Robert Dean "Bob" Gilkison, 86, of Morehead, passed away Monday morning, July 2, 2018 at Cave Run Manor.
He was born on August 28, 1931 in Morehead, Kentucky, a son of the late Willie Sanford Gilkison and Bessie Beatrice Flannery Gilkison.
Mr. Gilkison was a retired employee of the United States Post Office in Morehead and he was a United States Navy Veteran having served during the Korean Conflict.
He was a graduate of Morehead High School and attended Morehead State University, where he was only a few hours short of receiving his Bachelor's Degree.
Bob was a member of the Clearfield Tabernacle First Church of God, where he had served as the Youth Leader for many years. He was very passionate about his youth ministry and always had one of largest youth groups with nearly 100 youth members.
He enjoyed reading, walking, traveling with his wife and he was a University of Kentucky Basketball fan.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma "Jean" Gilkison, who passed away on May 13, 2009, a step-son, Jack L. Barber, Jr. and three brothers, Billy Gilkison, Don Gilkison and Glenn Poston.
Survivors include two daughters, Roberta Jean Gilkison of Novato, California and Saundra D. Nathanson and her husband, Jace of Morehead, one sister, Betty Gilkison of Jacksonville, Florida, seven grandchildren, Lindsey Greenberg, Tyler Greenberg, Tracy Barber, Shannon Barber, James Barber, Crystal Alexander and Chance Nathanson, seven great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and his loving caregivers and the staff of Cave Run Manor.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 P.M. Friday, July 6, 2018 at the Clearfield Tabernacle First Church of God with Rev. Cecil Ison and Rev. Saundra D. Nathanson officiating.
Burial will follow in the Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens.
Visitation at the Michael R. Gray Funeral Home in Morehead is from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday.
The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service at the church of Friday.
Pallbearers will be Bryen Alexander, Mark Poston, Randy Poston, Danny Reynolds, Jack Carter, Randy Chapman, Charlie Henderson and Gerald Conn.


The expendable portion of laser printers and photocopiers is what you call the printer toner. Printer toner is a mix of polymers and carbons that is used in powder form and stored in cartridges for laser printers and photocopy machines. Different from ink cartridges, toner cartridges are burnt onto paper to produce print-outs. Traditionally, printer toners were used only for black-and-white prints since the production of colored toners was too expensive. However, more and more cheap printer toner that can be used for both black-and-white and colored print jobs are becoming available.
A number of laser cartridges are more expensive than laser printers themselves. This is primarily because manufacturers intend for these inexpensive printers to be thrown out and replaced once the printers run out of toner. This has caused a lot of people to believe that laser printers are too expensive to use. However, there are two alternatives that can make the use of laser printers more budget-friendly and inexpensive to regular household users.
Both these alternatives rely on the use of cheap printer toner. The first alternative is to use non-original or third-party toner cartridges instead of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) toner cartridges. This means using a toner other than the toners produced by the same company that built the printer you own. These third-party cartridges are much cheaper than OEM cartridges. You just need to make sure you are buying a third-party product that is compatible with your printer to avoid additional costs caused by the damage that may occur when you use incompatible ink. Compatibility is usually listed on the box of third-party products.
The second alternative is to buy a printer toner refill kit for self service or to take advantage of a third-party refilling service. The former means buying a big bottle of printer toner either from your original manufacturer or from a third-party cheap printer toner supplier instead of buying a toner cartridge that is ready to use and then using the tools in the refill kit to manually refill your empty cartridges. The latter, on the other hand, means bringing your empty cartridges to a store or a person who professionally refills empty cartridges with fresh toner.
To sum it up, buying laser printers meant for use only as long as the toners last is the most expensive option available to consumers. Regular purchases of OEM or original cartridges are the second most costly. Lower priced alternatives include buying toners from third-party suppliers and refilling empty cartridges (through one of two ways) with cheap printer toner.
In the end, consumers should decide to pursue alternative options to OEM cartridges when minimizing cost is the first priority. For print jobs that only require fast, bulk printing, and where OEM cartridges are inaccessible or insufficient, alternative toners should be used. When using cheap printer toner, consumers should pay close attention to the box label to ensure compatibility with the printer. You should also observe regular printer checkups regardless of whether you are using OEM or alternative toners to ensure printer efficiency and avoid the need to purchase printer part replacements.


Conference play in final week February 6, 2019 at 4:00 a.m.
The scramble for seedings will go into overdrive this week with the last two games of the 4A-1 district season.
Tuesday night in girls action, Farmington was slated to invade Gentry, Prairie Grove was to visit Gravette, Shiloh was to be at Harrison and the Blackhawks were scheduled to be on the road at Harrison. Farmington, Gravette, Harrison and Pea Ridge should have all collected victories, setting up Friday's games to determine final seedings. Friday sees Harrison at Farmington and should the Goblins prevail, Pea Ridge would get the No. 1 seed.
The girls are currently tied with Farmington for the West league lead, but the Cards hold the tiebreaker should the teams remain tied after Friday. That would mean that the 'Hawks would get the No. 2 seed and play the survivor of the second round, perhaps Gravette or Gentry.
The season finale games will see Huntsville at Berryville, Gentry at Prairie Grove, Harrison at Farmington, with the Blackhawks hosting Gravette in the annual Senior Night games. Harrison seems assured of the No. 1 seed from the East, having a game lead over Berryville and even if Farmington beats them and drops them into a tie with the Bobcats, the Gobs have the tiebreaker.
Over on the boys' side, Farmington has already clinched the No. 1 seed with the 'Hawks having clinched the No. 2 seed. The 'Hawks may get Gravette in the third round before taking on either Huntsville or Harrison in the semi finals, likely Huntsville.
These week's games will set the brackets up at any rate, while the district tournament will take place in Harrison next week. All district semi-finalists will advance to the North Region Tournament which will be held way down south in Morrilton. First round winners of the region meet will advance to the state tournament way, way south in Magnolia the following week.
Editor's note: John McGee, an award-winning columnist, sports writer and art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools, writes a regular sports column for The Times. The opinions expressed are those of the writer. He can be contacted through The Times at prtnews@nwadg.com.


Unresolved disputes may be referred to the BVRLA by either the customer or the member involved, however the member cannot initiate a complaint against the customer. The customer must have first fully exhausted the member's own internal complaints procedure and received their final decision.
Details should be submitted by email to: [email protected]. Please complete and return our complaint form giving us authority to act on your behalf.
The BVRLA will aim to resolve the matter using the information presented by both parties to the dispute. Customers should send any evidence they wish to be considered with their complaint form, as the Conciliation Serviced is an evidence based service. Any information requested from the member should be sent to the BVRLA within five working days. Based on the information available, the BVRLA will provide both parties with its findings and recommendations. The BVRLA aims to resolve complaints through the Conciliation Service within 30 days.
The Conciliation Service does not award compensation payments in relation to alleged financial losses, or inconvenience caused.
BVRLA members must comply with the rulings of the Conciliation Service. Use of the Conciliation Service does not restrict the rights of a complainant to pursue remedies through the courts. Customers are not obliged to retain a lawyer or legal advisor but may seek independant legal advice or be represented or assisted by a third party at any stage of the procedure. The outcome may be different if determined by a court.
If a customer is dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation they may request the case is escalated to a manager, who will provide a final decision. There is no further point of escalation, however this does not restrict the complainant from pursuing remedies through the courts.


The Brattle Group is pleased to announce the promotion of Pinar Bagci to principal.
Dr. Bagci joined Brattle's London office in 2011. She has more than 15 years of experience advising on competition and regulatory matters and on the economics of energy and financial markets. In these areas, she has supported clients throughout EU antitrust, merger, and state aid investigations. Her clients include Europe's most prominent companies as well as regulators, competition authorities, and governments.
Dr. Bagci's antitrust work includes assisting clients with analyses of costs and prices, geographic and product market definition, competition assessment, efficiencies, and remedies analyses. In regulation matters, she has advised companies and regulators on market design and trading arrangements, wholesale and retail competition, third party access arrangements, and price determination. Dr. Bagci is also a Special Adviser to the UK Parliament Select Committee on Competition in Banking.
Dr. Bagci holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Economics from Cambridge University, and an MBA and B.A. from Victoria University (New Zealand).


Some North Carolina taxpayers will receive tax relief now that the president and FEMA have declared tornado-and-severe-storm-stricken counties federal disaster areas.
According to the IRS, taxpayers in Guilford and Rockingham counties could see deadlines postponed: "certain deadlines falling on or after April 15, 2018 and before August 15, 2018 are granted additional time to file through August 15, 2018." Taxpayers living directly in the disaster area should be automatically granted tax relief by the IRS; affected individuals or businesses who are not located in specifically named areas will need to call the IRS disaster hotline to determine if they qualify.
Since this announcement comes after the fact, affected taxpayers who missed the April 18 deadline may be able to have their late-filing or late-payment penalty abated. Tax relief can also apply to quarterly estimated payment deadlines, as well as lead to the IRS waiving fees and expediting certain requests—like trying to get a copy or transcript of a prior-year return.
Aside from deadline-related benefits, the IRS notes that "affected taxpayers in a federally declared disaster area have the option of claiming disaster-related casualty losses on their federal income tax return for either the year in which the event occurred, or the prior year." This can even apply to "property losses that are not covered by insurance," so there's added incentive to review Form 4684, Casualties and Thefts if an otherwise insured taxpayer qualifies for tax relief.
For more information on tax relief and other steps disaster victims can take, visit IRS.gov.


On 18 May 2018, the High Council adopted an opinion on the budget settlement bill in order to assess compliance, in 2017, with the multiannual structural balance targets.
The nominal general government deficit stood at 2.6 % of GDP in 2017 compared with 2.9 % in the Public Finance Programming Law (LPFP 2018-2022) and after 3.4 % in 2016. The 0.3 point deviation from the programming law entirely relates to the cyclical component of the deficit. It is explained by the upward revision of GDP growth in 2017 (2.2 % in the budget settlement bill against 1.7 % in the programming law).
The High Council notes that the estimated structural deficit for 2017 is identical to the one contained in the January 2018 programming law. It points out, however, that the gap between this structural balance and the one posted for the same year in the new programming law prepared and adopted only a few months earlier could only be small.
Based on the estimation of potential growth of the Programming law 2018-2022, the structural deficit is reduced by 0.3 percentage point of GDP in 2017. The structural effort, which aims to measure the share of this improvement resulting from government action, is slightly negative. The reduction of the structural deficit stems from a particularly high elasticity of compulsory levies to GDP.
The High Council thus points out that the reduction of the general government deficit below the 3 % of GDP ceiling, which should enable France to emerge from the excessive deficit procedure, was achieved without any discretionary budgetary effort in 2017.
The High Council stresses that non-compliance with the expenditure path will not always be offset by positive revenue surprises, whether directly related to the economic cycle or to a high revenue elasticity to GDP. Consequently, compliance with the public finance path will require the implementation of the efforts announced in the programming law, in particular on public expenditure.


Webtown offers a full range of web design services / web redesign services for small to medium sized businesses across Donegal and Ireland. We design everything from basic sites to large E-Commerce applications.
The Webtown team will ensure that you are trained to the highest standard on how to function your website in regards to content management and product upload. We will supply you with step by step instructions.
We can provide a stable and secure framework to sell your products and services online. Keep your website up to date by adding, editing and removing products with our easy to use online content management system.
Webtown can take care of registering your domain name for your website. You tell us the domain name you require and we will check it's availability.
The Webtown team will ensure that you are trained to the highest standard on how to function your website in regards to content management and product upload.
The Webtown team can provide high quality promotional / corporate video production, a promotional video production is about showcasing a product or service to a wide audience that will compliment your business.
A brochure website is a small to medium sized site that aims to give the visitor a very clear idea of what the business is about. Brochure websites typically comprise of quality information about the business, samples of work and a simple navigation. Our goal is that each visitor to your website turns into a new lead for you and your business. We do this by presenting the visitor to the site with a very clear call to action.
Businesses need an online presence now more than ever. Many people simply enter what they are looking for in a search engine to find their required product or service. If your business is not online, you are missing out on a huge part of the market. Showcase websites are medium to large in size, showcasing your products or services with individual product pages or galleries of your items.
We can provide a stable and secure framework to sell your products and services online. Keep your site up to date by adding, editing and removing products with our easy to use content management system. While our dedicated team will be on hand to assist with any other updates you have with the design or function of the site post launch.


4 Ways to Dominate Snapchat Keep It Fun: Snapchat is a casual, lively platform. Post upbeat, engaging photos and videos with uplifting, fun messages that are easy for Snapchat�s 13- to 34-year-old demographic to relate to.
Snapchat is most popular image messaging and the multimedia app used by millions across the globe. With the Snapchat app on Android, you may face a number of errors on your smartphone.
The Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music/Wifi Smartwatch goes where you do. From playing your favorite sports to playing your favorite songs, this smartwatch has the capability to store up to 500 songs and comes with 15 preloaded sports apps so you can choose how you like to stay active.
Remember, Snapchat is all about connecting in real-time � it�s power lies in its ability to help you connect with your audience on a deeper, more human level. So focus on building an authentic, personal rapport with your most active and loyal customers, and don�t be afraid to get personal.


text:
Registration and other Guidelines
A Vibrant Platform At The Service Of Cluster Organisations
The European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP) is an action of the Cluster Internationalisation Programme for SMEs funded under COSME launched by DG GROW of the European Commission in 2016. The ECCP provides networking and information support for clusters and their members aiming to improve their performance and increase their competitiveness through trans-national and international cooperation.
Cluster Organisations Mapping
List of Cluster Organisations
Cluster definitions
Cluster News
Cluster Events
About Cluster Organisations
This is the stage on which cluster organisations present themselves - their structures, services, experiences and above all, their interest in cooperation with peers. We invite you to explore this diverse cluster community, identify your potential cooperation partner and show the world what you are good at - by profiling your organisation !
About matchmaking events
ECCP organises inter-European matchmaking events, as well as opportunities for you to meet your peers from other countries – either in EU or abroad. Find also additional international matchmaking opportunities promoted here.
ECCP Matchmaking Events
EC Supported Events
EU Cluster Weeks Events
ESCP-4i | Going International
1st Generation of ESCP-4i
2nd Generation of ESCP-4i
3rd Generation of ESCP-4i
SMEs Go International
List of ESCP-4i
ESCP-4i Forum
ESCP-4i News
ESCP-4i Events
What is ESCP-4i?
The European Strategic Cluster Partnerships – Going International (ESCPs-4i) are transnational cluster partnerships that develop and implement a joint internationalination strategy and support SME internationalisation towards third countries beyond Europe.
ESCP-S3 | Smart Specialisation
List of ESCP-S3
ESCP-S3 News
ESCP-S3 Events
What is ESCP-S3 ?
The European Strategic Cluster Partnerships for smart specialisation investments (ESCP-S3) are transnational cluster partnerships that support cluster cooperation in thematic areas related to regional smart specialisation strategies and to increase the involvement of the industry in the context of the Smart Specialisation Platform for Industrial Modernisation.
ESCP-4x | For Excellence
List of ESCP-4x
ESCP-4x News
What is ESCP-4x?
The European Strategic Cluster Partnerships for Excellence (ESCP-4x) aim to support the development of cluster management excellence and strengthen strategic cross-regional collaboration between industrial clusters across Europe.
What are ESCPs ?
The European Strategic Cluster Partnerships have been launched by the European Commission as effective means of supporting cross-border collaboration for the benefit of SMEs with the ultimate goal of boosting economic growth and competitiveness in Europe.
About International Cooperation
In a globalised world, SMEs need to be able to confront increasing competition from developed and emerging economies and to plug into the new market opportunities these countries will provide.
EU Neighbourhood initiatives
EU International Support Services
EU Initiatives
About European Cluster Initiatives
As an information hub, ECCP collects and structures a wide variety of information relevant for cluster organisations from various European programmes and initiatives like the ones below. These are supporting in different ways the interaction between clusters and for driving the competitiveness of European businesses. We offer you here the unique opportunity to find out more about the most relevant cluster-related projects and what you can learn from them. Or, why not, cooperate with them!
ClusterXchange
INNOSUP
Cluster Excellence
Cluster Internationalisation
European Observatory for Clusters and Industrial Change (#EOCIC)
Other Related Programmes
Cluster Projects News
Cluster Projects Events
ECCP Interviews
People about ECCP
ECCP Media Corner
ECCP Matchmaking Events Feedback
Home > International Cooperation > United States of America
ECCP News ESCP-4i News Events Achievements
The EU and the USA have well established economic ties and already share the largest trade and investment relationship in the world that are the basis for current negotiations on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP).
The USA has an important cluster community that can easily be discovered thanks to the US cluster mapping. An EU-US Cooperation Arrangement on Clusters was signed on 22 April 2015 between the U.S. Department of Commerce and the European Commission's DG GROWTH, aiming at facilitating transatlantic linkages between EU and US clusters, and to help SMEs find strategic partners. Collaboration between US and EU clusters is already ongoing and well supported through business networks and cooperation facilitators.
Economic and political context and framework
The United States of America is a stable and democratic country, the US are ranked among the first 30 countries with the lowest regional political risk in the world. The US is one of the most technologically advanced economies in the world and is ranked as a high-income economy by the World Bank, boasting a per capita GDP of USD 54,353 (EUR 44,712) for 2014.
This dynamic economy holds a growth rate that grew from 2.2% in 2013 to 2.4% in 2014 and 2015, and it is projected to continue growing in 2016, reaching 2.5%. However, the expected annual growth rate will reach 2.3% in 2017.
The US has a predictable and stable environment for business investment, and is consistently ranked among the countries with the fewest political and security risks for businesses and their workers. The country considers itself as an economy open to the world. In this regard, the US is a top trading partner with the EU, accounting for 15.3% of the total trade in 2014 and 18.3% of the EU trade in terms of total exports in 2014. In terms of FDI outflow to the EU, an estimated EUR 69.5 billion have been transferred to the EU in 2014.
Moreover, the US has 14 FTAs in force with 20 countries as of January 2015. The US is negotiating a regional FTA, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), with Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The US and the EU launched negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) in June 2013.
Relations between the EU and US are excellent, with a established diplomatic relations as early as 1953, later formalised in November 1990 with the Transatlantic Declaration, and then the New Transatlantic Agenda (NTA) in December 1995. Within the NTA framework and in line with the Transatlantic Economic Partnership (TEP) launched in 1998, the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) was created in 2007 to take forward efforts to boost the transatlantic economy through identifying policies and measures to increase EU-US trade and investment to support job creation, economic growth, and international competitiveness. In keeping with the evolving political and legal environment of the EU, there is active cooperation across a host of sectors: cooperation in justice and home affairs, energy and energy security, environment, science & technology, and education & training. Together, the EU and the USA have the largest bilateral trade and investment relationship in the world, roughly 31% of the world trade and over 49% of the world GDP.
As previously stated, the US is a top technology advanced country, with organisations that are at or near the forefront in technological advances. In this regard, the US spent about 2.81% of its GDP in 2012 (GERD as a percentage of GDP) on R&D, which is slightly higher than the average of OECD countries (2.7%, 2012).Read less.
Cluster community in the country
In the US, industry clusters have been around for a very long time acting as a catalyst for economic growth. For instance, Detroit is known for the auto industry, Pittsburgh for steelmaking, Silicon Valley for technology among others. Therefore, the US has an important cluster community. According to the Cluster Mapping Project, developed by Harvard Business School and the US Economic Development Association, there are US traded clusters in 51 different sectors and US local clusters in 16 different sectors.
Local clusters sell products and services primarily for the local market and are located in every region. Examples include Local Entertainment such as video rental services and movie theatres, Local Health Services such as drug stores and hospitals, and Local Commercial Services such as drycleaners.
Traded clusters are those which serve markets in other regions or nations, and are concentrated in regions that afford specific competitive advantages. Examples of traded clusters include Financial Services in New York City, Information Technology in Silicon Valley, and Video Production and Distribution in Los Angeles. Traded clusters usually represent a mix of companies of various sizes that by definition go international.
Most clusters are represented by a formal cluster organisation, although some of them have public and/or private organisations (e.g. Federal Agencies, Industry Associations, etc.) that aim to promote competitiveness and innovation in the sector.
These cluster organisations are mostly composed of businesses or directed to businesses. However, there are clusters, such as the Advanced Power Cluster or the Huntsville Defence Cluster, that seek to support high-technology businesses and connect them with R&D organisations, such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). These industry clusters comprise a broad spectrum of stakeholders: small businesses, larger companies, and supporting entities, such as universities and workforce education institutions, foundations, business associations, service providers, and public sector agencies. These organisations work synergistically together to enhance and support the industries in which the clusters operate.
Regarding the establishment of clusters, many traded clusters have been created in recent years, especially in the business services sector and distribution and electronic commerce sector (Establishments Time series by Traded Cluster 1998-2013, U.S. Cluster Mapping Project, Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School. Data Sources; www.clustermapping.us/cluster#timeline), thus increasing the odds of cluster organisations or equivalent association's development. On the other hand, some trade clusters disappeared in recent years, such as in the construction and insurance services sectors.
The US is embracing the system of label or guarantee of quality from national programmes such as the ESCA certification (bronze, silver, gold label). The New England Water Innovation Network participated as the first US cluster organisation successfully achieving a Bronze Label of the ESCA. The assessment was conducted by Thomas Lämmer-Gamp of ESCA and Merete D. Nielsen of Cluster Excellence Denmark.
The U.S. Cluster Mapping Project aggregates all the US clusters providing valuable insights on business environment, demographics and performance of the clusters. The platform is the most formal US cluster connector and can be considered as a cluster macro-association.Read less.
Cluster policies encouraging the development and internationalisation of clusters
The US Administration has stepped up its efforts to boost regional economic clusters across the country through different cluster policy measures. The administration's budget supports growth strategies based on stronger regional clusters of innovation through funding from the Economic Development Administration, the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of Labour, the Department of Education, and the Department of Energy (Farrell, Diana, and Thomas Kalil "Innovation Policy around the World: United States: A Strategy for Innovation" Issues in Science and Technology 26, no. 3 (Spring 2010). http://issues.org/26-3/farrell-2/). Read more...
Furthermore, one of the pillars that President Obama established through the "Strategy for American Innovation" (2009) is the creation of the right environment for private-sector investment and competitive markets, which includes internationalisation and promotion of regional innovation clusters.
The US Small Business Association (SBA) is investing in regional innovation clusters throughout the country that span a variety of industries, ranging from energy and manufacturing to advanced defence technologies. In addition, the Cluster Mapping project is an initiative of the SBA.
Furthermore, an EU-US Cooperation Arrangement on Clusters was signed on 22 April 2015 between the U.S. Department of Commerce and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. The objective of this agreement is to facilitate transatlantic linkages between EU and US clusters, and to help SMEs find strategic partners. The US involvement and interest in cooperating with the EU is a clear sign of mutual interest to work on common thematic areas, boost exchange of knowledge and increase the growth opportunities between clusters of the two regions. Read less.
Cluster to cluster cooperation opportunities and potential interest from European clusters and SMEs
As previously mentioned, the Cluster Mapping Project is a national economic initiative that provides over 50 million open data records on industry clusters and regional business environments in the US to promote economic growth and national competitiveness. The US Cluster Mapping Project aggregates all the US clusters, providing valuable insights on business environment, demographics and performance of the clusters. The platform is the most formal US cluster connector. http://www.clustermapping.us/organization-type/cluster-organizations-and...
There are several examples of C2C cooperation between the US and EU such as the French ICT cluster "Systematic" that is represented in Boston hub, or the EU Global Cleantech Cluster Association that in 2010 included three US clusters as new members. Furthermore, the EU Global Cleantech Cluster Association has fostered networking and B2B opportunities among its members.
Also, there has been the EU-US Cluster Matchmaking event in Milan Expo 2015 as an opportunity for clusters from both regions to learn about each other. The US turnout for this event was poor; nevertheless, it is an example of how the US and the EU continue efforts to cooperate through the cluster community. Moreover, the EU-US Cooperation Arrangement on Clusters was signed in Washington DC earlier in 2015 between the U.S. Department of Commerce and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, expressing the strong interest for both regions to collaborate.
Furthermore, US events which foster C2C networking were identified, such as the International Cancer Cluster Show Case 2016 in San Francisco.
Additionally, some cluster sectorial domains are strategic for Europe due to the existence of a strong cluster community. As previously mentioned, US traded clusters were identified in 51 sectors and almost all are sectors represented by clusters in Europe. Furthermore, many of those sectors have a high number of EU clusters.
EU business networks and cooperation facilitators are also located in the US. In this regard, it can be mentioned that the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) is present in the US in Cleveland, Durham, New York and San Diego. Moreover, the European Business Innovation Network (EBN) has an established presence in the US through the Santa Fe Business Incubator. EBN provides a global market access to SMEs in the US, through its international network of members. EBN is also known through its connections with multiple European clusters such as University of Warwick Science Park (United Kingdom) and Savoie Technolac (France), among others.Read less.
ECCP reports
Key Organisations & Networks
Matchmaking Events
ECCP Key Reports
ECCP_D3 2_Preparatory briefings_USA 20190208 (1).pdf
Discussion_Paper_USA_Public_Version.pdf
Capital: Washington, D.C.
Population: 318.9 million (2014)
Total area: 9,833,520 km2
GDP per capita: 53,041.98 USD (2013) World Bank
Gross domestic product: 16.77 trillion USD (2013) World Bank
Monday, 25 April 2016 to Tuesday, 26 April 2016
Germany | Hannover Messe
EU-US Matchmaking event at Hannover Messe, Germany
The Hannover Messe 2016 with its focus on industry 2.0 and this year's official Partner Country USA was the opportunity to put the EU-US Cooperation Arrangement on Clusters into practice. The ECCP decided to use this...
agenda_match-making_event_hannover_messe.pdf
Questionnaire_Final version-17032016.pdf
Monday, 15 May 2017 to Friday, 19 May 2017
United States | Washington, DC
High-level EU Cluster Mission to the USA including a U.S. – EU Cluster Cooperation and Matchmaking Event & Cluster visits, May 15-19th 2017
The European Cluster Collaboration Platform and BILAT USA 4.0 organised a High-Level EU Cluster Mission to the USA, including a U.S. – EU Cluster Cooperation and Matchmaking Event, on May 15-19th 2017 during the...
final_AGENDA_Mission USA.pdf
Questionnaire_mission USA_23022017.docx
EU-US cluster workshop agenda 2015
EU-US cluster workshop 2015
EU Relations with US
U.S. Cluster Mapping Project
Key Organisations and Networks
EU Delegation in the U.S.
European-American Chamber of Commerce in US
The European-American Business Organisation
Trans Atlantic Business Council (TABC)
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
U.S. Small Business Association (SBA)
State Science & Technology Institute (SSTI)
cluster_cooperation_arrangement_2015.pdf
We are currently scouting for relevant information on this topic
Learning Expedition in Future Foodtech US
In a few years, San Francisco has become the laboratory for all these new technologies, solutions and models that anticipate tomorrow's uses and business, from field to fork.
10 food companies (SMEs and larger groups), half of them members of Valorial, participated to the learning expedition organized by the French accelerator of Foodtech, Shakeupfactory, with the main objectives
- to understand and to look for connections with the ecosystem of the Californian Foodtech
- to be inspired by the management of innovation already in place in the Silicon Valley
New Frontier in Food
Future Food Tech, New-York – USA
Future Food-Tech brings together key figures from across the food industry, including investors, start-ups, technology companies and food and ingredients manufacturers. With a common goal to meet the global food challenge, the event will create a forum for networking, debate, discussion and learning – showcasing the technologies and championing the innovations which have the potential to transform the sector.
Future Food Tech event of San Francisco – USA
Future Food-Tech is held annually in London, New York and San Francisco and is acclaimed as the most international gathering of food business Technology leaders, VC Investors and food-tech innovators. This year, Future Food-Tech San Francisco looks at transforming investment and innovation in food: from cultivated proteins to personalized nutrition and the microbiome.
http://futurefoodtechsf.com/
Presence of Valorial.
Join the Community or Subscribe for Newsletter
Tweets by Clusters_EU
ESCP-4i News | VIEW ALL
NE4HEALTH: BETWEEN KEY ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES AND EMERGING INDUSTRIES
EU Techbridge New York – Applications for 1:1 meetings with the end-users are now open!
MAGIA2Market Official Website
NE4HEALTH: FOSTERING COMPETITIVENESS AND INNOVATION
NE4HEALTH PROJECT DEBUTING UNDER ESCP-4I FRAMEWORK
Events from ESCP-4i | VIEW ALL
ConnectEO 2nd webinar: Business opportunities in Australia and Chile
Upcoming Events | View all
Open Calls | View all
Opportunities in India for innovative agritech, food processing and sustainability businesses
SPAIN: AMETIC, the Spanish Electronics and IT Associations of Industry in need of miniature electro valves for artificial ventilators
ITALY: Attention to clusters in MedTech sector! International Call for Tenders to Purchase Medical Equipment
Latest News | View all
Output papers from 2020 European Cluster Conference published
€6m Cluster Excellence Programme call for proposals launched
The Role of Clusters in Accelerating the European Recovery - previous recor...
Quaterly Newsletter
By subscribing to our newsletters you agree to our Privacy Policy. You may unscubscribe at any time.
ESCP-4x News | VIEW ALL
SMARTENERGY Six pack training series: dates and programmes
New services programme derived from a 5-year partnership strategy
CLAMTEX Virtual Marketplace. Only 1 week left to register!
TOWARDS INDUSTRY 4.0 - VIRTUAL MARKETPLACE
Blues partner of the WINNing Days
Industrial clusters as drivers of the European economy: results from the 2020 European Panorama Report
Smart guide to cluster policy monitoring and evaluation published
Trends in European clusters: results from the 2019 European panorama, trends and priority sectors reports published
The Smart Guide to Cluster Policy - a tool for cluster policy makers and stakeholders
Cluster presence and economic performance: a new look based on European data
How to update information on my profile, after validation?
How to subscribe / unsubscribe to the newsletter/weekly digest?
How to get a new password to access my profile?
How to add the consortium members to an ESCP-4i profile ?
How to place our cluster profile on the map, after publication?
© European Union, 2020. Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. The information and views set out in this website are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of EASME, the European Commission or other European Institutions. EASME does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this website. Neither EASME, nor the Commission or any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.
The ECCP is in the process of updating some of the content on this website in light of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. If the site contains content that does not yet reflect the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, it is unintentional and will be addressed.
© European Union, 2020. This platform is funded by the EU programme for
the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs (COSME).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
The Rockefeller Foundation and African Union Commission Join Hands to Catalyze Development in Africa
New York—The Rockefeller Foundation and the African Union Commission have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote increased cooperation between them in their efforts towards Africa's progress.
The MoU was signed on September 24, 2014 between the African Union Commission Chairperson H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and The Rockefeller Foundation President Dr. Judith Rodin.
The signing took place in the margins of the 69th United Nations General Assembly, in support of the Africa Agenda 2063 at its final stage of development.
Popularly themed 'The Africa We Want', the Africa Agenda 2063 encapsulates the voice of Africa's people and their aspirations for the next 50 years. It emphasizes inclusive prosperity, integration, community participation, good governance and peace among many other ideals.
"The African Union Commission is an important partner of The Rockefeller Foundation. We have both worked alongside individuals and organizations across Africa for many decades now to support progress in many sectors. This agreement amplifies our shared vision for a strong, vibrant Africa," said Dr. Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation.
Among the areas of greater collaboration for the two entities are Africa's health, livelihoods, youth employment, food security, urbanisation and resilience.
Last year, the AUC celebrated 50 years since the inception of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the AUC's parent body, as the Rockefeller Foundation marked 100 years in philanthropy, with both organizations celebrating milestones in improving the lives of Africa's people.
The agreement also comes as AUC announced 2014 the year of Agriculture and Food Security, an opportune time to strengthen ties with the Foundation, which currently has two Africa-wide initiatives focusing on reduction of food waste and spoilage, and securing farmers' livelihoods.
"Africa is rising, and we want it to rise with its people, including the youth and women. Our collaboration with partners such as The Rockefeller Foundation will strongly support the realization of an integrated and prosperous continent at peace with it will self. It will boost the skills revolution in which we are currently embarking, strengthen our health systems as well as foster climate-smart agriculture needed for our transformation." Said H.E Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma
Together, the Foundation and the AUC already have a number of initiatives in Africa that are aimed at improving the lives of poor and vulnerable people; one is the African Risk Capacity (ARC), a pan-African weather insurance scheme designed to help AUC member states withstand and recover from natural disasters. ARC currently has a 24 country membership, giving them access to a financial risk pool that uses advanced satellite weather surveillance and software which estimates and disburses immediate funds to these countries when hit by hazards like severe drought.
About The Rockefeller Foundation
For more than 100 years, The Rockefeller Foundation's mission has been to promote the well-being of humanity throughout the world. Today, The Rockefeller Foundation pursues this mission through dual goals: advancing inclusive economies that expand opportunities for more broadly shared prosperity, and building resilience by helping people, communities and institutions prepare for, withstand, and emerge stronger from acute shocks and chronic stresses. To achieve these goals, The Rockefeller Foundation works at the intersection of four focus areas—advance health, revalue ecosystems, secure livelihoods, and transform cities—to address the root causes of emerging challenges and create systemic change. Together with partners and grantees, The Rockefeller Foundation strives to catalyze and scale transformative innovations, create unlikely partnerships that span sectors, and take risks others cannot—or will not. For more information, please visit rockefellerfoundation.org.
About the African Union Commission
The African Union Commission is the Secretariat of the African Union, a 54- Member State regional organisation. Its vision is that of "An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in global arena" and its mission is to be "An efficient and value-adding institution driving the African integration and development process in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens." The AU Commission is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For more information, please visit www.au.int.
Habiba Mejri-cheikh, director, information and communication directorate, African Union Commission, Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00, Fax: (251) 11 518 2578, E-mail: HabibaM@africa-union.org, web: www.au.int
Achieng' Otieno, communications officer, The Rockefeller Foundation Africa Regional Office, aotieno@rockfound.org, +254 704848792.


text:
Термин фракционирование может означать:
 Химическое фракционирование
 Геологическое фракционирование
Фракционирование жиров

См. также
 Стратификация (значения)
 Сепарация (значения)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


From learning tips to linguistic tech, here's our advice for breaking down the language barrier.
Okay, maybe you should've paid a little more attention in high school French. Never fear—language barriers are a thing, but not enough of a thing to hinder your adventure.
Feel self-conscious about word usage, pronunciation or political correctness? Stop it. Nine times out of ten, the locals don't care about any of that. In fact, they love when foreigners make an effort to connect in their language. This action speaks louder than words, no matter how eloquent your words may be.
You may consider yourself too busy, too old or lacking the "natural talent" for the gift of gab. Before indulging these excuses any further, take a look at EF's EPI (English Proficiency Index), which ranks countries by English skills.
First, you'll notice your destination is likely a moderate level of fluency or higher, which should qualm all anxiety over potential barriers.
Moreover, notice how much of the world knows English as a second (or third, or fourth) language. Over 70 different nations are on the index. As travelers, it's our duty to put forth even a fraction of that effort out of respect for our hosts.
You can't return to your high school French classroom on account of that being, you know, really creepy and all. But the window of opportunity is still wide open! Just find a speaking partner who will critique your vocab, accent and cultural nuances. They can also give examples and keep you from developing bad habits.
Thanks to technology, such a luxury is available no matter your geography or years since graduation. Try some of these, and you'll become a polyglot in no time!
Learn one of 20 languages during your commute with this simple app that is fun, effective, and best of all, free.
Get 1-on-1 lessons with teachers and tutors from across the world.
"The pronunciation dictionary" AKA How 2 Sound 2 Legit.
Hone your foreign writing skills with revision help from native speakers around the world.
Request particular phrases, or get feedback on your own.
Learn simple phrases to break down language barriers through photo translation, phonetics and lessons to help you become more cultured.


Buy Afterpay tyres. SO EASY.
Buy Now. Pay later for tyres with Afterpay. Start by entering your tyre size.
Your tyre size can be found on the sidewall of your current tyre e.g. 110/90R18.
Compare motorcycle tyres and save up to 50% off the RRP on our large range of tyres.
Start by entering your tyre size to see all tyres and fitting & wheel alignment partners in your region. Including Afterpay tyres Perth, Afterpay tyres Gold Coast, Afterpay tyres Melbourne, Afterpay tyres Adeleide and many more. Save on tyres online and fitting near you.
Interest-free finance iss easy as 1, 2, 3. Just enter your tyre size, select afterpay as payment method and get your tyres delivered.
Want the best priced tyres in four easy instalments? Try Tyroola's zero hassle ordering with Afterpay and get tyres delivered directly to your home, work or even one of our fitting partners, for all passenger, 4x4 tyres and truck tyres that suit everyone's budget.
You'll get a txt message and an email when your payment is due to come out of your nominated credit card so there is no need to worry about missing a payment. If you don't have sufficient funds available for Afterpay to automatically deduct payment on due instalment dates, you will be charged a late fee of $10 and if the instalment payment remains overdue, an additional $7 will be charged one week later. Please note, you must be using a browser newer than Internet Explorer 9 to checkout with Afterpay.


Subsurface Instruments announced two updated models of their All Materials Locator (AML), which uses ultrahigh radio frequencies to pinpoint buried plastic, metal, wood, cable and pipe in any soils at depths of more than 20 feet.
The AML Pro and AML+ models build on the technology provided by the original hand-held AML, adding digital microprocessor technology and a lithium rechargeable battery pack. The Pro model also offers GPS reporting to mark locations on existing maps. The advances improve performance and job site efficiency, and support convenient reporting of coordinates and quick and easy firmware updates.
The AML product line utilizes technology developed by NASA engineers to detect changes in density bringing newfound accuracy to underground locating work.
A major change cannot be seen beneath the unit's ergonomic, durable engineered grade plastic (EGP) exterior. That's the upgrade from analog to digital microprocessor, which allows for anytime firmware updates and builds on the rock-solid reliability of the AML. Users may now recalibrate the unit and perform software updates through a USB computer connection rather than sending it back to the company for periodic routine service.
While both devices share the new microprocessor platform, the AML+ retains the simple dial multi-position sensitivity switch and lighted target indicators preferred by many users, while the AML Pro employs a sharp digital backlit display. The AML Pro further offers GPS technology, eliminating the need for an auxiliary piece of tracking equipment to accompany the locator on the jobsite.
With the new rechargeable lithium-ion battery kit, users will stay on the job site longer and have a choice between using this external power supply or three 9-volt batteries located in the unit's handle. The standard 9-volt alkaline batteries power the AML for a minimum of four to seven hours, while the corded lithium-ion pack — plugged into a mini-USB port and carried in the pocket — provides 20-plus hours of continuous use. The lithium battery pack can also be used to charge mobile phones while powering the AML.
Both units also have new headphone jacks and come with headphones to listen to audio signals. The headphones, battery pack and AML unit are protected by a durable and waterproof carry case and custom fitted in a shock absorbing foam housing. The AML line is manufactured in the United States and backed by a three-year warranty.
The AML technology works in any type of soil, locates through concrete, snow or water and doesn't have the limitations contractors have found using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) technology, Weiland says.
To learn more about the AML line of locators or find a local distributor go to www.ssilocators.com or call Weiland at 855/422-6346.


text:
Home Category World News Middle East Iran
Britain, France and Germany on Tuesday formally accused Iran of violating the terms of its 2015 agreement to curb...
MANILA --- Two Philippine Navy vessels set sail for the Middle East on Tuesday to evacuate overseas Filipino...
Dubai (12/1). Iranian protesters and newspapers piled pressure on the country's leadership and riot police stepped up their presence...
Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani reportedly killed in Baghdad airstrike
Two military leaders, including Iran's elite Quds force chief, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, were killed in an airstrike in...
Pro-Iranian Protesters End Siege of U.S Embassy in Baghdad
BAGHDAD — After a second day of tense protests at the American Embassy in Baghdad, thousands of pro-Iranian demonstrators...
2019: A Year of Lost Opportunities in Countering Militancy
The security picture in Southeast and South Asia concerning violent extremism and insurgency was in flux in 2019. Most...
Indonesia's strategic role in the middle of Syrian Conflict
Tensions and war in Syria continue and show no sign of abating. The current was the invasion of Ankara...
Attacks on Saudi oil facilities knock out half the kingdom's supply
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group said it attacked two plants at the heart of Saudi oil industry on Saturday, knocking...
France, Germany and Britain ban together to condemn Iran's actions
France, Germany and Bahrain rallied behind Britain after a British oil tanker was seized by Iran in the Strait...
OPEC Extends Production Cuts for 9 Months, to Shore up Oil Prices
OPEC and other allied major oil producers have agreed to extend crude oil production cuts for nine months, a...
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 Next


David Satter discusses his new book The Less You Know, the Better You Sleep: Russia's Road to Terror and Dictatorship under Yeltsin and Putin. He considers why Westerners fail to understand Russia and why things may get even worse there. Discuss this podcast at Ricochet.


LN-CC is a luxury fashion destination specializing in high-end menswear and womenswear and stocking some of the most recognizable names in contemporary fashion. In addition, the retailer carries products from emerging design talent from all corners of the globe.
Cotton blend in an intricate lace weave.
Embroidered flower and bird detailing.


text:
Cicadella is een geslacht van cicaden uit de familie van de dwergcicaden (Cicadellidae).

Soort
 Cicadella lasiocarpae Ossiannilsson, 1981
 Cicadella longivittata (O.G. Costa, 1834)
 Cicadella lunulata (O.G. Costa, 1834)
 Cicadella transversa (O.G. Costa, 1834)
 Cicadella viridis Linnaeus, 1758 (Groene cicade)

Dwergcicaden


Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on January 14, 1999, named his new cabinet and launched a coalition government comprising his own Liberal Democratic Party and the Liberal Party. Obuchi pared the number of ministers in the new cabinet from 20 to 18; in all, 3 members of the previous cabinet resigned, making room for Liberal Party member Takeshi Noda to take the position of minister of home affairs.
The LDP had been carrying out talks with the Liberals in order to form a political alliance between the two conservative parties and bolster its position in the House of Councillors, where it lacks a majority. (The LDP enjoys a majority in the House of Representatives.) The LDP-Liberal tie-up brings the coalition within 11 seats of a majority in the Upper House; the parties hope this will lead to smoother sailing for their policy proposals there.
Liberal Party Secretary General Takeshi Noda was tapped to become home affairs minister after Ichiro Ozawa, the party president, declined the spot. Ozawa had been urged by Obuchi to join the cabinet, but he cited his desire to concentrate on Liberal Party affairs and recommended Noda for the position.
Based on an agreement between the two parties, Obuchi also reduced the number of ministers from 20 to 18. Four posts will be held concurrently by already serving cabinet members: Minister of Construction Katsutsugu Sekiya will also hold the post of National Land Agency chief, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka will head the Okinawa Development Agency, Minister of Transport Jiro Kawasaki will serve as chief of the Hokkaido Development Agency, and Akito Arima will add the post of Science and Technology Agency chief to his current position as minister of education.
Three-term member of the House of Councillors; Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.
Nine-term member of the House of Representatives; Director General, Economic Planning Agency (State Minister); Construction Minister.
Five-term member of the House of Representatives and one-term member of the House of Councillors; Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries; Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister.


If you have already filled out the New Distributor Application, you can fill out just the credit application below to apply for credit terms. You will also be expected to have a showroom display, attend a training at your cost, make a minimum initial purchase and/or commit to sales achievements.
Once your complete application has been received, our Inside Sales team will provide you with status updates as we move it through the process.
Incomplete applications will not be processed. Please fill in all fields completely and accurately to ensure speedy processing.
Contact us or call our Customer Service at (800) 565-5321 (Toll-Free) if you have any questions.
Click here to go back to the full application.
Please fill in all fields completely to ensure speedy processing.
Credit application must be signed by an officer of the company to be valid. Ranger terms: Payment is due 30 days from the invoice date. AGREEMENT I (we), agree and authorize the company Design Ranger Inc. to receive and consult information on my (our) account and my (our) credit experience with all creditors, credit bureaus, banks or any financial institutions and other service suppliers. This agreement is effective for the whole duration of this contract. The company Design Ranger Inc. is authorized to communicate all credit experience information on the undersigned to all creditors, credit bureaus, banks or any financial institutions and service suppliers for the whole duration of this contract.
Please note that all information provided will be held strictly in confidence.


text:
Innova Capital este un fond de investiții private equity activ pe piața central-est europeană.

Innova Capital a deținut acțiuni la Orange România, cel mai mare operator de telecomunicații pe piața locală, și a cumpărat în 2008 compania La Fântâna, cel mai important jucător pe segmentul distribuției și îmbutelierii de apă naturală consumată prin intermediul watercoolerelor.

De asemenea, în anul 2010 a mai făcut indirect două achiziții: Datek Telcom prin GTS Telecom și Rokor prin La Fântâna.

În ianuarie 2011, Innova Capital a preluat un pachet de 96% din acțiunile companiilor procesatoare de carduri Provus (Turcia) și ale subsidiarei sale deținute integral RomCard (România).

Note

Legături externe
www.innovacap.com - Site web oficial

Fonduri de investiții


Size: 13" X 20 1/2"
There's nothing quite like the tangy taste of persimmon pudding, and Dempsey has captured the elements of this uniquely Southern recipe in "October's Treat." There's a ladle and a pitcher of milk, along with Ann Page lemon extract and a five-pound bag of Daisy Self-Rising Flour. The cooking utensils were owned by the late Granny Naylor, whose family still runs J.P. Green Milling Co. in Mocksville, makers of Daisy flour.


Download eBook The Quixtar Revolution: Discover the New High-Tech, High-Touch World of Marketing by Coy Barefoot across multiple file-formats including EPUB, DOC, and PDF.
This The Quixtar Revolution: Discover the New High-Tech, High-Touch World of Marketing book is not really ordinary book, you have it then the world is in your hands. The benefit you get by reading this book is actually information inside this reserve incredible fresh, you will get information which is getting deeper an individual read a lot of information you will get. This kind of The Quixtar Revolution: Discover the New High-Tech, High-Touch World of Marketing without we recognize teach the one who looking at it become critical in imagining and analyzing. Don't be worry The Quixtar Revolution: Discover the New High-Tech, High-Touch World of Marketing can bring any time you are and not make your tote space or bookshelves' grow to be full because you can have it inside your lovely laptop even cell phone. This The Quixtar Revolution: Discover the New High-Tech, High-Touch World of Marketing having great arrangement in word and layout, so you will not really feel uninterested in reading.


BATH time in our house usually involves plenty of suds, rubber ducks, and the occasional soapy stoush. But this time around it's in the driveway and it involves our four-wheeled boarder, otherwise known as a Mazda CX-9. Something of a farewell pressie for a car that has endured plenty.
Like carbon-dating rocks, the back seat is a receptacle for all that has gone on over its six months of duty. Sand, crumbs, and the occasional raisin are expertly arranged with a plastic wrapper buried near a seatbelt buckle.
All reminders of trips to the country, dozens of beach runs, and months of Saturday sport.
Washing the Soul Red exterior reinforces the CX-9's lofty dimensions. Extra stretching is needed to cover the extremities of the roof and, while it has 10-spoke wheels, their simple design makes it easy to sponge off a light coating of brake dust.
Its lengthy body was a boon for friends and family who hitched a ride. The ability to put a car seat in the very back row was a big win when employed occasionally, and was some consolation for the CX-9's lack of air vents way aft.
Running on 20-inch rubber means some gribbles over small imperfections, but the inherent suppleness of its MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear made for respectable plushness. Mixed in with some meatiness to the steering, its mannerisms are something appreciated on a final fling up a local set of twisties.
It's quiet, too; for a brand with its fair share of tyre-roaring models, the CX-9 defies expectations, cementing its position as a seriously relaxed cruiser.
While its all-wheel drive was never wholly put to the test, its presence made it easier to utilise the full 420Nm on faster gravel blasts, and all but eliminates the front-wheel chirp of 2WD CX-9s, although firing out of an intersection can occasionally elicit some slip.
Alternating between ULP and 98-octane showed there was an edge with the latter.
But it was mainly top-end, way out of the engine's natural habitat. Besides, the chances of bettering its 8.8L/100km official figure on any fuel were slim, short of meandering along a country road. For suburban duties there's a higher price to be paid, right down to the (now departed) kid droppings.
The CX-9's 12-speaker Bose sound system is a source of joy and frustration. Decent bass and crisp high notes are a refreshing change from the cheap items that typically grace mainstream SUVs. Having a digital tuner also unlocks new stations, f d rom the daggy to the informative. But the DAB tuner is not as good as others we've sampled. The aerial and/or receiver is prone to dropouts, which makes for frustrating listening. Plus, the tuner can be slow at changing channels, taking up to 10 secs before normal service is resumed.


text:
THESMOPHORIAZUSAE
DOI link for THESMOPHORIAZUSAE
THESMOPHORIAZUSAE book
On the contest of Andromeda, considerations of a different kind are possible, although in this regard the single fact to emerge, from the scholion on Thesmophoriazusae 1012, is that 'Andromeda was presented along with Helen.' If instead one knew that Euripides, for instance, had competed with a third drama at least, or that two other poets had competed with him, then Andromeda and Helen might definitively be catalogued as Dionysian tragedies, for in the Dionysian contests during that period three poets took part with a tetralogy each. Regarding the Lenaian tragic contests, IG II2.2319, 70-83 testifies that in the years 419 and 418 two tragic poets competed at the Lenaia with two tragedies each. It is not so difficult to concede that this conforms to the Lenaian norm-from the moment tragedy was actually admitted to the Lenaia, that is, from approximately 432.1
In the first half of the fourth century the regulations of the Lenaia-apart from those of the Dionysia prescribing three poets with a tetralogy each, in force from the beginning of the fifth century-must still have been the same, a factor evident in the case of Theodektes, active from approximately 365 to 350: 'Theodektes presented fifty dramas' (the Suda); 'Theodektes composed fifty tragedies' (Stephanus of Byzantium s.v. ); and 'in thirteen contests involving tragic choruses he obtained eight victories', as transmitted in the epitaph from his tomb quoted by Stephanus. From IG II2.2325, 11, it emerges that Theodektes obtained altogether seven victories
at the Dionysia; the eighth must therefore have been Lenaian. Hence, the generally accepted figure of fifty dramas can be made to correspond only to twelve Dionysian tetralogies and two Lenaian tragedies (less evident, but still not to be overlooked, is the case of Sophocles the Younger, active from 396 to around 375: 'Sophocles presented forty dramas and won seven victories', the Suda: 'Sophocles won twelve victories', Diodorus XIV.53.6. If the difference in the number of victories is to be ascribed to the fact that seven were Dionysian and five Lenaian, then Sophocles must have competed seven times at the Dionysia and six at the Lenaia with 7×4+6×2 dramas. Regarding two victories at the Dionysia of this inveterate prize-winner, the grandson of Sophocles, information survives in IG II2.2318, 199 and 244).


7 Victoria Avenue is a period Victorian Property which provides quality office accommodation. Harrogate is located approximately 17 miles north of Leeds, 21 miles west of York.
The property is located within Harrogate Town Centre on Victoria Avenue in Princes Square which forms a link between West Park and the famous Stray Parkland and Station Parade. Victoria Avenue provides one of the main locations for professional business and occupiers include surveyors, architects, solicitors, financial professional service companies, the library and law courts.
Est. service charge A service charge will be levied to cover the maintenance and repair of the common parts and external areas of the building by the landlord.
11 miles west of the A1 M and 9 miles from Leeds/Bradford airport.
The Property is available on a new effective fully repairing and insuring lease basis for a term to expire on 11th October 2018.
The ingoing tenant is to be responsible for a contribution towards our client's reasonable legal costs incurred in connection with the new lease preparation subject to a capped upper limit of £500.
Any offer received by Montpellier Property Consultants will be deemed to be exclusive of VAT.


I am originally from South Korea, but I grew up mostly in the Bay Area (Cupertino). I can play 5 instruments and speak fluent Korean!
In case students do not know, could you explain what the Student Foundation is?
The Student Foundation is a student run organization on campus that raises money for student scholarships as well as other funds to support the student community, such as the Athletics department or the Triton Food Pantry. We try and promote the spirit of philanthropy amongst all Tritons, and we do this by hosting events throughout the entire school year to encourage students to support each other. My favorite thing is connecting with like-minded students who also feel passionate for supporting each other.
Why did you originally join the organization and why did you stick with it?
I originally joined because I recognized how important scholarships and philanthropy was for college students, and I stuck with it because I grew my passion for making sure that all my peers can access the same opportunities without worrying about their financial situations.
In the long-term, I hope to eventually go to law school and practice criminal defense. My current position is in line with this goal in terms of why I am interested in both: I believe that everyone should have equal opportunities, whether it be within the justice system or during their college education.
Have you ever had a difficult or discouraging experience related to being a student worker and juggling co-curriculars in the past?
Being an IA, working, and also being involved in student organizations has definitely been challenging in terms of my time management and organization. I have had times where I suddenly had multiple deadlines to meet and overlapping responsibilities, but I managed to overcome them by taking a step back and rethinking my situation. I take some time to organize each and every responsibility that I have, and then I push myself to tackle each one, one at a time.
I recommend getting involved in any and everything you're interested in at the beginning of your college career and then picking a few to stick with for the rest of your time here. This way, you won't regret missing out on something that you might really enjoy and want to spend more time participating in.


i am blonde with blue eyes i love to write and i am in love with the best guy in the world i am a Ficlets Survivor and am also a member of GotPoetry where i am also known as moonlightgirl check me out there sometime too.
falling apart at the seams. held together by a single lose tread its threatening to let loose to let all the tears come pouring out to let the pain run the show.
We survived the rains, that came that night. That terrible hurricane, that almost took our lives. And when I rolled Over and climbed to the window. I opened the shutters and looked out, on the new day and my new life.


text:
namespace HockeyApp.Contracts.Dto.DataExchange
{
    public class EntityColumnDto
    {
        public int Key { get; set; }
        public string Name { get; set; }
        public string Description { get; set; }
        public bool IsRequired { get; set; }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Places in Chambal Wildlife
1. Fort Ater
2. Bateshwar Temples
All Tourist Places in Chambal Wildlife
Chambal Wildlife Tourism
Hotels in Chambal Wildlife
National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary
Bateshwar Temples
Download Free National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary PDF Guide
National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary | Uttar Pradesh | India
Ranked 4 among Places to Visit in Chambal Wildlife
Time Required: 2-3 hrs
Bateshwar Temples, National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary Overview
With a backstory that is ironic to the infinite calm that they offer, Bateshwar Temples is situated in the ghats of Chambal. It is believed that some of the most infamous and sought after dacoits of the Chambal Region had made it their hiding place. The complex was in a shoddy shape until the Archaeological Survey of India decided to take matters in their own hands and restored it in 2005. The location of the temples is a major landmark for tourists seeking spiritual getaways. The temple complex is made up of 200 temples and is situated deep in the rocky cliffs of Chambal, in Madhya Pradesh. The temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva or Bateshwar Mahadev and hence are called Bateshwar Temples.
Bateshwar Mahadev, according to Hindu mythology, is believed to be the son of four Dhams. Bateshwar is one of the most ancient towns of India associated with rich mythology about Bateshwarnath Mahadev. The temples were constructed under the reign of the Pratihara dynasty. As one explores the region, they are bound to notice the remarkable architecture among rocky but stunning vistas. The beauty of the place and the temples draws tourists from all over the world.
Photos of Bateshwar Temples
View all photos of Bateshwar Temples >>
More on Bateshwar Temples
History of Bateshwar Temples
Bateshwar Temples are dedicated to Bateshwar Mahadev or Shiva who, according to a legend, rested under a Banyan Tree in the region. Banyan Tree is called "Bat" in Sanskrit, hence the name Bateshwarnath Mahadev. The place was therefore named Bateshwar, and the temples were built in the honour of Lord Shiva.
The magnificent temples were built under the reign of Gurjar Pratihara Dynasty in 700-800 CE. They were destroyed by believed natural causes in the 13th century and were reconstructed in 2005 by the ASI.
Top Places to Visit In National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary
Fort Ater
View All Places To Visit In National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary >
Bateshwar Temples Reviews
Ask a question from people who travelled to Bateshwar Temples recently
National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary Tourism Overview
Local Food and Restaurants in National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary
Photos of National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary
Best Time to Visit National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary
How to reach National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary
Where to stay in National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary
Places to visit near Bhopal under 500kms
Places to visit near Jaipur under 300kms


text:
« Envious of the Viennese | Main | The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of »
I arrived expecting to see the Von Trapp children singing on tabletops and skipping down the streets of Salzburg and to hear Julie Andrew's melodic voice as she spun in circles on a hilltop beyond the city. What I found instead where pictures everywhere of the little white-wigged composer and hundreds of thousands of tourists. The Sound of Music has a small piece of the marketing attention for Salzburg – you can spot an occasional tour and there are a few postcards indicating the places where the movie was filmed. There is even an attractive little book priced at a hefty 14 euro, but well done with the history of both the musical and the real life experiences of Maria Von Trapp who actually wrote the story (and I was sad to learn was bamboozled by Wolfgang Reinhardt and never earned a red cent for the film rights or other royalties for the story that is so dear to the hearts of so many).
But the real attraction to this small, quaint riverside city is its fortune of having been the birthplace of Mozart – never mind that he had little love for the city and spent most of his life elsewhere. His picture is everywhere in this town; a semi-profile pose with his head turned just enough to gaze at you from every candy bar, liquor bottle, marquis, shop window, and postcard in the city. Even Hermes had a huge elegant poster picture of him in the window next to a sharply designed woman's outfit done in rich silk, complimented by a gorgeous vest depicting a reproduction of what presumably was his favorite style violin. I learned later that I had unwillingly arrived not only during the year celebration of the 250th anniversary of his birth, but also during the world-renowned Summer Festival which showcases many and some of the best of the town's 4,000 performances a year. With one in three people employed in the tourist industry, Salzburg is generally filled with tourists, but now it was excessively so. One could barely walk down Getreidegasse; the famed shopping street boasting all the standard la-de-dah stores for the rich and famous. Supposedly there were actors and actresses, millionaires and heiresses roaming the streets with the rest of us, though I never saw any of them.
Salzburg is situated on the Salzach River and has been a wealthy stronghold throughout history thanks to its plentiful supply of, can you guess it? Salt. Literally, Salzburg means Salt Tower and Salzach - Salt River. The first settlements to grow up around this salt mining paradise date back to the Stone Age with a stronghold during Celtic times which was eventually taken over by the Romans. Warring territories fought over the land until around 700 AD when Franconian Bishop Rupert founded the monastery of St Peter and the Convent Nonnberg. Salzburg became an archbishopric and was given rich landholdings in 798. It is interesting to me that the citizens of any given town can generally tell you whether their town was originally run by the church or by the proverbial state (i.e. by an archbishop or a prince). Construction began on the Hohensalzburg Fortress, considered Europe's largest and most well preserved fortress, in 1077 and it was continuously re-modified until the 17th century. The Fortress sits pristine and white, like a crown jewel, high on a hill above the city. It was the Archbishop Wolf Dietrich who in the early 1600s turned Salzburg into a royal seat, creating many of the famed buildings of today. But it was in 1756 that the single most important event took place for Salzburg's future – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was born in number 9, Getreidegasse. The rest is history for the world; marketing history for Salzburg.
By a stroke of luck, Michi had dropped her mother off in Salzburg and had time to meet me for lunch before taking the train back to Vienna. I was happy to get one last time to chat with her in the turn of the century 'grand station' restaurant. I think we were the only people in there who weren't alive when it was constructed in like 1910. With her linguistic support (i.e. ordering for me), I finally had my first Weiner Schnitzel. I always thought Weiner Schnitzel was a sausage. Imagine my surprise to learn it is basically Chicken Fried Steak – a childhood favorite. The time flew, as it does in good company, when suddenly we realized it was three minutes until her train left. We said quick goodbyes and she dashed off, calling me from the train to let me know she had made it. It truly was an unbelievable stroke of luck to meet Eva on the night train and then Michi. I am strongly considering spending a couple months in Vienna in the spring to practice my German. Knowing I already have friends there makes it all the more tempting.
I tried to brave old town after I left the station, but the tourists were just too much for me. It was like being in Disneyworld during a joint AARP/Samsung convention. I didn't really begin to enjoy Salzburg itself until I escaped Tourist Land and climbed up the backside of the hill to the fortress. The back path I chose took me past Nonnberg Abbey, the convent where, both in the movie and in real life, Maria had lived before being hired as a nanny by Mr. Von Trapp. The walk was lovely, winding through neighborhood streets, past perched houses on the hillside, and encountering a new view of the town below and the hills and the mountains beyond at every turn. The fortress was indeed impressive, giving one a true sense of what it was like to live behind these fortified walls, with many rooms still intact and even canons standing at the ready in the firing windows above the city. I was elated to discover that since I had arrived after the museum closed but before the fortress closed I only had to pay half price. I was then bummed to discover that since there was a concert that night, when the fortress closed the ticket man left the door open and went away. Worth remembering on future trips to Salzburg though next time I'd like to see the museums and do the audio guide as well
From the fortress I wandered down to Mirabell Gardens to catch a concert in traditional music and costumes. The Mirabell Castle was built by Archbishop Dietrich for his mistress in 1606 (funny how "celibate" bishops always had mistresses back then). It was almost completely destroyed in the city fire of 1818 but later rebuilt and today still holds weddings for happy brides and grooms from around the world. The gardens are beautifully manicured and tastefully accentuated with fountains and statues. My host Karin had suggested the concert as she had other plans when she agreed to host me – just two days after she signed up on the site mind you. We had too little time together between her work obligations and my short time to see the city, though I have no doubt we could become great friends.
When I arrived Tuesday afternoon, the heat wave that had gripped Europe had just broken. It was beginning to get chilly when she met me at the station and by the time we stashed my bags at her place and headed out for lunch and a quick tour, the clouds had moved in. Before we even made it to the information stand to get me a map it started pouring. We ran, sharing an umbrella, through the streets of Salzburg searching for a coffee shop that wasn't overrun with tourists hiding from the rain. Karin told me that it rains quite often in Salzburg, especially the mid-afternoon rains known in many regions of the world. I was soaked to the skin and shivering by the time we arrived at one of the more famous coffee houses outside of the tourist district but I wasn't about to complain after having been traveling in oppressive heat without air-conditioning for so many weeks.
We got acquainted at the café until it was time for her to head to a meeting. Almost my age, she is at the beginning of a life transition and is full of eagerness for what lies ahead. It is funny how when we embrace transitions, all things become possible again. We are, for a time, like teenagers full of dreams and ideals, aware of the significance of coincidences, and faith that we are on the right path and that dreams do come true. It is strange how time and life and the world beats this eagerness out of us, though it seems it is always there to be found again, when we let it come out. We only had a couple more opportunities to really talk though I promised I would come back again, and I will - when the tourists are gone!


text:
October 1st Update
[pl_alertbox type="info"]
This Home Health Index (HH Index) measures the performance of four publicly traded home health companies, all listed on the NASDAQ — Almost Family (AFAM), LHC Group (LHCG), Gentiva (GTIV) and Amedisys (AMED). This index is updated monthly.
[/pl_alertbox]
"As Congress shuts down the Federal Government, millions of Federal workers will not get paid, however one group will get paid. You guessed it….our Senators and Congressmen and women….the same group that voted themselves exempt from Obamacare" Harry Newton
The Home Health Index Hits a New Two Year High!
In June, after CMS issued their onerous proposal, our Stoneridge Partners Home Health Index (HH Index) crashed. It charged back in July, up 6.5%, then in August it was up 6%, and now in September it's up another 4%. Over the last three months its up over 16%, while the general market, as measured by the S&P 500, is up only 4.6%. All this while facing the new CMS proposal for reduced reimbursement.
All stocks in the HH Index were up for both the month, and for the last three months.
To make matters more confusing, Addus HealthCare is up close to 50% over this same three month period.
Last month the big news was the announcement that private equity giant KK&R had taken a stake of over 8% in Amedisys. This month the big news was Gentiva's announcement of their proposal to buy home care industry giant Harden Healthcare, with annual revenues of $476 million. More on this below.
For the last few months we have included Addus in our monthly tracking; however, because they have very little Medicare revenue, they are not included in our index. Addus is however a home care company to watch, and, for the past year, they have had outstanding stock market performance. Here are the results:
Price 9/30/13
Change in %, Month
Change in %, YTD
Change in %, year
Almost Family 19.43 2.97% -4.10% 21.28 -8.69%
Amedisys 17.21 5.65% 52.17% 13.82 24.53%
Gentiva 12.04 4.97% 19.80% 11.32 6.36%
LHC Group 23.46 3.67% 7.66% 18.47 27.02%
Home Health Index 18.04 4.16% 13.77% 16.22 11.17%
S&P 500 1681.55 2.97% 17.91% 1440.67 16.72%
Addus 28.97 36.78% 196.22% 5.35 441.50%
As you can see, all stocks were up nicely for the month, and, with the exception of Almost Family, all stocks are also up nicely for both YTD and from one year ago.
Regarding stock market performance over the past year, clearly the big winner continues to be Addus HealthCare. Talk about a stock on a tear….up another 36% in September. One year ago their stock sold for $5.35, today it sits at 28.97, up over 400%. Did anyone see this coming?
The high for our HH Index was set in September, 2008 at 41.75. It now sits at 18.04.
GRAPHS: This first graph shows the HH Index compared to the actual prices of the individual companies that make up the chart through September, 2013.
(Note that by hovering your pointer over a spot, you will get the price at that point. For the past decade, it's been quite a ride)
[iframe_loader src="http://stoneridgepartners.com/hhi/hhi.html" width="604″ height="450″ scrolling="no"]
Stoneridge Partners Home Health Index vs. S&P 500 Index
This second chart compares the percentage change of the HH index to the percentage change in the S&P 500 index going back to November, 2002.
[iframe_loader src="http://stoneridgepartners.com/hhi/hhi-vs-sp.html" height="450″ scrolling="no"]
Stoneridge Partners Home Health Index 12 Months Trailing
This third graph is a 12 month trailing chart of the HH Index compared to the actual prices of the individual companies that make up the chart, through September, 2013.
[iframe_loader src="http://stoneridgepartners.com/hhi/hhi-12.html" height="450″ scrolling="no"]
[iframe_loader src="http://stoneridgepartners.com/hhi/hhi-addus.html" width="604″ height="450″ scrolling="no"]
GENTIVA ANNOUNCES A PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF HARDEN HEALTHCARE
In a surprise move, it looks like Gentiva is going to buy the home health and hospice segment of Harden Healthcare. Harden, with revenues of $476 million, is being purchased for $408.8 million (about 86% of revenue). The logic of this acquisition appears to be to reduce Gentiva's dependency on Medicare home care. About 40% of Harden's revenue comes from Hospice with most of the remaining revenue coming from community care programs such as Medicaid waiver programs.
Prior to the acquisition Medicare accounted for approx. 86% of revenue, and, with the Harden acquisition, this will drop to 72%.
ProForma by Bridgewater Invesments
2014 Pro Forma ($ in MM)
GTIV
Revenue $1,770 $485 $2,255
EBITDA $160 $53 $213
EBITDA Margin 9.04% 10.82% 9.42%
Net Income $31.64 $11.20 $42.84
Earnings per Share $1.01 $0.19 $1.20
To read the entire analysis by Bridgewater Investment you can go to the following link:
Gentiva-Harden
On the Good News Front! It looks like the Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare, a coalition of home health providers, is making some progress in Washington…..142 members of the US House of Representatives have expressed their deep concern regarding the proposed rate cuts in a letter to Marilyn Tavenner, the Administrator of CMS. To read the entire article go to the following link:
Selling Price as a Percent of Revenue: For many years the selling price of good Medicare agencies was generalized at about 100% of revenue. Clearly that is no longer the case. These public companies (with the exception of Addus) are now selling for considerably less. The following percentages are based on Enterprise Value (EV), with data provided by Capital IQ.
EV as % of Revenue
Almost Family 43%
Amedisys 43%
Gentiva 65%
LHC Group 68%
Addus 107%
Multiples of EBITDA which are based on Enterprise Value (EV). Data provided by Capital IQ.
Multiple of EV/EBITDA
Almost Family 5.79
Amedisys 7.98
Gentiva 6.43
LHC Group 7.04
Addus 14.08
MERGER & ACQUISITION ACTIVITY – Clearly the big news was the Gentiva-Harden transaction discussed earlier in this column, however it's been a very busy couple of months for us. Over the last seven weeks we have handled the sale of seven home health agencies or hospices. Our most recent:
Synergy Comfort Services, a Massachusetts based private duty agency sold to a diversified health care company. Kevin Taggart, one of our partners, provided sell-side advisory services.
You can find all of these "sold" transactions on our blog at www.stoneridgepartners.com/blog
Gentiva also announced a joint venture with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center based in Winston-Salem, NC.
NAHC'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXPO will be in Washington DC October 31 – November 3rd.
Panel Discussion: At the NAHC conference, on Friday at 2:30, we will hosting a "Panel Discussion" on mergers & acquisitions, and how the current home care environment is affecting acquisition strategies and valuations. On our panel will be:
Shelly Berman, Principal of Simione Consulting, a leading home care and hospice consulting firm.
Peter Sosnow, Director of Development at Senior Bridge, now owned by Humana.
Brian Bruenderman, Director of Development at Almost Family, a public home care company.
Cory Mertz, a partner here at Stoneridge Partners.
Don Cummins (me), founding partner at Stoneridge Partners, will be moderating the discussion.
We would really like to put your tough questions to this panel of experts. There is a contact tab at the top of this page where you can send us your questions, or you can send them to me directly: don@stoneridgepartners.com. Please let us hear from you.
The Battle Begins….is the title of another presentation we will be giving at NAHC. On Friday, November 1 at 4:15 in Washington we will be giving our ever-popular presentation titled "Negotiating the Sale of a Home Care Agency or Hospice…The Battle Begins", where we humorously depict a transaction from initial valuation issues through negotiations, offers, due diligence and the final closing. Please join us, its a lot of fun!
MORE: And for additional musings on the state of homecare and what's going on at Stoneridge Partners, visit our blog, which is updated regularly: stoneridgepartners.com/blog
From Don Cummins, Publisher of "The Home Health Index" don@stoneridgepartners.com
Previous editions of this monthly newsletter can be searched for at the bottom of this page.
Cartoon of the Month, from The New Yorker
Links to Google Finance: Almost Family | Amedisys | Gentiva | LHC Group


Robotic Cells offer major benefits to the cleaning and grinding process.
Benton Foundry in Benton, Pennsylvania USA, is a state-of-the-art ductile and gray iron, green sand foundry. Their six automatic molding centers produce industrial castings which can be very intricate with up to 50 chaplets in a four-core assembly. The Foundry has been in production for more than 160 years and the Hall family has been in the foundry industry for nearly 100 years.
In 2006, as a result of significant growth and a desire to further improve efficiency, Benton began evaluating its finishing processes. Benton foresaw the approaching change in demographics, recognizing that finishing room personnel were going to be more difficult to hire and even harder to retain. As an added challenge, one of the reasons for their growth is that they were expanding their market focus, adding a new molding line that would accommodate castings up to 250 lbs. The finishing area was not set up to accommodate castings of that size efficiently, and manually handling castings over 50 lbs. would not be part of the plan.
Once the Foxall® was installed, the desired production was achieved with much more consistent parts. Fixturing and programming could be accomplished easily, quickly and inexpensively. The retention of operators over grinders has been a success, and abrasive costs were also greatly reduced. The robotic grinder's closed capture ventilation was an added asset. This feature later proved to be an even greater potential advantage in light of the proposed silica regulations.
In 2010, Benton installed a second Foxall® system. This particular unit was the first unit that Vulcan equipped with Force Control. This technology monitors the force on the spindle, allowing the robot to be programmed to run faster than units without this feature. Also, the use of Force Control helps to protect the robot from mechanical abuse that could lead to costly repairs.
Benton recently added two more units, including a larger Foxall® 636 unit that further exceeded expectations, and significantly reduced the payback period when grinding castings up to 250 lbs. "Generally, the larger the casting, the greater the productivity improvement. On the large end of our production envelope, we have had two operators replace seven floor grinders. In addition to time savings, both casting finish and consistency of grind have improved. The former floor grinders have been redeployed and the grinding room is a quieter, cleaner venue," said Jeff Hall.
Throughout the industry: floor, bench, and stationary grinding have historically been very labor intensive with positions predominately held by men. Robotic grinding is a game-changer in that regard. Operator fatigue is decreased, safety is increased and fewer personnel are needed. Plus, it is easier to find employees for machine operators than for manual grinders. The work is generally suitable for men and women of all ages, thus significantly increasing the pool of potential candidates to run these systems.
Adding hoists and other equipment for faster and easier material handling.
Continuing to work with Vulcan Engineering on additional features and programming options for their Foxall® systems.
Working with individuals in the abrasives industry to be able to grind faster, longer and more accurately while using a variety of tools.
Currently, Benton is operating four (4) Foxall® units. Benton Foundry has an objective to continue their efforts to improve automation, while streamlining the existing cleaning and grinding operations to be able to robotically grind ~70% of all product within the next 3-4 years.


text:
The Neighbourhood Scary Love
Stuck With Me
Following the surprise release of their EP Hard in September, The Neighbourhood is back with their brand new single Scary Love. The track, which launched as Zane Lowe's World Record on his Beats 1 show, will be included on the American rock band's new EP To Imagine, which is set for release on January 12, 2018 via Columbia Records and Sony Music and Entertainment Australia.
Renowned for crafting alternative rock anthems and transcending genres within the musical landscape, the lead single Scary Love is another grand release from The Neighbourhood. Through honest lyricism, the band artistically explore the perplexed feelings and emotions of love, effortlessly creating a dark yet stylish love song that is Scary Love. Listen to the single HERE.
The Neighbourhood is Jesse Rutherford (vocals), Jeremy Freedman (guitar), Zach Abels (guitar), Mikey Margott (bass) and Brandon Fried (drums).
Growing up together in the Newbury Park area of Thousand Oaks, California, The Neighbourhood started out in 2011 as a group of friends. Their 2013 debut album, I Love You, and the double-platinum hit single Sweater Weather catapulted the band to the top of the pop and alternative charts. Sweater Weather emerged as one of the biggest singles of 2013 and The Neighbourhood went on to sell out venues throughout the U.S., Europe, and Russia.
The band's mixtape #000000 & #FFFFFF proved that they aren't your average rock band - the mixtape was hosted by hip hop heroes Don Cannon and DJ Drama and featured the likes of YG, Raury, Danny Brown, Dej Loaf, French Montana and Casey Veggies. Wiped Out!
The Neighbourhood's sophomore effort, a swirling collection of R&B-infused rock, once again rewrote the rules of what it means to be a rock band in the modern musical landscape. Over the years, The Neighbourhood have proved themselves to be trendsetters through their musical and cultural output, taking The 1975, Travis Scott and Kevin Abstract on their first national tours. Considering the band's ability to transcend genre it's easy to wonder, who exactly is The Neighbourhood? Is it really this black and white?
To Imagine Tracklisting
Scary Love
https://thenbhd.com/