hesitation in supporting the aims of the Bill. The Bill is well-balanced, with the separate targets for the elimination of single-use and other plastics, and a distinction for "essential" plastics (e.g. medical purposes where no alternative currently exists). I[…]
Past Events & Activities
Crochet – sleeping mats for homeless people from reused plastic bags
As part of the Plastic Free Swindon campaign, we are working towards making sleeping mats for homeless people in this weekly event. All levels of crocheting, beginners to experienced welcome. Friendly, patient instructor in the relaxed Baker's Cafe, located in the scenic Railway Village. New menu includes vegan options. All are welcome. Children to be accompanied by a responsible adult, thanks.
Venue: The Baker's Cafe, 16 Emlyn Square, Swindon, SN1 5BN.
Tree planting in Wootton Bassett
From Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council:
'Help us plant trees on Stoneover Lane!
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council, with the help of local volunteers, will be planting trees on the open space behind Shelley Avenue on Stoneover Lane on Sunday 9th February 2020.
What could be better than filling unused green space with lots of trees! 132 to be exact. We will be planting a mix of Wild Cherry, Silver Birch, Rowan, Crap Apple, Salix Caprea, Blackthorn and Hawthorn, all of which provide fant...
Penhill Tree Planting
Date and full details yet to be confirmed. Please see this article for further info.
Coate Water Tree Planting
Date yet to be confirmed, likely to be March 2020. Further details in December 2019.
Repair Cafe and Free Shop – March 2020
For those using a screen reader, the next Swindon Repair Cafe and Free Shop is on from 2-5pm on the 8th March 2020 at Eastcott Community Centre, Savernake Street, Swindon, SN1 3LZ.
SCAN on Facebook
Swindon Climate Action Network shared a post.
Waste Free February
www.wiltshirewildlife.org
Take on the Waste Free Challenge and join us for Waste Free Feb!
Royal Wootton Bassett town council:
'...with the help of local volunteers, will be planting trees on the open space behind Shelley Avenue on Stoneover Lane on Sunday 9th February 2020...'
And check out Royal Wootton Bassett Environmental group for more local activities and information there:
www.facebook.com/groups/2046920895401954/
swindonclimate.org/events/tree-planting-in-wootton-bassett/ ...
Tree planting in Wootton Bassett – SCAN
swindonclimate.org
'The natural world is in serious trouble. Bees, birds, butterflies and other wildlife are in decline. One of the main reasons? Pesticides. Too much of our countryside is being routinely doused with a cocktail of chemicals. This needs to change – and farmers need help to get off the chemical treadmill.
The government is writing its new policy for farming without EU subsidies, and it's drawing up a new national plan for pesticide use. This is the perfect opportunity to make sure pesticide reduction is at the heart of farming in the UK.
Sign the petition to make sure there's a clear plan to reduce pesticides and make the countryside a safer place for wildlife.'
act.friendsoftheearth.uk/petition/shape-future-our-countryside ...
Make the countryside a safer place for wildlife
act.friendsoftheearth.uk
Too much of our countryside is being doused with chemical pesticides. Bees, birds, butterflies and other wildlife are in decline. Sign the petition to make the countryside a safer place for wildlife.
While energy use and wastage is the biggest climate crisis driver, food and particularly meat and dairy is also a massive problem and additionally a direct driver of the ecological crisis (production land use, deforestation, pesticides, etc).
There's plenty to be worried about politically at the moment, but with food the main issue is that everyone needs to eat sustainably, so it's really heartening that this movement is growing so fast. If you haven't already then there's no better time to give it a go and share with your friends!
And why not challenge your MPs and councillors too? Write to them here www.writetothem.com/ and mention the website www.veganuary.com .What a way to welcome in 2⃣0⃣2⃣0⃣ 🎉 A MASSIVE 300,000 PEOPLE have already signed up to give vegan a try this January, and we are only on the first day of the month!
Last year we finished the month on just over 250,000 sign-ups, so we are already so far ahead. #Veganuary2020 really is going to be the BIGGEST and BEST Veganuary yet.
Do you know someone that might like to give vegan a go this month, and hopefully beyond! TAG them in the comments, it's free to sign up! 👉 www.veganuary.com/register ...
Supermarket plastic rises above 900,000 tonnes per year, despite plastic reduction pledges | Greenpeace UK
www.greenpeace.org.uk
Seven out of top 10 UK supermarkets increased their plastic footprint Waitrose and Morrisons top the league table while Asda and Aldi lag behind Retailers must reduce their use of single-use plastic by moving to packaging-free and reusable packaging solutions. Supermarket plastic has risen to ...


Lamb School is the early childhood Christian education ministry of TheMET Church serving children 18 months – 5 years of age.
OUR MISSION is to joyfully partner with families to instill in the hearts of children a love for God's word and an eagerness to learn. It is our intent to provide early childhood Christian education that is purposeful for the spiritual, social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth of young children.
Your child's first educational experience is critical. We desire to PARTNER TOGETHER, home and school, to build a strong foundation for each child, celebrating their unique God-given design and fostering a life-long love for learning.
Lamb School serves children 18 months old through five years of age. Information about each program's curriculum and special events can be found by clicking on the images below. Our classrooms are loving, nurturing, creative environments condusive to exploration, learning and fun. We are dedicated to helping children discover a love for learning!
From the beginning, Lamb School didn't just teach my children their colors and shapes and how to draw and how to write their name. Their curriculum is OUTSTANDING in preparing my kiddos for Kindergarten. But they also teach my children about Jesus and the Bible and how to pray. My kids come home singing about their love for God or how special they are to Jesus. Their amazing teachers treat my children like their own.
We felt extremely blessed to find a program like the Lamb School for our son, Finn. We dropped him off every morning knowing that we were leaving him in both a safe and loving environment. It was such a joy to watch him get excited about going to school. Because of his time at the Lamb School, Finn has received not only a strong academic foundation, but also a love for Jesus Christ that was taught and exemplified by both the teachers and staff. We could never thank them enough for the way they loved and nurtured our son.


This week, you will be making a basic game engine. A nice, simple, little system with a few basic features. It could be a platform engine, a racing engine, a sports game engine, a RPG engine, or anything else you might think of. You will need to include full source code for the game, and try to make the code as readable as possible.
Guide the star dragon thro each lvl.


text:
Fort Morgan's year of cheap electricity almost…
Fort Morgan's year of cheap electricity almost over
PUBLISHED: September 20, 2012 at 6:24 am | UPDATED: April 24, 2019 at 1:51 am
Fort Morgan residents' year of extremely cheap power likely is drawing to a close, but it seems to have done what it was supposed to do: paid back to customers three years' worth of over-collected money.
The Fort Morgan City Council on Tuesday night heard recommendations for adjusting electric and gas rates back to a level that matches costs.
Recommendations from Michael McFadden, of McFadden Consulting Group Inc., include more than doubling the electric rates but leaving the gas rates where they are.
Yet, even if the electric rates go up the proposed 68.29 percent for residential service, the resulting costs would still be lower than what Fort Morgan customers had been paying for power before the drastic cut last winter, McFadden said.
Since late last year, Fort Morgan residents had been receiving the benefit of three years of over-collection for electricity by the city. This came in the form of artificially low power rates, which were intended to pay money that had been over-collected and put in reserves back to the customers.
A similar thing happened with gas rates and the gas reserves, but that pay-back ended in July, and rates have since been adjusted. Yet, like the soon-to-be-adjusted electric rates, the new gas rates are lower than those before the pay-back started last winter.
The over-collections occurred because no rate studies or resulting rate adjustments were done over those three years.
McFadden explained that utility rates are meant to be adjusted at least yearly to keep up with changes in supply costs.
"This is a very unusual circumstance," he said of Fort Morgan's need last year to pay back over-collected re-serves. "What we're trying to do now is get it back on a more even keel. "
McFadden spent some time Tuesday night explaining how the proposed new rates would be applied, how the collected money would be used and how the adjusted rates would affect customers' bills. The electric rates are split into two charges: one for delivering the power, and the second for purchasing it in the first place, called the power supply charge, McFadden explained.
The costs for operating and maintaining the city's power delivery system would not change, so the same amount of money would go to the delivery charge.
"The electric delivery charge has not changed since 1996," McFadden said. "It's the costs determined by outside entities that are volatile."
Consequently, what would change drastically is the power supply charge.
Where this had been a negative number during the pay-pack, it would now be a positive number reflective of the cost of purchasing the electricity from the power generators with which the city contracts.
If this proposal is finalized and started as of Nov. 1, a residential customer who had seen an average electric bill of $39.57 likely would have a bill of $66.59 for service in November.
The commercial/ irrigation rate increase would be a little less, about 55 percent, and the transmission rate increase would be about 59 percent.
"We're getting a huge increase … because last year we had a huge decrease, " McFadden said. "The rate that we're going to is less than the previous rate we had in effect in 2008 to 2011. But it is an increase. It's going to be felt by the customers."
Councilwoman Lisa Northrup worried about whether people would be prepared for adjustment back to normal rates, instead of the super-low ones they had been paying for a while now.
Mayor Terry McAlister pointed out that the city had explained this many times over when the pay-back plan was first put in place and rates were temporarily lowered.
But the problem, he said, acknowledging Northrup's concern, was that nearly a year may not seem like temporary and people may have forgotten the plan for them to go back up.
Councilman Joe Segura Jr. said he was happy that rates would wind up lower than they were in 2008.
City Manager Jeff Wells emphasized that the city should not find itself in this situation again because city staff would be working with McFadden "continuously" to make sure it wouldn't, and council would receive information about the possibility of needed rate changes as often as appropriate.
"We're making sure that we are on track so this won't be happening in the future," Wells said.
Councilman Ron Shaver said he remembered the council adjusting the rates annually in the past, and he was pleased that would be the case again.
"We're going back to what we were best at before," he said.
McFadden said that "the No. 1 goal of the rates is to keep them as flat as possible" so that utility bills would be less volatile for the customers.
The city's issues with no rate studies for three years were compounded by an extremely volatile natural gas market, with cost increases coming faster than anyone anticipated, Wells said.
Also, like much of the country, the city had cashflow problems during that time period due to the economic crisis caused by the housing market crash and resulting recession.
These and other related issues led to the lack of rate adjustments and the overcollection that wound up in the reserves.
Under the city's gas and electric tariffs, the city was required to pay back to the customers money collected beyond what was reasonably needed for the utility systems' costs and operations.
While the council could have chosen to do it more slowly, there were concerns that then the money might not go to as many of the people who overpaid in the first place. Consequently, the plan to slash rates until reserves had been paid down enough was put in place.
The plan now is for the council to hold a public hearing on Nov. 6 about the proposed electric rate changes, and then possibly take action later that night. If approved, the new rates likely would be applied to the entire November bill.
The public hearing that night would also be for a proposed change by ordinance to the electric tariff that would affect net metering rebates or credits.
These credits apply to any customers putting power back into the city's power grid, instead of only consuming from it. This happens when homeowners have solar panels or other homebased power generation systems. The city is legally required to keep track of any power added by the customers, and then rebate or credit the difference.
The proposed change would not affect the amount of money being credited to power-generating customers, only how often the rebates or credits are figured and applied to accounts.
The city's new utility software cannot carry these rebates or credits over from month to month, as had been done, with totals figured annually.
Consequently, the council will consider an ordinance changing the tariff to specify monthly rebates or credits for net metering.
This proposed ordinance would need to have its first reading approved in October in order for the public hearing about it to be held Nov. 6.
The proposed changes to electric rates could be passed by resolution, rather than ordinance, but notice would have to be given to customers outside of city limits, Wells said, which is why the public hearing would be needed for it, as well.
–Contact Jenni Grubbs at jgrubbs@fmtimes.com.


The License Server version 4.5.0 introduces the ability to migrate your licenses from a physical dongle to your online Chaos Group account. This means that once transferred, your licenses will be available to you from anywhere and at any time without the need for a dongle to be plugged in your machine. The sections below provide information on dongle eligibility and a step-by-step guide of the migration process.
Version 2.x can not be migrated, only 2.x products with expiration date can be transferred. There are no limitations for transferring products with version 3.0 and later.
The migration can not be reverted. Once your dongle licenses are successfully transferred online, they can not be transferred back to your dongle.


text:
Published August 30, 2016 at 1623 × 1080 in ed81
FALL RIVER, MA – 7/29/2016: Tim Lyden (cq), of Dartmouth, plays a tune — "just a jam" — on a guitar in his van at Kennedy Park. Lyden, who works in green home building, said he was in the area for work and wanted a place to enjoy the sunset. He said he has been playing for about 30 years, starting as a teenager, and used to be in bands but now likes to write and experiment with his own music.
(Timothy Tai for The Boston Globe)


text:
Background 27 Nov 2014
Brazil: Opportunities for feed investments
Brazil is on its way to overtake the USA as the world's largest producer of soy and is currently the second largest producer of beef. This makes this country an interesting place for agricultural investment.
By Phil Stone
It wasn't supposed to be like this. When Brazil won the contest to stage the World Cup, 2014 was supposed to mark a watershed in the emergence of a new global force. Instead, the build-up to the most high-profile sporting event in the world has been marred by mass political protest, tragic loss of life in the rush to get delayed venues ready and a disappointing economic performance to match the failure to win the trophy. GDP has fallen from a peak of 7.5% in 2010 to an average level of around 2% per year since 2011. Recent years have seen a flood of overseas investment into Brazil, a trend that has been particularly noticeable in the animal feed industry, however many are beginning to question whether the huge potential of this country will be realised over the next decade. When it comes to agribusiness, there is no question that Brazil is a global superpower. It appears set to overtake the USA as the world's largest producer of soy, it is currently the second largest producer of beef and home to several of the world's largest meat packagers and broiler producers (JBS, Brasil Foods and Marfrig). As the world asks how it will find the resources to meet the huge surge in demand from China and other Asian economies it seems that only Brazil, with its vast tracts of arable land and huge fresh water reserves, has the answer.
Opportunities for feed investments
Given this context, there is no surprise that the leading global animal nutrition businesses have been battling to gain a foothold in this market. The list of transactions is impressive. It began as early as 1997 when Provimi invested in Nutron. At the time it was a small premix player but soon it would become a driving force which played a major role in Provimi's eventual sale to Cargill in 2012 for €1.5bn. Others followed that same year, with Nutreco adding Bellman to the Fri-Ribe business it had invested in several years earlier; De Heus investing in Nutrifarms; and DSM's €465m acquisition of Tortuga, the giant supplier of free-choice minerals to Brazil's vast cattle herd. According to Carlos Roberto Silva, Director of Marketing and Sales at Tortuga, the impact has been significant. "International groups have brought technology as well as financial know-how that has accelerated the professionalisation of our industry and forced domestic competitors to respond. The benefit is clear to farmers: A more efficient feed industry means superior products at lower prices allowing them to meet growing international demand." However since the flurry of international investment in 2012, it seems that the pace of investment has slowed in parallel with the country's sluggish economy. Long-term growth prospects for the feed industry remain far ahead of most advanced economies, however with years of easy growth apparently behind us, investors and industry players are having to take a more nuanced view of the market as they seek opportunities to create value.
Brazil is set to overtake the US as the world's largest soy producer
Intensification of meat production
One of the most significant opportunities lies in the intensification of beef and dairy production. Cattle farmers are being squeezed by dramatically increasing land prices and tightening environmental controls aimed at reducing deforestation. Unable to expand their farming territory, this hugely fragmented industry is being forced to consolidate and intensify production, something that can only be achieved by increased productivity. This will require either improved mineral supplementation for grazing cattle, a shift towards production in feedlots, or in many cases a hybrid solution, where ruminants can move between grazing and feedlots as part of a 'semi-confinement' system. Whichever approach is chosen, the feed industry is set to benefit. Adriano Marcon, Group Director for Latin America and Iberia at Cargill Premix and Nutrition, has observed this trend. "We continue to see rapid growth in ruminant feed usage as the herd becomes more productive and professional. The dairy business in particular, fostered by co-ops, is outgrowing the animal nutrition market in Brazil."
A shift to the North
Linked to this focus on productivity and intensification, there is also a gradual, but significant, shift in beef production towards the northern and western states, where a stocking rate as low as one head per hectare has the greatest potential to increase rapidly. For feed and premix producers, reaching these remote regions is an emerging opportunity and in future the configuration of production and logistics might have to change significantly. DSM (following the acquisition of Tortuga) now has a major production facility close to the port in Pecem, in Brazil's far-north, a remote but fast-growing region where few international players have a significant presence. Given concerns about deforestation, cattle farming close to the Amazon can be controversial. Major players in the feed industry feel that they can help to alleviate some of the pressure on precious rainforest by increasing the efficiency of meat production on current pasture area, allowing output to grow without the need for additional land. "Quite simply, better technology and products leads to increased feed absorption, improved productivity and reduced contaminants in the soil" says, Silva of DSM Tortuga. "In the north we have seen a doubling of beef production over the past decade without any increase in the overall use of land. It is an example of the feed industry working in perfect harmony with the environmental legislation."
New second-tier of customers
Another source of growth is the dynamism of a new second-tier of pork and broiler producers. For many years it appeared that
the mid-sized meat producers were being squeezed out by the vertically-integrated global giants of meat-processing and broiler production. However it seems that a new generation of leaner, more competitive businesses is emerging.
"Independent pork producers have lost space in the market to those integrated to large packers in the past" reports Marcon of Cargill, "however, the 'new' independent producer is way larger and often has other business than solely swine production, which gives them the financial strength to survive a crisis and allows them to continue to invest. Similarly in broiler production the major groups are being followed by new, very well managed producers that are outgrowing the overall market and delivering excellent financial performance." Clearly there are also significant challenges for feed and premix suppliers as they seek to capitalise on the potential presented by the market. The increasing sophistication of customers and on-going consolidation means that the industry has to constantly evolve to find new ways to add value. Further M&A activity is inevitable however identifying acquisitions that move the needle is becoming more difficult, particularly for international groups that do not yet have a foothold in this country. The need for continued innovation is as strong in Brazil as in any other feed market in the world. In the meantime efficiency, customer segmentation and price optimisation have become the buzz-words of the moment. In this World Cup year there has been no sporting glory for the home nation and there is no longer easy money to be made for the feed industry. In the race to improve productivity in meat production, feed and premix suppliers are competing more and working harder than ever to remain in the lead.
About the author: Phil Stone is a Partner at Plural Strategy Group, a consulting firm specialising in the global feed industry and food-chain. Phil is based in London and can be contacted on phil.stone@pluralstrategy.com
[Source: AllAboutFeed Vol 22 nr 6, 2014]
Phil Stone
Feed Contamination
Mergers & Takeovers
Brasil Foods
Marfrig
Provimi
China and US battle on import duties: The effects
A 25% duty on US soybeans is not yet a given, but the implications would be severe. This is according to a new...
On 18 Apr 2018 In Raw materials
Weekly feed business update
New feed additives, upcoming events and mergers and acquisitions. All About Feed wraps up the latest updates and...
On 12 Jan 2018 In Home
Rabobank: Soy up and corn down in Brazil
The outlook for soybeans looks bright for Brazil. At the same time, corn acreage is the lowest area since...
AI impact on the South African feed industry
The importance of poultry feed as the biggest contributor to the total feed volumes produced by AFMA members, as...
On 12 Mar 2018 In Compound feed


View the latest price list of Intex Televisions in India with expert reviews, specifications, ratings, photos etc. PriceDekho compiles the most updated list of 49 Intex Televisions in India as on 22 April 2019 to help you get the best prices. Find the lowest prices of Intex Televisions in India: research about different brands & compare features such as display type, screen size, display resolution etc. This Information is collected after extensive research and is compiled at one place for you to make an informed buying decision. Compare televisions according to display features, connectivity options, audio & video options, price etc. Popular Intex Televisions in India are Intex 3220 32 Inches LED TV, Intex 2207 22 Inches LED TV, Intex 4015FHD 40 Inches LED TV.
The price of Intex Televisions vary when we talk about all the products being offered in the market. The most expensive television is Intex 3213 32 Inches LED TV priced at Rs. 65,000. Contrary to this, the lowest priced model is Intex LED-1612-VT13 40.64 cm (16) HD Ready LED Television available at Rs.6,798. This variation in prices gives online shoppers a range of affordable to premium products to choose from. The online prices are valid across all major cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, NCR etc for online purchases.


text:
Todd Haynes' Velvet Underground documentary is the definitive portrait of rock's influential outsiders
© Apple
Words by: Chal Ravens
Dir. Todd Haynes
In a world where hairspray chauvinists Mötley Crüe end up with a flashy biopic and a bestselling biography, it's a crime that the Velvet Underground, probably the greatest and most influential rock band of all time, have only now been honoured with a feature-length documentary, 53 years since their debut album. It's a sick culture we live in.
Director Todd Haynes has had his eye on the project for years, and it's hard to think of a better hire for this tale of avant-garde superstars, pop iconoclasts and queer outsiders whose lives "were saved by rock'n'roll". It's his first documentary, but Haynes has previously tackled glam rock (Velvet Goldmine), mid-century lesbian love (Carol) and unhinged rock biopic (I'm Not There, starring Cate Blanchett, among others, in the role of Bob Dylan).
He approaches the Velvet Underground story with more reverence, as a chronological retelling of the band's short life after forming in the white-hot art scene of 60s New York. Steered into the studio by patron and puppet-master Andy Warhol, the band that made the classic "banana album" was an unlikely combination: Lou Reed, the prickly Jewish boy from Long Island failing to make it as a pop songwriter with his strange ditties about heroin; John Cale, the Welsh piano prodigy studying the metaphysical properties of drone; Sterling Morrison, the guitar hero who'd get a doctorate in medieval literature; Nico, the wraithlike European beauty; and Maureen Tucker, a woman playing drums. Now that's a motley crew.
Despite being lensed extensively by Warhol's circle, there's little live footage of the band in their prime. Haynes deftly papers over the gaps with a split-screen technique which juxtaposes talking heads (including John Waters, Jonathan Richman and Reed's sister Merrill) with clips from old TV shows, 60s experimental films and Warhol's disarming "screen test" portraits.
After some lengthy backstory, Haynes zips through the four years in which they produced four classic albums, each one setting a new benchmark for the emergent genre of Rock (hold the roll) while steadily shedding members until the death knell of Reed's departure in 1970. (There was one more Velvets album, but the less said about Squeeze the better.) The band's creativity was rivalled only by their conflicts. Cale and Tucker, the only band members still living, talk admiringly of Reed as a stubborn despot, but at least he wasn't into all that "peace and love crap," spits Tucker, still disgusted by the hippy counterculture that was the natural enemy of New York's nocturnal speedfreaks.
For the hardcore there's not a significant amount of new information, but it's intriguing to hear Reed's sister deny that her brother had been forced into electroshock therapy as a teenager in an attempt to "cure" him of his homosexuality. Reed's other acquaintances (and fans) know this story as a pivotal event in his life. Someone must be lying, but Haynes doesn't mind who.
The film also glosses over the finer details of how these strange and timeless songs came to be, particularly after we've left the glamour of the Factory and the initial novelty of Cale and Reed's conjoining of pop and the avant-garde. Had the film been made even ten years ago we could have learned something from Reed himself; Morrison, Nico and Warhol are all long dead. For those reasons there'll never be a better or more definitive VU documentary, and it's a joy to bask in the charisma of Warhol superstar Mary Woronov and the puppy-dog enthusiasm of Jonathan Richman. The Modern Lovers frontman saw the band dozens of times in their brief heyday, and the memory of it lights him up like a Christmas tree. When he describes the long, stupefied silence that greeted the end of every marathon version of Sister Ray, it's as transportive a moment as any faded photograph or archive reel.
Connect with Crack Magazine


Mention you're hiking the Canadian Rockies and most will know what you're talking about. Bring up the Purcell Mountains and chances are you'll stump most. The handful of sparsely visited trail destinations offer some of the most beautiful scenery in the world - The Bugaboo spires in the Purcell Mountains are nothing short of breathtaking. The Bugaboo Spires trailhead, at the end of the road in Bugaboo Provincial Park hosts many trails through the area. The most renown: The hike to Conrad Kain hut, named after its first climber in 1916 - Conrad Kain. Though the hike to the hut is very short - just a 6 mile round trip - it is one that leads you to jaw-dropping views. Like all good things thought, it doesn't come easy. There are over 2,200 ft of elevation gain to the hut, most of it attained in the last two miles; we can guarantee the effort will be worth the view. Want the complete alpine cabin experience? The Conrad Kain Hut is available for overnight accommodation for a maximum of 35 persons with reservations that can be made through the Alpine Club of Canada. Propane stoves and eating utensils are provided.
To arrive: from Radium Hot Springs in southeast British Columbia, which is the main entry point from Portland to Canada's Rocky Mountain parks, drive north 17 miles along the Columbia River (yes, our Columbia River) to the town of Brisco, then 28 miles west on rough gravel roads to the trailhead for Bugaboo Glacier Provincial Park.


The Story of a Nice Mormon Girl: Got 2 Seconds? Then Vote!
Got 2 Seconds? Then Vote!
I submitted Due West in the MormonTimes.com Music Showcase. Now their video needs votes! So click HERE and VOTE!
MormonTimes.com needs to learn that requiring people to log-in to vote on something isn't going to go over terribly well.


Every youth minister has a Ragnarök.
Anyone who's been in youth work for any length of time knows it's hard. We often work with more expectation and less support or understanding than any other part of the church. As a result, youth workers can often accumulate a sort of 'ministry-PTSD,' a sense that no matter how good things are, the proverbial shoe will drop at any time. For some, this fear takes the form of a secret sin or spiritual doubt being made public, while others recoil at the thought of a certain parent's damaging criticism or the revelation that church leaders don't actually have your back the way they always said they would.
1. I can't stop Ragnarök from coming.
I'm not Jesus, and while victory over sin and death is certain, I'm not presently doing ministry in the New Jerusalem. We deal with some of the most unpredictable beings on the planet, and their parents, on a day-to-day basis. No sized church staff, budget, or ministry model can give us the level of power we require to hold back the Fall in the lives of our students and their families. And this doesn't even factor in the reality that I am a sinner, and that anything I do in ministry and life is also tinged with the truth that in my selfishness, I don't want the reign of sin and death to be completely ended – only subdued, minus my own sins that are allowed to trickle through.
All this challenges the ministry idol of control – that if we could put in enough work and preparation, or if we had the resources, the training, the volunteers, or anything else, we'd be able to stop the sin and suffering of those under our care… and ultimately, of ourselves. But we can't, which means that whatever they are, difficult things will arise in our ministries that will hurt deeply.
I learned this lesson by vowing, each time I moved to start at a new church, that 'this time' I would do better. Not only did I exhaust myself trying to prepare for the infinite number of difficulties that could possibly arise, but I would always be blindsided by something I couldn't prepare for.
Of course, there is wisdom in preparation. I save receipts, craft child protection policies, train volunteers, keep a list of counselors on my computer, and communicate with my senior pastor as much as possible. But rather than manically doing these things in a misguided attempt to limit my own ministry pain, I'm trying to shift my mindset, to prepare for the suffering of ministry, rather than preparing to avoid it.
I'm spending more of my time these days focusing on my own spiritual health. I thinking about getting into counseling before I start drowning, I'm finding a community of friends who can help hold me up, and I'm learning strategies to cope with my anxiety. If I don't do these things, the stress of fearing that ministry difficulties could descend at any moment wears me down, eroding my trust in my Savior and sometimes even creating the environment – a tired, stressed, overworked, worried, frustrated youth pastor – where disaster actually flourishes.
2. It doesn't matter if it all burns down anyway.
Wait… what!?! Of course it does. Our ministries are in real places, and made up of real people. Whatever difficulties come, we are tasked with caring for people, and we would be negligent if we didn't long for God to have mercy on those we love. Again, there is deep wisdom in properly ministering to people in ways that do not give the enemy a foothold (Ephesians 4:27).
Rather, I'm referring to the fact that your sense of identity, worth, and righteousness cannot come from the hypothetical stability of your program, or from your thus-far ability to dodge ministry landmines. I'm sorry to tell you – it's completely possible up to this point that you have simply had easy kids with easy parents. It doesn't mean you're God's favorite. Rather, regardless of how much chaos you're swimming in, you are God's favored child because you are his treasured possession, sharing (because of the grace of Jesus) in His own inheritance (Ephesians 1:11). Whether you work with students for 5 months or 50 years will not change that.
I recently transitioned into a new church, in a different city. Because of the miracle/curse of social media, I am already able to see what aspects of my 'legacy' are burning down. If I associate God's love for me with the size of my castle walls, I'm doomed.
So do me a favor – figure out ways of reminding yourself this. Put a sticky note on your computer. Take a Sabbath day of rest when you know it will mean something will not get done. Call up a fellow youth worker and tell them God loves them no matter what, rather than asking them how their program is doing. Because in some ways, it doesn't matter.
Ragnarök is coming. But Jesus has come, and will come again. And that makes all the difference.
Stephen serves as an Assistant Pastor to Students at Intown Community Church in Atlanta, GA, and is a visiting instructor at his alma mater, Covenant Theological Seminary, and the PCA's NEXT Institute. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. The best moments of his live involve playing board games with his wife, Krissi, and children Julianna and Judah.


Act now to own this classic Indian Head cent - the first cent from the 19th century! Designed by James B. Longacre, Indian Head cents are considered the most beautiful bronze U.S. coins. But they're seldom seen today. Obverse depicts Liberty in a Native American headdress. Reverse of coin features oak wreath and shield. In 1900, the first Lafayette dollar ever struck was presented to French president Émile Loubet, and the first National Automobile Show was held in New York. That same year, L. Frank Baum published The Wizard of Oz. Recall the start of the 20th century with this vintage Indian Head cent!