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Starwood Hotels & Resorts:
Starwood Hotels Finishes 2014 Strong with 74 Openings and Fifth Straight Year of Increased Deal Signings
By: Starwood Hotels & Resorts | 0 Shares 34 Reads
Leading High-End Hotel Operator Expands Global Portfolio with Balanced Growth in Mature and Emerging Markets
STAMFORD, Conn. - Jan. 6, 2015 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced it opened 74 new hotels in 2014, representing approximately 15,000 rooms in 26 countries. The company also signed 175 new hotel management and franchise agreements in 2014, a 15% increase over the prior year, marking the fifth consecutive year of increased signings and the most new deals in one year since 2007. Starwood anticipates another year of solid growth in both mature and emerging markets in 2015, fueled by hotel openings and high-quality deal signings.
"With more than 1,200 hotels in 100 countries, we're on the frontlines of global change and continue to see increasing demand for innovative, design-led brands, playing to Starwood's strength," said Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "Our nine lifestyle brands continue to attract owners as does our loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest®, which brings high-value guests to our hotels from around the world, driving more than half of our occupancy on any given night."
Hotel Opening Momentum Continues
Building on its strong signing year, Starwood continues to grow in all corners of the world across all of the segments where it operates with plans to reach the following milestones in 2015:
300th hotel in Asia Pacific and China
150th hotel in China (with all nine brands represented)
90th hotel in Africa and the Middle East
175th Luxury hotel
750th Upper Upscale hotel
300th Mid-Market hotel
"Our balanced growth approach continued in 2014 with consistent, organic signings across all nine of our brands," said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "Looking ahead, emerging markets remain a focus for us, but recovering economic conditions and increased availability of financing have also led to strong growth in North America and Europe."
Turner continued: "North America accounted for more than one third of our signings last year, and the availability of new construction lending resulted in a more than 50% increase in new-build hotel signings over the previous year. Globally, we renewed or extended 76 of our existing agreements with owners in 2014, underscoring the strength of our brands, loyalty program, operating teams, and systems. We remain focused on working with the right partners, on the right properties, in the right places, and our agile development approach allows us to adapt our growth strategies based on specific geographies and brand needs for both new development and conversion projects either managed or franchised."
Starwood Widens its Lead in Luxury
With one of the fastest growing luxury portfolios under its St. Regis, The Luxury Collection and W brands, Starwood is lengthening its lead in luxury hospitality. Building on its base of more than 170 of the world's most beautiful and iconic hotel experiences, Starwood expects to open more than 25 luxury hotels over the next two years adding to the 12 new luxury hotels which debuted last year. This pace continues to accelerate to meet increasing demand for luxury in all corners of the world.
In 2014, W Bogota marked the brand's entry into Colombia, while The Luxury Collection brand added seven new hotels to its portfolio including La Posada de Santa Fe in New Mexico, Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan and The Castle Hotel in Dalian, China. In 2015, Starwood is on track to add more than 10 luxury hotels to its portfolio, including St. Regis hotels in Istanbul, Macao, Dubai and Mumbai, The Luxury Collection properties in Nanjing, China; San Antonio, Texas; and Broumana, Lebanon, and W openings in Amsterdam, Netherlands and Goa, India.
Demand Accelerates for Upper Upscale Brands
Starwood opened 27 hotels across its Sheraton, Le Méridien and Westin brands last year, with over 150 under active development. The iconic Sheraton brand, on track to open its 500th hotel in 2016, continues to serve as a growth leader for Starwood and pave the way for the further development of all of Starwood's brands in fast growing markets. This year, the brand will debut in Samoa and Romania and re-enter Iraq, following last year's launch in Tajikistan. Sheraton accounts for nearly 40% of all Starwood hotels in Asia Pacific and is leading Starwood's growth in Africa, where the brand will open six more hotels by 2018.
Le Méridien opened flagship hotels in Chicago – Oakbrook, Bahrain, and Bangkok in 2014, and signed 18 new deals, a meaningful increase over the previous year. Building on this momentum, in 2015, the brand will open more new hotels than in any other year since Starwood acquired Le Méridien in 2005. The brand continues to expand in established markets primarily through conversions, while also extending its reach in emerging markets, with openings planned for India, Bangladesh and Bhutan this year.
Westin opened its 200th hotel worldwide in 2014 and demand continues to rise driven in part by the phenomenal success of its distinctive wellness positioning. In 2015, Westin will open its 125th hotel in North America and its 50th hotel in Asia. The brand will also debut in Qatar with the opening of The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa – the brand's fourth hotel in the Middle East.
Mid-Market Brands Drive Pipeline Growth
Starwood's mid-market segment continues to gain considerable momentum, with 35 openings and 100 new deals signed in 2014 across the Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft and Element brands. The segment accounts for approximately 40% of Starwood's global growth pipeline and will comprise nearly half of the company's new hotel openings in 2015, amid rising demand for strong global brands at an affordable price point in both major metro and secondary markets around the world.
Four Points by Sheraton signed 50 new hotel deals in 2014, the most in company history, and will surpass 200 hotels in 2015, with more than 25 planned hotel openings this year. The 'best for business' Four Points brand boasts Starwood's second largest and fastest growing development pipeline, fueled by its widespread, global appeal to guests and flexible development options.
Aloft Hotels signed 31 new deals in 2014, the most signings in one year since 2008. Designed for the next generation of travelers, Aloft will cross the 100th hotel milestone in 2015 and expand its portfolio in Greater China to ten hotels by year end. Aloft will also enter numerous new markets this year, including both Munich and Stuttgart, Germany.
Starwood's eco brand, Element Hotels, signed 19 deals in 2014 and is on track to triple its portfolio by 2017. On the heels of opening its first hotel outside of North America in Frankfurt, Germany, Element will open its first hotel in China in 2015 followed by new hotels in London, Amsterdam, Boston and Philadelphia, signifying the global appeal of this brand.
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1,200 properties in 100 countries, and 181,400 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®. The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
SOURCE Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Carrie Bloom
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
carrie.bloom@starwoodhotels.com
Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences.


Vaughan Paving Ltd., a Concord-based company that provides residential and commercial paving, concrete, grading and other services, was subcontracted to install concrete curbs and sidewalks at a commercial strip mall on Bullock Drive in Markham.
On August 27, 2014, a crew of company workers was grading and leveling the parking lot of the mall in preparation for concrete curbs. Workers were using equipment – a bulldozer and a skid steer – that had been left on site from other contractors. A supervisor was operating the bulldozer and a worker was operating the skid steer. A labourer was working on foot and was taking measurements of elevations at the east side of the project boundary.
The labourer was communicating the measurements to the supervisor, who would then use the bulldozer to blade the area to the desired elevation. The skid steer was used to level the parking lot and to deliver granular material to those areas where it was required.
The labourer had completed measuring the level of the grade in front of the bulldozer. The supervisor was sitting in the cab of the stationary bulldozer with its motor idling, watching the labourer and waiting for the labourer to move, so the bulldozer could be moved forward.
The supervisor observed the labourer walking backwards from the location and that the worker was walking directly behind the track of the skid steer, which was reversing. The supervisor unsuccessfully tried to alert the others by shouting; the horn on the bulldozer was not working. The skid steer drove into and struck the labourer.
The labourer was taken to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and later passed away.
A Ministry of Labour engineer investigated the technical aspects of the incident, and found that the forward/reverse, turning and stopping functions of the skid steer functioned as designed at the time of the incident, although there was no functioning reverse alarm. There were large 'blind spots' on the rear side corners of the skid steer, and there was no signaller to direct the skid steer while it was operating in reverse.
The defendant's failure to have a signaller assisting the operator of the skid steer meant that it failed to ensure compliance with the regulation. This is also an offence under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Vaughan Paving Ltd. received a fine of $125,000 from Justice of the Peace Herbert B. Radtke in Newmarket court on June 19, 2017.
It is always a bad day when a worker dies on the job. Most companies do not know the regulations until it is too late.
Here we have a situation where the safe operation of a vehicle would include spotters when blindspots have been identified and are part of the work shift. The operator was probably "Competent" to drive the unit but may not be aware of the regulation that applies.
Since he/she was obviously not aware of this particular definition, then the company HAS to be guilty of not providing enough information, instruction and competent supervision to the worker.
Too bad, and much too late!


text:
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Control vs. Community – Sacrificing Sovereignty
Short URL: http://kctl.uk/93
Rachel Dean (Regular Writer)
Rachel graduated from the University of Leicester with her LLB European Hons in 2010. She is now a trainee solicitor at Lockett Loveday McMahon in Manchester and is due to qualify in May 2016. Her interests lie predominantly in commercial law.
Published 08:51, 2 February 2016
This article is part of the 'Brexit' series, edited by Matt Bogdan.
With the upcoming referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union, the Brexit series intends to explore key issues surrounding Brexit, particularly what effect EU law currently has on the UK, and what would be left with it gone.
Other articles from this series are listed at the end of this article.
Following on from Matt Bogdan's engaging introductory article in June last year (which I would highly recommend reading), I aim here to tackle the issue of UK national sovereignty and how it works alongside our EU membership. This is an especially topical issue considering the upcoming referendum on the EU, which can potentially take place as early as this June. With plenty of confusion surrounding the notion of EU supremacy on both sides of the Brexit debate, it is essential for us to clarify the current state of affairs so that Britons can make an informed choice at the ballot boxes.
Have we lost control of our own national affairs since joining the EU? And if the answer is yes, what is the most effective and appropriate solution to regaining it?
The UK is a unique country in many ways. Perhaps the most notable feature of the UK's legal structure is the absence of a formal written constitution, something which is prevalent amongst other EU member states. Instead, we are founded on the principle of constitutional rule otherwise known as parliamentary or national sovereignty. Martin Howe argues that 'perhaps no unwritten doctrine is more fundamental to the British constitution than the supremacy of Parliament.' Broadly expressed, this means that the legislative body (our monarch, the House of Lords and the House of Commons) have absolute sovereignty and reign supreme over all other government institutions, executive and judicial bodies. A.V. Dicey, writing in 1885 explained the concept well:
that Parliament has…the right to make or unmake any law whatever, and, further that no person or body is recognised by the law of England as having a right to override or set aside the legislation of Parliament
The Origins
The origins of parliamentary sovereignty can be found in the 17th century. It was a tumultuous period in history with much political and religious tension culminating in Guy Fawkes' gunpowder plot, the English civil war between the Royalists and Parliamentarians, the Great Fire of London and the Glorious Revolution which ultimately saw the decline of the divine right of Kings in favour of Parliamentary rule. Until this time, ruling monarchs were considered rightfully able to make and pass legislation without recourse to any other body. Whilst the concept had faced some challenges, it was the Stuart kings who pushed the limits, claiming they were subject only to God, which led (unfortunately for them, i.e. the Stuart kings) to Charles I being sentenced to death by beheading outside Whitehall in London on 30 January 1649.
The Bill of Rights 1689, drawn up by the Parliamentarians of the day established thereafter the basic tenets of the concept we know today. These included freedom from royal interference with tax, freedom for common people to petition the King and freedom to elect members of Parliament without the interference of the monarchy; such freedoms are clearly still of great importance today.
Deriving therefore from centuries of upheaval, subsequent constitutional practice reflected in our constitutional writings and in the decisions of our judiciary, the principle of parliamentary sovereignty goes to the core of what Britain is.
Now, like most principles, there are limitations to parliamentary sovereignty. For example, Parliament may limit sovereignty by territory when relinquishing a geographical area over which it previously ruled or by transferring sovereignty to another body. Our current Parliament is, for example, a product of the Acts of the Union 1800 which combined Parliaments to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland with effect from January 1801.
The EU Era
As explained above, the UK through various transformations, has managed her own affairs under the principle of parliamentary sovereignty for the last few centuries, and judging by a PWC report which estimated a 2.4% increase in UK economic growth for 2016 I would say has not done badly.
Then came the European Community. The historical backdrop to the EU has been well detailed in Matt's article (mentioned above) as well as by many others so I shall not spend further time dissecting it here, suffice to say the EU could best be described as a politico-economic union, now made up of 28 member states all located primarily within the continent of Europe.
The UK became a member of the second stage of the EU (then the European Economic Community) in 1973 but despite excitement for the potential this union held, there was a question mark over our ability to sustain and protect our sovereignty as fears were voiced over the impending supremacy of EU law. This has, over the years, only become a more significant issue. There is little doubt that our country has 'been profoundly affected by…membership of the European Union' in particular to the extent that we appear to be subject or bound by the edicts of an external body. But is that really such a bad thing? After all, would we not always have had to sacrifice some sovereignty for the greater good of international relations and trade as the world became more connected?
Chris Grayling in 2013 argued 'we have been through hundreds of years with a common-law system…we have tended to be ahead of the rest of the world in terms of liberalising our laws so I don't really believe that the European jurisdiction of Luxembourg [which enforces EU law] or Strasbourg [which governs human rights law] makes this country a better place than it would be otherwise.' And the common perception nowadays seems to be likewise; that the EU, through its various institutions is forcing us to acts in ways we do not like and which do not benefit the UK as a country; to take in too many immigrants, to keep too many foreign criminals and to enforce 'ridiculous' rulings on human rights which go against our common sense and British sensibilities. 'Catgate' is one example that the media (and Theresa May) latched onto, where a Bolivian man was not deported despite overstaying his visa because of owning a cat which went to prove (among other factors) he was settled here and deporting him would breach his human rights).
However, before passing hasty judgments or moving on to where we fit within the Union matrix, I believe it is important to consider how everything fits into the institutional structure of the EU and where the power comes from. It is in Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) that we find the list of the EU institutions, namely: the European Parliament; the European Council; the Council; the European Commission; the Courts of Justice of the European Union (CJEU); the European Central Bank and the Court of Auditors.
Each institution must act within the limits of the powers conferred on it in the Treaties, and in conformity with the procedures, conditions and objectives set out in them. It is also noteworthy that in all of these institutions we (the British public) are represented and have a say over matters, albeit in some circumstances indirectly. For instance, the Commission consists of 28 Commissioners, one from each Member State appointed by their national governments and acting under a principle of collective responsibility (much like our national government cabinet), which is arguably the cornerstone of what the EU stands for.
The Council with the European Parliament makes up the legislative arm of the EU composed of ministers authorised by Member States to commit their national governments to EU legislation. The Parliament on the other hand was designed to be a central point for the EU, connecting EU citizens with many of the other institutions. The CJEU is to ensure that the Treaty objectives are being fulfilled. It guarantees supremacy of the community law in the Member States. It is on this supremacy point that the arguments over the state of our national sovereignty hinge.
According to the case law of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), including the landmark decision in Van Gend & Loos, the laws of the EU created a 'new legal order' which has primacy over the laws of the Member States, both externally and within the domestic context. It is this system which many have and still argue is eroding our national supremacy and parliamentary sovereignty. An example of this was R (Factortame v Secretary of State for Transport); a case made against the UK government by a company of Spanish fishermen claiming the UK had breached EU law by requiring ships to have a majority British ownership to be registered here under the Merchant Shipping Act (MSA)1988. The resulting litigation was lengthy, including five separate stages and producing a number of significant judgments for our constitutional law. For current purposes it is Factortame II that is most relevant, where the ECJ held that the MSA was incompatible with EU law and the UK must recognise the primacy of the ECJ for those areas of law in which the EU has competency, here being the Common Fisheries Policy of the EU.
It is clear then, from Factortame and other cases that our membership in the EU has meant that the traditionally understood rule of parliamentary supremacy has been, at the very least, compromised. However, the question remains are we worse off for it?
The EU Competences
A good starting point in answering that is to look at the EU competences found in the TFEU which provides a legal foundation for all EU action, dictating what and how the EU can impact on the Member States' own legislative systems.
The EU has to be multi-layered in terms of governance due to the vastness of its membership, scope and reach. Member states, whilst continuing to self govern and legislate, by their very membership agree to some extent of EU governance. As such, competencies have been allocated as a means of organising and regulating the areas of governance but it is crucial to recognise that member states retain all powers not explicitly handed to the EU through various treaties. The competencies are broken down into exclusive, shared and supportive categories.
In some areas the EU enjoys exclusive competence. These are areas in which member states have renounced any capacity to enact legislation themselves. As outlined in Title I of Part I of the TFEU, 'the EU has exclusive competence to make directives and conclude international agreements when provided for in a Union legislative act', while Article 3 of the TFEU notes these as follows:
the customs union;
competition rules for the functioning of the internal market;
monetary policy for those Member States who use the Euro;
the conservation of the marine biological resources;
common commercial policy and;
the conclusion of certain international agreements.
That this is the extent of the EU's exclusive control over issues affecting the Member States nationally may come as a surprise to many, especially given the incessant claims from the media and various high level politicians that the EU membership has become 'disastrous' for us here in the UK.
In other areas member states share the competence to legislate with the EU. While both can legislate, member states can only legislate to the extent to which the EU has not. Contained within Article 4 of the TFEU, shared competences include the internal market, social policy, environment, energy and consumer protection. Then there are supporting competences; areas over which the EU can legislate but not to the extent that Member States are prevented from also doing so. Areas contained within shared competence include research, technological development and space, development cooperation and humanitarian aid.
That a particular policy area falls into a certain category of competence is not necessarily indicative of what legislative procedure is used for enacting legislation within that policy area. Different legislative procedures are used within the same category of competence, and even within the same policy area.
Walking the Tightrope
Having detailed the areas of EU competence, the next logical step in my mind is a frank discussion of how much of a balance we have achieved. Are we still standing on the tightrope of the EU competences or have we fallen into the abyss of its governance?
Back in 2012 William Hague, then Foreign Secretary launched a full 'audit' of EU law and the UK. Described by Hague as a 'necessary and positive part of reforming Europe', it was intended to scrutinise our membership by a series of consultations, evidence analysis and contributions from the public and businesses. It was hoped it would provide a clear sense of how our national interests interact with the EU, particularly at a time of great change for the EU. It was also, reading between the lines, an attempt by the Conservative government to obtain some hard and fast evidence against our membership of the EU, coming as it did off the back of Cameron's manifesto claims to give the country a referendum on a Brexit.
Conducted over two years, the review was the most substantial consideration of the impact and effect of the EU on the UK since we first became a Member State in 1973. The results, released at staged points over the two years and collaborated in a final report published by the Government caused quite a stir. Sadly however, probably not for David Cameron, since there have been allegations of MP's trying to 'bury' its conclusions with a view to maintaining a solid 'no' campaign ahead of a referendum.
Interestingly, the review 'found no evidence (my emphasis) that the EU was interfering excessively in any aspect of British life' and 'contributors… commented that the UK has often been successful in shaping the EU agenda'. Indeed Lord Hannay, former British ambassador to the EU said in a Guardian article '[t]he single, clear message from the review is that in none of its 32 chapters is there a compelling case for the repatriation of powers from Brussels to Westminster and Whitehall. So, while the EU needs reform, our relationship with it does not warrant wholesale dismantling.' The revelations arising from the review add a new complexity to those eurosceptics claiming we are better off out by providing completely contrary evidence of the EU's role in the functioning of our country and its impact on our parliamentary sovereignty.
By all accounts the 'unprecedented… size and scale' of the review alone suggests the results it has produced are at least debatable if not reliable. A proper consideration ahead of the inevitable referendum on a Brexit therefore takes on a new significance. After all, if we are suffering no actual detriment but in fact receiving many positives in terms of trade and free movement from being a part of the EU, is it sensible for us to leave?
Whilst it is clear is that we have, to an extent, sacrificed our sovereignty on the altar of the EU community in terms of being subject to community law, it is not the case that we have given up everything to the EU and we can now be considered a pawn in the EU's game.
I appreciate this may not sit well with some readers and indeed there are aspects of our membership of the EU which cause me concern; it is hard not to worry about the numbers of migrants wanting to come to the UK or how our current infrastructure could sustain that. It is frustrating to think some of our national finances go towards supporting (and in some cases) bailing out EU countries who are less stable than us. It is also hard to sometimes see the sense in judgments handed down from the ECJ which then inevitably influence the decision making of our own judiciary and especially when concerning ridiculous, cat-centred application of human rights laws.
On the whole however, I consider the EU to be like a phoenix out of the flames of World War II; a marvel of cooperation and collaboration to create a united Europe both economically as well as socially and I feel very lucky to be able to travel freely around Member States and have the opportunity to live and study abroad so easily. On a national level too, our membership of the EU has helped UK businesses by plugging labour gaps by workers coming here for jobs, it has increased investment opportunities available to businesses and has increased trade with other EU countries, in some cases by up to 50%.
Cameron has made no secret of what he wants to see from Europe in terms of an adjusted relationship with the UK. Most recently, he set out his objectives in a letter to Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, which, it must be said makes for fairly entertaining reading. He noted that his key objectives were four-fold comprising economic governance, competitiveness, immigration and sovereignty. It remains to be seen how discussions surrounding Cameron's objectives and renegotiation of our membership develop ahead of a country-wide referendum.
It is also possible, regardless of the results of the review of EU competences, that many in the UK will feel our only option is to leave the EU and forge a path on our own. I share William Keegan's concerns that 'from now until the referendum, the public are going to be bombarded with statistics from both sides. It will not be the end of the world if we leave, but it will almost certainly be the end of the UK on the reasonable assumption that Scotland would want to break away…'
Do not get me wrong, there are alternative routes (though sadly, these are outside the scope of the article) out of the EU if Cameron's attempts to secure 'a better deal' fail and a referendum produces the 'no' result. However, the question hanging inevitably over any alternative option is whether it would actually work. What is not in question, at least in my mind, is that regardless of the context, we would always be required to sacrifice some sovereignty for the greater good of international relations and trade, for that is the price of living in an ever-increasingly connected world. I think the oft-repeated words of John Donne 'no man is an island' apply equally to countries too. We cannot stand alone.
I am fairly sure that the majority of the UK's population has seen or heard some reference to parliamentary sovereignty; either how we have lost or freely given this away to Europe along the way. There is often hyperbole surrounding discussion of the principle but I hope, through this article to have provided an explanation and critical analysis of both what it is and whether we still have it. I think, for the most part we do.
Ultimately I believe we are better placed in rather than out and on an overall balance of competences we still enjoy sovereignty. But I do think there needs to be some adjustment to the role we play in Europe, not lease to appease many here and to protect our future interests, so I will be watching the development of Cameron's negotiations to see if he can achieve this.
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Tagged: European Union, Public Law
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Brexit and State Aid: A Sad Story or Freedom from Bureaucratic Constraint?
Don't Just Do Something, Stand There! Reforming the EU
Escaping Daddy's Dance Hall? The Impact of Brexit on Employment Law
What could 'Brexit' mean for UK environmental law and policy?
Brexit: Treating The Renegotiations Correctly
Would Brexit make the UK a Safe-Haven for European fugitives?
Brexit: Would Disruption to the Financial Industries Be Worth It?
Why Brexit May Not Be Worth It: A Competition Law Perspective
It's Time to Talk About Brexit: An Introduction
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Here is the rest of the story....
In this morning's Springfield Republican Local section there was a short item about a lawsuit between the Town of Longmeadow and a Longmeadow homeowner involving a "stone wall" zoning bylaw issue that according to court records has been in litigation since 2005.
Here is a quote from yesterday's ruling by the Massachusetts State Court of Appeals...
Background facts and proceedings
"We summarize the essential and undisputed facts. The plaintiff's two-family residence sits on a six-sided corner lot at Longmeadow Street and Fernleaf Avenue in Longmeadow. The front and side yards of the lot are maintained as lawn space; the angled strip of back yard is heavily wooded. In 2004, the plaintiff constructed an approximately two-foot high, L-shaped stone wall on his front and side yards, adjacent to Longmeadow Street and Fernleaf Avenue. Bordering streets are heavily trafficked and the plaintiff constructed the wall to provide an enclosed play area for his tenant's children. As the parties agreed and the judge found, "the wall, at its closest points, is approximately seventy feet from Longmeadow Street and forty feet from Fernleaf Avenue. The wall does not interfere with drivers' visibility from either street." Construction was nearly complete when the town's building commissioner notified the plaintiff that the fence was in violation of art. IV, § K, of the by-law because it was within the primary setback of the residence. After receiving the notice, the plaintiff briefly ceased construction but thereafter completed construction of the wall and then applied for a variance to allow it to remain in place. The board denied the application, and the plaintiff appealed to Superior Court, pursuant to G.L. c. 40A, § 7. Prior to commencement of the trial, his counsel requested a ruling that "the evidence supports a finding that the Zoning Bylaw can reasonably be interpreted to allow the stone wall as constructed without a variance."
Yesterday's Massachusetts Court of Appeals ruling: "Because the plaintiff's wall is not nearer than forty feet to the line of either street upon which his lot fronts, he is entitled to build his wall as of right and a variance is not necessary."
I suspect that this lawsuit has cost the town of Longmeadow a significant amount of money. As I read the court ruling it seemed that the town's zoning bylaw had some significant language and clarity issues (from yesterday's court ruling- "The by-law is not a model of clarity.")
The Town of Longmeadow lost the initial contest in Massachusetts Superior Court wherein the judge determined that "the board's denial of the variance was unreasonable."
Given that stone walls are a key part of the New England landscape and this particular stone wall fit very nicely into its surroundings... one would guess that it has been there for a long time.
It seems that this entire episode was a waste of the town precious financial resources and a variance should have been granted to the homeowner.
Labels: lawsuit, Longmeadow, stone wall, zoning bylaws


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Loan Watch: Cup joy for Roberts' Celtic
John Edwards
@ManCity
Mon 27 Nov 2017, 16:36
Patrick Roberts tasted success with Celtic this weekend, but elsewhere there was a mixed bag of results for Manchester City's group of loanees.
The 20-year-old winger came off the bench for the final 13 minutes at Hampden Park as the Bhoys beat Motherwell 2-0 to lift the Scottish League Cup.
Earning a 7/10 rating from BBC Sport for his cameo, Roberts made quite an impact and twice went close to scoring as he tormented the opposition full-back.
Brandon Barker had a similarly impactful showing north of the border, as Hibernian drew 1-1 at Hamilton Academical.
The winger, who played the first 79 minutes, impressed with his pace and trickery and set up the Hibees goal after a surging run from inside his own half.
In the Football League, the City contingent experienced contrasting fortunes.
Rodney Kongolo had reason to celebrate as he played the first 45 minutes in Doncaster Rovers' 2-1 over MK Dons.
There was no such joy for Bersant Celina, who came on for the final half hour in Ipswich Town's 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, Angus Gunn made his 19th appearance of the season for Norwich City and helped them to a 1-1 at home to Preston North End.
In League One, Kean Bryan featured at centre-half for Oldham Athletic, keeping a clean sheet in their stalemate with Gillingham as the Latics extended their run of games without defeat to four.
Joe Hart made his 10th appearance for West Ham as they drew 1-1 with Leicester City is last week's Friday night Premier League fixture.
The England custodian was rarely tested in the second half but produced a good save to deny Riyad Mahrez early on.
On the continent, a quintet of players turned out NAC Breda, who suffered a 2-1 defeat to Heracles in the Eredivisie.
Angelino, Manu Garcia and Thierry Ambrose all played the full 90 minutes, with the former putting Breda ahead with the opening goal of the game.
Having edged forward in support of the attack, the full-back unleashed an effort from distance and was aided by a deflection for his first goal of the season.
Ambrose also went close for Breda, as did substitute Paolo Fernandes, who was introduced in the second half alongside Pablo Mari.
Girona extended their unbeaten run in La Liga to four games with a 2-2 draw at Real Betis - a game in which both sides scored in the final two minutes.
Pablo Maffeo played the whole game at right wing-back, with Douglas Luiz introduced after 55 minutes and Aleix Garcia coming on in stoppage time.
Following the game Maffeo was taken to hospital as a precaution after a bang to the head, but was given the all clear.
Staying in Spain, Yaw Yeboah picked up a win with Real Oviedo in La Liga's second division.
The winger came off the bench after half an hour and had a strike ruled out for offside.
Of the loanees who didn't play this weekend, Kjetil Haug was an unused substitute for CF Peralada, while Jason Denayer missed Galatasary's game through injury.
News Men's Team Loans News Loan News Joe Hart Angelino Angus Gunn Bersant Celina Aleix Garcia Brandon Barker Douglas Luiz Manu Garcia Paolo Fernandes Patrick Roberts José Ángel Tasende Kean Bryan Kjetil Haug Pablo Maffeo Rodney Kongolo Thierry Ambrose


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MBBS Admission
Why MBBS out of India than a private college?
Russia is one of the renowned destinations for international students to pursue MBBS starting from the Soviet Era. According to the WHO's Directory of World Medical Schools, Russia has 30 universities that rank among the top 100 medical universities throughout the world. The alumni of many Russian Medical Universities could be found working in major hospitals all over the world. So, what are the prominent reasons that draw students towards medical universities in Russia? The Russian Ministry of Health & Education offers the privilege of highly subsidized fees to international students, and also, the quality of education delivered in these universities is exemplary. Russia is amongst popular destinations due to the availability of MCI coaching, English Medium syllabus, Indian Mess Facility, MCI Approved Top Medical Universities in Russia.
Why Indians prefer MBBS study outside India?
After completing schooling from PCB stream an Indian student starts looking for a good option to make their career in the medical field by pursuing MBBS in India or MBBS Outside Of India. Due to limited seats in India, there is very high competition for qualifying medical exams. If someone wishes to pursue medicine in India then it becomes very difficult for the Indian students to pursue medicine in India, just because of highly competitive entrance exams and very high MBBS fees structure/ Donations. Now as per Medical Council of India(MCI) guidelines a student has to qualify NEET exams to get MBBS admission in a foreign country.
(NEET)National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, which was formerly known as All India Pre-Medical Test is an entrance examination for Indian students who wish to pursue graduation, post-graduation in government and private universities from abroad to get admission in MBBS (Bachelor of Science & Bachelor of surgery) and Bachelor of Dental Surgery.
Every year more than 12 Lakhs appear in NEET exams and only 2 lakhs qualify the exams. The Majority of the students are not qualified NEET exams. Now Indian medical aspirants who wish to pursue medicine in India starts searching for other options.
What Are The Advantage Of Studying MBBS Course In Russia?
1. LOW-COST FEES STRUCTURE
The first benefit that students receive by pursuing MBBS in Russia is the low cost for medical education. Students do not have to compromise on the quality of MBBS education with the lower fees because the universities provide world-class medical education. Various medical colleges in Russia have provided opportunities for students to avail medical education at cheaper costs with great availability of seats.
Another notable factor that can play a definitive role in driving students to choose the top medical colleges in Russia is the fact that there is no requirement of donation fees. Unlike the private institutions which demand high donation fees alongside the yearly fees, Russian medical universities do not impose any donation fees, thereby reducing the overall cost of medical education for students.
2. WORLDWIDE ACCEPTANCE OF MBBS DEGREE
The certification for students after completing their MBBS in Russia is accepted all over the world and is recognized by major institutions such as the WHO and the Medical Council of India, UNESCO as well as that of other renowned countries. The degree of MBBS obtained from Russian medical universities would help students to gain employment in the medical profession in any country.
3. MCI COACHING
The facility of MCI training for students is observed in different institutions for MBBS in Russia vs. China is highly beneficial for students as they do not have to pass through another screening test or additional training that can involve extra cost.
Students wanting to get admission in the top medical colleges in Russia should know that the Screening Test Regulations 2002 has introduced the FMGE Screening Test which specifies that Indian citizens having primary medical qualification from institutions outside of India need to pass a screening test in order to obtain provisional or permanent registration with State Medical Council or the Medical Council of India. The approval of MCI is essential for students to find reasonable and favorable opportunities for employment and practice in the medical profession in India.
4. SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE STUDENTS
Students pursuing MBBS in Russia could also find the benefits of scholarship based on their performance in the current year. Institutions such as the Ulyanovsk State University and the Mordovia State University offer rewards through reducing fees for the next year based on the results of students in academics for a particular year.
5. FAVORABLE STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO
The attention given to students in MBBS courses in Russia is also a reasonable measure to consider the favourability of Russia for pursuing medical education. International students are enrolled in batches of around 12 to 15 students, thereby indicating a favorable student to teacher ratio. The individual attention given to students could be extremely helpful in obtaining the high quality of education for which they have traveled to Russia.
6. EXPENSES IN RUSSIA
When students from India decide to pursue MBBS in Russia, they could be able to find that the cost of living in Russia. First of all, the accommodation costs are hardly between 100-300 USD every month which can be adjusted according to your living style. The use of a metro smart card would help you in commuting easily at only a monthly price of USD 65.
The cost of food can be placed conveniently within only USD 10 for each day. If Indian students want to own a car for transportation, then the fuel prices per liter are estimated at only USD 0.5, which is pretty convenient for purchasing according to a student's budget. Most important of all, the cost of utilities for every month would be almost their USD 150 that is definitely an appealing factor to pursue MBBS in Russia for Indian students.
MBBS In Russia Eligibility For Indian Students
However, candidates aspiring to pursue MBBS in Russia should also be aware of the eligibility criteria for admission. Therefore the essentials of MBBS in Russia eligibility criteria can be highlighted as follows:
The minimum age of the candidate should be 17 years as of 31st December 2019, and the maximum age is 25 years.
Aspiring candidates for MBBS in Russia should have qualified NEET for admission.
The candidate should have scored at least 50% marks in 12th standard from CBSE, ISC or any Equivalent Board of Examination with Science stream (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology).
If the candidate has not registered, appeared or qualified the NEET then they have to submit an Eligibility Certificate issued by Medical Council of India for enrolling in foreign medical universities.
The last date for applications to pursue MBBS in Russia in 2019 was 15th July 2019.
Also check,
Why MBBS Outside Of India than a private college?
MBBS in Kazakhstan?
MBBS in Bangladesh?
Manav Education Consultants | © 2021 All Rights Reserved .
Lets Chat on WhatsApp..


Gem Ball Ancient Legends Bring the gifts of the gods back to the people!
Reaxxion Reaxxion is a unique entertainment experience!
Monkey Business Make Monkey Business your career.
Bird Pirates Sail away on a pirate hunt.
Downbeat Match the beats of 80s hits!
Mayawaka Enter Mayawaka, the Worlds of Wonder!
Big Pinata Smash pinatas and collect candy!
Arcadia REMIX Conquer arcade classics!
Barrel Mania Save the day at DCAE (Don't Care About Environment) Corp!
Plumeboom: The First Chapter Save Orniland from evil.
Avernum 4 Experience an epic fantasy role-playing adventure!
Pathstorm Roll a ball through covered pathways to find hidden objects!
Magus: In Search of Adventure Join Magus on a magical adventure.
Mythic Marbles Discover your noble destiny!
Phantasia 2 It's time to go back to the castle and save the dwarves!
Darwin the Monkey Reclaim Darwin's stolen bananas.


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Find the latest EESC opinions and publications at http://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/our-work/opinions-information-reports/opinions and http://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/our-work/publications-other-work/publications respectively.
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8 March - International Women's Day
Message of Gabriele Bischoff, President of the Workers' Group
On 8 of March I always remember the Beautiful Song of our movement:
We want bread but Roses too. This year we also want the Work-Life Balance Directive.
International Women's Day on 8 of March is a beautiful opportunity to remember, what we have achieved, and what still lies ahead of us. This year the Workers' Group is focusing particularly on men …and penguins. Why focus on men on a day that celebrates women? Because gender equality is not just a women's issue. Without the engagement of men, we will never achieve true gender equality.
The average take up of paternity leave and / or parental leave by men in the EU Member States is only 10%. In some Members States it is as low as 5%! Women continue to bear the main responsibility for caring for children and other dependents, including elderly relatives, as well as doing the majority share of work in the home. We will never achieve gender equality if we do not tackle these stereotypes.
The European Commission is trying to do just that with its new proposal for legislation on work-life balance for parents and carers. The Workers' Group fully supports this initiative. People are not working machines: we work and engage, but we also want to spend time with our children and families; we want to be there when they need us, in case they are sick and need support.
The Commission wants to introduce a right to paid paternity leave for fathers at the time of the birth. It is also proposing to introduce paid parental leave. This is a leave that both parents can take currently up until the child is 8. But it isn't paid. And that's one of the main reasons why take up by men is so low. Under the Commission's proposal parental leave would now be paid and parents could take it up until the child is 12 years old.
But what about the penguins? Well, they are natural examples of sharing of responsibilities in parenting! After the female lays her egg, she transfers it to her mate before leaving in search for food. The male will guard and keep the egg warm, sometimes for up to two months, before the egg hatches and the female return.
The new legislation proposed by the Commission is an essential driver for women to be able to enter and stay in the labour market but also to promote more gender equality at all levels, from inside the family to employment and the broader society. Yes, it will cost money. But this as an investment in families, in people, in the economy, and ultimately in our joint future.
This is the added value of Europe: setting common minimum standards. This means that a teacher in Bratislava, a factory worker in Newcastle or a restaurant worker in Berlin would all have the same range of options to help them balance their work and family responsibilities. This is why the Workers' Group is supporting the campaign #IwantWorkLifeBalance. Men and women, children and parents all deserve it. It is our Europe, Social, Just and Democratic.
In Solidarity
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Can't stop, won't stop with the festive holiday attire. Can you believe Christmas is 6 days away? I finally had the excuse to pull out my new sparkly shoes for a holiday party this weekend and it made me so excited for all of the festivities planned between now and New Years.
I am obsessed with the rhinestone heel on these kate spade new york shoes. They are such a classic style but with an unexpected statement. They definitely take this look to another level. A great outfit ideas for New Year's Eve. I actually ended up adding opaque black tights and it made the sparkly heel even more pronounced. My closet is full of statement shoes and I'm also thinking of adding these and these (SO PRETTY).
I wore this cute Topshop dress with a subtle star print and layered a faux fur vest under my coat for some extra warmth. Sadly my pink coat is sold out but similar options are here and here. I love that this look felt festive but not over the top. I can't tell you how many compliments I got on these shoes. They definitely stole the show! I can always count on kate spade new york to add some happy to my wardrobe.
Hope you all are checking your to-do's so you can take a break over the holidays! We leave on Wednesday and I'm basically counting down the hours until we can finally enjoy some time with family.
In collaboration with kate spade new york.
These shoes are just too gorg! Love the polka dot dress too!
Such a lovely outfit, that dress is super cute and looks great with the pink coat!
These shoes are BEAUTIFUL!! I absolutely love them, gal!
That pink coat and heels are gorgeous!! I love this look!
These shoes look amazing on you.
This look is SO good for the holidays! And I'm LOVING those shoes!
Oh my, those are perfect party shoes, and I love your pink coat! Happy Holidays!
Most gorgeous, outfits, model, mother & wife!!!
P.S. Any other Kate Spade lover can submit their response too!


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GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies and TV You Love
The professor is retired, but Lady Layton is ready to solve puzzles in 2017
By Sam Prell 27 July 2016
In case you hadn't heard, the next Professor Layton game won't be starring the titular professor. Today, we finally found out who the next game will feature: his daughter, Katrielle (or "Kat" for short). A "Professor Ladyton," if you will.
Unfortunately, developer Level-5 doesn't have the same fondness for puns that I do. The game will actually be titled Lady Layton: The Millionaire Ariadone's Conspiracy, and is slated for release sometime in 2017. It'll be coming to Nintendo 3DS, as well as iOS and Android devices.
The game's premiere trailer is in Japanese, but it looks like the trademark fondness for puzzles is intact. Plus, it looks like Lady Layton has a dog companion. Who talks! And whose… uh… butthole keeps facing the camera. Lady Layton; it's a video game!
See something newsworthy? Tell us!
Sam Prell
Sam has a soft spot for MOBAs, MMOs, and emo music. Forever a farm boy, forever a '90s kid.
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ASUS XG27UQ 4K monitor review
Cobra Kai season 3 review: "Powers through and delivers its best season yet"
Star Trek: Discovery season 3, episode 11 review: "The perfect Christmas present"
The best board games 2021
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Advertising On Fayetteville Radio Builds Brand For Local Business
Dec 31, 2018 7:00:13 AM / by Larry Julius
Every Fayetteville small business has a brand. "Your company's brand," says Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, "is what your customers say about you when you are no longer in the room."
A few years ago, customers of the Crown Complex weren't saying good things. Advertising on Fayetteville radio helped remove the tarnish from the Crown's public's perception.
The Crown Complex first opened in 1967 just minutes from downtown Fayetteville. It expanded in 1987 to include a 60,000 square foot expo space. In 1997 the 10,880 seat Coliseum was added.
In 2013, amid poor fiscal performance and poor public perceptions, Cumberland County, owner of the building, hired Spectra Venue Management to address these issues around. According to James Grafstrom, who has managed the Crown Complex since then, advertising on Fayetteville radio has contributed greatly to fulfilling the county's expectations.
"In terms of the public's perception of the Crown Complex," explains Mr. Grafstrom, "it is not unusual for people in a community to believe other cities have things better. Fayetteville was no exception. People here just didn't realize that we were putting on 267 events per year right here in Cumberland County. They believed big cities like Charlotte and Raleigh were doing a better job."
"We might not have Jason Aldean or Luke Bryant here every week, says Mr. Grafstrom, "but we do have an impressive slate of entertainment come through here every year. Superstars like Elton John and Thomas Rhett to family shows like the Moscow Ballet's Nutcracker and Disney on Ice. We also have professional sports such as Fayetteville Marksmen Hockey and WWE."
To help improve and maintain the public perception, Mr. Grafstrom continually advertises on Fayetteville radio.
Everybody Is Listening To The Radio
"Although the media landscape has changed, no matter how you look at it," he says, "radio is still in the forefront. People are in their cars every day whether they going to work or coming home. During that time, they are listening to Fayetteville radio. They might be listening to a rock station; a pop station; a rap station; a talk station; or a county station. But the bottom line is they are listening."
"They might not have a chance to look at the newspaper that day, or check Facebook," Mr. Grafstrom continues, "but because they are captive in their cars, we can reach them with our message, even if it just for 15 or 30 seconds. I see this as a real value to keep The Crown Complex top-of-mind in our community."
A study conducted by Nielsen in Spring of this year confirms Mr. Grafstrom's observations. The study shows that 90% of everyone in the area tune-in to their favorite Fayetteville radio station each week. This is more people than watch local TV or read a newspaper.
Nielsen also points out that radio listening in Cumberland County is nearly ubiquitous among people of all ages. This includes members of Generation X, Y, and Z; Millennials, and Boomers. Everybody.
To change local residents' perception from 'nothing ever happens at the Crown' to 'something exciting is always happening at the Crown', Mr. Grafstrom uses a combination of 30-second and 15-second commercials to brand the venue, not necessarily to sell tickets.
"We are on the radio every week sharing our line-up of all upcoming events regardless of the audience that is hearing the commercial." He says. "For instance, we will include a rap show in the commercial on a country station. We will include a rock show in our commercial on rap station. We will include new artists in our commercial on an oldies station.
"The purpose of doing it this way is to make sure the public is aware that there are a lot more events at the Crown than they had perceived."
"One of our commissioners from the county compares our branding approach to a pie," says Mr. Grafstrom. "If you gave a pie to a small group of people, then only they would know about the pie. However, if you share pieces of the pie with a lot of different groups, then everybody would know about the pie. When everyone knows about the pie, then they would all want a taste. With our approach to advertising all events on all stations regardless of the audience, then we are, in essence, sharing the pie with everyone."
"In addition to this branding approach," says Mr. Grafstrom, "we also use promotional advertising to sell tickets for individual shows. Sometimes we handle this locally or sometimes the show's promoter places the advertising. Unlike our branding ads, though, these commercials run only for a short time on those stations which match the target demographic for the event."
Advertise Continually To Avoid Backsliding
"There are two reasons that we run on our branding campaign 52 weeks a year on Fayetteville radio," says Mr. Grafstrom. "The first is now that we have been successful in creating the belief that we always have something going on at the Crown Complex, we can't afford to backslide."
"The second reason is because one-third of our local residents are part of the Ft. Bragg military community. These people are always in transit, moving in-and-out. So, there's a good chance the people we successfully branded to last year or the year before that have moved away. They are then replaced by new people who have no idea the Crown Complex is even here. So, we must start the process over again with them."
"Just like other Cumberland County small business owners, our ability to market on base is limited," adds Mr. Grafstrom. "Advertising on Fayetteville radio really helps us to get past the gate with our branding message."
Mr. Grafstrom's approach to marketing the Crown Complex has proven effective. "With the help of Fayetteville radio and our other media partners," he says, "We have been able to achieve our goals and objectives."
"Radio advertising can help other Fayetteville small business owners achieve their goals as well," adds Mr. Grafstrom who, in addition to his role at the Crown Complex is also the Chairman of the local Chamber of Commerce. "My advice for those business people is to really understand who their target customers are. Then, do the research to make sure the stations purchased really reach the right listeners."
Learn More About Advertising On Fayetteville Radio
Topics: branding
Written by Larry Julius


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Az 511-es főút egy közel 4 kilométer hosszú, három számjegyű másodrendű főút Bács-Kiskun megye területén; Baja tehermentesítését szolgálja az áthaladó teherforgalom alól.

Nyomvonala
Az 51-es főútból ágazik ki, annak a 155+800-as kilométerszelvénye után épült körforgalmú csomópontból, nem messze Baja legészakibb fekvésű házaitól. Dél felé indul, de hamar kissé keletebbi irányt vesz, így halad el Bajaszentistván, majd Katonaváros városrészek mellett. A kettő határvonala közelében, a 2+350-es kilométerszelvényét elhagyva egy újabb körforgalmú csomóponton halad át, abból az 551-es főút ágazik ki, nyugati irányban. Egy újabb körforgalmú csomópontot elérve ér véget, beletorkollva az 55-ös főútba, annak a 98+450-es kilométerszelvénye közelében. Ugyanott ér véget az ellenkező irányból becsatlakozva az 5501-es út, amely Öttömöstől húzódik idáig.

Teljes hossza az országos közutak térképes nyilvántartását szolgáló kira.gov.hu adatbázisa szerint 3,740 kilométer.

Története

Források
 kira.gov.hu, lekérdezés időpontja: 2021. április 4.

Jegyzetek

511
511
Baja

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Dave Belvederi Reveals His Journey To Becoming An Actor
Dave Belvederi is a triple threat! He is an actor, writer, and a stuntman who is
currently starring in his latest film, "Rogue Hunter."
Belvederi plays a man named Alex Phoenix who is a "Rogue Hunter, a cyborg mercenary
who disposes malfunctioned androids but his next routine mission is interrupted by anti-
technology terrorists. Alex is a guy that is stuck in his own mind, he's always acting like he
has better things to do or better places to be, and of course, a great sense of humor which
creates a funny conflict with his good friend Sergeant Barnes. I had a huge deal of fun
shooting, especially because the role was physically demanding. I just love it when there is
pain and sweat into the performance."
Long before Belvederi was slaying bad guys on
screen, he was an accountant who was drawn to the
world of filmmaking and therefore, found himself
transitioning from accountant to actor.
"The transition came back in 2012 when me and a bunch
of friends decided to make our own little short movie to escape the boredom of an everyday
job. Initially, I was supposed to direct but one of the roles was vacant and the project was
shot in English so I ended up taking the role, only then I realized I actually loved being in
front of the camera; the gist of it all is that acting made me realize what I really was, it
changed me, it ripped me apart and carved me again and again, the funny thing is that it
keeps doing it. The thing that addicts me to this profession is that I can finally let my
imagination run free without any boundaries, without being judged and nothing can
replace that."
Shortly after realizing what he was meant to do, Belvederi left his native hometown
of Bologna Italy to pursue an acting workshop in New York City which eventually
led him to Los Angeles.
"Soon after we wrapped our short film, I ended taking an acting workshop at this American
University. Shortly after that, I applied for a scholarship then I moved to NY for a one year
program. It was an amazing experience and I did very well, the city itself changed me so
much, so the school decided to expand my scholarship to pursue a degree and that led to
Los Angeles where I now reside."
Though he worked hard to make his dreams come true, there were a few obstacles
he faced along the way, and he continues to deal with them today.
"Well, I think the most persisted obstacle that I still face from time to time is networking, I
usually don't speak that much, I'm more of a "doer" than a talker even though having this
skill often opens up a lot of good opportunities."
Dave Belvederi is a
remarkable talent who
can act, write, and
perform his own
stunts. However, he
simply wants to be
remembered as someone who filled people's
lives with entertainment.
"My dream would be to go down as a guy that was able to mark people's childhoods and
moments. For example, for me it Ewan McGregor in "Star Wars" or Tom Cruise in the
"Mission Impossible Saga"; but, I would settle for a man that was able to entertain at his
best, you know simple."
actorslife, Blog, blogger, celeb, celebnews, celebrities, celebrity, celebrity blog, celebrity blogger, celebrity love, celebrity news, celebrityblogger, celebritynews, celebs, Dave Belvederi, entertainer, entertainment, entertainment blog, entertainment new, entertainment news, entertainmentblogger, film, journalism, life, life of a blogger, life of a journalist, life of an actor, lifeloveandpopculture, lifeofablogger, llandpopculture, llpopculture, love, movies, pop culture, pop culture news, Rogue Hunter, vblog, vblogger, video
Lisa Vanderpump Explains Her Road to Yulin
MARVEL STUDIOS' "BLACK PANTHER" TRAILER


text:
KNICKERS IN A TWIST
Naked woman shocks shoppers in Russia after brazenly walking through a busy town centre in just a THONG
The ladies appear to walk carefree as if they are fully clothed
By Patrick Knox
Updated: 28 Jul 2017, 14:04
A DARING woman has sparked controversy after she was caught on camera walking around a busy town centre in just her G-string.
The pedestrian, whose identity is not known, was filmed crossing a street in the seaside resort of Anapa in south-western Russia's Krasnodar Krai region.
Female exhibitionism...it seems some women are wearing less and less these daysCredit: CEN
She was wearing only a black g-string to protect her modesty while her pal was wearing lilac bikini bottoms.
The eye-popping footage, captured by an eyewitness with a smartphone, is proving popular with viewers after being posted on video-sharing websites.
At the end of the video, the camerawoman can be heard saying: "I am completely shocked."
Maybe she just wanted to get rid of her tan linesCredit: CEN
The woman's pal is equally scantily clad, although she is wearing a swim suit
One social media user Steven Johnson said: "This is a resort town, many people do so... but to be fair I do agree that the G-string was too much."
And another user identified as "Armer XP Deus" added: "She should be ashamed."
RUNNING INTO DANGER
Moment unarmed cops take on London Bridge terrorists on bloody rampage
HOMES UNDER THE SCAMMER
Benefits cheat who owns 4 homes swindled £30k moaning 'I'm hard up'
GL-ASSTONBURY
Sun writer bares all as she goes uncovered at UK's biggest naturist festival
Furious couple make 10ft banners with neighbours' FACES in bonkers planning row
Outrage as couple perform sex act in front of families on Hove beach
How violent drug gangs are 'cuckooing' the vulnerable & taking over UK countryside
Anapa, which is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, has enjoyed a big increase in popularity since the fall of the Soviet Union.
It boasts a sunny summer climate and beautiful, mostly sandy beaches which are popular with Russians who prefer traditional resorts to more expensive destinations.
In June two women were caught on camera strolling through clubbing hotspot Magaluf – one stark naked and the other wearing nothing but a tiny G-string.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368.


text:
THE CALLIGRAPHERS' NIGHT
by Yasmine Ghata
Translated by Andrew Brown
It's 1923, and the young Rikkat is being brought up in the belief that her entire life will be the devoted to the art of calligraphy. That same year, Ataturk's republic breaks away from the venerable Islamic tradition and progressively abolishes the Arabic language and scripts in favour of a modified version of the Latin alphabet. Once the sacred ministers of Allah and Sultans, calligraphers are now being marginalised and their schools closed. The resulting suicide of Rikkat's mentor can only reinforce her spite for the new regime and her love for the ancient art she has been taught since her childhood. Inspired by the life of the author's grandmother, 'The Calligraphers' Night' is a breathtaking excursion into the mysteries of life, time, death, and writing as an art.


Although not native to Washington, D.C., Alvie P. is certainly a certified Washingtonian, having spent his entire career here in government service. Alvie was born in Williamsboro, North Carolina, and moved to Henderson, North Carolina, with his parents where, at the tender age of four, he began picking cotton. Along with his six brothers and sisters, Alvie worked to help support his family throughout the Great Depression. His father was a tobacco farmer, and his mother travelled to neighboring states to assist families with household chores such as sewing and meal preparation.
In Henderson, Alvie attended elementary school and then high school at the Henderson Institute while working at the E.G. Davis grocery store. One year after graduating from high school, Alvie moved to Washington, D.C., and lived with a family from Henderson at 7th Street NE, paying a small sum for room and board. He eventually moved to 11th Street NW. Alvie met his late wife Lucretia on a pleasure cruise on the Potomac. The two dated for almost four years before getting married, and they had two sons, Matt and Sam.
Alvie became a member of our Kensington Park family in 2013 and, when asked what he likes most about the community, replied "I love the people, staff, and other residents." Alvie says that his favorite thing to do is follow the rules, something he always had to do while working at the White House and something his mother instilled in him and his siblings at a young age.


Think back to the first time you smoked cannabis. You probably recall the burning throat, the uncoordinated attempts to use a carb, the inability to gauge how long to pull the smoke… Ah yes, those were the days. But the memories of yesteryear for you veterans are very alive and real for those just now jumping on the cannabis bandwagon.
Not everyone likes to smoke, and those with compromised lung health may not even have the option. The stigmatized image of smoking might be the only thing stopping some people from trying cannabis, even if they live in a state with legal marijuana (maybe you can see your mom taking a bong rip, but I sure can't).
Even though there are a number of different ways you can consume cannabis that have evolved over the years, you may be looking for a more health-conscious option. Here are some suggestions for a smoke-free cannabis experience.
You don't need to torch your cannabis with a lighter to reap its benefits; actually, its chemical compounds vaporize at a much lower, less harmful temperature. The taste of vaporized cannabis is often preferred to that of combusted flower, and the vapor is much easier on the lungs. Larger table-top vaporizers can offer high-quality vapor with advanced temperature settings, while small hand-held devices let you enjoy cannabis flower or oils wherever you go. These days there are many affordable vaporizers to choose from if you're interested in trying out this smokeless form of cannabis consumption.
One of the more obvious alternatives to smoking is cannabis-infused food and drink. The diversity of marijuana edibles is quickly and vastly expanding, so much so that you can infuse virtually anything that calls for butter or oil. You can make your own at home (it's surprisingly easy, but be cautious with dosing), but dispensaries and retail shops often have a staggering number of options, from infused lemonade to roasted garlic crackers. You've probably heard it already, but it must be said: start with a low dose and be patient. Because of the digestive process, edibles take much longer to kick in and can have intensely psychoactive effects.
Ingestible oils are basically any cannabis concentrate that is taken orally. These most commonly come in capsules or plastic applicators, either of which can be consumed directly or added to food or drink. Like edibles, ingestible oils can induce powerful effects that take a while to kick in, so be mindful of your dose!
Tinctures are infused liquids that extract cannabis compounds using an alcohol soak and are applied directly under the tongue. Unlike ingestible oils and infused foods, tinctures enter the bloodstream immediately, allowing for fast-acting effects and better dose control. A variety of flavors, potencies, and cannabinoid profiles are often available, catering to your specific preferences or medical needs.
Topicals are cannabis-infused lotions and balms that are applied directly to the skin for localized relief of pain, soreness, and inflammation. One unique property of cannabis topicals is their ability to treat symptoms without psychoactive effects, so if you need to be clear-headed and bypass that euphoric high altogether, topicals are the way to go.


L75 (Classic) - 35Watt/40Watt/75Watt, 3600lm/4400lm/8000lumens, Light-Emitting Diode (LED) primary lights are designed with changeable focus light head and Li-Ion battery packs, available in the capacity range from 15,6Ah to 40,8Ah. Used water-tight switch on/off with rubber cap.
The color temperature is about 6500°K.The main feature of the head with different angle of light beam is very narrow beam of light for underwater communication or very wide beam for wide lighting.
All the electronics is located inside the light head, what allowed to manufacture shorter canister and gives possibility to use the same battery canister as power supply for light heads and electric heating Yellow Diving series.
The goodman's handle is wide enough to be used in cold water with dry gloves. Threads of the height regulation screws are enforced now to avoid corrosion in salt water. Bungy line supplements the handle to allow easy changing of light-head hold while scootering.
There is an eye-shaped piece of bungy line secured to the rotating ring located under the sealing gland, allowing to use a double ended bolt snap without a need of mounting it on the cable. When not in use, the light head could be temporarily attached to chest D-ring, with light beam directed downwards, without giving a dazzle. This way you can free your hands still having a dive light. Using attachments located on a goodman handle and bungy eye on rotating ring below sealing gland you can place your double ended bolt snap inside the contour of the light head, what is very useful when diving with reels and guidelines.
Banana connectors between battery pack and canister cover makes storing canister and preparing for diving easier. When canister cover is put in-place, the power supply is connected in easy way. The cover could placed in two different positions – connected and not connected, what allow to secure the equipment during transport. This type of connections makes battery pack full water-tight up to 150m (450 fsw).
The battery indicator shows the level of the battery charge.
information on the current battery level.
There are two independent LEDs module.
"Angles of light" indicator shows a different angle of light beam.
The indicator is located on the right side of the head.
The modes lights work both together or separately.
LED diode provides information on the current angle of light.
Wszelkie prawa autorskie osobiste i majątkowe do jakichkolwiek elementów strony www.yellowdiving.eu (tekstowych, graficznych, układu strony, itp.) są zastrzeżone. Strona oraz wszystkie jej elementy są chronione przepisami prawa, w szczególności ustawy z dnia 4 lutego 1994 roku o prawie autorskim i prawach pokrewnych (tekst jednolity Dz. U.00.80.904 z późn. zm.) oraz ustawy z dnia 16 kwietnia 1993 roku o zwalczaniu nieuczciwej konkurencji (Dz.U.93.47.211 z późn. zm.).


CNSI's partners, friends and alumni provide us with vital support in providing resources to meet our goals in providing a visionary investment in future education, research and technological resources of California.
Help us contribute to building upon CNSI's mission in creating a collaborative, closely integrated and strongly interactive environment that will foster innovation in nanosystems research and education.
There are many ways to support CNSI. Learn more on how you can donate.


Click on the country name for the trip Facebook page.
For more information on trips or how you can join or lead a team, get started today!
In addition to our monthly newsletter, KidZ at Heart also sends out ePrayer Notes once a month. Your prayers are a vital part of the ministry. Sign up for ePrayer Notes or access past editions.
Miss a month or looking for a specific one? Find past newsletters.
Search and shop for the cause. At no extra cost to you, searching and shopping can help support KidZ at Heart.
We've seen it countless times over the past 16 years of training in other cultures. Local teachers, parents, and children's leaders attend a KidZ at Heart training, and their lives and ministries are transformed. They embrace and immediately implement what they've learned. Children's lives are impacted as they engage in and experience vital biblical truths. But something's missing, or, rather someone's missing. During the training, attendees begin advocating for those who aren't there to experience the same training. Read more.
Jackson lost his father during the Rwandan genocide. As an exchange student from Rwanda, Jackson then went on to the Coast Guard Academy in the United States. One of his classmates invited Jackson to his home for several holidays where Jackson was considered part of the family. He has since returned to serve in the Rwandan Air Force. Over a recent Christmas holiday, Jackson asked his classmate's father, Andy Metroka, to mentor him. Read more.
Let's set the stage for a rapid expansion of knowledge and skills. Joan, a National Trainer for KidZ at Heart, provides training in remote areas throughout the year. She is currently training 22 teachers in Olievenhoutbosch, South Africa. Together we can train more trainers globally to provide much-needed instruction to those KidZ at Heart would never be able to reach otherwise. Joan shares, "I assure you that when the teachers implement what they're learning, we can expect a revival in South Africa!"
Friends of KidZ have set up a $15,000 fund to match your gift! All gifts received by May 31, 2018, and up to a $15,000 total will be matched. Give today!
4/14 to the 10/40. Sounds a bit like a math equation, right? Earlier,we shared the meaning and significance of the first term, but, sadly, it's easy to overlook the opportunity with the second. Here's an explanation to help make sense of all of all this. Read more.
From the inside of a former Colorado airport hangar, now turned into Stapleton Church, came laughter and discovery during the recent KidZ Ministry Team Training. Children's Ministry Director Ariel invited those who served in children's ministry at their church, community daycare teachers, plus those in their community, to spend a Saturday learning to effectively engage kids in a spiritual relationship with Jesus. One of the participants, Kynton, expressed, "This is a great training for anyone who wants to help the children know God, not just know about God."
Contact Janet Anthony at (877) 778-KidZ (5439), ext. 501 to bring great training to your KidMin team.
Sign up to receive our monthly ePrayer Notes--praises, requests, and prayer updates.
Many teams are still open to more team members. Visit our website or contact Pat McWhorter for more information on trips that are available or how you can form a trip with those at your own church.
This email was sent to jfirestone@kidZatheart.org. If you are having trouble viewing this email, you may also view it online. To opt out of all communications, click here.


Important note: you can get those Heroes via one (or several) Summoning Focus!
The 10th Forging Bonds event for Fire Emblem Heroes is called ???, and it will take place from May 10th to May 24th. Here's the Event Characters: coming soon!
And here's the list of accessories that give you a friendship boost (can now be equipped automatically if you already own them): coming soon!
And finally, here's the list of rewards (there's a separate set for each character): coming soon!
Fire Emblem Heroes – Forging Bonds – What is it?
Forging Bonds is a new type of event for Fire Emblem Heroes, where you get to grow closer to a specific set of Heroes (the Event Characters). By clearing stages, and defeating enemies, you get to earn "hearts" (called friendship) that allow you to deepen your bond with a given Hero.
But it's not just about rewards: increasing your friendship allows you to enjoy special conversations with the Event Characters. If you increase it with all 4 Event Characters, then you can even unlock even more special conversations.
Here's how you get friendship: you go to battle, and defeat enemies. Sometimes, those very enemies will drop chest, containing precious friendship. Your goal is pretty simple: open as many chests as possible.
special accessories that you can wear (see the list above): those give you +25% friendship, and you can stack the bonuses too!
Unlike in other modes, enemies in Forging Bonds battles are always near the level of your own Heroes (though obviously, battles are easier in easier difficulties): you can take advantage of that to train them.
Finally, something important to keep in mind: despite what the name of the event might imply, Forging Bonds does not allow you to increase the Summoner Support level with the Event Characters (provided you have summoned them). That's why there's absolutely nothing to worry about if you haven't summoned any of the Event Characters (yet): you can still take part in the event, and you won't miss any bonus whatsoever.


text:
Stuff@Night
Letters | Media -- Dont Quote Me | News Features | Phillipe And Jorge | This Just In
The year the crap hit the fan
The feminine critique
Obama's victory was bought and paid for — with change
By STEVEN STARK | December 24, 2008
Conventional wisdom dictates that Barack Obama was swept into office on the winds of change. History books will surely echo that notion. But while those are sentimentally satisfying explanations for what took place this past November, Obama owes his presidency largely to cold hard cash.
Though the American dollar is now taking a horrific beating in these financial End Times, it's still strong enough to put a man in the Oval Office. In the end, Obama's victory was notable in a number of ways, most obviously because of his race. But in political terms, it was about as conventional as they come.
That's an important distinction, because it tells us a lot about our likely political future. Remember that, at the beginning of this fall campaign, the press fell all over itself proclaiming the Obama operation as the harbinger of a new, realigned type of post-Internet politics — able to mobilize a massive network, mostly of the young, at a moment's notice. Turnout was predicted to set new records.
In reality, turnout was up, but not by much, and the young comprised nearly the same percentage of the vote they always have. As for Obama's decisive victory? It was about what one would expect from any challenger to an incumbent party running in the midst of a recession and the worst economic crisis in a generation.
Still, the Obama campaign did make political history with an unexpected innovation: it brilliantly used the Internet to convert enthusiasm into money. And that helped make Obama the greatest political fundraiser of all time.
Essentially, then, he won the presidency the old-fashioned way, using his vast resources to first wipe out Hillary Clinton and then overwhelm John McCain.
Battle of the bucks
This isn't meant to downplay the significance of his victory. Obama proved that he knows how the game is played, which is no small feat. And, undoubtedly, he captured something: there hasn't been as charismatic a candidate since John F. Kennedy. But as for the notion that he rewrote the political playbook, he really didn't, with the exception, of course, of raising cash.
What Obama did was to end the roughly 30-year period of public financing of presidential elections that began in the mid '70s. By becoming the first candidate to opt out of public funding in a general election — something a Republican candidate would have had far more trouble doing, thanks to press criticism — the Obama forces of various kinds went on to raise and spend around $750 million. That's more than John Kerry and George Bush raised combined in 2004.
That gave Obama more than twice as much money as John McCain, and he used it to outspend the GOP candidate on TV by 7-1 in Indiana, by 4-1 in Virginia, and by 2-1 in Ohio. As a consequence, these states went Democratic — some for the first time in a generation.
Yes, Obama had the best organization on the ground in modern presidential history. But he had it for a very good reason: in addition to all those volunteers, he was able to hire an awful lot of organizers.
All this is relevant in assessing whether Obama's victory actually signals a realignment of our presidential politics. The economic crisis could create a possible opening for an expansion of government and an era of Democratic rule. And now that he's the incumbent, Obama will be able to use the power of the office to help him secure re-election, as all his predecessors have tried to do. (Based on Obama's performance so far, he'll do it very well.)
Still, it's terribly unlikely anyone will ever again have that kind of financial advantage. As Michael Barone pointed out in a recent commentary, one can run to become the first African-American president only once. Next time, the thrill will be gone, or at least diminished.
Should the economic slowdown continue, raising money is going to be much tougher, too, as colleges and charities have already begun to find out. Most important, Obama's fundraising magnetism is unlikely to benefit his Democratic colleagues.
That's why the one path open to the Democrats — at least for the next two years — is to try to change the federal-election laws in a way that benefits their party. It's clear the old rules don't work anymore — only an idiot would take public funding in the future. Yet chances are that the Dems will be afraid to touch the system, now that it appears at first glance to finally benefit them.
The bottom line is that Obama and the circumstances that led to his election this time appear unique. And uniqueness, by definition, isn't transferable. At least, the Republicans better hope that's the case.
To read the "Presidential Tote Board" blog, go to thePhoenix.com/blogs/toteboard. Steven Stark can be reached at sds@starkwriting.com.
RI '08: Prelude to 2010
In a national year of change, stasis is likely to prevail at the General Assembly
Mod on the move
Obama supporter Lincoln Chafee talks about the post-election landscape
Take Back Barack
It's time to reclaim the man we put in the White House
Obama for president
Plus, Reed for Senate, Kennedy and Langevin for US House, and choices for State Senate, House, and more
Bicyclists to spell support for Obama
Election cycle
Lou Dobbs in 2012?
As the GOP implodes, the financial crisis may present a white-hot moment for a third-party voice to enter the fray
Hope restored
Barack Obama's election has sparked international wonder. His task, however, is great.
Topics: News Features , Barack Obama , Barack Obama , presidential election , More , Barack Obama , Barack Obama , presidential election , donations , Elections and Voting , Politics , Economic Issues , Economic Crisis , U.S. Politics , Business , Less
ARTICLES BY STEVEN STARK
MONEY MATTERS | December 24, 2008
LOU DOBBS IN 2012? | October 16, 2008
HOOVER? DAMN! | October 09, 2008
George W. Bush's failures may have set off a tectonic shift in US presidential politics, commencing a Democratic Party reign
CAPTAIN CHAOS | October 02, 2008
Steering a suddenly lost GOP ship,
SARAH, GET YOUR AK-47 | September 17, 2008
The Alaska governor is dominating the election as we head into the fall — Why that is bad news for the Obama campaign
See all articles by: STEVEN STARK
Women in politics came a long way in 2008, but the weight of double standards endures
REVIEW: THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Age before beauty
2008 LISTRAVAGANZA!
An absolute glut of cruelly reductive Top 10 lists from our dedicated staff of tirelessly enthusiastic writers
REVIEW: MARLEY & ME
Banal entertainment
FOURTH-ESTATE FOLLIES!
Remembering the year in media malfeasance
YEAR IN FILM: RISKY BUSINESS
Films whose aspirations are more than Academic
20 REASONS THE EARTH WILL BE GLAD TO SEE BUSH GO
As our 43rd president scrambles to screw further with Mother Nature, a look at the ways our planet will be better off under Obama
REVIEW: THE SPIRIT
Awful on every level
Barack Obama , Hillary Clinton , John McCain , Mitt Romney , George W. Bush , Deval Patrick , Mike Huckabee , Tom Menino , U.S. Republican Party , John Edwards (Politician)
Wacko patrol: America's 25 scariest conservatives
Explore your Fantasies
Featured Articles in Theater:
Year in Theater: Staged right
Adam Bock is a good listener
Rabbit forming
Arise and hail
Saturday, December 27, 2008 | Sign In | Register


text:
require File.expand_path "../test_helper", __FILE__
require 'pdf/inspector'

context "ShowOff basic tests" do

  def app
    opt = {:verbose => false, :pres_dir => "test/fixtures/simple", :pres_file => 'showoff.json'}
    ShowOff.set opt
    ShowOff.new
  end

  setup do
  end

  test "can get the index page" do
    get '/'
    assert last_response.ok?
    assert_match '
', last_response.body
  end

  test "can get basic slides" do
    get '/slides'
    assert last_response.ok?
    assert_match '
My Presentation
', last_response.body
  end

  test "can get asset list" do
    get '/assets_needed'
    assert last_response.ok?
    assets = last_response.body.split("\n")
    assert assets.include? 'css/showoff.css'
  end

  test "can view the presenter version" do
    get '/presenter'
    assert last_response.ok?
    assert_match '<div id="preso"', last_response.body
    assert_match '<div id="notes"', last_response.body
    assert_match '
 5000
    end
  else
    $stderr.puts 'PDF creation test skipped - install pdfkit'
  end

end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub