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Pension Auto Enrolment
Spring Statement >
Employment Taxes
Property transaction taxes
In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor announced an exemption from Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) for first-time home buyers. From 22 November 2017, there is an exemption from SDLT on the first £300,000 when buying a home, where the total price of the property is not more than £500,000. 5% is payable on purchases between £300,000 and £500,000.
However, with devolved taxes, buying a property in Scotland and Wales can bring different tax consequences.
In Scotland Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) applies instead of SDLT. Therefore an LBTT relief for first-time buyers of properties up to £175,000 has been proposed in the Scottish Draft Budget 2018/19. This is subject to a government consultation before the relief launches in 2018/19.
Welsh first-time buyers benefit from the Budget SDLT relief until 31 March 2018. Land Transaction Tax (LTT) replaces SDLT in Wales from 1 April 2018. The starting rate for LTT will be £180,000, benefiting not just first-time buyers but other home buyers in Wales. A higher rate, of 3% over standard rates for additional residential properties, applies to purchases throughout the UK whether SDLT, LBTT or LTT applies.
Extension of offshore time limits
HMRC is asking for views on the design principles for legislation to implement a new minimum tax assessment time limit of 12 years for HMRC to make assessments or notices of determination in cases involving offshore income, gains or chargeable transfers.
The current assessment time limits are ordinarily four years (six years in the case of carelessness by the taxpayer). HMRC wants to extend the time limit because it can take much longer to establish the facts about offshore transactions, particularly if they involve complex offshore structures.
Making Tax Digital – sanctions for late submission and late payment
Following significant support on consultation, the government intends to take forward points based late submission penalties. There will be further consultation on the draft legislation to be published in summer 2018.
Business rates have been devolved to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. The business rates revaluation in England currently takes place every five years. In the Autumn Budget, the government announced an increase in the frequency of valuations to every three years following the next revaluation. The Chancellor has now announced that the next revaluation will be brought forward by one year to 2021. It will be based on market value rentals at 1 April 2019.
Tackling the plastic problem
The government will call for evidence as to how changes to the tax system could be used to reduce the amount of single-use plastics that are wasted by reducing unnecessary production, increasing re-use and improving recycling. The government would also like to explore how to drive innovation in this area to achieve the same outcomes.
Other consultations to be issued
In his speech, the Chancellor announced consultations would be issued on:
how to help the UK's least productive businesses to learn from, and catch-up with, the most productive
how to eliminate late payments particularly to benefit small business
whether the use of non-agricultural red diesel tax relief contributes to poor air quality in urban areas
consultation on reduced Vehicle Excise Duty rates for the cleanest vans.
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With the landscape forever shifted by healthcare reform and rising consumerism, healthcare companies are searching for effective and innovative ways to reach, engage and convert their newly empowered prospects and members. Watch this webinar to learn healthcare marketing best practices and how Kaiser Permanente of Colorado transformed the way they engaged their business and consumer audiences using multi-channel demand generation, sales enablement, etc. and plenty of learning and teamwork.
Fill out the form on the right to view the recording and slides!


Divorce and Facebook: What should people post? - Meador & Johnson, P.A.
Divorce and Facebook: What should people post?
Many Florida marriages end in divorce. In fact, research from the Census Bureau found that Florida had the seventh highest rate of divorce in the United States in 2015. Divorce is difficult to go through, but people should make things easier on themselves by not posting all their dirty laundry on Facebook and other social media platforms.
When in doubt, it is best to avoid posting too much on Facebook while going through a divorce. Many people have a problem with oversharing. Friends and family members may not want to hear all the little details, but people posting too much on Facebook may be doing themselves a disservice once the divorce gets into the courtroom.
Close friends and family members should hear about a divorce in person rather than through Facebook. Both spouses should take the time to inform people close to them of what is happening. That way everyone is on the same page.
Attorneys can bring up Facebook posts and comments as evidence. Therefore, spouses should avoid bashing one another on Facebook. In some cases, the best thing to do is simply delete or deactivate Facebook for the time being.
In the event divorcing spouses are going to remain active on Facebook, there are a few tips to keep in mind. Any posts about a spouse should be positive in nature. If a spouse is going to post something pertinent to the failing marriage, then the person should ask, "Is this necessary?" Sometimes the best course of action is to take a deep breath and really think about a post before putting it up for everybody to see.
Spouses going through a divorce should be amicable toward one another in person and online. It will make for a lot fewer headaches during the divorce process, which is difficult enough already.


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73 Main Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301, USA
http://fireworksrestaurant.net/brattleboro/
Yellow Deli
23 Center Street, Rutland, VT 05701, USA
http://yellowdeli.com/rutland
110 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840, USA
105 Franklin Street, Westerly, RI 02891, USA
Market Square, Newport, RI 02840, USA
132 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301, USA
Popovers on the Square
8 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801, USA
http://popoversonthesquare.com/
3 Crow
449 Main Street, Rockland, ME 04841, USA
https://www.facebook.com/3CrowMaine
Jonathan's Ogunquit
92 Bourne Lane, Ogunquit, ME 03907, USA
http://jonathansogunquit.com/
1 Bowdoin Mill Island #100, Topsham, ME 04086, USA
480 York Street, York, ME 03909, USA
http://www.yorkharborinn.com/
93 Salem Street, Boston, MA 02113, USA
255 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02135, USA
400 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02144, USA
Grapevine Pizzeria & Restaurant
753 Maple Road, Longmeadow, MA 01106, USA
http://www.grapevinelongmeadow.com/
Massachusetts 2A, Acton, MA, USA
Broad Canal Way, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
30 Forbes Road, Braintree, MA 02184, USA
Mandarin Cafe
5 Wethersfield Road, Natick, MA 01760, USA
http://www.mandarincafema.com/Home.aspx
520 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02210, USA
1125 Fall River Avenue, Seekonk, MA 02771, USA
440 Middlesex Road, Tyngsboro, MA 01879, USA
1245 Worcester Street #4008, Natick, MA 01760, USA
1 Bennett Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Sofia's
158 Main Street, Hudson, MA 01749, USA
http://www.sofiaristorante.com/
19 Shipyard Drive, Hingham, MA 02043, USA
131 River Road, Andover, MA 01810, USA
Typical Sicilian Ristorante
497 Belmont Avenue, Springfield, MA 01108, USA
http://www.typicalsicilian.com/
75 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA 01803, USA
588 Washington Street, Quincy, MA 02169, USA
some locations have dedicated fryer
Elizabeth's Restaurant
Shunpike Village Shopping Center, 825 Cromwell Avenue, Rocky Hill, CT 06067, USA
http://lizrestaurant.com/
Max's Oyster Bar
964 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06107, USA
http://www.maxrestaurantgroup.com/oyster/
Ladder 1 Grill
8 South Main Street, Barre, VT 05641, USA
http://www.ladder1grill.com/
Bowens Wharf, Newport, RI 02840, USA
144 Boon Street, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
261 Thayer Street, Providence, RI 02906, USA
2 Chapel View Blvd Cranston RI
Blue Moon Evolution
8 Clifford Street, Exeter, NH 03833, USA
http://www.bluemoonevolution.com/
Brickyard Square, 11 Brickyard Square #23, Epping, NH 03042, USA
94 Maine Street, Brunswick, ME 04011, USA
http://www.akisushime.com/
28 Monument Way, Portland, ME 04101, USA
Sea Grass Bistro
Yarmouth, ME, USA
http://www.seagrassbistro.com/
Zen Chinese Bistro
45 Danforth Street, Portland, ME 04101, USA
http://www.zenportland.biz/
241 A Street, Boston, MA 02210, USA
http://barlowsrestaurant.com/
North Shore Mall @ Legal Seafood, Peabody, MA 01923, USA
Davio's
75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116, USA
https://davios.com/bos/
Green Lotus Cafe
349 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601, USA
http://greenlotuscafe.com/
27 Airport Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420, USA
145 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
Mango II Thai Cuisine
Tewksbury, MA, USA
http://www.mangoii.com/index.htm
55 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA
1537 Riverdale Street, West Springfield, MA 01089, USA
8 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, USA
250 Granite Street, Braintree, MA 02184, USA
http://www.rodiziogrill.com/
95% of menu is GF
http://www.solasboston.com/
48 Bay Road, Norton, MA 02766, USA
Harvard Square Parking Garage, 65 John F. Kennedy Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Mishawum Road, Woburn, MA 01801, USA
Willy's Steakhouse
2 Grafton Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, USA
http://www.willyssteakhouse.com/
Georgie's Diner
427 Elm Street, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
http://georgies-diner.com/
81 East Street, Vernon, CT 06066, USA
860-87-0020860-87-0020
http://naturesgrocervernon.com/
Certified GF grocery store; freshly baked muffins, brownies, cookies; grab-and-go sandwiches, wra...
483 Hope St Bristol RI
111 Broadway Newport RI
Pheasant Lane Mall, 310 Daniel Webster Highway, Nashua, NH 03060, USA
Purple Finch Cafe
http://www.purplefinchcafe.com/
entirely GF
364 Maine Mall Road, South Portland, ME 04106, USA
29 Elm Street, Gorham, ME 04038, USA
111 Chop House
http://www.111chophouse.com/
89 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
Bean Counter Bakery and Coffee Bar
http://www.beancounterbakery.com/
Cornerstone Square, 1 Cornerstone Square, Westford, MA 01886, USA
781-934-2863?781-934-2863?
http://depotstreetmarket.com/
Flavours of Malaysia
75 North Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201, USA
http://www.flavoursintheberkshires.com/
Grill 23 & Bar
161 East Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
http://grill23.com/
65 West Boylston Street, West Boylston, MA 01583, USA
La Casa De Pedro
343 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA 02472, USA
http://www.lacasadepedrolatincuisine.com/
Menu can be modified to be GF
Charles Street, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Why Bet Sports at 5Dimes Sportsbook?
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All new accounts are automatically set up on "Reduced Juice" reward plan so contact customer service department to be set up with your bonus plan of choice after registering for a new account.
Besides the multiple bonus options that 5Dimes provides when you sign up, they also offer some awesome promotions. Whether you bet on sports, horses or like to online casino or bingo, 5Dimes has a promotion for you.
On initial deposits of $100 thru $2000 at 5Dimes will you receive a 50% Sign Up Bonus for your new account. There is a 10x rollover. You must request your award within 24 hours of an accepted deposit.
Add an extra 10% to any winning, WIN or Exotic ticket in the 5Dimes Plus 10% Racebook at MAJOR tracks in the 5Dimes-racing network.
Enhance your horse racing action as 5Dimes offers players up to 9% on your daily bet volume, win or lose, every single day. There are no minimum daily volume requirements and no maximum on how much you can earn. The rebate level you will receive is based on the 5Dimes Rewards Program you are currently signed up for.
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There are thousands of different card decks that are a perfect gift for anyone who loves cards, or anyone who loves classic films, horror movie characters, action stars or naked people. There are themed card decks for almost everything, so what about the card decks that are a little quirky and a little off-putting – but weird enough that you've just got to own them?
Let's put it this way: This card deck is absolutely gorgeous to look at, but it's the kind of card deck that would unsettle you just a little bit if you were alone in their house and they had it displayed next to a shrine of their ex-girlfriend.
It's great for a certain vibe, but really creepy for others. It's a great gift idea for your goth friends, but a terrible gift to give your dentist.
The longer title for this card deck is 50 Things That Might Kill You: Self-Diagnosis Card Deck for Hypochondriacs – and while it's not traditionally a playing card deck and falls more under the trading card realm, this is the weirdest thing that popped up during my search. It's a great gift for someone with a sense of humour who sees the worst in things – and of course, it does come with a warning for anyone who might seriously self-diagnose.
Vax-Cards is a Kickstarter-funded card game about "vaccination, education and infectious fun". It's the perfect gift for anyone who loves weird trading card games like Exploding Kittens. The whole point of this game is to, well, infect and vaccinate. You can find more information about this one on BoardGameGeek.
Ever thought that infectious diseases would make a really great card game? Most people haven't, but it would seem like it was a great idea to someone. You can see these cards at the David J. Sencer CDC Museum. Dig around the museum website and you'll surely find some more oddities and collectables related to mankind's history of disease.
Know someone who has a terrible fear of clowns, or is that person you? Here's a Bicycle-themed Killer Clowns collectable card deck that's bound to give a few people nightmares – especially if you were to leave random cards in strange places, like the fridge or bathroom door.
Love serial killers? Well, um, you can find the New Serial Killer Trading Cards here (add link), because apparently the first ones were popular enough for these to become a thing.
You can also check out the Notorious Serial Killers Trump Deck from Kulturmeister.


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The Sun Serpent
Tamar / March 3, 2014
By TAMAR NEUMANN: When you walk into the mainstage area for Mixed Blood Theatre's new production The Sun Serpent, you might be immediately struck by the simple, yet elaborate set design. It looks like a jungle. It sounds like a jungle, and if you hadn't just walked in from the Minnesota tundra, it might even feel like a jungle. But that's not why the set design is so magical. As the play begins, the scene, through projections on screens, is transformed into a sun-drenched village in Mexico. From there it changes to the seashore, and then to an underwater fishing expedition, and then to the royal court many miles inland. There are probably close to 50 scene changes in this short 75 minute play. They are rapid, and beautiful. Each one is filled with vibrant colors depicting a specific time and place in the play. And each change helps to complete the operatic styling of the show. Each color and projection helps take you a step closer to the world being examined in this play. Carey Wong, the scenic designer, and her entire team, deserve full credit for taking the space inside an old fire house and transforming it into a pre-conquered Mexico. Without Wong's creative set, and the vision of Rachel Bowditch, the director, this show would not have been so successful.
The play, written by Jose Cruz Gonzelez, is about a young boy in Mexico, played by Adrian Hernandez, who witnesses the arrival of the conquistador Hernan Cortes. His brother, played by Andres Alcala, chooses to join Cortes in conquering the Aztecs. Since this is a story of conquest, there is bloodshed and loss. The brothers are forced to choose between the new world and old. The performance is in both English and Spanish. The actors change languages during and between scenes, and subtitles are available in both languages above the stage. The story is emotional, but not necessarily anything earth shattering. Most of us aware of the horrible actions by the conquistadors, and there are predictable moments throughout. Nonetheless, it is still an important story that should be told.
What makes this particular version of the story different is the decision to tell it in both English and Spanish. While some people might find it annoying to read subtitles for half of the play (and to be lost during the one short scene in Spanish with no subtitles), telling it in another language would do a disservice to the culture this play is trying to represent. Simply put, a language helps define a culture; you cannot have the same experience with a culture when you try to experience it in another language. Hearing the richness of the language while this story is being told helps deepen the experience you are having with the actors, and, in some ways, deepens the loss you feel at the end when you think about everything that was cast aside as the Americas were colonized.
Ricky Araiza, Andrea Morales, and Andres Alcala in "The Sun Serpent"
by José Cruz Gonzalez, directed by Rachel Bowditch (Childsplay, Tempe, AZ -2011)
This loss is emphasized through the elaborate costumes and masks worn by the small cast. The three actors, Hernandez, Alcala, and Andrea Morales, play over 30 parts. Each part is distinguished by the different masks and costumes worn by each role. In fact, the masks do such a great job of creating a new character (along with the actor playing each character) that my husband kept waiting for more actors to come out for curtain call. He was surprised to find out there had been only three.
But the masks are more than just a clever way to create more characters. They represent a culture and they do it in a way that is respectful and artistic. Zarco Guerrero, the mask designer, deserves to be commended for making the stage feel full when there were only one, or two, or sometimes three actors on it. During one particular scene, the masks represent different members of a small village burned to the ground by Cortes and his men. There were only two actors giving voice to the people of that village, but the masks gave each villager a unique identity. They represent the small pieces left of the Aztec empire—the artifacts and stories of the people who once lived but now are mostly gone.
In the program there is an introduction to the play by the Latin Advisory Council. At the end it states, "let the visual experience entice you to discover more about Latin American history." I second their declaration. Go see this show so that you can enjoy the colors and the beauty of Mesoamerica. And then take that enjoyment and turn it into a desire to learn more about Latin America and its history.
The Sun Serpent, by Jose Cruz Gonzalez. February 28 – March 22, 2014 at the Mixed Blood Theatre, 1501 S 4th St, Minneapolis. Tickets $20 or first come first served free tickets with Radical Hospitality; purchase advanced tickets at at http://www.mixedblood.com/boxoffice or 612.338.6131.
March 3, 2014 in Reviews. Tags: Jose Cruz Gonzalez, Latin America, Mixed Blood Theatre
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2 thoughts on "The Sun Serpent"
doo rag says:
This is very fascinating, You're a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your rss feed and stay up for in quest of extra of your wonderful post.
Thank you for the compliment. I hope my posts get you excited to see some theatre!


AUDUSD remains in the uptrend from 0.6765, the fall from 0.7235 is likely consolidation for the uptrend. Range trading between 0.7100 and 0.7235 is possible in a couple of days. As long as 0.7100 support holds, the uptrend could be expected to resume, a break of 0.7235 resistance could trigger another upside movement towards 0.7300.


Acupuncture and traditional chinese medicine balance yin and yang, harmonize the flow of Qi through the meridians, tissues, and organs. TCM treatments help promote spiritual peace and well-being in a safe and natural way. We use clean needle technique, cupping, moxabustion, Tai-Chi, and Tue Na to dispel illnes and improve vitality.
TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is an ancient healing art founded nearly 4,000 years ago in the Buddhist monasteries of China and Tibet. It integrates spiritual beliefs with theories of life-force and bio-energetics, Qi ( or Chi, pronounced "chee"). The priests treated members of their communities with herbs, animal products, acupuncture, cupping (pressure cups applied to the back), and moxabustion (a warming herb that is 'smoked' along meridian points). Needle acupuncture (insertion of thin, sterile needles along energy points of the body) evolved from a discernment of energy meridian points along the skin's surface that correlates with organs such as the lungs, liver, stomach and kidneys. All forms of body disharmony, illness and disease are effectively treated by restoring harmony to the qi along the meridians and thus healing organs and body systems.
Western medicine is currently researching the ways in which TCM and acupuncture actually work. Modern science has developed the technology to detect and measure the subtle bio-energy and confirm the acupuncture points along the meridians. Although this research is still ongoing, Western medicine has acknowledged the positive health effects of TCM, particularly needle acupuncture.
According to TCM, the meridians traverse all tissues and organ systems of the body. As a result acupuncture can affect all aspects of health.


text:
{% extends "problems/problem.html" %}

{% load static %}

{% block problem_javascript %}

<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/noUiSlider/14.7.0/nouislider.min.css" integrity="sha512-40vN6DdyQoxRJCw0klEUwZfTTlcwkOLKpP8K8125hy9iF4fi8gPpWZp60qKC6MYAFaond8yQds7cTMVU8eMbgA==" crossorigin="anonymous" />

{% endblock %}

{% block you_will_learn %}
  the most powerful force in the world according to Einstein. [citation needed]
{% endblock %}

{% block problem_body %}

  Compound interest is when interest on a loan or investment is added back to the loan or investment. So it's like
  interest on interest! Compounding leads to exponential growth so it makes your investments grow big over time but
  also makes it much harder to pay off predatory loans and credit card debt.

  If you start with an amount of money $m$ and the compound interest is calculated once a year with interest rate $r$
  (as a fraction between 0 and 1) then after $n$ years you end up with a new amount $M$ given by

  $$ M = m (1 + r)^n $$

This plot shows the growth of $m = 1,000$ dollars compounded every year at 10% ($r = 0.1$) for $n = 25$ years.

    Amount $m$:

    Interest rate $r$:

    Years $n$:

  Submit some code with a function <tt>compound_interest(m, r, n)</tt> that computes the final amount $M$ after
  starting with an amount $m$ compounded yearly at a rate $r$ for $n$ years.

{% endblock %}

{% block input_description %}
Starting amount $m$, rate $r$, and number of years $n$.
{% endblock %}

{% block output_description %}
Final amount $M$.
{% endblock %}

{% block examples %}

Example

Input: 1000, 0.07, 25
Output: 5427.43

{% endblock %}

{% block function_signature %}
compound_interest(m, r, n)
{% endblock %}

{% block notes_and_references %}

Notes

      Charging compound interest on loans was and is still considered a kind of usury
      by many religions and societies. The Romans and the Christian Bible condemn charging interest on loans to poor people as
      it is seen as a form of exploitation. On the extreme end, Islam forbids the charging of any kind of interest as it sees borrowing
      and lending as social transactions aimed at benefiting others and thus should not be profitable.

      The number $e$ was actually discovered by Jacob Bernoulli in 1683 when investigating compound interest.
      Now of course called Euler's number because of Stigler's law.

      The Rule of 72 is a quick rule/approximation for figuring
      out how long it would take for the amount to double: it's $72/r$ where $r$ is the interest rate as a percentage.

{% endblock %}

{% block discourse_topic_id %}300{% endblock %}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Our office is within a 5 minutes walking distance from Antwerp Central station (in the diamond district).
We see clients in London by APPOINTMENT ONLY.
The entrance to no. 2 is BEHIND THE SECOND PILLAR ON THE RIGHT AT THE FRONT OF THE STEPS LEADING UP TO THE ROYAL EXCHANGE BUILDING.
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It's pumpkin season and I couldn't resist buying my favorite Sugar Pie Pumpkins from the store. They are small, easy to use and sweeter than larger pumpkins which make them perfect for baking!
Speaking of baking, this time I made a no-bake pumpkin dessert made with mostly raw ingredients. This was my first time using raw pumpkin and it was super easy! All you do is peel the pumpkin, cube and pulse in a food processor until the texture is very fine. In this recipe, the pumpkin is incorporated with the remaining filling ingredients in a powerful blender (Vitamix recommended) and blended to a creamy, smooth consistency. All you need is one cup of grated pumpkin, so one small Sugar Pie Pumpkin will be plenty and you will still have leftovers for another use.
You will be amazed at how delicious this dessert is even though it contains no sugar, butter or flour. The sweetness comes from honey, dates, coconut oil, and oranges. Your gluten free and paleo friends will love it and your dairy-free friends will be so excited since they can substitute the milk for nut milk or water. Overall, it's a very satisfying dessert that everyone will love, especially since it's full of nutritional value. Be sure to store them in the freezer and serve them cold for the best consistency.
Happy Fall and stay tuned for more pumpkin desserts coming soon!
Welcome the flavors of the Fall Season with these scrumptious gluten free, no-bake bars!
Prepare Crust: Place pecans, cinnamon, sea salt and dates in a food processor and pulse until almost finely ground. Test the crust by spooning a small amount and rolling into a ball in your hands. The mixture should stick. If it does not pulse a bit longer or add more dates. Scoop out mixture and evenly press into a 9x9x2 inch baking pan, pressing firmly and making sure the edges are well packed. Cover and place in the freezer while you prepare the filling.
Prepare Filling: Place orange juice, cashews, grated pumpkin, melted coconut oil, (this can be done in a saucepan on very low heat) milk, honey, vanilla bean seeds and pumpkin spice in powerful blender and blend until very smooth. If needed, add additional orange juice for a thinner and smoother consistency. Mix in 2 cups chopped pecans and pour onto crust. Smooth top with a spatula. Cover tightly with plastic wrap then foil and freeze until solid.
Remove from freezer and thaw for about 10 minutes (this will making slicing easier). Run a smooth, sharp knife under hot water then run the knife around the edges of the pan and cut into squares. Serve immediately or transfer the bars to an airtight container and store in the freezer until ready to serve.
* Prepare pumpkin by peeling, cubing then grating in a food processor until very fine.


Recently Renovated Spacious Coop Unit For Sale In Belle Harbor!! Featuring King Sized Bedroom, Large Living Room, Dinning Area, And Open Layout Kitchen. Hardwood Floors Throughout, And Ceramic Tiled Bathroom. Outdoor Patio Area, Great For Entertaining. Plenty Of Closets Space. Unit Has Spectacular Views Of The Bay, Private Terrace, And View Of The Manhattan Skyline!


text:
Scott Hamilton
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Scott Hamilton: I Am Second
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Scott Hamilton: Studio Interview with Brian Elliott
Nashville, TN, US
About Scott Hamilton
The most recognized male figure skating star in the world, Scott Hamilton has won 70 titles, awards and honors including an Emmy Award nomination, induction into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and a privileged member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
In 1984, Scott captured the attention of the world with his Olympic Gold medal performances in Saravejo and since has shared his love and enthusiasm for the sport as a analyst/commentator, performer, producer and ...
Detailed Speaking Fees for Scott Hamilton


White Porcelain Designer Beautiful Tableware by Piet Boon for Serax – Oates & Co.
When we decided to launch Oates & Co, our main mission for the site was to find the ultimate dinner service to offer to our customers.
We think we have absolutely nailed it with this beautiful range, designed by Dutch design company Piet Boon for Serax.
The set is made from the highest quality bone white porcelain. It has a smooth, high shine, glazed finish to the functional side, but an unglazed effect to the underside, which produces a very tactile result.
The underside is also stepped, rather than ridged, which gives each piece an incredibly chic and fluid form.
Unfortunately, this is what all of your friends will be talking about at your next dinner party, not the food!
The range is lead- and cadmium-free, and has a high thermal stability.
Dinner plate D28cm x H1.5cm.
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Cereal bowl D16cm x H6cm.
The best way to purchase this beautiful tableware is with one of our Piet Boon bundles.


text:
Q: How to compare two lists with two conditions? What I am specifically trying to do
symbol_list = ["....firstline.\\.||hi",
               "pythonisasnake..\....",
               "||||last.\\|line\\..."]

normal_list = ["ABCDfirstlineEFGHIJhi",
               "pythonisasnakeKLMNOPQ",
               "RSTUlastVWXYlineZABCD"]

In the symbol_list, I want to replace symbols with the letter in the corresponding position in normal_list and I want to replace the non-symbols in the list with a *

*

*The symbols will always be . \ |
The expected output:
new_list = ["ABCD*********EFGHIJ**",
            "**************KLMNOPQ",
            "RSTU****VWXY****ZABCD"]

What is the solution to doing this?
What I tried to do
For both lists, I somehow needed to access every item in each row which seemed really complicated to do. I tried to start this with for loops:
for symbol_row in symbol_list:
    for symbol_item in symbol_row:
        for normal_row in normal_list:
            for normal_item in normal_row:

This was confusing and it seems as if it is recommended to do at most two
I then tried to check one of the conditions:
if symbol_item in (".","\\","|"): # because \ is an escape character
    symbol_row = symbol_row.replace(symbol_item, normal_item)

Then I appended this new row to new_list but my list ended up 10 times longer than it was before after I printed it out
new_list.append(symbol_row)

A: It can be done with a line comprehension and ternary comparison:
symbol_list = ["....firstline.\\.||hi",
               "pythonisasnake..\....",
               "||||last.\\|line\\..."]

normal_list = ["ABCDfirstlineEFGHIJhi",
               "pythonisasnakeKLMNOPQ",
               "RSTUlastVWXYlineZABCD"]

print([''.join([n if not s.isalpha() else '*' for n,s in zip(nor, sym)])
                    for nor, sym in zip(normal_list, symbol_list)])

A: This code should do what you need.
symbol_list = ["....firstline.\\.||hi",
               "pythonisasnake..\....",
               "||||last.\\|line\\..."]

normal_list = ["ABCDfirstlineEFGHIJhi",
               "pythonisasnakeKLMNOPQ",
               "RSTUlastVWXYlineZABCD"]

letters = "AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMmNnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz"

new_list = []

for i in range(len(symbol_list)):
    new_list.append("")
    for index in range(len(symbol_list[i])):
        if letters.find(symbol_list[i][index]) != -1:
            new_list[i] += "*"
        else:
            new_list[i] += normal_list[i][index]

print(new_list)
input()

It finds all the instances of letters in the symbol_list and puts an asterisk in the new list

A: We can write this like:
my_symbols = {'\\', '|', '.'}

[
  ''.join(('*', cb)[ca in my_symbols] for ca, cb in zip(linea, lineb))
  for linea, lineb in zip(symbol_list, normal_list)
]
here we thus first define a set of symbols (to make it easy to extend this). Next we concurrently iterate over the lines of the symbol_list and the normal_list. For each line, we then iterate over the two lines, and use ca (the character of the symbol_list line) as a selector to decide if we fill in '*' or cb for that specific character.
The output for your sample input is:
>>> [
...   ''.join(('*', cb)[ca in my_symbols] for ca, cb in zip(linea, lineb))
...   for linea, lineb in zip(symbol_list, normal_list)
... ]
['ABCD*********EFGHI**', '**************KLMNOPQ', 'RSTU****VWX****eZAB']

In your sample input there is a bit of a "misalignment" on the last line since it contains:
||||last.\|line\...
RSTUlastVWXYlineZABCD

so your last line contains:
||||last.\|line\...
RSTUlastVWXYlineZABCD
---------------------
RSTU****VWXY***eZAB

A: I prefer readability over length,
symbol_list = ["....firstline.\\.||hi",
               "pythonisasnake..\....",
               "||||last.\\|line\\..."]

normal_list = ["ABCDfirstlineEFGHIJhi",
               "pythonisasnakeKLMNOPQ",
               "RSTUlastVWXYlineZABCD"]

final_list = list()
for nor, sym in zip(normal_list, symbol_list):
    temp_string = ""
    for n, s in zip(nor, sym):
        if s.isalpha():
            temp_string += '*'
        else:
            temp_string += n
    final_list.append(temp_string)

print(final_list)

# output,
['ABCD*********EFGHI**', '**************KLMNOPQ', 'RSTU****VWX****eZAB']

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This report produced by IES on behalf of the Office of Manpower Economics (OME), offers insights on the perceived appropriateness of the Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration Review Body's (DDRB) current pay comparability methodology.
The report details the findings of a review conducted by IES, which involved interviews with key stakeholders in relevant bodies such as the BMA and NHS Employers; interviews with doctors and dentists; and a review of the current literature on external practice, including analysis on career paths, inflows and outflows.
The report offers insights on interviewees views towards international comparison and the related challenges; whether additional occupations, such as academia or the veterinary profession, should be included in the methodology; doctors and dentists' motivations with regards to pay and reward; and more.
To read a brief summary of the findings, click here.


Harm OCD, also known as Pure Obsessional OCD, or Pure-O, is a form of OCD in which individuals report that they experience obsessions associated with OCD without any observable compulsions. This is such that the individual experiences obsessive and intrusive thoughts or mental images in which the individual commits immoral acts against others, seemingly, without any compulsive reaction to these obsessive thoughts. Sufferers of Harm OCD find their intrusive thoughts to be abhorrent and experience extreme difficulty talking about their experience as it involves confronting their worst fears and intense feelings of guilt and responsibility. Harm OCD is the most common presentation seen at the OCD Clinic.
There are many factors that may contribute to the development of Harm OCD such that its development cannot be attributed to any one factor. Factors that may contribute to the manifestation of Harm OCD may include past experiences or environmental triggers as well as genetic predispositions. Typically, developing such an intense fear about bringing harm upon people such as your family members is a sign of a deep level of love, care and concern rather than a manifestation resulting from a desire to truly bring harm to your family.
In recent years a type of Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (CBT), known as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), has proven successful in the treatment of Harm OCD. This therapy teaches clients how to face their fearful obsessions and identify the presence of compulsive and avoidant behaviours maintaining the obsessions and to challenge this behaviour. Often Harm OCD sufferers have difficulty identifying associated compulsive actions due to the absence of any outward sign of a compulsion. These difficult to identify compulsions are covert in nature and may include a compulsive need for reassurance that the individual is in control or an avoidance of anything that may threaten this control (such as the person the thoughts are about or sharp tools). Once a Harm OCD sufferer has identified that they do, in fact, experience compulsions, they can work towards replacing unhelpful compulsions with functional, long-term coping mechanisms.
A further variant of CBT, Mindfulness-Based CBT, has also now been found to be one of the most effective developments in CBT treatment of harm OCD as it teaches an individual to accept their uncomfortable thoughts in a non-judgmental manner. This, in turn, reduces the need for compulsive responses to cope with the uncomfortable feeling experienced as an individual more willingly accepts uncomfortable experiences.
Ultimately, the treatment of Harm OCD involves breaking the cycle of obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions. This requires the identification of the separation between obsessions and compulsions, and accepting that the obsessions are there but are simply thoughts with no basis that do not require a compulsive reaction to dispel them.
Who do we recommend from OCD Clinic?


Roots at BVCC is a no-pressure and no-judgement student ministry to hear about Jesus. It is a family atmosphere that promotes respect, unity and a hunger for the Lord's heart.
We provide relationships with caring adults to walk alongside students as they navigate life. Our ministry is set up to help students move forward in their faith no matter where they are at in their journey. Students will hear about the Gospel at Roots Events or dive into the Bible at Life Groups.


Browse through our wide variety of Blue Designer Animal Print Fabric straight from the leading interior design houses. Our collection of Blue Designer Animal Print Fabric are the perfect choice for any home and are available in an array of patterns, designs and colours. Order a sample of our Blue Designer Animal Print Fabric to see the design in your own home. If you can't find any of the Blue Designer Animal Print Fabric you are looking for or if you have any questions, please contact us and our experts will be on hand to help.


Well my 12yr old was using his wood burning kit for the first time on a school project when i was on instructables and saw this contest. Kismet- we all love the site but have never tried posting.So he's all excited ( but under age) I volunteer to do something, but what? what would be a bit different, interesting, and that can we burn hmmm...Older sister chimes in with "can you burn shoes"? Brilliant, but what to do design wise. Dr Who ( we are HUGE fans) Older sister to the recuse again. There's this web site that translates phrases into Gallifreyan ( home langauge of the Dr.) Ah but shoes Older Brother to the ready! He donated an old pair of leather shoes .So here we are with our Dr. Who inspired Burned Leather Shoes. A real family effort .
2. A wood burning tool - from a kit or craft store.
Take a bit of nail polish remover and wipe down the area you are going to burn. We chose the toes of the shoes and the back of the heel. You don't want to remove all the color . Just any grime and a bit of the polish.
Once you have your design . Whether one you've created yourself or one ( as we did ) that you've printed out make sure it's sized to your shoe. Place the design on a piece of carbon paper. Tape it to the shoe tip. Trace firmly over the design with a ball point pen to transfer it to the leather.
Step 3: Step 3: Burn It!
Heat up your burning tool and start tracing over your design. It takes a moment fort he tool to burn through the surface so go slowly and use firm even pressure. We only had one tip on our tool so we had to go over areas to thicken lines and make solid circles.
My sons wood burning kit only came with one tip. After this project we are think of getting other that might hep us create different textures and widths of lines.
Our shoes say "Run you Clever Boy Run!" on the tip and "Geronimo" on the heel.
I'm envisioning a flat piece of leather, suitable for a gorgeous wallhanging, burned with a beautiful design. Great idea!
Sounds like a nice family project, and great job on your first Instructable! I hope we see more from you in the future. Good luck in the contest!


There's so much on offer in Thailand's capital, that's why we allow you to search and compare cheap flights to Bangkok to help find you the best possible deal. Bargain hard at the night markets, wander up and down Khao San Road, or take a longtail boat trip to explore the canals. The King's Palace is also well worth a visit, along with any number of temples including Wat Pho and the Temple of the Dawn. Find flights to Bangkok with exclusive fares for students and those under 26. To ensure you receive the best deal possible, STA's Price Beat Guarantee promises to beat the cost of any like-for-like flight you find cheaper elsewhere.


This module is used to display Questions category with an accordion style. There are various parameters that can be set at the backend.
This is a module for Questions component where you can show top contributors to Questions component. You can show Top Users by point or best chosen answers etc. Various additional parameters are there in the module which can be modified to suit your requirements.
This Plugin is used to display questions and answers under Jomsocial Activity stream. This is compulsory for Jomsocial 2.8+ latest version.


text:
from itertools import combinations
from pprint import pprint
import logging
import os
import sys

from easyprocess import EasyProcess
from pelicanconf import THEME as default_theme_to_replace

# from script pelican_links.py
# themes are taken from dir names in ./themes/pelican-themes/

from pelican_links import themes as all_themes

test_themes = (
    'cebong',
    'gum',
    'Flex',
)
removed_themes = test_themes + (
    'BT3-Flat',
    'blueidea',
    'bluegrasshopper',
)
# current is aboutwilson
liked_themes = (
    'alchemy',
    'clean-blog',
)

def get_logger():
    logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
    logger.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
    # IPthon adds a stream handler. Might as well use it.
    stream_handler = logger.handlers.pop(0) \
        if logger.handlers else logging.StreamHandler()
    stream_handler.setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
    logger.addHandler(stream_handler)
    logger.info("The logger is working.")
    return logger

logger = get_logger()

DEBUG = False
themes = test_themes if DEBUG else all_themes
themes = [theme for theme in all_themes if theme in liked_themes]
# working on getting some space so am deleting the themes in test_themes
# deleting docker containers

themes = [theme for theme in themes if theme in liked_themes]

CR = '\n'
# get the theme names here
themes_path = os.path.abspath(
    os.path.join(os.curdir, 'themes', 'pelican-themes'))
zipped_code_output = os.path.abspath(
    os.path.join(os.pardir, 'zipped-code-output'))
pelican_zipped_code = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.pardir, 'zipped-code'))
pelicanconf_path = os.path.join(pelican_zipped_code, 'pelicanconf.py')
publishconf_path = os.path.join(pelican_zipped_code, 'publishconf.py')
if not all(os.path.exists(path)
           for path in (
               zipped_code_output,
               pelican_zipped_code,
               pelicanconf_path,
               publishconf_path,
           )):
    message = "A dir path is not correct."
    raise ValueError(message)

# critical to make sure this is correct or every
# instance becomes the default!

GIT = "git {}"
BLOG = 'blog'
FORWARD_REPLACE_THEME = "s|\\{default}|{{}}|g".format(
    default=default_theme_to_replace)
SITE_URL_TEMPLATE = "https://{}.zip.thruhere.net"
FORWARD_REPLACE_URL_NEEDLE = SITE_URL_TEMPLATE.format(BLOG)
PELICAN_THEMES = './themes/pelican-themes/{}'
REMOTE_ADD = '{} dokku@zip.thruhere.net:{}'
DOKKU_PUSH = 'push -f {} theme-{}:master'

command_names = (
    delete_branch,
    checkout_master,
    revert_pelican,
    revert_publish,
    add_pelican,
    add_publish,
    commit_theme,
    commit_add_all,
    create_theme_branch,
    checkout_theme_branch,
    replace_theme,
    replace_url,
    create_dokku_app,
    git_add_remote,
    make_ssh,
    add_all,
    push_to_dokku,
    deploy,
) = (
    'delete_branch',
    'checkout_master',
    'revert_pelican',
    'revert_publish',
    'add_pelican',
    'add_publish',
    'commit_theme',
    'commit_add_all',
    'create_theme_branch',
    'checkout_theme_branch',
    'replace_theme',
    'replace_url',
    'create_dokku_app',
    'git_add_remote',
    'make_ssh',
    'add_all',
    'push_to_dokku',
    'deploy',
)
format_args = (
    ('branch -D theme-{}', ),
    ('checkout master', ),
    ('checkout master pelicanconf.py', ),
    ('checkout master publishconf..py', ),
    ('add pelicanconf.py', ),
    ('add publishconf.py', ),
    ('commit -m "changed to theme {}"', ),
    ('commit -m "added all for {}"', ),
    ('checkout -b theme-{}', ),
    ('checkout theme-{}', ),
    (FORWARD_REPLACE_THEME, pelicanconf_path, ),
    (FORWARD_REPLACE_URL_NEEDLE, SITE_URL_TEMPLATE, publishconf_path, ),
    ("dokku apps:create {}", ),
    ('remote add {}', ),
    ('make ssh', ),
    ('add -A', ),
    (DOKKU_PUSH, ),
    ('{{}}', ),
)
logger.debug(pprint(list(zip(command_names, format_args))))

# all the commands up to checkout_theme_branch require GIT
format_substrates = [GIT, ] \
    * (command_names.index('checkout_theme_branch') + 1)
format_substrates.extend((  # extend with the rest
    "sed -i -e '{}' {}",
    "sed -i -e 's|{}|{}|g' {}",
    "dokku apps:create {}",
    GIT,
    'make ssh',
    GIT,
    GIT,
    '{{}}',  # double so {} is result on format
))
format_substrates = tuple(format_substrates)
logger.debug(pprint(list(zip(command_names, format_substrates))))

# test that none of the parts making the commands were missed, sanity check
# the sequences should all be equal
items = (len(item) for item in (command_names, format_substrates, format_args))
assert all(first == second for first, second in (combinations(items, 2)))

commands_ = dict([(command_name, substrate.format(*args), )
                  for command_name, substrate, args in zip(
                      command_names,
                      format_substrates,
                      format_args,
              )])

def run_command(command_key, format_values=''):
    command = commands_[command_key].format(format_values)
    result = EasyProcess(command).call()
    if result.stderr:
        return result.stderr
    return False

def handle_theme_branch(theme):
    err_result = run_command(create_theme_branch, theme)
    logger.debug(err_result)
    if err_result:
        logger.debug(run_command(checkout_theme_branch, theme))

def main():
    for theme in themes:
        logger.debug(run_command(delete_branch, theme))
    for theme in themes:
        should_deploy = True
        try:
            handle_theme_branch(theme)
            run_command_args = (
                (replace_theme, PELICAN_THEMES.format(theme)),
                (replace_url, theme),
                (add_pelican, theme),
                (add_publish, theme),
                (commit_theme, theme),
            )
            for command_args in run_command_args:
                logger.debug(
                    run_command(*command_args))
            # cd to static directory
            os.chdir(zipped_code_output)
            # create and/or checkout branch
            try:
                handle_theme_branch(theme)
                # create dokku app (idempotent?)
                result = run_command(create_dokku_app, theme.lower())
                logger.debug(result)
                # add git remote
                logger.debug(run_command(git_add_remote, REMOTE_ADD.format(
                    theme, theme.lower())))
                # come back to pelican directory and do make ssh
                os.chdir(pelican_zipped_code)
                logger.debug(run_command(checkout_theme_branch, theme))
                result = run_command(make_ssh, theme)
                logger.debug(result)
                # if something is missing such has a Pelican plugin
                # the result contains 'CRITICAL'.
                # Records the theme, the result, and skips the deploy
                if 'CRITICAL:' in str(result):
                    should_deploy = False
                    with open('errors.log', 'a') as fh:
                        fh.write(': '.join((theme, str(result))))
                os.chdir(zipped_code_output)
                logger.debug(run_command(add_all))
                logger.debug(run_command(commit_add_all, theme))
                if should_deploy:
                    push_to_dokku_ = commands_[push_to_dokku]\
                        .format(theme, theme)
                    logger.debug(push_to_dokku_)
                    # this command is different, has '{}' for
                    # template so I can log the value from commands_
                    logger.debug(run_command(deploy, push_to_dokku_))
            finally:
                os.chdir(pelican_zipped_code)
                logger.debug(run_command(checkout_master))
        finally:
            from ssl_commands import ssl_commands
            for command in ssl_commands:
                result = EasyProcess(command).call()
                if result.stderr:
                    logger.debug(result.stderr)
                logger.debug(result.stdout)
            logger.debug(run_command(checkout_master))
    return 0

if __name__ == "__main__":
    sys.exit(main())


St. Petersburg, December 4, Interfax – Vitaly Milonov, the chairman of the St. Petersburg parliament's legislation committee, has sent an appeal to the Russian Foreign Ministry and Federal Migration Service proposing a simplification of the procedure of obtaining Russian citizenship for Europeans, who have been insulted spiritually and culturally in their countries.
A simplification of the procedure of granting a living permit and Russian citizenship to foreign citizens, whose right to live according to traditional cultural and spiritual values are being infringed upon by the authorities of the country they reside in, has been proposed, Milonov told Interfax on Wednesday.
The right of families to live and bring up children in accordance with their traditional belief system and in the spirit of traditional family values is intentionally violated by many Western countries, Milonov said.


The Network File System (NFS) is a distributed file system protocol. Using an NFS server you can export one or more local file systems (shares). An NFS client can mount these exported shares on its own file system. You can perform file actions on this mounted remote file system as if it were local storage on the VM.
NFS is typically a shared storage solution; shared storage is not available as a service in Metacloud. You can leverage NFS shares in Metacloud using the Block Storage service for launching VMs and storing images but, you cannot share one volume across multiple VMs.
Metacloud Support provides capacity monitoring and reporting. If a mount point reaches 100 percent capacity, all running VMs are paused. Pausing the VMs retains data in VM memory until the NFS mount has additional storage capacity. Once more capacity is available all VMs resume and commits all writes. Contact Metacloud Support if you need to add servers to handle increased storage needs.
Because data is stored in a file and not actually on a Block Storage device, you might not see the same performance as you would with a traditional Block Storage driver. Despite possible IO performance loss, storing volume data is beneficial, for example, backing up volumes can be as easy as copying the volume files.
Ultimately cloud performance is dictated by the performance of the storage system powering it. Some NFS servers cannot keep up with the load placed on them. This impacts all aspects of the cloud, from instance boot times to nova and cinder latency. A non-performant NFS server can cause stability issues. When an NFS server is slow or overloaded it can look like a disconnect on the host level; meaning that all instances are paused on the system (even those not leveraging NFS storage). If this occurs, open a request with Metacloud Support to troubleshoot and correct the issue.
See the Feature Matrix for a complete list of supported features by storage type.
To enable live migration, all hypervisors must have the same NFS mount. This means that the Compute service is in place for all ephemeral and root disks for running VMs.


Before I turned 40, I had crazy good vision. I'm talking vision so good that I could read teeny tiny writing right up in my face and also read signs far away. So far away that people would ask "Can you really read that or do you just know what it says from seeing it before?" Additionally, I can remember my parents asking me "don't you want me to turn the light on so you can see what you are reading?" Why bother? I could see perfectly fine in the dimly lit room.
After I turned 40, I started to notice that books and magazines were suddenly being printed in a really SMALL FONT. It didn't make sense. Were they trying to fit more words on each page to save money? My arms weren't long enough to hold the pages at a far enough distance where I could read them. Furthermore, I wondered what was up with all of the dim lighting? When did stores and restaurants get so dark? I needed a flashlight to see what I was buying or to order my lunch. Another thing I noticed was how many cards, invitations, advertisements, flyers, etc. were printed in some funky light-pastel-colored ink on something other than white paper. Who could possibly read it? I decided that if someone has something that actually needs to be read, it needs to be printed in black ink, Times New Roman font and on bright white paper. Exclusively.
It wasn't until I was 40 years and 6 months old that I realized in an A-Ha moment that it was ME. No joke! It took me 6 full months to realize that the whole book, magazine, newspaper, direct mail and menu printing industries weren't conspiring against consumers via small and difficult to read print.
I just needed reading glasses.
The moment of truth happened in a dimly lit restaurant with my husband and another couple. I was flustered that I could not read a single word of the menu. I looked around…hmmm- everyone else seemed to be able to read it just fine.
Thank goodness my vision hadn't slipped too much. All I needed was a pair of the lowest magnification of reading glasses (1.0) from the Dollar Store. Don't hate- the eye doctor approved of my cheap readers. I am now the proud owner of not 1 pair, but about 10. I keep them in my purse, car, living room, office, bedroom, kitchen, etc. When I meet my bunco girls for dinner, I try to throw in a couple of extra. They won't buy their own because they "don't need them", but they sure like to borrow mine! The first moment I tried on my 1.0's, it was a revelation. I CAN SEE AGAIN!!! Everything looked so different to me. It made me so grateful for the gift of sight.
~If I'm working with children and observe "bad behavior", I don't automatically assume that they are bad kids or have bad parents. Through my grace colored glasses I see things like pain, rejection, insecurity, learning disabilities, anxiety and issues at home. Maybe even just a bad day. Isn't it funny how grown ups are allowed to make mistakes and have crappy days/bad attitudes but children aren't?
~When I'm out running errands and I see someone dressed in tattered or dirty clothes, I don't turn up my nose. Through the lens of my special glasses, I might see struggle, poverty, lack of educational opportunities, brokenness, low self esteem or heartache.
~When I'm working in the hospital and encounter frazzled and frantic patients (or their loved ones), I don't pretend not to notice. Through my grace colored glasses I see one or all of these: despair, fear, struggle, addiction, anguish, mistrust and anger.
Sometimes Way too often my grace colored glasses slip from my eyes. Sometimes Way too often I am easily agitated, irritated at slow drivers in the left lane, wonder why my students can't "get it together" and almost come unglued when people chew SO LOUD! I'm human and I'm a work in progress.
I take zero credit for the things that I see through my special lenses. I'm not sharing my observations to come off as 'holier than thou' or to condemn anyone who sees things differently. I am grateful for these grace colored glasses. I hope that God, the giver of grace, continues to make my prescription more powerful as the years go by. Besides, what we see isn't so important. What we DO in reaction to what we see is. I wholeheartedly believe everyone would respond in the same way if they saw things the way I do.
I can't wait to hear what you see when you put on your grace colored glasses! More importantly, I can't wait to hear what actions you take when you see more clearly!
Bonus video- all the feels!


text:
<?php
namespace Vivo\Metadata;

use Zend\ServiceManager\FactoryInterface;
use Zend\ServiceManager\ServiceLocatorInterface;

class MetadataManagerFactory implements FactoryInterface
{
    /**
     * @param  ServiceLocatorInterface $serviceLocator
     * @return MetadataManager
     */
    public function createService(ServiceLocatorInterface $serviceLocator)
    {
        $resource   = $serviceLocator->get('module_resource_manager');
        $resolver   = $serviceLocator->get('module_name_resolver');
        $config     = $serviceLocator->get('config');
        if (isset($config['metadata_manager']) && is_array($config['metadata_manager'])) {
            $mmOptions   = $config['metadata_manager'];
        } else {
            $mmOptions   = array();
        }
        $manager    = new MetadataManager($serviceLocator, $resource, $resolver, $mmOptions);
        return $manager;
    }
}


The Olson~Powell Memorial Chapel of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, opened its doors on July 1, 1998. The facility, designed to be a funeral home, has been meeting the needs of the people in the surrounding area ever since.
Since its beginning, the main goal of the funeral home has been to help people through the experience of losing a loved one. More than any other funeral home in the area, the Olson~Powell Memorial Chapel has understood that families need caring and guidance prior to the death of a loved one, during the time of the death, and for the months that follow. That is why the Memorial Chapel has developed programs that support these needs.
Because of this dedication to families they serve, the Olson~Powell Memorial Chapel has been awarded the Iowa Funeral Directors' Award of Excellence for several years. It is a prestigious award received by only a handful of funeral homes throughout the state.
The Olson~Powell Memorial Chapel steps outside its front door to support various activities in the community. The Chapel has honored local emergency responders, fire, and law enforcement officials, raised money for the World War II monument in Washington, D.C., and continues to register veterans on the WWII National Registry. It continues to be a member of the Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce.


Enjoy this sneak peek of Hellknight by Liane Merciel!
Birds cared nothing for murder.
Sweetly they sang from the branches of the fig and lemon trees that wreathed the grounds of Vaneo Celverian, the city manor of proud, ancient House Celverian. Under the elegant tile roofs and gilded balustrades, all might be in panic, but nothing disturbed the birds among their sun-dappled leaves. They sang and sang, bright as joy, while down below, mortal men and women struggled to grasp the enormity of loss.
They'd suffered a staggering one, Jheraal knew. Master Othando Celverian, second and favored son of Lord Abello Celverian, heir to his house and hope of his family's future, had been murdered in the night. Others had been killed, too, but in Cheliax, only one of those deaths really mattered.
Out on the grand lawn, a semicircle of maids, grooms, cooks, and washerwomen in white and gold-slashed blue stood where they'd been turned out for her inspection. Every one of House Celverian's servants was a picture of shock and grief. The younger maids held handkerchiefs to their tear-puffed eyes, while the older servants muttered about what they'd do when they found their master's killer.
Both the sobbing and the plotting died abruptly when Jheraal rode into the servants' view. One did not cry before Hellknights, and one certainly did not conspire to commit crimes. A sullen hush fell over the Celverian household as Jheraal's chestnut destrier trotted across the graveled path, coming to a halt before the chief steward.
"I'm here to investigate the murders." Jheraal removed her fearsome, devil-visaged helm, allowing the servants to see her face.
It caused a stir, as she had known it would. House Celverian's people were well trained, and other than a gasp from one of the youngest grooms and a few tightened mouths and half-steps backward, none showed an overt reaction to her appearance. But Jheraal read their shock all the same.
The hellspawn taint ran strong in her. Jheraal's skin was white as snow and covered with fine, soft scales, each one edged with a faint shimmer of copper. A pair of four-inch horns, curved and sharp as a goat's, poked through her bronze-streaked black hair. They fitted into the hollows of the horns in her helm, and had indirectly served as inspiration for the same.
It was not unheard of for the devil-blooded to serve among the Hellknights, but neither was it common. In Cheliax, hellspawn were widely considered to be no part of proper society, and few of them received the training in arms or spellcraft needed to gain acceptance into the Hellknight orders' ranks. Yet here she was, armored in the scarred breastplate and horned helm that marked her as a full Hellknight sworn to the Order of the Scourge.
As he spoke, his eyes flicked to the star of bleeding lashes painted on Jheraal's shield. That was the Scourge's sigil, and the steward's unspoken query was clear: Will the Order of the Rack be coming?
It was a delicate question. The Hellknight Order of the Rack, based in Citadel Rivad near Westcrown, was the primary order of Hellknights in the city. Jheraal's order, the Scourge, was less well known and much less strongly represented, which was both advantage and disadvantage: it gave her greater independence, but fewer resources to call upon.
Less currency with the common people, too. As Westcrown had long been troubled by rumblings of dissent, Her Imperial Majestrix, Queen Abrogail Thrune II, had granted the Order of the Rack wide-sweeping authority to detain, question, and even execute suspected rebels in the city.
And although the Order of the Rack held the preservation of peace to be its highest duty, the methods it chose to achieve that duty were not always peaceful. In much of Westcrown, the order had a fearsome reputation. Few Wiscrani were glad to see them coming.
House Celverian, Jheraal recalled, might have more reason than most to be wary where the Order of the Rack was concerned. There had been some trouble with the eldest son, who'd gotten caught up in the idealistic fervor of the young. He hadn't been accused of any serious wrongdoing, and his father's influence had hushed any whiff of scandal, but nevertheless the boy had been sent packing to a crusader's exile in Mendev.
That had been years ago. Well over a decade, in fact. But fear could take a long time dying, and Jheraal couldn't blame the servants of House Celverian for being cautious.
"We are grateful for your kindness. I have the honor of being Belvadio, chief steward of this house. Lord Abello Celverian should be arriving late tonight or early tomorrow. In the meantime, the household staff is at your disposal." The chief steward clapped his hands, signaling the end of the assembly. In a flurry of curtseys and bows, the maids, cooks, and house servants dispersed. Jheraal dismounted, and one of the grooms led her horse away. Two servants, a pair of boys who looked no older than fourteen, remained behind at the steward's signal.
"Show it to me as you found it." Jheraal had no reason to doubt the steward's honesty, but if there were any gaps in his story, she expected that it would be easiest to find them by walking alongside Belvadio and seeing whether the evidence matched his words.
"Of course. Please, this way." With a courtly bow, Belvadio led his armored guest through the gardens' fragrant shade toward the honeysuckle-threaded hedges that encircled the vaneo. Overhead, the birds continued their merry, oblivious song.
Although House Celverian's main seat lay in the hinterlands, and its manor in Westcrown was not as grand or expansive as the sprawling estates called vira, it took several minutes for them to reach the bloodstained spot by the walls where Nappandi's body had been found.
There wasn't much blood. Only a few brownish drops, already mostly soaked into the earth, and a patch of crushed clover near the base of the hedges where the body had lain. In the darkness, screened by the dense thorned shrubs, it might have been a long time before anyone noticed a body at night.
Jheraal crouched and looked for tracks that might have been left by the killer, but found none. Either Nappandi's assailant had known how to hide them, or the servants had already trampled out those traces.
Predictable, then. Easily evaded. The lack of struggle suggested that the killer had never been seen. He could have slipped by if he'd wanted, but instead he'd chosen to kill the guard.
"Was anything taken from his body?" Jheraal asked.
He is worried about offending the Hellknights. Belvadio's concern about ushering her through the servants' door might have been reasonable if he'd been dealing with the touchiest of high Chelish lords, but she had no illusions that a steward who'd spent his entire life in service to a great house really believed that her rank was so exalted, or her skin so thin. This was caution and nothing but.
He took her past the larder and buttery, through the kitchens, and up a flight of well-worn wooden stairs. No footprints stood out here, either.
At the top of the stairs, they reached the discreet little door that separated the servants' quarters from the nobles' halls. Quilted padding covered the servants' side of the door, insulating their superiors from any unwanted noise or smell that might drift up from the kitchens. The other side of the door, Jheraal noted, was painted white and adorned with gilded scrollwork. All the unsightliness—and all the function—was on the servants' side.
Although the servants' halls had been lit only by the daylight that streamed through their small, cloudy windows, enchanted lights shone serenely along the ceiling and upper walls of this corridor. Wide picture windows overlooked the manor's gardens, while carpets in faded blue and white sank under Jheraal's booted feet. The carpets were lush at the periphery but worn in the centers. That they hadn't been replaced suggested that House Celverian wasn't as rich as it had been in years past. No surprise. Failing fortunes were common among the old nobility that had declined to align strongly enough with House Thrune.
Nevertheless, it was lovely. The airy beauty of the upper hall was marred only by the faint whiff of blood that grew stronger as they approached an open door on the right.
"In there," Belvadio whispered. The color had drained from his face.
They hadn't moved the body. The mortal remains of Othando Celverian remained in the overstuffed armchair where he had presumably died. A linen sheet covered his slumped form imperfectly, trailing over part of the desk in front of him. A carafe and half-full wineglass rested on a silver tray near his elbow. Papers spilled across the floor by his side, along with a fallen candle stub trailing a comet's tail of wax spatters.
The Hellknight nodded without looking up. With as much delicacy as she could muster, she lifted the sheet that covered Othando Celverian.
He had been a young man. Twenty-five, she guessed. Maybe a year or two to either side. Slim, handsome, with the soft hands and pale skin of a scholar who spent little time outdoors. Drying blood spilled from a single deep puncture wound on the side of his neck and darkened his sleeping robe in a crooked fan that widened as it stretched toward the floor. More blood painted the carpet behind him and to the side, and a single brownish-red fingerprint smudged his right arm near the elbow.
Othando's own hands were clean. That bloody fingerprint had come from someone else.
His face was buried in the pages of the book he'd been reading. When Jheraal lifted Othando's head, she saw that his eyes were wide and his lips slightly parted. The breeze from an open window fluttered dark blond hair across his brow. She couldn't tell if he had been talking, trying to cry out, or just gasping for breath in his last extremity, but it seemed that he'd been looking at someone when he died. The spill of blood from his wound suggested that he had turned toward, and then away from, something or someone at his back.
The killer? It was tempting to conclude that Othando must have seen his assassin. If he had, his shade might answer a cleric's prayer and identify his attacker.
Jheraal had been an investigator long enough to know that such hopes almost always proved futile. Something as simple as a mask or hood sufficed to prevent recognition, as every professional killer knew, and the dead were blessed with no more knowledge than they'd had in life. The Hellknight had worked on dozens of murders in the twelve years of her investigative career, all across Cheliax and its vassal states, and never once had she seen the spirit of an assassin's victim able to identify his killer. Amateurs might be named by the dead. Professionals never were.
That didn't mean she had no use for magic. Only that its use had to be less easily anticipated by her target.
She glanced at the open book. Drying blood gummed its pages and darkened the illustrations, but the lettering remained clear. It looked to be a collection of Taldan heroic stories—disgraced knights winning back the honor of tarnished houses, second sons and valiant daughters carving names for themselves in savage lands, heroes who vanquished monsters and won the love of their people. Tales to stir excitement into a quiet life.
The letters that had blown onto the floor appeared to be correspondence: invitations to various social events from other Wiscrani nobility, orders from his lord father at the family estate, and an unfinished letter from Othando himself to his exiled brother in Mendev.
Drawing the sheet back over the body, Jheraal stepped sideways to examine the desk. Two of the drawers were partly opened. One held signets in gold and bronze, sticks of sealing wax, unsharpened quills, a paring knife, and a wrinkled paper sachet of sugar-rolled mints. The other was empty save for a few faded stains at the bottom. The remaining drawers were locked.
"Was it Master Celverian's custom to leave that window open?" Jheraal gestured to the skylight, although she already knew the answer. That window was too high to be opened without the aid of a ladder, and she had seen none in the study.
The missing servants were hellspawn, then. No other reason for that discomfort. And not everyone on the staff was as accepting as their master had been, judging from the reception she'd gotten on the lawn.
"Of course." He followed her back out of the manor, keeping always two paces behind and a half-step to the side, like the most discreet of ghosts. As they reached the servants' door, however, the steward took a small step forward.
Belvadio opened the door. Outside, the sun was a glory and the birds were singing, and Westcrown's life went on. Even within the vaneo's walls, the rhythms of the day were returning. A washerwoman pinned damp sheets to her lines. Across the yard, a stocky, freckle-faced boy carted muck from the stables. Already, the night was beginning to recede in their memories.
"Their mistakes are in the past," the steward said, returning Jheraal to the city.
The cleric of Abadar had little to tell her. Yes, he had gone to the vaneo that morning. Yes, he had seen Master Celverian's corpse. No, he had no suspicions regarding how the murder might have been carried out, nor about who would have had a motive to strike at House Celverian's younger son.
Jheraal hadn't argued, but as she walked down the temple's steps back into the canal-lined streets of Westcrown's Rego Sacero, she'd thought, Not like this.
It was true that the Chelish nobility spent an inordinate amount of time plotting against each other, and that espionage and assassination were well-used weapons in their arsenals. But it was also true that blatant, barefaced murder was considered extremely bad form.
Cheliax prided itself on being a nation governed by law. Its killers might disguise their doings as hunting accidents, food poisoning, or highway robberies gone wrong. The more cunning and ambitious might even go so far as to trump up criminal charges and let the royal executioners take their enemies' heads.
But they did disguise their murders, because otherwise they invited the full wrath that Cheliax visited upon all those who broke its laws.
The assassination of a well-born scholar in his study was precisely the sort of crime that offended Her Imperial Majestrix and insulted her rule. That it had happened in Westcrown, which chafed at its loss of prominence under House Thrune and needed little provocation to stoke its smoldering discontents into new flame, made the investigation more urgent. And that the victim had been an eligible young bachelor who was actively courted by several Wiscrani houses added an edge of intrigue. Jheraal guessed that there were several furious dowagers who were eager to learn which of their rivals might have destroyed their daughters' prospects.
For all these reasons, it was exceedingly important that she find the killer.
No one had said this, of course. Not explicitly. The mere fact of her assignment made it clear enough. Jheraal was of the Order of the Scourge, and she had been chosen to investigate a crime in a city where the Order of the Rack held sway. There were any number of messages bound up in that, but the key one was that Her Imperial Majestrix expected results. Failure was not to be countenanced. That was why Jheraal, of all the investigators available to the Hellknights, had been singled out and sent to serve. The Queen wanted answers, and Jheraal was meant to find them.
The obvious course was to question Lord Celverian. But the lord hadn't yet arrived in Westcrown, so Jheraal returned to Taranik House, the Order of the Rack's base of operations in the city, to see whether any messages had come.
"I have a message of utmost urgency. Utmost! From Durotas Tuornos. His rundottari found bodies in Rego Cader. Two from House Celverian. The durotas said you'd want to know immediately. Here—he wrote this for you, but it only says the same thing." The boy held out a folded slip. It had been hastily written. The ink soaked through the cheap paper.


text:
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Zendesk. Be the company your customers want you to be.
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CDNetwork
CDNetworks cuts customer inquiries in half with Zendesk Support
Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Internet & Mobile, Software & Technology, Support
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Internet users can be forgiven for not giving much thought to what enables them to watch high-definition videos, play online games with minimal latency, and browse e-commerce sites full of high-definition images with few hiccups. But behind those services lies content delivery network (CDN) providers that keep the online world humming along.
Founded in 2001 as South Korea's first CDN company—and currently ranked as one of the top three providers in the world—CDNetworks provides nearly 170 point of presence (PoPs) centers across six continents, along with other services such as cloud storage and security measures aimed at combating denial-of-service DDoS attacks.
With more than 3,000 customers across the globe, CDNetworks has to be ready to provide high-quality customer service without delay—for example, what if a customer's e-commerce site begins loading slowly or displays images improperly? While the customer performs a system check, it's also relying on the provider to respond quickly. A provider who fails to do so can endanger its customer's reputation, which is why companies choosing a CDN service review both the technology and network size and the quality of customer support.
To ensure it provides high-quality support, CDNetworks employs 130 customer support agents located in Singapore, South Korea, China, Japan, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In 2015, the company conducted a comprehensive review of its operations and found that customer support was having trouble innovating.
As the company dug deeper, it found the culprit: the various customer support centers lacked standardized procedures and tools. For example, in the United States and the United Kingdom, CDNetworks used Salesforce's customer support tool, but in other centers agents used Request Tracker, an open source tool.
CDNetworks determined that in order to provide a consistent customer support experience, the tools needed to be unified. It looked at several solutions, including Zendesk Support, Desk.com, and Freshdesk. The evaluation criteria included smooth connectivity with CDNetwork's existing ERP and CRM systems, as well as factors such as user convenience and operating costs. "Zendesk was the most advantageous in terms of reflecting the process we wanted and operating costs," said HyungKyo Jeong, SOC team leader at CDNetworks. "In particular, operating costs were lowest based on the simulation results with Zendesk Support."
Another key factor in the decision was security, since CDNetworks' services require authentication prior to processing customer inquiries to ensure that only genuine customers can make configuration changes. Meanwhile, Zendesk Support is simple enough to customize that agents in the U.S. and the U.K who had been using Salesforce were able to seamlessly switch over.
CDNetworks implemented Support in its contact centers in Singapore, China, South Korea, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Japan over a period of about a year, while creating new customer support workflows and processes. "In the past, there was no way to verify customers' identity when they contact us by phone or email," Jeong said. "With Zendesk Support, we reflected the customer certification process, and we've established a new escalation process for handling customer inquiries to reduce repetitive questions and improve customer convenience."
After implementing Support, CDNetworks saw the number of service tickets drop from about 4,500 per month to 2,500 due to pattern analysis of customer inquiries and new ticket escalation procedures. "After analyzing customer support data, we noticed some patterns," Jeong said. "We figured out what the same inquiries were and why the number of inquiries from specific customers was so high, and then we discussed them with the sales, technical support, and research and development teams. The technical support team has provided ways to set up systems and services so that customers who frequently contact us can solve problems on their own. Problems that the technical support team cannot solve have been delivered to R&D teams. As a result, the number of tickets naturally decreased."
Reducing the number of customer inquiries offers the dual benefits of lowering operating costs and increasing customer satisfaction. After all, the ultimate goal of customer service innovation is to provide products and services that are so satisfying that customers do not have to make inquiries in the first place. As a result, CDNetworks now maintains a CSAT rating of 95 percent, which it expects to improve as it continues to fine-tune its customer service. It has also seen a reduction in first-reply time (FRT), which stands at an average of seven hours—nine hours faster that the typical IT company.
CDNetworks' new escalation process, powered by Support, has also played a large role in enhancing compliance to service levels. The system that monitors CDN service quality will generate an alert when performance degrades, which creates a service ticket. The operator must resolve that service ticket to maintain the SLA. "Operators are not able to monitor CDN service performance all day," Jeong said. "We are also using Zendesk Support to improve overall service operating quality by issuing service tickets to respond to them in accordance with the first and second escalation procedures rather than simply informing operators of situations outside of the SLA presented to customers by an alarm."
This application of Support to operational tasks that improve the quality of CDNetworks' core product and services paves the way for new ideas and process innovations. For CDNetworks, the next step in its mission to provide better customer service is to document frequently asked questions and build out its self-service options.
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text:
SUSE Cloud 2.0 Takes Top Spot in SVC Awards
December 9, 2013 | By: Brian Green
SUSE recently attended the Storage Virtualisation Cloud (SVC) Awards at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London's Knightsbridge and I'm pleased to say we walked away with the award for Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) Solution of the Year for SUSE Cloud 2.0.
The IaaS category was hotly contested, as it was open to any solution that "delivers or contributes to effective Infrastructure-as-a-Service implementations for users of private and/or public cloud environments." This win was particularly pleasing because once a shortlist has been created by the judges the awards are decided by a public vote, meaning that many of the votes would have come from happy customers and users.
SUSE Cloud 2.0 was judged on the basis of its key features, its impact on the market and benefits for SUSE customers, plus its USPs and major differentiators from other products on the market. The product is designed to deliver enhanced capabilities for OpenStack-based private clouds and is the most enterprise-ready private cloud platform based on OpenStack. It offers an integrated installation and administration framework that leads to greater scale and ease of operation as well as faster return on investment. SUSE Cloud is also the only enterprise OpenStack distribution to easily manage mixed hypervisor cloud environments. All of these key attributes were no doubt taken into account by the judges when making their decision to put SUSE on the shortlist for the public vote.
The SVC Awards reward the products, projects, services, companies and teams operating in the cloud, virtualisation and storage sectors. The awards seek to recognise the achievements of end-users, channel partners and vendors alike.
Franziska Priebe, marketing manager of award organisers Angel Business Communications, comments: "This year we have had not only a significant increase in the overall number of nominations but also in the total votes received. The SVC Awards recognise the users, manufacturers and suppliers operating in the cloud, virtualization and storage sectors and are voted for by the readers of our wide range of print and online publications. All finalists did well in making the shortlist but SUSE was the clear winner in its category, IaaS Solution of the Year."
As you can see from the photo, we were delighted to win this award in recognition of the strength of SUSE Cloud 2.0. I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank all of our customers who took the time to vote for SUSE.
Brian Green


text:
News • Education
Indianapolis Public Schools Offer Buyouts To Teachers
Dylan Peers McCoy - Chalkbeat Indiana
Eric Weddle/WFYI News
Indianapolis Public Schools is offering teachers $20,000 payments to retire, in a move that could cut costs amid a severe deficit.
Nearly 250 educators are eligible for the buyout, which would be contributed directly to retirement plans for teachers who take the offer, according to the district.
District officials say the offer is not a cost-cutting move but rather an effort to enhance the district's ability to set its budget for next year and plan for its hiring needs. In a written response to questions, head of human resources Mindy Schlegel wrote the offer "is not a buyout, but an early notice incentive."
"The district is focused on incentivizing early notice of planned retirements so we can apply those notices to budgeting and staffing work principals are doing now versus addressing those challenges in June," she wrote. "Knowing staffing shifts early is one of the most critical levers they can use in planning for next year."
Teachers have 11 days to make their decision. They must notify the administration by 5 p.m. on April 20 if they want to take the buyout, according to the district. The district apparently could back out of the deal, though — officials have until May 4 to decide whether to go forward with the program.
A minimum of 100 and a maximum of 150 educators would have to accept the offer for the district to go through with it. If 150 teachers accept the $20,000, the payouts could cost the district as much as $3 million. The district could ultimately save money even if it replaces retired teachers, because veteran teachers are paid more.
When asked how much the offer could save the district in the long run, Schlegel said the payments are "not really about cost savings."
School board member Mary Ann Sullivan said the offer has a number of benefits. It could help the district get a clearer picture of its staff and finances at a time when it is facing a severe budget shortfall. But it could also help the district avoid laying off teachers, she said.
"If you can manage to not do that — avoid that situation — most people would think that's a good goal," she said.
To take advantage of the deal, teachers need to be eligible for regular retirement under the rules of the Indiana Public Retirement System. Teachers as young as 55 years old could be eligible if they have at least 30 years of service. Older teachers would be eligible with fewer years of service. Teachers would need to retire at the end of the 2017-18 school year.
The retirement plan administrator, VALIC, will host a session 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday in the boardroom of the Education Services Center, according to an email sent to teachers and obtained by Chalkbeat.
"I hate to lose teachers," said Rhondalyn Cornett, president of the Indianapolis Education Association. But the offer could be desirable for teachers who were trying to decide whether they can afford to retire, she said. "It's a good opportunity because I do know there are some teachers who are going to want it."
Some teachers were already considering retirement because they were displaced during the high school closing process, Cornett said.
The incentive for higher-paid teachers to retire comes at the same time as the district is considering ways to cut costs after withdrawing a request for more funding from taxpayers. Superintendent Lewis Ferebee has told RTV6 the district might also freeze hiring and furlough administrators. Last week, Schlegel told Chalkbeat the district had not yet decided whether teachers might be laid off.
In her email about retirement incentives, Schlegel wrote she did not anticipate the plan would affect class size. Whether the district replaces teachers will depend on the subjects they teach, she wrote.
The district has been grappling with budget deficits for years, but the issue has become more severe in recent months. District leaders say the budget crunch is caused by declining state and federal funding as well as the high cost of operating expenses such as raises for teachers.
In November, the administration released a plan to appeal to voters to increase property taxes and school funding. But following a rocky rollout and campaign, district leaders first reduced their request and then withdrew the referendum. They are currently working with the Indy Chamber to review finances and craft a request that would appear on the November ballot.
Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.
Tags:Indianapolis Public Schools
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Education / January 5, 2022
Defunct Indiana virtual schools ask court to toss out claims in $150M lawsuit
The Hamilton County Superior Court heard arguments Wednesday on multiple motions to dismiss Attorney General Todd Rokita's claims against people and companies with ties to the online public schools.