In 2015 music collections will be released for the public to play and download.
Miscellaneous Music was a collective of musicians and student musicians who joined together to compose improvisational & experimental music environments.
Usually in most cases the music was performed live and was devoid of conventional structure in any real sense of the word. The Miscellaneous Music Company was formed in late 1979 and continued to late 1981. Public workshops were held in parks, art galleries and places where audiences were invited to attend and sometimes join in,. The Miscellaneous Music Company was formed by Estelle Asmodelle, Belinda Kuzyk and Kerry Smith.


Over the last eight years, Solid Green Consulting has worked diligently to create better living environments, and this year celebrates the achievement of 57 successful green building ratings, covering 750 000m² of built area.
Two "first" Green Star certifications in the last year include the Mon Trésor Business Gateway, the first Green Star certified project in Mauritius; and 78 Corlett Drive, which received a six-star Green Star SA Office Design Rating as well as a net-zero carbon pilot rating from the Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA).
Leading by example, Solid Green's own office in Rosebank, Johannesburg, was the first project in Africa to make it onto the International Living Future Institute's Biophilic Design Initiative's Biophilic Map.
Moving beyond buildings into the public realm, Solid Green is currently consulting on four of the first 13 projects that are piloting the GBCSA's new Green Star Sustainable Precincts tool, including Sandton Gate and Oxford Parks. The company was also the EDGE auditor on the first affordable housing project in South Africa to achieve an EDGE certification from the GBCSA.
Actively involved in policy development throughout Africa, Solid Green acted as technical consultant when Nigeria's first Building Energy Efficiency Code (BEEC) was launched in Abuja.
As South Africa's first ambassador for the Living Building Challenge, Solid Green's founding director, Marloes Reinink, is currently working with US-based architectural firm, A-I-R Inc, on two residential projects in Cape Town that are registered to be full living buildings under the challenge.
Training and mentorship also form part of the Solid Green mandate. Three staff members serve on the GBCSA faculty, providing training to enhance the understanding of Green Star tools and certifications. A contingent of five also serves on the GBCSA assessment panel, while two more serve on the GBCSA Assessment Committee, whose responsibility it is to ensure that the certification assessments and processes remain of the highest quality.
Lombe is further mentoring a start-up organisation, Khora Group, which was accepted into the Innovation Hub's Climate and Innovation Centre (CIC).
What's more, Solid Green is a partner in the newly-launched GreenED, an online resource offering online and contextual learning on sustainable design in the built environment and green rating certifications.
"Our vision for the future is to maintain our current services in the South African industry and grow our activities and impact into Africa, where real change is needed in terms of how buildings are delivered in order to keep up with the current pace of development on the continent," says Reinink.
Caption main image: Sandton Gate and Oxford Parks are two of the first 13 projects that are piloting the GBCSA's new Green Star Sustainable Precincts tool.
Or join other discussions on http://www.facebook.com/buildinganddecor, http://www.twitter.com/buildingdecor and https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/10172797/.


Spent a few days in London with TSU before Christmas working on a spot for Air Canada that turned out great. While I was there I took the opportunity to hop over to the Netherlands for a visit with some family. I love it when you can add in some personal time on jobs. Here are a couple snaps while I was wandering around on the other side of the pond. Some film, some digital, all kinds of good times.


I am still adjusting to all the changes I want in my life, and even though I realize it will take quite a while, I wnat everything to happen now!
I will be doing quite a few book reviews and giveaways here as reading is my passion. It is one of the things that make me happy, and I am calling my next year "Sandy's Happiness Project".
I think the most important for the rest of my life is to be a happier person. I must CHOOSE to be happy, which I am working on almost hourly.
Life is indeed full of choices. Being happy is one of those choices. We can look at all the good around us or we can focus on those things that are not good. There is too much good to waste time on the bad.
Life makes me happy. Life is a wonderful thing indeed.


text:
Kyra Sedgwick – Height, Weight, Age, Movies & Family – Biography
Kyra Sedgwick celebrates her birthday on 19th August 1965 every year. She is one of the best actresses in America, producer as well as director. Sedgwick made her appearance at 16 in "Another World" on the television Soap Opera. In the year 1990, She made her debut in many Hollywood movies such as "Singles" in 1992, "Heart and Souls in 1993", "Something to Talk About "in 1995, and "Phenomenon". She also starred in a television series named "The Closer", which was telecasted from the year 2005 to 2012.
The Closer series ended on 13th August 2012 after completing its seventh season. TNT, the series broadcaster revealed that closing the series decision was made by Sedgwick instead "Major Crime" was started in its place. She also produced the series "Proof" for TNT and it was telecasted in 2015 only for one season. Later she performed in "Brooklyn Nine-Nine", NBC comedy series, and she has done the role of Madeline Wuntch.
Kyra Sedgwick Childhood accomplishment
Kyra Sedgwick Awards and Achievements:
Best known for:
Kyra Sedgwick Body Measurements
Interesting facts about Kyra Sedgwick
Kyra Sedgwick Pre-relationship
Kyra Sedgwick Family and personal life
Kyra Sedgwick Personal Info
What is the net worth of Kyra Sedgwick?
What is her source of income?
Is Kyra Sedgwick graduated?
Does Kyra Sedgwick smoke?
Controversies of Kyra Sedgwick
Assets of Kyra Sedgwick
Does Kyra Sedgwick own any brand?
Kyra Sedgwick Social Media Profiles
Kyra Sedgwick Movies List
Kyra Sedgwick TV Shows
Kyra Sedgwick's origin is New York and her parents are Patricia and Henry Dwight Sedgwick. Patricia Sedgwick is a speech teacher as well as an education /family therapist and Henry is a Venture Capitalist. Sedgwick's father came from a wealthy family with several prominent ancestors. Sedgwick's parents separated when she was four years old and got divorced at 6. Later her mother married Ben Heller who was an art dealer. Sedgwick went to private school and began acting profession at the age of 16. She got a chance in Soap Opera in 1964 and she acted in "Another World". She attended the college of Sarah Lawrence and graduated from the USC (University of Southern California) with a theatre degree.
Kyra has won DVD Exclusive Awards under the category of best actress for the film "Labors Pains" in 2001.
She received Satellite Awards in 2005 under the category of Best Actress for the Television Series "The Closer"
In the year of 2006, she has nominated for and won the Gracie Allen Awards for Outstanding Female Lead for the Television Series "The Closer"
She has secured Satellite Awards under the genre of Best Actress in the TV Series "The Closer" in 2006.
She won the famous "Golden Globe Awards" in the year of 2007 under the category of Best Actress in a Television Series for the TV Series "The Closer"
In 2009, She has nominated for and won the "People Choice Awards" for the Television Police Crime Series "The Closer" under the grade of Favorite Television Drama Diva.
She has obtained the "Primetime Emmy Awards" under the genre of "Outstanding Lead Actress in Drama Series" for the TV Police Crime Series "The Closer" in 2010.
In the year 2017, She has won the Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards for the first time under the category of Best Female – Directed Narrative Feature for the Television Movie "Story of a Girl" which was her directorial debut TV movie.
Kyra Sedgwick is well known for her stunning character as Brenda Leigh Johnson, a deputy chief in the TNT drama "The Closer". For this drama, she has received Golden Globe Award.
She has also nominated for her best performance in the film "Something to Talk About ". Kyra Sedgwick acted in many movies and series made her very popular among other actresses.
Bra Size 34 B (US) / 75 B (EU)
Cup Size B (US)
Body Measurements 29-22-33 inches or 76-58-84 cm
Kyra Sedgwick and her husband Kevin Bacon had spent a glorious time at the party
Kyra Sedgwick with Rachel Sennott was picturized during the sitcom " Call Your Mother"
She raised a voice for climate change and for nature. Kyra was given a post wearing a "climate justice now " T-shirt
It was released when she directed "Space Oddity", a black list script.
This image was taken from the final episode of the famous sitcom " Call Your Mother" by ABC
Sedgwick dated and married Kevin Bacon on 4th September 1988. Kevin Bacon is an actor and both of them met in one historical film which was filmed in Baltimore, Maryland.
Kyra Sedgwick is undoubtedly a splendid actress, director, and producer. She produced one series and directed some films named Story of a Girl in 2017 and Girls Weekend in 2018. Her parents Patricia and Henry Dwight Sedgwick came from different backgrounds. Her mother came from a German Jewish family and her father was from Massachusetts clam of English descent.
Coming to her personal life she married Kevin Bacon, they met in the movie Lemon Sky in 1988. In which, both of them played a lead role. For this couple, two Children are there namely Travis Bacon and Sosie Bacon. Kyra returned to work as soon as she gave birth to Travis Bacon for the film Mr.& Mrs. Bridge in 1990. At the time of completing the movie "Born on the Fourth of July" in 1989, she was in the pregnancy of three months. These incidents showed her dedication and hard work in her acting.
Full Name Kyra Minturn Sedgwick
Nickname Kiko
Occupation Actress, Producer, Director
Religion Judaism
Date of Birth 19 August 1965 (age 56 years)
Birthplace New York City, New York, United States
Father Name Henry Dwight Sedgwick V
Mother Name Patricia Sedgwick (née Rosenwald)
Sibling Names Robert Sedgwick (Younger Brother)
Spouse Kevin Bacon (m. 1988)
Children Sosie Bacon, Travis Bacon
The net worth of Kyra Sedgwick is nearly 45 million dollars.
She has grown up in wealthy life and also not only she is a brilliant actor but also a producer and director
Yes, She pursued a Theatre degree at the University of Southern California.
Few images are there and it was taken during filming movies. But no images are found in her real life.
Kyra and her husband Kevin's name was in the headline when they were spotted as the victim of Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme.
Kyra and Kevin purchased a marvelous mansion for 2.5 million dollars, which is in Los Angles. According to records, they also have 40-acre property which they obtain in the year 1990.
No, she doesn't own any brand
1985 – War and Love
1986 – Tai-Pan
1988 – Kansas
1989 – Born on the Fourth of July
1990 – Mr. and Mrs. Bridge
1991 – Pyrates
1992 – Singles
1992 – Oliver Stone: Inside Out
1993 – Heart and Souls
1995 – Murder in the First, Something to Talk About, The Low Life
1996 – Phenomenon
1997 – Critical Care
1998 – Montana
2000 – Labor Pains, What's Cooking?, Conversations with Jon Turteltaub
2002 – Personal Velocity: Three Portraits, Just a Kiss
2003 – Secondhand Lions, Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman, Behind the Red Door, Imelda
2004 – The Woodsman, Something the Lord Made, Cavedweller
2005 – Loverboy
2007 – The Game Plan
2008 – Justice League: The New Frontier
2009 – Gamer
2012 – Man on a Ledge, The Possession
2013 – Kill Your Darlings, Chlorine
2014 – The Humbling, Reach Me, Big Sky, The Road Within
2015 – 1 Chisper, Cop Car
2016 – The Edge of Seventeen
2017 – Submission
2018 – After Darkness
2019 – Villains, Endings, Beginnings
1982,83 – Another World
1985 – ABC Afterschool Special, Miami Vice
1986 – Amazing Stories
1988 – Lemon Sky
1990 – Women & Men: Stories of Seduction
1991 – Women & Men 2
1992 – Miss Rose White
1993 – Family Pictures
1996 – Losing Chase
2000 – Talk to Me
2001 – American Experience
2002 – Ally McBeal, Stanley, The Greatest, Door to Door
2003 – Queens Supreme
2004 – Something the Lord Made
2005,12 – The Closer
2010 – Sesame Street
2014,20 – Brooklyn Nine-Nine
2015 – Proof
2017,18 – Ten Days in the Valley
2017 – Story of a Girl
2019 – Ray Donovan, God Friended Me, Corporate, Grace and Frankie, Girls Weekend, In the Dark, City on a Hill
2020 – Brooklyn Nine-Nine
2021 – Call Your Mother

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We are a language education center that specializes in providing you with the cultural and linguistic tools necessary for intercultural communication at the highest level in social, professional, and global environments. This is achieved in an atmosphere that is creative, stimulating, and productive.
Instituto Chileno Suizo de Idiomas y Cultura is of the leading Spanish schools in Chile which deals with Spanish immersion programs to promote Spanish language.
Our students particularly value our commitment to personalized learning and our small group classes that enable them to learn the language effectively. We are flexible and responsible; we actively listen to our students' concerns so that we can best respond to their intercultural and social communication challenges. This focus has inspired us to obtain ISO 9000 certification and to promote high quality standards for the teaching of Spanish as a Foreign Language in Chile.
Take the plunge! We'll motivate you to learn so that you can achieve your goal and we will be here every step of the way to support you and guide your learning. We are at your service, overseeing your well-being and progress. We want you to feel at ease in our cultural house.
We have gone out of our way to ensure that your stay in Santiago is comfortable, safe, and unforgettable. You can stay in our student apartments. We have single-occupancy rooms, double-occupancy rooms, rooms with a double bed, and an independent apartment for two people. Come live on José Victorino Lastarria Street, in a historic-cultural neighborhood in downtown Santiago, where you will be close to everything within a safe an international environment and in the same building as the school where you are studying Spanish!
We also offer other housing options within a family home, a hostel, or a hotel.
You will learn Spanish through different immersion programs that encourage oral and written communication, including grammar and structure, to boost your progress. The way our levels are structured, along with our interactive and communicative methodology, provide a short-cut to learning Spanish that allow you to reach an intermediate-advanced command of the language in a short time. Our teachers all hold degrees in education, specialized in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. They will motivate you to advance quickly, they will teach you Spanish grammar, and they will familiarize you with our culture, helping to make your linguistic stay in Chile a truly unforgettable personal experience.
We are an excellent option for learning Spanish or perfecting your knowledge of it, at competitive prices.
We offer Spanish classes all year long and for all ages. They begin on Mondays and you can choose between group classes, from 3, 4, or 5 lessons of 45 minutes daily, with flexible schedules. Private lessons are ideal to prepare you for an exam or if you have specific learning needs. For example, if you would like to settle in Chile, do a professional internship, or be part of a university exchange program.
We invite you to take an active role in your Spanish language immersion program, to learn about our culture, get to know interesting places, make new friends, and enjoy your stay in Santiago. You can rely on us to help make your experience both positive and unforgettable. We also offer you opportunities to practice your Spanish in real communication situations and become more familiar with the culture and history of Chile through our extracurricular activities, such as visits to wineries, museums, tourist and historical sites in Santiago, as well as bar, cooking, linguistic and cultural workshops, hikes, etc.
You can be a part of our exchange activities with Chilean students of English, French, German and Italian, to swap linguistic and cultural knowledge. In order to better learn the language it is important to take advantage of every opportunity to practice the language and our Chilean students can share with you knowledge that you wouldn't attain in class.


This 5-star hotel also features a gorgeous outdoor swimming pool, an on-site spa and wellness centre, as well as providing free WiFi access throughout the entire property. Complimentary 24-hour butler service is available in all rooms.
Every villa and suite at this property is air-conditioned and comes with an ample seating area with plush sofas, flat-screen satellite TV, minibar, personal safe and an en suite bathroom, which has separate bath and shower facilities. Fresh fluffy towels, bathrobes, and other bath amenities are also provided. Most of the villas and suites offer majestic views of the surrounding rainforest, rice paddies and even views of the amazing Ayung River.
Other facilities available at Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve include a 24-hour front desk with concierge service where the professional and attentive staff are available to help guests with arranging airport transfers, bicycle rental, laundry requests, even assist to organise relaxing massages at the spa. There are also a kid's club, meeting/banquet facilities, and an on-site shop where guests can conveniently shop for souvenirs. A fitness centre is also accessible for free.
This beautiful hotel also offers several on-site dining and lounging options like Kubu Restaurant serving delectable Mediterranean-European dishes, Sawah Terrace with their hearty and healthy Balinese and Asian cuisine, and The Pool Bar and The Library, where guests can spend an afternoon by simply lounging and indulge in their refreshing beverages.
It takes about a 15-minute drive from the property to the sacred Tirtha Empul Temple and the Goa Gajah historical site is reachable within a 20-minute drive. Getting to Bali Denpasar International Airport will take around 1 hour by car.
This property has been on Booking.com since 29 Jun 2015.


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Diego Maradona: Footballer laid to rest as Argentina grieves
Football legend Diego Maradona has been buried in a private ceremony after a day of emotional scenes in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.
Only around two dozen relatives and close friends attended the final ceremony on Thursday.
But earlier huge crowds turned out to pay their respects, with many weeping, blowing kisses and praying as they filed past his coffin.
Maradona died of a heart attack on Wednesday aged 60.
His death triggered mourning around the world but nowhere was it felt more fiercely than in a country that saw him as a national hero.
Maradona's coffin – draped in Argentina's national flag and football shirt, bearing his trademark number 10 on the back – was on public display at the presidential palace on Thursday.
By mid-afternoon queues stretched back for more than a kilometre, and police clashed with mourners as they tried to close off the palace in anticipation of the wake scheduled for 16:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
There were reports of tear gas and rubber bullets being used as officers in riot gear struggled to hold back the crowd.
One well-wisher, Rubén Hernández, thought the police had overreacted.
«We were calm lining up and suddenly, the police started to fire rubber bullets,» he said, quoted by Reuters news agency. «Crazy, I just want to say goodbye to Diego.»
Authorities were eventually forced to stop public viewing of the coffin to keep the peace.
The motorised funeral cortege drove his body to the Bella Vista cemetery on the outskirts of the city, where he was buried next to the graves of his parents.
The atmosphere varied greatly outside the presidential palace. Those waiting to go in were singing and chanting.
«If you don't jump, you're English,» is one of the favourite chants of Argentinians about the 1986 match with England and THAT goal – the Hand of God – something many here saw as a sort of payback after the Falklands War, known here as the Malvinas.
But on the other side of the square, there was another line with those coming out, many wiping away tears or hugging each other after processing what had happened.
This wasn't just the death of Argentina's superstar footballer, but the passing of a man that many saw as a national icon, a star who made Argentina famous – and most of all, a very human role-model who Argentinians loved, flaws and all.
A man who was respected for achieving so much, yet never forgetting his roots.
'He was everything for us'
At the Italian club Napoli, where Maradona played for seven years and transformed their fortunes, fans flocked to the stadium to pay their respects chanting «Diego, Diego!».
It is the second day people have defied a coronavirus lockdown to pay tribute, ahead of Napoli's closed-door Europa League fixture against the Croatian team Rijeka.
The Napoli team, who all stepped onto the pitch wearing black armbands and Maradona's No. 10 jersey, won the match 2-0.
IMAGE COPYRIGHTREUTERS
image captionArgentine police struggled to control the crowds as they queued to see the coffin
IMAGE COPYRIGHTCASA ROSADA
image captionSome fans clapped, others wept, as they filed past Maradona's coffin
«He was unique, he represented everything, everything for us Neapolitans,» fan Gianni Autiero told Reuters. «I have cried for only a few people in my life, and Diego is one of them.»
One of the greatest football players of all time, Maradona had a troubled personal life marked by cocaine and alcohol addiction. He had successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier in November and was to be treated for alcohol dependency.
Local media said the preliminary results of an autopsy showed he had suffered «acute heart failure».
The former Argentina attacking midfielder and manager died at his home in Tigre, near Buenos Aires. The last person to see Maradona alive was his nephew Johnny Esposito, according to statements gathered by officials.
Maradona is survived by five children and his former wife, 58-year-old Claudia Villafane, whom he split with in 2004 after 20 years of marriage.
After news of his death emerged, at 22:00 on Wednesday (01:00 GMT) – an hour chosen to match the number on his shirt – stadiums across Argentina switched on their floodlights to honour his memory.
Fans flocked to La Bombonera, Boca Juniors' stadium in Buenos Aires, where many were in tears.
image captionMaradona was also revered in the Italian city of Naples, where he played club football for seven years
Maradona, who also played for Barcelona, was captain of the national team when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous «Hand of God» goal against England in the quarter-finals.
To score the goal, Maradona used his hand to deflect the ball past England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, but the referee did not see it. It remains one of the most controversial World Cup moments.
Former Tottenham midfielder Ossie Ardiles, who played alongside Maradona at the 1982 World Cup, told the BBC «he will be remembered as a genius in football».
Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi also paid tribute, writing on social media: «He has left us but he will never leave us because Diego is eternal.»
Former England striker and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, who was part of the England team beaten by Argentina at the 1986 World Cup, said Maradona was «by some distance, the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time».
In a statement on social media, the Argentine Football Association expressed «its deepest sorrow for the death of our legend», adding: «You will always be in our hearts.»
Related tags : NEWS
Δανία: Νεκρά βιζόν ξαναβγήκαν στην επιφάνεια από ομαδικούς τάφους
ΥΦΕΘΑ: Περιοδεία Αλκιβιάδη Στεφανή σε στρατιωτικά νοσοκομεία της Αττικής [pics]


Welcome to Phu Quoc day spa, a new world of health and beauty. Located on Tran Hung Dao street in Phu Quoc, we offer a complete range of health and beauty therapies designed to leave you looking and feeling wonderful!
Enjoy some, or all! of our massage therapy treatments such as Thai Traditional Massage, Swedish Massage, Aromatherapy Massage, Sport Massage, Indian Head Massage, Reflexology & Reiki… and for ultimate relaxation, try our new Sauna & Steam rooms.
Why not pamper yourself with our extensive range of beauty therapies, such as Facial and body treatments, Waxing (for both men and women) – Manicure, Pedicure.


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>International Organization
>Trade Blocs, Trade Flows, and International Conflict
Trade Blocs, Trade Flows, and International Conflict
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 July 2003
Edward D. Mansfield and
Jon C. Pevehouse
The relationship between foreign trade and political conflict has been a persistent source of controversy among scholars of international relations. Existing empirical studies of this topic have focused on the effects of trade flows on conflict, but they have largely ignored the institutional context in which trade is conducted. In this article we present some initial quantitative results pertaining to the influence on military disputes of preferential trading arrangements (PTAs), a broad class of commercial institutions that includes free trade areas, common markets, and customs unions. We argue that parties to the same PTA are less prone to disputes than other states and that hostilities between PTA members are less likely to occur as trade flows rise between them. Moreover, we maintain that heightened commerce is more likely to inhibit conflict between states that belong to the same preferential grouping than between states that do not. Our results accord with this argument. Based on an analysis of the period since World War II, we find that trade flows have relatively little effect on the likelihood of disputes between states that do not participate in the same PTA. Within PTAs, however, there is a strong, inverse relationship between commerce and conflict. Parties to such an arrangement are less likely to engage in hostilities than other states, and the likelihood of a military dispute dips markedly as trade increases between them.
International Organization , Volume 54 , Issue 4 , Autumn 2000 , pp. 775 - 808
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1162/002081800551361[Opens in a new window]
Copyright © The IO Foundation 2000
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1162/002081800551361


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Information Matters
The Business of Data
Interview with Gus Tugendhat of Tussell
November 2, 2018 by Martin De Saulles
Gus Tugendhat – Founder, Tussell
I recently sat down with Gus Tugendhat, founder of UK-based government tenders and contracts data provider, Tussell. Gus told me about the origins of Tussell, the market it is addressing, its data-driven solution for businesses tendering for public sector contracts and the challenges of growing this innovative startup business.
Martin: Tell me a bit about the history of Tussell.
Gus: I formed the company in March 2015 with tech co-founder John Rotherham. My background is in finance and the information sector while John provided the technical expertise. For small startups it's really important for the founders to be able to bring different core strengths to the table from building a product, launching and then monetizing it. Since 2005 we've grown organically to a team of 9 people with a fairly even split between product and tech and those working in marketing and sales.
Martin: What was the core business rationale for Tussell?
Gus: I realised there was an untapped market in the UK for clarity and context surrounding the billions of pounds spent on public procurement. UK public procurement was worth about £220bn in 2017 – equivalent to more than 10% of UK GDP. Bloomberg and Reuters have done this for the financial markets but nobody has yet done it for the procurement market. I sensed there was a good business model around filling this gap.
We want to make it as easy as possible for companies to do business with the government – in the UK and around the world. The market already has lots of tender portals but nobody has taken the tenders and contracts and turned them into an intelligent database which can be mined efficiently. We're different in that the portals are just collections of public sector invitations to tender and operate on a reactive basis. We aim to help our customers to anticipate opportunities.
Martin: Can you talk a bit about this strategy?
Gus: Sure. So for example, if you want to bid for a contract on cyber security it is useful to know how much the government has spent on cyber security over the last few years, how fast the market has grown, who are the big suppliers, how does this break down by category of government body and the average size and duration of contract. Being able to answer these questions allows our clients to be more strategic and ideally bid less and have a higher hit rate.
Being focused on how we can help our customers solve problems is at the core Tussell. Nobody gets up in the morning saying they want to pay for data. They get up saying they want to win more business. You have to link the data to the client's desired outcome, not just as a means to do research.
Martin: Where do you source your data from?
Gus: We have three core sources: Contractfinder.gov.uk, UK data from Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) and Public Contracts Scotland. We aggregate the data from these providers via their APIs and then clean and standardise it. We then file match it against the UK's Companies House and Bureau Van Dijk data sets for consistency and accuracy. This also allows us to create robust company identifiers and to provide financial information on the suppliers in our database. We like to say that "We turn open data into useful data". We have a rolling programme of integrating other 3rd party data sources to create an ever richer product in terms of coverage and accuracy.
Martin: Where do your clients come from?
Gus: Our sweet spot is selling to large-cap corporates that want to win public contracts. What we call B2G (Business to Government). We cover all sectors and all types of government entity. We can generate our own sales leads by analysing the 80,000 suppliers to government that are in our own database. On account of the sheer volume of these suppliers, we expect this target market to be our biggest overall. In 2019 we will launch a lighter, cheaper SME offering in order to go after the long tail.
We also serve capital markets firms. In essence they are searching leading indicators of investment opportunity or risk among companies with exposure to government contracts. Equity analysts, asset managers and hedge funds use our data to analyse companies like Babcock, Capita and G4 and sectors like Construction, Defence, IT Services etc. This was actually our first target market as it's the one I hail from. Besides, banks are good customers for data because they have the budgets and are tech-savvy.
Our third target market is government itself. Several central government departments use our online service or dashboards produced from it to better understand their own supply chain. In the wake of Carillion, there is a big appetite for market intelligence and supply chain risk analysis. Public bodies also use the data to measure things like their compliance with transparency requirements or to promote social value in their supply chain. We expect this market to grow substantially, both in central government and local government.
Lastly, a market we stumbled upon is selling data as a form of lead generation for B2B companies. When SMEs win a government contract, typically the next thing they do is seek financing, insurance, recruitment and other expansion-related services. These suppliers are good prospects for companies that can fulfill these needs. Our database, therefore, because a source of sales leads for creditworthy SMEs in growth mode. There seems to be a dearth of SME triggers in the market and we are able to fill that gap.
Martin: What has been one of the biggest challenges growing Tussell?
Gus: Probably reaching a broad enough audience. At first we relied heavily on all the exposure we get in the media but, though this is priceless as a way of building credibility, it doesn't in itself drive traffic to your website. So, through trial and error, we've discovered that you have to pull all the levers and then get the right balance between them: PR, online advertising, SEO, partnerships, event-marketing and direct sales. The first challenge is to drive sufficient traffic to your website. Then it's to become effective at converting that traffic into qualified leads. It's a learning curve but we're getting better at that all the time and now we have an effective online lead gen model that is replicable and sustainable. As a content company, the key is to mine your own data to tell a story and then to promote that story as scaleably as possible on your website and those of your partners.
Martin: Your primary inputs are open data feeds. What is the core value that Tussell adds to this?
Gus: Interestingly the best sales we make are to people who are already fully aware of all the free and commoditised data out there but who have found those sources wanting. The real value-add that a company like ours offers is not so much at the front end but more at the back end. It is our aggregation, standardisation, validation and curation that clients really value. This allows our customers to perform complex queries of the data. What makes Tussell successful is less our inside knowledge of public procurement and more our expertise in building and monetising enterprise data solutions. Even though we are still a data aggregator, what makes our proposition defensible – the proverbial moat – is turning that open data into useful data. What we do is difficult and it has taken us several years to get to our present position which others would find very difficult to replicate. So it's a combination of value-add, time-to-market and credibility built up through media attribution.
Martin: How do you go about pricing your product?
Gus: This has been more of trial and error process to find the best price point. This is a new product so we had nothing to really base our pricing on. Segmentation of clients is important but is difficult to calibrate amongst different target markets. We think our future is in offering one platform across multiple price points: a spectrum from a premium serviced offering for large customers, a self-service offering for medium-sized customers, and a very light offering for the long tail of SMEs. Our sales model would vary from high-touch direct sales for the former through to low-touch e-commerce for the latter.
Martin: What new features is Tussell currently working on?
Gus: Data, data, data. Adding more of the contract data that we collect already such that we plug any gaps and mitigate our over-reliance on the underlying sources. Then it's about adding as many adjacent types of data as possible to add more value, to create something unique and differentiated.
Martin: What are your thoughts on public policy and the impact it might have on availability of open data from the public sector?
Gus: I think the genie is out of the bottle in terms of open data accessibility: the government would find it hard to justify becoming less transparent. The government has done a good job in terms of transparency and followed through on their commitments to opening up public data. I'm more worried about things going wrong at a technical level. For example, an API falling over or the unintended consequences of changes the government makes to its platform. Brexit is also a big theme at the moment, in particular what impact it will have on where the government reports its open data. That presents both risks and opportunities for data startups like Tussell – but hope-for-the-best, prepare-for-the-worst is true of most UK companies at the moment!
Filed Under: Data-Driven Business Models, Open Data, Startups
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Sewage water flows into lake bed
Feb 27, 2014 by Uday Feb 27, 2014 Leave a Comment
Sewage water being let into the lake in Belgaum
An old lake in Ward no.6 Angol which is spread over many acres may soon cease to exist if the indiscriminate discharge of drainage water into it is not stopped. Drainage water is polluting the lake water and also poses a threat to aquatic life as well as domestic animals. Pollution of lake water leads to adverse ecological consequences and increases pest attack on crops and plant diseases
Failure of the authorities to purify the lake water is now having adverse impact on the health of farmers living in its vicinity. The fertility of the soil is also getting affected.
A prerequisite of efficient protection of water resources against pollution is the preparation of a comprehensive and detailed plan of protection which takes into consideration all point and diffuse sources of pollution, pollution processes and movements,consequences and all possible structural and administrative measures of protection against pollution. Assessment of the quantity and quality of water resources includes identification of potential sources of freshwater supply and determination of sources, extent, dependability and quality of water resources and of the human activities that affect those resources. g nutrient rich and affecting the aquatic life of the lake. In order to deal with these problems National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) was developed.
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
The Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants into water bodies beyond a given standard, and lays down penalties for non-compliance. The Act was amended in 1988 to conform closely to the provisions of the EPA, 1986. It set up the CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board), which lays down standards for the prevention and control of water pollution.
At the State level, the SPCBs (State Pollution Control Board) function under the direction of the CPCB and the state government.


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Home » Office of Public Affairs » News
North Carolina Return Preparer Indicted for Tax Fraud Scheme
A federal grand jury sitting in Greenville, North Carolina, returned an indictment charging a North Carolina tax preparer with conspiracy to defraud the United States and with preparing false returns for clients, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department's Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
According to the indictment, from at least January 2016 through March 2016, Hildares Kinkesha Parker-Greene managed a tax return preparation business located in Kinston, North Carolina. Parker-Greene allegedly conspired with another tax preparer to fraudulently inflate clients' tax refunds by claiming false wages, federal income tax withholdings, and dependents. This conduct allegedly caused clients to receive refunds to which they were not entitled. The indictment also charges that from 2017 through at least 2018, Parker-Greene operated a tax preparation business out of her home where she allegedly continued to assist in the preparation of clients' false tax returns.
If convicted, Parker-Greene faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison for each filing false returns charge. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Higdon, Jr. commended special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, who investigated the case, and Trial Attorneys Michael L. Jones and Terri-Lei O'Malley of the Tax Division, who are prosecuting this case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division's website.
USAO - North Carolina, Eastern
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Speeches and Press Releases


The Bachelor's Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell Are Already Talking Kids!
Fresh off their final rose, the latest Bachelor duo, Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell, already have babies on the brain. But after falling in love on just a few 'fantasy dates,' is it really any surprise that these two are moving full steam ahead in their post-reality show relationship? With wedding arrangements, puppy plans, and Bachelor babies all in the works, there's no slowing down this to-be-wed twosome!
Sharing Ben's fantasy suite after his Jamaican proposal must have gotten them in the moving-in mood. According to People, Higgins and Bushnell are already making strides to create a home together, despite living states apart. Sick of the long distance, Bushnell is making the trek from Marina del Rey, California to move in with her new fiancé in his Denver, Colorado home. That's the power of love! "I'm just excited to grocery shopping together," Bushnell recently shared. And Ben? He's also looking forward to the simple things "I want to hold her hand in public. And I'm excited to work on our house together." Aww!
Bushnell definitely has her foot on the gas pedal of that moving van, as this is one bride-to-be who wants to become a Mrs. ASAP! "Neither of us want a long engagement," Bushnell revealed. Ben also sounds very gung-ho with their accelerated wedding plans, saying, "I want a huge reception. How often in life do all your friends and family gather in one room to celebrate something?" That's the spirit, Ben!
It makes sense that these two would want a shorter engagement when they already seem to have come down with baby fever. "Lauren is a really good caretaker," Higgins sweetly said. "She wants a dog and kids. First we'll get the dog!"
"We want three kids," notes Bushnell. "I want a girl in the mix." May we suggest a name? If you'd ask us, Rose would be our top pick!


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What Do the Military Keep in Their Gym Bags? Here's Erik Bartell's 6 Essentials
Erik Bartell is a military veteran, entrepreneur, and fitness coach who has turned his passion for training into a profession. You can follow his training routines on M&F's IG TV page, as well as read about his interesting and inspiring story here.
However, something we haven't asked Bartell until now is how the husband and father of two preps for his routines.
"This isn't just 'What's in your gym bag?" he says. "This is for anyone who has a home gym or travels a ton. So the first thing before any workout …
1. WIRELESS HEADPHONES
Especially if you're going to commercial gyms or traveling, a quality set of wireless headphones can crate a much-needed barricade from outside noise. "The headphones I wear tell people: Don't ask me how many reps or sets I have left," Bartell says. "I can also put them up really loud and ignore anything around me. Because let's be real, the biggest fault I see with people in commercial gyms, and the biggest thing that they fall into is distractions."
2. A NOTEBOOK
"I know, paper is a little bit archaic … but it's going to keep your phone in your pocket where we want it," Bartell says. "You get to the gym, you put on your headphones, you put on that playlist, and you leave your phone away, because that is the number one distraction in the gym."
From texts to emails to viewing cat vids on social media, tinkering with your phone can turn a quick break into one that extends for far too long. Avoid the distraction by removing the phone from the equation.
Use the notebook to "write down your workouts … and notes," Bartell suggests. "Everything fitness goes in this one notebook, and you take it with you every time you go to the gym or anytime you have fitness coming up.
Courtesy of Erik Bartell
3. A GO-TO PREWORKOUT
"I am up every day 5 a.m.," Bartell explains. "I need energy. I used to be heavy into pre-workouts. But the one issue I had with them was like, the 90 different ingredients. I didn't know even what they were. When I was in the military, I took a lot of energy drinks. I loved the flavor. I hated how sweet everything got."
Bartell's remedy: Echelon. "It's the best solution I found since it's 300 milligrams of caffeine. Essentially, it's got everything you really want for that preworkout drink — and none of the other nonsense."
And because it's in a smaller can, it's easy to chug so you can down it and get into your workout.
Another Echelon perk: "There's no crash after my workouts," he says.
What's also cool is that when you support the brand, 10% of each can sold goes to the Green Beret Foundation.
"If you're unfamiliar with it, it helps Green Berets [and] their families that struggle with anything from mental health to scholarships."
4. REP WAX OR OTHER CHALK ALTERNATIVES
"It's the alternative to chalk," says Bartell. "Most gyms do not like to have chalk because dust gets dust everywhere. Rep wax is nice and clean. It's very low profile, no one really notices it."
Application is easy, too: Do a quick rub on the bar and it'll give you excellent grip.
5. RESISTANCE BANDS
"I have one mini band, one light band, one heavy band," Bartell explains. The reason? If he can't make it to the gym, those bands can supply him with an on-the-go workout.
"I can do everything with these three bands. And it also supplements my workout amazingly magic getting back good bands, look up some YouTube videos. I'll start putting some more stuff up there too. But bands are amazing, and they only advance your workout.
6. ANTIBACTERIAL BODY WIPES
I use wipes from Bravo Sierra. Like Echelon, it's a military native company," he says.
"Especially if I'm traveling and the gym doesn't have a shower, these wipes help me out. Or even if I'm just going from meeting the meeting, and I just got a quick workout … and I can't shower. They're super strong [and] super thick. And this will get my whole body — especially all that like sweat residue off of you and leaves you smelling like you're showered even if you didn't have a chance to."
Which is best, Cycling or Running?
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Palliative care has undergone incredible changes in the past decade. What does the future of the field look like? Hear from leading palliative care providers and experts along with health plan executives, researchers, and others on the opportunities and challenges facing end-of-life care services in California.
A dozen state and national leaders offer their perspectives on the strategies that work and the challenges ahead — from innovations on the horizon, to workforce capacity, to the complex care needs of the Medi-Cal population. These interviews were filmed during the Palliative Care Innovation Forum held in Los Angeles on May 17, 2016, an event co-sponsored with the CHCF Health Innovation Fund. A meeting summary is available under Document Downloads.
Watch all four videos here.


When you step into Gregory Shvartsman, DDS in Redondo Beach, CA, you'll know you've found the perfect place for your family's care.
Our team loves helping kids grow into healthy adults. At either end of the age spectrum, the bases are covered. Dr. Shvartsman knows that early experiences influence the value kid's place on their oral health as adults. And they choose to seek or avoid future care by how they're treated now. Rest assured, the bar sits high here.
The services offered at Gregory Shvartsman, DDS ensure that patients of all ages feel welcome. From the earliest check-ups to the management of orthodontic decisions, Dr. Shvartsman will listen to your concerns and guide you through every stage.


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Beth loves bath time. Of course there are a few exceptions – days when she doesn't want to stop what she is doing in order to wash up, but for the most part she loves taking a bath. At four years old, who can blame her? With enough soapy water and plenty of toys, the possibilities are endless!
One of her favorite bath times involves the use of glow sticks. On nights when we have enjoyed a cook out and a game of glow in the dark hide and seek, the glow sticks will get one last use before the lights fade. As we fill the tub for her bath, Beth will drop her glow sticks in the water and dim the lights. The glowing water and bubbles are enough to make anyone believe in fairies and magic. Bracelets and necklaces creating circles of light in so many different colors….just waiting for a creative imagination to bring life to a fairytale world.
After one such magical bath time, I left Beth alone to dress while I went to another room to visit with some of our guests. Shortly, I heard someone exclaim, "BETH!!!!! You've got a problem!!" I turned around just in time to see her running (naked) through the kitchen and back to the bath room. I quickly followed only to find her face down in the empty tub sobbing uncontrollably.
Instead of putting her clothes on as instructed, Beth had taken all of the glow sticks and joined them together into one very long necklace. She was so happy with her creation and so proud of what she had done that she wanted to share the magical results with everyone. It never occurred to her that her nakedness would be a source of shame. The loud rebuke from a respected elder brought her up short and cut her to the quick.
It is times like that when I wish I could curl up beside her and cry too. It was almost as if I could see pieces of her innocence falling away right before my eyes. It makes me hurt for her, knowing that this is not the last time that she will innocently do or say something only to have someone rebuke her for her imagined mistake. These are the hard parts of growing up, the times where she will learn to conform to the world's expected norms instead of simply being herself – uninhibited and free….
And these are the hard parts of parenting….. watching as my little girl struggles to understand what she did wrong. So I simply picked her up, wrapped her in my arms, and held her, while together we dried her tears and exclaimed over her beautiful glow stick necklace. Then I quietly dressed her in her pajamas and we joined the others – the ones who had already forgotten the incident even though Beth never will. Lord, help me protect her innocence as long as I can.
Next Next post: Crazy Kid Quotes: Ho Ho Ho, Green Giant!


text:
Dasyvalgus carbonarius är en skalbaggsart som beskrevs av Gilbert John Arrow 1910. Dasyvalgus carbonarius ingår i släktet Dasyvalgus och familjen Cetoniidae. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Skalbaggar
carbonarius

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
'Visionary, statesman and trusted friend': World leaders react to Sultan Qaboos' death
Sultan Qaboos. (Mohammed Mahjoub, AFP)
Report claims informants in Iraq, Syria helped US kill Iran's Soleimani
EXPLAINER: Iran, the US, Trump, ballistic missiles... and what comes next
Iran downed Ukraine airliner killing 176 people on board, Trudeau cites intel sources
Sultan Qaboos, the longest-reigning leader of the modern Arab world, has died at the age of 79, the royal court said Saturday.
"With great sorrow and deep sadness... the royal court mourns His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who passed away on Friday," the court said in a statement, as discussions on a successor commenced.
Qaboos, who has ruled since 1970 when he deposed his father in a palace coup, had been ill for some time and had been believed to be suffering from colon cancer.
He left no apparent heir. He was unmarried and had no children or brothers.
It is not clear who will succeed Qaboos, whose country has a distinct method of choosing the next ruler.
According to the Omani constitution:
The royal family shall, within three days of the throne falling vacant, determine the successor.
If the family does not agree on a name, the person chosen by Qaboos in a letter addressed to the royal family will be the successor.
The sultan should be a member of the royal family, as well as "Muslim, mature, rational and the legitimate son of Omani Muslim parents".
Local experts say that more than 80 men meet the criteria, but one name stands out: Asad bin Tariq.
Tariq, 65, had been appointed deputy prime minister for international relations and cooperation affairs in 2017.
The move was seen as a clear message of support to the sultan's cousin and "special representative" since 2002.
Other potential successors include two other cousins of the sultan -- Haitham bin Tariq, 65, the heritage and culture minister, and Shihab bin Tariq, 63, who was a close adviser to the sultan.
Discreet mediator
Qaboos transformed the Arabian Peninsula nation from a backwater into a modern state while pursuing a moderate but active foreign policy.
Having played a role in Iran's nuclear deal with world powers while preserving its membership in the Saudi-led Gulf Cooperation Council, Oman has emerged as the Gulf's discreet mediator.
"He was a stable force in the Middle East and a strong US ally. His Majesty had a vision for a modern, prosperous, and peaceful Oman, and he willed that vision into reality," former US president George W. Bush said in a message of condolences paying tribute to Qaboos.
Here are some of the reactions from leaders from around the world at the announcement of Qaboos's passing:
Prime Minister of Pakistan took to twitter to offer his condolences calling Qaboos a "trusted friend".
I extend our deepest condolences to people of Oman on the passing of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He was a visionary & transformed Oman into a vibrant, modern state.Oman has lost a beloved leader & Pakistan a close, trusted friend.May his soul rest in eternal peace
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 11, 2020
The UK Secretary of State for Defence and MP for Wyre and Preston North released a statement touching on the special bond both the British and Quboos' homestead military shared and cemented it as a great loss.
Defence Secretary @BWallaceMP statement on the death of Sultan Qaboos ???? ???? pic.twitter.com/zD6ijIrvSL
— Ministry of Defence ???? (@DefenceHQ) January 11, 2020
Narendra Modi who is the Prime Minister of Pakistan recognised Qaboos as a beacon of peace
I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He was a visionary leader and statesman who transformed Oman into a modern and prosperous nation. He was a beacon of peace for our region and the world. pic.twitter.com/7QnGhM5lNA
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 11, 2020
From Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered condolences in a full statement that duly noted Qaboos as the longest serving Arabian leader.
Our deepest condolences to the people of Oman during their time of mourning, following the passing of Sultan Qaboos. Please read my full statement: https://t.co/O5dGA0S1vq
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 11, 2020
The sultan's death comes amid increased tensions between Tehran and Washington, who on Friday piled new sanctions on the Islamic republic following the killing of a top Iranian leader in Iraq.
READ MORE: Top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani killed in US strike on Baghdad
The sanctions marked the latest salvo in a US-Iranian confrontation that risked sliding into war a week ago with the deadly US drone attack on general Qasem Soleimani, by some measures the second most influential person in Iran.
Unlike other Arab states, Qaboos did not contest Egypt's 1979 peace treaty with Israel, opening a trade office in Tel Aviv in the mid-1990s -- shuttered in 2000 during a Palestinian uprising.
In October 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held surprise talks with Qaboos in Muscat.
It remains to be seen whether the next Omani ruler will take the same moderate approach in a region often in turmoil.
Read more on: sultan qaboos | oman
Johannesburg Jobs


As we all know Google uses their PageRank technology to measure link popularity by counting the number of inbound links to your web pages, and it is one of the many factors influencing your ranking. Most website owners do not utilize properly what PageRank they already have.
For a long time now, marketing gurus all over the world have been talking about google page ranking. Page ranking is simply Google's way of measuring your pages accordingly.
The new MSN Search is quickly gaining popularity among internet search engine users. Google still being the #1 search engine with Yahoo in #2, and MSN in a strong #3.
Welcome to part seven in this ten-part search engine positioning series. Last week we discussed the importance of human testing.
Among the many things you need to worry about for high search engine rankings,link popularity is among the most important. Link popularity refers the how many other websites on the internet link back to your website.
Are Meta Tags Really Dead?Right in their Guidelines Yahoo Tells You that Meta-Tags are Not Totally Dead and Buried(The Below Information was Taken Directly From the Yahoo Help File http://help.yahoo.
Search engines love content. Graphics may make your site look great, but a nice picture does not attract a search engine.
Have you ever got one of those silly emails that offers to let you own a keyword? Silly question. How many such emails do you get every day?A number of such services regularly email me offering keyword ownership of premium keywords for $300/year.
As soon as you register your domain name, submit it to Google! Even if you haven't built your site, or written an copy, or even thought about your content, submit your domain name to Google. In fact, even if you haven't fully articulated your business plan and marketing plan, submit your domain name to Google.
It is official, the search engine wars are in full swing. On Tuesday, February 01, 2005 MSN officially rolled out its new search solution to all of its websites, including MSN.
Lots of research has focused on inbound links to a site, but little has focused on the number of links actually on a page (outbound or to other parts of a site). Many SEO gurus have recently been talking about something they call "PR Leak" which seems to be a theory that the more outbound links you have, the more your page rank on Google "leaks" away.
I came across a new website the other day and was quite pleasantly surprised.Basically this is another really great way to get targeted keywords for your website.


Parksafe Automotive have been an established Automotive and Commercial supplier based in the Midlands of the United Kingdom for over 30 years. We are considered as being one of the leading suppliers to the industry.
Our brands Parksafe, Silent Witness, Elite and Safe Locks have become well known throughout the UK and Europe. We have developed a strong network of approved distributors and partners, all have been chosen for their high level of service and expertise.
Whether you operate an international multi-vehicle fleet or a small business in a remote corner of the globe, Parksafe Automotive have a local specialist to help with your safety requirements.
Parksafe Autmotive are a team who have a vast amount of knowledge with OEM and Aftermarket products. We all work together to make the roads and worksites safer providing a range of Vehicle safety products to the industry, including a complete range of: OEM Parking Sensors, CCTV Camera Systems, Dash Cameras, Power Inverters, Lighting, Audible Alarms, plus much more!
A closely controlled design and manufacturing process plus in-house Research and Development is all managed by our R & D team. They ensure our products are, and remain, at a consistently high standard. We are an ISO9001 accredited company.
All of our products go through rigorous testing to ensure we offer quality and reliability at a fair price, all which carry the highest standard quality markings – CE, E-MARK, FCC and CCC.
We are a Fleet Operator Recognition (FORS) approved company, FORS is a voluntary scheme for fleet operators. It's purpose is to raise the level of quality within the fleet operation and to demonstrate which operators are accomplishing this to a high standard.
Not only are we part of the FORS scheme, we are also a recoginised members of: NBRA, VBRA, SMMT, CLOCS, VCA, and many more!


text:
Versu is reborn!
Posted on June 6, 2014 July 9, 2019 by Inara Pey
On Friday June 6th, Emily Short announced through her blog that Versu, the interactive fiction engine she and Richard Evans developed while working at Linden Lab, and which was cancelled as a part of the Lab's product review in February 2014, will now continue, and that Blood & Laurels, the interactive novel she has been working on for 15 years, will be launched on June 12th.
Following the announcement of Versu's cancellation by the Lab, many of us speculated whether it might be allowed to live on separately to the Lab's involvement, and Emily herself confirmed she was talking to the Lab on matter of IP. However, hopes this might happen seemed to have been completely dashed in March, when the Lab said no to any idea of selling the IP involved. However, they've since had a change of heart.
The notification that this is the case came in the form of a blog post which first appeared on the new Versu wesbite, and then reblogged on Emily's site, which is where I came across it.
The announcement reads in part:
Versu was lauched to considerable acclaim prior to being cancelled by Linden Lab. Now it is set to continue (image from the Versu website)
Until February of this year, the Versu project had its home at Linden Lab, exploring the possibilities of interactive storytelling with advanced character AI by Richard Evans (Sims 3, Black and White) and dialogue modeling by Emily Short (Galatea, Alabaster), as well as work by authors Jake Forbes (Return to Labyrinth) and Deirdra Kiai (Dominique Pamplemousse).
When the Lab decided to refocus its offerings and cut support for Versu, the project was only three days from launching a Roman political thriller called Blood & Laurels. Blood & Laurels represented a significant step forward in complexity and depth from previous Versu stories: a large cast of characters, a richly branched two-part storyline, and over 240,000 words of interactive content — of which a player is likely to see only about 7% in a given play through. Character behaviour and relationships were modeled with at least as much fidelity as in earlier examples, but in a context with much higher narrative stakes. What other characters think of you affect whether your character lives or dies, thrives or fails — and those relationships are driven by both large and small decisions.
After Versu's cancellation, it looked for a long time as though neither the underlying technology nor the finished stories had a future. However, we are delighted to be able to announce that Linden Lab has negotiated a new arrangement that will allow us to release these stories and explore a future for the engine.
The Versu blog post reveals that Blood & Laurels has been made possible by a language called Prompter, which is used by Versu and has been designed by Graham Nelson of Inform fame. Graham is also now a part of the new Versu team, joining Emily and Richard Evans.
Emily Short and Richard Evans are joined by Graham Nelson, the man behind the Inform IF system, and the creator of the Prompter language used by Versu
Blood & Laurels is set to be followed by Bramble House, an interactive fantasy story written by Jake T. Forbes, the author of Return to Labyrinth, a four volume graphic novel sequel to the Jim Henson film Labyrinth, and the English-language versions of the best-selling manga series Fullmetal Alchemist, Fruits Basket, One Piece and others.
Bramble House focuses on the character of 15-year-old Penny, who is "bound in service to the witch Stregma, forced to deal with everything from mundane dishwashing to evicting monstrous guests". In it, the reader takes on the role of Penny, progressing through various situations and events in two stories set within the Bramble House world.
There is no publication date available as yet for the title.
Blood and Laurels (due June 12th) and Bramble House will be the first two titles released under the new Versu banner (from the Versu website)
The new titles will be appearing on the iOS platform. At the time of writing, it is not clear as to whether there are still plans to make Versu and its titles available for the Android platform; the website only goes so far as to state, "While we would like to support Android, we do not currently have an Android version available."
This is excellent news for all with an interest in or passion for interactive fiction. Congratulations are extended to Emily, Richard and Graham with the launch to this new venture, and kudos, as well, goes to Linden Lab for reversing their decision on the Versu IP and allowing the project to continue.
Be sure to listen-in to an upcoming edition of the Drax Files Radio Hour interviews, when Drax will be talking to Emily Short about interactive fiction, Versu and more!
The Versu website
The Versu / Blood & Laurels announcement
Previous Versu coverage in this blog
Tagged Discontinued Products, Versu, Versu News
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3 thoughts on "Versu is reborn!"
Congrats to Emily and her team AND Linden Lab for rethinking the issue.
Ciaran Laval says:
I looked at Emily's site just the other day too. This is very good news indeed.
Pingback: Versu Gets A Second Life » Ciaran Laval


text:
Q: jquery use of parseFloat and toFixed This works :
var x = parseFloat($(this).val());
$(this).val(x.toFixed(2));

and not this :
$(this).val(parseFloat($(this).val())).toFixed(2);

I get "toFixed is not a function".
I don't understand why !

A: That is because you are applying toFixed on jQuery object and not the value. Just shift it inside one parenthesis.
$(this).val(parseFloat($(this).val()).toFixed(2));

Splitting up code to simpler and more understandable syntax is always a great idea though. Use a code minifier to take care of the build size.

A: Another way to write this is with val(function)
$(this).val(function(_, currVal){
    return parseFloat(currVal).toFixed(2);
});

Your problem in second version is the chaining is incorrect

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Could I ask, is there anyone active in AntWeight in Pembs?
And are there any meetings going on locally here? And, if not, how about inaugurating a regular meet-up? We have access to a FabLab in Pembroke Dock where there are already a couple of 14-year-olds keen to get into AntWeight. But we could really do with getting a bit more momentum going so they've got some competition to get their teeth into locally.


text:
Q: Cash Register Program - C Good day! In a program I am writing for school we must make a cash register type program, seems simple enough, but for the life of me I can not get it to work. After taking in the number of products bought, then the price of all, the program must ask for the cash to pay, then give back the change. BUT the change must be given in amount of loonies back (or $1 bills), and then just the remaining cents. Help? I've gotten the loonies to work (somewhat) but I don't know how to do the change back.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main()
{
    int itemNum, justChange;
    double prodPrice, tax, cashGiven, change, purchasePrice, changeGiven, changeBack, cashBack;
    float totalPrice;

    //Num of items
    printf ("Number of items: ");
    scanf("%d", &itemNum);

    //Price of items
    printf("Please enter price of items: ");
    scanf("%lf", &prodPrice);

    //Math Stuff
    purchasePrice = itemNum*prodPrice;
    tax = purchasePrice * 0.13;
    totalPrice = purchasePrice*1.13;

    //find change alone
    //justChange = totalPrice

    //Price Output
    printf("Purchase price is: %.2lf \n",purchasePrice );
    printf("TAX (HST 13%):     %.2lf\n",tax );
    printf("Total price is:    %.2lf \n",totalPrice );

    printf("Please Enter Cash: ");
    scanf("%lf", &cashGiven);

    printf("Please Enter Change: ");
    scanf("%lf", &changeGiven);

    //MAth stuuff again

    double endCash;
    double loony;
    int yoloswag;
    endCash = cashGiven - totalPrice;
    loony = endCash/1;
    loony = loony--;

    if (loony<0)
        printf ("Loonies: 0");
    else
    printf("Loonies: %.0lf \n",loony );

    printf("change: %d ", totalPrice-floor(totalPrice) );

    return 0;
}

A: Create an array with possible change values;
double cashValues[6] = {1, 0.5, 0.2, 0.1, 0.05, 0.01};

Then create a for loop in which you try to subtract the possible change values from the difference until the difference is zero.
double difference;
difference = cashGiven - totalPrice;
while (difference != 0) {
    for(int i=0; i<6; i++) {
         if(cashValues[i] <= difference) {
              difference -= cashValues[i];
              printf("%f \n", cashValues[i]);
              i=0;
         }
    }
}


text:
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