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The Wonder and Legacy of Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes, Thirty Years Later
There's something magical about being a kid. It's a time of infinite opportunities. A time where pillows aren't just pillows, but the key to a totally rad fort. The forest behind your house isn't a weird wooded area your parents tell you to avoid, but a mystical land called "The Pond of the Sea Shaws." That was my experience, and one many shared. As a kid, the world in front of you isn't what you see; it's everything you can imagine to be real.
That's what Bill Watterson tapped into with Calvin and Hobbes, his beloved comic strip which debuted thirty years ago today in newspapers.
The first Calvin and Hobbes strip, from November 18, 1985
While I was but a wee child when it debuted – I was one and five sixths when the titular duo first greeted readers – it was a major influence in my life, and continues to be to this day.
My senior photo from high school, see: quote
You see, I was always a voracious reader. In elementary school, I was one of the rare students who joined the 500 Book Club, having read 500 books cover to cover by midway through fourth grade (there's even a trophy to prove it). I enjoyed reading stories of all varieties, but comics made me love reading. And Calvin and Hobbes was one of my favorites. They'd often keep me company during Alaska's cold winters, as Calvin and Hobbes weren't just characters I enjoyed—they were friends.
I still enjoy them to this day, although the gorgeous Complete Editions are less easy to read in your pajamas than the old softcovers I'd devour. The pair has carried with me throughout, and I commemorate them in small ways, whether that means my senior quote in my last high school yearbook (which you can see to the right) or the cover photo of my Twitter profile.
My love for reading has never passed, and it's thanks to creations like the ones Watterson revealed thirty years ago. It's not just me, though. Calvin and Hobbes is as beloved today as ever, despite being gone for almost twenty years. Why is that? And what makes it so special to people both young and old? I have my ideas, but let's find out, shall we?
While Calvin and Hobbes is a comic you can enjoy at any point in your life – Watterson mined the same territory Pixar often does with work that amuses people of all ages – there was just something special about your earliest experiences with the comic. Age changes context for any form of entertainment, and what you love as a kid you often love in a different way as an adult, if at all. But when it gets down to it, there was something inexplicably great about Calvin and Hobbes that spoke to young people everywhere.
Skottie Young of I Hate Fairyland fame is onboard with that thought. While he can't recall when he first read the strip, saying it "has been in (his) life for as long as (he) can remember," he can trace his readership back to newspaper comic sections. As an actual paperboy during the time, Young shared he was "also kind of a Calvin and Hobbes dealer in a way." That meant he brought joyous daily reads to plenty of kids (and adults) in his neighborhood.
"I can say why I love it now with great detail and attachment to all types of things, but back then I think I was just drawn to the cool spiky hair kid and his tiger pal that got into all types of trouble," shared Young. "Calvin and Hobbes was just pure entertainment for me."
Cartoonist Michael Cho (Shoplifter) first read Calvin and Hobbes early in his second decade. He was already a fan of comic strips, like the far more political and current event based Bloom County from Berkeley Breathed. That appreciation of the more experimental side of comic strips carried over to Watterson's creation, but at first, he simply loved how weird, fun and and beautiful it was.
"Later, I'd recognize the humanity and warmth of the stories, but as a kid, I just loved the crazy trouble Calvin would get into. It was one of the few strips that I would genuinely laugh at," Cho said. "And I always loved it when Watterson would break out his more naturalistic, 'brushy style' – the dinosaur-Calvin stories, the mimicking of 'soap' strip styles, etc."
Amulet's Kazu Kibuishi first jumped into the series sometime around high school, as his local paper didn't run Calvin and Hobbes. It took a friend of his pointing it out for him to get onboard, and it was love at first sight.
"I was instantly a fan of the comic, and it was a big inspiration of mine as I went into college and continued drawing comics for the school newspaper," shared Kibuishi.
For him, the art was a major factor. He was already in aspiring artist mode, and Watterson's craft as a cartoonist and ability to tackle subjects and emotions of a wide variety was powerful for him as a reader.
"The art was always so great. The loose brush strokes implied a seriousness in craftsmanship that worked so well in contrast to the brash, hilarious jokes," Kibuishi said. "The strip's balance of humor, candor, and a yearning for romantic ideals was a potent combination for any young adult."
Mark Tweedale is a columnist at Multiversity Comics, and you may know him as the guy who has forgotten more about Mike Mignola's comics than anyone else has ever known. What you might not know is Calvin and Hobbes rivals even his love of the Mignolaverse, even if taking it in for the first time down in Australia was by accident.
"My parents never bought newspapers, and when I was thirteen, I was helping someone move. They were wrapping glasses and dishes in newspaper. Whenever I found a page of comic strips, I set them aside for reading when we were done," he said. "So that's where I discovered Calvin and Hobbes, and I bought Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink' as soon as I could afford it."
For Tweedale, his love of the comic is personal. He sees a lot of himself in the strip, and it was very meaningful for him during an important time in his life.
"As a kid who spent a lot of my own childhood lost in fantasy worlds with imaginary friends (including a tiger), this clicked," he said. "Hell, I even had my own version of Calvinball, which always seemed to involve climbing trees."
He appreciated that Watterson always respected what it meant to be a kid, and that he never broke character, so to speak.
"Calvin and Hobbes remains the only story I've ever read that seems to genuinely respect a child's imagination. When I see other stuff, the adult perspective seeps into it and poisons it. There's that cloying aspect of, 'Oh, aren't children silly imagining they're on a planet made of chocolate. They'll believe any nonsense,'" Tweedale said. "Calvin's worlds aren't like that. They are vast and detailed and full of genuine peril. Calvin is totally invested and so are we as readers."
That respect is enormous, as Young pointed out.
"When you're a kid, you don't feel like a kid. You feel like a person," said Young. "Calvin and Hobbes felt the same."
For kids both big and little, Calvin and Hobbes was a whole lot of things at once. It was an escape, and an entertaining one at that. It was a comic strip with art at another level than we had come to expect. The characters weren't just kids; they were little people we could see ourselves in. Like my childhood journeys to the Pond of the Sea Shaws, Watterson created a world we could get lost in. All of that is why so many young readers find something to love in Calvin and Hobbes.
Adulthood and the Shift of Perspective
While many things you enjoyed as a child fall out of favor by the time you reach adulthood, Calvin and Hobbes is not one of them. Your enjoyment shifts, perspectives change and you notice things you never had before. For Chris Eliopoulos – who discovered it in his first semester of college – the way Watterson approached the comic was a game changer as he began his path towards being a cartoonist himself. The craftsmanship Watterson brought to the table wasn't just impressive; it convinced him he needed to raise his own game.
"I grew up reading Peanuts and Pogo. I loved them. As I got older I started to see other strips that weren't that well drawn. Bloom County came along and it was the first comic that I laughed out loud reading. I loved the writing. I also loved The Far Side for the writing. So I realized that the cartooning didn't need to be great to have a good strip and I became lazy in my drawing thinking it was good enough," he said. "Then I read Calvin and Hobbes and realized that if the art and writing were great, it was a whole other ball game."
"He really opened my eyes to the potential of what a comic strip and a cartoonist could do," Eliopoulos added. "He made me realize I needed to step up my game and get better."
For the creators I spoke to – all artists – Watterson may not have been a direct influence, stylistically speaking, but the way he told a story left a mark on them. Kibuishi did pin Watterson as personally influential, and he feels Calvin and Hobbes was inspiring for many more people than just him.
"I think most young artists entering college must have been a huge fan of the comics, as they really reflected what it was like being a kid transitioning into the adult world while growing up in a generation where there was very little relative strife," he said. "If Garfield can be seen as a reflection of the 70's and 80's Baby Boomers, then Calvin and Hobbes could be a reflection of the dreamers in Generations X and Y."
The craftsmanship Watterson brought to the table impresses no matter your age. For a cartoonist like Jonathan Case (The New Deal), he loved the depth of Watterson's cartooning.
"His characters, every one of them, are full of life and individuality, and they express themselves using every tool in the cartooning toolbox: from understated to bombastic, the people and creatures in Calvin and Hobbes are genuine and unique," he said. "Beyond that, Watterson exhibited a top-tier level of creativity and skill in all parts of his work. The comic always felt fresh, even when it revisited stories and secondary characters like Calvin's babysitter."
"Watterson never gave less than everything to that comic, and he had a whole lot to give."
"In terms of art, I was always aware that Watterson was a great draftsman. Under that deceptively simple exterior, you could always tell that the man knew how to DRAW," shared Cho. "It came out in the foliage, the energy of his brush strokes, the colour pages in the collections."
"I think a lot of people mistook his loose and masterful use of the brush and assumed that they could add the same energy to their work by being a little more heavy handed and sloppier with the brush," he added. "But none of them could do what Watterson could."
As Young aged, he dug into Watterson's work more and more, attempting to deconstruct how the book turned out how it did. His experience became more studious, although it never ceased to bring the laughs.
"As a cartoonist, I read being the line and between the panels more than I would have as a kid," he said. "I study it, trying to figure out Watterson's thoughts while making it, or how he made it, etc."
One of the most interesting things about how a reader's Calvin and Hobbes experience changes with age is when the script gets flipped in terms of the characters they relate to. Growing up, we're like Tweedale, seeing ourselves in the free spirit kid who is excited, awed and disgusted by the world all at the same time. But when you're the parent who keeps getting killed in polls or has to cook the sentient dinner kids recoil from? That's a whole different story.
"One thing that's changed is that I feel more sympathy for Calvin's mom and dad now and see Calvin through their eyes," Cho said. "Comes with being a parent, I guess."
"Now that I'm a dad, I do have a very different perspective when reading the comics and I definitely don't identify with Calvin as much as I used to," shared Kibuishi. "The shift in perspective has been very helpful when thinking about my own work."
It's a fascinating phenomenon, and one I can't relate to as I don't have kids. But it was an oft mentioned shift for the parents I spoke to. It shows how context can change a lot. However, it hardly impacts the love one has for Watterson's creations.
The last point I wanted to bring up relates to a specific quote from Watterson's interview with the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum's Jenny Robb from Exploring Calvin and Hobbes. Robb put together one of the most robust interviews ever with the reclusive creator. In it, they tackled one of the reasons both teens and adults connect with the strip in a new way.
"I love the unpretentiousness of cartoons. If you sat down and wrote a two hundred page book called My Big Thoughts on Life, no one would read it," said Watterson. "But if you stick those same thoughts in a comic strip and wrap them in a little joke that takes five seconds to read, now you're talking to millions. Any writer would kill for that kind of audience. What a gift."
Calvin and Hobbes, for all of its childlike glee and hilarity, was a comic that never shied away from bigger subjects and deeper lines of thinking. As Tweedale shared, "it's this melancholy comic that wears its heart firmly on its sleeve." In arcs like the one where Calvin and Hobbes discover an injured raccoon, Watterson explored meaningful subjects like life and death in impactful ways. It's no coincidence Calvin and Hobbes were given the names of a theologian and a philosopher, respectively. Watterson wasn't only interested in making people laugh; he wanted to make them think and feel.
He did, and he has for thirty years now.
It's a Magical World
You would never want to downplay Watterson's artistry in determining why Calvin and Hobbes has had such a long and meaningful legacy. However, its creator's choices outside the creative have helped it maintain its place as such a beloved strip after all of these years.
Like Kurt Cobain or James Dean, a creative spirit being extinguished before its perceived time is always a mournful thing. Watterson didn't pass away, of course. But he chose to end the comic on his own terms, bringing the story to a close with one final strip on December 31, 1995. It was the right time, and it prevented Watterson's creations from becoming something he didn't want them to be.
"On purely artistic terms, I might argue that a comic strip, like anything else, has a natural life span," said Watterson in the interview with Robb. "We all want to extend that life span, but after a point, the strip is on the machines and not breathing by itself anymore."
Many strips and comics and narratives have done that. They lived on because of popularity, not because the creative drive was there any more. And without that drive, we – the readers – can see something has changed. Watterson bowing out before that became a thing helped turn Calvin and Hobbes into something transcendent. It's something that shocked readers but, looking back, was important to its legacy.
"One thing I do know and have always appreciated is that he ended the strip on his terms and was willing to walk away from it instead of turning it into a giant licensing monster, with the work growing staler and more corporate as the profits increased," said Cho. "As a teen, I was initially shocked and upset when it ended. But my friends and I debated it when it happened, and we all appreciated that he didn't 'sell out.' That decision to end the strip was a big eye-opener for me and taught me that artistic integrity matters – even in the 'funny papers.'
"I'll always appreciate that lesson."
Choosing his own end date helped ensure the strip never went through any lethargic stretches. As Kibuishi noted, Watterson displayed remarkable consistency in his ten years on Calvin and Hobbes. "You rarely felt that he created a filler comic strip," Kibuishi said, and he's right. Had he kept going, who knows if that would still be true?
When paired with Watterson's steadfast decision to avoid licensing, Watterson's early shuttering of the strip helped Calvin and Hobbes maintain a purity few comics can match. It was an enormous success, and Watterson's earned enough from the strip to more or less never be heard from outside of his terms since. There was never a need to go back to the well as many other creators can't resist doing. And he never leveraged his creations in a way that strayed from who they are. That kept them on a pedestal, and they've been there since.
Its timeless nature was paramount to its success as well. While many stories attempt to be more relatable by throwing in pop culture references, Watterson avoided that throughout. That means the book doesn't move on as a relic of its time; it instead is as fresh and easy to connect to as the day it first arrived.
"The strip is timeless," said Eliopoulos. "You read Bloom County today and you need to get the references. Not with Calvin and Hobbes. What the strip eventually became was a discovery of friendship and imagination and the realization that we all see our world differently. Those subjects are timeless."
"I think his choice to not comment on current events or tie the ideas or thoughts to a year or era is what makes it timeless. Kids are timeless. There has been and always will be little kids who have (a) toy that they know is their friend," shared Young. "The cartooning was also perfect in its 'what year does this take place?' (nature). A striped t-shirt will work forever. His house looks like it is old and brand new at the same time. Every choice he made allow(s) this strip to be relevant to whoever picks (it) up in whatever year.
"That's an accomplishment."
That's why Young can share it's something he and his kids can read together now and enjoy just the same. "In fact, we're starting it for bedtime reading now!" he said.
He's not the only one who had that experience, as Cho passed the collections onto his daughter.
"I've got a few collections that have survived since childhood – all with broken spines and dog-eared pages like any true totem. They were among the first comics I read to my daughter. I had to skip the more subtle gags, but she appreciated the manic ones right away," he said. "She has the books in her room now, but they're really falling apart."
Above everything, though, the book has carried on from generation to generation because it was – and still is – one of the finest comics of any variety ever created. It may not be everyone's favorite, but it's a comic anyone can enjoy. That speaks to the gifts of Watterson, above all.
"Bill Watterson is an immensely talented cartoonist and writer, and I think the continued popularity of Calvin and Hobbes is a testament to his abilities and keen observations," Kibuishi said. "I'm very glad the comics are still remembered and enjoyed by many readers today."
Calvin and Hobbes continue to entertain, move, challenge, amuse and influence readers as much as they did when they first arrived on November 18, 1985. That means a lot, and it's because Watterson valued them as more than just creations: he treated them as characters as real and tangible as the person holding the newspaper they were found in.
"The characters were very alive to me. I don't know if this makes sense to people, but when you're doing this right, you're not putting words in the characters' mouths," Watterson said in the interview with Robb. "Instead, you're listening to them. They talk on their own, and you just follow along behind. The characters write their own material. And that's what happened—Calvin and Hobbes wrote their own material."
Calvin and Hobbes may have ended twenty years ago this New Year's Eve, but the story and its characters live on with every reader who sits down with them. The titular duo continues to explore this magical world, and if you're willing to, you can go along with them on an adventure whenever you'd like. All you have to do is pick up a book. Do that, and they're back.
Just like they never left.
The last Calvin and Hobbes comic, from December 31, 1995
All comic strips featured were created by Bill Watterson, with images taken from GoComics.com, © Universal Press Syndicate. Thanks to Jonathan Case, Michael Cho, Chris Eliopoulos, Kazu Kibuishi, Mark Tweedale and Skottie Young for the perspective for this piece.
Off Panel #103: Going with the Flow with Benjamin Dewey
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Sexual Harassment/Assault
Wage and Hour Class Action Litigation
Ron Makarem
Millions to be Paid Out in GM Ignition Switch Crash Compensation
Articles July 3, 2014
General Motors (GM) has issued five recalls for over seventeen million cars that have defective ignition switches, including models that have been in production since 1997. Millions of people could be owed millions in compensation.
The administrator of GM announced that the families of those killed in accidents caused by the defective switch could receive up to one million dollars for their hardship, and GM's attorney Kenneth Feinberg announced that there would be no limit on the amount of money the company is willing to pay to compensate these individuals.
Feinberg was hired by GM to manage the compensation fund. He has experience doing this having been a manager for the BP oil spill compensation fund. According to Feinberg, GM will pay whatever is deemed necessary whether its thousands for someone who spent a night in a hospital, or millions for those with chronic conditions such as paralysis or brain damage.
How the Compensation is Calculated
Compensation for those with the most severe injuries, and for the deceased will be calculated using an appraisal of each victim's lifetime earnings as determined by statistics from the Bureau of Labor. Individuals who accept compensation from GM relinquish their right to sue GM. However, it is possible to claim compensation without giving up the right to sue.
Who is Eligible for Compensation?
Victims must apply for compensation between August 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014. Individuals who were in crashes due to the ignition switch fault before GM's bankruptcy declaration in 2009 may also apply for compensation. Those who have already settled ignition switch cases with GM may be due further compensation.
Makarem & Associates helps those struggling with injury claims. If you need legal help dealing with the repercussions of the GM ignition switch, call us at 310.312.0299 or e-mail info@makaremlaw.com.
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Super high tide needed to free grounded vessel from reef in Seychelles, official says
General |Author: Salifa Karapetyan Edited by: Betymie Bonnelame | September 1, 2018, Saturday @ 11:00| 3584 views
The authorities and the owner of the vessel met to discuss the operation to remove the vessel stuck on the reef in the Ste Anne Marine Park. (Seychelles Nation)
(Seychelles News Agency) - Authorities are waiting for a tide of at least 1.7 metres to start an operation to remove a foreign fishing vessel ran aground on a reef, said an officer from the Seychelles Port Authority.
The Kenyan-flagged vessel, Diamond Ace Number 1, went aground on the night of Friday, August 24 in the vicinity of Long and Cerf Island.
"There will be the need to have a tug to pull the vessel. Information that we have gathered will help us know where to tie the boat and place the tugs," said Egbert Moustache, the deputy chief executive of the Seychelles Port Authority.
Moustache said that the Port Authority "will organise for divers to assess the damage to the vessel. For the time being we are not having high tides above 1.6 or 1.7 metres so it will still be risky, hence why we decided upon next week."
He added that the operation has been postponed for Thursday, September 6 when the tide movements will be more favourable.
Communication held with the captain of the Kenyan vessel after the incident revealed that 'Diamond Ace Number 1' had holes in its hull, Moustache said. Photographic evidence gathered by officers from the Seychelles Coast Guard and the Anti-Narcotics Bureau has allowed the authority to assess the amount of water coming into the vessel.
Moustache said that he and his team have "learnt more about the types of pumps being used to remove the incoming water."
"As the holes are in areas that are not very accessible we cannot tell how large the holes are and if there are any rocks still lodged in the vessel, which might damage the vessel further when we start the operation," he added.
The representative of the owner of the vessel, Yakub Kassim, told the press that the vessel, which was bound for Mombasa, Kenya changed course as the crew encountered problems.
"Unfortunately, the vessel had some issues, and thus had to come to Seychelles. In the process, they started running out of fuel and the captain decided to come into port for rescue. He called for distress and when he was trying to come inside, that is when the problem happened," said Kassim.
He added that "it is unfortunate that in the process we lost Captain Pierre" Grandcourt, who died in the incident.
Moustache said that the vessel was bought in South Korea and from there they went to Singapore to fuel up.
"They thought that the fuel would be enough to get them to Mombasa but when they reached Seychelles they realized that it wasn't enough and that is when they started the procedure to come into port but they didn't have authorization," said Moustache.
Moustache said that the vessel had not received authorisation from the local port authority to dock in Seychelles. The authority is still waiting to question for the captain of the vessel so as to have the situation further clarified.
According to the representative of the boat owner the vessel was a new acquisition, used to catch crab.
Tags: Diamond Ace Number 1, Seychelles Port Authority, Anti-Narcotics Bureau, Seychelles Coast Guard
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For those of us who have been blessed to attend and/or receive degrees from seminaries and Biblical institutes, to God be the Glory.
However, let us not get beside ourselves.
It is not WHERE we have been or WHAT degree we have earned, but WHO we have been with that will impact the world for Kingdom of God.


Could you paint a Car-A-Day?
To mess around with perfection should be a sin. So the moment "Imola Racing" even began to mess with the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, the heavens should've opened and swallowed whole the German Tuner.
At least it seems Imola was smart enough to not touch the engine. Instead this is likely just body enhancements. I don't have much info on the kit. I do know its being considered a widebody because of the enlarged fenders and wider tires. There are also new front and rear spoilers as well as a two-tone paint job that is reminiscent of the first generation Corvette.
So who turns road cars into race cars and then back into a road car? Well thats Reiter Engineering for you, who recently built a street-legal variant of their Murcielago R-GT that competes in the FIA GT1 and European Le Mans Series, is now offering a road version of their Gallardo GT3 racecar.
Based on the standard Gallardo this one features carbon fiber body work wich widens the car by 60 mm. A single large center-mounted exhaust system reduces weight by nine kg and added an extra ten horsepower, while new three-piece alloy wheels are wrapped with ultra sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 2 rubber. The interior stays relatively stock, although the stock seats have been replaced with leather-covered racing units. I can't say more about this car but that it is one of the cleanest/sickest Lambo's I've ever seen.
A one of a kind 1965 Turin Salon Lamborghini Miura chassis has surfaced equipped with the companies very first rear mounted 12 cylinder engine. The historic chassis that was designed by Gian Paolo Dallara, represents the very first mid-engined supercar theme for all very favirote supercars. The show chassis had been stored for the past 30 years in Cyprus by the country's original Lamborghini concessionaire, Marios Kritikos, who had acquired the historic unit in April 1978.
A month after its discovery and it was sold to LA collectors, the one of a kind chassis has been imported to the US and now resides in a restoration facility in Miura where specialist Gary Bobileff, will restore it to bring it to its former show glory. According to Lamborghini, the chassis will make its USA debut in the summer of 2009.
All of Detroit is safe until after the auto show in January, sorta. The government approved $13.4 billion in loans for General Motors and Chrysler for immediate consumption (Ford said "no thanks" for now.) This will take them until February when another $4 billion may be available, but they will also have to show that their operations are able to show "positive net present value" – a tough goal I'll get to in a moment.
So for this week, after the just I present a little accounting, a healthy dose of skepticism, and just enough optimism to keep fans of American cars from jumping out the window.
I've just been driving the new Porsche Cayman S - the one with the new direct-injection engine and the limited-slip diff, the one that'll now hit 60mph in just 4.9 seconds - out in Spain.
We'll have a proper in-depth review soon, but for now, here's what you need to know: it's unbelievably, unbelievably good - brutally quick, completely useable and just a tiny bit unhinged.
No, the Cayman isn't a friendly point-and-go sort of car: it makes you drive it properly. Stand on the brakes mid-corner and it'll happily deposit you into a hedge, but take some time to get to grips with the mid-engined manners and it's just magically, stunningly good to drive. One of the best ever, I reckon, especially if you get the manual rather than the double-clutch PDK gearbox.
In fact, the Cayman S is so savagely quick - the direct injection gives astonishingly sharp throttle response - and so pure in its handling that I'd take one over a 911 Carrera. No question.
But here's where I need your help. The guys at Porsche are saying that - despite the general consensus that the Cayman S is now as quick as the Carrera over just about any sort of road - they're not worried that potential customers might choose it over a 911. Different markets, different people, they say - while they admit the gap between the two ranges has tightened, people considering a 911 won't look twice at a Cayman.
So what do you think - is Porsche right? Is the 911 just too iconic to make you ever think about a Cayman, no matter how fast? Or would you stoop just a little for a car as good as this?
Looks like Maserati is getting into some territory usually reserved for the customizers when it unveiled a new special edition at the Bologna Auto Show, the MC Sport Line. Starting with a GranTurismo S, Maserati adds front and rear carbon-fiber spoilers, side skirts with a matte black central panel, carbon fiber mirror housings and exterior door handles, and glossy black 20" wheel rims.
Maserati also added performance enhancing elements. The suspension has been upgraded to stiffer springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars. There's also new software for Maserati's Stability Program, which the company says allows the driver "more freedom".
Because this comes directly from Maserati everything is done in good taste. This makes it a much harder sell for some of the custom jobs out there. Although this MC Sport Line is based on the GranTurismo S, Maserati says it will bring the Sport Line features to the GranTurismo and then the entire Maserati line-up in 2009.
Our Russian friends over at Cardesign have sent us a new set of sketches depicting one of the first tuning proposals for the just revealed Porsche Panamera sports sedan. Although it was initially believed that 9ff was the only one company working on the Panamera, turns out that the German tuner has also joined forces with two Russian companies, called "Top-Car" and "Cardi". The role of each firm in the tuning project is defined as "Top Car" who will handle the design, Cardi the production of the bodykit parts and 9ff, the performance upgrades.
This isn't the first time that the three tuning firms have collaborated on a Porsche project as last year they introduced the Cayenne-based Vantage GTR.
According to the folks at Cardesign, Top Car has designed two distinctive bodykits for the Panamera. The complete kit replaces every external body panel aside from the rooftop while the second package adds new front and rear bumpers, side skirts and a restyled bonnet. In both cases, the visual upgrades are rounded off with a set of newly designed alloy wheels. 9ff has not disclosed any details about the mechanical upgrades it is preparing for the Panamera.
It remains unclear whether or not the Panamera project will be offered exclusively by Top-Car and/or by 9ff.
Bentley owners usually sit on two very opposite sides of the rich people spectrum. They are conservative people who want to keep a low profile but still ride in luxury, or recording artists (or wannabes) who are out to show the whole world how wealthy they can appear. This kit is for the latter.
The Black Bisson Edition of the Continental GT by Wald takes the graceful lines of the Bentley and bolts on some attention. The edges of the body kit are rounded off with louvered styling elements. There is also a front bumper spoiler, side skirts, rear bumper spoiler, trunk spoiler and roof spoiler. Other parts offered are a suspension height reduction kit and D.T.M sports muffler exhaust system. Price tag for the body kit alone is 1,522,500 Yen (about $16,000).
Just one short year after Fisker showed us its plug-in hybrid Karma show car at the "Detroit Auto Show", the house that Henrik built will be returning to the Motor City to debut the production version of its ambitious project. Fisker says the production model, which is shown in the post just-released official pic, will only vary slightly in design from the show car, including a different upper grille that's a bit larger towards the outer edges and a larger lower air intake. The exhaust pipe from the internal combustion engine will also exit from an odd place: behind the front wheels. We'll also get our first view of the Karma's production interior in Detroit next month.
Fisker announced last month that it had chosen General Motors' turbocharged, direct-inject 2.0L four-cylinder as its power source of choice, and after sampling the engine in the Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo, we're very eager to see what it will do in a hybrid set-up designed to make one very large luxury saloon move like the wind. Combined with the hybrid system's 22.6 kWh electric motor, the drivetrain as a whole is said to produce 408 horsepower and propel the car to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and onto to a top speed of 125 mph. What sounded like vaporware 365 days ago is starting to take form, and we'll be on hand in Detroit next month to bring you more.
The guys over at GT-R Blog have their hooks deep into everything about the Nissan GT-R (obviously). So it's no surprise they were able to get their hands on some of the specs for the upcoming Spec V edition of the Japanese supercar.
The biggest upgrades to the car seem to be weight savings mostly through carbon fiber parts and the deletion of the back seat. It also features overboost button for increased midrange boost during passing. No engine upgrade has been confirmed. As reported last month, in 2009 all GT-Rs will get five more horsepower, for a total of 485 — well, that's official numbers.
It seems that although Nissan has pulled out of the January's North American Auto Show in Detroit, it will use the GT-R Spec V to generate some news in its absence. The Spec V is expected to be officially revealed on January 8th, most likely in Japan.
The collective artistic skill of Zsports Cars would hardly equal the pinky toe of Picasso, which is why we are duly impressed with Rob Ijbema's website called Car-A-Day. Rob began the site about a year and a half ago painting and publishing one work per day of cars in various forms of motorsport. He continued at this pace for over a year, but has since slowed down a bit, but the sheer size of his catalogue is still staggeringly impressive. As you can see in our gallery of favorites, Rob has pretty much all of the well known brands of motorsports covered with paintings of race cars from LeMans, Formula One, the WRC, DTM, vintage racers and even NASCAR! His style might best be described as Impressionist with, as he explains, a focus on movement and atmosphere rather than detail, which would take much longer to reproduce on canvas. Most of Rob's work could go for hundreds if not thousands of dollars in a gallery somewhere, but for him they're all in a single day's work. Each one is for sale, just email Rob for a price. Check out our faves in the gallery below, and be sure to visit Car-A-Day yourself and peruse his archives, as well as subscribe to Rob's RSS feed for updates on when he publishes a new painting.
We'd love to tell you that we're showing you this photo of a Bentley Conti GT getting sideways on the Finnish ice because it illustrates some Important New Car News: a new lightweight front splitter, or some innovative tires made from bin bags and bad thoughts, or something like that.
But we're not. We're showing it to you because it looks awesome. Big British super-coupes powersliding on frozen Arctic lakes is something we should see more of.
It's part of Bentley's 'Power on Ice' driving experience, where owners (or 'Premiership footballers', as they're better known) get to learn the grip and handling capabilities of their Bentley... by hooning it around the frozen lakes of Finland. Which definitely beats looping around traffic cones in a dingy parking lot.
Actually, maybe there is some useful consumer advice here. If you get snowed in this winter, don't go thinking you need a super-safe 4x4 will hill descent control and a low ratio box.
No, what you need is a 600 hp rear-drive supercar and a heavy right foot. Glad to be of help.
The Dodge Challenger made its way to Europe and the Essen Motorshow thanks to suspension manufacturer, Eibach which readied a mildly tuned version of the American muscle car. The SRT8 was imported for Eibach by USCars24.de and converted according to the applicable German lighting and licensing regulations. While retaining the SRT8's stock 6.1-liter Hemi V8 that produces 425HP, Eibach equipped the Challenger with the Coil-Over Suspension System Multi-Pro-R2 from its US product portfolio as well as a set of Botticelli III 22-inch alloy wheels from O.Z. wrapped around in Toyo Proxes T1R tires for improved handling.
The The Eibach Challenger is also equipped with a multimedia unit from Alpine Electronics, which has been installed by the specialists of XTON from Dortmund, Germany.
Porsche to us new images of its first sedan, the Panamera. Although the car won't be seen in the flesh until January in the Detroit Auto Show, from these photos it seems Porsche is pushing the room inside of the car more than the performance. We'll have a chance to see how well this car handles the corners while carrying a full suitcase when the car hits the showrooms by the end of 2009.
Panamera will be offered in two trims, 4S and Turbo, and unlike the 911 and Boxster/Cayman, the Panamera will not have a boxer engine. Instead the lineup will take its cues from the Cayenne and have engines in the more traditional V6 and V8 arrangements. Power will range from 300 to 500 bhp depending on trim level and will come with either a manual six-speed gearbox or seven-speed Double-Clutch Gearbox.
That treasure trove of appalling autodom described in the most gnarled English imaginable, otherwise known as eBay Motors, serves up today's flavorful morsel of weird and wonderful. Why wait for the upcoming Rolls-Royce RR4 when you can just throw $50K at this heavily customized Chrysler 300C. It's got the ostentatious grille, the suicide doors, the RR embroidered headrests, but most importantly, a HEMI V8 underhood. HEMI, apparently now transmuted to mean "multi-displacement system," will save you fuel as you rent the car out for the dreamy rate of $750 per day as the seller suggests. At least with a Chrysler lurking underneath all that nasty, you can be assured that repair costs will be nominal compared to the real thing.
The latest addition from the German tuner Prior-Design is the new body kit for the Vw Scirocco. Although the car didn't reach yet the U.S. market, although Vw assures us it will, we can still get a preview of the tuning programs for the stylish coupe.
The new kit includes a re-designed front bumper, new side sills, a new rear roof spoiler, a new rear bumper with integrated air diffuser as well as a new exhaust system. The new kit is completed by the new multi-spoke alloy wheels painted in black in order to give the vehicle a new look.
The serial Mercedes-Benz SLR is already one of the most impressive cars on our roads – but compared to the HAMANN VOLCANO it still looks rather harmless. Once again, HAMANN-Motorsport proves its cutting edge when it comes to refining superb sports cars. From a lift-reducing body design to a powerful performance enhancement to a lavishly styled interior, HAMANN focuses on all components of this luxury car and makes the automobile dreams of its exclusive clientele come true.
It seems that some people got a little trigger-happy and released the pics and info about the Porsche Panamera before the Monday's press embargo expired. That just means some early fun and speculation for us about Porsche's first sedan.
The car sits on a 9.6 foot long wheelbase, and the total dimensions should be 16.3 feet long, 6.3 feet wide and 4.6 feet tall. The sedan should have optional PDK dual-clutch transmission as well as all-wheel drive. Although engine specifications have not yet been confirmed, what we do know is the front-engine Panamera will likely start out with a power range of about 300 to 500 hp through a range of V6 and V8 engines. A hybrid powertrain and diesel version may also be in the works.
The car will be seen in the flesh in January at the Detroit Auto Show. We will have plenty of updates until then, but for now enjoy some closure from all the speculation and renderings with some official pics.
Muscle goes modern for 2010 as the Ford Mustang – America's favorite muscle car for 45 years straight – hits the streets with a new exterior design; new world-class interior featuring well-crafted materials and updated technology; and a V-8 with even more horsepower and an even throatier signature Mustang exhaust sound.
PGO, a French automaker that many have likely never heard of, has spilled the beans on its latest new car, which actually looks a lot like an old car. In this case, though, we'll forgive PGO for copying another automaker's styling, as the Porsche Speedster that the Hemera gets its good looks from happens to be one of the most classic and perfect designs ever. To our eyes, the Hemera looks more like a modernized 356 than any current Porsche does, and that's not a bad thing. The \Hemera has another thing in common with the classic Porsche: light weight. Coming in at just 2,160 pounds, the Hemera achieves its sporty performance in much the same way that Lotus does, meaning that the Hemera's natural gas-fed, Peugeot-sourced, mid-mounted powerplant that makes all of 140 horsepower is sufficient to accelerate the car to 60 in under 7 seconds and up to a top speed of 124 miles per hour. Sure, it's not going to break any records, but that's plenty to have some fun with. Pity us here in the States - this one's a Euro-market car only and will go on sale early next year.
The thing about replicas is that most of the times you're impressed with the effort that went into building one rather than the overall result. But in the case of the Audi R8 replica that was made out of a European 2001 Ford Cougar 2.5 V6 by Alberto Gavach Fuertes from Zaragoza, Spain, we must admit that we're also amazed from the outcome. For those that are swift to criticize, bear in mind that Alberto managed to approximate the looks and proportions of a mid-engined sportscar using a front-engined, front-wheel drive coupe.
Sure many will find that some exterior details are either wrongly presented (front spoiler) or missing (tailpipes), or even that the interior of the car, with the exception of the unnecessary 'R8' badge on the steering wheel, is all stock, but you have to hand it to this guy for doing a spectacular job.
Fortunately for us, as crude oil prices tumble down so do gas prices - or at least in the States. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), for the first time since February 2008, the average price of regular unleaded gasoline fell under 3$ a gallon. In the AAA Fuel Gauge Report, the current average price of regular unleaded in the U.S. on 23 October, was $2.822 which is a far cry from the highest recorded price on July 17, 2008 when gas hit a nationwide average of $4.114 which sent everyone into despair.
The AAA's report notes that Oklahoma State continues to have the lowest average price in the States at $2.461 for a gallon of unleaded regular while Alaska has the highest at $3.844.
The conceptual vision of the Toyota SportLux Venza by the Street Image design team was centered on a vehicle which could be offered as a factory tuned model. Taking cues from European tuners, Street Image added an assortment of subtle, yet aggressive, body kit modifications including a six-piece lip kit enhancement, rear hatch spoiler, custom grille and integrated hood scoop.
Its performance driven stance reflects the Toyota SportLux Venza's substantial boost in power output. Among its many performance modifications are several components from Toyota Racing Development (TRD) including a supercharger kit. The SportLux Venza's power surge is complemented with a height adjustable coil over tuned suspension and rides on Chrome Cognac No 20 Wheels measuring 24-inches and Toyo Proxy 4 performance tires. The massive wheels are controlled by 15-inch front and 13.6-inch rear TRD Big Brakes with forged calipers.
Street Image added appropriate interior comfort and convenience modifications to the SportLux Venza including special Black & Burgundy leather seating. A state-of-the-art Eclipse entertainment system features a premium navigation system and includes front and rear video and high-powered audio. The overall effect gives passengers a refined sports car feel without sacrificing the utilitarian appeal of the Venza.
ASI's automotive masterpiece, the TETSU GTR, is a full custom complete car program for the Bentley Continental GT. Utilizing a super-efficient exhaust system, intensive ECU tuning, enlarged turbocharger turbines, and an improved engine coolant system, the TETSU GTR achieves a breathtaking and unprecedented 800 horsepower.
The Bentley Continental's stately appearance has also been reimagined from the ground up in order to better showcase ASI's spectacular power boost. The 2070mm wide body, long-grill exterior features LED day lights, carbon fiber lip elements and a plethora of dry carbon components (hood, roof cover, trunk lid, rear wing, rear diffuser).
ASI's prestige styling package showcases some of Japan's most traditional and sophisticated artistic traditions; the hood and interior have become a canvas for the skillful hand of Tetsuei Nakamura, who has been comissioned for countless projects by luxury hotels and illustrious locations around Japan, including Enryaku-ji (Mt. Hiei) . The seats and floor mats have been fashioned in the Nishijin weaving legacy, further imbuing each TETSU GTR with the spirit of Japan's cultural capital, Kyoto.
ASI's flflagship TETSU GTR, appearing at the 2008 SEMA Show, boasts a two-tone carbon fifiber, Fujiyama matte white color scheme, ASI's 22-inch forged wheels in a special midnight black style, blacked out headlights, a gold dry carbon engine cover, a carbon fiber sports steering wheel, and ASI's original 12-piston braking system. But as a full custom work, each of the 29 TETSU GTRs to be produced can be entirely customized to the owners' requests, down to the most minute detail.


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Home » Tournament in Focus » - English Premier League » The Manchester Derby Preview: Manchester United vs Manchester City
The Manchester Derby Preview: Manchester United vs Manchester City
Posted by: Wasi Manazir August 18, 2016
The arrival of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and that of Jose Mourinho at Manchester United is going to add a new edge to the Manchester derby when the first of the ongoing season is played at Old Trafford on 10th September.
Compared to the last couple of seasons when the Citizens were led by Manuel Pellegrini and the Red Devils by Louis van Gaal, the football is likely to be enthralling, with the rivalry between the two new managers adding another layer of sheen to the proceedings.
New inclusions
The two teams' summer transfers appear to have gone in diametrically opposite directions. While Guardiola has put his faith in young players like Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus, John Stones and Marlos Moreno amongst others; true to form, Mourinho has put his faith in established stars.
The Portuguese has acquired midfield star Paul Pogba from Juventus for a world record transfer fee, as well as Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively. Eric Bailey has been his other signing.
The inclusion of new players and treatment of some of the older players – as Joe Hart is made to fight for a first team spot and Yaya Toure struggles to get a look in – has dramatically changed the look of the Citizens' first team. The Red Devils also bear a new look with all four new faces finding first team spots.
If there is one surety in football it is that a Guardiola side will always lend itself to a possession-based attacking football. It is his philosophy of building attack from the back that has seen the demotion of Hart and the quite frequent drop of Fernandinho in between the two central defenders to carry out passing from the back.
Mourinho, for the majority of his career, has relied on counter attacking football. However, proactive football is what the Old Trafford faithful demand and with the quality of the side under his stewardship, the Portuguese should have no excuses in not taking the attack to the Citizens, especially at home.
This game promises to be a fascinating tactical battle between two of the leading managers in the game.
Guardiola has spoken very fondly of Raheem Sterling even before he first formally met the England international and it is likely that the former Liverpool man will be amongst Guardiola's key players. Ilkay Gundogan was the first signing of the Catalan's Manchester City regime and the Germany international is likely to play a key role in central midfield akin to Xavi Hernandez's at Barcelona.
Paul Pogba is undoubtedly the lynchpin of Manchester United midfield and Mourinho will be keen to unleash the full power of the France international in the first derby of the season. The Mkhitaryan's scorchingpace, which often troubled Guardiola's Bayern Munich when the Armenian was at Borussia Dortmund, is likely to give more headaches to the Manchester City boss.
Guardiola vs. Mourinho head-to-head
The two managers have met each other in the dugout on 16 separate occasions. Guardiola has a slight edge with seven wins. Mourinho has won three times, while six matches have ended in draws.
Predicted Manchester United line-up in the Manchester Derby
De Gea, Shaw, Bailly, Blind, Valencia, Pogba, Fellaini, Martial, Rooney, Mata and Ibrahimovic
Predicted Manchester City line-up in the Manchester Derby
Bravo, Clichy, Otamendi, Stones, Zabaleta, Fernandinho, Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling, Iheanacho and Nolito
Best Bet: Score/Win casts (Zlatan Ibrahimovic)
Manchester United wins and Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores – Anytime (Odds – 5/2) – William Hill (Link Below)
Wasi Manazir
Wasi is a keen fan with loads of knowledge about the game. He has written for some of the world's leading soccer websites and is a major Barcelona and Pune City FC fan. He loves the Champions League and watches 200+ EPL games & La Liga games per season.
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Ghanaian fintech industry players to headline 2021 outlook conference
November 21, 2021344 views0 comments
The 2021 edition of the Ghana Fintech Outlook Conference and Awards, an event aimed at acknowledging the achievements of individuals and companies in the country's fintech ecosystem, opened November 19 at the Best Western Premier Hotel in Accra, the country's capital city. It will last for two days.
According to the organisers, the conference tagged "Promoting Collaborations and Accelerated Investments in Ghana's Fintech Ecosystem", will bring together financial sector experts, regulators, and internationally recognised industry leaders to discuss the role of fintechs in Ghana's burgeoning economy. They will also examine case studies and approaches taken to enhance the financial inclusion and digital financial literacy agenda.
The event will also recognise the efforts of local and international fintech companies who are at the forefront of digital transformation in the financial sector, at an awards ceremony.
Commenting on the relevance of the event, Martin Kwame Awagah, director of Arkel Consult and Management Services Limited, said no economy has developed without solid data on the various sectors of the economy.
The Ghana Fintech Outlook 2021 Report project, he explained, is a culmination of years of research expected to become a foundation of the country's fintech database.
Andrew Takyi-Appiah, managing director, Zeepay Ghana Limited, one of the official sponsors of the event, remarked that the company's decision to be a sponsor was spurred by its keen interest in the success of any event that brings together all the key players in the fintech space.
"It will be insightful to hear different perspectives from relevant stakeholders and to discuss key success factors such as innovative and collaborative practices, and protectionist and equitable practices that will inform future strides in the fintech space," he added.
In his remarks, Emmanuel Obinne, head of growth and partnerships-West Africa, BPC Banking Technologies, said the company is excited to be a sponsor of the event.
According to Obinne, the awards have come at a time when an increasing number of fintech propositions have become indisputable catalysts for the ubiquitous delivery of digital financial services.
"We are supporting this event because we believe in the power of open platforms to spur innovation and the ecosystem approach to solution delivery. Specialisation is vital, so if every entity shares what it does best within an ecosystem, we can achieve scale like never before," he stated.
Expressing his excitement at sponsorship and participation in the event, Manoj Jain, chief marketing officer, Panamax Inc., described the event as one of the biggest fintech industry events in Ghana where the industry leaders come together to formulate innovative monetisation strategies in the country.
On her part, Mary Boateng-Coleman, co-founder and CEO of Brassica Group, said the event is a laudable step that brings players in the digital payments ecosystem to the table to collaborate and share ideas.
She added that the discourse in the ever-changing landscape fosters better alliances and guides policy framework, which at the end of the day benefits Ghanaians.
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Un complesso veicolare è l'insieme di due o più veicoli, di cui il primo trainante (autovettura, autocarro, trattore stradale) ed il secondo trainato (rimorchio, semirimorchio, carrello appendice).
Se il complesso di veicoli è formato da un trattore stradale e da un semirimorchio viene definito autoarticolato, negli altri casi si definisce come autotreno (anche nel caso in cui il veicolo trainante sia un'autovettura).
Non rientra tra i complessi di veicoli l'autosnodato nonostante venga assoggettato a determinati limiti tipici degli autotreni ed autoarticolati.

Nella legislazione italiana ed europea, non possono esistere complessi veicolari stradali composti da più di due unità, ferma restando la possibilità di allestimento di trasporti eccezionali (art.63 Codice della strada).

Il codice della strada ammette un unico complesso veicolare composto da tre veicoli: si tratta di un complesso costituito da una trattrice agricola (o trattore agricolo) seguita da una macchina agricola semovente ed un  rimorchio agricolo oppure da una combinazione qualsiasi delle ultime due. L'uso di questo complesso veicolare atipico è consentito solo al di fuori degli spazi stradali (quindi: nei campi). Il complesso, può essere realizzato a condizione che i due veicoli trainati dispongano di freni di servizio e stazionamento azionabili dalla trattrice e che la trattrice stessa non utilizzi attrezzatura agricola frontalmente, come una benna o un forchetto idraulico. (art.105 Codice della Strada)

Situazione italiana

Limiti di velocità
Se il complesso di veicoli è un autotreno o un autoarticolato i limiti di velocità sono di 80 km/h sulle autostrade e di 70 km/h sulle strade extraurbane principali e secondarie, se invece è un veicolo trainante carrello appendice i limiti di velocità sono gli stessi della sola motrice.

Patenti richieste
 Categoria B = Autovettura trainante carrello appendice, autovettura trainante rimorchio con massa a pieno carico del rimorchio inferiore o uguale ai 750 kg, autovettura trainante rimorchio con massa a pieno carico del rimorchio superiore ai 750 kg e massa a pieno carico del complesso di veicoli inferiore o uguale alle 4,25 tonnellate. Se il complesso di veicoli supera però le 3,5 tonnellate, bisognerà effettuare un esame pratico presso la motorizzazione e, in caso di esito positivo ci verrà riconosciuta la patente di categoria B con codice armonizzato UE "96" o anche nota come B+.
 Categoria B+E = Autovettura trainante rimorchio con massa a pieno carico del rimorchio superiore ai 750 kg e massa a pieno carico del complesso di veicoli superiore alle 3,5 tonnellate, autocarro o autocaravan con massa a pieno carico inferiore o uguale alle 3,5 tonnellate trainante un rimorchio, per un totale di 7 t per il complesso di veicoli.
 Categoria C = Autocarro o autocaravan con massa a pieno carico superiore alle 3,5 tonnellate trainante un rimorchio non eccedente le 0.75 tonnellate.
 Categoria C+E = Autocarro o autocaravan con massa a pieno carico superiore alle 3,5 tonnellate trainante un rimorchio.
 Categoria D = Autobus trainante un carrello appendice
 Categoria D+E = Autosnodato, trenino lillipuziano

Voci correlate
Carrello appendice
Rimorchio
Semirimorchio
Autotreno
Autoarticolato
Autosnodato
Road train

Terminologia nei trasporti
Codice della strada

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Experienced and highly qualified staff
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All our caregivers have undergone finger printing and passed a level 2 criminal background screen and a drug test. Additionally, we have reviewed each caregiver's driving record and employment references. They are covered by an employee fidelity bond and by $1 million in general, professional, auto liability, and workers compensation insurance.
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Flourish caregivers are well-compensated employees with supplemental insurance benefits (not independent contractors). We withhold their income taxes and pay all employer payroll taxes. We manage and supervise them and provide them with education and training.
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For our clients to flourish, our special caregivers need to develop a wonderful relationship with them. Some agencies send different aides all the time, filling open shifts with available bodies. At Flourish in Place, our goal is to find a single caregiver who is the perfect match, not only in terms of abilities and schedule, but also in terms of having the right personality to empower our client to flourish at home with dignity.
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Robert "Kim" Lee and Melanie Ann Lee founded Flourish in Place to help seniors and adults with disabilities thrive and flourish while leading dignified and independent lives in the comfort and safety of their own homes. Kim and Melanie raised three remarkable children while helping care for Melanie's wonderful mother, Kathryn, who lived a rich life despite dealing with bipolar disorder all her life and suffering later from post-polio syndrome. Melanie has cared for her intellectually disabled older sister for the past 20 years as Melinda's court-appointed plenary guardian. Kim's mother, Betsy, suffers from advanced dementia. She lives in her own home with the help of compassionate family members as well as paid caregivers. Kim and Melanie's life experiences caring for others influenced their desire to help people not merely "age in place", but flourish at home with dignity. Kim and Melanie are both Certified Senior Care Managers.
Kim is Administrator and President. Kim earned his B.S. in Psychology from Duke University and his J.D. from the College of William and Mary School of Law. Kim practiced law as a shareholder for the prominent Orlando firm of Lowndes, Drosdick, et al. for many years, and then as Chair of the Commercial Litigation Department for Bogin, Munns & Munns. In 2001, Kim joined Rotech Healthcare Inc., a national Durable Medical Equipment company. The Rotech Board appointed him Chief Legal Officer in 2013. Kim has chaired a nonprofit board and volunteered in many capacities, including key leadership roles in his downtown Orlando church. As leader of Flourish in Place, Kim combines many years of legal experience, and business acumen as a national healthcare company senior executive, with a strong passion for the mission of helping others flourish.
Melanie is Vice President and Secretary. Melanie earned her B.S. in Psychology from Duke University and her M.S. in Industrial Organizational Psychology from the University of Central Florida. Melanie has held positions as production editor for scientific textbooks, industrial psychology consultant, and copy editor for the Orlando Sentinel. At age 40, Melanie fulfilled a childhood dream goal to become a classroom educator. After four years of teaching, Lee Middle School honored Melanie as Teacher of the Year. Melanie moved to Winter Park High School, and became a Chemistry Teacher. She moved to her neighborhood Audubon Park K-8 two years ago to teach 8th-grade Physical Science. For the past several years, Melanie has received a state bonus awarded to exceptional teachers. Melanie is a Certified Lay Servant who preaches from the pulpit at various Methodist churches. She and Kim are the elected Co-Lay Leaders for their United Methodist district, comprising nearly 80 churches. Melanie cares deeply for others, and her many gifts help the company select and train exceptional caregivers.
Wendy Agard, RN is the Nurse Administrator. Wendy brings to the company more than 30 years of experience in nursing and managed care. Wendy was born in the Caribbean and raised in Canada and the U.S. After completing her bachelor's degree, Wendy began her nursing career in Illinois. It was in the suburbs of Chicago that she first specialized in home health care. Her career path has included a six-year stint in Orange County Public Schools, building the Health Sciences program at Cypress Creek High. After completing a master's degree in business management, Wendy moved to Maryland where she remained for over a decade. During her time in the mid-Atlantic region, Wendy learned how to sail and cherishes fond memories of sunny afternoons on the Chesapeake Bay! She also developed a love for medical missionary work abroad (which included a week-long trip to both South Africa and St Lucia). Following the death of her dear dad, Wendy returned to Central Florida in 2018. Wendy's respect and affection for seniors, keen listening skills, strong faith, standard of excellence, and diverse nursing experience bring hope and comfort to our patients and families.
Fred Broughton is the Staffing and Scheduling Coordinator. Fred is a United States Marine, which gives him a personal insight into the lives and needs of the veterans we serve at Flourish in Place. After a successful tour of duty, he earned his B.S degree and went to work for the The Motor Vehicle Accident Indemnification Corporation at the New York State Dept of Insurance. Fred specialized in No-Fault and Bodily Injury claims. He advanced his career at the New York State Liquidation Bureau, becoming a Senior Litigation Examiner. Afterward, he went into the private sector of health care management, where he had a long and prosperous tenure with one of the largest home health care providers on the eastern seaboard. Fred brings his years of experience and knowledge to Flourish in Place, where he continues to fulfill his passion of serving the aging and health care community.
Sue Bouder, M.Div. is Brain Care Consultant/Coach. Sue earned her B.A. with a major in Speech & Hearing, minor in Psychology, from the University of Pittsburgh. She earned her M.Div. from Lancaster Theological Seminary and received additional formal training in counseling, holistic modalities, and multi-faith education. Ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1980, Sue has counseled clients in churches, hospitals, and homes throughout the East Coast, specializing in mind-body-spirit education and support. She developed a unique private practice blending spiritual counseling with the nursing modality of Therapeutic Touch and Heart-Centered Therapy. After moving to Orlando, Sue served as Wellness Coordinator for an adult care company, serving the needs of people with dementia, traumatic brain injury, mental illness, and general geriatric issues. Florida Hospital engaged Sue to give presentations about its CREATION Health initiative. Since 2009, Sue has focused on seniors' cognitive health issues. Sue has served for eight nears now as Facilitator and Coordinator for the Brain Fitness Club. She co-founded and coordinates the Central Florida Lewy Body Support Group. Sue offers a wealth of experience, a genuine compassionate presence, openness to learning from clients, and joy in resourcing clients. She is dedicated to helping clients discover what brings vitality and "flourish" to life.
About Flourish in Place, Flourish in Place is a non-skilled Florida Home Health Agency, License No. 299994622. We get to know our clients well, to fulfill our mission of treating clients' minds and spirits, as well as their bodies, so they can flourish. Our "family room" application helps family members stay abreast of developments in real-time. We create plans of care suited for the unique needs of our clients and their families. We match clients with specially selected home health aides, certified nursing assistants, companions, and homemakers. All our caregivers are W-2 employees who are fully bonded and insured. They all undergo thorough reference and background checks including fingerprinting, Level 2 background screening, certification of driver's license records, and drug testing. We also specialize in helping families find solutions to pay for the appropriate level of care. This includes our unique program to help veterans receive up to 80 hours per month of in-home care paid for by the Aid & Attendance Pension of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
Ready to experience the Flourish in Place difference?
Call 407-845-9797 or Request a Free Consultation to begin your journey with us!
Flourish in Place Home Care Solutions
1080 Woodcock Road, Suite 276
HHA License #: 299994622
© Copyright 2018 - 2020 FLOURISH IN PLACE HOME CARE SOLUTIONS Home Care Web Design: Intense Cosmetics


A Michigan man was charged with driving while ability impaired by alcohol Sunday in Flanders, according to Southampton Town police.
Sebastian Pablo, 35, of Detroit was stopped on Flanders Road near Cross River Drive after being involved in a minor car crash, according to police. The driver of the other vehicle, which Mr. Pablo rear-ended, was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center via Flanders Volunteer Ambulance after reporting head pain, police said.
Further investigation revealed that Mr. Pablo was driving in an intoxicated condition. He was arrested at the scene, police said.
• A Riverhead man who was stopped for a traffic infraction late Saturday in Flanders was caught carrying crack cocaine, police said.
John Jones, 33, was traveling on Brookhaven Avenue when he was pulled over, police said. He was then found to have a quantity of crack cocaine, police said.
Mr. Jones was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
• Lisa Allen, 32, of Mastic Beach was arrested Sunday in Riverside for seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. She also had five active warrants against her with the Suffolk County Police Department, police said.
Ms. Allen was observed stumbling along Pine Street and was found to be in possession of Tramadol, a painkiller, according to police.
• Byron Velasquez Rodriguez, 39, of Riverhead was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and alcohol-related aggravated unlicensed operation last Monday afternoon on Maple Avenue in Flanders after he was stopped for an equipment violation, police said.
Officers found that Mr. Velasquez Rodriguez was driving the vehicle without an ignition interlock device and without a license, which had been revoked for a previous DWI, according to police.
• Kristin Husfeldt, 32, of East Islip was charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle last Wednesday on West Main Street in Riverhead, police said.
Ms. Husfeldt was stopped for an equipment violation and was found to be driving with a revoked license and suspended registration, according to police.
• Dan Aller, 53, of Center Moriches was charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle Saturday morning on Nugent Drive in Riverside after being pulled over for a traffic violation, police said.
Mr. Aller failed to pay a driver's responsibility assessment and, while he had a valid Ohio license, he had not changed the address on his license or registration although he reported living in New York the last three years, according to police.
• De'Andre Owens, 18, of Calverton was charged with resisting arrest last Thursday after refusing to cooperate during an investigation following a foot pursuit near Exit 71 on the Long Island Expressway, according to state police.
Mr. Owens was also charged with two violations, police said.


What would a Friday be without a few fun and interesting facts?
The tongue is the only muscle in your body that is not connected to something at both ends.
The bigger the orange the sweeter it is.
Koalas are native to Australia.
Male sea lions may have more than 100 wives and sometimes go without eating for three months.
The first number that uses the letter "A" is one thousand.
English is the only language that capitalizes the first person singular, "I".
Before jets, "jet lag" was called boat lag.
Cats do not have the ability to taste sweet things.
Elephants are the largest land-living mammal in the world.
An iguana can stay under water for up to 28 minutes.


(COLLEGE STATION, TX) — A researcher at the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health has found that a government list of "model" substance abuse prevention programs really may not be a model.
The findings appear in the November issue of the journal Evaluation and Program Planning.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) maintains a list of model substance abuse prevention programs suitable for public education settings. Dennis Gorman, Ph.D., professor at the HSC-SRPH, examined the research behind these model programs.
Specifically, Dr. Gorman and colleague Eugenia Conde examined the relationship between program developers and program distributors, as well as how many program evaluations published in peer-reviewed journals have been conducted by developers. The majority of the programs examined showed a relationship between the program developer and program distributor, and very rarely was a program evaluated by someone completely independent of either the program's developers or distributors.
These relationships create a real or apparent conflict of interest, Dr. Gorman said.
Research was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
The Texas A&M Health Science Center provides the state with health education, outreach and research. Its six components located in communities throughout Texas are Baylor College of Dentistry, the College of Medicine, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the Institute of Biosciences and Technology, the Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, and the School of Rural Public Health.


text:
Odey and Lagrange make the cut in top 50 richest hedgies
26 November 2012 •
Crispin Odey, the founder of Odey Asset Management, and Pierre Lagrange, the co-founder and fund manager of GLG, have both made it into a list of the country's wealthiest hedgies.
The Sunday Times has compiled a list of the wealthiest members of the UK's second financial centre, it's thriving hedge fund industry. Now only second to New York, London has 650 active hedge funds,...
Which sectors are US income managers backing?
Odds-on favourite Tucker poised to land top Bank job
More on Economics
'Back to the nineties': Industry reacts as UK inflation reaches 30-year high
The UK's Consumer Price Index rose 20 basis points above expectations to 5.4% in the 12 months to December 2021, according to the Office for National Statistics, reaching its highest level since March 1992.
Lauren Mason
Interest rate hikes will alter the investment landscape in 2022
Central banks expected to take action
Gurpreet Gill
ECB begins cautious taper while holding rates
PEPP will end by March 2022


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Congratulations to 16-year old Sam Butler who earned the UNOH Youth Achievement Award national title, as the top driver 16-and-under regardless of division. Sam also earned the Division I Josten's Rookie of the Year Award and Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series. Sam finished the season with 3 wins, 13 top fives, and 17 top 10s and finished 9th in the overall national rankings.
FULL STORY: CLICK HERE
Make sure to Like Sam's Fan Page on Facebook CLICK HERE
Check out SPEED SPORT Feature article on Sam: CLICK HERE
© 2020 Sam Butler Racing | Powered by RaceFaceBrandDevelopment.com


Hello Prince. I decided to start a new thread to avoid confusion with the previous tasks. So, I just wanted to ask if you could place a link on Kinja (we really loved this resource).
Let me know if you're available for this one.


Consorzio del vino Brunello di Montalcino Castiglion del Bosco S.a.a.r.l.
Castiglion del Bosco is locateci in Montalcino, in the Val d'Orcia nature reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Castiglion del Bosco extends across 2,000 hectares, purchased in 2003 by Massimo and Chiara Ferragamo.
The position of the vineyards at Castiglion del Bosco is particularly favourable: perfect exposition, good ventilation, low humidity and natural isolation due to the woodland that encircles the estate, the ideai barrier against vineyard parasites and affording protection for other vineyards in the Montalcino area.
With its natural drainage, the rocky soil is perfect for making complex wines of fine elegance.
The vineyards occupy 62 hectares, planted solely with Sangiovese and divided into two very different zones regarding aspect, soil and microclimate: Gauggiole, a 20-hectare vineyard to the north, and Capanna, 42 hectares, to the south.


text:
Q: When to use OrderByCompletion (Jon Skeet) vs Parallel.ForEach with async delegates Recently Jon Skeet at NDC London spoke about C# 5 async/await and presented the idea of "ordering by completion" a list of async tasks. A link http://msmvps.com/blogs/jon_skeet/archive/2012/01/16/eduasync-part-19-ordering-by-completion-ahead-of-time.aspx
I am a bit confused or should I say I am not sure when will this technique be more appropriate to use.
I cannot understand the difference between this and the below example
var bag = new ConcurrentBag<object>();
Parallel.ForEach(myCollection, async item =>
{
  // some pre stuff
  var response = await GetData(item);
  bag.Add(response);
  // some post stuff
}

or ForEachAsync as explained by Stephen Toub - http://blogs.msdn.com/b/pfxteam/archive/2012/03/05/10278165.aspx

EDIT: Found a blog post from Stephen Toub explaining "Ordering by completion" <=> "Processing tasks as they complete". Worth reading. After reading this I could clearly understand the reasons how it works and also when to use this technique.

A:
Parallel.ForEach(myCollection, async item =>

This is almost certainly not what you want. The delegate has type Action<T>, and so the anonymous method is an async void method. That means it gets launched, and you have no way of checking its status other than by checking for any of its side effects. In particular, if anything goes wrong, you cannot catch and handle the exception.
Assuming nothing goes wrong, though, results will be added to bag as they complete. Until anything completes, bag will be empty.
In contrast, OrderByCompletion returns an IEnumerable<Task<T>> that immediately contains all not-yet-finished tasks. You could await the fifth element and continue when any five tasks have completed. This might be useful when, for example, you want to run a large number of tasks and periodically update a form to show the progress.
The third option you gave, ForEachAsync, would behave like ForEach, except it would do it right, without the problems mentioned above.

A: *

*Don't use Parallel.ForEach to execute async code. Parallel.ForEach doesn't understand async, so your lambda will be turned into async void, which won't work correctly (Parallel.ForEach will return before all work is done; exceptions won't be handled properly; possibly other issues).

*Use something like ForEachAsync() when you have a collection of objects (not Tasks), you want to perform some async action for each of them and the actions should execute in parallel.

*Use OrderByCompletion() when you have a collection of Tasks, you want perform some action (asynchronous or not) for the result of each Task, the actions should not execute in parallel and you want to execute the actions based on the order in which the Tasks complete.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Catch a Fire, uitgebracht op 13 april 1973, is het vijfde studioalbum van de Jamaicaanse reggaegroep The Wailers en hun eerste album dat werd uitgebracht door Island Records. Twee van de negen nummers op het album zijn geschreven door Peter Tosh, de overige nummers door Bob Marley.

Hoewel het album niet succesvol was, hielp de Catch a Fire Tour door Engeland en de Verenigde Staten de Wailers internationale sterren te worden. Catch a Fire is erg goed ontvangen en is onder meer geplaatst op nummer 123 van Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Na het compilatiealbum Legend is Catch a Fire hiermee het op een na hoogste album van Bob Marley in de lijst. Ook wordt het album gezien als een van de beste reggaealbums aller tijden.

Nummers

Originele uitgave
Alle nummers zijn geschreven door Bob Marley, behalve waar aangegeven.

Heruitgave
Een heruitgave in Japan en Amerika bevatte de volgende bonustracks:

2001 Deluxe Edition
De 2001 Deluxe Edition bevat twee disks; de tweede bevat de standaardversie, de eerste een originele Jamaicaanse versie:

Medewerkers

Muziekalbum uit 1973
Muziekalbum van Bob Marley & The Wailers
Muziekalbum uitgegeven door Island Records