"Something happened. Something really bad. A customer really tried to hurt us, and they almost succeeded. It's a notorious story around these halls, ask anyone the name of that customer and they'll tell you."
What happens when one bad incident spoils customer service for all your other customers? When a terrible thing happens in customer service often a new process is created in order to protect the company in the future. But those stricter policies come at a cost to the company's relationship with its customers. Companies risk going overboard and ruining the relationships they have with their best customers.
Furthermore, consumers are every bit as dishonest as marketers. They lie all the time. You make a sales pitch and they tell you they want to think about it. LIE. They don't. Ask about their budget and they always understate it. Ask, 'May I help you' and they say, 'Just looking.' These are just the cliches. Point is, we're all comfortable with the deceptions. We all willingly participate. And it is part of human nature, so it's not likely to change.
This reader has clearly had some unfavorable interactions with customers. So how does a company avoid becoming cynical? The work suffers when the employees don't like and don't trust customers. Do you think customers can't tell when you don't like them? Trust me they can! It comes across in your attitude in helping them. A poor attitude toward customers reflects in your corporate culture, and in turn the customer experience.
But it's not always the company that loses trust in the customer. Sometimes the customer loses trust in the company.
A recent example comes from the auto-maker Volkswagen (VW) that misled customers about the environmental efficiency of their automobiles. Employees within the company altered the software of the cars so it would pass emission standards. It was found the engines actually emitted nitrogen oxide pollutants up to 40 times above what is allowed in the US.
The picture of VW stock for the last five days isn't pretty.
So why'd they do it? These short-sighted decisions usually come down to quarterly profits at the high cost of customer trust. The investigation will take much longer than expected leaving shareholders and customers in the dark for months. Whatever the reason I can assure you it was not worth it. This will not only cost the company up to 30B dollars, it will be a huge blow to the German economy.
VW Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn said his company had "broken the trust of our customers and the public." It will be hard for this company to climb out of this mess. Nothing is ever worth risking your relationship with your customers.
If your customers don't trust you, they won't be your customers for long. Another competitor is lurking on the sidelines waiting to disrupt your business that is likely ripe for disrupting.
Without customer trust you don't have a business at all. Let's avoid another VW situation by looking at some things a company can do well to ensure strong, long-lasting relationships with customers based on transparency and integrity. Here are my four tips!
I am a big fan of Yelp! and Airbnb. Both websites have ratings and reviews from customers. Reviews and ratings are very important for your business no matter the size. 68% of customers trust online opinions from other consumers, which is up 7% from 2007 in 2014 and places online opinions as the third most trusted source of product information. I personally swear by them for almost everything I buy. It's not the worst thing in the world if you get a bad review. I personally find it very moving when a customer gives the provider a poor review and the provider responds with all the ways they want to fix it. Sometimes you have a disgruntled customer who does not come back to the site after posting a negative review. However it's clear the provider tried to fix the issue for the customer with everything in their power. They're smart to do this. We all know what can happen when a company refuses to believe they've ever done anything wrong (see this episode of Kitchen Nightmares with Amy's Baking Company and what happened afterward). You know what's powerful? Saying "sorry." Additionally making efforts to fix problems for customers is hugely important. Being vulnerable online by apologizing to the customer can fix any incident of customer rage.
Have you ever eaten out and your waiter clearly isn't excited about serving you? It puts a bad taste in your mouth. Bad service will absolutely ruin the customer's experience with your brand. For example, there is a very nice cafe near where I live. They have wonderful unique baked goods and good coffee. But the wifi isn't good and the hipster who works at the cashier always acts like she's doing me a favor to take my coffee order. She avoids eye contact and takes orders in an unenthusiastic monotone voice. Unfortunately because of this lame service experience I avoid this bakery (even though the baker used to be a personal chef to Michael Jackson!). No matter what your product or service you will not be successful without phenomenal customer-facing people. A 10% increase in customer satisfaction score results in a 12% increase in trust from customers. It's not magic. Good service makes a difference.
While it's possible the airline industry will be disrupted at some point soon by the sharing economy, today airlines can still compete on loyalty programs. For example in my house we only fly United Airlines. And it's not because the airline is that much above any other airline. However they have a good rewards program and we chose them a few years ago and have kept with them due to our status.
If you're like me than you also take advantage of points programs. I spend money on my Chase Marriott card only because of the points I accrue. Do you reward your customers for their loyalty? Too many companies hand out rewards with caveats. These are not truly rewards, they are sad attempts at engaging customers. For example is 15% off an ice cream scoop on your birthday truly a loyalty program? I don't think so!
A loyalty program should make a tangible impact on a customer's life. Nielsen found that 76 percent of North American consumers are more likely to choose retailers that offer loyalty programs. And it's not just in the U.S. The percentage is even higher in Asia (92%) and Latin America (82%).
As a sidenote, disruptors if you are listening I would love to be able to spend money on a credit card and have it work toward my Airbnb or Uber accounts!
I wrote an article about how most consumers don't like social media marketing. Marketers are still working very hard to insert themselves in customer's screens without permission. Customers hate it! In fact I'm sure the very marketers that put video ads at the beginning of YouTube videos are the same ones that try and mute or skip through ads as just like their customers do. Can we all agree we hate being interrupted by traditional advertising? Many of us would much rather pay with our wallets than our eyeballs for the content we consume. Customers hate advertising! In one study it was found that only 2% of UK customers trust advertising the most as a source of information when choosing a product or service. As mentioned earlier, customers trust other customers. If you work hard on making a good product and you take care of the customer once they leave your store with that product, customers will rave about you. This is the best advertising you will get.
What would you add? Please share in the comments section below.
Subscribe to the Customer Experience Weekly newsletter here for more from Blake Morgan.


The original Summer Sampler Series, hosted by Katie at Swim, Bike, Quilt, Faith at Fresh Lemons Quilts, and Lee at Freshly Pieced.
This is a quilt along based on blocks in Barbara Brackman's book The Encyclopedia Of Pieced Quilt Patterns.
Fabric Requirements: We estimate that each 12-1/2" (unfinished) quilt block will take the equivalent of a fat quarter to make; three yards of printed fabric and two yards of solids should be more than enough.
Summer Sampler Quilt Along Flickr Group: We'd love to see your fabric selections, process shots, and answer any questions through the Summer Sampler Series Flickr group.
Teachers, shop owners, and guilds: Would you like to teach the Summer Sampler Series as a class, or run it as a block-of-the-month series? Purchasing copies of the Summer Sampler Series Anthology for all of your participants gives you full permission to teach the series publicly, and we offer discount pricing on the purchase of four or more copies. Email Lee, Katie, or myself for more information.


Organising events for your little ones can sometimes be stressful, especially if the goal is to keep them happy and engaged on special occasions. Face painting can be very instrumental keeping everyone amused.
A fun loving face painting activity that I started few months back, following my passion, turned me into a professional face painter. There is nothing better than turning your passion into profession, and I am therefore offering to provide face painting services at children's birthday parties, fetes, fun-days and festivals, not to mention the diverse range of company or charity events, or any other special occasions.
Safety stands at the top on my priority list, hence I invest in best of best paints from trusted brands albeit at reduced profit margins. I am offering first few bookings for low cost to make my foot print in this arena. I am very flexible, accommodative and available on weekends and evenings to provide my services for any events, and if you are interested and want to know more information then please get in touch.
There are umpteen face painting colleagues out there in the market, and I truly believe that we can't draw comparisons on one's creativity, and I am happy to share workload with any of my colleagues.
Pradnya's Arty Chums 5 out of 5, 1 based on 3 ratings 3 user reviews.
Booked Pradnya for my daughters christening/3rd birthday party. Arrived on time, very reasonable rates. Was great with the children and very accommodating. The children loved her and their face painting. Thank you for helping our daughters day to be a memorable experience. Highly recommended and would definitely book, again!
Pradnya came to my daughters 4th Birthday party today (20/06/2015) i have nothing but praise, we had 16 kids in total and all loved the face painting. Would recommend to everyone & once again thank you.
Just wanted to say a huge thanks for your face painting efforts at our kids birthday parties. Both of them had a ball and the face painting you did for them and all their freinds was absolutely first class. There were clearly many children at the party, but you did your utmost to cater to everyone .None of the designs were repeated and all the kids looked stunningly unique in their own way. You were in great demand and all the kids and their parents commented how great they looked/ felt. I cannot believe you have only started this as a career ! Having seen your work on 4 separate occasions/ events so far , you are clearly a pro - once again many thanks for making our kids party even more memorable and keep up the excellent work.


discount wood fence panels price - WPC Deck BoardShop Wood Fence Panels & Gates at Lowes.com Shop a variety of quality Wood Fence Panels & Gates and Outdoors that are available for purchase online or in store.
Cedar Fence Panels | Wooden Fence Panels | Big Red CedarAll cedar wood fence panels feature full 2x4 cedar frame construction and are available in a variety ... Western Red Cedar Fence Panels. ... but cost is also a factor.
Wholesale Wood Fence Panels - dhgate.comFind the best selection of wood fence panels here at Dhgate.com. Source cheap and high quality products in ... for wood fence panels .
wood fence panels wholesale - AlibabaWood Fence Panels Wholesale, ... Tags: Waterproof Wpc Wood Plastic Composite Fence Panels | Low Price Wpc Wood Plastic Composite Fence Panels. Compare .


text:
Gold Creek Map - House Numbers, Street Names
Garbage and Recycle Bin Collection Schedule
General Info and Neighborhood History
CC&Rs - Declaration
Architectural Control Committee - Rules and Procedures
SECTOR 2A AT SNOHOMISH CASCADE ASSOCIATION (Gold Creek Sector 2a)
MINUTES OF THE MONTHLY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
SECTOR 2A AT SNOHOMISH CASCADE ASSOCIATION
7:00 PM WEDNESDAY January, 11, 2006
CALL TO ORDER / APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Jen Stout called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM. Present were Jen Stout, Bill Steenis, Amy Key, Steve Yandl, John Patterson, Betty Malowney and Bill Malowney.
Steve Yandl asked to waive a formal reading of the December minutes which had been posted on the web page with no corrections made after posting. John Patterson made the motion to accept the December minutes, Amy Key seconded and the motion passed 7 – 0.
VOTE UPDATE
Steve Yandl reported that as of meeting time, 99 ballots had been received. Additionally, 24 checks had been received without a ballot. Amy Key reported that she has received approximately 10 checks without ballots at the PO box.
Of the current ballots, 90 have voted to approve the budget, 82 proxies have been awarded and 93 have voted for the amendment to the declaration that would expand the list of allowable roofing materials.
Since it is likely the homeowners who send in checks without ballots either forgot to vote or didn't plan to vote, several board members volunteered to phone those people with reminders to send in a ballot.
NEW BUSINESS – PAPERWORK RETENTION
Steve Yandl proposed some guidelines for retention of documents so we can avoid having to store huge amounts of paper that was of no value. Items that still have important reference or archival value such as original copies of each version of governing documents and meetings of minutes would still be retained indefinitely, either on paper or digital media. Financial records would still be retained in accordance with the RCW and good accounting practices.
The proposed retention times were for ballots received from the membership. Before any ballots are disposed of, the association's attorney will be consulted to be certain any time frame for retention was legally appropriate. If the attorney so advises, any of the approved retention periods will be automatically extended in our rules.
Ballots where one or more of the issues voted on was an amendment to the Declaration(CC&Rs), waiver of the requirement for an annual audit or any other issue requiring a super majority would be retained at least five years.
Ballots where one or more of the issues was to approve a special assessment or to recall an Officer or Director on the Board would be retained for at least three years.
Ballots where the only issues are budget ratification, award of proxy, or election of new Directors to the Board would be retained two years.
Bill Steenis made the motion to accept the policy laid out in (2) above, John Patterson seconded the motion and it was approved 7 – 0.
Amy Key had emailed copies of our standard financial reports to each board member earlier. That set of reports should be considered part of these minutes.
Amy reported that one of our CDs (at 2.75% interest) was up for renewal. Since there would be no significant change in interest by renewing for a longer time period, Amy planned to simply let the bank do an automatic renewal. Bill Steenis suggested that Amy might just call the bank and request that they offer us a better interest deal to see if they're willing to do a bit extra to retain our accounts.
Amy had prepared a $100 advance payment for the Everett post office so that Trina or anyone else bulk mailing the newsletter would not have to produce a check and submit the expense for reimbursement.
Amy commented that if we have ongoing advertising revenue from the newsletter, we might have to file a new tax return although the amounts were small enough we probably would not owe tax. Steve Yandl commented that we're only billing advertisers who don't live in Sector 2A and the money received was a trivial amount established to partially offset some of the production costs involved in the newsletter.
MAINTENANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
Bill Malowney reported that he has had to use special solvent to clean paint of mailboxes multiple times. His hope is that vigilant erasure of this "tagging" will eventually discourage the young vandals. There seems to be a common "signature" used on multiple boxes. For the boxes that have been physically damaged, cost of replacement with a sturdy sheet steel version will cost approximately $1400 per unit.
John Patterson inquired if consideration had ever been given to placing one or more streetlights at the boat park parking area to limit vandalism and other inappropriate nighttime activities there. Bill Malowney reported that in the past he had checked with the PUD and they would install a light if we had available electricity and agreed to a long term contract. He did not remember the minimum time length for the contract but said the monthly cost was approximately $15. John Patterson made the motion that Bill investigate the particulars and if the cost per light was around $20 or less per month that he go ahead and sign a contract for whatever the required time span is. Steve Yandl seconded the motion and it passed 7 – 0. The suggestion was made that Bill check if it was possible for the PUD to include shielding to minimize the amount of light hitting the homes of those living adjacent to the park area.
Bill reported that since the last meeting, Brian Skinner has anchored the picnic tables to the ground so they can't be removed from the vicinity.
Mulching common areas with bark is being completed. Two new rocks are being added to the boat park parking area perimeter and five new plantings added in addition to the turf repair already completed.
Boy Scout Troop 91 completed Christmas tree shredding and mulched a significant portion (spread about 110 yds of mulch) of the path east of 72nd Dr. plus part of the path opposite from 156th St.
We discussed giving Skinner the go-ahead to improve the ends sections of the gravel trail that passes between lots 3-0-083 and 3-0-082 and between 3-0-030 and 3-0-031 as discussed at the December meeting. His quote of approximately $1800 appears competitive based on the procedure for laying down the pavers and moving existing gravel as detailed in his quotation. Bill Steenis made the motion to approve the project, Steve Yandl seconded and the motion passed 7 – 0.
Steve Yandl brought up a request from Brian Skinner that he be paid 50% in advance for jobs of $1000 or more. Bill Malowney was opposed based on the fact that Brian has generally been paid very soon after the completion of any job. Amy was asked to continue paying Skinner in a timely manner and we may consider paying an advance if there were ever a significant purchase of supplies required in advance but there was little interest in changing our current policy with regard to payments to Skinner Landscaping.
ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL COMMITTEE REPORT
Bill Malowney reported for Trina Coleman who was unable to attend. The problem sheds that needed to be removed appear to all be gone.
Notification of the homeowner with two unlicensed vehicles (no license on one, expired tags on the other) stored and probably being worked on in the driveway has not been done but a letter will be sent soon.
Several homeowners who need to paint sheds have been granted time extensions because of the weather. There is also a homeowner who needs to paint but insisted they wanted to choose a color different from the house but now has ignored the deadline to submit a proposed color so they've been sent a letter advising them of the commencement of a $25 per day fine that will increase if the matter is not resolved in 30 days.
Bill asked the Board for views on how to deal with an owner on 72nd with a car in the driveway that is under a car cover (wrap) and rarely if ever moved. Bill's opinion is that this car is being stored. There were mixed views and the discussion was tabled for the time being.
Bill reported that he had contacted John Hanson earlier in the day to see if he still planned to attend the board meeting and make his case for his non concrete driveway and the temporary cover with metal roof for sheltering his parked boat. Apparently he forgot about the meeting but assured Bill he would attend the February meeting to make his presentation. Bill wanted to send John a letter advising him that the Board agreed to grant him the time extension but if he failed to attend the meeting (Feb 8) or correct the violation by then fines of $100 per day would commence. There were no objections to Bill sending that letter.
Bill feels that we still appear to have many people totally disregarding the trash and recycle container policy. If containers remain visible in the front yard on the Tuesday following a Friday pickup, he feels a small fine of $25 is warranted. Bill said the fine would be imposed on those who had received prior warning for the same issue. Steve Yandl shared a concern from Trina Coleman on whether or not large plastic tool bins on the side of the house should be considered under the same policy as for trash and recycle bins. Since we were not certain of the house Trina was using as a reference we tabled this part of the discussion. There were no objections to the proposed fine particularly if the infraction was observed more than 48 hours past the scheduled pickup day.
HOLIDAY DECORATION AWARDS
Bill Steenis reported the program was a success.
All but one sign were recovered.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:29 PM

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Biosolutions EVAPO-RUST™ is an award-winning rust remover that easily powers through heavy corrosion revealing metal that looks brand-new again. Free of dangerous VOCs, solvents, acids, and bases, EVAPO-RUST™ is a people-safe, eco-friendly rust solution for a wide variety of metals.
Winner of an R&D 100 award for Cleaning Technology and listed among the Top 100 Inventions for Outstanding Technology in Industrial Cleaning, EVAPO-RUST™ has been lauded as a highly effective non-toxic, non-corrosive, and non-flammable solution to ferrous oxide (red rust).
EVAPO-RUST™ removes rust quickly and safely requiring no gloves, masks, or protective eye wear in the process. Simply soak the corroded part in EVAPO-RUST™, rinse, and dry. Rust is easily removed in as little as 5 minutes without any sanding or scrubbing necessary. EVAPO-RUST™ rust removing solution can be used several times before it's spent and, in most cases, can be safely disposed of down the drain.
Effective with a wide variety of metals and applications.
EVAPO-RUST™ is appropriate for use on a wide variety of metals, including steel, brass, copper, aluminum, gold, lead, titanium, steel, and cast iron, making it a useful tool in the automotive service and metal fabrication industries.
Can I put used EVAPO-RUST™ in the same container with new EVAPO-RUST™?
Mixing the used EVAPO-RUST™ in the same storage container with new EVAPO-RUST™ is not a problem. Still, it is highly recommended that you strain or filter out any solid particles from the used portion prior to storing. While mixing both products will result in a darker color, the solution can still be reused.
With EVAPO-RUST™, do parts have to be completely clean before immersion?
EVAPO-RUST™ contains detergents that penetrate oils and dirt. Still, surface contaminants do slow the process. The soils must be penetrated before EVAPO-RUST™ can come in contact with the rust underneath. Soil residue will also shorten the life of EVAPO-RUST™. Heavy greases and cosmoline should be removed prior to de-rusting.
Will EVAPO-RUST™ remove bluing and other oxide finishes?
EVAPO-RUST™ will remove these in about 30 minutes. Anodizing will not be removed. Powder coating and paint will not be removed as long as the paints do not contain oxides.
Can I clean brass, copper, and aluminum with EVAPO-RUST™?
EVAPO-RUST™ will not clean any of these metals. Conversely, EVAPO-RUST™ will not damage any of these metals. EVAPO-RUST™ will not harm rubber, plastic, glass, or clothing either.
I get a black film on some parts after using EVAPO-RUST™. What is it and how do I remove it?
The black is carbon removed from the steel. Generally, high carbon steel is used in making items that are flexible (e.g. springs, saw blades). When de-rusted, high carbon steel and tool alloy steel items will have a darker appearance. Much of the carbon can be removed simply by wiping with a cloth.
Can I spray EVAPO-RUST™ on the rusted area?
No, EVAPO-RUST™ only works in liquid form. When sprayed on a surface, the water in the solution will evaporate before de-rusting can be completed.


text:
LA Galaxy sign Raheem Edwards to three-year contract
By Patrick Felts
Los Angeles Galaxy sign Raheem Edwards to three-year contract / Katharine Lotze/GettyImages
LA Galaxy have signed experienced midfielder Raheem Edwards to a contract through the 2024 season with a club option for 2025, the team announced Friday.
The Toronto native holds a United States green card, meaning he will not occupy an international roster spot.
In six MLS seasons, Edwards has recorded 92 regular-season appearances for Toronto FC, Chicago Fire FC, CF Montréal, Minnesota United FC and LAFC. He has five goals and 13 assists in his MLS career.
The midfielder previously played for Galaxy manager Greg Vanney at his hometown Toronto FC in 2016 and 2017.
Edwards has made four appearances and three starts for the senior Candian Men's National Team, all in friendly competition and most recently in 2018 against New Zealand.
Now, the MLS veteran makes the move crosstown from LAFC to Galaxy.
"Raheem is a versatile and dynamic player who is ready for another big step in his career," Vanney said in a release. "We are thrilled to bring in a player of Raheem's quality and experience within MLS to the Galaxy and I expect him to be a key contributor for our club."
LA Galaxy's 2022 season begins February 27 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, against reigning MLS Cup champions New York City FC.


text:
Striking Gold: Don't sleep on the Denver Nuggets
Remember this guy?
Neither do we.
A year after being drafted Nikola Jokic made his more-or-less-forgettable NBA debut. He averaged 10 points and seven rebounds on a nondescript team that finished 33-49, tied for 10th in the Western Conference. Jokic's contributions were enough to earn him All-Rookie 1st Team honors, but nobody really knew who he was.
There was something intriguing about Jokic's game. He had a basketball I.Q. that was far higher than most 21-year-olds. He also averaged 2.4 assists that season – seventh in the league among centers. Little did we know, the Nuggets were just scratching the surface.
Year two of the Jokic Project started with a failed experiment. Denver was still clinging to the idea that they could play both Jokic and Jusuf Nurkic on the floor at the same time. With Jokic at the four, the paint got too crowded, limiting cutting lanes for guards and wings; not sustainable in head coach Mike Malone's give-and-go offense.
Malone shut it down with less than a month's worth of games as a sample size, opting to bring Jokic off the bench. The Nuggets stood at 7-11 through November, heading down the path to another mediocre season. With his job potentially on the line, Malone had to try something new.
He inserted Jokic back into the starting lineup, this time as the five, with combo forwards Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler rounding out the frontcourt. The result was inconceivable.
Jokic developed into an outright point center, the rarest player type in the league. His skill set combines a crisp handle with playmaking vision that rivals that of the Gasol brothers, and Malone eventually green-lighted him to start running fast breaks (to great effect).
Add in a developing perimeter game (.324 percent from three on 1.9 attempts per game), feathery inside finishes (.578 field goal percentage, sixth in the league last year), relentless board crashing (9.8 per game) and a boss nickname (THE JOKER), and Denver suddenly had a franchise cornerstone.
Nurkic was traded in February for Mason Plumlee, a healthier and more athletic option, and Malone's new rotation revved up on offense. They finished the year scoring 110 points per 100 possessions (fifth in the league).
The Nuggets stormed into playoff contention and held down the eighth seed in the Western Conference for the majority of the season. But Jokic missed nine games over the course of the year, in which Denver went 3-6, and a late push by the Trail Blazers paired with Russell Westbrook's punctuation on his MVP campaign just nudged the Mile High City down to the ninth seed.
Jokic finished second in Most Improved Player voting, and the Nuggets proceeded into the offseason with newfound optimism. Denver made it clear that it's top priority would be to find a suitable running mate for their blossoming centerpiece. Jokic (surprisingly) isn't perfect; he's a below-average athlete and defender, and he still suffers from an inefficient outside stroke.
The perfect tag-team partner would be able to space the floor, protect the rim, switch onto smaller/quicker ball handlers and keep up with Malone's high-octane system. That narrows the list down to Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Instead of searching for a silver bullet, the Nuggets took a different approach, seeking out multiple forwards that met most of the criteria and hoping that one of them would be able to make a satisfying connection.
They kicked things off on draft day, trading away the No. 13 pick (Donovan Mitchell) to the Jazz in exchange for Trey Lyles and the No. 24 pick (Tyler Lydon).
Lyles had a fairly promising rookie year, earning a regular spot in Utah's rotation and shooting a decent .383 percent from deep on 1.6 attempts. However, he fell victim to a sophomore slump as his shot percentages dropped to .319 from three and a horrendous .362 from the field. Lyles is only 21 years old though, giving him plenty of time to reverse the damage and live up to his lottery-pick hype. But the clock is ticking.
At Syracuse, Lydon displayed most of the skills Denver was searching for. The energetic forward took 3.7 treys per game during his college career and drained them at a .392 percent clip. He also averaged 1.6 blocks and 1.1 steals. However, he was inconsistent in his second season and failed to take the Orange back to the NCAA Tournament. Lydon is old for his class (just five months younger than Lyles), but he has the ceiling to develop into a major contributor.
In free agency, the Nuggets lost a key player in Danilo Gallinari, who opted out of the final year of his contract and bolted for the Los Angeles Clippers. Gallinari was a major source of offense, leading the team with 18.2 points per game. However, his price tag was a bit high for someone with his defensive limitations, and Denver evidently wasn't in love with his fit next to Jokic.
The Nuggets helped complete a three-team sign-and-trade, acquiring a 2019 second rounder from Atlanta while shipping Gallinari to Los Angeles. The move opened the door for their biggest splash of the summer, signing four-time all-star Paul Millsap to a three-year, $90 million contract.
Millsap's arrival was remarkable in many ways. Why would he go from a perennial playoff squad to a team that hasn't made the postseason since 2013? Why was Denver cashing in on a 32-year-old? Why weren't the Hawks cashing in on a 32-year-old?
Millsap explained that growing up in Denver had a major influence on his decision.
"My history had a lot to play into [signing with Denver], actually," Millsap said. "It felt like it was unfinished business here, being here years ago and leaving under the circumstances we left. To help this community out, this organization out, that played a big factor."
If anyone can compliment Jokic's style of play, it's Millsap. He averaged a career-high 18.1 points per game with the Hawks last season, and he'll undoubtedly fill the scoring void left by Gallinari. In addition, Millsap is also a top-notch defender, rebounder and playmaker; a grinder in every aspect of the game. He's suspect from outside the arc (.328 percent for his career), but he shoots with confidence (3.5 attempts per game last season), a trait that'll hopefully rub off on Jokic.
On its surface, the contract does seem steep for a player exiting his prime, though Millsap certainly earned his salary based on his play in Atlanta. But perhaps the sneakiest part of the deal is the third-year team option—meaning it's not guaranteed. If Millsap begins to decline, or he simply doesn't fit well with Jokic, the Nuggets can part ways after two years and explore other options.
But even with the acquisition of Millsap, Denver isn't a lock to make the playoffs this year. The West is tougher than nails now, and there's not a ton of answers to the Nuggets' starting point guard riddle (hello, Monte Morris).
But, Denver now has a budding star (Jokic), a veteran stud (Millsap), a mixture of grizzly veterans (Wilson "Please Stay Healthy" Chandler, Kenneth "If He Were Two Inches Taller" Faried, Will "The Thrill" Barton and Mason "Needs A Cool Nickname" Plumlee), promising players surrounding them (Emmanuel "Top-3 In The Draft, Top-3 In Turnovers" Mudiay, Gary "Yes, He Is That Good At 22" Harris, Jamal "Why Isn't He Starting?" Murray, Juan "The Other" Hernangomez, Lyles, Lydon and Morris), AND a coach who does this:
In short, the Nuggets will put up one helluva fight this season. Don't sleep on Denver.
Published by drewking0222
View all posts by drewking0222
Drew King, NBA
Denver, Denver Nuggets, Drew King, drewking0222, Joker, Jokic, Millsap, NBA, Nikola Jokic, Nuggets, Paul Millsap
Best and Worst Jersey for Each NBA Team
Complete Summer League Takeaways
6 thoughts on "Striking Gold: Don't sleep on the Denver Nuggets"
maleopold15 says:
Very informative! Great post. I hope you're right!
At The Buzzer says:
Thanks, glad to hear you liked it! The Western Conference is stacked, but Denver should hold its own. I have the Nuggets reaching the postseason in my recent playoff prediction article.
I saw that! I think so too. I'm really excited to see how that race plays out.
nysportstalkrc says:
Thanks for the follow man
Checking out your posts right now.
Likewise! I'll make sure to look over yours as well.
chubbycubbyblog says:
Love Jokic! Can't wait for the new season…


Our country has witnessed two devastating hurricanes in a very short period of time. First there was Harvey in Texas, and then Irma which affected the whole state of Florida. The media often focused on the effects these had on property and loss of life, the negative. But the one positive thing, even they noticed, was the ultimate goodness which lies in people. Many were not just good Samaritans who took people in and sheltered and fed them. They went further and risked their lives to save another. Our Lord teaches us this is the greatest love of all.
This phenomena happens each time there is a direct threat to us. Sixteen years ago on September 11, 2001, evil men tried to destroy our resolve as a nation. They did not realize we are at our best when under attack, whether it be manmade destruction or a natural occurring disaster. We came together as a nation and for a short time found the best within us.
Can we be the same people who try to tear each other apart because of our differences, and then turn around and risk our lives to save each other? The answer, I believe, is a resounding "YES!" It is all in how we perceive each other and ourselves.
This statement can be interpreted differently by people depending on how it is perceived by the reader. For purposes of my discussion, the scripture is interpreted by me to be Jesus teaching us that our perception (how we view our circumstances, ourselves or each other ) determines how we feel, act, and respond in any situation. If we see clearly, it affects our hearts and brings out the true goodness of our nature. If we perceive darkness, we project darkness.
When a hurricane comes with all its fury into our lives, whether it be literally or figuratively through another of life's disasters, we can choose our perception and therefore choose to be a force of light or darkness. A storm of that magnitude comes with its own "eye," which is the center, and in there lies a time of calm before the worst passes over. We have time to reflect, pray, and hope we have prepared to withstand the onslaught which faces us.
If they had realized, at that time, that Jesus was the son of God, most likely they would not have awakened him. It was all in their perception of what was happening and who they were with.
Every day brings several opportunities which test our perception of our world and our life. Being human we will fail many times to see the light in a situation but I believe the responses of the Texans and Floridians proves when the greatest uncertainties befall us we can suddenly see clearly what matters. We can see, feel, and display our love for each other because it is the best part of who we are.
In as much as the weather conditions do impact but we should also bear in mind that we as humans are also contributing.
All these bad things that are happening could be the result of our sins.
I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with your comment. As a septuagenarian I've seen many disasters and through love of history I'm aware of many, many more before I was born. If you mean God is punishing us, I'd conclude we punish ourselves. We are humans but there is hope in the Lord. If we each choose a relationship with Him, we shall weather the storms of life admirably.


text:
Sports Illustrated Kids "SportsParent of the Year" Contest
September 15, 2012 By Laurie
Whenever I think about children's sports, I think about the effort that the child puts into playing. There are practices to attend, grades to keep up with and of course, the actual games. All of the above are reasons that I love youth sports. They help to teach a child about being part of a team and working hard to succeed. However, there are also other people that I think of when it comes to youth sports, the parents of the athletes.
Parents work hard to support their children, whether it is through attending games, being a coach or offering a hug after a loss. That is why this year, Sports Illustrated Kids will be honoring a parent by naming them as SportsParent of the Year. Sports Illustrated Kids is asking for us to nominate the person that could be the first SportsParent of the Year.
By visiting sikids.com/sportsparent, you can nominate anyone that you feel has the qualities to inspire and share a love of sports with children. There can only be one nomination made per email account and the deadline is 9/24. For official rules, please visit the Sports Illustrated Kids website.
The grand prize winner will receive a $1,000 gift card to help support their community team's sports needs. They will also have the possibility of appearing in Sports Illustrated Kids or on the SI Kids website.
If you know of someone that would be the perfect SportsParent of the Year, don't wait, nominate them today.
I received a subscription of SI Kids for sharing the SportsParent of the Year contest.
Filed Under: Just For Kicks Tagged With: Sports Illustrated Kids, Sports Illustrated Magazine, SportsParent of the Year Contest


While everyone has their own set of criteria about where they will travel, we all inevitably choose a vacation based on our knowledge (whatever capacity) of the language or the lingua franca. Now I know where you think I'm going with this, yes, a lot of us are well versed in French, Spanish, Dutch, German,Portuguese, even Japanese. But, how well do we know English?
CHIRREN : Children If you spend any time on the West side of New Providence between The Fish Fry, AKA Arawak Cay, and the local beaches around Prospect Road, you will witness many of these. Running about, making noise, yelling on jitneys, and overall having a good time is what they do best. I suggest Goldie's for feasting on the Cay, it is a great place to people watch and eat a conch (a tropical sea snail) fritter or two. Any trip to Nassau is incomplete if you don't go Under The Bridge (Potter's Cay) for some fresh conch. This mainstay though is not for the faint-hearted. Delivered to you is conch, straight-out-da-shell; I'm talking pulled from its' habitat, beat up, chopped up and served with onions, tomatoes, and lime juice. You can also sample exotic fruit and vegetables, like starfruit or soursop on the docks.
MUSSY : Must In order to hear the rich vocabulary this particular island has to offer you mussy visit spots like the Twisted Lime to encounter locals in their natural habitat. This sports bar and grill is a favorite of the Ministry of Works crowd and boasts TWO happy hours! Located in the Sandyport Marina Village, this happening joint offers great views of the marina and boat docks from almost every seat. Happy Hour is from 3:00-7:30, and if you miss it don't worry because there is an After Happy Hour that goes from 10:00 – 2:00 AM! Order the Rum Punch, Sky Juice or Switcha (limeade) for an authentic Bahamian experience. While you're out this way, checkout The Caves for Lucayan tales and pirate lore.
CONCHY JOE : A white Bahamian Everybody on this island is familiar with the term conchy joe. Whenever I was visiting my grandparents, we would always see conchy joes out near the docks or east of Bay Street looking like they just stepped off the plane from Great Britain. I could never tell if they were British or Bahamian, until they opened their mouths. The label was reserved for Bahamians of European extraction, who are descendants of the original Loyalists as well as those who jumped ship from Key West to make a living fishing the waters. Nowadays I hear that it's slowly becoming more like the Hawaiian word haole, which differentiates between natives (with no white ancestry) and foreigners (with white ancestry). Finding conchy joes these days may be hard, but I can guarantee you can catch a glimpse of a few if you head over to the Cricket Club. Yes, Cricket is big here. After all, the Bahamas is still a commonwealth. If you really need to kill some hours, go by to see a game.
JAM UP – Crowded Let's switch gears to shopping and prospecting. Even if you are not an art aficionado you will find that a trip to Doongalik Studios will certainly inspire you to bring something back home. This gallery is a cultural institution. The name is actually an onomatopoeia meant to describe the sound of the cowbell being rung during Junkanoo. Founded in 1976 by the late-great Jackson Burnside, artist, architect and cultural advocate, the studio is a go-to when it comes to viewing astounding work from local artists.
Doongalik actually has two locations, one on Paradise Island, and the original building at 20 Village Road. I suggest the latter because Paradise Island is always jam up with conchy joes. In addition to the gallery, you can wander down to the Craft Cottage on site to pick up a straw handbag, lithograph print or Junkanoo masks. I for one, am a nut when it comes to antiques and Victorian ephemera; I go crazy over lace, crochet and shell encrusted jewelry. Balmain Art & Antiques is a magical shop to wander if you are looking for that perfect treasure, keepsake or piece of old Nassau.
Gun' – Going to I gun' tell you, there is so much more of New Providence that many people don't see because they are advised not to go over the hill. Trust me, you want to experience the true Bahamas, otherwise why go? Not going outside Bay Street means you miss out on places like Mario's where you can spend many air-conditioned hours bowling and lounging. However try to visit on a weekday because it be jam up on the weekends. Carey's Dept and Commonwealth Fabrics are great to browse if you enjoy sewing, quilting or just love fabrics. You will get a greater bargain on Bahamian-made Androsia prints at Commonwealth because you can buy in bulk.
These same fabrics on Bay Street or Paradise Island are sold in standard sizes for double the price. Here you encounter Bahamian people in their most unadulterated state; no one is bombarded with the tourist scene around here. If you haven't visited too many restaurants, I will suggest one more: The Shoals is a my family's favorite to visit whenever we are on the island. Do not let the interior or even the exterior fool you. This food here is good! From the boiled fish & grits or stewed conch to the guava duff, you gun' like it. I gun' guarantee.
My first travel experience was aboard an Eastern Airline flight from Miami to Nassau, a mere 35 minutes. For a 6 year-old though it felt much longer. Although these flights would become routine ( my family is from here) they were nonetheless the impetus for my quest to experience the world beyond. My mother's brother worked for Eastern Airlines. This gave my aunt and uncle access to far way places I had only heard of in books. Because they had no children they traveled extensively to places like Japan, Indonesia and Istanbul to name a few. I waited patiently for them to return from every trip with a story and token for my travel box. They never disappointed. I still keep a travel box today. It is filled with some pretty amazing and crazy things. Unpacking them once every couple of years is a ritual I uphold and treasure.


text:
var newsmeme = {

    ajax_post : function(url, params, on_success){

        var _callback = function(response){
            if (response.success) {
                if (response.redirect_url){
                    window.location.href = response.redirect_url;
                } else if (response.reload){
                    window.location.reload();
                } else if (on_success) {
                    return on_success(response);
                }
            } else  {
                return newsmeme.message(response.error, "error");
            }
        }

        $.post(url, params, _callback, "json");

    },

    message : function(message, category){
        $('ul#messages').html('
' + message + '
').fadeOut();
    },

    delete_comment : function(url) {
        var callback = function(response){
            $('#comment-' + response.comment_id).fadeOut();
        }
        newsmeme.ajax_post(url, null, callback);
    },

    vote_post : function(url){
        var callback = function(response){
            $('#vote-' + response.post_id).hide();
            $('#score-' + response.post_id).text(response.score);
        }

        newsmeme.ajax_post(url, null, callback);
    },

    vote_comment : function(url){
        var callback = function(response){
            $('#vote-comment-' + response.comment_id).hide();
            $('#score-comment-' + response.comment_id).text(response.score);
        }

        newsmeme.ajax_post(url, null, callback);
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


To preserve the history of American Aviation through audio and video recordings, of events and places, as told by the actual aviators – men and women – who impacted the course of modern history.
To archive and make available for future generations the stories that are only in their minds, shoe boxes and dusty closets, before these recollections are lost to time.
Collectively their stories have been told many times, but individually they add the detail and texture that shaped the event that eventually resulted in victory.


text:
"Here a Lee, there a Lee, everywhere a Lee, a Lee"
Richard Henry Lee to John Page, September 23, 1776. Images of the other letters are available here.
Kathy Major has been volunteering in the Manuscripts Department at AAS for several years and just recently found a small collection of uncataloged Richard Henry Lee letters, which she writes about below. Kathy worked at AAS from 1976 to 1984 and was Keeper of Manuscripts for a portion of that time. After leaving the Society to care for her children, Kathy worked at the Gale Free Library in Holden, most recently as head of technical services, until her retirement in 2014.
The title of this post is from the lyrics of the amusing song, "The Lees of Old Virginia," from the popular Broadway musical 1776. The character singing the lyrics is supposed to be Richard Henry Lee (1732-1794), the Virginia delegate in the Second Continental Congress who presented the motion for independence from Great Britain : "….that these united colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states…." In addition to serving in the Continental Congress (1774-1779, 1784-1785, 1787), Lee signed the Declaration of Independence and also served as president of the Continental Congress and later became a U.S. senator. Certainly he would not have been very happy with his portrayal in the Broadway show (and later film) as vain and somewhat dim-witted. The actual Richard Henry Lee left behind a large correspondence, including three wonderful letters we're integrating into AAS's Miscellaneous Manuscripts collection. The assistant curator of manuscripts was concerned about the fairly large backlog of unprocessed manuscripts and had asked me to begin to go through them. Lo and behold, the three Lee letters turned up, and it was discovered that they have never been published.
The letters were donated to AAS almost thirty years ago by Mrs. Allan Carr McIntyre of Watertown, Massachusetts, and contain much valuable information about the military progress (or lack thereof) of the American Revolution from 1776 to 1778. Written in Philadelphia, all three were addressed to Col. John Page (1744-1808), then serving as lieutenant governor of Virginia. Page was also an officer in that state's militia and eventually served in the U.S. Congress from 1789 to 1797.
On September 23, 1776, Lee referred to preparations on Harlem Heights for a confrontation with British General William Howe's forces and to the mysteriously set "Great Fire" that destroyed a large portion of New York City. He added a disparaging comment about the American troops : "…these northern militias. They are immensely expensive and utterly useless." Lee suggested that more ships should be converted to privateers in order to prey on British "sugar ships" from the West Indies, as well as the need to build "10 or 12 large sea galleys," to keep open the Chesapeake Bay to prevent invasion.
On October 10, 1777, Richard Henry Lee wrote of "a wise and well concerted attack on the British force on or near German town." He believed that the British were "surprised, forced, and actually beaten," but that a thick fog caused confusion among the American forces, which led to their retreat, thus depriving the U.S. of "a brilliant victory." There is no reference to General Washington's forces squandering too much effort on the Cliveden house, but certainly Saratoga and Germantown showed the French that the American troops could fight.
The third letter, dated September 7, 1778, detailed the confrontation between the naval forces of Admiral Lord Richard Howe and French Admiral Comte D'Estaing known as the Battle of Rhode island, or the Siege of Newport, during which "the same storm that has damaged our crops so much in Virginia saved Lord Howe from ruin." Lee mentioned that the French fleet was in Boston for repairs, and that American General John Sullivan's army was forced to retreat, but Lee claimed victory for Sullivan due to "the enemy being driven from the field of battle in great disorder." He added that the Battle of Rhode Island was "injurious to the enemy," which "got a sound drubbing." He wrote hopefully that the French would reinforce D'Estaing's fleet shortly. This proved to be wishful thinking.
These three letters in no way support the character delineation of Lee as seen in the fun Broadway musical (Alexander Hamilton and hip-hop, anyone?). What they do convey are the commitment, dedication, industry, and determination of the Revolutionary War generation to secure independence for the united American states.
Please click here for images of all three letters!
Posted on June 30, 2016 by Ashley Cataldo
← Now available online: Photographs of Tuskegee Institute Raise a Glass to Freedom, Independence, and Perpetual Itching →


Hello, hi, good afternoon citizens!
Well, it's been a while. When last we spoke, I was selling books on Amazon and basically rolling around like Scrooge McDuck in big heaps of that sweet publishing cash!
So much has happened since those golden days of a month ago! And I'll be able to tell you all about it if you get me drunk on bottom shelf vodka you can wait JUST a little longer. So many good things are about to happen: they'll be yuge. The biggest. The classiest. Swear. Until that time, I thought I'd distract you with cat videos!
Some of you have remarked I have two nearly identical cats. This is a fallacy. One is a petite flower and one is a plus-sized goober. Both are tuxedos, but you wouldn't say that just because Angelina and Brad here are both in black and white that they look the same.
The biggest difference other than weight class I guess is paw/eye coordination. Let me demonstrate.
Sorry about portrait mode, it was the only way to capture the majesty.
Now, you may have noticed the giant, sad, swipey paw in the lower right corner. That's Onion. We've been trying to get him to do the same trick since we brought him home, but he has a low center of gravity. Also he's not, shall we say, the swiftest ship in her Majesty's Fleet. What the heck, let's give it a try! Take it away, Onion!
Oh, so close. And my husband means klutz with all due respect.
Check back later this week for Book Expo America shenanigans with the Fabulous Fictionistas! We had a swag-off and, like Onion, there are no losers here!
Previous story The Sand Prince is on sale!
Let me tell you about my book, now with more title!


The monthly report for the National Scrapie Eradication Program - October 2013 - has been posted to www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/scrapie/downloads/monthly_scrapie_rpt.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery.
Since the start of Regulatory Scrapie Slaughter Surveillance (RSSS) in fiscal year (FY) 2003 through Oct. 31, 2013, there has been a 90-percent decrease in the number of positive sheep found in samples at slaughter adjusted for face color. As of Oct. 31, the percent of cull sheep found positive at slaughter and adjusted for face color was 0.015 percent.
As of Oct. 1, one white-faced sheep has been confirmed positive for classical scrapie based on samples collected and reported by Nov. 15. A trace investigation to identify the positive animal's flock of origin is underway.
Additionally, in October 2013, three new flocks were designated infected. These flocks were identified through trace investigations of a positive animal detected through regulatory slaughter surveillance at the end of September.
Before the United States may be declared "scrapie free," remaining cases must be found. Sheep and goats that are slaughtered outside the commercial slaughter facilities are being missed in the routine scrapie slaughter surveillance. Submission of samples from sheep/goats over 18 months of age found dead or euthanized on farms is critically important. Without these submissions, scrapie-infected animals will go undetected, costing the sheep and goat industries anywhere from $10 million to $20 million annually. To learn more about submitting samples, visit www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/scrapie/gen_submission.shtml.


This large feature canopy is constructed of galvanized steel and is clad with colourcoat hps panels. Supports are constructed of flared 'Y' shaped sections and circular hollow sections. the smaller classroom canopies are again galvanized steel and clad to the front with an architecural cladding whilst roof sections are covered with 25mm structured multi-wall polycarbonate.
These canopies were designed and constructed by Broxap as part of the regeneration and the creation of the new school.


text:
>Presidents, Vice Presidents & First Ladies
>President Harry S Truman - HFSID 31058
PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 11/20/1956 - HFSID 31058
HARRY S TRUMAN President Truman sends a thank you letter for the feedback on two volumes about his life Typed Letter Signed: "Harry Truman", ¼p, 7¼x10½. Kansas City, Missouri, 1956 November 20. On his personal letterhead to Mr. David H. Morgan, Wasco, California.
President Truman sends a thank you letter for the feedback on two volumes about his life
Typed Letter Signed: "Harry Truman", ¼p, 7¼x10½. Kansas City, Missouri, 1956 November 20. On his personal letterhead to Mr. David H. Morgan, Wasco, California. Begins: "Dear Dave". In full: "Your letter of the 17th was very much appreciated, and of course I was glad to send you the two volumes of my Memoirs. I did a lot of work on them, and I believe they filled a niche that needed to be filled. Sincerely yours." In 1953, HARRY S TRUMAN (1884-1972) left the White House, where he had served as 39th U.S. President from 1945-1953, to retire to his home in Independence, Missouri to write his memoirs and live the life of "Mr. Citizen". The decision to write his memoirs was based on Truman's strong interest in history and his desire to present his own views of his years in the White House. The first volume, Years of Decision, was published in November 1955; the second, Years of Trial and Hope, was published in 1956. At the time of this letter, Truman was also actively involved in the development of his presidential library in Independence. He had broken ground for the facility on May 8, 1955 and The Harry S Truman Library was dedicated on July 6, 1957, less than seven months after this letter. In December 1957, Truman signed an agreement with the National American Newspaper Alliance to write a series of articles for publication across the country. The first article appeared in January 1957. In 1916, Truman had become a partner in Morgan & Company. Although the Oklahoma oil well firm later went bankrupt, Truman remained lifelong friends with his former partner, DAVID H. MORGAN. Fine condition.
PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN
PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH CIRCA 1950 WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 286048
Reg Price $5,750.00
PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN - DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT SIGNED 10/20/1951 WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 42979
PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH - HFSID 43887
PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH 07/28/1951 WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 40868
PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN - INSCRIBED BOOK SIGNED 07/01/1955 - HFSID 49187
PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN - INSCRIBED PROGRAM SIGNED CIRCA 1947 - HFSID 16545
PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/09/1968 - HFSID 4619
PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED CIRCA 1947 WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 254412
PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN - STAMP(S) SIGNED CIRCA 1951 - HFSID 43209
PRESIDENT HARRY S TRUMAN - PAMPHLET UNSIGNED CIRCA 1945 - HFSID 9000749
PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 05/19/1972 - HFSID 44640
PRESIDENT WILLIAM H. TAFT - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 02/08/1909 - HFSID 30801
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 06/26/1951 - HFSID 41203
PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 06/21/1915 - HFSID 254773
PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 08/26/1983 - HFSID 277539
PRESIDENT WILLIAM H. TAFT - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 01/10/1915 - HFSID 102187
PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 10/16/1961 - HFSID 295460
PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH - TYPED LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 100604
VICE PRESIDENT HUBERT H. HUMPHREY - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 04/29/1966 - HFSID 309914
Presidents, Vice Presidents & First Ladies
Applications / Resumes (2)
Quotations (34)
Signatures (76)
Appointments (157)
Sports Cards (1)
Sentiments (8)
Show Bills (2)


Spend the day learning from and being inspired by a wonderful selection of yoga teachers, healers and educators. Hover or Click on the pictures for more information.
SUP Yoga. Life philosophy is "work hard, play hard", infectious smile and zest for life.
Master in the Therapeutic qualities of Sound, using Singing Bowls, Gongs & Percussion.
Yoga, Thai Massage, Raw Chocolate. Life philosophy is to live with Heart, Soul & Courage.
Hatha Yoga with a focus on Living Yoga through ancient teachings.
Our Moon Child leading a New Moon Yoga Flow.
Restorative Yoga. A nurturing & relaxing presence. Exploring the relationship between body & mind.
Artist & Yoga Teacher. Unleashing connected creativity through painting & yoga.
Hatha Flow Yoga. Energising & Uplifting. Combines flexibility, internal strength & balance.
Innovative & dynamic Vinyasa. Awakens the playful spirit & offers a deeper connection to self.
Ashtanga & Acro Yoga. Teaches people how to fly & believe in themselves with radiating warmth.
Yoga & Yoga Therapy. Blends Eastern & Western sciences for a healthier & happier you.
Nurturing & Supportive. A Goddess in Gentle Yoga for Body & Mind Bliss.
Laughter Ambassador for our Laughter Yoga. You will laugh as you have never laughed before. No jokes - just Natural Joy!
Anusura Yoga. A playful and fluid journey to happiness through movement.
Drum Circle Leader. Unleashing rhythmic spirits, potent creativity, and heartfelt experiences.
Yoga. Specialises in the clinically proven Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs programme.
Owner of The Yoga Being. A down to earth Teacher with a fresh perspective on keeping yoga real.
Animal Flow ® Teacher. An innovate & dynamic movement practice through primal patterns.
Speaker. Expert in Western & Eastern Medicine. Specilasing in Ayurvedic Medicine.
A teacher of gentle somatic yoga.
Lucid Yoga & Therapy. Empowering Yoga for Women Rewilding.
Your guide on a journey of deep rest and relaxation. Experience the gift of Yoga Nidra, aka Yogic Sleep.
Jimmi & Elaine will guide you through chanting.
An empowering kundalini teacher on a journey of embodied growth & truth seeking whilst keeping it real.
Award Winning Image Consultant, Colour Stylist and Personal Speaker.
Teaching people to fly as a Pole & Aerial Hoop Instructor.
Viking warrior, medicine man and shaman.
Author, Speaker. Defender of Female Awesomeness. Expert in the sacred feminine movement.
An intuitive pyschic/tarot reader. Available for 1:1 sessions.
A public health nutritionist with a passion for psychology and neuroscience.
Arbonne Consultant. On hand to share this all natural beauty and health range.
Aerial Yoga Teacher, Offering 15 min 1:1 Aerial Yoga Taster Sessions.
Complimentary Therapist with a background in Western Medical Science & Eastern Healing Arts.
Yoga Therapist and Mindfulness Teacher - teaching re-connection to our authentic selves in the here and now.
The Juicy Goddess - a natural juice therapist trained at Jason Vale's Juice Academy.
Reflexology, Foot Reading, Energy Healing and Seasonal Yoga.
Holistic Massage Therapist, offering Massages & Indian Head Massage.
A passionate energy healer and therapist, offering Reiki treatments.
Access to workshops / talks & classes are included in the ticket price. It is advisable to book your spot at the sessions you wish to attend. After purchasing your ticket, you will be emailed a booking form for sessions.
On Site Parking is available at £5 per car. Must be purchased in advance.
Tickets include access to workshops/class/talks/SUP Yoga. We recommend booking your spot at specific sessions to avoid disappointment. Laura will email you a booking form.
Food, Massages & other treatments are not included. Please pay the therapist directly on the day. Cash Only. Treatments are available on a first come first served basis.
Purchase online through PayPal - 3% handling fee. Or purchase directly from Laura with a Bank Transfer, no handling fee.
Email or Call Laura. 07866 459 208.


text:
Bob Iger Shares Why George Lucas Was Disappointed In 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens.'
Posted September 24th, 2019 by Stuart Conover
George Lucas – Denis Makarenko / Shutterstock.com
Bob Iger has recently released a tell-all book titled 'The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned From 15 Years As CEO Of The Walt Disney Company' which has a ton of fun nuggets from his time at Disney. While there has been a lot of drama revolving around the purchase of Marvel and creation of Marvel Studios that were shared, there are some huge reveals for "Star Wars" fans here as well. For one thing, Iger has revealed specifically why franchise creator George Lucas was so disappointed with what they did in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens.'
Obviously, the vision Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company had for 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' was to not only introduce the "Star Wars" franchise under the Disney vision but also play on audience's nostalgia. However, "George was criticizing us for the very thing we were trying to do."
According to Iger:
"Just prior to the global release, Kathy screened The Force Awakens for George. He didn't hide his disappointment. "There's nothing new," he said. In each of the films in the original trilogy, it was important to him to present new worlds, new stories, new characters, and new technologies. In this one, he said, "There weren't enough visual or technical leaps forward."
It should be noted that George Lucas had sold the scripts for what he felt should be the next trilogy to Disney which they didn't use. However, an interview with the director last year laid out his vision that likely many fans would have been even less interested in:
"[The next three Star Wars films] were going to get into a microbiotic world. But there's this world of creatures that operate differently than we do. I call them the Whills. And the Whills are the ones who actually control the universe. They feed off the Force…If I'd held onto the company I could have done it, and then it would have been done. Of course, a lot of fans would have hated it, just like they did Phantom Menace and everything, but at least the whole story from beginning to end would be told."
Personally, even with the complaints of 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' taken into consideration, I think we should all count our lucky stars that Disney purchased Lucasfilm and this trilogy never saw the light of day.
Do you agree with George Lucas that 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' didn't have enough going for it or do you feel that it was a great way to play off nostalgia while introducing "Star Wars" fans to new characters? What are your thoughts on where Lucas wanted to take the series next? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
'Final Space' Season 3 Renewal Teased By Series Creator
'Supergirl': Lena Luthor Wants Revenge In Latest Trailer
The Latest 6 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1' Posters Show Off District 13
Jason David Frank Returns For The 'Power Rangers HyperForce' Online Game
'Justice League Unlimited' Reunion: Here Is The Voice Cast Of 'Justice League Vs. The Fatal Five'
'Wonder Woman' Sequel's Working Title May Tease Its Big Villain


text:
Praditi Singh signed up 2022-08-25 09:48:54 -0700
VanAnh Vo signed up 2022-08-21 00:27:40 -0700
Kate Wang signed up 2022-08-16 20:50:14 -0700
Endong Teng signed up 2022-08-16 13:42:58 -0700
Van Anh Tran signed up 2022-08-16 13:16:34 -0700
Ian Bennett signed up 2022-08-16 13:06:52 -0700
Michael Tai signed up 2022-08-15 23:39:28 -0700
Joyee Wang signed up 2022-08-14 11:14:04 -0700
nabeel azam signed up 2022-07-16 05:24:40 -0700
Su Jeong Lee signed up 2022-06-27 15:20:21 -0700
Izagani Aquino signed up 2022-06-20 11:11:10 -0700
Tanmay Chopra signed up 2022-06-18 22:35:25 -0700
Erik Emsbo signed up 2022-06-13 09:14:28 -0700
Joyce Liu signed up 2022-06-07 09:39:29 -0700
Preethika Chivukula signed up 2022-06-05 10:42:56 -0700
Aiden Liu signed up 2022-05-29 18:35:00 -0700
Mihir Ahuja signed up 2022-05-27 19:29:49 -0700
Sanam Ghazvini signed up 2022-05-25 15:09:15 -0700
Pnm Group signed up 2022-04-29 12:30:36 -0700
Regan Wang signed up 2022-04-27 11:56:32 -0700
Justin Martin signed up 2022-04-26 21:59:25 -0700
Olivia Wagner signed up 2022-04-22 14:59:08 -0700
Sidarth Singh signed up 2022-04-21 11:44:03 -0700
Esther Kim signed up 2022-04-15 09:10:42 -0700
Marianna Cherry signed up 2022-04-14 12:42:05 -0700
Kent Davis-Packard signed up 2022-04-03 20:20:26 -0700
Julia Jarrett signed up 2022-04-02 21:23:08 -0700
Matthew Marinaro signed up 2022-03-25 15:09:30 -0700


Often times small business ideas are hard to develop. We describe how to successfully work from home and obtaining extra income.
Askfacebook.com is 2 years 28 days old and has a PageRank of 0 and ranking #22302594 in the world with 17 estimated daily visits and a Net worth of $167 .The server location is in United States .


A stylish combo for any occasion.
The stylish and relaxing Lace Dress & Jacket is a luxurious combo that will suit any formal occasion this summer, from wedding guest to party outfit or theatre attire.
The dress is made from a stretch fabric with contrast stretch lace. The dress has a scattering of sequins and hand beading to really set it off. The jacket has lace sleeves and compliment the dress beautifully.
Jacket: 95% Polyester, 5% Elastane.


text:
FP Buyer's Guide
Extrusion Equipment
Slitting & Rewinding
Web Guiding & Tension Control
Films / Substrates
Bag / Pouch Making
Labeling & Narrow Web
Coating & Laminating
Inks / Color Management
FPA Awards
Top 25 Converters
FPA Update
Executive Forecast
People in Packaging Submissions
Packaging Perspectives Podcast
Global Pouch Forum
Converters Expo
Converters Expo South
Packaging Group
Home » Kuraray America Celebrates 30 Years of EVAL Production in U.S.
Flexible Packaging News
Kuraray America Celebrates 30 Years of EVAL Production in U.S.
Kuraray EVAL celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Pasadena, Texas, plant with a traditional Japanese Kagamiwari sake barrel breaking.
To commemorate 30 years of safe operation at the Kuraray EVAL Pasadena, Texas, plant, the company unveiled a milestone monument featuring the names of customers and employees who have been with the company for more than 25 years.
Customers and local representatives toured the Kuraray EVAL plant during the company's 30th anniversary celebration in Pasadena, Texas.
KEYWORDS energy efficiency / EVAL / EVOH / Kuraray America / production
Kuraray America Inc. is celebrating 30 years of EVAL production in the United States at its plant in Pasadena, Texas. The celebration also marks 30 years of safe operation at the EVAL plant.
The event included a behind-the-scenes tour of the plant for customers and local officials, remarks from Tetsuro Amano, Japan's consul general, and the traditional Kagamiwari sake barrel-breaking ceremony.
"This week was a notable milestone for Kuraray as we celebrate 30 years of continuous safe operation at our EVAL plant," says George Avdey, president and CEO of Kuraray America Inc. "In 1986, Kuraray planted the first seed in Texas by constructing this EVAL plant. Today, we have four world-scale specialty plants and our headquarters in the southeast Houston areas of La Porte, Pasadena, Bayport and Clear Lake employing over 500 people."
EVAL is the branded name for ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) used in numerous everyday applications. These high-barrier polymers are particularly suited for preserving quality and avoiding waste in food, medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and industrial packaging. They also allow for more efficient energy use and reduce environmental impact in automotive fuel systems, building and construction materials, and agricultural films.
"The highlight of the event for me was the unveiling of a 30-year milestone monument to commemorate this anniversary," says Robert Armstrong, general manager of the EVAL business unit at Kuraray. "The milestone monument was created from one of the original columns used at the EVAL site when it started operation in 1986 and recognizes both the 12 customers in 1986 who are still with us today and the dedication of our plant team by noting 49 employees who have been with the company for more than 25 years. Thanks to the innovative collaboration between customers and Kuraray employees in using EVAL to preserve food supplies, protect the environment and improve health, we are able to offer a product around the world that makes a difference in millions of lives. The partnership between the Kuraray team and our customers is truly something to be proud of."
The opening of the EVAL plant 30 years ago created 60 jobs in Houston. Today, the plant employs 85 full-time workers and 55 contractors. In entirety, Kuraray America has over 750 employees in the U.S.
Kuraray America Inc.
kuraray.us.com
Kuraray America Names Hitoshi Toyoura as New President, CEO
Toray Plastics (America) Celebrates 30 Years of Manufacturing in the U.S.
Kuraray America to Boost Production Capacity
Kuraray America Inc. Named One of the Best Companies to Work For in Houston
Top 10 Flexible Packaging Products of 2020
Executive Forecast: How the past year will shape flexible packaging in 2021
6 Questions to Drive Conversations Around Sustainable Packaging Design
Easysnap Gets the Nod for Convenience in Air Travel and Cannabinoids
Mars Foods and Amcor Announce Recyclable Microwavable Rice Pouch


These heavy duty Weld-On Creeper Joints are ideal for today's flexible suspension systems. Super strong, Weld-On Creeper Joints will hold up to years of punishment. The inner flex ball is made from 8620 tool steel and rides on high quality polyurethane bushings. Heavy-duty, hardened steel washers hold the joint together. Creeper Joints are super flexible and allow for up to 40 degrees of movement when used with spacers. A threaded grease fitting is provided on the housing for lubrication. The flex ball is drilled for cross lubrication flow from the shell to the link mount bolt. These Weld-On Creeper Joint Kits are perfect for creating your own A-arms, suspension links, or other suspension components. Provided unassembled. Welding required for installation.
Comes in three different flex ball sizes: 9/16″, 5/8″ & 18mm, allowing you to choose the right size to match your application.


text:
My Condolences
CNN reports Air Force: 1 pilot dies, another survives after F15Cs collide
(CNN) — An Air Force fighter pilot died Wednesday after two F-15C jets collided during a training exercise over the Gulf of Mexico, according to Air Force officials.
The planes were from the 33rd Fighter Wing, a combat-flying unit out of Eglin Air Force Base, near Pensacola, Florida.
A spokesman for the wing said the pilot died after having been rescued by a fishing boat and transported to the hospital at the base. The pilot of the other jet was also rescued and was listed in good condition, he said.
The crash happened at about 3 p.m. ET, about 50 miles south of Tyndall Air Force Base which is in Panama City, Florida. A statement from the 33rd said the pilots were rescued at about 6 p.m. ET.
These guys fly over my house. The base surrounds all of the local towns. These are my neighbors.
1 Kryten42 { 02.21.08 at 5:39 am }
My sincere condolences also.
2 andante { 02.21.08 at 5:45 am }
My condolences also. Non-combat military deaths are as much, if not perhaps more, a sacrifice for the country as those in combat.
3 fallenmonk { 02.21.08 at 8:03 am }
It is always a tragedy when someone dies training. It unfortunately happens all to often. The reality is that this work is dangerous and not just for fighter pilots. All our military take risks everyday in training so that they can be prepared when the need arises. That is part of what makes the sacrifice they are making in Iraq so tragic.
The Nomads are the unit that has flown the missions over Iraq since the end of the first Gulf War, they were they unit affected by the Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, and they are actively engaged in all current aerial combat.
I have to wonder if, rather than touched wingtips, this wasn't another F-15C coming apart under stress.
This saddens me greatly. Dying in combat and dying in training or preparation for combat are equally to be honored as far as I'm concerned. My condolences.
It's a bit depressing the number of days the base flags are at half-staff and the number of "missing man" formations when the funerals are local.
7 Badtux { 02.22.08 at 8:13 pm }
I've always said that fighter pilots have the best jobs in the world. Birds are jealous of these flyboys. They can do things with their jets that make amusement park rides look like a nap.
This, unfortunately, is the downside of that. Ah well. One thing you can guarantee — this kid died doing what he loved to do. As for the possibility of this being another F-15C that came apart because they've been worn out by the Iraq and Afghanistan wars… I just don't want to think about that right now, because then I'll start cursing and my blood pressure will shoot up and… well, I'm not going there. Sigh.
– Badtux the Flightless Penguin
He was a First Lieutenant, which would have made him the wingman. The only reason I mentioned the possibility is that the ejection system should have protected the pilot. This wasn't a normal punch out.


Founded in 1994, when Portland's downtown vacancy rate was 40%, Coffee by Design has from its origins been a promoter of local art and nexus of Portland's community. From their humble origins, they have grown into a staff of 45, with four coffeehouses (three are icons of Portland's downtown and one is at LL Bean's flagship store in Freeport) and a micro-roastery on Portland's East End.
Always driven by values – and quality – Coffee by Design has tried to do the right thing for decades by being selective with coffee purchasing and nurturing relationships with their coffee growers. They compost their coffee grounds, and were one of the first coffeehouses to offer biodegradable plastic cups. They are big supporters of local art, and Portland Buy Local, and so the next step – local energy – was a natural fit.
That solar dream? 44 grid-tied photovoltaic panels which cover just about every usable inch of roofspace on their Washington Ave roastery. The system – enough to power 2 homes – is expected to produce about half of the power used in the facility, offsetting roughly 18,000 lbs of C02 emissions from conventional electricity sources.
In fact, word from customers so far has been outstanding. Lindeman and Spear both comment on their Facebook posts about solar, which attracted the most 'likes' and comments of any to date. The highly visible system has become a talking point about solar in the whole East End neighborhood. And being part of the neighborhood is, ultimately, what Coffee by Design is all about.
You can get your own cup of solar brewed joe at any of Coffee by Design's coffeehouses, on India Street, Congress Street, or Washington Ave in Portland, and in the L.L. Bean Flagship Store in Freeport. Live further afield? You can order coffee online.


text:
BRG - Beyond Realty Group
0 SELECTED LISTINGS
South Beach's Washington Avenue is getting the Facelift it Deserves
to exisiting list
to friend
to agent
Email to friend Cart
NOTIFY AGENT
Notify Agents
Save Listings Email to a Friend Notify Agent Schedule Showing
Selected properties Send List
Your list save, complete.
South Beach's Washington Avenue is getting the Facelift it Deserves
In the past, Washington Avenue was the host to South Beach's party scene. It was full of restaurants, nightclubs, and bars. But after 20 years developers began to look elsewhere, and Washington Avenue made its fall. Today it's just a street, one that gets you to where you want to be. But the City of Miami Beach is ready to make a change.
The commission approved a resolution, Business Improvement District, to take place on Washington Avenue from 5th to 17th street. It provides a tax fund in the area for beautification and overall improvement of the area.
The first step forward is the development of hotels and retail complexes. Residential and office spaces will follow these. The Business Improvement District has been granted a yearly budget of $511,311.
Some of the new projects set in place is a brand-new hotel on the east side of Washington Avenue. Moxy South Beach, a seven-story boutique hotel. Plus, renovations and expansions on existing hotels (Clay Hotel and Clinton Hotel).
There are also two commercial developments being put in place, which will consist of a combination of restaurants and retail stores.
Two other projects are pending review, and they are expected to be approved shortly: a large scale residential project and an additional hotel.
"Our hope is the work we've been doing will move Washington Avenue in the opposite direction than the one it's been going," stated Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber. "Washington Avenue went into an abyss for a few years. It's going to take a lot of investment to bring it back to where it needs to be. But a lot of private developers see what it is — a beautiful, wide street which should embrace business activity. It needs to be more than dark, vacant stores and surf shops."
Some Washington Avenue fixtures have slowed down the aging of the area, such as the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum, the Cinematheque, the 11th street diner, and Twist, a bar. The Washington Avenue Vision and Master Plan were created by a Blue Ribbon Panel. The panel was formed in 2015 to help recommend zoning and bring about positive changes.
"Washington Avenue is like the hole in the doughnut," said Blue Ribbon Panel member Lyle Stern, president of Koniver Stern Group consulting firm. "We have lots of tourists and residents straddling both sides of the avenue. The difficulty is populating it with businesses. Tourists enjoy Washington Avenue — it's reminiscent of the Village in New York City 30 years ago, with all the head shops and boutiques and novelty stores — but it still needs to be cleaned up."
Smaller can indeed be better
"The concept of micro-urbanism appeals to the person who doesn't need that super luxury product but still wants to be in the thick of things," said Javier F. Aviño, a partner at the Bilzin Sumberg law firm. "Washington Avenue is still that. You're a few blocks from Lincoln Road and Ocean Drive. You're in the heart of it, and it's appealing to a clientele that doesn't need this huge unit. It makes a lot of sense, and it shows that Miami is getting to the point where New York has been for a very long time."
Local businesses on Washington Avenue are looking forward to the influx of business.
India and Pakistan interest in South Florida real estate is rising
Israeli developer proposing two towers in Downtown Miami
Miami Beach's entrance is getting a new colorful pedestrian bridge
Groundbreaking of the new $300M HQ from Royal Caribbean to take place later this month
Monorail between Miami and Miami Beach may finally be on track
Bal Harbour Shops secures $550 million loan for its expansion; one of Miami's largest construction loans ever
Bal Harbour Condos
bal harbour real estate
Miami Beach Properties
Miami Luxury Condos
Miami Pre-Construction
Sunny Isles Beach Condos
Sunny Isles Real Estate
Call Us At: 305 397 8788
605 Lincoln Road Suite 302 Miami Beach, FL 33139
BRG International LLC
Selling Real Estate in Miami
architecture Service
BRG Studio LLC
Interior Design & Staging
BRG Management LLC
Excellence Standards
Copyright © 2019 Beyond Realty Group
The password must be greater than 8 characters
Enter you email address and we'll send you a link to your password.
Forgot password? Reset here


Hello, my name is Christina. My son Bryan has DMD and he is 9 y/o. He has been in a manual w/c for the past 2 years. I am trying to write an assessment request letter for O.T. and P.T. Can someone please give me ideas on what to write on the letter. He received these service before at his old school. 2 years ago when he started attending the new school they said they could'nt provide those services to him. The reason why was, because he had CCS. Since CCS was located on the school premises, they were invited to the IEP meeting. This year is different Bryan no longer has CCS, he has private insurence. So he should now receive the services but im afraid the school would find some reason not to give it to him. The school asked me to sign a waiver so they could obtain his medical records regarding O.T. and P.T. Bryan is receiving O.T. once every three weeks and P.T. once every 6 months from Kaiser. I don't know if that will hurt his chances to receive those sevices through the school. I thought medical and educational were seperate. I also understand, since he was receiving CCS it would be hard to get those services, because the funds come from the same source, government funds. They are also inviting someone from my son's insurence which is Kaiser to come to the IEP meet. I think they are going to use Kaisers assessments. I don't know what they are trying to do. The school is not giving their own assessment in those areas so i am writing a assessment request letter. I know i need a good reason for him to receive those services. I was thinking, i should hire an advocate or maybe bring a tape recorder to the meeting. When the RSP teacher, which is the person in charge of the IEP meeting called me she was concered that he no longer had CCS and she ask about Kaiser. She mentioned, if he no longer had CCS, than the school had to provide. She was not sure on how to go about it. She asked me what i did the previous years to get the assessments done for OT and PT. I told her i wrote a letter requesting an assessment in those areas. She said then do that and also call gallager the place that gave him the assessments before. Since she does'nt seem to know much, I am going to sent the letter to the school district. It seems as if she is not telling the truth for some reason. Can anyone help me, by explaining what the school is trying to do and also help with the letter?
I don't know about the letter writing part, but I am curious as to why your son would not get CCS services just because you have private insurance. We have private insurance and my son still gets some CCS services. We only have a few months left, Jon will be 21 in March. We are in the Long Beach area and they have been very helpful and I have really liked having an extra set of eyes on Jon to help, they have also helped get Jon equipment for school when he needed it. I never asked for any PT or OT from the school, Jon would not have wanted to be pulled out of class for that.
Hi Christina, My name is Leeandra.
I sent an email to the superintendent of special education and requested assessments in OT, PT, APE, Speech, and educational phycologist. All those may not apply. But be sure to call, email and request in writing these assessments NOT EVALUATION. In California they have I believe 30days? to comply. Then I would call the IEP to order. We recieve all services through the school and CCS. I think your sons school is trying to be difficult, but they need to be told directly that "Therapy" is provided at CCS, "SERVICES" are provided at the school and you are requesting assessments ASAP because you feel its affecting his academics (you must give examples) . I know our schools in California are broke, but thats not our kids fault or problem. Hope this helps..
It is impossible to say specifically why your school is taking the approach it is, yet given school budgets and expenses involved in providing services for students with disabilities it isn't hard to think this may be part of the reason.
You are correct that medical and educational issues are treated separately. When a child receives Special Education and related services the boundaries sometimes cross provided there is academic benefit to services provided. Here lies the challenge for the related services you are seeking for your son.
The procedure required to obtain services is for a parent to write the Special Education Administrator asking for an assessment in a particular area and the school has a predetermined amount of time to respond. In your son's situation you would be requesting an OT and PT evaluation. In some cases schools authorize services and seek outside sources for funding, which may be why they seek insurance information. You may not be obligated to provide that information (Each state's rules concerning Special Education are different.). Should the school agree to your request they would schedule the evaluations and hold a follow up IEP meeting to discuss findings and possible changes to an IEP. They may disagree and must provide you with "Procedural Safeguards" which outlines the process you must follow to challenge their decision. It can be a long process.
There are academic reasons for OT and PT, yet schools are given much latitude in making decisions concerning what is educationally beneficial. In my opinion PT is important when a child is walking to aid in maintaining independence and reducing social isolation. When a child stops walking PT can help in keeping him stretched improving comfort by reducing contractures which hinder a child's ability to concentrate harming potentially harming academic performance. OT is needed to help retain function and ability. In not allowing these services a school aids in hastening a child's physical decline (He is spending much time in school and the activities all contribute to loss of physical ability.) which will lead to more expensive supports including one to one aids, scribes (people who write for another person) and others who are needed to help move a student through the building. Additionally, having adults helping a child when he could have done the work on his own also leads to social isolation as other students are less willing to interact when an adult is assisting.
I can't offer much help with the state laws/funding, but regarding therapy, the evaluations should happen in the school setting. OT and PT should assess Bryan's mobility and participation during the school day and base their recommendations on their findings. An outside evaluation would provide no information as to how he moves around the classroom, how he participates in specials, and how his desk is set up so that he can get his books and materials.


Dynamic driving performance is created not only in Development Centres through BMW's engine and suspension specialists, but also on all kinds of test tracks and in various trial areas. This is where all innovations are put through their paces in a long series of tests and under the toughest conditions, where all features are carefully coordinated and refined.
The BMW Group has its own test area in the south of France for particularly intense and thorough testing - Autodrome de Miramas. This former race track located between Marseille and Avignon offers ideal conditions to test and optimise the driving dynamics of a new model so typical of BMW under all kinds of conditions.
The Miramas Test Centre also played a key role in the process of developing the new BMW 7 Series, with a wide range of tests conducted on the new car, applying all kinds of requirements and the toughest standards. In the process the suspension technology of BMW's new luxury performance saloon was put through diverse tests and examinations, the knowledge gained in the process then being implemented in practice in the course of series development.
The result is a standard of driving behaviour able to comply in full with the most stringent demands and requirements made by the development engineers, exceeding the expectations of even the most demanding customer and, there-fore, fulfilling all challenges in creating a new BMW in every respect.
BMW has been testing new models and innovative suspension technology in the Miramas Test Centre for more than 20 years. BMW France bought the area covering a total of 473 hectares or 1,168 acres in 1986, the test tracks and facilities being consistently updated and enlarged in the years to come.
Today Miramas offers test tracks measuring more than 52 kilometres or 32 miles in length as well as office workstations for 328 associates. To ensure fast, reliable and secure transmission of data, the development engineers are able to use high-performance permanent landlines connecting the Autodrome de Miramas with the BMW Group's Research and Innovation Centre (FIZ) in Munich.
Today both BMW cars and motorcycles are tested round-the-year at the Miramas Test Centre, with up to 250 vehicles being put through intense and thorough test schedules every day, covering millions of test kilometres in the course of time.
Accounting for approximately 50,000 man-days a year, the workload at the Miramas Test Centre impressively confirms the significance the BMW Group gives to the development and ongoing optimisation of drivetrain and suspension technology. At the same time the high-speed track as well as the handling circuits in Miramas offer ideal conditions for testing both BMW Sauber F1 Formula 1 racing cars and other BMW motorsport vehicles.
Before building the site in Miramas, the BMW Group commissioned experienced experts and specialists in many areas to conduct comprehensive surveys and topographic tests serving, among other things, to ensure optimum ecological compatibility.
Hence, the building plans take all the findings of experienced biologists into account, naturally providing an appropriate habitat for animals and plants in the area.
The ongoing development of the Test Centre and its various test tracks shows clearly how the BMW Group consistently enhances its internal testing processes to reflect both the high quality standards of the Company and the constant change in conditions to be fulfilled by modern vehicles in today's world. Testing and confirming innovations in the area of suspension technology time and again, therefore, the BMW Miramas Test Centre is becoming an increasingly significant highlight in the overall process of development.


We present a new algorithm for optimally computing from point correspondences over two images their 3-D positions when they are constrained to be on a planar surface. We consider two cases: the case in which the plane and camera parameters are known and the case in which they are not. In the former, we show how observed point correspondences are optimally corrected so that they are compatible with the homography between the two images determined by the plane and camera parameters. In the latter, we show how the homography is optimally estimated by iteratively using the triangulation procedure.