Large 1-1 with stud in 4-Plex. Hardwood floors through out, large living room, separate dining room, spacious bedroom all with large windows with tons of natural light. Walking distance from HEB and W. Alabama Ice House. Off street parking and WASHER/DRYER INCLUDED!
I was searching for a Property and found this listing (MLS® #5527510). Please send me more information regarding 1810 W Alabama St Unit 1, Houston, Texas, 77098-2677. Thank you!
I'd like to request a showing of 1810 W Alabama St Unit 1, Houston, Texas, 77098-2677 (MLS® #5527510). Thank you!


Someone once said that man is loneliest in a crowd. To adapt that phrase, a single is loneliest on Valentine's Day. I've never seen more handheld bouquets in one single day. Or more teddy bears and pink adorned whatever. The florists must be laughing all the way to the bank, and good for them. V day is a day when the Bridget Jones' Nightmare strikes particularly hard, i.e. that one is going to die old and alone in a flat with 9 cats. And no one's going to find out about your death till the smell pervades the entire building. *shudder* So I am with you, Grace, on the general suckiness of V Day. In literature terms, I felt like The Other. But that might be romanticising singlehood too much, an ironic gesture.
But to all the smug attachees out there, and the not so smug ones, happy v-day to all you guys and gals. Heh, esp to Kitana and her beloved 'Benji' as he is affectionately termed. *grins* And to all singles, not to worry, we're all in the first flush of youth and time stretches out before us like a yawning chasm…. Hmm, that was not too optimistic. But the main thing is, time is on our side, still. Not for long perhaps, but still, there's yet time.
And CNY is another of those festivals that one gets queried about their present single status. Concerned aunts in particular, will try their hand at match-making or making one feel less than adequate. Ohh heck, I'll just reply that I'm too busy tutoring their precious offspring to have much of a social life. That'll probably end the conversation for good. And besides, there's always pineapple tarts to look out for.


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RESERVATIONS: (866) 996.6338
Experience the Creek
History Behind the Name
Rosen Reveal Magazine
Rosen Hotels & Resorts®
Rosen College of Hospitality
Learn about Rosen Green Meetings
Rosen Shingle Creek® Opened September 9, 2006
Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32819
Reservations – Toll Free: (866) 996-6338
Reservations – Local: (407) 996-6338
Sales@rosenhotels.com
Vice President of Sales & Marketing: Leslie Menichini
Public Relations Contact: Mary Deatrick, (407) 718-4640 or email mary@deatrickpr.com
Hotel Profile:
Rosen Shingle Creek, opened September 9, 2006, and is one of the largest full-service convention hotels in Central Florida. The 255-acre luxury hotel offers 1,501 guestrooms and suites, and 524,000 sq. ft. of dedicated, flexible meeting/event space that includes one of the nation's largest column-free ballrooms at 95,000 sq. ft. Awarded the AAA Four Diamond designation annually since 2007, the hotel offers an array of amenities such as:
The Spa at Shingle Creek, a full-service, 13,000-sq.-ft. spa with nine treatment rooms and a state-of-the-art fitness center
An 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course designed by the Arnold Palmer Design company
Fifteen dining/lounging options
Four outdoor swimming pools
Two lit tennis courts
Nature trail and seasonal fishing
Olympic-regulation sand volleyball court and more
Architecture & Design:
Created as an impressive example of the 1900s Spanish Revival style architecture, the hotel's high-carved arches accenting with natural warm earth tones illustrate the sense of casual elegance and the grace of historic Florida. Guests are inspired by the 255-acre natural environment surround the hotel, which includes a backdrop of dense oaks and pines along the historic Shingle Creek, the headwaters of the Florida Everglades.
Story Behind the Hotel Name:
In the early 1800s settlers would log cypress trees down the creek and use them to make shingles for the roofs of the settlers' homes. Thus, the settlers affectionately gave the creek its name "Shingle Creek."
One of the first settlements in the region was also called Shingle Creek, which was located east of the Shingle Creek waterway. Shingle Creek itself is recognized as the headwaters to the Florida Everglades.
In 1840, a trading post opened near Shingle Mill at the low water crossing point on Shingle Creek, which is a stone's throw away from the hotel. It is Rosen Shingle Creek's intent to pay homage to the old Florida Frontier.
Management / Ownership:
Harris Rosen, President and COO
Dan Giordano, General Manager
Leslie Menichini, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Rosen Hotels & Resorts, Convention Properties
Rosen Hotels & Resorts currently owns and operates eight properties in the Orlando destination market. In combination, these properties total over 6,705 guestrooms and suites, which is approximately six percent of the total guest rooms in Central Florida. Numerous hospitality-industry awards, employee longevity and a reputation for quality have fueled Rosen Hotels & Resorts' growth for more than 45 years. Guided by founder and President Harris Rosen's high standards of quality and unsurpassed service, a team of experienced professionals fulfills the company's on-going commitment to guest and associate satisfaction.
Rosen Hotels & Resorts has become widely known for The Rosen DifferenceⓇ. It is the reason why Rosen is has become Florida's largest independent hotel company and their award-winning hotels have been named among the best. It is the reason why they are so popular for corporate events and why guests become family. The great thing about being independently owned? Rosen is free to make decisions. They're free to say "yes" and work with planners to develop the most creative and engaging Orlando meetings, with tailored offers that provide real value as well as a memorable experience for all the attendees. This independence means Rosen is able to constantly reinvest in their properties, including new venues, enhancements, and expansions.
Hotel at a Glance:
Total Guestrooms and Suites: 1501
Total Guestrooms: 1310
Total Suites: 191
Total Presidential Suites: 3
Total Meeting/Event Space: 524,000 sq. ft.
Total Hotel Square Footage: 1,711,063 sq. ft.
Total Parking Spaces: 2,300
Guestrooms:
The hotel includes 1,501 smoke-free, oversized guestrooms (among the largest in Central Florida at 436 gross sq. ft.) with the most expansive views:
950 Double Queens (one of the most number of double queens available at any one hotel in Central Florida)
411 Kings
75 ADA guestrooms
191 Suites Including:
56 Petite King Suites
69 Executive Suite Parlors
37 Grande Suite Parlors
30 Hospitality Suites
Three elegantly appointed Presidential Suites – Ibis, Everglades and Hammock
Each guestroom features two phones and is equipped with the latest innovations in technology, including complimentary Wi-Fi and high-speed hardwired internet; 40″ LED HDTVs that include connectivity panels for laptop, iPad, iPod and other devices.
Each luxurious guestroom features a plush Creek Sleeper Bed with fine linens, designer linens and elegant furnishings in the Spanish revival style. Each guestroom also offers an in-room safe (fits up to 17" laptop), mini refrigerator, plush robe, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, coffeemaker, I-home radio/docking station.
The latest RFID technology combined with automatic deadbolt locks at Rosen Hotels & Resorts keeps our guests secure in their guestrooms. The extensive installation is one more way Rosen Hotels & Resorts continues to ensure that every stay is as carefree and enjoyable as possible.
Check-In: 3 p.m. | Check-Out: 11 a.m. There is never a resort fee.
Hotel Safety & Security:
Our main priority is the safety and well-being of our guests and associates. Rosen Hotels & Resorts reserves the right to visually inspect all guestrooms for wellness checks, security, maintenance, or other purposes, even when the Room Occupied sign is displayed.
Shingle Creek Golf Club:
A world-class golf club and course awaits, conceived and executed by the esteemed Arnold Palmer Design Company, with three new holes, a group of designed holes, and the overall balance of the course recalibrated to accommodate design features including more forgiveness and recovery options along extra-long par-4s and par-5s. The new Shingle Creek Golf Club is definitely strokes and chips above a typical "hotel golf" course.
Senior Golf Course Architect Thad Layton says the mission was to add strategy and variety to the golfer's experience. His design features "harken back to the golden age of golf course design." The new golf course features more visible and strategically placed bunkers, like the one on the landing area of the second hole (par 5, 561 yard) that forces players to navigate creatively yet demands precision. Regardless, extra fairway width provides all skill-level players plenty of alternative options. Players will notice major differences in the short game as well, especially on a new par-3 hole—the shortest at 191 yards but definitely not the easiest. It runs adjacent to wetland with its pitch angled toward those natural hazards along its entire left side. The new range in the course's variety swings out at the eighth hole where players see the course expand drastically to a par 5, 610-yard stretch from the back tee.
Shingle Creek Golf Club is also home to the Brad Brewer Golf Academy, a Top 25 Golf School in the Nation ranked by Golf magazine. The academy features a short-game practice area that doubled in size from the original practice area, new state-of-the-art swing analysis and game improvement technology in the indoor hitting bays. Brad Brewer has received numerous awards and recognition's, such as being ranked as a top 100 teacher by Golf Magazine and PGA class-A Professional.
A state-of-the-art practice facility provides Orlando golfers with everything they need to work on their game. Before playing a round, we encourage players to fine tune their swing at the 70,000-square-feet driving range and to prepare for the tough greens on the new 15,000-square-foot putting greens and brand new bunker and chipping areas.
At Shingle Creek Golf Club:
Manicured tropical landscaping
State-of-the-art technology and GPS systems on golf carts
5 sets of tee boxes for all playing levels
Complimentary golf valet parking
Ability to walk from hotel to golf course
A 2,000 sq. ft. Pavilion for luncheons or 19th hole gatherings.
This Orlando golf course receives its name from Shingle Creek, the northernmost headwaters of the famous Everglades that provides the natural backdrop of dense oaks and fauna. Shingle Creek's rich history spans back to early Central Florida settlers and cattle barons who were attracted to the area's local wildlife, abundant fishing and cypress trees, and the creek which provided mobility. During this period of the creek's history, it was primarily used for logging cypress trees. The trees were transported down the waterway to a nearby mill where they were processed into shingles, hence the name Shingle Creek.
The Spa at Shingle Creek:
For a more rejuvenating retreat, indulge in a visit to The Spa at Shingle Creek. Our full service, 13,000 sq. ft. spa features nine treatment rooms and an extensive menu of soothing services, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center. The spa has been developed not just as an amenity for leisure and business guests, but is a destination unto itself, a one-of-a-kind spa experience rooted in the area's rich history, the surrounding landscape and the traditions of Florida's indigenous people.
The Spa at Shingle Creek's creekside signature treatments draw on the restorative powers of the area's natural fauna and reflect Rosen Shingle Creek's Florida roots by incorporating citrus and cedar scents. Additional services such as the Calusa Cocoon incorporate aspects from its namesake Native American tribes. Spa packages include 2-hour, 1/2 day, Full Day, Meeting Escape, Day at the Creek, Golfer's Retreat, Girl's Getaway, Wedding, Teen Packages and more.
In concert with Rosen Shingle Creek's overall theme, the architecture and interior design of The Spa at Shingle Creek was developed in harmony with the natural surroundings, incorporating dark woods and a palette of rich earth tones that are a reflection of the lush vegetation and even Shingle Creek itself, headwaters of the Florida Everglades.
Hotel Amenities / Activities:
Shingle Creek Golf Club —18-hole, par 72 championship golf course designed by Arnold Palmer Design Company
Golf Pro Shop – voted one of America's Top 100 Golf Shops by Golf Shop Magazine
Brad Brewer Golf Academy on-site – Golf magazine's "Top 100 Instructors" and one of the "Top 25 Golf Schools in America"
The Spa at Shingle Creek – a full-service, 13,000-sq.- spa, featuring nine treatment rooms, full-service salon and state-of-the-art fitness center with cardiovascular equipment and free weights
Spacious video arcade
DJ's Boutique – offers a variety of women's apparel, jewelry, home decor, accessories as well as health and beauty products, sundries and souvenirs
Four outdoor swimming pools — lap, family, kiddie and a quiet pool that features private cabanas available by reservation
Two hot tubs
Seasonal fishing by reservation
Electric vehicle charging station available
Conference & Banquet Facilities:
The hotel features 524,000 square feet of dedicated meeting/event facilities including:
Indoor Space
Total Indoor Meeting/Event Space: 410,000 sq. ft.
Gatlin Grand Ballroom: 95,000 sq. ft. column-free
Sebastian Ballroom: 60,000 sq. ft. column-free
Panzacola Ballroom: 40,000 sq. ft. column-free
Breakout Meeting Rooms: 99 including ballrooms from 850-2,000 sq. ft. each
Pre-function space: 144,000 sq. ft.
Exhibit space: 195,000 sq. ft.
Total Outdoor Meeting/Event Space: 114,000 sq. ft.
Covered Golf Pavilion: 1,850 sq. ft.
Outdoor Event Lot: 40,000 sq. ft.
Largest Spaces
Largest Theater-Style Capacity: 9,500 people
Largest Classroom-Style Capacity: 6,432 people
Largest Banquet-Style Capacity: 6,800 people
Largest Reception-Style Capacity: 10,000 people
Largest Exhibit Space: 95,000 sq. ft. (Gatlin Ballroom)
Largest Outdoor Space: 45,900 sq. ft.
All ballrooms have 31-foot unobstructed ceilings/34-foot high at hang points, hardwire and Wi-Fi capabilities at a fee. The load-in areas feature 17 bays, as well as seven built-in registration desks with adjoining back office space in the pre-function area.
Millennium Technology Group is the exclusive information technology provider for Rosen Shingle Creek. Millennium strives to surpass your meeting expectations with the latest technology and exceptional service. Our full-service, customizable solutions include:
On-Site Support from your Convention Technology Manager and 24-Hour Help Desk
Full line of rental equipment including: computers (PC and Apple), tablets (iPads), monitors, printers, copiers, phones, fax machines and shredding bins and machines
Dedicated hotel video channels to play customized content in select guestrooms and convention areas
Audience response, attendee tracking and badge reading
Teleconferencing and videoconferencing
Digital signage and more
Guest Services:
The hotel offers an extensive array of guest services capable of fulfilling any of our of guest needs. These services include:
BAGS — Transportation Security Administration-approved remote skycap service allows guests to receive their airline boarding passes and check their luggage directly from the hotel
Universal Orlando Hotel Partner, where guests enjoy complimentary scheduled daily transportation from the hotel to and from Universal Orlando Resort™ exciting theme parks and to SeaWorld® Orlando and Aquatica®
December 2020 Update: Due to current safety protocols, shuttle service may not run between the hotel and theme parks. Please check with an agent at the guest services desk for today's schedule and availabilities.
Mears Transportation offers taxi and luxury vehicle service to/from Orlando International Airport at a fee
Full service on-site concierge desk
On-site RICOH Business Center
On-site ENCORE providing full-service audio-visual event technology
On-site SourceOne exhibition services
Self and valet parking (self-parking: $18.00, valet parking: $26.00 plus tax, subject to change)
Electric car charging station available
Complimentary valet parking for disabled guests
Car rental desk
Attraction ticket sales and scheduled transportation arrangements by reservation only
On-site babysitting service (reservations required)
Upscale guest laundry room, open 24 hours and valet services
Complimentary Wi-Fi in all guestrooms and public areas
For guests with disabilities, the hotel offers complimentary valet parking, ramps, elevators, automatic lobby doors, Braille signs on each floor and a zero entry pool. The hotel offers 75 ADA accessible guestrooms each with rails around the toilet and in the tub, some with roll in showers.
Dining & Entertainment:
A Land Remembered (AAA Four Diamond):
This classic steakhouse is named after the late Patrick Smith's renowned novel featuring memorable historical moments of Florida's history and rich landscapes. One of two of the hotel's fine dining options, the classic steakhouse features Harris Ranch Black Angus Five Diamond Prime Beef and Florida-themed specialties like Gator Creek Stew. A Land Remembered is open for dinner and offers a private dining room (up to 24 people) and relaxing lounge. Seating capacity: 110; outside seating available. Open nightly at 5:30 p.m. Evening resort attire. Reservations recommended. Clubhouse Grille, located inside A Land Remembered, is open daily for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Cala Bella (AAA Four Diamond):
This Italian bistro, which its name translates to "beautiful creek" is another of the hotel's fine-dining restaurants, serving dinner in open and private dining settings. In addition, a presentation-cooking bar is available where individuals can dine comfortably with the companionship of the hotel's creative chefs preparing their culinary delights. The soft music from the piano and savory scent of the Italian cuisine make it near impossible to walk by Cala Bella. Seating capacity: 150; private dining room seats 42. Open nightly at 5:30 pm. Reservations recommended.
Bella's Bar:
Located in the vestibule of the Italian bistro, this piano bar is the perfect location for a quiet relaxing or more intimate gathering or a pre-reception to an excellent Italian meal.
Café Osceola:
Café Osceola is beautifully appointed in Spanish revival colors of blue and gold. The floor-to-ceiling windows brings in the outside. The restaurant is open daily serving a beautiful buffet. Private dining for up to 24 available. Seating capacity: 412. Reservations optional.
Mi Casa Tequila Taqueria:
Our little casa con sabor Mexicano! Mi Casa Tequila Taqueria serves Mexican favorites including guacamole prepared tableside, a variety of premium tequilas and specialty margaritas. The El Jefe Margarita is sure to please! Seating capacity: 60. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Banrai Sushi:
Adjacent to the popular Headwaters Lounge, Banrai, meaning "many guests" offers guests a comfortable and convenient respite in which to enjoy a few rolls while sharing a cocktail with a friend, and a spectacular view of the hotel's pool deck. Banrai Sushi features signature rolls, such as the Shingle Creek and Rosen Rolls, as well as traditional sushi rolls, an assortment of sashimi and sake. Seating capacity: 30 including seating for six at the sushi bar. Open nightly at 5:00 p.m.
Tobias Burgers & Brews:
Named for Tobias MacIvey, the patriarch of the hearty Florida pioneering family in the novel A Land Remembered by the late Patrick D. Smith. Tobias Burgers & Brews is located in the heart of the hotel's dining and retail area, offering a convenient lunch, dinner and gathering spot for both meeting attendees and leisure guests. Tobias Burgers & Brews menu offers gourmet burgers, specialty flats, craft beers and hand-selected bourbons.
18 Monroe Street Market:
The 18 Monroe Street Market offers a variety of items from a quick snack to a quick-to-order meal. The 24-hour deli has dine in and take out options. Seating capacity: 28. Outdoor seating available.
Smoooth Java:
Located just off the lobby, Smoooth Java proudly serves Starbucks™ coffee, as well as an assortment of gourmet pastries, snacks, desserts, and healthy smoothies. Seating capacity: 48.
Headwaters Lounge:
The Headwaters Lounge lobby bar is centrally located and is a perfect meeting and networking place for everyone! Seating capacity: 247 not including bar.
Creek Ice Creamery:
Have a refreshing treat while enjoying the pool activities. With so many mouthwatering flavors to choose from, we're sure to have your favorite.
Cat-Tails Pool Bar & Grille:
Rosen Shingle Creek epitomizes the atmosphere of relaxation in every sense! Located adjacent to the pool areas, Cat-Tails Pool Bar & Grille brings the convenience of dining to you pool side or at its bar area, serving a range of beverages and a la carte food items at your fingertips.
Par-Take:
Par-Take offers golfers a variety of fare including sandwiches, muffins, beverages and snacks.
In-Room Dining
24 hours, full service.
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Delight your mind and eyes with this cute and cuddly 3 dimensional brainteaser! When you've pieced its interlocking plastic pieces together (be ready for a challenge), its colorful, sleek design with brighten any room. These precious kittys will make wonderful additions to any household.
This one was fairly easy to put together. I just had to be careful to not drop any pieces as they are clear and they tend to blend in with the carpet and that can make them a little difficult to see where they were dropped. Also... once the bigger cat was completed... it was time to put the ears on. I ended up gluing on the head piece and the ears because they kept coming off... they wouldn't stay on. So I guess that puzzle is never coming apart. The smaller kitten was easier though. I think between the two cats... the kitten was easiest to put together. When I first started this puzzle... it was a little difficult for me to figure out which pieces went to the smaller kitten. But I got the puzzle done and had fun doing it. I think you will too !!
My kids were blown away by these puzzles. Will definitely buy from this supplier again.


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New releases in the works
Yea, I know it's been a while, again, I've been working around the clock for the past weeks or months, again, so nothing new here. Unfortunately not working that much with music. However we have finished the recording of the drums for the upcoming releases and yes, releases in plural because there will most likely be two EP's and then the full length album, "The Awakening", this simply due to the fact that I have so much material I want to get out. Since it is now a fact, there will be three or four different drummers on the records, depending on which songs will finally make it.
I've also been having some health issues that has affected my singing the past couple of months. This have slowed things down a bit, but I believe that's all fixed now and am now continuing working on my vocals. I've also, again, physically moved my studio and the Saari Headquarters which has taken it's time but I'm now setled and ready to work with some music and dive into the huge to-be-recorded-bin and start hammering down some guitar tracks.
We've been rehearsing and doing some shows with the PM Saari Band and are very close to where we want the power-trio that is the live version of it all to be. It's a pretty hard task and hard work getting it all there, getting the right balance between the ingredients we want in there. Not only do we need to manage playing the pretty demanding material as a three-piece, but also playing it with the right feeling and attitude and with all the improvisation going on, which requires quite a bit, especially in the fast songs where there's really no time at all to think. So we really have to work up our chops and we're not ready to compromise on any part, Though it feels like it has taken a bit longer to get where we are today than was originally planned, that's the way life is for us right now and the main thing is that we're here now and that we're getting there.
Here's some video live takes from some of the past live shows, pretty unpolished and obviously with some tweaking left, but yeah, we're getting there:
And right for the holidays we also got some new killer items at the Saari Store for you at the official PM Saari merch store at Zazzle, so be sure to check it out:
Happy X-mas and merry new year to all of you! Have a great one.


How the Christmas tree came to Old Town Square... Amazing video you definitely must see!
This morning (at 02:55 am) the Christmas Tree for Prague came to Old Town Square. Decorating has already started and the Lighting up will begin on Saturday Dec 1st.


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SS19 GLOBAL
TRENDS
Even though the Western world- being Europe and America are about to enter the crippling formality of winter and South Africa is about to enter Summer, both hemispheres hosted a plethora of fashion shows that promoted the same set of trends, here are my 5 favourite.
Words By: Kiara Danielle Pather
This trend has been a staple in Couture and evening wear since Marie Antionette but the past fashion weeks have seen this trend come into full play in casual, evening and couture wear. Get ready to see an abundance of Ruffles in languid and smooth shapes and frills in childlike reminiscence. This trend goes in hand with lightweight and transparent textiles as well as extremely feminine silhouettes that use frills to either decorate a streamlined figure or create and exaggerate volume. Ruffles and frills can be added anywhere from the sleeves cascading down to the mid-calf.
The ruffle first became prominent in the early 1500's when German soldiers began slicing colourful patterns into their outer decorative layers on their outfits. It is said to have caught on as it mimicked the ragged look of returning from war, which was seen as honourable at the time. Soon the idea developed into a man-made ruff. It quickly became popular amongst the nobility of the time, most notably Queen Elizabeth I who was continually painted wearing oversized 'cartwheel ruffs'. As time developed the fashion turned towards a more natural form. However the ruffle was still very much in fashion but this time as a more subtle decoration on almost all edges of the garment. In the 1700's The French style icon, Marie Antoinette really took to the style and was consistently seen in it in public, private and paitings. From that point on the ruffle earned its place in fashion history (Livey, 2016).
The main elements of this trend are; Stripes, oversizing, block shaped blazers and doubled breasted closures. Double-breasted blazer closures were an omnipresentfeature during this season's Paris Fashion Week shows. Amongst a plethora of different textiles, the length of the blazer was either above the knee or just below the pelvis. For the hem lines that found themselves reaching for the knees, a sense of fluidity eased into the length of its tailoring. This is the biggest comeback of tailoring since power dressing in the 70's. This season's tailored trend seems to be creating its own sense of power dressing but with no reference to shoulder pads. While the aesthetic and silhouette of tailored wear is the close relative to menswear, this season's trend is about either oversized, textured/patterned or fluid silhouettes. Instead of enclosing or emulating the male understanding or tailored wear, the female suit complements the contemporary women and is defining a new female armour- one of feminine fluidity.
The first Tailored suit came to fruition in the 17thcentury. Until the beginning of the 1900's it was for the prime and exclusive use of men only. Women were continually subjected to the restrictive stain of the corset until the first wave of feminism. The politics of gender equality had a severe impact on women's wear and in order to liberate women's clothing- and the female body, female dress needed to adapt certain aspects of menswear that allowed for more physical movement. Tailoring slowly crept into women's wear but it crescendoed into the mainstream thanks to Coco Chanel's tweed suit, which in its own way, had contested the restrictive Romantic view of feminine fashion and the female figure (Coehen, 2016).
UTILITARIAN
This trend is based as equally on accessories as it is on structure and silhouette. Color is not as import a factor as layering is. The key to the layering is not in layering multiple garments on top of one another but instead adding utilitarian style pieces to simple silhouettes like jumpsuits, combat trousersand oversized anoraks that are structurally modern and cut from weighted natural fibres for strong shape definition. Deep-cut necklines and asymmetric designs bring a new sense of feminism to the classically masculine utilitarian aesthetic, moving the look in a contemporary direction through muted forest tones; army green, camo, beige, and dark denim.
Utilitarian wear stems from the practicality of military wear. Military gear and garments were first adopted into sportswear during the 70's by the teenagers of counter culture. It was their way of revolting against the war. Those who had returned from the war had begun wearing their military gear to protest and soon the army green military style jacket had become a staple amongst the youth of the counter culture. This continued much into the 90's. Designers then started producing entire collections that were inspired and clearly mimicked military wear. Designers of the time had no socially justified reason to be inspired by military wear but one speculation is that images from wartimes tend to be absorbed into fashion when the clothing no longer serves its original function (Patterson, 2015). From the 90's on Military patterns and the structure of basic silhouettes- like army pants, army jackets and jumpsuits, have been became a staple. Utilitarian wear is simply the luxury street wear take on military wear.
Milan, Paris, London and South African runways have by far strutted the most transparent models this past season. Milan and Paris gave us more sensual forms and aesthetics, feminine tones whilst London saw more edgier and athleisure looks and South Africa gave us transparent evening wear. The main element behind this trend is to "veil rather than reveal the figure". The trend is not about simply showing what isn't supposed to be seen but combining traditional forms and silhouettes with sheer fabrics. One can expect many jackets, blazers, formal pants, tracksuit pants and skirts in sheer materials with the intention to be worn in layers. This trend appeals to all aesthetics (minimalism, luxury street wear, evening wear, sportswear, feminine and androgynous styles…)
As menswear moves out of the rigid conformity that is 'pants and a T-shirt' we find that Sheer is going to be a trend for both men and women. This trend would appeal to the man and women who feel extremely confident in their bodies and are not fashion risk takers but are trend literate and up to date. It would appeal to those who might also be confident not be confident enough to simply reveal their figure and so they chose to reveal it through a sheer veil instead.
Sheer garments have been around since the begining of fashion history, going as far back as the ancient Greeks whose Ionic Chitons were made from wool or woven so fine it was almost transparent. Fast forward to the 19thcentury and for the first time using transparent materials, like tulle and sheer silk, it has become a trend on its own. It was used in the revival of ruffles as inspired (once again) by Queen Elizabeth I. The trend like many others were put on hold due to the wars but the 50's saw the revival of sheer textiles but this time to create full garments. Due to its lightweight chiffon, organza and tulle became favourites amongst evening wear designers. It wasn't until the 80's when pop stars like Madonna who were consistently spotted wearing mesh and sheer lace tops did the trend become commercial This took the trend out of lady like evening wear and launched in into ready to wear for mass markets (Gill, 2013).
Coehen, D. (2016). A Gendered History of the Tailored Suit. [online] The Cut. Available at: https://www.thecut.com/2016/08/sex-and-suits-anne-hollander-history-of-suits.html [Accessed 15 Oct. 2018].
Gill, S. (2013). History and Evolution Behind Sheer. [online] Fashion Diary: Sheer Bedroom Eyes
Spring 2013
By: Sarina Gill. Available at: http://sheerfashiondiary.weebly.com/history-and-evolution-behind-sheer.html [Accessed 15 Oct. 2018].
Livey, N. (2016). Charting the Unlikely History of Ruffles. [online] FASHION Magazine. Available at: https://fashionmagazine.com/fashion/history-of-ruffles/ [Accessed 15 Oct. 2018].
Maxwellscottbags.com. (2018). Women's Tailoring Trends | Paris Fashion week AW17. [online] Available at: https://www.maxwellscottbags.com/journal/womens-tailoring-trends-paris-fashion-week-aw17/ [Accessed 15 Oct. 2018].
Part, E. (2018). The Brief History of Floral Pattern. [online] Available at: https://www.fashionologiahistoriana.com/costume-history-legends-essays-in-english/the-brief-history-of-floral-pattern [Accessed 16 Oct. 2018].
Parute, E. (2018). The Brief History of Floral Pattern. [online] Available at: https://www.fashionologiahistoriana.com/costume-history-legends-essays-in-english/the-brief-history-of-floral-pattern [Accessed 16 Oct. 2018].
Patterson, T. (2015). How the Army Jacket Became a Staple of Civilian Garb. [online] Nytimes.com. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/08/magazine/how-the-army-jacket-became-a-staple-of-civilian-garb.html [Accessed 15 Oct. 2018].


text:
Baxter's 6th Dance Film Festival
Baryshnikov and New York City Ballet among line-up at Baxter's 6th Dance Film Festival
A feast of dance movies will take to the screen at the 6th Baxter Dance Film Festival, presented in association with Cinedans (NL), in the Golden Arrow Studio from 30 June to 2 July at 7.30pm nightly, plus a matinee at 2pm and an early showing at 5.30pm on Saturday, 2 July. The exciting line-up – with 10 films in single screenings – includes international legends like Mikhail Baryshnikov and New York City Ballet, as well as Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance winner Mamela Nyamza. Now in its sixth year, the festival started out as Cinedans until two years ago when it became the Baxter Dance Film Festival and when it ran concurrently with the Dance Festival."Based on feedback from choreographers, directors, dancers and teachers last year, we decided to separate the dance and film festivals, to give the studios, companies and the wider dance community the opportunity to attend without having to compromise their rehearsal schedules," explains Nicolette Moses, Baxter Associate Producer and Planning Manager, who has been running the festivals since their inception. She continues, "I am over the moon about our programme this year. When last did we see Baryshnikov or New York City Ballet on our screens? I hope that it will encourage film-lovers and makers and the public to come and see these films. There's only one screening of each of them." The exciting line-up kicks off with three films on Thursday, 30 June at 7.30pm, and starts with Ställe Place, a duet by world-famous Swedish choreographer Mats Ek, created for and featuring two virtuosos – Royal Court Dancer and Professor Ana Laguna and dance legend Mikhail Baryshnikov. Mats Ek is preoccupied with and fascinated by the movements of elderly dancers, and this film shows a touching and surprising meeting between a man and a woman in everyday life. Also showing on the Thursday night programme is Alarmel Valli's Padam Vazhi: The Path is Hidden, performed by Ranee Ramaswany in Bharatanatyam dance style. The piece is about an Untouchable man who strives to see Lord Shiva, but his status does not allow him into the Hindu temple, so he begs Shiva to move the huge stone Bull in front of the idol, so that he may get a glimpse of Him from the entrance. By shooting the dance from multiple viewpoints and using a triptych graphic design — the centre panel showing close-up, superimposed views, and the side panels showing a full body shot — this goal was elegantly achieved. The frame for the piece is a stylised temple arch, decorated with the words of the song. Point Taken is a cross-disciplinary dance film project with four eight-minute short films. Hyperscape is a martial arts dance film for trickers, breakers and free-runners with choreography by Marco Gerris. Memory Lane, choreographed by Joost Vrouenraets, is about a couple in the autumn of their lives as they flick through old photos and look back at their long and difficult history together. Diamond Dancers is about a large group of line dancers who go to Amsterdam to perform a flash mob (choreographed by Nicole Beutler) in front of the Royal Palace at Dam Square. Val, by choreographer Boukje Schweigman, looks at a man who falls from the sky onto a barren landscape. He discovers the change of seasons, the confrontation with the masses and the relationship between 'us' and 'the unknown'. For a fleeting moment, a breath of air is shared, but in the end the man is left in solitude. On Friday, 1 July, celebrated Flemish/Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's Sutra presents a unique, profoundly-imagined show inspired by the skill, strength and spirituality of Buddhist Shaolin monks. He collaborated closely with the artist Antony Gormley, who created a design using twenty-one wooden boxes which are repositioned to create a striking ever-changing environment. With live music for piano, percussion and strings by Szymon Brzoska, Sutra is a collective term for the sermons of Buddha and, in Sanskrit, the word also means string, thread, measure of straightness. The matinee on Saturday, 2 July at 2pm, is zero degrees, an acclaimed duet by Akram Khan and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui with eerie silicone body doubles by sculptor Antony Gormley, and striking live music by Nitin Sawhney. Entwined within the dance are three spoken episodes that tell the story of a train journey across the Indian/Bangladeshi border, beginning with the alarm generated by a potentially lost passport and culminating with the unnoticed death of a fellow passenger. The passport is a metaphor for existence, the loss of which provides the transitional point between being someone or no-one; and zero degrees is the unseen moment, the transitional point that separates life from death. The penultimate screening on Saturday, 2 July at 5pm is the local film Cape Town Soup, which consists of four portraits of Cape Town residents, featuring the works Hatched, choreographed by Mamela Nyamzama and Amkele Mandlas Nyamza, John Cartwright's On the street, and Hairdresser with choreography by Chumani Matitibala, Sinetemba Tati and Zen Mlumbi from the Volcano Art Project in Gugulethu. The film is a staged documentary, filled with Capetonian stories and dance, about a melting pot of cultures, race and habits, of poverty and wealth. How do people get along, 17 years after the abolition of apartheid? Can you break away from your own expectations? A film about the great personal challenges of life, but also about the smaller ones: which haircut suits me, and what do I wear? Personal stories are shown in an absurd and theatrical setting. Ending off the festival with a bang on Saturday, July 2 at 7.30pm, is an ensemble cast of New York City Ballet dancers in NY Export: Opus Jazz, Jerome Robbins' 1958 ballet in sneakers, re-imagined for a new generation in this feature-length scripted adaptation. Shot on location in New York City and photographed on 35 mm, the movie went on to win the Audience Award at the 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival, was broadcast nationally on PBS's Great Performances series and was nominated for the Rose D'Or Award. The Baxter Theatre Centre is also calling for entries for the annual Baxter Dance Festival, which will take place from 6 to 16 October, from dance studios, schools, companies, groups and independent dance-makers. This call includes proposals from choreographers (including a DVD of recent work) for a specially commissioned new 20-minute choreographic dance piece. Application forms are available from www.baxter.co.za <http://www.baxter.co.za/> , on www.facebook.com/BaxterTheatre or from the Baxter's reception in the main foyer. Forms may also be obtained from and should be sent to Nicolette Moses, Associate Producer and Planning Manager, on 021 680 3988, fax 021 650 5260 or email <>mailto:> . Alternatively it can be hand-delivered to the Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch, marked clearly for her attention. Entries to participate in this year's Dance Festival may be emailed, faxed or hand delivered with closing date for applications strictly by no later than 5pm Friday, 8 July, and no late entries will be considered. Tickets prices for the Baxter's Dance Film Festival are R30 and booking is through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket <http://www.computicket/> or at any Shoprite Checkers outlets countywide. For full details of the Festival offerings visit www.baxter.co.za <http://www.baxter.co.za/> .EndsFor further media enquiries, interview or pic requests contact Alethea Patterson-Cordiglia on tel 021 680 3963, email <>mailto:> , cell 072 014 2780 or Fahiem Stellenboom on 021 680 3971, cell 072 2656 023 or email .


McKeesport, Pa. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Women's Basketball Team (4-18, 4-10) finished the 2017/2018 season in style as they defeated Penn State Fayette (3-19, 2-12) 61-52 on Monday. It was the ladies third win in the last four games giving them momentum as they head towards the offseason.
PSUGA started off slow falling behind 6-2 in the first three and a half minutes of the game. However, the offense would come to life scoring 17 of 19 to jump out to a huge 19-9 lead. Jayla Ellis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills) led the offensive charge with eight points in the first quarter helping PSUGA to build the lead.
That big offensive outburst would prove to be a big factor in the game as PSU-Fayette would punch back in the second quarter putting up 13 points, but PSUGA would not let them creep any closer scoring 14 points of their own to head into halftime leading 33-22. PSUGA was looking to continue their winning trend when leading at halftime as they were 3-0 in that scenario entering play today. Even though Ellis was unable to get on the board in the second quarter she still led the team with eight first half points.
PSU-Fayette would see their biggest offensive surge of the night in the third quarter putting up 17 points headed by Taylor Harbaugh's 10-point effort. However, PSUGA continued their consistent offensive attack putting up 15 points, including six from Tina Clybourn (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brashear), to hold onto the lead 48-39. They would seal the deal in the final quarter of play putting up 13 points and allowing Fayette to score 13 points to secure the 61-52 victory.
Clybourn's eight second half points were enough to make her the team leader scoring 14 points on the night. She was followed by Lexus Santiago (Pittsburgh, Pa./Imani Christian Academy), 12 points, and Ellis, 10 points. Andrea Burroughs (New Rochelle, Ny./New Rochelle) continued her consistent rebounding collecting a team leading 12 boards.
The win moves PSUGA to 4-0 when leading at halftime and marks the third win in the last four games giving the ladies confidence heading into the offseason. With most of their young roster set to return one year older, the ladies look to keep maturing and make a run for the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs in the 2018/2019 season.
After starting the year on a program worst 14-game losing streak, the ladies fought back and had a nice ending to the 2017/2018 season. They will look to keep growing during the offseason and come back even stronger in the 2018/2019 season.


2014: Most victories ever recorded in a season for the St. Francis Women's Basketball Program.
2015: Northeast Conference Basketball Champions and participation in the NCAA National Championship Tournament.
2016: Number One Ranking in the entire Nation in Team GPA.
And if you add in four consecutive Northeast Conference Top Academic Team Awards, four consecutive Northeast Conference Sportsmanship Awards, and four consecutive years finishing among the top five teams in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Team GPA rankings, that's quite a record of athletic and academic success.
However, two questions loom large over the Terrier Program, going into the 2016-2017 season.
Number One: How do you continue to maintain that noteworthy level of accomplishment in the classroom without sacrificing or compromising comparable success on the basketball court — and vice-versa?
Number Two: How do you replace one of the best all-around talents to ever wear the Terrier Red and Blue — four-year starter and inspirational team leader Leah Fechko?
Head Coach John Thurston believes that it's always going to be tougher to retain that academic edge over the competition, rather than the athletic edge.
"I believe that the type of focused kids we currently have on the team will allow us to keep chasing that Number One Academic Ranking. I'm confident of that," Thurston happily noted.
Having lost Leah Fechko, a true leader to whom Thurston was able to turn last year, to graduation and a professional basketball career for the Killester Basketball Club in Ireland, does he feel as confident about the athletic side of that two-part equation?
Since that All-Northeast Conference First Teamer and Conference Defensive Player of the Year has finally moved on, who will fill that talent void?
"The year we went to the NCAAs, we had four established senior starters. This year, we could have different starting lineups or we may even 'platoon', running groups in and out of the lineup, rather than making individual substitutions. I've done that in the past in similar situations," he said.
Last year, Thurston estimated that the infusion of a very talented seven-person freshman class would push the Terriers into the NEC's upper tier by the second half of their sophomore year. However, a rash of injuries among some members of that heralded recruiting class may set that timetable back a bit. Guard Mia Ehling never played a minute all season. Point guard Etta Andersen only played the first nine games before injury bumped her to the sidelines. Forward Dana DiRenzo wound up missing practically the entire Conference portion of last year's schedule, while forward Lorraine Hickman joined her teammates on the sidelines for most of season.
This year, three promising newcomers join ten returning players for the Terriers. All three incoming freshmen arrive from abroad – two from Australia and one from our neighbors to the North, Ontario, Canada.
Although Thurston believes that the talent level throughout this year's roster appears to be pretty even, he emphasized that the talent level was high – and would make for some very intense practice sessions. "It's unusual that I can't tell you who will play the majority of the minutes," he said.
Assessing the point guard position, he believes that sophomore Etta Andersen, from Copenhagen, Denmark, will continue the steady development that was interrupted by injury last year. "Etta is a very strong player, has nice size for a point guard at 5-8, and is a real good athlete," Thurston said. "She's very aggressive and is a high energy player. She's very offensive-minded. She makes things happen and will only get better with experience." Andersen, who played for Denmark's Under-18 National Team, saw action in only 9 games, averaging 2.6 points in her injury-shortened first year as a Terrier.
Meg Crupi, one of the two Australian freshmen, has been described by Thurston as a "true pass-first point guard who handles the ball extremely well" and who has a reputation for avoiding turnovers. The 5-8 newcomer from Melbourne can hit the three-point shot, but, as a first year Terrier, will concentrate primarily on play-making and distributing the ball to her teammates. "Meg's high-level experience playing in Australia with the Victoria State team and her Diamond Valley club team should help accelerate her development as a freshman," Thurston remarked.
Sophomore Mia Ehling sat injured on the sidelines last year and never saw a minute of court time. As a result, she really is a first year collegian in terms of experience. At 5-8, the Holmdel, New Jersey native is capable of playing either the point or the off-guard position, and she has shown that she's a natural scorer and a very talented offensive player. "Because of her scoring ability and versatility, we will find a way to get her on the court," he said.
The shooting guard role appears to be 5-6 Sophomore Kat Phipps' best natural position as a collegian. Kat arrived at St. Francis from Spring Lake, New Jersey as a highly-touted long shooter who set the Garden State's high school record for most career three-pointers. In fact, Thurston believes that it will be a long time before her incredible total of 237 treys is ever broken. Although she had a somewhat inconsistent first season on Remsen Street, averaging 4.1 points and 1.4 assists per game, Thurston noted that "Kat has a great work ethic and worked extremely hard this entire summer improving her all around offensive game." Thurston is, however, counting heavily on her to replace some of that timely long-range scoring that Leah Fechko took with her to Dublin this summer.
Jade Johnson is the second of the two Australian newcomers to join the Terrier roster this year. "Jade's a very good player whom we believe can handle either the off-guard or the small forward position for us," noted Thurston. He describes the 5-10 freshman from Adelaide as "a legitimate everyday player who's an outstanding shooter with great range on her shot." Thurston believes that Johnson will be able to adapt quickly to the physical play of the Division I opponents and flourish because of her experience in the women's leagues in Australia. Johnson was the leading scorer for both the U23 and senior women's teams while playing for the Sturt Sabres in the Premier League.
Thurston was extremely pleased to see the emergence last year of Maria Palarino, a sophomore out of Irwin, Pennsylvania, as a solid, all-around small forward. Palarino started 24 games out of the 29 games, shooting over 50% from the floor. He noted that, "Her versatility allows her to do a bit of everything for us." He believes that the Pittsburgh area native, who's the highest returning scorer for the Terriers with 8.6 points per game, should be able to post double-figure games consistently because of her stamina, strength and focus. Palarino averaged 30 minutes per game last season, while registering 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists in her freshman year. For her efforts, she was named to the Northeast Conference's 2015-16 All-Rookie Team.


Even more frustrating to me is how our government can go deeper and deeper into debt without any sign that they intend to ever pay it off. If I tried to run my personal finances like they run theirs, I would be hounded by debt-collectors and eventually be thrown in jail!
It's a very complex issue, but I believe the people that produced this video have really hit the nail on the head.
We are enslaving our kids, just so we can live high on the hog.


text:
Grappler Sound is a sound on the Coast of British Columbia, Canada.  It is in the area of the Broughton Archipelago and located on the west side of Watson Island, which is in the entrance to Mackenzie Sound.  It was named for HMS Grappler.

References

Central Coast of British Columbia
Sounds of British Columbia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Kocelovice (Duits: Kostelowitz) is een Tsjechische gemeente in de regio Zuid-Bohemen, en maakt deel uit van het district Strakonice.
Kocelovice telt 177 inwoners.

Gemeente in Strakonice


text:
Feb. 26, 2019 —Raghav Malik '13 has spent a lifetime traveling the world. A native of India, he moved with his parents from Delhi to Bangkok to Miami and back to India, all before attending Grinnell College.
Today his home base is London, where he's a product owner (also known as a technical product manager) for Mastercard. He visits with Grinnell friends in London and attends College events in the city, which is quickly growing into an active alumni hub. He's met with Grinnell-in-London students, and was a class fund director from 2015-18.
Malik originally heard about Grinnell from graduates of his small, international boarding school and applied.
"I wanted that community feeling where you feel like you mattered, rather than being lost amongst a sea of faces," he says. "And people who knew me thought it would be a good fit." With financial aid that made Grinnell possible, the choice was clear, "and I ended up having a lot of good times in the cold and snow."
As a math and physics major Malik excelled, earning a United World College Scholarship. But his sole focus wasn't science.
"My brain wants diversity and variety," says Malik, who was also close to having enough credits for a theatre major and a few courses short of a religious studies major. "I always felt I could have spent another couple of years at Grinnell doing three or four other majors."
He joined Mastercard in New York City immediately after graduation, and spent two years training and networking in different parts of the company, from strategy to product development to marketing and communications. Though he loved New York City, Malik jumped at the chance to move to London, an assignment that was supposed to last six months but has since lasted three-and-a-half years.
As product owner focusing on digital payments, he's like a CEO. He's at the center of all the spokes that make online payments with a card work, from technical designers, user research, and finance to marketing and sales.
"My job is to understand what people want and why they want it, and build software that delivers," he says. "I have a team that writes code so I'm expected to understand technology, but I also speak to our customers and understand business strategy and where we're headed."
Malik also is pursuing a master's degree in software engineering at Oxford, spending a week at the university every three to four months. With his busy work travel schedule and traveling for pleasure, it adds up to 116 days spent away from London this past year.
"I've gotten to see so much more of the world now that I'm near continental Europe," he says. "I'm closer to home and have been able to take several trips to beautiful and historic places that I had never previously visited. In fact, I just got back from a four-day ski-weekend in France."
Since graduation Malik has also made ongoing gifts in support of Grinnell financial aid, the Pioneer Fund, the Innovation Fund, and the Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS).
"I feel like I owe Grinnell," he says. "The value of my education is a lot more than what I paid for it." And unlike a lot of his peers, says Malik, who served as SGA treasurer, "I got a chance to look under the covers and into the books. I sat in on Board of Trustees meetings so I had an inside view to see what it takes to fund the entire enterprise that's Grinnell."
Malik also appreciates the fact that people before him gave, allowing him to attend the College.
"Grinnell is a good part of why I'm here today," he says. "Whether it's $5 a month or $50,000 a year, somewhere on the spectrum is an amount of money you are happy to give back to a cause that is valuable."
—by Anne Stein '84
International travel and experiences have helped played a role in the careers of many Grinnell students. The Institute of Global Engagement is one of many areas of support donors can direct gifts toward.


text:
Q: How to change CakePHP validation error message I have read the CakePHP documentation about validation rules, but I'm still stuck with changing the error message on an email field.
I currently have this Validation rule in my model:
public $validate = array(
    'emailadres' => array(
        'rule'       => 'email',
        'required'   => true,
        'allowEmpty' => false,
        'message'    => 'My custom error message'
    )
);

The field shows up as being mandatory, but a standard error message appears instead of my custom message.
Does anybody see what I'm doing wrong?
My CakePHP version is 2.3.7

A: You might want to double check the documentation: http://book.cakephp.org/2.0/en/models/data-validation.html#one-rule-per-field
Its not 'ruleName'   => 'email',, but 'rule'   => 'email',.
You can also try the verbose representation:
public $validate = array(
    'emailadres' => array(
        'email' => array(
            'rule'       => 'email',
            'required'   => true,
            'allowEmpty' => false,
            'message'    => 'My custom error message'
        )
    )
);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This is a simple, dependable rig with a surprising kick that will leave you glassy-eyed and smiling. That hammerhead percolator sends stacks of bubbles right to the top of the tall chamber, achieving a level of diffusion some rigs can only dream of. Even with all that power, you never have to worry about splash. The sidecar mouthpiece keeps you completely dry and gives you a comfortable smoking angle.
You'll love how easy this rig is to clean. Slits in the perc are large enough not to get clogged and to easily become clean with a good shaking. The entire piece is made from strong 5mm borosilicate glass, including the ultra-wide stem and mouthpiece. It also sits on a thick, sturdy base that anchors it safely to the table. Everything about this piece is designed with your convenience in mind, and it's built to last for years of healthy, happy toking.
At this price, the Hammerhead Sidecar Oil Rig sells itself. If you're looking for a new daily driver or for a dependable first rig, this is the piece for you! Invest in the best with this reliable rig. We'll send your whole order out with FREE, discreet shipping that respects your privacy.


When a business is damaged due to flooding or a fire, the cost of buying new equipment and interruption of operations can be extremely high.
This does not have to be the case, however. The cost of restoration ranges from 5 to 30 percent of the cost of replacement. This significant benefit is even greater when considering the administrative burden of sourcing replacement equipment and the business interruption costs during an extended period of downtime.
Typical areas for technical reconditioning include power electronics, computers and office machines, medical equipment, telecommunication devices and electric panels.
Levels of cleanliness comply with industry standards and the timescale for restoration is often much shorter than the replacement time.
Make sure you are sufficiently insured.
Check experience and reputation before contracting a restoration company.
Objects with a personal or sentimental value that are moderately damaged by fire, such as antiques, art, photographs, etc. can often be restored.


There large proportion of individuals who are dwelling in rented condominiums and apartments. Most of those rentals will not be short and majority of them final for at the very least 6 to 12 months. All tenants has to put great amount if their cash or savings earlier than they move in. The tenant should be certain ton return the property to the landowner the same situation as the start of the tenancy. This is for them to make sure the return of their deposit on the end of the tenancy period. Virtually all tenancy agreements nowadays have particular clauses. Normally it requires the tenant to have the whole property professionally cleaned by a cleaning company.
Finish of tenancy cleaning can be sure that the property is properly cleaned proper before the tenant move away. This is to protect the rights of the proprietor over their very own property. best end of tenancy cleaning of tenancy requires skilled cleaning because it doesn't depart any mark of grime or muddle inside the house. It's important for the subsequent tenant to have the house free from all types of dirt. Landowners don't want low-cost cleaning services for their property because most of those low-cost cleaning providers leaves dust and solely clear this places that may be seen. There are places inside the house which can be very hard to scrub most especially within the kitchen and toilet area. The property won't be engaging to the subsequent tenant if it has mark of dust and other stains. Move in cleaning is required by all most all landlord just be fire the tenant move in to the property. This sort of agreement is clearly mentioned to avoid future problem.
United States and UK are very completely different in this case, because within the US the new tenant is the one liable for all the cleaning and clearing up of all the place. The old tenant will just packed their things and leave the property. Even it isn't written within the contract that you need to clear the house before you leave, it is at all times good to hire knowledgeable move out cleaning firm to take excellent care of the house and seize your deposit returned right after. Your entire processes are less troublesome both for the tenant and the landlord. Nobody desires to depart in a house that is stuffed with muddle and stained furniture and appliances. It is not going to appeal to new tenants particularly if there are other properties which can be well cleaned.
Professional house cleaners can relaxation assure that everything is well cleaned. They'll clean everything that has to be cleaned including fridge, oven, filter system and cooker hoods, shelving tops, cabinets, microwave and toasters. Everything inside the house will likely be totally cleaned without any hint of dirt. Kitchen is probably the most hard to wash places inside the house because it has oil stain and different stain brought about by everyday cooking. One other a part of the house that could be very daunting to clean is the bathroom area. You can rest guarantee that the lavatory space is titular descaled from flooring as much as the ceiling. The service may also embody fixtures and fittings. The tiles are polished to maintain the value of the property. All the remainder elements of the house are cleaned equivalent to windows, light fittings, switches, frames and skirting boards. Nothing shall be disregarded if you'll enable skilled house cleaning to do the job for you.


text:
TORONTO and CALGARY, AB – Canada's Music Incubator (CMI) and the National Music Centre (NMC) are launching AE West this fall and have announced a national call for submissions.
AE West, which stands for Artist Entrepreneur West, is a five-week creative entrepreneurship program to help emerging professional artists, of all musical genres, develop sustainable businesses and careers via hands-on mentoring, networking, and collaboration. It will take place at Studio Bell (850 4 Street SE, Calgary, AB) from November 7–December 8, 2017.
AE West is an extension of CMI's highly-regarded Toronto-based Artist Entrepreneur program and represents a partnership between CMI, NMC and Alberta Music. Artists will only have to pay a $1,600 fee. The program itself is valued at $7,500, with the majority of costs being offset thanks to the generous support of TD Bank and the Viewpoint Foundation.
"Over the past three years our outreach programs have regularly visited Alberta and Western Canada. The result has been many artists deciding to travel to Toronto to work with us more extensively. By establishing a presence in Calgary, we will be more easily accessible." says Vel Omazic, Executive Director, CMI. "We intend to complement the work being done by our partners at the National Music Centre, Alberta Music and the Western Canadian music industry by contributing high-level expertise, access to ongoing mentorship and connectivity to the music industry in Toronto."
Approximately a dozen artists will have the opportunity to take part in this pilot program. Selected artists and bands will have the chance to use and explore the new artist facilities at Studio Bell.
"This is another example of National Music Centre investing in our regional music industry, by bringing this level of expertise and support closer to home for western-Canadian artists," said Adam Fox, Director of Programs, National Music Centre. "Participants will also have access to our incredible artist facilities, including three recording studios, live rooms, classrooms, and our collections."
"AE West represents a great opportunity for artists living and working in Alberta," said Carly Klassen, Executive Director of Alberta Music. "Alberta Music is proud to partner on this pilot program and is excited for the creative support, business development, and networking that artists from Alberta and beyond will have access to."
Eligible artists must be 18-years-old or over and actively writing, recording, releasing (or about to release) music and performing live. Interviews will be conducted with appropriate candidates prior to program admission. Interested eligible artists can apply now at: canadasmusicincubator.com/aewest
About AE West
Based on Canada's Music Incubator's long-running Artist Entrepreneur program, AE West is designed to help emerging artists and bands from all genres build their businesses and careers. Artists will work closely with Canada's Music Incubator and the National Music Centre team of social media, marketing, management, promotion, publicity, funding, touring, songwriting and live performance experts. They will also be introduced to a wide range of active music industry professionals. Artists will also have ongoing access to mentors and resources post-program.
About Canada's Music Incubator
Canada's Music Incubator (CMI) is a national not-for-profit organization providing customized and ongoing mentorship to professional artists and managers. Using the pillars of mentoring, collaboration and industry connectivity, our mission is to empower these creative entrepreneurs in the development of sustainable careers and businesses which meet their definitions of success. Since 2012, CMI has provided over 5,000 hours of professional development and mentored over 500 artists and managers spanning all genres of music across Canada. CMI was founded by Coalition Music and is based at their Toronto facility. canadasmusicincubator.com
About the National Music Centre
The National Music Centre (NMC) is a national catalyst for discovery, innovation and renewal through music. NMC will preserve and celebrate Canada's music story and inspire a new generation of music lovers through programming that includes on-site and outreach education programs, performances, artist incubation, and exhibitions. For more information, please visit nmc.ca.
About Studio Bell
Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, is a new state-of-the art facility designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture (Portland/New York). An international hub for music and technology, Studio Bell is the first national cultural institution of its kind dedicated to celebrating music in Canada in all of its forms. More than a museum, Studio Bell rises in nine interlocking towers, clad in glazed terra cotta in the heart of Calgary's East Village. The 160,000 square-foot building includes five floors of exhibition space, a 2000+ piece collection of artifacts, instruments and music technology, and other features including recording facilities, workshops, classrooms, an event space, and a 300-seat performance hall. For more information, please visit studiobell.ca.
Mary Kapusta
Directrice du marketing et communications
C 403-815-6350
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With our profound vision to serve our client base we, K-pack Systems Private Limited, were founded in the year 1991 as a leading manufacturer, supplier and service provider of a quality approved collection of Pollution Control Equipment. Demanded highly for various applications, this Pollution Control Equipment have been manufactured with utmost precision and accuracy and are available under the broad assortment of Wastewater Treatment Plant Equipment, Dissolved Air Flotation Units and Oil Skimmers. These products are highly demanded by the clients for their accurate performance, longer service life and hassle free function. To meet the varied need and demands of our client base, we are offering these products in wide array of technical specification. Apart from this, we are providing Turnkey Project Solutions at leading market price.
Backed by our well-equipped infrastructure facility and team of talented professionals, we have been able to bring forth products that give best performance and assured durability at client end. At our infrastructure unit, we have assorted all the upgraded machines and tools for execute the manufacturing process with ease and convenience in full accordance the international standards. Working with our client and quality-focused approach, we have carved a wide client base across the market. To satisfy our patron base in best possible way, we are offering them equipment as their precise demands and within the committed frame of time.
Mr. Suresh A B, our mentor, has led us to become a prominent name in the specified business in short span of time. Owing credit to his vast industry experience, we have gained immense appreciation from our valuable customers. Regulating the entire manufacturing procedure with innovative thoughts and ideas, he has enabled our organization to become the preferred among our prestigious customers.
Manufacturing, Services and Trading of Pollution Control Equipment.
Since our incorporation, we are backed by our ultra-modern infrastructure facility. Our facility is equipped with all the progressive tools and equipments desired for the manufacturing of the offered range. We have divided our facility into various functional departments so that a hassle free and productive working environment can be developed at our premise. To make our developments as per the modern trends, we regularly upgrade our infrastructure facility.
We have appointed a team of deft professionals, which compile our business operation as per the ongoing market trends and developments. These professionals hold in-depth knowledge in this domain and vast industry experience and utilize the same during manufacturing offered range. Our team-members work in synchronization with each other as well as with our customers to suit the well set organizational targets. Moreover, we arrange training sessions, workshops and seminars on short intervals to keep our team members updated with the modern market advancements and trends in the field of technology. We have been able to cater bulk demands of our offering in timely manner because of our highly efficient workforce.
We have achieved a place of repute in this industry is owing to our excellence in serving our customers a best quality collection of Pollution Control Equipment. Our transparency in our dealings and ethical business practices has enabled us to consolidate our position in this domain. Apart from this, we are offering all our products in a large collection of technical specifications to choose from.
We are a quality focused organization of this domain, actively engrossed in manufacturing and supplying a quality assured assortment of Pollution Control Equipment. We ensure to our valued clients that, all our offered products are quality approved against the diverse quality parameters under the assistance of quality experts as per the globally accepted quality norms. For this purpose, we have established a quality control unit at our facility. Moreover, we consider only optimum quality components during the manufacturing of the offered range. We procured these components and allied material from the trustworthy and certified vendors of the industry.


Alta Vista provides construction management and materials inspection that support the Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD) in developing and constructing federal transportation facilities throughout the 14 states comprising the Central Federal Lands region. Our team provides field inspection, construction surveying, claim support, laboratory management, and materials sampling and testing for projects in the region.
We supply technical advisors, construction inspectors, and professional engineers who are skilled in transportation systems and materials testing practices. Our staff's activities include inspecting grading, roadway material, bridge construction, drainage systems and material sampling and testing verification.
Some of the projects for which Alta Vista has provided construction management and inspection include the Grand Canyon National Park, Badlands National Park, Zion National Park and Plumas National Forest.


It incorporates a number of advanced features: batch function, command line support, built-in viewer, etc.
This is not a complete list of benefits. Many users say they have never come across such a versatile and powerful image conversion utility before.
Check/uncheck the files using 'Check All' button (all the files will be ticked automatically).
Crop/resize/rotate your image according to your preferences.
This converter features a few more options, which make it very convenient. Use the built-in image viewer to preview your images and estimate output quality before converting your BMP files. Add date, time, comments, etc., to your images using the advanced watermark option. You can convert your images from the desktop. Total Image Converter integrates into Windows seamlessly, so you can right-click on a BMP file and select Convert to in the standard right-button menu. This program features command line option, which allows you to convert images from within any other program.
This converter is one of the best shareware converters the software industry has ever offered. Considering its high performance level, it is not expensive at all. You can purchase it online right now or try the 30-day demo version, which is available for free. If you obtain the registered version, you will be receiving updates and support on a regular basis.


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Flying Cars – More Than Just a Meme!
2020, the year every millennial in Malaysia has been waiting for. Why? Because we thought that this year would be the year that total modernization takes place, where the whole world becomes futuristic with robots, flying cars and advanced floating cities.
But what we got in 2020 is nothing close. Rather, we got forest fires, a pandemic, ongoing wars, and the biggest economic crisis ever! But fret not, because behind every dark cloud is a silver lining, or a flying car, you never know.
Though we may not be filling our skies with flying vehicles in the near future, Japan has actually made the dream of driving a flying car possible with the introduction of SD-03, an electrical vertical takeoff and landing vehicle.
Japan Makes the Flying Car Dream Come True
The only way we would ever be able to fly on our own (especially now with Covid-19 and social distancing) without Tinkerbell's magic flying dust is with a flying car and thanks to Japan's modern technology, we MIGHT not need airplanes any longer. SkyDrive is one of the many companies in Japan that are trying their best to roll out the very first flying car into the world's automobile market. Their success prototype SD-03 made headlines when it flew off the ground and stayed up in the air for 4 minutes straight.
The vehicle has one seat and operates with eight motors and two propellers on each corner. It lifted about 3 meters (about 10 feet) into the air and was operated by a pilot, as mentioned by the company. There were various prototypes designed 5 years ago with fixed wings but the SD-03 is one of the most compact in size and lighter in weight compared to the others. It uses eVTOL which is a method of taking off and landing vertically from destination A to destination B. The usage of a flying car is also said to decrease the congestion rate in airports and highways in the future.
Tomohiro Fukuzawa, the CEO of SkyDrive, hopes that the success of the flying car would convince the general public that this can be made into a mode of transportation in the future that is both secured and safe at the same time. He also hopes that the car might be fully operational for the automobile market in 2023.
Malaysia, Wawasan 2020, and Flying Cars
Now, going back to Malaysia and the year 2020 being all futuristic. If you don't know why there were lots of memes floating around social media about flying cars on the first day of 2020, it all started back in 1991 when Malaysian Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad unveiled Vision 2020 (or better known as Wawasan 2020) which outlined several policies that looked to enhance the economic, social well-being, education, political stability and psychological balance of Malaysians.
image source: Mashable SE Asia
But why floating cars you might ask? Back in the 90s when the 'Wawasan 2020' was announced, it also made its way to the schooling system and students were asked to describe their take on this. Majority would describe it mainly with flying cars, robots, and futuristic cities (one that would look similar to Wakanda). Hence the meme.
Tengok member aku, dia da ada kereta terbang 🤘 pic.twitter.com/l0Y9MMWeJY
— zakwan (@benzaynudeen) December 31, 2019
Malaysia to Introduce its own Flying Car
Malaysia also flew on the flying car bandwagon with their first flying car prototype – Super Drone. This prototype was developed by a company called EastCap Bhd in a strategic collaboration with EHang Intelligent Equipment (Guangzhou) and Strong Rich Holdings Limited. This collaboration aims to market, conduct operations, and maintain Super Drones in the country in the long run. The Super Drone uses a 16-blade fan configuration to provide the ability to fly and land vertically. This model can carry two passengers at a time.
Malaysia's first flying car prototype will be driven by local technology. It is built by a Japanese-based Malaysian company that specializes in aerospace, drones, UAVs, and national cars. The project, which is expected to cost around one million ringgit, was developed for the transport agriculture, medical and security sectors. The UAS EHang 216 Super Drone (EH216) is expected to make its first flight to the Maldives following a failure to obtain flight test approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
So, what do you think? Do you think you would be able to drive or ride a flying car in the future? Before that, you would need to sell off your current car to make space for that, and the best place to sell it off is to Carsome. Carsome is the one stop center that buys and sells quality cars without much hassle. With 175 inspection points, you can get your car sold in an hour. Do check out the website to know more.
Written by Grace Jothi


This last semester we set out for Nashville, Tennessee where we stayed for 3 days and 2 nights. The previous formals included trips to New Orleans, Key West, Savannah and Daytona Beach.
Every fall we take our annual brotherhood trip up to Ginnie Springs. Throughout the year we do everything from going to the Solar Bear games to Paint-balling. Other trips have been a spring break cruise and many more.
Every Spring we put on the famous "Sigma Nu Undie Classic" benefiting Goodwill. We had our second annual "Sigma Nu PumpkΣN Bash" benefiting St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
We go on several socials with sororities every semester to various bars downtown. We also have events at our house, as well as grab-a-dates throughout the semester.


A key suspect in the Paris and Brussels Islamist attacks has claimed he backed out at the last minute from detonating a suicide vest at a Belgian airport because he "wouldn't hurt a fly", according to security sources. Mohamed Abrini, the so called "Man in the Hat" seen at the Zaventem airport bombing, is considered by authorities all over Europe as a very dangerous Islamic State (Isis/Daesh) militant involved in the killing of more than 150 people in France and Belgium.
During questioning, however, the 31-year-old claimed to be a kind man and maintained he played only a marginal role in the attacks. The Belgian-Moroccan national told investigators he was forced to follow IS members Ibrahim el-Bakraoui and Najim Laachraoui to the Brussels airport wearing an explosive device on 22 March, security sources told Sudpresse.
He claimed el-Bakraoui, 29, decided the trio should target check-in desks for flights headed to the US, Russia and Israel. But after his two accomplices set off their devices he couldn't bring himself to do the same. He dumped his suicide vest and fled towards central Brussels.
According to the source, Abrini put his change of mind down to the lack of previous combat experience. "I've never been in Syria, I wouldn't hurt a fly", he told police, according to Sudpresse.
Authorities were said to be treating the claim with scepticism. Abrini is one of the few surviving members of the jihadi network behind the massacres in the French and Belgian capitals and has a clear interest in playing down his role in the attacks.
He was captured in Anderlecht on 8 April after almost five months at large. Detectives are reportedly convinced that Abrini held a senior position within the cell and see him as an even more dangerous individual than his fugitive companion, Salah Abdeslam. "We have long thought he was pulling the strings. He was more the type to act in the shadows," another source close to the investigation told Le Soir newspaper.
The pair went on the run shortly after the 13 November bombings and shootings in Paris. Two days earlier they had been seen together at a petrol station in a car that was later used in the attacks. Since he was arrested on 18 March, Abdeslam is also understood to have maintained he developed cold feet in November, dumping his suicide vest and fleeing.
Abrini's claim was reported a day after IS identified el-Bakraoui's brother Khalid as the ringleader of the Brussels bombings. The jihadi group's propaganda magazine Dabiq said Khalid, 27, was a key figure in the plotting and execution of both the November and March attacks, as, with his brother, he set up safe houses and gathered explosives and weapons. He blew himself up at the Maelbeek metro station in central Brussels killing 16 people.


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fullerton Terrorist And Bomb Threats Defense Attorney Fighting For Your Freedom
California Marijuana Dispensary Laws
Drug Cultivation
Drug Sales
Probation Violation Penalties
Statutory Rape
The Criminal Process In California
Three Strikes Law
What is Involved in a Terrorist Threat?
The State of California takes terrorist and bomb threats very seriously. Generally speaking, terrorist threats occur when an individual threatens to kill or hurt persons with the intention of intimidating others. For instance, threatening to set off a bomb at a local school is an example of a terrorist threat. Threatening emails sent to an abortion clinic or religious establishment could be interpreted as terrorist threats as well.
Sometimes, terrorist threats involve individual threats made against local families for their religious, political, or ethnic association. Terrorist threats are made over the phone, in writing, by email, or through any other electronic means. Any action or message that is used to instill fear in a person or group of people can be viewed as a terrorist threat. CA Code § 422 and CA Code § 148.1 address terrorist and bomb threats.
Understanding California Penal Code § 422
CA Penal Code § 422 addresses terrorist threats in the State of California. To convict an individual, prosecutors must be able to demonstrate that you threatened to kill or cause significant bodily injury. The threat must be made against another person or persons and is only considered a terrorist threat if the act is intentional and deliberate. In other words, the action is not a threat unless it was intended to be hostile.
If the action or message is misconstrued or misinterpreted, the defendant did not actually commit an offense under CA Penal Code § 422. Finally, prosecution must demonstrate that the message actually caused a significant amount of reasonable fear. If the fear was unfounded or irrational, the defendant did not actually threaten an act of terrorism.
Bomb Threats in California
According to CA Penal Code § 148.1, any person who falsely reports that a bomb was placed or will be placed in private or public place may be accused of making a bomb threat. This is a criminal offense, punishable by one year in jail. False bomb threats can be reported to television stations, radio stations, airport employees, Department of Justice employees, building occupants, bus employees, railroad employees, news reporters, and other individuals.
According to CA Penal Code § 148.1(c), any person who maliciously gives information about a bomb threat to someone else is guilty of an offense punishable by one year in a state prison or county jail. CA Penal Code § 148.1(d) states that, in order to be convicted of making a bomb threat, the defendant must intend to scare others or threaten the safety of others.
Penalties for Terrorist & Bomb Threats
In the California, terrorist threats can be charged as misdemeanor or felony offenses. The severity of the accusation is typically related to the severity of the threat. Prosecutors may accuse the defendant of a felony offense if the alleged act led to serious consequences. If the threat was relatively insignificant, the defendant may only face a misdemeanor charge. Common penalties include incarceration (in a county jail or federal prison), parole, fines, probation, and loss of rights. For instance, a felony terrorist threat conviction could result in the loss of your right to possess, own, or use a firearm.
Defending from a Terrorist Threat Accusations
Facing a bomb threat or terrorist threat accusation may be one of the toughest challenges you ever face. You might feel hopeless and overwhelmed after an arrest, but a skilled terrorist threat attorney can help you avoid an unnecessary conviction. After a terrorist threat, overzealous law enforcement officers can easily arrest or investigate the wrong person. Similarly, harmless remarks, emails, or messages could be misunderstood as a threat.
Common defense strategies include:
Lack of evidence
If you or a loved one was arrested for making a terrorist threat or bomb threat in the Orange County area, the Law Offices of Jacqueline Goodman can help you avoid the heavy penalties associated with a terrorist threat conviction. At the firm, Attorney Goodman is wholly committed to providing the best criminal defense representation in Orange County that she can offer. Attorney Goodman has protected the rights of the accused in Orange County for 20 years. With nearly two decades of experience behind her, Jacqueline Goodman is ready to fight for your rights in court.
Call us at (714) 733-1737or fill out a free case evaluation form to see what the Law Offices of Jacqueline Goodman can do for you.
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Which Index of African Governance? More on the Break Between Ibrahim and Rotberg
Following up on our post yesterday concerning the split between Harvard and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation over the Index of African Governance, we've discovered more on the causes for the partnership's dissolve.
The New York Times' Celia Dugger writes a story today revealing a few new tidbits, among them that Dani Kaufman, co-creator of the World Bank Institute's controversial Worldwide Governance Indicators and now at the Brookings Institute, has been brought on to advise the Ibrahim Foundation on the construction of their rival index. Small world indeed.
The story also confirmed the main reason for the split: an argument over whether and how to "Africanize" the index. (Also see this AllAfrica.com piece for quotes from the rival sides.) The previous indices in 2008 and 2007 were mashups of pre-existing international data sets, with little to no original data. Although an attempt was made in 2009 to utilize more local expertise in gathering some original data, the 2009 Index of African Governance (the Harvard version) employed less than one researcher per nation, raising a valid question as to how "local" a Mauritanian researcher is to Morocco, for example. The rival Ibrahim Index of 2009 (Mo Ibrahim's mashup) touts its reliance on African researchers in its methodology; however, it too relies heavily upon Western datasets for most of the source data.
The "authenticity" question…
The question is: is it more "authentic" or "African" to mash-up squishy source data in Boston or in Accra? This is where the "Africanization" argument starts to look like a bit of a red herring to us.
The reality is that if either of these indices is to be made more "African," the indicators must draw on much more original data gathered by Africans, not international perceptions surveys. If your response to that is, "Hey, I thought that's what the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process was supposed to do!" then you're asking the right question. Despite the APRM's overly-bureaucratic process and long time lines for publishing an assessment, it's indeed the closest and best thing going when it comes to Africans assessing African governance. Whether either of the rival Ibrahim/Harvard indices would add greater value than an APRM assessment, we're not sure.
Does either approach create change?
Arguably the more important question that is still not being asked is whether this dispute matters to anyone except the index creators themselves. Even if you think one or the other index has the more perfect methodology and impeccable results (certainly we don't, but we'll set that aside for now), what exactly is anyone going to do with the insight that the Seychelles is better governed than Somalia? Your jaw isn't gaping open with shock?
This overly simplistic example gets to the heart of why the era of single number, name-and-shame indices should be coming to a close, and the sooner the better. Even if you believe the results of these indices are flawless and completely accurate, they offer little to no real-life, day-to-day insights into how to prioritize and sequence possible governance reform efforts. To us, the name of the game has always been how to make use of limited political and financial capital in the context of imperfect choices when it comes to anti-corruption and accountability reforms. Country-level rankings, even if accurate, simply don't provide anything close to actionable insights for policymakers, civil society groups, or the private sector. They do, however, provide lots of media coverage and public relations for the index creator.
And that may be the real lesson to come out of all of this.
— Nathaniel Heller & Norah Mallaney
View from the Street: Kampala
Civil Society Groups Urge OGP to Address Disproportionate Surveillance
Hollowed-Out Democracy: Russian-backed Election Monitors Say It's All Good In Belarus


21st centry's new game "Celtis"
This game has been around since 2006 but it is available mostly in Japan. So I would like to write about this Japanese game called "Celtis" designed by Chiaki Murata.
The rule is very simple. The players alternately place the pieces folded with the angle of 120 degrees, and the player who first places 7 same color pieces in a straight line is the winner.The profoundness of this game lies in that placing your piece may favor your opponent, increasing his/her piece. Because one side of a piece and the other side of a piece have different colors.
You can store the pieces inside the board, but if you leave the game on the table, it is designed to function as an interior object d'art.


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Ford F150: Motor Trend's 2009 Truck of the YEAR
Today, America's best-selling pickup adds one of the industry's most prestigious honors to its trophy shelf: Motor Trend has named the new Ford F-150 its 2009 Truck of the Year. To earn this coveted award, the 2009 F-150 outperformed other full-size pickups in rigorous tests that evaluated engineering, technology, design, safety, dynamics, performance, build quality … Continued
Today, America's best-selling pickup adds one of the industry's most prestigious honors to its trophy shelf: Motor Trend has named the new Ford F-150 its 2009 Truck of the Year.
To earn this coveted award, the 2009 F-150 outperformed other full-size pickups in rigorous tests that evaluated engineering, technology, design, safety, dynamics, performance, build quality and value. Motor Trend's editors put each truck through the same kind of punishing treatment that core truck customers do – and the 2009 F-150 showed them why it has no rival.
This morning, with employees and the media looking on, Motor Trend's editor-in-chief Angus MacKenzie presented the magazine's signature caliper trophy to the Built Ford Tough F-150 truck team during a ceremony held at WHQ. He noted that the new F-150 "improves on the core attributes that have made the F-150 a best seller for decades, ensuring it will remain a strong player in the segment despite the challenging economic environment."
Motor Trend has now awarded the F-150 its Truck of the Year honor for each of the past three major redesigns – including the 2004 and 1997 models. This recognition and other accolades we've received from various publications validate our approach of listening to what core truck customers want, anticipating their needs and exceeding their expectations.
Some of the reasons why the 2009 F-150 has no competition:
Unrivaled Capability: Best-in-class towing (11,300 lbs.), hauling capacity of 3,030 lbs. and more standard safety equipment than any other half-ton pickup on the market, at a real value.
Unsurpassed Fuel Economy: The 2009 F-150 has a fleet-wide fuel economy improvement of 8 percent versus the 2008 model; fuel economy improves by as much as 12 percent for trucks equipped with the 5.4-liter V-8 engine. A new superior fuel economy package – SFE, available on our highest-volume F-150 XL and XLT models – delivers an unmatched combination: unsurpassed 15 mpg in the city/21 mpg on the highway while still offering 7,500 lbs. of towing capacity.
More Choice: With three cab styles, four box options and seven unique trim levels, the F-150 meets the widest range of customer needs and wants. It's powered by one of three V-8 engines, mated to either a four-speed or a new fuel-efficient six-speed automatic transmission.
Smart Features: F-150's industry-exclusive smart features and class-leading technology help make truck owners more productive and driving, towing and hauling easier and safer. Cutting-edge connectivity technologies include Ford SYNC, SIRIUS Travel Link, voice-activated navigation and Sony audio. Through Ford Work Solutions, customers will have the connectivity, flexibility and security to better run key aspects of their business from their Ford truck – even on the job site. We've also made the F-150's pickup box easier to use, more flexible and accessible.
Quality and Durability Legacy: There are more F-Series trucks with 250,000 miles or more on the road today than any other trucks. No company has a more durable pickup than F-150 at three years in service.


The reform of the financial regulatory system is not only a hot topic for discussion in developed countries, but also a focus in China and it is the emphasis of financial reform during the 12th Five-Year Plan period. At present, various issues have emerged in China's financial regulatory system and domestic disputes have led to uncertainties about the orientation of reform. However, it is anticipated that there will be changes in regulatory legislation, bodies, methods and policies in the future.