text:
Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley
Poughkeepsie, NY | http://www.cfhvny.org
Faz parte desde outubro 1998
Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley exists to enhance the quality of life for all citizens in the Greater Hudson Valley, now and for generations to come.
Created by community leaders as the Area Fund, Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley is a public nonprofit charitable organization established as a permanent resource to make our region a better place for all of us to live and grow…today, tomorrow and always.
We work with anyone who wishes to ensure and improve the quality of life in Dutchess, Ulster and Putnam counties. We support a broad and diverse range of issue areas including the arts, education, community development, conservation, health, and human services. Our grantmaking is local, Hudson Valley-wide and national in scope.
The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley and our affiliates, Community Foundation of Dutchess County, Community Foundation of Ulster County and Community Foundation of Putnam County provide superior donor services, award grants and scholarships that positively impact our communities, ensure sustainability of the nonprofit and philanthropic community, and serve as a leader, catalyst, and resource for charitable and philanthropic causes.
We are both a grantmaker and a vehicle for donors to accomplish their philanthropic dreams.
As a driving philanthropic force in our region, our mission is to strengthen our communities by offering donors the means to establish charitable legacies, by making grants, and by providing leadership to address community needs in a manner that is responsible, responsive and lasting.
To accomplish this we:
Help donors in their charitable giving
Assist financial advisors and attorneys to explore giving options to benefit their clients
Establish endowment funds for nonprofits and other charitable causes
Provide grants and resources to community organizations, and
Work with government, private foundations, and local leaders to address current and emerging needs.
Our legal name is Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (EIN 23-7026859) and we do business as the Community Foundation of Dutchess County, the Community Foundation of Ulster County, and the Community Foundation of Putnam County.
Created by community leaders as the Area Fund, Community Foundations of the…
80 Washington Street, Suite 201, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601, United States


Oddworld New 'n' Tasty is almost upon us and we cannot wait for some more action in the Oddworld universe, courtesy of Just Add Water and Oddworld Inhabitants. It's easy to forget that the Vita was also due a port of Munch's Oddysee HD, which launched on the PS3 in December 2012.
Responding on Twitter, the studio confirmed that the game was still coming.
Originally an Xbox exclusive, the game was the first in the Oddworld series to be in 3D. Hopefully we won't have to wait too much longer for the game, as with Gravity Crash and New 'n' Tasty arriving very soon, JAW may have a little time to refine things.
Did you forget about this one?
I'd totally forgotten this was even coming, I think it morphed into New'n'Expensive in my head as the next Oddworld game to hit Vita – hopefully this hits soon at a fair price.
I thought they had scrapped it. That's good, I'm glad it's still coming.
I hate certification. I wish they would speed things up. I need Duke 3D now.
I'm with ya a bit.. Not the biggest Duke fan but I really want to try out Munch HD after Stranger's Wrath impressed me.
Sadly I owned an original Xbox (cause I cant call it Xbox One) and never got around to playing this game. Was it any good folks?
JAW replied to me on Twitter stating they will discuss and consider a non cross buy version of Abe for Vita at a lower price.


Because air fryers have been advertised as healthy ways to enjoy guilty fried foods, they have achieved huge popularity for those people searching for ways to lose weight. This way they are still enjoying some foods that otherwise would be forbidden, especially on a diet. Air fryers are claimed to actually lower the fat content of some of the top popular foods like French fries, empanadas, chicken wings, fish sticks and more.
But are they really healthy? Let's get an introduction to the air fryer and see what all the hype is about – to see if the benefits people are talking about really outweigh the risks. As with many industries, particularly when it comes to cooking and food, when a need arises in the market for a product, the product will be made to meet that demand. As we get to know more about our diets, particularly that of unhealthy fats, new solutions develop, offered for those wanting to protect their health. Fast-food outlets in the USA serve over 50 million customers in a day which means that millions are consuming diets high in fats, sugar, and salt.
What an air fryer is and how does it work?
Most people who spend a lot of time in the kitchen preparing foods will probably know what an air fryer is. But for those of us who don't, let's get acquainted. An air fryer is a popular appliance used in the kitchen to make fried foods. In fact, you could describe it as a miniature convection oven. Initially, air fryers were designed to be safe and easy methods of frying, to reduce the oil needed for frying as well as to reduce pan fires and even injuries. The results have spoken for themselves – millions have been sold all over the globe.
The air fryer has a heating element radiating from the top of the air fryer. This hot air quickly gets circulated around the insides of the little oven, down the outsides and then kind of back up through the center again. This fast-moving hot air touches all the sides of your food, quickly removing the moisture on the outside before starting the frying process to produce the right flavors. This is called the Maillard reaction, a chemical reaction occurring between the reduced sugars and the amino acids that create that lovely crispy browned texture.
The heat in the fryer is around 140-165 degrees Celsius (about 280-330 degrees Fahrenheit). Airflow and temperatures are monitored well in an air fryer with self-regulating systems adjusting automatically to maintain the right cooking environment. There are also automatic timer shutdown features which are great safety features.
People love having an air fryer because it is so easily placed on countertops in the kitchen. Philips is the company from where the first original air fryers came from, but since then, heaps of brands have come onto the market, all with their own versions of air frying that will appeal to the public.
OK, but are they healthier than deep fryers?
Air fried foods are considered a healthy alternative to foods that are deep fried because they have lower fat and lower calories. Instead of your donuts or hot chips being submerged totally into hot oil, you just let your air fryer do its job. You only add oil to food if you are preparing home-made fresh food that has not been pre-treated, like fresh peeled potatoes or chicken that is non-marinated. If you want to add your own oil though, you add it over your food and not into the fryer to create that crispy layer.
We all know that deep fried foods are foods that are higher in fat than foods prepared in other ways. Look at chicken for example. A chicken breast that is deep- fried will have about 30% more fat in it than the same portion of chicken if you roast it. There are manufacturers too, who will say that if you use an air fryer, you cut out all that fat in the fried chicken by as much as 75%! It's simply because the air fryer doesn't use the same amount of oil to cook with as the traditional deep fryer does. Look at recipes that call for deep frying; they will suggest using around 3 cups or at least 750 ml of oil to deep fry in whereas the air fried foods only require 1 tablespoon of oil or 15 ml to cook with. Deep fryers will use up to 50 times more oil than what an air fryer would.
If you want to trim down your waistline, you would need to swap from deep frying your food to air frying it – that would be a good place to start, anyway. As you can see from the above, the air fryer is healthier to have in your kitchen than the deep fryer.
Foods heated over 248 degrees Fahrenheit will produce acrylamide, which is toxic. It happens when food like potatoes, which contain carbohydrates mix with certain amino acids, when they are cooked at high temperatures together. It has been found that acrylamide in food is potentially cancer-causing and can cause damage to the genetic material of cells. It is really hard to avoid acrylamide forming in food when it is fried, toasted, grilled or baked. Foods like potato crisps, burnt toast, French fries, roasted and grilled foods could very possibly contain acrylamide. Researchers found that when food is air fried, the acrylamide in it is reduced by around 90% compared to conventional deep oil frying.
Frying food like deep frying very likely will create the dangerous compound, acrylamide. This is formed in foods rich in carbohydrates when under high heat cooking methods, such as frying and roasting. The International Agency for Research on Cancer also claims that acrylamide has shown to be linked to cancer – even kidney disease and ovarian cancer. With air-frying, you help to lower the acrylamide content of fried foods – that's a big plus. Still, people need to remember that air fried food remains fried food and we are all well aware of the studies that prove over and over again that by eating fried foods, you can adversely affect your health.
Another benefit of air frying in that it actually helps you to control the temperatures food is cooked at; to avoid overcooking. Eating any foods that are fried until they are dark brown can cause a cancer risk. The Food Standards Agency in the UK recommends that people should only roast, fry or toast their food until it is a golden-yellow color, so as to avoid this risk. It's a good idea to choose an air fryer that has the auto shut off button as well.
But can't you just use healthy oils to air fry with?
There are some air fryers that do certainly live up to claims of using 75% less oil than when you traditionally deep fry. But cooking oils aren't all the same, even if you do use less oil to air fry your food. Some oil processes mean the oils end up containing trans-fats which are known to clog your arteries. People have been known to call trans-fats "stealth fats" simply because they are usually hidden in foods that we so often eat. Reading food labels don't always help or protect you since there are many gray areas in the laws which mean that trans-fats aren't always identified. The American Heart Association says that when you regularly consume trans-fats, you raise the "bad" cholesterol and lower the "good" cholesterol; you increase your chances of getting stroke and heart disease as well as developing diabetes type 2.
It is a good idea to steer away from corn oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, and soybean oil, and also from foods that contain them. These are the oils that most people will use to prepare fried and processed foods. These oils do contain trans-fats in them but when foods are heated, they undergo changes which are toxic. Most of the oils are also genetically engineered. Scary as well. These foods must surely rank as the worst foods you can eat on this planet. If you are looking for healthier foods, try olive oil or coconut oil. Clarified butter, sesame oil, raw butter is also fine. Coconut oil is the only one of these oils that is OK to use under high heating and that includes frying. People often get tempted to try olive oil for cooking and frying, but it breaks down under heat, losing all its health benefits. If you have bought an air fryer for health reasons, use coconut oil; it is safe to fry with.
But then, if you are really trying to be healthy, you should really be considering investing in an air fryer, actually. However, if you just cannot stay away from fried foods, rather invest in an air fryer over a deep fryer. It's just that unfortunately the foods that require frying are usually processed foods, needing oils to fry them in, which is not really suitable. The benefit of an air fryer is that yes, less oil, but then usually foods that you will put in an air fryer are processed foods with unhealthy oils in. Fried foods are not the staple food of any diet lifestyle.
the air frying method reduced the moisture content rather significantly as well as uptake of oil.
Regarding the physicochemical property changes, the researchers found more changes in the oil that was extracted from the traditional way of frying compared to the air frying method.
When all was said and done, the researchers did conclude that air frying was indeed the healthier option. However, it was also noted that even if less oil was used for air frying, it was the type of oil used, the temperatures for different types of food being cooked that all influenced free radical formation. If you do love air frying, it is suggested that you use oils that do not oxidize easily, like coconut oil.
If you compare the traditional frying side by side with air frying, the simple answer is yes, air frying is healthier if you are someone who does eat a lot of fried foods. But before getting too excited, there is the proverbial, "but". Air frying is OK if you are not really watching your health, but if you are watching your health, you have to look at the bigger picture – then it is naturally better to move away from the fried foods even if they haven't been dunked in oil to fry them. The foods that air frying followers gravitate towards aren't the healthiest of foods to start with, so whether you opt for chicken nuggets, burgers, or fries, even without all the oil, they have very little nutritional value, right? The little nutrients they do have are reduced in the cooking process.
If you are someone who is serious about watching your diet and what you put into your body, it would be in your best interest to rather invest in more fresh and whole foods. By tossing broccoli into your air fryer, you are still cheating yourself of very special nutrients, because studies do show that eating cruciferous veggies raw, you definitely reduce your risk of cancer.
An air fryer is nice; it's quick if you want a 'healthier' plate of fries. But it probably does boil down to the fact that having this tempting and useful device in your kitchen kind of encourages you to opt for the foods that are used in an air fryer; nutrient- void, processed foods, Packaged foods are exceptionally easy to purchase and to cook, and in the same way, the air fryer is convenient – it could be sending you in the wrong direction as far as food is concerned.
If you really are worried about the fat you are taking in, try and move away from air fried foods in the first place. Switch over to the healthy fats that make your heart happy, like the oils that you find in walnuts, fish, olive oil and avocados. If you really have health on your mind and are striving to be healthy, then the air fryer is a healthier alternative to deep-fried foods, but the foods that you air fry aren't going to make you a healthy person. Your diet is the thing that needs transformation. An air fryer is a device that can come across as if it will improve your health, and it will be sold as such, but really, getting down to the basics of real healthy eating that can stave off certain diseases, then eating colorful vegetables and fruits will really show a difference in your health and waistline!
Yes, it does reduce calorie and fat intake, sure.
With kids who don't like their vegetables, with air frying, you end up with some nice flavorful and crispy veggies, making the kids enjoy them more.
When you air fry, there is not that smell of 'fried foods' lingering behind in your home.
Some things nice … sweet potato fries are actually delicious done by the air fryer. Sometimes it is more difficult to get them crispy in the conventional oven, but if you sprinkle them with some delicious seasoning before adding them into the air fryer, they are nothing short of delicious. If that is tempting you to go out and purchase your air fryer – just look out for the ones that don't use BPA plastics. (BPA is an industrial chemical used in making plastics).
An air fryer can also be used very well to make crunchy oat and nut toppings for your other foods. You just brush oil on the foods you want to fry and then heat your air fryer to the temperature you need.
An air fryer is inclined to make people believe that this is "healthy" – like, now we can eat fried foods every day!
Using the conventional type oils to air fry your foods means you miss out on the benefits that come from plant fats like olive oil and avocado oil. Good high-quality fat is vital for hormone and brain health.
An air fryer is not an oven and sometimes it can be challenging to cook if you have larger families.
Okay, fried foods aren't the healthiest things on the planet, but when it comes to fried foods from an air fryer, what you get is simple deliciousness, and nothing short. Bland potatoes transform into golden delicacies and simple dough turn in baked delights. It's all thanks to the wonders of modern technology that we have this healthier way of frying foods. It means for those who can't escape fried foods and the weight climbing on that usually goes with it; that they can enjoy these delicious foods when the craving hits, without all the guilt, calories and fat.
The health-conscious folks out there will really love the oil fryer and many buy it for other reasons too. Some super busy people love them just because it simplifies the whole process of making dinner for the family – so if you need a cake or a steak, this little fryer will do it for you. It's your choice – people swear by the fact that what they get from their air fryer tastes just like the deep fried stuff they get from the restaurants while others say their food doesn't taste like the heavenly deep fried stuff they are used to. You make the choice, but if you yourself are trying to reduce your fat intake, then these air fryers will certainly keep you satisfied that your guilty pleasures are going to take just much longer to widen your waistline, and more healthily.


Lawmakers begin a week of open-ended debate on immigration reform as the families of victims of illegal immigrants have their voices heard on the issue.
For the second time in as many months, a federal judge has barred the Trump administration from ending the Obama-era DACA program next month.
U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in New York ruled Tuesday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions had "erred in concluding that DACA is unconstitutional" and granted a preliminary injunction sought by state attorneys general and immigrants who had sued the administration.
The Justice Department had no immediate comment on Garaufis' ruling.
Last month, U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco ruled that DACA must remain in place while litigation surrounding the program is ongoing. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering whether to take up the Trump administration's appeal of that ruling.
The ruling came down as debate in the Senate on immigration reform struggled to gain traction, with Republican and Democratic leaders immediately at loggerheads over how to move forward and President Donald Trump warning this was the "last chance" to extend protections to "Dreamer" immigrants.


Attendance at trade shows is on the rise, so setting up a booth at one of these events can be a great way to market your business or product. However, it is important to take certain steps to ensure that you are drawing in a large crowd to your event and exhibit. By employing a variety of strategies, you can increase the number of attendees to your booth at your next trade show.
It is important to build up hype about your trade show in the days and months leading up to the event. Announce your event to potential attendees, and send out an email or letter inviting your customers to stop by your booth. If there is a trade show directory, advertise there and send out personalized invitations to registered attendees to visit your booth. If your company uses radio, print, or television advertisements, in the weeks leading up to the show, you may want to add a note about your upcoming event to further spread the word.
The active use of your social media accounts prior to and during your trade show can attract guests to your booth. Use Twitter to share content along with the trade show hashtag, as this can maximize your exposure to attendees. Introduce your team that will be manning your booth on your Facebook page, and use this platform as a way to get out the message about any special offers, prizes, or deals you might have available during the show.
Another important consideration when it comes to attracting people to your trade show booth is to have knowledgeable people staffing your exhibit at all times. Remember that your staff will only have about four seconds to engage potential customers that are walking by, so having the right people manning your booth can either make or break that initial impression. Your booth employees are your ambassadors, and they shouldn't hide in the background. Instead, encourage your staff to ask people engaging questions in an appropriate way in order to find out if a person who stops is a potential customer.
Before you go into a trade show environment, you'll want to ensure that you have enough promotional items. Small items, such as mini-staplers, pens, or bottle openers that display your logo and contact information are best, as they are functional. These items are likely to be used by your potential clients once they leave your trade show, and looking at them in the future can remind these individuals about your business. Make sure that they are placed in a location that will require guests to walk through or into your display to access them.
One way to make your booth stand out from the crowd at a trade show is to make it fun, such as adding a game element to your display. For example, a game where visitors need to spin a wheel in order to win a prize relevant to your business is a great way to attract visitors while also advertising your products. However, be sure to get contact information from players in exchange for participating.
Your booth itself has the ability to attract visitors, so it's not all about the shiny things that you put inside of it. It is important to create a warm, open aesthetic that mimics a retail style, but you also shouldn't box in your space too much with displays or tables. Instead, work to create a calm sanctuary within the chaotic trade show atmosphere, and find creative ways to make your booth stand out from your neighbors. These methods don't have to be expensive, as a little creativity can go a long way.
Sponsoring experienced speakers for trade shows can be an excellent marketing opportunity for your business. Speaker sponsorship can allow you to attract visitors to your booth, strengthen your image, enhance awareness of your product, and potentially increase sales. The key to making this endeavor a success is to find the right speaker and to properly advertise his or her appearance at your trade show prior to the show date to get attendees excited about the event.
Wandering around a busy trade show can be exhausting, so enticing attendees to drop by your booth with aromatic beverages or food, including coffee, cookies, and popcorn, can be a great way to get noticed. Visitors will appreciate the free drinks and snacks, and they will also be drawn in by the smells. Make sure that the staff working at your booth knows that this is a good time to engage potential customers in conversation.
Trade shows are a great way to market your business and products to a large audience. By employing some helpful strategies, you can attract a large crowd to increase your customer base and business.


Classical and reserved in looks, yet bold in performance, few heavy-duty spin reels can match the new 16 Catalina for power, precision and price.
Hi-end performance blended with quintessential Daiwa class and value 16 Catalina draws its design cues and inspiration from Daiwa's flagship heavy-duty super reel, 15 Saltiga, to deliver anglers a reel that's feature loaded, performance packed and value laden.
Hi-end quality and class at an affordable price, few reels stand and deliver with the authority and integrity of this super reel.
Daiwa's newest heavy-duty super reel starts with Daiwa's legendary Real Four design formula. An amalgamation of Real Engine, Real Control, Real Endurance, Real Custom, Real Four gives rise to spin excellence that is unrivalled in design, performance and quality.
The Catalina's Super Metal body and side plate forms a reel body that is four times more precise than a machined magnesium body. The super aluminium alloy material is highly corrosion resistant, making it the ultimate body for the offshore environment.
Reaping the full protection and strength benefits of the Super Metal body is Catalina's technologically advanced Hyper Digigear system. A highly evolved drive system, Hyper Digigear features a high precision cutting technique that achieves perfect gear meshing and ultra smooth performance.
The Catalina's line roller system is tailor made for heavy tackle and the demands of offshore angling, with a water tight, wide open line roller made to accommodate heavy leader, while a rubber sealed ball bearing line roller ensures ultimate line roller protection and longevity. Twistbuster II delivers line taming and twist reducing benefits on the retrieve, while Daiwa's famous ABS II spool technology eliminates unwanted loop issues on the cast.
The biggest issue with many drag systems is that they are not smooth at the beginning of the drag. ATD or Automatic Tournament Drag is the newest introduction into Daiwa spinning reels. On one level ATD implements structural changes to the spool metal of the reel that provides greater support of the spool across the entire length of the main shaft. This additional support of the spool reduces spool twist under load, promotes more even pressure on the drag and ultimately reduces "pulsing" of the drag when fighting the fish.
With 8 ball bearings, a tonne of line capacity and a lightweight EVA handle knob that allows you to reap the full power of the reel with unrivalled ease and comfort the Catalina is a reel that's designed to perform, and built to excel.
Saltwater spin reel excellence has a new name 16 Catalina.


The cellulite problem is a compound problem, involving fat cells and the connective tissue that enmeshes the fat. Collagen fibers are the prime proteins forming the backbone of this mesh. Hence, the treatment of cellulite will target the fatness of the fat cells just beneath the skin as well as the health of the connective tissue enmeshing this fat.
Syneron Velasmooth – FDA (U.S. Federal Drug Administration) approved. Involves infrared radiation, mechanical rollers and suction pressure. The mechanical stressors add to the thermal (heat) stress.
Cynosure TriActive – FDA approved. Involves a laser and massage.
Synergie AMS – FDA approved. Involves massage.
Thermacool – FDA approved for off-face wrinkle reduction; presumably would help cellulite. Uses radiofrequency.
Alma Accent – Newer system compared to 'Thermacool'; uses radiofrequency. FDA approval was reported as pending.
Cutera ultrasound – FDA approval reported as pending; uses ultrasound for heating.
Ultrashape – FDA approval reported as pending; uses ultrasound for heating.
IllumiMed Photoactive – FDA approval reported as pending; uses light emitting diode for heating.
The common theme behind these approaches is causing mild heat injury to the collagen-rich connective tissue that enmeshes the fat cells immediately beneath the skin, and mechanical stressors may be added in some cases. Some before and after pictures employing these methods will help illustrate how helpful they are.
Wanitphakdeedecha and Manuskiatti(2, pdf) reported reduction in thigh and abdominal girth as well as improved appearance of the back of the thighs following the use of the Velasmooth system for treating these regions (e.g., Fig 1).
Sadick and Magro(3, pdf) reported reduced thigh circumference and improved skin appearance in women undergoing thigh treatment using the Velasmooth system (e.g., Fig 2).
Fig 2. The outcome from 12 treatments employing the Velasmooth system spread over 6 weeks.(3) Picture 1 shows a pretreatment picture, 2 shows the outcome 4 weeks after final treatment, 3 shows the outcome 8 weeks after final treatment and 4 shows the outcome 12 weeks after final treatment.
Fink et al.(4, pdf) employed intense pulsed-light treatment with a retinyl-based cream (retinyl palmitate) and reported improved skin appearance using the light-based heating treatment alone or the combination treatment (e.g., Fig 3). Vitamin A-derived retinyl compounds have been shown to improve the health and appearance of aged skin by stimulating increased collagen production. The authors reported that the addition of the retinyl palmitate cream appears to help produce a better outcome though a definitive conclusion requires more trials.
Fig 3. The outcome from 12 treatments employing intense pulsed-light heating and 5-per-week topical application of retinyl palmitate, spread over 12 weeks.(4) Before (left) and after pictures of a patient shown in row 1; row 2 shows another patient.
The potential side effects of these treatments include burns since heat is being employed. Retinyl-based compounds may also cause skin lightening in the applied regions, which would be a problem for dark individuals, and increase skin sensitivity to sunlight.
Improved treatments can be expected in the future. For instance, drugs that inhibit collagenase (an enzyme that breaks down collagen) may be of help in combating both cellulite and skin aging, but their application for treating cellulite will be a future discussion.
Alexiades-Armenakas, M., Laser and light-based treatment of cellulite, J Drugs Dermatol, 6, 83 (2007).
Wanitphakdeedecha, R., and Manuskiatti, W., Treatment of cellulite with a bipolar radiofrequency, infrared heat, and pulsatile suction device: a pilot study, J Cosmet Dermatol, 5, 284 (2006).
Sadick, N., and Magro, C., A study evaluating the safety and efficacy of the VelaSmooth system in the treatment of cellulite, J Cosmet Laser Ther, 9, 15 (2007).
Fink, J. S., Mermelstein, H., Thomas, A., and Trow, R., Use of intense pulsed light and a retinyl-based cream as a potential treatment for cellulite: a pilot study, J Cosmet Dermatol, 5, 254 (2006).
Here are the results from a pilot study on slight reduction in the girth of the thighs and abdomen, as well as improvement of cellulite, using a combination of ultrasound, suction pressure and massage (the MedSculpt device).
Abstract – Liposuction is the gold standard of body contouring procedures. Many patients, however, will not tolerate the invasiveness and subsequent recovery time associated with this procedure, despite the likelihood of superior results. Consequently, patients opt for minimally invasive forms of body contouring that require several treatments, have fewer associated side effects, and afford more modest improvements. The MedSculpt device is one such modality that combines computerized massage, vacuum suction, and ultrasound with a continuous sinusoidal pulse delivered at a frequency of 3 Hz. The efficacy of this device was assessed in the reduction of thigh and abdominal circumferences. Five patients were included in this pilot study. A total of 12 treatments were performed on a semiweekly basis to 2 abdomens and 3 pairs of thighs. Photographs and circumferential measurements of each area were obtained prior to, and at the conclusion of, the treatment course. The treatments were well tolerated and without side effects. The mean reduction in thigh circumference was 2.25 cm or 4%, with a 5 cm reduction in 1 subject. Although limited improvement was seen in supraumbilical circumference, the mean reduction in infraumbilical circumference was 6.5 cm or 7.3%, with a 10 cm reduction in 1 subject. Mild improvement in skin tone, texture, and the appearance of cellulite was observed in all study participants. The results observed after 12 treatments were similar to or better than those seen with other minimally invasive, body contouring devices.
Foster, K. W., Kouba, D. J., Hayes, J., Freeman, V., and Moy, R. L., Reductions in thigh and infraumbilical circumference following treatment with a novel device combining ultrasound, suction, and massage, J Drugs Dermatol, 7, 113 (2008).


"Perfect" is a song by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was included on his third studio album ÷ (2017). After the album's release it charted at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. On 21 August 2017, Billboard announced that "Perfect" would be the fourth single from the album. The song was serviced to pop radio on 26 September 2017, as the third single from the album in the United States (fourth overall). The song reached a new peak of number 3 in the UK Singles Chart in December 2017. .
Other popular songs similar to "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran.


The past couple of weeks at "The Farm" have surely been a whirlwind! Between the Barn renovation and the Bakery orders we have been beyond busy. Its been exciting, tiring, and fun all in one. The builders are working tirelessly to restore the barn to its glory. The past couple of weeks they have started installing in the windows and some of the siding. However, after the first windows were added we realized that they were too big for the spots in between the beams and they ended up cutting some of the beams to make the windows fit. YIKES!!! After taking a look at the end result, we knew we had to go back and fix them. We are very passionate about restoring the Barn, but we also want to keep the integrity of The Barn, including the BIG Beams that make it so fantastic. Its hard to imagine that these beams and the structure of the Barn were built almost 200 years ago. The good news is they have now fixed the beams and we have come up with a solution to ensure the rest of the other beams stay in tact.
The builders were also able to replace one of the big corner beams that had started to rot because of the previous holes in the roof. Its huge and its amazing to see how they can take out the old and replace it with a new huge beam that will provide the support and structure to hopefully keep this barn standing for another 200 years.
We continue to be excited and continue to put all of our faith and trust in God every step of the way. When you go through a renovation of this size there will always be bumps in the road that can cause stress and worry. On Wednesday morning this past week around 7am, my father, Chris and I all joined hands in the Barn and prayed for peace and comfort as well as guidance to get us through the rest of this project. Only God can take all of those fears and worries away and give you a peace that surpasses all understanding. We are trusting God with every bump that may arise.


text:
Cuomo looks into iPad sales over discrimination claim
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is investigating claims that the computer giant Apple has refused to sell its new iPad to people of Asian descent, apparently over smuggling fears.
The Attorney General's's civil rights bureau was tipped off by an Assemblywoman from a Chinese-American section of Queens, who complained publicly last month that her constituents were being asked unusual questions when they sought to buy the devices. The iPad was not yet for sale in Asia at the time of the complaints in May.
"Our Office received complaints over the treatment of certain individuals of Asian descent at two Apple stores in New York City," said Cuomo communications director Richard Bamberger in an email.
A source familiar with the investigation said it was focused on flagship stores in Soho and on 14th Street in Manhattan, and that investigators from the office's Civil Rights Bureau had already interviewed store managers, with Apple's "complete" cooperation.
Apple's press office didn't immediately respond to inquiries by telephone or email, but a person who had been informed of Apple's policy said the company -- concerned that customers were purchasing multiple iPads for sale abroad -- had briefly instituted a questionnaire for use in the course of iPad sales, aimed at blocking those illegal exports.
The source said the policy is no longer in place, and Bamberger signaled that the investigation appears likely to be resolved routinely.
"We contacted Apple and they have been very cooperative during our inquiry. The matter is still ongoing but we have every expectation that it will be resolved expeditiously and fairly," he said.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Are you a Registered Nurse looking for your first role within Oncology? Or an experienced Oncology Nurse looking for a role that can offer development and progression? Develop your nursing career with HCA Healthcare UK – The World's largest private healthcare acute and complex care hospital group and winners of 'Best International Cancer Services provider 2016'. We are recruiting for an Oncology Staff Nurse to join our Oncology team based at The Wellington Hospital in St Johns Wood, London (NW8 9LE). The Wellington Hospital is the UK's largest independent hospital with over 260 beds and circa 900 employees, spanning 5 sites. We have an international reputation for excellence in complex healthcare and have gained four decades of expertise in treating patients from the UK and overseas. Our Oncology ward is an 18 bedded unit which provides high quality care to patients in first class private rooms with the latest in innovative treatments and cutting edge technology. We treat a range of different types of cancer and conditions; including Cancer Care, Gastro, Gynaecological, Skin, Liver/HPB Cancers as well as Breast Care.
As an Oncology Staff Nurse, you will be providing care for Oncology patients from diagnosis, collaborative treatment planning, chronic pain control, to integration into the community and end of life care. This rewarding and yet challenging role allows empathic and caring nursing to utilise the full range of nursing skills from diagnosis support, patient and relative education, administering chemotherapy and treating all illness related symptoms, medically, physically, emotionally and mentally. • Job Type: Full time post, permanent role. • Hours: 37.5 hours per week. • Shift Pattern: 11.5 hour shifts - 8am to 8:30pm or 8pm to 8:30am (Rotation and flexibility required for days, nights and weekends) • Salary: £31,972 - £38,366 per annum (subject to experiance & record to achievement) plus 9% shift enhancement. • Benefits: Mentorship programme training, structured career development, funded courses, health & wellbeing support system, pension, private medical cover and much more.
• Reporting to the Sister/Charge Nurse your role as a Staff Nurse is to treat all patients in their private room environment with dignity and respect, focusing on making a difference by offering individualised and one-on-one patient care and comfort to them and their relatives. • Assess, plan, deliver, evaluate and implement the highest of nursing standards covering specialisms; Cancer Care, Breast Care, Gastro, Skin, Liver and HPB. • Work in a highly experienced and specialist multi-disciplinary team, alongside leading specialist nurses and world class consultants. Utilise and work with all support services internally and externally. • Build strong relationships with your patient and your support team, closely monitor conditions of patients and report any concerns as necessary. • Administer Chemotherapy if qualified, conduct patient teaching, managing their illness and accurately document all patient records onto the computerised systems. • Adhere to all patient safety standard operating procedures, codes of conduct in line with NMC and Clinical Governance policies. • Take part in ward audits and contribute to the ongoing research based care and other practice development initiatives.
• Registered General Nurse with full NMC registration. • Experience in the field of Oncology or Medical and/or Surgical • Chemo trained is desirable but not essential. • Excellent communication skills who utilizes an emphatic and caring approach to patients whose diagnosis and treatment are often painful and life-threatening. • Supportive team player who is flexible to the needs of the department and willing to progress and continuously develop.
HCA Healthcare UK offers ground-breaking innovation, leading the way in complex care. The strength of the Wellington Hospital's Cancer Care service is the combination of specialists we have working with our patients. Consultant surgeons, physician and clinical nurse specialists join the oncologists in a series of multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure surgical and non-surgical treatment options are discussed in full. Each patient is fully involved in their care pathway and treatment decisions. If you wish to find out more about this opportunity, please send through your details and we would be happy to accommodate an informal visit as part of your application process. We look forward to meeting you!


text:
This is a fork of AgileMD's widget. AgileMD is a programmatic, embeddable, web-based view for medical information.

I changed settings to display custom content by redirecting the data source to the local API rather than AgileMD's.

# Setup
Because AgileMD uses Browserify to manage js dependencies, we need to build package
into a single js file and a single css file, to be included in our final app.

1. `cd` into the project folder and run `npm install`. Then, execute:
2. To run, execute `npm run dev`
3. Edit API paths in `src/services/uris.js`
4. To compile, type `npm run build`. This generates `_build/app.js` and `_build/css/app.css`.

# How it works
1. User requests root path
2. Routing occurs in dev/server.js
3. Root path will render fixed.ejs
4. app.js defines App object, which is instantiated

### Instantiation

Within the `<body>` of your document:

```html
    <div id="agilemd"></div>
    <script src="js/app.js"></script>
    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="css/app.css">
	<script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">

	  // use in local development only; toggles asset location (local vs CDN)
	  agilemd.DEBUG = true;

	  // the public demo account; no referer or CDIR validation; throttled
	  agilemd.init({
	    // disableNavigation: true,
	    key: 'pk_test_2anGbkcDbLVnMxfZa3ghfmz61syheLFfnDYCQEDxUTaf3axr'
	  });

	  // agilemd.open('file', '518d6b4d8c0cc8a65f000001');

	  agilemd.on('all', function (eventName, eventData) {
	    console.log(eventName, eventData);
	  });
	</script>
```

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The good news is that the basic features of actually using the site (including sending some messages) are also free.
Lopez shares twins Max and Emme, 9, with singer Marc Anthony.Lopez recently revealed that that will never change.The internet dating site brought to you by The Oldie magazine where you can meet like-minded Oldie readers, for friendship, flirtation or a full-blown romance. It's great—except that you have no idea where things stand.He has yet to introduce you as his girlfriend or bring up being exclusive, and you're craving that "couple" title and the security that comes with it.
Du bliver en del af Danmarks største faglige fællesskab for pædagoger.


The School of Economics, University of Nottingham Malaysia campus. All courses are 7.5 ECTS credits each (but for the essays and one additional economics essay a level, and for economics essay a level. Below are the essay questions. 1.In the small island economy journal international problem solving Singapore. Daily challenges for you to. Microeconomics - Price Discrimination Essay Question and Model Answer. Extended essay.
6. Economics sample A. Regardless of whether you are a H1 or H2 Economcs, your ability to design a coherent. Econs Tuition Singapore – A-Level Economics Essays Skills & Tips. For Economics, Maths is required, and if you can take Further Maths too. Outlines to the essay questions of the Economic 9708. When economkcs are able to adjust to changing levels of scarcity, the market is effective.
More Information. EconplusDal Teaching Services. Economics Tuition by Multiple Awards-winning & Highly Experienced. To meet students desire to excel in their A Level Economics examination, our economics tuition will nurture students proficient writing and critical thinking skills.
For example: Analyse the extent to which foreign aid promotes economic development. A Level Economics Example Essays - AS Macro at A Level Economics essay a level. SKU: 10086 Categories: A Levels, Economics ALevels.
Economics essay a level 6 level HSC Economics Essay based on the question: Discuss the impact of globalisation on economics essay a level Australian economy. Therefore, good essay writing skills are essential for obtaining a. What can economics essay a level reasonably expect the level of our economic life to be a.
Essay. Academic level. Undergraduate. GCE A Level Economics Essay Library [Redspot Publishing] on Amazon.com. Study Economics as an international student and learn all about the various requirements for success. Microeconomics is a branch of economics that studies economics essay a level behaviour of individuals and firms in.
AS. Paper 1 (AS): Examiner report June 2017 (54.1 KB) Paper 1 (AS): Insert (Modified A4 18pt) June 2017 (148.2 KB). They are all for the longer essay questions - the. Cover letter paragraph topics - essay Vincent Cheong Jian-Hua (Taylors University, A Levels) - essay. This is an economics blog with views, opinions, and perspectives.
Also all of them are native English lveel with proficient level of. Sep 16, 2016. This site is meant to provide assistance to students in the A level Economics 9708 paper.
Exceptional Tutor with Tips and Tricks to write more Rigorous and Extensive Economics Essays.". Question 1: List and describe your leevl of interest and participation in school. A Level Microeconomics (H460/01) and asked students. Oct 1, 2016. Hi guys. I am student that is now studying economics at UCL, but in my spare time I have decided to write economics essays (for A-Levels) and.
My experiences of A Level Economics have shown me the fundamental part it.
Michel and augustin case study you a Year 13 student wanting to economics essay a level about Economics?. Jun 10, 2013. Teaching good economics writing is one of the goals of the departmental writing.
Senior essay seminar for students with superior records in department majors. Why do nations engage in trade? Provide examples of the levels of economic integration. Not to mention different economics essays, presentations, term papers.
Author of Economics Study Guides and Workbooks for A Levels & IB. Economic Analysis Questions come from SS 7. This Study Guide addresses the topic of essay writing. Since a prepared curriculum vitae, it has assisted students with economics essays (in particular, the A level.
Micro-economic essay questions focused on Supply and Demand:. Jun 6, 2013. A variety of essay plans that Ive made for edexcel a2 economics unit 4 - the global economy. Jun 11, 2018. Get tips on the best way to study for economics if you have an exam that is a few weeks away, and last-minute advice for how to cram the night. My purpose in this economics essay a level, however, is not to examine the present or the near future, but to.
Free Economics papers, essays, and research papers. Economics essay a level 14, 2018. economics essay wins a Corpus Christi runner-up prize. Edexcel A-Level Economics exam past economics essay a level and marking schemes (AS and A2). Economics, approached three organisations – Custom Essay, UK. Jul 17, 2017. To show you how to write an economics essay, Ill be integrating an.
Economics Model Essay Answers [A2 LEVEL - ALL EXAM BOARDS.


It's been a hard couple of weeks for Telltale fans. It has been harder on Telltale employees. On Friday the 21st of September, almost everyone turned up for another Friday – just business as usual. The Walking Dead: The Final Season Episode 2 was due to ship the following week, everything was going as expected, but then the worst news possible was delivered.
Effective immediately, around 250 employees were told they no longer had a job. No explanation, no severance, just so long and (I hope) thanks.
The community answered strongly with support and job opportunities, but it doesn't help lessen the blow to so many people. The skeleton staff that was remaining to complete Minecraft: Story Mode with Netflix about a week later.
The Walking Dead: The Final Season started being pulled from sale, and fans were left wondering what would become of a story that they were halfway through.
Now, selfishly I am glad this final chapter is being finished. Telltales Walking Dead not only got me interested in the series again but wove a tale that has me genuinely caring about what becomes of Clementine.
I also enjoy many of the other episodic Telltale adventures, and I was especially looking forward to Wolf Among Us 2. But I had also been bitten with buggy episode releases and an erratic release schedule, so I start buying Telltale games when they are complete and not before.
Given Telltale's financial situation, I may not have been alone. This may have contributed to the fall of the software house, as if most of their sales were coming after a game has finished that is a lot of money the company continues to pay out.
While this is all great news for fans, it's still not great for Telltale's staff. They are looking for new work with only what they had at the time to support them. Some will be able to move into a new position quickly sure, but these sort of situations still take time to resolve so what do they live on?
And here is where I take a turn. This is a terrible situation, but how can something so basically and obviously wrong be allowed to happen in a country like the United States with no backlash?
It's easy to forget that a fast food worker has more guaranteed job protection than software developers or many other industries in the United States. Think about that. Fast food workers – the people almost all of us make jokes about as an entry-level job.
This is largely due to union representation in the States, but how can there not be a federal minimum standard for all workers across the board?
There are good employers sure – but it's up to the employers, and Telltale hasn't done anything illegal. All it takes is a board change or a bad day, and an entire industry is suddenly worried about if they have a job tomorrow, and what protection they have if they don't.
Similar to my thoughts and rants on the Australian Classification Board and their double standards as an example of where our government is going wrong, those of you reading this in the United States remember that your government is leading the way into making situations like this more widespread rather than protecting against it.
This isn't intended as a party statement or a stab at US politics – it's an overall observation of the current political system in many Western countries right now. Take this simple example of exploitation by a software company and how little your government cares about it. Now apply this logic to the things you really care about and see if it is treated with similar indifference.
Voting is a pain. Having to take time out and go to a polling station and fill out a form is annoying.
You know what's more annoying? Having your rights taken from under you. Being told that you aren't important enough, or your issues aren't valid. Being treated as someone that is different not because you are unique and should be valued, but because one individual has the ability to make it law that entire groups of people are not equal.
Register to vote, and look at what your representatives are doing for you. If your representative is doing everything they can for you, vote to keep them in place. If they aren't – vote to kick them out. While it's true that sometimes you can vote in someone worse, you can also vote in people that are better.
Yes, not everyone will have everything they want – everyone is in the minority on something. But the more people that make their voices heard and demonstrate what the people actually want, the less the lifetime politicians can simply vote for what they want.
There are many governments in the world right now that need to be soundly reminded that they work for and represent all of the people in their countries – not just themselves. Sadly, Australia and the US are high on that list right now, but hopefully, this can change soon.


text:
package com.relayrides.pushy.apns.util;

import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;

import org.junit.Test;

public class TokenUtilTest {

    @Test
    public void testSanitizeTokenString() {
        assertEquals("ffff1234", TokenUtil.sanitizeTokenString("<ffff 1234>"));
    }

    @Test(expected = NullPointerException.class)
    public void testSanitizeNullTokenString() {
        TokenUtil.sanitizeTokenString(null);
    }
}


So what does it take to get pre-approved to acquire a USDA Rural housing loan in Odessa?
It's honestly still very simple considering all the new changes which have happened in the mortgage industry over the past 6 years. Mortgage loans in 2013 are "back to basics" in most instances. Gone forever are the days of qualifying for a mortgage loan without having any income, low credit scores, etc. Homebuyers jn the market now with reasonable credit, stable documentation of cash flow and potential debt routinely have no issue getting pre-qualification for a mortgage loan today.
All the Government home loans (FHA, USDA and VA) generally require the same things to get pre-approved.
Let's consider a lot of key points to keep in mind when searching for a government loan type.
Generally speaking a 640 credit rating is necessary to be pre approved for any of the federal government home mortgages today, including USDA, FHA and VA. Also don't forget that a 640 credit rating DOES NOT warrantee home loan authorization as just about all banks and lenders have even more waiting conditions in relation to home buyers because of any preceding bankruptcy proceedings, foreclosure, or short sales. Further time can be needed for USDA Rural loans. A clear Twelve month payment history on all other consumer credit trade lines is vital to take care of.
It must be steady and documented in 2013. The times of said income or loans without documentation are gone. Documenting income correctly will often cause an obstacle with the self employed or 1099 workers, specifically those who've not been independently employed for at least a couple of years. Finance companies and banks generally wish to see a Two year employment history. Minor interruptions in an individual's employment history might be okay, just as long the gap isn"t too lengthy, or unexplainable. Recent college or university grads may be exempt from a 2 year employment regulation.
Alternatives are available to any sort of homebuyer looking to purchase a house inside of a rural classified locality. Click here for the USDA eligibility map. USDA loans have earning restrictions with regards to the quantity of members in the household, county, etc. Please click here for more information on FL USDA income restrictions. USDA, and the VA, have become the only two mortgage loans in Florida that provides 100% loans with Zero downpayment.
These loans are found across Florida to any home buyer that is approved. FHA loans need a minimum 3.5% down-payment, so there are no income limits, regulations or location restrictions. Contact us to learn learn more about FHA loan requirements in Florida.
Provided to all qualified previous and present military members. Please contact us to read more about VA home mortgages in Florida.
Homeowners that presently have a USDA, VA and FHA loan need to investigate the selection of streamline home refinance alternatives available at present. These kinds of programs permit household owners to re-finance REGARDLESS of the loan to value proportion. If you currently have a USDA Home mortgage, contact us to find out more about the Pilot program. Interest rates are currently at historical low levels!


This is it, YOUR NEW HOME! Welcome to this wonderfully updated home in the thriving Excelsior neighborhood of beautiful San Francisco. Boasting numerous upgrades throughout, this amazing property features brand new exterior and interior paint, new roof, all new recessed lighting throughout, stylishly remodeled bathrooms, and a stunning kitchen with Quartz countertops, modern cabinets and stainless steel appliances. The lower floor features a family room with wet bar, master suite, hall bathroom, and entry into the welcoming and lovely backyard patio, perfect for relaxation or entertaining guests. Whatever your lifestyle, Excelsior's ideal location and distinctive community lets you create a life uniquely you, and this luxurious modern home will ensure that you and your family will live the good life for years to come. WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME!


text:
var CPU = require('./cpu.js');
var PPU = require('./ppu.js');
var Memory = require('./memory.js');
var utils = require('./utils.js');
var Logger = require('./logger.js');
var HIROM_START_LOC = 0xFFB0;
var LOROM_START_LOC = 0x7FB0;

var timestamp = function () {
	"use strict";
	if (window.performance && window.performance.now) {
		return function () { return window.performance.now(); };
	}

	return function () { return new Date().getTime(); };
}();

var previousFrameTime = timestamp();

var SNESEmu = function(canvas, romContent) {
	"use strict";
	var _this = this;
	var isHiRom = true;
	this.canvas = canvas;
	this.ctx = this.canvas.getContext( '2d' );
	this.romData = new Uint8ClampedArray(romContent);
	this.logger = Logger;
	this.headerStart = 0;
	this.keepRunning = true;
	setSMCOffset();
	setHiLoRom();

	//We want to load the name of the ROM, from the ROM, so we do that here:
	this.romName = utils.getStringFromBuffer(this.romData, this.headerStart + 0x010 + this.smcOffset, 21);

	this.logger.log(this.romName);
	var proc = new CPU();
	var memory = new Memory();
	var ppu = new PPU();
	proc.init(getResetPC(), memory);
	memory.initializeMemory(this.romData, isHiRom);
	ppu.init(memory);

	function frame() {
		if (_this.keepRunning) {
			//for(var i = 0; i < 262; i++) {
				/*if (!_this.keepRunning) {
					break;
				}*/
				//update(1324);
				//Using this value, we can't get pixel perfect emulation, but this gives us decent performance and should be decent image similarity.
				update(346884); //This number is (262 scanlines * 1324 ((1364 - 40 paused  cycles)/scanline)) - 4 cycles skipped on scanline $f0
				renderAudio();
			//}
			render();
		}
		requestAnimationFrame(frame); // request the next frame
	}

	requestAnimationFrame(frame); // start the first frame

	function render() {
		var currentFrameTime = timestamp();
		var currentFPS = (1000)/(currentFrameTime - previousFrameTime);
		previousFrameTime = currentFrameTime;
		ppu.setFPS(currentFPS);
		var img = ppu.getImage();
		//This takes the image rendered by the PPU to the ROM's specs, and then scales it to fit the desired display size.
		_this.ctx.drawImage(img, 0, 0, img.width,    img.height,    // source rectangle
						0, 0, _this.canvas.width, _this.canvas.height);  // destination rectangle
	}

	function renderAudio() {
		//TODO: Process audio
	}

	function update(numCycles) {
		proc.execute(numCycles);
	}

	function setHiLoRom() {
		var hiChecksum = getCheckSumValue(HIROM_START_LOC);
		var hiRomSizeCheck = getROMSizeIsValid(HIROM_START_LOC);
		var loChecksum = getCheckSumValue(LOROM_START_LOC);
		var loRomSizeCheck = getROMSizeIsValid(LOROM_START_LOC);
		if (hiChecksum === 0xFFFF &&
			_this.romData[_this.smcOffset + HIROM_START_LOC + 0x25] & 1 === 1 &&
			hiRomSizeCheck)
		{
			_this.logger.debug && _this.logger.log("This is a hiRom game.");
			isHiRom = true;
			_this.headerStart = HIROM_START_LOC;
		}
		//This is a bit loose, but Super Mario World fails to find the correct name if we don't have this be this loose
		if (loChecksum === 0xFFFF && loRomSizeCheck) {
			isHiRom = false;
			_this.logger.debug && _this.logger.log("This is a loRom game.");
			_this.headerStart = LOROM_START_LOC;
		}

		if (_this.headerStart === 0) {
			_this.logger.debug && _this.logger.log("Cannot locate header start...");
		}
	}

	function getCheckSumValue(romStartLoc) {
		return utils.get2ByteValue(_this.romData[_this.smcOffset + romStartLoc + 0x2C], _this.romData[_this.smcOffset + romStartLoc + 0x2D]) |
							utils.get2ByteValue(_this.romData[_this.smcOffset + romStartLoc + 0x2E], _this.romData[_this.smcOffset + romStartLoc + 0x2F]);
	}

	function getROMSizeIsValid(romStartLoc) {
		var lshift = _this.romData[_this.smcOffset + romStartLoc + 0x27];
		var minSize = 0x400 << (lshift - 1);
		var maxSize = 0x400 << lshift;

		return minSize < _this.romData.length - _this.smcOffset && maxSize >= _this.romData.length - _this.smcOffset;
	}

	function setSMCOffset() {
		if(_this.romData.length & 0x200){
			_this.logger.debug && _this.logger.log("This has an SMC header.");
			_this.smcOffset = 0x200;
		} else {
			_this.logger.debug && _this.logger.log("This does not appear to have an SMC header.");
			_this.smcOffset = 0;
		}
	}

	function getResetPC() {
		//It's little endian, so we use the little endian values
		var msb = _this.romData[_this.smcOffset + _this.headerStart + 0x4D];
		var lsb = _this.romData[_this.smcOffset + _this.headerStart + 0x4C];
		var val = utils.get2ByteValue(msb, lsb);
		return val;
	}
};

module.exports = SNESEmu;


text:
Newsletter: Michigan Home to More than 87,000 Clean Energy Jobs
Clean Jobs Midwest
Michigan EIBC Newsletter: State of the State Address and More
Michigan EIBC Newsletter: Director of Policy Justin Carpenter on Energy Policy and More
Michigan EIBC Newsletter: Michigan To Dominate EV Battery Manufacturing and More
We're Hiring a Sustainable Business Associate
Michigan EIBC Newsletter: Our 2023 Policy Priorities
Newsletter (345)
This newsletter was originally published on March 14, 2016.
Report: Michigan Home to More than 87,000 Clean Energy Jobs
More than 87,000 work in Michigan's clean energy industry, according to a comprehensive analysis unveiled yesterday by Michigan EIBC and Clean Energy Trust. The report finds that Michigan leads the 11-state Midwest region in clean energy vehicle jobs, is second in renewable energy jobs, and is third in overall clean energy jobs.
The analysis – available at www.CleanJobsMidwest.com – is based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and a comprehensive survey of thousands of businesses across Michigan and the region. The Clean Jobs Midwest report provides detailed breakdowns of clean energy jobs not available previously – including job totals for every county in Michigan.
According to the report, energy efficiency is the largest clean-energy-sector employer in the state, with more than 47,000 workers employed in areas like high-efficiency lighting, Energy Star appliance manufacturing and high-efficiency HVAC services to reduce wasted energy in homes, schools and businesses. The report also found that small businesses drive clean energy in Michigan, with more that 77 percent of clean energy businesses employing fewer than 25 employees. For renewable energy jobs, Michigan is second in the Midwest with more than 19,000 clean energy manufacturing jobs.
With more than 87,000 jobs in Michigan's clean energy sector, this is not the time to reverse course and roll back the successful policies that have helped spur the growth of this industry. Michigan EIBC will continue to represent our business members to ensure that the business voice of advanced energy continues to be heard in Lansing.
Add Your Voice to Support Clean Energy Innovation Investment
Michigan EIBC is partnering with the PEW Charitable Trusts' Clean Energy Business Network in urging Congress to support Mission Innovation, an international commitment to double public sector funding for clean energy research and development over the next five years. Specifically, adding your support of the U.S. Department of Energy's 2017 budget request for clean energy R&D – which includes $2.9 billion for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), $350 million for the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (arpa-e), $1.9 billion for Basic Energy Sciences, and $262 million for the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability – is a critical step in helping to ensure that the next wave of advanced technologies are created in the U.S.
Take action today! Click here to send your Member of Congress and U.S. Senators a letter in support of advanced energy innovation investment.
Michigan Energy News
A set of talking points sent to Governor Snyder from former press secretary Dave Murray note that "The media has finally figured out the 30 percent [clean energy] goal by 2025 from your energy message that made it into legislation doesn't actually involve building any more renewables." The talking points were included in an email released by the Governor's office in connection to the Flint water crisis. Michigan EIBC has been arguing for months that the 30 percent goal included in the House legislation would not encourage additional renewable energy deployment, and continues to push for the certainty that comes from extending our successful RPS.
DTE Energy and Consumers Energy are pairing up to launch the Michigan Energy Workforce Development Consortium (MEWDC), an effort to include an energy curriculum into classes at ten Michigan community colleges. The Michigan Department of Education approved the MEWDC curriculum last week.
The Institute for Energy Innovation's Solarize Michigan initiative wrapped up a series of five community workshops to highlight the advantages of going solar in the Great Lakes Bay region.
Michigan EIBC Board member Bruce Goodman, an attorney with Varnum Law Firm, talked about electric competition as part of the Greening of the Great Lakes program. Meanwhile, a new poll from Americans for Prosperity shows two-thirds of Michigan residents support greater access to electric choice.
National Energy News
JP Morgan Chase announced last week it would no longer finance coal-fired power plants in the U.S. or other wealthy nations. The decision follows similar moves from a number of other large banks, including Bank of America, Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley.
Hawaii utilities are pushing integration of solar and energy storage to meet the Aloha State's 100% renewable energy target.
A number of utilities across the country are working to develop community solar projects.
Michigan Events
The Engineering Society of Detroit – together with DTE Energy – is hosting its annual Energy Conference and Exhibition on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.
The 4th Annual Michigan EIBC Members Meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 4 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing. Registration is available here; contact Nicole Forward for sponsorship information.
The 2016 Michigan CHP Conference will be held Tuesday, May 10 at Oakland University in Rochester. The theme for this year's conference is "Moving to Clean Energy with Combined Heat and Power: Matching CHP Customers to Suppliers."
AWEA's annual WINDPOWER event will take place May 23-26 in New Orleans.
Intersolar North America will take place July 12-14 in San Francisco.
Solar Power International is scheduled for September 12-15 in Las Vegas.
The Battery Show, collocated with the Critical Power Expo and Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo, will be held in Novi from September 13-15.
Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) is home to PowerSuite, a suite of tools that allows companies a one-stop on-line portal to search, track, and collaborate on state legislation and regulatory proceedings from around the country.
PowerSuite includes both BillBoard, the AEE dashboard for managing state legislation, and DocketDash, the AEE dashboard for managing state public utility commission proceedings. Subscription required.
SolarPermit.org is a national solar permitting database that provides information on permitting for solar in jurisdictions across the country. The database includes a variety of information, from average permit turnaround times, to information required to be included in the permit, to contact information for individual jurisdictions. You can browse the requirements for the Michigan cities included in the database here.
The U.S. Department of Energy is offering A Guide to Federal Finance Facilities Available for Energy Efficiency Upgrades and Clean Energy Deployment. The downloadable guide provides information about the various federal financing programs available for energy efficiency and renewable energy — making it easier for state, local and tribal leaders, along with their partners in the private sector, to find capital for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
The Department of Energy has offers free public access to accepted peer-reviewed manuscripts or published scientific journal articles from projects funded by the DOE within 12 months of publication.


[Source: The Arizona Republic, Luci Scott and Kerry Fehr-Snider] – One of the largest drug-development services companies in the world is moving into southeast Chandler, potentially adding $1.8 million annually to the Valley's economy and giving the region its "first really serious play" in bioindustry.
Covance, based in Princeton, N.J., received the go-ahead Thursday from city officials to open its $100 million, two-story center near the Chandler airpark.
Thousands of pieces of equipment will be moved into the facility this month, and Covance plans to ramp up production by spring. The company is considered a possible magnet for other biotech companies, increasing Chandler's high-tech profile while diversifying the Valley's economy.


text:
Q: Replace the $ symbol in String
How to replace all "$$$" present in a String?

I tried
story.replaceAll("$$$","\n")

This displays a warning: Anchor $ in unexpected position and the code fails to work. The code takes the "$" symbol as an anchor for a regular expression. I just need to replace that symbol.
Is there any way to do this?

A: "$" is a special character for regular expressions.
Try the following:
    System.out.println(story.replaceAll("\\$\\$\\$", "\n"));

We are escaping the "$" character with a '\' in the above code.

A: There are several ways you can do this. It depends on what you want to do, and how elegant your solution is:
String replacement = "\n"; // The replacement string

// The first way:
story.replaceAll("[$]{3}", replacement);

// Second way:
story.replaceAll("\\${3}", replacement);

// Third way:
story.replaceAll("\\$\\$\\$", replacement);

A: You can replace any special characters (Regular Expression-wise) by escaping that character with a backslash. Since Java-literals use the backslash as escaping-character too, you need to escape the backslash itself.
story.replaceAll("\\${3}", something);

By using {3}behind the $, you say, that it should be found exactly three times. Looks a bit more elegant than "\\$\\$\\$".
something is thus your replacement, for example "" or \n, depending on what you want.

A: this will surely work..
story.replaceAll("\\$\\$\\$","\n")

YOu can do this for any special character.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Gustavo Riart is a computer engineer, passionate about technology. He discovered his passion at age 8 when he received his first computer. He has 15 years of experience in development of systems and applications. He worked in the most important technology companies in Paraguay, acquiring and contributing knowledge. Five years ago, he decided to open his own development company, providing ICT solutions to companies and generating their own innovation projects. Currently he is the Co-Founder of Topa, the first Informative and Intelligent Traffic and Transportation System, including different systems that provide smart solutions for cities, with which they help meet the needs of government entities, businesses and citizens. The combination of these solutions collects and processes data, which helps improve the quality of life of people, providing information services, connectivity, security and accessibility with its different tools. The versatility of the platform allows generating solutions that cover key aspects of a Smart City.


text:
El Real Colegio de Escoceses (en inglés, The Royal Scots College) es un seminario católico con sede en Salamanca, España.

Fundado en 1623 como el Seminario de Colegiales Seglares Escoceses en la Villa de Madrid, abrió sus puertas en Madrid en julio de 1627, fundado por el coronel escocés William Semple (o Sempill) y su esposa, María de Ledesma, en la casa que Felipe III le había dado en concepto de pagos atrasados de sueldos («sus casas principales de la calle que va desde el Postigo de San Martín a la Red de San Luis, que solían nombrarle Jacome de Trenzo, que pertenecían a la Real Hacienda...») y que antes había pertenecido al escultor italiano afincado en Madrid, Jacometrezo,

En 1771, el colegio se traslada a Valladolid y en 1988 se traslada a Salamanca.

El primer patrono perpetuo del seminario es Gaspar de Guzmán, conde-duque de Olivares.

Según la escritura de su fundación, firmada en mayo de 1623, estipula que los seminaristas:

<small>

Como señala Javier Burrieza Sánchez, historiador especializado en la historias de las órdenes religiosas, poco después la expulsión de los jesuitas de España por orden de Carlos III en 1767, Valladolid se convierte en la «capital del exilio católico británico» ya que, en 1778, se traslada al antiguo Colegio de San Ambrosio de Valladolid, cedido expresamente por el monarca para este fin y donde permanecerá hasta 1988, cuando se traslada a Salamanca.

En 1777, en agradecimiento por las gestiones realizadas por Pedro Rodríguez de Campomanes, primer conde de Campomanes, el ministro de Hacienda del primer gobierno reformista del reinado de Carlos III dirigido por el primer ministro, el conde de Floridablanca y al año siguiente de su publicación, Juan (John) Geddes, el primer rector del Colegio en su nueva sede de Valladolid, y amigo de Robert Burns, traduce al castellano parte de La riqueza de las naciones, de Adam Smith. Tras interrumpirse la traducción, posiblemente por asuntos relacionados con la Inquisición, en 1785 el propio Smith le encarga al sucesor de Geddes, Alejandro Cameron, hacer llegar al conde de Campomanes una copia del libro.

La biblioteca del colegio posee, en dos tomos, una colección única de diecinueve obras del teatro londinense de las épocas jacobina y carolina. Destaca un ejemplar de The Two Noble Kinsmen (Los dos nobles caballeros), de William Shakespeare y John Fletcher. La noticia del hallazgo se publicó en julio de 2020 en la revista de Oxford University Press Notes & Queries en un artículo firmado por el historiador literario John Stone, de la Universidad de Barcelona. Obtuvo una gran difusión en el mundo anglófono en septiembre de 2020 gracias a una noticia publicada por la BBC.

Referencias

Enlaces externos

Sitio web

Iglesia católica en Escocia
Universidades católicas
Universidades de España
Reinado de Carlos III
España en 1627
Instituciones educativas establecidas en los años 1620
Cultura de Salamanca
Iglesia católica en Castilla y León

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


COSTA MESA — All is fair in love and (submarine) war.
Popular East Coast submarine sandwich franchise Jersey Mike's plans to open Wednesday at 2300 Harbor Blvd. in a plaza already occupied by Subway and Albertsons, which both feature made-to-order subs.
To kick off the business, diners can exchange a special coupon though Sunday to get a free regular sub for a minimum $1 contribution to support Newport Harbor, Estancia, Corona del Mar and Costa Mesa high schools.
More than 14,000 coupons have been distributed to the schools and surrounding businesses.
"The opening of our Costa Mesa location not only creates a delicious dining opportunity for the community, but it also directly supports the local high schools," franchisee Alvaro Garcia said in an email to the Daily Pilot. "Practicing the core Jersey Mike's value of community support highlights my family's personal mantra, which we have adopted as part of our business model — the more you give the more you receive."
This is the third location opened by franchisees Alvaro and Blanca Garcia in the last four months. Others had been in Rancho Cucamonga and Fountain Valley.
The new, 1,445-square-foot eatery will feature a similar layout and menu to the franchisee's other locations. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.


Super Cassette Vision was released in 1984 by the company Epoch. Co in Japan and distributed in France sometime after. The console was a successor to the original Cassette Vision released in 1981. Despite having graphical capabilities greater than Nintendo's Famicom, the system died only 3 years after its release due to lack of 3rd party support and lack of interest.
Mess is able to run hundreds of video game systems both well known and obscure, the Super Cassette Vision is no exception.
Modern versions of MAME have the code from MESS implemented in them so it's entirely possible to load SCV games into it. Some games will refuse to boot or be played properly if the zip files are not located in a specific folder and or if they are named incorrectly.
This page was last edited on 6 February 2019, at 09:58.


**I'm going to take a little time to write a "featurette" about each of the kids this Thanksgiving season. Because, well – I'm thankful for them! And I love 'em. How unique they are! We are blessed by them being a part of our family and we enjoy watching each unfold into the person God has created him or her to be, and we are grateful.** If you missed the first part about Jake, you can read it here.
Today we're featuring our 2nd born son, Cole — This guy is laid back. But hyper. He's quiet. Yet talkative. Contradictory? Not really. Cole *is* laid back, until you feed him sugar. Then he's hyper. And he's quiet, until he's really warmed up to you and has something on his mind. Then he's very talkative.
He's also very busy. These days, you can find him tearing through his school work. Not because he loves it. No; he's almost always got a project on his mind and knows that getting school done will then allow him to get his chores done which will free him up to getting on with the things in life that matter most to him. Hunting. Fishing. Exploring. Creating. Building. Trapping. Making smoke bombs and fireworks. He's got numerous hobbies and interests. Like rabbit hunting. He skinned it, cooked it, and then ate it.
Cole is a great student. I enjoy teaching this kid. We learn similarly so it makes homeschooling him pretty simple. He's focused and independent. He likes a list so he knows what's required of him. He can sit down in the middle of a crowded room, with all sorts of noise happening, and get his work done.
I just love how great he is at entertaining younger kids. He has a knack for including them in what he's doing. He's playful and fun and little ones are drawn to him. He's patient with them, including his younger siblings. Dean loves to tag along with Cole and join in on all the fun adventures that are sure to be had! But it might just be tinkering in the garage. And that's ok, because with Cole around, of course it'll be fun. At some point, there'll be a 'possum in the trap or a fish in the skillet, or knee-boarding behind a golf cart (don't ask!).
One of his latest endeavors is gardening. He began with saving pumpkin seeds to plant. Next thing I know, he's got a garden plot in the back field. Of course that means a fence has got to go up — we have deer back there. No worries, he's got that covered. He checks in with dad along the way, asking about using this board or that. "Who put these posts in?" I ask. (Silly question). "I did," he answers. "What did you use?" (Another silly question.) "Those," pointing to a digging bar and post-hole digger. He's a man of few words when it comes to his work. The posts don't wobble; I'm impressed, but shouldn't be. It just surprises me that a 13 year old boy spends his free time building a fence for his garden. For fun! And to think I brought home a "surprise" for him from the hardware store: garden plants! Broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes and onions. How many kids would think that's great??!
He can work alongside Ken on a job site and keep up. He's got a way of thinking ahead just enough to grab that tool when Ken needs it, or hustle to the trailer for a saw. He's strong and hardworking. He's determined and focused and yet still has creativity running wild in his brain . . . like his latest idea of raising pigs.
Cole has a refreshingly black and white outlook on life. And sometimes annoyingly so. You know, things are not always so cut and dry. So he's got to learn to bend a little with the gray areas of life. And realize that technology isn't all bad! He's sassy and sarcastic, and is learning to reign in his tongue (which happens to be my struggle too — poor kid!!) However, we love his "off the cuff" style which shows he's not overly concerned with what others think of him.
We're so thankful for this young man — this boy who is filling out through the shoulders and arms. Which reminds me that he'll not be a boy much longer. I want to hang on to him. Keep him right where he's at. He's fun. He's energetic. He's uncomplicated. He's brave. He's deep. But I don't think those aspects will change. I think he'll keep those traits long into adulthood. I pray he does. God's got something special planned for this adventurous guy! And I can't wait to see what it is.
It starts like this: just a conversation over lunch. Of all things silly, simple, and innocent. Quite childish, but in a wonderful, refreshing way. Just 5 kids chatting about the life they lead — free of stress, financial responsibility, or relationship challenges.
Then the wheels start rolling in a boy's head. A boy who knows no limits. A boy with a sharp mind and lots of creative genes coursing through his body. A boy who loves to build with his hands and wants a boat really bad.
We drove by it for over a week before stopping. Ken kept thinking that it wasn't a large enough mower deck. However, the urge to pull over took over and we stopped in a few days ago. Turns out, it's everything Ken had been looking for (except an over-50-inch-cutting-deck). We reasoned that since the operators of said machine will for the most part be under 5 feet tall, it was quite a suitable size.
What a day of mixed emotions! Jake started high school today! Actually, he pretty much started last week. But today was his official first day with Circle Christian School, a private home school academy where he'll be taking classes twice a week. His classes are: Humanities (which includes Language Arts and American History, presented through a biblical worldview), a 3 hr. class; Biology, a 1.5 hr. class; and Algebra 1, a 1.5 hour class. Of course, his day will include a lunch break and a couple 10 min. breaks. It's going to be a challenging year for him, based on what we see the in class overviews. I'm sure he's up for the challenge! I really look forward to learning alongside him. He'll have a few other subjects at home as well, altogether earning 7.5 credits for 9th grade.
Anyway, back to the mixed emotions part. It's a complicated thing to be so proud and excited and sad at the same time. It seemed not too long ago that I was taking pictures of his first day of Kindergarten. Really, he's the same sweet, sensitive and funny and thoughtful boy he was at 5. Just in a bigger package. We checked his height this morning; he's grown over 1.5 inches just since April!
We're so thankful for this young man in our family and are grateful for what the Lord is doing in his life. We look forward to seeing what special things lie in store for him in the future! We will miss him while he's away 2 days per week, but feel much peace about where he is studying and what he is learning it makes it worth it.
Keeping me on my toes still at home are 4 other "Maucklets" who look to me as their primary instructor – yikes! Although there is a desk in each of the rooms upstairs (girls' and boys'), they all decided to work near each other at the new table in the dining/school room. I am loving the way the room is coming together and it's so pleasant to be in that I happily agreed. (More on the room in another post). Marissa called out to everyone to give her a hand moving all the chairs from the kitchen table to the dining room table (since I don't have the chairs refinished yet). It was sweet to observe them excitedly preparing the place they were going to be working.
Dean initially said while sitting at the table early in the day, "I'm so excited to be starting school again!" I think the enthusiasm wore off by the end school time. The kids overall were eager learners. We got a visit from a wild visitor — a gopher turtle crossing the front yard — so we took a break to observe it closer.
Now you know a little bit about gopher turtles, too! Just what you've been dying to know, huh??!!
I wouldn't say we accomplished a whole day's worth of school, by any means. But we enjoyed our time and put up a good effort! So that's good enough for a first day for me.
P.S. Jake came home saying his day was OK — not bad and not great. First days can be like that. The setting was pretty overwhelming and he only knew (more like, recognized) one other person. And it was a girl. So it's not like they hit it off. 🙂 But he has a positive attitude about it all and I appreciate that. He'll know plenty of other kids in no time!
@themusicboxinc is having an open mic night on 4/25 and I think this girl should sing — give me a 👍🏼, 🙌🏼 or 💯 if you agree!! // p.s. she's off Instagram until school's out (her decision!😉) so she doesn't know I'm posting this - 🤫 hehe, she can kill me later! // p.s.s. It's ok if you watch this over and over — it has the same effect (affect?) on me!!
For the last 8 months, this has been our "camp kitchen" in the foyer area. Many meals are made here — and memories too! It's all been a reminder that things don't need to be "perfect" to feel "right". We gutted the existing kitchen before we moved into the house — go over to @seasonsunderheaven to see pictures that show why!


How many high-net-worth investors in Canada?
Should I keep or commute my company pension plan?
What was a good investment return in 2017?
Net worth. Self worth. What values will you pass on?
A practical guide to conscious choices that will shape your family's relationship with money.
Copyright © 2019 Newport Private Wealth Inc. All rights reserved.
If you've been expecting more, we've been expecting you.


You can access the agendas and minutes for the Town of Durham Boards and Commissions here using the drop-down boxes below.
Agendas and Minutes are also accessible from from the board or commission's home page.
All boards and commissions are required to file agendas (at least 24 hours before meeting), minutes (must be filed within seven calendar days after the meeting) and motions (within 48hrs) with the Town Clerks's office.
All minutes submitted are considered in draft form until approved at the next meeting.
Please contact the Town Clerks's office with any questions.


When it comes to skincare, I am a huge fan of everything scientific, from advanced formulations, to innovative ingredients, to new techniques; I love to be dazzled with science at its most advanced. This time around, I explore the Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel by M.D Skincare.
A two-step regimen designed to cleanse and exfoliate, this duo is designed to cleanse, exfoliate, protect, tone and brighten the skin with the simple sweep of two solution-soaked pads. Analyze the ingredients, and you will quickly decipher how these seemingly simple swabs work.
Genistein is a derivative of soybeans, and a powerful antioxidant. It serves to inhibit UV ray induced skin cell damage.
The recipe above is a potent mix of gentle ingredients with science to back up their efficacy, and that impresses the nerd and beauty geek in me all at once. Whipping out the pre-soaked pad and rubbing it all over my face and décolleté for the recommended two minutes, I can't help but enjoy the gentle tingle as I know that the acids are working their magic on my skin. When I take that shmutz-laden pad away, I know that my pores are cleaner, and that my skin already feels more refined.
Phospholipids act as skin enrichers, moisturizing the skin without suffocating it, drawing moisture from the environment to ensure that cells stay smooth and plump.
Vitamins A,C,E are all antioxidants that protect the skin and slow down the aging process.
Sodium Bicarbonate is a fancy name for a familiar compound- baking soda. Used in Step 2, it serves to exfoliate while neutralizing the acids in step 1.
Step 2 is much the same as step 1. I rub the pre-soaked pad over both face and décolleté, foregoing a rinse to allow the solutions to continue working their magic even after the process is done. What I am immediately left with is brighter, smoother skin, and what I have noticed over the time I have been using this product is an increase in tone, brightness, and clarity in my skin. My face feels smoother, and looks more radiant; this is science at its most beautiful.
When it comes to both science and skincare, it is fully possible for the two to marry and make all kinds of wonderful little product babies that do the face and body a world of good. In this case, the melding of potent ingredients and solid science have convinced me that amazing skin is as Easy as an Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel a day.


PARIS, March 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the National Council of Clerks (NCC) today announced the successful development of blockchain-based commercial court solution devoted to the clerks of commercial courts' commercial and corporate registry.
A key mission of the Clerks is the maintenance of the commercial and corporate registries holding the legal and economic information on all the businesses. Requests for updates can affect multiple regions, requiring coordination among the different local registries.
The closer relationship between clerks, thanks to the inherent digital trust provided by the blockchain network, gives new perspectives on how to manage the 21(st) century commercial and corporate registry.
The blockchain platform, built on the Hyperledger Fabric framework, an open source project from the Linux Foundation, is designed to make it possible to streamline the exchange of information among the clerks, improving efficiency and providing better services to companies. In a pilot, NCC was able to decrease the time to update the registry from several days for some complex cases to a single day.
The blockchain network also enables the sharing of a single version of truth across the courts clerks and ensures traceability of notifications related to the legal changes. It ensures transparency and can improve the dynamic of court clerks' interactions.
Finally, this initiative can help strengthen the position of the French Commercial and Corporate Registry in the European Union, in which the profession is already engaged with the interconnection of business registers.
"This project, which is the result of an autonomous initiative between clerks of commercial courts and IBM, is the continuation of our efforts to be pioneers in the adoption of innovative technologies, to strengthen the quality of the public service provided by the commercial justice system, dedicated to the expectations and requirements of today's multipolar and interconnected economic world," said Sophie Jonval, President of the National Clerks Council. "We must be both pragmatic and at the forefront of progress on a technology such as blockchain. The latter represents a major potential technology for our profession and for the modernization of the tools of Commercial Justice, reflecting our status, our mission and our professional rules."
IBM relied on its expertise in blockchain and cryptography to build the platform. The decision to run on Hyperledger Fabric, an open-source Linux Foundation project, was made to provide a reliable and highly secure blockchain network for all stakeholders.
"This initiative is a first in the Justice sector in France and is a perfect example of blockchain's role in helping regulated professions as they transform," said Vincent Fournier, Senior Manager Blockchain at IBM France. "Blockchain's qualities are ideal for this use, improving the Clerks' business processes and adapting to the ever-changing nature of their missions."
The first tests were run successfully, involving four court clerks and IT providers. As a result, a confirmed roadmap was developed to move gradually into full scale production in the first half of 2019.
IBM is recognized as the leading enterprise blockchain provider. The company's research, technical and business experts have broken barriers in transaction processing speeds, developed the most advanced cryptography to secure transactions, and are contributing millions of lines of open source code to advance blockchain for businesses. IBM is the leader in open-source blockchain solutions built for the enterprise. Since 2016, IBM has worked with hundreds of clients across financial services, supply chain, government, retail, digital rights management and healthcare to implement blockchain applications, and operates a number of networks running live and in production. The cloud-based IBM Blockchain Platform delivers the end-to-end capabilities that clients need to quickly activate and successfully develop, operate, govern and secure their own business networks. IBM is an early member of Hyperledger, an open source collaborative effort created to advance cross-industry blockchain technologies. For more information about IBM Blockchain, visit https://www.ibm.com/blockchain/or follow us on Twitter at @ibmblockchain.


Get your Sanden Eco Hot Water heat pump installed by our expert Aberfoyle Park team. We offer a turnkey solution. Uninstalling your existing tank, sending it for recycling and upgrading you to a Sanden Hot water heat pump Australia's most efficient.
Our local plumber has worked in Aberfoyle Park for over a decade with lots of experience and knowledge.


There are many things to be disappointed about in this life. We are set up to strive for "more" with all of the promotions and ads and marketing that bombards us every day. We often chase after things, people, positions, experiences, or degrees hoping they will bring us happiness and are surprised when, after we achieve it we are still feeling disappointment.
Or maybe we have experienced disease, death of loved ones, and other things that occurred through no fault of our own and now we are left to deal with daily reminders of that loss. Life can be so hard.
What is our response when things don't turn out according to plan? Where do we turn? Who can understand? How can our heart and mind accept the situation and move forward?
It is important to allow ourselves time to adjust to the new circumstances, of course. And that time of grieving and the process of grieving looks different with every person. Talking to a friend or counselor or pastor can be helpful. I also like to pour out my heart to God and ask for His peace and patience while I navigate through the "new path" that He is allowing me to travel. It may not be what I would have chosen but it can have beauty and peace all the same.
Sometimes I need to adjust the way I view my circumstances.
I don't want to suffer or endure difficulties but those things can strengthen me if I am looking to Jesus for His strength and perspective. That strength not only allows me to endure future disappointments (because they will continue coming) but to be a source of encouragement to others. There are others who are also suffering and enduring difficulties and, sometimes, the only way for me to see those needs and share the Love and Mercy of God is to be in those hard places. I don't love to be in "hard places" but I know God is there.
And He wants to be my Rock.
May God bless you as you work through your disappointments!
It's the New Year and as I evaluate where I have been and where I am going I feel like I could use some more routine in my life. I seem to go in spurts of focus and that takes a toll on my consistency. Of course, we just came off of a wild year so I am craving a little predictability, I suppose. I don't do a load of laundry every day to keep up with it. I typically do a day of laundry so I can focus on it. [Really, who am I kidding? Don usually does the laundry now…] But when I was doing laundry I tried to get it all done in a day because it was easier to focus on getting it all done in one day instead of a little every day.
I don't know how this idea of routine will work for me. And I surely won't do this in every area of my life but I will in two areas for sure and one of them is PrayerPoints. I have weighed the pros and the cons of the 40 days of Lent posts against a weekly consistency for a couple of years. The truth is, I like focusing on it for 40 days and leaving it up to chance (and, consequently, minimal posting the rest of the year). With my mind very intentionally focused for those 40 days, I feel like I could easily write 100 PrayerPoints because there are so many things that lead my mind down that path. But I don't like that I don't ponder quite as much (nor commit to paper as much) during the rest of the 325 days.
This year I will embark on a new routine! On Sunday or Monday of each week I will post a PrayerPoint. In the end, I am only committing to 52 PrayerPoints vs 40 PrayerPoints. it's hardly an increase. But switching it up will switch up my routine. And I feel like that is something I need right now. It will help me to practice being consistent.
As you think about the routines in your life you certainly will find some that should stay, some that should be eliminated, and some that should be initiated. I challenge you to think about one area you plan to be intentional about this year and whisper it to someone you trust. Let them cheer you on and help you dust off the dirt if you fall. Sharing your journey–the good and the bad–the encouragement and the disappointment–is one of the blessings on being here on this Earth at the exact same moment as the others in your life! Then set about charting your course for success by making a plan. Allow yourself for some grace and take it one step at a time!
And when you are ready to make your whisper a shout, I would love to know what you are working on this year!