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Updated July 16, 2021 by Christopher Thomas
The 10 Best Portable Basketball Hoops
This wiki has been updated 31 times since it was first published in May of 2015. A portable basketball hoop is a great option for many players in residential areas, because not everyone has the space or ability to install a fixed, in-ground model. These are available at prices to meet most budgets, with useful features like adjustable heights and breakaway rims. And if they need to be moved, you can simply roll most of them easily on their built-in wheels. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
This wiki has been updated 31 times since it was first published in May of 2015. A portable basketball hoop is a great option for many players in residential areas, because not everyone has the space or ability to install a fixed, in-ground model. These are available at prices to meet most budgets, with useful features like adjustable heights and breakaway rims. And if they need to be moved, you can simply roll most of them easily on their built-in wheels. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Silverback NXT
The strong support pole of the Silverback NXT (around $523) connects to a steel frame within the base, providing good rigidity. You can choose from two backboard sizes, and if you need to move it at any time, it rolls smoothly like a wheelbarrow.
Relatively straightforward assembly
Rear kickstand for added stability
Easy for kids to change the height
2. Lifetime 1558
The polycarbonate board on the Lifetime 1558 (about $292) has a clean, professional look, and its printed square and border graphics won't fade over time. The durable nylon net should hold up in all types of weather, and the rim is ideal for jams.
Rust-resistant powder-coated frame
Can be adjusted with one hand
3. Silverback Lock 'n Rock
Using a sliding bracket on the back, you can easily raise or lower the Silverback Lock 'n Rock (about $129) to your preferred position. It looks nice once it's set up on the driveway or patio, and includes a net, a mini basketball and a pump.
Mounts to most poles and posts
Rim folds in for storage
Traditional portable hoops are pretty similar, with a classic base/upright/backboard design that varies in stability and adjustment range. We want to take a second to mention the novel Silverback Lock 'n Rock, though. If you're up for a little guerilla miniature basketball, this interesting option can turn any solid upright — round or square — into a dependable basketball hoop. With the right pole, it can be every bit as solid as a fixed model. For what it's worth, we're so confident in our selections that we haven't made any changes this time around.
We eliminated a few items due to quality concerns, and we replaced the Silverback NXT with the latest version of that hoop. The base is exceptionally heavy duty, which gives it a bit more stability than many similar models.
We noticed few complaints about the performance of the Lifetime Youth, but we did indicate that the assembly instructions are confusing to some, which can be frustrating for those who aren't very handy. In the listing for the Step2 Shootin' Hoops Pro, we added that the base has built-in water bottle holders, a useful little feature that rarely goes unappreciated. We also pointed out that unlike most portable hoops, the Lifetime 1269 is offered in three different color combinations.
Two of our new additions — the Pexmor Teen and the Silverback Lock 'n Rock — are built primarily for kids. We wouldn't describe the Pexmor basket as rock solid, but it's suitable for shooting hoops and playing games like knockout and horse with the neighborhood kids. The Lock 'n Rock differs from the rest of the list in that there is no pole or base included; instead, you mount it directly to an existing post or pole. This gives you plenty of flexibility in terms of where you can set it up, and it remains securely in place once it's mounted.
We've indicated that The Beast by Spalding has a glass backboard, which is not common for portable baskets.
April 15, 2019:
If you're unable, for whatever reason, to erect a fixed basketball goal, there are plenty of good options in the portable realm. They can't quite match the rigidity and rebounding consistency of a good, cement-based unit, but some of them come awfully close. For example, the Silverback NXT is remarkably stable and it's not even close to the most expensive. Spalding's The Beast is, actually, about as costly as they come, but that's for a reason. It's a fantastic choice. It is, however, a considerable chore to put together. But it's about as good as they get, and for dedicated players who just can't install a permanent setup, it's a great choice. Spalding's Pro Slam and NBA models are of nearly as good of quality, only slightly less stable, and considerably less expensive. Franklin also offers an excellent unit at a mid-range price point, though as far as portability goes, well, it's apparently one of the most difficult to actually put away when you're done hooping.
Over on the more budget-oriented side of things, Lifetime has a number of reasonably priced options, it just depends on how authentic of an experience you're looking for and how much you want to spend. They get a little shakier and less consistent, but also quite a bit less expensive, going from the 1558, through the 1269, to the 1221 Pro Court editions. If you're looking to accommodate particularly young players, the Lifetime Youth is good for preteens, while the Step2 exists to introduce the littlest of tykes to the game of basketball. And keep in mind that most of these will require at least a few tools and a little bit of know-how to assemble.
First Team Goals First Team offers a nice selection of baskets, most of which are available with either clear acrylic or tempered glass backboards. Some allow for hanging on the rim, which is unusual for a portable hoop, and several are powder-coated to withstand the elements. Others, like the Thunder, are designed for use in an indoor gym. firstteaminc.com
Schelde Sports From compact and highly mobile hoops to high-end systems intended for use on main courts during league play, Schelde has something for everyone. They even offer a couple models designed specifically for three-on-three tournaments, with tough reinforced glass and the ability to customize the graphics on the padding. scheldesports.com
Bison Basketball Bison's Club Court line of portable hoops are sturdy and relatively basic, with small backboards that make them ideal for physical education class or youth camps. On the other end of the spectrum, their T-Rex baskets are huge and professional in style, making them suitable for highly competitive leagues. bisoninc.com
An exceptional value, the Lifetime 1269 (around $157) has a rigid backboard that delivers good bounce for layups and bank shots. Assembly is quite simple, and it's available in three different color combinations. You can fill the base with sand or water.
Fade-resistant graphics
Goes as low as 7-and-a-half feet
Pretty difficult to adjust
5. The Beast by Spalding
While it does cost quite a bit, The Beast by Spalding (around $1100) offers an experience just about on a par with a fixed goal on an actual court. It's one of the few that's made with real glass, and it can be adjusted from 7.5 to 10 feet.
Wide 60-inch backboard
4 sturdy wheels for portability
Assembly can be a pain
6. Lifetime Pro Court
An affordable choice for casual play, the Lifetime Pro Court (around $90) is mobile enough to be moved around frequently if necessary. It's built with a durable steel upright and a solid acrylic board, and it's easy for just one person to set up.
6-inch height adjustment increments
Withstands the elements well
Base is hard to fill
7. Lifetime Youth
A nice choice for youngsters who are just getting the hang of the sport, the Lifetime Youth (appx. $89) can be set as low as 5.5 or as high as 7.5 feet, which means it should get years of use before it's time to move on to a regulation-size model.
Solid crack-resistant backboard
Ideal for small driveways
Instructions are not very clear
8. Spalding System
Adorned with the official NBA logo, the Spalding System (about $271) gives developing players with dreams of going pro a chance to work on their skills out in their own yard. Padding around the board provides protection for those who can elevate near the basket.
Rolls smoothly on its 2 wheels
Heavy-duty breakaway rim
Base is a bit too light
9. Pexmor Teen
For groups of kids casually shooting hoops or playing pickup games, the Pexmor Teen (appx. $119) is a practical choice. Its seven height levels allow it to keep up with fast-growing children, and the steel rim should withstand a few dunks.
Suitable for indoors or outdoors
Not the sturdiest model
10. Step2 Shootin' Hoops Pro
Able to be set at four, five or six feet, the Step2 Shootin' Hoops Pro (appx. $71) is a great way to familiarize little ones with the fundamentals of the game. A breakaway rim helps keep kids' hands safe when they dunk, and the base contains handy water bottle holders.
Includes a 6-inch ball
Meant for children only
How To Choose A Portable Hoop
This material is used in high schools, colleges, and professional arenas for its high performing capabilities.
Portable hoops are widely popular for their convenience, versatility, and flexibility. They offer your budding NBA star a way to improve their skills without having to travel to a gym. Whether you're looking to purchase one for after school fun or spark up some competitive games with your work friends, there are several things to consider before clicking that buy button.
First, decide on your budget. Hoops can widely range in cost. Once you decide on your price range, the planned location of the hoop should be taken into account. Typically, a wide flat surface, like a driveway, is your best bet. No matter what location you decide on, measure the area. It is a key factor in determining which model you choose. Portable units may have backboards ranging in size from 48 to 72 inches. There are also kids' and junior models available that are considerably smaller. For reference, a regulation backboard is 72 inches wide by 42 inches tall. Also, consider the size and shape of the base. If the hoop will be used mainly for recreational fun, a smaller option may suffice, as it only requires a few feet of room. If you're looking for a more competitive setup, it will require significantly more space.
The next thing you'll want to look at is the backboard material. For very young children, a graphite and polyethylene backboard is the ideal choice due to its durability and less expensive price tag. If you have a beginner or intermediate player, an acrylic backboard is the next step up. It has a clear surface similar to glass, but is virtually unbreakable, making it the perfect material for outdoor use. If advanced level competition is what you're after, a tempered glass backboard is the optimal choice. This material is used in high schools, colleges, and professional arenas for its high performing capabilities. It offers the least amount of vibration and has a great bounce back of the ball for aggressive players.
The last component to consider is the height adjustment mechanism. There are five different types to choose from, including the telescoping pole, broomstick, trigger handle, pneumatic, and crank handle. Each one has its pros and cons. If you're looking for the ultimate in convenience, the trigger handle is one of the most popular choices, as it offers single-handed operation to move the hoop up or down in a swift motion. It is ideal for big families with children of various ages who require a hoop at different heights.
Is A Portable Or Fixed Hoop Better?
There are three types of basketball hoops that can be set up in your front or backyard for enjoyment: in-ground, portable, and pool. Pool basketball hoops are in a league of their own, however, and cannot be compared to the other two styles. So for our purposes, we will just look at the advantages and disadvantages of portable and in-ground models.
For those living in an area with a home owner's association, there may be restrictions against in-ground models that often don't apply to portable units.
The number one reason most families opt for a portable hoop is because of its mobility. They feature wheels underneath the base that make them extremely convenient to move around as needed. Another key feature is their ability to adjust in height, which allows the unit to grow with your child. Portable units are usually significantly less expensive than in-ground systems, as well. In-ground basketball hoops require a laborious installation, whereas portable models can be quickly filled with sand or water and the games can begin. For those living in an area with a home owner's association, there may be restrictions against in-ground models that often don't apply to portable units.
There are some disadvantages to a portable hoop, though. These include a lack of stability for aggressive players and that they are often slightly less durable than in-ground models. Even after the base has been filled with water or sand, they may still wobble more than in-ground units. This means that if you have a serious dunker on your hands, you may want to consider an in-ground hoop. These have a more traditional feel that serious players will appreciate and they stand firm to the ground, no matter what.
For most homes, a portable unit will more than suffice. This is doubly true if you aren't living in your forever home and may wind up moving in a couple of years. In this scenario, you would have to leave behind an in-ground model, while you could easily pack up a portable unit and take it along with the rest of your belongings.
How To Ensure A Safe Playing Area
Adding a basketball hoop to your home is a great way to increase your family's level of physical activity while promoting healthy, competitive play. Engaging your child in any type of physical activity is beneficial, but basketball offers the added benefit of getting yourself and your children outdoors, enjoying fresh air and sunlight. As with any rigorous play, though, there is a risk of injury. Here are a few precautions you can take to mitigate this possibility and reduce any danger to players.
Adding a basketball hoop to your home is a great way to increase your family's level of physical activity while promoting healthy, competitive play.
Consider where your basketball hoop is set up. It should be placed on a flat, even playing area. Cracks or tree roots making their way through concrete can cause a serious tripping hazard. Either move the unit to a different area or consider hiring a specialist to smooth out the ground. If your hoop is set up in a limited playing area, there may be a chance that your child will run into the pole, especially if he or she likes to drive to the basket. Investing in a pole pad may be worth your while. It is usually made of a foam filled vinyl that wraps around the pole to offer a cushioned surface should someone collide with it.
Another great investment is a rollback net. Everyone loves to shoot, but no one likes to retrieve. A basketball return system reduces the need to run after the ball, which is essential if your system is set up where cars drive by. Identifying these and any other potential risks is a surefire way to keep kids playing for hours in the safest way possible.
Last updated on July 16, 2021 by Christopher Thomas
Building PCs, remodeling, and cooking since he was young, quasi-renowned trumpeter Christopher Thomas traveled the USA performing at and organizing shows from an early age. His work experiences led him to open a catering company, eventually becoming a sous chef in several fine LA restaurants. He enjoys all sorts of barely necessary gadgets, specialty computing, cutting-edge video games, and modern social policy. He has given talks on debunking pseudoscience, the Dunning-Kruger effect, culinary technique, and traveling. After two decades of product and market research, Chris has a keen sense of what people want to know and how to explain it clearly. He delights in parsing complex subjects for anyone who will listen -- because teaching is the best way to ensure that you understand things yourself.


Yeah, we know what you're thinking-another story about how to tweak your eardrums, receive a serious headache, and advertise the proverbial midlife crisis. While all these scenarios can easily be accommodated, we took a more laid-back, conservative approach with our '72 Corvette.
When choosing a sound system for your ride, some often strive for the "bass in your face" sound, while others enjoy clarity-as if being present in front of their favorite symphony orchestra. Depending on your monetary situation, thousands of different combinations are at your disposal. As usual, do your homework in order to achieve the best possible sound and fit for your application.
With the old no-name battery that came with Homewrecker on its way out, we chose to replace it with an Optima Red Top for added reliability and performance. This particular unit is completely sealed from the elements and can withstand mass amounts of abuse from vibration and/or heat. With 910 cranking amps and 720 cold cranking amps, we are set for many years to come.
Recalling the days of yore, most car stereos contained less than 10 wires, which were stripped by some crazy stoner using his teeth, twisted together, and guarded against the elements with some electrical tape. While this was most uncommon, you're grinning at the fact that you know someone who has done so. Taking it one step further, what about the house speakers stacked in his back seat? OK, you get the point, now come back to 2007.
Mobile electronics have evolved beyond belief. Who would've thought that we'd be cruising around town with four televisions, onboard video games, navigation, and CD/DVD players. One would think with all these amenities available, you wouldn't hear "Are we there yet?" from the little ones. Yeah, right!
It seems shocking that back in '72 a factory tape player was not available in the Corvette. You could get an 8-track in most other high-end GM vehicles, but not the plastic sports car. The top-of-the-line option was an AM/FM stereo, with two speakers in the dash. Somewhere in Project Homewrecker's past, a snazzy in-dash AM/FM-8-track player was installed with four nifty RCA speakers (two in the kick panels, two mounted in the rear).
Once we had head unit, we were confronted with how to install the DIN 1-style unit into the old center gauge cluster bezel (left). Once again, Mid America Motorworks had us covered with its DIN 1 specific-custom bezel.
Editor Jim Campisano, having finally realized that 8-tracks are no longer available for his '72 LT-1, decided to give Mid America Motorworks a call. While appreciating the unmatched support we've received in the past, who better to contact for our options on obtaining a more modern sound system? Campy wanted clean, crisp sound and enough power to be heard over the modified mouse motor and headers we'd be installing under the hood. Window-shattering bass, two tons of subwoofers and 40-speakers were not in the cards. After careful consideration we chose a JVC DVD/CD receiver with a 3.5-inch-wide monitor (part# 621-502 with custom bezel) and a pair of Kenwood Premium 60-watt speakers (part# 613-019). This would definitely bring us into the 21st century without needing a degree in rocket science. The system gave us amazing sound and features without sacrificing the interior's limited storage space. We also didn't add lots of unnecessary weight to our sleek machine.
A special thanks to the crew at Motor City Auto Body in Newark, New Jersey, which provided a more than suitable work area for us to perform our stereo installation. Let's get it on!


Join us Friday, June 1 between 6 and 8:30 pm at the Carle Place Barnes & Noble for our Book Fair. Get your books for summer reading and shop for dads & grads! Members of the Chorus and Drama Club will be performing. A percentage of all sales will be donated to our school. Can't attend? Visit bn.com/bookfairs from June 1 through June 6 and enter our ID 12379426 at checkout. A portion of instore (including the café) and online purchases will be donated to our school.


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AALAS may share your AALAS membership information, from which a member may opt out. AALAS does not share AALAS Learning Library user account information. We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your other personally identifiable information. This does not include trusted third parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may also release your information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others rights, property, or safety. However, non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.
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This policy was last modified on 5/3/18.
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"Data Protection Law" means any law, rule, regulation, decree, statute, or other enactment, order, mandate or resolution, applicable to AALAS and its Customers, relating to data security, data protection and/or privacy, including Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to processing of personal data and the free movement of that data ("GDPR"), and any implementing, derivative or related legislation, rule, regulation, and regulatory guidance, as amended, extended, repealed and replaced, or re-enacted.
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(viii) inform Customer, in AALAS's opinion, that an instruction infringes Data Protection Law.
(2) The subject matter of the Processing, including the Processing operations carried out by AALAS on behalf of Customer and Customer's Processing instructions for AALAS, may be described in statement of work, Customer purchase order or a written agreement signed by the parties' authorized representatives.
(3) AALAS will notify Customer without undue delay upon becoming aware of a Personal Data Breach.
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Sereer music in weddings, ceremonies and even funerals.
miss having people call my name from a far, waving and smiling at me.
exchanging wishes of peace for one another and one's family.
company by these animals whenever I wait for something or someone.


KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — The ringgit lost further ground against the US dollar today on growing concerns over the US interest rates hike next month, bolstered by the country's encouraging economic data, a dealer said.
At 6pm, the local unit was traded at 4.4140/4190 against the greenback from 4.3900/3970 yesterday.
At 10am, the ringgit declined and touched the 4.4030 mark against the greenback in response to the US Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Janet Yellen's remark yesterday, signalling that the interest rate may rise soon.
FXTM Vice President of Market Research, Jameel Ahmad, said the probability of the Fed raising US interest rates next month had reached near the 90 per cent level.
He said Yellen stated overnight that the US interest rates would be raised "relatively soon" and investors had taken the news as further encouragement that the central bank will be pulling the trigger in December, which has supported buying sentiment for the dollar.
On the home front, Bank Negara Malaysia has taken measures to stem the volatility in the foreign exchange market and it reiterated that the onshore rate of the currency is the right reference price.
The local unit was traded slightly higher against other major currencies.
It was higher against the Singapore dollar to 3.0962/0008 from 3.0988/0063 yesterday and declined against the British pound to 5.4734/4813 from 5.4717/4857 yesterday.


This weekend saw some casting proposals for the fourth series of Torchwood, and a casting announcement from Sylvester McCoy on his role in The Hobbit. Meanwhile, DWM is plundered once more for Matt's Smith parrot!
About(25th) - Who To Ditch Newfangled Daleks?
The Sun(23rd) - Dr Who's a pretty boy then?
Buzznet(24th) - Amber Stevens: Torchwood's New Girl?
Gather(23rd) - Possible Casting for Upcoming Torchwood Season - Who Are the New Characters?
Obsessed with Film(23rd) - DOLLHOUSE actor joining TORCHWOOD: THE NEW WORLD?
io9(23rd) - Will Victor from Dollhouse be the new flame on Torchwood?
io9(22nd) - Torchwood's weirdest new character is confirmed!


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Qatargas reiterates commitment to sustainable environment at Doha Carbon and Energy Forum
Posted by CSR Middle East on November 16, 2013 at 11:11am
Qatargas Chief Operating Officer – Administration, Ghanim Al-Kuwari, delivered a speech at the inaugural session of the second Doha Carbon and Energy Forum, being held under the patronage of His Excellency Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry at the Qatar National Convention Centre from 11 – 13 November.
Qatargas is a strategic sponsor of the forum that brings together international, regional, and Qatari experts to discuss current emerging and innovative technologies in Carbon capture and storage, alternative energy and energy efficiency.
Mr. Al-Kuwari's speech outlined the current and future developments in the State of Qatar with regard to carbon capture and storage, climate change, alternative fuels and energy efficiency.
On the topic of Carbon capture and storage he said:
"Carbon capture and storage can have a critical role to play in managing our carbon footprint. There are demonstration projects in several countries with research and development ongoing at multiple levels. Qatar has also formed the Qatar Carbonates and Carbon Storage Research Centre and is funding a $70 million, 10-year research partnership between Shell, Qatar Petroleum, Imperial College of London and the Qatar Science and Technology Park. The center will help build Qatar's capacity in Carbon Capture and Storage"
Highlighting the efforts by the State of Qatar in terms of energy efficiency he said:
"Qatar Vision 2030 and the Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016 aim at reducing the energy intensity of electricity consumption through awareness campaigns, standardization; and seasonal equipment maintenance shutdowns. Qatar through ongoing studies, innovation within its industrial sector and extensive flare reduction programmes is contributing towards enhancing energy efficiency. Research is also ongoing within the private and education domain to increase understanding related to energy efficiency."
Mr. Al-Kuwari also underlined Qatargas' efforts in reducing its carbon footprint stating:
"We in Qatargas are very much aligned with the State of Qatar's vision to contribute to reducing our carbon footprint and we are doing so via initiatives such as reduced flaring, greenhouse gas management strategy, by exploring carbon capture and storage and revising energy efficiency studies in collaboration with Qatar Petroleum. We are committed towards a sustainable environment and look forward to gaining valuable insights, to better understand ways of managing our emissions from the distinguished experts who have assembled here."
The Doha Carbon DCEF, organized jointly by Qatar Foundation, Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil Qatar, provides a platform for a select panel of experts to discuss energy and greenhouse gas challenges facing Qatar and the wider region. Discussions during the Forum will fall under three pillars: reviewing state of the art scientific research and development; policies and regulation; and practical industrial applications to mitigate and adapt to the risks of climate change, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2011-2016.
The Forum builds on the pioneering work of the inaugural 2010 event by establishing Qatar as a champion of government and industrial partnerships to explore technological solutions to the challenge of providing the world with energy while mitigating the impacts of energy production and use.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


to give essential information to Bergonian travelers for every nation of the world.
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The United States of America is a highly-developed capitalist state, with rule by law and an independent court system. Its population of approximately 267 million is ethnically divided into English-speaking Europeans (e.g. caucasian) (70 percent), and English-speaking African (e.g. Black) (13 percent), and Spanish-speaking immigrants from Latin American countries (15%). Christianity is the national religion, although Jews and Muslims together comprise 6% of the population. English is the national and official language, although Spanish is widely spoken in certain areas. A distinct class system exists, resulting in extremes of wealth and poverty. The capital city is Washington DC.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: A Commonwealth passport is required for Bergonians wishing to enter the United States. A visa is not required for Bergonian citizens visiting for 30 days or less, providing that tourism or education is the purpose of the visit. If the traveler intends to stay or does stay longer than 30 days, a visa becomes necessary. For further information on requirements for Bergonians entering the U.S., travelers may contact the Embassy of the United States at 434 Pernere Avenue, Lefitoni, or the American consulates in Ceiolai, Glen, Cationi, Santanier, Sonai, and Mragatai.
CRIME: The Consular Service continues its rating of a "high" level of risk for violent crime in the US.
Tourists are sometimes specifically targeted, nearly always in robbery attempts. Foreign visitors to larger cities often fall prey to pickpockets, bag snatchers, other petty thieves, and also to serious assault. Thieves operate in all parts of the country, due in part to the high rates of drug addiction, both in urban and rural areas. Bergonians often have the mistaken notion that urban crime in the United States far exceeds that in rural areas. Unattended personal belongings (such as briefcases and computer bags) are usually stolen, and Americans only rarely return lost items they find.
The Consular Service has also received reports of physical assaults against Bergonians with racist or nationalist motivations. Such incidents are rare, however, but have increases notably since 11 September 2001, with some accounts of Americans mistaking atrei or sherei countrymen for people from Muslim countries.
The Consular Service advises young women to take special precautions in public places, particularly at night, around bars and nightclubs, and in isolated settings. The frequency of sexual and other violent assaults upon women in the U.S.
All Bergonian citizens who are victimized by crime in the United States are encouraged to report the occurrence to the Consular Service at 1-888-555-0000 (within the U.S. or Canada) or via the internet: www.achesiner.bg/consular/sev.htm The Consular Office tries to maintain accurate data on crimes against Bergonian citizens.
MEDICAL CARE: Good medical facilities are widely available throughout the country. The extreme capitalist regime in the United States, however, makes health care a commodity, so medical treatment is often refused to people who cannot demonstrate an ability to pay. Only hospital emergency facilities are, by law, required to treat any individual without prior screening for financial means. Thus individual travelers may become legally liable for medical treatment received in the United States. To avoid this risk, any Bergonian citizens who travel abroad may pay a premium to the Peoples Health that entitles them to emergency and catastrophic medical care services received in a foreign country. Upon payment of the premium, citizens receive a special Peoples Health card which will confirm their coverage. Travelers should carry this card on them at all times with their passports. The Peoples Health in any event will pay for evacuations back to Bergonia.
DISEASE AND VACCINATIONS: Public health conditions have been excellent for decades; however concerns have arisen recently that the public health system had begun to decline, though the occurrence of infectious disease remains low. No vaccinations are required or advisable for travel to the United States. The faucet water in nearly all parts of the country is drinkable.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND CONDITIONS: While abroad Bergonian citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those at home. The information below concerning the United States is provided for general reference only, and may not accurately apply in every location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation: Poor.
Availability of Roadside Assistance: None, except on Interstate highways in some states.
Travel in, around, and between cities is primarily by private automobile. The only other common alternative to motor vehicle transportation between cities is by commercial air service. The intercity system of passenger trains consists of only a few lines operated by Amtrak. Likewise intercity bus service is sparse. Only the major metropolitan areas have intra-city train systems. As a direct result of over-reliance on the automobile, traffic congestion is frequent in all cities, and can therefore be tedious and slow.
Taxi service in the United States is safe, but moderately to extremely expensive. Local trains and subways, trams and buses, where they exist, are both convenient and economical. One may only rarely find discounts for taxis and mass transportation with advance purchases of coupon books.
Bergonians who travel to the United States often find it necessary to rent an automobile from a large corporation. Such rentals are typically very expensive and come with contracts with many limitations that are not disclosed by corporate employees at the time of rental. Nearly all such contracts are presented with options for additional liability insurance, and while such insurance is highly useful it is also exorbitantly priced. Bergonian citizens who plan to rent or other wise drive cars while in the United States or other countries are advised to contact the International Travelers Clearinghouse before departure to purchase liability insurance from a Bergonian insurance federation that will pay any expenses and liability incurred in a car wreck during their trip abroad.
Child seat use is compulsory in cars. Driving is on the right side of the road. Maximum speed limits on highways are uniformly expressed only in miles per hour and vary from state to state. Likewise each city and towns posts its own speed limits, which vary considerably. The maximum allowable blood alcohol level in nearly all American states is 0.8. Use of cellular telephones while driving is legal in all states, which adds considerably to the frequency of motor vehicle accidents.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS: The national emergency number (equivalent to 1-1-2) is 9-1-1.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The Commonwealth Aviation Council has assessed the United States' civil aviation authority as Category One -- in compliance with international aviation safety standards for the oversight of its air carrier operations.
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: American Customs authorities often enforce strict regulations concerning import into the United States of items such as firearms and recreational drugs, and foreigners are often subject to search and questioning upon arrival at American airports. Any Bergonian citizen who is detained by customs or immigration authorities should use the first opportunity to use a telephone to call the Consular Office's special toll-free number to report the incident.
A citizen should contact the American Embassy in Lefitoni or an American consulate for specific information regarding customs requirements, including the importation of agricultural or biological products.
LAW ENFORCEMENT: Bergonian citizens of atrei or sherei descent are advised that racist sentiments sometimes motivate the excessive attention police in the United States give to non-caucasian individuals. While many if not most American law enforcement officers are generally free of corruption and fair in the discharge of their duties, a traveler will find significant variations in police behavior. There are police in all parts of the United States who stop, detain and arrest non-caucasians disproportionately to caucasians. Likewise there are police in all parts of the United States who are prone to violence against detainees, with higher rates of inappropriate violence toward non-caucasians as compared to caucasians. Police officers have far less education than police in Bergonia, and most Bergonians will find many American law enforcement officers to be rude and overbearing in dealing with suspected troublemakers, and quick to overreact to perceived challenges to their authority, however slight. If a Bergonian citizen is stopped or detained by American law enforcement officers, he or she should obey all instructions immediately, refrain from arguing with an officer, and refrain from reaching into pockets, containers or compartments for identification unless directed to do so by the officer, since American police are constantly on guard for handguns. Detainees and arrested persons are required to provide identification and answer basic questions about their identity, but they may not be made to incriminate themselves or answer highly personal questions.
ARRESTS: Bergonians who are arrested in the United States are often confounded by confusing local regulations concerning bail, which differ widely, and may be subject to immediate imprisonment upon arrest, with hardly any opportunity to communicate with the outside. Any Bergonian citizen who is arrested should use the first opportunity to use a telephone to call the Consular Service's special toll-free number, 1-888-555-0000, to report the arrest. Under treaties currently in effect, the Consular Service may send a representative to visit any citizen jailed in the United States and to arrange for legal services. The Consular Service will notify the family of any citizen arrested and jailed in the United States or any other foreign country, and expedite communication between the jailed citizen and his family and work.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, Bergonian citizens are subject to its laws and regulations, which often differ significantly from those in Bergonia and may not afford the protections available to the individual under Bergonian law. Foreigners violating American laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties in the United States for breaking the law are generally more severe than in Bergonia for similar offenses. The Commonwealth International Human Rights Council has rated the prisons and jails as the United States' most serious human rights deficiency, with severe overcrowding, idleness, substandard food and medical care, and moderate violence.
DRUG PENALTIES: Bergonians who may have become complacent to casual drug use at home should be advised that possession of even small quantities of recreational drugs can result in criminal prosecution with very long sentences of imprisonment. Possession of moderate quantities of recreational drugs is often regarded as "possession with intent to sell or deliver," which is a felony crime usually punished with imprisonment.
REGISTRATION/EMBASSY AND CONSULATE LOCATION: Bergonians living in or visiting the United States are encouraged to register at any of the Consulate Service offices there.
The U.S. Embassy is located in Lefitoni, at 102 Lare Shiereca; telephone 311-310-9209. However, all requests for consular assistance should be directed to the Consulate General at 19 Museishar, telephone 311-206-5661.


Box Productions holds an impressive reputation in providing audio visual and bespoke build services for the events industry.
Providing innovative creative direction and technical strategy, we work meticulously to help you realise your project, collaborating closely with you to meet and exceed your expectations.
Driven by pride. You are our priority.
Combining years of substantial industry knowledge and experience, we consider ourselves to be a technical boutique. We approach every project with a made to measure solution to translate your ideas into stunning tailored design and build solutions.
Focusing on building long standing relationships with our clients means that our in-house production team listen carefully to establish the needs of your project, tailoring each to meet with your requirements and budget. We understand that every project is different and strive to reflect any theme, turning your event into a flawless experience.
"What a fantastic job you and your team did..Everything went PERFECTLY and the clients are beyond delighted with what we delivered. It was a pleasure working with you and your team..Thank you for your lovely positive energy throughout."
Our friendly team consists of some of the UK's most creative, accomplished and innovative professionals, helping us to establish the needs and customer care requirements of each project.
Our fully bespoke services include delivering concept and production design, CAD plans, lighting, sound, staging, set design, bespoke build, entertainment, power distribution and infrastructure, artist riders and honest experienced advice. This approach means that you can rely on us to collate all technical and structural information for an entire event to ensure the installation delivers your message clearly and with genuine impact.
We understand the unmistakable importance that lighting can have on your event. Whether you visualise an understated, effortless event, or a fully comprehensive production, we can provide all of your lighting needs.
You can trust that our excellent service and attention to detail will provide transparent and cost-effective solutions to create something totally unique to you and bring your event to life.
Our service can plan all of the lighting to create the right ambience to compliment your events focus, staging, tone and furniture, to ensure our lighting perfectly shapes the ambience of your event.
To keep in line with technical developments and trends, we have an extensive stock of lighting equipment to cater for a full range of projects to keep us providing the best possible lighting experiences.
"I just wanted to say thank you to the team again for all of your incredible work and help..All of your team were very friendly and really helpful as always. The finish was immaculate and it looked superb."
Whatever you are planning, as part of our fully comprehensive events service, our audio services provide perfect results to make even the most challenging space sound spectacular. Our professional team of technicians and audio specialists are on hand to support and supply any DJ or artist Technical Rider requests to ensure that they sound just right and transcend the audience's expectations.
We are perfectly suited to provide, install and manage AV systems for a wide range of events and projects. We can provide and install full PA systems that include wireless microphones, speakers, amplifiers and mixing desks so that each element runs in unison. We can also provide flat screens and digital projectors to compliment and support your vision.
Our dedicated production team perform all the essential checks to make sure that every component works flawlessly. You can trust us to be available to support any existing set up and to provide crisp sound to every corner of the venue. With the ability to respond to the requirements of the brief, our flexibility is our key strength.
"You have gone beyond the call of duty so many times this year..we adore working with you and thrilled that you still prioritise us. You guys are simply the best and we would not want to work without you."
At Box Productions we are proud to heavily invest in our in-house equipment. Owning one of the largest stocks of white lighting units in London, we can provide your event with a unique selection of uplighters, profile stage wash lights and small incidental units. To compliment this, we stock a broad range of white sound equipment from large Line Array systems to wireless Sonos speakers, powered stage monitors and compact but punchy speech PA speakers.
We own a large range of AV equipment, including flat screens from 19" to 85" and these are available on a variety of platforms, plinths and stands. Projection merging, 3D mapping and laser shows are all taken care of in house including smoke, haze and dry ice machines. We also stock a vast array of design lighting such as Arco lamps and festoon lighting, a range of sized mirror balls, battery powered candles, lanterns and stock furniture.
At Box Productions we understand that every build has unique characteristics, needs and goals. Our committed design team look to provide impressive creative solutions and effective idea communication. We are on hand to generate detailed concept drawings so that you can be confident that what you require will be designed and installed beyond expectations.
Whether casual or formal, we understand that every event has different infrastructure requirements. Paying close attention to the details, we provide the very best infrastructure solutions to determine the appropriate equipment for your event. We offer a broad range of products including; marquee and patio heating, power distribution, 4x4 towing vehicles, site radios, catering power and B.O.H. lighting, rigging, flood lighting and smaller waterproof structures and much more.
Whether it be a grand scale stage set, luxurious wedding, large event, private event, conference, award ceremony, private party or luxurious wedding, product launch. We specialise in providing custom solutions in stage design, construction and installation to bring your event to life.
Our builds have hosted a wide range of projects, covering the needs of award ceremonies, DJ sets, band performances and speeches. All builds are designed to provide and incorporate lighting and AV design application, we love a challenge and are only limited to the extent of your imagination.
We have provided our services to numerous clients and events around the world. Understanding the logistical complexities that working in various territories, we are competent in resolving the specific needs, questions and issues to make sure everything runs smoothly and on-time.
At Box Productions we are incredibly passionate about supporting charity work across a broad spectrum of sectors. Using our extensive industry experience we can help you with a wide range of aspects to help ensure a successful charity event. Whether it be a charity dinner, masquerade ball or music event, we can make your occasion stand out by creating the perfect atmosphere.
I have been struggling to put into words my gratitude for such a special group of people that came together to make last night so incredibly spectacular. Your ongoing support for the Fayre of St James is just extraordinary and to say that you are pro's at this would be an understatement.


Delightful nature stories for the young and young at heart!
Originally published in 1903 and here reproduced with the original whimsical artwork, Outdoor Secrets is a great addition to any home where nature is welcome!
Along with these secrets come simple life lessons woven into the living stories—gentle lessons about respecting others, working hard, and being patient.
Outdoor Secrets is also available as an audiobook read by the pleasant, articulate voice of Ruth Shafer. Now you can enjoy listening to a chapter or two of the audiobook while running errands, or build family memories as you enjoy the whole book on a long car trip. It's also great to keep younger children busy and learning while you teach the older students, or just to give your reading voice a rest. This 94-minute recording is available as a 2-CD set or an audio download.
Now you can add even more learning opportunities with The Outdoor Secrets Companion. You'll find great nature study ideas, more living book suggestions, beautiful poetry, and nature notebook activities that correspond to the great stories in Outdoor Secrets.
Come discover the secrets that are awaiting you and your child in the great outdoors!
I just finished reading this with my 6 and 3 year old. They loved as did I. The stories were very sweet and we learned some wonderful nature facts along with a few character traits.
Thank you for offering an audio of this book. I would love to see more audio books.
We love this audio book…it is absolutely delightful! Our 6 year old was able to fully relate that a few weeks ago at the botanical garden, he dissected a flower, learned the flower parts and cross pollination in relation to one of the stories on this cd. Of course I was thrilled that he remembered. Our children would like to listen to it again to see if they can change out mother nature for Father God…if the sentences present the same values and character He does. We have the companion book that we have yet to look at and we would like to draw some pictures about the processes of nature so we are looking forward to few more detailed reviews. We enjoy the voice, but in most settings in the car, the study, or the family room I have to adjust the specific sound settings to hear it without straining. The narrator has a very soft spoken voice…but it a very special rendition. My kids do say it's difficult to hear, but I'm the one who get headaches while straining…I'm also 45 and recognize my hearing is less than it use to be. Our 9 year old asks to hear this audio frequently on his own. Thank you for a wonderful audio.
We loved this set. We used it in K. And again in 1st grade. When we studied apples, we got other short stories at the Library about apples as well as reading about Johnny Appleseed. My kiddo loved that. We didn't use the same books each year and we did a more advanced reading of Johnny Appleseed in 1st. We used various books on birds and used the Take along guide about birds when we studied birds. We drew birds that came to our feeder. We sort of made unit studies and it made the book go longer. Loved this set!!! Can't wait to use 106 days of creation this year.


On the last day of your inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment program, you may feel a mixture of accomplishment and unpreparedness. Completing a treatment program for drug or alcohol addiction is a major accomplishment. At the same time, how can you be sure that relapse won't occur? One of the ways that many clients of drug rehab centers continue to succeed in sobriety even outside of treatment is with the aid of rehab houses.
Rehab houses are essentially sober living facilities. These locations are meant to be a halfway point between addiction treatment and living at home. This is why they were once called halfway houses.
Generally speaking, a rehab house is a housing facility that has rooms or apartments usually overseen by a recovery or rehab center. Everyone in the facility will have recently come out of treatment, which enables strong bonds to flourish as clients support each other while maintaining sobriety.
Naturally, rehab houses are 100 percent sober, meaning no alcohol or drugs are allowed. In many ways, this creates an easier transition into "everyday life." There will certainly be alcohol and drugs available when you move fully back to your home and an independent lifestyle. The initial shock of this availability and the ensuing temptations can cause a relapse for many people. Others struggle with negative influences around them–perhaps old friends who have continued abusing drugs or drinking heavily.
For these reasons, rehab houses can be an excellent transitional option.
Who Can Live in a Rehab House?
Anyone who recently completed a Florida inpatient or intensive outpatient program for substance abuse can take advantage of rehab houses. Often, during the creation of your aftercare program at the end of your treatment, your advisor will recommend a rehab house or a sober living arrangement.
Whether you take this route is your choice, but it has certainly been effective for numerous clients. Many clients sign up to live in a rehab house for several weeks, then play it by ear. Clients may feel they could benefit from the supportive, sober environment for a few additional weeks or months. In this case, they can always sign on for more time before moving back home.
Have you recently finished a Florida inpatient program for drug and alcohol addiction, and concerned about relapse?
A rehab house may be the perfect answer for you. At Beaches Recovery in Jacksonville, we provide sober living facilities for those who need them. In addition to allowing you to continue on with your regular routine, sober living also allows you to create close friendships and connections with others in your addiction recovery group. This provides an excellent support system that can help shape your entire life post-rehab.
If you are interested in learning more about sober living at Beaches Recovery in Jacksonville or any of the other treatment programs that we offer, please give us a call today at 866.605.0532.
Remember that recovery from substance abuse shouldn't end on your last day of inpatient treatment. Let us help you transition back into your life with ease and comfort. You can call right now.
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Elana recently returned from traveling the country in feline form covering five tracks as a swing on the national tour of Cats! Previous trips around the globe include travel aboard an Oceania luxury cruise ship as a singer/dancer as well as shows at various regional theaters including the New London Barn Playhouse, Northern Stage, and the Saint Michael's Playhouse. She also enjoyed a winter season ringing in the holidays performing at King's Island in Ohio followed by working on a new play, Chasing Jack, in Florida, which unfortunately closed on opening night due to the pandemic.
Through the years, she trained at various programs such as the Circle in the Square Summer Musical Theater Intensive, Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in Israel, Broadway Artists Alliance, and abroad at the London Dramatic Academy before graduating from Cornell University in 2017.
A native Vermonter who grew up hiking the Green Mountains and incorporating maple syrup in an inordinate number of meals, Elana has been involved in a number of workshops, concerts, galas, and short films, enjoying many artistic endeavors as an actor, dancer, singer, and yoga teacher based in New York City!
Check out some recent performance updates below!
ARIAINA
Elana is thrilled to have been cast as a featured role in her first feature film! It is titled ARIAINA and will be filmed in the Boston area fall of 2022. More details to come.
Phantoms by Firelight: Cyrkus Vampyr
Elana Valastro is excited to run away with the circus for the month of October! She will be introducing a number of circus acts as ringmaster as well as singing and dancing in her own act at Old Sturbridge Village, MA. Press release found here.
Fall 2021 - Summer 2022
Cats the Musical National Tour
Elana recently finished touring North America with the Cats the Musical National Tour! She is a swing/understudy covering roles such as Demeter, Bombalurina, Rumpleteazer, Sillabub, and Tantomile. More info and tour dates can be found here: https://ustour.catsthemusical.com/
Chasing Jack
Before Covid-19 unfortunately put an end to the run, Elana was in sunny Boca Raton, FL at the Willow Theater playing the role of Rebecca in a new play by John Anastasi. More info here.
Charlie Brown Christmas Spectacular
Elana was thankful to RWS Entertainment for the opportunity to spread holiday cheer as a singer/dancer in the Charlie Brown Christmas Spectacular at Kings Island WinterFest in Mason, Ohio.
Turkeys Go On Strike
Elana played the female lead in a new musical at Theater for the New City as a part of the Dream Up Festival! Turkeys Go on Strike is a satirical comedy with political undercurrents about oppression and government corruption. More info here and here.
Winter 2018 - Fall 2019
Oceania Marina
Elana had the time of her life adventuring around the world as the female Singer/Dancer on the Oceania Marina cruise ship! She travelled to 30+ countries from March to October after rehearsing at Norwegian Creative Studios in Tampa, Florida.
The Little Mermaid at Northern Stage
Elana spent the lovely winter at Northern Stage as Atina and other ensemble characters in The Little Mermaid! In addition to being the Ariel Understudy, she experienced her first fly system and was airborne as the Stingray in Under the Sea and the Ariel body double. More info here.
The New London Barn Playhouse
Elana thoroughly enjoyed her time as a member of the 2017 Resident Acting Company at the New London Barn Playhouse! She was the "Day By Day" soloist in Godspell as well as roles in The Secret Garden, West Side Story, and All Shook Up.
Elana graduated from Cornell University in May 2017 with a BA in Performing and Media Arts and a minor in Science/Technology studies. At Cornell, she enjoyed being president of the Cornell Ambassadors for Media and Performance, a Cornell Tradition Fellow, a member of the Edge of the Gorge Dance Company, and a member of the Sphinx Head Senior Honor Society. In addition, she was honored to receive the 2017 Drama Book Shop Award.
Headshots (click photo to enlarge)
TV/Film Acting Reel
Vocal Reel
Dance Reel
Sample Scene - Teen Drama TV Genre
Toggle Content goes here
Theater Selections (Plays)
Extended Vocal Reel (Long Version)
Elana volunteered at the Auburn Maximum Security Correctional Facility and worked with a group of inmates known as the Phoenix Players Theatre Group. Together, they engaged in theatre exercises and devised work based on their life experiences.
© Copyright - Elana Valastro


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Il torneo maschile di pallamano ai Giochi della XXII Olimpiade si è svolto dal 20 al 30 luglio 1980 ed è stato ospitato da due impianti: la Sokol'niki Arena e il Palazzo dello sport Dinamo, entrambi situati a Mosca.

La medaglia d'oro è stata vinta dalla , che in finale ha superato l' per 23-22 dopo un tempi supplementari. La medaglia di bronzo è andata alla , che nella finale per il terzo posto ha sconfitto l'.

La finale mise di fronte le prime classificate nei due gironi, senza nessuna fase a eliminazione diretta. Nel girone A la  concluse al primo posto, distanziando di un punto l' con la quale aveva pareggiato lo scontro diretto. Il girone B fu molto combattuto e vide tre squadre concludere a pari punti, ,  e , con lo scontro decisivo all'ultima giornata che vide la vittoria dei sovietici sugli jugoslavi. I piazzamenti vennero stabiliti in base alla differenza reti negli scontri diretti, mandando così i sovietici in finale per l'oro e i rumeni in finale per il bronzo. Il torneo venne anche caratterizzato dal ritiro dei campioni mondiale in carica della , del  e della , le cui delegazioni parteciparono al boicottaggio dei Giochi olimpici; al loro posto vennero ammesse ,  e .

Formato
Le dodici squadre partecipanti sono state inserite in un due gironi da sei squadre ciascuno, e ciascuna squadra affronta tutte le altre del girone per un totale di cinque giornate. La classifica finale dei gironi determinava gli accoppiamenti per le finali per i piazzamenti: le prime classificate si affrontavano per la conquista delle medaglie d'oro e d'argento, mentre le seconde classificate si affrontavano per la conquista della medaglia di bronzo.

Squadre partecipanti

Fase a gironi

Girone A

Classifica

Risultati

Girone B

Classifica

Risultati

Finali

Finale 11º posto

Finale 9º posto

Finale 7º posto

Finale 5º posto

Finale 3º posto

Finale

Classifica finale

Statistiche

Classifica marcatori
Fonte: report ufficiale.

Note

Collegamenti esterni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Team Careers Contact
About Us Values
Welcome About About Us Values TeamCareersContact
The Quinonez Management Group team is comprised of energetic, success seeking individuals who in pursuit of personal growth. We are a diverse group from all different nationalities which makes us unique and also is what unites us. We strongly support each other and we work together to reach our goals and meet client expectations. Every individual brings their own value and will go above and beyond for the betterment of the team.
We are passionate, competitive, committed to the core, and centered on pure transparency and integrity.
Lester Quinonez - President
Originally from Nicaragua, Lester Quiñonez has possessed the desire for competing, growing, and learning since he was a child. He has had a passion for playing soccer since he was 8 years old, regularly plays the guitar, and explores the outdoors whenever possible. His home country is where he studied Industrial Engineering at Central American University (Universidad Centroamericana), which was the first private university in Central America. Before starting his career in marketing and sales, Lester was a pizza chef in Miami. He made the career move because he was yearning for the chance to grow and learn in an environment that facilitated advancement and responsibility in the field of business. Working with his remarkable team and making progress each and every day are some of the reasons why Lester loves his job. Additionally, he finds great joy in working with customers. "I like to go out, make friends, and help others—this is what makes my job so special." When he's not working, Lester spends time with his family seeing movies and going on long walks. The little moments he shares with them are especially important to him. By the time he's 50 years old, he wants to be a successful businessman operating internationally. Lester hopes to travel the world, spend quality time with his family, and retire with an accomplished sense of prolific success.
Krystal Mercado
Krystal grew up in Hartford, Connecticut where she attended Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy. She decided that formal education was not the path for her and became a House Parent to girls in foster care. Although her work with the girls was rewarding, it was also a very challenging environment to be in for an extended amount of time. The upbeat and positive culture at Quinonez Management Group is exactly what she needed. Krystal's drive to learn sales and become a "closer" helped her grow quickly into a valuable member of our team. She loves to dance salsa, reggae, and hip hop and admits that Cuban food and pizza are hear weaknesses. Personally, Krystal looks forward to purchasing a home and starting a family. Her professional goals include continuing to develop others, so they can be the best version of themselves while advancing her own career to leave a legacy for her family.
We are not a team because we work together.
We're a team because we respect, trust and care for each other.
MissionValuesJob ApplicationContact Us


EDMONTON, ALBERTA - Internal U.S. documents published by WikiLeaks are raising questions about whether the Alberta government plans to export electricity to the United States.
S. diplomatic cables reveal that Murray Smith, Alberta's former energy minister, told U.S. officials in 2003 that excess electricity generated for oil sands operations could be made available for export.
According to the documents, Smith said Alberta lacked the transmission lines needed to export the power to the United States.
"But at least for now there is limited capacity to move this west and then south through British Columbia and on to our Pacific Northwest," the cable notes.
"There is almost no capacity to move it south into the U.S. Rocky Mountain states and markets further afield."
Opposition parties say a proposed multi-billion dollar north-south transmission line will be used to export that power even though the Stelmach government has denied it.
"There's nothing necessarily wrong with exporting surplus power to the United States," NDP Leader Brian Mason said.
"But by hiding it, they're proceeding with a policy that will require Albertans through their electricity bill to pay for this transmission infrastructure which is worth billions and billions of dollars."


The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council recognizes the need for reliable predictive data to better understand the needs of the future Greater Peoria workforce. Data-driven programming requires a knowledge of the current state of the Greater Peoria labor market as well as a forecast of the future talent needs of the Greater Peoria economy.
The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council began conducting the Talent Forecast in 2016 with the goal of identifying and publicizing regional hiring trends and needs. A survey was delivered to major employers in Greater Peoria primary industry clusters to identify the specific jobs that employers were hiring. Findings from the initial survey were utilized to inform GPEDC workforce programming.
The goal of this analysis is to identify hiring trends as well as the gaps that exist between the demands of Greater Peoria employers and the skills, experiences, and education of the Greater Peoria population. Understanding this gap requires greater knowledge of the needs of employers as well as the demographic, educational, and socioeconomic factors that drive the quality of the regional workforce. This work has implications for regional programming in education, training, talent recruitment and retention, and business attraction and development.
This year's Talent Forecast takes a multi-faceted approach to identifying the needs of the Greater Peoria workforce. Analysis was done across both the supply and demand sides of the labor market, identifying the trends in industry and education that determine workforce outcomes.
Regional data profiles were created highlighting regional demographic trends, industry job demand, changing occupational needs, and educational completion statistics. This analysis was done utilizing data at the regional level as well as the county and local levels, to identify workforce development themes for both regional and local programming.
The population of Greater Peoria is projected to decline from 2017 to 2027 by approximately 4,500 people. Population is projected to decline in all Greater Peoria counties with the exception of Woodford County. Mason County is projected to experience the most dramatic population decline, losing approximately 7.5% of its population over the next decade. These trends continue population trends of the past decade, where the Greater Peoria suburban communities and communities located near major interstates have experienced growth while highly urban and rural communities have experienced population decline.
The data below can be changed to display data from any of the 5 counties by clicking on counties on the map.
With over 48,000 workers commuting out and just over 49,000 commuting in, Greater Peoria has a balanced flow of workers. The region sends the most workers to neighboring McLean County (7,809, 4.7%) and Sangamon County (4,942, 2.9%). Most of the workers coming from outside of the region are from McLean County (5,408, 3.2%) and Fulton County (3,533, 2.1%).
The region has a lower educational attainment rate than both the state and the country. 35% of the Greater Peoria population has a degree higher than high school, compared to 40% at the state level and 37% at the national level. Woodford County has the highest educational attainment in the region.
Below is a visualization of proportions of educational attainment in the region. The pie chart on the left represents our region, and can be manipulated to represent any county in Greater Peoria via the dropdown menu.
Since 2000, Greater Peoria has experienced large fluctuations in the number of jobs. The region experienced peaks in the number of jobs in 2008, prior to the effects of the Great Recession, and 2013. Most jobs in the region are located in Peoria, East Peoria, Morton, Pekin, and Lincoln. Cities located close to I-74 and I-55, particularly Mackinaw and El Paso, have experienced significant growth, while communities far from major interstates, such as those in Mason County, have seen declines in the number of jobs.
The broad industry sectors in Greater Peoria employing the most workers are Health Care and Social Assistance, Government, Manufacturing, Retail Trade, and Accommodation and Food Services. Among these top five industries, manufacturing has experienced the greatest change over the last ten years, losing over 10,000 jobs in the last decade. Accommodation and Food Services has seen the greatest positive change of these five industries, adding over 700 jobs since 2007.
Looking at more specific industries, the construction industry has declined, with reductions of ~30% of its workforce since 2008. Similarly, machinery manufacturing has declined since the Great Recession, with over 5000 jobs lost.
The chart below shows EMSI estimate data on regional jobs from 2001-2016. The visualization shows estimates of changes in job numbers within cities, within industries, and within specific industries in cities. To adjust the data by industry, select your industry of choice from the Industry Description dropdown menu. To adjust the data by community, select your community of choice from the City dropdown menu. To display an industry within an individual community, select the industry from the Industry Description drop down menu and the community from the City drop down menu.
The region's top occupations by employment include Office and Administrative Support Occupations, Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations, Sales and Related Occupations, Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations, and Management Occupations. The median hourly earnings range from $9.64/hour for Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations to $43.95/hour for Management Occupations.
Production occupations have experienced a decline, with particular decreases in machinists and team assemblers. Computer and mathematical occupations have experienced a large increase in jobs since 2001, in part due to a large increase in the number of computer systems analysts.
To display data on the following visualization, click on a job category and then click on a specific occupation.
The existing jobs in the Greater Peoria economy are diverse in the range of education and experience requirements. Approximately 40% of existing regional jobs have entry level requirements of more than a high school degree. The visualization below displays the entry level education, experience, and training required for existing jobs in the region.
The GPEDC only has access to regional data, however, the labor market is today national and international in nature. Most companies and workers have access to online job boards that allow them to look beyond the borders of Greater Peoria to look for workers and work. However, the ability of a region to supply its own labor market is vitally important to the sustainability of a region. These data points show the ability of the Greater Peoria laborforce and educational institutions to fill labor market needs.
The regional labor supply consists of all individuals in the labor market, including those looking for work and those currently employed in the region. The Greater Peoria laborforce has been gradually declining since 2010. The laborforce population peaked in the summer of 2010 with over 212,000 workers but has declined to approximately 191,000 workers. While the national laborforce has also been in decline due to the retirement of the baby boomer generation, the rate of decline in Greater Peoria likely signifies that workers are moving out of the region as well as retiring.
Unemployment in the region has trended to be slightly higher in Greater Peoria than in the United States as a whole, remaining approximately a percentage point above the national average. As of June 2017, Greater Peoria had an unemployment rate of 5.5% while the U.S. had an unemployment rate of 4.4%. However, the Greater Peoria average is not consistent across the entire region, as unemployment in Mason and Peoria counties have been well above regional and national averages, while unemployment rates in Logan, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties tend to be lower.
Declines in the manufacturing and construction industries have resulted in a bulk of the regions unemployment. As of October 2017, Greater Peoria had approximately 10,300 residents out of work, 1,210 of them formerly employed in the manufacturing industry and 1,064 employed in the construction industry. Retail trade, healthcare and social assistance, and administrative and support industries made up the top five in terms of number of unemployed workers.
However, while the number of unemployed is high in certain industries, the unemployment rate is not as high. For example, the healthcare industry has 1,014 unemployed workers in the region, however, because the industry has a laborforce of over 30,000, the unemployment rate of healthcare workers is really quite low at 3.2%. In contrast, construction has a high number of unemployed workers and a high unemployment rate with approximately 10.9% of the construction workforce listed as unemployed in August of 2017.
Occupations closely tied to the manufacturing and construction industries, including Construction and Extraction occupations, and Production occupations, have the highest levels of occupational unemployment. As a trend, occupations that require a higher level of educational attainment have lower rates of unemployment.
The health of the regions workforce vitally depends on new talent entering the workforce, and that talent having the skills and abilities necessary to be successful in their given career field. This process starts at schools and continues into higher education. Understanding how successful our schools are at preparing students for the workforce, both at the high school and college level, is vital to predicting the future of our workforce. The region must know if schools are graduating students, if they are preparing students for college, and what degrees students are completing in higher education institutions.
Almost half of all educational completions in Greater Peoria are in two subject areas: health professions and liberal arts and sciences. Approximately two-thirds of all liberal arts and science degrees completed in the region are completed at Illinois Central College, while degrees in health professions are scattered across universities.
Illinois Central College produces the most graduates in the region, followed by Bradley University. Bachelors degrees are the most commonly received degrees, followed by associates degrees. Missing from this data is the number of associates degrees received as a precursor to a bachelors degree versus the number of associates degrees that are an individual's final degree.
The following chart displays a breakdown of received degrees split by subject and degree. The data can be sorted by institution using the dropdown menu.
Job openings data represents the number of jobs that are available to the workforce in a given year. These numbers, while useful, may not be representative of the future workforce. Due to more rapid job turnover in certain fields and the ratio of new to replacement jobs across industries, job openings figures can exaggerate the long term demand for certain jobs. However, job openings figures are useful in displaying the labor market at a particular point in time, and for displaying the situation for companies trying to find workers, workers trying to find jobs, and career programming in matching the two together.
Below is a listing of the projected job openings in Greater Peoria in 2018, as well as the job requirements and median hourly earnings for each job. Greater Peoria is projected to have approximately 20,993 job openings in 2018. Of these openings, approximately 70% require no more than a high school diploma. However, for jobs that have median hourly earnings of at least the region's median hourly wage of $24.80, 75.9% require schooling after high school.
The graphic below can be used to sort the number of job openings by minimum median wage. Use the slider below to see how educational requirements change for higher wage jobs.
Below is a list of estimated job openings by specific job type. The graph can be sorted by wages and educational requirements.
Higher educational attainment is beneficial at both the individual and regional level. Regions with higher levels of educational attainment are more attractive to outside investment, and have an easier time retaining existing employers. Since the region currently lags behind the state and nation in the proportion of individuals with bachelors degrees or higher, the region should seek to increase its levels of educational attainment. Doing this would keep the region competitive at the state and national level, and would help meet the demands of regional employers.
Additionally, increasing educational attainment should help individuals in Greater Peoria live better lives. Statistically, individuals with a bachelors degree or higher make more in their life times, even after accounting for additional debt. Also, the unemployment rate decreases among cohorts with higher levels of education.
However, the region should seek to increase educational attainment in a sustainable manner. Tuition costs are increasing for private and public universities alike, and the cost of attending college is higher than ever. Thus, regional actors seeking to increase levels of educational attainment should focus on career-focused solutions to encouraging additional schooling.
The population of Greater Peoria is declining, and the laborforce is following suit. As the population of Greater Peoria declines and the workforce ages, the region will continue to see decreases in consumer demand and available workforce. Both of these factors make operating a business in Greater Peoria less tenable, and lead to a vicious cycle for the region.
To overcome these hurdles, the region should focus efforts on retaining the existing workforce and attracting new residents to the region. Regional branding and marketing provide short term strategies for attracting and retaining residents. However, for a longer term, sustainable strategy, the region should develop strategies and assets that make the region a better place to live, work, and play.
Preparing students for the jobs of the future will help alleviate some of the problems associated with industry change, however, measures should be taken to help the existing workforce. Worker retraining programs should be explored and funded as necessary. This report recommends further research to identify target professions.
This report is primarily limited by the quality of the data. Due to inconsistency in how data is reported, numbers for certain jobs may be under or over-reported. Farm jobs in particular, due to their unique nature, are often under-reported by government and EMSI estimates, and are likely underrepresented in the data.
This report also is limited due to its reliance on secondary analysis of government and proprietary data sources. Topic specific quantitative data and qualitative data collected through primary sources would add more context to this analysis. Further research should identify other workforce areas of concern and seek to provide more primary data.
What percentage of Greater Peoria students pursue internships during their high school career?
How many job openings remain unfilled across the region in a given year?
What specific skills do local employers look for in job applicants? How do those differ by industry/occupation?
What difficulties do job seekers in the region face when looking for employment? What are the similarities and differences between job seekers and how can regional programming meet their needs?
Further research should seek to give light to these different issues, and should use data from previous research (including this report) to give context to findings.
While this report looked broadly at workforce data in the region, this report contains no discussion of the current strategies being employed across the region by cities, school districts, colleges, and non-profits. In order to formulate the region's workforce needs, further analysis should highlight the strategies being employed as well as the organizations and institutions that are pursuing those strategies. This analysis should discuss the distribution of strategies across the region, as well as the geographic and organizational gaps that exist to address workforce problems.
Utilizing data-points used in this report, future research, and an institutional analysis, the GPEDC and other regional partners should seek to create a formalized regional workforce strategy. This strategy should include regional goals, a formalized structure, assigned roles for institutions and organizations, and logic models to define how goals will be met. This strategy should seek to be as inclusive as possible, including representatives from across the region.
Since the regional workforce is constantly changing, a comprehensive workforce analysis should be done on a annual or biannual basis to identify changes in workforce trends. Additionally, the region should consider developing a series of workforce metrics that can be featured in a central location. This central data center should also feature information and data on regional workforce strategies.
Click on an image below to view slideshow.


North County residents are in for a sweet treat as The Cravory Cookies opens their second location in Carlsbad's Bressi Ranch Village Center on September 1. From its original location in Point Loma, The Cravory Cookies has become a local favorite known for creating unique, decadent cookie flavors like chocolate truffle, pancakes & bacon, and red velvet among so many others that are available in-store or with their monthly cookie subscriptions.
Cravory's new 1,300 square foot shop is designed with ample open space and indoor/outdoor seating, suited for guests to relax with a favorite cookie and coffee. Two expansive white marble counters flank the right and back walls that feature a "floating shelves" cookie display, sampling station, and coffee bar. Other accents like custom-designed cookie-inspired graphics, pop-art, a hopscotch floor, a menu-wall, and a neon design bearing the phrase "The Sweet Life" are placed throughout the store's crisp blue and white aesthetic.
Pulling from The Cravory Cookies' archive of more than 3,500 distinctive flavors, the new shop will serve a daily mix of 26 cookie flavors. Daily offerings include signature flavors like Birthday Cake, Rosemary Balsamic, Lemon Bar, Red Velvet, and Chocolate Truffle, as well as custom daily cookie flavors like Oreo Caramel S'more and six new flavor creations each month as a part of The Cravory Cookies' Flavors of the Month program. The new shop will be stocked with The Cravory Cookies' signature Taro, Nutella, Caramel, Cookies N' Cream, and Vanilla flavored milks. A menu of freshly prepared coffee beverages using artisan roasted beans from James Coffee Co. will also be served.
In celebration of the new shop opening, The Cravory Cookies will be providing one free cookie per guest on Thursday, September 1 and Friday, September 2 at the new shop while supplies last. Other specials throughout the weekend will be announced via The Cravory Cookies' Facebook and Instagram.
Cravory's new shop is located at 2675 Gateway Road, Suite 103 in Carlsbad, CA, and will be open Monday-Saturday from 7:30am-9pm and Sunday from 9:30am-9pm. For more information, visit thecravory.com.


A mum and daughter say they are living in fear after a gang of girls attacked the teen before standing outside her house and threatening to "batter" her.
Amelia Doig, 13, claims she has been attacked by a group of about eight girls twice in the last two weeks.
Now, she fears that the group of first years will carry out their threat to stab her if she returns to school.
Speaking at her family home in Craigie with her mum Louise by her side, Amelia, who is in third year, said the bullies are making her life a misery.
She said: "They attacked me two weeks ago and then again on Friday. They also came to my house on Friday and threatened to batter and stab me.
Louise said the first time the bullies attacked her daughter they left her bleeding and bruised, lying on the ground.
Amelia ran straight home and the family called an ambulance. She was checked over by paramedics.
On Friday, the girls threw juice over her. The incident, in which the girls turned up outside the family home, was caught on film.
Louise said: "A group of girls arrived outside and started shouting obscenities and threats at the window. They were shouting horrible things and saying that if she went back to school they would stab her.
"When I went to the window I was shocked to see so many outside.
"They even threatened me, asking me to go outside to face them – we were both left scared and shaking.
"Amelia is too scared to go back to school but I wouldn't send her anyway.
Louise has released a video of a gang of girls outside her home.
The group can be seen peering in and shouting while Louise tries to record covertly inside a bedroom.
One of the girls is puffing on a cigarette.
Louise says behind the camera: "They're threatening my house, they're threatening Amelia. They won't go away. They've been here about 15/20 minutes now. They won't go away.
"They poured juice over Amelia. They are on about chapping at the door for a third time.
The girls, peering into the window, can be heard yelling: "She's videoing it" before hurling a string of swear words at Louise.
Louise also posted a video on Facebook opening her heart to her friends.
On it, she said: "I really need your support and help because I'm in a situation that could potentially end my daughter's life.
Dundee City Council had not responded to a request for comment as the Tele went to press.


LES BORDS SONT EN EXCELLENT ÉTAT, PAS DÉCRITURES NI ÉTIQUETTES. Paris AU BAS DU VERSO. LE DISQUE AVEC TOUT SON LUSTRE ET SA SOUS-POCHETTE CRISTAL DORIGINE EST EN SUPERBE CONDITION, PASSE IMPECCABLEMENT AVEC QUELQUES MINIMES GRÉSILLEMENTS ET LES LABELS SONT SANS DÉFAUT.. RCA-FRANCE HADNT CAPTURED YET THE INCREDIBLE COMMERCIAL APPEAL OF HIS NEWEST YOUNG SINGING STAR AND THIS RECORD WAS ISSUED WITHOUT A PICTURE, JUST THE FRONT COVER DISPLAYING A DRUM KIT DRAWNING ARTWORK (THATS WHY THIS ONE IS KNOWN IN THE COLLECTORS FIELD AS THE DRUM KIT INSTEAD OF ROCK AND ROLL N°2) : THE COVER OF THIS HOLY GRAIL RECORD IS IN NICE SHAPE WITH SOME FRAYING TO THE OPENING SIDE ON THE BACK, NO WRITING OR STICKERS... THE RECORD IS IN CRISP CONDITION, RETAINS FULL LUSTER AND PLAYS GREAT WITH MINIMAL, OCCASIONAL SURFACE NOISE... The item "ELVIS PRESLEY ROCK AND ROLL N°2 (LA BATTERIE) ORIGINAL 1956 FRANCE EP 75.309" is in sale since Friday, March 8, 2019. This item is in the category "Musique, CD, vinyles\Vinyles".unlimited" and is located in PARIS.


text:
<?php

namespace Tests\AppBundle\Factory\Common\BenchmarkField;

use AppBundle\Entity\Main\BenchmarkField;
use AppBundle\Form\FormBuilder\BenchmarkEditorFieldBuilder;
use AppBundle\Form\Transformer\NumberToBooleanTransformer;
use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;
use Symfony\Component\Form\FormBuilderInterface;

class BenchmarkEditorFieldBuilderTest extends TestCase {

	const DECIMAL_FIELD = ['valueField' => 'decimal1', 'fieldName' => 'Super price',
			'fieldType' => BenchmarkField::DECIMAL_FIELD_TYPE];

	const INTEGER_FIELD = ['valueField' => 'integer12', 'fieldName' => 'Num of wheels',
			'fieldType' => BenchmarkField::INTEGER_FIELD_TYPE];

	const BOOLEAN_FIELD = ['valueField' => 'integer3', 'fieldName' => 'Has super power',
			'fieldType' => BenchmarkField::BOOLEAN_FIELD_TYPE];

	const STRING_FIELD = ['valueField' => 'string7', 'fieldName' => 'More info',
			'fieldType' => BenchmarkField::STRING_FIELD_TYPE];

	/**
	 *
	 * @var BenchmarkEditorFieldBuilder
	 */
	protected $fieldBuilder;

	/**
	 *
	 * @var FormBuilderInterface
	 */
	protected $builder;

	public function __construct() {
		$this->fieldBuilder = new BenchmarkEditorFieldBuilder($this->getDummyTransformerMock());
		$this->builder = $this->getBuilderMock();
	}

	// TODO test also if attributes are added
	public function testGivenDecimalThenFieldIsAdded() {
		$this->fieldBuilder->add($this->builder, self::DECIMAL_FIELD);
	}

	public function testGivenIntegerThenFieldIsAdded() {
		$this->fieldBuilder->add($this->builder, self::INTEGER_FIELD);
	}

	public function testGivenBooleanThenFieldIsAdded() {
		$this->fieldBuilder->add($this->builder, self::BOOLEAN_FIELD);
	}

	public function testGivenStringThenFieldIsAdded() {
		$this->fieldBuilder->add($this->builder, self::STRING_FIELD);
	}

	private function getDummyTransformerMock() {
		$mock = $this->getMockBuilder(NumberToBooleanTransformer::class)->disableOriginalConstructor()->getMock();

		return $mock;
	}

	private function getBuilderMock() {
		$repository = $this->getMockBuilder(FormBuilderInterface::class)->disableOriginalConstructor()->getMock();

		$repository->expects($this->once())->method('add');

		$repository->expects($this->any())->method('get')->willReturn($this->getChildBuilderMock());

		return $repository;
	}

	private function getChildBuilderMock() {
		$repository = $this->getMockBuilder(FormBuilderInterface::class)->disableOriginalConstructor()->getMock();

		$repository->expects($this->any())->method('addModelTransformer');

		return $repository;
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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- All photos are for reference only.
- More up-to-date products are available in Teka International website for local ordering. Please contact us for enquiry.


text:
WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT: Restricting Depth of Field
Differential focusing: Restricting depth of field for effect.
Razor-sharp images are all very well, but it's not strictly necessary to shoot every photo so that you'd cut yourself if it were handled carelessly; embracing the softer side of photography can be just as rewarding. The sharpness of an image chiefly depends on two things: where you focus and the aperture you use.
Differential focusing is a technique where you deliberately choose which area of an image is sharp and which is soft and out-of-focus. This is achieved by careful selection of the focus point and by using a large aperture. Differential focusing arguably mimics human vision more accurately than creating images with front-to-back sharpness. Out-of-focus areas in an image also help to create a sense that the image is of a three-dimensional scene, rather than a flat cardboard cut-out.
However, before we go much further there's a few limitations to the technique that need to be discussed first. The smaller a camera's sensor, the greater the inherent depth of field at all focal lengths. This is great if you want to achieve front-to-back sharpness. Unfortunately, it's less great if you want to try differential focusing.
The only way to get close to the look is to use the lens at maximum zoom and to use the largest aperture available (assuming you can control this). Differential focusing is easier with larger system cameras, though again the longer the lens and the wider the aperture, the greater the effect (it's not a technique that's suited to wide-angle lenses).
We don't like to look at out-of-focus areas in an image. Our gaze naturally glides over these areas to find the bits that are sharpest. Differential focusing is therefore ideal as a way of directing where a viewer looks in an image (photographers are crafty like this). However, we can still 'read' the content of out-of-focus areas as long as they're not too out-of-focus. With care, out-of-focus areas can still contribute to a viewer's understanding of an image. There's a balance to be struck when using differential focusing of getting the out-of-focus areas out-of-focus, just not too out-of-focus.
When shooting using the differential focusing technique, the first thing to decide is where the sharpest part of the image should be. This will be the most important part of the picture as this is where your future viewer's gaze will ultimately rest. So, choose wisely! When shooting using a large aperture depth of field will be limited so you also need to focus accurately. I often switch to Live View to refine the focus so that it's exactly where it's needed.
This week's assignment is to try shooting using differential focusing. Use a longish lens (anything longer than a 50mm-equivalent on a full-frame camera should work). Setting the required aperture is easier when the camera is set to aperture priority though, if you're feeling particularly hardcore, manual exposure is fine too.
Because you're shooting using a large aperture you should be able to use faster shutter speeds, making handholding easier. However, because depth of field is so small it's still often easier to use a tripod for greater control of focus (it won't take much movement for focus to drift).
Upload your best images to our free monthly photography competition for a chance to win one of four free 4 Week Online Photography Courses
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