Both beau & I have streamlined the different vendors that we both love for our big day. And we have come to a conclusion that we will be getting r/e/drape projects for our big day, In Shaa Allah.
Finally replied to their email on wednesday & set an appointment with them. We managed to get a slot on the same week and they were really fast in getting back to us! Most importantly, their place were super near to us as well! BEST.
Beau even made a passing remark about how he loved that all of the vendors we have met are within our area @ the West side and not at the East! Alhamdulillah!
We had a quick dinner after work & beau was saying if we can just come down and signed straightaway since we already take a look at the packages offered and made our decision! Haha but of course, we still have to listen to their conversation kan???
We were greeted by Rahim when we arrived & Nurul went through the packages with us. Nurul then showed us their portfolio and we watched a few videos. Definitely am in love with their works!
It's good to prepare questions beforehand and have a rough idea of how your wedding will be like.
Based on all of these, Nurul told us that we can take the elegant 2.0 package. But, some clients want the interview section and thus would be taking the lush package.
This is the quotation package we've received somewhere in July this year but on the day we were there, Nurul showed us the revised package. Prices are still the same except for the length of the full video and the no of hours for the lush package.
For the lush 2.0 video package that nurul showed us this October, instead of 45 min it has changed to 30 mins for full video. The reason being is that 45 mins is too draggy and they want people to not get bored while watching the video. Hence, it is now at 30 mins.
So afterwards, we made our booking and sealed the deal. Another couple came over at 9pm but we were still going through the invoices and beau had some questions that he had in mind such as "Dyou have drones? Can we use it?" HAHA. What i love is the fact that despite making the booking already, Nurul did not rushed us to leave although there was another client waiting. Her husband, ayim, the videographer mingled with the other clients while we continued our discussions which also included about lesson plans and work as well as the pay increment for civil servants (that sadly, doesn't apply to me because i'm still relatively new in the service. Haish. 4% is alot please. Tkpe la, no rezeki). This happens when you have two educators together!
We took the post wedding interview option but we would most definitely want them to follow us for our outdoor shoot. In fact, as we also have pre/post wedding photoshoot with Esa weddings, they're able to follow us as well. It would be for 2 hrs! & the good news is, they won't be charging us extra should they follow us in to JB! But, should we decide to go to Melaka etc that is relatively far away, additional hourly charges still applies!
Anyways, we both walked off from their place with sense of contentment. We are both absolutely confident that they can deliver their works as promised. Super excited please! Can we fast forward to 2017 already?!


text:
The discovery of 'Vikingeborgen' ring fortress in Denmark was originally thought to be another demonstration of Harald Bluetooth's central power. But the fortress is yet to produce any remnants of Viking life and archeologists are now wondering if they ever lived there at all (Photo: Kirstine Jakobsen, ScienceNordic)
Viking fortress in Denmark stumps archaeologists
Archeologists have drawn a blank at one of Denmark's most recently discovered Viking castles, after finding nothing except a single, solitary glass bead.
Charlotte Price Persson
Published sunday 05. june 2016 - 06:25
One single bead is all archeologists have found so far, during the excavation of a Viking fortress in Denmark.
The ring fortress made the headlines in 2014 when it was first discovered.The first on-site examinations got underway shortly after, with test excavations at select sites and amateur archaeologists, who crisscrossed the site with metal detectors.
The official excavations have just begun and the area around the castle is yet to be excavated.
It could all change, but right now archeologists are left with the impression of an empty site. No Viking related finds have appeared except for one small glass bead. There are no signs of any houses within the castle stockade, no moat or pits outside, no weapons, no tools and no remains of everyday clothing.
This tiny glass bead is believed to date back to the late 900s CE and it is so far, the only indication of Viking habitation at the fortress. (Photo: Nanna Holm)
When it comes to finding any evidence of Viking life, "it's very sparse!" says archaeologist and excavation leader, Jens Ulriksen, from the Museum of Southeast Denmark.
So the big question is: why?
The Fortress will not play ball
The Viking fortress is one of five similar castles in Denmark and was heralded as the archeological discovery of the year in 2014. It is not hard to see why. For the first time in more than half a century, archaeologists had unveiled a brand new ring castle--an iconic style of Viking fortress in Denmark.
Archeologists thought that free and independent chieftains once ruled Denmark. But the discovery of these large fortresses indicated a strong royal presence in Harald Bluetooth, who had the means to complete these giant construction projects.
Where are the postholes, arrowheads, and the moat?
Th ring fortress is:
A complete circular fortress.
145 meters in diameter, equivalent to a modern day sports stadium.
Built of turf and heavy timber.
Possibly as old as 980 CE, like similar fortresses in Denmark.
Just because archeologists have not yet uncovered anything, does not mean to say that they won't. The ring fortress project known as 'Vikingeborgen' will run until the end of 2018, so there is still plenty of time left. And who knows; tomorrow they could stumble upon postholes and arrowheads galore.
But Ulriksen is nonetheless puzzled by the lack of finds so far.
"This looks nothing like the other castles, in terms of the lack of finds. And we may well ask, did anyone ever live here? Was it just the builders who lived in the area? Are there any houses? Is there a moat?"
"We simply don't see the same remains of settlement that we do at the other sites. It's a bit of a mystery," says Ulriksen.
Fortress destruction linked to Bluetooth's death
The ring fortress is called 'Borgring' in Danish, meaning Ring Castle or Fortress.
It has also been given the name 'Vikingeborgen' meaning Viking Castle in Danish.
Only a fraction of the site has been excavated so far.
The excavation will run until 2018.
Archaeologists are right now trying to determine when exactly the fortress was built.
The first dates indicate that the north port was built sometime in the 900s CE.
"I hope we find the answer as to when the castle was built and when it was destroyed. It could be interesting to see if it's linked to the death of Harald Bluetooth," says Ulriksen.
Of course the other possibility is that the castle was simply never finished, as the lack of houses and the non-existent moat might suggest.
A little gem with great value
For now the little glass bead is the only tangible evidence that Vikings were ever at the fortress. And although it does not seem like much, it has great value for the archaeologists, who are currently working around the clock to gather more knowledge from the excavation.
"The dating of Vikingborgen [the ring fortress] hangs primarily on two types of evidence. The north gate--which is roughly in the 900s, but this isn't very precise. To get a more precise date [on this], we need something like a well preserved piece of oak from which we can date the tree-rings," says Ulriksen.
The other line of evidence is from the glass bead, whose style is typical of the later half of the 900s.
"But when in the 900s? This is crucial and I really hope that we can get answers," says Jens Ulriksen.
Read the Danish version of this article on Videnskab.dk
Translated by: Catherine Jex
Jens Ulriksen
Nanna Holm
Vikingeborgen.dk
A viking blacksmith buried with his tools
More than a thousand years ago a blacksmith died. His tools were buried with him. Now they give us insight into the work and status of a blacksmith in the viking society
Archaeological breakthrough could solve the mystery of Greenland's Vikings
Archaeologists develop new method, which might finally tell us why the Vikings migrated to Greenland.
Ancient ring brings Vikings and Islamic civilizations closer together
Ring with Arabic inscriptions found in Swedish Viking grave.
DNA study: Vikings were plagued by intestinal parasites
A study of the remains of a 1,000 year old latrine reveals an unpleasant fact about the Vikings.
Fashionable Vikings loved colours, fur, and silk
The Vikings were skilled warriors, traders, and explorers, but a more fashionable side might also have existed.
society and culture archaeology society & culture denmark videnskab.dk

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Commentary: Reform mining tax systems to rebuild post-pandemic public finances
Posted by Greg Radford and Logan Wort
The following was published in the Financial Times on July 14, 2020. Republished here with permission.
In the post-Covid world, governments need to do a resource tax policy rethink.
Mining projects have often tended to under deliver on expected government revenue because of tax policies that are little changed from colonial times, and a global tax system that penalises developing countries and features well-worn loopholes.
Now, with the pandemic putting intense pressure on public coffers, the time may be right for many nations to finally reform mining tax systems and policies.
Fighting tax avoidance is necessary to ensure host governments collect their fair share, but it is no easy task, even for well-resourced tax administrations. For instance, only after a multiyear court battle did BHP, the world's biggest miner, agree to pay A$529m to settle a dispute with the Australian tax authorities, for a transfer pricing scheme that shifted profits from Australia to Singapore.
With limited capacity, developing countries are less equipped to counter complex tax avoidance schemes such as transfer pricing, distorted mineral valuations, excessive interest payments on intercompany loans, and tax treaty shopping.
Paradoxically, these same countries are acutely dependent on corporate income tax, which represents almost 19 per cent of all tax revenues in Africa and 16 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean, compared to just 9 per cent in developed nations, according to recent OECD statistics.
The IMF estimates tax base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) denies the developing world of more than $200bn of revenue per year across all sectors. Recent OECD data from 93 jurisdictions confirm that multinationals continue to lower their tax payments by using low-tax investment hubs where they report a relatively high share of their profits (25 per cent) compared to their employees (4 per cent) and tangible assets (11 per cent).
With the mining sector, frustrated governments can end up politicising tax disputes and the conflicts play out in public. Recent clashes include Rio Tinto in Mongolia, Barrick Gold in Tanzania, and Glencore in Zambia. These disputes hurt host countries' credibility with investors and contribute to public mistrust of the sector as a whole.
New technologies are increasing the urgency for mining tax reform. The industry is quickly embracing automation, big data, and artificial intelligence, which potentially disrupt economic linkages with host countries as mines opt to employ machinery and offshore computer engineers over local workers. As technology transforms mining operations, tax policies need to adapt so mining's benefits can be equitably shared with host countries.
Policymakers need a wider range of options that can be tailored for specific scenarios. Some governments are already turning to measures such as state equity participation, and production sharing contracts like those typically found in the oil sector. Others may look to more flexible tools such as Chile's progressive royalties, or effective rent taxes. Better administrative measures can guarantee unprocessed minerals, such as iron ore and bauxite, are exported at market prices.
Domestic resource endowments, international investment frameworks, governance standards, and access to capital will all factor into any new policy. Governments must play their part by operating with high levels of accountability and financial transparency. Ultimately, the right policy will provide fair returns to producing countries and build trust in the mining sector.
The need to strengthen public finances has come into sharper focus since 2015, when the United Nations kicked off the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda. In addition to taking climate action and ending global poverty and hunger, the 17 goals include improving domestic resource mobilisation via better government collection of tax and other revenue — because it is widely understood that delivering the SDGs on time will require considerable financial resources.
Longstanding tax policies have contributed to the precarity of public finances in the developing world. The current economic recession and speed of technological change have highlighted that these deficiencies need to be addressed. Clearly, mining tax policies are overdue for reform.
Greg Radford is the director of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF). Logan Wort is the executive secretary of the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF).
The IGF and ATAF are collaborating on a new project, The Future of Resource Taxation.
Unlocking the Potential for Local Value Addition in the Construction Raw Materials Sector in India and Indonesia
Local Content Responses to COVID-19 and Automation? The Answer is Data
Three Ways COVID-19 Shows Vulnerable Workers Need Stronger Social Protections Now
Mining During and After COVID-19: A perspective from IndustriALL Global Union
If you are a journalist working on a story and would like to speak to our experts, contact:
media@iisd.org
Sign up for the IGF Newsletter


The Nvidia GeForce G110M is a DirectX 10 capable entry-level graphics adapter for small and thin notebooks.
Compared to the G 105M / 9300M GS, the GeForce G 110M features the double amount of shader cores - 16 versus 8. Therefore, the performance is a bit better. It still stays beyond the 9600M GS which features 32 shaders. Furthermore, it integrates the new VP3 video processor (like the 9300M GS) with more video features and better hd-video decoding support.
In conjunction with the Nvidia 9100M G / 9400M integrated graphics, the G 110M supports Hybrid-SLI (HybridPower and GeForceBoost). HybridPower is a technique to choose between the integrated and dedicated graphics core, if performance or battery runtime is needed. This works only in Windows Vista. Up to now the user has to use a tool to switch between the GPUs. Later Nvidia wants to switch automatically in the drivers. GeForceBoost uses the integrated graphics core of the 9100M G and the dedicated of the G 110M in SLI mode to achieve better frame rates. Currently it is not sure if GeForceBoost is supported (could show no performance).
As the 8400M GT, the 110M G features 16 stream processors that do the work of the former dedicated pixel- and vertex-shaders. The unified shaders of Nvidia are 1-dimensional (AMD has 5-dimensional shaders which leads to the higher number of shaders).
Compared to desktop graphics cards, the 8500 GS should be similar, altought usually the desktop cards are clocked higher than mobile GPUs (because of heat and current consumption issues).


text:
Doc Silver
Danny Oliver
Ken Fields
JT Stevens
Brian Davids
Mike Lieber
Johnny Kent
411Winnners
Texas vs Georgia Sugar Bowl Pick, Odds, and Predictions
Texas Longhorns vs Georgia Bulldogs College Football Tuesday, January 1, 2019 (8:45pm est) Current Odds: Georgia -10.5, Total Points 58.5
Texas Longhorns Betting Trends:
Texas is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Texas is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 17 of Texas's last 25 games
Georgia Bulldogs Betting Trends:
Georgia is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Georgia is 11-2 SU in its last 13 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Georgia's last 7 games
[mpc_divider preset="mpc_preset_2″ lines_color="#7c7c7c"]
Texas has used a breakthrough, return-to-prominence campaign this fall to garner an invitation to a New Year's Six bowl game — a dustup against Southeastern Conference powerhouse Georgia on Tuesday in the 2019 Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
And while the No. 15 Longhorns have enjoyed their share of success this season, their final grade — like a report card for the program's resurgence — will be determined, fairly or not, by their play on the big stage against the No. 5 Bulldogs.
Texas (9-4) is focused on getting a 10th win with a victory over Georgia, a team that's likely good enough to have been included in the College Football Playoff.
Finishing 10-4 sounds a lot better to the Longhorns than ending the season at 9-5 and with back-to-back losses.
To get to that 10th win, Texas will continue to focus on its game-to-game mantra and try to put the hoopla that comes with playing in a bowl game as big as the one in New Orleans on the back burner.
"We do want them to enjoy the time in New Orleans — our team has earned this," Texas coach Tom Herman said Thursday. "This is a tremendous bowl game and a tremendous city. But we also know that we've come here with a job to do, too, and that's to win the Sugar Bowl championship. When it's time to work, we're going to be dialed in, focused in, and ready to work."
The Longhorns head to New Orleans after a 39-27 loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 1. Texas will be playing in its 55th bowl game and will make its fourth appearance in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
This season, Texas has played in nine one-possession games, going 6-3 in those contests. Prior to the loss in the Big 12 title game, the Longhorns' three regular-season losses came by a combined nine points. Texas has defeated four ranked teams in 2018, tied for second-most in the country.
"We're winning games on toughness," Herman said. "We're winning games on attitude, physicality. We're winning games this season certainly because we genuinely love the guy next to each other. And we don't want to let them down. And that motivates us much more powerfully than if you were by self-centered motivations."
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Even though Texas played the CFP-bound Sooners twice this season, Georgia might be the Longhorn' biggest test. The Bulldogs are 11-2 overall and lost to top-ranked Alabama, 35-28, in the SEC Championship game on Dec. 1 in Atlanta.
"That's past us — the guys have put it behind us," Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm said of the loss to Alabama. "I've put it behind me. We're here now. You can't change anything that's happened in the past. We're excited and ready to play."
Georgia's only other loss this season came in the state of Louisiana on the road at LSU, 36-16, in mid-October. Georgia also has four wins over ranked opponents this season.
Last year, in coach Kirby Smart's second season at Georgia, the Bulldogs were defeated by Alabama in overtime in the National Championship Game.
Georgia cornerback Deandre Baker, the Jim Thorpe Award winner, is skipping the Sugar Bowl to focus on the 2019 NFL Draft.
"We know the hurdle that's in front of us in Texas, a team that has got a great tradition, really good football team," Smart said. "Texas plays in a really good conference, and we have a standard that we play to regardless of who we play. We know we're playing a really good opponent, and our players are excited for that opportunity. This is one of the best bowls in the country."
The Longhorns are 3-1 against the Bulldogs all-time, with Texas posting wins in the 1949 Orange Bowl and in both games of a home-and-home series played in Athens, Ga., and Austin, Texas, respectively, in 1957 and 1958.
Perhaps most memorably, Georgia defeated Texas in the most recent matchup, a 10-9 victory in the 1984 Cotton Bowl, a loss that cost the Longhorns (who were undefeated heading into the game) a national championship.
411Winners Pick and Prediction: Georgia -10 -120
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text:
#include "vk_test.h"

RD_TEST(VK_Compute_Only, VulkanGraphicsTest)
{
  static constexpr const char *Description =
      "Test that uses a compute only queue with no graphics queue.";

  const std::string comp = R"EOSHADER(

#version 450 core

layout(push_constant) uniform PushData
{
  uvec4 data;
} push;

layout(binding = 0, std430) buffer inbuftype {
  uvec4 data[];
} inbuf;

layout(binding = 1, std430) buffer outbuftype {
  uvec4 data[];
} outbuf;

layout(local_size_x = 1, local_size_y = 1, local_size_z = 1) in;

void main()
{
  outbuf.data[0].x += inbuf.data[0].x * push.data.x;
  outbuf.data[0].y += inbuf.data[0].y * push.data.y;
  outbuf.data[0].z += inbuf.data[0].z * push.data.z;
  outbuf.data[0].w += inbuf.data[0].w * push.data.w;
}

)EOSHADER";

  void Prepare(int argc, char **argv)
  {
    headless = true;
    queueFlagsRequired = VK_QUEUE_COMPUTE_BIT;
    queueFlagsBanned = VK_QUEUE_GRAPHICS_BIT;

    VulkanGraphicsTest::Prepare(argc, argv);
  }

  int main()
  {
    // initialise, create window, create context, etc
    if(!Init())
      return 3;

    VkDescriptorSetLayout setLayout = createDescriptorSetLayout(vkh::DescriptorSetLayoutCreateInfo({
        {0, VK_DESCRIPTOR_TYPE_STORAGE_BUFFER, 1, VK_SHADER_STAGE_COMPUTE_BIT},
        {1, VK_DESCRIPTOR_TYPE_STORAGE_BUFFER, 1, VK_SHADER_STAGE_COMPUTE_BIT},
        {2, VK_DESCRIPTOR_TYPE_STORAGE_IMAGE, 1, VK_SHADER_STAGE_COMPUTE_BIT},
    }));

    VkPipelineLayout layout = createPipelineLayout(vkh::PipelineLayoutCreateInfo(
        {setLayout},
        {
            vkh::PushConstantRange(VK_SHADER_STAGE_COMPUTE_BIT, 0, sizeof(Vec4i)),
        }));

    VkPipeline pipe = createComputePipeline(vkh::ComputePipelineCreateInfo(
        layout, CompileShaderModule(comp, ShaderLang::glsl, ShaderStage::comp, "main")));

    AllocatedImage tex(
        this, vkh::ImageCreateInfo(4, 4, 0, VK_FORMAT_R32G32B32A32_SFLOAT,
                                   VK_IMAGE_USAGE_TRANSFER_DST_BIT | VK_IMAGE_USAGE_STORAGE_BIT),
        VmaAllocationCreateInfo({0, VMA_MEMORY_USAGE_GPU_ONLY}));

    setName(tex.image, "tex");

    VkImageView view = createImageView(
        vkh::ImageViewCreateInfo(tex.image, VK_IMAGE_VIEW_TYPE_2D, VK_FORMAT_R32G32B32A32_SFLOAT));

    AllocatedBuffer bufin(this, vkh::BufferCreateInfo(1024, VK_BUFFER_USAGE_STORAGE_BUFFER_BIT |
                                                                VK_BUFFER_USAGE_TRANSFER_DST_BIT),
                          VmaAllocationCreateInfo({0, VMA_MEMORY_USAGE_CPU_TO_GPU}));

    AllocatedBuffer bufout(this, vkh::BufferCreateInfo(1024, VK_BUFFER_USAGE_STORAGE_BUFFER_BIT |
                                                                 VK_BUFFER_USAGE_TRANSFER_DST_BIT),
                           VmaAllocationCreateInfo({0, VMA_MEMORY_USAGE_CPU_TO_GPU}));

    setName(bufin.buffer, "bufin");
    setName(bufout.buffer, "bufout");

    VkDescriptorSet set = allocateDescriptorSet(setLayout);

    vkh::updateDescriptorSets(
        device, {
                    vkh::WriteDescriptorSet(set, 0, VK_DESCRIPTOR_TYPE_STORAGE_BUFFER,
                                            {vkh::DescriptorBufferInfo(bufin.buffer)}),
                    vkh::WriteDescriptorSet(set, 1, VK_DESCRIPTOR_TYPE_STORAGE_BUFFER,
                                            {vkh::DescriptorBufferInfo(bufout.buffer)}),
                    vkh::WriteDescriptorSet(
                        set, 2, VK_DESCRIPTOR_TYPE_STORAGE_IMAGE,
                        {vkh::DescriptorImageInfo(view, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_GENERAL, VK_NULL_HANDLE)}),
                });

    // clear the buffers
    {
      VkCommandBuffer cmd = GetCommandBuffer();

      vkBeginCommandBuffer(cmd, vkh::CommandBufferBeginInfo());

      vkCmdFillBuffer(cmd, bufin.buffer, 0, 1024, 111);
      vkCmdFillBuffer(cmd, bufout.buffer, 0, 1024, 222);

      vkh::cmdPipelineBarrier(
          cmd,
          {
              vkh::ImageMemoryBarrier(0, VK_ACCESS_TRANSFER_WRITE_BIT, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_UNDEFINED,
                                      VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_GENERAL, tex.image),
          },
          {
              vkh::BufferMemoryBarrier(VK_ACCESS_TRANSFER_WRITE_BIT, VK_ACCESS_SHADER_READ_BIT,
                                       bufin.buffer, 0, 1024),
              vkh::BufferMemoryBarrier(VK_ACCESS_TRANSFER_WRITE_BIT, VK_ACCESS_SHADER_WRITE_BIT,
                                       bufout.buffer, 0, 1024),
          });

      vkCmdClearColorImage(cmd, tex.image, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_GENERAL,
                           vkh::ClearColorValue(0.25f, 0.5f, 0.75f, 1.0f), 1,
                           vkh::ImageSubresourceRange());

      vkEndCommandBuffer(cmd);

      Submit(0, 1, {cmd});
    }

    if(rdoc)
      rdoc->StartFrameCapture(NULL, NULL);

    {
      VkCommandBuffer cmd = GetCommandBuffer();

      vkBeginCommandBuffer(cmd, vkh::CommandBufferBeginInfo());

      vkCmdBindPipeline(cmd, VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_COMPUTE, pipe);
      vkh::cmdBindDescriptorSets(cmd, VK_PIPELINE_BIND_POINT_COMPUTE, layout, 0, {set}, {});

      setMarker(cmd, "Pre-Dispatch");

      Vec4i push = {5, 6, 7, 8};
      vkCmdPushConstants(cmd, layout, VK_SHADER_STAGE_COMPUTE_BIT, 0, sizeof(Vec4i), &push);
      vkCmdDispatch(cmd, 1, 1, 1);

      setMarker(cmd, "Post-Dispatch");

      vkEndCommandBuffer(cmd);

      Submit(0, 1, {cmd});
    }

    if(rdoc)
      rdoc->EndFrameCapture(NULL, NULL);

    return 0;
  }
};

REGISTER_TEST();

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Board of Directors+
Board Meetings, Agendas, Minutes & Videos+
District Management-
Library+
Daniel McIntyre, PE
mcintyre@dsrsd.com (925) 875-2200
As the District's chief executive officer, Daniel McIntyre implements policies adopted by the elected Board of Directors and oversees the business of the District. He joined DSRSD in 2015 as engineering services manager and was appointed general manager in 2016. He has worked in the Tri-Valley since 1990, including 12 years as the City of Livermore's public works director. Mr. McIntyre earned a bachelor's of science in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, and a master's of public administration from California State University Hayward. He is a licensed professional engineer in California.
Carol Atwood, CPA
atwood@dsrsd.com (925) 875-2270
Carol Atwood oversees finance, customer services, information technology, and human resources. She has over 35 years of experience in municipal government and public accounting. Prior to joining DSRSD in 2016, Ms. Atwood served 22 years with the cities Cupertino and San Leandro where she managed finance, human resources, information technology, city clerk's office, disaster preparedness, and community services. She holds a bachelor's of science in business administration from California State University East Bay and has participated in executive education programs at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government and University of California Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy. Ms. Atwood is a certified public accountant in California and Arizona.
Jeff Carson
carson@dsrsd.com (925) 875-2345
Jeff Carson oversees the District's operations in drinking water distribution, recycled water production and distribution, and wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal. Prior to joining the District in 2016, he managed operations and maintenance for the City of Hayward's water pollution control facility. He has over 21 years of experience with Bay Area wastewater facilities. Mr. Carson holds bachelor's degrees in biology and environmental studies from California State University East Bay and professional certifications in wastewater treatment, laboratory analysis, environmental compliance, and water distribution.
Judy Zavadil, PE
Engineering Services Manager
zavadil@dsrsd.com (925) 875-2272
Judy Zavadil is responsible for planning, permitting, capital improvements, asset management, and clean water and water conservation programs. She was appointed engineering services manager and district engineer in 2016. Previously she was a principal engineer and supervisor of the District's Capital Improvement Program Division. She joined DSRSD in 2007. Ms. Zavadil has over 30 years of experience in civil engineering in both the public and private sectors and holds a bachelor's of science in civil engineering from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She is a licensed professional engineer in California.
Send letters to:
Dublin San Ramon Services District
Visit Contact Us for more ways to contact DSRSD.


Polarization is a common problem for companies trying to make smart and agile strategic decisions. (Hint: That should be all companies.) When people band together with likeminded teammates, it's human nature for them to get more and more entrenched in their mindset. The result is two opposing camps, each seeking a decision that's more extreme than the original ideas of individual team members. This is a predictable outcome of group decision making dynamics. Unfortunately, it can be a highly destructive one.
What often happens in group decision making is that two extreme options rise to the top. The decision is forced into a 'yes or no' framework, and alternate options—which many team members might actually prefer—are left off the table. Because neither camp will give an inch, the CEO may have to step in and make the final call.
The end result is a decision not many people really like, a CEO who blames the team for indecisiveness, and behind-the-scenes grumbling that the CEO is playing favorites or behaving like a dictator. In situations like this, no one wins.
Jill, president of a company that had created a new "smart home" thermostat, was at a crossroads. Over the past year, her company had conducted tests, in three geographic markets, of a direct-to-consumer sales approach. The tests showed that given sufficient investment, her company could supplement its current sales to DIY retailers and local heating and air conditioning (HVAC) companies by selling direct to homeowners. Now was the time to expand the program nationally, but the team had reached a stalemate over whether this investment was wise.
Members of the team fell into two camps, each side adamant about its position.
The "go" camp felt that selling direct to consumers was essential in order for the company to reach its growth goals. They asserted that there were vast numbers of homeowners who would purchase and install their own smart thermostats if they understood how easy it could be and were provided with clear instructions.
Jill's team had been wrestling with this go/no-go decision for over six months, with zero progress. Each camp had dug deep trenches, accumulating more evidence that their point of view was correct. Jill saw risks on both sides, but knew that whatever path forward the company chose, gaining the full commitment of her team—the leaders of sales, marketing, manufacturing, finance, human resources, and legal—was crucial for success.
As a first step to resolving the impasse, Jill got her team together to agree on objectives. After a full afternoon of healthy debate, the team agreed that within two years, it was essential—a "must have"—to achieve 20 percent market share. The "nice to haves" included retaining at least the current level of sales with the DIY retailers and HVAC services companies, and maintaining at least 10 percent net profits.
A week later, Jill's group gathered again to discuss alternative approaches to meeting their agreed-upon objectives. Members of both camps were surprised at the breadth of options the team identified. Over the past several months, each side had become so entrenched in its own point of view, they had not realized how much middle ground existed. After several hours of brainstorming and heated discussion, the group had developed four distinct alternatives for how to proceed, which varied in terms of the partners they would enlist, the way they would engage the HVAC services companies, and how the company would manage logistics to supply each local market.
3. Address each camp's specific concerns.
As you are evaluating the pros and cons of each strategic alternative that you are considering, it's crucial to address each side's concerns. Jill asked a lot of questions and paid attention to both the facts and the emotions each team member expressed.
For example, Steve, the head of sales, had spent years building relationships with the leading HVAC service companies in each local market and with retailers. These people were not only business partners, they were friends. He felt strongly that if the company was to sell direct to consumers, it must find a way to partner with these sales channels to make them successful. Chris, who ran manufacturing and logistics, was most concerned about how the company would manage the thousands of individual shipments to consumers. Dana, who managed marketing, wanted a commitment from the board that the marketing budget would be maintained at robust levels, even if it took many months for direct-to-consumer sales to take off. Jill made sure that any plan the team came up with addressed concerns such as those Steve, Chris, and Dana expressed.
4. Choose a path forward, then adjust course as you gain knowledge.
The most common cause of stalemates is uncertainty about what the future will bring. And the best way to get facts to address these unknowns is to test the waters. Jill's team decided to collaborate with several HVAC services companies, to experiment with different ways of enlisting them as partners. Stocking local inventory, performing particularly tricky installations, and taking tech support calls were among the ways that HVAC services companies could potentially contribute. The "no-go" camp was surprised to learn that the HVAC suppliers actually liked Jill's company's new direct-to-consumer approach, because it enabled them to attract new customers for profitable maintenance contracts.
5. Manage the risks as you implement.
Jill assigned one person on her team to manage each of the risks related to the direct-to-consumer approach. For example, Steve, the head of sales, worked with HVAC services companies to make sure their needs were met. Chris was in charge of managing inventory and shipments, and was measured on customer-service metrics related to delivery. Dana embarked on a process to build the brand online and was held accountable for marketing metrics, such as marketing cost per completed direct-to-consumer sale. Because each risk was explicitly managed, the team was able to press forward with tremendous speed and coordination.
6. Recognize both small and large wins on the path to success.
As you pursue a new strategic path, it's essential to recognize and celebrate small wins. Jill made sure to celebrate even the small signs of progress each week, such as upticks in direct-to-consumer sales or favorable reviews online. This kept the energy high and helped the team to stay cohesive as they navigated the bumps on the road to success.
Whatever you do, don't let the polarization problem stop your company from pursuing bold growth strategies. In our age of disruption, you must be agile and courageous. Letting fear and indecision slow you down is a huge mistake. In fact, it can be your death knell. Today's business climate rewards fast innovation and adaptability. And leaders who understand how to unleash employee creativity and build a culture of trust can help teams break stalemates and move ahead fearlessly.


Nice British Brunswick pressing from 1932 ARC masters of hot jazz sides by Baron Lee and His Orchestra, better known as Mills Blue Rhythm Band.
Condition: E-; Plays fine, very loud and strong, but slightly noisy pressing. Fairly clean copy aside from some light scuffing/rubbing.


The addition of a garage or pole barn can provide you and your family with much needed additional space for vehicles, motorcycles and other toys, and simple storage space. Over the years, a lot of stuff can accumulate and it can be difficult to find a home for it all. With the added space of a garage or pole barn, you will have no trouble finding a home for all that stuff! If you have a growing family and need the space for vehicles, you might want to consider adding a garage to your home or adding an additional parcel or two to your existing garage. If you are starting to make big purchases such as a motorhome or boat, you might want the security of storing those big toys in a pole barn. Whatever it is you are looking for, we guarantee we can make it happen!
Browse our past pole barn and garage construction projects to get an idea of what we can build for you and what you might be interested in. As stated above, we can build different sized pole barns and use different materials depending on your budget. No matter the project, and no matter the budget, we guarantee an end result you will be happy with for a long time! If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, you can call or e-mail us anytime.


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This may sound obvious, but it's not. Among Democrats, there are often irresistible temptations to fight internal battles in preparation for 2020: Clinton people vs. Bernie people, the center-left vs. the left, the market-friendlies vs. the social Democrats and democratic socialists.
These are necessary arguments, and, in any event, they cannot be suppressed. But they are not the most important thing. With special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation under constant threat from Trump's apologists, solidarity among his opponents is imperative. This is all the more pressing in the face of the Republican leadership's shameful cowering before a president who is perpetually in search of loyalty and sycophantic praise.
It is a habit of political commentators to say that Democrats "lack a message" and a program. It's worth mentioning that this has not stopped them from winning a lot of elections, some in unlikely places, over the last few months.
Of course, Democrats must offer a compelling vision of a just country and a coherent approach to the world. They have to be mindful of the complicated and highly diverse coalition they need to build – starting with African Americans, but also reaching out to working-class voters of all races who are being hurt by Trump's policies. Most districts cannot be won without broad, multiracial alliances.
But this is a year of midterm elections, not a contest for the presidency. Voters typically use off-year ballots to render a judgment on a president's course, particularly when they are unhappy – think 2006, 2010 and 2014. The most effective midterm slogan ever was the GOP's 1946 plea: "Had Enough? Vote Republican." With a change in the last word, it would fit the current anti-Trump mood well.
Trump, not some ingenious new policy, will be the issue on voters' minds and opposition to him will be the most powerful force pushing voters to the polls. Yes, progressives should talk about Trump policies they would try to check or roll back – beginning with the GOP's egregious tax giveaway – and work to make their ideas on health care, jobs, infrastructure, the environment and education more persuasive. But the point of 2018 is to meet the emergency this presidency has created.
Let's not shilly-shally about this. To truly check Trump, Democrats will need to win elections in usually unfriendly territory. As my loyally Republican Washington Post colleague Michael Gerson wrote last month, Republican politicians will abandon Trump only "if they see it as in their self-interest." For this to happen, they will have "to watch a considerable number of their fellow Republicans lose."
A campaign in defense of democracy that transcends immediate policy goals will make it easier for moderately conservative voters to do something a lot of them won't relish: vote for a party they usually shun.
Since electoral politics is about addition rather than subtraction, progressives ought to welcome the anti-Trump conservatives without expecting them to alter all their views. Again, none of this requires the left to abandon its purposes. Many progressive positions on matters from health care and family leave to fairer taxation and workers' rights are widely popular. The fact that revulsion over Trump has shaken loose many normally Republican voters can be embraced as an opportunity for dialogue and persuasion.
What deserves rebuke is the obsequiousness of the current Republican political leadership toward Trump as well as the indifference of the president's protectors to the rule of law. Their willingness to pile falsehood upon falsehood in his defense amounts to a war on the basic requirements of reasoned debate in a free society.
Friends of republican democracy are called upon to set aside their differences to resist the corruption of presidential authority, to stand up for truth and to insist that Trump be held accountable.
The priority of 2018 is for our nation to rise up and say: Enough.
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E.J. Dionne's email address is ejdionne@washpost.com. Follow him on Twitter @EJDionne.
Painting the Delta
Homeless in Sacramento
Will wildfires derail California's clean energy goals? Let's get back on track
By Robbie Hunter and
Matt Cate Special to The Sacramento Bee
California is charting the course toward a clean energy future. Now, the state's ability to achieve its climate goals could be derailed by a climate-driven disaster: destructive and massive wildfires.
Tom McClintock wants us deported. But is anything more American than a 'Dreamer'?
Sacramento has a homelessness crisis. Here's a cheaper, quicker and better solution
California has laws to disarm domestic abusers. Why don't we enforce them?
California's kids deserve healthy lunches. Here's how better food can save the planet
Commentary: Agencies stall on public records access
Commentary: Newsom's housing deal just a baby step


Field Engineers — Wetherholt and Associates, Inc.
Jose joined the Wetherholt and Associates team in 2003, and he is now a Field Engineer. Jose is responsible for performing on-site inspection and evaluation of roofing, waterproofing and exterior cladding applications for commercial and residential projects. He also has expertise in moisture testing, water intrusion investigations, roof membrane sampling, roof design, design review, preparation of specifications, CAD drawings, and punchlist/closeout inspections.
Over the years, Jose has consulted on commercial and institutional buildings, mostly in the Pacific Northwest. He established service lines to include interior waterproofing consulting and inspection at Bellevue Square and the new Lincoln Square Expansion, and rooftop cell site consulting and inspection. Most recent endeavors include in-field window flashing design work and developing rainscreen re-cladding scopes on high-end residences.
Riley joined the Wetherholt and Associates team in 2014, beginning as an Inspector and now operating as a Field Engineer. He is responsible for inspection and evaluation of roofing, waterproofing, and exterior cladding application. Riley also performs roof surveys, leak investigations, specification preparation, consulting on insurance claims, design review, and closeout inspections.
During his time at Wetherholt and Associates, Riley has worked on commercial and institutional buildings throughout the Pacific Northwest. Projects have ranged from office complexes to public schools and government facilities. He continues to seek educational opportunities in the field, as well as the classroom.


It came as a surprise to most people when Jerome Robinson was drafted as the 13th overall pick by the Los Angeles Clippers at the 2018 NBA draft. However, it was hardly an unexpected event for the b-baller but a reward for his hard work, zeal, and diligence.
Before Jerome joined the National Basketball Association league, he proved his worth as a shooting guard with the Boston College Eagles. Let's learn more about the basketballer, shall we?
Jerome Robinson was born in the year 1997 and on the 22nd of February. It is said that he was a multi-athlete when he schooled at Needham B. Broughton High School, playing both baseball and basketball with gusto and ease. He soon decided that he was made for basketball after his sophomore year in high school. According to him, the buzz and rush he felt during a basketball game, and the love he got from his fans made him choose basketball – he has never regretted the decision.
Following his decision to abandon baseball for basketball, Jerome left a summer baseball camp and embraced the Raleigh-based Garner Road program where he polished his skills in basketball and learned the principles that would facilitate a fine professional career in the sports. Although he joined the program really late, he would agree that it helped him form his character as a basketball player.
Jerome Robinson joined the Boston College Eagles as the 306th ranked player in the whole country, but this did not mean he lacked potentials. If anything, he immediately showed that he had what it takes to play at the NBA. Irrespective of the losses and drags of his team, Jerome showed excellence, reaching 11.7 points per game. As a freshman, his talent, hard work, and consistency were quickly noticed and acknowledged. This encouraged him to put in more effort and he was able to average 3.4 assist, 4 rebounds, and 18.7 points per game as a sophomore.
Many wondered if he'd be able to maintain the performance but Jerome improved on it, pulling off an average of 3.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds, and 20.7 points as a junior. In view of this, the Associated Press named him as an honorable mention in its All-American list. Also, he was named to the 2018 All-ACC First Team. Even though Jerome Robinson could have simply left Boston for another college where it will be very easy for him to get the recognition he deserved and also, the better platform to shine, he didn't. He decided to stay with the college team irrespective of the fact that it wasn't doing so well.
After playing against future professionals from different colleges in the ACC, Jerome decided to go to California for 8 weeks and play against professionals like Emmanuel Mudiay, Spencer Dinwiddie, Bismarck Biyomo, among others. He knew he would learn a thing or two from the professionals and would become a smarter player after facing them. When Jerome was don with this, he felt he could confidently play against anyone in the NBA, thus he declared his intent to join the league.
Twelve months after Jerome Robinson flew to California to play against NBA players and also to undergo their training routine, he decided to declare for the NBA draft. On the 21st of June 2018, Jerome was drafted as the 13th overall pick; he was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers.
He plays the shooting guard position and it is believed that his 3 years of College Basketball experience has poised him to be a serious playmaker for the Clippers. Considering his history as one who can fly under the radar and then his hard work and the dedication that brought him into the limelight, Jerome Robinson is indeed someone we should all watch out for in the upcoming season, and in several more to come.
Jerome Robinson has nothing to worry about when it comes to his stature, this is because his height is very good for an NBA player – he measures a whopping 6 ft 5 inches (1.96 m). This is more than some NBA players who are already enjoying the limelight of the sport.
Although some are of the opinion that his frame needs some filling up, expressing that his body weight of 86 kg (190 lb) isn't perfect for his height, there hasn't been any reason to worry about his weight. Jerome's wingspan measures 6'7.25.


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Kenorland ist in der Erdgeschichte ein hypothetischer Urkontinent, der vor etwa 2,5 Milliarden Jahren entstanden sein soll. Im Verlauf seiner Geschichte war er von zwei Orogenesen betroffen, blieb jedoch im Wesentlichen intakt. Er wurde später in den Großkontinent Arctica einbezogen.

Namensgebung
Der Name Kenorland wurde 1991 von einer Wissenschaftlergruppe um Harold Williams vorgeschlagen. Der Name ist von der Kenora-Orogenese abgeleitet, die vor ca. 2,5 Milliarden Jahren stattfand.

Bestandteile
Kenorland bestand im Wesentlichen aus dem Kanadischen Schild, d. h. dem Superior-Kraton, Slave-Kraton und Hearne-Kraton.

Kenorland als erdgeschichtlicher Kontinent
Kenorland wurde zu einem noch nicht genau bestimmten Zeitpunkt (jünger als 2500 Millionen Jahre), vermutlich vor etwa 1800 Millionen Jahren, durch Akkretion des Wyoming-Kratons, des Rae- und Nain-Komplexes von Grönland und von zwei sibirischen Kratonen zum Großkontinent Arctica verschweißt.

Literatur
 John J.W. Rogers und M. Santosh: Supercontinents in Earth History. Gondwana Research, 6(3): 357–368, Osaka 2003, .
 Harold Williams, Paul F. Hoffman, John F. Lewry, James W. H. Monger und Toby Rivers: Anatomy of North America: thematic geologic portrayals of the continent. Tectonophysics, 187: 117–134, Amsterdam 1991 .

Weblinks
 Carl Zimmer: Ancient Continent Opens Window on the Early Earth. Science, 1999, doi:10.1126/science.286.5448.2254 (PDF).
 J.W.F. Ketchum: Early crustal history of the Slave craton, northwestern Canada. 2004 (PDF).

Kontinent der Erdgeschichte

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The sad corpse was found in the deepest part of the swamp, meaning anything is possible.
"This is the first snake corpse that we have found like this," said Howard, general manager of the park at Ocean Isle Beach.
Howard at first thought it was brown water snake, but later determined it was a cottonmouth, which is one of North Carolina's venomous water snakes, Howard noted.
He believes one of the state's most adorable animals is what ripped the snake apart, eating the head to a nub.
State biologist say otters can get as big as 24 pounds and are known to eat other "aquatic prey species," so it's conceivable one could wrestle a cottonmouth into submission -- then start chewing on its head.


You can build a solid customer base and have a successful Internet marketing business if you apply the proper techniques. It really can allow you to engage with customers in ways you never even dreamed of. The following article can help make sure you are getting the most out of your Internet marketing strategy.
Before you even bother with trying to get your site ranked, you first have to build a great website. Creating a well-designed website is an essential first step for your business. Making your site look good and operate well from the beginning means less work as time goes on to re-do or fix mistakes.
You need to take this whole endeavor seriously and do your research. Pick a mentor that you trust and admire online. Many veteran internet marketers give out free advice, and some mentor newbies for a fee. You should find a system that works for you, and keep at it. Starting up is a gradual process, but focusing your attention will help you become accomplished.
Use your email to your business advantage. Send them messages that have quality content, including updates on products and sales you may have. You need to make sure the customer understands you are giving them pertinent information, instead of spam. Sending something to your customers on a regular basis ensures that you are kept in their minds, just be sure to not over-do it.
We have already seen how marketing through the Internet offers a way to contact new customers. You can use the Internet to reach out to your customers at any time. This allows you to interact with your customers like you never could before. Use the helpful methods in the article above to get the most out of what the Internet has to offer your business.


This is from my last Tuesday night art class with Roy Kinzer. I love Roy but don't think I can continue to take two classes a week in the spring session, and I really want to continue with pastel tips from Alex. I think I'll have to skip the Tuesday class this spring, but that will be sad.


While a lot are waiting for the big event to happen in boxing history, Oscar De La Hoya CEO of Golden Boy Promotions is waiting for Saul Canelo Alvarez' Florida case in the court before anything goes down on the negotiations on Gennady Golovkin. Alvarez who is De La Hoya's fighter will have to settle some things before they formally start discussing with Golovkin's team and promoter K2.
They still have lawsuits to entertain and proceed with the plan. Golden Promotions promised their boxing fans that the case will not take awhile and will finish soon. Although a lot of expectations that the Canelo vs Golovkin to happen, Golden Boy Promotions see that as a possibility as well and are open for planning.
To make the fight to happen, especially the anticipated Canelo and Golovkin bout, both team will have to meet halfway and agree to the terms laid out, especially on Golovkin's team. If Gennady Golovkin really wanted the Alvarez fight to happen, Triple G will have to meet the catch weight that is presented to them and with the split offer/pay to be discussed as well.
Golovkin will be draining down his weight to be at par on the requested catch-weight and this is something that interests the fans, ring side commentators, and the promoters as well if Golovkin will agree to the terms. A lot are worried as well if Golovkin being at 34 will have enough strength to face his young and active opponent. A lot are wondering as well if losing weight will affect Golovkin's performance and will not be able to deliver what is expected to his as well being a pride power puncher. There are a lot of opinions running around the industry in their upcoming fight. A lot are in favor with Golovkin, other news viewed Oscar De La Hoya's plan to be a need and greed for money.
When it comes to culinary arts no doubt New York City is at the top destination in the country. Every corner of New York City has a culinary treasure to reveal. For Instance, for Asian specialties Queens is famed, for burger joints Manhattan is well known. Thats why New York is recognised for its culinary schools in the world.
Los Angeles is well known for its film industry and New York for its culinary arts. People who are interested in culinary arts then New York cooking school would be the best option for them. You can compare the plans, features and cost involved on the internet and can also check the best reviewed cooking schools on websites such as http://freshnyc.com/best-of-nyc/best-culinary-schools-cooking-classes-nyc, etc.
If you are looking for culinary arts with pastry arts, as well as restaurant management then French Culinary Institute or the FCI would be the best option for you in the town as it comes in the best three culinary schools of the city, founded in 1984.It offers many courses in culinary like; wine study, food technology and food journalism. Dan Barber is also in the top list for culinary schools.
There are more than 1000 courses on Asian cuisine, wine education and among many others offered by the culinary schools of New York City. Tourist can make reservation for these schools that make their trip more exciting as they will be in the company of reputed chefs to learn the culinary arts.
There are two places that are well visited by foreign and non-local tourists and over time the numbers remained consistent with regards to tourist visits. Cebu or its province has one of the best tourist spots comparable to other visited places in the country and time after time, the province has a lot to showcase to their visitors. With the best beaches existing in the province, Cebu has the best scenic landforms and it remained natural as ever. Locals have been maintaining its natural wonder intact and appealing to its visitors.
Tourists staying in the area are most likely to be classified to be more adventurous and curious that is why an kawasan falls and osmeña peakday tour or trip is more proper for them (tourists) to experience the activity. The areas mentioned are pretty well known by travelers coming in that is because of the amenities and the things that they can do in the area. Canyoneering, trekking, overnight camping at the peak and cliff jumping are only a few things that can be done and it will be their task to discover more things to do in the area. The place definitely met their expectations as they continually recommend both places and or the activities made available by leaving good reviews of the place.
Are you ready to travel with utmost comfort and style with modern rental luxury transport services in sydney? There are transport companies in sydney that are offering their luxury vehicles and top class trained vehicle operators for the comfort of the people in sydney. These luxury transport services are available for all kinds of transportation issues that people come across in their present lifestyle. People can get the assistance of these top class transport companies in sydney for occasions like getting to the office, going to a meeting, riding to your wedding venue, going to the school prom, having a trip with the family, Sydney airport transfer, and much more.
There is a huge fleet of vehicle present at these transport companies in sydney that makes them perfect for handling all kinds of transport requests that people make. People are tired of old ways of transportation and they are looking for more comfortable and faster ways of transportation to solve their transport issues and make their life more comfortable. With the help of these top transport companies in sydney people are making their journey faster and in a more secure way with style. People can now book a comfortable ride anytime they want, anywhere they want with just one call.
These top transport companies have some of the most luxurious vehicles in their fleets like a limousine, sedan, bentley, hummer, convertibles, and much more which are offered to people as per their request along with a well-trained vehicle operative or Sydney chauffeur. The trained Chauffeur sydney that are offered to people by these transport companies in sydney are highly experienced ones, they are well aware of the different ways in which they can offer the best ride to people of sydney at the best affordable prices. The cost of these transport services is really very affordable and booking these transport services is really very easy. If you are in need for these transport services in your personal or professional life then make a call and share your location with the operatives of these transport companies, they will be there at the pickup point within no time for your comfort with the best vehicle.
There are many websites that provide you with a way to download your favorite music however they would all have different varieties in their databases which is why it is helpful to have access to multiple websites so that your chances of finding the kind of music that you might be interested in could be increased. You would obviously have a certain type of music that you might be interested in and your chances of finding all types of music on a single website is always limited.
There are different websites that people refer to when looking for music for example, and these days there are video sharing websites as well that you can visit and actually watch your favorite music on there. Again that does not mean you'll be able to find all kinds of music especially so when you are the kind of person who likes something that is not very popular.
If you're from Indonesia then you might want to search for download lagu mp3 to get a list of websites that would feature your type of music for you. This way things would become a lot easier for you and you will find that you are able to manage things in a much better way. There are certain websites that offer free music download or download Lagu MP3 as they refer to in Indonesian however other websites may ask that you subscribe and pay before you can get access to all the latest music.
Located in an area where rotating hillsides and trees and shrubs abound in a country like arranging, the populous city of Diamond Bar is a great location to live. The town of Diamond Bar has been recognized because of its love of nature and trees maintenance and it received its first distinction to be named a Tree City USA in 2001 and has maintained its designation every year since.You can go through ridewhisk.com/ to get all the amuzements of Diamond Bar.
The town provides nine general population primary academic institutions, three middle academic institutions and two open public high universities including a few which may have gained the California Blue Ribbon Prize for Superior Academics Performance. Diamond Pub academic institutions have a great reputation for academics quality from preschool to senior high school and this is the factor which is one of the key reasons many home customers and individuals desire to go to Diamond Pub. California Polytechnic Condition College-Pomona, Fullerton State College and Mt San Antonio Community University are some of the post-secondary universities and institutions that exist in the encompassing cities. Diamond Bar is conveniently situated where in fact the Orange Freeway(57) and Pomona (60) Freeways intersect that allows easy freeway usage of the San Gabriel, Orange and LA Counties.


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Diana have sent these beautiful photographs of the sculptures during and after the installation. Thank you Diana.
One of two Allium sculptures.
It was a cool morning, Mid day in the 90's and a windy, threatening afternoon but the "Birds" are in.
2060 miles ahead, 53 feet of truck loaded.
A thunder storm blew through and I took a few photos as the sun was breaking out. The Allium bases are nice and rusted.
a week of welding and cleaning up all the welds.
Now that the tallest sections are in place areas needing to be stiffened are exposed. I spent the last week beefing up the lower supporting sections by boxing out the wing shapes and adding gussets.
One more bird section to go cantilevered away from the tall portion of the composition.
looking up to the highest birds.
The third pair of wings goes up for a test fit. One more pair intersects the upper wing to reach upwards over 12 feet high.
The first set of wings in stainless steel are complete and additional support on the back side has stiffened them. They are welded to a plate of Corten steel which is bolted to the base. The sculpture can be separated from the base for transport and then bolted together, and finally, welded permanently to the base.
yes, I have received a fan letter along with many favorable comments on the Allium sculptures in the courtyard of my loft building.
I wanted to salute you for the marvelous sculpture currently gracing (alas, temporarily) the courtyard.
The first time I beheld it, it literally stopped me in my tracks.
Graceful, whimsical and wondrous, just on its own merit. Then, as I continued to admire and ponder, it occurred to me what it represents. As a gardener, I'm constantly fascinated by the forms and mute engineering of flowers. You've captured the Allium with remarkable forthrightness. Like a soaring silver firework.
Introducing the new stranger to the other flora.


They're called the MINI Cooper Loft and MINI Stratford and they are debuting at Singapore's MINI festival – the MINIFESTO 2010.
The MINIFESTO 2010. The name alone conjures images of people milling about exotic MINIs, having a good time. This year at the Singapore festival – and only in Singapore – two new custom MINIs will be the talk of the show.
The MINI Cooper Loft is a snappy looking little red number that develops another 2bph out of a new 1.6 liter engine, from 120bph to 122bph, but the bigger deal is all of the customization options.
The MINI Stratford is a MINI One derivative, which also includes the 1.6 liter engine, rather than the 1.4 liter in the MINI One. Again, you're getting special door entry sills, stripes on the roof and side panels, and other small customizations that, while don't exactly trick out the vehicles, make them at least in Singapore terms, worthy of their own special brand names.
I say try your own customization concepts and then call your MINI whatever you want. It will certainly be cheaper than the price of these two, from $101,800 for the Stratford to $112,800 for the Loft. And you'll save the airfare to Singapore, too.


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Get Involved with AIADA
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AIADA's Dealer Visit Program allows dealers to foster vital one-on-one relationships with their Members of Congress by hosting them at their dealership for an in-person or virtual tour.
The best way for grassroots advocates to stay involved is to locate their lawmakers and follow legislation as it winds its way through the House and Senate chambers. These are the top resources for activists to use to keep apprised of what is happening in Washington, D.C.
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Dealer Spotlight
Tom Flood
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Tom Flood is the General Manager/Partner at Lexus of Richmond, where he oversees a thriving dealership that recently celebrated its grand reopening by giving back to the local community. He's an active member of AIADA's advocacy efforts. "Politicians can really change our business and they need to understand the positive impact that we have in our communities," he says.
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You won't have to pay for these phones if you sign up for a contract with a service provider.
The HTC First smart phone -- also known as the Facebook phone because it comes with Facebook Home installed -- has been in the news because AT&T dropped the price to 99 cents just a month after the phone debuted. And now there are reports that it likely will be discontinued. Considering that most new smart phones cost $200 and up when you agree to a two-year contract with a service provider (the cost is even higher without a contract), a 99-cent phone sounds pretty appealing.
However, you can find new smart phones -- ones that probably aren't at risk of being discontinued -- for even less than 99 cents. In fact, you can find plenty that are free if you sign up for a contract with a service provider. Here are 15 that won't cost you anything. Many of these are limited-time offers, so you'll need to act quickly if you are interested.
Apple iPhone 4. This $449.99 3G phone is free with a two-year Verizon contract. See details.
Apple iPhone 4S. This $549.99 3G phone with Siri -- the voice-activated assistant -- is free when you open a new line with Sprint and sign up for a two-year contract. See details.
Droid Incredible by HTC. This $499.99 4G Android phone is free with two-year Verizon contract. See details.
HTC EVO. This $549.99 4G phone with an Android operating system is free when you open a new line of service with Sprint, sign up for a two-year contract and use a $50 mail-in rebate. See details.
LG Lucid 2. This $349.99 4G Android phone is free with two-year Verizon contract. See details.
LG Optimus G. This $549.99 4G Android phone is free when you open a new line of service with Sprint, sign-up for a two-year contract and use a $50 mail-in rebate. See details.
LG Viper. This $399.99 4G Android phone is free when you open a new line with Sprint or add a line to your account and sign up for a two-year contract. See details.
Motorola Photon Q. This $549.99 4G Android phone is free when you open a new line of service with Sprint, sign-up for a two-year contract and use a $50 mail-in rebate. See details.
Nokia Lumia 822. This $449.99 4G Windows phone is free with two-year Verizon contract. See details.
Pantech Marauder. This $349.99 4G Android phone with a slide-out keyboard is free with two-year Verizon contract. See details.
Pantech Pocket. This $349.99 4G Android phone is free with a two-year AT&T contract. See details.
Samsung Galaxy S Relay. This $369.99 4G Android phone is free with a two-year T-Mobile contract. See details.
Samsung Galaxy II. This $499.99 4G Android phone is free with a two-year Sprint contract and a $50 mail-in rebate. See details.
Samsung Galaxy III. This $549.99 4G Android phone is free when you open a new line of service with Sprint, sign-up for a two-year contract and use a $50 mail-in rebate. See details.
T-Mobile myTouch. This $259.99 4G Android phone is free with a two-year T-Mobile contract. See details.
Note: Sprint is offering several other phones in addition to the ones listed here for free. Visit Sprint.com for a complete list.
If you don't like the idea of being tied into a two-year contract, you also can cut the cost of a smart phone by buying an unlocked phone (a phone that's not locked into a single carrier's network) and using a prepaid wireless provider. The phone will cost more, but you'll save big with a prepaid wireless plan. See Cut the Cost of an iPhone in Half to learn more.


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Posts Tagged 'Justin Conway'
Top Stories from Baltimore Finals
Some truly amazing performances went down in the Baltimore finals of American Ninja Warrior 5, many of them by good ninja buddies of mine, so I feel a great deal of pride and joy being able to relay them. After falling on the second-to-last obstacle, the Circle Cross, in the Baltimore qualifying round I sat in the stands and watched the Baltimore finalists throwdown in the freezing cold later that same night. My selections of the top stories here are somewhat biased by my personal relationships, and the limitations of not having DVRed the competition and being forced to jot down my notes without the benefit of rewatching anything, so please forgive (and correct) any limitations or inaccuracies in my reporting.
Dan "GravityForged" Galicynski Takes Top Time – Before I get started on his performance, I have to say that I've long thought "GravityForged" is one of the best nicknames in the ninja world. Dan proved that he's deserving of such a cool nickname by cruising through the course with a calm consistent speed that had him hitting the final button just a split second ahead of second-place finisher Joe Moravsky. With much of the commentary in American Ninja Warrior 5 centering on "Parkour versus Rock-Climbing" people are overlooking that gymnastics is an amazing and applicable background for ninja obstacle activities. GravityForged, the 2010 college champion in the floor exercise for Penn State, reminded people of that reality with his strong performance. Dan's a great guy, and after having failed at the Warped Wall in American Ninja 2, 3 and 4, this was a much deserved breakout performance by this great athlete.
Salmon Ladder Still Slays Ninjas – American Ninja Warrior 5 witnessed a change of most of the obstacles for brand-new ones never before tested in competition. Personally I loved this development, as well as how the producers were wise enough to still keep three iconic obstacles that are emblematic of the Ninja Warrior experience – the Quad/Quint Steps to start it off, the Warped Wall to end the qualifying course, and the Salmon Ladder to kick off the extended course for the regional/city finals. More than any other obstacle, fans of the show bring up the Salmon Ladder to me in conversation as one that just blows their mind. Although there are many Salmon Ladders in gyms and backgrounds across the nation at this point, the Salmon Ladder still slays top ninjas in competition all the time. Witness Brent Steffensen, American Ninja Warrior 4's top ninja, fall on it in the Venice Finals this season. The Baltimore Finals were no exception as many talented ninjas (and friends of mine) fell on it including Elet Hall (fastest time in qualifiers), Chris DiGangi, Brandon Mears, and Justin Conway.
Rookie Joe "The Weatherman" Moravsky Delivers – Joe Moravsky, a professional weatherman who helped all the Baltimore ninjas interpret and deal with a massive weatherfront that postponed the competition for a full day, proved that rookies can deliver the goods with his incredible performances in both the Baltimore qualifying and finals rounds. Looking like a seasoned veteran he cruised through the finals course, pausing to throw a side-flip off of the end of the Body Prop before moving on to the Spider Climb. Although I wonder if he regrets this now since he finished just a split second behind GravityForged for the top time and a $5k top finisher bounty. Regardless of this point, I think we can stop calling Joe a rookie, and I anticipate seeing him as a top competitor for many seasons to come.
Mike Bernardo Believes He Can Fly – In perhaps the most spectacular wipeout of the season, and destined to become a staple of highlight clips for seasons to come, 33 year old DC firefighter Mike Bernardo misjudged his high dismount from the Rumbling Dice and ate some serious mat before bouncing back into the water. Unfortunately the difference between advancing to the National Finals and ending his season was sticking that dismount. Mike is an incredibly strong and intense competitor, and somebody who I have known since American Ninja Warrior 2, so I expect this to be fuel for his raging fire and drive him to greater heights in future seasons. Mike also has a great ability to laugh at himself, and has been cracking his friends up with self-deprecating jokes about this dismount ever since, so he has many many ninjas rooting for his future success.
Jamie "Captain NBC" Rahn Dashes to the Top – Jamie Rahn, who broke into the public consciousness as Captain G4 and Captain NBC last season, proved that he is no costumed joke by putting in a top performance and finishing the course. I've trained several times with Jamie, and know him as both a great guy and an intense competitor who possesses one of the most ridiculous grip strengths I've ever witnessed (dude can dead-hang for like 12 minutes, no joke). Jamie showed his desire to win by gutting it through the Body Prop where he was clearly on the edge of fatigue. My kids love "Captain NBC", and are thrilled that I'm friends with him (even though I've competed for 4 seasons they are always amazed and impressed when they find out I'm friends with other ninjas on TV), and a good 5 minutes after Jamie ran my 5 year old whispered to himself during a commercial break, "Captain NBC, I'm so happy for him."
The Body Prop Kills – Some top ninjas that I feel honored to call friends ended their runs on the Body Prop just one obstacle short of the final one. Fortunately everybody who made the Body Prop ended up advancing to the National Finals, but in the moments of competition nobody knew this, and the Body Prop proved its mettle by knocking some incredible athletes into the water, including:
Tim "LiveWire" Shieff – The 2-time world parkour champ couldn't make it through the Body Prop to my shock. Tim has handstand press strength for days, witness his YouTube videos of one-hand hand-stands and walking through subways on his hands, and he "just got tired" as he told Jen Brown on the sidelines. When Tim fell is when I realized that doing the Body Prop at the end of this tough course must have been brutal.
Travis "Sunset Hogan" Weinand – Representing the tall folks (Travis is 6′ 5″), talented artists, and meathead heavy metal thrashers, Travis' impressive run ended on the Body Prop. Travis is an incredibly strong competitor, and when he chuckled dryly on the Body Prop as he realized he was running out of gas was when I realized that the Body Prop can sap the strength out of even the most powerful ninjas.
Mike "Bedroom Ninja" Needham – Mike Needham is a favorite of both fans and competitors alike, and his walkon story ended heroically with him advancing to the National Finals. With perhaps the best ninja nickname for picking up chicks, the "Bedroom Ninja" ended his run on the Body Prop like many other worthy competitors. Mike earned his nickname with his amazing training setup in his bedroom that has driven his YouTube channel to over a million views of his training videos. Mike reminds me of my favorite Sasuke competitor, Yuuji Urushihara, with his size (115 lbs), drive (intense), and humility (admirable).
Adam "Megaman" Grossman – Another member of the self-described meathead crew from Chris Wilczewski's The Movement Lab, Adam Grossman also fell on the Body Prop after a great run. Adam has earned his nickname Megaman from his ridiculous leaping ability and overall strength, and joined his fellow "Labbers" Travis Weinand and Mike Needham in the water under the Body Prop.
Brian Represents for the Wilczewski Clan – Brian Wilczewski, younger brother of famous ninja Chris Wilczewski, stepped out into the limelight on his own in American Ninja Warrior 5 in his first year of eligibility. Chris, like me, fell on the Circle Cross in the qualifying round of the Baltimore competition, but Brian picked up the family torch and carried it to Las Vegas by finishing with the 3rd fastest time in the city finals. One thing that needs a bit of correction is the representation in the Baltimore qualifying episodes that there is a sibling rivalry between the two – in fact there is nothing but love and support that I've ever witnessed, and for the last couple of years Chris has been openly bragging about how awesome Brian is, how Brian is even better than he is, and how he can't wait until Brian turns 21 and can show the world. Chris is a super-supportive big brother, and I know nobody was prouder than he was when Brian hit the button at the top of the Spider Climb and advanced to Vegas.
Andrew Lowes Also Represents Gymnasts – Andrew Lowes, a National Finalist in American Ninja Warrior 4, also advanced to the National Finals again this year with another strong performance. Andrew is a great guy, and trained this past season with a "fire in his belly" to improve his performance, and I was psyched to watch him achieve his goal of getting back to Mt Midoriyama. Andrew, like GravityForged, is another accomplished gymnast, and is part of the gymnast clan (including Travis Rosen from Miami) who reminds everyone that gymnasts deserve to be in the conversation along with parkour athletes and rock-climbers as top ninjas from specific training disciplines.
Tags:Adam Grossman, Andrew Lowes, Baltimore, Body Prop, Brandon Mears, Brian Wilczewski, Chris DiGangi, Chris Wilczewski, Dan Galiczynski, Elet Hall, Jamie Rahn, Joe Moravsky, Justin Conway, Mike Bernardo, Mike Needham, Salmon Ladder, Tim "Livewire" Shieff, Travis Rosen, Travis Weinand
Posted in American Ninja Warrior 5, Competitors | 1 Comment »


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SortSmart Admissions
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Situational Judgment Tests, MCAT & GPA more likely to select applicants motivated by status, financial gains, and familial pressure to pursue medicine and may result in bias against applicants from lower income levels, new SortSmart study suggests.
Admissions Screening
Employee Selection
admissions screening, situational judgment tests, mcat, gpa, bias, motivation
3 Options to Review the Study Results:
Option #1: Full Report (Time to read: 20 minutes)
Includes all data.
Click here to read the full report. (For best viewing experience, click the full screen icon to read the report in full screen mode.)
Option #2: Video Presentation (Time to watch: 25 minutes)
Live-recorded presentation of the results including background, rationale, hypothesis, select results and analysis.
Click here to watch the presentation.
Option #3: Brief Overview (Time to read: 15 minutes)
The stakes in the medical school admissions process are high and research in areas of medical education and medical school admissions process have been intense for decades. Universities spend a lot of time and resources hoping to select applicants most likely to become fantastic doctors in the future, possessing the essential core competencies & frameworks valued in the profession.
Professional misconduct and burnout could be prevented during the selection process by selecting the best-suited applicants for admission. However, professional misconduct and burnout remain of great concern for the profession, its reputation, and the healthcare recipients. Furthermore, previous reports suggest that the admissions process may cause bias against certain applicants and may not be able to detect intrinsic motivation. For example, our last 2 studies suggest that medical school admissions practices in Canada and the US are more likely to select extrinsically motivated applicants and may result in bias against applicants from lower income levels.
Selecting the right candidates during admissions could reduce these problems, and produce higher performers who are happy at their job. Ultimately the goal of any admissions screening process is to select intrinsically motivated applicants, while promoting diversity. Moreover, this is not limited to medicine and can have profound implications for any profession.
To date, researchers have used grades, standardized tests and situational judgment tests with mixed results. The goal of this study was to examine the impact of such practices on diversity and motivation of accepted pool of applicants.
For instance, McMaster University and a few of its researchers have been advocating for the use of situational judgment tests, namely, Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) and Computer-based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (CASPer), as better tools for selecting future medical doctors. The argument appears to indicate that such tools have better predictive power for detecting future behaviour and are fairer to applicants by reducing the implicit bias in admissions.
The authors of this study agree with McMaster's researchers that the use of multiple, independent raters in evaluating applicants, along with time constraints, may theoretically improve the reliability and efficacy of any admissions screening process.
However, previous studies have indicated that such situational judgment tests may cause socioeconomic and gender bias. (1-5) Furthermore, such tests do not appear to detect the level of intrinsic motivation of applicants (6,7) and as such, are arguably unable to predict future on-the-job behaviour.
Importantly, to date, no independent studies of applicants accepted to McMaster's medical school have been conducted to examine whether the admissions process at McMaster has been able to ameliorate the implicit bias in admissions and select intrinsically motivated applicants, to merit the continued use and expansion of situational judgment tests to other universities.
Given the selection methodology utilized by McMaster, a comparison between the accepted pool of applicants at McMaster's medical school versus those accepted to other Canadian medical schools provides a means for determining the impact of situational judgment tests, GPA and MCAT on diversity and motivation of accepted pool of applicants.
Medical school admissions practices favour higher income applicants: 50% of accepted applicants come from families earning at least $100,000 annually, with 16% from families with income in excess of $200,000 annually.
Majority (70%) of accepted applicants are partially or completely extrinsically motivated to pursue medicine by status, financial gain, or familial tradition or pressure.
Majority (54%) of accepted applicants identify themselves as Caucasian with only 26% from all minority groups.
Selection based on MCAT and GPA appears to favour higher income applicants who score significantly higher than their disadvantaged peers.
The use of situational judgment tests, CASPer and MMI, at McMaster and other universities that utilize them, does not appear to offer any significant advantage in promoting diversity nor in selecting intrinsically motivated applicants.
Majority (55%) of accepted applicants to McMaster's medical school come from families making at least $100,000 annually, with 19% coming from households with annual income in excess of $200,000; similar to applicants accepted to other Canadian medical schools.
Majority (51%) of accepted applicants to McMaster's medical school are self-identifying Caucasians; similar to applicants accepted to other Canadian medical schools.
Majority (69%) of accepted applicants to McMaster's medical school report they were partially or completely extrinsically motivated to pursue medicine by wealth, status, or familial tradition; similar to applicants accepted to other Canadian medical schools.
Admissions Favours Applicants from Higher Income Households
50% of accepted applicants come from families earning at least $100,000 annually, with 16% from families with income in excess of $200,000 annually.
In comparison, the median family household income in Canada is $70,336/year, according to Statistics Canada.
McMaster's Medical School Admissions Process Appears to Favour Applicants from Higher Income Households Similar to Other Canadian Universities
McMaster's medical school admissions process does not appear to show any significant advantage in its ability to promote wealth diversity compared to other Canadian medical schools.
Similar to other Canadian medical schools, a significant proportion (19%) of accepted applicants to McMaster medical school are from families with income in excess of $200K/year.
Caucasians are the Most Represented Group at Medical Schools Across Canada
Caucasians are the Most Represented Group at McMaster Medical School
McMaster's medical school admissions process does not appear to show any significant advantage in its ability to promote racial/cultural diversity, compared to other Canadian medical schools.
Majority (51%) of accepted applicants to McMaster are self-identifying Caucasians, similar to other Canadian medical schools.
MCAT CARS Favours Applicants from Higher Income Households
MCAT CARS scores directly correlate with wealth.
Applicants from families with income in excess of $200K/year have significantly higher scores on the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) or the Verbal Reasoning section of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), compared to those from families earning $40-200K/year, which in turn have significantly higher scores compared to those from families earning below $40K/year.
GPA Favours Applicants from Higher Income Households
GPA directly correlates with wealth.
Applicants from families earning over $200K/year have significantly higher GPA scores, compared to those from families earning $40-200K/year, which in turn have significantly higher GPA scores, compared to those from families earning below $40K/year.
MMI Appears to Favour Applicants from Higher Income Households
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) does not appear to show any significant advantage in its ability to promote wealth diversity, compared to other admissions screening processes.
A significant proportion (17%) of accepted applicants screened using MMI are from families with an income in excess of $200K/year.
CASPer Appears to Favour Applicants from Higher Income Households
CASPer does not appear to show any significant advantage in its ability to promote wealth diversity, compared to other admissions screening processes.
A significant proportion (20%) of accepted applicants screened using CASPer are from families with an income in excess of $200K/year.
Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivation
How Intrinsic Motivation Enhances Performance and Diversity
Over 40 years of research(8) has demonstrated that intrinsically motivated individuals:
Persist longer
Experience less burnout
Enjoy greater life and job satisfaction
Intrinsic motivation does not correlate with:
Racial background
For a comprehensive review of the literature along with references refer to Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-Determination Theory: Basic Psychological Needs in Motivation, Development, and Wellness. New York, NY, US: Guilford Press.
Majority of Accepted Applicants are Extrinsically Motivated
Only 24% are intrinsically motivated and are willing to pursue medicine without external rewards. This population includes 21% indicating "To heal and be of service, even if it means to volunteer without pay." and 3% indicating "To advance scientific discovery, even if it means to volunteer without pay."
6% indicated "other".
McMaster's MD Admissions Process Appears to Select Extrinsically Motivated Applicants Similar to Other Canadian Universities
McMaster's medical school admissions process does not appear to show any significant advantage in its ability to select intrinsically motivated applicants, compared to other Canadian medical schools.
Similar to other Canadian medical schools, majority (69%) of accepted applicants by McMaster are partially or completely extrinsically motivated to pursue medicine by status, financial gain, or familial tradition or pressure.
MCAT CARS Appears to Select Extrinsically Motivated Applicants
MCAT CARS does not appear to be able to select intrinsically motivated applicants.
Majority of applicants (63 to 69%) selected using MCAT CARS are partially or completely extrinsically motivated to pursue medicine by status, financial gain, or familial tradition or pressure.
GPA Appears to Select Extrinsically Motivated Applicants
GPA does not appear to be able to select intrinsically motivated applicants.
Majority of applicants (57 to 71%) selected using GPA are partially or completely extrinsically motivated to pursue medicine by status, financial gain, or familial tradition or pressure.
While statistically insignificant in this study, higher GPA scores appear to correlate with extrinsic motivation.
MMI Appears to Select Extrinsically Motivated Applicants
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) does not appear to show any significant advantage in its ability to select intrinsically motivated applicants.
Similar to applicants selected without MMI, a significant proportion (70%) of accepted applicants selected using MMI are partially or completely extrinsically motivated to pursue medicine by status, financial gain, or familial tradition/pressure.
CASPer Appears to Select Extrinsically Motivated Applicants
CASPer does not appear to show any significant advantage in its ability to select intrinsically motivated applicants.
Similar to applicants selected without CASPer, a significant proportion (69%) of accepted applicants selected using CASPer are partially or completely extrinsically motivated to pursue medicine by status, financial gain, or familial tradition or pressure.
Conclusions According to the Results of the Study
McMaster's medical school admissions process does not appear to offer any significant advantage over other Canadian medical schools' admissions process in promoting diversity.
McMaster's medical school admissions process does not appear to offer any significant advantage over other Canadian medical schools' admissions process in selecting intrinsically motivated applicants.
CASPer and MMI do not appear to offer any significant advantage in promoting diversity or selecting intrinsically motivated applicants at McMaster and other Canadian universities that utilize them, compared to those that do not utilize such tools during their admissions process.
MCAT CARS, GPA, CASPer, and MMI appear to favour applicants from higher income households.
About the survey:
The survey was completed using Qualtrics survey software with a representative sample of 426 Canadian medical school students and residents in comparison with a randomly selected survey of 314 students and residents from McMaster medical school. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error +/- 5%, 19 times out of 20.
About SortSmart®:
SortSmart Candidate Selection Inc. ("SortSmart") is the pioneer of motivation-based applicant screening. It develops applicant screening software for university admissions and employee selection with an emphasis on selection based on intrinsic motivation. SortSmart's mission is to promote diversity and reduce barriers to access in higher education. Its software is designed to decrease the time and resources required to select the best fit applicants. SortSmart is the only company that offers the use of its software to educational institutions and their applicants at no cost. For more information, including media inquiries, contact us at info [at] sortsmart.com
1. Jean-Michel Leduc, Richard Rioux, Robert Gagnon, Christian Bourdy & Ashley Dennis (2017) Impact of Sociodemographic Characteristics of Applicants in Multiple Mini-Interviews, Medical Teacher, 39:3, 285-294.
2. Jerant A, Fancher T, Fenton JJ, Fiscella K, Sousa F, Franks P, Henderson M. How Medical School Applicant Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status Relate to Multiple Mini-Interview-Based Admissions Outcomes: Findings From One Medical School. Acad Med. 2015 Dec;90(12):1667-74.
3. Ross M, Walker I, Cooke L, Raman M, Ravani P, Coderre S, McLaughlin K. Are Female Applicants Rated Higher Than Males on the Multiple Mini-Interview? Findings From the University of Calgary. Acad Med. 2017 Jun;92(6):841-846.
4. Henderson MC, Kelly CJ, Griffin E, Hall TR, Jerant A, Peterson EM, Rainwater JA, Sousa FJ, Wofsy D, Franks P. Medical School Applicant Characteristics Associated With Performance in Multiple Mini-Interviews Versus Traditional Interviews: A Multi-Institutional Study. Academic Medicine: July 2018 - Volume 93 - Issue 7 - p 1029–1034.
5. Fern Juster. What Impact Does an SJT Have on Diversity Recruitment at a US Allopathic Medical School with a Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion? April 2016, Canadian Conference on Medical Education (CCME), Montreal, Canada.
6. SortSmart American Medical School Admissions Research. https://sortsmart.com/blog/united-states-medical-school-admissions-study
7. SortSmart Canadian Medical School Admissions Research. https://sortsmart.com/blog/canadian-medical-school-admissions-study
Image credit: ERHUI1979/GETTY IMAGES
Click the full screen icon below ( ) to view the study in full screen.
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Halves is a British 3-act play written by Arthur Conan Doyle, performed by H. T. Brickwell's London Company at Her Majesty's Theatre (Aberdeen, UK) from 10 to 15 april 1899 and toured in UK (from 17 april to 13 may), and finished in Garrick Theater (London, UK) from 10 june to 4 august 1899.
This is a domestic drama in a prologue and 3 acts suggested by James Payn's novel of the same name.
Act I. - Dr. William Dawson's waiting-room and surgery. Time, April 3, 1898.
Act II. - Dr. William Dawson's drawing-room. The same day.
Act III. - The same. Time, April 6, 1898.
This page was last edited on 1 December 2018, at 22:18.