text:
Q: dump and load a dill (pickle) in two different files I think this is fundamental to many people who know how to deal with pickle. However, I still can't get it very right after trying for a few hours. I have the following code:
In the first file
import pandas as pd

names = ["John", "Mary", "Mary", "Suzanne", "John", "Suzanne"]
scores = [80, 90, 90, 92, 95, 100]

records = pd.DataFrame({"name": names, "score": scores})
means = records.groupby('name').mean()

def name_score_function(record):
    if record in names:
        return(means.loc[record, 'score'])

import dill as pickle
with open('name_model.pkl', 'wb') as file:
    pickle.dump(means, file)

The second file
I would like to load what I have in the first file and make the score of a person (i.e. John, Mary, Suzanne) callable via a function name_model(record):
import dill as pickle
B = pickle.load('name_model.pkl')

def name_model(record):
    if record in names:
        return(means.loc[record, 'score'])

Here it shows the error:
File "names.py", line 21, in <module>
B = pickle.load('name_model.pkl')
File "/opt/conda/lib/python2.7/site-packages/dill/dill.py", line 197, in load
pik = Unpickler(file)
File "/opt/conda/lib/python2.7/site-packages/dill/dill.py", line 356, in __init__
StockUnpickler.__init__(self, *args, **kwds)
File "/opt/conda/lib/python2.7/pickle.py", line 847, in __init__
self.readline = file.readline
AttributeError: 'str' object has no attribute 'readline'

I know the error comes from my lack of understanding of pickle. I would humbly accept your opinions to improve this code. Thank you!!
UPDATE
The more specific thing I would like to achieve:
I would like to be able to use the function that I write in the first file and dump it, and then read it in the second file and be able to use this function to query the mean score of any person in the records.
Here is what I have:
import pandas as pd

names = ["John", "Mary", "Mary", "Suzanne", "John", "Suzanne"]
scores = [80, 90, 90, 92, 95, 100]

records = pd.DataFrame({"name": names, "score": scores})
means = records.groupby('name').mean()

def name_score_function(record):
if record in names:
    return(means.loc[record, 'score'])

B = name_score_function(record)

import dill as pickle
with open('name_model.pkl', 'wb') as file:
    pickle.dump(B, file)

with open('name_model.pkl', 'rb') as file:
    B = pickle.load(f)

def name_model(record):
   return B(record)

print(name_model("John"))

As I execute this code, I have this error File "test.py", line 13, in <module>
    B = name_score_function(record)
NameError: name 'record' is not defined
I highly appreciate your assistance and patience.

A: Hmm. you need to read it the same way you wrote it -- nesting it inside an open clause:
import dill as pickle
with open('name_model.pkl' ,'rb') as f:
    B = pickle.load(f)

A: Thank you. It looks like the following can solve the problem.
import pandas as pd

names = ["John", "Mary", "Mary", "Suzanne", "John", "Suzanne"]
scores = [80, 90, 90, 92, 95, 100]

records = pd.DataFrame({"name": names, "score": scores})
means = records.groupby('name').mean()

import dill as pickle
with open('name_model.pkl', 'wb') as file:
    pickle.dump(means, file)

with open('name_model.pkl', 'rb') as file:
    B = pickle.load(file)

def name_score_function(record):
    if record in names:
        return(means.loc[record, 'score'])

print(name_score_function("John"))

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: How to search an specific button in a grid using webdriverIO I'm using an ExtJS grid panel. This grid has more than 20 rows of info and I want to search in each row for an icon that represents active mode, using WebdriverIO as a test driver.
How can I search in each row till the test driver finds the first active icon? (Note: the grid I'm testing is hosted on alegra.com).
Consider the following HTML print-screen:

A: It's hard to know exactly how to do it without knowing which locator you are using but if you first get a list of the rows and then filter them and grab the first match it should do what you are looking for.
public static get rows() { return browser.elements('#someTableId > table > tbody > tr'); }

public static getFirstMatch() {
    return this.rows.value.filter((row: WebdriverIO.Element) =>
        browser.elementIdElement(row.ELEMENT, 'someLocator').value)[0];
}

A: This is how i did it
var icon_type = 'delete';

it('Se elimina una factura', function(){
        //rellenamos el array de elementos del grid
    var elements = browser.getAttribute('#gridInvoices #gridview-1047-table tbody tr .action-icons img:nth-child(7)','class');
        //Busca la primera coincidencia en el array con type
    var row_num = elements.indexOf(icon_type);

    if(row_num === -1){
        throw new Error('No se encontraron botones activos del tipo "Eliminar" en todo el grid' )
    }else{
        $$('#gridInvoices #gridview-1047-table tbody tr')[row_num].click('.action-icons [title="Eliminar"]');
        browser.click('=Sí')
        };
});


text:
Ben Affleck Isn't on Raya — but He Is Looking for Love
Sorry if you matched with a fake Ben.
IMG_8486 copy
By Christopher Luu Updated Feb 21, 2020 @ 8:30 pm
Bad news to anyone who's heart fluttered because they had the chance to swipe on Ben Affleck. During a new interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, Affleck explained that he's definitely not using dating apps, even the almost-mythical Raya, which is reportedly where actors and musicians mingle away from normal folk.
"I am not on any websites," Affleck told Sawyer. He also added offered a warning to anyone that happened to match up with anyone pretending to be "Ben Affleck." He's not on Tinder, Grindr, or Bumble, either. He's not entirely against dating apps, however. He said that they work for some people, saying, "I know people who are on them and they have a fun time, but not me."
Ben Affleck Visits Despierta America
Credit: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images
RELATED: Ben Affleck Credits Jennifer Garner for Showing Him the "Meaning of Love" in Sweet Mother's Day Tribute
Affleck went on to say that he's open to starting a new relationship and that he's looking for something deep and meaningful, not a one-night-stand or fling, which is what many dating apps offer, whether it's what they set out to do or not.
"I would love to have a relationship that was deeply meaningful and one to which I could be deeply committed," he said.
Sawyer also asked him about a recent New York Times interview, where he said that his biggest regret is his divorce from Jennifer Garner. When she asked if he'd go back and change anything, he said that there was plenty he'd want to do over, but he knows it's not possible.
"There are things that I would love to go back and change," Affleck said. "I have regrets, I made plenty of mistakes, some big some small. I wish I could go back in time and change all kinds of things, but I can't."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Update – April 11, 2019: MERCER COUNTY, WV (WOAY) – A man who was charged for a hit and run that left a child dead was found not guilty.
Michael Dicker, 51, was facing charges of leaving the scene of an accident causing death and obstructing an officer. The incident happened on September 13th, 2018, around 6:00 P.M. along RT. 20 near Littlesburg RD.
A two-day jury trail reached a not-guilty verdict on all charges. The trail was held in Judge Derek Swope's courtroom.
The parents are facing child neglect charges.
Update – October 22, 2018: MERCER COUNTY, WV – Michael Dicker was charged for a hit and run that left a child dead.
Michael Dicker appeared in court today. Dicker was involved in a hit and run incident along route 20 near Littlesburg Road in Bluefield. Michael dicker was charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing death–and obstructing an officer. Dicker appeared in front of Judge Swoop where he pled Not Guilty.
The Pre-trial court date for Dicker is set for Nov 29th at 9:30 and his Trial court date is set for Jan 9th at 9:30 am.
Original Story – September 13, 2018: MERCER COUNTY, WV (WOAY) – Deputies are currently searching for a vehicle after it reportedly struck and killed a child.
According to Sheriff Tommy Bailey with the Mercer County Sheriff's Department, the incident took place on September 13th, 2018 around 6:00 P.M. along RT. 20 near Littlesburg RD.
The vehicle deputies are looking for is a possible dark colored Toyota van with front passenger damage.
If you have any information on this incident you're asked to contact the Mercer County Sheriff's office at (304)-487-8364.


We're starting the next round of Swap on a Budget this week. I'm moderating again — I've been assigned 7 people to match round-robin and stay in touch with until their packages are sent by Dec. 10. Two of the girls in this round were in my group last time, and I know some of the others, so it's going to be fun.
The problem is, I have 6 cat owners and a woman who is allergic to pet dander of any kind. I have to thank my friend Arlene, another moderator, for coming to my rescue. She's allowing one of her people to spoil my odd-woman out, and one of my people will, in turn, spoil one of Arlene's, so it's all going to be fine. A little crazy, and probably unprecedented, but I think it's going to work.
I'm off to work on one of my projects now. As I was changing sheets tonight, I got to thinking how great it would be to tackle all my unfinished projects next year. The Fair Isle Lumber Jacket, the autumn leaves sweater, the Bamboo Kimono, the afghan from the 1980s with leaves in it, the Bernat Boucle jacket…I think I'm going to do just that.
I'll probably announce the contest winners tomorrow night or early Saturday morning.
Posted in Uncategorized on September 30, 2010 by Pam MacKenzie.


Wooden "treasure chest" box with a metal pentacle on the hinged lid, a lockable fastener, and decorative metal bands on the edges. Exterior dimensions 4" x 6" by 3 3/4" high; dimensions of interior compartment 3 1/4" x 5 1.4". There may be slight individual variation in the dimensions. Box lid has enough friction not to fall open easily.


This winter we´ll be celebrating our one-year dating anniversary, the first one of our relationship! For me it´s a long time, as my heart has room and keeps beating only for you since we started dating. This is gonna be another warm and happy winter but we´re gonna pass together this time.
I think we deserve a gift. On my part, I only ask you to make this feeling we have towards each other everlasting as long as it lasts. I also hope that the cold of this winter can be soothed by your warmth. I wanna find on your chest a fountain of tenderness, peace and love.
To receive everything good that comes from you is all I long for, without asking anything else. And I´ve got to thank you for this first year of happiness by your side, for this companionship made of love and care, and this winter is going to summarize all that we have been sharing together.
To the one who makes me so happy and complete, I can only wish a long life plenty of peace and tranquility, and that he never forgets the fact he´s loved with the same intensity of our first kiss. My love alone can provide happiness to both of us, all that we said we dream of a year ago.


In this course, student teams use the Lego Mindstorms EV3 robotics kit, a sophisticated suite of building pieces, motors, sensors, a programmable computer and a custom-built software for programming. These kits are used in the First Lego League, as well as countless robotics groups, competitions and schools around the world to teach robotics to children of all ages and experience.
Students will build the TRACK3R tank robot and learn the basics of the course software by programing their robot to travel through a maze.
Students may build their choice of robots from the kit. Instructions are provided for over 25 different robots.
Students program their robot to perform a variety of behaviors based on the type of sensors present on their robot. They will learn how to use basic programming functions such as loops and switches to allow their robot to respond to different environmental stimuli.
Students will build a more advanced robot from the large selection of robots available with instructions. They will continue to learn to use loops and switches to refine the control capabilities of their robots. BK Bots' instructors can guide students to use Lego Discovery or Laboratory books to gain a deeper understanding of the capabilities of their Lego Mindstorms kit. They will explore advanced motor and sensor controls, flow control, custom block creation and other topics.
Students pick their battle robots and begin to build. All students will use the same base and add custom modifications to wreak havoc in the arena.
Week 12: Enter the Robo-Battle!
All final building, programming and testing is completed. The Grand Battle of the Robots begins when preparations are complete. May the best robot remain standing. Friends and family are welcome to join us to witness the action and end of class photos.


An all rounder who believes in Jack of all trades MASTER OF SOME!
Sunil was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. A strong academic background and many years of experience has established Sunil as one of South Africa's premium entertainers.
His vast experience in both the public and corporate sector as an MC, Actor, Presenter, Comedian, Voice Artist and Auctioneer has given Sunil insight and extensive knowledge into the entertainment industry. This knowledge he uses as Motivational Speaker to those wanting to get into the entertainment arena and to inspire individuals who are as passionate as he is.
Sunil has had roles in various award winning movies that have gone worldwide and continues to pursue his acting career while keeping busy doing many things within the Entertainment Industry for clients worldwide.
Sunil was awesome. It was worth more than I paid. Very happy.
Sunil's Body & Articulation Awareness workshop was truly valuable. This is because it covered the theory of voice delivery & highly practical exercises that I could immediately use to deliver better keynote talks. As a keynote speaker, I'd recommend Sunil's workshop without hesitation to anyone seeking to create greater impact with their spoken word.


SAIC seeks a Business Development Lead who will be responsible for business development and capture activities related to Air Force space opportunities. The required roles include all aspects of business development and capture management activities covering the whole life cycle of an opportunity pursuit from identification to transition. Position reports to Senior Director, SAIC Space Strategy.
Apply a strong understanding of AFSPC and SMC and its mission partners, to include leadership, organizational behavior, buying practices, major programs and industry positions, to develop and manage a dynamic, multi-year pipeline of opportunities.
Lead strategic planning and positioning for AF space related opportunities, with emphasis on winning business by delivering differentiated capabilities from SAIC's extensive solutions portfolio.
Apply SAIC procedures and best practices to personally identify and qualify opportunities and thereby meet goals for pipeline sufficiency and quality.
Support post-qualification capture and proposal development for approved opportunities, particularly in the areas of customer engagement; teaming; and coordination with internal business development and sales resources.
Bachelors degree and 15+ years or more of relevant experience.
Substantial experience in business development and capture processes, strategy development and capture execution is required.
Current knowledge of National Security Space and its mission partners, including existing customer and industry peer relationships.
Outstanding verbal, writing, and inter-personal skills needed to communicate effectively and persuasively with personnel at all levels, both in customer spaces and within SAIC.
Knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and USAF/SMC contracting, acquisition trends and customer buying behaviors.
Previous USAF experience related to AF space system acquisition and operations is highly desirable.


Freeloading fare evaders take MTA buses for a ride.
More than one in five New York City bus riders skip past the fare boxes — costing the agency millions, says a new Metropolitan Transportation Authority report.
During October, November and December 2018, more than one in five bus riders — 21.9% — climbed aboard without paying, a survey found.
On local buses, the percent of fare evaders shoots up to 24.2%. On the MTA's 17 Select Bus Service routes — which work on an honor system by requiring passengers to pay at curbside machines — fare evasion dips to 2.5%.
MTA analysts say bus fare evaders cost the agency $128 million last year. That's a 32% more than the $97 million the MTA believes it lost from people skipping swipes at subway turnstiles.
The subway fare evasion rate was 3.4% during the same period covered by the bus survey, MTA data shows.
MTA board member Charles Moerdler called fare evaders "deadbeats" responsible for more than half of the agency's latest round of fare hikes, which are set to go into effect next month.
He also discounted the idea that fare evasion occurs mostly in poverty-stricken neighborhoods -- citing an instance in which an MTA official watched 10 fare cheaters board a Bx10 bus in the Bronx's high-income Riverdale neighborhood.
"It is people who are freeloaders who are encouraged to do this because there's no enforcement," said Moerdler. "The moment the District Attorney of Manhattan said he was not going to criminally enforce (fare evasion), the statistics went rapidly up."
Manhattan DA Cy Vance's office says the policy only covers subway fare evasion, not bus fare evasion, and that Moerdler was mistaken in his comments.
The subway fare evasion rate was 2.8% when Vance's policy took full effect in February 2018 -- just 0.6% less than the latest MTA survey found.
David Jones, one of three people of color on the MTA board, noted that 93% of riders prosecuted for fare evasion in 2016 were black or Latino.
NYC Transit President Andy Byford announced a multi-pronged plan to fight fare evasion on buses and subway trains. It includes new warning signage on emergency exit gates and placing additional unarmed MTA Eagle team fare enforcement units on local buses.
A pilot program in which Eagle Teams will work with police to battle subway fare beating is underway, Byford said.
The MTA currently has surveillance cameras at 37% of subway turnstiles. Byford said the agency is moving towards installing them at 50 more turnstiles, which would bring the number of of subway stops with cameras to about 50%.
Transit advocates have long bemoaned the boarding process on NYC Transit buses. On most lines, riders must line up at buses' front doors and wait their turn to dip their MetroCards in fare boxes — a time-consuming process that slows service.
All-door boarding — like the system already in use on Select Bus Service lines, in which riders buy paper tickets from curbside machines — would speed buses and reduce fare evasion, advocates say.
"If the MTA believes bus fare evasion is a serious issue, that's another argument for expediting the transition to a fare system with citywide all-door boarding," said TransitCenter spokesman Ben Fried.
Cities like San Francisco and Pittsburgh have implemented all-door bus boarding, but those initiatives come with a higher presence of inspectors and transit police who check riders for proof of payment.


text:
Јања Гора је насељено мјесто у општини Плашки, у сјеверној Лици, Карловачка жупанија, Република Хрватска.

Географија
Јања Гора је удаљена око 7 км источно од Плашког.

Историја
Јања Гора се од распада Југославије до августа 1995. године налазила у Републици Српској Крајини. До територијалне реорганизације у Хрватској налазила се у саставу бивше велике општине Огулин.

Становништво
Према попису становништва из 2001. године, насеље Јања Гора је имала 118 становника. Насеље је према попису становништва из 2011. године имало 112 становника.

Број становника по пописима

Попис 1991.
На попису становништва 1991. године, насељено место Јања Гора је имало 469 становника, следећег националног састава:

Знамените личности
 Омер-паша Латас, османски паша српског поријекла
 Бранко Латас Вршка, српски политиколог, историчар и пуковник Југословенске народне армије

Референце

Извори
 ЦД-ром: "Насеља и становништво РХ од 1857-2001. године", Издање Државног завода за статистику Републике Хрватске, Загреб, 2005.

Спољашње везе

Општина Плашки
Лика
Насељена места у Хрватској
Насељена места у Карловачкој жупанији
Википројект географија/Насеља у Хрватској
Насеља и општине у Хрватској са српском већином (2011)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Insurance Companies Adopting Policies That Make Medications Unaffordable for Patients
By Julio Ochoa • Jun 13, 2019
The AIDS Institute
Lauren Killgore first learned about her health insurance company's new policy at the beginning of 2017, when her husband, a 26-year-old hemophiliac, had an internal bleed in his knee.
Health insurance companies around the country have been introducing policies that are stopping patients from being able to afford their medications.
Senate Passes Wide-Ranging Health Insurance Proposal
By News Service of Florida • Apr 26, 2019
The Florida Senate on Thursday passed a sweeping health insurance bill that could protect hundreds of thousands of Floridians with pre-existing conditions while at the same time blunting the impact of the federal health care law.
Thousands Could Lose Coverage Under Proposed Medicaid Work Requirements
By Julio Ochoa • Apr 17, 2019
More than 100,000 low-income parents could lose health care coverage under a Medicaid work-requirement bill being considered in the Florida Legislature, experts estimate.
Many Who Buy ACA Health Plans For 2019 Find Lower Prices And More Choice
By editor • Nov 23, 2018
In recent years, some cities, including Memphis and Phoenix, withered into health insurance wastelands, as insurers fled and premiums skyrocketed in the insurance marketplaces that were set up under the Affordable Care Act.
But today, as in many parts of the U.S., these two cities are experiencing something unprecedented: Insurance premiums are sinking and choices are sprouting.
Affordable Care Act Enrollment Starts Nov. 1
By The Associated Press • Oct 15, 2018
Editor's note: A previous version of this story contained incorrect enrollment dates for the Affordable Care Act. The error has been corrected.
The enrollment period for buying health insurance through the federal government starts Nov. 1. And in Florida, premiums should be relatively low compared to previous years.
Health Insurance Enrollment Dipped In 2017
By News Service of Florida • Oct 4, 2018
Overall enrollment in Florida's commercial health-insurance market in 2017 dipped by more than 96,000 people, or 2.55 percent, from the previous year, a new state report shows.
Employer Health Insurance Increases Outpaced Wage Growth In 2018, Study Finds
By Julio Ochoa • Oct 4, 2018
Health insurance premiums and deductibles for employer-sponsored plans are costing workers more this year, according to a report from Kaiser Family Foundation.
Florida Matters Re-Broadcast: Health Care Town Hall
By Stephanie Colombini & Robin Sussingham • May 29, 2018
Stephanie Colombini / WUSF Public Media
While across the nation the cultural and political tug-of-war over health care rages on, locally, healers keep on healing. But providing care for people can get complicated when they don't have health insurance.
Click here to listen to the program which originally aired February 6, 2018.
Florida Matters Re-Broadcast Preview: Health Care Town Hall
By Stephanie Colombini • May 29, 2018
Florida Matters recently hosted a town hall event in St. Petersburg about providing health care to the uninsured. We're taking another listen to highlights from the panel discussion and questions from the audience on this week's episode.
Click here to listen to the preview to this week's episode, which first ran February 6, 2018.
State Workers Hand Over Papers For Health Coverage
More than 1,800 people have been removed from the state-employee health insurance program after Gov. Rick Scott's administration started requiring workers to fork over tax documents and their children's birth certificates to verify that family members qualify for coverage.
The Sunshine Economy: PriceCheck -- Health Insurance At Work
By Tom Hudson • Apr 18, 2018
If you're like a lot of Floridians and get your health insurance through an employer, some of your health care decisions may be made for you before you ever set foot in a doctor's office, hospital or lab.
About 42 percent of Floridians have health insurance through an employer-sponsored plan. That means somebody has made big choices on your behalf. Choosing an employer-based health insurance plan decides the network -- essentially the list of doctors and facilities available to you at negotiated rates.
Health Savings Account Change In 2018 Could Trip Up Some Consumers
By editor • Apr 3, 2018
Members of Congress have said they want to loosen rules for health savings accounts. Did they do it in the latest spending bill? Do people who were uncovered for one month in 2017 owe a tax penalty? And how can immigrants who move to the U.S. to retire get insurance? These are the questions I'm tackling for readers this week:
I heard that health savings account rules would be loosened under the new spending bill passed by Congress last month. Did that happen?
No. In fact, the standards have become slightly tighter this year.
House Panel Sides With Doctors On Insurance Claims
By The News Service of Florida • Feb 15, 2018
A bill that would restrict the ability of health insurers and HMOs to retroactively deny claims passed the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, scoring a victory for physicians.
Florida Matters: Health Care For The Uninsured
By Stephanie Colombini • Feb 6, 2018
Click here to listen to the show.
Florida Matters Preview: Providing Health Care To The Uninsured
By Stephanie Colombini, Robin Sussingham & Julio Ochoa • Feb 6, 2018
Florida Matters recently hosted a town hall event in St. Petersburg about providing health care to the uninsured. We'll hear highlights from the panel discussion and questions from the audience on this week's episode.
Click here to listen to the preview.
Fed Up With Traditional Health Insurance, South Florida Company Tries Something Radical
By Sammy Mack • Jan 25, 2018
There is a card in Joost Sajet's wallet that looks like any other health insurance card—plan name, policyholder, group number, a hotline number for providers—but what Sajet presents to his doctors is not normal insurance.
That's because Sajet is fed up with normal insurance.
Join Us For A Special Florida Matters Town Hall
By Stephanie Colombini & Julio Ochoa • Jan 19, 2018
Daylina Miller / WUSF Public Media
What's The Solution? Delivering Health Care To Uninsured Floridians
For the past six months Health News Florida has told the stories of people without insurance who use free clinics throughout the Tampa Bay area. Now we're inviting the community to take part in that conversation during a special taping of Florida Matters. Join us for a panel discussion on providing care to the uninsured.
Lawmakers Look To Ensure Genetic Tests Won't Affect Insurance Coverage
By editor • Jan 19, 2018
Florida lawmakers are looking to ensure genetic tests won't affect eligibility for insurance coverage. The House Health and Human Services Committee unanimously passed a measure preventing insurance companies from using genetic information when making policy decisions.
AHCA Extends Deadline On Database Rule
By The News Service of Florida • Jan 5, 2018
The Agency for Health Care Administration agreed Thursday to extend by one week the deadline for health-insurance companies and HMOs to submit comments to the state on a proposed rule for a new all-payers claims database.
Florida Seeks Big Changes To Children's Medical Services
By Sammy Mack • Jan 1, 2018
Florida is looking to make major changes to Children's Medical Services, the state-run health care program for children with complex medical needs.
Children's Insurance Program Receives Only Patchwork Funding
By The Associated Press • Dec 22, 2017
Congress again failed to approve long-term funds for a popular program that provides health insurance for nearly 9 million low-income children, leaving each party blaming the other for Christmas-season gridlock and states scrambling to decide how to parcel out dwindling money.
Some Ditching Vision Insurance, Paying Less Out Of Pocket
By Daylina Miller • Nov 30, 2017
Daylina Miller / WUSF News
Musician Dave Eichenberger is on his computer at his New Port Richey studio uploading a headshot to Goggle4U's website so he can virtually try on a pair of fuchsia eyeglasses.
For Millions of Insured Americans, State Health Laws Don't Apply
By Kaiser Health News • Nov 16, 2017
Let's say you have health insurance through your employer and live in one of 21 states with laws protecting consumers against surprise medical bills from out-of-network providers.
Should one of those unwanted bills land in your mailbox, you can turn to your state law and regulators for help, right?
Not necessarily.
House Starts Moving Again On 'Direct Primary Care'
By The News Service of Florida • Nov 15, 2017
A House health care panel on Tuesday approved a bill backing "direct primary care" contracts that would allow physicians to bill patients and collect payments in advance of providing care without having to obtain an insurance license.
Senate Moves Again On Health Insurance Changes
By The News Service of Florida • Nov 8, 2017
Physicians would have greater leeway in prescribing medications to patients, and insurance companies would have less time to approve prior-authorization requests under a bill unanimously approved by a Senate panel Tuesday.
House Tax Bill Would Scrap Deduction For Medical Expenses
By Kaiser Health News • Nov 3, 2017
The tax bill unveiled by Republicans in the House on Thursday would not, as had been rumored, eliminate the tax penalty for failure to have health insurance. But it would eliminate a decades-old deduction for people with very high medical costs.
Past-Due Premiums, Missing Tax Forms May Hamstring Marketplace Customers
By Kaiser Health News • Oct 31, 2017
The 2018 annual open-enrollment period for coverage on the health insurance marketplaces starts Wednesday. But if you don't take care of lingering issues from your past coverage, they may come back to haunt you when you try to sign up this fall.
Unpaid Premiums
New rules will allow some insurers to require you to pay any back premiums you owe for the 12 months prior to the effective date of your new coverage.
Big Gains In Latino Coverage Poised To Slip During Enrollment Season
Latinos, who just a year ago were highly sought customers for the Affordable Care Act's marketplace plans may not get the same hard sell this year.
Bipartisan Plan To Curb Health Premiums Gets Strong Support
A bipartisan proposal to calm churning health insurance markets gained momentum Thursday when enough lawmakers rallied behind it to give it potentially unstoppable Senate support. But its fate remained unclear as some Republicans sought changes that could threaten Democratic backing.
Changes Slated For State Worker Health Insurance
By editor • Oct 11, 2017
As many as 2,000 obese state employees who suffer from conditions such as diabetes or hypertension can enroll online for a program that provides coverage for treatment and management of obesity and related conditions.


Currently viewing the tag: "Sunn 0)))"
"Slow it a bit, tune it down, strip it of all its accents, hide the emphasis behind a wall of sonic venom and just let it go for an hour: Psychurgy will reveal its disturbing beauty in more than just one way. CROWN is a French duo and they don't reinvent the wheel and likely never actually dared to think they could. If you've had the pleasure to get hold of their recent debut EP – The One, then you know these guys are serious when it comes to carefully handling their frequencies. Psychurgy is surely a step forward in terms of sound and composition: the repetitions are still there, the slowly violent love affair with drone continues to monopolise the dynamics and the sludgy aesthetics of a doom wandering away from metal is still a persisting presence." Alex is on the job discussing French drone duo CROWN and their stubborn refusal to reinvent the musical wheel.


A high-level committee headed by Anil Bhandari, Director of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), will visit Mysore on April 23 to examine the pros and cons of the controversial Aadhaar-based direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme for LPG supply.
The committee is scheduled to hold a discussion with LPG dealers and customers in Mysore, where the scheme was first implemented on a pilot basis in the State.
But the Oil Ministry put the scheme on hold in March, following a Supreme Court order that it should not be made mandatory for subsidy schemes of the government.
The Aadhaar-based DBT scheme for LPG was also implemented in Tumkur, Dharwad and Udupi districts in the State.
Under the scheme, subsidy amount on every LPG refill will be directly credited to the customer's Aadhaar-linked bank account.
Officials of the Unique Identification Authority of India, Department of Financial Services of the Ministry of Finance and Gas Authority of India Limited will be the committee's members, besides ONGC director (Videsh).
It is also scheduled to visit Thiruvananthapuram and Hyderabad on April 22 and 24, respectively, for this purpose, sources said.


When mortgage interest rates drop, homeowners who qualify for refinancing are often ready to jump at the opportunity to lower their interest rates and reduce their monthly mortgage payment. We can't say we blame them either, since homeowners can potentially save hundreds of dollars monthly, and thousands of dollars over the lifetime of their home loan.
The key to refinancing your home loan is knowing all of the facts up front. Refinancing can be a tricky and confusing process. When you work with Homes for Heroes on your mortgage refinance, we give you all of the information you need to make the best decision for you and your family, and we see you through the refinancing process start to finish.
With so many refinancing options available to homeowners, it can be difficult to know if you are getting the best deal. At Homes for Heroes, we want to give you as many facts as possible about refinancing.
There are five common types of refinance mortgage loan options for homeowners. If you have a fixed rate mortgage loan, which is the most common type of loan, you may be interested in refinancing when interest rates drop. A Homes For Heroes Account Specialist can go over the different refinance options that you may have available. Choosing the right option for you is tricky if you don't understand the types of loans and their differences.
Interest Only Mortgage: With this option, the borrower (You) will be paying the interest on the mortgage only for a term of 5-7 years. However, using this option, your principal balance remains the same unless you choose to make additional payments toward the principal.
Option ARM Mortgage: This type of loan allows you to choose your monthly payment from several options. Your options will usually include making your mortgage payment at the 30-year level, 15-year level, interest only, and minimum payment level.
Adjustable-Rate Mortgage: This option allows your interest rate to fluctuate as interest rates rise and fall. Your interest rate will remain fixed for five years. After this, your interest rate will begin to change.
FHA Loans: The Federal government ensures this loan. An FHA refinance requires no home appraisal and can lower your interest rate.
Reverse Mortgage: This loan option is for homeowners that are 62 years old and older, and can supplement retirement income. This refinance option allows borrowers to convert the equity they have built into cash from their lender.
Talk with your lender about all of your refinance options and be sure that you understand the pro's and con's of each type of loan before deciding to refinance.
One of the best tips that Homes For Heroes can give you when you refinance is to read the fine print! Refinancing may seem like a good option for you and your family, but if you don't read your contracts carefully, you may be paying hefty fees to your lender. They are, after all, in the business of making money.
You may be able to negotiate the costs of some fees tied to your refinance, having them waived altogether or included in the loan itself. Ask your lender about these options and consider whether it would be best for you to pay the fees upfront or over the lifetime of your loan.
The costs of your refinance will vary depending on your loan terms. In general, these are the fees associated with refinancing, and you may be expected to pay them at your closing.
Application: This fee is charged to process your request for refinancing.
Processing: This fee is charged to process your refinance.
Administration: This fee covers the expenses attributed to the recording and keeping of your refinance documents.
Inspection: This fee is for the examination of the home being refinanced.
Loan Discount Points: These fees are usually optional, for each point paid equals ⅛ percent reduction of your interest rate.
Loan Origination: This is the fee you pay the lender for originating your new mortgage loan.
Document Preparation: This fee is for the preparation of all loan documents.
Appraisal: This fee pays for the assessment of your home.
Credit Report: This fee is charged to cover the cost of generating a current credit report for the borrower.
Reconveyance: This fee is charged by your existing lender to convey the interest of your property to you and your new lender.
Notary: This fee is charged to cover the services of a notary, who will need to verify and certify your loan refinance documents.
Refinancing is potentially an excellent option for you and your family to save money on your monthly mortgage payments. However, you may want to reconsider refinancing if you will be paying fees associated with your refinance. Depending on the terms of your loan, you may not be able to recoup these expenses.
Refinancing may also extend the life of your loan. In some cases, taking a 30-year mortgage and turning it into a 35-year mortgage. It will all depend on your loan terms and your qualifications. Carefully consider all of your options before you refinance. It can seem like the best option for you, but long term, it can have negative consequences.
Lowering your monthly payments can be the most significant benefit to refinancing your home mortgage loan. Putting extra cash back into your pocket every month is a great feeling. If you qualify for a lower interest rate, you may consider shortening the life of your loan in exchange for higher monthly payments. That means that you will pay off your mortgage loan in less time than initially planned.
Refinancing your mortgage loan can be an excellent option for homeowners. At Homes For Heroes, we want to be sure that you are getting the best deal possible. When you decide to refinance, we hope that you will reach out to us and allow us the privilege of working with you.
We consider it a great honor to serve you, our heroes, through every process of homeownership, from buying to selling and everything in between.


text:
class Data_and_AccessControl_AddSem {
    // Maximum number of concurrent readers
    private static final int MAX = 1000;

    // Generate additive semaphore
    private AdditiveSemaphore sem = new AdditiveSemaphore(MAX);

    private int value = 0;

    public int read() {
        entry_Read();
        int i = value;
        exit_Read();
        return i;
    }

    public void write(int i) {
        entry_Write();
        value = i;
        exit_Write();
    }

    private void entry_Read() {
        sem.p(1);
    }

    private void exit_Read() {
        sem.v(1);
    }

    private void entry_Write() {
        sem.p(MAX);
    }

    private void exit_Write() {
        sem.v(MAX);
    }
}

class Reader extends Thread {
    private Data_and_AccessControl_AddSem data;

    public Reader(Data_and_AccessControl_AddSem data, String string) {
        super(string);
        this.data = data;
        start();
    }

    public void run() {
        for (int i = 0; i < 50; i++) {
            Integer integer = data.read();
            System.out.println(this.getName() + ": " + integer);
            try {
                sleep(10);
            } catch (InterruptedException e) {
            }
        }
    }
}

class Writer extends Thread {
    private Data_and_AccessControl_AddSem data;

    public Writer(Data_and_AccessControl_AddSem data) {
        this.data = data;
        start();
    }

    public void run() {
        for (int i = 1; i < 5; i++) {
            data.write(i);
            try {
                sleep(50);
            } catch (InterruptedException e) {
            }
        }
    }
}

public class ReadersWriters_AddSem_R {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Data_and_AccessControl_AddSem data
                = new Data_and_AccessControl_AddSem();

        new Writer(data);
        new Reader(data, "Reader_1");
        new Reader(data, "Reader_2");
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Radial tunnel syndrome is a nerve disorder in the elbow and upper arm that causes pain and hand and wrist weakness. It involves compression of the radial nerve (particularly the posterior interosseous branch) at the elbow or forearm by muscles or ligament-like tissues. That nerve has no sensory component; thus, there is no numbness associated with it.
Because its symptoms are similar in type and location to lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), it is often known as "resistant tennis elbow." Posterior interosseous nerve dysfunction may decrease athletic performance in sports that require strong hand or wrist action.
How does radial tunnel syndrome occur?
Radial tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure on the radial nerve at the elbow or in the forearm, caused by pressure under one of the forearm muscles or swollen, inflamed, or scarred tissue, ligament-like tissue, or an artery pressing on the nerve. It may also occur due to a direct blow to the nerve at the back of the upper arm.
Pain with twisting motions of the wrist, such as when playing tennis, using a screwdriver, or opening a door or a jar; also, with resistance, turning the palm up or passively turning the palm down.
Non-operative treatment: Initial treatment consists of rest from the offending activity and medications and ice to help reduce inflammation. Elbow splinting may be recommended. Stretching and strengthening exercises of the muscles of the forearm and elbow are important. Referral to physical therapy or an athletic trainer may be recommended for treatment.
If this treatment is not successful within three to six months, surgery may be necessary to free the pinched nerve.
Surgical complications not specifically associated with elbow repair/reconstruction, such as pain, bleeding (uncommon), infection (<1%), nerve injury (uncommon), stiffness, problems with anesthesia, and inability to return to previous level of pre-injury activity.
This condition is usually curable with appropriate treatment, and sometimes it heals spontaneously. Uncommonly, surgery is necessary. Surgery is usually needed if muscle wasting (atrophy) or nerve changes have developed.
How can radial tunnel syndrome be prevented?


text:
Mattel: Can a Tech Makeover Save the Toy Industry?
I'm not sure what I expected: Hot-pink, bejeweled furniture in the lobby? Race-car tracks coiling through the hallways? Perhaps a gaggle of elfin employees, scootering in and out of meeting rooms on mint-colored mini-Vespas with blueprints for next season's must-have toys?
I found no such frivolities—or merriment of any other sort—at Mattel's corporate headquarters in El Segundo, Calif. Inside the banal, 14-story tower are all the hallmarks of a run-of-the-mill, old-economy compound: cubicles, mostly blank walls, and library-like silence. Even the top-floor C-suite is disappointingly un-fun. Yes, there is a display of limited-edition Barbies—complete with gem-studded dresses and miniaturized stilettos. But tethered to pedestals and imprisoned in glass cases, the dolls appear more showpiece than plaything. "You can look, but you can't touch," the injection-molded figurines seem to whisper from pursed and plumped lips. One wonders if anyone ever actually has any fun here.
Rewiring the Dreamhouse: Margo Georgiadis, a Google veteran, became Mattel's CEO in February. Among her plans: Designing Mattel's toys to collect better data from users, and using that data to build better toys. Angie Smith for FORTUNE
Down the steely corridor, however, past private offices and even more silence, I find an unexpected corporate "play pattern." (The term, industry jargon for how kids use a toy, will come up repeatedly over the next few days.) In a grand corner suite, Mattel's new CEO, Margo Georgiadis (Fortune's 2017 Most Powerful Women list, No. 49), is talking, even laughing, with her chief operating officer, Richard Dickson. The two share the office, working side-by-side at stand-up desks that look comically current in these stodgiest of business quarters.
"There was a real feeling that leaders were not accessible, and kind of 'ivory-towerish,' " the chief executive, who took office eight months ago, says of Mattel's past. "What better message to send than, 'I don't need this big fancy office—I can share it.' "
It's a collision of cultures that Georgiadis welcomes—one, you could say, that she was hired to create. Georgiadis is a Google (googl) veteran, having spent eight years as a top sales exec for the freewheeling search giant, and she's here to rearrange far more than the furniture. Yes, it's ironic that the typical Google office boasts open floor plans, collaborative workspaces, and plentiful beanbag chairs—a more playful environment than her current toymaker employer's. But more important, the tech company is data-driven, fast-moving, and relatively unhierarchical. Mattel (mat), meanwhile, is notoriously bureaucratic. Divisions don't really talk to one another. And technology has been an after-thought. The latter is sacrilegious to a Googler: "I almost feel like I'm in the 1990s," Georgiadis admits.
She might as well be in the 1950s or 1960s, because the products that Mattel introduced in those decades—flagship franchises Barbie and Hot Wheels—still make up about 30% of the 72-year-old company's global sales. These aging brands consistently rank among the top toys sold worldwide (see "How Little Things Change" below), but they haven't exactly been springboards for innovation. And not coincidentally, Mattel's revenue has slipped in recent years: In its last fiscal year, sales came in at $5.5 billion, 14% less than in 2012. Its stock price, meanwhile, has slid from $37 to $16 over the past five years. (Georgiadis is the company's fourth chief exec in that same period.)
How Little Things Change
Many top-selling toy franchises have been around for decades, showing the power of big brands—and the dearth of innovation—in the industry.
Top-Selling U.S. Toy Properties in Dollar Terms, Jan.–June 2017:
The Voorhes
1. Pokémon
Introduced 1996
Manufacturer: The Pokémon Co. (licensed from Nintendo)
2. Nerf
3. Star Wars
Manufacturer: Hasbro (licensed from Lucasfilm)
4. Barbie
Manufacturer: Mattel
Manufacturer: Mattel (licensed from DC Comics)
7. Little Tikes
Manufacturer: MGA Entertainment
8. Shopkins
Manufacturer: Moose Toys
9. Paw Patrol
Manufacturer: Spin Master Entertainment
10. Lego Star Wars
Manufacturer: Lego (licensed from Lucasfilm)
Source: NPD Group
To be sure, Mattel isn't the only toy giant whose innovative streak appears to be stuck in Slime (a product Mattel introduced in 1976). Rivals Hasbro and Lego also face challenges, as all three struggle to stay on top of the $49 billion global toy market. While the industry is expected to grow about 4.5% this year, these formidable players are up against fierce headwinds. Their dependence on licensing deals with movies—particularly at Hasbro, which owns "master rights" to Disney (dis) franchises like Star Wars—has become a double-edged lightsaber: When movies are down, so are toys. This past season produced Hollywood's worst summer box office in over a decade, leading BMO Capital Markets analyst Gerrick Johnson to reduce his price target on Hasbro (has) and Mattel. Among the factors Johnson blamed: "Fatigue in certain properties associated with multiple sequels, and competition from entertainment from other screens."
Ah, yes, those "other screens." In a digitally saturated era where even toddlers reflexively grab their parents' smartphones for stimulation, technology presents a seemingly unsolvable puzzle for traditional toymakers. The more kids consume iPad apps and Netflix shows, the less time they spend playing with dolls or snapping together small, colorful bricks. (Privately held Lego has also suffered: In early September, following a 5% drop in midyear sales, the Danish company announced it would slash 8% of its workforce.) From an outsider's perspective, the industry stands at an existential threshold: To break out of its rut, it has to go digital.
For more about Mattel's tech efforts, read "5 Ways Toymaker Mattel Is Trying to Be More Like Google."
But here's the problem: Kids may love screens, but it's not clear that they like "tech toys." The toys they gravitate toward—or at least the toys their parents buy for them—remain largely analog. Think Pokémon cards, Nerf guns and balls, and, yes, Barbie dolls, all among the five bestselling toy properties this year, according to research firm NPD Group. "There are pockets driven by technology," says Juli Lennett, an NPD analyst. "But most growth still tends to be driven by some of the classic play patterns." Another example: The fastest-growing category of toys sold so far this year was games and puzzles, a grouping that doesn't include video games. As Stephen Pasierb, CEO of the Toy Association, a trade organization, argues, "Many parents want their kids to have some digital detox."
Nicolas Rapp
Parents may not want screens and technology to replace toys. They do, however, want toys that meet the expectations that tech creates—more interactivity and customization, for starters. They also want to be able to buy toys without going shopping, which helps explain why once-dominant retailer Toys "R" Us filed for bankruptcy in mid-September, buckling under the weight of e-commerce giant Amazon (and creating another headache for big toymakers). As Mattel board member Dean Scarborough, chairman of labelmaker Avery Dennison, puts it, the business is no longer a simple process of "producing an item, advertising on TV, and pushing it into the stores."
This is the gauntlet Georgiadis is running. The exec is already shaking things up, in a Google-y way, developing a shared technical infrastructure for toy development and investing in digital marketing. (Until recently, nearly all of Mattel's ad spending was invested in television.) "We needed someone from the digital world," says Scarborough. "And it's pretty hard to get more digital than Google." Ruth Porat, the search giant's chief financial officer, expresses faith in her former colleague, pointing out that Georgiadis ran one of Google's most important businesses, giving her the background she'll need for "applying cutting-edge tech into all parts of Mattel's business."
Some toys, though, are better left in their analog state, and Georgiadis will have to know which levers to pull and when. There's nothing particularly high-tech about the Chatter Telephone, for example. On the windowsill in the CEO's shared office sits the smiling, plastic pull toy, first developed in 1961. It is a reminder that all the 0s and 1s in the world don't diminish the appeal of a ringing rotary phone, as far as babies (and their parents) are concerned. In 2000, Mattel upgraded the old model with a push-button design that lit up. The result? Consumers protested, and the company brought back the original version.
If there's a lesson there, perhaps it's this: In a data-driven age, there is a science to developing products that match kids' "play patterns." But there is also an art.
After taking the top job last February, Georgiadis did what all new outsider CEOs are expected to do: She traveled the country, talking to as many of Mattel's 32,000 employees as possible. Then she tore down a Barbie Dreamhouse.
Like Barbie herself, the mockup Malibu pad, first conceived of in 1962, has gotten multiple touch-ups over the years. By the '70s, the one-story abode had grown to three floors and an elevator. In the 1990s Mattel spruced it up with a working doorbell and a fireplace that lit up. And last holiday season, Barbie moved into her first "Wi-Fi, voice-activated" Dreamhouse, which enabled kids to open doors using spoken commands. (With a price of $240, that's about $30 per square foot.)
But according to Georgiadis, Wi-Fi wasn't enough to bring the 58-year-old Barbie into the Internet age. That's why she brought a screwdriver to the weekly management meeting and took apart the latest Dreamhouse, laying out each component—and each flaw—for all to see.
For starters, the voice-activated parts had a cumbersome amount of circuitry. "There were, like, seven chipboards in that thing," Georgiadis says. Not only were the chipboards completely separate—not communicating with each other—but Mattel wasn't using them to their full potential. The toymaker wasn't recording or saving Dreamhouse owners' voice commands—much less combining them into a system that could learn and evolve, otherwise known as natural language processing. "You want to know, how many times did she [the owner] talk to it, what questions does she ask that you don't answer?" says Georgiadis. For an executive schooled at Google, whose parent company Alphabet makes $90 billion a year primarily by pumping data into algorithms and using it to serve up ads, this lapse was unfathomable.
Staffers work on Hot Wheels at Mattel's Design Center in El Segundo, Calif. The center is separated into distinct spaces for "girl brands" and "boys' toys." Angie Smith for FORTUNE
Another crack in the Dreamhouse's foundation: Mattel didn't do over-the-air software updates, which would allow the company to add new features even after they sold the product. (Other chip-equipped Mattel toys, like a Hot Wheels track that uses computer smarts to steer cars around, suffered from the same problem.)
The most encouraging thing about the deconstruction session: Georgiadis's colleagues got the message. "The minute we took the thing apart to explain all of the opportunities we were missing, everyone said. 'Oh, my God, that's so obvious,' " she says. Now she's realigning the company around that kind of revelation. She has hired a chief technology officer who has taken over all engineering resources. More developers are being hired, and a common technology platform for things like voice recognition is in the works. Georgiadis envisions that, someday, language processing tech developed with the Dreamhouse in mind will also be used in, say, a Fisher-Price baby swing, to track how a child's cry is impacted by different speeds. "Skip the focus group," she says, because with tech, "You have an everyday focus group."
The new CEO is utilizing data elsewhere too. She wants to move Mattel entirely to shared systems—enterprise resource planning software, for example, and collaboration tools like Yammer. "Forecasting, demand planning, all these kinds of things are more data-driven," says Georgiadis; the tools she favors could make that kind of information available to more people, more quickly.
Angie Smith for FORTUNE
Getting Mattel's divisions to collaborate poses geographical challenges too. While flagship brands like Barbie and Hot Wheels operate out of headquarters in Southern California, other divisions are cleaved from the core. Many are acquisitions that are still parked in their hometowns. American Girl, maker of dolls from different points in history, is based in Wisconsin. Mega, a block-toys arm, is in Canada, and Fisher-Price, the brand for smaller tots, is based in New York, to name a few. "This company that had a huge potential was really almost like a house of brands," says Georgiadis. "There wasn't a shared mission." To get everyone on the same page, Georgiadis has written a new code of shared values (the initials of the six precepts spell out "WONDER") and instituted monthly Google-style "town halls."
For more on Georgiadis's reforms at Mattel, click here.
Of course, however sweeping her reforms, there is no real-life Magic 8 Ball (the Mattel-owned toy launched in the 1950s) that can help Georgiadis see which products will sell and which will flop. Will parents want their kids' voices recorded, even if anonymized and used to improve products?
Still, observers think she's on the right track internally. Mattel's bureaucracy has likely stifled innovation. How could smart ideas bubble to the top when it was hard for designers to even reach the management on the top floor? "Literally, there were guards and codes and badges," says Dickson, the COO and Georgiadis' office mate, who has spent 13 years at Mattel. No one, until Georgiadis, had ever asked him to share an office. No one had broken down the silos between brands. In fact, no one had even managed to bridge the gap between the company's corporate tower and the flatter, cooler building right across the street.
The day after I visit the tower, I tour the "Design Center," a warehouse-style building with high ceilings and, well, a lot of toys—a space that's as fun as the HQ is drab. This is where about 700 of the company's creatives sit—toy developers, graphic designers, and even Barbie hair specialists. There are no elves or mopeds, but there is a sprawling, orange Hot Wheels track, where I stand on top of a ladder and send a silvery, die-cast toy car whizzing through the lobby. In a nearby chemistry lab, a machine slowly mixes sparkly goo. I pick up a plastic pony and dip it into water—it changes from pink to yellow. So this is where the magic happens.
This warehouse isn't actually a factory; the majority of Mattel toys are manufactured abroad. The Design Center is for conceptualizing, developing, and testing new versions of the flagship brands that have been around almost since the company began. That's one reason that, even in its colorful cacophony, the center feels stuck in time. One of the first things I notice is the separation between girls' and boys' toys. Exactly half of the 200,000-square-foot floor is devoted to Barbie and other "girl brands" like spooky-doll line Monster High. There are rows and rows of Barbies on shelves and in employees' cubicles, many of which are partitioned with frilly white curtains. One disconcerting display showcases dozens of Barbie heads—just the heads—stuck on top of perfectly arranged spokes like so many Barbie-headed lollipops, showing off the variations of their hairstyles. The other side of the building is devoted to "boys' toys," mainly Hot Wheels but also brawny WWE figurines. The juxtaposition—muscle cars and muscled-up action figures on one side and hyper-feminine dolls on the other—seems outdated, if not downright out of touch.
A staffer works on Barbie clothing at Mattel's Design Center in El Segundo, Calif. Angie Smith for FORTUNE
In both its gender dichotomy and its old-school, siloed feel, the Design Center shows how much Mattel needs to play catch-up. "I really applaud the efforts Mattel has made to update Barbie," says Debbie Sterling, founder and CEO of STEM toy startup Goldieblox. "But there's a real challenge around the legacy of Barbie and what she stands for."
The Oakland-based Goldieblox sells games that teach building and early engineering skills, with a focus on attracting girls. It's one of many toy upstarts that are steadfastly steering clear of gender stereotypes. Another Bay Area toy newbie, Wonder Workshop, builds turquoise-and-orange robots used by kids who are learning to program. To date, the company has shipped more than 300,000 of its bulbous "Dash" robots—marketed to boys and girls alike—that scoot around according to simple instructions programmed by kids. And New York–based LittleBits is also being gender–neutral in selling its inventor kits that enable kids to build and control robots. The company got a licensing deal with Lucasfilm after participating in an accelerator run by its parent company, Walt Disney. Its latest product? A build-it-yourself version of iconic droid R2-D2.
Regardless of what they make, toy startups have an advantage that Mattel, Hasbro, and Lego lack: They can start supply chains and distribution models from scratch. That means they can "fail fast," testing products with the rapidity of a tech company, and tap e-commerce and digital advertising instead of breaking into bricks and mortar and shelling out millions for TV ads. In all these ways, the startups are much farther down a road that Big Toy is still scouting out.
The toy giants know they need to take a tech-centric approach to product development and shed their more cumbersome production processes. "We have added complexity into the organization which now in turn makes it harder for us to grow further," Lego's executive chairman Jørgen Vig Knudstorp acknowledged in a news release announcing the company's recent layoffs. "We have now pressed the reset button." In August, the company ousted its CEO and appointed a new leader, Niels Christiansen, the former head of engineering company Danfoss—hiring a techie outsider in an unprecedented move for the family-owned company.
Like Mattel and Lego, Hasbro is hitting a wall; analysts expect revenue growth to slow from 13% in 2016 to just 3% in 2018, and its stock is down almost 20% from its highs this summer. As investors lose faith in its movie tie-ins, Hasbro is stretching in unfamiliar, screen-based directions. The company recently announced that its first Netflix series, Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters, will launch in late 2017. That's a move that's simultaneously new (a show on a streaming service!) and old-fashioned (the original Stretch Armstrong doll was a hit upon its debut—in 1976).
Toy Titans Retool
Here's how the three biggest companies in the traditional toy industry are adapting to a digital age.
HQ: El Segundo, Calif.
2016 revenue: $5.5 Billion (–4% from 2015)
The Hot Wheels maker is developing tech "platforms" like natural language processing to use across multiple toy lines. Leading the charge are Google-trained CEO Margo Georgiadis and chief technology officer Sven Gerjets, a former CIO of Time Warner Cable. The tech-centric approach is new at Mattel, which still makes about $1 billion a year from a very analog product: Barbie dolls.
HQ: Billund, Denmark
2016 revenue: $5.4 billion (+6% from 2015)
Lego's new CEO, Niels Christiansen, wants to simplify and speed up the company's business processes, while bridging the gap between physical building blocks and digital 0s and 1s. After a strong decade, Lego's growth has significantly tapered off, leading the company to eliminate 1,400 jobs and hire Christiansen, who comes from an engineering and manufacturing background.
HQ: Pawtucket, R.I.
2016 revenue: $5 billion (+13% from 2015)
Even Play-Doh got a tech makeover at Hasbro, owner of brands like Monopoly and Easy-Bake Oven. Last year it launched an app that digitizes Play-Doh creations, allowing kids to interact with their sculpted dinosaurs and kittens on a screen. Still, much of Hasbro's growth comes from traditional toys that build on license agreements with the likes of Disney's Lucasfilm.
But no big toymaker is making a bigger tech bet than Mattel. Georgiadis wants Mattel to emulate the speed and efficiency of Silicon Valley. That's why she's asked the company's head of supply chain to rely on fewer vendors, and why she's asked all executives to follow her "Rule of Two," which allows just two senior execs to make a decision (before Georgiadis, it usually took four or five). It's also why utilizing customer data in toy development is such an urgent project.
Retooling Mattel could take many more years, of course—especially given the typical 18-month concept-to-market cycle in the industry. Georgiadis says she had a modest hand in this year's holiday toy lineup, most of which was already under development when she joined the company.
In the meantime, she—and her competitors—will still be able to draw inspiration from the pre-digital past. In one corner of Mattel's Design Center, I come face to face with some real magic: A machine that once made reels for View-Masters, the bright red 3D "stereoscopes"—invented in 1939—that many of us grew up with. This clunky apparatus, which operated for seven decades at a plant in Mexico, isn't much to look at. But it likely helped instill awe and wonder in thousands or millions of children worldwide.
In 2015, Mattel struck a partnership with Google to bring the toy back to life with a techie twist. The "View-Master Virtual Reality Viewer" was built on the search company's Cardboard VR platform, and was applauded for bringing VR technology to younger audiences at an affordable price. Georgiadis's mission is to create product platforms that kindle similar magic—but with the staying power of Barbie and Hot Wheels.
A version of this article appears in the Oct. 1, 2017 issue of Fortune with the headline "Tech Takeover in Toyland."
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Pound Rises 2nd Day Even as IMF Downgrades U.K. Growth Forecast


text:
namespace sf
{
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/// \brief Abstract base class for sound file encoding
///
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
class SFML_AUDIO_API SoundFileWriter
{
public:

    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    /// \brief Virtual destructor
    ///
    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    virtual ~SoundFileWriter() {}

    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    /// \brief Open a sound file for writing
    ///
    /// \param filename     Path of the file to open
    /// \param sampleRate   Sample rate of the sound
    /// \param channelCount Number of channels of the sound
    ///
    /// \return True if the file was successfully opened
    ///
    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    virtual bool open(const std::string& filename, unsigned int sampleRate, unsigned int channelCount) = 0;

    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    /// \brief Write audio samples to the open file
    ///
    /// \param samples Pointer to the sample array to write
    /// \param count   Number of samples to write
    ///
    ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
    virtual void write(const Int16* samples, Uint64 count) = 0;
};

} // namespace sf

#endif // SFML_SOUNDFILEWRITER_HPP

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
/// \class sf::SoundFileWriter
/// \ingroup audio
///
/// This class allows users to write audio file formats not natively
/// supported by SFML, and thus extend the set of supported writable
/// audio formats.
///
/// A valid sound file writer must override the open and write functions,
/// as well as providing a static check function; the latter is used by
/// SFML to find a suitable writer for a given filename.
///
/// To register a new writer, use the sf::SoundFileFactory::registerWriter
/// template function.
///
/// Usage example:
/// \code
/// class MySoundFileWriter : public sf::SoundFileWriter
/// {
/// public:
///
///     static bool check(const std::string& filename)
///     {
///         // typically, check the extension
///         // return true if the writer can handle the format
///     }
///
///     virtual bool open(const std::string& filename, unsigned int sampleRate, unsigned int channelCount)
///     {
///         // open the file 'filename' for writing,
///         // write the given sample rate and channel count to the file header
///         // return true on success
///     }
///
///     virtual void write(const sf::Int16* samples, sf::Uint64 count)
///     {
///         // write 'count' samples stored at address 'samples',
///         // convert them (for example to normalized float) if the format requires it
///     }
/// };
///
/// sf::SoundFileFactory::registerWriter<MySoundFileWriter>();
/// \endcode
///
/// \see sf::OutputSoundFile, sf::SoundFileFactory, sf::SoundFileReader
///
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


There is no pressure in Canada to raise rates says VERICO Economist, Michael Campbell.
"While 3rd quarter economic growth was good, the recovery in energy in the aftermath of production cuts due to the Fort McMurray fires played a huge part. After consistently revising their economic growth forecasts downward for the past four years, most financial institutions are predicting in the neighbourhood of 2 ½% growth in 2017," says Mr. Campbell.
"Bank of Canada Chair, Stephen Poloz has been dropping broad hints that there is no rate hike until 2018 at the earliest. In fact, he hinted last week that a rate cut was still on the table. But as we've seen in the last month that doesn't mean that mortgage rates remain unchanged. Mortgage rates are being influenced by the increase in bond yields and the reduction in competition from non-bank lenders in the aftermath of the new mortgage rules," adds Mr. Campbell.
If you are in the market for a new home purchase or need to renew your mortgage, contact me to find out how raising rates will impact you. As a mortgage professional, I can help you develop money saving strategies that will save you more over the lifetime of your mortgage.
Property Purchase Transfer Tax Changes in BC – Finally!!!
The government has announced, effective February 19, 2014, under the Property Transfer Tax (PTT) First-Time Home Buyers' Exemption program, qualifying first-time buyers can buy a home worth up to $475,000 and be exempt from paying the tax. The previous threshold was $425,000.
This cost can not be incorporated into a mortgage, so it must come out of cash funds the buyers had to save along with their down payment.
PTT is calculated as 1% on the 1st $200,000 of the home value & 2% on the balance and is charged on all residential purchases. With this change, the government estimates 1,700 additional first-time buyers will annually be eligible to save up to $7,500 in PTT when they buy their first home. Every bit helps especially with the outrageous cost of living in the lower mainland and the ridiculous amount of tax we pay here!
We would all like to see more changes to the Property Transfer Tax, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.
Few purchases cost more than buying a new home. While there are advantages to owning your own home versus renting, it's important to understand how the mortgage qualifying process works before entering into this large investment. You want purchasing a home to be a better deal than renting. The process isn't complex. In fact it can be broken down into six easy steps.
All home purchases begin with the filling out of a loan application. You'll be asked to provide certain information such as your address, city and postal code. You will also need to supply your employer's name, the position you hold and how much you earn annually. If you have additional sources of income, you want to supply this information as well.
Expect to supply information about how much you have available for a down payment and where that money will come from. You should also expect to give a ballpark figure as to how much money you are expecting to borrow.
This information will help the mortgage broker to evaluate what your needs are and to make suitable recommendations for which of the mortgage products out there best fit your requirements.
During the qualification process, the information you supplied on your initial application is used to attract the lender your mortgage broker has determined will offer you the best value. It's important that the mortgage broker takes care in how this information is presented. Proper presentation can make the difference between whether you get the best possible rate and terms or not.
The qualification process can often be a rapid one thanks to electronic submission. Often your mortgage broker has a response within hours. When the response is not the one desired, your mortgage broker will continue to negotiate on your behalf to ensure you get the best possible conditions. This may involve more than one lender so that the discount offered on your interest rate is the maximum possible.
Once you have been approved for a loan, your mortgage broker reviews the rate and term, payment frequency and amount, amortization and other issues with you. You need to be satisfied with the terms of the approval. If there are things that you want to change, your mortgage broker can work on this for you.
Once you are satisfied with the terms proposed in the approval, you will be issued a letter of commitment. This letter places your rate on hold for a certain period of time, which can be up to four months in some cases.
One of the major advantages of this pre-approval process is the fact that you know what you can afford, so you don't waste your time looking for homes that are outside of the amount of money you've been approved to borrow. Meanwhile you have time to look for your home without worrying about whether rates will go up while you're searching.
It's important to understand that if interest rates come down, you're not stuck with the higher interest rate that was quoted in the approval. You are never committed to actually borrowing the money. You're just protected if interest rates go up.
Once you find the house that you want to purchase, it's time to make an offer. Your realtor will negotiate this on your behalf. Once you have settled all the details, you are ready to submit the final loan application which stipulates exactly how much you will be borrowing.
Before you actually receive a disbursement on the mortgage, your approval will be further verified. Expect to supply information that verifies your income such as a job letter and a recent pay stub. Expect to provide bank statements that prove that you have the down payment in savings. Your mortgage broker should provide you with a list of all the different proofs that are necessary to prove to the lender that you have adequate reserves to keep up with your mortgage payments.
During the verification process, it may become apparent that you have less than 20% to place down against your home purchase. In this case, the lender will require CMHC or Genworth (GE) mortgage default insurance to protect the lender against loss if you default on your loan.
Until the purchase is registered legally, you don't own the home. Closing involves transferring ownership on the property from the seller to the buyer. This transaction requires an attorney, preferably a notary or lawyer who specializes in real estate transactions.
The lender forwards closing instructions to your attorney who would then prepare all legal documents. You will meet in the attorney's office and sign all the paperwork there. The lawyer will act as an escrow agent, receiving the funds from your lender. When the seller has signed the proper paperwork, the attorney will disperse the money to the seller or builder of your new home.
To get started call Darren Popoff at 604.818.9262 or Click Here for the Secure Application.


Took me a bit to get into this one…but when I did, look out. I read it in two sittings. Wonderfully written with rich, beautiful settings and a fantastic main character. Just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. And the sequel is coming soon!
Plus: Fantastic writing style, a rare fantasy based in Indian mythology.
Minus: I honestly don't have any critiques.


Let's pretend that all of this food and water had to be delivered by freight train, but only because it will help us see God's power and grace better. What is the length of the train?
2,500,000 people times 8.03 lbs of food per person per day = 20,065,500 total lbs of food per day.
20,065,500 total lbs of food per day divided by 2000 lbs in a ton = 10,033 tons of food.
10,033 tons of food divided by 50 tons in the typical boxcar = 200.655 boxcars.
As you can see above, this train would be over 28 miles long every day. Remember too that the Israelites were in the wilderness for 40 years (365 days x 40 years=14,600 days x 28.53 miles of train=416,538 miles of food and water). That's a train that is almost half a million miles long, and this is a VERY conservative number!
Moses believed in God, he asked and God took care of these things for him. Again, this was not something Moses did, but something God did. It was God's grace in action!


text:
A vöröslábú rigó (Turdus plumbeus) a madarak osztályának verébalakúak (Passeriformes) rendjébe és a rigófélék (Turdidae) családjába tartozó faj.

Rendszerezése
A fajt Carl von Linné svéd természettudós írta le 1758-ban.

Alfajai
Turdus plumbeus plumbeus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Bahama-szigetek északi szigetei
Turdus plumbeus schistaceus (S. F. Baird, 1864) - Kuba keleti része
Turdus plumbeus rubripes (Temminck, 1826) - Kuba középső és nyugati része és a Juventud-sziget
Turdus plumbeus coryi (Sharpe, 1902) - Kajmán-szigetek
Turdus plumbeus ardosiaceus (Vieillot, 1822) - Hispaniola és Puerto Rico
Turdus plumbeus albiventris (Sclater, 1889) - Dominikai Közösség

Előfordulása
A Karib-térségben, egyes források szerint csak a Bahama-szigeteken honos, mások szerint a Kajmán-szigetek, Kuba, a Dominikai Közösség, a Dominikai Köztársaság, Haiti és Puerto Rico területén is előfordul.

Természetes élőhelyei a szubtrópusi és trópusi síkvidéki és hegyi esőerdők, lombhullató erdők és cserjések, valamint ültetvények, szántóföldek és vidéki kertek.

Megjelenése
Testhossza 28 centiméter, testtömege 50-82 gramm.

Életmódja
Valószínűleg gyümölcsökkel és gerinctelenekkel táplálkozik.

Természetvédelmi helyzete
Az elterjedési területe nagy, egyedszáma pedig stabil. A Természetvédelmi Világszövetség Vörös listáján nem fenyegetett fajként szerepel.

Jegyzetek

Források

További információk
Képek az interneten a fajról

Turdus
Madárfajok
A Bahama-szigetek madarai
A Kajmán-szigetek madarai
Kuba madarai
A Dominikai Közösség madarai
A Dominikai Köztársaság madarai
Haiti madarai
Puerto Rico madarai


text:
The Most impressive carnivals of the world
The most impressive carnivals of the world can be found in several cities, which will be discussed in our today's article. Want to go for the best carnival? We present you a list of carnivals in the world – TOP 8:
1 – Venice (Italy)
One of the most famous carnivals on the planet originates in the XI century. Moreover, there began to blur class boundaries, because the celebration was attended by the aristocrats, who specifically wore masks to blend in with the crowd of ordinary folk.
The Carnival Of Venice. Photo: Javier Cabezón (Flickr: thorinxx)
Famous climactic performance «the Flight of the angel» . which is a symbol of celebration and representing the descent of a young girl with the bell tower of St. Mark the square to the people, launches carnival event. After that, within 10 days, the city hosts various events, theatrical performances, concerts, as well as the competition «the Most beautiful masks» in the Grand theatre in Piazza San Marco, gondolas and «the Feast of Mary», designed to recall the victory in the fight against pirates in 943.
2 – Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
We should wrap in old Rome to ancient rituals and traditions to meet the spring to start talking about one of the most Continue reading →
Carnivals in Italy
More than 200 years of history has the carnival in Ivrea. Citizens, as in past centuries, dress up in period costumes, are the sounds of drums and bagpipes, a colorful procession with flags around the city, attracting the attention of thousands of specially tourists from all over the world. Carnevale d'ivrea takes one week, ending with the famous battle of the Oranges, and including parades, music, and a giant bonfire. But the pelting each other with oranges attracts the most attention.
The history of Warfare has its roots in the 12th century, then the Duke, Governor of the region, established a "tradition", according to which he was entitled to spend one night with each newly married woman in his possession. Of course, some men agreed with this because of fear of reprisals from the Almighty Duke, but the legend says that a young woman named violet was not going to enter into relationship with the Duke – and instead of simply to refuse him, she cut his head. Her act led to a revolution in the city, and the poor rose up against their rulers, and to this day she is remembered Continue reading →
Oddly enough, but February is the most festive month of the year. The thing is that this month, around the world are the most memorable carnivals, during which you can…
The most impressive carnivals of the world can be found in several cities, which will be discussed in our today's article. Want to go for the best carnival? We present…
The brightest premieres winter
There is no better time for hot movie premieres than cold winter days! Increasingly famous film studios carry the releases of their films with a hot summer, at Christmas and…
8 the city's major festivals this summer.
Vietnam: holidays and festivals
Russian folk holidays
May holidays in Crimea
The Best summer music festivals in Estonia
The Organization of corporate events
the height of the Summer festival!
Ancient Slavic holidays.
The Most unusual festivals of the world
The Most beautiful festival in the world
Lovely autumn festivals
The Most famous carnivals in February


Here's what people have asked and answered about working for and interviewing at UnitedHealth Group.
This job has literally destroyed my mind. Very overwhelming to the point of major depression and high anxiety.
Better pay for similar job responsibilities. Plus less stress due to every other health insurance company having updated computers. The systems are super slow and outdated. The umr syracuse ny office is thee worst.
Micromanaging is the speciality for this company. They falsely advertise job descriptions. There is no way you can hire people to Telecommute and don't allow them to actually Telecommute. And then mess up their record with write ups and ridiculous occurence points when they are running late. Well you wouldn't have this problem of people quiting on you if you changed the way you do things. Train the telecommute employees in office and as soon as training is over. Send them home to Telecommute! Stop making excuses and theze ridiculous requirements. It makes no sense!
It is hard to get transferred to other positions, at least when you work in WellMed. It's all about who you know not what you know.
Micromanagement and limited opportunities for advancement. They're so focused on metrics including monitoring down to the minute how much time you're on the phone. But when it's time to promote people, the decisions are based on who is liked, not who is performing well.
I once had a supervisor tell me that there is nothing that she, nor her business manager do to hinder advancement. All she gets is an email from a recruiter that says, "hey, we're taking this one and that's that." I'm not sure how true that is. This is the ONLY company I've had multiple hiring manager interviews with, only to be turned down EVERY SINGLE TIME. In one instance, my manager asked who the hiring manager was that interviewed me and the following week, I'm told by the hiring manger who liked me, that they'd gone with another candidate. The following day, my boss asks me how I'm doing! I'm a top producer, rated above average, I've been selected to have others shadow me multiple times...if I were to leave UHG, it would definitely be because of lack of opportunity to grow in areas requested, lack of advancement because of efforts orchestrated behind the scenes, and up until this point no one is holding those with influence accountable. If those who are wishing to advance have filled the necessary requirements, meet the requirements of the position and even the preferred requirements—-then advancement should not be hindered by anyone at any level.
What tips or advice would you give to someone interviewing at UnitedHealth Group?


My daughter is 22 years old, B.A.. (Hons from CU). belong to a Upper Middle Class, Nuclear Family with Traditional Values.
Thanks for visiting the profile.My sister is very simple good looking girl.She is a MA (H) bed in Geography and also qualified for WBSSC 2016.We are from a upper middleclass family based on Baruipur.
As salam wa alaykum wa rahmatullah wa barkatuhu.My elder daughter's name is Shefa Mondal.She is pursuing her B.A.LL.B.(3rd year)and wants to continue her studies even after marriag.She can ride Scooty and can drive Car(Got valid driving license).Alhamdolillah we belong to a upper middle Class Family with Traditional Values.Living happily with my mother,wife and 3 daughter.Looking for a groom with a good family background.
My younger sister name is Khaleda Parvin and she have completed M.A.. We are belong to a Middle Class, Nuclear Family with Orthodox Values.
My name is Akram Sardar and currently I am working in private sector as a System Engineer. We belong from upper middle class, Nuclear family with liberal values. I have completed my B.A. and BCA.
Hi, I am akram lakar and I completed BBA and diploma marine engg. I work in merchant navy as a 2/3rd engineer.
My name is asif. I come from a Middle Class, Nuclear Family with Traditional Values. I have completed my Masters Degree in Engineering / Computers and currently work in the Government Sector as an Administrative Professional.


text:
IPSE recognises that with so many career options available to young people, providing them with up to date information on all opportunities can be challenging. An increasing number of young people are starting up their own businesses and freelancing whilst studying, or shortly after. Yet there is less information available on pursuing this way of working compared to full-time employment. As experts in self-employment, freelancing, consulting and contracting, IPSE is here to help HE and FE institutions support young people who are considering this independent way of working.
What does it mean to be an IPSE University Partner?
IPSE University Partners demonstrate their commitment to supporting the next generation of self-employed professionals, and in particular students pursuing freelancing, consulting and contracting careers. Working together, IPSE University Partners have access to a broad range of events, support and resources as well as industry and policy updates to ensure your students have the most up to date information on pursuing a self-employed career. The programme is designed to provide industry expert affiliation whilst building on and enhancing each university's enterprise and entrepreneurship offering without straining internal resources.
What do our University Partners say?
Educational institution *
Experian - Business Credit Reports
John Charcol
Birkbeck University
IPSE Board of Directors
IPSE Senior Leadership Team
IPSE Documents
IPSE Members Forum


text:
POPGORGE! Staff
We are an entertainment collective with no geographic boundaries, bound together through our humor. We are sassy-mouthed individuals, sharing a common martini, pushing toward a world full of punch lines.
Articles By POPGORGE! Staff
Max Barskih sees 'sunrise' on top for third week
Max Barskih spends a third week atop the countdown with "Tequila Sunrise" while his former chart topper "Just Fly" is in cruise control stayingput at No....
Max Barskih enjoys 'Tequila Sunrise' on top for second week
Max Barskih stays put on top for a second week with "Tequila Sunrise." Thomas Rhett's still summering at No. 2 with "Slow Down Summer." Joshua Bassett...
Max Barskih sees 'Tequila Sunrise' on top
Fresh from crowning the year-end countdown with "Just Fly" being the year's top song, Max Barskih slips into the summit with follow-up single "Tequila Sunrise" to...
The 21 Songs That Rocked 2021
Everybody went into 2021 with the hope that the darkness of 2020 would be truly well behind us, but unfortunately that wasn't the case and this...
Madonna's 'Santa Baby' catapults 12-1
After re-entering at No. 12 last week, Madonna catapults to the top spot with "Santa Baby," dislodging Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" which falls...


"From the Vineyard" explores the wide variety of North Carolina's growing number of wineries and vineyards with host Lisa Prince, through in-depth tours of their beautiful locations, chats with the winemakers, and journeys to discover what's behind the amazing growth of this industry in our state. Certified Sommelier Henk Schuitemaker joins Lisa in each episode's "Tasting Room" segment, as they try out a diverse array of wines produced in North Carolina, and pass along tips to wine lovers.
Explore award-winning wineries across North Carolina and within our 3 major viticultural areas: Yadkin Valley, Swan Creek and Haw River Valley. It's a map you can really get into!


So there has been a lot going on this last week. Kate turned 18 months on Sunday the 10th and went to her first day of Nursery. I was pretty sure that she would like it, but didn't realize how much. When I dropped her off, she took one look at the toys and the kids and didn't look back. I peeked on her a few times and she was having so much fun eating snacks, coloring, blowing bubbles, etc. When I picked her up after the 2 hours, they said she was a veteran, she didn't even want to leave. I guess it will be nice to have a little break at church until the next baby comes, but I will miss her.
So the next day, May 11th was our 4 year anniversary and also I hit 35 weeks. (it is coming too fast!) Paul and I went to a movie, then to dinner up in Salt Lake. It just so happened that Paul's brother's wife went in to labor that afternoon, so we got to go see their new darling baby girl after dinner.
Last week Kate started her first day of gymnastics. She had to be 18 months to start in the parent/tot class, but they let her start a few days early. I wanted her to get to go a few times before Crew comes, but I figured I was a little too pregnant to be chasing her around, so Paul gets to go with her. She was kind of a little stinker, she just wanted to run aroung and play and not really stay with the group. Hopefully tomorrow goes a little better.
Cute! I love Kate's outfit! And your belly looks small. I can't believe you are almost done because you don't look big enough. Seriously. Miss you guys!
I love seeing pic's of Kate and how fast she is growing. Since you moved north... if you didn't have a blog I wouldn't get to see how much she is growing.
Everybody gets to be so creative... and our personality shows.
you look like you're about ready to pop!
jk you just look super cute and that picture of paul poking your belly is just so candid and hilarious!
who took that fabulous photo?
So where did you sign her up for gymnastics? I've got to get Cambree in something! She is darling and you look stunning! I can't wait to see your little guy!
You seriously look amazing! I can't believe how far along you are! & that you will have 2!! How fun that you get to start putting Kate into gymnastics...and nursery!


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text:
NOWCAST WXII 12 News at 7 am Sunday
Triad CW
The Deacon Minute (Ad)
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LIVE BLOG: North Carolina to give COVID-19 vaccines to all healthcare workers, those 65 and older Breaking News: Coronavirus in North Carolina: Maps, graphs, latest cases and restrictions Breaking News: Sign up for our Coronavirus & Rossen Reports Newsletters <% if ( weatherAlerts > 0 ) { %> Severe Weather <% var weatherAlertsMessage = "There " + ( weatherAlerts > 1 ? "are" : "is" ) + " currently " + weatherAlerts + " active weather " + ( weatherAlerts > 1 ? "alerts" : "alert" ); %>
Manhunt on after woman found decapitated near survivalist bunker
Investigators believe victim was specifically targeted
Updated: 11:59 AM EST Mar 9, 2018
By Levi Pulkkinen, SeattlePI
Jacob Gonzales
A 26-year-old woman was found decapitated near a survivalist bunker on a property in northwest Washington state, prompting a search for a man described as a "person of interest" in the slaying.Katherine Cunningham was found dead Saturday on Camano Island, a rural island north of Seattle in Puget Sound. Her remains were found on an undeveloped property off Tamarack Lane, located in the southern portion of the Island County island.Investigators are now searching for Jacob Gonzales, a 34-year-old man believed to be driving a green 1990 Mitsubishi Montero with the Washington license number AYE2639. Gonzales is described as a Hispanic man with black hair and hazel eyes, who stands 5 feet- 9 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds.Gonzales' relationship to Cunningham or the woman's death was not described by police.Cunningham was found shortly before 2:30 p.m. Saturday, though she is believed to have died days before. Island County sheriff's deputies and investigators with the State Patrol crime lab searched the area and discovered a bunker in a nearby hill.According to an Island County Sheriff's Office statement, investigators recovered a "cache of supplies, firearms and ammunition" from the hillside.On Wednesday, investigators announced that Cunningham had been decapitated and publicized Gonzales' identity."Based on the evidence, it appears that the victim was specifically targeted and this was not a random act," a Sheriff's Office spokesperson said in a press statement. "We are developing leads on a person of interest in the case and hope to release that information in the near future."Investigators believe Gonzales may be headed to central or southern California. Anyone who wishes to provide information regarding the case may contact Detective Ed Wallace at 360-679-9567, or tips@co.island.wa.us.
A 26-year-old woman was found decapitated near a survivalist bunker on a property in northwest Washington state, prompting a search for a man described as a "person of interest" in the slaying.
Katherine Cunningham was found dead Saturday on Camano Island, a rural island north of Seattle in Puget Sound. Her remains were found on an undeveloped property off Tamarack Lane, located in the southern portion of the Island County island.
Investigators are now searching for Jacob Gonzales, a 34-year-old man believed to be driving a green 1990 Mitsubishi Montero with the Washington license number AYE2639. Gonzales is described as a Hispanic man with black hair and hazel eyes, who stands 5 feet- 9 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds.
Gonzales' relationship to Cunningham or the woman's death was not described by police.
Cunningham was found shortly before 2:30 p.m. Saturday, though she is believed to have died days before. Island County sheriff's deputies and investigators with the State Patrol crime lab searched the area and discovered a bunker in a nearby hill.
According to an Island County Sheriff's Office statement, investigators recovered a "cache of supplies, firearms and ammunition" from the hillside.
On Wednesday, investigators announced that Cunningham had been decapitated and publicized Gonzales' identity.
"Based on the evidence, it appears that the victim was specifically targeted and this was not a random act," a Sheriff's Office spokesperson said in a press statement. "We are developing leads on a person of interest in the case and hope to release that information in the near future."
Investigators believe Gonzales may be headed to central or southern California. Anyone who wishes to provide information regarding the case may contact Detective Ed Wallace at 360-679-9567, or tips@co.island.wa.us.
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