Q. What is Apptix Hosted Business Voice?
Q. What makes Apptix Hosted Business Voice different from VoIP-based solutions from other providers?
A. Apptix is a premier provider of hosted business communication, collaboration, and IT solutions, including VoIP. Many other VoIP providers use the public Internet to handle phone calls. Hosted Business Voice is a business-class VoIP service. Your calls are carried over a private, managed network that ensures Quality of Service (QoS) for your voice traffic. We know that your phone service is critical to your business, and we provide our customers with an industry-leading SLA.
Apptix also allows you to integrate your voice service into the other hosted services that we offer.
A. Simply put, VoIP is a way of using the same communications protocol to carry voice traffic that the Internet uses for data traffic. Voice is broken into packets that travel over Internet Protocol networks instead of over traditional circuit-switched telephone networks.
Q. How does VoIP work?
A. VoIP services convert your voice into a digital signal that travels over an IP network. If you are calling a regular phone number, the signal is converted to a regular telephone signal before it reaches the destination. VoIP can allow you to make a call directly from a computer, a special IP phone, or a traditional phone connected to a special adapter. In addition, wireless "hot spots" in locations such as airports, parks, and cafes allow you to connect to the Internet and may enable you to use VoIP service wirelessly.
A. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signaling protocol for Internet Telephony. The VoIP community has adopted SIP as its protocol of choice for signaling. SIP can establish sessions for features such as audio/videoconferencing, interactive gaming, and call forwarding to be deployed over IP networks, thus enabling service providers to integrate basic IP telephony services with Web, email, and chat services.
Q. Can I keep my existing phone number(s)?
A. Yes. Local Number Portability (LNP) allows you to keep your existing phone number or range of phone numbers. When you purchase Hosted Business Voice, please indicate that you require this with your service.
Q. If I don't have broadband service, how long will it take to get it?
A. If you do not have broadband service, you will need to contact an Internet Service Provider to arrange service prior to implementing Hosted Business Voice. The timeframe to enable broadband service will depend on your broadband service provider.
Q. How long does moving/porting a phone number over to your services take?
A. The porting process can take up to 3 to 4 weeks to complete. It is important to note that every time your provider rejects the porting request due to incomplete or inaccurate information, the timeframe for the process starts over. During this porting process, Apptix will provide you with temporary numbers, so you can begin testing and using the service.
Do not cancel your service with your existing provider until the porting process is completed. Do not submit any service change orders on your current phone number(s) to your current provider. This, too, will delay or cancel this move/port. Any additional services on your existing line (other phone numbers, Internet service, Centrex services, Distinctive Ring, etc) must be removed from the number, as well, as they may delay or cancel the ability to port your number(s).
After your telephone numbers are ported to the Apptix environment, you will receive test calls and a confirmation email from your Apptix representative. At that point, you (i.e. the account holder) are responsible for canceling the service with your former carrier for the ported telephone number(s), to ensure that you are no longer being charged for those services.
Q. Will there be downtime during the move/port?
A. No. Your new Hosted Business Voice phone system will be installed before your phone numbers are ported. Prior to porting, your phone numbers can be forwarded to our temporary number(s) in order for you to test the new services.
Q. During the installation of VoIP service, will my existing telephone service be interrupted?
A. No. Apptix uses your existing broadband service; your existing phone service will not be interrupted. If you are ordering a completely new number, there will be no impact to your existing service. If you are porting your existing number, we will work with you to insure a smooth transition to minimize an impact to your service.
Q. How much Internet bandwidth do I need to use Hosted Business Voice?
A. The answer to this question depends on several factors. These include, but are not limited to: the number of users, the number of simultaneous calls going on at your location, and the level of Internet usage. A company with 50 users who are always on the phone will need more bandwidth than a company with 50 users who are sporadically on the phone. An Apptix Hosted Business Voice specialist can assist you in determining what type of Internet connection you will need to best support your service.
Q. Do you support 911 Emergency calls?
A. Yes, Apptix offers Enhanced 911 or E911. The Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) / Local Emergency Operator automatically receives your callback number, registered location, and latitude-longitude coordinates through the 911 network.
Q. What is Remote Office?
A. Remote Office is a feature that enables Hosted Business Voice users to access and use their service from anywhere – office, home office, mobile phone, etc. It is especially useful for remote employees and mobile workers because it enables them to use their Web Call Manager or Outlook Toolbar features while working remotely (e.g., extension dialing, transfers, conference calls, Outlook Integration, directories, etc.). In addition, since calls are still originated from the Hosted Business Voice service, it provides an easy mechanism for separating personal and business phone expenses, as well as keeping alternate phone numbers private.
Q. Can a user based in Washington, DC take his or her phone to Los Angeles, CA, plug it into an Internet connection, and have all of the VoIP features?
A. While this is feasible, we think that packing your phone up to take with you on a business trip is not the best use of luggage space! Instead, we recommend that you install a softphone on your laptop PC to make calls and have all the features of your Hosted Business Voice service with you anywhere you go. All you need to pack is a headset.
Q. Can the Hosted Business Voice service route/forward calls to cell phones and land lines?
A. You can transfer calls internally to extensions within your company or externally to numbers not on the Apptix network.
Q. Does Hosted Business Voice support extension dialing?
A. Yes. You have the choice of using 2 to 6 digit extensions.
Q. Can I forward calls to my mobile phone?
A. Hosted Business Voice offers several ways to route your calls to your mobile phone. In addition to the standard call forwarding feature, you can use Simultaneous Calling (Find Me/Follow Me) to ring various locations at the same time, or use Sequential Calling to ring various locations in a pre-determined sequence that will act like a personal hunt group.
Q. How can I check my voicemail messages?
A. There are several different options for checking voicemail. You can check your messages directly from your phone or by dialing into your voicemail service. In addition, you can choose to have a copy of your voicemail messages routed to your email. An email message will be delivered to your inbox with a WAV attachment of the message.
Q. What kind of equipment will I need to use the Hosted Business Voice service?
A. A broadband (high speed Internet) connection is required. This can be through a cable modem, or high speed services such as DSL or a local area network. An IP phone or computer is required. If you use your computer, you will need a softphone (a piece of software for making telephone calls over the Internet) and a headset with a microphone. IP phones plug directly into your broadband connection and operate like a traditional telephone.
Q. What kind of VoIP equipment works with Hosted Business Voice?
A. For phone equipment, Apptix sells and fully supports Polycom desktop phones. To maintain the Quality of Service (QoS) of the voice service, Apptix fully supports and recommends EdgeMarc routers. Feature functionality and the actual configuration of the equipment is ultimately the client's responsibility. Some features may not be functional.
All VoIP equipment (phones and routers) purchased through Apptix come with a 1 year warranty.
Q. Can I use my own VoIP Equipment?
A. We recommend Apptix-certified equipment to ensure that you have the best possible experience and call quality. Clients can provide their own equipment, but Apptix cannot guarantee 100% functionality. Your organization may or may not need additional hardware to use Hosted Business Voice. Contact an Apptix Hosted Business Voice specialist to understand what equipment you may need to use our service.
Q. Will your installation technician configure my Local Area Network (LAN) during the equipment installation?
A. LAN and Wide Area Network (WAN) configurations are not part of the standard installation process. However, we will work with your in-house IT support or the individual responsible for management of your LAN/WAN to make sure that it is configured properly to work with your Hosted Business Voice service.
Apptix engineers are available to help configure your network at an additional cost.


We are reckoned as one of the much sought after Traders and Suppliers offering impeccable range of high quality Scrap Metal. We are engaged in trading superior quality copper scrap like berry, mulberry, birch cliff etc as per the requirement. Our wide array of high quality scrap is widely used in various industries for varied purpose. We further, make it available at very moderate price.


The new Korkers Triple Threat Carbide Spike is the perfect solution to slippery wading condition. Designed to dig into and grip the even the smallest cracks in a rock, these spikes provide exceptional grip on any rock surface. Another benefit of this sole is that is great out of the water. The Spikes and rubber sole are also ideal for hiking. They will grip any surface including ice. Another great addition to the Korker line-up.


text:
Celanese to Hold Third Quarter Earnings Conference Call on November 4, 2022
By: Celanese Corporation via Business Wire
October 07, 2022 at 08:00 AM EDT
Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global chemical and specialty materials company, today announced that it will host a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2022 results on Friday, November 4, 2022, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.
The Company will hold its earnings call for this quarter a few weeks later than typical. Celanese is targeting November 1, 2022 to close the pending acquisition of the DuPont Mobility & Materials business, dependent on the timing of remaining regulatory approvals. In addition, the Company believes that having a few additional weeks of visibility into current demand conditions will enable it to provide the most relevant future business outlook possible.
The conference call will be available by webcast at https://investors.celanese.com or by phone:
Dial-in Number: 1-877-407-0989
International Dial-In Number: 1-201-389-0921
Ask for the Celanese Webcast
Alternatively, to enter the call immediately without waiting for operator assistance, attendees may pre-register for the call by clicking the link below. Once registered, attendees will receive an Outlook calendar invite with the date and time of call, the dial-in phone number and the unique attendee pin which is sent automatically to the email address provided.
Registrant Link:
http://services.incommconferencing.com/DiamondPassRegistration/register?confirmationNumber=13733480&linkSecurityString=130c46ba08
The company will distribute its third quarter earnings press release via newswire after the New York Stock Exchange closes on Thursday, November 3, 2022. The earnings press release and prepared remarks will also be available at https://investors.celanese.com after market close on Thursday, November 3, 2022.
A replay of the conference call will be available on demand on November 4, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. Eastern time until November 18, 2022, 12:00 a.m. Eastern time, at the following number:
Replay Number: 1-877-660-6853
The webcast replay will be available on demand at https://investors.celanese.com.
About Celanese
Celanese Corporation is a global chemical leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Our businesses use the full breadth of Celanese's global chemistry, technology and commercial expertise to create value for our customers, employees, shareholders and the corporation. As we partner with our customers to solve their most critical business needs, we strive to make a positive impact on our communities and the world through The Celanese Foundation. Based in Dallas, Celanese employs approximately 8,500 employees worldwide and had 2021 net sales of $8.5 billion. For more information about Celanese Corporation and its product offerings, visit www.celanese.com.
Brandon Ayache
Brandon.Ayache@celanese.com
Media Relations - Global
Brian Bianco
media@celanese.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Join us for this sweet affair and have a chance to win a beautiful heart-shaped pendant necklace! The heart-shaped necklace will be hidden in one of our chocolate truffle boxes, included in the cost of your ticket. At the event each attendee will be able to select their chocolate box from the display. We will then have a 'big reveal' where we all open our boxes and the winner calls out!
All tickets must be purchased online prior to the event, and customer must be present to receive their prize. Tickets will be sold online and in store through February 10th, 2019.


text:
Die Hoffmann Neopac AG mit Hauptsitz in Thun ist ein Schweizer Hersteller von Taschenverpackungen, Dosen und Tuben. Die Unternehmensgruppe beschäftigt 1166 Mitarbeitende (Stand 2021).

Das Unternehmen produziert an sechs Standorten hochwertige Metall- und Kunststoffverpackungen: Dosen bei Hoffmann in Thun und in Holland; Polyfoil® und Kunststofftuben bei Neopac in der Schweiz, Ungarn, USA und bei 3D Neopac in Indien. Das Kerngeschäft von Hoffmann ist die Produktion von Weissblechverpackungen für die Tabak-, Süßwaren-, Food- und Non-Food-Industrie.

Neopac ist ein weltweiter Spezialist in der Entwicklung und Herstellung von Polyfoil®-Tuben für 1 ml bis 300 ml Füllvolumen.

Tätigkeitsgebiet
Das Unternehmen gliedert sich in die beiden Unternehmensbereiche Hoffmann The Tin (Standort Thun) und Neopac The Tube (Standort Oberdiessbach).

Kerngeschäft von Hoffmann The Tin in Thun ist die Herstellung von Taschenverpackungen und Dosen für die Süsswaren-, Tabak-, Kosmetik- und Lebensmittelindustrie.

Kerngeschäft von Neopac The Tube in Oberdiessbach ist die Herstellung von Polyfoil-Tuben mit hoher Barriere für die Pharma-, Kosmetik- und Dentalindustrie.

Geschichte Gruppe
Das Unternehmen wurde 1890 durch Eduard Johann Hoffmann gegründet und stellte anfänglich im Auftrag des Bundes Patronenlader aus Karton und Metall für ein neues Infanteriegewehr der Schweizer Armee her. Nachdem die Eidgenössische Munitionsfabrik die Schachteln selbst zu produzieren begann, stieg Hoffmann auf die Herstellung von Karton- und Metallverpackungen sowie Blechdosen um.

1934 erwarb das mittlerweile in zweiter Generation geführte Unternehmen die Aktienmehrheit an der auf die Herstellung von Metallverpackungen spezialisierten AG Union (später Neopac AG) in Oberdiessbach. Diese begann ab 1954 mit der Produktion von Kunststofftuben. Ab 1982 konzentrierte sich Neopac auf die Produktion von Polyfoil-Tuben und stellte die Herstellung anderer Verpackungen ein.

1998 wurden im Zuge einer Neuausrichtung der Sortimentspolitik die Gebr. Hoffmann AG und die Neopac AG zur Hoffmann Neopac AG fusioniert und die beiden Divisionen Hoffmann Packaging Solutions (für Metallverpackungen) und Neopac Packaging Solutions (für Polyfoil- und Kunststofftuben) gebildet.
Zwecks besserer Differenzierung am Markt wurde 2008 in den Logos das Packaging Solutions durch Hoffmann The Tin und Neopac The Tube ersetzt.

Geschichte Neopac
Mit der Erfindung der Polyfoil® Tube im Jahre 1965 gelang Neopac ein grosser Schritt zur Differenzierung im Nischenmarkt gegenüber herkömmlichen Tuben. Barriere und Ästhetik der Tuben-Verpackungen stehen bis heute im strategischen Fokus des Unternehmens. Neopac entwickelte sich zu einem führenden Tubenhersteller Europas mit einer grossen Sortimentstiefe und hoher Flexibilität, um auf Trend und Marktbedürfnisse zu reagieren. In den 80er Jahren strebte Neopac die Internationalisierung an und gewann Lizenznehmer in den USA und Korea. Bereits Anfang der 90er Jahre hat Neopac in Zusammenarbeit mit einem Kunden eine Ökobilanz für Tuben erstellt. Im letzten Jahrzehnt setzte Neopac vor allem auf Convenience mit neuen Tuben-Applikatoren und kundenspezifischen Entwicklungen für die Pharma, Kosmetik und Dentalindustrie. Ab 2005 gelang Neopac ein weiterer Meilenstein. Sie setzte einen neuen Massstab für die Tubenindustrie: Höchstmögliche Qualität und Sicherheit der Produktion durch Pharma-Reinräume auf dedizierten Linien.

Weblinks
 Website der Hoffmann Neopac AG / Gruppe
 Website der Hoffmann The Tin / Thun
 Website der Neopac The Tube / Oberdiessbach

Verpackungsmittelhersteller
Unternehmen (Thun)
Gegründet 1890
Produzierendes Unternehmen (Schweiz)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The road to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final is set and the opening round of NHL playoffs kicked off last week. A red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning team was matched up with the New Jersey Devils to start the opening round. The first two games of the series were played in Tampa and the Lightning claimed the early 2-0 series lead. As the best-of-seven series shifts to New Jersey, Tampa Bay hopes to swing the series even further in their favor.
We haven't seen the New Jersey Devils in the playoffs since 2012. It has also been 15 years since we saw them win their third Stanley Cup in 2003. The Lightning certainly have more playoff experience in recent years. However, their first and only Stanley Cup was won back in 2004. Although we haven't seen them in awhile, the Devils are no lay-up. Lightning coach, Jon Cooper, knows that making the playoffs isn't easy for any team.
Both the Lightning and the Devils missed the playoffs last year. They're both back now and eager to make a run for that elusive Stanley Cup.
The Lightning looked spectacular in the first two games of the playoff series held in Tampa. With over 120 minutes of playoff hockey under their belts in 2018, Tampa Bay hasn't trailed for one minute. After a 5-2 victory in Game 1, Tampa Bay put up a four-goal lead in Game 2 before ultimately finishing the game 5-3.
The experience of Tampa Bay showed in the opening two games as they handled the changing of momentum much smoother than the less-experienced Devils. This could prove to be an advantage for the Lightning as the series continues but with the two wins also came two injuries for Tampa Bay. Ryan Callahan and Dan Girardi both sustained injuries in Game 2 that forced them out of the game. Callahan will be unavailable for Game 3 and Girardi is set to be a game-time decision. While the Lightning hold the series lead, the injuries may be what New Jersey needs to shift the series in their favor.
The Devils showed promise in the opening games, but there was still much room for improvement. Devils coach, John Hynes, didn't specify which players would be in or out, but he did say that changes would be made for Game 3.
New Jersey, so far, has been clearly outmatched. Although the series is shifting to Newark, Tampa Bay has been the better team and they aren't going to take the Devils lightly.
Game 3 will take place Monday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. EST.


Greaseless bearing for reduced maintenance.
Stainless steel evaporator for maximum durability.
Designed, engineered, assembled in the USA.
External air filter for easy cleaning.
Unit specific QR code for quick access to service manuals and warranty history.
Slide back door allows easy access to ice in the bin.
Intuitive control panel allows for quick and easy operation.
Ice scoop and power cord included.
Only 24" wide, the ice maker can be placed in the tightest locations.
Optional floor mount kit lowers height to 33.5".
Produces up to 340 lb (154 kg) per day and stores 80 lb (36 kg), meeting the ice demands for many different applications.
Meets new US federal energy efficiency requirements.
Meets US Safe Drinking Act low lead requirements.


text:
Q: Do I have to use Timeline or Transition to redraw canvas in infinite loop? I have the following Problem.
I'm am a complete newbie in JavaFX and I am trying to code a Game of Life program.
I have a class "MainView" extending VBox. MainView has an ArrayList "playingField" of the class Field as an attribute, consisting of cells and also a draw() method, which draws rectangles on a Canvas, according to the states of the cells.
Inside of Field I have a transition() method, which changes the state of the cells, according to some defined transition rules.
This is working fine, and I can manually progress by clicking on a button on my primary stage. What I want though, is a possibility to press a button once, and then have indefinite steps of progresses -> applications of the transition()-method and redrawings of the canvas.
If I try to do it in a loop, it works just fine, but of course happens way to fast to recognize the single steps, but when I use Thread.sleep(), the whole application freezes.
I know I have to solve this with either a timeline or a transitions, but I can't really find sufficient informations online on how to inegrate the transition() and draw() methods in an infinite cycle in either one of them.
I hope following snippets will help to make myself more clear:
public class Main extends Application {
@Override
public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
    try {

        MainView mainView = new MainView();

        Scene scene = new Scene(mainView, 1000, 1032);
        primaryStage.setScene(scene);
        primaryStage.show();
        mainView.draw();

    } catch(Exception e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
}

public static void main(String[] args) {
    launch(args);
}

}
public MainView() extends VBox {
    private Button stepButton;
    private Canvas canvas;
    private Field playingField;

    this.stepButton = new Button("progress");
    this.stepButton.setOnAction(ActionEvent -> {
        playingField.fieldTransition();
        draw();
    });

    public void draw() {

    //drawing Rectangles that represent the cells of field on a canvas
        }
    }
}

Field class with the transitions() method:
public class Field implements TransitionRules {

public void fieldTransition(){
    //method to change the state of the cells according to given rules.
    }
}

A: Thank you guys, I made it work.
In mainView I defined a method
        public void progress() {
        field.fieldTransition();
        draw();
    }

And then in Main I did this:
public class Main extends Application {
@Override
public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
    try {

        MainView mainView = new MainView();

        Scene scene = new Scene(mainView, 1000, 1032);
        primaryStage.setScene(scene);
        primaryStage.show();
        Timeline timeline = new Timeline();
        KeyFrame frame1 = new KeyFrame(Duration.seconds(1.0), e -> mainView.progress());
        timeline.getKeyFrames().add(frame1);
        timeline.setCycleCount(Timeline.INDEFINITE);
        timeline.play();
        mainView.draw();

    } catch(Exception e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
}

Im pretty sure I added some unnecessary detours and I'll probably have to work on it much more, but for the first time I made the automatic progress happen.
Also thanks to @James_D for pointing out the other JavaFX-Thread. I didn't find it by myself, but it seems very useful and I will come back to it in the future.
I know for some of you guys its pretty basic to make stuff like this work, but I just started a few days ago with JavaFX and its mechanics are still somewhat confusing for me.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
AGR dues: Bharti Airtel pays additional Rs 8,004 crore, claims compliance with Supreme Court judgement
The payment of Rs 8,004 crore is in addition to Rs 10,000 crore the company paid on February 17, 2020 in compliance to the Supreme Court judgement, it said in a regulatory filing.
February 29, 2020 12:14:00 pm
Bharti Airtel has paid Rs 13,004 crore to the government in two installments. (File Photo)
Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Saturday said that it has made additional payment of Rs 8,004 crore towards adjusted gross revenue dues to the Department of Telecom (DoT).
The company said it calculated the liabilities on self assessment basis till December 31, 2019 and the payment includes interest up to February 29, 2020.
The company has carried out self assessment from FY 2006-07 up to December 31, 2019 and interest thereon up to February 29, 2020 in line with the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) judgement, Bharti Airtel said.
"Accordingly the company paid an additional amount of Rs 3,004 crore towards the full and final amounts due over and above ad-hoc amount of Rs 10,000 crore paid on February 17, 2020 on behalf of Bharti Group of companies," the filing said.
The payment included liabilities on Bharti Airtel, Bharti Hexacom and Telenor India.
"We have also deposited an additional amount of Rs 5,000 crore, as an ad-hoc payment (subject to the subsequent refund/adjustment to cover differences, if any arising from the reconciliation exercise with the DoT," Airtel said.
According to DoT estimates, Airtel owed nearly Rs 35,586 crore, including licence fee, spectrum usage charges with interest on unpaid amount, penalty and interest on penalty till July 2019.
"Based on the aforesaid payment we have now complied with AGR judgement and the directions in the order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated October 24, 2019," the company said.
French major Total acquires shares worth over Rs 5,000 crore in Adani Gas
Increase in tax on components to make mobile PLI uncompetitive for exports: ICEA
How can MSMEs maximise input tax credit and better manage cash flows
IOC to invest Rs 7,000 crore in city gas after it secures 33% market potential areas
PMC Bank merger with Unity Small Finance Bank awaits govt approval
Less than a third of people get flight cancellation refund amid pandemic, says report


Welcome to your departmental officials as well.
Overall, we found that Transport Canada did not develop motor vehicle safety standards to respond to emerging risks and issues in a timely manner.
We could not always determine how the Department used evidence and research to develop or amend safety standards.
In the case of Bill S-2, this bill would give the minister and his or her department significant new powers. I'm wondering if you could tell us what, if any, attempts have been made to resolve some of those issues that have been raised by the Auditor General.
Yes. I don't have at the top of my mind the years that were being covered by the Auditor General's report. Certainly we have looked at the Auditor General's report, and we take it very seriously. As I say, we will be responding through the public accounts committee to the recommendations that were made to address the issues brought up by the Auditor General. Yes, there are some things that we can do better on. We will be taking that very seriously.
I understand that the Auditor General did find some things that we were doing well, so that's good news. There was our ability to identify vehicle safety defects, which is fairly crucial in this whole thing as part of ensuring...when they're not necessarily brought to us by the manufacturer. We're keeping on top of that to identify defects that are out there.
I can't tell you exactly what will be tabled in Parliament fairly soon, but it will be our response to the public accounts committee's study of the Auditor General's report. Perhaps at that point if there are questions you feel still need to be asked, I would welcome them.
I do want to speak to another measure in Bill S-2. Bill S-2 increases the power of Transport Canada inspectors to visit facilities and compel documents and testimony from employees in order to demonstrate compliance. What would trigger a visit by Transport Canada for a company to demonstrate compliance? This isn't based on complaints; it's just that they can go in and ask for this information. What would trigger a visit by Transport Canada?
Probably the quick answer is exceptional circumstances and, hopefully, these are powers that would not be necessary. As I say, at Transport Canada, we want to make sure that the whole process of ensuring that cars are safe—and it actually goes from motorcycles to trucks.... If we are not being provided with information we feel is necessary in order to understand anything related to addressing a defect, then we are giving ourselves that power to do it. As I say, I think it would be in exceptional circumstances.
I am very confident that we will have very few situations in which that kind of ministerial power or inspector power will be invoked, because I think we will work well with the manufacturing sector. We're giving ourselves that flexibility should it be necessary.
I want to ask about the fact that this bill was introduced in the Senate, and that question was asked a fair bit during the debate in the House of Commons by all members who may not have the answer to that question. With you here at the table, would you be able or willing to answer why this piece of legislation came to the House of Commons through the Senate?
Yes, with pleasure, and it's not very complicated. This was a bill that we wanted to put into the system very quickly in the early days. As you know, when a new Parliament starts, there's a blank slate in both Houses in terms of what kind of legislation is going to be put forward. The Senate, as you know, can take a bill from the government and pass it through there. It doesn't have to always start in the House. They were willing to begin looking at Bill S-2, one which your government in an earlier version introduced. It was just one of those situations. There's nothing mysterious about it. It was a question of flow through. There are many bills that new governments introduce and at this particular point, there was an availability of resources in the Senate to study this bill.
We move to Mr. Sikand.
I'd like to follow up on my colleague's previous line of questioning, and perhaps just take a step back, because I was really surprised to hear that your office, and you, the minister, didn't have these powers before, so I'm happy to hear that Bill S-2 is coming forward. I'd like to know how you envision these powers being exercised. I'd imagine a situation has deteriorated to the point that you're being forced to act. Are recalls going to be ordered in conjunction with manufacturers? How is this going to be rolled out?
I think many Canadians think that, at the moment, we have the ability in the Government of Canada to order recalls. They're not aware of the fact that the law at the moment only orders a notice of defect to be put out by the manufacturer, but we don't have those. That's in part because the manufacturers very often follow through, and they proceed with the recall and repair, which speaks well for them.
As my colleague Kim Benjamin said, there were a few instances where there was a difference of opinion. From our point of view, from our expertise at Transport Canada, our inspections and what have you, and feedback from the public, we felt that in these three cases we weren't hearing from the manufacturer to say that there's a defect. In fact, they disagreed with us. That's one of the situations where the power of the minister can be invoked. We hope it won't happen very often, but there can be instances. There are so many models out there, and there's so much technology, that it's important for us to have that capability if we feel strongly that the defect needs to be addressed.
You just mentioned that you weren't hearing from manufacturers. Keeping Canadians' safety top of mind, I don't want to see a situation where there's a foreign company which has cars operating in Canada, and perhaps incorporated there, and by virtue of that incorporation they're sheltered from legal action. I'd like to know how Bill S-2 is going to address those foreign companies operating within our country.
The law is addressing both manufacturers and importers of cars, so we feel that any car or vehicle that's going to be on our roads has to be safe, and that includes imported.
I'd like to pass over any remaining time I have to Mr. Badawey.
September 26th, 2017 / 4:15 p.m.
With respect to the process, Minister, I'm quite excited about it, because it is taking something that's long overdue and bringing it up to date.
That said, it gives the perspective of 2017 in relation to safety. What I'm most interested in, however, is that it's also an opportunity. It's an opportunity to look down the road and take into consideration not only the perspective of 2017, but the possibility of the perspective of 2030 and going well into the future. I think a lot of this was spoken about earlier in relation to taking safety into consideration in an environment of quickly evolving new technologies.
Having said that, and being more proactive versus reactive—reactive being defects and responding after the fact—is there an opportunity here? Can we leverage this process to encourage manufacturers to accelerate new technologies in the name of returns on environmental, social, and economic investments, therefore being more proactive with respect to those new technologies and, of course, with that, the safety that can be dealt with by those new technologies?
If we had a crystal ball now and were to look at our roads in 2030, which is only 13 years from now, I think we would all be a bit surprised at how this disruptive new technology has implanted itself on our roads in the country, and hopefully for the better. I would say to you that my sense, from following what's happening with the development of autonomous vehicles, is that the business forces are already very actively pushing this.
We've all heard of Tesla, but as you know, there are many other companies. Audi is another example, but Google, Apple, the Big Three, and many European companies such as BMW and others are all scrambling, because they want to own as big a part of that market as possible. I think they are highly motivated. We don't know.
We can have a discussion about the availability of ZEVs, but that's a different discussion. On autonomous vehicles, I think they are self-motivated, and they are developing these. Of course, they know their success will be that it has to be safe, cleaner, and provide all the advantages, which we believe will be accessibility and those kinds of things. I think there are enough motivational forces in play. We don't need to coax them along too much on that.
We'll move to Mr. Chong.
Minister, thank you for coming. You mentioned in your opening remarks that you're going to be proposing amendments to the bill. I assume that's not in the House but in committee, through the Liberal members on the committee. Is that correct?
It will be in committee.
I assume that means, then, that you're not supportive of the amendment that was made to the bill in the Senate. I think it's on proposed section 10.52. Is that also correct?
What we've done is we've worked with the Canadian dealers to find something that we feel they are happy with.
—you will be deciding in your wisdom whether you want to go with that.


If you are MOE teacher / Subject head / Coordinator looking for STOMP classes for your pupils, Advent Music would like to get in touch with you.
STOMP equipment is subject to availability, kindly contact Advent Music for an enquiry.
It is a powerful expression of turning Trash into Treasure, sending the students the more important message that anybody can shine, be important, and be significant.
Using pails, trashbins ( dustbins ), pans, chopsticks, pails, bells, and whistles, students create a powerful rhythm, where they will be reminded about values like Teamwork, innovation, and other important core values.


text:
Ontario Takes Decisive Action to Help More Families with Autism
ELGIN-MIDDLESEX-LONDON – Ontario's government for the people is bringing relief to 23,000 children and their families who are currently languishing on a waitlist for autism services.
In an announcement at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Parliamentary Assistant Amy Fee and Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Lisa MacLeod outlined the widespread reforms to the Ontario Autism Program that will restore fairness, equality, and sustainability to the program.
"The Ontario government invests $321 million dollars each year in autism supports that under the current system leave 3 out of 4 children behind," said Macleod. "I cannot in good conscience continue this Liberal plan that was more about politics than the people it should be supporting."
Under the government's proposed reforms, the waitlist for funding will be cleared in 18 months, people will be treated with fairness and equality, the system will become more financially sustainable, make the system more accountable and to guarantee that supports are there for families with the greatest need, now and well into the future.
With the proposed changes, families may receive a Childhood Budget until their child turns 18. Supports will be targeted to lower and middle-income families. The amount of the budget will depend on the length of time a child will be in the program. For example, a child entering the program at age two would be eligible to receive up to $140,000, while a child entering the program at age seven would receive up to $55,000. These changes will ensure that every child will receive assistance, rather than just 25% of families who currently receive support.
"Autism hits close to home for every community across our province and ours is no exception. Our government's plan ensures that no families will have to wait over two years to receive support for their children again," said Jeff Yurek, MPP, Elgin-Middlesex-London.
To be eligible for the Ontario Autism Program, a child must have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder from a qualified professional. Families are eligible to apply for program funding for children and youth up to age 18.
Today, there are over 2,400 families waiting for a diagnostic assessment, and more than 23,000 families waiting for behavioural services through the Ontario Autism Program with demand continuing to grow.
Evidence shows that children who receive behavioural intervention therapies between two and five years of age have the best long-term outcomes.


I have used this product many times in the past, and will continue to do so. The taste is out of this world.
This product is great !!
I have been using this for many years as for other products by NOH . please don't ever stop selling you products . I love them Thank You NOH !!!


text:
Q: Rebuilding(Xamarin Android APP) . SQLite.cs could not be found and SQLiteAsync.cs When im rebuilding my project it comes with this error? whats the problem of it?. Im using Sqlite-net-pcl V1.4.118, Android 7.1- API25
Sqlite.cs could not be found, and SQLite Async.cs
Thanks

A: If you read the full project documentation on github you see that you need to add a .cs file to your project:

Source Installation SQLite-net is all contained in 1 file (I know, so
  cool right?) and is easy to add to your project. Just add SQLite.cs to
  your project, and you're ready to start creating tables.

you already do that? :)


Looking at it with a Hex editor I found that a string field is treated as NULL, if it contains all spaces ($20), it is treated as an empty string, if it contains at least one NUL ($00) (the rest can also be spaces), which was the case for the second record. I can recreate the effect by changing the file with said Hex editor.
Get the field offset and length.
Copy its content to a buffer.
it will converted to an empty string.
it will converted to NULL.
it will converted to ' ' (a string containing a single space).
I still have no idea how this file was created though.


text:
Q: Use all variables in a model with {plm} in R Using different sources, I wrote a little function that creates a table with standard errors, t statistics and standard errors that are clustered according to a group variable "cluster" after a linear regression model. The code is as follows
cl1 <- function(modl,clust) {
 # model is the regression model
 # clust is the clustervariable
 # id is a unique identifier in ids
    library(plm)
    library(lmtest)
        #  Get Formula
    form <- formula(modl$call)
        # Get Data frame
    dat <- eval(modl$call$data)
    dat$row <- rownames(dat)
    dat$id <- ave(dat$row, dat[[deparse(substitute(clust))]], FUN =seq_along)
    pdat <- pdata.frame(dat,
         index=c("id", deparse(substitute(clust)))
         , drop.index= F, row.names= T)
    # # Regression
      reg <- plm(form, data=pdat, model="pooling")
    # # Adjustments
     G <- length(unique(dat[, deparse(substitute(clust))]))
     N <- length(dat[,deparse(substitute(clust))])
    # # Resid degrees of freedom, adjusted
     dfa <- (G/(G-1))*(N-1)/reg$df.residual
     d.vcov <- dfa* vcovHC(reg, type="HC0", cluster="group", adjust=T)
    table <- coeftest(reg, vcov=d.vcov)
    # #  Output: se, t-stat and p-val
     cl1out <- data.frame(table[, 2:4])
     names(cl1out) <- c("se", "tstat", "pval")
    # # Cluster VCE
     return(cl1out)

}
For a regression like  reg1 <- lm (y ~ x1 + x2 , data= df), calling the function cl1(reg1, cluster) will work just fine.
However, if I use a model like reg2 <- lm(y ~ . , data=df), I will get the error message:
Error in terms.formula(object) : '.' in formula and no 'data' argument

After some tests, I am guessing that I can't use "." to signal "use all variables in the data frame" for {plm}. Is there a way I can do this with {plm}? Otherwise, any ideas on how I could improve my function in a way that does not use {plm} and that accepts all possible specifications of a linear model?

A: Indeed you can't use . notation for formula within plm pacakge.
data("Produc", package = "plm")
plm(gsp ~ .,data=Produc)
Error in terms.formula(object) : '.' in formula and no 'data' argument

One idea is to expand the formula when you have a .. Here is a custom function that does the job (surely is done within other packages):
expand_formula <-
  function(form="A ~.",varNames=c("A","B","C")){
  has_dot <- any(grepl('.',form,fixed=TRUE))
  if(has_dot){
    ii <- intersect(as.character(as.formula(form)),
          varNames)
    varNames <- varNames[!grepl(paste0(ii,collapse='|'),varNames)]

   exp <- paste0(varNames,collapse='+')
   as.formula(gsub('.',exp,form,fixed=TRUE))

  }
  else as.formula(form)
}

Now test it :
(eform = expand_formula("gsp ~ .",names(Produc)))
#    gsp ~ state + year + pcap + hwy + water + util + pc + emp + unemp

plm(eform,data=Produc)

# Model Formula: gsp ~ state + year + pcap + hwy + water + util + pc + emp + unemp
# <environment: 0x0000000014c3f3c0>


Nelson Chamisa's lawyer, Advocate Thabani Mpofu held a press conference today in Harare concerning the of filing papers challenging the declared result by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
Advocate Thabani Mpofu has confirmed that they have all the V11 forms which they will present in court as evidence.
Chamisa's lawyer however refused to announce the day that there are going to file the challenge.


text:
Tennessee's Unemployment Reaches Lowest Level Since January 2020
by Chris Butler | Jan 24, 2022
Unemployment in Tennessee reached a two-year low in December, according to new data that the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD) released late last week. The state ended 2021 with an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent, which was 0.2 of...
Statue of Theodore Roosevelt Removed from New York Museum Will Be Placed in North Dakota
by Star News Staff | Jan 24, 2022
by Eric Lendrum The iconic statue of U.S. President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt has been removed from the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where it has stood for over 80 years. CNN reports that demands for the statue to be removed began over...
TDOT Announces $3.3 Million Plan for Pothole Repair
by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 24, 2022
Due to this season's back-to-back winter storms, potholes have formed along Tennessee interstates and state highways. As a result, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced in a Friday press release that it is using all available staffing to...
Commentary: Criminal 'Catch and Release' Is Plaguing Our Country
by Jeff Minick "Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna, whatcha gonna do when they come for you?" That song and those words used to open the show Cops along with scenes of the police chasing down and arresting the "bad boys." Viewers assume those...
Andrew Yang Predicts Biden May Not Win 2024 Democratic Nomination
- – – Photo "Andrew Yang" by Gage Skidmore CC BY-SA 2.0.
Dartmouth Cancels Conservative Group's Event after Alleged Antifa Threats
by Harold Hutchison A conservative group at an Ivy League college was reportedly forced to take a planned event virtual after reported threats tied to a left-wing protest group, according to journalist Andy Ngo. The Dartmouth College chapter of Turning Point...
'If There Is Risk, There Must Be Choice': Dr. Robert Malone Stirs Defeat Mandates Rally in DC
– – – Photo "vaccine protestors" by Becker1999 CC BY 2.0.
University of North Dakota Scraps 'Gender Inclusion' Policy Proposal After Catholic Organization Warns Parents
by Addison Smith Earlier this week, Campus Reform reported on the North Dakota Catholic Conference's (NDCC) concerns surrounding the University of North Dakota's (UND) 'Gender Inclusion' policy proposal. Today, UND President Andrew...
After '49th March For Life,' Ohio Right To Life Leader Says: 'We're Really Living In A Pro-Life Generation'
by Neil W. McCabe | Jan 24, 2022
The executive director of Ohio Right to Life told The Star News Network he and the more than 100 young people he bused to Washington for Friday's 49th March for Life could have marched for the last time under the current abortion regime. "We believe in...
Arizona Republicans Pressure Yellen Not to Claw Back COVID Aid
by The Center Square | Jan 24, 2022
by Tom Joyce Republican members of Arizona's congressional delegation have a demand for United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen: don't take federal relief funding away from the state. Arizona is scheduled to receive $4.2 billion from the federal...
Minnesota Gov. Walz Wants to Give $700M Back to Taxpayers
by Scott McClallen Gov. Tim Walz says he plans to send 2.7 million Minnesotans "Walz Checks" up to $350 as part of his 2022 Local Jobs and Projects Plan. "To continue growing Minnesota's economy, we must invest in the people who made it strong in...
Virginia Small Businesses Request Tax Relief, Lower Regulations
by Tyler Arnold With Virginia's 2022 legislative session underway, a small business association is asking lawmakers to consider tax relief, lower regulation and other policies to help the commonwealth's business community. The National Federation of Independent...
Newly Elected Minneapolis Council Member Makes Statement After Defending Homeless Encampment from Eviction
by Hayley Feland | Jan 24, 2022
A newly elected Minneapolis council member made a statement on Saturday after she defended a homeless encampment from eviction two weeks ago. Robin Wonsley-Worlobah, a Democratic Socialist, said that all pending evictions from Minneapolis homeless encampments...
Senator Rick Scott Labels Biden's COVID Relief Funds as 'Irresponsible'
by Cooper Moran | Jan 24, 2022
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) questioned coronavirus relief policies enacted by President Biden and congressional Democrats, labeling the added spending as "irresponsible." According to Scott, the funds, which were enacted through legislation passed...
Kari Lake Campaign for Governor Raises Almost Three Times More Money as Pundits Predicted
by Rachel Alexander | Jan 24, 2022
The Kari Lake campaign for governor continues its strong momentum, raising $1,462,115 in 2021 according to the Arizona Secretary of State's campaign finance database. Two of her Republican opponents brought in more money, but both are funding their campaigns...
Missouri AG Sues 36 School Districts with Mask Requirements, But Not His Own District
by Joe Mueller Missouri Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt completed on Friday a promise made earlier this week by filing lawsuits against 36 public school districts for requiring masks. "Mask mandates in schools are illegal, they simply don't work, and...
Northwoods Congressman Wants to Ban Race-Based Coronavirus Treatments
by Benjamin Yount One of Wisconsin's Republican congressmen wants to ban racial-scoring in deciding who gets the new coronavirus antiviral pills. Northwoods U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany on Thursday introduced legislation that would prohibit the federal government and...
University of Wisconsin System Names New President
The University of Wisconsin system on Friday named Jay O. Rothman the new system president, following a unanimous vote from the Board of Regents. Rothman, who serves as chairman and CEO of a law firm in Milwaukee, will become the eighth president of the system....
Amid Legal Doubt over Youngkin Mask Opt-Out Order, Virginia Departments of Health and Education Emphasize Parents, Officials Share Responsibility for COVID-19 Mitigation
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Department of Education (VDOE) updated their guidelines to reflect Governor Glenn Youngkin's mask-mandate opt-out order. The new guidance downplays masks and says COVID-19 risk reduction is a shared...
Georgia Real Estate Agent Sentenced for Using Federal Housing Administration Loans in Fraudulent Schemes
Federal officials have sentenced an Atlanta real estate agent for a mortgage fraud scheme that netted more than $21 million in fraudulent mortgage loans, many of which were insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). This resulted in more than $850,000...
Commentary: Make Congress Great Again
by Bill Asher House Democrats can subpoena President Trump or they can yield back the balance of their time to Speaker Trump. They can carry on about January 6, 2021, until the midterms on November 8, 2022, or they can hold out until January 3, 2023, when the...


Vassago Studios was founded in 2014 by Roman Perezogin, who has been working independently with his own funds in this one-man studio, where he has utilized iClone and its Character Creator tool to meet deadlines and funding for the game.
In 2015 the production of the first Vassago Studios title "Darkness Anomaly" started with the creation of a playable demo which tapped into the CRYENGINE INDIE DEVELOPMENT FUND – a grant program for the indie dev teams doing work with CRYENGINE.
The aim of the campaign was to test the atmosphere of CRYENGINE for a horror game. In 2016, preparations for the campaign began, bringing insights to whether there is interest in the game idea for Steam – Valve's digital distribution platform. After only 3 days, Darkness Anomaly ranked 10th of all submitted projects.
Learn how to create and animate game characters for the Unreal engine UE4 with iClone.
Chad Schoonover's 10 video tutorial series will show the process to create and animate Character Creator characters for iClone, motion editing in Motion Builder and iClone compared and preparing characters for export to Unreal.
Playlist of 10 videos including an introduction.
If you are a Photoshop artist, a Dreamweaver designer, or an Adobe user with a Creative Cloud membership then we have some awesome news for you as now you can animate 3D characters with thousands of high-quality Mixamo animations for FREE!
…well sort of free because you still need a $9.99 membership. But it really is an all-you-can-eat at the Adobe animation buffet!


Yesterday Saveur Magazine added eat in my kitchen to their "Sites We Love" and I'm so happy and excited to be a part of this special list! It's only been two months since I started sharing my personal kitchen moments here on my blog and I have been overwhelmed by the response and support, thank you!
So, back to food, a special day deserves a special meal! Coincidentally, today I'm writing about a very special, luxurious if not festive recipe, Gravad Lax!
Gravad Lax is very literally slow food as the cured salmon needs a few days in the fridge, pressed down with weights, looked after and turned once a day. It can take between 2 – 4 days to reach the right consistency, so you must be patient, but you can be sure you will be rewarded.
I cure mine with a marinade of dill, juniper and black pepper and the obligatory salt/sugar mixture. This, to me, is the best way to savor salmon by far. It's an old family recipe made by many of my relatives, it's always one of the starters when my family comes together at table. I have tried different recipes, with more spices and orange zest for example, but I always come back to this one. The dill, black pepper and the juniper just bring out the best in the salmon.
After a few days, when the salmon is done, I cut very thin slices off the fillet. I serve mine pure, with no dressing, just some white bread. That's it, it doesn't need anything else. Apart from a glass of white wine maybe, or Champagne even. It's a luxurious meal so you might as well go all the way!
Combine the sugar, salt and spices.
Spread 1/4 of the dill on a flat dish big enough for the salmon. Place one half of the salmon on top (flesh-side up), rub the spice mixture gently into the flesh and cover with half of the dill. Place the other half of the fish on top (flesh-side down), press it down and cover with the rest of the dill. Cover with cling film, put a wooden board on top and place 2-3 (filled) tins on top, or anything else that is heavy enough to put some weight on the salmon. Place in the fridge and turn once a day. You might have to drain some liquid once in a while. Check after 2 days to see if the texture is already more firm. The salmon will start to look a big glassy. If so, slice it thinly (you must hold a large, sharp knife at a flat angle) – if not, be patient and check again tomorrow!
Thank you! I love tuna carpaccio but never tried gravad tuna, sounds interesting.
Thank you Kathryn! I like your blog a lot, your photos make me want to bake even more than I already do!


text:
Ancient and medieval architecture
Map of Estonia
Map of Poland
Map of Slovakia
Map of Wales
Patrons of medievalheritage.eu
Kuimetsa – castle
view of the building at the beginning of the 19th century
Kuimetsa (Kuimetz) is one of the few defense foundations made by a female order. The village appeared in sources for the first time in 1345 and belonged to the Cistercian monastery in Tallinn (Rewel). The construction of stone fortifications was probably started in 1412, and their main task was to protect the stocks, collected from nearby Cistercian estates. The building played its role until 1560, when, like other fortifications of the region, it was destroyed during the Livonian War by thw Muscovite army. In the following years, the ruined building belonged to private hands, but no renovation action was taken. At the beginning of the 19th century, the tower was in quite good condition, but unfortunately it was soon dismantled for building material.
The appearance of the stronghold is not fully known. The preserved drawings suggest that it was a single, rectangular defensive house, probably a tower-like character, to which a small, lower, irregularly shaped building was adjacent to the south-east. The main building probably had two floors and an attic, and its corners were crowned with at least two small turrets erected in front of the wall. The tower had a basement with a vaulted room measuring 7×5 meters.
Only the stone foundations of the main building, covering the vaulted cellar, have survived to this day.
preserved relics of the defensive house, photo Wikimedia Commons
show this monument on map
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Borowski T, Miasta, zamki i klasztory, Inflanty, Warszawa 2010.
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any initial thoughts about the dream – events of the day that may relate, etc.
You may use any format you wish to record the data (notepad, computer, hardcopy spreadsheet, etc.).
Complete a 3-4 page reflection (not counting title or reference pages) in which you analyze the results of your sleep/dream journal. Consider how your psychological and physical health interacted. What patterns did you see? Discuss the impact that various factors such as fatigue, diet, stress and exercise had on your dreams and sleep patterns. Explain how this insight may impact your behaviors in the future to lead to better psychological and physical health.


Seattle has been listed as tops in home-price growth in the country for seventh straight month. The local market has gotten so competitive that 90% of homes for sale ended up closed higher than the listed price. Seattle recorded 12.3% increase from 2016 in March compare to national average of 5.8%. There's simply not enough inventory in Seattle metropolitan area to calm a feeding frenzy. Seattle had the highest rate of bidding wards of any hot markets such as San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Portland, Denver, Boston, Austin and Washington, D.C. The typical single-famiy house in the city sold for a record $722,000.
Home buyers may take up between 6 months to a year largely due to keep losing to the highest bidder. Spring time is when competition at its peak. To stand out some buyers have resorted to waiving contingencies, inspections, and submitting a bigger portion in nonrefundable cash sums. And because houses can go so quickly, buyers often need to pull the trigger and submit an offer on a home within hours of it hitting the market resulting in less due diligence. Some even submitted offers sight unseen with escalating clause.
Most of the cases, sellers will set a deadline of reviewing all offers and will pick the highest one. This trend seems to have spread out to adjacent Seattle neighborhoods as well.
Now that you are a homeowner.
Five mistakes first-time homebuyers should heed.
Now that you are your own boss - now what?
Expenses to consider when buying a new house.
Do's and Don't for homesellers.


text:
UnitedHealth Expands Hip, Knee And Spine Bundled Payments After Costs Fall
Bruce Japsen Senior Contributor
I write about healthcare business and policy
In UnitedHealth's spine and joint program, $18,000 was saved per procedure
UnitedHealth Group Inc. signage is displayed on a monitor on the floor of the New York Stock... [+] Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg
UnitedHealth Group said it will further expand to nearly 40 markets an effort to pay doctors and hospitals for spinal surgeries and knee and hip replacements by moving to bundled payments, a proliferating value-based care model.
UnitedHealth said its decision to expand to 37 markets from the 28 it entered when the program began in 2016 is due to improved outcomes for patients and nearly $18 million in savings from the more than 115 employers currently participating in the "spine and joint solution program."
The success of a bundled payment model in the commercially insured sector is significant given the Trump administration has waffled somewhat on value-based care models by making voluntary bundled payment for joint replacement in the Medicare program in certain areas of the country.
As more than 10,000 baby boomers a day age into Medicare, supporters of value-based care models say they will be critical to future health policy initiatives. The nation's largest health insurer and most of its rivals are committed to value-based care and the move away from fee-for-service medicine.
"This program is one example of the ways we are reshaping how health care is delivered, helping enhance care coordination, improve outcomes and deliver greater value," UnitedHealthcare chief medical officer Dr. Sam Ho said in a statement accompanying the report issued Wednesday on savings and outcomes of the program. "The initial results and nationwide expansion demonstrate the value of this program to health care providers, employers and their employees, helping to improve health outcomes and make care more affordable for more people."
Gallery: The Most And Least Expensive Places To Get A Knee Replacement
This year, UnitedHealth will have 46 participating facilities compared to 40 two years ago.
Hospitals where the surgery takes place and doctors involved in the "spine and joint solution program" are accountable for the quality as well as the costs of care from the start of the surgery through outpatient rehabilitation or related care.
The bundled fee pays the medical care providers involved in the "defined episode of care" such as the hip replacement or spinal fusion a single payment rather than the traditional fee-for-service model that pays for each treatment, doctor's appointment or diagnostic test.
Many see the bundled fees as a way to get doctors, hospitals and other caregivers to work more closely together to improve quality and outcomes. It's not uncommon for a hip or knee replacement to cost more than $30,000 on average for most fees to providers involved in the procedure, but costs vary widely across the country.
In UnitedHealth's spine and joint program, $18,000 was saved per procedure for those employers participating. UnitedHealth didn't disclose total costs per procedure.
To get the most savings, patients had to choose a "participating facility rather than another in-network medical facility, with incentives such as cash, gift cards, and additional vacation days for recovery." UnitedHealth said in a statement issued Wednesday.
Early adopters of UnitedHealth's bundled payment program say they are under pressure from employers to improve the health of their workers and reduce their tab for healthcare costs.
"By effectively coordinating patient care among the primary care provider, the surgeon, hospital and health plan, we can improve postoperative care, reduce readmissions, and enhance outcomes and the patient experience, leading to healthier communities," Mark Carley, vice president of managed care and payor relations for Centura Health, which has participated in the Spine and Joint Solution since 2016.
To stay in the loop with Forbes Health coverage, subscribe to the Innovation Rx newsletter here.
Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website or some of my other work here.
Bruce Japsen
I've written about health care for three decades, starting from my native Iowa where I covered the presidential campaign bus rides of Bill and Hillary Clinton through t


text:
Flood Waters Rising
Posted: 2006 Dec 30 16:52 UTC
Baton Rouge — The Spanish Town street where the Founder lives is flooding and flooding quickly. The rain began this morning around midnight and hasn't let up.
A car takes a risk while a red car drowns by the curb.
"The heavy rain really started around 9:30," said Leif. "I had to move my car to higher ground."
For a while, the area was under a tornado warning, a tornado watch, a flash flood warning, a flash flood watch, and a flood warning. The possible tornado was farther north in Baker and so didn't affect the Founder's home directly. The tornado warning has since been dropped.
2011 Mississippi River flood
Hurricane Gustav crushed Leif's house
Last modified: 2012 Aug 09 18:19 UTC


text:
Q: iPad Pages app question mark class I am building an app where I want to display instructions in a UIPopoverController-like way, except without dimming the background. An example of this is in the Pages app for iPad (not sure about iPhone Pages), where hitting the question mark in the upper right hand corner brings up a bunch of little boxes with arrows pointing to what they describe. Does anyone knows what class Pages uses to make those UI components, or if they are not part of UIKit, a potential place to find a class that does the same thing?

A: This will give you the UIPopoverController effect, however this won't give you the pointer.
To do it in objc do:
image.layer.cornerRadius = 5;
image.layer.shadowOpacity = 0.8;
image.layer.shadowOffset = CGSizeMake(0, 0);

image.transform = CGAffineTransformMakeScale(1.3, 1.3);
[UIView beginAnimations:nil context:NULL];
[UIView setAnimationDelegate:self];
[UIView setAnimationDuration:0.25];
image.transform = CGAffineTransformMakeScale(1, 1);
[UIView commitAnimations];

For swift you could do this:
image.layer.cornerRadius = 5
image.layer.shadowOpacity = 0.8;
image.layer.shadowOffset = CGSizeMake(0.0, 0.0)

image.transform = CGAffineTransformMakeScale(1.3, 1.3)
        UIView.animateWithDuration(0.25, animations: {
            self.image.transform = CGAffineTransformMakeScale(1.0, 1.0)
        });


Some of the largest school districts in the country have school board races in 2017. In fact, 464 of The United States largest school districts are holding elections for 1,384 seats (stat found here).
A school board election should be treated just like any other legislative race. You must raise money to get your message to your voters. If you are not able to effectively communicate how you will be the right person to serve on the school board then you will not win your elections.
It is that simple. You need money to win your school board race.
Some smaller school board candidates do not need to raise much money. Candidates with small districts can aim to raise $5,000-10,000 sending 3-6 direct mail campaigns to a smaller mailing list and be able to be successful in their school board race. Other much larger districts need a full staff, paid media as well as direct mail and will need to raise $50,000 or more.
No matter your budget you must start focusing on fundraising now. Staying ahead of your opponent is a direct path to winning your election. The earlier you can start raising money the more you will be able to spend on getting your message out.
If you are running for a school board race in 2017 you need to focus now on fundraising.
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text:
More! was a fortnightly, later weekly, women's fashion magazine and associated website published on Tuesdays in the United Kingdom by Bauer London Lifestyle. It included celebrity news, high street fashion, and sex tips. The magazine was published fortnightly until September 2007, when it became a weekly publication to compete with Look. More USA is still published.

On 22 April 2013, Bauer Media Group announced that it would cease publication of More! magazine and its website. In its closing web comments, the publisher reported that continuing challenging economic conditions meant that the product was no longer viable.

History and profile
More! magazine was launched in 1988, aimed at older teenage girls. In 2002, it was relaunched as a lifestyle magazine for young women.

The ABC in August 2009 revealed a 17.3% growth of year-on-year circulation, making More! the UK's fastest-growing glossy celeb weekly.

The magazine launched its own annual fashion awards in 2004.

Also in 2009, the magazine sponsored The City when it was shown on MTV.

Circulation
According to the ABC, the magazine had an average net circulation of 188,265 from July to December 2010.

Content
The content of More! magazine was divided into sections: "celebs", "fashion and beauty", "men and relationships" and "every week".

The fashion content in the magazine had an emphasis on affordable high street clothing - items from Primark, New Look and similar chains were often featured.

Regular features included:

Look what we bought - the magazine travel to a different UK shopping centre each week and ask women in the target audience to change into new clothes which they've just bought
The big question - 40 men are asked the same question, such as "What's the cutest thing your girlfriend does?" and "What was the last text you sent?"
Rehab - advice from experts about health, relationships and careers
Position of the week - each week a different sex position was illustrated

Staff

References

1988 establishments in the United Kingdom
2013 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
Bauer Group (UK)
Weekly magazines published in the United Kingdom
Defunct women's magazines published in the United Kingdom
Biweekly magazines published in the United Kingdom
Magazines published in London
Magazines established in 1988
Magazines disestablished in 2013
Women's fashion magazines
Fashion magazines published in the United Kingdom


text:
The 2004 United Nations Security Council election was held on 15 October 2004 at United Nations Headquarters in New York City during the 59th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The General Assembly elected five non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for two-year terms commencing on 1 January 2005.

The five candidate nations elected were Argentina, Denmark, Greece, Japan, and Tanzania.

Geographic distribution
In accordance with the General Assembly's rules for the geographic distribution of the non-permanent members of the Security Council, and established practice, the members were to be elected as follows: one from Africa, one from Asia, one from Latin American and the Caribbean, and two from Western Europe and Other States.

Candidates
Before voting, the representative from Eritrea took the floor to formally withdraw his country's candidacy. The country has never been elected to the UN Security Council. Consequently, to Eritrea's withdrawal, all the available seats would be elected without any serious contest. The five declared candidates therefore easily obtained the required 2/3 majority in the General Assembly.

Results

Voting proceeded by secret ballot. For each geographic group, each member state could vote for as many candidates as were to be elected. There were 189 ballots in each of the three elections.

Group A — African and Asian States (two to be elected)
United Republic of Tanzania 186
Japan 184
Bhutan 1

Group B — Latin American and Caribbean States (one to be elected)
Argentina 188
abstentions 1

Group C — Western European and Other States (two to be elected)
Greece 187
Denmark 181

See also
List of members of the United Nations Security Council
Japan and the United Nations
European Union and the United Nations

References
UN Document A/59/PV.32 official records of proceeding
UN Document GA/10278 press release
UN News Centre

2004 elections
2004
2004 in international relations
Non-partisan elections
2004 politics in New York (state)
October 2004 events


text:
'The Grandmasters' Teaser Trailer: Wong Kar Wai Returns With His Own Yip Man Bio
By Russ Fischer/July 19, 2011 9:19 am EST
Here's the first real trailer for Wong Kar Wai's martial arts biopic The Grandmasters. It's a hell of a thing, with Tony Leung as the literal white hat hero facing down a courtyard full of adversaries as rain falls and water splashes in super slo-mo. It looks a bit like Wong Kar Wai shooting the 'burly brawl' from the second Matrix film. (Which itself was obviously a knockoff and amping-up of legions of other martial arts fights.)
The trailer is a bit dark, lacks subtitles, and may come off as exciting and beautiful, or murky and confusing, depending on your appetite for this sort of fight scene. Check it out below.
In 2008 Wilson Yip's film Ip Man, based on the legendary life of early Wing Chun practitioner and Bruce Lee instructor Yip Man (aka Ip Man) was released with Donnie Yen playing the title role. The movie was a massive hit and spawned a sequel and numerous knockoff projects.
In 2009 Wong Kar Wai started filming The Grandmasters, his own account of the martial arts legend, with his frequent collaborator Tony Leung (In the Mood For Love, 2046, Ashes of Time) playing Ip Man. Wilson Yip's film took a good many liberties with the facts of Ip Man's life and, knowing Wong Kar Wai's impressionistic storytelling style, I wouldn't expect The Grandmasters to be a more true to life account. But it might be a much more beautiful one.
The film has taken a great deal of time to finish, as is often the case with Wong Kar Wai movies. Indie financier Megan Ellison's Annapurna Pictures stepped in earlier this year to help the movie keep going. And while there is no projected release date or even a guaranteed fall festival bow, we're holding out for this one in 2011.


Play Therapy Helston for young people and children in Cornwall.
The purpose of play therapy in schools is to help children benefit from teaching, by alleviating their emotional behaviour and mental health problems.
Therapeutic Play - What Is It?
What are the benefits to teaching staff as well as the child?
Maeve Macknelly offers Play Therapy for young people and children in Cornwall. This includes both individual and group therapy using various creative therapeutic methods.
Play therapy is a therapeutic intervention that helps children with emotional literacy, behaviour or mental health problems.
Play Therapy helps children understand muddled feelings and upsetting events that they haven't had the chance to sort out properly. Rather than having to explain what is troubling them, as adult therapy usually expects, children use play to communicate at their own level and at their own pace, without feeling interrogated or threatened.


text: Q: Should I set RUBYLIB to 'lib' on my development box? There doesn't seem to be an accepted best practice for handling the Ruby load path during development. Is there a compelling reason NOT to just set RUBYLIB in my dotfiles and fuggedaboutit?


There's a bit of a write-up and interview with me about comics and what-not over on downthetubes.net. Grateful thanks to John Freeman.
Further to the info in the article linked above, my malformed short story collection Get It Down and Other Weird Stories will be released at some point in October.
Went to the Roger Waters show last Wednesday, a great gig.
And to the Manic Street Preachers gig last Friday, which was even greaterer.
Writing projects soldier on, some with trench-foot and the odd missing limb. Wheels are still turning. Gears are still spinning efficiently and shedding teeth in equal measure. So much stuff either half-finished or half-outlined that it's not remotely funny.
A pint. Yes. That'll make it better.
The good people at Innsmouth Free Press have posted a short interview with me wittering on about Lovecraft.
It's worth a click just to guffaw at the picture of me with one side of my face looking confused and the other looking mildly irritated. How this impromptu chimera of expressions came about, I have no idea.


Kira Fink!! Congratulations on winning the raffle. You will be coming to our 3rd annual cello camp for FREE next year! I'm pretty sure we all had a great time this week, I sure did. Camp has been over for 5 hours and I'm just now done talking about it with friends and family. The Exhaustion from the week is totally worth it as I saw many smiling faces and satisfied parents. It's a little too late at night for me to begin posting pictures of the camp, but you better believe they're coming soon. I'm leaving for Arkansas tomorrow to teach the University of Arkansas summer strings camp so be patient on the pictures. For now, I will simply say you will definitely not want to miss next year's camp!