With Vepp, it's easy to install WordPress on a server or prepare your server for a ready project. The control panel will install a database and PHP so all you will have to do is just enter your domain. Use default parameters or apply your unique settings.
Once created, your website must be available and run without breaks. With Vepp, you can assign a domain, install an SSL certificate for traffic encryption and to raise browser trust, configure PHP and databases.
Mail with your own domain is kind of a sign of good manners. It's better to use your company's domain to accept orders, reply to clients, or send marketing emails. It might be expensive to buy it from a third party. With Vepp, you can create an email for your domain for free.
There is no time for relaxing even once your website is ready. Hackers can catch your traffic, create viruses, and steal data. Vepp has built-in antivirus, free SSL certificates, and firewall to protect your clients and reputation.
Website means a lot of work: content, design, code. If there is no backup, one mistake may cost you everything. Vepp will help you set automatic backups and easily restore any backup copy.
Find great features behind an easy-to-use interface. Why use the console if you can click on just 2 buttons in Vepp instead of using 10 console commands? Configure LAMP, check logs, automate!
Independent version of PHP and MySQL for every website, flexible system of rights for different users. We have all you may need to manage dozens of projects from a single panel.
Add website builder, antivirus, DDoS protection, CDN, and other addons right from Vepp. The list of Marketplace extensions keeps growing.


It's December! 2018 officially arrives in less than three weeks.
As the festivity draws near, Christmas round the corner, I reminded myself and my students to keep up the practice, be it attending classes or home practice, to finish strong!
During this time, I sat and reflected upon my yoga over the passed years. It has been a humbling journey, a deep dive and reconnection to 'home'. A lot of times, I learned the hard way. There was pain and joy, there was disappointment and celebration, there was self-limiting beliefs and great sense of empowerment, there was vulnerability and stability.
Reminiscing on my practice journey, there were choices that have supported my growth, and some less so. I would love to share some of my learnings, experiences and pitfalls.
By sharing this, my wish is to first connect with you, and for you to know that you are not alone on the mat. I am on the mat with you right now. A world of yoga practitioners are on the journey with you today. Secondly, I hope this may inspire and reignite the fire in your yoga and self-care. Finally, by sharing this openly and honestly, I allow myself to express my truth and vulnerability. With Gratitude.
How and what is your support structure for your yoga? Do share by replying.


text:
Aldridge School
Information for Parents & Students
Educational Visits-Code of Conduct
Mock Examination
Results Day 2021
Exams Handbook
The 4 Rs
Responsible Computer Use
What to do if…?
Flexible Friday
House Championship
Prize Award 2019
Progress Evening
Sixth Form Dress Code
16 to 19 Bursary Fund 2020-21
Student Claim Form
Bursary Claim Form
UCAS Admissions Information
The Mercian Trust
Visitors Contract
MAT SEND Policy
Provider Access Policy
Post-16 Tuition Fund 2020-21
Remembrance Day 2020 – please donate
Remembrance events will be very different this year. Please see the letter for details.
In particular, we will not be selling poppies in school this year, but would like to encourage all members of the school community and their families to donate to the Poppy Appeal and the wearing of a poppy is encouraged as a show of support to the Armed Forces community. A Just Giving page has been set up specifically for this purpose which allows Gift Aid to increase gifts further where possible.
Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal & Remembrance Day
Remembrance Sunday provides an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the sacrifices made by so many people in the service of their country. As Headteacher, I regard it as a privilege to be able to represent our school community at the annual parade in Aldridge. I believe that it is important that we take time to remember, with thanks, the service and sacrifice of those who have suffered in conflicts around the globe.
Year 8 & 9 move to remote learning for the rest of this week
The number of teaching staff unavailable to work in school this week has increased to the point where we are unable to supervise all students in school for the next three days. This is mostly due to the requirement on some staff to self-isolate and should not, therefore, extend beyond the half term break (including a number of our staff have been identified as close contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 outside of our school community).
Category: COVID-19, default, Letters
Acting Accolade
We are delighted to report that an Aldridge student has been put up for nomination as Best Child Actor Award at the Birmingham Film Festival which was hosted by Robert Downey Jnr last year and also Toppy up for Best Local Film. Keeping everything crossed!
Online Provision for Isolating Students It is essential that students who are self-isolating continue to make progress through the curriculum. With this in mind, work will be set for students self-isolating using google classroom. Google classroom is available to use…
Autumn Term Letter
I would like to thank you for your support, in particular with arrival times in the mornings which have been calm and the staggered start has worked well. There are a number of things I would like to make you aware of and ask for your support with.
We have been advised by Public Health England that there has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Year 7. The student concerned has not been in school this week. We have taken advice and our local Walsall Public Health team have been able to identify the specific students who need to self-isolate and they have been informed. – Click above to read more.
Start of Autumn Term 2020
a week's time we will be welcoming our new Year 7 and Year 12 students, and a few days later the rest of the school, at the start of what looks likely to be the most unusual school year any of us has seen.
Click here to apply for the bursary Click here to download the Bursary Claim Form 2020-21 Click here to download the 16-19 Bursary Fund Policy 2020-21 Any student or parent who is unhappy with the handling of application for bursary…
This page contains links to all of the information Aldridge School have issued regarding the COVID-19 situation including details of returning to school in September.
Aldridge School, Tynings Lane
Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands, WS9 0BG
e: info@aldridgeschool.org
Mr I Bryant
Mrs D Walker
Follow Aldridge School on Twitter

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Tidore island, as seen from Ternate island, Indonesia.
Tidore is a city, island, and archipelago in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia, west of the larger island of Halmahera. In the pre-colonial era, the kingdom of Tidore was a major regional political and economic power, and a fierce rival of nearby Ternate, just to the north.
Tidor Island consists of a large stratovolcano which rises from the seafloor to an elevation of 1,730 m (5,676 ft) above sea level at the conical Kiematabu Peak on the south end of the island. The northern side of the island contains a caldera, Sabale, with two smaller volcanic cones within it.


CANTON, Ohio (AP) The Pro Football Hall of Fame says veterans and active military members will receive free admission to its museum in Ohio during November as part of an effort to honor the military.
The offer comes amid debate over NFL players kneeling during the national anthem to protest social injustices, particularly against African-Americans.
The hall in Canton says the offer of free admission for each veteran plus one guest is funded through support from The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, based in nearby Akron.
The hall says the free admission special is in line with its mission of promoting the game's values.
Its Veterans Day event on Saturday includes a special exhibit to profile the military and football careers of several athletes.


text:
Q: How can I implement an InApp store into my App? I want to have an InApp store implemented in my app, but after a lot of research I haven't found how I can code it or how it will work overall. My guess is, that I hide some areas of my App and only will reveal them after someone paid in my store? I am glad for every piece of information abut how to code an InApp store.

A: You are in the right way. You can create a login screen and if user login and pay you can show him the download button (to download some app). You can upload every app (*.apk) in your server and the user will be able to download it.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Giddy Yo is very excited to offer our newly sourced clean coffee- smooth, low astringency, energizing and calming. Yes, energizing AND calming!
Giddy Yo coffee is so good; direct-trade, organic, ethically grown, wet washed, air-roasted Arabica beans that must pass our 'clean' test. Each lot is lab tested to be free of the common coffee mycotoxins, harmful bacteria, mold and fungi (sound gross but these are common in both coffee and chocolate :/).
We do this because your wellness is important, and because it's the right thing to do. We hope you like it as much as we do. And yes, coffee can be good for you in moderation, just pick the right coffee!
Ingredients: Organic Arabica roasted coffee beans.


Cleaners clean surfaces, materials and objects, such as carpets, windows, walls, swimming pools and cooling towers, using specialised cleaning equipment and chemicals. Includes Carpet Cleaners and Window Cleaners.
Drainers install, maintain and design below-ground drainage systems and associated sewerage or effluent disposal systems. Registration or licensing is required.
Lift Mechanics design, install, maintain, service and repair electric and hydraulic passenger and freight lifts, escalators, moving walkways and other lift equipment. Registration or licensing is required.
Locksmiths install and maintain locks and related security devices and systems. Registration or licensing is required.
Make up Artists design and apply make up to actors, presenters and other performing artists.
Boat Builders and Repairers build, repair and modify boats. Registration or licensing may be required.
Medical Scientists conduct medical laboratory tests to assist in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease.


text:
Ivy League Lawyer Who Firebombed Cop Car Will Spend a Year and a Day in Prison
New York's Dem Governor Fails To Avert Nurses' Strike as Thousands Walk Out on Job
Republican Takes Peter King's Seat in Race Against Anti-Police Dem
Congressional candidate Andrew Garbarino (R., N.Y.) speaks to a crowd / Twitter
Jack Beyrer
New York assemblyman Andrew Garbarino (R.) picked up the seat of retiring Long Island Rep. Peter King (R., N.Y.) in a decisive victory over a Democratic candidate who touted ties to anti-police groups.
Democrat Jackie Gordon called Garbarino Wednesday evening to concede the race over two weeks after Election Day. Garbarino ultimately defeated Gordon with 56.9 percent of the vote to Gordon's 42.2 percent. The electoral returns indicate a significant polling error, as the Cook Political Report rated the race a tossup.
"I am honored and excited to succeed Congressman Peter King and represent New York's 2nd Congressional District in Washington," Garbarino wrote in a statement. "In addition to supporting small businesses and fighting to lower taxes, I look forward to working with our brave law enforcement to keep communities safe, fighting to preserve our environment, supporting our veterans, and delivering real results for Long Island families."
Pro-police voters proved decisive in the race for New York's second district, as Gordon courted activists calling to defund the police while giving local police unions the cold shoulder during the campaign.
Garbarino will take up King's post in 2021, carrying on the legacy of one of the House's most national-security focused members.
This phenomenon proved true across Long Island, according to Republican candidate George Santos, who lost to Rep. Tom Suozzi (D., N.Y.) by an unexpectedly razor-thin margin this year.
"There was a blue wave, but it's not the blue wave Democrats counted on," Santos told the Washington Free Beacon. "It's the back-the-blue wave, it's the law and order wave … that's the wave that we're seeing on Long Island. The public will never vote against law enforcement, law and order, and public safety."
Other races seem to also enjoy the same "back-the-blue" wave Santos described. In New York's first district, also on Long Island, Republican incumbent Lee Zeldin enjoys a 20-plus point margin over Democratic challenger Nancy Goroff in a race that has not yet been officially called. Goroff faced criticism on the campaign trail for calling cops "dangerous."
Garbarino will join fellow freshman New York Republican congresswoman-elect Nicole Malliotakis in Washington next year. Malliotakis bested incumbent Democrat Max Rose by a large margin in a race called last week.
Republicans lead in the vote count in three other New York House districts, though the races have not yet been called.
Published under: #DefundThePolice , Jackie Gordon , New York , Peter King


The Key West Bundles Maduro Toro is a budget-friendly premium handmade cigar with outstanding construction and burn. Covered with a dark and juicy maduro wrapper paired with finely aged binder and filler tobaccos, these Dominican gems may be affordable, to you and your customers, but they certainly aren?Æt?Æ cheap! Mellow to medium body flavors of cocoa, coffee, leather, sweet spice, and chocolate will make for a very satisfying cigar smoking experience that will appeal to both the newbie and veteran smoker alike.


Designed to appeal to experts and novices alike, Microsoft was at pains to point out that it hasn't given up on touch with the new OS. The Charms bar remains for the moment although we expect it to die if you're using a non-touch PC (check out Continum below).
Microsoft says it wants to support touch users who have persevered with Windows 8 and "evolve" the touch UI. (Translated: That means it is changing quite a bit.) The task switching will no longer work on the left. So with that and the charms going, that's goodbye to most of the problem with Windows 8 – and a whole philosophy down the pan.
The wonderful start menu has made a return!
Now the Windows 8 task switcher has been unceremoniously dumped, there's a new Task View in Windows 10, too, so users can switch between virtual desktops.That'sause Microsoft now recognises that novice users use the taskbar rather than switching in other, cleverer, ways such as Alt+Tab (which also now switches between desktops).
A new Snap Assist feature also helps users work out which way is best to snap apps to. You can snap windows into new screens and tile Windows – just as you've been able to since Windows 2.0 or maybe 3.0.
Another quite amazing feature for those of us that use it is that the command prompt is now getting keyboard shortcuts! So you will be able to paste in your commands! Hardly groundbreaking, but actually pretty exciting.


Partysnap evenement. On the 18th, 19th & 20th of October we embark upon another ADE adventure. Hosting 3 sequential nights in the Scheepsbouwloods.
On the third night, it is the premiere of a new partnership. Overjoyed to be teaming up with Bonobo and his Outlier project, we set the bar high. Inviting some very special acts to make sure it will be a night to remember.


The online platform took a dive after weak guidance and fourth quarter losses worried investors.
Shares of craft-focused internet marketplace Etsy (NASDAQ:ETSY) stumbled last month, falling 12% according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence after a disappointing fourth-quarter report.
Etsy's headquarters. Image source: Etsy.
As the chart below shows, most of the losses came in the beginning of the month following the earnings release.
In its brief life as a publicly traded company, Etsy stock has seen volatile swings following earnings, and the fourth-quarter announcement was no different.
The marketplace showed off strong sales growth as revenue increased 25.4% year over year to $110.2 million, topping management's own guidance and analyst estimates. However, investments weighed on the bottom line as the company's loss per share widened from $0.04 to $0.19, far worse than analyst expectations of a $0.02 per share profit. Addressing the bottom line weakness, management cited increased labor expenses related to Blackbird Technologies and increased marketing expenses as the company launched its first global brand campaign.
Looking ahead, the market was also disappointed by management guidance, which called for revenue growth slowing from over 33% last year to between 20% and 22%, just shy of the analyst consensus. Management raised its compound annual growth guidance from 2016 to 2018 for revenue and gross merchandise volume, but that may be more of a reflection of last year's results rather than future expectations. The company also sees adjusted EBITDA falling slightly, calling for 12% to 14% margin this year, though that should improve to the high teens by 2018.
With its unique product selection and brand, Etsy is an appealing business, but e-commerce has proven to be a difficult industry. No one aside from eBay has found a way to deliver a strong operating margin. With revenue growth slowing and no signs of a profit this year, the sell-off seems warranted. However, I'd give management a year or two to invest in the business and build it out, as Etsy is one of the few online retailers that seems to have significant moat against the likes of Amazon and other competitors.


text:
var scores = {slow: [], normal: [], fast: []};

// dimensions of the room
var room = {
    width: 600,
    height: 400
};

// initial snake
var snake = {
    length: 3,
    directionX: 1,
    directionY: 0,
    body_0: {
        top: 200,
        left: 280
    },
    body_1: {
        top: 200,
        left: 260
    },
    body_2: {
        top: 200,
        left: 240
    },
    width: 20,
    height: 20
};
// for the convienence
snake.head = snake.body_0;
var snakeDeepCopy = $.extend(true, {}, snake);

var food = {
    width: 20,
    height: 20,
    get: function () {
        var maxW = (room.width - food.width) / food.width,
            minW = 0,
            maxH = (room.height - food.height) / food.height,
            minH = 0,
            left = Math.floor(Math.random() * (maxW - minW + 1)) + minW,
            top = Math.floor(Math.random() * (maxH - minH + 1)) + minH;
        return {
            left: left * this.width,
            top: top * this.height
        };
    }
};

var states = {
    pause: false,
    gameSpeedChosen: false,
    gameSpeed: 'slow',
    step: true,
    cycleId: undefined
};

var foodCoordinates = function () {
    var coord = food.get(),
        i = 0,
        len = snake.length,
        snakePart;
    for (i; i < len; i += 1) {
        snakePart = snake['body_' + i];
        if (snakePart.top === coord.top && snakePart.left === coord.left) {
            // food in snake - bad
            coord = foodCoordinates();
        }
    }
    food.left = coord.left;
    food.top = coord.top;
    return coord;
};

var drawFood = function () {
    var coord = foodCoordinates(),
        $food = $('#food');
    $food.css({
        'top': coord.top,
        'left': coord.left
    });
    $food.removeClass('hidden').addClass('visible');
};

var keys = {
    left: 37,
    up: 38,
    right: 39,
    down: 40,
    start: 83,
    pause: 80,
    newgame: 78
};

var drawSnake = function (snakeObject) {
    var bodyPart = 'body_0',
        top = '0px',
        left = '0px',
        length = snakeObject.length,
        $snakeBody = $('div#snakeBody'),
        i = 0;
    $snakeBody.html('');
    for (i; i < length; i += 1) {
        bodyPart = 'body_' + i;
        $snakeBody.prepend('');
        top = snakeObject[bodyPart].top;
        left = snakeObject[bodyPart].left;
        $('#' + bodyPart).css({
            'top': top + 'px',
            'left': left + 'px'
        });
    }
};

var Counter = (function () {
    var privateCounter = 0;
    function changeBy(val) {
        privateCounter += val;
    }
    return {
        increment: function () {
        changeBy(1);
        },
        value: function () {
        return privateCounter;
        }
    };
})();

var updateScore = function () {
    Counter.increment();
};

var drawScore = function () {
    var score = Counter.value();
    $('#scoreNumber').html(score);
};

var addToTail = function () {
    var tail = snake['body_' + (snake.length - 1)],
        beforeTail = snake['body_' + (snake.length - 2)],
        diffX = tail.left - beforeTail.left,
        diffY = tail.top - beforeTail.top,
        newtop = tail.top + diffY,
        newleft = tail.left + diffX;
    snake['body_' + snake.length] =  {
        top: newtop,
        left: newleft
    };
    snake.length += 1;
};

var eatsItself = function () {
    var i = 1,
        len = snake.length;
    for (i; i < len; i += 1) {
        if (snake.head.top === snake['body_' + i].top &&
            snake.head.left === snake['body_' + i].left) {
            return true;
        }
    }
    return false;
};

var topScore = function (score, speed, total) {
    var len = scores[speed].length > total ? total : scores[speed].length,
        i = 0;
    for (i; i < len; i += 1) {
        if (score > scores[speed][i].score) {
            return true;
        }
    }
    return false;
};

var updateHighScore = function () {
    // get scores from json file
    $.getJSON('scores.json', function (data, textStatus) {
        scores = data;

        // patikriname ar patektu tarp geriausiu rezultatu
        var isTopScore = topScore(Counter.value(), states.gameSpeed, 5);
        // jei nepatektu toliau nieko nedarome, jei patektu, reikia prideti
        // rezultata ir pateikti nauja lentele
        if (isTopScore) {
            var playerName = window.prompt('Enter your name:');
            scores[states.gameSpeed].push({name: playerName, score: Counter.value()});
            // sort by scores
            var sorted = scores[states.gameSpeed].sort(function (a, b) {
                return b.score - a.score;
            });
            // paliekame tik total - 5 geriausius
            var total = 5;
            var len = sorted.length > total ? total : sorted.length;
            sorted.length = len;
        }

        var dataTo = {data: JSON.stringify(scores)};
        console.log(11);
        console.log(dataTo);
        $('#json').load('json.php', dataTo);
        drawHighScore();
    });
};

var createScoresList = function (speedType) {
    var speed = scores[speedType];
    var str = '
High Scores ' + speedType + '
';
    str += '
';
    for (var i = 0; i < speed.length; i++) {
        str += '
';
        str += '' + (i+1) + '. ';
        str += '' + speed[i].name + '';
        str += '' + speed[i].score + '';
        str += '
';
    }
    str += '
';
    return str;
};

var drawHighScore = function () {
    $.getJSON('scores.json', function (data) {
        scores = data;
        $('#highScoreSlow').html(createScoresList('slow'));
        $('#highScoreNormal').html(createScoresList('normal'));
        $('#highScoreFast').html(createScoresList('fast'));
    });
};

var updateSnake = function () {
    var bodyPart = 'body_0',
        top = '0px',
        left = '0px',
        length = snake.length,
        directionX = snake.directionX,
        directionY = snake.directionY,
        i = length - 1,
        j = i - 1;
    for (i; i > 0; i--) {
        var bodyPartCurrent = 'body_' + i;
        j = i - 1;
        var bodyPartNext = 'body_' + j;
        snake[bodyPartCurrent].top = snake[bodyPartNext].top;
        snake[bodyPartCurrent].left = snake[bodyPartNext].left;
    }
    snake.head.top = snake.head.top + snake.directionY * 20;
    snake.head.left = snake.head.left + snake.directionX * 20;
    // jei naujos koordinates kertasi su siena - alert kad baigesi
    if (snake.head.left < 0 || snake.head.left + snake.width > room.width || snake.head.top < 0 || snake.head.top + snake.height > room.height) {
        $('#soundWall')[0].play();
        showMessage("Game Over");
        clearInterval(states.cycleId);
        updateHighScore();
        drawHighScore();
    } else if (eatsItself()) {
        $('#soundEatsItself')[0].play();
        showMessage("Game Over");
        clearInterval(states.cycleId);
        updateHighScore();
        drawHighScore();
    } else if (snake.head.left === food.left && snake.head.top === food.top) {
        $('#sound')[0].play();
        updateScore();
        drawScore();
        drawFood();
        addToTail();
        drawSnake(snake);
    } else {
        drawSnake(snake);
    }
    states.step = true;
};

var gameCycle = function () {
    if (states.pause) {
        return true;
    }
    if (states.gameSpeed === 'slow') {
        if (states.step) {
            setTimeout(updateSnake, 200);
            states.step = false;
        }
    } else if (states.gameSpeed === 'normal') {
        if (states.step) {
            setTimeout(updateSnake, 100);
            states.step = false;
        }
    } else if (states.gameSpeed === 'fast') {
        if (states.step) {
            setTimeout(updateSnake, 50);
            states.step = false;
        }
    }
};

var showMessage = function (text) {
    $('div#message').html('
' + text + '
');
    $('div#message').show();
};
var hideMessage = function () {
    $('div#message').hide();
};

var registerKeyEvents = function () {
    var $container = $('#gameContainer');

    function gameIntro(gameSpeed) {
        hideMessage();
        var $starting = $('#starting');
        states.gameSpeed = gameSpeed;
        $('#speedSelection').slideUp('normal');
        $starting.removeClass().addClass('visible');
        showMessage("Ready");
        setTimeout(function () {
            hideMessage();
            showMessage("Pause");
        }, 500);
        setTimeout(function () {
            hideMessage();
            showMessage("Go");
        }, 1000);
        setTimeout(function () {
            hideMessage();
            $starting.removeClass().addClass('hidden');
            drawFood();
            states.cycleId = setInterval(gameCycle, 33);
        }, 1500);
    }

    // now, depending on the keys pressed, take action
    $(document).keydown(function (event) {
        var key = event.keyCode;
        if (key === keys.up) {
            snake.directionX = 0;
            snake.directionY = -1;
            event.preventDefault(); // for not moving page with arrow keys
        } else if (key === keys.down) {
            snake.directionX = 0;
            snake.directionY = 1;
            event.preventDefault();
        } else if (key === keys.left) {
            snake.directionX = -1;
            snake.directionY = 0;
            event.preventDefault();
        } else if (key === keys.right) {
            snake.directionX = 1;
            snake.directionY = 0;
            event.preventDefault();
        } else if (key === keys.pause) {
            if (!states.pause) { // if not pause before - pause
                $('#snakeBody').hide();
                $('#food').hide();
                showMessage("Pause");
                states.pause = true;
            } else {
                $('#snakeBody').show();
                $('#food').show();
                hideMessage();
                states.pause = false;
            }
        } else if (key === keys.start) {
            $('#speedSelection').slideDown('normal');
            hideMessage(); // hide welcome screen
            showMessage("Waiting...");

            $('#slow').click(function () {
                // set game speed, update text
                gameIntro('slow');
            });
            $('#normal').click(function () {
                gameIntro('normal');
            });
            $('#fast').click(function () {
                gameIntro('fast');
            });
        } else if (key === keys.newgame) {
            // snake = snakeDeepCopy;
            snake = $.extend(true, {}, snakeDeepCopy);
            // $('#snakeBody').hide();
            // $('#food').hide();
        }
    });
};

var gameInit = function () {
    // as high scores are kept in seperate file, have to
    // get them and draw on the screen
    drawHighScore();
    // welcome screen
    showMessage("Press 's' key");
    // register key events
    registerKeyEvents();
};

jQuery(document).ready(function () {
    // initialization - only once
    gameInit();
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Are you a classic Peanut Butter and banana, an indulgent s'more or a fancy-shmancy spinach-artichoke dip? Let's take a look at how your horoscope traits and cracker combinations match up.
There are innumerable combinations that you can pair with a classic Butter Puff cracker; the puffy, round shape makes it aesthetically pleasing- and they provide the perfect base for experimentation. However, we've made it easier for you by listing down some stellar combos you can try at home. Moreover, we have carefully analyzed some of the most common traits inherent to the zodiac signs and paired each one with the perfect cracker combination.
The most important note here: they're all equally delicious. Trust the empty plates and the sprinkling of buttery crumbs in our office.
Aquarians are known to be fighters at heart and are ready to set themselves apart with their non-mainstream attitude. Whoever thought of toasting a perfectly well-to-do marshmallow over an open fire holds the same go-getter attitude of an Aquarian.
Pisceans tend to wander along the realms of fantasy and reality; they are known to be soft and understanding and hold strong intuitive feelings. They are in tune with music and romance. And there's nothing dreamier than berries with copious amounts of cream.
The sign of Aries kicks off the zodiac cycle. They operate with fierce optimism and have a penchant for no-nonsense. The straight forward attitude of this sign brings to the plate a classic cracker combo – peanut butter and banana. However, since an Aries is far from boring, we have added a drizzle of honey and some roasted walnuts.
What a Taurean desires the most is luxury and comfort. They like to feel pampered and don't feel out of place when indulging. It is befitting for this zodiac sign, therefore, to be given this combination of a silken chocolate ganache with a tangy slice of orange, comfortably topped on a luxurious Butter Puff cracker.
The Gemini twins are invested in a variety of pursuits and are often the life of the party. Much like a classic pizza, they are consistently surrounded by people and also carry with them the gift of versatility. To be extraordinary, or to be comfortable in your most basic form.
The Cancerian is of a nurturing nature and is often considered a provider. Safety, warmth and inclusiveness are some of the important feelings that the Cancer zodiac is able to provide others. It also has the ability to transform the most ordinary of things, into something extraordinary – a creative knack. Roasted garlic mashed into billowy potatoes gives the same feels.
Zodiac power, Leo is all about the theatre, the attention, the head held high – they are the essence of vitality. And as we all know, the first thing one reaches for at a dinner party is the perfectly cooked prawn coated in a zingy sauce. Place it on a Butter Puff cracker, and you have an appetizer fit for a Leo.
Perhaps the most logical of the zodiac signs, Virgo thrives on order and a meticulous system of operating. They like to be domesticated, making sure nothing goes to waste and that everything is thought through in its entirety. Fun fact: a Virgo is most likely to stick to a diet plan than the other signs.
Librans are notorious for their indecisive nature, however the other side of them which is often ignored is their love for exquisite things – be it food, art or design. There is a certain elegance in their manner, often disguised as superficial and material desires. A tart crumbly feta cheese paired with sweet peppers is the most 'balanced' way to describe a Libran.
Scorpio likes sensory experiences. But they will not overtly demand them. They tend to cloak themselves in mystery and hide their emotions well. The most notable thing about a Scorpio is that they always have a card up their sleeve – a sting that is representative of the scorpion itself. That sting perfectly represents itself in the intense tang that this lemon cheesecake combo provides.
Sagittarians, much like Aries, is quite no-nonsense. However, they love to be out and about exploring, discovering and undertaking adventures. With so many enigmatic qualities, a rich spinach and artichoke dip is representative of the all-encompassing Sagittarius. It just so happens, that this dip is further enriched in taste and appearance with Butter Puff crackers.
Very practical, ambitious and sensible – a Capricorn is a wise zodiac sign unimpressed by bells and whistles. A tuna salad, in all its simplicity and deliciousness, is what the Capricorn wants – no fuss but comforting to the soul.


Below are all of the Emergency Food Programs provided through Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens in Endwell, New York and surrounding cities that I have located.
* Note: If you are searching for Endwell Food Banks - Food banks are distribution hubs. They supply the food to the Soup Kitchens, Food Pantries, Shelters etc. They in turn provide that food to the individuals that need it. Food Banks do not directly serve individuals in need.
CHOW--Community Hunger Outreach WareHouse is a food pantry. . * Make sure you check by calling the food pantry to confirm that they still are in operation and the hours as the hours have not changed.
Food pantry. Contact for details and hours.


Features| This simple shift dress has an open scoop neck with two tassel ties that tie at the back. The length is mid thigh and the dress skims over the body. It is fully lined. The dress has black tassels scattered in rows around the hem and they move as you walk. It also has stips of crochet detailing in bads across the body.
Fit| True to size. Mannequin is a size 6 - Wearing a size 6.
Styling| Don't be afraid to mix with statement earrings and heels or a jacket and ankle boots.


San Diego, California - A limited amount of tickets for Sunday's NCAA Tournament second round games at Viejas Arena are still available.
The price for bench seats has been reduced to $65 and can be purchased on https://NCAA.com .
Out of the Midwest region, No. 4 Auburn takes on No. 5 Clemson at 4:10 p.m. PT and will be followed by a West Virginia showdown from the East region, featuring the fifth-seeded West Virginia Mountaineers and the No. 13 seed, Marshall University. Tickets include admission to both games.
The Viejas box office will open at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, but fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online to avoid lines on game day.
Viejas Arena - San Diego, Calif.


text:
Litigation Uncategorized
Good design and law courts
No Comments on Good design and law courts
(Prof. T. Oommen)
Court buildings are mostly monumental in character and designed in modern or traditional styles. Famous examples are the Supreme Court at New Delhi in the traditional style and the High Court at Chandigarh, which is modern. Despite the difference in architectural styles, both are built on a monumental scale. The association with the institution of law and its importance as one of the pillars of civilized society drive architects to conceive the exterior in awe inspiring form. Even the interior spaces of these buildings such as the entrance lobbies, the halls and the court rooms match the exterior in monumentality to enhance the feeling of reverence that is thought to be appropriate.
Photo: The Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh, by robespiero.
Questions of style in court buildings are not entirely simple, but the proper organisation of interior spaces to make it functional, convenient and comfortable for users is most complex and likely to extract all the skills of an experienced architect.
There are generally five categories of users for a court building: (1) the visiting public (for purposes of litigation or for attending court sessions, (2) court officials, (3) attorneys and their aids, (4) judges and (5) detainees or prisoners and their security guards (according to the type and level of the courts).
Great care and skill in planning is required to segregate the circulation of these different categories of users so that they do not unnecessarily come in contact with each other unless required. This is of special importance when terror and security are such a major concern. Good design can reduce the massive commotion and associated security threats in the court precincts and can efficiently keep high profile defendants and their lawyers secure while entering the court and attending proceedings.
For example, the circulation routes of the visiting public, whether their purpose of visit is to transact official business with the court or a casual one to the public gallery of a court hall, must be planned and segregated in such a way that the public do not casually come across judges and their office rooms. Again, the category of detainees and criminals, who are brought to appear in the court, has to be amply protected and segregated from the public areas. Any contact of this category with the circulation of other ones will obviously be highly inappropriate and dangerous. At the same time, detainees and criminals may require secure facilities for consulting their attorneys in private. Thus all the five categories and their sub categories have to be provided with appropriate segregation in circulation and controlled meeting points for the discharge of court functions.
The close involvement of judges and administrators of the court building for determining these requirements of segregation and meeting points is absolutely essential to the design process.
The detailed needs and requirements for each category of court users tend to be so special and different that planning the building becomes quite complex. A common approach to the problem of segregation, separation of movement routes and workspaces and security needs is grade separation by levels. For example, spaces for the detainees and prisoners can be provided in the basement floor. They would be escorted down in to the basement from closed vehicles and be brought to the courtroom directly from there. The spaces for guards and policemen would also be provided in the basement and so would consultation facilities with attorneys. Facilities for judges may be provided at the highest level with separate entries – perhaps separate lifts and exits and direct routes of entry to the judges podium in the courtrooms.
In such a set up, courtrooms would be at the middle level. The public may be provided access at the ground level due to their large numbers and for their ease of use. Further, each of the categories would require their necessary service spaces like toilets or mechanical equipment rooms. A meticulous listing of conveniences and services for each category in an inventory list, and cross checking them out in the final scheme will be necessary for good results.
There can be no great disagreement that courthouses need to be monumental, impressive and overpowering like the institution of law. However, there can be much debate about the specific architectural style of court buildings among legal professionals, the public and especially among architects themselves.
Proponents for traditional styles would argue that each society has to reach back to great moments in its history and evoke memory and pride in its unique culture thus creating a continuum with its ancient history. Modernists would argue that the technology of the 21st century and the needs of the building should play the primary role in determining the form, that architecture must reflect "the spirit of the age" – our technological and societal progress rather than tradition. There can be no conclusive architectural argument for either position but like the debate between tradition and modernity it is perhaps the dialectic between the two that is most important in creating innovative designs.
Many of the above arguments were made after Independence when the decision to construct the capitol complex of Chandigarh in the most avant-garde version of modern architecture was made. The massive, sculptural High Court was and still is the most famous building in this architecturally world famous project. For many including Prime Minister Nehru, it represented India's release from the burden of tradition, but one of his remarks on the subject is particularly interesting. "It hits you on the head and makes you think. You may squirm at the impact, but it has made you think and imbibe new ideas, and the one thing which India requires in many fields is being hit on the head so that it may think".
The spirit of his remark seems to be to not lose sight of what is most important in that particular project – its symbolism and impact. It begs us the questions of what message our courthouse buildings convey today. The answer is fairly obvious. Too many of them are decrepit and crumbling old facilities that do not address security issues, efficiency or ease of use, let alone instill any sort of sense of civic pride and reverence for the institution. It is therefore imperative that architectural design must address not only the creation of impressive monumental form, but also equally impressive planning in the organization of spaces to create efficient, functional courthouses.
Good design must not be a luxury or an afterthought, but an indispensable starting point in creating respect for the institution of law and a belief in the efficiency of our legal system.
Tags architecture, court complexes
→ Forward Defence
Delay in deciding mercy petitions as a ground for commutation - did the judiciary exceed its brief?
Rigorous scrutiny of process of distributing natural resources: "Coalgate" judgment advances Supreme Court jurisprudence


Seven Great Reasons to Learn Spanish Now!
Why study Spanish? Perhaps a better question is why aren't you studying this beautiful language! Seriously, we know there are many barriers to learning another language, especially when you are no longer in school. We're pleased that you're thinking of beginning now. So, to help you make up your mind, we've listed just a few of the many powerful reasons for you to begin study now. Take a look at these. Which are most important to you?
1. Learning to speak and understand Spanish gives you powerful tools to improve yourself and communicate effectively with Spanish-speakers in the U.S. and abroad.
2. Speaking Spanish is great fun!
3. You'll qualify for better-paying, more interesting jobs.
Raise your value to your employer, and you'll get better-paying jobs. Nearly all businesses need people who speak Spanish, but recruiters and employers say they have difficulty finding people who are comfortable with both languages.
Bi-lingual employees make more money than those who speak only English.
4. In business? Boost your sales by reaching out to the vast Spanish-speaking market here and abroad!
The Hispanic–Latin American market is huge and growing rapidly.
5. You'll meet wonderful new people!
Hispano- Latino cultures are warm and welcoming. Speaking Spanish can change your life in wonderful ways.
6. You'll have more enjoyable vacations!
7. You'll gain more from the vast riches of Spanish culture: art, literature, and more!
Spanish-language literature: From Don Quixote, the 16th century masterwork of Miguel Cervantes to the 20th century creations of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Pablo Neruda, Octavio Paz, and Jorge Luis Borges.
Spanish paintings and painters: From El Greco, Diego Velazquez, Francisco Goya to Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and Pablo Picasso.
Oscar-winning films: Belle Epoque (1993), All About My Mother (1999), and The Sea Inside (2004).
Spanish-language music and dance: Gloria Estefan, the Gipsy Kings, Andres Segovia, Pablo Casals; Salsa, Norteno and traditional Flamenco and Tango.
These are just seven of the many great reasons to study Spanish. Come to one of our classes and discover your own reasons to join our community of language-learners!
Get out there and start learning Spanish today and take advantage of all of the new opportunities it opens!


For over 25 years, I have worked in Information Technology, where "knowing" is treated like everything. Knowing system specifications off the top of your head; knowing arcane commands along with all the variations of sub-commands by heart; knowing every computer system in a company, along with how they all work together.
This emphasis on knowing, while being laudable in many regards, has also lead to an extremely disheartening behavior: Nerd Strutting.
Why am I discussing this here?
Because I also interact with in another environment where knowing is extremely important: Judaism.
Whether it is the Torah portion of the week, a bit of talmud relating to business dealings, digging into deep thoughts out of Mishna such as the quote at the top of this post, or researching the historical basis for various traditions, Jews of all stripes can be found engaging in life-long learning.
The emphasis on knowing in this context may be even more intense than in I.T. – not only the ability to recite from memory huge chunks of text, but knowing references from one body of work to another, across vast (and often rambling) subject matter. Plus there's the whole fact that this information may be presented in English, Aramaic, or Hebrew – ancient, medieval, or modern.
One of the more remarkable aspects of all this is that, despite the ferocious pursuit of knowledge, all teachers are welcome. I have watched a teenage present his newest discovery – a piece of text he had just learned in school – to a group of adults who had surely studied it several times, and even taught it themselves. But the room was nothing except respectful, supportive, interested, and engaged. I have watched seasoned teachers insist – with absolute sincerity – that they learn more than their students each time they offer a class.
These are not isolated incidents or examples of a group humoring an eager learner (or an over-indulgent parent). This happens all the time, in every city.
During Elul, many people find the drive to share what they know (including those of us participating in BlogElul!) It might be tempting to fall into the trap of shutting out all these voices, believing we have heard it before or that our knowledge is somehow more valid.
We should instead take the opportunity to learn from everyone, in the hope that we are shown the same level of support as we stand before the One who truly knows all.


We have recently been working on a case for a California-based firm in which we are conducting a number of in-person interviews. In this particular case, we are interviewing individuals who may have some knowledge of a fraud involving upward of several hundred million dollars.
As my colleague and I were driving around the New York metro area (which has nine of the nation's worst bottlenecks) and sitting in hours of horrible traffic, I got to thinking about the effectiveness of in-person interviews and whether they really bring more value to the client than telephone interviews do.
One hundred percent of the time, it is always preferable to conduct an interview in person. In a perfect world, you would call up the person of interest, set up an appointment for a specific place and time, meet the person in a neutral area, and conduct an interview with two investigators — one asking questions, the other taking notes.
Perfect worlds exist on television but not in reality.
Or at least not in mine.
In our line of work, an in-person interview is what we like to describe as a doorstep interview, which is showing up at someone's home or business unannounced to conduct an interview. It's not the ideal situation, but a private investigator would utilize this tactic for a number of reasons.
First, you don't want to give the person an opportunity to think too much about the reason why a private investigator is standing at the door asking questions or to wonder whether or not they should speak. It sounds a bit deceitful, but I assure you it's not. The reality is that if given the choice, most people just don't want to be involved, or they are afraid they might say the wrong thing. But despite what people may think of private investigators, my only interest is in the facts, good or bad; it doesn't matter which side I am working for. My experience has been that the more time you give a person to sit and think about why they should speak, the less likely it is the person is going to want to talk.
Second, an in-person interview gives the person a level of comfort. You might think the opposite, that showing up unannounced at someone's doorstep might freak the person out. But in my experience, quite the opposite is true. People are more comfortable putting a face to a name.
Building a rapport with a person is also critical to successfully interviewing the person, and you have a much better chance of quickly building rapport in person than you do over the phone. In about 95% of the cases that we work on, the person I am speaking to has absolutely no compelling reason to speak to me or cooperate, unlike when being questioned by the police (or other governmental authority) or other authoritative interview (employer/employee). My ability to build rapport and trust and provide a compelling reason why they should speak to me is critical to having a successful interview.
All things considered, a doorstep interview is the best way to handle any investigative interview, but the biggest problem is that it is enormously time- and resource-intense. And there is that possibility the person may not be home, which is just a total waste of time. Doing an interview at a person's place of employment is not recommended unless absolutely necessary.
Also, technology has made the world much larger; so you may have to do in-person interviews in New York, California and France, which require either extensive travel time and resources or getting multiple investigative teams up to speed. [It's always best to use one investigative team to do the interviews to avoid involving other investigative teams lacking institutional knowledge about the case].
In sum, in a perfect world, in-person interviews are ideal, especially in situations where a few key witnesses/individuals may make or break the case; but they are enormously time- and resource-intense.
There are a number of advantages of conducting telephone interviews. First and foremost, it is much more efficient and less resource-intense. A private investigator can sit behind a desk, utilize proprietary databases to find telephone numbers of former employees or witnesses to an accident who have been found through discovery, social media or resume databases, and make phone calls from the comfort of his or her desk. An investigator can potentially make dozens if not hundreds of phone calls in a day and work through a long list of potential leads.
Telephone interviews have no bounds, so I can call people all around the country or the world. And I don't need a second investigator, because I can easily take notes while conducting the interview, or in some cases, I might record the interview if I get the person's permission — or if state laws allows, I may record the conversation without his or her knowledge.
The reality of any investigation is that you never know who is going to be helpful to your investigation. It could be anyone, from the janitor to the secretary to the CEO. Or from the best friend to the eighteenth cousin, once removed.
Because it does not take nearly as much time and effort to contact people by telephone, my list of "people of interest" might expand to others on the periphery. Whereas when conducting an in-person interview, you don't want to waste precious time and resources trying to interview someone who may have no helpful information, but calling that same person might take all of a few minutes.
Telephone interviews do have their disadvantages. First, fewer and fewer people are answering their phone these days, especially calls from blocked numbers or from numbers that they don't recognize. It's also getting harder and harder to identify good telephone numbers as well, which makes it challenging to get in touch with people in the first place.
It's also a bit more difficult to establish a rapport, so you may not get as much information as you hope or want on your first interview, but you can combat that by following up with other telephone interviews or scheduling an in-person interview at a later date.
Telephone interviews are ideal in cases where you have the potential for a large pool of witnesses or leads, or cases where you are gathering information from a wide group of sources.
Nine times out of ten, I would tell a client to conduct telephone interviews first, and if any interviewees are particularly helpful/meaningful, I would follow up with an in-person interview to get a signed statement. The exception would be extremely sensitive or high-profile interviews of a short list of witnesses.
In my own personal experience and the experience of the group of investigators I spoke to, in-person and telephone interviews have about the same success rate with people willing to speak to you; so from that point of view, it's a bit of a wash.
This should all be taken with a grain of salt, though. This is entirely based on the type of work that we do, which tends to float into the white collar world.
You can ask my friend Hal Humphreys of Find Investigations, who does a lot of criminal defense work, and he may tell you the opposite.
In the end, it really depends on the type of work and your (or your client's) appetite for utilizing your time and resources. As investigators, we bill by the hour, so from a pure efficiency standpoint, I would typically recommend telephone interviews.
You write some absolutely fantastic blog posts, Brian. This one does not disappoint. Thanks for sharing such helpful information with the rest of us.
Thanks Rachele! I enjoy reading your blogs as well. Keep up the great work!
Investigator:	I'm working with xxxxxxxxx. I would like to chat with you for a few minutes if that's possible?
Witness:	Man, I'd just rather not get involved in it honestly.
Investigator:	Okay. I'm in town all day today, I could meet you anywhere that would be convenient for you.
Witness:	You didn't hear what I said.
Investigator:	Yeah I did. I just hoped you might forget about it.
Ha! I've certainly heard that before. As another commentor pointed out, "situations always dictate tactics." So for some situations, telephone interviews are just not going to work.
This can also depend on the reasons behind the interview.
With a willing witness I always find at their home address is a good place as they may have other paperwork to hand to look things up, confirm dates and times etc.
I guess it comes down to experience and the type of interview.
I also find that the investigator having local knowledge can also be helpful in judging the type of people that may live in an area, and whether they are likely to be willing to be interviewed or not. And then making a relevant approach.
I am not sure I agree about the approach of knowing what kind of people in the area. I think some people get caught in a trap of have some preconceived notion about what people will say or do, which is not a good starting position.
Great article and I'm always educating clients on when to use phone and in person interviews. I agree to an extent on knowing your demographics of where you're interviews are taking place and that swaying your decision. We conduct numerous interviews on a daily basis for plaintiff personal injury attorneys and we absolutely have to take this into account. In lower income level areas or areas where crime is substantially higher and they have a negative image of law enforcement or an investigator in general, in person interviews have been very effective for us as opposed to telephone interviews. Based on my experience and utilizing both methods in a particular area, most people would not answer their phone or quickly hang up because they immediately relate the interview process with law enforcement.
Also as an investigator and prior law enforcement officer, I prefer in person interviews as there is a lot more that goes into an interview than just their words. Body language is one of the biggest factors in conducting an effective interview and I can't get that on the phone. Also it's much harder for someone to tell you to pack sand face to face than it is on the phone. You also can't build enough rapport over the phone to be able to put someone at the same level of ease as you could in person. We can also tell by reviewing our phone interviews compared to in person ones that they tend to sound much more at ease and willing to provide much more detailed information during an in person rather than over the phone.
Our effectiveness comes from doing similar things as you such as calling first to screen the individual on whether they will be a good fit for a phone or in person interview. Initial phone calls are never made from blocked numbers and we do this first to see if they even answer. If they don't we're not leaving messages on the first go around. We don't want someone who wouldn't cooperate with an investigator to have an easy out by never calling back because they already know who's looking for them. So we anticipate their call back and if not within a day or so we call again. Eventually it gets to the point after 2 or 3 calls where we will leave a message for that person because they could not be calling back simply because they are screening their own calls. All this as you said is going to be driven by your specific case type, the people you're dealing with, objectives, etc. There are too many factors to weigh to be able to cookie cutter when you could use an in person vs phone interview. They each have their pros and cons. This is that toughest part for the client to understand when their first priority is resources.
And on a side note going with two investigators also has a little more intimidating factor from a psychological perspective that plays in your favor. It helps fill that void where there is no obligation for them to speak to you as just a pi. It makes them think, well if I have two investigators here I probably should cooperate as this must be pretty serious.
I agree with all the blocked calls and nobody ever answering the phone dilemma. You could give a witness a heads up by sending a letter/note Via US mail or other delivery service, indicating the need for a conversation and either leave your email, phone or return address in order to get a response. You also control exactly what you want to initially say depending on who your'e contacting.
Didn't know about the Pamela for Skype recorder. Thanks!
I think the first communication point is critical, which is why I would avoid leaving messages and call from a blocked number at first.
Certainly there are advantages of one over the other. If resources allow I prefer in-person interviews as I can read body language as I ask my question and while they're answering the question. This is lost over the phone, but you can discern speech pattern changes, pauses to questions, etc.
If resources allow, I prefer in-person interviews as well; but in the private sector, that's always a consideration.
Great information – as a fairly new investigator I have often wondered this. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it Sharon!


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U-M, IBM partner on advanced conversational computing system
The project aims to develop a cognitive system that functions as an academic advisor for undergraduate computer science and engineering majors at the university.
In the future, Michigan students will be able to plan their program of study through conversations with an intelligent system.
In an effort to help solve one of the grand challenges of artificial intelligence, the University of Michigan and IBM have launched a $4.5 million collaboration to develop a new class of conversational technologies that will enable people to interact more naturally and effectively with computers. The Michigan researchers, led by Prof. Satinder Singh Baveja, include computer science and engineering faculty Walter Lasecki, Honglak Lee, Jason Mars, Rada Mihalcea, Emily Mower Provost, Dragomir Radev, and Lingjia Tang.
In "Project Sapphire," IBM and the U-M Artificial Intelligence Lab will develop a cognitive system that functions as an academic advisor for undergraduate computer science and engineering majors at the university. The system will allow researchers to explore how smart machines interact with people in goal-driven dialogues.
To do this, the team will capture and annotate large volumes of approved recorded human-to-human conversations between undergraduates and their advisors on topics such as course selection, career advice, extracurricular recommendations, and homework resources. The team will use these conversations to train the system on how to respond to interactions with students, and ultimately learn how to automatically navigate and successfully reply in conversations with those using the system.
Prof. Satinder Singh Baveja, principal investigator, speaks with students about an artificial intelligence project
"Human-to-machine interactions, similar to human-to-human conversations, are rarely confined to one question and one answer. They involve multiple turns of a conversation with responses that can be imprecise and unclear, making it difficult to simulate the human experience," said David Nahamoo, IBM fellow and chief technologist for conversational systems, IBM Watson. "By partnering with the University of Michigan, we have an enormous opportunity to apply AI technologies in new ways and transform human-machine communication. This collaboration marks the next chapter in a longstanding relationship between the University and IBM to place the power of cognitive technologies into the hands of the next generation of thinkers."
Unlike rules-based interactive virtual assistant systems that are programmed with hard-coded responses and scripted replies, Project Sapphire will apply probabilistic and statistical methods of reasoning that understand conditions and context, the researchers say. By employing deep learning, machine learning, reinforcement learning, natural language understanding, knowledge representation, emotion analysis, and software technologies, the cognitive system will be trained using the recorded human-to-human conversations and will continue to learn and improve with increased interaction.
"Natural conversations bring in so many different aspects of human intelligence—knowledge, context, goals and emotion, for instance. In many ways, to build a versatile conversational system is a grand challenge for artificial intelligence," said Satinder Singh Baveja, professor of computer science and engineering and director of U-M's AI Lab. "We look forward to taking it on with this partnership."
Through the partnership, eight computer science and engineering faculty members, along with graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, will work with IBM scientists. Within the next couple years, they expect their system to be up and running.
The digital adviser isn't meant to replace human professionals who guide students along the academic and emotional journey that is college. Once it's developed, students can choose to talk to it for simple or routine questions, or to complement a meeting with a person.
Students might tell the system their preferences and receive course recommendations that advance them toward their degree. They could define broad career goals and get a good list of electives. They could hear an estimate of how many homework hours their class load might require, or be directed to extracurriculars that might help them land the kind of job they're after.
The system would record the conversations and at any point, it could hand the session over to a human. One of the researchers involved – Emily Mower Provost, assistant professor of computer science and engineering – studies emotional cues. She'll work on enabling Project Sapphire to recognize when students need a real shoulder, even if they're not asking for one.
Researchers share ideas: (L-R) Prof. Emily Mowever Provost, David Nahamoo of IBM, and Prof. Satinder Singh Baveja
The automated advisor is one application of what the team envisions to be a platform technology. Project Sapphire's resulting innovations could be embedded into cognitive systems across many industries to improve how they learn and codify human expertise, understand a user's intent and context, and deliver appropriate responses that direct conversations towards a stated goal.
"What we are building has the potential to revolutionize how we interact with our computers and other devices such as our cars and our appliances," Baveja said. "These conversational systems become cognitive advisors that can assist us in a variety of personal, professional, and enterprise tasks such as advising for personal finance, helping employees in scheduling meetings and travel arrangement, and providing technical support to customers of an enterprise."
The U-M students on the project are excited to work with an industry leader.
"I want to build something that will not only benefit students, but will also benefit their children," said Ananda Narayan, a U-M doctoral student studying reinforcement learning. "This is the future and it is happening here at the University of Michigan."
Project Sapphire is another step forward in IBM's history of innovation in conversational systems. Most recently, IBM added its latest dialog management capabilities to its Watson platform, which is accessible to a community of 77,000 start ups and innovators in established businesses who are tapping these capabilities in the form of API services to pilot, test, and deploy new products and applications that can converse with users.
U-M and IBM have a history of collaboration. IBM has assisted with cognitive computing courses, worked with the university to discover new ways to apply Watson, and enabled the U-M Solar Car Team to use cognitive solar forecasting technology to predict solar radiation and cloud movement during the 2015 World Solar Challenge.
Assistive Technology; Autonomy, AI & Robotics; Emily Mower Provost; Honglak Lee; Jason Mars; Language and Text Processing; Lingjia Tang; Machine Learning; Rada Mihalcea; Research News; Satinder Baveja; Walter Lasecki


Mandarin Orchard Singapore (formerly known as the Mandarin Singapore) is strategically located at the lively Orchard Road and it is approximately 500 metres away from Somerset Subway Station. This popular Singapore hotel provides a luxurious experiment to everyone of its guest, especially with its breathtaking city views,award-winning dining as well as an outdoor pool with sun deck.
Popularly known as the landmark for the Orchard Road, Mandarin Orchard Singapore is only 10 minutes drive away from Singapore Flyer and Takashimaya Shopping Centre is just sitting opposite it. There are a number of shopping and entertainment choices around this area. Universal Studios Singapore is about 20-minute ride away.
Mandarin Orchard's modern rooms feature oriental-inspired themes with soothing colors and decor. A tea/coffee maker and minibar is provided in each room. Radios and safety deposit boxes are available. Bathrobes and slippers are included in rooms.Wi-Fi is accessible for free in the hotel rooms.
This luxury Singaore hotel is convenient especially for shopping lovers as it is directly linked to Mandarin Gallery – a four-storey shopping mall. 24-hour room service is available to guests.Guests can play a game of tennis, or exercise in the fitness center.
Mandarin Chicken Rice is the hotel signature, award-winning delicacy available at Chatterbox Restaurant. This famous in-house hotel restaurant also serves other local foods. Guests could have variety of drinks and cocktail at Bar on 5 or enjoy international buffet at Triple Three.


text:
The Mark Steyn Show (audio)
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Downing Street Down
Welcome to a new edition of the self-isolated socially distant quarantined curfewed sheltered-in-place Mark Steyn Show with an audio Coronacopia of news and comment, but a few other diversions, including victims of the Spanish flu, Moroccans policing Germans, the loins of Longleat, Yogi alone, archbishops in the dock, and more.
If you like this format, Steyn may do more. But, if you don't, we shall speak no more about it. For now, simply click above to listen. And, if you're a Mark Steyn Club member and you'd like to submit a question for Mark to address on his next show, please leave it in the comments below. Do stay on topic - and no URLS, please, as they wreak havoc with our page formating.
The Mark Steyn Show is made with the support of members of The Mark Steyn Club. As Mark always says, Club membership isn't for everyone, but it if you're interested you can find more information here.
Steyn will return later this evening with Part Eighteen of A Journal of the Plague Year.


Diamond Naturals Light Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula is ideal for your overweight or less active adult dog. With 15% fewer calories than the Diamond Naturals Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula and added glucosamine, chondroitin and L-Carnitine, this recipe is the perfect choice to help your dog reach and maintain a healthy body weight while also receiving adequate nutrition.
Lamb meal, whole grain brown rice, peas, oatmeal, cracked pearled barley, ground white rice, millet, powdered cellulose, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural flavor, flaxseed, potassium chloride, DL-methionine, choline chloride, taurine, glucosamine hydrochloride, dried chicory root, L-Carnitine, kale, chia seed, pumpkin, blueberries, oranges, quinoa, dried kelp, coconut, spinach, carrots, papaya, yucca schidigera extract, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, vitamin E supplement, beta carotene, chondroitin sulfate, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, potassium iodide, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), manganese proteinate, manganous oxide, ascorbic acid, vitamin A supplement, biotin, niacin, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, riboflavin (vitamin B2),vitamin D supplement, folic acid.
These feeding amounts are specifically for less active dogs. Monitor your dog's body condition closely and adjust feeding amounts up or down as needed.
Diamond Naturals Light Adult Dog Lamb Meal & Rice Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.


Washington -- There isn't anything funny about Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting and reflection, or about the threat of violent al-Qaida terrorists around the world, but that doesn't mean the average person can't appreciate a good Muslim joke.
Sometimes the best way to deal with a sensitive subject is to make fun of it, says Muslim comedian Azhar Usman.
Muslims, like everybody else, are capable of laughing and being funny, Usman said at American University in Washington at the virtual town hall meeting "Laughing While Muslim.�" The October 3 meeting held during Ramadan used digital video conference technology to link Muslim panelists at American University (AU) and the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles to talk seriously about comedy.
During the month of Ramadan, which this year ended on October 11 or 12, depending on the sighting of the moon in the various Muslim countries, Muslims refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours and break their fast at iftars after sunset.
In the United States today, Muslims use the month of Ramadan to reach out to their fellow citizens and to build bridges with the community at large.
Since 2004, Usman, born and raised in Chicago by Indian parents, has performed his "Allah Made Me Funny -- Official Muslim Comedy Tour�" in more than 12 countries over five continents. Although Usman is a lawyer by training, he has taken his comedy show on the road to counter misconceptions about Muslims.
Comedy is a funny way of being serious, Usman said, quoting the late actor Peter Ustinov. "People always come up to me after my show and say, 'thank you so much for making me think,'�" said Usman, whose jokes about racial profiling lighten up the seriousness of what he calls the "unnecessary evil of life after 9/11.�"
"There is much truth said in jest,�" Usman said. Stand-up comedy is the quintessential art form of disenfranchised groups, he added, noting that Jewish and African-American musicians and comedians have been particularly successful at opening up Americans' minds to new ideas about stereotyped groups.
"Even if you're speaking the truth, if people don't trust you, it really doesn't matter,�" said Kareem Salama, a country music singer-songwriter on the USC panel who is studying law in Iowa.
"Because artists speak from their heart, people trust them,�" he said. Salama was born and raised in Ponca City, a small town in Oklahoma where his parents immersed him in diverse cultures by taking him to rodeos, bluegrass music festivals, the "Grand Ole Opry�" country music show in Nashville and Native American powwows.
Now Salama uses his American country music sound to carry a spiritual message praising God and peace. His latest album, "Generous Peace,�" is the English translation of his Arabic name.
Local interaction is the essence of American civil society, said Eboo Patel, founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based organization building a global interfaith youth movement, on the AU panel.
"If Islam is about one thing it is about mercy,�" Patel said, and when young people of all faiths get together to work on service projects, they begin to share each others' stories and learn about each other.
Patel suggested that comedy also might help spark a national conversation about ethnic profiling, the status of women, violence and where people can come together on common ground.
If everyone in the room listening to this conversation starts another conversation outside the room, then people can begin to envision a picture of Islam different from the videos of terrorists cutting off people's heads or planes crashing into buildings, Patel said.
"The real religion in my home, growing up Muslim in America, was achievement,�" Patel said. Both his parents worked as professionals and led busy lives, but on Saturday mornings, Patel's father helped immigrants with their paperwork at the Motor Vehicle Bureau so that they could get their driver's licenses.
Muslims donate their time and money individually and as part of groups to those in need in the United States, Patel said. After Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, for example, Islamic Relief gave $2 million to help victims of the disaster in Louisiana and Mississippi, according to the Center on Philanthropy.
"Islam and service are linked,�" Patel said, and this is what Americans need to know about what Muslims believe.
See also "Arab-American Comics Use Laughter To Build Bridges."


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Maddow Seethes Over Trump Leading Possible Peace Talks With North Korea
By Nicholas Fondacaro | March 9, 2018 12:30 AM EST
President Trump shocked the world Thursday night when it was announced that he planned to sit down with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un in the coming months. The political world was so overwhelmed by the news that even the journalists at CNN were more or less optimistic. Yet over at MSNBC, host Rachel Maddow was anything but enthused by the idea as she spewed skepticism and threw shade at the commander-in-chief for accepting North Korea's offer.
Towards the beginning of her bitter rant, Maddow seemed to question the President's intelligence and/or knowledge of history for taking the meeting:
You might think another president in this circumstance, you can imagine a president asking himself or herself, "why has no other American president ever agreed to do this? Why has no sitting American president ever met with a leader from North Korea? Why has that never happened in all the decades North Korea existed as a nation? Should I take that to mean that this might be particularly risky or even an unwise move?"
Maddow whined about how Trump wasn't doing what most presidents and even most people would do in approaching the situation. "I think a lot of people probably suspect tonight that those are not the kinds of questions that this president asked himself before agreeing to this meeting," she said. "But this is the president we have and he said yes to North Korea."
But meanwhile, this is the same MSNBC journalist that fawned over President Obama for the Iran nuclear deal. "[It's] the major foreign policy achievement, not only of this presidency, but of this American generation," she obnoxiously declared at the time. Maddow also gushed about how Obama had reached out to the dictatorial government of Cuba.
The MSNBC host was joined, via phone, by NBC National Security and Military reporter Courtney Kube and questioned her about what kind of problems Trump could cause and who in the "national security establishment" would stand up to him.
"It's definitely risky," Kube said, stating the obvious. "So, one of the things this would do, if we have a picture of Kim Jong-un and President Trump standing next to one another, this actually achieves one of Kim Jong-un's long-standing and his father's goal which is to elevate North Korea."
Maddow was clearly flummoxed by the massive shift in U.S. policy following a year of other historic and unorthodox interactions with the regime that had built up to this move. "It has been through Republican and Democratic administrations, the whole strategy not only for the United States but for the United States as leader of the free world, to the extent that we are, has been to treat North Korea as a pariah state and thereby try to change their behavior," she huffed.
A face-to-face meeting with Kim Jong-un was a unique and groundbreaking development in the ongoing war between the two Koreas. Even Maddow's MSNBC colleagues Chris Matthews and Joe Cirincione recognized the significance of the news. On CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper (who's adamantly anti-Trump) was glad to see this moment come to fruition because it meant real progress in the ability to negotiate.
The relevant portions of the transcript are below, click expand to read:
9:04:14 PM Eastern [7 minutes 6 seconds]
RACHEL MADDOW: Now you might imagine another president in this circumstance. Kim Jong-un makes a request, "you want to meet?" You might think another president in this circumstance, you can imagine a president asking himself or herself, "why has no other American president ever agreed to do this? Why has no sitting American president ever met with a leader from North Korea? Why has that never happened in all the decades North Korea existed as a nation? Should I take that to mean that this might be particularly risky or even an unwise move?"
I think that's how most presidents would approach the idea of a personal presidential meeting with the North Korean dictator. I think a lot of people probably suspect tonight that those are not the kinds of questions that this president asked himself before agreeing to this meeting. But this is the president we have and he said yes to North Korea.
MADDOW: This is, correct me if I'm wrong, Courtney, you know more about this than I do. But in my living memory as a human being that pays attention to the news, I feel like there have been other announcements from North Korea they were freezing the nuclear program, that they were stopping tests and in the past, they've even pledged to dismantle their nuclear program. That's what they had pledged to the Clinton administration. During the Clinton administration, of course, that all fell apart during the George W. Bush administration. There have been previous announcements from them about them stopping or taking apart the program, right?
MADDOW: Courtney, let me just ask you one last piece of this. Obviously, the huge headline here is that no other American president—no other sitting president has ever agreed to meet one on one, to meet in person with the North Korean dictator. And because this was a surprise, because the Secretary of State, you know, isn't there, the Secretary of State is in Africa right now, there isn't a South Korean ambassador, the long-time head of North Korea policy at the State Department just left his job just left last week.
Is there any concern that the President by agreeing to take this meeting, that he may be doing something risky? That there may be people within the national security establishment and in the military who may object to the President taking this meeting one on one?
COURTNEY KUBE: It's definitely risky. So, one of the things this would do, if we have a picture of Kim Jong-un and President Trump standing next to one another, this actually achieves one of Kim Jong-un's long-standing and his father's goal which is to elevate North Korea. It's to make them be seen as a major world power. You can make the argument that 2017 was actually really a banner year for North Korea, for the ballistic missile, and their nuclear testing. They achieved three intercontinental missiles that the Defense Intelligence Agency just said this week had the potential—had the capability of hitting North America.
You could make the argument Kim Jong-un reached the point that he wants to be at. He's a nuclear power, he has missiles capable of hitting the United States. And now if he is to meet with President Trump, well now he's seen as a world leader, you know, that optic of him potentially being seen as an equal to the leader of the free world, the president of the United States.
MADDOW: Wow.
MADDOW: This is a remarkable change. Right? It has been through Republican and Democratic administrations, the whole strategy not only for the United States but for the United States as leader of the free world, to the extent that we are, has been to treat North Korea as a pariah state and there by try to change their behavior. This is obviously a big change if the President is going to shake hands and meet with this guy and sit down with him one on one at the table.
NB Daily Foreign Policy Asia North Korea South Korea Double Standards Cable Television MSNBC Rachel Maddow Show Video Rachel Maddow Donald Trump
Nicholas Fondacaro
Nicholas C. Fondacaro is a News Analyst for the Media Research Center


Rockwell lathe. What is this worth?
Hi guys. I am interested in getting a wood lathe. It is actually for my wife since she would like to do some wood turning. Neither one of us has done much as far as woodturning goes.
That being said, I have been building furniture and other woodworking projects for the last 30+ years. Fairly accomplished in that aspect.
We currently have a small-ish Craptsman lathe that we haven't even used. It is an older one. I told her that something like this Rockwell would be good because of the mass and the easy speed adjustment.
So, what is a lathe like this worth?
Troubled by "works," if would let you see and hear it run would certainly feel better about making an offer.
If have the skills to make repairs (belt & bearing changes and adjusting reeves drive) even $425 not bad considering what a new midi lathe cost today.
Ok thanks guys. I definately have the ability to make repairs to bearings and such since my other hobby is machining (lathe, large vertical mill, TIG welder, presses, etc etc).
As you mentioned Nubsnstubs, there are many days left so it will certainly go up in price. Lets assume it runs with no issues, then what is it worth. Should I stop at $600, $800 or what would be a "going" rate?
Is there anywhere near by where she can take a turning class. It might be good for her to get an idea what she would like to turn.
I can't tell you what you can spend as that's up to you. I have seen prices as high as $1100 for a 46-450, which this looks a little like. There is no way to know what it actually is, and with the Rockwell symbol being the peace sign, it's a lot newer than the 46-450 I have which I saw that had the $1100 price.
If you could get the model number, you could look up others of that model and see what they are selling for. Know this, it's going to be a little noisy because of the stand it's on. So, if you can get someone to let you run it, just know before hand about the rumbling noise it most likely will make. It's not bearing noise…... You'll know that when you hear it.
Not that it needs to be said, and I am being very serious…... but Jerry is the "go to" guy for lathes. He has given me some great advice in the past…..you can bank on what he says.
I believe somewhere in Santa Rosa, or in that area. I have a friend in Novato, let me see if he remembers. It would be a drive for you but you could make a vacation out of it.
If I were to guess, I'd say it was a catalog 46-542 (3/4hp single phase motor w/24v LVC starter). 46-543 if three phase.
As to what it's worth… that depends on a lot of variables that only you can decide.
I have a similar model. It is a beast.
It appears to set up primarily for spindle turning. If her interests initially are smaller things and bowls—and learning the basics of woodturning, a much smaller lathe would make sense. Many woodturners now prefer chucks, which could add a couple hundred dollars to the starting investment.
Locally (Ventura) we have a woodturning club that has loaner lathes, and often members upgrade their machines and offer very good prices on their old machines.
Excellent info there Mr. Unix.
I am in Wisconsin so going to California to either buy a lathe or taking classes are not really an option. There is actually a wood-turning guild in Chippewa falls which is slightly less than an hour away (near where this lathe is). There a few guys around here that turn, of which I might see tomorrow night at our monthly wookworking club meeting (Silver Sliver Pickers Club). Say that fast 3 times after a beer :) Mark Pulma is in our club and I know he does some nice work with his turnings.
Well you have 5 days to answer the question of what do your wife and you want to turn? Something grabbed her interest. A 12" swing with 3/4 hp will do decent sized bowls (~10" and the outboard spindle could allow a little larger, hollow forms about 10" dia if you trim well, and most any spindle turning.
Low speed might be an issue for finishing/sanding larger dia pieces – look up the lowest rpm. The motor will be a bit weak at larger dia, just means take lighter cuts, it will work. Personally I wouldnt go much over where it is – I think there are some decent new midi lathes with vs in the $700-$800 range. Just thinking 50% of new price for old equipment. If you want the cheapest route to a similar lathe, look at the HF 34706, with coupon probably under $300. I learned on one and had it for 6 yrs, made some nice stuff with it. Sold it for $70 over what I paid for it with added shelves and ~$100 in tool rests that were no good for my new lathe.
Moke, I'm not really a 'go to' guy on lathes. I only know my lathes from experiences with them. Some bad, but mostly all good. I had a Delta 1460 up until a month ago. It's now taken up residence near Branson, Missouri.
Don't forget to factor in the buyers fee plus the 3.5% convenience fee if you want to pay with a credit card. I couldn't figure out what the buyers fee is on this item but I would expect at least 10%. There are obviously lots of good reports above on this lathe but as a beginner, your wife might be happier with something like a new Nova Comet II for about the same amount or a good used Jet midi lathe off of Craig's List for example. There won't be any surprises and you won't have to break your back getting it home.
And don't forget to factor in all of the other costs of getting into turning. A good set of chisels, face plates, centers, a chuck, etc. (I don't see a live center in the auction pictures.) It will depend somewhat on what she wants to turn but by the time you get a full set of tools, it could double a $400+ investment. You don't need all of that right away but at a minimum, you will need some good chisels and a faceplate and a way to sharpen the chisels. Sometimes the Craigs List stuff will come with some of the add ons so could be a better deal overall. This auction appears not have any of that.
So.. The lathe went for $580. I did not buy it. Have to many other expenditures going on for my metalworking hobby at the moment. I felt that $580 was plenty high too.


Securing the Internet of Old Things (IoOT). Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 2:00 PM EDT (18:00:00 UTC). Malwarebytes and G.W. Ray Davidson with SANS drill down on recent findings from the SANS 2016 Endpoint Security Survey. Learn how time is critical in incident response capabilities, the importance of focusing on IoOT and IoT, and how to prevent malicious attacks and simplify remediation efforts.
- --Threat Hunting & Incident Response Summit & Training | New Orleans, LA | April 12-19, 2016 | Will you be the hunter or the prey? Two days of Summit talks, 6 courses, networking opportunities & more!
President Obama has named 10 people to the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity. The new members are in addition to the commission's co-chairs, former national security advisor Tom Donilon and former IBM CEO Sam Palmisano. The commission was established earlier this year in the wake of several high-profile attacks, including the massive data breach at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
The 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed with the federal government that a warrant is not necessary when using cell-site location technology like Stingrays. The majority of federal appeals court rulings share this position; the only federal appeals court that sided against has agreed to rehear the case, so the opinion has been set aside. The issue is unlikely to head to the Supreme Court anytime soon unless more federal appeals courts disagree with the government.
According to a security advisory from VMware, a critical vulnerability in the VMware Client Integration Plugin means that the plugin "does not handle session content in a safe way." The flaw could be exploited to allow session hijacking. Fixing the issue requires both server side and client side updates.
The US Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) US-CERT is urging Windows users to uninstall Apple's QuickTime video player because Apple will cease supporting the product. The alert comes after the discovery of two critical flaws in QuickTime that could be exploited to allow arbitrary code execution.
On Tuesday, April 12, SAP released 19 security notes to address a total of 26 vulnerabilities. Two of the flaws could potentially be "daisy-chained" to take control of vulnerable systems.
A court in Russia has sentenced Dmitry Fedotov to seven years in prison for authoring the Blackhole exploit kit. In all, seven people have been convicted and sentenced in connection with Blackhole. The other six people received sentences of between five-and-a-half and eight years.
The GozNym Trojan horse program has been used to steal US $4 million from bank accounts of customers whose systems were infected by the Trojan. GozNym is a hybrid pieced together from two other strains of malware, Nymaim and Gozi IFSB.
Flaws in the Junos operating system could be exploited to gain elevated privileges. According to Juniper Networks, "Certain combinations of Junos OS CLI commands and arguments have been found to be exploitable in a way that can allow root access to the operating system." Juniper found the vulnerabilities during internal testing.
pass the bare-minimum certification process." Mudge would like to see a more granular approach to security, like a nutritional label or new car stickers.
Microsoft's batch of security updates for April includes 13 bulletins. The patched flaws include one in the implementation of the SMB, CIFS protocol. The flaw, known as "Badlock," was disclosed several weeks ago despite the fact that a patch was unavailable at the time. The flaw has also been fixed in Samba 4.4.2, 4.3.8, and 4.2.11.
Matthew Keys has been sentenced to two years in prison for providing members of Anonymous with login credentials that they used to alter a headline on the Los Angeles Times website. Keys, who was working as a social media editor for Reuters at the time, had formerly worked as a web producer for a television station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the Los Angeles Times.


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Whether you are commuting a medium or short distance, it is important to have access to reliable transportation to help reach your destination. Commuting by bike is a great way to save cost on public transportation or the expenses that driving an automobile comes with. Plus, bicycling to your destination is a healthy way to travel since you can work out while commuting. However, when choosing from the road bikes for sale in Cape Coral, you want to find the right bicycle that fits your needs and stays within the budget you have set for the new bike.
The type of material the frame should play a factor depending on whether you want a heavy bicycle or lightweight. While both are durable materials, steel provides a heavier frame and aluminum weighs lighter than steel. The components attached to road bikes for sale in Cape Coral are factors that can influence the price of the bicycle. Some of the components are not necessary; while other features can improve how the bike performs. The type of brand you select can also influence the cost of the bike, usually top-named brands will cost more than lesser known products. Also, when selecting a bicycle, you want to choose one that fits right to reduce the risk of injuries.
If you are ready to purchase a new bike and undecided on which bicycle to purchase, the friendly staff at Fort Myers Schwinn Cyclery is ready to assist you. Well-versed in the different types of bicycles available on the market today, they will provide the information you need to make a sound decision in purchasing a reliable bike. Cost-effective and durable bikes that are designed to handle various types of terrains.


Welcome to the INSPIRE Laboratory!
The INSPIRE laboratory is a shared multidisciplinary research facility designed to give researchers the resources to explore questions from various fields related to human behaviour. Located within the School of Psychology, INSPIRE was envisioned to support a variety of research designs, from traditional design such social interactions, cognitive tasks and online surveys to more complex investigations such as studying relationships between people's thoughts, behaviours and physiological reactions.