text:
Authorized Surface device reseller
2020-07-29 /in Cloud, Microsoft, Microsoft 365, Productivity, Security /by Marketing for Crimson Line
https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Surface-Authorized-Reseller.png 1260 2240 Marketing for Crimson Line https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Crimson-Line-primary.png Marketing for Crimson Line2020-07-29 12:02:492021-11-25 11:44:11Authorized Surface device reseller
The top 9 ways Microsoft IT is enabling remote work for its employees
2020-03-16 /in Cloud, Microsoft, Microsoft 365, Office 365, Productivity, Training /by Marketing for Crimson Line
https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID-19-blog-post-BANNER-2-1200x600-1.png 600 1200 Marketing for Crimson Line https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Crimson-Line-primary.png Marketing for Crimson Line2020-03-16 10:42:092021-09-13 13:07:20The top 9 ways Microsoft IT is enabling remote work for its employees
Containers 101
2019-11-19 /in Azure, Client, Cloud, Cloud Migration, IT, Microsoft, Productivity, Public Cloud, Security /by Marketing for Crimson Line
https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Containers-101.png 1708 2204 Marketing for Crimson Line https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Crimson-Line-primary.png Marketing for Crimson Line2019-11-19 14:41:362021-09-13 13:26:50Containers 101
Azure Security Lab: a new space for Azure research and collaboration
2019-08-06 /in Azure, Cloud, Microsoft, Ransomware, Security /by Marketing for Crimson Line
https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Azure-Security-Lab.png 551 544 Marketing for Crimson Line https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Crimson-Line-primary.png Marketing for Crimson Line2019-08-06 12:06:082021-09-13 13:31:08Azure Security Lab: a new space for Azure research and collaboration
If you're using Office 365, you're paying for MFA
2019-07-26 /in Azure, Cloud, Microsoft, Office 365 /by Marketing for Crimson Line
https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Microsoft-Authenticator.png 762 1399 Marketing for Crimson Line https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Crimson-Line-primary.png Marketing for Crimson Line2019-07-26 15:37:262021-09-13 13:40:24If you're using Office 365, you're paying for MFA
7 reasons Office 365 will lead to greater operational efficiency for SA business
2019-07-17 /in Client, Cloud, Cloud Migration, IT support, Microsoft, Office 365 /by Marketing for Crimson Line
https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Hero_AcrossDevice_626x253.png 253 626 Marketing for Crimson Line https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Crimson-Line-primary.png Marketing for Crimson Line2019-07-17 15:09:592021-09-13 13:47:087 reasons Office 365 will lead to greater operational efficiency for SA business
Why SMBs Should Embrace The Flexi-Time Movement
2019-07-10 /in Azure, Cloud, Office 365, Productivity /by Marketing for Crimson Line
https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Woman-looking-at-phone.jpg 2304 3456 Marketing for Crimson Line https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Crimson-Line-primary.png Marketing for Crimson Line2019-07-10 12:20:472021-09-13 13:50:08Why SMBs Should Embrace The Flexi-Time Movement
Private cloud is more expensive than trad IT storage. Who knew?
2019-06-25 /in Cloud, IT, Private Cloud, Public Cloud /by Marketing for Crimson Line
https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Private-cloud-is-more-expensive-than-trad-IT-storage.jpg 800 800 Marketing for Crimson Line https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Crimson-Line-primary.png Marketing for Crimson Line2019-06-25 13:20:462021-09-13 13:49:55Private cloud is more expensive than trad IT storage. Who knew?
Gartner names Microsoft a leader in 2019 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise iPaaS
2019-06-21 /in Azure, Client, Cloud, Microsoft /by Marketing for Crimson Line
https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Gartner-names-Microsoft-a-leader-in-2019-Gartner-Magic-Quadrant-for-Enterprise-iPaaS.jpg 800 800 Marketing for Crimson Line https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Crimson-Line-primary.png Marketing for Crimson Line2019-06-21 13:41:182021-09-13 14:03:15Gartner names Microsoft a leader in 2019 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise iPaaS
The Keys To A Digital Disaster Recovery Plan For Business Leaders
2019-06-11 /in Azure, Back-up, Cloud, Disaster Recovery, IT support /by Marketing for Crimson Line
https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/two-screens.jpg 2848 4288 Marketing for Crimson Line https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Crimson-Line-primary.png Marketing for Crimson Line2019-06-11 15:42:462021-09-13 14:02:59The Keys To A Digital Disaster Recovery Plan For Business Leaders
Which previous Office version(s) will be supported in the future and which won't be?
2019-05-23 /in Cloud, Office, Uncategorized /by Marketing for Crimson Line
https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Office-support-until.png 776 1793 Marketing for Crimson Line https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Crimson-Line-primary.png Marketing for Crimson Line2019-05-23 10:45:072021-09-13 14:34:04Which previous Office version(s) will be supported in the future and which won't be?
Are SA companies using cloud services?
2019-05-20 /in Client, Cloud, Disaster Recovery, Microsoft, Productivity, Ransomware, Security, SharePoint /by Marketing for Crimson Line
https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Cloud-Technology-for-sway.jpg 761 1920 Marketing for Crimson Line https://www.crimsonline.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Crimson-Line-primary.png Marketing for Crimson Line2019-05-20 12:53:122021-09-13 14:37:25Are SA companies using cloud services?


text:
CBLDF Joins Protest of Waterloo Ban on Absolutely True Diary
In advance of a school board meeting in Waterloo, Iowa this evening, CBLDF has joined with five other organizational members of the National Coalition Against Censorship to send a letter urging that the board follow district policy regarding a challenge to Sherman Alexie's The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.
Curriculum director Debbie Lee, supported by superintendent Jane Lindaman, attempted to remove the book from middle school classrooms in March. Lee and Lindaman maintain that the challenge procedure is not necessary in this case because they agree with one parent's complaint. Lindaman went so far as to claim that the book is "inarguably inappropriate for such young minds," but several teachers have pushed back against that contention. In response to an email from Lee ordering the book's removal, for instance, eighth grade literacy teacher Kevin Roberts noted that several of his students "told him it was the only book they had ever read they actually liked."
At the previous school board meeting on April 13, Lindaman mentioned that the community responses she's received regarding the book's removal are evenly split between those who think she made the right move and those who argue for a transparent review process. Lindaman maintains, however, that Absolutely True Diary did not go through the proper approval channels before it was introduced into middle school classrooms and therefore the district does not need to follow the challenge policy now. The superintendent also she had consulted numerous review sources and none of them recommended the book for readers under 14–which is interesting since both the New York Times and the publisher Little, Brown, among other sources, recommend it for age 12/grade 7 and up.
Lindaman cited the National Council of Teachers of English, which happens to be a signatory on today's NCAC letter, as one of the sources that recommends Absolutely True Diary for high school age students. But as the letter points out, NCTE makes clear that age guidelines are not set in stone and teachers themselves are in the best position to judge whether their students are prepared for a particular book:
While, as the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) notes, "materials should be suited to the maturity level of the students," it is important to "weigh the value of the material as a whole, particularly its relevance to educational objectives, against the likelihood of a negative impact on students…That likelihood is lessened by the exposure the typical student has had to the controversial subject…" Teachers, who have daily contact with students, are best prepared to make such judgments. When these judgments are in question, a review should, at least, include these teachers' expertise.
Instead of welcoming input from middle school teachers who say Absolutely True Diary has met with great success in their classrooms, however, Lindaman and several members of the board continue to maintain that it is "inarguably inappropriate" at that level. We strongly urge the board to reconsider that position and simply give the book a fair hearing before banning it from the middle school curriculum. Read the full letter to Lindaman and members of the board below.
NCAC Letter to Waterloo Schools
Contributing Editor Maren Williams is a reference librarian who enjoys free speech and rescue dogs.
Tags: challenged for: language, challenged for: sex, classroom, iowa, ncac, north america, policy, sherman alexie, the absolutely true diary of a part-time indian, united states

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Digital platforms and other internet services have opened the way for people to connect, debate and gather information; yet they have also increased the spread of fake news which, in turn, has become a key problem for the functioning of our democracies, affecting people's understanding of reality. Despite being an old phenomenon, the term fake news has gained increasing importance due to the rise of digital platforms online. Today, the term refers to false or misleading information made to look like fact-based news stories in order to influence public opinion or earn advertising money (Kalsnes, 2018). The salience of the term 'fake news' nowadays stems from a confluence of events, namely, the election of Donald Trump as US President and its use of the term 'fake news' for retaliation against critical reporting. Secondly, both the Brexit vote and other European elections and the role of the Russian disinformation military strategy in them. Finally, it is also necessary to take into account the crucial role of social media for news consumption nowadays (Nelson and Taneja, 2018). Taken together, these circumstances have contributed to a media environment where fake news spreads faster, deeper and further than genuine information (Vosoughi, 2018).
Furthermore, in the contemporary world, we find ourselves increasingly surrounded by prominent material forces: from climate change-fueled storms to a ubiquitous computational infrastructure where the social world is constantly intermingling with the material world in complex and diverse ways (Srnicek et al., 2013). Following the 'material turn' in International Relations, this article points to the importance of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure that incentivizes the production, circulation and consumption of fake news. Instead of looking at fake news through a national security lens, this article argues that disinformation campaigns take advantage of industry-standard digital advertising and marketing tools (Ghosh and Scott, 2018): the spread of disinformation and fake news is strongly linked to the nature of social media as advertising platforms.
Taking up David Beer's call for the need to explore and describe 'power through the algorithm' (2009: 999), this article thus attempts to analyze the technological facets of fake news by focusing on the ICT materiality that allows and sustains contemporary forms of digital circulation.
Fake news is not a new phenomenon but its history is parallel to that of real news: they began to circulate widely after the printing press was invented in 1439. However, as it has above mentioned, social media and their personalization tools have accelerated its spread and the use of the term that gained visibility during the final months of the 2016 United States presidential election, when viral fake news prompted more engagement on Facebook than real news.
Notwithstanding the above, there is no universally agreed upon definition of what fake news constitutes. Authors such as Conroy et al. (2015), O Klein and Wueller (2017) or Shu et al. (2017) have adopted a definition of fake news based on 'authenticity' and 'intent'. This way, 'fake news is news articles that are intentionally and verifiable false and could mislead readers'.
Fake news, propaganda and disinformation are three terms that recently have been used interchangeably despite the differences in their meaning. For the purpose of this article, propaganda is considered as the 'systematic dissemination of information in a biased or misleading way in order to promote a political cause or point of view', and has been often associated with political persuasion and psychological warfare (Bentzen, 2017).
On the other hand, disinformation can be defined as the 'dissemination of deliberately false information, supplied by a government or its agent to a foreign power to the media, with the intention of influencing the policies or opinions of those who receive it' (Bentzen, 2017).
Milosevich-Juaristi (2017), has argued that the term has its origins in Russian 'dezinformacija' and goes on to explain that what distinguishes Russia from other 'cyber actors' and disseminators of lies is the use of information warfare as a military strategy defined by and integrated into the most recent Military Doctrine of the Russian Federation, official since 2014. In light of the illegal referendum taking place in Catalonia, the author defines the Russian disinformation strategy as 'combination' (kombinaciya) to refer to the operation which integrates diverse instruments such as cyberwarfare, cyber-intelligence, disinformation, propaganda and collaboration with players hostile to the values of liberal democracy.
Disinformation, in this sense, is different from misinformation to the extent that the latter is considered as 'erroneous and incorrect information' that, contrary to 'disinformation', is intention-neutral.
In regard to fake news, it can be fabricated for two main reasons: to mislead publics or to generate traffic ('clickbait'). In the former case, fake news falls under the categorization of disinformation. Taking all of this into account, this article understands fake news as news that is intentionally and verifiable false and could have either been designed for political or economic and commercial purposes (Kalsnes, 2018). This way, by following this definition this article rules out other conceptions of fake news such as satire, rumours, conspiracy theories, misinformation and hoaxes.
Firstly, fake news is today of growing importance due to various reasons among which stands out the fact that barriers to entry in the media industry have dropped precipitously, both because it is now easy to set up websites and because the increasing ability to monetize web content through advertising platforms (Allcott and Gentzkow, 2017). Fake news outlets, in turn, lack the news media's editorial norms and processes for ensuring the accuracy and credibility of information.
Secondly, a growing number of European Union's citizens (around 46%) follow news on social media (Newman et al. 2018). Moreover, a recent study confirmed that 59% of all links shared on social networks are actually clicked on and past on without having read them. This means that the majority of people are sharing articles without reading past the headlines. The reasons are mainly twofold: the economy of attention (attention spans are low) and the fact that it's effortless and more rewarding to give the impression you have read and shared something that the intrinsic value of having read it (Gabielkov et al. 2016). This is in line with the postulates of social identity theory and normative influence theory (Tajfel and Turner, 1979; 2004). Moreover, according to the Information theory and Bayesian decision theory, novelty attracts human attention and encourages information sharing and false information is often significantly more novel than the truth (Vosoughi et al., 2018).
Thirdly, and following the latest Reuters Institute Digital News Report (2018), 53% of the respondents prefer to access news through search engines, social media or news aggregators, interfaces that use ranking algorithms to select stories, rather than interfaces are driven by humans (homepage, email and mobile notifications). By contrast, only a third say they trust the news they find in search engines, while news in social media is seen as even more unreliable (just 23% trust them) (Newman et al. 2018).
In this sense, winning consumer trust is becoming a central issue in today's digital word as businesses compete for attention. The results explain that just 44% of the people surveyed have reported to actually trust the news. This may be due to the fact that the greater the sources, the greater the variety of perspectives on an issue and therefore this can lead to confusion, scepticism and ultimately to a lack of trust.
Related to trust, the report has also researched the public concern over fake news. More than half of the global sample (54%) expresses concern or strong concern about 'what is real or fake' when thinking about online news.
Lastly, despite the shift towards reader payment models, it is worth noting that the majority of online news consumption still happens through free websites, largely supported by advertising.
The main argument of this article is that despite the theories that point to the heuristics and social processes behind the spread of fake news, we need to pay attention to the digital infrastructure that enables the production, dissemination and consumption of fake news.
The conversation I am trying to begin in this article looks at the ICT infrastructural elements that enable the spread of fake news; that is to say, it focuses on how fake news is governed by concrete material contexts and assemblages (Bucher, 2012a).
The main argument of this article is that the spreading of this type of news is dependent on a number of different technologies and their related business models; the algorithms that are embedded in social media platforms have intrinsically many editorial implications: they are designed to favour sharing certain kinds of contents, with a strong incentive towards encouraging engagement with the system (Fernandez, 2017; Mejías, 2013). This way, this article follows up on Susan Leigh Star's (1999) calling for taking infrastructures seriously (Bucher, 2012b: 2).
In this regard, Ghosh and Scott (2018: 3-4) argue that the interconnected tools of behavioural data collection, digital advertisement platforms, search engine optimization, social media management software and algorithmic advertising technology is 'a brilliant technological machine' that serves to align the economic interests of advertisers and social media platforms. This way, it is necessary to study the entire marketplace of digital advertising while disentangling this alignment of economic interests that lie at the heart of the digital platforms' infrastructure that ultimately fuels the spread of fake news. That is to say, this article argues that the infrastructure of advertising technology perfectly suits the function of disinformation and fake news operations: 'A successful disinformation campaign delivers a highly responsive audience that drives forward engagement on the platform and ultimately delivers more revenue for all parties'. In other words, the central argument of this article is that the spread of fake news today partly succeeds because it follows the infrastructural logic of social media platforms. Following Ghosh and Scott (2018), this article will subsequently analyze the tools that enable the spread of fake news.
The first tool under consideration is the collection of behavioural and location data through web cross-device and tracking technologies for advertising purposes: firstly, the more behavioural data collected on users, the better companies can create targeted ads; secondly, by showing the most relevant content to the user, companies keep those consumers on the platform for a longer time (Ghosh and Scott, 2018). Kirkpatrick (2016) explains that the business has rapidly evolved from conventional ad placement to the use of algorithmic technologies that determine the consumer audience for the delivery and display of online advertising. Disinformation propagators seek thus to collect as much data about potential audiences as possible in order to tailor content across media channels and target advertisements on internet platforms: the more information they know about the potential publics, the easier is to manipulate them through the spread of disinformation (Ghosh and Scott, 2018).
As a matter of fact, in 2017 digital ad revenues surpassed television for the first time and Facebook, Google and Twitter are considered the most desirable publishing outlets (Bucklin and Hoban, 2017). It is worth mentioning that these advertising platforms are typically powered by algorithm technologies so targeted advertisement can be dispatched automatically across thousands of websites and social media platforms simultaneously. This way, the search algorithm sits at the center of the internet economy (Ghosh and Scott, 2018).
Another important tactic of disinformation campaigns is the manipulation of commercial search algorithms in order to disrupt results. The importance of Google on this topic is of crucial importance since the entire internet content industry is organized in response to its algorithm (Dash, 2007). This has a direct impact on democracy since search results on news topics play a role in shaping public opinion and therefore has a role in the integrity of the public debate. Manipulation here is key since, for instance, 95% of web traffic goes to sites on page 1 of Google search results (Kaye, 2013). Furthermore, there is evidence of the use of 'black hat' SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tactics by disinformation campaigns. Those tactics consist of putting a particular webpage in the top ranks for a short period of time by tricking the Google search algorithm into assigning a search rank that 'does not correspond to quality content, source reputation or topic relevant responsiveness to the query' (Ghosh and Scott, 2018: 17-20).
On the other hand, at the intersection between machines learning algorithms and advertising technology lie the social media management services, which draws on behavioural data analytics, engages in real-time social media listening to place the message and coordinates across multiple channels simultaneously and automatically. Given the current importance of social media, advertisers can use this technology with the purpose of creating content and sharing it in just a few clicks through social media management platforms like Hootsuite, which supports social network integrations for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Tumblr, Google+, etc. These social media management services are weapons of disinformation propagators since they allow them to map sentiment on social media, promote content distribution based on that and coordinate across multiple platforms and sites simultaneously: this way, 'all parties in the ecosystem benefit financially from successful advertising campaigns, [yet] opening the door to abuses that harm the public by weakening the integrity of democracy' (Ghosh and Scott, 2018: 25).
All in all, this analysis has attempted to focus on how relevant is the digital ICT infrastructure to disinformation operations. By investigating the materiality of fake news, one could arguably conclude that the economic incentives of the digital platforms and the political or commercial objectives of disinformation operators are aligned: they take advantage of the digital market infrastructure and how it is designed to deliver targeted messages to millions of people at a low cost and with little transparency. However, this lack of transparency and accountability have the potential to progressively weaken the integrity of democracies by separating citizens from facts and polarizing the political culture of a given country (Ghosh and Scott, 2018). Such conclusions have led a number of commentators to claim that we are now entering an era of widespread algorithmic governance, wherein algorithms will play an increasing role in the exercise of power by disciplining and controlling societies (Kitchin, 2017: 15). In a similar spirit, Shirky (2009) has put forward the concept of 'algorithmic authority' and warned against the dangers of its lack of accountability and transparency. Algorithms suffer from a serious transparency deficit: their process of construction and the specific way in which they work are secret and protected and therefore not open to public scrutiny. Despite being a question that directly goes against the tech giants' business models, the public should have a say on the question as towards what ends are algorithms programmed.
Fake news possesses both symbolic and material characteristics, and in this sense, this article has argued that it is important to focus on the ICT infrastructure that incentivizes the production, dissemination and consumption of fake news online. It has also drawn attention to the fact that algorithms are built in unaccountable practices of selection and encoding and often disguised under the veil of objectivity (Livingstone, 2014).
As a result, these sets of practices have a deep claim on democratic life (Anderson, 2011) because they shape our possibilities to political action. This way, the politics of algorithms should become a question of ethical responsibility in our democratic world and traditional 'theories of freedom should accommodate this new media infrastructure' (Turner, 2014: 255).
All in all, the discussion put forward in this article has been highly speculative and it is important now to ask new questions aimed at uncovering the nature and extent of disinformation and the spread of fake news online. In this sense, future research should look at the conditions under which disinformation can be overcome. In particular, are there any forms of algorithm architecture that could incentivize the circulation of accurate beliefs and punish false stories when they arise? As Lessig (1999) has put forward: 'Different Internet-based technologies have different architectures, encouraging or discouraging different kinds of behaviour' (Farrell, 2012).
Lastly, future empirical research should focus on how can the algorithm serve the public's necessity to be well informed in a democracy for its ultimate survival; for, as stated by Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, in a democracy, 'everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts' (Lewandowski et al., 2017: 365).
Dash, A (2017) "Underscores, Optimization and Arms Races", Medium, available at https://medium.com/humane-tech/underscores-optimization-arms-races-b34f0dfa4357 [accessed 26 August 2018] Farrell, H. (2012) "The Consequences of the Internet for Politics", The Annual Review of Political Science, 15(32): 35-52.
Andrea Pavón-Guinea is a PhD Candidate at the Department of Public Communication at the University of Navarra, where she currently teaches a course on international communication and public opinion. She holds an M.Sc. in media and communications (research) from the London School of Economics and Political Science, as well as a B.A. in Politics from the University of Essex, and a second B.A. in Journalism from the University of Navarra. Her research mainly focuses on the intersection of public communication and international politics.


Quiksilver partners with the Faction Collective to launch new ski range for iconic brand Roxy.
After developing a strong working relationship through collaboration with superstar freeskier Candide Thovex, Quiksilver, Inc. and The Faction Collective are pleased to announce a partnership where Faction will design and manufacture a new range of freeride and freestyle skis for Quiksilver's Roxy brand. The skis will hit retailer shelves in autumn 2015.
Combining Faction's award-winning product development expertise and global ski distribution with Roxy's unique women's-specific focus and formidable marketing reach has already generated a strong positive response from retailers.
Inspired by the need to deliver innovation at every stage from bottom-up product development to a 30-country sales network for the exclusive licensing agreement, Faction has formed a new design and distribution division, Full Stack Supply Co.
The Faction Collective was formed in 2006 by a group of skiers and friends. By pushing the boundaries in design and with a focus on innovation and fun, Faction is consistently recognized with awards including Skiing Magazine's 'Ski of the Year' and film festival nominations for their webisode series We Are The Faction Collective.
The Faction Collective's international team operates out of offices in Verbier, Switzerland, Breckenridge, Colorado and Shoreditch, England. Roxy hardgoods will be designed and sold by Faction's Full Stack Supply Co. division under exclusive license. For further information on Roxy hardgoods or Faction Skis contact: sales@fullstacksupply.co or press@fullstacksupply.co.
The webisode series and other videos can be found on the Faction Vimeo.


PFD Flooring are specialists in the supply and installation of contract floorcoverings, including carpet, vinyl, rubber, ceramics and hardwood.
Over the years we have developed a system of Project Management that has seen many benefits for both the Client and ourselves. By controlling each project in the same way we ensure that every eventuality is foreseen and a solution is agreed with the Client before work begins. Project Management control extends from the Sales process through to the Post Installation Inspection and beyond.
As part of our Project Management system we have a dedicated in-house planning and estimating service. This free service is available to all our Clients and provides optimised flooring layouts giving the best material usage with the minimum of waste.
To facilitate this PFD Flooring uses the latest "Callidus" computer aided planning software. This allow site measures, Architects drawings and AutoCAD file to be planned swiftly and accurately.


Hello! I am a fourth-year student pursuing a degree in computer science and mathematics. My research interests include scientific visualization, simulation, robotics control, and artificial intelligence.
I design and develop websites and user interfaces for fun. This is how I was introduced to programming, and it never seems to get old.
I'm always discovering and toying with technology, especially how it converges with interactive design. Along with programming and designing, I also enjoy photography, hiking, inventing, casual gaming, and cooking.
I'm enthusastic about scientific discovery and innovation, especially in terms of space exploration. My dream is to help humanity push the bounds of our understanding of and place within the universe.
To see what I've been thinking about most recently, head over to my journal! You can also subscribe to receive entries as I post them. For less constructed thoughts, follow @mdciotti on Twitter.
My résumé is available to view as HTML or to download as PDF.
I am currently available for a research-based internship for the summer of 2017. Contact me via hire@mdc.io for inquiries.


text:
"Tracking dust around the globe" a Science Node article by Dr. Alexandra Tsekeri, Post-Doc Researcher of NOA-ReACT
Νews / Events
"Each year, hundreds of millions of tons of exposed soil from the Sahara Desert lifts into the air on gusts of wind. Once those dust particles are airborne, they may travel thousands of miles, affecting weather and air quality as far away as Europe and even the Americas."
Read the full article below or on ScienceNode.org: https://sciencenode.org/feature/Tracking...
Tracking dust around the globe
How far does dust travel--and why?
Dust particles travel long distances and have major atmospheric impact
Ground-based remote sensing may reveal unexpected alignment of dust particles
Better understanding of dust behavior may have implications for climate change
Each year, hundreds of millions of tons of exposed soil from the Sahara Desert lifts into the air on gusts of wind. Once those dust particles are airborne, they may travel thousands of miles, affecting weather and air quality as far away as Europe and even the Americas.
Tracking Saharan dust in 3D. Watch dust make the trans-Atlantic journey from the Sahara Desert to the Amazon rainforest. An average of 27.7 millions tons of dust fall to the surface of the Amazon basin each year. Courtesy NASA Goddard.
Traveling Saharan dust can make for beautiful sunsets and help fertilize the Amazon rainforest. But these tiny particles (no larger than 1/10th the width of a human hair) may also have an impact on global climate and weather patterns.
Dust and other airborne particles (aerosols) from wildfires, cement production, and fossil fuel combustion affect the brightness and thickness of clouds and precipitation. In high concentrations near the planet's surface they are components of pollution, reducing visibility and endangering the health of the people who breathe them in.
This outsize impact gives scientists a lot of reasons to study dust. They particularly want to know why it stays in the air long enough to travel around the globe instead of settling back to the ground near where it was produced.
Scientists in Greece are well-positioned for this research because they are comparatively close to the Sahara and can accurately measure dust particles with ground-based instruments.
"Just a few weeks ago, we had so much dust that it seemed like there was heavy cloud cover," says Alexandra Tsekeri, a researcher working on the team of Vassilis Amiridis at the National Observatory of Athens. "But it was clear sky obscured by dust."
Collecting information about dust
"Dust is very interesting," says Tsekeri. "It's the most complicated aerosol particle because of its irregular shape and large size. Due to these characteristics, there remain a lot of unsolved issues for dust remote sensing."
Remote sensing is the science of obtaining information about objects from a distance by detecting the light scattered from those objects. This often means collecting data from satellites or aircraft using radar or lidar. But ground-based instruments can also be used for close-range characterization and for monitoring atmospheric phenomenon such as dust.
One of the aspects of dust that Amiridis's team is investigating is alignment. They hypothesize that dust transports at longer distances than expected because electrical fields in the dust counteract gravitational settling. Due to those electrical fields, the dust then becomes aligned, or oriented in a particular manner.
To test their hypothesis, the team has organized dedicated experimental campaigns in Cape Verde (summer 2020) and at the PANGEA observation station on the island of Antikythera in the eastern Mediterranean. The island's low elevation and proximity to diverse dust sources make it ideal for dust monitoring. These efforts receive support from the European Research Council and the European Space Agency.
For monitoring the dust orientation the team has collaborated with Volker Freudenthaler of LMU and Raymetrics lidar company. They have designed and constructed a new ground-based polarization lidar that specifically targets the alignment of dust particles in the atmosphere, by measuring different polarization states of the backscattered light.
"The aligned dust particles have very characteristic polarization properties in the backscatter, compared to randomly-oriented dust particles," says Tsekeri. "Thus, by targeting these properties with our new polarization lidar we expect to measure clear indications of dust alignment in the atmosphere."
From tiny to giant dust particles
"My research has to do with how we monitor dust more effectively," says Tsekeri. "Right now, we have data from ground-based instruments and satellites that we aren't able to interpret correctly because we do not have realistic models for dust in terms of size and shape."
This is due to the extensive computing power required to calculate the backscatter of dust particles. Tsekeri and her colleagues have been granted high-performance computing (HPC) resources from PRACE (Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe) and currently run simulation models on MareNostrum at Barcelona Supercomputing Center and ARIS, the Greek national supercomputer.
"There is a lot to be done in dust remote sensing research that hasn't been done because of the computational resources needed," says Tsekeri. "That's why we need the HPC."
She continues, "It's very important to have the whole big picture of what is going on globally with dust because it's an atmospheric agent that transports nutrients and affects cloud and affects the climate by reflecting or absorbing incoming solar radiation."
If the team is able to successfully model dust behavior on a large scale, it will be useful not just for climate modeling here on earth but has potential applications for atmospheric dust research on Mars, the Moon, and asteroids.
The woman who maps the world
This article was originally published on ScienceNode.org. Read the original article.


Websites — Great Guys, Inc.
Whether you're launching a new business or needing to redesign your current site, our creative team is ready to work with you. From start to finish, we design, create content, and optimize your site. Meet with our team of experts and learn how we can change the way your business is viewed online.


Union: We Are on Strike!
A press conference called for 10P is expected to note that the teachers union will strike Monday morning. Parents are still scrambling for day care options.
Amundsen faces loss to Plainfield Central.


The 2 Week Diet – Food Journal For Weight Loss Template | Lose Weight Fast!
For lots of people, weight loss and also diet programs can appear to be a slow and also daunting process full of endless hours of exercise at the health club and also bland, repeated foods. The 2 Week Diet strategy is specifically as its name recommends, a 2-week diet that could provide you the very same results as the majority of diet plans will certainly help you achieve in 2-3 months!
When discussing fat burning, it is necessary to differentiate in between weight loss and also weight loss. If you are considering dropping a few sizes, then you want fat loss. If you are checking out enhancing your muscle meaning, once again, you are trying to find fat loss. All a lot of diet plans trigger water fat burning which shows on the scales yet not on the measuring tape. If you are planning to lose inches AND extra pounds quickly, then The 2 Week Diet is your new friend.
The 2 Week Diet is a science-based program that will certainly have your body fat liquifying in front of your very eyes. Throughout the diet, you will learn to get rid of carbs and consume specific sections of healthy proteins as well as fats that put your body into a fat blowing up setting. By eliminating carbs to a particular level, your body is compelled to utilize its very own fat materials to produce power, when this fat is used, your fat stores begin to reduce … rapidly!
Now, you may believe this sounds familiar to various other diet plans, but this is where the science enters into play. When lots of people reduced carbs they end up bing on protein or fat, the concern with this is that excessive protein as well as your body will begin to turn it right into sugar. A 100g offering of healthy protein could come to be 50g of glucose! Yikes!
The 2 Week Diet has particular proportions of fats, healthy proteins, and carbs that will not just have you shedding body fat, however shedding body fat fast! Our body is one big chemistry experiment, as well as the The 2 Week Diet understands the equations for fast and reliable fat loss.
Forget all that nonsense included with counting calories day in and day out. Forget feeling hungry from when you wake till when you go to bed. Forget making it through on bland and also unsavory food. Forget waiting months to see any adjustment in your weight-loss efforts. The 2 Week Diet transforms your body into a powerful fat burning machine, as well as the reduction of carbohydrate consumption allows blood sugar degrees to stabilize and reduces appetite, exhaustion, and also weight!
One of the biggest reasons individuals fall off the diet regimen wagon and also give up on their fat burning goals is since they cannot locate the right info to assist them not just adhere to it yet likewise to excel at it. Unknowning or understanding how something works is among the largest, as well as perhaps the greatest, factor for diet regimen failure.
This is shortly complied with by diet regimens that lack taste, material, or diversity. That, in all sincerity, wants to survive on a fallen leave of lettuce and a cube of cheese every single day? Not you? Really did not believe so! When you discover something that allows you to eat till you really feel full, eat foods that you would generally see as 'prohibited foods' as well as be permitted to select from a broad choice of foods and beverages then you have located the divine grail of dieting.
Since you have your 'map' to The 2 Week Diet, you understand precisely the best ways to go from point A to point B. No detours. No diversions. No dead ends. When it comes to finding your feet with The 2 Week Diet, you have no have to fret. Every one of the effort has actually been provided for you so you could just comply with the plan and also view the weight loss begin.
As stated previously, The 2 Week Diet moves you to weight loss by enabling you to consume a lot of fat burning pleasant foods. You can lose weight without exercise, although it is always advised to make use of workout while diet programs for maximum results.
Now, as stated earlier, reducing weight in your home is very easy with The 2 Week Diet. You do not need to count calories, and also you could take pleasure in a lot of 'free foods' which you are admitted unlimited amounts. Consider the simple egg. The egg is included mainly fat and also protein and virtually absolutely no carbohydrates. The egg is natures very own flawlessly well balanced fat loss secret.
Of course, you cannot survive on eggs alone, especially seeing that you would be lacking numerous crucial vitamins and minerals. The 2 Week Diet is created so that you obtain all of the essential nourishment that you require while causing a surge of weight loss over a brief amount of time.
As you are not counting calories, you not really feel as if you get on a restrictive diet, as well as complying with The 2 Week Diet strategy becomes as easy as pie. That wouldn't wish to spend 2 weeks consuming every one of the foods they love and drop weight by doing so. This is why The 2 Week Diet reigns supreme.
In the first week, you could anticipate to see fat burning from your stomach, hips, upper legs, as well as rear. You will additionally experience an enormous rise in your power levels, and an improvement in your hair, skin, and nails. You will experience NO hunger and your metabolism will begin firing up.
As your metabolic rate kicks into equipment you will notice that your appetite rate drops each day as well as your clothes starts to come to be looser and also looser. Any type of fatigue you could have suffered with is lengthy gone, and getting an excellent nights rest is now coming to be easier with each passing day.
Throughout the first week of The 2 Week Diet, you additionally start your unique and also tailor-made exercise plan. The plan will certainly not only assist you lose double the weight that you would certainly expect to shed with the diet regimen alone, but likewise helps obtain your blood pumping to every inch of your body and purge away any kind of recurring contaminants.
In the first week, you can anticipate to go down anywhere between 5-8 pounds. as well as go down 1-2 dress sizes. You will certainly additionally notice that your face begins to look fresher and also younger with the loss of fat around the dewlap area.
By the second week, you will be well on your way to your maximum fat loss abilities. It is throughout this period of time that you will certainly see that you not yearn for convenience food, your snacking has stopped, which your clothing are currently too huge for you.
You will likewise be really feeling even more fantastic compared to you have actually done for a long period of time. Not just will you have boundless quantities of energy, but your skin tone will be clear, your eyes brilliant, and your body will look even more toned.
The 2nd week is where you will certainly discover significant decrease in weight, with as high as 2 pounds daily. Shedding that much fat in a day may seem impossible, yet the science behind the diet plan reveals that it's not just feasible yet it's additionally easy. No hunger. No yearnings. No lies.
By day 14 you can anticipate to have lost anywhere in between 10-20 pounds and be looking as fantastic as you never ever believed feasible.
If you intend to slim down as well as body fat within a few weeks, then The 2 Week Diet is absolutely the best prepare for you. It is affordable to perform, backed by a lot of scientific research, and allows you to go down approximately 16 extra pounds of pure body fat in just 2 weeks.
No more counting calories then exercising for hrs on end for a life of fatigue, tiredness, and cravings. Instead, you reach eat as much as you want of a choice of allowed foods, never be faced with hunger pangs once again, and watch in amazement as your tummy fat vanishes day in, day out.
Today will certainly be the beginning of a slimmer, leaner, healthier you! The diet regimen strategy is below waiting for you. All you have to do is seize the minute and also recognize that there is no far better way than The 2 Week Diet.
Do not invest month after month of calorie checking as well as exercising for sluggish and also frequently unnoticeable outcomes. You may have heard that the faster you shed fat, the much faster you will put it on. The reality is, that's not true, similar to the misconception of 'starvation setting' when on a calorie limited diet regimen.
As soon as you look past all of the junk produced there by food suppliers, the sugar industry, or even health and wellness experts touting their products, you will certainly understand that the science behind particularly divided macronutrient quantities really does work, and also in a way that might amaze you.
Say goodbye to exhaustion, tiredness, as well as appetite, as well as say hello to vigor, power, as well as a low body fat you. It genuinely is possible, as well as in simply 14 days time you could be extra pounds lighter as well as using smaller, much better fitting garments.
Remember that the only thing you have to do is make that option making a change today. That's it. We have assembled the very best 2 Week Diet fat loss plan to have you disappearing the pounds in a snap in all. All of the uncertainty has been taken out for you, and also in its location is valid details, recipes, and exercise plans that will see you go from excess weight to fab.
If you intend to reveal a brand-new you in simply 2 Week, after that The 2 Week Diet is a must! Say goodbye to crash diet. Say goodbye to hunger. Say goodbye to plus size clothes. Currently is the moment making that change for a slimmer, extra confident, as well as healthier you!


While the notion of wearables is not new, the recent announcement of ResearchKit and the Apple Watch have drawn much attention to how the consumer market can utilize mobile health technology – and specifically wearables, to better their health. Once buy-in has been firmly established, it will just be a matter of time before the medical-grade sensors are introduced to these consumer products. From there, patient engagement will almost be organic – it will happen naturally. mHealth will enable sites to tap into large communities of people, some of whom might not even know they qualify for a clinical trial. Additionally, once patients are enrolled, mobile health technology will have the capacity to capture data patients themselves once had to keep by way of a diary and will allow them the ability to better engage with their physician.
We talk a lot about how mHealth can increase patient engagement, but mobile health technology has the power to benefit investigators and site staff too, especially early on in clinical trial. Beyond providing accurate, regulatory approved data, some of today's mobile health-related apps can poll the site regarding what might be needed now to improve study operations. For instance, do sites need additional materials that will prove useful to patient recruitment efforts? Apps also have the ability to aggregate investigator trends during pre-screening and allow real-time course-correction as needed to improve screening rates.
It is hard to dispute the fact that mobile health technology works. It has the ability to provide a service that can increase engagement in the clinical trial industry. By providing a steady feedback loop, it has the means to promote increased patient engagement and allow sites to take advantage of real-time data to improve the course of the study before additional time and money are wasted. In time it is likely that mobile health technology will be seen as a cost-saver and something a clinical trial cannot do without. We at BBK truly believe in the power of mHealth and the ability it has to increase engagement across the board. That's why throughout 2015 we are bringing free app infrastructure to clinical study teams. By removing the barrier of cost, our goal is to encourage the use of mobile health technology as yet another effective communications channel that allows for outreach to both patients (via My Clinical Study Buddy®) and sites (My Protocol Pal SM) in new ways.
For more information on this and other insights into the state of mobile health technology today, please download our free Focus 5: mHealth.


Now is the time to begin finding an example mobile app, and posting on our Google community.
The assignment is due by end of day Wednesday January 21.
The assignment asks you to turn in using our Google Community. Use the tag #examples.


Rome4all is a marketplace specializing in the promotion of tourism services in Rome, Italy: tours, special experiences, activities, tastings, cooking classes, transfers with driver, attractions and guided tours for families with children.
Our mission consists in making it possible the realization of a phantaboulous "dream" holiday for all those who travel to the Capital of Italy.
We decided to set up something quite new, something unusual, at least in Italy: a web-site specifically focused on Rome, a sort of irreplaceable reference for someone who wishes to spend there even a few days.
Hence the idea of Rome4all: helping people to find the magic of an unforgettable holiday in Rome thanks to the accuracy of small details which can contribute to make a substantial difference vis-à-vis the services offered by other Competitors.
Why should you choose Rome4all?
if you quite rightly wish to aim at having taken the right decision, at having coupled comfort and elegance, or price and quality as well as, then we feel that we could represent the right solution to your problem.
Let us guide you within the eternal Capital City !
We will not fail in acting as your ideal Mentor and you will enjoy Rome as a true roman!


Filled to the brim with plant extracts and peptides, Tata Harper Elixir Vitae Eye Serum promises to minimize the look of fine lines and brighten the eye area.
Part of Tata Harper's "Supernatural Collection," the line's self-described most-advanced collection of natural skincare treatments, Elixir Vitae Eye Serum blurs fine lines and wrinkles thanks to acmella extract, which is considered a natural alternative to Botox.
That had me applying Elixir Vitae Eye Serum not only around my eyes, but also right in between my brows.
And a little around my mouth.
And maybe some on my neck.
Tata gives her blessing to use Elixir Vitae Eye Serum in this way, saying it's effective as a targeted line treatment. This is cheaper (and safer) than Botox, right?
While I don't exactly have lines to cover or fill at this point, a little natural prevention doesn't hurt. Except when it comes to the price. Tata Harper's Elixir Vitae Eye Serum carries a $265 price tag.
The half-ounce bottle will last you a while, even with twice daily use, as you only need about half a pump to cover both eyes. If you use it on additional areas, you'll of course run through it quicker; just watch it with the dosing. This stuff is ultra-concentrated, and you really don't need much because it's so easily spreadable.
Viniferin: Polyphenol that helps reduce the appearance of existing fine lines and wrinkles.
Another thing to consider with Elixir Vitae Eye Serum is with that ultra-concentrated, plant-packed ingredients list comes a scent. It's strong and very floral (think iris, lavender and daffodil). If you have sensitive skin or are prone to irritation, you'll definitely want to sample and test before dotting all over your face.
I've had zero irritation with this serum, but the scent could definitely use a little taming — and this is coming from a floral junkie. Thankfully, it dissipates rather quickly, and you're left with plump, soft skin that's noticeably brighter.
That's the main benefit I found from Elixir Vitae Eye Serum — brightening. To get that brightening, you'll have to be diligent about consistent application. I noticed it after just three weeks of use.
It was easy to stay on the testing train because Elixir Vitae Eye Serum's texture is absolutely perfect. It's a thicker serum compared to true, watery serums, but it's not quite as dense as a cream. This makes the formula feel light yet substantial, as the serum melts into the skin and becomes more fluid.
While this dreamy texture has me using Elixir Vitae Eye Serum regularly, I may be rationing out the last few pumps as I decide whether or not I can afford it's a repurchase. It would definitely get a hard, second look if the fragrance factor was toned down just a notch.
If we can move beyond the prohibitive price, it's inspiring to consider the technology in the formula — on point for what green, luxury beauty needs.
It's still common for people to assume that natural beauty products are just DIY concoctions with little to no science or advanced technology behind them. Tata Harper is absolutely changing that conversation, and that, to me, is priceless.
Have you tried anything from Tata Harper? What are your biggest concerns when it comes to the eye area? How important are peptides and skincare technology to you? Tell me in the comments!


There a lot of FREE online resources for innovators & entrepreneurs. We have published several posts on innovation (such as 1, 2, 3, 4).
Articles — for example, "Top Ten Problems Faced by Business", "How to Define the Nature of Your Challenge or Opportunity", "Elements of a Successful Innovation Roadmap", and "Mining Your Business Model for Innovation Opportunities".
Chief Innovator Online hosted by Chief Innovation Officer Phil Samuel; and Insights: BMGI South Africa.
Success Stories (including videos) — involving more than 25 BMGI clients.
Webinar & Videos — featuring about 75 webinars and videos by BMGI.
Here's a BMGI video on innovation.
These online resources for innovators & entrepreneurs are very important, we always can discover some new point or be enlightened by some existing resources, which maybe difficultly and expensively to find. In these all kinds of resources, i think the videos may get more attention, but the success stories have the least value, because almost all these stories just propagate the individual achievements of CEO and founders.
The free resources provided are very useful for innovators and entrepreneurs because some of the information might not have been easily accessed. These informations tends be very useful for people starting up new businesses to assess the market, or find out the demand, without doing an entire market research which will be very costly.


New Delhi: Olympic silver medallist shuttler P V Sindhu has been recommended for the prestigious Padma Bhushan, country's third highest civilian award, by the sports ministry on Monday.
"Yes, we have recommended Sindhu for Padma Bhushan," a Sports Ministry official told PTI.
The 22-year-old from Hyderabad clinched the 2016 China Open Superseries Premier, India Open Superseries, bagged a historic silver at the Glasgow World Championships in August before laying claim to her third Super Series title at Korea Open in September.
A three-time Macau Open champion, Sindhu also won the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold in Lucknow in 2017.
Riding on a series of good performances, Sindhu achieved a career-best world ranking of number two in April for a brief period. Last week, she climbed back to her number two position, following a good week at Seoul.
In 2014, Sindhu won four bronze medals — At the Commonwealth Games, Incheon Asian Games, Uber Cup and Asia Championship.
In March 2015, Sindhu was awarded India's fourth highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri.


Among the great architectural miracles of Spain, one place breathes exuberance and style, representing one of the most beautiful structures made by man. The palace of Alhambra is one of the most popular tourists destinations in Spain, with millions of visitors each year. The historical palace and fortress of Alhambra are located in the province of Granada in Andalusia, a charming region of southern Spain. The complex, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage, is a unique example of the medieval Muslim Spain and Moorish rule over southern Spain. The name derives from the Arab term of Red Castle, because of the red walls of the complex, contrasting with the green forests that surround it.
Situated near the city of Granada in a strategic point, overlooking the city and the surrounding area, the fortress complex will truly amaze any art and architecture lover, with some exquisite interior design masterpieces that cannot be found anywhere else. Although the first mentions of this place start from the 9th century, as a fortress guarding over the city, the site became a royal residence of the Nasrid dynasty in the 13th century. This started the glorious period for the Alhambra complex, being enriched with extraordinary new additions through the centuries that followed. Among the many buildings that form the complex of Alhambra, tourists can visit the Moorish Palace, the baroque palace of Karl V, a church that was built in the place of an old mosque and many other amazing landmarks.
It is believed that although the Spanish kings sought to destroy all evidence of Islamic rule over the territories they re-conquered at the end of the 15th century, the Alhambra palace was so beautiful that they could not bring themselves to destroy it. The interior of the palace is truly astonishing, a testament to every style of classic Arab art, with calligraphic, floral and geometric decorations that form a unique and fascinating ensemble. The Islamic art shown inside the Alhambra complex is one of the most amazing examples found anywhere in the world.


COLORS Marathi to bring alive IMFFA 2015 on the Mediterranean high seas.
The 7 day awards' extravaganza takes place on the Norwegian Epic Cruise from 25th October to 1st November, 2015.
COLORS Marathi, the entertainment destination of the Marathi Manoos is at the forefront of redefining the scale of Marathi Film and Television in India. A preferred entertainment platform of every Maharashtrian, COLORS MARATHI is all set to create another landmark with IMFFA 2015. The mega celebration of Marathi film and television - IMFFA 2015 will embark on a new journey amidst the Mediterranean high seas aboard the Norwegian Epic Cruise starting from Barcelona (Spain) via Naples, Rome, Florence, Cannes; between 25th October 2015 to 1st November 2015.
The 7 day extravaganza will transcend beyond a regular award ceremony to emerge as a platform that elevates the reach and presence of the Marathi entertainment industry. The itinerary will also include engaging initiatives like an Actors' workshop by veteran directors Amol Palekar and N Chandra. This will be followed by a symposium on the road map for Marathi Entertainment with an elite panel of veteran's Marathi film stalwarts. The symposium will culminate into a mega awards extravaganza to be held on 30th October 2015 while docked in the high seas of the French Rivera at the Cannes – The world capital of cinema.
Audited by Ernst & Young, IMFFA 2015 will see the best of Marathi cinema coming together for the celebration. Colors Marathi is all geared up to celebrate the success of Marathi cinema with International Marathi Film Festival Awards – IMFFA 2015. The high octane awards will be amplified through a robust marketing plan targeted at entire Maharashtra using mass media like TV, Outdoor, Print, Radio and Digital. The plan will include a high decibel TV plan across top News and Music channels and Radio plan across top radio stations to build reach and frequency, an exhaustive OOH plan covering Mumbai, Pune and ROM markets for a period of 12 days.
A combination of high impact media platforms like hoardings and tactical media like bus shelters, station boards and bus panels will be leveraged to drive viewership. This will be further amplified by launch day ads in leading print to achieve impact and widespread reach. Paid and Organic digital campaigns across Facebook, Youtube and mobile will add to the high decibel marketing campaign for IMFFA 2015.


text:
Q: Using VBA how do I set the font size of a field in a PDF form? I have a pdf form and Acrobat Pro installed on my machine. In MS Access I can write VBA code to open the form and fill out the fields. But I cannot figure out how to adjust the font size of a field (or other properties like color) using VBA.
Here is a snippet:
Dim oAVDoc As Object, oPDDoc As Object
Dim oJso As Object, oFld As Object

Set oAVDoc = CreateObject("AcroExch.AVDoc")

oAVDoc.Open("C:\Temp\test.pdf", "")

Set oPDDoc = oAVDoc.GetPDDoc

Set oJso = oPDDoc.GetJSObject

Set oFld = oJso.getField("TestFieldName")

oFld.Value = "This is the new value." '<-- works fine

oFld.FontSize = 14 '<-- "Object doesn't support this property or method"
oFld.Color = "red" '<-- also does not work

I figure there are probably javascript object properties for these, but I can't find any documentation on what they might be.
Thanks in advance.

A: Use
oFld.textSize = 14
instead of FontSize (see also documentation)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Same Exploration guide, but with spaces for student answers. It also has spaces for them to work through... (more) 4 additional problems.
This is the exact same exploration guide, but in a more student friendly format. The font is larger, the... (more)re is space given for the students to answer, and one additional question has been added.
Great model for my 7th grade students.
I recommend this Gizmo for students struggling with solving 2-step linear equations.
My strugglilng students were able to understand two step equations with out feeling frustrated and they enjoyed the hand-on- experience.


www.NewYorkInvestmentNetwork.com is the New York web based portal and matching service of investors seeking investments, with entrepreneurs seeking capital. The website is owned by Dealflow Solutions Ltd. and has been created in response to the growing demand of New York angel investors to invest in opportunities that are more tangible, predictable and closer to home.
Some of the greatest opportunities start from under capitalized entrepreneurs who cannot get traditional financing from banks. Banks are lending less than ever to small businesses and start-ups while angel investors are increasingly disenchanted with under performing equity markets and low interest rates. Questionable accounting scandals just make the situation even worse. By using previously unavailable technology like this website, there now exists a greater opportunity than ever to bring both parties together to finance the next great enterprise. Whatever the idea, NewYorkInvestmentNetwork.com provides the place to choose a growing variety of investment opportunities.
Investors - Click here to register and submit your investment criteria.


text:
How Well Do You Know: The 2010 Academy Awards
Users are allowed and even encouraged to submit specific feedback about quizzes.
Please keep in mind that some of these comments may spoil individual quiz questions.
Looking for the quiz that goes along with these comments?
Find it here.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them.
By posting, you agree not to post comments that are off topic,
defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy.
Violators may be banned.
You must be logged in to post or rate comments.
For reference, click here reveal the answers for this quiz.
We know that you could sneak in through the comments page,
view the answers, and then take the quiz.
But nobody likes a cheater.
1. Which supermodel appeared somewhat life-like in her role as an interviewer for the ABC red carpet special?
2. When the lights first went up on the telecast, how many people were standing on stage?
3. Who performed the Horrible opening musical number?
4. Hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin first arrived on the stage:
By running up from the audience
5. In accepting his Golden Globe for Supporting Actor, Christoph Waltz used celestial-based figurative language. Equally eloquent in his Oscar win, Waltz used a metaphor of:
Raising a child
6. "Never did I dream that making a flip book out of my third grade math book would lead to this." The winner of the award in which category said this?
Animated feature
Animated short subject
7. Best Original Song was presented by a pair of people associated with which hit musical films?
Nine and Chicago
Dreamgirls and Enchanted
Moulin Roge! and The Sound of Music
Mamma Mia! and Hannah Montana: The Movie
8. A roughly 45-minute long tribute to John Hughes was introduced by actors who had played which two characters from classic Hughes films?
Kevin McCallister and Watts
Del Griffith and John Bender
Brian Johnson and Wyatt Donnelly
Ferris Bueller and Andie Walsh
9. In his acceptance speech, the director of the Best Animated Short stated, "No ________ were harmed during the making of the project."
Ugly children
Rubber chickens
10. Always a master of subtlety, who appeared decked out in his Na'vi finest to present Best Makeup?
11. The Best Adapted Screenplay was adapted from:
A magazine article
An earlier screenplay
12. As recounted by presenter Queen Latifah, each of the following was a of the recipient of the Governor's Award event held prior to the Oscars....except for:
13. "I already have two of these," the winner from this category stated, as she greedily clutched her third statuette to her cold, heartless chest:
Live action short
14. In their bit leading up to the tribute to horror movies, Martin and Baldwin lampooned which 2009 fright fest?
My Bloody Valentine 3-D
15. Which film was used as an example to demonstrate the difference between between Sound Editing and Sound Mixing?
16. Who presented a category won by a film in which she appeared?
17. The first face on the screen during the In Memoriam segment was:
18. Why did Steve Martin say he loved Precious?
It's the one film that lived up to its video game?
He found the lavish song-and-dance number at the end of the credits to be very enjoyable
He, writing under the pen name Sapphire, wrote the novel it was based on
It gave him a chance to review Mariah Carey's entire film repertoire
19. Who presented the award for Best Supporting Actress?
20. Which of these was not an animated character featured in the Best Animated Picture montage?
Russell (from Up)
Prince Naveen (from The Princess and the Frog)
21. Who introduced a horror montage (that was, frankly, inexplicable)?
Taylor Lautner and Kristen Stewart
Johnny Depp and Jennifer Aniston
James Caan and Kathy Bates
Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo
22. The Oscar winning documentary feature concerned:
The military-industrial complex
Dolphin slaughter
Child immigrants
23. A very fast-talking husband and wife team accepted the award for:
24. Which of the following does not correctly match the Best Actor nominee to the former co-star who introduced him?
George Clooney - Vera Farmiga
Jeff Bridges - Maggie Gyllenhaal
Morgan Freeman - Tim Robbins
Jeremy Renner - Colin Farrell
25. The woman who won Best Actress portrayed:
Claireece
Leigh Anne
26. The film that received the most Oscar nominations that did not win a single category was:
27. The big winner of the night, The Hurt Locker, won ____ of the 9 Oscars it was nominated for:
28. One of the winners of which category held up a banner with a number to text to before the camera cut away?
29. Cameras caught several shots of which big name decidedly not smiling during Martin and Baldwin's opening monologue?
30. Due to a dispute between ABC and a cable company, most of this city was unable to see roughly the first 15 minutes of the telecast:


Sean Ruppert, a Washington, D.C., builder and principal of OPaL, tells an anecdote about a master bath feature he included in his high-end production homes in Canal Mews, an enclave of the Palisades, a neighborhood in the District's northwestern reaches. The feature is a glass-enclosed walk-in shower with a tub and a towel-off area. When Ruppert saw the wet room in its initial planning stages, he knew right away it was a clever use of space. "But when I was showing the house during construction, everyone who walked through asked, 'What the heck is that?'" he recalls.
Ruppert remained convinced. Shortly after, he happened to see a similar shower showcased in photographs of Bette Midler's luxurious Manhattan apartment. "If it was good enough for Bette, I figured it was good enough for me," he says, laughing. "Once we modeled it, everybody loved it." The tub-and-shower enclosure setup is a great idea for smaller single-family homes, Ruppert says. "It blends the need to offer a large tub and a walk-in shower while utilizing the same space." As for the homes at Canal Mews, the last one sold and just went to settlement.
It's no news that holding a buyer's interest means separating yourself from the pack. One of the most effective ways to do this is via the bath and the kitchen. The production builders we talked with say that typically a kitchen takes up around 10 percent of a new home's overall budget. The bath? Just 3 percent. That's a relatively small but mighty way to make an impression. According to the Research Institute for Cooking & Kitchen Intelligence (RICKI), a market research firm exclusively devoted to kitchens, well over half of buyers have no strong opinions when it comes to brand choices for high-impact items such as ranges, cooktops, and fridges. As for countertops and rangehoods, even fewer buyers have strong preferences. In other words: You have a big opportunity to make a splash. The following pages offer inspiration.
"The kitchen is where the best conversations happen," says Joan Marcus-Colvin, senior vice president of sales, marketing, and design at The New Home Co., in Aliso Viejo, Calif. But if kitchens have long been the places that pull people together, they represent a challenge for the builder: offering something current that satisfies classic needs. "Kitchens tend to be one of the more dynamic spaces in the home," Marcus-Colvin observes. "We're constantly focusing on what's next, asking ourselves what we've missed in our previous designs. We're never satisfied," she adds.
The breakaway wooden cart on wheels offers options. Part of the island, it can be a place for milk and cookies or can serve as a moveable prep area.
A wall separates the dining area and the kitchen, delineating the cook's place. The doorway and pass-through (to the right of the doorway) connect the rooms, and the pass-through makes serving and clearing a cinch.
The deep drawers underneath the cooktop hold pots and pans and roll out quietly and smoothly. They're a more streamlined solution than doors that conceal a rollout shelf. Passage space in the kitchen is narrow, so every half-inch counts: Pull-holes eliminate the need for cabinet hardware that would protrude into the circulation area.
A mix of materials divides this 20-foot-long island into sections for cleanup, prep, cooking, and sitting. A quartz countertop provides an attractive and hardy work surface on either side of the cooktop.
Kitchen lighting should be able to go from task to ambient. A pendant and recessed halogens provide illumination to work by; glass-front cabinets lit from within contrast with the wood and add ambient light. Windows, of course, admit natural light.
"An island needs to be more than just a box that's a cutting board and a table," says Nick Lehnert, executive director at KTGY Group and head of the firm's R + D Lab in Irvine, Calif. Whether there's a break in the surface so that the sink and cooking zone are separated from the dining area is up for grabs. But the design needs to show the capability for being an activity area: prep, cooking, homework, and hanging out. "The good ones take on a bit of architecture," says Lehnert, in the form of a waterfall countertop, standing legs, and possessing a bit of scale.
Marcus-Colvin says that if there's space, double islands are worth it. "If you're going to have a party in the kitchen, you need space for people to prep, or at least to pretend that they're prepping." Islands need proper knee clearance for sitting, deep drawers for pots and pans, and, if they contain a cooktop, a heatproof surface on both sides of the burners for landing.
While ample islands spark dreams of good parties and great meals, they're not always feasible.
Builders, architects, and designers alike agree that a great island (if not two) is essential. What's more, that island has to be as handsome as it is hardworking, including a seating area, storage, prep space, possibly a sink, an appealing countertop, and smashing design.
Yes, the San Francisco-area kitchen pictured above is custom, and its creators—kitchen designer Leslie Lamarre and her husband, architect Randy Grange of TRG Architects, in Burlingame, Calif.—are based in a part of the country that's booming. But in such a pricey area, Lamarre and Grange often work on small houses, with many of the same challenges as anyone else: creating inviting, efficient kitchens within modest footprints.
This kitchen, at roughly 20 by 13 feet, was too narrow to accommodate a normal island but too wide to function as a galley setup. The solution: anchor the room with a 2 ½-by-6 ½-foot island. Longer and slimmer than standard, the island is as chockablock with great ideas as the rest of the kitchen.
Because the kitchen is the hub, it serves many functions. Multiple sources of lighting—recessed lights in the ceiling and pendants over the island that are both on dimmers, cabinets lit from within, not to mention doors and windows—make it possible for the kitchen lighting to go from task to ambient, and the kitchen itself to go from work area to dining area.
"We've created gourmet kitchens—now we're creating 'gourmet baths,'" says architect Donald Evans, president of The Evans Group, an Orlando, Fla., design firm. Evans views the bath as an opportunity to go semi-custom, sell up, and deliver something special for buyers. "They're seeking a bath that makes you think you're at a resort," says John Guilliams, partner and director of design at KGA Studio, in Louisville, Colo.
"You're setting the stage for the dream," says KTGY Group's Nick Lehnert of the master bath as a place to escape to and influenced by hotel trends. Features such as the curbless shower, steam showers, lighting in the shower, increased linen storage, and radiant floor heating are also increasingly in demand, according to the NKBA. Beautiful finishes are essential, and products such as porcelain tile that resembles wood planking offer the opportunity to replicate the warmth and texture of wood without the maintenance concerns. In addition, expect more call for water-saving fixtures, comfort-height toilets, and vanities that comply with universal design requirements.
A double vanity is turning into a feature that's now expected. It can be designed as twin sinks or a Jack-and-Jill configuration on either side of a closet or flanking a window.
A deluxe shower can be "a little bit spendy for production, but showers with dual heads and niches for bath products make it feel like a spa," says Marcio Decker. Though a streamlined spa look speaks to buyer desires, proceed with caution: Walk-in showers need to have a door on them to keep steam in, even in Southern California, advises Nick Lehnert.
A bathtub is a hotly debated feature (see below). Architect Jim Wentling estimates that about half of buyers want a tub for resale value. If you include one, placement is key. So is providing a surface for bath products and towels.
Shower, tub, or both? This seems to be the single biggest debate in interiors right now. Though the tub in the master bath may up a home's resale value, it may be OK to forgo it in houses where square footage is at a premium. "We get the resale question from real estate agents, but more and more people are ignoring it," John Guilliams says.
"With the tub, you lose floor space that's coming out of a bedroom or a closet," Guilliams says. "The question becomes, 'Do I need a bathtub or three extra feet of closet space?'" As a result, use the tub as an upgrade, he advises.
If there is a tub, placement really matters, Nick Lehnert says. He acknowledges that a freestanding tub can be a striking piece of sculpture, but advises setting it in an area that feels sheltered, as opposed to in the center of the room. The tub should be big enough for two and needs a deck, even if it's not a full one, with room for a couple of towels, a magazine, bath salts, or a glass of wine. "A bath is experiential," Lehnert says.
Despite trend-talk about "color blocking," the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) says that around 80 percent of designers spec'd white or off-white in the last year for kitchens and baths. Sean Ruppert thinks that it's because strong color tends to evoke strong emotions—and not always good ones. "Our bathrooms are pretty vanilla," he says. Classic materials simply applied, such as subway or basket-weave tile, Carrara marble, and porcelain present buyers with a luxurious space that they can personalize.
An emerging product category is kitchen and bath systems that reside in the middle of the continuum between off-the-shelf and custom. They offer a made-to-order feel that can set a home apart from the rest with attractive design, attention to detail, and appeal that speaks to a broad range of buyers.
Kitchen systems used to be the domain of manufacturers targeting designers with big budgets. But a few companies now offer the means to deliver a custom look with a prefab sensibility. Canadian brand Cuisines Laurier and Italian company Unica Kitchens sell kitchen cabinetry systems that come in standard North American sizes, plus panels for fridges, dishwashers, columns, and even backsplashes. A selection of standard finishes is available (custom options are, too). Unica Kitchens CEO, Marco Maset, says that, with a distribution center in Virginia and a warehouse in Florida, Unica can offer delivery in as little as three business days.
Bath options with custom appeal on a production budget now include pre-built showers that feel solid, look great, and include a curbless option for aging in place. Best Bath's Designer Series is made with a five-layer laminate that includes gelcoat, composite fiberglass, and plywood and bears an uncanny resemblance to a ceramic finish. The showers include a recessed channel so that tile can be added to the shower pan and walls. Shower pans are pre-sloped to drain and don't require thinset or mud under the pan. "An installer can be in and out of a job in two days, whereas a traditional tiled shower can take five to seven," points out Nate Jensen, national dealer sales manager for Best Bath Systems.
Amy Albert is editor-in-chief of Professional Builder magazine. Previously, she worked as chief editor of Custom Home and design editor at Builder. Amy came to writing about building by way of food journalism, as kitchen design editor at Bon Appetit and before that, at Fine Cooking, where she shot, edited, and wrote stories on kitchen design. She studied art history with an emphasis on architecture and urban design at the University of Pennsylvania, has served on several design juries, and is a recipient of the 2017 Jesse H. Neal Award for excellence in journalism.


After a fun filled weekend at BodyPower UK, we have now had a week back in the office. And we are pleased to announce that we have now done our £100 voucher prize draw. As an added bonus we have decided to continue the 20% discount until 31st May for all books. Just enter the code BP20 at the checkout when purchasing from humankinetics.com.
To celebrate the London Marathon this weekend we are giving you the chance to win a Kindle Fire and a copy of the ever popular Daniels Running Formula.
Since starting in 2009, BodyPower UK has grown into the most celebrated and comprehensive fitness event in the UK. It attracts over 90,000 health and fitness enthusiasts over three days (12th–14th May). We are pleased to announce we are attending BodyPower Expo 2017 so come on by our stand and say hi.
To celebrate reaching 40,000 followers on Twitter, we're giving you the chance to win an eBook version of one of our newest titles.
After our recent prize draw at ECSS 2016 in Vienna, we're pleased to announce the winner of the competition is @laura_wilson1.
Win a pair of running shoes, seven Human Kinetics running books and a year's subscription to Athletics Weekly magazine.
Win a Kindle Fire HD6 by following @HumanKineticsEU and retweeting.


Japan abandoned its troubled mission to Mars on Tuesday after space officials failed in their final effort to put the Nozomi probe back on course to orbit the Red Planet. The probe, Japan's first interplanetary explorer, had been traveling for five years toward Mars and would have reached the planet next week. But officials at JAXA, Japan's space agency, said Nozomi was off target and that scientists gave up trying to salvage the mission after an attempt to fire the probe's engines failed because it was short on fuel.


text:
Looking for Expats in Kaohsiung?
Connect with fellow expats in Kaohsiung
Get information in our Taiwan guides
Exchange tips about expat life in Taiwan
Frederik Sørensen
As I mainly use InterNations for business, it was just overwhelming to get so many international contacts working in Taipei as well.
Living in Kaohsiung
Known as 'the Harbor city', Kaohsiung is a beautiful city in Taiwan which has seen a huge development in recent years, transforming it from a small village known for trading to a large global city which has a diverse number of industries and a glorious harbor. Expats living in Kaohsiung will want to take advantage of sights such as the Love River, which runs right through the city and is much loved by the city's residents, and the Holy Rosary Cathedral, which is known for being the oldest Catholic church in Taiwan. The city hosted the 2009 World Games and has plenty to offer in terms of culture and architecture, including the 'Dome Light', which is located in Formosa Boulevard Station and is one of the largest glass art structures in the world. Those who live in Kaohsiung who are fans of sport will be thrilled with the Kaohsiung National Stadium and the Kaohsiung Arena, which are the largest venues in Taiwan.
Connect with Like-Minded Expatriates in Kaohsiung
From Argentina, living in Taipei
From Australia, living in Taipei
Meet other expats like you in Kaohsiung
Join Our Exciting Events in Kaohsiung
Attend our monthly events and activities for Kaohsiung expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.
i-Ride Flying Theater 5D Immersing Experience & Rooftop Bar
Afternoon Tea at Beautiful Courtyard & Gallery Visiting
Invitation to being guest speakers 2021
American Style Sushi Bar & Beer Night
Want to see all the upcoming events in Kaohsiung?
Exchange Tips about living in Kaohsiung
Get trustworthy advice and local insights from fellow members in our Kaohsiung expat forums.
4th and 5th Dec
Nov 28, 2:27 PM
Hi All, between 9pm and 9:30pm at night market. is everyone ok with this? I will sms all as well who sent me their number. My mob here is 0952330727 Thanks Nalin.
AFL - Australian Rules Football
Apr 8, 3:06 AM
For those who are interested, I've posted an event for April 24th Sunday at 5pm to watch the game together. Please see Events for more details. Cheers,
Biking clubs - Taipei area
Sep 21, 1:55 PM
the river has a great biking path, just watch out for mossie bites. I bought a really nice road bike for NT$15000 and use it for getting to work. Other than that, the road up over elephant mountain …
Got questions about living in Kaohsiung
Books & Crafts Group
Arts & Culture Group
European Group
Share your hobbies and interests with expats in Kaohsiung
Moving to Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung has a diverse international community, and expatriates moving to Kaohsiung will find a range of affordable housing options as well as excellent transport links throughout the city, including multiple ferry services which provide views of the beautiful Kaohsiung landscape. Taiwan's second largest airport, Kaohsiung International Airport, is also located nearby for easy international travel. Families moving as expats to Kaohsiung will benefit from the multiple educational institutions on offer, including several international schools. The city also boasts a number of major universities such as Kaohsiung Medical University, National Kaohsiung Marine University and the National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology. If you are an expat moving to Kaohsiung, you can benefit for the information and experiences shared by members of the InterNations online community, who may be able to offer advice about moving to the city specifically or to Taiwan in general.
Working in Kaohsiung
As an international port, Kaohsiung has many work opportunities including those in the export industry, which includes the exportation of goods such as bananas, rice, sugar and citrus fruits. Other industries which are present in the area include steel, aluminum and oil refinery as well as papermaking which means there is a wide range of jobs in production, manufacturing and engineering. Expats who work in academia will find that there are many academic institutions and universities, as well as international schools which are a popular choice for people who are looking for example for an English teaching position. To get information about being an expatriate working in Kaohsiung, expats can join the InterNations website, which has members from over 190 nationalities all over the world who may be able to offer advice and share real life stories about their experiences of moving and living in the city.
Maggy Roswick
When a friend invited me to InterNations my first thought was: This is exactly what I as an expat woman was searching for.


DAYTONA BEACH — Folks at Spanos Imports acclimated to accomplish a acceptable active affairs acclimated high-end adopted action and affluence cars that included $200,000-plus Lamborghinis and Ferraris.
The recession dead that alcove bazaar aloof afterwards the owners of Spanos Imports fabricated a cogent advance affairs and renovating a beyond architecture at 520 W. International Speedway Blvd. to become the dealership's new home.
Today, with a new name and business model, Spanos Motors is active and attractive to expand, both locally as able-bodied as abroad in the state.
"Late 2007 and backward 2008 were tough. I said again that there are added than 300 actor Americans in this country and anniversary one has a canteen of ketchup and a car at home. Don't acquaint me they're not affairs cars. We're aloof affairs the amiss ones," said Alex Spanos, who founded Spanos Imports in 1996 with adolescent brother Vic Spanos.
"We took the plan and . . . into the debris can. We had to absolutely reinvent ourselves," Alex Spanos said.
Today, the dealership, while still specializing in affluence cars, has aloof a few alien late-model Lotus, Jaguars, Bentleys and Maseratis in its inventory.
The 145-vehicle account in the 25,000-square-foot exhibit at Spanos Motors is now abundant with entry-level and mid-class affluence acclimated cartage including Mercedes, BMWs, Audis, Lexus, Infinities, Accuras, VWs and alike Chryslers and Ford Thunderbirds.
Prior to the Great Recession, the dealership rarely agitated annihilation beneath $25,000. Today, it offers cartage priced as low as $15,000.
The dealership today sells abounding of the trade-ins it receives, including Saturns and Buicks, via the Internet and through magazines. In the old days, it would advertise them to wholesalers or via an auction.
The new action appears to be working.
Sales at Spanos Motors, which biconcave about 30 percent in 2008 from antecedent years, accept been steadily aggressive in contempo months.
The dealership awash 781 cartage aftermost year, averaging 65 a month, the best in four years, according to aggregation officials.
Being an absolute banker acceptable the changes to fabricated quickly, clashing dealerships that are allotment of a alternation or that are franchisees, Spanos said.
The aces up in sales has appropriate Spanos Motors to access the admeasurement of its staff. The dealership, whose workforce had diminished to aloof a dozen workers during the recession, now employs 26 people.
The dealership includes a aliment and adjustment account department.
A new website was afresh alien and accounts for a majority of sales aural Spanos Motors' ambition breadth of Tampa to Savannah, Ga. — cities that are aural a three-hour drive of Daytona Beach. But barter additionally accept aureate in from Rhode Island and Ohio to drive a anew purchased car home, Carroll said.
Spanos Motors is additionally attractive to accessible two aperture showrooms, including one in Tampa, to advice advertise cars forth Florida's south Gulf Coast.
Locally, Spanos has outgrown its accepted 40,000-square-foot architecture and is affairs lots surrounding its acreage and leasing added adjoining lots so it can abundance additonal vehicles.