It has taken me 24 hours to calm down and stop shaking enough to write this blog.
I have some exciting news to share with all of you!
My quilt, Stargazing, has been juried in to AQS Spring Paducah!
I am over the moon. I cannot begin to tell you how surprised I was when I received the email yesterday and how hard it was for me to not scream at the top of my lungs.
You see, I've only ever entered two shows and both just recently. I entered Quiltcon with two quilts and both were rejected. No big deal. I then entered the same two to Paducah. I had thought of entering them in a smaller show, like AQS Daytona, but they weren't ready when that deadline hit. I figured I would go ahead and enter them into the Spring Paducah show since they were done. AND ONE OF THEM IS IN!!!!
Oh, which one? You've seen it before. It just appeared in Make Modern issue #20 this past January.
In a few weeks I will receive the rights to publish the pattern back from Make Modern, so if you didn't purchase the pattern through the magazine and you want it you should find it here soon!
If you want to get a real life view of it, come join the 30,000 visitors to Paducah this April and see it along with 404 other great quilts.
Can't make it to Paducah? That's okay, I have a feeling I will be blogging daily from there.
Awesome news, Lissa. Congratulations and good luck!!


Meet Kevin Foley. Recognized global expert in digital visual arts with a 30 year career spanning the breadth of technological innovation from the transition of using film to the use of digital photography and video for commercial use. Kevin stands at the forefront once again to advance the new industry of DRONOGRAPHY. Kevin is utilizing drones to capture breathtaking imagery from above, below, and inside like no other.


Everyone knows that an organization, any organization, needs a strategy and a plan that articulates that strategy, but for many organizations the task of developing such a plan can be difficult, even overwhelming. Part of the reason for this, perhaps the largest part, is a misunderstanding of what strategy is; part of it may be having been exposed previously to cumbersome planning processes.
It's not unusual for an organization to approach the planning process as though it were a multi-year extension of the budget ("How much will we spend on paper clips and staples in March 2017?"), which is absolutely the wrong way to go about this. Or some organizations work through the plan on a department-by-department basis, attempting to determine exactly how the very same organization will look and operate several years from now, without taking on the bigger, the strategic question: Will we be involved in activities that will not require these departments in the first place? No wonder so many people dread the very words "strategic plan" as they promise little more than a great deal of work for no practical benefit. Like the terms "synergy" and "value-added," "strategic plan" seems like something foisted upon poor, mission-based organizations by the unfeeling and unthinking graduates of business schools.
Can't we stop all this strategic planning nonsense and get back to work?
How can you tell if you are going about the strategic planning process in the wrong way? Here is a rule of thumb: if creating a strategic plan seems like something outside your ordinary business activity, you're doing it wrong. Strategic planning is not something foreign and external to an organization but in fact the organization's primary activity. It is what an organization does — it plans for the future and then figures out how to get there. "How to get there" is another term for what we do every day — talking with authors, developing software platforms, negotiating with vendors, recruiting the best people, and satisfying customers. The strategy is the why, the teleology of all these activities; the plan is the roadmap.
In the not-for-profit world, the temptation not to think strategically is very strong. I would add that the great differentiator between for-profit and not-for-profit organizations is not so much in the quality of personnel or in the goal of being financially sustainable but in the depth and importance of strategic planning. For-profits are better at this because the end-point of their activities is clearly stated and rarely challenged: to grow in economic terms. (It doesn't hurt that their boards hold them accountable.) Many not-for-profits confuse their missions with their strategy, which often, even typically, results in short-term thinking. A mission to feed the poor can begin with feeding the poor family next door; and it can end there as well if pursuing the mission exhausts all of an organization's resources. A strategy for feeding the poor necessarily thinks in bigger terms: Why is poverty a persistent problem? What structural changes can be made to make the solution to this problem permanent?
Embarking on a strategic planning exercise properly involves three questions, and the answers to these questions comprise the organization's vision, mission, and strategy respectively.
1. What will the world in which the organization operates look like in a specific amount of time? It's important to set a timeframe for a strategy. As for how specific, the term I like to use for publishing companies is five years, which is close enough to be tangible, but also far off enough to allow for significant changes in priorities and direction. For example, while some people believe that all STM journals will someday be Gold open access, few clear-headed analysts think that such a wholesale change is likely within a five-year time frame. Thus, with regard to a five-year picture for STM journals, it seems reasonable to assume a pluralistic environment, with some Gold journals and some traditional publications. Now, determining what those proportions will be is another matter, and that also is an important aspect of the plan. But such a planning process also requires us to think about the growth or decline of other elements. What about NIH funding? How will altmetrics change the landscape? How will social media interact with the activities of scholarly communications? These questions are great in number and not always easily evaluated, but a picture of the future world in which a publisher will operate is critical to determine what should be done today.
That picture of the world 5 years from now is the company's vision.
2. What role do we want the organization to play in that future world? Let's say we envision that the actual consumption of scholarly content will be mediated by large consumer technology companies such as Amazon, Google, and Apple. Do we want to become suppliers to these companies? Do we instead wish to become direct marketers, bypassing the mediators? Or do we propose to lead a consortium of like-minded publishers to establish a rival ecosystem? When we paint the picture, we have to paint our own place in it.
That place in the picture is the company mission. Note that this is a different kind of mission from what not-for-profits typically espouse. It is organizational, not cultural in nature. An anthropology society may have a declared mission of disseminating knowledge about its field far and wide, as well it should; but there are many different roles to play in the future of anthropology publishing, and the society has to determine which one to pursue. It is unlikely that a professional society and its publishing branch will have the same organizational missions because they face different ecosystems, even though they are aligned in terms of their cultural mission.
3. How do we get there from here? The current organization is living today. It has staff, products, and customers. But the mission for five years out suggests that some things will have to change; at the least, it suggests that some operations that are now in place will have to be enhanced. If we were to say that our mission is to have a 10% share of all research articles in chemistry in five years, and we don't even have a chemistry program in place today or we have under 1% of the market, how will we direct our organization to fulfill its mission within the allotted time frame?
The strategy is how to get there from here.
The strategic planning process thus begins with a great deal of brainstorming. What will the world look like in five years? Solicit opinions inside and outside the organization, fill up the white boards. It can be a great deal of fun. And the process provides insight into current operations, as every participant is invited to evaluate his or her daily activity against the backdrop of the broader discussion.
The second stage (defining the mission) requires some hard-headed thinking. What can we really achieve in that time period? What will the competition be doing? It would be unrealistic for PLoS to propose to take over the world of trade publishing (not that they would want to), but it may be realistic to propose a goal of replicating PLoS ONE in humanities and social science fields. No organization can do everything, but few organizations can afford not to try to do more than they are doing now.
Finally, in crafting strategy, the business types get to play a large role. What size organization do we need to meet our goals, to fulfill our mission? How will we finance this? What kind of operation will we have to be in five years? The strategy requires that the organization work backward from the five-year vision to the present reality.
An organization that does not engage in this kind of process becomes hostage to evolving events. While we cannot snap our fingers and demand that the world in five years look just the way we want it to, we can determine what role we want to play in that world and can work hard to make that happen. Let's step before the white boards and begin.
6 Thoughts on "Strategic Planning and the Not-for-Profit Publisher"
In an externally driven environment what is needed is organized responsiveness, which is very different from contingency planning, much less strategic planning. It means being prepared for surprises.
There is a further complication when the organization, such as a university press, is embedded within a larger one that also engages in strategic planning, wherein the press's planning must mesh with the larger organization's and whose terms are dictated by the framework of the plan for the entire university. Thus, for example, on many campuses these days the press's strategic planning must be accommodated to the strategic planning of the library, which is its partner (as with California) or administrative overlord (as at Michigan and Penn State).
"organization" (in its singular and plural form) is used 3 times in the very first sentence alone.
Interesting in what way? The post is about organizations organizing.
If you think guessing your market and role five years hence is difficult imagine our issues. Exciting but challenging is all true, but with levels of unpredictability like you never dreamed. Five years ? Five weeks! See our website and understand what I mean and where we are.


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The Go-Gos Bid Farewell with a Rockin concert in Central Park
August 14, 2016 Category: Live Shows, Music
Not even the blistering heat could stop fans from flocking to Central Park for the Summer Stage farewell of The Go-Gos. Belinda, Jane, Charlotte and Gina made their way to the stage and kicked off their New York farewell with their hit, "Vacation."
The all-female rock band that rose to fame in the early 1980s announced their farewell tour in March of this year. The vibe at the show was jovial however when Belinda mentioned that this was indeed a farewell the crowd booed prompting her to state, "just because we are going away doesn't mean our music won't live on forever." The band then went on to perform one of their earlier hits from their debut album, Beauty and The Beat, "This Town."
From then on the ladies continued to crank out the hits including "Mad About You" from Belinda Carlisle's solo career. Among other crowd pleasers were "Cool Jerk" which included a performance by "New York's finest unpaid dancers," quipped Jane Wiedlin, a group of sweaty shirtless attendees who danced along to the up-tempo jam.
The ladies even paid homage to their punk rock roots by performing songs that began their career before launching back to their bigger hits, "Get Up And Go," "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got The Beat."
The Go-Go's have sold more than 7 million albums.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Christmas Present Quotes - Page 3
The problem with elections is that anybody who wants an office badly enough to run for it probably shouldn't have it. And anybody who does not want an office badly enough to run for it probably shouldn't have it, either. Government office should be received like a child's Christmas present, with surprise and delight. Instead it is usually received like a diploma, an anticlimax that never seems worth the struggle to earn it.
Running, Children, Struggle
Orson Scott Card (2009). "Empire", p.263, Macmillan
I'm kind of a tech person, a nerd. I've always been the person who, when we got our Christmas presents, knew how to work them and set them up; the racecars, whatever. Sit me down in front of a computer program, I'll be fine.
Alexandra Richards
Nerd, Kind, Computer
Source: www.interviewmagazine.com
As part of my Christmas present I'd be giving chickens to a family in Nepal through the Heifer Foundation. I think they expanded my world when I was young to know sort of the other issues that were going on globally.
Thinking, Issues, Giving
I've said before: If Osama bin Laden was a Christian, Iraq was the Christmas present he always wanted but never expected his parents to give. It validated for the Muslim world virtually all of bin Laden's rhetoric. He had always said the Americans will destroy any strong Muslim regime, and we did.
Michael Scheuer
Christian, Strong, Iraq
Source: www.pbs.org
Best thing that's ever happened to me. I focus so much less on me. It's made me content, it's made me happy. It's like a Christmas present every single day that I get to unwrap. It's hard work.
Hard Work, Focus, Made
"Molly Sims on Fashion, Motherhood and Staying Healthy an Interview by Robert Piper". Interview with Robert Piper, www.marandapleasantmedia.com.
[T]hese last few days where I've moped around damn near depressed for real, because of people who do not exist. Not really. I can buy them Christmas presents, but there is no way to send them. Sometimes I feel like I should be able to walk into the next room and there they will be, but they won't. These people do not exisit as flesh and blood, but there are different kinds of reality, and there are days when imagination feels very, very real.
Real, Blood, Imagination
I hated that the soldier doll had my name. I mean, please. I didn't play with him much. He was another Christmas present from my clueless grandparents. One time when they were visiting, my grandpa asked me if G.I. Joe had been in any wars lately. I said, "No, but he and Ken got married last week." Every Christmas since then, my grandparents have sent me a check.
James Howe
War, Clueless, Mean
James Howe (2005). "Totally Joe", p.100, Simon and Schuster
Every time I get a script in my inbox, it's like a little Christmas present. It's so exciting to see what they've cooked up.
Littles, Inbox, Scripts
Source: collider.com
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Ants, cockroaches, rats, raccoons and many other critters are known for invading homes. Most people do not want to live with pests that can carry disease. Read this article if you are ready to get rid of pests for good.
Do fruit flies start coming back after you get rid of them? The weak link might be your drains. Tape some plastic wrap over a drain for a few days and see if fruit flies start popping up. If they do have fruit flies, pour boiling water down the drain to destroy them. That should help you avoid breeding fruit flies.
In order to prevent insects from coming inside, use a perimeter spray outside. Make sure you spray your home's foundation, porches, steps, and other areas that are located near any windows and/or doors. Make sure you are keeping your eyes open for any cracks. Use a caulk or sealer to plug these small areas off.
Food should always be properly stored and sealed within its container when not in use. Many kinds of pests are attracted to the scent of food, so do not give them anything to be drawn to. Additionally, be sure to empty the trash as soon as the trashcan reaches capacity. Pests are also attracted to trash.
Have an ant infestation? A simple combination of borax and sugar will eradicate them. The ants will be attracted to the sweet scent from the sugar, and they will be killed by the borax. Mix equal parts sugar and borax in a small, lidded jar. Poke holes on the lid and then sprinkle the areas where the ants are.
Seal any cracks or crevices that you may have in your home right away. These cracks are a gateway for pests into your home. You must seal them up to keep the bugs out.
If you keep recycling, be certain you rinse out each item well. It is very important to get rid of the soda in the cans. Be sure they are thoroughly cleaned before putting it in the garage or outside.
If trees fall, dispose of them. Chop up the fallen tree, and use it for firewood. You can either use it yourself or give it to someone. Take care to eliminate the stump as well. Termites will make a beeline for the stump if it just left outside.
Try to block out mosquitoes from coming into your living area. Drain any place where water just stands. Mosquitoes like to breed at spots with water and don't need large quantities of liquid to do so.
Learn more information about the rodents or insects that are taking over your house. Find out what repels them and what attracts them. This research technique is effective in eliminating pests.
It's not an easy task to get pests out of your home, but this article should help you find a solution. Obviously, if you do not try, nothing will happen. Start cleaning up your pest issues right away and use what you've learned here.


text:
[![Join the chat at https://gitter.im/martinvelez-github-com/Lobby](https://badges.gitter.im/martinvelez-github-com/Lobby.svg)](https://gitter.im/martinvelez-github-com/Lobby?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=badge&utm_campaign=pr-badge&utm_content=badge)

[DEMO](http://martinvelez.github.io) at http://martinvelez.github.io

This is a minimalistic, responsive homepage.

One option is to use basic HTML and CSS to build your homepage.  That is as
lightweight as it gets.

I expect that most visitors will be using a small phone screen.  Thus, your
homepage should also be responsive.  A responsive website resizes and
reorganizes itself to different screen sizes.  The easiest way I have found to
make your site responsive is to use Bootstrap.  First, the navigation bar
automatically collapses.  Second, the grid system automatically reorganizes as
the screen shrinks.

## Requirements

* [Bootstrap](http://getbootstrap.com/)
* [Font-awesome](http://fontawesome.io)
* [Social Buttons for Bootstrap](https://lipis.github.io/bootstrap-social/)

## LICENSE

MIT License

Copyright (c) [2016] [Martin Velez]

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


This is a guest post by Ivan Chan. Ivan is the founder of Wealthy Without Worry, a Star Wars fan and a martial artist. In his latest quest, Ivan teaches professionals how to make smart money decisions that fit their lifestyles. Check out what he does here.
You know you should get it done.
But instead, you're on your computer clicking mindlessly away. It's hard to focus. You just can't get going no matter how much you try.
Yet, all of those reasons sound fake. That's because you know the truth.
You know you really weren't as busy as you claim.
Your logic is clearly telling you to take action, but you still don't. So what's wrong?
No, it's not because you're stupid. It's not because you don't know any better. It's not even because you're lazy (well, maybe a little).
It's because you are human. And humans aren't always logical. Sometimes your own thinking gets in the way. In other words, psychological hurdles could be the reason why you procrastinate.
Psychological hurdles aren't physical in the way a wall prevents you from walking right through it. But they are real and they do prevent you from getting things done. They are often hard to recognize, too.
Almost every financial expert out there preaches the importance of checking your credit report once a year. I wholeheartedly agree with them. It IS a good thing to do. Everyone SHOULD review theirs. Yet, I had NEVER checked my credit report in my life until recently.
I know I'm not alone: nearly HALF of all Americans don't know their credit score or look at their report. According to the FTC, 1 in 5 people have errors in their credit report that they don't know about. And yet many people still do nothing about it.
Sometimes not knowing what to do IS a valid reason… for about 5 seconds, that is.
After that, it becomes a psychological hurdle.
You can whine all day about not knowing what to do. People might even pity you for, you know, about 5 seconds. But your whining doesn't actually change anything. It is only giving you a seemingly valid reason to KEEP DOING NOTHING.
I honestly didn't know what to do at first. I had no idea how to order it, what it would cost, or even how to interpret the darn thing once I get it. Soon, my reasons – however valid they might have been at the beginning – are now stopping me from actually taking action and educating myself.
Key takeaway: Psychological hurdles lead to procrastination. You need be PROACTIVE in recognizing and removing them. Just make sure you actually remove them (and NOT REPLACE them with new hurdles like I did, as you will soon see).
Have you ever told yourself you'll do something as soon as you "figure it out"?
Well, if you're like most people, that thing never got done. In fact, you might feel a bit sheepish now that I've brought it up. You're smart. So why can't you "figure it out"?
The problem is not that you're dumb and can't figure it out. The issue is because you haven't given yourself a clear directive.
What does "figure it out" even mean anyway? It SOUNDS reasonable until you try to implement it. Then you realize this instruction is so vague that it is virtually useless. You're still stuck at square one, only with more guilt and still with nothing accomplished.
Once I realize I was being held back by the first hurdle discussed above, I thought, I'll make a note on my to-do list to "figure out credit report".
Well, the intention was smart, but the action was useless.
Needless to say, I still didn't do anything after weeks had passed. And now I have this stupid task on my to-do list that just sits there, slowly getting pushed lower down the list as I (figuratively) bury my head in the sand.
Key takeaway: If a hurdle is holding you back from your goal, you need to be SPECIFIC about how to remove it. Otherwise, you wouldn't actually do anything about it.
Here is everyone's dirty little secret: We NEVER have time. Specifically, we never have time for things we aren't excited about.
Time for your favorite show? Of course! Time for a whole weekend of partying with your buddies? You bet! Time for your sweetheart? Gee, I hope so!
Time for that whatever-something you don't really want to deal with? Never. And that's human nature. Is this logical? Heck no! But we knew that already. Psychological hurdles are the reason why people do seemingly illogical things.
Find out what reporting agencies there are.
Decide which one I should contact.
Call and order the report.
I was so proud of myself at that point that I just walked away from my desk, feeling triumphant and all. A few weeks later, I still hadn't done a single thing.
Oh Great Procrastination God: Why do you hate me?
Key takeaway: In addition to being SPECIFIC about how to remove a hurdle, you need to commit to a deadline and MAKE TIME to get things done. Please don't tell yourself you'll do it "As Soon As Possible." Knowing what we've just learned, you should know why that rarely – if ever – works.
If you need help on freeing up time during your day, check out this free resource I have for you.
One lady at my workplace once mobilized half of the office for a whole afternoon to help her find something she had lost: her stapler.
Just think: Hours upon hours of productivity was wasted because she wouldn't walk to the supply room to get a new stapler, one of a dozen sitting unused on a table.
Illogical? No kidding. Psychological hurdle? You know it.
With the deadlines I've set for myself, I have now actually gotten some of my tasks done. I did my research and had decided on which agency to contact. I will finally get my credit report… after I find the right phone number to call, that is.
Key takeaway: How often do you put something off because you don't have the right tool, information, or (*gasp*) your own stapler nearby? You've conquered every hurdle up until now. This is the last mile. Get everything you need in one place so you're ready to work.
Don't give yourself an excuse to procrastinate!
Just when you've finally gotten your act together, you get stage fright. All of a sudden, you're completely uncertain of what you're about to do. You have all the knowledge you need. You have all the tools. But you don't have the courage.
You can almost see the finish line, but your legs give out and down you go.
I've found the right phone number to call at last. Everything is ready to go… except it's a Saturday. They don't answer the phones on Saturday, do they? Of course, I didn't know for sure. But I'm pretty sure they wouldn't, right?
Key takeaway: Ultimately, all the preparation in the world will only get you to the proverbial performance stage. It's still up to you to get up there, do your thing, and earn that standing ovation. Otherwise, all your work up to this point will be for nothing.
What are you putting off in your life that you know you SHOULD be doing?
Maybe it's clearing out all the crap in your garage. Maybe it's dealing with your credit-card debt. Maybe it's finally living the life you have always dreamed of but have never tasted for real.
Whatever it is, why are you waiting?
If it's something that is truly out of your control, then that's fine. We can't control everything that goes on in our lives, after all. But if you're procrastinating because of a psychological hurdle, then you have to take action.
I had a long (and stupid) battle with my psychological hurdles. But in the end, I won. And the whole experience has taught me something profound.
Everyone of us has hurdles, big and small.
They stop us from getting what we want in life. So what are you going to do about them?
Would you turn a blind eye to your clutter? Or would you finally tackle that pile of crap once and for all?
Would you hide from your debt? Or would you fight back with everything you've got because you are sick and tired of bleeding your money away?
Would you live out the rest of your life with a whimper? Or would you stand up for what your life is meant to be with a bang?
Remember: This is your life, and it's ticking away day by day. You can't just sit here any more. You need to do something about this. No more procrastination. No more wasting time.
Today, you live the life that you want.
I was born the daughter of the King of Procrastination. I remember a new curtain rod my mother purchased laying, uninstalled, beneath the living room window FOR A YEAR! It wasn't until my mother threatened to hire someone that my father finally put it up.
I've had to fight those tendencies. While I'm much better at fighting those demons today, they still sit on my shoulder!
LOL, I can totally relate, Ree! Thanks for sharing!
We often start with the best intentions, but then… nothing. It's like we have 5 minutes of enthusiasm for anything but when that time is up, we're content with letting things sit while we procrastinate.
That being said, these tendencies of ours are probably going to stick around for a while. We'll just have to manage them so they don't prevent us from doing things that really matter.
I am 26 years old from Quebec and really inspired by this website, the movie I'm fine thanks and the blogs and posts from other authors!
I Just finished paying 20K inconsummer debt, now getting richer and raising money (spending less, sold a lot of crap) to have a life that suits me a little (a lot) more…Quiting a job I don't like, going travelling to Asia for 6 months next winter and then go back to school in another field of interest I want to explore!
When I remember and think about my big goal, I do stop procrastinating. That's my motivation. Even for my credit check… I just filled the form and, trust me, it's wasn't THAT bad!
Hey Emma, glad to have you here!
We're glad we're making a difference for you. I seriously think that's the most rewarding part of what we do!
Congratulations on paying off your debt! That's quite an accomplishment, and at such a young age too. At the rate you're going, you certainly have a bright future ahead of you. And high five for getting that credit check! That makes two of us. You're right that it's not THAT bad. We just have to do it.
Do drop by to check on us here while you're traveling through Asia!
I would just add that a lot of these hurdles are rooted in fear. We often put things off because deep down we fear some aspect of the task we need to accomplish. It could be that we fear the unknown, or we might fear failing at it, or we might even fear succeeding and being uncomfortable with finding out that we are good at something we never thought we should be good at.
Leo Babauta at Zenhabits.net has talked about how fear paralyses us from acting in several of his posts.
Great job again, and keep up the good work.
Thanks, Travis! I'm glad you stopped by!
You've hit the nail on the head on the point of fear. Some of our fears may seem silly to other people, but they are REAL to us. That's why logic doesn't always work. Even if we know exactly what to do, it wouldn't matter one bit if we're afraid to actually do it.
So I have several thoughts here. First, #2, I need to figure it out first – was a big kick in the pants on a lot of my non-financial projects; and in a few cases financial issues.
Second, you can't actually get your credit report from a non-US IP address. So that was a big hurdle for me living abroad, and I forgot on my last two trips home (so this has been a problem for awhile). So I uh…finally artificially removed that hurdle. ehem cough; and got some of the data I was looking for.
Third – since I live abroad, only one of the three agencies would give me a report online, the others found 'discrepancies' (mostly because I don't actually live in the states and haven't been using many of my credit cards, open or closed – and certainly not at actual brick and mortar US businesses) and wanted me to mail in an application with a bunch of documents like a utility bill proving my current address, social security card, two or five other documents…uh…yeah…so I stuck with the one that gave me an online report. It was Experian that cooperated in my case. I highly recommend it and going ahead and getting your credit score too (that's not free like the report is) – at least, in my case, I never had so I figured it'd be good to do to see even if not annually.
And after that, the #2 "Waiting until you figure it out" really pushed me to pursue some other things that I've been like oh no, I can't do that right now. Granted, I've also had some circumstances change that were real, true hurdles and not just psychological ones, but it was a great reminder that I can smash some of them down now and some have been in my head.
Great post. If anyone abroad needs to figure out magic – Google 'VPN.' Your welcome.
Thanks! Looks you've got things figured out just fine, Jenny!
You've certainly got a good handle on what hurdles are real and which ones are purely psychological. Great job on pushing through and getting things done. I'm proud of ya!
Thank you Ivan! Looking forward to more of your posts.
I've just written a post on my blog about how I've been procrastinating so much lately. I was really interested to read your post just now about the psychological hurdles that may get in the way of us actually getting stuff done. I've been procrastinating about all sorts of things including finances. I've been busy paying off my debts (thankfully), but I really need to do more by making some extra cash, selling stuff on Ebay, setting up a proper tracking system for my expenditure etc. The list goes on, literally. I've included a link to your post in my blog, I hope that's ok? All the best and looking forward to reading more.
Yes, the link is definitely OK – thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed my piece. Don't worry: all of us procrastinate over one thing or another!
This is going to sound cliché, but the key to beating procrastination really is just be slow and steady. You don't have to do everything all at once. Just pick one thing (e.g. sell one item on eBay or start tracking one expense) and do it today. Repeat that for the next item on your to-do list tomorrow. Over time, you'll build up momentum and you'll naturally want to keep it going. With that, you'll have procrastination beat in no time!
Great post, Ivan. Although, after reading this, I can no longer take the easy way out and just blame the God of Procrastination"-) I think No. 5 is so key — schedule the time to make it happen. Thanks again.
Thanks, Rene! Nice to see you here!
Yeah, #5 gets me all the time. Seriously, I don't know of any other more destructive way to sabotage yourself. At that point, what's holding you back is 100% mental – nothing else.
Ultimately, we've all just got to take the plunge and see what happens!


75g Oats I like to use thick oats!
1 tsp Maple Syrup You can also use honey or sugar if needed.
I like to use thick oats!
You can also use honey or sugar if needed.
Make a bowl of raspberry and peanut butter overnight oats that's indulgent yet healthy. It doesn't get any easier and more delicious than creamy peanut butter and tangy raspberries. Overnight oats are a great way to keep you full until lunch for a low cost and offering endless flavours to pick from.
In my photo, I have added frozen blueberries and chia seeds but you can make this your own and add any frozen or fresh fruit you like! This is my favourite peanut butter as it tastes great and you can buy it in bulk!
TOP TIP: Keep an eye out the supermarkets for reduced berries, buy them in bulk and freeze them for a later date. This will save you time, effort and money. Depending on the time of year, you can also walk out and pick your own berries. This is exactly what I did for my Blackberry and Apple Crumble Overnight Oats.
Give the oats a try and leave a review below on what you think. Enjoy!
Unlike many fruits, unripe raspberries do not ripen after they have been picked. There's no softening up in the fruit bowl for the raspberry – once it's picked, that's your lot.
Did you know that raspberries can be red, purple, gold or black in colour? The gold ones are the sweetest variety, and very tasty.
1. Add to your jar, 150ml water (or a milk alternative) with the peanut butter. Shake well to mix up the tablespoon of peanut butter (10 seconds).
2. Then add the frozen raspberries, oats and maple syrup. Shake again, tighten the lid and place in the fridge overnight.
Wake up and enjoy your delicious breakfast at the table or on the move.
Great source of energy to start your day - very tasty combo of flavours too!


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Trump can't treat press like paparazzi
This isn't about press rights; the press pool plays an essential role in assuring government transparency and an informed American electorate.
By Dallas Morning News Editorial
11:54 AM on Nov 18, 2016 CST
Donald Trump may not realize it, but he's no longer a private citizen.
Twice in a week, president-elect Donald Trump has ditched precedent and traveled without the press pool that normally moves with the president. The first was a trip from New York to Washington; the second for a dinner in a swanky New York restaurant after his press people told journalists that his day had ended.
Trump may see these reporters as an extension of the Paparazzi that hounded him when he was a reality television promoter and real estate mogul. They aren't.
The press pool isn't about staking out celebrities. The pool play an essential role in assuring government transparency and an informed American electorate.
This small cadre of about a dozen reporters has a major responsibility as a bridge between the American people and the president. On a daily basis, these reporters document the movements of the president for the larger press corps, particularly if there is something unexpected or significant. Their coverage goes into the National Archives as part of the official record of the presidency.
Pool reports have also stood witness to an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and President John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963, conveying coverage of each to a grieving and anxious nation.
The historical significance of this work is what Trump needs to embrace. These journalists aren't chronicling his four-course experience. (Actually, they are likely to be waiting in a van outside, not chomping away at a nearby table.) They are doing their job as representatives of the public by being in close proximity to the president.
The importance of a pool isn't just a press issue. It is unwise for the president's whereabouts to be a guessing game -- especially in a world where rumors and misinformation too often prevail. That is why the press rightly chided President Barack Obama for ditching the press pool to take his daughters to a water park while on vacation in Hawaii and, another time, for ditching it to attend his daughter's soccer game.
When 9/11 occurred, President George W. Bush was at a school in Florida to read to a classroom of youngsters. Suddenly, the day became chaotic. It was the pool reports in the immediate hours that offered the public some assurance of the president's safety and leadership.
Without independent pool reports, the guessing game opens the door for rumors that can impact financial markets or send shivers through foreign capitals. When the president's press people can't answer this question -- "where's the president? -- the danger is that the worst of the public's imaginations will fill that void.
President-elect Trump's responsibility has grown exponentially in recent days. In a few weeks he will be the most powerful leader of the world's most powerful nation. Trump owes it to his country to allow the public this window into his presidency.
Facts about the press pool
What: The press pool is a group of reporters assigned to travel with the president.
Who: The group generally includes reporters from the Associated Press, Bloomberg, and Reuters, two print reporters, a radio reporter, a television crew and producer, and several photographers.
Why: The pool provides an independent record of the presidency in the event of a major news event.
Dallas Morning News Editorial. Dallas Morning News editorials are written by the paper's Editorial Board and serve as the voice and view of the paper. The board considers a broad range of topics and is overseen by the Editorial Page Editor.
editorialboard@dallasnews.com @dmnopinion
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Add an elegant and efficient lighter to your accessory arsenal with a Xikar Verano Torch. A single-action pull-down ignition features an ergonomic grip for optimal comfort and ease of use. The Xikar Verano is distinct for its flat flame which delivers the breadth of a triple torch with the fuel efficiency of a single jet. Xikar's flat flame design toasts the foot of your next cigar with deliberate, all-encompassing precision. An oversized flame height wheel and an EZ View fuel window enhance standard lighter maintenance. Choose from a handful of sleek and contemporary Xikar finishes and enjoy the brand's unbeatable lifetime warranty.


"Money has some rules attached to it. And if you follow the rules, you're going to have more stability in your life than if you don't follow the rules.
Doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman.
The rules are the same: You need to have a plan for how you use your money, you need to have a healthy credit identity, you need to have emergency money and some insurance.
I think it's really important that we come to realize that life is about balance, or even more so, how to integrate all aspects into a fulfilling and enriching experience. It is not zero-sum; life is not all or nothing.
It's not spending every waking moment thinking about money or spending no time thinking about money, Managing money isn't really that hard.
Are you feeling stuck, stressed out and burnt out? Do you sometimes hear an inner voice telling you that you are so much more than you think? Do you see yourself watching life simply pass you by? Are you slaving for your money or is your money working hard for you?
Do you want much more out of life? Is your relationship suffering due to financial stress? Are you living from pay cheque to one week before pay cheque? Or are you earning a lot but trading your 'Health/Family/Life/Time-Freedom' in exchange?
Then, let's talk, really talk about the rules and principles of Money, Wealth, Debt and Living a life of Abundance! Sign up for our introductory 90-minute webinar and learn about the deep-rooted beliefs, values and unconscious programs you're running in your financial life!
Understanding your money DNA and Habits.
3 Master frames guaranteed to put your financial life back on track!
And, it's really so much more than just the money….This unique 90-minute webinar, is a no holds barred, no BS, honest, heart-to-heart, practical conversation about taking control and gaining mastery over your finances and your life!
Join us as we share powerful tools, strategies and insights to turn your money blueprint around immediately. We will provide you with a compelling call to ACTION and measurable RESULTS!


1. Cover of the Future City I brochure, 2012 Image of Neil Spiller's 'Meat Hook', another element of the research, which speculates on the protocellular growth of such objects and their place in Picasso's and Dali's Surrealist oeuvre.
2. Protocell Vat Machinery Seen Tending and Supporting Half-Grown 'Meat Hooks', 2012 Wet technologies such as those of synthetic biology could potentially change the paradigms of construction and procurement that have been prevalent since the Industrial Revolution. Rather than progressively banishing moisture construction sites might actively encourage it to facilitate grown structures.
3. Finished 'Meat Hook', Rising from Still Surface of Vat, 2012 The hooks are used as an experimental microcosmic form, both aesthetic and functional, to illustrate some of the potential of protocol fabrication.
4. Plan, Looking Down on Surface of the Vat, 2012 The drawing explores the reflections and maybe slightly reflective rainbow surface as the 'Meat Hook' is fabricated with glimpses of the protocol activity below.
5. Leda and the Protocell Swan, 2012 The Vat and protocol fabrication paradigm is explored by introducing mythology. The drawing shows the 'Meat Hooks' then being used as part of the fabrication machinery for further pieces of the work. The Vat thus makes bits of itself - an architecture before an architecture.


GIGABYTE sends us our first A55 motherboard and we see what the lower end chipset offers when compared to the A75. Read the review.
GIGABYTE sends over a mITX board based on the H61 chipset. Let's check it out and see what's going on with this tiny motherboard. Read the review.
We check out the more budget friendly Extreme4 version of the latest Gen3 Z68 motherboard series from ASRock. Read the review.
ASUS jump back on the mITX bandwagon with a new motherboard sporting the AMD A75 chipset. Let's check it out. Read the review.
ASRock keep bringing mITX boards to the table. The latest is based on the highly popular Z68 chipset. Let's see how it holds up on this space confined little offering. Read the review.
GIGABYTE brings us a board that makes use of Intel's Smart Response Technology with an SSD onboard. Let's check it out. Read the review.
In our first of a two part series, Chris takes a confined look at Intel SRT on GIGABYTE's Z68XP-UD3-iSSD. Shane will be back tomorrow with a closer look at the Z68XP-UD3-iSSD in its entirety. Read the review.
ASRock release an A75 based board that comes in nice and small. Let's check it out and see how it goes. Read the review.
Sapphire expands their motherboard line-up with the Pure Platinum Z68. Let's check it out and see what's happening. Read the review.
MSI expand their motherboard line-up with the new "G3" versions which bring with them PCIe support. Let's check out the Z68A-GD80-G3 today. Read the review.
ASRocks Fatal1ty series joins the latest Z68 platform and we see how the new Professional Gen3 goes. Let's get into it. Read the review.
ASRock expend the Z68 line with the new Z68 Extreme7 Gen3 and from first sight it looks the goods. Let's check it out! Read the review.
*Pew Pew* - We check out the fully armored G1.Sniper2 from GIGABYTE today. Let's see how the series goes on the Z68 chipset. Read the review.
We check out the Mini ITX H67 offering from ASUS and see just what kind of performance this tiny board can offer. Read the review.
We check out the latest ROG board from ASUS sporting the latest and greatest chipset from Intel, the Z68. Let's check out the Maximus IV Extreme-Z! Read the review.
It's been a while since we've seen anything from ECS, but today we check out their new A75 offering with our A8-3850. Read the review.
MSI send us over an A75 board that stands out from the pack thanks to its mATX format. Let's check it out and see how this smaller offering goes. Read the review.
ASRock get all extreme with their latest offering - the A75 Extreme6. Let's check it out and see what's going on with it. Read the review.
It's been ages since we've seen anything from Jetway. Let's take the time today to see what they're up to with this Z68 board. Read the review.
Sapphire jump on the A75 bandwagon with a new motherboard. Hopefully it does more for us than their P67 board we looked at a while back. Read the review.
ASUS shrink the latest ROG board with the new mATX Z68 Maximus IV Gene-Z. How is it? Let's find out! Read the review.


text:
Черепаховая кость — материал, получаемый главным образом из панцирей бисс, которые находятся под угрозой исчезновения. Материал широко использовался до 1970-х годов для производства таких товаров как расчёски, очки, медиаторы, украшения и вязальные спицы. С 1973 года торговля продукцией из черепашьей кости запрещена СИТЕС (исключая старые запасы).

Изделия из черепаховой кости обладают красивым внешним видом и долговечностью, а также приятны для кожи человека. Медиаторы для гитар обладают нужной гибкостью и очень долговечны — черепаховые медиаторы могут использоваться годами. Инкрустация на черепаховом панцире весьма ценилась в викторианскую эпоху.

Начиная с 1970-х годов был изобретён ряд материалов, которые имитировали или заменяли черепаховую кость. В частности, для гитарных медиаторов стал использоваться Тортекс, который стал достойной заменой.

Литература

Примечания

Кость (материал)
кость

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
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            'prettyPhoto.css',
            'style.css',
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    private $js = [
            'jquery-1.8.3.min.js',
            'bootstrap.min.js',
            'jquery.easing.js',
            'jquery.flexslider-min.js',
            'jflickrfeed.min.js',
            'jquery.fitvids.min.js',
            'jquery.lazyload.mini.js',
            'jquery.prettyPhoto.js',
            'jquery.placeholder.min.js',
            'jquery.jticker.js',
            'jquery.mobilemenu.js',
            'jquery.isotope.min.js',
            'jquery.hoverdir.js',
            'modernizr.custom.js',
            'main.js',
    ];
    private $cdn = [
            'http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Oswald',
            'http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Bitter',
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            'header.tpl',

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        $output .= $this->set_title('^_^');
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text:
The one thing James Bond did wrong
By Oliver Norgrove - November 03, 2015
[Estimated time to read: 3 minutes]
A different kind of Bond villain.
'The name's Bond... James Bond.' He smiles tightly, lifts a glass of something smoky, and does the crinkly-eyed thing that used to make Miss Moneypenny flush with excitement.
The director shouts 'cut'. Bond grimaces. But he thinks of the mortgage, and gets ready for the money shot - not his greatest moment, and he'll take some punishment from the chaps at Vauxhall Cross. But a man has to make a living, and after all, marketing dentures is a way of helping people as well as a way of earning some cash.
How did Britain's legendary secret operative come to this? What went wrong, and what might have he done differently? What dastardly foe reduced him to hawking bits of pink plastic, when SMERSH, Blofeld and any number of large white pussy cats tried and failed to bring him down?
Did Xenia Onatopp have a pension?
The tragic truth is that Commander Bond made some basic mistakes. The training teams at Fort Monckton told him all about shape, shine and silhouette - but it wasn't a SCEPTRE sniper who nailed him; and his Krav Maga instructor coached (or beat) him out of his weak throat technique, so he wasn't taken by Oddjob in a dastardly ambush; and his animal cunning never deserted him, so he took Xenia Onatopp on his own terms…
Bond's mistakes were about money. More precisely, about pensions. As he sat waiting for the next take, he took another sip. He pulled out his cigarette case, his eyes tracking the girl with the clipboard, trailing the director. 'Dirty' he thought. He flicked his lighter and drew heavily. He thought back to the meeting in Carlton Gardens where he made two very simple, and pretty serious, mistakes.
It had been about pensions. Yawn.
The chap who came to see him had no real field experience - never lurked under a bridge in Vienna, fought to a standstill on the Orient Express or seduced a Soviet cosmonaut in zero gravity. What could he know? He banged on about critical yield, SIPPS and QROPS. Bond chuckled as he remembered his ripostes - parabellum, PPK, MP5 and SVD. He'd help win the Cold War, he'd certainly nail the acronym war.
Bond knew the odds of an officer from Six making it to retirement age were pretty slim. He'd take his chances, and see what happened.
Bond snorted. He shook his head slowly. How wrong he'd been. He took another warming sip. He clocked the brunette, bent over her camera. Her hair glowed under the lights. Serious, professional, artistic. He knew the type, and he liked it.
Who wouldn't have kept the Aston?
When he finally hung up his Walther and moved to Cyprus with Moneypenny, his plans seemed simple. But his hips and knees were shot, and life was more expensive than he'd thought. He'd kept the Aston - who wouldn't - and the running costs ate a mighty hole in his monthly pension.
He'd never given much thought to bank accounts - more fool, he snorted. He bought the villa, no mortgage, felt pretty damned flush. Then the crisis hit and his money, all of it in a local bank, was frozen along with the Russians' and, no doubt, many of his former foes'.
Moneypenny carried them both through some pretty dark days. She was a super girl, and he knew he was lucky.
Problem was, Bond never expected to grow old. Yet here he was. 'Never thought I'd say this,' he thought to himself and, standing, he took a last draw as the Director shouted instructions and the set sprang to life. 'Wish I'd read that guide to Offshore Banking. And that one on Pensions.'
Image credit: Raoul Luoar, Flickr


text:
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Hotels in Colombia will remain VAT free for tourism in 2023
Following the announcement that VAT is going to be charged again on accommodation in Colombia in January 2023, the Colombian Hotel and Tourism Association (Cotelco) reported that there will be some exemptions.
Colombia is a welcoming country, crossed by the Andes, with coasts in the Caribbean and the Pacific Oceans, and with one of the tastiest coffees in the world, is located in the extreme north of South America. It has sacred archaeological sites, it is the land of Gabriel García Marquez's Magical Realism, and with its paradisiacal beaches, cheerful people and home to fascinating cultures, it is one of the must-see destinations in South America.
In 2020 and within the framework of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Colombian government established a benefit for travellers, regardless of origin, which determined the VAT exemption on accommodation. This regulation ended on December 31, 2022, so from January 1, 2023, lodgings and hotels will once again charge 19% VAT.
Nonetheless, recently the government stated that the VAT exemption on the services offered by the operating agencies and hotels registered in the National Tourism Registry (RNT), will continue to apply to foreigners residing abroad, and who enter for cultural, events and/or tourism purposes.
Last but not least, it is important to mention that tourists entering Colombia must have the "PT" (Tourism Permit) stamp in their passport, valid for 90 days, which will be required at the time of check-in at the hotels; In case of not having said seal, the hotel will proceed with the corresponding collection of 19% corresponding to the VAT of the accommodation.
If in doubt, do not hesitate to contact your appointed sales executive or write us at info@trips-southamerica.com
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text:
Q: Downloaded xls from python resulting in broken formatting vs manual download I am trying to download the excel from this page: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/portal/index.cfm?event=notificationsList# and then extract data from the applicable cells.
Here is the code that I am using
import requests, os

os.chdir('Path')

dls = 'https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/portal/index.cfm?event=ExportToExcel&StartRow=0'

resp = requests.get(dls)

with open('tester.xls', 'wb') as output:
    output.write(resp.content)

The download is successful, but the formatting is completely messed up (due to the XML?)
I tried changing the file type but it did not help.
Any help is greatly appreciated!

A: import pandas as pd

df = pd.read_html(
    "https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/portal/index.cfm?event=notificationsList")[0]
df.drop(df.columns[-1], axis=1, inplace=True)

print(df)

df.to_csv("data.csv", index=False)

Output: view-online

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


With your registration on card2brain, you undertook to respect copyright and related property rights of third parties. The copyright law is not quite easy to understand, reason why we compiled the most important principles and put together some guidelines for you.
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As a teacher, pupil, student, or lecturer, you benefit from copyright privileges insofar as you may also disseminate in fact copyright-protected contents such as pictures or charts without approval by the author under certain conditions (cf. "Limitations on copyright in an educational environment").
The following guidelines are not exhaustive and see themselves as a basic code of good practice.
It is your own responsibility not to infringe copyright. We do not take any responsibility or liability for losses or damage resulting from copyright infringements. In case of doubt, we recommend to refer to further legal documents or a legal person.
Guidelines: How not to infringe any rights of third parties?
Create private sets of flashcards and don't unlock them for anybody else.
When creating public sets of flashcards or unlocking private decks for others, always assume that any basic material (texts, pictures, charts, graphs, etc.) you have not created yourself is copyright-protected.
Limit yourself to a minimum number of quotations and write your flashcards mainly in your own words.
Use contents under a Creative Commons Licence and respect the licensing terms.
Use pictures, charts, diagrams, etc. created by yourself.
Get the author's written consent before publishing copyright-protected pictures, charts, graphs, etc. under a Creative Commons licence.
Don't use any pictures you took from people who can be clearly identified without having their written permission.
What kind of contents are copyright-protected?
All pieces of work (e.g. pictures, texts, charts, graphs, etc.) achieving a (high) level of creativity (also degree of creativity, level of originality) are protected. The term "level of creativity" requires a personal intellectual effort of individual character that clearly stands out of the ordinary, common or usually performed.
A piece of work is protected by copyright as soon as it has been created. Even if it is not labelled with "Copyright", "all rights reserved", or ©, you have to assume that it has a copyright protection.
What kind of contents are not protected by copyright?
All pieces of work which don't achieve a (high) level of creativity. In our context, these could be for example single pieces of vocabulary as used in everyday life.
Although the words themselves are not affected by copyright, an ascertained collection of vocabulary could be rated by case-law as worth being copyright-protected for their choice, order and arrangement.
Even though scientific knowledge itself is not affected by copyright, its specific account is. That is why you should only quote scientific pieces of work in extracts at the most.
Pieces of work released into the public domain referred to as CC0. CC stands for the Creative Commons licensing system, and 0 tells you that the author has resigned all possible property rights.
There are several Creative Commons licenses. Not all of them allow for implicit use of the respective piece of work or parts of it. The particular licence model has to be exactly respected (cf. "Licenses for free contents").
Pieces of work whose author died at least 70 years ago.
Official publications of public authorities such as legal Codes, court decisions, or regulations.
Teachers and students at schools and institutions of higher education benefit from copyright privileges. They are legally allowed to disseminate copyright-protected contents such as pictures and charts even without consent under certain conditions.
and if the use of a work bears on the teaching or the lesson.
Every person has 'a right to their own image'. This means you are not allowed to publish or disseminate any pictures of people who can be clearly identified without their approval. For the consent to be legally binding, it is best to get it in writing.
There are some exceptions to the right to one's own image. However, if you stick to the basic rule, you will always be on the safe side.
You will find very many images under a Creative Commons licence you can use freely, especially on the Internet (e.g. on Wikipedia). In order not to unintentionally infringe the licensing terms when you upload these kinds of pictures, you can choose or pass on the licence suitable for every picture.
You can also put pictures, charts, graphs etc. created by yourself under a Creative Commons licence. Thus, it is up to you to set the conditions under which you pieces of work may be disseminated.
If you respect third parties' rights when creating a set of flashcards, you can put the whole text contents of the newly assembled work under a Creative Commons licence and determine the conditions for the dissemination and editing of your text work.
You can find the range of available licence models for images and texts here.


Will the real Napoleon Gomez Urrutia please stand up?
About 66 years old and living in exile in Vancouver, the Mexican labour leader has trod many different paths during a long, eventful career, and now he has written a book about that journey.
Titled Collapse of Dignity: The Story of a Mining Tragedy and the Fight Against Greed and Corruption in Mexico, the densely written volume recently scaled its way into the Top 10 on The New York Times list of non-fiction bestsellers, an impressive achievement by any measure and all the more so in this case because a good deal of the book is at least somewhat fictitious.
It's also pretty hard slogging for much of its 368-page length.
Still, the good parts are engrossing, and they centre on a mining disaster – or, really, two mining disasters.
One of these mishaps took place in northern Mexico, on Feb. 19, 2006, and it was an unmitigated catastrophe.
Sixty-five men lost their lives after a huge explosion hit the Pasta de Conchos coal mine in the early hours that day. Even now, more than seven years later, no one knows if the miners died immediately or if at least some of them survived for a time. Rescue efforts were cursory to begin with, and they were called off after just five days, even though the men were no more than 120 metres underground. Only two bodies were ever recovered. The remaining 63 remain buried somewhere in the mine. Their families have received minimal compensation.
By way of contrast, consider the disaster that hit the San Jose gold and copper mine near Copiapo, Chile, on Aug. 5, 2010 – a cave-in at a vastly deeper facility.
Chilean rescue workers kept digging for two long weeks, until they at last made contact with 33 miners, all still alive but trapped underground at a depth of 700 metres.
While the world looked on, the Chileans struggled to bring the men to the surface, an operation that required huge funds of ingenuity and persistence before it finally succeeded.
But that was Chile, and Napoleon Gomez comes from Mexico – two different countries, two different accidents, and two very different outcomes.
At the time of the Mexican disaster, Gomez was leader of the Mexican miners' union – a job he continues to hold – and he did not need to witness Chile's vastly superior handling of its own underground tribulations to find himself in a towering rage over his country's shortcomings, and that anger partly explains why he lives in Canada now.
Following the explosion at Pasta de Conchos, Gomez accused both the Mexican government and the mine's owners – a huge mining concern called Grupo Mexico – of "industrial homicide" for their two-fold failure. First, he says, they neglected to ensure the facility's safety and, second, they did not mount a proper rescue effort when disaster struck.
Already on the outs with the right-wing government of the day, and loathed by the country's wealthy business establishment, Gomez quickly found himself on the run, pursued by a combination of death threats and trumped-up corruption charges.
With the aid of the United Steelworkers, he managed to sneak across the border to Texas, along with his family. Gomez and his wife, Oralia, continued north to Vancouver. They have lived in British Columbia ever since.
Even now, the union leader's future remains uncertain. True, all the charges previously lodged against him in Mexico have been dismissed, he says. What's more, the right-wing National Action Party that pursued and harassed him over the course of seven or eight years is no longer in power.
Yet he remains in Canada.
As presented in this book, the saga of Napoleon Gmez Urrutia is a study in extremes – not all of them entirely credible.
The people who appear in these pages are either irredeemably evil – Grupo Mexico owner Germán Feliciano Larrea, for example, along with sundry politicians and certain union hacks – or they are unstintingly noble, courageous, and altruistic, much like the book's main character, who goes by the name Napoleon Gomez but who often seems less an actual flesh-and-blood human being and more an intellectual abstraction in a medieval morality play – the epitome of Virtue, perhaps.
To sustain this black-and-white ethical dialectic, Gomez must engage in a certain amount of historical revisionism.
He would have us believe, for example, that he was always a political outsider in Mexico, even though he spent most of his life as a stalwart of the Institutional Revolutionary Party – or PRI – that ran the country as a kind of corporate fiefdom for seven decades until it lost the presidency in 2000.
Gomez's father – also named Napoleon Gomez – was a venerable PRI operator, who served for nearly four decades as head of the National Union of Mine, Metal, Steel and Allied Workers of the Mexican Republic, informally known as Los Mineros.
In his book, Gomez lionizes his father as a fiercely independent trade unionist who fought tirelessly on behalf of workers and, in return, enjoyed their unconditional support.
But the elder Gomez was in fact a consummate charro, a term that means "cowboy" and has long been used in Mexico to denote the leader of a "company union," someone who typically served the boss's interests and sold his membership short.
In the year 2000 and at the age of 86, the man sank into physical decline and handed the union's crown to his son.
Still, something about Napoleon Gomez changed around this time, and for the better. The old paradigm of Mexican power was breaking down, and Gomez genuinely did set out on a brave and independent path, infuriating many of Mexico's most powerful mine owners.
Then, at around 2 a.m. on Feb. 19 in 2006, a stray spark set off an explosion of methane gas at the Pasta de Conchos mine in northern Mexico – and the battle lines were well and truly drawn.
Even from his Canadian redoubt, Gomez has kept his post as general secretary of the miners' union – re-elected unanimously six times, he says – and he continues to oversee negotiations and disputes, mostly by phone or by video-conference.
Over the years, Gomez's adversaries have tried to unseat him by almost any means possible. On one occasion described in the book, the president of Mexico's largest steel producer meets him for breakfast at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver and offers to pay him – not $1 million, not $10 million – but $100 million in exchange for resigning his union post.
And what is the author's response?
At least, that's what it says on the page. But do people really talk that way?
They do in this book.
That same evening, for example, Gomez and his wife dine out together, celebrating her birthday. On learning of the massive bribe offer and its categorical rejection, Oralia delivers an apparently spontaneous, 180-word encomium to her husband, a tribute so cloying it's embarrassing to read, especially when you consider who wrote this book.
Either you believe the woman actually said this or you don't.
As for working conditions for miners in Mexico, Gomez says they are still mainly bad and are not getting better.


A business broker has the skills and knowledge necessary to facilitate the sale of a business, acting as an intermediary between buyer and seller. The best business brokers handle all the paperwork, ensure the proper fees and taxes have been paid, and sees that both parties walk away satisfied.
1. See if they're accredited.
Business brokers are, in most states, unlicensed, and in states that require licenses only require real estate licenses, so there is no official "Business Broker License." They're also virtually unregulated, so you're going to have to do some research to find one you can trust.
One way to start down that road is to find out if your potential business broker is accredited by an professional organization such as the IBBA (International Business Broker Association). While that doesn't tell the whole story about the broker, it at least lets you know that the business broker in question has undergone and passed some professional development courses.
2. Find out whether they have experience with your type of business.
Selling a local flower shop and selling a digital marketing agency with international clients requires two radically different approaches and skill sets. It's important that your business broker knows your type of business so they know how to structure the sale, how to effectively market your business, and more.
There are some business brokerage firms that specialize in certain types of businesses or certain industries; seek out those that focus on your type of business or, at the very least, a broker who's sold businesses similar to yours. A broker who knows all the details specific to your industry will handle the sale far more proficiently than someone who generalizes.
3. Look for reviews or testimonials.
Honest reviews can provide deep insight into how a business broker operates, how successful they are, and how easy they are to work with. Don't, however, limit yourself to what can be found online. If you find a broker who seems like a good fit, ask for references. Any reputable business broker should be able to provide them.
If you regularly attend local business meetups, you can also ask around and see if anyone's worked with your prospective broker. Getting another business owner's first-hand account of their experience could mean the difference between a great relationship and an ordeal.
4. Ask about their process.
How does your potential business broker intend to sell your business? How active are they with marketing? How well do they utilize marketing channels? There's a world of difference between posting a listing on a website and letting it sit and actively using all available channels to find prospective buyers.
Experienced business brokers should know the best ways to reach motivated buyers for your business, and should actively market until your business has sold. Also, if your business broker's asking for up-front fees, be wary. Your broker should be in a position to absorb marketing costs in pursuit of the sale and their commission.
5. Create a short list, and interview brokers.
Once you've narrowed your search down to a few brokers, meet with each of them and ask questions. Let them walk you through the sales process. Ask about the number of successful sales. Get a good feeling about how they interact with both you and your potential buyer.
Your broker should be willing to sit down with you and spend some time getting to know you and your business. The better they know you, the better they'll be able to match you with a buyer who will give your business the attention you did.
Business brokers typically work on commission or earn "success fees." Most brokers, upon completing the sale, charge 10 percent of the total sale amount. If your business broker is asking for additional fees, investigate and find out what they're for. All marketing charges should be assumed by the broker.
Ask your broker up front about what fees you can expect to pay. If they're asking for more than the standard percentage, find out why. You'll likely want to meet with a few brokers prior to engaging one, so get a good handle on how each of them expects to be paid and what they're going to do to earn it.
It depends on the state, but bottom line, there is no business broker "license." The states that do require licensing only require a general real estate license. This is why it's important to thoroughly research your potential business brokers. Find out if they're members of the IBBA (International Business Brokers Association) for a start.
In addition, a few states offer their own accreditation. It's not as binding as a license would be, but it at least shows that your potential broker has spent time with professional development and operates their business in good standing with those associations.
Where Can I List My Business for Sale Online?
How do you sell a business by owner?
If you're thinking of selling your business on your own, be sure you're covering all the bases: properly valuing your business is the first step. The value of your business is a combination of your physical assets, how much your business earns per year, and projected value. There are a number of additional details, such as your exit strategy, making sure your potential buyers are legitimate, and more.
Selling your business without a broker saves you having to pay a commission, but it also means you'll have to do the valuation, the marketing, and the negotiation while you're running your operation. Be sure you've thoroughly assessed the costs in terms of time and labor prior to making the decision to sell without a broker.
How do you buy an existing business?
First of all, make sure you know exactly what goes into running the business. What sounds like an exciting idea in the abstract might end up being far more work than you'd planned. Go into it with your eyes wide open. Once you've decided what type of business you want to operate, look at listings in your area. Be sure your finances are in order and you've properly assessed what the business is worth.
Buyers can also use business brokers to help them negotiate the often complicated process of buying a business. A good broker can give you an idea of the business's projected worth, its viability in the future, and what it will take to run it. Whether you buy on your own or engage a broker, having as many details about the business prior to purchase will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises down the line.


Welcome to The Inspiration Thief, the new blog dedicated to showcasing ideas for your home and family. We are excited to get started and hope you will enjoy the ideas we present. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think.


OK, now you will have to blog me and find out what jadb means!! Think about it!!! Alright, time to go check out what the Tribe is doing!!!
Don't forget about golf!!!! Lot's of good weather ahead!!! See ya soon!!
The Tribe defeats The Evil Empire!
Bring on Manny & the RedSox!


Honda L15A - ProH2K (formerly Sportsman) w/ARP2000 Fasteners. Made from aerospace grade, 4340 chromoly steel, BC high performance connecting rods deliver the reliability required to turn up the boost, the nitrous and/or the RPM range. Every rod is CNC machined, micropolished surface finish treatment, equipped with Aluminum/Silicone/Bronze pin bushings and finish honed to exacting tolerances.


text:
Why Exercise Alone May Not Be the Key to Weight Loss
By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS
Photo: Alamy
If you give a mouse a running wheel, it will run.
But it may not burn many additional calories, because it will also start to move differently when it is not on the wheel, according to an interesting new study of the behaviors and metabolisms of exercising mice.
The study, published in Diabetes, involved animals, but it could have cautionary implications for people who start exercising in the hopes of losing weight.
In recent years, study after study examining exercise and weight loss among people and animals has concluded that, by itself, exercise is not an effective way to drop pounds.
In most of these experiments, the participants lost far less weight than would have been expected, mathematically, given how many additional calories they were burning with their workouts.
Scientists involved in this research have suspected and sometimes shown that exercisers, whatever their species, tend to become hungrier and consume more calories after physical activity. They also may grow more sedentary outside of exercise sessions. Together or separately, these changes could compensate for the extra energy used during exercise, meaning that, over all, energy expenditure doesn't change and a person's or rodent's weight remains stubbornly the same.
Proving that possibility has been daunting, though, in part because it is difficult to quantify every physical movement someone or something makes, and how their movements do or do not change after exercise. Mice, for instance, skitter, dart, freeze, groom, eat, roam, defecate and otherwise flit about in frequent fits and starts.
But recently, animal researchers hit upon the idea of using infrared light beams to track how animals move at any given moment in their cages. Sophisticated software then can use that information to map daily patterns of physical activity, showing, second-by-second, when, where and for how long an animal roams, sits, runs or otherwise spends its time.
Intrigued, scientists at Vanderbilt University and other institutions thought that this technology would be ideal for tracking mice before and after they started exercising, especially if the technology were used in specialized metabolic-chamber cages that can quantify how much energy an inhabitant is expending throughout the day.
So the scientists fitted out cages, added locked running wheels, and let young, healthy, normal-weight, male mice loose in them to roam and explore for four days, providing the researchers with baseline data about each mouse's metabolism and natural peripatetic-ness.
The wheels then were unlocked and for nine days, the mice could run at will, while also eating and moving around off the wheels as much as they chose.
The mice, which seem to enjoy running, hopped readily on the wheels and ran, off and on, for hours.
They showed a subsequent spike in their daily energy expenditure, according to the metabolic measures, which makes sense, since they had added exercise to their lives.
But they did not change their eating habits. Although they were burning more calories, they did not gorge on more chow.
They did, however, alter how they moved. Almost immediately after they started using the wheels, they stopped roaming around their cages as they had before the wheels were unlocked.
In particular, they stopped engaging in the kind of lengthy meanders that had been common before they began to run. Instead, they now usually jogged on their wheels for a few minutes, hopped off, rested or roamed in short spurts, and then climbed back on the wheels, ran, rested, briefly roamed, and repeated.
These changes in how they spent their time neatly managed to almost counteract the extra calorie costs from running, says Daniel Lark, a research fellow in molecular physiology at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, who led the new study.
In general, the running mice showed a slightly negative energy balance, meaning that they were burning a few more calories over the course of the day than they were taking in by chowing down.
But that caloric deficit would have been about 45 percent greater, the metabolic calculations showed, if they had not also begun moving around their cages less.
What prompted the running mice to roam less is still uncertain.
"But it does not seem to have been fatigue or lack of time," Dr. Lark says.
Wheel running is not arduous for mice, he points out, and did not fill their waking hours.
Instead, he says, it is likely that the animals' bodies and brains sensed the beginnings of an energy deficit when the mice began to run and sent out biological signals that somehow advised the animals to slow down, conserve energy, maintain homeostasis and not drop weight.
He and his colleagues would like, in future experiments, to explore how, physiologically, the rodents' bodies sensed the changes in their energy balance and at what point they might begin to eat more. They also would like to study female, older and obese animals.
Mice will never be people, of course, so we cannot say whether the results of this and any follow-up experiments would directly apply to us, Dr. Lark says.
But the results do intimate that if we hope to exercise off excess pounds, we watch what we eat and try not to move less while we work out more.
Source: www.nytimes.com
Posted by Above Whispers on April 16, 2018.
Under Health
Tags: Diet, Exercise, FitFam, Food, Health, Wellness


San Rafael Hall is a residential housing complex located in the southwest corner of the UCSB campus adjacent to Isla Vista. The entire facility houses approximately 606 students on a year round basis and consists of seven-story tower elements and clusters of two and three story buildings. The University wanted to structurally upgrade the two tower elements to improve the Seismic Performance Rating and renovate both the tower and cluster buildings.
The renovation work partially resulted from the demolition work for the seismic corrections. Floor plans for the first floors of both tower buildings were modified in response to the new structural elements and required new finishes. New doors, windows, closets and finishes in the tower housing units were also required once seismic work was completed. Building systems were also upgraded and improved. This included the fire alarm system, portions of the sanitary sewer system, replacement of existing elevators, and minor revisions to the lighting system.