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The Modern-Day Heroes on Two Wheels
Tanauan, Batangas—August ,30 2020— Who says that only heroes with capes are superheroes? And who could imagine that every day, we can see heroes around us? And who would think that this pandemic will turn the negative into something good and positive?
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the country's economy into a complete halt, affecting the lives of Filipinos. However, it is during these trying times that hero within us tend to show.
Lockdowns and quarantines in the country may have limited mobility and the community's ability to help one another, but it did not stop some riders to lend a helping hand to those who are most affected by the pandemic.
Honda Philippines Inc. (HPI), the No. 1 motorcycle manufacturer in the country, pays respect to the initiatives of these unsung heroes on two wheels, who continue to go above and beyond to help their fellow Filipinos during a time of struggle.
The Man of Togetherness
In the Municipality of Kabacan, North Cotabato, a small community in Barangay Kilagasan, has one man who supported them during this crisis. Mark Rollon, an accounts developer, a member of I RIDE SOLO PH, and an owner of The New XRM125, organized a poster-making contest for the community to help people still have a sense of togetherness.
Last July 24, Rollon organized and donated materials for the poster-making contest, so parents in the community can express their hardships. The contest also gave away facemasks to the families in the community to stay safe and abide by the quarantine guidelines.
The Humanitarian Rider
Hush Aguelo, a proud owner of The New CLICK150i and founder of a humanitarian group of motorcycle riders named "Cebu Tabang Express." He created this group to call upon volunteer riders to give free delivery services for the less-fortunate people in Cebu.
"We aim to deliver groceries, parcels, and even buy medicine for seniors, minors, pregnant, disabled, people without access to the internet and delivery services, and people without quarantine passes. We're a free delivery courier delivering essentials," Aguelo said.
Thanks to The New CLICK150i, he can perform his humanitarian duties, despite the challenges of the pandemic. And, with the help of the volunteers and the group's beneficiaries, they continue to face the pandemic with their heads held high.
The Mommy Volunteer
Delivery couriers are not the only heroes on two wheels. Jessa Cayago, a teacher, volunteer, and single mother, who uses The All-New Genio to bravely face the dangers of the global health pandemic to help not only her baby but also the youth of tomorrow.
Last July 26, she was on her way to Laguna Bay with the Laguna Genio Riders for a charity ride, when they came across a group of starving street children before arriving at their destination. They decided to prepare food and come back for them.
"Thank God, they were still out there. We came back to the place where we saw the street children, and there we gave them all the food we prepared. It really touched our hearts to see the smile on their face. We usually count the blessings we receive but should also make our blessings count," Cayago said.
COVID-19 changed many people's lives, including children who were heavily impacted by this pandemic. Jerson Zuniga, President of the XRM Biker's Club (XBC) Iligan Chapter, and other club members took it upon themselves to help the future of this country survive and move forward from this crisis.
Members of XBC Iligan Chapter donated boxes of bond papers to help teachers ease expenses in making and printing learning modules for their students, last August 23.
They also did another outreach activity to help a family of orphans, which included a pregnant sister. The bikers brought supplies such as food, clothes, and other essentials to provide their basic needs during these trying times.
"Our aim is to share as much as we can, even if it is small shares, to help the teachers make the modules the students will use for remote learning. We also shared with the orphans so that they have food and clothing. No matter how small the sacrifice, if many will share, all will have enough," Zuniga said.
These people show that there is still good in this pandemic. Seeing fulfillment of one's dream and desires to be good is as important to be a human. Same with the "ONE DREAM" Campaign of HPI, which helps fulfill the dreams of Filipinos through the joy of mobility with Honda motorcycles.
The All-New Genio, The New CLICK150i, and TheNew XRM125 are only three of HPI's top of the line Models that can let Filipinos experience the joy of mobility and the ability to help each other during these difficult times.
There is a lot more to explore from Honda and its wide array of motorcycles. For more details about Honda products and promos, visit our website www.hondaph.com and follow our Facebook page, Honda Philippines, Inc and Instagram, @hondaph_mc. You can also contact us through our landline number, (02)-8581-6700 to 6799 and mobile number, 0917-884-6632.
Want to learn the basics and master riding a motorcycle? Stay tuned for our next article on the best way to learn riding a motorcycle.
Biggest Philippine Esports movers and makers unite, await POC accreditation
Prominent local stakeholders enter strategic partnership under PeSO to elevate Philippine Esports
August 2020 – The largest and most credible esports companies and personalities in the Philippines have come together under the revamped banner of the Philippine Esports Organization (PeSO). Backed by telecommunications giant, Smart Communications, PEsO is comprised of the most recognizable names in Philippine esports – Bren Esports, Gariath Concepts, Mineski Philippines, The Nationals, PlayBook Esports, Tier One Entertainment, TV5, and TNC Holdings.
PeSO has the distinction of being the sole organization accredited by the International Esports Federation (IESF) since 2012. PeSO's member organizations had previously worked together under the banner of the Esports National Association of the Philippines (ESNAP) and the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Esports Union (PSEU) for the successful staging of the first ever esports event in the SEA Games held in the Philippines in 2019. The AESF had sanctioned the PSEU to execute the SEA Games esports tournament. The AESF had also signed in March 2020 a landmark agreement with the IESF, wherein the IESF recognizes and acknowledges AESF as the sole federation for esports in Asia, while the AESF recognizes and acknowledges the IESF as the sole international federation for esports.
The Philippine E-Sports Organization (PeSO) has been accredited by the International e-Sports since 2012.
PeSO President Mr. Brian Lim with other member countries of the IESF in 2012
In the 2019 SEA Games Esports Tournament, Bren Esports, Gariath Concepts, and TNC worked under the leadership of The Nationals Commissioner Ren Vitug to be the National Technical Officials (NTOs) of the tournament, while Mineski Philippines and TV5 co-produced and streamed the event for all the participating countries. Distinguished individuals from Bren Esports, Mineski Global, PlayBook Esports, and Tier One Entertainment provided the coaching and management staff for Team Sibol, the Philippine National Esports Team. Gariath Concepts managing partner Joebert Yu was also overall competition manager for the tournament.
Member organizations of the Esports National Association of the Philippines (ESNAP) have merged with PeSO for a powerhouse group to elevate Philippine esports.
To kick off this significant milestone, PeSO will be mounting the Philippine Qualifiers for the 12th IESF World Championship to be held in Eliat, Israel in December. This year's Philippine Qualifiers will be an online format, featuring DOTA2 and Tekken 7. Team Sibol's Andreij "PBE.Doujin" Albar took him the bronze medal in last year's IESF World Championships, and PeSO is confident that this time, Team Sibol can match, if not exceed, last year's contingent's performance and standing.
"With the support of Smart Communications, there is no doubt that we are in a stronger position to place in this year's IESF World Championships," said Brian Lim, president of PeSO. "Smart's commitment to support and grow esports and the national team, Sibol, is crucial and is definitely appreciated."
Jane Jimenez Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart, had this to say about Smart's support for the esports national team: "Our goal is to continue leading the way to bring glory to Philippine esports. After supporting Team Sibol in the 2019 SEA Games, Smart reaffirms its commitment to the esports industry by looking for the next members of Team Sibol who will represent the Philippines in the IESF World Championships. "
PeSO has also applied for accreditation from the Philippine Olympic Committee to be the official National Sports Association (NSA) for the Philippines, giving it the main responsibility to govern and develop esports nationwide. PeSO's application for NSA accreditation is bolstered by the unified presence of the biggest and most credible collection of esports stakeholders in the Philippines, who have tirelessly worked towards the industry's growth and betterment since the early 2000s.
The search for the newest members of Team Sibol starts this September 2020. Details on the Philippine Qualifiers for the 12th IESF World Championship will be announced through the PeSO Facebook Page. TV5 and Cignal, who have been strong advocates of esports on Philippine airwaves, will air the Philippines Qualifiers on One Sports and One Sports Plus.
For more info on the Philippine Esports Organization (PEsO), visit the following links:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/philesports/
Website (under construction): https://www.esports.com.ph
Here's how we can create an HIV-free world in the next normal
Inevitably, there are numerous issues of importance that have taken a backseat because of the ongoing pandemic. One of them is HIV, which has not only been a cause for concern for those in the LGBTQIA+ community, but the entire human race as well. And while the DOH recently announced that HIV cases have gone down by an astounding 68% in the 2nd quarter of 2020, they also note that it is no cause for celebration.
Whether the number of cases has truly gone down or is simply unreported due to lockdowns across the country, the fact remains that there are still new cases daily. In fact, before the pandemic, DOH statistics revealed that the country averaged 35 cases on a daily basis.
While we have movements and events like Pride Month that promote HIV-awareness alongside gender equality, bringing awareness to this cause, even while on lockdown, should not stop. There are actually some ways to raise the alarm and bring the issue of HIV to the fore. Here are a few:
A good first step—especially for those who are still on the fence and have reservations on the matter—would be to acknowledge and accept that people are free to identify themselves as they wish and that there is no one way to express one's self and one's love—not to mention that HIV exists. With this first step, individuals will have a much easier time trying to understand and empathize with each other and possibly help each other overcome challenges such as HIV, gender inequality, and other similar issues.
One of the many benefits of this fast-paced, digital world we live in today is that seemingly-unlimited information is readily available within our fingertips. This is key because part of creating an HIV-free world also entails learning more about it, the groups of people who usually contract it, and ways in which the virus can be eradicated.
With a clear understanding on HIV, creating a world without it would mean spreading the word, engaging in discourse, and spreading your knowledge to uninformed people. In advocating, one can also learn more through likeminded people looking to express themselves as well.
Lastly, in order to disseminate information and knowledge further while building a sense of community, it would be good to take action and support calls and campaigns such as Durex's "No One Way Love All Ways" Campaign that supports and promotes all ways of living and expressing.
"A big challenge in the fight against HIV has always been the lack of acknowledgement and proper education on the matter." Said Dr. Rica Cruz, Licensed Psychologist, Sex Therapist and Educator. "While our current situation presents difficulties as physical events cannot be staged, the opportunity to use available technologies such as social media and online webinars can also be utilized to our advantage. These are excellent tools for spreading the word to a wider audience from the comforts of our home while still being safe in more ways than one."
Canva unveils a raft of new social media features
Small businesses, content creators, and marketers can plan and schedule their content in advance with Canva's new Content Planner
Global online design platform Canva is leading the charge into emerging social networks, it announces a raft of new social media features including the ability to plan and schedule content directly from Canva as well as new templates and publishing options for TikTok and Instagram Reels.
With much of Canva's early success and exponential growth stemming from the overwhelming need for a quick and easy way to create eye-catching social media content, the design tool is now used by more than 30 million people from 190 countries creating everything from t-shirts to presentations, videos, posters and more.
As Canva continues to double down on its rapidly growing marketing suite, the company is looking back to its roots, today announcing a raft of new features to further empower content creators and small businesses using social media to connect with their communities.
Available from today to Canva Pro subscribers and more than 60,000 nonprofit organizations as part of Canva's Nonprofit program, Canva's new Content Planner now makes it possible to schedule upcoming social media content directly from the Canva Editor to a range of social networking platforms, solving the need for manually downloading individual Canva designs or paying for standalone social media scheduling tools.
"There has never been a more critical time for sharing messages on social media, particularly amid the ongoing pandemic as small businesses work to keep their customers informed, millions of people look to kickstart their own side-hustle and community groups work to stay connected despite being apart. While these product updates will add even more value to Canva's growing repertoire of marketing capabilities, we hope they'll also go a long way in keeping people connected, creative, and together," said Head of Canva Pro, David Burson.
Canva's regularly updated library of social media templates provides a wide variety of fresh content ideas with everything from sales announcements to TikTok challenges, and for those looking to publish to multiple platforms at once, Canva's Magic Resize feature takes time-saving and productivity even further. Gone are the days of creating multiple designs with unique dimensions for each platform. With only a few clicks, Canva can automatically resize and schedule your designs optimized for a variety of social platforms.
With 80% of Canva Pro users using the platform in a marketing capacity, Canva Pro also includes access to an additional 170,000 premium templates and tools such as Canva's Background Remover, Brand Kit, and the ability to export designs with Transparent Backgrounds.
"Canva's new Content Planner will empower anyone to amplify their social media strategy, engage their online communities and save valuable time and money. We're excited to be rolling out this new set of marketing tools for Filipino small to medium business owners who can now plan, design, and schedule captivating social media content directly from the Canva Editor," said Yani Hornilla-Donato, Canva Philippines Country Lead.
In addition to the new Content Planner, Canva has also launched a variety of templates to help content creators capitalize on the mass adoption of both TikTok and Instagram Reels. The new templates are available to all users along with the ability to publish from Canva's video editor directly to TikTok.
"The emergence of these new social networking platforms presents a unique opportunity for content creators to engage with new audiences in ways that weren't previously possible. We're thrilled to be rolling out these new templates and publishing options as we double down on our mission of empowering our community to design anything and publish anywhere," explained Burson.
Canva's Content Planner and scheduling currently supports Facebook pages and groups as well as Twitter, LinkedIn, Slack, Pinterest, Weibo and Tumblr with more platforms coming soon.
HEALTHY CHOICES AT SM CITY BALIWAG
During these challenging times, it is best to keep ourselves fit and healthy. Apart from proper diet and exercise, it is important to look for good sources of vitamins and minerals to equip ourselves against virus and illnesses. Others also explore natural remedies and supplements that could help strengthen the immunity and help prevent diseases.
As such, SM City Baliwag caters some healthy options such as dessert, refreshers, and natural supplements you may enjoy, while keeping up with these trying times.
AVOCADORIA. Have your dose of Avocado's rich vitamins and minerals the sweeter way at Avocadoria premium dessert stall in SM City Baliwag. Who would dare resist their tempting bestsellers: the Avocado Lover, an avocado soft-serve with avocado slices, sprinkled with nuts, crushed graham crackers, flax, and chia seeds; and the Avocado Dream, an avocado ice cream served in an avocado shell topped with sweet pastillas. Apart from their best sellers, other offerings include Avocado Shake and Avocado Cheesecake.
DAILY DETOX AND LEMON FRESH. Shoppers may indulge to goodness of fruit infused water with The Daily Detox available on different selections: lemon-orange, lemon-cucumber and apple-orange. For an added treat, patrons may also enjoy The Daily Detox refill for only Php 20.00.
Another way to detoxify and recharge immunity is through Lemon Shakers. This refreshing treat fused with fruity flavors is by far the latest trend in lemonade. Some of their newest selections are lemonade in orange, aloha and four seasons. These are served with sinkers of your choice: nata de coco, fruit jelly, chia seeds, honey or aloe vera.
YAMANG BUKID AND CARICA. SM City Baliwag is a home to two of the most trusted brands when it comes to natural way of maintaining a healthy lifestyle— Yamang Bukid and Carica.
Yamang Bukid is inspired by wonder plant Turmeric with anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant components and may help prevent heart disease. Try Yamang Bukid's honest to goodness products such as their bestseller turmeric 10-in-1 herbal tea available in different sizes. You may also try their amazing line of pure and healthy powdered variants such as pandan, lemongrass, malunggay, turmeric, ginger, and sambong.
Established in 1996, Carica is a well-known brand that develops functional foods and food supplements made out of tropical fruits and plants such as wild papaya, noni, mangosteen, and forest berries. These resources gathered from biologically grown plants (rather than from cultivated plants) are all natural and and have not been touched by pesticides or fertilizers. Some of their products include capsules, coffee, juices, syrups, extracts, tea, virgin coconut oil and personal care.
Now more than ever, staying safe and healthy are the ones most important things we have to consider. Visit SM City Baliwag for your healthy eats and other essential needs or order at the comfort of your homes and have your favorites delivered right at your doorsteps. Just browse through https://bit.ly/SMBaliwagMenuGuide to check menu guide, store contact details and delivery options.
Also, visit SMCityBaliwag at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter as well as SM SUPERMALLS BULACAN Viber community for updates and promos.
Holcim partners with digital platform for construction sector to reach industry professionals
Holcim Philippines has partnered with construction sector webpage Pinoy Builders to better communicate with building industry professionals who are increasingly using digital platforms for industry news and learning and development.
Leading cement manufacturer Holcim Philippines, Inc. has partnered with an emerging digital platform for the construction sector to better reach industry professionals on how the company's various solutions and offerings can support them in their projects.
Holcim Philippines has tied up with Pinoy Builders, a website focused on providing relevant and helpful content for construction professionals in the Philippines including industry trends, project management tips and building material use updates. Specialists and experts from Holcim Philippines serve as resource persons on topics such as cement, concrete and health and safety.
Holcim Philippines Senior Vice President for Marketing and Innovation Ram Maganti said the partnership is helpful in the company's efforts to reach the country's construction professionals who are steadily using online platforms for industry news and professional development.
"The Philippines is a very digitally savvy country and majority of professionals in the Philippines' construction industry are millennials who are 'digital natives'. With its steadily growing number of subscribers and followers, Pinoy Builders is helpful in our efforts in engaging and positively influencing the construction industry. We are excited in continuing to contribute to this platform to let Filipino building professionals know how our offerings and solutions can help them in their projects," he said.
Pinoy Builders has also recently branched out to provide webinars in collaboration with building industry groups such as the United Architects of the Philippines and Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers. The first webinar on cement basic and cement types featured members of Holcim Philippines' technical services team.
Launched in April 2019, Pinoy Builders attracts about 150,000 visitors per month making it a powerful platform to communicate and engage with members of the building industry.
Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange: HLCM) is one of the leading building solution companies in the country. The Company has a deep portfolio of innovative solutions fostered by a full range of products from structuring to finishing applications that can help local builders execute with high performance and efficiency a wide range of projects from massive infrastructure to simple home repairs.
With cement manufacturing facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Batangas, Misamis Oriental and Davao, as well as aggregates and dry mix business and technical support facilities for building solutions, Holcim Philippines is a reliable partner of builders in the country.
Holcim Philippines is also committed to the highest standards of sustainable operations and manufacturing excellence with its plants certified under ISO 14001:2004 (Environmental Management System), ISO 9001:2008 (Quality Management System) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System).
Holcim Philippines is a member of the LafargeHolcim Group, the world leader in the building materials industry present in 80 countries with over 75,000 employees.
Quarantine creativity: 19-year-old Cebu student uses soy sauce to make art
Quarantine Creativity: 19-year-old Thea Sophia Disabelle only had a bottle of Silver Swan Soy Sauce, large plate, and a limitless imagination to create unique works of art.
As the quarantine keeps everyone at home for their safety, many young Filipinos spend their time honing their skills and creativity, finding ways to express themselves. With all this free time on their hands, there are those who even go the extra mile when it comes to being creative.
This was certainly the case for 19-year-old communication student Thea Sophia Disabelle, from Bantayan Island, Cebu, who stirred buzz on the internet after creating art not just through traditional mediums, but also using a medium no one thinks could be used for art: soy sauce. Yes, the very same soy sauce you ordinarily see in kitchens at home.
"It all started when I poured a little amount of soy sauce into a saucer, since I needed it for my fried fish," said Thea, who made her first soy sauce artwork back in March using Silver Swan Soy Sauce, a staple in their pantry. "After that, I paused for three seconds while staring at it—something was beautifully formed. After I had my breakfast that day, I asked myself, 'Why not make art using soy sauce?'"
Working with soy sauce
Photo from Thea Sophia Disabelle's Facebook Account
While Thea always had access to Silver Swan Soy Sauce as it was the family's preferred brand since her childhood, it would take her a few more months before trying to make another soy sauce artwork after her first one. This time, however, people took notice.
"I posted it on Facebook and didn't expect to get many likes, comments and shares," she said.
"Fortunately, it really went viral and I was so overwhelmed."
Although Thea also creates art using more traditional mediums such as paint, pastels, and pencils, she likes the convenience that soy sauce allows, recommending it to artists who may have challenges getting art materials during the quarantine. Silver Swan Soy Sauce, made of high-quality soybeans, also provides artists a unique texture to work with, distinguishing it from the usual materials and providing a tamang-tamang timpla even to art.
"The texture looks so cool after a while," she says. "Artists just need soy sauce, a large plate, and imagination. It's tricky to do this kind of artwork because one wrong move, you'll have to start all over again. It might be an ephemeral artwork but it's worth the effort."
Inspiring young Filipino creatives
As some artists find new ways to make breathtaking art during the quarantine using everyday items, Thea believes that there's really no limit to what anyone can create as long as they keep trying. She herself wants to pursue a fine arts course and eventually turn her hobby into her life's work.
"I encourage them to be creative and make use of their time through art," she says. "You don't need expensive art materials—you just have to go to your kitchen, get some stuff and make it your masterpiece. It's just a matter of creativity, dedication and willingness to learn something new. You just have to be creative in making nothing into something. That's how art works."
As a token of recognition for Thea's astounding creativity and resourcefulness, NutriAsia, makers of Silver Swan will be sending her and her family more of their products for their use—whether it's for their food or for more of Thea's art.
Enjoy up to 20% discount on Beach Hut products during Shopee's Beauty and Health Fair from Aug 30 – Sept 1
Who needs sunscreen? Literally everyone. The answer may come as a surprise but it's the plain truth. Study says applying sunscreen even while indoors is a must since radiation can come from indoor lights at home or virtually everywhere. A good one protects your skin from Ultraviolet rays A and B.
Experts recommend a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher for any extended outdoor activity. What has SPF (sun protection factor) got to do with it? UV rays tend to damage the skin's outer layers where most forms of skin cancers occur and the right amount of SPF will assure protection from it. Sunscreen contains complex chemical ingredients that react with radiation before it penetrates the skin, absorbing the rays and releasing the energy as heat. Beach Hut has SPF100 which is more than enough. It has been a trusted household name for the longest time and luckily, you can get 20% discount from Shopee's Beauty and Health Fair this August 30th up to September 1st!
The brand offers revolutionary products in sun protection so you can have the best time under the sun. The MAX SPF100++ Sunscreen comes in a 100mL bottle and has micronized Zinc Oxide Technology to ensure lightness on skin and offers broad UVA/UVB Protection. Best of all, it's non-messy and non-greasy This product will guarantee that it will prevent your skin from darkening. Check it here
For even and quick application, you might want to try the Summer Aerosol. It still has maximum SPF 100 Protection just like the rest of their lineup . Assures sweat and water resistance so it stays on your skin even after being active and while providing broad UVA/UVB Protection. It comes in a 177ml bottle and you may buy one from this link.
Achieve that perfect golden tan by spraying on their Tanning Dry Oil with SPF0. It is infused with Moroccan Argan Oil which is utilized as a tanning agent and also contains Vitamin E to keep skin moisturized. Coconut and Macadamia Oils will instantly provide peace and relaxation. The product is sold in a 150ml bottle. Buy it using this link
Get the same extreme protection at SPF 100++ without the sticky and oily feel. this variant offers the highest sun protection factor among other clear spray sunblock brands in the market. In addition, it is sweat and water-resistant . Spray upside down for quick and easy application! The 15oml Sunscreen spray can be purchased here
Before going out, make sure to apply sunscreen so you can have more fun in the sun!
Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play and visit the Beach Hut official page
Leading Brands and MSMEs Gear Up for Shopee's Highly-Anticipated 9.9 Super Shopping Day
MANILA, AUGUST 27, 2020 – Brands and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are gearing up for Shopee's signature annual shopping event, 9.9 Super Shopping Day. With more Filipinos going online-first for their shopping needs, the highly anticipated 9.9 Super Shopping Day provides brands and retailers the opportunity to reach more customers and amplify their online presence.This year, 9.9 Super Shopping Day takes on greater significance in the Philippines, as the nation continues to combat the pandemic and uphold social distancing efforts. The 9.9 Super Shopping Day acts as a springboard for recovery for brands and MSMEs, and is in line with the new normal where consumers are now online-first. Shopee is working closely with brands and MSMEs to bring shoppers the most comprehensive assortment of products at 9.9 Super Shopping Day. It includes greater logistics integration and marketing support, which will help brands and MSMEs make the most of the spike in demand.
Leading brands and MSMEs such as Aukey, Vivo, and Playbookstore have outlined their goals and their plans this 9.9 Super Shopping Day.
Aukey, an electronics and mobile tech accessories company, is stepping up logistics coordination with Shopee and optimizing their marketing efforts to maximize higher user traffic at 9.9 Super Shopping Day. "We want to give our customers the best shopping experience with better deals and faster deliveries. It is why we ensure that our inventory can meet the increasing online demand. We also have a dedicated logistics team that keeps track of orders on Shopee, helping us optimize the delivery process so that customers receive their parcels as soon as possible. Along with that, our social media ads will run before the live sale to ensure that our target customers will see our offers during the shopping event." says Janine Mangahas, Brand Manager for Aukey Philippines.
Mangahas added, "Besides, Shopee offers a wide range of payment options to meet our consumers' differing needs. It's especially vital for brands like us who want to reach more clients and customers who don't have debit or credit cards."
Meanwhile, vivo aims to give their customers the best possible deals at 9.9 Super Shopping Day. Tess Xian, Digital Manager for vivo Philippines, says, "We believe that our products help customers stay connected with their friends and loved ones, especially during these difficult times. With this, we plan to offer exclusive discounts on selected smartphones on Shopee and vouchers to provide greater cost savings for our consumers. "
"Also, we find the paid search ads on Shopee very useful because it helps customers find what they are looking for more efficiently. Shopee's social features such as Shopee Feed and Stories let us engage our fans more easily on the app, making it easy for our customers to stay up-to-date on our latest updates. Besides this, we can build consumer trust in our product quality and our brand image by posting positive product reviews on Shopee Feed," Xian added.
Judy Wong, @playbookstore
Sellers such as Playbookstore are also mapping out their plans for 9.9 Super Shopping Day. After being on Shopee for three years, Judy Wong, the owner of @playbookstore on Shopee, is a veteran in big campaigns like 9.9 Super Shopping Day. "We prepare as early as possible, with our marketing team, designing all our photos and homepage to follow the overall theme of the campaign. During the preparation phase, we worked closely with the Shopee team to set targets, and they always shared with us tips on how to hit those targets, which has been very helpful," she said. "Also, we find ShopeePay useful as it makes online shopping more convenient, easy, and secure for our consumers and us. With ShopeePay, our consumers can easily make online payments when they purchase from us. They are also able to make these purchases with the ease of mind because ShopeePay follows strict security standards and is supported by strong infrastructure as well as 24h Customer Service teams to respond to customer queries." she added.
Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines, said, "We appreciate the strong support from MSMEs and brand partners for our 9.9 Super Shopping Day. This year's key commitment for 9.9 Super Shopping Day is to supercharge recovery for local MSMEs, sellers, and brands, and Shopee has rolled out a wide range of support measures to help them achieve success with us. We will continue to empower businesses of all sizes to unlock growth opportunities at our signature shopping event and deliver our users' best experience."
Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day
The Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day will run from August 19 to September 9, 2020. It will feature exciting promotions like free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend, daily flash deals for as low as ₱9, and bigger discounts when shoppers use ShopeePay. Consumers will also get huge discounts up to 90% off on leading brands, win exciting prizes via in-app games and many more.
For more information on the Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day, please visit https://shopee.ph/m/99.
Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.
Smart brings Ellie Goulding's The Brightest Blue Experience online concert to Filipino fans
Mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. makes it simpler for Filipinos to score tickets and watch Ellie Goulding's The Brightest Blue Experience along with millions of fans around the world.
Smart has partnered with LIVENow, a pay-per-view service, which shall broadcast the British singer-songwriter's one-off exclusive virtual concert live on August 27 from London's iconic Victoria & Albert Museum.
The showcase will see Ellie perform tracks from her new album for the first time as well as some fan favorites, accompanied by a special ensemble of live musicians and a very special guest.
Smart subscribers can buy their ticket and conveniently charge this to their postpaid bill. To do this, subscribers only need to sign up at https://www.live-now.com, select Pay Your Phone, then choose Smart as mode of payment. Smart Prepaid customers can also conveniently buy their concert pass using their prepaid load.
Digital concerts in the new normal
As the world continues to deal with the pandemic situation, online concerts have become a huge source of entertainment for the quarantined public.
Through this, Smart continues to bring subscribers closer to their passions, in this case music, by giving them easy access to world-class talents amid the new normal.
Ellie Goulding's The Brightest Blue Experience adds to the string of local and international artists that Smart has brought closer to Filipino fans through exclusive experiences and elevated lifestyle perks.
Country's fastest mobile data network
Smart subscribers can enjoy the concert seamlessly powered by the country's fastest mobile data network, as recognized by third-party analytics firms, such as Ookla and Opensignal.
Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, recently named Smart as the country's fastest mobile data network in the first half of 2020 after it achieved a Speed Score™ of 18.33, with average speeds of 15.94 Mbps for download and 7.57 Mbps for upload, based on 2,810,963 user-initiated tests taken with Speedtest®.
On the other hand, Opensignal, an independent mobile analytics firm, reported in its April 2020 Mobile Network Experience Report* for the Philippines that Smart remained ahead of the competition in terms of Video Experience, Upload, and Download Speed Experience, Voice App Experience, Games Experience, and 4G Availability.
To know more about The Brightest Blue Experience concert, visit https://smart.com.ph/Pages/smartEllieGoulding.
Sale and Shopping


Posters may be mounted from 08:00 AM on your presentation day and should be displayed until the end of the day.
Please note that posters will be presented in shifts. If you mount your poster on the days that are not your specified presentation days, your poster will be removed. The organizing committee will not be responsible for any misplaced posters.
Poster presenters are requested to stand next to their poster during coffee breaks and lunch breaks as indicated in the program for informal discussions/ questions regarding their work.
Please check the Final Program received upon registration to the congress for the number of the poster board allocated to you. Please use the board with the same number.
The dimensions of the poster board are PORTRAIT style: 1m wide x 2.30m long. It is suggested that your poster be 90 cm wide by 120 cm tall.
The text, illustrations, etc. should be bold enough to be read from a distance of two meters.
The Organizing Committee will not be responsible for posters that are not removed by the end of the presentation day.


The Ice Cream Sandwich update for the Samsung Galaxy S II made its debut in several countries, including Poland, Hungary, Sweden, and Korea, back in March. Taking that into consideration, U.S. Galaxy S II owners might be wondering when they can expect to get their scoop.
Well there is a little bit of good news for some US Galaxy S II owners this morning. People in the US who have unlocked Galaxy S IIs have begun to see an OTA update available. We must specify that by unlocked, we mean the international, non-carrier branded version of this phone.
While a few owners have reported that they were able to update their unlocked Galaxy S II in the U.S. manually via Kies for a few weeks now, this is the first time we have seen reports of the OTA update taking effect.
For those of you with unlocked Galaxy S IIs here in the states, you should get an alert very soon, or you can go to Settings and manually check for an update.
by reboot glitch....do u mean random restarting even when doing nothing on it??? and did the update boost the battery??
I guess what @cellieCell meant to ask if you are with any particular carrier. I have the i9100 and still havent seen any update. Do oyou have the same device or do you have the US variations?
I dont think samsung handled the updates well at all.


Lunch and Learn on Wednesday, May 8TH!
window treatments, and how to build your team of professionals when implementing this type of technology into your project.
When: Wednesday, May 8th, from 11 AM until 1 PM.


Seeking out and taking opportunities to pray for physical and emotional healing in others.
"After this the Lord appointed 72 others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you… When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'" Luke 10:1–2,8–9.


text:
The 1975 and Greta Thunberg Call For Climate Justice On New Single
Brendan Wetmore
"We are, right now, in the beginning of a climate and ecological crisis," Greta Thunberg speaks firmly at the outset of The 1975's latest single. Fans familiar with the band's work probably weren't expecting to hear the 16-year-old activist's voice on the lead track from the band's upcoming fourth album, Notes On a Conditional Form.
The self-titled track, "The 1975," appears on every record thus far in the band's discography in one form or another, always with the same angsty lyrics. This time, however, the band is filling this space with an urgent speech on the need for action against climate change and global emergencies.
Thunberg received worldwide praise in 2018 for her demonstrations and protests at the Swedish parliament, urging for immediate action to solve climatological crises around the world. She went on to inspire a movement that transcended borders, with strikes happening around the world from students calling for climate justice. Now, The 1975 are giving her a new platform for her message to reach the ears of millions — a five-minutes-long leading block at the beginning of their highly anticipated new album.
Her speech is incredibly moving; it is set in front of a glimmering array of keys and strings that crescendo into a symphony at the speech's most poignant moments. "Everything needs to change," she says towards the end of the track, right before calling for widespread civil disobedience from listeners.
The decision to make the first listen of Notes On a Conditional Form a spoken word track makes sense in the world of The 1975. Their 2019 album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, also contained a spoken word track, but it was about obsessive human interaction with the internet. Despite having differing themes, both tracks fit into the puzzling narrative of a post-millennium planet Earth. They are nuanced perspectives at the larger whole, and ultimately serve to digest the current global political climate, as well as the human condition.
On top of the release of "The 1975," the band has announced that Notes On a Conditional Form will be released in February 2020, and the next single, "People," is coming sooner than you think: August 22, 2019.
To read more about what you can do to help support youth directly in the fight for climate justice, visit the website for Our Children's Trust.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Datawatch Corporation, a provider in enterprise information management (EIM), announced that its web-based report mining and analysis solution, Monarch|RMS (Report Mining Server), is now integrated with IBM DB2 Content Manager OnDemand (CMOD). Based on Datawatch's Monarch report mining technology, Monarch|RMS turns static reports stored in a customer's CMOD system into real, actionable data. Companies that utilize and store large amounts of text-based reports can mine and transform their report data online for easy analysis, either through a web browser or their favorite productivity tool. Users can sort and filter relevant report data, summarize hundreds of megabytes of data with sub- and grand-totals, and perform multidimensional cube or OLAP-style analysis.


Straight Line Global and our professional team of Daily and CAT adjusters deliver fast and accurate residential and commercial claims services to Carriers, Third Party Administrators, Self Insured Entities and Government Organizations, nationwide.
At SLG, we are proud of our track record that includes measuring claims performance, collaborating with clients to identify multiple opportunities for operational improvement and cost reduction, executing the agreed upon plan, and demonstrating sustained performance improvement.
Our clients continue to be complimentary of our results that are driven by technology deployments, process improvements and customer services that are second to none.
As a recognized industry leader in accurate field reporting, SLG services are designed to: manage loss adjust expenses, increase indemnity accuracy, speed cycle times, reduce supplements, and provide industry proven proprietary technologies and confident results.
Policy Holders can be confident in SLG's ability to accurately report all aspects of the loss details with timely, independent and unbiased claims reporting.


Around 100 children are learning a variety of sports skills at Al Etihad Sports Academy in Abu Dhabi.
The spring holiday season for the youngsters just got over and the children are back in school. How do you think some capital children coped their off school season?
An inescapable reality of today is the excessive screen time spent both by adults and children.
However, a few parents who spoke with Gulf Today said in order to divert their wards away from the mobile phones and online games they escorted them to the playgrounds instead.
Sports are fun be it cricket, football, basket ball, tennis, giving children fitness, health including a shapely body structure. Parents at Al Ethihad Sports Academy (AESA), Abu Dhabi, said they preferred the outdoor sports skills for their sons and daughters, during the spring vacation, than time spent at home with an indoor play station.
Apart from the enjoyment of the game Vincent wants his wards to learn to focus and learn to work in a group. Majority of parents spoken to told Gulf Today that they believe that Sports Academies help a lot with this.
There are millions of sports parents found today, but how many of them could actually be described as great sports parents?
The majority of parents at AESA said not only do they prefer to send their wards during the different seasons like the Spring, Summer or Winter camps but right round the year they would want to keep their children occupied physically.
A few parents quipped that they too enjoy the outing with their wards on weekends,"Socializing with other parents and to watch our wards being trained at sports academies also do take away our time spent on iPads, smartphones and televisions," they joked.
Around 100 children are learning a variety of sports skills at AESA. Eighty five percent of the students are Indian nationals, five per cent Pakistanis including other nationalities too.
A delegation from Dubai Cares, part of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, recently visited Sri Lanka to launch a new programme, in partnership with Save the Children.
Dubai's private schools have shows remarkable progress as the latest school inspection results were declared by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai, on Wednesday.


text:
De Zwitserse parlementsverkiezingen van 1854 vonden plaats op 29 oktober 1854. Er werden 120 leden van de Nationale Raad en 44 leden van de Kantonsraad verkozen. De linkse radicalen behaalden bij deze verkiezingen een meerderheid in de Nationale Raad van 82 van de 120 zetels. De derde legislatuur die hierop volgde ging van start op 4 december 1854 en duurde drie jaar.

Deze verkiezingen verliepen deels in een sfeer van spanningen en geweld. In Ticino werden de verkiezingen zelfs ongeldig verklaard. In de tumult die na deze verkiezingen ontstond in dit kanton kwam Francesco De Giorgi om het leven.

Verloop van de verkiezingen

Net zoals bij de twee vorige verkiezingen, die van 1848 en die van 1851, behaalden ook nu de linkse radicalen een verkiezingsoverwinning. De gematigde liberalen behielden hun 14 zetels, ondanks een toegenomen stemmenaantal. De overige politieke strekkingen verloren stemmen.

Van de 517.641 stemgerechtigde mannen van 20 jaar en ouder namen 236.760 personen deel aan de verkiezingen, wat een opkomst betekende van 45,7%. Hierin zijn evenwel niet meegerekend de kiezers in de kantons Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Glarus, Obwalden, Nidwalden en Uri, wiens volksvertegenwoordigers door de Landsgemeinden werden verkozen.

Ongeldige verkiezingen in Ticino
In het kanton Ticino gingen de conservatieve katholieken en democratisch links, hoewel politiek zeer verschillend, een alliantie aan teneinde enige kantonnale autonomie te behouden tegenover de federale staat, die steeds machtiger werd. Beide politieke strekkingen kwamen dan ook op onder een eenheidslijst, waarvan de zes kandidaten werden verkozen. Deze eenheidslijst, die de lijst van de "Fusionisti" werd genoemd, viel niet in goede aarde bij de radicalen en de Neue Zürcher Zeitung, een krant van radicale strekking. Na de verkiezingen berichtte de krant als volgt: "We kregen een telegram uit Ticino dat meldde dat de verenigde oppositie er gewonnen had. We kunnen echter geen waarde hechten aan dit bericht. De mensen kunnen namelijk niet zo dom zijn dat zij hun meest capabele vertegenwoordigers zouden negeren."

Omdat er geen wettelijke regels bestonden die toelieten met een eenheidslijst op te komen, verklaarde de radicale meerderheid in de Nationale Raad de Ticinese verkiezingen ongeldig vanwege kiesfraude en het te laat bekendmaken van de uitslag door de kantonnale overheid. Men stelde immers schendingen vast van de federale wet van 21 december 1850 betreffende de verkiezingen van de Nationale Raad: de federale wet schreef voor dat de kiezers hun kiesrecht enkel mogen uitoefenen in de plaats van hun domicilie, terwijl een kantonnale wet in Ticino kiezers toeliet om in om het even welk kiesdistrict te stemmen, wat kiesfraude mogelijk zou maken. De Fusionisti-verkozenen verweet de kantonnale overheid, die eveneens door de radicalen werd gedomineerd, hierop hen te willen dwarsbomen.

Als gevolg van deze ongeldigheidsverklaring braken er onlusten uit in Ticino, waarbij op 20 februari 1855 in Locarno de radicaal Francesco De Giorgi om het leven kwam. Als gevolg hiervan ontstond de burgerbeweging Pronunciamento.

Op 11 maart 1855 vonden in het 40e en 41e kiesdistrict nieuwe verkiezingen plaats, waarbij de radicalen de zes betrokken zetels wisten te bemachtigen.

Resultaat

Algemeen

Nationale Raad

Zie ook
 Verkiezingen in Zwitserland

Verkiezingen in 1854
Verkiezingen in Zwitserland
1854 in Zwitserland

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Germany country website
New test centre in Bautzen
On December 11, 2019, we unveiled a new test centre at our site in Bautzen, Germany, which is now equipped with the latest innovative production and testing technologies. The site is taking on a pioneering role as a competence centre.
At the highly modern test centre, approximately 50 employees can work in three shifts. Three different vehicle types of up to 120 metres in length can be tested simultaneously. What's new is that the individual cars are being tested before the train is assembled and, finally, subjected to in-depth testing. This not only enables faster testing, but also more flexible testing which increases capacity to 600 cars per year. With the consistent use of digital technologies, all data is digitally linked to optimize production, testing and all processes from logistics to quality management.
Venue: Fabrikstraße 41, 02625 Bautzen, Germany
#Anchor : Photo gallery
01-New test center Bautzen
Olaf Schmiedel (General Manager, Site Bautzen, Bombardier Transportation) being interviewed for a German TV news magazine.
JPEG 215 KB
JPEG 6 MB
New test centre at Bautzen site
ZIP 2 MB
ZIP 73 MB
Bombardier unveils a new test centre at its site in Bautzen, Saxony
View and download all photos related to this event.
Michael Fohrer, Chairman of German Management Board, Bombardier Transportation) spoke on the importance of the new testing capacities in Bautzen for the site as well as for the whole region Central and Eastern Europe & Israel
Michael Kretschmer (Minister President Saxony) emphasized the relevance of the site in Bautzen as an integral part of Saxony's industrial landscape.
Michael Güntner (State Secretary, German Federal Transport Ministry) outlined the plans of the federal government to make significant investments into the German railway infrastructure.
Olaf Schmiedel (General Manager, Site Bautzen, Bombardier Transportation, left) and Gerd Kaczmarek (Chairman of the works council, Site Bautzen, Bombardier Transportation, right), presented the technical aspects of the new test center and talked about the opportunities it offers to the local team.
The symbolic inauguration of the new test center: Olaf Schmiedel (General Manager, Site Bautzen, Bombardier Transportation), Michael Fohrer (Chairman of German Management Board, Bombardier Transportation), Dr. Michael Güntner (State Secretary, German Federal Transport Ministry), Stéphane Dion (Canadian Ambassador to Germany), Dr. Hesselmann (Department leader, Transportations, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy), Michael Kretschmer (Minister President of Saxony), Gerd Kaczmarek (Chairman of the works council, Site Bautzen, Bombardier Transportation), Jim Vounassis (Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Transportation) push the red button [from left to right].
Olaf Schmiedel (General Manager, Site Bautzen, Bombardier Transportation, first from the right) talks to Michael Kretschmer (Minister President of Saxony, fourth from the right) about the newly implemented tools and processes of the test center.
[from left to right]: Olaf Schmiedel (General Manager, Site Bautzen, Bombardier Transportation), Stéphane Dion (Canadian Ambassador to Germany), Dr. Hesselmann (Department leader, Transportations, German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy), Gerd Kaczmarek (Chairman of the works council, Site Bautzen, Bombardier Transportation), Alexander Ahrens (Mayor of Bautzen), Michael Kretschmer (Minister President of Saxony), Michael Harig (District administrator Bautzen), Dr. Michael Güntner (State Secretary, German Federal Transport Ministry), Michael Fohrer (Chairman of German Management Board, Bombardier Transportation), Jim Vounassis (Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Transportation), Marko Schiemann (Saxony State Parliament representative)
The high-tech centre has been equipped with a waterproof testing system that automatically adapts to the shape of the carbody.
The facility has been expanded to include a new test track and a separate customer acceptance hall
Aerial view of the Bautzen test centre
#Anchor : Related news
Dec 11, 2019 / Press release
Jun 15, 2018 / Press release
Bombardier Transportation Inaugurates New Production Hall for Series Production in Saxony – Kick-off for Industry 4.0 at its Bautzen Site
#Anchor : Contacts
Janet Olthof


text:
StemExpress Welcomes Dr. Victoria Hines as Vice President of Clinical
February 6th, 2020|Business Wire|
Hines to lead company's expansion into clinical grade product lines
FOLSOM, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–StemExpress announced that Dr. Victoria Hines has been appointed Vice President of Clinical and will direct the company as they expand their offerings to include clinical grade products. Hines will lead global clinical operations, strategy and execution for StemExpress.
The increasing demand for cell and gene therapies to treat various diseases such as cancer, is expected to grow at a phenomenal rate. Companies are significantly investing in clinical trials as many innovative cell and gene therapy products have entered the early stage of clinical development.
"This space is absolutely transformative for healthcare," said Hines. "I'm excited to be a part of this ecosystem to bring cell therapies to patients around the world."
Hines has a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Chicago, a BA in Biology from Carleton College and has worked in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries for more than 30 years. She has extensive experience with late stage clinical trials, regulatory affairs, business strategy and program leadership.
"Vicky's vast experience in research and development, combined with her knowledge of commercial and clinical programs will position StemExpress as a leader to meet the growing demand for clinical grade applications and products," said Cate Dyer, StemExpress Founder and CEO.
Hines joins the StemExpress Executive Leadership team at their headquarters in Folsom, California.
About StemExpress, LLC
StemExpress is a leading provider of human bone marrow, cord blood, peripheral blood, mobilized peripheral blood, maternal blood, diseased blood, and human primary cells. With six collection centers around the U.S., StemExpress has a reliable and streamlined process starting with donor recruitment to shipping the final product guaranteeing every sample has the highest purity, viability, and quality.
For more information, please visit https://www.stemexpress.com/clinical-grade-products/ or call 530-626-7000.
Katherine Elorduy
kelorduy@stemexpress.com


Please download our Accessibility Plan below. This illustrates, how over time, Thornton Primary School will continue to develop the accessibility of the curriculum, environment and information of the school for all pupils, staff, parents and visitors, including those with disabilities.
improving the delivery of information so that it is accessible to everyone.


text:
Oranje Wednesdays: Ajax kick-off with an 8-1 win
Ollie Irish
22nd, August 2007
We thought Bayern Munich had thrown the gauntlet down to the other teams in the Bundesliga, but in neighbouring Holland the signal of intent from Ajax has been emphatic. They thrashed De Graafschap 1-8 in the opening round of matches of the Dutch Eredivisie. Klaas Jan Hunterlaar weighed in with four goals.
Here are the highlights. Watch the goals thumping in accompanied by an equally thumping Eurobeat.
And while watching that video, we couldn't help but notice that Ajax seem to have an unlikely fan in the shape of former Feyenoord player Dirk Kuyt.
Holland face Switzerland tonight in a friendly. The match will mark Ruud van Nistelrooy's return from the international wilderness. He has not played for the national team since falling out with Holland coach Marco van Basten at last summer's World Cup.
it's never likely to happen but wouldn't it be nice if Jan Hunterlaar stayed with Ajax for his whole career instead of following a pay-cheque to one of the big 4?
i guess 'loyal' heroes are a long gone thing these days :(
FulhamJoe says:
Watch that lad Suarez (foreground on the first pic). He's gonna be big.
That would be hilarious if you had a dutch dream team with some oranje defenders. even worse, i wonder how many people bet on oranje to win at 4/1?


text:
from eventlet import Timeout
from webob import Request
from webob.exc import HTTPServerError
import uuid

from swift.common.utils import get_logger

class CatchErrorMiddleware(object):
    """
    Middleware that provides high-level error handling and ensures that a
    transaction id will be set for every request.
    """

    def __init__(self, app, conf):
        self.app = app
        self.logger = get_logger(conf, log_route='catch-errors')

    def __call__(self, env, start_response):
        """
        If used, this should be the first middleware in pipeline.
        """
        trans_id = 'tx' + uuid.uuid4().hex
        env['swift.trans_id'] = trans_id
        self.logger.txn_id = trans_id
        try:

            def my_start_response(status, response_headers, exc_info=None):
                trans_header = ('x-trans-id', trans_id)
                response_headers.append(trans_header)
                return start_response(status, response_headers, exc_info)
            return self.app(env, my_start_response)
        except (Exception, Timeout), err:
            self.logger.exception(_('Error: %s'), err)
            resp = HTTPServerError(request=Request(env),
                                   body='An error occurred',
                                   content_type='text/plain')
            resp.headers['x-trans-id'] = trans_id
            return resp(env, start_response)

def filter_factory(global_conf, **local_conf):
    conf = global_conf.copy()
    conf.update(local_conf)

    def except_filter(app):
        return CatchErrorMiddleware(app, conf)
    return except_filter

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
#include <cstdint>
#include <ctime>
#include <iostream>
#include <random>
#include <string>

#include <glad/glad.h>
#include <GLFW/glfw3.h>

//#include "lodepng.h"
#include "shader.h"

#define GLSL(x) #x

void key_callback(GLFWwindow* window, int key, int scancode, int action, int mode);
void resize_callback(GLFWwindow* window, int width, int height);

int width, height;
int main(int argc, char** argv) {
    // Setup GLFW
    glfwInit();

    glfwWindowHint(GLFW_CONTEXT_VERSION_MAJOR, 4);
    glfwWindowHint(GLFW_CONTEXT_VERSION_MINOR, 0);
    glfwWindowHint(GLFW_OPENGL_PROFILE, GLFW_OPENGL_CORE_PROFILE);
    glfwWindowHint(GLFW_OPENGL_FORWARD_COMPAT, GL_TRUE);

    GLFWwindow *window;
#define FULLSCREEN 0
#if FULLSCREEN
    width = 1920;
    height = 1080;
    window = glfwCreateWindow(width, height, "Shadertoy Screensaver", glfwGetPrimaryMonitor(), nullptr);
#else
    width = 800;
    height = 600;
    window = glfwCreateWindow(width, height, "Shadertoy Screensaver", nullptr, nullptr);
#endif

    glfwMakeContextCurrent(window);
    glfwSetKeyCallback(window, key_callback);
    glfwSetWindowSizeCallback(window, resize_callback);

    int count = 0;
    glfwGetMonitors(&count);
    std::cout << "Number of monitors: " << count << "\n";

    // Load in OGL functions
    if (!gladLoadGL()) {
        std::cout << "Failed to initialize OpenGL context" << std::endl;
        return -1;
    }

    // Check if we are uses a default shader or a passed in shader
    std::string shadertoyShaderPath("shaders/ring_twister.frag");
    std::cout << "argc: " << argc << "\n";
    if (argc > 1) {
        shadertoyShaderPath = argv[1];
    } else {
        std::cout << "Usage: " << argv[0] << " <shadertoy frag shader>\n";
    }
    std::cout << "Using shader path: " << shadertoyShaderPath << "\n";
    Shader s("shaders/simple.vert", shadertoyShaderPath);

    std::string header =
        "#version 430\n"
        "uniform vec3      iResolution;           // viewport resolution (in pixels)\n"
        "uniform float     iGlobalTime;           // shader playback time (in seconds)\n"
        "uniform vec4      iMouse;                // mouse pixel coords. xy: current (if MLB down), zw: click\n"
        "in vec2 TexCoord;"
        "out vec4 outColor;"
        "uniform sampler2D textureData;"
        "uniform sampler2D iChannel0;\n\n";
    s.addFragHeader(header);

    std::string footer =
        "\n\nvoid main() {"
        "    mainImage(outColor, gl_FragCoord.xy);"
        "}";
    s.addFragFooter(footer);

    if(!s.compile()) {
        std::cout << "Some error happened while creating shaders\n";
        return -1;
    }

    GLuint VAO;
    glGenVertexArrays(1, &VAO);
    glBindVertexArray(VAO);

    // load in vertex data
    float vertices[] = {
          /* position */     /* texcoords */
        -1.0, -1.0, 0.0,    0.0, 0.0,
        1.0, -1.0, 0.0,     1.0, 0.0,
        1.0, 1.0, 0.0,      1.0, 1.0,
        -1.0, 1.0, 0.0,     0.0, 1.0,
    };
    GLuint VBO;
    glGenBuffers(1, &VBO);
    glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, VBO);
    glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, sizeof(vertices), vertices, GL_STATIC_DRAW);

    // Position attribute
    glVertexAttribPointer(0, 3, GL_FLOAT, GL_FALSE, 5 * sizeof(GLfloat), (GLvoid*)0);
    glEnableVertexAttribArray(0);

    // TexCoord attribute
    glVertexAttribPointer(1, 2, GL_FLOAT, GL_FALSE, 5 * sizeof(GLfloat), (GLvoid*)(3 * sizeof(GLfloat)));
    glEnableVertexAttribArray(1);

    // load in index data
    GLuint vertex_indices[] = {
        0, 1, 2,
        2, 3, 0,
    };
    GLuint EBO;
    glGenBuffers(1, &EBO);
    glBindBuffer(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, EBO);
    glBufferData(GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, sizeof(vertex_indices), vertex_indices, GL_STATIC_DRAW);

    // get uniform locations
    GLint textureDataSamplerLoc = glGetUniformLocation(s.getShaderProgram(), "textureData");
    GLint iResolutionUniformLoc = glGetUniformLocation(s.getShaderProgram(), "iResolution");
    GLint iGlobalTimeLoc = glGetUniformLocation(s.getShaderProgram(), "iGlobalTime");
    GLint iMouseUniformLoc = glGetUniformLocation(s.getShaderProgram(), "iMouse");

    // main loop
    double mouseX, mouseY, mouseZ, mouseW;
    mouseX = mouseY = mouseZ = mouseW = 0.0;
    while (!glfwWindowShouldClose(window)) {
        glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT);

        // Activate shader
        glUseProgram(s.getShaderProgram());

        // set uniforms
        glUniform1i(textureDataSamplerLoc, 0);
        glUniform3f(iResolutionUniformLoc, (float)width, (float)height, 0.0f);
        glUniform1f(iGlobalTimeLoc, (float)glfwGetTime() + 5.0f);

        if (glfwGetMouseButton(window, GLFW_MOUSE_BUTTON_LEFT) == GLFW_PRESS
            || glfwGetMouseButton(window, GLFW_MOUSE_BUTTON_RIGHT) == GLFW_PRESS) {
            mouseZ = 1.0f;
            glfwGetCursorPos(window, &mouseX, &mouseY);
        }
        glUniform4f(iMouseUniformLoc, (float)mouseX, (float)mouseY, (float)mouseZ, (float)mouseW);

        // Draw container
        glBindVertexArray(VAO);
        glDrawElements(GL_TRIANGLES, 6, GL_UNSIGNED_INT, 0);
        glBindVertexArray(0);

        /* Swap front and back buffers */
        glfwSwapBuffers(window);

        /* Poll for and process events */
        glfwPollEvents();
    }

    // Properly de-allocate all resources once they've outlived their purpose
    glDeleteVertexArrays(1, &VAO);
    glDeleteBuffers(1, &VBO);
    glDeleteBuffers(1, &EBO);
    glfwTerminate();
    return 0;
}

void key_callback(GLFWwindow* window, int key, int scancode, int action, int mode) {
    if (/*key == GLFW_KEY_ESCAPE &&*/ action == GLFW_PRESS) {
        glfwSetWindowShouldClose(window, GL_TRUE);
    }
}

void resize_callback(GLFWwindow* window, int w, int h) {
    width = w;
    height = h;
    glViewport(0, 0, width, height);
}


Sometimes I get an idea in my head and the end result is soooo much better than what I even pictured. This is one of those times (pats herself on back). What makes it even better is that this project took me like ten minutes. I'm so in love with these little tissue puffs of goodness that I may have mentioned it to Chandler no less than 100 times. Apparently, he doesn't share my enthusiasm for paper flowers.
1. Start with 8-10 pieces of tissue paper. Lay the tissue paper out, cut it in half, and then cut that piece in half so you have a stack of tissue paper that's about 6.5″ x 8.5″ (the bigger your sheets, the bigger your flower).
2. Fold the sheets accordion-style. My folds were about 1/2″ each.
3. Cut the ends into points or you can round them, depending on how you want your petals to look.
4. Tie a piece of yarn really tight in the middle and cut off the ends.
5. Fan out the sheets.
6. Start GENTLY pulling the individual sheets apart–I alternate one side to the other until I eventually reach the middle. Once they're all fluffed, you can sort of play with them and fluff them some more until you get the look you want.
Finally, I hot glued a felted ball (from one of my favorite shops) in the middle, and attached a wood skewer stem with hot glue, and then fluffed the paper back around the stick so you really can't even see it.
I'll be using mine on my mantel, which is finally getting some love after months of neglect, but these are awesome for parties, showers, even wedding decorations. And they don't need to be on stems. Let's just say, I'm seeing a garland in my future.


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Tribute to Eric Ives: "Long Prepared to Die: The Transformation of Anne Boleyn" by Sarah Morris
Posted on March 11, 2016 February 16, 2020 Author Beth von Staats 0
Queenanneboleyn.com is celebrating the impending release of In the Footsteps of the Six Wives of Henry VIII on March 15, 2016 by sharing with browsers quest articles composed by both Dr. Sarah Morris and Natalie Gueninger and published previously on the website. Today, Sarah professes her respect and admiration for historian Eric Ives and also shares her thoughts of the final hours of Queen Anne Boleyn.
Be sure to join us in the coming days in celebrating the research and historical writing of both Natalie and Sarah, including Release Day, and do not forget to enter for a chance to win their fantastic new book!
A Tribute by Dr. Sarah Morris
When we first conceive of an idea, or our heart becomes unwittingly engaged with a sense of purpose that defies our current understanding, we can have little insight into how fate will unravel, just where this calling will lead us. This is a uniquely human experience that has the capacity to both inspire and terrify simultaneously. In following our heart, we sense that our reward will be to taste the sweetest nectar, to know that we are living a life of truth and being the perfect expression of who we really are. But too often we turn away from this destiny, and deny our very self, sensing the many potential calamities ready to consume us and dismantle the comfortable safety of our world. To press on requires enormous courage and resilience.
It seems to me that this is the dilemma, or choice, that Anne Boleyn had to make at some point in her story; to fulfil her destiny as Henry's queen consort, and be a central catalyst in the English Reformation, (knowing the great dangers that lay therein), or to turn back and find once more the safe shore of ignominy. Anne's own particular karma placed her in a position where her choices changed the fabric of a nation. Perhaps individually, we might not be destined to fundamentally transform societies or nations, but most of us will face such choices in our lives at some point. I know that the act of writing and publishing my first novel, Le Temps Viendra: a Novel of Anne Boleyn was one such choice for me. I am sure that when Professor Eric Ives set out with a deep sense of purpose to reclaim the truth of Anne's innocence, he could not foresee how many lives he would touch – and maybe indirectly, transform.
My love for Anne stretches back over many decades, but I for one am very grateful for Professor Ives's thoroughness and attention to detail in the writing of The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn. Funnily enough, I remember clearly the day I bought it, soon after its publication in 2004 – and I can't say that for many books! I was in Blackwells in Oxford, browsing with no specific purpose, when I saw it stacked on a central table, promoted as a new release. I ran my hand over the smooth, shiny, black cover, delighting that I would soon be losing myself once more in Anne's world. It was one of the best £20 I ever spent. Little did I know that it would one day become one of my key resources in my own, later efforts to speak of Anne's innocence.
Professor Steve Taylor
As we approach 19 May, there is understandably great sadness at Anne's death. However, not long after I began to write Le Temps Veindra in 2010, I became aware of some ground-breaking work being conducted by Professor Steve Taylor at the University of Leeds, on a phenomenon called Suffering Induced Transformational Experiences. As I read the book, it was if fragmented pieces of a dream suddenly slotted into place, and I saw something entirely new and unexpected in Anne's last few days upon this earth. Some of you may have read this before, as I first published the article via On the Tudor Trail back in 2011. Back then, my fan base on Facebook was small, and the novel unpublished. Much water has flowed under the bridge between me, Anne and Professor Ives since this time. So I have decided to republish it, adding this preface as a note of gratitude to those who have supported me in fulfilling part of my purpose, and as a salute to Professor Ives and all of you who work tirelessly in your writing, and in social media, to keep Anne's memory burning brightly. May I particularly mention Natalie Grueninger at On the Tudor Trail and Claire Ridgway at The Anne Boleyn Files, who were really the only two social media resources on Anne when I first established my own Anne Boleyn related page. I now know for myself what a commitment this is! Finally, I'd like to thank Beth Von Staats from QueenAnneBoleyn.com for asking me to contribute to this month of celebration.
The following story is one of hope. Perhaps it might prompt us to think of Anne differently in those last hours of her life, and most of all to be inspired by her example and live more fearlessly – for what greater legacy could she leave us?
Long Prepared to Die: The Transformation of Anne Boleyn, by Dr. Sarah Morris
There has always been something that has intrigued me about Anne's final hours in this world – her incredible courage and profound serenity in the face of her imminent oblivion. It is almost impossible to imagine the sheer terror, the desolation and the sense of utter betrayal that she must have felt as the shocking events of May 1536 unfolded to their dramatic climax.
We know from the reports of those around Anne during those final few days that she experienced periods of fluctuating mood, sometimes tending toward hysteria and that, as her execution approached she slept only a little. So one might have imagined that when she finally emerged to make her last walk from the queen's apartments to the scaffold, she would have looked frail and exhausted; haunted even with the horror of what lay ahead.
Yet surprisingly, what we know from contemporary sources does not suggest that this was the case. I have always been strangely fascinated by the words of a Portuguese witness who afterward wrote an account of the events on that May morning saying that, 'Never had the queen looked so beautiful'. Another account from De Carles stated that the queen 'went to her execution with an untroubled countenance'. How is this possible? What was happening here, I wonder? I had always assumed Anne's state of mind on 19 May 1536 was as a result only of her renowned courage and her deep religious piety. Whilst these two factors were undoubtedly of significance, I have recently come across what I believe may be an even more convincing and comprehensive explanation for Anne's appearance and behaviour.
In his excellent book, Out of the Darkness, the transpersonal psychologist, Steve Taylor, gives a fascinating insight into a phenomenon which he calls, SITEs – Suffering Induced Transformational Experiences. As the name suggests, these are profound shifts in consciousness which occur usually as a result of an individual experiencing significant trauma or turmoil. Taylor not only describes the phenomenon and the conditions which most often seem to catalyse it, but also the type of person most susceptible to such change.
As I hope to describe in this article, there are some fascinating and tantalising indicators which suggest that at some point during her final hours on Earth – and facing the inevitability of her death – Anne underwent such a transformation and this radically altered her state of mind. It is clear from Taylor's accounts that individuals who have experienced such 'high-intensity awakening experiences' as he calls them, radiate an aura of profound peace. Was it this that the Portuguese witness saw in Anne Boleyn as she made her way to the scaffold?
However, before examining the evidence that Anne experienced such a shift in consciousness, we need to cover some basic psychological concepts in order to that we can make sense of what might have happened to her. We need to understand the psychological concept of the self and how intense trauma paves the way for SITEs to occur.
Taylor describes that the self takes two forms; the ego, which is our conditioned sense of self and a deeper, real self, also known as the soul. The ego is a fragile concept. Through the accumulation of positions and possessions we constantly seek to reinforce our sense of self through our status, wealth, plans and ambitions et cetera; the more we have, the more we feel in control and stronger and more secure our ego becomes. The currency of the ego is fear and when any aspect of our sense of self is threatened, we respond on a scale of anxiety to terror depending upon the extent of the threat which faces us.
Clearly, when an individual faces imminent death, as Anne did, this fear-based response becomes heightened to the extreme. When we face our demise, we are forced to confront the loss of our dreams, hopes, status, family, and friends etc; all of our attachments are ripped away. This can lead to a 'psychotic breakdown' (or nervous breakdown) of the type that was recorded in the case of Lady Rochford who went mad in the face of her own pending execution in 1542. Or, perhaps more unusually, a person may experience a 'break up' as the ego disintegrates, and a new sense of self emerges to fill the vacuum; a sense of self which is fearless and profoundly peaceful. Facing her demise, Anne's whole identity would have been swept away, and as Taylor states, 'at this point of devastation and desolation you are, paradoxically, close to a state of liberation'. In modern parlance, we call this enlightenment.
So what evidence do we have to suggest that such transformation in consciousness had occurred? As I have already mentioned, we do know that at the beginning of her imprisonment Anne seemed to suffer from periods of intensely fluctuating mood which from time to time bordered on near hysteria. Yet by 18 May, when her execution was delayed for a second time, she was noted as saying to Master Kingston, Captain of the Tower of London that it was 'not that she desired death, but that she thought herself prepared to die' (De Carles). It seems to me that Anne had reached a deep sense of acceptance and possibly genuine fearlessness which is typical in such cases. Finally, we've already touched on the accounts of eyewitnesses who described her peaceful countenance and radiant beauty. In fact one account says that as Anne stepped onto the scaffold she was 'as gay as if she were not going to die'.
Yet what is also intriguing is the classical type of person that Taylor describes is most likely to experience a SITE:
First and foremost, those most susceptible are individuals who display the qualities of courage and realism. We know that Anne was noted for her courage. As Ambassador Chapuys noted in 1530, she was, 'braver than a lion'. It is also not hard to see when you read Anne's story that she was an incredibly pragmatic individual, ready to face the situations that arose head-on and with no sense of squeamishness.
The second quality predisposing to such transformation is the need to be in control. Anne lived in a world controlled by men. Yet, I believe she was, without doubt, an alpha female who took her fate into her own hands and strove with great tenacity to bring about that which she desired, (note the falcon on her badge, adopted after she became queen, which symbolises, 'one who does not rest until the objective is achieved.') Furthermore, part of the reason that Henry fell in love with Anne was, of course, her strong personality, a sharp contrast to the submissive English roses predominating at court.
'Right brainers'; that is people with a strongly creative bent. We certainly know that Anne was an incredibly creative individual. She enjoyed writing poetry, writing music, dancing and singing. Even in her dress she was noted to 'everyday make some change in the fashion of her garments' (Wyatt, Papers, v.p.141) Taylor suggests that such individuals have a predominantly intuitive personality and are highly emotional people. This predisposes them to an intense response to trauma, to a point where the ego structure is put under unsustainable pressure. Of course, there is no doubt about Anne's intemperance and that she was highly strung.
Finally gender also plays a part. The female sex has been shown through research to be more likely to experience SITEs in relationship to bereavement, illness and disability. Of course, Anne was not only facing her own death, but two days prior to this had possibly witnessed the execution of her own brother. In her own death, she also faced everlasting separation from her beloved daughter, Elizabeth. Taylor states that women on the whole have a weaker sense of ego – and therefore, it is more vulnerable to being atomised by severe trauma.
It seems to me that Anne very closely fits the personality type which research has shown is most susceptible to undergoing Suffering Induced Transformational Experiences (SITEs). Of course, this is a theory that can never be proven. However, given these predisposing factors and what we know about eyewitness accounts of Anne's state of mind in the run up to and immediately before her execution, I think it is worthy of consideration that something profound and amazing happened to Anne Boleyn in those final few days and hours. So that, to use her own words, she was able to say to the Constable of the Tower, Master Kingston, when he came to inform her that the hour of her death was upon her, 'Acquit yourself of your charge for I have long been prepared', Whether Anne experienced the highest intensity awakening experience possible or a partial but significant shift in consciousness, I do not know. However, as the anniversary of her execution approaches, I would like to think that Anne walked to her death a more fully liberated woman and at last having found a profound sense of peace.
For a full explanation of the SITE phenomenon see, Out of the Darkness: From Turmoil to Transformation by Steve Taylor. 2011. HayHouse.
(QAB Administrator Note: For more information about Professor Steven Taylor's research and books, visit his website OUT OF THE DARKNESS.)
Sarah is a creative soul, as well as an eternal optimist who generally prepares for the worst! She is an advocate of following the heart's deepest desire as a means to finding peace and happiness. To this end, her writing is a creative expression of her joy of both learning and educating.
Drawn by an inexplicable need to write down the story of Anne Boleyn's innocence, she published the first volume of her debut novel, Le Temps Viendra: a novel of Anne Boleyn in 2012; the second volume followed in 2013. That same year, her first non-fiction book, co-authored with Natalie Grueninger called, In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn, was also published. Hopelessly swept away by an enduring passion for Tudor history and its buildings, her latest book, the second of the In the Footsteps series entitled, In the Footsteps of the Six Wives of Henry VIII, is due to be published by Amberley Publishing in the UK on 15th March 2016 and in the US on 19th May.
She lives in rural Oxfordshire with her beloved dog and travelling companion, Milly.
You'll find Sarah at Sarah Morris: Making. History. Real., or via her blog, This Sceptred Isle: Travels Through Historic England.
Buy In the Footsteps of the Six Wives of Henry VIII from:
Amazon US (Released on 19 May 2016)
The Book Depository (Free worldwide shipping)
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!
Natalie Grueninger, Dr. Sarah Morris, and Amberley Publishing are graciously offering a complimentary copy of In the Footsteps of the Six Wives of Henry VIII to one lucky QAB member or browser. If you are interested in being included in a drawing for a chance of winning this wonderful book, send the administrator a message via the website's contact form. To complete the contact form, click here –> CONTACT US! We will draw a random winner on March 20, 2016. Good Luck!!!
MORE GREAT BOOKS COMPOSED BY DR. SARAH MORRIS
In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn with Natalie Grueninger
Le Temps Viendra: A Novel of Anne Boleyn Vol 1
Le Temps Viendra: A Novel of Anne Boleyn Volume II
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"Your events" is an area that we use to show you classes and events you are registered for as part of your employer's wellness program.
If you don't see any classes and events when you click the "See all" link, your employer has not yet set up wellness events online. Please check back.


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School Trip
Luxembourg Army
German Pickelhaube helmet
A Pickelhaube, or Pickelhelm, belonging to a member of the German Army during the First World War. The helmet was mostly made of boiled and lacquered leather, polished to a bright finish and decorated with a brass regimental crest. The spike was intended to deflect sword blows.
Webley Revolver 38-MK I
After the escape of the Luxembourgish Grand Ducal family before the German invasion in May 1940, Prince Jean joined the British Army. At Sandhurst he received officer training at the Royal Military College. Luxembourgish volunteers of the Allied Armies gave this Revolver with engraved crown to Prince Jean after his successfull comission as a lieutnant in July 1943.
Uniform of Prince Jean
Her Royal Highness Prince Jean of Luxembourg fought during the 2nd World War in the Irish Amoured Guard Regiment and worn this uniform during the liberation of the Grand-Duchy in September 1944.
© 2021 Musée National d'Histoire Militaire Diekirch. - 10, Bamertal L-9209 Diekirch, Luxembourg - ✉ reception@mnhm.lu - ☎ (+352) 80 89 08


To Build or To Buy... - Showcase Builders, LLC.
A home is typically one of the biggest investments you'll ever make. As most people consider this large purchase, the same question always seems to come to mind: Do we build, or do we buy? There really is no wrong answer, but it's important buyers understand some of the pros and cons of each before deciding which path is the right one for them.
The greatest advantages to buying an existing home are convenience and cost. With an existing home, you can find something move-in ready in a relatively short period of time. Of course, you will have the process of viewing homes and trying to find one that includes enough of the items on your wish list, but a realtor can help you streamline this process to make it much more convenient for you. Additionally, on average, you'll end up paying less for a home that's already constructed.
The biggest disadvantage to buying an existing home, however, is that you may not be able to get exactly what you are looking for. You may not love the floor plan, or you might find the perfect floor plan in a home that hasn't been updated in 20+ years. Because these homes weren't built specifically with you in mind, you may find yourself having to spend additional money on remodeling or repairs.
Building a new home doesn't have the same convenience factor that buying an existing home does. Custom home building is a process, and you'll spend time finding the right piece of land and working with an architect to find the perfect layout for the home. The next step will be meeting with custom home builders to find the right builder to build the home you've put so much of your own time and thoughts into. The beautiful thing about building your custom home is that you have input in the entire process. You are much more likely to get exactly what you want when you build.
Another big advantage to building over buying is that your home will be built to the latest energy codes which can make it more efficient than an existing home. You can also add energy star appliances and green appliances and fixtures to make your home more efficient, as well as add in home automation and prepare for future technological upgrades that older homes may not be equipped for.
It is important to note that the ability to completely customize your home does come with a cost. You may need to prepare to pay more for a custom home than for an existing home. However, you're less likely to have to deal with big maintenance issues, like heating and cooling system repairs or roof repairs, for the first few years in a custom home versus the possibility of an existing home needing these issues addressed sooner.
Every buyer is different, and you are the only one who can decide which is best for you. The easiest way to start is by prioritizing the things you want and categorizing what you can concede and what you just can't live without. This is a great first step in answering the question: Do I build, or do I buy?


If you want to use your tablet or smartphone to control various home appliances, even start your car, here are the free apps and systems.
Due to the growing popularity of smartphones, most consumer electronics manufacturers have started providing dedicated free apps for their media devices.
Crestron is one of the leading brands for home automation. Though each installation usually comes with its own universal remote control, Crestron also provides apps for iOS and Android devices. These apps connect to the Crestron system using Wi-Fi (for seamless access anywhere) and allow you to remotely control the home appliances or gizmos that are wired to the system. You don't even need to be at home to control your air conditioning or lighting; you could do it from any place that you can access data connection. The basic Android app is free, but the Pro version for iOS and Android costs Rs 5,000.
Viper SmartStart for your car enables you to lock, unlock or start the vehicle using iOS, Android or BlackBerry smartphones. To make it work, you will need the Viper security system and smartphone module installed in your car. The app also remembers where your car is parked and provides directions on your phone using augmented reality. Currently, SmartStart works only with the USbased GSM providers, though the company is working on making the app work everywhere. For more information, go to www.viper.com.
Mobile operating systems offer a number of applications to control various aspects of your PC/MAC. You can choose to control only the mouse pointer and input text, or handle applications like audio player, video player, presentations, and so on. Each app requires a small server application installed on your PC/MAC, which is also available for free.
Gmote is a free application, which lets you control your PC, MAC or Linux music and video player over Wi-Fi. It shows various controls on the screen, with the album art in the background, and can even be used to browse and select files for playback. Another free (ad-supported) app, WIN-Remote, offers connection to your Windows PC over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. It helps you manipulate almost everything—browser, task manager, video/audio players, image viewers, even presentations. If you want to control specific media players, the Android Market and Apple App Store have free apps for common ones like VLC, Windows Media Player, Media Player classic, XBMC, iTunes & Foobar.
One of the best free remote apps for the iPhone/iPod Touch is the Logitech Touch Mouse. It connects to your machine over Wi-Fi and converts the 3.5-inch display into an input device. You get control over the mouse pointer with multi-touch gestures thrown in, and an on-screen keyboard can be used to enter text. Apple's free app, Remote, is perfect to control iTunes. Apps like i-Clickr are used for presentations, VLC remote for VLC player, PowerDVD remote and a Remote X app for controlling media players with a single interface.
Vectir's Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Remote lets you launch and control VLC Media Player, iTunes, Windows Media Player and PowerPoint presentations. It has a remote desktop feature to view and handle desktop from BlackBerry or Windows Phone 8 devices. The app is free for the first 30 days, after which you need to buy a licence for the desktop server app (one-time cost of Rs 320) from www.vectir.com. Vectir also supports Java phones with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi from various manufacturers.
Due to the growing popularity of smartphones, most consumer electronics manufacturers have started providing dedicated free apps for their media devices. Samsung, LG, Philips and Sony have their own apps for the Android & iOS platforms to control their flat-screen TVs, Blu-ray players and home theatre systems through wireless connectivity. You can navigate the menu, change settings and input text using an on-screen keyboard. Samsung's SmartView app lets you stream the TV content to your Android device, while Philips's MyRemote app lets you view pictures from the mobile device on TV. LG offers separate apps for its TVs and Blu-ray players. For WD TV media players, the WDTV Media Players Remote app is available on the Android Market, and works with WD TV Live or Hub. Though Western Digital doesn't develop the app, it works well over Wi-Fi.
The Harmony 1100i has a 3.5-inch touchscreen, which does away with the need for multiple buttons. Depending on what you're doing, the relevant controls show up on the screen. The functions like volume/channel change, which are used the most, have backlit buttons. The activity-based controls let you perform multiple actions with one button. For instance, 'watch TV' will turn on both the TV and set-top box. It can control 15 devices at a time.
The URC R40 can control up to 18 devices across brands, thanks to the on-board IR code database. Unlike other devices, the URC provides easy, on-screen directions on how to set up a new device without the need for an Internet connection. The 1.5-inch OLED screen displays information and options to control the connected devices. It can be set to switch on/off multiple components at once, control the sound of all connected devices, and has backlit keys that light up when it's dim.


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Letter David Lowry: The Western Mail's report on the closure of Wales' last nuclear power plant, at Wylfa on Anglesey, marks an important moment in Welsh industrial history. Wylfa Site Director Stuart Law is reported as saying the closure marks a "safe and dignified end to the generation of electricity at Wylfa" and that the main focus for the coming months is to prepare staff and the site for defuelling the Magnox reactors, originally ordered by the now defunct nationalised power generator, the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) in the late 1960s. But the account of the 44 years of operating life of the reactor omits one important aspect: the production of plutonium for use in nuclear warheads, both in Britain and the US. This was first revealed in an exclusive Western Mail front page story by your then political editor, Sarah Neville, on October 8, 1984. It was followed in more detail by former Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent, Llew Smith – for whom I used to do research – in a feature article in the Western Mail on March 3, 1986, followed by a letter in the paper from Mr Smith ("Safety problems at Wylfa Nuclear plant", December 11, 1995). Mr Smith cited an interview I conducted on January 19, 1983, with the late Lord Hinton, the first chairman of the CEGB, in which he said to me: "Wylfa is a long and sad story. It ought not to have been built at all, but when I suggested this to the Permanent Secretary [at what is now the Department of Energy and Climate Change] he said you have got to build it in order to meet the government programme."
Western Mail 4 January 2016 read more »


We took the expertise that we learned from that experience and helped some other local political organizations and then we stumbled into the small business market, our first client was The Guilty Party Catering in Naperville. From there it was a quick headfirst dive into owning our first business. Before finding DotNetNuke, I had built websites in HTML, however, once I began exploring the DotNetNuke community and discovering the vast modules, skins and support that was available I knew that this was something special.
Our mission was simple: build great websites using a content management tool that we love and then train the end-user to use it. We could focus on design, integration, and technology while letting the end-users concentrate on their business and their content.
It was a recipe for success and along our path we found some exceptional local business partners, Don and Kate Gingold, whom we met at the Naperville Chamber of Commerce. After working together on several projects we decided to spin off our separate Website Design businesses into Sprocket Websites, Inc. Sprocket Websites continues the tradition of exclusively building DotNetNuke websites for its customers and has developed some great partnerships in the DotNetNuke ecosystem. Our passion for DNN didn't stop with just using the tool; we wanted to give back to the community so Don and I along with Phil Wegrzyn formed the Chicago Area DotNetNuke Users Group. We hosted the first Day of DotNetNuke Chicago and we have all attended #DNNWorld in 2011 and 2012.
Prior to forming J&S Tech Designs, I spent over 20 years in software development and 16 years in executive management within the pharmaceutical and automotive industries. J&S has evolved beyond just doing websites and now is a solid business consulting organization with a focus on pharmaceutical & automotive software development, software development lifecycle & methodology, and business & retail operations management.
The DotNetNuke ecosystem continues to expand and flourish everyday, for which I am grateful because without DNN, I'm not sure that the J&S organization would have been born. So I am thankful to be a small part of this exciting experience.


Newcastle City Council meetings are held the first and third Tuesdays of each month unless otherwise noted. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. at Newcastle City Hall (12835 Newcastle Way, Suite 200). Members of the public are invited to share thoughts during any public hearings or two open public comment periods. You can also make your voice heard and reach out to your councilmembers by email. Learn how to contact them here.
Council discusses tree policies, sets date for Town Hall and more.
Council approves updated sign code.
Council discusses updates to the sign code, Verizon franchise agreement and more.
Chief Houck presents the 2018 crime stats.
Some major updates are coming to the code that regulates signage in our community.
See a list of 2018 archived news here.