E3 2015 - Just Cause 3 gameplay shown off with utterly insane trailer - Use a Potion!
It looks SICK. This time around Rico Rodriguez is trying to save his mother's homeland of the Mediterranean republic of Medici from the brutal control of power mad dictator General Di Ravello. Of course, Rico will do this by any means necessary be it gliding through the air in his new wingsuit, causing massive chains of explosions in military bases or in high speed chases spanning through land, sea and air. Just Cause 3 really has it all.
I can't wait for the game to come out – Mark the 1st December in your calendar. It'll be hitting Playstation 4, Xbox One and PC.


Best-practice, international Hybris implementation delivering incredible omni-channel performance.
Not constrained by technology, we are free to design ideal e-commerce user experiences for complex service products.
Creative omni-channel thinking gives Pringle customers quadrillions (yes, really) of bespoke garment design options at their fingertips.
We thrive on using SAP Hybris in innovative ways to put a true 360° view of customers and products at our clients' fingertips.
This drives omni-channel, personalised and highly relevant customer engagement whilst mobilising all product no matter where it is located.
Do you have ideas for better ways of doing business? We do.
We work with our clients to uncover the commercial and operational opportunities with a class-leading platform such as Hybris and we build ROI-led business cases around this. We have a systematic and collaborative platform evaluation process based on a comprehensive set of criteria covering 8 key areas of consideration.
Technical excellence is baked in to all of our e-commerce development work, in fact, quality is so important to us and our clients that we've made it our mission statement - we look to this in every aspect of our business.
We put users at the heart of every project. Envoy's innovative and comprehensive approach ensures clients get closer to delivering ideal, multi-channel customer experiences and that their customers are better served and are more engaged.
Our industry-leading SLA provides up to 24/7-365 responsive support with a 15 minute response time. Our clients are supported by the same teams responsible for implementation and maintenance, not a remote third party.
This means that our support service is incredibly capable and can resolve issues more quickly, meaning minimum disruption to you.
Envoy provides a fully managed cloud-based SaaS / PaaS e-commerce platform, backed by platinum-partner relationships with infrastructure partners SAP, Rackspace, AWS and Google Cloud Platform.
Your e-commerce platform performs in all situations without you giving it a seconds' thought.
Many clients have come to Envoy having been previously disappointed by the service and quality they received with another e-commerce agency. This happens frequently and we've become very good at managing the transition - around 50% of our clients are on-boarded. Envoy has a rigorous on-boarding process to ensure business continuity and a smooth & de-risked transition.
Get in touch to find out how service and quality should be done.
We have the capability to put great emphasis on the security of the work we complete, from on-line retail sites to cash collection services for banks.
Envoy is PCI-DSS level 1 compliant and can follow ISO 27001 and OWASP security frameworks.
We are alive to the reality that e-commerce is only one of many touch points you have with your customers. In collaboration with Marketing, ERP, EPoS and CRM partners, Envoy is an omni-channel enabler, bridging the gaps between physical and digital experiences.
We help our clients get more out of their omni-channel platforms to provide seamless in-store and on-line customer experiences.
As well as recognition of our Hybris capability, Envoy can also leverage a wealth of resources SAP exclusively provides to Gold partners to further enhance services.
Envoy's e-commerce director Branwell Moffat shares his thoughts on how bots are becoming a threat to e-commerce retailers, and why online businesses shouldn't ignore it.
Envoy is now SAP Hybris Partner Centre of Expertise (PCoE) certified! As part of our continued investment in certification, Envoy has been awarded PCoE status to provide support and maintenance services on behalf of SAP. Congratulations to the team!
@lovewimbledon Thanks so much! We did on the night and celebrated the next day with sweet treats for the team!


The Semi-Final will take place before dinner.
Students and transferring lawyers need to attend the moot before dinner in order to claim a Qualifying Session. Members and Guests are of course most welcome to attend too.
For Middle Temple students and transferring lawyers - this event counts as one Qualifying Session. To be awarded the QS for this event you are required to arrive on time and attend all elements of this event (please see timings at the top of this page). You must hand your ticket to the Front of House staff on arrival at the Hall. Failure to do so will mean that the QS will not be awarded. Click here for more details on qualifying sessions.
For Middle Temple Benchers - this event counts as a Qualifying Session for Commons.
Times and details are subject to change. Please check this webpage for the most up to date information.
There are certain rules and customs that members and guests are expected to observe when attending formal Qualifying Sessions at the Inn. Click here for more details on dining rules and customs.
If you (or your guests) have any dietary requirements please ensure that you provide this information when you book tickets. If you did not do so, please inform the Inn no later than 14:00 two working days before the event. When seated in Hall please make a member of staff aware of these requirements so that they can serve you accordingly.
Click here for more details on dietary requirements.
Members of the Inn can buy tickets online by clicking 'Add to Cart'. Please note that you must log in to book (if you have not yet created a log-in please register first). Alternatively you can buy tickets from the Treasury Office in person or by telephoning 020 7427 4800.
Unless the event sells out earlier, booking will close at 14:00 two working days before the event.
Please note: You cannot book a ticket online for another member of the Inn if that member needs the Qualifying Session assigned to their record. They must log in and book their own ticket, or alternatively contact the Treasury Office.
Student/Hall Members - To cancel a ticket please contact the Treasury Office on 020 7427 4800. A full refund will only be processed where a ticket is cancelled 2 clear working days or more before the event.


A simple roll-up sleeve wide round neck top with shark bit hem and slightly slant patch pocket on each side front. Has a decorated tab on back hem with a sea shell button on top.
Match with our contrast color Cropped Flares Leg Linen Trousers to complete the casual day look.


text:
Crimson Letters: Voice from Death Row, Tessie Castillo with special guest Jon Powell and co-author Michael (Alim) Braxton
« Tar Heel Lightnin': How Secret Stills and Fast Cars Made North Carolina the Moonshine Capital of the World
The Future of Democracy, Part 1: Counting the Vote »
Join us in a critical four-part conversation on criminal justice and death penalty reform, racial and socio-economic inequality, and quite simply, the human dignity that each of us deserves.
Each of Tessie's four co-authors and a special guest will join us for a live call-in four successive events.
Visit zoom.us
Passcode: 3367631919
Share event on Facebook
Topic: What would ideal criminal justice reform look like?
Discussion: People often throw around the term "criminal justice reform," but what exactly does that mean? We will discuss the concept of "restorative justice," which focuses not just on punishment, but on repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior. Often this means bringing victims, offenders and the community together to create solutions that offer repair and closure and accountability. What can ordinary citizens do to support restorative justice or criminal justice reform efforts in their communities?
Special Guest: Jon Powell, Director of the Restorative Justice Clinic at Campbell University + co-author Michael J. Braxton, aka Alim
About Crimson Letters: What started as a volunteer journaling class in late 2013 would grow into genuine, sincere, and heartfelt friendships with several men on North Carolina's Death Row. Tessie Castillo's collaborative work, Crimson Letters: Voices from Death Row, gives readers stark insight into the utter agony and dehumanization of long-term incarceration, as well as stories of friendship, family, and finding life after a death sentence.
Get your copy of Tessie's Crimson Letters: Voices from Death Row at Scuppernong Books.
TESSIE CASTILLO is a freelance journalist based in Raleigh, North Carolina. She specializes in criminal justice , drug policy, and harm reduction. In 2014 she became one of the first members of the public invited inside North Carolina's Death Row. This extraordinary opportunity, as well as the correspondence she developed with several death row residents, helped launch her passion for criminal justice reform. Crimson Letters: Voice from Death Row is her first book.
JON POWELL serves as the director of the Restorative Justice Clinic at Campbell University. The program receives referrals from the juvenile justice system, juvenile court, Wake County Schools and the Capital Area Teen Court program. Part of the mission of the Restorative Justice Clinic is to help spread the word of Restorative Justice throughout the state of North Carolina and to assist others in the state in starting Restorative Justice programming. Jon has spoken on many occasions to various groups on the topic of Restorative Justice and has assisted organizations in starting mediation programs based on the Campbell model. Prior to working with the project, Jon practiced law in Wake and Harnett counties. His primary focus was in criminal defense with an emphasis on juvenile law.
MICHAEL JEROME BRAXTON, also known as Alim, is a rapper and spiritual leader on North Carolina's Death Row. A reformed prisoner known as Rome Alone in the rap world, he has the distinction of being the only rapper in the world to release music from Death Row. He is a contributing playwright for "Serving Life", a play about the inner thoughts of men facing the death penalty. He is also a recording artist with several artist with several songs currently on Sound Cloud. https://soundcloud.com/rromealone He has an upcoming album entitled, "Mercy On My Soul". He serves as Iman and spiritual leader for the Muslim Men of Central Prison's Death Row. You can find him on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram at @rromealone
Greensboro Bound

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Angelo Nikolopoulos is the recipient of the 2011 Discovery's Boston Review Poetry Prize and a graduate of NYU's Creative Writing Program. His poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Best New Poets 2011, Boston Review, Boxcar Poetry Review, Gay and Lesbian Review, Los Angeles Review, Meridian, New York Quarterly, and elsewhere. He teaches at Rutgers University, New Brunswick and hosts The White Swallow, a queer reading series in Manhattan.
the corrugated steel of grief?
this reddened tincture of oxide.


Buell has stopped production of its tubular framed large capacity bikes to concentrate all its efforts on making the new alloy beam framed Firebolt.
It means the end of the line for the Cyclone, Thunderbolt and Lightning twins.
The focus will now be on bikes based around the alloy chassis. Buell has a tradition of using one model as a basis then developing parts around it to create variations, usually with minor cosmetic changes and slight engine modifications. Sources close to the factory believe that the new Firebolt will be used as a basis for a future range.
Buell founder Erik Buell refuses to comment on that possibility, but did say: " I can confirm that we have decided to concentrate on the Firebolt, and it will replace the current models. It went into full production last week. "
Buell has not completely abandoned the tubular frame. It will continue to be used in the the 492cc air-cooled single cylinder Blast, which isn't imported to the UK.
Buell also revealed that he has no plans to use a water-cooled motor in any Buell.
This story was broken to MCN2U subscribers on Tuesday afternoon. Were you among the first to know? Find out how you could be by following the link, right.


text:
Polland is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:

David Polland (born 1908), American chess master
Eddie Polland (born 1947), Northern Irish golfer
Madeleine A. Polland (1918–2005), prolific Irish children's author
Milton Rice Polland (1909–2006), American businessman and political activist
Pamela Polland (born 1944), American singer-songwriter
Willie Polland (1934–2010), Scottish footballer

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
North Fork Elementary SchoolPreparing all students for Career, Life & College
menu_diningMenus
menu_athleticsAthletics
School Information Center
Before and After School Care (WCC)
Mission, Goals, and Values
School Reconfiguration (2019-20)
School starts August 27! Here's Info, Tips & Resources!
Woodland Public Schools helps parents and students prepare for the start of the new school year on Tuesday, August 27
With the first day of school rapidly approaching on Tuesday, August 27, Woodland Public Schools offers the following resources and tips for parents and students to get a jump start on preparing for the new school year.
All School Offices open to the public by August 19
All school and district offices will open to the public on Monday, August 19 at 1 p.m..
Special Hours for Monday, August 19: Please note that all district and school offices will not open until 1 p.m. on Monday, August 19.
See regular hours below for other days.
Regular non-student office hours for each building are as follows:
District Office and Business Office: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Woodland High School: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Woodland Middle School: 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
All Elementary Schools: 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
All students planning to use buses must register before August 27!
All students who plan to use KWRL transportation services (the cooperative which provides free bus transportation for Woodland Public Schools) must register before the start of school on August 27 even if the student used bus transportation in prior years.
You can easily register online from KWRL's website: https://portal.kwrl.org/parent/registration
If you'd prefer to register in person, you can do so at the district office or by visiting KWRL located at 989 Frazier Lane, Woodland, WA 98674. KWRL will also have representatives to assist families in registering at the upcoming Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 17 from 3-6 p.m. at Woodland High School (see below for more details).
Load up your meal account online!
Parents can fund students' meal account to pay for breakfast and lunch online using the district's InTouch system.
More information on payments along with the Free-and-Reduced Meal Program and school meal menus (as they become available) can be found on the Food Services website at: https://www.woodlandschools.org/o/district/page/food-services--178
Please Note: Students can not pay for meals with cash. Meal accounts must be funded either online or from the district office, business office, or from school offices.
Stay up-to-date with Woodland Public Schools' new smartphone app and website
Over the summer, Woodland Public Schools refreshed its website and now offers a smartphone app to help parents, students, and community members stay up-to-date from a one-stop-shop app!
The app provides dining menus, event calendars, real-time updates on sports scores, school documents and a live feed similar to social networks populated entirely by information from school staff, teachers and even students. Teachers are working on projects involving the app such as student newspapers posted directly to the feed along with student work posted in galleries. The free app, which is available for both Google Android and Apple iOS devices, can also send emergency notifications and reminders directly to app users.
The Google Android version can be downloaded for free from:
Google Play Store: https://goo.gl/eAfB3o
Apple App Store: https://goo.gl/3w7sQX.
The Importance of Good Attendance
Parents and guardians should remember that good attendance leads to good student performance. Poor attendance affects students at every age, from kindergarten through high school, potentially causing them to remain behind academically for their entire school career.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student who misses 18 days of school in a single school year, including both excused and unexcused absences. "Missing only 10% of school days, just two days every couple of weeks for a total of 18 throughout the year, makes it harder for younger students, in particular, to learn basic skills like mathematics and reading," said Stacy Mouat, Truancy Specialist for Woodland Public Schools. "By sixth grade, absenteeism is a leading sign that a student may drop out of high school."
Below is a list of tips on creating a consistent schedule for your student and other helpful advice for keeping kids interested in school:
Talk about school in a positive way. Share fun stories about your own past experiences with school, teachers, and staff with your kids.
Start early. Begin a more routine and structured schedule the week before the first school day. Children thrive when they know what to expect with fewer adjustments at one time.
Visit the school during Drop In/Open House. Open Houses really ease anxiety for both children and adults by making the school environment familiar and introducing students to their teachers.
Demonstrate your confidence in your student. Assure your child that you are confident they will become an amazing student, and that they are ready to handle the independence that comes with attending school. If you believe in them and they know it, they will be confident and secure in no time!
Make sure your students get plenty of sleep. Sleepy kids have much less ability to handle new or stressful situations. The importance of getting enough sleep cannot be overstated.
Eat breakfast and lunch. Balanced nutrition really sets children up with the stamina needed for a full school day. A healthy breakfast and a nutritious lunch make a significant difference for young learners.
Remember to relax. Make the first morning of school low-key and positive. Setting the tone right from the morning will help students remain calm and collected for the entire day.
Model confident and positive behaviors. As the adult, you can model confidence and a positive attitude about the first school day. Although, it may be difficult and emotional for parents to separate from their child, children need to know you will be okay. Try not to cry in front of your child as they board the bus or when you drop them at school. Most tears from children on the first day of school are a result of the parents showing strong emotion. This is completely understandable, but do the best acting job you can! Separating quickly helps both parents and students stay calm and positive.
School staff are looking out for you and your students. The school will call you if there are any issues or if your child is really struggling. Woodland Public Schools have a fantastic team of teachers and staff who are ready and skilled at assisting children with their transition to school. Your young learner is truly loved and will be cared for during their time at school!
Links to school supply lists for elementary and middle school students can be located in the Documents section of each school's respective website accessible from the Quick Links located below the dark-gray news section of each school's homepage. These supply lists are also available in the Documents section of the smartphone app.
You can access each schools' website from the drop-down "Schools" menu on the District's homepage at www.woodlandschools.org.
Tips for Woodland High School Students
School Supplies. Supply lists are specific for each class. Students simply need a notebook and pencils on the first day of school. They will learn what other supplies they will need for their classes at that time.
Visit the Woodland High School website. The answers to many questions along with additional information including bell schedules are available from the "For Students" Quick Link on the high school's website: https://www.woodlandschools.org/whs
Back-to-School Event Calendar
Athletic Registration (Woodland Middle School / Woodland High School)
Students planning to participate in school athletics need to register in order to participate. Additional information about registration and other requirements is available from the district's website at: https://www.woodlandschools.org/o/district/page/athletics--850
Back to School Bash (District)
The Back to School Bash is this Saturday, August 17 from 3-6 p.m. at Woodland High School located at 1500 Dike Access Road with free backpacks and school supplies for all students as well as games, bounce houses, prizes and food. This event is possible thanks to the generous donations made by Woodland Public Schools, grants from area businesses, and support from local churches and communities.
Medication Check-In (District)
School Offices open on Monday, August 19 at 1:00 p.m.
Parents with students requiring medication administered by school professionals check in their medication before the first day of school. School offices will open to the public on Monday, August 19 at 1:00 p.m. and be open during regular non-school hours for parents and guardians to check in medication.
Beaver Camp for Freshmen (Woodland High School)
Woodland High School's Beaver Camp provides orientation for entering high school students is Thursday, August 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch and transportation will be provided. To find your bus route and pick-up time, visit KWRL's website at www.kwrl.org.
While parents are not permitted to attend the camp, there is a Parent Information Session that evening starting at 6 p.m. For questions and additional information, contact Terra Pfeiffer via email at pfeiffert@woodlandschools.org.
Lunch and Lockers (Woodland Middle School)
Friday, August 23, 2019 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Woodland Middle School's Lunch and Lockers event is Friday, August 23 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. This annual event invites students and their families to enjoy a free lunch, tour the school, meet homeroom teachers, and practice locker combinations as well as decorate their lockers any time during this two-hour event.
Elementary Open Houses
Columbia Elementary, North Fork Elementary, and Yale Elementary - Monday, August 26
Woodland's elementary schools will be holding open houses for elementary students on Monday, August 26. Columbia Elementary and North Fork Elementary will hold their drop-in open houses from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
At Yale Elementary, families with kindergarten students can attend their dedicated open house from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 26 followed by the remaining grades (1st-4th) from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 27 is the first day of school for all students grades 1-12.
Kindergarten students at Columbia and North Fork Elementary Schools start Tuesday, September 3.
Kindergarten students at Yale School start with all other grades on Tuesday, August 27, however Yale kindergarten will have early release from August 27 to August 30 letting out at 12:00 p.m. Bussing will be available for kindergarten students on early release days.
Community Resources for Families and Students
School supply assistance. With the cost of school supplies increasing, Woodland Public Schools' Family Community Resource Center (FCRC) wants to ensure every incoming student has a backpack and school supplies. "Having the correct school supplies has a profound impact on our students' and their learning experience," said Catherine Pulliam, Community, Family, Student Resource Coordinator. "We encourage parents to contact us with any needs they may have for their students." Families who need assistance providing school supplies for their students can contact the FCRC at (360) 841-2718.
Low-cost Internet service. Local Internet Service Providers provide low-cost packages for families who qualify for the free or reduced-cost meal program:
Comcast offers Internet Essentials for families at $9.95 per month plus tax along with laptop or desktop computers available for $149.99. More information is available by calling (855) 832-9548 or from www.internetessentials.com.
Use the Parent Toolkit. The Parent Tookit is a one-stop website and mobile app providing tips and advice on how to support a child's development through every stage of life, both in and out of the classroom. Offered in both English and Spanish, parents can get more information and support specifically for Back to School by visiting https://goo.gl/kaGNoN
Where to find more information and assistance. Lists of providers and information of how to obtain free and low-cost resources of all kinds can also be found from the Community Resources webpage on the Woodland Public Schools website: https://www.woodlandschools.org/family-community-resource-center
Stay up-to-date with your Woodland schools!
Parents and students needing additional information can visit the district's website at www.woodlandschools.org or download the Woodland Public Schools' smartphone app using the links listed earlier in the article or by searching for "Woodland Public Schools" on the Google Play and Apple iTunes app stores.
In order to stay up-to-date on the latest news events at Woodland Public Schools, follow the district's Facebook page at www.fb.com/WoodlandPS, follow the district's Twitter account at www.twitter.com/WoodlandPS, sign up for weekly feature stories from Woodland Schools Weekly at https://goo.gl/4pVZ91, and receive district news alerts from Flash Alert at https://goo.gl/GAUtDx.
The entire staff of Woodland Public Schools looks forward to an exciting year and can't wait to welcome the return of our students for the 2019-2020 school year on Tuesday, August 27!
2250 Lewis River Road


Technology have you feeling overwhelmed?
NextGen Concepts provides various services to keep your business profitable with cutting edge technology. Our services are available onsite and remotely.
Because we are not associated or tied to any one solution, you do not have to worry about any type of sales pitch. We are going to work with you and your team to make sure that you find the right solution to fit your needs.
Put the power of mobile devices in the hands of your employees. We can help plan, configure, deploy, manage, and train you and your staff on how to best utilize their new iPads or other mobile devices.
Focus on your business and let us take care of any of your IT Projects on-time.
You focus on your business and let us worry about your infrastructure. From computers, to routers, we have you covered.
We believe that implementing new technology shouldn't be hard. We help businesses just like yours all over the country reach their technology goals by helping upgrade, simplify, and streamline their current technology and processes helping them make more money.
We don't use a cookie cutter approach with our clients. We recognize that each and every business has it's own unique set of goals, challenges, and issues that require a customized solution.
It's our duty, responsibility, and obligation to understand what those are and help you achieve them.
Uncovering your needs is the first step in anything that we do. Whether it is over the phone or in person, we work with you and your team to find out exactly how we can help.
Once we know what your needs are, we'll get to work gathering the best solutions for you to review before putting together a road map on how to best deploy and implement the changes.
Working together with you and your team, we deploy and train everyone how to use the new hardware or software.
After implementing your new solution or technology, we'll help put together some goals to achieve and will check in after to make sure that you are moving towards those goals.
Have a question about deploying iPads? Technical Issues? Old Technology? Not sure what to do or where to start? Let us help.
We offer a free call to all new prospective clients. This allows us to introduce ourselfs, discover your pain points, and see what we can do to help.
We had Rich out to our store to do an iPad rollout to our sales staff and network our store and warehouse together. Both were a huge success and we couldn't have done it without Rich's help. Rich is an expert in all things technology.
Richard has been an invaluable resource. Any IT issue, regardless of how large or small gets resolved quickly. He helped us install new servers in our store, introduce iPADs to my sales staff, implement RF scanners in my warehouse, set up an entirely new email system, along with solving countless other IT issues.
What is refreshing about Richard is he relates to everyone and has a way of helping everyone see the value in why as a company we provide all of these awesome tools. He touches base often to be sure all the things that were implemented are working well and checks to see if there is something we need to work on together.
Richard has helped our company with an extensive iPad rollout for all of our salespeople. He recommended and helped implement a new "Meraki/Cisco" wireless system we use at all 4 of our stores. He also trained me on the system. I can now update, revoke privileges, and basically maintain all of our sales force's iPads from my desk with ease. He's also a fun guy to work with that makes it a pleasure to do business with him over and over again.
If what you have seen so far interests you, give us a call and see if we are a good fit.
© NextGen Concepts Inc 2018. All rights reserved.


Invest Northern Ireland has offered support towards the R&D investment, as well as the recruitment of seven additional staff by SciLeads, three of which are already in post.
SciLeads' tool enables pharma and biotech companies to select the best external scientists to partner with on their clinical trials. The detailed information SciLeads pulls together on the scientist helps a company decide whether a researcher is a good fit for the clinical trial.
Speaking about the investments, Daniel McRitchie, SciLeads CEO, explained:"The global pharma market is expected to grow to $1.5 trillion over the next three years. This represents a substantial market opportunity for new and innovative services of technology, such as our market intelligence platform.
SciLeads has created a unique big data set of dedicated scientific information, using proprietary software and algorithms that aggregate information from online sources. This platform offers easy search and alert services specifically for the scientific market.
Susan O'Kane, Invest NI Eastern Regional Manager said: "SciLeads aims to be the most comprehensive source of information on professional research scientists and we are pleased to be offering assistance to support this young firm's ongoing development.
Invest NI has offered SciLeads support towards its job creation and R&D investments, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
The business has also benefited from trade support to explore opportunities across the USA and Europe as well as Proof of Concept grants from TechStart NI to launch its product to market.
Pictured (L-R): Daniel McRitchie, CEO, Scileads, with Susan O'Kane, Eastern Regional Manager, Invest NI.


At the end of July 2016, Al-Qaeda's leadership expressed willingness, for the first time in its history, to sever ties with one of its branches, Al-Nusra Front in Syria. It claimed that unity among the ranks of the mujahideen in the arena of jihad in Syria, and the importance of successful efforts by jihadist factions to defeat the forces of heresy precede all organizational and factional considerations. The decision was made at the senior echelon after long negotiations were carried out between Al-Qaeda and Al-Nusra Front leaders while considering the costs and benefits if such a move. On the surface, it seems that Al-Qaeda lost power in the decision because of, among other reasons, its "loss" of control over Syrian territory. However, in was actually a strategic decision that is likely to serve both its long-term and short-term goals, and perhaps even contribute to a positive image of the organization in the eyes of jihad fighters; to depict it as an organization that is not bound by narrow and utilitarian interests, but rather as an organization with vision, understanding of, and responsibility for what is happening in the field.
On July 28, 2016 Ahmad Hasan Abu al-Khayr, the deputy to Al-Qaeda leader, Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri, announced that Al-Qaeda's leadership had thoroughly studied the political and military circumstances in the field, carefully examined the existing difficulties and challenges as well as the suffering that has befallen the Syrian people due to attacks by coalition forces, and reached the conclusion that it would be better to preserve unity among the ranks of the mujahideen and the power of jihad in Syria. Therefore, "We appeal to Al-Nusra Front leadership to continue to act in a way that will preserve the interest of Islam and Muslims, as well as jihad by residents of Al-Sham. We urge them to take the appropriate steps towards this." Beyond the importance of the announcement itself, this was the first time that the identity of Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri's deputy, Ahmad Hasan Abu al-Khayr, was revealed.
Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahiri also made a statement and emphasized that the importance of preserving unity among the ranks in the struggle against "your sectarian secular enemy supported by Shi'ite forces, Russia and China who plotted a conspiracy together with the current Crusader campaign" takes precedence above all else. These events indicate that Al-Qaeda's leadership has essentially given the "green light" to Al-Nusra Front's leadership to sever ties with the organization in order to enable it to unite forces with jihadist factions in Syria to focus efforts on overthrowing the Syrian regime.
It is important to note that social networks were given an important role in shaping public opinion prior to the announcement about the split. Rumors of an anticipated split were spread on social networks several days before the official announcement, and it may have been considered a test run to examine the mood surrounding such intent. Salafi-jihadist sages in Syria, some of whom belong to Al-Nusra Front, also posted on their Twitter accounts that such a move would contribute greatly to jihad efforts in Syria and to unity among the ranks. For example, a prominent Salafi-jihadist sheikh named 'Abd al-Razzāq al-Mahdī in Syria expressed support for severing ties, as indicated by one of his tweets: "Al-Qaeda is not a holy thing! A connection to it is not a required principle".
Implement Islam according to the principles of shari'a and achieve justice among all of the people.
Unite all of the opposition factions in order to focus efforts on liberating Syria and overthrowing the regime and its collaborators.
Maintain the passion for jihad in Syria and continue to wage it using all legitimate means.
Provide assistance to Muslims, preserve their rights and ease their suffering.
Achieve security, stability and life with dignity.
The timing of al-Julani's announcement coincided with the agreement that was signed between the US and Russia to cooperate in the battle against the terrorist organizations, Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State in Syria. In order to ward off this evil, a considerable effort is being made to change the perception by sending a clear message and political statement to the international community that the organization is no longer involved in terrorism but rather is considered a legitimate opposition organization to Assad's regime, thereby eliminating international legitimacy to attack it.
Pressure from the Gulf States, which do not wish to link themselves to terrorist elements, in light of their support for several jihadist factions in Syria that are allied with Al-Nusra Front.
The desire to strengthen the power of the resistance and the struggle against the Assad regime by establishing alliances with additional jihadist factions in Syria and by strengthening ties with existing allies under one umbrella. Al-Julani emphasized in his speech that the split will contribute "to bridging the gaps between mujahideen factions in Al-Sham, and preserving the Syrian revolution and the jihad of the people of Al-Sham". It is possible that the goal is also expressed in distress and fear in light of the success of enemy forces – namely, the Syrian army, Iranian forces, Hezbollah and the Russian and American Air Forces – in causing many casualties among jihad fighters in the field and the loss of much territory in Aleppo that had been under Al-Nusra Front's control.
The desire to be perceived as a key player and leader in the internal arena in order to influence the design of the new entity to be established on Syrian soil the day after the fall of the Assad regime.
According to several analysts, such as 'Abd al-Bari 'Atwan, the split demonstrates the weakness of Al-Nusra Front. They claim that the organization lost its uniqueness, gave up its principles and bowed to external pressure. There is some truth to this claim in light of the resentment felt by some of its members who are not satisfied with the split. There are those who believe that these members may leave the organization and join the rival Islamic State organization. However, as of now, they only account for a small handful of dissenters. Despite this assessment, the announced split was welcomed and praised within the organization as well as by all jihadist factions in Syria, except for the Islamic State. For example, Abdullah al-Mahayni, a prominent Salafi-jihadist sage of Saudi origin in Syria, noted that the severed ties between the organizations effectively removed the last obstacle to achieving unity among the ranks of jihadists in Syria.
The split enables Al-Nusra Front to take part in peace talks together with the other jihadist factions in Syria in order to achieve a negotiated political solution in Syria that will restore security under the auspices of Saudi Arabia. In November 2015, Saudi Arabia held peace talks in Riyadh with most Syrian jihadist factions in an effort to find a formula for a ceasefire in Syria. At first, al-Julani expressed willingness to participate in these talks but he reneged on his decision due reluctance on the part of Al-Qaeda leadership's. Now, with the severing of ties, it has become a viable option.
Al-Qaeda proved to its supporters and opponents that it is benevolent and faithful to its vision of establishing an Islamic state in Syria even if it means that it must "pay" the price by losing one of its branches. Moreover, it presented itself in a positive light by attempting to portray the split as consideration for the well-being of Syria's residents.
The announcement of a split between Al-Qaeda and Al-Nusra Front, and the decision to establish a new organization called "The Front for the Liberation of Al-Sham" was, without a doubt, an unusual decision. However, at its base, the new organization remains essentially identical to the previous one. It seems to be only a cosmetic change designed to display a show of tolerance to the West and to discourage attacks against its members. In other words, it is apparent that this is an operative move aimed at achieving short-term and perhaps medium-term goals, including: unity among jihadist factions in Syria and a focus of efforts on overthrowing the Syrian regime. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to assume that the branch will retain its strategic relations to the Al-Qaeda leadership (probably covertly), and the separation itself is only illusory.
The severing of ties also presents a complicated challenge for the West since not it must decide whether to continue its offensive operations against the new organization in the framework of the war on terror, or grant it legitimacy by "classifying" it as a legitimate rebel organization against the Assad regime. If the West avoids making a decision on this matter or wrestles with this dilemma for a long period of time, it will be serving the interests of the new organization and of Al-Qaeda.
The organization's doctrine and path are based on the Quran and Sunnah according to the understanding of the ancient ancestors of Islam and righteous sages, including the founders of the four religious schools of thought (Abu Hanifa, al-Shafi'i, Malik and Ibn Hanbal).
One must fight against the enemy who seeks to suppress the religion and degrade the dignity of Muslims.
One must fight for the sake of implementing shari'a and upholding the religion of Allah in practice.
One must wage jihad in the way of the Sunnah and in accordance with the religion and shari'a, and in the path of the Prophet Muhammad.
One must remove the oppressor from all of the oppressed whether they are Muslims or infidels.
One must treat people with understanding and respect, and to expose them to Allah's message peacefully and using soft words.
The sages of the Muslim Nation must be respected and admired.
One must display loyalty to the Muslim Brotherhood, while displaying hostility to the infidels and renouncing them.
One must avoid rifts and disagreements, and instead strive for unity and consensus among the nation in general, and among the mujahideen in particular, under one banner.
One must be sure that the words of God are the source of authority for each and every person, through actions, propaganda, money and more.
 The statements by al-Khayr and al-Zawahiri were published by Al-Manara Al-Bayda (the White Minaret), Al-Nusra Front's jihadist media institution.
Jabhat Fateh al-Sham - Did Jabhat al-Nusra Split from Al-Qaeda?


What's a home insurance deductible? It's the amount that a policyholder has agreed to pay on a claim before the insurer takes over. Deductibles usually range from $500 to $5,000. Many policyholders set their deductibles low so they can avoid as much out-of-pocket expense as possible.
However, there are many advantages to having a higher deductible as well. The higher your deductible is set, the LOWER your monthly premium will be. Insurance companies give a lower rate to homeowners with higher deductibles because these homeowners will most likely not file as many small claims and they will be responsible for more of the repair costs than a homeowner with a lower deductible.
You must take great care in opting for a higher deductible, though. Remember, this is what you'll have to come up with in the event of a claim. That means your deductible should be an amount that you would feel comfortable paying. Otherwise, you could find yourself without the help you need in an emergency.
As a rule of thumb, try and keep your home insurance deductible set as high as possible (to save the most money on premiums) while still feeling comfortable with the amount in the event you would have to pay it in a loss.
Don't stop here. Deductibles aren't the only way to save on homeowners insurance policies. You also can take advantage of potential discounts for insuring your home and auto with the same provider, having a monitored security system, owning a newer home and even for having deadbolt locks. Learn more about discounts here.
If you need more information about home insurance, visit our FAQs. Ready to get started right now? Call 1-833-244-3465 and speak to an agent licensed in your state to get the benefit of up to eight quotes for your business.


Chocolate Confections This book is quite advanced, but I think I enjoy it mostly for the pretty pictures!
Cookie Craft While decorating cookies is one of my least favorite things to do, I love this book for all the inspiring ideas and excellent pointers. Also has some excellent cookie recipes, including sugar and ginger.
Pretty Party Cakes I'm not sure if I've even used this book yet, but I love it all the same. Beautiful cakes!


More than two-thirds of chief financial officers at North American life insurers expect interest rates to remain depressed for at least three years, according to the results of an industry survey, a bad omen for a sector already struggling with historically low returns.
The news comes just hours before the U.S. Federal Reserve announces its latest policy moves, which some think could include the renewal of efforts to keep long-term interest rates low.
Life insurers are extremely dependent on the interest rate environment, as they require healthy rates of return on the premiums they collect now in order to pay claims and benefits in the future. With rates at historic lows, actuaries and consultants say life insurers' business models are threatened.
Towers Watson surveyed CFOs of 30 life insurers and found 68% expect a three-to-five-year stretch of low rates, followed by a gradual rise, the consultancy said in a report on Wednesday.
One lingering question within the industry, though, is how seriously some insurers are taking the prospect of persistently low rates and whether companies are adjusting their product mix and guarantees to cope.
"You can kid yourself, unfortunately, a long time in our industry," AIG's Jay Wintrob said at a Standard & Poor's insurance conference earlier this month.
Towers Watson found that nearly three in five companies had established limits on the interest rate risks they were willing to take -- but 40% of them have already breached those limits anyway.
Respondents were also pessimistic about the economy as a whole, with 87% saying there was at least an even chance of a major economic disruption by the end of 2013.
"Insurers need a forward-looking plan for managing the enterprise if interest rates stay low for an extended period of time. They also need a risk management plan for a sharply rising interest rate scenario," John Fenton, the senior life insurance consultant for Towers Watson, said in a statement.


The MAX ER-2700 is a two-colour fully-automatic 6-column time recorder which uses the MAX clock card (TC-MAX). It has a capacity of 150 employees, or it can be programmed to enable a daily elapsed-time calculation between IN and OUT times for up to 60 employees (24-hour working), or 130 employees (no 24-hour working) with a running total. There is also the facility to have external signals (requires a relay unit, SX-BRU and a siren, SO-ROSH). Other features include: auto Daylight Savings Time, password security, two different day-type programs.
Download the leaflet by clicking on this link - MAX ER-2700 Leaflet.


It rained most of yesterday and it rained most of last week, so hello Spring. Spring and Summer are my favourite seasons, only because I am awful at keeping warm in the Autumn and Winter, I do however love the atmosphere they bring but I just don't like being wrapped up in a big coat all the time, it hides the effort you make with your outfits!
It's my 21st birthday soon also, well in less than 3 weeks and I don't think I am at all prepared, which does sound odd but in the less than a decade I will be 30 years old. I don't think I look at all my age and I certainly don't think I can be dealing with that however I am excited to see where my life is heading. As the weather was lovely today I thought it would be great to take advantage of it and show you my outfit for today.
Just two brands today but this dress cost me £5.00! My friend purchased one the other day I thought it looked adorable so I needed to grab myself on too, plus it will be great to wear in the summer of the warmer days as it is so light.


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GDPR and the Australian Privacy Act 1988: Key Differences
In May 2018 the European Union (EU) introduced the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a law that outlines how personal data can be accessed and increasing the privacy of citizens throughout the EU.
The GDPR requires businesses (in the EU) to declare what personal data they've sourced and their intended use of it, empowering individuals and letting them control their own privacy.
Upon its implementation, inboxes around the world were swamped with notifications from businesses ensuring that we've individually consented to be part of their mailing list and sharing their personal data.
Though the GDPR strictly applies to businesses within the EU, if an Australian business with an established presence in the EU monitors user behaviour, they needed to comply as well. This resulted in Australian businesses distributing emails in a similar fashion to our EU counterparts.
While Australians complied with the GDPR, since 1988 Australia has had a similar law in place to protect the privacy and identity of citizens, the Australia Privacy Act.
So, what are the major differences between GDPR and The Australian Privacy Act? Some of the major differences are summarised below.
Who does each one apply to?
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): The GDPR applies to all businesses, regardless of size, that gather personal data from EU citizens. This applies to businesses located in the EU or outside the EU that offer goods and services to EU citizens or monitor their behaviour.
Australian Privacy Act (APA): As well as businesses, the APA applies to most Australian Government agencies, all private sector and not-for-profits with annual turnover of $3 million and all private health service providers. Not applicable to all small businesses ($2 million or less annual turnover).
What this means: Though similar, the APA doesn't require all businesses to follow this act whilst organisations in the private sector must with an emphasis on industry and turnover.
An establishment functioning in the EU must declare their intentions, whilst an EU establishment working in a nation outside the EU does not have to declare their intentions to that outside nation.
What does each one apply to?
GDPR: This applies to personal data, defined as any data that relates to an identified or identifiable natural person (a living individual).
APA: The APA's application is to personal information, defined as information or opinion about an identified individual or information that makes an individual identifiable.
What this means: While they appear similar, data and information are two different things. Data is raw information, the basis for things like statistics. Information, on the other hand, is the end result, taking those statistics and declaring the findings.
The GDPR requires businesses to declare what they do with that raw information. APA, on the other hand, focuses on information used to directly identify an individual. The difference is APA doesn't require businesses to declare what data they're tracking.
Consent to provide data and information
GDPR: Consent must be freely given by individuals with clear affirmation they understand the agreement.
APA: The individual is adequately informed before providing consent and has the capacity to understand and communicate their consent. This consent must be given voluntarily.
What does this mean: This refers to sharing data that requires personal information such as name, email, employment, position etc. In both the EU and Australia it must be clearly defined both what your data will be used for and what you receive in return.
GDPR: Individuals hold complete power over their personal data and have the right to erase, adjust and object to any data that regards to them.
APA: Businesses must adjust, destroy or de-identify information of an individual either upon request by the individual or the information is longer used for its intended purpose.
What does this mean: While the GDPR empowers the individual, APA gives this responsibility to the business to manage individuals information.
In summary, there are some key similarities with the GDPR and APA. With rapid change in the digital space it remains to be seen what the most effective use of these regulations is, both aiming to protect citizens digital privacy. Until then, keep an eye on the fine print and read the terms and conditions.
Learn more about the GDPR and APA here.
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The Signature Series Chest Press has 1:2 resistance weight stacks, two molded handles, and independent weight stacks for increased variety and stability. The user-defined motion provides multiple chest exercisers to give a wider breadth of training variation. Cable Motion™ Technology employs user-defined paths of motion that allow for a nearly endless variety of strength training options that builds balance, stability, and power.


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This 8 Y.O. Boy Saw An Autistic Boy Crying On The First Day Of School, Grabbed His Hand And Walked Him To Class
Parenting, People4 months ago
Andželika Jasevičiūtė
BoredPanda staff
If you recall your first day at school, you probably remember how stressful it was. Suddenly you're in a new place, surrounded by all these new faces – it can get quite overwhelming, especially when you're a kid. However, having someone you can trust by your side can quickly make all of your fears go away.
Courtney Moore recently shared a photo of her son, Christian, holding his classmate Connor's hand and the photo quickly went viral for all the good reasons. On their first day at school, Christian noticed Connor crying in a corner and decided to console him. At the time, Christian didn't know that Connor had autism and that one of the reasons he was crying was because he felt overwhelmed by the new environment.
"Before school, he was super excited to start the day. I wasn't there so I can only guess what caused him to cry but he does get overwhelmed with too much going on around him or if it's too noisy and he also has very strong emotions so when he is either upset or super happy it is usually expressed in tears," Connor's mom April told Bored Panda.
More info: Facebook
A photo of two elementary school boys recently went viral for all the right reasons
"I saw him on the ground with Connor as Connor was crying in the corner and he was consoling him. He grabs his hand and walks him to the front door," said Courtney in an interview with KAKE. "We waited until the bell rang and he walked him inside of the school. The rest is history. They have an inseparable bond." April have told us, that the boys became good friends. "From what they have told us they find each other at recess, we have had 2 playdates since the picture was taken and once things calm down after we move hopefully there will be some sleepovers," she said.
While Connor's parents weren't present during his first day of school, they were happy to know that someone took care of him. "Well Conner had chosen to ride the bus so his father and I were not present during this which is why reading Courtney's post made me cry, school is one of the few times he is not with us personally and knowing that he got so overwhelmed without us around to comfort him hurt but also seeing that simple kind gesture from Christian was absolutely heartwarming." April said that her son was diagnosed with autism when he was around 6 years old. "We realized that he was not progressing and actually regressed in some things at around 18 months but his doctors kept telling us that he was just a boy and it would just take time," she explained. When asked what challenges Connor faces due to being neuroatypical, she said: "The challenges for him I would say is communication, he gets really frustrated when we don't understand what he has said or when you try to talk to him about something other than what he wants to discuss. And I would say connecting with other kids is another, just recently Conner was asking his father and I to make friends for him."
"He doesn't have any siblings so raising him is all we know, I can only imagine it's like raising a neurotypical child. There may be a few differences like more appointments such as speech therapy and occupational therapy, or like he took longer to potty train and has very specific foods he's willing to eat but I'm sure it's a huge rollercoaster of emotions for every parent out there., " she added.
"He was kind to me. I was in the 1st day of school and I started crying then he helped me and I was happy," said Connor Crites. The boys went on to be good friends, playing together and enjoying superhero movies. We guess it's true what they say – true friendship knows no bounds!
Here's how people reacted
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Andželika is a content creator based in Vilnius, Lithuania. She has a proven love for animals with over 100 articles written exclusively about them. While she does find cats extremely adorable, thanks to the Internet her all-time favorite animal is a raccoon. Andželika spends a great deal of time online, constantly gets distracted from work by memes, and could surely make listening to music her part-time job.
Molly Universe 4 months ago
As a person with Autism, this is lovely to see.On my first day of school, I struggled with finding my way around and the loud noise physically hurt. Someone to help me at that time would've been a life saver.
Suzi Gauthier 4 months ago
I like at my grandson's middle & high school, they have student mentors who volunteer to help out new students of any age or ability - help finding classes, navigating all the paperwork, etc. I think it's good for both the volunteers & the new kids.
Wow! That is a good idea!
glowworm2 4 months ago
My favorite part about this story is that Christian clearly didn't see Connor as someone with Autism. He just saw someone having a tough first day of school and wanted to help him out. I think Connor just got himself a new friend for life!
ADDYSON DAVIES 4 months ago
god woman you raised a freaking lil saint
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Revenge is anger felt so fiercely it desires to be taken into action. It can be acted out by ourselves, an actor of our choosing or by God Himself. The first two are carried out when the subject can no longer contain his anger and desires to take action against the one who caused him suffering. The last, is the concept of divine justice. This type of justice presumes the world is run by some sort of universal morality in which fairness is evenly distributed upon everyone. Those who do good have good done onto them, and those who do bad have bad done onto them. The philosophy here is very deep and interesting. If you will, let me share with you a couple of fascinating stories which demonstrate this concept very well. The first is from the first novel of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, A Study in Scarlet, and the second is from the end of Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo.
In A Study in Scarlet, an American hunter, Jefferson Hope, falls in love with Lucy Ferrier, a newly forced convert to the Mormon Church. Upon the church's discovery of this forbidden love, they marry her off to Enoch Drebber. Sadly, Lucy dies within a month from a broken heart, and Jefferson seeks revenge against Enoch and his coconspirator Joseph Stangerson. Jefferson chases Enoch and Joseph around the world and ultimately finds them in London.
Both Enoch and Joseph choose the wrong pill and die. Or, maybe God chose for them, and they deserved to die.
Now, the perfect example lies within The Count of Monte Cristo. In Alexandre Dumas' masterpiece, the protagonist, Edmond Dantes is conspired against by a group of cohorts. One conspirator, Fernand, falls into lust with Edmond Dantes' betrothed, Mercedes. Through this conspiracy, many horrible and difficult events and actions occur to our protagonist. Fernand eventually becomes General Fernand and marries Mercedes. Eventually, with a stroke of luck, Edmond Dantes finds himself extraordinarily wealthy and takes on the name and guise of The Count of Monte Cristo. His full efforts and attentions are towards seeking revenge against his conspirators.
Edmond's revenge against Fernand is fascinating. After bringing public humiliation to Fernand and alienating him from Mercedes; Fernand seeks out the Count of Monte Cristo and asks for satisfaction through a dual. Enraged, Fernand mentions to the Count that they do not know one another, but the Count responds that they've known each other for a long time.
And, upon Fernand's arrival at home; he takes his own life, and the reasoning is crucial. It begins with the significance of the challenge. In this era, a duel was of a special significance. It was not bent upon skill or talent, but instead rested on God's will. God's hand will choose which bullet strikes and which bullet falls to the ground. It's God, Himself, who determines justice. Fernand, upon realizing his challenge was against the person who he heavily conspired against; immediately left and took his own life, because he understood God's justice would reign down upon him.
This is the essence of revenge. It's belief that we're so right, something negative should occur to the one who has wronged us. Now, when we or someone we designate does our revenge for us; it feels less genuine, doesn't it? Maybe we're wrong and we were the unjust. Wouldn't it be nice to know for certain? That's the concept of revenge as divine justice. It's God's agreement with our assessment against someone who's wronged us.
But, it's not true! The world is far too complicated and people's situations are far too complex to understand how God levies down justice. Revenge is nothing more than anger.
So, let's deal with revenge as we would with any other type of anger. We should attempt to feel compassion towards those who've wronged us, and most importantly; have compassion towards ourselves. We should take this opportunity to delve deeper within ourselves and discover new opportunities to grow. And, eliminate these people and their associates from our lives and seek better company.


AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - ABB Robotics will feature ten live application demos highlighting a comprehensive range of new metal fabrication systems and user friendly programming and operational advancements at FABTECH 2012, November 12-14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (Booth # N-6102). The live demos, comprised of ten fully operational robots, include the new IRB 1520ID arc welding robot, an IRB 360 FlexPicker sorting component workpieces, a new FlexArc cell with IRB 2600ID welding robot for sale at a special show price, and the IRB 800, a 10-axis long reach welding system featuring one robot attached to the arm of another. All include varying aspects of ABB's ongoing mission to develop robotic software that reduce programming complexity and create an intuitive human machine interface for production operation.
Five additional robot displays include the new IRB 1520ID Two-station ArcPack, an entry level welding package, and the IRB 1600, 2600 and 4400 robots, one dressed in Hypertherm plasma cutting equipment, one in Thermadyne plasma cutting equipment, and one with a TAFA plasma spray system. Like FABTECH 2011, booth attendees will be able to leave with a parting gift! One live demo will fabricate mini metal Adirondack chair business card holders; and a larger than life slot machine activated by players pulling the arm of a robot will award prizes throughout the day, including ABB laptop backpacks, for those who get three identical robot icons on the large overhead screens.
"We are pleased to display such a diverse group of operational systems at FABTECH, and feel it will help attendees better understand how ABB robotic technology can improve performance in their specific applications," said Erwin DiMalanta, senior manager, ABB Robotics. "From the simple to the most complex needs, ABB covers the full range in welding, cutting and metal fabrication."
ABB's newest robot, the IRB 1520ID, an attractively priced, high performance addition to ABB's dedicated arc welding family is featured in two demos. One is welding the mini chairs, and another is the robot in the Two-station ArcPack welding system. The new IRB 1520ID is compact, versatile and fast, the ideal robot for welding small parts. The IRB 1520ID Two-station ArcPack welding system is designed to be a modular, cost-effective, and compact means to initiate or upgrade an automated welding operation.
Assisting in the chair welding demo is an IRB 360 FlexPicker, the most widely used Delta robot on the market with over 5,000 worldwide installations since 1997. Typically used for picking and packing in the food, pharmaceutical, and medical industries, the FlexPicker will demonstrate its versatility by sorting, picking and placing the components of the chairs to be welded.
Available for sale at a special show price is a new FlexArc 500B cell, complete with an IRB 2600ID robot, a 500B workpiece positioner, and new graphical user interface with flexible widget utilities to customize the operator and maintenance screens on the Teach Pendant. The new interface is easier to program and operate, requiring no code, simply click and go. To display the ability of the cell to reach all areas on parts of a complex geometry, the IRB 2600ID will simulate the welding of a small quad off-road vehicle frame on the two-axis B positioner, and a large (500kg, 1100lb) Baldor motor body on the second station.
The giant 10-axis welding system is an IRB 140 robot with Fronius twin wire welding equipment, attached to the arm of a larger IRB 660 robot. The system provides an economical alternative to a robot traveling on a traditional gantry column, and, with a smaller footprint, longer reach (3.1m), and the ability to sequentially work in four separate welding quadrants from a fixed position, significantly better cycle times. Ideal for welding large parts, the system is simulating the welding of an off-road vehicle chassis.
The arm of an IRB 1600ID robot acts as a lever to activate the spinning reels displayed on three 60" screens above the game station. A laser floor scan and ABB's SafeMove and Softservo software are integrated to enable an unusually intimate human/machine operation of the robot arm. SafeMove is an electronics based safety system integrated in the IRC5 robot controller. It provides safety rated supervision of robot motion, enabling leaner robot cell solutions and more collaborative applications where robots and operators can work more closely together. Softservo is used for manipulator compliance. Prizes range from golf tees to the highly sought ABB laptop backpacks. All a contestant needs to win is enough luck to align three identical robot icons on the overhead screens. The slot machine game was programmed in ABB's RobotStudio simulation software with the assistance of andyRobot, the mastermind behind the RoboScreens (giant video screens attached to the arms of ABB robots) featured in the recent Bon Jovi Circle Tour. ABB and andyRobot are currently developing an array of new robotic concepts for the entertainment industry.
A simulated production cell comprised of four ABB robots of differing sizes, reaches and payloads highlighting the accurate coordination of complex motion patterns the MultiMove(TM) function of ABB's IRC5 controller enables. Utilizing a single controller, the MultiMove standard programming instructions move the robots in fully coordinated motion to collaboratively work on the same part or within the same manufacturing process. One robot can hold the part while one or more robots perform processes such as welding cutting or gluing.
Also highlighted will be the LaserMech FiberCut Series 3D cutting head included in pre-engineered ABB LaserCut(TM) cells, and the Presitec YW 30 laser welding head included in ABB LaserWeld(TM) cells. Robotic laser processing is one of the fastest growing technologies in metal fabrication, and has emerged in a variety of applications including those involved with hot-stamp steels, tubular parts, hydroform components and traditional flat sheet cutting. ABB's standardized robotic laser processing cells are proven, high-performance solutions with the flexibility to handle a wide range of laser projects.


Ronan and Clara booked the indoor Disco Shed for their wedding at Pangdean Barn, near Brighton, East Sussex. We didn't manage to meet before the big day but it turned out they had partied with the Disco Shed at many a festival, so were pleased when they discovered we did weddings and already had a good idea what to expect of us!
Pangdean Barn is a lovely venue with a proper rustic feel – lots of exposed wood, and a particularly impressive beamed ceiling, perfect surroundings for our indoor shed set up!
The venue had a stage at one end of the room, on which the shed set up would look great. I wanted to be ready well before the guests arrived, and with a band arriving at the same time, we had to work quickly around each other. The band were to be playing during a barn dance earlier on in the evening, so to give them plenty of space I set up on one side of the stage, facing across it. Some creative thinking was needed in order to make everything fit, particularly the lights and I wasn't sure how this would look, but it turned out fine and Ronan was delighted!
After the meal (which was absolutely delicious – the venue also runs a catering company called Hunger Pangs and the food was really fantastic!) and speeches, I played the first dance – a great choice in Jackie Wilson's I Get The Sweetest Feeling – before handing over to the band. Ronan and Clara had split the night straight down the middle, the band played, then I played which was ideal. Sometimes when you have to alternate sets with a band it can disrupt the flow of the night but here, the band was great, everyone enjoyed the barn dance but were ready for something different by the time I came on.
A major advantage of being over to one side was that I didn't obstruct the amazing giant illuminated initials Ronan and Clara had set up at the back of the stage. These looked so cool, and after the band had cleared up these became clearly visible – it would have been such a shame for the view of them to have been blocked all night. The photographer (Emma, from Emmest Photography – highly recommended, she's lovely!) got some good shots of the happy couple whilst I got the party started.
Another advantage of this great venue is that they allow smoke machines, which really help the atmosphere and make the beams of disco light really stand out!
Ronan and Clara had given me a few tune suggestions, which were all fantastic – they are big fans of disco music as I am too, and it seemed their guests were as well, responding well to every tune – it was a massive pleasure to play some of my very favourite disco tunes and not just the usual cliched disco 'classics'! So out came Gwen McCrae: All This Love That I'm Giving, The Jackson Sisters: I Believe In Miracles, Disco Wed super DJ Del Gazeebo's brilliant Got 2 B Large which mashes up Cheryl Lynn's Got To Be Real and Kool Keith's Poppa Large. Best of all for the bride and groom was Use It Up And Wear It Out by Odyssey, and my personal favourite of the night, Loleatta Holloway's Love Sensation. That is some record!
Before I knew it the lovely venue staff, who had been passing me notes all night with instructions and requests (not for tunes, more to make annoucements) – passed me their last note, reminding me we finished at midnight and thanking me for a great set! It's great when you get compliments from the venue – I think they often appreciate hearing something different to normal. And with a really up-for-it crowd, who wanted good music – it had been a great night, I had loads of fun!
Thanks for having me Ronan and Clara!
"Thanks again for the disco shed, it was great and our guests loved it.
Posted in East Sussex,Indoor Disco Shed,Pangdean Barn,Wedding Disco,Wedding DJ. Tagged with East Sussex, Indoor Disco Shed, Pangdean Barn, Wedding disco, Wedding DJ.
You were great, your music was absolutely perfect and it is 100% thanks to you that our wedding was the fun evening that our friends are still talking about!


Exceptionally clean and well maintained, low hour, powered by smooth,quiet, 7.4L Mercruiser MPI and heavy duty Bravo II outdrive. interior is spotlessly clean, with 50 amp service marine AC and new water heater...all amenities, double stateroom, with full size stand up head. convenient swim step/ladder and walk thru-transom door. huge cockpit for lounging or fishing, easy access engine room with lots of room to service. Motor has just been serviced,including new W/P impeller, belt, injectors and plugs...all filters and oil. fuel tank contains 100 gals. fresh fuel. price includes new Alum/ S/S triple axle trailer,,,never in salt water. hull never damaged, in great shape, good antifouling paint and all working hydraulics..trim tabs and outdrive has new zincs.
The outside of the boat is in good condition, since these photos the outside was recently buffed and polished, shines like new money, inside is exceptionally clean, new electric toilet, shower looks new, upholstery, carpet, and furniture all in great shape needs nothing Stock #156062 LOADED WITH OPTIONS & READY FOR A WEEKEND AWAY!!! TWIN MERCRUISERS!!! If you are in the market for an express cruiser, look no further than this 2000 Bayliner 3258 Ciera Command bridge, just reduced to $47,000 (offers encouraged). This vessel is located in Mount Ida, Arkansas and is in great condition. She is also equipped with twin Mercruiser engines. Reason for selling is bought bigger boat for growing family.
As stated above the boat was updated with a with a Mercruiser 350 MAG MPI and the owner reports it has just over 100hrs on it since installation! Below are all the items the owner reports were replaced recently: New cables, new bellows, new nav lights, new windlass, new vhf and antenna, new radio, new prop, new trim tabs, new bilge pumps, and rebuilt outdrive! Stock #173586 2001 BAYLINER 2452 2016 MERCRUISER WAS REPOWERED JUST 100 HOURS If you are in the market for an express cruiser, look no further than this 2001 Bayliner 2452 Ciera Express, priced right at $17,650 (offers encouraged). This boat is located in Hudson, Florida and is in decent condition. She is also equipped with a Mercruiser engine that has only 100 hours. Reason for selling is not using boat enough.
All the information was provided directly by the seller and I believe the information to be true and accurate. I have all the first-hand information about the boat. I sold the boat to the seller a few years and wants to sell because he is relocated down south. Stock #174717 Bayliner Spring Special with Mercruiser 350 Mags If you are in the market for an express cruiser, look no further than this 2007 Bayliner CIERA 275, just reduced to $33,000 (offers encouraged). This boat is located in Islip Terrace, New York and is in great condition. She is also equipped with a Mercruiser engine. Reason for selling is relocating.
Overall in VERY GOOD condition all the way around. In 2016/17 major upgrades from new electronic to rewiring and restoration. Per the Seller: Everything works as it should. Stock #174654 Completely Rewired and Redone, This baby is Cherry! If you are in the market for a motoryacht, look no further than this 1991 Bayliner Ciera 2556 CNV SF, priced right at $26,700 (offers encouraged). This boat is located in Lake Havasu City, Arizona and is in great condition. She is also equipped with a Mercruiser engine that has 397 hours.
This boat shows pretty amazing for a 1999. Gel coat shines great as well as the deck. Isinglass is a little worn but not bad. Inside the cabin is pretty spotless. No smell, carpet is in good condition and seating is in excellent shape. You would have a tough time finding another Commander that looks this good. Stock #163665 Excellent 2858 Ciera Command Bridge with freshly rebuilt Mercruiser 7.4L MPI! If you are in the market for a motoryacht, look no further than this 1999 Bayliner 2859 Ciera Command Bridge, just reduced to $30,000 (offers encouraged). This boat is located in Port Republic, New Jersey and is in great condition. She is also equipped with a Mercruiser engine that has only 1 hours. Reason for selling is seller is downsizing..
According to the current owner, everything works as it should. The interior is in very good condition (as shown in the pictures) This boat appears to be in good shape. A good spring clean up and she will shine up very nicely! Stock #170081 Versatile boat. Perfect for fishing or cruising. Ready for the water. If you are in the market for a walkaround, look no further than this 2000 Bayliner 2452 Ciera, priced right at $21,250 (offers encouraged). This boat is located in Bend, Oregon and is in good condition. She is also equipped with a Mercruiser engine that has 385 hours. Reason for selling is brought another boat.
All of her features such as the A/C-Heat, Generator, Automatic Anchor Windlass, remote spotlight, VHF radio, depth finder, trim tabs, AM/FM CD Stereo, TV, Radar are in nice working condition. The Generator has 34 hours on her. Her Windlass, all the pumps, and toilet all work according to the seller. He recently made sure she is survey ready. The boat shows no water stains on the ceiling or walls. The boat has had very low use. She has no musty smells, stains or tears in the upholstery or fabrics interior or exterior. Although, the owner is able to have cockpit upholstery redone for a fraction of the cost if the new buyer would like. The same applies to the wrap around isinglass and canvas since the isinglass is foggy. Both can be done for approximately $6,000 to $7,000. She will then look like an immaculate, brand new boat. The marine grade electronics have been upgraded since purchase. Furuno NAVnet Color- Map/ Radar. Raytheon VHF. Stock #171453 Less than 10 hours on newly Rebuilt Twin Mercruiser Engines!Generator, Air Conditioning & Heat. Windlass Anchor , Remote spotlight, Radar, and more!!! Reason for selling is getting out of boating..
The condition is Better than normal wear and tear. This boat has been meticulously equipped with the latest electronics, VHF, GPS MAP, Windlass, Stereo, and wall-mounted TV. We will have a lot more photos coming very soon Stock #171822 Bayliner Quality Construction lots of interior light, spaciousness and accomodations for 4 overnight a great family cruiser, includes cover & curtains If you are in the market for an express cruiser, look no further than this 2008 Bayliner 265 Ciera, just reduced to $38,000 (offers encouraged). This boat is located in Oswego, New York and is in good condition. She is also equipped with a Mercruiser engine that has 300 hours. Reason for selling is changing from boating to a 38' type 1 rv.
Very good condition for her age, plus many new features and upgrades to mechanicals with receipts for all work done. Some signs of wear and tear - cosmetics.Per the Owner: Everything mechanical is in good working condition. Very strong engines. Stock #171133 DISCOUNTED FOR QUICK SALE! Many Recent Upgrades! If you are in the market for an express cruiser, look no further than this 1993 Bayliner Ciera 3055 Sunbridge, just reduced to $24,000 (offers encouraged). This boat is located in Marina Del Rey, California and is in great condition. She is also equipped with twin Mercruiser engines. Reason for selling is bought a sailboat.
the seller reports that the Volvo Penta carbureted 5.7 liter engine is in top shape, and moves the boat along at up to 40 mph wide open. The sller states that the engine was recently serviced, with a new oil pump, fuel pump, water pump, fuel and oil filter, and an oil change. The upholstery is new and looks very nice. The boat is in very nice shape, especially for its age. The trailer has new wheels, tires, springs and shackles. Stock #168767 1989 Bayliner 24 foot (26 feet with swim platform) 5.7 Volvo Pentao engine, stove, refrigerator, head, TV, new upholstery. If you are in the market for an express cruiser, look no further than this 1989 Bayliner 2455 Ciera Sunbridge, priced right at $15,250 (offers encouraged). This boat is located in Port Saint Lucie, Florida and is in good condition. She is also equipped with a Volvo Penta engine. Reason for selling is no longer using.
Seller says the boat is in good condition but will need a good cleaning. It is currently in outdoor storage. All electronics are in working order. The trailer is in fair condition and was rarely used as transport by the current owner, only for storage. New prop was recently installed. Captain's chair will need reupholstering. Stock #171252 Good Condition, Runs Great. Ready for the next adventure. If you are in the market for an express cruiser, look no further than this 1994 Bayliner Ciera 2855 Sunbridge, priced right at $17,650 (offers encouraged). This boat is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is in good condition. She is also equipped with a Mercruiser engine. Reason for selling is moving.
This boat is in good condition all-around. The seller states the boat was always routinely serviced and maintained over the years. Seating surfaces are in great shape and the gelcoat has weathered well. The canvas bimini is in excellent shape. Stock #164273 Well cared for express cruiser with a hard top and sun deck cover, this flexible beauty is ready for fishing, cruising and overnighting! If you are in the market for an express cruiser, look no further than this 2002 Bayliner 2452 Ciera Express, just reduced to $17,500 (offers encouraged). This boat is located in Placerville, California and is in great condition. She is also equipped with a Mercruiser engine. Reason for selling is no longer used.
Good overall condition with lots of mechanical updates for a turn-key ready sale. Always kept out of the water, this shows light use for the age. I did note a small scrape along the keel, and there are a few spots on the interior carpet. The upholstery was a little dusty from the marina yard but is still comfortable. Lots of headroom in the cabin! Stock #150572 Fun and spacious. Original owner has all service records. Powerful Mercruiser 350 MAG MPI with Bravo 3 drive. Sleeps 6. A/C! Full enclosure! If you are in the market for an express cruiser, look no further than this 2005 Bayliner 285 Ciera, just reduced to $28,000 (offers encouraged). This boat is located in Ozona, Florida and is in good condition. She is also equipped with a Mercruiser engine that has only 179 hours.
The overall condition is reported to be a solid 8 out of 10. This vessel is way nicer than it shows. Needs a serious detail and wash. Cushions need a refresh. Motors and outdrives have very little use, they look good and run well. Motors don't smoke, and vessel cruises mid 20's and tops in the high 20's. Stock #102857 TRAILER INCLUDED! ***MUST SEE!*** Motivated Seller -- ALL reasonable OFFERS will be considered! If you are in the market for a motoryacht, look no further than this 1993 Bayliner 3058 Ciera Command Bridge, just reduced to $19,800 (offers encouraged). This boat is located in Huntington Beach, California and is in great condition. She is also equipped with twin Mercruiser engines that have 522 hours. Reason for selling is moving to something smaller.


text:
At present, I am discovering the language Groovy. It is a flexible language. You can choose between dynamic or static type. It provides closures. And above all, it produces Java bytecode after a compilation. These points make Groovy an exciting language.
For me, Groovy is a language that stands between Python and Java. And I really like these two languages. But I was a bit disappointed because there is no explicit syntax to express list comprehension. What a shame! This is really useful because you can create, for example, many kind of lists in one line in a intuitive way… In fact, I was wrong.
Here, we will see how to express the list comprehension in Groovy. We will generate lists in one line of code and even mappings.
List comprehension and Groovy
A list comprehension is syntactic construct that enables you to built lists (or even all kind of collections) in a declarative way. That is to say that you do not have to put values one by one in the list by hand or with the help of a loop and a set of instructions. In fact, the values are automatically computed through a generic description you have provided. For example, you want L be the set of all square integers, for even integers between 1 and 10. This is the mathematical way of expressing it:
L = { x² | x ∈ {1, …, 10} ∧ x mod 2 = 0 }
Thus, L is the set {4, 16, 36, 64, 100}.
In Python, you will write this:
L = [x**2 for x in range(1, 11) if x % 2 == 0]
But how to write this in Groovy? In Groovy, you can create list in a declarative way by specifying a range. A range is declared by using the double-point notation (..):
assert 1..10 == [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]
The method collect() can apply a closure on each element of a list in order to built a new list that contains the results of the closure.
assert (1..10).collect { it**2 } == [1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100]
Now, we have to reduce this list in order to meet the definition of L, describes above. To apply a filter on the list elements, I use the method findAll().
L = (1..10).findAll({ it % 2 == 0 }).collect { it**2 }
Or, in order to have a more explicit notation:
L = (1..10).findAll({ x -> x % 2 == 0  }).collect { x -> x**2 }
Thus, at the end, L is equal to [4, 16, 36, 64, 100].
Now suppose that you have the function randomString(n) that generate strings of size n with random content. You want to generate a list with 10 random strings of size 5:
println((1..10).collect { randomString(5) })
Convert a map into a list
Let's go beyond! Suppose we have a set of characters: C = { 'A', …, 'J' }. You want to produce a map between each character of C and its number in the alphabet. Thus, you to have M = { 'A': 1, 'B':2, …, 'J': 10 }.
In Python, you write something like that:
M = dict([(C[i], i) for i in range(len(C))])
In Groovy, we need the help of the method inject(). inject() is a method that takes two arguments: an initial value and a closure. inject() iterates through the element of a collection. these elements are used by the closure in order to produce a new value from the preceding one, starting with the initial value. For example, with an initial value to 0 and a closure that adds two elements, the result of inject() is the sum of all elements in the collection:
assert (1..5).inject(0) { oldValue, element -> element + oldValue } == 15
With an initial value to 1 and a closure that multiplies two elements, the result is the product of all the element of the collection (it is also a Groovy way to have a simple implementation of the factorial function).
Now here is the answer to our initial problem. Let C be declared as def C = 'A'..'J'. The idea is to start with an empty map and to add an entry in this map for each visited element.
(1..C.size()).inject([:]) { m, i -> m[C[i-1]] = i; m }
The result is [A:1, B:2, C:3, D:4, E:5, F:6, G:7, H:8, I:9, J:10].
The bad news are that there is no syntactic sugar in Groovy in order to implement the list comprehension. But I do not say that you cannot implement such a structure. Indeed, we have seen that with methods like findAll(), collect(), or inject() and with the help of closures, we are able to express the list comprehension without adding extra language features.
Tagged with Groovy, list comprehension
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Woohoo list comprehensions! This was exactly what I needed thanks.
For whoever stumbles upon this, here's an even shorter version of the list comprehension in Groovy:
L = (1..10).findAll({ !(it%2) }).collect { it**2 }
Jan Eglinger


A fabulous read that kept me involved the whole way through, couldn't put it down, plenty of twists and turns.
This was truly a roller coaster ride. Very hard to put down. Kept me rivited right until the explosive ending. Would definitely recommend. We'll worth the five stars I have given it.
I just couldn't put this book down. It gripped me from start to finish and had a great twist at the end.
Unforgettable story had me hooked from the beginning & I never wanted to put it down.


Yippee ! my MB2 has just passed it's MOT.....cost me £270 but what the heck tis cheap dependable motoring for another 13 months.
I'm now entering year five with a 19 year old car bought as a stop gap.....The Honda God must be looking down on me.
The MOT flagged up "misting shocks" so I decider to replace them regardless of them behaving perfectly.
I suppose I'll notice a little difference once the newbies are fitted but I'm not expecting a black and white difference.
My rear brake caliper has been sticking ever since I got the car so I expect a noticeable difference once the new caliper is fitted....yes, I could of freed the caliper but I'm fed up pratting about.
Oh indeed Gerry! Some garages ive been too in the past all thats missing from the mechanics atire is a cowboy hat! I think you will however notice a difference with the new shocks even though the old ones aren't totally gubbed.
I did the same with the mini rear calipers, got fed up having to remove them yo try and free them up but last time they were siezed solid so just bit the bullet and got new ones. Trouble free since ( although bleeding the rear brakes after it then putting her back together again did cause my heart attack!). Mini has those stupid screw type pistons so prone to seizing.
When I took the shocks out of the box for testing it reminded me of fitting Monroe shocks to Cortina's and Sierra's.....Monroe was always my affordable choice back then. I also got the strut mounting kit but struggled to get new dust covers.....didn't get them in the end because I couldn't figure out which ones to get.....hopefully my dust covers are useable.
The Mini did you a favour Mate i.e. your weakness presented when help was close to hand......oh ! the Mini uses those pesky type calipers....what a pig they can be.


text:
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Elizabeth Warren Crushes Chris Matthews, And A Word On Cement
By Sandy Dechert Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's Hardball, met more than his match last Thursday when he took on lively freshman Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Looked as if Matthews got a bit more than he expected, in the form of a very well-reasoned and remarkably civil tongue-lashing from the Massachusetts people's choice. A […]
Koch Bros. Laguna Beach Black Sabbath targets Green Energy Activists with Greenbacks
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Why were Wall Street & Banking not Reformed after 2008? Congress!
After Piketty, is the Study of Economics the Study of Rising Inequality?
By Chris Edwards, University of East Anglia The economic and political focus is increasingly on the inequality of income and wealth as they both rise in Europe and the US. At a conference on Inclusive Capitalism held near the end of May at London's Guildhall, Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), […]