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San Diego Charter Bus
Charter Bus Rentals to Balboa Park
Often considered the crown jewel of the San Diego cityscape, Balboa Park is overflowing with education, culture, and leisure activities for all ages.
Need a ride to this famous park? Look no further! National Charter Bus is your go-to provider for group transportation in SoCal, the West Coast, and nationwide. Our network of charter buses, minibuses, and professional drivers means we have access to all the group transportation services to make your group trip to Balboa park a breeze! Call 619-344-0549 today to learn more and to receive a free, no-obligation quote.
Balboa Park Fun Facts
First established in 1835, Balboa Park is one of the United States' oldest tracts of land set aside for recreational use.
When it officially opened as a park in 1868, it mostly served as an open, public green space with minimal buildings and large swaths of wildflowers.
Notice the distinctive style of the park's architecture? These constructions—like the Botanical Building, Casa del Prado, Cabrillo Bridge, and much more—are built in a combination of Spanish Colonial Revival, Mission Revival, and Spanish Baroque style.
Many of these iconic buildings were constructed in preparation for the 1915 Panama–California Exposition and the 1936 California Pacific International Exposition. These multi-year cultural fairs drew in nearly 10.4 million visitors!
While the multiple museums, centers, and gardens operate on their own hours, Balboa Park's grounds are open 24 hours a day.
Getting Around Balboa Park
If you're traveling via public transportation in San Diego, you'll be taking the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). San Diego's public transport services most popular destinations in the downtown area, but if you're specifically heading to Balboa Park, use...
Route 120 if you're coming from the north side of town, like Kearny Mesa, Linda Vista, or Mission Valley.
Route 7 if you're coming from the northeast, like Rolando, the Corridor, or North Park.
Rapid 215 if you're coming from San Diego State University campus.
A 1-Day bus pass costs $5 and includes unlimited rides on MTS buses and trolleys for 24 hours. For information about public transportation throughout San Diego, visit the MTS Website or dial (619) 233-3004.
The Park Tram
So you just hopped off the MTS bus, but you're dreading the near-mile walk between the Park Boulevard-Presidents Way bus stop and your favorite museum.
Look for a little green shuttle bus or an open-air, train-style cart—aka, the Balboa Park Tram.
It stops in 3 major parking lots—Inspiration Point, the Organ Pavillion, and the Palisades Lot by the Automotive Museum—and is free to ride.The tram runs from 9am - 8pm from June through the end of October, and you can expect it to operate from 9am - 6pm between May and November.
While it usually takes 10 minutes to complete the route's circuit on slow days, it's not uncommon to wait up to 40 minutes for a ride during peak tourism season.
Of course, public transportation isn't for everyone.
Sure, following a preset route in a crowded public bus may be perfectly viable for lone-wolf travelers and small groups, but when you're traveling with a lot of people, it can be all too easy for someone to get lost or make the wrong transfer. These problems only compound when you're transporting large groups of children, senior citizens, and (especially) out-of-towners.
Even worse—when you limit your group to public transportation or the Park Tram, you are stuck to a set route that runs on a rigid schedule. What if you need something more flexible to fit your itinerary?
That's where National Charter Bus comes in.
No more waiting around in the hot sun for the tram or trolley to roll by. Instead, we'll pair you with a private motorcoach that will be right where you need it, whenever you need it. Letting a professional take the wheel not only means your travel fate is secure in the hands of an experienced, local driver, but it also means your passengers have a customizable ride plan that's tailored to their needs.
Shuttling 15-20 aspiring artists to the Timken? We'll be happy to set you up with a zippy and efficient 20-passenger minibus. Don't let its compact frame fool you; there's plenty of room and overhead bins to store sketchpads, pencil cases, and photography equipment en route.
Have a bigger crowd in mind? Covering a lot of ground? No problem. The spacious 56-passenger charter buses in our network are ideal for getting large quantities of people from here to there as comfortably as possible. So bring on your class field trip of en-zoo-siasts! We'll not only get them to the SDZ safe, sound, and all together, but we'll connect them with a bus loaded with entertainment options—DVD players, TVs, WiFi, and more—that will keep them occupied between stops.
Even if you need a combination of ride services throughout your visit, our reps can mix and match your fleet and rental plan to best fit your itinerary, budget, and list of ideal amenities. Simply call us today at 619-344-0549, and we'll work around the clock to get you going!
Parking at the Park
The good news? Parking in any of Balboa Park's 12 lots is free to the public year-round.
The not-so-good news? Considering the park's popularity throughout the seasons, finding a spot near your most-anticipated attractions can be tricky.
Never fear. When you reserve a ride through National Charter Bus, your driver can drop you off curbside to your first destination, handle the parking while you explore the park, and meet back up with the group when you're ready to roll out.
That being said, take note of where oversized vehicles can park and unload. Not that you'll need to direct your driver to an adequate lot—your driver will have all the parking logistics mapped out before you depart—but it's helpful to have a sense of where your bus is coming from as you anticipate pickups and dropoffs.
The only public lot in Balboa Park that accepts oversized vehicles is located at Inspiration Point, far south of most attractions. This lot is considered the park's overflow parking lot and seldom fills to capacity. However, if your group is attending a major event or visiting on a particularly busy weekend, your driver may park curbside along the east side and south end of Park Boulevard.
Looking to avoid crowded lots and congested roadways? Read up on the park's list of anticipated heavy traffic days and plan accordingly. As a rule of thumb, it's safe to assume the park will be busier in the summer months and around holidays generally associated with parades, like Memorial Day or Thanksgiving.
Popular Attractions at Balboa Park
The San Diego Zoo
Address: 2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
No trip to Balboa Park would be complete without a stop at the San Diego Zoo! Known for its cageless, naturalistic exhibits and calendar chock-full of events, it's no wonder that many consider it the coolest zoo in the country. Come check out the giant pandas—one of only 4 exhibits of its kind in the US—take in a birds-eye view of Balboa Park from the Skyfari Aerial Tram, or catch an after-hours show at one of the zoo's many concert venues!
The San Diego Zoo offers multiple membership tiers that can include one-on-one encounters with the furry residents, nighttime tours, and free concerts. These exclusive packages may be worthwhile if you plan to frequent the SDZ, but for most out-of-town visitors, a 1-day pass is the best option. This general admission ticket includes access to a guided bus tour, a cross-park express shuttle, and all regularly scheduled shows, and prices are as follows:
Adults aged 12 and up: $56 - 62
Children aged 3 - 11: $46 - 52
The Museums
While this list is by no means exhaustive—in reality, you could spend days wandering through all the collections—here are some of Balboa Park's most popular museums for tour groups:
Timken Museum
Address: 1500 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
This small and selective showcase of fine arts is the only Balboa Park museum with consistently free admission year-round. Collections here feature 19th century American art, Russian iconography, and work from European "old masters"—including the only Rembrandt painting on public display in San Diego. Typical daily hours are from 10am to 4pm, but these can vary based on time of year and the museum's schedule of private events.
What images come to mind when you think about Balboa Park? Sure, there's the zoo, but what buildings come to mind? More likely than not, you're picturing the colorful, tiled dome, Spanish-Colonial entrance façade and iconic tower of this landmark museum. In these finely crafted halls, you'll find exhibits dedicated to many facets of anthropology—from celebrating the culture of native Californians to learning how and why we have pets and from the history of beer brewing to the art of cannibalism. The Museum of Man is open 10am - 5pm every day except for major holidays and offers $13 general admission (kids 5 and under get in free).
San Diego Air and Space Museum
Address: 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101
Whether you're here to check out the only real GPS satellite on display in the world, meet the Gumdrop—the original Apollo 9 command module—or simply marvel at the overhead aircraft in the pavilion, this museum is sure to delight visitors of all ages. Admission tickets can cost anywhere between $10.95 and $19.95, based on age and number of visitors per group. Open from 10am to 4:30pm.
Beyond its role as a cultural and educational hub in the city, Balboa Park is one of the most beloved greenspaces in San Diego. If you're in town and just need a place to get out and stretch your legs, come to the park and breathe in the fresh air. Here are just a few well-loved landscapes your group can traverse during your time at Balboa Park:
Japanese Friendship Garden
Address: 2215 Pan American Rd E, San Diego, CA 92101
Originally constructed as a showcase of Japanese culture in 1914, the since-dismantled-and-then-revamped garden now serves as a 12-acre expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city Yokohama, Japan. Come explore this blend of traditional Japanese gardening principles and local flora in all its quiet beauty by taking in the bonsai collection, saying hi to the koi fish, or stopping for tea and some soba at the Tea Pavilion.
Botanical Building
This garden is one of the most photographed spots in the park, and once you see it for yourself, you'll understand why. With a picturesque reflection pool and lily pond outside the intricate lath structure—one of the largest in the world!—and a permanent collection of cycads, ferns, orchids, and other tropical plants within, this iconic greenspace boasts beauty from all angles.
Alcazar Garden
Patterned after the grounds of Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain, this stately garden is nestled between the Art Institute and Mingei Museum. Here, your group will find ornate fountains, boxwood hedges, 7,000 vibrant annuals, and multicolored tilework in authentic Moorish style. This space is the perfect backdrop for elegant affairs like weddings, company dinners, or professional photoshoots.
Reserve Your Balboa Park Bus Rental
As you can tell, this rich San Diego landmark has a lot to offer. So why let the travel process keep your group from making the most of it? Book with National Charter Bus, and take the stress out of your transportation plans!
Our staff is available around the clock to assist you with the reservation process, answer any questions you may have, and hash out itinerary revisions should you need to make last-minute changes. Don't believe us? Call 619-344-0549 today! We'll be waiting with a friendly reservation specialist and a free quote—no strings attached.


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Agatha award nominated author, Sherry Harris, started bargain hunting in second grade at her best friend's yard sale. She honed her bartering skills as she moved around the country while her husband served in the Air Force. Sherry uses her love of garage sales, her life as a military spouse, and her time living in Massachusetts as inspiration for the Sarah Winston Garage Sale series.
(2) Print Copy - A Good Day to Buy by Sherry Harris. (Ends 5/15).
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Can Zoho's Web 2.0 Office Beat Microsoft?
Zoho's slogan is "Productivity 2.0." And the company, an initiative of AdventNet, backs up that broad-sounding objective of Web 2.0 functionality with one of the deepest portfolios of web-based business tools around. Its office-type offerings include Zoho Writer, Zoho Sheet, Zoho Show, and a collaboration tool called Zoho Virtual Office. Zoho also offers web-based business tools—Zoho CRM, Zoho Creator (for developing business and personal web apps), Zoho Planner—an online organizer with todo, reminders, and notes; and Zoho Chat—a group chat tool. The collaboration member of the suite, Zoho Virtual Office, includes an email client, shared documents, calendars and more.


The adventurers find themselves exploring an abandoned starship. Faint lights flicker dimly down long corridors. Equipment lies dormant, engines quiet. No signs of life are apparent, but there is a sense of foreboding as they wonder why the ship was abandoned in the first place. Perhaps there is life still here after all... Ambient music, no sound effects. Great for almost any sci-fi game. Instrumental only. Music by Christy Carew. Illustration copyright (c) 2009 Vikram K. Mulligan. Used here with permission of the artist; unauthorized use prohibited.
This title was added to our catalog on March 02, 2010.


'Stella' Sweet Cherry is a popular and prolific variety that is self-pollinating and makes a good pollinator for other sweet cherries. Produces prolific blooms in spring and abundant dark red cherries in early summer. Grafted on a disease resistant root stock.
Categories: Deciduous Fruit Trees, Flowering Trees, Trees, Trees By Size, Trees by Size: Small (20' and under).	Tags: Cottage Garden, Edible Garden, Kitchen Garden, Prunus avium, Stella Sweet Cherry, Wildlife Garden.


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Iraq: Turkey demands delay in Kirkuk referendum
February 21, 2007 Bill Weinberg
Another ominous sub-plot in the struggle for Iraq's oil—and a step closer to the brink for a region that has thus far managed to avoid complete embroilment in Iraq's civil war. From AP via the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA), Feb. 21:
ANKARA — Turkey's prime minister on Tuesday urged one of Iraq's two vice presidents to delay a referendum on the future of Kirkuk, fearing Iraqi Kurdish groups could seize control of the northern, oil-rich city.
Turkey, which has been trying to quell a Kurdish insurgency for more than two decades, is concerned about the growing power of Iraqi Kurds and has repeatedly warned Iraqi Kurdish groups against trying to seize control of Kirkuk.
Iraq's constitution calls for a referendum on Kirkuk's future by the end of the year. The Kurds want to incorporate the city and its rich oilfields into their self-ruled region _ a move the Turks have strongly opposed.
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Iraqi Vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi the normalization of security sought by the Iraqi constitution has not occurred in Kirkuk and the referendum must be postponed, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.
Turkey fears Iraq's Kurds want Kirkuk's oil revenues to fund a bid for independence that could encourage separatist Kurdish guerrillas in Turkey, who have been fighting for autonomy since 1984. The conflict has claimed the lives of 37,000 people.
Erdogan also asked Abdul-Mahdi to stop attacks by separatist Kurdish guerrillas, based in Iraq, on Turkey.
Kirkuk, an ancient city that once was part of the Ottoman Empire, has a large minority of ethnic Turks as well as Christians, Shiite and Sunni Arabs, Armenians and Assyrians. The city is just south of the autonomous Kurdish region stretching across three provinces of northeastern Iraq.
Since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, thousands of Kurds pushed out of the region under Saddam Hussein's rule have returned.
Turkey—a predominantly Muslim country that is an ally of the U.S. and NATO, a friend of Israel and a candidate to join the European Union—is pushing to increase its influence in the Middle East, where it says it can help negotiate between Islamic countries and the West.
Turkey has not ruled out military incursions into Iraq to hunt separatist Kurds, despite warnings from Washington, which fears that such a move could lead to tensions with the Iraqi Kurdish groups who have been important allies of the U.S.
In addition to the potential for inter-ethnic conflict in Kirkuk, the jihadis also seem to be gaining ground in the city, which has heretofore been relatively spared assualt by the forces of political Islam. Canada's Islamist Jihad Unspun website reports that on Feb. 16, "Mujahideen overpowered state soldiers in the Hawija district of Kirkuk in a multi-pronged attack that left many dead," and seized control of the district.
See our last posts on Iraq, Kurdistan and Kirkuk.
Iraq: critical water shortage in Fallujah
NYT: North Africa "staging ground for terror"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Third edition of the Advanced Oxidation Process for Sustainable Water Management conference – 3rd AOP Tunisia.
5TOI_4EWAS Brokerage Event – Registration has been postponed!
The 21st meeting of the Euro-Mediterranean Group of Senior Officials in Research and Innovation.
Next stop? 5toi_4ewas final conference in Tunisia!
Euro- Mediterranean day, check out the video!
Euro – Mediterranean Day: find out the presentation and keeping update!
The EU-funded frontierCities 2 Accelerator launches a new Call for Proposals for Start-Ups and SMEs in the Smart Cities sector!
Higher education cooperation for development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Meeting global and regional challenges".
Newsletter is available! Subscribe on 5toi website and do not miss the opportunity to receive information!
Nine days left to make your voice heard on cooperation between HEIs and Business organizations!
Call for Membership Applications 2017 of the Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA) has been published.


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Red Bull Racing is currently one of the top teams in Formula One. The team competes under the name Oracle Red Bull Racing.
Formed in 2005, the Red Bull Racing team has been managed by Christian Horner from the beginning.
About Red Bull Racing
Christian Horner has been the team principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing since its formation in 2004. The Red Bull Racing team won their first podium in their second season of driving in Formula 1 thanks to experienced driver, David Coulthard. This podium proved that Red Bull Racing were in Formula 1 to compete and that they wouldn't be a bottom-tiered team. Up until 2009, Red Bull were a middle-tiered team, that was until Sebastian Vettel replaced retired David Coulthard.
2009 saw Vettel bring home Red Bull Racing's first ever win and 1-2 in Formula One at the Chinese Grand Prix in the RB5. Red Bull Racing went on to win five more times that same year with Vettel winning the British Grand Prix, Japanese Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Webber placing first in the German Grand Prix and Brazilian Grand Prix. The team finished second in the Constructors Championship, the highest Red Bull Racing ever finished in the championship since joining in 2005. Having the best season to date set the team up for the 2010 season.
2010 saw a very consistent season for both Vettel and Webber in the RB6 with many podium finishes throughout the season. Sebastian Vettel made Red Bull and Formula One history that year when he won the World Championship. A record that still hasn't been broken. The German driver became the youngest driver to ever win the World Championship. It was also Red Bull's first Constructors Championship title. The following year, Vettel took home the World Championship once again in the RB7. Vettel had such a successful season he was announced as World Champion with three races left in the season.
Sebastian's third consecutive World Championship didn't come as easy as his 2010 win. Although Red Bull had two wins by their two respective drivers in the first half of the season. It wasn't until the second half of the 2011 season that Red Bull began to dominate the track in the RB8, leading them to win the Constructors Championship for the third year in a row.
2012 saw Sebastian win his fourth consecutive World Championship. The 2012 season saw Vettel win nine consecutive races in the second half of the season securing the World Championship title and Constructors Championship once again. The 2013 season saw the end of the Red Bulls winning streak. After Mark Webber announced his retirement, Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo was hired as his replacement. Although Red Bull didn't win the title, they did finish a respectable second in the Constructors' and Ricciardo got his first three Formula One victories in the RB10.
At the end of 2014, Vettel was replaced by Daniil Hvyat for the 2015 season.The 2015 season wasn't how Red Bull had hoped with Ricciardo and Hvyat's performance. The drivers failed to win any races that season and only managed to place on the podium twice. The season ended with the team dropping to fourth place in the standings. Red Bull now found itself at its lowest placing since 2008.
2016 saw Red Bull improve on their previous season. Red Bull went back to second in the Constructors and Ricciardo placed third in the Driver's Championship. 2016 also saw the debut of Max Verstappen in Red Bull Racing after he replaced Kvyat during the season. Max Verstappen won his first race at the Spanish Grand Prix, making him the youngest driver to ever win an F1 race.
For the next two seasons, Red Bull would finish third in the Constructors with their drivers Ricciardo and Verstappen. There were struggles with the RB13 and RB14 in both seasons but the drivers managed to take some victories and place in podiums throughout the season. Notable races were Ricciardo's win in Monaco in 2018 and Vertsappens win in the Austrian Grand Prix.
In 2019, Red Bull announced that they would end their partnership with Renault and would move to Honda instead as they were unhappy with the engines. That Summer, Ricciardo also announced that he would be leaving Red Bull and moving to Renault. Pierre Gasly was chosen as Ricciardo's replacement. Alexander Albon replaced Pierre Gasly half way through the season due to Gasly's struggles with the Red Bull car. Alex won Rookie of the year that season.
2019 also saw Red Bull break the record for the fastest pit stop in F1 at the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen pitted during the race for an incredible 1.82 seconds, a record that still holds today.
The 2020 season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season was shortened to 17 races which began in July. Verstappen performed very well, placing top three in 12 out of the 17 races. After a strange season in 2020, drivers were all set for the 2021 season. There was one new addition made to the Red Bull team, Sergio Pérez replacing Alex Albon, who became Red Bulls Test and Reserve driver.
2021 was an incredible season for Red Bull for both Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez driving the RB16B. The final race in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was done in dramatic fashion and was very controversial with Verstappen racing Hamilton in the last lap to grab the Driver's Championship. This was Red Bulls first win since Vettel in 2013. They also came second in the Constructors Championship.
Red Bull Racing F1 Drivers
2023 Red Bull F1 Driver
Max Verstappen & Sergio Pérez
2022 Red Bull F1 Drivers
Max Verstappen & Alex Albon
Max Verstappen, Alex Albon & Pierre Gasly
Max Verstappen & Daniel Ricciardo
Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo & Daniil Kvyat
Daniel Ricciardo & Daniil Kvyat
Daniel Ricciardo & Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel & Mark Webber
David Coulthard & Mark Webber
David Coulthard , Christian Klien & Robert Doornbos
2005 Red Bull Racing F1 Drivers
David Coulthard, Christian Klien & Vitantonio Liuzzi
Red Bull 2022 F1 Car
In 2022, Red Bull introduced the RB18. Due to new regulations the RB18 was quite different to previous Red Bull cars. The RB18 has had a tremendous season so far with Red Bull winning 11 out of the first 15 races of the season. With 7 races left, Red Bull are at the top in drivers standing and team standings with Red Bull having 511 points, over a 130 points ahead of the second highest team Ferrari who have 376 points.
Red Bull F1 Engines
Red Bull bought the Jaguar Racing Formula One team in 2004 and renamed the team Red Bull Racing. When Red Bull took over from Jaguar they decided to keep the engines that their predecessor had used before them. The engines used were Cosworth engines. Although Red Bull Racing had a very successful year, gaining more points in the 2005 season then Jaguar Racing did during their last two seasons, Red Bull decided to change their engines for the 2005 season. For the 2006 season, the Red Bull Formula One team decided to go with an engine manufactured by Ferrari, however this partnership only lasted one season and was renewed for the 2007 F1 season.
In 2007 Red Bull Racing decided to change to the Renault engines. Red Bull Racing had tremendous success with the Renault engine. Renault manufactured engines were used in the Red Bull cars for nearly 10 years, from 2007 until 2016. Red Bull won their first race in 2009 and Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel won the Drivers World Championship title for four consecutive years with the help of the Renault engines.
From 2015 on, Red Bull began to become unhappy and unsatisfied with the Renault engines performance and the relationship between the two teams started to become sour. Although the team performed better in 2016, 2017 and 2018 seasons were not as Red Bull had hoped with many DNF's due to issues with Renaults engines. The 2018 season was the last straw for Red Bull and they decided to pull their partnership with Renault engines for the following season.
In 2019, Red Bull decided to partner with Honda engines. The Honda engines seemed to perform well at the beginning of the 2019 season with Red Bull winning a few races, however, the Honda engines were still no match for Mercedes who still held the Drivers World Championship and Constructors Championship title for the next two seasons. At the end of 2020, Honda announced that they would be withdrawing from Formula One for the 2021 season.
Red Bull Racing Media
Podcast: Talking Bull
The Talking Bull podcast gives listeners exclusive access to the Red Bull Formula 1 team with interviews from the team's drivers.
Youtube: Behind the Charge
Behind the Charge is Oracle Red Bull Racing's behind the scenes series on Youtube that shows never before seen footage from all aspect of the Team.
Red Bull Racing Achievements
Throughout the years, Red Bull Formula One team has had many achievements and with how the 2022 season is going it seems that they will have even more to add to this list.
Red Bull Racing got their first podium in Formula One. David Coulthard finished 3rd at the Monaco Grand Prix, making it Red Bull Racing's best result to date.
Red Bull Racing got their first ever victory in Formula 1 and first every pole position. Sebastian Vettel won his first ever race at the Chinese Grand Prix that year and secured Red Bull's first win. The team did incredible well winning their first ever 1-2 also.
From 2010 up to 2013, Oracles Red Bull Racing saw their greatest string of success in Formula 1. Not only did Red Bull win their first every Drivers' Championship and Constructors Championship in 2010 but it led to four years of wins for the team. Sebastian Vettel won four consecutive Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles for the Team during this time. Red Bull Racing also won the Constructors' Championship title during these glory years. Winning the Constructors was a huge achievement for Red Bull after only 5 years of competing in Formula One. Vettel also went down in history as being the youngest ever F1 World Champion, a title he still holds today.
In 2016 Max Verstappen made his debut for the Oracle Red Bull Racing team. Racing his first ever race for Oracle Red Bull at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in the Spanish Grand Prix, Verstappen claimed victory against Ferrari driver's, Räikkönen and Vettel. This win named Max Verstappen the youngest ever Grand Prix winner at the age of 18. He also became the first Dutch driver to win a Grand Prix. Max Verstappen also holds the title for the youngest ever F1 driver as he started racing with Toro Rosso when he was only 17 years old. This is a title he will hold forever as drivers must now be at least 18 years to obtain a Super licence.
Max Verstappen got Red Bull Racing's long awaited fifth Driver's Championship Title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The pressure was on going into the final race of the 2021 season as both Max Verstappen and Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton were on equal points at 369.5, this meant the winner of race would be crowned the Drivers Champion. Hamilton led most of the race, however the fate of the race was determined by a controversial safety car restart which left Hamiltona and Verstappen race against each other in the final lap of the race. Verstappen over took Hamilton in dramatic fashion and crossed the finishing line in first place.
Although there was a lot of controversy over how the race was handled, Verstappen's title was not taken away from him. In the Constructors Championship, Red Bull failed to beat Mercedes, who won their record breaking eight Constructors title. The emotion and nail-biting tension in the garage and the sheer delight in the video below just shows how much a winning the world drivers championship title means to teams.
Max Verstappen became two time world champion in 2022 when he won the Japanese Grand Prix with four more races to go in the F1 season. Not only did Red Bull Racing get Drivers Championship but the impressive driving from Verstappen and Perez all season long secured Red Bulls fifth Constructors Championship. They beat Ferraris by over 200 points to become Constructor Champions of 2023, nearly 10 years since they last won the prestigious title.
Max dominated the 2022 season with a total of 15 Grand Prix wins. Sergio Perez also has a very successful year with two Grand Prix wins under his belt. That means Red Bull Racing won 17 out of 22 races in 2022 with Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz and George Russell winning 3, 1 and 1 respectively. What a F1 season it was for Red Bull Racing in 2022, what will 2023 bring!


In 1992, Mr. Albert Tan decided to take the bold step of developing a brand of his own, beginning with consignment counter in departmental stores. PONEY opened its very first boutique in The Mines Shopping Mall in 1997, showcasing the complete range of products in baby and children apparel. With very promising results, PONEY then established its flagship store at the countera��s premier shopping mall, the KLCC Shopping Mall in 1999. PONEY has positioned itself as one of the leading brands and is ranked among other international brands in all leading departmental stores.
The inspiration for PONEY came from the desire to create genuine and long-lasting happiness for the children. I want our creations to bring out childrena��s youthful exuberance and their joyful feeling. Thata��s my ultimate goal. Together with the inspiration and passion in visual merchandising, we are able to stand tall in the childrena��s apparel industry.
Nothing is more important Cheap charboleps than the voice of our customers. I have to admit, PONEY does take pride in listening to our customers. We listen to both childrena��s and parentsa�� needs, as we believe that understanding their needs and wants will be the greatest source of ideas for us to deliver great products and excellent services to them. After all, parents always want the best for their children. Our passion for customersa�� happiness lies in the comfort and sense of satisfaction (value for money) we provide to each and every customer.
The strong internal ethos of collaboration, dedication and trust is what makes PONEY stands out from other childrena��s apparel brands. We bound to closely monitor our quality and safety of our production line, with improvisation in innovation and technology. We strongly adhere to quality assurance, as well as indispensable innovation in design. Ultimately, we want to deliver the best products to our customers, and enhance their shopping experiences in our stores. I believe that commitment and engagement are the drives to lead PONEY into its next chapter.
a�?To be the worlda��s No. 1 childrena��s apparel branda�? is our vision. In order to achieve that, establishing PONEY Flagship Stores will be our future expansion plans. We aspire to gain a foothold in the Asian markets, before expanding our stores to the rest of the world. We anticipated that PONEY will reach a significant milestone in becoming a global household name for childrena��s apparel brand.
Sharon Ng is an extremely talented fashion designer. She is a dedicated and passionate fabric artisan with a taste for creating structural garments for the lovely kids. She had a way of creating a world around her a�� this contemporary, classic, glamorous, colourful world a�� that all kids immediately wanted to be a part of. And the clothes, of course, were the way in. Through her creations, PONEY becomes a happy wonderland that every kid would want to go to.
I will normally arrange my time to travel to Europe, attending global trade shows and exhibitions several times in a year. Also, I will browse through the Internet to stay updated with todaya��s children fashion.
The texture of the fabrics has to be very fine and delicate to babiesa�� skins. In order to have good quality clothing, we have gone through all the fabric testing and safety compliances before finalizing and presenting to the consumers. Undeniably, workmanship is also equally important.
7) Whata��s in the future for the PONEY kidsa�� apparel?


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HBC to sell Lord & Taylor flagship store; wins equity injection
Marina StraussRetailing Reporter
This article was published more than 5 years ago. Some information may no longer be current.
A shopper leaves a Lord & Taylor store in New York in this file photo.ADAM ROUNTREE
Hudson's Bay Co. has a $1-billion deal to sell its Lord & Taylor flagship store in New York to a joint venture that includes WeWork Cos. The retailer will also team up with the office-sharing business to run its operations in parts of HBC's stores.
In addition, Toronto-based HBC, which is under pressure from an activist shareholder to monetize its real estate, said Tuesday that private equity firm RhoneCapital LLC is investing $632-million in HBC, which also runs its namesake stores and Saks Fifth Avenue.
The retailer will continue to operate its Lord & Taylor store on Fifth Avenue in a significantly shrunken space – less than 25 per cent of the current space – after WeWork converts the upper floors of the building into its New York global headquarters as well as shared office space it can lease to other businesses or individuals.
HBC activist shareholder calls for special meeting to replace directors
As part of the deal, WeWork will also lease space on the top floors of HBC's flagship stores on Queen Street in Toronto, Granville Street in Vancouver and Galeria Kaufhof in Frankfurt, Germany, as a way to use the big stores' space more productively.
"It shows the world that our real estate assets continue to be worth more than people previously thought," Richard Baker, HBC's executive chairman, said in an interview.
"And it shows that from time to time we're willing to monetize, through financing or a sale, certain real estate assets."
The unusual deal underlines the shakeup in the retail landscape as consumers increasingly browse and shop online, forcing retailers to shrink or find new ways to use their bricks-and-mortar space.
Amid the changes HBC has faced rocky times with weaker results, a big staff downsizing in the summer and the departure of some key executives, including Jerry Storch, its chief executive officer, who will leave the company on Nov. 1.
And HBC is feeling the heat from activist shareholder Land & Buildings Investment Management LLC to squeeze more value from the retailer's real estate, especially from its landmark Saks Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan.
On Monday, Land & Buildings, which owns roughly 5 per cent of HBC's shares, threatened to call a special meeting of HBC shareholders to remove the members of its board of directors.
Now, HBC is unveiling the WeWork deal, which, the retailer says, is expected to reduce debt by $1.6-billion and increase its liquidity by about $1.1-billion.
Mr. Baker said the Lord & Taylor flagship store is "many times" less productive than HBC's Saks Fifth Avenue landmark outlet, thus minimizing the effect of the changes on the company's profit.
He said the $1-billion sale price of the Lord & Taylor store is 30 per cent above the most recent appraised value, while the transaction reflects HBC's "creative" streak in its real estate transactions.
WeWork office-sharing will attract more millennials to HBC stores, turning a coveted customer base into new shoppers, he said. "Young millennials will be travelling through our buildings on a daily basis" to get to their WeWork office.
The deal paves the way for HBC to embrace the emerging sharing economy, reimagining how a retailer can cash in from its department stores, he said. "In a world that's in retail transition, there are going to be winners and losers – HBC is very well positioned to be a winner."
He said the teaming up with WeWork, a seven-year-old startup with operations worldwide, will produce future real estate transactions and other opportunities to surface more value from its properties.
Industry observers agreed the partnership has the potential to perk up business at HBC stores at a time when it and other retailers struggle with declining numbers of people coming to their outlets.
"It is a way of just bringing more traffic to the stores," said Matthew Smith, an executive vice-president at commercial real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle.
Paul Morassutti, executive managing director with CBRE, said the deal ensures HBC that it will "have a couple of floors dedicated to younger, more creative people" who will be coming to WeWork and also could shop at the stores.
Department stores generally generate fewer sales on its top floors, where WeWork will be located, leaving the retailer on the lower floors where more people shop, said Alex Arifuzzaman of retail real estate adviser InterStratics Consultants.
The HBC move to reduce its bricks-and-mortar selling footprint is a trend being adopted by other retailers as more shoppers head online, he said. "It's a first step of an evolving strategy in terms of driving up profitability."
HBC's stock closed up 2 per cent at $11.98. Jonathan Litt, founder of activist shareholder Land & Buildings, had no immediate comment. He had been pushing for HBC to take even more steps to monetize its real estate.
RhoneCapital's $632-million equity investment is in the form of eight-year mandatory convertible preferred shares initially convertible into the company's common stock at $12.42 a share, with the conversion price subject to adjustment from time to time, according to the terms of the preferred shares.
The iconic Lord & Taylor store on Fifth Avenue is being sold to WeWork Property Advisers, which is a joint venture between WeWork and Rhone.
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Kyle, Alan Jones the winners, while Aunty feels the pinch
It must pay to have your knuckles rapped with a feather by media regulator ACMA. The latest radio ratings show that Kyle Sandilands and Alan Jones lifted their audience shares in the latest survey.
Glenn Dyer
It must pay to have your knuckles rapped with a feather by media regulator ACMA. The latest radio ratings show that Kyle Sandilands and Alan Jones, the two "bad boys" of Sydney radio and the most recent roused on by the regulator, lifted their audience shares in the latest survey, while the goody two shoes ABC local radio station 702 saw a big fall (after the big rise in the previous survey).
Sandilands has been "disciplined" by ACMA over various atrocities in recent years while Jones' latest brush was earlier this year over climate-change claims that turned out to be wrong. Both have emerged without a scratch insofar as their listeners are concerned. Sandiland's breakfast program (with the luverly Jackie O) on 2Day FM jumped by 0.7 to 10.5 (from 9.8 in the third survey). Jones' breakfast program on 2GB rose a very solid 1.4 to 18.5 from 17.1. His rants obviously go down well with middle-aged, cranky listeners in Sydney's west. That helped 2GB win the survey with a 0.8 rise in share to 15.7. 2Day's share rose 0.3 to 9.8.
We'll let you keep reading but first...


Kenan is a normal kid. Playing basketball with his friends is what he likes the most. He has got used to seeing houses ruined by the war around him. Kenan lives in a country that is confronted with its neighbour country.
It has been awarded as one of the most beatiful picture books of Germany by Buchkunst Foundation.
Leslie follows a fox into the dark depths of an unkonw forest. In a clearing, she finds a mysterious being that will change her life in a wonderful way.
A marvelous journey throughout the history of music, from Prehistoric times to Elvis Presley, jumping from one piece of music to another thanks to the enclosed CD.


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SelecTech goes west, inks rep agreement with The Patton Group.
August 18, 2014 // by admin
Thomas Ricciardelli of SelecTech, Inc.
AVON, MA and WALNUT CREEK, CA…
SelecTech, Inc., a leader in the manufacture of innovative flooring products from recycled materials, announced an agreement with The Patton Group to represent the company in northern California.
Based in Walnut Creek, California, The Patton Group has more than 30 years experience in providing commercial flooring solutions for design professionals, flooring contractors and end users. That long history includes a significant track record in representing clean, green, sustainable manufacturers from around the world.
"We're thrilled to be working with The Patton Group for several reasons, first and foremost their well-deserved reputation as a rep for green flooring products, something they have been able to sustain in a key market like northern California for several decades," said Thomas Ricciardelli, president of SelecTech, Inc. "The other strong appeal is their recent partnering with Ark Floors, International, giving them the experience and capability to rep our ESD products to the northern California market."
The Patton Group provides flooring solutions for a number of markets, including: sports flooring, hospital flooring, hotel & spa Flooring, multi- family flooring, retail and corporate interiors
"We're extremely excited about marketing SelecTech products to our current customer base and prospects," said Brian Richards, president of The Patton Group. "Having just branched out into the ESD arena, we feel SelecTech's FreeStyle ESD products, which create a static-controlled environment, will be particularly attractive to a whole new market of clients that utilize electronics and sensitive data."
SelecTech flooring products are made using recycled material and are 100 percent recyclable. Utilizing a breakthrough interlocking technology, SelecTech products completely bypass the need for adhesives and floor prep to install or replace flooring. This dramatically reduces installation times because old flooring can be left in place and machinery and furniture does not have to be completely moved or removed for installation.
In addition, SelecTech offers anti-static flooring products, specifically the aforementioned FreeStyle ESD products. This type of flooring is typically used by industries such as electronics manufacturing, communications, aerospace, biotech and healthcare where electronics and sensitive data must be protected.
To learn more about SelecTech products, including the FreeStyle and FreeStyle ESD flooring products, visit http://www.selectechinc.com. For more information on the Patton Group, visit www.thepattongroup.com.
About SelecTech, Inc.
SelecTech, Inc. was founded in 1993 with the mission of creating valuable products from scrap plastics. The company has become a leader in the manufacture of flooring products from recycled materials and uses one million pounds of recycled materials annually. Their products are made with up to 100 percent recycled content, are 100 percent recyclable and installed without adhesives making them some of the "greenest" and most cost-effective flooring products available. The unique interlock system on SelecTech's flooring products enable them to be installed at a much lower cost, without a lot of costly downtime, which provides significant value to customers.
Using state-of-the-art technology and innovative product design, SelecTech created the top performing Place N' Go residential flooring products, which are available at Home Depot. They are also the creators of the renowned commercial and industrial FreeStyle, FreeStyle ESD and StaticStop ESD flooring lines.
SelecTech is a vendor partner of Health Care Institute, an International Facility Management Association (IFMA) alliance partner. The company is headquartered at 33 Wales Avenue, Suite F in Avon, MA. For more information about SelecTech, visit http://www.selectechinc.com.
SelecTech goes west, inks rep agreement with The Patton Group.Read More
Category: Client NewsTag: anti-static, basement flooring, ESD flooring, ESD static
SelecTech gets a leg up on competition with ergonomic benefits offered by FreeStyle BioLock™ Interlocking flooring
July 9, 2014 // by admin
SelecTech, Inc.'s FreeStyle BioLock flooring improves ergonomics for healthcare facilities, laboratories, education and retail stores.
When SelecTech, Inc., a leader in the manufacture of innovative flooring products from recycled materials, launched its FreeStyle BioLock flooring last year, it broke new ground in providing green flooring specifically made for healthcare, education and laboratory environments. Beyond the benefits of being a greener product utilizing a patented, hassle-free interlocking technology for installation, BioLock has shown unprecedented ergonomic benefits for early adopters.
"Anecdotally, all of our customers report BioLock to be a much more comfortable surface to stand on. For doctors, nurses, lab technicians and other professionals who are on their feet a large percentage of the day, this is a huge benefit," said Thomas Ricciardelli, president of SelecTech, Inc. "What's even more compelling is that, in general, more comfortable flooring has resulted in reduced sick days, fewer worker's comp claims and a more productive work staff."
Adds Ricciardelli, "For some customers, where only part of the flooring has BioLock, staff members have actually asked when are we going to install our flooring in their area."
BioLock employs a patented glueless "zipper" interlocking system that is manufactured by SelecTech, Inc. This enables the flooring to be installed over existing flooring with minimal subfloor preparation. There's no need for messy, toxic adhesive and down-time is significantly reduced—often times without need to close off an area.
In addition to the ergonomic and installation benefits, BioLock utilizes a water-proof seam sealer that makes tiles 100 percent liquid-tight but still removable and replaceable. This modular benefit prevents liquids from penetrating the seams and getting below the floor, contributing to the prevention of the growth of infectious organisms—an extremely important factor for healthcare and lab facilities. With its urethane, no-wax finish, the commercial grade BioLock is extremely easy to maintain.
Made with 70 percent recycled materials and 100 percent recyclable, BioLock meets CA 1350 Indoor Air Quality and is MAS Certified Green.
"BioLock has one additionally important benefit, sound reduction," said Ricciardelli. "On top of all that, it reduces sound, another important element to a medical practice, healthcare facility or lab."
FreeStyle BioLock is available in six stock colors and 30 special order colors.
For more information, visit SelecTech's website at http://www.selectechinc.com or call 508-583-3200.
SelecTech is a vendor partner of Health Care Institute, an International Facility Management Association (IFMA) alliance partner.
The company is headquartered at 33 Wales Avenue, Suite F in Avon, MA. For more information about SelecTech, visit http://www.selectechinc.com.
SelecTech gets a leg up on competition with ergonomic benefits offered by FreeStyle BioLock™ Interlocking flooringRead More
Category: Client NewsTag: anti-static, ESD flooring, ESD static
SelecTech launches National Account Program for its ESD products
June 9, 2014 // by admin
SelecTech, Inc., a leader in the manufacture of innovative flooring products from recycled materials, recently announced the creation of a National Account Program (NAP) for its ESD flooring products. The new program will be tailored towards chains, franchises and larger, multi-location businesses.
"Many things have to be in play for a NAP like this. First, you have to have first-rate product that's desirable to multi-location businesses. Second, you need to have sales and support staff to serve those locations. Our ESD products and our national network of technicians and sales reps, give our NAP the legs to succeed on many levels," said Thomas Ricciardelli, president of SelecTech, Inc.
SelecTech offers unique static control flooring products offered exclusively by Static Stop, including Freestyle ESD. These products are adhesive-free and employ a patented interlocking technology that dramatically reduces installation time and make it easier to replace flooring without significant or, in some cases, any downtime. For multi-location businesses, tiles can be customized in a central location (e.g. adding logos and other branding messages) and then installed by local technicians.
Beyond easy installation, StaticStop products are 100 percent recyclable. When installed, these ESD flooring materials create a static-controlled environment that's perfect for businesses, retail outlets, and other facilities utilizing sensitive electronics and preserving valuable data. Electronics manufacturing, communications, aerospace, biotech and healthcare industries are just some of the industries that utilize ESD flooring.
The SelecTech NAP for ESD products will be served by a network of sales representative and flooring technicians across the United States. In addition to installations, SelecTech's network of technicians can provide 24/7 service.
"Where most national account programs can fail is not having the service people readily available to serve accounts. We have professionals in every market we serve. If there's a problem, we don't have to fly anybody in. We have people right there in that area code to service accounts," said Ricciardelli.
Added Jeffrey Lampert, vice president of business development at Static Stop.com, "We are very enthusiastic and optimistic regarding the launch of our new ESD National Account Program. We look forward to offering this procurement gateway to our customer base and future prospects throughout the United States. Our strong market position as one of the preeminent ESD manufacturers has helped us to solidify to our customers that choosing us is the right choice."
For more information on SelecTech's National Account Program or to request a copy of SelecTech, Inc.'s ESD binder, please call 508-583-3200 or visit www.selectechinc.com.
Using state-of-the-art technology and innovative product design, SelecTech created the top performing Place N' Go residential flooring products, which are available at Home Depot. They are also the creators of the renowned commercial and industrial FreeStyle, FreeStyle BioLock, FreeStyle ESD and StaticStop ESD flooring lines.
SelecTech launches National Account Program for its ESD productsRead More
Category: Client News, Franchise NewsTag: anti-static, ESD flooring, ESD static
SelecTech unveils new FreeStyle ESD binder
SelecTech, Inc., a leader in the manufacture of innovative flooring products from recycled materials, recently launched its new ESD ring binder, which displays the company's full range of ESD flooring products, including sample swatches and technical literature.
The binder features unique static control flooring products offered exclusively by Static Stop, including Freestyle ESD – an adhesive-free, patented interlocking ESD vinyl tile that can be easily installed, easily removed and is fully sustainable. The binder also displays traditional ESD vinyl tile, ESD carpet tile, ESD rubber and ESD epoxy flooring.
"Even though computers have been a fixture in workplaces in America for the past three decades, using ESD flooring that minimizes harmful static electricity in an office, telecom or data processing environment is a fairly new thing. In fact, many of the people we have here at SelecTech worked on ESD flooring in the earliest days," said Thomas Ricciardelli, president of SelecTech, Inc. "So while this binder may be a marketing piece, it really is more like a Wikipedia for anyone who uses or is considering ESD flooring."
ESD products featured in the binder include: FreeStyle ESD and SelecTile ESD Interlocking ESD Tile; CVT Glue Down Vinyl; EpoxyStyle Epoxy Floor Coating; OhmStyle ESD Carpet; LowVolte Rubber Tiles; and ESD Floor Care Products.
SelecTech's Freesyle ESD flooring products employ a breakthrough interlocking technology that dramatically reduces installation times, completely bypassing the need for adhesives and floor prep to install or replace flooring. In many cases Freestyle ESD can be installed directly over the old floor. Because machinery does not have to be completely moved or removed for installation, downtime and businesses interruption is significantly minimized or even eliminated altogether.
In addition to being made largely from recycled materials , SelecTech's ESD flooring products are 100 percent recyclable. When installed, these ESD flooring materials create a static-controlled environment that's perfect for facilities utilizing sensitive electronics and preserving valuable data like electronics manufacturing, communications, aerospace, biotech, healthcare industries, and other high-tech industries.
To request a copy of SelecTech, Inc.'s ESD binder, please call 508-583-3200 or visit www.selectechinc.com.
SelecTech unveils new FreeStyle ESD binderRead More
SelecTech has the floor at ACX 14 as a featured keynote sponsor at Vermont's construction and architecture expo
May 1, 2014 // by admin
Tom Ricciardelli of SelecTech
BURLINGTON, VT and AVON, MA…
SelecTech, Inc., a leader in the manufacture of innovative flooring products from recycled materials, recently announced it will be a keynote sponsor of ACX 14, Vermont's construction and architecture expo. The expo takes place on Friday, June 6 at the Hilton Burlington Hotel in Burlington, Vermont.
"Vermont is known as a green state—from its mountains to its coffee to you name it. So, it is perfectly natural, pardon the pun, for a seller of flooring made from recycled products and 100 percent recyclable, which are actually manufactured in Vermont, to not only attend but sponsor the region's most important trade event for people in the construction and architecture industry," said Thomas Ricciardelli, president of SelecTech Inc.
Besides using recycled material and being 100 percent recyclable. SelecTech products employ a breakthrough interlocking technology. This technology removes the need for less than environmentally friendly adhesives while reducing the floor prep time needed to install or replace flooring. This saves another kind of green—money—by dramatically reducing installation times because old flooring can be left in place and machinery and furniture does not have to be completely moved or removed for installation.
In addition, SelecTech offers anti-static flooring products, specifically its FreeStyle ESD products. This type of flooring is typically used by industries such as electronics manufacturing, communications, aerospace, biotech and healthcare where electronics and sensitive data must be protected.
To learn more about SelecTech products, including the FreeStyle and FreeStyle ESD flooring products, visit http://www.selectechinc.com. For registration information on ACX 14, visit http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event;jsessionid=FAFEA3C229CB15650FB8C673231B5683.worker_registrant?llr=y7ihvgeab&oeidk=a07e97h0oib8f91f040.
SelecTech has the floor at ACX 14 as a featured keynote sponsor at Vermont's construction and architecture expoRead More
Certifiably green. SelecTech receives MAS Certified Green designation
April 10, 2014 // by admin
SelecTech, Inc., a leader in the manufacture of innovative flooring products from recycled materials, recently received the MAS Certified Green® Certificate of Compliance for all its modular floor tiles.
SelecTech, Inc., a leader in the manufacture of innovative flooring products from recycled materials, recently received the MAS Certified Green® Certificate of Compliance for all its modular floor tiles. This includes SelecTech's FreeStyle BioLock™, Freestyle Standard™, Freestyle ESD™, Place N' Go™, SelecTile™ and SelecTile ESD™.
The MAS Certified Green certification is a registered trademark to delineate low VOC emitting products in the marketplace so that purchasers and specifiers of those products know that they can earn credits in sustainability programs such as U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Rating system. Materials Analytical Services, LLC, an independent provider of emissions product testing and certification of a wide variety of residential and commercial building products through the nationally recognized MAS Certified Green™ emissions testing program, issued the certification.
"You hear various vendors making claims of their product being green or greener, yet those claims are not always backed up with solid proof," said Thomas Ricciardelli, president of SelecTech, Inc. "The MAS Certified Green certification means all our products meet the most stringent indoor air quality requirements."
SelecTech flooring products are made using recycled material and are 100 percent recyclable. SelecTech products become an even greener choice by employing a breakthrough interlocking technology. This technology enables you to completely bypass the need for less than environmentally friendly adhesives as well as the floor prep time needed to install or replace flooring. This saves another kind of green—money—by dramatically reducing installation times because old flooring can be left in place and machinery and furniture does not have to be completely moved or removed for installation.
To learn more about SelecTech products, including the FreeStyle and FreeStyle ESD flooring products, visit http://www.selectechinc.com.
SelecTech is a vendor partner of Health Care Institute, an International Facility Management Association (IFMA) alliance partner. All SelecTech products are MAS Certified Green®. The company is headquartered at 33 Wales Avenue, Suite F in Avon, MA. For more information about SelecTech, visit http://www.selectechinc.com.
Certifiably green. SelecTech receives MAS Certified Green designationRead More
A Midwestern expansion. Spartan Surfaces to rep SelecTech products in Midwest
March 31, 2014 // by admin
AVON, MA and CHICAGO, IL…
SelecTech, Inc., a leader in the manufacture of innovative flooring products from recycled materials, announced an agreement with Spartan Surfaces to represent the company in the Midwest. This arrangement supplements an existing relationship between the two companies where Spartan Surfaces represents SelecTech in the Atlantic Coast region.
"We have had a very good working relationship with Spartan Surfaces since they began representing us last summer in the Atlantic Coast states," said Thomas Ricciardelli, president of SelecTech, Incorporated. "It just made sense to expand that relationship to give us superior representation in the Midwest.
Spartan Surfaces is a sales and consulting group specializing in commercial flooring alternatives. As part of the supplemental agreement, Spartan Surfaces will provide sales and marketing solutions for SelecTech in the Midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana and Iowa.
"SelecTech flooring solves the major issue regarding flooring, namely down time for installation. Because of the interlocking technology they use, you can install, repair or replace flooring without closing your operation or major moving of furniture and equipment," said Michael Blasek, LEED AP and managing partner of Spartan Surfaces-Chicago. "The added benefit that SelecTech products are greener–made mostly from recycled products—makes their products a winning proposition for companies looking to upgrade their flooring with a greener more efficient alternative."
To learn more about SelecTech products, including the FreeStyle and FreeStyle ESD flooring products, visit http://www.selectechinc.com. For more information on Spartan Surfaces, visit www.spartansurfaces.com.
A Midwestern expansion. Spartan Surfaces to rep SelecTech products in MidwestRead More
SelecTech has the floor at MedEd Facilities Expo, April 1 and 2
AVON, MA and BOSTON, MA…
SelecTech, Inc., a leader in the manufacture of innovative flooring products from recycled materials, recently announced it will be an exhibitor at Med Ed Facilities trade show this April 1-2 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. SelecTech will be manning space 729 in the Learning Center.
As part of its exhibit, SelecTech will be showcasing its FreeStyle line of commercial flooring products. In addition to employing SelecTech's patented interlocking technology—which eliminates the need for adhesive materials and minimizes down time—the FreeStyle is made of anti-static materials that are essential to healthcare and education institutions utilizing electronic data.
"In today's medical facilities, data can be every bit as important to saving lives as the medicine itself. Our FreeStyle and other ESD flooring products create an antistatic environment that safeguards critical information," said Thomas Ricciardelli, president of SelecTech, Inc. "We're hoping to reach as many building owners, building directors and facilities managers as possible to make them aware of the multi-faceted benefits of our ESD and other products."
Representing SelecTech at MedEd will be its New England manufacturing representative ProSpec Solutions of Westborough, Massachusetts.
In addition to exhibitors, MedEd features a number of speakers, networking opportunities and free sessions and special events. For complete information, visit http://www.mededboston.com.
SelecTech has the floor at MedEd Facilities Expo, April 1 and 2Read More
ASM Modular Systems and Selectech's StaticStop™ ESD Flooring division team up on new Flooring Technology Platform™ for StarNet
March 5, 2014 // by admin
Access flooring provided by ASM now available to Starnet members through a partnership with SelecTech, Inc.
AVON, MA and LADSON, SC…
StarNet Vendor Partners ASM Modular Systems, Inc. and the StaticStop™ division of SelecTech, Inc. have teamed up to provide StarNet's membership with the Flooring Technology Platform™. This innovative, hi-tech flooring solution, which includes ASM's low-profile access flooring and wire management systems, is topped off by StaticStop's FreeStyle ESD™ and Ohmstyle ESD™ static control floor coverings.
"SelecTech is thrilled to partner with ASM to create a complete system for wire management in critical data environments," said Thomas Ricciardelli, president of SelecTech. "For these environments, our static control technologies are a perfect match, providing the solution that these electronically sensitive areas require."
The ASM/StaticStop Flooring Technology Platform is an ideal alternative to more costly and less flexible permanent, hard-wired construction. It can be used efficiently in traditional raised access flooring applications such as telecommunication centers, data centers, air traffic control towers, and 911 communications facilities. Additionally, since ASM's low-profile access flooring system allows for easy renovations and retrofits in buildings with standard and low ceiling heights, it now enables the use of the "Flooring Technology Platform" in almost any building.
The new ASM/StaticStop initiative enables StarNet Members to offer unprecedented solutions to end-users desiring easy and flexible wire management for their power and data systems and proven advanced static control floor covering as an added measure of protection for those precious data systems.
The "Flooring Technology Platform" is engineered for quick and easy assembly. The low-profile access floor uses a quick-connect pedestal grid networked with snap-in, high strength, steel surface panels, which are prefabricated and installed using a mallet and basic cutting tools. The electrical systems are all plug-and-play and can be easily routed from a single electrical panel through the entire pedestal grid system to accommodate various space planning needs."
The Freestyle ESD™ flooring system consists of interlocking resilient floor tiles, which are perfectly engineered for installation over ASM's low-profile system. Freestyle ESD uses a patented interlock to create a free-floating conductive, or static dissipative, ESD floor system that is very easy to install and does not require the use of any adhesives. Freestyle ESD is also very easy to remove and replace, which allows for easy access to the underfloor wiring systems and for easy reconfigurations.
"Our Flooring Technology Platform, along with SelecTech's Freestyle ESD provides the best of all worlds, functionality, durability and good looks," said Jay Collins, of ASM. "We're proud to make this offering available to StarNet members."
The ASM/StaticStop "Flooring Technology Platform" was featured in the StarNet Healthcare 2.0 program, which was released in January 2014. The article demonstrated how demand for advanced wire management and static control is growing in US healthcare facilities, especially in new open-plan laboratories and in acute care facilities where cutting-edge electronic patient management systems are used. The article also focused on medical office buildings where new electronic record keeping systems may require updating power and data lines in existing office spaces.
For more information, please contact SelecTech, Inc. at 508-583-3200.
SelecTech, Inc. was founded in 1993 with the mission of recycling scrap plastics into products of value. The company has become a leader in the manufacture of modular resilient flooring products from recycled materials and reuses over one million pounds of recycled materials annually. Their products are made with up to 100 percent recycled content, are 100 percent recyclable.
Selectech's patented interlock system enables flooring to be installed quickly, without using adhesives and without a lot of downtime, which offers significant cost savings to customers. Using state-of-the-art technology and innovative product design, SelecTech created the top performing Place N' Go, a DIY residential flooring product, which is available at Home Depot Online. They are also the creators of the popular commercial and industrial FreeStyle, FreeStyle ESD and StaticStop ESD flooring lines.
About ASM Modular Systems
ASM is the fastest growing raised access flooring company in North America. ASM Modular Systems is part of the world's largest group of raised access floor manufacturers, owned and operated by Kingspan Group, plc. ASM is dedicated to manufacturing the highest quality raised flooring product while providing great customer service. ASM products undergo extensive testing and a thorough quality control assurance program, all meant to ensure that our customers receive the highest quality products available. For more information, visit http://www.asmproducts.com.
ASM Modular Systems and Selectech's StaticStop™ ESD Flooring division team up on new Flooring Technology Platform™ for StarNetRead More
Category: Client NewsTag: access flooring, anti-static, basement flooring, ESD flooring, ESD static
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Thu, 14:50: RT @colinpdempsey: Watching The Faculty and thinking of @djmrcurmudgeon story about it.
Thu, 14:56: RT @CSPesky: Remember when DVD players were new and all your friends wanted to do was watch the goddamn Matrix?
Thu, 17:31: RT @curlycomedy: Eating alone in a restaurant is just like eating alone at home except people yell at you to put your pants back on.
Fri, 10:10: Until people started telling me it was sad, I was just fine with not having gotten any Christmas gifts this year.


The next generation of the best-selling Range Rover Evoque was launched on November 22nd, bringing new life to one of Land Rover's all-time bestselling models.
The Range Rover Evoque, the vehicle that set the new design direction of Land Rover in motion in 2011, is finally moving into its second generation, taking serious design cues from the heralded Range Rover Velar.
Though the Evoque isn't exactly an adventure-mobile like some other Land Rover models, it's certainly carved out its own niche in the marketplace. Since it was launched seven years ago, 772,000 have been sold worldwide. It may be a little bit anathema to the traditional Land Rover line, but customers love them, and Land Rover's bottom line loves them even more.
At first glance, the Evoque looks like…the old Evoque. After Land Rover's recent drastic clean-sheet redesigns of the Range Rover line, Discovery, and Defender, it's odd to see something look almost the same. But then again, maybe not. The Evoque was the first vehicle to set Land Rover down the path of its new design direction, and the first generation's lines still look current as they were crafted into the other models. Instead, here we find the reductionist interpretation of this common design of the Velar trickling back to the former design leader, with cues from that vehicle like the flush-mount door handles and rear light bar showing up on the smaller Evoque.
Even though the aesthetic isn't too different, underneath the car is all-new; Land Rover made a point of saying that the only part carried over is the door hinges. The hinges are attached to doors with the flush-mounted retractable handles of the Velar, and the sheet metal is cleaner and simpler than the outgoing model, with fewer creases and character lines. The back doors are also a little bigger – the new vehicle gains just under an inch of wheelbase, added to the rear seat. There's also more cargo space.
Up front, the big feature on the dash is the dual-touchscreen infotainment and control system that has trickled from the Velar through the rest of the lineup. This includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, both features that Land Rover has been behind the competition in implementing. There's also a digital instrument cluster, common on Range Rovers since the early 2010s with the last L322 models. Gone also is the rotary gear selector that has been used on most Land Rover models the past few years (though notably never the Range Rover Sport).
Under the hood, there's a mild hybrid system on all vehicles in North America. This consist of a 48-volt hybrid system with an 8Ah lithium battery. This will always cut off the engine when traveling under 11 m.p.h., as opposed to start-stop technology which only shuts it off at a standstill. A starter-generator helps with needed oomph at these speeds. It also helps remove turbo lag and increases response in stop and go traffic. Here, we will get the 4-cylinder Ingenium engines and a 9-speed automatic gearbox.
The Evoque has never pretended it was a Defender, and although there was some emphasis on off-road capabilities at the launch, very few owners will use them. Nonetheless, it is likely relatively more capable than any other small luxury crossover. With this new generation, Land Rover hopes to crest a million overall sales for the Evoque in a few years. It shouldn't be hard at all.


text:
Heed the 'Warnings Placed Before Us'!
Beware of a Lack of Faith
Dire Consequences of Immorality
Do Not Disregard God-given Authority
Michael's Splendid Example
Execution of Divine Judgment upon the Ungodly
Putting Up a Hard Fight for the Faith
"Put Up a Hard Fight for the Faith"!
Bible Book Number 65—Jude
"All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial"
1, 2. The letter of Jude provides what in the way of instruction?
JEHOVAH is a God of warning. (2 Kings 17:12-15; Ezekiel 3:17-21) His people know that he does not wish to see anyone perish because of pursuing a course that leads to destruction. (Ezekiel 18:23, 32) And surely Jehovah's Witnesses are grateful that their heavenly Father warns, directs and saves those loving him.
2 The inspired letter of Jude provides both warning and direction. In the previous article we learned why Jude urged fellow believers to "put up a hard fight for the faith." Now let us give prayerful thought to his warnings from the past.—Romans 15:4.
3. Of what did Jude "desire to remind" fellow believers?
3 Jude proceeds with a warning related to faith, saying:
"I desire to remind you, despite your knowing all things once for all time, that Jehovah, although he saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed those not showing faith." (Jude 5)
Unless Christians successfully "put up a hard fight for the faith," they can lose an approved standing before Jehovah God. To prevent this, Jude 'desired to remind' imperiled fellow believers of things that they once learned and of how God dealt with unfaithful ones in times past.
4. How and why did Jehovah 'save' the enslaved Israelites?
4 In Jude verse five Jude first pointed out that Jehovah God "saved," or delivered, the enslaved Israelites from Egyptian bondage. God did so after they obediently observed the first Passover. The marvelous deliverance from Egypt was brought about by Jehovah because the once-enslaved people acted in faith.—Exodus 12:1-14, 31.
5. (a) What is symbolic Egypt, and on what basis does Jehovah save people from it? (b) For final salvation, what must Jehovah's dedicated witnesses do?
5 Comparably, Jehovah saves people from symbolic Egypt, the world of mankind alienated from him. (Revelation 11:8) He does this because in faith they recognize him as the God of their salvation and Jesus Christ as the antitypical passover Lamb whose blood buys them out of this world. (1 Corinthians 5:7) But to share in salvation, whether in heaven or on earth, a dedicated witness of Jehovah must remain faithful to Him and never apostatize and go back to this wicked world and its sinful bondage, even as the liberated Israelites were not to return to Egypt. (Deuteronomy 17:16; Matthew 24:13) Unceasing faith is vital, for although having "saved" a people out of Egypt, Jehovah "afterwards destroyed those not showing faith," those wanting to return to Egypt or to Egyptian ways. (Compare 1 Corinthians 10:1-12; Exodus 32:4-6; Numbers 25:1-18; 21:4-9; 14:35-38.) Surely, then, for final salvation Jehovah's dedicated witnesses today must maintain their faith.—Hebrews 3:12, 13.
6. (a) What was the "original position" of the angels, and what is their "proper dwelling place"? (b) Sin of what kind was committed by certain angels? (c) How did the sinful course of the rebellious angels compare with that of the "ungodly men" mentioned by Jude?
6 Giving a second warning example, Jude wrote:
"And the angels that did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place he has reserved with eternal bonds under dense darkness for the judgment of the great day." (Jude 6)
Angels were created as spirit creatures, having the prospect of eternal life in heaven. (Psalm 103:20; 104:4; Hebrews 1:7) That was their beginning, their "original position." "Their own proper dwelling place," or intended habitation, was in the invisible heavens. But certain angels presumptuously forsook their proper heavenly home. The apostle Peter said that they "sinned," and immediately thereafter he cited events of Noah's day. (2 Peter 2:4, 5) This draws attention to the preflood time when "the sons [the fifth-century Alexandrine Manuscript of the Septuagint Version says "angels"] of the true God," apparently by materializing fleshly bodies, disobediently took good-looking women as wives. (Genesis 6:1, 2) Since cohabitation with women was unnatural for spirit creatures, these angels sinned by yielding to what for them was totally wrong desire. (James 1:13-15) Similarly, the "ungodly men" of whom Jude spoke desired to have immoral relations with persons of the opposite sex.
7, 8. (a) What has happened to the disobedient angels? (b) Hence, what must we do to remain in a saved condition?
7 What happened to the disobedient angels served as a warning to Christians of Jude's day, and serves as a warning to Jehovah's Witnesses of modern times. Although those angels could escape death in the deluge by dematerializing, they were prevented from returning to their "original position" as holy spirit creatures enjoying the light of God's counsel and approval. Rather, they have been reserved with "eternal bonds," with God's powers of restraint, until the divine "judgment of the great day" of their destruction. Meanwhile, there is no indication that they can materialize fleshly bodies, and they remain out of Jehovah's service, in dense spiritual darkness, in so-called Tartarus.—2 Peter 2:4.
8 Inasmuch as disobedient angels are not exempt from falling to their destruction, Jehovah's Witnesses today realize that they can remain in a saved condition only by 'putting up a hard fight for the faith.' We must, indeed, resist any humans who would go beyond God-given boundaries and seek to defile flesh.
9, 10. (a) Inhabitants of Sodom and nearby cities were guilty of what moral sins? (b) What warning example was furnished by Sodom, Gomorrah and surrounding cities?
9 Giving a third warning example, Jude says:
"So too Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them, after they in the same manner as the foregoing ones had committed fornication excessively and gone out after flesh for unnatural use, are placed before us as a warning example by undergoing the judicial punishment of everlasting fire." (Jude 7)
"Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them" apparently included Admah and Zeboiim and perhaps other towns in the District. Due to the wickedness of their inhabitants, by a rain of sulfur and fire from heaven Jehovah overthrew all these cities except Zoar, to which "righteous Lot" and his daughters fled. (2 Peter 2:6-10; Genesis 14:2; 19:18-29; Deuteronomy 29:22, 23) By using the words rendered "so too," Jude apparently associated what happened to those cities with what occurred in the case of the disobedient angels, who had done something unnatural for spirit creatures by taking women as wives. Here The Jerusalem Bible reads: "The fornication of Sodom and Gomorrah and the other nearby towns was equally unnatural." Their inhabitants not only committed fornication with women but satiated their lust for men and perhaps even for beasts. (Compare Leviticus 18:22-25.) A mob of men and boys in Sodom lusted for sexual relations with Lot's guests whom the mob took for men, but were foiled when the two visiting angels struck them with blindness, thereafter rescuing Lot from the doomed city.—Genesis 19:1-17.
10 Sodom, Gomorrah and surrounding cities furnished a warning example "by undergoing [Jehovah God's] judicial punishment of everlasting fire," eternal destruction. The charred ruins of at least Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim are thought to lie under the waters of the southern portion of the Salt (Dead) Sea or in that region. So neither they nor their inhabitants are still burning. Apparently the cities themselves, rather than all their inhabitants, were everlastingly destroyed, for it seems that at least some individuals once residing there will be resurrected. (Matthew 10:15; 11:24; Revelation 20:12, 13) But what happened to those degraded cities is a dramatic warning against immoral conduct, one to be heeded by Jehovah's Witnesses today.
11. How did the "ungodly men" who had slipped in among God's people compare with the degraded people of Sodom and surrounding cities?
11 Jude next referred to the "ungodly men" and said:
"In like manner, notwithstanding, these men, too, indulging in dreams, are defiling the flesh and disregarding lordship and speaking abusively of glorious ones." (Jude 8)
"In like manner," or, apparently, in the same way that the degraded people of Sodom and surrounding cities polluted their flesh with loose and unnatural sexual relations, so the evil-intentioned men who slipped in among God's people defiled the fleshly body. They had no regard for apostolic counsel to "flee from fornication."—1 Corinthians 6:18-20.
12. (a) How were the ungodly intruders "indulging in dreams"? (b) What is in store for unrepentant practicers of immorality?
12 Those intruders were also "indulging in dreams," perhaps because they sought to uphold their views with feigned prophetic dreams. (Compare 2 Peter 2:1; Deuteronomy 13:1-5.) For that matter, their dreams might have involved impure sexual fantasies, or this expression may mean that their teachings were mere "delusions." (JB) In any event, those "ungodly men" looked for ways to further their opportunities for sexual immorality and thought they could get away with unclean conduct. Let none of Jehovah's Witnesses today fall into that trap! The Supreme Judge unquestionably executes judgment upon unrepentant practicers of immorality.—Genesis 18:25.
13. What attitude did the immoral 'dreamers' have toward divinely constituted authority?
13 Those immoral 'dreamers' also 'disregarded lordship and spoke abusively of glorious ones.' They arrogantly despised divinely constituted authority. (Proverbs 21:4; 2 Peter 2:10) Like the disobedient angels, those men had a rebellious spirit and deserved adverse judgment because they actually had no regard for the Universal Sovereign and his beloved Son.
14. Who were the "glorious ones"?
14 Those ungodly persons also spoke abusively of "glorious ones" (literally, "of glories"), evidently those who had certain glory conferred upon them by Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. (John 17:22; 1 Peter 4:12-14) Of course, since such glory, or honor, came from God, no direct credit was to be given to the favored persons on earth who enjoyed it. However, all of Jehovah's Witnesses should respect such "glory" and speak of it accordingly, with chief regard for Jehovah God.—1 Samuel 2:30.
15. (a) How did the flesh-defiling 'dreamers' speak about "glorious ones"? (b) What should we do if we have even a tendency to disregard God-given authority?
15 Certainly, those of Christ's anointed followers who serve faithfully as appointed Christian overseers have had glory, or honor, conferred upon them. Fellow Witnesses should cooperate with them and support them in God's service. Let us not be like the flesh-defiling 'dreamers' of Jude's day who despised Jehovah's lordship and did not respect glories from him, but talked abusively about those clothed with such glories. (Compare 3 John 9, 10.) So, if we have even a tendency to disregard God-given authority, may we prayerfully seek Jehovah's help in adjusting our viewpoint.
16. What contrast was there between the archangel Michael and the disrespectful 'dreamers'?
16 For our benefit, Jude cites a splendid example, stating:
"But when Michael the archangel had a difference with the Devil and was disputing about Moses' body, he did not dare to bring a judgment against him in abusive terms, but said: 'May Jehovah rebuke you.'" (Jude 9)
What a contrast there was between the disrespectful 'dreamers' and Michael the archangel who became our Lord Jesus Christ! (Compare Proverbs 8:22-31; John 6:62; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 16.) In speaking abusively of God's servants, the ungodly 'dreamers' took liberties that even Jehovah's Son did not take when disputing with Satan over the body of the Hebrew prophet Moses. There is no earlier Scriptural record of this dispute. But in some undisclosed manner Jude received this information and recorded it for our benefit.
17. (a) In the dispute over Moses' body, what did Michael not do, and why? (b) How did Michael set Jehovah's people an example of respect for divine authority?
17 Possibly, the Devil wanted Moses' dead body so as to start a religious cult around it and thus corrupt Jehovah's people. Yet Michael did not resort to bringing a judgment against the Devil in abusive terms. Michael "did not dare" to do so because of having proper fear of Jehovah. Nor did he run ahead of Jehovah's appointed time for dealing with Satan. (Revelation 12:7-9; 20:1-3, 7-10) Instead, God's beloved Son showed respect for the Supreme Judge and accorded him the right to rebuke the Devil. Hence, Michael told Satan: "May Jehovah rebuke you." Although Michael's statements were not harsh, he showed power by keeping control of Moses' body, and Jehovah buried the prophet in an unmarked grave. (Deuteronomy 34:1-6) Surely, in all of this God's Son set Jehovah's people a splendid example of respect for divine authority. May we follow it.
18. Why can it be said that the would-be flesh defilers lacked spirituality?
18 By way of contrast, Jude next said:
"Yet these men are speaking abusively of all the things they really do not know; but all the things that they do understand naturally like the unreasoning animals, in these things they go on corrupting themselves." (Jude 10)
Although the would-be flesh defilers were so inferior to Michael, who would not bring a judgment against Satan in abusive terms, they spoke abusively not only of "glorious ones" but also "of all the [spiritual] things they really [did] not know" or understand. "Not having spirituality" (Jude 19), they could not comprehend spiritual matters. (1 Corinthians 2:6-16) Jehovah's thoughts, ways, dealings and activities were foreign to such "ungodly men."
19. How were the "ungodly men" like "unreasoning animals"?
19 Out of respect for Jehovah God, neither the archangel Michael nor the other righteous angels speak abusively of those upon whom God has bestowed certain glory. But these "ungodly men" did so because they had surrendered fully to animalistic passions. They understood not spiritual things but only what appealed to their fleshly passions. So, like animals that mind only the flesh, they sought the gratification of the fallen flesh. Those men, intent on satisfying base sensual desires, 'corrupted themselves' in fleshly sins. Thus they showed themselves to be no better than "unreasoning animals born naturally to be caught and destroyed" without any hope of resurrection.—2 Peter 2:9-13.
20. In view of Jude's words considered thus far, what course should loyal witnesses of Jehovah pursue?
20 How vital that Jehovah's Witnesses today completely resist false teachers, would-be flesh defilers and those disregarding divinely constituted authority! Yet, if the counsel thus far considered in Jude's letter reveals a degree of error in our individual attitudes or ways, may we hasten to change our course, prayerfully seeking the aid of our heavenly Father. And may we ever benefit spiritually because of heeding the 'warnings placed before us.'
(Our consideration of the letter of Jude will be concluded in the next issue of The Watchtower.)
Can you recall these points?
□ How does the experience of the ancient Israelites prove that we must have unceasing faith to attain salvation?
□ The disobedient angels provide us with what warning example?
□ Sodom, Gomorrah and surrounding cities furnish what warning for Christians?
□ Why must we not disregard divinely constituted authority?
□ What example of respect for authority did the archangel Michael set, and so how should we act?
Even as God "saved a people out of . . . Egypt," Christians have been saved from this wicked world. But unceasing faith is required for final salvation
What happened to Sodom and surrounding cities is a warning against immoral conduct


We're just getting back from our Oregon vacation and I'm gonna warn you now that I like to take pictures so I'm hijacking this blog for the week with plenty of Oregon eye candy.
We had so much darn fun in Oregon! Have you ever been? If not, stop reading this and go book a trip. Seriously. It is breathtakingly amazing. And don't tell California, but it's my new favorite. Scott and I talked through ALL of the reasons why we should pack up our bags and move and let me tell you, the list is long. We loved every single minute of our vacation and if it weren't for those sweet babies at home, we likely would still be there.
The city is just fantastic and the people there....ssshesh...just so crazy nice. Everyone we met was the best. From Uber drivers to waiters to random homeless people on the street. Sweet as pie.
Most of our time in Portland was spent walking. I have blisters on my feet as proof just in case you were interested. Portland is a walking city and they really make it so easy to get all of over town. We started our first day with what is called the 4T. Basically it's taking a train, trail, tram and trolley all over town. It took us about 3 or so hours and yep. I wore my flip flops (this will be a common occurrence if you make it all of the way through these posts and I apologize now).
We loved the 4T and apparently it's not really well known amongst tourists. I heard someone tell me it's the "secret walking tour", so if you go, Google it and find out more. It will not disappoint (but flip flops will...).
We stayed in the Westin right downtown and really loved being immersed in the city. We walked all over, ate at lots of yummy places and enjoyed every minute.
Before we went, I asked on Instagram for suggestions for places to go while we were in Portland and I think we hit up every spot that was recommended. Our faves were: Blue Star Doughnuts (hands down better than Voodoo Doughnuts), Imperial (absolutely amazing), Caffe Mingo (cute, quaint, yummy), Portland City Grill (for the view, not so much the food).
Blue Star rocked it. So good. Those two "old fashioned" in the bottom left hand corner?? I ate both of those. Oh...and the blueberry one, and maybe the chocolate one....and that maple bacon, lemon poppy seed....yikes. I'm going to the gym now.
And not to get into a phone love-fest, but I almost exclusively used my iPhone for this trip. I love my big camera something fierce, but that thing is big, bulky and heavy. I wondered if I would regret not lugging it around, but nope. Phone photos rock. The end.
Part II coming tomorrow...stay tuned.


Pros: Good performance; attractive price; very ease to use with a well designed user interface.
Cons: 1TB storage might not be enough for some people and some business users will prefer an extra-secure RAID option.
LaCie's Network Space 2 is well priced, neatly designed and easy to use. It's currently only available with 1TB of storage, but that should be more than adequate for small studios looking to share projects. There's a USB port on the front of the unit that allows you to connect another hard drive if you need more space for your work.
Interestingly, there is a second USB port on the back of the drive, but this is used to connect it directly to your computer if you need to – and you can even partition the drive to reserve some disk space just for use over the USB connection. However, its compact, glossy casing houses a single hard drive, which means that there's no RAID option. Creatives who want the extra security of a RAID drive will prefer rival models.
The real strength of the Network Space 2 is its ease of use. LaCie's Network Assistant program displays a little drop-down menu in the main menu bar on your Mac desktop that makes it very easy to set up. As well as automatically connecting to the drive, this menu also allows you to specify that individual folders on the drive will be displayed on your desktop.
For more detailed configuration settings the Assistant opens up a well designed, easy to use web interface. The Network Space 2 performs well, completing our backup test in a snappy 17 minutes. Some business users will prefer a NAS drive that provides RAID security and a wider range of features – but the competitive price and admirable simplicity make it an excellent choice for smaller design studios.